Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm Chapter Fifty Four Kima and her troops arrive at the park with Her Rbe the rest of the Musk warriors twenty minutes behind them. Their eyes widen in shock at the multitude of the attacking demons. Calcoridan shakes his head with great sadness. "I was hoping that they were wrong, that this evil was not coming." He flew off toward the makeshift infirmary before Kima and Her Rbe can ask for clarification. "WING DAGGERS" (real name would be appreciated) Kima shouts as she spreads her wings wide then brings them forward. Hundreds of small feather like daggers fly from her wings and perforate a demon that was sneaking up on one of the fighters. The fighter turns and sees the demon as it dissolves. He then looks to Kima and giving her a 'Thank You' smile and salute. He then runs off into the thick of battle. Kima starts to direct her fighters into the fray. She then turns to Her Rbe who is no longer next to her. She turns around suddenly when an explosion erupts behind her. She spots Her Rbe and below him several dead demons disappearing from view. "AAARRRGGGG!" Kima screams as pain shoots through her leg. She looks down and sees a ragged gash on her leg oozing blood. She looks down and sees a fairly tall demon grinning at her has he takes another swipe at her trying to tear her wings from her back. She moves quickly drawing her long sword from the scabbard on her hip. A vicious snarl on her face she flies straight at the demon her sword swinging forward. The demon lashes out at her in an attempt to slice her open. Kima is a little slow when dodging since her mind is concentrating on destroying her opponent. The blow she receives only grazes her abdomen tearing through her tunic and drawing blood. She does not have time to think as the demon is preparing for another attack. Kima begins to glow with rage and swings her sword through the outstretched arm of the demon severing it completely. The demon looks at where his arm use to be now a stump cut off at the elbow. His black putrid blood slowly oozing from the opening. The demon's eyes begin to glow bright red with rage as he turns slashing out with his other hand to tear the innards out of the puny creature who would do this to him. Kima is the last thing he sees as her sword slices through his neck. His head falls from his body and rolls several feet away. When it stops rolling its red glowing eyes stare at Kima. She looks down with disgust at the head sitting in the pool of black demon blood. She then turns to take on another challenger never seeing the hate in the dying eyes, never seeing them fade from bright red to dull black, nor did she bother to watch as the demon begins to dissolve from view. /*\*/*\ Ryoga slashed out slicing through a charging demon. The Neko-Ken slicing it into four pieces. La Si behind him fighting with her late mother's swords. They are twin long swords, with the blades hone to razor sharpness. They shine brightly and are made of the finest steel. The blades are scrolled with roses. The hafts are made in an open lace weave with a three inch across polished rose quartz imbedded just above the cross bar of the handle. They were the last things her mother gave her before she died. La Si slashes with her swords, remembering how her mother taught her to fight using the long and cumbersome swords. A small smile appears on La Si's face as she feels her mother fighting with her. The slashing death that is La Si speeds up as she cuts a demon into thirds. A small blur runs around the feet of the demons leaving behind howling demons with four gashes on their ankles. Ryoga smiles as he lashes out with the power of the Neko-ken, his golden white aura flaring around him adding to its strength. He ducks suddenly when a katana swings over his head he turns in time to see a ten foot tall demon dissolve that was bearing down on him. He looks up and sees Nodoka smile down at him, she shrugs slightly. "I was in the neighborhood." Nodoka tells him then turns and floats off. He smiles at her as she leaves, he turns when he feels a small hand on his shoulder. He looks into the dark blue eyes of his wife and they smile lovingly at each other then charge into another group of demons. /*\*/*\ Soun, Genma and Akane sit in front of their television watching the report of the war that has broken out at Nerima park. The news crew is prevented from getting to close by the police as they also keep out the spectators. One news reporter corners a young woman covered in blood. The group at the Tendo Dojo gasps when the reporter turns the woman around and begins to ask Kasumi what is happening. Kasumi glares angrily at the woman something neither Soun nor Akane has ever seen her do. "_How_ dare you! I am trying to save the lives of the innocent caught in the middle of this