Disclaimer: Congratulations! You have made it to the final chapter!
Hurrah!
* *: Thoughts
[" "]: Telepathic communication
^^ ^^: The Almighty is speaking (ignore him and suffer the
consequences)
Chapter 37
Through the Flow of Time
In a place that was nowhere, yet everywhere, a lone figure floated in a
sea of absolute, white nothingness. He was a handsome teen of
seventeen with a lean, muscular body and black hair done in a loose
ponytail. It appeared that he was asleep, but after an unknown
amount of time, he opened up his eyes and saw an infinite amount of
nothing.
Ranma Red looked down at himself and found himself both naked
and semitransparent. His clothes were gone and so was the Light Star
Blade. He could see the inner tissues of bone and muscle as if his
skin was like clouded glass. He could see the healed fissures in his
arm bones from injuries long-since sustained through a near-lifetime
of martial arts training. He stared at his veins as his blood rushed
through them in their normal circulatory patterns. He could see his
lungs rising and falling with their normal rhythms and his heart
beating away endlessly to keep the blood flowing. It was if he was
being given a an extraordinary view of his bodily function, which
meant…
*Well, I guess I'm not dead. I suppose that if I were dead, then I
wouldn't need my body to keep on functioning. But… where am I?*
He took another look around to his surroundings and still saw
absolutely nothing. It was if the entire universe had been painted over
in white. Ranma Red began thinking back to the battle at Jusenkyo
where he and his brother had fought Sharoka's champion. The twins
had been forced to use the dreaded Giga Slave while using Ranma
Blue's elemental powers to control it. The attack worked and the
Destroyer had been totally annihilated. However, Sharoka had
cheated and had used some unknown power source, to destroy the
Amazon village and everyone in it. He then prepared to destroy the
Earth along with the Ranma Twins, but he had lost control of the
crystal, which destroyed him and then shattered apart. The last thing
Ranma Red remembered was a blinding white light and now he was
in this place with no name.
His expression became saddened as he remembered the destruction of
the Amazon village. In less than an instant, the evil king had
destroyed all the people that were closest to his heart. One person in
particular meant just about everything to him.
"Shampoo…"
He began crying as he recalled the last time he was with her. They
had been so happy as they had spent the morning making love. He
had planned to give his wife a surprise after the Contract had been
fulfilled. Her fondestwish was going to become reality. The mystic
twin had used a different spell that morning, which was the direct
opposite of the one that prevented the Amazon from becoming
pregnant. They had conceived and he even knew what gender their
child would be. Her death and that of his family made the entire thing
more tragic. Everyonewas gone. His mother, his newly adopted
sisters, his great-grandmother-in-law, his wife, his sister-in-law, his
bother…
It was then that he realized something. *Hey, wait a minute! If I'm
alive, then…* He decided to test out his theory. ["Blue! Are you out
there?!"]
He waited in silence for any answer but received none. Thinking that
he wasn't concentrating hard enough, he tried again. ["Bro! Are you
out there! If you're still alive, please respond!"]
Ranma Red waited and had his senses on alert for even the tiniest
response. Finally, he received something just at the edge of his
perception. It wasn't a telepathic message , but more of a sensation. It
was a slight tingle, like a small spark of static electricity. It wasn't
much, but it was better than nothing, which incidentally this place
consisted of. He couldn't tell how far the signal was, but he just had
to get there. He tried to move toward the signal, but with nothing to
push against, he didn't get very far. It was like trying to swim in the
vacuum of space without anything to propel him. Then he got an
idea.
He began making an internal check on himself and found out that his
ki had replenished itself somewhat. Twisting his body around so he
was facing away from the signal, he began focusing his inner
energies. A bright yellow ball of chi formed in his hands.
"MOKO TAKABISHA!"
The chi blast exploded from his hands to go off streaking toward
infinity. At the same time, Ranma Red was propelled in the opposite
direction. Newton's Law that every action has an opposite and equal
reaction was validated as one half of the Chosen Twins was sent
hurtling toward his destination like a rocket.
Although he had no structures or any point to use as a reference to
gauge the speed in which he was traveling, he could tell that he was
going very fast as the signal he picked up was becoming stronger
with every passing second. He then became elated as the signal
became clearer and then… a message.
["Red! It's you!"]
Ranma Red let out a whoop of joy as he saw the figure of his sibling
out in the distance. Like himself, he too was nude and
semitransparent. But that didn't matter at the moment. At least they
were no longer alone.
The two embraced each other in a bear hug when they came together
and let out tears of happiness at finding each another. After breaking
the hug, and pushing away enough to hover within two feet of each
other, they looked at each other's appearance.
"You found yourself bare-bottomed in the breeze too, huh?" Ranma
Blue asked as he saw that his brother was also without a stitch of
clothing.
"Yeah, well it's not like there's anyone around that can see us. I guess
that whatever happened to us blew our clothes and weapons away."
"You don't have the sword?"
"Nope. I can see that you don't have the hammer either. Hey, what's
that?" Ranma Red noticed that his brother had something in his hand.
It appeared to be a prism-shaped piece of red-colored glass,
approximately four inches in length.
"Oh this?" Ranma Blue held it up. "I'm not sure. When I came to in
this place, I found this floating beside me. I didn't know what to
make of it, but something about it, seemed to compel me to take it. It
looked familiar to me, somehow. I took it with me while searching
for you. I've spent Kami-sama knows how long wandering in this
place."
"Come to think of it, it does look familiar. Can I see it?"
"Go ahead."
As soon as Ranma Blue held it up and Ranma Red's hand touched it,
the Red Shard of Time flared with light and both twins were startled
at its sudden brilliance. They immediately let go of it, as it began to
move on its own accord and hovered between them. It was then that
they heard a voice in their heads.
^^RANMA TWINS, I BID YOU GREETINGS.^^
["What the…?"]
["W-W-Who?!"]
^^ IF YOU ARE HEARING THIS MESSAGE, THEN SHAROKA HAD
SUCCEEDED IN UNSEALING THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY AND NOW
ALL OF EXISTENCE HAD CEASED TO EXIST.^^
["Crystal of Eternity?"]
["What's going on?"]
