Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi Ah! My Goddess! is owned by Kosuke Fujishima Magic Knight RayEarth is owned by CLAMP Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi Legend of Zelda : Orcania of Time is owned by Nintendo This is a new series, a few months after the events dictated in Chapter 12 of A Simple Wish. This follows some of the timeline of Legend of Zelda : A Link To The Past, and Orcania of Time. This occours totally in Dark World with some changes. I’ll release a timeline soon into the series. This is an OVA series Note, this is new and changed slightly since I’m trying to release a new series within this time given. Enjoy Shaun Garin 15/2/99 The quiet of the dark landscape of Japan was shattered with the arrival of three glowing orbs of power. One gold, one green, and one red. It floated across a ravaged city with a huge and dangerous looking monolith in the center of the city. The city was devoid of life and activity with only a few lights shining in the windows of the particularly brave. The orbs floated to a high cliff overlooking the dark city and formed into three figures. One wore a red t-shirt and loose jeans. She had a gauntlet on her left hand. Her hair was flaming red and done up in a long pigtail which reached almost to her feet. Her eyes opened and revealed a crimson hue. The second had a red chinese shirt, his ebony hair done in a short pigtail, similar with the young girl. His body was dressed in silk, red and black, the pants tied with a white cloth belt and he wore chinese battle slippers. He opened his eyes and sapphire gems shone from them. The third had short black hair, a pair of small sunglasses on his face. He wore a small bracelet on his wrist, studded with gemstones of ruby, emerald and sapphire. He wore a white shirt, a loose shirt over it, hanging loose with black patterns on it. Relaxed fit jeans was over his legs and he wore some worn sneakers. At his side he had a carved stick held there by a short chain. His eyes were dark brown, and shone with a weariness and years of heavy experience. The second one spoke, “I told you not to pull out the Sword, Hikaru.” The first one, Hikaru, flashed her anger at him. “Well gee Ranma, you never told me not to before we started to fade away in front of everyone.” “Cool it,” the third addressed, “It wasn’t anyone’s fault that the Sword sent us somewhere else.” “Oh yeah, right Shaun, you just tell her that it was all our fault,” Ranma snapped irritably. “Mr. I-know-nearly- anything-about-any-anime, gets zapped by his own sword. Nice move pinoy.” “Shut up Ranma!” he snarled, his hand reflexitively reaching for his stick. “Nothing like this happens unless something is up. Now where are we?” Hikaru looked over the landscape and gasped. “Oh my...” she whispered. *** A golden triangle sits, waiting, waiting for its next master. Three come from the sky, another part of reality. The Knight of Fire, with a soul blazing in the night sky. The Fighter, his power dwarfing many in its pure light. And the Immortal, who’s life cannot be taken by normal deeds. Now Three will become the wielder... And Three will prevail... *** Dark World EXtreme Part 1 : Beginnings *** Ranma and Shaun moved up beside her and peered out. Ranma rubbed his eyes to try and find out that it was not a joke. “Oh man, what happened here?” Their gaze moved over the eternally dark city before them. Devoid of life and movement, the city sat, washed in a shadow of eternal darkness. Suddenly, there was a soft footfall behind them and they spun around, ready for something. A young woman, about 21 years old stood up. She had a odd tatoo on her forehead, a triangle with two others connected to it. Her dress was a rough tunic and pants. On her arm was a barely protective arm guard which reached from her hand to her shoulder. At her side was a large broadsword, which had the same symbol of a triple delta on it. Her long sandy hair flowed down in a thick braid on her back, held by a string. Her eyes wer blue and her face bore a long scar down the side of her face. When she spoke it was a thick scottish accent. “Who may ye be, that passes int’e Dark City?” “Belldandy?” the three chorused, incredulous. “Nay, I Verdandi, thee protector of t’ Triforce. Who ye may be?” She came up, and cupped Ranma’s face in her rough hand. “Aye, thy hath some power, e’re ye may be warriors from a Rebel faction, eh?” “No, Bell..ahem, Verdandi, we’re three wandering travellers,” Ranma ventured. “Travellers?” Verdandi asked, strickenly confused, “there has not been nay visitors to Dark City e’re since the Darkness fell seven years hence forth.” “Dark City?” Shaun asked, “is that,” he indicated the darkened city behind him, “Dark City?” She nodded. “Aye, Gannondorf, the Master of Evil hath given passage to them who serve the forces of darkness. I am the last one of th’ original resistance. The others nay live, since two years henceforth.” Hikaru shuddered, terrified, “This Gannondorf, he’s really THAT evil?” she asked. Verdandi looked pained, “Aye that he is. He is a load of trubble, ach,” she turned her head and spat on the dead grass. The others shifted uncomfortably to see a well known person in their world act so battle hardened and vulgar. “many a wee bairn was taken by Gannondorf’s shock troops. He gets his power from the legendary triangle, the Triforce of Power. Two others, the Triforce of Wisdom and Courage nay been seen since he took a hold of the power itself.” She spat again. Suddenly she took a stick laying on the ground, and heaved it like a javelin at a thick bush. A roar of pain echoed in the air as a creature jumped out. It was zombie like, with protruding ribs and a wooden face. Many others appeared behind it. The three backed up and Verdandi drew her broadsword. “Keep back, they’ll suck th’ life outta ye,” she warned while warding off the creatures. “Keep back?” Ranma snorted, “not likely.” his battle aura flared to life, and he felt the rush of power run through his veins. He smiled as the familiar feeling of Ki energy flowed through his veins. Hikaru willed her armor into existance, and drew her powerful escudo sword from the gemstone on her gauntlet. Bringing it up to a ready position, she watched the