mess and _all_ you care about are your damn ratings! If it wasn't for the fact that I am a healer I would do this _TO_ you!" With that a small ball of yellow chi shoots from Kasumi's bloodied hand and smashing into one of the cameras. The broadcast goes blank, and three martial artists stare at their TV without mouths agape. When the second camera kicks in it shows Kasumi storming away carrying a basket of medical supplies she is taking to the infirmary in the park. The news reporter staring at her in shock, and disbelief. "WWWWWWAAAAAHHHHHH! My little girl is in danger!" Soun's tears starts flowing like a waterfall, dousing Genma. "AARRGGGRRROOOWWWFFFFFF!" Genma screams as the curse takes effect. Akane just shakes her head then runs upstairs. She returns a few moments later in her yellow gi. Soun stops crying long enough to see his daughter as she tries to leave the house. Soun jumps up and blacks her path fear evident on his face. "W..Where are you going daughter?" He asks her nervously. "Where do you think daddy? I am a martial artist too and I won't let that pervert show me up in my own hometown!" Akane tells him, her voice rising slightly as her anger grows. "A..Akane dear I am afraid that even though you are a mar-martial artist you are not skilled enough to fight demons." Soun tells her, his voice cracking slightly. Akane's aura begins to grow, causing Soun to shake a little more, but he is not going to lose another daughter. He digs deep and finds his missing backbone. He then summons his own technique. His demon head bursts forth causing Akane's aura to wink out while she takes a frighten step back. "YOU WILL NOT GO, THAT IS FINAL! I WILL NOT LOSE ANOTHER CHILD! NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM AND IF YOU TRY TO LEAVE, I WILL MAKE YOU REGRET IT DEARLY!" Akane runs up the stairs fear in her eyes and tears streaming down her face. Soun ends the demon head technique and deflates against the wall. He slowly slides down until he is sitting on the floor his arms resting on his bent knees. He hangs his head and cries. These are not his normal wailing tears but they are the tears from the wounded soul of a man whose family is falling apart and he can do nothing to stop it. He knows that if Akane sneaks out there is nothing he can do to either stop or punish her. His sobbing increases and his body shakes uncontrollably. Genma watches his friend and knows these tears are real. He slowly walks up to Soun and sits down next to him. He takes his lost friend into his arms and lets him cry upon his furry shoulder. Genma gently pats the man's back trying to make comforting sounds that come out sound like grunts and growls. His attention is drawn to the television when the reporter begins to give an account of a massive blast. Soun and Genma rise and go sit in front of the television. "AKANE COME DOWN HERE NOW! YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!" There is no sound from above then the men hear Akane stomping down the stairs to Soun's great relief. She enters the family room to find her father with red puffy eyes staring transfixed at the TV. He motions her over and points to what is happening on the TV. Akane stomps over and stares blankly at the set, but she can not ignore what is happening hundreds of demons are fighting with the warriors under Ranma's command. "Hmpft! Big deal I could do that, I am a mar..." Akane's proclamation trails off when a figure passes in front of the TV screen. Akane gasps when she spots a bird woman with short white hair and white wings trimmed in black. Her mind quickly races back to the figurine she bought some time back at the Amazon Emporium. She is brought hack to reality when she sees Ranma on the TV surround by demons ten feet deep. She watches in awe as the white hair sorceress defends herself. She stares transfixed as Ran..Ran Koh rises from the ground and begins to spin, her arms an 'X' across her chest. The spinning increases in speed causing a wind to build around the young woman. Akane licks her lips as sweat rolls down her face while she watches the scene. Genma and Soun gulp at the power being wielded by Genma's son. A ring of fire suddenly appears beneath Ran Koh keeping the demons from getting to close. Ran Koh speeds up her spinning even faster causing the fire to begin to rise and be pulled into the tornado of wind around the martial artist. Soon Ran Koh is encased in a fifteen foot high tornado of fire that spins even faster. The three watching suddenly jump when a shout can be heard from the TV> "FIRE STORM RING!" Ran Koh shouts startling everyone around her. /*\*/*\ Inside the raging storm Ran Koh's fists snap out hitting the sides of the fiery tornado. The pillar of fire shoots out away from her like a blooming flower. The flames spread out in a ring of fire extending fifteen