^^I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. I HOPE THAT THE
MESSAGE I HAVE PLACED WITHIN THE SHARD OF TIME SHALL
SUFFICE. LISTEN WELL CHOSEN TWINS, AND I SHALL EXPLAIN ALL.^^
Realizing that the message could only have come from Kami-sama
himself, the twins became silent and listened.
^^LONG AGO, DURING THE CREATION OF THE MULTIVERSE;
WHAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY KNOW OF AS THE BIG BANG, A
PORTION OF THE ENERGIES FROM THAT TIME OF CREATION
HAD REMAINED. I HAD REALIZED THAT SUCH POWER SHOULD
NEVER FALL INTO ANYONE'S HANDS AS IT HAD THE POTENTIAL
FOR DESTRUCTION ON A SCALE UNIMAGINED AND PERMANENTLY
DISRUPT THE ORDER OF EXISTENCE. THEREFORE, I HAD SEPARATED
THOSE ENERGIES INTO SIX CRYSTAL SHARDS THAT REPRESENTED
THE FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF ANY UNIVERSE. POWER…
SOUL… MIND… SPACE… TIME… AND REALITY. TOGETHER,
THEY FORMED THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY.^^
The Ranma Twins then realized that why the Shard of Time was so
familiar to them. They had seen it in Sharoka's hands when he
unearthed that strange power source from the ruins of Jusenkyo.
^^YES, YOU ARE CORRECT IN THINKING THAT THE POWER YOU SAW
AT JUSENKYO WAS THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY. I SHALL EXPLAIN.
EVEN WITH THE ULTIMATE POWER OF CREATION AND DESTRUCTION
SAFELY CONTAINED WITHIN THE CRYSTAL, IT STILL REPRESENTED
A GREAT DANGER. I COULD NOT KEEP IT IN HEAVEN AS IT WOULD
BECOME VERY TEMPTING TO MANY OF THE KAMI. NOR COULD I
KEEP IT ON ANY OTHER PLACE AS THE INHABITANTS OF ANY PLANE
OF EXISTENCE WOULD EVENTUALLY STUMBLE UPON IT. THEREFORE,
I CAME TO A COMPROMISE.^^
["Compromise?"] Ranma Red asked.
As if in answer the voice answered. ^^YES, A COMPROMISE. INSTEAD
OF HAVING THE CRYSTAL REMAIN IN ONE PLACE, I USED A SPECIAL
SPELL THAT CAUSED IT TO RELOCATE ITSELF EVERY THOUSAND
YEARS TO SOME PLACE IN THE MULTIVERSE AT RANDOM. ONLY I
WOULD KNOW WHERE THE CRYSTAL WOULD HIDE ITSELF EACH TIME.
AND SO THE CRYSTAL HAS BEEN SPANNING THE COSMOS, HIDING
ITSELF ON DIFFERENT WORLDS EACH TIME. ONLY A SELECT
FEW IN HEAVEN KNEW ITS VERY EXISTENCE. HOWEVER, THE DARK
WORLD HAD LEARNED OF THE CRYSTAL'S EXISTENCE THROUGH A
TRAITOR. THAT WAS WHEN THE BEINGS FROM THAT EVIL DIMENSION
ATTACKED WHEN THE CRYSTAL APPEARED ON EARTH, TEN
THOUSAND YEARS AGO.^^
Both twins looked in shock at the revelation. Taron and Soren had
never told them this!
Once again, the recorded message answered their silent questions.
^^TARON AND SOREN KNEW NOTHING OF THEIR INTENTIONS
AT THAT TIME. THEY HAD ONLY REALIZED IT DURING THE FIFTH TRIAL
OF THE CONTRACT. I HAD MY SUSPICIONS DURING THE GREAT WAR
BETWEEN EARTH AND THE DARK WORLD AND THEY WERE
CONFIRMED AFTER THE CONTRACT WAS MADE. THE DARK
WORLD ONLY SEEMED ANGERED WHEN I ADDED THAT SUBCLAUSE
FOR THE CONTRACT TO ONLY LAST FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS. IT
WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I REALIZED THAT THE CRYSTAL WOULD
RETURN TO EARTH IN TEN THOUSAND YEARS AND BURY ITSELF
WITHIN THE TRAINING GROUNDS OF CURSED SPRINGS. HOWEVER,
I WAS THEN BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT TO HOLD THE
CHALLENGES EVERY THOUSAND YEARS AND FOR TARON AND SOREN
TO TRAIN
OUR CHAMPIONS. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT WATCH THE DARK WORLD
SILENTLY DRAIN POWER FROM EACH OF THE TRIALS IN ORDER TO
GET ENOUGH
POWER TO
BREAK THE SEAL THAT HELD THE CRYSTAL'S ENERGY IN CHECK.
HOWEVER, I DID HAVE A FAILSAFE.^^
["Failsafe?"] Ranma Blue inquired.
^^YES, A FAILSAFE. I HAD EXPECTED SHAROKA TO UNEARTH
THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY, BUT I HAD ADDED A SPELL IN THE SHARD
OF TIME WHICH WOULD CAUSE HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND DESTROY
HIM. HOWEVER, THAT SAME FAILSAFE HAD ALSO CAUSED THE OTHER
SHARDS TO SEPARATE AND RELEASE THEIR ENERGIES UPON THE
MULTIVERSE, CAUSING IT TO BE NULLIFIED. EVERYTHING AND
EVERYONE NO LONGER EXISTS AS ALL EXISTENCE HAS BEEN WIPED
OUT AND RETURNED TO ITS PREVIOUS STATE OF NOTHINGNESS;
BEFORE THE BIG BANG.^^
["You mean… we're at where it all began?"] Ranma Red asked.
^^YES. YOU ARE NOW AT WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.^^
*He's good!,* Ranma Blue thought.
^^YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY YOU TWO WERE THE ONLY
ONES THAT WERE SPARED OF BEING WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE
WITH THE REST. WHEN TARON AND SOREN TRAINED YOU, I SECRETLY
HAD ADDED A PYSCHIC BOND BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU AND
THE SHARD OF TIME. AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, WITHOUT
TIME, NO OTHER DIMENSION MAY EXIST. THAT IS WHY YOU TWO
WERE ABLE TO FIND THE SHARD AND EACH OTHER.^^
["So what now? How can we fix all of this?"] Ranma Red inquired.
