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Chapter 12 – The Black Lady’s Battles
Nabiki sat in the Neko-Hanten and watched Ranma and Neherenia run out the door. She thought, You and your honor Neko-chan you may have changed in some ways, but I guess some things are just unchangeable. She sighed and looked over at Cologne and Shampoo and said, “You know I’ve just been dying to ask this question. If Shampoo and Saotome were so close in Ryugenzawa why does it look like she’s been crying?”
Shampoo said, “I just so happy. I realize that Ranma away from Akane and I just happy.”
Nabiki looked at her and said, “No there’s something more to it isn’t there?”
Shampoo didn’t say a word, but she did look very guilty. Nabiki eyed her and Cologne said, “It is of no import Nabiki Tendo. After all your sister is no longer to be engaged to Ranma and no other Tendo was willing to step in to fill her place.”
Nabiki snorted and said, “Tell that to my dad and Mr. Saotome they have different ideas about what’s going on.”
“True, but we know the truth of the situation Ranma will not be taking Akane back and Akane will not be taking him back. Their choices were truly made in the forests of Ryugenzawa and nothing will ever be the same. It is only a matter of time…”
Nabiki nodded and said, “You could be right, but then again what about Ukyou? What if my sister or I did take up the engagement?”
Cologne smiled and said, “Come now child I have seen the way you look at female Ranma. The one you call Neko-Chan is important to you. You would not betray her by engaging yourself to her male counterpart and your sister has feelings for a certain young Chiropractor. As for the Kuonji girl…” Cologne shrugged and said, “I am unsure, but I think the situation can be handled. After all she did not arrive to help Ranma in Ryugenzawa perhaps she didn’t even care.”
Nabiki saw something in the old woman’s eyes and said, “What did you do to her?”
“Oh Nabiki, you are indeed a bright young girl, but I did not do anything to her. A young man who dresses as a girl and as strange objects happened to find her and the battle lasted quite some time. She missed the last train for the day and she had to travel on the next day.”
Nabiki looked at Cologne and realized that the woman was even craftier than she had originally suspected. She smiled and said, “Pure coincidence I’m sure.”
Cologne just smiled and said, “Well we need to reopen our restaurant and serve some customers. Shampoo, bring the duck in here and get the restaurant ready.” She turned to Nabiki and said, “We need to make money as well Miss Tendo, but if you like you can stay and help us.”
Nabiki shook her head and walked outside.
Ryouga felt like a passenger in his own body. His depression and anger were in complete control and he watched from inside himself as he said, “Yes, after this can we kill Ranma?”
Ukyou stood next to him and she mentally recoiled in shock, but her body did not betray the emotion. Her own anger and jealousy was in control and she shivered as she heard herself say, “Akane, next I want to see her dead.”
Dark Lady smiled and said, “Soon my pets very soon, but first we would like to see how you fare against the sailor senshi, then we will move on to other things that may interfere with our plans.”
Prince Diamond appears next to her and he whispers something in her ear. She nods and says, “Yes we are ready.”
The prince smiles and puts a shard of Dark Crystal in the ground. Dark Lady pours some energy on it, and it grows and grows until it is the size of a large building.
At that Same moment the Sailor Senshi appear in Juuban. They see a gigantic dark crystal forming in the distance. Mars says, “Guys, we need to go there!" The scouts follow Mar’s lead and when they arrive at the gigantic black crystal they are attacked.
Ryouga sees the scouts in his minds eye he sees them helping Ranma. He sees them laughing at him and calling him P-chan. They are responsible for the hell I have seen. They have been helping Ranma and they must be destroyed. He shouts, “Shi Shi Houkoudan!”
The blast of depression energy slams into Sailor Jupiter and she sees stars. She stands up intending to fire her own attack at the droid in front of the crystal when she hears a voice say, “You’re trying to take my Ran-chan away from me. I’ll kill you!” Moments later a large metallic spatula cracks into her face and she is knocked out.