feet or more from its center. The demons that are still trying to get to Ran Koh soon begin screaming as the magical ethereal fire consumes them. Ran Koh stares at the result of her magic then turns and flies toward another group of demons. She stops short when she sees a small army enter the fray and begins to worry that they are not able to cope with fighting demons. She turns when she feels a hand on her shoulder ready to slash her attacker to shreds. "It is alright they are my men they have been trained to fight the unfightable." Her Rbe tells her then flies off to join his soldiers. She watches him leave, when her danger sense goes off madly. She dodges to her left, escaping having her stomach tore open. She flares her combined aura and lets loose with one of her most deadly attacks. "LIGHT WARRIOR CHIFIRE COMBO" It is her normal chifire blast but when she combines it with her Light Warrior chi its power triples. A twelve foot demon disintegrates as well as three of his friends who where standing behind him. A sly smile appears on her lovely face as she flies off to join another battle. /*\*/*\ Sera is enjoying himself with his new Neko-ken power he is destroying as many of the demons as the Light Warriors. He is leading the army of cats have that have mastered the Neko-ken. There isn't many but the twenty he does have are doing a great job. They weave in and out of the demons and warriors doing a slash and run attack while the demons are fighting an ally. This distracts the demon allowing his opponent the upper hand and the demons demise. Sera on the other hand just comes right out and attacks the demons. At nine months he is at his full two hundred and forty pounds and unlike most tigers his age and size it is all rock hard muscle. A benefit of being with the Light Warriors. Sera just kills another demon when he hears the scream of a child, it sounds like a very young child. He roars out his command to keep fighting, as he disappears to find the child. He heads for a grove of trees, near the battle, when he enters the hackles on his back stand up. He can smell death in this grove. He blends in with his surroundings and slinks toward the screaming child. He enters the small clearing in the center and sees very little of the remains of the bodies of a family strewn around the area. They look as if they have been eaten. He then spots the demons as they fight over the last human a young girl of three. They each have a hold of one of her arms and are literally trying to pull her apart. "RRRRROOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!" The demons turn at the sound of an angry tiger, then smile hungrily when Sera steps into the clearing. Their smiles don't last long as before they can even move he blurs into motion, they do not even have time to scream as their bodies fall to pieces on the ground and begin to dissolve. The little girl falls from the height of twelve feet to land safely on the back of Sera. She grabs his neck and holds on as he takes off out of the grove. She the only survivor of a family of six. When they exit the trees the little girl cries out at the multitude of destruction and the number of the demons around her. Sera calls for aid from not only his army of felines to help protect the little girl but to his momma Ran Koh and poppa Ryoga. /*\*/*\ {POPPA RYOGA COME HELP QUICK!} Sera calls to his poppa seeing him and La Si close by. Ryoga looks around for Sera and spots him, he sees something on the large tiger's back but can't make out what it is. He then notices the other cats defending Sera and keeping the demons from him. He grabs La Si's arm and pulls her toward his friend. They fight through the demons quickly creating a corridor for themselves. When they reach the crouching tiger his tail twitching menacingly, he freezes and just stares. He comes to when La Si bumps into him as she did not expect him to stop. She looks at what he is staring at, her mouth drops open and her eyes go wide with shock. There in front of her clinging to Sera's neck as if she let go she would die was the little girl. The child is covered in the black blood of the demons as well as human blood. La Si runs over and gently removes the child from Sera, the little girl begins to scream and tries to latch back onto Sera. La Si talks quietly to the baby and tries to sooth her terror. The little girl looks up and sees La Si smiling gently down at her, the little girl then lunges at La Si's neck and hold on for all she is worth. "Stay here La Si, Sera is going to take me to where he found her the cats will stay and guard you and the little girl. See if you can get her to tell you her name." La Si nods and watches her husband disappear into the woods his hand on Sera's back to keep from getting lost. La Si turns her one sword in her hand and swings out with it