Chapter 22: Tokyo Tribulations Part 3
"What did he mean that I have no soul, Valentine!?" Draculaura.
"Uh…nothing, my dear," said Valentine, "he was just messing with you. You know demons, they can't be trusted."
"He seemed sincere to me," said Draculaura as she gave her dark paramour a suspicious glare. "I want the truth, Valentine. I want the truth about my soul! Did you take it out when you 'unleashed' me? Or am I just an evil carbon copy of Draculaura?"
"You are Draculaura!" Valentine insisted, "you're the daughter of Dracula, only better, more powerful and less of a crybaby than you were when I tried to break your heart. That's in the past, we've moved on from that childish nonsense. Now stop worrying about what some wannabe demonic overlord teased you about and enjoy the show."
Draculaura looked and saw Hunson Abadeer, possessing Ryoga, fire off multiple negative ki blasts at our heroes.
"I am missing it, Valentine," said Draculaura as she watched our hero's chaotic punishment, "I feel better already."
"What's gotten into that guy?! Is he nuts or something?!" Frankie demanded as she, Ukyo, Kodatchi and Ayeka took shelter behind a large rock.
"He's possessed, that's what!" said Kodatchi, "possessed by that foul Hunson Abadeer!"
"Well, that's just perfect!" said Ayeka, "one of our friends is enthralled by the devil and we can't fight back without hurting him!"
"Oh, I'm sure Ranma and the others wouldn't mind hurting him," said Ukyo, "especially Ranma, they've got way too much of a bad history."
"What is a she-she thing anyway?" Frankie asked.
"Shishi Hokodon," said Ukyo, "'Lion Roar Shot.' It's a ki technique that focuses negative emotions into an attack. It mainly uses sorrow, and believe me, Ryoga's got way too much sorrow to share."
"I can hardly believe the amount of negativity this boy has endured!" exclaimed Hunson Abadeer as he shot more and more negative ki blasts, "years of sadness and abuse, so much hatred and rage built up, it's a miracle he hasn't exploded yet!"
Just then Ranma delivered a flying kick to Ryoga's head that knocked the possessed boy to the ground, "get out of my friend, demon!"
"Ranma honey!" exclaimed Ukyo, "you're alright!"
"Ranma my darling!" shouted Kodatchi, while Shampoo looked on with adoring eyes.
"Oh, shut up already!" shouted an annoyed Akane. "Sorry, force of habit. We've got to stop Ryoga."
"Easier said than done, Akane," said Ranma, "I don't know how to get a demon out of someone, do you?"
"Do I look like a professional exorcist, Ranma?!" Akane demanded irately. Ranma was about to respond but had to duck a negative Ki blast from the possessed Ryoga.
"And you're the source of my host's suffering, boy!" said Hunson Abadeer as he got up, "you really should have shared some of that bread back in middle school." He then fired another barrage of negative Ki blasts at Ranma,
"He should have asked!" Ranma shouted back as he charged up a Ki blast of his own, but whereas the negative power of the Shishi Hokodon was dark pink, Ranma's attack was bright yellow.
"Moko Takabisha!" shouted Ranma as he fired the blast at Hunson Abadeer, hitting the creature in the chest and knocking him down.
"Yeah, Ranma!" shouted Mousse, though his glasses were askew on his face, "I heard it! Keep it up! Knock that demon creep out of Ryoga!"
"Moko Takabisha, Pride of the Fierce Tiger,'" said Ukyo to Frankie and the others, "Ranma made that technique to counter Ryoga's Shishi Hokodon."
"Confident, aren't you, boy," said Hunson Abadeer as he got back up.
"Darn right I'm confident," said Ranma as his hands glowed with positive Ki, "now get out of Ryoga before I beat you out of him!"
"And give up a host with so much chaotic potential? I think not!" said Hunson Abadeer as his hands glowed with negative Ki, "not only does Ryoga's time in the depths of despair given me such power as I've rarely seen in a human host, I also have access to all his dirty little secrets," he tapped Ryoga's forehead, "they're all up here in his mind. Oh sure, he's trying to fight me from the inside, but no human spirit can resist me once I've gotten under their skin. All of Hibiki Ryoga's shameful secrets are mine," he then grinned maliciously at Akane, "especially how much he's in love with you."
"What?" asked a genuinely surprised Akane, "Ryoga's in love with me?"
"Shut up, demon!" snapped Ranma as he fired another Moko Takabisha at Hunson Abadeer, who countered it with a Shishi Hokodon.
"Oh yeah, he's got the hots for you bad, Tendo Akane," said Hunson Abadeer, "too bad he lacks the backbone to tell you, and all because of his deepest, darkest secret. Would you like to hear it? Wanna know the one thing that's kept him from confessing his love for you?"
"I said shut up!" shouted Ranma. He then looked at Akane, "don't listen to this creep! He's just messing with you!"
"Of course I'm messing with her," said Hunson Abadeer, "but I'm telling the truth for a change. The secret Ryoga's been keeping for so long is…"
"SPIRIT GUN!" shouted Yusuke as he fired a bolt of blue energy at the possessed Ryoga. Hunson Abadeer brought his host's hands up to block, but the force of the blast was powerful enough to knock him down.
"One thing I always hate about bad guys," said Yusuke as he charged up another round of spirit energy in the tip of his finger, "you can't resist spilling the beans about how wicked and evil you are."
Hunson Abadeer got back up, "you're definitely an unconventional hero, Spirit Detective," he said as he glared at Yusuke, "but I'm unlike any foe you've ever faced, or ever will, because I'm going to rip out your soul and cook it before I eat it!"
"Yeah, yeah, tell me your plan, just like a stereotypical bad guy," said Yusuke, "can we just fight already?!"
"We could," said Hunson Abadeer, "but I'll save you for later!" With a wave of his hand a blue-rimmed portal opened beneath Yusuke. He fell through the portal, only to emerge from a yellow-rimmed portal a few meters in the air, dropping Yusuke back into the blue portal.
"That'll keep him occupied for a while," said Hunson Abadeer as he left Yusuke falling in an infinite loop, "and as for his bromance friend, yeah, I'm talking to you, Kuwabara Kazuto! The rest of me will keep you occupied!"
"Huh?" asked Kuwabara as he tried to sneak up on Hunson Abadeer from behind, ready to attack with his Spirit Sword. He was then attacked by several doppelgangers of Hunson Abadeer, "Get off me you jerks!" he shouted as he destroyed one copy of the demonic overlord after another, only for more copies to appear and attack him.
"Now where was I?" asked Hunson Abadeer, "oh yeah, Ryoga's darkest secret!" he turned to face Akane as he summoned two hovering buckets of water, one steaming hot, the other ice cold, "whatever you do, Tendo Akane, don't blink!" he then dumped the cold water on his head, transforming himself into P-Chan the pig, complete with Ryoga's bandana but with the demon's eyes.
"What?" asked a shocked Akane, "what is this? P-Chan?"
Hunson Abadeer then dumped the hot water, returning his host to his human form, "Do you see, you stupid little girl? Ryoga has a Jusenkyo curse, and he's been using it to take advantage of your innocent compassion. That's right, the same little pig you so willingly allowed into your bed at night, whom you so eagerly allowed to snuggle against your bosom, is the same boy you see before you," he then pointed an accusing finger at Ranma, "and he knew all along!" He then laughed like it was the funniest joke in the world.
"You knew, Ranma?" asked Akane, "you knew Ryoga was cursed? That he was P-Chan the whole time?"
"Well, yeah, Akane," said Ranma, "I wanted to tell you, I really did, but Ryoga made me swear not to. I had to keep it a secret, it was a matter of honor." He then saw Akane had her mallet out and was running at him with murder in her eyes.
"RANMA YOU JERK!" bellowed Akane as she swung her mallet at him, "I'LL SHOW YOU HONOR!" Ranma ducked the mallet and ran for his life, with Akane chasing after him, clearly intending on putting him in an early grave.
Hunson Abadeer laughed with vile glee as he watched Akane chase after Ranma, "oh I just love messing around with already fragile relationships!"
"You bastard!" exclaimed Cupid, "how dare you play games with their hearts!"
"Why? Why are you doing this?" asked Ashlynn.
"Why?" asked the demonic overlord possessing Ryoga, "because I can."
"That's no excuse!" shouted Frankie, "you shouldn't hurt people because you can! You'd have to be a complete psycho or just plain evil to justify yourself like that!"
"But I am evil," said Hunson Abadeer, "you'd have to be in order to rule The Nightosphere, and I've ruled for so long, I get bored easily. Being deathless myself, I need to keep myself entertained."
"And inflicting suffering on innocents is entertainment to you?" asked Ayeka, "have you so soul?"
"Of course he doesn't have a soul," said Ryoko, "he's a freaking demon!"
"Oh, I've got my own soul," said Hunson Abadeer, "I just don't care." He was then hit by an energy blast from behind.
"My grandmother had just the right worlds for bullies like you!" shouted Kabuto as he and the other Riders stood behind Hunson Abadeer in a semicircle, "'people who delight in the pain and sorrow of others should rot in the hell of their own making!'"
