Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Pillars of Strength ❯ Tremors ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Pillars of Strength
by Afroplex (jwessels@cse.unl.edu)
http://ranko.homelinux.net/

Thank you Cresent Pulsar for pointing out the important
environmental item I completely forgot about.

Update: Changed two areas during the battle with Caldina, and
did some descriptive clarifying on the end "kiss".

Disclaimer: I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth or Ranma.


CHAPTER 6 - Tremors
==============================================================< br>
The sun opened the new day over the horizon, and was greeted
by two youth exercising in the mist.

"Good job! Now, attack me low, but try to keep from over
extending."

Hikaru swung with her sword, clipping the tops off the grass.
Ranma blocked with his claws stopping the blade instantly.

"Ranma, like I said before. I'm not helpless. I know how to
handle a sword just fine."

As the instruction continued - or lack thereof - Ranma and
Hikaru jumped around the opening area.

Clef watched from the sidelines and commented during a momentary
break, "You look fine to me."

Ranma glanced in Clef's direction, and noticed Ferio still
napping in the tree. Kicking up a rock, he kicked it with pin
point precision at the swordsman.

Hikaru was about to scold the action when she heard the sound
of metal swiping the air. Looking up, she smirked when Ferio
was still 'acting' like he was taking a nap with two halves of
the rock in one hand. The sword was swinging down like a
pendulum in his other arm.

"You know, you shouldn't pick fights you might not win Ranma,"
Ferio commented casually.

Ranma perked up at that, "Is that a challenge? If that's the
case, I accept."

"Perhaps, but perhaps it wasn't. In any case, I need a little
exercise." Jumping down, Ferio brushed the hair out of his eyes
and readied his sword with both hands.

Clef came up behind a worried Hikaru, "Don't worry, they seem to
know what they are doing. How about you run along and wake up
Fuu, Umi and Mokona. We should be going soon now that you all
have the escudo."

Ferio charged forward, and Ranma jumped up in anticipation.
As Hikaru turned...

----
Deep within the earth, the energies that keep the land unchanging
and still for countless millenia were loosing their grip. The
physical stress on the rocks now, for the moment had its chance
and struck its blow upward...
----

A blast of earth blew up in front of Hikaru, blasting her back.
Ferio lost his footing, and was trying to stay up as the ground
felt like someone was repeatedly pulling a rug out from under him.
During his time in the air, Ranma's brain took a second to register
what just was happening to those on the ground.

The crack that had begun at Hikaru's feet snaked forward at the
egg shaped shelter that still contained three occupants. Traveling
under one of the legs, it split with one side of the crack jutting
up and the other dipping slightly down. Enough of an angle
was reached, and the now fifteen second earthquake still rocking
caused the shelter to fall over and roll at the forest. It impacted
a huge oak, which fell but still stopped the shelter. Finally,
the earthquake stopped enabling the outside travelers to regain
their footing.

"Oh no! Ranma, hurry!" Hikaru gasped when she saw the status
of the shelter and what could have happened during the ride it took
for the occupants.

Hikaru ran to the side and tried to get to the entrance, which
was trapped under the structure.

Ferio nodded with a frown on his face, "Stand back." Gathering
his strength, he drew the sword back and swung up. Metal
argued with metal with sparks and a high pitched scream. Still,
it didn't go through. A second time was successful as Ferio
skillfully drove the sword down the exact line. Breathing
deeply, Ferio repeated the attack horizontally to make an
'L' shaped cut in the side.

Hikaru forced her steel sword into the opening and leveraged it.
Ranma joined the two and the opening was widened enough for
Hikaru's smaller frame to fit through.

Ranma rushed off, yelling behind him, "Go on in Hikaru, I'm
going to go find some water to change so I can fit in."

Squeezing in, Hikaru sucked in her breath when she accidentally ran
her hand over the sharp metal edges of the entrance. Blood
dripped down her hand as she went in and searched.

Mokona was at the top of the pile, looking up at Hikaru and
nudging a still hand the jutted out of the pile of heavy,
and splintered furniture.

Hefting up, she started throwing whatever she could away from where
Umi and Fuu were buried. After tossing the top of a chest
away, Fuu's face appeared with a small head wound dripping blood
down the right cheek.