decapitating a demon that got through the army of cats. The little girl screams and buries her face in La Si's neck her warm tears gently washing La Si's skin. La Si gets in a ready stance holding the girl tightly in one arm and one of her long swords in the other. She then waits for the return of her husband. /*\*/*\ Ryoga enters the clearing and loses his lunch at the edge of the clearing. When his is able he follows Sera to the bodies. There is nothing much left. Their identities will have to come from the little girl. The clearing is soaked in human blood and demon blood from when Sera killed the demons. There is nothing left of the family to bury as the demons have eaten them all. Ryoga bows his head his tears falling for the loss of innocent lives, he gives a quick prayer to the Kami-sama to take the family to eternal peace. Then turns to head back to his wife. The little girl is his top priority now. Sera starts to lead Ryoga out of the clearing when Ryoga kicks something. He stops afraid to look down fearing it is a body part, but he calls up his courage and looks. What he sees is a blood covered wallet. Ryoga removes one of his never ending bandanas and reaches down and picks up the wallet with it. He then wipes as much of the gore off he can. He opens it and sees a picture of the family that died here and information about the father. He wraps the wallet in the bandana and puts it into hyperspace storage then takes a hold of Sera and heads back t the fighting. He and Sera exit the grove of trees in time to see a group of ten demons overpower his wife and the cats. /*\*/*\ Morboshi-sensei hurries to the Joketsuzoku Village, he enters the main facility but the restaurant and Emporium are empty and locked up tight. He then leaves and heads next door to the apartment building. He knocks on the door which opens since it was not shut tightly. "Hello? Anybody home? N..Nice tiger it's just me M..Morboshi- san!" He enters at the lack of response and heads for the war room. He turns on the TV and puts it on the news to find out if there is anything new and watches with awe as Ran Koh unleashes her tornado attack on the demons around her. Nguyen sits down and stares transfixed at the TV, watching but not watching. His mind drifts back to the day he takes the task to help the Light Warriors. *** Flashback *** The elders and Ran Koh walk into the apartment complex Nguyen Morboshi right behind them. He looks around and smiles at how nice the place looks. Brightly painted and very clean. Ryoga leads the teacher to the common room which they have turned into their war room. Ran Koh soon joins them wearing her red Chinese silk shirt and black pants with the ties at the ankles and kung-fu slippers. She takes a seat at the table and motions for her teacher to do the same. Ryoga disappears but comes back quickly wearing his sleeveless yellow shirt, brown pants with the leather ties going from his knees to his ankles and wearing a pair of kung-fu slippers. He is also carrying a tray with a pot of tea and several cups. Morboshi-san turns to offer to help Ryoga with the tray when he screams and jumps on the table and scampers across to hide behind Ran Koh. He peeks out at Ryoga standing next to a fully grown tiger that has the two teenagers' kitten riding its back. Morboshi points a shaking finger at the big cat but can't seem to say anything. "It is alright Morboshi-sensei Sera is our friend. He guards the apartment from my father and mister Tendo. He is also the commander of feline part of our army." Ran Koh tells the teacher. Morboshi looks at her dubiously then sits down in the chair next to her. Much to Ran Koh's amusement rather closely. La Si joins the group carrying another tray with more tea and cups plus a plate of cookies. She sets hers down then takes Ryoga's as he comes up behind her. The two lovers then sit and wait. "Well I guess we should start with, 'WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!'" Morboshi-sensei asks a little excitedly The teacher stiffens when he feels the tiger start to sniff his feet. Ran Koh, Ryoga and La Si begin to giggle. Morboshi nearly has a stroke when Sera places his head in the teachers lap and nudges his hand. The teacher slowly puts his hand on the tigers head trembling enough to rattle the cups on the table. Sera starts to purr loudly as the instructor begins to scratch behind the big cats ears. "Aaaww! Isn't that nice Sera likes you Morboshi-sensei!" Ryoga tells the frighten teacher with a chuckle. "We will begin when the leader of the scholastic portion of our team arrives. He will tell you what your duties will be and decide when you can begin." The young white hair sorceress tells the teacher, who just sits with glazed eyes while petting the tiger. "AAARRGGG!" Morboshi screams as he becomes as stiff as a board. Cali