Ukyou swings her spatula again and sends Mars flying. The rest of the sailor scouts scatter as Ryouga fires another blast at them. Venus gathers Jupiter and leaps onto a roof while the rest of the scouts run and dodge as a hail of miniature spatulas come towards them. Mercury shouts, “Shabon Spray!”
The entire area is covered with mist and Ryouga and Ukyou lose their targets. The scouts join Venus on the rooftop and Mercury says, “I can’t seem to get a lock on them there’s some dark energy coursing through them, but not enough to do what they just did.”
Venus huffs and holds Jupiter’s unconscious form “Tell that to Jupiter she’s still unconscious.”
Mercury looks at Jupiter and touches her. “At most it is a mild concussion. She should be fine soon. Besides, the readings I just did suggest that it is more important that we destroy that crystal.”
The mist was starting to clear and Mercury said, “Everyone concentrate on the dark crystal. Anything else is secondary!”
The scouts each sent an attack at the dark crystal and it shattered. At the same time Ukyou and Ryouga sent their own attacks at the scouts. Mars was hit by a second blast of energy and everyone was nicked and cut by the razor sharp miniature spatulas. The scouts scattered again and Dark Lady appeared above Ryouga and Ukyou.
She hovered in the air and smiled. “Stop for a moment my pets I would like to speak with these interlopers.”
Ukyou and Ryouga stopped their assault and Dark Lady said, “Bravo! Excellent job Sailors, but will you do so well the next time?”
Sailor Moon looks at her and says, "Who are you people?"
Dark Lady smiled and said, “The young woman is Ukyou Kuonji she is filled with jealousy and depression over her fiancé. The young man is Ryouga Hibiki his depression is greater still and his hatred burns so brightly. The dark crystal has shown them the truth of all things and for that they have agreed to help us destroy you. As for me…”
A black cat head shaped ball with a white crescent moon on its forehead appears and begins to float towards her. "Luna-P, you recognized me. You were my only friend..." the crescent moon mark on Luna-P's forehead becomes a black moon. "I was known as Small Lady, but now the Wiseman has turned me into Dark Lady!"
The scouts seem shocked. "It’s Usa!"
Dark Lady throws the Ball to the ground, forming an umbrella. It shoots out black energy that throws the Scouts and the rest to the ground. In addition Ryouga and Ukyou start their own attacks. The scouts are being slammed by attacks left and right until they find some cover and when they do Sailor Moon says, “We can’t fight her!"
She pokes her head out to say, "Usa, we love you!" A silver spatula slashes her cheek and Dark Lady just scoffs. She shoots out a wave of black thorn filled vines from her umbrella. The vines grab hold of Sailor Moon’s throat. "Good Bye Sailor Moon!"
A rose breaks the umbrella, turning it into Luna Ball again. "Usa! This is not you! We all love you here! You were Small Lady of Crystal Tokyo! You are Usa!"
She ignores Tuxedo Mask and turns towards Ryouga. She covers him with the black vines and says, “I’m tired of seeing that interference go up there and kill him.”
Ryouga jumps up to the top of the building. When he arrives he is hit by a blast of lightning, but the vines take the power. He wades into the Sailors with powerful blows. Smashing through them as if they were sticks, he arrives next to Tuxedo Mask and says, “Prepare to die!”
Tuxedo Mask tries to block, but Ryouga’s blow powers through his defense and slams into his face. He feels his bones crack and teeth chip. He is knocked to the ground and stunned momentarily. Ryouga leaps on top of him and he sees another powerful fist coming towards him. He holds up a hand feebly, but it is useless he feels the pain of the blow and then he is unconscious.
Ryouga doesn’t even notice that his foe is unconscious as he continues to slam blow after blow into Tuxedo Mask. The scouts each fire a blast of power at him, but the vines seem to absorb it all. Venus and Jupiter try to physically pull Ryouga away, but the lost boy just swats them away as if they were flies and continues to decimate his fallen foe with a litany of, “Die! Die! Die!”
