Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Pillars of Strength ❯ In the Spotlight ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Pillars of Strength
by Afroplex (jwessels@cse.unl.edu)

Disclaimer - This crossover story is not for profit. All characters within
are property of their respective owners. Please don't sue me, you won't get
anything out of it since I'm but a poor college student.

CHAPTER 2 - In the Spotlight
============================================================= =

The four girls were flying through the air once more, but their ride
was in a bigger hurry than the last. Clouds passed on either side and
below, giving glimpses of a vast forest. Sparse patches of grass
could be seen, but for the most part, the canopy of trees hid any
details of what the forest contained.

Ranma slowly gained consciousness. A minor headache and bruises could
be felt from whatever jumped her during the battle. 'They won't
get me so easily next time. Wonder why didn't detect them?' As she opened
her eyes, instead of the expected view of being on a beach, house, or
a bed of some sort - a mile of altitude was greeted. "Ahhhhhhh!!"

"It appears our friend is awake," Fuu mentioned.

Hikaru peered over the side, "Ranma! You're ok!" The redhead waved down
at the martial artist. After seeing Ranma fly several yards and land
roughly on the sand, and still skid another three from the hit, she
was justifiably concerned for the other redhead's health. Patting the
half bird, half lion beast on the head, "Hey? Mind if we land to let
Ranma ride?"

The bird beast nodded and chirped with Ranma still in it's beak. The
jerk up and down removed any drowsyness the martial artist still had,
but replaced with a slight dizzy spell.

As they decended, a castle of some sort could be made out appearing over
the tree tops. Surrounding it, a large retangular wall with no apparent
gateway or inlet. The creature made two large flaps of its wings and settled
down. The four jumped down and looked at their surroundings. Stretching
her arms and rapidly healing back muscles, Ranma looked up at the large
stone wall around the complex.

"Ryoga could make an entrance in no time, but guess jumping will have to
do," Ranma mumbled. Turning, Ranma was wide eyed as the bird beast
faded out. "Just great... just what else could go wrong."

The other three girls turned to see what Ranma was starring at. Fuu
and Hikaru had concerned looks, but Umi took a more dramatic approach
to displaying her thoughts - running around frantically flailing her arms.
"No! How are we going to get back to Tokyo now!"

"I suppose we could try to see if there that person Clef mentioned that
could help us is in the castle," Fuu mentioned.

Slapping her fist into her palm, Hikaru lightened up, "That's right!
This has got to be the place, we didn't see any other buildings in this
forest from above."

At a suggestion from Fuu, Hikaru knocked on the wall lightly. Ranma was
preoccupied with another section and leaped to the top of the thirty foot
wall.

Umi nearly fell over, "That's impossible! That wall is nearly five times taller
than I am!!" Then she noticed the wall Hikaru had just touched disappeared to
reveal a tunnel through the stone wall, "What is going on here? That's
it, it's just a dream. How else could this be happening?" Pinching herself,
then sagging her shoulders, "Guess not."

Fuu and Hikaru were speechless for a moment, trying to comprehend the two
events at the same time. Looking back and forth between a smirking Ranma
on top of the wall, and the tunnel, Hikaru clapped, "This is SOOOO cool!"

"Well, we may as well go in. We can't do anything else out here," Umi
pointed out and lead the way in.

Going through the tunnel, the three failed to notice the moving mound of
dirt following them. Ranma jumped down beside the girls, and also didn't
notice.

Entering the castle through some large wooden doors, the girls cautiously
entered. At first glanse, the dust made it look like no one was home.
However, the shutters and doors in good repair (not to mention lit candles)
hinted otherwise. Rounding a corner, candlelight cracked through a slightly
open doorway. Hikaru entered beside Ranma, with Fuu and Umi close behind.

Papers were flying wildly into the air, the source hidden behind a chair
at the only desk in the study. "Um, you wouldn't happen to be the person
Clef said could help us? We are the magic knights," Umi called out to
whoever was in the chair.

The papers stopped, and the chair turned. "Puu puu!"

Ranma almost started laughing, if it wasn't for the fact their 'help' that
could get them back home was a marshmellow with ears. "No way. We're
doomed."

As Hikaru took a step forward to pick up the cute marshmellow, when Ranma
bolted forward to grab her by the arm. They rolled on the ground, just
as a cage came down from the ceiling to trap Fuu and Umi. Getting up,
Ranma checked to make sure Hikaru was ok.

