Disclaimer: Ranma belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video and Winx Club belongs to Iginio Straffi and Rai S.p.A (NOT 4Kids!). Song 'Catch You Catch Me' belongs to Cardcaptor Sakura.
Note: This follows the Rai version of Winx as the 4Kids version butchered it too much, like with every anime it dubbed.
Chapter 67: Going Green! The Nature of Flora!
Alfea, Winx dorm, balcony…
It was a sunny day at the College of Faeries. Flora was out on the balcony humming to herself as she tended to some plants she had put out.
"Here's some water for you, my darlings!" said Flora as she used a watering can to water the plants. Setting the can down, Flora took out a dropper-topped bottle from her skirt pocket. Carefully plucking off a leaf from a plant, Flora unscrewed the dropper from the bottle and applied a small drop of the bottle's contents on the leaf, which caused it to multiply into five leaves. "This should be enough for my experiment."
Flora entered the dorm and returned to the room she shares with Bloom. On a nearby table was a complex chemistry apparatus. Thankfully, this one was more compact than the last time she did this during that Black Mud Swamp trip. She was already in the process of collecting extract from the leaves she brought in before mixing it with a formula in a separate flask. It was then Bloom and Ranma entered.
"Hey, Flora! What're you working on this time?" asked Bloom.
"Oh, Bloom, Ranma!" said Flora. "I'm trying to synthesize a formula that can counteract spell-induced insomnia."
"Spell-induced insomnia?" asked Ranma.
"It's like the reverse of a cursed sleep." Flora explained. "Witches sometimes use it as a prank to make their victims too tired to do anything but are unable to sleep no matter what. What most people don't know is that staying awake for too long can be dangerous to your health."
"Sounds nasty…" said Ranma. Considering what he went through back when he was living in Nerima, sleep was the most peaceful time for him.
"So how are you going to test this?" asked Bloom.
"Actually…" said Flora.
Later, commons area…
A baggy-eyed Mousse was sitting on a couch with Shilly next to him. All the other girls were present.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Mousse." Said a worried Shilly.
"It's fine. I'm just glad it didn't happen to you." Said Mousse.
About two days ago, Mousse and Shilly were strolling through the park, until a rival witch tried to blast her with a spell. Mousse sensed the attack and shielded Shilly from it, taking the shot. An angry Shilly then blasted the witch back, sending her splashing into the park's lake. Afterwards, she checked up on Mousse, who assured her he was fine, but was confused as to what the attack was since it didn't hurt. It was then that Mousse had found out he couldn't sleep no matter what even though he was dead tired. Turned out that witch was jealous of Shilly for having a boyfriend and tried to prank her out of pettiness.
"Man! Those bags are no joke!" said Stella as she looked at Mousse's tired face.
"Well we can't have that, now can we?" said Flora as she had finished synthesizing the antidote into a pill form. She presents it to Mousse and a glass of water. "Take this. It should help with the insomnia."
"Thanks." Mousse took the pill into his mouth and downed it with water, then closes his eyes. A minute later, his eyes snap open and the bags under them vanished.
"So? How do you feel? Did it work?" asked Tecna.
"I… I feel… gooooooooood…" Mousse suddenly fell over to the side, his head landing on Shilly's lap before snoring loudly.
"H-h-hey!" said Shilly, her face blushing furiously at what had happened.
"Guess it work." Said Shampoo.
"Must be. He's sleeping now." Said Layla.
"The hours of sleep he missed must've caught up to him." Said Musa.
"So now what?" asked Ukyou.
"It's simple. We just let him sleep." Said Flora.
"Wait what!?" said Shilly.
"Well he won't have a problem sleeping now. He's got the best pillow he could ask for." Stella smirked. She then addressed the others. "We should leave them alone for now."
Everyone agrees and got up to leave, leaving Shilly flabbergasted.
"Hey! Wait! I can't…"
"Feel free to make yourselves at home!" called out Stella.
"Wait! I mean…"
It was pointless as the group left Shilly and Mousse alone in the room. Mousse continued to sleep soundly with his head on Shilly's lap, making the witch blush even more.
Opening (Cardcaptor Sakura style, 'Catch You Catch Me')
Music starts as a flower petal floats to the ground in the darkness, giving off glowing ripples. Flora's bare foot bounces off the petal before panning up to show her in Enchantix form just as the darkness clears. At the beats, it shows Flora's wings, her skirt, her breasts, her feet, then finally at Flora's face as she blows sparkles at the screen, causing the 'Ranma Club' title to appear.
Aitai na aenai na (I want to see you, but I can't see you)
Setsunai na kono kimochi (This feeling I have is so lonely)
Flora in her casuals walks by and looks up before clasping her hands together as if praying.
Ienai no iitai no (I can't tell you, but I want to tell you)
CHANSU nogashite bakari (I keep missing my chance)
Ranma is seen from behind as Flora looks at him with a flustered expression. She's seen standing next to Ranma. Suddenly, he's replaced by Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, and Layla who all joke with Flora, with Stella putting her in a headlock.
Datte… (datte…) Datte… (datte…) (But still… but still…)
Tsubasa hiroge futari de (I want to spread my wings with you)
Flora's Faerie Powder bottle appears in the darkness, then shows Flora holding it before herself.
Sora wo MARASON yume wo YUNIZON shitai (Marathon across the skies with you and have dreams in unison with you!)
Ranma appears next to Flora. He takes her hand and they start running. At that moment, Flora transforms into her Enchantix and carries Ranma off with her as she flies in a storm of flower petals.
Hora! (Now!)
Catch You Catch You Catch Me Catch Me
Matte! (Wait up!)
At the beats, shots of Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, and Layla flash by, ending with a shot of Kiko munching on a carrot.
Kotchi wo muite SUKI da to itte (Look over here and tell me you love me)
Ranma and Flora are standing on one of the towers of Alfea looking out.
Sou! (Yes!)
Nice to Meet You Good to See You
Kitto (Surely!)
Flora, followed by Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, and Layla transform into their Enchantix forms and fly off into the sky.
Atashi no omoi anata no HA-TO ni (Let my feelings for you)
Tonde tonde tonde yuke (Fly fly fly away to your heart)
The Winx in their Enchantix forms fly, then are joined by Faerie Ranma-chan.
KO - I - SHI - TE - 'RU! (I'm in love with you!)
Several shots of Flora at the beats posing sensually before a flower background. She's then seen running up to join the rest of the cast.
End opening
Faragonda's office, next day…
"You wanted to see us, Ms. Faragonda?" asked Bloom. Currently, she and her friends were in the headmistress's office.
"Whatever it is, I want to say I had nothing to do with it." Added Stella.
"Relax, Stella. You're not in trouble." Said Faragonda. "I have a mission for you."
"Oh? What's that?" asked Musa.
On Faragonda's desk was a magic orb, which she activated with her magic. It then projected an image of a rural kingdom. "This is the Kingdom of Kometa, which makes its living off mining. They mine precious metals to trade with other planets."
"Mining, huh? Don't tell me they need labor volunteers." Said Ranma.
"No. It's more serious than that."
"How so?" asked Tecna.
"This." The projection showed images of several miners being taken to hospitals as well as said hospitals being overloaded with patients. Everyone was shocked at the sight.
"What in the world happened there?" asked Bloom.
"These miners have all fallen ill to a mysterious plague." Replied Faragonda. "It started a few days ago when they went into a deep part of a mine that contained a miasma long sealed away and dormant. They must have accidentally set it free."
"That's horrible…" said Ukyou.
"The mine had been sealed away after the incident. However, many miners have been infected and are bedridden. So far, no cure has been found. All who have been infected have been put into isolation to prevent further spreading."
"So what can we do?" asked Stella.
"A sample of the virus has been extracted and sent to a medical research foundation in Magix. Their doctors managed to create a vaccine to cure the plague."
"Well that's good, so what's the problem?" asked Layla.
"The ingredients for synthesizing the vaccine. Everything is ready except for one: extract from a plant known as a sol herbaceous." Faragonda shows an image of the plant, which was a green herb with an orange spot on the centers of each leaf.
"Oh! I know that species of plant!" said Flora. "I've only ever read about it in books. It's an herb with medicinal properties."
"Correct, Flora." Said Faragonda. "The sol herbaceous, or sun herb as it's commonly called, is the final ingredient for creating the vaccine, but the medical center ran out of samples. What you need to do is to get enough sun herb samples and bring them back."
"So where find plant?" asked Shampoo.
Faragonda changes the projection to show an image of a planet. "You can find sun herbs on Sagennce, well known for its lush rainforests." The image started showing shots of the world's ecosystems.
"I know of Sagennce. My family and I vacationed there sometimes." Said Flora. "Back then, I never knew sun herbs were native to that place."
"I figured this job would be right up your alley, especially you, Flora, being the Faerie of Nature." Said Faragonda.
"She's got a point, you know." Said Ranma as he pats Flora on the back.
"Yeah! She nailed it on the head!" said Stella.
"It would be my pleasure." Said Flora. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as you're ready." Replied Faragonda. "I had Saladin provide you transportation."
Alfea courtyard, some time later…
The Winx and Nerima Martial Artists stood on the open field. With them were Faragonda, Nodoka, Kasumi, Sasuke, Dr. Tofu, and Saladin. Saladin looks up and nods as he spots one of his institute's ships flying in.
"Ah, there it is now." Said Saladin.
A Red Fountain ship touched down onto the ground. The bay door opened where Codatorta exited. "Ready to depart anytime!"
"Professor Codatorta? You're escorting us?" asked Flora.
"That's right. Everyone come on board!"
"Good luck on your mission, kids." Said Saladin.
Everyone nodded to him and entered the ship. Once the Winx and martial artists entered, the ship took off.
"I do hope nothing happens to them…" said Kasumi.
"Don't worry. They'll do whatever it takes to succeed." Said Nodoka.
Planet Sagennce, sometime later…
The Red Fountain ship landed at the outskirts of a lush rainforest. Everyone disembarked as Codatorta stood at the bay door.
"Sorry I couldn't drop you off somewhere closer. This is a protected area, after all." Said Codatorta. "I'll be on standby to pick you up once you get the herbs. Send a signal once you accomplish that."
"You got it." Said Ukyou.
"Also, stay on guard. You don't know what may be in that forest." Added Codatorta.
"I'm sure it's nothing we can't handle." Said Ranma.
The group then disappeared into the thick foliage.
Some time later…
"What a beautiful rainforest!" said Flora as she admired the scenery around her. It was nature at its finest. Numerous exotic plantlife were everywhere they went as well as a few native animals. "I would love to study the plants here extensively if we weren't on a serious mission right now."
"That's all well and good and all, but I'd rather get this done fast! I don't want to be out in the wilderness any longer than I need to!" said Stella.
"Just think of this as a nature hike, Stella." Said Layla.
"Like that's any better…" Stella couldn't help but remember the time she and her friends had walked around in Blackmud Swamp when helping Flora find the Cheerful Gladiolis flower. It wasn't an experience she'd like to go through again.
"Don't worry. As long as I have an image of the sun herb, I can use my magic to communicate with the local plantlife to ask where it is." said Flora as she used magic to conjure an image of the sun herb. She closed her eyes in concentration as she spoke to nature. Opening her eyes, Flora pointed towards a larger forest. "It's this way." Everyone followed closely after the tanned-skinned girl.
The group continued their trek through the rainforest lead by Flora. They come across a path blocked by thick foliage, where Mousse produced a pair of machetes from his sleeves, Before he could start hacking, Flora held an arm out to stop him. She then uses her nature magic to make the thick foliage move aside and grant them entry. They later took a breather when they came across a natural spring and took a few drinks as well as refilling their water canteens. The group then come across a wide stream that had a path lined with rocks. Using them as stepping stones, Flora made her way across. Layla soon followed along with Musa, Bloom, and Tecna. Stella reluctantly went along as Ranma, Ukyou, Shampoo, and Mousse followed behind her. The blonde Faerie loses her footing on the rocks, causing her to flail her arms. On reflex, Stella grabs Ranma, who also started to lose his footing from the sudden grab. He reflexively grabs Ukyou in an attempt to not fall, who in turn grabs Shampoo to regain her balance, who then finally grabs Mousse. The end result was all five of them splashing unceremoniously into the stream while Bloom, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Layla looked on in worry. A wet Stella spits water out of her mouth as her wet hair fell over her face. Behind her was an equally wet Ranma-chan with Neko-Shampoo and Kitsune-Ukyou draped over each of her shoulders and Kamo-Mousse perched on her head. (1)
After the incident, the cursed martial artists were reverted back to their normal forms before continuing their journey. The group also came across a few monsters along the way such as giant insects and lesser hydras, but were able to fight them off.
Later…
The teens come across a large clearing in the middle of the rainforest.
"Man, those damn hydras are annoying!" said Mousse. He had to slice off so many heads with the swords he carried up his sleeves.
"Shampoo more annoyed with mosquito monsters." Said Shampoo. The group had come across those man-sized insect monsters which tried to drain their blood. They showed the mutant bugs why that's a bad idea by smashing, slicing, and blowing them to bits.
"Are we getting any closer to where the sun herbs are at?" asked Musa.
"The nature is saying they're in an area deep through that pathway." Replied Flora as she pointed towards a large section of rainforest.
"Just great…" said Stella. "I'm looking forward to getting this done and getting a much deserved hot bath!"
As they made their way, Shampoo suddenly stopped as she felt a tremor. "Everyone get back!"
Hearing the Amazon, the rest of the group quickly got back just as something tore out from below the ground. It was a huge plant monster, its main body resembling a giant venus flytrap and walked on its thick roots. It lets off a roar as numerous vine tentacles extended from its body.
"What the hell is that thing!?" shouted Ranma.
"Trouble!" said Bloom as she and her friends quickly dodged the plant monster's whipping vines. The Winx quickly got together and prepared to fight.
"WINX ENCHANTIX!"
The Winx took flight while the Nerima martial artists took fighting stances. The Faeries fired off energy shots at the plant monster, causing it to flail around furiously. Its vine tentacles, which were four inches in diameter, lashed out at everyone. Ranma, Ukyou, Shampoo, and Mousse jumped around to avoid getting hit, the misses causing gashes into the ground as if they were steel cable. Mousse fought off the tentacles with a pair of swords while Shampoo and Ukyou defended themselves with their respective weapons of bonbari and battle spatula. As for Ranma, he fuses Nabu's staff, Riven's scimitar, and Brandon's broadsword into a double blade-ended staff, then proceeded to slash at the tentacles. However, no matter how many of the tentacles they slice or blast off, more would grow in their places like weeds.
"There's no end to this!" said Layla as she formed a sword of Morphix and slashed at a tentacle that got too close.
"We've got to get the main body!" said Bloom. She shot a fireball at the monster's body, only to have it blocked by more vines which get burned off but are soon replaced.
"Easier said than done with those stupid tentacles in the way!" said Stella as she shot a beam of light at the body, only to have it shear off more tentacles that shielded itself.
Tecna does a scanning spell on the monster, then gets surprised after identifying it. "Girls! This creature's a toxic venusweed! It's highly poisonous and carnivorous!"
"What!? How does it poison!?" asked Musa.
As if to answer her question, some of the tentacle tips protruded poisonous needle spikes and thrust out at them, causing everyone to scatter.
"I have a pretty good idea." Said Bloom as she quickly swerved to avoid getting stabbed at.
"Everyone be careful!" said Flora as she shot at any tentacles coming at her.
"Great… as if we don't have much to worry about before…" said Ranma as he slashed away at the vines. Several of the vines sprouted their poison needle tips and stabbed at the pigtailed boy, but he quickly spun his dual sword staff to slice them away.
Musa suddenly flew up and flew straight down to the ground feet first. "Sonic Shockwave!" Stomping both feet to the ground, Musa caused a concentrated vibration under the venusweed, sending it upward.
Flora quickly follows up by landing and placing her palms to the ground. "Towering Thorns!" A huge thorny vine shot out of the ground and impaled the venusweed from below its main body. It lets off a roar of agony as it was run through.
"You did it, Flora!" said Ukyou.
"Thanks. It was tough." Said Flora as she turned to Ukyou. Unknown to her, the toxic venusweed still had a bit of life left in it.
"FLORA LOOK OUT!" screamed Stella.
Flora turned and gasped when the venusweed shot a vine at her. She quickly shot upward to dodge the attack. However, she wasn't fast enough to notice it shot another needle-tipped tentacle vine right at her.
"FLORA!" shouted Bloom in shock.
Flora felt a sting of pain, then looked down to see that the vine had stabbed into her abdomen. She began getting a sense of nausea and dizziness.
"YOU DAMN WEED!" shouted Ranma in anger as he quickly jumped and sliced the tentacle that held up Flora. Quickly catching her, Ranma set Flora down after pulling out the tentacle tip stabbed in her stomach and powered up his ki. "I'LL BURN YOU TO A CRISP! MOKO TAKABISHA!"
Ranma fired off a huge ki ball that impacted hard against the toxic venusweed, tearing it off the thorn pillar. Due to his anger, the ki attack was a lot more powerful than usual. The huge plant monster was carried off into the air by the ki blast and incinerated from the heat, erasing every trace of its existence. The threat neutralized, Ranma quickly returned and knelt by Flora's side. Everyone else also ran up to where they were.
"Flora!" the Faeries cried out.
"Is she all right?" asked Mousse.
Ranma cradled Flora's body, trying to get her to respond. "Flora! Wake up! Please!"
A moment later, Flora winces in pain and was reverted back to her normal form. "Ranma… everyone… I think it poisoned me…"
Ranma looked to where she was hit. Due to her midriff-baring top, everyone winced when they saw a purplish spot marking her stomach, just below her navel and to the right.
"Oh no…" said Stella as she held her hands to her mouth.
"This isn't good." Said Tecna as she did a scanning spell on Flora. "Venom from a toxic venusweed is quite potent. First it causes dizziness, then full cardiac arrest in twenty-four hours. Normal healing spells can't eject it."
"No! Isn't there anything we can do!?" asked Bloom.
Ranma looked to Flora, who had a pained expression on her face, then looked at her stomach where the purple spot was. He thought back to some basic survival skills when he was on that training journey with Genma. Once when Ranma was bitten by a poisonous snake, Genma made him suck the poison out himself since that's what "a man among men would do".
'Wait… what if…' Ranma looked at Flora's bare stomach and blushed when he thought of an idea. However, time was of the essence and he couldn't hesitate or be embarrassed. "I have an idea."
"What is it?" asked Layla as she and the others looked at Ranma.
Ranma addressed the Faerie of Nature. "Flora…"
"Ranma…"
"Do you trust me?"
"Huh… of course I do…"
"Good. I apologize in advance for this, but I'm going to suck the poison out."
"W-what…!?"
Everyone else was shocked when they heard this.
"D-don't get the wrong idea! This is to save your life!" With that said, Ranma put his hands on Flora's exposed stomach, lowered his face, and placed his mouth on her sting wound.
Flora's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment at seeing Ranma practically kissing her stomach. She was soon blushing furiously then lets off a few gasps as she felt Ranma sucking the poison out of her belly.
"Ah….. ah…. Ah! Ranma…. Please… be more gentle… ah!" Flora moaned.
Ranma continues to suck out the poison from Flora's midriff. Occasionally, Ranma would spit out to the side whatever venom he manages to extract before putting his mouth back on Flora's stomach to continue the process. For Flora, it felt as though jolts of electricity ran throughout her body as she twitched. She struggled to hold her wails in but failed. Soon, Flora was wailing in both pain and pleasure, pain from having the poison extracted from her body and pleasure from basically having her bare stomach worshipped. Her back arched, no longer touching the ground while her limbs trembled as Ranma sucked the poison out of her.
'Why… does it feel… so good…? No! I shouldn't think such things… he's only getting the poison out… ah!'
For Ranma, it was taking everything he had to keep his libido under control. He couldn't help but marvel at the feel of Flora's smooth soft flat stomach as he sucked out the poison, causing her shapely tanned body to tremble at his touch. Flora's moans didn't help at all. He focused with one thing on his mind.
'It's just to get the poison out! It's just to get the poison out! It's just to get the poison out! I'm not a hentai! But does she have to moan like that?'
Flora's face was flushed as she let out another moan as her body twitched uncontrollably. As this was going on, Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, Layla, Shampoo, Ukyou, and Mousse couldn't help but blush at the sight as well as at the suggestive sounds Flora was making.
After another minute, Ranma spat out the last of the poison. He looked at Flora's stomach and noticed the skin around the sting wound was starting to regain its normal color again. Flora dropped back onto the ground, panting heavily. (2)
"Okay… I think I got it all…" said Ranma, who felt flustered himself.
Flora panted a bit more then started getting feeling back in her body again. She looked over and smiled at the pigtailed boy. "T-thank you, Ranma…"
"No problem, Flora. Just one last thing to do." Ranma then placed a glowing hand on Flora's stomach, using a healing spell to close up the puncture wound. Once her midriff was healed, Ranma got up and held a hand out. "Can you stand?"
"I think so…" Flora took Ranma's hand and pulled herself up.
"Flora! Oh thank goodness!" said Bloom as she went over and embraced her friend. Everyone else gathered around her.
"It's okay, everyone. I'm fine now. Sorry for making you all worry." Flora reassured.
"You were lucky, Flora. If that poison stayed in you… well… I don't want to think about it." Said Tecna.
"Not the only way she was lucky, isn't that right?" Stella teased while looking at the tanned girl. "Your injury, it's like he kissed it and made it all better."
"Stella!" said Flora indignantly while blushing.
"Don't bother hiding it! I know you enjoyed that!"
Flustered, Flora immediately turned around. "A-anyway! We need to get going!" She quickly ran into the rainforest path, mostly to keep everyone from seeing her reddening face.
"Hey! Wait up!" said Ranma as he gave chase, also not wanting anyone to see his own flustered expression. Everyone else soon followed with Stella bringing up the rear.
"Fine, I'll let you go for now." Said Stella as she smirked. 'Almost makes me wish I was the one who got poisoned instead. Oh well.'
In the heart of the rainforest…
After a minute of walking through the forest path, the teens come across a large enclosed clearing. There were trees lining the area while dotting parts of the ground were several exotic plants. Beams of sunlight shone through the trees in numerous areas. Nearby was a small waterfall that flowed into a large pond that had a few streams flowing out towards different parts of the clearing.
"It's so beautiful…" said Bloom in awe at the sight.
"No kidding." Ukyou agreed.
"So the sun herbs are somewhere in here?" asked Stella.
"Yes, I can sense them nearby." Replied Flora. She looked over to a spot near the pond where a large beam of sunlight was shining on. Walking up, Flora finds a large batch of herbs growing on the spot with single orange spots on each of the leaves. "Here they are! The sun herbs!"
Everyone else comes up to see the plants they had been searching for.
"Figures a plant called a sun herb would be right where sunlight would be directed at." Said Musa.
"They're plants after my own heart." Said Stella.
"Guess we just pluck some, yes?" said Shampoo as she prepares to pull out some of the sun herbs.
"No! Don't!" said Flora, causing Shampoo to stop. "These sun herbs need to be potted before being moved. Otherwise, its restorative properties will be diminished. Luckily, I came prepared."
Using her magic, Flora creates a small pot out of clay using material from the ground. Then she levitates five herb stocks from the ground including the soil it was in, then drops them into the pot.
"I got them!" said Flora as she held up the plant pot before tucking it away.
"Great! Now all we have to do is signal Professor Codatorta for pickup." Said Layla.
Suddenly, the sky got cloudy, blocking out the sun's rays as a loud rumbling was heard.
"Huh? Why'd it get cloudy all of a sudden?" asked Mousse.
The clouds grew darker as loud thundering sounds were heard. Ranma's eyes widened when he saw the clouds crackling with lightning.
"EVERYONE GET BACK!"
The group quickly scattered when a bolt of lightning struck the ground they had been standing on a moment ago, charring the area.
"That was not natural…" said Layla.
Just as suddenly, large sharp shards of ice started raining down on the group. The Winx quickly erected magic shields to protect themselves while the Nerima martial artists smashed or deflected them with their weapons they pulled out. Once the ice storm stopped, Ranma gives an angry shout.
"ALRIGHT YOU BITCHES! GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE!"
"THE HELL DID YOU JUST CALL US YOU MAGGOT!?" shouted Stormy as she flew down while charging up another spell.
"YOU'RE GONNA PAY, YOU GENDER-CONFUSED FREAK!" shouted Icy as she also flew down preparing another spell.
"So it's just you two this time?" said Stella. "Suppose that makes sense since Darcy and Ryoga failed last time!"
"Darcy sends her regards! MEGAVOLT!" Stormy summons a huge bolt of lightning that struck down at the Winx and martial artists, causing them to scatter once again.
Icy gathers magic between her hands. "AND THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO-"
WHAM!
Icy was cut off when a bowling-ball-sized rock smashed and broke against her face, knocking her out of the air, taking Stormy completely by surprise. Sitting up, she held her face painfully as she suffered a broken nose and some missing teeth, bleeding from both her nose and mouth. Icy glares angrily at Ranma who had thrown the rock at her.
"HOW DARE YOU HIT ME YOU-"
WHACK!
Icy was once again cut off when Ranma suddenly closed the distance between them, then Onyx Riven emerged and gave a hard kick right in Icy's face, sending her flying and smashing into a nearby boulder where she makes a deep imprint.
"Just shut the hell up. I don't give a damn what you say, bitch." Said Ranma as the soul merged back into himself. "I already told you I don't acknowledge you as a human being and will treat you like the sick animal you are."
"Icy!?" Stormy was shocked at what she was seeing. 'What's going on? He was never this fierce before!' What she wasn't aware of is that Ranma hadn't forgotten how Icy tried to set Musa up to get gang-raped by a human trafficking ring, which made his blood boil. That was an unforgivable act and Ranma promised to make the witch suffer immensely whenever their paths cross.
With slow steps, Ranma marches up to Icy where Onyx Riven once again comes out and hauls Icy up by her hair, causing her to yelp in pain. While the soul held her up, Ranma unleashes his Amaguriken on the witch, punching her repeatedly before ending in a roundhouse kick that sent her flying and splashing into the large pond, screaming in pain all the way. Ranma's companions were a little surprised by his ferocity, but then smirked since it was on Icy as it couldn't happen to anyone better as they recalled what she tried to do last time. Bloom and especially Musa were quite amused at that.
"I appreciate you getting angry for my sake, Ranma, but we've got a job to do." Said Musa.
"Yeah, you're right." Said Ranma, then turned to glare at a still shocked Stormy. "Count yourself lucky you didn't try the same crap that bitch over there tried, Stormy. I don't give a damn right now how you both got here, but if you're smart, you'll get out of here and take that useless trash over there with you!"
Shampoo, Ukyou, and Mousse took battle stances while the Winx took poses and…
"WINX ENCHANTIX!"
The Faeries flew up in their Enchantix forms and made ready for battle. Stormy looked a little nervous at the odds she was now facing.
"STORMY! DON'T JUST STAND THERE AND HELP ME!" demanded Icy who managed to get out of the pond soaking wet and still heavily injured from Ranma's beatdown.
Brought out of her shock, Stormy quickly goes to her sister's side and helps her up. "Icy, I think this is a bad idea! We'd better scram while we still can!"
"No! Not until that freak pays for what he did to me!" said Icy. "Now help me summon the hydra!"
"But-!"
"I SAID DO IT!"
Stormy had no choice but to follow Icy's command. They joined hands, then levitated into the air while being surrounded by magical energies. Suddenly, a huge hydra appeared before the group, all nine of its heads letting of a roar.
"Again with siccing monsters on us? Can't you think of anything new?" said Stella as she prepared to fight.
"RIP THEM APART!" commanded Icy.
The hydra charged forth and lunged its heads at the group, causing them to scatter once again. It stomped around as each head attempted to eat one of the group. Flora quickly caused tree roots to come out and entangle the hydra's legs to keep it still. One head tried to chomp on Shampoo, but she quickly smashed its fangs out with her bonbori, causing it to reel back in pain. Another head that went after Ukyou got its jaw forcefully held open by her battle spatula before she threw three mini-spatulas into its open maw, causing it pain. Mousse whacks another head using a huge spiked ball on a chain, slamming it into the ground. Tecna fired off a few energy blasts at a hydra's head, making it roar in pain. Stella blinds another with a flash of light before knocking it down with a light ray shot from above. Musa quickly flew around to get behind another head where she point-blank shot it with a sound wave blast to incapacitate it. Bloom flew out of range of a hydra head trying to chomp on her and counters with a large fiery blast to make it back off. Layla encases another head with a globe of Morphix then sent it slamming onto the ground. Ranma jumps up and landed a hard flying kick right at another hydra's head.
It was then the hydra switched tactics and each head started shooting off gouts of flame from their mouths, forcing the Alfea students to dodge. However, much of the rainforest started to catch fire from the fight.
"No! It's going to destroy the entire forest!" shouted Flora in horror.
"Go Flora! We'll handle the hydra!" shouted Bloom.
Before Flora could try to put out some of the flames, she's shot out of the air by a lightning bolt from Stormy, making her scream in pain.
"You should worry more about yourself than some stupid plants, tree-hugger!" said Stormy.
"Haven't forgotten about us, have you?" taunted Icy.
"Flora!" shouted Ranma as he quickly ran over to assist. He helps her up then glares at the two witches. "Now you're gonna get it!"
"I'd like to see you try with your attention diverted!" said Icy. "Now, Stormy!"
Suddenly, Icy and Stormy started shooting off ice and lightning everywhere, which started destroying other parts of the forest.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" shouted Ranma.
"Can you fight us while being busy with our hydra and trying to protect this forest? I dare you to try!" taunted Icy.
"Ranma! We can't let them destroy this place! The native medicinal herbs her could be lost forever!" said Flora.
Ranma looked off to the side to see the rest of his friends busy fighting off the hydra while also trying to put out the fires it was causing, so their hands were full as it is.
"I'll handle these two, Flora! Go save the forest!" said Ranma.
Flora nods and flies off to try and put out the fires. Icy immediately chases after her.
"Just where do you think you're going you-"
WHAM!
Icy was once again hit in the face with a kick from Platinum Sky before fusing back into Ranma.
"You're fight's with me, bitch." Said Ranma coldly.
Icy wipes the blood from her mouth and sneers at Ranma. "Just try it!"
Stormy comes to her sister's defense by firing a bolt of lightning at Ranma, who barely managed to block it, sending him back a few feet. Icy follows up by shooting a large ice block at him, who counters by smashing it into cubes with a punch from Diamond Brandon.
As the fights were going on, Flora uses her Faerie Dust to put out as many of the fires as she could, but there was just too much ground to cover. 'No! At this rate, the entire forest will get burned down!'
Back with Ranma, the pigtailed boy continues mixing it up with Stormy and Icy. Stormy tries a backhand chop with a lightning-charged hand which Ranma quickly ducks before countering with a palm strike. Icy tries to stab him from behind with a sharp icicle, but Ranma elbows her in the gut then grabs her by the hair in which he smashes her head into Stormy's face, knocking her back. Once Stormy was temporarily dazed, Ranma pulls Icy back and proceeds to brutally knee her in the face a few times before kicking her towards the ground. Stormy gets back into the fight by trying to zap him with more lightning, forcing him to dodge.
On the ground, Icy pushes herself off the ground on her arms while spitting out some blood and a loose tooth from the attack. "I swear that bastard's gonna pay for this!" She looks up to see Flora with her back turned as she continues to try and put the flames out. Icy gives an evil devious smile at the opportunity presented to her. "But first, I'll take out one of those loser Faeries!"
Reaching into her cape, Icy pulls out a small hidden knife that's held between the fingers. The sharp two-inch blade glistened with an unknown substance coating it. Clenching the knife in her fist, Icy gets up and made a beeline towards the unsuspecting Flora.
Ranma had been focused on his fight with Stormy who continued to fire lightning at him. Amethyst Nabu emerged and deflected the lightning with his staff. Once he fused back into Ranma, Silver Timmy emerged with his gun and shoots Stormy with an energy blast, knocking her down. Once she was taken care of, Ranma looked down to see Icy charging at Flora from behind, his eyes widening in shock.
"FLORA!"
"DIE DWEEB!"
Time seemed to have gone in slow motion as Flora turned to see Icy coming at her with a knife. She had no time to dodge or defend herself, mentally berating herself for being careless. Flora could only look on as the knife drew closer.
A sickening stabbing sound was heard. Flora looked in horror to see that Ranma had gotten in front of her, taking the knife in his gut. Icy looked up in surprise at how fast Ranma had gotten in her way. Before she could react, Ranma kicked her hard in the gut, knocking her several feet away. He pulls the knife out before tossing it to the side, causing some blood to spill out.
"RANMA!" shouted Flora.
Ranma grunts in pain as he fell to one knee while holding his wound with his left hand.
"You all right, Flora…?" asked Ranma.
"You're hurt!" said Flora as she saw the stab wound, then looked at the discarded knife. "That blade was poisoned!"
"Huh? No wonder I feel a bit sick…"
Flora glares at Icy and Stormy, who have just started recovering. "What did you do to him!?"
Though still bleeding from the mouth, Icy gives a sinister grin. "Ha! Your boy toy is done for! That knife was coated with venusweed poison! Even if you somehow escape, he'll be dead within the day!"
Flora's eyes widened. 'The same poison that almost killed me!?' She looked back at Ranma who was struggling to move. She didn't have any means to remove the poison from him.
"I told you you'd pay for what you did to me, didn't I?" taunted Icy. "You were a fool to try and protect that dweeb tree-hugger! Dying all for a bunch of stupid plants! Pathetic!"
Ranma could only glare hatefully at Icy, sick of her taunts. "At least I did it protecting something I care about. What would a bitchy lapdog like you who only cares about her own worthless ass know about it!?"
Icy snapped. "I'LL KILL YOU YOU FREAK!" She fires off a huge sharp icicle to run both Ranma and Flora through.
Suddenly, Gold Helia emerges with his cable gauntlets and caught the icicle. Swinging it around, the soul used it as a makeshift flail and swung it into both Icy and Stormy, knocking them back. Just as Gold Helia merged back into Ranma, Flora followed up by growing some tree stumps to incapacitate the two witches.
"Get a new line, bitch. Flora cares about this forest and I'll help her protect it from you! I won't let you harm her or the nature she cares about!"
"Ranma…"
Suddenly, Ranma's right hand glows with a bright green light, catching him by surprise. He looks over to Flora, whose chest was also glowing with a green light.
"What…?"
Icy and Stormy's eyes widened at what they were seeing.
"NO! WE'VE GOT TO STOP THEM!" shouted Icy as she and Stormy struggled to break out of their bindings.
Ranma and Flora look at each other and nod.
"Flora…"
"Let's do it, Ranma."
At that point, Icy and Stormy managed to break out of their wooden confines and rushed at the two, but it was too late.
Ranma reached out and grabbed Flora's breast, giving it a firm squeeze. The tanned girl lets out a moan of pleasure before they both get obscured in a column of green light, catching the attention of everyone else.
"It's Flora!" said Layla.
"NO!" shouted Icy.
"This is bad, isn't it?" said Stormy.
When the light finally died down, Ranma slowly stood up with Flora nowhere in sight. Because he was still poisoned, standing up was difficult. As Ranma got on his feet, he was revealed to have something covering his upper torso over his kung fu shirt. It was an elaborate green metallic chest guard with thick shoulder epaulets. At the center of the chest was an emblem of a tree made from emerald while an emblem of a leaf over a vine spiral adorned each shoulder guard.
Ranma looks down on the chest armor he was currently wearing. "Flora?"
'Well, I suppose me becoming this would make sense.' Said Armor Flora.
Back with the hydra, Bloom and the others managed to defeat it before it could set fire to anything else. Its necks had been effectively tied into knots with each other, preventing them from breathing fire. One head thrashed about, but Ukyou bashed bashed it with her battle spatula, putting it down for the count.
The Okonomiyaki chef then looked over to where Ranma was. "She's become a chest plate?"
Everyone else also looked over to what had happened.
Stormy looked a bit nervous seeing the armor-clad Ranma. "I don't like the looks of this, Icy…"
"It doesn't matter! That freak is still poisoned! He can barely stand! Let's take him out!" said Icy.
It was true. Ranma was still poisoned from the knife stab and was having some trouble standing steady.
Icy charges up a spell. "Take this! ICE JAVELIN!"
The witch shoots a huge spear of ice right at Ranma who still couldn't move.
"RANMA! FLORA!"
Before the ice spear struck, the armor Ranma wore suddenly grew out a thick vine that swatted the ice spear into the air and away.
"WHAT!?" Icy shouted in disbelief.
"What was that? It's like he grew a tentacle!" said Stella.
Ranma was surprised to see the vine come out of the armor which then receded back into it.
'Hold on, Ranma! I think I can do something about the poison in you!'
"Wait, what?"
The green armor glowed with light as he felt it inject him with energy. Within moments, Ranma felt the poison in his system disappear, not to mention the stab wound healed itself.
"Flora? What did you do?"
'Apparently in this form, I can conjure up nutrients of any plant I know. I was able to synthesize an herbal vaccine and inject it into you to neutralize the venusweed poison.'
"That's incredible!"
"Impossible! You're supposed to be poisoned and dying!" shouted Icy.
Ranma just shoots her a cold look. "I'm vaccinated now."
Without warning, Ranma rushed up and nailed Icy with a shoulder tackle, knocking her into Stormy.
"YOU DAMN FREAK! STORMY!" shouted Icy.
"Uh-! Yeah! TWISTER!" Stormy launches a tornado at Ranma, sweeping him up into the air. The two Trix sisters smirk at this, but soon blanch when they see that Ranma had prevented himself from getting blown away due to the armor extending vines to grapple to the ground.
Once the twister passed, Icy launched a barrage of ice boulders at the pigtailed martial artist. He suddenly shot forward while going into a fast tuck and roll spin. The ice boulders were suddenly shredded apart after Ranma blew through them, to which he blew right past Icy and Stormy. The two witches screamed in pain as they felt scratches on their bodies from where Ranma grazed them. He landed a distance behind them in a hunched over position, revealing that the back of the armor had numerous large rose thorns about two feet in length protruding from it like a porcupine. The thorns recede into the back of the armor as Ranma turned to face them. From the sides of the armor, two tree roots came out and stabbed into the ground.
"Nature's Bounty!"
Magical energies flowed from the roots into the ground, charging it with green light. To everyone's surprise, the remaining fires in the rainforest reduced in size until they vanished completely. Not only that, the destroyed parts slowly began to regenerate to its former state.
"The fire's been put out!" said Bloom. "It's like the land's being restored!"
The trees above made way for the sunlight and a view of the sky. Without warning, a huge tree jutted out from under the hydra, shooting it into the air where it became a distant dot in the sky.
"Well that's one way to get rid of the hydra." Said Layla.
The tree roots go back into the armor as Ranma glared at Icy and Stormy.
"Icy, I think we'd better cut and run!" said Stormy, seeing that the hydra is gone, the rainforest healed, and a very pissed off Ranma in front of her.
"WE'RE NOT LEAVING UNTIL THAT BASTARD'S DEAD!" screamed Icy. "ICE SPIKER!"
Large sharp icicles suddenly jut out in a fast wave towards Ranma. Once again, something extends out of the back of Ranma's armor, which turned out to be four large tree roots. The roots caused Ranma to jump to avoid the attack where he lands before the two witches. Currently, he was held aloft by four long and thick tree roots about twelve feet in length. (3)
"Should've listened to your sister, bitch." Said Ranma darkly.
'You really should have.' Added Armor Flora.
Before she could react, Icy was suddenly grabbed and wrapped by one of the tree roots then lifted up.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? PUT ME DOWN NOW YOU-!"
Icy was cut off when the tree root slammed her headfirst into the dirt, her entire upper body was driven into the ground. Another of the tree roots then scooped out the part of the ground Icy was stuck in and held her aloft with her legs flailing. The other Faeries and martial artists could only chuckle at the sight.
"Flora, would you do the honors?" asked Ranma.
'Batter up!' said Armor Flora.
The tree root tosses the still half-buried Icy into the air. Just as she comes down, the armor swings its other tree root hard at Icy, grand-slamming her out of the forest as she gives a muffled scream all the way.
Musa shades her hand over her eyes as she watches Icy get sent flying over the horizon. "And it's a high fly to left field! She's going… going…" Icy becomes a distant dot in the sky. "… GONE!"
After Icy had been dealt with, Ranma and the others turn their gazes at the lone Stormy, who looked nervous.
"Er… I was just leaving!" She quickly made an about face and flew off as quickly as she could.
"YEOW!"
Not before getting vine-whipped in the butt during her escape. The threat gone, Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, Layla, Shampoo, Ukyou, and Mousse went over to Ranma.
"That was incredible, you two!" said Tecna.
"Thanks. Didn't expect a ride like that." Said Ranma.
"So it's finally happened. Each of us got a turn." Said Stella. "Bloom and I became gauntlets. Musa and Layla became greaves. Tecna became a helmet. Now Flora became body armor!"
"So Flora, how's it feel?" asked Musa.
'Honestly, I can't even begin to describe it, but to sum it up, it feels great!' said Armor Flora.
"I have to say, it suits you." Said Bloom.
"Well, the threat's over. You should turn back." Said Ukyou.
'You're right.'
With that said, the armored chest plate flashed with light. When it was gone, Flora was standing before Ranma with her arms around his waist. Like all before her, she was completely naked too. Flora yelped and blushed horribly from her state of undress that she reflexively hugged Ranma tightly while burying her face in his chest. Ranma was also blushing from the close proximity of the beautiful and naked tanned girl, feeling her soft breasts squishing against him. Thankfully, Stella materialized her clothes back on her.
Ending
A moment later, Codatorta's ship flew in for pickup after having seen the commotion from afar. He was alarmed to be told that the group had a run-in with some of the Trix, but were glad nothing happened to them. More importantly, they had the sun herb samples needed for the vaccine. Their mission completed, the ship left Sagennce.
Returning to Magix, the sun herbs were immediately delivered to the medical research facility, where the magic scientists soon got started on created the vaccine needed for the Kingdom of Kometa. Also thanks to Flora's plant cloning formula, they were able to make as many of the sun herbs as needed.
A few days later, the Winx were gathered around the TV in their dorm watching a news report detailing the state of Kometa.
"A few days ago, numerous miners in Kometa had suffered from a plague released from a deep mine that has long since been sealed off. Hospitals had been filled to the brink with infected. It looked like there was no hope. However, scientists were able to create a vaccine to combat the virus and miners were soon healed and ready for work. Sources say the ingredients to create said vaccine were difficult to obtain, but students from Alfea went on a mission of good will to retrieve them." A group shot of the Winx and Nerima martial artists was displayed. "With the vaccine, there is also talk of one day creating an immunization shot for the plague. The Kingdom of Kometa donated a large sum of funds to Alfea for their students' service. From Kometa, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"
"You're welcome!" said Stella to the TV.
"Should be proud, Flora! Nature saved whole kingdom!" said Shampoo.
"Yes. There's still so much nature can offer us all." Said Flora.
End ending
To be continued…
Preview…
Stella: Geez! A desert now!? It's so hot!
Ranma: Faragonda-sensei said a teacher went missing here?
Bloom: So what happened to him?
Tecna: Apparently he went and got himself stuck.
Layla: Stuck? What does that even mean?
Stella: Oh look! It's a lamp! You don't suppose if we rub it, a genie will pop out?
Musa: And grant three wishes? That would be rad!
Flora: Wait, what about the missing teacher?
Ranma: Next time on Ranma Club, 'Rejected! The Rebellious Genie!'
Bloom: But aren't genies supposed to grant wishes?
Author's notes:
Finally done! It took me some time to think of the fight scene for this and how to utilize Flora's powers as nature armor. Her becoming the chest plate was the final piece as it fits her style of combat (being more defensive than offensive), but with a little more combat options added in as you've all seen.
I also thought I've written myself into a corner after having Ranma give Icy that well-deserved beatdown for what she pulled a few chapters ago. Just to emphasize that from now on, Ranma will show no mercy to her. She crossed the line and now she'll suffer for the foolishness of her actions. Yes, I absolutely hate her guts. So?
Thanks for sticking with me all this time, and please check out Dual Destinies, Tekkadread Remastered, and Cap-Force for more great fics! You all are my motivation to keep writing!
(1)Got the idea from a scene in Riviera the Promised Land.
(2)Think in Bastard! how Dark Schneider sensuously sucked out the cockatrice poison from Kai Harn's sexy stomach after their fight.
(3)Think Dr. Octopus from Spiderman.