Black Lady can see the magic flying and she can hear the powerful blows landing. She laughs maniacally and says, “I can’t see up there can one of you kindly tell me if Ryouga has killed him yet?”
Mercury watches Tuxedo Mask being broken and battered before her eyes. She starts to shed a tear and that is when she feels something inside her. A power that demands to be released and so she turns towards Ryouga and says, “Shine Aqua Illusion.”
Water sprays from her hands and covers Ryouga turning him into a small black piglet. Sailor Mars grabs the Pig from the tangled mass of black vines cutting herself in the process. She yelps in pain and drops the pig on the ground. There Sailor Jupiter hits it with her own power sending it flying off the roof.
Mercury leans down next to Tuxedo Mask and examines his bloody and bleeding form. “We have to get him to a hospital immediately!”
Mars helps Mercury pick him up and the scouts start to leave. Sailor Moon looks back towards Usa and says, “Daughter, I promise, whatever it takes, I will get you back."
When they are gone Diamond appears as well and says, “Well that was a rather good showing. I am impressed with the boy’s strength a few more moments and Tuxedo Mask would surely be dead.” He picks up the battered pig and says, “But this is a horrible weakness and they allowed the crystal to be destroyed.”
Wiseman comes up from behind Diamond nods and says, “That is not a problem. We have more shards of Nemesis with us and we can grow them quite well.” He turns to Dark Lady and says, “What happened to the two other recruits their presence would have been useful in this encounter.”
“I sent them to Nerima to fulfill the other portion of your task. They should have no problem finding Ranma Saotome and killing him and any other people that Ranma Hitoshirenu was attached to. After all they have the power of the dark crystals how could they possibly lose?”
Akane smiled and said, “Shinnosuke.”
Nabiki sighed as Akane went back to the phone and continued to chat away. “Don’t take too long I’m sure Ryugenzawa is long distance and that can be expensive you know. Why don’t you have him call you back.” Akane made a face and shooed Nabiki away. Nabiki sighed again and walked towards her own room. Muttering, “Never that friendly with Ranma maybe it’s better? Not unless the Saotome’s move out, then Daddy might stop spending through his money and have enough for college.”
In her room Nabiki sat down and said, “Feh, who am I kidding? Father intends to send the Dojo heir to college and no one else. No matter what, any extra money will be hers as well.”
Nabiki’s own phone rang. She picked it up curiously and said, “Hello.”
The voice on the other line said, “Hi Nabiki this is Kaede Tanaka. You don’t know me, but Ranma told us that you were one of her good friends in Nerima. She said that if we needed any help and had money that you would be the best person to come to.”
Nabiki waffled a bit as she said, “Well I suppose I might be able…”
Kaede said, “We have One hundred thousand yen.”
Nabiki’s tune changed as she said, “What do you need?”
“We need to find Ranma. We were hoping that she might have come to you since you were her friend. Her sister Neherenia says, not to worry it’s a family situation, but she’s been gone for a long time.”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“We want you to help us find her. We are very concerned about her and she’s our only hope. We barely won our last regular match, but our next match is going to be martial arts and it’s against St. Hebereke.”
“You’re worried about Kodachi?”
“Yes, Ranma’s the only girl to have faced her and won. Every other girl has either been a forfeit or a complete loss. We need Ranma’s help. In addition to that our school gym and the gym at our apartment have been destroyed.”
“Destroyed?”
“Yes, by the black rose. She wasn’t able to get us, but our facilities are ruined.”
Nabiki looked at the clock next to her and said, “You know my family has a Dojo and I know someone who might be able to help you just as well as Ranma could. His name is Ranma too. It won’t be free though…”
“How much?”
Nabiki said, “Well why don’t we start with five hundred yen an hour. Extra if the male Ranma actually teaches you. Not to mention the very decent possibility that the female Ranma will be showing up in Furinkan instead of Juuban whenever she’s done with her family business.”
“Agreed, we will be there as soon as possible.”
Nabiki smiled and went down to the kitchen, there she found Kasumi preparing the morning meal. “Hey sis, I don’t suppose you could make enough for some extra people?”
