Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Last Line of Defense ❯ Last Line of Defense ( Chapter 1 )

[ A - All Readers ]

B.S Inc presents a new fanfic by Vahn.

Last Line of Defense

Disclaimer

Poor as hell, so please don't sue me. Ranma, Sailor Moon and
Yu Yu Hakusho belong to their respective owners.

Special Thanks to Merc for helping me edit this fic. ^_^
Trust me it would have been atrocious if he hadn't help.


*******************************

10,000 years ago….


"All is lost…" Pluto, guardian of time, whispered to herself. She
surveyed the once proud Moon Kingdom as it lay in ruins.
Signs of battle could be seen all over the scorched surface of the
moon. The moon wasn't the only place hit hard however. The neighboring
planet Mars, once considered Earth's sister planet, had been reduced to
a lifeless red ball of dust. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and all the other
planets under the Moon Kingdom, all were memories, living in the minds
of what few survivors there might be. If there even were any."

Tears stung her eyes as she recalled family and friends and her comrades.
Their bodies lay lifeless over the charred remains of the Moon palace. The
Dark Kingdom had struck the moon harder than any of the surrounding planets.

Suddenly, she felt her senses flaring as a burst of power was released. It
was Serenity's magical power and it's release meant nothing good in her mind.
Without a second thought, she made a mad dash towards the source that her senses
pointed her at. Pushing a large set of twin doors apart, causing them to loudly
impact against the wall and loosening some rubble from the already crumbling
building, she found herself in the throne room. What was left of it anyway.
Of the once splendorous room and the proud people that inhabited it, now only
rubble and a broken woman remained. Her queen was the only remaining person alive
amongst the place, however her stagger towards her showed she herself wasn't far
from joining the dead.

"Your majesty!" Pluto yelled as she stumbled towards her Queen what all
the strength she could mustered.

The queen's head snapped up suddenly and her eyes widened as she recognized
the Senshi of Time. "P-Pluto…how…" she started only to fall to her knees
when her legs were too weak to support her.


Pluto rushed up to Queen Serenity right there and helped her up. "Your
majesty, rest, we have work to be done, we can salvage the others' souls
if we hurry!" Pluto said in a rush.

The Queen shook her head sadly and tears once again came to her eyes. "I- I was too late…"


Pluto stared at her Queen in shock. "Wu-What do you mean your majesty?"

The Queen looked over to her companion sadly and started to
explain. "I -..." She took a deep breath in. "I was too late,
Pluto. You are the last Senshi."

"No…" Pluto whispered. "Without the others, Earth will be defenseless
when the Dark Kingdom returns."

The Queen bowed her head sadly. "I tried to send them all forward with
the Ginzuishou but I lacked the energy to send them forward. I- I do not
have enough strength left for a second attempt," said the Queen. "Earth
is now on its own from now on." Taking the silver crystal she handed it
to Pluto.

"What is this for you majesty?" Asked Pluto as the Crystal was handed to
her. "Only those of the Royal bloodline may use it."

"I know," replied the Queen. "However, it should provide whomever carried
it with some measure of protection against any magical attacks, even if they
can't use it."

The Queen suddenly grasped Pluto's hand tightly as she begins to feel her
life force ebb away. "Pluto, I charge you with building a force that can
give Earth some measure of defense against the Dark Kingdom return. Give
this crystal to the one you deem worthy to hold it," she told the Senshi of
Time. With those last words, she faded away to where all dead beings dwell.

Pluto could not recall how long she knelt there crying over her dead queen's
body, but she suddenly heard a sound behind her. She quickly turned around only
to see a dark energy being fired at her.

"No!" she yelled as she was attacked. She staggered up to see one of the Dark
Kingdom generals' staring at her in even worst shape than she was.

"DIE BITCH!" he yelled as he fired more energy at her.

"Dead Scream!" was what she said in reply to his attack. But it was
too late for her to dodge as she was hit directly by the Dark energy. She
suddenly started to feel darkness at the edge of her consciousness. 'No!'
She thought to herself. 'I cannot fail the Queen'. With her remaining
strength she traveled through time to fine one who is worthy.



*******************************


13 years ago….

Ranma was only three year old when he went on his first training trip
with his father. The boy had been extremely excited at the thought of
all the neat bugs and thing he would be able to see. Even getting lost
was not a big deal for our young hero.

However Ranma was not able to account for one thing he couldn't face
at his age, one thing that terrified him beyond reason. That one was
the darkness. It was night now and Ranma was cold, tired, and hungry.
Scared out of his mind, he cried for help but no one answered his
plead for help. He had been hiding near a tree, attempting to avoid
the strange eyes that seem to look at him from the darkness, when a
flash of light occurred.

Light. The one thing that can chase away the darkness.

Ranma made a beeline for the light as if it was a lifeline. When he
arrived he saw a lady in tattered clothes lying on the ground
shuddering. Ranma saw blood was flowing freely from her side and he
shuddered at the sight. He approached the lady warily.

"Lady," he asked softly. Not seeing her respond he decided to tap her
shoulders gently. That prove to be a mistake because the moment his hand
went on her shoulder she grabbed his wrist.

Ranma was too scared to scream in fright but then he saw her turn to
look at him with kind but sad eyes and any fear he might have felt was turn to
concern. The lady seems to look at him for a while until she suddenly rose
up her hand with a pretty looking crystal in it.

"You'll…," she gasped suddenly, then focused on him again. "You'll have to do." And
with those words she pressed the crystal against his chest and to his amazement
it just sunk into his chest where his mother told him his heart was located. Then
with one last shudder the woman let go of him. Ranma watch in amazement as the
woman started to turn to light and disappeared.

"Ranma!" he heard a voice yelled.

"Ranma!" he heard his named repeated but this time by a different
voice. Then suddenly all around him he heard echo of his name being called out.

"I'm over here! Someone help me, please!" he yelled out to anyone who
was listening. There was a rustling near a tree, when he saw a man in
a blue coat approached him.

"There you are, young man," the man said with relief in his
voice. "Your mother would be so happy that we found you. "

"You know my mommy?" he asked the man curiously. Seeing the man nod was
all the proof he needed. He was then picked up by the man, as the man talked
into a hand radio and confirm he had found the missing child.

"Don't worry lad, we're taking you home to your parents," and with
that he started to carried Ranma off all the while not noticing Ranma
looking at the same spot where the woman disappeared.



***********************************
10 years ago…

Ranma was crying softly to himself as this was the first time he ever
spent more then a month away from home. His father had called him a
sissy girl and walked off in disgust. Ranma was struggling to get
warm with the little blanket when he was encase in a white warm light
that was highlighted over his frame.

"Hello Ranma."

Ranma snapped his head up to look at what he thought was a fairy. The
fairy was only 3 inches tall and was wearing a white dress with blonde
hair tied into twin ponytail falling down her back.

"Hello fairy," he said in a small awed voice.

The woman just smile softly at him. "Call me Serenity, Ranma."

Ranma just smile at her as he learned her name. "Ok, Serenity."

"Just sleep for now Ranma, I promise you that you won't be alone
because I will always be in you heart," and with that she sat near
and hummed him a lullaby to help him go to sleep.


5 years ago…

Ranma was relaxing in the little pond located in a wood clearing
when he heard a soft sigh from nearby. He turned around to look
at his best friend and traveling companion. He never get tired at
the sight of her. "Hey Serena-chan, what are you so down about?" he
asked her with his head tilted to a side.

"Ranma....it's…," her eyes were downcast when she started.

Ranma already know what was bothering her. "You're thinking
about the Silver Millennium again, aren't you?" seeing her
startled. He grinned as he knew he was right. "I already told
you not to worry. I am gonna train hard so I can be strong
enough to fight the Dark Kingdom for you."

Ranma at age 11 was able to beat his father in sparring 9 time
out of 10. Thanks to Serenity he was able to survive the neko-ken
training. He might have been insane otherwise. His father always
thought that it was Ranma will that kept him from snapping but little
did he know that it was Serenity's presence that made all the felines
calm. Her name matched with her power he thought to himself. He always
felt at peace around her.

He had learned a long time ago that she was not really a fairy,
although he was a bit disappointed by it. She told him of her
kingdom long ago and how it was lost.


(Flashback)

Ranma at age 7….

"Why was your kingdom destroyed Serena-chan," he had decided to
call her that long ago and she didn't seem to mind. He just continued
to walk a bit behind his father with the 3-inch woman on his shoulder. Ranma
learned soon after he met Serenity that he was the only one that can
see her. People could feel her presence if they tried, but only he could see.

"It was because of the Dark Kingdom, Ranma; they possessed great
power and they attacked us when we had our guard down," Serenity felt
tears stinging her eyes. "It was over in one night."

Ranma wanted to hold his friend and make her feel comfortable, but
he learned awhile back that she was just an image and not real. He
recalled being disappointed by that, but didn't mind.

"How come you were able to survive, Serena-chan?" he asked her
innocently. Tact was not something he knows yet. Serenity of
course understood this and didn't mind his tactlessness.

"I didn't, Ranma. What you see right now is a piece of my soul
left behind to guide whoever wields the crystal," she replied
while looked at him and seeing his startled expression. "Unfortunately
no one will ever be able to use my powers now."

"Why not?"

"Because only those of my royal bloodline may use it," Serenity started
off sadly. "And no one of my bloodline survived."

