Ranma / Sailor Senshi: Eyes of a Stranger Chapter Nine
Created by Long Ngo
Co-authored Lord Talon
Started May 15, 1999
Finished April 29, 2001
 

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As the rain fell onto the unconscious martial artist, other warriors of light were awakening. The first up were Neptune and Jupiter. Taking stock of the situation, they noticed the devastation around them. The worse part was seeing the scattered bodies everywhere. Looking to their left, they noticed that Saturn was limping towards the front of the auditorium, more specifically, the hole that had ushered in the appearance of the creature called Akuma. The implosion of the wall had, for a few moments, created a hailstorm of concrete and bricks that caught many of the spectators underneath. She would try to heal as many as possible.

Looking to see if their princess was alright, they became curious as the attention of Sailor Moon, Mars and Uranus were all focused on the red headed girl lying in a puddle that was caused by the rain coming from the hole in the roof. For the life of them, neither could figure out why.

Soon all of the Inner and Outer Senshi were up, though some more hurt than others. No one paid any attention to their cuts and bruises since those wounds would be healing at a faster than normal rate while they were in their Senshi form.

Limping to his one true love, "What's wrong?" Tuxedo Kamen asked Sailor Moon.

Pointing to the unconscious girl that was the focus of most of the Senshi, "Ranma," Sailor Moon replied.

"Huh?" Tuxedo Kamen replied. Scanning the area quickly, he could not find a single trace of the person in question.

"He was glowing . . ."

"Are you alright?" he asked his princess, feeling her forehead for a fever.

". . . so fast . . ."

Still not getting it, the prince of Terra looked at the red headed girl again, trying to figure out what was so special about her to make his love so astounded.

"He turned the daimon into moon dust with a single punch," Sailor Moon continued.

While Tuxedo Kamen was trying to comfort their leader, Uranus moved closer to the female Ranma, intending to drag her out of the rain. The instant Uranus touched Onna-Ranma, the supposedly unconscious martial artist leaped to her feet, battle aura blazing which caused Sailor Uranus to stumble back in surprise.

Tuxedo Kamen was the first to react, reaching into the folds of his suit to bring out a red rose. This caused Onna-Ranma to turn her head into his direction. The sight of a fiery red headed girl with golden eyes unnerved him a bit. It was as if those two eyes were looking directly into his soul and found it lacking.

Onna-Ranma scanned the people around her. All of the girls and one male
present had higher than normal energy output. None of them were showing any signs of aggression except for the man. Narrowing her eyes, Onna-Ranma prepared to dispatch the man when the girl with twin buns made a move to stop him. Seeing no more hostility, Onna-Ranma turned her head to the prone form of her mother. Her golden eyes vanished, replaced with clear blue ones that shown immense pain.

"Why does this have to happen to me?" Onna-Ranma asked no one in particular. "Everyone I let get close to me either get hurt or die. WHY, KAMISAMA!? WHY!?" she shouted to the heavens above, falling to a kneeling position facing his mother. Even with the rain, the Senshi could see that Onna-Ranma was crying.

Bending down, Mercury tried to sooth the emotionally wrecked martial artist.

Michiru could not handle the pain that she saw in Onna-Ranma's eyes. In some ways it resembled their princess the one time she thought she was helpless to aid Sailor Saturn in her fight versus Pharaoh 90. Leaning into Uranus for support, Neptune sought comfort.

Soon afterwards, Sailor Moon, Mars and Uranus were able to explain to everyone that the red headed girl was actually Ranma turned female.

"Hey Jupiter, do you think Sailor Moon could resurrect Ranma's mom like she did us when we died in Antarctica?" she asked the avatar of the largest planet in their solar system in a voice that was slightly above a loud whisper.

Faster than most people can react, Onna-Ranma was in front of Venus, her
right hand was bundled around Venus's ribbon. Onna-Ranma had been able to pick up three words from Venus's comment to Jupiter, those being Ranma's mom and resurrection. "You can resurrect my mother?" she asked, her face full of hope. "Tell me how," she demanded, lifting the Senshi of Love into the air and started shaking her.

