Twisted Crystal
Chapter 1, Part 2
Jupiter Comes with a "Hiryu Shoten Ha!?"
Makoto took the boy by the arm and dragged him through the streets. He looked around very puzzled as to what was happening and his mind raced through the fight that had just taken place. The girl continued to turn back and smile at him warmly and he took everything he had to just let out a forced laugh and scratch the back of his head with his free hand.
Behind them, Luna and Usagi were trailing them. Luna was talking about how unnatural all of this was, but Usagi paid little attention to her. She was somewhat jealous of Makoto's interest in this new young man. Usagi stopped outside of a small coffee shop at which Makoto and the stranger had stopped. She pressed close against the glass and peered at them as they sat at a table opposite the window. She pressed her ear against it but she was having trouble hearing.
"Hey Luna, you think those forces you felt might have been Love?" Usagi asked with a smile. Luna only sighed and shook her head then continued to watch.
"Hey, my name is Makoto Kino. What's yours?" she asked as they sat down. The boy glanced around wearily.
"Well, ah.. I'm Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts. I'm a bit far from home.. it's on the other side of town. I was following this stupid pig an' this time he got me lost, the little runt. You haven't seen him, have you? He's real tiny and black."
Makoto smiled sweetly and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry but I haven't." Ranma interrupted her by clutching his test tightly. "What's wrong?" she said standing up. He winced in pain and Makoto offered a hand. He shook his head and the pain ceased.
What the heck was that? It couldn't be.. no.. of course not.. it's not love! Ranma brushed the thought aside quickly as images of a dark short haired girl came to his mind. She looked pretty angry. Ranma frowned and Ranma looked up at Makoto sweating heavily. "I'm fine now, don't worry about it," he said. She sat back down and looked around for a waitress, keeping a tentative eye on her companion.
"You sure you're all right?" she asked with a worried look. He only nodded. "Hey!" she exclaimed suddenly. He looked up at her with a questioning glance. "Those were some pretty fancy moves back there. Where'd you learn stuff like that?"
"Oh the Kachu Tenshin Amaguryken training?" Ranma asked nonchalantly. "That's sorta a long story, not that entertaining."
"No, no, Ranma! I'm interested!" she said quickly. She leaned forward and rested her chin in her hands. "I love martial arts!"
Ranma straightened up slightly and a smug grin crossed his face. However, as he noticed the look of admiration in her eyes he slumped back, slightly. "Well, I learned that by training with this Amazon ghoul from China. It just takes enough speed to pull chestnuts from a roasting fire. You keep training and trying until you get it. Nothin' big."
"That's pretty fast," she said sitting back. "I'm impressed. That must take lots of hard work and training!"
Ranma shrugged. "Nah, it was really nothin'. I've always had this talent for martial arts. Hey how old are you? I'm sixteen and I go to Furinkan High School."
"Oh! I'm fourteen and I just transferred to Juuban Junior High," she said. "I sorta got kicked out of my old school for getting in a lot of fights." She lowered her head and turned her eyes to the floor.
"Aww.. don't be sad. I know how THAT can be," Ranma said leaning forward slightly.
"Thanks, Ranma, but you're a guy. It's different when you're a girl."
Ranma laughed slightly, "Pretty funny you should say that.."
"Huh?" Makoto looked up at him.
He shook his head, "Huh? I didn't say nothin'! I wouldn't know anything about being a girl! Just forget it, okay?"
"Luna! I can't hear anything!" Usagi whined outside.
Luna hissed at her. "Usagi! Shut up!"
"Hmph. You're no fun, Luna, you know that?"
"Oh, Usagi... grow up, would you? This could be serious!" Usagi got up and went into the cafe leaving Luna behind. "Usagi! What are you doing!?"
Usagi sat down at the table directly behind Ranma and Makoto and leaned back to listen in on the conversation. Though Makoto and Ranma didn't seem to be talking. They were just sitting there in some sort of awkward silence. Usagi pouted and slumped down in her seat.
"Hey, Mako-chan, I really should be getting back home now. Not that I need to be home or anything. I just really think I should go," Ranma said with an awkward grin.
"Mako-chan.. that's cute. I like that." Makoto smiled. "If you want to go, Ranma, you can, but we haven't even had anything to drink, yet!"
As she said that a waitress appeared with a grin and a glint in her eye. "Can I get either of you anything?" she asked.
"No thanks," Ranma said.
"Well, that's too bad! Cause you're going to get something!"
"Ranma, it's her! That girl from before!" Mako shouted. Instinctively Ranma threw himself back away from the table and over the divider on to Usagi's table. Amazingly enough, he landed firmly on his feet, his fist up into a firm battle stance. Makoto stood up to attack the woman but a shock wave blasted from Zoisite's hand knocking her back into her seat and he turned his attention to Ranma.
"What's the deal? How'd she know where you were? Leading Makoto into a trap?" Usagi shouted and she tossed her glass of water into his face.
"Hey! What'd you do that for!" he shouted and covering his face he swiftly lunged out the door and ran down the street.
Maybe she's a jealous girlfriend, Mako-chan thought to herself. As she did Zoisite shattered the window with his shock wave and levitated with a great deal of speed out and after the fleeing pig-tailed boy. She teleported through the street after him.
"Makoto, are you all right?" asked Usagi. Luna rushed in and hopped up on to Makoto's table.
"She came out of nowhere and sprang a surprise attack on us!"
"But how do you feel?"
"Angry!!" Mako shouted. She stood up and rushed out the door.
It was getting dark out and Ranma was sick of running, so he turned to face his opponent. "Look, I don't like fighting girls, but you're leaving me no choice!" he called out. Zoisite appeared fifty yards from him and smiled. Then she blinked and looked around.
"Who're you?" he demanded in his firm feminine voice. Ranma looked around and then down at his chest and remembered the how Usagi had splashed him moments before with her water.
"Oh.. right.. Well, umm.. That's none of your business, lady! Why're you chasing me?" she demanded.
"I think I've made a horrible mistake." Zoisite's eyes narrowed as he looked at the red headed girl before her. She inspected him carefully, then turned away saying, "You look so similar to the boy." He shook his head and then vanished from sight.
Ranma smiled smugly. I can't say this body ain't worth somethin', I guess, she thought to herself. She began to walk down the street slowly. She wondered when she'd be surprised again by the strange woman. It was definitely strange how that woman had known exactly where she was. With a shrug he looked up and decided it was about time to go home. Though as he was about to head to the roof-tops there was a call from behind.
"Ranma!"
Uh oh, it's those two girls again! Why do I have to be so darn charming! This is going to get me killed some day, she sighed. Thoughts of the girl with short dark hair resurfaced and he only smiled. That's real funny, Ranma She could hear her voice echoing through his head and quickly turned his attention to Makoto and Usagi who had skidded to a halt right beside him. "Can I help you?" Ranma asked sweetly.
"Hey! Who're you? You look just like this guy I was with a few minutes ago," Makoto said to Girl-Ranma.
"I'm Ranma Saotome. Who're you with?" she asked innocently.
"Wow! That's him, too! Are you two related, or something?" Mako-chan asked.
"Well, let's just say that he and I are of the same mind and body," Ranma said with a shrug. He looked to see their reactions, but was surprised at the turn out.
"Same mind... and same body?" Makoto repeated with a confused look. Then she seemed suddenly shocked. "Doesn't that seem sick to you? I mean, maybe you two could be going out.. and other stuff but phrasing it like that is disgusting! And you even took his name, too! Seriously, I'm sorry I got mixed up with either of you!" She turned away in disgust and stormed off with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Same mind and body, huh?" Usagi shrugged with a questioning glance then followed after Makoto. "Hey! Makoto, wait up!"
"Call me Mako-chan," she said over her shoulder with an innocent smile.
"Same mind and same body, huh?" Zoisite smiled evilly, far above the scene below. "This is a very curious state of events." She held up her crystal and pointed it at the girl. The crystal began to grow brightly. "Yes, they are close. But how?" he asked himself. Zoisite floated down to the ground from the roof tops and followed after the pig-tailed girl from afar.
"Come on, girls! It's not how it sounds! We're just close," Ranma called out, trying to regain some dignity. "Geez, junior high kids are so immature," he muttered to himself.
"Get away from us, you perverted girl!" Makoto shouted.
"Oh! What did I do to deserve this?" Ranma asked himself angrily. Then he snapped his fingers suddenly remembering and dashed off. Moments later, the girls found a much more masculine Ranma standing at the corner of the street in the light of a lone street lamp. Usagi grasped Makoto's shoulder, but she didn't stop walking.
"Sorry, I ran off like that," Ranma said. "I didn't want you to get hurt if I had to fight that insane woman."
"Mako-chan, I don't trust this guy anymore," Usagi whispered. Luna mewed slightly. "Let's go a different way."
"Well, well, Ranma. We seemed to have met someone else with that name. Who's the girl?" Mako demanded.
"She's no one! Really! She's just this crazy girl who follows me around.. wears the same clothes I do, stuff like that. It's sick, I know."
"I'm sorry, Ranma. It's late I gotta go home. I'll see ya around." Makoto walked past him and Usagi followed slowly, watching Ranma carefully. Ranma sighed and shook his head. When they were some distance away another figure appeared.
"Well, well, it's you again. This time we're going to finish this. I'm not leaving until I get what I want."
"My lucky day, huh? Well then," Ranma paused to toss step back into a fighting stance, "Come and get it.. whatever it is."
"I was hoping you'd say that," Zoisite laughed. A force of energy fired forth but Ranma jumped high over it and drove his foot down toward Zoisite. Zoisite fortunately teleported to the side and held out his dark crystal. Ranma was caught in its light again and he winced at the pain. Agony rushed over him and his scream drifted on the breeze to the ears of two girls. Makoto rushed off to help and Luna and Usagi exchanged a glance.
"Moon Prism Power!" she called out, raising her hand into the air. Energy surged through her and her school uniform faded away, leaving her in what seemed very much like a blue and white sailor suit. Nodding in satisfaction, Usagi rushed off after Mako. Luna trailed behind her.
A gaping hole opened up in Ranma's chest and he screamed in pain, but inside there was a fist sized crystal, bright red in color. It floated free from his body and into the palm of Zoisite. The hole closed swiftly and Ranma dropped to the ground.
"Mine at last!" Zoisite gasped.
"Drop that crystal!" shouted a commanding voice from behind. Everyone turned around.
"Sailor Moon!" gasped Makoto. Ranma looked up slightly through weak eyes.
"Well, if it isn't the so called champion of justice!" Zoisite said with a smile.
"You won't get away with this," Sailor Moon called out.
"Oh I think I all ready have. I'd love to stay, but I have a little victory celebration to attend. If it makes you feel any better, I'll be leaving your friend here alone from now on." Zoisite smiled and sat back on the air, crossing his legs. Then he vanished in a swirl of petals.
Ranma was clutching his chest in agony. He found it difficult to breath. Suddenly his chest filled more of his hands than he had expected and his whole body tingled. Ranma was perhaps the strongest human in the city, but his muscles bulged and expanded larger than even. Strange scaled fins tore through his shirt around the shoulder and his eyes grew a deep red.
"Wait... He's a girl now..." Sailor Moon whispered.
"If you can call him that," Makoto added quickly. The two of them backed away as the hulking figure loomed over them. Ranma was a girl, a terribly demonic girl. She glared at the three creatures staring at her and her blood red eyes narrowed. "Sailor Moon! Do something!" Makoto pleaded, but Sailor Moon was equally terrified. Then she stepped forward, pushing Makoto behind her. Ranma smiled and squinted then lunged forward.
"Kachu Tenshin Amaguryken!" her demonic feminine voice cried out. It echoed through the street that they stood. Her scaled and hardened fists lashed out at an inhuman rate. Again the power of one punch was really ten packed in. His fists were a blur and suddenly he struck Sailor Moon. Her fists struck every inch of the front of her torso and Sailor Moon was hurled backwards. Ranma approached her with an evil glint in his eyes, but he was suddenly stopped. From behind, Mako-chan had grabbed his shirt. And with a struggle, she hefted him up over her head.
A symbol flared on her head and Luna gasped, "The fourth Sign!" Mako tossed Ranma into a tree and heard a sickening crunch, but in moments she was back on her feet with an evil grin. "Mako! Use this to transform," Luna blurted out. A small pen sat at her feet.
Mako looked down at them with a puzzled look. "How'd you learn to talk?" she asked.
"No time to explain, Mako. Just trust me on this one. Just take this stick and do what I say. Like Sailor Moon you're destined to defend peace and justice. Now say Jupiter Power!" Makoto grabbed the pen shaped object and held it high.
"Jupiter Power!!" she cried out. She crossed her arms over her chest as lighting surged over her body and through her own tiara. As it faded a new Sailor stood in the moonlight, her green and white uniform, a pink ribbon fluttered from her suit.
"Pathetic Sailor Scout!" Ranma rushed forward to attack, but stopped suddenly allowing Makoto to make the first move. She attacked, but Ranma dodged. She attacked again, but he was much quicker than she was. In and out, the two weaved around, a sneer marring the horribly distorted face of a one-time beautiful girl.
"That pattern they're making..." Luna muttered to herself. "How odd." The two combatants circled around as Sailor Moon stood helplessly watching. Then she moved a bit closer and grabbed her tiara. As she did, she noticed the energy swirling around the monster. Swiftly Ranma drew her hand against her chest and then lifted it up into the air.
"Hiryu shoten ha!!!" Winds began to swirl around him swiftly, pulling the cat and the Scouts closer to the center of the attack Ranma had launched.
"On behalf of Jupiter, I call upon the forces of thunder and lightning to vanquish this evil! Supreme Thunder! Blast!" Lightening flared around her and focused into a small point on her tiara. Then she extended her arms and the huge force fired forth toward the raging winds of the Ranma's heavenly dragon attack. Before Sailor Moon and Luna were dragged up in the whirl, the lighting broke through the energy sucking attack and knocked Ranma off of her feet.
Unfortunately, the power of the lightening only added to the tremendous force of the tornado that was forming in the dimly lit city streets. The four figures were tossed up into the air, Ranma included.
"Sailor Moon! You cannot defeat her that way, you'll need to change him back.. um.. into a boy!" Luna cried out within the twister.
"How Luna?! I can barely breathe in here!" Sailor Moon asked. As her voice rang out, the twister dissipated and the four were dropped to the ground. Sailor Moon landed on her back in a patch of bushes. "Oww! Oww! Oww!" she cried out. Opening her eyes, barely able to see from the attack she had taken earlier added to this new assault. She could see that Ranma was all ready on her feet. "Look! She's getting ready to attack again!"
"She won't, Sailor Moon!" Luna leaped into the sky and somersaulted in midair, dropping a strange stick into Sailor Moon's hands, it had a crescent moon sitting atop it with a strange brooch embedded just below that.
"Wow.. What's this, Luna?" she asked.
"It's the Crescent Moon Wand. Take it and say 'Moon Healing Activation'. It will break the spell!"
Sailor Moon nodded and lifted the wand into the air, calling out, "Moon Healing Activation!" Sailor Moon twirled around and made a circle with the wand and moon dust enveloped the demon-girl. With a scream of rage that drifted away, the hulking form seemed to shrink back down with a great deal of effort. A torn human body fell to the ground with a soft thud.
Mako-chan gasped, "Look! It's Ranma! He's back!"
"Wow! Cool!" Sailor Moon smiled.
"Sailor Jupiter, you were most impressive. You're going to be a great Sailor Scout!" Luna said with a purr.
"Thank you, Luna, I'm glad you think so!" she replied.
Luna turned to Sailor Moon and looked up at the wand in her hand. "Sailor Moon, the Crescent Moon Wand is a very important element of our mission because it's the symbol of our leader!"
"Leader? No way! Not me!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
Luna glared at her sternly. "But it is your destiny to be the leader of the Sailor Scouts. The Crescent Moon Wand is a powerful treasure and you must guard it until you find the Princess of the Moon!"
Makoto and Usagi made their way to find some medical attention for her wounds after Ranma was back on his feet. A little shaken by the experience, Ranma managed to find his way home.
"Wow! You've got bruises and bumps everywhere! Who did this to you, young lady?" asked a doctor in a gray gi as he poked, pried, pulled and pushed the various joints of Usagi.
"Oww! Hey!! Watch it, Doctor Tofu! It was some weird guy that we met, his name was Ranma something," she muttered as her joints ached and cracked all over her body.
"Hurts? Can you show me where?" Doctor Tofu asked pushing his small glasses up higher on his nose.
"Well.. no... I think you've cured me, Doctor Tofu! Thank you very much! What about these bruises though?" she asked quietly.
"Here," he said handing her some cream. "Just apply some of this on any of them before you go to bed. Ranma did all this, huh? I'll have to have a word with him. This seems very uncharacteristic. You know, I don't normally do check ups like this at this time of night. You're very lucky I was awake!"
"You know Ranma? Well.. he wasn't quite himself, you really don't need to talk to him. Thanks you so much for helping me out though. I appreciate it," she said with a smile. He nodded and then told her to head home. Joining Mako-chan who was waiting in the front hall, the two went back to their homes.
The next afternoon Mako-chan sat at the Sailor V video game at the Crown Game Center pushing away at the buttons as an almost totally healed Usagi came up to her with Luna perched on her shoulder. She watched for a moment and then Makoto lost. Almost on the edge of furious, Makoto slammed her hand down on the game.
"Hey, Usagi, what's up?"
Usagi turned and saw that one of her true loves was standing beside her. "Oh! Hi, Motoki! Long time, Motoki!"
"Hey, who's your friend?" he asked.
"Makoto!" Usagi said.
"Wow! He looks just like my old boy friend..." she sighed as Motoki walked away.
"But, I thought Ranma looked like your old boyfriend?" Usagi asked.
"He's dreamy." Mako watched as Motoki walked around the corner and she sighed.
"Mako-chan, grow up! You can't have a crush every two minutes!"
Luna laughed slightly, "Look who's talking!"
Chapter 1, Part 1 - Jupiter Comes with a Hiryu Shoten Ha!?
Index
Chapter 2, Part 1 - Friend or Foe?
Chapter 2, Part 2 - Friend or Foe?
("Twisted Crystal" is a story which revolves around the well designed characters of "Ranma �" and "Sailor Moon".)
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