Ranma 1/2: Ranma of Grayskull Crossover: Masters of the Universe By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Thirteen In a dark lifeless throne room on a throne of bones sits an angry ruler. He is over six feet tall and very muscular. He his wearing a blue body suit that covers him so completely it looks to be his actual skin. Over his head he wears a matching cowl. His face is what nightmares are made of as it is nothing but a skull with red glowing embers for eyes. He wears black loin cloth shorts and across his chest in an 'X' shape is a pair of black straps. The straps meet in the middle of his chest to a white square with a pair of crossed bones. In his one hand he holds a five foot staff with the skull of a ram on top. There glows life in the ram's eyes as a pulsing red can be seen in them. The _man_ leans over a viewing screen in front of his throne and angry scowl on his face. He watches the birth of the Phoenix power in the Mystic Warrior his scowl deepens and his glowing eyes grow brighter. He raises his empty hand and a portal appears on the other side of the viewing screen. He watches the viewing screen as She-Ra lands near the Mystic Warrior. He looks up at the new arrivals to his throne room his _displeasure_ evident on his face. Evil Lyn and Beastman cringe and slowly back away a step and the ruler rises from his throne. "You are fools! I give you one simple task keep her from gaining her Mystic Warrior status and not only do you not stop her BUT you help her gain her powers." Skeletor rages shaking his fists in the air as he shouts at the ceiling of the throne room of Snake Mountain. His ram staff floating next to its red eyes darkening with the rage of its master. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! If you wish to retain your status in my court then you will rectify your mistake." Skeletor snarls at them as he brings his hand up and fires a magical blast at them. Evil Lyn and Beastman turn and flee from the presence of their ruler. Once they have gone the angry king sits down again and watches He-Man and She-Ra as they take the still burning warrior to Grayskull. He watches until they enter the castle then his ability to observe them ends. His scowl deepens even more as he stands and storms from the throne room a black glowing rage emanating from his eyes. /*\*/*\ At the Valley of Mists the swirling stops, the vague shapes within the mists freeze and turn in the direction of the plume of fire. Jagar and Karamer look to it with worry. They turn when they feel the mist ripple and shift. The spirits sense the entrance of a new spirit into the mist. Jagar and Karamer follow the ripple to find the new spirit standing at the entrance of the rift, preparing to go on to the realm of spirits. {She will need your help in learning to use her new powers.} Jagar states flatly, the spirit turns and it is the Phoenix that died with Ranma. {When she is ready I will return.} Then the Phoenix enters the rift to finally go to the peace she has waited for eons to have. The spirits watch her sadness and pity following her into the realm of the dead. They then turn to watch as the pillar of fire slowly disappears from view. They shiver as they sense what is happening. They both know the legend of the Mystic Warrior as their arrival was foretold when they walked the world of Eternia. When the fire completely dies, the spirits of the mist begin to move again. Plans are being made for the arrival of the only resident of the Valley of Mist. They now need to make sure she is trained in the powers of a Spirit Weaver and Phoenix. The commotion growing in the mist has been the most for over four eons. /*\*/*\ Ranma slowly wakes, she finds herself in her bed at Castle Grayskull. She quickly jumps to her feet and away from anything that might catch fire. She looks down and sees the flame is now gone. Then a strand of hair crosses her view. Her eyes widen as she steps up to the mirror. She gasps at what stares back at her. Her eyes are still cat shaped but now there is a flame burning in the center of each pupil. Her attention is then drawn to her hair. Her mouth falls open as she stares at her hair of fire. She reaches up and touches it then quickly pulls away her hand for fear of burning her hand. "It is not really on fire, child it just looks like it. Though the flames in your eyes are new from yesterday." Ranma turns and faces her hostess who smiles lovingly at her. Her hair wraps around her body and Ranma looks down to see it goes to