watching Sera getting all the attention jumps from the back of the big tiger onto the shoulder of Morboshi-san, eliciting the scream from the teacher. The little kitten then licks the teacher's ear and begins to purr. The three students can do nothing because they are laughing to hard to help the poor teacher. "You know, they can't help me if they die of a coronary before I get to meet them!" They group turns to the back door to face the visitor. A tall but slightly bent over man in an oversize trench coat and fedora hat that casts his face in shadows. He steps into the room and catches the flying Cali who decides she want to be with her old friend for a while. The man begins to pet the little kitten he is cradling in his arms. "Morboshi-sensei this Calcoridan-san he lead sch..sc..smart people." La Si tells him the frustration evident in her face. "I understand Lace, he heads the _scholastic_ team." Morboshi tells her emphasizing the word she couldn't find. "S.c.h.o.l.a.s.t.i.c, sch.ola.stic, scholastic!" She repeats the word finally pronouncing completely with a smile on her face. "Very good, Lace, you keep that up and you will be speaking Japanese fluently." Morboshi-sensei praises his young student, who blushes lightly at the compliment. Morboshi then turns his attention to the gentleman in charge of the scholars for this group of warriors. He still can not believe what they have been telling him, but if there is a chance they are right he wants to be there helping anyway he can. If his knowledge is what they need then he plans on giving it to them. "Tell me Morboshi-san do you believe in the myths you study?" Calcoridan asks the teacher suddenly. "W..well I am not sure. I think they may have had a basis in fact at one time but most can be explained away as superstition, or facts blown out of proportion to make the story more exciting. Why?" The teacher asks the man still wearing the coat and hat, while playing with the kitten. Morboshi notices a slight claw shape to the man's hand but dismisses it as a pair of gloves. There is a small voice in the back of his mind asking him is that really what it is or is that what he wants it to be. Nguyen stamps that idea down and buries it under a pile of facts. "What do you know of the Phoenix Morboshi-san." Calcoridan asks him while he gently ruffles the kitten's fur who seems to be enjoying the attention. "That is the fire bird that is believed to rise from its own ashes at its death." Morboshi tells the man staring at his hand while he plays with Cali. "Well actually Morboshi-san only our king, Saffron can rise from his death as he is a demi-god. The rest of us die like you humans after a very long life." Calcoridan tells him. Calcoridan then gives Cali to Ryoga and he removes his hat and coat. Morboshi Nguyen stares mouth agape, a 6' 2" bird man in front of him. He gulps when Calcoridan flaps his black wings with gold piping and then stretches them out to a full twenty foot span. "Aaahh! That is better, Ran Koh I hate wearing that coat, but I thank you for it. It allows me to move among the humans and learn, sometimes people see things they don't know they saw. I have gathered much information about the demons that have started to show up." He tells the sorceress with a wry smile. "Y..Y..you h..have w..wings!" Morboshi-sensei stutters out at Calcoridan. "Yes all of _my_ people do. We are the Phoenix people of Phoenix Mountain." He tells the nervous school teacher. "If this is going to bother you to work with me, you do not need to." The bird man tells him, his golden eyes narrowing at the teacher. Morboshi stares at the bird man then the words he was telling him reaches his mind. Morboshi jumps to his feet dislodging a purring Sera, who growls with a pouting expression (ok as much as a tiger can pout). His eyes wide with excitement. "NO! No, I want to help, I know I can be of assistance. I would consider it an honor to work with you and to learn more about you and your people." Morboshi Nguyen tells Calcoridan as he bows deeply to the bird man. *** End Flashback *** Nguyen sits at the table in the war room a small smile on his face. That was the start of a great new friendship for him. He and Calcoridan work great together. It is a shame it is only the two of them on the scholars team though. Oh well he is sure more will come eventually. Nguyen looks back at the television to see Kasumi Tendo tell off the reporter then blast the camera. He chuckles when they turn on their spare camera to watch the young Tendo woman walk away carrying a basket of supplies. Morboshi gets up turns off the TV, then leaves the building making sure to lock it up tight. Then heads toward Nerima park. He thinks he knows where Kasumi and the other medical teams will be, he might be able to help bind wounds or make the wounded more comfortable.