"I rule Hell, boy!" shouted Hunson Abadeer as he turned to face Kabuto, TheBee, Drake, Sasword, Gatack, Ketros, Hercus and Kiva, "I've lost count how long I've been the supreme lord and master of The Nightosphere! I've spread so much chaos and despair across so many worlds, I've devoured more souls than there are named numbers! Who do you brats think you are that you dare dream you can stop me!?"
"Who are we?" asked Kabuto. He then looked at his fellow Riders, "anyone want to tell him who we are? Or should I do it?"
"Let me," said Ketros, "us Riders, we're the chosen ones!"
"Let's kick his ass back to hell!" shouted Drake as he pulled the tail rotor on his Zecter, while Kabuto and the others activated their Zecters. Energy crackled as their armor segments separated.
"Cast Off!" shouted the seven Riders as they fully activated their Zecters.
CAST OFF
Their outer armor blasted away, revealing their Rider forms beneath.
CHANGE: BEATLE
CHANGE: WASP
CHANGE: DRAGONFLY
CHANGE: SCORPION
CHANGE: STAG BEATLE
CHANGE: HERCULES BEATLE
CHANGE: CENTAUR BEATLE
Hunson Abadeer ducked most of the armor segments, only to be hit by a few with enough force to knock him down. He got back up, just as Kabuto and the others rushed at him. He knocked aside Hercus and Ketros, before dodging a punch from TheBee. "You all wanna fight me? Fine! I'll take you all seven of you at once!" With that he summoned six doppelgängers of himself. Kabuto and the other Riders found themselves fighting one on one against Hunson Abadeer and, much to their dismay, were quickly outmatched by the vile demonic overlord.
"I don't understand, why don' they Clock Up?" asked Ashlynn.
"They are," said Cerise, "they all are, including the demon!" true enough the seven Riders and their demonic opponents would blink out of existence, only to reappear half a second elsewhere on the battlefield, then blink out and appear elsewhere again and again.
"How can that creep in Ryoga have so much power?" asked Ukyo.
"Let's ask the one person who knows Hunson Abadeer better than any of us," said Ayeka as she pulled out a cell phone, "are you watching, Washu?"
"I haven't taken my eyes off you since you went into the dome," said Washu as she, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Sasami, Keko, Yukina, Apple, Raven and Maddie observed from the hotel rooftop, "why haven't any of you made a run for the rift? Hunson's totally focused on fighting, you'd think one of you would have the initiative to head for the rift and seal it."
"Well, we would if we could," said Ryoko as she looked towards the rift, still surrounded by the twelve robbed demons, and guarded by two more of Hunson Abadeer's doppelgängers, "but the jerk has other ideas."
"And a lot of us are exhausted from fighting the demons," said Ayeka, "I mean, Ms. Ryoko is exhausted, I only need a moment to catch my breath."
Ryoko glared at Ayeka, "oh really? You look like you're ready to crawl into bed for a week!"
"You look like you're ready to hibernate for the winter!" snapped Ayeka.
"You look ready for the mortician!" spat Ryoko.
"Argh! Will you two stop it already!?" shouted Tenchi. He then grabbed the phone from Ayeka, "Washu, isn't there anything you can do to help?"
"I'm sorry, Tenchi," said Washu, "but not even a mad genius like myself can fix them. Oh, Oh! You were talking about Hunson Abadeer."
"Darn right we're talking about that creep!" said Mousse, "how do we stop him?""
"How did you stop him before, Washu?" asked Sasami.
At that Washu sighed before speaking, "you all need to understand that he cannot be killed. Death wants nothing to do with Hunson Abadeer, and believe me, I heard it straight from the guy's mouth. He's really a nice guy, Death, loves rock'n'roll and playing the drums, but he once admitted to me that there are five beings in all of creation his power cannot touch; Hunson Abadeer, Lucifer, the space god Orgalorg, a certain supreme necromancer known as The Lich and one other that I can't remember."
"But how did you stop him before?!" Tenchi demanded.
"Just keep fighting him," said Washu, "he can't be killed but there is a limit to his power. Sucking out souls doesn't give him strength, he's just that kind of jerk. No, the true source of Hunson Abadeer's power is The Nightosphere itself. The longer he's away from his native dimension, the weaker he becomes. Eventually he has to return to The Nightosphere to recharge his energies, and the more he's forced to fight, the quicker those energies are drained. So keep kicking his ass, you guys; it's just a matter of time before he runs out of steam!"
It was then that both Hercus and Ketaros were delivered knockout blows. Both riders were tossed into the air and landed hard, rolling to a stop several feet away and powering down.
"Oh, we really shouldn't spend so much time underground," moaned a bruised and bleeding Madison.
"I shouldn't spend so much time in front of the computer," said an equally bruised and bleeding Dorothea.
"He's not running out of power any time soon, Washu!" said Ryoko as one of the doppelgängers knocked Drake out of the fight.
"HUNTER!" shouted Ashlynn as she rushed to Drake as he fell to the ground and powered down. Ashlynn knelt down beside the battered and bleeding Hunter as he looked up at the sky with dazed eyes, "Hunter! Say something! Anything!"
"Stop it, Pesky," groaned Hunter, "I'm not in the mood to play." He then passed out in Ashlynn's arms.
Within a manner of seconds, the copies of Hunson Abadeer had defeated TheBee, Sasword and Gatack, forcing the three of them to power down. Only Kabuto was still standing, and from his unfocused stance and labored breathing, Kabuto looked ready to pass out as well.
"Just you now, tough boy," said Hunson Abadeer as his doppelgängers vanished, the original facing Kabuto with viciously eager eyes, "so why waste my time with this pointless fighting? You can't beat me! Don't believe it? Look around! All your friends are either too weak or too scared to fight!"
"Not all of them!" shouted Kiva, whom had just finished mopping up the remaining lesser demons, approached Hunson Abadeer.
"So you want to fight me, little goth girl?" asked Hunson Abadeer, "if I wanted to do that I'd fight my own daughter!"
"Don't listen to his nonsense, Clair!" shouted Elissabat.
"Don't worry, I won't," said Kiva as she pulled out all three Fuestles, which Elissabat played one after another.
"Garuru Saber!"
"Bassha Magnum!"
"Dogga Hammer!"
"All three of us!?" shouted Frankie as she, Lagoona and Clawdeen assumed their Arms forms and merged into Kiva. Ghostly chains wrapped around Kiva's arms and chest. Her left arm turned purple with Clawdeen's power, the right blue with Lagonna's power and the chest plate green with Frankie's power.
With that she rushed at Hunson Abadeer, alternating attacks with the Garuru Saber, the Bassha Magnum and Dogga Hammer.
"What power," said an amazed Raven as she watched Kiva and Hunson Abadeer duel, "I can sense it all the way from here."
"Yeah, but how long can Clair keep this up?" asked Jackson, whom had just come from The Steam Vault, "how long can she hold all that power?"
"Not long enough," said Washu, "that demon, he's gotten so much stronger since I last saw him. I'm afraid Clair won't beat him."
"Well, you're the genius!" snapped Jackson, "think of something! Anything!"
"What do you think I've been doing!?" Washu irately asked, "I've been wracking my brain ever since that creep showed up!" she sat down in a huff, "but I've got nothing! We just don't have enough power to stop him!"
"Raven! Stop!" shouted Apple as she saw Raven try to head back inside, "you're going to the battlefield, aren't you?!"
"I…I…" said Raven as she looked at Raven, then nearly fell down from lack of energy. Apple and Maddie caught her before she hurt herself.
"I'm sorry," said Raven, "it's just…I have to do something!" she then cried out in disgruntled fury, "but I used up all my magic protecting Dexter and the others! If only I weren't so weak right now, I could help!"
…Dynatron Enterprises…
"Oh, but you are weak, Raven," said Clare as she gleefully watched Raven's frustration, "too weak and pathetic to help your friends. And now they're all going to die because you were so stupid as to use up all your mojo for the day."
"This does bode ill for Raven and her friends," said Dr. Stiletto.
"It's a shame they have to die like this," said Dr. Falchion, "I almost feel sorry for them."
"Not me," said Clare, "I'm only sorry I won't be the one to wipe them out, right, Mother? Mother?"
Rebecca ignored Clare as she looked at the image of Raven, "no, it doesn't have to be this way." With that she summoned a dimensional portal and stepped through.
"Uh…what just happened?" asked Dr. Scimitar, "where'd she go?"
"She wouldn't!" snapped Clare, "she wouldn't go help that pathetic sister of mine!" she then saw on the mirror Rebecca appear in front of Raven, "she would!"
…Tokyo…
"Mom!" exclaimed a surprised Raven as she saw her mother on the rooftop.
"The Evil Queen," said a horrified Apple, while Maddie and the others looked equally shocked.
"As much as I would like to finish what I started with your mother, Apple White," said Rebecca, "I've more pressing matters to speak of with my daughter!" With a wave of her hand, Rebecca cast a privacy spell around her and Raven, a spell that separated Raven and her mother from Apple and the others via a soundproof force field.
"There, now we can speak without interruption," said Rebecca, smirking at Apple and the others as they fruitlessly pounded on the barrier. She then saw the look of hesitation on her daughter's face, "what's the matter, Raven? Why aren't you hugging your mother? I'd hug my mother after being so unjustly separated for so long."