Venus started to blush as Onna-Ranma's hands started rubbing up and down her chest. She had gotten over the initial surprise of finding Onna-Ranma's face inches away from hers. As Onna-Ranma continued to shake her, the feeling of excitement started to turn her on as she pictured the male Ranma rubbing her breast and whispering sweet words in her ears. "You . . . huh have to . . .hmmm . . . ask Sailor Moon," Venus answered in a very shaken voice.

Mercury, Luna and Artemis had to hide their face in embarrassment.

Onna-Ranma was about to rush towards the one known as Sailor Moon when the man wearing the tuxedo and top hat stepped in her way.

"Calm down," he commanded.

*Calm down?* Onna-Ranma thought. *Tux-boy is standing between me and the cure for mom and he wants me to calm down?* Images started to flash through Ranma's head of Mount Phoenix and Akane's death These scenes have haunted him for weeks after returning to Japan. Now, one of the nightmares was being reenacted in front of him. Saffron was between him and the cure for Akane but he was too slow in getting to get. The same thing was happening again, someone was between him and the cure for his mother. *Hell will freeze over if I ever let that happen again,* Ranma swore. Looking into Tuxedo Mask's eyes, "Move or I'll go through you," Ranma declared.

The look that he was receiving from the martial artist sent a shiver down his spine. Locked into the stare, he could see Ranma's eye shifting from blue to gold. *This is not good, everything is getting out of hand,* he thought. "No, you will not get near Sailor Moon until you've calmed down."

At this time, Ranma's body was starting to acquire a greenish glow to it.

The instant Ranma had threatened Endymion, Uranus and Neptune snapped into action. Stepping in front of their prince and princess.

"Hold it right there. I know you're hurting after losing a loved one but
this is not the way," Neptune addressed Onna-Ranma. "We'll protect Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon from you if we have to," Uranus stated.

Mercury was reluctant to face off against her friend and sensei but she would protect Usagi if she had to.

To Mars, everything about this picture was wrong. Though she felt huge
amounts of negative energy from Ranma in his fight versus Akuma, she also
felt the goodness in him throughout the tournament. It wasn't right that
they had to fight one of the greatest martial artists she had ever seen.

Meanwhile, Hotaru was going through the mass of people, seeing if she could heal any of them. A tear fell from her left eye as she walked by rows of people that had passed on. The few that she could save lightened her heart somewhat. Nearing the end of the destruction, Hotaru saw a woman who was barely alive. She did not know who this person who, but Saturn knew that this lady was strong in spirit and the only reason she was alive was due to sheer will power.

Though she was tired, Hotaru had to try and heal her as best she can, hopefully to a point where the woman had a chance of surviving.

As Hotaru's hand came into contact with Nodoka, it glowed a quiet white
light. The cuts on Nodoka started to close as the magic of Saturn seeped
into her body. Wherever it touched, it tried to heal whatever it could, reconnecting torn muscle tissue, replacing blood and the strengthening the body's immune system that had been shot. As Nodoka's body started to get a healthier look, Hotaru collapsed forward, having spent too much energy. She would have fallen onto Nodoka had it not been for two hands gently supporting her.

"Hey there my little firefly," Ran whispered.

"Oniisan," Hotaru muttered.

"Shhh. Don't worry, I'll take it from here, okay?" Ran assured her.

"Hai," she replied before falling asleep due to exhaustion.

Grinning at the sleeping Senshi, Ran placed his hands on the chest and completed her healing. "Again we meet," Ran whispered. Placing Saturn
gently on the ground, Ran turned and faced the remaining Senshi and the
glowing martial artist. For someone of Ran's ability, it wasn't too hard to recognize the emotion that was playing on the face of the red headed girl.