“Oh who’s coming?”
“The Juuban High Gymnastics team, they need somewhere to practice for awhile.”
“I think we can manage Nabiki.” A stern look came on Kasumi’s face, “You aren’t planning on charging them for the meal are you.”
Nabiki shook her head and started a new conversation. “So it was a pretty weird day yesterday huh?”
“Yes, it seems like Akane and this Shinnosuke have gotten to be very close. Do you think that’s proper?”
Nabiki shrugged, “I don’t know about proper Kasumi, but judging from her phone conversation with him earlier it seems to work better than her previous relationship. Where is Ranma anyway?”
“He and his father had an argument and after that I do believe that he went up onto the roof again.”
“What about our dad?”
“He and Mr. Saotome went out.”
You mean they are getting drunk again. Nabiki smiled and thanked her sister. She then headed up to her room. There she pulled out the money she had made previously that morning and booted up her computer. She started typing in the amounts and guesstimating as to how long the Juuban girls might stay that day and whether or not Ranma might train them now that he and Akane were on the outs. She typed in some numbers and wondered about her sister and Ranma. She thought about them both for a moment and as she did so an image of female Ranma came into Nabiki’s head. She was sitting there looking into her eyes and saying, “How many times have you been here watching from the sidelines as that chaos ensues. How many times have you been forgotten or ignored while everyone chased off after Ranma Saotome?”
Nabiki smiled at that memory. I never realized how smart Ranma could be. If he used his brain like his female counterpart does he’d be almost dangerous. She’s something else though isn’t she? Nabiki didn’t voice the thought, but when the red haired girl had said, “I don’t even know who I am or who I want to be…” that was when Nabiki’s heart went out to her. That was the moment that she had realized the kindred spirit within the red haired girl.
Nabiki typed some more, but her heart wasn’t in it. For the first time in a very long time Nabiki looked at her computer, she looked at the figures and the totals and she realized that Neko-chan was right it didn’t help not really. What did help were the words the words and feelings that Neko-chan had expressed to her in this very room. “You are my friend.” There had been more to it something in the girl’s eyes. Something that told Nabiki that Neko-chan would protect and defend her forever.
Nabiki sighed and walked over to the window. She realized that she had spent quite some time just sitting at her computer. She looked at her clock and thought, Those Juuban girls will probably be here soon enough. Still she didn’t stir from her spot at the window watching a lazy cloud float by in the sky. She sighed and then looked down and gasped, then controlled herself. Just beyond the household wall was a six foot tall set of samurai armor. It was entirely black and it was gleaming in the light of the sun. The armor stepped up onto the wall and then over to the other side. Once on the Tendo property it screamed. “Saotome! You knave! Come down here and face the righteous wrath of the mighty Kunou, Tatewaki!”
Nabiki watched as Ranma landed next to the armor. The pig tailed boy said, “Yo, Kunou! What’s with the armor?”
Kunou pulled out a black steel sword and said, “It is the gift of a goddess. She has given it to me so that I may destroy you and free the pig tailed girl.”
Kunou swung a black metallic sword in a mighty arc, but Ranma was already out of the way. He smirked and said, “Well your fancy armor’s about to get dented.” He attacked with the Amaguriken and Nabiki could hear at least a hundred impacts. Kunou and his armor went flying into the retaining wall with an explosion of dust, dirt and metal. When it all settled Kunou simply stood up again and his black Samurai armor made horrible shrieking sounds as it repaired the damage that Ranma had done to it.
Ranma said, “I’d be impressed if it wasn’t just another of your stupid tricks.” Kunou marched forward and swung the sword in an arc. Ranma almost lazily avoided the blow and jumped up towards Kunou’s head. The pig tailed boy grabbed Kunou’s head as he went over the armor clad boy and then with a twisting motion he came back down to the ground throwing Kunou into the wall again.
