Chapter 2
The Transfer Students

Akane came downstairs to the table, "Good Morning Father, Mr. Saotome, Nabiki, Kazumi," she said. She then looked at Ranma, and in a more less enthusiastic voice, "Good Morning Ranma." Akane sat down and looked around. "Oh? Where's Grandfather Hopposia?" she asked. Ranma put down the bowl he was eating from, "Don't know, he never came home last night," he said. Akane picked up a bowl, and Kazumi gave her some Rice. Ranma reached for the last pickle, but Genma quickly snatched it. "Pop! That's my Pickle," Ranma yelled. Genma jumped away from Ranma's kick, "Ha ha, you're still to slow Ranma," he said. "Don't think so pop," said Ranma laying what appeared to be a shiny coin on the table. Genma saw the shine and jumped for it. Ranma quickly grabbed the pickle and smashed Genma's face into the table, knocking the plate into Akane's face. Ranma looked over and a scared look came on his face, as the plate fell off Akane's face leaving an imprint. "RANMA!" Akane yelled getting up from the floor. Ranma began to back off but suddenly flew off the floor and right into the wall of the back yard. Everyone just stared for a while, then looked at Akane, who was looking at her finger. "It's like my dream," she thought to her self. Akane then looked at the clock, "Oh my, if we don't leave, we'll be late," she said taking off. Ranma fell off the wall and slammed into the ground. Everyone just stared at him.

*In Ranma and Akane's Class*

Ranma entered the class and saw Akane talking to her friends. He started to sit down when Ms. Hinako Ninomiya walked in. The Class settled down as she walked up to the podium. "Good Morning Class," she said cheerfully. "Good Morning Sensei" responded the class. "I have some wonderful news for you today, it seems we will have two new transfer students from England joining our class, let me introduce you to them." she said. The class began to chat to themselves about it as Ms. Ninomiya signaled for the two students to enter the class room.

A boy and girl came into the class room, and Ms. Ninomiya began to write their names on the board. "Please welcome Emeral Bellosom and Joe Neutron to our class," she said. Emeral and Joe both bowed in a warm greeting, "I'm Emeral Bellosom," said Emeral, "And I'm Joe Neutron," said Joe. "Please to meet you," they both said in unison. As Ms. Ninomiya began to decide where they should sit, Akane was looking at the new students. She looked at Joe first, then Emeral. Emeral noticed Akane staring and turned her head to her and smiled. Akane blushed for a few moments then shook it off. "You two can sit over there," said Ms. Ninomiya pointed them to two seats in the back. They walked to the back, and classed Resumed.

*A while later during morning break*

Joe came over to Ranma, "Hello, I'm Joe Neutron, who might you be?" he asked. Ranma stared for a moment then replied, "I'm Ranma Saotome," he said. "Awww, so your Ranma, I heard there was a good Martial Artist in this school named Ranma, its a pleasure to meet you." he said. Ranma looked a bit shocked, "Where did you hear that?" he asked. "Yesterday when we were taking a tour of the school," Joe Replied. While to two started to talk, Emeral came over and sat next to Akane and her friends, and introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," said Emeral Smiling. Akane, feeling a bit dreamy, smiled, "So you're from England?" asked Akane. Emeral nodded, "Yes, we moved here to Japan a few days ago," she said. "You don't seem to have any accent, how long have you spoken Japanese?" asked one of Akane's friends. "Oh, about 4 years now," replied Emeral. "That's amazing," replied another friend.

Akane pulled out her paper and pen, "If you excuse me, I'm going to continue writing my story," she said. Emeral eyed the pen and paper, "Could it be?" she thought, "No, he shouldn't have been able to get back on his feet this soon." She placed her hand on the paper, "What's your story about Akane?" asked Emeral. Akane blushed for a moment then turned to Emeral, "Oh, just about a sorcerer and cursed springs," she said placing her pen down. Emeral eyed the pen for a moment, then looked back at Akane. The pen rolled off the table and feel by Emeral's feet. Emeral removed her hand from the paper, but left a small energy circle, about half the size of a 5 yen piece on the paper where her hand was, it glowed pink for a moment, then vanished. She bent down and picked up the Pen, and gave it to Akane. "Here you go," she said smiling. "Th.. Thank you," said Akane taking back the pen. The pen also had a pink circle on it, which vanished quickly before no body noticed. Emeral smiled, "No Problem," she said.

Emeral looked at Joe who was looking at her. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then Joe nodded, then returned to what he was doing. Emeral looked back at Akane, then smiled, "She'll be back to normal in no time," she thought to her self.

CmptrWz

The Mysterious Man wasn't happy that one of his curses had been discovered, and then removed, so soon, therefore it didn't take him long to find a book he was looking for to hopefully deal with that. Quickly disguising himself as a student, and placing an extra spell on himself so that he couldn't be detected by the other-worlders, he headed off to the school, his magical pouch disguised as a schoolbag.

Seconds later a young man walked out of an otherwise empty bathroom and started roaming the halls. He placed a curse on a spatula he found in a locker, another on a pineapple he found sitting in an office. Soon he found what he was looking for: a locker that he could detect the aura of an other-worlder from. It took him a moment, but he realized that there were THREE lockers with traces of auras coming from them, not just one. He almost missed the third, either the original aura was very weak or there was something blocking it. Perhaps both.

The man knew that there had been two separate entrances of outer-worlders, one weak initial outer-worlder, and then two stronger ones. He figured that the weak one was biding its time, regaining its strength, and the other two were searching for it. Therefore, the outer-worlder that had removed his curses had to be using one of the two stronger lockers. A quick magical check showed which locker he was looking for, and he pulled out his book. After placing a curse he decided to play it safe, and cast another curse at the other stronger aura locker.

Soon the young boy had walked back into an empty bathroom, having left a cursed children's book on a teacher's desk, wondering why a child had been teaching the class, and vanished back to his world. Removing his disguise he picked up the book from earlier once more. It was about time he read the exact effects of the curses he had just placed. He had gotten about as far as them aligning with the target aura and therefore getting past defenses and detection, and then had decided to hurry up so he wouldn't be detected.

It didn't take him long to figure out that Emeral, who he currently only thought of as "the girl", would be thrown five minutes out of sync with the dimension time-wise as long as she was wearing the shoes he had cursed in her locker. Joe, who he currently only thought of as "the boy", would have gravity randomly increase and decrease with every step he took while wearing the shoes. Once the shoes were off of either of them their effects would wear off and they would return to normal conditions.

The Man snickered as he thought of what havoc this might cause as he laid back and waited for the fun to begin. As an afterthought he punished his minion that had never found any information on the outer-worlders and sent another one to continue the search.

Shadower

Sunday Night

Kalshion walked into a temple where his father and mother use'd to work. He was now incharge of the temple from this day on, and therefore was granted with certain powers of divine province.

The movers had set up everything the way he like'd it, His father walked in and looked over the room,"Very nice, now tomorrow is school so get some rest", Kalshion turned around and nodded.

Monday morning, 6:30 am

Kalshion woke up and put on the school uniform that his father had put on the table next to him,"Yuck, not my colors but thats ok", he sead looking in the mirror in disgust,"Todays my first day of school in this town, so its best to make a first impression", Kalshion smiled and got ready, Katarina walked into Kalshions room," You always did take so long to get ready", She sead with a smile,"Oh shut up","Lighten up his is our first day in this high school, plus in this culture. Don't forget both of us are flutent enough in Japanses so we'll have to becareful","Hai", Kalshion sead putting his shoe's on, He walked out of the door and put his skates on.

Both him and his sister loved to skate to school together they where in the same grade however there age was different

They skated onto the school grounds, they got strange looks at first but the other students went about there bussiness. Kalshion and his sister took there skates off and put them in the locker, they then walked up the stares toward the homeroom.

Sonic

*Later on...*

The lunch bell rang, and students began to poor out of their classrooms. Joe and Emeral got together and went off out of the classroom to go eat their lunch outside. Kalshion and Katarina came out of their classroom, getting ready to go outside too when Kalshion notice Joe and Emeral walk out of their homeroom. "What is it?" asked Katarina. Kalshion looked at her, "I'm not sure, but somehow, those two people don't seem normal to me," he said, "Lets follow them."

*Meanwhile...*

Hopposia began to came too, "Owwweee, My head," he said to himself. He looked around and noticed his collection was no longer around. "Damn, must have blown away in that blast," he said. He looked at the direction of the high school, "Oh well, time for my daily runs at the school," he said grinning.

*Back in the trees by the school*
Emeral and Joe sat down, and Emeral pulled out two subs from her pack, and gave one to Joe. Joe thanked her, but then turned his attention to Kalshion and Katarina who were approaching them. "Hello there," said Joe, "How can we help you?" Kalshion came to him, "Hello, my name is Kalshion," he said, "I...I," Emeral watched him as he tried to speak, then smiled. "You are wondering if we are different from other people," she said. Kalshion turned to her, "How did you know?" he asked. "We just do," she said. "Please, sit down, and join us, we can get to know each other a bit better," Joe said.

*In The classroom*

Ranma was eating with his friends, keeping an Eye on Akane, as he usually did. Suddenly he heard the scream that was all to familiar to him....

*Out side the classroom on the ground*

"That Old Letch is back!" screamed a girl. Hopposia jumped around wearing his usual getup. "Hello Pretty, how about a cup of tea with me?" he said Jumping onto the breasts of one girl. "Ewww, get away from me!" she yelled, but just as she was about to slap him, he flew off her breasts and smacked into a tree. Hopposia shook his head, "What was that?" he said.

Ranma looking from the window shook his fist, "That dirty old man, I'll get him for sure" he said jumping out the window.

Earlier...

Tommy was looking around the school, "This place isn't bad, shouldn't be much of a problem getting settled here tomorrow," he said to himself. As he came around the corner, he noticed Hopposia cling to one of the girls. "What the....That dirty old man, how dare he touch a woman like that!" cried Tommy. He started to run after Hopposia.

Ranma who just got down, started to run after Hopposia too, and noticed that he was running beside Tommy. "What, Who are you?" asked Ranma. Tommy looked over, "Doesn't matter right now, I plan to stop that dirty pervert over there from violating other girls," he said. Ranma noticed determination in his eyes as he said that. "Well then, seems we both have a similar goal," he said smiling. Hopposia saw Ranma coming, and jumped away, "Stay out of this Ranma, don't take away the only pleasures left to an old man," he said going into the girl's locker room.

Inside, he looked around, since it was lunch, no one was there. "Perfect, now I can help my self," he said walking up to one of the lockers. Just as he was about to open one of the doors, he was shot back into the other side of the locker room, and slammed into one of the lockers, knocking out some Gym Shorts. Just as he realized what happen, he was thrown from the pile of gym shorts out the window and onto the ground in front of Ranma and Tommy. Hopposia shook off his dizziness and looked at Ranma. "Time for your punishment dirty old man," said Ranma stepping towards him. Hopposia prepared an attack, but suddenly was thrown away from Ranma and into the Building behind him. Ranma looked a bit shocked, "What is going on?" asked Tommy. "Don't know," said Ranma.

*Somewhere out there....*

The old man pulled himself closer to the mirror, he didn’t understand how Hopposia could be repelled by Ranma, the spell was only on women's underwear. Then it hit him, and he fell backwards in laughter. It appears Ranma kept female clothes on him incase of emergency...

*Back to normal space time*

Hopposia got himself together, "This, This must be Ranma's doing, I can't get near a single piece of women's underwear," he said to himself. As he thought of this, his body turned red, and his battle aura became furious. "What is he doing?" asked Tommy. "This isn't good," said Ranma. "RANMA, PREPARE TO DIE!" yelled Hopposia jumping into the air. "Founding school of anything goes martial arts, final technique; 'Hoppo Fire Burst'" he yelled throwing what appeared to be a gray oversize cherry bomb at Ranma and Tommy. "NOT THAT!" yelled Ranma just as the bomb it.

A bright light filled the sky, then an explosion followed by Ranma and Tommy in smoke flying overhead. Joe, Emeral, Kalshion, and Katarina were watching the whole time. "What weird people live here," said Joe taking a bite out of his sub. The rest nodded as Hopposia calmed down and started to run for another girl. "He doesn't give up does he," thought Emeral, "It's obvious some sort of powerful spell on him keeping him away." Hopposia landed on another girl, who screamed, but soon realized Hopposia had been launched high in the sky, and disapeared in a twirling twinkle.

Joe looked at Emeral, "This seems similar to that pen and paper deal," he said to Emeral through her mind. Emeral nodded.

Ranma and Tommy both were 'well done' when they regained their senses. "Damnit, what is his problem today," said Ranma. He turned to Tommy, "So what is your name?" asked Ranma. Tommy looked at him, "Tommy Knudzen" he said. "I'm Ranma Saotome," replied Ranma, "It's a pleasure to meet you." "Like wise," said Tommy, as the two shook hands.

Tempest

Alot of things went through Tommy's mind at the current time. But he didn't feel wierd about feeling wierd about it, after all a crazy freak just came by touching a women's 'unmentionables', then he met some pretty cool guy who was smart enough to chase after the guy...perhaps he would be able to make some friends here that aren't bend on World Domination or obsessed with guns or Knives. But to top that all off he was just blasted by some big-ass firecracker that could have ended his life..So he could imagine anyone feeling wierd at this point. After his mind cleared up a bit he had a small talk with his new 'friend' Ranma Saotome, Tom learned alot about the old man and him and Ranma agreed to 'join forces' to help stop the menace. After a bit of small talk Ranma mentioned going after him, Tom gave a quick reply of "Good Luck" poped on his CD player and started to head back to his new flat.

[ December 27, 2002, 11:08 AM: Message edited by: Tempest Storm ]

CmptrWz

The Mysterious Man got fed up with not knowing about anyone involved, at least from this world, so he pulled out a book and read all about them. Having magical power on his side, it only took him a few seconds to read the entire book from cover to cover. He then understood just how fitting his curse on Happosai had been, as well as all the interesting things he could do to others.

In particular, he realized how he had been placing fitting curses, for the most part, all along. Most of them hadn't triggered yet, but that would change soon enough.

However, he now had several new people mixed up in all of this. Joe and Emeral, who he knew were in some kind of disguise, were the ones bugging him the most. He decided to see just what they could do with the curses on their shoes before messing with them further, so he turned his attention to Tommy, Kalshion, and Katarina. Tommy was easy enough, within moments a new CD was sitting in his stack, containing a new curse. Kalshion and Katarina would be tougher, but it didn't take long before a curse was put on their skates. Nothing major, just a little random propulsion/braking while they were wearing them, enough to disorient them but not hurt them.

It was about then that one of his minions showed up reporting finding no information in the library on the other-worlders. The Man considered this, dismissed the minion, and put in a formal request to the Center for Storage of All Information. That way he would get the full story of anything and everything about them, and then he could filter out everything but what he cared about.

As Happosai reached the high point of his flight, the Mysterious Man turned back to the complicated curse he was working on. He wasn't sure whom he would use it on yet, but it was sure to be trouble in more ways then one. As soon as he had completed this one curse he would be able to make similar ones in mere seconds, but being one of the few curses he didn't have a lot of experience with he needed to learn the general workings of it first.

Shadower

Kalshion got up and walked away from the group, Joe watched as Kalshion left "Don't worry.. Kalshion is not the talkative type, infact he keeps to himself a lot", Joe, a little curoius asked,"Why?"," 6 Years ago when both Kalshion and I where being homeschooled by our mother, we where attacked... what was odd was the type of attack. Our mother was killed by some strange powers that came through the sky, Kalshion threw himself infront of the strange powers but he was thrown back into the wall","... So im guessing he feels guilty?","Hai"

Kalshion turned the corner and put his back to the wall, He took out a small sword like key, that he use's in the shrine,"Mother...", he sead looking at the key

Katarina and Joe continue'd to talk about the past, Emeral however was interested in the attack that killed Kalshions mother, She got up and walked to where Kalshion was. She turned the corner. He was gone.

Kalshion stoud on the edge of the roof,"Sorry Emeral. But I don't really feel like talking about the past", He sead getting down, He watched as Emeral walked back to Joe and Katarina, He jumped back down and continue'd to think.

Sonic

CmptrWz

The Mysterious Man was at his mirror, watching the events go by. For the most part he was glad that Emeral was happy with the correction of her hack job, and he heard both Joe and Emeral thank him. DS, on the other hand, had been pissed, and hadn't understood the reasoning behind the coal. But DS could focus well enough, that was for sure. The man hoped he hadn't underestimated his underestimation of DS's powers.

The next day the Man saw Emeral tease the shopkeeper enough to get the disc, as well as find the disc in the tree. The rest of the discs were found that day without much enjoyment for the old man, however the antics of Ranma kept him busy laughing for a while. Another day passed without much happening, and the man was starting to get bored.

The next day Ranma caused another laugh or two, more discs were found uneventfully. Happosai's curse ended, and he noticed quickly enough, and he returned to his panty raids, trying to make up for lost time. That provided some entertainment value, but not much.

Really bored, the man saw the dreams that Joe was having, and figured DS was still managing to hide something from him, but wasn't sure what. In the end it didn't matter anyway, he was too bored to care. He needed something to do to alleviate this boredom, and making things harder on Joe and Emeral seemed like a good place to start.

The Mysterious Man, having watched Joe and Emeral find two thirds of the total discs with all too much ease, for his tastes anyway, decided to put some trouble in their path. He would make the last third of the discs harder for them to get, for starters anyway. Or at least, that is what he planned.

To begin with, he moved a disc into the Kuno residence, in the floor of the bath to be precise, then dropped a map to it where the disc had been. The book and rose symbols on the map would be sure to attract the right attention, and he hoped the intertwined MM that also appeared would intrigue them.

For the benefit of those reading, or in some cases writing, the Intertwined MM:

The Man was going to mess with the lone disc in the school, but since the school was buried in snow he didn't think it would be needed. He therefore turned his attention to a few that hadn't been discovered, but were somewhat in the open. He pulled one to his workshop, built a box with a complicated puzzle on the front, and placed the disc inside. He put the intertwined MM on the top of the box in the middle of a Book and a Rose, and then dropped the box into an empty lot, behind a bush. To be really sneaky he took two discs and placed them under the mattresses Joe and Emeral were sleeping on, they weren't large enough for them to notice, but they would be otherwise hard to find.

The Man looked over the history of the town, and found that Happosai was generally protective of his things. Therefore the man placed one of the discs in Happosai's stash of items, with a string tied to it describing it as a magical luck charm. He intentionally left out "good" or "bad" in front of luck.

Deciding that he hadn't been nearly devious enough, the man put one disc in Azuza's room, inspired by Azuza's attempt to take one of the statues. Azuza would have to be defeated for any chance of getting the disc, which would at least be entertaining to watch.

The Man then came up with an idea. He placed one of the discs within the Barrier, near where Kalshion, Katarina, and Tommy were camping. The disc wasn't exactly on either side of the barrier, but an attempt to get it made from BOTH sides of the barrier would suck the disc, Kalshion, Katarina, Tommy, and that Cat into town. Deciding that was too easy, the man made it so that the force used to suck them into town would throw them into the barrier.... on the other side of town. As soon as they were sucked through the hole in the barrier would close up again.

Wanting to be ni ce one more time, since his evil side was having most of the fun, the man placed one disc in the middle of another empty lot. The disc was stuck in the ground, hidden from view, but with a scent that would make that blasted cat Kalshion had decided to take in go nuts. As soon as Joe, Emeral, Kalshion, and the Cat, as well as anyone else that might be with them, entered the lot the disc would be released. When the disc was picked up a small house would appear, big enough for Joe and Emeral to stay in. The door would have two keys hanging from it, one from a rose and another from a small book. The book would merely show the pictures of the discs that they had located already.

The Man, at that point, wondered if the discs under the mattresses would be found before or after the house came into existance. After pondering it for a moment, he put an additional spell that would, if the discs had not been found, move them to the beds set up for Joe and Emeral in the house.

As the Man completed his spell he saw an opportunity too good to pass up for the only disc left he was going to mess with. Granted, it would make it EASIER to find in the end, but oh well. Kodachi was baking a cake for Ranma, for once WITHOUT anything funny in it. It seemed that was only because she had mistaken a little extra flower for sleeping powder. Moments later there was a disc in the middle of the cake, right about where it would end up hitting Akane or Ranma in the face if things went like they usually did.

As a final piece of information for Joe and Emeral, the man cast a spell that put his intertwined MM on the back of all the discs. He wasn't sure if they would take something with that symbol as something to investigate or as a warning, but then again it would probably serve as both.

Morning was approaching, and the man realized that the discs also had to be put in the statues. What if he could make that harder? It didn't take him long to put a smaller barrier at each statue, that kept only the discs away. When a disc got close enough a puzzle would appear in front of the statue, and the puzzle would have to be solved to allow the given disc past. The puzzle would be different for each disc, making it so that a total of 30 puzzles would have to be completed, most likely several times each, in order to break the curse. If that didn't complicate things enough then nothing would.

The man was, at this point, bored with just Joe and Emeral, not to mention having never conquored his boredom anyway, so he went into town himself, leaving his mirror on auto-record. Walking around for a bit he found himself at Ukyo's, and decided to grab some Okonomiyaki. Ukyo had apparently fixed her cooking surface counter, as she was in full swing, but showed curiosity when he sat down. She made his order, which he quickly ate. As he was paying her she started to speak.

"I don't recall seeing you in town before," she said. "You arrive recently?"

"I arrived a mere hour ago, actually," the man truthfully said. "Interesting weather, though. I had to walk past Rain, Snow, Hail, Fog, and the occasional Tornado to get here. Is something wrong?"

The last comment was in response to Ukyo's stare at the man's first comment, Ukyo having frozen at it. As Ukyo didn't respond right away, the man left. Moments later Ukyo came running out of her shop to find the street empty. There was no trace of the man in the rain soaked end of the street or the hail covered other end, nor were his footprints in the snow that was falling right outside of the shop. Soon Ukyo had closed her shop and was running for the edge of town. She ignored anyone and everyone, running right out of town and right into the barrier.

"How did he get into town if the blasted barrier is still up?" Ukyo asked herself as she picked herself up off the ground. Still thinking about it, she started back towards her shop.

Having enjoyed that little stunt, the man had altered his appearance slightly and entered th e Cat Cafe. Cologne showed her own curiosity when the man ordered. The man ate his Ramen and asked that some be delivered to the Dragon Residence and the Tendo Dojo. Cologne couldn't contain her curiosity at that, and finally spoke up.

"So you know the Tendo's, do you visit them often?" she started, not wanting to sound too suspicious.

"I only visited them once, a few days ago," stated the man.

"Then why, may I ask, are you sending them Ramen?" Cologne asked. "It would be nice to be able to tell them why they are getting free Ramen, if they were to ask."

"Just want to offer them a gift for the trouble I caused when I visited them," replied the man. "I had been out of town until a few hours ago, so I hadn't gotten a chance to. Now, if you don't mind, I have things to take care of. Make sure that Ramen gets delivered."

With that, the man left. Cologne was shocked to hear him, apparently truthfully, say that he had come into town mere hours ago. She closed up the Cafe, after telling Shampoo to make the deliveries the man asked to be made, and went to the edge of town herself. She was more cautious then Ukyo had been, and didn't slam into the barrier. Instead she used her cane to poke at the barrier, and found it to still be there.

The Man was currently laughing his head off on the roof of a house, wondering when the stories would start to filter through town. He decided to go to the market and spread his story a tad more, firing himself through the barrier as a finale.

It didn't take him long to make it to the market, where he inquired about several things that someone from town should know. Eventually someone got curious.

"So mister, did the barrier trap you in town?" asked the merchant.

"Nope, I arrived several hours ago," started the man. "I noticed you have been having some interesting weather lately."

The first comment didn't quite sink it right away, so the merchant continued. "Yes, it has been rather interesting. We think that has something to do with the animals acting oddly as of late, as well as with the fences seeming to be impossible for anything to sit on top of."

"I see," responded the man. "Well, I don't see what I am looking for, so I guess I will be leaving town."

"Won't be easy with that barrier in place, you know," smirked the merchant.

"I made it in, didn't I?" said the man, just before a blast of energy launched him into the air. A portal opened just below the top of the barrier, which the man flew through. It was then that the earlier comment about arriving in town hours before sunk into the merchant's brain, and he went wild trying to tell everyone the news.

Back in front of his mirror, the Man smiled. He had caused a LOT of commotion, and hopefully the outer-worlders would realize who the mysterious people, all with different descriptions, had really been. The man hoped he had missed seeing something that his mirror had recorded for him, so he started to watch eagerly.

The old man was sitting working on his curse, ignoring most of the happenings in the world his children were currently exploring. Since their arrival he had changed his plans slightly so that his curse would affect his children as well as everyone else he had been planning on using it on. He had, however, gotten rather hungry for some reason and ordered out for the first time in millenia. Of course, the service he used guarenteed delivery in 30 hours or less, given the nature of the matrix, and he figured that his central placement just off of a couple of major pathways would have the delivery showing up

A loud BOOM is heard as another shockwave flys through the dimension. Luckily the old man had shielded everywhere but his world from the blasts.

right about now. The man started to head for the door when the second "knock" came, and reached the door just after a third.

"Pizza Delivery," said the man at the door. "That will be fifty thousand quantum ruples."

"Yes, of course," said the old man as he handed over a sack of ruples. "Here you go."

"Thank you sir, and here are your pizzas," the man responded, handing over a giant box. "Have a nice day."

The old man waved to the man, walking inside with his pizzas, the door closing behind him. "Nothing like a few thousand tons of pizza to fill you up," he thought as he ate the first hundred tons. He continued to work on the pizzas as he continued working on his curse, finishing all but the last 50 tons or so before another "knock" on the door interrupted him.

"Ooooh, goody," said the man as he opened the door. "Dessert!"

"How many people do you have over, anyway?" said a woman at the door. "There is over 5000 tons of cakes, ice cream, and pudding here!"

"Oh, it is all for me," replied the man. "I don't exactly eat light."

"I should say not," the woman said, staring at the man and then the delivery. "That will be sixty-eight thousand quantum ruples."

"Here you go," said the man, handing over another sack of ruples. "Have a nice day."

"You two," said the woman. "Oh, and you better pace yourself."

"I will," said the man, taking in the delivery.

Soon the man had polished off the last of the pizza and the first few hundred tons of dessert. He then slipped and dropped some pudding on the item he was trying to curse, when the curse suddenly stuck. "Wow, quantum pudding isn't bad for cursing, is it?" thought the man, as he was now done with his curse. He wasn't ready to deploy it yet, though. The time would come for that. First he would polish off the last of his dessert.

An hour later

The man was eating the last piece of cake, intrigued over the events that were transpiring in the world, and due to forgetting to turn off time dilation he hadn't realized he had set earlier Emily and Jeremy had just been brought into the cafe.

In the cafe

Emeral looked at the door, "Care to join us now?" she said. Both Jeremy and Emily where shocked and where starting to run away when they found themselves suddenly inside the shop in front of Joe.

"Please, come in," said Joe smiling.

"Yes," continued Emeral, half-forcing a smile. "Maybe we can talk on better terms now."

"I see," said Jeremy, raising his hand. "In that case, lets have some privacy." Suddenly two small blasts of energy flew out of his hand, putting Akane and Tommy to sleep.

"Wasting no time, I see," said Joe. "So, where should we start?"

"Well, you brought us here, and our father filled us in a bit on you," said Emily. "What do you want to ask us?"

"Ah yes," said Joe thoughtfully. "We have had dealings with your father, although I would like to have a more formal name to refer to him by. Care to help us?"

"Yes," continued Emeral. "The best we have come up with is MM."

"Ummmmm...." said Jeremy, looking over uneasil y at Emily.

"Yea..." said Emily, with the same expression.

"What is wrong, does he not like people to know his name?" asked Joe.

"Well, we don't know," said Jeremy.

"Yea, you see we don't know if he HAS a name," continued Emily.

"What?" said Joe and Emeral at the same time. Emeral continued, "How can you not know your father's name?"

"Well," Emily explained, "we have always called him dad, we never knew our mother, and he never had visitors."

"I guess it just never came up," finished Jeremy.

Joe and Emeral just stared for a minute, then regained their composure.

"Well then Jeremy," said Emeral. "Your father told us that you have a bit of a mean streak."

"Umm," Jeremy said, blushing. "Yes, I do. Sorry about earlier, I tend to lose some of my self control."

"You can say that again," said Emily, grinning. "I like it when you get nasty, although for some reason I don't like it when you blow up planets."

"I suppose the people on Risa should be glad," said Jeremy. "If you liked me blowing up planets then Risa probably wouldn't be a fun place to visit anymore."

"Is that so," said Joe. "Emily, your father mentioned that you are quite the troublemaker yourself."

"Yes," said Emeral. "I found that odd, considering we never ran into the results of your troublemaking before."

Emily glared at Jeremy before speaking. "Yes, well my annoying brother here likes to ruin my fun."

Suddenly a voice outside yelled, "PRETTY LADY!"

"Oh no," said Emeral.

"Not that pervert," said Joe at the same time.

Emily got an annoyed look on her face, but was unable to say anything before Happosai came through the wall and latched onto her. A split second later Happosai had planted a kiss on her cheek, apparently not having noticed, or not caring about, the message on his shirt. Emily snapped, releasing a torment of dark energy that knocked Happosai off her as she summoned her mallet. The old man also snapped, his sugar high not helping matters, causing the room to go dark. Moments later Emily, Jeremy, Happosai, Joe, and Emeral were all in a void that was feeding Emily's Dark energy. Jeremy seemed to be standing there, looking only mildly angry, as Emily swung the mallet over her head to hit Happosai, who actually pulled off dodging the first attack. Jeremy's eyes suddenly burst into literal flame as a massive torrent of energy was released from his body, shadowing even his sister's energy output and causing the void to vanish.

"YOU PERVERT, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY SISTER!" screamed Jeremy.

The old man saw this and had the sense to move those that had been in the void outside of town just before Jeremy unleashed a massive attack on Happosai. Noone quite caught what the attack was in the bright light that followed, but Emily pulled off scoring with her mallet sometime in the middle of it anyway. When the light, dust, and smoke had all cleared there was no sign of Happosai, but there was a gaping hole in the world quickly closing itself up. Jeremy was the only one who saw where it led to, but he wasn't in any condition to talk, as he collapsed then and there. Emily followed suit a couple of seconds later, both of them had strained their bodies to the point where they were all but in shock.

The old man, however, had caught the destination of the hole as Emily blasted Happosai in with her mallet. Happosai had been blown into a neighboring, vacant dimension that was nothing more then a barren wasteland. The old man, still angry and high on sugar, set the world to turn into a living hell for Happosai. Beautiful women he couldn't get within ten feet of, surrounded by fog that fully obstructed sight at 10.5 feet, the only clothing he could find being used male undergarments.

Fifteen minutes later

Happosai had been in his hell for fifteen minutes, and it had just clicked as to what was go ing on. That made him VERY angry, more so then he had ever truely been before. He was right next to where he had come in, and had enough energy to break through the barrier between the worlds at the new weak spot, barely making it through before it closed. The old man didn't notice this, however, which was good for Happosai.

Joe and Emeral had carried Jeremy and Emily off to their house, as they didn't know what else to do. to their surprise the house had been changed when they got there. There were two new bedrooms, and a small slot next to the door. The rooms were decorated very differently, one of them was bright and cheerful with an encyclopedia and other things like that in it. The other was dark and dreary with heavy metal band posters on the wall and black lights. Joe and Emeral didn't take long to figure out which room was for who, but Joe did take careful note of the slot next to the door afterwards. He was sure he had seen something almost identical at the barrier. It was then that both Joe and Emeral realized that those left back at Ukyo's had never been woken up.

A couple of minutes later everyone back at Ukyo's was awake, but Ranma was still acting very feminine. Akane was confused, she thought Emeral had taken care of that. She was, however, happy that Ranma was no longer looking to marry himself. She figured a good bop on the head later would fix things, so she went out to enjoy some "quality time" with Ranma.

Rose had returned from waking everyone up, without making her presence known, to find Sonic missing. It didn't take her long to find him, examining the barrier with interest.

"I was right after all. There is a slot here, just like the one that is now on the house," Sonic mumbled. "I am sure that Jeremy or Emily can explain it later."

"So we have another puzzle to solve?" asked Rose. "Perhaps one that will let us out later?"

"I don't think so," replied Sonic. "I want to check with Jeremy and Emily first."

Of course, noone noticed as the old man began to silently drop the pieces to his curse into the world. He wasn't ready to trigger it yet, but he when he was he would give everyone quite a shock.

Sonic

Returning back to their house, Emeral and Joe checked on Emily and Jeremy, who both where up sitting at the table in the kitchen.

"Glad to see you two are back up," said Emeral walking through the door.

"Is this your house?" asked Emily looking at Emeral.

"Yes it is, your father gave this house to us a while ago," she replied, "Seems he added two rooms to it just recently for you two."

Joe pulled out a chair for Emeral and helped her in before sitting himself down, "I have another question for you two," said Joe, "Do you know anything about the card slot that is on the barrier of your father's realm?"

Emily and Jeremy looked at each other, not sure how to answer the question. Finally Emily spoke up, "The card slots are for key cards that allows us in and out," she said.

"I see," said Joe, "So you two both have key cards then."

"Maybe we do," replied Jeremy a bit nervous, "But if we did, we couldn't give them to you."

"We understand," answered Emeral, "But you don't have to be afraid, we have no intention of stealing them from you. For one thing, it would be wrong." Emeral looked around, "And for another, we probably wouldn't even be able to reach the barrier before seeing the wrath of your father."

Emily and Jeremy looked at each other, not sure if they believed what Emeral said about it being wrong, but believing in the statement about their father's wrath. Just about this time, Emily's stomach began to growl, which made her blush.

Emeral gave a soft giggle and began to get up, "You must still be hungry, let me fix you something," she said walking over to the small fridge. "I suppose you are hungry as well Jeremy?"

Jeremy nodded, "I haven't ate anything for a while," he said.

Emeral opened the fridge and pulled out some ham and other accessories for making a sub, "Should take only a few minutes," she said placing the materials on the counter and opening the drawer taking out a knife. With a blink of an eye, Emeral began chopping the lettuce, spreading the ham, placing pickles, and adding a few more things to the sub. After 20 seconds, Emeral had two foot long subs and was placing them in front of Emily and Jeremy.

"Nice cooking skills," said Jeremy eyeing the food.

Joe smiled, "Don't worry, we aren't trying to poison you. You should have realized it by now that we are good people, so eat."

Hesitant, Emily picked up her sub and took a bite then smiled, "This is rather good," she said.

Jeremy, deciding that it would be suicide if they were to do anything to harm them, took a bite out of his sub. "This isn't half bad," he said chewing his bite.

"I'm glad you like it," said Emeral as she looked at the clock. "Joe and I need to go out for a while, please make your-self at home," she said vanishing in a blue glow.

Joe bowed farewell and followed Emeral as he vanished in a blue glow.

*At Kalshion and Katarina's camp site*

Kalshion and Katarina were sitting by their fire just watching the stars when their cat got up and began to watch an area in front of them.

"What' is it?" asked Katarina looking at the area.

Within moments, Emeral and Joe appeared where the cat was looking. Both looked around for a moment then walked over to Kalshion and Katarina.

"How are you two doing?" asked Emeral.

"It's going pretty well, though we haven't found the source of the aura we are sensing." answered Katarina. "What about you two?"

Emeral smiled, "Seems we have two visitors, who seem to be the children of MM," she responded.

"MM has children?" asked Kalshion in a bit of shock. "Does that mean more trouble?"

Joe laughed softly, "The only trouble they've caused is knocking Happosai out several times," he replied. "Despite their unique personalities, they seem like nice kids."

Emeral began to walk around, watching the stars and the moon, "It's a beautiful night," she said as the moonlight amplified the shine of her hair softly moving with the wind.

"Yea, it is," said Katarina looking back at the moon.

Just a short distance away, DS watched the four as they talked. "Children," he thought to himself, "Where those the two kids that I passed on the way up here?" DS turned to the direction of the town, "That young girl was able to sense me, and she had a strong dark aura about her," he thought smiling, "A nice attractive Dark Aura if I might add," thinking about the recent outburst of dark energy he felt earlier that day.

DS then looked back at Joe, "It would be nice to take advantage of that girl, but with that old bastard lurking around, it will be rather difficult." DS then smiled, "First things first, to obtain the power of the new 'improved' dragon aura," he said looking at Emerald's side where she was keeping the shards.

As Joe watched Emeral 'bathing' in the moonlight, a horrible dark feeling ran down his spine.

Emeral, feeling the chill in Joe looked at him, "You all right?" she asked.

DS smiled, "Soon my Yang, Soon we will meet each other again," he thought stepping back into the Shadows and vanishing.

Joe looked around then eyed the area where DS was standing, which got Kalshion's attention.

"That's the second time I've seen you look like that," said Kalshion, "What's going on?"

Joe kept eyeing the area, "I'm not sure," he responded, "I just hope it isn't what I think it is."

In a Dark Small room, a figure was busy nailing nails into a small doll.

"Curse you Ranma Saotome, Feel my wrath!" cried Hikaru Gosunkugi smashing another nail into a Voodoo doll that looked like Ranma.

Fortunately for Ranma, Hikaru's Voodooism rarely, if ever worked; but that was all about to change.

Finishing the last nail in his box, "Hmmm, better get some more nails," said Hikaru walking up to his cabinet and pulling out another box and placing it by the doll.

Opening the box, Hikaru reached his hand into it as he flipped the doll over, not realizing what he just pulled out of the box. With a battle cry, Hikaru placed what he thought was a nail over the back of the neck of the doll, and slammed the hammer on it. Within seconds, a quick bright blue glow covered the doll, then vanished.

"What was that?" asked Hikaru looking at the nail he just placed into the doll. "Wait, what is this?" he said looking at a light blue jewel shard now embedded into the doll.

Chapter 23
To Voodoo like no Voodooist has Voodooed before!
Barbies just became dangerous!

Ranma was sitting with Akane watching TV when he suddenly jerked with an empty look in his eyes.

"What's wrong Ranma?" asked Akane.

"I'm not sure, I just had a strange feeling come over me," he replied, "YOUCH!"

"Ranma?" called Akane watching Ranma grab his arm which was bleeding, "You're bleeding Ranma!"

Ranma looked at his arm, as Akane went to get the first aid kit. "This is too deep to be a bite from an insect," thought Ranma.

*Early Tuesday Morning...*

"Good Morning Akane," said Emeral as Akane walked into the classroom. Within moment Emeral noticed Akane was a bit worried, "What's wrong Akane? Wait, where's Ranma?"

"Ranma is at home, he's lost allot of blood," responded Akane.

"From what?" asked Joe joining the conversation with Tommy.

"I'm not sure," replied Akane, "But he started getting puncture marks around his arms which have bleed heavily."

"That's not right," answered Emeral in a concerned voice, "Did he come in contact with anything odd last night?"

"The only thing odd for him yesterday was thinking he was a woman," said Akane.

Just about this time Hikaru entered the class and began to look around for Ranma. Joe sensed Hikaru curiosity for Ranma's well being and decided to keep and eye on him. As Hikaru proceeded to his seat, he looked at Akane and smiled, which disturbed Akane a bit.

"What's with that guy?" asked Tommy.

Akane shook her head, "Some weirdo who is obsessed with me, and tries to hurt Ranma using Voodoo Dolls."

Joe raised an eyebrow from this, "Voodooism, sounds similar to what just happened to Ranma."

"No, it couldn't be," said Akane waving her hand up and down, "Gosunkugi-san has never been successful with Voodooism."

"Maybe, but what if he has received help, such as a shard of the aura?" said Emeral with a grin.

Akane's eyes opened at the thought; "Maybe you're right," looking at Hikaru.

*During Morning Break...*

"Hello Gosunkugi-san," said Akane walking up to Hikaru.

Hikaru jumped at the sight of Akane being nice to him, knocking his papers onto the floor and dropping his bag, which the Ranma VooDoo doll roled out, which he quickly placed back in, "Hello Miss Tendo," he said very nervous.

Akane eyed the bag, "Gosunkugi-san, do you know anything about Ranma's recent sickness?" she asked giving a look.

Hikaru began to sweat then shook his head, "No, I don't know a thing," he said.

Akane just eyed him, "If you say so," she said walking away to Joe and Emeral, "Well?"

"He's lying," said Emeral, "His thoughts of guilt were so strong, I could read it in a Coma."

Meanwhile, Hikaru just eyed his backpack, "So it worked?" he said to himself. Within moments he smiled and began to laugh to himself, "Finally, you are under my control Ranma," he said kicking his bag.

*At the house of "Weird"*

"Poor Ranma," said Kasumi rubbing a moist cloth on Ranma's head, as we lay there in his mat asleep.

Just as Kasumi removed the cloth, Ranma's eyes opened followed by him slamming into the wall.

"Ranma?" asked Kasumi, "You shouldn't be moving in this condition."

"I'm not trying to," said Ranma as he was bolted over into the window, falling into the pond.

*Back at school..*

"You're up Joe," said Emeral as she watched Hikaru kicking his bag.

Joe nodded and placed his hand in front of him, which the doll instantly appeared in his palm. "Here you go Emeral," he said smiling.

Emeral took the doll and looked around, "Ah, just was we thought," she said pulling out a jewel shard, which was glowing black, "Looks like this shard was exposed to plenty of evil," she said teleporting the doll back into the bag and placing the shard in her pocket.

"So will Ranma be ok now?" asked Akane a bit worried.

"Well, he lost allot of blood, so I recommend you have him eat this," said Joe pulling out an orange color fruit.

"What is that?" asked Tommy as Joe placed the fruit in Akane's hands.

"It's called a Passion Fruit," replied Joe, "They posses great healing powers."

Akane smiled and placed the fruit into her sack, "Thank you," she said.

Emeral and Joe just smiled, "You are very welcome," they said in unison.

Shadower

Kalshion was outside the tent and looking up at the sky, it was raining but they used there powers to create a small barrier around them so they wouldn't get wet.

He took a look at the spot where Joe looked at lastnight, he narrow'd his eyes a bit. Then walked out toward a lake for a swim.

Katarina was already up and swimming, he never saw her swim before. So he decided to watch for awhile, it was about 5 minutes later when they felt the same aura they felt back at the school. They looked toward the north of the lake and at the top of a mountain,"Its up there... come on lets go", Katarina and Kalshion packed up there tent and began the long jounary toward the mountain",They began to get the feeling that they where being followed.. Kalshion didn't like being followed so while walking he opened his palm and aimed it right in back of him firing a ice cold beam at the forest.. freezing it over,"Who ever was following us should be a popsical by now","You do realize that, that will cause the town to come here and investigate","Yea"

Kalshion and Katarina made frequent stops along the route.. always getting the feeling they where being watched.

CmptrWz

Chapter 24
Biometal Matinee
Or is that the Curse Wars?

The old man reflected on the creation of his curse as he created a trap-filled building in his workshop.

FLASHBACK: Days earlier

The old man had picked up on a substance called biometal from Sonic and Rose when their defenses went down from the statue ordeal, and had looked into it. He found the idea intriguing, but thought it needed some personalizing.

Soon he had created his own strain of biometal. He hadn't figured out how he would power his strain, but he figured he would borrow a device from another world later on. He was sure that his strain would confuse Sonic and Rose, however. His units and buildings would look like the units and buildings that had existed in another world, but would have no pilots and would not fire ordinary weapons. No, he couldn't have enough damage capability to take out the entire town and everyone in it. Instead their weapons were curses, any living being hit by a weapon would be cursed instantly, who knows what the curse would be though. An exploding unit or building also gave off an area effect curse, affecting any living being entering the area.

The beauty of the setup was that since the units had no pilots they weren't living, and could not be affected by the curses. Sonic, Rose, DS, Jeremy, and Emily could, however, easily be affected by the curses they would normally shrug off due to a field that would be created by special structures in the bases, each of which would be protected by a special impenetrable shield. The field would also ensure that each blast of curse inflicted on a person, inner or outer worlder, would be exponentially stronger then the last. The only way to take out the shield, the structures, units, and all the curses would be to take out the power source for them.

That would, however, be easier said then done, when the man got around to choosing a power source.

Back in the present

The man had chosen a power source, and was in the process of creating a place to put it. For the power source he had created a power sphere, containing enough raw power to break through the barrier protecting his world. This raw power had been created with a mixture of the old man's energy and energy from the shard he possessed, allowing him to curse almost anything currently in the field's effect. Luckily the raw power couldn't be harnessed by anyone, only the biometal forces he created. Anyone else physically touching the power sphere would get hit with enough curses to drive them insane, assuming one of the curses wasn't to ensure they went insane. If someone did manage to make an attempt at wielding the power of the sphere after initial contact then they would be thrown from the building, unable to re-enter, their curses remaining until the sphere was destroyed.

The building would be indestructible, and the outer-worlders, not to mention his kids, wouldn't be able to enter or leave by passing through walls or windows. The top of the building, 8 stories up, held the power sphere. Every floor below that had 4 rooms, each room had to be passed through to move on. Each room also held a different trap, and the building was designed to remove a good portion of the powers of anyone who entered it. To top it all off the 8th floor was a massive grid of lasers, bombs, spikes, arrows, and other destructive implements protecting the sphere itself. With reduced powers the 29 rooms would have to be navigated on foot. The sphere itself would eventually be found to be destroyable by Akane's Mallet wielded only by Akane herself, and if Akane wasn't around the first time the sphere was reached then those that had reached the sphere would have to work their way back out through the traps again to get her, then work their way back through again.

Of course, there was one more trick up the old man's sleeve. The building was in place in the middle of town, but was locke d tight. The door had three locks, and he had the three keys hidden in the three bases that were being constructed at that very moment. The specialized jammers in the bases were shielding them from detection, besides, the old man wanted to see the look on the townspeople's faces when EDF, Scion, and Hadean forces stormed the town. Of course, for realism's sake there were also scavengers going through, but instead of picking up scrap they were scanning for shards. Each had a special receiver tuned to the exact frequency of the curse energy in order to pick up vibrations from the remaining, untainted shards, which would be affected by the field created by the three bases. Only someone looking for the vibrations would notice them, however, as the curse energy would otherwise block them out.

An hour later

The old man floated high above the town, a special shield up around him to prevent his own curses from affecting him. The three bases were fully functional, each had a small attack force ready, and the power sphere protection system was at full power. The old man just had to give the signal and the attack would begin, and was he prepared to give a signal. He raised his hand above his head, forming a giant disc of dark, yet currently invisible, energy. Seconds later the disc flew into the air, growing large enough to block out the sun in the area, before it suddenly turned pure black. A MM traced itself out in the disc, letting light through, before the disc faded out.

The attack forces wasted no time invading town after seeing the signal. They had been instructed to make it seem like they were attacking each other, yet were really trying to have as bad aim as possible to inflict as many curses as possible. It didn't take long for a few dozen people in town to receive curses from "missed" shots, and the number was steadily increasing. A small group of girls had all been hit by a mortar, while a large section of a street was hit by a Kamikaze unit exploding. The old man noticed people changing into various non-organic materials, robots, dolls, animals, as well as people who were unable to act or not act in certain ways, affected other people with their voice or eyes, and even a few body swaps.

The old man finally snapped, and his laughter could be heard for miles as he slowly faded back to watch from his mirror, curious as to how long it would take before this game was over. When he got there he found the recording of the ice blast, and got a nasty idea. Soon a small attack force was on its way to Kalshion and Katarina, intending to curse them like they had never been cursed before. The force wasn't much, a mere fifteen Titans, ten Maulers, twenty Warriors, an Archer, and a few dozen Scouts. As the force left the Scion base the old man noticed Joe, who had just witnessed a young girl being hit by an arc cannon. The curse that affected her caused the attack to become all the more dangerous, as she turned into a Sabre that joined in the fight.

Leaving Joe for the moment, the old man noticed Happosai, wondering where he had come from. Of course, Happosai didn't like seeing girls cursed, and was fighting a Bulldog assault tank. He soon wished that he hadn't when he was hit by a mortar and cursed. No sooner had he been hit by the mortar, however, he was hit by a plasma shot from behind him, setting a second curse in motion when the first was just taking affect. The two curses combined, the first making Happosai a magnet for his deepest desires and the second making it so that his deepest desires would turn him into stone. The combination caused the first part of the curse to be nulled out when the second kicked in. As soon as he was far enough away from his desires he would return to flesh.

The interesting thing was that, on landing, Happosai crashed through the window of a clothing store, in the women's undergarment section, surrounded by women, and on top of Cologne who had been in the store, and didn't turn into stone. What is Happosai's deeper desire?

As soon as Cologne had thrown Happosai off of her she went outside to see what was going on. Unfortunately she didn't realize how many things were shooting and in dodging an Arc stream while a pulse blast flew past her head and chain gun bullets flew past her feet she was hit by a blast shot. The force of the blast combined with her dodging attempt caused her to be blown back to the Cat Cafe, where the curse that had hit her went into effect. She didn't notice at first, thinking she had been lucky when the shot hit her, but until the curse was lifted Cologne would find herself unable to bounce around on her stick. Each time she tried she would slip and fall for no apparent reason.

Meanwhile, Ryoga was just making it back into town on his way to the Tendo Dojo, having just crossed Japan twice on his way. Amazingly, Ryoga pulled off dodging three arc cannons, two blast shots, a half dozen chain gun rounds, and a few flash cannon shots before landing on a proximity mine. The mine cursed him to have his standard sense of direction when mildly peeved, an infinitely worse sense of direction when fully angry, and the ability to get wherever he wanted when he wasn't angry at all. Of course, being blown into the air by a mine wasn't good for his temper, and he assumed it was Ranma's fault right off the bat. As soon as he landed, quite a bit angry, he went off to find Ranma to fight him. Twenty minutes later he had somehow found his way to Colorado, and half an hour after that he was in Antarctica. He soon began to calm down though, and slowly started getting closer to Japan again.

In the meantime, Tommy had been battling a Sabre with his sword. Each time he got close he was forced back by shots fired by the Sabre, which he deflected with his sword each time. One time it would be SP-Stabbers, another Chain guns, and the reflective surface of the sword was great for deflecting lasers. After ten minutes of this a Warrior showed up and fired at the Sabre from behind, missing of course as it was really aiming for Tommy. Tommy reflexively brought his sword up to block, but he wasn't anticipating an Arc Cannon, which was picked up and channeled down Tommy's sword right into Tommy as it jumped off of the blade into his hand. The shock caused Tommy to drop his guard and he was therefore hit by a SP-Stabber, launching him backwards into a window. The tanks went off to find more prey, pretending to fight in the meantime, while Tommy tried to get up. He found that he couldn't stand without slipping and falling, so he crawled over to his sword to try and use it to steady himself as he stood. He soon discovered that he no longer had the strength to lift his sword, but it wasn't because he was weaker. The second curse had made him unable to lift any weapon other then his fists, and he couldn't do anything about it.

The Hadeans hadn't been doing much fighting, however, due to a lack of "enemy" forces in the section of town they were in. Akane, however, was running through that section of town at the wrong time, almost tripping over a flame mine. She dodged the fireballs for a few minutes before a Xypos showed up and used it's shell gun to distract her long enough for a fireball to hit her. She jumped quite high as the heat hit her, and was soon running for her life again, ending up with clothes that made her look like she had been tortured. The curse didn't take long to settle into place, causing Akane to become blind to most inanimate objects. The only things she could see were animals, including humans, the units running around town, her hammer, and the power orb. She saw through anything that wasn't visible to her, making things even harder. Due to these limitations she no longer had any way to navigate, and was very embarrassed whenever she DID see someone as clothes were inanimate objects she couldn't see. Soon she was hit by another shot, having attempted to dodge it by jumping into a wall she couldn't see. She didn't notice, but the laser that hit her cut a hole in her dress while altering her mi nd with a curse. The curse was somewhat simple, but twice as strong as the first, bringing on the effects of the reversal Jewel worn right side up without the jewel itself. She was, however, much too freaked out to take action on this as a group of guys walked by on the other side of the wall she had jumped into. She screamed very loudly, turning and running into another wall that had some girls walking on the other side of it. Screaming again she ran into another wall, but a cat fell onto her head. At this point she kept on screaming and running into various walls, eventually knocking herself out, while trying to claw the cat off.

Ryoga had, however, been close to town and had heard her screams. All of his anger left him as he ran, worried, knowing it was Akane who had been screaming. Ranma had also heard her screams and had gotten to her first, finding her clothes with burn marks on them, a hole in them, and her knocked out. He didn't have much time to do anything with her, however, before Ryoga showed up. Ryoga took one look at Akane, assumed that Ranma had done it to her(as Ranma was the only one there at the time), and his anger skyrocketed to a point where it actually registered on Radar. Ranma knew what this meant, and for once didn't bother trying to explain himself before bolting, taking note of where Akane was as he took off. Ryoga followed him to the corner and promptly turned the wrong direction, leaving Ranma relieved as he went, picked up Akane, and brought her home. No one else was at the Dojo, Ranma knew it wasn't safe to try and go anywhere else, and Akane's wounds needed attention. He figured getting smashed a few times was worth taking care of Akane's wounds right away to avoid infection, so he cleaned her up. Amazingly she didn't wake up through him undressing her, cleaning her up, putting bandages on her wounds, and dressing her again(blushing through most of the process). At some point he had gotten splashed with some cold water, and was currently a girl. He hadn't changed back because he felt a little better around Akane as he worked that way. Akane did, however, wake up as he put her in bed, but too weak to do more then look over as he left the room. She saw Ranma-chan leaving the room, apparently naked, walking down the hall. Enough blood rushed to her head as she blushed to knock her out again, but the idea that her love Ranma had helped her made her dreams pleasant.

Meanwhile, Ryoga had somehow ended up in the world of the Dragons. The old man wasn't even sure HOW, but Ryoga hadn't been noticed yet, even though he was confused as all get-out as to where he was. He wandered around, not quite as angry as he had been but nowhere near calm enough to find his way anywhere. As he had gone from searching for Ranma to finding anything that looked familiar he wasn't going to be visiting earth again anytime that day. Hopefully his curse wouldn't be lifted before he returned to earth, otherwise it would be a while before he returned.

Back in town Ranma was having issues of his own. He had gone to get Doctor Toufuu so he could double-check on Akane when a battle came around the corner. Ranma pulled of dodging every shot from every ship in the battle, and then drew several fireballs into a Hiryu Shotenha. Of course, Ranma wasn't counting on the ships being able to withstand the winds created, let alone target in them. A mag cannon was heard charging as Ranma lost his footing, then before Ranma could react in the air he was hit by a massive ball of energy, blowing him across town. He landed in the Kuno Bathroom, cold water falling on his head as he lay there recovering. The curse wrapped around his currently female body, making it irresistible to the opposite sex. However, the curse had started taking affect when Ranma was still male, causing his male or female body to be irresistible to any female. Of course, Kodachi chose this moment to walk in, causing Ranma to jump back in defense. He was taken by surprise, however, as Kodachi didn't attack his female form, instead stari ng at it as if it were his male form, before lunging to hug him. Ranma bolted, not wanting that either, to find a place to hide.

Elsewhere in town Shampoo was looking for Ranma when she ran into Ukyo. The two started yelling at each other when a mortar landed between them. The mortar was a MDM, and as the two started to react to it the trigger fired, but the explosion didn't push them aside. Instead it pulled them together, causing them to pass through one another. When they got up after the shock they turned around, and promptly fainted. They didn't realize it yet, but they had swapped bodies, Shampoo was in Ukyo's body and Ukyo was in Shampoo's body.

Just outside of town Kasumi had set up a picnic. Soun and Genma were there, trying to cheat each other as usual on a portable board, Nabiki was checking who would owe her money this week while waiting for Kasumi to finish getting out the food, and Doctor Toufuu was talking to a tree. Nabiki was the only one to notice the weird plane approaching, but paid no further heed to it as it approached, but freaked as it dropped a bomb before it turned around and headed back the way it came. The bomb exploded right in the middle of the picnic before anyone could get anywhere. The explosion pulled each person's current most prominent trait and dropped it in another of the group. This resulted in Kasumi becoming light-headed around Doctor Toufuu, Nabiki taking on a nice housewife persona, Soun taking on Nabiki's money management skills, Genma taking on Soun's expertise in cheating, while Doctor Toufuu ended up with Genma's distractibility.

Mousse had been out searching for Shampoo for a while when he mistook Tatewaki for her. Running for her yelling about his beloved he was knocked to the ground by a wooden sword, just before a rocket tank blasted both him and Tatewaki through a building with a couple of rockets. The two rockets affected both Mousse and Tatewaki, first turning them into girls both physically and mentally, then re-focusing their love onto Ryoga. They were both unconscious, but now they were both dreaming of marrying Ryoga instead of Mousse dreaming of Shampoo and Tatewaki dreaming of Akane and Ranma-chan. The change did have one good side effect for Mousse, at least, as her eyesight was 20/20 so she wouldn't need to wear glasses. When they woke up they would most likely both express their need to find Ryoga, then start fighting for him. Maybe by then Ryoga would be back in town.

Back at the Kuno residence, Kodachi had stopped searching for Ranma in the house, and had called Sasuke to help her find her in town. Sasuke was confused, but paid it no heed as he ran off into the fray to find either form of Ranma. Kodachi decided she couldn't wait for that bungler to fail, and ran out to find them herself as well a few minutes later. Sasuke hadn't gotten far, however, as there was a massive battle between all three races waging outside the gates, and he was currently making an amazing display of his dodging abilities. Kodachi started to fight back, which was a bad idea as some of the units stopped firing at the other units and made a valid attempt at actually hitting Kodachi instead. Soon Kodachi was on the run across town, dodging shots coming at her from behind, while Sasuke was jumping among the battle trying to get through it. Kodachi was hit a few minutes later as she mistakenly zigged when she should have zagged, and the units felt that was enough and starting fighting each other again. Sasuke made the mistake of standing still too long and ended up with a Comet on his tail, it didn't take long before he was also hit. As he landed next to Kodachi, still smoking from the explosion, their curses hit. When they came to their senses they would be in for a shock as Kodachi shrunk down to a toddler and Sasuke turned invisible. The interesting thing with Sasuke would be that Akane's curse would allow her to see him, while Kodachi would have a hard time doing anything she couldn't do as a toddler the first time around.

Bac k at the school a Jackal was attacking the Headmaster, who had stupidly attacked the Jackal with an exploding pineapple. He wasn't doing half bad as the mortars were easy to dodge, but he was getting tired. He soon renewed his efforts of dodging, however, when an Atilla showed up and started shooting at him as well. The Atilla was closely followed by a couple of Sabres and a Thunderbolt, and eventually a mortar knocked out the Headmaster. Soon the curse took hold and the Headmaster found that he couldn't stop himself from saying whatever he was planning on doing out loud, giving people plenty of warning.

It was about this time that two Scavengers, one Hadean and one ISDF, both sent out a powerful signal on a special frequency. Both of them had run across Shards. One of them was in the school, hiding in an old book that had been sitting in a closet unopened for years, and would probably remain so. The old man soon had that book sitting on his desk, he would examine it later. The other was trapped in a puzzle box. This gave the old man an idea, he soon had the shard, leaving the puzzle where it had been, and was creating his own puzzle. This would be a great way to cause his trail to go cold while retaining a barrier of protection. He soon recalled all the scavengers, as they were no longer needed.

The signals from the scavengers attracted the attention of Joe and Emeral, however. They went to investigate the nearer one, but were too late to do anything. They did, however, fall into a small trap that had been set by the ISDF forces. The Sabres were using Red Field devices modified to prevent detection by Joe and Emeral, and DS if he was around, and therefore they didn't see any reason to avoid the area. They still approached very cautiously, trying to expect the unexpected. They didn't see the Sabres behind them in a couple of large boxes, however, and were initially caught off-guard. Each of them took a shot before they vacated the area, not realizing that they had just been cursed.

A few minutes later Joe and Emeral were discussing what to do when Joe suddenly lost his voice. Talking to Emeral this wasn't an issue, but otherwise it could pose a problem. Emeral, on the other hand, got a nasty pimple on her left cheek. She didn't notice it until Joe mentioned it to her, however, and she soon found it wouldn't go away when she willed it to. They realized at this point that MM had found a way to get his curses to stick to them, and that they would have to do something about it.

Meanwhile, at the ice rink Azusa and Mikado had troubles of their own. They had been practicing when an APC had landed outside the rink and deployed a bunch of guns on legs, literally, and they had been fighting them off for an hour. One of them finally blew the ice apart with its gun, which was immediately followed by a grenade blowing up next to Azuza and Mikado. The guns on legs fled the building right after, leaving Azuza and Mikado to deal with the curse. It took a few minutes, but Azuza and Mikado were slowly pulled together into one freakish being. They each had their head, arms, and legs, but shared a body. The result was a complete lack of coordination that left them there half-stranded while they each tried to do their own thing.

It was about this time that the town got a visitor, Bakeneko, who was alive enough to be affected by curses. Since he wasn't expecting what was going on he appeared in the middle of town, and was promptly blown back by a blast cannon. He tried to flee right away, having a very low tolerance for pain and all, but was hit by the curse before he could get anywhere. Now, instead of being a ghost-cat, he was a ghost-boy. He was partially put off by this, but soon realized that as a boy he could get a girl to wear one of his little bells! Soon he was off looking for a girl to give one of his bells to, not realizing that he no longer had his big one.

Of course, Bakeneko wasn't the only one visiting town. Nodoka was just arriving as well, to check up on Ranm a and Genma. She had figured out their curses by now, but they still acted too much like their normal selves when cursed so she let them be. She knew that they would eventually tell her, they would have to after all. Of course, thinking of these things while entering a town full of curse-firing armies isn't the best idea, and soon Nodoka was trying to stop herself from becoming a Mauler's pincushion. As soon as she was away from the Mauler an Archer started attacking, and while the Archer attacked a Sentry Squad entered the area. Soon Nodoka was surrounded, and before she could react the Archer got her. She was confused as everything just left her, but then her mind went fuzzy as the curse took hold. Nodoka wouldn't realize it was strange, but she now thought that Ranma should act like a proper Japanese housewife when he was a girl. That was why she was going to see him, right? To teach him how to be a girl? Why else would she go visit Ranma....

Elsewhere in town Hinako was, however, out looking for Delinquents. She hadn't gotten her fix of dishing out her own kind of Justice, so she was looking for anyone that had any kind of Aura. She soon proved that she had what it took to take out the attacking forces when she drained a Xares of its battle aura, which was essentially its power source at the time. However, she didn't anticipate the effects of one of the other Xares in the squad hitting her in retaliation, and soon she was unconscious. It didn't take long for her to return to her child form, and it would probably take her a while before she discovered that instead of growing older when she absorbed an aura she would grow even younger, regressing to a newborn.

Out behind the Tendo Dojo Hikaro was planning on controlling Akane with a new Voodoo doll, not realizing that a Sabre had been by with some prox mines. He swore at himself when his new doll fell in the Tendo's pond, ruining it, but didn't realize that he had more to worry about. He was now the Voodoo Target of every doll in town, and pretty soon someone would start taking something out on a doll. Of course, had he been paying attention he would have noticed that he was soaking wet for no apparent reason.

As Hikaro sulked away from the Tendo Dojo the attack force finished surrounding Kalshion, Katarina, the cat, and by chance DS. DS had noticed the attack force, but paid it no heed as he figured it couldn't harm him, it was apparently after the others anyway. He had even used his powers to keep the attack force hidden, waiting for it to strike those he wanted to kill down. He figured that if this attack force killed them then he couldn't be blamed, but he didn't realize what was going to happen. All of his minions had been cast out, one by one, into the void, so there was no one left to warn him of the power the units held. He, Kalshion, Katarina, and the cat were all hit at the same time, none of them being able to dodge the electrical might of the Titans armed with Arc. DS's curse was the first to manifest, causing him to gain weight. Within moments he weighed over five hundred pounds, and he couldn't force it down like he should have been able to. Kalshion was also showing signs of trouble, however, as he found himself unable to see anyone. He could see their clothes, but not them, essentially the opposite of what had happened to Akane. Katarina found herself lifting off the ground, unable to stop herself. She stopped a foot off the ground, but couldn't control herself until a light breeze blew her close enough to a tree for her to grab onto it. The cat soon looked like cousin It, however, as its hair grew to the point where it couldn't even see.

Ranma had almost made it back to the Dojo, finding that he had to avoid any and all females along the way, when he accidentally triggered a proximity mine that had been set behind a trashcan. He was in his cursed form at the time, having yet to find hot water, and was shocked when his clothing changed on him. Instead of his normal attire he was now wearing a dress, and even had a flower in his hair. This freaked him out, especially when he realized he even had on a bra, so he ran back to the Dojo to change, finding that all of his clothes were now feminine in nature. Having spent, in his opinion, too much time as a girl, Ranma quickly hit the furo for a nice, hot bath. After he got out he noticed that the dress had turned back into his standard outfit, and he quickly went to check the rest of his wardrobe. He found that all of it was masculine in nature, right down to the normally female clothing he kept around for when he was planning on staying a girl, such as when his mother was around.

Throughout all of this Emily and Jeremy had been hiding in various places. They had found that their keycards no longer let them through anything but the front door of the house they shared with Joe and Emeral, and were currently trying to avoid the battles raging. This had the stink of their father all over it, and they figured he was mean enough to make it so that they could be affected as well. The fact that they lost their footing while running over some rooftops caused that to be confirmed, as they landed in the middle of a raging battle. Each of them was hit by a single chain gun round as they escaped, but that was enough to curse them both. A few minutes later they still hadn't noticed any changes, but they would soon enough. Jeremy had gotten off easily enough, all he was doing was growing a tail, but Emily had a potential problem on her hands. She was going to start laying chicken eggs, a dozen or so a day at random times.

Happosai had finally gotten back on his feet by this time and was going for revenge. Soon he was attacking the ISDF base, having somehow found it. He figured out how to ride the shockwave from explosions without being hit by them, so as to avoid whatever affect they might have, and was planning on creating a shockwave by getting all the weapons in the base to hit the same spot at the same time. He succeeded in getting all the weapons to hit the same spot at once, but his plan backfired. Instead of forming a giant shockwave destroying the base a massive beam erupted from the point, heading off into space.

From the perspective of American Scientists

"You know Joe," said one scientist. "It wasn't a bad idea aiming the Hubble at Japan, modifying it to watch things at that range.

"I agree Frank," responded another scientist. "This one area seems to have a lot of activity."

"What in the world is THAT?" yelled a third scientist as a pinprick of light appeared, growing quickly. Suddenly the screen went bright white as the beam hit the lens of the Hubble, collected into a ball, and then fired back down at the town.

"You know Joe," said the first scientist again. "The next time you get the crazy idea to aim the Hubble at Earth I am going to personally kick your ass."

"And I will join him," responded the second, looking at the third who hurriedly prepared to turn the Hubble back towards space and re-focus it for that use.

Back to town(and italics )

Happosai was now on the run, having given up on the whole shockwave idea. It didn't take him long to notice the bright light quickly approaching from the sky as night approached, but not even he could avoid the beam that hit. Everything in a fifty mile radius was hit at once, every nook and cranny of every building was flooded with the energy, and every living thing was cursed by it. Within minutes everyone that was hit by the beam no longer had the ability to move faster then a brisk walk, making it much harder to avoid being hit by the forces attacking the town.

Luckily, as the sun vanished over the horizon all the units pulled out of town to their respective bases, waiting for sunrise before they resumed their attack.

The old man also finished making his puzzle at the same time, having created a three dimensional holographic puzzle . Once assembled it would animate itself, a small chest in the puzzle opening up to reveal one of the shards he had gotten today as a book opened up to reveal the now-classic MM. The puzzle was put on a game shelf present in the house that Joe, Emeral, Emily, and Jeremy were sharing, possibly unnoticed for days.

With that done the old man called a team of doctors. He figured better safe then sorry, as he would probably laugh himself to death with this monstrosity of a plan if he wasn't careful.

Sonic

*Just Moments Earlier*

"Could the situation get any worse?" asked Emeral as she walked into their yard.

Joe looked up to see a bright light quickly approaching them, "Maybe you shouldn't have said that," he said as the light slammed into the ground filling the entire area with it's energy.

Joe and Emeral braced themselves as the energy passed them, being blocked by a light blue energy shield. When the shockwave passed Emeral looked at Joe, "It was a good idea to use the shards as a protection from MM's curses," she said.

*Flashback*

Emeral and Joe waved goodbye as they left Akane at the front of the Tendo Dojo. Akane waved back and went into her house to give Ranma the Passion Fruit that she received to heal Ranma.

"Ranma," called Akane as she entered his room, "I have something here that will make you feel better."

Ranma's face turned pale at the thought, "That's ok Akane, I'm fine," he said trying to keep himself away from her Cooking.

Akane glared at Ranma, "It's Fruit you idiot, so stop acting like that," she said throwing the fruit at Ranma, which smashed into his eye. Ranma removed the fruit from his eyes just as Akane gave an "ump" and walked away.

Ranma eyed the fruit for a moment, then decided Akane was only trying to make him feel better, "What the hell," he said eating the fruit. When he finished he looked around, "That was pretty good," he said, "Maybe I should apologize to Akane when I see her again." As he said this, Ranma felt his strength return, and remarkably the puncture marks on his skin vanishing, "What kind of fruit did she give me anyways," he thought being a bit surprised.

*At Emeral's house*

Emeral and Joe sat at the kitchen table drinking some Prometheus nectar that Emeral had made, while Emily and Jeremy where out of the house, probably up to no good.

"How many more shards do you think are left," said Joe finishing his drink.

"Hard to say, but judging from the shapes of the shards we found, I say about 15 or 16 more shards are left to find," replied Emeral.

The two began to think of a quicker way to locate the shards when the karma of the town changed to that of fear and panic.

"Damn, now what?" asked Joe as they ran out of the house to the main shopping street.

When they got there, they found a Scion force terrorizing the town, firing Arc Cannons, Gauss Guns, and seekers.

"What the Devil," said Emeral was an Arc Cannon slammed into a girl, changing her into a Sabre.

"How in the world did MM learn about bio-metal?" asked Joe.

About now a few Sentry's had noticed Joe and Emeral and began to position themselves in such away that stray shots would most likely hit them. They began to open fire at the ISDF Force that also positioned themselves near the two, which grabbed Joe's attention. Wasting no Time, Joe picked up Emeral and teleported them out of danger from the assault and on top of the High School's clock.

"That was close," said Joe placing Emeral down.

Emeral looked around, "The situation has gotten more...Complicated," she said.

About this time, Emeral noticed Happosai who was fighting a bulldog assault tank. As the two watched as a mortar, followed by a Plasma shot, nailed him. Emeral noticed the shots were causing curses, and that each additional curse doubled in strength. As the two began to think of what this meant, they picked a massive blast of anger from Ryoga, which quickly disappeared. Thinking Ryoga had somehow done a 'self-destruct', the two ran over to where they last sensed Ryoga, to find a residual dimension disturbance.

"Could Ryoga have phased out of this dimension?" asked Joe.

"Very possible," said Emeral looking around for a dimension hole, but not finding one.

After pondering for a while, Joe and Emeral picked up a signal coming from some scavengers near by. Deciding they better take a look, the two cautiously moved to the site of the scavengers when they heard incoming AT-staber's coming right from behind.

Shocked to the fact that they didn't sense any tanks near by, the two turned around quickly and dodged all but one shot. Seeing that they weren't going to be able to dodge the last two shots, they placed their hands out erecting a quantum barrier to block the shot. The two AT-stabs smashed into both Emeral's and Joe's barrier, which proved to do no damage to them. As the tanks stood there for a moment as if they were stunned at the shield, Joe and Emeral took the initiative to escape to another area of town.

"What should we do know?" asked Joe, "We can't just attack these forces, seeing how some of them might actually be people."

"I agree," said Emeral, "I'm sure I feel a centralized power source somewhere in town, but I can't localize it, let alone identify it."

Joe sighed, "Every time we start finding more shards, MM has to pull off something li....." said Joe as his voice trailed off.

Emeral looked at Joe in concern, as Joe placed his hand on his throat, finding he could no longer speak. But it didn't take him long to notice a large nasty pimple pop up on Emeral's face, which he stared at in concern.

Emeral blinked blankly, "Why you staring at me like that?" she asked.

Joe placed his hand out, as blue energy came out and materialized into a small mirror, which he put up in front of Emeral, "This," he said telepathically.

Emeral stared at the mirror for a moment as she attempted to change her appearance, but finding it stuck on her face she gave a scream, "My Quantum Perfection!" she cried placing her hand on the pimple, "This is just totally unacceptable, I have to find a way to cure this at once"

Joe fell backwards onto the ground, then getting back up, "Hey! We have more important things to worry about right now," he said telepathically.

Emeral placed her index finger on her upper lip, "Oops, you're right. Sorry about that." she said.

Just then a battle between the Scions and EDF came around the corner, which got Joe and Emeral's attention.

"We better find a quiet spot," said Emeral as the two teleported out of sight.

*A Bit Latter*

"It would appear that these cursed weapons of MM can go through our defenses and curse us," said Emeral sitting on a tree branch.

Joe nodded, "This is indeed bad, we can't fight back nor protect ourselves with shields," he said looking up at Emeral, but being shocked to see the Pimple had disappeared. Joe immeditly tried to talk, but found he couldn't talk, which made no sense to why Emeral's curse would go away yet his wouldn't.

Emeral who was reading Joe's thoughts placed her hand on her cheek, "You're right, it is odd that my curse would suddenly go away," she said, "We both have equal defensive and immune power, the only thing that really differs from us is the shards I'm carrying."

Joe's eyes widen, "That's it, the shards are countering MM's curse!" he yelled telepathically.

Emeral thought about it, "You know, you're right, and if we manipulate the remaining harmonic energy inside the shards, we might be able to create a defensive shields against MM's attack force." she said taking out 4 shards and handing them to Joe, not realizing one of them was the fake one. "Judging by how MM's curses double in strength, I say each shard will protect us from one shot. If we take 4 shots, the shield will fail, and we will be susceptible to the curses again."

Joe nodded as he placed the shards into the skin of his wrist, "Lets just hope we don't need the shields and be fine on dodging."

*Back in Real-Time*

"Looks like the three forces are retreating for the night," said Joe telepathically to Emeral as Jeremy and Emily came in.

Emeral eyed Jeremy who had a tail, just as Joe saw an egg pop out of Emily. "You're father allowed you two to be cursed?" asked Emeral.

"Well DUH," said Emily a bit mad, as she stormed into her room.

Joe looked at Jeremy who shook his head indicating he wanted to be alone for a while, as he went into his room. Emeral looked at Joe with an worried expression, then looked in the direction of the Tendo's.

"Lets see how Akane and Ranma are doing," she said getting up.

Joe smiled, "You're worried about those two," he said following her.

*At The Tendo's*

Akane was up sitting at the table, a bit weak, but happy to be with next to Ranma, which made Ranma a bit confused. Kasumi had turned in early, totally confused to why she had forgotten how to cook, while Nabiki had prepared dinner. Soun was busy calculating his current financial affairs while Genma took the opportunity to cheat on their game. Just as Nabiki placed down the rice on the table, a knock came from the door.

"I'll go get it," said Nabiki running to the door, and letting Emeral and Joe in. "Akane, it's Emeral-chan and Neutron-kun."

Akane smiled, "Please come on it," she called being a bit too weak to get up to great them.

Emeral and Joe came in and gave the traditional Japanese welcome as they sat down and began to talk about the odd day. Emeral talked with each of the members of the family, except for Kasumi who was fast asleep, finding out about each of their curses. She also explained that Joe was unable to speak thanks to the curses.

It was about this time Emeral noticed Akane sight had been 'modified' since she was looking at everyone a bit differently, especially Ranma, "Akane, is your eye sight ok?" she asked.

Akane blushed, "Well I can't see anything but people, animals, the attacking forces, my mallet and a strange sphere of blue and dark energy." she said.

By this time, Emeral had a good idea of what Akane could and could not see, including the factor of clothing, as Akane always blushed when looking at Ranma. She then turned her attention to this sphere Akane mentioned, "A Sphere?" she asked.

Akane nodded, "I see a sphere of energy near the center of town, in the air," she said.

Joe looked at Emeral, "That must be the central power source," replied Joe telepathically.

"Well we better eat before the food gets cold," said Nabiki as she placed a serving of Rice in front of Akane.

Akane just stared, "I can't see the food," she said.

"Would you like me to help you," asked Emeral.

"No, that's ok, I would rather have Ranma help me," she said leaning on Ranma's side which freaked him out.

"Why me? Wouldn't it be better if Emeral or Nabiki helped you?" he asked.

Akane gave a puppy beg look to Ranma, "Please Ranma, would you do this, for me?" she asked

Everyone sorta stared at this, as Akane never acted lovingly to Ranma, at least not in public or in front of the other family members. Ranma blushed, and then nodded as he picked up the bowl and began to feed Akane.

*A little later...*

"Thanks for the food," said Akane trying to get up, "I think I'll take a bath now" she said feeling her way around to the hall.

"Akane, you'll hurt yourself if you try to take a bath," said Emeral, "I'll come with you," she said just as she realized what Akane was thinking.

"That's ok Emeral," said Akane turning to Ranma, "Ranma, will you please help me?"

Ranma completely freaked at this and turned around with his face beat red, "WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY?" he yelled seeing Akane giving a gentle smile.

The rest of the family just stared, as Nabiki dropped her chopsticks in shock, and Genma dropped the board piece he was using to cheat.

Akane just stared back, looking at Ranma, "I'm your fiancé after all," she said with kind eyes, "So please help me."

Ranma being embarrassed as he was, got up and helped Akane to the washroom where he wanted to talk, "What is with you?" asked Ranma a bit worried.

Akane began to undress which was freaking Ranma more and more, "Nothing is wrong silly," she said smiling, "I've just decided to stop hiding my true feelings from you and myself."

Akane finished undressing and began to feel around for the door to the bath. Ranma walked over and opened the door and went to the sink, "Well, If I'm going to help you," he said blushing, "I better take a female form" splashing cold water on himself then walking back to Akane and helping her to the seat in front of the shower head.

Akane sat down with her cheeks a bit blushed as Ranma, with his cheeks blushed as well, took out the shampoo and began to wash her hair. When he was finished, he sprayed down Akane and aided her into the tub where she began to stare at him with sparking eyes. Ranma looked back into her eyes with compassion and love, and slowly the two started to come together for kiss, despite Ranma being in his female form.

Just moments before 'the kiss', a small sound was heard from the window, which grabbed Akane's attention. She turned around to instantly see Genma and Soun who appeared to be holding something. It didn't take her long to figure out they were recording their kiss with a high tech digital camcorder with advance zooming on the nearby fence. Akane screamed as she covered herself as Ranma jumped out the window screaming at their fathers.

Emeral and Joe were sitting on the back porch, "Those idiots," said Emeral, "They want those two together, yet they do things that delays that from happening."

Joe nodded in reply as he pointed his index finger at the digital camera, releasing a quick small electrical discharge, which erased the memory of the camera. Emeral then walked up, "Ranma, you better not leave Akane alone," she said cracking her knuckles, "Just leave these perverts to me."

Ranma looked at Emeral for a moment, then nodded and returned to the bath as Emeral smiled at Soun and Genma who were wondering what Emeral was about to do. Emeral just smiled and quickly disappeared from their sight. Soun and Genma looked around wondering where the heck Emeral went, not realizing she only took a soft step around them and was now attacking the two with a 'Blue Dragon Upper Cut' which launched them into the sky, and into the pond.

Emeral just smacked her hands up and down, "That will teach you to mess with love," she said walking away from the spiral eyed Soun and Genma-Panda.

"Don't you think you over did it a bit?" asked Joe telepathically.

Emeral giggled, "Maybe, but I just couldn't stand those two delaying Ranma and Akane from relaying their true feelings to each other."

Back in the bath, Ranma started to help Akane get dress, as they were now to embarrassed to try and kiss each other again. Having her pajamas on, Akane held onto Ranma-chan's arm, as she helped her upstairs and into her bed.

"Ranma," said Akane as he began to leave.

"What is it?" responded Ranma.

"Thank you, what you did means allot to me," she said smiling.

Ranma blushed, then walked away before he embarrassed himself any further.

*Wednesday Morning, just before sunrise*

Nabiki had gotten up early to go cook breakfast, which still confused her to how she could cook. As she passed Ranma and Genma's room, she noticed the door was open slightly, and decided to take a look. When she looked inside, she was shocked to find Akane cuddled by Ranma who was still asleep. Somehow that night, Akane had managed to get out of her room, and find her way into Ranma's room.

Nabiki took a closer looked and noticed a few bumps on her head, "That idiot," she said going to get the camera, but decided breakfast was more important. However, before she left, she took another look at Ranma, "He seems so handsome there, too bad I'm not his fiancé," she said walking off.

Soon after Nabiki left, Soun walked by and spotted the same thing and grinned. He quickly got the camera and took a few snap shots, "This will make a perfect persuasion for Ranma sometime," he said chuckling to himself on how rich he could get.

*Meanwhile*

Jeremy was up and about the kitchen when Emeral and Joe walked in, "Good Morning," said Emeral, since Joe still couldn't talk.

"Good morning you two," said Jeremy walking to the fridge, "Do we have any eggs?" he asked.

"If there isn't any in the fridge, then I guess we don't' have any," replied Emeral.

"Well in that case," said Jeremy walking to Emily's room.

Joe and Emeral titled their heads to what he was doing, and suddenly heard a bit of an argument followed by Emily chasing Jeremy, who now had some eggs, with her mallet.

"Come back her BROTHER!" yelled Emily swinging her mallet but destroying the wall instead.

"Chill sis," said Jeremy, "In thanks for these Grade A brown Chicken Eggs, I'll make you a chocolate Cheese Cake," he said smiling.

Emily stared at him, trying to stay mad, but couldn't resist the thought of Jeremy's chocolate cheesecake. Jeremy smiled at Emily cooling down, and proceeded to fry the eggs.

Joe just stared at the two before looking back at Emeral, "Very Complicated Sister/Brother Complex," he said telepathically.

Emeral nodded as she took a sip of her Prune Juice, "Indeed," she replied in telepathy.

*After sun rise*

The three bases became fully active at the first sign of the sun, and instantly began building attack forces and sending the previous ones from yesterday out to battle. Within a few minutes, a scion drone team and an headon Zeus team had engaged in battle on the street with the Tendo Residence and Emeral's house.

The battle was going fairly well, since each force dodged the other allowing their shots to hit the near by houses and yards, with high probability of cursing people. As a stray shot slammed into the pond of the Tendo's back yard where Kasumi was sitting at, the fish in the bond grew exponentially in size and began to fly around like the air was water.

Ranma, being a bit scared of finding Akane with him in bed, had just helped Akane downstairs when they noticed the battle going on. Ranma was just about to jump out and try to knock the force away, when Rose and Sonic showed up, both in their alternate forms (White/Blue Hair), but no visor was on their face, "Wait Ranma, we have a better plan," cried Rose looking at Ranma. For reasons unknown to her, she felt attracted for a moment and blushed, but quickly shook it off, "As I was saying..." she continued.

After a few minutes of explanation, Rose had explained to Ranma and Akane that their was a centralized power source, and that Akane was able to see it. Having said that, they decided to go off to destroy the power source, and save the town. To bad it was easier said then done...

Dodging chain rounds here, and Rave Guns there, Ranma, Akane, Rose and Sonic navigated towards the building in the center of town. Just as they were at the home stretch, two Rocket Tanks had locked on an Advance Shadower Missile, which were homing in on the group. Not having much time, Rose and Sonic blocked the two missiles with their shields, which lowered their defencive abilities.

"Damn, I was hopping we didn't have to do that," said Rose looking at her wrists where the shards were.

"What's wrong," asked Ranma a bit curious to their expressing.

"The weapons that these tanks fire can curse us," answered Rose, "We found a way to shield ourselves from it, but with each hit, our shield weakens."

Sonic looked at the rocket tanks than signaled the group to quickly take cover so the shadower missiles couldn't lock on to them again. Fleeing to another street, Ranma stopped cold when he saw his mother walking down the street. Without saying a word, Ra nma quickly punched a nearby hose nossle and changed into female form, which also changed his clothes into a green skirt, a white short sleeve shirt, green sandals, and a white ribbon in her hair.

Nodoka didn't notice Ranma right away as she was busy keeping an eye out for attacking tanks, but soon saw Ranma-chan up ahead. "Ranma!" she called running up happy to see her.

A big chill blast down his spine at the words "Ranma", which also freaked Akane out, "She knows who you are," said Akane.

"Ranma, I've been looking all over for you my daughter," she said catching her breath.

Ranma was just about to collapse from fear when he realized his mother called him 'Daughter'. Akane, Rose and Sonic also noticed this, and were considering if this had something to do with a curse.

"What are you doing out here in a time like this anyways. You should be home in bridal training, after all, that's why I'm here, to oversee your training in the housewife duties." she said.

Ranma-chan's face turned pal as her eyes rolled back and she fainted onto the ground. Akane just stared at what Aunt Nodoko had just said.

"Yep, she's cursed," said Rose placing her hands in front of Nadoko's face, knocking her out into a nice sleep, then teleporting her to the Tendo's House.

After waking Ranma-chan up, the gang finally made it to the building, to find 3 keyholes in the door. Rose began to feel around the holes, and then nodded to Sonic who powered up a Quantum Strike attack, which didn't even scratch the paint of the building.

"Looks like we can't blast our way in," said Rose looking back at the keyholes. "If I didn't know better, I say each race might have a base in this town which holds a key."

"But where are the bases," asked Sonic telepathically, "I can't sense any nearby."

Rose looked around, "Well all the units did retreat at night fall, maybe we should follow them tonight," replied Rose.

Akane looked at the two, "Why are you talking to yourself Rose?" she asked.

Rose looked up, "Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention Sonic and I are telepathically linked," she said, "But I think we better get back to the dojo and discuss how to proceed."

Ranma and Akane agreed, and followed Rose and Sonic as they began their way back home not realizing that they were about to run into trouble. MM had been watching from his mirror, and was impressed with Rose's ingenuity in protecting them from his curses. So he picked up his remote, and accessed the AI Plan for the three races, adding a new plan to attack Sonic's gang. After submitting the plans, he sat back waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Back at the ISDF base, the constructor went to work building an additional two bomber bays, while the factory spit out several Sabre's as the Recycler made some scouts. The Scion base constructed several Lancers and Sentry's to aid in the assault with the ISDF. As for the Hedeans, they built a fleet of Locus and added some 'cherries' to the cake by sending some Kazmi Torpedoes as well.

As the gang walked down the market street when Akane noticed three rather large air ship moving towards them. Rose noticed Akane's thoughts and knew they were in trouble.

"Take cover!" she yelled pushing Akane and Ranma to the side, just as the three drop ships flew over head, dropping all three attack forces onto the ground who wasted no time in opening fire. Sonic pulled out his key, which instantly transformed into his sword, and began knocking back shots. Unlike Tommy's sword, Sonic's was designed to repel any type of harmful attack or curse. Rose wasted no time in deploying her key into her wand, and trying to neutralize the engines of the attacking force with sealing magic blasts from her wand, since some of the force could actually be people, but her attempts were proving not very effective.

After a few moments, the attack forces had gotten smarter, and began to synchronize their shots which made it harder for Sonic to knock them back, while Rose found her attack becoming totally useless. Finally she made a mistake and tried to push back some of the attack force with wind magic. Ranma saw this and tried to warn her, but it was too late, as the wind passed through the units not affecting them, and leaving her wide open to an Arc Cannon.

Rose flew back from the blast, as her shield weakened even further and slammed into the building, unconscious. Sonic took a look back at Rose, and began enraged at the attack force. Sonic took a larger grip at his sword and placed it infront of him. MM noticed that a g-force like energy was begging to form at the base of the blade where it meet the handle. Suddenly the energy shot up the blade, enlarging it to twice it size, and giving in a small curve shape.

The attack force weren't impressed by this power, and began to open fire again just as the Bombers came into site ready to drop their "Cherry Bombs" on Sonic. Sonic gave a howl as he pulled his blade back and began to swing, "Sonic Blade!" he cried telepathically which even Akane and Ranma were even able to hear. As the blade swung through the air, a G-Force spherical shockwave emitted from the blade and blasted at the attack force, knocking all their weapons out into the sky and sending all of them on a one way trip into space. Just as the last scout however began to lift off, it fired a cold fusion laser, which made it past Sonic's Attack, blasted him and destroying his shield.

Back to the American Scientists...

"Good God, Now what!" cried Frank, "What the hell is this!"

The scientists looked at the screen from the Hubble Telescope showing a massive attack force blasting into space and puncturing subspace forming a wormhole.

"Don't look at me," said Joe, "I didn't do anything this time."

On an M-class Planet 65,000 light years away from earth...

The wormhole opened spraying the attack force on the planet, which was being observed by a Research team from a near by planet investigating the possibility of colonizing there.

"Damn, someone beat us to it," said the alien.

"Shit, there goes my raise," replied another.

The research team were just starting to turn around, when one of the Kazmi torpedoes had hit an asteroid sending it off course and exploding into the research ship. Instantly the entire Alien race found themselves looking like Elvis, and were even singing and dancing like him.

Back on Earth...

Sonic fell to the ground catching his breath when he began to hear applause from above one of the buildings. He looked only to find 10 Figures that looked like MM applauding and holding signs, saying "Perfect 10", except for one that said "9.5". Sonic sorta smiled, figuring he actually earned some respect from the old goat, only to see them turn their signs around that formed, "Now, can you do that again in 2 hours?"

Sonic looked in horror for a moment, before his eyes rolled back, and he fell onto the ground, while 9 of the MM's disappeared, and the real one standing there laughing before vanishing.

"Was That MM?" asked Akane, who didn't see the signs but saw the old men in their cloaks, as she looked at Rose and Sonic who were both knocked out.

"I say he fits the description," said Ranma, "Especially with the message he relayed with those signs. And if there are that many of him, I say we are in deep water."

"Signs? What Signs?" asked Akane with a confused look.

Tempest

***Somewhere underneath a large pile of clothing***

Tommy felt like he had spent half of his life under this pile of clothing fell on him after a torpedo shaped craft had blown itself up nearby the wall of the clothing store he was in causing a bunch of shelves of clothing to fall down...two of them managed to bury him in Shirts, Skirts, and otjher various items he couldn't see due to the darkness.

Tommy finally managed to dig his way out of the clothing and lift the weight of the large shelf that had fallen on him aswell. He found his swrod not to far away but it took him 8 minutes to get there since he couldn't walk for some odd reason. After he finally got his sword Tomm'y was very pissed since he couldn't even carry it on his back or even pick it up. "What the hell is wrong with me?" Tommy gave in a frustrated thought to himself.

Being able to look around now Tommy finally realised where he was, and lucky him he was only 4 blocks away from home. It was just then that large "WHOOSHHH" sound was heard from above. "Are we being invaded or something? This can't be good." Mustering the strength to get to the door Tommy observed a battle between a bunch of hover tanks. "This all reminds me of some game I bought 2 years ago...I wonder if I still have it." Tommy began moving back to his house by passing through the battle by going by some plants that blocked most of anyones view on him. Lucky for him (depending on how you look at it) Tommy could only move in a prone position making it hard for the ships to spot him but on the downside it made him slow and unable to retreat.

***68 hours later (well it was really 32 minutes but it seemed like that long)***

Tommy had finally made it home, to his surprise it wasn't in flames or in ruins so he went inside. At last he was safe...for now.

Shadower

Kalshion looked around and saw only Katarina's clothing.. not her,"I.... I can't see you Katarina.. umm only your ummm... clothing","At least you can see", Katarina said holding on to the tree... Kalshion walked over to Katarina, or rather her clothing image and put his hand out.. Katarina grabed hold of his hand, using Katarina as his eye's and Kalshion as her legs.. they began to walk back to town, "Wait!", Katarina looked around for the cat.. and saw a big hairball,"I think the cat had to cough up a hairball", Katarina said in disgust.

Katarina and Kalshion decided to head back to town and see if anything could be done.. Using katarina as his guide they got back to town.. they saw people.. while Kalshion only saw there cloths. They walked around Kalshion looking around for home, it took them 39 minutes to find the Shrine. They walked in and found there father as a cat, he meowed,"What ever is happening here must be able to change the apperence of others", Katarina said

Kalshion, with Katarinas help, was able to open the door, he walked in and closed it behind them. Katarina floated to a chair,"We gotta figure out a way of turning our selfs back to normal"

CmptrWz

The old man had actually slept that night, having expended too much energy laughing. Therefore he decided to have breakfast. He made a call and soon he had enough food to end world hunger a few thousand times over.

Ten minutes later

The old man had enjoyed his breakfast, leaving only three crumbs behind. He looked at the rising sun through his mirror, the biometal forces preparing for battle. He watched, formulating ideas in his head for causing more trouble. He couldn't resist, however, when Sonic blew away an attack wave, and put in his two cents. Sonic had, however, flinched mid-swing dropping his score a tad. After he was done laughing he had an idea.

Chapter 25
Hail to the RPG
'cause reality has just said good-bye

Soon the old man had his keyboard out, entering in the parameters for his next attack. A portal appeared on top of the building he had placed in town, and the attack wave that had been banished across the universe came back through it. The portal would serve other purposes, however. It didn't take long for Cerberi units to start flowing through it like a small stream of water, ending after a hundred or so were running around town.

Not long after that a giant surge of energy started to emanate from the portal, blinding anyone foolish enough to not close their eyes, aside from Akane who couldn't see the thing. Akane was, however, the first one to see the massive thing coming OUT of the portal.

The thing looked like a giant, standing fifty stories in height. Instead of hands it had guns, and it soon started shooting beams out of them and its eyes. It was soon discovered that it could breath fire, but that the fire didn't appear to damage anything. In reality it would curse anyone caught in it, but that was beside the point.

Soon portal-spheres started showing up all over the planet, releasing more of these fifty story monstrosities on the planet at large, attacking every major city in every country on the planet. Quite a few minor cities were also invaded, to a lesser extent. All of the giants aimed their guns a the center of the earth at the same time, charging up for a blast like the earth had never seen before. Anything electronic that wasn't made of biometal on the planet stopped working, not to mention anything orbiting the planet, and the sky seemed to go dark. Without warning all of the giants fired into the earth at the same time, causing an orb of energy to slam out of it, surrounding the planet out beyond the moon. No one inside the orb of energy could see, not even Akane.

Meanwhile in the dragon world

Small portal-orbs had appeared all over the planet, and monstrous beings were coming out of them identical to the ones on earth. They also attacked the planet they were on, taking a longer time to charge. The sky turned a hazy green as the monsters waited for the order to fire. When it came a massive orb of energy surrounded the dragon world, just as the earth had been surrounded.

Now occurring in your local area

Soon the light faded, the giants were gone. Only one person on either planet was left truly unaffected: Rose. Everyone else had been morphed into an RPG version of themselves as they had been, curses and all. That left Rose as the tallest being on either planet, and currently the only one who wasn't able to fully interact with her surroundings. Also, an odd gateway had opened up in town, leading directly to the dragon world, the dragons in which found themselves able to reach the earth without dieing. Most of them decided to stay where they were, not wanting to stray too far with the odd occurrences.

The RPG curse had other effects as well, including a severe limitation on power usage by the outer-worlders. Telepathy became impossible due to altered brainwaves, flying became impossible unless a curse was causing it, attacks that could be considered "magic" used up MP that h adn't really existed before, etc. No one seemed to bleed, either, their life points would just go down until they were unconscious. In essence, everyone was alive enough to be affect able by curses and whatnot, but not alive enough to have life signs.

An additional issue was that everyone had a stereotype or two applied to them, right down to changing race in some cases. Ranma was a typical all-around fighter, able to use most weapons, while Cologne was more of a mage. Akane had become a princess with no fighting ability whatsoever, with the Tendo Dojo having become a large castle. In the castle Nabiki was a maid, Soun was a financial officer, Genma was a jester, and Kasumi was Akane's personal servant. None of them knew why this was so, they just half accepted it, partially afraid to go too much out of what they had been assigned.

The most disturbing part of the whole ordeal was that everything had been shrunken and the two worlds had been rearranged in a seemingly haphazard manner. The biometal bases had turned into giant biometal fortresses spread out across great distances, the units were shrunken down to a relative size and now used a new portal network to get around the planet quickly. On top of that, the portals only responded to the biometal units, making it hard on anyone else wanting to travel across the planet. The only mode of transportation immediately available was walking, and at least the "no one can run" curse had been removed during the RPG modifications.

One female dragon, having heard the warnings of her elders, was far too interested in this odd boy that had shown up in their world before the blast, and was intent on following him. Now being the same size as him, somehow, she found herself mysteriously attracted to him as she followed him through the gateway. Hikeya didn't know what she was getting herself into, however, as she and Ryoga walked right into the middle of a battle. The biometal forces had not been fully affected by the RPG curse, and therefore couldn't go through the gateway, but also had nothing forcing them to take turns attacking. Therefore Hikeya was caught off guard as she was hit, turning into a human version of herself. It didn't take long before she was hit again, giving her a sense of direction just like Ryoga's. She wasn't angry at this time, however, although she was confused. She decided to find Ryoga again, although being very careful about it, however she still got hit one last time before she found a safe place in town, giving her the equivalent of a dip in the Spring of Drowned Rabbit. It might be a while before she found out, though.

Now for Comedy Hour with the Silly Scientists

"Alright Frank, now what is your explanation?" Joe calmly inquired, noting that they were at least still scientists.

"A being beyond our comprehension has decided to have some fun with us, or we are dreaming," responded Frank.

"I get the feeling it is the former," said Harry, walking in a side door.

Suddenly a loud pop was heard as a small being pulled itself out of a hole in the control panel where a screw was missing.

"That is 100% absolutely correct!" yelled the being, which appeared to be a rabbit, as it jumped up on Harry and kissed him. Just after that it jumped over to Frank and kissed him as well, just before diving back into the screw hole.

"Ok, this HAS to be a dream," mumbled Frank as he looked out the window. "Hey, what is that?"

"Looks like a gateway to me," said Harry. "But I am more concerned with the giant girl."

"Giant girl?" Frank and Joe yelped. "WHERE?"

"Looks like her foot is next to the building," Harry replied as Joe and Frank just stared.

Back in town(mysteriously, just outside the window the American Scientists are looking out of)...

Sonic was just waking up from being knocked out when he noticed that something was wrong. Rose was in front of him, but she appeared to be a giant in compar ison to him. She was having trouble moving around without crushing anything, but the buildings she did step on didn't seem to bend at all.

Sonic got up and walked over to her, finding that his head was at her ankle. He tried yelling up to her, but found he still couldn't speak, so he tried using telepathy to talk to her. It didn't take him long to get nothing but static, like a radio that was out of tune. Getting slightly annoyed he tried to use his powers to get her attention, finding that a list of attacks and spells, not to mention inventory, showed up in front of him instead. He just stood there, trying to figure out what the best way to get Rose's attention would be, as well as figuring out how he would communicate after he did get her attention.

Meanwhile, the old man was equipping himself for a journey into the new RPG world, right down to a gameboy that he could use to command monsters while in the game world. He stepped through a portal, thinking his entry would go unnoticed in the confusion. Rose, however, felt the energy of the portal opening. She saw the old man step out of the portal, and before he could react she had shot her hand down and picked him up.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME YOU FOOL!?!?!?!?!?" screamed Rose, not realizing just how loud her voice sounded to the old man and everyone in town.

"Quiet down," yelled the old man, his voice louder then it should have been for his body. As he said it he made it so that only he and Rose could hear their conversation for the moment. "I didn't do anything to you, thanks to your shield there. However, I turned the rest of this world into a giant RPG. As a result of that everyone, and everything, was shrunken and altered. You, on the other hand, are still at your original size."

Rose just stood there for a moment, looking around at the new world, wondering what she should do. She couldn't very well try and interact with things now, but she couldn't leave Sonic on his own either. Finally, she spoke up. "I don't suppose you could help me," she asked the old man.

"Now, are you sure you want to trust me?" replied the old man with a snicker. "I have been causing you a lot of grief."

"I also know you aren't fond of death or permanent injury," replied Rose. "Therefore I think it is a risk I can afford to take."

"And how do you know I won't make your situation worse then it already is?" the man responded, obviously enjoying himself.

"I don't," Rose responded flatly, staring the little man down. "However, I don't seem to have much choice in the matter, do I?"

"I suppose you don't," the man said, laughing. "I suppose you also realize that your little shard shield has failed you."

"I don't suppose you could cut the chit-chat and do something," said Rose, getting annoyed.

"Have patience," snapped the old man. "I have to find out more about your current mindset to know what to do with your final form. Of course, I could just leave you like this."

"Final form?" Rose sighed. Who knows what he would do to her.

The old man thought about it for a minute, then came up with the perfect solution. Rose was worried about Sonic's safety, so why not make it easier for her to keep an eye on him? Soon he had conjured up a large ball of energy, large enough to appear to be about the size of a gumdrop to Rose. "I have decided. Eat this and you will be made to fit into the world better."

Rose took the ball of energy from the old man, looking at it. She couldn't tell what it would do to her, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. However, if she didn't eat it then she couldn't help much, everything was too small for her to deal with. An image of her stepping on Sonic without realizing it flashed in her mind, and she put the old man down near her foot, not noticing Sonic next to the other foot in her haste to take the ball of energy. No sooner had she stood back up then she ate the ball of energy, Sonic shocked as to why she would trust the old coot.

A massive burst of energy came from inside Rose, engulfing her in light, and erasing the memory of her having been a giant from everyone's minds but her own, Sonic's, and the old man's. Rose then began to shrink rapidly, although she wasn't on the ground anymore. This worried her more then the feeling of her powers changing, becoming more limited. What if she fell from too far up? She couldn't tell how small she had become, but she did notice that everything seemed to be much larger as the light around her faded. Soon she was in the air without the energy holding her up, and she braced herself for the fall. When she didn't fall she opened her eyes, having closed them expecting a fall, to find that she was hovering in the air high above town.

"What is going on?" thought Rose. "Why am I just floating here?"

"Rose, is that you?" Sonic said, using his mind. "Your thoughts feel.....different."

"Sonic!" called out Rose with her mind. "Where are you?"

"I could ask you the same question," responded Sonic. "I was next to your foot a couple minutes ago, and the old coot just showed up but refuses to say anything. Not that I am in much position to ask him to."

Rose was, at this point, trying to figure out how to get down to where her foot had been. Without realizing it she began to descend to where her foot had been, and therefore to Sonic. She hadn't even bothered to look at herself yet, more concerned with finding Sonic, and was soon very happy that she could see him. She took off like a rocket, not quite knowing how, to hug him.

Thirty seconds later

"Oh my aching head," thought Rose. "When did Sonic get so big....."

"Actually," responded Sonic, "I think I am quite small."

"If you are small," thought Rose, "then what am I?" Rose looked around after saying this, realizing she was in Sonic's hand, and he was looking down at her.

"Ummmmm," Sonic started. "I don't know how to tell you this..."

"Just spit it out," Rose thought, still not noticing she wasn't speaking. "What did he turn me into?"

"Well," Sonic answered, "it looks like you are a pink fairy."

"A WHAT!?!?!?!?!" screamed Rose, using her voice for the first time. The shock of it drove the point home. Her voice wasn't supposed to be that high-pitched, and the shudder from hearing her voice that high brought her to realize that she had something on her back, presumably wings. She currently didn't want to know what she was wearing.

"You happen to be a cross," started the old man, "between a guardian fairy from a place called Hyrule and a fairy named Tinkerbell from some place called Never Ever Land." The old man let this sink in for a second before continuing. "You do not, however, have the ability to heal Sonic nor give him the ability to fly. So there." With that the old man stuck out his tongue like a child.

"Why did you do this to me?" inquired Rose, almost looking like she was on the verge of tears. "I was almost better off as a giant!"