Walking up to the group and ignoring Pluto who was hiding in the shadows,
"Calm down children. If you want to fight then fine but Saturn is in no
condition to heal any of you and I will not because you got hurt over a
stupid quarrel," Ran said.

Whipping her head in the direction of the new presence, Onna-Ranma growled. "You think that trying to get help for my mother who is hurt is stupid?" she shouted.

"No. First of all, trying to force someone to help you is wrong. Second, your mother is fine. She is just sleeping," Ran answered.

"What?" Onna-Ranma exclaimed. Leaping over the heads of the Senshi and had surrounded her, Onna-Ranma approached her mother. Bending down and examining her, Onna-Ranma found that the man in the uniform was right. There was not a single scratch on her body. *How?* she thought.

"Sailor Saturn and myself healed her," Ran answered Onna-Ranma's unspoken question.

Getting up, Onna-Ranma approached the man and bowed. "Thank you. You do not know how much this means to me. If there is anything I can do . . ." Onna-Ranma left the question hanging. This man had saved his mother and he owed him more than he can possibly imagine. It was all Onna-Ranma could do to hold back the tears of joy just waiting to burst out. *A guy don't cry,* he chanted to himself.

When the man wearing a uniform strangely similar to the Generals of the Dark Kingdom first appeared, there many speculations as to whom he was. Many of the Senshi were wary of the man but having Saturn calling him Oniisan calmed many of them down. Uranus and Neptune were still held their doubts about the stranger. Until they had physically evidence that he was not a danger to the planet or their princess, he would be considered a threat.

Smiling at Onna-Ranma, "No problem, just make sure you know who is your friend and who is your enemy," Ran advised, though for some reason it was not only directed at Ranma.

Stepping forward, "Who are you?" Uranus asked.

"How do you know Saturn?" Neptune continued the line of question.

"So even the Outer Senshi have forgotten me but Saturn and Pluto," Ran
sighed. "Ask Pluto, she sees all and knows all it seems. Until then, Ja ne!"

With that, the former General of the Guards turned around and started to walk away. *Strange. I feel another with power close by,* he thought. Changing his mind, Ran decided to stay and see whom this mysterious person was, discretely of course.

* * * * *

Sailor Pluto watched the gathering and smiled. She saw Ran and the smile turned bittersweet.

"It's nice to see a boy and his mother back together, thought there is a bit something odd about the boy," a voice behind Pluto said.

"The boy is a natural channeller. I see great things in the future for him. I also see chaos and change. The boy could cause great fluxuations to the time stream if he isn't carefully monitored, Artemis!" Pluto said, recognizing the voice, without turning around.

"So, what will you do?" Artemis asked.

"Watch him. If he becomes a threat, I will deal with him!" She said sternly.

"And what about the man in the Uniform of the Dark Kingdom? Will you
deal with him as well? Who is he?" Artemis asked.

Pluto frowned. She had said too much already "Why aren't you with Venus or Luna right now?" Pluto asked.

"Well, I would be with them, except for one small detail." he said.

Pluto became slightly annoyed, "And what might that be?" she asked.

"I'm not Artemis!" he said, his voice becoming deeper.

Pluto whirled around, ready to attack, and then she saw him. He was as tall as she, with a wealth of white hair. He wore a white shirt with ruffles and dark leather breeches and boots. His face held a teasing smirk as he looked at her and his violet eyes seemingly contained millennia or more of knowledge. He bowed formally to her, the smirk never leaving his lips. "Hello, Princess. Miss me?" he asked.

"YOU!" she cried in disbelief.

* * * * *

The palace that at one time was the home to the House of Serenity shook as its new Lord bellowed in anger.

"Enough! I have seen enough!" the master yelled. All those in attendance
knew that while the master was calm most of the time, those who angered him usually were never seen again. Thus many thanked Chaos that they were not the one in front of him now.

Though there was fierce competition to gain the Master's favor, many felt
sorry for Ambyra. None wanted to be in her shoes right now.

"Do you know the risks I took for you?" he asked. "Do you know what your
failures have cost me? Do you?" he screamed at her.