After the throw Kunou did not move again. Ranma stepped closer and reached down to take off Kunou’s helm. Once the helm was off the Saotome boy checked his opponent nodded and proceeded to strip all of his armor off. Nabiki walked down the stairs with a large bag and helped Ranma with his chore. She said, “That was a dangerous move Saotome. Twisting his neck like that could have killed him or crippled him for life, that’s not like you.”
Ranma considered the statement and said, “No big deal as long as you do it right they are only knocked out, besides the helmet helped to protect him from the worst of it. Normally I wouldn’t do it, but with the helmet…”
Nabiki interrupted and said, “And the sword right? That’s also the first time I’ve seen him use live steel. That changed your mind too didn’t it?”
Ranma nodded and then he crouched down and said, “Shh, do you hear that?”
Nabiki strained her ears and then she heard it as well. It was a thumping and crashing coming from the living room. Ranma ran into the house with Nabiki close behind. When they opened the door they could see Kodachi dressed in her usual black leotard. She was fighting Akane and apparently winning. The Tendo girl picked herself up from the floor her nose looked like it might be broken and she had cuts and gashes on her arms. Still she stood up and wobbled towards an attack. Kodachi easily evaded the clumsy punch and started to send a black club into Akane’s face. The club never reached its mark. Ranma caught it in the palm of his hand and said, “Enough! That is as far as you go Kodachi!”
The black haired girl laugher her maniacal laugh and said, “Ranma-sama! She must be destroyed. She is keeping us from being happy together and so I must kill her, her and anyone else who might stand in the way of our love.”
Nabiki went to Akane as she did so Akane pushed Nabiki away and said, “I can take her, it was a fluke.”
Akane stood up and went towards the Kunou girl. Ranma put a hand towards Akane. “Not today Akane, come one let it go and deal with her another day. There’s nothing to prove here, you could beat her if she didn’t use dirty tricks, but you aren’t in any condition to do that today.”
“We may have an understanding about things now, but don’t you dare patronize me Ranma!” Akane pushed him aside and said, “Alright Kodachi you and me outside, right now!”
Akane stomped out of the room and Kodachi followed close behind. Ranma was about to follow, but before the black haired girl left the house she said, “Ranma darling it’s such a pity about Kasumi. Perhaps you should check on her I do believe that something she tasted didn’t quite agree with her.”
Ranma raced into the Kitchen and Nabiki followed close behind. Once in the kitchen they found Kasumi unconscious on the floor. Ranma checked and said, “She has a pulse, but it’s weak. We need to get her to…” he stopped himself and then said, “A hospital we have to get her to one now.”
Nabiki stepped over to a phone and started dialing. Ranma picked Kasumi up in his arms and said, “It might not be enough time. I’ve got to get her there now!”
“Wait Ranma! What about Akane and Kodachi?”
Ranma stepped out the door and growled. Everything was all screwed up and he didn’t know what to do. Akane had made her wishes known despite his advice and now Kasumi was hurt, Kasumi she was almost like a mother to him. He looked out into the yard and saw Kodachi send Akane flying across the yard. He looked up into the bright sunshine and asked for a miracle.
Kodachi held out her ribbon and a dark power emanated from it. She smiled an evil smile and sent the ribbon out towards Akane. It looked like a thin piece of black razor more than enough to slit a throat and he was not even close enough to stop it. He watched as the ribbon seemed to move in slow motion as he set Kasumi down. Watched and gathered his own chi knowing that he would be too late. Suddenly a brightly colored ball smashed into the ribbon and sent it wide of the mark. Ranma shouted, “Mouko Takabisha!” just as five girls came running into the Tendo Yard. His confidence powered chi blast slammed into Kodachi and sent her to the ground.
It wasn’t enough. Kodachi stood up and smiled, “Well if it isn’t the harridans from Juuban. It was so nice of you to come to me so that I can kill you here!”
A tall girl with black hair and blue eyes said, “Let’s do it girls, just like Ranma taught us. attack of the thousand clubs!” All five girls slammed into Kodachi wielding their clubs at almost Amaguriken speeds. Ranma gaped as they pummeled Kodachi. It was over moments later and Nabiki walked over to Ranma and said, “Looks like the cavalry arrived just in the nick of time.” She pointed over to the street and said, “The paramedics too.”