"Oh, right!" said Raven. She then rushed over and hugged her mother for the first time in years. Try as she would to rein in her emotions, Raven found herself crying tears of joy to be back in her mother's arms, "I…I missed you, mom!"
"I missed you too, my dear," said Rebecca, "words cannot describe the pain I've endured at our separation. A million deaths won't be enough to punish Milton Grimm for his betrayal."
At that Raven backed away from Rebecca, "but you betrayed him when you went on your rampage, Mom! Yes, I believe Grimm was wrong to lock you away like he did, but you have to admit, you started it!"
"He started it when he forced me into a role for his sick fantasies!" snapped Rebecca, "I never wanted to be evil in the first place. I could have been a musician; I could have been the best dragon rider in the world. Instead, that fat fudge packer forced me into becoming the next Evil Queen! He lied to me with all that nonsense of 'poofing' out of existence if I didn't sign The Storybook of Legends! And thanks to that fat bastard, I allowed the darkness to twist my heart, making me what I am now. So if anyone is to blame for my crimes, it's Grimm!"
"Mom, I heard this all before," said Raven, "pretty much every time I saw you thought he mirror, you blamed others for your misfortunes; you've no one to blame but yourself."
"I didn't come all the way to argue with you, Raven," said Rebecca menacingly, "I didn't risk exposing myself to those who would destroy me, all so you can lecture me on good and evil!"
"Who'd want to destroy you?" asked Raven, "aside the people you've hurt back home, and how did you escape anyway?"
"I have friends in high places," said Rebecca, "people with vast resources who took a chance on me. I hope to pay off their investment in the near future, and I hope you'll be there to reap the rewards, Raven."
"You want me to join you," said Raven, "you want me to abandon my friends and be evil with you."
"It'd make me so happy to have you by my side," said Rebecca, "but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I came all this way because you're in quite the sticky situation." She looked towards the battlefield, "your friends are fighting Hunson Abadeer. Yes, I know, and I know they won't win."
"You'd be surprised what my friends can do, Mom," said Raven, "we beat Obsidian and we'll beat them again, just as we'll stop that demon creep from hurting anyone else in this universe."
"You underestimate Hunson Abadeer's power," said Rebecca, "just as good always underestimates evil."
"Evil also underestimates good," said Raven, "but you didn't come here to debate good vs. evil, Mom, so what do you want with me?"
"Why cut to the chase?" asked Rebecca, "can't you allow me some bantering? Oh, very well, straight to the point then. I'm here to help you achieve your full powers, Raven."
"My full powers?" asked Raven.
"I know you've struggled to master your magic," said Rebecca, "how your spells go wrong, especially when you used them against your nature."
"You mean when I tried to use magic for good instead of hurting people?" Raven asked, "I've gotten a lot better with my magic."
"Indeed you have," said Rebecca, "but you still haven't realized your full potential. All that goodness you so willingly keep in your heart is holding you back."
"Being good isn't a weakness, mother!" snapped Raven, "having friends and loved ones doesn't hold you back. You wouldn't have had me if you thought love was weak, and you wouldn't have had my sister either."
At that Rebecca blinked in surprise, not that Raven knew, but that Raven brought the subject up, "so you know about my little indiscretion."
"I know Grimm took your baby away and made you and everyone else forget," said Raven, "but you remembered you had a daughter before me. Tell me, when you first broke out of your prison, did you try to find my sister? Did you care at all?"
"I care!" snapped Rebecca, "I have…made inquirers about her. I will find your elder sister, Raven, and then we can be a family like we were meant to be."
"And evil family you mean!" said Raven, "how many times do I have to say it? I Don't Want To Be Evil! I Don't Want To Be Like You! I Choose To Make My Own Destiny!"
"Fight destiny all you want," said Rebecca as she glared furiously at Raven, "but destiny will not be denied! You will become evil, just like me!"
With a dramatic flourish of her hands, Rebecca summoned a large tome and hovered it in front of Raven.
"Is that what I think it is?" Apple asked as she and the others saw the book.
"Either that or you've all gone mad and I've gone sane," said Maddie.
"It's just a book," said Sasami.
"Not just any book, Sasami," said Washu, "a book of powerful magic that changes whoever signs it."
"The real Storybook of Legends," said Raven as she looked at the book, "so you really had it all along. Where did you hide it?"
"Right under Milton Grimm's fat nose," said Rebecca proudly, "but that's not important right now. What is important is that at long last you can have your full powers. Just say the words to summon the key. You do remember the words, do you?"
"As if I could forget," said Raven nervously as she remembered the words Headmaster Grim, Apple and so many others pressured her to say on Legacy Day, what seemed a lifetime ago but was still fresh in her mind…
'I, Raven Queen, Daughter of The Evil Queen, and I am ready to pledge my destiny.'
"Your destiny is yours for the taking, Raven!" said Rebecca, "just reach out and it is yours! Just sign the book and your full powers will awaken! And together, we shall rule not just the realms of Ever After, but all worlds, all dimensions! All of existence shall be ours to conquer as mother and daughter!" With that she let out a wicked cackle that chilled Raven to the bone.
All the while, two opposing forces were battling for control in Raven's heart; on one hand was her determination to write her own destiny, to be who she wanted to be and not what others expected of her. On the other, this was her mother. Despite Rebecca's crimes, she was Raven's mother and Raven wanted to be with her so much it hurt. Then again, it would mean giving up the goodness Raven had fought so hard to be, but on the other hand, it would give Raven her full powers, powers she and her friends were in dire need of.
But then something caught Raven's eye, something in the form of Apple franticly pointing at the hologram projector, showing Kiva delivering punch after kick to Hunson Abadeer, as well as sword slashes, water blasts and hammer smashes.
"You see, mom?" asked Raven, "I don't need my full powers to stop Hunson Abadeer!"
"Keep it up, Clair!" shouted Elissabat, "you've got him on the ropes!"
"Right!" said Kiva as she placed the finishing Fuestle in Elissabat's mouth, said golden bat detaching from the belt and playing the whistle, the Fuestle's song resounding in the area as the sky darkened and a crescent moon appeared above.
"WAKE UP!" shouted Elissabat.
The chains around Kiva's right calf unlocked and the right greave detached, revealing the Hells' Gate flesh beneath.
Kiva jumped high into the air and performed a diving Rider Kick as the Kiva symbol appeared around her, as well as the spirit forms of Frankie, Clawdeen and Lagoona. All five of them, Kiva, Elissabat, Frankie, Clawdeen and Lagoona, all shouted in fury as the kick impacted Hunson Abadeer in the chest, knocking the foul creature dozens of feet away.
"Is…is that it?" Kiva asked breathlessly as the three spirit forms vanished, "did…we win?"
For a few seconds the body of Ryoga didn't move, but then an insidious laugh could be heard as Hunson Abadeer healed whatever injuries his host incurred and stood up.
"Close," said the vile demonic overlord, "but no cigar!"
Almost too fast to see, Hunson Abadeer crossed the distance between himself and Kiva, his right hand on Kiva's chestplate, crackling with negative Ki energy.
"SHISHI HOKODON!" bellowed Hunson Abadeer as the Ki blast discharged in a massive explosion. Kiva flew out of the explosion and landed several yards away and powered down, revealing Clair, Elissabat, Frankie, Lagoona and Clawdeen, all five of them bruised, bleeding and exhausted from their efforts.
"You were saying, Raven?" asked Rebecca smugly, delighting in the horrified look on her daughter's face, "I'll bet you're not so confident in good triumphing over evil now, aren't you?"
"We…we'll keep fighting," said Raven, yet her confidence was wavering, "we'll never stop fighting!"
"And you'll fight to the bitter end," said Rebecca as she and Raven saw through the hologram projector Hunson Abadeer delivering a humiliating kick to Clair's midsection, then one to Elissabat, then Frankie, Lagoona and Clawdeen. He then picked up Clair as the mouth of Ryoga opened wider than a human's should be able to, expanding as Hunson Abadeer took an enormous, sucking breath that pulled out Clair's soul. He tossed Clair to the ground where she remained unmoving, still alive but empty on the inside.
"NO!" shouted Raven as Hunson Abadeer swallowed the pilfered soul, "NO!"
To Raven's horror, Hunson Abadeer picked up Frankie, then Clawdeen and Lagoona, stealing their souls in turn. All the while Clawd, Howleen and the others still able to fight tried to stop the vile demonic overlord, yet found themselves blocked by more of the creature's doppelgängers.
"There's nothing you can do to save them, Raven," said Rebecca as Hunson Abadeer went to one of the weakened Riders, "nothing good that is."
Raven fell to her knees in despair, her resolve crumbling as she watched Hunson Abadeer pick up both Madison and Dorothea, sucking out both souls at once.
"Just say the words and sign the book, Raven," said Rebecca in a comforting manner as she knelt beside her, "such a simple task and all you could ever wish for will be yours."
"I…" started Raven as tears fell from her eyes, "I…I, Raven Queen, Daughter of…"
"NOOOO!" shouted Apple as she pounded her fists on the privacy barrier, "DON'T DO IT, RAVEN!" Her hands bleeding from the pounding, Apple broke through the barrier, "Don't you dare toss aside your freedom and self-determination, Raven. Don't you dare let this horrible witch take away who you are!"