"Master, I..." she began, but was cut off.

"I did not give you permission to speak, Ambyra? You would do well to not anger me further!" he declared.

Ambyra flinched slightly at the retort but nodded slowly.

"I gave you VorTox, my air elemental, which I created using the last of the Dark Moon's technology and you let him be destroyed. I gave you Ferros, my warrior golem. He too was destroyed not by the Senshi but some unknown warrior. A nobody! Finally, Akuma, one of my finest creations was beaten by a simply mortal teenager!" he roared, the last three words were spoken with venom.

"Master. Please! Let me explain . . . " Ambyra tried to defend herself but was again cut off.

"I said silence!" the Master shouted. After taking a few moments to recover his composure he turned back to her. "I gave you three of my best servants and they were all destroyed. You showed much promise, Ambyra. After all I have done for you, I ask you to do a simple task and one that I knew you would enjoy and what do I get but failure. How can I trust you if you can not beat a group of teenage girls barely old enough to date according to Earth's beliefs?"

Holding his temples for a second, trying to calm down. "Do you have
anything to say for yourself before I pass judgment?" he asked her.

"Master, I admit I failed with VorTox, but both of your other servants had most of the Senshi out of commission. It was only due to outside interference that the Senshi live!" she protested.

"A man with a glowing sword and a mere teenage boy? They live because of your incompetence. Enough! Your sentence is this: You are banished from my presence. You are to never set foot back here again! If you return and are caught, you will be turned to stone and your body reduced to fine powder!" he declared.

"I am allowing you to leave here alive out of respect for the warrior you
once were," the master paused for a moment before continuing. "You will have one chance to reclaim some of your former glory. Bring me the head of one of the Senshi, I care not which, although . . . " he paused once again to consider. " . . . if, by some chance, you bring me the head of the Senshi of Time, I may restore you to your former position, but make no mistake, Ambyra. It's the head of any of the Senshi or you will never return here again!" he declared and then pointed at her.

"GO!" he commanded.

Ambyra bowed to her master before teleporting to her chambers to gather her few meager possessions.

Tanthus grinned nastily. Ambyra had failed again and thanks to some subtle suggestions on his part, she was now banished from the master's protection and was faced with an impossible task. If she managed to secure the head of one of the Senshi, she would be easy picking for him because a battle like that would severely weaken her. If she fought against the Senshi again, it was more than likely that she would be the one to fall. Either way, he figured that he was in a position of strength with her out of the way.

It was then that Tanthus' hopes were dashed as the Master summoned Ryou.

"Ryou! Come forward!"

A man in armor stepped forward and kneeled before the Master. "You called, General?"

A smile flashed across his face briefly. "Ryou, I am giving you control of all my armies. Your first assignment is to pick up where your predecessor left off," he commanded.

Ryou bowed in acknowledgement. With his head down, no one could see the
slight frown that passed over his face. One could say it was anger...

Tanthus silently cursed the Fates for this turn of events. His scrying had said he was supposed to be the next in command. *No matter,* Tanthus
silently mused. *Ryou will fail, just as Ambyra did and when he does, I will be the one to take over. After all, it is written in the stars,* he thought to himself and smiled at the prospects that were sure to come.

* * * * *

Closing the door behind her, Ambyra could finally let the anguish she felt in her chest out. Falling to her knees, Ambyra started to sob. "Why?" she muttered. "Why can't I have my revenge? Why? I'm sorry mother, father, Dimando. I've failed you all," she whispered the last part before an uncontrollable tightness in her chest consumed her as she fell to the ground crying her eyes out.

A knock on the door startled her. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she rose and tried to present a dignified front in case the person on the other side of the door was one of her nemesis. Knowing that she could not hide her puffy eyes, Ambyra closed her eyes for a brief second to concentrate and cast an illusion around her. All traces of her break down moments before vanished as the magic she had called forth enshrouded her. As she opened the door, she saw her lover on the other side with a worry expression. "Ryou!" she shouted in joy and relief. Before the newly appointed general could make a move, Ambyra launched herself at him and buried her face in his shoulders. She did not notice the fact that the illusion around her fell as her attention drifted.