Ranma gathered Kasumi in his arms and brought her to the Ambulance. As he did so more medics came pouring out from two other vehicles. He gently placed Kasumi in the ambulance and then watched as Akane, Kodachi, and Tatewaki were also taken to the nearest hospital. He watched the vehicles leave and said, “How did Nabiki know we would need three?”
In the meantime Nabiki was being introduced to the Juuban Gymnastics team. The tall girl with black hair and blue eyes said, “Hi, you must be Nabiki. I’m Kaede Tanaka.” She pointed to a shorter bleached blonde and said, “That’s Aiko Suzuki.” She looked around and said, “That girl over there who looks like a lot like me, but only shorter.” The very petite girl with black hair and blue eyes stuck out her tongue. “She’s Dai Sato and the three girls over there with brown hair and brown eyes are the triplets.”
Nabiki smiled at them and said, “Do they have names?”
“Yes, but I always introduce them wrong. Hey, girls why don’t you come over here and introduce yourselves to Nabiki Tendo?”
The three girls came over and in turn they said, “I’m Mai.”
“I’m Mika”
“I’m Miya.”
“We’re the Watanabe Triplets!” they said in unison.
Nabiki said, “Well after what you did today you’re all welcome to use the dojo to train. In the meantime I hope you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take Ranma and go down to the hospital to make sure my family is all right.”
Kaede said, “If you prefer we could come back some other time.”
Nabiki shook her head and said, “Go on use it.” She walked over to Ranma and said, “Come on Saotome let’s go find my father and tell him the news.”
Ranma sounded very unenthusiastic as he said, “De we have to? You know how he gets.”
Nabiki tugged his arm and said, “Yes, now come on we’ll tell him and Mr. Saotome and then we’ll head on over to the hospital.” She walked off with Ranma in tow. The boy looked just like a condemned man going to the gallows.
Nabiki and Ranma walked away and the brown haired girl said, “Amazing what a clan name and a bunch of money will do eh Saotome?” Ranma seemed perplexed and Nabiki just laughed. “Neko-chan would get it, you’ll figure it out sooner or later I suppose. Come on it looks like Daddy is ready to take us home.”
By the time they all arrived back at the Tendo home it was night time and the Juuban girls had already gone home. They walked into the house and Kasumi walked towards the kitchen. The eldest Tendo daughter made a simple dinner and everyone ate in silence.
A knock came on the door and Ranma went over to answer it. On the other side he could see a boy with short brown hair and a broom in his hands. Ranma blinked a few times and then he sighed. “She’s inside Shinnosuke. I’m sure she will be glad to see you.”
Shinnosuke said, “Thank you Ranma you are a good man.” He walked in and then stared at Akane, “Goodness! Akane what happened to you?”
Akane gasped and said, “Shinnosuke! Oh my god my face and you’re not how come…”
Shinnosuke said, “This morning on the phone you said I could come visit you anytime, well when we were done talking I missed you and so after the call I got on the train and here I am. I’m sorry Akane I can’t help it I need to be with you.”
Akane blushed and said, “What, what about my face, oh I’m such a mess.” She cried and Shinnosuke walked over. He hugged her close and said, “You’ll always be beautiful to me Akane.”
Ranma glowered and said, “I’m going to be out in the dojo if anyone needs me.” He walked off into the night thinking, Well you knew it was over Saotome. This just proves it. Maybe it’s better this way. He sighed and thought Maybe I’ll call Shampoo tomorrow. After all when she turned into a cat and I didn’t get scared I did tell her that I’d be willing to try this, but what about Ukyou? He sighed and walked into the dojo, there he sat on the floor and meditated saying, “Tomorrow I’ll have Shampoo come over tomorrow morning and maybe then I can figure out exactly what it is that I want.”
Black Lady said, “I do not know my lord, but the two Kunous were indeed defeated, but they shall be hale and healthy by morning.”
