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 or Mirror Site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Fifty Seven Kima swoops down her glowing long sword cutting threw the neck of a demon. The head falls to the ground and its black blood spurts up like a small geyser. She smiles as she looks at her chi enhanced sword a nice trick from the humans. She spins looking for another demon when a white and gold glow catches her attention. She flies toward one of her warriors slicing through a demons outstretched arm. That nearly tears the soldier's wings from his back. The warrior spins quickly his sward slashing out only to hit the sword of his commanding officer. Kima smiles evilly at the soldier. "Shiog, good swing you've been practicing!" The statement causes the young warrior to blush. "I am heading for that island something is happening and a Phoenix warrior should be present. Tell Kirjin where I am." She then turns and heads for the golden white glow. As she nears the island she sees the other two magical Light Warriors head for the same island. She quickly flies toward the island. She flies high to stay out of the reach of the demons as she goes. As she follows Alex and Samuel she notices the lakes blue water is now black with the blood of demons. The surface is overflowing with dead koi. /*\*/*\ Her Rbe is flying over the group of Amazons, giving them needed air support. The new magic users showing their proficiency in learning new techniques whether it is magic or martial arts. Her Rbe is brought out of his contemplative study of the Amazons when a fireball explodes behind him. He turns to see a twenty foot demon burning like a bonfire. He turns to see one of the elders a smile on her face. She waves him toward her. He looks quickly around for any danger and flies in to land next to her. He looks around as the Amazons surround him and the elder in a protective ring. Usually Her Rbe would never show respect to any Amazon but since he has high hopes of winning the white hair sorceress, he bows to the ancient warrior. "What can I do for you honored elder?" Ku Lon raises a suspicious eyebrow at the prince of the Musk. "I need you to take me to that island in the middle of the lake there is something going on and I feel the presence of an Amazon elder and the Musk prince will be needed." Ku Lon saying the last part to appeal to the prince's pride and vanity. "Agreed!" Her Rbe states as he turns towards the lake to see the glow. He turns and takes the old woman around her waist and leaves the protective circle of Joketsuzoku warriors. They watch for only seconds as their elder disappears in the distance with the Musk ruler. Their attention is then drawn to a new influx of demons. Xian Pu watches as her great grandmother vanishes in the horizon worry on her face. She feels a hand rest on her shoulder and turns to see her blood bonded by her side. He then points and she turns and watches as the leader of the shamen stands transfixed. Xian Pu looks to Don who smiles. "Richard is asking one of his totem if he may be him to see what is happening on the island. If the totem agrees his spirit will inhabit the body of the totem while its spirit will house Richards." The shaman tells her as she listens with keen interest. "Then Xian Pu protect!" She heads toward the shaman leader only to have Don stop her. "That is not necessary Xian Pu the other shaman will protect him as well as his totem." She turns to see the shaman glow and the others close ranks around him. The other shamen keep the demons away and Xian Pu beings to direct her warriors to help them. The fight continues the warriors can hear the call of the animals as they fight to stop the demons. She smiles when the bear roars and the tiger answers. /*\*/*\ Nodoka and Daniel walk quickly through the trees toward the center of the island. They enter a small clearing and see Ran Koh kneeling her arms outstretched with a white golden glow about her. Nodoka starts to move toward her child when Daniel stops her. "She is doing something we best wait till she is done." Daniel tells her unsure as to how he knows. He hears footsteps behind him and turns. Nodoka looks behind her when she sees Daniel turn. Daniel scowls as Samuel and Alex come through the trees. He starts to move to block them but this time it is Nodoka who stops him. He then notices they are glowing as well. Alex a coppery red and Samuel a silver black. The non Light Warriors watch as the other two magic users take a kneeling position to the left and right of Ran Koh. Their backs facing each other, the three of them making a triangle. Their glowing auras slowly merging in the opening between them. Daniel turns his swords drawn when Kima walks through the trees her sword ready for battle. Daniel lowers his weapons as she does hers. Her eyes widen as she watches the three magical Light Warriors. Their attention is broken again from the Light warriors as Ku Lon and Her Rbe join the growing party. Ku Lon goes to stand by Nodoka and watches the scene in front of her. She raises an eyebrow as she senses a presence but can not find it. She looks around the clearing and spies a small squirrel sitting in a tree watching intently. The presence is familiar