Laughter was then heard from the doorway. Turning in a ready stance,
Ranma watched as a blond woman in a red and gold outfit entered.

"I got you Mokona!"

The four intruders teardropped as the woman completely ignored them,
and continued her entrance.

"Now, what should I do to punish you-" she was then cut off by Ranma.

"Um, miss?"

The woman nearly jumped out of her skin. Looking over to the cage, she
finally realized that Mokona was not the one trapped. "So it was you who
was messing up my study all this time. I always thought this old place
was haunted. Now, what should I do to punish you...."

As the their host rambled on, Ranma leaned over and mumbled in Hikaru's
ear. "I'm not sure which was better, help from the marshmellow or her."

Hikaru smirked slightly. Umi was growing frustrated, especially when she
was left in a cage being ignored.

"I'm sorry we barged in, but would you release us? We tried to find another
way in, but Hikaru touched the wall and the wall opened. So then we came in
to see if we could find some help."

The woman's eyes grew large at this information, "What did you say?"
Leaping over to the cage, she put her hands on Umi's shoulders through the
bars.

"Um, we need help?"

Shaking her head slightly, "No, before that."

"Um... The wall disappeared when Hikaru touched it?"

"Amazing, but you are so young." Letting her grip on Hikaru's shoulders,
the woman gave a short bow, "Welcome magic knights. I am Presea, the
master smith that master mage Clef sent you too."

The group then gave their names.
"Hikaru Shidou."
"Fuu Hououji."
"Umi Ryuuzaki."
"And I'm Ranma Saotome, sorry about this."

The door exploded inward in a shower of splinters. Behind the force, was
a monster formed of what appeared to be rocks and dirt. Presea drew her
sword and backed up, placing herself between the knights and the monster.
Mokona meanwhile leaped behind Presea into Hikaru's arms.

Ranma had a better idea than sitting idle. Stepping in front of Presea and
cracking her knuckles, "Finally, time for round two with these things.
And I'm pissed."

Presea was about to protest when a blue aura became visible around the
redhead. "Magic? But we are in the forest of silence? How is this possible?"

Hikaru also was wanting to help, but without knowing how to use magic, or
without a weapon there wasn't much she could do. Remembering Fuu and Umi
in the cage, "Presea, get Fuu and Umi out of the cage. Do you have
weapons we could use?"

Reminded of the others, Presea circled the monster and jumped to pull a chain.

Ranma at this time ran at the monster and slipped easily under the
monster's wild swing. Jumping straight up, a quick combo of kicks to the
head scattered its face over the floor. On the decent, she decided to
finish the job against the semisolid monster, "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!"
A line of powerful, ki reinforced punches was made straight down the center
of the monster. Landing, Ranma turned dramaticly dusting her hands off just
as her foe crumbled.

Presea's mouth was nearly on the ground. "Amazing, you may be the magic
knights after all." Recomposing herself, she walked over to the door.
"Follow me, we will get some weapons for you."

After they left, the pulverized dust and rocks began to slowly reassemble
itself.

Walking down the hall the girls gave their introductions to the master smith.
Presea asked the group, "I thought there were only three magic knights in
the legend."

Fuu answered, "There are. Mr.Clef said that Ranma wasn't, but could
be a help. He gave us all magic, including Ranma."

Before Presea could ask the martial artist how she used magic in the forest
of silence, they arrived at a large wooden door with a large turn handle.
Grinding it open, they stepped into a large armory.

"Nice. I know a certain chinese amazon though that probably carries more
than what you have in here though," Ranma commented.

Presea arched an eyebrow at the comment, thinking that Ranma's friend was
probably a giant of some sort. Arching her arm up, "Pick any weapon you
wish. On your way to the Spring of Eterna, you will need them."

Ranma 'humphed', muttering weapons are only a crutch.

Fuu was elated, "Thank you so much for providing weapons for free! I only wish
my role playing games were this easy."

"Oh, but they aren't for free."

Ranma snickered, "Knew there had to be some sort of catch. I should introduce
you to Nabiki."

Again, Presea ignored the side comment. "I'm just loaning them to you. When
you travel to the Spring of Eterna, you will acquire the ore called escudo."

"Spring of Eterna? Escudo?" Fuu asked.

Leaning back on a large cannon, Presea explained, "In the legends, the three
magic knights travel to the Spring of Eterna. There you will get an ore
called escudo. From that ore, I will create weapons for you. These weapons will
evolve as its user evolves mentally and in skill. Also, a weapon made from
escudo is the key to reviving the rune god."