approaching creatures warily, while at the same time, watching the cliff side behind them. Shaun unhooked the stick and willed a bright silver blade to form from it. It lengthened into a fair approximation of a energy blade in the shape of the Master Sword. He immediately regretted leaving it in the other world when it flared and Hikaru dropped it in shock. He then altered the blade to become a flaming silver wash of hardened light. “What should we do?” Hikaru asked, trembling slightly at the gruesome creature backing them up. “The same thing we do every time hidious monsters appear Hikaru, try to kick their butts!” Shaun replied as he brought down the blade in a wide arc, through a monster. It’s shape flared into white and it crumbled in a heap. Ranma leapt in, shouting, “Katchuu Tenchin Amaguriken!” His rapid fire fists drove a pathway through the monsters, knocking them back into the woods where they came from. Hikaru came up, and removed one from its spirit with her powerful escudo sword, feeling a little sick at the purple blood running down the cliff as her sword parted life again and again. Verdandi impaled one and tossed the carcass into the approaching group of creatures. She looked back at the other three and her jaw dropped. “By the goddesses,” she whispered, “it can’t be.” “Crossbow blast!” Shaun pulled back his hands and a energy crossbow appeared in his hands. Several attacks of pure white energy lanced out, disintrigating them upon imapct. “Hey, what does this remind out of Ranma?” A monster went flying into low orbit, “I don’t know. Nothing like I’ve fought before. Hikaru?” A loud kiya came from the corner of the fighting as a whole row of monsters dissapeared in a hail of smoking ash. “Maybe the time when Mokona lead us into a pack of monsters after meeting her.” “Whatever.” Shaun raised his hand, his index and middle finger uprasied. He started to trace a corona of flame around a group of monsters. “Fireeeeeballlllll!” The flames engulphed them and they crumbled into ash. “This is getting us nowhere,” he complained. “Mouko Takabisha!” Another group went to meet their maker. “Do yo have any other ideas genius?” Ranma groused while punching another and kicking back behind himself into another monster. “I do have one idea.” He started to gather power in his hands. The red glow went to a purple and then blue and finally pure white. He swung his arm around in front of him and in a smooth movement, slammed his hand down to the ground, shouting, “KINJAKIAN!” A huge burst of flame engulphed the area in a white glow as the rest of the creatures met their maker. When it died down, the whole place was devoid of monster life. Verdandi sheathed her sword at her side and gaped. “By Nayru’s love, you three are the prophecy!” They looked blank. “Run that by us again?” Ranma said. “Come,” she flipped open a rock, “we will discuss this in the base.” The others followed her into the tunnel. *** “You have failed me Rubeus,” the dark man grated, “You said that nothing could get past your monster/droid hybrids.” The red head grovelled, his face to the floor, “I’m sorry Master, but they were extrordanarily strong. I never knew that these children could be so powerful.” “That’s your weakness Rubeus, you never judge them by their full potencial. That’s why you could never defeat that pitiful Sailor Moon and I had to do it personally. I’ll give you another chance.” The Black Moon man bowed and left the former King of Thieves to ponder the current situation. *** “This is th’ base,” Verdandi said, pointing out the base. The “Base” happened to be a shabby warehouse with some techs running around. In the corner, some people were working on a shorting computer terminal. “Here is where th’ Alliance works day and night to fight Gannondorf from findin’ th’ rest of th’ Triforce.” A worn woman, her face showing lines of age far beyond her real age jogged up. “Verdandi? Here’s the reports for Gannondorf’s Boomer factory. We...lost a unit.” She looked down, saddened. Verdandi sighed, “Take a break Nabiki, you’ve done all you can. There never be no way Tatewaki could have survived this run even through his stupid delusions.” “NABIKI!?” Ranma blurted out, aghast. Nabiki looked up, a look of no recognition on her face. “Do I know you?” she asked. “It’s me Nabiki! Ranma! I’m engaged to Akane!” Nabiki shook her head. “Akane died when she was two. And the Saotome’s son, Ranma, died a month later. Now, if you’ll excuse me...” And she left. Shaun put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “Ranma, you must remember that in some timelines, you or many other important people never existed or died when Gannondorf attacked.” Ranma nodded, holding back unshed tears. “It-It just hurts,” he said. Hikaru nodded, “I for one, don’t want to find out if I never lived.” Soon, they came to a large door with a palm print scanner on it. Verdandi put her hand on it and it unlocked after a second. Entering it, they were greeted by hostile looks. One girl, a eyepatch over her left eye stood up, her short cut raven hair showing a greying hue in the harsh arc lamp light. “Verdandi!” she snarled, “you know that you’re not supposed to bring in civilians. The security risks are too great!” “But Rei,” she protested, “These three could be th’ legendary warriors! I saw th’ evidence ven th’y fought th’ zoldoids.” The girl narrowed her eyes, staring at the three. The three shifted nervously as her harsh glare alighted on every one. She looked at Shaun, without no recognition, Ranma the same. But suddenly, her eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped. “H-Hikaru?” she asked, her voice wavering on breaking. “I-Is t-that you?” “Who are you?” Hikaru asked. Shaun stared at her and said after a second, “Hikaru, look at her with long raven hair with purple hightlights and a red sailor fuku.” Hikaru gasped. “Rei!” Rei looked up, her tears shedding down her face. “Hikaru, I thought you had died!” Hikaru stopped, shellstruck. “What?” Rei looked confused. “You died, on a raid on the Tower. Gannondorf sent your blaster back.” She pulled out a case and opened it. Inside was a gold inlaid blaster, with the same Triple triangle symbol on it. Hikaru reeled. “I-I died?” she said weakly. Shaun supported her on his shoulder as she started to cry. “Wha-what kind of, of hidious monster is, is this Gannondorf?!” she sobbed. The philipino stroked her soft hair, “Shhh, let it out,” he soothed. He looked up. “I know this Gannondorf. Once, the leader of a band of Thieves, then he gained the power of the Triforce. He recieved the Triforce of Power and became the Lord of Evil. There was a young elvin boy who fought him with his magical silver arrows and the Master Sword, that only he could wield and no evil could touch. In our world, I recieved the Sword as a gift. But here, I don’t know anything beyond that.” Ranma’s face hardened. “Then this Gannondorf’ll have to go.” “It’s not that simple Ranma,” Shaun warned, “To beat him, you must unleash the seven sages power. For that, we must find the six temples, or the equivilant to them, and destroy the master creatures in the area. Only then, can the power of the Sages relock Gannondorf in the void of magic.” Verdandi looked at him, frightened, “How hath you know all ‘bout th’ Evil Gannondorf? Are thee a prophet?” He looked at her, a type of undecipherable look on his face. “Well, when you play Link To The Past and Orcania of Time, you get used to the nuciences. I think that what we need to do first is to get the Master Sword equivelant here.” Rei spoke. “There is a Temple here. The Temple of Time. It was erected two years before Gannondorf attacked.” Her face darkened. “My leader, Sailor Moon was encased in crystal. She soon dissapeared after that.” She looked up and pulled out a map. “The Temple is to the north of the City in the Lost Woods surrounding Dark City. To get through there, you must earn three stones. One is the Forest Stone, one the Fire Stone, and the last, the Water Stone.” “Damn, it’s just like Orcania of Time,” Shaun grumbled as he clipped his weapon on his belt. “Where do we get those Stones?” “The Fire Stone is guarded on Mount Fuji, by the Cult of Flame. Their leader is a young woman known as Ukyou Kounji. The Water Stone is held by a young Android called Atsuko Natsume. She lives in Okanawa, in the Water Shrine. And the Forest Stone is in the Villiage of the Amazon Women in China. The holder is a young woman called T’shang Pu.” “Why do I get the feeling that something’s setting us up for a laugh?” Ranma lamented. “Okay, maybe we should split up since there’s three places to go to.” Rei shook her head. “The Guardian’s will only release the Stone to the legendary three.” She then glared at Ranma and Shaun who took a facinating interest with their fingernails. “But I have my doubts that they are the chosen ones.” “Um, don’t mean to pry but I thought only the decendants of Link and Zelda could fight Gannondorf,” Shaun said. This was different and he hated situations where he couldn’t control anything. “That is part of the legend,” Verdandi said, pulling up a chair from the dark spaces around the corona of harsh arc lighting. “Sit,” she said, gesturing to a trio of chairs. They took the chairs and started to listen. *** Seven years ago, this world was known as the world of light, Earth, or even Hyrule to a few. Many hundreds of centuries before, the evil Sorcerer turned the Master Of Evil was imprisoned in the Void. But before he was sucked fully into it, he sent a bolt of pure dark energy into the boy Link, and Princess Zelda. Zelda found her lifeforce being drained to sustain the madman, so she used the Triforce of Wisdom imbedded in her chest to send the Triforce of Courage and Wisdom into the future, where it will inhabit two more people. Their souls left their bodies and became part of the Triforce pieces. Gannondorf had the Triforce of Power. Seven years ago, the evil Black Moon Clan attacked this world. They were repelled by Sailor Moon and her group of Sailor Senshi with ease. Then, the remnants of the Dark Kingdom attacked under the rule of Jadeite. Both fought for supreme power until a breach in the flow of magic appeared. Spitting out the evil sorcerer Gannondorf, he quickly destroyed Jadeite, Lord Demand, the WiseMan and his evil master. He soon gained control over the demonic creatures with ease, ruling the other minions. He kept the four sisters, Rubeus, Emerald, Typhus, and Sapphire alive to serve him. Sailor Moon was the first to fall. She released the power of the Silver Crystal to no avail, ultimately consuming her lifeforce until it was nothing. Venus fell next, then Jupiter, and Mercury. Mars escaped to form the first Alliance. Then came the more powerful fighters, a martial artist pair known as the Bogard Brothers fought and were killed on the second raid on the Tower. Soon, several other fighters were killed to destroy the Alliance. After three years of fighting, the last fighter, a man known as Ryoga Hibiki was killed. We thought he was the last powerful fighter to grace the face of Hyrule. We were wrong. After that, a new breed of warriors came to face up against Gannondorf. Many never survived after the first run against the Tower. Two years before the fighting began, the Temple of Time, which had the Time Gates imbedded in its housing structure, was finished and locked with three stones and scattered among the world to three places. The Guardian there, Sailor Pluto guarded it until Gannondorf attacked it to gain more power for his evil and insane ambition. Rather than submitting to him, she destroyed her Time Key and the Garnet Orb atop it. Before she died at his hand, she prophisied that a trio of warriors will come from another world and fight to save Hyrule. One, a woman with the control of the element fire, and had a firey spirit. The second, a male warrior of the fist, with control over the human spirit and had fists of lightining. The third will be a semi prophet wielding a god given gift in his hands. Two will hold the Triforce of Courage and Wisdom in their bodies. The other will have to regain the Triforce of Power into his body in the final downfall of Gannondorf. It has been written, and let it be done. *** “What a story,” Ranma commented after Verdandi finished. “So you think that WE are those three fighters that Pluto said would come?” Verdandi nodded. “You three have all the markings of the three who are chosen. Pluto was never wrong most of the time.” “Most of the time she says,” Shaun grumbled. He grunted as Hikaru punched him in the shoulder. The 17 year old sighed. “Well, there’s no way we’re going back home and letting this world fade into the night. I’m in.” “I’ll help as well,” Hikaru said, slipping on her gauntlet. “I want to meet this Gannondorf and show him what someone can do.” Ranma stood up and stretched, his back making some snapping sounds. “Then we’ll proceed to Mount Fuji immediately.” Verdandi nodded and went to a corner of the room, bringing out several clothing articles. “Take these with you,” she said, handing them to the trio. “And these pouches are magical.” Three brown bags were given to them which attatched to the beltline. “They will store many items needed for your quest.” They stored the clothing in the pouches, finding that they became very small upon touching the opening of the pouch. They thanked her and they headed out into the City. *** “They are out in the City Lord Gannondorf. Shall I attack them now?” “Not yet Rubeus. Let them gather the Stones first.” Rubeus looked confused. “Sir? Is that wise?” A dark chuckle came from the darkned throne. “Of course. I will let them gather the Stones. Once they open the Time Gate, I will head back in time to corrupt this world when it is the Silver Millenium. The pathetic Silver Crystal hasn’t affected me at all, and I doubt that nothing could at this moment in time.” Rubeus shuddered at the sheer dark energy coming from Gannondorf. “As you command my Lord.” He bowed and teleported away. Gannondorf smiled as a voice came from behind him. “You have a way with Rubeus my Lord.” “Indeed Emerald,” he said, feeling the warm breath of the green haired woman behind him. “He is good at fighting, but not too bright.” “Then why do you keep him on your staff, my Lord?” Emerald questioned, “is it not wise to recuit someone more...powerful and smarter than he is to replace him?” “Not at all. That’s what cannon fodder is for, isn’t it?” *** “Well, that’s the last of them,” Shaun said, wiping his hands of dust. Around them lay the bodies of several Skullatullas. Around them were golden tokens which shone in the sunlight as they watched the bodies fade away. Hikaru stored her escudo sword in her gauntlet. “At least they weren’t too tough. Thanks for telling us how to fight them.” He nodded, and gave an amused glance at Ranma who was gingerly picking himself out of a prickily bush. “Now if only SOMEONE, had LISTENED before using the Amaguriken on the face, he wouldn’t be in the bushes, dazed while we had to mop up the rest of these giant spiders.” Hikaru snickered as Ranma gave the two of them a deadly glare. “You could have warned me that they were has hard as iron in the front and swung back to tackle you when hit.” “I hate to break it to you Ranma, but in this world, its more brains than brawn. I’ll bet you’ve never played Orcania of Time or Link To The Past before, ne?” Shaun’s face was split with an infectuous grin as he tried not to laugh. Ranma snorted and yelped as a trickle of blood ran down his hand from a cut from a stray thorn. “Come one, lets get to the next town before we get attacked again,” he groused as he started to walk towards the exit of the forest. “Well, might as well let HIM take the front,” Hikaru commented, “He takes most of the beating as it stands.” Shaun nodded, a amused look on his face. Soon, they exited the woods to find a small town on the edge of the forest in a valley. The town was surprisingly alive, with a bright sun hanging overhead. Hikaru blinked at the sunlight and asked, “hey, why is it sunny out here? Isn’t the world supposed to be covered in darkness?” “Naw, I thought this might happen,” Shaun said, slipping on his sunglasses. “In Orcania of Time, only the area around where Hyrule Town used to be, the area is dark. Once you escape the area, the whole place is basically normal.” They walked down the hill, towards the busy town. Inside, there was a bustling market with the sounds and smells of a Japanese town. To the left was a man haggling some fruit with the vendor, to the right was a candy shop, and other such market vendors were there. Suprisingly, and to the trio’s shock, a young woman was selling Magicarp. Who knew? Soon, they reached the clinic in the town and Hikaru pushed it open. The smell of disinfectant was in the air as the peaceful atmosphere soothed their sore muscles. Ranma went up and asked the receptionest, “Excuse me? Can the doctor see me? I had an encounter with a thorn bush and I’d like to get this cut looked at.” She nodded, “Of course. I’ll call him now.” Reaching over to the intercom she said, “Paging Dr. Tofu Ono, come to the front desk.” Ranma’s jaw dropped. “Dr. Tofu?” he asked, disbelieving. The thiryish doctor came out, looking like he did when we last saw him. “Yes? Oh, you must be waiting for me. I’m Dr. Tofu.” “Ranma. I need this looked at, it’s still bleeding rather badly.” He held up his wrapped hand and Dr. Tofu looked at it. “Hmm, well, a short medical treatment and a bit of disinfectant should get your hand back up to fighting strength.” “How’d you know we’re fighters?” Hikaru asked, standing from her chair. “Well the only visitors Kalm gets are travelling warriors. No one travells with Gannondorf running the show. Come, lets get that hand fixed.” Soon, they left, waving a goodbye to Dr. Tofu who had a wide smile on his face. “He’s very nice,” Hikaru said. Ranma nodded. “In my world, I get patched up a lot by him. Akane or someone else inflicts pain and he fixes it. Hey, there’s a resturant, lets eat.” The resturant was not so surprisingly called, CROWN’S. It was ironic that some places in Tokyo was here in Kalm. Pushing open the door, they went in and sat down, and a tall blonde guy came up. “Hi, I’m Motoki, what’s your pleasure?” “We just want some burgers and fries, thanks,” Hikaru ordered. Soon the food came and Ranma started to inhale his food, drawing stares. Shaun slapped his hand down on Ranma’s hands, in the process of snatching some fries from his own box. “Slow down man, it’s like you haven’t eaten in years,” he chuckled. Ranma looked up from his fries. “But this stuff is really good!” He protested. “We’re not at the Dojo Ranma,” Hikaru said, faintly disgusted at his eating habits, “your father isn’t here to swipe some food from your plate.” He gave a resigned sigh and returned to eating at a more civilized pace. Soon, the bill came. Shaun looked up, “what kind of currency do you take?” “Rupies or old Japanese yen,” Motoki said. Shaun pulled out a millimeter thick wad of yen. “Keep the change,” he said. Motoki’s eyes widened and thanked him and left. “Gee aren’t we liberal with the money,” Ranma groused. “Don’t worry, I have a lot of money left,” he soothed. Soon they left CROWN’S. By the time they exited the resturant, it was dark again. *** “Stupid idiotic no seperate rooms deal, frickin’ moron of a son of a motherless goat!” Ranma practically ripped the sheets back from the bed and jumped in. To his right was Hikaru, already fast asleep and to the right lay Shaun, reading a small novel he had in his pants pocket. Ranma looked up at the ceiling and grumbled, “stupid rule of having three to a room. Why don’t they just have us share baths instead?” he gumbled. “Don’t give them any ideas Ranma,” Shaun said, not breaking eye contact with his book. “Otherwise they’ll enforce that tonight or something like that.” “Hmpth.” Ranma snorted as he laid back in the huge bed. “They could have at least made it so that there was three beds instead of one in the room.” “If you want, I can change into a girl for tonight,” the other one said, dipping his hand in the cup of water beside the bed. He shifted into a young female and continued to read without breaking her concentration. Ranma felt something stirring. “Aw damn, I feel wierd having two girls in bed with me.” “Don’t get all freaky Ranma, we’re just here for the night.” With that, she put down the book, reached over and turned off the lamp. Ranma didn’t sleep a wink that night since to his dismay, both girls were very sloppy sleepers. *** Hikaru opened her eyes the next morning to find Ranma’s arm around her middle. She immediately slapped him in the face, waking him up. Ranma’s eyes flickered open, he gave a cry of shock and rolled over onto the other curvy form. The girl woke up and heaved the martial artist off, shouting, “Get off pervert!” Ranma picked himself off the floor, and said, “I can’t help it if I move when I sleep.” Hikaru held the sheets to her chest as she walked towards the private bathroom. “That doesn’t make it any better Ranma,” she said, walking into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Shaun smirked. “Nice move kimosabi,” she jeered. Ranma moaned at the foot of the bed. “I’m soooooo tired,” he grumbled, curling up and pulling the remaining sheets off the bed. Shaun shouted, indignant, and slid off the bed, and lightly kicked the man in the ribs. Soon, they had showered and grabbed some breakfast in the resturant. As they ate, Ranma asked, “So, how much farther to Mount Fuji?” “About fifty kilometers,” Hikaru said, munching on a waffle. “We should reach it in about two days.” “Why are ye heading to Mount Fuji?” A leathery voice asked behind them. They jumped and turned around to face a old man, his face weathered by years in sunlight. “We’re trying to find the Cult of Flame,” Shaun answered warily. The old man chuckled. “The Cult of Flame, eh? You’ll never get inside the mountain without the right guide. And I,” he said, pulling his sleeve back to reveal a red symbol in a form of a flickering flame, “Am part of it. I’ll lead ye to our home. I hope you have resitance to heat, cause it’ll be a hot day.” *** “How many more kilometers until we reach the summit?” Ranma asked, surprisingly winded from the long climb. Of course Shaun had to cheat and flew him and Hikaru up most of the way. He was so unfair when he flew since he only took Hikaru with him. Shaun sat back, looking into the crater edge. “Um, about a few hundred meters to the bottom of the crater.” Hikaru fanned her face, “its so hot,” she whined. “Isn’t there anyway to circumvent the heat?” “Well,” Shaun reached into the pouch and withdrew three tunics in three sizes. “I think that these’ll help. They can absorb enough heat to fry a dragon within a few seconds. Here,” he tossed the medium and small sizes to the pair who quickly shed their clothing and put on the red clothing. The heat melted away from their bodies in a few seconds when they were put on. Soon, they reached the bottom of the crater and came upon a set of iron doors which creaked open. Inside it was extremely hot. The three heaved a sigh of relief for their heat resistant clothes. Soon, they came into a darkened room which burst into light by several flaming torches. At the head of the room was a tall woman with deep scarlet clothing, a shock of brown/black hair and dark brandy eyes. “And who are these?” she said in an even voice. Hikaru looked at Ranma, Ranma looked at Hikaru and in unison, shoved the immortal writer forward. The man cleared his throat and said, “We’re here for the Spiritual Stone of Fire. We need it to open the Time Gate.” Mummurs of conversation came from the corners of the room. Ukyou raised a hand and they fell silent. “Well, I need proof that you’re not from Gannondorf. Perhaps a sign that you are the chosen ones will suffice.” Shaun sighed and started to concentrate. Soon, a golden sheen emitted from his forehead and a floating picture of the Triforce appeared in front of his face. Straining, he held the picture as long as he could before his headache returned in full force. He wiped his forehead in exhasution. “Well is that good enough?” he asked, a quirky smile on his face. Ukyou snapped her jaw shut. “Well that proves it.” “So can we have it now?” Ranma asked eagerly. “Not so fast,” Ukyou said, standing up from her stone chair. “One of you must undertake the Trial of Fire to prove yourself worthy of this.” “I’ll do it then,” Ranma said, cracking his knuckles. He moved forward but Hikaru said, “No.” Ranma stopped short as the short pigtailed girl headed for the huge doors. Ukyou crossed her arms. “You must survive the Trial by Fire to earn the sacred Fire Stone from my hand.” she held out a glittering stone with a raging inferno inside it. The stone was apparently cool to the touch. “Now, enter and don’t come back until you succeed or fail.” The doors creaked open to reveal the inside of the Volcano. Hikaru gulped and entered, the doors creaking closed behind her. *** “I don’t like this,” Shaun grumbled, pacing back and forth. “It’s been two hours since she entered the Trial by Fire room.” Ranma drank the offered water and said, “Don’t worry, Hikaru can survive.” “She’d better or else...” His hand clenched into a tight fist and his eyes literally blazed with white light. Ranma put a hand on his shoulder and said, “She’ll survive. She’s you girlfriend, right?” Shaun looked surprised. “Huh? NO! Where’d you get THAT idea? Hikaru is just a friend.” He looked out into the volcano core. “Just...a friend.” he added quietly. Ranma sighed. He wasn’t in a position to talk. Akane had reverted back to her violent act when the Quantum Surge hit, altering many people’s age and mental states to a younger state. He had a hard time trying to go through the same thing over and over again, knowning that he couldn’t age normally with his curse and the Surge’s effects. Ranma glanced at the young writer with envy. Sure the writer has been through more hell than he had gone through but he had lived a normal life until the wish. What he wouldn’t give to have his life when he was young. Shaun stared into the blazing inferno of molten rock and flame, the light dancing in his brown eyes. How long has it been? fifteen, sixteen years since he saw his friends? He attened the Graduation alright but he never shown his face. In the first timeline, he had rushed back to Lacombe to find the whole town leveled with no survivors. That was hard enough. But to through a two year isolation from his old school friends to save all the lives he could, that was even harder. He never graduated from 11th grade, save High School. Sure he had knowlage that would put Bill Gates to shame but he still missed his old friends. Reveesie, Papps, Garrick, and all the others would be grown up. How many reunions would have he missed? By now, about ten if they had one each year. God how he missed the simple days. Get up, go to a early morning work shift, write some fanfiction, eat, go to class, get home, write again, watch TV, study and finally hit the sack at 10. It wasn’t easy to stay away from your friends, probably being classified as a missing person. And he had tried to die before. It was after Rei died, before coming up with the solution to bringing her back. If only Belldandy hadn’t held the information back. That he was a Immortal. A Highlander type Immortal. Damn. Nothing but a sword could kill him and it had to sever his head from his body. Just then, the huge iron doors at the other side of the volcano started to creak open. Shaun snapped up his bag and rushed out, Ranma following close behind. *** Hikaru coughed the smoke from her lungs as the martial artist and philipino ran up. She smiled weakily and said, “I passed the test,” before fainting from the heat fatigue. Ranma caughet her, noting the torn and shredded condition of her heat resistant clothing. Ukyou then came up, a contingant of people behind her, a wry smile on her hardened face. “She has passed, after one hundred thousand others have failed. For my word, the Spiritual Stone of Fire.” She held out the red gold encrusted stone and smiled. Shaun took the stone, weighing it in his hands like it was the Holy Grail. “Thank you,” he said, “we will leave now, as not to bother you anymore.” Ukyou nodded and left, her red clothing flowing in the rising heat streams. Just then, from the side of Shaun’s eye, a blue light shone from the ground, flowing and beconing for them to leave. He let out a sigh and headed towards the light, Ranma following behind him. When they stepped inside the light, it carried them up out of the volcano, and deposited them in a wave of blue light in front of Dr. Tofu’s office in Kalm. “Dr. Tofu’s. How convvvvveeeeenient,” Shaun drawled out. *** “My she has a healthy consitution to survive the Trial by Fire,” Tofu said, wiping his hands of the cooling salve with a towel. “Why did she undertake such a dangerous task anyhow?” “We’re trying to collect the Spiritual Stones,” Ranma answered. Tofu’s face hardened into a angry expression, one the two teens found disturbing. “You’re trying to open the Time Gates?” he ground out, teeth clenched. “It’s an insane plan!” Dr. Tofu trembled with rage as he calmed his breathing slowly, his heart rate lowering to a minimum. He continued quietly. “The last one who tried to gather the Spiritual Stones was a girl I loved. Her name was Kasumi Tendo.” Ranma and Shaun fell quiet, knowing this one was going to be a tragic tale. “She...collected the Spiritual Stones of Water and Forest. She stopped by here, saying that she needed the last one from Devils Peak.” “Devils Peak?” Shaun asked. “Devils Peak is another name for Mount Fuji. Ever since Gannondorf came here, the Volcano was more active since.” He pushed up his glasses and continued. “Kasumi said that she needed to undertake the Trial by Fire to recieve the last Stone. She left soon afterwards. When word came to me two weeks later, they said that she had died at the hands of a Lava Dog. The Stones, upon loosing a owner, had fled the site with a flash of blue and green energy, supposively heading back to the guardians.” Tofu fell silent, the other two not wanting to press the subject further. Hikaru then stirred and opened a eye. “Hey, I made it.” “You did,” Shaun grasped her hand tenderly, “now sleep, we’re heading to China tomorrow.” He raised her hand to his forehead and pressed it against her hand in a form of respect. Hikaru smiled and said, “You don’t need to do that...” before slipping into blissful slumber. *** “Okay, the guardian of the Forest Stone is a girl by the name of T’shan Pu. I’m betting all my pay that this T’shan Pu is actually Shampoo, or her equivelant of her in this world. Ranma, you’ll have a problem beating her so I’ll take whatever they throw at us.” Ranma lookled up, shocked. “What?! You know fully well what’ll happen if you beat her in combat. Man beats Amazon, Amazon say Wode Da Arien. Get the picture?” Shaun sighed exasperatedly. “One, I’ll ask every question in the book about their laws before undertaking the trial they have. Two, I’ll challenge her for the Spiritual Stone and no other obligations if I beat her. Three, for all we know, she could be married to Mousse in this world. Ya happy?” Ranma looked pessenessive until he agreed. *** Two months later... “Finally, the Amazon Villiage of China.” Three travel weary legendary fighters walked into the small Village. Not one step into the gates when suddenly... SPLASH A dripping Shaun-chan and Ranma-chan wrung out their clothing in disgust. “Not two steps into the Villiage and someone is tossing cold water at us. Hey hand over the Hot Water Shaun.” Ranma stood with her hand out expectantly. Shaun pulled a thermos and dumped a bit of it on her head first and then handed the rest to Ranma who doused herself. Suddenly, from out of every hut in the area, howling mad Amazons came from each side, sharp pointy thingies held for attack. A young girl with pale green hair swiped her vicious Nagenta downward, only to be blocked and trapped by Hikaru’s escudo sword and Shaun’s magical silver Falcon Blade. She wrenched it a few times, snarling, “Damn lightsaber.” The girl tried to wrench the blade from the weapons grasp, only succeding to fail miserably. Just then, a purple haired girl, about mid teens, wearing an short chinese dress and bearing a pair of bonbouri, came up and barked in Manderan, Shaun replied in the same tongue, Shampoo blinked and suddenly, howled in laughter, the rest of the Amazons following suit. Shaun blinked. “Ano...is something wrong?” A tall man in coke bottle glasses came up behind them and said in fluent Japanese, “The Spiritual Stone you say? I know of it, T’shan Pu, the Matriarch carries it on a necklace around her neck. To gain it, one of you must defeat her in combat.” Shaun paled. “D-Defeat her? I-Is there a Kiss of Death or a Kiss of Marrage in the deal?” Mousse chuckled. “Don’t worry, T’shan Pu is married. To me. She fights right now for the exersize. But don’t feel too bad if she pounds your champion into the ground.” *** “FIGHT!” Mousse commanded from the sidelines. Up atop the huge log arena, Shampoo drew a pair of heavy Bonbouri from hyperspace and took a offenceive stance. Shaun drew in some power and lengthened his weapon to a long two meter staff. Shampoo came in, bringing the weapons down in a quick and painless defeat. Shaun brought up the weapon, slamming her in the stomach. Shampoo stumbled back a bit, surprised at his strength. He pressed the attack, swinging the staff like a quarterstaff and a sword. Shampoo parried and parried, noticeably being driven back into the edge of the log. Suddenly, she changed tactics. Dropping down to a crowch, she avoided his latest swing and lunged forward, shouting, “CAT ATTACK!” Ranma shuddered. Shaun yelped as the flurry of swipes, scratches and kicks assulted his body without relenting its furious assult. Suddenly, he leapt straight up and over the girl, breaking her rythim. He gritted his teeth to keep his lips wrenching a tormented scream from his battered body. Suddenly, he looked down and shouted, “NO! DAMN NOT NOW!” His staff retracted into the hilt with a flash of blue light. Shampoo smirked. “Not so powerful without weapons, eh? Shampoo just put you out of your misery now.” She lunged forward, and brought the heavy weapons down. The impact shattered the top of the log in a spray of wood chips as he dodged backward, rolling to the edge of the log. He found himself laying on his back, his weapon thrown to the stands when he hit. Shampoo came up and placed a foot on his throat. She smiled a catlike smile when she said, “It over.” She raised the bonbouri for a knockout hit. Shaun thought furiously for a half second and did a technique that was never done before in his knowlage. He brought his hand up and pointed two fingers up the length of his body. He summoned his power as the bonbouri reached striking distance of his skull. Hikaru gasped as the Amazon woman brought down the weapon when a shout of “SONIC BURST!” came from the downed man. Shampoo suddenly went flying into the air and landed hard on the huge pillow Mousse calmly pulled out of his sleeves. Shampoo sat up, bewildered and perplexed. “Shampoo lost?” she asked. Mousse nodded. “You did. But it doesn’t matter. They must now recieve the Spiritual Stone of Forest.” Shampoo sighed and pulled off the necklace. Walking over to the still breathless fighter, she placed it around his neck like a medal and said, “Wear it in good health young one.” Shaun fingered the Stone around his neck. Hikaru then pulled out the Fire Stone. The two stones glowed in the light as a passing of green and red energy flickered between them. Ranma grinned. “Two down, one to go.” Hikaru nodded. “I know.” The blue light flickered into existance and the three transported away, landing in front of a large temple in Okinawa. The air was clean, the water aqua blue, and in the temple, a raging sea dragon sent a bolt of ice towards the three hapless heros. Hikaru shrieked as she dodged to the side. A cold pain shot through her leg as it was caught to the ground, encased in ice. Ignorning the minor frostbite, she set about to using her fire magic to defrost her leg. Ranma cupped his hands and grew his customary crackling ball of raw blue ki, feeding it with the chi around his surroundings. “Mouko Takabisha!!!” The ball of ki lanced out and severed the wing of the dragon. It flapped its ing, to no avail. Shaun drew his Falcon Blade and hurled it at the other wing, while at the same time, shooting a barrage of Flare Arrows at the creature. The creature was downed as it lay there, twitching helpessly. Hikaru broke her foot free and stood up, a faint pain in her leg. She held her hand up in the air, the palm to the sky. A flicker of fire appeared atop her hand and she thrust it out, yelling, “Honno no Yaaaaaaa!” Streaks of fire lanced out and met the creature. Now, for those of you in science, what happens when Fire meets Ice? You do the simulation. *** “Thank you for defeating the creature kind travellers,” a elderly man said. He had a cigarette in his mouth and his grey bangs covered his eyes from view. Beicide him stood a teenaged boy, brown haired with a red streak through the middle of his hair. To his left was a purple haired girl, her beauty raident and she seemed to radiate cheerfullness. “The Ice Dragon has been attacking our village for most of the year. It was sent by Gannondorf to take my designs for NK-1124 and the Spiritual Stone of Water for his evil purposes.” “No problem,” Hikaru said, leaning on her escudo sword. “Um, hate to bother you once again but can we have the Spiritual Stone of Water? We already have the Fire and Forest Stones.” Hikaru withdrew the flaming ruby from her pouch and Shaun pulled the emerald from the golden chain around his neck, the hurricane of leaves swirlling around in it. The man looked astonished. The teen spoke. “Well since you do have the two stones and defeated the Dragon for us, I suppose its all right. Nuku? Can you give them the stone?” “Hai!” Nuku lifted her shirt and a panel opened in her stomach. Inside was a glowing sapphire, waves crashing inside the gemstone. Withdrawing it from her storage area, she handed it to Ranma who took it eagerly. The three held the stones in their hands and a crackling triange formed in front of them. Once side was forest green, another fire red and the last aqua blue. Kyasuku peered at the triangle, a wry smile on his face. “For all considered, I think we should give you a lift to wherever you want to go,” Ryunosuke said, pressing a button. In a second, a magnetic hover board seating three people floated up to the travellers. “This can bring you to wherever you want to go. Good luck.” *** “Can we attack now?” “Wait. And if you say that once more, I will have to hurt you.” *** The Temple of Time looked srikingly like a church in the Catholic style. Inside there was a symbol of the Triforce in the floor and at the front stood the huge Doors of Time, three slots for three Spiritual Stones in the doors. The door was segmented into four parts. In the upper left corner, was a symbol of a moon, with a cresent shaped hole in the middle of the design. The upper left hand corner held a picture of a large tree, and a smaller sprout in the front. The shape for the Forest Stone sat in the eye of the smaller sprout. The bottom left corner held a volcano, a ring of clouds around the top of the volcano. The fire stone had a place at the base of the carving. And a waterfall was pictured in the bottom right corner, the stone’s place in the top of the waterfall. They stared up in awe at the majestic door. “So, should we open it?” Hikaru asked. “Offhand I think we should.” They placed the Stones in their palms and held it out to the door. They glowed and with a sparkle of green, red and blue light, rose up into the spaces. When they clicked into place a shining cresent moon appeared in the space in the final spot. With a flare of golden light, the doors seperated and groaned open, yawning its protests in the hinges. Inside, it was not like Shaun knew it was to be. He had seen the inside of the Gates of Time and this was NOT like the psychadelic lightshow he was expecting. Instead, it was a solitary room, a beam of light shining on a trio of swords in a triange, one at each side. You could almost hear the choir chanting latin. The first sword was fire red. It had a design like Hikaru’s escudo sword but more elaborate. The hilt held a gemstone imbedded in the handguard, the stone matching the one in the door. It flashed with crimson fire and the blade was silver. The next one was ice blue, and was clear, seemingly to be made of Ice itself. In the hilt was another gemstone, sapphire with a stormy sea crashing its tsunamic like waves inside it. The third one looked like it was something out of Jurai. The hilt was wooden, carved much like the Master Key, the emerald green gemstone in it. The blade was silver as was its breatheren. Almost reverently, the three stepped up. When their feet touched the ground where the Swords sat, a peaceful voice like an angel asked them, //Who are you?// Uncertian, Shaun replied, “We are three who wish to fight the Master of Evil and drive him from this world.” //Do you think you are worthy?// The voice was almost smug, mocking. Ranma drew himself up and spoke loudly, “We have seeked to help this world, and we are not leaving until we do.// //And you, the Magic Knight of Fire, do you wish to help?// Hikaru gasped. “How’d you know what I was?” //Don’t be so surprised child,// she said, //the markings of Cephiro is all over your body. Have you met Mokona? She is my pet.// Hikaru blinked. “Mokona...I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” The voice laughed. It was melodious, almost musical. //True Mokona can be grating on the nerves but I love it anyways.// “Never mind that, are we worthy?” Ranma asked. A pause. //Yes. Take the swords of which Spiritual Stone you bore when opening this door. Grasp the hilt, and pull it out, crossing the ends of the blade. There, you will find your answers.// Slowly, they positioned themselves over the Swords. Hikaru’s slender hand wrapped around the Fire Sword. Ranma’s caloused hand around the Water one. Shaun’s hand around the Forest One. Taking a deep breath, Shaun asked, “Ready?” The other two exchanged glances and said, “Ready,” in stereo. “GO!” With a tug, the swords came loose, and they crossed the blades in a fashion to a triangle. A deep blue glow rose from the crossed swords and spread outward. Their world was bathed in washed white light as they rose up into the air, the blue light carrying them across time and space. *** Dark World : Ciria 1996 AD Tokyo, Juuban District Pluto fell to her knees, gasping and clutching her head. Her Time Staff clattered to the ground. Michiru supported the Guardian of Time as she cried out in pain. Moon looked worried. “What is it?” she asked. “The...timestream....” Pluto cried out again. “Something evil is changing the timestream!” “When?” Venus asked, frightened. “Something....uh....the Silver Millenium! Wait! Something is coming through the Time Gate.” She hefted the Staff and waved it. The huge doors of the Time Gate appeared and flared open. Inside, the place looked like a temple as a blue streak lanced down from the sky and struck the triangle inside it. With a flash of light, three people lowered their swords from the crossed position. The stress levels rose as they readied their weapons, prepared for anything. End Part 1