Prince Diamond said, “It seems to me that we have too many plans at once. Perhaps we should concentrate on one at a time.”
Wiseman smiled and said, “Yes, the Saotome boy and all of his friends. We shall find and destroy everything that our little Sailor Angerona holds dear including the boy. That will teach a lesson to her. She will learn what it means to defy Wiseman!”
“Don’t you mean the Black Moon family?”
Wiseman bowed obsequiously and said, “Yes, of course my lord.”
Diamond said, “Very well we will attack on the morrow. Let us all rest until then.”
He stood up and walked away. When he was gone Wiseman said, “I’ll have to kill him as well. Only you and I are fit to be servants of the Doom. We will destroy Ranma, destroy the senshi and kill that fool Diamond. Then we will open a dark gate and use the power of Nemesis to bring forth Doom. We shall be its true avatars ruling over the earth and destroying the pitiful thing that is called Nemesis…”
Akane and Shinnosuke were practicing near the Coi pond each of them had a broom in their hands. They were thwacking the broomsticks together and every now and again one would poke the other. Shinnosuke had originally been concerned about the activity considering the white bandage Akane was sporting on her nose, but the Tendo girl had convinced him that she was not fragile and so they practiced on.
Soun and Genma were sitting outside as well. Genma held an ice pack to his head and the two older men were alternately screaming at Ranma and then Akane. Telling them to make up and join the houses. Their threats and yells did no good and the one time that Genma had tried to physically interfere he had been bashed on the head by both of the teenagers resulting in the ice pack. Genma sighed and said, “Ungrateful boy why won’t he listen to his father?”
Soun sighed and puffed on a cigarette. He thought for a moment and said sadly, “The two get along better now than they ever did before my friend. Is it possible that we were wrong about this? Is it possible that we are watching our dream die?”
He burst into tears and said, “I don’t want to see my dream die. Akane! You are breaking your father’s heart!”
Akane looked back and rolled her eyes. Then she said with resignation, “Fathers.”
Shinnosuke looked back at her and said, “I never knew mine, but I must say that my grandfather is quite strange as well.”
The activities in the yard continued until a loud voice yelled, “Ranma! Prepare to die!” Ryouga attacked and Ranma dodged out of the way of his large and now black umbrella.
“Hey P-chan long time no see. How have you been?”
Ryouga was swathed in a strange black outfit and his eyes were lit with more hatred and anger than Ranma had ever seen before. Ryouga swung his dark black umbrella at Ranma again, but the pig tailed boy avoided it easily. “Don’t call me P-chan and because of you I’ve see hell!”
The umbrella swung again and Ranma dodged again. As he did he heard another voice saying, “I’ll kill you for taking my Ran-chan!”
Ranma dodged Ryouga’s strike again and kicked off of the lost boy’s head sending himself towards the newcomer. Ryouga was sent flying into the distance as Ranma landed next to Ukyou. He smiled easily and said, “Hi, Ucchan what’s going on?” Ukyou swung her spatula at Shampoo, but the Amazon girl avoided it.
Ukyou was very different from the last time Ranma had seen her. She was garbed entirely in black and all of her weapons had changed to that color as well. The young chef looked at Ranma with a stranger's eyes and said, “She’s poisoned you to me Ran-chan. She’s evil and horrible and I have to kill her for everything she’s done.” She swung her giant black spatula again and Shampoo avoided it retaliating with one of the nearby Gymnastics clubs. It hit Ukyou, but the chef just growled and started throwing small black miniature spatulas. Shampoo tried to avoid them, but they seemed to home in on her.
Ranma watched Shampoo being cut up by the spatulas and was about to help out, but he noticed something above him and his reflexes kicked in. Ryouga’s giant umbrella slammed into the ground where Ranma had been and the bandanna clad boy said, “How dare you ignore me Ranma!”
The two fights kicked into high gear with the combatants fighting all over the yard. Nabiki heard the commotion and walked outside to see what it was. She was outside just in time to watch Kunou and his large Samurai armor come storming towards Shinnosuke. “You, vile wretch! How dare you be with my darling Akane!”