Umi spoke up, "Clef mentioned that before we were attacked, what is a rune god?"

Presea closed her eyes, "A rune god is a large powerful being. I do not know of
the exact details, but you will know what it is when you find it." Reopening
her eyes, "You will need to revive the rune god if you are to have a chance
against Zagato to save Cephiro."

A growl was heard from the doorway. Weirling, the five were shocked to see the
monster from before revived.

"Out of the way!" Presea motioned the girls to the right and fired a large
cannon into the monster. The ball smashed into the abdomin of the monster,
throwing it back. She then rushed forward to close the door. "Quickly!
Choose your weapons before the door is broken down!"

"But there are so many!" Umi called out.

"Just close your eyes and concentrate - including you Ranma! I know you
have some powers but just do it!" Presea narrowly avoided a rocky fist
through the door.

Reluctingly, Ranma complied, and concentrated with the other girls. A second
later, four weapons glided down from the walls. Hikaru was gifted with a
light broadsword, Umi an agile rapier and Fuu a bow. Swordplay and archery,
or magic were stressed more than martial arts, so Presea was surprised when
Ranma recieved one of the weapons few in Cephiro could use effectively -
ninja claws on one hand, on the other a spiked and armored knuckle glove.

Pleased that her new armaments would complement her skills in the art,
Ranma jumped immediately into the battle and quickly descemated the monster
in an explosion of rock and dust. Knowing it would come back, Ranma turned,
"Anyone have a clue on how to defeat this thing? Ki attacks would probably
be just as useless."

"Ki?" the four others asked in unison.

Shaking her head, but before Ranma could answer the monster was back up.

"Kind of reminds me of mud," Fuu commented.

Twin lightbulbs went off in Hikaru's and Ranma's heads. "Water!"

Urgently, Hikaru asked, "Presea! Is there a lake around here?"

"Um, yes, in the courtyard."

Ranma didn't wait any longer. She saw the courtyard earlier through one
of the hallway windows. "Follow me!"

The group wound its way through the dining room, and out into the open.
Presea, Fuu and Umi took up stances by the water, while Ranma and Hikaru
hid behind the pillars leading to the courtyard. Knodding in silent agreement,
the two understood what to do.

As the monster passed and made its way toward the others by the water,
Ranma and Hikaru cheered out and attacked, "MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!"

Hikaru sweeped at its upper body with a horizontal swipe and threw
the monster off balance. Ranma then completed the combined assault
with a powerful double kick to its back. The added forward momentum
toppled the monster into the lake, where it thrashed for some time
before dissolving away.

Hikaru hugged Ranma, "Alright! We did it!"

The hug was totally unexpected by Ranma. "Heheh... ya."

Umi, Fuu and Presea rushed up. Presea congralated their victory,
"Good job. I feel confident that you will be able to reach the
Spring of Eterna."

A bright light then eminated from Ranma's yellow glove, and the
weapons on her hands disappeared with a flash. Umi's, Hikaru's, and
Fuu's weapons did the same. Seeing that they weren't aquainted with
the enchanted storage gloves, Presea explained, "Don't worry. Your
weapons are safely stored till you need them."

Ranma's stomache growled. "Would you have some food? I'm starving."

A round of facefaults occured. Presea recovered and nodded, "Of course.
Would you four mind cleaning up first? I'll have a feast prepared in
no time with Mokona's help."

After leading them to the bath, which was already hot. "Here you are.
Magic can't be cast by people here, but a few objects can be enchanted
here before entering the forest like floating chairs, walls, or in this
case, baths. Just come back to the courtyard when you are done. Ok?"
Closing the door, Presea left the four girls.

Ranma was now suddenly nervous, and edging back toward the door - only
to bump into Umi behind her. "Where are you going? After all that exercise
you stink."

Trying to back around her, Umi firmly grabbed Ranma's hand. "I don't think
so Ranma." Smirking, she nodded to Fuu and Hikaru who got the idea. As one
they converged on Ranma, who struggled, but not wanting to hurt the girls
was unsuccessful. She was quickly stripped and thrown into the steaming
furo with a large splash.

=================== END CHAPTER TWO =====

Sorry for the late update. I wanted to put in the response to Ranma's curse
in this chapter - but I've run out of Mountain Dew tonight and wanted
to put this up. So, next chapter the curse makes its grand entrance, and
how does this complicate their trip to the spring, and their trust? Also,
where's Clef?