but she can not place it. A gasp from Nodoka draws her attention back toward the Light Warriors. Ku Lon's eyes widen as the three warriors rise from the ground and hover four feet off of it. Ku Lon watches as they start to spin clockwise then counter-clockwise. She notices the Tao symbols on their foreheads beginning to glow. A bright light toward their mid-section draws Ku Lon's interest as she stares at the pendants. Each with a glowing Tao symbol and the stone pulsing the three sets of colors for each team of Light Warriors. The spectators watch as the light growing in between the warriors begins to spiral and twist. They then watch as it grows in height shooting toward the sky. When it is above the trees the beam splits off into six shafts of the three colors twisted like rope. "Nodoka take me to the top of the trees hurry!" Ku Lon demands as she has yet to learn the levitation spell. Nodoka complies and grabs a hold of her cousin and casts the spell to levitate them over the trees. The other two fliers follow suit with Daniel hitching a ride with Kima. The group reaches the top of the trees and watch where the light beams head. The gasp as the beams each hit a spot surrounding the fighting. Ku Lon casts a spell and then focuses her vision on one of the spots. She gasps and nearly drops her staff. The others look to her some with confusion others with worry. "What do you see old woman!" Daniel asks only to get a staff on top of his head. "Show respect to your elders boy! Nodoka do your second sight spell hurry!" She commands the Japanese woman, Nodoka blushes. "I am not very good with that spell, cousin but I will try." Nodoka casts the spell then looks at where Ku Lon is directing. "By the Kami!" She gasps holding tightly to her cousin in fear. "What do you see?" Kima asks angry she does not know magic. "I see six black portals the shafts of light are forcing them close the problem is that demons are still coming through them." Nodoka tells the group with a shudder. "We need to get some magic users to those sites and help by forcing the demons back through the portal." Ku Lon tells them not sure how they were to do that. The little squirrel sits high on top of one of the trees, its eyes focusing on the shafts of light. The eyes of the squirrel show human intelligence, suddenly become empty and the little creature disappears down into the trees. /*\*/*\ Richard's blank gaze suddenly becomes clearer, he jumps to his feet and heads from the other Shamen toward one of the nearby Light Warriors. His fellow mystics watch him, then follow close behind. Xian Pu staying close to her blood bonded. Richard runs up to Rufino and Msu Tsu who were glowing their teams colors. Richard lashes out with his staff at a demon the mystic powers encased within destroying the demon with the powers of nature. Rufino turns to see the Shaman and his team heading toward him and Msu Tsu he taps his partner's shoulders and they dash away quickly other warriors stepping in to take their place. "LIGHT WARRIORS COME QUICKLY!" Richard knows the Light Warriors are the quickest way to get the magic users to where they are needed. "What do you need Shaman?" Rufino asks as he and Msu Tsu approach a little out of breath. "You need to get the other Light Warriors to get the magic users to those six points of light." Richard tells them gasping for breath. The two Light Warriors turn to see the auras of their leaders hitting six locations in powerful blasts. They then turn back to the Shaman as he is catching his breath he tells them what he saw and heard. Rufino and Msu Tsu relaying everything he tells them to the other Light Warriors. /*\*/*\ The group on the island prepares to leave Nodoka insisting she stay with her child to protect the three Light Warriors from harm. Ku Lon agrees and just as Nodoka hands Ku Lon to Her Rbe the Musk prince points with surprise. "LOOK THE MAGES THEIR ON THE MOVE!" The group turns and sees that not only the mages but all the magic users. "How did they know! The Light Warriors here could not have told them!" Ku Lon speaks with surprise which is a hard thing to do to a woman of her age. The group watches as the magic users on the main land of the park split up and move towards the beams of light coming from Samuel, Ran Koh and Alex. She watches as the shamen join the groups. Each group once in place begins to bombard the beams with magic. Some shoot fire balls other use lightning. Ice magic is used as well. The Shamans use their mystic powers and links with the spirit world. Nodoka and Ku Lon watches as the spirits with the aid of the magic users pushes the demons trying to come through the portals back into them. The magic users are being protected by the remaining Light Warriors. While they protect the ones below the them. Nodoka telling the others what effect the magic users are having on the portals. "The magic users and Shamans are winning! With them keeping the demons inside the Light Warriors below are able to close the portals. They are shrinking, 'He Who Devours the Light' must be very powerful if in this weaken state he can open six portals to the demon world." Nodoka tells them tears streaming down her face as the danger her child is in becomes a realization. "The portals are almost closed." The little group watches in awe when suddenly and explosion of light, lights up the park at each portal site. When the light fades the magic users are slightly stunned as the beams are gone. They turn and disappear back into the battle to finish off the remaining demons. The group on the island land to find the three Light Warriors standing on shaky legs. Ran Koh leaning against Samuel. Daniel glares at the shaman wizard. Samuel sees this and smiles as his grip on Ran Koh tightens. There is a loud screech and the group looks up to see a white and golden griffin flying over head. The griffin lands and transforms to Megan O'Riley. She walks up to her leaders concern on her face. They smile at her and wave away her concern. "How is it going Megan?" Alex asks leaning against Ran Koh and Samuel. "Since the portals be close and the demons no longer comin' through them we are able to clean them up quickly." Comes her Irish brogue Japanese. "Good, we are going to need a ride back to the park Megan can you carry the three of us?" Samuel asks barely able to stand. "Yes I can but you and Alex will need to convert to your normal forms you're a wee bit heavier as magic users. I will take you three back to the apartment complex then return to the battle." She tells them as she starts to change. "No, Megan take us to the battle we need to help finish up the demons!" Ran Koh tells her new friend. "No dear! Megan is correct the three of you are in no shape to fight." Nodoka tells her daughter as she steps forward. "Megan take them to the apartment building I will come with you and tend them. This way I am sure they won't try to sneak out." Nodoka looks at the three magic users her sword in her hands. They climb on Megan's back and Nodoka casts a spell of levitation and the five of them set off towards the Joketsuzoku Village. The rest of the group watches them leave with shaking heads and smirks. "Well let's go get us some of those demons before they're all gone." Daniel tells them his gaze following Megan and the magic users. Kima picks him up while Her Rbe takes Ku Lon and they return to the battle. The fight lasts for another four hours and finishes well past midnight. With the portals shut down it seems the communication between the demons and ‘He Who Devours the Light’ is gone. The demons seem less organized and easier to get rid of. When the battle is finally over and with the help of the local police the tired warriors slip out of the park. They sneak pass the reporters and head for their homes around the Chinese Amazons. The police setting up a protective perimeter around the area but they stay hidden so as not to draw attention to the area. /*\*/*\ Ryoga, La Si and Cali enter the facilities for the injured. Ryoga looks around but does not see what he is looking for. He goes up to Dr. Derek Cassia. Ryoga spins him around his eyes flashing with rage. "Where is she?" He snarls in the doctors face. "Husband please no hurt doctor." La Si says as she grabs her husbands arm. "Its alright Lace, he is just worried. Ryoga the little girl went home with Kasumi. While Tofu and Mirako went to the hospital with some of the more badly injured. I am here helping get the mildly injured ready to go home." La Si and Dr. Cassia watch as relief washes over the Light Warrior leader. "I am sorry Doc, it is just..that..I!" Cassia put his hand on Ryoga's shoulder with a sympathetic smile. "Its alright son, it must have been hard when you found her. She is going to need a lot of help! She will have a lot of emotional scares to heal. I believe Kasumi and Tofu plan on taking her in. They feel her presence around you and the others will help in the healing process. She may be right but I made her promise to take the child to a professional for evaluation." Dr. Cassia tells Ryoga and his wife. "Yeah but doc with the war is that a good environment for her to be in?" Ryoga asks skepticism on his face. "Normally I would say no it isn't but after what I saw today she is safest with you warriors. She has also bonded with you and Lace. I am afraid Kasumi had a tough time getting her to go with her. Kasumi had to promise her she would see you soon." Ryoga nods he turns when he feels his wife's arms wrap around him. "Thank you doctor. Do you need any help?" Ryoga asks ready to go home but not wanting to leave the doctor alone. "No I am fine the last of the patients just left so I will be leaving here shortly. You better head on back there is a meeting with that government official Tomoko-san." Cassia turns them and pushes them from the shelter a warm smile on his face. “You can tell me what happened with it tomorrow, I need to get to the hospital and help the others.” Cassia tells them as he turns and leaves. He picks up his medical bag he pauses on his way out. The smile he shows the young warriors hiding the pain and horror has inside him. He did not realize that helping Megan and Joshua would show him such horrors. He looks around the shelter the aftermath of the first battle. The floor is now red with the blood of many victims. Many more of who would have died if they were not there. The sadness fills him as he stares at the drying puddles of red. Derek turns and