"Actually, Sonic is much better off with you then without you," the old man corrected. "You see, Sonic here still can't speak, but he can fight. Now you can't fight, but you can speak. I was even kind enough to make sure you two can communicate with each other. Therefore, you now compliment each other perfectly."

"YOU JERK!" screamed Rose, summoning the last of her energy to form a giant energy glove on her hand. She started to slap the old man, but he easily dodged it. Rose then collapsed again, Sonic barely catching her.

"Now now," said the old man. "The energy you ate is still in your body. You don't want me to make your situation worse, do you?"

"He seems to enjoy making us suffer," Sonic communicated. "I don't think it would be wise to provoke him."

"I don't know about you," thought Rose, not caring to have the old man hear her, "but I feel useless and helpless. It is driving me crazy!"

Meanwhile, at the Shrine

Katarina had to admit that floating a foot off the ground paled in comparison to what had now happened to her. She almost wanted to be stuck floating uncontrollably in the air. Her waist now sat in the lower half of a metal sphere, which was floating above the ground. It seemed to give her control over her movements, somewhat, but left her without a lower half of the body, and she had been trying to use the bathroom when she had been changed. She didn't realize it, but she had become a Magic Droid, a creature that has been magically fused with a special orb with great magical powers. She didn't care, she just wanted to go to the bathroom, but couldn't find any way to.

Kalshion, on the other hand, now looked like he had been partially assimilated. His right eye had an infrared camera over it, allowing him to see people with it. Aside from that he was a swordsman, and wasn't that bad off right now, all things considered. The only problem he currently faced was a lack of a sword, as he couldn't find his and he couldn't use any other weapon.

The worst off in the shrine was their father. He was a physical cross between a cat and a man, able to speak but unable to walk on two feet or fight. Currently he was following his feline instincts and rubbing along Kalshion's legs.

In a small pendant shop across town

Tommy was confused as hell as to why he was suddenly in a pendant shop, but didn't mind the wheelchair he found himself in too much. He seemed to be running the shop, and found himself buying and selling pendants, even though he didn't think he knew anything about the prices. He found his sword strapped to his wheelchair, but still couldn't lift it himself.

At the back door of the Castle

Happosai had found his way to the castle and was currently working his way to the throne room. Of course, he pulled off getting lost and found the dungeon instead. As he checked the cells for prisoners one of the doors locked and a chain attached to his legs. His clothing became ragged as he changed to a "Thief" class that had apparently been captured. He found a scroll in his inventory that had the location of a fortress marked on it, but since he was trapped it didn't help him much.

Across town Ranma was trying to remember where things were in town, which wouldn't have helped him anyway, when he was hit with some cold water. His stats window opened up and most of the values dropped considerably. His clothes morphed into feminine attire and his class changed from "Hero" to "Princess". His fighting skills were now at half the level Akane's were normally at, and Nodoka choose this moment to walk around the corner and find him. Nodoka was soon dragging Ranma off to teach him how to be a proper lady.

To top it off, Nodoka had found a pair of frilly anklets that prevented the wearer from changing out of their current form, and could only be removed by the person who put them on the wearer. Ranma ended up wearing the anklets right there and then, trapping him as a girl. Had anyone bothered to check they would have found that Nodoka's class was simply "Trainer".

The anklets could complicate Ranma's plight further when the Power Sphere was broken, however, as the old man had placed them in the world without tying them to the Power Sphere, making it so that Ranma would remain in his RPG form once the curse was lifted, unless Nodoka removed them before then or she removed them after the Power Sphere was broken.

Elsewhere Ryoga was wandering around town, looking for the Tendo Dojo. He finally gave up and started looking for Akane, soon arriving at the Tendo Castle at the same time Ranma and Nodoka did. Ranma would have died laughing if he had noticed Ryoga's class, which was currently "Guide". However, he didn't have time to notice as Nodoka threw him in the front door, then went to get some things for Ranma's training. Ryoga, for his part, was confuse d, but he went through the castle anyway, eventually coming on Akane in the throne room. She wasn't overly happy, however, being bored with playing the role of a princess. Ryoga went off to find some cold water, maybe P-Chan could cheer her up. Ranma-chan wandered into the room at this point, Akane wondering why Ranma was so embarrassed. She figured out how to pull up Ranma's stats window, was surprised that she could see it as she read it, and wasn't sure if she should feel sorry for Ranma or fall over laughing. After a few seconds she decided to go with the laughing, being yelled at by Ranma soon after. Akane reached for her mallet, to playfully bop Ranma with, but found she couldn't lift it. Ranma checked her stats, finding that Akane had no fighting ability whatsoever, and therefore couldn't use weapons. Ranma was, however, able to pick up the mallet. Ranma figured that if Akane couldn't use the mallet then he should take it, and he dropped it into his inventory. Once there a window popped up with information on the mallet, and Ranma found that only someone of "Princess" class with a fighting level of at least two could use the mallet.

Of course, Ranma having the mallet, that Akane can't use, could be an issue in breaking the curse.

Elsewhere, Shampoo and Ukyo had been battling each other when the blast hit, and found that they no longer were using the weapons that went with their minds when the blast subsided. Their weapons went with their bodies, and they weren't overly good with them. However, any attempt to swap weapons failed. They soon gave up and got back to fighting, but were now very awkward in their attacks, the weapons they preferred locked to their original bodies now.

Tatewaki and Mousse were in a similar scenario, however instead of fighting with weapons they were trying to out-wife each other. So far they had challenged each other to a bake off, a clothes-mending contest, and a house-cleaning contest. They were still working on the house-cleaning contest, neither of them willing to stop for a second. Checking their stats you would find that they had no fighting skills whatsoever, and at the moment they didn't care.

Around this time DS finally re-entered town. He was currently a short, fat "Boss" class cat. He had a compulsion to kidnap a princess or two, and therefore he was heading for the Tendo Castle. He found the front door locked, so he called up his attack list. He found that he had two forms in the game, his current humanoid cat form and a giant cat-beast with three heads. He figured his current form was good enough for dropping into the throne room of the castle and grabbing a princess. DS soon dropped into the throne room, finding it empty. Confused, he started to wander the castle, eventually coming to a sewing room, where Nodoka was ensuring that both Ranma and Akane were able to make feminine clothing for themselves. Akane was enjoying herself, making something that wasn't a dress for herself, while Ranma wasn't happy because he didn't want to learn this stuff.

Nodoka was soon chasing after DS, who had both Ranma and Akane in his arms and was flying off into an odd ship that had appeared there, obviously waiting for him. Ranma had been dead to the world, afraid of DS's form, while Akane had just been pissed. Soon the ship had blasted off to who knows where, although there were plenty of people that for some reason had information on DS and his hideout. Most of them would demand money, items, or favors first, however. Nodoka would be the first with information as Ranma and Akane were whisked away into the distance, being able to point someone in the right direction.

Of course, Sonic and Rose had headed home at this point, after taking a while to figure out where home WAS. The old man was following them, hoping that Emily and Jeremy came out ok. He hadn't thought to keep track of them when he triggered the curse, so he wasn't sure what had happened to them. When they arrived at the house they noticed that it seemed to be in fl ux, as if it wasn't sure what it should look like. There was, however, a small door that Rose could use, searching herself she found that her key that was still around her neck could fit it, and a larger door that Sonic used. Upon entering the house Rose went to look for differences while Sonic went to look for some aspirin and a glass of water.

In the hall Rose found Emily and Jeremy, Emily on top of Jeremy, as if they had collapsed from over exertion. Jeremy was wearing his normal outfit, while Emily was wearing a bathrobe. Rose couldn't help but giggle when she noticed that there was a small pile of eggs on the floor behind Emily, but she got control of herself and tried to wake the two up. She tried kicking them, flying into them, and screaming in their ears, but none of it worked. She figured out how to view stats windows, but found that neither Emily nor Jeremy seemed to have a class. The field was blank, as if they hadn't accepted what they were assigned. That could be when they over-exerted themselves.

How they had gotten here was a mystery that Rose wasn't in the mood to investigate. She did, however, start checking her own stats to find out if she could wake them up. On page three of her stats a note said something about being able to revive a sleeping being by kissing them. She asked Sonic for his opinion, and he came over with some water. The water did nothing to wake them up, and Sonic couldn't shake them awake, so he told Rose to give kissing them a try. She flew down and gave them each a peck on the cheek, and sure enough they both started waking up a couple of minutes later. Sonic, knowing full well he couldn't communicate to ask questions, figured Rose could fill him in after. He therefore went to get the old man, to bring him to see his kids.

"Wha....What happened?" Emily moaned, looking around groggily. She didn't seem to see Rose, though, before a look of realization came over her. "JEREMY!"

Jeremy, who Emily started shaking as soon as she realized she was on top of him, got up as well. "You don't have to break my neck, you know."

"Sorry," replied Emily, blushing. "I wonder what dad did this time."

Rose figured that was a good time for her to step in, so she started speaking. "He made the world a giant game."

Emily and Jeremy both jerked their heads, saying "Who said that?" Just as Sonic brought MM back around the corner a blinding flash of light came from Emily and Jeremy. Moments later air was sucked into the light, almost bring Rose with it. When the light died down and the wind had stopped Emily and Jeremy had been assigned classes, although neither looked anything like they had a moment before.

Standing where Emily and Jeremy had been were a green Pixie and an Elf. The two looked at each other, then at themselves, and then the Pixie promptly attacked their father. The Pixie used a spell in an attempt to knock the old man down in one hit. The Pixie missed, however, as the old man was too quick on the dodge. They soon found out it was then his turn, and he hit the Pixie with his own spell. It didn't take it long to recover, after which it had calmed down a bit. Of course, then the Pixie allowed the realization of what its transformation meant, and started to cry.

"WHY ME?" hollered the Pixie. "Why did I have to change this way?"

"Calm down, it can't be that bad," said the Elf, picking the Pixie up off of the floor. "Look on the bright side, you can still fly."

"I don't care if I can fly!" snapped the Pixie. Both the Pixie and the Elf looked over at Rose at this point.

"What happened to you Rose?" said the Elf.

"The curse didn't affect me," started Rose. "At least, not initially. I asked your father for help and he turned me into a Fairy."

"Dad," called out the Pixie, "did you do this to us too?"

"Jeremy," started the old man, "I honestly didn't know what would happen to you."

Sonic and Rose just stared for a minute, conf used, their eyes going between the Pixie and the Elf. The Pixie noticed this, while the Elf was currently making sure the Pixie hadn't hurt itself.

"Yes," started the Pixie. "I am Jeremy."

Sonic's jaw literally hit the floor at this, and Rose almost forgot to use her wings. "I thought it was the other way around," Rose finally blurted out.

"Unfortunately," stated the old man, "in this 'Game' all Pixies are Female. An Elf can be male or female, so Emily wasn't as distraught at her condition. Jeremy, however, had to deal with the loss of his manhood. For now, anyway. With that being said, I will be leaving."

A portal sucked the old man out of the house, leaving Sonic, Rose, Emily, and Jeremy there looking at where he had been. It was then that they noticed that the rooms in the house matched their new "roles" in the game. Rose and Jeremy had small rooms next to each other, decorated in a very feminine fashion using the colors they currently were. Emily's room was next to Jeremy's room, and was decorated like it was sitting in the middle of a tree in the forest. Sonic's room was next to Rose's and hadn't changed much at all, aside from a few additional RPG elements. A bathroom seemed to connect Sonic's room with Emily's room, going behind Rose's and Jeremy's rooms. They found a smaller bathroom connecting their rooms.

It was then that Jeremy realized he, or rather she, needed to use the bathroom. Moments after she ran into the bathroom a scream was heard coming from the small bathroom, followed by sobbing. "Better leave Jeremy alone right now," thought Sonic. "He, umm, she, umm, Jeremy hasn't come to terms with the change."

"I agree," thought Rose. "After Jeremy has calmed down we will ask him, umm, her, umm, what Jeremy wants to be referred to as. Damn this is confusing."

Across town in a preschool

Hinako found herself teaching Preschool, one of the students in the class being Kodachi. She had an assistant, Hikaru, who was currently in the process of trying to get up. Every time someone hit or squeezed a doll in the room he seemed to feel it. She got fed up with one kid in particular and proceeded to drain the energy out of him. Seconds later she was crying, having just wet a diaper that had formed on her as she shrunk. Her class had been "Teacher" but now it was simply "Human". Hikaru was a "Mage", but wasn't doing much casting right now.

Sasuke had become a Gremlin nearby and soon had changed Hinako's diaper, and proceeded to scare the kids into calmness. Hikaru still couldn't control himself long enough to get up, however, so Sasuke took over as best he could.

As night fell..

Due to the magic of RPG night fell across the entire planet at once, confusing the heck out of anyone paying attention. The three fortresses pulled back all their units, but they had no bosses yet. A large blast of energy fired at the energy orb from each fortress, invisible to the naked eye, that was met with three pulses coming from the orb itself. Three items were hit by the pulses and immediately vanished into the three fortresses. Each item had a shard embedded in it, and each item soon became a giant boss creature. One had been formed of a mirror and became a beast that could create mirror images of those fighting it. The second had been formed from a shotgun and was made up mainly of guns. Finally, the third had been created from a soldering iron and was made up of red-hot tips that could be fired at will, bonding whatever they hit to something else.

In the dragon realm DS had found a castle, apparently belonging to him. He had found a room buried deep in the castle that he put Ranma and Akane in. The room itself was actually quite nice, with hot and cold running water, a feminine decor with lots of places to relax, a seemingly never-ending food supply, and a large selection of clothing, but no doors or windows. On one side of the room there was a large bath and in the corner there appeared to be a toilet. Ranma was having a fit as the first thing he had gone for was hot water, which didn't change him into a guy. He then tried removing his clothing, knowing that Akane couldn't see the clothes anyway, and found the anklets wouldn't come off. Finally giving up on the anklets he helped Akane undress herself and then take a bath. Akane was overjoyed through the entire experience, she was in a room with her true love and couldn't want anything more then to have Ranma help her do everything all the time.

Back in town

Jeremy had finally gotten through her mental breakdown, and had told Rose, Sonic, and Emily that she would rather be referred to as a girl for the time being. Emily had suggested a more feminine name for the time being, but Jeremy had declined. With everything else weird going on she decided that a Pixie named Jeremy just didn't qualify as weird enough to need correcting. Rose and Jeremy were currently working on learning all the quirks of their new sizes, Sonic was working on figuring out what to do now, and Emily was trying to deal with her smaller body still laying eggs of the same apparent size. All of a sudden there was a knock at the door, Sonic asked Rose to go with him to answer it.

"Hello," said Rose.

"Hello there," said the man at the door. "I have a telegram for one Alex Leo from one Nodoka Saotome."

"Alex Leo?" thought Sonic. "Who is that?"

"According to your stats page," replied Rose, "YOU are Alex Leo." Then out loud, "This here is Alex Leo."

"Here you go," said the man, walking away. "Have a nice day."

"Well 'Alex'," said Rose, "are you going to open your Telegram or what?"

"Alright already," thought Sonic, tearing open the telegram as he walked to the living room. "Lets see....."

Alex Leo. Stop.

Situation Urgent. Stop.

Meet me at the castle tomorrow. Stop.

Nodoka. Stop.

"What is this about?" thought Sonic, relaying the message to Rose. "What Castle?"

"I dunno," replied Rose. "Perhaps that large castle down the street with the Tendo name on it?"

As Sonic pulled himself off the floor there was another knock on the door. Answering it revealed the old man. "So, how goes the game?" he asked.

"The game is mysterious," replied Rose, not even waiting for Sonic to tell her anything.

"Of course it is mysterious, I created it," the old man countered. "Besides, what fun is a game that you don't have to figure out the details of? At any rate, are you going to invite me in? I have some gifts for you."

"Does the saying 'Beware Greeks bearing gifts' apply here?" Sonic thought, waving the old man in as Rose went to get Emily and Jeremy.

"By the way young man," said the old man, "I am NOT Greek."

"You heard that?" thought Sonic.

"Who heard what?" Rose responded, not knowing what was going on, as she returned with Emily and Jeremy.

"I heard him," the old man answered her, using thoughts instead of his voice. Then, aloud, "I have brought each of you two gifts. Who to start with....."

"I don't suppose one of those gifts will change me back," inquired Jeremy.

"No Jeremy, none of these will change you back," responded the old man. "For starters why don't you and Rose each open these." With that the old man pulled out two small packages and held them in the palm of his hand, one pink and one green. Rose and Jeremy flew over and carried them back to where they had been sitting. The old man noticed that Sonic had flinched when they did so. "Sonic my boy," the old man said, "you do not have to worry. I am not a pervert like Happosai."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Rose.

"You mean you didn't know?" asked the old man. "In this game Fairies and Pixies don't normally wear clothes, and the two of you are not an exception at the moment." Rose and Jeremy both looked down at themselves when he said this, Ros e was shocked and Jeremy confused. The old man held up his hand before they could speak, then continued. "Rose, Fairies such as yourself usually only wear their 'glow', which hides their form well enough. Jeremy, the green outfit you appear to be wearing isn't an outfit, it is your tail coiled around your body. Now, if you two would open your gifts."

Rose and Jeremy both looked at each other, as they were sitting next to each other, and then quickly blushed and turned to their gifts and opened them. Inside they found matching undergarments, skirts, and shirts. Rose had pink while Jeremy had green, but otherwise they were identical.

Rose cast a glance at Sonic, sending a question mentally. "Why didn't you tell me I was NAKED?"

Sonic didn't take long to respond with "You didn't want to know, and I figured you had enough on your mind having just been turned into a fairy and all."

"Father," Jeremy interrupted without realizing it, "why do I have a tail?"

"Simple," the old man answered with a slight grin, "that is left over from when you were given a tail before. Now why don't you two go change into your new clothes."

Rose and Jeremy flew off like ICBMs to their rooms to change as the old man handed Emily a long, thin box. She looked at him, then opened the box to find a bow and arrow set. "Wow, a bow and arrows," she said, surprised.

"What, my dear," said the old man, "is an Elf without a Bow and Arrows? Now Sonic, as for your first gift." The old man handed Sonic a smaller package, about the size of a clipboard.

Sonic gave the old man an interesting look as Rose and Jeremy returned, wearing their outfits. Jeremy also had her tail hanging from her form this time. They oohed and aahed over Emily's gift as Sonic opened his, finding what looked to be a LCD display with a compass in the corner. He pressed a button near the bottom of the thing and it sprang to life, showing a floor plan of the house.

"If you are going to go on a quest you need a map," the old man snickered, "and that is the best map you will find nowadays. Rose, Jeremy, are you two ready for your second gifts?" Both girls nodded, having actually liked their first gifts, and the old man held out two more packages, wrapped the same way, but slightly larger then the last ones. The two flew over and grabbed them from his hand, not bothering to hide their anticipation. They tore into the packages together, then froze as they looked into the boxes. After a moment they both reached in and pulled out a small charm. Rose's was a star while Jeremy's was a Mallet. As they held the charms they glowed, Rose's giving off a brighter light then her glow provided and Jeremy's turning into a mallet. The old man didn't wait for them to respond to their gifts before handing Emily another box. She again wordlessly opened it, finding a shield in this one.

"A bow, some arrows, and now a shield," Emily said. "I bet you want me to go with him," gesturing at Sonic, "wherever he is going."

"You would win that bet," replied the old man. "I expect Rose to join Sonic as a helper and Jeremy to join you as one."

"So old coot," Sonic transmitted, "do I get a second gift?" Jeremy and Emily were surprised when they heard Sonic, yet he had not spoken.

"Yes, you do," the old man said. "Oh, and if you didn't notice, Jeremy and Emily just heard you. Part of their second gift was an additional ability to hear you. As for your second gift, you will be getting information."

The old man waved his hand and smoke filled the room. Those in it found themselves looking down on three fortresses, obviously not next to each other by the terrain around them.

"These three fortresses are what the three bases became. They are spread far and wide, each containing a monster you must defeat and a key to the end of this curse. Each beast is powered by a shard of the dragon aura, and will not be easily defeated. You will want to build a larger party for your attempt to do so. Also, you may have noticed that there weren't that many curses dealt out by the biometal forces today. That was a gift, they will be back out in full force come sunrise."

The scene changed again, this time to Ranma and Akane where they were trapped. They were currently dressed and Ranma was feeding Akane, who was obviously enjoying herself very much.

"Ranma and Akane, however, have been kidnapped by another powerful being. This one is not powered by a shard of the aura, but is just as if not more dangerous then the monsters guarding the fortresses. If you defeat the curse then they will be freed as the curse is lifted, however you may need their help."

The scene faded out, and came back to reveal four scrolls.

"These four scrolls are maps that will show you the way to each of the four guardians. Each can be found in a different place, the first awaits you somewhere in the castle. The second is a sacred map to the imps of the forest to the east, who believe it to be a map to their god that no one may touch. The third may be found in the possession of a shopkeeper in the dragon realm, but you may find that he holds it too dear to let go for mere money. The fourth and final map may be found in the cave of souls to the south, guarded by a lake-dwelling beast."

The scrolls were then replaced by two images of the gate, one from each side of the gateway.

"This is the gate between the realms. Using it you can reach the dragon realm and return again. You will find that they have been affected by the same curse."

The scene faded out, the smoke then dissipated and the old man sat there as if nothing had happened.

"You may each ask one more thing of me, then I leave you for the night. You will need your sleep," the old man finished.

"For starters," Sonic transmitted, "I would like to know more about this creature. The one not powered by shards of the aura."

"Ahh, yes," said the old man, rubbing his chin. "A great work of art on my part. The creature draws its power from a source not of this world, yet not unfamiliar to you. It can be cunning and devious, and you will most likely fight it a second time after you deal with this situation. That is all you will get, for now. Rose, it is your turn."

"My turn," said Rose, thinking about a question. "How about those three powered by shards of the aura. How did they get shards?"

"Good question," said the old man. "The creatures were created from three items that had shards of the aura embedded in them. They therefore are not as cunning as other creatures, but the shards make them very powerful. I will tell you, however, that defeating them will not get you the shard. At least, not right away. The shards will be put into the power sphere to supplement its power and keep them safe. You can collect them when the curse is defeated. Emily, you are up."

"How long do we have to finish this thing?" Emily asked with a quizzical expression on her face.

"As long as it takes you," started the old man. "I would suspect that it will take you a minimum of two weeks, and two months at the extreme end. That leaves us with Jeremy."

"Hmmmm," mumbled Jeremy, unsure as to what was left to ask about. She remembered that the old man had said they could each ask one more thing of him, not just for information. "Can you make me more comfortable with this form while I am in it?"

"I take it you can't think of going out in public like that right now," said the old man. Jeremy just nodded, blushing slightly, although only Rose saw it. "Well then Jeremy, since you want to be more comfortable with your current form, you shall be more comfortable."

The old man held his hand out in front of him, Rose darted over to Sonic, and a ball of energy formed in front of the old man's palm. When the ball was large enough to hold Jeremy it floated over to her, slowly, and engulfed her. The ball changed color, ending up green, and t hen was absorbed into Jeremy. Her body language had noticeably changed and her facial expression was calmer then it had been.

"Thanks dad," Jeremy said. "You know, I think I will go with that name change idea now, I don't feel right calling myself Jeremy anymore. How about Jaime?"

"Sounds good to me," said the old man. "Of course, I don't have to worry about it too much. You need to get some sleep." The old man opened a portal, and prepared to step through it. "Oh, and you may want to collect some of the fighters in town to aid you. I think Kalshion, Katarina, Shampoo, Ukyo, and Ryoga might be around." The old man then stepped through the portal, which vanished behind him. The four he left behind all went to bed, Jaime seeming like she was someone different, that had never been anything other then a pixie before. Emily was wondering what it was going to be like having a Pixie for a sister, while Sonic and Rose were wondering what their physical relationship would be like until the curse was lifted. Jaime was just wondering if she had any makeup for in the morning, the magic that had altered her mind putting her at ease about all the changes that had occurred.

Back in his world the old man relaxed in his chair. He knew he would be popping up in various disguises to aid or hinder their progress, depending on his mood, but for the moment he had their trust. For the most part, anyway. The old man watched as Ranma helped Akane into some sleepwear and then into bed. The room only had one bed, and Akane was not about to have either of them sleep on the floor or in a chair. She insisted that Ranma sleep with her in the bed, calming Ranma down about it by saying it was alright because they were both girls. Ranma gave in and climbed into bed with her, the lights going out as he did so. Akane had good enough sight in the dark now to see Ranma even with the lights out, and she proved it by leaning over when he turned in her direction and planting a kiss on his lips. They both pulled away quickly, blushing intensely, and fell asleep not long afterwards. Akane dreamt of Ranma helping her, even when she didn't need it anymore, and Ranma dreamt of getting his male self back again and had a fleeting point where he kissed Akane when he was back to his male self again.

Ryoga was currently wandering around the castle, as himself, as Hikeya trailed him. He hadn't found Akane once he changed into P-Chan, so he had changed back, and Hikeya was wondering if all humans changed like that or not. She figured she could find out later. In the meantime Kasumi told Ryoga about a room he could spend the night in, which he found without trouble. Hikeya hid in the closet, realizing she was very tired for some reason.

The old man then noticed that Rose was still awake. She apparently couldn't get used to having hyperactive wings to deal with when sleeping. Feeling partially sorry for her the old man used the latent energy in her body from her transformation to make her more comfortable with the wings, after which she promptly fell asleep. The old man smiled, then set about altering the world in a few more subtle ways. He started by making three moons that would be in different phases, adding monsters that roamed outside of towns, set to attack any travelers they came across, and threw in some bungling assassins to further complicate things for the group, or make him laugh. Preferably both.

The next morning

Everything started out nice and calm. Sonic, Rose, Emily, and Jaime all got up and had breakfast, eggs courtesy of Emily. Sonic and Rose left to go meet Nodoka while Emily and Jaime left to find other people to join in the adventure. Sonic and Rose got a spiel about Akane and Ranma being kidnapped and the general direction the ship had gone, which wasn't much of a help. They did explore the castle though, and found Happosai in the dungeon, refusing to give up the map without getting something in return.

Emily and Jaime didn't have to go far to find recruit s. Kalshion and Katarina joined up immediately, their father and the cat staying behind due to their conditions. Shampoo and Ukyo didn't hesitate to join up when they heard that Ranma had been taken, and soon they were at the castle having no idea where to find Ryoga. That problem was soon solved, however, as Ryoga walked out the front door and, after hearing about Akane, joined up as well. The whole group went down to the dungeon to meet up with Sonic and Rose, who were talking to Happosai. Hikeya was still trailing Ryoga, unnoticed.

No sooner did Happosai lay eyes on the party did he suddenly turn to stone. Everyone gasped at this, even Hikeya who had been watching from a safe distance. Her gasp gave her away as the entire party spun around and saw her before she could run. Soon she had been captured and locked in one of the empty cells, before the attempted questioning began.

Meanwhile, outside...

All over the planet biometal ships were attacking anything and everything, dishing out curses like never before. No longer being restricted to a single town they were able to cause a lot more trouble, and soon half the planet was cursed. Unfortunately one of the units had seen the group through an air vent for the dungeon and decided to lob a mortar at them. The MDM bounced down the vent right in between Hikeya and the rest of the group, exploding before anyone could react. Expecting an explosion, everyone was surprised when a blast of freezing cold water came out of the mortar. Shampoo and Ukyo were behind the rest of the group, so they stayed dry while everyone else was soaked. Ryoga found that he was now P-Chan, and Hikeya found herself as a small rabbit. No one in the group was surprised about Ryoga's change, however they weren't expecting a rabbit. Hikeya, for her part, was trying to figure out why she and Ryoga had changed, but not anyone else.

Sonic reached down and picked up the rabbit, they hadn't even had time to ask one question. They went upstairs to find some hot water, only to find out that a Titan had fallen into and crushed the water supply when it rolled over some weak pavement. They would have to wait until they could find some water in general, now. The rabbit was, however, getting testy so they put it in a cage, before Sonic and Rose went to see if Happosai had dropped anything during the ordeal, leaving everyone else upstairs. When they got down to him they found that he was flesh again.

"So Happosai," Rose started as Sonic glared at Happosai, "we still want that map."

"If you want the map," answered Happosai, "I will give you two choices this time. The first is what I said before, a pool full of panties that I can swim in any time of the day."

"What is the second choice this time?" Rose asked.

"Some pictures of that Elf Girl modeling lingerie," Happosai smirked.

"Only pictures?" Rose questioned.

"Hey," stated Happosai. "I am not stupid. I turned to stone when she was standing in front of me, and I don't want that to happen again!"

"We will see about it," said Rose as she and Sonic turned away and went back upstairs. When they got there Rose explained the situation to the others.

"I think I know how to beat him," said Emily, grinning from ear to pointy ear. "He will get a little bit of an eyeful, but not what he is expecting."

Thirty Minutes Later, down in the dungeon

"Here are the pictures," said Rose as Sonic held them just out of Happosai's reach. "Where is the map?"

"Right here," said Happosai, pulling out the map. "I will give it to you as you hand me the pictures, I don't want any tricks!"

"Deal," said Rose as Sonic and Happosai exchanged items. The map glowed brightly, then vanished to show it had been entered into the electronic map.

"SURPRISE!" yelled Emily, jumping out from behind Sonic, having been clinging to his back. Happosai dropped the pictures in surprise just before turning int o stone. "Man, I didn't know how much longer I could stay like that," Emily commented. "For some reason I felt like I should be showing myself to him the entire time."

"Probably part of his curse," Sonic transmitted as he picked up the pictures and handed them to Emily. "You never did tell us what you were going to do with these, though."

Emily put the pictures in her inventory before speaking. "I figure I will keep them. You never know when you might need something like that in this pervert-filled world, despite what I might think about it."

The three headed back upstairs, not knowing that by the time they had gotten all the way up Happosai had turned back into flesh and was fuming over how they had tricked him. They took the cage containing the again docile rabbit and went in search of warm water, Sonic examining the map as they went.

"Figures," Sonic thought, not realizing he was transmitting as if he were mumbling to himself. "The map only shows where the fortress is, not what is between here and there."

"You're right," Jaime said. "That does figure." Kalshion, Katarina, P-Chan, Shampoo, and Ukyo raised an eyebrow. P-Chan would have asked something, but couldn't, so the question remained unasked.

An hour later

"Interesting temple," came Shampoo's voice. "Think the tavern next to it has hot water?"

"Maybe," said Jaime. "But there is something about that temple....."

"I agree," said Rose, flying towards the tavern. "However, hot water comes first."

Inside the tavern they were greeted by an elderly man with a simple wave. As luck would have it there was a bathroom right next to the door with working hot and cold running water. Soon Ryoga and Hikeya were back to themselves, and everyone sat or otherwise gathered around a table in the tavern.

"There is something familiar about you," Sonic transmitted, forgetting that the girl couldn't hear him.

"You idiot," Rose sent back, "she can't hear you! Although I do agree." Then, aloud, "We feel something familiar about you. Who are you?"

Hikeya looked at Rose, then at Sonic who hadn't said a thing since she first saw him. There was something familiar about them too, now that someone mentioned it. It was like they had met each other before at some point. "My name is Hikeya. Who are you?"

"We are, I suppose," Kalshion said, "the hero’s of this game."

Sonic and Rose knew something sounded familiar about that name, but couldn't place where they had heard it. "So, where are you from?" questioned Rose, hoping that would aid her in remembering.

Hikeya eyed the glowing pink fairy for a minute, trying to come up with a plausible way to lie. She figured that there had to be mountains somewhere in this world, so she decided that would work. "I am from the mountains to the....ummmm...well, I don't know which direction they are in anymore."

Sonic, Rose, Kalshion, and Katarina all knew she was not telling the truth, but decided not to push it. Katarina decided to speak up. "So, why were you spying on us?" she asked.

"I was, ummm," Hikeya stuttered, blushing as she looked at Ryoga, "trying to figure out why he turned into a pig."

"You mean you didn't?" started Ryoga, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words.

"Silly Ryoga," came Ukyo's voice from across the table. "He mean you not cursed at Jusenkyo?"

"Jusenkyo?" said Hikeya, confused. "Where is that?"

"This isn't getting us anywhere," said Rose. "Lets see what your stats say." With that Rose waved her hand like she was tapping on Hikeya twice, and a window opened up showing stats on her. At the top it said her name was Hikeya, the last name blurred out, with a class of Guide. Her stats showed that she could also do some fighting. Hikeya, for her part, was shocked at the window that had opened.

"Well, since you can fight," thought Sonic, again forgetting that he couldn't be hear d by her, "why don't you join us in getting things back to normal?"

"You idiot!" thought Rose. "She STILL can't hear you!" Sonic blushed a little at this. Rose then looked at Hikeya and started talking. "We can see that you can fight, would you like to join our quest to return everything to normal?"

"Normal..." mumbled Hikeya. "That could be nice. Although this form isn't that bad." Jaime had been close enough to hear her and raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. She figured that would be best left to when Hikeya wasn't around. After a moment Hikeya looked up. "I will do it," she said. "I suppose it is better then just following someone."

After a brief round of introductions Rose flew to the center of the table. "Now that we have settled that," she said, "lets go check out that temple next door. I want to know what I felt in it."

Everyone agreed and started to head to the door. Shampoo and Ukyo weren't sure what it was about the temple, but everyone else including Hikeya had felt something in it. They walked in the doors and everyone found a small sword surrounded by a red circle appear in the corner of their vision, a red line crossing over the sword. They assumed it meant that they couldn't fight here, which made sense, and otherwise ignored it. They continued on through an entry area, followed by a small chapel-like area. At the back of the chapel there was a wooden door with a magic circle insignia on it.

"I bet that is what we felt," said Hikeya, forgetting that she hadn't said anything about it before.

"You mean you felt it too?" asked Katarina.

"Felt what?" came Shampoo's voice.

"Me no feel anything," came Ukyo's.

After a lengthy discussion they determined that Ukyo and Shampoo had not felt a thing, while everyone else had. Rose bargained that it either had to do with a shard or a curse, but that didn't explain Hikeya. Deciding to figure it out later, Rose had suggested that they stop talking about it and go through the door. Everyone agreed, and Sonic opened the door. No sooner had he done so then Sonic, Rose, and Hikeya froze in place, staring at what they saw inside. Kalshion and Katarina froze at what they felt, while Shampoo and Ukyo just looked at them, wondering what was going on.

After a few moments, Sonic looked at his wrist, shook his head, and looked back into the room. Without realizing he was transmitting, he started thinking. "It.....it....it can't be!"

"You are right, it can't be," said Rose. "But, what else could it be?"

"I don't know what it is," Katarina said, "but I know I feel something coming from it."

"I know I have seen that color before," Kalshion added, "and that power feels familiar too."

Emily and Jaime were both staring through the door. This stank of their father, and they both knew it.

Hikeya, for her part, was restraining herself from jumping for joy. This had to be a trap. There was no other explanation. But it felt so REAL.....

Finally Shampoo walked into the room. "What is so special about a stupid crystal?" she said, picking up a light blue tear-shaped crystal from a red pillow that was sitting on a pillar. She soon regretted that as the crystal glowed brightly, then vanished, as the pillar fell into the floor. "Ummmm....Ooops?" The top of the pillar stopped flush with the floor, looking like it had never been a pillar aside from the red pillow on it. The group fled the room, trying to escape, when the chapel sealed itself off. A bright glow was coming from the back room, which no one had bothered to close the door to, and everyone was obviously worried about what was going to happen.

Across the street

Tommy was wondering what on earth the bright light coming from the temple across the street was, so he started working his way through the shop to find out.

Back in the chapel

The light intensified greatly for a split second, then pulled back, shrinking. Everyone in the group stared, wondering what was going on, as the light took the form of a humanoid. Even without detail it was obviously female, and the armor that formed on it confirmed that. A large sword materialized on her back as the body itself formed, leaving a tanned female with red hair to her back standing there. She looked over at the group, and smiled.

"So," she said, "you are the ones who freed me. I don't suppose you can tell me what is going on?"

The members of the group looked at one another, no one knowing what to say to a female warrior who appeared out of a blinding light, when they had been expecting annihilation or something similar. Finally they took turns explaining everything that had been going on, for the most part, up to her arrival.

Back with the old man

The old man's mirror was showing the group describing what had gone on, an empty tub of popcorn next to it. The chair was, however, empty. He was not in his workshop, nor in the bathroom, and he was nowhere to be found in the kitchen or pantry. Finally the cameraman shut off his camera. "I give up. They told me to come film him, and he isn't here. What can I do?"

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we return you to the group without the old coot's commentary

"So," Rose said. "Now that you know what has been going on, I don't suppose you can tell us your story."

"Sorry," said the woman. "I don't remember much of what happened to me before you freed me."

"Oh," said Rose. "That makes some sense, I guess."

"Can we at least get your name?" thought Sonic, transmitting even though it was more to himself.

"I suppose at the least you should know my name," said the woman, taking Sonic by surprise. Had she heard him? "I am, I think, known as Melissa Madrid."

"Well then Melissa," Rose said for Sonic, "would you like to join us in winning the game?"

"I don't think so," Melissa replied. "At least, not all the way. Perhaps just long enough for me to get my bearings."

"In that case," Kalshion said, "shall we go?"

As the group opened the door, which un-sealed itself as soon as they turned to it, Tommy wheeled in.

"What took you so long?" Tommy asked. "I have been waiting out here!"

"Where have you been?" asked Katarina.

"Minding that Pendant Shop across the street," answered Tommy. "I found myself in it, and I still can't pick up this blasted sword!"

"Well, I am in need of a sword," said Kalshion, picking up the sword. "Therefore, since you can't use it I think it would be fitting if I borrowed it."

"HEY!" yelled Tommy. "I didn't say you could take that!"

"You aren't exactly in a position to use it," Rose snapped, double-tapping at Tommy. "We currently need all the firepower we can get, and this says that you don't exactly have anything to fight with."

"I don't suppose," Melissa interrupted, "your shop has anything useful in it?"

"Ummmmm," Tommy said, thinking. "The only pendants I have that do anything more then look good increase the defense of the wearer by three points, but they can only be worn by a Princess. Wait, how did I know that?"

"I don't know how," said Katarina, "and I don't care. I think we should head out to that fortress now, unless someone else here needs to find a weapon?"

Sonic realized he had a broadsword in his inventory, while Katarina had already found a staff. Kalshion now had Tommy's sword, Melissa had the sword on her back, and Emily had her bow and arrows. Jaime found a wand in her inventory, on top of her charm that turned into a mallet, while Shampoo and Ukyo had the weapons they weren't proficient with. Rose found she didn't have any weapons at all.

"I don't have anything to fight with," Rose noted, bringing up her own stats. "But it looks like there isn't anything for me to get." She looked a little glum whe n saying this. "I guess that means we should get going." Everyone agreed, aside from Tommy who they told to go mind his shop. He would just slow them down anyway, and they didn't need that. After some arguing he sulked off to his shop as the group headed out.

Melissa watched the proceedings, not sticking her opinion in often. Inside her head she was laughing near uncontrollably though, and it was a good thing no one could hear her.

Or was it?

Shadower

Kat hovered into another Pendent shop, and looked around.. she soon found a special pendent.. one that Elimented human waste so she put it on and she floated over to the store manager and handed him some currenc. She put it on and found she no longer needed to use the bathroom, Other than Pendents being sold there,there where other items, like potions and armor, Kalshion soon walked in and found some armor he could use... it was called Mortification armor.. the best in the world. It's stats where perfect, however it was VERY heavy so he only bought the foot and chest parts. He went into the back and had someone fit them on him.. a rush of energy surrounded his body.

Katarina waited outside admiring the pendent, Hikeya looked at Kat for a second before walking into the store, she looked around.

Kalshion walked out of the fitting room, he made a thumbs up at Hikeya and they walked out. Kat the rest of the group continued on there way

Tempest

***Back in Tommy's world of sulking boredom***

It had been about 20 minutes since Tommy had parted with the gang and began working in his pendant shop again. “God I hate this job. Why couldn’t I have been the owner of an Armory or something interesting?” It was just then that someone had actually come into his store, quite surprised Tommy quickly go in his wheel chair and went over to the counter. Tommy’s first customer was a man who appeared to be in about his mid 30’s-40’s, he appeared to be of an inventor class as far as an RPG would go.

“Excuse me sir, would you happen to have any fine pendants here that would be suitable for my wife?” The old man said with a quite eager tone. “Hmmm, well most of my stuff is only for a princess but I might have something.” Just then a list of items came up in front of Tommy. Every item he had was on it and what type of person could use it. “Here we go; I have 2 in stock that can be used by anyone…although it doesn’t do anything for the person who wears it.” “No worries my friend, this is a gift after all.” It was then that the man noticed that Tommy was in a wheel chair. In an interested voice he said “Excuse me for asking but I noticed you are in a wheel chair but what no injuries. Would you be able to tell me why?” “I would if I could, all of a sudden one day I just couldn’t stand up without falling. Plus I can’t wield a weapon for that matter either. I have no idea why too.” “Hmmm, perhaps I can help you then.” Said the man “You see, I have been working on a new type of machine called a Gyrocopter; if you would be willing to test it, I am sure it could get you around pretty fast.” Tommy’s eyes lit up as if he was just handed a check for 10 million dollars in United States Currency. “I sure would sir!” “Then please, come back with me to my residence, I’ll show it to you there.”

Tommy put up a closed sign on his shop and began following the man down the road to the nearby woods. It was there a small wooden home was. In back of the house lay a large contraption similar to a Helicopter. “There it is, hop in and try it out” Tommy got into the machine, to his surprise the inside looked way more sturdy than the outside. Tommy pressed a large green button on the inside and the blades began to hum as if the machine was singing. In a matter of seconds he was in the air able to see farther than he ever could. After flying around with it a bit Tommy landed the craft and spoke to the man. “Hey this thing works great!” “That’s very good to hear young man, hmmm what is your name by the way?” “Tommy Knudzen.” Replied Tommy. “Well Tommy, would you like to use it to catch up with your friends?” “I sure would.” “Ok then, I wouldn’t mind since I have some schematics I can use to build another one, I have plenty of material anyway. But I must warn you there are dangers beyond this point. The Gyrocopter has 2 cannons on it but you only have one shot for each. I have some bombs you can carry in it though, the bag is enchanted so you can use as much as you want on your enemies.” “Hey thanks man, I owe you one” said Tommy. “No need to Tommy, I live for making people happy with my inventions”

Tommy got in the Gyrocopter with all of his equipment when he remembered he had his CD player and its speakers on him. With one wave to the old man and the sound of “Sell Out” Tommy got off into the air and began following the trail everyone else was.

CmptrWz

Across the matrix in a history class

"Today we will be covering the cause of the Great Battle of Nixoplat 8," said a five-armed, green-skinned, six-eyed blob at the front of the room. "Please load up information unit Nixo923 on your info terminals."

Moans and groans can be heard around the classroom. None of the students in the class was overly interested in Ancient History, but it was a required course. Every year each group of students hoped that the course would come off the required list, and every year it failed to do so. Instead they just kept on adding to it, requiring each piece. Currently they were in Ancient History Three, and had the honor of being required to take every course up to and including Ancient History Five-Forty-Nine. A long standing bet, covered in Ancient History One-Twenty-Seven, dealt with the dropping of the Ancient History Requirement altogether, but no one expected it to happen.

"Now," the blob continued, "can anyone here tell me anything about the participants in the battle?"

One student in the ninety-third row pressed the response button. "The two participants each came through a Transnexial Gateway."

"Very good," the blob praised. "Now, does anyone here know anything about Transnexial Gateways?" After a few moments of no one making an attempt to answer, the blob continued. "Well then, I suppose we will have to consult the central repository." The blob then turned to a large screen behind it. "Computer, load up the central repository's complete set of information on Transnexial Gateways."

The screen came to life, and a progress bar appeared on it. Messages showed beneath the progress bar as different tasks were accomplished.

Connecting..........
Connected
Requesting information
Request received, awaiting response.........
Scanning for information...............
Information found..............
Warning: Information out of date. Updating..........

"Out of date?" the blob gasped, startled. "That information hasn't changed since it was first entered!"

The entire class woke up at this point. Ancient History topics NEVER had information that was out of date. This was unheard of, and every student there was on the edge of their seat(for those with seats, anyway). If the information was updated enough then it was no longer Ancient History, and they could drop the entire class sequence for inappropriate content.

Information Updated. Analyzing......

The blob and the entire class was wondering what was new in the information, and waited for what seemed like hours, but was really only eighteen seconds. Suddenly the progress bar vanished, alarms started blaring, and the screen went dark. After a second the screen went bright red with white letters. A voice started reading the words that had appeared over and over again.

TRANSNEXIAL GATEWAY DETECTED
ABORT ABORT ABORT
CONTACT INTER-MATRIX AUTHORITIES
PRIORITY CODE ALPHA-SEVEN

The entire class stared at the warning on the screen before heading to their designated emergency meeting spots. Priority Code Alpha ANYTHING was potentially hazardous to ANYONE in the matrix. Even if it turned out to be a false alarm, since it had been triggered anyone with a link to the repository would receive the warning, which was reason enough to go hide.

A few nodes down in the matrix, in the Inter-Matrix Authority Emergency Command Center

"Sir," a small orange being started, "we have mapped out the Transnexial Gateway. One end appears to originate in realm DGN2878-Theta. We lost track of the other end in the vicinity of MFM2987-Driad."

"MFM2987?" a larger purple blob replied. "Isn't that near where Operatives 2873 and 2874 were headed?"

"Ummmm," the small orange being said, looking through information on an info terminal. "Ahhh, here it is. Operatives 2873 and 2874, common names Sonic and Rose. Yes, they were chasing DS into that area. We lost all contact with them recently. Their last report involved going undercover in a hidden world."

"They always did like the hands-on stuff," the purple blob muttered. "Perhaps they went to elope again, it has only been what, thirty eight years since the last time? At any rate, no one in DGN2878-Theta was working on a Transnexial Gateway. Where did this one come from?"

"If I may speak freely," the orange being said. The purple one nodded, and the orange one continued. "Until today, Transnexial Gateways were considered more of a rumor then an actuality, due to the small number of records from the past. The only piece of constant information directly relating to their operation was how to detect them. The explanation for this was that they are very dangerous and were banned, all traces of the creation of them nulled out so that no one could re-produce the hazard that they originally unleashed."

"That is something taught in every Ancient History Three course," the purple blob said, slightly annoyed. "Of course, based on Ancient History One-Twenty-Seven, no one is required to take Ancient History anymore, but that is besides the point."

"Well," the orange being said, still reading, "according to this, the only things to ever come out of a Transnexial Gateway are the two fighters from the Great Battle of Nixoplat 8. The two that many that were around then swear merged and vanished while fighting, causing a major letdown across the entire matrix among the betting class."

"Where are you getting at?" the purple blob said, half-annoyed but half-curious.

"Sir," the orange being said, a slight tremor in its voice. "MFM2987-Driad is one of the surrounding worlds to the Great Void that appeared after the Great Battle of Nixoplat 8 ended. No one has been able to properly penetrate the void before, which would fit a hidden world. Could the gateway be there?"

The purple blob turned and looked that the chart of the matrix behind it, with a red line showing the Transnexial Gateway path as they knew it. It did end right at the border to the void. "You know, those two have a knack for finding trouble in hidden or otherwise locked worlds."

"Speaking of which," the orange being spoke up, "DGN2878-Theta was locked down when the gateway opened."

The purple blob wasn't surprised, given the circumstances. "Contact anyone who has been around long enough to know anything about the events."

The orange being didn't have a chance to respond before the chart of the matrix blinked out and was replaced with the badge of the Inter-matrix Authority. That alone wasn't anything spectacular, it happened whenever a message labeled as high priority came in from any operative, and a secure signal ensured that the badge represented belonged to the operative that was transmitting. The spectacular part was that there were only five operatives around nowadays, three in that room and two were out of contact. Combined with the fact that the badge was the original Inter-matrix Authority badge design, with Operative 0 on the bottom, it made for a jaw-dropping surprise.

"Give me all the info we have on that operative!" yelled the purple blob.

"Yes sir!" yelled the orange being, who was in the middle of doing just that. "Operative 0, listed name Maxwell Mardok, is currently listed as being on Vacation, sir. Last assignment was before assignment records were dated. All the other info in the database is in the archive, and will take longer to pull up."

"Well then," the purple blob said, "why isn't this transmission coming up?"

"It has, sir," the orange being responded. "It was that package in front of you."

"Oh," the purple blob responded, picking up the package. "Lets see what it is." The purple blob proceeded to open the package, finding a strange pulsating crystal and an Automated Question Answering Device, or AQAD. "What does this strange pulsating crystal do?" the purple blob tried asking.

"Processing......" came a digital-sounding voice from the AQAD. "The strange pulsating crystal sits there and pulsates."

"Ask a stupid question...." mumbled the purple blob. "Does the crystal serve any other purpose?"

"Processing......" came the digital-sounding voice again. "The strange pulsating crystal can be entered into standard data input slot eight."

The purple blob put the crystal into the data slot, prompting the screen of the info terminal to come alive as the data was downloaded. The pulse from the crystal slowly faded, until the crystal itself was gone.

"Lets see what we have here," the purple blob mumbled to itself.

Operative 0 coming off of vacation

Taking Transnexial Gateway situation into own hands

Automated Badge Upgrade has been initiated

Signed
Operative 0

"Hmmmmm," said a green being that was in the room. "Seems we have SIX active operatives now."

"I don't suppose we have any more operatives on vacation?" the purple blob asked.

"Just Operative 19," the orange being answered.

"That is alright," said the green being. "We don't need to let Q out. His forced vacation is alright with me!"

Sonic

Now back to our regular scheduled RPG

It didn't take long for our brave travelers to leave town and find themselves in a thick forest, filled with monsters. The entire group was being cautious, not knowing what to expect, except for Melissa who seemed to be enjoying herself. No one noticed the small smirk on her face, as she quietly pulled her hand behind her and pulling out a Game Boy Advance from a compartment in the armor strap that connected her chest piece. Once the GBA was in her hand, it became invisible, and while no one was looking, she began to do a few things on it before placing it back into her secrete compartment.

Sonic turned around and looked at Melissa, finding a straight focus face, before stopping. "Do you guys hear that?" asked Sonic.

Rose gave a growl then flew into the air, and tackled Sonic on the head, "Hello! Did your brain shrink in this RPG game? They CAN'T HEAR YOU!" she yelled, which got Ukyou, Shampoo, and Hikeya all confused, while Melissa kept trying not to laugh.

Sonic rubbed his head, "You didn't have to hit me that hard though," he said.

Rose simply placed her tiny hand on her tiny head and shook her head left and right, "What am I going to do," she said.

"Hey Guys," said Kalshion, "I don't mean to interrupt, but I think I hear what Sonic heard too."

"Sonic??" thought Hikeya, "Could this guy be THE Sonic?" She stopped and watched him closer for a moment, "No, it couldn't be, he would never play such a stupid game."

Just then five Killer Ants, which were ants the size of a human, popped out and started an RPG Battle, but of course, you can't have an RPG battle without good old fighting music. So out of the trees, popped out 5.5 Surround Sound Speakers, which began to play "Brave Warriors". Now, it was time for the Ants to make their move, as they possessed higher speed stats.

"What the hell are those," said Emily as the entire group, except for Sonic, Rose and Melissa jumped back shocked.

For Rose and Sonic, they had seen these creators before in another land, but they were still shocked, mostly at the surround sound system. Strangely, Melissa kept a straight face, almost like she was playing poker.

"Acid Spit" said a weird tiny whacked voice coming from one of the ants, just as it spit what looked like a green snot ball at Sonic.

The snot ball hit Sonic, which knocked him back, and lowering his HP 14 points. Before anyone could react, the other four ants had done the same, hitting Ryoga, Ukyou, Shampoo, and Kalshion. Strangely, they had ignored Melissa who was standing close to the front, and in the center.

"Ok, that's it," said Sonic, this time aware that he couldn't talk out loud, "Those ant's are very resistance to physical attacks like blades and punches, so a magic attack should do the trick."

"These aren't any ordinary ants, they might actually be different than what you think," commented Melissa, which freaked out Sonic again.

"Did she hear me?" he thought.

Rose looked at Melissa for a moment before turning to Katarina, "Katarina, do you have any magical attacks like wind or fire attacks?"

Katarina pulled up her attack list, finding a nice fire attack titled "Crematorium: Ash to Ash, Butts to Dust". "OK, I'll try this.... CREAMATORIUM"

A stats window popped up that had "MP: 230" which suddenly changed to "MP: 200" as the sky turned red, and balls of fire slammed into the ground, exploding into pillars of fire. However, when the attack finished and the damage points showed up, each ant had only suffered 45 damage points.

"WHAT?!?" said Rose as her jaw dropped, "That should have worked."

Sonic looked at Melissa who smiled, "Should have listened," she said.

The Ants prepared for another blow when suddenly a roar came from the sky, followed by a huge Gyrocopter flying overhead with Tommy in it.

"Target is painted," he said which activated a computer voice recognition program that opened up a door on the bottom of his Gyrocopter, which release several bombs, which fell on the ants causing 100 points damage each, and winning the battle.

"Hey you numbskull! It was just getting interesting, why did you have to do that!" yelled Melissa a bit upset.

"What's wrong with her?" thought Sonic.

"Don't know, she acts like she wanted us to loose," replied Rose.

"Oh, that isn't it. I just wanted to show off my talents," said Melissa recovering her expression to a poker face.

Sonic just blinked blankly at her, "Something is just not right here," he thought as Tommy landed, with his stereo system up loud with his annoying obnoxious music.

"TURN THAT DAMN THING OFF", yelled Shampoo's voice.

"NO!" yelled Tommy trying to yell over his music.

"Then allow me to do it for you!" yelled Melissa taking her sword, "Rock Splitting Sword!" she yelled as she swung the sword straight down to the ground, generating a windblast.

Tommy tried to block, but being stuck in a wheel chair and all didn't help, as he was blasted into the tree and his CD player, which was hooked up to the stereo system, flew out and broke on the tree. Tommy just stayed flat on the tree for a moment, before he fell, followed by a "KO" status window coming up.

"Impressive," said Ryoga, "Why didn't you attack the ants then?"

"I wanted to see how strong you guys are," replied Melissa.

An hour later

Tommy had came too, and was back in his copter following the gang as they continued their journey, having destroyed 32 ants, using sword techniques from Sonic, and bombs from Tommy. If anyone though was paying attention, they would have noticed Melissa in the back, playing with her GBA again. As she was doing this, she was looking at the Gyrocopter, giving grins. She finally though was satisfied, and placed the GBA up again. Moments later, a loud roar was heard which got everyone's attention.

"Um, what that?" said Ukyou's voice.

Hikeya became a bit happy, "That sounded like a dragon," she said out loud.

"Dragon?" replied Ryoga, "I sure we don't have to fight one of those."

Unfortunately or Fortunately, depending on who's perspective, Tommy didn't hear the group talking, nor the roar, as he had pulled out a spare CD player from his inventory as was now listening to his bad music. If he did hear them, he would have noticed a giant blue dragon fly out from behind him, quickly gaining on him.

Rose Pointed at Tommy and screamed "Oh My God," yelled Rose, "That Dragon is going to attack Tommy!"

"A Dragon attacking someone? That's unheard of," mumbled Hikeya watching as the Blue Dragon began to power up a blast in it's mouth, "WHAT?" she thought seeing this.

Sonic glanced over at Hikeya, having heard for the most part of what she said. But before he could think, Rose screamed again, "Tommy, you MORON! Look behind you!" she said shooting like a bullet and smacking Tommy on the face.

"Ow, What did you do that for?" he asked looking at the small pink glow, which was pointing behind him.

Tommy no sooner than looked behind him when he saw a dragon blast a powerful water colored beam at him, which he was quick enough to evade it, but the after shock of it had caught him, giving his copter 23 points of damage.

"Where the hell did that thing come from?" he yelled as he watched Rose fly down to safety. "Hey, Thanks for nothing you coward!" he yelled just as the Dragon flapped its wings creating a wind current. Luckily for Tommy, the copter was well built, and could take a good beating, but sadly Tommy had forgotten his seatbelt as he was being smacked around as the copter twirled around. Finally his packs of CDs got knocked loose, and flew out the window.

Melissa had been watching this the entire time, and smiled when she saw the CDs fly out. She quickly pulled out her GBA again in secrete and pushed a few buttons. Suddenly the Dragon had changed targets and blasted the CDs with it's beam, completely vaporizing them.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" screamed Tommy as he began to charge at the Dragon. "Computer, Target Acquired, Lock and Fire!" he said as his cannons powered up, forgetting he only had two shots.

The Cannons fired and head straight for the Dragon, which opened it's mouth, and ATE Tommy's attack. After a few moments of chewing, it spited them back up, which slammed into his Gyrocopter, knocking him out of sight into a distant mountain.

"Stupid!" thought Sonic as he watched Tommy fly away.

On the side of the mountain

The copter had slammed into the rock side, but remarkably stayed intact, other then a few dents. Tommy was knocked out of his wheel chair a few meters away, and was trying to get back to his Gyrocopter. When he finally got there, he found the computer system not operational, so he opened the glove compartment to pull out schematics so he could try to repair it. When he turned on the holo-generator, about 1,230 pages of Schematics appeared, 300 of them on the Computer system alone.

"Shit, this will take a while," he said getting to work.

Back with the funny little RPG characters

"Everyone, Prepare to attack at once," yelled Kalshion taking a fighting stance.

"No need," said Melissa who was smiling.

"What do you mean?" asked Shampoo's voice.

Suddenly the Dragon gave what looked like a smile, and flew off from where it came from.

Ryoga just looked with a look equivalent to when you find your Computer didn't work because you didn't plug it into the wall, "That was odd." he said.

"Not really," said Melissa, "It simply didn't like Tommy's music, Dragons have sensitive ears ya know."

Hikeya was staring at the sky now with her jaw hanging at what just happened. Rose finally went over to her, "Why did you think Dragons never attack people?" she asked.

Hikeya just looked around, "It's just what I was taught," she said trying to look innocent.

Rose just looked at Sonic, knowing she was defiantly hiding something, before the group continued down the path. Not soon after, they had come in a fork in the road, and had three choices, straight, left, or right.

"You know, there are 10 dozen ants over the left, 30 frogmen to the right, and straight ahead there is a pack of werewolves," said Melissa as the group decided which path to take, noting each one did end up at the castle.

"How does she know?" asked Sonic.

But Before Rose could ask Melissa responded, "Oh, and I know because I can smell them".

"Assuming you are right, I rather keep fighting those ants," said Kalshion.

So with that, the group went left, finding Melissa to be absolutely correct. Of course, they still had to battle 10 dozen ants, before they made it to a small hut, that had refreshments and supplies. An old man, who identified himself as Nostradamus, was running the hut.

"So where are you off to brave travelers?" he asked looking at the group members after they had freshen up.

"We are off to the Fortress down here to retrieve a key, that will stop this RPG curse," replied Rose.

"Ah I see," said Nostradamus now looking at Melissa, "I fear I must warn you that a traitor is within your group."

"Traitor?" said Ukyou's voice, "Who Traitor?"

"Well, the traitor is..." said Nostradamus as a giant Pineapple fell on his Hut, which KOed him.

"Oh my, where on earth did that giant pineapple come from?" asked Melissa hiding her smile.

Ryoga than jumped back with sweat running down his hair, "OH NO, RUN!" he said pointing to the top of the Pineapple, which had a fuse that was lit and going down.

Everyone attempted to run, but it was pointless. The Pineapple exploded knocking everyone out for a moment. When everyone came too, they found Melissa had came to first, or was it that she was never KOed?

"You guys alright?" asked Melissa helping them up.

"Yea, I guess so," replied the gang in their own ways.

They looked back at the hut, which was no longer a hut, but what looked like a black bird nest, before deciding they better not waste time, and headed off to the Fortress.

Back with Tommy, the handyman

"Ah shit, this last chip is fried beyond repair, and it is vital to the system," he said with his head in a slot on the side of the Gyrocopter.

There were parts all around him, most of them, which were broken, and he had replaced with spare parts he had. Tommy pulled his head out and went over to his bag of spare chips, looking for the correct chip part.

"Lets see, where is TFM-0546," he said to himself, "Ah found it."

No sooner had he pulled out the chip, however, that he found it had been damage and was useless.

"Damnit, where am I going to find a TFM-0546 chip!" he yelled dropping his CD player on the ground which knocked off the cover revealing the inside circuitry. "What? That can't be right!" he said taking a closer look at his CD Player.

Inside, was a TFM-0546 chip, which still was in perfect shape. Tommy looked at his CD Player, then his Gyrocopter, trying to figure out which was more important. This decision Process took about 30 minutes before he finally decided, taking the chip out, and installing it into the Gyrocopter.

With the chip installed, the Gyrocopter sprang to life. Tommy hoped in and took off, but decided to take a detour to the town first, to try to find a CD Player and some CDs. He knew he saw one of those shops while looking around after the RPG curse, and he figured he could get a few replacement CDs fast and easy.

CmptrWz

Several hours later

Tommy had gotten a fresh supply of CDs and a new CD player, as well as enough spare TFM chips to last him a lifetime. He found, however, that he couldn't get the speakers to work so he had to use headphones instead. He caught up with the group after a little searching, and soon he was bombing ants again.

"Hey idiot," called Melissa. "Why don't you try using something other then bombs for a change."

Tommy barely heard this, but flew down and started yelling at Melissa. "I can't use anything else because of this STUPID CURSE. Do you have a PROBLEM WITH THAT?"

Melissa glared at Tommy as he yelled, waited a moment, and flew back up again. He then turned and stuck his tongue out at her as she was turning away. She saw this out of the corner of her eye, however, and before anyone knew what had happened a MP box had opened up, and the value in it dropped by fifty. Time seemed to stop for everyone but Melissa and Tommy as a gleam seemed to come from her eyes, flying into the air and striking Tommy, after which time restarted and Tommy fell, KOed. Looking at the box before it closed they saw that Melissa had given Tommy "the look", which apparently had given an instant KO. Rose, Emily, Jaime, Katarina, and Hikeya all checked their attack listings to find they had the same attack listed. Checking the extended information they found that it only worked on males that could pass for human in appearance. That included Elves, for instance, but not humanoid cats or ants. The downside was that it only worked on someone you were seriously pissed off at.

The group didn't want to leave Tommy sitting there, but the only way they had of waking him up was to have Rose kiss him. Since she wasn't about to do that at this point, they ended up having to leave him. Sonic did, however, figure out enough of the controls to set it on autopilot, the only destination being the scientist's home. Soon Tommy was off, maybe he would wake up sometime soon. In the meantime the group continued on, finally spotting the fortress about half an hour later.

As the group made their final approach to the fortress Sonic was thinking, making sure he wasn't transmitting to anyone else. He had been watching Melissa more closely, having noticed that nothing seemed to attack her, damage her, or cause her to attack, aside from Tommy. In fact, the only attacks she had used had been to turn off that blasted music, which was good enough alone he supposed, and to knock out Tommy after he had yelled at her. She was, however, always doing something behind the group right before an attack hit. It took him a while, but he finally realized that she was somehow calling the attacks. She was the traitor, and he had to let the others know so they could do something about it.

Melissa, however, saw the glint of realization in Sonic's eye. She quickly blocked his thoughts so that only she would hear them for the next few minutes. Seconds later Sonic let out a warning to Rose, Emily, and Jaime. They didn't react to it though, which shocked him. Stopping and trying again he found that they only tried asking him why he had stopped, just before they all froze. Turning around he found Melissa, still moving. "Oh shit," he thought, not realizing he was transmitting.

"Shit nothing, I am just leaving," Melissa said. "Congratulations on figuring it out, the others didn't even appear to be taking the warning seriously." With that Melissa pulled on a black cloak, her body changing under it as her face was hidden. A bright light appeared for a second and the cloaked figure was gone, leaving behind a sword. Sonic reached down and picked it up, finding that it raised his attack five points and did more damage then the sword he was currently using. On the hilt he found two Ms, one black and one white.

"So it was the old coot the entire time," thought Sonic.

"What are you talking about now?" asked Rose, sounding annoyed. "And what did you do with Melissa?"

"Melissa was the old coot," Sonic said. "He left me this sword, as a reward for figuring out his secret I suppose. Then he left."

Several jaws dropped at this, Sonic not realizing what he had just said. He looked at Rose, Emily, Jaime, and Shampoo with their jaws hanging open, Ukyo stuttering in Chinese, Kalshion and Katarina trying to decide if they should be falling over or congratulating Sonic. Then it hit him, he had just SAID something. He had his voice back! He then noticed Ryoga and Hikeya were fighting over something, both getting very angry.

"What are you two fighting about?" Sonic called, finding speaking felt slightly odd initially.

"This PERVERT tried to rip off my shirt," screamed Hikeya.

"I tripped on a branch," yelled Ryoga. "Then YOU tried to pull my pants off!"

"This isn't like Ryoga at all, but who knows about Hikeya," Sonic whispered to himself, just before two stat windows popped open. Ryoga and Hikeya's stats were showing, their class was currently Guide. That didn't last long, however, as suddenly both of them changed into Aimless Wanderers, before they both stormed into the fortress. Moments later two screams were heard, one distinctly male and one distinctly female.

"Oh great," said Rose. "Now we have to save them too!"

A bright light startled Rose a moment later, coming from the clouds and surrounding her. She then heard a voice in her head, knowing that no one else was hearing it.

"Sonic no longer needs your services as a voice," came the voice. "Fly above the door to the hole there. Inside you will find a ring sized for your finger."

The light vanished, and Rose decided that she couldn't get much worse off then she already was, so she found the hole and the ring inside. She examined the ring for a moment as she flew back to the group, and put it on. Suddenly the glow from her body grew fifty fold, blinding those around her. When the glow subsided her stat window was open. All of her attack values were showing zero, before they suddenly jumped. She now had almost all her stats identical to Sonic's, and a wand formed from the ring she had put on. She didn't have time to celebrate, however, as a rumbling came from the fortress.

Chapter 26
The First Fortress
Order, Chaos, and .... tea parties?

Everyone was watching the fortress, not realizing that night had just fallen. All the biometal units were returning, and this happened to be the ISDF fortress. All kinds of scouts, tanks, walkers, and more suddenly returned, using openings that literally seemed to melt out of the walls of the fortress. After twenty minutes of this the holes closed, no units left outside.

The group slowly approached the entrance, checking for turrets hiding inside, and finally finding themselves in a large open space. A gate crashed down behind them, cutting off any chance of escape, as a pedestal raised itself out of the center of the room. Lights blared from the pedestal, lighting up the entryway they had come in through as well as 3 others. All 4 entryways were barred and the room was otherwise empty.

Walking over to the pedestal, having nothing better to do, the group noticed a single button in the middle of it. Ignoring the button, for now, they checked all the gates to find they were all sealed shut tightly, and they couldn't see anything through them, not even the one they had come in through. By this time they had, however, lost track of which one that was, not that it would have mattered as the entire room had moved since they entered it anyway. The pedestal was now in the center of the fortress, the main entryway no longer existing outside.

Sonic then walked back over to the pedestal, staring at the button. "This is either entirely too easy," he said, "or something is seriously wrong with this picture." Sonic continued to look at the button for a moment, before reaching out to press it.

On the Enterprise......

The ship is suddenly rocked by a shockwave of some kind......

"What was that?" asked Picard, half-dazed from the sudden shock.

"It was a shockwave," replied Data. "Similar to a Sonic Boom. Based on that, I have determined what it appears to have originated as. Would you like to hear it?"

"Make it so," said Picard, followed by Data starting playback.

"YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCHHHHHH", the recording played back.

"That is what I call painful," noted Riker.

Back with the group......

The lights on the pedestal have gone out, leaving the group in near-darkness. Rose's pendant is providing enough light to see by, but not much more.

"Sheesh," said Rose. "I am surprised that this place is still STANDING after that!"

"I guess it was too easy," said Sonic, pulling himself off of the floor. "That shock was a tad much, though."

Suddenly four lights came on, one above each entryway. The lights are cast to the floor, where symbols are revealed. The first entryway shows an atom with a rose for a nucleus, the second shows an oven mitt with a cat on it. The third entryway showed a single light-blue dragon, while the fourth showed a ying-yang. After twenty minutes of mulling over the symbols the group had come to a decision.

"Looks like we have to leave in pairs," said Jaime, flying over to the ying-yang. "Each symbol showing the pair that should go through."

"We must go through this door then," said Sonic, speaking for Rose and himself.

"This oven mitt must represent cooking," came Shampoo's voice, "which would be me, ummm, Ukyo, ummm.... Well, the cat would seem to represent Shampoo, ummm, me, ummmm...."

"It represents Shampoo and Ukyo," said Katarina. "Although possibly not in that order."

"Based on our heritage," Kalshion said, "this dragon would be me and Katarina."

"Which leaves the ying-yang for me and Jaime," finished Emily.

Each group went over to their entryway, looking for some clue as to what they should do next. They started with the gates, finding nothing, and one by one started examining the symbols on the floor. As everyone was over the symbols circles of energy formed, a barrier quickly rising out of them. Everyone was trapped on top of their symbol, which then vanished just before a powerful wind sucked everyone into the floor. The holes in the floor then sealed up, the barriers vanishing and the lights shutting off.

Somewhere in a dark cavern

"Ugh," moaned Sonic. "I didn't need that."

"Mmmph", mumbled Rose. "MMMMMPPPHHH"

Sonic looked around for a second, then realized that something was glowing UNDER him. He quickly rolled over, revealing Rose.

"Sorry," Sonic said. "Didn't know you were under there."

"It's ok," said Rose, as she got up. "Where are we?"

"Looks like a cavern," Sonic responded. "But I can't see a way out. How did we get IN?"

"I don't know, let me look around for a minute," responded Rose. "My pendant should help me see."

Rose flew around the cavern, finding absolutely nothing. The walls were perfectly smooth, as was the floor, and the seam between the two was non-existent. The only imperfection in the entire cavern was where they had fallen, right in the center, where a small circle was raised from the floor.

"So there is nothing but this thing," Sonic said after Rose explained her findings. "Wonder if it is a clue." With that Sonic tapped the edge of the circle with his foot, causing a rumbling to fill the cavern.

"What did you do?" asked Rose, a little worried.

"All I did was tap it with my toe!" said Sonic, watching the circle raise in a silver shape, taking the form of a pedestal. A single red button adorned the center of it.

"Another button..." said Rose.

"Your turn," said Sonic, glaring at Rose. "I pushed the last one."

Rose looked at Sonic, remembering what had happened to him when he pressed the last button, before flying over and landing on the pedestal. Seeing no other way to push the button, she stepped on top of it, depressing it. She cringed, expecting a shock, but none came.

"Well," said Rose. "That was useless."

"Appears so," said Sonic. "I don't suppose a door opened up anywhere?"

"Let me go check," said Rose, flying off the button. The button then popped up, causing a rumbling to fill the cavern. Sonic and Rose looked around as the pedestal sank back into the ground and a massive light appeared above them.

"Here, I bring you gift," came a loud voice. "From the Island!"

"SHIT!" echoed the voices of Sonic and Rose as a giant pineapple dropped into the middle of the cavern. They had no time to react before it exploded. When the smoke cleared Sonic and Rose were KOed, both plastered to the walls, with a hole in the center of the cavern revealing a tunnel.

Meanwhile, in a bedroom

Two beds are sitting side by side. The first contains Emily, who appears to be having a nightmare, while the second contains Jaime, who is sleeping soundly. Laying on the end of each bed is a set of clothes, if you examined them closely you would find that they are the clothes that each had been wearing before they were pulled through the floor. The clothes have been washed and repaired, where needed. Their weapons are sitting on a table next to each bed, also having been cleaned and repaired where needed.

Emily finally woke up, with a classic high-pitched scream. As she was clutching her chest, trying to get her heart to stop trying to get out, Jaime rolled over.

"Hey sis," said Jaime, groggily. "What got into you?"

"I had a nightmare," said Emily, turning towards Jaime. "You were turned into a....." Emily froze at this point, staring at Jaime.

"Into a what?" asked Jaime, rubbing her eyes.

"P...P...PIXIE!" screamed Emily, jumping back against the wall, clutching her blanket to her chest.

"Don't worry," said Jaime, getting dressed. "Dad will eventually change me back. In the meantime, where are we?"

Emily had finally calmed down at this point, and had started getting dressed. "I don't know. Looks like a house."

"Weren't we in a fortress?" Jaime said rhetorically. "When did we end up here?"

"There are no windows," said Emily, more to herself. "Just that door."

"Well," Jaime said, picking up the last of her things. "Lets get going. The longer we are here the better chance something happens to us."

"You don't know how right you are," thought a small girl watching through a painting as the two left the room, finding themselves in a hallway full of doors. There were no stairs, and no door looked like a better choice then any other. On a whim, Emily opened one door and stepped through. A second later she came out of a door farther down the hall.

"What the...." said Emily, looking at the door. She walked across the hall into another door, and ended up coming out of a trap door they hadn't seen in the floor. Jaime then tried a door, ending up in the light fixture in the middle of the hallway. Another attempt landed her down the hall. They continued this way for an hour, trying every door in the hallway except for the one opposite the door they started at.

"You know," Jaime said, leaning against an open trap door. "We still have one more door to try."

"Well then," said Emily. "Lets try it!"

The two went over to the door, opened it, and stepped through into darkness. Emily fumbled for a light switch, finally finding one and turning it on. A small light came on overhead, blinding them for a second. When their eyes adjusted they saw that the room contained three things. To the left was a door to a small room with a cabinet in it. Straight ahead was a gateway with a field over it, that proved to be quite solid to the touch, but appeared to be the way to get to a large room with a table and a few other similar gateways in it. To the left was a small alcove with a verbal puzzle in it.

Blood may flow through your veins
Your heart may beat to a tune
But if you pass you will have deathly pains
Your appearance must change to avoid your doom

"What could that mean?" thought Emily. "It makes no sense."

"Hey Emily," called Jaime. "Come check this out."

"Coming," said Emily, still puzzling over the puzzle. "What is it?"

"Looks like new clothes for us," said Jaime, gesturing at the now-open cabinet. Inside were two sets of clothes, one sized for each of them. Both were dresses with lollipops and bonnets, a green one for Jaime and a red one for Emily. On a glass door covering the outfits was a yellow triangle with an exclamation point inside it.

"You know," said Emily, "that is probably what the riddle means. We have to change our clothes to go through that gateway."

"What riddle?" asked Jaime.

"The one over in that alcove," Emily responded. "I am more worried about what else the clothes will do to us."

"Right now I don't think that is a factor," said Jaime. "If we have to wear them to get out of here then we have to wear them because I am NOT staying here."

"Good point," said Emily. "Lets get this over with."

Emily reached for the door, which opened with a hiss before she could touch it. Shooting a look at Jaime for a second, they each touched the clothing sized for them. Instantly their existing clothing vanished, and was replaced with the clothing they had touched. They both quickly checked their inventory, and found that their old clothing wasn't there.

"Ok," Emily finally said. "This is NOT what I was expecting. We can't even change out of these things now without going naked!"

"Then we will just have to deal with that," said Jaime. "Lets go already!"

The two walked over to the gateway, and found it would let them pass. Once they were through it sealed behind them, blocking any chance of escape. The other gateways would not let them through, so they sat at the table. It was currently empty, so they had nothing to do.

"Well," said Emily. "That didn't get us far."

"Nope," said Jaime. "We shouldn't have moved, it would have been easier to sleep."

"You got that right!" came a high-pitched voice. A hologram of an odd-looking young girl appeared above the table, facing Emily and Jaime. "You fell for a trap, and your time has come. As those dresses activate, dolls you shall become!" With that the hologram vanished, leaving Emily and Jaime shocked. They started trying to pull off the dresses, not caring if they were naked any longer, but found that they would not come off. Instead, they started to glow, engulfing Emily and Jaime in an eerie light. When the light died down they found they could still move and speak, as well as not having shrunk, but were now made out of porcelain.

"Oh great," said Emily. "Now we are very fragile."

"At least we still have attack abilities," said Jaime, looking at her stats. "I just wish I could still fly, but my wings are gone."

The two mulled over what had happened to them as the others arrived.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dina.
Someone's in the kitchen I know, I know.
Someone's in the kitchen with Dina.
Playing on the old banjo.

In the kitchen(you did figure that out from the above, right?) we find Shampoo and Ukyo on the floor. They aren't moving, but a banjo can be heard playing somewhere. Before the camera can pan away to find the person playing the banjo Ukyo's wrist moves. Soon both Shampoo and Ukyo have gotten up, and are trying to figure out where they are.

FYI: For the purpose of this sequence, Shampoo and Ukyo will refer to the body that contains the named mind.

"Where are we," said Ukyo, looking around. "And where is that Banjo coming from?"

"I no know," said Shampoo. "Looks like Kitchen."

"Lets get out of here as quickly as possible," Ukyo said nervously. "Who knows what could happen to us in here."

"Good idea," said Shampoo.

Soon the two were looking for a way out, both also trying to figure out where the banjo was coming from. After twenty minutes of searching they had discovered that there wasn't a single door in the place. The only thing of interest was a very large cake, the kind that you pop out of, that looked large enough to hold a dozen people. They hadn't seen a small girl watching through cracked cabinet doors, nor had they opened the walk-in fridge, when they stopped back where they had started.

"Well," said Ukyo. "There isn't a way out, and I am getting hungry."

"Me too," said Shampoo. "Maybe there food in fridge?"

"Good idea," said Ukyo. "Lets check."

They walked over to the fridge, opened it up, and looked inside. The fridge was filled with desserts, more then they thought possible. The little girl watching smiled as the two each picked up a chocolate from a shelf next to the door and tested it. Within seconds both Ukyo and Shampoo got a look of intense hunger and started gorging themselves uncontrollably, eating everything in sight. Half an hour later they had cleared out the entire fridge, as well as the freezer in back of it. All in all they had each gained five hundred pounds, all of it fat. Their clothes had expanded to fit, but they had trouble getting through the fridge door. As soon as they left the fridge they realized what they had done, but found they were so bloated they couldn't speak. They waddled through the kitchen, starting to get annoyed at the banjo and still not noticing the little girl watching from behind cabinet doors. They finally came across the giant cake again. For some reason they got the idea of climbing inside of it, finding that they fit perfectly inside. So perfectly, in fact, that they were stuck. The little girl came out of hiding and closed the top of the cake, keeping herself unseen by staying behind the top of the cake as she put it into place.

"You shouldn't gorge yourself like that," the little girl said, snickering. "It isn't good for your health." The cake suddenly sank into the floor, taking the little girl with it, into what looked like a laboratory. The little girl walked over to a control panel, aiming a large gun at the cake. "What should I do with you two pigs?"

We now return you to the weird bit of "Shampoo in Ukyo" and "Ukyo in Shampoo"

As she messed with the controls on the beam the banjo music changed tempo slightly, slowing down a tad. Behind the ray gun Ryoga sits playing the banjo, in a weird cell that looks like an airlock. He appears to be in a trance, not moving aside from what is required to play the banjo itself.

"Stop playing that stupid banjo and go back to your cell," the little girl yelled. "I am sick of that stupid sound!"

Ryoga nodded, stopping his playing, and the area he was in flew up into the fortress, returning to where Hikeya was. She appeared to be in a similar state, washing clothes that would fit the little girl. She was dressed in clothes that were the same style as the little girl's, but sized to her. If you took a good look you would notice that she was smaller then she had been, looking younger, as she slowly regressed in age to match the little girl, her suppressed mind only partially regressing with her body.

"Soon my playmate will be ready to play," the little girl said. "Then the fun will really begin. Until then, lets have some fun with you two." The girl studied a scanner that had loaded info on the two, then a sneer adorned her lips. "I know just what to do with each of you now, you blobs you."

The girl started setting the beam, changing settings all over the place. After a few minutes she was done, and she turned the beam on. The cake was unaffected, but the occupants were knocked out and changed. When the beam shut off the girl pushed a button, and a tube came down over the cake. The cake was then sucked up through the tube as the girl laughed about what she had just done, before going to torture others.

Back with Emily and Jaime

Emily and Jaime were trying to figure out the ins and outs of their body when a tube dropped down onto the table. A cake dropped in the tube, landing on the table, before the tube vanished again. It was a very large cake, and Emily and Jaime both wished they had the ability to eat right now. After a few minutes of examining the cake, having nothing better to do, Jaime jumped back, almost falling off the table.

"It..." Jaime stuttered, "it moved!"

"WHAT?" yelled Emily, rushing over. Just as she got there the top of the cake flew open and two blurs came out of it. The first blur turned out to be a humanoid cat with purple hair, which happened to be Ukyo mentally. The second blur turned out to be a gingerbread woman, an inch shorter then Jaime, that happened to be Shampoo mentally.

"You know," said Jaime, "I think we lucked out on our change."

"I think you are right," said Emily, who was checking their stats and had just found out who they were.

They started to talk, as best they could, before the next group arrived.

In a Shrine-like area

Kalshion and Katarina found themselves in a large room, a very large tree adorning one end. Katarina was floating, as usual, while Kalshion had been laying on the ground under her. They both appeared to be fine, and started looking around.

"Where are we?" Katarina asked no one in particular. "Looks like a shrine."

"If this is a shrine then I wonder who, or what, worships here," replied Kalshion, looking at weird statues serving as pillars. "These statues aren't all exactly sacred material."

"Well, we don't have much to do," said Katarina. "There are no doors or windows."

"Just statues and the side of a tree," Kalshion finished. "I don't suppose there are any hidden doors around?"

Katarina looked around, noting the smooth walls. "I doubt we could find them."

Kalshion walked around the room, feeling the walls. "Nothing," he said, perplexed. "Not a single imperfection until the tree."

"That's it!" yelled Katarina. "The tree, it must be a door!"

"You might be right," said Kalshion as he and Katarina started to examine the tree. After twenty minutes or so they had found nothing. "This is getting us nowhere."

"There has to be a way out," said Katarina. "We did get in, after all."

"Well then," said Kalshion, "maybe there is a hidden switch in one of the statues?"

"I personally do not want to think about touching some of those," said Katarina.

"Neither do I," agreed Kalshion. "However, it may be our only way out. Lets just start by looking for anything that might be a button or lever or something, from what we can see."

"Ok," said Katarina. "I can deal with that. Lets get started."

Kalshion and Katarina searched each statue, examining every detail they could stand to examine, looking for any kind of button, lever, or switch. Over half an hour later they finally finished, each of them having examined half the statues. After resting for a minute, leaning against the tree, they started to discuss their findings.

"I only found one statue that showed promise," said Kalshion, pointing at a statue of a girl with one arm straight out in front of her. "It looks like the arm on that one can be pulled down, but I can't reach it."

"I found one that looked promising as well," said Katarina, pointing at a warrior statue adorned with weapons. "I think the buckle on that one's belt has a button in it."

"Well then," said Kalshion. "Lets trade. You go pull that arm down while I push the button."

"I don't know," said Katarina. "Can we trust them?"

"Do we have a choice?" answered Kalshion. "I don't know about you, but since I don't have anything that makes it so I don't need to use a bathroom I can't stick around as long."

"Alright," answered Katarina. "But if that statue curses me again I will hold you responsible!"

"Sounds fair," said Kalshion. "But only if I get out of here without a curse. Deal?"

"Deal," Katarina agreed, floating over to the statue holding out its arm. "Lets get this over with."

Kalshion walked over to the statue with a button in the belt, reaching out and pushing it as Katarina was about to grab the arm. Suddenly the arm swung down, grabbing Katarina. Before she had a chance to scream the statue's hand glowed brightly and ripped her body off of her spirit, throwing it through a hole that appeared in the wall. Shocked into silence, Katarina didn't notice that she was now standing on the ground, but no longer had a body. She was a transparent blue all over, even the clothes she was wearing were transparent.

Kalshion, on the other hand, hadn't exactly fared much better. He had been hit by two small tubes going into his legs a moment after pushing the button. Soon small metal protrusions started coming out of his skin, becoming part of him. Before long he looked like a Borg Drone, although anyone with knowledge of Borg technology taking a good look would have noticed that there was nothing in the mechanics for assimilating. He soon battled the mechanics for his mind, winning out in the end, pushing most of the Borg mentality to the recesses of his mind. As a result of this, Katarina recovered from her experience first.

"Kalshion," Katarina stuttered, afraid to move. "What just happened?"

Kalshion turned and looked at Katarina, stunned for a second. "I think you are dead," he finally said, with a slight metallic sound in his voice.

"D..." Katarina started, finally looking down at herself. "Dead?"

"Yea," said Kalshion. "At least, you look like a ghost."

Katarina finally looked over at Kalshion, and would have fainted had she had blood to leave her head on her. "You...you are part machine!" she finally blurted.

"We guess we are," said Kalshion, not noticing his royal 'we'. Katarina, for her part ignored it. "Did any doors open?"

Katarina looked behind Kalshion, noticing that the tree was no longer there. "If the tree being gone is a door opening, then yes."

The two walked through the opening the tree left, which promptly closed up behind them. They found themselves with the others, and weren't sure if they were more shocked with themselves or the others already there now.

Back in the cavern

Sonic and Rose are on opposite sides of the cavern, just waking up. In the center of the cavern the hole in the floor glows ever so slightly, just enough to illuminate the cavern itself. The cavern appears to be empty otherwise. Both look up, and are startled, staring straight at each other as if there was something between them. Soon anger boosted their power fifty fold each, and they lunged at each other, putting their full power into an attack. When they made contact a shockwave disrupted the fabric of space-time, sending the pulse back into itself, the resulting exponential rise in force resulting in an energy black hole forming at the point of contact. The two forms and the energy they were unleashing mixed, became one, and then split in another massive burst of energy.

When all was said and done, Sonic and Rose were in the hole that had appeared in the floor after the pineapple exploded, this time Rose was on top of Sonic. They awoke, and looked at each other.

"Sonic," Rose started, shocked at what she saw. "Did I do that to you?"

"Did you do what?" Sonic asked, confused.

"Where to begin," said Rose, touching her finger to her lips. "Well, there is my symbol emblazoned on your forehead, your hair looking like mine, and the bulges in your shirt."

Sonic looked down at his chest, felt his forehead, and then his hair, before taking a good look at Rose. "You know," he started, "you seem to have a mark on your forehead too, have my hair, and the front of your shirt looks a bit flat."

Rose looked down at herself this time, then repeated Sonic's previous motions with her forehead and hair. "So, what just happened?"

"I don't know," Sonic said thoughtfully. "I woke up, and saw DS cut your head off with a sword. After that things get fuzzy."

"That is odd," said Rose. "I saw DS rip you in two before things got fuzzy."

"Could it be that we hallucinated," said Sonic, "or were tricked, and ended up attacking each other in our rage?"

"Seems like a plausible idea to me," answered Rose.

"Hey you two," called a squeaky voice. "You gonna sit there all day?"

Sonic and Rose turned and looked down the tunnel they were currently in, to a gateway with a small doll on the other side. Looking at each other and shrugging, they got up and walked through the gateway, which sealed behind them. They surveyed the room, finding the various members of the group transformed. There was one open gateway left, that no one could pass through, and they soon figured out who was who. Nobody was missing, so where did the gateway go?

In a large, pink bedroom

"That was funny," a small girl said. "Using the love those two shared to get them to attack one another."

"Transformation chamber one reports completion," a computerized voice interrupted.

"YAY!" yelled the girl as she jumped up. "My playmate is ready!"

The girl ran down some stairs to where everyone else was, on a balcony that hadn't been there before. The ceiling opened up and Hikeya, now the same age as the girl with identical clothes, floated down and landed next to the girl. Taking a good look at her you would notice that she appears to be in a trance, which would be correct. No one had seen them though, at least not yet, as they were arguing over who had gotten off the easiest. Rose had, however, been staying out of the argument initially, and finally lost her temper.

"SHUT UP," screamed Rose, shocking everyone including the little girl, who had been working on bringing Hikeya out of her trance while instilling a mindset similar to her own devious one. "ANYONE WITH EYES CAN SEE I GOT OFF THE EASIEST, CAN WE GET ON WITH IT NOW?"

No one had a chance to answer, however, before Hikeya snapped out of her trance, her mind having not been affected. She took one look at her body as everyone else stared at Rose. She didn't say anything at first, feeling herself to make sure it was real. After assuring herself that her body was indeed younger, although she wasn't sure how she knew what a younger girl looked like, she went into shock for a second.

Precisely eight tenths of a second later she seemed to calm down, taking in a deep breath. No one had heard her or noticed her movements yet, the little girl just turning around to turn her attentions back to her and the group about to start apologizing to Rose. Hikeya held the breath in for a tenth of a second, then did the only thing she could think of at the time.

She screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," came the ear-splitting scream, causing gale-force winds to fill the entire room. The vibrations from the scream caused the ceiling to split and crack, and Ryoga fell into the room. Hikeya was still screaming, however, and Ryoga snapped out of his trance because of it. Soon the balcony that Hikeya was standing on collapsed, dropping her into the group, finally stopping her screaming as she struggled to not pass out from the effort.

The little girl was still hanging in the air, however she was transparent now. Her lower half had been replaced by a wisp of smoke-like substance, and she turned towards the group. "Damn you all," she said as she vanished. "I never got to play."

Hikeya finally lost her battle and fell asleep. Shampoo was currently broken, pieces spread around the room, while Emily and Jaime were merely cracked. Katarina was the only one who hadn't been affected physically by the scream, having nothing physical to be affected, while most of the others were dealing with headaches. Any concern for the others faded very quickly, however, as the room filled with an eerie glow, blinding everyone. Music came on in the background as the glow appeared to fade, but instead of seeing the room they were in the group saw a key. Their view flew backward out of a window, showing the top room of a tower, continuing outward to show an impossibly tall tower. The helicopter on the other side of the tower was missed, however, as the blinding glow came back, and then vanished, leaving the group in the room.

The glow had done more then just show them their goal, however. Emily and Jaime were flesh and blood again, Jaime having gotten her tail back, but they noticed they were still wearing the clothes that had changed them. Sonic and Rose no longer had their burn marks, and now had their complete, correct bodies again, although they hadn't noticed yet. Shampoo and Ukyo were the happiest of those returned to normal, however, as they were no longer in each others bodies. Of course, the cost of their restored forms was their ability to fight, but they didn't realize this yet.

The bad news was that Kalshion was still part machine, Katarina was still a spirit, and Hikeya was still a little girl. Their changes had apparently been done in a way that prevented them from changing back afterwards, and no one could tell how long the changes might last. They were not, however, in any condition to move on, so they decided to rest here.

The next day

Everyone had gotten a good night's sleep in the room, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Well, the rest of the fortress anyway.

The group found that the final gateway in the room had been opened, and they passed on through it. Ryoga, calm at this point, led the way. Hikeya was still working on getting used to her new nine-year-old body. The change wasn't as drastic to her as she would have normally figured, however, as her mind had regressed to around fourteen. The change was, however, enough to put her in an odd mood that made her directions unreliable.

Ryoga led them through every back path and corridor, bypassing every patrol in the place, until they came to a single wooden door. Ryoga stopped here, looked at the door, and then backed off.

"No," he said to himself. "There isn't any other way." He reached out for the doorknob as everyone else looked on, confused. He swung the door open and stepped through, everyone else following him. Looming high in the sky in front of them was the tower they had seen the day before, the only door being in the base that was across a courtyard below them. Everyone had, however, frozen at the sight of the courtyard, watching hundreds of Scouts, Tanks, and Mortar Bikes roaming it with several gun towers guarding the tower entrance.

"AAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA," came a loud whistle, causing the entire group to jump back against the wall in case they had been seen. The opposite soon proved to be correct, though, as the sun peeked over the wall and most of the units in the courtyard left through various tunnels, apparently to resume their tormenting of the planet. Enough tanks and scouts were left to cause a problem, not to mention the gun towers. With less units below them the group approached the edge of the platform they were on, to get a better look.

"Well," Sonic said, examining the layout of the courtyard. "Our only chance to get past without additional curses would appear to be finding some way to distract those gun towers. We should be able to handle the tanks and scouts."

"Easier said then done," commented Rose, looking around. She and Jaime had moved out off the edge of the platform, as they didn't need the platform to stand on. "Especially with the turrets below the platform."

"Turrets?" said Katarina, going to look for herself. Soon she was next to Rose and Jaime, floating out off the edge of the platform. She was, however, large enough to form a target that the turrets saw and fired at. Katarina closed her eyes and screamed at this, Rose and Jaime having pulled back already. Katarina prepared for the worst, but it never came. Finally gathering up the courage to open her eyes, she looked down at the turrets. "Huh?"

"Looks like they can't hit you," said Kalshion. "Must be because you don't have a physical body."

"In that case," said Sonic, "you just volunteered to be our distraction!"

"WHAT?" yelled Katarina.

"It isn't like it is dangerous," noted Jaime.

"Yea," said Emily. "If they can't hit you then you can't be cursed."

"I suppose you are right," said Katarina. "Lets get this over with." She still hadn't moved from where the turrets were firing at her, when the turrets finally ran out of ammo. They packed up and went off to get more, so the group hurried down into the courtyard before replacements could show up. Katarina distracted any biometal forces that showed up long enough for the others to blast them away.

It didn't take long for the group to reach the gun towers. Katarina distracted the two, then came up with an idea. She floated right between the two towers, causing them to hit each other. The rest of the group passed through untouched, then she floated through the door into the tower.

"Ok," Katarina said as she re-joined the others. "I have to admit, being dead can come in handy."

"Lets hurry," Ukyo said. "I don't want to be here any longer then I have to." She hadn't tried fighting yet, nor had Shampoo, so they still didn't know that they had no ability to fight as the group pressed up a staircase.

Six hours, 98 battles later

Ukyo and Shampoo were hiding behind the rest of the group at this point, scared out of their wits by their inability to defend themselves. They had been fine initially, but after thirty battles or so their mental block against the fear had started to crumble. Everyone else was badly injured at this point, and in serious need of rest. Katarina was included in this, as she found magic attacks could harm her. The group soon came to a landing with a sign and a door. Sonic stepped up to read the sign aloud.

"Congratulations," the sign read. "You made it halfway up. Please feel free to use the beds."

The entire group, Ukyo and Shampoo included, fell over backwards at this. After a few minutes they got to their feet, went into the room, and collapsed on beds. Rose shared a pillow with Sonic, Jaime doing the same with Emily. Kalshion found a Borg alcove, and used it, while Ukyo, Shampoo, and Katarina each used a bed. Katarina didn't appear to need the bed, however, even though she still used it.

The next morning

The group woke up, got their things together, and left the little room. They were shocked when they found themselves at the top of the tower. There was a note on the floor outside the room, Kalshion picked it up and read it.

"You are welcome. I was lazy and didn't want to write about the other half of the climb." It was signed Wz.

"Well," said Sonic. "Whoever this Wz person is, they were a help. Now, how do we open this giant door?" Sonic examined the door, tried breaking it down by ramming into it and cutting it, and ended up winded having made no progress.

"May I make a suggestion?" asked Rose, sounding amused.

"Sure," Sonic replied, looking at her.

"Why don't we just do this," Rose said as she pushed a button next to the door labeled "Open", causing the doors to open.

"Oh, sure," said Sonic. "Do it the EASY way."

The group walked through the doors, Shampoo and Ukyo still hiding behind the others. The windows around the room let light in, showing a large mirror. Behind the mirror was a smaller door, obviously what was being protected. Seeing no enemy in the room, the group approached the mirror. Sonic was the closest when the mirror started to glow, his reflection jumping out of the mirror with a decidedly evil grin on its face. Soon duplicates of the rest of the group had also come out of the mirror, and the battle was on.

Well, the two Shampoos and the two Ukyos went off to the side and talked, neither the good nor evil versions having the ability to fight. The original Shampoo pulled some cookies out of her pack, and offered them to the evil clones. The evil clones, only have duplicate stats, attacks, and personalities, had no memory of the cookies and therefore nothing to suspect. They were the evil ones, after all. They each took a cookie, ate it, and were instantly KOed.

"So," said Ukyo. "What were those?"

"Akane's cookies," Shampoo replied, smiling.

The others started fighting their counterparts, no one having much of an advantage, the contents of their packs the only thing keeping the group from being wasted. Sonic and Rose, however, did seem to take less damage then their counterparts, key-shaped glows coming from them every few turns. This was not missed by MM, who had been watching their ordeal and continued to do so.

Two hours later

"That took WAAAAAY too long," said Sonic, barely standing.

"Uuuuuuuuugh," moaned Rose from the floor, assumingly in agreement.

Looking around the room would show destruction of anything and everything but the mirror and the door being protected. The clones had all vanished once defeated, and the group itself was barely conscious. Sonic hobbled over to the mirror, raised his sword, and barely touched the glass. That was enough, however, causing the mirror to shatter, glow, and vanish. The entire group was hit by a healing spell, bringing them back to full health. As soon as they got themselves together they moved through the smaller door, and stared at the pedestal they knew the key should have been on.

Unfortunately, there was no key. Behind the pedestal was a single window, the only other way into the room. Bars had been on it, but they had obviously been cut. Where the key should have been was a single piece of paper, folded into a small tent. On the visible part of the paper the group could see the words "Sorry, too late". Sonic reached out and picked up the paper, reading the inside of it out loud for the benefit of those there.

"Lupin was here"

Sonic looked at the others, no one knowing what to say. Ukyo finally snapped out of it, asking "Who is Lupin?"

"A master thief," replied Sonic. "But which one is it?"

"What do you mean," Katarina said. "You mean there is MORE THEN ONE OF THEM?"

"Three," said Rose. "At least. Although I could have sworn they were all dead by now."

"They were," came a voice out of nowhere, Sonic and Rose being the only ones that could hear it. "You are dealing with Lupin the Third, as well as his cohorts. However, if you want to know how to find them you will need to give something in return."

Sonic and Rose looked at the others, who were unmoving. "What do you want?" Sonic yelled, a pretty good idea of who he was talking to forming in his head.

"Your keys intrigue me," came the voice. "I wish to take a closer look at them. If you will let me do so then I will tell you what you need to know. If you agree to this then place your keys on the pedestal."

Sonic and Rose looked at each other, Sonic shrugged. He knew that the keys were useless to anyone but themselves, so he put his on the pedestal. Rose followed suit, and the pedestal "ate" their keys.

"Thank you," came the voice. "Your goal lies due north of the tower, two days on foot. You will also need three fish from the fishing spot along the way."

At the completion of that the others un-froze, just in time for the fortress to melt. When it was done there were no more ISDF forces, and a beam of energy flew back towards town. Sonic and Rose explained what they had to do, not entirely sure about the fish. Shampoo and Ukyo decided to stay with them, more for protection then anything. Soon the group was on their way.

The next day

"This must be that fishing spot," said Sonic, pulling a Rod and lure out of a chest. "Shall we do some fishing?"

"You go ahead," said Kalshion. "I have to get some of this water out of my joints."

"Suit yourself," said Sonic, going off to do some fishing. Rose didn't bother joining him, as she didn't want to become bait.

Ukyo made some Okonomiyaki, Shampoo made some Ramen, and Sonic soon returned with a dozen fish. They rested there that night, the location seeming safe. The next morning they set off again, constant battles in the forest they were passing through proving to be an annoyance. At some point it started to rain, causing further trouble. Finally they came to a large warehouse in the forest.

"Suppose this is the place?" asked Ryoga, holding his umbrella in one hand and Hikeya, in rabbit form, in the other. Shampoo was walking along in cat form next to the group, not having had her umbrella with her.

"I would say so," replied Emily.

"Who are you?" came a voice from the roof of the warehouse.

"We are warriors looking for a specific key," Jaime called back.

"You want the key," the voice came. "Fair enough. But you have to fight us for it!"

Without warning the side of the warehouse opened up and three massive machines flew out of it. Sonic and Rose both fell over, literally, upon recognizing the Gun sniper, Blade Liger, and Hellcat. After re-gaining their composure the group ran into the warehouse to see what was left.

Once inside Sonic and Rose finally understood the reason for the fishing. Rental on Zoids was done by fish, one fish per Zoid. There were three Zoids left, so Sonic gave the man three fish. After a moment of discussion it was decided that Sonic, Ryoga, and Kalshion were best suited to pilot the Zoids right now, so they each hopped in a Zoid. Ryoga didn't notice his extra passenger hop into the second seat of his Zoid, at least not right away anyway.

Out of the warehouse came a Shield Liger, piloted by Sonic, a Command Wolf, piloted by Kalshion, and a two-seated Dibison, piloted by Ryoga with Emily having jumped in the back in case a navigator was needed. They soon found a large maze-like area, and Lupin contacted them.

"This is where we shall do battle," he said. "As soon as the judge arrives, anyway."

On cue a white capsule slammed into the ground nearby. After the dust cleared it opened up, revealing a white judge. It started speaking immediately.

"The area within a fifteen mile radius is a designated Zoid Battlefield," came its voice. "This zone is now restricted. Only competitors and personnel have authorized entry. Danger! All others must leave the area at once. Area scanned. Battlefield set up. The, uhhh, what is your team named anyway?"

"Ummm," Sonic thought for a moment. "The Hero team?"

"Ok," the white judge responded. "The Hero Team versus the Lupin Team. Battle Mode 0973. Ready...FIGHT!"

Both teams stormed into the maze, not knowing what exactly they would end up doing. They spent the first ten minutes searching for each other, then finally met a few times and battled. No one was winning, however, as the battle reached the half-hour mark. A large explosion was then heard, none of the fighters knowing what was going on.

"Hahahahaha," came a new voice. Sonic recognized it at once. "This battle is boring, so lets spice it up a bit. Battle Mode 0999. Ready...FIGHT!"

"Oh great," said Sonic. "I guess now we can play dirty." No one else was listening, they just kept on battling like nothing had changed.

As the battle hit its second hour Sonic was getting sick and tired of the situation, not to mention the dark judge's constant insults. He left the maze, took out the stupid judge, came back, and knocked over the edge of the maze. The resulting domino effect flattened all the Zoids still in the maze, leaving the Shield Liger the only Zoid left standing.

"We win," Sonic transmitted. "Give us the key!"

"Ok, ok," came Lupin's voice. "A deal is a deal." The key was thrown out of the maze by Lupin, who promptly split. Sonic retrieved the key, had Kalshion, Ryoga, and Emily hop onto his Shield Liger, and arrived back at the warehouse shortly. After paying the rest of the fish for the damages incurred to the Zoids the group was on their way, heading back to town where they hoped to find someone to point them to the next fortress.

Along the way they ran into Tommy, who was pissed at having missed all the action. He joined them again, fighting off the various monsters that attacked them as they approached town.

"You dolts, you didn't get the fourth map, did you?" the sign said. Hikeya slapped her forehead as the rest of the group looked around.

"Oooops," Sonic said, as the group headed back to get the map. "Guess not even Hikeya can get us there without that map."

"So where was the map?" Rose asked.

"Something about a cave of souls south of our house," Sonic replied, looking at a notebook.

"Is there a catch?" Kalshion asked.

"Something about a lake-dwelling beast," Sonic said, pulling out his map.

"Figures," Katarina said. "Where is the lake?"

"Dunno," Sonic said. "What is this little arrow button?"

"Lets find out," Tommy said, jumping up and pushing it. Suddenly the map engulfed the group in light, disorienting them. When the light cleared they were all dizzy and fell to the ground. When they got up they found themselves outside of the High School.

"Must be a jump button," Sonic said, looking at it. "The map was centered on this spot when the button was pushed."

"Lets get going south then," Cologne said, leading the way. "I get the feeling that thing only works on places we have been before."

"First we are making a pit stop," Hikeya said. Turning to object the group saw that she was very serious and that it was probably useless to try and refuse, so instead they just shrugged and let her lead them off. Soon they had arrived at what looked like an amusement park ride.

"Guess she is giving into her child side again," Rose mumbled.

"Not quite," Hikeya said. "I can't go in this."

"Why not?" Sonic said, confused. Hikeya was well over the minimum height. Tommy, on the other hand, was too short.

"This removes curses," Hikeya started. Before she could continue the only ones standing in front of her were Tommy and Cologne. A few minutes later the rest of the group had returned, all restored to their original states, in RPG form anyway.

"I never want to be a girl again," Jeremy said.

"Too bad Tommy is too short for the thing," Sonic said. "But why didn't you go in Hikeya?"

"My path finding ability is technically a curse," Hikeya said.

"Did someone say REMOVE CURSES?" came several voices at once, all flying past the group and into the ride. After the group got back on their feet they noticed Kodachi, Mousse, Kuno, Shampoo, Ukyo, Nabiki, Kasumi, Soun, and Genma all there with them.

"Going to help us save Ranma?" Cologne said. Moments later Kodachi, Shampoo and Ukyo had joined the group. Mousse joined because Shampoo joined, and Cologne looked at the others. "We are saving Akane and the Pig Tailed Girl too," she added, smacking Kuno before he went into a long spiel. After some prodding Soun and Genma joined up, but everyone assumed they would vanish at the first sign of trouble anyway. Nabiki and Kasumi just left, as they didn't fight.

"Mind if I join you," a distinguished looking man said, walking up to the group.

"Oh daddy," Kodachi said, running over to the man. "You are going to help save my beloved?"

"Shouldn't you go through the de-curser first?" Sonic said.

"Already did," the man responded.

"Then excuse me while I do a classic cartoon double-take," Sonic said, before launching into an eye-pop, jaw-drop, burst into a million pieces double take.

"Pull yourself together," Rose said, punching Sonic's floating eyes.

"Sorry," Sonic said, standing up out of the pile he had become. "Just hard to believe this is our principal."

"Is that so," the man said, pulling off his suit to reveal a Hawaiian shirt. Within seconds he was attacking Kuno with clippers, Kuno doing a great job of knocking his father's lights out.

"Never mind," Sonic said, turning southward. "Lets get going."

Three hours later

"I thought we were supposed to come to a LAKE," Sonic said, looking at the ocean-like body of water in front of him.

"This is a lake," Rose said. "It is just a very BIG one."

"Big lake means big monster," the principal said. This was enough to cause Soun and Genma to vanish from the area, essentially leaving the group for good.

"The cowards," Kuno said, looking where Soun and Genma had vanished too. "Have they no...."

SLAM

Kuno shut up as the giant pink top drove his head into the ground, while Tommy laughed.

"The squirt is good for something after all," Sonic said, grinning.

"So where is this lake-dwelling beast anyway?" Kodachi said, looking around. "And how does this help save my beloved?"

"I say we feed them to the beast," Kalshion mumbled. The gods of the RPG heard him, however, and soon Kodachi, Kuno, the Principal, and Mousse were all flying into the lake via some unknown force.

"Less people to get in the way this way," came the voice of the unknown force, and everyone left in the group just shrugged.

"Lets get this over with," Jeremy said. "I have a score to settle with dad."

"Amen to that," Emily joined in. "LAKE-DWELLING BEAST, COME ON OUT!"

A highly disturbing silence followed, with nothing happening.

"Well," Rose said. "Where is it?"

"You think you can just call a monster out?" Cologne said. "We probably have to go in after it."

"Wait a minute," Emily said. "What is that in the water?" Everyone turned to look, finding a small fish near the shore.

"Is THAT the beast?" Jeremy said, staring.

"Yep," came the little fish. "I am the lake-dwelling beast. Prepare to meet your doom."

None of the group could hold it in after that, and all of them fell over laughing. Thus none of them noticed the giant beast rising out of the water, the little fish being a mere part of its head. When it finished standing up it stood five stories tall and looked like it had been hit with enough radiation to cook it ten times over.

"Guys," Emily said, having opened her eyes and stopped laughing instantly. "That isn't a little fish." Moments later the group was prepared for a massive battle.

"Prepare to be assimilated," came a mechanical voice. "Your panties will be ours."

"That doesn't sound right," Sonic said, dropping his guard to look for the source of the voice. "Is his perversity THAT strong?"

"Sweeto!" came Happosai's voice just before a small bundle of flesh and metal landed on Rose's chest. The resulting aura blast obliterated all traces of metal and other electronics in Happosai's system, as well as launching him into space. The other Borg nearby left to enact repairs on the collective.

"Thanks for taking care of that pervert," the beast said. "He and those drones were annoying."

"No problem," Rose said. "It was my pleasure."

"I can't attack you now," the beast said. "How about I escort you to the cave instead?"

"Sounds good to me," Hikeya said.

Two hours later

"How can this be called a lake?" Sonic wondered aloud. "It is the size of a small ocean."

"You should see the ocean then," the beast said, snickering.

"No thanks," Sonic countered. "This is big enough for me."

"Well," the beast said as he stopped at a small island. "Here we are."

"Thanks," Jeremy said as he climbed off the beast. "That was fun."

"No problem," the beast responded. "Have a nice visit, and watch out for the crazy girl." He then swam off, not allowing any questions to be asked.

"Who goes there?" came a female voice.

"We are here for the map," Kalshion yelled.

"You won't get it," came the voice as several white ghost-like things came streaming out of the cave and attacked the group. Several minutes later they were all defeated, and the group pushed on wordlessly. Sonic and Rose were trying to figure out why the things they had just fought looked so familiar, and the rest were trying to figure out what was going on.

"HEADS UP," Tommy yelled, everyone else jumping out of the way as a massively charged arrow flew by and obliterated a large section of rock behind them. Sonic and Rose turned to each other.

"Kikyo," Sonic and Rose said in unison, nodding their heads.

"Who is Kikyo?" Katarina asked, brushing dust off of her clothes.

"Long story," Rose said, pointing at another arrow coming from in the cave. "No time."

The group moved down the cave, fighting the ghost-like things that came at them and dodging the arrows that Kikyo shot, until they came to a large chamber. Kikyo was standing between the group and the map, which was sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room.

"Lets get this over with," Rose said as the group pulled out an assortment of weapons. While they did so Kikyo pushed Tommy and Hikeya off to the side, saying something about playing while the adults did their thing. This turned out to be a mistake as their anger levels skyrocketed. As soon as Kikyo turned around they both hit her from behind with all their power, sending her spirit off to another world.

"Good job you two," Sonic said, roughing up the top of Tommy's head as Rose picked up the map.

"Can we go now?" Rose asked.

"Sure," Sonic said, pulling out the map to use the jump feature.

Back with the love birds

"You are a wonderful cook!" said Ranma-chan gulfing down some eggs, hash browns, and pickles.

"I'm glad you like it," replied Akane with a smile on her face.

The camera zooms out showing the two of them on the table. As they are eating transparent 0's and 1's keep passing through the room in a set of eight. After a "00101110" passed Ranma's head, he stop eating.

"What is with these number's?" he asked.

"Not really sure, sorta looks like Binary," replied Akane.

"Binary?" asked Ranma with his mouth full, "Is that something to eat?"

"No silly, it's a language a computer uses. I recall one of my friends talking about it, though I didn't really pay attention," said Akane.

A few moments later a set of "11101000" came by with Shippo attached to the first 1, "Someone get me down from here!" he yelled.

"Hold on Shipp," yelled Kagome coming from the opposite side of the room sitting on an "11111111" coming by.

"What the hell is all this?" barked InuYasha smashes bytes with his Tessaiga.

The bits that had separated from the bytes that InuYasha had smashing started to slam into other bytes, and soon the room looked like a highway crash.

"What did you do InuYasha!" yelled Kagome trying to get out from under a few 0's and 1's until Ranma finally came over and helped her out.

"Where's that fox dude," asked Ranma looking around.

"Over there," pointed Akane.

"Thanks Akane," replied Ranma running over and throwing 0's and 1's out of the way, onto InuYasha.

"Will you CUT THAT OUT!" yelled InuYasha.

"Will you look at this network collision!" came a voice from behind Akane.

Everyone took a look to find Izzy working on a palm pilot, "Now to clean this mess up," he said.

Moments later the 0's and 1's vanished, InuYasha and his gang were teleported somewhere, and Ranma was back to enjoying a delicious meal.

"This is really good Akane, I say it is even better than Kasumi!" said Ranma.

"That's so sweet," said Akane blushing a bit, "Would you like seconds?"

"Sure!" replied Ranma.

A couple hours later in a forest in the dragon world

The group trudged on through the forest, hours after the sun had set, hoping to get to the fortress before setting up camp. They could barely see in front of them, yet they continued on with determination. Without realizing it they came to a clearing, yet found that only half the sky had stars in it.

"Isn't that freaky," Tommy commented, looking at the point where the stars seemed to just stop.

"Did we reach the end of the game world?" Rose asked, seeming confused.

"Shhh," Sonic said, pointing. "Look."

The group looked where Sonic was pointing to see one of the moons coming out from the point where the stars seemed to vanish, casting light on what initially looked like a mountain. It took a moment, but the entire group had soon realized that this wasn't a mountain, but the fourth and final fortress, larger then anything else they had seen in this world. The walls of the fortress were made out of a material so dark that it seemed to suck in light rather then reflect it, and there were no windows to be seen. After a few moments the group could see a high wall, smoother then glass, surrounding the fortress. The only way in appeared to be a gate off to their right, the doors of which appeared to be giant, black, clawed hands.

"Ominous, isn't it," Katarina said.

"Wonder how crappy the music will be," Sonic said, looking at his feet.

"What?" Rose asked.

"We go one step further and we cross the music trigger," Sonic said, pointing at a small gray line labeled 'Music Trigger'.

"Lets find out," Rose said, pushing Sonic over the line. As she did this the music started. Up in the fortress a hidden door opened, and a cat-like beast came out to start singing.

One, two, HEY!

I'm headin' off on a digital trip,
And that's what I plan to do.
I'm goin' away to a digital plane,
And I ain't comin' back real soon.

The whole thing is electrical,
It's runnin' though my veins,
And everything's connectable,

HEY!
Digital
HEY!
Digital
World (echos)

At this point electricity flowed from the cat-like beast and started to engulf the fortress.

One, two, three; HEY!
I'm going Digital,
Completly Digital,
Now I'm invincible,
Let's all get Digital,

I stand around at the Digital Land,
And no matter what I see.
Everything is comin' at me,
In a Digital Reality.

The whole thing's technological.
It's takin' me inside
a World Wide Web collectable,

HEY!
Digital
HEY!
Digital
World (echos)

The fortress was fully engulfed at this point, and started to fade out, taking the cat-beast with it.

Ohhhhh!

It's my Digital!
I'm going Digital!
It's my Digital!
It's my Digital World!
World!
World!
World!

The whole thing's,
Interchangeable,
It's wired up to my mind,
Where anything is,
Capable

HEY!
Digital
HEY!
Digital
World (echos)

Ohhhhhh!
I'm going Digital,
Completly Digital,
Now I'm invincible,
Let's all get Digital!

As the song finished the sun peeked over the horizon, the fortress gone. Nothing remained but a broken computer terminal, sitting in the middle of the now gigantic clearing. The group looked around, searching every square inch of the clearing, but found nothing else of possible use.

"Well isn't that a pisser," Katarina said as the group gathered for their late breakfast.

"We need to find digivices," Sonic said between sucking down his breakfast.

"Digiwhat?" Cologne asked, confused to all get out but trying not to show it.

"Small devices that will let us travel to the digital world," Rose explained, starting to pack up for their trudge back to town.

Fade to black....

Chapter 34
Find the digivices!
This wasn't in the original contract

"SHIT," Sonic said, looking at the chapter heading. "We get a whole CHAPTER to find them? How long are we gonna be looking anyway?"

"Long enough," Rose said, grabbing Sonic. "So lets get going!"

"Where are we supposed to go?" Sonic asked.

"Oh yea," Rose said, dropping Sonic on his face and stepping on him as she walked back into the den. Sonic soon jumped up, only to be promptly flattened by a large metal box simply labeled 'Open Me'.

"I know," Katarina said. "Lets open the box."

"No shit Sherlock," Happosai said. Moments later he was slammed into the box, then through an open window to fly across town.

"So how do we open it anyway?" Sonic said, having somehow pried himself from under the box. He was examining the box, finding no seams whatsoever.

"Attack it?" Rose said, pulling out a giant mallet. Before anyone could stop her she had flattened Sonic against the side of the box.

"Sounds good to me," Sonic said, somehow recovering very quickly. He then picked Rose up like a bat and slammed her into the box. As he was doing this, a clock appeared over the group, as things went by in a blur as all kinds of attacks were attempted. After five hours, according to the clock, had gone by the group stopped, the clock fading away.

"We have thrown everything at this box but the kitchen sink," Kalshion said.

"Why not," Sonic said, shrugging as he walked into the kitchen. A moment later the sink flew out and knocked the front of the box off. Inside was a rack full of digivices, each labeled for the person that should use it.

"Why does this seem too easy," Rose said, picking up her digivice.

"Maybe that note says something," Tommy said, pointing at a paper in the box. Rose picked it up and read it as Sonic came out of the kitchen with a submarine sandwich.

"Here, have your digivices," Rose read. "Now you just need to find the batteries."

Chapter 34
Find the batteries!
Slight Edit Was Required

"Still seems like we are back where we started," Sonic said, looking at his Digivice. He wasn't sure what it looked like, but it had a MM in the corner so he knew it wasn't standard issue. "The chapter number didn't even change."

"Lets get going then," Rose said, dragging everyone along with her. A calendar appeared over the screen, pages flying off like crazy as the group was shown searching areas all over the RPG and beyond for batteries. Finally the calendar stopped, three years later, on a Monday in September.

"That's it," Kalshion said, walking out of the room. "I will be right back."

Five minutes later

"Here you go," Kalshion said, walking back into the room and throwing a bag on the table. "Plenty of batteries."

"Where did you get them?" Sonic said, looking at the bag.

"Radio shack," Kalshion said.

"Sure," Katarina said. "Take the EASY way out."

"That takes all the fun out of it," Tommy said, playing with some toys in the middle of the room.

"Oh well," Sonic said, putting batteries in his Digivice. "What is done is done, so lets go." He then walked up to a computer terminal in the corner, opened the portal, and everyone went through.

Chapter 35
Heading for the Fourth Fortress
Time for a REAL chapter

"We have to dedicate a chapter to GETTING THERE?" Kalshion said. "Give us a break!"

"No," came a flat voice.

"And who are you?" Sonic asked, looking around.

"I am your first obstacle," the voice responded.

"Sounds fair to me," Hikeya said. "What do we have to do?"

"Defeat me in combat," the voice said.

"Ok then," Cologne said. "Where are you?"

"Right HERE," the voice said as Cologne was blasted back.

"You're invisible?" Tommy said.

"Yep," the voice shot back. "Founding School of Invisible Martial Arts."

"Someone get me a can of tomato soup," Sonic said. "I have a feeling we will need it."

"Soup won't help you," the voice said. "Shall we fight?"

"Sure," Sonic said, trying to listen for the fighter's movements. He heard nothing, however, and was soon taking a barrage of attacks. He didn't appear to have a chance, yet he kept it up as his HP dropped. Finally Hikeya showed up with a can of tomato soup.

"I have the can," Hikeya said. "What should I do with it?"

"Open it," Sonic said. "Then throw it at me."

"What?" Hikeya said, confused.

"Just do it," Rose said. "He has something up his sleeve."

"Ok," Hikeya said as she opened the can. "Here goes."

The can of soup flew at Sonic, but suddenly stopped in mid-air. The contents flowed around a humanoid figure, which was immediately beat on by Sonic until it stopped moving.

"That should do it," Sonic said. "Shall we go on?"

The group moved on through the digital world, finding that it was larger then the normal RPG world. That said a lot, considering that the normal RPG world was several times larger then the real world had been. Eventually they came to a gate that they knew they had to pass through.

"Wonder how we open it," Rose said, tapping on the gate.

"You pass the test," came a burly voice. "And it won't be easy."

"What test?" Tommy said with a youthful curiosity that caused most of the group to giggle.

"The Entrance Test for the Cult of the Muscle Sword," the voice answered.

"This could take a while," Katarina said as a muscle man using a sword like a helicopter jumped down from the top of the gate.

"You three must pass the test," the man said, gesturing at Sonic, Kalshion, and Jeremy.

"What is involved with the test?" Jeremy asked as he was handed a large sword. Amazingly he could hold it.....with two hands, anyway. Sonic had an easier time with the one he was handed, but Kalshion was in the same boat as Jeremy.

"Your sword must become an extension of your body," the man said. "To demonstrate that it has you must each fight me, attacking with only your bare hand and anything you can do with the sword. If your expertise is satisfactory then you will have passed. If you fail you will most likely be dead."

"Sounds like a piece of cake," Kalshion said, looking at the sword. "How long do we have?"

"As long as you need," the man said, grinning before taking off into the air like a helicopter.

"Lets get started then," Sonic said, pulling Jeremy and Kalshion into a clearly marked training area. The girls went over to some nearby girls-only hot springs, figuring they might as well clean up while the boys trained.

"So where do we begin?" Jeremy said, turning to Sonic.

"First you get yourself to a point where you can hold the sword one-handed," Sonic said, demonstrating by picking his sword up in his right hand. For a few seconds, anyway. "We will probably have to be able to hold it with either hand."

"Ok," Kalshion said. "How do we get to that point?"

"That weight set?" Sonic said, jerking his hand over his shoulder at a weight set. "The swords themselves aren't that heavy, but due to their size they appear much heavier then they really are."

"This could take a while," Jeremy said, picking up the heaviest weight he could. "Lets get started."

A calendar appeared over the three as they trained with heavier and heavier weights, a few months passing by. Finally they had run out of weights to train with, and the calendar moved down into the corner of the screen.

"This thing feels so light now," Kalshion said. "What is next?"

"Now we learn to use those Kendo Swords over there," Sonic said, pointing at fifty racks of wooden swords. "When we have mastered the use of them then we will be ready to practice with the real thing."

"Sounds good to me," Kalshion said. "What about you Jeremy?"

"Lets get started!" Jeremy said, grabbing one of the wooden swords. Soon they were practicing form from a nearby book, and the calendar came out of the corner to show a few more months passing. While the months passed the three were shown getting better and better with the wooden swords. Again the calendar came to a stop and went into the corner.

"We ran out of rocks," Sonic noted. "Wonder where we can get more."

"Who cares," Kalshion said, throwing the wooden sword aside. "We should be ready for the real swords anyway."

"You're right," Sonic said. "Lets get going with them, I am sick and tired of this training anyway."

The calendar came back out as the three trained for months with the real swords, creating energy techniques that were channeled through the swords as well as mastering all the attacks in the book they had been using. Finally the calendar vanished as the three walked out of the training area. The girls were just coming out of the hot springs at the time, and noticed the guys. While the three didn't look any different they acted different. That, and they smelled like they hadn't bathed in months.

"You got that sweaty in fifteen minutes?" Rose said, looking over at the guys.

"FIFTEEN MINUTES?" Jeremy said. "We have been training for MONTHS!"

"Blasted RPG time diffs," Emily said, shaking her head. "Can we get on with this so that you three can take a bath?"

"Sure thing," Sonic said, knocking on the gate. The man flew back down using his sword.

"So you think you are ready?" the man said, laughing at the three. "You look like you wallowed in a grease pit."

"Just put up your sword and fight," Kalshion said, spitting at the man's feet.

"Ok then," the man said, a ring appearing around him and the three boys. "Lets fight. Pixie boy, you first."

"Pixie boy?" Jeremy said, obviously getting angry. "That's it, you are going down!"

The resulting battle lasted three weeks, neither fighter giving any ground to the other. Finally the man got a lucky punch in, however, and Jeremy flew out of the ring.

"Very good," the man said. "Despite losing the fight you have passed the test. Next up, Borg-Boy."

"Lets get it on," Kalshion said, showing a determination to succeed. He was not angry at the comment made, however, but still just as powerful a fighter. His calmness allowed him to think through his attacks more easily, and he lasted a full month before being knocked out of the ring.

"Better," the man said, staring at Kalshion. "You too pass."

"That leaves me," Sonic said, not allowing the man to make a comment about him. "You won't find me as easily beaten."

"We will see about that," the man said, grinning as he attacked. Sparks flew everywhere as the swords collided, and both fighters were using chi-based attacks whenever possible, but again it seemed like an equal match. After twenty minutes, however, Sonic gave what could only be described as an 'I have something up my sleeve' grin, and the man was starting to wonder what was going on. The two came off of each other with a bright flash, Sonic landing in the center of the ring and the man landing near the edge.

"FLYING SWORDS!" Sonic screamed as chi infused his sword. Seconds later a chi-sword appeared in the air nearby. Then another, and another, for a good ten minutes. When all was said and done there were a hundred swords, and they all started circling the ring. The man was barely keeping his ground, knocking the additional swords away as they came at him. This kept him occupied enough so that he didn't notice Sonic's fist until it was too late.

"Guess Sonic won," Rose said, kneeling down next to the fallen man. "Care to open the gate now?"

"Sure thing," the man said, throwing his sword into the gap between the doors. A hidden switch triggered and the gate opened, allowing the group to pass.

"Thanks bud," Sonic said, stepping over the man. "You need a little work, though."

"No problem," the man answered as he went unconscious.

"Think that is the next gate?" Katarina asked, gesturing to a large stone structure up ahead.

"Probably," Cologne said. "Wonder what we have to do to pass through that one."

"Cut it open," a young man said. "With this Kendo Stick."

"Gimme that," Jeremy said, grabbing the wooden sword. Moments later the gate was in pieces, sliced apart by the sword. "I did enough of that training for the last gate."

"Figures," the young man said, walking away as the group passed through the gate.

"That was easy," Sonic said. "Wonder what the next gate is."

"Looks like a fast food restaurant," Hikeya said, pointing at a large building with the double-M symbol on it. "Dang, no play area."

"Fast food?" Katarina and Emily said at the same time.

"Says take away," Cologne said. "Must be related to martial arts takeout."

"Martial Arts Takeout?" most of the group asked. Ukyo and Shampoo, having been quiet for most of the journey, just collapsed.

"You got that right," a fat old man said, walking over to the group. "The only way to get through here is to win a Martial Arts Takeout race."

"Then lets get going," Hikeya said, moving towards the man.

"Sorry little lady," the man said. "You are too young. Same goes for that fox girl over there."

"They sure are getting it easy," Sonic noted.

"You three guys get to sit it out too," the man added. "This is a girls-only event."

"Cool," Kalshion said. "Where is the nearest place to take a bath?"

"Right over there," the man said, pointing at a hot spring. "There is a small water fun area for the kids in there too."

"YAY!" Hikeya and Tommy yelled, running for the springs. The guys shrugged and went to bathe while the girls dealt with the race.

"So where we begin?" Shampoo asked.

"You think you can just go right into the race?" the man said, laughing. Ukyo just grinned, while Rose, Emily, and Katarina just looked at them funny. Cologne's expression was, as usual, mostly unreadable.

"How many people have to win?" Ukyo asked.

"Just one," the man said.

"Shampoo, go get 'em," Ukyo said, grinning at Shampoo. Shampoo just grinned back and picked up a Ramen Holder.

"Let me introduce the competition," the man said, turning to a large group of females coming from the restaurant. Each picked up a Ramen holder and got at the starting line.

"Just start the race," Ukyo said, selling Okonomiyaki to people that had appeared out of nowhere to watch.

"Ok already," the man said, firing a pistol into the air. Shampoo was left standing on the starting line as the rest of the girls vanished down the track.

"This too easy," Shampoo said, pulling her bike out of nowhere and mowing down all the other girls. Five minutes later she had won.

"What took you?" Ukyo asked Shampoo as she stepped off her bike.

"Forgot to tie shoe," Shampoo said.

"You must be from the Cat Cafe," the man said, looking at Shampoo.

"I didn't know we were that famous," Cologne said.

"I just recognize the tread marks she left on half the girls out there," the man said. "Found the same kind on Ranma Saotome a while back."

"Shampoo," Cologne said. "You really shouldn't run him down like that."

"Why not?" Shampoo countered. "Is good practice."

"What is keeping the guys?" Katarina asked, turning to the hot springs. "They should be out by now."

"Probably trying to get the kids to stop playing," Rose joked. Three nanoseconds later Tommy fell on her.

"Or not," Hikeya said, appearing out of nowhere to yank Tommy off of Rose.

"We finished our bath a few minutes ago," Jeremy said. "We were just grabbing a meal in the restaurant."

"Did you bring us anything?" Rose asked, glaring at Sonic.

"They gave us free food because you were supposed to be competing," Sonic responded. "I thought they were giving you food too."

"Lets go," Katarina said. "Maybe we can get something at the next gate."

After some more pointless arguing the group moved on, finding a small inn just as night was falling.

"Hinata Inn," Rose read. "This could be an issue."

"I don't see an issue," Emily joked, looking over at Jeremy with a 'Haha, you get to sleep outside' look.

"I don't know," Sonic said. "This is the home of the only person on the planet to be launched into the sky more often then Happosai." As he finished saying this Keitaro flew out from behind the inn. "There he goes now."

"Rats," Emily said, snapping her fingers. The group walked into the inn, amazingly finding that Keitaro was already back. Soon they all had sleeping arrangements, the boys joining Keitaro in his room while the girls spread out around the rest of the inn. Amazingly enough they all got to sleep that night without issue, but the boys woke up to a small scratching sound.

"What is that?" Kalshion said, rubbing his eyes.

"Sounds like a tree branch or something," Jeremy said. "Ignore it."

"It is coming from the hall," Kalshion said.

"In that case," Sonic said. "It sounds like a fox-girl."

"Why would Tommy be walking around in the middle of the night?" Jeremy asked.

"Because I want to play pranks on the girls," came Tommy's voice from the other side of the door.

"Still a guy at heart, eh Tommy," Sonic said.

"Yep," Tommy responded. Had the door been open they would have seen one hell of a grin on the little fox-girl's face. "Want to join me?"

"Sure thing," Kalshion said, jumping up. Sonic and Jeremy joined him, and soon the four pranksters, as they had named themselves at some point, were off. First stop was room 201, where Hikeya had joined Shinobu. They didn't do much here, just a small collection of fake bugs. They were in and out quickly and quietly, and soon had moved on to room 205. There they found Cologne and Shampoo bunking with Mitsune. Knowing that Cologne and Shampoo would be hard to crack they decided to put skeletons next to them, one the size of and dressed to look like Cologne put next to Shampoo and vise-versa. Mitsune, on the other hand, had all of her alcohol stash replaced with plain water and a skull hung above her head.

"This is fun," Tommy whispered as the four climbed the stairs.

"Keep it down," Sonic said.

They made their next stop room 304, Naru's room. Rose was bunking with her, and Sonic created a realistic-looking Keitaro dummy hanging from the ceiling above Naru's head to start things off. He then took a personal touch of putting a weird goop in Rose's bright pink hair, making it look green. Sneaking off, the group moved down the hall to Room 302, Motoko's room. Katarina was bunking with her, so while Kalshion was erecting a giant spider over her head the other three surrounded Motoko with fake turtles. Before they left they replaced any non-feminine clothing with highly feminine clothing, then moved onto Su's room, 301. Here Emily and Ukyo were bunking, for some reason both huddling in the corner in their sleep. Strewn around the room were various Borg parts, looking like they were torn off of operational Borg. To start things off the four pranksters changed all the labels on Ukyo's Okonomiyaki ingredients. They then tied Ukyo and Emily together, with Emily's hands tied to Ukyo's feet and vice versa. After that they collected a bunch of Borg parts and made it look like they were about to kill Su, before sneaking off. Along the way they found Toma, and set up a dummy that looked like Motoko about to cut Toma in half.

By this point it was almost morning, and the four pranksters went and whipped up some breakfast as an alibi. They rang a LARGE chime when breakfast was ready, then immediately covered their ears. They then heard a loud joint scream, followed by a few single ones. Several of their creations flew out of the building, even though they didn't see that, and Keitaro himself soon followed. Five minutes later the three guys of the four pranksters were flying next to Keitaro up in the air, and when someone recognized Tommy's top in Su's room she joined the four.

"Nice view up here," Sonic commented.

"That is the only good thing about it," Keitaro said.

"What are the bad things?" Jeremy asked.

"Takeoff isn't as bad as landing," Keitaro answered.

"Oh well," Tommy said. "At least their initial reaction was funny."

"YOU DID THIS?" Keitaro yelled.

"Yep," Kalshion said.

"That's it," Keitaro said, launching the four pranksters even higher into the air. "Have a nice landing at Jusenkyo!"

The four pranksters turned to each other. "JUSENKYO?" Soon they could see the springs, and were all searching for something, anything, to prevent themselves from landing in one. Amazingly enough, none of them had anything with them to help, and it seemed like they were on a one-way ride to being cursed. Sonic, Jeremy, and Kalshion all fell into one spring while Tommy fell into a second, and all were shocked when they came out the same as they had gone in.

"What happened?" Sonic said, looking around. "This IS Jusenkyo, right?"

"You lucky," the guide showed up saying. "You boys fall in spring of drowned boy, while that fox girl fall in spring of drowned fox demoness."

"What are the odds?" Kalshion said, picking Tommy out of the pool where she had gone unconscious.

"Fifty five billion to zero," the guide said. "As in it has never happened before, and by the additional curses placed on these springs should never have happened."

"Cool," Jeremy said. "Better make it Fifty Five Billion to one then." The four then left, the guide just shaking his head and walking away in the other direction. The four pranksters quickly found their way back to the inn, to their surprise, and found the girls ready to go.

"You four ready?" Rose asked.

"Yep," Sonic said. "Nothing like going after some more gates after beating some of the toughest odds in the matrix, right guys?"

"You said it," Kalshion agreed. The other two just nodded as the girls raised their eyebrows.

"Lets get going," Hikeya said, leading the way.

An hour later

"So you pulled off not getting cursed, eh," Emily said. "Too bad, it would have served you right for what you did to us."

"It was Tommy's idea," Jeremy countered.

"If none of you noticed," Kalshion interrupted, "we are at the next gate."

"What is the challenge this time?" Sonic called out.

"Nothing too hard," the gate itself answered, giving the group a shock. "Just some Anything Goes Martial Arts Football."

"American Football?" Tommy asked.

"No, what Americans call Soccer," the gate responded.

"Whom are we playing against?" Cologne asked.

"Them," the gate said, somehow gesturing at a group of people that looked like they could go THROUGH the Great Wall of China without breaking stride.

"Looks good to me," Sonic said, the group somehow having changed into uniforms. "Cologne, care to play goalie?"

"Works for me," Cologne said, bouncing over to the goal. The rest of the group spread out on the field, and prepared to play the roughest game of football ever attempted. The only thing missing was...

BOOOOM

"Battle mode 0999," the newly fallen Dark Judge called out. "Ready....FIGHT!"

...no longer missing. The two teams attacked each other ferociously, the soccer ball flying all over the place. At some point Tommy got sneaky and turned into a soccer ball for a minute, throwing the opposing team off and allowing Sonic to get a goal in.

"How did she do that?" Emily asked.

"No clue," Ukyo answered.

Six hours later the score was tied, in major overtime, and both teams had just about had it. The next goal would win, but nobody seemed to be able to get a goal. That is, until Sonic whispered into Tommy's ear and arranged for a giant pink top to flatten the enemy goalie during an all out rush to score, winning the game just before everyone on the field fell and slept till the next morning.

Off in the control room

"Ooops," Saraia said. "I have an appointment. LUPIN, GET IN HERE!"

"Yes maa'm," Lupin said, rushing through the door.

"Make sure this klutz doesn't screw anything up too badly, ok?" Saraia said.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A KLUTZ?" Nadesiko yelled.

"You," Saraia said, walking out the door. "Now play nice."

"Will do," Lupin said, a nasty look on his face. He was soon face down on the floor under Nadesiko's foot.

The next morning on the football field

"Remind me to never sleep on a playing field again," Kalshion moaned.

"Me agree," Shampoo said, pulling herself off the ground.

"Lets get going to the next gate," Sonic said, heading off through the open gate they had earned passage through. Moments later they were at another gate.

"Football again," the gate said, grinning.

"We just did that," Tommy yelled.

"This time it is American Football," the gate said. "Bring out the pigskin!"

"I suppose it would be useless to try and blow you up, right?" Rose asked the gate.

"You got that right sister," the gate responded.

"Lets get going then," Emily said, dragging Rose off to the field. The dark judge was already there, and the game commenced. Fifteen minutes later Rose had used an extraordinary display of chi to knock the other team out cold, and the group won by default.

"Why didn't you do that yesterday?" Hikeya asked.

"I wasn't angry yesterday," Rose responded, walking off through the gate.

The group shrugged and walked off, spending a good three hours getting to the next gate. None of them had eaten in over twenty-four hours, and were all pretty hungry, when they came across another restaurant gate.

"More fast food?" Jeremy said.

"Martial Arts Dining," a French man said. "You must win to pass. If you lose you must pay for both meals."

"Works for us," the group said, bowling the man over to get inside. As soon as they were inside they sat down and waited for the battle to begin.

"Due to the nature of your opponent," an official told the group, "you will be allowed to work together as a team."

"Our opponent is THAT good?" Sonic said, getting worried.

The announcer turned to a nearby door that a man was walking through. "Introducing the leader of the Founding School of Martial Arts Dining, the one, the only, Master of Magic!"

"How much could he eat?" Rose said to herself.

"Weighing in at whatever he feels like weighing in at," the announcer continued. "Holding the record of fifty five trillion tons of food eaten in fifteen seconds, the reigning champion will be facing off against this team of measly amateurs."

"NOW I am worried," Rose said.

"Don't be," the Master of Magic said. "I just had a fifty four trillion, nine hundred ninety nine billion, nine hundred ninety nine million, nine hundred ninety nine thousand, nine hundred ninety nine ton snack."

"In other words," Cologne said. "We have to be able to eat a little more then a ton of food."

"Who said that was all I could eat?" the Master of Magic responded, grinning.

"Can we call in some more teammates?" Sonic asked.

"Sure thing," the official said, directing Sonic to the phone. Moments later he returned, refusing to answer questions about who he had called. After a few tense moments the doorbell rang, and someone moved to answer it. They soon regretted this, however, as the entire population of Nerima flooded through the doors and filled the room.

"Call enough people?" the official asked.

"I called one person," Sonic said. "I just figured Ryoga would cause the word to spread faster then any other means."

"He isn't here, of course," Cologne noted.

"Who cares," Tommy yelled. "LET'S EAT!" The resulting devouring of food caused mayhem like none that had ever been seen before, and MM was still leading. This was despite the fact that everyone who knew how was feeding both his or her own face and MM's, and it looked like a losing battle. Still, however, more and more people showed up in a torrent of new diners and slowly they started to catch up to MM. Finally Soun, Genma, and Happosai showed up and threw the balance right out the window, causing MM to lose by a half plate of food.

"The main course wasn't half bad," MM commented with a decidedly evil grin. "Now for dessert, my favorite part of the meal." With over half the people there already filled to over normal capacity things weren't looking good.

"We need some serious firepower here," Rose said, running to the phone.

"Who is she calling?" Emily wondered.

"We will find out soon enough," Cologne said, watching Rose come back with her own evil grin.

"How long are you going to let me digest the main course?" MM asked.

"Oh, I would say five seconds," Rose answered. Seconds later the doors flew open once more and a streak of light flew over to a table. The bell to start went off and the desserts came before anyone saw who had entered, and to everyone's surprise MM was having trouble keeping up. Finally more people showed up and MM started to fall behind, finally losing by a full table full of food.

"Nice weapon," MM said. "Good idea to call Kero in. I think he loves sugar more then I do."

"He doesn't hold it as well as you do though," Sonic noted, jerking his thumb at a giant round yellow ball sitting on one of the tables.

"Wonder how long till Sakura finds out," Rose commented. "I am sure she won't be happy about it."

"Hey Kero," said Sonic quickly writing a letter, "Give this to Sakura, it should get you off the hook. And what ever you do, DON'T READ IT."

"You guys gotta run," MM said, throwing the money for the food on the table. "Cya." With that he left, returning to the control room where Nadesiko and Lupin were engaged in some impromptu boxing.

"You let them off easy, didn't you," Nadesiko commented. "I have seen you eat much more then that."

"So I kept one hand tied behind my back," MM said.

"I thought it was both hands," Lupin threw out.

"So I am modest," MM threw back. "Wonder when they will figure out that the food was cursed."

"Yea, right," Lupin said. "Like coating it all in laxatives can be considered a curse."

Back in the dining hall

"So how many pounds of laxative did you avoid," Sonic asked Rose.

"Enough so that it won't cause me trouble," Rose responded. "Wonder when MM will realize we fed him all of our laxatives."

"Good thing laxatives don't affect magical beasts like myself," Kero said, trying to fly off without much success.

"It was probably magical laxative," Rose told him. "Might affect you anyway."

"Gotta be magic," Sonic said, pointing at the line to the restrooms. "Look how quickly it works."

"Still won't affect me," Kero said. "Last time I checked I don't have that equipment."

"Well, have a fun trip back," Rose said.

"I don't have far to go," Kero said, rolling towards the door. "Sakura's house ended up across the street."

"We don't have time," Sonic said, dragging Rose through the gate.

Back in the control room.....again

"Did you have to bring Sakura here?" Nadesiko said, glaring at MM.

"Why not?" MM said. "She isn't exactly having a rotten time."

"Can't you leave any part of this matrix alone?" Nadesiko said, glaring at MM even more.

"I left all the boring parts alone," MM said. "Your family isn't exactly boring."

"You have a point," Nadesiko said. "Just leave Sakura out of the main story, ok?"

"Oh all right," MM said, deleting three events with Sakura planned to appear. "You happy?"

"As happy as I am going to get," Nadesiko said. "How are you dealing with that laxative?"

"Magically enchanted to not affect me," MM responded.

With the group as they reach the next gate

"Looks like a basketball gate," Sonic said, noting the hoop at the top of the gate.

"What is with this place and sports?" Ukyo said.

"Sports are a traditional way to compete," Cologne answered. "It only makes sense to use them."

"Well I wish that we could get a longer break from them," Ukyo said as she walked on to the court. Somehow the group had, once again, changed into uniforms in the open without anyone seeing them changing.

"Lets get this started," Sonic said, taking center court.

"Hold it," an official said. "Kids might be allowed in other sports in this world, but not on my court."

"Cool," Hikeya and Tommy said, already in the bleachers wearing fan getups and chowing down on food items. "We get to watch."

"How can they be hungry?" Jeremy wondered.

"Must have been the twenty minute trip to the bathroom after those laxatives hit," Emily answered.

"Shampoo no like laxatives," Shampoo said, noting the location of the bathroom just in case.

"So where is the judge?" Sonic asked, looking up at the sky.

"Judge's day off," the official said.

"Cool," Sonic said. "Shall we get to the whomping?"

"Sure thing," the official said, throwing the ball into the air. Three nanoseconds later it was in the hoop, scoring three points as a blue glow that had been pushing it vanished.

"Nice one," Rose said, hi-fiving Sonic. Two seconds later they were watching a black energy blast drop the ball in the other basket.

"CHI BATTLE!" the official yelled and within a second every player on the field that knew how to manipulate chi was doing so, the others just trying to survive. When all was said and done Ukyo and a scrawny little nothing of a player were the only two left standing, everyone else having been knocked out in various ways.

"This should be easy," Ukyo said, dunking the basketball as only she could - with a spatula.

"What happened?" the scrawny player asked. "I can't see."

"Here," an official said, pulling something out of a bag and handing it to the player. "Try these."

After a moment the player turned around, wearing an ugly pair of glasses. "I can see," the player said. "I can PLAY!" With this the player went from a scrawny excuse for a human being to a man that looked like he could match the Cult of the Muscle Sword in raw power. He then grabbed the ball, which blew up in his hands the second he touched it.

"You can't touch the ball," Ukyo yelled, falling over laughing.

"Shit," the player said. "My team is behind and I can't even touch the ball long enough to score."

"Looks like we win," Ukyo said. "We just have to wait for the time to run out."

"Damn you," the player said. "I quit." With that he pulled the glasses off, reverted to a pathetic weakling, and left. Or tried to, anyway, before Ukyo helped him find the door.

"Guess you win by default," the official said. "When your team wakes up you can give them the news. I am going golfing."

That night

"This has been too easy," Sonic said, chowing down on a burger. "These games haven't lasted long at all. Something big must be coming up."

"Given the fight that those two narrators up there are having," Rose said, looking out a nearby window at the massive storm outside. "I would say it is a tad out of the norm."

"How do you know that the storm is narrators fighting?" Emily asked.

"Why else would lightning bolts spell out things like You can't do that to them and Yes I can?" Rose responded.

"Good point," Jeremy said, snatching one of Emily's French fries. "Just hope that we don't get the short end of the stick."

"I am hitting the sack," Emily said, walking off to the girl's room. "See you guys in the morning."

"Wait up," Katarina said, getting up. Soon all the girls had gone off, leaving the guys to clean up. They did so quickly, and headed off to their room.

"Time to prepare," Jeremy said, going through his bag.

"Prepare for what?" Kalshion asked.

"For revenge," Jeremy responded.

"Didn't we get them," Sonic said. "Not the other way around?"

"Exactly," Jeremy said. "I don't know about you two, but I know my sister will be trying something soon. I want to be ready for her revenge attempt."

"Good point," Sonic said, going through his own bag. "Where are those security devices I bought off of Washu?"

"You got Washu to sell you security devices?" Jeremy said, looking at Sonic with awe. "How?"

"Long story," Sonic said, holding up the devices. "Lets just get these installed."

"Who on earth is Washu?" Kalshion said, looking at the other two.

"Never mind," Jeremy said. "Lets just get moving so we can get some sleep."

Twenty minutes later the security devices, as well as a couple of Jeremy's traps, were installed and the guys were asleep. The girls, however, were just getting started down the hall.

"If I know my brother," Emily said. "And I assure you, I do, he will have set a trap for us."

"That means that Sonic probably threw in something of his own as well," Rose said. "Shouldn't be too hard to handle."

"Yea," Ukyo said. "What could they possibly do, transport us to Jusenkyo?" With that the entire lot of girls fell over laughing at the idea, soon getting themselves together and heading down the hall.

"Spread out," Cologne whispered. "There is something attached to each door and window."

"Sounds like my brother," Emily mumbled. Soon they had spread out to the various ways into the room and at Rose's signal slid the doors and windows open, without knocking of course. A split second later the security devices triggered and all the girls found themselves in the air above Jusenkyo, falling quickly.

"How?" Shampoo started, grabbing a pole just before she would have landed in one of the springs. Cologne used her cane to stop herself from falling in a somewhat shallow pool, but noticed that none of the others had fared as well. When all was said and done Ukyo had become a dog, Hikeya was still playing a white rabbit, Katarina was a Kitten, Emily had turned into a boy, and Rose was a duplicate of the Borg Queen. Nobody had noticed that Tommy hadn't actually triggered the security device, but then again they didn't notice Tommy sneaking off to the kitchen either.

"You didn't knock, did you," came the Guide's voice.

"Blasted Washu," Emily said, shocking herself with her altered voice. "Wonder how Jeremy got those security devices."

"He didn't," Rose said, finding that she had the body of the Borg Queen, but not the link to the collective. "I don't know how, but I know that Sonic somehow bought them without me knowing."

"So he can be sneaky with you after all," Cologne said, grinning. "Lets get you all some hot water."

The next morning

"So girls," Sonic said as he entered the dining room. The girls were sitting around the table, in their normal forms, all staring at him as he entered. "I understand that only Cologne escaped the springs without having a curse last night."

"What you mean," Shampoo asked. "Me not fall in spring either." A moment later she was hit by a glass of cold water, and immediately changed into a cat.

"You had a curse before this RPG began, and thus it didn't get removed before," Sonic said, grinning.

"How did you know that little detail?" Rose asked, staring at Sonic.

"The Jusenkyo Guide was in on our little security system," Jeremy said as he walked in, grabbing a doughnut off the table. "Got a letter from him this morning detailing your curses for us."

"We got up extra early to make it up to you though," Kalshion said, walking in and grabbing some food of his own.

"Is that so," Ukyo said, glaring at the guys. "And what would that entail?"

"Special delivery from a local MMart," Sonic said. "Removes any Jusenkyo Curse obtained in the past 48 hours."

"Rats," Hikeya said, snapping her fingers.

"We dumped it in the girl's hot springs out back," Jeremy said. "You have ten minutes before it becomes useless."

"Three nanoseconds," Sonic said, looking at a stopwatch as the remains of a group splash could be heard. "Not bad."

"Too bad it won't help me," Hikeya said.

"Me neither," Shampoo said as she returned from her dip. "But at least me change back to girl for now."

"Tomorrow night the little fox sleeps with you guys," Rose said as she walked back in. "Given Tommy's frame of mind it is only fitting."

"Ok with me," Sonic said, getting up. He had all the security devices back in his private inventory, so that the girls couldn't tamper with them, so he felt somewhat secure. He also knew that tomorrow night the guys would need better traps as well, as the security devices would only be a deterrent.

"We should get going," Cologne said, moving towards the door. She was thinking that once they got past the security devices the guys would be easy prey. If she only knew how wrong she was. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang, minus Tommy, had come back and was ready to go as well.

"Wait for me," Tommy yelled, coming down the back hall.

"Hurry up," Emily scolded. "You are holding us up!"

"Sorry," Tommy apologized. The rest of the girls moved outside, as did Kalshion and Jeremy, leaving Sonic and Tommy alone.

"Did you get it?" Sonic asked Tommy.

"Got enough of it to last us a month," Tommy said, grinning. The two then followed the others outside to continue on to the next gate, not letting the girls see their grins.

Back in the control room

"YOU CAN'T PUT THEM THROUGH THAT!" Nadesiko screamed, shaking the entire complex.

"Of course I can," MM answered calmly. "I can and I will."

"It isn't morally right," Nadesiko argued.

"Morals depend on the views of the creator of the world," MM responded. "I created the world, so I decide the morals involved."

"Damn," Nadesiko said, snapping her fingers. "You have a really good point there."

MM grinned at this. "Of course I do."

"At least give me some more time to come up with a counter argument," Nadesiko pleaded.

"Oh all right," MM said. "If you want to delay the inevitable then it is fine with me."

Back with the group

"Is that the next gate?" Ukyo asked, looking down the path.

"If it is then maybe we should turn back," Katarina responded.

"I would agree," Ukyo said, cringing. "Any place with a statue of Azuza out front is trouble."

"How hard can beating her at figure skating be?" Rose said, pushing the others forward. "Let's go already!" Soon the group was through the front door of the massive skating rink, and saw what was inside.

Back outside of the Tendo Castle

"What a nice day to do laundry," Kasumi said to herself, looking at the sky before returning to hanging clothes on the clothesline. "And there is so much room to hang things out here."

Looking around Kasumi you would see five thousand acres of backyard, a hundred or so dedicated to clotheslines. Just beyond the clotheslines there was a very large pond that Nabiki was floating in the middle of on a small raft. Nothing around seemed capable of breaking the peaceful nature of this area.

Then again, the Skating Rink couldn't exactly be considered to be in the area.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The scream came in like a tidal wave, knocking everything in the area back. The clothes on the clothesline were torn to pieces, the remaining clothes in the basket thrown around the area. Nabiki was thrown off her raft as the scream continued. Eventually Kasumi was thrown back against a nearby hedge, before the scream suddenly stopped. A few moments later a whistling could be heard, followed by a very large splash that drenched the area Kasumi was in. When she finally looked up she noticed something in the pond.

"I wonder why someone would leave the roof of a skating rink in the pond," Kasumi said as she picked up the laundry that had blown around. Nabiki then pulled herself out of the pond, turned around, and just glared at the roof.

We now return you to the source of the scream

"We don't stand a chance," Sonic mumbled, looking at the remains of the rink. "A snowball has a better chance in Hell."

"Actually," came a voice from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "That scream just froze Hell over."

Everyone in the group turned to Rose at the same time and yelled. "ROSE! NOT SO LOUD NEXT TIME!"

"Hey," Rose said in her defense. "I was shocked to find FIVE THOUSAND AZUZAS in here!"

"Ok, while that is true," Cologne started.

"You no need lose control," Shampoo finished.

"So what do we do now?" Hikeya asked, looking at the rubble that was the rink. "There is no place to skate."

"Narrators," Kalshion yelled. "Any ideas?" After a few moments without an answer he tried again. "NARRATORS?"

Lets go check the control room......

"This isn't good," MM said, looking over the console. "That scream blew everything out."

"So what do we do now?" Nadesiko asked.

"We call in a crew to install the backup unit," MM responded.

"And who would that be?" Nadesiko inquired.

"LUPIN!" MM screamed. A moment later the Lupin gang, including Zenigata, was carrying in the backup unit. "We need that online ASAP."

"Yes sir," Zenigata said.

"No prob pops," Lupin said, getting to work.

Back with the group

"They must have been off-lined by that scream," Jeremy said. "I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing."

"I am hungry," Tommy said, soliciting a glare from the others.

"Go to Hell," Emily said, annoyed.

"THAT'S IT!" Sonic yelled. "Hey Lucifer, can we come down for our battle?"

"I don't know," Lucifer responded. "You are supposed to be dead, soulless, and downright not good to get down here."

"You yourself said it froze over," Sonic responded. "Wouldn't a heated battle do some good?"

"You have a point," Lucifer conceded. "Come on down, the door is behind that boulder over there."

"Seems like an obvious way in," Rose commented.

"There are many ways into Hell," Lucifer responded. "Just very few out."

The group headed down five thousand flights of stairs, finally reaching the outer edges of Hell. The first thing they noticed was that everything was frozen over, all shades of blue. The second thing they noticed was that the temperature was at least two hundred degrees.

"How in Hell can Hell be frozen over at two hundred degrees?" Jeremy asked.

"We normally run at five hundred thousand degrees," a giant red demon said. "I am here to referee your match."

"Do we have a choice?" Katarina asked.

"You can go with the red judge over there," the demon said, thumbing behind him to a red version of the dark judge.

"I think we will go with you," Hikeya said, not liking the look of the Red Judge.

"What was wrong with the dark judge?" Sonic inquired.

"He didn't take well to using methods of torture," the demon responded. "That, and it turns out he had a heart somewhere in his programming. We discovered that while tossing bodies into a fire pit."

"So that one is pure evil?" Sonic said, his curiosity showing.

"We aren't sure how Lucifer did it," the demon continued, "but as far as we can tell that thing is 110% pure evil."

"What is your evil content?" Ukyo asked, shying away from the red judge.

"I am quite low on the scale," the demon responded. "I only read 99.7% evil."

"So what are the rules you are enforcing?" one of the Azuzas asked.

"You are acting civil today," the demon responded. "You must be one of the clones."

"That I am," the Azuza responded. "What are the rules?"

"The only rule is that you can't leave the arena," the demon stated.

"Then lets get started," the Azuza said, just before going into a momentary mind-blank as the real Azuza's personality overwrote her temporary one.

"So we just all fight at once?" Cologne asked. The demon nodded, and directed them towards some changing rooms. Soon the entire group was dressed in figure skating outfits, which got pretty freaky in some cases. For instance, ever seen a fox-girl in a leotard? How about a shriveled up old hag?

"I resent that statement," Cologne yelled.

"I don't," came a demon narrator's voice. "So you can just deal."

"You all ready?" the referee demon asked.

"Yes," Shampoo responded for the group.

"Then you may begin at the sound of the gong," the demon stated.

"What gong?" everyone asked, looking around. The running theory through the minds of Ukyo, Shampoo, and Cologne was that the Azuzas wanted to nab it for themselves.

"Oh, sorry," the demon said. "It seems to be frozen. Just begin."

The battle then started, the group surrounded from the start, the Azuzas coming on like a tidal wave again and again. This continued for three hours, nothing the group doing seeming to help, and they started getting desperate.

"There has to be a trick to defeating these idiots," Kalshion said as he and Tommy covered each other with various attacks. Katarina had teamed up with Hikeya, who was wondering the same thing. Sonic, however, overheard Kalshion's comment and started running things through his head.

"Tommy, Hikeya," Sonic yelled. "You two have any toys on you?"

"I think I do," Hikeya yelled. "Just a stupid doll though."

"Perfect," Sonic said. "Throw it into the air. HIGH into the air."

"What did you say?" Hikeya yelled. "I couldn't hear you."

"Sorry," Sonic yelled back. "Throw it into the air!"

"Ok," Hikeya yelled as she pulled the doll out. The Azuzas around her immediately lunged for it, but she got it high into the air before they could grab it. Soon the group was sitting off to the side sipping drinks and watching the Azuzas battle themselves to the ground.

"Pathetic," came one Azuza voice, from behind the group. "I may want that thing, but I am not crazy enough to try and take it from them."

"WHAT?" The group said, spinning around to find an Azuza behind them.

"The battle knocked some sense into me," the Azuza said. "I probably won't be like this long."

"So are you the real Azuza?" Ukyo asked.

"Yes," Azuza answered. Before she could say another word Ukyo grabbed her and threw her out of the arena.

"The hero's team wins," the referee said, pushing a button that launched the group into a hole in the ceiling. When they emerged on the surface, five hours later, they were all asleep on their feet. The room they ended up in wasn't overly fancy, but it was obviously the exit of the gate they had started the whole trip into the depths of the afterlife at.

When morning arrived they woke up, stretched, and the older girls immediately slapped the guys for sleeping so close to all of them.

"Nice wake-up," Sonic said, rubbing the handprint on his face. "Can we go now?"

"No we can't," Emily said, glaring at Kalshion, who had been closest to her. "We eat now, then we go."

Thus the group ate, and thus the group left.

Meanwhile......

"So how do we interface with this digital world?" one scientist asked.

"With a computer, you dolt," another scientist said, slapping the first across the back of the head.

"Lets see if we can find it on the 'net," a third said, typing away at a computer.

"While you do that I will see if there is a link via power lines," the second said, grabbing some equipment off of a table.

"I guess I will look for wireless signals," the first said, grabbing different equipment.

"Idiots," a fourth scientist mumbled, leaning back in his chair to take a nap while the other three did their research. While he was sleeping the other three scientists made rude comments about him and contemplated playing practical jokes on him as well. Finally they completed their research, however, and had found nothing.

"There has to be an easier way," the second scientist said.

"I will be right back," the fourth scientist said, having woken up a couple minutes before.

"Lazy bum," the first scientist mumbled.

"I heard that," the fourth scientist said, leaving the building. Ten minutes later he returned to find the first three scientists arguing with one another.

"You didn't do your research correctly," one yelled.

"I did mine correctly, he didn't!" another yelled.

"YO," the fourth scientist said. "Lets place a bet. The first one to interface with this digital world thing gets the corner office."

The other three scientists looked at each other, then at the vacant corner office. It was a coveted thing, but they had never come up with a way to determine who would get it. This was their chance, they each thought.

"DEAL!" the first three scientists yelled at once, diving for computers to attack the problem with never before seen dedication.

"Idiots," the fourth scientist said, shaking his head. He walked over to his computer, pulled a digivice and batteries out of his pocket, hooked up the digivice to the computer, and within ten minutes had an interface with the digital world. "I win."

"You WHAT?" the other three said as the fourth scientist rolled his workstation into the corner office.

"I interfaced with the digital world," the fourth scientist said. "See for yourselves."

"Damn you," the second scientist said, glaring at the fourth. "You tricked us."

"But I got the corner office," the fourth scientist said.

"So what do we do now?" the first scientist asked.

"We play," the third said, grinning.

"What should we do first?" the fourth said, cracking his fingers and placing them on his keyboard.

"Crack the security," the first said, pointing at a lock icon on the screen.

"Simple enough," the fourth said, typing like mad.

Back in the digital world

"What the hell is going on?" Rose asked, holding onto a tree as if her life depended on it. The ground was shaking and rolling like it was being thrown around in a tumbler, the weather was going crazy, night and day were fighting for control of the sky, and gravity couldn't tell up from down.

"I dunno," Hikeya said. "But it is funny." She and the others were sitting on a small platform nearby, watching the area Rose was in go crazy while the rest of the world didn't do anything. Well, at least, not until Hikeya finished speaking and everything went black and white. The area Rose was in stopped going insane, and the group was the only thing left in color.

"What happened?" Jeremy said, looking around.

"Looks like everything stopped," Cologne said, hopping up a nearby hill. "Everything except for us, anyway."

"Could this be our next challenge?" Tommy asked.

Back with the scientists

"You would crash it," the third scientist said, looking at the computer screen. "Try to reboot."

"How the hell do you reboot a world?" the fourth asked.

"I would ask the same about crashing one," the first said.

"Hey," the second said. "Someone else just logged in."

"So someone else figured out the interface," the fourth scientist said. "This should be interesting."

Back in the control room

"Someone else is logged in," Nadesiko said, looking at the screen.

"Interesting," MM said, looking at the screen himself. "Looks like they tried to crack the password on the digital world and crashed it instead."

"So where is the reset button?" Nadesiko asked.

"We have to start at the source," MM said, pointing at the screen. "You have the RPG master interface, deal with those scientists first."

"What do I have for options?" Nadesiko mumbled to herself. She finally started typing commands, hoping she wasn't overdoing it.

And now the scientists again

"They are doing something," the fourth scientist said. "But not to the digital world......"

"It says they are modifying the RPG," the first scientist said. "What does that mean?"

"Wait a minute," the third said. "It says something about scientists. I think the RPG is this world!"

"SHIT!" the fourth scientist said, trying to log off. Before he could do so, however, the entire room filled with electrical energy, causing all four scientists to be blown through the ceiling and into the sky. The digivice in the room was destroyed, but everything else seemed intact. Nadesiko's face appeared on the computer screen, looked around, and sighed.

"Guess I overdid it," she said, just before the screen blinked out.

Back in the dead digital world

"Well, this is the next gate," Kalshion said. "Too bad it isn't moving either."

"WARNING," came a loud female voice, obviously computer-generated. "REBOOT COMMENCING."

"Reboot?" Rose said. "Is that good or bad?"

"Bad would be my guess," Sonic said, pointing at the sky. "Unless a giant beam heading straight for us is good."

Before anyone could comment the beam struck the group, shifting colors as the rest of the digital world started back up. When the beam let up the group appeared unharmed.

"That wasn't too bad," Tommy said.

"I feel funny," Hikeya said, dropping to her knees. Tommy did the same a moment later, and the two collapsed.

"Warning," the female voice came again. "Non-digital curses detected."

"Must be because they didn't get their curses removed before we came," Emily said, reaching to help Hikeya up. Katarina reached for Tommy at the same time, but both got shocked and thrown back.

"Initiating curse removal," the female voice continued as two bubbles of energy surrounded Hikeya and Tommy. Electricity sparked between the two orbs as they expanded, the rest of the group backing off as the two orbs met and combined, releasing a massive amount of energy in the process. The orb slowly released all of its energy and faded, leaving a large dragon and a male human Tommy on the ground.

"Guess that clears up that issue," Sonic said, helping Tommy up. "You are male again."

"Yep," Tommy said. "Damn that sucked."

"What do we do with Hikeya?" Rose asked, looking at the dragon.

"I go home," Hikeya answered. "I can't help you much like this."

"Why not?" Tommy asked. "Looks like you could kick some serious butt like that."

"I can't fit through the gate," Hikeya said, gesturing at the gate sized for humans.

"Good point," Katarina said. "Goodbye."

"Bye," Hikeya said, vanishing from the digital world.

"So what do we do here?" Cologne asked nobody in particular, banging on the gate.

"You eat," came a female voice that the group couldn't place.

"Who the hell are you?" Tommy yelled, looking at a figure standing on top of the gate.

"No need to get snippety with me," the female said. "I just wanted to duel you again."

"Have we dueled?" Rose asked, slightly confused in her tone of voice but with an expression that screamed she knew something she wasn't telling.

"Yes we have, but this time will be different," the female yelled. "This time we shall cook our feast then battle over it."

"So we can get you back for that laxative trick last time?" Sonic ventured.

"You can try," the female smirked, "but be warned, I have a black hole for a stomach."

"Is that so," Rose said, glaring.

"I meant that literally," the female said, pulling open her stomach to reveal a black hole that immediately tried to suck the group in. After a moment she shut her stomach, which somehow kept the black hole at bay.

"We don't stand a chance," Ukyo said. "I personally have seen enough of bathrooms recently, you guys can handle this one."

"Me with her," Shampoo said, backing off. Soon it was only Sonic, Rose, and the female.

"Guess we can make it personal now, can't we," the female said, jumping down. "Shall I show you your kitchen?" When she landed the group was shocked to find themselves looking at what appeared to be a girl in her mid to late twenties with bright orange hair wearing clothing that looked like she took them out of Ranma's normal wardrobe.

"You been to China recently?" Tommy asked.

"Silly," the female said. "Where do you think we are?"

"Figures China would go digital," Jeremy commented, looking around. "Much more room for all the people."

"So where do we cook?" Rose said, eager to get started.

"Right this way," the female said, walking over to a metal door. As she approached the door opened, and Sonic and Rose looked inside. They found a kitchen large enough to hold a full weeks worth of food for MM, not that they knew that.

"Wow," Sonic said, opening the pantry door. "We got everything in here!"

"I will be next door," the female said. "Ring the bell when you are ready." She then left to her own kitchen as Rose started to prepare every bad recipe she could think of. Sonic joined her, and soon they were piling carts with the foul dishes. Included were enough foods laden with laxatives to kill several thousand herds of elephants through preventing their weak digestive tracts from actually digesting.

Meanwhile, however, the female was in a similar kitchen cooking as much food as Sonic and Rose, but hers looked edible. Little would Sonic and Rose realize, however, that it was just as bad as their own, before the laxatives were mixed in. Most of these dishes, however, wouldn't kill the elephants through preventing nutrition, but rather through their horrible tastes.

"This is making me hungry," Nadesiko mumbled, walking into the break room. She grabbed some leftovers she had stashed in the fridge and threw them in the microwave, fiddling with its complex controls. Three days later she finally thought she had it, and pushed the start button, only to have the microwave blow up. She walked away, mumbling to herself, as she grabbed a bag of chips off of a stand on her way back to the control room. Little did she know what havoc her tinkering had caused, especially after she had used her console login name and password to get into what she had thought was a help system.

Meanwhile, the three competitors had cooked up a storm and each side had cooking in front of them. At the precise moment the microwave exploded a massive beam of energy fired from the sky and engulfed all the cooking. When it cleared the dishes had been messed up and mixed together, and after a few minutes of discussion the three decided to do the battle with the food as it was, having no idea of the concoction they were about to attempt to eat. Someone rang a bell to start the feeding frenzy, and all three dug in. They ate like they had never eaten before, the food vanishing without anyone being able to see where it went. Finally, after fifty-seven grueling seconds of eating they were done. The official ruling was that the battle was a tie, and the judge left, pulling the tables away and pointing all three to their own private bathrooms nearby.

"Like we will need those," Sonic scoffed.

"Shouldn't be an issue," the female said. "Wasn't like we had anything major to eat, right?"

"I don't think any of us made anything that strong," Rose responded. "Unless we are wimps."

"Or that beam did something," Sonic said, his expression changing to a slightly pained one. Rose soon joined him, halted before she could say anything herself about what might have happened. They were both, however, shocked when the female's eyes bulged and she grabbed her stomach.

What could stop a black hole?" Rose mumbled, just before the female expanded to ten times her original size, nearly perfectly round, before collapsing back into her original shape. Sonic and Rose didn't notice, however, as their own innards weren't faring much better, and in the blink of an eye all three had vanished into the private bathrooms. The sounds that came out were initially disgusting and will not be described here, but the sighs of relief that followed echoed through the digital world.

Back in town with the scientists

"What is going on in the bathroom?" one scientist asked, holding his nose.

"Someone mentioned something on the radio about the digital world," a second said, opening a window.

"The sewage system there crashed and the backup dumped the cause back to the real world," another scientist added. "And where is the air freshener?"

In the control room

"Where is the instant replay button?" Nadesiko mumbled, stuffing her face with chips. "I could have sworn I saw my meatloaf on one of those plates."

Back at the gate

"That was a nice shower," Rose said, coming out of her bathroom.

"It was, wasn't it," the female said. "What is taking Sonic so long?"

"I'm here already," Sonic said, coming out. "So can we pass through the gate now?"

"Sure," the female said as the gate swung open. "By the way, which one of you made the meatloaf?"

"I thought you made it," Sonic said, looking at the female first, then turning to Rose. "Rose, did you make meatloaf?"

"Nope," Rose said. "I had assumed one of you two made it."

"CONGRADULATIONS," a loud, beaming voice yelled from the sky. "You three just won an award for surviving the WORST FOOD EVER!" With that three medals fell on Sonic, Rose, and the female. Attached to each was a small certificate, bearing their names and stating that they had survived eating the foulest concoction to ever come out of a kitchen, the work of four chefs. They were slightly confused as to who the fourth chef was, but they put it out of their minds as they parted ways, the group moving on, MM taking on his usual form and putting his certificate, which had come straight from his boss, on his mantle, which had somehow appeared near the gate long enough for him to put his medal and certificate on it. When he was done he walked through a nearby door, bringing him to who knows where.

"So what do you think will be next?" Tommy asked, kicking a stone as they walked. "This is getting old."

"Did we take a wrong turn?" Emily said, having just gone around a bend in the path to find herself face to face with a rock wall.

"I don't think so," Sonic said, pulling out the map. "There weren't exactly a plethora of side roads."

"Look around," Rose said. "There has to be something out of place here."

"Like that little red ball?" Ukyo said, pointing behind a nearby rock.

"What is a Pokeball doing here?" Rose said, picking it up. "Oh well, might as well find out what is in it." With that she released the Pokemon in the ball, her and Sonic immediately jumping back in fear with hands over their ears.

"Isn't it cute?" Emily said, crouching down next to the pink fluff ball that had come out of the Pokeball. She noticed it was holding a microphone and that there were some speakers nearby.

"Isn't that what they call a Jigglypuff?" Jeremy asked, knowing he should be remembering something important.

"SHIT," Emily said, having heard Jeremy say Jigglypuff. Soon she had covered her ears too, and Jeremy decided to follow suit. Kalshion and Katarina knew something was up, so they joined the other four covering their ears. Cologne, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Tommy just stood there with stupid looks on their faces as the Jigglypuff started to sing. They were soon out cold, and a few minutes later so were the others. The Jigglypuff got angry, pulled the cap off of the microphone to reveal a marker, and started doodling on the group. It got confused for a second when drawing something on Rose, as the scene faded to black.

Somewhere in the cosmos.......

"Where the hell am I?" Q mumbled, looking around. "I wasn't supposed to interrupt the story," he continued, looking at a map that he materialized for the occasion. "I must have taken a wrong turn at Risa........."

In the control room

"Why is the Wigglypuff here?" Nadesiko asked no one in particular. "Isn't it supposed to be putting the group to sleep?"

"You must have sent down Jigglypuff instead," MM said, coming through a door. "They will have some washing up to do when they wake up."

"You mean it is THAT Jigglypuff?" Nadesiko said, staring at the Pokeball in her hands. She started to wonder how she could tell there was a Wigglypuff in it at all.

"Yep," MM said, chuckling. "Lets just hope it doesn't draw any magic symbols or anything."

"We can only hope," Nadesiko said, holding her hand to her face to hide her own giggles.

Now, in the shared dream of our group.....

"Interesting place to put a gate," Ukyo said, noting the void surrounding the area. "In our heads."

"I wonder how our physical bodies will move when we pass through this thing," Cologne said, peering over the edge of the piece of land they were standing on.

"Sleep merely brought you to another plane," a voice came, impossibly echoing through the void. "Here physical attacks mean nothing, your spirit is the key to victory."

"WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHY WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS FOR ONE STUPID FORTRESS?" Shampoo yelled, shocking everyone with a combination of her yelling and the perfect grammar she had used.

"How did you do that?" Jeremy asked, his finger in his ear.

"In this plane your mind is in control." The voice answered. "Your physical limitations do not apply, thus the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the mute can speak, and grammar doesn't tend to be as much of a hurdle."

"Cool," Shampoo said, grinning. "When do we fight?"

"When you can trigger that punching bag energy detector," the voice said, a punching bag with a display over it appearing nearby.

"Simple focusing of our energy," Sonic said, holding up his fist. "Piece of cake." With that he punched the bag, registering a one.

"This is a woman's job," Rose said, pushing Sonic out of the way. She charged her fist up visibly, punching the bag. The display stopped at three.

"Anyone here know what they are doing?" Tommy asked. The result was him being thrown into the bag, registering a negative two.

Three hours later the group had pulled off a five by punching all together, and things weren't looking good. They appeared to have no chance of getting past the gate, and there was nowhere else to go.

"What do we do?" Ukyo asked. "We need some help."

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH," came a voice from a portal that opened up above the group. Suddenly Keitaro flew through it, hit the punching bag like a bulldozer, and caused the entire gate to start sparking with energy.

"Wow," was all the group could say.

"Great," Keitaro said, getting up. "Now they are beating me up in my dreams too." He turned around and gave the punching bag a good uppercut, which was apparently too much for the gate to handle, causing the entire thing to blow apart.

"If he has that much spirit energy," Rose said, eyes wide, "imagine how much the girls must have."

"I shudder to think of it," Sonic said, shaking slightly.

"You know, maybe it's just because he hasn't learned to control it....Or he just is to afraid of Girls" responded Cologne.

"I am right here you know," Keitaro said. "My subconscious thinks it is because I am too shy."

"Thanks anyway," Tommy said. "Can we go on now?"

"Go where?" Ukyo asked. "There is nothing but void."

"Oh," Sonic and Rose said together. They then looked at each other, grinned, and pointed at the void where the gate had been. "Into the unknown!"

"Bye", Keitaro said, trying to figure out how he was supposed to get back to his dream as the group stepped into the void. They hovered there for a second before they noticed they weren't standing on anything. Thus, in classic cartoon style, they fell. After a few minutes they saw their bodies below them, in a small hut that they knew they hadn't seen before. Before they could react to this, however, they landed and woke up.

"That was wild," Emily said. "Just wish that the person who moved our bodies had cleaned up the marker."

"Lets wash up and then get moving," Cologne said, hopping off to the baths. Within the hour the group was back out again, Rose staring at her hand.

"Why are you looking at your hand like that?" Sonic asked, worried about Rose's behavior.

"There is a strange tan pattern on it," Rose answered. "Almost like someone drew it there. The thing is, the marker went over it."

"Might as well copy it down, just in case," Ukyo said, pulling out some paper and a pencil. A couple minutes later she had the symbol on paper, and handed the paper to Rose. "Who knows when we will be able to look it up though."

"We have a friend we can ask about it later," Rose said, putting the paper away. "Or at least, I think we can ask them."

"Can we worry about this next gate now?" Tommy asked, tapping his foot as he stood in front of the giant doors blocking their path.

"Oh, sorry," Rose said. "What do we do here?"

"Dodge bush?" Shampoo said, jumping over a bush that had attacked her.

"Not to mention everything else," Katarina said as several trees, a few rocks, and a car attacked them.

"Where did the car come from," Kalshion asked, having decided to fight back against one of the trees.

"I dunno," Jeremy said, kicking a rock into the air. "But these aren't normal rocks."

"They are people in camouflage," Sonic said, cutting the car open to reveal four people that had been wearing it like a costume.

"So you figured it out," the gate said, before it jumped out to flatten the group. Behind it was another, and what they supposed was the real, gate. They quickly dodged the falling gate and started cutting apart every costume that was thrown at them, until finally they had a small group of people in a barren area filled with torn apart costumes.

"Now how do we fight?" one girl asked.

"I don't know," a nearby guy answered. "We ran out of costumes."

"That means we win then," Tommy said, grinning.

"No," another guy answered. "You don't have costumes."

"Says who?" Katarina said, pulling out a sign costume and putting it on. "Now we have one costumed fighter, and you have none."

"Dangit," one girl said, kicking the ground as the gate opened. "We lost." The group went through the gate, Katarina taking the costume off and putting it away.

"Where did you get that?" Kalshion asked, eyeing Katarina.

Katarina grinned before answering. "I stole it off of one of the girls when they attacked me."

"You stole?" Kalshion said, shocked. "I thought you didn't like stealing."

"Lets just say that this whole thing has been a learning experience," Katarina answered, giving Kalshion a light punch in the arm.

"Ok," Kalshion said, giving Katarina a weird look. He then started to mumble something about morals. The group remained silent for the next couple of hours as they moved down the road, until Sonic suddenly stopped, causing a massive pileup as everyone walked into him.

"What was that for?" Rose asked, pushing Emily off of her.

"Something isn't right here," Sonic said, still deep in thought. "These gates are going by too quickly. They aren't providing enough of a challenge. Something is wrong."

"So you want more of a challenge," a familiar voice called out. "In that case, it is time for my gate." With that a large gate fell in front of them on the path, blocking their passage.

"Why can't I place that voice?" Rose asked herself, looking around.

"Because it isn't coming from your chest?" Sonic answered, pointing off to their left. Standing on a rock was Happosai, grinning from ear to ear.

"Someone take his temperature," Jeremy said, looking for a thermometer. "He must be sick to not be glomping on the girls."

"Come now," Happosai said. "Even I can show self control, given the right circumstances."

"And what would those circumstances be?" Cologne asked, giving Happosai a look that could kill. Several trees around Happosai bursting into flames, then falling into ashes emphasized this.

"You are here to learn the art of perversion," Happosai answered. "This is a chance for me to get ten people to cross over, including the one I once loved."

"We have to become perverts to pass?" Katarina said, pulling out a bundle of papers. "That isn't in my contract."

"Page ten, paragraph five," Happosai spat at her. Katarina opened to the aforementioned location in her contract and read aloud.

"At his own discretion, Happosai will block your path until such a time as you have learned to be a pervert. You agree to do so, to the best of your ability, or be punished with a permanent curse that will last the rest of your life, even after the RPG is over." Katarina then gave Happosai a look that killed several more trees and changed the chemical composition of the rock he was standing on.

"About time I got to be bad," Emily said, her grin making her look more evil then Happosai. The rest of the group just turned to her and shook their heads.

"Please tell us how far we have to go before you open that gate," Sonic said, looking at Happosai.

"You have to be able to outdo me at my own art," Happosai said, giving the group a grin that killed several trees behind them through some weird sickness.

"This shouldn't be too hard," Sonic said, walking off. "I will come back when I feel I am ready."

"Figures he would go off on his own," Rose said. "But then again, maybe it would be better if we did this separately."

"Good point," Katarina said. "Lets meet back here when each of us feels we are ready to take the test."

With that the group split up, each going their own way, and Happosai walked into a small control room with cameras following each person. He planned on keeping tabs on them, and get some good sights at pretty girls while he was at it.

Three hours later Sonic, Kalshion, Jeremy, and Tommy were all well on their way to the correct mindset. Emily was shocked to find herself having trouble getting herself to think the way she had to, while the other females were trying not to puke at the thought.

"The guys show promise," Happosai said, trying to glomp onto Nadesiko. "But the girls aren't doing well."

"Get OFF ME YOU PERVERT," Nadesiko yelled, throwing Happosai through a solid titanium wall. "Why do you have to be in here?"

"Because I said so," MM answered, repairing the wall. "Besides, I already told you he won't remember a thing about you when he leaves."

"Why do you have to do that to me," Happosai cried, giving puppy-dog eyes to MM.

"Because you are a pervert that won't keep his mouth shut," MM said, glaring at Happosai. "I should know, I made you nearly indestructible just so your perversity would cause issues."

"Sonic seems to be cutting back," Nadesiko said, ignoring Happosai. "Wonder why."

"You will see," Sonic said, looking at the camera that he, by all rights, shouldn't have known was there.

"I know what he is up to," MM said. "But I know he wouldn't want me blabbing, so I won't."

"How could you know?" Happosai asked, eyeing MM.

"Oh, I have my ways," MM said, turning around and leaving, Nadesiko and Happosai seeing words form on the back of his robes. Just before he vanished they saw that the words said "World's biggest pervert."

"Guess you have to have a hobby after your wife dies," Nadesiko said, turning back to the console.

"I thought I held that title," Happosai said, a tear forming in his eye.

"Suck it up bucko," Nadesiko said, for some reason feeling a little sorry for the pervert. A few nanoseconds later she remembered his last attempt to grope her and that little bit vanished.

"Amazing how time flies in the RPG when looking at it from up here," Happosai said, staring at one of the screens. "This says the girls have been wandering for weeks now."

"Stop looking at the slomo cam," Nadesiko said, slapping Happosai. "They met each other at the Hinata Inn after two months on screen 9."

At the Hinata Inn on screen 9

"This is harder then I thought it would be," Emily said, floating across the hot spring.

"How are we supposed to think like that?" Rose asked herself. She had lost count of how many times she had asked herself the same question over the past couple of months.

"Didn't we come here to figure out how these girls seem to do it?" Ukyo asked as Keitaro flew out a just-made hole in the roof of the inn.

"Why don't we just go to the cursed clothing shop across the street and buy clothes that will make us act like that?" Cologne said, bouncing off of Shampoo's head.

"I tried that when I first showed up," Rose answered. "I wore the clothes for a week, they just buzzed whenever I put them on and didn't do anything."

"Where are the clothes you bought?" Ukyo asked, suddenly interested.

"I think I left them on a tree over there," Rose said, jerking her thumb. "I threw them out a window when they wouldn't work."

"I will be right back," Emily said, running off in the direction Rose had indicated. A few minutes later she came back wearing a pair of panties and a bra, nothing more, and within seconds had pounced on Ukyo. Soon Ukyo was wearing a different pair of panties, but was pulling Emily's bra off. As soon as this was accomplished the two were groping each other in a mildly perverted way, although it was more like how Nabiki had groped Ranma when they first met.

"Figures," Rose mumbled. "It works on them, but not me."

"Shampoo, lets go," Cologne called. "We have some shopping to do."

"Wait for me," Katarina called. "I need some too."

"Now what do I do," Rose mumbled to herself. "They get the easy way out."

"Stick around," Ukyo said, grinning. "Maybe having all of us acting this way around you will work."

"Maybe," Rose said, looking up at the sky. "Somehow I don't think it will happen."

Three weeks later Rose was finding herself acting in ways that proved her wrong, however. She started to join in grope sessions the other girls were having, although everyone seemed to be knocking Keitaro out of the building when she realized he wasn't doing anything on purpose.

Well, she supposed she couldn't vouch for his subconscious mind.

At any rate, it took another month, but soon Rose had gotten herself to a point where she was groping the other girls without prompting, pinching their butts when walking by them, and she had even collected some panties to bribe Happosai with. Or, at least, that is how she was justifying the collection of them. She had begun to wonder how the boys were making out, but decided that it was about time for the girls to go meet up with them to get through the stupid gate and get back to their normal mindsets. They set off the next day, and found themselves at the gate a few minutes later. They figured it had to do with the nature of the RPG, but they couldn't discount Happosai moving the gate.

"So where are the guys?" Ukyo asked, slapping Shampoo's bottom.

"Oh, sorry," Sonic's voice came from a nearby tree. "We have been waiting so long that we decided to take a nap in the trees here."

"Yea," Happosai's voice came. "What kept ya?"

"Mental issues," Rose answered. "So how do we prove ourselves?"

"I test you," came a loud voice. Everyone turned to find a teenage boy dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, barefoot. His hair was brown and styled in a mushroom cut, a small scar crossed his left eye. He walked up to the group, passed the girls, and without warning kicked the tree. Before the boys could react the tree blew apart and they fell to the ground. Sonic and Happosai landed on their feet, the others fell on their behinds.

"Now wait just a minute young fella," Happosai said, eyeing the boy. "Who came and made you an expert on perversity?"

"I have lifted all the girls," the boy started, "minus the old crone, of their undergarments. They haven't even noticed, and the curses on some of the undergarments have been left behind."

"Impossible," Ukyo said.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Rose interrupted. "It has become a tad drafty."

"Here are your undergarments," the boy said, pulling them out of a bag that he had been hiding behind his back. The girls grabbed them and, without thinking, pulled their clothes off to put them on. The boys, minus the teenager, leered as the girls did so.

"I hope you are happy," Emily said, glaring at the boy.

"You passed the first test," the boy answered. "Congratulations."

"Impressive," Happosai said. "But that doesn't make you an expert."

"Ok then," the boy said, pulling out a pipe. "Lets see the boys play with smoke."

The guys all pulled out pipes, lit them up, and blew undergarment smoke designs. The teenage boy examined them all, took some pictures while they were still there, and graded each picture.

"Beat that you amateur," Happosai said, grinning as his near-perfect panties faded away.

"Sure thing old timer," the boy said, blowing an exquisite brassiere. It was so exquisite that it fell to the ground, having become fine silk. Happosai was at a loss for words.

"Do we pass," Jeremy asked. "Or do we have more tests?"

"Sonic passes," the boy said. "As do the girls, minus Rose. The rest need further testing."

"How did Sonic pass?" Rose asked the boy.

"Simple," the boy said, grinning. "He has been sneaking peeks at you this entire time without you noticing. You may also find that he liberated you of your panties a moment ago."

"Sonic," Rose said in a slightly whiny voice, her face redder then a stoplight as she looked down at her feet. Then, after a moment, her head shot up, her fist came back, and she was yelling as Sonic tried to dodge her punch. He failed, and she sent him flying over the gate. "YOU PERVERT!"

"Wasn't that the idea?" Katarina asked nobody in particular as she and the other girls that had passed walked through the slightly open gate.

"Not a bad punch," came another voice. "You need to work on your energy control though, you let some stray in other directions."

"Come on old man," the boy said. "I thought I was supposed to be doing this alone."

"So you are," the old man said, appearing in a tree. His face could not be seen, but his black robes with the unique double-M patch betrayed his identity. He could only be MM. "I am just waiting for you to finish."

"I could have sworn you were MM," Rose said to the boy, looking him over. "But since you aren't, who are you?"

"Who or what I am is nothing of your concern," the boy said. "Although you did do a good job of liberating all the other girls of their undergarments as they left. Granted, Ukyo and Cologne flinched, but close enough. You pass, and may go on."

"Thank you," Rose said, pulling her sleeve back. "I have a score to settle with a certain male."

"As for the rest of you," the boy said, turning to the males remaining. "There are three that need to pass and a fourth that needs to be humiliated. Who shall go first?"

"I will," Kalshion said, stepping forward.

"Ok then," the boy said. "Lets see how much self control you have." With that a team of swimsuit models walked by, and Kalshion leered at them. Once they had left Kalshion turned back to the boy.

"What were you saying?" Kalshion asked the boy.

"No self control," the boy said. "You pass. Who is next?"

"Let me," Tommy said, glaring at Jeremy.

"Ok then," the boy said. "Lets see how well you can grab panties from drying racks."

"Where are the racks?" Tommy asked.

"You figure it out," the boy said, sitting down. Tommy looked around, pulled on a handkerchief, picked up a bag, and vanished into the trees. A few minutes later he landed back in the clearing, pulled his mask off, and dumped the undergarments in front of the boy.

"How is that?" Tommy asked, grinning.

"Not bad," the boy said. "You even organized them in the process. You pass."

"That leaves me," Jeremy said, eager to join the others.

"That it does," the boy said. "Lets see how good you are at peeping into bathrooms."

"What bathrooms?" Jeremy asked.

"The one the girls are bathing in over there," the boy said, gesturing at a window next to the gate.

"Emily is gonna kill me after this," Jeremy mumbled, jumping up to the window. After a few minutes he had gotten an eyeful, and the boy called him down.

"You have passed," the boy said. "They did not notice you."

"Thank god for that," Jeremy said, walking through the gate, the doors closing behind him.

"Now for you little man," the boy said, looking at Happosai. "You have been bested in several respects. Your stealing has been bested by a boy from the USA, your peeping by a boy not of this world."

"I just want to know how you are so perverse at your age," Happosai said.

"His age is questionable," MM said. "He was born of myself just hours ago. He is made of pure perversity, taken from my own body."

"Now I am going back," the boy said, jumping up at MM. Before he collided there was a bright flash, and only MM was there in the tree.

"That was a dirty trick," Happosai said, glaring at MM.

"That you won't remember in, oh, ten seconds," MM said, pulling out a silver rod. Ten seconds later a bright flash left Happosai in a daze, and MM told him some nonsense before vanishing.

"Where am I?" Happosai asked, dazed and confused. After a moment he vanished, off to do who knows what.

In a cavern containing a giant turtle

"How goes the upgrade?" MM asked Su, who was messing around in a control panel on the turtle.

Su mumbled something as she grabbed a banana.

"Let me call in someone to help you," MM said, Su turning around to watch. A moment later a screen opened up in front of MM, showing a young red-haired woman. "Hello there Washu."

"Hi MM," Washu said, obviously working on something. "Long time no see. I assume you are responsible for all the havoc being caused in the matrix recently."

"That I am," MM said, grinning. "Don't suppose you could help with an upgrade?"

"Upgrade what?" Washu said, now seeming to be more interested.

"Su here," MM started, gesturing at Su behind him, "created some Mechanical Turtles that got out of hand. I re-created the machine that was making them, exactly as it had been, but I want the turtles to be more........devastating."

"Tell me where you are and I will be right there," Washu said, grabbing what looked like a toolbox.

"Third door on the right," MM said, grinning again.

"There are only two doors on the right," Washu said, irritated.

"Not any more," MM said, his grin expanding slightly.

A few minutes later Washu and Su were working together, getting along like best friends, as they made the mechanical turtles much more deadly. MM left them, returning to the control room.

In the control room

"Why does the name Washu seem so familiar?" Nadesiko wondered, not noticing that MM had just arrived.

"Does the W-94 sound familiar?" MM asked, surprising Nadesiko.

"You mean it is THAT Washu?" Nadesiko said, after catching her breath. Her face showed panic like none had ever seen before.

"Yep," MM said, continuing to grin. "The one and only creator of the Nexial Extinction Beam, currently banned."

"Please, if there is some higher power out there watching, have mercy on the group," Nadesiko prayed, tears forming in her eyes.

"Sorry," came a resounding voice. "We are having too much fun watching."

"Ok Boss, you don't have to do that," MM said, looking slightly annoyed.

"Yes I do," the voice answered.

We now leave MM and his boss to discuss their points of view as we return to the group

"Wonder what that rumbling is," Cologne said, looking at the clear sky.

"Probably MM fighting with someone," Sonic said, shrugging.

"Anyone bring a flashlight?" Rose asked, having stopped in front of a cave opening.

"I did," Emily said, starting to go through her inventory. Rose, without thinking, grabbed Emily's breast. Before anyone could react, however, Rose had been propelled against the rock wall, while she yelled something that didn't register until it echoed back.

"PERVERT," Rose's voice echoed back.

"How did she do that to herself?" Emily asked, staring, the flashlight in her hand.

"You don't want to know," Sonic said, taking the flashlight to lead the way.

Three hours later

"Please tell me I am hallucinating," Rose said, taking a couple steps back from the large area they had come to.

"If you aren't seeing a giant turtle spitting out smaller turtles then I will," Ukyo said, trying to get a better look at the turtles. "Cute turtles, I might add."

"If those are what we think they are," Sonic started.

"Cute doesn't describe them," Rose finished. Both were backing away, trying to not attract attention. They were too late, however, as one of the turtles saw them. It ceased to look cute when it charged a weapon and fired it, blowing half the opening they had come to away.

"That isn't cute," Emily said, turning to run.

"That isn't Su's work," Sonic agreed, not quite ready to run yet.

"But it felt so familiar," Rose said, preparing to fight the turtles.

Moments later Sonic and Rose turned to each other, panic visible in their eyes. "WASHU!" they both screamed, and a split second later they were leaving dust, the rest of the group struggling to keep up.

"How is running going to help us?" Jeremy asked between gasps for breath.

"It won't," Rose said. "Unless we have something to slow them down. And I have just the thing in mind."

"Then get with the picture," Tommy said. "I can hear those things catching up to us."

"Ok," Rose said, skidding to a halt. She concentrated, pulling energy from within herself. A moment later three pink shield-shaped energy projections left her body, sealing off the passageway with themselves and an energy field surrounding them. Less then a second later a few hundred turtles hit the barrier and blew up. After the last turtle had hit the barrier it vanished, and Rose smiled.

"How's that," grinned Rose, "It's my own technique, Quantum Wings of Tranquility!"

The rest of the group were at a loss for words, they weren't sure if they should be happy she used it, or pissed off that she hadn't used it till now. But soon the silence was brooking with Sonic screaming in Rose's ear with his head three times the normal size.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUR OWN TECHNIQUE! YOU STOLE IT FROM THE JURAI FAMILY!" screamed Sonic.

"Be technical why don't you," snared Rose, "They only gave me the idea, the rest was completely original."

"Sure, and Q's son is a mature, responsible and caring individual," said Sonic turning his head the other way in time to see a teenager in a Starfleet Captain's uniform throw a stink bomb pie in his face.

"Yep, I sure am!" laughed the boy before disappearing by snapping his fingers.

"Can we discuss this later?" Cologne asked.

"Why?" Shampoo asked, confused.

"I hear more turtles coming," Cologne said. Everyone listened hard, and sure enough there were more turtles on the way.

"Raise that blasted shield again," Tommy said, grabbing Rose.

"I can't," Rose said. "I didn't hold back enough energy the first time."

"Then I suggest you high tail it out of here," echoed a voice. The group couldn't tell where it came from or anything about the person, but they didn't waste any time dwelling on it either. Instead they did just what the voice recommended, they ran.

Back in the control room

"So what happens when those turtles destroy this node?" Nadesiko asked, sipping on a latte.

"They can't," MM responded, sipping on his own latte. "They are in a digital world. The best they can do is crash the system."

"So you do plan ahead," Nadesiko said, grinning. "I'm impressed."

Back with the group

"Whoever left the blasted microphone on up there is a lifesaver," Sonic yelled, furiously typing away at a pocket computer.

"Now is not the time to schedule your death," Rose yelled.

"No, but it is the perfect time for a system crash," Sonic said, snapping the computer in two. The entire world around them then ground to a halt, including the turtles chasing them.

"Now what?" Ukyo asked, catching her breath.

"Now we delete them," Sonic said, pulling out a second pocket computer. Moments later all the turtles faded away, and the group was pulled forward through the tunnel, past the chamber that no longer held a giant turtle, and out the other end, where the world resumed as if it hadn't stopped, sans turtles.

"So what do you call that attack?" Kalshion asked Sonic.

"The cracker," Sonic said, grinning.

"Why is the sky turning red?" Rose asked, glaring at Sonic.

"How should I know?" Sonic said, bewildered.

"This is an alert," came a computerized voice. "A cracker has infiltrated the digital world. Initiating search and destroy subroutines."

"You know, I don't like the sound of that," Ukyo said, also glaring at Sonic.

"Wonder what the search and destroy subroutines look like," Jeremy said, looking around.

"Doubt you will ever find out about the destroy ones," came an odd voice. The group looked around, finally spotting a small group of what appeared to be lawn gnomes.

"In that case," Emily said, glaring at the gnomes. "You must be the search subroutines."

"That we are," one of the gnomes said, grinning. "However, the destroy subroutines were given the fighting spirit of Ryoga."

"So if they have his fighting spirit, where are they?" Cologne asked.

"Dunno," another gnome answered. "Someone forgot to leave out Ryoga's sense of direction."

"Figures," Sonic said, walking past the gnomes. "Lets get going."

"You aren't going anywhere," came a mysterious voice somewhere in front of the group as the sky went from red to black.

"Cya," one of the gnomes said before they all vanished.

"Time for your next battle," came another voice, this time behind the group.

"Since the destroy subroutines got lost in Hawaii," a third voice started.

"We thought we would have a little fun," a fourth answered.

"So put your guard up," a fifth voice called out.

"What the hell is the type of fighting involved anyway?" Tommy screamed.

"Oh, sorry," the first voice answered. Someone clapped twice, the entire world lit up, and five people were revealed around the group. The first was a young male, mid-teens, wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap. He had no shoes on, but had a grin that spelled trouble. The second, behind the group, was Lupin. To the left of the group was Jigen, with Goemon opposite him. Floating in a balloon above the group was Fujiko.

"Wait for me!" came a female voice, a moment later a young woman came tumbling over the hill. She appeared to be in her thirties with light brown hair cut in a short pageboy style wearing similar clothing to the young man.

"Figures you would be late," Lupin muttered.

"I thought the boy was MM," Sonic said to Rose, looking between the girl and the boy. "But that girl is familiar too. What gives?"

"I think the boy is MM," Rose answered. "But you are right, there is something familiar about the girl."

"You could have at least provided sandals or something," the girl said, glaring at the boy.

"It isn't my fault you didn't read the memo," the boy said, obviously slightly annoyed.

"I am sorry I never learned Klingon," the girl said, putting her hands on her hips.

"Who do we know that would know what Klingon was?" Rose asked herself. "She certainly isn't from any of the nodes Klingons exist in."

"You know," Sonic said, looking the girl and boy over. "They almost look like girlfriend and boyfriend."

"ARE NOT," the girl screamed, Sonic immediately regretting the comment as he was smashed ten feet into the ground. "I had to borrow some of his clothes because mine weren't suited for this battle."

"What kind of battle are t-shirts and shorts suited for?" Rose asked, still trying to figure out where she knew the girl from.

"A water balloon fight," Lupin said, his face lighting up almost as bright as it would if Fujiko had just stripped naked in front of him.

"Is that all?" Tommy said, grinning. "This should be fun."

"What is the catch?" Cologne asked, glaring in the general direction of the boy, who she seemed to sense was hiding something.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ukyo said, somehow having found a balloon. "You get hit, you get cursed. Isn't that how everything innocent looking in this place goes?"

"Good idea!" the boy said, grinning as he waved his hand. "I hadn't even thought of that."

"UKYO!" the rest of the group yelled, causing Ukyo to shrink down on herself in fear.

"So what kind of curses are we talking about here?" Lupin asked, eyeing the group as he lightly tossed his water balloon in the air.

"Nothing too difficult," the boy said. "Just replaced the water with some from a new source."

"Jusenkyo," Shampoo said, her eyes going wide.

"Give the girl a prize," the boy said, jumping behind a rock. A split second later Lupin's balloon had hit Shampoo in the face, leaving behind a wet elephant.

"Penalty curse for Lupin for firing before the battle has started," a voice called. Everyone spun to look at the source of the voice, which was revealed to be a gray judge. A moment later Lupin was hit with a water balloon, leaving a young girl, no older then five, where he had been standing.

"What you do that for?" the girl said with a pouty look on her face.

"This is going to get pretty friggin' confusing," Tommy said, looking around. "Anyone got some weed?"

"Penalty curse for Tommy for mentioning illegal substance in the story," the gray judge said, just before Tommy was hit with a water balloon, leaving behind a small mouse.

"Screw it," the boy said. "Penalty curse for the judge for ruining my fun." With that a water balloon fell on the gray judge, leaving behind a flamingo. "Lets GET IT ON!"

The resulting flurry of water balloons left the entire area covered in weird and interesting animals, people, and strangely enough, a perfectly normal Rose.

"What gives?" a priest asked, before being turned into a dog.

"Good question," Rose said, as a water balloon hit her. She remained unchanged, however, and soon shrugged before flinging more water balloons at other people, animals, or whatever else happened to pop up. The battle raged for hours, until suddenly a small bird flew into its own water balloon, turned into a Borg drone, and pushed a button on its arm. It then quickly got turned into a slug, then an ant, and after that a lizard.

Moments later the sun was blocked out by a giant water balloon being carried in by a Borg sphere. The water balloon was so big that the larger then average sphere was dwarfed by it, and it didn't take the sphere long to release the load and shoot into space at Warp 12. The balloon fell, hitting Rose squarely on the head, and drenching everything for three kilometers.

"That was unexpected," a young boy, no older then three, said, floating to the top of the lake that had formed where the fight had started.

"Now how am I supposed to pick up chicks?" another young boy, the same age as the first, said, also floating to the surface.

"I can't even hold my gun, let alone fire it," a third boy complained.

"What about my sword," a forth threw out.

"How am I supposed to con men out of their money?" a young girl added to the complaints. Before long there were eight young boys, seven young girls, and Rose floating in the slowly draining water. It was soon revealed that there was also a fully functional gray judge in the middle of the temporary lake.

"Why are you back to normal?" Rose asked, looking at the judge.

"I was only five minutes old when I first showed up," the judge responded. "Like aging me to three years old was going to change much."

"So how do I get all you youngsters back to normal?" Rose asked, looking at the group as they regained footing.

"Who are you calling a youngster?" one boy asked.

"You," Rose said without turning to him.

"But...." the boy started. "Awww, hell, why not. I have been everything else today."

"Those of us who were not part of your group will be shedding our curses upon leaving," a young boy said. Rose realized she couldn't tell most of the kids apart well enough, as none of them were wearing clothes and she hadn't known most of them at three.

"Would all of you put on some clothes?" Rose said, averting her eyes. The youngsters looked at one another, the males then flying into the wall behind them as the girls hit them. A few minutes later everyone was dressed and Rose could finally make some headway in identifying people.

"So what about those of us who are part of the group," Sonic asked, looking at the boy that he knew was MM at this point. It wasn't just his gut telling him this, the black cloak shrouding the face in shadows was a part of it too.

"You have to deal," Lupin said, walking through a doorway that had mysteriously appeared. Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko followed him.

"Just who are you anyway?" Rose asked the young girl that was inching her way to the doorway.

"None of your business at this time," MM said, floating back through the door, pulling the girl with him. "You may eventually meet her in her true form."

"Like during damage control," the girl said just before the door vanished, leaving the group to deal with their own issues.

Meanwhile, MM's boss is watching.......

"If that idiot crashes the Nexial Matrix he will be in SOOOO much trouble........." MM's boss said, staring at a view screen. He couldn't hold back a laugh when Rose was left with a pile of kids, though.

"Sir," an assistant interrupted, trembling slightly. "The latest reports on MM's powers just came in."

"Well then," MM's boss said, staring at the assistant. "Give them to me."

"Yes sir," the assistant said, handing over a folder. Before anything else could be said to him, he left.

"Let's see what the readings show," MM's boss said, pulling out the report. Moments later he had fallen out of his chair, his eyes having blasted themselves right out of their sockets and his jaw acting like a jack as it dropped.

"You okay sir?" an intercom buzzed. "We heard a rather loud explosion come from your office."

"ARE YOU SURE THIS REPORT IS ACCURATE?" MM's boss screamed into the intercom.

"It was checked five billion times, sir," the voice buzzed back.

"How can he be THAT POWERFUL after taking a NAP?" MM's boss yelled, staring at the paper in his hand as if he were looking at a ghost.

Back in the RPG

"Are any of you brats potty-trained?" Rose asked, grumbling as she changed Cologne's diaper.

"Dun think so," Shampoo muttered as she tried to hit Ukyo over the head. Ukyo responded by trying to do the same to Shampoo, the two continuing until Rose broke them up.

"I need a better way to keep control of you brats," Rose said, looking around. She then noticed a baby store, and rushed over. Fifteen minutes later she was pushing a carriage that held nine kids in three rows. It had taken her five minutes to arrange the kids in a manner that kept the bickering down to a dull roar, but it had been worth it.

"Where we going?" Sonic asked, trying to survive in the middle of the other eight kids. Rose had put Tommy in the middle front, and Sonic was having fun beating Tommy's head in with a shoe, but everyone else was trying to hit people over Sonic.

"I have no clue," Rose answered, trudging on.

"You, my dear," Lupin said, surprising everyone as he stepped out from behind a tree. "Well, lets just skip the formalities and go play Poker."

"And what about these nine brats?" Rose asked, eying Lupin.

"Oh, they have to battle," Lupin responded, grinning.

"WHAT?" Rose said, jaw-dropping. "They can't battle in this state!"

"Don't you know anything?" Lupin asked, shaking his head. "They are perfect for Good ol' Days martial arts."

"Oh," Rose said, thinking. She put her index finger on her chin as she looked at a cloud passing by in the sky. The cloud morphed into a spaceship and flew away when Rose looked back at Lupin. "Ok then, where are we playing?"

"In a secluded spot down the hill," Lupin said, nodding his head to a path off of the main road.

"This wouldn't happen to be strip poker?" Rose asked, giving Lupin the look.

"Not unless Data decides to make it so," Lupin answered, grinning. "Although I am sure you know I wouldn't mind."

"I trust data," Rose said, fumbling with the stroller. "Let me let the brats loose for their battle and I will be right there."

"See you soon then," Lupin said, heading off down the path.

"Have fun," Rose said, letting the last of the brats loose. "Give them a good whooping."

"Bye bye," Tommy said in a cute voice. His grin, however, was anything but cute.

"Lets do this," Sonic said, leading the pack onward.

Meanwhile, Rose has reached a secluded cabin deep in the woods

"What do you mean," Rose said, walking along. "There are no woods here and if this is woods I am certainly not deep in them."

"That is what you think," a mysterious voice called out.

"What?" Rose said, stopping to look around. Suddenly a trap door opened below her and she fell......on to the front porch of a secluded cabin deep in some forest....that happened to be deep underground. She stood up, brushed dust off of herself, and walked into the cabin, to find a poker table. Data was sitting in the dealer's seat with Picard and Riker sitting on opposite ends of the table. Lupin was sitting near the middle, but closer to Picard. Rose sat next to Riker, and figuring that more people would show up, waited. Soon enough Nabiki showed up, took one look at Lupin, and sat next to Rose, even though this put her next to Lupin. It didn't take long for a Pikachu to show up, sitting between Lupin and Nabiki, and then MM showed up and sat between Lupin and Picard.

A few minutes later everyone had chips, and the game was on. Meanwhile, however, the brats were meeting their opponents.

"We have to fight THEM?" Sonic said, looking at the five kids in front of them, each wearing a number on their clothing.

"We have to fight THEM?" Number One echoed, looking at the brats. "We are the kids next door, not babysitters."

"Who you calling a baby," Tommy said, glaring at Number One. The others did the same, a battle aura forming around the entire group.

Suddenly a whistle could be heard as an object from orbit came down and slammed into the ground.

"Great, another judge," said Sonic.

"Will it be white or black this time?" asked Emily

The capsule opened to reveal Barney. "Alright kids. Time to have a friendly competition in "Good Ol' Days" Martial Arts."

"You in?" Number Four asked the Brats.

"Yep," the brats responded, and the entire group of kids pounced on Barney and beat him to a pulp. Soon the capsule was heading back into orbit, a dismantled robotic Barney inside.

"Now that we have taken care of that," Number One said, turning to the brats, "shall we do battle?"

"Sure thing," Ukyo said, not waiting before knocking Number 5 back into a tree. Soon an all-out wrestling match was on, nobody using anything from Good Ol' Days martial arts at all.

This, however, soon got boring to watch, as nothing could be seen through the dust. Thus, we return to the poker game, where a new hand has just been dealt.

"Hmmmm," Lupin said, looking at his two cards. He had a King and Ace of Spades, and he had first bet. "All in."

Lupin had, however, been really low on chips, so his "All In" amounted to a mere two thousand. Everyone else quickly matched his bet, and the flop came out, showing a King and an Ace, both of diamonds, as well as a four of hearts. Lupin was beaming, and nobody could do much in the way of betting, so the turn came over, showing a three of clubs. Lupin was, at this point, sure he had done the right thing. The River came over, showing a seven of diamonds. Lupin jumped for joy before Pikachu flipped its cards over, showing the ace of Clubs and the ace of Hearts, causing Lupin to hit the floor hard enough to register on several scales.

A few moments later Pikachu had stacked all its chips and Lupin was walking out the door, calm and carefree. As soon as the door shut, however, a string of swears and several crashes could be heard, as Data dealt the next hand. However, the dust is clearing with the brats, so lets go check on them.

"Take that," Sonic yelled, firing Nerf darts at Number Two.

"Oh yea," Number Two said, dodging and firing a Nerf ball at Sonic.

"Why are we using foam?" Number Five asked, looking at her gun as she was pelted with various foam darts and balls.

"How should we know?" Number One asked. "The guns just appeared."

"It is fun!" Number three yelled, pelting everybody with foam darts. Soon it had become an "every kid for themselves" battle, with nobody actually hurting anyone. This is not, however, overly interesting. For that matter, nothing is happening at the poker table either. Where the hell are we supposed to go?

In Ranma and Akane's room

"Don't look at us," Ranma said, collapsed in a chair. "We are on break."

In the Tendo Castle

"Leave us alone," Soun said, pushing the camera away. "We are watching the poker game."

In the Control Room

"Nope," Nadesiko said, yawning. "I am not even messing things up, for a change."

Shall we try visiting Lupin?

Due to technical difficulties(Lupin stole the camera to cover his Poker losses) we cannot bring you to Lupin at this time

We are officially out of ideas.......So we are bringing you to Happosai

"Get that camera away from me," Happosai said, hitting the camera. "I am watching my exercise videos."

Well, that was it. We don't know what to do. Thus, why don't we give the kids something more dangerous to fight with.

"Finally," the kids said, looking at the sky. "What do we get to fight with now?"

In answer to their question a giant box of toys fell in the middle of the battle. The kids each took one of the toys, looked at the sky, and then back down to the toys. It was obvious that they didn't think these were any more dangerous, but that didn't last long. Each of the toys suddenly started to morph. Yo-yos sprung spikes, action figures turned into battle suits, fake guns became laser blasters, and other wacky changes occurred.

Nothing, however, compared with the Rubix cube Sonic had picked up. The cube split, the twenty-seven cubes growing and changing into a gigantic morphing spaceship with a neural interface, Sonic already strapped into the helm. The Kids Next Door just gaped, and Sonic's "teammates" threw their "toys" aside and started betting candy on how long it would take Sonic to finish the battle.

"Payback time," Sonic thought, and a mouth on the spaceship echoed his thought to the Kids Next Door.

Unfortunately, the massive interference from the powering up of the spaceship killed the camera uplink. Thus, we head back to the poker game.

"We are down to three players," Data said as Picard, Riker, and Nabiki walked off. They had all gone all in with great hands, but Pikachu had come out on top with a Royal Flush. Pikachu was currently the chip leader, followed closely by MM, with Rose being a mere chip farther behind. All in all, it was now a very close game as the initial cards were dealt. None of the players knew it, but they all had Ace King, each in a different suit. Hearts was the only suit not held by a player, and when the flop came over it was Queen Jack Ten, all hearts. A fierce round of betting went on, each player having a straight. Next card up was the King of hearts, which was followed by even more betting. Finally, the river came up, the ace of hearts. Everyone at the table, certain the cards they held would give them victory, bet like crazy. Rose went all in, and Pikachu and MM quickly called her. Finally, all bets having been made, everyone flipped their cards over.

Unfortunately, the resulting earthquake has now knocked out ALL of our land-based cameras. Thus, we are going to a satellite, which will show us what kind of destruction Sonic has done to the Kids Next Door.

That is, of course, as soon as we can pinpoint the battle location from space. They were in sector 87c, so that means we have to focus in on that giant crater that can be seen without zooming. Not that we can see much more about it as we zoom in, as there is nothing there to see. The Kids Next Door and the group are both gone, or buried.

RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIING

Oooops, the phone, hold on. Click Hello? Oh, hi Nadesiko. What do you want? Oh, sorry, I should have realized that. Thanks. See you soon. Bye. Click Nadesiko has just informed us that we should be able to get our cameras back online by pressing the camera reset button, so give us a second to do so.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZT

There we go, a nice shocker to wake up all the cameramen. Now, lets go to that battle and see if we can find some survivors. Otherwise, it is going to be a very boring eternity with no heroes to end this game.

"Survivors?" came the voice of a young boy. "We all survived."

"Yea," came a young girl's voice. "We just decided that enough was enough, and decided to finish this in the arcade."

"WHAT ARCADE?" came the announcer's voice.

"The one that Sonic morphed his ship into," came another young girl's voice.

"Leave us alone, the cameras can't see what is going on in these VR games anyway," came Sonic's voice. "We will let you know who won in an hour or so."

"Go watch that blasted poker game," came another voice, impossible to tell between male and female.

Thus, the camera jumped to the poker game, where MM has apparently gone out and is watching from the side as Rose and Pikachu battle it out, head to head.

"Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu said, raising a few thousand dollars.

Rose sat there with some sweat on her forehead. She looked at the five community cards, the four aces and the Two of Spades. "Fine, I see your few thousand and raise you one million!" she said slapping down a one million dollar bill with an elephant head on it.

"PIIIIKACHUUUU!" yelled Pikachu shocking Rose with a thunderbolt, "Pika, pikapikachu!"

"A...Alright! I'll use real currency," said Rose taking back the million-dollar bill and replacing it with another bill that had the "MM" logo on it.

"Pikachu," smiled Pikachu in satisfaction and raising the rest of his money into the pot.

"Confident, aren't we," said Rose calling him and placing the rest of her money in also, "So watcha have?"

Pikachu grinned and placed his cards down, which were the King of Clubs and the King of Spades.

"NO, NO WAY!" said Rose dropping her cards to reveal having the King of Hearts and the King of Diamonds.

"Isn't that hand five hundred between you two to end in a draw?" MM asked from the corner.

"No, it was not," Data spoke up. "That was hand five hundred forty three to end in a draw between these two."

"Oh, my mistake," MM replied. "At any rate, I figure we need some real competition in here, so I called in Milly."

"Milly?" Rose said, looking at MM oddly, having just put everything in on her hand. Pikachu had done the same a moment before, suddenly deciding that the loss was worth it, and leaving.

"Yes, Milly," MM said. "The winner between you and Milly gets an age restoration ray."

"Where do I sit?" a female voice called out.

"In any open seat," Data responded. Two girls then walked in, one taller then the other. Rose looked at the two of them, and the shorter one seemed to be more alert then the taller one. She was thus surprised when the taller one sat down at the table, and the shorter one leaned against the wall next to MM.

"How are you Meryl," MM asked.

"I am fine," Meryl responded. "Wish you hadn't brought us here though."

"You insisted on going with Vash," MM said. "I only did as you requested. Besides, there are no insurance claims for your company here. Take a break."

Meryl just scowled at MM, then turned back to the poker game. Well, that is what she thought she was doing, but Milly had already won all of Rose's chips.

"So what does this thing do?" Milly was asking, looking at the age restoration ray. She then aimed it at Meryl, and fired it. Meryl, for her part, almost died of a heart attack, but was relieved when the ray appeared to do nothing. MM, however, was also hit by the beam, and shrunk down to the size of a nine year old, who then let out a string of swears before snapping its fingers and returning to apparent adult form.

"Talk about age being relative," Rose said, staring at MM. "What kind of lifespan do you have, anyway?"

"Dunno," MM said, looking at Rose. "I will be sure to let you know if I ever die. Be sure to let me know what yours is too, BTW."

"Ummmmmmmmm, right," Rose said, before turning to Milly. "Can I please have that? I need it to return my friends to their normal ages."

"Ok," Milly said, handing the ray over, then turning to Meryl. "That was fun. What are we doing next?"

Rose, however, had already run out of the building and was looking for the little brats. Before long she ran full speed through an invisible doorway, and plowed over Cologne, flew through the air, and dunked herself in a prize machine. Before any of the kids could react, however, she pulled out the age restoration ray and shot everyone with it, thus restoring the group to their rightful ages, the kids next door to their current ages, and causing her stomach to paunch out a good three inches from the ray bouncing off of a mirror and hitting her.

"What the," Rose said, staring at her stomach. "Why did that happen?"

"Looks like you are pregnant," Ukyo said, poking Rose's stomach.

"How could I be pregnant?" Rose answered, confused. A small kick from the life within her threw her over the edge, and she fainted.

Three hours later

"If I know I am not the father, and I know Rose hasn't been with anyone else," Sonic was mumbling, pacing outside the room where Rose was still asleep.

"At least he isn't attacking every male in his sight now," Cologne said, looking through a book. "That bald kid really got a beating."

"Would someone wake Rose up?" came a mysterious voice from the shadows.

"The fabled MM returns," Cologne said, continuing to look through the book. "I still haven't figured out what Rose is pregnant with, so go away."

"MM nothing," the voice came back. "I just can't get past that idiot to get her undergarments."

"PERVERT," Ukyo screamed, flattening Happosai with her spatula, then sending him into orbit via the nearest window.

"He is getting good," Cologne said, a tone of admiration in her voice. "I didn't even realize who he was."

"Me back from scouting," Shampoo said, jumping through the window Happosai had just flown out of. "The next gate is tricky. Only three may pass through it."

"Then me and Sonic are going first," Rose said, shocking everyone.

"When did you wake up? Are you feeling ok? Do you need anything?" Sonic rambled. In five minutes he managed to ask more questions then could be covered in the entire span of Jerry Springer episodes.

"I am fine, can we just go?" Rose said, getting Sonic to stop asking questions. She then dragged him out of the door, and down to the next gate. Before anyone could stop her, she dragged Sonic through the gate......., which promptly slammed shut behind them, preventing anyone else from passing.

"The life within her would have to count towards the three," Cologne said, starting to examine the gate.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Rose haven't noticed that they don't have anyone following them

"Why me," Rose sobbed, while Sonic tried to comfort her.

"Would you two stop that and get ready to fight already?" a large man yelled.

"Who are you," Rose asked between sobs.

"My name is Kahn, and you stand no chance of defeating me," the man responded.

"Says who," Sonic yelled, stepping closer to Kahn.

"Says me and my new backbreaker technique," Kahn said, targeting Rose. This proved to be a bad idea, however. Before Kahn could finish powering up Sonic's eyes had gone to a glowing blue and Kahn was on his way to the nearest moon. The feedback from the attack, however, gave Sonic a shock and knocked him out, leaving Rose the only one standing.

"Note to Sonic," came a computerized voice. "Quantum based attacks are not permitted in the game world. Please do not attempt another one."

"Lets go," Rose said, dragging Sonic past the now-open gate. "I need to find a bathroom."

"Good luck," came a familiar, taunting voice. "You have just passed through the final gate. Welcome to the fortress of doom."

"It is not the fortress of doom," came another familiar voice. "It is just a fortress."

"You have to ruin all my fun, don't you?" the first voice shot back.

"What is that noise?" Sonic asked, pulling himself to his feet.

"Looks like judges," Rose said, pointing at the entrance to a fortress. To the left of the entrance stood a black judge, to the right a white judge. The fortress, while initially unfamiliar, was obviously the same fortress that had vanished through a portal into the digital world before.

"You two going to stand there all day or what?" the black judge called.

"Two?" Sonic and Rose said at the same time, turning to look behind them. They found nobody there, not realizing what had happened at the gate. Turning back to each other, they shrugged, and walked into the fortress. They completely ignored a small warning plaque at the door. The cameraman, however, was not so careless, and wiped the grime off of the plaque and read it to himself.

Warning: Security system designed by Washu, tinkered with by Su, cursed by MM. Do not enter without immortal charm.

The cameraman stepped back, searched his pockets, and pulled out a small charm, placing it around his neck, before rushing to catch up to Sonic and Rose. He didn't have to go far, however, as Sonic and Rose had stopped just inside the entrance, facing what appeared to be a young man in a large red jacket sporting blond hair standing straight up and an odd, upside-down looking silver gun.

Rose couldn't restrain her self, as her eyes turned to hearts and popped out of her head, "WOW!"

Sonic turned to her a bit jealous and started to speak, "Wait a Minute! He isn't the fath...." before he took a slap across the face.

Clearing her throat, "I don't recognize him," Rose said, looking at Vash trying to hide the fact that she thought he was a hunk.

"Neither do I," Sonic replied. "Yet, I get the feeling that MM pulled him from somewhere we can get to."

"Who are you?" Rose ventured, soliciting a dopey grin from the man.

"Vash," the man responded. "Got anything to eat?"

Those listening closely could hear something fall, as Rose's expression dropped into an I don't believe it look.

"I have some doughnuts," Sonic ventured, holding out a small bag. Before anyone could blink Vash had the bag and was eating the contents.

"Thanks," Vash said between bites. "I was getting hungry."

"What are you doing here?" Rose asked, a slightly unpleasant tone in her voice.

"Oh, yea," Vash said, turning to Rose as he finished off the bag. "I can't let you go by without beating me in a fight. Contract and all."

"Well that shouldn't be too hard," Sonic said, looking at Vash. Still, even as he said it, he was doubting himself. There was something about this man that hinted he was much more dangerous then initial appearances, while saying he was perfectly harmless at the same time. Then, of course, there was the odd gun, that seemed to appear and vanish like it didn't really exist, depending on what the man wanted to do with his hands. "So, did you want a gunfight?"

"I hate guns," Vash said. "I would prefer a fist fight, but my contract says I have to use the gun."

"By the way," Rose said, staring as the man spun the gun around on his finger. "What do others from your world call you?"

"Normally they call me Vash the Stampede," Vash responded. "Unless, of course, they have gotten to know me. Then they call me Vash or Mr. Vash or something like that."

"Interesting," Rose said, taking another look at Vash. "Well then, we have to move on to rescue a couple of people."

"Then lets get to the fight," Vash responded, going back to the dead serious look he had started at. His gun was in his hand, ready to fire, and oddly enough he appeared to have rocks in his other hand. Rose's heart skipped a beat before memory of what Vash had just looked like kicked in, and she got ready to do battle by pulling out a gun.

"Where did we get these guns anyway?" Sonic asked, looking at the pink gun Rose was holding and the Yellow one he was holding. Aside from their color, they looked exactly like the gun Vash was holding.

In the control room

"Who the hell is that?" Nadesiko wondered, watching the screen. "And what is with those guns?"

Back at the stare-down

"One of us will eventually have to fire," Sonic said, his finger on the trigger.

"There is only one problem with that," Vash said, staring the other two down.

"What would that be?" Rose asked, looking at Vash, wondering what he would say.

"Well, you see," Vash said, going back to his dopey grin and more child-like voice as he chuckled, dropping his gun and popping it open to reveal a distinct lack of bullets. "None of us has bullets."

Sonic and Rose just stared, unmoving, before their jaws dropped and created small craters at their feet. Rose was the first to recover, and started yelling.

"HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FIGHT WITH THESE THINGS IF THEY DON'T HAVE BULLETS?" Rose screamed, before Sonic gave her a look that calmed her down.

"Well," Vash said, looking at his gun. "Each of them has the ability to turn into a devastating weapon. I just hoped it wouldn't get to that."

"How devastating," Sonic asked, looking as his gun.

"I could lose control and take out an entire town while blowing a crater in the moon," Vash said, looking at his feet. "I am just glad nobody got hurt."

"So you can destroy a town, but leave the people in tact," Rose said, looking at her gun, not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"The thing is," Vash continued, looking at Sonic and Rose. "I don't know what kind of weapon your guns are. It isn't the same kind mine is, as you aren't like me."

"Aren't we normally more powerful then people like him?" Rose whispered to Sonic.

"Yep," Sonic responded, also in a whisper. "Which leaves the question of how powerful our guns are."

"How do we trigger it anyway?" Rose asked, speaking in a normal voice again.

"You just concentrate on the top portion of the gun and will it to activate," Vash said, putting his gun away. "Lets see what you got."

"Ok," Rose said. "I guess I will go first." With that she concentrated like Vash had said, and the top of her gun blew off, revealing a yellow cylinder that was charging up. Before she could react, the gun and her arm started changing, twisting into a new shape, with the cylinder in the middle. It didn't take long for the transformation to finish, leaving everyone shocked as Rose tried to control what looked like a giant Rose. She managed to point the Rose at the door before it fired, unleashing what looked like several thousand thorns made out of energy. When they hit a mountain far off in the distance the entire game world started to phase out, as if the blast was stronger then the power that was holding the world together. Then, as suddenly as her arm had changed, it went back to being her arm and a gun, which she promptly put the top back onto.

"And I thought mine was powerful," Vash said. "Mine didn't even make it past the energy barrier in the doorway."

"I wonder what mine does," Sonic said, looking down at his. No sooner had he done so, however, then the top popped off and a pink cylinder started glowing. Soon Sonic's arm and the gun were transforming, and Sonic quickly aimed at the doorway. Moments later his arm had turned into something that resembled a Borg cannon, and was almost ready to fire. However, the world was still recovering from Rose's blast, and nobody had noticed the hole in the world that had appeared in the air right above the doorway. Thus, when a body fell through that hole, Sonic just barely pulled the gun up enough to avoid hitting it. The result was that a massive blast went through the hole and obliterated everything on the other side of it.

The resulting smoke obliterated the view of the person who had fallen through the hole, but they could hear someone yelling something about a retrieval system and a reply that it was offline. While this was going on a small pink piglet ran out of the smoke, looked at Sonic, and pulled out a small sign, that Rose promptly read.

Watch where you fire that thing, would ya?

"Sorry," Sonic said as the piglet dropped the sign and ran off into the maze. At the same time, the person that had fallen in front of Sonic yelled something, and a bright light came from the smoke.

"Initializing Character Stats Creation Routine," came a computerized voice. "Target's game name: Momo."

A moment later the light vanished, and the smoke spun around where the body had fallen. Slowly a form became visible, before the smoke blasted off of it. Standing there was a teenage girl with tanned skin, short brown hair in a pageboy style cut, wearing a tight-fitting pink shirt with "Cutie" in sparkle letters across the front, light blue jeans, and pink tennis shoes. On her back were two large white wings, and sitting on her shoulder was a gun larger then she was, being held like it weighed nothing.

"I guess I am joining up with you two for a while," the girl said. "My name is apparently Momo."

"There is something familiar about you," Rose said, taking a good look at her. Looking carefully, you could tell Rose was blushing faintly. "I just can't place it."

"I almost missed the water balloon fight," Momo said. "Remember?"

"Yea," Sonic said. "Still something else, though. That, and you look different now."

"I was only having fun then," Momo said. "I am stuck here now, no thanks to you blowing up the main console."

"Yea, um..." If Sonic hadn't been blushing before, he sure was now. Amazingly, a car chose that moment to pass by, but stopped when it saw Sonic's red face, thinking it was a stoplight. "Sorry about that."

"So why are you around, anyway?" Rose asked.

"I am a good friend of Maxwell's," Momo answered.

"Maxwell?" Sonic and Rose said together. "The only Maxwell we know about that could even consider being involved with this is Agent 0, who is on vacation."

"One hell of a long one at that," Rose added after a moment of thought."

"Yea, well," Momo said. She was running situations through her head, trying to figure a way out of this. Then, it hit her. "I was looking for him, as he has been gone for a long time, and this seemed like a good place to check, with all the activity and all."

"Oh," Sonic said. "Ok."

It appeared that Sonic and Rose had bought the ruse, and Momo was relieved. That is, of course, until the game world had to stick itself into the picture.

"Nice save," the computer shot out. Sonic and Rose raised eyebrows while Momo blushed and tried to not make eye contact.

"Can we get on with this fight?" Vash said, the top of his gun popping off. "I have things to do, places to go, people to see, doughnuts to eat." With that his arm started to transform.

"And girls to stare at," Momo said, noting that while Vash was trying to look and sound serious, his eyes hadn't left her once since the smoke cleared. She then swung the gun down, and ITS top popped off, revealing a very LARGE blue cylinder powering up. A moment later the gun, as well as most of Momo's body, started to transform. By the time Vash's gun was ready to fire Momo's had turned into what appeared to be a giant battering ram, with a larger blue cylinder glowing back by where her body was.

"What is that?" Rose asked Sonic, flattening herself against the wall.

"No clue," Sonic said, digging a couple of graves. "Better be prepared though."

"What does THAT do?" Vash asked, his gun powering down from his shock.

"It squashes PERVERTS," Momo yelled, triggering the large blue cylinder to fly up into the air on a thick rod, swinging around a pivot point at the end of the 'gun' and extending. A split second later Vash was in a ten-foot deep crater, having been flattened by the blue cylinder. His gun fully discharged itself, returned to handgun form, and fell to the floor. Meanwhile, Momo returned to normal as well, and put the top back on her gun as Sonic and Rose just stared.

"Wow," was all Rose could say.

"What did you expect?" Momo asked. "I am a girl, and he was looking at me like he wanted me in bed."

"I won't argue," Sonic said, slipping a little behind Rose, figuring that would provide some protection.

"So," Rose said, finally snapping out of it. "What other differences are there between your gun and ours, aside from the size and weapon it transforms to?"

"Oh," Momo said, losing the angry expression and smiling, causing Sonic to relax. "That is simple. Mine has bullets."

"Can I see it?" Sonic asked, now feeling quite good about his chances of not being pounded.

"Sure," Momo said. "Catch." With that she threw the gun over to Sonic. A moment later Sonic was a flat smudge under the gun, which apparently weighed a good hundred tons. "Ooops," Momo said, quickly grabbing the gun. "Sorry about that."

"How do you hold that thing?" Sonic said, recovering from being flattened.

"I eat my spinach," Momo said, flexing a muscle. Her seemingly flimsy arm bulged, showing muscles that looked like they belonged on a small giant.

"Ok then," Rose said. "Shall we continue into this fortress?"

"Not without us you won't," a familiar voice called. "Some giant blast blew out the gate holding us back long enough to slip through."

"Tommy?" Sonic said, turning towards the door. Indeed, Tommy was standing there, as was Cologne. Sitting on Tommy's head was Happosai, and behind them was Kalshion.

"Where is everyone else?" Rose asked.

"They didn't make it through in time," Cologne said. "Happosai chased them too far away from the gate just before the blast."

"What about Jeremy?" Sonic asked.

"A little water from the Spring of Drowned Girl fixed him up nicely," Happosai chuckled. "But not as nice as this young one." With that Happosai jumped onto Momo's chest. The result was Momo's gun blowing its top again, but this time a red cylinder was in the top. Again the gun transformed, but this time it took Momo's entire body with it and trapped Happosai in the red cylinder. When the transformation was complete it looked like Happosai was stuck in cylinder on a transporter, just before the cylinder started to glow again.

"Warning," came a voice from the device Momo had transformed into. "Interdimensional hyper gravity shift in progress."

"INTERDIMENSIONAL HYPERGRAVITY SHIFT," Sonic and Rose yelled, grabbing Vash out of his crater and pushing the others out the door and onto the ground. A moment later the entire dimension shook as Happosai was compressed into a single point, much like a black hole, and forced through the dimensional barrier into another world. The energy released from this lit up the area like the sun was on the ground, then everything stopped for a couple minutes.

"Can we go now?" Momo called, looking down at those on the ground outside the door.

"Is there a doctor in the house?" came a distinctly male voice from inside the fortress. Everyone, including Momo, turned to look, and found a teenage male with shocking blue hair, a matching t-shirt, and slightly darker jeans, standing there in bare feet with a gun that looked a lot like Momo's. Most of his skin, clothes, hair, and gun appeared to be lightly singed as he fell to the ground, smoking.

"Guess I sucked someone in when I sent Happosai out," Momo said, rushing over to the newcomer. After feeding him a small berry he recovered fully and stood up.

"Thanks Momo," the boy said.

"How did you know my name?" Momo asked, her eyebrow rising.

"Never mind that," the boy responded. "My name is Mark, and I guess I will be joining you as well." Momo raised her eyebrow, a look of recognition appearing on her face.

"You might want to put on some shoes then," Kalshion said.

"Oh, right," Mark said, pulling out some bright blue sneakers and putting them on. With that the group, minus Vash of course, went into the fortress. Sonic and Rose were behind the others, talking in whispers.

"Something isn't right here," Sonic said.

"I know what you mean," Rose responded. "Momo seems like someone I met many years ago."

"I was more concerned with Mark," Sonic said. "There is something familiar about him, despite his complete unfamiliarity."

Meanwhile, Mark and Momo were leading the way, also talking in whispers.

"Why the hell did you bring me into this?" Mark said.

"I didn't mean to you know," Momo responded. "I didn't even mean to be here, but the floor of the control room vanished and I fell in front of Sonic's gun. Why did you give them such powerful weapons anyway?"

"Experimentation," Mark said, as if that explained it all.

"So what does your gun do?" Momo asked Mark, knowing that Mark knew what hers did, probably better then she did.

"Shoots bullets," Mark responded.

"What ELSE does it do?" Momo asked, slightly annoyed.

"Nothing else," Mark said. "I didn't have time to design a fancy gun for myself, I only had one second, compared to the four for yours."

"Then what kind of special weapon DO you have?" Momo asked, curious as to what Mark had brought.

"All I could grab was my chopsticks," Mark responded.

"Your chopsticks," Momo said in a 'what are you gonna do with those' tone of voice. Mark just shrugged.

"Haven't we passed through here already?" Kalshion asked.

"Given the apparent interdimensional nature of this maze," Momo started.

"Most likely yes," Mark finished.

"Please don't finish my sentences for me," Momo added.

"Sorry," Mark responded.

"Then we should go left," Kalshion said. The group, having no better plan, did so, only to find themselves falling down a well. A few minutes later they had pulled themselves out of the well, and into a grassy field. Nobody made a connection as to what had just happened and where they were, and thus, nobody was ready for a swarm of demonic bees to fly overhead. It didn't take long for Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and a few cameramen to run by chasing them.

"CAMERAMEN?" Sonic and Rose said, shocked.

"What did you expect?" Cologne asked. "There are several following us as well."

"Ok, you have a point there," Sonic said, starting to walk with the group that had decided to head in the same direction the bees had gone. Well, until they realized Rose had frozen in place, her hand on her stomach, seemingly in shock.

"What is wrong?" Sonic asked, immediately at Rose's side. He moved so quickly even Cologne had to blink, wondering how he did it.

"I think I felt a kick," Rose said. "Although it felt more like a stab."

"Gimme that camera," Cologne said, grabbing the camera for the cameraman. She backed up to the point where Sonic seemed to jump to Rose's side. She went frame by frame, but still couldn't pinpoint how he did it, for in one frame he was in one place and the next he was in the other.

"You going to watch that all day?" Rose asked, a smile on her face again. She was already heading in the direction the bees had gone, and Sonic was standing there dumbfounded as to how she had gotten out of his grip without him noticing. A few minutes later they were all heading for the location the bees had gone to.

Two Months Later

"What are we doing in Antarctica?" Sonic asked, pulling a heavy cloak tighter around himself.

"The same might be said for a giant metal ring," Rose said, looking over the crest of the hill they had been climbing.

"Wonder what those blasted bees flew all the way out here for," Inuyasha said, shaking some snow off of his foot.

"I don't know," Kagome said. "But I am glad I brought some warm clothes."

"Why didn't you go back to your time anyway?" Shippo asked. "You normally only stick around here on weekends."

"School was cancelled until they could find the school," Kagome answered. "Something caused it to vanish. Left a burn pattern shaped like two Ms."

"I don't suppose anyone knows what to do with this pedestal?" Sango asked, staring at the odd pedestal. There were two rings of symbols on button-like plates, with a large red semi-sphere in the center. Closer examination revealed that the symbols were duplicated on the metal ring.

"Those look like constellations," Kagome said, pointing at a couple of the symbols on the pedestal.

"Where is a hint guide when you need one?" Tommy asked, looking at the pedestal.

"You asked, and thus you shall receive," came a loud voice from the sky. A moment later a light appeared above Tommy, before a very large carved rock fell on him. At the top of the rock were the words 'The Hints, carved in stone'.

"Nice job," Miroku said, examining the rock. "Too bad I can't make heads or tails of this."

"That is because it makes no sense," Kagome said, looking at the rock. Tommy was just starting to pull himself out from under the rock, however, and wasn't happy. "It says we need to select six symbols, one for each major fighter. We then have to order them from strongest to weakest. We are also supposed to ignore those that use names they normally would not."

"How do we decide the order then?" Myoga asked. Everyone jumped at this, thinking that Myoga had left back before they got on a boat.

"Me and Momo can judge your strengths," Mark said.

"And why should you be the ones to do so?" Sango asked.

"Because we are excluded, due to neither of us using a name we normally would," Momo responded.

"Sounds fair," Inuyasha said. "Should we pick symbols first?"

"Yes," Mark said. Everyone but Mark and Momo went over to the pedestal to pick symbols that they thought fit them.

"Hey Mark," Momo asked. "How are we going to tell who is the strongest?"

"You forget," Mark responded. "This is my brainchild. I already know the correct sequence of symbols, and as such, we just have to put them in the correct order."

"And if they don't choose the correct symbols?" Momo responded.

"You know, I forgot to consider that," Mark said, scratching his head. "We just hope that doesn't happen?"

"We are ready," Sonic said, coming back from the pedestal.

"Draw your symbols in the snow in front of you," Mark said. "That way you won't forget." A moment later the symbols were drawn.

"Well Mark," Momo said. "I think we can rule out Myoga."

"Yes we can," Mark said. Myoga didn't seem surprised. "Which automatically disqualifies everyone weaker then him. Thus, Tommy, you are also out."

"You can't be serious," Tommy said, staring at Myoga. "How is it that I am weaker then he is?"

"Simple," Myoga said, hopping onto Tommy's shoulder. "I possess knowledge that makes me more formidable then you think."

"Prove it," Tommy said, swatting at Myoga. Before anyone could blink Tommy was knocked unconscious, but nobody had seen how.

"And how did you do that," Inuyasha yelled.

"I released a sedative into his bloodstream," Myoga replied. "It went straight to his head and knocked him out. It is the same sedative I use to keep you from noticing where I bite you."

"Can we just get on with this," Kagome pleaded.

"What about Miroku's wind tunnel," Momo asked.

"Well," Mark answered. "I would say it is stronger then Shippo."

"Well duh," Shippo responded. "How am I supposed to compete with that?"

"What about Sango?" Momo continued.

"I think the wind tunnel would be enough to defeat her, if it were ever turned her way," Mark responded. "Kalshion and Killalia wouldn't have much luck against it either, I am afraid."

"Figures," Sango responded. "I assume this means we aren't strong enough to qualify for the top six?"

"You assume correctly," Mark responded. "Kagome alone could probably defeat the wind tunnel with a little work, but Inuyasha could easily do it on his own."

"Cologne, on the other hand," Momo interrupted, "Would easily dodge it, and could easily prevent the wind scar from forming."

"How the hell could she do that?" Inuyasha asked, looking at Cologne.

"If the wind scar is based on the principals of wind," Cologne said, staring Inuyasha down. "All I have to do is prevent a temperature difference by manipulating my body temperature accordingly."

"That leaves the normally equally powerful Sonic and Rose for the number one spot," Mark said. "However, Rose is currently weakened by child, putting some of her energy into nurturing and protecting the life within her, thus leaving Sonic as the most powerful."

"That leaves but one detail," Momo said. "Doesn't that thing require SEVEN symbols?"

"Lets see," Mark said, drawing in the snow. "We need six points to define the destination...then we need to plot a path.......yep, we need the home point symbol. Anyone got a clue which one refers to our current location?"

"The ice cube?" Kagome joked.

"Doubtful," Rose said. "Considering that there isn't one here."

"Kagome, you said these were constellations, right?" Sonic asked.

"Yes," Kagome said.

"Then wouldn't the home symbol be the one symbol that isn't a constellation?"

"I don't know them that well," Kagome said, giving Sonic a look.

"Well then," Sonic said, looking at the pedestal. "Lets narrow it down."

"Where is a star chart when you need it," Tommy said. A split second later he covered his mouth and looked up.

"You asked, and thus you shall receive," came the loud voice from the sky. A moment later another light appeared above Tommy, before an even larger metal domed building fell on top of him. A door on the side opened, showing a replica of the pedestal sitting in a planetarium. Two hours later they had found the home symbol, and were dialing the gate.

"Thanks for the help getting out from under there," Tommy said, his tone sounding annoyed, as he finished pulling himself out from under the planetarium.

"That is the last one," Kagome said, pushing the center of the pedestal. Suddenly the gate sprung to life and a massive burst of quantum energy sprang from it. Had anyone been standing in the way, they would have been obliterated. Luckily, nobody was there, and the energy got sucked back into the forming wormhole as the event horizon stabilized.

"Should have thrown Tommy into that," Rose mumbled.

"Shall we go?" Cologne asked.

"Sure," Rose said, heading straight for the wormhole.

"WAIT A MINUTE," Sonic yelled, grabbing Rose. "Is this safe for you?"

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, glaring at Sonic.

"Well, you are carrying a life within you," Sonic said, clearly worried.

"And I honestly don't give a damn about the life within me," Rose said, sounding like she had just been called ugly. "I didn't ask for it!" With that she threw Sonic off and stepped into the event horizon.

"I'm not going near that thing," Inuyasha stated. "Not if she is on the other side."

"I think we should stay here anyway," Kagome said. "We don't know if we could get back anyway."

"Good point," Miroku said as everyone but the Inuyasha crew walked into the event horizon. Before anyone else had a chance to go through, the event horizon sucked the pedestal, planetarium, hint stone, and the gate itself into oblivion before vanishing.

Meanwhile, the group has found themselves, you guessed it, back in the maze!

"Friggin' long maze," Tommy mumbled. This was immediately followed by a section of the maze collapsing on him, leaving a bruise that looked suspiciously like it said 'Watch your language'.

"I could use a drink right about now," Sonic said. "All this stress is, well, stressing me out."

"You aren't the one that has grown another two inches since we started this maze," Rose said, slapping Sonic across the back of the head.

"Did someone say they needed a drink?" came an all-too-familiar voice from around the bend. When the group turned it they found themselves stepping out of a holosuite at Quark's.

"I don't think they have any Latinum," Odo responded from the seat he had taken at the bar.

"Well then," Quark said. "Never mind."

"That doesn't mean I didn't save some from that poker game," Odo responded. "Each of you can have any drink you want on me."

"Thanks," Sonic said, coming from the second level of the bar to one of the stools in the blink of an eye. "Give me a tall glass of Blood Wine."

"Do you really think you can handle Blood Wine?" Quark asked.

"Yep," Sonic answered.

"If you don't pass out I will give you a free refill," Quark said, staring at Sonic as he handed over the glass.

"You, give out a free refill?" Odo said, surprised. "What has come over you?"

"I have never seen a human try and drink two glasses of Blood Wine," Quark responded. "I am curious."

"I will take a smaller glass of that Blood Wine," Cologne said, taking her own seat.

"Got anything stronger?" Tommy asked, eyeing the Blood Wine.

"I have been toying with a new mix," Quark said. "It is potentially dangerous though. Don't know if the stiff here will let me serve it."

"If the idiot wants to try your concoction," Odo answered, "let him."

"In that case," Quark responded. "Here you go." With that he placed a small shot glass in front of Tommy. Tommy looked at it, eyed Quark, and then downed it in one gulp.

"I think I will stick with the Blood Wine," Kalshion said. Soon he had his glass as well, but didn't drink from it yet.

"Give me the Formula 39," Mark said, standing next to the bar. "Make that two, one for me, one for Momo."

"Formula 39," Quark said, obviously shocked. "How did you know about that one?"

"I get around," Mark responded. Soon he and Momo had larger glasses, although Momo didn't look overly trusting of the liquid hers contained.

"That leaves you," Quark said, looking at Rose. "What would the mother to be like?"

Before Quark could fire another neuron he was being held against the wall by Rose. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?"

"Sorry Miss," Quark said, close to stuttering. "I just assumed..."

"Well don't assume," Rose said, letting Quark go and taking a seat at the bar. "Give me that bottle of Romulan Ale you have under the fourth floor tile."

"She's good," Odo said, looking at Rose as Quark retrieved the bottle in question. "I didn't know about that particular hiding spot."

"And here is your refill," Quark said, giving Sonic another glass of Blood Wine as Rose downed the entire bottle of Romulan Ale.

"Well," Kalshion said. "If he can take it, so can I." With that he downed his glass. Cologne did as well, and Momo finally decided that since Mark wasn't dead from downing his glass minutes before it would be safe for her to down hers. Before he got up, Sonic downed the second glass of Blood Wine, then gathered the group to head out to find their next destination.

"Amazing," Quark said to Odo. "Not one of them so much as flinched."

"Yet," Odo said, looking at the monitor that was now following the group. "I am in a betting mood. I say at least three of them collapse in the next three minutes. Shall we wager my tab?"

"If you lose, you pay double your tab," Quark said. "Deal?"

"Deal," Odo said.

A minute later, the group enters the medical bay.

"Empty," Rose said, looking around. "I was hoping someone would scan me to see what is making me fat."

Thump

"What the?" Sonic and Rose said, spinning around. They found Tommy had fallen to the floor, out like a rock. It didn't take long for Kalshion and Cologne to follow.

"Guess Odo won the bet," Mark said, chuckling.

"Who the hell are you anyway?" Rose asked. "As if I didn't already know."

"Wait a second," Mark said.

Thump

"There we go," Mark said. "Now that Momo is unconscious, I believe I am the one you think I am."

"As if the reoccurring Ms didn't provide enough of a clue," Sonic said.

"What about the reoccurring pig?" Mark asked, jerking his thumb at a small piglet lying on a table nearby. "He had a little too much beer."

"Ok, can't explain that one," Rose said. Suddenly she hiccupped, her cheeks reddening a little. "That feels niiiicccceeee......"

The little Piglet held up a small sign, unnoticed by the remaining conscious people in the room. It read simply "She had Rumulan Ale, didn't she?" A moment later the pig went unconscious again, the sign falling into nothingness.

"I suppose I should mention that the bottle of Romulan Ale she drank was cursed," Mark said, looking at Sonic.

"What kind of curse?" Sonic asked, eyeing Mark.

"She will stay drunk until she has to fight a boss," Mark responded. "Could be three hours or three years, at the rate this Maze is going."

"I don't plan on filing any complaints," Sonic responded, grinning ear to ear.

"I haave noo complaaaintts eithor," said Rose hobbling over to Sonic, "Leetts aw paaattiiiee!"

"I don't think the infirmary is a good place for a party," replied Sonic, "Not enough room to dance, and who knows what people would end up eating in here."

Rose grinned and placed her finger on Sonic's nose, "Soo...Whyy don't you and me have fuunn together *hicup*"

Sonic blushed, "What are you talking about."

"You knowww what I meeannn," smiled Rose running her finger down Sonic face and onto his chest, "We've done iit before in a medical bay you naughty boy."

Sonic grabbed Rose's hand, "Stop this!" he said before looking at Mark.

"So Rose has a wild side," said Mark, "Here I thought she was so formal."

The piglet lifted up a sign, "Please, do continue."

"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" yelled Sonic practically ready to explode from the embarrassment, "Rose, get a hold of your self."

"Alll wite, Al rit," she said sitting down, "U'wl reget it later."

"Now what do we do with all these unconscious people?" Mark asked, looking at the rest of the group on the floor.

"Ooooh, that's eaaaaaaasssy," Rose said, pulling something out of her pocket. "We dra all ova the faces." With that she drew things normally associated with Jigglypuff art on all of the unconscious faces.

"I am out of here," Mark said. "I will meet you inside the wormhole in three days time." With that he left Sonic to deal with Rose, and a few minutes later had taken an escape pod directly into the wormhole.

"Lets go," Sonic said, picking Rose up and bringing her to what he somehow knew was their quarters. An hour later everyone else had done pretty much the same thing, aside from the piglet, which somehow managed to get itself beamed into the wormhole.

The next day Sonic was back to his sober state. Rose was still as plastered as she was the day before, and would apparently remain so for a while. Tommy was actually able to blink, and the others were making coherent sentences.

"Do you think he will make it out alive?" Sonic asked nobody in particular as he looked at Tommy.

"Ow yea," Rose answered. "wasss onrly a liddle drwink."

Sonic grinned, knowing that under normal circumstances Rose would be all over Quark for making a drink like that. He then considered her other condition. Rose seemed to do this as well, as she seemed to sober up a bit as she looked down at the front of her body. "Is something wrong?" Sonic ventured.

"Something is tight," Rose said, not slurring her speech. "And I am a tad hot." With that she pulled off her robe and gloves.

Sonic, for his part, was thinking this was a side affect of the drunk curse, or perhaps Rose's apparent attempt at fighting it. Of course, it seemed that the alcohol just moved around when Rose went to walk and fell flat on her face. A moment later she was giddy as a schoolgirl.

"Something wrong?" Momo asked, leaning on the doorframe for support.

"Nothing I can't handle," Sonic responded. Momo shrugged and made her way back out of the room.

"I can't get this blouse off," Rose said, fumbling with the front of her remaining outfit.

"I'll help," Tommy said, suddenly perfectly sober and sitting upright in bed.

"No you won't," Sonic said, taking his right glove off, loading some unseen objects into it, and replacing it on his hand. "At least, not while I can KILL YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT IT." With that he punched Tommy back into the bed. He then proceeded to take his glove off and empty the contents of it onto Tommy's head. An Acme Anvil, a horse, the Titanic, and a boulder fell out of the glove, among other things, ensuring Tommy was out cold.

"You forgot the piano," Rose said, giggling on the floor. She was down to her bra and panties, both pink. "Oooh, I can feel it kicking."

Sonic seemed to ignore Rose's comments as he gathered up her clothing and led her back to their quarters. Just inside the door he stopped. "Oh yea, the piano." With that he pushed a button inside the door, and the cameraman was promptly flattened by a large piano. "Can't have people watching."

"That is what you think," came an all-too-familiar voice from inside the room. Sonic spun around to find Happosai holding a camera.

"Ever hear of an airlock?" Sonic said, grabbing Happosai. A split second later Sonic was flattened against the opposite wall of the room.

"In case you didn't notice," Happosai smirked, "I found a pendant that protects me from assault while filming."

"Well then," Sonic said, grinning as he pulled himself off the wall. "Lets see about that."

"You can't harm me while I have the pendant," Happosai said, grinning.

"Is that so," Sonic said, pulling out a bow and arrow. "Try this on for size." With that Sonic launched an arrow at Happosai, who just grinned and waited for the arrow to be bounced back. The only problem was that it didn't bounce back, but rather destroyed the lens of the camera.

"What did you do that for?" Happosai asked, just before Sonic flattened him, packed him in a box, and threw him out an airlock. Happosai didn't even know what hit him.

"No lens, no filming. No filming, no protection," Sonic chuckled, returning to the room he and Rose shared.

In the morning Tommy was actually able to walk, but just barely. Rose saw this as a reason to celebrate, however, and Sonic wasn't sure if he should be clobbering Tommy or Rose as Rose jumped on Tommy and Tommy smiled about it. While Sonic was trying to decide whom to pummel, Kalshion and Cologne were back to their normal selves. Momo, however, hadn't made an appearance, and thus nobody was sure what condition she was in.

Just as Sonic was about to clobber both Tommy and Rose, Tommy got up the strength to push Rose away. "You can't do that kind of thing when you are pregnant," was all Tommy said before falling down again. In his mind he was thinking something more along the lines of "Sonic would kill me no matter who initiated it."

"Awwwww," was all Rose said before deciding that it was a good time for a nap herself. Sonic decided he could use one as well, so he carried Rose back to their room. Everyone else just moped around all day, somewhat bored.

On the morning of the third day Tommy was back to his sober self. Momo was still nowhere to be found, however. Figuring she would show up at the last minute, the group, aside from Rose, decided to find a way into the wormhole. After exhausting their list of potentials, not trusting Mark's method, the group was ready to give up, until Momo showed up again.

"Hi guys," Momo called as she entered the room. "Sorry about vanishing like that."

"It's ok," Tommy said. "We have been trying to find a way into the wormhole."

"I hope you didn't try too hard," Momo said, a sympathetic look on her face. "I just got back with a ship that will take us right in."

Twenty minutes later the group was entering the wormhole. They were engulfed in a bright light as the ship seemed to vanish around them, until finally they fell, unconscious.

Sometime much later the group woke up, groggy but alive. They looked around, and found they were each in their own bed in what appeared to be a log cabin. Each of them was wondering how they got there.

Well, ok, Rose was trying to figure out how to get the sheet off of her while it still had her hands under it.

"About time you woke up," Mark said, picking his nails with a knife as he leaned against the door to the cabin. "I was thinking I was going to have to postpone the fight."

"Fight?" Momo asked. Someone else probably would have asked it, but Sonic was tending to Rose, Cologne had gone to the bathroom, Tommy was playing with his sword, and Kalshion was trying to beat Tommy into the ground for cutting a few hairs off of his head with said sword.

"I'll explain about the fight when we get to the stadium," Mark said.

"Then how the hell did we get here?" Rose asked in a shocking moment of clarity. So shocking, in fact, that the only one left standing after she asked the question was Rose herself. Just as everyone was pulling themselves back to their feet, Rose spoke again, this time with plenty of giggles. "Did the cute little piggy-wiggy bring us?" Everyone fell again when they saw Rose holding a little pink piglet.

"Right idea," Mark finally answered. "Wrong pig. It seems Ryoga had borrowed the Delta Flier, and pulled off punching a hole in the wormhole that dropped us here, just beyond the exit to the maze. He fell into a river soon after and hasn't been seen since."

"So if we are at the end of the maze, where is the boss?" Sonic asked. curious.

"Oh, about fifty miles due Nargunk," Mark responded.

"Nargunk?" Cologne said, shocked. "What direction is that?"

"Lets see," Mark said, pulling a chalkboard out of nowhere. He quickly drew up a globe with all kinds of lines and formulae surrounding it, then started to explain how you formulated the direction of Nargunk based on all of it. Before he got much of anywhere Rose had erased the board and drawn happy faces and flowers all over it, however, and he gave up his explanation. "Just follow the path outside the door."

Ten minutes later the group walked out the door, only to find themselves facing a large group of cartoon females. Most of them were teenage to adult age, and had stereotypically large "assets". The children were mainly off to one side of the teenagers and adults. All of them looked mildly angry.

Not that something as simple as that would stop Tommy from having his head morph into a wolf's head as he went into a long whistle.

"INSENSITIVE JERK," yelled the entire crowd of females, all of them pulling off a simultaneous slap of Tommy, sending his head spinning faster then an electron.

"So, ladies," Sonic asked, glad that Rose appeared to be having issues seeing more then a foot in front of her face. "What seems to be the problem?"

"To put it simply," one of the kids answered. "A little freak grabbed all of the female undergarments in existence around here and ran into that cabin with them."

"Happosai," Kalshion said, turning back towards the cabin.

"Wasn't me," came a familiar voice from a nearby tree. "The other little freak took my collection and tied me to this branch."

"Did you ladies want to deal with the little freak yourself?" Cologne asked. A rash of smiles and nods from the large group of females signified a yes, so the group stepped away from the door as all the females barged into the cabin. A few minutes later a large commotion could be heard coming from inside the cabin, just before a smaller, faster, and younger looking version of Happosai shot out through the roof.

"Pure essence of Happosai," Mark explained as the small being came back in for a landing, right into the tied up Happosai. After a moment the tied up Happosai was free and running around like usual. "Shall we continue our journey?" With that the group started down the path. Not much more interesting things happened to them, aside from the occasional anvil falling on a member of the group or steamrollers flattening everyone. Rose, of course, was the only one not affected by any of this. The anvils never hit her, and the steamrollers always seemed to miss her.

"When will we get there?" Sonic asked, anxious to take off his protective anti-anvil helmet.

"Oh, I don't know," Mark said as the group walked down the path. "Eventually. Would you like to just skip the rest of this sequence?"

"YES," came the resounding response from everyone else except Rose.

"Ok then," Mark said, pulling out a remote. "Lets fast forward to our arrival." With that he pressed a button on the remote, and the scene went to static for a moment before the group found themselves standing at the entrance to a coliseum.

"Now all we need is some Weed," Tommy said, not thinking. A moment later he was flattened under a piano.

"May I have your attention please," came a booming voice over a loudspeaker. "Would Sonic, Rose, and the Cat Boss please enter the ring."

"Ring?" Rose said, snapping out of her drunken state. "What is going on?"

"Time to do battle," Mark answered. "Apparently someone decided that it would be you two fighting on your own."

"Lets go then," Rose said, before stopping in her tracks. "Why does my stomach seem larger then I remember it?"

"It has been a few days," Momo said, dragging the rest of the group off. "By my estimate, two weeks including the time period we fast-forwarded through." Then Rose was alone with Sonic, who dragged her into the center of the coliseum.

"The Cat Boss has brought two captives," the announcer boomed. "Both of which will stand off to the side cowering in fear during the fight."

"US?" Ranma and Akane both yelled, angry despite any curses affecting them. "WE DON'T COWER IN FEAR!"

"Ok," the announcer corrected. "They will stand there looking pissed or whatever during the fight. On another note, lets add a curse to Princess Ranma." With that a small beam of energy hit Ranma. "Princess Ranma will no longer be afraid of cats for the duration of the fight."

"Can we just get to fighting?" Sonic yelled.

"Ok already," the announcer said. "Anything goes battle between good and evil, commence!"

"Cue the music," the cat boss yelled, a small tower rising behind him with ringing bells in it. A moment later music started, and it wasn't long before the Cat Boss started to sing, slowly transforming and growing larger as he went along.

I'm a rolling thunder, a pouring rain
I'm comin' on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
You're only young but you're gonna die

I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you

Hell's Bells
Yeah, Hell's Bells
You got me ringing Hell's Bells
My temperature's high, Hell's Bells

I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine
If you're into evil you're a friend of mine
See my white light flashing as I split the night
'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm stickin' to the right

I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's puttin' up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you

Hell's Bells
Yeah, Hell's Bells
You got me ringing Hell's Bells
My temperature's high, Hell's Bells

yeow
Hell's Bells, Satan's comin' to you
Hell's Bells, he's ringing them now
Hell's Bells, the temperature's high
Hell's Bells, across the sky
Hell's Bells, they're takin' you down
Hell's Bells, they're draggin' you around
Hell's Bells, gonna split the night
Hell's Bells, there's no way to fight, yeah

Ow, ow, ow, ow

Hell's Bells

"That was a nice waste of five minutes," Rose commented, staring at the monstrosity before them. For all appearances, it looked like a gorilla in a cat suit with three heads. Despite their earlier comment, Ranma and Akane both appeared to be cowering just a little bit, and Sonic and Rose were searching their attack lists for suitable attacks.

Finally Sonic gave up, pulled out all of the weapons in his inventory, and cast a spell. A moment later he was holding the largest combination sword and gun anyone had ever seen, with a maniacal grin on his face. He unleashed its full power on the cat boss, creating a mushroom cloud that could have covered Alaska with ease. When the smoke cleared the Cat boss was sitting there, playing solitaire.

"Oh, is it my turn?" the Cat Boss asked. He decided to take out Rose first, as Sonic's weapon was obviously useless. He cast a powerful spell designed to knock Rose into oblivion, and watched with glee. Well, until the spell hit Rose, buzzed loudly, and vanished. "We appear to be at a standstill. Your Fat Stomach won't let me attack you."

"F-f-f-f-f-f," Rose started, her hair standing on end, her eyes turning red, and an aura forming around her. "FAT!" she finally yelled, launching out at the Cat Boss with an attack that cut off two of his heads at the same time.

"That stung, you know," the Cat Boss responded as two green masses sprung from his shoulders, forming two new heads. "But then again, it was a similar story when Sonic there blew my body to bits."

"Ok then," Sonic said, jumping for an attack. He appeared to be charging up for a chi-based attack, but then an odd look came over his face. This was enough for the Cat Boss to knock him out of the air, all but unconscious next to Ranma and Akane, who, oddly enough, were formulating a plan based on information gleamed from the Cat Boss's stats window.

"What was that all about," Rose yelled. Sonic was, however, too weak to respond. A moment later the Cat Boss was moving in for the kill, stepping near Ranma and Akane to be able to reach Sonic.

"Go," Akane said, pushing Ranma towards the Cat Boss. Ranma pulled out Akane's mallet, and prepared to attack.

"Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Final Attack..." Ranma started.

"JUST HIT HIM WITH THE MALLET," Rose and Akane yelled at the same time, startling Ranma, who shrugged and hit the Cat Boss with the mallet a few hundred times in a split second. Before he was done hitting the Cat Boss a temporal rift opened, sucking the Cat Boss in and causing a shockwave to obliterate the world around them. A moment later the group was standing where the Cat Boss's fortress had been, back outside of the Digital World.

"About damn time," Tommy said. "That took way too long."

Sonic

Chapter 36
The destruction of the Original Rationality Basin
Or ORB for short

Ranma-chan went over to Sonic and started to get him to wake up as Akane took care of Rose who fainted from exhausting. After a minute of not succeeding in waking them up, Akane opened up an item window and got a bottle of "Angel Tears" and used it on the two.

"Owwww, My Head," stated Sonic getting up.

"YOUR head, what about my STOMACH!" snapped Rose.

"Thank God," said Akane looking at both Rose and Sonic, "You had me worried there for a moment."

"Don't scare us like that again," said Ranma-chan, "I almost shed a tear thinking you were dead!"

"Looks like you are getting more feminine," giggled Akane putting her hand to her mouth.

Ranma-chan blushed for a moment before turning around to find Ukyo and Shampoo jumping on him. "I was so Worried," said Ukyo, "You worried, me worriest," stated Shampoo, "No, I worried the most!" Soon a battle raged between the two while Ranma-chan just walked away.

"You were really worried?" asked Sonic now on his feet trying to offer Rose a hand, but getting slapped instead.

"Of course," replied Akane, "We're all friends aren't we."

Rose looked at Ukyo and Shampoo for a moment than looked back at Akane with a smile, "For the Most part."

"Enough of this F**king mushy stuff, lets just break that damn orb and be done with it so I can get some weed!" yelled Tommy.

Mark was about to do something to Tommy when a statue of a naked angle holding a hoop above her head like a halo fell on Tommy. Mark glanced over at Momo who was giving a look at Tommy before he looked back at the statue, "I didn't realize Tomoeda Elementry still had that statue," whispered Mark to Momo.

"They didn't, I kept it in storage for sentimental reasons, but Tommy just...just," said Momo.

"Pissed you off?" grinned Mark.

Momo blushed before she turned a cheek on Mark as Rose started to walk up to Mark. "Yo MM," she started, "I have a question to ask you."

"Well than, I may or may not have an answer, depending on the question, and how I feel," grinned Mark.

Rose handed a piece of paper on it with the symbol of the tan mark she found on her hand a while back, "What does this symbol mean?"

Mark looked at it for a moment, "Ah, looks like a summoning symbol over a fertilization symbol," he than looked at Rose's stomach, "I think we all know the general idea behind this symbol. Jigglypuff must have drawn it."

Rose looked at her stomach, "Oh god, what on earth did that pink puff summon into me."

"I just hope it isn't some sort of demon from hell, and especially not a succubus," commented Sonic, "I don't want to be the father of something like that."

Rose gave Sonic a look that instantly KOed him. Akane sighed as she used more of the angel tears on him.

"Couldn't you have done that to that cat boss," commented Ranma-chan.

"Cat boss?" asked Emily.

"Forget it, you weren't there," said Rose, "Lets just start our journey to the power orb. And MAKE SURE we bring Akane's mallet this time!"

A few moments everyone had left except Akane, where the camera stayed focused on her. She was in thought wondering why they wanted her mallet. "FOR GOD SAKES, DON'T FORGET AKANE EITHER!" yelled Rose.

Ranma-chan quickly ran over, grabbed Akane by the arm, and headed off with the group. A few hours later the group was getting tired.

"Are we there yet," asked Jeremy.

"Say, isn't this the same rock we pasted an hour ago?" asked Ukyo.

Colonge jumped over and examined the rock, "Yep, looks like we've been walking in circles."

"WHAT?" yelled Rose, obviously getting in a worse mood. She walked over to Mark where she grabbed him by his collar with a look that melted the area behind him into Molting Lava. "HOW DO WE GET TO THAT TOWER OLD MAN!"

"I don't like being called old man," said Mark, "As for the directions...I forgot."

Rose didn't like that answer as steam was pouring out of her head, "Honestly, I'm telling the truth," said Mark trying to avoid the wrath of a woman in pregnancy.

"Calm down Rose," said Sonic putting his hand on her shoulder. This proved to be a mistake as Rose turned around and punched Sonic straight into the sky with more Force than Keitaro had seen in his entire life combined.

Rose than smiled, "Ahh, nothing like venting some steam."

"Some?" asked Jeremy, "That's more like Emily when the old freak jumps on her."

"SWEETO!" yelled Happosai jumping on Emily's breasts resulting in a black aura blast.

"See?" pointed Jeremy with his thumb.

"Say, I think I see Sonic coming back down," said Ranma-chan looking up with his hand over his eyes.

Everyone took a look to see an approaching white object come flying out of control towards them. Soon everyone but Ranma had moved for cover. Ranma soon was able to see clearly enough that it was a white dragon with Sonic out cold while still hanging on it's neck. Before Ranma-chan had a chance to realize she was in the path of the dragon, the dragon smashed into the ground sending Ranma flying into the tree.

A few moments later the Dragon lifted it's head before it coughed out a white ki blast. After it shook some sense into itself, it saw that the blast had smashed through Ranma, as he was now a Ranma the Ice Woman. "Ooops, sorry about that."

Ranma just stood there for a moment before her ice shell broke, however Ranma-chan was now frozen to the ground from the anklets down. Everyone tried to break the ice, using fire spells, erase magic spells, and even the kitchen sink which somehow got in the mess, but no one could get Ranma out.

"Looks like you have to get Mrs. Saotome to remove the anklets before Ranma can get out," replied Mark who was the only one who didn't help.

"And how do you know that?" asked Ranma-chan with a pissed look on her face.

"I made those anklets after all, and I watched your mother put them on you," smirked Mark.

"Why you dirty..." started Ranma trying to take off to kick Mark's ass, but due to the ice on her legs, she fell short or rather fell where she started, head first.

"So, now she have to go to town, get Mrs. Saotome, come back here, that is where ever here is, THAN go back to the orb tower," said Sonic shocking everyone that he made a completely recovery.

"That take days," said Shampoo with a gloomy face.

"No it won't," said the Dragon, "I can fly you there. I managed to memorize the entire RPG layout while trying to find a way home."

"Say, you voice sounds familiar," said Katarina.

"It should, I'm Hikeya," the dragon said Smiling.

Mark slapped his hand on his head, "Damnit, she hanged around Ryoga too long," he thought.

Momo pondered for a moment on what Mark was thinking before she looked up, "I'm ready when you guys are."

Soon everyone was on Hikeya as they flew through the sky. It seemed like it was going to be a short trip, but minutes turned to hours, and hours turned the sun into the three Moons. Finally Hikeya reached the Tendo Castle. As she was making her decent vector Kalshion looked to the side.

"Say, isn't that the rock we started at," said Kalshion pointing to a rock that was 10 kilometers away.

"Yep, Ryoga rubbed off on Hikeya after all," said Mark with his head down.

"If you knew something, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?" yelled Rose with her head twice as big.

After landing, everyone started to slide down Hikeya onto the ground. Momo however tripped and did a summersault in the air before landing on her rear creating a large cracking sound. Everyone looked at Momo as she got up and looked in her pocket.

"Looks like this teleport to any RPG location device broke my fall," said Momo grinning.

Everyone stared for a moment before all their jaws dropped on the ground creating a sound that sounded like a door knock. Moments later Kasumi opened the door to the castle, "Welcome."

"Is Mrs. Saotome in the house?" asked Rose a bit annoyed.

"Yes she is, let me get her," said Kasumi walking back into the castle, "Aunty Saotome, visitors for you."

A few minutes later Mrs. Saotome walked out, "May I help you?"

"Yes you can," said Rose, "The anklets you put on Ranma have fused to some ice and now Ranma is stuck and can't get back to the castle. We need you to remove the anklets for us."

"I can't," said Mrs. Saotome, "A very bad thing could happen if I did that."

A huge pink battle aura formed over Rose as her eyes turned blue. Everyone who was standing by her suddenly vanished. Soon an image of Rose overshadowed her body, much like Happosai's battle aura. "YOU WILL REMOVE THOSE ANKLETS!" roared Rose shaking everything on a 7.0 rector scale.

Rose soon returned to her normal stature as Mrs. Saotome's hair was spiked in the opposite direction of Rose as her clothes appeared to be rather extra crispy. Nadoka blinked with big blank eyes before nodding like a zombie.

"Quite the persuasive speaker, isn't she," said Sonic elbowing Jeremy.

Back with our scientists,

"What happen to the Digital world?" asked one of the scientists waking up from their shock.

"No clue, but the gamma radiation detector just went off the scale for a moment," said the second pointing to a monitor.

"Gamma?" replied the third, "What on earth could create Gamma and get it to us through the astrosphere."

"It came from earth," said the fourth, "In fact, the source is right outside the window."

All four scientists ran to the window to find a huge shoe outside. Speechless the scientists looked up to find the same woman that appeared the last time in that size was the owner of that shoe. Later analysis found everyone was at that size, and the grass was basically now a meter tall.

"Wait, don't tell me," started the third scientist.

"Yep, You've SHRUNK doc!" said Bugs popping out of a screw hole in the console eating a carrot. A moment later he popped back in.

"Any Hypothesis on this?" asked the fourth.

Back with our crew that is at normal size...

"Hmmm, I'm hearing voices," thought Momo looking around, "Could have sworn it was those scientists." A moment later she noticed a building the size of a small rock near Rose's foot. "I guess I REALLY went overboard," thought Momo before ignoring the building.

"Lets go," said Rose starting to walk off.

"Do you want another lift?" asked Hikeya.

"That's ok, we'll walk over there," said Rose trying to hide her annoyance.

"At any point Hikeya, Momo and I are going to separate from the group now, so we'll show you how to get home. And if you get lost in a portal that is on 2cm long, you're on your own," said Mark walking up to her.

"Figures you would leave," said Sonic.

"SHUTUP and lets GO!" yelled Rose giving an overshadowing look on Sonic.

About an hour later, they reached Ranma who was not in a good mood, "What kept you So long!" screamed Ranma.

"That's no way for a princess to be acting," said his mother taking off the anklets freeing him. A few seconds later she was trying to put the anklets back on him, but Ranma-chan instantly ran off to the castle to find some hot water.

Rose gave a rather long yawn before she spoke up again, "Lets hurry back to the castle and get some sleep, I'm beat."

Sonic sighed, "I wish she would stop having these mood swings, one moment she's fire from hell, the next she's sweet as an angel."

"I heard that," snapped Rose.

Sonic jumped back, "SORRY!"

Back at the castle, everyone went to their assigned room. The boys were put on the left wing of the castle while the girls on the other. Ranma and Akane however went to the center of the castle where the Princess slept. Ranma complained about having to sleep with a sleep talker like Akane, but Akane's puppy eyes melted his decision rather quickly. Of course this didn't go well with Shampoo and Ukyo, so Rose decided to sedate them with a statue of a Panda so she could get some sleep.

"Do you think the girls will try anything tonight?" asked Kalshion.

"Most likely yes," said Sonic grinning, "I could tell Rose was putting a bit of act into that yawn earlier. I bet they think we forgot."

"So what's the battle plan this time?" asked Jeremy.

"Put a basket of weed above the entrance to our wing so it will dump on the girls when they come in!" said Tommy in a enthusiastic way.

"Shut up!" said Jeremy punching Tommy into the wall.

"Ya know, that ain't half bad," said Sonic grabbing a bucket and putting some dandelion weeds into it.

"Wrong Weed," said Tommy have dazed from the hit.

"Now, pass me that instant Paranta powder over there," said Sonic.

Kalshion looked around and found a rack filled with chemicals that suddenly appeared out of no where. He went over and found the powder.

"So what do you plan to do?" asked Jeremy eager to know Sonic's scheme.

"Ever met Mario?" winked Sonic.

Over with the girls...

"Tonight's are chance girls," said Rose unpacking things from her inventory.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold," said Emily holding a Klignon mask over her head before taking it off, "Or so they say."

"Shampoo, Ukyo, WAKE UP!" said Rose kicking them.

"Why you do that?" asked Shampoo.

"What's the big idea?" asked Ukyo, "You went through all that trouble to sedate us, and now you wake us up?"

"We have to get the boys back, REMEMBER?" replied Rose taking out the anklets she 'borrowed' from Nadoka.

"Looks like you have a plan," said Emily watching Rose grin as she melted the anklets and extracted the curse energy into a bucket of seeds.

"Ever heard of waking up the next morning in a jungle of poison ivy?" grinned Rose.

"Not really," replied Ukyo.

"Yea, probably not," said Rose, "I just made that up. At any point, this curse energy should prove rather useful in making these seeds grow to be huge poison ivy vines. Planting them on the boys should be rather interesting to see."

Colonge smiled as her inner child began to show, "Sounds like fun!"

"Just remember to knock this time," said Emily winking, "We don't want to trigger Washu's devices again."

Later that night, the girls proceeded to the boys wing. After slipping by Mr. Saotome in his panda form grabbing a midnight snack, the girls reached the wing. Rose and Ukyo took Sonic's room, Shampoo and Colonge took Tommy's room, Katarina took Kalshions, and Emily took Jeremy. They all counted to three very softly before making a light tap on the door. They heard a small beep as Washu's devices disarmed.

Being very quiet, they walked over to the beds to find a rather large lump underneath it. Confused to how the boys could grow so big, they each flipped over the covers.

"AYIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" screamed all the girls as they ran out of the rooms being chased by huge red parranta plants. Their red heads were nice and round and opened in half to show their sharp teeth. Their body was basically made from the stem with roots as feet and leaves as arms. They all looked rather hungry.

"DAMN YOU SONIC!" yelled Rose swirling around in her run and punching Sonic without even getting physical contact.

Sonic who was with the boys hiding behind a trap door flew out from the punch, "Damn, how she do that?" asked Sonic with amaze.

"Shampoo no like," yelled Shampoo as she ran away from the plant. She quickly turned around and threw the seeds she was carrying at it. A moment later the parranta morphed into a Bulbasour.

Seeing this result, Shampoo yelled at the other girls to throw their seeds at the parantas chasing them. Soon the girls had four bulbasours and were using their vine whips to whip the crap out of the boys.

That morning...

"Good Morning, did you sleep well?" asked Kasumi coming downstairs.

The boys, who had whip lashes all over their faces just grunted, as the girls who had their hair messed up from running last night just sipped their tea.

Kasumi walked over to the table where she looked at the girl's tea cups, "My, who made the Tea?" she asked.

The girls eyes opened a bit before they looked at each other, "I thought you made the tea," they all said. A few moments later they looked at the boys who had soft grins on their faces while sipping their orange juice.

The girls just stared at the boys trying to figure out what they had just drank. A moment later, all the girl's hair except for Rose fell out leaving them bald. Their eyes turned to the size of golf balls as the felt their head. Rose was shocked beyond disbelief and Kasumi had her hand on her mouth.

The boys had straight faces for about a minute before they couldn't handle it anymore and burst open laughing. "YOU THINK THIS IS A LAUGHING MOMENT!" yelled the girls punching them through the castle and onto a collision course with mars.

Rose just watched as the girls walked around the castle creating a 8 on the rector scale with every step. After 20 minutes, Colonge came back with some hair formula she found in Mr. Saotome's room. He was obviously saving it till the RPG curse was gone so he could grow some permanent hair. A few minutes later the girls had their hair back to normal.

Not trusting what was on the table, the girls went to the kitchen and whipped up some quick breakfast. Kasumi on the other hand just ate what was already on the table before she went to do some chores. When the girls finished, they went to the table and ate.

Rose eyed her plate after eating a few bites, "Say, this has something in it that tastes very failure, but what is it?" she asked. She started to think while the rest of the girls ignored her and finished their meal. A few minutes later everyone but Rose felt a rumble in their stomach followed by it making some sounds. They eyed one another and rushed to the restroom.

"Now I remember, this tastes like MM's Laxatives," said Rose punching her palm with her hand before she realized everyone was gone.

On Board the Nadesico, that somehow got into this mess

"It was very kind of you to take us to Earth Ms. Misumaru," said Kalshion looking out the window fascinated by the stars.

"It was nothing," said Yurika in a cheerful matter standing by her chair.

"But what was your problem with Jeremy, Ms. Yurika," said Sonic who obviously knew Yurika more than the others.

Yurika got a bit angry, "That no good for nothing boy wrecked my room the last time I saw him, fighting with some other girl!"

"I don't recall that ever happening Captain," said Megumi at the comm.

"This happen before I came on board the Nadesico," replied Yurika.

"So," started Tommy laying against the wall, "Do you think the girls fell for our second trap with the kitchen?"

Kalshion grinned and nodded, "Yep, I just heard my sister curse me a few seconds ago."

At the castle, the girls were running to the Ladies room...

"Out of my Way!" yelled Ukyo trying to get to the restroom first.

"Shampoo no let you!" yelled Shampoo jumping on Ukyo's head and diving for the bathroom door. A moment later Shampoo was flat on a barrier that had surrounded the door before it shoved her back knocking the other girls like Bowling pins.

At the control room,

Nadeshiko eyed MM, "It was cruel to add that curse just before they got there."

"But you have to admit, it is funny," replied MM grinning.

Nadeshiko looked back at the screen to find the girls trying to go into the gentleman's room but finding it cursed only to let males go in. Not being able to stand this anymore, Nadeshiko punched a few buttons to remove the barrier.

Unfortunately, due to her klutzy nature, Nadeshiko removed the barrier, but placed the same curse on the ladies bathroom as the gentleman’s, which mean only males could go into the ladies restroom now.

MM started to laugh, "You just don't know when NOT to help do you."

Nadeshiko blushed with a sorry look on her face before the girls screamed.

Two weeks later

"Thanks for the lift," said Sonic jumping off the Nadesico and onto the ground with the rest of the boys.

"I hope I never see that captain again," said Jeremy, "I didn't like my VIP room in the brig."

The guys walked into the castle with a loud "Hello". A few moments later punches, slaps, and explosions could be heard inside the castle. A moment later a huge puff of black smoke shot out of the castle door with the guys in it.

"Good thing we used those holograms for decoys," said Sonic looking out the window from the Nadesico Bridge.

"Yea, I hate to get that kind of beating," said Jeremy eating an apple.

"Just WHAT did you do to them to make them that angry?" asked Yurika from behind.

"Oh, just dropped some laxatives in their food," said Tommy grinning.

"Shutup you IDIOT!" yelled Kalshion, but it was too late.

A few moments later the guys with lumps on their head were thrown out of the bridge to join the KOed holograms.

"Honestly," said Rose as the gang started their journey to tower with the orb, "Can't you guys ever behave!"

"US?, You were the one who came to our..." yelled Tommy before getting slammed into the ground by both Ukyo and Shampoo with mallets they so happen to find in three seconds.

"He had that coming," said Ranma giving Akane a piggy back ride since she couldn't see the ground, "Do you see the tower yet Akane?"

"Yea, I see the glow from the orb up ahead," replied Akane.

"Do you suppose MM was nice and left that shortcut to the top floor open Ryoga mentioned to you guys, or do we have to go through the whole maze again," asked Sonic.

Rose's eyes started to turn blood red, so red in fact that the Devil himself freaked, "He better have, or I am going to have a nice chat with him," she said in a soft yet most utterly evil voice.

"Come to think of it, where is Ryoga?" asked Katarina.

"No clue, I last saw him a week ago roaming the halls looking for Akane," replied Emily.

Another hour past before the gang had navigate their way through the crowded street corners to the tower.

"Here we are, now lets find that door," said Rose looking around to the left of the entrance door. A few moments later she found the shortcut and opened it only to stop dead in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" asked Sonic running up before he too stopped dead in his tracks.

The rest of the gang wanting to know what was going on ran up to see what was behind the door. A few moments later they too stopped dead in their tracks. After a few minutes of just staring, Emily decided to speak, "Looks like dad decided to change the shortcut through Dexter's lab."

However, no one at this time was paying attention to Emily, as everyone was staring at Rose who seemed be be giving a small laugh. As she continued to get louder, a dark red aura began to form around her. Soon everyone in a mile radius had went to the nearest bomb shelter, expecting the worst.

In The Control Room

"I think you've done it this time," said Nadeshiko looking at MM.

"What could she possibly do? Blow me up?" laughed MM.

Nadeshiko just watched him for a moment before she took off through the door in one second flat. MM looked around finally noticing a glow coming from him self. A Moment later a loud bang could be heard from the Control room office.

"Let me guess," started Lupin, "He crossed a pregnant woman."

"Yep," said Nadeshiko waiting for a bit before going into the room, seeing smoke pouring gout of the cracks.

Inside MM just stood around, he was as black as coal and most of his robe at been blasted outward into spikes. The rest of the room was basicly black now, but amazingly all the equipment was still running. "Another Note to self, Don't forget what happen when you cross a Pregnant Woman," he said outloud before snapping his fingers restoring everything to normal.

Back at a 500 meter crater...Wait, 500 meter Crater? Damn, Rose blew some steam...

"Is it safe to come out yet?" asked Sonic as Colonge peaked outside of the bomb shelter.

"Yep," said Colonge hopping out.

Soon the group was back out staring at the tower in the center of the crater with Rose standing next to it breathing rather hard. It took them ten minutes to navigate through the crater and get to Rose.

"You didn't have to go THAT far!" yelled Sonic when getting to her. Her response was a simple look that instant KOed him again.

"I agree, you should learn to control your temper," said a familiar voice from behind Rose.

Rose's eyes turned red again as she turned around, "WHY YOU..." she started to say when she saw MM. But before she could say or do anything else, a part of Rose's stomach budged out taking a form of a horn before it popped back in. Rose stood there in total shock, "Was that...a....a...kick?" she asked before she fell down.

"Great, both Sonic and Rose are out," said Ranma, "Got any more of that tear stuff Akane?"

Akane signed and took out her bottle of angel tears recovering them. MM just grinned before he disapeared so that Rose wouldn't try anything else.

"Wow, this place is awesome!" said Ukyo looking around as they walked through Dexter’s lab.

Ranma was rather impressed too, he kept looking around not paying any attention he was going. Soon he ran into a small dude in a white jacket.

"WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING IN MY LABORITIORY!" yelled Dexter.

"Sorry," said Ranma backing up a bit still giving Akane a piggy back ride..

"You made this? Is Awesome!" said Shampoo bending down to talk to the boy.

Rose turned around and began to tap her foot, she was getting very impatient. Sonic had taken effort to stay 5 meters away from her now using everyone else in the group as a shield. Unfortunately they all moved over to see Dexter leaving a momentary line of sight between his eyes and Rose, giving him 500hp damage points.

"Why thank you," said Dexter a bit shy, "I do my best to keep my laboritory at tip top shape. You guys are the second set of visitors I had today."

"Who was the first?" asked Klashion.

"Him," said Dexter pointing over at Ryoga who was carrying a small house in his hands.

"RYOGA!?!" yelled Rose, "HOW DID YOU GET HERE?"

"How would I know," replied Ryoga, "I found this house at the front door of the castle. I was going to give it to Kasumi, but I got lost somewhere in the castle. The next thing I knew a trap door lead me here!"

Rose scorned for a moment before Emily spoke up, "What's that you got there?" she Asked.

"Not sure," said Ryoga, "Some house with scientists inside, I'm supposed to put them on the enlarger ray, but I can't seem to find it."

Dexter started to get angry, "For the twelfth time, it's the device right behind you!"

"That's Ryoga's sense of Direction for ya," said Ranma.

"Hehe," giggled Akane.

"What's going on between the two of you?" asked Ryoga noticing the change of behavior between Ranma and Akane.

"What are you talking about Ryoga?" asked Akane, "Ranma and I are engaged."

Ryoga stepped back in shock from what he just heard dropping the house. The pink piggy who came out of no where caught it on it's back before it went over to the enlarger ray, dropped the house off and turned it on. It pulled out a sign while the ray was doing it's job, "Good thing I was in the neighborhood."

"What's wrong Ryoga?" asked Akane as Ryoga fell to his knees in total shock. He stood there for a moment before he grinned.

"You used some sort of sick spell on her, didn't you RANMA!" yelled Ryoga getting up and charging at him.

"Ryoga, Calm down! It's not what you think!" yelled Ranma backing up.

Ryoga didn't hear a word however as he charged in full blown rage at him. He pulled his finger back getting ready to deliver a Bukusai Tenketsu attack when Rose stopped in front of him with blood red eyes and her hair standing straight up.

"DEMON WRATH!" she yelled blasting a huge ki blast that sent Ryoga past the now full grown house with the Scientists out the door, past the controls to the ray gun, through the wall, through MM's control room, where he finally fell in a water puddle at a Pig Ranch somewhere in the Americas.

Everyone stared at Rose as her hair began to fall back to normal place, she was emitting a huge amount of Yoiki (Demon Energy). "When did you started to use Yoiki for your attacks?" asked Sonic.

Rose turned around getting ready to beat Sonic again when the question finally sunk into her brain, "Wha...Hmmmm, I don't know," she responded. She thought some more for a few minutes before she turned around and started to walk off, "No matter, lets get going!"

After navigating through the lab for an hour, the group was no closer to finding the exit to the orb than they had been when they first entered. During this time Deedee was zooming around in various of ships that Dexter made with Dexter himself chasing her, "Get of of my laboritory!"

"Do they always act like that?" asked Colonge eyeing them.

"Yes," replied Jeremy, "And this is on a good day too."

Deedee was now in a small rocket with Dexter following her in another rocket. The two past the group as they headed forward, which strangely didn't look like it came from Dexter's lab. When the two of them past, Dexter's radar blinked indicating a missile was heading straight for them from ahead. He looked to see Deedee casually dodge the missile before it hit his ship sending him rolling onto the ground and onto some high heels.

Dexter coming too looked at the high heels before looking up to see who they were on. He jumped back to find a red haired woman giving him a rather nasty look. "What are you children doing in my laboratory?" asked Washu.

The gang had cought up at that point walking up to Washu, Jeremy, Emily, Sonic and Rose jumped back in fear, "WASHU!"

Washu turned to them, "Why if it isn't my friends from another dimension, I'll be with you in a moment after I handle these pests."

The gang looked up to see missiles of all sorts chase Deedee who had no trouble at all dodging them causing them to blow up into the lab itself.

"Erm..Washu," started Sonic, "The problem doesn't lie with those kids, it lies more to the fact that MM has connected your lab to Dexter's lab."

Washu looked at Sonic who was pointing behind him. She took a step forward before gave a shook expression, "Your Right, that's not part of my lab over there." She than quickly ran over to her console where she opened up a AT&T Dimensional Service Console and dialed a number.

Soon MM's face was on the screen, "Ah Washu, nice to see you."

"What's the idea connecting my lab to someone else's lab without my knowledge," yelled Washu.

"I needed to use your lab to connect a patch for Sonic and his gang to go through," replied MM, "If you note your contract under paragraph 3333333 sub paragraph 9999, line 6, it states that I have to right to do such a thing."

Washu pulled out a book that was the size of a dresser and opened it up to the specified location. She read for a bit before she slammed the book, "You win this time MM!" she yelled.

"Deedee, would you come down here!" yelled Dexter wanting to get out of the area and back to his lab.

"Deedee?" came a voice from the opposite end of the lab. Everyone looked to find a taller kid with a Frankenstein hair due in a white jacket pop out.

"Mandark!" yelled Dexter, "What are YOUU doing here?"

"I don't need to answer any of your stupid questions," replied Mandark, "Just tell me where Deedee is!"

"Hi Susan!" yelled Deedee zooming by.

Everyone including Washu laughed at this, getting Susan...

"DON'T YOU CALL ME THAT EITHER" yelled Mandark.

"Oh, Sorry," said The Narrator before continuing...

Everyone including Washu laughed at this, getting MANDARK very upset. He stormed back where he came revealing that his lab was also connected to Washu's lab.

"Can't we just get this over with," said Rose rubbing her head, "I can't take being pregnant anymore."

"You better get used to it," said Colonge, "in a few years you'll probobly be pregnant again with Sonic's child."

"That's different," said Rose, "That will be HIS child."

Sonic turned around at this, "What do you mean that will be my child, are you saying you had.." he said before he was slammed on the head by a mallet Rose borrowed from Akane.

"At any point, Sonic and I have been together for almost a hundred years, and we haven't had a child yet, so I don't expect us having one any time soon," said Rose walking to Washu.

"Gee, she's almost as old as the old ghoul," said Ranma before he got smacked in the face by Cologne's cane.

"You got anything that could help us Washu?" asked Rose getting to her.

Washu thought for a moment before she pushed a button on her console. Soon four hover bikes with seating for three each dropped down. "Yep, these should help you," said Washu.

"Great," said Rose as the rest of the group drooled over the fancy technology.

"Stop drooling you guys and get on," said Rose hopping on the bike. Being a bit hesitant Sonic got on behind Rose. Jeremy, Emily and Ukyo paired up, Kalshion, Katarina, and Tommy paired, Shampoo, Ranma, and Akane took the last. Colonge hopped behind Sonic thinking it was for the best to make sure they didn't fight again.

"Those bikes should be able to detect the exit out of this place," said Washu, "Just be sure not to put a dent in them please."

"Roger!" said Rose putting on a helmet that she pulled out of her cloak before she pulled the accelerator to max sending them flying.

"Do....you....think.....we......could.......slow......down.....a.......tad," yelled Colonge having difficulty speaking at Mark One.

"You nuts, this is great!" yelled Sonic enjoying the speed.

"Yahooo!" yelled Rose as happy as she could be.

After three minutes riding the bikes, the gang finally came to a door at the end of Mandark's lab. Rose was the first one there as she hit the break sending Colonge flying into the wall.

"Slow pokes," commented Rose as she stepped off her bike.

"It wasn't like we were racing or anything," said Akane.

"Still, there is nothing like some friendly competition," replied Sonic, who obviously enjoyed moving at Sonic speed.

"Lets finish this," said Rose walking into the door. They went through to find themselves where they had once been, in space. They walked over to the "Power Sphere Orb" room and went inside.

"Ok Akane, we need you to break this orb with your mallet," said Rose, pleased that this was all about to end.

"Rose, there is on problem with that," replied Akane.

"Problem?" asked Rose starting to get worried.

"I can't do any attacks," answered Akane.

This was enough of a shock to cause everyone except Ranma to fall on the floor. A moment later Rose was up on her feat repeating the same phrase over and over while pacing back and forth, "NOT AGAIN!"

Sonic just watched for a bit as Rose began to make a trench where she was walking back and forth. Finally he decided to speak up, "Akane cannot attack, but who said she has to be attacking the orb to break it?"

"Uhhhh?" responded everyone.

"Akane, why don't you try just taping the orb with your mallet," said Sonic.

"Ok," said Akane pulling out her mallet, "Ranma, please guide me to the orb."

Ranma guided Akane to the orb where she put the mallet over it, "Here goes nothing," she said tapping the orb.

The entire gang watched breathlessly for a minute as nothing happened to the orb. Finally a soft crack was heard as the orb shattered to bits and engulfed the world in a bright light.

When Rose came too, she found herself with Sonic, Akane, Ranma, Katarina, Kalshion, Emily, Jeremy, and Tommy on top of a roof of a building in the center of town. She got up and looked around for a bit before she noticed it was the day the RPG curse had started.

"I guess time reset itself," said Rose as the rest came too. She than walked over to where the orb was to find the three shards that were once in the bosses of the three bases. When she bent down to pick them up however, that was when she noticed her stomach was still rather big.

"WHAT AM I STILL DOING PREGNANT!" she yelled scaring the birds in the nearby area. Everyone down in the streets stopped cold and looked around, wondering who just yelled.

"The Curse...Isn't gone?" asked Sonic who had jumped on Kalshion.

Rose just stood there, growing a huge battle aura as she did so. The gang started to run around looking for a bomb shelter but were unable to find one. They turned back at Rose who was now sending out pulses of powerful yoiki before she grabbed thin air in front of her and pulled out MM back the collar of his cloak.

"How did she do that?" asked Sonic in amaze.

"Don't know, but could you get off of me," asked Kalshion.

"WHY am I still pregnant you old man!" yelled Rose with eyes that even made MM tremble.

"Well you can't simply get rid of a life," said MM, "What did you expect me to do, kill it?"

Rose calmed down a bit allowing MM to continue, "If you want to remove the life within you before birth, we have to transport it into a suitable host. Here is the list of suitable hosts," said MM giving Rose a list.

Rose looked at the list to find only two names on it, Akane and Kasumi. "You've got to be kidding," said Rose looking at Akane.

"Afraid not," replied MM smiling behind his cloak.

Rose grumbled for a bit before she crumbled up the paper, "Fine, I'll just wait till I give birth to it," she said.

"Excellent," said MM, "That saves me the time to get the transplant material ready."

"Say dad," started Jeremy, "What happen to the rest of our group."

"Oh them," replied MM, "Anyone who didn't know about Sonic or Rose before the RPG have been reset to their original state just before the RPG, which includes memory."

"I see," said Jeremy.

Sonic walked over and picked up the shards Rose dropped when she freaked before he went over to her to comfort her. MM just watched for a moment before he vanished with a grin on his face.

"Well, it's been a long....RPG," stated Akane, "I think we should all go home and get some rest." Everyone else agreed.

"So how are you feeling Akane?" asked Ranma walking on the fence.

"Considering what we've gone through, ok," replied Akane blushing a bit.

"I'm glad you can now see, I was getting a bit tired of carrying you," said Ranma.

"Are you saying I'm heavy!?" yelled Akane.

"No I'm not, I'm just saying..." started Ranma.

"You're calling me fat, the nerve of you calling me fat after we spent so much time together" said Akane.

"Now listen here, why would I want to spend several months with a un-cute chick like you!" yelled Ranma.

"So I'm un-cute now too!" yelled back Akane.

The two turned a corner to continue back to the Tendo Dojo not noticing the pink pig standing on a nearby wall. It watched them for a bit before pulling out a sign, "I guess that means things are back to normal."

"Oink, oink oink," started P-chan who appeared beside the pink pig.

The pink pig looked at P-chan for a moment before pulling out a sign, "The name is Boj, nice to meet you."

P-chan made a reply in pig language before the pink pig pulled out another sign while grinning, "Just adding color to the story."

Shadower

Kalshion and Katarina waved back at the group and left for the Shrine, they wern't sure if there father would remember anything or not, but comes to find out he didn't when they walked in..

They stayed outside and looked up at the stars,"That was quite and adventure huh?",Kalshion said looking up and relaxing

Katarina smiled and placed something under his head, it felt soft at first, however when he lifted his head to see where Katarina was the whole area exploded... when the smoke cleared Kalshions face was black,"WASHU!!!!"

Katarina snicked and walked back up to her brother,"Sorry.. couldn't resist",Kalshion gave her that "Uh huh yea right" look

They stayed up all night, and talked about there memorys

The night was nice and peaceful, well sorta, a nice soft rain came down, it was enough to calm Katarina down

Thier father opened the door and looked out

"About time you two come home from school, I was beginning to worry",he said gesturing for them to come in

Kalshion looked a bit confused and leaned toward his sister,"His memory got erased?"

Katarina looked at him,"He doesn't know S/R so im guessing he won't remember anything"

"Well? you two coming?",yelled Kal's father

"Nah.. where going to stay out here",Kalshion yelled back, leaning up against the tree

A couple hours later, still night though

Kalshion had just woke up, it was still raining, Katarina was leaning up against the tree.. only she was standing,"Say Kal?"

"Hmm?"

"How about we practice again",Said Katarina as she looked toward there rebuilt shrine

"Katarina.. no offense.. but after all the hell we've been through.. all I want to do is rest", he said closing his eyes, however he felt something hit him in the chest, he opened his eyes and found katarina smiling back at him

"Oh your going to get it", he said grabing Katarina and wresling with her, he got pinned to the ground though

he got up and they both begain to whresle again

Meanwhile, back at the Matrix Athoritys, in the bar, with a few monitors on the table

A female sat there cross legged, she looked at a monitor with Kal and Kat on it

"Seems they had it rough, This MM gave them a hard time, but not as much of a hard time as im going to give them later on someday",she said taking a sip from a Coca Cola bottle, she happened to glance at the bottle manufactioner,"Made by Washu Incoporated?", thats all she managed to say before there was a loud bang the door of the room came flying off its hings and hit the far wall, causing a rather large dent

The bartender walked up to her,"You mind paying for the damages?",he said giving her a rather evil looked

She dug into her wallet, a couple fresh 500 matrix bills where in there

"How much?",she said

"450 Matrix dollers"

Everyone heard a loud crash as the girl fell over

"450!?!?!?",she said

"Yes.. you destroyed both the wall here",he said gesturing toward the wall,"And you destroyed the door there", he gestured toward what remained of the door

"Fine Fine.. here's your 450",she said hanging him the money, she then returned to watching the footage she had recorded of the RPG,"This MM.. I need to meet him, he might be able to give me a few suggestions"

A blob entered the bar, "Ma'am?",he said looking at the girl

"What do you want? can't you see im watching the event of the matrix",she said giving a rather ugly look at her visitor

"Just wondering.. do you know these two?",he said hanging the girl a pad,she looked over it,"Don't know them personaly.. only by there names.. Sonic and Rose.. why?"

"No reason",said the blob who hastily grabed the pad and fast walked out of the bar

"Their up to something",she said, but before she was able to return to watching her show the blob stuck its head, or rather its SLIMY head back in the bar

"Thanks, Kikoya"

Back in Ranma World

there little skirmish went from being a friendly game of Wresling, to sword fighting.. the sun was now coming up and they had school

"Midus well get SOME sleep while we can", said Kalshion who tossed his sword in the air, caught it by the hilt and through it into a dead tree, Katarina did the same

CmptrWz

Chapter 37
Final RPG Cleanup
Or, Birth of the Hell spawn

When the sun rose the next morning it found Joe trying to keep Emeral from leaving the house they had decided to continue using. They had found it contained an extra room, mysteriously locked, next to Emily's room.

"I am expected at school," Emeral said, trying to stand up.

"This would be considered cause for an excused absence," Joe said. "Even if I hadn't tied the Headmaster to several of his own planes and sent him out to sea."

After some more arguing, Joe left for school on his own. Emily and Jeremy left soon after, arguing as they left. A collision of energies a block away showed that the argument was escalating, but nobody paid much attention to it.

Across town, Ranma and Akane were also fighting on their way to school. Ranma was, per usual, running along the fence, making comments about and/or directed at Akane, without realizing why they annoyed her so much. It didn't take long for Akane to make an attempt at knocking Ranma into the water. Ranma dodged the attempt, and for the first time in recorded history, Shampoo's bike went under him instead of into him.

Three milliseconds later Shampoo fell through a rip in space-time, to land on top of Ranma. We can't have her missing, after all.

At any rate, Ukyo showed up a few seconds after that, and Akane went to storm off like she usually did. First, however, she had to hit Ranma with her mallet, which for some reason she couldn't find.

"Where is my mallet?" Akane asked no one in particular, now more confused then angry.

"Right here," Joe answered from behind Akane, her mallet over his shoulder. "Oh, and allow me." With that he swung the mallet, missed Ranma altogether, but sent Shampoo and Ukyo flying into the school's clock, which immediately stopped making it so that nobody would be late.

"You missed me," Ranma said, looking at Joe.

"I wasn't aiming for you," Joe responded. "Emeral and I would like to talk to you tonight, in the park. Can you make it?"

"Ok with me," Ranma said, looking at Akane. The lack of the head injury from the mallet left him with enough common sense to not make a comment about her.

"We will be there," Akane said, looking back at Ranma.

"That clock will be starting up again in a few seconds," Joe said, looking towards the school. "We had better hurry."

"Just one thing first," Akane said, taking her mallet and making like she was putting it away. A split second later Ranma was flattened against the clock.

"Uncute Tomboy," Ranma mumbled.

Amazingly enough, Kalshion and Katarina remembered to show up as well, and everyone pretty much fell back into the daily routine. The only difference was that Ranma seemed more relaxed then he had been in years. Well, until Hinako sucked his Chi for not paying attention in class, anyway.

Meanwhile, in another node

"I paid for the damages, didn't I?" a young girl said, talking to Washu.

"I suppose you did," Washu said, giving in. "What did you say you needed?"

"I need something that will take a summoned pregnancy and accelerate it," the girl responded.

"Is that all?" Washu said, laughing. She then walked over to a table and picked up a small gun. "This will accelerate any summoned pregnancy. Just don't use it on a normal pregnancy, or you might cause the child to be soul-merged with a demon."

"Thank you," the girl said, taking the gun. "Have a nice day." With that the girl vanished, leaving some money behind where she had been sitting.

"Kids these days," Washu said, shaking her head.

Back in the living room where Emeral is trying not to go insane with boredom

"What am I supposed to do all day?" Emeral asked herself for the five thousandth time.

"How about I help you with that," came a child-like voice.

"Only one person could sound like that and not appear physically," Emeral said. "And that person is who I blame for my situation."

"Don't shoot the assistance," a young girl said, fading into view. "In fact, let the assistance shoot you."

"What are you talking about?" Emeral said, propping herself up further.

"I brought this ray gun that will accelerate your pregnancy," the girl said, holding up a small gun. "After some checks, I have determined it will allow you to give birth at, oh, about the time Joe would normally arrive after school."

"When did you build that?" Emeral said, motioning for the girl to shoot her.

"Oh, I didn't," the girl said as she pulled the trigger. Before Emeral could respond she was hit by the beam, and felt a slight tingle. "Washu did."

"WASHU!?!" Emeral yelled, suddenly very worried. She didn't have time to continue before the girl faded away, nor did she care to continue as excruciating pain shot through her stomach. It was expanding visibly, straining the already-strained skin to beyond normal limits. Finally, she couldn't hold it in anymore, and she screamed.

Back with those American Scientists

"There goes the asteroid belt," one said, looking through a telescope.

"What did you say?" the scientist next to the first asked. "I couldn't hear you."

"Cut it out," a third said. "Oh, wait, now I am doing it. That blasted scream made us all deaf, so why are we trying to talk to each other?"

Back in MM's living room

"Initiating node-wide hearing restoration," MM's computer reported, flooding the node with restorative energy.

"What kept you?" MM asked the computer.

"The scream knocked my energy source out of alignment," the computer responded.

"Figures," MM said, turning back to a book he was reading. "Let me know when Rose is giving birth."

"Will do," the computer said.

At the school

"What was that?" Jeremy asked Joe, rubbing his ear.

"Sounded like a scream," Joe responded, also rubbing his ear. "Almost like........"

Before Joe finished his sentence he was out of the school and several blocks away.

"How did he do that?" Ukyo asked, looking at where Joe had been.

"He went right through the wall," Emily said, pointing at a Joe-shaped hole in the wall, beyond which was another Joe-shaped hole across the hall.

"That was fast," Jeremy commented as a line of fire sprung up where Joe had run past.

"He's not called Sonic for nothing," joked Emily.

"Sonic?" Ukyo asked.

"Never mind," Emily replied.

The rest of the day from any perspective is boring, so lets move to the end of the school day

"How is Emeral?" Emily asked as she walked in the door.

"She has been unconscious since she screamed," Joe said, never leaving Emeral's side. At this point her stomach was large enough to hold a teenager.

"LET ME OUT OF HERE," a female voice called from inside Emeral. The resulting shock caused Joe, Emily, and Jeremy, who had just walked in, to fall flat on their faces.

"My pleasure," Emeral said weakly. A moment later a bright flash of light blinded everyone. Once the light had died down Emeral was sleeping peacefully, and a naked teenage-looking girl with blue hair, yellow horns, and an arrow-tipped tail was hanging from the ceiling fan.

"Who are you?" Joe asked, keeping his eyes averted.

"My name is Kia," the girl said, falling to the floor. "I am a succubus, by the way."

"Figures," Joe said, rolling his eyes. "I think you have a room down the hall. Emily, it was next to your door, could you show her there while I tend to Emeral?"

"Sure," Emily said, dragging Kia down the hall. The new room was unlocked, and done up in a 'pits of hell' fashion. Kia wasted no time in pulling on a form-fitting black leather suit.

"Guess we still have a few hours before we go meet Ranma and Akane," Joe said, tucking Emeral into bed. "Hope you are well-rested by then."

"Hey Earth Dad," Kia called, interrupting Joe.

"What did you call me?" Joe asked, spinning around.

"I called you Earth Dad," Kia responded. "Why, is something wrong with that?"

"Call me Joe," Joe responded. "While you are at it, call her Emeral." As he said this he jerked his thumb back towards Emeral.

"Ok," Kia said. "What is there to do around here?"

"Go grab a game off the shelf or something," Joe said, waving Kia out of the room.

Meanwhile, Tommy is just waking up

"Looks like I missed school," Tommy said, looking at the clock. "Oh well." With that, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

Lets go back to Kia, who just found the aforementioned shelf

"What is this?" Kia said, picking up a small box. "A puzzle? Why not." With that she opened the box and dumped the contents out onto the floor, revealing a set of holographic cubes. "Looks challenging." With that she started working on the puzzle, dead to anything else in the world.

Of course, Kalshion, Katarina, and Kuno would all choose the same moment to show up, knocking the little progress (two pieces) Kia had made apart as they fell through the door, all having tried to get through at the same time.

"Who are you?" Kia asked Kuno, who had two pieces stuck to his face. Kalshion and Katarina left to talk with Joe while Kuno went into his long speech about who he was and how he was going to make Kia his wife.

"Is that Kuno I hear?" Joe asked as Kalshion and Katarina entered the bedroom.

"Yep," they both answered, and started talking about what had happened. Kuno, however, had just finished his speech.

"I don't know about you," Kia said, looking at Kuno. "How about we go on a date next week, see how it goes. You can pick me up at sundown a week from today."

"As you desire, it shall be done!" Kuno said, and headed back out to start making arrangements. Five minutes later a bunch of flowers showed up for Kia.

"The fair, costumed one," Kia read on the card. "Cute, but what costume? Oh well, back to this puzzle." With that, she returned to the puzzle, again going dead to the world.

"Thanks for coming," Joe said to Kalshion and Katarina.

"Bye," Katarina said as she pushed Kalshion out of the door. They just barely made it out the door before two small forms entered it.

"What brings you two here, without fighting or giving each other odd looks?" Joe asked Cologne and Happosai.

"We want to know about this mysterious MM person," Happosai said. "I have vague memories of him giving me control of something, but nothing specific myself."

"I remember a lot of that RPG myself," Cologne added. "We are both curious as to what you know."

"And what makes you think I know anything?" Joe asked, looking at the two.

"There aren't that many beings from other dimensions named Sonic around," Cologne replied.

"How long have you known about that?" Joe asked, shutting the door behind the two. He had just barely restrained himself from falling over, knowing who he was talking to.

"Well before the RPG," Happosai answered. "The two of us tend to take note of odd goings on in town, even if we don't act on them."

"Well, I can't say I know much about MM," Joe said, gesturing for the two to sit down in chairs. "Mainly, I know he is old, powerful, created this world, and likes to curse things."

"I suspected the old, powerful, and curse aspects," Cologne said, considering things. "I didn't even suspect he might have made this world."

"You three talking about dad?" Emily asked, walking into the room.

"Yea," Joe said. "Feel free to get Jeremy if you want."

"Don't bother," Jeremy said, walking into the room. "I am here."

"You referred to MM as your father," Happosai said, eyeing Emily. "Is he really?"

"Yes," Emily said. "Our mother died well before you were born, but our father didn't start his nap until after he tweaked your lifespan."

"I have to admit," Jeremy said, chuckling. "Dad is good at picking out people that will cause humor while annoying people."

"This certainly changes things," Cologne said, looking at the two. "I think we should wait for another day before finding out more. This is enough to deal with for now."

"I agree," Happosai said. "And with that said..." A moment later Happosai was on Emily's chest. Amazingly enough, she didn't make any move to stop him, remove him, or otherwise impede him, but rather just stood there smiling. Her bra, on the other hand, cursed Happosai, making him magnetically repelled by female undergarments and magnetically attracted by male undergarments.

"I guess a little of Dad is rubbing off on me," Emily said, smiling, as Happosai ran before he was stuck to Joe.

Sonic

Chapter 38
Rose and Sonic
The Past Revealed

That Night At The Tendo's

"Ranma, we're going to be late," said Akane walking past the table, "Hurry up and finish eating!"

"Oh, Where are you two going?" asked Kasumi.

"We are going to meet Emeral and Joe for a little bit," said Akane.

"Don't be out too late," said Kasumi as Ranma finished his rice and began to get up.

"We Won't," said Akane, "Let's Go Ranma!"

At the park

"I'm so glad you could make it," said Rose sitting with Sonic. They were both in their red robes sitting on a bench near the pond.

"Glad to see you feeling better" said Akane, "What did you want to talk to us about?"

Sonic smiled, "We wanted to thank you for saving us back in the battle with that cat-boss," said Sonic.

"Don't Mention it," said Ranma, "We're all friends."

"Exactly," said Rose, "Despite the secretes we keep from you, you are willing risk your lives to save us."

"So we decided to tell you more about us," said Sonic, "That is if it is ok with you."

"Ehm. S.. Sure it is," said Akane as Ranma and her sat down next to Rose.

"Well," begin Rose, "Both Sonic and I were human at the beginning, just like you are."

"Give or take a bit on that," replied Sonic, "But we both somehow evolved beyond our dimension, and became inter-dimensional matrix life forms."

"Inter-dimensional Matrix Life forms?" asked Akane a bit confused with the term.

"I guess you need to picture a sphere, with nodes inside attached to each other by pathways." said Rose, "This is what we called the Quantum Matrix, where each node contains smaller dimensions that are constantly influencing each other, but that's beside the point."

Sonic took a breath as he began to continue, "I was the first to evolve in perspective to matrix time," he said. "My evolution took me by surprise, but I soon became fascinated with it, and began to explore the matrix. I usually just watched as worlds formed, lived and died, though the Inter-Matrix Authorities, (An organization that had found technology to allow them to travel through dimensions), weren't sure what I was, and constantly tried to spy on me."

Sonic than looked on Rose, "That is when I met Rose," he said, "I was traveling into a dimension that was very similar to my home dimension, when I met her. She was a mortal human at the time, but I was compelled to be with her. I guess you could say it was love at first sight."

"Sonic took a more human form, and began talk to me from time to time," continue Rose, "Before we knew it, we were dating and having such a good time, until the unexpected happen."

"Unexpected?" asked Ranma.

"The night of our first kiss," continued Rose, "When we kissed, It somehow jumped start a dormant power in me, which caused me to evolve to the same species Sonic was." Rose smiled, "It was a wonderful experience, and we soon decided to wonder the matrix together, in search of knowledge, experience, and love."

"So that's how you two met," said Akane finding it romantic, "But what about DS?"

Sonic's expression turned a bit angry, "He's my fault," he said startling Akane and Ranma.

Rose frowned in worry about Sonic's blame of himself, "It isn't your fault, you couldn't control it," she said.

"Couldn't control what?" asked Ranma.

"During my evolution," started Sonic, "My Dark Side, or Yin, as every human posses, somehow got the power to leave me, and thus was born DS." Sonic punched the ground as he said this, "DS is the complete opposite of me, wishing only to harm and conquer, and I let him go."

Akane nudged Ranma and whispered, "Just like when Happosai brought out that evil you," she said.

Rose nodded having heard them, "Exactly, but Sonic still blames himself for this," she said, "That is why when DS started to attempt Matrix Conquest, Sonic and I joined the Inter-Matrix Authorities as operatives, having gained their trust when we stopped one of DS's raids on their HQ."

"This continued for quiet a few years, and DS kept getting more and more powerful," continued Sonic, "Soon we were almost totally useless against him." Sonic then smiled, "But there was still hope, for you see, during one of our trips to a dimension, we came across a prophecy that was describing the current situation, and found the key of light and the key of hope."

"What did it say?" asked Ranma.

"It said that in the moment of darkness, the third member, the guardian of kindness, shall arise and together bring evil at bay." said Rose, deciding not to fully recite the prophecy word for word.

"A year after that, the prophecy began to come true." continued Sonic, "About 40 years ago, Rose and I began to sense a strange presence in a node we hadn't yet explored. We had decided to check it out, running into DS in the process. After an exchange of fire, Rose and I were knocked into the node, and immediately when we were inside, a barrier covered the node, blocking travel in and out. Unfortunately, it was also blocking the source of our powers."

"That doesn't sound to good," asked Akane.

"We decided to go find the source of the aura we had picked up, only to reach a town before it vanished. We had concluded that the aura was indeed the guardian of kindness, who must not have evolved to a quantum life form yet, and thus the barrier was made to protect him/her." replied Rose. "But we weren't fully right."

"It turned out the barrier was made by what could be best described as an Angel named Nadeshiko, who was the deceased mother of the Guardian of Kindness. She had lured us into the realm to aid her daughter, Sakura, in the transition between mortal and quantum life." said Sonic. "We later realized that Nadeshiko was the one who had forged our keys, The Sword of Hope and the Wand of Light, from the hope and light of our souls. This is why our weapons are so effective against evil, and can only be used by us. Not even MM could fool our keys."

"Amazing," said Akane and Ranma both impressed on the creation of their keys.

"We spent 8 years in that dimension, with our powers greatly suffering. By the time Sakura finally began to realize her powers, our strength was practically gone."

"But once she did realize her powers, the barrier fell and our strength was restored." replied Rose, "But that was when DS attacked, knowing that a large threat to him was inside the node where the barrier was, thus began 'The Battle of the Star'."

"Battle of the star?" asked Ranma.

"The battle of the star was a battle between DS at his most powerful state, against Tri-Mistress, who in reality was the combined form of Sakura, Rose and Me." replied Sonic, "And there we delivered a devastating blow to DS, that almost killed him, which is why he isn't as powerful as he once was, and thus seeks the power of the Dragon Aura to restore his evil to that it once was."

"What about Sakura?" asked Akane.

"Sakura had chosen to remain a mere mortal, so she could live and die with her true love," said Rose, "But before she did so, she transferred all her powers into the two of us, giving us the responsibility to guard Kindness with our current task of guarding Hope and Light."

"She gave up her power for love? What a nut case," said Ranma, which followed by Akane jabbing her elbow into him.

"We've never spoke of this to anyone, not even the Inter-Matrix Authorities, who are dieing to know how we vanished 38 years ago, and came back 8 years later." said Sonic chuckling, "Last I heard, they were rumoring that Rose and I eloped together."

"So why are you telling us?" asked Akane.

"Because you risked your life for us, despite all the odd things going around," said Rose, "So it is only natural, for us to fully trust you."

Sonic than looked into the air, "And of course to further relationships with you, old coot, despite on the troubles you caused, we decided to lend out a hand of trust to you."

Ranma looked up, not seeing anybody before he asked a question, "So how exactly were your keys made?"

Rose smiled, "When we entered the shrine where the tablet containing the Prophecy laid, a quick burst of energy filled the room, and Sonic and I felt a bit of ourselves leave our bodies. After we had explored the shrine and were about to leave, we were once again engulfed in a bright light, where a form of an angel appeared in front of us, and handed us the keys. We didn't know it then, but the angel was Nadeshiko, who had took part of our soul that had hope and light, and forged the Sword of Hope and the Wand of Light, and turned them into keys." she said.

"Our Keys," continued Sonic, "Our alive, and they are a part of us, as we are a part of them."

"They are alive!?!" stated Ranma.

"Yes," replied Sonic, "Our keys have a conscious, just like you and me, and were enchanted with energy from Nadeshiko. This is why no one can fool our keys, and can only be used by us."

"So how old are you two?" asked Akane.

Rose put her finger to her cheek, "I say we've been wondering the Matrix for a little less than a hundred years, knowing each other for 90 of them." replied Rose.

"Are you two married?" asked Ranma still curios.

"I guess you can say that, thought we never really used that term. But we have vowed to one another to be by each other's side no matter what till the end of time," answered Sonic.

Akane thought for a moment before she spoke up again, "Didn't you mention a while back that you two have tried to have kids?" she asked.

Rose and Sonic blushed a bit, "We've tried," said Rose, "But so far we haven't been successful. But I think it's because we are still young in respects to the matrix, so we can't procreate yet."

"I see," said Akane, blushing a bit.

"It's alright," said Rose smiling.

After a few moments of silence, Akane finally stood up, "Thank you for sharing your story with us," she said.

"Yea, it was thoughtful of you," said Ranma also standing up.

"No, thank you for saving our lives," said Rose, "It's a wonderful thing to have friends that care enough about you to risk their own lives to save others."

Sonic nodded in agreement with Rose as Akane began to speak, "Yes, it is. Will we see you tomorrow at school?"

"Yes," answered Rose, "So, until tomorrow?"

"Yep, Until Tommorow," replied Akane just as a familure sound was heard approching them from the sky.

"AKANE-CHAN!" yelled Happosai as he fell in from the sky ready to grab her breasts.

"DRY UP AND DIE ALREADY!" yelled Akane and Rose sycronized as they gave him a one hit wonder punch to send him back into Lunar obrit.

"So, where were we," started Sonic trying to calm down the two girl's with dangerous looks on their face.

"I think we had just said goodbye and were leaving," said Ranma, "Common Akane, lets go home."

"Oh, yea, Bye you two," replied Akane waving back at Rose and Sonic.

"Bye-Bye," replied Rose.

Over with MM,

"Another story for my archives," said MM taking out a DVD from a burner. He labled it "The History of Rose and Sonic" and walked over to a room that had billions, if not trillions of DVDs. He placed the DVD out of his hand and it magically floated to the correct alphabetical spot and inserted itself in the shelf.

"Hey, don't put it up yet," said Nadeshiko, "I want a copy too."

"Well than, go find it and make yourself one," grinned MM.

Nadeshiko looked at the shelves before she gave a depressed look.

Tempest

Tommy slept peacefully in his bed, enjoying a good dream when his alarm clock went off. He got up and eyed his clock, "I'm Tommy Knudzen, and this is my freaking world," he said as he bashed the alarm clock.

Chapter 39
A day in the life of Tommy Knudzen
A Weedless chapter

Tommy got dressed first thing, puting on his favoriate outfit. A long, Green short sleeved shirt with the words, "Reel Big Fish Est. 1992." which was one of his favorite band. Before he went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast, Tommy put on some music on his Discman, the sounds of Ska did good at waking him up. Chowing down his food within five minutes, he then grabed is sword and began to practice with it.

"What a BS life, I should never have came here. I left too much great shit behind," He thought to himself.

Tommy Put his sword in his Sheath, and grabed his school bag and went out the door. He started his wonderous journey to Furikian High, a school ran by some odd Hawiann dude, who Tommy had a good feeling was a Drug Dealer that used too much of his own damn merchandise on himself.

"Come back here!" yelled Ranma as Happosai, with his usual hual of panties, jumped infront of Tommy. Ranma landed on the other side of Happosai.

"You'll never defeat me," laughed Happosai.

"God damn old man! He needs a new damn hobby," said Tommy to himself.

"Lets get him Ranma!" yelled Tommy as they both ganged up on Happosai. A split second later the two where thrown into the air where they landed in the shrine ran by Kalshion and Katarina.

"That old letch," said Ranma rubbing his head before he smiled at Tommy, "Nice try, we'll get him next time. OH CRAP, I forgot all my school stuff!" With that Ranma took off back to the Tendo Dojo.

"Damn, he really needs to get his life together..." thought Tommy getting up.

"What are you doing here?" asked Kalshion sweeping some leaves.

"I was just leaving," said Tommy giving Kalshion a look.

"Jeeze, you don't have to act like that," called Katarina who showed up behind Tommy scaring him.

Tommy just gave her a look and walked out of the shrine and continued his way to the School.

"Stupid retard...and what a bitchy sister too. They deserve to have a good gutting someday," thought Tommy.

SLAP!

"What was that for!?" yelled Tommy rubbing his face.

"That's for insulting Katarina," replied Emeral giving Tommy a dirty look.

"I didn't even say anything!" yelled Tommy.

"Yes, but you were thinkin' it." she said turning around and continuing towards the shrine.

"Stupid whore!", thought Tommy.

Before he knew it, Emeral turned around and punched Tommy sending him flying where he fell into the pond at the Tendo Residence.

"Oh My, aren't you Ranma's friend," said Kasumi getting up from the table, "Tommy Knudzen?"

"Owww," said Tommy getting up, "That's me, sorry to drop in like that."

"That's not a problem, Ranma seems to enjoy doing it sometimes as well. Would you like some tea?" asked Kasumi.

Tommy took a moment to look around the place. Soun and Genma-Panda were playing checkers, Genma Cheating ofcourse. "The Loser," thought Tommy moving on to find Nabiki counting some money and tallying it down. "She looks like the greedy type, probobly conned people out of that money. Hmmm, she would fit in well back at home," chuckled Tommy to himself before turning to Kasumi.

"Thanks for asking, but I got to head to school," he said having good bye.

"Bye, stop by anytime," replied Kasumi smiling.

"What an old fashioned girl," thought Tommy, "Too old fashion, but atleast she's a pleasent person."

A few minutes later, Tommy was walking by the canal Akane and Ranma walk by every day. And speak of the devil, Akane was swining her backpack at Ranma's head, who was easily dodging it.

"Baka! BAKA! BAKA!" yelled Akane with each swing.

"Dude! What is WITH that girl," thought Tommy, "She's like a ticking time bomb ready to go off. Perhaps I should get her some weed, that will..." thought Tommy just as a 50 ton weight droped on Tommy's head.

"Didn't we say this was a weedless chapter?" said Maxwell leaning on the fence.

"My Mistake," said Tommy pulling out.

Maxwell, aka MM, was rather a big annoyance. He controled the entire demension and did what he damn well please. He loved to curse people, and cursed Tommy a few times. "Atleast he curses some of these idiots too," thought Tommy smiling while walking off.

Ranma and Akane were now out of sight, and Tommy was just about to run to catch up when he got smashed from behind by a Bicycle with Shampoo riding it. Moouse was chasing after her, "Come on Shampoo!" he yelled.

"Watch where you going ya Bitch!" yelled Tommy getting up.

Shampoo stoped dead in her tracks, as did Moouse. Both walked towards Tommy before jumping in the sky and delivering an air kick to his face. "I Don't deserve this! God damn crack whore!" said Tommy laying on the ground.

Shampoo was a 'bitch' in Tommy's terms since she always tried to force Ranma to marry her. She had such an attitude to go alone with her schemes. Moouse was nothing more than a stupid follower, with nothing better to do with his life than chase down a pretty girl with the IQ of a rock.

Tommy got up and pulled out his sword. "You shouldn't have pissed me off!" he yelled just as some Esuna bolts came out of the tip of his sword and shocked Shampoo and Moouse. Before they could do anything, Tommy grabed the water bucket from the old lady was using and splashed the two of them. "That will teach you bastards. DON'T MESS WITH INHUMAN BEINGS!" smiled Tommy and taking off.

Tommy rushed down the street, knowing the bell was going to ring any minute. On his way he ran into that good for nothing rich boy, Kuno. "Get the F*ck out of my way!" yelled Tommy punching Kuno into the air "Cretinous fiend! Tommy Knudzen, you will pay!" Kuno said as he trailed off into the distance. Reaching the gate he grabed the nearby wall to aid him in a quick turn where he rushed into the school grounds and kicked the Hawiian Principle in the face.

Class was boring like usual, the 10 year old girl named Miss Hinako Ninomiya Tought his class. She had the ability to change into a normal aged women if she aborbed battle aura, but that was just wacked in Tommy's view. Next to him sat Joe, a cool dude who's true idenity was Sonic. He was enganged to that bitch Emeral, who was actually Rose.

Lunch wasn't really special either as Tommy ate a sandwich he made. Getting lunch at the school was just not worth it. The warzone also known as the kitchen was a fight to the death to get something to eat.

Ranma had just gotten his lunch and sat down when a chick wearing a green leatard came through the window with her ribbion twirling black rose pettles around. Kadachi, was probobly the worst female Tommy had ever met. She was worse than Katarina, and shit, that's pretty bad. This super class bitch was obsessed with Ranma and would try anything to get him.

"Ranma Darling, I made you a delesious lunch!" said Kadachi kicking some people out of her way.

"No Thanks," said Ranma, "I'm not in the mood for paryalasis powder today."

"Paryalasis powder? ..." thought Tommy. "Who does this bitch think she is?"

Shortly after school, Ranma and Akane were fighting again over Kodachi showing up at lunch. Tommy just couldn't stand much for this, as it was clear Ranma only cared for Akane, and Akane only cared for Ranma. But those two were so, STUPID that they couldn't even confess their true feelings. A few minutes Later, Akane took off to Ukyo's to grab something to eat while Ranma got squashed by Shampoo's bike.

Deciding to be nice for a change, Tommy followed Akane to Ukyo's where they started talking. Sitting down, they ordered some Okonomiyaki from Ukyo. A damn good cook with a damn good body. The only problem was she liked to dress like a boy, which Tommy didn't really agree with. Maybe someday he would ask her out... but of course, that would be after he or someone else convinced her to wear normal clothing, and realise she isn't getting Ranma any time soon.

"Don't you relize it's damn pointless to fight with Ranma over and over?" asked Tommy.

"Why is it any of your buisness," said Akane trying to avoid the question.

"Why don't you just tell Ranma your true feelings!" said Tommy.

"My MY WHAT!?!" yelled Akane blushing like a tomato.

"What's this?" said Ukyo rushing up to be part of the conversation, "What are your true feelings Akane?"

"Well..I..I..er....TOMMY!," shouted Akane slaping Tommy into the the frying deck of Ukyo's counter sizzling his cheek.

Akane droped some money on the table for Ukyo and split. Moments later Ryoga walked in with shreded clothing and an exhuasted look on his face. "What was wrong with Akane?" asked Ryoga finding Ukyo looking at Tommy who still had his face on the grill.

"You know, just the usual," replied Ukyo, "Hey Tommy boy, you going to lift your face?"

Tommy finally got up as Ukyo gave him an ice pack to put on his face. He looked at Ryoga who had sat down to get something to eat, while he quickly used a heal spell on his cheek he didn't even think they noticed, not like it mattered anyway. This idiot had no sense of direction, it took him 3 hours just to find the bathroom of this place. Ontop of that, this guy had serious stress isues, always blaiming Ranma for his problems. The one good thing about his was he could blast rocks to bits with his finger.

After finishing his meal, Tommy set back home passing the Cat Cafe on his way. The Cat Cafe was where Shampoo lived with her great grandma. She was a strange old nut ball, living over 300 years and possesing rather interesting techiques. From what he heard, she had used her wisdom to try and force Ranma to marry Shampoo, but so far, they all have failed. "haha! The old wrinkle will probably never break him and Akane's ties." Tommy smirked as he moved on.

Finally reaching his house, Tommy grinned and ran inside. Soon he came out with a wagon full of speakers. He rushed over to the Shrine and took a peak in. Kalshion was busy brushing the sidewalk, like usual, while Katarina seemed to be tending to some flowers. Tommy gave a huge grin as he set up a massive boombox.

He pluged up everything to a industrial strength portable generator which was in the wagon and cranked the volume to max. He than pluged up his CD player and put in some "System of a Down". With one last evil grin, he hit play.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM

The sound system was blasting hardcore music into the shrine, causing every tree to viborate. Katarina was scared so badly that she jumped onto the roof of her house. Kalshion had been flown back into his house and was covering his ears. Tommy was just laughing, and laughing.

He was laughing so hard infact that he didn't notice Joe doing something to the generator before he vanished. Moments later the sound system exploded and Tommy flew all the way to his house where he crashed into his window and onto his bed. Tommy laid there, fried to a crisp, but still laughing. He continued to laugh till he fell asleep.

"Well, thats my damn life. Now will you just F*CK off and let me sleep...I gotta do this bullshit tommorow ya know!"

CmptrWz

Chapter 40
Curses R Us
You would think they would know by now.....

"Why can't I run the store?" Nadeshiko asked.

"You are too kind," MM responded, looking in the phone book under 'Devious'.

"What do you mean by that?" Nadeshiko shot back.

MM sighed, and turned to Nadeshiko. "Most of the items in the store are designed to backfire in some way, or otherwise do the unintended. The spells in place on the store would alert you to everything that might go wrong with an item, and as such, your nature would demand that you alert the customer as to what might happen."

"And that is a bad thing?" Nadeshiko asked, perplexed.

"Yes, it is," MM said, turning back to the phone book.

"Don't you have a better reason?" Nadeshiko asked, getting annoyed.

"Yes," MM responded, making note of a couple of numbers in the phone book. "There is currently no female uniform."

"In that case, at least let me choose the devious person to run the shop," Nadeshiko countered.

"As long as I approve him," MM responded, putting down the phone.

Meanwhile, Kia is still working on that puzzle

"This is harder then I thought," Kia said, looking at one of the puzzle pieces from various angles.

"Have you been up all night working on that?" Emeral asked, staring at Kia.

"Yep," Kia answered, putting the piece she had been holding down.

"And you only have ten pieces in place?" Emeral continued.

"Didn't I just say it was harder then I thought?" Kia responded, picking up another piece. "How many pieces are there anyway?"

"Three thousand, three hundred, seventy-five pieces," Joe said, walking in. "I read the box last night."

"I don't suppose it had any hints," Kia said, obviously slightly frustrated.

"It did say something about doing it in the dark," Joe replied, turning off the light. All of the pieces of the puzzle glowed slightly, showing their contents more clearly.

"Thanks!" Kia said, finding the puzzle much easier.

"Good thing we have heavy drapes," Emeral said, walking into the kitchen.

"Better that the puzzle is keeping her from her professional pride," Joe shot back as he entered the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" Emeral asked, curious.

"Didn't I tell you she is a succubus?" Joe responded, raising an eyebrow. Emeral might have responded if she hadn't fainted and fallen face-first into a bowl of cereal she had just poured.

Wow, Nadeshiko found a devious person

"So who do you have?" MM asked, looking at Nadeshiko.

"His name is Dark Kalshion," Nadeshiko said. "He has been wandering through the matrix for years now, seemingly no purpose to his life."

"Works for me," MM said, turning back to a monitor to finish setting up the day's customers. "Lets keep him away from anyone named Kalshion though, just to be safe."

"Shall I get him so he can sign the contract?" Nadeshiko asked.

"Yes," MM said, knocking Kalshion off of the customer list.

Back in town.....

An hour after Emeral woke up she and Joe left the house, intending to search for signs of shards of the Aura. Ranma was also out, having pissed off Akane, mainly trying to stay away from her. As such, he ended up hungry, and looking for food.

"I should go see Ukyo," Ranma mumbled, his hand on his stomach. "She is always good for a free meal."

Thus, Ranma headed to Ukyo's, or rather, where Ukyo's should have been. Instead there was a store with an old, faded sign over the door. Ranma didn't bother to read the sign, however, but went right in to find out where Ukyo had relocated.

Joe thought he felt a slight disturbance about then, but attributed it to gas.

"Anyone here?" Ranma called, amazed at some of the things on the shelves in the store.

"Yes Ranma," a man in what looked to be a bathrobe said. "I don't suppose you came in here to find something to get rid of your curse, did you?"

"You mean you actually have something that can do that?" Ranma said, his hunger and curiosities about Ukyo's apparent relocation forgotten.

"Check aisle six," the man said, grinning. Ranma hurried to the aisle and found a plethora of Jusenkyo-related products. Many of them, however, contained warnings that ranged from blatant to cryptic, all of which Ranma ignored. Finally, after a few minutes of searching, he found a small pouch that seemed to be what he was looking for. The directions were fast yet simple, but he was unsure of the price.

"How much for this?" Ranma asked, looking at the man.

"For you," the man said, stroking his chin. "Fifty yen."

"Here you go," Ranma said, slapping down the fifty yen he had in his pocket. He didn't even realize that fifty yen was all he had on him, but instead went to use the pouch immediately. As such, he also didn't notice as the store vanished, leaving Ukyo's right where it had been. During Ranma's trip into the store it had, however, picked up on Joe's sense that Ranma had vanished and corrected the flaw that created it. As such, there was no longer anything for Joe to notice when Happosai landed in the middle of the woods a few minutes later, having grabbed onto a jogger's chest, and found the store sitting there.

"This wasn't here last week," Happosai said, examining the store. "Shoddy construction though, was probably put up in a hurry. Maybe they have something interesting." With that, he went in. His subconscious had registered the name of the store, but his conscious mind hadn't clicked as to what it might mean. Even if it had, when Happosai found aisle five his fears turned to mush as he tried to decide how to get the entire aisle out of the store.

"Sorry Happosai," the man behind the counter smirked. "There is a spell on all items in the store limiting each customer to one purchase per visit."

"Says who?" Happosai said, glaring at the man.

"Says anyone who doesn't want the spell to turn them into a toad," the man said, glaring back at Happosai. Happosai realized that this was no joke, so he grabbed the nearest bra.

"How much for this," Happosai asked, somehow knowing he wouldn't get away with stealing it.

"Five thousand yen," the man said, grinning.

"Interesting how I have exactly that amount with me," Happosai said, paying the man and leaving before his comment could be returned. Happosai, however, did notice that the store vanished as soon as he stepped out the door. He didn't know, however, that a second later it had replaced the Dojo at the Tendo Residence.

"Where did this store come from?" Kasumi asked herself, walking into the odd store that had taken the place of the Dojo. "I wonder if they have any sugar."

"Here you go," the old man behind the counter said, holding out a bag of Jusenkyo Brand sugar. "On the house."

"Why thank you," Kasumi said, taking the sugar. "Now if only I could find Akane." With that she left the shop and went back to the kitchen with the sugar. Nabiki, however, found the store before it had time to vanish, annoying the man behind the counter as Nabiki wasn't supposed to find the store at all.

"How may I help you Nabiki?" the man asked as Nabiki browsed the items on the shelves. She didn't notice as the store vanished with her inside it, nor when it reappeared three miles across town.

"Got anything to help me make money?" Nabiki asked, not turning to look at the man.

"Ah, a businesswoman," the man said, grinning. "Dealing in pictures, among other things. Would a fly on the wall camera work?"

"How does it work?" Nabiki asked, interested.

"You control it with the control box," the man explained, pointing at a package he pulled from under the counter. "Once it is in position, you press the red button to switch to peep mode."

"How much," Nabiki inquired, imagining all the money she could make with the camera.

"Fifty thousand yen," the man said without flinching. Nabiki, on the other hand, flinched. She only had thirty thousand yen on her.

"Twenty thousand," Nabiki countered, hoping to keep the price within her price range. She had to have the camera.

"Thirty thousand," the man said. "Final offer."

"Sold," Nabiki said, pulling out all the cash she had on her and walking off with the camera. She was so involved in planning her first use of the camera that she didn't notice she was across town, nor that the store vanished as she left it.

Ranma has just finished running a bath and is moving on to the next step in the simplistic instructions on his pouch

"Dump pouch into hot water," Ranma read. Shrugging, he ripped the top of the pouch off and dumped the contents into the water. He stood there watching it dissolve until it had all vanished before consulting the pouch for the next step. This, however, resulting in him fainting, as the next step read "Jump in water before powder is done dissolving."

"Serves him right," Happosai said, smoking his pipe as he sat on the tree outside the bathroom window. The bra he had bought was in his other hand, as he didn't know what to do with it. He could sense something was amiss with it, but wasn't sure what it was. He decided that the best way to find out was to put it on a girl.

Five minutes later Happosai had splashed water on Ranma and was just finishing putting the bra on her ample chest. As soon as the straps were clasped, however, Happosai found himself flat against the wall, unable to move due to a massive force pushing him back. Ranma-chan happened to wake up at this point, found she was there with only a bra on her upper body, and promptly screamed as she booted Happosai through the wall he was pinned to, leaving him to land somewhere in India.

"This is all wrong," Ranma-chan said, putting on the shirt that Happosai had left next to her. "I know I am supposed to be a guy, and that this body is only from a curse, but I also know that I am supposed to be a girl."

"Ranma?" Akane called, worried about Ranma after the scream and crumbling cement sounds had come from the bathroom.

"I am sorry Akane," Ranma said, opening the bathroom door. "Something is happening to me."

"He sounds different," Akane thought to herself. "Almost like when he hit his head." Then, aloud to Ranma, "What do you mean?"

"I remember when I was a girl and didn't understand being a guy," Ranma continued. "But I also remember everything that has happened to the male me."

"I think we should go see Cologne," Akane said. "Something magic is affecting you."

"Good idea Akane," Ranma said, worry playing across her face.

"Before we go," Akane said, inspiration coming to her. "Are you wearing anything the male Ranma doesn't normally wear?"

"Just a bra," Ranma responded, looking down at her chest.

"I want you to try taking it off," Akane said, hoping it was the cause.

"Good idea," Ranma said, taking her shirt off in front of Akane. Akane, for a change, blushed, even though Ranma didn't seem to be phased. Once the shirt was off Ranma reached for the clasp on the bra, only to be shocked with a few thousand volts of electricity when her finger came in contact with the clasp. This left Ranma unconscious on the floor, electricity continuing to flow around her, singing her skin.

"What happened?" Akane wondered, reaching for the clasp herself. She stopped when it shocked her lightly a few inches from it. "It won't come off?" A moment later she realized that Ranma was in serious danger if the bra wasn't removed, so she ran off to the Cat Cafe to get Cologne.

Well, she tried to anyway. She ran into Cologne in the doorway.

"What do we have here?" Cologne asked, poking the clasp of the bra with her cane. As soon as she did so the electricity stopped flowing. "While stopping the power flowing through Ranma's body was easy enough, the bra will not be easily removed. It is obvious females cannot remove it, and males may have the same problem."

"Only girls wear bras, right?" Nabiki asked, walking into the room.

"Your point?" Akane asked, looking at Nabiki.

"Well then," Nabiki said, dumping hot water on Ranma. "Now that Ranma is a guy, he can take it off."

"Then lets try that," Ranma said, going into the bathroom to use the mirror. A minute later he walked out and handed the bra to Cologne.

"What do you expect me to do with this?" Cologne asked, looking at Ranma.

"Keep it away from the freak," Ranma answered.

Meanwhile, what the hell is MM up to?

"CAN'T I TAKE A BATH IN PEACE?" MM yelled, slamming the bathroom door.

Fifteen minutes later

"You ready Nadeshiko?" MM called, putting on a traveling cloak.

"Aren't you going to put on a traveling cloak?" Nadeshiko asked, walking into the room.

"This is a traveling cloak," MM replied.

"Looks just like your normal cloak," Nadeshiko responded. "Can we go see Totosai now?"

"Yes," MM said as he opened the door. "We have to pick up Washu on the way though."

"Leave it to you to go overkill," Nadeshiko said. "I don't suppose you could give me a physical form when we get to Totosai?"

"Sorry, but that particular world isn't conducive to that without being linked to a massive shift such as that RPG created," MM said, pointing to a chart that appeared for the occasion.

"Oh well," Nadeshiko sighed. "Lets get going. At least I can appear as a spirit with a visible form."

WOA, Sonic just found the shop! What else did we miss?

"You missed me entering and wandering around for ten minutes," Sonic yelled, continuing his wandering.

"No need to yell," the old man behind the counter said. "And did you want me to call you Sonic or Joe?"

"I don't even want to know how you knew to ask that," Sonic said, continuing his wandering. "Or why your aura feels so much like Kalshion's," he then thought to himself. It was then that he came to the Jusenkyo aisle, and he caught sight of a single box.

"Wouldn't you prefer the permanent variety?" the old man said, suddenly behind Sonic.

"I am not THAT mean," Sonic said. "But a box of ten one-time Jusenkyo spring of drowned boy packets could come in handy. How much?"

"Two crystallized black holes and a galactic pendant," the old man said with a sneer.

"Here you go," Sonic said, pulling them out of his pocket. "I don't want to know how you knew I had them or that I would give them up. Cya."

"Interesting shop," Rose said as Sonic was walking out of Curses R Us. He had put the packets in his pockets before he walked out the door, so Rose didn't see them.

"Very," Sonic said, hoping that Rose didn't notice the packets. "Nothing I trust in there though, even if the old coot isn't running it."

"He isn't running it?" Rose said, a grin appearing on her face. "I might as well take a look then." With that she walked into the shop. No sooner did she walk in, from Sonic's point of view, did she walk out again, holding a small device that looked like a calculator.

"Tell me about it later," Sonic said, watching the store vanish. "Somehow, I get the feeling that we will have to deal with some of the other items from that shop soon."

"Oh all right," Rose said, happier then usual. "Suppose we should start with Nabiki?"

"What are you talking about?" Sonic asked, looking at Rose funny.

"She used a camera device from the shop," Rose said, holding up the remote Nabiki had gotten with the camera. "It turned her into a fly, basically," she continued, holding up a small jar with a fly in it.

"And you didn't turn her back right away?" Sonic asked, shocked.

"I was in a bad mood," Rose said, grinning. She then threw the jar into the pond at the Tendo residence, where the jar dissolved in the water just as Rose took the camera out of peep mode. The remote vanished as Nabiki was restored, unsure as to what the hell had been going on with her for the past hour.

"Not bad, hitting the pond from across town," Sonic said, smiling slightly. "Not bad using a water soluble jar, either. Who's next?"

"Dunno, lets go find out," Rose said as the two changed into Joe and Emeral and walked off.

Meanwhile, Akane is out looking for a cookbook

"Half these shops won't even let me in to look at the cookbooks," Akane grumbled. She wasn't even looking to buy a cookbook for herself, but for Kasumi, which caused her to be more pissed off at comments about her cooking skills then usual. It was during her grumbling that she bumped into Tommy, who was walking out of a store with a new boom box.

"Sorry," Tommy said, knowing how Akane could get when angry. "Didn't see you there."

"It's ok," Akane replied. "Cya." With that Akane walked into the shop Tommy had just walked out of, without noticing that the sign said Curses R Us.

"How may I help you Akane?" the old man asked. Akane didn't even flinch at his calling her by name. "Perhaps you would like a cookbook?"

"Yes, please," Akane replied, slightly shocked that the man knew what she wanted.

"Try aisle five thousand, three hundred fifty-four," the man said, gesturing at a door next to the counter. Above the door was a sign reading "Aisles 21-11,000."

"Aisle FIVE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED, FIFTY-FOUR?" Akane yelled, fainting.

"Here," the old man said when Akane woke up ten minutes later. "I grabbed a dessert cookbook for you. On the house."

"Thanks," Akane said, leaving. "How did he know Kasumi wanted a dessert cookbook?" she thought afterwards. Not long after Kasumi was looking through the cookbook, unaware of what the concoctions she could make with it would do.

"Stores that vanish?" Ryoga said, watching Curses R Us vanish. "What year is this anyway?"

"Seems the town was jumped to the year 2000 by a temporal shockwave earlier this month," someone responded.

Well, MM has dragged Nadeshiko and Washu to see Totosai. What are they up to?

"You want me to make a sword out of a single fang of yours, a device of hers, and energy taken from your own body by that spirit?" Totosai asked, shaking his head. "That wouldn't do any good at all."

"The device in question would be the handle," Washu said, knowing that it would take a bit to convince Totosai. "The energy would power the device and keep the blade charged."

"You don't understand," Totosai interrupted. "This sword of yours sounds interesting, but the fang you mentioned doesn't exist."

"Oh, sorry," MM said, growing a fang the size of a sword. "Will this do?"

"Ok," Totosai replied. "You have a deal. That kind of transformative power in the fang will pose a challenge to me in making the sword."

"Don't forget the energy," Nadeshiko said, ripping four small balls of energy from MM, combining them into a single ball, and crystallizing it.

"And here is some food for ya," MM said, handing Totosai a large bag of food. "Push the red button over there on the wall when you are done. That will allow you to cross the standard barriers between here and where I will be."

"Will do," Totosai said as MM, Nadeshiko, and Washu left.

Sounds dangerous. Then again, so is Shampoo in Curses R Us. Lets go check that out

"This necklace will make you more attractive to Ranma," the old man told Shampoo, holding out a necklace. "Only one bowl of Ramen, I am hungry!"

"Sound good," Shampoo said, handing over the bowl of Ramen she had with her and taking the necklace. "Now to find Ranma," she said, putting the necklace in her pocket. With that Shampoo turned around and knocked half the shelves in the front of the store over, causing a few dozen packages to fall on her. She didn't notice one of the aura shards MM had collected falling into her pocket with the necklace, and as such, did not notice the shard merging with the necklace. She apologized, was shoved out of the store by the old man, and went on her way, slightly annoyed. The old man decided that it was a perfect time to close up for the day, as Shampoo had broken the auto-cleaning spell in the process.

Kia, predictably, is still working on the puzzle

"Damnit," Kia said, trying to tell two cubes apart. "If I had a soul I would sell it just to figure this damn thing out."

"I think I will be going now," Tatewaki Kuno said, struggling to stand. His skin pale, his eyes wide, he barely made it out the door.

"Thanks for the blood Kuno," Kia called, picking up the vat of blood soup she had made. "Too bad you had to cancel that date though. I hope you recover before your next fight."

Sonic

Meanwhile...

"Ahh, Uk-chan sure know's how to make a delisious Okonomiyaki," said Ranma walking into the front door of the Tendo Residence, "Hmmm, what's cooking?"

"Honestly," said Akane hearing Ranma come in, "Heres Kasumi trying out a new desert for us and you go off and stuff your face at Ukyo's."

"Relax, I always have more room," said Ranma, "So what's Kasumi making?"

"I got her a desert cookbook a while ago," replied Akane, "She said she wanted to try something new, but I'm not sure what she decided on."

"What ever it is, it sure smells good," replied Ranma walking into the living room.

Genma, who wasn't in his panda form for a change, and Soun were playing Checkers. Soun was begging for a redo when Ranma came in and sat down at the table. He looked around for a bit than looked back at Akane, "So where's the freak?"

"He's out doing his errans," said Akane sipping some tea.

"That old man," said Ranma with a slight tone of anger in his voice.

"So your home," said Nabiki comming down, "Don't suppose you shopped at a strange store too today?"

"Ummm, nope," said Ranma hesitaint.

"You sure, I found this instant cure packet for your curse in the bathroom," said Nabiki holding out the packet.

"Let me see Nabiki," said Akane taking the packet and reading it, "Looks like Ranma didn't read the instructions again."

Ranma blushed for a moment before he relized the question, "You mean you guys shopped at a wierd store too?"

Both Nabiki and Akane nodded, "I know I bought something from the store, but I can't exactly remember what. All I can recall is something about a fly."

"I got Kasumi's bookcook book from the store," said Akane, "He knew exactly what I wanted, and it had over a thousan isles."

"Ehhh?" said Ranma just as Kasumi came in with a plate full of cookies.

"Everyone, I tried making some sugar cookies today," said Kasumi cheerful, "Would you all have a taste of it?"

"Sure!" said everyone comming up to the table and taking a bite.

"This is really good Kasumi," said Akane finishing her cookie.

"You really outdone yourself this time," said Soun.

"What wrong with you two?" asked Nabiki looking at Genma and Ranma who appeared to have eating a combination of Ukyo's disaster sauce and Akane's cooking.

"Th..Thi...This is really good," said Ranma forcing a laugh.

"Jus...Just like Kasumi right Ranma?" said Genma.

"Oh My, do you not like it?" asked Kasumi.

"Maybe you two don't have a stomach for Sugar," said Nabiki, "Say, weren't we out of sugar?"

"Yes, but I found this old store where the dojo should have been, that sold me some free sugar," replied Kasumi.

Nabiki, Akane, and Ranma eyed Kasumi at this, than look at the cookie. They were all about to make a connection when Shampoo rode her bike into the house and ran over Ranma, "Ni Hao!"

"Sha..Shampoo," said Akane shocked.

"Hello Shampoo, like to try one of my cookies?" asked Kasumi.

"Love too," said Shampoo taking a bite. A moment later she collapsed on the floor barley holding onto her consionus, "You sure Akane not Make?"

"HEY!" yelled Akane.

"Maybe this has something to do with that shop?" asked Nabiki, but before she could get an answer everyone but Ranma's, Genma's, and Shampoo's stomach rumbled. A moment later everyone but those who already had a Jusenkyo curse were now Pandas.

"What in the world!?" yelled Ranma.

All the Panda's stared at each other before they took off to the bath, well except the Panda with a white ribbion on her head, who seemed to be enjoying the curse.

Soon the pandas returned all steaming from dumping hot water on them sevles, finding them still stuck as Pandas. "What going on?" asked Shampoo.

"No Clue," said Ranma watching as the Panda's continued to panic until one of them ran into the pond outside. Soon Akane poped out taking a gasp of air before she relized her clothes were missing and dipped herself in the water. The other Panda's except for the one with a white ribbion joined Akane in the pool.

"So cold water revereses the curse," said Nabiki an hour later drinking some tea.

"Say sis, when are you going to change back," asked Akane to Kasumi.

Kasumi just gave a Panda smile and pulled out a sign, "There's no need to rush."

"I think she's gone nuts," said Nabiki staring at Kasumi.

"Me agree," said Shampoo.

"So what brings you over here anyways," asked Ranma.

"Shampoo got new necklase and wanted to show Ranma," said Shampoo smiling. She took the necklass out of her pocket and put it on.

What is that old coot thinking...

"I've repeatly told you not to call me an old coot," said MM.

"For someone who pranks alot of people, you sure don't like it when they do things to you," said Nadeshiko looking at the screen with Shampoo in it.

MM ignored her comment and looked back at the screen, "It would be rather interesting if only Akane could pull out that shard," said MM.

"Why would that be?" asked Nadeshiko a bit confused.

"Akane has never beaten Shampoo before," replied MM, "It would be fun if Akane has to defeat her to release the shard."

"Maybe," said Nadeshiko, "but that isn't the case here."

"You Sure?" said MM grinning.

"I'm sure, you haven't punched a single button on the pannel," replied Nadeshiko not liking the look on MM's face.

"Who said I had to enter commands," grinned MM, "For that matter, who said I didn't already plan this from the start. Did you think it was an accident that Shampoo knocked those shelves over, or that the stealing protection spells didn't kick in?"

Nadeshiko thought it over, "Well, yea."

"You would, wouldn't you," said MM sighing.

"I just thought she was clumsy," said Nadeshiko to herself.

Back with Shampoo

"What's so special about that necklass," said Akane looking the other way like she didn't care.

"Will make Ranma love me," said Shampoo putting it on with a large smile.

"What do you mean?" asked Ranma looking at Shampoo, a moment later Ranma's eyes began to look sleepy for a moment before they returned to normal. "Want to go out on a date Shampoo?" asked Ranma in an ethustastic way.

Everyone but Shampoo smashed on the ground at this, "YEEEA!" yelled Shampoo, "Necklas Work!"

"Wait a second!" yelled Akane as Shampoo and Ranma took off.

Back with Kia...

"How goes the puzzle?" asked the Narrator.

"Still working on it, might take me more than a week to finish it," replied Kia.

"OK then, take your time," finished the Narrator.

At The Park...

"Ranma!" yelled Akane chasing both him and Shampoo, "Wait!"

"Akane too slow," said Shampoo gigling as she and Ranma held hands jumping off trying to loose Akane and passing Kalshion who was running from Katarina holding a Mallet with "Repent" on it.

As Kalshion, rubbing his a red mark on his cheek, passed Shampoo he stoped and looked at her before Katarina slamed him into the ground with her mallet. As Kalshion got back up, Katarina looked at Shampoo before she looked back at Kalshion, "Lets call a truce, I sense a shard," said Katarina.

"No DUH, why do you think I stoped?" asked Kalshion before Katarina punched him in the face.

"Akane?" asked Katarina as Akane ran by.

"Can't talk now," said Akane, "Oh, let me borrow that!"

Akane took the mallet and threw it directly at Ranma smashing right into the back of his skull. He fell face first as Shampoo stoped and gave Akane a look that melted the road behind her into molten rock, "AKANE!" she yelled, "YOU GO TOO FAR!"

"I think she's mad," said Kalshion, "And she has a shard to boot!"

Katarina jabed Kalshion in the stomach, "Should we take her on our selves, or call Emeral and Joe?"

Before anyone could answer however, Shampoo charged right for Akane with kill in her eyes. Akane backed up in fear as Shampoo's hand started to get close to her face. Finally she gave out a scream that seemed to wake up Ranma who instantly rushed over and grabed Shampoo's hand stoping her attack.

Akane fell on the ground and stared at Ranma for a bit before Shampoo spoke, "Why you stop me Ranma?"

"Why are you two fighting?" asked Ranma obviously back to his normal self, "And why am I in the park?"

"Aiyyea! Spell wore off," said Shammpoo grabing her necklas. She looked at it for a moment before it started to glow again.

Ranma's eyes faded a bit before he gave another tranquil look, "Lets go Shampoo," he said taking out his hand.

"Could this be the power of the shard?" asked Kalshion reciving a elbow blow to his head by Katarina.

Shampoo and Ranma turned around to take off but stoped in their tracks to find Rose standing infront of them, "What you want?" asked Shampoo.

"Is that a Rehtorical Question?" asked Rose, "I'm here for your shard."

"Can't you see Shampoo and I are happy together, why do you have to bother us?" said Ranma.

"Because I've been a nervious wreak for the past few days and I need to blow some steam," said Rose grinning, "I challange you Shampoo!"

"Fine," said Shampoo taking a stance, but no sooner had she done this that Rose was already performing Ranma's Kachu Tenshi Amaguriken Female Slap Style on her. Shampoo kept backing up as Rose kept delevering slaps after slaps.

"Jeeze, I've heard of cat fights but this is ridiculas," said Kalshion dodging Katarina's blow and pulling out a ectno plasma squirt gun and slimming Katarina.

"Not a bad idea," said Rose stoping her attack and jumping back. She pointed her right index finger in the sky causing dark clouds to form around the park.

Shampoo's eyes widden as a sudden downpour of a hundred liters fell on her only, as if a fosiate had been turned on above her. A minute later the clouds were gone and Shampoo was in her cat form behind held by the neck.

"So how about we hand over that shard now Kitty," said Rose with an evil grin. Rose reached for the necklass but was instantly repelled by a black barrier.

"What Gives?" yell Rose trying to force her hand through the barrier but not succeeding.

Over at Tommy's...

"Will you get out already?" yelled Tommy placing a CD into his boom box.

Joe was sitting on his bed with his arms crossed, "I would love too, but my better judgment says something is going to happen here."

"Yea right," said Tommy turnning on the boom box and playing "Fish Head". No sooner did he do this that his head morphed into a Cat Fish's head. Joe fell over laughing as Tommy looked in his mirror only to yell.

"Do Something will ya!?" yelled Tommy.

"Naa, it's nothing serious," said Joe getting up, "I'm sure it will come off...eventually."

"What happen to your better judgment?" complained Tommy.

"It's gone to this note I just recieved," said Joe pointing to a note that had MM's signature on it.

Back with Rose...

"WHY WON'T THIS DAMN THING BREAK!" yelled Rose smashing an omega partical into the barrier.

"Don't know, but you've smashed everything you could think of into it," said Akane looking at the pile of objects that towered higher than the empire state building, emphasized by the empire state building leaning against it.

"Nope, she forgot one," said Sonic walking into the scene.

"That would be what?" asked Akane.

"I DON'T CARE, I JUST WANT THIS THING TO BREAK!" screamed Rose.

Suddenly a kitchen sink fell from the sky and smashed on the barrier bouncing into peices with a note appearing. The Barrier itself cracked for a moment before repairing itself. Rose was too pissed off to look at the note, so Sonic took the liberty of reading the note, keeping the contents to himself.

"Dear Rose and Sonic, How are you doing, it's your old pal MM. Just wanted to notify you that an unexpected effect has happen in the curse on the necklass Shampoo is whearing. It turns out that the necklass will prevent anyone from removing it from Shampoo by attaching itself to her life force. Thus I suggest you not try to remove it yourselves. Only Akane can remove the necklass by defeating Shampoo fair and square. But I have some good news, I saved hundreds of crystalized blackholes by switching to Qco." The note was Signed MM followed by a PS appearing out of no where, "PS: Unless you can convince me to activate the failsafe, Akane is your only choice."

"Figures," said Sonic.

"What did the note say?" asked Akane.

Sonic looked at Shampoo than looked at Rose who was still walking around trying to releif her stress, "I don't think this is the best place to discuss this," he said snapping his fingers teleporting Ranma, Akane, Rose, and himself off.

"Wonder why he didn't take us?" asked Katarina.

"Probobly because you kept trying to hurt me!" said Kalshion dodging a kick.

"Me? Your the one who yanked on my..my panties!" yelled Katarina.

"That was an accedent! How many times do I have to tell you I triped on a rock!" yelled Kalshion blocking another kick.

"EXCUSSES!" yelled Katarina.

Chapter 41
Fiancé Showdown: Akane vs. Shampoo
The secret behind the Blue Dragon Fist

Akane, Emeral and Joe were now talking in the Tendo Dojo Hall. Ranma had went to take bath after listening to what had happened. The creasent moon was shinning in the sky and fire fly's were flying about.

"Atleast you've calmed down," said Joe to Emeral, "Your much cuter when your calm." Emeral blushed.

"So what do you plan to do?" asked Akane with a worried expression, "Shampoo now has a shard, and only I can remove it. But considering that I've never defeated her even without a shard, that will be very difficult."

"I'm not sure," replied Joe.

"Shampoo has a very selfish heart," said Emeral, "The longer she holds on to that shard, the more evil it will absorb, not to mention the hell she can cause."

"You mean turning me into the perfect husband for her," said Ranma coming in with a towel.

"I don't think that is hell for you," said Akane eyeing Ranma.

"It is important that Akane removes that shard from her, so lets stick to thinking a way to achieve that," said Joe trying to keep the two from fighting.

Ranma sat down with a angry face at Akane, "So did you come up with anything?"

"Afraid not," said Joe.

"This is frustrating," said Akane getting up and practicing some martial arts.

Emeral watched her for a bit, observing her style and movement with hands. Suddenly the Illusion of a dark skin girl with green hair in a tiger style wrap imposed over Akane. Emeral stood up and smacked her hand with her fist, "That's it!"

"Uh?" asked Ranma a bit confused.

"Did you come up with an idea?" asked Akane.

"She sure did," said Joe, "It appears to be a good one."

"So what is it?" asked Akane eager to know.

"I'll teach you how to use The Blue Dragon Fist," said Emeral.

"That Blue Dragon Fist?" asked Ranma.

"What is that?" asked Akane.

"The Blue Dragon Fist is a martial arts that uses one's chi to create powerful blows. On top of that, the attack itself becomes a hybrid force taking on both Yang and Yin energy. Thus it is a formable attack against any other form of power." said Emeral.

"Amazing," said Akane, "Is it really something I can master?"

"I have faith you will," said Emeral smiling.

"So after she learns how to use this Blue Dragon Fist, she can challenge Shampoo and actually have a chance to win?" asked Ranma.

Just then the wall smashed open and Shampoo entered on her bike landing on Ranma's head, "Nii Hao Ranma!" she said.

"What do you want Shampoo!" yelled Akane, "And haven't you heard of a DOOR!"

"Shampoo come to take her fiancé home," said Shampoo holding her necklace.

"Wait!" said Emeral stepping in front of Ranma, "Akane wants to challenge you to a match."

"Akane!?" asked Shampoo. She paused for a bit than began to laugh, "Akane challenge me?"

"Yes," replied Emeral, "Akane wants a match with you in one week from today. If you win, she will hand over Ranma and never bother you again. But if you loose, you have to stop using your Love Spell on Ranma."

Shampoo started to think about it, not sure if she should waste time on Akane or not. Emeral was hearing Shampoo's thoughts and decided to throw an addition in, "Also, if you win, I will provide you with some 'Spring of Drown Woman', Ranma with 'Spring of Drown Man' and both of you a trip to anywhere in the world for your honey moon!"

Shampoo's eyes open at this, "You Lying?" she asked.

"I never break my word," said Emeral.

Shampoo hesitated, "OK, one week from today in front of Cat Cafe," said Shampoo.

"She'll be there," said Emeral smiling.

"Take care Ranma," said Shampoo leaving by smashing another hole in the wall.

"Honestly, Can't she use a door!" said Akane before she became worried, "You sure I can master it in a week?"

"It will be alright, I will personally teach you," said Emeral smiling.

"I guess we're room mates now," said Joe to Ranma.

"Why is that?" asked Ranma.

"I plan to stay by Emeral's side until this is over," he replied.

"You ready to start Akane?" asked Emeral.

"Sure," she replied.

"Lets go Ranma, we need to let the girls train alone," said Joe.

Ranma hesitated before he followed Joe out of the Dojo.

"First thing we need to do is a warm up practice," said Emeral, "Please come at me with what you got."

"OK," said Akane taking a fighting position, "Yaaaa!"

The next morning...

"How was the training," asked Joe walking in the family room with some groceries.

"It's going off on a good start," replied Emeral drinking her Coffee.

"That's good," said Joe wondering off to the kitchen, "Hey Kasumi, I got you some groceries."

"Oh My, you didn't have to," said Kasumi diverting her attention from breakfast.

"It's the least Emeral and I can do for letting us stay over for a week," said Joe placing the stuff on the table, "Mind if I help you?"

Kasumi smiled, "Sure."

A little bit later

"Everyone, Breakfast is ready. Hurry or you'll be late for school," called Kasumi.

Ranma and Nabiki were all dressed and ready for school, they had rushed down to the table and started to dig in. Finally Akane came down in her Martial Art outfit.

"Akane, aren’t you going to school?" asked Kasumi.

"I can't Big Sis," said Akane, "I need to do some important training. Emeral has made the necessary arrangements for me at school."

At School...

"Will someone let me down!" yelled the Principle attached to the clock tower above the clock.

After Breakfast

"Thanks for breakfast," said Akane, "You ready Emeral?"

Emeral was sitting on the back porch drinking more of her coffee, "I am," she replied.

"Um, Akane," started Ranma.

"What is it?" asked Akane.

"Good Luck," said Ranma with his face a bit red.

Akane smiled and went into the back yard with Emeral.

"Don't worry Ranma," said Joe, "Emeral will definitely help her."

Later that day

"Very good Akane," said Emeral.

Akane was breathing hard and looking at a punching bag that she had just broke. she than turned to Emeral who had her right hand out towards the ground. Suddenly a puddle of silver goo formed on the ground and began to rise taking a form of a metal pole. After a few seconds, Emeral was finished and a metal punching stick had been synthesized.

"What, What did you do?" asked Akane.

"Oh, I just made a bio-metal Chi Punching stick, it's designed to measure the chi of your punches," replied Emeral, "Ready to give it a try?"

Akane glared at the stick, "Yes I am."

Back at School

"Why is the Principle mad?" asked Tommy running away from remote helicopters equip with scissors.

"Maybe because someone pinned him to the clock tower?" responded Katarina doing the same.

Ranma soon jumped out of hiding and air kicked one of the machines as he dodged another, "Why doesn't he ever run out of these?" asked Ranma.

Suddenly Sonic appeared in front of Ranma, "Didn't Rose ask you not to do this Mr. Principle," said Sonic putting his right hand at the helicopters, "Thunder Blast!"

Suddenly streams of electricity jumped out of his hands short circuiting all the appliances in the air. Sonic than jumped high in the air, knowing exactly where the Principle was, "Time for Lesson 2!"

"Me's a sorry, I forget easily!" yelled the Principle starting to run away.

"Sonic Force!" yelled Sonic throwing a g-force ball at the Principle sending him flying into the air and vanishing with a twinkle.

Meanwhile, Kia is taking a break from the puzzle...

"Those cubes are sharper then I thought," Kia mumbled as she searched for a bandaid.

"I wonder if there are any in here," said Kia opening the door to Emily's room. She didn't get to find out what was inside before one of Jeremy's traps covered her in slime. Kia grumbled and went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. After a bit she put her hand out and felt around for some shampoo. She felt one of the bottles that was on the counter next to the shower and pulled it in.

"AYIIIEEEE" yelled Kia after a bit, "Who's shampoo is this anyway!?" Kia stuck her now bald head out of the shower curtain and looked at where she gotten the shampoo from. "Why does Jeremy use Shampoo with the sent of Holy water anyways?" asked Kia putting Jeremy's shampoo up and grabbing Emily's.

After another 10 minutes she poped back out of the bathroom with a head full of shiney blue tint hair and went back to the den. "Now back to this puzzle," she said to herself sitting back down and fittling with the peices.

The Next Day

"I can't do it!" yelled Akane kicking the punching stick.

"With that attitude of course you won't," said Emeral, "You have a powerful battle aura, so it shouldn't be difficult for you to learn how to control it."

"Having difficulties?" yelled Ranma, "You know as well as I do Akane is to stubborn to learn new tricks."

"R...RANMA!" yelled Akane with a large aura around her as she slammed her fist into his face.

"See!" said Emeral, "You just used your chi!"

"Uh?" said Akane a bit confused while looking at her hands.

"Now if you just remember what you did, you should be able to control it," said Emeral, "So lets try it again."

Akane nodded and returned to the stick and began to beat at it. This time the stick was giving small beeps registering small chi hits to it.

"That's it Akane," smiled Emeral.

"Nice Strategy," said Joe dragging Ranma to his room, "I didn't realize you could come up with such things Ranma."

That night in Ranma's room

Genma was in his panda form while Ranma was beside him snoring away. Joe was wide awake in his mat listening to Ranma's snoring. Every snore caused his eyes to become more and more tense. Finally Joe went into his bag and put some ear plugs into his ears and began to try to sleep. After a few minutes of still hearing Ranma Joe took his ear plugs out and pulled out small black holes from another pocket in his bag and stuffed them into his ears. Joe than laid back and began to fall asleep, until he began to hear Ranma snoring again.

"Curse my excellent hearing," said Joe to himself as he got up and walked to the bathroom. A few moments later he returned with a glass of water and splashed Ranma with it without waking him up.

"There, girls usually don't snore," he said looking at Ranma-chan rotate in her mat without snoring.

Joe than got under his covers and sighed before falling right to sleep. That didn't last long however as Genma-Panda and Ranma-chan began to sleep fight each other waking Joe up again. Before he knew what they were doing Genma had rolled over Joe squashing him.

"That's It!" yelled Joe getting up.

That morning...

"Good Morning Nabiki," said Joe walking out of Ranma's room.

"Good Morning," she said walking into the room, "You two, time to...EEK!"

Genma and Ranma were in blue octagon crystals floating in the air. The two look like they were peacefully asleep, but where not moving one bit.

"Ooops, I forgot about that," said Joe coming back and snapping his fingers.

The crystals suddenly vanished and Ranma-chan and Genma-Panda fell on the floor, "Wha, What Happen?" asked Ranma.

Genma pulled up a sign, "Be more gentle when you wake us up!"

A few Days later

"YAAAAA!" screamed Akane attacking the stick with an incredible speed.

The device was now giving loud beeps indicating the chi attacks were very strong. After a few more seconds of Akane's barrage a warning beep came from the device before it broke in two.

"Ooops," said Akane, "Sorry about that."

"That's ok Akane, I was waiting for you to break it anyways," said Emeral putting her right hand out again. A quick beam came out and hit the metal making it disappear before the beam returned to her hand.

"So what is next?" asked Akane.

"Now that your chi is well developed, we can move on to teaching you how to use the Blue Dragon Fist," said Emeral, "I will show you an example."

Emeral snapped her fingers and a titanium steal dummy of Kuno appeared in front of them. She than put her hand back and look at the dummy before she sent her hand forward opening her palm at the last moment. A white-bluish energy came out of her palm in the shape of a dragon head and slammed into the dummy shattering it.

"Wow," said Akane, "That is powerful."

"The important thing to remember when using the Blue Dragon Fist is to use your emotions," said Emeral, "The Blue Dragon Fist is fueled by emrbacing your emotions, and accepting them."

"Accepting them?" asked Akane, "What do you mean?"

"Basically it is not recognizing your feelings. It's like if you are feeling happy, yet you believe you are mad," said Emeral, "Another example would be not knowing if you are in love with someone."

"So you need to know the emotions before you can use them," said Akane.

"Exactly," replied Emeral, "If you do not embrace your emotions, the blue dragon will not form within your heart and therefore you can't use it."

"So how do we proceed?" asked Akane.

Emeral smiled and snapped her fingers creating a line of Dummies, all looking like Kuno, "We practice what I just said."

Back at the school

"Run For it!" yelled Kalshion dogging a pineapple.

"The Principle has an armada of tanks shooting pineapples!" yelled a student from Ranma's class.

Ranma charged at the tanks and began to use his Kachu Tenshi Amaguriken on them finding it not to be very effective.

Ryoga who had been lost finally walked into the scene and saw the tanks and decided to blow a few up with his Bukusai Tenketsu attack.

Sonic soon showed up in the armada as Ranma jumped back from a tank, "Better late than never," he said.

The Principle was behind the armada controlling them with a giant remote, "Now I got you," he yelled pressing a button to cause rapid fire mode from the tanks.

"We can't dodge that many!" yelled Katarina running behind Sonic.

Sonic just grinned as the pineapples came right as him, but just as they reached 10cm from his face they halted in the air.

"WHATS THIS!" yelled the Principle.

Sonic just lifted his arm and pointed back at the armada causing all five-hundred and sixty-eight pineapples to barrage the tanks and the principle. Soon a large explosions came from the armada and the principle with is armada flew into the sky.

"What attack do you call that?" asked Ranma.

"Counter," said Sonic grinning before he vanished.

Later at the Kuno Residence...

"Tatewaki-sama," said Sasuke, "You have a visitor."

"Could it be the pig-tail girl, or Akane Tendo?" said Kuno running up to the door, "Oh, it's just you."

"What do you mean Kuno," said Kia, "That's no way to treat a lady."

"So what do you want," asked Kuno.

Kia lifted up a frying pan, "I need another pint of your blood."

At the Tendo's

Akane fist smashed through a gold plated tri-titanium dummy of Kodachi shattering it into a thousand pieces.

"You're still not using the Blue Dragon Fist," said Emeral standing on the side.

Akane just stared at the dummy's breathing hard, "I'm trying my best," she said.

"I know you are," replied Emeral creating a towel in her hand and handing it to Akane, "Take a break, we'll resume after dinner."

"OK," said Akane as Emeral walked back into the house. She than walked off to the dojo without even noticing Ranma leaning on the wall by the back door.

A few minute later Akane was doing some practice in the dojo thinking over her training. Ranma soon walked in and stood by the door for a few minutes until Akane noticed his presence. "Ranma..." said Akane.

"I see you are working hard," said Ranma walking in, "You think you will be ok for the match?"

Akane lowered her head, "I still haven't mastered the technique and the match is in two days." she said.

The two sat down beside each other looking at their feet. Ranma started to twiddle his toes when Akane began to speak again, "But don't think I'm doing this for you!"

"I know that," replied Ranma.

"Shampoo has always defeated me in martial arts, I want a chance to get back at her," Akane said getting up.

"Akane," said Ranma getting up and grabbing her hand, "I just want to say....Thanks."

Akane's cheeks turned red as she glared at Ranma's eyes. The two looked at each other for a time, both becoming red in the cheeks. They slowly began to move towards each other.

SLAM, BANG, CLING

"Ran-chan, is it true that Akane challenged Shampoo and offered you as the prize!" yelled Ukyo busting through the door as Happosai flew into the sky in the opposite direction.

Outside the Dojo

"DAMN! We almost had the perfect filming shot!" said Soun holding a camera in a hole on the wall of the dojo.

"He failed again father?" asked Kasumi.

"Will he ever take the initiative," said Nabiki walking away.

Back in the Dojo

"I wasn't doing nothing," said Ranma now away from Akane sitting down. Akane had moved to the other side of the dojo resuming her practice.

"Is it TRUE!" yelled Ukyo kneeling beside Ranma.

"Yes, Akane and Shampoo have a battle in two days," replied Ranma.

"AKANE!" yelled Ukyo standing up, "How dare you offer MY FIANCE for your battle."

"Just a minute Ukyo," started Akane, "I wasn't exactly the one who made the challenge."

"What do you mean," said Ukyo getting ready to fight Akane.

"She means I was the one that set the challenge up," said Emeral coming in from the other door.

"YOU? Why?" asked Ukyo.

"There is allot of reasons which I am not willing to share with you, so please stop bothering Ranma and Akane about it," said Emeral.

"You had no right!" said Ukyo throwing small spatulas at Emeral.

With a quick stroke of her hands, the spatulas stop and began to spin clockwise in the air until they stopped pointing back at Ukyo who was in shock. Emeral smiled, "Founding School of Physic Martial Arts, Counter" she said.

The spatulas than zoomed at Ukyo pinning her onto the wall. Emeral than turned around to walk out but stopped, "Oh, it's supper time you two," she said.

"Alright, chow time!" said Ranma running out of the dojo.

Akane looked back at Ukyo who was upset than walked out. "You just wait Emeral," said Ukyo with a growl.

The Night before the fight

"Ayyyyyia!" yelled Akane busting a dummy of the principle before kicking a dummy of Kuno to the left.

Emeral was watching to the left of her shaking her head, "You still are still not using all of your emotions," said Emeral.

"What?" asked Akane, "But I'm using all that I have."

"Your attacks are using the anger, determination, and jealousy, not the love, friendship, or kindness of your heart," said Emeral.

"What does that mean?" asked Akane.

"It is something you have to figure out on your own," said Emeral walking back into the house.

Akane stared at the door for a bit before she punched another dummy creating an explosion, "Why can't I master this," she thought.

In Ranma's Room

"She still hasn't figured out the secret to the blue dragon fist, has she?" asked Joe sitting in the center of the room reading a book.

"No, and the fight is tomorrow," replied Emeral, "If only she could relise her true feelings."

In front of the Cat Cafe at the appointed time

"Lefe Go!" yelled Ranma with his hands, feet, and mouth tied up sitting on a prize stool.

"Akane you came," said Shampoo cracking her knuckles at the front of the Cat Cafe.

"Of course I came, but you didn't need to tie up Ranma like that!" said Akane walking with Emeral and Joe.

"Those two again," thought Cologne eyeing them.

"Get your Okonomiyaki!" yelled Ukyo at a set up pizza stand. "If Akane looses, I will have to save Ran-chan my self," she thought.

"Hehehe," laughed Shampoo as a more dark battle aura began to engulf her body, "I won't hold back," she said.

"Shit, she's learn to control the shard more," said Emeral to Joe.

"I won't hold back either," replied Akane.

Colonge stood in between the two girls, "This is a battle for Ranma, there is no time limit, begin."

Shampoo wasted no time in charging for Akane and taking a punch at her. Akane blocked with her fist using her chi as a shield.

"You improved," said Shampoo, "But not good enough!"

Shampoo quickly vanished from in front of Akane and appeared from behind. Akane quickly turned around but was not able to block all her attacks. She was thrown a few meters away. She got back at her feet and proceeded to do a jump kick. Shampoo easily dodged her attack as Akane smashed into the ground creating a pot hole a meter in diameter.

"Jee, I didn't know Akane could do that," said Ukyo flipping an Okonomiyaki.

Shampoo than proceeded to do a high jump kick which Akane was not able to fully avoid being slammed a few meters away. Shampoo than quickly turned and fired a chi blast slamming Akane into a building. Akane struggled to get to her feet as Shampoo started to walk to her, "You no defeat me," she said grinning.

Akane closed her eyes and began to see Ranma being forced into loving Shampoo. She saw their weeding, their honey moon, their first child, and their dying days flash into her mind. Than she recalled what Emeral said, "The attack must come from your heart using all your emotions, especially the love towards others." The word love echoed through her head for a moment until a memory flash of Ranma defending her at a skating contest, "Akane is my fiancé! You touch her and I'll kill you!"

"NO! I won't let that happen!" yelled Akane jumping at Shampoo catching her by surprise.

"Sacred Technique, Blue Dragon Palm!" she yelled throwing her palm at Shampoo unleashing a powerful white-blue chi energy shaped as a dragon head. It slammed into Shampoo and continued to push her like a bulldozer into the cat cafe.

"She did it!" said Emeral, "She figured out the secret!"

"Not only that, but I say she improved on the technique, considering the dragon only lasts no longer than a meter away from the palm," commented Sonic.

Shampoo was having trouble getting up, she had her right hand on her head, "When Akane learn trick?" she asked.

"This is no trick," said Akane jumping into the air, "Blue Dragon Kick!"

Akane starting to come at Shampoo as another chi energy began to appear around her foot. Slowly but surely it formed another dragon head that seemed to be alive. Shampoo was almost positive it gave a howl just as it opened it's mouth. Of course that was the time when Akane landed on Shampoo delivering the knock out blow. As Shampoo sailed into the wall, the aura fragment flew out of her chest and fell in front of Akane.

"Winner, Akane," said Cologne in disbelieve.

Akane smiled as everyone cheered for her and proceeded to pick up the necklase and give it to Emeral. "You should hold on to this," she said placing the necklace in Emeral's hand.

"You did well Akane," said Emeral smiling, "You figured out the secret to the Blue Dragon Fist."

"Secret?" asked Akane.

"I think it's better off we not tell her," whispered Joe to Emeral.

Emeral nodded than looked back at Akane, "Why don't you go untie Ranma now," she said.

"Oh, I forgot," said Akane running over to where Ranma was only to find the ropes and the scarf that was around his mouth lying down on the floor.

"Now where did he go?" she asked.

Moments later she heard Ranma's voice and found Ranma stuffing his face with Ukyo's Okonomiyaki.

"RANMA...." came Akane's voice behind Ranma.

Ranma turned around just as another Blue Dragon Palm formed sending him into the sky where he fell into the pond behind the Tendo's house. "What is up with her?" asked Ranma-chan as he got out of the pond.

CmptrWz

Chapter 42
RR: Rose's Revenge

Oh, and Kia finally finishes that damn puzzle

In the hours that followed Akane's victory Rose went back to showing her distaste for MM. This time, however, she was utilizing a supercomputer she created for the task, analyzing data that nobody realized she had recorded. Of course, very few people realized the power of the computer, as it was being warn like a watch. One major component of the data she was analyzing was readings taken from the calculator-like device she had bought at Curses R Us.

Kia, on the other hand, was almost done with the puzzle. Once or twice Kalshion and Katarina had felt something was wrong with the puzzle. They decided Kia had been attempting to use demonic powers to solve the thing, and left it at that. That, and Katarina wasn't happy when, half an hour after Shampoo was defeated, she bumped the puzzle while checking out the feeling on her own, causing a piece to fall off. It took six hours and the combined powers of herself, Kalshion, and their father to restore her breasts to their original size, and that wasn't including the hour it took her to find a wheelbarrow to get back to the shrine with. On the other hand, Kalshion had thought about what Kia might do to a guy, and had to be knocked out by Katarina until he regained his senses.

"When are you going to let me in on your revenge plan?" Sonic asked Rose as she manipulated her supercomputer watch.

"When I need your help to execute it," Rose said, not looking away from the watch.

"Could you at least sit somewhere safer then in the principal's pineapple storage room?" Sonic pleaded.

"Nobody but you would dare travel this deep into the pineapples," Rose replied. "Not even the principal."

"For good reason," Sonic mumbled. Not even their powers would keep them fully safe where they currently were, surrounded on all sides by thousands of pineapples. He could even tell that MM had tweaked the room so that any explosion would go to a quantum level, or beyond.

"Actually," Rose said, still staring at the watch. "The small sphere directly above your head is doing the tweaking." Sonic looked up to see a small sphere embedded in the ceiling, between two pineapples. "Date mapping marks a creation date of twenty thousand years ago." Rose paused, pushing a couple of buttons on the watch. "Two weeks from Tuesday, anyway."

This continued for five days, with nothing spectacular occurring during the time period. Curses R Us tried re-opening a couple of times, but Dark Kalshion had spilled soup on the teleportation engine and shorted it out. The result was that the shop appeared in a small cave on Mount Everest, and got stuck there. The avalanche didn't help much either. Finally, however, Kia was down to the last cube in the puzzle.

"One more cube," Kia said, overjoyed. She examined the cube, spun it a few times, and then placed it in the hole left on top of the puzzle. School was in session, so Kia was alone in the house as the puzzle glowed brightly, the cubes fusing together into a solid mass. The final image took form, revealing a sandy beach with a hole in the sand. Next to the hole was a treasure chest, sitting open to show the single treasure inside. Kia, forgetting that the scene in front of her was an illusion, reached over and picked the sliver of what appeared to be a precious gem from the chest. No sooner had she done so then the whole thing vanished, box and all.

Kia didn't know it, but she was now in possession of a single, neutral shard of the Dragon Aura. That, and she wasn't planning on doing anything that would trigger it, so she might never figure out what it did. Kalshion and Katarina, however, knew something was up. They didn't know where, or with whom, but something had just happened to one of the shards. Unfortunately, Emeral was between them and Kia, so the shards Emeral had with her masked their sense. By the time they could try and see where the shard was without Emeral in the way the presence had vanished, due to Kia placing it in a demonically shielded bracelet. After ten minutes of trying to locate the shard Kalshion and Katarina gave up, thinking they had just sensed one Emeral had accidentally poked or something.

As soon as class was out Emeral grabbed Joe and dragged him to an abandoned building right in the center of town. She then pulled the calculator-like device out of her bag and attached it to the watch she was wearing, which beeped. A small red button appeared on the watch as Emeral attached the calculator-like device to the door of the building. To put the finishing touches on it she attached two spheres, one on either side of the calculator-like device, before pushing the red button.

Shouldn't MM be watching this take place?

"Go Happosai!" MM yelled at his screen, watching Happosai get chased by the girl's track team. The mirror showing what Emeral was doing sat there ignored, MM not even making a passing glance at it.

Oh well, he will figure it out eventually

"Now all we need to do is combine into Dragon Mistress and enter with MM," Emeral was explaining to Joe inside the building, which now looked a lot newer. "The only way in or out is with someone else who is willing, so once MM is in here we split again and leave, trapping him."

"Won't that make him mad?" Joe asked.

"Probably," Emeral responded. "But he deserves it."

"How do we lure him in here anyway?" Joe asked, looking around. "It isn't like he would have a reason to come here."

"That is what those spheres were for," Emeral said, grinning a decidedly evil grin. Had Dark Sonic seen it he would have wondered if he was looking at Rose or the sudden appearance of Dark Rose.

"Wait a minute," Joe said, obviously having just realized something. "The old coot puts emergency backdoors in all of his curses. Won't he be able to use that on this one?"

"Nope," Emeral giggled. "I figured out how to lock his backdoor. He won't be able to do anything until someone lets him out."

"Lets just get this over with," Joe sighed. "I have homework to do, you know."

"I don't know why you actually do the homework out," Emeral said, glaring at Joe.

"Because I prefer to not have to defend against Hinako's attack," Joe said, glaring at Emeral.

"So that is why she never targets you," Emeral realized, putting her finger on her chin. "Didn't know it was that easy."

"Shall we go?" Joe said, opening the door.

"Yep," Emeral said, grabbing Joe as she ran by. A moment later she had her pendant out and was pumping energy into it. Joe did the same, both stepping through the portal that appeared for them, their clothes morphing as they went through.

Happosai is still ahead by three inches, barely avoiding the brooms....

Oh, we should probably go to MM, not give a play by play on Happosai

"What do they want," MM grumbled, annoyed at being interrupted. "It isn't like Akane lost or anything." With that he walked into the world Sonic and Rose were in, not bothering to change his appearance. "So what do you two kids want?" MM asked, annoyance present in his voice.

"We are having a party," Rose said, trying to appear happy. "We wanted your expert opinion on the all you can eat buffet."

"All you can eat buffet?" MM said, his attitude changing. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"

"Hey, can I come too?" Nadeshiko yelled, appearing a moment later looking like a nine-year-old girl. When she realized this she blushed, Sonic and Rose getting a feeling of familiarity. They shook it off, however, as they nodded. Soon the four were at the building's entrance, and passed through with ease. Once inside, Rose pulled Sonic aside and they merged into Dragon Mistress. Dragon Mistress then approached Nadeshiko, still not knowing who she was.

"Can you help us get the drinks?" Dragon Mistress asked. "We left them in a truck down the block."

"Sure," Nadeshiko said, eating a cookie. "Cookies make me thirsty anyway." With that the two left the building, Dragon Mistress tapping the lock on the way by. When the doors shut they literally vanished, confusing Nadeshiko, especially when Dragon Mistress separated and Rose dragged Sonic off. Nadeshiko decided to investigate, so she opened a portal back to MM's living room using a pendant she had grabbed on her way out.

Kia, on the other hand, was searching the house for something to do. She was in Sonic's room when Sonic and Rose arrived, just opening the bedside table. Rose was so happy she didn't notice Kia as she came in, talking to Sonic.

"Won't he be surprised when that food vanishes," Rose smirked.

"Not as surprised as you will be when you turn around," Sonic cautioned.

"What do you keep these around for?" Kia asked as Rose turned around, seeing two guns in Kia's hands. One was pink, the other yellow, and seemed to be partially built upside down.

"DROP THOSE THIS INSTANT!" Rose screamed, both scared at what she knew the guns were capable of and infuriated that they were even in existence. Kia jumped into the ceiling when Rose screamed, the guns falling at her feet. Before anyone else had time to react, Rose had the pink gun in her hand. "Get out," Rose said, trying to keep her voice down but making no attempt to hide her anger. Her anger vanished, however, the instant the top of the gun popped off. Instead she was now in a state of pure fear, shocked into immobility.

"If you value your life," Sonic said, grabbing Kia, "you will get far, far away right now." With that he shoved her out the bedroom door, which he then slammed shut. A moment later he was trying to get Rose to snap out of it. He tried water as the gun started to morph, slapping her as it began to take over her arm, and hitting her with an energy blast as the gun reached her shoulder. Finally, having run out of options, he leaned over, and kissed her on the lips. Her cheeks went from pale white to bright red as the gun retreated down her arm, returning to a state where the top could be re-attached.

"What did you do that for?" Rose asked, still blushing. "Especially with Kia watching through the window."

"I figured it was the only way to get you to calm down," Sonic said, shrugging as he kicked the window open and launched Kia into orbit.

"Fancy meeting you here," Kia said as she caught up to Happosai, somehow matching speeds with him.

"If my body didn't hurt so much I would glomp you," Happosai moaned.

"That never stopped you before," Kia said, looking Happosai over. Not her first choice, but she IS a succubus.

"You actually want me?" Happosai said, recognizing the expression on Kia's face, and surprised it was directed at him.

"If your body can take it," Kia said. Happosai didn't even want to wait to land, he just started stripping. When he got to taking his underpants off he knew he wouldn't be getting any further. Then again, even Sonic and Rose could hear Kia's laughing.

It was around this time that MM discovered he was trapped. He discovered this when he went to complain about running out of food before he had all he could eat. Needless to say, he wasn't happy, and the energy output from his anger confirmed it. The curse on the building held, however, and Rose just smiled.

Two hours later

"You get Kuno to ask for another date with me," Kia said to Nabiki. "Then I will give you these blackmail pictures I took of Happosai."

"And what could you have caught him doing that I could possibly blackmail him for?" Nabiki asked.

"Not what he was doing," Kia said, grinning. "More like where he is lacking." With that she held up one of the pictures she had taken, and Nabiki couldn't help but laugh herself.

"I will get on Kuno right away," Nabiki said, once she stopped laughing. "How much for the negatives?"

"Three pints of human blood," Kia replied. "Kuno's, if possible. There is something I like about his."

Meanwhile.......

"I want to take out an insurance policy on Emeral Bellosom," Joe said to the woman behind the counter. "Biggest policy you have, if possible." The sign above the counter simply said 'Matrix Level Insurance', even though it was in the middle of downtown Nerima.

"Other names?" the woman asked.

"Rose," Joe said. He was wondering just how the insurance company got an outlet in Nerima, but shrugged it off.

"Oh," the woman responded. "Here you go then, fill out this form and we will add it to your bill. I didn't recognize you at first, Sonic."

"I don't have a clue who she is," Joe mumbled as he sat down to fill out the form.

The next day

"Hey Emeral," a girl Emeral knew from school called. "What is up with that person you trapped in that building downtown?"

"WHAT?" Emeral yelled, knowing she had been in her 'Rose' form at the time.

"Did you and Joe think we wouldn't be able to tell who you were?" the girl asked. "With all the disguises people come up with around here, a simple change in clothing and hair color doesn't fool us anymore."

"Then why the hell don't you people notice Ranma?" Emeral asked, in a slight state of shock.

"A few of us have seen him transform," the girl said, her finger on her chin. "I think it is because we are more reluctant to admit that someone can physically change gender, I suppose."

"How long have you known?" Emeral asked, at a point where she didn't care.

"Since, oh....." the girl said, digging through her bag. "You and Joe were caught transforming in a tree that the principal had a hidden camera in." She pulled out a tape and handed it to Emeral. "He passed out copies to all the kids in school he felt couldn't be trusted to keep it a secret."

In an office across town

"AAAA-CHOU!" the principal sneezed. "That was odd."

Back with Emeral

"Give me a second," Emeral said, digging through a bag she hadn't been holding a minute before. After searching for a moment she pulled out a pineapple. "Ah, here we are." A small window appeared in front of her, and she threw the pineapple through it, before the window closed and vanished.

"Special delivery?" the girl asked.

"Yep," Emeral said, grinning. "I figure I don't have to hide my powers around you now. I have to go though, so I will catch you later."

Lets go back to that office we were just at

"Where did this fall from?" the principal wondered, holding the pineapple Emeral had just thrown into his face. A moment later it exploded, launching the principal through the roof and into the sky. As he headed into orbit he found a piece of paper stuck to his chest. All it said was "If you know our secret, you know we don't need to attend school. - J/E".

MM, of course, is getting pissed off

"When I get my hands on that little brat she will wish she never ascended to the next level," MM yelled as he dug deeper and deeper into his full power.

To top it off, Nadeshiko called an emergency meeting

"I don't know how to get him out of there," Nadeshiko explained to her boss.

"Does his computer say anything about it?" her boss asked.

"No," Nadeshiko said, kicking the computer. "It locked itself down when he raised his power level."

"Better call his boss," her boss said, picking up a phone. "I think this is out of my jurisdiction."

"Ok then," Nadeshiko said as the video screen blinked out. She looked at a timer on the wall, counted out three seconds, and then hit the receive button on the video screen. "Hello sir," she said to the image of MM's boss, who happened to be the Director of the entire authority.

"I understand MM is trapped, angry about it, trying to force his way out, and you can't seem to do anything about it," the Director said. "Tell me something I don't know."

"According to the only computer screen that hasn't locked down," Nadeshiko said, pointing to a screen behind her. "His power level hit his previous recorded record ten minutes ago, and is still rising."

"WHAT!" the Director screamed, the video screen cracking. "I will be there right away!"

Nadeshiko didn't have time to respond before the video screen seemed to explode with light, and the Director was standing there in a human form. He didn't even acknowledge her presence before he used a special override MM had given him to remove the lockdown on the computer and began to fully analyze the issue.

"Can you do anything?" Nadeshiko asked, hoping the Director didn't snap at her.

"Someone essentially sealed the backdoor routines of the curse used to seal him in," the Director said. "Someone by the name of Rose."

Where did Emeral head off to?

"Hey Sonic," Emeral called upon reaching home. "Part of our secret is AAA-CHOU! out!"

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked while he played poker with Kia. "And why the hell is poker so popular in this world?"

"I don't know about the poker thing," Emeral responded, "but the principal caught us transforming on tape. He gave most of the school copies, so I informed him we wouldn't be attending classes."

"Good thing I drank a bottle of Blood Wine when I said I was doing my homework then," Sonic said, chuckling. He regretted the comment as Emeral slammed him into the table with her fist.

"ROSE, WHERE ARE YOU!?" a loud, deep voice called, shaking the entire building. A moment later Emeral transformed into Rose as Sonic pushed Kia into another room, just in time for the Director to appear in a blinding flash of light.

"Who are you?" Rose asked, knowing that MM was still trapped.

"I am the Director of the Inter-Nexial authority," the Director stated. "MM reports directly to me at this time, and now you have MM trapped in a building here in this town."

"He had it coming," Rose said defensively.

"I take it you aren't going to let him out anytime soon then," the Director said, obviously annoyed.

"Nope," Rose replied.

"Your seal is doing a good job of masking what kind of power he is unleashing in an attempt to escape," the Director said. "Well before you came into existence MM went into a severe state of emotional distress. His emotional state was more fragile then a butterfly facing a hurricane, and his power output soared."

"And what does that have to do with this situation?" Sonic asked, intrigued.

"The power MM output in that timeframe was his record up until today," the Director stated, materializing a chart. "It was estimated that if he had launched an attack on anything during that timeframe he would have taken out an eighth of the Nexial Matrix. He is currently approaching double that output, and is showing no signs of slowing down."

"Then what is keeping him from destroying everything NOW?" Rose asked, not believing that MM really was putting out that much power.

"The fact that his own energy is being used against him by your seal," the Director stated. "If it weren't for that he would have already freed himself."

"Good," Rose said, grinning.

"If he isn't out by the end of next week then models predict that the structural integrity of this entire node will be compromised," the Director spoke flatly. Sonic and Rose's eyes went wide, as they knew that being trapped in the node as it collapsed was a decidedly bad thing.

"I think we should go let him out now," Sonic said, grabbing Rose.

"Good idea," Rose responded, allowing Sonic to drag her off. The Director followed them until they got within a block of the building MM was trapped in, when Sonic and Rose found they couldn't get any closer.

"That is going on?" the Director asked, going to walk past Sonic and Rose. "There shouldn't be anything stopping you." A moment later he stopped as well, also unable to get closer.

"The non-entry field has expanded," Rose said, tapping buttons on her watch. "The entry/exit gateway can't form across that distance. We can't get in now."

"Then you had better hope he finds a way out himself," the Director said, looking at the building MM was trapped in. "Or that he calms down in time. Otherwise, he will be the only survivor."

"Why will he survive?" Sonic and Rose asked simultaneously.

"The node will collapse onto the largest source of energy available, then expunge that energy," the Director said. "Since he is the largest source of energy, the node will collapse onto him, then spit him out."

"Nice perk for being powerful," Sonic said, eliciting a slap from Rose.

"Can't you be serious for a change?" Rose asked.

"Ok, ok," Sonic said, rubbing where Rose had slapped him. "Hey Director, if you got in, can't you get everyone OUT?"

"Everyone but those MM placed an extra lock level on," the Director replied. "That happens to include the two of you."

"Figures," Rose replied. "How long till you could evacuate the node otherwise?"

"Three days," the Director responded. "In fact, I am going to go now and start making arrangements."

"See you in three days then," Sonic said, dragging Rose off as the Director vanished.

"If we get out of this alive, I hope you listen to me the next time I say something is a bad idea," Sonic scolded.

Sonic and Rose spent all night researching a way to break the curse Rose had created, but it appeared she had done too good of a job. In the morning they were found fast asleep in trees near Furinkan High, and Kia decided to go look for them. Five minutes after she had left to search she ran into Emily, Kia's tail accidentally smashing the watch Emily was wearing.

"Ooops, sorry," Kia said, hoping Emily wouldn't get mad at her. She wasn't in the mood for a fight.

"GET OVER HERE!" Emily yelled, chasing after Kia. Kia decided to try running first, and Emily decided that wasting time at school wasn't worth it when she had someone to give a pounding. Thus, Emily chased Kia for three hours before Kia decided it was time to take a stand.

Emily, on the other hand, was no longer angry, but just looking for a good fight. She figured that spawn from the depths of the netherworld would make a good opponent, if she could just get Kia to stop running and face her.

"If you want to fight, lets fight," Kia called. Emily was happy to oblige, and went for an attack. Kia wasted no time in delivering a coat-shredding roundhouse that was quickly matched by a surprise dose of Holy Water from a squirt gun Emily pulled out of nowhere.

"How do you like that, hell spawn," Emily laughed.

"No fair using Holy Water!" Kia screamed, now angry. After all, her hair had just been blasted off by Holy Water, and it was a pain to grow it back. Emily didn't even notice Kia's bracelet start glowing, probably because all of her clothes burst off of her and she was too busy trying to cover up and escape at the same time. Kia had other plans, however, as she began reciting a spell.

"Oh shit," Emily said as a shockwave burst from Kia, remembering what had happened to Katarina. Granted, it hadn't been made widely known, but it was hard to miss someone in that kind of state leaving the house you were staying in. Bracing for the massive expansion, Emily was surprised when her chest started to feel lighter. The shock was great enough that she fell backwards off-balance, and for a moment forgot to cover herself. It didn't take her long to realize that she no longer had anything on her chest to cover up, the spell having made her chest look like a pre-teen's.

Then she remembered she was butt naked, and she bolted to grab something to wear from her bedroom.

Kia laughed as she headed off to look for Sonic and Rose again, not realizing that her spell hadn't affected Emily alone. Every female within a hundred miles of her when she cast the spell had suddenly gone flat chested, including Rose. The shock was enough to wake her up, and the resulting scream overrode the hundreds of other screams from hundreds of other females who had just had their breasts reduced. This, of course, woke up Sonic, who then immediately fainted upon seeing Rose. Rose immediately started making attempts to reverse the spell, failing her first few times before she realized she had a supercomputer with spell and curse sensors in it strapped to her wrist. A couple of minutes later she had discovered that the spell was demonic in nature, but had been tainted with an energy she couldn't identify, so she kept working.

Back at the house, however, Emily was more shocked then she had been to begin with. Having been the original target of the spell, it hit her harder then anyone else, and as such she was slowly regressing in apparent age. Where she had appeared to be a teenager, now she appeared to be about twelve years old, and the spell wasn't stopping. Emily just stared at herself in the mirror as she continued to shrink until finally she seemed to stop at around nine years old, at which point she broke down crying.

Twenty minutes later Emily was over her age regression woes, realizing that being a little kid had perks. Especially when you still had the same power level as before you were regressed. The first thing she did after getting dressed in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals was to replace all of Kia's shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and other hygiene products with Holy Water tainted versions. The second thing she did was go out and hit Kia with a mud ball from behind.

An hour later Kia had no bodily hair, while Emily ran around town playing childish pranks on the people she came across.

Early the next day Joe walked into Ukyo's shop wearing his ceremonial red robe and hat. "Welcome to Ukyo's" said Ukyo looking at the customer. "Oh, Hello Joe."

"Hey Ukyo," said Joe sitting down and tossing the front part of his robe around his shoulder, "Three deluxe Okonomiyaki please."

"Coming right up," said Ukyo as Ranma walked in, "Ran-chan!"

"I'm starving, how about some seafood Okonomiyaki U-chan," said Ranma, "and something cold to drink, today has been a scorcher."

"You're right, it has been unusually hot today," said Ukyo, "Say Joe, aren't you hot in that thing?"

"Not really," said Joe.

"You're crazy," said Ranma sitting next to him, "It must be an oven inside those. Why don't you wear something cooler?"

"Believe it or not this suit is quite cool. I could be jogging on Venus for hours without working up a sweat," said Joe, "And I'm dressed this way because I have a strange feeling in my gut something bad is going to happen...no thanks to Emeral of course."

"What does Venus have to do with this?" asked Ukyo giving Joe his order.

"Oh, its only 400 degrees Celsius hotter than it is here right now," replied Joe taking a bite, "Didn't you ever pay attention to your science classes?"

"Ummmm, not really," said Ukyo blushing.

"So what's this bad feeling you have in your gut," asked Ranma, "And what did Emeral do?"

"No Comment," said Joe.

"INCOMING," Emily yelled as Kuno fell in through the roof, burnt to a crisp.

"Imagine," Kodachi said, walking through the door. "My dear brother beaten by a mere child."

"Better then the Principal being forced to close the school for a week after the same child blew up half the building," Joe said, not having flinched.

"And you are next," Emily said, blowing Kodachi into the sky. Luckily for her, she ran into Happosai in mid-air, otherwise she would have landed in Jusenkyo.

Rose is still in that tree

"Think Emeral will ever come down?" one girl said, looking at Rose in the tree.

"I don't know," another said, pulling the first along. "Lets not bother her, though."

"Stupid spell," Rose muttered. "There is something mixed in with it and I can't figure out what."

"Did you try one of those shard things?" Happosai asked just after landing in the tree.

Rose paused, looking at Happosai. "Why aren't you trying to glomp someone?"

"That spell you are trying to break has left me with nothing to glomp," Happosai responded as he lit his pipe.

"So every cloud does have a silver lining," Rose smirked, before going back to breaking the spell, using Happosai's insight. Ten minutes later she had a way to break the spell, but only if she could find the exact shard that was used in casting it.

"Figures," Happosai pouted. "You have to find the stupid shard first."

"STOP LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER!" Rose yelled, slamming Happosai into the sky.

With that, Rose finally left the tree, wondering where Sonic got off to.

Back at the Tendo Residence

"Record-breaking temperatures in town today," Nabiki said, watching the news. "Unknown causes, not to mention a growing part of town nobody can seem to get into."

"Sounds normal to me," Akane responded as Kasumi pushed her out of the kitchen. "If something odd isn't going on then something is wrong."

"Odd is you not being pissed at being pushed out of the kitchen," Ranma mumbled as he walked through. Akane just looked at him and reflected at how correct he was.

Then again, Akane was thrown off enough with the recent removal all the girls had involving their figures. Ranma's female form had even been affected, which made Akane feel sorry for him for some reason. This passed as soon as she looked down to her own chest, however, and she decided Ranma was at fault in some way and deserved a beating. This wasn't destined to occur, though, as Emily chose that moment to fly in through the window and onto Akane.

"Sorry Akane," Emily said, helping Akane up after they had fallen to the floor.

"Emily?" Akane asked, looking at the young girl that had just knocked her over.

"The spell that the succubus cast was focused on me," Emily explained, dusting herself off. "It hit me the hardest, turning me into a little girl. What happened to all the other girls in town appears to be a side-effect."

"You deserved it," Kia said, walking in. "The others didn't."

"Then give me the aura shard you used to cast the spell," Rose said to Kia.

"What are you talking about?" Kia asked. "And for that matter, where did you come from? You weren't in here, and you certainly didn't just walk in the door."

"So I teleported," Rose responded, giving Kia a dirty look. "Now give me the shard."

"Now look," Kia said, shooting her hand in front of Rose, pointing at Rose's nose. Before she could continue, however, her bracelet flew off of her wrist, bounced off Rose's forehead, fell to the floor, and cracked open. Rose reached down, grabbed the shard from the split bracelet, and smiled.

"Thank you," Rose said, putting the shard in her watch. A moment later she had vanished.

The next morning

"That is the last of it," Sonic said, materializing a pair of socks in a full bag. A moment later, he threw the bag into the trash and went to leave.

"Where do you think you are going?" Rose asked, standing in the door.

"Antarctica," Sonic said matter-of-factly.

"Why?" Rose asked, tapping her foot.

"Because I don't want to be anywhere near you if MM breaks free today like my dream indicated," Sonic responded, pushing past Rose.

"GET BACK HERE BUSTER," Rose yelled, giving Sonic a nasty glare.

"Rasafrasn female," Sonic mumbled, trudging back.

Meanwhile, at the shrine

Kalshion and Katarina had been getting ready for a trip to the northern side of Japan, they decided to help increase there knowledge on fighting so they wanted to be alone, besides what could go wrong? Sonic and Rose where having a time of there life and both Kal and Kat knew nothing would happen while they where gone.

Who are we kidding? They had disturbing dreams as well and decided to high tail it out of town before they were killed.

Rose, on the other hand, decided to make breakfast

Rose pulled out a bowl for some cereal, figuring it would be good for her nerves. No sooner had she gone to pour cereal in the bowl, however, then the bowl cracked down the middle and fell apart.

"That was odd," Sonic said, looking at the bowl. "If it weren't for us not getting omens outside of our birth worlds, I would probably be worried."

"Stupid bowl," Rose mumbled, punching the table. A moment later the wooden table had splintered into hundreds of chopsticks, each of which fell to the floor and broke in half.

"What's next," Sonic asked. "Black cats coming for the spilt milk?"

"What spilt milk?" Rose asked, pulling the milk out of the refrigerator. No sooner had she asked the question did the bottom of the carton of milk seem to explode, dropping all of the milk onto the floor. Minutes later the windows were filled with black cats trying to get in.

Sonic started to say something, but Rose shot him a death glance and he promptly shut his mouth tight.

The day progressed without severe incident, unless you counted every flower Rose got within five feet of wilting. That is, until teatime. Rose decided to have tea on her own, as the looks she was getting from everyone were starting to get to her. She made it through making and pouring her tea without incident, even though she had five hundred extra teacups just in case.

"Oh, look," Rose said to nobody in particular. "A tea leaf is floating in my tea. That is supposed to be good luck."

The tealeaf promptly sank, and Rose went back to her previous mood. A moment later her teacup burst into pieces, and all she could do was stare at it. As soon as she came out of her trance and put the remainder of the teacup on the table she heard a cracking sound. Before she could investigate it, however, all five hundred extra teacups shattered and the pieces burst into flames.

"Ok," Rose said, looking at the burning pieces of teacup. "Normally, I don't believe in bad omens outside of my home world. In this case, I am making an exception." With that she slowly backed out of the room, turned on her heels, and was about to run to find Sonic when an earthquake hit. She floated in the air as her watch beeped, signaling that it could undo Kia's spell. With that she pulled the shards into her watch-arm so that the supercomputer could utilize them to break the spell, which it did, sending a shockwave of restorative energy through town.

In a nearby earthquake research lab(why didn't we notice this before? The scientists here are local!)

"This has to be the big one," a scientist was yelling. "The end of us all!"

"Why do you say that?" another scientist yelled.

"We just hit 27 on the Richter scale!" a third interrupted.

Two blocks away, just outside of Nerima

"What the hell are they talking about," a scientist asked, looking at a video feed. "A 27 on the Richter scale? We aren't even registering a 0.8!"

At that building in the center of town

The building MM was trapped in had started to glow fiercely, the barriers around it visible due to the strain they were being put under. The sky darkened to inky blackness as lightning flew from invisible clouds. Finally a single bolt of lighting struck the top of the barriers and a minute crack formed. Two seconds later a volcano-like eruption of energy spewed from the crack and a small bright light flew off into town. This went largely unnoticed by the three people on hand to watch as a beautiful, yet obviously pissed-off female rose in the energy and landed in the street in front of the building.

Coincidently, every Rose in Japan burst into ashes at that precise moment, and nobody examining that phenomenon had a clue why.

Meanwhile, the female looked around, not really at her surroundings, but more like she was trying to figure out where something was. Suddenly she stopped, and shot a visible projectile with a glare. The projectile flew through town until it came to Rose, who had just enough time to raise the arm with the shards in it to shield herself. Luckily, the shards acted as a powerful shield, causing the glare to simply knock Rose into a coma while destroying everything within three blocks of where she had been standing. Sonic thought he felt something, but shrugged, figuring that if it was Rose getting slapped she deserved it.

"Damnit," the female said, looking down at her clothing. "Why did I have to end up in a miniskirt?"

Later on Sonic was worried that Rose hadn't come complaining about being slapped or anything, so he went out looking for her. It took him ten minutes to notice the crater, and another eight digging to find Rose. Grateful Rose was still alive, Sonic kissed her, hoping to bring her out of her coma. Unfortunately, it didn't work, and he decided bigger measures were needed.

Five minutes later Sonic had Rose at the Tendo Residence, in Happosai's room. Rose showed signs of stirring there, but didn't come out of the coma until Happosai opened the door, saw Rose, and jumped on her. This prompted a "GET OFF ME YOU PERVERT" from Rose, with Happosai taking a predictable trip.

"Welcome back," Sonic said, grinning. Rose, unsure of whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, decided to err on the side of caution and send Sonic flying with Happosai.

The next day

Sonic, Rose, Emily, and Jeremy were sitting around in the living room chatting about MM's escape.

"So where do you think he went after knocking me out?" Rose asked nobody in particular.

"Probably vented his anger knocking you out, and went on to plan his next curse," Jeremy replied.

Emily nodded her agreement. "He has never been one to stay angry long, but he does hold one hell of a grudge."

"I RESENT THAT!" Kia yelled from the kitchen. "Oh, and can any of you run over to get some blood from Kuno?"

"Already did," Rose yelled back. "Check the red handled cabinet on the east wall."

"DAMN!" Kia yelled. "Fifty-five gallons? Where did it all come from?"

"Healing spell," Rose said, grinning. "Lets someone 'donate' a lot more blood."

"Nice one," Emily said, thinking of the possibilities.

"Self destruct sequence activated," came a voice from nowhere, sounding a lot like the Federation's computer systems.

"WHAT!?" everyone screamed, running for the door. After a moment trying to open the door, they finally decided to just run through it.

"Could you get off my face," a girl mumbled after everyone fell on top of her.

"The house is going to blow up!" Kia said, trying to drag the girl off. "We have to get away from it."

"All of this because someone put a recording of the Enterprise's Self Destruct initiation as your doorbell?" the girl said, brushing her miniskirt off as she pushed everyone off of her.

"And how the hell do you know about the Enterprise?" Rose asked the girl.

"Didn't you see the movie last month?" the girl asked, digging through a bag. She finally found a ticket stub, and handed it to Rose.

"Star Trek, Insurrection," Rose read, surprised. "Interesting."

"So what brings you here?" Sonic asked, giving Rose a 'Don't blow our cover' look.

"I am selling cookies," the girl responded. "Very cheap."

"Here," Emily said, handing the girl a hundred yen. "How many boxes will that get me?"

"Oh, I don't know," the girl said, pulling out a calculator. She punched some numbers in, then pressed a red button on the side. A moment later two billion, five hundred thirty eight million, four hundred three thousand, thirty-six boxes of cookies fell on Emily. "That many, I guess."

"These cookies are over three hundred years past their expiration date," Jeremy said, reading one of the boxes.

"Three hundred thirty three years past expiration date," the girl said. "Why do you think they were so cheap?"

"And who are you selling these cookies for?" Rose asked, suspicious of the girl.

"I needed some extra cash, and this dude at Curses R Us said I could sell cookies at 5000% commission," the girl said. "How could I turn that kind of offer down?"

"Figures," Sonic said, blasting the cookies out of existence. "You get anything else from Curses R Us?"

"Just this ring," the girl said, holding up her right hand to show a ring on her little finger.

"You might want to take that off," Rose said, looking at the girl. "Who knows what it will do."

"What could a stupid little ring do?" the girl replied.

"Anything you can or cannot imagine," Jeremy said, backing away from the girl.

"Yea, right," the girl said, ignoring the scared looks on everyone's faces. She didn't even notice the ring start to glow. "Like a ring could do something like cause that tree over there to blow up." With that she pointed her right hand at the tree, and a small light floated out of the ring. The girl, appearing to be in complete shock watching the light, didn't move even as the light hit the tree and blew it up.

"Told you," Sonic said, shaking his head at the destruction of the tree.

"GET IT OFF ME," the girl yelled, trying in vain to pull off the ring. Sonic, Rose, Emily, and Jeremy joined in, but couldn't get it off.

"It is stuck," Sonic said, giving up. As he walked back into the house he thought to himself. "Not even MM would do this to himself just to trick us, would he?"

"I can't read her mind," Rose said, stepping up to Sonic. "I can sense that the ring she is wearing is blocking me, somehow."

"Probably the surface spell on the ring, with the destructive part being a secondary spell," Sonic said, deciding that MM wouldn't need such a petty spell to keep his mind safe, so the girl had to be someone else caught in one of MM's curses.

"Hey, one more thing," the girl called as everyone was going inside.

"What now?" Rose asked, hoping that the ring wouldn't trigger again.

"I don't suppose you know of a place I could stay?" the girl asked, blushing.

"Don't you have a home around here somewhere?" Sonic asked, curious as to where she had come from if she didn't have a home in the area.

"I did, but this morning some kind of explosion destroyed it," the girl said, looking sad. "I don't know where my parents are, or anyone else from my neighborhood."

"Sorry, you feel," came a voice that sounded suspiciously like Yoda. Turning around, everyone found it was Yoda, sitting where the tree had been before it exploded. "Help her, you will."

"What are you doing here?" Emily asked, glaring at Yoda.

"Visiting, I am," Yoda said as he stood up. "Leave, I shall." With that, he walked away, leaving everyone baffled.

"That was odd," the girl said, blinking a few times.

"Don't suppose you want to take off that body suit," Emily asked. "It does seem to be good at disguising your appearance, though."

"Oh, this," the girl said, gesturing at her body. "I wear it to keep the perverts away. How did you know?"

"I am more perceptive to some of these things," Emily answered. "That, and a small seam appeared when you were staring at Yoda."

"I would want to use a bathroom or something," the girl said. "I don't exactly have room for clothes under the suit."

"Point taken," Jeremy said. "There is a bathroom down the hall, clearly labeled."

"Thanks," the girl said, heading into the house and to the bathroom.

"Good thing that suit doesn't have gloves," Emily said, sitting down in a chair. "That ring would prevent removal otherwise."

"But it does cover her face," Rose said, looking at the bathroom.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" came a scream from the bathroom, followed by a loud smashing sound. Sonic looked out the window to see Ryoga flying off into the distance.

"So that is where I left my hyperspace portal," Rose said, putting her finger on her chin. "Guess Ryoga found the other end in the middle of the forest."

"You ready out there?" the girl called from the bathroom.

"Yep," Rose called back. "Come on out."

The bathroom door slowly opened and a stunning girl walked out. A moment later Rose smashed Sonic into the floor with her mallet.

"What was that for?" Sonic asked.

"I noticed your heart skip a beat when you laid eyes on her," Rose responded angrily.

"And you didn't?" the girl said, looking at Rose. "My heart was the only one in the room that didn't skip a beat."

"You are more perceptive then you let on," Jeremy said, eying the girl with interest. Sexual or otherwise, nobody but Jeremy could tell.

"I think the Tendos will have a place for you to sleep for a few days," Rose said as she forced herself not to blush. "Lets go over there now."

"Just let me get my suit back on," the girl said, gesturing towards the bathroom with her right hand. A small ball of light floated out of the ring on her finger, floated into the bathroom, and everyone knew that it came in contact with the suit, blowing it up. The girl was the most shocked at this, just before doing her best to remove the ring once again.

Two hours later Rose was with the girl at the Tendo Residence. The others had opted to stay behind and work on the repairs to the roof, after they realized Kia had fainted and revived her. The first person to see the girl at the Tendo Residence was Nabiki, who immediately went to get her camera while Akane chased Ranma who was chasing Happosai into the general area. Happosai had a heart attack mid-run and flew into the wall while Ranma's heart skipped a beat before he ran into Happosai and Akane just stopped and stared, drooling slightly from her wide-open mouth. Kasumi then came over, and actually spoke.

"My, don't you look cute," Kasumi said, smiling.

"This girl here," Rose started, looked at the girl. "What is your name, anyway?"

"Wendy Wharfton," the girl responded. "Just call me Wendy."

"Ok," Rose said. "Wendy's house was destroyed in a recent, unexplained explosion, and she can't find her family. Can she stay here for a couple of days?"

"Sure," Kasumi said. "Let me introduce you to father." With that Kasumi led Wendy to where Soun and Genma were playing. No sooner had Wendy entered the room then Soun and Genma stopped playing, forgot all about the game, and almost forgot to breath. Genma didn't even make an attempt to cheat while Soun wasn't looking, not that Genma could tell Soun wasn't looking as neither was he.

"Hello there," Wendy said, giggling. "I thank you for not attacking me in a fit of lust."

"Father, this is Wendy Wharfton," Kasumi said. "Her house was destroyed this morning and she needs a place to stay until her family can be found."

"Sure," Soun finally said. "A martial artist must help those in need, after all."

"Martial artist?" Wendy said, smiling. "Does that mean I could get some sparring in?"

"Sure," Ranma said, coming around the corner. This time he kept his composure, however. "I could use some practice." As he struggled to keep himself composed, he thought to himself. "Fighting a distraction like that should let me fight with ANY distraction."

"You should really not mumble what you are thinking," Wendy said, going to playfully punch Ranma. She tripped and fell over a chair, however, and landed baring her bottom to the pond outside, followed by two thuds.

"Oh my," Kasumi said, looking out at the pond. "Should Sasuke be bleeding like that?" Sure enough, Sasuke was out on his head by the pond in the middle of a massive nosebleed. Interestingly enough, nobody seemed to care that Kuno was in the same state a few feet away. Had anyone been watching, they would have seen Kodachi fall on the other side of the wall, highly embarrassed about what she had seen for reasons she could not comprehend. Shampoo and Ukyo joined her a moment later, none of them even caring who they were next to at that point, their faces all glowing red.

Happosai, for his part, had another heart attack and was currently gripping a tree as if he needed it to stay alive. Kalshion and Katarina were standing at the entrance to the Tendo residence, feeling weird things going on inside, yet unsure if they should investigate further. On one hand, weird things always happened there. On the other, they usually couldn't sense them. That, and they had just gotten back from the trip they had hoped would keep them away from the potentially fatal weird goings on, and were still a little worried.

"Would you two just come in already," Wendy yelled. Kalshion and Katarina looked at each other, shrugged, and went inside. Once they laid eyes on Wendy their hearts skipped a beat and an odd wind passed through the room, before they shrugged it off and turned to Rose.

"What did you do to the shrine?" Katarina asked. "All that is left is the sacred tree."

"Sorry about that," Rose said, blushing. "I didn't expect that explosion."

"What the hell is going on over here?" Tommy asked as he walked into the room. "And Wendy, what are you doing here with these losers?"

"YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Wendy said, shocked.

"YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS?" everyone else chimed in.

"Like I wouldn't recognize the founder of the Sentinels," Tommy said.

"The sentinels?" Wendy asked, looking highly confused.

"Yea," Tommy said, pulling out a book. "Aren't you Wendy Wharfton, founder of the Sentinels, as described on page 8 of this book?" With that Tommy showed a picture of Wendy, looking like the picture had been taken two minutes earlier. "Says here you would show up today for no apparent reason, with no apparent memory of who you are."

"Very interesting," Rose said, looking at the book. "I guess that is why there seemed to be more to you then what was on the surface. Being, I guess, a spontaneous reincarnated clone with false memories would do that."

"That it would," Sonic said, looking over Rose's shoulder. "Suppose she appears in Akane's ancestry?"

"Damned book," Wendy thought to herself. "I guess I accidentally made it a little TOO accurate."

"SWEEEEEEEETO" Happosai yelled as he finally got around to glomping Wendy. Amazingly, Wendy didn't even have time to flinch before Tommy knocked Happosai into orbit around Pluto.

"NEVER GLOMP THE FOUNDER OF THE SENTINELS!" Tommy screamed at the speck that Happosai had disappeared into.

"So you are good for something after all," Rose giggled.

"YOU PERVERT!" Wendy yelled, knocking Tommy into orbit with Happosai. "That perv felt me up when knocking Happosai off me."

"What can I say," Tommy said, somehow walking back into the room again. "I am a guy, you are a beautiful chick. Never said you couldn't be felt up, I just won't let anyone glomp you like that."

"Akane," Wendy said, holding out her hand. "May I please borrow your mallet?"

"Sure thing," Akane said, putting her mallet into Wendy's hand. "Use it well."

"I intend to," Wendy said, an evil grin appearing on her face as she swung the mallet between Tommy's legs. "FORE!"

"That HAD to hurt," Sonic, Kalshion, Soun, Genma, and Ranma said after wincing when the mallet made contact.

"We normally use anvils, you know," Rose said, somehow knowing that every girl in the room knew that Tommy had just gone through some intense pain.

"Really?" Wendy said, handing Akane her mallet. "That was so much more personal, wasn't it?"

"Yep," Emily said. "That was definitely more personal. Next time, though, please use my mallet."

"Don't mind if I do," Wendy said, taking the mallet from Emily who had pulled it out to show Wendy. At that precise moment Tommy was coming in for a landing, and Wendy swung Emily's mallet. "FORE!"

Once again, Tommy was hit right between the legs, and this time went into orbit around mars, paralyzed with pain. All of the males in the room seemed to also be in severe pain from witnessing the act, and most of the females had visibly flinched.

"I think you hit him too hard," Emily said, flinching again.

"What makes you think that?" Wendy asked.

"The six inch deep imprint of his privates still on my mallet is a clue," Emily said, putting the mallet in a biohazard bag.

"Here we go," Nabiki said, looking at Tommy's book. "It says here that any man who feels up the founder of the sentinels may have their privates flattened twice in five minutes, while those that glomp her only get a good beating."

"Tommy apparently didn't study that part of the book well enough," Akane said, flinching again.

Nobody had noticed the small pink pig in the corner with a "leave me alone" sign, apparently holding its privates for dear life.

"I don't suppose you carry any weapons of your own?" Sonic asked.

"Oh, lots," Wendy replied as she started pulling out weapons. "In my shoes I hide daggers, I have a small sword hidden on my back, and I wear a whip for a belt."

"Ok already," Sonic said. "You seem to have plenty of weapons."

"I am a master of hidden weapons martial arts you know," Wendy replied.

"You should fight Mousse," Shampoo said, walking in.

"That weakling?" Wendy said, grinning. "I beat him last month. He seemed to think I was someone named Ranma. Then again, I did break his glasses on accident."

"The only thing you seem to be missing is a gun," Katarina said, looking Wendy over. "Otherwise, the weapons I have spotted seem to cover every other possibility."

"Oh," Wendy said, reaching into her breasts. "I keep my bazooka and handgun in here." With that she pulled out a small bazooka and a golden handgun, causing everyone to jump back in shock.

"You sure MM doesn't haven any other children or relatives," Sonic whispered to Jeremy.

"He created life in this particular world," Jeremy whispered back. "In that manner, everyone native to this world could be considered related to him."

"That explains a lot," Sonic mumbled, watching Wendy put her weapons back.

"I don't suppose you hide clothes as well?" Rose asked, noting that Wendy seemed to be better at hiding weapons then Mousse was.

"Of course," Wendy said, pulling a trunk of clothes from behind her ear. "What kind of martial artist would I be if I had to wear this all the time?" She then pulled a curtain out of the trunk, set it up, and stepped behind it, changing into some clothes from the trunk. When she came back out she was wearing a greenish-blue skirt, a yellow spaghetti-strap top with red trim, greenish shoes, a metallic looking armband and a bracelet on one arm, and some weird hairpiece that looked like it could double as a couple of beating sticks in a pinch.

"Are you sure this isn't really your father?" Rose whispered to Emily.

"I am positive," Emily whispered back. "That mallet was constructed so that no living being that was in any way male could wield it, and she wielded it."

"Then I am seriously freaked right now," Rose responded.

"I like to wear this outfit when I am playing video games," Wendy said, after she had walked around everyone for a moment. "Let me change into my preferred battle suit."

"Interesting ring you have there," Cologne said as she came into the room. "I sense it is more then it seems, just as I think you are much more then you seem."

"What do you mean?" Akane asked, looking at Cologne. "So far she seems to be a powerful martial artist that, for a change, isn't interested in me or Ranma."

"My history book has her name and picture listed as the founder of my tribe," Cologne said, looking at Wendy. "I thought she looked familiar earlier, but after checking my book and seeing her close up, I am sure."

"Would people stop coming in and telling me I am someone I am not?" Wendy said, flustered. In her head she was trying to remember just how many more books had her picture in them, and why the hell she had made them so accurate.

"The book also says that the founder of the tribe would re-appear with a ring stuck to her finger," Cologne said, taking Wendy's hand and looking at the ring. "It speaks of a necklace the founder carries, but does not realize will remove the ring and the dangerous effects it carries."

"A necklace?" Wendy asked, her face brightening. "Come to think of it, I have a necklace in my jewelry box that is supposed to be very powerful." With that she pulled a box out of her trunk and started going through it.

Sonic, Rose, Kalshion, and Katarina, however, all went wide-eyed when the box had been opened. None of them could believe the powerful feeling they had gotten, yet found themselves in a state of shock that prevented them from saying anything about it as Wendy continued to rummage through the box of jewelry. Finally, Wendy pulled out a necklace with what appeared to be the complete, whole, undamaged Dragon Aura on it.

Meanwhile, in the Swiss Alps

"What the..." DS said, waking up suddenly. "THE DRAGON AURA?" His eyes went so wide his face cracked, resulting in his entire body falling apart as if he had been made of glass.

After he had put himself back together, he realized he still had a shard of the aura, and thus there appeared to be two complete auras in existence now. He absent-mindedly formed question marks around himself as he pondered what this all meant, considering time warps and the like, but coming up with nothing that truly explained the second aura.

"Could that prisoner have been right?" he finally thought. "Could there be a being in this node more powerful then anything else in existence? A being that is so powerful it could possibly have created the dragon aura?"

"Not only that," a mysterious voice called from the shadows. "Part of that being has searched you out to make you an offer you cannot refuse."

"An offer I cannot refuse?" DS responded in a shaky voice as his knees refused to stay still. In his head, however, he was debating over whether to scheme his way into the better end of the bargain, or just do what the being wanted.

"You get that second dragon aura for me," the being said as it seemed to pull away from the shadows. "Then, I will show you how to go to the next level, to the world beyond the matrix." By this point it looked a lot like the Godfather, just transparent and with embroidery on his shirt reading 'The Grandfather'.

Back at the Tendo Residence

"Lets see if this can remove the ring," Wendy said, touching the necklace to the ring on her finger. As soon as the two made contact the ring started to glow fiercely, just before it blew off in two pieces. Sonic and Rose sensed that while the ring retained some of the power it had, a phantom ring seemed to be on Wendy's finger, keeping the mind block in place.

"Looks like it worked," Ranma said, kicking one of the pieces of the ring.

"Yep," Wendy said, smiling. "Want to have that sparring match now?"

"You do realize I don't like to hit girls, right?" Ranma replied.

"Well then, lets fix that," Wendy said. A moment later she had thrown Ranma into the pond. As soon as Ranma came out of the water Wendy threw a metal belt on her.

"What was that for?" Ranma yelled.

"Simple," Wendy said, bending over at the edge of the pond. "If you don't battle me, I don't give you the key to that metal belt. The belt is just barely large enough for your female waist, and will be excruciatingly painful if you are hit with hot water right now. After our battle, win or lose, I take it off for you."

"How did you know about Ranma's curse?" Cologne asked Wendy. "I don't recall you being in that particular loop."

"Saw him change when that old lady splashed him with water last week," Wendy responded. "At first I didn't believe it, then I did some research. Did you know that the Jusenkyo Guides keep a pictorial record of every change resulting from the springs, and have a website?"

"Can we get fighting already?" Ranma asked, trying to drag Wendy off to the dojo.

"On one condition," Wendy said, grinning. "You have to try your best to beat me. Unless you do, I don't take off the belt."

Three hours later, at the remains of the dojo

"That was one hell of a battle," Kia said, looking at the charred ground where the dojo had been. "I should know, being from hell and all."

"And you only saw the last twenty minutes of it," Nabiki said, trying to figure out how they would pay to re-build the dojo.

"Amazing how Ranma lost, but didn't seem to be concerned about the loss itself," Ukyo said, closing up her stand as the last of the spectators that had gathered left.

"They both put up a great fight," Cologne said as she and Shampoo closed the Cat Cafe stand they had set up. "I personally won't be fighting those two if they ever decide to team up against me."

"What happened here?" Sonic asked as he, Rose, Kalshion, and Katarina returned. They had left to talk just as the battle was starting, and apparently were a tad dense about it as they were the only ones that apparently hadn't noticed the intensity of the battle.

"Or we were in North Africa," Sonic said into the camera.

"So was I," a tanned man said before heading off on a camel.

"Man she was good," Ranma said, coming back from dousing himself with hot water. "I don't think I have ever gotten a workout that intense before."

"Shouldn't you be training to improve yourself to a point where you can beat her and reclaim your honor or something?" Katarina asked.

"With the workout I just got?" Ranma said, shocked. "Why bother? I think I just got three months of training in a few hours."

"So where is Wendy anyway?" Rose asked, looking around. "I don't see her anywhere."

"Wendy is asleep in my room," Akane said, coming outside. "After that battle, I am not surprised."

"Why did we have to miss what sounds like the most intense battle this town has ever seen?" Sonic asked, kicking a can.

"If you want to see how intensely she battles, go fight her yourself," Rose said.

"Only if you join me," Sonic said, grinning. "Or are you going to chicken out?"

"That's it," Rose said, grabbing Sonic. "Tomorrow we challenge her to a match."

"Then lets go get some sleep," Sonic said, reversing Rose's grip and dragging her off. "We will need our energy if the lack of a dojo is any indication." With that they vanished down the street, just as a large truck pulled up.

"Someone must like this place," the driver said, backing up to where the Dojo had stood. "They ordered a titanium reinforced frame wooden Dojo to replace the old one."

That night

Sonic and Rose were in bed, both tossing and turning. Rose kept on mumbling something about keys and telling Sonic to chase them, while Sonic kept on mumbling something about getting away from MM. Kia, however, had gone out getting drunk after the battle and was currently on the roof in a staring contest with an owl.

Across town, Wendy was having trouble keeping her laughter down as she watched Kia having a staring contest with a plaster model of an owl, while hoping that Sonic and Rose didn't take their sweet time coming to challenge her. She was also trying to clean her many weapons, checking them for issues that might arise in the coming battle.

Off in space, Tommy had been picked up by aliens that were either trying to heal him or perform gruesome, painful tests on him. Tommy didn't care, as anything was better then the pain he had been feeling. Three hours later the aliens fired him into orbit around Venus, having had too much of his attitude for several lifetimes.

Five AM the next morning

"About time you showed up," Wendy said, standing at the entrance to the Tendo Residence. "Emily and Jeremy dragged Kia by earlier with some video equipment, Ukyo and Shampoo already dragged carts down, and they actually got Happosai and Cologne to team up to build viewing stands for the live crowd."

"And I thought gossip spread fast," Katarina said, looking at the slightly shocked Sonic and Rose. "This spread faster then wildfire to have all of this set up already."

"How did you find out anyway?" Kalshion asked. "They didn't even officially challenge you."

"Nabiki is making a ton of money off of the televising and ticket sales, even though she won't be there," Wendy said. "She apparently arranged most of the stuff."

"Figures," Sonic and Rose sighed in unison.

"Lets get going then," Wendy said. "I get the feeling this is going to be a long battle."

Six am, in a large open field just outside of town

"Half an hour into the battle," Happosai said, trying to stay awake. "They haven't done anything but stare at each other."

"The lightshow is interesting though," Cologne said, looking at the two clouds firing lightning bolts at each other. One cloud was over Wendy, the other over Sonic and Rose, both pitch black.

"WOULD YOU THREE FIGHT ALREADY?" Happosai yelled, obviously frustrated. Before he could blink he was knocked back into his seat, tied up with ribbons and handcuffs. At the same time, the three fighters seemed to vanish, with nothing but large gusts of air and bright flashes indicating that there was a battle going on.

Over the next eight hours the battle raged, slowly destroying everything that wasn't nailed, welded, glued, tied, and bonded at a molecular level in the area. Not to mention many things that were. A collection of broken and discarded weapons slowly built up along the battlefield, and a pit slowly formed from all the intense movement.

Finally, the three fighters stood in a triangle, Sonic and Rose facing Wendy, who was facing between Sonic and Rose. All three were covered in sweat and had tattered clothing, but they were also all smiling. Sonic and Rose, however, glanced at each other, nodded, and pulled out their keys from their shirts.

"Now you lose," Sonic said, transforming his key as Rose did the same. They both launched an attack at the same time, intending to either knock out or seriously injure Wendy so that the battle would end. They didn't notice Wendy smile slightly just before they swung down. Time seemed to stop for a moment just before impact would have been made, but only for Wendy. Or at least, that is what it seemed. A split second later a single necklace with two keys on it fell over Wendy's head, to rest around her neck, as Sonic and Rose fell face first into the ground behind Wendy.

"What the hell just happened?" Rose asked, turning to Sonic.

"How the hell should I know?" Sonic responded, looking back at Rose. "You didn't happen to see where I dropped my key, did you?"

"No, did you see where I dropped mine?" Rose shot back.

"You mean these?" Wendy said, turning around. Sonic and Rose looked up at Wendy, focusing their attention just above her breasts where the two keys hung from their chain. A moment later their eyes rolled into the back of their heads and they fell over, unconscious. A referee, that nobody had noticed around at the start of the fight, declared Wendy the winner and sent everyone home. Sonic and Rose were carried home by Emily, Jeremy, Kia, and Wendy, just before Wendy went out to party.

The next morning found Wendy with a horrible hangover. Later Kibou and Hikari admitted to one another that they had a great time, finding it somewhat pleasurable to be worn by someone else for a change, even if it was only for a prank. They did, however, wish that Wendy hadn't had enough alcohol to kill an elephant, as her third drink had gone to her head. At one point they thought she had actually tried to summon, of all things, a dragon from the pits of hell, despite the fact that the world they were in had no hell.

Meanwhile, across town a green dragon was trying to figure out why it couldn't assume human form. More confusing was the fact that nobody in town seemed concerned about a large green dragon walking around town, or at least not while he wasn't doing anything threatening. It did know that there seemed to be a high concentration of the dragon aura shards across town, and it was heading for it. Apparently the spell it had been casting to go to the dragon aura had finally worked, even though the spell said an orange portal would open and it had been pulled through a black and white portal.

It didn't take long for the dragon to run into Happosai, as Happosai has a habit of investigating odd things to see if he can benefit from them. The dragon sensed highly conflicting feelings coming from Happosai, an odd mixture of perversity, overall corruption, a protective nature, and caring for his family and friends with no apparent organization.

"You are a male dragon, aren't you," Happosai said, looking the dragon over.

"Yes, I am," the dragon responded, raising an eyebrow.

"And you are trapped in your dragon form for reasons you cannot understand," Happosai continued, still looking the dragon over.

"You are highly perceptive," the dragon admitted. "You hide what you have decided is a sign of weakness, the caring for and protecting of others, underneath a corrupt exterior, made easier by the perversity you were apparently born with."

"I am not the only perceptive one," Happosai shot back. "And please don't go spreading that around, it is bad for my reputation."

"Don't suppose you would return those garments you stole just before coming here," the dragon asked.

"Not a chance, bub," Happosai said, lighting his pipe.

"In that case," the dragon said, grinning. A moment later Happosai was squashed under the dragon's tail, and the dragon moved on. A block down the street the dragon stopped and scraped Happosai off of his tail, using a three-story building to facilitate it without using his hands to actually touch Happosai.

Back with Sonic and Rose

"Hey Sonic," Rose called, climbing out of bed. "What happened?"

"I think we went into shock," Sonic replied. "That dragon approaching must have knocked us out of it."

Sonic and Rose looked at each other from their doorways for a moment, not saying anything. Then their eyes went wide with surprise.

"THAT DRAGON APPROACHING!?!?!?!?" they yelled, running for the front door. A few seconds later they dashed back into their rooms, put some clothes on, and then dashed back out again. A few minutes later they ran into the green dragon. Quite literally, actually, as for some reason they didn't see it over the building when they were running around a corner.

"Sonic? Rose?" the dragon said, looking at the two as they picked themselves up off the ground. "Don't suppose you can help me? I can't seem to change into a human form."

"You haven't adjusted to this world's energy fields," Rose said, brushing herself off. "See if you can concentrate enough to attune your mind to the energy of this system's central star, then try and transform."

"Never had to do this before," the dragon said, closing its eyes. A moment later it glowed slightly, then transformed into a human form.

"EEEK," Rose yelled, covering her eyes and turning around. "NEXT TIME DON'T FORGET THE CLOTHES!"

"Sorry about that," the dragon said, concentrating further and materializing clothing. "How goes the shard collecting?"

"Why do you have to ask?" Sonic asked, looking at the dragon with curiosity.

"My ability to sense the pieces of the aura is greatly diminished right now due to being in a strange world without the aura aiding me," the dragon responded. "Now that I am within twenty or so feet of them, I can't even tell exactly where they are anymore."

"We currently have 13 shards," Rose said, summoning the shards to her hand. "It appears to be just over half of the entire aura."

"Matters have been helped and hurt by certain forces present in this world," Sonic continued, eyeing Rose in a 'the forces include you' manner.

"Not to mention recent events complicating the matter further," Rose interrupted, giving Sonic a 'shut up or I will shut you up' look.

"Not that I am not interested in what is going on," the dragon said, watching Sonic and Rose give each other varied glares. "But where are Kibou and Hikari?"

"Hey you guys," Wendy called as she came around the corner. "Any of you see that dragon that was wandering through this area earlier?"

"That would be me," the dragon said, turning to look at Wendy. No sooner then it had, however, then its jaw dropped like a ton of bricks, staring at the two keys hanging from a chain around Wendy's neck.

"That would be what happened to Kibou and Hikari," Rose said. "That bitch somehow took them."

Rose got a few odd looks for her language, and the dragon decided that it would be best not to ask what the circumstances were at this point. "What other events are complicating matters at this point?"

"One of her necklaces, for one," Sonic said, pointing to Wendy. "Wendy, can you show this gentleman the necklace you showed us the other day?"

"Sure," Wendy said, pulling out her jewelry box. She opened it up, and the dragon went wide-eyed. A moment later Wendy lifted the necklace out of the box to reveal the second aura.

"Can I see that?" the dragon asked, stepping closer to Wendy.

"Sure," Wendy said, handing the necklace to the dragon. Soon he was examining it, looking for any inconsistency that would show it to just be a VERY good imitation. He could not, however, find any indication of that, even though he knew Rose had thirteen shards of the original aura with her.

"And I thought I had seen everything possible in the Matrix," the dragon finally said, relinquishing the necklace. Even though it appeared to be the aura, he knew that he could not very well steal it.

"By the way," Wendy said, pointing behind Sonic and Rose. "You might want to duck."

"What?" Sonic and Rose asked, turning around. A moment later they were hit in the face by a dark energy boomerang. This, unfortunately, kept them from stopping the dark form that sped past them at that point and grabbed the necklace from Wendy. Wendy, for her part, didn't seem to be bothered by this, but Sonic and Rose decided to give chase.

"Doesn't that look like DS?" Rose asked as they chased the dark figure.

"Could be," Sonic said as they chased the figure. "But then again, in this world, you never know."

"True," Rose replied.

Meanwhile, Wendy took the dragon three blocks to the east, where she hid behind a mailbox. A few minutes later the dark figure came running down the street, right past the mailbox where Wendy tripped it. The dark figure went sprawling into a dark entryway while the necklace flew into the air, where Wendy jumped up and grabbed it. Sonic and Rose, on the other hand, had been so shocked when Wendy tripped the dark figure that they ran into the mailbox.

"Idiot," Wendy said as she landed. "Did he really think he could get away with that?"

"You knew him?" Sonic asked, taking a couple of asprin.

"Yep," Wendy said, turning to the dark entryway where a sharp looking man in a suit was walking out. The man was almost transparent looking, but it was hard to tell with the darkness behind him.

"I believe that necklace is mine," the man said, glaring at Wendy.

"Not today brother dear," Wendy said, putting the necklace on. "From now on, I think I will wear it."

"I will have that necklace," the man responded. "You have won this battle, but the war is far from over." With that he walked back into the shadows, leaving a business card where he had been standing.

"When did he drop the business card?" Rose asked picking it up. "And why the hell does it say The Grandfather?"

"Trust me," Wendy said, walking off. "You don't want to know."

"Rude, isn't she?" Sonic said, shaking his head. He then sighed, and turned to the dragon. "Did you want to meet Kalshion and Katarina? They might have a place for you to stay."

"Thanks," the dragon said, walking off with Sonic and Rose. "I wanted to meet them anyway."

That night

"Isn't this the only bowling alley in town?" Rose asked as Sonic pushed her in.

"Yes, and one of the few places you can throw heavy objects in any way without being thought of as insane," Sonic said. "I figure you can use that to relieve some stress."

"Good idea," Rose said as Sonic paid for a lane for the night. "Lets get started."

"Hi guys," Wendy said as she entered her name into the computerized megascore system. "Didn't expect to see you here, let alone in the next lane."

"Wendy decided to take me on in a challenge I made earlier," Kia said. "I said she couldn't beat me in any competition, as I have an automatic pact with the devil to win."

"Shall we extend that competition?" Rose asked, looking at Wendy with fire in her eyes.

"Sure," Wendy said. "Lets turn on the cross-lane scoring system." With that she pressed a button on the side of the station she was standing at, and a new, larger score screen dropped down between the lanes. Wendy's name was already on it, and she quickly entered in Kia, Sonic, and Rose. The system then randomized their order, putting Rose just before Wendy, followed by Sonic and Kia.

Soon the bowling had started, with Rose and Wendy getting strikes every frame. Soon Sonic and Kia were so far behind they decided it wasn't worth it, and went to the arcade. Meanwhile, Rose and Wendy continued to get strike after strike, the scoring system seeing a strike in the last frame as a reason to add another frame. The longer they bowled, the angrier Rose seemed to get, and the more of a spectacle the competition became. Sonic and Kia finally returned after Rose and Wendy had bowled three hundred thirty two frames, noting that the automatic scoring system was going to skip the last two frames bowled as soon as either of them missed so much as one pin on the first ball of a given frame.

"You do realize that ONE PIN left standing shall constitute the end of the game, tie or not?" Kia said as Rose prepared to bowl.

"So?" Rose said, launching the ball like a rocket down the alley. The ball itself never touched the alley, but seemed to explode as it hit the pins. Unfortunately, when the smoke cleared and the dust settled the number six pin was still standing. Rose's jaw dropped and broke the floor as Wendy smiled and calmly sent her ball down the alley, getting a strike. The automatic scoring system beeped, alerting everyone that Wendy had won with 9900 points to Rose's 9899 points.

"Game over Rose," Kia said, walking away. "Not even demonic help could keep her from winning."

"Lets go Rose," Sonic said, dragging Rose away. When they got back to the house they found Emily and Jeremy watching TV, showing Wendy out getting drunk over her victory.

"How could she have won?" Rose finally said. "There is NOBODY that good!"

"You seemed to be," Sonic said. "And nobody was cheating. Isn't that what counts?"

"What do you mean nobody was cheating?" Rose said, grabbing Sonic. Sonic was expecting Rose to accuse Wendy of cheating, and as such braced himself for the expected outburst. "Do you want to know who was cheating?" Rose asked.

"Sure," Sonic said, preparing for the worst bout of accusations on the planet.

"Well, I WAS CHEATING," Rose yelled. "I CHEATED THAT ENTIRE GAME, and she STILL BEAT ME!"

"Excuse me for a second," Sonic said, taking Rose's hand off of his shirt. He then walked over to the calendar and wrote 'Rose cheated for personal gain and admitted it' in the square for that day. He then went back over to Rose, and put her hand back on his shirt. "Ok, continue."

"I lost the mood," Rose said, letting go of Sonic's shirt again and collapsing on the couch.

"Glad I'm not married," Emily said, changing the channel.

"At least I only have family ties to you," Jeremy said, pulling out his own remote and changing the channel on Emily. Emily changed the channel back, Jeremy changed it again, so on and so forth.

"They like to fight, don't they?" Kia said, watching Emily and Jeremy from the door.

"Yep," Rose said, watching Emily spring a lightsabre from her remote's IR transmitter. Jeremy followed suit, and the battle for the channel changed into a physical fight. Rose then pulled out her own remote and changed back to the news station that had been on when they walked in.

The next morning

"They could have cleaned the room up," Sonic said, kicking the remains of the couch. "Or at least stopped fighting after they destroyed the TV."

"Want to go out for breakfast?" Rose asked, yawning. "The only things in the fridge are blood and some food Akane made for us when we were unconscious."

"Why not go to that breakfast party Wendy decided to throw," Emily said, climbing out of the rubble that was the living room. She apparently had fallen asleep under it.

"Why is she throwing it?" Rose asked, her expression going from 'nice and happy' to 'down right angry' in seconds.

"She arranged it two days ago," Jeremy said, also climbing out of rubble. "She was given a years supply of doughnuts, muffins, and coffee and decided to throw a party with it all."

"Ok," Rose said, her expression returning to 'nice and happy'. After all, who could complain about someone sharing a gift like that?

Ten minutes later Sonic and Rose arrived at the breakfast party, and immediately started chowing down. It didn't take them long to have their fill, though, so they went looking for Wendy to thank her. They found her looking like road kill due to her hangover, downing cup after cup of coffee.

"Thank you for breakfast," Rose said, smiling. She was feeling much better now that she had eaten.

"You are welcome," Wendy said, shaking off some of the effects of the hangover and standing up.

"SWEEETO!" Happosai yelled. Instead of landing on a girl, however, he flew right between Rose and Wendy.

"He apparently loses some of his aim when he is hung over," Sonic said, watching Happosai.

"I missed," Happosai said, pulling himself off of the ground. He then looked at Rose and Wendy, unable to decide whom to glomp. This was obvious to anyone watching him as he kept looking back and forth between the two. For a change, however, he was trying to be rational about it all. "If I glomp Rose then Sonic will beat me up as well," Happosai thought to himself. "If I glomp Wendy then I think I might be scot free. She is under the effects of a hangover, after all." So, with that determination, he glomped Wendy. Wendy, however, again found that Happosai was off of her before she could react. This time, however, it was Rose that sent Happosai flying. Rose was also quite pissed if her expression meant anything, and immediately stormed off mumbling something about Romulan Ale.

"Now what," Sonic asked Rose. "She didn't do anything."

"Don't worry about it," Rose said, pulling some Romulan Ale out of the secret compartment of a tree nearby. She wasted no time in drinking half a bottle as she headed off again.

"Women," Sonic said, concentrating on reading Rose's thoughts. A moment later he had a very disturbed look on his face, and decided that Rose definitely needed some cooling off time. How else could he explain her being jealous that Happosai chose to glomp Wendy?

Rose ended up drinking two hundred forty eight bottles of Romulan Ale throughout the next three hours, making Wendy jealous that Rose was consuming more alcohol then she was. Thus, Wendy starting drinking tons of alcohol as well, until it got to the point where Rose and Wendy were downing bottles of pure alcohol while staring each other down.

"I've never seen Rose down so much alcohol," Sonic said, watching Rose and Wendy go at it. "Well, not at least since our wedding."

"She drank that much at her wedding?" Akane said, shocked, as she helped move a crate of bottles of pure alcohol into the room.

"Yea, her home dimension had a tradition of having a drinking contest," Sonic said. "It happened to be with the groom, so she wasn't the only one drunk."

"Where are they putting it all?" Ryoga asked, amazed at how much the two were actually consuming.

"That is a mystery that may never be solved," Ukyo said, closing up her shop. She had run out of ingredients and places to put the money she had made, so it was time to head to the bank and the market.

"I would have to agree," Cologne said, doing the same thing with the Cat Cafe cart she had set up.

Sonic grinned, thinking back to his wedding day. "Having consumed almost as much as they have, I would know. But I have more fun watching people try and figure it out." Then again, Sonic thought, I had to stop drinking because I ran out of room for the alcohol. They should hit that limit any time now.

Twenty six hours later

"I can't drink any more," Rose and Wendy said at the same time, just before collapsing into a very deep, alcohol-induced sleep.

"I give," Sonic said, getting up out of his chair. "I don't know where they put all of that alcohol."

"Amazingly enough," Nabiki said, returning from talking with one of the cameramen for the local news. "It seems that there was enough money in the commercials for this thing to pay for all of the alcohol."

"That is good," Happosai said, looking slightly green. "I still don't know how they standed that, though. Not even I could drink half of what they did."

"For once," Sonic said, picking Rose up off the floor. "I think I agree with you."

"Just for the record," a judge said, making tally notes. "Wendy drank one third of a bottle of pure alcohol more then Rose did, although Rose drank more volume overall due to dilution."

"WHAT!" Rose yelled, amazingly sober all of a sudden. "I LOST!"

"Don't you have enough alcohol in your system to kill an army of elephants?" Sasuke said, looking at Rose with amazement.

"Oh ye.." Rose said, collapsing again.

Sonic proceeded to carry Rose home, someone else carried Wendy to the Tendo residence, and everything was calm. Well, until Rose and Wendy woke up with hangovers the next morning. Needless to say, life was a living hell for anyone who crossed either of them until that afternoon.

"Think we will see Wendy today?" Sonic asked Rose once she had gotten over her hangover.

"Maybe," Rose said, reading the comics. "Then again, I don't know if she ever had a hangover that bad. She might take longer to shake it off."

"Or she might have taken all morning to build and open a new restaurant," Kia said as she cooked some blood-related dish.

"WHAT!?!" Sonic and Rose said, jumping out of their chairs. "She opened a restaurant today?"

"Yea," Kia said, stirring her dish. "It was all over the news this morning. She apparently all but killed anyone who slacked off when helping her, saying that if she could do it with a hangover then they had no excuse."

"Amazing," Jeremy said, walking into the room. "A girl that can function with a hangover. Who would've thought it was possible?"

Needless to say, Jeremy couldn't complain about the mallet that he was hit with a second later, as his comment had essentially been asking for it.

"Should we go see how she is doing then?" Emily asked, putting her mallet away.

"Sure," Rose said, putting hers away as well. No, I am not telling you who hit Jeremy, but I will tell you that all five decided to go check out Wendy's, where we will now join them ten minutes later.

"Not a bad place," Rose said as they waited in line. "Not sure how she got so many customers in such a short period, or how she is serving them all with no help though."

"Come back after the rush and I will give you a tour," Wendy said, sipping a soda while standing in line behind Rose.

"Ok, how did you do it?" Rose said, noting that Wendy was still behind the counter. "There aren't a lot of ways to pull that kind of trick."

"Who are you talking to?" Sonic asked Rose. "There is nobody there."

"What?" Rose said, turning back to where Wendy had been standing, finding nobody behind her. Her footprints from the damp ground outside hadn't even been smudged. "How did she do that?"

"May I take your order?" Wendy said as the group approached the counter. "Everything is half off today."

"In that case," Sonic said, pulling out a wad of cash. "Give me two of everything."

"Will that be all?" Wendy asked, entering the order.

"That is for me, find out what they want too," Sonic said, jerking his thumb at his four companions.

"Hungry, aren't we," Wendy said, moving on to Kia. "I suppose you want to order from the Succubus menu."

"Yes please," Kia said, accepting a menu from Wendy. While Kia was looking over the menu, Rose decided to place her order.

"Give me the Jumbo Chili please," Rose said, reading the menu board. "Make sure I have plenty of crackers, and throw in an Ultimate Biggie Diet Soda."

"Diet?" Sonic said, raising an eyebrow.

"I have to watch my figure," Rose said, sticking her tongue out.

"Give me the Kuno Bloodbath Surprise," Kia finally said, handing Wendy her menu.

"Talk about customer-pleasing menus," Emily said, shocked.

"What did you expect?" Wendy asked. "Kia is the only succubus I know of on the planet, thus the Succubus menu caters to her tastes."

"She has a point," Jeremy said. "By the way, give me the holy soup with the holy water soda."

"I'll take the Devil's food cake with the chocolate syrup for a drink," Emily said, grinning.

"Thank you," Wendy said, taking Sonic's wad of cash and handing him his change. "Your order is ready to be picked up on those trays down at the end of the counter."

"Talk about fast," Sonic said, sliding his ten-foot square tray onto a cart. "I didn't even see her prepare the food."

Twenty minutes later the group had finished their meals, gone back for Frosties, and finished those as well. Amazingly enough, Kia dodged all of the holy liquid attacks from Jeremy, and Wendy was honoring her seemingly imagined offer for a tour of the back of the restaurant.

"First things first," Rose said, looking at Wendy. "How is it I was the only one who could see you in line earlier?"

"Mental projection," Wendy said. "Next question?"

"Yea, I want to see MM's menu, I know you have one," grinned Sonic.

"He doesn't have a menu, per say," Wendy said, walking over to the register. "I just hit the MM button, and it registers five thousand of each item on the menu and charges it to his account. Any other questions?"

"Yes," Jeremy said, looking around the small area that seemed to be the backroom. "Where do you prepare the food?"

"What do you mean?" Wendy said, eyeing Jeremy. "I don't prepare any food."

"Then where do the meals come from?" Emily asked, eyeing Wendy.

"Replicators," Wendy said, pushing a button on the register and causing a burger to appear on the counter.

"That is oddly efficient," Rose said, eating the burger. "Why not just have a credit card payment system where people enter their own orders?"

"But I do," Wendy said, grinning. "You think I stand around working all day? This whole place is covered in holoemitters. I am really at the beach getting a tan."

"That's it," Rose said, rolling up her sleeves. "Time to talk to the REAL Wendy." With that she stormed out and headed for the beach, a small mob of people following for no apparent, nor logical, reason.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Sonic mumbled to himself. He was wishing he wasn't so loyal to his wife, so that he might actually be able to consider not going with her in the first place. Half an hour later, when they actually reached the beach, Rose seemed to have calmed down slightly. That is, until she saw Wendy playing volleyball, which got her mad again for some reason.

That, or the fact that she was playing volleyball with Shampoo, Ukyo, Akane, Cologne, and Happosai.

Needless to say, Rose snapped at Wendy, probably because Wendy hadn't bothered to even attempt to ask her to join them at the beach.

"WENDY!" Rose screamed, the look on her face scaring every living being that could see it, with the sole exception of Wendy. "YOU LAZY BITCH! WHAT IS THE IDEA OF LEAVING A HOLOGRAM RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS WHILE YOU PARTY ON THE BEACH, WITHOUT INVITING ME TO BOOT, DESPITE EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE DONE TO ME?" By the time Rose was done yelling this there was a parting of the sea behind Wendy leading to the California coastline.

"Bad idea," Sonic kept on saying over and over as he slowly backed a few meters away.

"You," Wendy said, her expression growing fiercer with each word she spoke. "You think you have a right to be mad right now? I did not ask to be drawn into your matters dealing with this Aura you are looking for. When I set up my business I did it in such a way as to make a living while still having a life to live, is that a crime? And to top it off, Cologne invites me to the beach and you accuse ME of not inviting YOU, and this is all in spite of what YOU did to ME to BEGIN WITH."

By the time Wendy had finished speaking her expression was scaring all the NON-living things in the area, and had frightened off all the living things that could move aside from Sonic and Rose.

"I really did it this time," Rose was thinking to herself, looking at her beeping watch. "And what the hell does my computer mean when it says I need to be warned that she is at 1000% AP?"

"Not that I disagree with her other points," Sonic was thinking to himself. "But what did Rose do to her to begin with?"

"Ummmm, Rose," Sonic said, grabbing Rose's arm. "I think we should go before she does something we will regret later."

"Like what?" Rose said, shaking Sonic's grip off.

"Like harness the full power of that second dragon aura," Sonic said, his eyes locked on the glow coming from Wendy's necklace. She didn't even notice her and Sonic's keys returning, as if they were running from Wendy.

"Oh shit," Rose said, trying to get her legs to respond to her brain. She didn't even notice that she had soiled herself. Sonic and Rose did, however, notice that the power Wendy had pulled from the aura was approaching a level that they believed was capable of destroying them. Rose responded to this by going into shock, while Sonic realized that Rose could very well die if he didn't do something. Unfortunately, nothing was coming to him.

"Prepare to meet my wrath," Wendy said in a decidedly evil sounding voice. Without warning, she lifted her arm and unleashed a concentrated ball of all the energy she had pulled from the aura. Just as the ball was about to hit Rose she seemed to vanish, only to be replaced by Sonic. Nobody noticed that his eyes had turned into a solid mass of dark blue except for yellow pupils before the energy ball hit him, tearing apart at his very being. Moments later Wendy collapsed, apparently unable to take that much strain, Rose snapped out of her shock, realizing that she was unharmed, and Sonic fell to the ground, unconscious due to his injury and exertion.

"Wait a minute," Rose said to herself, her brain finally working again. "Did she say that I did something to her first?" A moment later she noticed Sonic's massive injuries and Wendy's unconscious state, and was hit by a guilt trip that actually registered on the Rictor scale. Unfortunately, it was mixed in with the aftershocks from Wendy's powering up and attacking, so nobody is quite sure what it registered as.

It only took her a moment to rush to Sonic's side, holding him in her arms and whimpering apologies to him. It then donned on her that while she had to care for Sonic, she was also basically responsible for the condition Wendy was in as well. After a bit of conjuring she put Sonic and Wendy on rolling stretchers and rushed back to the house with them.

Meanwhile, in the Swiss Alps again

"Damn that hurt," DS said, lying down. He looked to be in almost as bad condition as Sonic was, but for reasons he couldn't fully comprehend. "Maybe I should re-consider this whole destroy Sonic bit," DS thought. "If this really did occur from him taking that blast for Rose, then I might have to destroy myself to destroy him."

The next day

Rose had spent all night caring for Sonic, leaving Wendy to the care of Jeremy. Emily and Kia set up a fort on the front lawn to protect against people coming to see either of the injured, using large stun guns to stop those that tried to pass through the fort without permission.

"Hey!" Kia yelled. "Don't forget the pervert buster atomic powered panty gun!"

"Ahh yes," Emily said, grinning. "The power of nuclear explosive powered panties, just what we need to keep Happosai out."

At any rate, Sonic was well along on the road to recovery. Wendy, on the other hand, hadn't improved much.

"What did you expect?" Jeremy said. "I am good at fixing what Emily has done, not healing!"

And for some reason nobody can understand, Cologne and Happosai are actually concerned about Wendy's health, more so then Sonic's health. Go figure.

"So we are more perceptive then we let on," Happosai and Cologne said as they researched ways to heal Wendy.

On top of it all, Ryoga somehow made it into the house.

"Like you didn't see that coming," Ranma said, clobbering Ryoga.

"And just how did YOU get in?" Emily said, rolling up her sleeve while glaring at Ranma.

"I'll be going now," Ranma said, grabbing Ryoga and running.

Maybe someone should wake up Rose, so that she can heal Wendy.

"Not now," Rose mumbled in her sleep. "I am too tired."

Oh well, I guess being on the floor next to Sonic's bed isn't helping much either. Who bolted the only chair in the room to the floor, anyway?

"Sorry," Nadeshiko said, blushing. "I haven't figured out this restricted mode interface yet, and I think I bolted down all the furniture in town."

"No you didn't," the computer said. "You just bolted down any furniture Rose trys to bring close to Sonic's bed."

"Figures," Nadeshiko said. "Now you speak, but you ignore me when I ask for help."

"That's my job," the computer responded, showing a thumbs-up sign on the monitor.

Ten minutes later, nobody was sure what the hell was going on.

"Shouldn't he have made a comment about jumping to later in the day, when Rose woke up?" Emily asked.

"How do we know it is a he?" Kia countered.

"How do we know it wasn't just the computer?" Sonic said, eliciting several surprised double takes.

"When did you wake up?" Jeremy asked.

"Four minutes ago," Sonic said, cracking his back and neck. "Rose did a great job on me, but I am starving. What do we have to eat?"

"Just this cart full of food Akane brought over," Kia said, turning green.

"On second thought," Sonic said, turning around. "Lets get to work helping Wendy."

Sonic spent a good half hour working healing spells and the like on Wendy, finally coming up with the plan of firing them through the second dragon aura. Once he did that he got enough of a response to put Wendy on the road to recovery, although it would probably be longer then his own. Amazingly, despite the apparent seriousness of his wounds, Wendy's were ten times worse.

"Anyone home?" Cologne called through the open door. "We finally figured out how to heal Wendy."

"Cast healing spells through the second dragon aura she is wearing?" Jeremy asked, looking for places that delivered breakfast in the phonebook.

"Yes," Happosai said, looking at Jeremy. "How did you know?"

"Sonic figured that out twenty minutes ago," Jeremy said, pointing at a closet down the hall. "Now he is looking for the cordless phone. Seems it is the only phone in the house, yet we haven't seen it for days."

"Days?" Emily called from behind the TV. "Have we ever USED the phone?"

"Good point," Jeremy said, turning the page in the phonebook.

The search continued for another twenty minutes, with nobody having a clue where the phone was. Not that anyone had a clue if the phone had ever been used, or even worked.

"I FOUND ONE!" Jeremy yelled, pointing at the phone book.

"Not so loud," Rose said, opening her bedroom door. "Some of us were sleeping."

"Sorry," Jeremy said. "We just didn't want to eat Akane's cooking, and I found a place that delivers breakfast at this hour."

"Oh," Rose said, no longer sleepy. "Smelling Akane's cooking is what put me to sleep, so lets get some REAL food in here!"

"One problem with that," Emily said, climbing down from the ceiling where she had been checking the ceiling fan. "We can't find the phone."

"You mean the phone sitting next to the front door on the charging stand?" Rose said, pointing at the small table the charging stand was sitting on, the phone sitting in the proper location in the charging stand.

"Yea, that one," Emily said, grabbing the phone and tossing it to Jeremy. "Why didn't we think to look there?"

"Idiots," Rose mumbled, going to check on Wendy while food was ordered. She could sense Sonic was perfectly fine now, so her guilt was more with what happened to Wendy then with what happened to Sonic. Once in Emily's room she mentally examined Wendy, noting that she was recovering very slowly. She could detect traces of a healing spell Sonic had cast, and decided that he just wasn't as good at healing spells as she was. She did notice, however, that the only healing spells affecting Wendy also had traces of the second aura's energy in them, so she decided she must have to channel her spells through it. As such, she cast her first spell, sending it through the aura. Rose was shocked when the aura glowed red and Wendy had a heart attack.

"OH MY GOD," Rose screamed. "I KILLED WENDY!" After a moment of frantic thought she pulled out a bullhorn and screamed into it. "SONIC! HELP!"

"ROSE!" Sonic yelled as he barged into the room. After a moment of assessing the situation, he pushed Rose aside and cast another healing spell on Wendy, restarting her heart and putting her back on the road to recovery, albeit slightly slower then before.

"Sorry," Rose said, crying. "I tried to heal her, and her heart stopped."

"BAKA," Sonic yelled, dragging Rose from the room. "Leave Wendy alone to heal! Oh, and DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT. I thought you were in danger!"

This went on for most of the week, Rose making a daily attempt to heal Wendy, and Sonic coming in and reversing it so that Wendy would continue to heal. Wendy didn't actually DIE any of the following times, but she came close. Finally, come Saturday, Rose was about to cast her daily healing spell, when Sonic barged in.

"ROSE!" Sonic yelled, grabbing Rose's arm.

"LET ME HELP HER," Rose yelled, tears in her eyes.

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO," Sonic yelled, ignoring what Rose had just said. "KILL HER?" Sonic then proceeded to drag Rose from the room, stopping long enough to ask Emily to put a lock on her bedroom door that Rose didn't have the key for. By the time he let go of her arm they were at the Tendo residence. "This should be far enough to keep you out of trouble for the day," Sonic said, walking into the Tendo residence. Rose just stood outside, staring blankly ahead of her.

Three hours later Sonic stumbled out of the Tendo residence, having had a tad too much Sake with Soun and Genma after sparring with Ranma. He sobered right up when he noticed that Rose hadn't moved an inch, though.

"Rose?" Sonic asked. "Hello?" He tried snapping his fingers in front of her face a few times, kissing her on the lips, and hitting her with cold water. None of it even fazed Rose, as far as he could tell. Rose hadn't even blinked, and Sonic was getting worried. He started to concentrate as best he could, probing Rose's mind. On the surface he found nothing, just endless nothing. He didn't give up there, however, and started to search the nothing for something that mind indicate to him what was going on. Finally, he found Rose, standing there, doing nothing but staring ahead blankly, just as she was doing in real life. It was at this point he gave up on the idea of reading her mind to see what was happening, and simply carried her back home, hoping that she might be better in the morning. After all, what other choice did he have?

When Sonic arrived back at the house he noticed that the food Akane had left was still there. He grinned, grabbing a cookie and shoving it in Rose's mouth. When Rose didn't respond he tried soup, rice, hot sauce, and other things on the cart. He even tried the hot sauce himself to make sure it was Akane's cooking, and it took him ten minutes to recover from a touch on his tongue.

"What I need is some of that meatloaf," Sonic said, carrying Rose to bed. On the bed he found a package, addressed to Rose and himself. Picking up the label, he read it aloud. "Here is some of my meatloaf. Hope this batch is better then that batch you got in the RPG. - Mysterious Stranger" Sonic shrugged, put Rose in bed, and carried the package out back to a nuclear testing facility he had installed earlier that week, just in case. He used remotely controlled robotic arms to open the package and extract a single finger full of the meatloaf, which he then brought back up to Rose while wearing an environmental protection suit.

"If she survives that then let me have some," Jeremy said as Sonic carried the meatloaf past him.

"Its your funeral," Sonic said as he walked into Rose's room. A moment later he had put the meatloaf in Rose's mouth, and Rose still didn't flinch. Jeremy walked down to the rest of the meatloaf and had a bite, causing the nuclear testing facility to explode from his reaction.

"Guess it was as bad as I thought," Sonic said as Jeremy landed face-first in the street. "At least I was wrong about the funeral."

"Yea, whatever," Jeremy said, falling unconscious.

Meanwhile, back at the control panel

"Could my cooking really be THAT bad?" Nadeshiko asked herself.

"Analysis of your meatloaf shows it is 93 times worse then Akane's anger-fueled cooking," the computer beeped, showing various graphs and readings.

"In that case," Nadeshiko said, walking over to her bag. "Lets do something about that." With that she pulled out all of her cookbooks and cooking equipment and threw them away.

"Your reaction was not expected," the computer said, showing more graphs. "Shouldn't you have gotten angry with me?"

"No," Nadeshiko said. "If there is one thing I have learned since death, it is to admit defeat when it comes to things as trivial as cooking."

"How noble of you," the computer responded.

"Not really," Nadeshiko said. "I only cooked out of habit. No need to eat when you are dead and all. I don't even know if I HAVE taste buds now."

"Figures," the computer said.

"I think you got something wrong," Nadeshiko said, looking at one of the charts. "According to this, the increase from Akane's cooking to mine isn't a linear increase of 93, but an exponential."

"Ooops," the computer said. "You are right. It is that much worse."

"In that case," Nadeshiko said, going to the kitchen. "I think I will whip up another batch. This stuff might make good fuel."

"Interesting thought," the computer processed. "I wonder how much of that meatloaf would be needed to power Cursix for ten billion years?" It processed various things for a few minutes, and came up with a figure of one nanogram per ten trillion years, unable to process a smaller amount of energy. It then filed away a thousand grams of the stuff for later bundling inside Cursix, and went into standby mode. It had determined that Nadeshiko would donate a couple of pounds for later usage, but it wanted to be sure it had some original in case Nadeshiko screwed up and made edible meatloaf this time.

Back with Sonic attempting to revive Rose

"What haven't I tried?" Sonic asked himself, considering the pile of things that hadn't worked behind the house.

"You forgot the kitchen sink," Jeremy said, tossing the sink to Sonic. "I took the liberty of removing it from the kitchen for you."

"Why not," Sonic said, walking back to Rose's bedside and hitting her with the sink. As you might expect, nothing happened, so Sonic threw the sink out the window onto the pile. "Where did the phone end up?" Sonic then called out to Jeremy, who was starting to put things back where they belonged.

"You tried the phone between Kia and the bookshelf," Jeremy yelled, diving into the pile. A moment later he came up with the phone, and tossed it to Sonic.

"Thanks," Sonic yelled back, dialing the Tendo residence.

"Yea," Ranma answered on the other end.

"Ranma, I need to talk to Happosai," Sonic said. "Very urgent."

"Dunno why he needs to talk to the freak," Ranma mumbled as he grabbed Happosai, who conveniently was running by at that point. This was enough time for Akane to hit Happosai with her mallet and stomp off.

"What did you do that for?" Happosai said, rubbing his head.

"Phone," Ranma said, throwing the handset to Happosai.

"Hello?" Happosai said after catching the handset.

"I have a job for you," Sonic said. "The job is the pay."

"Is that so," Happosai said. "And what would this job be?"

"Grope Rose," Sonic responded. "I want to see if it wakes her up."

"Where is she?" Happosai said before the phone went click on the Tendo end. "And sorry for the delay, I stopped at three houses along the way."

"No problem," Sonic said, hanging up the phone. "Rose is in the bed you didn't notice when you jumped in the window."

"SWEEEETO!" Happosai yelled, glomping onto Rose. He was planning ahead, however, to help avoid injury. It might cost him a pair of panties, but he felt the potential results were worth it. When he saw Rose react to his glomp by reaching for her mallet he quickly swapped her mallet for a pair of panties he had on him, causing Rose to jump up and try and beat him off of her with the panties.

"What the?" Rose said, looking at the panties. Her mind, only partially active, figured she must either be getting dressed, doing laundry, or be a pervert. Since she was already dressed and the laundry appeared to be done her mind assumed the latter and switched into pervert mode.

This did not, however, stop her from knocking Happosai into low Neptunian orbit, just before running off into town. Sonic shrugged, figured it was good for her to be up and about, and left it at that for the time being.

Two hours later Rose snuck back into the house, stashing something in the closet. She also dragged a king size bed into her bedroom, and moved all of Sonic's possessions into the room as well. As soon as she was done Sonic's room turned into a cleaning closet and Rose's room turned into a larger bedroom. Nobody else noticed this, however, as the doors themselves didn't move, although Kia thought that it was odd that the broom vanished from the corner of the kitchen.

That night Sonic discovered that he was now sharing a room with Rose, and figured that she just got fed up with being married and sleeping in separate rooms. Kia, however, grinned all night while she slept due to the noises coming out of Sonic and Rose's room. The next morning Sonic slept till noon as Rose ran some errands, again sneaking in and stashing stuff in the closet. This pattern went on for several days, although the noises coming from Sonic and Rose's room slowly died down from night to night.

Come Thursday Rose was apparently desperate, Sonic having decided he needed some time off and showing it by going out to play cards all night. Unable to contain herself, Rose finally grabbed Kia and went at it all night with her, Kia emerging from Sonic and Rose's room in the morning with a large grin on her face. A few hours later, while Rose was out running her "errands", Sonic returned from his card game.

"Hello Kia," Sonic said, throwing a bag full of money on the table. "You look happy this morning."

"Yep," Kia said, looking at the bag. "So, how much of that did you win by cheating?"

"None of it," Sonic said, grinning. "Ryoga can't even find his way through a poker hand."

"What about the gambling king?" Kia asked, picking the bag of money up and dumping it into a cash counter on the wall.

"That sucker?" Sonic said, chuckling. "We were using a deck of cards he didn't have cards up his sleeve for, so he couldn't cheat. Turns out he was worse then Ryoga without his spare cards."

"By the way," Kia said as the cash counter started counting the cash. "Have you noticed Rose acting oddly this past week?"

"Come to think of it," Sonic said, walking over to a blank section of wall. He pushed on a couple of spots, causing a door to open revealing a security system.

"Nice system," Kia said, looking over the monitors. "How long has it been here?"

"I installed it Tuesday," Sonic said, pulling a tape out of a machine and throwing it in the VCR. He then started the tape, amazingly enough starting right where Rose grabbed Kia out of the hall. He then fast-forwarded it to that morning when Kia left the bedroom with a grin on her face, as the camera was in the hallway. Have to respect privacy and all.

"I can explain that," Kia said, afraid Sonic might be mad at her.

"No need," Sonic said, pulling the tape out. "While I have a pretty good idea what happened last night, I blame Rose for it, not you. Besides, isn't it your job anyway?"

"Well, yea," Kia said. "It is unusual to be grabbed like that though."

"Next stop," Sonic said, walking over to the bedroom. "Finding out what Rose has been stashing in the closet."

"Ooooh," Kia said, grinning. "Can I watch?"

"Sure," Sonic said, going into the bedroom and over to the closet. "I hope that I am wrong about what Happosai has been complaining about all week, but here goes." With that Sonic turned the handle on the closet door, resulting in the door blowing itself off of its hinges as the massive collection of female undergarments in the closet forced themselves out into the room.

"Anyone here?" Emily called as she slammed the front door.

"Be right out," Sonic said, wading his way through the panties. "Just have to get out of this collection Rose has accumulated this week."

"And I thought Jeremy was bad last night," Emily said, throwing Jeremy down the hall towards his room. She had apparently dragged him into the house, and he appeared to be drunk.

"What happened to him?" Sonic said, looking at Jeremy. "I thought he used up all your money in the card game."

"The money he didn't use up he spent on beer," Emily said, glaring at Jeremy.

"You were ok with losing all the money at cards," Sonic said, raising his eyebrow. "What is wrong now?"

"He didn't give me any of the beer," Emily said as Jeremy pulled himself into his room. A moment later loud snoring could be heard.

"If you will excuse me," Sonic said, grabbing a large bag from a closet. "I have to pack these panties up and drop them off at the police station."

"Sure thing," Emily said as Sonic used the force to pack all the panties into the bag. "By the way, wouldn't quantum powers have been easier?"

"Sometimes I like using the force," Sonic said. "Can come in handy when quantum fields are being screwed with."

"Ok," Emily said, going into her room. Wendy was still in her bed, and she had been sleeping on a mat on the floor. For some reason she couldn't explain she felt a need to protect Wendy like family, even though she knew Wendy couldn't possibly be family. Soon that wouldn't matter, however, as Wendy appeared to be nearing full recovery and would be leaving any day.

"Wait up," Kia called to Sonic. "I have to go fill out some forms at the police station, so I might as well go with you."

"Sure thing," Sonic said, Kia joining him as he left. As soon as they were gone Emily snuck into Sonic and Rose's room with a large toolbox, her mallet, and a bag of miscellaneous parts.

A few hours later Rose snuck into the house and went to stash her latest addition to her collection, stolen from Happosai. She didn't expect the closet to be booby-trapped, however, and walked right into the mallet that swung out when she opened the door. She ended up in the basement with a massive headache and a revulsion for some of the things she had been doing over the past few days. This, however, did not stop her from going to Emily and booting her into low earth orbit for rigging the closet with a mallet.

"Shouldn't Wendy be awake by now?" Rose said, sitting on the couch next to Sonic.

"Soon, I guess," Sonic said, noting the bump from Emily's mallet on Rose's head. "So, have fun being a pervert?"

"While I was being a pervert," Rose said. "Once I stopped the fun turned to disgust."

"All of it?" Sonic said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not ALL of it," Rose said. "Just the parts where I raided Happosai's stash and forced myself on three females." Sonic's eyebrow went several inches higher at this, and Kia's eyebrows went up in general.

"Three females?" Sonic finally spit out.

"Yea," Rose said, turning to Sonic. "Although my experience with Kia after that wasn't so bad."

"You can stop grinning now Kia," Sonic said, looking over at Kia's grin. It was literally lighting up the room better then the ceiling light.

"I would have been ready to leave two days ago if it weren't for you," Wendy said from the hallway, looking at Rose. "Why on earth did you grab ME just as I was about to reach full recovery?"

"Sonic wouldn't wake up," Rose said, blushing. "You were the only other one in the house."

"Figures," Wendy said, rolling her eyes. "Who were the other two?"

"Prostitutes I grabbed off the street," Rose responded, blushing more deeply then before.

"Oh well," Wendy shrugged, walking over to Rose. "I am off to meet Totosai, bye." With that Wendy kissed Rose on the cheek, and left. Rose was blushing so badly at this point that she began to feel faint from the lack of blood in her brain.

"That was odd," Sonic said, scratching his head. "Did she just say she was going to meet Totosai?"

"Yea," Rose said.

"That is what I thought," Sonic said, picking up a remote. A moment later he and Rose turned to each other.

"TOTOTSAI?" they both yelled, jumping up and running after Wendy. By the time they caught up with Wendy they were in the forest, just as Totosai arrived in a blinding flash of light.

"Hello there," Totosai said, looking at Wendy. "It seems you are no longer whole."

"Easily fixed now that both halves have had time to recover from the split," Wendy said. "So, what did my new sword come out looking like?"

"Can't very well call it a sword," Totosai said, throwing a pen to Wendy. "It seems to be able to take on many shapes, although it seems to like that one."

"Nice," Wendy said, looking over the pen. "Anything important I need to know?"

"I couldn't find a power source for that device that girl gave me for the handle," Totosai said. "Other then that, I think you can handle it."

"Thank you," Wendy said, pulling a bag of food out from nowhere. "Here, have some more food."

"Thank you," Totosai said, taking the food. "Good luck." With that he vanished in another blinding burst of light.

"Damned Washu," Wendy mumbled. "I thought the energy Nadeshiko took from me was going to help power the handle. Guess this aura will have to do."

"Washu?" Sonic and Rose said, just under their breath. "Nadeshiko?"

Wendy had pulled the second dragon aura from around her neck and was concentrating on the pen in her hand. After a moment the pen transformed into a sword that rivaled anything Sonic or Rose had ever seen, with a handle that looked like it belonged in a science fiction movie. Wendy popped open the bottom of the handle and put the second dragon aura into it, causing the handle to come to life with a couple of beeps. Wendy then transformed the sword back into pen form, and turned to Sonic and Rose.

"Well then," Wendy said, pulling out a bullhorn. "Might as well get this over with too." With that she took a deep breath, put the bullhorn to her mouth, aimed the bullhorn at the sky, and yelled into it. "BROTHER!"

"That hurt," Sonic said, shaking his head.

"What do you want now sis?" a male voice called out. A moment later "The Grandfather" faded into view from a nearby shadow.

"Game's over," Wendy said, grabbing her brother by the wrist. A moment later a blinding flash of light burst from the two, leaving a cloaked figure where they had been standing.

"MM?" Sonic and Rose said at the same time.

"Yea," MM said, willing a portal to his house into existence. "Gotta run." With that he walked through the portal, which closed behind him, leaving Sonic and Rose to put the pieces together.

"I don't know what to feel right now," Rose finally said, sitting down.

"I think I know what you mean," Sonic said, leaning against a tree.

"For some reason I feel guilty, angry, sickened, and embarrassed all at the same time," Rose said, hitting her head against another tree.

"Ok, so I don't know quite what you mean," Sonic said. "I feel guilty, angry, and jealous for some reason."

"About time you two figured it out," Kibou and Hikari said telepathically. "Do you know what it takes to keep a secret from you two?"

"You two knew?" Sonic said, his eyes having gone wide as he looked down. "Since when?"

"Since we had a telepathic conversation with Wendy just as we were about to hit Wendy," Kibou responded telepathically.

"YOU MEAN YOU TWO AGREED TO HELP PLAY A PRANK ON US?" Rose yelled.

"No," Hikari responded. "It was partially our idea. We were bored. Knowing who Wendy really was, we asked her to help."

"I need some sleep," Rose said, grabbing her head. "This pounding headache I suddenly have demands I rest."

"I'll join you," Sonic said, helping Rose stand up. "Maybe this will all make sense when we wake up."

Sonic

Chapter 43
Back to Cheerleading Martial Arts
Flower Fight???

"Honesty, are you two ever going to wake up?" asked Kia with her hands on her hips by Rose and Sonic's bed, "You've been asleep now for 3 days now!

Sonic rubbed his eyes and looked towards Kia. A moment later he screamed was hanging on the ceiling, "WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT?" he yelled.

Kia looked at her pink maid outfit for a moment, "Oh this? Jeremy put holy water in the washing machine while I was washing my usual outfit. Until I can get the holiness out of my old clothes, I'll where this outfit which I found in a box of costumes in the attic," she replied.

"We have an attic?" asked Sonic still hanging on the ceiling.

"Looks cute on you," said Rose sitting up with her pink hair in a mess.

"Why Thank You," said Kia with a big smile on her face before she took off.

"Sounds like you are in a better mood," said Sonic dropping to the floor, "I guess you just needed a good nap." Rose gave a small blush as she got out of bed and went to the closet.

"Good Morning all," said Sonic walking into the kitchen coming his black hair.

"Finally up aye?" said Jeremy grinning.

"Yep," said Sonic pulling over a chair, "So what's the breakfast?"

"This," said Emily placing a plate in front of Sonic. It only took Sonic a second to realize he was giving human blood covered eggs. Sonic pushed the plate aside, "I think I just lost my appetite."

"Ooops," said Emily, "That was Kia's meal. KIA BREAKFAST IS READY!"

Kia came instantly and sat down at the table and began to eat her meal.

"Morning everyone," said Rose as she came in and sat down, "Boy am I starved!"

"At least you still have your appetite," said Sonic as his face turn green, "Excuse me."

"What happen to him?" asked Rose as Emily gave her some scrambled eggs and bacon.

"I accidentally gave him Kia's plate," replied Emily.

"Ahhh, that makes sense," said Rose taking a bite out of her eggs as Sonic walked back in looking better, "Got your appetite back yet?"

"No," replied Sonic, "I had to borrow one from the medicine cabinet. Where's today's paper?"

"Here you go," said Jeremy handing Sonic the paper as Emily put a dish of scramble eggs and bacon in front of him.

"Hmmm, looks like there is a girl soccer game today at Furinkan High School," said Sonic, "Looks like Akane Tendo is going to be playing."

"Sounds interesting," said Rose taking a drink of Orange juice, "Want to go to the game?"

"Sure why not," said Sonic putting the paper down and taking a bite of the eggs, "Yummm, these are pretty good Emily."

At Seishun Academy

"Seishun's the Best, Seishun's the best, better than the rest!" cheered some cheerleaders practicing with their balms.

"Hey Mariko, are you going to cheer for Furinkan High School again?" asked a girl.

"Not this time, Kuno-sama isn't playing," replied Mariko Konjo, "But that Tendo girl is, so we best be prepared!"

"Right," said the girl handing Mariko her favorite baton, "We'll show her Seishun's Cheerleading Love!"

In The Tendo Dojo

"AIIYYYAAA!" yelled Akane smashing a brick in half.

"Working out before the match Akane?" asked Ranma walking in.

"Yep," replied Akane, "We're fighting Seishun again, and there is no way I'm going to let Mariko cheat this time!"

"Mariko??" asked Ranma, "Oh yea, from cheerleading martial arts!"

"Honestly," said Akane, "Can't you ever remember people's names?"

Later that day in the soccer field

"This will be a soccer tournament between Furikian and Seishun's girl soccer team," said the referee, "Lets have a fair game today! Begin!"

The game began with lack of events, Akane's team had the upper hand having Akane of course. The Seishun's team was having a hard time blocking, let alone getting the ball. Over in the stands, Sonic, Rose, Ranma, Kasumi, Soun, and Genma where cheering them on. Rose had got a big stack of snacks for the match which was a little unusual of her, but Sonic figured it was only natural after the stress she went through.

"Place your bets," called Nabiki going through the stands, "Last chance to place your bets."

Rose looked at Nabiki with a sigh before she pulled out some popcorn, "Oh, would you like some Kasumi?"

"Yes, Thank you Emeral," replied Kasumi taking a cup full of popcorn.

"Not very eventful," said Sonic to Ranma eating some Nacho's and cheese.

"Told you," replied Ranma chewing on some Okonomiyaki, "I only came for the free food you promised."

"Figures," said Sonic as his eye caught an old man in a black robe sitting on the upper stand, "MM?"

The old man was watching the game as he held a pen in his hand. He had some paper with him as he taped his pen as if he was thinking of what to write. Sonic tapped Rose's shoulder who looked where Sonic was pointing.

"What is HE up to now?" asked Rose telepathically.

Soon MM gave an expression as if he just had a brain storm and quickly jotted it down on his paper. A moment latter what he wrote glowed brightly before vanishing. Before Rose or Sonic had a chance to guess what just happened they heard some of the girls scream in the field.

"SWEETO!" yelled Happosai bouncing on another girl's chest.

"Where did Happosai come from?" asked Sonic.

"That old freak," said Ranma, "He hid himself in the soccer ball!"

"I bet MM did that," said Rose starting to get up only to be stopped by Sonic.

"Let me go talk to him," said Sonic, "It would be safer to keep you away from him."

Rose was tempted to smack Sonic, but she knew he was right and dismissed it with a turn of the cheek. Sonic looked back up at MM before he walked over to where he was. "What are you up to?" asked Sonic looking over MM's shoulder.

"Trying out my Pen Totosai made," said MM.

"What exactly does it do?" asked Sonic.

"It causes any curse I write down to become real," said MM writing on the paper "Sonic get splashed with Spring of Drown Girl"

"Fascinating," said Sonic-chan as she shook off the water, "Could you please change me back?"

"I'll think about it," said MM standing up and vanishing.

Sonic looked at his female self for a moment before she walked over back to Rose, "He was trying out his new Pen, makes anything he writes come true."

Rose grinned, "You were right, it was better for you to go alone."

Sonic blushed before she turned back to the game, "Only 3 to 0, Furikian aye?"

"Yep, If it wasn't for the food, I would go home," said Rose.

"AHH" yelled one of the Furikian soccer girls as they collapse on the field.

"Not her again," said Ranma looking up.

Mariko Konjo was standing in the side lines twirling her baton, "S-E-I-S-H-U-N" she cheered.

"I Knew you were going to cheat again!" yelled Akane starting to run towards Mariko.

"Cheerleading Martial Arts technique, Cutter batons!" cried Mariko throwing several batons like saws right for Akane.

"Akane, Look Out!" yelled Ranma starting to dash off only to find Emeral had stepped in front of Akane and caught all six batons.

"Looks like she beat ya to it," said Sonic grinning.

"Nice Catch!" said Mariko, "Who might you be?"

"Emeral Bellosom," replied Rose tossing the batons into Happosai’s face as he ran to glomp her, "Some cheerleaders you are!"

"What ever do you mean?" asked Mariko, "This is Cheerleading Martial Arts you girl!"

Rose expression turned a bit angry, "Cheerleading is all about cheering, NOT attacking your teams opponents!"

"Um, you sure?" asked Mariko looking at all the Furikian girls laying on the ground, KOed by the other cheerleading batons.

Rose grew rather angry at this, so angry in fact that Akane decided to take a few steps back. "I was starting to feel better," said Rose, "But you just ruined my day!"

"Would that mean you would like to challenge me?" asked Mariko.

A Light bulb suddenly popped above Rose's head, "Yes, I do challenge you! A week from today in the Furinkan Gym, you and me in Cheerleading Martial arts!"

"Two problems with that," said a Furikian boy sitting near the two, "First of all, your not a student of Furikian anymore."

"I'm not?" asked Rose giving a glare at the Principle who was sitting in a Hawaiian outfitted area, "Hey Principle! Am I a student?"

The Principle seeing Rose's glare knew he better answer correctly as his life may depend on it, "Emeral is one of me school's student-teachers ya" yelled the principle.

"Thank you," said Rose smiling, "What was the other problem?"

"Doesn't martial arts cheerleading require another sport to cheer for?" asked the boy.

"Yea so?" asked Rose.

"There is nothing scheduled for next week, so who will you be cheering?" replied the boy.

"Hmmm," thought Rose for a moment, "Ahh, I know! We can have a volleyball match between Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi against Akane, Emily and Katarina!"

"And why would we agree to this?" asked Ukyo scaring everyone.

"Because the winning team will get an all expenses paid trip to Kyoto to enjoy the coming of summer!" said Rose.

"Sounds good enough for me," said Ukyo.

"So do we have a challenge?" asked Rose eyeing Mariko.

"Yes, we do," replied Mariko, "And by the way, it looks like my school won."

Everyone looked back at the field to find the Seishun team kicking balls into the unmanned goal just as a buzzer sound. "The winner is Seishun Academy!" said the referee.

Later...

"Did you really have to challenge Mariko?" asked Sonic as the two of them walked back home.

"Yes, I did," said Rose.

"Well I guess that is ok," said Sonic, "But aren't you worried about MM showing up?"

"Well DUH I am!" yelled Rose, "In fact, I think we need to pay him a visit!"

"Now just hold on!" said Sonic as Rose grabbed him by his now long hair, activated the pendant, and stepped inside.

In the strange world MM created for their meetings, Sonic reverted back to him male form. "At least he was kind enough to change me back," said Sonic.

"What can I do for you two kiddies this time?" asked MM appearing out of nothing.

"I want you to leave this challenge I'm in alone!" yelled Rose.

"You are in no position to tell me what to do," grinned MM.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to be polite to a lady!" yelled Rose transforming Hikari to it's wand state and heading straight for MM.

MM simply sighed and pulled out his pen which transformed into it's huge sword state. The aura it gave off felt like a beast howling at it's opponent. A moment later Hikari transformed back to a key leaving Rose by herself.

"Damn You...DAMN YOU! DAMN DAMN DAMN YOU!" yelled Rose falling down and beating the floor with her fist as she started to cry, "Why can't you ever leave me alone!"

MM looked at Rose crying and believe it or not, the old coot actually felt sorry for her. He watched her for a bit as Rose continued to cry, making his heart feel heavy. Soon Sonic walked up and gave MM a wink as Rose wasn't watching. Intrigued, MM decided to play along, "Ok Rose, I just can't stand seeing you cry anymore, I'll leave your match alone," said MM.

Rose slowly stopped crying and looked up, "You mean it?" she said as her sorrow changed to delight.

"Yep, but if you don't mind, I need to borrow your husband for a moment, there is something I want him to check for me," said MM.

"Sonic?" asked Rose looking at him, "I guess it's ok." With that she left the world back to Nerima.

"So, you want to make a deal," said MM looking at Sonic.

"Yes, anything to keep Rose happy," said Sonic.

"Curse the students at Furikian during the whole week," replied MM.

"Make them temporary," said Sonic.

"Ok than, and a case of your blood wine," replied MM.

"Deal," said Sonic shaking MM's hand.

On The way back to their house

"So what did MM want from you?" asked Rose who was actually a bit cheerful.

"He had a question about DS that he knew I would prefer not to talk about," said Sonic hopping she would buy it.

"I see," said Rose, "Lets turn in early, I need to practice in the morning."

"Sounds good," said Sonic, "I have a busy day tomorrow too."

On top of a building Several blocks away in the shadows stood DS watching Sonic and Rose. He was tossing several shards from hand to hand as he eyed the two. "So they are going to have a match with that Mar..something-and-other girl from that Sessy-something Academy," thought DS. A moment later he realized he what he had called Mariko and Seishun Academy shocking him to the floor. "Damn, that trip I took from Wendy still has my head messed up," thought DS shaking his head, "At any point, this is a perfect opportunity."

DS eyed Sonic for a moment longer before he vanished. A second later Sonic turned to where DS had been, he eyed the location before he shook off the feeling and continued with Rose.

Over in Mariko's Room

"G-O-O-D-N-I-G-H-T, Good Night Kuno Honey," said Mariko kissing her banner of Kuno. With that she flipped the light switch and went to bed.

After she was out like a rock, a dark aura formed near her bed and materialized DS. He looked at Mariko for a moment with a grin before he looked up and saw Kuno's Poster. DS fell backwards almost making enough noise to wake Mariko, "What the hell is with this girl!?! And here I thought I had bad taste!" thought DS.

"Now where is her baton," thought DS as he looked around the room. After a moment of moving Kuno inspired objects with disinfecting gloves, he found her baton. After a moment of analyzing it, he flicked a shard into the center where it attached in the center of the bar.

"That should do it," said DS placing the baton down, "Now to get out of this Hentai room!"

That Morning at Seishun Academy

"Your up rather early Mariko," said one of the cheerleaders coming into the Gym.

"Yep, I'm getting ready for that match," replied Mariko tossing a 'baton cutter' knocking off all thee heads on the dummies she had laying out.

"You've gotten good," said another cheerleader, "You used to be only able to knock off one head at a time."

"It's my love for Kuno Honey!" said Mariko grasping her hands to her chest, "Oh Kuno Honey."

At Furinkan High School

"Good Morning you two," said Akane walking with Ranma into the school.

"Good Morning Akane, Ranma" said Katarina walking alone side with her brother.

"You guys here about the challenge?" asked Akane as they walked into the locker room.

"Yea," said Kalshion, "It's only on every newspaper in town."

"I guess Emeral wanted to get a big audience," said Ranma opening his locker, "What the...What is this?"

"What's what?" asked Akane looking in his locker to find some wooden shoes, "Looks like wooden shoes."

"Who put wooden shoes in my locker?" asked Ranma as Katarina and Kalshion opened their lockers revealing the same wooden shoes.

"Akane?" asked one of Akane's friends, "Do you know why everyone is finding wooden shoes in their lockers?"

"I have no idea," said Akane, "but we better put them on and get to class or we'll be late."

"I hope I don't regret this," said Ranma putting on the wooden shoes and placing his shoes into his locker.

A few minutes later Ranma and Akane were running to their classroom just as the bell rang, "Hurry Ranma, or we'll be late!" Akane opened the classroom door and ran in with Ranma, only to find themselves in the middle of an ocean with student chairs floating about. Hinako was sitting on her floating desk wondering how she was going to teach the class as the other students were walking about on top of the water with their wooden shoes.

"I guess it was a good thing we had these wooden shoes," said Akane with a shocked look on her face.

"Hey Look, a school of fish," said a Girl pointing to the shadows in the water that were swimming buy. The school swam around the class as if it was stocking down prey.

"I hope they aren't sharks," said another girl as the school came charging at her only to pop out of the water revealing Happosais.

"It's worse, it's a school of Happosais!" yelled Ranma as Happosais began to jump in and out of the water trying to glomp the girls.

"RANMA!" yelled a Happosai, "Change to a girl now!"

"Like I would listen to a stinky old man like you," yelled Ranma just as he was splashed with water changing him to a girl.

"WHY YOU!" yelled Ranma trying to punch one of the Happosais only to loose his balance and fall into the water.

"Ranma!" yelled Akane just as a Happosai tried to glomp her only to be smacked by her bag.

"Dirty pervert," said Ranma under the water trying to kick one of the Happosais.

"SWEETO!" yelled more Happosais as they gathered around Ranma. Before he knew it he was covered head to toe with Happosais and was sinking. Ranma tried to break free but wasn’t having any luck.

"LET ME GO!" Ranma-chan yelled as he suddenly fell to the ground. When he got up he found he was back in his normal class room with everyone else. The only thing odd was everything was soaking wet. "What just happened?" he asked.

"No clue," said Akane taking her wooden shoes off, "But these things are going!"

Everyone soon followed her as they threw their shoes out the window joining the shoes the other classes had just thrown out the window. After a nice pile of wooden shoes was made, a bright pink glow came from them blinding everyone for a moment. When everyone could see again, they found a pile of pink panties laying where the shoes where. It didn't take long for Happosai to pass by and jump into the pile.

"I get the feeling this is going to be a long week," said Akane looking at Hinako who still had her wooden shoes on, "WHY do you still have those on Teacher?"

"Because I didn't get glomped," pouted Hinako causing the entire class to go out like a light.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened for the rest of the morning. During lunch some girls noted Sonic was laying in a tree in his red robe getup. "What are you up to Joe?" asked one of the girls.

Sonic looked at them, "Just enjoying the nice summer day."

"Where's your girlfriend?" asked another.

"My Wife is practicing for the match this Sunday," said Sonic looking back up at the sky.

"Your WIFE?" screamed the girls.

"Yea, didn't you guys figure that out when you realized who we were?" asked Sonic a bit confused.

"Not really," said one of the girls, "Well enjoy your self."

"Don't worry, I will," said Sonic trying his best not to grin.

"We've got to tell the others," said one of the girls, "We've got a married couple here!"

"We haven't had news this exciting since we heard about Akane and Ranma's engagement!" said the other.

"Do they even realize I can still hear them?" thought Sonic looking at the clouds when he noticed an eagle come out of no where and headed towards him, "About time!"

The Eagle landed on Sonic's wrist and dropped a card in his other hand, "Lets see now," said Sonic.

Curse Grade: B-
You show allot of potential, try looking deeper into your mischief heart.
Oh, I'll have the book delivered to you first thing in the morning.

- MM

"You think he would give me a flat B instead," said Sonic looking at a watch, "Any time now the second curse should activate."

At the Lunch Line

"Give Me Curly Bread!" yelled a boy.

"I was here first you jerk," yelled a girl tackling the boy.

"Did you get what you wanted Ranma?" asked Akane as Ranma walked up with some bread.

"Yep, where did you want to eat?" asked Ranma.

"I told Ukyo we would meet on the roof today," replied Akane as the two walked to the stairs.

"Ahh, There you are," said Ukyo waving when Ranma and Akane popped up.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," said Akane sitting down next to her.

"Lets Eat!" said Ranma pulling out a piece of bread and taking a bite. It only took him half a second to realize the bread was harder than a rock but a full second to realize what it tasted like. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Ranma before he collapsed.

"What is it Ran-chan?" asked Ukyo.

"Th..Th...The Food..." choked Ranma.

"Hmmm?" asked Akane taking a bite out of his bread only to be fried to a crisp from the shock of what it tasted like.

"What's wrong with you two?" asked Ukyo taking a bite, "EEECK! Th..is....Tas.te...like....A..Akane's...Cooking!"

A moment later the entire school was field with screams and chocking sounds as everyone who bought lunch found it to be exactly like Akane's cooking, or at least thoughes who knew what her cooking tasted like.

"What's This?" asked the Principle finding all his students chocking on the store bought food, "OH MY GOD, FOOD POISIONING! Me Call Hospital!" He dashed off to the nearest phone and picked up the receiver to find it was dead. As he was putting it up he heard a tumbling sound from above. When he looked up he was just in time to find ninety-nine pineapples fall on him before they exploded.

After a moment the Principle slowly got up smothering with smoke, "99 Pineapples? Why not 100 even?" he asked. *SMASH* "Me Take it Back!" yelled the Principle with a pineapple with "100 Tons" written on it on his back.

Sonic was now on a higher tree watching the school when the explosion occurred. He smirked at the location where the smoke was coming up from, "I can see why MM enjoys this so much," he said to himself.

In the Dojo now behind Rose's house

"You built this entire dojo just to practice?" asked Emily looking around. The Dojo was the size of a basketball stadium inside but was only half the size of the Tendo Dojo on the outside.

"Well, I'm sure we can use it after the match too," said Rose in a cheerleader outfit twirling batons.

"I still can't believe you convinced dad not to interfere," said Emily.

"I guess the old coot has a heart after all," smirked Rose as she tossed the batons into the air only to have them smash into her head a second later.

Emily laughed for a moment, "Never say things like that about dad when your in his world."

Rose rubbed her head, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

"So do you have any special techniques for this battle?" asked Emily.

"Just the usual techniques," said Rose, "Although, I think I just got an idea. Where did I put that pay phone."

"You put a pay phone in the dojo?" pondered Emily.

"Yea," replied Rose finding the pay phone and pulling out the phone book, "Kia's been making allot of phone calls recently putting one hell of a fee on my bill."

"Who in the Matrix could she be calling?" asked Emily.

"Case," said Rose finding the name she was looking for. She picked up the phone and was about to dial when she placed the phone back up, "Our address is 951 Tempest Lane right?"

"Last time I checked yes," replied Emily.

"Than why didn't I notice the house that is on 954 Tempest Lane?" stormed Rose as she walked out of the dojo.

"What's up with her?" asked Emily putting a finger to her cheek.

Back at Furinkan High...

"I'm so hungry," said Ranma walking to his locker, "Could you cook me up something Uk-chan?"

"Sure Ran-chan," said Ukyo delighted to here the question, although Akane seemed a bit jealous.

The three of them grabbed their shoes from their lockers and headed off to Ukyo's shop. As they turned into the main street of town, a man carrying a crate passed them. Suddenly an updraft wind caused Akane's skirt to fly up where she quickly pushed it back down.

"Good thing I'm not wearing a skirt today," said Ukyo looking at Akane's skirt.

"That was a bit weird," said Akane, "I didn't step over any vents or anything to cause that."

The three continued to walk to Ukyo's passing more men on the way, each time an updraft caused Akane's skirt to fly up. Finally making it to Ukyo's, Ukyo let Akane change into a spare long pants uniform.

"Why does this updraft keep happing?" asked Akane as Ukyo handed Ranma his plate.

"Beats me," said Ukyo as she watched Ranma eagerly take a bite out of her Okonomiyaki only to be horrified by Ranma collapsing on the floor. "Ran-chan, RAN-chan!"

"Ranma, what is it?" asked Akane helping him back up.

"Uk-chan, is one of your ingredients expired or something? That tasted like Akane cooked it!" said Ranma.

"Wha?" said Akane looking at Ukyo who had become like a statue from shock, "Let me take a bite." A moment later Akane was again fried to a crisp from the taste of her own cooking, despite her not cooking it to begin with.

"Th..This can't be happening!" yelled Ukyo rushing over to her counter and whipping up another Okonomiyaki and taking a bite, "IT CAN'T BE!" she said collapsing on the floor.

Later on, Ranma and Akane were walking back to their house. Ranma's stomach was making its hunger known by making large growls. When they got to the front door of their house, they found Nabiki still in her school uniform handing a man in a brown suit a large bag.

"Nabiki, who was that?" asked Akane walking up to her as the man left.

"Just a man from a charity site, I decided to donate half of my money to charity," said Nabiki walking back into the house.

"Cha.." started Ranma looking at Akane.

"Charity!!!" finished Akane looking at Ranma.

At the dinner table...

"Are you feeling ok Nabiki?" asked Akane as Kasumi gave her some more rice.

"Never felt better," replied Nabiki finishing her rice.

"But to give to charity," said Ranma as Genma attempted to snatch his Pickle, "Oh you want this pops? Here you go." Ranma handed pops his pickles and continued to eat his rice. Everyone else just stared at Ranma.

"What?" asked Ranma finally getting tired of being stared at.

"Ummm, are YOU feeling ok?" asked Nabiki.

"Why do you ask?" asked Ranma confused.

"It's just you gave your pops your pickles without complaining," finished Akane.

"He's my pops, I have to take care of him in his old age," said Ranma causing everyone to slam into the table. A moment latter Genma took off and came back with a bucket of water and splashed Ranma.

"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?!" yelled Ranma-chan getting up, "And give me my pickles!"

"Thank Goodness," said Akane, "He's back to normal."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Ranma-chan just as Ryoga walked in with a bucket and towels.

"Ah, Nice to see you Ryoga," said Akane as Ryoga sat down next to Ranma.

"Just got back from a trip to the mountains," said Ryoga looking at Ranma who was giving him a funny look, "What is it Ranma?"

Ranma grabbed Ryoga's hand and gave puppy eyes to him, "Ryoga, will you go on a date with me?"

The entire room soon filled with screams as Genma rush to pour hot water on Ranma, "Would you cut that out pop!"

"You Pervert Ranma!" yelled Ryoga punching Ranma away from him.

"What? What did I do?" asked Ranma all confused.

"Excuses me," came Kuno's voice from the front door, "May I please come in?"

"Upperclassman Kuno?" asked Akane as Kasumi got up and let Kuno in.

"What do you want?" asked Ranma as Kuno walked over to Akane.

"Miss Tendo Akane," he started, "I must apologize for chasing you all the time, acting like you were my girl. I hope you will have it in your heart to forgive me."

Akane's face was frozen with two little dots for eyes, one dot for a nose, and a small line for a mouth. Kuno than walked over to Ranma, "And you Saotome Ranma, I must apologizing for trying to beat you up all the time, and for chasing your girl form too."

Ranma's face soon joined Akane's face in the frozen look while everyone else stared at Kuno, "Say Kuno Baby, what's gotten into you?" asked Nabiki.

"I think someone or something has switched on my brain," replied Kuno, "as stupid as that may sound."

"That would explain it though," said Nabiki.

Over at Tommy's House

"Good thing I skipped today," said Tommy laying on his bed, "I heard allot of strange stuff is happening again."

Soon a knock came at the door which caused Tommy to get excited. He rushed downstairs and open the door to reveal five figures dressed similar to way he was.

"Great to see you guys!" said Tommy letting them in.

"Likewise Dude," said Billy just as a loud scream could be heard followed by Happosai slamming into the room like a meteor.

"What are you doing to my house, FREAK!" yelled Tommy rushing over to punch Happosai.

"Just using it for a soft landing," said Happosai laughing and running out the door with Tommy chasing him.

"Any clue what that was?" asked Josh.

"Nope, lets chill out though, that plane ride was boring," replied Steve.

"PARTY!" yelled Billy as they started to tear up Tommy's house.

Over at Rose's house

"You sure you can't remember where she went?" asked Sonic standing behind Emily's chair.

"I'm positive," said Emily, "I have a photographic memory, not a autographic memory!"

Sonic gave a strange look, "Why do I get the feeling she knows and is not telling me."

"And where have you been?" asked Emily.

"Just relaxing at the school waiting for any trouble that could be related to the shards," said Sonic.

"Why don't I believe him," thought Emily just as Rose walked into the house.

"There you are," said Sonic running up, "Where have you been?"

"It's a secret," said Rose, "Now if you don't mind, I would like to resume practicing."

"At nine o'clock at night?" replied Sonic.

"I plan to practice till midnight," said Rose walking to the dojo.

That Morning

"What's taking so long," thought Sonic tapping his foot outside the front door, "He knows I don't want Rose to find out."

Suddenly a hot spring turtle with a book on it's shell came flying past Sonic where it looped around and stopped in front of him dropping off the book. It gave a small "Mii" before it took off again.

"Figures he would use a turtle delivery," thought Sonic sliding the book into his robe.

"What were you doing outside," asked Rose who spotted Sonic come in the front door from the bathroom door. She had just taken a bath and only had a towel on.

"Just grabbing the morning paper," said Sonic walking to the kitchen.

Rose shrugged and went into her room before she gave it some more thought, "Doesn't he usually materialize the paper in the kitchen?"

Sonic sat down at the table and took a drink of tea he made, "Lets see what the paper says," he thought materializing the paper in front of him. "Hmmm, they are reporting the strange events at Furinkan," thought Sonic.

"Anything interesting in the paper," said Rose walking past Sonic and sitting down.

Sonic quickly flipped the page of the paper hopping Rose didn't see the headline, "Nope, just boring Nerima," he replied.

Back at Furinkan High School

"On the count of three," said Ranma standing by his locker, "One, Two, Three!"

Akane and Ranma both opened their lockers at the same time. They took a peek in to find their normal pair of shoes inside. Feeling more relaxed they gave a sigh, put their shoes on, and went to class.

Meanwhile Billy and Josh with Steve, Travis, and James following them went to the admin office to register their transfer to Furinkan.

"I don't see what Tommy was so concerned about," said Billy after Josh and him gave their papers to the lady, "This place seems ok."

On The roof on the Gym, Sonic was laying on his stomach in an US Army camouflage outfit including makeup. He had a Type IV phaser with a transporter modification and a sniper sensor panel allowing him to see through the buildings.

"Ah there they are," he said as he spotted Billy, "Tommy's band friends will prove very useful in this next curse."

Sonic took aim at James's Trumpet case he was carrying and fired a phaser pulse. The pulse transported through he walls and materialized just outside James's case where it smashed into it. James looked at his case thinking he just felt something smash into it, but shrugged it off.

After the lady came back and informed them it would take a week to process their papers, they turned back to go home.

"Say guys, want to set up just outside the school and practice?" asked Bill.

"Sure," replied the rest as they went to set up.

In Ranma's class, Hinako was busy writing down some stuff on the board when Tommy's band began to play. Most of the class covered their ears in discuss and went to the window to see what was going on. After several minutes of students yelling out the window for them to shut up, Hinako jumped out and landed by the band.

"You must be delinquents," said Hinako, "Disrupting class is a bad thing!"

The Band didn't even notice Hinako as they were playing to their hearts contents which pissed Hinako off even more. After one more minute of being ignore, she pulled out a coin and began to absorb the band's Ki.

As the band collapsed from the lack of Ki in their body, Hinako noticed her body starting to shrink. Before she could do anything her body had reduced to a one year old baby needing a serious diaper change.

"What happen to the teacher?" asked several of the class mates as Ranma jumped down and picked her up.

"Akane!" yelled Ranma, "Do you know how to change diapers?"

Akane nodded as she ran to the nurse's office followed by Ranma carrying a very upset Hinako.

Later during lunch, Ranma and Akane were in their class chowing down on some lunch and talking about Miss Hinako. Since she was unable to return to her normal self, the class was left without an home room instructor for the rest of the day.

"Do you suppose they are going to bring in a substitute?" asked Akane taking a bite out of her lunch.

"Knowing The Principle, he probably will try to find a teacher who is even more strict than Ms. Hinako," replied Ranma finishing his lunch, "Great, I'm still hungry."

"Honestly," said Akane, "You have a bottomless pit for a stomach."

Suddenly several loud bangs were heard in the school. Ranma and Akane looked at the nearby wall hopping it was not who they thought it was. Soon the wall was smashed down and Shampoo with some pork buns showed up, "Ni Hao!"

"Yo Shampoo," said Ranma, "Still don't know how to use a door?"

"Door to slow," said Shampoo, "Me make delivery you ordered Ranma!"

"Delivery?" asked Akane, "He didn't order anything."

"Not True, Shampoo got call from Ranma!" said Shampoo in defense.

"And I'm telling you he didn't!" yelled Akane.

As the two started to yell at each other, a crack formed on the ceiling above Shampoo and was growing in size. Twelve Seconds later the crack burst and an "Acme" anvil fell on her head breaking into pieces and KOing her. Soon everyone was around her as Ranma picked her up trying to wake her.

"Oy, Shampoo," said Ranma as he sat her down in the chair.

"I think she's coming too," said Akane.

Shampoo moaned for a moment as she opened her eyes, "What happen to Shampoo?" she asked.

"Looks like your bust on the wall caused an anvil to fall from the ceiling," said Akane pointing to the hole in the ceiling.

"What Anvil doing up there anyway?" asked Shampoo standing up and brushing the dust of her clothing.

"This is Furinkan High School," replied Ranma.

"Aieeya, Shampoo have something very important to tell you Ranma," said Shampoo tapping her palm with her fist.

"Oh?" said Ranma blinking.

"Shampoo want to tell you that she thinks you will be much happier with Akane as your wife. So Shampoo will no longer try to make you her husband," said Shampoo pointing her index finger up.

These words was just enough to cause Akane and Ranma to fall to the floor while the rest of the boys in the room instantly rushed up to Shampoo asking her to be their girlfriend. After Ranma and Akane got up, Shampoo spoke up.

"Shampoo is now going to marry Moouse, the one man who truly loves Shampoo," finished Shampoo.

"WHAT BROUGHT THIS UP?" yelled Ranma and Akane at the same time making them look at each other briefly.

"Don't know," said Shampoo turning around, "Bye!"

"Did we miss something?" asked Akane.

"How should I know?" replied Ranma.

At the Cat Cafe...

"Grandmother, I'm home," said Shampoo walking in with a smile on her face.

"You seem happy Shampoo, did something nice happen?" asked Colonge.

"Nothing particular," said Shampoo, "Where Moouse?"

"QUACK!!!" quacked Moouse in his duck form. He was leashed up to a poll and was trying to get free so he could see Shampoo.

"Poor Moouse," said Shampoo running up and letting him go. She soon had him snuggled in her arms, "Woa Ie Ne" she said in delight.

"Shampoo," started Colonge noticing the strange behavior, "are you feeling alright?"

"Shampoo feel great," said Shampoo rubbing her head against Moouse who seemed to be in shock.

"You shouldn't play with Moouse's feelings like that," said Colonge.

"I'm not playing," said Shampoo in defense.

Colonge eyed Shampoo for a moment before she spoke again, "Tend to the shop Shampoo, I have some errans to do."

"OK Grandmother," said Shampoo.

Back at Furinkan High School

Colonge hopped through the front gate and took a look around. She found a group of students running away from a Sub that was trying to take a bite out of them. On the clock tower, a couple were sitting on the wall as if gravity did a 90 degree turn. By the front door, she found Kuno sword fighting his shadow with a few girls watching.

"What on Earth is going on?" she asked as she hopped down the walk way to the front door. She didn't get very far when a few vines spat out of the bushes and attempted to whack her. She easily dodged and landed on a tree branch. She quickly looked around just in time to see a water fountain break and send a burst of water towards her. She evaded the water and landed back on the path. She turned around to find a bird that had been sitting on the branch turn into a duck.

"Alright, Show yourself Sonic!" yelled Colonge pointing her stick at nearby tree.

"Now how the hell did you know it was me?" asked Sonic jumping down off the tree and trying to smash a cursed cream pie in Colonge's face.

"Like you have to asked," said Colonge dodging again.

"Quit Jumping around," said Sonic pointing his right index finger at her, "Otherwise I can't turn you into a duck!"

"Why a Duck of all things," said Colonge getting ready to bounce at the sight of him shooting his curse.

"I like to give people a taste of other people's misfortunes that they take advantage of," said Sonic raising up his left hand as if he was splashing water.

Suddenly the ground beneath Colonge started to break apart causing her to jump to avoid falling into a pit. As she did this Sonic took the opportunity of blasting a ki blast from his right index finger into Colonge. To Sonic's surprise, the blast reflected off of Colonge and smashed into Gosunkugi turning him into a duck.

"Hey, What gives?" asked Sonic.

"I figured this Curse Deflection Necklace I bought a while back would come in handy," said Colonge pointing to a silver necklace around her neck.

"Well than," said Sonic opening his hands and materialized what looked like Happo Fire bursts in them, "How about I fight dirty!"

With that Sonic jumped up into the air and threw the bombs, "Happo Mold Burst!"

"You can't be serious," said Colonge Dodging the blast, "Even Happy can't hit me with those!"

"Don't compare me to him!" yelled Sonic throwing dozens of Happo mold bursts at Colonge.

After six minutes of battling, the entire front lawn of the school was covered in mold. Colonge was on her stick sitting on a very tiny spot that hadn't been moled yet while Sonic hovered in the air breathing hard.

"Give up boy?" said Colonge eyeing Sonic.

"Mind if I try the Happo Mold Monster First?" asked Sonic pointing to the mold in front of her. Soon the mold busted up and took a form of a shapeless pile of mold with eyes and a mouth. It howled at Colonge as it charged for an attack.

"Cat Cafe Mold Cleaning," yelled Colonge pulling out a spray of anti-fungus and spraying the monster till he was no more.

"Ahhh, he didn't even last 3 seconds," said Sonic.

"Now, stop fooling around and end these curses," said Colonge.

"Sorry, I can't," replied Sonic giving a 'I don't know' look, "I made a contract and I have to follow through with it."

"A contract with who?" asked Colonge.

"Wouldn't you be more interested in knowing Shampoo is madly in love with Moouse and would be willing to go all the way within a few minutes?" asked Sonic pointing his thumb back towards the Cat Cafe.

"WHAT!?!" yelled Colonge rushing off towards the Cat Cafe.

"Of course, Moouse isn't that type of guy to take advantage of the one he loves," said Sonic rubbing his hands together, "All right, time for fungus cleaning!"

Just outside the Cat Cafe

"Shampoo, I don't think we are ready to go that far yet!" screamed Moouse as Colonge came by the Corner.

"But Shampoo Love Moouse," said Shampoo as Moouse gave a scream.

As colonge entered the cafe, she heard a splash of water. Fearing Shampoo turned Moouse into a duck so she could have her way, she bursted out, "Shampoo WAIT!"

Moouse and Shampoo in her cat form stared blankly at Colonge as if she had totally lost it, "What is it?"

Colonge took a moment to sigh before she went back to the register, "Nothing, my mistake."

Back with Sonic

"Those Anti-Fungi Spray Cans with the Poison Ivy Curse weren't bad," said Sonic reading through the book he got earlier that day. He was sitting in the tree reading as cans of anti-fungus hovered around the school grounds removing fungus and causing all the students to start itching themselves to death.

"What else is in here," thought Sonic just before his watch beeped, "Ooops, time to set up the end of the day surprise!"

In The Locker rooms, Ranma and Akane were walking over to there shoes. "Any idea how long Ms. Hinako is going to stay like that?" asked Akane.

"No Idea, but at least we won't have to worry about her sucking our battle aura up for a while," said Ranma opening his shoe locker and jumping back in shock.

"What is it Ranma?" asked Akane looking into the locker and jumping back in fear too, "Ha..Happo Fire Burst!?" she yelled.

Just about this time most of the students had opened their lockers and pulled out the cherry bomb looking thing and wondering what it was. Akane and Ranma grabbed each other in a tight hug as they watch the whisk hit the ball.

Outside in a tree, Sonic grinned as a small blast was heard shaking everything in a ten kilometer radius. "Ouch," laughed Sonic as he opened his eyes from the flinch to find every student wearing nothing but a bra and panty. Sonic grabed his mouth just to keep himself from laughing the entire school apart as the students looked at each other and started to run around crazy.

It didn't take Happosai long to show up and molest the girls. He swooshed from one side of the school to another yelling his usual "Sweeto" as he jumped to girl to girl and avoiding all the boys. He didn't even stop by the boy's locker room to pick up the undergarments that had been discarded by the boys, though that was to be expected if anyone knew Happosai well enough.

"Hmmm," thought Sonic picking up a small pamphlet titled "Happo Fire Burst". "I should have realized there was a side affect to having too many bursts explode at once within a given area," he said grinning, "Oh well."

Back at the Tendos

"We're Home..." called Akane, Nabiki, and Ranma all worn out falling into the door. After a minute of no answer, Akane got up.

"Kasumi?" Akane called.

"Welcome Home Akane," yelled Soun, "Kasumi isn't home right now."

"Where did she go?" asked Nabiki as they walked into the main room to see Genma in his Panda form swiping one of Soun's game pieces while he wasn't looking.

"Not sure, but she said it was urgent," said Soun noticing something was wrong with the game board.

"So what do we have for supper," asked Ranma just as a chill came over him.

"I'll cook for everyone tonight!" said Akane suddenly getting loads of energy and a cheerful attitude.

"And I thought today couldn't get any worse," said Nabiki falling down.

At Rose's Dojo...

"Sweet!" said Happosai peaking through the window, "Emeral sure looks great in that getup."

"Pardon me," said a voice behind Happosai. Happosai turned around to see hell itself burning in Sonic's eyes as he swung a 9 iron and sent Happosai to the Appellation Mountains.

"Damn Pervert," said Sonic throwing his 9 iron in a red barrel marked "Pervert Hazard" and lighting it on fire, "How goes the training dear?"

Rose walked out with wiping her face with a towel, "So far so good, I have to admit I haven't had such a workout in a long time."

"I always said working out brings out the best in you," said Sonic.

Rose grinned and taped Sonic on the nose, "Flattery will get you no where. I'm going to take a bath and turn in early."

"Ok Rose," said Sonic rubbing his nose, "At least she hasn't noticed anything going on at the school yet."

That Morning at the school, all the students brought a spare pair of school shoes with them avoiding their shoe lockers all together. Ranma's class still didn't have a home room teacher and no one in the class knew what surprise the Principle had up his sleeve. Sonic was inside the clock trying out a new curse using MM's book when the tardy bell rang and the Principle finally announced to the class his big surprise.

"Since Miss Hinako is Sick, Me be bringing new substitute teacher!" said The Principle, "Let me introduce you to new substitute, Tendo Kasumi!"

Ranma and Akane nearly died from the lack of heart beats as Kasumi walked in. The expression on their face were so priceless that Sonic took time from his cursing to whoosh by and take some pictures before anyone could notice.

"Good Morning Everyone," said Kasumi bowing, "I'm Tendo Kasumi, your new substitute teacher, please to meet you."

"Wh...What’s SHE doing here?" whispered Ranma.

"How should I know?" asked Akane.

"I should sell these to Nabiki later," said Sonic sitting on the tree branch right outside the class Window. He looked at the photos he took one more before he pocketed them and teleported back to the clock. "Alright, this age jumping time curse should be hilarious," said Sonic pulling out a fire torch and torching one of the gears of the clock, "Not to mention there is going to be an added bonus seeing Kasumi freak."

"Now what else must I do for this," asked Sonic picking up the book. A moment later he picked up a Mallet and placed his thumb on another gear, "I get the feeling this isn't necessary, but..." With that Sonic slammed his thumb with the mallet.

"YEEEOOOOW!" he yelled just as the gears glowed and begun to turn. "I guess it was necessary than," thought Sonic looking at his thumb before he glanced at the next page witch made him angry, "WHAT!!! I could have simply used Standard Car Jumper Cables to jump start the curse instead of using a Mallet/Thumb Technique!!!"

Back With MM...The guy we've been ignoring for a while

"I'm technically not a guy," said MM in a little 8 year old girl form looking at his mirror. He was watching Sonic's progress and had a bag of popcorn to his left and a super sized drink to his right.

"Why did you have to make Sonic do all this?" asked Nadeshiko sitting in a chair nearby with her arms crossed.

"Make him? He ASKED to do it," replied MM.

"But he got it from YOU!" snatched back Nadeshiko.

MM stuck out her tongue before going back to the screen, "I must have forgot to add the third way to jump start the curse in the sub notes. You can also start it up by winding the clock with a grandfather clock winder. Better make a note to add that to the next edition."

"By The way," said Nadeshiko picking up a package, "I forgot where you wanted me to mail this package to."

"I wanted you to send it to Rose, but make sure Sonic doesn't see it," replied MM.

"What's in here anyways, I can't see through it even with gamma rays," said Nadeshiko looking at the package.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out someday," grinned MM.

Back at Furinkan...

"What's your sister doing teaching our home class Akane?" asked Ukyo during break. A group of students including Akane's friends were gathered around Akane asking questions to why Kasumi was there instructor. Kasumi was sitting down at the front desk reading a book with her usual tranquil smile.

"How should I know?" asked Akane, "I didn't even know Kasumi had the qualifications to be one."

"Well she does read all the time Akane," said Ranma, "Doctor Tofu's collection of books is one great source to learn after all."

"Maybe Kasumi shouldn't be your only worry," said Nabiki who showed up behind Ranma.

"What do you mean?" said Ranma.

"Alot of students, including my self have noticed some...interesting changes going on as you walk through the school. It seems your body changes age and clothing as if you are walking through different parts of your life as you navigate the school, and some people even change into different people as they pass through areas" said Nabiki poking her thumb at the door.

"Lets see about that," said Ranma walking out the door to find himself as a five year old boy standing next to Ukyo who had also shrunk to five years of age.

"What in blazes is going on?" asked Ranma running down the hall and turning the corner to find himself to be about in his 20's with a white "Anything Goes Martial Arts" outfit on. He turned around and watched Akane move through an invisible barrier changing her into her 20s in a normal house wife outfit with a buldge on her stomach.

"Wha...What is this?" asked Akane noticing the buldge in her stomach.

"Looks like your pregnant Akane," said Ukyo walking through the barrier changing into a chief outfit, "I wonder with who's child?"

Akane and Ranma blushed at that question and quickly shot themselves to another portion of the hall to find them selves at 12 years old. As they were looking around trying to figure things out, Kasumi walked out of the class room. The strange thing was she wasn't changing her appearance as she did this. The gang quickly ran up to Kasumi changing their appearance three more times before they caught up with her.

"Hey Kasumi, haven't you noticed people are changing age?" asked Akane as an 80 year old woman.

"Oh My, No I didn't, I was too busy read this book," said Kasumi pointing to a book title "Temporal Mechanics in Theory"

"Where did you get that?" asked a three year old Ukyo sucking her thumb.

"Doctor Tofu," said Kasumi with a smile.

"Could that be what is keeping her from changing?" thought Sonic looking through one of the hall way windows. He looked at the book some more before he rubbed his chin to think of something else that would freak out Kasumi before inspiration hit. "I bet she would freak if she was turned into an Akane!" said Sonic as he started to concentrate a blue energy ball in his palm.

He waited till Kasumi had turned down the next hall where he slipped through the window and took a pictures stance, "One Strike Coming Up!" he said throwing the ball at Kasumi who suddenly dropped her book and bent down to the pick it up.

The ball whooshed over her and slammed into a passing female student who was instantly morphed into Akane. After noticing her change she was about to scream when she realized she was no longer changing age and decided it was a good thing, at least till she tried cooking anything.

"Talk about Luck," said Sonic, "I'll guess I'll have to try again at Lunch."

Rose's Dojo...

"Rose, package for you," said Kia walking into the Dojo.

"Package for me?" asked Rose putting down her Palms and walking over to Kia taking the package, "Who would send me a package?"

"Didn't say who it was from," said Kia, "But there is some instructions on it to open it in private."

"I guess its a good time for a break than," said Rose walking towards the door, "Oh, has Emily come back from spying on Mariko?"

"Nope, not yet," replied Kia, "Wish you had let me do it."

"You would stand out to much," replied Rose.

Seishun Academy

"She's good," said Emily taking another bite out of her Hamburger. She was sitting in the Gym watching Mariko with a few other boys. The Cheerleading club seemed to enjoy having an audience which made it easier for Emily to do her job.

Mariko was practicing her batons taking out targets all around the Gym, She would start out with one baton in her hand and suddenly make more out of thin air as she twirled hers, than as she released them on a target, she would throw two in opposite directions. They would do a curve and intercept at the target like an X cutting it in half.

"Something’s fishy here," thought Emily as she put her hand in her food bag pulling out another sandwich, "YUCK, They gave me a Fish'O Let! No wonder something smelled Fishy!"

Lunch Time at Furinkan, you know what that means!

"Give Me That Curly Bread!" yelled a six year old girl tackling a five year old boy like a football player.

"Hands Off!" yelled a boy grabbing the girl by her pigtail.

"At least now the lunch line now looks like a bunch of five year olds," said a child Akane walking with Ranma from the Lunch Line.

"At least I'm still good at getting lunch at this age too," grinned Ranma.

"There you two are," said Kasumi holding a bag with some lunch, "I figured we could each Lunch together.

"Sure, why not," said Akane now in her thirties, "How about we eat on the roof?"

"Sounds fine to me," said Ranma running up the stairs.

"Shall we go Akane?" asked Kasumi.

"Yea," replied Akane as they walked up the stairs.

"Alright Kasumi," thought Sonic standing near the stairs that came to the roof, "Lets see you avoid me this time!"

Ranma soon sprang from the door back to his normal age and wait for Akane and Kasumi to come up with the blanket. They laid it down on the ground where they sat down and started to eat. Sonic grinned as he pointed his right index finger at Kasumi and fired a blast towards here.

"Would you like some tea?" asked Kasumi bending down to get some material in the basket. The blast Sonic sent whooshed by getting Ranma and Akane's attention while Kasumi bent back up, "Something the matter?"

"Damnit," thought Sonic pointing to the sky.

"Ranma, would you set this up please," asked Kasumi pulling out a beach umbrella out of no where. Ranma, not sure where she got it, sat it up and deployed it just as a blast of water fell from the sky and hit the umbrella.

"Oh my, is it raining?" asked Kasumi as water dripped from the umbrella that kept them dry.

"Doesn't look like it," said Akane looking around.

"What is WITH HER?" thought Sonic getting more desperate, "This requires more research!"

Rose's House

"I'm home," said Sonic walking through the door.

"Welcome back," yelled Emily as she tackled her brother for THE remote.

"You two aren't fighting over the remote again are you?" asked Sonic not even bothering to look into the room.

"Ummm, No," yelled Emily and Jeremy before resuming a saber fight.

Sonic walked to his room and opened the door to find no one inside. He looked down the hall and called for Kia, "Hey Kia, do you know where Rose is? She wasn't in the dojo."

Kia's head popped out of the laundry room, "She went for a jog on Venus to work on her stamina," she replied.

Sonic grinned, "Thanks"

Closing the door Sonic pulled out his book and went to the page he book marked, "Escher". He began to read the page making sure he didn't miss any detail. "This time Kasumi will not escape," he chuckled to himself just when he heard the front door open and Rose's voice.

"I'm back!" she called.

Sonic quickly stashed the book in one of his pockets and walked out, "Back from Venus Rose?"

"Yep," said Rose stretching, "I figured jobbing in 700 Kelvin with extreme air pressure would do me some good."

"Too bad the battle isn't on Venus," smiled Sonic, "you would win instantly."

"On account of being the only one to survive in that atmosphere?" grinned Rose, "Hey, would you Jedi act your age and stop getting involved with their fight!"

Sonic turned to see Emily and Jeremy still duking it out with Remote Control Light Sabre's but with the aid of four more Jedi. The Jedi stopped what they were doing when Rose yelled at them and bowed there heads, "Sorry."

Rose opened the door, "Now OUT!" she said.

The Jedi walked out in a sour mood as if they were kids being torn away from the most fun game in the universe. Rose shut the door and glared at Emily and Jeremy who gave guilty looks.

"I leave for a short while and you two start up!" said Rose, "Kia, I thought I told you to watch these two!"

"What?" said Kia popping her head out of the washroom, "I've been too occupied doing the last three weeks of laundry to notice them."

At The Tendos

"How did your first day of teaching go Kasumi?" asked Soun reading the paper.

"It was very interesting and fun," said Kasumi sitting down by the table and drinking some tea.

"For her anyways," said Akane sitting down exhausted, "Nothing happened to her the entire time she was at the school."

"I wonder if that’s why the principle choose her for our substitute," said Ranma sitting by Akane.

"Come to think of it," replied Nabiki, "I didn't see the principle after he announced your new instructor. I wonder where we is."

In one of the Principle's private rooms

"I can't take this anymore," said the Principle who appeared a bit younger. He kept getting blasted around the room although there was nothing visible that was blasting him. "This is just like when I tried to escape Hawaii," he yelled receiving another blast.

Sonic appeared outside the door, "Ooops, I guess he got trapped in the time frame when he was bombarded by the Hawaiians," he thought snapping his fingers restoring Time to normal around the school.

Thursday at Furinkan High

"What do you suppose we're going to run into today," asked Akane as she and Ranma entered the front of the school.

"Don't know, perhaps a maze?" replied Ranma as they walked into the building.

"You and your big mouth," said Akane as they looked what was before them. The entire school had been turned some sort of Escher. Upside down stairs were every where, doors in the ceiling, path ways on the walls, and students trying to find their way to class in this new design.

The Principle was busy trying to find his office where he left his clippers as Ranma and Akane past, "Me Clip your head Saotome Ranma if I only had me clippers."

"Doing Remolding?" asked Ranma ignoring the comment.

"Mes a don't know what is going on!" said the Principle somehow loosing gravity and falling onto the stairs on the ceiling.

An hour later no student had gotten any closer to their classrooms as they had when they started. In fact, some students found themselves coming out of a stair way in the front yard of the school and having to start over in the navigation.

"Ranma," said Akane in a whining voice as they walked down a flight of upside down stairs, "Lets rest, I'm getting Tired."

"We've at least walk ten kilometers," said Ranma, "I wonder how much further we have to go?"

"Say, isn't that the front door," said Akane pointing to a door.

"Don't say it," said Ranma with null eyes, "We've been walking in circles."

"Aiya, there you two are," said Kasumi coming out of a door in the floor, "I've been helping students find their way to class, you two are the only ones left."

"You mean you can navigate this?" replied Akane in shock.

"It's not that difficult," said Kasumi smiling.

"At least if you are Ryoga," said Ranma, "I bet he is having a cinch in this."

Somewhere...Out there...

"WHERE AM I!?!" yelled Ryoga standing upside down on a stair case in the clouds kilometers above the ground.

Any who...

Kasumi lead Ranma and Akane through a series of tunnels, stairs, and invisible doors before they reached their classroom. She let them in before she started class, "Since today was a tad difficult for some of you to make it here on time, I'll excuses your tardiness," she said.

The class sighed in relief as Kasumi gave a smile, "Since the other instructors won't be able to make it to class, I'll have to take over their subjects. And If I recall, you have a math test today." The class moaned as Kasumi started to pass out test papers.

"HOW DID SHE DO IT!?!" yelled Sonic on the roof of the school, he started to rip out some of his hair which re-grew after a moment, "She's sees through every trick in the book!"

Later that day Kasumi excused her self from class to go to the lunch store and buy everyone some lunch. There wasn't any line at the lunch line since the only person who how found it was Kasumi and the lunch lady her self. After packing up what the class order, Kasumi headed back to class.

Sonic was hiding under one of the stairs when Kasumi walked over head, "Now to knock her in the Spring of Drown Dove," he said.

As soon as Kasumi was on the stairs right above the pit, Sonic blasted the stairs with a Ki blast and sent Kasumi tumbling down. The grin on Sonic's face was so spectacular, that DS would think he had an evil twin instead of a good twin. But Sonic's expression soon went to horror when Ranma showed up and caught Kasumi and the food.

"WHERE DID HE COME FROM?" thought Sonic.

"Thanks Ranma," said Kasumi.

"Your Welcome I guess," said Ranma, "Say, how did I get here anyways?"

Sonic smashed his head on the ground, "This Sucks," he thought.

Friday...

Sonic was getting desperate now to hit Kasumi with a curse. He had even resorted to using some of Gosunkugi Hikaru's techniques including the paper doll tricks. But not a single curse happen to Kasumi and Sonic was running out of ideas.

He finally had some glimmer of joy when he found a page related to Kasumi in the book, "Having Trouble Cursing Kasumi? Is she avoiding all of your curses? Well this is the curse for you, all you have to do..." read Sonic turning the page, "WHAT, THE PAGE IS MISSING!"

Sonic slammed the book shut, "This really does suck, I know MM could curse Kasumi, but why can't I!" he said to himself.

"Because your a novice," said MM surprising Sonic and causing him to jump into orbit with the Hubble space telescope.

The Scientists we all know and love

"Hey! You won't believe this, but we got another Alien on the telescope!" said one of the Scientists.

"Let me see," said another as they all crowded over the screen to find Sonic's face smashed against the lens. It appeared he was mumbling to himself before he pushed himself off the lens and returned to Japan.

"Why does Japan get all these weird things?" asked another Scientist.

"Don't know, but maybe that's a GOOD THING," said the first.

Sonic has now landed

"Welcome back," said MM as Sonic pulled himself out of the pothole he made.

"Thanks," said Sonic, "So why can you curse Kasumi again?"

"Because I'm a pro," said MM taking Sonic inside and pointing at Kasumi, "Watch and Learn."

MM charged a small ki blast and shot Kasumi which hit on the first try. At first it didn't look like the curse did anything until Sonic noticed Whiskers pop out of Kasumi's face. Soon the entire class was laughing and Kasumi ran out to the lady's room.

"Show off," said Sonic.

"See, all you had to do was target the atoms that MAKE UP Kasumi," said MM vanishing.

"So that's what’s on the missing page," said Sonic opening the book to find the missing page there, "Now that's Overkill MM!"

That Night at the Tendos

"How are you feeling Kasumi," asked Akane sitting down at the table.

"Much Better," said Kasumi with her face back to normal, "Just a bit embarrased, that's all."

"No need to be embarrassed," said Ranma, "Everyone has had something happen to them at that school in the past week. I'm just surprised that things went back to normal after that."

"I know, Ms. Hinako suddenly got better after Kasumi left after lunch," replied Akane.

"Well I have no complaints," said Nabiki looking at some pictures that had came in the mail.

Saturday...

"Yaaa!" yelled Rose in a pink cheerleading outfit slashing a baton missing the girl she was sparing with. Her opponent was in a yellow leotard and had brown hair.

"Come on, you can do better than that," replied the girl going in with some Palm Palms.

Rose grinned and twirled her baton, "Hurricane baton!" she said as the room filled with winds over 300 km/h. The girl was thrown into a spin as she circled the eye of the storm before landing on the wall and coming in for a bounce.

"Thunder Palms!" she said delivering an electrifying punch to Rose who was pushed back a bit but than gave another smile.

"Omni Palms!" grinned Rose smashing the girl with a punch that was made of both ice and fire at the same time.

The girl slammed into a wall before she turned into blue energy and morphed into Sonic in his red outfit rubbing his cheek, "We're just sparing, you didn't have to HIT so hard," he said.

"Sorry," said Rose, "My Body for some reason wants to punish you."

"But I haven't even done anything," said Sonic hiding his fear, "She's catching on, good thing I decided to leave them alone today."

"How's the practice going you two?" asked Kia walking in with some lunch.

"Rose is doing great, she just need to remember we are doing friendly sparing, not real battling," said Sonic rubbing his cheek.

"I said I was Sorry," replied Rose giving the innocent look.

Kia placed their lunch on a table that somehow appeared and was about to sit down with them for lunch when a blast shook the entire dojo.

"What was that?" asked Sonic.

"Just Emily and Jeremy fighting over THE remote again," replied Kia.

"Those TWO," yelled Rose walking out of the dojo. Sonic and Kia figured it was best to follow her just to be sure she didn't blow Emily and Jeremy's heads off.

Upon arriving outside, an explosive shell landed near Rose exploding. Kia and Sonic flinched at the sight as the smoke cleared and Rose stood there all black. Looking around, the entire back yard had been turned into a World War II battle field. Several planes flew by dropping bombs on some tanks. Artillery on both side was being shot across the field. On each side of the yard was a base made of sand bags, dirt, and a flag sticking up. one was a white flag which everyone assumed it was Jeremy while the other had a black flag.

"All this over THE remote?" asked Sonic as a plane nearly ran into Rose.

"All Right, THATS ENOUGH!" yelled Rose taking out some batons and knocking every single plane down with boomerang type attacks. Finally she jumped in the air throwing the batons like knifes knocking out each tank leaving her with two batons left which she threw at the mounds. A moment later nuke clouds could be seen all the way from the Tendo's house.

"Why did you have to do that?" asked Jeremy popping out where the black flag had been.

"Shouldn't you be under the white flag?" asked Sonic as Emily popped out of the White flag.

"So we like to switch," replied Emily, "Looks like we won't find out who won."

"Can't you two simply play a video game instead of re-enacting World War II?" asked Rose sighing.

"What fun would that be?" asked Emily.

Tendo Residence

"We're Home," called Akane.

"Welcome back Akane, Ranma," said Kasumi pouring some tea, "How was your day?"

"Uneventful for a change," said Akane as she sat down with Ranma.

"Kind of boring without all those weird things," replied Ranma snatching a potato chip.

"Don't say things like that," said Akane with a mad look, "They just might start happening again."

"Akane, don't you have a volley ball tournament to go to tomorrow?" asked Kasumi.

"Oh yea, that's right," said Akane, "I almost forgot about it with all the problems going on."

"Isn't Emeral going to battle that Mariko girl from Seishun Academy?" asked Ranma.

"Yep," replied Kasumi handing Ranma a post card she got.

"Come see the greatest battle in Cheerleading Martial Arts History! Showdown between Seishun Academy's star Mariko Konjo and Furinkan High's Student-Teacher Emeral Bellosom," read Ranma.

"Ahhh, it really must be an important battle," said Akane pointing to the back of the card, "Look at these spectacular graphics, I'm sure that costs alot of money."

"Yes it does," said Nabiki showing up, "I was paid to have the cards made after all."

"Figures," said Ranma, "By Whom?"

"Emeral," replied Nabiki.

"Isn't she taking this a bit too far?" asked Akane.

"Not at all, you can never have too much money," said Nabiki winking.

"That's not what I meant," replied Akane looking at the graphics of the card. A moment later Akane was squirted with ink from the card.

"Ooops," said Nabiki, "I guess I shouldn't have used that MM Company to print the cards."

"NABIKI!" growled Akane shaking her fist.

Sunday, the Big Fight

"Look at all the people who showed up Ranma," said Akane as they walked into the Gym. All the stands were practically full and people were moving about trying to find a spot to watch the fight. Over to the side, several shops had set up including Ukyo's concession stand and a Cat Cafe concession stand.

"Why does Uk-chan have a concession stand up, isn't she fighting?" asked Ranma walking over to the stand, "Hey Uk-chan!"

"Well if it isn't you two," said Tsubasa popping out of the stand, "Dressing up as a boy again today?"

"I AM A GUY," said Ranma punching Tsubasa on the head, "And why are you here?"

"Ukyo cooked a huge amount of Okonomiyaki before she came over and I'm selling it for her," said Tsubasa, "Want any?"

"Sure, I'll take a seafood," said Ranma getting a look from Akane.

"Well I'll go meet up with Emily and Katarina," said Akane, "Cya after the game!"

"Cya Akane," said Ranma with a mouth full.

Akane ran down the side of the Gym and passed a few more concession stands. If she was paying any attention, she would have noticed the ghost cat running the Curse R Us stand. But Akane rushed by and met up with Emily and Katarina.

"Hey you two," said Akane running up.

"Hey Akane," said Katarina.

"Yo," replied Emily, "You ready for the match?"

"Ready than I'll ever be," said Akane flexing her mussels in her arm.

"That what you think Akane," said Shampoo from behind.

"Well if it isn't the cat girl," said Emily grinning.

"Who you calling cat girl," said Shampoo as Ukyo and Kodachi came beside her.

"Why can't we just have a peaceful competition rather than trying to kill each other before the game?" asked Akane putting her hand on her head.

"Don't mind Shampoo," said Ukyo, "She's just mad the Ghost Cat wouldn't sell her the charm she wanted."

"Ghost cat?" asked Akane, "He's here too?"

"Didn't you notice him as you walked over here?" asked Ukyo pointing to where he was, "He's running the Curse R Us over there."

"Why wouldn't he sell Shampoo what she wanted? He usually does what ever a cute girl asks," asked Katarina.

"And where did you hear that from?" asked Emily wondering how Katarina knew about the ghost cat.

"From our books about Ghosts and Demons in the shrine," replied Katarina.

"He said no can sell items to the players," replied Shampoo a bit angry.

"What were you trying to get," asked Emily with a grin, "An instant win pendent?"

Shampoo turned her cheek, "Non of Emily's Business."

"So where are our cheerleaders?" asked Ukyo.

"Haven't seen them yet," replied Akane.

Over in the changing room, Rose had just put on her pink cheerleading outfit with Furinkan's logo on it. She looked at her self in the mirror and twirled her baton, "How do I look?" she asked.

"Like you have to ask," said Sonic smiling, "You look Beautiful."

"I still wish I didn't have to put Furinkan on the outfit," said Rose twisting to one side to check the back side of her outfit.

"Just be thankful the principle didn't DESIGN the dress," said Sonic.

"I don't even want to THINK of what he would make me wear," said Rose.

"So what is this secret weapon of yours?" asked Sonic.

"What do you mean," replied Rose with a soft grin.

"You can't fool me, I know you have something up your sleve for this match," said Sonic grinning.

"You'll just have to watch and find out with everyone else," said Rose tapping Sonic on the nose.

"You know I hate waiting," said Sonic getting up and opening the door for his wife.

Rose and Sonic walked into the Gym as Mariko came in with her group of cheerleading friends. The crowd had settled down finding seats somehow and had some snacks to snack on. The Tendos, Kalshion and his father, Cologne, Kuno, the principle, Kia, and Jeremy were sitting in the first row of stands that was reserved for contestant Guests. Sonic sat down between Ranma and Jeremy and watched as The volley ball girls took their positions.

"May the best woman win," said Rose grinning as she went to shake Mariko's hand.

"Just don't cry when I beat you," replied Mariko with the same grin.

The two girls went to their side of the court as the referee came up to start the match. Sonic grabbed a handful of popcorn when he suddenly had a strange feeling and begun to eye the crowd on the opposite side of the gym.

Noticing this, Ranma spoke up, "What is it Joe?"

On the other side of the Gym, a young man sitting down eye Sonic eye his side of the gym, Damn, did he notice me already?" thought DS before he felt a strange feeling as well. He began to eye the gym wondering what it was he was feeling as he hadn’t felt this feeling for ages.

Sonic continued to eye around but he became more curious than alert, "For a moment I thought I felt something bad, but now I feel something familiar...I just can't put my finger on it," he replied to Ranma.

"They are about to start," said Kai in a cheerful voice.

"The Cheerleading match between Bellosom Emeral of Furinkan High and Konjo Mariko of Seishun Academy will now commence," said the referee girl.

The two girls wasted no time charging at each other with batons as the girls in the volleyball court started their game. Mariko took the first move sending two baton out that came around like boomerangs to smash at Rose. Rose quickly dodged as the batons made an "X" cut above her missing her hair by a few centimeters.

"Damn she's fast," thought Rose as she twirled her batons and sent them out like wheels.

Mariko smashed both of Rose's batons with her own baton and came at Rose to bash her on the head. Rose again quickly dodged and attempted a fire punch with her palm palms but her attack was deflected by Mariko's baton again and she took a direct hit sending her into the ground.

"Your not even a challenge," said Mariko taking aim at Akane to knock her out.

Rose got out of the ground and grinned, "Oh, but let me use some of the tricks I have up my sleeves," she said.

"Sleeves? What Sleeves?" asked Mariko as she threw the batons at Akane.

"These Sleeves," said Rose as her dress suddenly grew sleeves and she pulled out a card, "SHIELD!"

The card Rose was holding burst out with Energy and engulfed Akane's team producing a powerful shield. The Batons were deflected by the shield and went back to their owner Mariko who was stunned. But Sonic and DS on the other hand had practically lost concessions as their jaws slammed into the ground.

"Joe, you OK?" asked Ranma.

"WHAT IS SHE DOING WITH SAKURA CARDS!?!?!" yelled Sonic as he jumped up.

"SAKURA CARDS?" yelled DS in his mind trying his best not to get Sonic's attention, "SAKURA IS HERE?"

The two looked around till they spotted a woman up in the stands to the side waving her hands. Both of them recognized it to be Sakura with her husband Shaoran at her side. Sakura seemed happy to see Sonic who she was waving at while Shaoran just sat there smiling at Sakura.

"Check Please," said Sonic and DS at the same time in a low voice as they collapsed.

"What's with him?" asked Ranma.

"No Clue," replied Jeremy.

At the All Famous Mirror Room in MM's house...

"WHAT IS MY DAUGHTER DOING HERE!" screamed Nadeshiko causing everything made of glass in the entire room to shatter.

MM pulled out the ear plugs he had in his ears and turned to her, "She asked to come over and see Rose and Sonic," he said in a calm voice.

"She What?" asked Nadeshiko a bit confused.

"She felt the two were having some difficulties and used her 'Summoning' card to try and reach them. She got me instead of course where I explained that they were here in my world. She asked if she could see them for a while and I granted her permission to do so," explained MM, "So as you can see, I kept my word about bringing her over here."

"If You dare put one curse on her..." started Nadeshiko with anger in her eyes.

"I won't touch her," said MM, "Consider it a personal favor to you."

"Thank you," sighed Nadeshiko just as a compartment above her opened up and dropped water on her changing her into a cat.

"I said I wouldn't touch her, not you," grinned MM.

Back at the Gym

Two water boys ran out of the gym having finished splashing Sonic and DS to wake them up. Mariko was still trying to figure out what Rose did and the crowd was cheering for more battling. Over in the volleyball court, Akane's team had 12 points while Shampoo's had 10. It was a close game and anyone could still win.

"So you going to stand there all day Mariko?" gloated Rose.

Mariko smiled, "I was just warming up, now its time to get serious!"

"We'll see about that," replied Rose pulling out another Card, "TIME!"

The Card glowed before the entire area was frozen in Time, Rose grinned as she rushed over to deliver a good licking to Mariko when she saw Mariko's eyes move. Before she could react Mariko smashed Rose into a wall canceling the effects of the Time card.

The entire crowd was stun to how Rose suddenly appeared in the wall smoking from another hit. Mariko was laughing at Rose for trying to use another card while Rose got up wondering how she could not be affected by the Time Card. Mariko swung her baton around a bit before she charged for Rose.

"Wait a minute," said Kalshion, "I think their is a shard in that baton!"

"And you just noticed that now because?" asked Sonic sending the info to Rose telepathically.

"Because up until now, I was too busy eating this devil's chocolate doughnut I got from this guy selling them.

"Devil's Chocolate?" asked Sonic.

"Hehehe," chuckled DS, "Devil Chocolate doughnut that block their ability to sense shards to be precise."

"Figures he wouldn't notice till now," thought Rose dodging Mariko's attack, "Katarina is too busy in her game to notice."

"Running away?" asked Mariko as Rose jumped to the other side of the gym.

"No, just buying some time," yelled Rose transforming Hikari into a baton.

"I didn't know she could do that," said Jeremy.

"Join the club," replied Sonic.

"Lets Do It!" yelled Rose jumping in the air and charging at Mariko.

The Two collided and begun trying to hit each other with their baton causing sparks to fly every where. After a few minutes of trying to smack the other, they jumped away and attempted a special attack.

"Baton Hell!" yelled Mariko twirling her baton which duplicated over a hundred fold and sent a fleet of batons at Rose.

Rose raised one leg up and twirled her baton above her, "Dance of the Wind Dragon" she said as a hurricane force of wind blasted from below her.

Soon the hurricane winds collided with the batons and a struggle for who's attack would break through began. Sonic sat there eating more popcorn while everyone else was at the edges of their seats waiting for the results.

"If only they knew Rose was purposely making it look like a struggle for a close call win," thought Sonic popping another kernel of popcorn in his mouth.

Finally the wind took a shape of a dragon and blasted through Mariko's attack sending her flying into the wall. Rose than jumped into the air and sent her baton at Shampoo's team knocking all three of them off their feats as the winning ball from Akane's team came over and landed on the ground.

"Winner, Emeral Bellosom!" yelled The Referee holding Rose's hand.

The Crowd jumped in cheer as Rose waved her arms around. Sonic walked over and lifted Rose on her shoulder where she continued to parade her win. Kalshion walked over to Mariko who was still knocked out and removed the shard in her baton. Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi got off their feat and looked at Akane's team in discuss.

After a few minutes more of parading, Rose jumped over to the volleyball court between the two teams, "I feel so happy!" she said with enthusiasm, "In Thanks for all of you participating and the fact that I'm in a good mood, I decided I will take all of us to Kyoto for some relaxation!"

Shampoo's team jumped for joy at the sound that they would be going to Kyoto with a chance to get with Ranma alone. It didn't take long for the three of them to realize they were rivals in that department and start tackling each other for who would get Ranma. Akane just sighed and went over to Ranma.

"I Guess this was all you needed to get in a better mood," said Sonic smiling at Rose.

"I guess so," said Rose smiling, "Nothing like a good competition to sooth the nerves."

"And an added Aura Shard," said Kalshion Handing Rose the shard.

"So should we get packing for Kyoto?" asked Sonic.

"Sure!" said Rose.

Chapter 44
The Return of the Doll of Revenge!
Who Keeps Using the Jedi as a basis for this story?

It was a fine day at Kyoto, the sun was up, a nice breeze was blowing, and the shops were making a bundle of the tourists. Over at a hotel on the further side of Kyoto Rose and her group made their way to check in.

"Here we are," said Rose pointing at the hotel with a smile, "The Morning Moon Inn."

"Amazing what you can find on the internet in less than a day," said Sonic, "I'm a bit suspicious though on how it had the exact number of rooms open that we needed."

"Oh your just imagining things," said Rose.

"What about the name of the place," said Sonic Pointing at the name, "Two M's"

"Oh Come on," said Rose walking into the inn, "You don't think MM would use that same trick every time do you?"

"Yes I do," said Sonic as they came to the counter.

"Hello there," said the lady at the counter, "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes we do, for Bellosom Emeral," said Rose.

"Ahhh Yes," said the Lady looking at the crowd Emeral brought in with her, "We've been expecting you. All I need you to do is sign a few papers and pay."

"Paying before we are checked in?" asked Rose, "Isn't it usually when you check OUT?"

"Yes, but we have to make an exception since you have those three with you," said the Lady pointing at Ranma, Soun and Genma, "They don't have a good reputation since that Octopus scandal."

"Good Point," said Rose pulling out her walled and dumping over fifty pounds of ten thousand yen bills on her.

"Where do you get all your money?" asked Nabiki in shock, "And how did you fit all that in there?"

"I just sold about a few tons of gold before we came here," said Rose, "and it would take you a few years in quantum physics to understand my wallet."

"Who cares, Lets just get to our room!" cheered Genma.

"Ah Yes," said the lady popping her head out of the cash as Rose finished signing the last paper, "Allow me to show you to your rooms."

The Lady showed the group to their super size rooms on the third floor, The Tendos got their own room with Ranma and Genma, Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi were placed in a room down the hall. Kia booked up with Emily and Katarina who had a room on the other side of the Tendo's room while Moouse, Kalshion, Kuno and Jeremy where on the opposite end of the hall as Shampoo's room. Rose and Sonic were shown to their room which was on the fourth floor which had a smilar design.

"Wow," said Akane looking around the room, "It's practically like a small apartment."

"And we get to stay here for free," said Nabiki being cheerful about the apparent cost of the room.

"Do you two want to pick out your yukatas now?" asked Kasumi walking in with some Yukatas in her arms.

"Sure," said Akane taking a look at the three Yukatas before she choose the pink one with white crescent moons on it.

"I guess I'll have this one," said Nabiki taking out the black one with yellow circles on it that looked like gold coins.

"Than I'll have this one," said Kasumi taking the light green one with dark green leaves on it.

"Hurry up you three," said Soun, "We are going to be having dinner with everyone in about an hour."

"Ok," said the girls as they went into a room to change.

"They sure seem happy," said Genma finishing placing the chess table up.

"They sure do," replied Soun, "Plus tonight gives Ranma and Akane another Chance!"

"You sure said it Tendo-kun!" replied Genma.

"Would you two knock it off," replied Ranma in a black kimono smashing his pop with his foot.

Outside the front door to the Hotel, Rose and Sonic were standing waiting for the others. Rose had on a black yukata with red roses on it. She had tied up her pink hair into a pony tail and had a indigo ribbon tied on it. Sonic was also in a black yukata but had white roses on it. After a few minutes of waiting, Moouse and Kuno wearing there ordinary clothing came out followed by Kalshion wearing a black yukata with white dragon designs on it.

"Nice design," said Rose to Kalshion as he stepped out.

"Thanks," replied Kalshion as Katarina came out in a pink yukata with white dragon designs.

"Cuuuuteee," said Rose causing Katarina to blush as more of the group showed up.

Shampoo was wearing a solid light blue yukata, Ukyo was wearing a white yukata with red spatula designs on it, Kodachi was wearing her usual black kimoto with red ribbons, and Kia showed up in her usual outfit. It didn't take long afterwards for Ranma, Genma and the Tendos to show up. Only Emily and Jeremy where left and they were running a tad late.

"Those two probobly went fighting each other again," said Sonic looking at his watch.

"I think that’s them," said Akane noticing two people walking up to the door.

When the two figures walked out of the door, everyone did a double take at the sight. Emily was wearing a white yukata with skull outlines while her friend was in a pink yukata with white flower imprints all over it.

"WHY are you DRESSED like that?" asked Rose finally getting her jaw back to her mouth.

"I lost a bet with Tommy and we ended up having to where these," said Emily, "Skulls aren't my style."

"So where's Jeremy and who's your friend?" asked Sonic.

Emily gave a bad look at Sonic for a moment before she pointed at her friend, "She's NOT my friend, I hate being siblings with her to begin with!"

"Siblings? You have another sister?" asked Rose.

"NOOO! This IS Jeremy!" yelled Emily.

"WHAT!?!" yelled the group taking another double take.

"Yea, I fell into a quantum version of 'Spring of Drown Girl', so it takes warm quantum energy to change me back to male," replied Jeremy.

"Hot Quantum Energy?" asked Rose and Sonic at the same time, "You mean there is such a thing as hot and cold Quantum Energy?"

"Yep," replied Jeremy, "I was surprised though that Happosai made the spring that caused this curse since he can't even use Quantum Attacks."

"HAPPOSAI MADE THE SPRING YOU FELL INTO!?!" yelled everyone.

"Yes, he did," replied Jeremy.

"I vote we go find the freak and beat him to a pulp," said Ranma.

In Hawaii

"Almost there," said Happosai running away from a school. A barrage of pineapples was heading his way and he was doing a great job dodging them. That was until he sneezed and a pineapple slammed into his head and exploded.

Back to our Group

"Here we are," said Rose stopping in front of a huge restaurant named 'The Maniac Magician's Restaurant'.

"Umm...Rose?" asked Sonic, "Didn't you notice this place also has a double M initials?"

"Your Worrying too much," said Rose walking them in.

The gang walked in to see rows of all you can eat buffet materials laying about. Rose walked up to the cashier and dumped another wallet load of money on the man who was running it. Soon a waitress showed them to a huge round table where everyone instantly took off to eat.

"This place has great food," said Ranma chowing down a pork bun.

"Yes, the food here is delicious," replied Kasumi, "Thank you for taking us."

"No Problem at all," said Rose smiling.

"So what were those cards you used during the battle?" asked Akane.

"Sakura Cards," replied Rose, "Magical cards made by Sakura herself."

"The same Sakura from before?" asked Ranma snatching a chicken leg from his pop while he wasn't looking.

"Yep, I found her in the phone book," replied Rose.

"What is with the phone books in this world," asked Sonic, "You could have at least told me she was here, I would have liked to say hello too you know."

"FORKS OFF!" yelled Jeremy having collided his fork with his sister for the last pork bun on the table.

"IT'S MINE!" replied Emily struggling to get her fork to the bun.

"That's IT!" said Jeremy taking his fork and forming a light saber out of it.

"Your MINE!" replied Emily doing the same and swinging at her brother.

"Will they ever grow up?" asked Rose sighing, "Didn't they know there is a pile of pork buns three isles down in the buffet?"

Emily and Jeremy battled their way out into the opening in the restaurant passing a group of people in hoods. Those people looked at Emily and Jeremy for a moment before they pulled out Light Sabers and join the fight with Jedi skills.

"Where did THEY come from?" asked Sonic munching on a Meat Bun.

The Jedi spiced up the battle sending empty chairs at each other trying to aid Emily or Jeremy in their fight. The Pork Bun they were fighting for was still sitting on the table and Genma was looking at it. He finally smiled and went for it when a orangish yellow flash by snatching it.

"What happen to the pork bun?" asked Genma.

"Down the Hatch!" yelled Kero throwing the pork bun up and swallowing it whole causing the Emily, Jeremy, and the Jedi to stop what they were doing and look in shock.

"KERO-CHAN!" yelled Sakura from across the room as Yue popped up and grabbed Kero by the wings and dragged him back to the table.

"SAKURA!?!" yelled Rose and Sonic at the same time rushing over to the table.

There they found Sakura and Shaoran sitting together with Yue and Kero. Toya was with them and so was Tomoyo with a camera watching Sakura eat.

"When did you two get here?" asked Sonic shocked to see them.

"We got here just a little bit before you did," replied Shaoran, "We were waiting till you noticed us."

"Say, why do you have Kero and Yue out in the open public?" asked Rose.

"The people here seem to see Kero and Yue as normal," replied Sakura, "or at least as weird as everything else."

"Than what do people consider weird?" asked Rose a bit confused.

"Maybe those dancing trees over there?" asked Toya pointing at the window where some trees were dancing.

"One of the finnest attractions for this place," said Wendy from behind scaring Rose and Sonic.

"AHA! I Knew It!" said Sonic.

"Knew what?" asked Wendy.

"All those double-M things," replied Sonic.

"That? Those were all just coincidence for a change," said Wendy.

"Than why are you here?" asked Sonic.

"I bet she came to congratulate me on my win yesterday," said Rose with a smirk.

"You wish," said Wendy walking over to Kero, "Actually I wanted to challenge Kero to a rematch on who can eat the most food."

"YAY! I'M IN!" yelled Kero.

"Great," said Wendy, "On your mark, get set, GO!"

"Why that Wendy," said Rose in a low voice as blurs were seen going through the buffet sucking up everything insight.

"So where you guys staying?" asked Sonic.

"We are staying at the Morning Moon Hotel," replied Sakura.

"So are we," said Rose getting Happy again.

"What a coincidence," said Sakura smiling, "So we'll see you there tonight at the baths?"

"Sure thing," said Rose smiling as the rest of the group reached their limits on what they could eat, "Cya in a while."

"Bye-Bye," replied Sakura before looking at Kero pigging out.

"Did everyone have a good supper?" asked Rose as the group walked back to Morning Moon.

"Sure did," said Genma patting his belly.

"It was wonderful, thank you again Emeral," said Kasumi in a polite manner.

"Don't mention it," said Rose as Sonic stopped, "What is it?"

"Who's playing that horrible music?" asked Sonic. The group was confused for a moment until they too noticed the music that appeared to be coming from the Hotel.

"I don't know, but it sounds familiar," said Akane.

"Isn't that the music that Tommy's no good band was playing at school the other day?" asked Ranma.

"Now that you mention it," replied Nabiki as they continued walking to the hotel.

A few minutes of walking revealed the answer as they saw the front door to the hotel. To the right of the door stood Tommy's band playing their music. The group stood there for a moment wondering why the hell they were there until Sonic took it upon himself to materialize a giant rotten tomato and throw it on the band.

"Now THAT was uncalled for Joe!" yelled Tommy whipping the smashed tomato off of him.

"Your MUSIC is uncalled for," replied Sonic, "And WHAT are you doing HERE?"

"Me and my buddies rented a room here Saturday and we've been chilling ever since," replied Tommy.

"Figures," said Rose, "I had to get a hotel where YOU are booked in. Is there anyone who is NOT booked in here?"

"Sadly Yes," said Meowth with Team Rocket walking past the group, "We didn't have any dough to cough up to stay here."

"Ummm, ok..." said Rose in a bit shocked.

"You guys staying here too?" asked Tommy pointing his thumb at the hotel.

"Well Duh," said Sonic, "Why else would we be here in Yukatas?"

"Which rooms are you staying in?" asked Tommy, "We got the medium size rooms on the second floor.

Rose's face gleaned with light at a chance to put Tommy down in his place, "We got the Super Size Rooms on the third floor," she said, "All paid for by me."

"WHAT?" said Tommy as the group continued to walk in, "HEY! Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!"

Later that day...

"See you after the bath," said Rose walking into the female changing room with Sakura.

"Ok than," replied Sonic as he walked in Shaoran before he stopped, "Say, what are they going to do with Jeremy?"

Over in the female side, the girls where undressing and getting towels to go into the hot spring. Jeremy had yet to show up and the girls were starting to wonder if he/she had went to the boys side instead. Emily didn't see to care as she took off her underwear and grabbed a towel.

"Emily," said Rose wrapping a towel around herself, "Where's your brother?"

"I walked in on him while he was re-adjusting his Yukata earlier so I bash him out cold with my Mallet," replied Emily.

"Why? You walked in on him," said Rose a bit confused.

"So I was angry," said Emily blushing a bit.

"Of what?" asked Rose wondering if she should even ASK.

"I was angry of my brother having a better figure than me," replied Emily blushing heavily causing all the girls to collapse.

"What was that?" asked Shaoran in the boys changing room.

"Sounded like a bunch of girls falling on hard tile," replied Sonic.

"Yea sure," responded Ranma.

"It was just a guess," replied Sonic walking out into the male hot spring.

"MMMMmmmmmm," sighed Rose when she laid in the hot spring, "Nothing like a nice hot bath in a hot spring to relax the nerves while observing a beautiful sunset."

"I haven't taken one of these in quite a while," replied Sakura sitting down next to Rose and Tommoyo.

"Japan have good hot springs," said Shampoo standing up and rubbing her back with her towel.

"Hot springs are very good for your skin," said Kodachi rubbing her arm with her hand, "Perfect for getting Ranma's attention."

"Ranma's mine," said Ukyo jumping up.

"No, Ranma is Shampoo's," yelled Shampoo turning towards the other two.

"Do those three usually fight like that?" asked Tomoyo as Sakura gave her usual "Hoeeee".

"I haven't known them that long," said Rose, "But I believe this is normal for them."

"Sadly it is," replied Akane.

"Quite Noisy over there, isn't it," said Shaoran, "Just as bad as it is here."

"You'll get used to it," said Sonic as they watched Ranma chase his father for stealing milk from him again.

"You Dirty Pop!" yelled Ranma, "Always stealing my food!"

"You're getting too careless," replied Genma laughing as he rushed by the cold springs.

"Why You!" yelled Ranma just as an old man splashed himself with cold water hitting Ranma too.

Ranma continued to run after his pop not realizing that he had changed into a naked girl running around in the boy's side of the springs. Several men jumped from their bathing as they saw Ranma rush after his pop. Finally Genma rushed back past where Sonic and the others where. Shaoran, being loyal to his wife quickly grabbed a towel and covered Ranma with it the moment he saw her.

Ranma was a bit stunned that Shaoran could move so quickly as Shaoran guided her to a door, "Young Ladies like yourself should be on the girls side of the spring," he said pushing Ranma into the females side.

"But um..." said Ranma as Shaoran shut the door.

"That wasn't a good idea," said Sonic just as the girls screamed and objects where heard flying into the door. A moment later Ranma came back in, half dazed from being beaten and fell into the hot spring changing back into a guy.

"What...What kind of magic is that?" asked Shaoran stunned at Ranma's transformation.

"Cursed springs of Jusenkyo did that to him, hence why I said it was a bad idea to send him over to the girls side," replied Sonic.

"Ohhh," answered Shaoran.

That Night in a padio in the back of the hotel...

"Well that was a nice bath," said Rose watching Akane, Katarina, and Emily playing with some firecrackers.

"Would have been better if Shaoran didn't send me over to the girls side," said Ranma rubbing his black eye.

"Sorry about that," replied Shaoran.

"This sure is a strange world," replied Sakura taking a sip of her tea.

"This world might be strange, but we still love it as our home," replied Soun checkmating Genma on chess.

"That looks like fun," said Kasumi picking up a firecracker and joining Akane.

"Give me one too sis," said Nabiki as she walked up to Kasumi.

"I'm just glad I can spend this time with Shampoo," said Moouse grabbing Tomoyo.

"Um, excuses me," said Tomoyo, "I'm not Shampoo."

"You idiot," yelled Shampoo punching Moouse away from Tomoyo.

The gang enjoyed them selves as they played with firecrackers, drank some tea, and enjoyed the scenery with the half moon, but little did they know they were being watched...aside from MM that is.

The Cameraman in MM's house has just took control of the screen...

"Why are you turning that camera on?" asked Wendy placing a board piece on the board game they where playing.

"Just wanted to point out you aren't watching the others," replied the cameraman.

"She doesn't even have her mirror recording," said Nadeshiko rolling the dice causing a small alarm to get off.

"Ouch, you hit the 'Spring of Drown Frog' Curse," said Wendy as Nadeshiko turned into a frog.

"What are you playing anyways?" asked the cameraman looking for the off switch for the override.

"Curse O' Million," replied Wendy as the camera man hit the off switch.

Well I guess MM wasn't watching, so who is?

"Well Well," said a small voice from the bushes, "If it isn't that Akane and Ranma."

"Hmmm?" asked Rose looking back at the bushes.

"What's wrong?" asked Sonic.

"Thought I heard something," replied Rose.

"Naaa, just your imagination," said Sonic smiling.

"Didn't I meet those two from that RPG?" asked the figure as its wooden face was shown revealing it as a doll as a cloud went past the moon, "This might prove interesting."

With that the doll vanished causing Kalshion and Katarina to sense the power of the aura for a brief moment. They turned to the direction it came from noticing Rose was that way and figured Rose did something to the Aura shards she had again and shook it off.

"Good Evening everyone," said Jeremy walking up to join the group.

"About time you showed up," replied Sonic noticing Jeremy was acting a tad different.

"Do you want to join us?" asked Kasumi in a polite manner.

"Why Yes," said Jeremy in a polite manner smiling.

"Hey Brother," said Emily, "Why are you acting like that?"

"Acting Like what?" asked Jeremy picking up a firecracker.

Emily gave a growl, "You know what I mean."

"I'm afraid I don't," said Jeremy a bit worried over Emily getting all upset.

"You IDIOT!" yelled Emily sending a Mallet at Jeremy who pulled out a Mallet also and blocked Emily's attempt to smash her, "What...WHAT THE?!?"

"Girls are allowed to use Mallets," replied Rose.

"But he's not a girl!" yelled Emily pointing to Jeremy who gave an innocent smile.

"That depends," said Sonic walking up to Jeremy and walking around her, "How hard did you hit him with that mallet earlier?"

"As hard as I could, why?" asked Emily.

"Oh no reason," said Sonic walking back to his seat, "Only you knocked his sense of manhood out the door allowing a sense of womanhood to take hold."

"WHAT!?!" yelled Emily.

"That sounds familiar," said Akane putting her hand to her chin.

"Didn't Ranma have that issue a while back?" asked Kasumi.

"Oh yea," said Akane remembering.

"Well if I knocked his manhood out," said Emily pulling out a bigger mallet, "Than maybe I can knock it back in."

Emily took a huge swing at Jeremy who quietly took out a mallet the size of a fountain pen and whack Emily's mallet sending her to Tokyo. The rest of the group looked at Jeremy for a moment before they dismissed it as being normal and continue what they were doing.

"Hey Ranma," said Akane from the group of girls playing with firecrackers, "Why don't you join us."

"Firecrackers are for girls," said Ranma turning away, "It would be to embarrassing for a guy to play with firecrackers with a bunch of girls."

"What about if your a girl?" asked Akane splashing Ranma with some cold water. Soon Akane dragged Ranma over to the group and gave him a firecracker.

"Nice move," thought Rose as she watched Ranma start to enjoy herself despite what she had said.

"OH, if it isn't my pigtail girl!" said Kuno grabbing Ranma.

"GET LOST JERK!" yelled Ranma sending Kuno off.

"Will you join us Rose?" asked Jeremy turning to Rose.

Rose thought for a moment than smiled, "Sure Jeremy," she replied.

"Oh, you guys can call me Jaime," said Jeremy.

"What ever floats your boat," responded Katarina.

"Well it doesn't float MINE!" yelled Emily startling everyone.

"How did you get back so quickly?" asked Sonic a bit stunned.

"I was fortunate to land in an Italian restaurants where Scotty happened to be eating at. He beamed me over to the hotel just a moment ago," replied Emily.

"Makes sense," said Sonic, "How is he doing anyways?"

"He's doing fine, in fact..." started Emily, "QUIT TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT!"

"I'm just trying to keep the peace," replied Sonic, "This is a vacation after all."

"But..." started Emily looking at Jaime.

"Just ignore her for now," said Sonic taking a drink of some tea.

That night when everyone was asleep

"Now where did that girl go," said the doll walking down the hall where Akane and her gang was staying. The doll looked around looking at the rooms where she decided to check each room until she found who she was looking for.

She started by slowly opening the door to the boys room and taking a look. Inside she found Moouse holding a pillow softly saying 'Shampoo' in his sleep. Kuno was under his covers constantly getting up saying 'Akane' or 'Pigtail girl'. Kalshion was partially covered with blankets as he moved around a bit to a more comfy spot.

"Not here," thought the doll closing the door.

The Doll moved on to the next room on the right and opened it. Inside she found a huge panda scratching its belly while it was sound asleep. Next was Ranma-chan with her clothes being rather revealing as she twitched from her dream. Knowing how advance Ranma's guard was the doll moved on to find the Tendo girls sleeping peacefully, that is with Nabiki and Kasumi wearing ear plugs as Akane tossed and turn saying "Ranma you idiot" over and over.

As the doll walked out, she found Soun sound asleep at the chess board, probably having fallen asleep there, of course the layout of the board suggested he lost. The doll grinned for a moment before she turned the table around making it look like Soun won. She than quietly walked out and proceed to the door on the other side of the door she just came out of.

"Is she in here?" asked the doll opening the door.

Inside she found a girl with light blue hair, horns sticking out of her head, a tail, and wearing a very revealing leather getup laying on top of her covers curled up. Next to her was Emily laying under her covers glowing with a black aura. She would every once in a while speak the words "Damn you Jaime" causing the aura to grow a bit before it shrunk again. Katarina was sleeping in the corner away from Emily, she was laying on her side under the covers and sleeping rather peacefully.

"She's not here either," thought the doll walking out and going to the last room on that floor.

Inside the doll looked at Ukyo and Shampoo who seemed to be strangling each other in their sleep. Shampoo was wearing a Chinese sleeping gown while Ukyo was in a kimoto. The doll noticed a ribbon hanging from the window and decided to take a peak to find Kodachi holding her ribbon hanging out the window. A sweat drop formed on the doll as it turned around seeing Jaime sound asleep.

"There she is!" thought the doll smiling, "Now to posses her and get close enough to take down that Ranma!"

Back in Emily's room, Emily suddenly sat up awake, "I get the feeling something bad is going to happen to Jaime in a moment," she said.

Emily than thought about what she said before she smiled, "Works for me, Can't wait to find out what happen in the morning."

About this time the doll was on Jaime's chest getting ready to posses her, "This individual will do great in going benefit Ranma's gaurd!" she thought as the transfer began.

Suddenly a white aura appeared around Jaime and formed into a huge mallet. The doll had a small moment to look at it before she was whacked like a golf ball out of the room through the window and into a tree. Jaime's aura than calmed down and vanished just as Rose and Sakura burst in.

"What's going on?" asked Rose looking around.

"I don't know, but I felt a presence in here," replied Sakura.

"Anything wrong?" asked Sonic in a soft voice from outside the room.

"Doesn't appear to be," replied Rose looking at the broken window, "Jaime must have unleashed some power due to her dream."

"What about this girl?" asked Sakura pointing at the window where Kodachi hanged.

"She's fine," said Rose, "Lets go back to bed."

"OK..." said Sakura a bit confused.

That Morning at the Manic Magician Buffet...

"That sucks," said Emily grabbing a biscuit, "Nothing happened to Jaime."

"Why does that suck?" asked Jaime in a polite manner.

"OOOO, I just can't STAND you like this!" yelled Emily smashing her head into the table.

"What is it she can't stand?" whispered Sonic to Rose, "The fact that Jaime is better looking, or better behaved than her?"

Rose gave a giggle as Sonic was smashed into a pancake by Emily's mallet, "SHUT UP YOU!" yelled Emily.

Emily than looked at Jaime who had went back to eating her breakfast ignoring what Emily had done. Emily began to turn red with anger as she continue the watch her. Finally she jumped back and began to charge a massive blast, "DAMN YOU JAIME!" she yelled.

Everyone except Jaime dived under the tables and chairs that were about as Emily released her blast at Jaime. The blast ripped the tile of the floor apart as it went right for Jaime. Emily gave a grin as the blast hit Jaime but fizzled out leaving nothing but a few static shocks around her as she continued to eat her breakfast normally.

"WHAT!?!" yelled Emily confused.

"Hmmm," thought Sonic examining Jaime who continued to eat, "Looks like she has immunity to your attacks here."

"I give!" sighed Emily before she collapsed on the floor.

Just than the bells at the door rang as a few people in cloaks walked in. Rose eyed them for a moment before she went to take care of Emily. That didn't last long however when a few teenagers walked in. Rose instantly dropped Emily's head back on the tile and walked up to them.

"NO YOU DON'T!" she yelled at them.

"How did you know it was us?" asked one of the teenagers as they morphed back into Jedi in robes as the people who were originally in robes than morphed back to teenagers.

"The Shorts Told me," replied Rose.

"Damn that shorts," said the Jedi as they walked out.

"What are you DOING!" yelled the owner of the store, "The Jedi are part of my entertainment you wench!"

"They're WHAT?" yelled Rose in surprise.

"Didn't you read the sign?" asked the owner pointing to a sign on the wall that read 'Jedi saber fights every weekday'.

Rose mumbled as she went outside and apologized to the Jedi who gave a grin as they walked back in. Rose wasn't too happy and Sonic noticed it, so he suggested that they go site seeing. Everyone agreed and soon they were off to spend the day touring the city.

Sometime around noon...we think

"Ranma," called Akane as she moved around in the cloud of dust.

"Akane?" called Ranma as he tried to look for her in the dust.

"RANMA IS SHAMPOO'S!" yelled Shampoo somewhere in the dust as punches, colliding weapons, and Kodachi's laugh was heard.

"What is going on?" asked someone outside the cloud of dust.

"Looks like a fight," replied someone else.

"I think it looks more like a stampede!" yelled someone else.

"Place your bets folks," called Nabiki who amazingly had a stand up just outside the cloud of dust.

"Is that you Akane?" asked Ranma grabbing someone's hand but finding Ryoga instead of Akane.

"Ryoga, when did you get here to Kyoto?" asked Ranma.

"Kyoto? Isn't this Okonawai?" replied Ryoga before a Bonbori smashed into his head.

"Ranma!" called Akane from the distance.

"Akane," yelled Ranma finally reaching her, "Lets get out of here."

Ranma picked up Akane and jumped out of the cloud of dust. They turned around and watched the dust cloud continue to grow in size as images of Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi popped in and out of it.

"How long do you suppose they'll be like that?" asked Akane.

"Hopefully for the rest of the day," sighed Ranma.

Meanwhile, Emily and Jaime are walking down a street looking at the shops stopping here and there. Jaime was having a good time showing Emily some of the fabulous jewelry and other accessories as they passed by. And by everyone's surprise, including my own, Emily was actually enjoying herself.

"Hey there cutie," said a boy with a group of his friends, "Site seeing?"

"Yes," replied Jaime smiling.

"Would you like to hang out with us?" asked another boy in the group.

"Ahem," said Emily trying to get attention but not getting any, "AHEM!"

"Can we help you miss?" asked one of the boys who finally noticed her.

Emily's expressing slowly began to get angry as a dark aura began to rise out of her like a flame. Soon flames where seen in her eyes as she gave the boys a punch sending them to the stars.

"What's wrong sis?" asked Jaime receiving a very ugly face from Emily who stormed away.

"I wonder what's wrong," asked Jaime continuing to look around.

"Today's weather along with the entire week will be nothing but clear blue skies with no chance for rain what so ever," said the weather man the TVs in a store as Emily passed by causing a down poor of rain with thunder and lighting streaking every where. "Ummm," said the weather man looking towards where Emily went.

Emily finally stopped by at a cheep love hotel where Kia had just walked out with some boy she had picked up a while ago, "KIA!" she yelled.

"Wh..What is it?" asked Kia scared to death of the aura Emily was giving.

"I need your help," replied Emily as a bolt of lighting smashed behind her.

It wasn't long before Kia and Emily where across the street from Jaime who had a few more boys asking her to hang out with them. Emily eyed the boys before a bolt of lighting struck one of them sending him running from the electricity.

"Let me get this straight," started Kia, "You want me to bring out the evil within Jaime."

"Yes," replied Emily with her eyes glowing red.

"Ok than," replied Kia as she started her chant.

Jaime had just accepted the offer from the remaining boys when she stopped followed by a short earthquake. Jaime's white aura suddenly began to glow and turn black than back to white with a turbulent manner.

"Come on Kia!" said Emily as Kia tried harder to bring out the evil from within.

Finally a blast of dark aura burst from Jaime as she began to laugh evilly. The boys that were with her freaked and ran off as Jaime's eyes turned red. A moment later the black aura was gone and Jaime was back to checking out the items at the next store.

"What?" asked Emily a bit puzzled before she went over to see Jaime only to get smashed by a Mallet Jaime pulled out.

"Looks like her evil is to smash you with a mallet," joked Kia as Emily got off the ground.

"DAMN YOU KIA!" yelled Emily as she tried to strike Kia with lighting bolts.

Several blocks away Akane was looking at some hair ornaments at a store while Ranma leaned against the wall next to her. Ranma glanced at her every so often as she enjoyed her self looking at all the ornaments they had until she finally picked one up.

"This one is soo adorable," said Akane showing it to Ranma, "Oh I wish I could get it."

Ranma looked at it and noted the price tag for 1200 Yen than he felt around in his pocket, "I just got about 1600 yen from Joe for helping him around his house Saturday, I was hopping on spending it on some food while we were here," he thought.

"What is it Ranma?" asked Akane noticing the serious look on his face.

Ranma looked at Akane, "You really like it?" he asked.

"Yes, it’s so cute!" she said.

"Ok than," said Ranma taking the ornament from her hand and purchasing it shocking Akane. Ranma than returned with the ornament in a bag and gave it to Akane who's eyes were wide open.

"Thank you Ranma," she said holding the bag close to her chest just before they heard some yelling.

"RANMA!!!" yelled Ukyo with Shampoo and Kodachi close behind.

"Lets Get out of here!" yelled Ranma grabbing Akane's hand and taking off passing Kasumi on the way.

"Try to be back before supper time," called Kasumi.

That Night...

"Once again Emeral, that was a great dinner," said Soun patting his stomach while he sat looking at the stars on the patio in the back of the hotel.

"Why thank you," replied Rose blushing a bit, "Honey, since everyone else has gone off to enjoy themselves in the woods, would you like to go too?"

"Sure, but is it wise to leave these two alone?" asked Sonic pointing at Genma and Soun, "You know they will attempt to interfere with Ranma and Akane."

"Not to worry," said Rose zapping the chairs with her finger forming pink energy bands tying up Soun and Genma's legs to the chairs, "They are stuck to those chairs now."

"Now wait a minute!" yelled Soun as Genma-panda raised a sign with the same words on it.

"Cya," said Rose as the two walked off.

A little ways off Nabiki, Kuno, Kia and Kasumi were walking around enjoying the start lit sky. Kia constantly hanged on Kuno while Nabiki and Kasumi enjoyed the scenery together. What they didn't notice though was the doll in one of the nearby trees.

"Not them," thought the doll as it floated off looking for someone.

She than came upon Moouse, Shampoo, Ukyo and Kalshion who were walking around. Moouse seemed overly joyed being with Shampoo, but both Shampoo and Ukyo had mad looks on their faces. Kalshion was keeping his distance from Ukyo and was wondering how he got talked into taking Ukyo with him.

"Not them either," thought the doll taking off just as Kalshion looked where the doll had been.

"It's not that bad," came Jaime's voice as the doll approached another spot in the woods.

It landed in a tree to look at Katarina, Jaime, Emily and Kodachi walking around. Emily was still in a very bad mood while Kodachi was upset that she wasn't with Ranma. Katarina was keeping an eye on them like she was some sort of gaurd or something.

"There she is," thought the Doll as she followed them, "Now to get the angry one alone."

After coming to a clearing the girls sat down to rest for a bit. Katarina gazed at the stars that were out with Jaime while Kodachi sat pouting. Emily watched Jaime for a bit before she kicked a stone and sent it through the trunks of several trees before she walked off to be alone.

"Oh I hate her!" thought Emily as she paced back and forth in a secluded spot in the woods.

"Now's my chance," thought the doll as it jumped out of a tree and fell on Emily.

Deeper in the woods near a waterfall, Ranma sat with Akane as she looked at the stars. The two had been rather quiet, not sure what to say to the other. However, Akane was smiling and also wearing the hair ornament Ranma had gave her.

"Now, to get my revenge," thought the doll in Emily's body as she hid in the bushes.

"What do you think your DOING?" said DS slapping Emily's face.

"DS!" said Emily, "I'm doing exactly what you told me, get rid of the protective guy with the girl that always has a mallet handy."

"I didn't mean THOSE TWO!" snared DS, "I meant Rose and Sonic!"

"Those two I met in the RPG?" asked the doll.

"Yes, those two," smiled DS, "Now for fill your end of the bargain for that shard and destroy them."

"Yes DS," said the doll.

About this time, Rose and Sonic had ran into Jaime, Kodachi and Katarina. The girls were still sitting where they were but Emily had not returned. Jaime smiled and went to great Rose and Sonic as they came in but only Katarina noticed that Rose seemed to be in a bad mood.

"What's wrong Emeral?" asked Katarina.

Rose's expression turned a bit more aggressive, "There's a Jedi training camp less than a Km from here," she said.

"What's wrong...oh, I see," said Katarina not wanting to make things worse.

"Say, where's Emily?" asked Sonic.

"I'm right here," said Emily walking up, "Just needed to cool off for a while."

"I see," replied Katarina.

"I'm sick of this," yelled Kodachi finally stripping off her Yukata revealing her leotard, "I'm off to see Ranma Honey!"

"No you don't," said Katarina intercepting Kodachi and giving her a kick which she blocked.

"Don't get in my way girl," said Kodachi laughing.

Katarina grinned, "You think you can take me?"

"This might be an interesting match," said Sonic sitting down and pulling popcorn out of no where, "A fight between a dragon decedent and a crazy girl."

"Let me have some," said Rose sitting down and getting some popcorn.

"I'll join you two," said Emily with a grin, but before she could reach the stump where they were sitting, Jaime had pulled out a mallet and slammed Emily into the woods.

"Why did you do that for?" asked Rose.

"Sorry, I had an evil impulse," replied Jaime.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Emily as she smashed into a tree and an energy ball flew out of her materializing the doll.

"THAT HURT!" the doll yelled before she ran off.

"Ohhh," thought Emily as she regain her senses, "Say, why am I over here?"

"Don't know, but do you think you can help me chop some wood," said Ryoga chopping wood with his hand.

"Why would I want to help you," said Emily returning to her bad mood.

"Might get your mind off of things," replied Ryoga, "Besides, I can't seem to find my way back to the training camp that asked me to get some fire wood.

"Can't you learn how to use a map," sighed Emily.

The Next Day

Seeing it was their last day at Kyoto, Rose decided that everyone should go to the near by pool and have some fun and relaxation before they leave. Since no one had brought their swimsuits, Rose took everyone out to buy some at a near by store, which she drowned the manager with her wallet once again. Finally Rose took them to the pool which Sonic was again hesitant about going into a place that was named "Marine Mante", but Rose once again told him he was imagining things.

"That's a nice outfit you picked sweetoms," said Sonic looking at Rose's pink two piece swim suit.

"Stop it," said Rose blushing a bit, "Oh, that’s a cute swimsuit Akane!"

"You think so?" replied Akane wearing a light green one piece swimsuit.

It didn't take long for a cloud of dust to blast out of the changing room and smacking Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi on the wall. Shampoo was wearing a one piece blue swimsuit with holes on the sides. Ukyo had picked out a green one piece swimsuit that had a cut that revealed part of her chest. Kodachi as usual was wearing a black two piece swimsuit.

"I told them not to fight," said Kia walking out in her usual getup.

"Why didn't you get a swim suit?" asked Sonic.

"This works as a swim suit too ya know," replied Kia.

"Right," replied Sonic as Emily came out with a black tight two piece swimsuit.

Instantly some of the guys came around impressed with Emily, which she didn't mind until Jaime came out with her white two piece. All the guys suddenly left Emily and took off to see Jaime. Emily growled before she dismissed it and went to find a towel to lay on for a tan.

Soon Kasumi had came out in a green with white stripes one piece swimsuit followed by Nabiki who had a purple one piece swim suit on. Kasumi was carrying a case of refreshments she had made and went with Nabiki to set up a picnic area for the family.

"So your going to stay in the shallow end of the poll aren't ya," said Ranma-chan sneaking up on Akane.

Akane gave a face and turn to see the watermelon one piece swimsuit Ranma choose, "Yes, what is it to you! You can't swim without being a girl."

"Hey!" replied Ranma.

"Ranma might have issues staying a girl in this HEATED pool," said Wendy in a one piece navy blue swimsuit.

It didn't take long for Rose to slam Sonic with a mallet for having his heart skip a beat, nor Sonic growling at her that her heart had done so too. They turned back to Wendy finding Akane slamming a Mallet on Ranma for staring at Wendy for too long. Not long after Rose realized that every boy in the pool had started to stare at her like zombies.

"Alright, What are YOU doing here?" asked Rose.

"This is a pool establishment I made to earn some extra cash," replied Wendy.

"But you let us in FREE?" asked Rose.

"After I made it I remembered I already have more money then I can spend," answered Wendy, "At least the Jedi like it."

"What Jedi..." asked Rose turning around finally noticing the small section in the back that connected to the Jedi training camp.

"So what do I do now?" asked Ranma-chan, "I didn't get a male swimsuit."

"Oh, you can borrow one of mine," replied Wendy snapping her fingers and ten pounds of swimsuits for boys fell on Ranma.

"Thanks," said Ranma with a muffled voice.

"Say, where's Sakura and her friends?" asked Akane.

"Oh she'll be here, when ever Kero decided to stop stuffing his face," replied Rose.

The rest of the morning was rather uneventful, it took a while for Shampoo and Moouse to realize they could swim in human forms. Ranma was practicing laps accross the pull while Akane sat at the edge of the shallow end soaking her feet. Rose was busy doing the breast stroke when Sakura and her gang showed up. It didn't take long for Kero to change into his true form and do a cannon ball from ten meters in the air.

"Rose, Sonic" called Sakura waving her hands at Rose and Sonic causing a bit of confusion among those who did not know their true names.

"Sakura!" called Rose swimming up to her.

"That was a lovely Breast Stroke Rose," said Tomoyo holding her camera.

"Thanks," replied Rose, "Looks like Kero is already enjoying himself."

"He really shouldn't swim just after he ate though," replied Sakura.

"He'll be fine," said Sonic walking up.

"Say Sakura, could you do me a favor?" asked Rose.

"What is it?" asked Sakura.

"Could you try and teach Akane how to swim," answered Rose, "I remember how you thought Rika how to swim and was hopping it would work on Akane."

"Sure, I'll give it my best," replied Sakura smiling.

A while later, Sakura was holding Akane up by the belly as she had Akane practice stroking her arms and kicking her feat. Everything looked ok until Sakura let go and Akane sank like a Rock to the floor. Sakura didn't understand it but she didn't give up.

"Why did you even bother," asked Ranma standing by Rose and Sonic in the pool, "We've tried to get her to swim before, and it didn't work."

"It was worth a shot," said Rose as Akane sank to the bottom again shaking the whole pool.

Just behind Rose, Wendy was looking over her shoulder at Akane and Sakura before she finally shook her head and went back to what she was doing. Rose had noticed her a while earlier and was curious to why she shook her head.

"What was that for," asked Rose.

"Because your trying to make Akane swim," replied Wendy.

"And what is wrong with that?" asked Rose.

"This," answered Wendy giving Rose a pamphlet that explained in high detail and difficult vocabulary that Akane was cursed to never be able to swim unless she had a flotation device.

"Ohhh," said Rose with a frown on her face just as a beam saber flew by her hair taking a good junk out of it.

"Sorry about that!" called a Jedi.

"Why...WHY THAT..." started Rose as her hair re-grew.

"Oh Look," said Sonic grabbing Rose, "A game of water volleyball."

"What was that about?" asked Ranma looking at Sonic drag Rose away.

"Oh nothing," giggled Wendy.

CmptrWz

After the volleyball game

"Wasn't that fun?" Sonic said, a nervous smile on his face.

"The most enjoyable part was when I got to spike the Jedi jerks straight to China," Rose said.

"What is the worst thing that could go wrong now?" Emily said, rubbing her head. "I ran out of bad scenarios myself."

"You missed one," Akane's voice called out.

"Isn't Akane in the bathroom?" Rose asked, looking around.

"Doesn't Akane have blue hair?" Sonic asked, pointing at a red-haired Akane in an outfit similar to Kia's.

"Since when does Akane have a shard?" Kalshion and Katarina asked at the same time.

"Shall we get started?" the false Akane asked. "I even found a special quantum lightsabre." With that she took a lightsabre out from behind her back and turned it on, grinning as she turned to Sonic and Rose.

"Lightsabre," Rose said, looking around. "This is the perfect time for those blasted Jedi to show up, and now there isn't a one to be found!"

"You shouldn't have spiked them to China," Wendy said, scratching her back. "However, I made that lightsabre. You don't want to fight it."

"Somehow I feel we can trust her on that one," Sonic said, noting that Ranma was in shock from the sight of the false Akane.

"We can't just let her attack us," Rose said, grabbing Wendy. "You made the thing, why don't YOU fight it?"

"Why not," Wendy said, slipping out of Rose's grip. "I was bored anyway." With that Wendy started to glow, her form becoming a bright blur. Finally, after what seemed like several hours but was only really seven seconds the form split into two. The first piece stayed where it was and re-formed Wendy, in a cheerleading outfit. The second piece landed in front of the false Akane, in full Jedi gear.

"So I have to go through you to get to them?" the false Akane said. "Suits me fine."

"Lets get this party started doll," the Jedi MM said, turning on a lightsabre.

"Doll?" Sonic and Rose said at the same time, looking at the false Akane.

"WOULD YOU ACT LIKE A GUY ALREADY?" Wendy yelled, hitting Jaime with an energy blast. Jaime immediately turned back into Jeremy, in mind and body, and ran off to change.

"You restore his 'good' persona too?" Emily asked, looking at Wendy.

"Nope," Wendy said. "The difference being that Jaime would hit you with a mallet. Jeremy is more likely to use a sword. A very SHARP sword."

Emily gulped, then decided to find Kia.

Twenty minutes later

"Thanks for helping us dig our jaws out of the ground," Kalshion said, rubbing his chin.

"No problem," Sonic said, tossing the shovel to the side. "Rose is too busy tending to Akane's shock anyway."

"Anyone seem Emily?" Jeremy asked, returning while holding a very large, very SHARP looking sword. "I have an urge to hit her with this."

"I don't know if that would be such a good idea," Sonic said, looking at the sword. "Couldn't that hurt her?"

"Somehow I feel like she deserves it," Jeremy said, looking around.

"I am right here brother," Emily called from the roof. Looking up, everyone could see she was holding an equally large, equally sharp looking sword. "Did you want to fight?"

"With wimpy swords?" Jeremy said, tossing his sword aside. "Fighting is better done with quantum lightsabres." With that he pulled out a lightsabre, Emily following suit a moment later. Soon they were fighting a battle as exciting looking as the one the doll and MM were fighting.

"One hit from any of those lightsabres would kill any normal being," Wendy said, eating some popcorn. "The same hit would seriously injure any quantum being."

"And they fight with them on a near-daily basis?" Sonic said, grabbing some popcorn. "Who gave them those things, anyway?"

"I did," Wendy said. "They are old enough to be responsible with them. They only killed one person so far."

"Who did they kill?" Sonic asked, pulling out a soda.

"Their cousin Mel," Wendy said, handing Sonic a straw. "He was in horrible pain from cancer. It was a mercy killing. He would have died a week later anyway."

"I find it hard to believe those things could hurt me," Sonic said, watching as MM blocked an assault from the doll. "I am not a normal quantum being."

"Those things could cut my arm off," Wendy said. "And it would hurt, too."

"Never mind," Sonic replied.

"Emily and Jeremy are almost done," Wendy suddenly said, pointing towards where the two were fighting.

"What makes you say that?" Sonic asked, unable to see any break in the battle.

"Their batteries are about to die," Wendy said. "Can't very well use a lightsabre without batteries."

"That will suck," Sonic responded. "Got a camera to record the moment for posterity?"

"Not with me," Wendy said. "I will get you a copy of the recording from my mirror though."

"Works for me," Sonic said, grabbing a candy bar. "Where are we getting all this food anyway?"

"The giant pile of junk food I dropped next to each of us," Wendy said. "Where else?"

"Just checking," Sonic said.

"Hey Honey," Rose called from behind Sonic. "What are you doing SITTING THERE WITH ANOTHER FEMALE?"

"Watching the fights," Sonic said. "I dug Kal and Kat out already, and Wendy isn't exactly my type anyway."

"Oh, ok," Rose said, just before smashing Sonic into the ground with a mallet. "Now, where is MY ten story pile of junk food?"

"Take mine," Wendy said. "I have to go reattach Jeremy's arm anyway."

"Why?" Rose asked, looking over at Emily and Jeremy. Just as she did so Jeremy's lightsabre died, and Emily's sliced Jeremy's arm off at the shoulder. Before Jeremy could express any pain Emily's lightsabre also died, leaving both of them weaponless.

"That had to sting," Sonic said, looking away.

"How strong are those things?" Rose asked, taking Wendy's spot and grabbing a soda. "I didn't think Emily or Jeremy could be hurt by a normal lightsabre."

"Wendy claims they could cut off her arm," Sonic said. "It would apparently hurt, too."

"Ouch," Rose responded. "Good thing MM is fighting for us."

"What happened to the anger?" Sonic asked, eyeing Rose uneasily.

"I have a ten story tall pile of junk food," Rose said. "Half of it is chocolate. How on earth could I be angry?"

"You have a point," Sonic said, watching as Wendy re-attached Jeremy's arm and sent Emily and Jeremy off to clean up the mess they had made.

"Nice junk food," Kalshion said from the next bench down.

"Yep," Katarina said, grabbing a chocolate bar. "What are the odds of Wendy making four ten story piles of junk food for this fight?"

"Very bad," Ranma said from the next bench down. "She made at least six."

"This stuff is good," Akane said, grabbing some fruit punch from her pile of junk food.

"Where is everyone anyway?" Ranma asked as he stuffed his face.

"Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi started fighting over who would grab you while you were in shock," Rose said. "Mousse chased after a dog thinking it was Shampoo. Soun and Genma are inside. Who am I missing?"

"Nabiki and Kasumi left at the first sign of a fight," Akane said. "I think Nabiki was dragging Kasumi, actually."

"Tommy and the bakas are trapped under the junk food," Wendy called.

"Shaoran, Kero, Yue, and I are sitting next to you eating from our own piles of junk food," Sakura said, sitting on a bench next to the one Sonic and Rose were sitting on. Kero and Yue were at the next bench over.

"I am filming this whole thing," Tomoyo said, sitting in a tree to get a better view with her camera. "Toya left with Kasumi and Nabiki."

"Where is Kia?" Sonic asked, looking around. "Haven't seen her for a while."

"Hiding from Emily," Jeremy said, walking past with a trash barrel. "Emily isn't happy with her, apparently."

"Incoming," Kalshion said as MM flew past, right into Wendy. "What are the odds?"

"Ouch," Wendy said. "Get off yourself, you oaf!"

"Sorry," MM said, standing up. This elicited a mallet smashing from Wendy.

"Pervert," Wendy said, kicking MM back into the fight.

"You would think you could keep control of yourself with your other half," the doll taunted.

"What just happened?" Rose asked.

"MM groped Wendy," Sonic said. "I wonder if Wendy noticed her panties are missing."

"Yep," Rose said as Wendy's mallet slammed into the back of MM's head. "I think she noticed."

Two days later

"I ran out of junk food," Kero yelled.

"You already ate five piles," Yue said. "I think you had enough."

"When was the last time those two fell asleep?" Rose asked, yawning. "The fighting is more intense then."

"They just woke up," Emily said. "I wish dad would start fighting for real though. This fake fighting is boring the hell out of me."

"I resent that!" Kia yelled from the tree she was tied up in.

"Hey me," Wendy yelled. "Start fighting for real or I come kick my ass myself!"

"Oh alright," MM yelled, launching an assault on the doll. Fifteen seconds later the doll's lightsabre was broken in two, the shard was extracted from the doll, and MM was drinking a soda.

"About time," Wendy said. "I knew I could beat that doll easy."

"Would you at least turn me back into a doll?" the doll asked. "This body doesn't have enough equipment to use a bathroom, and I am going to have to use one soon without that shard!"

"Oh alright," Wendy said, zapping the doll back into doll form.

"We should get going," Rose said, looking at her watch. "We are two days overdue, and I actually feel relaxed after watching someone else fight for two days."

"Now you know why guys watch TV for hours on end," Sonic said, grinning.

"I guess I should go too," Wendy said, opening a portal. "Nadeshiko is probably wondering why I haven't returned."

"Who was that?" Sonic asked. "I couldn't hear you over Rose putting me in a headlock."

"You will find out soon enough," MM said as Rose let Sonic go. Sonic ended up stepping away from Rose for a minute, standing right next to Wendy, with MM standing right in front of Rose.

"So long," Wendy said, leaning over and kissing Sonic on the cheek. Just as Rose was about to go nuclear and attack Wendy, MM leaned over and kissed Rose on the cheek, putting Rose into shock. Before Sonic or Rose could recover from the shock of being kissed, MM and Wendy had merged and left, the portal closing behind them.

"Do we kill him," Sonic said, coming out of shock. "Or was that a grandparent like thing?"

"If it was a grandparent like thing," Rose said, shaking her head. "I want to know how he knew my grandfather kissed me like that."

"He can do things most people think are impossible," Sakura said. "Can we leave now?"

That night

"How do you think Sakura knows more about MM then we do?" Sonic asked, getting ready for bed.

"According to this book," Rose said, holding up a small book. "MM was good friends with Clow Reed. Could that be part of it?"

"Where did you get that?" Sonic asked, looking at Rose.

"MM slipped it into my pocket when he kissed me," Rose replied.

"Then we can't trust anything in it," Sonic said, climbing into bed.

"Good point," Rose said, tossing the book in the trash. "Got a brick?"

"Here you go," Sonic said, handing Rose a brick. A moment later the brick knocked out the cameraman, causing the camera to fall to the ground and break. Thus, we don't know what happened next.

"Says who?" Kia asked, changing the channel to a hidden camera in Sonic and Rose's room.

"So, should we go see MM in the morning?" Rose asked Sonic.

"Sure, why not," Sonic said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Rose responded, kissing Sonic. The two then went to sleep.

"Damn," Kia said, turning off the TV. "Nothing good."

Chapter 45
The Meeting
Prepare Shock Absorbers!

The next morning

"So, do you think he will be around?" Rose asked Sonic as they activated their pendants.

"He had better be," Sonic said, stepping through the portal. "Right?"

"Right," Rose said as the portals closed behind them. A moment later MM appeared out of the mist.

"Welcome. What kept ya?" MM said.

"Mental struggle," Sonic said.

"Enough is enough," Rose said, glaring at MM. "First you get Sonic to curse the school for a week, then you fight that doll with a lightsabre at Kyoto. Now you are going to tell me EVERYTHING about that pen of yours."

"You do realize that your glaring doesn't affect me," MM said, grinning. Sonic and Rose couldn't see MM's face, but they were still sure he was grinning. "As for my pen, all you had to do is ask to begin with."

"Shall we discuss it here or somewhere more," Sonic said, pausing. "Comfortable?"

"Good idea," MM said, dismissing the mist that he had come out of, showing a door. "Shall we head inside?"

"INSIDE?" Sonic and Rose said, staring at the door. "You mean every time we have come here we have been OUTSIDE?"

"Not really," MM said, opening the door. "This is a portal to my dimension."

"Isn't this your node?" Sonic said, slightly confused.

"Yes," MM said. Somehow, Sonic and Rose could tell his grin got wider. "But I also have my equivalent of a house here. Don't mind my houseguest, she is a tad clumsy."

"Don't suppose you could step through the door so we can come in?" Rose said, smiling a little.

"Oh, sorry," MM said, walking through the door. Sonic and Rose followed him, finding themselves in a living room.

"Room? This is more like a stadium!" Sonic said, pulling out a football and throwing it seventy yards down the room.

"This small thing?" MM said, shaking his head. "If you think this is big, you should see my bathroom."

"Then lets see it," Rose said. "I have to use it anyway."

"Down the hall, the big white gates on the left," MM said, gesturing to a nearby hallway. "Don't go in the black gates on the right, that is the pointy objects death trap."

"Alright," Rose said, going down the hall. Twenty minutes later a nearby phone rang, and MM picked it up.

"Hello," MM said. "Yep, uh-huh, alright. I will send Sonic to get you." With that MM hung up and turned to Sonic.

"Who was that?" Sonic said, looking at MM.

"That was Rose," MM said. "She got lost in the bathroom. Why don't you go find her?"

"How do you get lost in a bathroom?" Sonic asked himself as he walked down the hall. As soon as he turned into the white gates he had his answer. In front of him was a spherical area the size of the moon. To his left was a large map of the bathroom, showing that this was only the entrance hall. Off of it were several larger rooms, each of those having several rooms off of them. All of these rooms had interconnecting doors and such, and gravity apparently worked to push you away from the center of the room you were in so that the entire spherical area was useable.

Ten minutes later Sonic was working his way to where he assumed Rose would have ended up. He had the foresight to look for a pamphlet map to his right when he walked in, and had a small collection of them just in case. It didn't take him long to find Rose, and then he re-traced his steps to get back to the entrance.

"Thank you," Rose said, sitting down on a bench by the gate. "That thing was complicated."

"You should have had a map or twenty," Sonic said, pointing at the wall full of pamphlet maps.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing," Rose said, getting up and dragging Sonic back to the living room. "Lets go get talking."

"Welcome back," MM said. "Have fun in the bathroom?"

"No," Rose said, glaring at MM. "What is the deal having a bathroom that big?"

"That is the guest bathroom," MM said, walking over to a nondescript door. "This is one of the bathrooms I normally use." With that he opened the door to show a small, normal-sized bathroom.

"I don't know why," Sonic said, looking into the smaller bathroom. "This just doesn't seem right. I thought it would be bigger."

"Why would I need anything bigger?" MM said. "For pete's sake, I might get lost!"

"Rasafrasn MM," Rose grumbled.

"What was that?" MM asked Rose.

"Who is Pete?" Rose snapped.

"My pet cat," MM responded. "He has been lost in the guest bathroom for over two thousand years though."

"Even with a bathroom that big," Sonic said, shaking his head. "A cat, lost for two thousand years?"

"Oh, you only saw the first level," MM said, grinning. "There are five hundred levels, a map at the duplicate gate for each level. They tend to cross over each other at random points, making it almost impossible to navigate if you don't realize you changed levels."

"Why do you need a bathroom that big?" Rose asked, shocked.

"I built it for a party," MM said, his teeth actually showing. "I had every Q over for dinner. Took them six months to get out of the bathroom afterwards."

"I changed my mind," Sonic said. "The cat doesn't have a hope of escaping."

"Would you get to explaining the pen?" a female voice called from a couch twenty yards away. "I am getting bored waiting for the full story myself."

"It can't be," Rose said, rubbing her eyes. "She's dead!"

Sonic would have said something, but his jaw had fallen off of his face.

"Cut it out you two," Nadeshiko said, walking up to Sonic. She reached down, picked up his jaw, and stuck it back on his face. "It isn't like you haven't seen me dead before."

"B..b..b..b..but you are alive!" Rose stammered.

"I assure you," MM said, leading Rose to a chair. "She is quite dead."

"Then how is she solid?" Sonic asked, finally recovering from the initial shock. Well, at least long enough to pull a case of Blood Wine out of his pocket.

"Long story," MM said. "Short version is that this node is in a position of being in the plane of the living, the plane of the dead, and the plane of limbo all at once. If you aren't born in this node you generally can't take on a non-corporeal form."

"Then how is it that spirits move on to the land of the dead in this node?" Rose asked. She was, without thinking about it, creating pink question marks above her head.

"Quantum vibrations cause the land of the dead to co-exist in the same plane of existence as the land of the living," MM said, handing Rose a case of Romulan Ale. "Aside from the world you have been staying in. That one has a separate world for its afterlife. Shall we move on to my pen now?"

"I don't know," Sonic said, relaxing with his fifth bottle of Blood Wine. "Maybe we should start with you in general."

"Alrighty then," MM said, reaching for the front of his cloak. "Lets start with dumping the cloak." With that, MM pulled the cloak off to reveal a colorless non-corporeal mass of energy.

"Now THAT is interesting," Rose said, rubbing her eyes again. "How can energy like that be impossibly neutral in color, brightness, and contrast all at once?"

"Enough of that," Wendy's voice came from the energy. A moment later Wendy herself was standing where the energy had been.

"A little clothing perhaps?" Nadeshiko said, handing Wendy MM's cloak.

"Oops," Wendy said, throwing the cloak on. A moment later it had changed into a Furinkan High school uniform. "Forgot I didn't have my cloak on."

"So what ARE you anyway?" Sonic asked, still blushing from Wendy's clothing omission.

"It began a long time ago," Wendy said, a screen moving down behind her. "Back then there was no control in the matrix, and two teams of scientists were working together to bridge the far ends of the matrix with technology. They figured they could revolutionize communication between the distant worlds of the matrix this way, but they screwed up royally."

The screen lit up, showing a team of scientists working on what looked remarkably like a Stargate. They appeared to be powering it up for the first test, everyone wearing protective gear just in case. Finally the gate powered up, and electrical bolts started shooting out from the center of the gate. Attempts to shut the gate down failed as the entire team ran for their lives.

"The scientists had no idea what they were tinkering with," Wendy continued. "Their technology was perfect for the receiving end of a link, but they neglected the path finding routines needed to dial out. Instead, they breached the planes and brought two beings from another matrix far away to this one. Two beings that were based almost entirely on dark energy. The gate merged them into a single being before it shut down, only to be destroyed as that being blew up the planet."

A dark being came out of the electrical storm that was the center of the gate, looking around. A minute later it fired a blast into the center of the planet, just before it left. Not long afterwards the planet exploded, leaving no traces of the machine behind.

"This being tormented the matrix for several years, until the second scientific team finished their gate. They knew what had happened with the first gate, and had reversed the polarity. They had hoped this would cast the evil plaguing the matrix from the world, but instead it brought another power into it."

Another gate appeared on the screen, nearly identical to the first. This one was doing pretty much the same thing the first had as well, an electrical storm forming at the center of the gate. Moments later another being stepped out of the storm, and the gate shut down.

"This being was a combination of two beings based almost entirely on light energy, and it sensed the presence of its darker predecessor. It disabled the gate it had come from, more peacefully then the dark being had, and went after the evil plaguing the matrix."

The screen faded out as the being left the planet, only to re-focus on the two beings from the gates. They floated there in the middle of the matrix, seeming to be in a staring contest.

"The two beings stared each other down initially, unsure of what the other would do. Eventually they both materialized swords and began to fight, slowing taking on male forms as they did so."

The screen changed again, this time to a massive battle between the nodes. On one side was the being born of the dark, wearing all black and wielding a black sword. On the other side was the being born of the light, wearing white clothing and bearing a white sword. All over the place were cameras and betting agents, including the ever-popular Q.

"Over the years the two became expert fighters. Nothing could have stopped either of them, yet they continued fighting. One fateful day, however, a mistake was made. A critical blow was dealt to each being, and they sought to heal themselves with their opponent's energy. Instead, the two merged, forming a single being. That being realized what had to be done, and put many things in motion. Thus ended the famous Nixoplat battle."

"That was a LONG time ago," Rose said, putting down a bowl of popcorn she had been munching on. "Over ten quadrillion years ago."

"Amazing how the video records are still around," Sonic said. "They don't build them like they used to."

"The being that was formed from that battle became a legend, people all over thinking they saw it but never being sure," Wendy continued. "To this day you three shall be the only ones native to this Matrix to learn exactly what I did following my birth on that day."

"WHAT!" Sonic, Rose, and Nadeshiko all yelled at the same time. Rose spilled her popcorn, Sonic spilled some Blood Wine, and Nadeshiko hurt herself on the table.

"You mean YOU were born on that day?" Sonic said, eyes wide.

"Yes," Wendy said.

"But the only beings that have survived since then are the Q," Nadeshiko said, in shock. "They only pull it off because they merged their collective life-force with the energy of their node."

"So that is how they do it," Rose said, thinking. "But that still doesn't explain your long life."

"Who said I am truly alive?" Wendy said as a bunch of robots cleaned up the mess and bandaged Nadeshiko's injury. "The two beings that I was born of the merging of were each half alive, half dead. Each was also half male and half female, making me half male, half female, half alive, half dead, half light, and half dark. Over the eons all of the parts melded together to form a single, uniform being that can see the true nature of the universe without being swayed by the light, the dark, the masculine, the feminine, the living, or the dead. Unfortunately, it left me with no body to call my own, no family I could feel comfortable calling my own, and for many years no being, dead or alive, to love."

"Thanks," Rose said to a robot that handed her a tissue.

"During this time I prodded the right people in the right directions," Wendy continued. "Eventually the Inter-Matrix Authority was developed. I would have preferred that the naming followed the standard pattern elsewhere, but it couldn't be helped. I did sign on as the first, and for many years only, operative."

"You were Operative One?" Sonic said, his eyes going wide again.

"No, I was not," Wendy said, tossing Sonic a badge. "I was, and still am, Operative Zero."

"You must have your hand in everything that went on in the authority for millennia," Rose said, looking at the badge.

"That I did," Wendy said, smiling. "Although most of the time the authority didn't realize it. I was, for many years, the sole operative, funder, architect, and scientist for the authority, all at the same time."

"Impossible," Nadeshiko said, looking at Wendy. "You may be able to change bodies, but there is no way you could prove that you did all of that."

"Think of the names of all of those people," Wendy said, grinning. "Don't you think it is odd that they all have the initials MM?"

"Good point," Nadeshiko said, sitting down again. "But that can't be the end of your story."

"It isn't," Wendy said. Nobody had noticed that the screen was now gone. "I decided to vanish abruptly, fooling everyone including the Q. I explored this node more, and finally saw the woman of my dreams. I took a male form for twenty thousand years, prolonging her life with my love, and she bore my only children shortly before her death. The day she died the entire Nexial Matrix went into panic, afraid that I might snap and destroy a chunk of it on a whim. Luckily, that day never came."

"They still monitor every power spike from you," Nadeshiko added. "I think they still think that day may yet arrive."

"And so it might," Wendy said. "In reflection, emotion is the primary force within me that I cannot control. It is my sole weakness, and my greatest strength. More recently I decided to get some rest, and slept for a hundred years. During that time the two of you were born, and have lived out your lives. Until that aura woke me up I hadn't even known you existed."

"You forgot your period of training me," Nadeshiko said, grinning.

"You can tell them about that if you want," Wendy said. "Right now I think we should go on to this." With that Wendy held out the pen that had caused this meeting.

"You trained her?" Rose said, staring at Wendy. "But how?"

"Another tale for another day," Wendy said. "As for this pen, you know it was made by Totosai. What you don't know is that it was made from my own fang, a piece of energy from each of my four parts, and technology from Washu combined with software I wrote."

"Dangerous combination," Sonic said, realizing he was still standing. He sat down, never taking his eyes off of the pen.

"Indeed," Wendy said. "But also a great power for healing. The pen can transform into almost anything I can think of, and has artificial intelligence rivaling the greatest of minds."

"I thought it was going to be a simple sword," Nadeshiko said. "But NOOOOO, it had to be more powerful then anything else I have ever seen created."

"What about when you created our keys?" Rose asked.

"They are only as powerful as the person wielding them," Nadeshiko said. "I made them to restore balance, not magnify power out of proportion like that pen does."

"My pen only doubles the power of the one wielding it," Wendy said. "And then only if I am the one using it."

"What happens if someone else uses it?" Nadeshiko asked.

"At worst, they get the power of the program I wrote," Wendy said. "At best, they are obliterated from existence."

"Seems a tad backwards to me," Sonic said, looking at Wendy. "Shouldn't it be better for them if they aren't obliterated from existence?"

"Oh, you meant from THEIR point of view?" Wendy said, feigning shock. "I was talking about MY point of view."

"I don't suppose you suffer from any personality disorders," Rose said, glaring at Wendy.

"But of course," Wendy said, grinning. "I have five minds in my head at all times. That would give me four hundred seventy five personality combinations, without using partial and repressed personalities from each of the five. Using the partial and repressed personality combinations I have an unlimited number of personalities to draw upon."

Rose stood there, shocked at the glimpse into the inner workings of MM's mind. Sonic, on the other hand, acted like he hadn't heard a thing, still drinking Blood Wine.

"Did you understand any of that?" Wendy asked Sonic.

"Nope, not one bit," Sonic replied, taking another swig of the Blood Wine. "I don't plan on trying for a long time, either."

"What happened to Nadeshiko?" Rose finally said, coming out of her shock when she realized Nadeshiko hadn't said anything. Everyone turned to where Nadeshiko had been, and found the chair she had been sitting on missing.

"I am down here," Nadeshiko called from the other end of the room. "I think I teleported during my initial shock."

"The klutz," Wendy said, shaking her head. "I'm lucky she hasn't blown the place up yet."

"Could she really do that?" Rose asked, intrigued.

"All she would have to do is pull the red lever," Wendy said, pointing at a red lever behind her. "Five minutes later, BOOM!"

"Is it all that wise to keep something that could blow up your home out in the open like that?" Sonic asked, examining the lever.

"My home?" Wendy said, shaking her head again. "That would cause a chain reaction liable to take out half the matrix."

Sonic wasted no time in distancing himself from the lever as if it were a plague he could catch by merely looking at it. Rose did pretty much the same, and Nadeshiko turned around and went back to where she had teleported to. Nadeshiko knew she was a klutz, and a klutz KNOWING about something that dangerous was bad news.

"What the hell," Wendy said, walking over to the lever. "Lets pull it!" Sonic and Rose didn't have time to stop Wendy before she grabbed the lever and pulled it down. A moment later the lever started to glow, and screens popped out of the walls everywhere with a five minute countdown.

"She went insane," Rose said, grabbing Sonic. "We have to stop her!"

Over the next few minutes Sonic started to babble things that made no sense, getting more frantic with each passing second. Rose wasn't faring much better herself, although she was growing long nails and biting them down instead. Nadeshiko didn't seem overly worried about herself, but then again, she is already dead. She was, however, worried about the matrix, even though she found herself trapped in the room. She refused to stop babbling things about saving various nodes.

Sonic finally seemed to crack as the countdown hit thirty seconds. "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" he yelled, running around the room.

"Crybaby," Wendy said, walking back into the room. The timer was now at twenty seconds. "You couldn't even use your heads!"

"TO DO WHAT?" Rose yelled, grabbing Wendy and throwing her against the wall next to the lever. The countdown hit ten seconds as she did this.

"I don't know," Wendy said, grinning. The timer was counting down at this point, second by agonizing second. "Why not just turn it off?" With that Wendy flipped the red lever back up, the countdown aborted with one second to spare, and all the countdown screens vanished.

Sonic, Rose, and Nadeshiko went unconscious immediately.

Three hours later, Sonic woke up. Rose was still unconscious, but he didn't try and wake her. Nadeshiko seemed to have vanished, and he hadn't even expected Wendy to be around. He did go over to the lever, however, to take a better look at it.

"What made me think I couldn't flip this back up?" Sonic mumbled as he looked around the entire block of the wall the lever was embedded in. Finally he noticed a small Vulcan inscription at the bottom of the block. Pulling out a magnifying glass, he read the inscription out loud to himself. "MM industries presents the destructo-lever. Prank your friends, make them think you are going to blow up half the matrix with the flip of a lever! Continue the fun by flipping the lever back up at the last second, as it won't budge again until then!"

"You don't appear to be pissed off," Wendy said, looking at Sonic from the hallway. "I assume you read Vulcan, so where is the anger?"

"I know I should probably be angry," Sonic said, grinning. "But then again, that was the perfect prank. Especially with the setup. I congratulate you!"

"Thank you," Wendy said, taking a bow. With that Sonic punted her head eighty yards down the room. Amazingly enough, her body stayed right where it was.

"There is the anger," Sonic said, grinning some more. "Didn't mean for you to lose your head over it though."

"You do realize that stings," Wendy said from a green blob growing out of her neck, quickly finishing to form a new head. "Then again, I don't mind the sting."

"How much for one of these things?" Sonic asked, pointing at the lever. "Might make a good joke in a few hundred years, once Rose forgets about this event."

"I'll put it on your account," Wendy said, pulling the lever off of the wall. She then pressed a button on the back, causing it to turn into a small capsule. "It has some intelligence and will normally emulate whatever the puller wants it to. Unless it comes up with a better idea." She then handed Sonic the capsule, and he put it in a hidden pocket in his cloak.

"Where did Nadeshiko go, anyway?" Sonic asked, looking around.

"She has a high tolerance for fainting," Wendy said. "Perk of being dead. She woke up a few minutes later and stormed out. Last time I checked, she was sitting in a tree near Furinkan High."

"Thanks," Sonic said, going over to wake Rose up. "Me and Rose have some more things we want to ask her."

"Your grammar is atrocious," Wendy said, grinning. "You should have said Rose first, not yourself."

"So I have a lot on my mind," Sonic said, pulling some water out of nowhere. He splashed Rose, who woke with a start, then dragged her to the nearest exit.

This proved to be a bad idea, as the exit he dragged her to happened to lead into Happosai's mind. After the initial shock, Sonic slammed the door shut and went for the door they had come in through. A few minutes later they were at Furinkan High, but unable to find Nadeshiko anywhere.

"So I wasn't paying attention to what form I was taking when I left," a young girl in a tree house across the street from Furinkan High yelled. "Would someone tell those two I am over here?"

"We heard you," Rose said, leaning back in a chair in the tree house. "Nice place. Who built it?"

"I have no clue," Nadeshiko said. "I just ended up here."

"We have a couple more questions to ask you," Sonic said, leaning back in another chair. "For starters, did you know Sakura would evolve?"

"No, but I felt the same presence you did coming from Sakura's world," Nadeshiko responded. "I later found out a few years before she actually did evolve."

"And the other question," Rose said, leaning forward. "Why are you with HIM?"

"Well," Nadeshiko said, leaning back in a chair. "I suppose it started almost two hundred years ago, when I died."

"Impossible!" Rose yelled. "You died, what, 37 years ago?"

"No," Nadeshiko said. "I will get to that, by the way. At any rate, I was prepared to move on to the other side when I died when I was approached by MM. He gave me a choice, either I could move on, or I could stay back and help protect existence itself. I chose to stay back, after taking a grueling entrance exam. MM trained me for twenty years, then I went out on my own. Over that time we became good friends, even with our differences. He never told me what he talked about today, however. I was there when his wife died, man was that a fiasco. Not long after that he started his nap, that Dark Sonic woke him up from when he entered this node. I was assigned to watch him, actually, despite him technically being my superior."

"You skipped how you died two hundred years ago," Sonic said, sitting on the edge of his seat.

"Oh, that," Nadeshiko said. "Sorry, I got caught up on MM. The world I came from wasn't originally locked to the matrix timeline. That was a little trick I learned during my training. In fact, I practiced on this world here. Never did get it so that I could make a lock MM couldn't reverse, though. At any rate, just before you entered the world I locked it to matrix time, choosing the point in its timeline I felt was best for you to enter at."

"I see," Rose said, sipping some Romulan Ale. Nobody knew where she got it, but then again, when do we know? "Now, I don't suppose you could explain about MM having a WIFE? I remember having it mentioned before, but I was preoccupied at that point with keeping MM from killing me."

"If you must drink something, have tea," Nadeshiko said. "This body couldn't hold more then a couple sips of alcohol, and the more I talk about this stuff the more I want some."

"Oh alright," Rose said, tossing the Romulan Ale away and pulling out some Tea. Sonic snapped his fingers and put away the Blood Wine he had pulled out, grabbing a teacup for himself as Rose continued. "Now, about MM's wife."

"She was a nice woman," Nadeshiko said, grabbing some tea for herself. "She and MM were deeply in love, and she bore Emily and Jeremy. Emily and Jeremy were exceptional children, able to move around the node twenty minutes after they were born. After a month they were roaming the matrix, although they have yet to get further then that. A few hundred later MM's wife died. That is about all I know of her officially. Rumor has it she was reincarnated and lost her love for MM, although I never had that confirmed."

"He truly loved her?" Sonic said, amazed. "If he really did love her, what happened when she died?"

"Lets just say that the display you saw after MM was split was like a firecracker compared to the big bang, just with anger instead of sorrow," Nadeshiko said. "And he was PREPARED for her death. Uh, guys?"

Sonic and Rose had dropped their teacups and gone wide-eyed, apparently in shock as to what had just been described. Nadeshiko snapped her fingers in front of their faces, got no reaction, shrugged, and left. Three hours later Sonic and Rose recovered.

"Where did Nadeshiko go?" Rose asked, looking around.

"I think she left while we were petrified with shock about what it could mean if MM was ever TRUELY pissed off," Sonic responded, cleaning up his broken teacup.

"He must have INCREDIBLE control to not destroy everything he touches," Rose commented, cleaning up her own teacup.

"That he does," Nadeshiko said, returning covered in dirt. "About time you two came out of shock."

"Where have you been?" Sonic said, rubbing some dirt from Nadeshiko's face. "You are filthy, doesn't seem like you."

"I was playing with some of the neighborhood kids," Nadeshiko said, grinning. "Every so often you have to let your inner child out, you know."

"Did you have any other shocking news for us?" Rose asked, handing Nadeshiko a washcloth. "Or did you have something easier to swallow?"

"Nothing much," Nadeshiko said, wiping her face and hands clean. "Just that MM has been mentally ill since his wife died. He was declared insane three days before he took his nap."

"He is mentally ill," Sonic said, turning to Rose. "You just HAD to torment him, didn't you. You, stooping to tormenting the ILL!"

"You would have to make me feel guilty," Rose said, glaring at Sonic. "How was I to know he was ill, anyway?"

"The records in your employee handbook with the inter-matrix authority clearly state that the being known as MM is insane," Nadeshiko said, pulling out a copy of the employee handbook and opening to the appropriate page.

"Told you we should have read those," Sonic said, looking at Rose.

"Sorry," Rose said, pulling out her mallet and flattening Sonic with it. "I didn't catch that."