Seeing his lover in such a bedraggled state, he calmly guided her back into her room, away from any unwanted eyes.

"Shhhh, my love. Don't worry. I'll take care of the Senshi. My revenge, as well as yours, shall be fulfilled," Ryou kept muttering into Ambyra ears, gently. Soon she could hear the even breathing of his love in a peaceful sleep, he hoped. Knowing that her one true love always kept his promises, Ambyra calmed done. Looking up at Ryou, she knew that one way or another the Senshi would die or they would perish trying.

Though her eyes were red and a little puffy, Ryou knew deep in his heart that this lady clinging on to him was the most beautiful woman he had ever met and would move Heaven and Earth to see her happy.

"Let me be alone for a time, love," Ambyra asked Ryou, not wanting him to see her in this state.

Nodding his head, Ryou let her go. Before he exited and closed the door
behind him, Ryou turned back. "Don't worry. We'll get the Senshi soon."

Watching him leave, Ambyra had no doubt about his sincerity but she was not the waiting type. After sensing that he was far away enough as not to notice her using her powers, Ambyra teleported out. *Why wait when I can finish them now?* she thought.

* * * *

Seeing the stranger leave, Uranus and Neptune went back to their good cop, bad cop routine. In their case, bad cop, bad cop routine. "Now back to the subject at hand. We do not like people threatening our Princess," Uranus declared.

"We will protect her from anyone who wishes to harm her," Neptune continued.

Raising her hands into the air, Uranus created a ball of pure energy or that was what Ranma could figure. It was not ki or chi, Onna-Ranma was certain of that. It did not have the same feel. Turning his head to the blue hair Senshi, Onna-Ranma noted that she had also formed a ball. This time Onna-Ranma knew for a fact that it was water but again, the energy around the ball of water was different than the normal chi or ki he felt. It was as if these two were drawing their power from a different power source that he didn't know about.

"World Shaking!" Uranus yelled.

"Deep Submergence!" Neptune shouted.

Both attacks streaked pass Onna-Ranma and exploded upon impact with the wall behind him. Onna-Ranma had felt the heat from Uranus's attack and the breeze from Neptune's as each attack went by him and that alone made him shiver at the strength of the two.

Shaking free from where her soul mate held her, Sailor Moon ran to stop Uranus and Neptune from making a horrible mistake. "Stop this!" she ordered.

Turning around both Outer were surprised. Normally their princesses was a clumsy girl but on the few occasions where she exerted herself; neither Senshi could doubt that she was truly their princess.

Looking at each other, they both stepped back but each were prepare to throw themselves in front of their princess if the cause arise.

"I apologize for my friends. Sometime they are overprotective of me," Sailor Moon said, bowing in the process.

Seeing the sincerity in the girl's eyes, Onna-Ranma nodded. Turning around, Ranma headed towards the bleachers, intent on carrying his mother home. His path lead him pass the area where both of Neptune and Uranus's attack had collided with the wall. For just a moment, the steam that was created by the combination of both attacks obscured Onna-Ranma. Where a red headed girl once was, a taller dark hair boy emerged.

Many of the Senshi who did not see the pigtailed martial artist transform the first time were shocked. The four who did still blinked a few times at how fast the gender changed occurred.

As Ranma reached down to pick up his mother, a woman appeared in front of him.

"Where do you think you are going, boy? Do you think that after ruining my plan you can just walk away?" Ambyra challenged the youth in front of her.

Though Ranma did not know the stranger, the Senshi behind him did. Still nursing bruises from their encounter with Akuma, each Senshi prepared herself for the upcoming battle, knowing that with each of them not at full strength, this would be a difficult fight.

"Hold it right there!" Sailor Moon shouted.

* * * * *

To be continued: