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al709382@campus.ccm.itesm.mx

			The Four Birds of Fire

			Fourth Step: Gold Bird


The copycat

	"White Touch!" Ranma put his hand on a rock. It only shook slightly.
	From the dining room, Phaeron and Genma were observing as he practiced
in the yard. "I told you, tap your innermost ki," Phaeron said.
	"C'mon, oniisan. You can do it." Ranma-chan put her hand on another
rock. It was blown away, embedding deep in the outern wall. "See? If I
can do it, you can too." He tried again, but nothing happened.
	"Okay..." Phaeron said thoughtfully, "launch a Moko Takabishya to the
sky. Just don't hit any planes." Ranma easily shot out a ki blast
upwards. "So, you can use massive-range ki with ease, but you can't
concentrate it on a single spot yet. Hmm.."
	"It's like Ryouga's Exploding Point," Akane said.
	"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," Ranma-chan added. 
	"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.
	"They mean..." Phaeron said, "that the Bakusai Tenketsu focuses one's
entire ki on a single spot, that's why it blows up any kind of rock.
Crude, but
effective."
	"So you're saying I have to focus my ki on my palm so I can use the
White Touch?"
	"Not just your ki," Phaeron said, "Your _white_ aura. That's how it got
its name." To exemplify, Phaeron stood and summoned his white aura, the
second 
most powerful, and touched a large rock. It was blown several
miles away.
	"Wow," Akane looked at him surprised.
	"Hah. Kid's play," Ranma-chan said, jealous.
	"But how do I call that aura?" Ranma asked.
	"That's easy, if you can get in touch with the ki from your soul.
Ranma-chan, could you show him?"
	Reluctant at first, she stood in front of the pond and put her hands
together, her palms shaping a circle. A ghostly white layer of light
began t cover her, although the energy ball in her hands was still red.
	"How did you do that?" Ranma looked at her.
	She suddenly slumped down, letting her aura fizzle. "Remember when you
blew up Togenkyo?" He nodded. "You called your red aura for that. You
just have to go a little farther."
	Once again he tried, mimicking his sister's actions. "Wait," Phaeron
said. "Instead of launching the blast, try moving the entire sphere to
one hand." Ranma carefully transferred the energy ball to his right hand
only. "Okay, now try touching something with it without shooting it."
Very slowly, Ranma moved his hand forward. The blast was about to break
free, but he contained it. With great care, he touched a rock with the
ki ball. The rock shook at the contact. Then the ball engulfed it, but
the rock wasn't pulverized yet. "Now, blast it." Ranma shot the ki blast
and the rock sailed through the air a couple of meters, disintegrating
in flight.
	"Not bad..." Ranma-chan said, "for a boy."
	"Hey!" Ranma protested.
	Akane smiled at him, then she looked away, suddenly startled, "I... I
think I left mother's notebook at school..." she hurriedly rushed to the
door. She wouldn't forgive herself if she lost that notebook.
	"I'll go with her," Ranma-chan said, "so I can keep her from cooking."
Akane malleted her several times on her way back to Furinkan.
	"You have to keep practicing," Phaeron said. "But don't worry. It took
us over a year to learn it. The real task it using it on water, without
even 
touching it."
	"Water?" Ranma asked.
	Phaeron nodded. He stepped out towards the pond and aimed a hand at the
water. Suddenly surrounded by his gold aura, he closed his eyes. The
water 
rippled and whirled, then it came up and shaped a low-level column.
Without
losing his concentration, Phaeron said, "When you can disrupt the flow
ofwater with only your spirit, without physical contact, then you will
have
taken the first step in becoming a ki master."

			*	*	*

	Ryouga walked through the streets of Tokyo. To say that he was
completely lost would be an understatement: he was right next to
Furinkan High and didn't even noticed when he went in. "I know this
place..." he thought. "But where on Earth is it?!"
	Soon he became lost INSIDE the schoolgrounds. But after a few hours of
wandering, he suddenly felt a presence behind him. A very powerful,
hostil presence. As he wandered around, the presence followed him.
Bracing himself,
he walked towards a few trees and set down his backpack, pretending not
tonotice whoever was following. Slowly, without sudden moves, he let his
fingers
around his umbrella, holding it tightly. Without warning, he spun and
lunged
with it.
	He stopped an inch from Akane's face.
	"A-Akane-san?"
	She nodded happily, and immediately clung to him. He became incredibly
dizzy. "Akane-san?" he called again. "Wha-what are you...?"
	"Just came to see you, Ryouga-kun.." she pressed her head against his
chest. He started to drift off to dreamland.
	"B-B-But... what about..."
	"I don't care about Ranma. All I want to do is be with you, my little
P-chan..."
	He would have had a heart attack if he weren't so happy, "Y-you know?"
	"Sure I know. I've always known. Who else could be so cuddly?" she
snuggled up to him even more.
	"I... I thought you'd be mad about..."
	"But I am mad..." she answered. Ryouga lowered his eyes at her. "I'm
mad because you're so damn _NAIVE_!" She delivered a powerful punch to
his gut, sending him crashing to a wall.
	"A-Akane-san?" he stared at her in disbelief.
	She looked at him angrily, "If you only were a tenth of the man Ranma
was when he was still cursed, you wouldn't be such an idiot." She walked
to him, slapping him hard across the face. "Akane" then stood beside
him, cracking her knuckles. Slowly, in front of Ryouga's eyes, she
changed... becoming shorter, while her hair grew longer and took on a
different color. "You were always a sucker for disguises," Ranma-chan
said.
	"Y-YOU?!" Ryouga shot up to his feet, much to her surprise. "HOW DARE
YOU--"
	"Just wanted to give you a going-away present," she kicked him on the
head before he could see her. "'Cause now you'll die." Ryouga didn't
even feel the kick. He wasn't only swelling in rage, he was practically
exploding with his heavy ki. A bright green aura appeared around him.
"You... you dare impersonate Akane... and then you do that to me?!" He
lunged at her with a punch. She grabbed his arm and flung him over her
shoulder. He attacked with a jumpkick. She moved out of the way and
delivered an uppercut. Still not feeling the pain, Ryouga jumped away
and crossed his arms. "You dare do that?!" he repeated. "YOU will be the
one who dies! Shishi-hokodan!!"
	Ranma-chan leapt over the blast. Ryouga recovered before she landed and 
delivered a roundhouse to her side. Tearing a tree right off the ground,
h eswung at her several times. She jumped to kick him, but he easily
batted her
away. In her flight, she demolished several more trees before stopping
at awall. When Ryouga tried to swing again, she nearly broke the trunk
in two with
only a light jab. Seeing him confused, she jumpkicked. Ryouga rolled
beneat her, her entire body exposed.
	"Bakusai Tenketsu!" The rock sharpnel hit Ranma-chan like a swarm of
mad hornets. She opened her eyes just as a fragment shot out to her
face.
	Ryouga turned to see Ranma-chan. She was holding her face in her hands,
a large gush of blood coming from the side of her face. When she removed
her 
hands, he could see the horrible gaping hole where her right eye used to
be.
He winced at the sight.
	"BASTARD!" she shouted, dashing at him with a punch. He parried, then
she followed up with the Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken. If he hadn't been
morbidly 
looking into the empty socket, he would have noticed her punches were 
considerably slower and weaker than usual. Finally, she punched him in
te 
gut, bending him over, and grabbed his throat tightly. Ryouga could
nearly 
hear the crunching of his own bones. A memory came to him. The memory of
thi s
same situation, while he fought Lime. As he died, he thought back to
Akane,
the real Akane, and lost hope. He wouldn't see her again. The green aura
enveloped him one final time. Again, a thought occurred to him. 
	While he fought Lime...
	How he had defeated Lime...
	"SHISHI HOKODAN!!"

	Phaeron and Ranma looked up and saw an immense energy blast, nearly the
size of a city block, coming from Furinkan High school.
	"My God..." Phaeron said quietly. He snapped back to reality, "The
girls are there!"
	He shot out with the Blazing Bullet, pulling Ranma along.

	Ryouga was lying in the middle of a huge crater, where the soccer field
once was. He was alive, but barely. He was completely sapped of energy.
He couldn't even breathe easily. Up in the sky, he saw a small shape
come down with its back to the sun. It was Ranma-chan. There was no way
he could avoid her.
	Suddenly, from one of the remaing trees, another figure leapt out of
the foliage and attacked Ranma-chan, driving her out of the way before
she landed on Ryouga.
	It was another Ranma-chan.
	But this one was different from the first. The one who had attacked him 
lacked one of her red eyes and had a ponytail instead of a pigtail. Th 
blue-eyed Ranma that just arrived was completely unhurt and had a
pigtail.
	"Ryouga, you alive?!" she asked desperately out of true concern. He
couldn't answer. She then pounded the imitation with the real
Amaguriken, finishing up with a White Touch and a Moko Takabishya. The
double, completely bruised, looked at Ranma-chan enraged.
	"I can't believe that moron was right. You are to be reckoned with." 
She immediately vanished in the sky, "I shall kill you and your sister
soon!"
	"Hmph," Ranma-chan ran back to Ryouga. He was breathing slowly, his
eyes were closed. Putting her ear on his chest, she noticed his heart
was slowing down. "Hold on! We'll get help!" He weakly opened his eyes.
Ranma-chan desperately tried pumping his chest. She couldn't let him
die, he was her friend! Okay, so he had tried to kill her in the past.
But there were still times when he had saved her! And now _he_ needed
her help. However, his chest was like a metal drum; his taut muscles
kept her hands from pushing any farther. So, with only a second's
hesitation, she gave him mouth-to-mouth breathing.
	Akane ran into view. "Ryouga-kun!" she cried. A blaze of fire crashed
through the wall, showing Phaeron and Ranma. As soon as Phaeron saw
Ryouga, he rushed to him.
	"Life 1!" As Phaeron chanted, a small golden glimmer of light descended
from the sky and set down on Ryouga's chest. Slowly at first, the glow
spread to cover his body, filling it with a soothing warmth and new
strength. Finally, with a groan, he sat up as he recovered. Awestruck,
he stared at Ranma-chan, who was kneeling down beside him. He turned a
very unusual shade of red.
	"R-Ranma?"
	She suddenly turned bright red and spat to the ground, wiping her mouth 
in disgust, all while scowling at him. "You nearly got yourself killed,
yo u
jerk!" 
	"What could have done this to you?" Akane asked.
	Ryouga looked up at her. Yes, it was the real Akane. No more disguises.
But once again, he had been foolishly fallen for an impersonator.
	"And who was THAT?" Ranma-chan asked.
	Ryouga snapped back to his senses, "I don't know, but she really wanted
to kill me."
	"What?!" Everybody took a step back.
	"Ryouga, tell us exactly what happened," Ranma said.
	"I got attacked by another crazy double of hers..." he pointed at
Ranma-chan, "but this time she meant it!"
	"But who could it have been?" Ranma-chan asked.
	"Was it that doppleganger we fought a while ago?" Ranma said. Phaeron
shivered visibly at the word "doppleganger".
	"How... how did you know...?" They all turned to him. He shrank
visibly. 
	"Phaeron, what do you know about this?" Ranma-chan asked, cocking one
eye.
	Wishing he hadn't said that last part, he quickly tried to evade the
question, "Ryouga, tell me exactly what this copycat looked like."
	Ryouga glared at him, "She wanted to kill me and you want me to notice?
She looked like Ranma!"
	"Wait..." Ranma-chan said, "I think I got a good look of her. She only
had one eye," she looked at Ryouga, "...wonder how that happened... and
the eye 
was completely red."
	"Red? Like mine?" Phaeron asked.
	"No, not like yours," Ryouga said, "I think I remember too. She had red
eyes, but they were more like a demon's..." Suddenly everyone but
Phaeron shuddered in terror at the memory of the demonic, fake
Ranma-chan that Happosai had created.
	Phaeron turned to Ranma-chan and looked at her up and down. She started
to turn red, "What?!"
	Phaeron turned back to Ryouga, "Was there anything different about her?
The height, the clothing, the hair--"
	"That's it," Ryouga slammed his fist on his palm, "That double had a
ponytail. I think she was slower too."
	Phaeron put his fingers on his chin, "It's one of them. It's gotta
be..." he said to himself, perhaps a bit too loud.
	"Who?" Ranma asked. Phaeron nearly dropped in surprise.
	"I... I think it's one of my old enemies, from the World of Ruin. A
creature from the a species precisely called Dopplegangers. But more
than just an enemy, they are devils bent on killing anyone that stands
in their way. But how could one of them have arrived here...?" They fell
silent for a long time.

			*	*	*

	"Coldfire..." a voice said quietly.
	Everyone turned to Ranma-chan.
	She lifted her head, "It's Coldfire, isn't it...?"
	Phaeron swallowed hard, "R-Ranma-chan..."
	She looked away from him. "Heh. I should have known. The guy isn't
dead."
	"N-no..."
	She angrily turned to Phaeron, "And you didn't even tell me he's
HERE?!" Ranma, Akane and Ryouga backed away from her, escaping from the
soon-to-be blast site.
	Phaeron hesitated, "I... I saw you and your brother so close... I
didn't want to make you unha--"
	"So, you'd rather have me DEAD?!" she yelled. A bright blue glow
enveloped her.
	"It's nothing like--"
	"I should've realized it. In 1500 years you haven't changed. You're
still as selfish and thoughtless as when Yuan-chan and I met you." Her
voice cracked a little at the end, betraying some sort of sorrow. But no
one noticed it.
	"I'm--"
	"And now my sister can die thanks to you!" she clenched her fists.
	"But--"
	"Get out of here, you JERK!" she punched him hard in the gut, sending
him flying to the distance. "I don't ever wanna see your crummy face
around here!" 
	Akane looked at her worried, "Ranma..."
	Ranma-chan whipped her head to the skies, "Coldfire, you demon! How
dare you show your face here! I dare you! I challenge you to come and
try to kill me, you murderer! I'm not afraid of you anymore! I don't
need Phaeron's help!!
	"I DON'T NEED PHOENIX!!!" 
	She thrust her fist upwards. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, forced
to contain tears of sorrow. He had betrayed her. _He_, of all people!
How dare he do that to her?!
	"Ranma..." Akane repeated.


Friends at war

	It was late. Ranma had left his sister, Akane and Ryouga back at the
dojo, while he tracked down Phaeron. What a jerk, he thought. Not
telling her his greatest enemy was in town...
	He felt sorry for Ranma-chan. After what happened at school, she had
been filled with rage and despair for over three hours. That's why they
had taken her back. Maybe Nodoka and Akane would be able to calm her
down. In the 
meantime, Ryouga would call Cologne and the other fighters. If
Ranma-chan AN Phaeron were frightened by the mere thought of Coldfire,
then it meant he was
a very powerful foe.
	Wandering around, he finally found the apartment house where he was
supposed to be staying, Ikkoku-kan. He could hear laughter and noise
coming from within, as if someone were throwing a wild party.
	He knocked on the door. A pretty dark-haired woman opened it. "Excuse
me, is this where some guy called Phaeron lives?"
	She nodded, "Are you a friend of him? He hasn't returned since
morning..." 
Ranma looked at her confused. "By the way, I'm Kyoko Otonashi."
	He bowed, "I'm Ranma Saotome. We go to the same highschool."
	Kyoko blinked, "_You're_ Ranma Saotome?"
	He was confused again, "You know me?"
	She looked back to the house nervously. "Err... another friend of
Phaeron dropped by, and..." They heard a loud crash, followed by the
thump of a body hitting the floor. Kyoko hurriedly went back inside,
"Excuse me, I'll be back in a minute." Ranma sighed. Where could that
bird brain be, anyway? 
	Suddenly he heard a low whistling sound. He looked above, and saw
Phaeron dropping from low-earth orbit, right in front of him. Phaeron
didn't even create an aura shield before he idly made a man-shaped
identation on the
street. Ranma quickly reached down and pulled him up by the collar.
	"You idiot!" he shouted in his face. But something was wrong. Phaeron's 
eternal smirk had been replaced by a look of sadness. He limply hung
fromRanma's hands. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" Ranma received no
response. He let
go of him, and Phaeron just stood there, like a zombie, looking
aimlessly to
the ground.
	"Why...?" he said quietly. A faint glow surrounded him. "WHY?" he asked 
again, louder. He suddenly regained his strength, he quickly raised his
fist and 
hit himsel hard in the gut. Due to the added ki in his punch, he doubled
over in pain. But it was obvious the real pain wasn't physical. His face
as a mask of shame and abashment, the face of someone who had just
realized the foolishness of his actions. "Why... Why did he have to show
up now... That... that BASTARD!" he reared up and flung a large blast
into the air. "How dare he show up after all he's done to her?!
Coldfire, you murderer! Don't you even dare hurt her again! You already
destroyed our relationship! Isn't that enough?!" He clenched a fist and
filled it with red ki, then sent a brutal punch into the pavement. Ranma
looked oddly at him. So, he didn't really know either. Maybe he wasn't
that much of a bastard then. But now that he realized it, this Phaeron
seemed to be very concerned about Ranma-chan. Why would he act like--
	"So I take it you are aware of it now," Cologne said, popping up in
front of Phaeron. Ranma broke several high-jump records at the shock.
	"Don't do that!" he said, clutching his chest.
	"Oh, there you are," Kyoko said to Phaeron. "Come on in, we were
worried about you." Feeling as low as an insect (my apologies to
insects), Phaeron skulked his way back inside. Ranma and Cologne
followed him into room 3.
	"Sho, you're the guy who dated a hair shtylisht sho y'could have a shex
change?" a drunken Akemi spurted out when she saw Ranma.
	"I did WHAT?!" Ranma said, going into Phaeron's room.
	Cologne smirked, "The people in this building have a tendency for 
misunderstandings as great as your tendency to fight, son-in-law. I as
just telling them about the time you and Shampoo were on a date for that
Jusenkyo
mix."
	"Good afternoon. I'm Yotsuya," the man sticking out the wall said,
"Indeed, you are a very good source of misunderstandings. Far better, I
might add, than our neighbor Godai-kun."
	"Hey!" Yusaku protested. "What am I complaining about?!" he thought.
	"What's up, kid? You look glum," Mrs Ichinose said to Phaeron, who just
sat on his futon, looking depressed.
	"Glum doesn't describe it," Akemi, now a little more sober, said.
"Looks to me you got dum--" Kyoko put a hand on her mouth.
	"Just what I needed..." Phaeron managed to say.
	"Hey, don't worry," Yusaku put a hand on his shoulder. "They used to do
this to me everyday, you know... until you came here, that is." He
grinned.
Phaeron gave him a brief glance.
	"Sick'im, boys," Phaeron said coldly.
	"Eep."
	"Why?" Phaeron asked again, now that the Loon Squad had gone back to
hound Yusaku. "What is my curse? All the time, I've been trusted. In the
battle against Kefka, the Returners trusted me with their lives. The
Espers trusted me to help them escape. Seraphim trusted me to solve
this. And I've never failed one of them. But this is the second time I
fail her, and all because I didn't think he would come back..."
	"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.
	"Listen well, son-in-law," Cologne said. "I have come to know the
legend of Coldfire and I must say: be wary."
	Phaeron looked up to her (as much as he needed to look up, anyway).
"You know about him?" She nodded silently.
	"Listen..." Ranma said, sitting down on the floor, "I want to know who
this Coldfire is, and why is my sister so worried."
	Cologne put her staff beside her, "And she has good reason, son-in-law. 
You see, it was Coldfire who first murdered her."
	Ranma stared at her in disbelief, "M-Murdered her? But HOW?"
	"I don't want to remember..." Phaeron said. "But I suppose you must
know."
	"I want to know how someone who's YOUR enemy could do that to her,"
Ranma said.
	"I understand your incredulity, son-in-law, considering you and your
sister are among the best warriors on this Earth. But you must know,
Coldfire is NOT of this planet. He is a very powerful demon. And he
isn't bent on destroying him..." she pointed at Phaeron, "he's bent on
killing your sister and her twin again."
	"But why?"
	Cologne looked at Phaeron, wondering if she should say it. She thought
she had a clue, especially after having seen that odd aura around
Ranma-chan's head after Herb used the Mind Blast on her. But that was
also a secret. As much as she was nosy and malicious, she wouldn't want
to disclose the twins and Phaeron's secret just like that.
	"It's okay..." he said, sighing, "You can tell him."
	Cologne nodded, and faced Ranma again. "Coldfire is a demon, but he's
not powerful enough to carry out a plan like this on his own. He must
have a master of some sort. Pray that you do not meet Coldfire's
creator, son-in-law. I'm afraid you wouldn't survive the battle.
	"As for why Coldfire wants to kill your sister, I have to admit I've
had to do extensive research. But I found out. It seems Coldfire is a
special kind of demon, one that is assigned to accomplish a task in a
way similar to how an angel is assigned to become someone's guardian."
	"So then this guy's mission is to kill my sister?" Ranma asked,
knitting his brow. Phaeron just closed his eyes.
	"I'm afraid so," Cologne continued. "You see, your sister was no
ordinary girl..."
	"You can say that again," Ranma snickered.
	"Please be serious, son-in-law," Cologne frowned slightly. Ranma shut
up. "Anyway, I think you should know that the way she drowned at
Jusenkyo was very strange. I might be making a mistake by telling you
this, so do not mention any of the following to your sister."
	"All right."
	"Very well then. I should inform you that Nyannichuan..." Phaeron
shuddered at that name. Cologne didn't notice, "...kept three spirits
trapped inside it."
	"Three? But I thought..."
	"The twins were, of course, two of them. But..." she looked at Phaeron
once again, "but there was a third one." She narrowed her eyes, "That
third spirit was the twins' own Guardian. A real angel."
	"W-what?!" Ranma stared at her with wide eyes.
	"I'm not acquainted with the angel's story, though I'm certain Phaeron
knows about her." He nodded silently. "But as far as I know, this was a
very special angel. She had the ability to possess other people, a skill
that most demons 
have. So, when the twins had that accident, she tried to enter your
sister's body to save them. It didn't work, as you can tell, but then
the spring's magic trapped her as well."
	"So in other words..." Ranma began.
	"In other words..." Cologne narrowed her eyes, "Her spirit is asleep,
trapped inside the twins as much as your sister was trapped inside of
you."
	"Wow..." Ranma sat back, astounded. "Does she know about this?"
	"No," Phaeron shook his head. "Jusenkyo affected her even further than
I first thought. It seems that, when you fell in the spring and saved
her, her memories were left like Swiss Cheese. I believe Ranma-chan has
completely forgotten about her Guardian. Yuannyan knows, though." He
sighed sadly, slumping his shoulders, "Ranma-chan... forgot about a lot
of things..."
	Ranma looked silently at him, but then asked, "But if they had this
guardian angel, how did Coldfire... I mean, did she...?"
	"It was my fault," Phaeon said. "We thought we had defeated him. When
we took a trip to Jusenkyo, somehow, he found Zhaodi and Pandi. I was at
the Musk village. I don't know what happened, but when I arrived,
Coldfire had thrown Pandi into the spring, and she didn't know how to
swim. Zhaodi had fought him, but he knocked her unconscious and also
threw her inside. I tried to save them, but Coldfire stopped me. We
fought. I beat him and threw him inside. I dove in after them, but they
had already d... they... Pandi and Zhaodi... they were... she was..."
his voice was trembling. He suddenly embedded his glowing fist in the
futon, "IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!" He nearly blew himself up with a ki blast.
	"Calm down, boy," Cologne said. "We must not allow the past to destroy
our lives. It was an accident, nobody's fault but Coldfire's."
	"But just how strong IS this guy?" Ranma asked, perplexed by the tale.
His sister... defeated so EASILY?!
	"VERY strong," Phaeron and Cologne said simultaneously.
	"He's a master of ki," Cologne said.
	"His power is like mine, only reverse. That's why he calls himself with
that name."
	"Prince Herb would be defeated by him easily."
	"It took all three of us to beat him in the past..."
	"Legend has it he is the wearer of the Armor of Raven."
	"Raven is my friend Crystallus' opposite."
	"Coldfire himself is Phaeron's mental opposite. Both of them are
equally strong, but they have different mental, moral and spiritual
alignments. Like an evil twin. A fearsome demon indeed."
	"Okay, okay. So he is strong. But how could he have beaten my sister?
He can't be that strong, considering you're not very skilled," Ranma
said to 
Phaeron.
	"Skill doesn't matter to demons, son-in-law. I advise you do not
underestimate him."
	"She's right. You've never seen the twins fight together. It was quite
a show, all right. With Zhaodi fighting, and Pandi healing, they were
unstoppable. But Coldfire... Not even with me around he was ever easy to
fight."
	"Do you want an example of his power, son-in-law? Do you remember the
demon that Happy created out of your sister's body? I discovered, when
the ancient spring divided, a very small fragment of Coldfire's spirit
was transferred to Nyannichuan. That's where the demon came from. But no
need to worry. When Akane used the scriptures on it, his soul left you
and your sister forever. But that is a perfect example of a restrained
Coldfire. Imagine what he would do if he didn't have any limits, such as
he is now."
	Ranma shuddered. He remembered all too well how powerful the demon was.
And if that power was contained by his sister's soul at the time,
because she didn't want to hurt anyone...
	"We're in deep trouble," Phaeron said.
	"Yes," Cologne answered. "Fortunately, your own skills have improved
greatly, becoming equal to Coldfire's, but we still need to be careful.
>From this day on, we must be prepared for anything. Spread the word as
soon as you can, son-in-law: nobody must ever leave the company of
Phaeron, your sister's, or mine. We are the only ones who can stand up
to him. If he has underlings such as the Dopplegangers, then there may
be some others we haven't heard of. We also need to find out where he
received the power he now possesses. And always travel in groups of
three or more. That way, we can be a larger threat to him. Son-in-law, I
recommend you practice your new techniques with renewed
devotion, I fear you may have to use them soon. Phaeron, do try to make
up 
with Ranma's sister. You have the experience I lack when it comes to hi
s
fighting skills, and you two may be the only ones who can defeat him,
even if she can't remember about her Guardian. However, that chance lies
in whether you fight as a team or not."
	"I... She probably hates my guts by now..."
	"And with good reason, from what I've heard," Ranma scowled at Phaeron.
"Just why didn't you warn us before, anyway?"
	"Because I... never mind. I can't believe Crystallus was right."
	"And now who's Crystallus? Another killer?"
	Phaeron shook his head, "He's my best friend. We met in Esper world. He
should be overhead, invisible..."
	"Yes, I can sense his presence," Cologne said. "He has a ki as powerful
as yours. If Raven is his opposite, as Coldfire is yours, then we will
face the most fearsome enemy we have ever met."
	Ranma grinned at the challenge, "Hah. I've seen worse."
	"Don't be so confident. I may be the one named Phoenix, but Coldfire is
as willing as I am to destroy himself in order to achieve his goals."
	Cologne climbed up her staff. "I don't have more advice for you other
than be careful. If you don't accept it, suit yourself. But you saw how
your sister reacted when she learned Coldfire was here. Don't lose your
confidence, but I warn you: be afraid of Coldfire. Be very afraid." She
suddenly looked exactly like Yoda.

			*	*	*

	Morning. Three days had passed since the attack. Ranma-chan and Phaeron
still avoided being as close as ten miles from each other. Now, more
than anything, they needed a friend. A friend that often came in the way
of Ukyou for Ranma-chan, and Mousse and Shampoo for Phaeron.
	"I still can't believe that jerk..." Ranma-chan said, taking a bite
from her okonomiyaki. It was midday, and she was in Ucchan's along with
Akane, Ukyou and Shampoo.
	"I'm not so sure anymore, Ranma," Akane said. "What has happened hit
you harder than the punch you gave him."
	"How'd you feel if your b... I mean, your other best friend hadn't told
you that the guy who killed you is back?"
	"That's not what I meant."
	"Anyway, forget it. Now we have to look out for that idiot's
accomplices or else..."
	"No worry, Ranma. Great-grandmother return any minute," Shampoo said.

	In a nearby area, Phaeron, Mousse and Ranma were patrolling the
streets: Ranma on the fence, Mousse on the rooftops, and Phaeron soaring
above them, sustained by an invisible force.
	"Why doesn't your friend there just show himself?" Ranma asked.
	"I shall reveal my presence when the time is proper," a grave yet
gentle voice said.
	"You say something, Phaeron?" Mousse said to a pigeon.
	"Well, anyway," Ranma said, "I think I'll grab a bite with Ucchan."

	Not very far, Nodoka and Cologne were walking back to Ucchan's as well.
Ryouga used to be with them, but he had taken a detour that would
eventually lead him to Nepal. Still, with Cologne's overall skill and
wisdom, and with
Nodoka's mastery of the sword and cunning, they weren't very vulnerable.
	"It's not often that I find somebody so young with so much wisdom,"
Cologne said, smirking.
	"We are very alike," Nodoka smiled, "But I can't understand why you
have to be so cold with other people."
	"Maybe we could learn from each other," Cologne said.

	Akane heard a whisper behind her. Turning around, she saw it was Ranma. 
Leaving the others, she stood up from the counter and walked outside,
following
 him. Nobody else noticed.
	"What's up?" Akane asked. "Did you find anything?" Ranma silently shook
his head. "And Phaeron? How's he taking this?"
	"Don's ask me about that jerk. I just want to be with you."
	Akane was suddenly surprised. She let Ranma lead her away from
Ucchan's, until they were out of earshot. Was he going to do what she
was thinking he would do? He was acting very strange.
	Soon they reached an intersection in the road. Without a word, Ranma's
face came closer to Akane's. Not knowing what to do, Akane meekly let
him come
closer. The ponytail waved in the wind. She stared into his bright red
eyes.
	Ponytail! Bright RED eyes!
	"Goodbye, Akane!" Doppleganger kicked her in the gut, sending her
crashing into a wall. She was nearly knocked unconscious. Looming over
her, 
Doppleganger opened its hand, preparing to slice through her neck.
Suddenly, a
red blur tackled him into a pile of garbage.
	"Akane, get outta here!" Ranma-chan yelled. "You can't beat him!"
	Frightened but annoyed, Akane disobeyed her. "You can't take him
yourself!"
	Doppleganger tried to uppercut Ranma-chan, but she dodged and threw him
into the wall. "Please! For once listen to me!"
	Staggering upwards, Doppleganger transformed again, from Ranma-kun to 
Phaeron. Ranma-chan hesitated for an instant. Taking the advantage,
Doppleganger used a weak version of the Four Birds to knock Ranma-chan
away.
Unnoticed, Akane slice-kicked him in the side. He didn't even feel it.
	"You're no match for Doppler...!" Ranma-chan yelled as she charged,
"...let alone PHOENIX!"
	She knocked him into the wall. Immediately she followed with the Hakuda
toshin-sho. As the whitesnake palm made contact, a small shuriken
appeared outof nowhere, aimed at her jugular. It was diverted by a small
throwing spatula.
	"Nobody's gonna hurt Ranchan!" Ukyou charged the unseen opponent with
her giant spatula. A few sparks were seen as it collided with an
invisible sword. When the enemy appeared, Ukyou gulped at the sight of a
hulking samurai with a black mask. He was incredibly fast for his size.
	A bolt of light bounced off the walls towards Akane. It was stopped by 
Shampoo's bonbori, which was demolished on contact. Shampoo was faced
by  thin man dressed in white, who let out a barrage of blows before she
could
even notice.
	Above the fight two figures watched the girls with curiosity. One of
them was a tall, bald man wearing a gray gi over a silver ninja armor.
The other looked exactly like Phaeron, but he wore a strange, bird-like
body armor
complete with wings. The armor was navy-blue, and the clothes beneath
were black. His eyes were steel-gray.
	Coldfire.
	"Target," he plainly said. Immediately the warriors below stopped
fighting and surrounded Ranma-chan. The samurai split Ukyou's spatula
and threw her over the nearby building. The man in white started moving
very fast, knocking Shampoo unconscious and flinging her back to
Ucchan's. Doppleganger kept fighting with Ranma-chan.
	A large silver orb appeared next to Akane. Before she knew it, two
large, gruesome tentacles came out of it and surrounded her neck. She
gasped for air, grabbing the tentacles to try and pry them off, but
their grip was too tight on her neck.
	"R-Ranma..." she whispered before everything around her became dark.
	"Secondary Target eliminated," the bald man said.
	"Encase," Coldfire said.
	The warriors trapped Ranma-chan in a corner. Doppleganger morphed into
her image and grinned evilly, "I warned you."
	Coldfire and the bald man dropped from the roof. They walked over to
the silver orb, who still clutched Akane's neck. Coldfire moved a hand
and the 
other warriors started to fight Ranma-chan.
	"Don't you want to watch?" the bald man said.
	Coldfire shook his head, "Vengeance is near, Overlord."
	"She is close..." the orb spoke in a raspy, low voice.
	"I am aware, Desperor. And she will die."
	"HIRYUU KOURINDAN!!" 
	A large tornado emerged behind Coldfire, knocking the rest of the
warriors unconscious. Suddenly an immense energy ball dropped on
Overlord, disabling him as well. Before Ranma-chan could recover,
Coldfire quickly took Akane.
	"No! Akane!" Ranma-chan said. She noticed who was holding her, "YOU!!"
	"Your nightmare is here!" Coldfire threw Akane upwards and charged a
massive ki sphere in his hands, aimed at her unconscious form.
Ranma-chan fell for the trap and leapt to save her. The blast hit her
full force, enveloping her entire body.
	Ranma-chan and Akane fell limply to the ground. Ranma's eyes were
blank. She wasn't breathing.
	"Fools. To be defeated by a lowly broad..." Coldfire examined his
cohorts. Only the silver orb was unhurt.
	"She is here..." it said.
	Coldfire sensed them: a middle-aged woman, carrying a spirit blade. An
old woman, of very small size. Secondary Targets as well.
	"Leave," Coldfire said. The orb cast several beams at the prone
warriors. They stood up, aching all over but otherwise recovering.
Without any care, they picked up Akane and Ranma-chan, draping them over
their shoulders. Coldfire turned his back on them and waited.
	"No, please no..." Cologne said. She had sensed Coldfire's ki from far
away. When she looked at him, she was frozen for the first time in her
life. Nodoka only unsheathed her katana. Out the corner of her eye, she
saw 
Ranma-chan's blank stare. Her heart skipped a beat. Her hands lost her
grip on the sword.
	"NO!" Cologne snapped out of it and threw a hurricane blast at
Coldfire. He only put his arms in front of his face and split the
hurricane in two. Nodoka thrust her sword forward. Coldfire whipped his
arm and a flurry of black crystal feathers were darted towards her. The
edges of her kimono were trapped, but she was unhurt.
	"You've lived far too long, old troll," Coldfire said coldly. "Time for
you to meet your Amazon elders!" He vanished and appeared behind
Cologne. She spun around and used the Bakusai Tenketsu to create a smoke
screen. While Coldfire was trapped, she split in eighteen illusions. She
surrounded him and landed 1034 punches on him with each pass. Dazed, he
put up an aura barrier, colored gray.
	"Burrow Blast Columns!" he drove his arm to the ground. A ring of fire 
columns sprouted from the ground. Cologne was hit by one of them and sen 
flying. In midair, she sent hundreds of small ki blasts at him. He put
up 
another barrier, put it was decimated by the attack. He leapt away and
becam 
airborne. "Havoc Wing!" he darted four lightning-fast iron feathers at
her.
She stopped them with her staff, but was thrown backwards by their
momentum.
	Meanwhile, the sword of the Saotome clan was beginning to glow
brightly. Nodoka had her eyes closed. The sword suddenly shot upwards,
hovered in midair for an instant, and darted straight towards Overlord,
who was carrying Ranma-chan. Without turning around, he clenched his
fist and an aura barrier appeared behind him. The sword was deflected,
and bounced towards Coldfire. Still airborne, he clapped his hands on
the sword. His palms burned in pain as the sword's aura rose. An aura
barrier appeared around the sword and encased it. Not receiving the
user's ki, it fell to the ground, still trying to escape by its own
means.
	"Die, old ghoul!" Coldfire put his hands together and an energy bolt
was sent Cologne's way. Bouncing on her staff, she avoided it easily.
But then
the bolt bent and followed her. She began to move as fast as sound. In
the blink of an eye she was behind Coldfire, who got struck by hi own
blast. He fell to the ground.
	Cologne stood by him, watching his every move. But he didn't move. Or
was he? His speed was so great she didn't even see him. Not intimidated,
she moved as fast as him. Then a realization came to her mind. As her
momentum carried her, she thought, "I can't believe I fell for this..."
	Coldfire stopped instantly.
	"Demolish!"
	A large aura shield encased him, becoming larger and larger, knocking
away everything in sight... including a small old woman. Cologne was
sent flying into a wall. She was alive, but gravely bruised. Coldfire
loomed over her. He started to aim his hand at her, but stopped. She was
no use wasting ki on.
	"We won't ever forget this..." Nodoka said, still adhered to the wall.
Coldfire grinned amusedly at her and joined his men. "Don't you dare
hurt my 
little girl or Akane-chan!"
	Laughing, Coldfire summoned his aura. First a faint purple glow
surrounded him. Then violet. Then dark blue, and finally gray. He put
his palms together.
	"X-Zone!"
	A rift in space opened. As the warriors passed through it, Nodoka
caught a last glimpse of Ranma-chan and Akane's lifeless faces.


A world in ruin

	"MOM!!"
	"MRS. SAOTOME!!"
	Ranma, Phaeron and Mousse reached Ucchan's. They saw a battered Cologne
and Mrs. Saotome stuck to the wall.
	"Mousse, see if anyone's near," Phaeron said. "Cure 3!" he healed the
women while Ranma freed his mother.
	"R-Ranchan..." Ukyou said, as she staggered her way back to the
restaurant. She flopped to the ground, holding her gut.
	"UCCHAN!"
	"SHAMPOO!" Mousse cried out in shock. She was lying face-down on the
street, a small flow of blood coming from her mouth.
	"NO, NO, NO..." Phaeron said desperatley. Using all of his ki, he
healed the other two girls with every spell he knew. "Coldfire, what
have you done?!" He suddenly snapped. "Where's Ranma-chan?!"
	To everyone's surprise, Cologne and Nodoka were still in shock. Even
the old ghoul was shaking slightly. "T-They... took..." were the only
words Nodoka could pronounce before dropping to her knees, crying for
her daughter.
	"NO! DAMN YOU COLDFIRE!!" Phaeron launched a ki blast that obscured all
of Tokyo.

			*	*	*

	They were gathered at Ucchan's. Ranma, Ryouga and Phaeron were sizzling
in anger. Mousse and Shampoo were looking at them feeling very uneasy.
Ukyou was trying to confort Mrs. Saotome. Kuno was ready to either
explode or commit
suicide. Cologne was muttering to herself for being defeated so easily.
	"Well, now we know for sure about his skills," she said. "And it
appears he has five minions under his command. For what I could see,
they were 
Doppleganger, who we already know, a samurai, a man of light, a strange
orb,
and a mastermind. This last one may be his equal, actually. And I have
learnedfrom experience the power of his techniques."
	"He defeated YOU?!" they looked at her amazed.
	"I am ashamed of it already, don't rub it in. I don't know where he has
taken them. In fact I'm not even sure the girls are ali..." she looked
at the red-hot trio and Mrs. Saotome, "... never mind. We have to find
him soon. His
powers are too great to let him use them for evil."
	"Fear not," Kuno said, "as always, I shall provide adequate
transportation!"
	"Every time you provide adequate transportation we end up shipwrecked!" 
Ranma protested.
	"They're not on this world anyway..." Phaeron said. "If he truly wants
to get revenge, he has taken them back to the World of Ruin..."
	"What?"
	Phaeron stood up, looking grim, "Now I know. I recognized it when
Cologne said he used the Havoc Wing. He must have somehow been
transported to the World of Balance along with me, and was also turned
into an Esper. But which one? And how did he assemble his army?"
	"So how do we get to that place?" Ryouga asked.
	"You could have been there already for all you know..." Ranma said,
teasing him.
	"We can create a portal," Cologne said. "Your friend Seraphim visited
me after our meeting three days ago. I already know how to do it."
	"That will be useful," Phaeron said, "but only as an emergency plan. If
Coldfire used X-Zone to transport himself, then only the same spell will
get us 
there. Lucky one of the Espers taught it to me."
	"And what do we do once we're there?" Ukyou asked.
	Phaeron shook his head, "We have to destroy Coldfire and all his
forces. I don't like it, but it's the only way."
	Mrs. Saotome looked at him, "But why don't we reason with him?"
	"Coldfire would never listen to reason. He is a demon, and won't ever
stop trying to kill us. If he had the tiniest shred of kindness in his
soul, 
believe me, we would have used it ages ago. Even If we were to reach a
truce like the one between Ryouga and Ranma, he would eventually hunt us
down again."
	"And from our battle, I assure that what he says is true," Cologne
said.
	"So, a battle royale against a demon and his minions in a world ruled
by magic that we don't even know, huh?" Ranma said.
	Phaeron nodded, "I know the odds are grim, but we must rescue them! And
besides, what we call ki is considered magic there. You'd become more
powerfl at that place. That's another reason why Coldfire wants to fight
there."
	"Then let's go," Mousse said. "We can't sit idly while they are in such
a dreadful place."
	"Very well," Phaeron walked out of the restaurant. Everyone followed
him.
	"I... I have to call Dear..."
	Phaeron looked back at Nodoka. "I am afraid we can't let you come, Mrs.
Saotome. The World of Ruin is a very dangerous place, even for Espers.
And
even if it wasn't, Coldfire would probably try to capture you and use
you 
against us."
	"But doesn't the same risk exist with Coldfire using the girls?" Mousse
asked.
	"Coldfire is no idiot. He would never even try to use Ranma-chan. And
he also knows what Akane is capable of. He will probably want to kill
them himself, which is his only weakness. Thanks to that, we still have
a chance to save them. I just hope he didn't time-travel when he used
X-Zone."
	They were out on the street. An eery silence loomed over them. They
knew they would face the deadliest enemy in their lives, and that made
them feel weary.
	"I will stay in case you need backup," Cologne said. Phaeron nodded.
	"You will be useful here in case I don't make it..." Everyone looked at
him in confusion. "I promise, all of you will return. And it is also my
vow to 
release Ranma-chan and Akane. But you have to leave Coldfire to me."
	"Why you?" Ryouga asked.
	"Because I am the only one who knows how to stop him. By imprisoning
him in Magicite again."
	"Wait, Phaeron," Cologne said, "I believe you are familiar with the
spell of 'Ultima'?" He nodded nervously. Cologne turned more serious,
almost worried, "Then don't do anything foolish, boy. You know what
happens to the people who use that spell."
	"Don't worry. If everything comes out okay, I won't need it." He
separated from the group. He removed his backpack, taking one of his
Magicites. The Palidor Magicite.
	"Palidor! Sonic Dive!" The bird dropped from the clouds with a shriek.
Hesitant at first, the other fighters jumped onto its back.
	"Be careful!" Nodoka said as they disappeared into the distance. None
of them noticed the black ribbon that clung to Palidor's legs.
	"Sister!" Kuno said in surprise as he saw Kodachi climb up Palidor's
feathers. "Why do you hound me so?" She cackled maniacally but nobody
els ecomplained. The more they were, the bigger chance they had.
	"Are you ready?" Phaeron turned to them. They nodded silently. He
turned forward and stood.
	"Blue Bird!" he called. Instead of his usual aura, a blaze of blue
flames enveloped him. "Red Bird!" The flames burned crimson. They could
feel a very powerful ki being channelled through him. "White Bird!" The
flames were so hot they became white. Finally, he reached his peak,
"GOLDEN BIRD OF PHOENIX!" 
They were surrounded by his ki, Palidor nearly became a yellow flare as
he 
soared. His eyes glowing white, Phoenix brought his hands together and
yelled ,
"X-Zone!" A rift in space opened before Palidor, and the party was
brought to the World of Ruin.

			*	*	*

	The citadel floated high above the surface of the planet. Its high,
fortified walls nearly shone with light of their own as the setting sun
reflected on them. Slowly, the citadel began to move eastward, leaving
its place high above the mountain.
	"They have arrived, Master," a servant of the citadel said as he saw
Coldfire enter the control room. Despite the exterior of the floating
castle, the interior was lined with the most advanced tecnological
implements. The control room in particular was awe-inspiring: a large
dark chamber, with monitors lining the walls, and a high elevated
section in the middle, like a
watch-point. Coldfire easily floated up to this base.
	"I know they have arrived, you imbecile," he said. All the other guards
moved away from the servant, fearing Coldfire might destroy him. "That's
why I brought them here."
	"My apologies, Master. And I also must inform you, we will reach
Star-Peak Mountain in five hours."
	"The Phoenix Cave... Perfect. He will die where he was born."
	"Sir, if I am allowed to ask... Why not dispose of the captives now?"
	"Are they placed in their cells?"
	"Yes, Master."
	"Are they awake?"
	"No, Master. We placed them in cryogenic sleep as soon as your
Magnificence arrived ten hours ago. The alarms and automatic devices
have been placed as well in case they wake."
	"Then we should not worry. However, as soon as we reach Phoenix Cave I
want you to send No.24 to dispose of Target A. She is no longer a
threat, and I 
don't need her anymore. And I will destroy Target B before her friends'
eyes
myself. Terror tactics." He grinned.
	"Very well, Master." The servant started to leave.
	"Wait, Atma," Coldfire said, maniacally calm. The servant froze.
Coldfire effortlessly charred him with an energy blast. "That's for
questioning my plans." The servant was dead.
	"You will run out of guards if you keep this up," Overlord said as he
entered the room.
	"See how much I care," Coldfire turned away from the smoldering puddle.
	Overlord shook his head, "My point exactly. Your carelessness will cost
you your life."
	Coldfire laughed, "My life, you say? Do you forget I am a Phoenix as
well?"
	"Still, Atma was right. We have to dispose of the females' bodies while
there is still time. Your revenge has been carried out."
	"_My_ revenge?" Coldfire smirked. "No... my revenge will be complete
when Phaeron's ashes are scattered to the winds. And when that happens,
the master will come to take care of those girls."
	Overlord stared with wide eyes, "Your master is coming?! Why didn't you
notify it before?"
	"Is that fright I hear, Overlord?"
	"No, you foolish demon. It is respect. Lord Dys--"
	"Do NOT pronounce the master's name, Overlord," Coldfire scowled
fiercely at him. Overlord frowned and fell silent.
	"That's better," Coldfire said, then looked forward again. "I owe much
to the master. He gave me life. He brought me to this world so I could
become a Phoenix."
	"But if you hadn't come here, your power would not have been drained by
Kefka."
	Coldfire narrowed his eyes, "Kefka. Hmph. He stole my power. He used it
to destroy this world. But that is over now. No one shall enslave me any
more. And when the master destroys that girl's soul, he will set me
free..." He paused, "Yes, Zhaodi... I will be free while you are
banished to the realm of Shadows."

			*	*	*

	They fell at a disastrous speed towards the surface. All eight fighters
dropped from the clouds, Palidor had disappeared as soon as they passe 
through the gate.
	"You idiot!" Ranma yelled, "We're gonna go splat all over the ground!"
	"I don't think so! Crystallus! It is time!" Phaeron shouted.
	Ranma couldn' help but gasp at the sight before him. Dropping alongside 
Phaeron, a large bright ball of white light had suddenly appeared.
Quickl, the sphere morphed into a magnificent Bird of Phoenix,
completely white. It
slowed down, flying majestically around the group.
	"Do you require my assistance?" Crystallus asked calmly.
	"Cut that out! You know we need your help!"
	Crystallus shrugged, and dove next to Phaeron. "Esper Fusion!" they
both shouted. Immediately Crystallus' body honored his name, becoming
crystalline. The bird then split apart into several pieces of armor: the
legs, the belt, the gauntlets, the chest, the wings, and finally the
helmet, which was formed by Crystallus' own head. The Crystal Armor
covered Phaeron. With the greatest of ease, Phoenix raced downwards and
created a concave aura barrier beneath the others, slowing down their
fall. They landed softly on the dry earth.
	They were left speechless by the landscape. Everything was dried and
putrefact as far as they could see. As the wind blew, it seemed to carry
doom 
with it. The sky was gray, despite the sunset lights, and the ground was
reddish and brittle under their feet.
	"What tragedy struck this land?" Kuno spoke.
	"The name you gave to this place is too fitting," Mousse said. Phoenix
bent down and gently toched a plant in the ground. Despite the
conditions it was in, the plant had grown against all odds, strong and
green. Phoenix purposely spread its seeds to the wind. "It's good to see
the land's recovering..." he said to himself. "Life will flourish again,
as it once did before Kefka destroyed it."
	Ranma heard that last statement, "Kefka again?"
	Phoenix nodded, "He was a madman. He was the first Magitek Knight.
Well, Magitek is fusion between magic and robotics. Since magic was
supposed to have disappeared since the War of the Magi, then Magitek was
the single most 
powerful force in the world. Magitek Knights were people infused ith
artificial magic powers by the corrupt Empire ruled by Gestahl. But when
Kefka 
was infused, something in his mind snapped. He suddenly wanted to destro
yeverything. And as you can see, he nearly fulfilled his dream."
	"It's a good thing we're not fighting against him," Crystallus said, in
his guise as Crystal Armor. "He had more power than all of us Espers put 
together."
	"Shampoo no like being here..." Shampoo said, shivering.
	"She's right, Ranchan. Let's go find that demon and get out of here."
	Phoenix stood up. "Right. But we need help first. I think we can find
it in a nearby town, Kohlingen. It's a small walk to the West." Ryouga
started 
heading Southeast. Ukyou turned him to the right direction.
	"Then let's hurry up," Ranma said. "I don't want to be here for long."

	About ten minutes later, they had reached a town. It was a peaceful
place, with a river passing through it. Most of the houses were built in
a sober Victorian style, and the people was dressed in a similar manner.
	"Aaahhh! It's the Espers!" a man cried out in shock at the sight of
Phoenix. Suddenly the town was in an uproar.
	"I saw them drop from the sky!" a woman's voice srceamed. "It's another
Magitek warrior!" somebody else yelled.
	"You have a good reputation here," Ranma said to Phoenix.
	"What's all the fuss?" a young man, in his early twenties came out of a 
house. He wore a blue jacket and trousers, a white shirt, and had ablue
bandanna on his brown hair. His eyes gleamed with a light of curiosity.
"Espers?! HERE?!" his hand darted to his dagger.
	"Wait! Wait!" Phoenix waved his hands in front of him. "Locke! It's
me!"
	The man, Locke, stared at him in confusion, "I'm sure as heck I haven't
seen you here before. Who are you?"
	Kuno stepped forward, "Stand aside, feeble warrior. I, Tatewaki Kuno,
shall face this boor."
	"Who're you supposed to be? Cyan's brother?" Locke asked mockingly.
Kuno didn't understand.
	"What's going on, Locke?" a woman's voice came from behind him. It was
a beautiful blonde woman, dressed in a white armor and with a tiara on
her forehead. She bore a large broadsword on her side.
	"Guess what, Celes," Locke said, not letting the party out of his
sight, "the Espers have returned."
	"ESPERS?! HERE?!" Celes imitated Locke's reaction from before. She
slowly moved her hand to the sword's hilt.
	"Let's get one thing straight," Ranma said, "We are NOT Espers."
	"Then who are YOU?" Locke glared at Phoenix.
	He smiled, "Do you remember the Returners, Locke?" The Returners had
been the small group of warriors that fought Kefka long ago, and which
Locke was a part of. In fact, Locke had been the treasure hunter that
first rescued Phoenix from imprisonment beneath the ground.
	Locke stared at him incredule, "T-the Returners? O-of course I remember
them, in fact we still see each other, but..."
	"Do you remember the Phoenix Cave?" He started to lead the confused
Locke towards the nearby inn. The party and Celes followed. Seeing that
there was no danger, the rest of the people settled down and returned to
their usual
activities.
	The innkeeper closed the door as soon as Phoenix, Locke and Celes were
inside. "Sorry, it's 2000 GP if you wanna stay."
	"Cad! I shall teach you not to insult the Blue Thunder in such manner!" 
Kuno swung his bokuto, but suddenly a whole deck of razor-sharp cards wa
embedded in the wood.
	"I wouldn't gamble doing that..." a white haired, elegant man said. He
was covered by a long black coat, and looked like a much older verson of
Herb. "At least not while Setzer Gabbiani is in town."
	After being "calmed down" by the other fighters' pounding, Kuno finally 
stopped arguing. Suddenly, they saw many bright red lights coming out
throug the inn's windows, along with what resembled a bird of prey
shrieking.
Ignoring the innkeeper, the crowd burst inside, and saw Phoenix flopping
down
on a chair.
	"So you are..." Locke stared at him in disbelief. Celes was silent.
Phoenix weakly nodded, "I even remember Rachel..."
	"But that can't be!" Locke said, "Espers vanished from this world
months ago, when we beat Kefka!"
	"Wait, dear," Celes put a hand on his shoulder, "If he is the Phoenix
Esper, then it would explain why we regained our magic power."
	"Huh?" Phoenix looked up at her.
	"A little while ago, we suddenly felt our powers returning to us,"
Locke said. "Then it means you brought magic along with you." A horrible
thought crossed his mind, "You didn't bring the three goddesses, did
you?"
	Ranma answered before Phoenix could speak, "Look, we don't have time
for this. We're here from a faraway place because some demon kidnapped
our 
friends. We need your help."
	Locke, Celes and Setzer looked at each other, then at Phoenix. "You
saved our lives," Celes said, "If you need our help, we will gladly give
it."
	"Innkeeper!" Setzer called, "Arrange for our friends to stay here, on
m--" he looked around the room, "Make that on Locke!"


A frozen farewell

	"You have done very well, Coldfire..."
	"Thank you, master. Their end will soon come."
	"But you tell me you haven't disposed of them..."
	"I... I believed you would want to do it personally--"
	"Don't be so foolish, Coldfire. I cannot go to the World of Ruin. And
from what I have heard, she still doesn't remember anything about her...
Guardian. She can't summon someone she can't even remember. And if she
doesn't summon her, then I am forced to remain here in the Shadows..."
	"Should I use the Mind Shock to make her remember, master?"
	"No. But make sure you destroy her. If she dies, I'll have complete
access to her soul. And then I'll erase her."
	"Very well. She will die, master. I will see to it that she leaves this
realm forever."
	"But remember... Should you fail me, you will be on your own."
	"I will remember, master."

			*	*	*

	"Third time's a charm!" a black figure said in her dream, smiling.
Suddenly, the figure thrust a pair of glimmering claws into her torso.
	She woke up, gasping. Her heart beat rapidly after the nightmare.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her body was cold, icy numb. She tried
moving, but she was still too weak from the attack. Her entire body
ached. She hadn't taken the blow very well.
	With all her might, Ranma-chan removed herself from the rectangular 
containment unit, pushing the lid away. She was so weak, she didn't even
hea the mechanism snapping behind her. But her sixth sense told her to
jump. She 
obeyed, and leapt away just as the cryogenic unit imploded in a shower o 
sparks. Falling on the hard steel floor, she tried to get her strength
back.
She got up on her knees and elbows, gasping. Sitting back, she ran her
handsacross her body. She was relieved to see she was still in one
piece,
considering how powerful the blast had been. Coldfire wasn't the kind to
let
people live...
	Akane!
	Summoning her strength, Ranma-chan staggered to her feet. She tried to
look around her, but everything was dark. Only a faint blue mist coverd
the floor. Looking down, she saw a thin slit of light. A door.
	She walked to the door. Combined with her weakness, the sensation of
walking through the cold mist reminded her of walking across a shallow
pool. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the door. She
traced the edge with her fingers. It was a mechanical door, but she
should be able to make it
budge. Lifting as hard as she could, Ranma-chan brought the heavy door 
upwards. Recovering her strength, she looked out the door. She saw a
maze f 
dark corridors, lit only by a faint bluish glow that came from the
floor. The
walls were lined with pipes and electronic equipment. A few red light 
glimmered next to the few monitors in the walls. Ranma-chan was relieved
t the sight: since she was wearing her blue Chinese shirt and dark
trousers, she
would be nearly invisible among the decor.
	Slowly, she crept to one of the monitors. Looking into it, she could
see the base was located on top of a star-shaped mountain that
overlooked the ocean. Funny, as she slept she could have sworn she felt
it moving. But now it had stopped. 
	She moved on to another monitor. It showed a series of corridors, all
of which looked about the same. The next monitor, however, showed a
picture of the control room. Overlord was standing on top of an elevated
base. Coldfire
was nowhere to be found.
	The next monitors displayed several other locations: a dark,
lava-filled cave; a Japanese Noh stage; a chamber with crystal tiles on
the walls and the floor; a large dome; and outside.
	She went on like this, trying to get as much information as possible
from the monitors. Hesitant, she tapped the keyboard next to one. The
screen showed a diagram of the air-ventilation network. She memorized it
rapidly. She tapped it again, and it showed the list of guards and
servants at the citadel. It was over twenty screens long. The following
command showed her the list of main guards, including the three
"Keepers" --the man in white, the samurai, and the silver orb--, and the
three Masters --Coldfire, Overlord, and Doppleganger.
Next, she received an image of the citadel from the outside, seen from
different angles. She looked at a map of the world's surface, complete
with
natural resources and ecological maps. Finally, it showed more of the
rooms in 
the citadel. Then she found it. A room labeled "Cryogenic 2". Below the
entr on the screen, there was the legend "Target A". A brief note
followed:


	Target A (Tendo, Akane).
	Initiation of Cryogenic sequence: 7:09.
	End Cryogenic sequence: 22:09.
	Target A Elimination: 22:10.
	Method of Elimination: Incineration during sleep.
	Executioner: Machine No. 24.
	Current Time: 22:08.

	Ranma-chan gasped when she saw the entry. Two minutes! Not worrying
about being caught, she bolted to the room as fast as she could. Her
heart pounded in her chest. She could nearly feel the adrenaline levels
rising. Her breath was short and rapid. One minute!
	She remembered the ventilation ducts layout. She was pretty near the
control room. But she didn't care. She only had half a minute. She
followed the directions in her mind, thankful she wasn't like Ryouga. A
robot guard 
appeared in front of her. She quickly kicked its head off before it coul
sound the alarm. Fifteen seconds. She could swear she heard the
footsteps of a 
large android nearby. Suddenly she tripped on a pipe that was lying on
th floor. Dazed, she got back up. Everything swirled around her, stars
flashing
in her eyes. She had taken a nasty bump on the head, considering how
fast she
was running when she tripped. She only saw a dark blue blur in front of
her
before she regained her senses. How much time had passed?!
	She dashed to the room. She gasped in fright when she saw the heavy
metal door torn to shreds. Trembling, she went in. In the far end of the
room, she saw a crushed container, like the one she had been placed in.
	Then she smelled it.
	Feeling her heart jumping out of her mouth, Ranma-chan slowly bent
down. Clearing the mist with her hand, she saw a large charred mass. It
was the size of a human.
	Ranma-chan was in shock.
	"No..."
	The body was burnt and twisted. Its thin shape was only slightly larger
than her own. There was a tiny shred of cloth on its chest. Cloth from
Akane's sweater.
	"NOOO!"
	Burying her face in her hands, Ranma-chan fell to her knees. It was
impossible. She had arrived on time. But somehow, she had been too late.
No, wait... No! It couldn't be true! She couldn't have died just like
that! It... It... It 
just wasn't possible!
	It was Coldfire's fault! She had never hated anybody with such rage,
such fury, as she did Coldfire. And now, there would be hell to pay.
	Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming back to the room. They were
hurried, as if somebody were running. Still in shock, Ranma-chan somehow
was able to leap upwards and punch the upper section of the wall. She
scampered into the ventilation shaft. She couldn't fight now. Not in her
state. She needed time to be alone.
	"I...I'm so sorry... Goodbye..." Ranma-chan said softly, trying not to 
start crying again. She crawled away from the opening. After a few
minutes, sh came to a corner in the ducts. She snuggled up in it,
holding her knees in her 
arms. She balanced to the sides, banging her side against the duct. A
sob cam up to her throat. Tears came down her eyes. "Akane-chan..."
	She hated being this vulnerable. But she didn't care. She simply didn't
feel as strong as she usually was. "I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being
such a jerk with you all this time. I should have never done those
things to you, for all it matters. If... if I hadn't gotten so angry at
him, he would have helped, and you... you'd still..." She couldn't go on
any longer. Her chest was 
burning from the sorrow. Her eyes were red. She had never felt so
hopeles. "I... I want you to know... you've always ben like... like a
sister to me..."
	She closed her eyes, and wept.


Plans

	"Such a tragedy," Setzer said, "To think that there could be someone as
evil as that fiend..."
	"Don't forget how many people Kefka killed," Celes reminded him.
	It was late in the night. Phaeron had told his story to the three
Returners gathered at the Kohlingen inn, including the tale of Jusenkyo.
The others were becoming very impatient with the delay.
	"I am truly sorry to hear what happened between you," Locke said.
"Friends should never have that kind of quarrels, let alone such good
friends..."
	"And to think we didn't know anything about you and Seraphim," Celes
said, "we should have been more considerate with you and the other
Espers."
	Phoenix shook his head, "It's all right. That's in the past now. But we
are in great need of your help at this time."
	Locke stood up, "And you have obtained it. Tomorrow, at dawn, we shall
strike. I will try to rally the other Returners."
	"And the Falcon will be standing by should you need her," Setzer added.
	"TOMORROW?!" the crowd protested.
	Phoenix turned to them, "We cannot strike suddenly and hurriedly.
Besides, Coldfire would be expecting us anyway. We need to create an
attack plan, otherwise we will be defeated. Remember, Coldfire is not a
brainless opponent like so many that you have faced. He is very good at
strategy. We have to find a way to beat his plans. Not only that, we
have to be well-rested for the battle."
	"But he could kill them while we sit on our butts doing nothing!" Ranma
yelled.
	"He would kill them sooner if we were to rush in with a surprise
attack. You don't know Coldfire like I do."
	"You do whatever you want. I'm going to save Akane-san!" Ryouga said,
heading upstairs.
	"What's he going to do?" Locke asked.
	"Nothing, he just has a lousy sense of direction," Ranma said.
	"I cannot sit idle at the mere thought of my beloved imprisoned," Kuno
said.
	"Then I am afraid you will have to endure it," Phoenix said, glaring at
him, "because they would surely die if we attack now. Besides, you
should know them. They probably have escaped by now, although they're
still in Coldfire's citadel. And Coldfire's very sloppy sometimes: he
probably won't remember to check up on them until noon tomorrow.And
believe me, I hate the mere thought of them being in that place, but
there's really not much we can do."
	"I have to say, even though I don't like it I agree with him," Mousse
said, "if we go fight him now, while we're tired and hungry, we won't
last long."
 	
"All I know is that Ranchan and Akane can take care of themselves .Let's
just hope they last eight more hours." Ukyou covered her mouth as she
yawned.
	"Shampoo no want stay here too long, but she do it to help girl-type
Ranma and Akane," actually, Shampoo wanted to use this opportunity to
get closer to Ranma, but she didn't want to admit it.
	"Well then," Locke said. "We shall come tomorrow. I hope you're right,
Phoenix."
	"Yes, I hope so too."


Strength and Magic

	Ranma-chan made her way through the air ducts towards the control room.
Her eyes were blank, a powerful rage had overcome her.  She knew he was
there,
and she didn't care: for what he had done to Akane, she would tear him
apart 
with her own two hands. She was so disturbed, honor didn't matter to hr
anymore. She would just kill the son of a bitch.
	Suddenly, there was a blockade. Odd, she didn't remember it from the
plans. And just when she was so near... It didn't matter. She delivered
a powerful spear thrust to the duct, tearing it open. The edges were
bent outward. She agily leapt down to the corridor without making a
sound. Just as she landed, she followed the trajectory of her fall and
kneeled down, hidden in the freezing, watery mist. Slowly, she crept
towards a wall. Standing up, she put her back to the wall, inching
towards the nearby intersection. She was there before she knew it. But
something was wrong. Very wrong.

	It was a hulking mass of metal and flesh, like a cyborg. It was
considerably larger than Pantyhose Taro's cursed form, and much more
frightening. The cyborg's skin was violet, clashing with the faint blue
of the corridor. But despise its size and color, it was nearly
invisible. Only its snake-like eyes glimmered in the darkness.
	Then it felt her.
	Moving its viperine neck to the sides, Machine No. 128 tried to locate
the source of heat. Just as it came to an intersection, it discerned a
heat signature, the size and shape of Target B. It snarled to itself.
Readying the 
five-feet long claws on either arm, No. 128 moved back to a pouncing
position.It waited for the Target to make a move, but nothing happened.
	Grinning, the cyborg realized she hadn't sensed it at all: since it was 
mostly a mechanical being, it didn't project a presence, nor did it
possess  ki she could trace. She, on the other hand, was completely
exposed to it 
because it used termography as a method of vision. It would simply have
t sink its claws in her torso while twisting the neck with the other
hand. This
would be a snap. (Pun intended.)

	Ranma-chan knew something was near. But where was it? And why was she
feeling so uneasy? She carefully peeked her head beyond the wall, trying
to see
something. It didn't matter what, just see SOMETHING. Her heart was
starting 
to beat rapidly. Many warnings of danger were sent to her from various
part of her body.
	"Damn it, I know!" she said silently to her body. "I know it's here,
but WHERE?"
	And she saw them. Two thin slits of light. Staring right back at her.
Before she could make a move, the lights darted towards her, revealing
the entire musclebound creature. Not even Ranma-chan was fast enough to
see the
faster-than-light claws lunging for her...
	"Kyaaaa!"
	...and the claws stopped. A shower of sparks came out of the cyborg's
head, revealing a large wooden mallet embedded in the face of the
monster, who fell to the ground with a thump. The mallet disappeared
without a trace, replaced by a pair of female hands. Then dark hair. A
girl wearing a yellow sweater and pink skirt.
	"A-Akane...?" Ranma couldn't believe her eyes. Suddenly all her grief 
disappeared as she ran to the Japanese girl, nearly throwing her off her
fee as she happily hugged her.
	"Ranma?" Akane looked at the smaller girl in total confusion.
	"I... I thought I'd never see you again!" Ranma said, mantaining her
tight grip on her. A face-wide smile appeared on her face. Akane looked
at her
embarrased for a moment, but something in her mind told her the poor
girl had
probably found the burned body and thought it was her. She returned the
hug,
trying to comfort Ranma.
	"Calm down, it's all right."
	"I'm... I'm sorry 'bout being a jerk... God, it feels great to be able
to actually speak with you! I thought you had been killed!"
	"Obviously, I was not, you dummy." Her grip tightened as well. They
just stood there for a while. Usually they would have pushed the other
away, but right now they needed to have a friend more than anything.
Akane suddenly felt her shoulder begin to soak. She smiled, mostly out
of relief than hilarity. This was the first time in her life she saw
Ranma-chan so
happily relieved.
	Finally, they let go of each other. Ranma-chan hastily wiped her face
with the back of her wrist, turning red out of the embarrassment of
letting Akane see her cry. "So what happened?" she asked, still smiling.
	"I'm not really sure yet. When I woke up, I was in some kind of
refrigerator. I got out, but the door was closed and locked. So I just
waited for somebody to come. When this weird-looking robot came, I
pounded it. It grabbed my sleeve and tore off a bit. But then an alarm
went off and a cannon fried the thing. I ran from the room in case
somebody else came. I suppose I should have stayed."
	"Nah, it's okay, oneechan. In fact it's a good thing you didn't stay,
something could've found you."
	"Oneechan?" Akane thought. She didn't know what to make of what
Ranma-chan had said. She simply smiled.
	"C'mon. Let's get outta here before that idiot finds us." Ranma was
surprised to find she didn't despise Coldfire so deeply anymore. Akane
was safe. That's all that mattered.
	She helped Akane climb up to another ventilation shaft. This time, they
headed away from the control room. The ducts suddenly seemed brighter to
Ranma, as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes. She turned back to
see
Akane, and smiled. Everything was going to turn out just fine. They just
had
to find Phaeron before Coldfire found THEM.

			*	*	*

	With a cloud of dust, the airship Falcon rose from the ground. It
resembled Kirin's barge slightly: it was the stereotypical flying boat,
but instead of being strapped to a balloon, it was bolted to a
metal-clad zeppellin, which was over ten times larger than the boat. The
ship itself was reinforced with a metal coating and had four large
rotors on the back.
	"She is the fastest ship in the world," Setzer said, beaming in pride.
	"She's the ONLY ship in the world," Locke added. Setzer facefaulted.
	"This sure beats riding a bird," Ukyou said. "At least this place has a
floor and a railing."
	"We should reach Phoenix Cave in ten minutes," Celes said. "Are you
sure you don't want the Returners to help you fight?"
	Phoenix nodded, "We need you out of Coldfire's range in case we need 
backup. Besides, I have an emergency plan. I we are forced to use it,
then youwill be our greatest asset."
	"So what are we gonna do once we're there?" Ranma asked.
	"We'll have to find a way into the fortress. If Cologne's right, then
we will face five other guardians before we reach Coldfire. It would be
better just to avoid them, but they're easy if we all fight together."
	Kuno wasn't listening to the conversation, "Ah, I was truly born to
lead the fleets of legend," he said as he stood proudly on the ship's
bow. "My loves! I, the great Kuno Tatewaki, shall rescue you in short!"
	"What's wrong with that guy?" Locke asked. The rest just rolled their
eyes.
	"Anyway..." Phaeron continued, "Coldfire's probably expecting us, so
the smartest thing to do is to attack in the way he least expects it:
hand-to-hand combat instead of magic or ki. His forces may be vast, but
we've got more
skill than any of them."
	"I can see Star-Peak," Setzer warned. The five-summit mountain was
located on a peninsula, jutting out to the sea.
	"Don't you want me to use Shell on you?" Celes asked. "Remember that
the magic at Phoenix Cave held you down for over a thousand years."
	Phaeron shook his head, "I know, but I don't really care about it. As
long as we save them, any sacrifice is acceptable. Of course, only if it
comes from ME. I promised everybody they would return." They looked at
him thoughtfully.
	"What in the world is THAT?" Mousse said, looking through his glasses
at the titanic citadel nestled on top of the mountain.
	"That's our cue," Phaeron said. Once again, he called the Four Birds,
but with Crystallus' added ki it was faster than before. "Float!" A few
small
yellow birds appeared around Ranma and the group, allowing them the
ability to 
fly at low height. "The effect should wear out in about fifteen minutes,
s make the most of it." He took out his staff, holding it high above his
head
menacingly. "Staff of Ramuh! Help us defeat this demon!"
	Without warning, Phaeron handed Locke a closed letter and somersaulted
off the ship. The rest of the fighters followed. They were headed for a
wide elevation on the mountainside, just outside the citadel's gates.
Phaeron 
spread the Armor's wings and rode the wind currents straight towards the
door 
ready to deliver the blow. The others landed softly on the ground. The
doors 
burst asunder before Phaeron could reach them. Immediately a large
continget emerged from the darkness. They all brandished swords and
firearms.
	"Heh," Ranma grinned, "Somebody's seriously outnumbered here."
	The party launched forward to the attack. Ranma and Ryouga easily
plowed a path through the guards. Mousse had several others entagled in
chains. The Kuno siblings moved to the flanks of the contingent and
closed in on the 
middle. Shampoo and Ukyou remained in their position, knocking away
anybod 
who came near. Phaeron used his staff in a manner similar to Kuno's
lightning
sword, creating a large pile of guards beside him.

	"Looks like we underestimated them," Doppleganger said, standing beside
Overlord at the control room. "But if they were as strong as Coldfire
claims,
they would've gotten through by now."
	"Do not be so sure of that," Overlord said. "Even the Returners had
trouble infiltrating Kefka's tower in the past."
	"By the way, just where is that bastard?"
	"He is probably searching for the Targets himself. Heh, the fool. I
warned him not to let them live. And now that they have escaped, he is
surely
climbing up the walls in fury. His blind rage shall be his downfall."
	Doppleganger continued watching the fight. It was pretty one-sided: the
party had already knocked out half of the guards without receiving any
damage.
	"Sir," an orderly came up to Overlord, "I am afraid I must say this,
but they pose a formidable threat. Should I have your escape pod
standing by?"
	Doppleganger grinned and morphed into Grand Moff Tarkin, "Evacuate? In
our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances."
	Overlord facefaulted.

	"This is pointless!" Mousse shouted. The hordes just kept coming.
	"We can't keep this up forever!" Ryouga said, nicely charring a whole
row of guards with a Roaring Lion Bullet.
	"Right," Phaeron jumped away from the cluster. "Ranma! Get everyone
over here!"
	After knocking out another dozen guards with the Chestnut Fist, Ranma
hauled the others next to Phaeron. After creating a thick aura shield
around them, Phaeron took out a large Magicite stone.
	"Crusader! Purify!"
	The stone glew as three large creatures, a monster, a knight and a
sorceress, cast a huge fiery ball of magic into the middle of the
guards. Then Crusader disappeared, leaving the entire army unconscious.
"Move in!" Phaeron yelled. The party rushed for the vulnerable gates.
Without warning, a trapdoor opened beneath just as the effect of Float
wore off. Only Ranma was fast enough to avoid it. Phaeron had to stick
his staff across the opening to save himself from falling.
	"No! Damn it!" he said angrily as he vaulted upwards and saw the pit.
	"What's gonna happen to them?" Ranma asked.
	"Just as I feared. They'll be forced to face the Three Keepers alone."
	"Don't sweat. They're strong enough to beat anyone, even
blindfolded..." He thought to himself, "...I hope." He started going
inside, "Let's get them!"
	Ranma and Phaeron plunged into the darkness, unaware that they would
never find the gates again.


Requiem for a warrior

	Kuno looked all around him, but couldn't see a thing. What fiend had
dared treat him in such manner, dropping him into a pit as a mere
animal? When he discovered the perpetrator, he would have his--
	Kodachi removed her ribbon from Kuno's eyes, cackling maniacally. "Do
accept my apologies, brother dear."
	"Who dares insult the great Kuno Tatewaki with such a poorly laid
trap?" he bellowed to the darkness. Kodachi just made gagging noises
behind him.
	"And who, may I ask..." a deep, intimidating voice resounded, "dares
disrupt my chambers in a way such as this?"
	The lights were turned on. Kuno and Kodachi found themselves in the
stage of a Japanese Noh drama teather. The decoration was done in
exquisite taste, careful to the finest detail. However, on the end of
the stage laid a large samurai armor, behind a couple of enshrined
katana swords. Despite his fury, Kuno couldn't help admiring the place.
Making use of the distraction, a man-sized blur cleaved his bokuto in
half.
	"Who dares... Sasuke, is it--"
	The blur settled on the floor in front of the armor. It was a ninja,
indeed, but it was not Sasuke. In fact, the figure was astoundingly
large for a ninja. It was clad in usual black garb, normal for its kind,
but had gold gauntlets and facemask. The silver katana strapped to its
back was almost as long as the sword of the Saotome clan.
	"I await your answer," the ninja said.
	Kuno stepped forward menacingly, "And who might you be, boor, to defile
the blade of Blue Thunder?" He took out another bokuto from hyperspace.
Kodachi
leapt to the ceiling and grabbed hold from the beams, waiting to make a
surprise attack.
	"I still await the response," the ninja said without moving.
	"Ah, so you intend to have my name in your mind before you are smitten?
Very well..."
	Kodachi and the ninja nearly fell asleep as Kuno rambled on during his
introduction, but were woken up when lightning crackled around him.
	"...Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!" Kuno concluded, asuming a
threatening pose. "Now, tell me your name, knave."
	The ninja imitated Kuno. Kodachi slumped to the ground, asleep. When he
was finally done, Kodachi groggily prepared herself again.
	"...The Retainer of Kefka, Outsider!" fire crackled around the ninja,
who also asumed a Kunoesque pose.
	"Then you, the one known as the Outsider, shall be swayed by my skill!"
Kuno began circling the enemy.
	"Not before you, the one know as Kuno Tatewaki, falls to my power!"
Outsider unsheathed his sword.
	"Cad! Dare you suppose the Blue Thunder can be defeated by one as lowly
as you?"
	"And who do you call 'cad,' you knave? I shall inform you, I once
defeated the great knights of Doma!"
	"Surely they were as underskilled as the cretin Saotome Ranma. But I,
humble as I may seem, have vanquished many a foe!"
	Kodachi quietly sat on the flor as the two idiots continued arguing 
without really starting to fight. Meanwhile, she took a packet, a few
vials, a 
mallet, a bouquet of red roses, a can of black paint, a chemistry set, a
table and a stool from her leotard. She snapped her fingers, "Darn! I
have so much spare space in this outfit and I forget to bring my hoop."
	At the same time, Kuno and Outsider continued hurling insults at each
other. Koachi rolled her eyes, and began mixing the ingredients.

			*	*	*

	"Can anyone hear me?" Ukyou said in the darkness. After falling, she
had landed on hard rock, feeling extremely hot. From the bubbling and
gurgling noises, she knew she had fallen in a lava cave. "Hey! I'm in
here!" she called 
out again. Suddenly a hand grabbed her shoulder. Reacting in typical
feminine fashion, she screamed to the top of her lungs and pounded
whoever it was into
peanut butter.
	"Help! Help, Ranchan!" she yelled as she beat the figure into the
ground with her spatula. It just groaned in pain.
	"W-Wait... Ukyou..."
	She stopped pounding. "Ryouga? Is that you?"
	He weakly got up, "No. Now I'm only a stain on the ground..."
	"Sorry 'bout that." Ukyou helped him to his feet. Opening Ryouga's
pack, she took out a flashlight and tried to make out where they were.
	"Looks like we're in a cave of some sort," Ryouga said.
	"Yeah, that's what I thought," Ukyou said. "Wonder where everyone else
is."
	Ryouga took the flashlight and aimed it upwards, "Look at that. Seems
we fell through that hatch in the ceiling. Then I guess the others were
thrown someplace else."
	A female voice answered, "Of course not, Ryouga-kun. We're right here."
	Ryouga and Ukyou bolted around, "Akane?"
	"Hey, don't forget me," that was Ranma-kun's voice. Suddenly a torch
was lit, and Ryouga and Ukyou saw the other two a few yards away,
holding each other VERY closely.
	"Ranchan?" Ukyou looked at him, confused before running towards him,
arms open.
	He stopped her with his left hand. "Sorry, Ucchan. I've never loved you
and never will. You can count on THAT."
	"Same for me, Ryouga-kun," Akane said.
	He remembered. That was the same trick Doppleganger had used before!
	"Don't listen to them, Ukyou!" Ryouga called. "They're fakes! They're
NOT REAL!"
	Ukyou didn't hear him. She was confused: she didn't know whether knock
out "Ranma" and "Akane" or run away from them. Suddenly, the impostors'
faces came closer... and closer to the other's...
	"Ranchan!" was the only action Ukyou could make. The pain was tearing
her apart. She was both pissed and saddened. Her eyes started to flood.
	Suddenly the fakes disappeared, "Ah... yes... give... it... to...
me..." a weak voice came from beyond.
	Ryouga, who had been disgusted by the display, exploded in anger,
"Doppleganger! How dare you do that to my friend! Shishi hokodan!"
	The green blast of energy was thrown towards the source of the sound,
lighting the way along its trayectory. Just before making impact, its
light revealed a large silver orb floating in midair. Then darkness.
	"Yes... You... Give me... your despair..."
	Ukyou was beginning to recover, "T-that was all... a trick?"
	"Aahh... Your despair... is so... deliciously... intense..."
	"What, can't this guy speak at normal speed?" Ryouga thought.
"Doppleganger! Reveal yourself already!"
	"You... you are... my greatest source... of feelings... such as this...
Give it... to me... again..." The voice ceased, and the silver orb
floated out to the light.
	"You... who ARE you...?" Ryouga stared at the sphere in confusion.
Ukyou, finally recovered, took out her spatula and backed away towards
Ryouga.
	"I... have many... names... but you... may call me... Desperor..."
	"Okay, Desperor," Ryouga crossed his arms, "You want it... take it!
Shishi hokodan!"
	Desperor absorbed the blast. The orb's surface glew brighter at the
energy it received. Ryouga attacked again. With each blast, the orb
moved faster.
	"Wait, Ryouga," Ukyou put her arm in front of Ryouga's hands. "Looks
like that thing is actually feeding of your shots."
	He reared his arms backwards. "Then I guess we'll have to beat him the
usual way..."
	Ukyou and Ryouga charged the orb.

			*	*	*

	"You cad! I shall smite thee for your insults!"
	"Ah! So the 'Blue Thunder' loses his temper!"
	"Silence, fool! Only those who are not as great as I lose their
temper!"
	Kodachi yawned.
	Hmph. Nothing new here...

			*	*	*


	Mousse was in the middle of a strange room. Actually, it was more of an
oversized jewel-box than a room: its walls and floor were lined with
crystal tiles and mirors. That's what seemed so strange, there were
dozens upon dozens 
of mirrors. And in the center of the room, in a diamond formation, there
wer four two-sided mirrors, large enough for the Dojo destroyer's image
to fit in
them. Suddenly, the mirrors started spinning in place, blinding Mousse
every
now and then.
	"What the..."
	"BOO!" Shampoo shouted as she popped up in front of him. He clattered
to the floor, clutching his chest. "Stupid duck-boy, no see Shampoo
coming."
	"Shampoo?" Mousse took off his glasses. "Are you alright?" he addressed
one of the mirrors. She bumped him on the head with a bonbori.
	"Mousse want date mirror, then Shampoo no care."
	"But Shampoo!" Mousse turned to the direction her voice came from, "I
love you!" She bumped him again.
	"Hahaha! Somebody should make a comedy out of you two!" a male voice
echoed through the chamber.
	"Aiyaa..." Shampoo moved to a fighting stance when she recognized the
voice. "It same man Shampoo fight before..."
	A thin beam of light appeared in the exact center on the room, then
bounced off the four spinning mirrors. Slowly, the beam grew more
intense, until a large ball of light was formed. A young man man dressed
entirely in
white stepped out.
	"Who are you?" Mousse asked, readying a set of claws.
	"Why, don't you know? I am deeply wounded. I am the Flash, of course."
	"That name already taken," Shampoo said.
	The man thought for a moment, "Aha! Got it! I am The Ray!"
	"You read too many American comics," Mousse said.
	"Okay then, let me see..." the man sat on the flor and thought about a
name again. "That's it! I am... uh... Shocker?"
	"Taken."
	"How 'bout Lantern?"
	"Also taken."
	"Radiant?"
	"You need read more manga, stupid gaijin," Shampoo said, miffled.
	"Calm down, okay! I've never really thought up a name myself!"
	"How about we call you The Lightheaded Idiot?" Mousse said, "it has
'light' in it." He and Shampoo laughed loudly.
	"Shut up! I am the Illuminator! I don't care if it's taken, alright?
Prepare for death!" Illuminator fired a beam of energy towards Mousse,
who dodged easily.
	"That's the best you can do?" he asked. The beam bounced off a mirror
and struck Mousse in the back. He was pushed to the ground. Shampoo
leapt over
Illuminator and tried to hit him with a bonbori. He grabbed the weapon
and 
crushed it in his hand, then pulled Shampoo and flung her over his
shoulder a if she were a rag doll.
	"Shampoo!" Mousse cried. He got to his feet and charged Illuminator
with a scimitar. Illuminator backed away towards the mirrors and
vanished. Mousse struck the floor with his sword. "Where did he go?" he
looked around, but the enemy had disappeared. Shampoo recovered and took
out another bonbori.
Reluctant at first, she backed to Mousse, so her rear wasn't
unprotected.
	Suddenly every mirror, except the ones in the center, showed the image
of Illuminator. Then the walls moved like a conveyor belt, shifting the
mirrors
and distorting Mousse and Shampoo's sight. Without warning the real 
Illuminator lunged for them, knocking Mousse into the wall and punching
th air out of Shampoo. He vanished again amidst the mirrors.
	Seeing they were vulnerable even next to the walls, Mousse and Shampoo
staggered back to the center, avoiding the four looming mirrors.
Again,Illuminator appeared, but this time he shot an energy beam to one
of the spinning mirrors in the center. The light bounced off the walls
in the room,
encasing Mousse and Shampoo in a grid-like field of light. The only safe
spot was between the four mirrors, but they knew they would be
vulnerable in there.
	Annoyed, Mousse pulled out a large wok and dashed forward, covering
himself with it. The light bounced off the metal, disrupting the grid.
Beaming, Mousse came back towards Shampoo, ready for the next attack....
	...which came exactly half a second later. Mousse was thrown off
towards the far wall, crashing into a mirror. Shampoo, not caught
unaware, heaved her bonbori straight into Illuminator's gut, stunning
him. Then she jumpicked and landed on his face, knocking him off
balance. But before she could land a second kick, he grabbed her foot
and swung her around, releasing her and sending her flying to the wall
opposite of Mousse.
	"Shampoo! You'll pay for this, you fiend!" Mousse sliced Illuminator's
robe with a pair of claws. Then two large blades sprouted from his
robes, and
Mousse swung his arms wildly at Illuminator, shredding his clothing. 
Unfortunately that's as far as he went in damaging the enemy. Illuminato 
fired a massive beam at him, which he blocked with the blades. These
were destroyed, and Mousse took most of the attack in his chest. But
while
Illuminator fired, Shampoo had clung to his back and driven her heels to
the
back of his knees. Once he was on the floor, she used his body as a set
of drums, hitting him with her bonbori. After a dozen blows or so, he
vanished.
	And then she realized it. She was right between the four mirrors.
	"Mirror Image!" Illuminator shouted. The four mirrors closed in on
Shampoo and circled around her at a frantic speed. She looked at them,
dazed. She was beginning to feel... No! She was NOT scared! Or at least
that's what she said to herself. Suddenly the mirrors stopped and
Illuminator appeared in one of them, "Now I'll have you!"
	There was a flash of light, and Shampoo was gone.
	"NO!" Mousse cried. "What have you done to her?!" Clutching his chest,
in the place where the blast had hit him, Mousse ran to the mirrors.
Enraged, he tried to destroy them, but it was useless.
	"Not quite the warrior now that she's missing, eh?" Illuminator's
laughter filled the room. Again the wall mirrors moved like a conveyor
belt, each showing Illuminator's image. Mousse took off his glasses.
Perfect, now that he couldn't see the mirrors, he wouldn't be fooled by
them. Then he saw the man-sized white blur dash at him.
	"Hakucho-Ken!" Illuminator was struck full force in the face by
Mousse's swan-shaped potty. Dumfounded, he tried vanishing in the
mirrors again, but this time Mousse could "see" him (actually, he saw a
fast-moving blur) dashing along the far wall and flipping a switch in
the corner that caused the walls to move. He then remained hidden behind
one of the mirrors."Keiran-Ken!" Mousse threw about a dozen exploding
eggs at him, forcing him out of hiding. Mousse then entangled him with a
heavy chain.
"Tell me what have you done to Shampoo!" Mousse said, bringing an axe to
Illuminator's throat. Not intimidated, Illuminator fired a couple of
small
balls of light that struck Mousse's legs. He dropped to the ground,
involuntarily releasing the enemy. Illuminator then actually fused with
one o fthe four mirrors.
	Getting up, Mousse managed to discern the four rectangular shapes
looming over him. Then suddenly, the shapes became much smaller, the
size of a Chinese Amazon.
	"Sh-Shampoo?" Mousse asked to no one in particular. He looked carefully
at one of the shapes, and decided it WAS Shampoo. He was greatly
relieved to see her again.
	"Mousse!" came a cry from the wall. He put on his glasses and turned
around. He saw Shampoo, trapped in one of the mirrors. She was
hopelessly trying to break though. Then her image started to fade. She
was terrified. 
	Mousse turned back to the impostors. They looked like her, all right,
but they held a deadly assortment of weapons, all aimed at him. He tried
to attack, but pulled back at the last second. There was no way he could
bring himself to hurt Shampoo, even if it was just an image.
	"Mousse!" Shampoo cried for him again. He was desperate. He didn't know
what to do. 
	Yes, he knew. He took off his glasses, and got up on one leg, spreading
his arms. One of the fake Shampoos turned into Illuminator.
	"Shaaaammpoooo!" Mousse began to spin in place, lifting a large cloud 
of dust. Then he waved his arms frantically, releasing every single
weapon in his  arsenal. A spiked ball crushed a fake Shampoo, shattering
the mirror. A 
scimitar sliced through a second one. A Neko figurine crashed though th
third. About a dozen sais were embedded in the last. Finally, several
weights and anvils smashed into Illuminator, knocking him out. Worn out,
Mousse
stopped spinning. He put his hands on his knees. Suddenly every single
mirror and crystal tile in the room shattered. Shampoo finally managed
to break free. But then the mirrors and tiles exploded in a shower of
sharp crystalline
shards. Shampoo tried to bring her arms upwards, protecting her face.
Without a second thought, Mousse flung the wok at her, causing several
pieces of crystal to crash into it. The wok then flipped and landed on
top of Shampoo, shielding her like a tortoise's shell. Inside, Shampoo
could only hear Mousse
get stabbed hundreds of times by the shards.

			*	*	*

	"Boor!" Outsider shouted, "I shall have your head!"
	"Insolent miscreant! Do not address Kuno Tatewaki in such manner!"
	Kodachi rolled her eyes, and finished cooking up the paralysis potion
and the smoke bombs. While he other two continued arguing, she put her
equipment back in her leotard and climbed up to the ceiling. Like a
spider, she hung to the beams and moved onward, just above Outsider. The
idiots looked about ready to start fighting. Then she dropped a smoke
bomb.
	"What is the meaning of-- Wak! I cannot move!" Outsider yelled.
	"What have you-- Ah! What madness is this? I am unable to move!" Kuno
replied. Then he heard what seemed like a loud gong. Already used to his
sister's concoctions, Kuno got to his feet and thrust forward with his
bokuto.
	The smoke cleared up slowly. Then Kuno saw Outsider lying on the floor,
completely knocked out.
	Kuno brushed his hair, asuming a victory pose, "Hah! He couldn't stand
up to the great might of Kuno Tatewaki, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!"
Lightning cracked around him. 
	"As you say, brother dear..." Kodachi rolled her eyes, hiding her
mallet from his view.

			*	*	*

	The orb fired several energy bolts at them. Ryouga parried some with
his umbrella, but it was obvious the fight was definetly one-sided. He
had already been hit in the leg, and was limping slightly. Ukyou, being
a little faster than him, was unhurt, but nearly worn out. An the damn
orb wasn't even
scratched!
	Ryouga leapt over one blast and tried to hit Desperor with his
umbrella. Suddenly a fleshy tentacle darted out and grabbed it, flinging
Ryouga's weapon to the other end of the cave.
	"That does it!" Ryouga flung a hail of bandannas at the orb. Sparks
flew as a few cuts appeared on its surface.
	"Ryouga, that's IT!" Ukyou called. She took her mini-spatulas and
darted them at the orb. The sharp utensils were embeded in a straight
vertical line across the orb. Taking his belt, Ryouga sliced through the
orb with a
menacing shout.
	Darkness.
	Ukyou and Ryouga huddled up so they'd be prepared for the next attack.
Then the lights turned on again, and they could hear the clatter of
metal against the rock. Looking at Desperor, they could see the two
halves of the orb 
rolling on the floor. But they didn't notice the split sphere. They were
 staring right at the... the THING in front of them.
	It was a floating mixture of hair, flesh, metal, bone, and dripping
acid. The bubbling flesh folded upon itself, showing great holes which
seemed to be its mouth and eyes. Now that it was out of the orb, it
seemed much, much larger. And more frightening.
	"You... have released me... from my prison... now you shall die...
prepare... for the end..."
	"Like heck we'll die!" Ukyou launched herself at Desperor, slamming her
spatula into the place she hoped was the head. Unfazed, Desperor's
tentacles
struck her in the chest, knocking the wind out of her. Ryouga
jumpkicked, but 
received the same treatment. Then two large blasts came out of the ball
of
 flesh, missing Ryouga and Ukyou by a millimeter. As they jumped away,
they both struck Desperor again. The impact brought him lower to the
ground just a bit,
but that was all that happened.
	"C'mon, you!" Ukyou taunted, "Will you get hurt already?!" she shot out
several mini-spatulas at the beast. They became embedded in the flesh,
but
slipped free. Large gushes of blood spilled to the ground with a
repulsive SPLAAT. Ukyou and Ryouga tried not to puke. Desperor was still
unhurt.
	"What does it take to beat you?!" Ukyou attacked again, throwing a bag
of firecrackers at Desperor. She missed and hit the ground below him
instead.
But when the sparks came up, Desperor shrieked in pain. The acid that
dripped from his body stopped flowing.
	Ryouga realized something, "Hit him on the underside, Ukyou! That's his
weak spot!"
	"Right!" she flung a few more firecrakers below Desperor. The sparks
made him bellow from the pain. Ryouga rushed in, trying to use the
Bakusai Tenketsu, but Desperor grabbed his arm and flung him to the
wall. The rock caved in a little. Ryouga fell to the ground, nearly
knocked out.
	"Hang in there!" Ukyou called. She swung her spatula at Desperor to
smack him up the underside. Desperor then grabbed the weapon and tore it
off her hands. Two other tentacles came out of its body and strangled
her.
	"Ry-Ryouga..." she called weakly, harmlessly punching and kicking the
limbs. "Ranchan..." she said before losing consciousness.
	"Let go of her you monster!" Ryouga thrust his arm under Desperor,
enduring the burning pain caused by the acid drops that fell on him.
"BAKUSAI
TENKETSU!"
	The rock sharpnel hit all of Desperor's bottom, embedding deep into the 
flesh. He released Ukyou reflexively. Then Ryouga grabbed her spatula
and
 brought iupwards, sticking the rocks inside even more and blowing
Desperor up to the air. Ryouga dove for his abandoned umbrella. Just as
Desperor fell to the ground, Ryouga thrust upwards. The monster was
impaled on the umbrella. With a final shriek, Desperor tried to strangle
Ryouga. But then he threw a Roaring Lion Bullet with his free hand,
causing Desperor to overload and disappear in a purple blur. Strangely
enough, the umbrella was intact.
	Ryouga rushed up to Ukyou. She was out cold, and breathing erratically.
He lifted her in his arms, "Hold on. We have to get out of here... ALL
of us."
	Carrying her on his back, he darted towards a wall. "Bakusai Tenketsu!"
Wasting no more time, he went into the tunnel he had made.

			*	*	*

	"Can't we stay in the air ducts?" Akane asked. She and Ranma-chan had
to abandon the ventilation shafts once they had been spotted, and were
now
walking though the corridors. They could be walking around in circles,
for all they knew, since the halls all looked the same.
	"Jeez, I'm beginning to feel like Ryouga..." Ranma-chan said. "Wish we
could at least find another--"
	Akane put her hand on Ranma-chan's mouth, "Shh. I think I heard
something," she said quietly. The two girls huddled against a wall,
creeping slowly towards yet another dangerous intersection. "Look,"
Ranma-chan said, pointing at a moving light. "It's mine."
	Akane restrained her, "You cried yourself to sleep last night,"
Ranma-chan looked away, miffed, "You're still weak, let me do it." Akane
pulled out her Interdimensional Mallet (tm) while the redhead snorted.
	Akane slowly made her way to the other side of the corridor. The light
was coming closer. And closer. She tightened her grip on the mallet. She
thought she heard Ranma's voice, but thought it was just an illusion.
She brought the mallet above her head. The light was about three feet
away... two feet... one foot...
	"Haiyaaa!"
	Phaeron was nearly knocked out.
	"Oops," Akane said when she saw him, face down on the floor, and
wearing some kind of bird-like armor.
	"He may look like a bug, Akane," Ranma said, grinning, "but you
shouldn't swat him like that." Akane rushed up to her fianci, forgetting
for a minute that she was supposed to hate him. Ranma did the same.
Unfortunately for Phaeron, his armor wasn't designed to resist having
two people on his back. He felt like a bug being squashed. 
	"Oops," Akane said again. She and Ranma helped him to his feet.
"R-Ranma?" she called. The redhead was still hidden back at the
intersection. Ranma-chan looked around vigilantly, then rushed up to
Akane, not noticing she was standing next to Phaeron.
	"R-Ranma-chan..." he stepped back.
	"P-Phaeron?" she looked away briefly. Both of them stared to the
ground, not knowing what to say. After half an hour of this, Ranma and
Akane got fed up and shook them to their senses.
	"Hey, we gotta get out of here, remember?" Ranma said.
	"You can solve who's fault it was after we return, okay?" Akane said.
Ranma-chan and Phaeron finally got out of the trance.
	"Right," he said. "Have you found a way to get out yet?"
	Ranma-chan shook her head, "Nope. Not even the air ducts lead outside."
	"And what is that thing?" Akane pointed at the Crystal Armor.
	"Oh, that's Crystallus. But don't call him a 'thing', he hates that.
Esper Fission!" Suddenly the Crystal Armor turned into the white bird.
	"Greetings, fair maidens. It is indeed I, Crystallus of Fenix, friend
of Phaeron  and master of flight." He bowed politely and stretched out
his wing. The girls "shook hands" with him reluctantly while Ranma
scouted ahead. Crystallus then enveloped Phaeron again.
	Ranma came back to the group, "I don't suppose this is an exit, right?"
he pointed at an opening that led to the mountain. He and Akane started
to make a break for it, but Phaeron quickly put up a shield in front of
them. "What in
the...?! What are you--"
	Phaeron and Ranma-chan walked slowly towards them, "That's not a door.
That's a trap," Ranma-chan said.
	Phaeron agreeded, "Coldfire would never, NEVER leave a door unguarded.
Heck, he'd never make an exit, period. Look." He punched the wall,
tearing out a large piece of piping. A bright ki blade appeared on the
arms of the armor. Phaeron sliced the pipe in four large chunks and
handed two to Ranma-chan. They threw the pipes to the "opening." Several
blasts of energy charred the metal objects.
	"Coldfire is pretty good at traps," Ranma-chan said.
	"Wait wait wait..." Ranma said, "I think this is far enough. I want to
know why you two are so familiar with the way this guy Coldfire thinks
and acts, and how you know so much about him."
	Phaeron and Ranma-chan gasped, then looked at each other.
	"Y-You really want to know, oniisan?" Ranma-chan asked. He folded his
arms and nodded. He knew who was Coldfire and why he was doing this, but
it was about time they told him how come they knew so many details of
the demon.
	"Guess you'd find out sooner or later anyway..." Phaeron looked grim.
"The reason we know Coldfire so well is because... because _I_ was
Coldfire."
	Akane and Ranma stared at him, "YOU WHAT?!"


Conflicting tendencies

	Shampoo was holding Mousse in her lap. The poor guy was a mess: he had
a large burn mark where Illuminator had struck him, what remained of his
clothing was torn and shredded, and there were several cuts and injuries
on 
his body. He was lucky none of the crystal shards had hit his neck.
	"Stupid Mousse..." Shampoo said softly, taking the inch-thick glasses
off his face. "You no have to protect Shampoo. She can take care of
herself..."
	"I... I love you Shampoo..." he said weakly in Cantonese.
	Shampoo's eyes widened. "Why you love Shampoo? Shampoo no love you."
She received no reply. "Mousse?"
	She looked around, seeing the battlefield. While fighting Illuminator,
neither of them was able to break the mirrors. But when Mousse became
determined to free her, every single one of them was destroyed.
	"You do that for Shampoo?"
	Mousse slowly opened his mouth to speak, "I'd do anything... for 
Shampoo... even give my life..."
	Shampoo was shocked to hear this. It wasn't the statement itself that
disturbed her --heck, he had said it many times in the past--, but the
fact
that he almost carried out that purpose. He had nearly died protecting
her. She didn't know what to make of this anymore. Sure, there was that
other time, when they fought at Togenkyo, when Mousse had done something
similar. But this was the first time they were facing an enemy that
truly wanted to destroy them.
	Suddenly she heard somebody shout just oustide the chamber. She gently
placed Mousse on the floor and got to her feet. "Here!" she shouted,
"Shampoo is here!"
	"Get back!" That was Ryouga. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" the wall exploded in a
cloud of dust.
	When the dust settled, Shampoo saw Kuno, Kodachi, and Ryouga. Ukyou was
still unconscious on Ryouga's back. "Ukyou too?" she asked. When Ryouga
saw Mousse on the floor, he nodded.
	"It is a fortune we have been brought together," Kuno said, "for now
the fiend who mocked us shall be smitten!" He was charred by his own
lightning. Kodachi cackled at his misfortune.
	"What happened here?" Ryouga asked. Shampoo looked back worriedly at
Mousse, but he recovered slightly and staggered to his feet. With
determination locked in his face, he headed towards Shampoo. She stared
at him in disbelief. He didn't even had his glasses on. She smiled
briefly. She felt good to see he was going to make it. She wouldn't
contest him anymore.
	"Shampoo..." he stretched his arms forward...
	...and glomped onto Kodachi. Shampoo beat him to the ground.

			*	*	*

	"What the heck did you say?!" Ranma asked.
	"I said, I used to be Coldfire," Phaeron calmly said. This was a very
difficult thing for him to say, considering it had been Coldfire who
nearly killed three of his friends. Ranma-chan and Akane looked at him
worriedly.
	"But how...?" Akane asked.
	"You don't wanna know," Ranma-chan turned to her with a serious
expression.
	"But they must know," Phaeron said. "For the Nth time, remember how
Herb said I arrived from the Bizantine Empire?" Ranma and Akane nodded.
"Well, I wasn't what you'd call normal then. Like Happosai, I was
possessed of the spirit of a demon. I never knew what Coldfire wanted,
but he eventually took me to China. Then I came across the twins. You
know that incense burner Happosai has, right? Well, guess where it came
from."
	Ranma-chan continued, "We met him and fought him. But then we realized
what was wrong with him, and we used the incense burner to bring him
back to 
normal. We didn't know that using the burner would release Coldfire and
give him a body."
	Phaeron listened with his arms crossed. He knew that wasn't true. He
and Coldfire weren't split apart by some incense burner --it had been
the twins' Guardian who had done that. But Ranma-chan couldn't tell
whether she was lying or telling the truth, as far as she knew her story
was the real thing. Again, thanks to Jusenkyo, she had forgotten that
they had decided to make up that incense burner story in order to keep
the identity of their Guardian a secret.
	"So that is why he wants to kill you?" Akane asked, "Because you split
him apart from Phaeron?"
	"Not really," Phaeron said, "He doesn't really want to kill me, since
I'm the Phoenix, even if he were to die my sole presence would bring him
back to life. If I died, he would be vulnerable to death. No. He wants
to kill Ranma-chan and Yuannyan..." he turned to Ranma, "...for other
reasons."
	"That explains a lot, you know," Ranma said.
	"Actually, there's only one more thing we need to know," Phaeron said,
"and that's how he managed to build up this much power."
	"All right," Akane said, "But how will we find an exit?"
	"I don't think we would find one," Phaeron said, "So we're gonna have
to MAKE an exit."
	The fiery aura enveloped him again, but it was only blue this time. He 
crossed his arms on his chest, and spread the armor's wings. "Okay.
Ranma-chan, hold on to me. Ranma, hold on to your sister. Akane, hold on
to
Ranma. We're breaking out of here."
	"What're you going to do?" Ranma-chan asked.
	"Just you watch." Once the chain was linked, the armor's wings closed,
enveloping the three passengers. Slowly, Phaeron set a straight
trayectory
through a long walkway. He started to walk at a snail pace. Suddenly,
the aura
exploded around them in a flare. "Hold on! Blazing Bullet!!"
	The foursome were launched forward at a breakneck speed, leaving a
smoldering trace behind. They could feel the wind boxing their ears. The
pressure was too great, they were beginning to lose their grip. And with
the speed increasing, it was only a matter of time until they let go.
	"Just a little farther!" Phaeron shouted. Using all their strength, the
others tightened their grip. "Blazing Bullet Two! Comet Flare!" The
fiery aura
turned from red to white, melting most of the circuitry on the walls as
they
traveled.
	Suddenly, they saw a black figure appear in front of them.
	"Stop," Coldfire said calmly, putting his hand in front of him.
	They kept coming.
	"Stop!"
	They kept coming.
	"Sto--"
	Coldfire was flat as a pancake.
	"I think I stepped on somebody's groin!" Akane yelled to the top of her
lungs.
	"It was Coldfire!" Phaeron answered, "We've evaded him!"
	"Just how LONG is this corridor?!" Ranma-chan yelled.
	On cue, they crashed right through the wall and into the open air. At
this speed, they would fall right into the sea before they noticed it.
	Using every bit of strength he had, Phaeron twisted his trayectory to
circle the citadel, spiraling downwards. Slowing down, he spread the
armor's wings again. Suddenly halted, the three people hanging onto him
whipped below Phaeron like a kite's tail. Slowly, they descended to the
top of the mountain, just in front of the gates of the citadel. Akane
let go and rolled to the ground. Ranma followed and immediately checked
her for injuries. Suddenly losing much weight, Phaeron moved faster,
still dragging Ranma-chan along. Without warning, an energy bolt was
shot out of the citadel, nearly blasting her. She let go too soon,
headed for a rocky landing spot. Phaeron managed to 
land and created an aura shield below her.
 
	"Well..." Ranma said puffing, as he and Akane came near them, "that was
SOME ride..."
	"Where's everybody else?" Akane asked, knowing from experience that
everybody came to her rescue in this kind of situations.
	"I think they're still in the citadel," Phaeron said. "I'll go back in.
I'm sure they're fine, but they'll never find the way out of the Phoenix
Cave that's below the mountain." He started heading back inside, but
Ranma-chan stopped him. "Wait... If Coldfire's in there..."
	"You know he can't kill me, Ranma-chan. Besides, I'm not as
underskilled as I used to be, you know."
	"That is something we have yet to put to test!" Coldfire's voice
echoed. Everybody moved to a defensive stance. "I shall have you know, I
no longer need you to stay alive! No I will kill you AND you friends
with a single blow!" A shrill, maniacal cackle followed. Phaeron
shuddered visibly as he
recognized the laughter.
	"Oh my God.. So that's it... Coldfire's power came from... Hey, look
out!"
He was barely able to create a dome around himself and the others as a
red triangle was shot towards them, accompanied by the shout of "Delta
Hit!" 
	Coldfire appeared in front of them in a blaze of blue fire. Suddenly he
and Phaeron looked exactly like twins: one wearing a navy-blue armor,
the other
wearing a crystal-white one. Both were covered in powerful fiery auras.
	"Yes, that's it..." Phaeron said, "YOU were the Esper that Gestahl used
to infuse Kefka, weren't you? YOU were the one who really destroyed this
world!"
	Coldfire laughed, "Yes, it was indeed me. Now, thanks to the magic in
this world, I can kill you without having to expose myself! I am now
another
Immortal, the Phoenix of Gray!" he assumed a Kunoesque pose. "And now,
all of
you will suffer at my hand."
	Phaeron was covered in rage. His aura was so strong it pushed even
Ranma away. "How dare you... You killed my best friends... You destroyed
the life of an entire world... And again you dare hurt somebody close to
me!" His eyes glew with a bright orange light.
	"P-Phaeron..." Ranma-chan edged nervously away from him.
	"The one known as Phaeron no longer exists! I am the PHOENIX! And for
the sin of bringing pain to my friends, I shall strike you, COLDFIRE!!"
Phoenix resembled Kuno for an instant, but Blue Thunder was never this 
pissed. Phoenix' aura was about to blow up. The staff in his hands was
glowing
 with his energy.
	"Fine!" Coldfire answered, "But only if you beat ME!" He spread his
arms outwards, sending an arc of light towards Phoenix. Ranma-chan moved
in between, but Phoenix moved her aside gently and countered by pushing
an aura shield forward. Both attacks cancelled each other. Phoenix then
spread his arms in an "x" pattern, releasing a beam of light. Coldfire
turned, using the armor's wing as a shield. As soon as he absorbed the
blast, he swept the wing and released a hail of black feathers. Phoenix
blocked the same way, but once he moved the wing aside he shot out a
two-meter wide energy ball at Coldfire. He leapt over it and jumpkicked.
Phaeron also leapt and crossed his arms.
	"Blazing Bullet!" He crashed downwards into Coldfire. The push was so
powerful they burrowed beneath the ground, leaving a smoldering tunnel
in their wake. After a few seconds, everything went still.
	"T-That was IT?" Ranma asked astounded.
	The ground began to shake. Then a large column of purple light burst
upwards, launching Phoenix' body through the air. He crashed to the
ground, recovering a short time later. Meanwhile, Coldfire floated out
of the opening left by his blast.
	"I did not lay idle while you played around with your Returner friends,
Phoenix. As you can see, you cannot defeat me!" he jumped upwards,
charging a ki blast in his hands. Phoenix also jumped.
	"KI CRUSH!" Coldfire shouted.
	"WHITE TOUCH!" Phoenix yelled.
	In a blinding flash of light, both warriors repulsed each other with
their attacks. Coldfire crashed into the wall while Phoenix made a
crater in the ground. His three companions rushed to his side.
	"I.. will not... be swayed..." Phoenix said, staggering. He looked
around. Coldfire was gone. Nearly jumping to his feet, Phoenix got to a
fighting stance. He was still burning with rage.
	"Hey..." Ranma-chan tried to get through to him.
	"STAND BACK," Phoenix said, his voice resembling Coldfire's for an
instant.
	"Phaeron..."
	"STAND BACK, I SAID!" He thrust his open hand at them, almost encasing
them in an aura shield. Ranma-chan stopped him with her own palm, being
forced to absorb his powerful ki.
	"Will you calm down?! Look at yourself! You may be winning the fight,
but Coldfire's already beaten you! Just wake up, for crying out loud!"
	Reflexively his hand darted for her wrist, holding it very tightly. She
stared into his eyes. They burned with a rage she had never seen. Then
slowly, very slowly, his scowl vanished. His eyes ceased glowing.
Relieved, the
Crystal Armor sighed.
	"That's right. Cool off."
	He let go of her. His aura settled down, becoming his usual red again
instead of purple. He took a step back. "H-he nearly had me..." he said,
looking at his hands.
	"Are you alright, Ranma?" Akane asked as she came up to her. Ranma-chan
was just rubbing her wrist, hiding the red mark he had left. 
	"At least he didn't go over the edge..." she said, looking at the
confused Phaeron.
	He looked back, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." He stood
upright again, "R-Ranma-chan, I don't know what to say, I..." he noticed
the mark he had left on her wrist. "I'm sorry."
	"It's okay," she replied, relieved to see he was back to normal.
	"OH, TOO BAD," came Coldfire's voice again, electronically amplified,
"AND TO THINK I ALMOST HAD HIM IN MY HANDS AGAIN. YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS,
YOU KNOW."
	Ranma and Phaeron moved to the girl's flanks, much to Akane and
Ranma-chan's annoyance. All four of them took defensive positions,
guarding for any attacks. "Show yourself!" Phaeron demanded.
	Coldfire obeyed and appeared in front of him. Without a word he sent a
wave of ki towards them. Phaeron countered the same way. Now both of
their ki were locked, although neither warrior moved. Sparks of
electricity ran between them. At the same time, they closed their eyes
and their auras became stronger. They were fully concentrated on
overriding the other. A large energy sphere formed between them. 
Meanwhile, Ranma and the girls were circling Coldfire. As soon as h
 ceased emitting his ki, they would strike. Both Ranmas charged up their
Moko 
Takabishya in their outstretched palms. Akane had pulled out her
 Interdimensional Mallet (tm). Suddenly, Coldfire and Phaeron stopped
emitting
and started absorbing the ki they had lost. Phaeron also launched
forward. Just as the four fighters were about to strike Coldfire, he
smiled.
	"DEMOLISH!"
	And expanding aura barrier struck them before they could see it coming.
Ranma and Akane were thrown back to the citadel's gates. Ranma-chan flew
off in the opposite direction, nearly falling off the cliff. Phaeron
crashed into a wall, leaving a large crater.
	"Fools! Overlord, now!"
	The gates opened, and a strong current pulled Ranma and Akane back
inside. The hatch closed immediately afterwards.
	"And now, you..." he faced Phaeron, "X-Zone!"
	He put his hands together and a rift opened behind Phaeron, pulling him
into the void too. Before disappearing, he managed to launch his staff
at Ranma-chan before she fell to the sea. Using the staff, she vaulted
back up. Then Phaeron vanished.
	Coldfire turned to Ranma-chan. "At last... I shall fulfill my master's
dream. It is time for you to die, broad. And after you, your sister
shall follow."
	She clenched her fists on the staff, "Don't you dare hurt Yuan-chan,
you freak."
	Coldfire thrust his fists downwards. A pair of meter long claws
appeared on each of the gauntlets. They were ki blades, and glowed
bright purple. "I will take your redhaired head, and then I'll repeat it
with your sister!"
	"Just you dare try it!"


Lords of misery

	Phaeron staggered to his feet, seeing stars before his eyes. He brought
a hand to his head. Where was he? How much time had passed?
	"Are you alright?" Crystallus asked. He was still covering Phaeron.
	"I think so... How long was I out?"
	"Less than a minute. Don't worry, we can still get out of here in time,
wherever 'here' is."
	Phaeron looked around him. They were in some sort of dome-like
structure. The interior of the dome changed hue almost every second.
Only a small rectangular shape on the far side blemished the smooth
surface. A door.
	Phaeron walked cautiously towards it, keeping all his senses alerted.
He stretched his arms outwards, ready to fend off any possible attack.
Suddenly, a large distortion appeared in the middle of the chamber.
Phaeron and Crystallus gasped in sheer terror when the figure appeared
completely. It was a muscular man, over three stories high. His purple
skin glimmered in sweat. His body was covered only by a violet robe in
his midsection. Four large white wings flapped strongly on his back,
lifting the 
leviathan off the ground. He was a blonde man, whose hair was pulled
into a ponytail, and had a large red feather next to his ear. His face
resembled that
of a madman, with bright red eyes and a wicked smile.
	"K-Kefka..?" Phaeron asked in disbelief. "I-It can't be! You're DEAD!"
	Kefka grinned and laughed, in the terrifying shrill laughter that could
frighten a dragon. "Feeble Esper, did you really think your little
friends could beat me?"
	"B-but we saw you die!"
	"You saw me turn to dust, you fool. I did not die, I simply escaped!
And now that you and your friends have returned to the World of Ruin, I
can gather the magic power I need to be resurrected!" He laughed again.
"Now, you are alone. Terra and Sabin are far away. Only you and your
birdie are here, but that won't last long. I shall make sure you don't
bring the Returners back to life! Shockwave!"
	Kefka punched the ground, causing a slight tremor. Suddenly a blast of
energy traveled through the ground and struck Phaeron. He was thrown
back, still confused. Getting up, he summoned his ki, "You may be
strong, Kefka, but you are still stupid! Grand Train!" He stretched his
arms upwards, and a triangular forcefield encased Kefka, spinning around
his body. The spell brought the dictator to his knees. Infuriated, Kefka
fired a beam of energy at
Phaeron, who used both wings of the armor as a shield. Nonetheless, he
was
forced back by the pressure.
	"It's useless to resist me, Esper. It is I who has controlled Coldfire
into leading you here. Your human and non-human friends were just an
added bonus, but I shall take their heads as well! That is, if Coldfire
and Overlord don't get them first..." Kefka grinned evilly, despite
having lied about being Coldfire's master. But then Phaeron was shocked
to remember who Coldfire was fighting against.
	"Esper Fission!" he shouted. the Crystal Armor was disassembled and
Crystallus reformed. The white phoenix looked at him confused. "There's
no
time! You gotta go help them!"
	"But you cannot face Kefka alone!" Crystallus protested. "He has more
power than the Three Goddesses! You... you just CAN'T!!"
	"I know! But I can always use Ultima! YOU have to go help them!
Remember that Coldfire is fighting her!" he narrowly avoided being
punched by the titan.
	"But if you use Ultima you will--"
	"I know!" Phaeron interrupted. Then he glanced at Crystallus, starting
to speak in a language used only by Espers, "Crystallus! Seraphim lall
ha melai! Aris... aris melai kran mac!" He turned bright red.
	Crystallus looked at him thoughtfully. "I... I did not know... Very
well, if such is the way you feel then I shall honor your sacrifice. Let
us meet again, Phoenix!" Crystallus darted upwards at near-light speed.
Kefka tried to swat him, but even the Lord of Magic was too slow.
Crystallus crashed through the dome's ceiling.
	"Idiot..." he said, looming high above Phaeron. "You were not aware I
can speak Esper language too." Phaeron took a step backwards, startled,
"You have revealed your weakness to me. And now we shall see if the
so-called Phoenix is as strong as the legends claim."
	Phaeron reared back, "And you will find that legends underestimate
me... Quasar!"
	A thousand small blasts of green light enveloped Kefka. A hail of
meteorites then pounded on his body, seemingly coming out of thin air.
Kekfa was battered, but the damage was relieved instantly.
	"Heh heh... You are braver than I remember. But to think that such a
weak assault would bring Kefka to his knees is utter folly. Now you will
see my true power. You are... a GONER!" With the last word a large cloud
of energy 
exploded in the dome, filling it with scorching fire. Phaeron was barely
able
 to cast a defensive spell to protect from Kefka's ultimate technique.
	"Reflect!" Phaeron reversed Kefka's spell and attacked him with it.
Kefka was taken aback, and to Phaeron's surprise the blast wasn't as
powerful as the one Kefka had used in his previous battles. "Pearl!" His
next attack was a trio of white spheres that dropped from above and
circled Kefka, damaging in a burst of light. "Still think I'm too weak?"
	Kefka covered his injuries with his arms and landed. "You... will
regret this! Havoc Wing!" His wings whipped out four large iron feathers
each. Phaeron leapt away to avoid them, but was left open for the next
attack. "Quartr!" Suddenly a large black orb sprouted from Kefka's palm.
The orb came dangerously close to Phaeron, who absorbed the blast. His
energy dropped tremendously. "Now I shall crush you like the insect you
are..." Kefka cackled maniacally. In the blink of an eye, he brought his
massive foot upon Phaeron's body. He recovered at the last possible
second, "Meteor!" A rift in space opened behind Kefka, pummeling him
with a meteor shower. "And now... Flare Star 
revised!"
	Phaeron stretched his palms forward and a large red sphere was thrown
forward, shooting several beams of its own, and blew Kefka right out of
the dome into the ocean below. Phaeron, exhausted, looked over the edge.
He didn't see Kefka anymore. Worn out, he simply put his hands on his
knees, catching his breath. He was about to use his Cure 3 spell when...
	"Phaeron-kun, you all right?" Ranma-chan came in through the door he
had seen earlier. She rushed up to him, but he scampered away from the
edge before she could reach him.
	"How did... Did Coldfire...?" he looked at her surprised.
	"Piece of cake," she said, beaming. That was odd. Coldfire was never "a
piece of cake" when they fought him.
	"And to think I sent Crystallus to help you," Phaeron said. He felt
relieved to see she was all right, but when he looked at her he noticed
a tattered ponytail on the back of her head. Her red eyes gleamed in
anger.
	"Hiryuu shoten ha!" she drove her fist upwards. Phaeron barely managed
to ride the current and land on his feet.
	"You again! You got a lot of nerve by using that image!"
	Doppleganger then morphed into Crystallus, "Do you prefer this one?" he
transformed into Palidor, "Or this one?" he then changed to Phaeron's
image, "And how about this one? Nah, I think I like this one MUCH
better," he turned into Ranma-chan again. "This little broad has a lot
of power. I would like to
use Kefka again, but this will do nicely."
	Phaeron looked at "her" incredule, and somewhat relieved, "You mean YOU
were Kefka this time? He IS dead then?"
	Doppleganger laughed, "Yep. That bastard is dead and buried. The only
thing that's left of him is that ridiculous feather he put in his hair,
though Coldfire's  still got some of his sick and twisted mind. You
gotta hand it to him, nobody's as  good as Coldfire when it comes to
cursing and possessing other people's bodies."
	Phaeron tried to clench his fists, but somehow was unable to. He
decided to stall Doppleganger until she transformed into someone else.
"To think you were the student of Gogo..."
	"What, that old rag? Don't insult me! I don't 'Mimic' other people, I
BECOME other people. And come to think of it, I can't even remember what
I look 
like!" Doppleganger cackled.
	"But surely you can't transform into people you DON'T know."
	Doppleganger was outraged, "What did you say?! I can turn into whoever
I want! But I won't fall for THAT old trick! Instead..." she transformed
into
Mrs. Saotome, complete with katana. "You wouldn't attack her mother
either, would you?"
	Phaeron swallowed hard. Taking the advantage, Doppleganger charged him,
morphing back to the redhead along the way, and delivered multiple kicks
to Phaeron's gut. He fell back, staggering.
	"You..." Phaeron managed to say. His stomach burned in pain.
	"Idiot!" Doppleganger shot a Moko Takabishya at him. Phaeron created an
aura shield to defend himself. Again Doppleganger attacked with a flurry
of punches and kicks, but Phaeron only parried. If this went on, he
would surely lose.
	"Alright," he tought, gritting his teeth. He closed his eyes tightly,
"I'll teach you to use her image... RANDOM FIST!"
	Phaeron delivered a shower of flaming punches at Doppleganger, who was
barely able to block. She leapt away from Phaeron and shot another ki
blast. This time Phaeron leapt over it. "Vanish!" he shouted, and he
disappeared from sight.
	Doppleganger looked around for him, but there was a complete silence.
Not even his presence could be felt. Annoyed, Doppleganger brought her
hands upwards.
	"If that's how you want it, fine. DEMI!" A large black ball, like the
one Kefka had used, shot out of Doppleganger's hands and easily found
Phaeron, striking him fully. Phaeron fell to the ground, nearly
unconscious.
	"And now for the finish..." Doppleganger opened her hand like a spear,
prepared for the last blow.
	Phaeron got to his feet. He looked at Doppleganger, who was still in
her female Ranma disguise. No, it was no good this way. Phaeron closed
his eyes. He heard a voice calling, but he ignored it. He had to forget
who Doppleganger was imitating. Calling his aura, Phaeron slowly
stretched his hands upwards, making a fist with them.
	"DIE!" he heard Ranma-chan's voice, used by Doppleganger. As the double
charged, a large, golden sphere of light surrounded Phaeron's hands.
Then a white sphere circled around them, followed by a red and a blue.
The three spheres circled the Golden Bird in a triangular formation.
Doppleganger was less than eight feet away.
	Five feet.
	Point-blank range.
	"Golden Birds of Fire Strike!" Phaeron shouted as he brought is hands
down on the enemy. Doppleganger's hand was already tearing through
Phaeron's torso as the copycat was being blasted by Phoenix' full-charge
ki blast.

			*	*	*

	"Akane, you okay?" Ranma asked, slapping her cheek gently. Slowly, she
opened her eyes and sat up on the hard metal floor. 	
	"Where are we?" she asked.
	Ranma looked around, "I don't know, but I guess this is the control
room." Indeed it was: it was a large, dark chamber, lit only by the
dozens of monitors and sensors that lined the walls. And in the middle
of the chamber, there was a high platform, like a cone with its top cut
off. There was a throne-like seat on top of it. As Ranma helped Akane to
her feet, the throne gradually turned to face them.
	"We got to find the others," Ranma said. Already he was looking for an
exit. Akane nodded and walked beside him, trying to find some kind of
mechanism on the control panels so they could open the door. She
suddenly received a message of danger. She bolted around, and was just
able to pull Ranma to the ground as a beam of light was shot his way.
	"What the...?!"
	There was a large robotic creature standing on top of the platform,
aiming its blasters at them. Again it fired, only to find its targets
weren't even near the shots. Instead, they  were falling right on top of
it with a paired jumpkick. The robot turned to a pile of
short-circuiting junk.
	"That, I may say, was not too impressive," a male voice came from every
single speaker in the room. Ranma and Akane backed against each other in
a defensive position. "Frankly, I know of many pathetic warriors that
were more skilled," the voice taunted, knowing exactly how Ranma would
react.
	"Shut up! If you're so cocky then show yourself!"
	A blue flame appeared below them on the floor. They attacked it,
probably because they thought that was where the enemy would appear.
However, they struck only the floor. Before they could recover, a second
flame appeared atop the platform. From it, Overlord emerged. He was a
bald, stocky man with a grave expression. He wore a gray gi over a siver
ninja armor, and also had gauntlets and leg braces. He sneered upon
Ranma and Akane in the same way a king would look at a bug.
	"Welcome to our control facility. We would appreciate your stay, but
unfortunately you will not live much longer. And I will have you know, I
am more skilled than you two put together. And there is simply no way to
outsmart me." He smirked evilly.
	"We'll see about that!" Ranma leapt up to him with a jumpkick. Overlord
didn't even move, and Ranma was blasted towards one of the control
panels.
	"Ranma!" Akane called.
	"Why you..." he said, getting to his feet.
	"Now do you see?" Overlord floated down to the main floor. "If you were
simply to accept death quietly--"
	Ranma cut him off with a slice kick to his gut. Overlord brought his
arms downward and grabbed Ranma's foot. Putting pressure, he pushed
back, launching Ranma into yet another panel.
	"Hiyaa!" Akane tried to punch Overlord's side, but was firmly halted by
an aura shield. He turned to her, and the shield blasted her a couple of
yards
away.
	"Akane! Now you've done it!" Ranma charged at Overlord with a punch. At
the last second he dove beneath Overlord's counter and splashed his arms
against Overlord's legs, "Shichu rakuchi-sei!" However, Overlord
followed the technique and split, his legs in a 180 degree angle. From
that position he shot his palm several times at a confused Ranma before
finally standing and kicking him across the face. Ranma fell backwards,
dazed.
	"There is no techinque I am not familiar with," Overlord smirked, "You
cannot take me by surprise, as I already know all your moves and when
would you use them. Just allow me to kill you painlessly and this will
be over for you."
	"Never! Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!" Overlord took the full brunt of
Ranma's 765 punches. He was flung back against the base of the elevated
platform. "Hah, you're sure you know all my moves?" Ranma grinned at his
fallen opponent.
	"That was even more foolish than you realize," Overlord stood, unhurt.
Ranma couldn't believe it. That guy... had taken ALL his punches... and
was STILL STANDING?!
	He charged Overlord again. The ki master closed his eyes and stretched
his arms outwards. He was completely open. Ranma was on him in a flash.
"Kachuu Ten--"
	"Mirror Counter!" Overlord struck Ranma with his own Chestnut fist,
which was even faster than Ranma's. While the opponent was dazed,
Overlord opened his arms again and suddenly brought them to Ranma's
sides, "Crush," he simply said. A searing pain ran across Ranma's sides
as an invisible ki blast caught him like a crab's claw. He bellowed in
pain as all other sensations were blocked out: he heard Akane shout, but
couldn't make out what she was saying. Then, just as the energy began to
reach his lungs, the blast stopped. Falling to his knees, Ranma saw
Akane standing behind Overlord, her fist smashed against his back.
Overlord just turned to her as if to swat an annoying 
insect.
	Akane took a step back, trying not to show fear to the enemy. She took 
another. Overlord looked at her amused. He began to laugh. Taking this
chance,
 Ranma tried to tackle him, but was stopped by an aura shield. Overlord
was
still laughing.
	"To... to think that you... that YOU would try to... defeat ME!" his
laughter went on. Pissed, both Ranma and Akane tried to punch him. He
simply took their hands and swung them around. Both of them crashed into
more panels in opposite sides of the room.
	Overlord stopped laughing, "How careless... Do you have any idea how
much those computers and monitors cost these days?"
	"Shut up you jerk!" Ranma threw himself to the floor and rolled on his
back, lunging at Overlord with a sliding kick. Big mistake.
	Overlord grinned, "Fool." He stretched his palms down on Ranma's right
leg, "Pressure," he said calmly. Ranma's leg was crushed like a bread
stick.
	"Ranma!" Akane cried. He just pulled himself away from Overlord, his
eyes burning as tears of pain flowed from them. Overlord waited for him
to get
on his good left leg. Akane rushed up to him, getting Ranma to lean on
her shoulder.
	"You bastard..." Ranma muttered.
	"How many more limbs shall I crush before you accept defeat?" Overlord
said. "Just look at yourself: You are battered and bruised, yet I am
unhurt."
	"Not for long!" Akane leapt at him. She fainted a jumpkick but then
dropped down on the floor and delivered a powerful punch at his gut.
Overlord
staggered back.
	"To think so much power can be contained by a mere wench," Overlord
grabbed her fist with both hands, "You are but a disturbing insect..."
Before he could throw her away, he was suddenly being struck by Ranma's
Hakuda toshin-sho all along the sides of his back. He took the blows and
whipped around. "Mirror Counter!" He sliced only the air. Ranma and
Akane were gone.
	Overlord stood upright and looked around him. They had effectively
vanished from sight. He couldn't even trace their ki. "Try as you may,
you cannot evade me for long! In fact..." he looked directly above him,
"I am now aware of where you are..." he grinned as he saw Akane
scampering up the pipes in the ceiling. Just as Overlord was about to
strike her down, a blue ki blast knocked him against the panels. When he
turned around, he saw Ranma standing behind him, his hands outstretched
as if he had thrown a Moko Takabishya.
	"Very cunning indeed," Overlord said. "And selfless too: despite your
own condition, you protect your fiancee."
	Ranma and Akane stared at him surprised, "How do you know we're
engaged...?"
	Overlord smiled, "Did I not tell you I know all about you? That blast
was a lucky shot. There will be no more surprises. Mirror Counter!"
	Ranma rolled to the side to avoid Overlord's blast. His left leg was
burning in pain. He had to finish this quick or else Overlord would wear
him down, and then...
	"Overcast!" Suddenly the room was filled by Overlord's smoke-like aura.
Ranma was blinded. From above, Akane was able to see Overlord dashing
towards him.
	"Ranma, look out!"
	He was barely able to avoid his next Pressure attack, which was now
aimed at his head. Ranma punched him, but Overlord stopped him with his
own hand and applied pressure. A burning spark traveled down Ranma's arm
as now his hand was being broken. In that position, there was no way he
could counter. He would only manage to touch Overlord.
	Wait a minute. Overlord said he was aware of his techniques, and when
would he use them. He wasn't aware of the techniques he hadn't mastered
yet. That's IT! Use a technique he IS NOT aware of! A technique Ranma
wouldn't use! A technique that he is still learning!"
	"Gray Touch technique!" Ranma shouted as he put his hand on Overlord's
arm. Terrified for a split second, Overlord released his fist. Nothing
had happened, of course. Ranma didn't even know HOW to use the Gray
Touch. But he
had provided enough diversion. "Hiryuu shoten ha!" 
	Overlord was flung up to the ceiling, being smashed into it as he went.
As the whirlwind continued, Ranma could almost feel Overlord weakening.
Akane jumped down to the elevated platform and tried to shield from the
strong wind.	A body came crashing down next to her. Overlord got
immediately to his feet and grasped her. He didn't realize he was
standing with his back to Ranma.
	"That was a wise move, but now you have no more 'tricks' to play with,
little boy. Show yourself, or else your woman shall suffer!"
	Ranma found a microphone next to him. Using it, he managed to hide his
voice as he answered, "So who'd want a kawaikunee tomboy anyway?"
	Overlord was as surprised as Akane, perhaps even more. She glew bright
blue and whipped out her mallet before Overlord could notice. Ranma
quickly jumped to the platform and landed behind him. "You baka! Baka!!
BAKA!!!" Akane tried to pound Ranma with the mallet, but hit Overlord
instead. The platform
crumbled with each wham, crash and slam that echoed in the chamber.
Ranma put a hand on her shoulder, "Nice work, Akane. I knew you'd do
that." He grinned. She slammed him too. "You could have at least WARNED
me, you thoughtless
jerk!" She stepped on Overlord as she id so. Then his aura expanded,
knocking them both to the ground. Ranma was able to shield Akane from
hitting the floor with his own body, which added to his injuries. When
the aura receded, a very angry Overlord was looming above them, on the
platform.
	"It was unwise to upset me! Now I shall play with you no more! Crush!"
He clapped his hands, a powerful blue aura following his actions and
missing
Ranma and Akane by only a few inches. Akane quickly helped her fiance to
his good leg.
	"You've already lost, pal," Ranma said. He turned to the panel next to
him, "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken revised! Tenshin Amaguri shiroshou!" He
speared the panel hundreds of times each second with the White Touch
Palm, blasting thousands of metallic shrapnel towards the unguarding
Overlord. As each shard hit the enemy, a deep hole was being dug in the
panel by the 
combination attack. Without warning, Ranma hit a water pipe. A largspout
 came from the conduct, and Ranma's attack was halted He still didn't
know how to use the White Touch on water.
	"Now you will die!" Overlord thrust at him with another Pressure blast,
but Akane managed to pull him away at the last second. There was no time
to
hesitate now. It was do or die!
	"White Touch!" Ranma darted his palm at the water spout. Even he was
surprised to see the water _bend_ to his commands and wash away
Overlord. "So THAT'S how the old ghoul does the Shark Fist..." Ranma
thought. Using both palms this time, Ranma continued to blast Overlord.
But this kind of attack would eventually wear him down, and Overlord
still wasn't very damaged. Then an idea came to him.
	Concentrating, he managed to summon a red aura. With that much heat,
the water evaporated when he touched it. Now Overlord was the one
blinded by the steam. Ranma dashed towards the platform, passing
Overlord along the way, and leaned back against the base. He was
exhausted: this would be the last attack. He couldn't afford any
mistakes.
	"PRESSURE!!" Overlord came out of the steam and charged Ranma. He aimed
for his head. Waiting until the last possible second, Ranma sidestepped
and flung himself to the floor, nearly losing consciousness. Overlord
then crashed through the platform's base, which had already been
weakened by Akane's pounding from before. Then the entire chamber
collapsed.
	Akane desperately tried to drag Ranma out of the room, now that the
hatch had fallen and the door was open. The last thing she saw in the
room was Overlord, being buried by equipment and thousand-pound
machinery. There was a final scream, and a cloud of dust filled the room
before Akane could see more.
	"Ranma! Ranma, wake up!" she called as she shook him. He slowly opened
his eyes, "Did I get him?"
	She shook her head, "No. He got himself."
	He weakly got up on his elbows, "We gotta find them..."

			*	*	*

	"Moko Takabishya!"
	Coldfire easily avoided Ranma-chan's blast. He then dashed towards her,
turning left at the last second just as she tried to kick him. Then he
bounced off the wall and rammed her, using his own version of the
Blazing Bullet. She was nearly sent off the cliff, but as she fell she
drove Phaeron's staff deep into the ground and held on. Springing off
the staff, she jumpkicked Coldfire but was stopped by an aura shield,
which he used to swat her away. Her back crashed into a pipe on the
wall. As she bent backwards, a sharp burning pain ran across her spine.
She didn't feel her legs anymore.
	"Idiot..." Coldfire walked over to her. She helplessly tried to get up,
but her legs kept rebelling against her will. "C'mon!" she said
desperately, seeing Coldfire looming over her with a ki blast in his
hands. He reared them back, to his right, perfectly vulnerable to
Ranma-chan's faint. He was about to release when suddenly she grabbed
hold of the pipe in the wall and trapped Coldfire's neck with her legs,
then she pulled him above her and smashed his head against the wall.
While he recovered, she sprinted away from him, but then the effect of
her many injuries kicked in and she flopped down on her knees.
	With a great effort, she staggered to her feet and slowly circled
Coldfire, who was still mostly unhurt after all this time. She, on the
other hand, hadn't expected the demon to be so skilled --or so powerful.
Not even the fight with Herb had been so one-sided.
	"You surprise me," Coldfire said. "Lesser people have died with just
one of my attacks." She didn't answer. She slowly tried to get back
Phaeron's staff, which was why she circled Coldfire. Unfortunately for
her, he already knew what she was doing. "Heh. Do you think that piece
of wood can be used against me? Only the bird-brain Phaeron is can know
how to use its power. And besides..." he added with a wicked smile,
"Doppler has surely killed him by now." She took a step back, startled
that his statement might be true. Taking the opportunity, Coldfire
stretched his hands upwards and charged a ki blast. She tried to jump
away, but this time her entire body calmly lost all its will before the
blast slowly engulfed her.
	Coldfire walked vehemently towards her. She was lying face-down on the 
ground, barely conscious. He grabbed her by the hair with his left hand,
 easily bringing her upwards. Ranma-chan hung limply from his hand. "I
have to say, you still pose quite a challenge," Coldfire said, smirking,
"though your feeble skills can't measure up to my might." He reared his
right arm back, its claws glowing in pleasure. For a moment, he could
almost hear something crash through the wall. "I would say I'd miss
having such enemy, but of course, I'd be lying. Now, prepare to return
to the spirit world... the place where you should have stayed!"
	He thrust his claw forward. A shower of sparks covered him.
	"What the hell?!"
	Crystallus had changed to his crystalline appearance, and was hovering
just between Ranma-chan and Coldfire. The ki blades had struck his
chest, causing null damage. Without a word, Crystallus attacked
Coldfire, flapping his wings all around him. The gale winds caused by
the flapping threw Coldfire off his feet and into a wall. Ranma-chan
fell idly to the ground. Turning to her, Crystallus settled next to her
and spread his wings.
	"Niveous Flames!" he shouted, and his entire body glowed as his healing
magic began to work its effect on the girl. She weakly opened her eyes.
In a few seconds her strength was beginning to return. Aware that
Coldfire might attack, Crystallus also created a thick aura shield
around them. Ranma-chan finally got up on her elbows, bringing her knees
in beneath her. Coughing, she staggered to her feet. "Be careful,"
Crystallus said, "you have taken a powerful blow." She felt dizzy,
wobbling to the sides, then shook her head to clear it. "Where's
Phaeron?"
	Crystallus shook his head silently. A burst of anger shot up through
her. Agreeing with her feeling, Crystallus flew around and over her.
"Esper fusion!" he shouted, and Ranma-chan was covered by the Crystal
Armor. It was surprisingly light for its size, almost weightless.
"Remember," Crystallus said, "your abilities are enhanced while you wear
me. But Coldfire is wearing Raven, my opposite. There is no way to
defeat them with mere martial-arts skills, instead you must use your
ki."
	"I know that," Ranma-chan said, relaxing her hands. Coldfire was
already getting to his feet. "Let's go!"
	The aura shield around her disappeared and she charged Coldfire,
dropping to the ground. She rolled and extended her leg to hit him with
her heel, grazing his armor instead. He leapt away, taking a more
defensive stance now that she was wearing the Crystal Armor. "Well, you
are so pathetic you need the other birdie's help to fight me, eh?"
	Ranma-chan got to her feet and spun with a roundhouse to his face,
which he ducked. He extended both of his arms, slashing with the claws.
Crystallus moved his wing to cover her and shielded from the attack.
Then Ranma-chan swept the wing to the side, releasing several feather
darts at Coldfire. He jumped away and remained floating in midair.
	"I didn't think I would use this," Coldfire said, taking a Magicite
stone from his belt. Crystallus opened his eyes widely.
	"No! You have captured our brothers!" he shrieked.
	Coldfire grinned amusedly, "I have. And I must say, they are quite
resistant to me, in fact Stray and Starlet hate my guts, unlike
Tritoch..."
	"T-Tritoch?! You have enslaved HIM?!"
	"Actually, I did not. He even asked me to let him help me! You can't
believe how great a grudge he holds against you and Phoenix, not to
mention Palidor..."
	"Who's Tritoch?" Ranma-chan asked.
	"Someone who would like to destroy you as well," Coldfire said, "but
that is my pleasure. Now, witness your fear! Stray, Cat Rain! I command
you!"
	Crystallus put his wings before Ranma-chan's eyes, "Do NOT look!"
	The Magicite glowed as a large, cartoonish cat bounced all around
Ranma-chan, trying to get her attention. Realizing that she couldn't see
it, the cat smirked in satisfaction and disappeared. Unfortunately,
while Ranma-chan had her eyes covered Coldfire threw himself at her,
completely enveloped in fiery ki. He slammed into her, although the blow
wasn't as damaging as last time. She got to her feet immediately and
dashed towards him, then jumped and came in with a drop kick. He
sidestepped, letting her crash through the ground and leave a large
crater. He swung his backhand around. She surprised herself by quickly
raising her arms, then grabbing Coldfire's and 
throwing him to the wall.
	"How did I..." she said. Crystallus answered, "I told you, your
abilities become enhanced."
	Coldfire stood up again, "In which way they are enhanced is something
we have yet to see." Still not losing his frightening calm, he lifted
his hand and swung it downwards. A moon-shaped ki blade was thrown at
her. She dodged. Before Coldfire could attack again, a yell came from
the wall behind him.
	"Bakusai Tenketsu!"
	The rock pieces hit all of Coldfire's back, although he wasn't hurt.
Then Ryouga, Shampoo, Mousse and Kuno engaged him in close-quarters
combat. He
 leapt away, landing far from Ranma-chan and the group.
	"YOU!" Ryouga pointed at Coldfire with his umbrella.
	"Pigtailed girl! My love!" Kuno glomped onto Ranma-chan, who sent him
into orbit. Kodachi, who was just coming out of the opening made by
Ryouga, rolled her eyes.
	"R-Ranchan...?" Ukyou said weakly, still not recovered from Desperor's
attack.
	"Where did you come from?" Ranma-chan asked, blinking.
	"Ranma?" Ryouga saw her out the corner of his eye, "And where's
Akane-san?"
	"I don't know."
	Ryouga set Ukyou down on the ground, leaning her against the wall. He
covered her with his open umbrella, and used the bakusai tenketsu on the
rock. "Sorry, Ukyou, but that's the only way you'll be safe." She was
hidden beneath the small pebbles he had blasted. But now a great fury
overcame Ryouga, "What have you done to Akane-san?!"
	Coldfire grinned. "Why, I haven't done anything. Overlord on the other
hand--" Kuno landed on top of him.
	"You cad!" he said, "How dare you abduct my loves!" Coldfire easily
swatted him and Ryouga. Shampoo and Mousse assumed fighting positions.
	"Alright, then," Coldfire put his hand on the belt, "It would appear I
cannot kill her comfortably with you idiots here, so..." he pulled out a
Magicite. Crystallus shivered for the very first time. "Now come...
TRITOCH!"
	Thunder rumbled. The earth beneath shook. Then, in a flash of lightning
and fire, a towering creature appeared. It resembled an archaeopterix,
being the mix of a green dragon with large, colored wings and a
bird-like head. Its many hands showed claws sharper than steel. And it
was almost as large as the Yamata no Orochi.
	"Feh," it said in a thundering voice, "Do you want me to rid you of
these feeble creatures? Don't mock me!"
	"Silence, Esper, and destroy them."
	The Tritoch grinned at the insects before it, "Very well..." It spread
its wings outwards in a strong sweep. The troop was thrown off its feet
by the powerful winds. Coldfire charged Ranma-chan, who got to her feet
and leapt away. The Tritoch swung its tail towards the rest of the
fighters, crashing into the citadel's wall instead.
	"Now I shall face you alone," Coldfire said, assuming a fighting pose.
Ranma-chan swallowed. "And since Phoenix and the two others were
probably
destroyed, there is no one to help you."
	Trying to get her confidence back, she stalled, "I never needed help to
beat you before and I won't need it now!" She lunged at Coldfire,
"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!" He leapt away from the barrage and dove
back with a jumpkick, knocking her away.
	"Shishi hokodan!" Ryouga aimed at the Tritoch's head. It simply twisted
its long neck and countered with a bolt of lightning. Mousse threw a
rod, sticking it in the wall and absorbing the energy with it. Kuno
tried in vain to hurt the creature's tail with his bokuto.
	Suddenly, the wall next to them blew up in a blast of ki. Even Coldfire
and Ranma-chan stopped fighting. When the smoke cleared, they could see
Ranma, leaning on Akane, with his palms outstretched after having
throwin the blast.
	"Oniisan!" Ranma-chan called worriedly as she saw his broken leg and
multiple bruises. "Akane-san!" Ryouga yelled at the sight of her, as so
did Kuno. Making maximum use of the distraction, Coldfire and the
Tritoch attacked their respective targets. Ryouga, Kuno and Mousse were
squashed against the wall by the massive tail while Ranma-chan was sent
flying over the cliff's edge.
	"Ranma!" Akane cried. But then Ranma-chan floated upwards, as
Crystallus used his flying ability to save her. Coldfire was nonplussed.
	"Hah. So the birdie still has a few tricks, eh? No matter, I can do the
same." With that, he rose from the ground slowly, lifting a cloud of
dust. He made a beeline towards her, which she avoided only narrowly
thanks to her inexperience in soaring assaults.
	"You can't keep this up forever!" Coldfire smirked, only to find
himself in the middle of Ranma-kun's hurricane punch. He drifted away in
the currents, but came back to the mountain and tried to hit Ranma with
his claws. Exhausted by his attack, Ranma fell to his knees and
inadvertedly ducked the lunge. Ranma-chan floated back to the ground.
	"Very well, it seems I have to dispose of the other sibling also." He
stretched his hands at Ranma-chan, "Crystal Shatter!" Crystallus was
knocked off her body, the pieces of armor flying all over the ground. He
was out cold. Coldfire then turned to Akane and Ranma, "Tritoch!"
	The creature ceased fighting the others and shot a fireball at Ranma
and Akane. Again, she pulled her fiance away at the last second.
Coldfire then attacked them. Frightened he might kill them, Ranma-chan
ran after him, falling right into the trap.
	Coldfire's flight path changed and went around her, suddenly confusing
her. "Now!" he commanded. Tritoch's head darted towards her, the long
curved beak opening as it came over her. Ranma-chan could only see a
dark, terrifying gap closing in on her.
	When the Tritoch removed its beak from the ground, she was gone.
	"NOOO!" Ranma yelled, finding the strength to get to his feet. Akane
reacted in the same way.
	"Pigtailed girl!" Kuno nearly fell to the ground in shock. Enraged, he
stabbed Tritoch's tail several times, large gushes of blood appearing
between the green scales. Ryouga, Mousse and Shampoo attacked
desperately.
	As Tritoch's head reared back, they could see sudden lumps appear on
its neck, each lump surfacing lower down the throat. When they came to
the thorax, the lumps became slower, and weaker. Then they ceased.
	"At last!" Coldfire said in satisfaction. He heard several threats and
shouts behind him as he turned away from the fighters, but nothing
mattered to him now. She had ceased to exist. That was all. He wasn't
sure he was really satisfied with it, after all, it had been Tritoch,
not him, who had killed her. "Do with them as you please, Tritoch. I
have been avenged, and my master has been satisfied."
	The battle raged on for several minutes. Ranma and Akane were still in
shock, unable to help the others. And since Tritoch wouldn't let them
escape, nobody managed to get close to Coldfire. On the other hand, they
were taking quite a beating.
	Ryouga managed to overcome the sorrow and called out, "Crystallus! We
could use some help here!"
	The armor's helmet shifted slightly, its eyes glowing again. Crystallus
reformed himself, shaking his head to clear it. Then he remembered what
had happened. Like lightning, he flew over to Phaeron's staff, which was
still embedded in the rock. Without warning, he heard somebody calling
for him, but it wasn't Ryouga. Smiling in confidence, he flew over and
around the citadel, disappearing from sight.
	"What's that idiot DOING?!" Ryouga protested
	Coldfire turned back, his face crossed with a feeling of complete rage.
"You..."
	Slowly, a powerful, peaceful ray of pure white light came from the sky,
descending upon the citadel. Tritoch tried to cover its eyes with its
wings. A beautiful singing could be heard. And in the middle of the
light, as many glimmering gold lights gathered, an beautiful young
woman, blonde and with
blue eyes,appeared. She wore a pure white gown and had equally white
wings.
	"NO! Not Seraphim! This will ruin everything!" Coldfire tried to attack
her, but the light repulsed him on contact. Slowly, the angel floated
over to Ryouga and the others, opening her arms to them. They felt
strangely healed of all injuries. Tritoch backed away from the being of
light. Then she floated towards Ranma and Akane.
	"You... you're..." Ranma tried to say.
	Seraphim smiled, "No, I'm not your sister's Guardian. But don't worry.
Everything is going to be all right," ver voice was calm, soothing. She
put her hand on Ranma's leg, healing it instantly. The effect extended
to the rest of his body. "And don't worry about her, either. She is
safe. She is simply pretending, so Coldfire would forget about her,"
Seraphim said, smiling peacefully at them as she flew _inside_ Tritoch.
	"NO, NO, NO!" Coldfire said, enraged. The light vanished.
	"What?!" Tritoch felt something move. "Agh--!"
	Using every but of strength she could muster, Ranma-chan pried
Tritoch's jaws open. She held the upper half of the beak with her hands,
while standing on the tongue. That way, Tritoch was unable to attack.
	"P-Pigtailed girl! You're alive!"
	"Ranma!" Akane and Ranma-kun called.
	"Swell," Coldfire said, extending the claws on his arms. "When you need
something done, better do it yourself!" In a blast of wind he shot
upwards to Tritoch's mouth, rearing back both of his claws. A frozen
chill traveled down Ranma-chan's spine. She could only stare at him as
he came in closer for the kill.
	Then, in midair, the wings of his armor were cleaved in half.


Allies for the last time

	"What?!" Coldfire's face was stomped by a crystalline boot. An
armor-clad figure then jumped off him, soaring at high speed towards
Tritoch's mouth. "P-Phaeron?!" Ranma-chan said confused as the original
Phoenix landed behind her, on Tritoch's tongue. He created a ring-like
shield inside the beak to keep it from closing and pushed her out with
all his strength just as the shield collapsed behind them. As they fell,
the armor disassembled and Crystallus reformed beneath Ranma-chan,
carrying her away from Tritoch. Phaeron bounced feet-first off the
citadel's wall and slammed into Tritoch with the Comet Flare, using the
Random Fist in the process. Coldfire hit the ground at the same time.
Phaeron's momentum pushed Tritoch along the ground, towards the edge.
	"He'll need help!" Crystallus said. He released a Magicite rock on top
of Kuno. The stone turned into the sword Ragnarok as soon as he touched
it. "On my mark, release all your ki towards Tritoch!" Crystallus said.
	Tritoch lost its footing and was beginning to fall off the cliff.
Phaeron held back in midair and brought his arms and legs close to his
body. In a blast of light, he released the ki.
	"White Tornado!" he shouted to the top of his lungs as he extended his
limbs. A huge vertical blast of wind engulfed him and Tritoch, splashing
in the waves below and ripping the clouds overhead.
	"NOW!" Crystallus yelled,
	"SHISHI HOKODAN!!" Ryouga shot.
	"MOKO TAKABISHYA!!" Ranma-chan blasted, still riding Crystallus.
	"HIRYU SHOTEN HA!!" Ranma-kun punched forward.
	"ATATATATATA!!" Kuno used his lightning-sword technique with the
Ragnarok, sending thousands of small blasts towards the hurricane. It
absorbed all of the attacks, increasing their power and its own.
Lightning crackled inside the "ki blender" that trapped Tritoch.
	"You won't enslave any more of our brothers!" Crystallus shouted at
Coldfire. "Release!" Suddenly his eyes emmited concentrical waves of
blue. Coldfire dropped to his knees while clutching his head. The
Magicites he held shattered. The rubies inside vanished in a cloud of
red mist just as Tritoch disappeared in a purple haze. Having spent all
his ki, Phaeron plummetted, unconscious, to the raging waters below.
	"Hey!" Ranma-chan pointed at him. Crystallus obeyed and swooped down
towards him at maximum velocity. Even with gravity on their side, they
couldn't reach him. He was falling too fast. "Now I'LL need help!"
Crystallus yelled, the wind boxing Ranma-chan's ears. She tried to
channel her ki towards him. Crystallus was suddenly surrounded by a
white aura. Finally moving fast enough, he moved alongside Phaeron.
Ranma-chan stretched her hand desperately. "Al... most... almost... just
a little more..." She reared back and lunged for 
his belt, "Got'im!" She let her fingers dig deep into his clothing and
she yanked him upwards just as they were reaching the bottom of the
cliff.
 Crystallus swooped horizontally and used his momentum to get back up
while she pulled Phaeron on Crystallus' back. Finally, the white phoenix
landed next to Ranma and Akane. Ranma-chan placed Phaeron on the ground.
	"My God, look!" Akane pointed at him. He was deathly pale, a large gash
opening in his midsection. "I don't know what happened to him, although
it's obvious he was gravely injured. He must have used Cure Three, but
the effort undid the spell," Crystallus said. He quickly covered
Ranma-chan again as the Crystal Armor. "An Esper cannot use magic on one
of his kind. I need you to learn the spell and heal him. Are you ready?"
Reluctantly, she nodded. Suddenly a strange glow surrounded her. "Do as
I say. Your sister already knows how to do this, since I taught her as
well. Now channel your ki towards your hand and aim it at him. I will
now teach you the spell." Her right hand was 
covered by a ghostly blue glow. A few glimmering lights came out of the
glow and whirled around her, then they surrounded Phaeron. "Now I
know..." she said, "This one's called Cure 4..." The glimmers whirled
around him faster, and became larger as more of them came out of her
hand. Phaeron quickly turned back to normal skin color. The wound sealed
up as if it were never made.
	"Stupid..." Coldfire said, staggering to his feet. Controlling
Ranma-chan's actions for a moment, Crystallus sent a massive ki blast at
him through her hands as she shouted something like "Flare!" Coldfire
collapsed again.
	"Where..." Phaeron slowly opened his eyes. 
	Crystallus reformed beside him as Ranma-chan turned back. Akane and
Ranma also turned to him. "Easy now," Crystallus said, "you're with us
now."
	"Are you okay?" Akane asked. Phaeron just sat up on the ground and
looked around him. He smiled, "So, Crystallus, you did it."
	The bird smiled back, also looking at the other people, "After what you
told me, how could I not?" Phaeron started to turn red.
	"Thanks," Ranma-chan said. "I guess I owe you that one." Phaeron turned
to her and violently turned redder. "D-Don't worry about it. You just
repayed me anyway."
	She looked at her hands, "I guess I'm pretty good at spells too, huh?"
	"There's room for improvement though." He grinned.
	"What did you say?!"
	The others were coming up to them too, while Ryouga and Kuno mantained
their watch on Coldfire. Then, suddenly, he vanished.
	"What in the...?" Ryouga started to say.
	Coldfire's voice resounded in the distance, "How very foolish of you.
Even without my Esper slaves, I am still invincible. Using Flare on me
only helped bolster my anger towards you."
	Phaeron immediately jumped to his feet while the others backed to an
attack position. Coldfire continued while Crystallus enveloped Phaeron,
"Don't you realize you are nothing but petty insects to me? I, who once
used the Light of Judgement to burn down entire villages, to be defeated
by such weak opponents? Don't make me laugh..." Phaeron quickly moved in
front of Akane and both Ranmas while Coldfire went on, "But now that I
think about it, you're not
insects..." Phaeron stretched his hands upwards, "in fact, you aren't
even
alive anymore..." Phaeron cast his Life 3 spell on the rest of the
troop, "to
me you are nothing but... GONERS!"
	Phaeron was barely able to cast a dome barrier around himself and the
other three people as the cloud of energy surrounded the entire
mountain. Thanks to his spell, the Goner attack could only cause the
others to faint instead of killing them. Ukyou was still safe beneath
the rocks. When the cloud dispersed, Ryouga, Kuno, Kodachi, Shampoo and
Mousse lay on the ground, next to the wall, completely knocked out.
Coldfire appeared in front of Phaeron, apparently very upset.
	"You..." Phaeron gritted his teeth, "You hurt our friends..."
	Coldfire didn't laugh anymore, "So I did. I would have destroyed them
had you not interfered." He scowled viciously at him.
	Phaeron tried to control himself, recalling what happened before, "I
will interfere in all your plans."
	"Suit yourself. But before I destroy you, I will take their heads..."
he pointed at Akane and Ranma, "Not to mention her soul..." his scowl
nearly forced Ranma-chan backwards.
	"Keep dreaming. The only way you will ever do that, wil be by
destroying me utterly. But you are powerless now. You're nothing but a
miserable little wrongdoer," he was purposely upsetting Coldfire, so
that he may lose his balance. "You can't beat us, you demon. We have
improved since our last encounter."
	"Now I'll test that!" Coldfire said, beginning to charge a ki blast in
his hands. Phaeron did the same.
	"Bird of Prey!" Coldfire blasted out.
	"Gold Bird!" Phaeron countered.
	Both blasts were cancelled out by a Moko Takabishya.
	Phaeron turned to Ranma-chan, who had her palms outstretched after
throwing the attack. Coldfire stood upright and examined her.
	"This is my fight too, you know," she said. Not letting Coldfire out of
his view, Phaeron backed up to her. "Maybe, but I can't let you," he
said.
	"Hey, he wanted to kill ME! I can't let him get away with it!"
	"That's why I'M fighting him!"
	"Then just let me fight him," Ranma said.
	 "NO!" they replied. He shrank visibly.
	"Look," Phaeron said, "You really don't know how powerful Coldfire has
become. You can't fight an Esper. Just ask Doppler what happened to him.
I simply don't want any of you to get hurt because of my own mistakes."
	"And what about that, huh?" she pointed at the unconscious fighters,
"That jerk hurt my friends and nearly killed ALL of us!"
	"I really don't care who I have to face first..." Coldfire said, "I
shall destroy all of you anyway." He cracked his knuckles.
	"Remember what the old woman said, Phaeron," Crystallus said. He
disassembled and reformed between Phaeron and Ranma-chan.
	"I..." Phaeron tried to say. He could se she was still determined to
fight. "I... Alright. If you want to, I can't stop you." He took out his
staff.
	Coldfire stood petulantly, "So both of you want to fight me, eh? It
makes no difference." He took a step forward, "This will be the last
time. No ki. No magic. Just plain skill. But you will discover how
foolish it is to face 
me, Coldfire, Phoenix of Gray, in combat!"
	He suddenly twisted and sent out a hail of feathers. Phaeron spun his
staff in front of him and deflected them, while Ranma-chan leapt over
him and jumpkicked Coldfire. He sidestepped and grasped Phaeron's staff.
They wrestled for it until Phaeron suddenly pulled him closer and
delivered a Folding Kick to his gut in a flash of light. Then he moved
under Coldfire and used his staff to pull him over his head and throw
him to the ground. He lunged towards him, but Coldfire handsprung off
the staff and kicked Phaeron's back. But before he landed, Coldfire was
grabbed from behind by Ranma-chan. 
	"You gotta face _both_ of us!" she said as she backdropped him to the
ground. He bounced away and darted towards her with a snake fist. She
dropped and rolled towards his legs while Phaeron grabbed his arm and
pulled him downwards, using his free hand so smash Coldfire's face in
the ground. After impact Coldfire rolled on his back and extended his
legs. Ranma-chan was nearly hit while Phaeron pushed the legs away.
Coldfire leapt to his feet and lunged with a dashing fist. The other two
sidestepped and tripped him at the same time. They immediately followed
up with their rapid-punch techniques, but Coldfire blocked with the
remains of his armor's wings. He then spread his
arms outwards, releasing another rain of feathers. Phaeron managed to
pull Ranma-chan down and then recoiled with a straight uppercut.
Coldfire took the
hit and was thrown upwards. But then he flipped and rebounded off the 
citadel's wall, away from the two. As soon as he landed, he threw a
massive
 shot towards them. The sound awoke the others slightly.
	"Hey! You said 'no ki'!" Phaeron yelled as he created an aura shield.
	"Who said you should trust me?" Coldfire sent out a flurry of small ki 
blades. Ranma-chan pushed Phaeron out of the way and leapt over the
remaing
 blades. Once on the ground, Phaeron's arm shot downwards. "Drill
Blast!" A ki ball dug through the ground towards Coldfire. "Burrow Blast
Shot!" he countered. In the place where the two shots met, a large fire
column sprouted. The rest of the fighters woke up a little more.
	"Blazing Bullet!" Phaeron threw himself at Coldfire through the column.
While Coldfire blocked, Ranma-chan dropped on top of him with a heel
kick.
	"Demolish!" Coldfire shouted. Phaeron was thrown off balance while
Ranma-chan was blown upwards. Coldfire started to aim a ki blast at her
when Phaeron tackled him and flung him to a wall. Now everybody was
fully awake. Coldfire's claws appeared again on his gauntlets. He tried
to skewer Phaeron but was stopped by an aura shield. Then Phaeron
countered with the Random Fist, but Coldfire grabbed both of his arms
and pulled, delivering his own Folding Kick, full charge. Phaeron was
sent to the edge of the cliff, knocked out.
	"Phaeron!" Ranma-chan dropped from the sky and landed just in front of
Coldfire. "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguri-Ken!" Coldfire used his left hand to
hold
her punches with an aura shield.
	"Pigtailed girl!" Kuno called. He immediately got to his feet and
dashed towards her.
	Coldfire clenched his left fist. The shield mimicked, and trapped
Ranma-chan's arms within itself. Coldfire easily pulled the shield
upwards,
yanking her off her feet. He reared his right hand backwards. "Deja vu,"
he grinned. Ranma-chan suddenly panicked and tried to kick him in
desperation.
	"DON'T!" Ranma and Akane yelled. For Kuno, time had suddenly stopped.
	"Third time's a charm!" Coldfire smiled as his right hand's claws
glimmered.
	And he punched.


Grant me the power of Ultima!

	"No..."
	Suddenly all of Ranma-chan's friends and family found themselves saying
that word in unison. Indeed, it appeared time had stopped for every one
of them, even for Coldfire. Ranma-chan even had time to look downwards
as the claws tore through her midsection.
	And suddenly everything was peaceful. She didn't even feel the claws
tearing through her. Only a light whimper came from her mouth, but that
was just a reflex. She found herself incredibly relaxed, her legs had
stopped kicking and now hanged limply. There was no pain. In fact,
everything in her mind was just a haze that blocked out all physical
sensation. She knew the claws had already gone through her and come out
her back, but somehow it didn't matter anymore. She only felt something
when Coldfire's fist caught up with the claws and hit her hard on the
gut, the force sending her off the claws and sailing through the air
slowly, very slowly...
	To say that Coldfire was delighted with pleasure would be an
understatement. Every bit of flesh he shredded, every drop of blood
filled him with pure satisfaction, the claws becoming sharper with his
new glee. He was disappointed at not being able to hold his prize in his
claws, as she was already in the air, but it didn't matter. It was all
over.
	As she flew, Ranma-chan started to feel cold. She hoped someone would
hand her a blanket. Then she realized something. Mr. Saotome wasn't
really a jerk. After all, he had raised her and her brother to be very
strong and skilled. Heck, she owed him for taking Ranma to Jusenkyo. But
her mother... she regretted having lied for such a long time to her. She
only wanted to say that to her. But now she never would. She hadn't know
her for as long as she would have wanted, but she would miss her dearly. 
	Ranma. She understood him now. He was right about her causing a lot of
trouble, and she was sorry about it. But at least they managed to get
along pretty nicely before all this happened. She then thought about
Akane. She really wasn't that poor a cook: she had talent, and with the
proper motivation she would be great in the kitchen. And she knew her
brother really loved Akane. She would have liked to live just a little
longer, to see their wedding, and maybe even become an aunt. That is, if
the other guys didn't stop them. They weren't jerks after all. Shampoo
and Mousse would probably end up together, despite Cologne's protests.
Heh. The old troll would have never
imagined this, but now she actually admired her. She would have liked to
learn more techniques from her.
	The idiot Ryouga. He was probably gonna fry up the place with his
Shishi hokodan. She never admitted it, but he was a good friend
sometimes. He had even saved her life a couple of times, as so did
Ukyou. She hoped they could find someone so they didn't mess up Ranma
and Akane. But then there was Kuno. She would have smiled if she had
time, for she didn't consider him a jerk anymore either. He was a little
slow, but the guy always looked after her, even when she and her brother
were still one. Ironic. She never thought she might actually appreciate
Kuno.
	The impact from Coldfire's fist then cause her to bend over a little in
her flight. She stared peacefully at the trail of blood that poured from
her, but it was very faint to her eyes. Beyond, she saw Coldfire. She
tried to hate him, but she was overcome by such a marvelous feeling of
detachment she managed to forgive him for murdering her. Besides,
everything was so calm, she didn't want to become upset...
	Akane couldn't believe what was happening. She felt like she was
watching a silent picture, as she didn't really think this was
happening. It was another of Coldfire's tricks. Yes, that HAD to be it!
Ranma-chan couldn't just let herself be killed like that! What was that
baka thinking?!
	But as she and Ranma contemplated what was happening, the horrible
truth entered their minds: Coldfire had killed Ranma-chan, right before
their eyes. And there was nothing they could do about it.
	She soflty landed on the hard ground, bouncing a few inches after
impact. Once her back was on the surface, the momentum caused her head
to shift to her left, making her look straight at Phaeron. She felt
sorry for him. She had gotten too angry. But there was something else.
Crystallus had told her
something while he taught her his spells. Something Phaeron had said to
him first. After this ended, Phaeron would surely _vaporize_ Coldfire.
But she didn't know yet what the words "Aris melai kran mac" meant. Poor
Seraphim, she thought.
	The cold she felt became stronger. But then a warm feeling spread
beneath her. She knew it was her own blood pouring out her back that
caused it. It was relaxing nonetheless, and the warmth helped her endure
the darkness that slowly surrounded her.
	But in truth, all of this happened very fast. She didn't have a chance
to say goodbye to anyone. She didn't even have time to close her eyes a
final time. Now, her lifeless eyes stared towards Phaeron blankly.
	"NOOO!"
	Before Ranma could react, Kuno was already at Coldfire's side, using
his Ragnarok lightning sword technique on him like a berserk. As he
pressed, streams of tears came from Kuno's eyes. Coldfire was taken
completely by surprise, but was surprised even more when he discovered
his armor was being destroyed. The strange part, however, was that the
Ragnarok, despite being a sword, had a dull edge. But Kuno's blind rage
was using it to cut Coldfire's armor like a hot knife through butter.
Coldfire tried to put up an aura shield, but it was uttery destroyed by
Kuno and also by Shampoo's bonbori.
	"You...! You...! DIE!" she managed to say, also blinded by fury and
sorrow.
	Ranma-chan lay a few feet away from Ranma and Akane. Panicked and
shocked, they rushed up to her body and kneeled by her side. Crystallus
followed.
	"NO!" Ranma said again as he held her body closely, stroking her hair.
"Please, no!" His shirt and hands were beginning to stain from her warm
blood.
	"Don't do this to us, you baka!" Akane said, crying. "You still have to
live!"
	"My God, no!!" Crystallus said. Then he noticed a microscopic movement
as her eyelids tried to close. "Yes! Yes! She IS alive! We can still
save her!"
	But everybody was too shocked to hear him. Even Kodachi was now
fighting Coldfire. Crystallus saw Phaeron: he was still unconscious.
"Listen to me!" he said. "She isn't dead yet!" he waved his wing in
front of Akane. She only turned slightly to him.
	"It's going to be okay..." Ranma said repeatedly as he cradled his
sister's body in his arms, staring blankly into space.
	"Listen! We don't have much time! Either you do as I say, or she WILL
die!" Crystallus stood in front of Akane, blocking her view.
	"W-What did you say?" she suppressed another sniff.
	"Coldfire missed her heart, but she is still in danger. Now do what I
tell you and she will recover."
	Akane looked up, "R-Ranma?" She saw her fiance, and gasped. He was
completely out of it, babbling repeatedly as he stroked his sister's
hair with his reddened hand Her hair stuck to his fingers, as her blood
began to dry. Crystallus had to slice the air between Ranma's face and
his sister's. "Listen to me! Remove her shirt!"
	Ranma suddenly recovered slightly, "W-What?!"
	"Do as I say or else she won't survive!"
	Ranma then resumed his trance, "We... we have to get Phaeron... Yes...
He knows how to cure you... You'll be alright..."
	"I can't get through to him," Crystallus said.
	"Phaeron is knocked out, Ranma! Listen!" Akane called.
	"I won't leave you here... No..."
	"Let go of her or I won't be able to help!" Crystallus said.
	"Phaeron! We gotta get him!" Ranma got out of the trance.
	"He won't be able to help! Remove her shirt!" Crystallus repeated.
	"How... How can you think about THAT NOW?!" Ranma exploded.
	Akane couldn't bear it any longer, "Ranma! For once in your life listen
to other people!"
	Ranma looked at her, then at his sister's pale face. Akane was already
unbuttoning the shirt. He put his hand on Ranma-chan's face. "This...
this better work..." he gritted his teeth, and closed her eyes with his
hand.
	"You are very brave," Crystallus said. Akane had already taken off
Ranma-chan's shirt. When they turned to the wound, they winced in
disgust. There was a large, shredded gash just beneath her breasts.
Blood still poured 
from it. Ranma-chan was quickly becoming even paler. It had been nearly
two minutes since she took the blow. "We don't have much time,"
Crystallus said. He stood on top of Ranma-chan's belly, extending his
wings to her sides. "LIFE 2!!" Suddenly several glimmers of golden light
came down from the clouds and set down upon her, enveloping her in a
yellow mist. Crystalus' body gleamed with magic. But nothing happened.
Crystallus pressed harder, pushing himself to his limits. Very slowly,
the gash in her torso began to seal, as well as the wound in her back.
Crystallus fell to the ground, utterly exhausted. Ranma-chan was still
pale white. Akane put a hand on her chest: her heart was beating again,
but very weakly. It could stop any minute.
	"I... I can't do more..." Crystallus said, "I've run out of power. We
need help."
	Meanwhile, as Coldfire continued facing Kuno, Ryouga, Shampoo, Mousse
and Kodachi, a small hatch opened on the citadel's wall. A pod armed
with a cannon emerged. There were two teenagers inside the pod.
	"This is gonna be so cool. He he he..." the brown-haired teenager said.
	"Fire! Fire! He he he..." the blond teenager replied.
	They started to aim the cannon at Crystallus, but suddenly a pile of
rubble beneath the pod crumbled and an economy-size spatula cleaved the
cannon's end in half. The pod then bursted upwards to the sky, taking
the deranged weirdos with it.
	"RANCHAN!!" Ukyou cried out when she saw the condition both Ranmas were
in. She dug herself out of the remaining rubble and quickly rushed up to
them. "What..?!" was the only sound she could make after looking at
Ranma-chan.
Ranma just looked up towards her with despair.
	A thought suddenly crossed Akane's mind, "Phaeron! We have to wake him
up so he can do something!" Ukyou was there in a flash, trying to awake
him. "C'mon, you! You gotta help us!"
	Phaeron slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Crystallus,
flat on the ground. The second, was Ranma-chan's body.
	Coldfire had killed her.
	He had killed her!!
	To hell with everything... The Phoenix of Gray was DEAD!
	"C O L D F I R E ...!" he managed to said through his rage. Immediately
he sent out a wave of ki towards his double, squashing Coldfire against
the wall with an immense pressure. The dark armor shattered, then broke
away into tiny shards of crystal. Coldfire himself was starting to bleed
in many places, as the rock wouldn't be compressed any further and kept
pushing him back against Phaeron's ki. But before Coldfire's entire
skeleton was crushed, the wave had ceased. The demon was barely alive.
The other fighters continued to attack him.
	"No... there's no time for that now!" Phaeron said to himself, looking
back at Ranma-chan. Coldfire's attack had been too powerful, nothing
human could have withstood it without dying instantly. Even with his
vast healing abilities, there really wasn't much he could do, especially
if Crystallus had already spent all his power. Unless...
	Suddenly Ranma looked frightened at his sister and put two fingers on
her neck. "NO! Not again!" Her heart had stopped.
	Without a word, Phaeron took his staff and looked away from Ranma.
"Ragnarok! Come!" Immediately the sword came flew out of Kuno's hands
and embedded in the ground a few yards away from Phaeron. Kuno took his
bokuto again. Phaeron took his staff in one hand and held it high above
his head, "Ragnarok! Metamorph!" Suddenly the ruby in Ragnarok's hilt
began glowing and a shower of small white beams came out of it, all of
them hitting the staff. "Staff of Ramuh... better of Megalixir!" Obeying
his command, Ragnarok's power transformed the ancient relic into a small
ceramic urn.
	"This is not enough..." Phaeron thought. He turned back to the others.
Slowly, Ranma placed his sister on the ground. "Farewell..." Phaeron
said, "I would have liked to know all of you better." For an instant,
Akane could see a grave look of sadness in his face. There was no
telling how awful he probably felt. Then his head bolted around, his
face becoming more stern. "Ragnarok, Metamorph..."
	Crystallus groggily lifted his head and saw Phaeron. His eyes opened
widely as he realized what he was about to do. "Phaeron, halt!" He
somehow found the strength to get up and dart at Phaeron, but was
stopped by an aura shield. 
	"Sorry, but I have to," Phaeron said. "Please send her and Seraphim my
message." He closed his eyes, "Good bye, Ranma-chan..."
	Still holding the Megalixir above his head, Phaeron of Fenix shouted,
"Ragnarok! I'M better off..."
	Suddenly every single sound stopped. Even Coldfire and the rest ceased
fighting and turned to Phaeron. Crystallus could only watch.
	"...I'm better off... MAGICITE!"
	Ragnarok's beams soon covered Phaeron like a thousand of burning
needles. Enduring the pain, he grit his teeth as the beams slowly turned
his entire body to stone.
	Coldfire swatted his opponents with an aura shield, "Oh no, you won't
escape ME that easy!!" he shot out a large ki blade at the floating
piece of Magicite Phaeron had become. Just as the blast was about to
make contact, Ryouga dove in for the Magicite and Megalixir, landing
next to Ranma. The rest resumed their pounding of Coldfire.
	"Ryouga? You...?" Ranma looked at him perplexed.
	"Don't ask, just use it!"
	Not knowing how to use a Magicite, Ranma held it above his head and
channelled ki towards it. The Phoenix Magicite began to glow bright red.
Suddenly, Ranma-chan was covered by the spectre of a magnificent Bird of 
Phoenix, large enough to cover the region with its powerful golden
flames.
	"Rebirth!" called Crystallus, completing the technique. The Phoenix
shrieked in reply, and the flames concentrated on its body, causing the
creature to become red. A tremendous heat came from it, but the Phoenix
didn't allow Ranma or Akane to enter its range as it revived Ranma-chan.
Using its own mental powers, it attracted the Megalixir and poured it on
her to speed up the healing. A crystalline glimmer suddenly appeared in
the creature's eye as it realized the magic wasn't working.

			*	*	*

	The trees stretched high overhead, the long trunks becoming lost in the
heights. The soft grass on the ground was warm, almost like a carpet. A
few patches of green were lit by the thin rays of sunshine that filtered
through the distant treetops. There were many exotic plants, but to her
surprise, there wasn't a single animal there.
	Sitting up, Ranma-chan looked around. She was sitting nude on the
grass, alone in that forest, where everything was completely silent. She
got to her feet, noticing how light she had become. She started walking,
with no clear path in her mind. However, soon she came to a place where
the trees were lined in parallel rows, forming a passage of some sort.
There was a powerful white Light at the far end.
	Hesitantly, she walked towards it. As she came near, the sunlight that
came from above turned yellow and gold. The proximity with the Light
increased her feeling of peace with each step. It was so calm in the
Light, she felt eager to join with It. Excited, she smiled and ran
towards the Light. But suddenly a white, wide beam of light appeared
between her and the exit.
	"Not yet," Seraphim said.
	"Huh?"
	"There are people down there who care for you."
	"B-but..."
	"And look..." Seraphim pointed at the space between two trees. An image
appeared, showing everything that had happened since Coldfire struck
her, up until the present, showing how Phaeron had encased himself in
Magicite again in order to become able to use his Rebirth skill.
	"That idiot..." she said, flabbergasted, but not really meaning what
she said.
	"That "idiot" happens to be my honorary brother. And he gave up his
human form, you know. It's not easy to become free of Magicite once
you're imprisoned. Do you have any idea what he had to go through?"
 	Ranma-chan then looked at her brother's image. She had never seen him
like that. And Akane... But what was Ryouga doing? Was he actually
worried?
	"You have to go back." Seraphim said, herself starting to fade into the
Light. Ranma-chan stood in the tunnel, thinking about what was
happening. The
others were trying to bring her back, but somehow she didn't know what
to do. 
	Even though she and Yuannyan had been trapped in the spring for over
1500 years, this was the first time she saw the Light. The feeling of
peace she felt was far beyond anything she had ever felt. She walked
closer to the Light, and took a deep breath. She felt insignificant
before such presence. But as she came even closer, she felt torn apart
by conflicting emotions. A very small part of her wanted desperately to
go back, but the rest of her soul wanted to fuse with the Light.
	She heard a hollow roar behind her. She felt a dreadful cold filling
her body, and she turned around. Far into the forest, in the opposite
side to the Light, there was a large cave. Tendrils of darkness began to
stretch from it, and she somehow knew they were meant for her.
	A few glimmering lights detached from the main Light, whirling around
her in circles, before shooting out towards the Shadows. The tendrils
receded, unable to withstand the power of the Light. But then faint
lines of white came out of the Light itself, embracing her. She looked
nervously at them. Not knowing what to do, she sighed sadly and went
onwards. As she came to less than a foot away, she stretched a hand
forward. An infinite feeling of peace and love filled everything as her
hand touched the Light.

			*	*	*

	The Phoenix disappeared, the Magicite worn out. Many cracks formed on
its surface, threatening to break the magic rock. Ranma-chan was still
lying on the ground, but very slowly her skin returned to a normal
pinkish hue. With new hope, Akane put her ear to Ranma-chan's chest: her
heart was beating slowly, but was beginning to speed up a little. An ear
to ear smile appeared on Akane's face. Seeing her reaction, Ranma calmed
down and smiled as well. Ryouga and Ukyou sighed in relief. Suddenly
Ranma-chan, while still unconscious, began to trash about wildly with
her arms, until Ranma gently took her wrists. Almost by reflex, she came
to rest against his chest, her breathing easy and normal.
	Akane looked at them, feeling her eyes begin to flood. Ranma tightened
his hug on his sister, "It's okay..." he said softly, even though she
was still asleep.
	Suddenly the sound of a blast came from behind, "They need my help,"
Ryouga said as he stood and went back to fight Coldfire. Still, he was
unable to hide his smile.
	"No! Not now!" Crystallus said desperately as he saw the Magicite
shattering before his eyes. Ranma and Akane turned to him and remembered
what had happened to Phaeron. Without giving it a second thought,
Crystallus grabbed the Magicite in his claws and concentrated the last
of his strength on it. "You really are the Phoenix, "he said, "but you
don't have to sacrifice yourself to prove it! Someday you WILL kill
yourself with these stunts! Esper Fusion!" A powerful blast of light
covered Crystallus and the Phoenix 
Magicite. The light then took the shape of a man, and Crystallus fell to
the
 ground, completely unconscious. Phaeron also lied on the ground, face
down.
	"Thanks, Phaeron," Ranma said, feeling his sister turn warmer in his
arms. "We owe you another one." Akane and Ukyou also smiled at the
unconscious Esper.
	Ranma cradled his sister in his arms a few more minutes, nearly
oblivious to the fighting nearby. He was brought to his senses only when
Coldfire, in desperation, used his Demolish technique after getting a
quick breather. Ryouga and the others were flung in all directions as
they were blasted away by the exploding shield.
	Coldfire was a mess.  He only stood in the middle of the crater,
panting, having almost run out of ki. But the fight had been pretty
one-sided: Coldfire was an exceptional fighter, but he hadn't planned on
facing five opponents at the same time. And since they didn't  give him
enough time to summon his ki, it was plain luck he had the chance to use
Demolish. But now that he was ready, he could easily gather his energy.
Idiots. They would regret humilliating the Phoenix of Gray in such
manner. And the master would have Ranma-chan no matter what. Slowly,
Coldfire closed his eyes and stretched his arms outward. A faint glow
surrounded him, as his fiery ki became purple.
	Kuno had landed just a few feet away from Ranma, just between him and
Phaeron. Gently, Ranma covered his sister with her shirt, carefully
buttoning it with Akane's help. Kuno then recovered and turned to them,
his eyes glazing as he saw Ranma-chan. Without a word, he rushed up to
her. Akane was surprised to see him wait patiently as Ranma let go of
Ranma-chan. Kuno held her carefully, not at all in the same way he
always glomped onto her. No, this time he was actually holding her
gently, not daring disturb her sleep. He closed his eyes and let her
head come to rest in his shoulder. For a brief moment, his true
personality appeared, "I'm glad to see you're alright," he
said softly, "Saotome-kun, I don't know how you managed to cure her,
but... thank you."
	"Ranma! Sister okay?" Shampoo asked as she and Mousse approached them,
Kodachi also coming to them. Ryouga was still guarding, waiting for
Coldfire to make a move. Kuno gently returned Ranma-chan to her brother,
then stood up. "Saotome, we have both been wounded gravely by this
fiend's actions. Shall you assist me as I bring heaven's punishment upon
him?" He wielded his bokuto menacingly. Ranma slowly placed Ranma-chan
on Akane's lap and stood. His face was grave and dark. He didn't even
need to speak as the rest fanned out and surrounded Coldfire. Even
Ryouga was impressed by Ranma's expression.
	Phaeron weakly opened his eyes. In pain, he turned to see Akane and
Ranma-chan. He smiled, despite his injuries. But then he saw the others
trap Coldfire. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the aura of his
nemesis.
	He weakly tried to reach forward, "No... don't surround him..." he
said. "Don't surround Coldfire..."
	Among all the present, only he knew what happened whenever Coldfire
became surrounded. But the reason for that is fairly simple: he had
tried to use the techinque several times in the past, when he and
Coldfire were still one: he would use the Stellar Crash.	Of all the
techniques he learned in his life, the Stellar Crash was one 
of the most dangerous. Like Demolish, it consisted of an exploding
shield, but the Crash was more powerful than Ryouga's "complete" Shishi
hokodan. And it meant Coldfire was ready and willing to destroy himself,
as long as it brought death to all those around him as well.
	"Stop..." Phaeron said again, collapsing on the ground.
	Ranma cracked his knuckles. Coldfire's aura was about to move on to the
second phase, and he now held two large ki spheres in either hand. His
enemies seemed nonplussed. "You dare hurt them..." Ranma said, starting
to glow blue, "First you kidnap Akane and my sister, and then you
actually murdered her! You even destroyed an entire world before we met
you!"
	Calling his strength, Phaeron staggered to his feet. Suddenly glowing
red, he shot out a large ki ball upwards, "Flare, revised!" The ball
exploded high up in the air, releasing a shower of sparks. Akane and
Ukyou quickly turned to him.
	"Blue Bird..." Phaeron chanted, closing his eyes. A great sorrow filled
him.

			*	*	*

	Nearly halfway across the globe, a proud airship awaited. It was the
Falcon.
	"I sensed it!" Celes said suddenly. "Phoenix needs our help!"
	"It's a good thing he wrote the instructions," Locke said, showing the
sealed letter he had previously received. "We don't have time.
Setzer..." the white-haired gambler turned to him, as Locke concentrated
on his speed-up spell, "HASTE!"
	"Whattheheckdidyoudothatfor?!" Setzer said rapidly as he manned the
airship's controls. Celes also used Haste on the ship, which darted
towards Star-Peak Mountain.
	They had less than a minute to arrive.

	"You're really in for it, demon," Ranma said. "No matter what, you
won't hurt my sister again!"
	Coldfire's aura had turned violet.
	Phaeron opened his arms, "Red Bird..."
	Forty seconds.

	A few of the plates on the ship's surface bent backwards at the
tremendous pressure.
	"She'snotgonnatakeit!" Setzer yelled.
	Locke and Celes concentrated and glowed green and orange respectively.
"Safe!" Celes called. "Shell!" Locke followed. The ship was shielded by
a magic barrier which didn't diminish the speed.
	Twenty seconds.

	"For all that you've done, we're gonna bring your damn head to the
ground!" Ranma was begining to back up to attack.
	Coldfire's aura was dark blue.
	"White Bird..."
	Thirteen seconds.

	"Can you hold it?!" Locke called Celes. Ten seconds.
	She nodded absentmindedly, "I'm fine!" Eight seconds.
	"IseeStar-Peak!" Five seconds.

	"Get him!!" Ranma and the others charged Coldfire.
	Coldfire's aura exploded.
	"GOLDEN BIRD OF PHOENIX!!" Phaeron also climaxed and dashed towards
Coldfire at top speed, passing the others and grabbing Ragnarok in the
way. The sword became Magicite in his hands.
	 One second.
	Coldfire brought his hands together, "STELLAR CRA--"
	Phaeron crushed him in a bear hug. Time stopped. The airship was in
view. He looked back at Ranma-chan and Akane. "Ranma-chan, I..."
	He interrupted himself. Feeling a gaping void in his chest, he yelled
at the top of his lungs.
	"Ragnarok! Fa kansti aris ULTIMA!!"
	A swelling ball of blue energy engulfed the top of the peak.
	Then the mountain.
	The peninsula.


------------------------------------------------------------------------

			Final Step: Phoenix of Light


Burning Ashes

	When she opened her eyes, she thought she hadn't made it.
	Everything around her was white: before her, to the sides, and even
below her. She sighed. It hadn't worked. Even though she had run away
from the Light after touching it, she had died anyway.
	She became depressed. Not because of dying, but because she thought it
was all her fault. She shouldn't have gotten so angry at Phaeron.
Coldfire had effectively set up a trap to destroy their friendship, and
she had played right into it. If only she had controlled her temper,
they would have probably come up with a plan to defeat Coldfire, in
their own battle grounds. Maybe they would have been able to get Herb's
help, and even Ryuu Kumon and Taro's.
	She thought about Yuan-chan. Her twin was very strong of spirit, like
her mother, but the news would be a terribe burden on her. After all,
Yuannyan was more vulnerable than her.
	But there was nothing she could do now. It was all her fault, or so she
thought: losing her temper with Phaeron... falling for Coldfire's
traps... dragging everybody else to this doomed world, probably getting
them killed along with her... not being able to stay alive any longer...
seeing her brother and Akane with her...
	Her brother? Akane?
	Ranma-chan shot up like an arrow, gasping as she settled down. "Easy,
kid. You okay?" Ranma asked as he saw her sitting up. He held her hand,
as so did Akane.
	"Where...?" she said quietly, looking around. The white light had
receded, and they appeared to be on the deck of a ship, floating in
midair. Ryouga was trying to get his bearings (not that it would have
helped him, though) while the others were simply confused.
	Suddenly startled, she looked down at her body. There was a large tear
in her shirt, surrounded by a wide red stain. She nervously probed the
skin beneath with her fingers, and winced at the pain. She lifted part
of the shredded fabric and saw a large, whitish section of the skin
below her breasts, where Coldfire had struck.
	"Let is heal," Akane said. "Your wound hasn't recovered completely
ye--"
	"Pigtailed girl, thank heavens you're safe!" Kuno glomped onto
Ranma-chan, as he always did. She was too weak to pry him off, but Akane
and Ranma promptly adhered his face to the floorboards.
	"Sorry about that," Ranma said, examining the broken boards.
	"Don't worry, she's seen worse," Setzer smirked as he leaned against
one of the support beams.
	"Who are you?" Akane asked, seeing the three Returners. Setzer kneeled
and kissed her hand, pretending to be a gentleman. "It is a pleasure to
meet you. My name is Setzer Gabbiani, gambler extraordinaire."
	Locke rolled his eyes, "Have you been taking advice from Edgar again,
Setzer?" Ignoring him, Setzer greeted Ranma-chan in the same manner.
	"And where are we?" Akane asked.
	"You are aboard the airship Falcon, the finest in the world," Setzer
helped both girls to their feet. Ranma-chan had to lean against her
brother.
	"And this is our world," Celes said. "Or at least what's left of it."
	"Where's Phaeron?" Ranma-chan asked.
	Locke shook his head, "We don't know. We've been trying to locate him
through magic, but we can't find him."
	"And what happened, anyway?" Ranma turned to them.
	"We're not clear on that either," Setzer said, "All we know is Phoenix
called us, and when we arrived all of you were quickly transported up
here by some kind of glowing shields. When the spell reached us, some
kind of orange barrier protected us from it."
	"But we're sure of one thing," Celes added, "Phoenix used the spell of
Ultima."
	"I don't know about that," Crystallus said as he landed on the ship's
railing. "After all, it is Ragnarok who holds Ultima's power. But if
Phaeron adapted the spell to his ki techniques, then..." His head
dropped in anguish. The three Returners looked at each other nervously.
	"What's Ultima?" Ranma asked. The Returners looked even more nervous. 
As a long silence overcame them, the light around them diminished unti 
it faded. Crystallus was the first to look out the ship. He gasped,
awestruck.
	Ranma-chan saw him, "What..." She too fell silent as she saw the
landscape. The Returners shook their heads gravely. In the place where
the Star-Peak Mountain used to be, now there was a smoldering crater.
The people from nearby villages was beginning to arrive, intrigued after
witnessing the most destructive magic spell to ever appear on the World
of Ruin.
	"How did Phoenix learn Ultima?" Locke asked to his cohorts.
	"I wonder what made him use it. Not even Kefka could take Ultima to
this stage of power..." Celes wondered.
	"I think I know why he did it," Setzer pointed at the crowd from
Nerima. "But where IS he?"
	A few green lights came from below the ship. They shaped into three
thin beams, in which Magicites appeared. The three stones dropped on the
deck 
of the ship, shattering slightly. Crystallus flew over to them. The
Magicites disappeared in a cloud of green dust.
	"They took their Magicites," Crystallus said. "They're back in Esper
World. It's a good thing the ruby didn't lose its glow, otherwise they
would have died." Suddenly his own Magicite rose from the far ground.
Crystallus took it and examined it. Phaeron never left this Magicite.
Something was wrong. A fifth stone appeared in a wide beam of white
light. Seraphim waved goodbye, and went back to the Light, taking her
Magicite with her. Everybody watched entranced as the angel disappeared
in thin air. Suddenly, another Magicite appeared. But instead of
floating from below the ship, it came tumbling from the sky. As it
crashed on the deck, the others
could see it was covered by a faint red glow.
	"Ph-Phaeron?" Crystallus stared at the Phoenix Magicite.
	"WHAT?!" both Ranmas gasped.
	"H-He turned himself to Magicite?" Locke asked.
	Crystallus shook his head, "No, this can't be right..."
	Ranma-chan detached herself from her brother, then kneeled and took the
Phoenix Magicite. It managed to glow brighter one final time before the
ruby in its center suddenly turned deep black. A large crack split the
Magicite in two. Then, with the sound of a shrieking bird, the Magicite
crumbled in Ranma-chan's hands.
	Crystallus bellowed in pain as he flew away.
	Phoenix... Phaeron, was dead.


As we wave goodbye

	The Tendo residence was completely silent, as it hadn't been in ages.
The only sounds that disrupted the silence were the tinklings of
chopsticks against rice bowls as the Tendos and Saotomes had breakfast.
Not even Ryouga, who had somehow found his way to the dojo, dared speak.
	It was now one week after Phaeron's death. After seeing how his
Magicite shattered, the Returners kindly offered to let them stay at one
of their friend's palaces. For over one day nobody could get out of the
shock. Not even the most jovial bards at Figaro Castle managed to
comfort them. They still ate properly and took care of themselves, but
only Kuno, Mousse and Kodachi were able to leave their rooms. The rest
were too upset to even talk. But the ones who took the brunt were Akane
and both Ranmas. Even though he had been with them for only a few days,
he had become a close friend, the person who had finally helped them
remove their curses. Besides, he had been her friend for over 1500
years. And he had died protecting them.
	As they left the World of Ruin through Setzer's X-Zone spell, they all
felt as if they were leaving an old friend behind. When they arrived
back at Nerima, their grief was soon spread to their acquaintances. The
news hit them hard: sure, all of them had faced a deadly enemy every
other time, but this was the first time one of them actually died. 
	Now they were trying to put it behind, with not much success. Even
Kasumi, who usually remained oblivious to all, was visibly disturbed as
she dropped the food that she tried to serve. Both Ranmas still wore
black armbands as well. Nodoka just looked at them uneasy. After they
had arrived, she had been overjoyed to see they were safe, but upon
hearing of Phaeron, she too was overcome by sorrow. She had done
everything in her power to comfort everybody, but the pain just wouldn't
disappear.
	At last, Genma broke the silence, "This tragedy has struck us all, you
especially..." he turned to both Ranmas and Akane, "...but we have to
let go. Our lives still go on, and we can't let pain and sorrow get the
better of us."
	Nodoka looked at him surprised, as so did Ranma-chan. Ranma was just
confused. Neither of them had thought Genma to be actually capable of
showing this kind of concern.
	"Y-you're right, Pop," Ranma-chan said. Ranma and Akane were impressed,
considering she and Phaeron had been close friends since the collapse of
the
Roman Empire, yet she was trying to get over this grief.
	"Ranma-chan..." Nodoka held her hand and smiled at her.
	"B-By the way, Ryouga," Ranma-chan asked, "Why did you help bring me
back?"
	Ryouga crossed his arms, "No big deal. Just that now we're even, got
it?" He tried to look away, but not with much effort. She remembered
when he was attacked by Doppleganger and she helped save him. "Right,
we're even," she smirked at him mischievously, noticing how red his face
was turning. Nodoka
also noticed and smiled.
	Suddenly they heard the sound of a large bird landing outside. Both
Ranmas, Akane and Ryouga nearly yelped at the sight of the black Phoenix
Bird outside the dining room.
	"Jeez, Crystallus!" Ranma-chan said, clutching her chest, "Don't do
that! You looked just like Raven!"
	Crystallus looked at himself, "Oh, sorry. I'm still... you know..." He
shook himself, letting the black downy fall of his body and leaving his
usual white feathers. "Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and see how
you're doing."
	"We're okay," Akane said. "But this will take some time."
	Crystallus agreed, "Yes, it will take time. I had never lost a brother
before."
	"Just how did you meet him, anyway?" Ranma asked.
	"It was a long time ago, about 500 years in the past. Do you remember
whe he told you how he took five other Espers when eescaping Kefka's
tower? Well, in truth he only took four: Seraphim, Crusader, Palidor and
Ragnarok. I was held captive at the tower's top floor. When they
arrived, he freed me from the Magicite-producing machines and I joined
the escape. But that is why I was grateful to Phaeron. Kefka had
intended to use me to increase his power, but Phaeron released me. From
there on, we were like friends and brothers. And I also became aware of
what happened here in you world."
	"He never really explained that," Ranma-chan said, "How did you know
about this world?"
	"There are several different sources, actually. It seems there are
several gifted humans that are able to witness and comprehend what
happens in dimensions other than their own. For example, an alternate
dimension knows of you because of a Japanese comic writer, who
communicates her visions through manga. We, on the other hand, had
Seraphim's help."
	"Who exactly is Seraphim?" Nodoka asked. She had been visited by the
angel-girl while the others were fighting in the World of Ruin.
	"As Phaeron said, she was also a human girl, a gaijin, who drowned in a 
spring as well. And like Phaeron, she was transported to our world,
while the
 Three Goddesses were at war. One of them, called Poltergeist, wanted to 
transform her into a demon, but fortunately a few humans, Phaeron among
them,
 fought Poltergeist. But as the battle finished, Poltergeist sent out a
blast
that turned everyone into Espers. Thus were Seraphim, Phoenix and
Palidor born.
	"Seraphim is really a good friend," Crystallus continued, "Being an
angel, she has access to abilities we Espers wouldn't even dream of
having. And I don't know what powers angels have in this world..." he
turned to Ranma-chan, "but she was somehow bound to you mentally. She
saw everything that your eyes
witnessed. Maybe it is because you and your sister were temporarily
trapped in the spirit realm. But in my opinion, I think it was because
Phaeron personally asked her."
	"Huh?"
	"You don't know him as well as I. While we stayed in Esper World, I
discovered he blamed himself for what happened at Jusenkyo. You wouldn't
believe how troubled he was, nor how relieved he felt upon his return."
	Ranma-chan turned to Nodoka, then looked back at Crystallus, "So what
about Yuan-chan? What did he do when he saw her?"
	"The same thing as when you met him. They were just like old friends.
But you wouldn't believe his face when he discovered your sister is in
love with Prince Herb, considering he nearly finished you and your
brother." Both Ranmas shuddered at the thought of the many times Herb
had _almost_ gotten "them".
	"It was expected, anyway," came a female voice from above, as a beam of
light descended upon the room. "He did save your sister from the spring,
after all," Seraphim said as she descended on the floor.
	"Oh, my," Kasumi stared at her speechless. Nabiki immediately sprinted
for her camera.
	"Seraphim?" Ranma-chan looked at her.
	"Hello, sister, and hello, brother," Seraphim bowed at both Ranmas.
	"She calls everyone that way," Crystallus said.
	"Thank you, brother Crystallus, for telling them about my origin,
though I would have liked to tell them myself."
	"A-Are you really an..." Akane began to ask.
	Seraphim smiled, "Not really. I just look and have the powers of one.
Wait a minute... I look like one and have the abilities, and I can
travel back and forth between the two worlds... Well, I guess I AM an
angel after all!" she giggled.
	"And how do you know Phaeron-kun?" Nodoka asked. Blushing slightly,
Seraphim replied, "Well, um, brother Crystallus has already told you how
he and brother Palidor saved me, right? Well, after the we Returned to
Esper World, our leader, Maduin, thought it would be good idea to engage
me to brother Phaeron." Both Ranmas and Akane nearly choked.
	"Y-You're engaged?!"
	"No, of course not," Seraphim said, smiling amusedly, "I mean, I love
brother Phaeron, but he's just that, my brother."
	"Then why was he embarrassed every time he talked about you?"
Ranma-chan cocked one eye.
	"Oh, that. It's because he also thinks of me as a sister, and is
embarrassed just by remembering we're supposed to be engaged. I wonder
how many Megalixirs brother Maduin drank before thinking up that silly
arrangement..." Akane and Ranma glared at Soun and Genma, who shrank
visibly.
	"Yes, I'd like to know something similar..." Nodoka joined the two and
glared at Genma.
	Suddenly Seraphim's halo glowed slightly brighter, "Hmm. Guess they
need me up there. Before I go though, I'd like to give you something..."
she rummaged through her flowing white gown, "Here, I want you to keep
this."
	She handed Ranma-chan a stone of Magicite.
	"Take good care of that now. It is MY Magicite, you know."
	Akane came up to Ranma-chan. "Why do you give this to us?"
	Seraphim's smile vanished for an instant, "You'll know in time, I'm
afraid. For now, let me tell you it works for bringing somebody back
other than me." She winked at them. Ranma-chan's eyes glazed over at the
meaning of what
Seraphim said.
	"I almost forgot..." Seraphim reached out behind her, "I found this
cute little thing on my way here. Is it yours?" She brought up her hand,
showing P-chan to Akane.
	Ryouga and both Ranmas nearly collapsed. That wasn't a normal black pig
with a bandanna, it was the real P-chan. It even acted like Ryouga.
"Don't worry," Seraphim said to them telepathically, "I just took some
water from the spring and gave it part of brother Ryouga's soul, then
splashed a normal pig with it. That's why it acts like him, but doesn't
know he used to be human." 
	Akane hugged the piggy tightly, "I was so worried, P-chan!" She
immediately
introduced him to Ryouga. Both he and the pig fainted on the spot when
theysaw each other.
	"Well, I'm afraid I must be going too," Crystallus said.
	"Where are you going to go?" Ranma-chan asked.
	"I don't know. This world is in dire need for help. Maybe I'll join
that Greenpeace group or something similar. This world is a large place,
and I have to meet it. I'm certain we'll see each other again soon,
though."
	"And I must go now," Seraphim said. A beam of light descended upon her.
Crystallus simply parted silently. As she waved goodbye Seraphim said
softly, "Just remember what Magicite can do. When you need a friend, my
_brother_ and
I will come. But please, don't kill yourself when you call us..."

			*	*	*

			*	*	*

------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------

				EPILOGUE


For the times that will come

	It was now one week since Seraphim visited. It was morning, and Akane
came into the Saotomes' room, holding a small paper bag. How strange,
she thought, for Ranma-chan to ask her to buy a postcard. But maybe she
just wanted to get in touch with Yuannyan.
	"Ranma, I got your..." Akane opened the door and blinked, seeing the
room was empty. But sprawled all over the floor there were several of
Ranma-chan's clothes. There was also a large backpack in the middle of
the room, which was open. What, was she going out on a trip or
something? Why hadn't she told them?
	"Akane, what's up?" Ranma came up to her and went into the room,
"Sheesh, would you believe this girl?" He started picking up some of the 
clothing. Then he too noticed the backpack. "Huh?"
	"Ranma, where are you going?" Akane asked.
	He shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere." He looked at his sister's
clothes, "What's going on here?"
	"Hey, what're you two doing here?" Ranma-chan squeezed between the
doorframe and Akane, then resumed her packing. Ranma and Akane looked at
each other silently, then at Ranma-chan. 
	"Hey sis, are you going somewhere?" Ranma asked.
 	"Yes, what are you packing for?" Akane followed.
	"I'm just gonna visit Yuan-chan," Ranma-chan shrugged. "By the way, you
got the postcard?" She looked up at Akane.
	"Here," Akane took the card and gave it to Ranma-chan. It had a picture
of Mount Fuji at sunrise. Ranma-chan smiled at it. Taking a pen from her
pack,
she quickly scribbled down a message on the back, then put the card on
the floor next to her. Ranma took it and started reading, "You're
serious about
going to China, aren't you? You wrote here you're going today." Akane
took the
card and verified what he said. She looked silently at Ranma-chan.
	"Today?" she asked. Ranma-chan nodded, not turning around to see her.
Just as she was almost done packing, a black armband dropped from the
clothes. Taking it carefully, Ranma-chan fell silent. She put it on her
arm and turned back to see her brother and Akane. Sighing, she stood up
and faced them.
	"Sorry about not telling you, but... I just need to get away for a
while. I'm not sure when I'll get back, because I also want to train.
That's why I'm sending the postcard today. It'll probably get to
Yuan-chan before I arrive. At least that way nobody will get worried."
	"But why do you have to go like this, all of a sudden?" Akane asked.
After all that had happened, they just couldn't let her go, especially
after
she nearly died. They had finally come to appreciate her as part of the
family.
	Ranma-chan looked downwards, "Because I have to. I just feel like I'm
in the way here." She looked up at Ranma, "I mean, I'm not needed
anymore..."
	He immediately put a hand on her shoulder, "Look, kid, I don't know
where you got that idea, but you're wrong."
	Akane took her hand, "Ranma's right. How could you think you're not
needed here?" She noticed Ranma-chan was beginning to look reassured,
"Besides, who else could attract silliness to the dojo if you're not
here?"
	Ranma-chan smiled, "Thanks. I'm sure gonna miss you, though."
	Nodoka and Kasumi passed by the room. They too noticed Ranma-chan's
pack. "Oh my, are you leaving?" Kasumi asked.
	Nodoka wasn't as surprised, "You're going back, aren't you Ranma-chan?"
Ranma and Akane stared at her perplexed.
	"I already told Mom I was planning on leaving," Ranma-chan explained.
Nodoka noticed she was wearing the mourning armband, but didn't bring it
up to conversation. He had been her friend, after all, it was natural
for her to be
grieving. "Yes, but I didn't expect it to bee so soon," Nodoka said.
Ranma-chan sighed,
	"As I told them, I just want to get away for a while."
	"Don't you think it's dangerous?" Nabiki said as she came into the
room. "You know a girl can't travel alone these days." Ranma-chan fumed
slightly, then recovered, "I can take care of myself. Besides..." she
took a wrapped package from her backpack, "Seraphim's gonna give me a
lift." She showed the Magicite stone in her hands. Nodoka was relieved
by that. She was joined in the feeling by Genma, who also came into the
room. Ranma-chan looked at him silently.
	"I-I'm sorry, Pop," she said. He only smiled in reply, surprising even
Nodoka. "You are too much like your brother," he said. "You have to
follow your own path." Suddenly they heard somebody weeping downstairs,
whining like there was no tomorrow.
	"Oh, father. We left him alone," Kasumi said. But then the weeping
ceased as abruptly as it had started. Genma remembered they were playing
shogi. A look of terror crossed his face as he dashed downstairs, "Don't
fix the game in YOUR favor, Tendo-kun!"
	Kasumi looked back at Ranma-chan, "But won't you stay for dinner at
least? I bought some eggplants at the market a few minutes ago, and I
was thinking of serving them today."
	"Eggplants?" Ranma-chan thought to herself, smiling again as when she
saw the postcard of Mt. Fuji. "No thanks, Kasumi. I've been delaying
this for a long time. if I don't go now, I won't ever get it out of me."
	"Well, whatever happens, Ranma-chan," Nodoka said, holding her, "please
come back soon."
	She returned the hug, "I will, Mom."

			*	*	*

	The Tendos and Saotomes were gathered just outside the gate. Ranma-chan
was still saying goodbye to them, her pack leaning against the wall. As
it turned out, she left until sunset, the street illuminated by a
reddish hue.
	"See you around, Ranma," Nabiki said, not much for feelings.
	"Thanks for the money, Nabiki-oneechan," she answered, grinning. Nabiki
just looked away, annoyed. What was she thinking, lending all that money
to her?
	"Now be sure to eat properly, and don't hurt yourself, and--"
	"Don't worry, I'll be okay," Ranma-chan smiled at Kasumi. "Just don't
let Akane in the kitchen." A wooden mallet crashed on her head.
	"The path of a true martial artist is..." Soun began to say.
	"Dad, you've said that phrase over a hundred times since the series
started," Akane said, "You made your point already." Soun started to
weep, both at Ranma-chan leaving and at the comment.
	"Ranma, train hard," Genma said, trying not to show emotions. "You were
sloppy at Jusenkyo. Train there again." Both Ranmas clobbered him, "Very
funny, oyaji."
	"Be careful, Ranma-chan," Nodoka said, hugging her. 
	"I'll be back soon, Mom. I promise," Ranma-chan said softly. She turned
to Akane, "Sorry 'bout all the bad things I've said about you."
	"Don't worry, Ranma. Just do what Auntie told you."
	"I will, if you promise to stay out of the kitchen..." Ranma-chan
grinned, prepared to avoid Akane's mallet. To her surprise, Akane
giggled. "Just you wait, Ranma. I'll cook you the best dinner you've
ever had when you return."
	"Hey, don't threaten her or she'll never return," Ranma said, being
clobbered by Akane afterwards.
	"You okay, oniisan?" Ranma-chan kneeled beside him.
	"I'm used to it..." he said, although his bruises gave a different
message. "It's sure gonna be strange not having you around, kid."
	Ranma-chan blinked in confusion, "And that's coming from the guy who
always wanted to find Nannichuan?" Abashed, he looked away, only to find
himself being hugged by his sister, "It's okay. I don't care about that
now," she said. He returned the hug, "See you later, sis." 
	"Right. See you later, 'bro'." She let go of him and walked backwards,
coming apart from the group. Sighing, she took her backpack and waved at
them, already a nostalgic expression in her face. Then she trailed off
running,
 without looking back, before they noticed the watery glimmers in her
eyes.
	As Ranma-chan faded into the scarlet-yellow lights of the sunset,
Ranma-kun stared at her silently. For all that time, he had wanted so
much to get rid of her. But as he saw the small figure merging with the
distant sunset, he couldn't help but long for her already. She was
literally a part of him. They had been through many experiences
together, some of joy, others of sadness. But in a way, they had always
helped each other. He didn't care about the troubles she had caused
anymore: deep down, he had fully admitted she was his little sister. And
he just couldn't let her go like that. But he also knew she was almost
identical to him. He was sure she would be careful, and that set him at
ease. Even though she couldn't see him, he waved goodbye at her,
completely silent.
	Then something caught his attention: she had left without the Magicite,
which was leaning against the wall. "Dummy," he smiled and took the
Magicite, running after her as the others went back indoors, completely
at a loss for words. But once they were inside, they weren't able to see
the magnificent brownish-gold falcon that landed on the dojo's roof.

			*	*	*

	"Hey, wait up!" Ranma said as he saw his sister. "You forgot this!"
	Slowing down, Ranma-chan felt a chill when she saw she had left the
Magicite. Smiling, she walked back to her brother. "Thanks. oniisan."
	He put a hand on her shoulder, "Any time, kid. Man, you sure run FAST!"
He put his hands on his knees, catching his breath. "Sorry," she
grinned, sticking her tongue at him. He also stuck out his tongue,
suddenly tasting a wooden sword that appeared before him.
	"Dare you insult the pigtailed girl with such a vulgar gesture?" Kuno
stood in front of Ranma. Both of them bagan circling the other.
	"Come on, Kuno! I'm sick of you doing that! If you like me, just tell
me like a normal guy!" Ranma-chan crossed her arms, annoyed.
	"But I am not a normal man! This boor will not mock you in such
manner!" Kuno slashed at Ranma, who just leapt upwards to avoid him.
	"He's my brother, you idiot!"
	Kuno suddenly stopped. "Y-Your brother?" he stammered. "CAD!" he took
another swipe at Ranma. "How dare you treat your own sister with your
vicious ways?!"
	"Calm down, will you?" Ranma avoided Kuno's thrusts easily. Then he was
suddenly backed againts a wall. Kuno smiled, and sliced with his bokuto.
Ranma ducked, letting the bokuto slice through a lamppost. The post
toppled dowwards, heading exactly towards an unsuspecting Ranma-chan.
	"Pigtailed girl!" Kuno called.
	"Hey, sis! Look out!" Ranma yelled. The lamppost was on top of her
before she realized it. She only managed to bring up her hands to
protect her face...
	But nothing happened. Confused, she lowered her hands and looked at the
fallen streetlight. It was there, alright, but somehow it had bent three
feet above her head. having crashed into an invisible barrier over her.
Ranma and Kuno stared at her, their jaws dropping a foot. A thought came
to her.
	Stretching out her hand, she tried touching something. A silver glimmer
appeared as she seemed to touch a curved wall. Suddenly the entire
shield appeared. It was white, almost transparent, and it was shaped
like a dome around her. A light blast from its top removed the lamppost,
then the barrier vanished.
	Kuno was still awestruck, "Pigtailed girl... y-you are certainly
protected by the spirits..."
	She smiled to herself, looking upwards to the sky. She saw the first
evening star just appearing on the reddish skies. It seemed to glow
brighter in response. Still smiling, she came up to him, "You know,
Kuno? Sometimes you actually make sense." 
	Standing on tiptoe, she put her arms around his neck and hugged him
tightly while Ranma facefaulted. Completely confused and surprised, Kuno
could only return the hug. "See ya, sempai..." she said softly.
	Kuno was frozen like a statue as she let go of him and took her
brother's hand, leading away from the paralyzed Blue Thunder. A crack
appeared on the mental barrier he had mantained for so long, his false
facade of nobility crumbling to pieces. For the first time in a long
time, Tatewaki Kuno acted like a truly honorable human being, "Pigtailed
girl..." he said quietly, "I'm sorry."
	Deciding to let her go, Kuno turned around and returned to his
residence, silently regretting the way he had always treated Akane and
the pigtailed girl. He had nearly lost both of them in the battle a
couple of weeks ago, and he still hadn't learned. But it was different
now. After the narrow loss, the way he looked at them had changed
dramatically, although he didn't show it. Acting rationally for the
first time, he came to a decision. Even if it meant putting aside his
false dignity, he would never again take either one of them for granted.
	"Akane Tendo... Pigtailed girl... I shall protect you both!"
	Of course, you can't expect miracles.

			*	*	*

	"Was that...?" Ranma asked, dumfounded. She nodded. "And why did
you...? Never mind," he decided not to ask her about what she did. Maybe
she hugged Kuno out of friendship, or maybe she felt sorry for him. He
didn't really want to know.
	"Well, guess I better take off," Ranma-chan sighed, unwrapping the
Magicite once more. She hugged Ranma one last time, then ran off again.
But just as she went around a corner, Ranma could hear the sound of
screeching tires and a car horn. Startled, he ran to where his sister
had vanished to. Nervously going around the corner, he only saw a red
Toyota in the street, the driver frightened and confused. Ranma saw his
sister's shoes below one of the tires, and gasped.
	"Don't worry," somehow, her voice was carried by the wind. As Ranma
looked upwards, he could see a wide beam of white light. Inside, he saw
two figures and four white wings. Ranma-chan was being carried by the
four-winged angel. The car's driver looked up in utter amazement, but
then decided he had had too much to drink and slowly backed up, leaving
the scene.
	"Seraphim?" Ranma thought as a large, white feather fropped from the
sky just as the beam of light vanished along with the girls. He gently
took the feather. Suddenly, a torn, black armband also dropped from the
sky.
	"Now I know..." Ranma smiled to himself, running back to the Tendo
Training Hall.
	Like a whisper, a rumor that traveled even through the blades of grass,
the voice of a young Esper was heard all throughout Nerima. It was calm,
spreading a feeling of hope to all those who heard it.

	"Blue Bird..."


				The End...
			...of The Four Birds of Fire

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

	A teaser for  The Caller's Plight, the second episode of "Song of the
Phoenix," follows. Read at your own risk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


AkaneVO:Well, book one of "Song of the Phoenix" is now over. But what's
in store for us now? We made many new friends, and finally Ranma and
Ranma-chan are different people. But Phaeron-kun... and Coldfire... what
happened to them? If Coldfire wanted to kill Ranma-chan because of her
Guardian, then who was it? And how come Auntie Saotome felt like she
already _had_ a daughter?
	Three years have happened since Phaeron-kun died, but _someone_ still
hasn't gotten over it. I wonder, why has Ranma-chan trained to hard for
these last three years? What? She invented a technique named "the
Caller"? But what for...? No! Don't use the Caller, Ranma-chan! The
Caller will kill you!
	Next time, in The Caller's Plight, find out what happened after TFBOF's
prologue. Did she die using the Caller, or did she bring Phaeron-kun
back to life? Who was Coldfire's master? Well, everyone knows that a
phoenix can come back to life, but what if by bringing him back
Ranma-chan gets us all into even more trouble? And--
	What?! What do you mean I grow wings?! 

RanmaVO: Wow. Not only are you built like a stick, but you got wings
too!

AkaneVO: Will you SHUT UP?!

RankoVO: Gee, oniisan, you'll never learn to keep your mouth shut. Uh?
What? Oh, yeah, they call me Ranko now. You're not gonna believe the
stuff that happens to us in TCP. You won't believe what happens to me
and Mom! For those in the know, TFBOF was a crossover with some RPG
called "Final Fantasy 3," and TCP will be a crossover with the entire FF
series and a game called "Chrono Trigger." Don't worry if you don't know
'em. You'll catch on quickly even if you never heard of them. Meanwhile,
here are some quick quotes from TCP, to pique your interest. See ya
there!



	"You died twice thanks to me... AND THERE WON'T BE A THIRD TIME!!"
		--Lael Phaeron 

	"Thou hast hurt me! Thou art DEAD!"
		--Mireillia, Esper of the Nightmare

	"How can it be over, when it has only just begun! And your death has
only commenced!"
		--Kefka (the real one)

	"For Ranma, for Ranko-chan... for _myself_!"
		--Akane Tendo

	"She's right... The madness ends here! So swears Raphael of Fenix!!"
		--Raphael Coldfire

	"I AM THE DEVOURER... COME INTO THE DARKNESS!"
		--Lavos

	"Father?!"
		--Herb of the Musk

	"Perhaps I should start explaining."
		--Pax Angelum Femina, aka Nodoka Saotome

	"If Shampoo ever find Mink again, Shampoo KILL!"
		--Shampoo

	"I'm here to restore the honor of my clan, and to avenge Pink and
Link!"
		--Mink

	"You actually peed on me."
		--Nabiki Tendo

	"Oneechan, it's only a bra!"
		--Yuannyan Saotome

	"Yesss... Fear... Such glorious FEAR!"
		--Debilitatis Cor, Coldfire's master

	"I am the Caller!! And I want an ANSWER!!"
		--Ranko Saotome

	"I... I love you...."
		--?????  (One of the main characters ^_^)



					Song of the Phoenix, Book I:
					The Four Birds of Fire
					by Jorge A. Pratt
					al709382@campus.ccm.itesm.mx