^^I SUPPOSE YOU ARE NOW ASKING HOW TO REPAIR ALL OF THIS AND
THE ANSWER IS QUITE SIMPLE. YOU MUST REASSEMBLE THE CRYSTAL
OF ETERNITY AND RESTART THE MULTIVERSE AGAIN. THE SHARD
OF TIME SHALL LEAD YOU TO THE OTHER PIECES WHICH ARE STIIL
FLOATING ABOUT SOMEWHERE IN THIS REALM OF NOTHINGNESS.
I HAVE ALREADY PLACED AN AUTOMATIC FUNCTION IN THE SHARDS
TO RECREATE THE CATACLYSM THAT CAUSED THE BIRTH OF ALL
EXISTENCE. ONCE THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED, YOU TWO SHALL BE
REDIRECTED DOWN THE FLOW OF TIME TOWARD THE POINT OF
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY
IS UNSEALED. YOU HAVE TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING
AND DEFEAT SHAROKA. TAKE CARE THOUGH, FOR THIS WILL BE
YOUR ONLY CHANCE. IF SHAROKA GAINS THE CRYSTAL A SECOND
TIME, THE FAILSAFE WILL ACTIVATE ITSELF AGAIN AND NULLIFY
THE MULTIVERSE ONCE MORE. THE SHARDS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
WITHSTAND ANOTHER NULLIFICATION FOR YOU TO TRY AGAIN. DO
YOU UNDERSTAND?^^
Both twins nodded silently as they prepared for the task ahead. This
was a chance to get their wives, their family, and everything else
back. They had to succeed. It was all or nothing.
^^I BID YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, RANMA RED AND RANMA BLUE. THE
TWO OF YOU HAVE SURPASSED ALL OF OUR EXPECTATIONS
AND REPRESENT THE BEST HOPE FOR ALL EXISTENCE. TARON AND
SOREN HAD CHOSEN WELL. NOW EMBRACE YOUR DUAL DESTINIES!^^
Both Ranmas nodded as the voice faded away from their minds and a
thin beam of red light sprang forth from the Shard of Time and went
off into the distance. Using their chi blasts to propel them, they went
off in search of the other shards.
Even Kami-sama doesn't know how much time later…
Ranma Red and his brother gazed at the nearly completed Crystal of
Eternity. The Shards of Time, Soul, Mind, Reality and Space were in
place and Ranma Blue held the Shard of Power in his hand.
["Ready Bro?"]
["As ready as I'll ever be. Do it."]
["Ucchan…"]
["Shampoo…"]
The Shard of Power was put into place and the crystal began to throb
with energy. As it slowly began to build up power, both twins held
their breaths for the inevitable explosion that would propel them to
their fates. Then it happened. The second BIG BANG!
KABOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Ranma Red and Ranma Blue found themselves enveloped in a large
energy bubble as they went hurtling down the stream of time. Their
clothes suddenly appeared and their bodies became solid, but the
Chosen Twins didn't even notice as they began watching the history
of their universe unfold. They saw planets and stars begin to take
shape from swirling debris as solar systems and galaxies formed.
They were also racing across the cosmos at the speed of thought,
marveling at the wonders of the many lifeforms and worlds below.
They could only see passing glimpses as if they were riding a fast
flowing river. When they finally reached their own solar system, they
began to slow down and the twins could actually see the Earth being
formed as it had more than five billion years ago. They also
witnessed Kami-sama creating the Crystal of Eternity.
As they watched from the molten surface of the planet from within
their energy bubble, they saw the rains from newly formed clouds
begin to cool down the Earth and form the oceans. Then in one tiny
pool, certain chemicals mixed together to form the amino acids and
proteins needed to create life.
The Age of the Dinosaurs…
Ranma Blue and Ranma Red watched as the gigantic lizards battled
one another for survival and the emergence of the first birds and
mammals. They then saw a huge meteor coming down toward the
Earth's surface and knew that the cold-blooded dinosaurs wouldn't
survive. Since they were not yet part of the timeline, they were not
affected by any of this. They watched as the huge chunk of space
debris caused a lot of dust to be kicked up and blotted out much of
the warmth of the sun. The giant beasts were unable to adapt to the
sudden climate change and soon perished, leaving the animals that
could adapt to inherit the Earth.
200,000 years ago…
Man soon evolved from his apelike ancestors and began to take his
place on the planet.
50,000 years ago…
The first modern man, Homo Sapien began to make his appearance,
learning to use tools and starting the first vestiges of civilization.
10,000 years ago…
The war against the Dark World and the gods. The contract is made
and signed by Kami-sama himself. Soren and Taron are chosen as the
first champions of Earth.
3,000 years ago…
The Egyptians began making their marks on the world. They were
followed closely by the Greeks, Romans and other civilizations on
both sides of the world. Wars between nations erupted and the
Ranma Twins witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. They saw
man build and destroy, explore and conquer, save and reject. As they
approached their own point in time, they began to slow down even
more as they were given probably the most visually-extensive history
lesson ever. By this time, the Seventh Contract renewal is being
made. The Chinese Amazons are founded in the valley near the
Cursed Training Grounds.
Five hundred years before Columbus…
Leif Ericson became the first European to set foot on the continent of
North America.
The Dark Ages…
Both twins winced at the atrocities and stupidity of the people of
Europe as the church and the aristocracy controlled them. They also
saw the history of Japan and China take place as dynasties rose and
fell.
The Renaissance…
Exploration and new technologies disperse much of the old
superstitions and beliefs as the western civilizations began to
question what lies beyond the horizon.
Eighteenth century…
The so-called New World is colonized and new conflicts erupt. The
American Revolution frees the colonies from British rule and the
thirteen states form a new nation.
Nineteenth century…
Ranma Blue and his brother watched the War of 1812, the Civil War,
and man's expansion into the west. They winced as they saw George
Armstrong Custard lead his troops into a massacre at the Little
BigHorn. The American Industrial Age takes place.
Early twentieth century…
The twins became shocked in the horrors as they saw millions of
people perish in World War One. They felt the pain that the citizens
of America suffered during the Great Depression. They also saw
Japan's own darker side as they ruthlessly invaded China during the
30's on their drive for conquest.