Ranma came in at this time and made short work of the rest of the
chest that had the unconscious Fuu pinned. "Hurry, get her
outside and I'll try and get to Umi, where ever she is in
this pile."

Hikaru nodded with a tear escaping, and carried Fuu to the
entrance. Ferio carefully guided Fuu out from the outside,
making extra precautions with his shirt to cover the
metal edges from hurting her further. Outside, Fuu was
laid down to be treated to the best of Clef's and Ferio's
abilities.

Hikaru rushed back to breath in a sharp breath at the site
of Ranma ripping her shirt off. Not at the site of Ranma topless,
but at the large amount of blood that was pooling where
Umi lay. A sizable chunk of wood had gone deeply into her
abdomen, but she was still conscious.

"Hikaru, Mokona, get over here! I need some help!"

Hikaru nodded and rushed to the side. "Ranma, can you use your
time aura?" Hikaru asked.

"I don't know, I'll try..." concentrating, she extended it around
Umi. When Hikaru rushed forward to try and help with the wounds
while they were suspended, she too was caught in the aura and
slowed down. "Darn..." Ranma breathed out and released her
concentration on the spell.

"Hold down on the wound." Ranma jutted her hand out
forcefully to Mokona, "Quickly, I need some medical supplies
to clean her up and stop the bleeding, now!"

Mokona complied with a flash, and Ranma put to use the speed
chestnut fist training gave her to save another other than
herself in a fight with death.

Clef peaked in, "How is she?"

"We're working on it! She's hurt bad. We need Fuu, or someone that
can give her some serious healing, or she won't make it through the
day," Ranma half yelled.

Using a makeshift stretcher from the materials in the pile, they
slid it under Umi and tied her to it. She slid through the exit
without any problems, and Clef got his first look at the damage
himself. "This isn't good, and is beyond anything I can help with.
Presea would be the only other that may be able to help, unless Fuu
comes too."

Lifting his staff, "Creature! I summon thee!"

The head of the staff pulsed, and beamed out the form of the large bird
the four had originally ridden to the citadel. "Hikaru, Mokona, Ranma,
get on with Umi and Fuu. Hurry to the citadel where Presea can assist them."

The creature knelt low and assisted in getting the injured secured.
As the creature soared over the trees with all the speed it could muster,
Clef turned to Ferio, "There is nothing else we can do here, but start
our journey for one of the mashin."

"Mashin?" Ferio asked.

"I can explain on our way to the volcano..."


-------- About an hour later, on the edge of the Forest of Silence ------

The creature was starting to slow, Ranma looked at Umi once more.
"She won't make it much longer..."

Hikaru glanced up from Umi's pale face, "Look! There is the citadel!"
She leaned forward excitedly, hopeful that her friends would be alright.

Fate took this chance, and a small blast streaked out of the forest to
blow a hole in the creature's right wing. It screeched in pain, tipping
violently to the side. Mokona and Fuu pitched over, with Hikaru grasping her
arm.

"Hikaru!" Ranma reached out futilely, grasping at air. He quickly
latched back onto the creature, trying to keep Umi on without
injuring her further. Sure, she could take a thousand foot
drop, but Umi probably couldn't in her state.

The creature screeched in pain as it flapped roughly toward the citadel.
Ranma looked behind, and saw to his relief Mokona had materialized
a winged vehicle to guide them down.

As soon as the soft sand around the citadel's pond was near, Ranma
softly cradled Umi and jumped. Bending his knees with the impact,
the strands of blue hair that draped Umi's pale face weren't even
disturbed. Rushing into the inner hallway, Ranma ducked a creature's
swing and continued running to the bedroom the girls had stayed
in previously.

"I don't have time for this, Presea! Where are you!"

Setting Umi down on the bed, he laid a blanket over her, hoping
she would be ok while the invaders were being dealt with and Presea
located.

Shadows down the hall danced from the light out for the library.
"Gotcha." Ranma whispered under her breath.

Entering, the struggle that was hinted just ended. A stone creature
was standing over Presea, and was about to deliver a finishing blow
to her head.