"Umm well I always consider you family, Serena-chan," he looked at
her. "At least you were able to defeat the Dark Kingdom right?"


She looked at him and smiled sadly. "I was only able to lock them
away, they will return someday."

He looked at her and he seemed to ponder something. "If they gonna
return soon and no one can use your power then who is going to stop
them this time around?"

"Unfortunately no one will be stopping them this time," Serenity said
sadly. "I could only hope that your father can train you enough to
defend yourself from them, but stopping them would require someone who
is strong enough to take them on without the use of the crystal. If
more people learned your technique they can defend themselves better
but not by much."

Ranma seem to be in deep thought and then finally an idea came to
him. "Serena-chan?" he started. See her look up at him, he smiled
and knew she was going to love what he said next. "I am gonna became
the best martial artist there is and will defeated the Dark Kingdom
for you."

Serenity eyes widened at what Ranma just said. "Ranma you don't'
know what you are saying, if you are to defeat the Dark Kingdom
you WOULD have to be the best."

Ranma just gave her a confident grin. "Don't worry Serena-chan, I will be."

(End Flashback)


"You have to admit that I am getting better, right?" Ranma asked of Serenity.

"Yes, but you still need more power if you are to challenge them
seriously," she then looked at him seriously. "Are you really serious
about challenging the Dark Kingdom?"

"Of course," Ranma replied.

Serenity seems to consider this for a moment, and then looked him straight
in the eye. "Serious enough to leave your father for a better teacher?"

Ranma didn't know what to make of that, sure he wanted to make Serenity
happy but to leave his father was taking it to extremes. He then recalled
that Serenity said that he was able to defend himself with his father
training but to truly challenge the Dark Kingdom he would need to be
stronger and wield more power.

"I don't know…" he told her honestly. "But if that what it takes to
protect everyone then…I guess…"

Serenity looked at him once more and felt sad about burdening him
with a problem that they failed to solve. "Ranma…There… there is an
old woman a few days from here in a temple. Her power and training
would benefit you greatly. More then your father could ever do."

"However," she said. "If you are to train with her you need to do
it now. She is currently training someone else right now and she
will be training him only if you are too late," Serenity told him.
She looked on as Ranma battled his decision between staying with
his father and helping her cause. She saw him look at her with
this innocent blue eyes and smile at her.

"Sure Serena-chan, I'll do it. Just let me write a letter to Pop
letting him know that I am gonna continue to practice the art under
someone better," he said with a grin and with that he started to
pack his things.



*******************************

When Genma returned with the food he had bought from a local town he
discovered that the campsite was eerily quite. He looked around and
went on guard immediately. "Hmm, the boy trying to ambush me, eh?"

After 10 minutes of waiting for Ranma to show himself he decided to
start eating without him. "If you don't come out I am gonna eat your
share too, boy."

Hearing no response, Genma started to eat all the food and rations
he bought. Still seeing no sign of the boy, Genma begin to feel a
little uneasy and started to check the surrounding area.

"Damn it, where can that boy be?" Genma thought to himself. Not
only was Ranma nowhere to be found but, his things were missing
too. "He couldn't have run away, could he?"

Genma proceeded to look for Ranma within a few mile radius and came
up with nothing. Finally deciding to give up Genma when back to his
campsite," Surely the boy will come back when he is hungry or lonely."

Genma started to unroll his sleeping bag when he found a piece of paper
on top of it. Genma curiously opened it up and read it, his eyes getting
wider as he continued reading.

'Dear Pop,

I have decided that I need to get stronger. You won't be able to help
me get the training I need, so I am going to a person that can. Don't
look for me, I will return to you when I am done.'

Signed,

'Ranma & Serena-chan'

"Nodoka is gonna kill me."




*****************************************


A few days later at the shrine…

Ranma was trudging his way up the shrine steps that Serenity
said he would find. At first he wanted to go back to his father
so badly but something about Serenity needs seemed more urgent.
Finally he reached the top and with a knock waited for someone
to answer.

He heard some sounds and then the door opened to reveal an old
woman about his size. The old woman had pale pink hair that matched
with her red shrine clothes. He saw her appraise him and he returned
her appraisal with one of his own.

"Yes?" the old woman asked.

"Umm…A friend of mine said that I could come to you for training?" he
asked nervously. He wondered what he would do if he'd gotten the wrong
shrine. The old woman looked at him once more and then answered him.

"I thought you would be older…Ranma-kun is it not?" she asked him. To
which he answered with a nod. She then smiled at him kindly and invited
him in. As he entered the courtyard, what he saw amazed him. There was
a young man, probably 16 year old, balancing on a needle. That wasn't
the surprising part however. The surprising part was that there was a
glowing blue ball of energy at his finger tip as he balanced it on the
mean looking spike.

"Wow…" Ranma said in awed.

The old woman seemed to not think that it was a big deal as she
looked at the young man. She turn to Ranma and gave him an amused
grin. "Ranma, that is nothing compare to what you will be learning. Yusuke
is also a beginner like you so you're not too far behind, ne?"

Ranma could just feel awe at it all. Serenity was right. He was gonna
learn more powerful stuff here then he could ever learn with his
father. He smiled at the old woman and bowed respectfully to her. "I
can't wait to start, Sensei!" he told her in an excited voice.

"You can call me Genkai-sensei, if you'd like, Ranma-kun." Genkai
told him with a sad smile. She rarely ever saw children much and
this one was so full of innocence. Now she would have to destroy it
to turn him into a demon fighting machine. For once, she did not
relish her task.



***************************************

< br> Present Day…

Akane was running from the demon that was behind her. It was a
woman with red claws and fang. It had already drained most of
Furinken High School's students. Even Nabiki and Kuno were among t
he victim. Akane knew she had to call the police fast so that they
could take this youma down. If a person got their energy suck by a
youma then they have one day maximum before they died. Usually it
took more then a day to kill a youma if they did not know how. Akane
wished that none of this had ever happened. She wished she could be
as carefree like she was 5 months ago. When all she had to worry about
was pervert boys, and not running for her life.

Her thoughts bitterly returned to 5 months ago when they first appeared. No
one knew where they came from. No one. They struck first in the Juuban
district and at the time most people thought it was a hoax. Then the
attacks became increased and more victims fell to them. Doctors were
unable to explain to family why their love ones where dying of energy
loss. Then came the day what most called "The Invasion", hundreds of
Youma attacked all over Juuban. In response, the local American Military
with help from the Japanese fought in Juuban and turn that district to
rubble. The military suffered heavy casualties in bringing a halt to the
youma rampage. Just when it seemed that they were winning that bastard
appeared. He called himself Jadeite and in one stroke he absorbed the
energy of the three thousand surviving troop members. Pretty soon they
started to appear in America, then Europe, and so with the armies of
each country looking to defend themselves from these paranormal attacks,
Japan was left to fend for itself. So far it is doing a poor job of it too.

Akane spotted a shortcut she could take through a narrow alley way. It
was eerily quiet now. Nermia ward was heavily defended so it came as
a shock when it was under attack by the Youma and at a high school
no less. Akane did not know how long she ran for but when she stopped
she was no longer being pursued. She allowed herself her brief
reprieve and started to look for a phone. Failing to fine one she
started to walk down the street to continue her search when she heard
a low growl behind her. She turned around and saw a creature that
was feminine at first and recognized it as the same Youma that drained
her friends.

Akane got into a defensive position and start forward in an attack
but the Youma just laughed at her and slapped her away like a fly. She
flew into one of the street walls and was dazed by the impact.

"If only Ryoga or Happosai was here," she thought as her eyes blurred
at the image of the Youma. Already she could hear the sound of gunfire
in the distant. Her chance of any sort of rescues was slim if the military
was engage in battle with another group of youma.

"Your time has come and your energy will be mine! Ahahahahahaha!"

"I don't think so," said a masculine voice. Akane turn to look and
was about to shout Ryoga's name until she got a good look at the man
that was standing on the wall. He was pretty tall and had his hair
tied in a pigtail. Other than that, his jeans were black and his
shirt was red, he also had a leather trenchcoat that was reddish-black
in color. He looked at her once and then looked back at the Youma and
to Akane's surprise the young man took out a gun. Even though it was a
strange looking one, a gun didn't damage a youma that much. If you were
part of a squad with lots of gun then maybe you could drive it away but
one gun would not do much before it drained you and healed itself. He then
looked at the Youma and narrowed his eyes.

"You're not even worth wasting my energy on," he said in a hard voice.
The pigtailed man jumped down near the Youma and looked at it
curiously. Akane had a brief feeling that the man was dissecting it in
his mind.

The Youma attacked almost immediately with its right hand but to Akane
surprise. The pigtailed man just turned his entire body forward, making
the Youma's arm seem like it was rubbing up against him, and in one
second he was inside the Youma's personal space with his left arm
extended and his gun in its mouth.

The Youma looked down and that was the last thing it did before her
head was blown to pieces. Energy swirled for a bit then dissipated.

"Who...Who are you?" Akane asked in awe and wonder. She was feeling very
tired and as her eyes closed she saw four more figures in leather trenchcoat
join him. She then heard him replied.

"We're the Senshi."

The end. (Maybe)


Author notes.

It's been a long road. But I had some free time and this idea won't
leave me alone. Hmm maybe I am getting my muse back after all. Who
knows? Thanks for all of you guys who supported me on my other works.

Email: Vahn77@hotmail.com