Kodachi’s insane laughter could be heard as well. Nabiki turned her head and watched as the gymnast landed in the yard she held out a thin black vine covered with thorns and she said, “Oh girls! I’m back for a rematch and this time I’m ready for you!”
Nabiki tried to follow all of the action as Kodachi and the Juuban gymnasts fought back and forth all over the yard. This time the Kunou girl seemed to be taking punishment left and right and still coming back for more. She slashed the other girls with her thorn filled ribbon and one of the triplets was sliced across the arm.
Nabiki lost track of the girls as Ryouga switched to using his chi blasts, one exploded in their midst and everyone scattered. Ranma seemingly came from nowhere firing his own chi blasts at Ryouga, but the lost boy’s clothes seemed to practically absorb them. Ryouga returned fire and Ranma dodged the blasts almost with ease. Nabiki crossed her fingers and hopped the Saotome boy knew what he was doing. If Ryouga continued to miss he would just get even more depressed and then he would get even more powerful.
Nabiki looked back towards her sister and saw that Akane and Shinnosuke were slamming Kunou again and again with their brooms, but the Kendoist seemed almost completely unaffected. He swung a large arc with his sword and Shinnosuke came under it and then the boy jammed his broom under the Kunou boy’s helmet and right into his windpipe. Nabiki thought she might have heard a crack and the Kunou boy and his armor fell to the ground.
After that Akane and Shinnosuke added their power to the Juuban gymnastic team’s efforts and soon Kodachi went down as well. At the same time Shampoo Nabiki watched Shampoo land nearby with Ukyou in close pursuit. The Amazon fell to the ground and picked up a colorful item just below a deadly swing from Ukyou’s spatula. Ukyou pressed her attack and Shampoo deftly avoided it slipping behind Ukyou and smashing her in the back of the head with the bonbori that she had just picked up.
The young chef fell to the ground and the only battle left was Ranma and Ryouga. The two were very close to the Coi pond and the pig-tailed boy was circling Ryouga in a spiral pattern. The young Hibiki boy was hard pressed not to go into the water, but he stood there firing blast after blast of dark chi at Ranma. The pig tailed boy tightened the spiral getting closer and closer, but Ryouga finally realized his plight and so he jumped into the air trying to avoid Ranma’s powerful move. Ranma seemed to predict that action and followed after Ryouga smashed into the lost boy and directing an Amaguriken right into his solar plexus. The wind whiffed out of Ryouga and then Ranma brought the two of them crashing to the ground. Dust and dirt went high into the air and when it all settled Ranma rose victorious.
The Tendo yard was quiet and still for a few moments and then the quiet was broken by the sound of a pair of hands lightly clapping in the center of the yard... Everyone looked towards the source and they saw a tall pink haired woman with a black dress. She smiled an evil smile and said, “Oh bravo! Bravo Ranma Saotome and all of his allies you have fought well. Fought well indeed, but your efforts are as nothing compared to the power of the Dark Crystal! Now you shall die!”
Everyone watched in amazement as a black haired man appeared next to her and put a dark crystal into the ground. The pink haired lady sent streams of power into the crystal and it grew to the size of the Tendo House itself. Moments after that, the crystal released dark energy into the area and suddenly Ukyou, Ryouga, Kunou, and Kodachi rose from their positions to attack again.
As the combatants started their battle anew another man appeared. He was wearing a dark cloak and holding out a single black sphere. He held hands with the lady in the black dress and then all three of the new comers watched the chaos and destruction and laughed and laughed. They only stopped laughing every now and again to send a blast of dark energy at one person or another.
At that point Genma and Soun joined in the battle, but Nabiki knew that they would need more help. She threw caution to the wind and ran through the battlefield towards the only person she knew who might be able to help. She pumped her legs and ran towards the Neko-Hanten hoping that Cologne would be there and that the old Amazon would be enough to turn the tide of this battle.
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