0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Suikoden 3 or any other characters that I put into this story except for my own OCs. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any. And remember to leave a review!
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Chapter 50 – The Second Act
The Earth village with its stone outer wall and the dry mortar around it protected it from any direct attacks. The rocky hills and thick forest made traveling to the village difficult, as would the small path that leads to the main gate. Any attacking army would find traveling the only clear path would be time consuming and make the task dangerous as they would make excellent targets as they march through the forest. Such as several soldiers falling into pits that are laid on the road, or trees suddenly falling onto wagons or piles of rocks blocking the path making the soldiers move around it or clear the path.
"Looks like they knew we were coming," Iroh said to his nephew. As soldiers helped those who fell into another pit, out of it.
"At this rate we'll be lucky to reach the village by nightfall," Zuko said as he rode on his mount.
"If we want to have our full strength for the battle ahead we have to take it slow now," Iroh said as they already lost over two dozen men because of the traps and lost plenty of equipment along the way.
"You two," Zuko shouted to a pair of soldiers in the front, "Burn the ground in front of use to locate any more traps, just make sure you don't start a forest fire that's the last thing we need."
"On it," the soldiers said as they began burning the road ahead of them. They cause a pit covering to fall as the fire burnt the branches and leaves covering it.
"Good thinking Zuko," Iroh said as they marches around the traps that are being reveal by the pair of soldiers marching ahead of the column.
"Zula and her Vipers are traveling through the trees," Zuko whispers to his uncle as he rode up next to him, "They're going to use us to attack the gate so that they can attack the other parts of the wall."
"I know," he answered, "Once we're in the sights of the wall have the men spread out as best as they can. That way we can keep the Casualties as low as we can once the Lightning Bender begins his attack on us."
"I need to attack him when he lets down his guard. With my new speed and power I should be able to land a mortal blow on him," Zuko said.
"Yes but you must be sure that your timing is right," Iroh reminded him, "He won't let his guard down more then a second once he sees the battle almost won. That's when you must attack. I fear that if you were to face him head on you won't be able to beat him, let alone survive the battle."
"From the reports he needs time to recharge each time he use his lightning. The time between lightning shots is the only time I'll be able to get to him," he said firmly.
"But then there's that strange weapon of his," Iroh added, "He only use it to destroy the tanks, and no one has seen how many times he can use it. As long as he has that weapon you won't be able to attack him without making yourself a target."
"I know be there's no other way to stop my sister," Zuko said as they could begin to make out the wall through the tree line.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Elsewhere in the forest –
"Your brother's and uncle's units are nearing the wall," Orange informed her leader. The Viper unit lead by the Green unit had made their way through the thick underbrush of the forest. They encounter some traps but they been able to set them off easily enough as the Orange units knows how to handle traps. With each of the eight units made up of twelve soldiers each the Viper units counting their captains number at a hundred-four strong.
"Good once they begin their attack we wait for the village defenses to weaken first before we launch our attack," Zula said as she looks through a telescope to the outer wall of the village, "Are the blasting jelly barrels are all ready?"
"On it," Yellow said as she and her crew holstered the barrels onto the small catapults that they pulled through the forest with.
"How's the wind?" Zula ask Violet as an archer she world be able to pin-point the direction the wind is blowing.
"The wind is blowing towards us," she informs her.
"If we set fire to the village the flames will blow towards us instead of going into the village," White spoke up.
"Alright spread the word that there is to be no setting fire to the village until we're able to get behind the walls," Zula ordered.
"Yes ma'am," Violet said as she informs some of her troops to pass the word on.
Turning to the rest of her captains, "Does every soldier have a flask of Ant-Weasel droll?"
"Yes everyone has one. I saw to it that everyone got one before we left," Blue said.
"Good. Remember the plan is to find the Lightning Bender hit him with the droll and get out before anyone can come to his aid," Zula laying out the plan once more, "And if any of you spot the Avatar catch him as well."
"Yes ma'am," they all said.
"Anyone besides me? Hearing that strange music?" Green asked as a strange musical beat began drifting through the trees. The music has a strange beat that while catchy didn't seem to have any rhyme or going anywhere as it repeats one set of notes then goes around and does something else.
"Where is it coming from?" Red said as she looks around for the band that's playing the music.