"Insolent brat!" snapped Rebecca, "keep your obnoxiously obstinate nose out of this! You will get yours in due time!"
"I won't stay out of it!" said Apple, "not when it comes to the well-being of my friends! Raven! Remember who you are and what you stand for!"
She then raised her hand to point at the sun, "as Avery's grandmother would say, 'There is no fate but what we make!'"
"'There is no fate but what we make,'" said Raven as she felt her resolve reassert itself, "you're right, Apple." She stood up, wiping away her tears and glared defiantly at Rebecca, "she's right, mother. I am who I am and nothing will change that!"
At that Rebecca backhanded Raven hard across the face with a hand that crackled with dark magic, knocking Raven off her feet. She fell hard on the rooftop and passed out.
"Ungrateful brat!" spat Rebecca. She then turned her wrathful gaze on Apple, whom backed away in terror, "And you, you repulsively sweet piece of fruit! So much like your mother. She too had a bit of rebelliousness in her youth, before she got with the program. I should have cut out her heart myself instead of sending The Huntsman. But not this time."
With another wave of her hands, Rebecca summoned a cursed knife in one hand and a Red Delicious in the other. Tucking the knife in her belt, Rebecca then summoned a vial of poison and poured its contents on the Red Delicious, imbuing the fruit with a dark pulsing aura.
"Now come here, daughter of Snow White," said Rebecca as she held out the forbidden fruit to Apple, "come here and taste your destiny."
Instinctively, Apple walked toward Rebecca and reached out for the Red Delicious, but paused after two steps, "No."
"'No?'" asked a confused Rebecca, "but you can't refuse an apple, it's in your blood! You have to take the poisoned apple and allow yourself to be cursed! No Snow White can refuse the poisoned apple! It's axiomatic!"
"That may have been with my mother and her mother and so on," said Apple, "but not with me. My destiny is my own, now and forever more! So you can take your poisoned apple and shove it!"
"Oh good for you, Apple!" said a happily crying Maddie.
Rebecca then let out a shriek of unbridled rage and cast an immobilization spell on Apple and the others.
"Enough is enough," said Rebecca as she levitated Apple towards her and forced her mouth open, "now eat the fucking fruit!"
But then a bolt of dark magic the color of bright lavender blasted the Red Delicious into mush and breaking Rebecca's concentration, allowing Apple and the others to move again.
"Leave my friends alone, Mother!" snapped Raven as she aimed her wand at Rebecca.
"Impudent child!" snapped Rebecca as her while body crackled with dark magic, "how dare you turn the family wand against me! By denying your true destiny, you've forfeited all rights to that wand! Now give it to me!"
"You want it, Mother?" asked Raven as her body glowed with a bright lavender aura, "come and get it!"
"Okay, I will," said Rebecca. With that she teleported behind Raven and with one hand took the wand out of Raven's. With the other, Rebecca spun Raven around and delivered a powerful curse from the wand that made Raven scream with unadulterated agony.
"RAVEN!" screamed Apple as she saw her friend collapse to the rooftop.
"As much as I'd love to finish you off for good, Apple White," said Rebecca as she caressed the wand, "It'd be much more satisfying watching you and yours suffer a bit longer. Until we meet again!" she then vanished, cackling like the villain she was.
"Oh my gosh! What'd she do to her?!" exclaimed Sasami as she and the others rushed to Raven's unconscious form.
"A curse, and an evil one at that," said Washu.
"Don't tell me the obvious!" snapped Maddie, "tell me what happened to my best friend!"
"I…I really don't know," said Washu, "magic isn't my forte."
"But you're Washu, the greatest genius in the universe," said Keiko, "or is all your bluster about being the greatest just hot air?"
"Um…I hate to change the subject," said Jackson, "but…"
"But what?!" demanded Apple.
"Chad's facing Hunson Abadeer alone," said Jackson.
"What the hell?!" exclaimed Washu as she and the others looked at the hologram projector, which showed Chad standing between the possessed Ryoga and the others on the battlefield.
"He's either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid," said Mihoshi.
"Coming from you, Mihoshi, that's serious," said Kiyone.
"You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, kido," said Hunson Abadeer as he faced Chad, "you really think you can stop me?"
"I don't know," said Chad, "I won't know until I try."
"Chad, get out of there!" shouted Clawd, "he's too strong!"
"No, he's just a bully!" said Chad.
"I think being the most powerful demon of them all goes way beyond mere bullying," said Ashlynn.
"Oh, I'm a bully alright," said Hunson Abadeer, "just way out of your league. Now get out of my way, kido and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you keep your soul a bit longer."
"And let you walk all over the world and the rest of the universe?" asked Chad as he unlocked the metal briefcase and took out the Faiz gear.
"He's right," said Briar as she got back up, dusting off her Henshin Brace and waited for TheBee Zecter to fly back to her hand, "we can't let him beat us! We've got to stop him, and we will stop him as long as we believe we can! As long as we have faith in ourselves and each other, we can't…"
That's as far as Briar got before Hunson Abadeer rushed over and punched her hard in the midsection, knocking Briar to the ground in a breathless heap.
"If I wanted to hear dribble about how good triumphs over evil, I'd talk with my daughter," said Hunson Abadeer as he kicked Briar away from him, then rushed over and kicked Dexter hard in the chest, knocking him several yards away. It turned out Dexter had the device for closing the rift, which fell out of Dexter's pocket.
"Nice try, Little Washu," said Hunson Abadeer as he stepped on and smashed the device with his foot, then ducked a punch from Ranma.
"Don't you mortal morons get it? You can't beat me!" snapped Hunson Abadeer as he punched Ranma in the face. Ranma endured the blow and delivered a punch that knocked Hunson Abadeer back a few paces.
"You may have Ryoga's body," said Ranma, "and all his moves, but you're nothing like Ryoga! At least he has some honor, but you're just a thieving parasite from another dimension!"
"Don't you call me a thief, boy!" snapped Hunson Abadeer, "I've been spreading chaos and suffering longer than your species has existed! And furthermore…" he paused, frowning slightly in thought, before laughing, "oh, nice try, kido. You thought you could make me lose my cool and lure me into that Heavenly Dragon Fist of yours. Well, you won't be fisting anything anymore, boy!"
Before Ranma could react, Hunson Abadeer rushed up to him, grabbed Ranma's right arm and broke it in three places, then kicked him in the chest hard enough to break several ribs and knocking him down.
"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy punching the soul out of your body, boy," said Hunson Abadeer as he walked up to Ranma, only for Akane to stand in his way with her arms outstretched.
"Ryoga! Stop it!" shouted Akane, "don't hurt him anymore!"
"Stupid little girl!" snapped Hunson Abadeer, "your friend isn't listening! I'm in control!"
"I don't believe it!" said Akane, "I know he wouldn't want to hurt Ranma, not really. Even after all the bad history he and Ranma have, I know they wouldn't really want to destroy each other."
"Akane! Get out of the way!" shouted Ranma, ignoring the pain of his broken bones, "he'll kill you!"
"He won't!" said Akane, "I have to believe Ryoga's still in there and he won't let that horrible demon hurt me!"
"Wanna bet?!" exclaimed Hunson Abadeer as he reached out and began strangling Akane.
"NO! THAT'S ENOUGH!" exclaimed Chad as he grabbed the fully equipped Faiz Driver and put it on, then flipped open the Faiz Phone and began dialing.
555
STANDING BY
"Henshin! Shouted Chad as he held the phone up high, then brought it down and clicked it into place on the belt.
COMPLETE
Red energy lines flowed up and down from the belt, transforming Chad into Faiz as he ran up to and delivered a devastating punch to Hunson Abadeer, forcing the vile demonic overlord to drop Akane.
"Oh, there's one more Rider to fight me, huh?" asked Hunson Abadeer as he recovered from the punch, "you're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, so which is it, kido!?"
"A little of Colum A and a little of Colum B," said Faiz as he drew out the Faiz Shot knuckleduster and attached the Mission Memory chip to it.
READY
"So, you really think you've got a chance against me?" asked Hunson Abadeer, "well, go on! Give me your best shot! But while you're doing that, consider what's happening to your friends why don't you."
Faiz looked behind and saw more demons emerging from the rift, sneaking up on our weakened heroes.
"You can't fight me and save your friends at the same time!" taunted Hunson Abadeer.
"Actually," said Faiz as he attached Washu's stopwatch to his left arm, removing the watch's Mission Memory chip, "I can!" he then inserted the chip into the Faiz phone.
COMPLETE
Faiz's chestplate opened up and the red lines on his armor turned silver with a flash of energy.
Faiz then pressed the button on the watch.
START UP
The watch gave a klaxon sound and flashed red, then began counting down from ten seconds as Faiz vibrated with increased power. At supersonic speed, he rushed at and destroyed the creeping demons, then rushed back at Hunson Abadeer.
3
2
1
With milliseconds to spare, Faiz delivered a catastrophic punch to the possessed Ryoga's midsection with the Faiz Shot, knocking him to the ground.