her knees. She then looks up at the sorceress for an explanation. Her attention is taken from the falcon woman at a noise by the door. She turns and sees Battlecat standing there looking at her inquisitively. "Your new hair is quite unruly!" Battlecat growls with a small cat grin on his face. Ranma turns and looks and sees that the large tiger is correct. She pulls her hair of fire back and begins to braid it. When she finishes she reaches for a tie. She then ties it off a smile on her face. The smile disappears as her mouth drops open in shock. The tie bursts into flame and her hair unbraids itself. Then floats around her, tendrils of flame reaching out and around her body. She lowers her head and shakes it with desperation. She turns at the laughter of Battlecat and the sorceress. "I am sorry Ranma, but I did not know about that problem. Not much is told about the Mystic Warrior's physical attributes as for the changes I believe as each power is awakened you will be left with a reminder of the creature that awakened it." She walks up to Ranma and places a hand on her shoulder with a sad smile. "You got the cat eyes from when Battlecat gave some of himself to help you control the rage of the cat within you. The fire hair and flames in your pupils from the Phoenix. I do not know what gift the dragon will give you." Ranma nods then she stands straight her eyes opening wide and great pain and sadness fills them. "Ranma? What is wrong?" The sorceress looks at her charge worry for her overflowing. Battlecat comes closer as worry fills his eyes. "I killed her! The Phoenix didn't rise! She gave me her ability to rise when Evil Lyn destroyed us." Ranma collapses to the floor her tears beginning to flow. She does not care if it is manly or not she has taken the life of an innocent. She does not deserve to be this or any other worlds champion. The sorceress kneels next to the distraught girl, she wraps her arms around her and pulls her into a loving embrace. The sorceress strokes her hair and waits for Ranma to continue to let her talk out her feelings. "A martial artist is suppose to protect the innocent not take their ability to live." Ranma whispers through her sobs clutching in desperation at the sorceress' arm. "Ranma the Phoenix would not have given you that part of her soul if she did not want to. You didn't kill her child you freed her to go on to another life that was waiting for her. She is not really gone either, for she left a part of her soul within you. The part you need to have the powers of the Phoenix." The sorceress explains to the fire hair girl. "Then why didn't it kill Battlecat when he did that?" Ranma asks not wanting to believe the Phoenix is happy to have gone onto the afterlife. "It is simple child. You remember telling us about your cat-fist training and the fight you had with the Ghost Cat?" Ranma nods at the question, as the sorceress continues. "If it had just been the Ghost Car or just the Neko-ken, then Battlecat or any cat would have to give the part of his soul that makes them a cat. You already had all that makes a cat a cat within you the only thing you needed was to be able to control it. Battlecat only left a small part of him behind not enough to harm him but enough to help you gain the control you needed." She finishes as she pulls Ranma's head into the crook of her neck. The sorceress lays her head down on top of Ranma's head and places one hand on the back of Ranma's head and the other around her back. A tear escapes the powerful woman as she imagines that Ranma is her child finally in the arms of her mother. Ranma wraps her arms around the sorceress burying her face in the older woman's neck. She smells the soft scent of flowers, her tears flowing more freely. Ranma closes her eyes and imagines that this is her mother. She remembers to when she was a small boy and how his mother would hold him like this and just tell him how much she loved him. Battlecat watches the two woman his head cocked to the side confusion written on his face. He gets up and steps forward, he sticks his face up to theirs just inches from them. The women sensing the presence of another open their eyes to look directly into the golden orbs of Battlecat. "AAARRGGGHH!" Both women jump back from the cat as his presence so close scares the begeezes out of them. "DON'T DO THAT!" Ranma shouts her hand over her chest. "YES I AGREE!" Comes the uncharacteristic shout from the guardian of Castle Grayskull. "Huh?" Battlecat sits looking at them with even more