leaves as the cleaning crews arrive to clean up the shelter. /*\*/*\ Megan lands on the roof of the Light Warriors' apartment building. Nodoka beside her. Nodoka helps the magic users from Megan's back and she transforms back to her human self. The two woman help the exhausted warriors into the building and down to their apartments. When the reach the lower level neither of the warriors head for their rooms. "Where do you think you three are goin'?" Megan's Irish accent making her Japanese exotic. "We do not have time to rest, when the battle is finished bring the leaders here to the war room we need to start planning." Alex tells the red head she nods and helps them to the war room then leaves. "You need your rest that was a big strain on you." Nodoka tries to get the three magical warriors to bed. "We know mom but we don't have time we can rest while we wait for the others but we need to start planning. Today we were lucky that we were nearby when the attack started. The next time we may not be so lucky and 'He Who Devours the Light' will not be so easily defeated next time." Nodoka raises an eyebrow at the last comment of her daughter. "You call that easy?" Nodoka asks with surprise. "Yes, when he puts the portals so close to the fighting. I can't believe I didn't think of it before, but with so many innocents around I didn't have time to think. If it wasn't for the fact I had to rescue Akane Tendo I would have never noticed the demons appearing out of the air like they were." Ran Koh lays her head down on the table, Samuel drapes his arm over her and pulls her to him. Ran Koh sighs and leans her tired body against an equally tired Samuel. Nodoka smiles as she disappears. She returns a few moments later with a pot of steaming tea and cups. She also places a plate of cookies in front of the weak warriors. "Here eat these it will give you quick energy. She passes the plate of cookies to them. "So why did you go to the island to cast that spell wouldn't it have been better to be closer to the portals?" Nodoka asks while she pours everyone some tea. "No, especially since there was no one to guard me while I cast it. I also could not afford to take warriors away from the battle." Ran Koh tells her as she sips the tea. "I see! How did you two know to come to the island I am sure Ran Koh could not communicate with all her concentration on the spell." Nodoka asks the other two magic users of the Light Warriors. "Well the golden white glow was one way we knew." Alex tells her a tired smile on his face. "The other were the pendants given us by the gray monks. They connect us and when we are needed for something like that the pendants summon us to where we need to be. " Nodoka looks at the three in front of her and sees the pendants hanging from their necks. She smiles as the small amount of sleep herb she put in their tea takes effect. Alex lays his head down on the table using his arms as a pillow. While Ran Koh snuggles deeper into the strong arms of Samuel who lays his head on top of hers. Nodoka rises and covers the three of them with a blanket then turns out the war room light. She then stands guard fearing now would be the time Genma would strike and try to steal their child. She didn't have to fear he was to busy trying not to eat the dinner Akane set before him. /*\*/*\ Nodoka fills a slight nudge she opens her eyes and stares directly onto the golden orbs of Sera. She jumps slightly then looks around to see the other Light Warriors have returned and with them the leaders of the different groups of warriors. She continues to look but does not see Ryoga and Lace. "Where are my son and his wife?" She asks the others seem a bit confused. "They went to the medical shelter auntie Nodoka!" Comes the male voice with an Irish accent. She turns to see Erin come forward his face bloody and covered in the black ooze from the demons. Nodoka rises from the chair and surveys the rest of the group and sees they are all in need of rest. "I think you should all get cleaned up and get some rest you can have your meeting tomorrow." Nodoka stands firm, but the warriors all shake their heads. "As nice as that sounds we can't. Tomoko-san is coming here with your family and we need to plan our next battle. The evil has arrived and now we must start planning his demise." Taj tells the woman with a sadness that seems to hurt even Nodoka. "I do think mother is correct though you have time to get cleaned up." The group turns to see the three Light Warriors magical team. The group nods and leaves for their apartments to clean up. Ran Koh, Samuel and Alex watch them leave. Ran Koh petting the head of Sera who moves to stand next to her. Ran Koh then turns a cold gaze on her mother. Nodoka stands straighter and shows no nervousness at the look from her daughter. "You drugged the tea!" It was a statement and not a question, Nodoka smiles. "Yes I did just enough so the three of you would get some rest before the meeting." Nodoka's smile turns proud as she sees her daughter smiling at her. "Pretty sneaky mom, but thanks. I just wish we could give the others the same time." She tells her as she stares up the stairs of the building. "As do we granddaughter but things have to be explained and plans