TIME OUT
"I'll be darned, the darned thing works," said Washu as she, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Sassami, Keiko and Jackson rushed up to our heroes.
"How'd you guys get through the dome of darkness?" asked Tenchi.
"With this little beauty," said Washu as she held up a Portal Gun.
"Wait, you had that all this time?" asked Tobias as Cupid helped up him, "why didn't you use it before?"
"Because it has a limited range and needs time to recharge between uses," said an irate Washu, "it doesn't work like it would in a video game! And furthermore…hey, who's that?"
Washu pointed at the unmoving Hunson Abadeer, where Draculaura frantically riffled through his pockets, while an impatient Valentine stood nearby.
"Where is it?!" exclaimed Draculaura, "Where's the bloody diamond!?"
Hunson Abadeer then got up and threw Draculaura away with enough force to smash her through several piles of rubble.
"DRACULAURA!" exclaimed Valentine as he chased after her.
"Soulless abomination," muttered Hunson Abadeer. He then glared at Faiz, "You! You filthy human! I'd like to see you do that again!"
"Alrighty!" said Faiz as he pressed the button a second time.
START UP
The watch gave another klaxon and flashed red as it counted down from ten seconds. Faiz vanished as he accelerated. An instant later, six red spinning cones of energy appeared around Hunson Abadeer. Before the possessed Ryoga could react, Faiz delivered six Crimson Smash attacks as the watch neared the end of the countdown.
3
2
1
Faiz delivered a final Crimson Smash, one that not only knocked out the possessed Ryoga, but knocked Hunson Abadeer out of him.
TIME OUT
DEFORMATION
Faiz's armor closed up and resumed its normal color as Hunson Abadeer collapsed to the ground, while Ryoga, freed at last, collapsed as well. At the same time Faiz powered down. Exhausted yet satisfied, Chad fell to his knees and lay on his back smiling, "in your face, Richter Ives!"
"Chad! You did it!" shouted Howleen as she rushed over, throwing her arms around Chad and kissing him on the cheek.
"Yes, that's all well and good," said Ayeka, "but we still have the big Andronian Elephant in the room to deal with," she pointed at the rift, from which emerged more and more demons.
"Washu, isn't there anything else we can do to close the rift?" asked Sasami as she stood next to Ayeka, "like a Plan B or something?"
"No, there isn't!" snapped Washu, "the Reality Cancelation Device was our one chance! It's not like I can think up of another plan at the drop of a hat!"
"But you're Washu!" said Ukyo, "the mad genius from space! You're supposed to be the smartest person in the known universe!"
It was then that a lightbulb lit above Washu's head, "why, yes, I am the greatest in the universe! I've got an idea and it's crazy enough to work!" she then sat down with her Portal Gun and began tinkering with the inner circuitry.
"What are you doing?" asked Tenchi cautiously.
"The rift was formed by an unstable singularity," said Washu as she worked on the Portal Gun, "the resulting explosion tore a hole in the fabric of spacetime. If an exploding singularity did that, then an imploding one should close the rift back up."
"That…sounds reasonable," said a slightly confused Jackson.
"But how are you going to create another singularity and make it implode?" asked Frankie.
"And get it into the rift?" asked Faybelle.
"The same way my generator exploded in the first place," said Washu as she looked towards Ranma and Akane, the later having calmed down enough to stop chasing the former, "Akane, get over here! I need your monstrous recklessness!"
"What? You need what from me?" asked Akane as she and Ranma came over.
"I want you to hit the Portal Gun with that mallet of yours," said Washu as she finished working on said device, "and hit it just right so it goes over the demons and into the rift, without destroying it of course."
"I…I don't know if I can," said Akane hesitantly, "I mean…the first time was an accident, and I was really upset then. I'm feel way too ashamed of myself right now to get angry again."
"But you're our best chance, Akane," said Ukyo, "none of us are in any shape to fight our way through any more demons!"
"This is your chance to be a hero, dearest Akane," said Kuno, "your chance to shine as a star!"
"Just do it already!" said Kodatchi.
"I…I just don't know if I can," said Akane.
At that Ranma sighed, "Well, if you can't do it, then you can't do it. I mean, it's not your fault you're so easily emotionally exhausted. I could probably throw it in, but not with your irrational recklessness, which you do so well. You'd probably miss either way."
At that Akane's rage flared up again as she raised her mallet, "RANMA YOU JERK!" she shouted as she swung at Ranma's head.
"NOW!" shouted Washu as she tossed the Portal Gun. Ranma ducked, just as the Portal Gun flew to where his head was. Akane's mallet slammed into the Portal Gun, triggering an overload of the device's power supply and sending it towards the rift. The overloading device crackled with energy as it flew over the heads of the demons. It entered the rift and a fraction of a second later detonated with a bright flash.
The rift began to shrink, sucking in a hurricane force wind that drew towards it the guarding demons and demon warlocks and sending them back into The Nightosphere.
"It's working!" shouted Ukyo as she and our heroes held on for dear life against the driving wind.
"Of course it's working!" exclaimed Washu triumphantly, "I am the greatest genius!"
"WASHU IS THE GREATEST! WASHU IS THE GREATEST!" shouted both of her puppets.
The collapsing rift then drew the attention of Hunson Abadeer, "What?! NO! What have you done?!" The Lord of The Nightosphere could only watch as the rift vanished and with it the corrupting dome of darkness.
"Admit it, old friend," said Washu, "and I use the word 'friend' ironically. Anyway, admit it, you've lost!"
"No," said Hunson Abadeer coldly as he expanded into his nightmare of a full demon form, "I haven't lost! You've lost! I don't need to suck out the souls of this world! I don't need this world at all! I'll just blow it up and start over on another!"
With that he hellish creature took flight several thousand feet up into the air and began charging up a massive sphere of demonic energy.
"Oh man, it's just like when Vegeta threated to blow up Earth with his Galick Gun!" shouted a fearful Tenchi as he and the others watched Hunson Abadeer power up his attack further.
"And none of us are in any condition to use a Kaio Ken X4 Kamehameha," said Yusuke. "Well, Kuwabara, it's been nice knowing you."
"Yeah, nice knowing you Urameshi," said Kuwabra. He then kissed Yukina, while Yusuke kissed Keiko.
"No, we're not done yet," said Kabuto as he walked over to our heroes and looked up at the hovering demon, who was still charging up his fatal blast.
"None of us are defeated as long as we have hope," said Kabuto, "there's always a chance, no matter how remote."
"Dude, you can barely stand up straight," said Hunter as he and Ashlynn held hands, "face it, Avery, this is it, we're going to die!"
"And there's no nonexistent switch to make a joke about not listening to one's parents," said Mousse.
"I'm being serious," said Kabuto as he held out his hand. The Hyper Zecter appeared and he grabbed it.
"Hyper Cast Off!" shouted Kabuto after attaching the Hyper Zecter to his belt and pulling the lever.
HYPER CAST OFF
With a crackling of tachyon energy, Kabuto's armor expanded to his hyper form.
CHANGE: HYPER BEETLE
From out of the sun fell the Perfect Zecter, which Hyper Kabuto caught with one hand. The sword pulsed with energy, summoning to it the wasp, dragonfly and scorpion Zectors.
GUN MODE
Hyper Kabuto converted the Perfect Zecter to its rifle form and pressed the four buttons.
KABUTO THEBEE DRAKE SASWORD POWER
ALL ZECTERS COMBINED
A massive charge of tachyon energy built up as Hyper Kabuto aimed the Perfect Zecter up at Hunson Abadeer.
"TAKE THIS!" shouted the demonic overlord as he threw his attack at our heroes, just as Hyper Kabuto's back armor opened up, revealing his wings to brace him.
MAXIMUM HYPER CYCLONE
Hyper Kabuto pulled the trigger and fired the tachyon blast up. The attack struck the demonic blast, negated it and continued up to hit the astonished Hunson Abadeer. The demonic overlord screamed in defiant outrage as the blast blew him further into the air and out of sight.
Hyper Kabuto then dropped the Perfect Zecter as his body crackled with tachyon energy.
"What's happening to him?!" asked Ranma as our heroes saw Hyper Kabuto phase in and out of reality.
"He's about to vanish into time," said Tobias, "it's happened before, but…it's different this time…like…"
"Like he's not coming back," said Briar.
"Everyone…" said Hyper Kabuto as he continued to fade out of reality, "farewell."
"NO!" shouted Apple as she rushed up to and flung her arms around Hyper Kabuto, "no! Don't go!"
"Apple! Get away from him!" shouted Dexter, "you'll vanish to!"
But instead of vanishing with Hyper Kabuto, he began to come back, powering down as his physical form stabilized back to normal time. He nearly collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, but Apple helped him sit down safely.
"Are you alright, Avery?" asked Apple.
"I…I think so," said Avery, "I was almost gone for good. I could feel a presence calling to me. It was as if Time itself was drawing me to somewhere else." He looked at Apple with serious eyes, "that was a terrible risk to take for me. You could have been drawn away too."
"Wherever you go, I go," said Apple, "even if it is to another time and another place. If that's my destiny, so be it, for you and I are one," With that she kissed him and he kissed back.
"Uh…I hate to interrupt," said Jackson as he held the soulless body of Clare, while Howleen and Clawd held Clawdeen's, "but what about them?"
"Our friend's souls," said Faybelle as Gil comforted the soulless Lagoona, while Cupid comforted Frankie, "Hunson Abadeer still has them."
"Oh…" said Avery sheepishly, "I didn't think about that when I shot him."
"Well…I guess that makes you an idiot," said Draculaura as Valentine helped her limp over.
"Don't you call him an idiot!" snapped Apple.
"You wanna keep going, Draculaura?" asked Briar irately, "I think I can manage another Henshin and beat you till you cry!"
"I Don't Cry!" snapped Draculaura as she tried to rush at Briar but Valentine held her back, "not anymore! Just you wait! I'll make you all cry!"
"I don't think you can right now," said Avery, "you're in no shape to fight and I don't think Valentine wants to take us all on."
"And I doubt you can call in any help from Irvin," said Cupid, "you would have done so if you could."
"Brilliant deduction, Cupid," said Valentine, "yes, we are a little short handed back at Monster High, but that's neither here nor there. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be going." With that he helped Draculaura back up and opened a portal.
"Yeah, go on, you cowards!" snapped Howleen.
"Just because we're leaving doesn't mean we're empty handed," said a viciously smiling Draculaura as she held up the fifth Star Piece, "look what I pilfered from the demon's pockets!" laughing cruelly, she and Valentine stepped through the portal, which closed up before any of our heroes could respond.
But then Hunson Abadeer landed hard on the ground near our heroes. Screeching with fury, the demonic overlord got back up and glared hatefully at our heroes, "YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME! THE LORD OF THE NIGHTOSPHERE! I'LL SUCK OUT ALL YOUR SOULS AND SPIT THEM BACK OUT!"
"I think not, Old Scratch!" shouted Misaki Katsuhito as he walked onto the battlefield.
"Grandpa!" shouted Tenchi.
"Hey, Tenchi's grandpa!" called Sasami happily.
"So, you're here as well, Masaki Yousho Jurai," said Hunson Abadeer, "just perfect! I get to eat your soul as well!"
"You'll take no more souls, demon!" shouted Cologne, matriarch of the Chinese Amazons and Shampoo's great-grandmother.
"What is this, a reunion of my enemies!?" exclaimed Hunson Abadeer, "who's gonna show up next? That pervert Happosai?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out!" said Happosai as he appeared on the battlefield, "we're almost all here, except for that cutie pie, Genkai."
"Flattery gets you nowhere," said Genkai as she appeared on the battlefield. All four elders took up positions around Hunson Abadeer in the formation of a square, each corner at a compass point.
"You're trying to catch me in a Devil's Trap!" shouted Hunson Abadeer, "I'll wipe you all out first!"
"Oh shut up!" shouted Yusuke as his right fist crackled with spirit energy, "Kuwabara, remember when we first fought The Toguro Brothers?"
"Like I could forget, Urameshi," said Kuwabara as he grinned eagerly, "but I know what you're getting at! SPIRT SWORD!" his energy blade ignited in his hands and he held it like a baseball bat.
Yusuke jumped in front of Kuwabara, just as Kuwabara swung his Spirit Sword, hitting Yusuke in the feet and propelling him like a baseball towards Hunson Abadeer.
"YOU MISERABLE HUMAN PEST!" bellowed Hunson Abadeer, "I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!"
"Swallow This!" shouted Yusuke, "SHOTGUN!"
Aiming his fist at the demon, Yusuke fired a massive amount of spirit energy blasts point blank into Hunson Abadeer's face. The attack was powerful enough to knock the foul creature to the ground.
"And here's the other barrel!" shouted Yusuke as he aimed his left fist at Hunson Abadeer, "SHOTGUN!"
He fired another blast of spirit energy into the creature's midsection with enough force to make the demon vomit up all the souls he stole. Dozens of souls spurted from the creature's mouth. Our heroes looked in amazement as the souls joyfully flowed in the free air, before returning to their rightful bodies.
"Oh, I'm okay," said Frankie after her soul floated to and was absorbed back into her body.
"We're all okay, Frankie," said Elissabat as she, Clawdeen, Dorothea and Madison got back up.
"And it's all thanks to Chad," said Jackson as he helped Clair get up, "thanks, man."
"I just had to find my courage again," said Chad, "that and borrow one of Washu's invention."
"Keep it, kid," said Washu, "I know you'll use it right."
But then Hunson Abadeer, having shrunk to his humanoid form, got back up, "You miserable brats are really trying my patience! Screw your souls, I'm gonna blow up this pathetic planet and everyone on it! And this time none of you will stop me!"
"I don't think so," said Washu cheekily, "notice anything?"
"Huh?" asked Hunson Abadeer. He looked down and saw a complex Devil's Trap surrounding him, "No! NO! NOT AGAIN!" He began beating his fists against an invisible barrier around him but couldn't break free, "let me out! LET ME OUT!"
"You'll find this is no ordinary Devil's Trap, you immortal fraker," said Washu, "if my guess is correct, the normal Hunter's design for a Devil's Trap has been augmented four fold; Cologne's Chinese Amazonian magic, followed by Genkai's spirit abilities. Then we have Juraian psychokenetic abilities employed by Tenchi's grandpa, finally finishing with…with…whatever nasty little trick Happosai picked up. What did you use, you old lecher?"
"A little something I picked up while visiting a school for witches in New Orleans," said Happosai, "what a haul that was!"
"I'm amazed you got out of New Orleans in one peace, Happy," said Cologne.
"We didn't come all this way to hear more of the old pervert's perverted stories," said an annoyed Genkai.
"She's right, we have a much more serious matter to attend to," said Katsuhito.
"That we do, Tenchi's grandpa," said Washu, "that we do." She then calmly walked up to the ensnared Hunson Abadeer, "It seems like only yesterday I had you at my mercy and you swore to leave this dimension and never come back."
"Time has little meaning to the likes of us, old friend," said Hunson Abadeer, "but you won't have the edge on me for long. I'll get out of this trap and you'll wish your parents were never born."
"Maybe," said Washu, "but you've used up way too much of your strength to do anything right now. Even at full power it'd take you quite a while to break free of the enhanced Devil's Trap. At your present state, it'll take you…" she made some quick calculations on her tablet, "…approximately five hundred years to break out. That means five hundred years stuck standing still and alone, because if I have any understanding of Earth authorities, they'll declare this whole area a hazard spot to be avoided at all costs. But it doesn't have to be that way, old friend."
"I figured as much," said Hunson Abadeer, "so, what do you want in return for my freedom?"
"You're letting him go?!" exclaimed Ryoko.
"Now I know you're mad, Ms. Washu!" said Ayeka, "I just had to be sure."
"It's either letting him go or have our descendants keep him locked up for the rest of eternity," said Washu, "I personally have no desire to have kids any time soon, but I'm sure none of you want your children and their children and their children and so on stuck watching this goober forever."
She then looked at Hunson Abadeer, "we'll let you go, in return that you swear a blood oath that you leave this dimension and never come back!"
"Done," said Hunson Abadeer, "I'll even sign a contract in blood if it'll satisfy you, just let me out!"
"You heard him, let him out!" said Washu to the elders.
"This is a mistake!" said Ukyo, "you can't trust him after what he did!"
"He'll suck out our souls the instant he's free," said Kuwabara.
"No, he's gonna keep his word this time," said Ryoga as Akane and Ranma helped him up.
"How do you know? And how can you believe him?" asked Kodatchi.
"After what demon did to Ryoga," said Shampoo, "after what demon made Ryoga do."
"Because I got in his head," said Ryoga, "while he used my memories to hurt you all, I saw his memories; countless years of suffering and chaos." He looked at Hunson Abadeer, "I have to admit it, you are one sick motherfucker."
"I've been called worse," said Hunson Abadeer, "so, you got into my head while I was in yours. Learn anything useful?"
"I learned enough," said Ryoga, "a couple spells and curses, including your one true weakness, a simple incantation that'll leave you powerless. Oh, it won't kill you, but it'll stop you from hurting anyone for a while." He then whispered something into Ranma's ear, then to Akane, then beckoned Yusuke and Tenchi to come over so he could whisper in their ears. "And now I'm not the only one who knows it."
"So that's the deal, Hunson Abadeer," said Washu, "you give your word that you'll leave this dimension and never come back, and my give young friends here promise to keep the spell to themselves. Oh, they'll eventually pass the secret to someone before they die, but it won't go further than that."
"Done," said Hunson Abadeer after biting his thumb and used the blood to sign an affidavit, "I promise to leave Dimension C-595 and never come back! Now let me out of here already!"
"You heard him," said Washu to the elders, "let him out!"
"Very well," said Katsuhito, while Cologne and Happosai nodded.
"We'll live to regret this," muttered Genkai as she and the other elders released the enhanced Devil's Trap.
"Well, this has been a dissatisfying outing," said Hunson Abadeer as he brushed some dust off his suit and straightened his tie, "but enough is enough."
"So that's it, you're just leaving?" Ranma asked, "you're not going to break your word and try to kill us all?"
"And endure more bruises from you brats?" asked Hunson Abadeer as he pulled out a piece of chalk, "Screw you twerps, I'm going home!" He then drew a happy face on a large piece of rubble, then splashed it with a summoned jar of bug milk.
"Maloso vobiscum et cum spiritum," said Hunson Abadeer and a portal back to The Nightosphere opened, which he stepped through. The portal closed up, leaving only the stench of sulfur in the air.
"Is he gone?" asked Dexter, "is he really gone?"
"Yes, he's gone," said Boton as she appeared on her oar in front of our heroes.
"Thank goodness," said Dexter as he and the others collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.
"What a crappy day," sighed Mousse.
"At least we all get to see another day," said Ayeka.
"Yeah, you got to admit," said Ranma, "of all the bad guys we've all faced, this was the worst."
"And to make it worse," said Clawdeen, "Draculaura got away with the Star Piece."
"But on the bright side," said Frankie, "We all made a lot of friends."
"Yeah, that's all well and good," said Faybelle, "but all I care about right now is going home so I can take a long bath."
"I'm afraid we have other things to worry about," said Apple gravely.
A short time later found our heroes back at the hotel where Raven lay unconscious. Dexter sat next to her, holding her hand lovingly as he tried not to cry.
"Physically there's nothing wrong with her," said Washu to our heroes, "she just got zapped in the head by whatever bad mojo her mother used. Again, magic isn't my forte."
"Oh, she'll be fine," said Faybelle, "I'll bet it was just a stunning spell."
"You really want to take that risk?" asked Briar irately.
"Yes," said Faybelle confidently, "it was just a stunning spell. I'll bet you fifty bucks The Evil Queen only stunned Raven so she could get away with the family wand. She'll be right as rain as soon as she wakes up. Can we go home now? I really want that hot bath."
"Yeah, we should be going," said Frankie, "before the authorities show up and start asking uncomfortable questions."
A short time later our heroes, having recovered their stamina, said their farewells and exchanged information to stay in contact, with Washu promising to establish contact with The Steam Vault in the not too distant future. With that all said and done our heroes, consisting of Apple, Avery, Tobias, Cupid, Faybelle, Clawd, Clawdeen, Howleen, Rochelle, Clare and Elissabat, Maddie, Jackson, Raven, Dexter, Briar, Ashlynn, Hunter, Cerise and Ramona, Frankie, Venus, Lagoona, Gil and Chad opened the portal back to The Steam Vault.
"Yeah, this was the worst," said Ranma to himself as he and his friends made their own quiet exit before the authorities detained them for questioning.
"We still saved the world, Ranma," said Akane, "and learned a few important truths," she then looked at Ryoga irately, whom looked like wanted to run away but was nearly paralyzed with fear.
"Now go easy on him, Akane," said Ukyo, "it's not his fault he's such an idiot."
"I'm not an idiot!" snapped Ryoga, "I just…I mean…well…"
Akane then slapped Ryoga across the face, "that's for taking advantage of me, Ryoga!" she snapped at him. Her expression then softened to a more compassionate tone as she kissed him on the cheek, "and that's for sticking by me for so long." She then walked away.
"You okay, man?" asked an astonished Ranma.
"I'll never wash this face again," said a dazed and love-struck Ryoga as he felt where Akane kissed him.
"So much for your chances of picking Akane up on the rebound, Kuno baby," Nabiki teased.
"Alas, easy come easy go as they say," remarked Kuno, "nevertheless, the fair Akane will always have a place in my heart, as will The Pigtailed Girl," he looked around, "where is that red goddess of mine anyway?" he then tripped on a piece of rubble, just as Mihoshi tripped on another piece of rubble. The two of them collided and landed in a heap. They then both looked into each other's eyes and began giggling happily together.
"Oh great," muttered Kiyone as she saw Mihoshi and Kuno stand up and hold hands, "two idiots, no waiting!"
"I don't see what you're complaining about, Kiyone," said Sasami, "I think it's great Mihoshi found her special someone."
"And if all works out, she'll be out of your hair soon enough," said Ryoko.
"Hey, you're right!" said a brightly smiling Kiyone, "they'll get married and she'll move in with him, and far away from me! Oh happy day!"
"They ain't married yet!" said Kuwabara as Yukina fussed over him, healing every single cut and scrape he endured.
"They might as well send out wedding invites," said Keiko. She then looked at Yusuke, "so, you're a Spirit Detective again, huh?"
"Guess I'm back on the job," said Yusuke, "Right, Boton?"
"I'm afraid so, Yusuke," said Boton, "I fear that, while Hunson Abadeer might just keep his word for a time and stay, other threats will come to the world. This Earth of ours will need every defender it can get."
"I figured as much," said Yusuke.
Just then an armored limo and several escorting armored Hummers drove up. Dozens of security guards in full combat armor secured the area as Violet Baudelaire exited the limo, "Washu? What the hell happened?"
"It's a long story, Violet," said Washu, "I'm sorry the generator didn't work out, but boy do I have ideas I want to run by you!"
"Nothing will ever be the same, will it?" asked Tenchi as he, Ranma and Yusuke stood together.
"If there's one thing I've learned in my crazy life is nothing is ever the same," said Ranma.
"I should know," said Yusuke, "and I'm part demon myself."
"You're What!?" exclaimed both Ranma and Tenchi.
"Yeah, long story," said Yusuke, "but there's one thing that still bugs me. That evil vampire chick, Draculaura, how'd she get the diamond? I mean, it was in Hunson Abadeer's pockets and he was in Ryoga, so how did Draculaura get the Star Piece out of Ryoga's pants?"
…Monster High…
"How did you get the Star Piece, Draculaura?" asked Irvin as he admired the fifth Star Piece.
"I don't know and I don't care," said Draculaura, "I got it, that's all that matters."
"I suppose so," said Irvin. "Now, as for the sixth Star Piece…"
"It can wait," said Valentine, "my darling Draculaura needs to recover from her wounds."
"I'm fine," Draculaura insisted, "that possessed normie barely touched me."
"No, Valentine is right, you need to rest," said Irvin, "I insist you restore yourself, it'll give me some time to flush out a new strategy I wish to employ. By then Neffra and Amanita will have returned from their errands and I can share the plan with you all." With that he walked away, while Valentine escorted Draculaura to a private suite set up for them in the school.
"Well, Draculaura," said Valentine after closing the door, "we finally have some alone time."
"Yes, we do," said Draculaura coldly. She then pulled out a wooden stake, grabbed Valentine's throat with her free hand and held the pointed end of the stake over Valentine's heart, "I may be sore from that demon's sucker punch, but I can still take you out of the picture if you don't tell me the truth! What did Hunson Abadeer mean that I have no soul? What am I?!"
"Let me go and I'll tell you!" said Valentine fearfully, for the look in her eyes said she was serious enough to slay him if he didn't tell the truth.
Draculaura released Valentine as he coughed for breath, "I'll do better than tell you," he said as he regained his composure, "I'll show you." With that he opened a secret passage in the wall, "this way."
"No tricks, or I'll stick you with the pointy end," said Draculaura as she held up the stake. She followed Valentine through the passage down into the school dungeons. They passed several cells holding captured students. Some of them were franticly trying to get out, while others sat still like dolls.
"Some of them are adapting to the enthralling gas," said Valentine as he indicated the restless prisoners, "we shall have to do something about that."
"DRACULARUA!"
"Oh, you're awake at last, Cleo," said Valentine as he looked into one cell, where a ragged Cleo stood, her hands gripping the bars enough to turn her knuckles white, "good thing we moved you to your new abode before your petrification wore off."
"Where's Duce!?" Cleo demanded, "what have you done with my dashing Duce! If you've hurt him or made him hurt anyone, I'll…!"
"You'll do what?" asked Valentine, "we're out here and you're in there!"
"Stop dawdling and show me!" snapped Draculaura, ignoring Cleo.
"Yes, we've wasted enough time with the filth," said Valentine, "this way."
"Don't you walk away from me!" snapped Cleo as Valentine escorted Draculaura past the row of cells, "I'll get out of this and I'll make you both pay! Do you hear me?! By the sands of Egypt, I'll Make You Pay!"
Just then two Orphnochs in human form walked up to the cell, "Ms. Neffra and Ms. Amanita are back, they want you."
"Whatever sick game those two are playing, I won't play!" snapped Cleo as the cell opened and she was dragged back up to the main level of the school. Both Neffra and Amanita were waiting, along with Deuce, a collar around his neck with a leash leading to Amanita's wrist.
"Feeling better are we, little sister?" asked Neffra.
Cleo responded by spitting in Neffra's face.
"Oh, she got you good!" giggled Amanita.
"I'm going to ignore that," said an annoyed Neffra as an Anubis servant wiped her face, "and truth be told, we have no time for wordplay, Cleo. Deuce! Do it!"
"Oh, not again!" exclaimed a terrified Cleo as Deuce obediently advanced on her, "Deuce! It's me! Cleo! Don't…!"
Deuce took off his sunglasses and petrified Cleo again.
"Aww, but I wanted to like play with her," said Amanita as more Anubis servants picked the petrified Cleo up and carried her out of the room.
"You'll have plenty to play with soon," said Neffra, "you'll have all the prisoners you can torment and more, just as soon as we set up our little trap."
Draculaura and Valentine descended further and further into the catacombs, eventually reaching a passage sealed with a massive steel door.
"What you seek is beyond this door," said Valentine as he pulled out a metal key, "only Irvin and I have the keys." He unlocked a porthole and opened it, "have a look, and try not to scream."
Giving Valentine a suspicious glare, Draculaura walked up to the porthole and looked in. She saw a laboratory that was a mix of unethical science and dark magic. Strapped to a combination of an operating table and sacrificial altar, was an unconscious vampire girl wearing a simple hospital gown. Placed on her body at the seven chakra points were rainbow-colored stones that glowed maliciously. But it was the face of the vampire girl that made Draculaura place her hands over her mouth to prevent her screaming.
"Yes, that's you," said Valentine as Draculaura backed away from the door, "the original Draculaura, or rather, her innocence."
"What did you do to her?" asked Draculaura, "and how do I fit into it?"
"When Irvin and I originally captured you, we offered you a place in Obsidian," said Valentine, "naturally, you refused, but we needed your power to sense The Star Pieces. We tried several methods to convert you to the dark side but you resisted all forms of magical coercion. Amanita and Neffra wanted to physically torture you, but I forbade it, I care too much for you. Instead, I cultivated the pearl of darkness that resided in a corner of your heart. Wherever there is good there's always some evil, such is the nature of things.
"With your darkness growing, it needed a body of its own, so I cloned Draculaura and placed the darkness in the clone, you. From a certain point of view, you are Draculaura , just the mirror opposite of the Draculaura in that room. As for why we're keeping the original, well, to make a long and complicated story short, we need her in such a state in order to keep you from falling apart, to keep the darkness that is you from returning to its natural, microscopic state and returning to Draculaura's heart from whence it came."
"Is that so," said Draculaura , "so, what now? Who else knows?"
"Just Irvin, Neffra and Amanita," said Irvin, "and now you. As for what next? We carry on with the mission; recover the Star Pieces and capture Frankie Stein and her cadre of fugitives. Unless you have something else in mind."
"No, nothing else," said Draculaura as she looked again into the lab, glaring contemptuously at her unconscious good half, "I can't believe I came from such a crybaby brat!" she slammed the porthole closed, "let's go, I don't feel comfortable being anywhere near her."
"Neither do I," said Valentine as he and Draculaura headed back to the surface, "oh, and speaking of fugitives, I wonder how Richter Ives is doing with the wayward Kaijin?"
...Meanwhile…
"That Dark Rider is slaughtering us!" said the Orphnoch named Allen to the Fangire named Constanza, both of whom sat in a café on a random world, both trying to be as inconspicuous as their polarizing outfits could allow them to be.
"He's already wiped out George, Jenny, Louise, Morton, Orson, Stephen," said Allen, "and just this morning, he blew away Yaeger and Zabrina."
"Wow, nine grays destroyed," said Constanza dryly, "how tragic."
"It's more than a tragedy," said Allen, "it's a catastrophe! We ran from Obsidian so we wouldn't get killed by a Rider, good or bad! And now we're being hunted like animals!"
"And this concerns me and mine how?" asked Constanza as she sipped her coffee.
"I've been in touch with the other renegade Orphnochs," said Allen, "some think we shouldn't contact each other anymore and run faster and hide harder, but the rest, myself included, think we should make a last stand against Kaixa. Better to die fighting than to live in constant fear."
"Bully for you," said Constanza, "but again, how does this concern my fellow renegade Fangire?"
At that Allen sighed before speaking, "we…need your help. I know, it goes against our species' antagonistic feelings towards each other, but the more Kaijin we have to face this one Dark Rider, the better our chances."
"So, you're desperate," said Constanza as she smiled cruelly, "well, thank you for asking, but no, we Fangire will not risk our lives to save you sorry Orphnochs. This is your problem, not ours!"
"It is your problem!" snapped Allen, "yeah, there isn't a Dark Rider hunting you Fangire, yet, but there will be if we don't take a stand against Irvin and the rest of Obsidian! They won't leave us alone until we make them leave us alone!"
"Again not our problem," said Constanza, "Best of luck to you." She then finished her coffee and got up to leave.
"Oh sure, run away, you coward!" snapped Allen as he got up and went after her.
"I'm no coward, just smart!" snapped Constanza, "now be on your way before you attract unwanted attention on the both of us!"
"You really don't think Obsidian isn't tracking us?" asked Allen, "how else do you think Kaixa found so many of my people so fast? If you won't help us, that's fine with us. Just don't come crawling to us when it's your turn to be hunted, there may not be any of us left to help you!" with that he walked out the coffee shop.
"One again, not my problem," said Constanza. Though she looked around suspiciously at the others in the coffee shop as she left, a feeling of unease over her, one of being watched.
'I've sighted the leaders of both renegade factions, Mr. Ives.' Richter texted as he sat in one corner of the shop, 'should I pursue and destroy them?'
'Negative,' Irvin replied, 'follow the Orphnoch, he'll lead you to the others. Never mind the Fangire leader, we'll deal with that trash soon enough.'
'Understood,' texted Richter. He got up and went out the shop.
…Dynatron Enterprises… Dimension C-216…
"I don't understand," said Clare as she glared at Rebecca, "why'd you go to Raven in the first place if she means nothing to you?"
"But she does mean something to me," said Rebecca, "both of you are the flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. To lose one is to lose part of myself. Besides, as I already said, why settle for one evil daughter to follow in my footsteps when I can have two?"
"I suppose that makes sense," said Clare, "but regardless, Raven failed your expectations yet again. She is not evil."
"No, not yet she isn't," said Rebecca thoughtfully, "not until she wakes up from that curse I placed on her. Then things will get interesting. But for now, I'll have to settle for…" she reached into her pocket, then frowned as she found nothing, "what…what is this? Where is it?!"
"Where's what?" Clare asked as Rebecca franticly searched her pockets.
"My Wand!" exclaimed Rebecca, "the family wand I took back from Raven! I had when I left that world and now…" her face scowled as she realized what happened, "No! That tea obsessed lunatic!"
…The Steam Vault…
"So you took back Raven's wand when Rebecca wasn't looking?" Briar asked.
"Yep, pulled it right out of my hat," said Maddie smugly as she twirled said wand in one hand and her hat in the other.
"At least we got something out of this failed mission," said Ramona.
"It wasn't a failure," said Cerise, "we stopped Hunson Abadeer, saved an entire dimension from hellish horrors and made a tone of friends in the first place.
"But we didn't get what we came for in the first place," said Clawdeen.
"The bad guys have three Star Pieces to our two," said Elissabat as she and the others sat in the main area of the lab, "only four left."
"What happens when all nine are found and no one has all of them?" asked Howleen.
"We'll have to come up with a plan to take the rest back from Valentine and Draculaura," said Avery, "the diamonds are too powerful to let them stay in the hands of the enemy."
Just then the portal, which had been opened to allow Madison and Dorothea to return to The Base in Ever After, opened again, through which walked Darling Charming, carrying a large metal suitcase.
"Hey, everyone!" said Darling cheerfully as the door closed behind her, "Sorry I'm late, I've been working on something that'll help."
"Dear sister!" said Daring as he made his way over to Darling, "what are you doing here? It's bad enough father is in a fury that Dexter and I are fighting the forces of darkness, but…"
"But I can't help because I'm a girl?" Darling asked, "just wait until you see what I've got, Daring. Just wait until you all see what I can do. I'll show Obsidian and all those Kaijin creeps what I can do."
"We're glad to have you aboard, Darling," said Apple, "any and all help in finding the Star pieces is welcome."
"And save more of our friends from Obsidian," said Robecca, "speaking of which," she pointed to Ghoulia, whom pointed at her computer screen, "we just got a message from Jane Boolittle; she's trapped in The Bermuda Triangle!"
"What's the Bermuda Triangle?" asked Ashlynn.
"A very notorious part of the ocean," said a nervous Lagoona, while Gil looked just as worried, "people have gone missing in The Triangle for years, never to be seen again."
"Oh geez, we just can't get a break," said an annoyed Hunter.
"Well, there's one good thing," said Apple as she looked and saw Raven awake, comforted by Dexter.
"Raven!" exclaimed Maddie joyfully as she bounced over and held her friend's hand, "you had all of us worried pink!"
Our heroes rushed over and began talking happily at once to Raven.
"See! I told you she was fine!" Faybelle shouted over the din as she wore a bathrobe, "now if you'll excuse me, I've a date with a bubble bath."
"Everyone quiet!" shouted Apple, "give her a chance to talk!" she then looked at Raven as our heroes fell silent, "how do you feel, Raven?"
Raven looked at our heroes with concerned confusion before speaking, "I'm sorry, but who are all of you?"
This left our heroes silent for several seconds before Faybelle gave a forced laugh, "oh, very funny, Raven, trying to trick us with the old amnesia gag."
"She's not joking," said Dexter gravely, "she can't remember anything, not even her name."
"You owe me fifty bucks, Faybelle," said Briar, though there was no sense of victory in her words.
…The End Is Just The Beginning…