December 7, 1941
Admiral Yamamoto leads his forces in a sneak attack on Pearl Habor,
instigating a long a brutal war with the United States, which would
lead to total defeat for Japan.
June of 1942…
Japan loses at Midway as the United States begin to go on the
offensive.
August of 1945…
Both twins almost retched when they saw the horrors of what two
atomic bombs could do to people. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were left
in ruins as thousands of citizens were killed in the initial blasts,
while many more would suffer the slow and agonizing death of
radiation poisoning. The fact that they could do nothing about it
made it all more tragic.
Seventeen years before Ranma's birth…
The twins watched in fascination as they witnessed their own birth as
one person. Nodoka smiled as she held her newborn son in her arms
as Genma proudly looked on. The brothers frowned at seeing that
man who would eventually cause so much trouble and headaches for
them.
Six years later…
Both Ranmas winced as they saw Genma mercilessly toss his six-
year-old son into a pit of starving cats. They had also witnessed Ukyo
being betrayed as she was carelessly left on the side of the road.
Ranma Blue was especially disgusted with his father's behavior at
that point, but silently vowed that he and his Ucchan will be reunited
again.
Eight years later…
Ranma Blue and his brother watched as their combined selves leave
the empty lot behind Ryoga's house. A day later, the lost boy finally
makes it to the place, and then swears his lifelong desire to get
revenge for missing the duel.
Two years later…
The twins see Ranma Saotome take that fateful plunge into the
Spring of Drowned Girl, thereby setting off the chain of events that
would end up as madness in Nerima. Ranma Red smiled though as he
saw his future bride Shampoo get knocked off the Challenge Log at
the Amazon village and give the Kiss of Death to his past self.
*Soon my darling. We shall be together again.*
As the twins began approaching the present, the timestream began
blurring as the events following Jusenkyo rushed past them. The
engagement, that first meeting with the Tendos, Kuno, Ryoga,
Kodachi, Furinkan High and so forth, were all like tapestries as they
flashed by. Finally, after witnessing their eventual separation into
two beings and their training with Soren and Taron, the Chosen
Twins witnessed their trials with the minions of the Dark World.
When they finally came to Jusenkyo for that final battle, the energy
bubble dispersed and they looked up in awe at themselves.
Hiding behind some boulders, the Chosen Twins saw their
counterparts blasting away at the Destroyer with little effect. Sharoka
was hovering above the battle and smiling as he waited for them to
unseal the Crystal of Eternity. With energy levels growing with each
attack, it wouldn't be long. He was so eager to watch the downfall of
his opponents that he did not notice a second pair of Chosen Twins
hiding nearby.
"Oh man! It looks like they're close to unsealing the crystal!" Ranma
Red commented as he watched himself power up the Ragna Blade
spell.
"Yeah, I can see that every attack we make against the Destroyer is
being absorbed."
"So what do we do? Do we attack him?"
"No, we can't give ourselves away or we might screw things up even
more." Ranma Blue thought for a long moment, then got an idea.
"Hey, the Crystal of Eternity was unsealed when the Giga Slave and
my elemental powers hit it when we destroyed the Destroyer, right?"
"Yeah, so what about it?"
"Can you sense where the Crystal of Eternity is?"
Ranma Red looked down at the ground for a moment, then nodded.
"It's hidden in a chamber about a hundred feet below. Looks like it's
about ready to transport to its new location."
"Can you teleport us both to a position above the seal of the crystal?"
Ranma Red thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, there's an
open space just above the seal. Hold on." During their long trek
through time, the twins had regained their full ki, elemental and
mystic potentials. They still lacked their weapons though. In an
instant, the magical twin had transported himself and his brother to
where the Crystal of Eternity was. The two found themselves in a
small cave above the ancient artifact. "So now what?"
"If we can stop the Giga Slave and my elemental powers from hitting
the seal, then Sharoka won't be able to access the crystal's power.
Sharoka's champion will still be defeated by the attack and the crystal
will then transport itself to its new location, away from Sharoka!"
"Not bad, but that'll still leave us Sharoka to deal with, and I'm
betting he won't abide by the Contract's rules!"
Ranma Blue nodded. "I know, but I think it was Kami-sama's will
that we face off Sharoka eventually. In this way, the Amazon village
won't be destroyed like the last time and we happen to be at full
power now. So are you ready?"
"You bet! So what are we going to use to stop the Giga Slave? And
we'd better hurry, I can sense that my double has already used the
Ragna Blade and is now powering up the Giga Slave."
As if proving his point, the cave shook violently from a massive
shockwave. Ranma Blue noted this as he telepathically relayed his
plan to his sibling. Even though they were separated from their
weapons, he had used his mental powers to gain access to his
double's elemental hammer. The two nodded to each other and began
glowing white.
Above Jusenkyo, an exhausted pair of Chosen Twins began powering
up for their final attack as Sharoka looked on with anticipation. He
then gave off a cry of triumph as Ranma Red unleashed his
devastating attack, which was tempered with his brother's elemental
powers.
"GIGA SLAVE!"
The darkness slammed into the Destroyer with tremendous force,
blasting Sharoka's creation into the ground and began pushing it
down. Sharoka smirked as he felt the crystal's seal begin to buckle
under the strain. He was on the verge of victory. Nothing could stop
him now!
It was then that he heard a couple of voices cry out from below,
which sounded like… The Chosen Twins?
"LIGHT HAWK WINGS!!!"
A bight blast of white energy burst forward from the ground and
began pushing the blackness of the Giga Slave and elemental
energies. Sharoka was stunned as he saw the white blast take shape
to form the Ten Wings of the Light Hawk! The ultimate defensive
barrier from the planet Jurai began countering the strongest black
magic spell and elemental power. The two forces sandwiched the
Destroyer and began compressing it. The champion of Sharoka found
himself between the irresistible force and the immovable object.
Inevitably, something had to give. That something was the Destroyer!
The monster gave off a scream of agony as its body exploded into a
huge ball of chaotic energies. The Chosen Twins that were hovering
above the ruins of Jusenkyo were more than surprised to see the
Light Hawk Wings, but they quickly ignored it and set about
dispersing the Giga Slave. Slowly, but surely the darkness that
threatened to envelop them all was put back under control and soon
became nothing more than wisps of smoke. At the same time, the
Light Hawk Wings dispersed into nothingness as Ranma Red and
Ranma Blue plummeted to the ground. They disappeared from view
as a large cloud of smoke covered the barren wasteland, which was
followed by a large explosion. A few moments later, the smoke once
again obscured all visibility.
Sharoka was puzzled. Where did the Light Hawk Wings come from?
Had the Royal Family of Jurai interfered with the final Trial? He
smirked as he knew that would have been a violation of the Contract,
automatically giving the Dark World the victory by forfeit. He used
his arcane arts to disperse the smoke that covered the valley and saw
that the Chosen Twins were nowhere to be seen. He then frowned as
he could no longer sense the presence of the Crystal of Eternity. His
chance for ultimate power was gone! The crystal had relocated itself
to a new position and he had no idea where it was.
Seeing that he the Chosen Twins were not around, Sharoka assumed
that they couldn't handle the stress of the Giga Slave and their bodies
had exploded, hence that large explosion. He then began laughing
maniacally to the skies. The Crystal of Eternity may be gone, but the
Dark World had won the Contract! Earth was doomed!
Deep below the surface of Jusenkyo, Ranma Red and Blue looked at
their unconscious counterparts lying before them. Ranma Red had
used his teleportation spell to transport their other selves to the cave
while his brother had caused that explosion to mask their actions.
The twins stared at themselves for a moment, then noticed that they
were starting to become transparent. There also noticed that their
other selves were also becoming transparent and were now levitating
off the ground. An irresistible force took hold of the four and it was
then that they heard a familiar voice in their heads.
^^WELL DONE CHOSEN TWINS! THE TIMESTREAM IS NOW MERGING
YOU WITH
YOUR OTHER SELVES. THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU, IN THE WORDS
OF YOUR GENERATION… ^^ Kami-sama paused for a moment before
smiling. ^^GO KICK SHAROKA'S BUTT!^^
In a flash of light, the four became two again as the Light Star Blade
and Storm Striker appeared before them. Both Ranmas grasped their
weapons and smiled at each other.
Up on the surface, Sharoka was mocking the heavens. Hear me,
Kami-sama! The Chosen Twins are defeated! I stand victorious! The
Contract has been fulfilled and the Dark World has won!"
^^I DON'T THINK SO.^^ Kami-sama replied from above. ^^YOU
ATTEMPTED TO GET THE CRYSTAL OF ETERNITY, DIDN'T YOU? THAT
WAS NOT
PART OF THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT! YOU HAD ATTEMPTED
TO CHEAT, DIDN'T YOU?^^
Sharoka was about to deny it, but then decided that it didn't matter
now. "So what of it? You have no proof!" This was true as the crystal
was gone. "And in any case, your Chosen Twins are no more and
there is none to stand against me!"
^^SO YOU ADMIT TO THIS, EH?^^
"Not that you can do anything about it! The twins had failed to defeat
my champion, since I suspect they had help from Jurai! That was an
outside influence and that counts as an automatic forfeit!"
^^NOT SO, THE TWINS HAD NO OTHER HELP OTHER THAN FROM EACH
OTHER. THEY HAD DEFEATED YOUR CHAMPION BY THEMSELVES.^^
"YOU LIE!"
^^AFTER TEN MILLENNIA, YOU SHOULD KNOW ME BETTER THAN
THAT. I 'DON'T
LIE.' RANMA RED AND RANMA BLUE DEFEATED THE DESTROYER.
IF I AM LYING, THEN THE CONTRACT I HAD SIGNED WOULD
HAVE DESTROYED ME BY NOW AS PER IN THE TERMS STATED.^^
Sharoka was taken aback. He remembered that clause in the Contract,
which linked Kami-sama to agreement he made ten thousand years
ago. Any blatant violation of the Contract on Kami-sama's part would
automatically destroy him. Since he was still present, then he was
telling the truth.
Sharoka then scoffed and said, "I do not know how you
accomplished this, but I have surprise for you! Defeating the
Destroyer has not won you the Contract yet! You see, the Destroyer
was only a part of the REAL CHAMPION!"
^^YES, I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAD IMPARTED A PORTION OF
YOUR OWN ESSENCE INTO THE CREATION OF THE DESTROYER.
IN A WAY, IT WAS MERELY THE EXTENSION OR WEAPON OF THE TRUE
CHAMPION,
WHICH MEANS THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY FIGHTING THE CHOSEN TWINS.^^
"Very good, Kami-Sama." Sharoka gloated. "As you can see, I am
still here and the Chosen Twins are not! Therefore, I have won!"
^^AND WHO SAYS THAT THE CHOSEN TWINS ARE GONE?^^
"WHAT?!"
Up in heaven, Skuld chortled with glee as she hooked up the
granddaddy of all stereo equipment to the Ultimate Force System.
She then picked up a cassette tape and inserted it.
"Are you sure Father wants you to do this?" Belldandy asked.
"Daddy requested it." Urd replied as she sat down in front of the
monitor that displayed the scene below. "I have to admit, he surprised
me as well. I was half-expecting the trumpeters, clarions and the
other things to herald the Twins. This is really quite a change from
the traditional stuff. So let's sit back and watch the fun!"
From his own position in Heaven, Kami-sama smiled. Every few eons
or so, he'd allow himself to break formalities and have a bit of fun.
The Earth was then put on its ear as music began playing from out of
nowhere, causing all other noise to cease. Televisions all over the
world stopped showing their usual programs and began displaying
the scene at Jusenkyo. Soon the whole world was watching the fate
of the planet as the populace became transfixed by the scene..
Electric keyboard music began playing as the first words rung out,
followed by electric guitars and drums.
You've got the touch!
You've got the poweeeeeerrrrrrr!!!
Yeah!
"What?!" Sharoka was confused as the music began to build.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble as the center of the devastated
lanscape began to break apart. At the place where the Crystal of
Eternity had been hidden for a thousand years, a column of light
burst from the surface and rocketed toward the heavens. Then, two
figures rose up from within the beam of radiance. The Dark World
ruler scowled as he saw who they were.
"YOU!!"
Ranma Red and his brother smiled as they held up their weapons and
took ready stances.
"Let's mix it up, Sharoka!" Ranma Blue declared.
"Let's rumble!" Ranma Red concurred.
With these words, they charged up their inner energies and let loose
with twin blasts of chi energies that were the size of two-story
buildings.
"MOKO TAKABISHA!"
After all is said and done…
You never walked, you never run!
You're a winner!
Now thoroughly enraged that his plans had come to naught, the dark
king retaliated by vanishing out of the way, then reappearing in
another position to laungh a barrage of blue-white comets.
Got the moves, you know the street!
Break the rules, take the heat!
You're nobody's fool!
Ranma Red took to the air as his sibling blurred forward on the
ground. The blasts were dodged and both twins then launched a
simultaneous strike.
"SPIRIT FIST!"
"ARCTIC SPEAR!"
You're at your best when the going gets rough.
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough!
Sharoka countered with a mystic shield, but Ranma Red used the
slight distraction to teleport behind him and slash with his sword.
Sharoka just barely managed to swerve to avoid it, only to have his
face smashed by a supersonic fist of Ranma Blue's, followed up with
a mystic attack by his brother.
"SONIC BLAST PUNCH!"
You've got the touch!
You've got the power!
When all hell's breaking loose, you'll be right in the eye of the storm!
You've got the heart!
You've got the motion!
You know that when things get too tough…
You've got the touch!
Sharoka reeled from the impact, but then let loose a flood of shadows
to try and confuse the twins. Ranma Blue was momentarily blinded
and was then struck suddenly from behind. His back was slashed by
some unseen claws. However, Ranma Red soon countered the
darkness with light.
"SUNBURST EXPLOSION!"
The light dispelled the shadows and Ranma Red saw his chance.
"SKYFIRE SWORD!"
The huge beam of energy came crashing down like a blade and
Sharoka was just barely able to avoid being cleaved in half.
You never bend, you never break!
You seem to know just what it takes!
You're a fighter!
The populace of the world was transfixed by the scenes being
depicted as the twins battled the evil king. Many thought that this
was some kind of music video or promotional stunt. Yet the special
effects and energies being displayed were even better than the best
anime. The excitement level was undeniable and people kept on
watching. Somehow, they all knew that this was shockingly real.
It's in the blood, it's in the will!
It's in the mighty hands of steel!
When you're standing your ground!
At the Masaki residence…
"Yeah! Go get him, guys!" Washu cheered.
At the Hikawa Shrine in Juuban…
"Wow! This is so awesome!" Usagi said as she and her friends (the
Sailor Senshi) watched the battle.
"Must be some kind of new music video." Rei commented.
"Hey, those guys look like my old sempai!" Makoto said as she gazed
at the well-built and handsome twins.
"Wow! I don't think our battles with the Dark Kingdom were ever this
intense!" Minako remarked. "It looks so real!"
It was then that Setsuna appeared behind them and said, "That's
because… it is."
The girls all turned around at Sailor Pluto in shock.
"What you are witnessing is the battle to ensure the future of the
Earth. And I'm afraid that even the Sailor Senshi cannot interfere
with this fight. The Chosen Twins must win this one!"
The Sailor Senshi all looked back at the television set in awe.
And you never get hit when you're back's to the wall!
Gonna fight to the end and you're taking it all!
At the Amazon Village…
*Come on Ranchan! Beat that SOB! You can do it! I know you can!*
Ukyo clenched her fists and continued to gaze intensely at the
viewing portal.
Shampoo's thoughts mirrored that of her sister-in-law's. *Arien will
WIN! I know it!*
You've got the touch!
You've got the power!
When all Hell's breaking loose, you'll be right in the eye of the storm!
You've got the heart!
You've got the motion!
You know when things get too tough..
You've got the touch!
Sharoka was dishing out greater amounts of dark energies than all of
his previous minions combined but the twins kept on pressing the
attacks, shrugging off blasts and attacks that would have killed a
normal person a thousand times over. They were running on pure
adrenaline, firing off chi blasts as if they were on sale and saving
their more potent attacks for the climax of the conflict.
You're fighting fire with fire!
You know you've got the touch!
The background music reached even higher fever as Ranma Blue and
his brother attacked from both sides.
"CHESTNUT FIST FURY!!!!!"
Sharoka was hit by more than five thousand punches by each sibling
as they tried to pnmmel him into oblivion. However, he endured the
continuous pounding as he glowed with a dark red light. He then
suddenly exploded in a ball of mystic energy, throwing off the twins
and sent them sprawling backward.
Both Ranmas manage to right themselves and float in the air. They
hovered some distance away from the dark king and their eyes
became wide as they saw the ball of light shift and alter its shape.
When it faded away, the Chosen Twins found themselves confronting
a transformed Sharoka!
The evil ruler now stood more than a hundred feet high and had
gigantic, bat-wings protruding from his shoulders. He also had
become more lizardlike and had sharp talonds sprouting from his
hands… all four of them! He had grown an extra set of arms! His face
was now a grotesque visage with long fangs and blood-red eyes. His
skin was leathery with sparse black hair all over it. At the back he
now sported a dragonlike tail.
The monstrosity glared at his now tiny opponents and roared. "NOW FEEL
THE AWESOME MIGHT OF SHAROKA!" He opened up his maw
and a blast of power exploded forth. The Chosen Twins darted away
to evade the beam, which shot past and struck one of the Bayankala
Mountains, obliterating it into powder!
The shockwaves of that one attack was felt for thousands of miles
and nearly made the entire continent of Asia tremble. The Ranma
twins knew that things were now at their most dire and they would
have to go all out. With a nod to each other, they dived toward their
foe.
You're at your best when the going gets rough.
You've been put to the test but it's never enough!
The twins skillfully dodged the next two blasts and then struck.
Ranma Red slashed at Sharoka's left eye with the Light Star Blade,
while the elemental brother pounded at the right eye with Storm
Striker. Sharoka roared in pain as fluids and pus erupted from his
eyes. He started slashing blindly as he writhed in pain. Withdrawing
their weapons from his eyes, the twins looked down at his chest and
aimed for the spot where the dark lord's heart would be. With a fierce
war cry, Ranma Red dived down toward that spot with his sword held
high and it's point directed forward. The Light Star Blade plunged
deep into Sharoka's chest, causing the him even more pain and
another howl of agony. Holding tightly on the hilt, Ranma Red called
up to his brother.