"It's like its coming from everywhere," Blue said as the music is coming from everywhere at once. It's like someone talking in a cave with high walls making it all but impossible to locate where the voice or in this case the music is coming from.
"Look out, look out what are you going to do? Look out, look out what are you going to do?" a man's voice sang out with the music being played, "Look out, look out what are you going to do? Look out, look out what are you going to do? What are you going to do? Going to do? Going to do? Going to do? LOOK OUT!"
Everyone jumps back as a man suddenly appears in front of them. He seems to be wrap in belts and straps that made him unable to move around by any means but by hopping. His outfit makes him look like a fool as that tall strange hat of his also helps with the appearance of a fool. The two wood planks that he has on his back making an X shape, the top parts of the plants each have a large metal bell attach by chains to the ends of the planks. He lean back and forth as he stands there smiling at them.
"Who are you?" Red shouted as she points her boardsword at him.
"I'm known as many things but you can call me Mad Hat," he smiles.
"What do you want?" Yellow said as she grabs her hammer with a weighted chain on the bottom of the handle.
"Well you see Ranma was going to handle you guys but I told him that I'll do it for him as he shouldn't waste time on weaklings like yourselves," Mad smiles.
"You're calling us weak?" Blue said as she gets her spear out of the bundle she kept it in.
"Yeah we're strong," Green said as she signals her troops to surround him.
"You're only strong because of numbers," Mad said, "You use other units to weaken an enemy first before attacking. Beating a weaken foe doesn't prove that you're strong just showing that you need others to weaken a target first before you attack them. Until you attack a target without another unit weakening it first, you can't really say you guys are strong."
"Grrr, Violet!" Zula shouts to her, "Shoot that hat off of him!"
"On it!" Violet said as she fires an arrow at Mad's hat. But to her surprise he jerks his body causing one of the bells to swing upwards hitting the arrow out of the air in one swift motion.
"Nice try but none of you will ever be able to knock my hat off," Mad smiles wickedly at them.
"Let's see how you'll deal with this!" White said as she saw the look that Zula gave her. She throws a fireball at Mad who just smiles as it flies at him. He jerks his body again and the other bell swings upwards blocking the fireball as he stands on the same spot where he first appeared to them.
"What you guys waiting for get him!" Zula shouted as she wasn't going to let a fool make a fool out of her.
"It seems unfair," Violet said as she signals her unit to ready their bows. As she saw that his arms and legs are all tied up. He can barely move with the belts and straps holding him.
"You know you're right," Mad chuckles at them, "I really should be fighting with my eyes close."
That made that Vipers faces burn with anger and embarrassment. Violet's unit open fire sending arrows flying at him as the ones around him waited for the arrows to hit before rushing in. Mad jumps straight up into the air as the arrows struck where he once stood, all eyes lock onto him. He started spinning wildly making the bell chains spin around him as he lands back down to earth, all awhile smiling.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
At the front gate of the Earth village –
"Zuko's leading the attack," Sokka said to Katara and Aang.
"Looks like the traps did their work," Katara said as they took awhile to get here. Giving them the time they needed to build up their defenses. The thick wooden gate doors have been reinforced by the Earth Benders by bending a stone one placing it in front of the wooden one. The walls have all been strengthen so that the Fire soldiers will find attacking the walls to useless as they wouldn't be able to use their fire to burn their way in.
"The tanks have to be the ones that we take out first," Aang said as he knows how powerful they are and how hard it is to destroy just one of them.
"You guys ready for this?" Katt the Earth Bender said as she walks over to them.
"We ready. Ranma taught us well," Sokka said.
"Where is Ranma?" Katara ask.
"He wasn't with you guys?" Katt ask.
"No we thought that he was around the village helping get the defenses ready," Aang said.
"No I haven't seen him since yesterday," Katt said.
"Well he better get here soon," Sokka said, "Looks like they're getting ready to attack."
"All forces aim for the gate!" Zuko shouted as the only weak point of the wall is the gate. Once the gate been breach they could pour into the village, "Tank units get over the wall and break the gate from the inside."
"We need to hurry if we want to breach the walls before the sun sets," Iroh said as all Fire Benders powers are greater while the sun is up. The traps and detours they were force to make cost them time and the sky is already in the late afternoon now.
A cloud of dust suddenly blew across the approaching line of Fire soldiers, as the winds died down a man appear in front of them. The man wore a white colored sleeveless body armor with yellow outlines that also has on large dome shape shoulder guards. The armor is smooth and curved so that an attacking weapon would slide off of it. Underneath it he wore a long sleeve red shirt and blue pants, a small blue cape hang from his left side. He carries a single weapon on him, a large sword that's strap onto his back. Covering his face he wears a helmet that covered his face leaving only his lower jaws expose. The people in the village recognize the person in the armor, while Zuko also recognize the figure also as he seen the armor and helmet before.
"Raiden what are you doing here?" Zuko shouted at the person that made him stronger and show him that no matter how strong he becomes there always be someone stronger.
"I'm here to test you and my other student," the man known to Zuko as Raiden said. His left arm suddenly transforms into something metal. He points it to the first tank, the thing glows before a beam of light shoots out of it. The beam slices the wheels of the tanks right side causing it to fall crippling the heavy weapon. He quickly follows blasting all of the tanks, destroying one side of the tank wheels off making all of the tanks useless to be use anymore.
Zuko eyes widen as his mind piece the pieces together, "Raiden you're the Lightning Bender," he shouts out for all to hear, 'That weapon, he can firer it without having to recharge it between shots. Without those tanks we won't be able to take the wall and the blasting jelly wagon was destroy by that falling tree trap.'
"Yes I am Zuko," he said as he takes off his helmet letting everyone have a clear view of his face, "But I prefer the name of Ranma Jones."
Before anyone could speak to ask what Ranma was up to, a strange man appears next to him. A man that Aang and the others knew and Katara who knows quite well of what he's like, "The trash has been handle."
"Is everything ready for test?" Ranma ask Mad.
"Don't worry I have everything ready for this event," Mad smiled.
"Good, can you teleport them along with their companions for this?" Ranma ask.
"Wouldn't be much of a show if I didn't," Mad said as strange runes suddenly fly from him. They flew at Zuko and his uncle making them vanish, the same thing happen to Aang and his groups as the another runes hit them. Finally the last floating rune struck Ranma making him vanish as well.
"What did you do to them!" Katt shouted at him.
"Oh well since this is going to be a world changing event I should let you guys watch," Mad Hat smiles as the sky suddenly become like a movie screen that none of the people of this world knows what a movie screen yet along a movie is. All over the world the sky suddenly darken as clouds appearing out of nowhere. The scene being shown on the clouds draws everyone's attention as an event that will change their world took place before their eyes.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Meanwhile in another world –
Section 9 members are all busy as two groups suddenly appeared in Japan causing trouble with the government. The first is the 'Individual Eleven' who are very secret but one of their members already tried to attack the new female Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki. The one that attacked her had a heavily upgraded cyber-body. After it was shot it a few times it still didn't bother him at all. And managed to escape capture at the temple, where that attempted attack was stopped by the Major who was guarding her at the time, by leaping hundreds of feet through the air and move too fast for the search parties to find him. Then there was the other group who were more into the public eye as they made a big scene in their robberies all over the city. The way they dress and how they did their robberies is causing quite a stir in the city especially when information leak out on what types of items they are stealing became public. Like with the 'Laughing Man' a cult following has started up as some of the people who are into the occult are saying that the group is using magic to pull off their robberies.
Monoko in her usually provocative dress, wearing nothing more than thigh-high boots, string bikini underwear with no pants, a corset and leather jacket. Who is busy as she informs the two new members to Section 9 (1) about the current situation with the two groups that are at large, "The 'Individual Eleven' seem to be targeting Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki for an unknown reason. It's unknown at this time of what their true agenda is or how many members there are. While the other group is only after old artifacts that, according to ancient lore, are magical in nature. The two members that Batou and I encountered in the office building, which was being use as a front for the local Yakuza, are both heavily upgraded cyborgs modeled to look like monsters. The first one is a cyborg designed to look like a ten-foot tall dino hybrid, he's incredibly strong as he manage to damage my nerves system with one hit and Batou after his fight with him needed a major overhaul to fix all of his parts that had been damaged. The other cyborg, the one that I fought before the other one took me out, is design like a long limbed creature with claws. It can move fast, can twist and turn its body like its double jointed everywhere, which gives it the ability to launch any attack from any angle. It can also climb on walls and ceilings. Both of them wore metal body armor like the ones that the ones that attack the temple where the first of their robberies were. It's still unknown of why they're stealing those relics as there were more valuable items that they could have stolen."
"Well it could be that they have a buyer that's into those kinds of things," Batou said who has recovered from his fight with the dino.
"Where do you get parts for those kinds of upgrades?" Proto one of Section 9 new recruit asks. He is Tachikoma's maintenance technician, and a prototype bioroid.
"They must have ties with the underground blackmarket," Azuma spoke up the other Section 9 new recruit who does field operations.
"We're having Borma and Ishikawa looking up leads. Paz and Togusa are doing some leg work for any information with the underground cannels," Monoko said.
"Other then that we're still trying to find leads on the 'Individual Eleven' while trying to track down this other group," Batou said as they being overwork as there are two different groups that are running around the city.
"Everyone we have a new assignment," Aramaki said on their intercoms, "There's going to be a party at the Minister building tonight. It's being thrown for the visiting ambassadors from the American Empire. (2) The Prime Minister wants Section 9 to help with the security details. The 'Individual Eleven' might use the party to attack her again."
"I'll get the Tachikoma's gear up for the party," Proto said, "Should I load the heavy weapons or light?"
"Load them with light rocket-grenades and smoke-grenades we can't risk heavy fire at the party," Monoko answer.
"I'll help you out," Batou said as he follows Proto out to the hanger where the Tachikomas are kept.
"So do we dress for the party or do we stay outside?" Azuma ask the Chief.
"You guys will get to mingle with the guest," Aramaki said, "Major go and inform the others."
"On it Chief," Monoko said as she cuts their com-link.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
That night at the Minister building –
"Well this party is a real bore," Proto said as he and Batou are patrolling the outside with the Tachikomas. So far the party was nothing more then a bunch of stuff-shirts and rich snobs.
"Well it could be us in the middle of that like the Major and the Chief," Batou said as he sees them standing near the Prime Minister as she talks to some guys in suits.
"They don't look like they're having much fun are they," the Tachikoma that Batou is standing next to said.
"Is this really a party?" the other Tachikoma ask out loud.
"Give me a nice lower class party any day," Proto said as he's bored out of his mind, "All they're doing is standing around and talking that's not a party. I wouldn't mind to sit down at a table eat and drink at a party but that kind of party I would like to miss out of."
"You can say that again," Batou said letting out a yawn.
"With the rest of the team are looking for leads on the other case we're the ones stuck with this boring job," Proto said as he listen into the party through the ones inside.
"At least you guys have a nice view," Azuma said over his com-link as he and his Tachikoma are in the underground parking lot.
"Don't worry you guys aren't missing much," Monoko said to them by com-link as she stood next to the chief dress in a military uniform.
Both she and Aramaki stood near Yoko Kayabuki as she's busy dealing with some big business people. To tell the truth she's pretty bored as there wasn't a lot to do. A large statue of a red tiger caught her attention. It stood in the middle of the hall as an art piece. Something about it nags at her in the back of her mind as if it's very important for some reason that she couldn't think of.
"Major what's the matter?" Aramaki ask through their com-link.
"Something about that red statue is nagging me about something," Monoko answer.
"Does it have something to do with our case?" Aramaki ask.
"I see you have taken a shine to the Red Tiger," Yoko said as she finished with her chat with the men she was speaking with.
"The Red Tiger?" Monoko ask wondering what she knew of it.
"Yes it was originally part of a set of statues that represented four guardians of the old capital. The Blue Dragon of the North, the Red Tiger of the East, the Yellow Phoenix of the West and the Green Turtle of the South, just something that I pick up from all of my visits to temples," she explains to them.
Monoko eyes widen as she took in that tidbit of information, "Chief one of the first robberies with that group after artifacts was a Blue Dragon statue. And while me and Batou were busy dealing with the dino and claw guy a Green Turtle statue was stolen from a collector home a couple of blocks from us."
"And if you're right this statue will be next on their hit list," Aramaki said as he contact the other members to be ready for anything.
"You mean those thieves stealing artifacts?" Yoko asked.
"Tell me what happen to the other statues of the set?" Aramaki ask her.
"They were all shattered around Tokyo during the war and this one turn up at a shrine that I used to visit while I was younger. The monk that runs the shrine gave the statue to me as a good luck charm," Yoko said.
"This should be moved to a safe location," Monoko said, "It has too much temptation for the thieves to pass up."
"I'll have it moved as soon as the party is over," Yoko said, "There's too much security around for them to try to steal it now."
At that moment the lights and all other electrical devices all shorted out. The guests all look around as they were suddenly plunge into darkness. The guards all check on their equipments finding them all useless as if they were hit by a powerful EMP wave. Everything with a microchip suddenly stopped working with the only things that were still working were the cyber body-parts.
"Chief I lost contact with the rest of the team," Monoko said as she tries to link up to the others but with the EMP field up around them she couldn't use her com-link.
"I know," Aramaki said as he already tried his. He notices that a woman is standing next to the statue, appearing out of nowhere. She's dress from head-to-toe in a tight leather outfit that's colored black with hot pink highlights that hug her ample curves. Knee high black boots and elbow long gloves completed the outfit. She has a leather hood on hiding her hair and covering her face is a gas mask.
"Alright who are you?" Monoko shouted as she pulls out her gun as she waves Aramaki and Yoko behind her.
The leather covered woman merely glance at her before looking at the statue again rubbing its surface with her hands as if searching for something. Seeing the Major pulling a gun on the women four guards rush over to tackle the woman. She saw them coming and raise her left hand to them pointing to them, she mumbles something under her breath. Four arrows made out of ice flew from her hand flying at the four running guards. To the shock of the people in the crowd around the scene the four guards became incased in ice. Several more guards appear but they were all stopped cold in their tracks as more ice flew from the woman's hand trapping them. The woman with all of the guards that try to rush her dealt with quickly went back to the statue as she couldn't be bothered with anymore distractions.
"Down on the ground now!" Monoko shouted as Aramaki lead Yoko to safety. The woman didn't say anything as she continues to rub her hands on the statue. Seeing that she won't listen to her Monoko decided to wound her she aims for the woman's right shoulder. She fires but the bullet bounce off of something invisible around the woman and ricocheting itself into a picture frame breaking the glass scaring a couple of guest as pieces of glass fell on them.
The woman turns to her as she finally gives her full attention to Monoko, "You really think that kind of weapon can harm me?" Then without even a glace she turns her attention back to the statue.
This made Monoko mad as this woman thought little of her as if she didn't matter at all. Several guards that weren't frozen aim their weapons on the woman not knowing what to do as they saw shooting at her wouldn't work. The woman finally stops with her examination with the statue and made a loud snapping sound. The ground suddenly burst open as the giant dino cybrog Monoko saw at the office building came out of the ground. The dino quickly grabs the statue and drops down below with the statue before anyone could fire at it as it happened so fast. The woman calmly walks over to the gapping hole ready to jump in.
"Hold it!" Monoko shouted as she fired four more shots which all ricocheted off of the woman like before. The bullets flying wildly around the room after they bounce off of her, luckily none of them hit any guest who ran for cover.
"If you really want to fight, I'll leave you this to fight with," the woman said as she raised her arm holding a test tube containing purple liquid and threw it to the ground breaking on contact spilling its contents all over the floor. The ground with the spill started to shake as pieces of concert and rubble from the hole gathers together taking shape. All of the pieces of rock and stone formed into a fifteen foot tall golem to the amazement of the crowd. It has two short tree-truck thick legs and two massive arms, the head nothing but a solid stone block. The woman looks over her work, "I was really hoping that it would have come out better then this," shaking her head, "But trying to find someone selling water-imp nails is all but impossible nowadays."
"Water imp?" Monoko ask as she points her gun at the towering golem.
"Yes water imp, it's no wonder that there's no magic in the world today as its so hard just trying to find the ingredients even for the most simplest of spells," the woman signed as she looks at the golem, "Okay big guy go and entertain her for awhile would you?"
The golem started walking over to Monoko making the ground shake with its heavy steps, "Who are you guys!" she shouted to her as the woman walk over to the hole her partner left.
"Just call us 'The Runes'," the woman said as she jumps down the hole leaving Monoko to deal with the massive golem ready to do battle with her.
Monoko open fire on the golem and follow by the guards that weren't frozen hitting it with all of the firepower that they have that still work as some of the guns do use chips to operate them. Chips and pieces of concert and stone broke off of the golem as it walks through the hailstorm of bullets with no ill affect as it couldn't feel any pain as it was being shot at. It swung its arms at Monoko who jump backwards as she saw bullets wouldn't stop a creature made out of stone so she leads it outside before any bystanders get hurt in the crossfire.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Outside –
"Both Tachikomas need to be repaired," Proto said as he looks at the motherboards for the think tanks. Both of them couldn't move their bodies anymore.
"The EMP wave is just like the one that me and the Major encountered a few days ago," Batou said.
"All of my systems are damage!" the Tachikoma with Batou pouted,
"We can't move or anything is there anything that still works?" the other pleaded.
"Sorry but the only thing that still works is your AI chips," Proto said, "Is your com working now?"
"No the last time me and Monoko weren't in the middle of the blast zone when the last EMP wave hit so we weren't that effected by it," he said as he's still puzzled of how an EMP wave could take out some many electrical equipment as many of them have EMP shielding built into them. Which means that the EMP waves being use are more powerful then anything that been encounter before.
"Guys!" Monoko shouted at them as she runs out of the building, "I need some backup!"
Before they could ask what she's running from… the front doors were smash open as a golem like thing ran after the Major. "What" the hell is that!" Batou shouted as he stares at the human like thing made out of rocks.
"Later need a grenade round to hit it!" Monoko shouted as she figures that the only way to stop it is by blowing it up.
"The Tachikomas are all off line," Proto shouted as he fires at the golem causing no harm as the armor piercing bullets only work if the thing being shot at can feel pain which the golem couldn't.
"I got this cover!" Batou shouted as he ducks into his Tachikoma and pulls out a grenade round. He throws it with all of his might at the walking hulk of stone, the grenade struck the golem but instead of blowing it became struck in its body.
"Prefect," Monoko said as she aims her gun taking cover behind one of the Tachikomas and fires at the grenade making it explode taking most of the upper body of the golem with it. The rest of the body fell like a stack of bricks shattering apart as it hit the ground.
Peeking from behind the Tachikomas as they had all duck when the shell blew Batou turn to Monoko, "Alright now will you tell me what just happen?"
"You guys wouldn't believe me if I did," she said not believing herself of what happen inside.
"Try us we're gullible," Proto said wondering if joining Section 9 was a good idea.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
In the world of the Avatar –
When his eyes could see again Aang found himself in a mountains area. He found himself standing on top of a mesa and around the one he's standing on are other mesas that rose from a bottom which is hidden by clouds, giving him an idea of how high up they are. Since Katara, Sokku are with him not to mention Zuko and his uncle.
"Where are we?" Sokku ask.
"This is a proving ground," Ranma said as he appears standing on another mesa, "This place is where I'm going to see who should gain the power of lightning which I hold within me."
"All of this time you were training me while helping Zuko get stronger as well?" Aang shouted over to him.
"Yes you see I'm not human at all but a spirit," Ranma said in a calm voice.
"You mean like Mad Hat?" Katara spoke up.
"You mean that man with the strange hat?" Iroh asks as he's been to the spirit world before.
"Yes he show himself to me three weeks ago," Katara explains, "He's the spirit of madness and can only be seen by people that he wants to be able to see him as well as small children and animals."
"Yes I had Mad search around the world looking for someone who is worthy of receiving my power and can put them to good use," Ranma said getting their attentions, "When I found out that you Aang became unfrozen I had Mad follow you around to see what kind of person you are. Along the way you Zuko gained his interest as your views of the world is much different from your fathers or your sisters. After the failed Water Kingdom invasion you showed that no matter what, you never failed to try again. Many times you had the chance to catcher Aang but you let the chance slip by to help someone else. After I took Aang and his friends as my students I went to see you as you remember. I needed to see what kind of person you really are, the person that you hide underneath the mask you wear in public. You Zuko and you Aang, one of you will gain the power I hold."
"All of this has just been a test then. A game that you and Mad been playing using use as pawns?" Zuko shouted out.
"No nothing like that," Ranma said using the Soul of Ice, "You see unlike the other four elements I never did allow any human to learn to bend lightning as I felt that such power would be too powerful for this world. But as in the last hundred years with the Fire Nation mad quest to conquer the world I decided to choose someone to give the power to bend lightning. Now its time to see which one of you two will become that person to become the one that gains my power."
"Fine then," Zuko said as he takes off his training weights, "I'll show you how powerful I have become." He makes a running leap jumping onto the mesa Ranm's standing on.
"I won't hold back like last time," Ranma said in a grim staring at him.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Zuko said as he turns his head to the others, "This is my fight none of you interfere."
"Be careful!" Iroh shouted at his nephew as he knows that spirits are much more powerful then any bender.
"Aang shouldn't you…" Katara began to ask.
"No it's his fight," Aang said as he watches the two face off.
Zuko stares at Ranma as he waited for him to make his move, "Aren't you worried that my sister's army unit will try to attack that village you have been protecting?"
"I have no need to worry as Mad has already taken care of them," Ranma said. (Image of the broken and beaten Viper unit flashed through Zuko and the others minds. Their broken bodies lay shattered throughout the forest floor, broken trees and smoking ashes the damage that the forest sustained shows how fierce the fighting was. Zula was imbedded into the trunk of a tree her captains were more or less in the same shape as their leader is. The people watching from Mad's viewing portals also saw the pride of the Fire Nation army beaten by one.) "They talk big but they were no match for Mad."
"I won't give up!" Zuko said as he fires up his hands.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Ranma said still using the Soul of Ice.
Zuko powered up his fire as he fires fireballs at Ranma. Looking unimpressed as he dodges each of the fireballs Zuko throws at him with little effort all awhile remaining where he's standing. Zuko attacks head on throwing punches and kicks covered with flames unlike last time his attack is must faster then they were before. But still he couldn't land a hit on Ranma as he easily evaded all of his attacks with as little movement as possible. Ranma waits as Zuko tires himself out as he throws attacks at him without laying a finger on him. He ends the onslaught with a single flick to Zuko's head sending the young prince falling backwards rolling onto his feet.
"If this is the best that you can do I won't even need to use bending to defeat you," Ranma said to him coldly.
Zuko growls as he rushes at Ranma again firing fireballs at him. Ranma twists and turns his body letting the fireballs fly past him as he walks backwards as the mad prince tries to hit him. Grabbing onto Zuko's left arm when he came into arm range Ranma lifted him up by his arm and rabbit punch him in his stomach a couple of times before slamming him into the ground. Jumping onto his feet Zuko ran at Ranma throwing punches cover with flames, who calmly block each with a single arm then with his other sent the younger man flying back with an open palm strike.
Zuko could feel his ribs vibrating as he recovers from Ranma's strike. He couldn't believe that even with him throwing everything he has at him he still can't lay a finger on him not 'one' hit! His train of thought ended as his opponent's hand put a vice-grip on his neck and the prince of the Fire Nation found himself beginning to suffocate. Zuko gripped the forearm in an effort to keep from choking as he was held up by one arm.
"You fight with the ferocity that is worthy of your clan, yet you do not fight with your full power something is holding you back still," Ranma said casually as he continued to squeeze, "Is this all that you have to show Zuko?"
Zuko began to gag as he felt himself fading. He knew that he wouldn't last long. He also knew that the battle rage within had started to reach critical level as he had often in the past let it take over in the heat of battle. Zuko didn't want to sink into the depths of his primal emotions, but time was running out. He thrashed about, hoping to kick at Ranma making him let go, but he simply used his free hand to block each attempt.
"I won't let it end like this," Zuko whispered as he reached into himself drawing power. Using all of the air left in him, Zuko spat out flames at Ranma's face making him let go of his neck as he's forced to jump back.
"Nice move," Ranma said as he waited for Zuko to catch his breath, "But you are no match for me. You should surrender now and let Aang fight me instead. As long as you're fighting for someone else you can never defeat me."
"What are you talking about?" Zuko ask regaining his breath.
"You're still fighting for your father's acceptance Zuko. You still want to prove to your father that you are worthy of being his child like how he views your sister to be his greatest joy while still leaving you behind in the shadows. Till you break that bond you won't be able to beat me. For you are living while dead. A puppet doing the bidding of your father," Ranma stated staring into Zuko eyes, "If you meet god, kill god. If you meet your father, kill your father. Free from everything you are bound by nothing. Live the life that's been given to you."
Zuko stares at Ranma as he recovers fully, taking his words and their meanings in. As he thought about it he has been doing everything that his father wants him to do so he recognizes him as his son. His mother always sides with his father never standing up for herself as she just goes along with his father's wishes. He really never had any kind of family support, only uncle Iroh was the only one that gave him support growing up. He reaches into his shirt and pulls out a necklace with his family seal on it.
"This is my family crest that shows that I'm of the royal family," Zuko said as he raises it. He throws it into the air blasting it with a fireball destroying it, "I'll give up everything! I just don't care anymore! I have nothing to lose anymore. I'll fight for myself. I don't care about becoming King of the Fire Nation. I don't care being called a traitor and I don't care what my father thinks. I will defeat you Ranma Jones! So that I can defeat my father to end this useless war once and for all!"
"Now you're getting there," Ranma smiles as he fires a lightning bolt at Zuko.
Zuko creates a shield of heat around him deflecting the lightning attack. (3) Something clicks inside of him as he lets out everything out at once. Flames appear around him as a red aura surrounds him. He throws his head back as the flames around him engulfing him in a sea of flames. To Ranma Zuko became like the Human Torch from the American comics, to Aang, Katara, Sokka and Iroh, Zuko became a living flame. Zuko using his hatred for his father he buried deep inside of himself has awoken a level of bending unheard of before.
"Now this is going to be interesting," Ranma said as he charges up his power staring at the flaming Zuko, "You have just reached a level of bending that we spirits thought would never happen. You see to gain that level you needed to have the will and the drive to overcome the shortcomings of yourself. You not only need to build up your body but your spiritual powers as well. Something that pushes you to your very limits of your body, many have pushed themselves to that level but none had the ambition needed to pass it. I was expecting Aang to start to show signs of this as he learned to use his ki. But the way you have been treated by your father and the rest of your family has given you the will power and the drive to tap into the hidden power that all benders have inside of them. Someone like you can't be born but made through hardship that you have face Zuko, but never giving up the goal you see before you. Which means I won't have to hold back anymore."
"Enough talk let's fight!" Zuko shouted as he rose into the air and fly at Ranma. Who merely smiles as he jumps onto his magic cloud taking to the air.
Aang watches in awe as the two people, one he looks up too and the one that hunts him but hopes that he could become friends with, as they flew through the air one cover in red flame flying like a flaming arrow, the other riding a cloud throwing lightning through the air. Each movement, each action being done with grace and speed as the next could be either ones last.
Katara watched as the two fought. She knows that only one will be alive after this as she can feel it in her bones. As she watches the air battle she couldn't help be notice something that she put into words, "It's so beautiful."
Sokka stares at the battle. The red, orange and yellow flames burning through the sky and as lightning bolts, color white or blue that seem to shatter the air like a broken glass window, painting the sky with color. He never seen anything like it before, "You're right it is."
"It's the sad and beautiful sight of battle," Iroh said as he watches his nephew gain a level of power the he would never dream of. Even when the comet that allowed his father to strike at the other nations a powerful blow… it was never like what he's seeing now, "Zuko has given up everything to become what he is now. It's something that very few people are brave enough to do. He knows that he can die at any moment but fights on even when he was given a chance to give up. It's so sorrowful to watch as one of them will die as none of them are holding anything back."
Aang watched in silent as he continues to watch the display of power, like staring into a camp fire unable to turn away from the sight. It was like a surreal dream and like all dreams it has to end. Ranma struck Zuko in the chest blasting a bolt of lightning through him and watch as he fell, the flames dying around him. They all saw his face as he fell before them like time slowing down letting them see the peaceful sight of his face that none ever saw on his face in life, before he disappearing from their sights falling through the clouds down below. (4)
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Next Time – Zuko has fallen now its Aang's turn to fight against Ranma. With only one of them coming out alive. Can Aang the avatar be able to summon the power he needs to win or will he fail? Next time in the 'Third Act.'
Author's Notes
1 – Two new members are going to join Section 9
2 – According to the info I found this is how the American Empire got started. After World War III ended in the anime series, America was divided into American Empire, Russo-American Alliance and United States of America. The American Empire had become an imperialist government, in an attempt to regain world power by conquering new areas in North and South America. Due to a battered economy and weak political position, the American Empire entered a security pact with Japan. The pact prohibits both Japan from deploying its army overseas (Constitution Article 9) and possessing nuclear weapons.
3 – When Pikachu fought against Magmar who created a shield of heat around him.
4 – Alright tell me the truth how you guys like how I wrote this battle?
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000