need to be put in motion." The four turn to see the Takashi patriarch standing behind them. A noise behind the magic users let them know the Phoenix warriors have arrived and possibly Her Rbe. "Come there is much to do." Samuel tells them as he and his teammates turn and head into the war room, Nodoka behind them. The Takashi clan follows them, behind them comes Kyoshi Tomoko and Dr. Tofu. Daniel follows the group his eyes on the back of Ran Koh. Richard Darkstar bringing up the rear. As they enter the war room they see two winged people and Kyoshi Tomoko standing with his mouth hanging open. The Amazon elders are already in the room along with the man known as Her Rbe. The rest of the Light Warriors enter the room. Ran Koh looks around but does not see her soul bonded. She gets up to go look for him when he and La Si enter the room. She smiles at him and he nods then takes a seat near her. His wife on his other side. The tired warriors look around the room the horror of the battle still evident in their faces. "As we all now know even though 'He Who Devours the Dark' is still not fully awake he can still cause trouble." Ukyo tells them with a shudder. "What do you think his plans are for us?" Dr. Tofu asks the warriors. "*SIGH!* I think he is going to try and keep us busy with his minions so that when he and his generals finally return we will be to weak to fight them." Taj tells them as she leans weakly against her soul mate and lover. "I think we need to explain what is going on for the benefit of Tomoko-san as he will be working with us for the government. He will also need to know what they can do to help." Keitaro tells the group a hand on the shoulder of his old friend. "We will be honored for the help but there is a stipulation Tomoko-san." Ku Lon tells the official, everyone looking at her with interest. "What would that be Elder Cologne?" Kyoshi asks his eyebrow raising. "Actually it might be more like two. One we train the army. Conventional weapons will not work these things regenerate and if you blow one up you run the risk of turning one demon into hundreds." Ku Lon begins, Tomoko-san nods in agreement. "That means it would be best if you send us martial artists as they will be use to using swords, and other such weapons. Those we can not teach the ‘Takashi's School of Kendo of the Light’ too, we magic users should be able to magically enhance the weapons." Mas Cra puts in seeing were Ku Lon was going with this. "Yes that makes sense. I saw some of the battle and can see that unless our weapons are so enhanced we will be no good to you. Very well I will make sure of your requests. Is there something else?" Kyoshi Tomoko asks knowing there was and sure he knows what it is. "Yes there is Tomoko-san and I am afraid it won't be popular with your brass. The Light Warriors and their Leaders are in charge in every aspect of this battle. No arguments, they have the knowledge available to them and the power to fight this evil coming." Ku Lon tells him, Tomoko's eyes growing wide with surprise. "I don't know if they will agree to that! I mean civilians controlling the military!" He lets the rest of that statement drop when Ran Koh raises her hand. "Tomoko-san it is important that the Light Warriors have full control of this battle. We can not fight against people who believe magic and demons are Faerie tales. We will do as we do for the rest of the groups. We will take one leader from each faction of the military, he or she will be a part of the war council. We will listen to them as well as the other members but the final decision will be the Light Warriors. Since we have access to information no one alive does." The white hair sorceress tells the official. "I think I can manage that. What about the training for the troops?" He asks them as he stands to leave. "Once the _volunteers_ come forward and I mean VOLUNTEERS, have the commanding officers contact us. Oh and Tomoko-san tell them I will know of any deviations or attempt to overthrow the Light Warriors and if that happens it will mean the end of not only Japan but the world." Ran Koh's eyes a light with lavender fire. Kyoshi gulps as he backs out the door his eyes locked on the white hair sorceress. Keitaro chuckles as he walks his friend to the door. Kyoshi stops and looks back toward the war room, his eyes full of confusion. "Did I understand her right? That if the military oversteps the Light Warriors will stop fighting and let this darkness win?" He looks to his friend with disbelief. "I am afraid you are understanding it wrong Kyoshi-san. This is not the first time Light Warriors have been picked to fight this evil. They must be the ones to lead this for they have eons of memories and power behind them. They are the worlds destiny and chosen heroes against 'He Who Devours the Light'. If any of them should vanish I feel we will probably lose the war. They have knowledge centuries old about this evil and without them at the helm the world is lost." He finishes Kyoshi listens intently and nods. "I will tell them old friend and I will make sure they understand we fight to save the world not just our part of it." Kyoshi bows then hurries out the door his mind racing over what he has seen and learned.