"Blue!"
Ranma Blue then took a dive toward his sibling and raised Storm
Striker high. Focusing all his energy into it, he swung it forward.
Like a railroad worker driving in a spike, the force of the elemental
weapon drove the blade of Ranma Red's weapon even deeper into
Sharoka's flesh! At the same time, both brothers focused all of their
power into the weapons and sent it into the wound they had made.
This was more than Sharoka could withstand as all that power was
concentrated into one spot and threatened to implode his body from
within. His body began to expand from within as it began throbbing,
and huge globules began to appear. Knowing that the end was near,
Ranma Red and Ranma Blue pulled their weapons free and flew back
out of range.
You've got the touch!
You've got the poweeeeeerrrrr!
Yeah!
Sharoka tried to contain the power from within him, but it was a
losing battle. Seeing that he was about to go nova, the Ranma Twins
focused their energies together as their auras merged into one white
field. Pinpricks of light was collected and absorbed.As they did so,
Sharoka's body began bursting in several places as energy poured out
from the wounds he had received. His eye sockets gave off beams of
light as well as from the gaping hole in his chest.
It was then that both Ranmas gave him their final attack. Holding out
their arms out and high, they aimed for the monster before them
and…
"ARMAGEDDON BEAM!"
You've got the touch!
You've got the poweeeeerrrr!
The touch!
A huge blast of orange-red energy shot forward from the twins and
became a huge beam of light. The attack struck Sharoka dead-center
and kept on going, driving him up into the sky. The huge monster
went hurtling off at trmendous speeds and was soon a distant dot in
the sky. There was a long moment, then his body exploded high into
space. The light from the explosion blinded all who were watching as
Sharoka was utterly and completely destroyed.
When the music faded away and all became calm in the world as the
light diminished, the twins looked at each and breathed a sigh of
relief. They then gave each other a smile and leapt up high. They then
gave off a whoop of joy as they high-fived each other.
"WE'VE GOT THE TOUCH!"
All around the world, the entire human race began cheering and
applauding at the scene of victory. Though most of them were
unaware how close they were to utter destruction, they still thought
that it was one heck of a show as the televison screens all over began
returning to their regularly scheduled programs.
High above in Heaven, Kami-sama smiled as he held up a piece of
paper and said. ^^CONTRACT… FULFILLED.^^ He then filed the
document away.
Epilogue
Ten years later…
"Come on Ranchan!"
"Coming!" Ranma Blue replied to his wife as he carried his two-year
old son Taron on his shoulder. Beside him, in pretty red and blue
sundresses were their twin daughters Norika and Yurika, both eight-
years old. As they walked toward the picnic tables at the family
reunion in the Amazon village, the elemental twin smiled at the
people who were waiting for them.
Ranma Red waved to them as he held his Amazon wife close to him.
Shampoo smiled as she cradled their infant daughter Shanma in her
arms. Playing near their grandmother Nodoka and great-great-
grandmother Cologne, were their two other daughters and son.
Jasmine (age nine), Lily (age seven) and Soren (age five).
The Chosen Twins had insisted that their first-born sons would carry
the names of the first champions of Earth. They both smiled as they
saw their former mentors approach them with their own wives and
families. When the Contract had ended, the first Chosen Twins were
then given back their mortalilty, allowing them to age normally again.
Their magical and elemental abilities were of course stripped as the
present Chosen Twins were decreed by Kami-sama to be the only
mortals with such powers. In the past, the powers were always taken
away when the Contract Renewal was completed, so that they may be
passed on to the next champions. However, with the Contract over
and done with, the kami of Heaven had decided to let the Ranma
Twins retain their extraordinary abilities for the remainder of their
mortal lives. The two former immortals had no regrets as they began
to live as humans again.
However, they still retained the vast martial arts skills they had
learned over the millennia and it didn't take the Amazons long to start
chasing after them. Fortunately, the Amazons they had defeated and
married had proven to be love matches. Taron had gotten himself
hitched to Silk, while Soren had a wonderful relationship with a
warrior maiden named Sash. Both were now the proud fathers of two
children each.
Also present at the Masaki family reunion was Tenchi, his two wives
Ayeka and Ryoko (apparently the heir to the Jurai throne was
required to take two mates), his grandfather Yosho, Tenchi's father
Noboyuki, Washu, Kiyone, Mihoshi, Kasumi, Dr. Tofu, Akane,
Nabiki and Soun Tendo. Other honored guests were Urd, Skuld and
Belldandy with her new husband Keiichi Morsisato. It seemed that
Urd had finally succeeded in getting the two of them together and
with the approval of Kami-sama himself, the two were wed late last
year. Belldandy was now three months pregnant. Of course, they did
not mention that they were goddesses, nor that Belldandy's child
would be a demi-god.
The festivities went on for some time as family and friends talked
about their lives and futures. The Amazon village was contantly
bustling with various activities and shows and the day wore on. As
the sun began to make its way toward the horizon in the west, Ranma
Red sat with his brother on the roof of his house.
"So how's everything with you, bro?" Ranma Blue asked as he
watched the clors of the sky become vibrant with yellow, red and
orange.
"Couldn't be better."
"What about the Musk Dynasty? Have they been giving you any
problems?"
"Nope. Things have been going more smoothly after I made them sign
that peace treaty."
The Musk Dynasty had depended very heavily on the Springs of
Jusenkyo. When it had been destroyed, the Musk had decided to
attack their ancient enemies, the Joketsuzoku. That had proven to be
a big mistake. Ranma Red had defeated the entire dynasty with his
magical and martial arts skills and even humbled their prince, Herb,
who was descended from a dragon. He had then given the Musk a
choice. Either sign a peace treaty with the Joketsuzoku, or be
REDUCED to pieces! Since then, Ranma Red had worked to keep
tensions between the ancient enemies from erupting into conflicts.
He had encouraged trade and even helped a few memebers of the
Musk attain lasting relationships with the Amazons. Intermarriages
between the two peoples began to appear over the last decade. When
the Phoenix God Saffron appeared, Ranma Red had the power of
Heaven, the Amazons and the Musk behind him and the bratty
divinity didn't stand a chance. When Kami-sama told the godling not
to trifle with the peoples of the land, Saffron had no choice but to
back down. Ranma Red's display of concern for all, cemented the
alliance between the Musk and the Joketsuzoku.