"Not today!" Ranma's feet slammed into it's head, sending it diving
into what was left of the bookshelves. It shattered into thousands of
fine sand particles, and didn't reform.

Scooping up Presea, Ranma rushed her down to the bedroom also. "Darn,
there's three down, hopefully Hikaru is ok." Mentioning her name
jarred Ranma's memory. "Hikaru! Oh no! She doesn't know about the
monsters."

Sticking her head out the door, Ranma glanced both ways and saw the
way was clear. A spare look at Presea and Umi showed Presea was just
starting to stir. "She'll make it, whoever is doing this is gonna
pay."

Going out the front door, Ranma skidded to a stop. Ahead a strange
lady with an assortment of clothing accessories was facing off with
Hikaru. Fuu was still unconscious behind Hikaru, laying against
the stone wall.

Hikaru yelled, "That was a dirty trick, just leave us alone! My friend
is injured and I need to get her to Presea."

"I'll do whatever it takes to avenge my friend Ascot and fulfill
Zagato's orders deary. By the way, before I kill you, my name is
Caldina," came a thick southern drawl. The lady raised
her hands and more of the sandstone monsters morphed out of the ground.

Hikaru glanced momentarily at Ranma and then back at her opponent.
Unfortunately, the look wasn't missed and Caldina disappeared into
thin air. A laugh echoed in the air, and the monsters began to
split into four different copies and engaged both Ranma and Hikaru.

Raising a hand above her head, flames crawled up the length of Hikaru's
arm. "I won't let you win, FLAAAIIIR ARRROOOOWW!" Her hand came
down, and a large blast of flame carved into the monsters and ground.
The flames either blasted them apart, or to their surprise just
passed right though.

Ranma dodged out of the way as the flame current started to dissipate.
"Ryoga would have a heyday here. Guess I'll have to make up for
his absence. Kachu tenshin amaguriken!" Blowing forward, Ranma's
first opponent exploded in a cloud of sand. The next she went straight
through and tripped up in surprise.

The sandstone golem gurgled out a growl, and kicked the downed martial
artist into the stone wall. A familiar spiderweb of cracks appeared,
"Ouch... kicks like Ryoga." Ranma began to slide down, and flipped
to land on her feet. "So much for that ide.... shit."

Behind Hikaru, Caldina placed a knife to her throat. "If I had known
that two of the magic knights were out for the count, I wouldn't have
bothered putting together such an elaborate ruse. I think
I'll finish you two redbirds off..."

Ranma closed her eyes as Hikaru stiffened, afraid to even move. Caldina's
grin widened as the seconds ticked. The stone monsters rounded off their
circle of Ranma, closing her in and separating her from Hikaru's
dilemma. More morphed out of the ground, a gurgling laugh escaping
their rocky shaped mouths.

Ranma wasn't sure if they were illusions or not, and even with the
time aura. "Coward, a true martial artist does not use such cowardly
moves like holding someone captive."

"Get over it red. A -warrior- of my caliber and beauty does what one
must do to win."

Eyes still closed, Ranma tried to think out a way to save Hikaru.
'If only she was strong or fast as me to get away...'

At those thoughts, a spark ignited in her. Grasping desperately at the
glimmer of hope, she concentrated and mummerred the spell.

"Aura of equilibrium."

Hikaru felt new strength crawling up her spine, and smirked when
she knew in her heart Ranma was the one. She also knew, with
dead certainty, she could do it.

"What was that you said red?" Caldina asked. A second later
she was flying through the air at Ranma, a look of shock on her
face from Hikaru's throw.

Ranma bounded up with a yell, wisps of a blue battle aura flashing,
"No one threatens Hikaru and gets away unscathed! Saotome
shooting star kick!"

Caldina's face was one mixed of pain, surprise, and amazement
as a blue flash from Ranma's leg connected with her abdomen.
Changing direction ninety degrees, she went through a line of
the sandstone golems, and continued through a crumbling section of
the wall into the forest.

Ranma relaxed the spell, feeling an enormous drain, wobbling
on her feet but not wanting to show, "Let's wax these guys."

Hikaru grinned and raised her sword to finish off the rest of the golems,
but a multi beam blast came from atop the wall behind Ranma.
Upon touching them, the dragon shaped darkness shafts enveloped the
golems, dissolving them into nothingness.

