Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video and Winx Club belongs to Iginio Straffi and Rai S.p.A (NOT 4Kids!!!). Songs 'Jajauma ni Sasenaide' and 'Platonic Love' belongs to Ranma ½.
Note: this follows the Rai version of Winx as the 4Kids version butchered it too much, like with every anime it dubs.
Chapter 22: Battle of Grace? Layla vs. Kodachi!
Opening (Ranma ½ style, 'Jajauma ni Sasenaide')
A gong sounds as the 'Ranma Club' logo appears.
"Ranma Club!"
Another gong. We see Kiko on the screen just as the music starts. Zoom out from him as multiple Kikos take up the background.
YAPPAPPA- YAPPAPPA- II SHAN TEN
Hashagu koi wa ike no koi (Frolicking love [koi] is a carp [koi] in a pond.)
Ranma-chan comes in doing some katas.
YAPPAPA- YAPPAPPA- II SHAN TEN
Mune no tai wa dakareTAI (The sea bream [tai] of my heart wants [-tai] to be embraced.)
One by one, the Specialists appear in the background, forming a circle. Ranma appears before them doing another kata. Coming out from behind him and standing on either side were Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Layla. They all do the kata in sync with Ranma.
Wake mo wakarazu ni (Without understanding even the reason,)
We see Ranma running.
Ranma Ranma de hi ga kureru (Ranma, Ranma, it's getting dark.)
Bloom, Stella, and Flora are seen running along with Ranma in different directions.
Kimi to atte kara (Ever since I met you,)
Musa, Tecna, and Layla are seen running with the rest of them.
Ranma Ranma de
Nodoka, Shampoo, and Ukyou are seen running.
NANDAKANDA to (fighting about one thing or other,)
The Ghost Specialists are seen running.
Suttamonda no seikimatsu (it's the fin de sicle)
Finally, the rest of the NWC are seen running then goes to the 'Ranma Club' logo.
Naze motto shizuka ni (Why can't you say)
"Suki da yo" to ienai no? ("I love you" more quietly?)
We see the Winx dancing to the beat as Ranma nervously stands to the side.
Hariau to watashi mo (Whenever we compete,)
Jajauma ni nacchau! (I become a shrew too!)
One by one, we see close-ups of each girl at each beat as she dances: Musa's feet, Tecna's legs, Layla's rear, Flora's back, Bloom's belly, and Stella's chest. We then see Ranma's nervous expression at what he had seen, then suddenly gets splashed by Zing from above.
BERU mo narasazu ni (Without even ringing the bell,)
Soyokaze no you ni (like a gentle breeze,)
Mune no WANRU-MU (you just settled into)
Ranma-chan takes a few casual strides before stopping to look towards the screen.
Sumitsuita kimi na no (the one-room [apartment] of my heart.)
Ranma-chan looks down as the ghostly forms of Sky, Brandon, Helia, Riven, Timmy, and Nabu loom over her.
Meiwaku yo dakedo (It's annoying, but)
...Kon'ya dake ii wa (...just for tonight, it's okay)
...Ashita made ii wa (...until tomorrow, it's okay)
Panning up, we see Shampoo and Ukyou from behind. They turn around and offer a hand to Ranma-chan. Behind them were the Winx. Ranma-chan reverts to male form and walks over to them.
Random shots of Ranma, The Winx, and the NWC flash by.
Mitsumerareru tabi (Every time you stare at me,)
We see Ranma running.
Ranma Ranma de, me ga mawaru (Ranma, Ranma, I get dizzy)
Bloom, Stella, and Flora are seen running along with Ranma in different directions.
Koi ni nari-sou de (Looks like it's becoming love.)
Musa, Tecna, and Layla are seen running with the rest of them.
Ranma Ranma de
Nodoka, Shampoo, and Ukyou are seen running.
TANMA TANMA de (Looks like it's becoming love.)
The Ghost Specialists are seen running.
Sonna mon ne to o-tomodachi (let's be friends.)
Finally, the rest of the NWC are seen running. Suddenly, Ranma runs to the front of the screen and takes a pose with the Winx behind him.
End opening
Saotome residence…
"What happened, Kyoiya?" asked Layla. The aformentioned girl was lying in Layla's bed recovering from her attack by Kodachi. Ranma and the other Winx were in the room.
"As you've seen, that crazy psycho, Kodachi, went and attacked me in order to take down the opposition for next week's match." Replied Kyoiya.
Ranma winced as he felt a sense of déjà vu. "Oh no, not this again…"
"She's trying to get another win by default for her team again by taking out her opponents BEFORE the match even starts!" said Kyoiya in anger. "She's been relentless since her first loss to that mysterious pigtailed girl who showed up last year."
The Winx turned to look at Ranma, figuring that he had something to do with it. He quickly tried to hide his face as he waved a hand in front of him. They turn their attention back on Kyoiya.
"What a coward! Attacking her opponents before a competition!" said Musa.
"Man, this Kodachi girl gets more and more on my nerves the more I hear about her." said Stella.
"I heard that she had already taken out the rest of the team members scheduled to go up against St. Hebereke next week!" said Kyoiya.
Layla gasps. "What!? Already!?"
"Oh my… how horrible…" said Flora.
"It's one of our most important events for our school! Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics!" said Kyoiya.
"Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics? What's that?" asked Bloom.
Ranma decided to jump in. "It's one of those fighting styles I've told you about. It's like those rhythmic gymnastics practices you've got back at Alfea, except that you use those implements, and basically anything else, as weapons to beat your opponent into submission."
"Huh? Seriously?" asked Stella.
"But that's just illogical." Said Tecna. She couldn't imagine using things like gymnast ribbons, hoops, and balance clubs as lethal weapons.
"That's makes a lot of sense, actually." Said Layla. She remembered how Kodachi used that ribbon like a bull-whip on Kyoiya. It left lash marks that a supposedly flimsy cloth shouldn't make. The other girls gave her strange looks. "It's just like the lessons of Nodoka-sensei, remember?"
They fully understood now. They remembered how Stella blew up that apple with sheer force using only a silk scarf.
"Please, Layla! You've got to help! I can't fight in this condition! We've no one else to ask!" Kyoiya practically begged.
"Huh? You're asking me to fill in?" Layla could only look at her fellow club member. Actually, even though she's part of the gymnastics club, along with being part of the swimming club, she decided not to participate in the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament since it sounded a bit weird for her.
"I've seen how good you are whenever you do your reps and routines in the club, Layla." replied Kyoiya. "I know this may sound selfish and rude, asking you on such short notice and that you're still new to our school…"
Layla gets a determined look on her face. "Don't worry, I'll do it. No one attacks my club members for no reason and gets away with it!"
"Oh, thank you, Layla!" said Kyoiya as she sat up to hold Layla's hands.
Ranma said nothing as he sat nearby. 'Hmmm… Kodachi's at it again, eh? I'll have to help train Layla for this. Knowing that crazy slut, if she knew of my relationships with the girls, she'll go berserk. Hopefully this time, I won't be the one wearing a leotard…'
Outside the walls of the Saotome residence…
A leotard-clad girl of St. Hebereke, one of Kodachi's spies, was flattening herself against the wall trying to listen in on the Winx's conversation with the Furinkan girl.
'Captain Kodachi's not going to like this. They've gotten a last-minute replacement…'
As she silently tries to listen in further, she didn't notice the approach of two certain girls behind her.
"Can we HELP you?"
The girl gulps and slowly turns around. Standing before her was an angry Ukyou and Shampoo.
Uh-oh!
Later in the Saotome Dojo…
Thanks to the nursing of Nodoka, plus some minor healing spells, Kyoiya was deemed well enough to leave for home on her own. She was still slightly limping, though.
Ranma stands in the middle of the dojo with Layla, who was dressed in her workout attire. Behind him were Shampoo and Ukyou. Standing on the side were Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, and Tecna. On the ground were several gymnast implements: ribbons, clubs, hoops, rubber balls, and a rope. They were provided earlier by Kyoiya before she left.
"So they actually fight with these things?" asked Musa as she looked at the ribbon.
"Sure do." Replied Ranma as he picked up another ribbon. "It's all a matter of manipulating ki and focusing it into objects, which can make practically anything a weapon. Flora?"
Flora nods as she goes to a pile of bricks used for breaking lying in the corner. She picks up a brick and throws it into the air in front of Ranma. The pig-tailed boy reacts by whipping the ribbon at it. Once the flimsy cloth made contact with the brick, the inanimate building material shattered to pebbles. The pieces audibly clattered to the dojo floor. Needless to say, the Winx were shocked at what they saw.
"Looks like you've still got it, Ran-chan." Said Ukyou. She signals to Flora to throw her a brick. Sending one in the air, Ukyou takes a club and throws it right at and through the brick. The brick fell to the floor, a hole pierced right through it.
"Hah! Watch this!" Shampoo signals Flora for another brick. Once the brick was airborne, Shampoo takes a hoop and swings twice at it. The brick falls on its end, seemingly untouched. A second later, the brick falls apart in four pieces.
"Whoa… that's so cool!" said Bloom in awe. The other faeries couldn't help but agree.
"Will I be able to do this, too?" asked Layla.
"Don't worry, Layla. I know you'll do great." Replied Ranma. "You're already experienced as a graceful gymnast, plus you've taken Mom's Ki Manipulation class at Alfea with the others. Think of this as a crash course."
Layla smiles at Ranma's confidence in her. "Thanks, Ranma. I'll do my best!"
"Let's get started."
Ranma felt Layla will be able to pick up fast on the Rhythmic Gymnastics Martial Arts style, much faster than a certain someone he knew.
Furinkan next day…
The first night of practice was pretty grueling. Layla had dark thoughts of one Kodachi Kuno. When coming to school, she frowned when she saw that some of her club members came with injuries or didn't come at all. More than likely, the insane gymnast was the culprit. As Ranma said, Kodachi will do anything to ensure her team's victory.
'I'd better watch myself, too…'
In another part of the school, Nabiki Tendo was pondering about the past events. It felt like déjà vu when the members of the Furinkan Gymnastics team were once again ambushed by Kodachi Kuno some time before the scheduled match between their schools. The only difference was that the team didn't come begging at their doorstep to have Akane replace their ranks. Rather, from what she and her spies have heard, one of their members, Kyoiya, recommended that new gaijin student, Layla, to fill in for them. Nabiki knew that this wouldn't sit well with Akane. She knew her little sister would jump at any chance to show off her 'martial arts skill'. Akane never got that chance last year, because she had sprained her ankle from her own clumsiness, resulting in having an unwilling Ranma take over. Nabiki started to figure out how to make Layla's debut as a martial arts rhythmic gymnast profitable for her.
'Hmmm… maybe I can sneak a few photos to sell. All the boys at school are basically lusting after those six gaijins, with Kuno baby in front.'
Nabiki made a mental note to equip herself and her cohorts with telescopic cameras during the match, assuming Layla can survive the night should Kodachi pay her a visit…
Nabiki's room, later that day…
"WHAT!?"
"Geez, Akane, what's the deal? All I said is that the new girl, Layla, had been chosen to represent Furinkan at the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics tournament against St. Hebereke." Nabiki said casually as she sipped her tea, served by Kasumi.
"She's no martial artist! And she's just a gaijin! She's not even a real part of this school!" Akane argued.
"Akane! Your tone!" said Kasumi.
"Let it go, sis." Said Nabiki. "We both know that Akane's just speaking out of jealousy."
"JEALOUS!? ME!? OF HER AND HER FLOOZY FRIENDS!? NEVER!" shouted Akane.
"Oh? I never said anything about that." Said Nabiki with a smirk. "I meant you were jealous that you weren't asked to fill in instead."
Akane's face flushed after hearing that. Okay, so she was a bit miffed that she wasn't asked to take over the team like last year. At that time, she felt needed and perfect for the job, never mind the fact that she's never done gymnastics before in her whole life. In fact, in such a graceful and refined sport, Akane had all the grace and refinement of a drunken gorilla the first time around. (1) Then she went and sprained her own ankle by herself by tripping on the rubber ball sitting in her path. Because of that, she was never able to show off her 'skill', therefore, resorted to having Ranma-chan fill in right on the night before the contest.
"I'm not jealous of that, either!" denied Akane. "Who needs that stupid tournament!?"
"Still, I wonder how Layla will pull this off?" asked Kasumi.
"Maybe she's getting training from Ranma." Said Nabiki.
It was then that the two older Tendo sisters heard a cracking noise. Looking over, they see Akane's tea cup crack, then finally shatter due to the squeezing pressure. She screams in pain as the hot tea inside got on her hands. They give her a look, causing the girl to shy away.
"Akane… my cup…"said Kasumi.
"Great, Akane! My carpet's stained! And those cups aren't free!" said Nabiki.
"… sorry…"
St. Hebereke gymnasium…
The leotard-clad girls of the St. Hebereke gymnastics team were being put under hard training by their captain, Kodachi Kuno.
"Alright! That's enough for now!" Kodachi called out.
The girls were glad for the break and immediately dropped to the floor from exhaustion.
"Whew… that was some harsh practice…"
"Man, I can barely move after all that!"
"With Captain Kodachi on our side, we're unbeatable!"
"I don't get why she trains us when we win by default anyway."
"Shhh! Better not let Kodachi hear you!"
"Yeah! Plus, we suffered our first loss last year to Furinkan!"
It was then that Kodachi's spy reports to her. The girl was walking on crutches after her ill-fated encounter with Shampoo and Ukyou. She was beaten down and sent flying away by the two seasoned fighters. Because of this, the spy was late in reporting her findings about team Furinkan.
Kodachi's eyes narrowed at what her spy told her, then goes over to her locker. Inside was her school uniform, as well as several medival melee weapons. Picking up a weapon, she dons a dark blue cloak and prepares to set out.
'Hoho… just you wait, Ms. Andros… I shall personally take care of you. Those harridans of Furinkan think they can get in a replacement? Not on my watch!'
With that thought, Kodachi leaps out the gym window and out of the campus, laughing all the way. Anyone in earshot cringed at the noise she made.
Saotome residence…
Layla was on the floor of the dojo panting from the training that Ranma, Shampoo, and Ukyou went through. On the sidelines were the other Winx, Kiko, and the Pixies. Littered about the floor were the destroyed remains of bricks she had used for target practice.
"That was awesome, Layla!" said Chatta.
"I've mixed feelings about this…" said Tune. To think that people were able to turn such a graceful and refined activity into a method of violence. Still, it was a sight to see.
"Huff… huff… that was tough…" said Layla.
"You all right?" asked Amore with worry.
"I will be in a moment." Replied Layla as she slowly stood up.
"Sorry to put you through all that, Faerie Sister." Said Shampoo.
Layla started to wobble when she stood up. Ranma quickly catches her before she fell to the floor.
"Easy there…" said Ranma. "I think we'd better call it a night."
"He's right, Layla." said Bloom as she walked over to them. "You've been training hard. You need a rest now."
Layla was about to disagree, but her body was aching. She knew they were right.
"We've still got a week left until the tournamant. You'll do great, I'm sure of it." Said Ukyou.
"Thanks, everyone." Said Layla.
Guestroom, later…
Layla enters the guestroom she shared with her fellow Winx members clad in a short, purple bathrobe. A hot bath after a workout was exactly what she needed. She was alone in the room, as the others were downstairs doing homework and Nodoka was out shopping.
'Kyoiya, I swear that Kodachi will pay for what she did to you and to the rest of our club…'
Just as Layla was about to disrobe to change for bed, she stopped as her magical senses picked up a presence of insanity. This feeling of dread was confirmed when a black rose petal floated from behind her and fell in front.
"LAYLA ANDROS, PREPARE TO DIE!"
The water faerie quickly jumped to the side just as a metallic object came crashing down where she once stood. Layla whipped around to face her attacker, her features hardened when she saw who it was.
"YOU!?"
There stood Kodachi Kuno, clad in her gymnast leotard and brandishing a medieval-style broadsword.
"Ah… you're that gaijin girl from before." Said Kodachi. "I thought we'd meet again."
"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" shouted Layla.
Soon, Layla started to dodge the sword swings from Kodachi.
"There's only a week left until the day of the gymnastics tournament so let's just go and fight fair okay?" said Kodachi as she tried to slash at Layla.
"YOU CALL THIS FAIR!?" said Layla incredulously. "I hardly think attacking an unarmed person from behind with a weapon is fair!"
"Please! I'm just sizing up my opponent to see if you're worthy to fight me!" said Kodachi arrogantly.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT! YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO KILL ME, YOU CRAZY PSYCHO!"
"Psycho!? I am Kodachi the Black Rose! You are just a lowly peasant! Now DIE!"
Kodachi charges with her sword, intent on running Layla through. The Winx girl, however, was far from defenseless.
'Fine then! If that's the way she wants it…'
"MORPHIX HAYMAKER!!!"
Outside the Saotome complex, we see Kodachi get sent crashing through the window and into the distance, courtesy of a large, ten-foot arm in a fist made from the purple gel-like substance. The fist was about the size of a three-foot nightstand, so she left quite an impression on the gymnast.
Reigning in her Morphix, Layla finally relaxes.
"What a nutjob…"
"Layla! What happened!?"
Layla turned to see Ranma and the girls enter the room. They were surprised to see it in a bit of a mess, not to mention the broken window.
Ukyou frowned when she looked down on the floor and saw the black rose petals.
"Take a wild guess…" said the chef as she picked up one of the petals and showed it to the others.
"Kodachi…" said Ranma in a grim tone.
"Aiya! Psycho girl again!?" said Shampoo in displeasure.
"You all right, Layla?" asked Bloom.
"No worries, I've taken care of her." said Layla.
"Look at this! She made a mess in here!" said Stella.
Flora looks about the rose petals and sighs. Using her magic, she causes all the petals to float and gather in one place. Once all the petals were off the floor, Flora merges them into a small bouquet of red roses, the plants purged of Kodachi's influence. Catching them, she sets them in a vase.
"It's horrible how a person like that uses these roses as an MO for deceit and treachery…" said Flora.
"In any case, we'd better fix up the room before Mom gets back." Said Ranma.
A street alley, a good long distance from the Saotome complex…
Kodachi pulls herself out of the dumpster she unceremoniously crashlanded into from Layla's attack.
'Hmmm… she's a lot tougher than I thought… no matter! In the end, I shall emerge victorious!'
The crazed girl jumps out and bounds away for home while laughing.
Furinkan, a few days later…
Ranma was leading the girls to the front of the schoolyard. Layla trailed in the back, feeling exhausted from the training she underwent the past few days. At the same time, she was avoiding any attempts at being taken out by Kodachi.
The crazed gymnast had once again tried to ambush Layla at the Saotome home, but was repelled back thanks to a light barrier surrounding the house, courtesy of Stella. She was given a bit of a tan because of that, not to mention temporarily blinded. The night after that, Kodachi got repelled by a flame wall trap spell set by Bloom, causing her to crash and burn into the dumpster again. The following night, Kodachi came equipped with a metal heat-resistant suit with anti-glare goggles. That would've been good against Bloom and Stella's barrier trap, but not against Tecna's. The techno faerie had set up a net-like barrier that would shock whatever came in contact with it. Considering Kodachi's metal suit, the berrier left quite an impression. Kodachi was once again blasted into the dumpster. Fortunately for her, she was rich enough to afford good doctors to get her back in good physical condition (2)
Because of the Winx's security measures, Layla's practice went on without a hitch, with no worries of uninvited attacks.
A group of students walk up to Ranma's group. Among them were Hiroshi, Daisuke, Yuka, and Sayuri.
"Hey there! How goes Layla's training?" asked Daisuke.
"It's going great! Layla's been getting better!" replied Musa.
Ranma nodded. The water faerie was able to utilize the gymnast tools perfectly. Considering her natural athleticism, it wasn't surprising. Not only that, she was able to focus her ki into the harmless looking tools, making them deadly weapons. During one exercise, Layla was able to smash a stack of ten bricks in half with the ribbon. Ranma, Shampoo, and Ukyou couldn't be any more proud.
"Just wait! She's gonna beat St. Hebereke for sure!" said Stella.
The other students smile and share in the praise.
"You can do it, Layla!"
"We believe in you!"
"We'll be cheering you on!"
"Thanks for your help!"
Layla couldn't help but blush at the praise. She wasn't going to let them down.
From a window on the school building, Akane could only snort in disdain as she observed the students give Layla their support.
'Hmph! Why're they acting all nice to her for? They'll only be disappointed once that girl loses and regret not asking me for help! I hope Kodachi beats her down!'
Back on the ground, Ranma's danger sense went off. The rest of his group were alarmed as well. Spinning around, they saw…
"DIE LAYLA ANDROS!"
Layla was shocked to see Kodachi come down from above at her wielding a shinai. Just as Layla was about to defend herself, Kodachi's shinai was blocked by a spatula and a bonbori. The two weapons in a cross block, they werebrought together, causing the shinai to snap in two.
Kodachi leapt back once her weapon was destroyed.
"Just what is with you!? Now you come and sneak attack me in broad daylight!?" said Layla angrily. "And shouldn't you be at your own school!?"
"Sneak attack? Whatever do you mean?" said Kodachi in mock innocence. "I'm merely here to visit my Darling Ranma!"
Ranma cringed when she referred him as her 'darling'.
"Quit the bull crap, you psycho!" said Ukyou. "Ran-chan was never interested in you, nor will he ever!"
"Day that happen is day when sun freezes!" said Shampoo.
"How dare you! You know nothing, you lowly chef! Same with you, Chinese harridan!" retorted Kodachi.
"That's enough!" said Ranma as he got to the front of the group to face Kodachi.
Kodachi was quick with the delusions. "Oh Ranma Darling! Your beloved Black Rose is here! Where have you been this whole time, my love? I know! You must've been kidnapped by those harridans and held against your will! Fear not! I shall rescue you from their evil clutches!"
"Knock it off!" said Ranma, holding out his arm to stop Kodachi's advancements. "I've told you time and time again, I'm not interested in you! I don't think of you that way! I especially don't appreciate you attacking those close to me!"
Kodachi was shocked that her 'Ranma darling' would speak to her in such a tone. Was she not his beloved one and only? She then shot a glare at Shampoo and Ukyou, then towards Layla. "You! You're responsible my love cannot recognize his future wife! Enslaver!"
"What!?" said Layla. This girl was completely off her rocker!
"Hey! Just where do you get off saying that!?" said Musa, coming in defense of her friend.
"Yeah! You're just being delusional!" added Stella.
"And you need to respect Ranma's wishes." Said Flora calmly. "You're obviously agitating him."
Kodachi then glares at the rest of the foreign-looking girls and assumed that they are also part of enslaving her 'Darling Ranma'. "You wicked wicked girls! You've obviously all cast a spell on Ranma darling that keeps him from me!" She looked prepared to attack them, but had to consider her position. She was on enemy territory, vastly outnumbered. All of the students glared at her as she had no business being there in the first place. Plus, Shampoo and Ukyou were there and trying to take them on at once head on wouldn't be a good idea. Of course, she'd only do that if she could get the drop on them with traps and deceit. Basically cowards' tactics. "I propose that the loser of this tournament will have to give up Ranma forever while the winner gets to have him all to herself!"
"What!? Ranma's not an object!" said Bloom.
Kodachi ignored Bloom and looked at Ranma, who returned her gaze with an emotionless one. "Worry not, my love! I shall win you back at the tournament! I will be the one to save you! OOOOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!"
Without bothering to hear an answer, the psychotic gymnast bounds away for her school, leaving a trail of black rose petals.
"She really makes me sick…" said Ranma.
"I think her personal elevator is permanently stuck at the basement level," said Tecna.
"Believe me, girl, that's putting it lightly." Said Ukyou.
"So now what?" asked Layla.
"We'll continue after school training until the contest, like we always do, Layla." replied Ranma. "Just let her wallow in her own self-delusions."
Ranma frowned as he thought about Kodachi making that stupid bet just like last time when he fought her in his girl form. It was all like déjà vu. Sure, Ranma emerged victorious in that long and hard battle, but it was all for naught when Kodachi went back on her word on leaving him alone, and it hadn't even been a day yet. She just had to utilize that crap about 'abandoning all present affection for him' and 'created a new affection for him'. Loopholes were an awful thing. As far as Ranma was concerned, any promises made by Kodachi aren't worth shit, so why the hell should they agree to her terms? In any case, they never actually agreed to her terms, did they? Kodachi ran off assuming they accepted her wager. Well, she was in for a rude awakening.
Ranma's group and the rest of the students enter the school once the scene was over.
The day of the tournament, St. Hebereke Gymnasium…
It had been a gruelling few days of training and now the contest has finally arrived. Students of Furinkan and St. Hebereke crowd around to enter the gymnaisum where the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics tournament was to be held. Coming from another direction was Ranma's group. Nodoka, Shampoo, Ukyou, Kiko, the Winx, and the Pixies all arrive before the building.
"Well, this is it, are you ready, Layla?" asked Flora.
"As I'll ever be." Replied Layla. "I didn't go through all that hard training for nothing."
It was true. The past few days, Ranma and the girls helped Layla with her practice. Ranma would use himself as a target for Layla, which he would dodge any attempt at getting hit. In the beginning, Layla would miss by over a foot, but now she was able to strike at him, missing by scant millimeters. The fact that she's come close to hitting him proved that she's built up her speed. Shampoo and Ukyou would lash out at her with the gymnast tools to increase her evasion skills. The Winx girls would levitate and fire bricks at Layla at a rapid pace for her to break, increasing her response time. Sometimes they would fire their respective elemental powers at Layla to test her magical and ki defenses. Since Kodachi will definitely try to cheat during the match, as told by Ranma, the girls thought it would be handy for Layla to utilize her magical defenses against whatever cheap tricks the gymnast will throw at her.
"Just remember your lessons in ki manipulation, Layla, and you'll pull through." Said Nodoka. "Do us proud."
"Don't worry, I won't forget, Saotome-sensei." Said Layla.
"Well then, I'm going to go to our seats. Ukyou! Shampoo!"
The two girls followed Nodoka towards the doors heading to the bleachers. The others head towards the changing rooms.
Guest changing room…
"This must be it…" said Flora as she opened the door. The dressing room was quite spaceous.
"Hey, what's that?" asked Chatta as she points at an object on the table.
"It looks like a bouquet…" said Digit.
"Oh, what a thoughtful gift!" said Amore.
Ranma became nervous, however, when he saw that the bouquet consisted of…
"Black roses!? Look out!"
Suddenly, the bouquet started to spasm, then seep out smoke. Thinking fast, Tecna springs forward and…
"Containment Sphere!"
The bouquet was suddenly encased in a green transparent sphere of energy, where the bouquet blows up with a muffled explosion due to the sphere containing the blast. The sphere soon filled up with noxious fumes.
"Whoa… nice save, Tecna." Said Musa.
"Thanks, though it was a bit close." said Tecna.
"I don't believe this! Even now, she's still trying to take Layla out before the match begins!" said Bloom.
"That girl is SERIOUSLY starting to crease me!" said Layla.
"Well it's clear now. Better get ready." Said Ranma as he goes to stand outside the door.
St. Hebereke Gymnasium fighting ring…
"Welcome, one and all, to the St. Hebereke vs. Furinkan High Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament!" the announcer called out from her mic at the center of the ring.
The crowds cheered at the opening announcement. The stands were packed with many spectators. On one side sat the Furinkan students and supporters, and the other the St. Hebereke students and supporters. Sitting on the front at the Furinkan side were Nodoka, Shampoo, and Ukyou. A ways from them and slightly higher were Nabiki and Akane. Sitting near the fron of the St. Hebereke side was Tatewaki Kuno, with his ever present bokuto at his side.
Near the ringside was the commentator and judge tables.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if we may have your attention please, the rhythmic gymnastics match may begin at any moment!" said the commentator.
"And the contestants are ready!" said the ring announcer.
A spotlight shines down at the visitors' corner. Coming out was Layla in all her glory. She was clad in a magenta neck-baring leotard with an image of a splashing dolphin running up her left side in blue thread. It rode up a bit in the rear as the leotard hugged her form like a second skin. Her hair was tied in a top-knot. Following behind her were Ranma, the Winx, and the Pixies (of course, no one could see the little familiars floating about).
'I'm so glad I'm not the one fighting this time…' thought Ranma.
"The challenger from Furinkan is entering the ring!" said the commentator.
Layla calmly walks towards the ring. Once arrived, she jumps and somersaults onto the mat. This earned her much applause from the Furinkan side, especially from the Layla fanclub gathered in a certain section on the stands. Layla smiles as she waves to the crowds.
"My, she certainly is quite confident! And she's got a lot of fans, apparently! She's raring to go! Will it be enough for the fight? Only time will tell!"
The gymnasium suddenly goes dark, followed by several spotlights shining down towards the center of the ring. This catches everyone's attention as they all looked up to see…
"And here's St. Hebereke's number one gymanst, Kodachi Kuno, making her entrance!"
Entrance music started to play. Kodachi was slowly being lowered to the mat from above by a trapeze swing. Thing was, she was not in her leotard, but in a white wedding dress. She wore a condensing smirk on her face as she looked down on Layla. Layla wondered what she was thinking, wearing something so impractical for a fight.
"As usual, Kodachi Kuno makes a grand entrance! And isn't that dress just fabulous?"
Fireworks then shot out to emphasize Kodachi's appearance. Again, Ranma cringed. If he remembered right, then what would most likely come next will be…
"LOOK OUT!"
Layla became alarmed when one of the fireworks turned out to be a rocket bomb and came hurtling towards her.
"LAYLA!"
Musa quickly responds. "SOUND BOUNCE!"
Drawing on Kodachi's entrance music, Musa hits the rocket with a concentrated blast of sound, deflecting it away from Layla. As for the deflection course…
Kodachi's eyes widened and eeped in shock as the rocket headed right for her. This wasn't supposed to happen! Before she could do anything, she gets hit by the rocket, which explodes on impact. This takes everyone, sans Ranma, by surprise as Kodachi's form was obscured in smoke.
"Oh my! An explosion has just occurred above the ring! What has happened up there? Is Kodachi all right?"
'I seriously hope not…' thought Ranma, Shampoo, and Ukyou at the same time.
Kodachi drops unceremoniously onto the mat, face-first. She was now in her St. Hebereke leotard, though is a bit on the crispy side due to the bomb and her dress getting blown off. Coughing, she slowly gets back up and glares at Layla. "How dare you do that to me! You ruined my wedding dress I was going to wear for my Ranma Darling!"
Layla and the Winx at the ring side just glare at her. "Excuse me? You're the one who tried to blow ME up!"
"No excuses! I shall take you down!"
"What a surprise! Kodachi is still able to stand and fight even after being blown up by a bomb prop! Truly an athlete!" said the commentator. "And here they are! Both combatants are in the ring!"
The ring anouncer then takes over. "In the blue corner, from our own St. Hebereke School for Girls, Kodachi Kuno!"
The crowds of St. Hebereke cheered as Kodachi stood in her corner waving and raking in the applause.
"In the red corner, representing Furinkan High School, Layla Andros!"
The crowds from Furinkan cheered as Layla stood in her corner and waved. She then looks at Ranma and her friends at the ring side. "Wish me luck!"
"Go get her, Layla!" said Chatta.
"We'll be rooting for you!" said Flora.
Akane vents her displeasure. "You'd better not disgrace our school, outsider! If Furinkan loses face, it's your fault!"
Everyone glares at her, which she ignored due to her hotheadedness.
'She's really sarting to crease me, too…' thought Layla angrily.
"All right, ladies, to the center of the ring." Said the announcer. Layla and Kodachi walked up to the center and gave each other hard glares.
'I shall take down this gaijin hussy, then her gaijin friends and finally free my darling Ranma from whatever enslavement they put on him!'
'This is it… I shall avenge all my club members you have attacked!'
"Let's keep this a clean fight, you two!" said the announcer.
Layla could only inwardly snort. Kodachi actually fighting fair? As if that could ever happen.
"Now the moment you've all been waiting for! St. Hebereke vs. Furinkan High in an anything goes fight to the finish!" said the commentator.
It was then that the round bell was rung, signalling the start of the battle. Kodachi twirls a rope in her hand while carrying two clubs in the other. Layla whips out her ribbon and gets into a stance. As the girls sized each other up, the commentator goes on to explain the rules.
"The only legal attacks are with the tools, as bare-handed attacks are strictly forbidden! Ther is no time limit, and if you're knocked out or fall out of the ring, you automatically lose!"
"Let's see what you've got, hussy!"
Kodachi whips at Layla with the rope. The dark-skinned girl dodges or blocks using her own ribbon. The Black Rose, after some misses, snaps the rope, causing it to somehow straighten out and solidify. Layla became confused as to how that happened, but had no time to ponder as Kodachi started swinging it at her like a rod.
"Amazing! Champion Kodachi is handling the rope as if it were a steel bar!"
Kodachi charges forward with an overhead smash. Layla manages to dodge, then cringes when she saw the stiffened rope smash into the mat, burying deep. "What the!?"
"Oh! Wait a minute! It IS a steel bar!"
Kodachi releases the bar, leaving it jammed into the floor, in favor of her clubs. Hold one in each hand, she starts to punch at Layla with them.
Layla dodges her strikes, then became shocked when one of the club's heads instantaneously sprouted numerous needle spies like a mace.
"What is this!? That club's got spikes in it!" said Stella.
"I thought this was supposed to be a contest!" said Bloom.
Kiko looked scared for Layla as she was locked in a battl with this psycho who seemed to be out for her blood.
"Unfortunately, nothing can be done about it." Said Ranma, remembering his own experience. "It's all legal as long as it's not a bare-handed attack."
"Why you…" Layla was starting to get angry at Kodachi's dirty tricks. Taking her ribbon, she lassos the Kuno sibling around her ankle and trips her up, causing her to drop her clubs. Layla jumps back to get some fighting room.
Kodachi angrily gets back on her feet. "Impudent woman! How dare you get in the was of claiming my darling Ranma!"
"Quit talking like you own him!" said Layla.
"My darling and I are joined by fate! Who are you to judge fate?"
"You're just being delusional! He makes it perfectly obvious that he's not interested in you!"
"You wicked wicked girl! You stand in the way of an innocent maiden's true romance! For that, the Black Rose will administer divine justice! HOOP!"
"Captain!" a girl at Kodachi's corner throws a hoop into the ring, catching around her arm.
"Take this!" Kodachi throws the hoop at Layla.
Remembering her training, and the info she got from Ranma, letting the hoop hit her was not a good idea. Ducking, she looks over and sees the hoop shear off the top of one of the ring posts.
"And there it is, folks! Champion Kodachi's trademark Razor Hoop attack! That would've certainly left a mark if it had hit!"
"Oh no! Layla!" said Amore. If she hadn't have dodged in time, Layla would've been sliced in two.
"I don't think I can ever look at hula hoops the same way again…" said Musa.
As Layla was distracted by the missed hoop, Kodachi takes out her ribbon and lashes at her. Recovering, Layla rolls out of the way from the multiple ribbon strikes as it made cracking sounds upon impact with the mat.
"Layla!" Ranma throws in a pair of clubs, which Layla catches.
Using the clubs, Layla twirls them, deflecting the ribbon strikes away from herself.
"Use this, too!" Stella then throws in a rubber ball. Understanding, Layla then kicks the ball straight at Kodachi, hitting her in the gut and knocking her back.
She lost grip on her ribbon and gets up angrily while brandishing a pair of clubs. "You're persistant like a cockroach! I'll make sure to stomp you!"
"Just bring it, you friggin' psychopath!" retorted Layla. (3) "I don't think beating sense into you will be enough!" She goes into a stance with the clubs.
"How laughable that you still insist on taking me on!" said Kodachi with arrogance. "I am the rising new star of the high school gymnastics world! The beautiful flower of St. Hebereke, Kodachi the Black Rose! Now tremble in fear as you face the dreaded attack of…"
Kodachi holds out her clubs to the side, then slowly lifts her arms, giving off after-images. She then charges forward.
"... 1000 CLUBS!!!"
Layla desperately tries to block the rapid-fire club technique from Kodachi. Fortunately, Ranma help to train her in defending against high-speed attacks by using his Amaguriken on her. Although she couln't stop all of Ranma's club punches, she was able to block or deflect a majority of them. Plus, Kodachi's technique wasn't as fast as the Amazon technique.
Nevertheless, she had to stop it.
"Use this, Layla!" Flora tosses in a rubber ball towards her friend.
Layla jumps back and spikes the ball at Kodachi, causing her to drop her clubs, all twenty of them.
"Oh no! Kodachi's Attack of the 1000 Clubs had turned out to be a bust!"
"Harridan!" Kodachi rolls away, picking up her ribbon as she did so. Jumping up onto one of the ring posts, she whips out her ribbon and ensnares the round bell. She then flicks it towards Layla.
"Champion Kodachi brings a bell into play!"
Layla dives out of the way after the bell struck the mat and rolled off the ring.
"What…?"
"An opening!" Again, Kodachi whips out her ribbon, snagging a folding chair and throws it at Layla.
Ranma was starting to get a feeling of déjà vu. "It's just like how I did it…"
"How barbaric!" said Tune.
"Two can play that game!" Layla jumps to one of the posts and uses her ribbon to snag the commentator's desk.
"Oh no!" The commentator grabs her mic off the table before Layla snagged it away. "Challenger Layla throws in a desk!"
Kodachi smirks as she takes a hoop and uses it to slice the desk into quarters. "It is useless! Useless!"
She throws the hoop at Layla, who quickly ducks it. Using the distractin, Kodachi uses her ribbon to ensnare Layla.
"Crap!" Layla cursed.
"Challenger Layla has ben put into a bind! What will she do?"
"Ohohoho! Now then…" Jumping up, Kodachi somehow produces several rubber balls and barrages them at the bound Layla.
To the Winx's horror, the balls exploded on impact with the mat.
"It's Champion Kodachi's patented Bomb Ball attack! Could this be it for Challenger Layla?"
Kodachi lands and laughs. "My dear girl, you are nothing more than a smear on the floor now!"
Once the smoke cleared, Layla was seen standing up. She looked a little winded, but otherwise all right.
"But how!?" said Kodachi.
"What a shocker! Challenger Layla had somehow managed to escape the bombball attack unscathed! It must be some sort of miracle!"
Akane snorts. 'Hmph! She just got lucky, that's all!'
Actually, while Layla was bound to the ribbon, she quickly used her power over the Morphix to slice her way out of the bonds. Afterwards, once the explosions happened, the Faerie of Water produced a barrier of water to buffer the explosions. She dropped it once all the bombs were off.
"You really are a roach! Hard to stop and twice as ugly!" said Kodachi.
Layla's eyes narrowed at the insult. "You should take a look at yourself before saying that!"
"How dare you, peasant!" said Kodachi.
Layla could only scoff. This girl dares to mouth off to people as if they're degenerates. If she only knew that Layla was a princess at her own realm, but that was beside the point. She was going to knock this girl off her high horse.
Kodachi throws more of the bomb balls at Layla. She desperately dodges all the explosions.
"What a sight! The ring is filled with explosions caused by Champion Kodachi's bomb balls! It's like a mine field!"
Layla utilized all her speed and agility to avoid getting blown up. This continued on for a while as the crowds started to get worried.
"Stop running, you coward! You're being a disgrace to our school!" Akane shouted while standing from her seat. All the people around her stare at her. "What? She's just wimping out!"
Ranma and the Winx glared at the violent tomboy in the stands. Nodoka, Shampoo, and Ukyou also showed displeasure at her remark.
Layla was also angry at Akane's remark, but had to focus on the battle. Once it became apparent that Kodachi ran out of bomb balls, she went back to another tactic.
"Let's see how much more you can take, girlie!" Lashing out with her ribbon, Kodachi snags a cooler and chucks it at Layla. She jumps to the side before the container and its hydration fluids could hit her.
Kodachi doesn't stop, however, as she then snags a fewfolding chairs and hurls them at Layla. Again, she tries to dodge, but one of the chairs manages to hit her on her left side.
"Aaaagh!!!"
"Layla!" shouted the Pixies.
Layla plops down on one knee as she clutches her side.
"Ohohohohoho! That position suits you, dear." Said Kodachi.
Layla glares at the insane gymnast with defiance. "I'm not out yet!"
"Oh, but you will be, soon!" Suddenly, Kodachi leaps back and uses her ribbon to snag something, or rather, someone. Kuno was immediately wrapped up in her ribbon and was sent hurtling towards the ring.
"Champion Kodachi attempts to land the finishing blow with her brother!"
"Get up and fight, you wimp! You really are worthless!" shouted Akane.
Layla was steamed now. 'That's it! I've had it!'
Quickly getting up, Layla uses her ribbon and follow Kodachi's lead.
"What the!? AAAAUUUGGHHH!!!!"
Layla snags and hurls Akane towards Kodachi.
"Challenger Layla quickly counters with a fellow Furinkan classmate!"
WHAM!
Hard head meets hard head. The two human projectiles crash into a heap on the ring, knocking them out. Nabiki could only sigh. "Akane, you really need to watch what you say." As far as she was concerned, Akane brought that on herself.
"Oh Akane Tendo! To be this close to you is heaven!" said Kuno before slumping into unconsciousness.
Ranma and the Winx could only smile at Layla's action. It was about time the uncute tomboy was shut up. In the stands, Shampoo and Ukyou couldn't help but burst out laughing. After using Akane like a flail weight, they started to like Layla even more.
"Hmm… I may not have finished you off, but at least I got a good hit on Akane Tendo." Said Kodachi. "I suppose I should thank you."
"I wanted to do that, anyway!" said Layla.
"Take this!" Kodachi uses her ribbon to ensnare Kuno again and whips him towards Layla.
At that moment, Akane gets up, just in time to see Layla dodge Kuno's body. However, she wasn't as lucky as the kendoist slammed into her and knocked the both of them out of the ring. Akane was once again out like a light.
"Thanks. They were kind of in the way." Said Layla.
"My pleasure, now prepare to lose!" Kodachi lashes out with her ribbon.
Layla counters by lashing her own ribbon to counter Kodachi's moves.
As they continued to attempt to ribbon whip each other, Kodachi stomps her foot three times in succession on the mat. Sudenly, a harpoon stabs upward from the mat right in front of Layla, just missing her chin.
"Whoa!"
"Huh!?" said Ranma.
The harpoon quickly pulls back under.
"Shocking! A harpoon just suddenly came out from under the mat?"
Kodachi smirks as she stomps her foot again.
Layla starts to roll just as a line of harpoons stab upward from the mat in a wave.
"What is this, an ancient ruin!?" said Layla.
Ranma slaps himself on the head. "CRAP! I knew I forgot something!"
"Ranma? What is it?" asked Flora.
"I forgot about the ring! Kodachi rigged it, too, when I fought her!" said Ranma. "Layla! The ring! Flush it out!"
Layla nods and slams her palm onto the mat. "Flush Flood!"
"Move it!" Ranma directs the other Winx to get away from the ring.
The ring started to rumble. Suddenly, water pours out from all sides.
"What is this? Water has suddenly poured out from under the ring!"
"EEEEEEEEEEKK!!!"
Apparently, something else was pouring out, too. Several leotard-clad girls with harpoons get flushed out.
"And in another surprise, the entire St. Hebereke gymnastics team is washing away from under the ring!"
Layla glares at Kodachi. "You rotten cheater!"
"Cheater? It was simply a team effort, darling." Said Kodachi.
Layla was getting pissed off. She wasn't the only one, though. Ranma and his group, as well as the Furikan students, were all getting pissed off at Kodachi's less than honorable tactics. She had tried to blow up, slice, or impale the faerie throughout the whole match.
Ranma then calls out to her. "Enough, Layla! Just use your powers! If this is how she wants to fight, then you've got the right to respond in kind!"
Layla smirks at Ranma's logic. Let's see how Kodachi likes to have her own loopholes used against her!
"Well now, I guess I won't have to hold back an longer…" said Layla.
"Oohohohohoho! And what can you possibly do different, hussy?" taunted Kodachi.
"You should stop laughing. Otherwise, you'll drown out the warning signals screaming at you from what passes as your brain!"
"What was that!?" Kodachi gets her ribbon to bear and whips it at her, intent on causing major damage.
Layla drops her ribbon, powers up, and…
"HYDRO BALL!"
Kodachi was suddenly knocked back by a ball of water shot from Layla's hands. She gets up sputtering. "Huh!?"
"What a twist! Challenger Layla somehow shot what appears to be a ball of water at Champion Kodachi!"
Layla holds out her fist, which was surounded by water.
"HYDRO STRAIGHT!"
Punching forward, the water around Layla's fist extends into a solid arm of water, punching Kodachi in the kisser.
Getting up from the attack completely soaked, she gives a hard glare to her opponent. "Hey! No bare handed attacks, you cheater!"
Layla frowns. After what happened before and during the match, she dared to call HER a cheater? "Why don't you just shut up, you hypocrite! And I'm not using my bare hands! I'm using WATER!"
"It's true! Challenger Layla didn't use her bare hands in the attack! Good thing for her that water is a valid weapon!"
Kodachi eeped when he heard that announcement. "THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!"
"You've got no right to gripe about fairness! HYDRO BOMB!"
Layla jumps up and does the water version of Kodachi's bomb ball barrage. Kodachi desperately tried to dodge the watery explosions of Layla's attack. The shoe was on the other foot, now.
"Incredible! Challenger Layla has Champion Kodachi on the run! Then again, with so much water bombs, that's not surprising!"
The St. Hebeke spectators gasp when seeing their star athlete getting bombarded. The Furinkan side, however, started to cheer her on.
Layla lands back onto the mat and faces Kodachi, who looked winded, drenched, and intimidated.
"You're… you're a monster!" said Kodachi.
Layla's eyes narrowed. "No, Kodachi. The only monster here is you. You go around bullying people you believe to be beneath you and attack others in a cowardly manner. You use your status to throw your weight around and believe that you're entitled to everything just because you say so. You believe in your own delusions, you've lost sight of reality. Well, it's time to WAKE UP!"
With those words, Layla started to power up again. Kodachi braces herself.
'No! I musn't lose! I'll never lose! I am the Black Rose! I won't give up my darling Ranma to those hussies! I shall free him!'
Kodachi goes into a suicidal lunge with her two spiked clubs. "RANMA DARLING IS MINE!"
Big mistake.
"This is for Kyoiya!"
Layla produces a quarterstaff of water and slams it into Kodachi's head, causing her to drop her weapons. She follows up the attack with a water pole thrust in her gut, making her double over.
"This is for my club members!"
The water faerie lifts her leg and does a roundhouse kick, firing off an arc of water, slamming into Kodachi.
"This is for all the pain you've caused Ranma in the past!"
Layla produces a water ball with a diameter of three feet and sends it crashing down on top of Kodachi, knocing her down. She remembered how much crap Kodachi put Ranma through after seeing his memories while in his mindscape. Why Kodachi would think Ranma would love her despite all her blackmail, attempts to drug him, and breaking promises were beyond Layla. (4)
Kodachi refused to go down and defiantly gets back up. However, it would've been best if she had just stayed down.
"And this… IS FOR ME!" Layla was surrounded by an aura of water. "FOR JUST PISSING ME OFF!!!"
The water around Layla condensed as she prepares her final attack.
"JET GEYSER!!!"
A huge stream of water erupted from Layla's body and shot up at an angle towards Kodachi.
"AAAAAAUUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!"
Kodachi was hit hard by the constant stream of H2O and was sent flying out of the ring. She crashes onto the gym floor in a large puddle of water.
The ref quickly goes to her side to check her condition. She was simply knocked out, BAD. The ref signals to the commentator that Kodachi was fine. Nodding, she goes to finish her report.
"OUTSTANDING THE WINNER IS LAYLA ANDROS OF THE FURINKAN TEAM BY A WATERSLIDE!"
The Furinkan crowds let of a thunderous round of applause at her victory via knockout AND ring out. Soon, the crowds started to chant her name.
The announcer holds up Layla's arm in victory. "Winner by knockout and ring out, Layla Andros!"
Layla waves to the crowds before getting off the ring where she was joined by Ranma's group.
"You did it, Layla! You won!" said Bloom as she hugged her friend. Kiko also expressed his praise by rubbing himself against Layla's cheek.
"Congratulations!" said Flora.
"You were fabulous, my student." Said Nodoka.
"Thanks, you guys. I couldn't have done it without you." said Layla.
"That quite number you give psycho girl!" said Shampoo. She only regrets that she wasn't the one to dish out the pain on Kodachi.
"Was… that too much?" asked Layla.
"You kidding? I don't think that was enough for her!" said Ukyou.
Everyone laughs at this. Layla looks over to Ranma, who smiles at her proudly. Her performance was beyond his expectations.
Soon, the Furinkan spectators crowd around the group, cheering her on while chanting Layla's name.
Saotome complex, later that night…
Ranma and the girls were in the living room as Nodoka was getting dinner prepared.
"That was a tough match…" said Layla as she reclined on the couch.
"You deserve a long rest after all that, Layla." said Flora.
Piff flies over and perches herself on Layla's shoulder. She nuzzles against her cheek.
"By the way, I've managed to catch that Nabiki girl doing something during the contest." Said Stella.
"What? What was she doing?" asked Musa.
"It looked like she was taking pictures." Replied Stella.
"I guess it's for the school newspaper." Bloom said.
Ranma got worried. "Hold on, with Nabiki, it can't be good."
"Huh? What do you mean, Ranma?" asked Zing.
"That right! Too too sneaky girl always plotting money schemes!" said Shampoo.
Ranma nodded. "As Shampoo said, Nabiki must've been taking provocative shots of you to sell to the local perverts around here."
"What!? She wouldn't!" said Flora. That's like an invasion of privacy!
"I wouldn't put it past her, Flora." Said Ranma. "She'd do anything to make money." He remembered his own experiences when Nabiki sold pictures of his girl form to all the perverts in the area.
"If you all are worried about that, then don't be." Said Tecna.
"That's right! We've taken care of it!" said Digit.
This caught everyone's interest.
"Oh? What did you do, Tecna?" ased Ukyou.
"I was suspiscious when Nabiki and two other girls were taking photos of the match with their digital cameras." Said Tecna. "I had Digit go check them out, considering what Ranma told us about her."
"Turns out that all the photos were shots of Layla in some very flattering angles." Said Digit.
They all blushed at that comment.
"Well, take a look." Digit forms a digital camera and a holo-screen in mid-air. The screen went into a slide show depicting Layla in her skimpy leotard, twisted in different positions when fighting Kodachi. Ranma blushed. He didn't know Layla was THAT flexible.
"Oh my…" said Flora.
"Don't worry, we've taken out all the images and replaced them with something else." Said Digit.
Layla sighs in relieve. She won't have to worry about becoming a victim of taboo or anything. However, there was just one other thing unanswered.
"So what did you replace Nabiki's photos with?" asked Layla.
"Well, as you know, technology is my forte." Said Tecna. "I can easily recreate digital images and had Digit transfer them. What the images were? Well…"
The tecno faierie could only grin deviously.
Tendo household, Nabiki's room…
The middle Tendo sister grins with satisfaction. Since Ranma's absence, her usual income wasn't coming in as big as she had hoped. Now that he's arrived with his six beautiful faerie girlfriends, opportunity rose. There had been much demand of anything involving the new transfer students. When there's demand, there's profit to be made. Getting those shots of Layla in her skimpy leotard was practically a gold mine to her. She planned to sell them to the masses at inflated prices.
"Hmmm… 50000 yen each would be a good start. Those guys will do anything to get something of the=ose gaijins." Said Nabiki. "Now to see what I've got…"
Turning on her computer, she hooks up her digital cam to save copies of the photos. Nabiki clicks the photo folder containing the camera's contents. However….
"GYAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
Nabiki screamed in disgust as the photo folder contained pictures of not Layla in her leotard, but of Tatewaki Kuno wearing nothing but a sumo thong.
In two other houses in Nerima, we hear the screams of Nabiki's cronies as they, too, were subjected to the same horrifying visions on their computers.
At the Saotome complex, one could hear the laughter of a group of faeries.
To be continued…
Preview…
Layla: It's done! We can leave the contest behind us.
Stella: Well, time to get back to more important things!
Zing: All right! The Wheel again!
Ranma: That was a quick change of pace. Tecna? What're you doing?
Tecna: I've found something we can do, Ranma!
Ranma: Huh? In there?
Bloom: Just what is she planning? Next time, on Ranma Club, 'Go Virtual! Tecna's Trip!'
Tecna: You've got to see this place, Ranma.
Ending (Ranma ½ style, 'Platonic Love')
Ranma is seen reclining on the grass looking out into the clear sky. Sitting next to him with her back turned is Nodoka, sipping tea.
Dare mo inai umibe ni anata to futari (You and I are together, alone at the beach)
Hashagi-sugita toki ga shizumaru (It's time to settle down after some frolicking)
Ranma and Nodoka look up as they see the Pixie fly by. They wave and go back to looking at the scenery.
Mukuchi ni natta hitomi ga naze ka kowai wa (I wonder why I'm getting scared of your silent eyes)
Sora mo umi mo nami mo toonoku no (The sky, the sea and the waves seem so faraway)
Bloom and Stella arrive and sit near Ranma. He acknowledges tham and they watch the sky together. Flora then comes in and sits near the group.
Ah Koyubi ga furete mo shooto shisou yo (Ah, you'd short-circuit me just by touching me with your pinkie)
Tecna walks in and joins the rest.
Ai ga sodatsu made sukoshi matte (Please can you hold on till we've really justified our love)
Inally, Musa and Layla walk in and seat themselves down. Ranma looks about and realizes how close the girs were sitting next to him and gets flustered.
At each beat, we see a headshot of each Winx before landing on Ranma, then to a gigling Nodoka.
Kuchibiru no sunatsubu sotto haratte (I saw myself inside your eyes)
Anata no me no naka no watashi wo miru (As you wipe the sand off my lips)
Ranma blushes as all the girls giggle. They all stand up to look at the sky background. A street-cleaning car drives by.
Puratonikku wo tsuranuite ne (Let's go through this platonic love)
Yakusoku yo (Promise me)
Puratonikku de tsuranuite ne (Let's get through with platonic love)
Anata ga suki (I love you)
Zooming out, we see that the sky background is just a well-painted billboard. As they were really in a lot in the middle of Nerima. Sitting on top of either side of the billboard were Neko-Shampoo and Kitsune-Ukyou. At the lower righthand corner of the billboard was the 'Ranma Club' logo.
End ending
Author's notes:
Finally done! I was away on vacation for a while and now back on track. Sorry for the wait, people.
(1)A line from AnimeAddiction's "Fighting Blind" story.
(2)Like her brother, Kodachi has a flat line for a learning curve. Plus, her armed with military armor shouldn't come as a surprise. In the episode where Sasuke gets thrown out of the Kuno home and into the Tendo Dojo, the Kuno siblings got into a fight with each other using huge military-grade weapons, all simply because Kuno ate the cookies Kodachi made to give to Ranma. To tell the truth, the appearance of guns in this series came as a surprise to me… even Mousse doesn't use those.
(3)AndrewK9000's idea.
(4)Kodachi's not right in the head, just like her brother. She just assumes Ranma's in love with her, despite the glaring evidence stating otherwise. He's not even a real fiancee and has no realclaim on him. Plus, she blackmailed Ranma with those edited photos of them, even after she said she wouldn't show them to people as long as Ranma ate her cookies. Let's not forget all those times Kodachi tried to paralyze Ranma with those damn bouquets.
Ryan L. Spradling: Managed to get this chapter in on time. Happy B-Day!
Awlric Hayell: I'm glad you like the story. It's my first one and I wanted to do something original. As fellow author, FreedomGuard, told me, people tend to like original. And yes, 4Kids = epic failure in the worse case.
Princess Asuna: Glad you're enjoying it. 4kids really do suck ass. As to why they don't release shows that perfectly dub? Their own brainlessness which only destroys the reps of the they do shows. Look at Yu-Gi-Oh. I've seen a DVD of it, and the only languages were English and Spanish, the Spanish unfortunately translating 4Kids' crappy lines. That and the fact that the shows have horrid visual edits done to them.
Erick Genryusai: Personal favorite of mine is Stella as Felicia. WHOOOOOT! No, Chun Li just doesn't cut it for me. In fact, I hated her ever since seeing her ending in Pocket Fighter… plus, you've ever seen what Iroha looks like? Thriller, huh? Hmmm….. Yo man! Flora and Ranma in the forest? I'm not trying to write a hentai here, you naughty dude!
Chm01: Sexy costumes FTW!!!
Jerry Unipeg: I'm surprised at you, Jerry. You didn't put a rating on my Omake chapter!
Rubius: I wholeheartedly agree with you. I also believe that Ranm/Akane pairing is a crime against nature, even moreso than you.
Andrew9000: Oh the jello reference should be obvious, considering the girls. Anyone else know? Hehehe…
Youko-Taichou: Sad how Japanese and Eurpoean animation can get away with such things when US animation can't nowadays… I'm jealous… Ranma and the Winx in Juuban? To tell the truth, I was toying with that idea… hmmm…
Dark-Magician-41: You ought to see what comes in future chapters!
ThePageMaster1630: WHAT!? I'm sorry, but I think your friend is a retard for even thinking that 4Kids is worth anything in dubbing. Really? They had that in Powerpuff Girls? If that's the case, then 4Kids is a bunch of hypocrites if other US animation companies allow that in their shows. Remember Captain Planet in the mid 90's? I've counted at least five episodes that contained blood, and one death, as it dealt with real life issues while being entertaining. Yes, Kenshin kicked ass, too. I wouldn't call Kaoru useless. In the anime, she at least took part in the Takeda arc when Kenshin and crew fought Aoshi's group to save Megumi, also in the fight against the Scythe guy during the Shishio arc. She can at least DO things, unlike Akane. Plus, people can at least eat Kaoru's cooking, while anyone who eats Akane's would wind up in the ER. I swear, I wouldn't be surprised if the stuff Akane cooks could be used as biological warfare.
Kamen Rider Den-O: My funniest one!
Today's…
Rai vs 4Kids Rant!
This is going to be a smaller one than usual, considering the length of this chapter. The topic: Twinning with the Witches (US: Exchange Students).
This is the episode in season 2 where the Winx girls go and attend classes at Cloud Tower. The reasoning for each version is different, as usual...
4Kids: Faragonda says that in order to fight Darkar, they must "immerse themselves in darkness to understand the dark arts" and thus they become the unwilling exchange students to Cloud Tower.
Rai: Faragonda originally sends the Winx girls to Cloud Tower because both she and Griffon believe that the Trix with strike Cloud Tower next for their piece of the Codex. Basically, they're serving as extra security, of course the witches seem to be slaves to pride and are disgusted at the fact of asking for help from faeries.
The two witch instructors who met them explained that Cloud Tower is actually a living, breathing creature composed of spells by ancient witches. Cut out was the part where Stella gets sick in the stomach from that revelation.
The first lecture by Griffon was editted in a stupid way with more idiotic line-changing.
4Kids:
Griffon: "If you came across a hungry little kitten crying pitifully in an alley, what would you do.... Flora?" (Huh?)
Flora: "Uh... take it home and feed it and give it a really cute name?"
Griffon: "Oh Flora, that's so sweet of you, but NO!" (the students laugh at Flora) "That kitten's misery would give you enough dark energy to cast at least three skin-rot spells!" (WTF!? This seriously overemphasizes on fairytale witches too much...)
Flora: "Oh... right... skin-rot spells.... wouldn't want to pass up on those..." (What I want to pass up on is this stupid version of the show…)
Rai:
Griffon: "We'll begin with a simple exercise: producing energy by conjuring up dark images. Flora, will you start us off?"
Flora: "Uh... aren't we gonna divide up into groups to practice first?"
Griffon: "In groups? Witches working in GROUPS!?" (the students laugh at Flora) "Listen up, Faeries. Teammates can BETRAY one another! That's why a witch depends on NO ONE but herself!"
Flora: "Yes, but... I mean, yes ma'am, if that's how witchcraft works."
The darkness orb practice session
4Kids:
Griffon: "Now remember, everyone, the secret to powerful witchcraft is to embrace darkness and suppress anything light."
Stella: (makes a light orb) "I wasn't cut out for witchcraft."
Griffon: "Well then try thinking of something you despise, Stella!" (yeah, like this version of the show, for instance...)
Stella: "The problem is, I despise darkness and embrace the light!"
Rai:
Griffon: "Many of our spells require darkness as a primary source of energy, so it's important to learn to subdue light."
Stella: (makes a light orb) "Sorry, but I don't do darkness."
Griffon: "You realize that the grades you make here will end up on your permanent record?"
Stella: "Have you SEEN my permanent record? These marks'll fit right in!" (Ah, Stella, ever the delinquent, even when not in her own school)
Personalities are a little switched as well
4Kids:
Lucy: "We wouldn't've had to if Bloom hadn't given up the Dragon Fire!"
Stella: "You know, they kind of have a point there..."
Tecna: "The Dragon Fire was taken."
Stella: "Oh yeah, that's right!" (again, over-emphasis on Stella's flakiness.)
Rai:
Lucy: "Rumor has it that Bloom actually GAVE them what they wanted!"
Stella: "How dare you say that about Bloom!"
Tecna: "Technically, that's true."
Stella: "Who's side are you on!?" (It makes more sense that Stella was the one defending Bloom. She's not as flaky as her 4Kids counterpart.)
Please read and review! Tecna's date is next! See you next chapter!