Ranma Red had also begun teaching the Amazons the ways of magic.
Though he did not teach them what he had learned from Soren, he
did help them rediscover their own lost mystic arts. The Joketsuzoku
had accumulated a considerable amount of magical knowledge, but
much of the information had been lost over the centuries. With the
Light Star Blade as his guide, the magical twin began filling in the
gaps to their magical archives. It wouldn't be long before Shampoo's
people would once again become the mystic warriors of legend.
The Amazon village had also been attacked by the army of the
People's Republic of China, but Ranma Red had reduced several
divisions of tanks and artillery to scrap metal. It wasn't long before
the Chinese Army and government took the hint and left them alone.
After all, they too had seen that last great battle against Sharoka.
When they saw Ranma Red in the flesh, they decided that ticking
him off was a bad thing. Since then, Ranma Blue's brother had been
working on several enchantments to protect the Amazons from any
future attacks.
"So, how are you, Ukyo and the kids?"
Ranma Blue shrugged as he said, "Great! Couldn't be better! Ucchan's
planning on opening up a new chain in America."
Ranma Blue had also kept busy in the last ten years. His elemental
powers gave him an understanding of nature and he had been
working on several enviornmental projects. Places such as the
Amazon Rain Forest, wildlife preserves, and the ozone layer, took up
a lot of his time as he slowly began to restore them. He had also been
helping out as a goodwill ambassador to the alien races on the planet.
"So I hear that Dr. Tofu and Kasumi are going to have another baby
soon." Ranma Blue commented.
"Yeah, who would've know that Tofu's madness was caused by being
possessed by a minor imp."
"It's a good thing you exorcised it from him. I thought that those two
would never get together."
"How about Nabiki? Is business going well?"
"What do you expect? I think she's about to make her seventh
billion."
"Yeah, well she's really got to get out of that office more often. In any
case, Akane is taking over the Tendo Dojo since her father has
started considering to opening up another one in Juuban."
"So, has she gotten better than when we last saw her?"
"Uh huh. With Cologne's training, she's gotten to the point that she
could beat the old Ranma Saotome with one finger. She'll make a
good martial arts instructor."
"I didn't mean her martial arts skills. I meant, you know…
emotionally."
Ranma Red smiled as he said, "Akane just told me this afternoon.
She' getting married!"
"What? Really? Who's the lucky guy?"
"She met up with a guy named Shinosuke in a hidden valley and
things just went from there. They're planning on having the wedding
next year and she wants both of us there."
"We'll be there, no problem!" Ranma Blue then chuckled. "I'll bet
Kuno will blow his top when he hears about this! That is, if they'll let
him out of his padded cell. I can't believe that he's still after Akane
after all this time."
"Yeah, well after Akane got him on charges of harrassment and had
him sent to the asylum, I don't think we have anything to worry
about. Maybe the marriage will knock some sense into that thick
skull of his!"
"At least Kodachi got better and saner after we gave her facts. I hear
she's now modeling the latest in gymnastics wear."
"Speaking of old headaches, have you heard from Happosai? Ever
since he was released by Kami-sama from the Realm of Infinity, he
just vanished."
Ranma Blue shook his head. "I haven't heard anything, though I
doubt he'll ever trouble anyone again. Taron told me that his
experience with the Dark World had left him with a shattered soul.
He'll never be the martial artist he was, thank goodness. Not even his
perverted ways could restore him. I think that when the Dark World
controlled him, it permanently damaged his psyche."
"A pity. He was a pain in everyone's neck, but I wouldn't want that to
happen to anyone."
"How about Mousse and Ryoga?"
"Well, I heard that Mousse married a nice girl in America. As for
Ryoga, I haven't the slightest idea where he might be. I guess when
we told him to get lost ten years ago, I guess he got lost for good.
Considering what Akane said to him that day, I really can't blame
him."
"Well, he's got no one to blame but himself. If he had told Akane
about being P-Chan in the first place then, he wouldn't have ended up
as badly as he did. Same thing goes for Genma. If he had just taken
responsibility for those crimes he committed, then all those problems
wouldn't have happened. Now he's paying for those crimes. Do you
know that the Tokyo Police finally caught him?"
"Really?"
"Uh huh. All those acts of petty crimes had finally landed him in
prison. I went to see him and make sure that he didn't try to escape.
Turns out that the prison wasn't going to have any problems with
keeping him locked up. He was nothing more than a pathetic wretch
when I saw him. He wasn't even a martial artist anymore, but a dirty,
fat and absolutely pitiful excuse for a human being. He was so far
gone, that he didn't even recognize me. It looked like divine justice
was working again so I just left him there."
Ranma Red nodded as he remebered all the bad things that Genma
had put the both of them through, which by far outweighed the good.
As of now, the chapter concerning their father was now and truly
closed. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two Ranmas looked
up at the night sky as stars twinkled in the distance.
"Blue?"
"Yeah, Red?"
"We've accomplished a lot of things so far and we are among the most
powerful people on the planet now."
"Yeah, so?"
"When we were allowed to keep our powers, I couldn't help but feel
that the Kami aren't through with us yet."
Ranma Blue considered his brother's thoughts and then slowly
nodded. "You know what, I think you're right. But then again, it's
always been our Dual Destinies."
Up in heaven, Kami-sama smiled knowingly. There would come a
time when Earth will once again need the Chosen Twins.
THE END
Author's notes
Wow! I'm done! I'm actually done! I can't say how much it's been a
pleasure in writing this story and I thank all those who have
supported me during this time. This has been one wild ride and I'd
like to say that it's a relief that the story is finished… for now.
For those of you who think that I went a little too far with The Touch
theme from Transformers the Movie and Kami-sama's comment to
kick Sharoka's butt, and that little scene with the Sailor Senshi, well
all I can say is that it's my fanfic and I'll write what I want! If Jared
Ornsted can get away with it in Mirrors Multiplied, then so can I!
Once again, I would like to thank all of my readers for their
comments and suggestions and maybe now I can get on with my other
fanfics!