"I'm sorry to be late."

Ranma twirled around, and tipped over, "Great, just what we need now.
That kick must have taken more out of me than I hoped too. Don't you
creeps ever give up?"

The character was dressed in a dark, silver lined cloak. Shadow's
concealed most of his face. "You are mistaken. I was sent by
Princess Emerald to assist you, so I have no intention of
fighting you. Throwing back his cloak, he winced slightly when the
bright sunlight showed his face. "My name is Innova."

He floated down, and bowed to Ranma and Hikaru. Straightening back
up, "Again, I apologize for not lending my assistance sooner. I just
arrived as quickly as I could from Zagato's fortress, barely escaping
after talking with the princess."

Ranma was skeptical, and stood, "Zagato's fortress eh? Then why didn't
you rescue the princess then?"

Pulling his top robes up, Hikaru sucked in a tight breath when the
gore that covered most of Innova's right side was revealed. He
slowly put the robes back on. "I was attacked while I was trying to
do that by Zagato himself. I have this curse that changes me into
a monster, and this will slowly eat my body and mind. I want to save
the princess so she can cure me, or at the very least get my revenge
on Zagato."

Ranma shivered at the mention of the curse, especially one that could
not be reversed. "Well, glad to have ya aboard... but don't expect me
to get all friendly with you. You are a little suspicious in my
opinion, no offense pal."

"None taken. May I suggest we get your friend in doors? She doesn't look
too well to me," Innova motioned toward the unconscious Fuu, who was
being nudged by Mokona.

"And the marshmallow makes an entrance! What were you doing the
battle? Hiding I bet!" Ranma rushed over and tried to grab Mokona
but didn't make it in time, and Hikaru assisted in picking up
both of her companions.

"I'll get you later marshmallow, mark my words as a Saotome!
Now, I need to help Fuu."

Back in the guest room, they entered to find Presea softly glowing
white, her hands hovering above Umi's wound. Quietly laying Fuu
on the next bed, Ranma turned to watch the scene. A minute later,
Presea stopped and stood.

"Thank you for bringing her her, a few more minutes and she would have
been lost." Presea walked to Fuu and tried to repeat her magic. A
second later she shook her head in disappointment. "I'm sorry, but
there is nothing I can do. All we can do is hope she comes out of it."

Ranma's and Hikaru's shoulders slumped, while Innova remained indifferent.

"Say, who's your friend there?" Presea pointed out.

"Oh, this is Innova. He said the princess sent him to help us. He took
care of a few of those monsters outside after we did away with their
leader," Hikaru introduced.

Presea nodded, "Welcome Innova. Well, did you get the escudo you two?"

"Yup." Ranma raised her hand, and formed her yellow crystal in the air.
Innova raised an eyebrow for a moment, and let it back down, still
silent.

"Good job. How about we head off to the creation chamber and get your
weapons finished? We could be attacked at any moment, and I would feel
safer if you had your weapons finished." Presea stepped between the
group, and tilled her head back. "Well, come on. This way."

The three nodded toward each other and followed to Presea's personal
room.

"Jeez, what a time to pick a chance to change. Girls..." Ranma grumbled.

Mokona popped out from behind Hikaru, and flung a bit of hot water at
Ranma. "Hey!" The chase ensued down the hall. Innova was curious as
to the transformation, and followed.

Presea opened the door, to find Hikaru staring down the hall, hands
on her hips and looking a bit annoyed. "Hey, where's everyone?"

"Oh, they went down that way." Hikaru pointed down toward a narrow hallway
that went to the center of the citadel. "Ranma and Mokona are having
one of their usuals."

"I see, that's where we are headed. How do I look?" Presea posed, hand
behind her head and twirled in the white robes.

"Beautiful! You going to create the weapons from escudo in those?" Hikaru
lightly fingered the cloth, amazed at how smooth it felt.

"Yes, my will creates the weapons, and I take great pride and beauty in
creating every weapon that has come from my creation chamber." Presea
smiled, and went down the hall, seeming to float in the air as her
steps became lighter and graceful.

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

In the forest, Caldina cracked open her eyes, breathing ragged and
hunched over a tree root. Blood crept out of her mouth, and a
large black bruise covered most over her left side. "Ascot, thank
you for coming."

"Did those girls do this to you?" Ascot's fists clinched, and he then
lifted Caldina up with this floating rock.

"Yes, but Innova is with them. I tried to finish them off for you
Ascot, but they are stronger than I thought."

"We will get them, Alcyone has agreed to join forces with us. Zagato
was indifferent to what we did, only wanting the knights to be destroyed."

Summoning a stingray creature, they got on and glided back to the
fortress for some needed recuperation, and planning.

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

Entering the creation chamber, Ranma and Mokona were slumped in the
leaning against each other resting. Hikaru walked up to Ranma and
gave him a small pat on the head.

"Hey, what'd ya do that for?" Ranma rubbed the spot as if she had
clobbered him with a brick.

"That was for picking on Mokona. Now get up. Presea needs our escudo."

Ranma perked up, and did a flip in the air when he stood. "Alright,
now something I can do." Turning to look at Mokona, "No offense
marsh-", pat, "er... Mokona."

Lifting their arms with the red and yellow ornament gloves, they
flared their respective colors. The escudo flowed out with the light
and hovered high above their heads in the center of the chamber.
Stepping back silently, Presea stepped forward at the same time.

"This is where I live, and do my work. Forming weapons out of escudo
is one of the most difficult things I can do, and I need absolute
concentration. Now, everyone please be quiet while I perform the creation
ritual." Presea stood still for a moment, gathering her will for the task,
arms just slightly away from the sides of her lithe body.

Ranma held back the comment about how was she going to work without
any tools, and in that outfit no less.

Starting in a low sweep, Presea began to dance, seeming to come one
with the environment and the air. The folds of her robe began to creep
out and float, dancing in the air with Presea's movements but just
as entrancing as a cobra dancing.

Ranma and Hikaru both mummerred softly under their breaths, "Beautiful."

The robes snaked their way around the crystals, causing them to pulsate
with soft, soothing light and further adding to the beauty of the
ritual. Ranma and Hikaru's hands came closer subconsciously, and
touched. Neither had noticed the change, as they stared upward.

The cloth covered the crystals fully, while below two hands fully
grasped hold of each other.

Presea's movements became more pronounced and she leaped in the air,
defying gravity at times as she slowed in midair and softly touched down.
Her face was calm, but showed depth of her concentration with
her tightly closed eyes, thinking, 'The ritual is now done, not to see
about lending some assistance to the two love birds...'

Twirling one last time, she came to a flowing stop in the center.
The robes came back down, resting at her feet.

Her voice sang with beauty, Ranma and Hikaru still entranced by the
ritual. "Finished. Ranma, Hikaru, please step forward to receive
your weapons. Congratulations magic knights." Presea bowed and stepped back.

They released their hands, still not aware they were holding and
reached up to grasped the hilts. Ranma's sword was a primarily
yellow, with gold and red ornaments on the hilt. The blade was long,
similar to a rapier, but slightly broader. Hikaru's sword was mainly
red, but also had yellow and gold secondary colors complementing Ranma's.
It was shorter, but broader still than Ranma's. The two knights stood
for a moment, basking in the magic as the swords recognized their
owners.

Pulling the weapons down fully, and turned to each other with broad smiles.
Their weapons disappeared into their gloves, but neither noticed much
so entranced in the moment and magic. Ranma gazed into the depths of
Hikaru's eyes, its red swirls reflecting the shafts of light coming
through the ceiling. Hikaru's palm rested on Ranma's chest, his heart
beating with the rhythm of hers. Ranma reached out and grasped hold
of Hikaru's hand, while she leaned forward and up. A light kiss
touched, unbroken.

"Ehhhmm...." Presea coughed into her hand.

The two separated, and caused a swish of air spinning Mokona that was
standing next to them. Their faces were red as Hikaru's hair, and they
were trying to look as interested in their ornamented hands, the ceiling
or the floor.

Presea decided to save them the embarrassment from going any further
glad she could be of help, "Anyone up for some dinner?"

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

END CHAPTER 6

To be continued....