confusion then he did before. Breathing heavily the women just shake their heads and walk up to the confused tiger. The sorceress pats his head and Ranma bends down and gives him a big hug. She then stands sadness still evident on her face. The sorceress watches as the martial artist closes her eyes. The sorceress' eyes widen as a new glow surrounds her guest. This glow is white but looks like a shroud of mist. Ranma opens her eyes and shakes her head with frustration. "I am to far away." The sorceress and Battlecat look at her, as she turns and faces them with a small smile. "I will explain later, ok? Right now I need to talk with King, um..uh Randor? Right? So that I can buy my new home." She smiles at the sorceress and large tiger. "You have an audience with him and Queen Marlena this afternoon at the palace. Teela will be here to pick you up. What are you going to wear?" She asks knowing what girl is going to say, and prepares herself for the fight. Ranma stops and her eyes glaze over she is about to state she will wear what she always does. Then all the information from the spirits shift and swirl in her mind. It seems they have given her more then just knowledge of her Spirit Weaver powers. Ranma sighs, her vision clears and she turns to the woman before her. "I have something appropriate I will change when it is closer to the time to leave. I need to practice now to work out the kinks." Ranma turns to leave the hand of the sorceress on her shoulder stops her. "I have something special for you. I am sure missing one day of training won't hurt you." The sorceress smiles at her with mischief. The sorceress extends her hand toward the door indication she wishes Ranma to leave. The two woman leave Ranma's room Battlecat close behind her. Ranma looks at the big tiger with nervousness. She is not sure she likes it when the giant tiger jumps around them like a kitten playing. They enter the throne room and Ranma stops as her gaze falls on the crystal Phoenix in the center of the floor. The still molten rock underneath glowing brightly. The sorceress comes up behind her and gives her a slight shove. Ranma stumbles into the room. She turns and gives the woman a mock glare of anger. "I expect a cat and dragon as well!" The sorceress tells her as she walks past Ranma toward a large table. When she reaches the table the sorceress picks up the locket and turns to see Ranma kneeling by the glowing Phoenix. Her eyes widening as she was only teasing. Ranma is surrounded by an aura as black as night. Battlecat watches in awe, he watches the aura takes the form of a giant cat. The aura flares completely obscuring the warrior from view. The two watching the show hears the sound of breaking crystal and cracking rock. Battlecat steps closer but the blackness flares even more forcing him back from his friend. He watches his eyes trying to penetrate the blackness around Ranma. The sorceress stares her mouth open with shock. She watches as the blackness slowly fades leaving a still kneeling Ranma caressing the Phoenix. "Ranma? What just happened?" The sorceress asks her friend. "Huh?" Was the only reply she receives, the sorceress points to the floor below the young girl. Ranma stands and steps back her eyes widening with shock. There on the floor standing in an attack stance with a paw raised to strike is the image of a large black panther, its eyes glowing red with the fire under the crystal Phoenix. The head and shoulders of the cat cross over the image of the Phoenix. The eyes made of the crystal underneath it. "I was only kidding about the other two." The guardian of Grayskull tells the staring fighter before her. "I didn't do it, I swear?" Ranma gasps as fear passes quickly across her face remembering what normally follows back home when something strange happens. Ranma cringes away from the sorceress when she walks closer to her. The woman stops and stares at the frighten girl in front of her. Anger fills the woman's face, remembering what Ranma told her of her life back home. The sorceress forces the anger from her face and smiles brightly at the warrior girl. "It's alright Ranma I rather like the mosaic I can hardly wait to see what happens when the dragon is added." The woman tells the young girl pulling her from her protective stance. "I don't want the dragon to be added!" Ranma whispers staring down sadly at the crystal image. "Ranma you can not stop it. There is a dragon out there that like the Phoenix has been waiting for you. It waits for you to release it from this mortal life." The sorceress tells her, watching the sadness deepen. "Come see the surprise I have for you." The sorceress tells her, the smile growing on the woman's face and hope growing in her heart.. She sits Ranma down and hands her the locket Ranma let her borrow the day before. The sorceress drapes the new chain the locket hangs from over the girls neck, pulling free her long hair. The chain and locket glow as soft blue, then the light fades. Ranma looks down at the locket a small sad smile comes to her face as an image of her mother comes to her mind. It is the image of her mother the last time she saw her. One that breaks Ranma's heart for she remembers the pain in her eyes when Ranma cringes from her and the Saotome honor sword. If she could go home even for five minutes it would be to tell her mother how much she loves her. "Open the locket Ranma." She hears the distant voice as it breaks through her memories, she opens the locket and looks inside; it is the same as it has always been. "Now call to your mother Ranma." Ranma looks up at the woman skeptically, the sorceress nods and points to the locket. "Mom?" /*\*/*\ Nodoka rises early to fix breakfast for her two guests. The locket hangs around her neck. It seems the sorceress not only set it so she can communicate with her child. The spell also prevents any one but her from taking it off. She makes a large breakfast she is a little happier now she has someone to cook for she just wishes it was her own child. The phone begins to ring and she quickly answers it before it wakes her guests. "Moshi, Moshi? Oh, hello Ukyo dear. Yes were up, I am fixing breakfast. Well I guess there is plenty if you would like to join us for breakfast? No insist dear I know you weren't inviting yourself. I will see you then." Nodoka hangs up the phone shaking her head with a wry smile. "What was that about daughter?" Nodoka whirls to see Lily standing there sweat plastered to her brow and soaking a Chinese pantsuit. "I thought you were still asleep?" Nodoka asks her with an arching eyebrow. "*HAHAHAHAHA!* No, I am an early risers as is my grandson, we just got done with our morning workout." Lily tells her with happy laughter pointing to Mousse in the back yard. Nodoka nods her head and turns to finish with breakfast. She feels Lily staring at her. She turns and sees the six foot Amazon staring at her arms crossed over her chest. She stares down at Nodoka. The Saotome matriarch stares back confusion on her face. Lily nods toward the phone and Nodoka's face lights up with understanding. "That was Ukyo she says she has something important to tell us. It seems even though I have removed the listening devices from my home Nabiki still finds our what is going on here." Nodoka shakes her head in disgust. "Oh, and what is it that is so important that she must come now?" Lily asks a gleam appearing in her eyes as she looks out to her grandson. "_Lily!_ did you not learn from my mistakes?" Nodoka asks her a slight scowl on her face. Lily turns back at the mother of Ranma and nods her head reluctantly. Nodoka is about to continue when a knock can be heard. Lily stops Nodoka and goes to the door. Nodoka listens to the sounds of muffled voices as Mousse steps into the kitchen. He smiles at the Saotome matriarch, but decides not to thank her for stopping his grandmother. He doesn't want them to know he overheard them. Ukyo and Lily walk into the kitchen, Ukyo dressed for battle her eyes a light with a raging fire. The two in the kitchen stare with shock as a thin red glow appears around the young chef. "We don't have much time! One of Nabiki's flunkies found out you have a way of communicating with Ranchan and that you will be talking to her today." Ukyo tells the mother of her once fiancé. "How do you know that?" Nodoka asks her attention is drawn to Mousse as he breaks out laughing. "Because Nabiki probably sold her the information, thinking she would be a part of the mob to descend on you and steal the device." Mousse tells them through fits of laughter. "Do you have proof of this Ukyo?" Nodoka asks her, the woman's eyes shining with hopefulness. "Yes, I record all my conversations with Nabiki after the wedding. I do it to protect myself from Ranchan's anger." She tells them looking down to the floor her cheeks turning red. "Don't worry about it dear, I am sure she knows you're sorry. Lily can you please get everything on the table for breakfast? It is already finished. I need to make a phone call." Lily nods and with the help of Mousse and Ukyo gets the table set for the four of them. /*\*/*\ The Nerima wrecking crew stands out front of the Saotome home. Genma and Soun present for this meeting. Genma shudders as he stares at his one time home. Even though Cologne has forbidden Shampoo from going, she is with them as well. Ryoga stands next to Akane his fists clenching and unclenching as his anger builds. Akane cried on his shoulder last night this time not as P-chan but as Ryoga and he is going to make Ranma pay. Well as soon as he finds him. He will teach him to disappear through magic portals. The group stands and stares at the gate no one really wanting to tick off Ranma's mother. Nabiki steps forward disgust on her face. "Move out of the way you wimps!" Nabiki storms past the group and heads for the front door. The Nerima wrecking crew behind her. She pounds roughly on the front door, grumpy because her stomach is still trying to fight off the effects of Akane's cooking and she wants to give that moron a piece of her mind. The door opens and the group faces a black glowing Lily. Nabiki steps back as the aura spreads out onto the front porch. "May I help you?" The coldness of the statement sinks into everyone's bones making them all shiver. "We know you have a way to talk to Saotome and we want it!" Nabiki tells the Amazon. "Really? How do you know this, _girl_!" Lily asks as she leans closer to the middle Tendo a snarl on her face. Nabiki shivers internally but refuses to give this woman any quarter. Lily's gaze then falls on Akane and Shampoo. The snarl that appears makes it evident, they are in for some trouble. Ryoga steps in front of Akane his greenish yellow aura flaring brightly. "I recommend _PIG_ that you take your _fake_ honor and leave! Shampoo I am surprised your great grandmother allowed you to be a part of this." Lily asks the Amazon who blushes, she then notices Ryoga's aura wink out. "I didn't! Boy! Mind your manners when dealing with an elder." Cologne tells Ryoga after pushing several shiatsu points temporarily cutting of his chi. "Answer Lily Tendo-_san_? It can't be with the listening devices in Saotome- san's home since they are no longer there and it can't be from the ones you put in the Nekohanten because they are gone as well." Cologne glowing with smug righteousness as she has gotten something over the Tendo girl. The rest of the group looks at Nabiki their eyes wide, but none were really shocked they just couldn't believe she has gotten caught. Nabiki ignores the taunts and looks as she faces the two Joketsuzoku elders as they form a united front. Cologne knowing if she backs her granddaughter after signing that contract they are both dead. "I don't know what you mean? I just came with these morons to keep the costs down." Nabiki shrugs ignoring the looks of disbelief on the faces of the others behind her. "'Ukyo?' 'Yes?' "Nabiki here, one of my people has gotten some information concerning Ranma. You interested?' 'Yes, what kind of information?' 'Ah, ah this is primo information the cost is 15000 yen!' 'I agree, Nabiki'" *tap tick tap* "'She overhead Nodoka talking with some strange woman in that the lotus locket of hers. The woman says it will allow her to talk to Ranma, and she is going to be talking to him tomorrow.' 'Really?' 'Yes, my associate will stop by later for the money, bye got more calls to make!'" Nabiki's face pales as instead of Ukyo coming from behind the door a man carrying a tape recorder and another man holding up a badge denoting the Japanese secret police stands before them. "Nabiki Tendo we have a warrant for your arrest for eliciting in illegal activities that are considered a danger to the safety of this community, Japan and its royal family. We recommend if the rest of you do not want to be brought in as her accomplices, you leave _now_!" The other officer with the tape recorder speaks into a walkie talkie. "Lieutenant, the others have been apprehended." The young man tells his superior. Nabiki backs up into Ryoga who stands there staring at the policemen in front of him. Akane steps from behind the lost boy and begins to glow bright red her mallet appearing in her hands as she steps in front of her sister to protect her. Her hammer fell from lifeless fingers as she stares down the barrel of a .357 magnum, it seems the secret police are permitted to carry guns. The rest of the group backs away Ryoga taking Akane's hand and pulling her with him. The police let him as it is Nabiki they want. The middle Tendo looks behind her seeing everyone leave her even her father and her rage burst forth in a visible aura. The group continues to pull back ignoring Nabiki and staring at the gun. Akane snaps out of her stupor and pulls free of Ryoga's grasp and takes a ready stance. "HOW DARE YOU! THAT IS MY SISTER AND I WILL NOT HAVE THE LIKE OF YOU INSINUATING I LACK THE SKILLS TO PROTECT HER. I AM THE BEST MARTIAL ARTIST IN NERIMA!" Everyone including Ryoga roll their eyes as Akane still clings to that delusion, that causes her so much trouble. Nabiki smile evilly as Akane charges forward the mallet reappearing in her hands again. The young officer pauses in confusion. He has never shot anyone before and he isn't sure he can now. Akane closes the distance a smile of triumph on her face. The opening though slight was still there but Akane so full of rage did not see it. She charges blindly for the officers, her mind ignoring the consequences as always. She can't believe they would mock her skills by pulling a gun on her. The others saw the opening but no one takes advantage of it. Sometimes BIG GUNS are better left alone. When the shock passes and the officer holding the gun sees his partner is about to have his head bashed in. He fires the gun. The explosion rings through the yard in slow motion everyone stares in shock. This is something that is not supposed to happen to them. They are martial artists and guns are never to be apart of the equation. The spectators watch in what seem like frame by frame the events as they unfold. Their eyes wide with horror. The bullet grazes Nabiki's arm and she cries out in pain and clutches her arm. Nabiki's scream brings Ryoga out of his daze in time to see the blood flowing through the middle Tendo's fingers. He dives for Akane knocking her to the left but not enough to save her from the bullet. The bullet hits her shoulder and passes through to lodge in the wall behind them. Akane's blood, tendons, muscles and bones covering the lost boy as he tries to stop the flow of blood. Cologne joins him shaking her head with utter disgust for the lack of control on the part of the Tendo heir. Using her staff she presses some of the younger Tendo's pressure points thus slowing the flow of blood. An ambulance pulls up five minutes later. They have to pry Soun off Akane as he wails about his little girl. He totally ignores the plight of his middle daughter as she is being handcuffed. The officers step forward and stop at the stretcher. They talk with the paramedics then restrain Soun form going with them. He turns and glares at them noticing his other daughter in handcuffs and a bandage on her arm. "WHAT IS THIS? RELEASE MY DAUGHTER!" Soun screams as he steps forward, he pauses looking for backup from his friend to find Genma is gone. "Both of your daughters are under arrest. This one for espionage, blackmail, illegal wire taping, and child pornography. The list goes on for many pages. The other for interfering in the duties of the police, and attempted assault against an officer. If you are such a good martial artist sir then why did you not teach your daughter to control her rage and know when to butt out." The policeman walks away not even waiting for a reply. Soun watches as Nabiki is put into the back of a police car and heads east from the Saotome home. While Akane is loaded into the waiting ambulance then heads off in a northerly direction. Soun looks back at the group still milling around the yard then turns back to watch is daughters disappear. "MY BABIES BRING BACK MY BABIES!" Soun screams as he chases off after his daughters following the ambulance after several minutes of indecisiveness. "I recommend the rest of you leave as well you are not wanted here and if _any_ of you ever come here again uninvited you will be arrested as well." The group turns to see Nodoka standing in the front door the locket hanging around her neck. Genma reappears next to his wife and with speed born of desperation reaches out and grabs the locket. When his hands touch the lotus blossom a powerful surge of magic burst from the locket. Genma is thrown back from his wife his hand and arm burnt by the magical fire. He looks down at his hand and sees the image of the lotus blossom etched into his hand. He then looks up to see Lily, Nodoka and Cologne enter the Saotome home, leaving the others outside as they shut the door. "Return to the restaurant Shampoo we will discuss your behavior later." Is the last thing they hear when Cologne shuts the door on them.