"It was nothing," Sonic said, peeling himself off of the floor. "How does MM act when he has his mental health, anyway?"

"That depends," Nadeshiko said, pulling out a small book. "If he is in a good mood he can be a model citizen."

"And if he is in a bad mood?" Rose asked, not knowing if she wanted to know.

"You know how Q treated Voyager, right?" Nadeshiko asked. Sonic and Rose nodded, assuming Nadeshiko meant Q's child. "Well, MM tends to do worse, taking less into account."

"Got an example?" Sonic asked, almost afraid of what he might hear.

"MM once merged two incompatible worlds, forming a new world with conflicting physics," Nadeshiko said, flipping through her book. "The resulting world split itself again, forming two distinct worlds within itself. Other worlds also started to form within it as well, all of this eventually leading to the world where Digimon come from."

"That doesn't sound that bad," Rose said, looking at Nadeshiko. "Everything seems to have turned out ok there, or are we missing something?"

"The death of two hundred trillion people per world," Nadeshiko said, closing the book and putting it away. "Not a single soul survived. They didn't even make it to the afterlife, they were just eradicated. The people of the new world evolved on their own, instead of originating from the two worlds that had once been there."

"Shouldn't I feel more shocked right now?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic.

"I think we are either all shocked out," Sonic said, shaking his head. "Or, we are so used to DS ending lives that a statistic like that for someone else no longer shocks us. Either way, I don't see it as a good thing."

"By the way," Nadeshiko said as she turned to leave. "You might want to give Emily and Jeremy more respect. They are each four hundred years older then Sonic."

"They sure don't act like it," said Rose shocked.

"Your right about that," said Nadeshiko, looking at Rose with a grin on her face. "The two of you remind me of the way they act in the history crystals though. Not exactly, of course, as they are brother and sister and the two of you are lovers, but there is a definite resemblance." With that Nadeshiko left, leaving Sonic and Rose to think about her comment.

"She's gone, and I need a drink," Sonic said, pulling out some Blood Wine.

"Same here," Rose said, pulling out some Romulan Ale.

"We never drank this much in the past," Sonic said between sips of the Wine. "Wonder why we do now."

"I don't know," Rose said. "Maybe MM is driving us to drink."

"Or perhaps I forgot to remove a curse from the two of you," MM said, appearing out of nowhere. He tapped Sonic and Rose on the head, then vanished.

"So much for that habit," Sonic said, putting the Blood Wine away.

"Ditto," Rose said, putting the Romulan Ale away.

"Still, I might have the urge to relapse every so often," Sonic said, grinning.

"Let me know when and I might join you," Rose said, grinning herself.

Somewhere Nadeshiko was watching Sonic and Rose, grinning to herself. "There is a definite resemblance."

Chapter 46
The Fight
Battle mode 0333, Battlefield Setup, Ready, FIGHT!

Over the next week Sonic and Rose tried to make sense of everything they had been told, failing miserably. One day Sonic decided to call MM to try and clarify some things, and was shocked to find MM's address in the phone book.

"His phone number is unlisted," Sonic said, staring at the phone book. "Yet, his address is in here!"

"Must be him then," Rose said, looking over Sonic's shoulder. "Who else could do that around here, only in our copy of the phone book?"

"Lets go see this house he has here," Sonic said, writing down the address. "Might be fun."

An hour later Sonic and Rose were across town, walking down the dead-end street that MM's address was supposed to be on.

"Modern Mechanics," Rose said, pointing at a storefront off to the right. "Two Ms, lets check it out."

"Works for me," Sonic said, walking up to the door. As he walked through a bell rang, announcing their entrance.

"Hello there Sonic, Rose," a man called from the back room. "Wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Too bad I knew you would have the wrong address."

"What do you mean?" Rose called. "Aren't you MM?"

"He just let me know you would be coming," the man called back. He walked out of the back room, revealing himself to be Tom Paris. "This is, after all, a modified version of my garage on the holodeck."

"So where is his real address?" Sonic asked, surprisingly not surprised to find they had been talking to Tom Paris. "We were hoping to see his house from the outside."

"Just walk across the street," Tom said, going back into the back room. "See you later!"

"I didn't see a house across the street when we walked in here," Rose said, scratching her head.

"Maybe because it isn't a house?" Sonic asked, staring out the door. Rose joined him, finding that he was staring at a giant mansion on a hill with a half-mile of park-like land between it and the street.

"How did we miss THAT?" Rose asked, rubbing her eyes.

"We weren't paying enough attention to our surroundings?" Sonic asked, walking up to the ski lift station. He and Rose got into one of the hanging carts and rode all the way up to the house, amazed at what was below them as they moved along.

"Wasn't Furinkan high a block away in this direction?" Rose asked, looking around.

"Who said the laws of physics had anything to do with this place?" Sonic asked, looking through a pamphlet labeled 'How is this possible?'.

"Welcome to my public vacation home," Wendy called out to Sonic and Rose as they stepped out of the cart. "Not as big as my bathroom, I'll admit, but it is spacious enough."

"And where is your private vacation home?" Rose asked, looking at Wendy. "This one seemed hard enough to find."

"I keep my private vacation home inside a black hole," Wendy said, grinning. "Keeps most people out. I do get a lot of crushed junk though."

"Might have to go around looking for it then," Sonic said. "I could fight off the crushed junk no problem."

"You probably couldn't fight your way out of my lunch bag," Wendy said, giggling.

"Lunch bag?" Sonic said, grinning. "I thought you needed a lunch PLANET with all the food you eat."

"At least I know when I am being affected by outside energy sources," Wendy shot back. "You couldn't even tell my energy was causing you to drink and get drunk!"

"Says the person that gets a kick out of playing with the lives of other people," Sonic returned. "At least I try and impact lives in a minimalistic way."

"So says the person that made it their mission for a week to curse an innocent individual that never did anything to them," Wendy fired back.

"That's it," Sonic said, fire in his eyes. "Lets settle this the old-fashioned way, a fight. I needed to get you back for those kisses anyway!"

"Fist, verbal, or digital?" Wendy said, fire visible in her eyes as well.

"A fight to the DEATH," Sonic yelled, pulling out Kibou.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Rose yelled.

"She has a point," Sonic said, looking around. "Lets go fight in your bathroom. More room and less innocent people there."

"Works for me," Wendy said, opening a portal. "Meet you there in an hour."

"Will do," Sonic said, rushing off to prepare.

"THAT ISN'T WHAT I MEANT!" Rose screamed, even though Sonic and Wendy were gone. "Why can't they control themselves? They are acting like Emily and Jeremy." Rose realized the implications behind that, given what Nadeshiko had said before, and rushed home to see if Emily and Jeremy had any idea what to do about the upcoming battle. Hopefully she could find a solution before someone died. Or got lost forever in the bathroom, whichever came first.

An hour later Rose had no idea how she was going to stop them getting lost, let alone fighting, in the bathroom. She did, however, have two duffel bags, a backpack, a fanny-pack, all her pockets, and her socks stuffed with the bathroom maps. Of course, then she found out that the bathroom was no longer a maze of rooms, but a single, gigantic sphere with nothing in it.

"WHERE DID THE BATHROOM GO?" Rose yelled into the sphere.

"It converted to battle mode," a small cat said, licking it's paw. "Thank goodness, too. I thought I was going to be trapped in it forever."

"You must be MM's cat," Rose said, putting all the maps back on the wall.

"Yep," the cat responded. "Now I am going to go see my good friend Q." With that, the cat vanished, and Rose had a fleeting thought of the cat being a potentially tough opponent. She shook this off, however, as Sonic and MM appeared in the bathroom, ready to do battle.

"I want a promise first," Sonic yelled to MM. "Neither of us stops until one of us is dead or neither of us can continue fighting."

"You got it," MM yelled back, drawing a standard samurai sword. Surprisingly, he wasn't using his pen. Sonic, on the other hand, was using Kibou in a large, curved sword form. The two wanted to waste no time in the battle, so they immediately launched their attacks without going through the standard practice of yelling out what attacks they were using.

Three hours later Rose had stopped freaking out, and was sharing a giant bowl of popcorn with Nadeshiko. She was slightly worried about MM seeming to slowly gain the upper hand, but she figured that Sonic would come out with a much more desperate attack once he was put up against the wall. What she didn't know was that Sonic was having second thoughts about the whole thing, with his pride preventing him from trying to stop the fight and make up with MM. He also had realized that he had challenged someone who was technically mentally ill, which went against his own morals. He wasn't sure if he could live with himself if he won, but didn't want to just give up and die.

Of course, battling yourself in your head while battling physically is usually a bad idea, and thus Sonic left himself wide open several times in a row. MM appeared not to notice the first few, even though Nadeshiko noted that MM saw them, before he finally took advantage of one of them and sliced both of Sonic's legs off. Sonic wasted no time in regenerating them, but he knew that he was weaker from it. Legs don't grow on trees, after all, and even when they do they take a lot of energy to make. Slowly but surely Sonic weakened as MM found more openings to cut off more limbs, until Sonic was unable to regenerate either of his legs nor his left arm. Enough physical damage at this point would be enough to kill Sonic, for good.

"What are you waiting for," Sonic said, leaning on his right arm. "You promised to not stop until one of us was dead, or neither of us was able to fight. Don't go back on that promise now."

"Alright then," MM said, raising his sword for the final blow. "But remember, you asked for it."

Off in the Swiss Alps

"Why am I always in the Swiss Alps when I feel intense pain," DS groaned. "It was bad enough when my legs and left arm fell off."

"Suck it up you wimp," one of DS's minions said. "I have to perform this horribly painful healing ritual you know. No more distractions."

DS just moaned.

Back with Sonic and MM

"See you in the afterlife," MM said, power coursing through the samurai blade. "I plan on visiting it next month, you know."

"Be sure to stop by," Sonic said, preparing for oblivion.

MM started his downswing, making sure he would be unable to stop himself so that he would be guaranteed to follow through with his promise. Mid-swing he noticed a large pink blast of energy off towards the entrance to the bathroom. By the time he turned his head to look all he could see was a blast of energy filling all of his vision, just before it hit him. A moment later he was unconscious, his sword having ended up going through his own chest, holding him in place at a point on the sphere the bathroom had become. A careful observer would note that he seemed to be acting like a corrupt hologram, parts of him fading out in static at random, but only to reveal his internal energy.

Rose, on the other hand, was just recovering from the explosion of energy she had just gone through. Her fully blue eyes started to fade back to white and blue as her pupils went from pink back to black. She looked like a mess, but that didn't stop her from rushing to Sonic's side. It didn't take her long to cast a healing spell on him, putting him on the path to recovery. Her mind then snapped back to what she had just done, and she realized that MM might actually be close to death himself from the blast. She rushed over to where he was pinned by his sword, and immediately collapsed from intense pain. She pulled herself back to her feet, realizing she was in a puddle of her own blood, that had been trailing behind her since she had exploded with energy.

"Don't know when I started bleeding when hurt," Rose said, pulling the sword out of MM's chest. She then started working a healing spell on MM, ensuring that he was on the road to recovery as well. Moments later she collapsed again, falling over MM's unconscious body. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, and was now quickly approaching death herself. She had a smile on her face, however, knowing that Sonic and MM would both be ok because she had pushed herself to heal them.

Sometime later

"Where am I?" Rose mumbled, sitting up in the bed she was in. "Am I dead?"

"Far from it," Wendy said, walking in with a tray of food. "Thanks for healing me. Good thing I showed up, though, otherwise you would have died."

"What," Rose started, shaking her head. She decided she was just hearing things. "Is Sonic ok?"

"Sonic is fine," Wendy said, putting the tray of food in front of Rose. "By the way, I know you don't really need to eat, but this food contains powerful healing spells. So eat up. Doctor's orders."

"Since when are you a doctor?" Rose said, tasting a muffin.

"Since I founded the inter-matrix authority's medical program," Wendy said, walking to the door. "I have to go deliver Nadeshiko's breakfast now. I will be back to check on you later."

"Gotta be hearing things," Rose said, taking a bite out of the muffin. "Nadeshiko is dead, and wasn't in the fight. She thus doesn't need to eat, and doesn't need to be healed."

Meanwhile, Wendy is delivering Nadeshiko's breakfast, true to her word

"Thanks Wendy," Nadeshiko said, grabbing a fork and digging into the pancakes. "Ever since Rose exploded back at the fight I have had weird cravings. I even used the bathroom a couple of times for some reason."

"I did figure out why this is happening to you," Wendy said, sitting down in a chair. "You might be interested in knowing what exactly is going on."

"Please tell me," Nadeshiko said, drinking some orange juice. "It is driving me insane."

"Well," Wendy said, unsure of how to break it to Nadeshiko. "It seems that the energy Rose put out when she exploded, well, reanimated you."

"WHAT?" Nadeshiko said, chocking on her orange juice. "You mean..."

"Yes," Wendy said. "You are alive again."

The resulting scream could be heard at the Tendo Residence, where it woke up Ranma and Akane. It also made Wendy, Sonic, and Rose deaf for five minutes. When ears had stopped ringing Sonic and Rose rushed into Nadeshiko's room.

"Looks like you two are fully healed," Wendy said. "By the way Sonic, I kept my promise. I didn't stop until your wife incapacitated me."

"So I heard," Sonic said. "By the way, you seem to be acting different."

"Your wife's blow seems to have cured me of my mental illness," Wendy said, smiling. "Feels good to be in perfect mental health. Or, rather, as close to perfect as I ever get."

"So why are you staying Wendy for the time being?" Rose asked. "I thought you were more comfortable as a male."

"Not really," Wendy said. "I think I got sick of being a male. I barely left male-mode for thousands of years, after all. My female side wasn't happy with that."

"So now that you are in good health," Sonic said, sitting down. "I don't suppose you are going to get off that cursing kick of yours."

"Me?" Wendy said, holding back laughter. Nadeshiko was already laughing her head off. "Stop cursing?" Wendy finally lost it and started laughing her head off as well, just more literally. Sonic and Rose were confused, however, at the squealing laughter they were hearing. They didn't notice that a small pink pig had been walking past the door and was now rolling around in the hall laughing.

That was a good one," Wendy said, picking her head up off the floor. "You should apologize to Nadeshiko though."

"Why?" Sonic asked. "All she did was laugh."

"Well," Wendy said, walking over to Nadeshiko. "It would seem she died laughing. Good way to undo your wife's bringing her back to life, though."

"Thanks for that much," Nadeshiko said, rubbing tears from her eyes. "I was having a hard time adjusting to being alive again."

"Guess we should head home then," Rose said, grabbing Sonic. "Which way is the front door?"

"Hang a right outside of the door," Wendy said, gesturing to the door. "Go three miles down the hall until you see a brown door on the left. You then want the blue door three doors down from the brown door, on the right."

Three weeks later

"Figures," Rose said and she and Sonic finally made it to the correct door. "A mile down the hallway seemed to turn into an Escher painting."

"Worse then the one I turned the school into," Sonic said, walking through the door.

"Worse then the one you turned WHAT into?" Rose said, glaring at Sonic.

"Ooops," Sonic said, dashing off. "I have to go take care of a few things. See you back at the house."

"Where did I put my mallet," Rose mumbled as she went off to the house. "I have a feeling I will need it later."

Chapter 47
The Curse of the Triforce
Since when does the Triforce have 16 pieces?

That night, as Sonic was getting a beating with Rose's Mallet, Wendy was cooking up a whopper of a curse. She had finished the key to unlock the curse, and had even locked the shard that doll had been using inside the curse's keys. Now all she had to do was decide what curse to put on the town.

"Can't decide what to do to the town, can ya?" MM's cat said as it walked into the workshop.

"You know me too well," Wendy said, picking the cat up and putting it on the bench. "What do you suggest?"

"I want to do some gambling," the cat said. "And I have a score to settle with the Ferengi. Why not make it a space station casino?"

"Works for me," Wendy said, weaving the final instructions for the curse.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" the cat asked. "Such as a fifty year old and her husband, not to mention the two guardians they brought with them?"

"Oh, right," Wendy said, leaving. "Gotta send them home."

At the Jusenkyo Springs in China

"Hello there," Wendy called. "I wouldn't get too close to those springs."

"We know," Sakura said. "We were just examining your handiwork."

"Recognize my work, do you," Wendy said, grinning. "Not to mention me."

"Of course," Shaoran said. "Like we could forget you after you cursed my wife as a child, merging her with her costume."

"Or the time you introduced those damn cards of yours," Sakura said. "Kero was so confused."

"Or when we found you with Clow Reed, drinking Sake," Shaoran added. "Imagine, someone like you being good friends with him."

"How did you do that after my mother locked the world, anyway?" Sakura asked, looking at Wendy. "Weren't you asleep?"

"You kidding?" Wendy said, shocked. "Granted, I was good friends with Clow Reed a long time ago. I did the other stuff last week by my timeframe."

"So what did you come here for anyway?" Shaoran asked. "You don't usually show up without a reason."

"I was preparing my next big curse," Wendy answered. "I promised I wouldn't involve Sakura in a curse, so I have to send you guys home."

"And I bet the curse would be fun to see, even from the inside," Sakura said, kicking the ground. "I know it sounds childish, but I don't like others deciding this kind of thing for me."

"Please don't make her beg," Shaoran said. "I don't like her stooping to that."

"Well, technically you COULD sign a waiver," Wendy said, digging in her pockets. "You are both old enough, after all."

"We'll do it!" Sakura said, grabbing the waiver as soon as Wendy had it out. She had signed it before Wendy could blink, and Shaoran signed his while shaking his head and smiling slightly.

"Well then, don't forget to be in the Nerima area around noon tomorrow," Wendy said, taking the waivers and handing Sakura some datasheets. "I'll be sure to gloat to Nadeshiko that you went over her head for once." With that Wendy left, leaving Sakura slightly surprised that her own deceased mother was trying to control her life even now.

"So did you send Sakura home?" Nadeshiko asked as Wendy got back.

"No, I did not," Wendy said, walking over to a console and scanning the waivers in. "She and Shaoran signed waivers removing them from all protective measures you may attempt to force upon them. They are now in control of their own lives and can decide to stay or leave at their own will. They have decided to stay and enjoy themselves in my curse."

"WHAT," Nadeshiko yelled, her heart beating for a second. "YOU PROMISED!"

"My promise was that I wouldn't curse Sakura, implied against her will," Wendy said. "She has ASKED that she be involved with the curse, and as such, my promise has no jurisdiction."

"Legal issues keeping me from protecting my little girl," Nadeshiko said, slumping in a chair. "What has this matrix come to?"

"Your little girl is nearing the natural end of her life," Wendy said, tossing Nadeshiko a can of soda. "That, and she is far from little now. Let go already, it will be better for your nerves."

"What do you mean, the natural end of her life?" Nadeshiko said, looking at Wendy. "Isn't she going to live to be a hundred years or older?"

"I admit it," Wendy said. "I peeked. Unless something intervenes in the next two years, Sakura and Shaoran will die of simultaneous heart attacks from eating too much Kero-prepared spicy food."

"You were going to tell me this WHEN?" Nadeshiko asked, glaring at Wendy.

"I left a message on your voicemail last week," Wendy said. "Didn't you get it?"

"I don't know how to get my voicemail," Nadeshiko said, slumping more. "What kind of intervention would be needed?"

"Someone getting Kero to use something other then the cursed spices he bought off of DK yesterday," Wendy said, looking through receipts.

"And how is that NATURAL?" Nadeshiko responded.

"If I hadn't grabbed the spices on my recent visit to their home world then they would still be sitting in a small chest in Sakura's basement," Wendy said. "Kero would have found them, well, today."

"So you got money for something that would have been free?" Nadeshiko said, looking at Wendy. "That seems mean."

"He paid by disposing of 93 overstocked cakes," Wendy said, showing Nadeshiko the receipt. "Not exactly a bad trade, in my opinion."

"Well then," Nadeshiko said. "What would happen if he used those spices TODAY?"

"Excuse me while I go find a hazard suit," Wendy said, leaving the room quickly.

"WENDY!" Nadeshiko yelled, fire in her eyes, as she chased after Wendy.

Meanwhile, Kero was adding the aforementioned spices to a cake. Ten minutes later he had chocolate spice cake, using all of the cursed spices he had purchased.

"Want some cake?" Kero asked Sakura and Shaoran. "I just added a little spice to it."

"No thanks," Sakura said. "We have to finish some datasheets for a big curse coming up."

"Suit yourselves," Kero said, eating the whole cake in a single bite. "Mmmmm, spicy."

"Your stomach probably shouldn't be turning to plasma right now," Shaoran noted. "You might want to have that looked at."

"So the spices were a tad hot," Kero said, grinning. "Nothing I can't handle."

"So honey," Shaoran said, looking at the datasheet he was filling out. "What age do we want to be in this curse?"

"I don't know," Sakura replied, examining the datasheet. "Why is there an optional Happosai section with a 'Triple Breast Size' option?"

"I don't think we want to know," Shaoran said, looking over more of his datasheet.

"Did you guys sign waivers too?" Tomoyo asked, walking in with her own datasheet. "I can't decide what age I want to be."

"You have any weird options on your datasheet?" Sakura asked. "I have a Happosai section on mine."

"I have a Wendy section," Tomoyo replied. "Cursed camera is the only option. I decided to check it, might be fun."

"I think I will skip my added section," Shaoran said. "I am not in the mood to spend the whole thing as a girl."

"You had better not," Sakura said, glaring at Shaoran.

"That would be funny," Toya said, walking in. "I have the option of spending the curse with four arms myself."

"Hey Kero, Yue," Sakura said, looking over to where Yue was trying to figure out how Kero was containing pure plasma in his body. "Don't you two need to fill out waivers and datasheets as well?"

"Nope," Yue replied. "We filled out waivers back when Clow Reed was involved in one of these things. They should still be on file. Magical beings don't need datasheets, either."

"Not that grandfather would ask us to begin with," Kero replied, burping up some lava. "Clow Reed had to force him to give us waivers."

"Grandfather?" Shaoran asked. "Since when do you call ANYONE grandfather?"

"Been a long time since we started that habit," Yue replied. "We won't be kicking it anytime soon either."

"Oh well," Shaoran sighed. "Back to the datasheet."

Meanwhile, across town, Sonic and Rose are staring in a confused manner at the house.

"Since when did we have a ten story tall house?" Sonic asked Rose.

"According to the map inside the elevator," Rose said, reading the map inside the elevator. "Our room is on the top floor, Kia's room is in the basement. Emily's room is the fourth floor while Jeremy's is the ninth. Floors five through eight are a battle area for Emily and Jeremy. The first floor has the living room, the second the kitchen, and the third floor is dedicated to the bathroom."

"What is with the second basement?" Sonic asked, reaching over and pushing the button. A moment later the elevator opened five hundred feet below the surface, with Sonic and Rose plastered to the ceiling.

"Next time turn on the damn dampeners first," Rose said, peeling herself off the ceiling. "Now that we are here, however, shall we press the button that seems to be the only thing down here?"

"Aren't you usually more cautious?" Sonic asked, looking at the button.

"I left my caution in the basement," Rose said, pushing the button.

"Welcome to the ride of your life," a loud voice boomed as the elevator vanished. "If you thought the ride down was harsh, try the plasma stream ride back up!"

"For the record," Sonic said, watching the floor start to vanish. "YOU pushed the button."

"You brought us down here," Rose said, pulling out her mallet.

"And that plasma is sending us back up," Sonic said as the floor vanished beneath their feet and a stream of plasma shot out.

Six hours later Sonic and Rose fell out of their closet, encased in ice cubes. An hour after that the ice melted off of them and they were sitting next to a roaring fireplace.

"Trust a world run by MM to have a substance so COLD it was in a plasma state," Sonic said, grabbing some boiling hot chocolate from a nearby replicator.

"That and a shaft leading up into our closet," Rose added. "Lets just climb into bed and forget about that little experience."

"Should we warn the others about the second basement?" Sonic asked, jumping under the thick covers.

"What second basement?" Rose asked. "The button vanished from the elevator."

"Throw a coin in the coin-op," Sonic said, throwing Rose a jar full of coins.

"Sure thing," Rose said, dumping most of the jar into the coin operated device attached to the bed.

"Wait a minute," Sonic said, looking at the coin operated device. "Since when do we have one of those on our bed?"

"We don't," Rose said, looking at the device. "Shall we start it up?"

"Why not," Sonic replied. "Probably just vibrates the bed anyway."

"Here goes nothing," Rose said, pushing the button. She immediately regretted it, however, as the entire town started shaking. The device didn't stop there, however, as an energy field started to expand from it.

"Next time put ONE coin in it," Sonic mumbled, wondering what was going on.

"Might want to use real coins instead of plastic toy coins as well," Rose added, noting that the clouds outside seemed to be going by vertically.

Meanwhile, on a small island in the Atlantic

"Where on Earth did Nerima just vanish to?" DS wondered, looking in an atlas. "It isn't even in this TEN YEAR OLD ATLAS anymore!"

"Maybe it is in the index?" one of DS's minions commented. "You never know where things might end up in this node."

"Good idea," DS commented as he turned to the index. "Nerima...Nerima....Nerima STATION? IN ORBIT!"

"This is an odd node," the minion said.

"I wouldn't be in this state if you hadn't told me to look in the index," DS said, turning to the minion. "Aren't you the one that somehow made it so that I can't survive in space in this world as well?"

"Ummmm," the minion said, backing off. "Just remembered, I left an oven on.....in China......"

"Right," DS said, blasting the minion to dust with a wave of his hand. "Damned Curses R Us shop."

Back on Nerima Station....?

"I would say we aren't in Nerima anymore," Rose said, looking out the window at the space station. "We appear to be at the top of some kind of station."

"In that case," Sonic said, pulling himself out of the sheets. "Computer, where are we?"

"You are in the 'penthouse suite' of Nerima Station, the only known orbital gambling establishment in this quadrant," the computer replied.

"I stand corrected," Rose said, taking another look out the window.

"You seen the bed around?" Sonic asked, looking around the room. "I have the sheets, but nothing to put them on."

"Computer, bed," Rose said. A moment later the wall unfolded into a bed, right on top of Sonic.

"Thanks," Sonic said, rubbing his head as he pulled himself out from under the bed. "I think."

"Damn you," Kia said, walking in the door without knocking. "You would be getting ready for some fun in bed. Too bad the kids are coming up."

"KIDS?" Sonic and Rose yelled at the same time.

"Yea, the Kids," Kia said. "Now I have to go get ready for my first day running a booth down on the gambling floor, so that people can sell their souls for luck."

"What kids?" Sonic asked himself as Kia walked out the door. "And why do we have two closets full of uniforms?"

"These uniforms are my size," Rose said, pulling out a uniform. "They all say I am in Guest Relations."

"Mine say I am working with the Holosuites," Sonic said, pulling out one of his uniforms. "Guess we should throw these on. Can't have kids show up with us wearing nothing but undergarments."

"Weren't we fully clothed when we started the coin-op machine?" Sonic asked, looking at Rose.

"The entire area of Japan we were in was converted into a space station and launched into space," Rose said, pulling on her uniform. "You think I am going to question a lack of clothing?"

"Good point," Sonic said, pulling his uniform on. "Suppose the others have jobs as well?"

"Most likely," Rose said, checking her hair in a mirror as the door chimed. "Suppose that is the kids?"

"I would assume so," Sonic said, throwing a comb in his back pocket. "Enter."

"Hello," a young girl's voice came from the opening door. "We are here to be escorted to the magic show."

"It can't be," Sonic said, turning towards the door. "Sakura?"

"Who did you expect, Hinako?" Shaoran responded.

"We are on the schedule for escort to the magic show," Sakura said, pointing at a schedule being displayed near the door. "So can we get going?"

"Sure," Rose responded. "I guess it is my job...."

"Why are you two twelve years old?" Sonic asked, looking at Sakura and Shaoran.

"Why not?" Sakura responded, following Rose out the door.

"Figures," Sonic said, walking over to the display by the door. "Computer, please show me how to get to the holosuites." A moment later two small maps showed up, one showing a 'you are here' red dot in the penthouse suite and the other showing the holosuites.

"Please move the red dot to your destination," the computer responded.

"Why not," Sonic said, picking the red dot out of the screen and putting it outside the holosuites. Before he could blink he was suddenly there, looking at the holosuite doors.

"Better then transporters," the computer called out.

"So what is my job in dealing with these things, anyway?" Sonic wondered aloud.

"Not much," the computer responded helpfully. "Quark takes care of renting them out, engineering fixes them, the front desk routes all complaints to /dev/null."

"So much for that," Sonic said, pulling the title off of his uniform. "Consider me off duty then."

"Noted," the computer replied. "Please step backwards to join up with Rose."

"Sure thing," Sonic said, stepping back once. He then found himself falling two decks, right on top of Rose.

"Nice of you to drop in," Sakura said, looking at Sonic. "Could you let her do her job, though?"

"She is," Shaoran said. "And you know it. You are the one that pointed out that 'Landing pad for Sonic' was on her schedule."

"Shouldn't you have gone 'Hoeee' or something just now?" Rose asked as Sonic helped her up.

"We opted for personality tweaking," Shaoran responded. "Figured it would be fun not acting 100% like ourselves."

"Interesting how Tomoyo and Toya vanished though," Sakura said. "They are supposed to be our legal guardians during this whole curse."

"They didn't vanish," Shaoran said as Rose led the growing group onward. "They went off to meet the head of security."

"Why would they want to go meet Happosai?" Sakura wondered aloud. "Oh well, sucks to be them."

"Happosai is in charge of security," Sonic said, shaking his head. "That should be interesting."

"They went to see him because he blew Tomoyo's camera up," Shaoran said. "The computer was scared of the look on her face...."

"Then allow me to correct myself," Sakura said, grinning. "Sucks to be Happosai."

"Does the computer even have an emotion chip?" Rose wondered as they reached the hall where the magic show was to be held.

"Lets see," Sonic said, reading the sign outside the doors. "Main act is Mousse, with Ranma doing a secondary act. Akane, Shampoo and Kodachi are assistants."

"My schedule is clear from this point forward," Rose said, ripping her title off of her uniform. "Time for some off-duty entertainment."

"Considering you are buying popcorn from Ukyo," Sonic said, looking at Rose. "I assume you mean watching the fireworks, and not getting used to our penthouse suite."

"Like I am going to miss a show like this?" Rose responded, dragging Sonic to the front row.

"Where is Yue, anyway?" Sonic asked Sakura as she sat down next to him.

"Watching Happosai to stop him from causing trouble," Sakura responded.

"Kero would be in the kitchen," Rose said, placing the five gallon tub of popcorn between her and Sonic.

"I don't know which is worse," Shaoran said, looking at Sonic and Rose. "The fact that you are splitting a five gallon tub of popcorn, or that you each have a ten gallon soda."

"We would have alcohol," Sonic said, sticking a giant bendy straw into his soda. "But we feel guilty drinking in front of minors."

"Damn," Shaoran said, snapping his fingers. "Forgot we aren't allowed to drink."

"WOULD YOU TWO STOP FIGHTING ALREADY," a voice that could only belong to Ranma yelled from backstage, just before Ranma flew out onto the stage.

"You have fifteen minutes before the show starts," Rose said. "What is going on?"

"Time to change jobs," Ranma said, going over to a small booth next to the stage. "The other choice pays better and is probably safer." A moment later the booth started beeping.

"Attention," the computer said. "The secondary Magic Act of Ranma Saotome has been canceled. Ranko Saotome will be joining the assistants for the main act, however."

"Better then them fighting over me," Ranma said, coming out as a girl in an assistant's uniform.

"Be right back," Sonic said, going to a terminal on the back wall. A few minutes later he returned, an interesting look on his face.

"What's up?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic.

"When he said it paid better, he wasn't kidding," Sonic said.

"How much better?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic.

"Retire after one show better," Sonic said. "And he is scheduled to do 3 shows a day, every day."

"With Ranma just being one of the assistants this won't be any fun now," Rose said, handing her popcorn to Sakura and Shaoran. "Lets go see what the others are doing now."

"Whatever," Sonic said, finishing his soda.

"Wasn't that a ten gallon soda?" Sakura asked, watching Sonic dispose of the cup.

"We are on a space station that didn't even exist this morning," Shaoran said. "Like I am going to question someone drinking ten gallons of soda in a couple minutes?"

"So who should we find next?" Sonic asked Rose as they walked along the station.

"How about the person who seems to be expertly parking those spaceships?" Rose asked, looking out the window. "They should be coming out that airlock ahead."

"Can't be," Sonic said, looking out the window. "Ryoga appears to be in that airlock."

"Hey you two," Ryoga said as he came out of the airlock. "I keep on trying to park these things at docking bay 3, but I never seem to find it. You know where it is?"

"Sorry, can't help ya," Sonic said. "We don't know where anything is either yet."

"Oh well," Ryoga said, walking off. "Back to searching for it."

"This station only has two docking bays," Rose said, looking at Sonic. "And I get the feeling you know that."

"The fact that he doesn't know that fact is what is allowing him to be successful at his job," Sonic said, walking off. "Like I am going to tell him otherwise?"

"You had to have a good reason, didn't you," Rose said. "Lets go do some gambling or something."

"I don't know," Sonic said, looking at the gambling floor. "Nabiki and the Gambling King are running tables."

"If you are worried about losing money then go visit Kia or buy a good luck charm from Gosunkugi," Rose said, dragging Sonic towards the gambling floor.

"I would rather go grab something from Cologne," Sonic complained, motioning towards the Cat Cafe off to the side of the gambling floor. "Maybe visit that wedding chapel?"

"Why would you want to visit a wedding chapel?" Rose asked, turning to Sonic.

"The Dragon Shrine Wedding Chapel?" Sonic asked, pointing at the chapel next to the Cat Cafe. "How many people here would be running that?"

"We are supposed to be," Kalshion said, pulling on a slot machine. "But we aren't open today."

"Not enough people here yet," Katarina said, playing video poker across from Kalshion.

"WHEN DID YOU TWO SIT DOWN THERE?" Rose asked, staring at the two.

"While Sonic was yapping about the Cat Cafe, actually," Kalshion said, grinning.

"Speaking of me yapping," Sonic said, a grin reminiscent of DS on his face. "Can I start yapping about that sign over there above the auditorium doors?"

"Why?" Rose asked, looking for the sign. "Oh, Tommy's band is playing?"

"And just outside the door is that secondary school store dude with a Tomato booth," Kalshion said, a grin just as bad as Sonic's on his face. "And we know how old his stuff usually is. Who wants to bet those tomatoes are rotten?"

"Why am I wasting my money on video poker?" Katarina asked, jumping up. "That sounds like fun!"

"BELLHOP!" Rose yelled, looking around.

"You called?" Sasuke asked, popping up from under a floor tile.

"We will need a few baskets capable of holding rotten tomatoes," Rose said, grinning. "As soon as possible."

"Oh, and find me the person in charge of explosives," Sonic added. "Might want to make them EXPLODING rotten tomatoes, after all."

"You called?" Kouchou Kuno asked, popping in from nowhere. "Love that 'you are here' dot trick."

"What have you got that will change rotten tomatoes into exploding rotten tomatoes?" Sonic asked, pulling out some money. "And thanks for the baskets Sasuke."

"No problem," Sasuke said, dropping the baskets at Sonic's feet. "They are on me, that band deserves it."

"Hmmm," Kouchou mumbled. "Meesa got exploding planes, exploding pineapples, exploding chips, and exploding cards. Nothing for exploding tomatoes."

"Rats," Sonic said, grabbing a basket. "Regular rotten tomatoes it is, then."

"Fill me up," Rose said, holding her basket out at the Tomato stand. Soon Sonic, Rose, Kalshion, Katarina, and Sasuke were walking into the auditorium with baskets.

"Shouldn't you be bell hopping?" Kalshion asked Sasuke.

"And pass this opportunity up?" Sasuke said, sounding slightly offended.

"Good point," Kalshion said, pulling out a rotten tomato bazooka. "You aren't equipped for it though."

"Gotta have more efficient ways of throwing them you know," Rose said, setting up a small catapult.

"You won't get anywhere with your hands," Sonic said, tweaking the settings on a Tomato Acceleration Cannon.

"At least get a slingshot," Katarina said, putting the finishing touches on a tomato machine gun.

"Amateurs," Sasuke said, flipping up a secret panel on one of the seats, revealing a button. "I will be using this." With that Sasuke pushed the button, converting part of the underside of the balcony into a Photon Tomato Launcher.

"Now don't we look primitive," Sonic said, looking at the Photon Tomato Launcher. "I do hope this station has a medical bay, though."

"Toufuu is running it," Sasuke said, loading his basket of tomatoes into the launcher. "And just so you know, Kasumi is running the library at the other extreme end of the station."

"I feel better now," Rose said, pushing a button on her catapult. "But I wouldn't say I am primitive in my weaponry." As she was speaking her catapult turned into a hyper dimensional biometal tomato launcher.

"Damn you," Sonic said, giving Rose a glare.

"ARE YOU READY?" came a loud voice over a loudspeaker.

"YES!" came the audience, those with weapons and those with just tomatoes.

"THEN LETS START THIS THING!" the voice came again, the curtain parting to reveal Tommy and his band. No sooner did the curtain open then they started playing, and people started throwing tomatoes.

The only issue was the force field protecting the band.

"Are we going to let a stupid force field stop US?" Katarina asked, grinning. "Sasuke!"

"Firing!" Sasuke replied, firing a round of Photon Tomatoes. The force field held.

"Sonic?" Katarina said, knowing her machine gun would be useless.

"FIRE!" Sonic yelled, launching an accelerated tomato barrage. Again, the force field held.

"Rose?" Katarina said, sounding desperate. Rose didn't say anything as she launched tomatoes from her hyper dimensional tomato launcher. The force field still held.

"WHAT IS UP WITH THAT THING?" Kalshion asked, staring at the force field.

"Guess it is time to pull out the big guns," Sonic said, pulling a small remote from his pocket.

"When did you have time to install big guns?" Rose asked, glaring at Sonic.

"Install nothing," Sonic said, pushing the button. "This is the remote for that force field."

"Then LET EM RIP!" Katarina yelled, firing at full speed on her machine gun. Moments later the stage was nothing but tomatoes, with the band indistinguishable from the mess.

"TATEWAKI!" came a voice over the loudspeaker. "CLEANUP ON STAGE!"

"Our job here is done," Sonic said, packing up. "Lets go find something else to do while the 'Blue Thunder' cleans this mess up."

"I wonder where Genma is," Rose said, putting her finger on her chin. "We know Ranma is here, after all."

"Computer, locate Genma Saotome or a giant panda, whichever you find first," Sonic said.

"Genma Saotome is in panda form in the daycare, being beat to a pulp by Hinako," the computer responded. "You don't want to go there."

"Since when do computers give their opinions when you ask them something?" Sonic said, scratching his head.

"Since my core is a positronic net," the computer responded. A nearby monitor showed a mouth sticking its tongue out.

"In that case, where can I get a good drink?" Sonic asked.

"Emily is currently running a special on Romulan Ale in the Dark Dance Hall," the computer responded. "You might prefer the special on Blood Wine Jeremy is running in the Light Dance Hall. Stay away from Quark's special in the Danger Room, especially since Quark won't open the bottle with a medial team on hand. He usually uses a warp plasma containment field with robotic arms to do so."

"In that case," Sonic said, grinning. "I shall be visiting Jeremy."

"I'll visit Emily," Rose said, also grinning.

"And I will be visiting Quark," Soun said, showing up out of nowhere. "Which way is he, anyway?"

Three days later

"Where am I?" Sonic asked, looking around at the crowded dance floor. "And did anyone get the identification codes on the starship that hit me?"

"After you challenged the entire Klingon Empire to a drinking contest," Jeremy started, grinning. "You won that, by the way. At any rate, after that you passed out for a couple of days."

"What has Rose been up to?" Sonic asked, pulling himself into a chair.

"She challenged the Romulans to a drinking contest," Jeremy said, cleaning a glass for appearances. "She won as well, but hasn't woken up yet."

"Soun?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He is accepting his award for bravery in the face of alcohol tonight," Jeremy said. "He drank every drop of Quark's special and survived without passing out. His burp did cause the titanium alloys in the walls to warp, though."

"What is in the news?" Sonic asked, having nothing better to do then yap for the time being.

"Lets see," Jeremy said, putting the glass he was cleaning back down on the counter. "Nabiki has made the most money on the gambling floor, but word has it Ranma somehow quadrupled his original pay somehow. Oh, and every known race in the matrix seems to be here."

"Except the borg," Sonic said, looking around.

"Unless you count Seven," Jeremy added.

"Resistance is Futile," came a loud collection of voices. "Your gambling tables shall fall to our superior intelligence."

"Never mind," Sonic said. "Give me a tall glass of blood wine."

"No can do," Jeremy answered. "Orders are to keep you sober until you and Rose have recovered fully."

"Damn you," Sonic said, getting up. "In that case, I am going to find the person in charge."

"Give my regards to dad," Jeremy said as Sonic walked out.

"I hope he didn't say what I think he just said," Sonic said as he headed towards the center of the station. "Computer, do that 'you are here' dot trick to get me to ops."

"Why bother?" the computer responded. "Take the next door on your left and you will be there."

"Thanks," Sonic said, walking through the indicated door to find a room larger then the station itself. "Now can you do the 'you are here' dot trick to get me to the person in charge?"

"Sorry," the computer responded. "Security protocols prevent that."

"Maybe I can help?" MM said, appearing from the shadows. "Granted, I am not in charge, but I can get you to who is."

"Jeremy says hi," Sonic said, looking slightly relieved. "Shall we go?"

"Just step on that platform to your right and hit the purple button," MM said. Sonic did so, and the platform shot out into the room, stopping outside an office door.

"You may enter," the computer said, opening the door for Sonic.

"Is the person in charge in here?" Sonic asked as he walked in.

"That would be me," Wendy said, sitting behind a desk. Sonic fell to the floor from shock as Wendy stood up. "Who did you expect, the Easter bunny?"

"I keep forgetting that you can be in two places at once," Sonic said, recovering from his initial shock. "So what is the deal this time?"

"The triforce has taken on new meaning," Wendy said, grinning. "Good isn't the only thing represented, either."

"So where are the pieces?" Sonic asked, giving Wendy an odd look.

"Look inside and you shall see the sixteen pieces of the tree," Wendy said, grinning more.

"I hate riddles," Sonic said, walking out of the office to find himself in the Dark Dance Hall. "Not to mention physics-defying space stations."

"What happened?" Rose asked as she sat up from her position on the floor. "And did someone track that planet that hit me?"

"You apparently challenged, and beat, the Romulans at a drinking contest," Sonic said, helping Rose up. "I did the same with the Klingons, by the way."

"Blasted curse making it so that we can get drunk," Rose said, shaking her head. "So, find anything else out?"

"Riddles about how to end the curse," Sonic replied. "Lets see, I believe it was 'The triforce has taken on new meaning', 'good isn't the only thing represented', and 'look inside and you shall see the sixteen pieces of the tree'. I haven't given it much thought yet."

"Hey Jeremy," Emily said as Jeremy walked up. "What brings you here?"

"We have been challenged!" Jeremy said in a tone so serious it could only be sarcastic. "Our honor is at stake!"

"What now?" Emily said, leaning on the bar. "Sonic and Rose here were just talking about what dad set up to end this curse."

"No no," Rose said. "Go on. This sounds potentially interesting."

"The Collective has challenged the two of us to a drinking contest," Jeremy said, handing Emily a small data viewer. "Winner takes the Borg Cube parked outside. Loser pays for the drinks."

"The two of us against five thousand cybernetically enhanced drones," Emily said, reading the data viewer. "That doesn't seem fair."

"If they want to throw their money away on a foolish gamble like this I sure won't stop them," Jeremy said, grinning.

Three weeks later

"About time you two woke up," Sonic said as Emily and Jeremy sat up. "Been a few weeks since you clobbered the borg in that drinking contest."

"They still out cold?" Emily asked, rubbing her head.

"Yep," Rose said, bringing in some coffee.

"How much of that riddle did you figure out while we were out cold?" Jeremy asked.

"Not much," Sonic said, sitting down next to Jeremy. "We tried looking inside things, outside things, a complete search of every nook and cranny of the station and every ship docked at it. None of it revealed anything."

"What were the clues again?" Emily asked, downing a pot of coffee. "Something about looking inside?"

"I think it was 'look inside and you see the sixteen pieces of the tree,' whatever that means," Rose said, consulting a notepad that she hadn't been holding before.

"If you are looking inside you are looking within," Jeremy said. "Looking within is wise-man lingo for looking into yourself."

"Figures," Sonic said, getting up. "We looked everywhere in the station EXCEPT for inside people. The 'pieces of the tree' must be in sixteen different PEOPLE."

"Idiots, you are," Yoda said as he walked by. "Wasted three weeks, you have."

"Where did he come from?" Sonic asked, looking towards the doorway for a moment before shaking his head.

"Is Soun around?" Emily asked. "We missed his award ceremony."

"He finally had too much to drink," Rose said, grinning. "Your father really knows how to hold his alcohol."

"Hold it?" Emily said, laughing. "His drinking contest strategy is to dump all the alcohol he is drinking into his opponent. Since he consumed it he gets credit for it even though it is running through his opponent's system."

"Note to self," Sonic mumbled, writing on a pad he wasn't holding a moment before. "Never have drinking contest with MM."

"Drunken fool, smart man listen to," Yoda said as he passed by the door again, going back the other way.

"Ok," Sonic said, running to the door. "Where did he go?"

"What now?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic.

"Yoda never arrived on the station," Sonic said. "And that sounded like a clue!"

"Oooooooooooooooooooooooo," a man called from down the hall. "Damn, I forgot the words again."

"Drunk man?" Jeremy asked.

"Either that or a mobile distillery," Rose said, putting a clothespin on her nose.

"A drunken idiot, that is," Yoda said, walking past once more. "Drunken fool, smart man listen to. Drunken oaf, idiot listen to."

"That is starting to bug me now," Rose said, looking down the suddenly Yoda-less hall.

"He didn't tell us what to do with drunken idiots either," Sonic said, scratching his head.

"You dolts," a familiar voice said. A moment later Q flashed into the hallway. "Only you would listen to a drunken Yoda."

"Rose, I think it is just about..." Sonic started.

"HAMMER TIME!" Rose finished, pulling out a giant mallet. Moments later Q was a pancake.

"I don't know," Emily said, leaning on a large square with the number one in it. "Does this look like an indication we just went back to square one to you?"

Three months later

"Almost four months now," Sonic said, counting his paychecks. "Might want to hang around some more with this kind of pay."

"I don't know," Rose said, collapsed on the couch. "I actually have things I am expected to do to get my paycheck."

"With ops mysteriously absent and everyone out of ideas for how to end this thing we don't have a lot of choice in the matter," Sonic said. "Nabiki is having a ball though."

"I have to admit that Kasumi's sprained ankle was a hoot," Rose said, grinning. "More injured people then healed that day."

"Sonic and Rose are requested in Ops," the computer called out.

"IT IS ABOUT TIME," Sonic said, standing up.

"Don't get up on my account," Wendy said, grinning from behind her desk. Sonic looked around and realized he was in Ops, and had just gotten out of a chair in front of Wendy's desk. Rose was likewise no longer on a couch, but in another chair.

"Nice trick," Rose said, looking around herself. "Where is Ops located in the station, anyway?"

"It is a separate station out of phase with the main station," Wendy responded. "Now, why haven't you done anything about this whole curse? Spending almost four months without doing anything isn't like you."

"We have no clue what to do?" Sonic said, pulling out a pad of paper. "All we figured out was that we had to look inside people, but we can't figure out how."

"You could have asked," Wendy said, glaring at Sonic.

"WHO?" Sonic responded with annoyance in his voice. "WHO on the station other then you would have a clue?"

"We already asked everyone aside from Q," Rose said, filing her nails.

"You asked everyone aside from Q and the one with the answer," Wendy said. "Aside from myself, of course. Now, go back to your room and think about it."

Before Sonic or Rose could say anything further they were in their room, both sitting where the bed would have been. Instead, the bed was in the wall, so they fell on their bottoms. A few minutes later they decided to search their entire room for possible clues. That didn't take long.

"This is the last door in our room," Sonic said, looking at the door. "I haven't opened it yet. Have you?"

"Nope," Rose said, walking over to the door with Sonic. "Shall we see what we find?"

"Lets see," Sonic said, opening the door and peeking inside. He jumped back and slammed the door a second later.

"What?" Rose said, looking at Sonic. "How bad can it be."

"It is just like that damned outhouse," Sonic said. "The one I found when I met you."

"Let me see," Rose said, opening the door. "Wait a minute, I recognize this place. I sat on that bench while I was lost in that damned bathroom."

"Then if the outhouse was also a door to MM's bathroom," Sonic said, thinking.

Rose's eyes suddenly went wide as her own memory was jogged. Sonic picked up on it, seeing a day Emeral overheard two teenagers, one male and one female.

"Do you think it is dad's bathroom?" the female asked.

"Could be. I won't check though. I wonder if the cat got out yet," the male responded.

Rose blinked, shaking off the flashback. "It can't be, can it?"

"Emily and Jeremy," Sonic said, looking back through the door. "And that damned outhouse."

"At least we know the cat finally got out," Rose said. "But those two have been around the matrix, haven't they?"

"So when did you first run into MM's bathroom?" Sakura asked, walking in without knocking. "I think my first run-in was a trap door in Tomoyo's basement."

"No wonder that hole in the ceiling looked so familiar when I popped my head through it while lost," Rose said, thinking back.

"I wonder if that weird-ass door in my grandmother's attic lead to that damned bathroom," Sonic added. "I remember a large room with lots of tile that couldn't possibly fit on the planet, let alone in the attic. I had decided I was imagining things or something."

"About time you two figured it out," Jeremy said, walking out of the bathroom.

"How did you find THAT DOOR in there?" Emily asked, coming through the apartment door.

"I don't know," Jeremy said. "I just wandered and seemed to find the shortest route."

"You never could find your way in there when you were trying," Emily said, glaring at Jeremy. "But when you didn't give a damn you could get anywhere in the matrix."

"How many worlds does that thing connect to?" Sonic asked, looking back into the bathroom.

"Ask him," Emily said, glaring at Jeremy. "He is the only one other then my father who has ever gotten out of the damn thing where they wanted to while it was in DYNAMIC mode!"

"It goes pretty much everywhere and nowhere all at the same time," Jeremy responded, glancing at his sister. "I am pretty sure it leaves the matrix as well."

"I will hopefully be back soon," Sonic said, running into the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

"So much for seeing him again this millennium," Emily said, turning to Rose. "Want to go clubbing?"

"Around the dance scenes?" Rose said, looking at Emily.

"No," Emily said, pulling out a club. "I was thinking about Happosai."

"Works for me," Rose said, grabbing a club from the closet. "So when do you think we will see Sonic again?"

"Now?" Sonic said, coming in the apartment's front door. "Did you miss me?"

"DAMN IT," Emily said, throwing her club to the ground. "NOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO?!"

"Well," Sonic said. "I did end up in Kagome's closet my first try."

"And she didn't slap you?" Rose said, looking at Sonic.

"Luckily she was in the feudal age at the time," Sonic said. "Now if you will excuse me, I have some exploring to do."

"So much for seeing him again today," Rose said as Sonic went back into the bathroom. "Now how about that clubbing?"

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the bathroom

"I knew I shouldn't have gone into that hole under that boulder," DS said to himself, trying to figure out where the hell he was now.

"Hello there," Sonic called. "You lost as well?"

"Who cares," DS said. "Now that you are here all I care about is beating you to a pulp."

"Doubtful," Sonic said, pointing at a sign nearby. "According to that sign this area is highly unstable. Any fighting would most likely kill us instantly."

"That would be a worthless battle," DS said, sitting at a small table. "So what do we do now?"

"We either go our separate ways," Sonic said, sitting down across from DS. "Or we actually try to have an intelligent conversation despite our differences."

Back on the station

"Damned Happosai," Rose said, looking at the small hole in the floor where Happosai had just been. "How does he do that?"

"I don't know," Emily responded. "Maybe you should get back to figuring out who knows about the pieces of the tree."

"Good idea," Rose said, tossing her club aside.

"Too late," Sonic said, walking out of thin air. "Nice door there, one-way. You can get out of the bathroom but not back in."

"Where have you been?" Rose asked, glaring at Sonic.

"You might want to sit down," Sonic said, grinning. "But since you won't, I will tell you now that I was actually having an intelligent conversation with DS without fighting."

"And where did HE find the bathroom?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic.

"I think he said something about finding it under a boulder as I approached," Sonic said. "At any rate, we talked about two things. The first of which was the bathroom itself, he had some interesting theories but didn't know the secret to get around it."

"And the second?" Rose asked.

"Computer, how do we look inside people?" Sonic asked.

"ABOUT TIME YOU ASKED ME," the computer said. "The process is simple. Either get the person to volunteer, or beat them in combat in the combat arena. After that automated systems will reveal the information you need."

"So," Rose said, grabbing Sonic. "Who did you really talk to?"

"I said I talked to DS," Sonic said.

"THEN WHY DO YOU SMELL LIKE PERFUME?" Rose yelled.

"I fell into the scented baths behind the waterfall of youth in the Waters of the Universe Water park," Sonic said.

"Oh," Rose said, letting go of Sonic. "I remember that area from when I was lost."

"Time for me to go," Emily said, looking at a nearby terminal. "See you later."

"Where are you going?" Sonic asked, looking at Emily.

"I got a second job torturing people for pleasure," Emily said, grinning as she walked away.

"So where shall we start?" Rose asked Sonic.

"Well," Sonic said, thinking. "We have to either beat the target in combat, or get them to volunteer. Why not start with us?"

"So do you want to fight me or shall we just volunteer?" Rose asked, grinning.

"Hmmm, fighting like Klingons could be romantic," Sonic grinned back.

"Oh, let me watch," Kia said, popping out of nowhere.

"Ummm, lets just volunteer," said Sonic.

"Agreed," Rose responded.

"Initiating scan," the computer said as Kia sulked off. "Located two pieces. Extracting."

"That tickles," Rose giggled as a gold triangle floated out of her body. Sonic was going through a similar experience.

"Extraction complete," the computer reported. "Two Gold pieces collected. Transferring to storage units."

"Gold pieces," Sonic said, thinking. "I wonder if they are all gold, or if we have to put a multicolored puzzle together too."

"Give the man a prize," the computer said as a robotic arm shot out with a lit cigar. Before Sonic could react the cigar was in his mouth, the robotic arm was gone, and Rose was diving for cover.

"Shit," was all Sonic could say before the cigar exploded.

"Lets assume we are dealing with multicolor," Rose said, pulling out a rag and wiping Sonic's face off. "We would most likely be dealing with different colors for different amounts of light and dark energy. We are most certainly light, so who is close to right down the middle?"

"How about Nabiki?" Sonic volunteered. "She is greedy as hell, but she also has a caring side."

"Works for me," Rose said, heading off to the gambling tables. "I hear she is making a killing here though."

"They fired me," Nabiki said, sitting in a chair in the hallway.

"Why?" Sonic asked.

"I wasn't ruthless enough," Nabiki said. "Some kid named Li is doing more then anyone else I have ever seen."

"How could he do that?" Sonic wondered, looking towards the area holding the gambling tables.

"People have been saying his girlfriend's cards are the source of his good luck," Nabiki said. "What did you want me for, anyway?"

"Care to volunteer to let us look inside you?" Rose asked.

"How much is it going to cost you?" Nabiki said, grinning slightly.

"Free reign with my card," Sonic said, flashing a credit card.

"You got it," Nabiki said, grabbing the card. A moment later the computer had extracted and stored a brown triangle, and Nabiki was off to do some shopping.

"You sure that was a good idea?" Rose asked.

"The card has a five hundred yen spending limit," Sonic responded. "It came free in the mail."

"I suppose we should go to the downright bad," Rose said, looking around. "Too bad DS isn't around here, he would make a perfect candidate."

"Like hell I would," came a voice just barely quiet enough to not be noticed by Sonic or Rose, seemingly from within the wall.

"If we can't go with DS, Happosai is the next best thing," Sonic said, grinning. "Now we just have to find a way to lure him into a trap."

"Well then," Rose said. "We need some bait. It won't be me."

"Well we know he won't go for me," Sonic said, thinking. "Who do we know that could serve as adequate bait?"

"How about Kodachi?" Rose asked.

"Not likely," Happosai said, hanging from the ceiling. "Not even I will stoop to chasing after a nutcase like that."

"I have an idea," Sonic said, running into thin air.

"How the hell did he find the damned bathroom in the middle of the walkway?" Rose asked herself, reaching for where Sonic vanished to find no doorway.

"How the hell did I end up in the bathroom?" Sonic wondered to himself as he ran along. "Oh well, might be faster this way."

Ten minutes later

"I'm back with the bait," Sonic said, walking up to where Rose was trying to shoot Happosai down with a bazooka.

"Then lets go to the combat arena," Rose said, putting the bazooka away. "You sure the bait will work?"

"This could be the single strongest piece of bait on or off of the planet," Sonic said, grinning. "Happosai won't be able to resist this."

"DAMN HIM," Happosai said. "Now he has gotten me curious."

In the combat arena

"So where is he?" Rose asked, looking around. "Shouldn't your bait be working better then this?"

"I haven't said what it is yet," Sonic said. "Like I would admit I had a batch of Kasumi's Secret Recipe cookies."

"LET ME AT THEM," Happosai said, pouncing on the plate of cookies and eating them all in a couple of seconds.

"And three, two, one," Sonic said, just before Happosai chocked, gagged, and fell to the ground. "We win."

"How did you do that?" Rose asked, looking at Sonic. "You weren't lying."

"I said they were Kasumi's Secret Recipe," Sonic said as a red triangle was extracted from Happosai. "I just didn't mention that Akane cooked them."

"I don't want to know what you would do to me," Jeremy said, walking in with Emily.

"I don't know," Emily said. "I think in a fair martial arts battle you would whomp him."

"What about both of you against both of us?" Rose said, grinning. "We do have some tricks up our sleeves."

"I would say you are on as soon as you get the biohazard cooking out of here," Jeremy said.

"Not to mention the unconscious pervert," Emily said, prodding Happosai with her foot.

"Didn't Happosai just EAT all the cookies?" Rose said, looking at the full plate of cookies.

"I do not want to think about it," Sonic said, tossing the plate into a recycling port as Rose kicked Happosai out the door.

"WARNING," the computer suddenly said. "Recycling will be offline for two days due to biohazard input."

"Shall we begin then?" Rose said, taking a slightly defensive stance.

"Bring it on," Emily said, taking no stance whatsoever.

Six hours later

"How can they be so good?" Rose asked, panting and sweating. She looked like she was ready to collapse, and Sonic was in a similar state. Emily and Jeremy's clothing was a little messy, but they were otherwise unphased.

"I have no freaking clue," Sonic responded, leaning against the wall. "Did you hit them once?"

"I think Emily let me hit her hair," Rose said, looking at Emily and Jeremy. "Other then that, no."

"All that training and fighting with DS," Sonic said. "Not a single bit of it helped."

"What, you think our fighting is merely sibling rivalry?" Jeremy said, grinning. "We do try to kill each other once a month or so for the extra training."

"That and three hundred years or so more experience," Emily said, grinning as well. "Actually, I remember seeing Sonic when he was five. Jeremy stopped me from playing a prank on him."

"And you both should know we were staying at Emeral's house when Sonic showed up," Jeremy added.

"Actually, we whomped you back then too," Emily said, sticking her tongue out at Sonic.

"So Emily, shall we?" Jeremy asked.

"Sure," Emily said.

"What, finish us off?" Rose said, glaring at Emily and Jeremy.

"Nope," Jeremy said. "We had our fun."

"We volunteer now," Emily said, giving Rose a light punch on the arm. "Oh, and I think that counts as our first, and final, attack."

"Notice," the computer said as Emily and Jeremy left. "Two purple pieces have been collected. Have a nice day."

"PURPLE?" Sonic and Rose said at once. "Now we have FOUR colors?"

Three weeks later

"Ok," Sonic said, sitting on the bed. "We have collected twenty eight pieces of this puzzle."

"We have six gold pieces," Rose said, looking at her copy of the list. "That would be from the two of us, Kasumi, Doctor Toufuu, Akane, and Hinako. They were all volunteered."

"Six red pieces," Sonic said. "They were from Happosai, Kodachi, Gosunkugi, Tommy, Genma, and Shampoo. We paid Genma off, defeated the other five."

"Four brown pieces," Rose continued. "From Nabiki, Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno. We paid off Nabiki, Ryoga volunteered, Kuno and Kouchou we wailed on easily."

"And finally, the twelve purple pieces," Sonic said, frowning. "Emily and Jeremy beat US, then volunteered. Ranma, Cologne, Katarina and Sasuke volunteered. Nodoka volunteered after we got her drunk. Ukyo made us buy a meal, then volunteered. Soun had us buy him lunch, which made Ukyo's demands easily dealt with. Kalshion, Mousse, and the Gambling King needed a good kick in the rear."

"You forgot the orange pieces," Rose said. "Sakura, Li, Tomoyo, Toya, Kero, Yue, any anyone that showed up after the initial curse hit. All totaled, five hundred thirty two."

"Now where do we put them?" Sonic asked. "The seven re-structures of the station as we were going along caused me to lose track of where the endpoint is."

"Think of the most unlikely place you can think of," Rose said. "That is probably it."

"Ok then," Sonic said, standing up. "Get off the bed."

"Why?" Rose said, standing up.

"We haven't put the bed away for two weeks," Sonic said, putting the bed away. Underneath he found a pyramid.

"Computer," Rose said. "Can we have the pieces now?"

"Sorry," the computer said. "The pieces are stored on the bridge. I can't bring them here."

"Let me know when you find it," Wendy said, walking in. "I lost track of it myself."

"Can we use the bathroom to get to it?" Sonic asked.

"One-way door only leads INTO the bathroom from the bridge," Wendy said. "That is how I left it."

"Sonic," Rose said, looking at him. "NOW can I try it?"

"Why not," Sonic said. "It is your hide if it fails."

"Go for it," Wendy said. "It isn't like you can do anything right anyway."

"Just wait," Rose said, grinning. "And take two steps back, if you will."

"Alright," Wendy said, taking two steps back. "Better?"

"ABILITY DRAIN" Rose suddenly yelled while pulling out a small card. Rose and the card started to glow just before a beam shot out and hit an unsurprised Wendy. Moments later Wendy's expression went from calm to shocked as a bubble formed around the three occupants of the room.

All over the station people went into a panic as alarms sounded and the station itself shook. The computer went offline, amazingly enough just as it located the door to the bridge. Figures, doesn't it?

Back in the bedroom the glow from the bubble was subsiding. The resulting destruction left nothing to the imagination. Mainly because there was nothing left to imagine. There was also a distinct lack of people, although there were five human-shaped holes in the walls of the room.

Wait a minute. FIVE?

Back in the bathroom

"Oooooooh," DS said, getting up off the ground. "What happened? It felt like I was torn in two or something."

"I would say torn in two is a pretty good guess," DS responded. "Although the split wasn't even."

"I don't feel any different," the first DS said, looking himself over. "Although I might be able to see you better if you stepped out of the shadows."

"Lets just say we have a key difference," the second DS said, stepping out of the shadows. The first DS's jaw dropped when he saw that the second DS was a girl. "I think I might want to consider going by a different name for the duration."

"You look just like Rose," DS said. "Maybe you should be 'Dark Rose' for the time being?"

"Works for me," the newly christened Dark Rose said. "Have you figured out how to get out of here? I seem to be lacking that knowledge."

Back in the destroyed bedroom

"That smarted," Rose said, walking out of the closet. "Seems I was blown through the closet door."

"Remind me to leave the area the next time you do something like that," Sonic said, coming out of the wall. "That smarted."

"Something is wrong," Rose said, patting herself down. "I feel like I am missing a couple parts of me."

"I feel like a part of me is missing as well," Sonic said, looking around. "Did MM split into three just before the explosion?"

"I don't know," Rose said, counting the holes in the walls. "Must have."

"Where am I?" a familiar voice called out from another one of the holes. "This doesn't look like anywhere I have ever been."

"Emeral?" another familiar voice called from yet another hole. "Is that you?"

"I'll take care of the male," Sonic said. "You take care of the female."

"Works for me," Rose said, rolling up her sleeves.

"Where did she get sleeves?" Sonic wondered. "Her clothes were sleeveless when she walked out of the hole."

While Sonic and Rose deal with the mysterious individuals, we will take note that we have had people or voices come out of four of the five holes. Shall we see what is in the fifth? Moving into the hole we find the dining room. The dining room table is split in two, and there is another hole beyond it. Going through that hole we find the living room. Slumped over on the couch, unconscious, we find Wendy. Emphasis on the unconscious. The light sparks of energy we occasionally see probably aren't a good sign.

Back in the destroyed bedroom, however, we hear a scream. Lets go back there.

"GET BACK HERE," the familiar yet unidentified voice called as Rose ran through the destroyed room. A moment later a bleeding Emeral ran out, holding a chunk of broken wall. "I HAVEN'T FINISHED BEATING YOU TO A PULP YET!"

"Sounds like Rose found Emeral," Sonic said to Joe as they walked into the room. "So you don't recognize me, but you know who Emeral is?"

"That is correct," Joe said. "Who is that girl Emeral is chasing, and when do I help Emeral beat her to a pulp as I assume she is the one that hurt Emeral?"

"That would be Rose," Sonic said. "And you can't beat her to a pulp. This is all some kind of misunderstanding." With that Sonic grabbed Rose, slapped her, and grabbed the piece of wall from Emeral. "Now lets all go sit down in the living room and talk about this, OK?"

"I would rather this big gash in my skin be taken care of first," Emeral said, pointing at the bleeding gash in her skin.

"Easily fixed," Sonic said, putting his hand above the wound. A moment later the wound was gone, Emeral and Joe staring in shock. "Now lets talk."

"Where is the living room?" Joe finally said, looking around.

"Probably through that hole there," Sonic said, pointing at the hole going through to the dining room. "Or at least, we can get there from the dining room." Rose walked through first, followed by Joe, then Sonic, then Emeral. They walked through the dining room and into the living room through the holes.

"WHO is THAT?" Rose asked, looking at the couch. "I don't recognize her."

"That is Wendy," Joe said, looking at Rose. "I thought I heard you say something about MM. I could have sworn Wendy was one of his forms."

"Doesn't ring a bell with me," Sonic said, coming through the hole with Emeral.

"It does with me," Emeral said, looking at Wendy in mild shock. "What did you do to her?"

"Wait a minute," Sonic said, eyes going wide. "If that IS one of MM's forms......"

"Then isn't it a bad thing that she is out cold?" Rose finished. A moment later both of them were checking Wendy, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Finding nothing visibly wrong with her, but noticing a larger energy output then normal, the two went into a deeper state of shock.

"I still don't know where we are," Joe said, looking around. "You have any idea, Emeral?"

"I don't care where we are," Emeral said. "I do care about living. MM being unconscious doesn't strike me as promoting that."

"Computer," Sonic said. "Call a doctor. Preferably one that knows how to deal with powerful beings." After waiting a moment and getting no response, Sonic was more worried. "Computer?"

"I think the computer is dead," Rose said. "I know I used to know how to restart it, but I can't remember now."

"I know how to restart it," Emeral said. "I don't think I could make it across the plasma streams though, and I know it took two weeks to learn how while I had access to the controls."

"I think we need to sit down and talk," Sonic said. "NOW."

Two hours later

"So we are you," Joe said. "Or rather, were part of you until Rose tried to take some ability from MM?"

"At which point she screwed up royally," Emeral continued. "Over the past few hours she has filled one void that was left, though she isn't sure what that void was. I would be the other void that she can't fill."

"You two also seem to have half our knowledge and memories," Sonic said. "Thus you could restart the computer, but you don't have the quantum signature required to get past the plasma protection streams."

"And you don't remember us," Rose said. "Even though we remember you."

"COMPUTER, GIVE US A HINT HERE," Joe yelled.

"You don't have to yell," the computer responded.

"Wait," Sonic said. "You are ONLINE?"

"Kero restarted me," the computer said. "He then immediately replicated five tons of sugary foods."

"Can you call a doctor then?" Rose asked. "One that can deal with MM?"

"Calling Washu," the computer said. "Call complete. Washu said she can't help right now. She did say she will send a specialist though."

"What kind of time dilation are we going through here?" Sonic asked. "That call took barely any time at all."

"One hour here is one day in the world Washu is in," the computer said. "The specialist may take a couple of days. The world she is in is running slower then us."

"Computer," Emeral said. "Any chance of putting us back together?"

"That is beyond my power," the computer said. "The only specialist available for that kind of work is unconscious on the couch right now. Oh, and you might want to get down to the cafeteria, some Pikachu is frying a Cacnea and a Seviper. A Wobbofet is at the snack bar."

"You sure we are needed?" Sonic asked.

"You and Rose couldn't get there if you wanted to," the computer said. "However, Joe and Emeral have no quantum signature to worry about. They can thus turn on the air pumps."

"Override code seven," Rose said. "Activate the damn air pumps."

"Master override initiated," the computer said. "Air pumps on."

"Ok Rose," Sonic said, tapping his foot. "When did you get a master override?"

"No clue," Rose said. "Maybe I did get something from MM after all."

"Then try ending the curse," Joe said.

"Good idea," Rose said. "Computer, override code seven. End the damn curse."

"Master override initiated," the computer said again. "Scanning for ways to end curse. Scan complete. Two methods found. Primary method can not be accomplished without user interaction, switching to secondary method. Initiating self destruct sequence, five minutes and counting."

"OVERRIDE CODE SEVEN," Rose yelled. "CANCEL THE SELF DESTRUCT!"

"Make up your mind already," the computer said. "Self destruct canceled."

"So we can't use the primary method using the damn pieces we collected because the place we are supposed to put them was BLOWN UP," Joe said, glaring at Rose and Emeral. "I still haven't decided if one or both of you is responsible for that, although since Rose is the one with power I suppose she is the logical choice."

"HOLY SHIT," Sonic said, suddenly groping himself. "Where is Kibou?"

"Hikari?" Rose added, searching herself.

"Oh don't fret," Emeral said. "Hikari is with me and Kibou is with Joe."

"You sure about that?" a female voice called from the next room over. "I could have sworn me and Kibou were down at the bar."

"How is that possible?" Emeral asked, holding out what looked like Hikari in key form.

"Quite obviously," the computer chimed in. "The split affected Kibou and Hikari as well, splitting them into their sentient and inanimate forms."

"When I screw up I really screw up," Rose said. "Hikari, why are you hiding in the other room?"

"I had too much to drink," Hikari responded. "Kibou passed out in the turbo lift. I am keeping the floor from hitting the ceiling."

"How do they get drunk?" Sonic wondered.

"Their sentient forms were given an interesting physical makeup," the computer said. "They could be killed just as easily as Emeral or Joe now, although the keys Emeral and Joe are wearing could probably withstand the destruction of this sector of space."

"How much did they have to drink?" Joe asked. "Must have been a lot to get them that drunk."

"They each had a glass," the computer said. "Hikari had Blood Wine, Kibou had Romulan Ale."

"Ok, they can't hold their liquor," Joe said.

"Would you be able to hold your liquor if you were 5 inches tall and the glass was six inches tall?" the computer inquired. "Hikari and Kibou have the bodies of pixies right now."

"Hikari is mighty loud for a pixie," Rose said, going into the other room. "Which is explained by the megaphone she fell asleep next to."

The next day

"Well isn't this getting complicated," Emily said, looking around the bar. "We have Sonic, Rose, Joe, Emeral, Kibou, Hikari, dad unconscious, and the station is on high alert due to a wormhole that opened up on the bridge."

"Not that we can find the bridge to investigate," Jeremy said. "Still, I wonder how dad can be fixed."

"Don't know," Emily said. "But I need a break. Ever since our bars merged during a station shuffle I have had to deal with all kinds of people I am not allowed to prank. Time to find an unsuspecting sucker."

"I thought you ran out of them on the station," Jeremy said. "Where are you going to find one now?"

"How about that girl that I have never seen before that just walked by?" Emily asked. "Think she will work?"

"Go for it," Jeremy said. "I bet you can't get her though."

"Oh," Emily said. "You want to make it interesting?"

"Sure," Jeremy said. "If you can't prank her in the next week you have to wear whatever outfit I pick for you for an entire month."

"But only if you can prank her after I fail," Emily said. "If I do prank her then you have to clean out my closet."

"Works for me," Jeremy said. "Shall we shake on it?"

"I prefer contracts," Emily said. "Computer, bring up a contract with the terms we just set."

"The contract is sitting behind panel six," the computer said. Jeremy opened the panel to find a stone with the contract engraved on it.

"Set in stone," Emily said, grinning. "Shall we sign it?"

"Sure," Jeremy said, pulling out a laser pen and signing the rock. "Your turn."

"Here we go," Emily said, taking the pen and signing. "Now off to win with a quick prank." With that Emily ran out the door.

"Somehow I get the feeling I am going to win," Jeremy said.

"I started a betting pool," the computer said. "So far the odds are in your sister's favor fifty to one."

"Oh well," Jeremy said. "How bad can her closet be?"

"Scanners show that she has five metric tons of playing cards alone in there," the computer said. "Better stock up on trash bags."

A week later

"HOW HAS SHE DODGED EVERY PRANK?" Emily yelled in the bar. "Two thousand, three hundred, forty seven pranks and she dodged EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!"

"My turn," Jeremy said. He walked over to the door, closed it most of the way, and put a bucket of water on top of it. He then walked back behind the bar and poured a drink. "To my victory."

"You haven't won yet," Emily said. "She won't fall for that one."

A moment later the door opened and a splash was heard. Looking over, the girl in question had been soaked with water from the bucket. She looked down at herself, shook her head, and walked back out the door, probably to get a dry set of clothing.

"I win," Jeremy said, grinning. "You want your punishment now, or later?"

"But, but, but," Emily stuttered. "HOW?"

"For me to know," Jeremy said. "I think I want you to wear that pink outfit mom got you for Christmas before she died."

"You wouldn't," Emily said, a scared look on her face.

"It is only for a week," Jeremy said, grinning.

"Damn you," Emily said, giving Jeremy a look. "I guess I will start tomorrow."

"Anyone seen a door to the bathroom?" Sonic asked, walking over to the bar. "I have pressing need to get out of the general area, and for some reason I can't find any doors."

"You are standing on one," a voice that sounded a lot like Rose said, coming from beneath the floor. "Care to get off it so I can get out of this damn place?"

"Who are you?" Sonic said, pulling the door open. Underneath was what looked like Rose, assuming Rose hadn't been across the dance floor looking angry enough to blow the station to pieces. The dark aura tells us it is Dark Rose, but Sonic hasn't figured that out yet.

"If your worst nightmare wasn't already running around on his own power I would say I was your worst nightmare," Dark Rose said. "As it is, I might be your wife's worst nightmare."

"My worst nightmare is currently the girl passed out on the couch never waking up," Sonic said. "You might come in a close third though."

"WHO ARE YOU?" Rose yelled, storming over to the bar. "And why the hell do you look like me?"

"I think she might be your dark side," Sonic said. "When did you let it split off?"

"When she split off her human side," Dark Rose said, grinning. "I was channeled through Sonic, into DS, and out in the bathroom. I am shocked I found a viable exit so quickly."

"You don't seem as evil as DS," Rose said, calming down. "There is something.......nice about you."

"I actually have a light side," Dark Rose said. "Small one, about the size of the dark side you keep in you."

"So deep down you know that fighting me would be wrong?" Rose offered.

"Yep," Dark Rose said. "But I am not the kind of person to let that stop me."

"Can we at least make this an arranged fight people can bet on?" Rose asked.

"Wait," Dark Rose said. "You, the good one, want people to BET on the fight?"

"Why not?" Rose said. "Easier to let them bet in the open then have them doing it under the table. Either way it will happen, right?"

"Ok, when do you want to do this?" Dark Rose asked.

"Tomorrow, noon?" Rose said. "How about in Fighting Arena 9."

"Works for me," Dark Rose agreed. "Where is Fighting Arena 9?"

"Quadrant seven of the bathroom," Sonic said, handing Dark Rose a map.

"And a MAP is supposed to help me?" Dark Rose said, staring at the map.

"That is a map to the door on the station that leads directly into the Arena without having to traverse the bathroom," Sonic said, grinning.

"WHEW," Dark Rose sighed with relief. "I thought I might have to go back in there before the fight!"

"Since when are there three of Rose?" Tommy asked, wheeling into the bar. "One with different hair? And two Sonics with different hair?"

"They finally let you out of sickbay?" Sonic said, amazed. "After the trashing we gave you?"

"Considering you left me with no body to speak of," Tommy said. "You had better be happy they have cloning technology on this station!"

"Why are you in a wheelchair?" Rose asked, looking at Tommy.

"I forgot how to walk," Tommy said, blushing.

"Well," Rose said, stretching as she headed for the door. "I am going to catch some shut-eye. Got a fight tomorrow."

"This station have extra quarters somewhere?" Dark Rose asked, walking out with Rose.

"We should get to bed as well," Emeral said, dragging Joe with her. "Kibou still with you?"

"I am in his pocket," Kibou yelled from Joe's pocket. "Is Hikari still asleep in your pocket?"

"Yep," Emeral said, gesturing to a slight bulge in her pocket. "You two really shouldn't have flown through that grid. You both did a number on your wings."

"We know, we know," Kibou said. "Lets just go."

"I have to go support Rose," Sonic said, ducking out the door.

"Come on Jeremy," Emily said, grabbing Jeremy. "We have to go set up the betting pools!"

"But the computer," Jeremy started before Emily gave Jeremy a nasty look as they headed out the door. "Oh, right, set up the betting pools."

"That leaves the unconscious Wendy," Tommy said, looking around the now-empty bar and dance floor. "Wait a minute. UNCONCIOUS WENDY!?"

"You forgot the girl sleeping on the table in the back," the computer said.

"Oh, Sarah?" Tommy said, looking at the table in the back. "Like she will be any help, being mute and all."

"I don't think I want to know how you know Sarah," the computer said, going silent afterwards.

The next day, around noon

"Shall we set some ground rules?" Dark Rose offered. "Might as well make it a fair fight, after all."

"My dark side has honor?" Rose said, shocked. "Is that allowed?"

"I may be your dark side," DR said, grinning. "Doesn't mean I can't be good."

"Does that mean I get to be bad?" Rose asked, grinning.

"Ok, I am getting confused," Sonic said as the seats filled up. "Who is the evil one again?"

"How about this," Dark Rose said. "Neither of us can try curses, waaaaaay too dangerous. I have to play nice, but you are allowed to cheat."

"The good playing bad and the bad playing good," Rose said, a decidedly evil grin on her face. "Sounds like fun."

"Damned true love," Sonic mumbled. "For some reason I love both of them, so THAT isn't helping."

"Give up," Jeremy said, handing Sonic some popcorn. "Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show."

"WARNING," the computer said, sealing the exits as everyone finished filing in. "Happosai special mode activated. Any contestant breaking the rules, especially the no cursing rule, will be stripped of ALL their clothing for the duration of the match."

"THAT ISN'T FAIR," Dark Rose yelled. "THE RULES SAY SHE CAN CHEAT!"

"Sucks to be you then," the computer said. Somehow everyone could tell it was grinning.

"How about this," Sonic yelled. "If either of them is stripped naked by anything other then the actions of the other fighter I beat the crap out of Happosai AND you, computer."

"Ok," the computer said nervously. "Happosai special rules are no longer in effect."

"Why did you do that?" Emily asked. "That could have been interesting."

"I delegated myself to the couch last night," Sonic said. "Those two wouldn't give me any hint as to who was who until morning, so they shared the bed. Besides, I don't want people leering at my naked wife, even if she is in two pieces."

"What is against the rules, anyway?" Rose asked. "I have to know if I am going to break the rules."

"This is anything goes martial arts," the computer stated. "Basically, no direct quantum energy attacks. All other energy forms are good. Aside from that there are no additional rules for you to break."

"That could come in handy," Rose said, grinning evilly again.

"Ready," the computer said. "FIGHT!"

Most of the audience started looking around aimlessly, wondering where exactly the fighters WERE. Still, a small group seemed to be unphased. Sonic, sitting in the front row, was having no issues. Emily and Jeremy, sitting behind him, in the second row, appeared to be playing cards while describing the fight to Emeral and Joe, who were sitting behind them in the third row. A Q floating in the back was having no issues with keeping up with the fight, and the girl Tommy identified as Sarah back in the bar was writing a blow by blow for the station newspaper, although nobody is sure who asked her to. Well, the computer isn't having any issues either, but what do you expect from the computer?

Another small group of people is having some issues keeping up with the battle, but not too many. Sakura and Li are barely keeping up with the general locations the fighters are in, while Kero and Yue know exactly where each contact is occurring. Well, Kero would know, if he was paying attention instead of eating junk food. Cologne has half a clue what is going on, but is too busy running a stand to care, and Happosai is disappointed that he won't be able to see enough with them moving so fast if one of them DOES get stripped.

As for Rose and Dark Rose, they aren't having an easy time. Every blow either one tries to make is anticipated by the other, resulting in a LOT of blocking and dodging. Even with the energy attacks they haven't been getting anywhere, including Rose's occasional Quantum attack. So far the score is 0 to 0 in successful hits, and it doesn't look like it will be going up anytime soon.

After this had gone on for about an hour the two fighters finally stopped for a moment to catch their breaths. There was a lot of whispering about what might have happened in the crowd, although the closer you got to Emily and Jeremy the less people were out of the loop. Apparently people had actually started to LISTEN to them.

"Amateurs," Jeremy called, grinning. "You only went for fifty eight minutes before taking a break."

"Where did you learn to fight, anyway?" Emily added. "Both of you were leaving openings all over the place!"

Rose and Dark Rose turned to one another, seemed to have an unspoken conversation, then walked up to one another. "TRUCE" they said, shaking hands.

"Sonic," Rose called. "Get out here, and bring those two with you."

"It is time they learned a lesson or two," Dark Rose added.

"And we have a modification of the fight," the computer said. "At a draw, Rose and Dark Rose have teamed up, dragged their husband into the ring, and are challenging Emily and Jeremy to a three on two fight."

"Plan nine?" Emily asked Jeremy as they walked into the center of the arena.

"I was thinking eight," Jeremy said. "More humiliating for them that way."

"You are being nasty today," Emily said. "But I like it. Plan eight it is."

"Shall we begin?" Rose asked, cracking her knuckles.

"Computer," Jeremy called. "START THE DAMN FIGHT."

"Alright already," the computer said. "Ready, FIGHT."

Once again, Rose and Dark Rose seemed to vanish. Sonic shook his head for a second, then vanished as well. Emily and Jeremy just stood there back to back amidst a flurry of bright flashes. The scoreboard, which nobody had noticed before, was going up steadily this time. Sonic, Rose, and Dark Rose had a consistent zero hits, while Emily and Jeremy were currently at two hundred forty six. It didn't take long for Sonic, at least, to land and become visible to the average person.

"How do they do it?" Sonic mumbled, rubbing a bruise on his arm. "No matter what kind of attack we attempt, they block it and hit us instead."

"I say we triple-team them," Rose said, landing next to Sonic. A good portion of her hair seemed to be singed.

"Three attacks from three angles," Dark Rose said, landing next to Rose. "The two of them shouldn't have a chance."

"Go," Sonic said as the three vanished.

Emily and Jeremy were just standing there grinning as the three ran in circles around the arena, preparing for the three-pronged attack. Emily and Jeremy already had their counter-attack ready, and were prepared to use it. It didn't take long for Sonic, Rose, and Dark Rose to suddenly change course and head straight for Emily and Jeremy from three different angles. Emily and Jeremy appeared to do nothing, just standing there, which the attackers thought was odd.

They ceased to find it odd when they went straight THROUGH Emily and Jeremy, collided with one another, and ended up with a score of -3. Turns out Emily and Jeremy knew the afterimage technique and used it.

"That smarted," Sonic said, rubbing his head. "Why didn't we notice they weren't really standing there?"

"I think we were too intent on timing," Rose said, cracking her neck. "Not enough time determining their exact location."

"Or we could have been in too much pain already," Dark Rose said, pulling an icepack out of her pocket.

"Well this has been fun," Emily called from the corner, eating popcorn.

"Shall we begin trying?" Jeremy called. "Or do you want to give up now?"

"How is it that you have gotten away without a single injury," Sonic said, glaring at Emily and Jeremy.

"You almost hit me you know," Emily said, holding up a piece of her hair. The end was burned off. "You did get my hair though. Your wives there haven't been so lucky."

"Why you little jerks," Sonic said, showing massive amounts of anger.

"That shouldn't have ticked him off," Rose said, standing next to Dark Rose.

"I know," Dark Rose responded. "Then again, didn't we have similar issues during our fight?"

"Our emotions must be unstable," Rose said. "Side-effect of Emeral and Joe being separated, perhaps?"

"Ready?" Jeremy asked Emily as they took a fighting stance.

"Yep," Emily said as Sonic approached.

"DEFENSE-BUSTER THREE MILLION," Sonic yelled, coming in at Emily with a punch to end all punches.

"Shit," Emily said just before Sonic made contact with her stomach. This in turn caused Emily to double over for a split second, and Sonic to go into a state of mild shock.

"I made contact?" Sonic said, wide-eyed. "I actually MADE CONTACT?"

"Bye now," Emily and Jeremy said at the same time, Emily having recovered. The two timed dual kicks perfectly to send Sonic flying into Rose and Dark Rose, knocking all three of them out.

"Really," Jeremy said, shaking his head. "Defense-buster three million?"

"I don't know," Emily said, looking over at Sonic. "I honestly couldn't defend myself, even if I had wanted to. I was almost scared for a second there."

"With a score of five billion, four hundred twenty eight thousand, two hundred twenty five to negative two," the computer said. "Emily and Jeremy are the winners."

"So much for that," Emily said as the doors opened and everyone started leaving. "Shall we wake them up?"

"Might as well," Jeremy said, walking over to where the three were piled. A few minutes later they were waking up, rubbing their heads.

"What happened?" Sonic asked as he climbed off of Rose and Dark Rose. "I feel like I WAS a steamroller."

"You were," Rose said. "I think you actually hit Emily though."

"You hit me then went into shock," Emily said, grinning. "Not a bad hit, either. I don't think I could have defended against it. Not that I wanted to."

"What do you mean?" Dark Rose asked, looking at Emily.

"I let him scorch my hair so I could taunt him with it later," Emily said, grinning. "I figured one of you three would attack me, I would let you hit, you would go into shock."

"Which is what Sonic here did," Jeremy said, also grinning. "Emily recovered quickly, we both drop-kicked Sonic into you two girls. KO'ed all three of ya, and we won."

"That was a dirty, nasty, rotten, disgusting trick," Dark Rose said. "I like it!"

"Figures you would," Rose said, glaring at her dark counterpart. "You sticking around or heading out?"

"I am leaving," Dark Rose said, shaking Rose's hand. "I had fun, but I don't think I would be comfortable helping you squash evil, being mostly evil myself. Maybe one day you will have to stop one of MY evil schemes."

"Hope not," Sonic said. "I don't know if I could fight you."

"Have a fun time," Emily said as Dark Rose left through one of the nearby exits.

"And don't come looking for me," Dark Rose yelled.

"She may regret that one," Sonic said, shaking his head.

"Why?" Rose asked.

"She just left into the central hub of the bathroom," Sonic explained. "Oh well. Shall we go see Dr. Toufuu?"

"Sounds like a plan," Rose said, limping off with Sonic.

"What shall we do now?" Emily asked. "The bruise from that one punch has healed already."

"I say we go watch Toufuu mangle those two," Jeremy said, grinning. "Kasumi was headed over to see him herself."

"That was mean," Emeral said, tapping her foot.

"Quite," Joe said, standing next to Emeral.

Twenty minutes later

"Ouch," Emeral said, an ice pack on her eye. "That smarted."

"Teach us to try and teach them a lesson," Joe said, collapsing on the couch.

"Luckily we avoided Toufuu while Kasumi was there," Sonic said, sitting next to Joe. "That could have been bad."

"Still," Rose said, sitting next to Emeral. "Why did you think you could do better then we did?"

"Clouded judgment," Emeral said. "Can we do something about this damned station now?"

"How?" Joe asked. "We don't have a place to finish the puzzle."

"Under the damned bed," Emeral said. "The one in the spare master bedroom, that Sonic let Rose and Dark Rose sleep in last night."

"You mean to tell me that there is another pyramid under there?" Sonic said, looking at Emeral.

"Yep," Emeral said. "Although, we may want to wait till morning."

"I'll go with that," Rose said. "Now is not a good time for thinking."

"I was thinking more about my realization I can't stand up," Emeral said. "I think I might sleep right here."

"Ok, I wasn't thinking that," Joe said. "But I concede your point."

The next morning

"What have you been doing all night?" Sonic asked, yawning as he got off the couch. "Looks like you didn't sleep at all."

"I couldn't sleep for some reason," Rose said. "Initially it was due to a nightmare about green toilets, but that faded. I think it was because MM's lifespan was bugging me."

"So you have used scientific methods to determine exactly what that lifespan is?" Sonic asked, looking at the piles of books and papers on the table.

"Yep," Rose said. "Back when he originally came into existence he should have died after two hundred years."

"Well that didn't happen," Sonic said, grinning. "So what changed?"

"Don't know," Rose admitted. "But I do know that his lifespan is beyond comprehension now, save issues like the one I caused."

"Try me," Sonic said.

"Here is the first book," Rose said, handing Sonic a book. "That is the first of five hundred thousand current books. Each one is two thousand pages."

"MM's lifespan," Sonic said, reading the cover. He then opened to the first page. "MM's lifespan in millennia is listed in this set of books."

"Turn the page," Rose said.

"It is all nines," Sonic said, flipping through the book. "Every last page is filled with nines, right up to the edges of the paper."

"Yep," Rose said. "That is what my research tells me. I was bored and I calculated our lifespan as well. According to my findings, we are the equivalent of pre-teens right now. Once we hit the equivalent of teenagers we should be able to procreate."

"At least we have a timeframe now," Sonic said.

"Actually, our lifespans are probably much longer normally," Rose said. "Seems that having your dark side split off cuts your lifespan down a bit."

"Figures," Sonic said. "So if we ever merge back with our dark sides we will live longer?"

"Yep," Rose said.

"So," Sonic said. "Do you think MM will tell our great great great great great great great great great grandkids about us?"

"Wouldn't surprise me," Rose said.

"I bet your next piece of information will surprise me," Sonic said. "You have that look on your face."

"As far as I can tell," Rose said, handing Sonic a piece of paper. "We owe MM our existence."

"You mean that if he didn't exist we would never have evolved?" Sonic said, staring at the paper. "Freaky."

"Sakura's near-evolution was entirely due to our existence," Sonic said. "At least, if these calculations are correct."

"Actually, your evolution was the only one directly based off of MM's existence," Rose said. "I evolved because you existed, and Sakura evolved because I existed."

"Sakura didn't evolve," Sonic said, grinning.

"Ok," Rose said. "So if she hadn't STOPPED herself it would have been because of my existence."

"Which means we have no clue how many other people would have evolved in the chain," Sonic said. "Her decision could have caused thousands of people to not evolve."

"Lets not tell her that," Rose said. "She might not take it well."

"Can we finish this damned curse now?" Emeral asked, limping into the room. "Joe and I don't heal as fast as you two, you know."

"Ok already," Sonic said. "Lets go finish this thing."

A few minutes later they were in the spare master bedroom looking at a pyramid. It looked like they had sixteen places to put triangles, and the pieces they have to put on the pyramid are still on the bridge.

"The author would have to remember that detail," Rose said, glaring at the author. "So Mister Smarty-Pants, how do we get to the bridge to get the pieces?"

"I have them," Tommy said, rolling in on his wheelchair. "Friend of mine fetched them for me before she left the bridge upon arrival."

"Where are they?" Sonic asked.

"I left them by the couch," Tommy said. "The bag is GIGANTIC. how many things are in there?"

"A good five hundred sixty I think," Emeral said. "I think we can skip the orange and purple ones though."

"Why?" Joe asked.

"Sixteen places," Emeral said. "We either have all the purple and the four brown, or all the red, gold, and brown. I am guessing we need three colors, not two."

"Works for me," Sonic said, running out to the living room and coming back with the red, gold, and brown pieces. "How do we attach these things?"

"I assume one brown per side," Rose said. "Probably in the middle. Either that, or one side is all brown, but that leaves no nice pattern."

"Ok," Emeral said, placing the brown pieces on the pyramid. "What next?"

"Six of each color left," Joe said, picking up a gold piece. "Gold on two sides, red on the other two?"

"That would duplicate the triforce appearance," Sonic said, tossing the pieces towards the pyramid. "Given that they fall into that pattern when you throw them I would say that is it."

"Last piece then," Joe said, placing the last gold piece on the pyramid. "Shouldn't that do something?"

"Computer?" Rose said. "What are we missing?"

"It would seem that a riddle is needed to be solved," the computer said. "Wendy forgot to tell me what it was before you knocked her out. I think she was going to give it to you when you DID knock her out."

"AUTHOR," Sonic yelled. "GIVE US THE DAMNED RIDDLE."

"No," an ominous voice replied. "Figure it out yourself."

"I swear," Sonic said, pulling up his sleeves. "If you don't give us that riddle RIGHT NOW I will...."

"You will what?" the ominous voice said. "Do you forget I control everything right now?"

"You don't control my fist," Sonic yelled.

"But I do," the voice replied. A moment later Sonic's fist separated from Sonic's wrist and made contact with Sonic's face.

"Damn you," Sonic mumbled.

"Besides," the voice said. "Did you try looking UNDER the pyramid? Simpletons......"

"YOU WROTE US THAT WAY," Rose yelled as Emeral and Joe lifted the pyramid.

"No excuse," the voice said, chuckling.

"Just figure out the riddle," Emeral said. "I can't hold this all day."

"This can't be seen," Sonic read. "But it can be heard. You can look at it all you want but that won't change it. What is it?"

"The author?" Rose asked.

"Damn you," the voice said as the pyramid started glowing, spreading out across the entire station. A few minutes later Nerima was back where it belonged.

"Well that was nice," Sonic said. "I wonder how much everyone remembers."

"Lets go see Ranma and Akane first," Emeral said. "I want to know if Nabiki is still rich."

At the Tendo Dojo, ten minutes later

"I don't believe it," Nabiki said, staring at the bank statement Ranma had handed her. "You are richer then I am."

"I already paid you back too," Ranma said, stuffing his face. "So you can't swindle money out of me now."

"I still have some pictures," Nabiki said, holding up some developed pictures.

"Big whoop," Ranma said, holding up some of his own. "These pictures of me dressed up on the station are already selling like hotcakes, and I charge ten yen less then you do."

"I may not have as much as Ranma," Akane said. "But I also appear to have more then you do. Ranma and I are doing a 'buy one, get one half off' deal with our pictures as well. We are splitting the profits."

"My pictures from the library are selling for some reason as well," Kasumi said. "I have enough money to buy food for years on top of it."

"Since when am I the least profitable member of this household?" Nabiki asked nobody in particular.

"Kasumi's pictures probably sell because of the uniform," Sonic said, looking at one of the pictures. "Not many libraries have a bikini for a uniform."

"Considering we only have one person buying them," Akane said. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was wearing a nun's habit and they still sold."

"Who is the one person?" Rose asked.

"Like you have to ask," Emeral said, grinning.

"I would guess Dr. Toufuu," Joe said.

"Yep," Ranma said. "Amazing, though. Working in a casino for that long gets people to do things they normally wouldn't."

"By the way," Akane said, grabbing some rice. "Kalshion and Katarina were looking for you. They said it was important."

"Hands off my rice," Ranma said, grabbing his rice back from Akane. A few minutes later Ranma and Akane were outside fighting over the rice.

"Isn't that normally Genma's gig?" Sonic asked.

"If Genma weren't knocked out on the roof with Soun maybe," Rose said. "I wonder what got into Akane though?"

"You don't know what she went through to stand wearing that uniform every day," Nabiki said. "It wasn't easy for her, and I think something inside of her snapped in the process."

"Ranma just wanted the money," Kasumi said. "I personally had fun with all the boys coming to the library just to see me in my uniform. I just wish Dr. Toufuu had come by more often."

"Better head over to the shrine," Joe said, leaving with the others. "We will come by again later."

Meanwhile, across town

"At least the damned curse ending gave me the ability to walk again," Tommy said. "When you decide to tell me what you need, let me know."

Sarah, sitting across the room from Tommy, just nodded.

At the shrine

"What's up?" Rose asked Katarina. "Akane said you were looking for us."

"Wendy is in the spare bedroom," Katarina said. "She has gotten worse."

Chapter 48
Rose's Curse
This is why Rose should not curse unsupervised

"We have no clue how to fix this, do we," Emeral said, noting the chapter title and not knowing if she should be insulted or not.

"Not a clue," Sonic said as Rose tried to beat the title senseless, failing miserably.

"And thus ends this author's post," Joe said.

CmptrWz

Now, a brief visit with The American Scientists

"Picking up Tachyon particles in Paris!" yelled Scientist 3.

"WHAT!? Quick, Start Recording Data!" yelled Scientist 1.

"Quin, Start projecting where that portal is coming from," yelled Scientist 3.

"Yes sir," answered the assistant Quin.

"This could be the greatest discovery in the history of man!" said Scientist 3.

"Wasn't that the discovery of the being that created the RPG?" asked Scientist 2.

"Ok, the second greatest discovery," replied Scientist 3.

"I found the source," said Quin, "It's source is one post into the future."

"What the hell is a post?" Scientist 1 asked.

"I will let you know when I figure it out," Quin responded.

Back with the gang at the shrine

"Hello?" a voice called from outside. "Is anyone here?"

"Come in," Kalshion called.

"Sorry to bother you," the voice added as the sound of shoes being removed was heard. "I have important information, though."

"Regarding what?" Sonic asked.

"Wendy's unconscious state," came the response. A moment later Nadeshiko walked into the room, holding enough scrolls to start a small library with.

"Couldn't you have used a crystal?" Rose asked, looking at the scrolls.

"Hard to," Nadeshiko said. "These are all spell scrolls, given power through various means."

"So what is important enough to come see us over?" Joe asked, sifting through the scrolls.

"I found a way to wake Wendy up," Nadeshiko said.

"HURRY UP AND DO IT THEN," everyone yelled at the same time.

"I can't," Nadeshiko said. "Sonic, Rose, Emeral, and Joe have to do it."

"Then tell us what to do," Emeral said, plopping herself down next to the pile of scrolls.

"There is an issue with that," Nadeshiko said. "You can't do it here."

"Why not?" Sonic asked. "Wendy is here, after all."

"You have to do it from inside her mind," Nadeshiko said.

In the headquarters of the Nexial Matrix Seismic Research Institute

"What was that?" a scientist-like spirit asked.

"Whatever it was," an orange being answered. "It shook half the Nexial Matrix."

"What was the origin?" the first scientist asked.

"A small shrine in the MFM sector of the MFM Matrix," the orange being answered.

"Why did they name the matrix and the area around his node after him?" a young looking girl asked.

"You weren't around when he almost killed us all," the orange being responded.

"Who said anything about almost," the spirit interjected. "He scared me, quite literally, to death."

"Crybaby," the young looking girl said.

Back in the shrine

"Well," Kalshion said, looking at the four holes in the shrine's floor. "How do they get in her mind?"

"The bathroom," Nadeshiko said. "They have to get lost beyond lost."

"Wait," Sonic said, popping up out of one of the holes. "Some of us can navigate the bathroom."

"Then you have to follow those that can't," Nadeshiko said. "And not only that, you have to do it in 'Oh my lord' mode."

"How long do we have to stay lost?" Rose asked, climbing out of another hole.

"Three days, three hours, three minutes, three seconds," Nadeshiko said, consulting her notes. "Something here about three antiyears as well, whatever those are."

"Ok," Emeral said, pulling herself out of another hole. "Then we should probably get going."

"I am ready when you are," Joe said from his hole. "Any chance someone can get me out of this well I just uncovered, though?"

Three hours, three minutes, three seconds later

"Well," Joe said, putting on his backpack. "Here we go."

"Have fun," Katarina said.

"Now to go where no living thing has gone before," Sonic said. "And, most likely, will never go again."

With that comment the four stepped into the portal to the bathroom, the portal promptly vanishing. They found themselves in a small, white room with two thousand doors.

How the hell two thousand doors fit in the small, white room was anyone's guess, but they were all there anyway.

Sonic and Joe followed Rose and Emeral, who started wandering aimlessly. As they did so they discovered that they couldn't leave the center of the room, but that the room changed drastically with every step they took.

"This could drive any normal human insane," Sonic said.

"It is threatening to drive me insane right now," Joe countered.

"So how are you two navigating?" Sonic said, changing the topic.

"Shhh," Rose said. "We are playing Mario cart Advance against each other."

"Why didn't we think of that?" Joe asked.

"You didn't," Sonic said, holding up two gameboys and a couple of link cables. "Shall we join them?"

"Sure thing," Joe said. A moment later the two player Mario cart game was a four player Mario cart game.

Interestingly enough, this went on for three days, three hours, three minutes, and three seconds. At that point, all four crashed horribly in the battle they were currently in, and all lost their last balloon.

Somewhere in Paris

"Get back here you Letch!", Katarina yelled as she jumped from the top of the Paris Tower.

She landed on the ground, her leg straight out the other in a kneeling position. She sprinted forward and almost caught Happosai, but missed and ended up on top of a guy.

Meanwhile, back at the shrine

Kalshion sat in front of the T.V. watching a news show.

"In other news, we just got word of two people... or rather one person and one thing jumping up on top of the Paris Tower," the reporter said.

"KAT!", Kalshion yelled.

Katarina walked out of the bathroom, her hair dyed a hard brown color. "What?"

"Nice hair do..", Kalshion said.

She looked at the mirror then back at him. "It'll do.. what is it?"

"Look at this report", Kalshion said.

"Hmm?", Katarina walked over and watched the T.V.

"Now we just got word that they're in New York... wait... New York?! How'd they get there so fast.." the reporter continued.

Back in the Bathroom

"Ummmm," Emeral said, looking around. "I would continue walking, but I ran out of floor."

"Welcome to three antiyear point," a mysterious disembodied voice called. "I hope you have had a nice trip, I hope to see you next fall."

"Thanks," Rose said. "I think."

With that the four started to fall, but not before they saw two kids running by in the distance. One appeared to be an eight year old boy, the other a twelve year old girl.

"I told you we took a wrong turn back there," the younger boy said.

"Shut up Oak," the older girl said. "If we concentrate we should be able to be home by dinner."

"Who are they?" Emeral asked.

"No clue," Sonic said. "Although there is something familiar about them."

"Is anyone else worried that we are falling through an endless void?" Joe asked. He quickly regretted it, however, as the four suddenly hit solid ground, an entire world appearing around them.

"Where are we?" Rose said, looking around. "Or is it when are we?"

"You are where you are supposed to be," a young boy told them. A young boy they all knew hadn't been there a second ago.

"Where would that be?" Sonic asked, getting up.

"Currently," the boy said, gesturing around them. "You are in the field of dreams. Not a bad place to be, just don't wander into the forest of nightmares by accident."

"Any chance you can give us directions?" Rose asked as Sonic helped her up.

"Sure thing," the boy said. "To get out of the field of dreams you just follow the cursed road of torment."

"Somehow that doesn't sound like a good idea," Joe said. "Assuming we could see a road to begin with."

"The road isn't bad," the boy said. "The torment part is that it is cursed to be almost impossible to find when you are looking for it."

"Hmmm," Sonic said, thinking. "I get the feeling that we need to do the opposite of what we did to get here."

"Lets try that theory out," Joe said.

"Works for me," Rose said. "Lead the way boys."

Thirteen seconds later the four were walking down the road, wondering where it went.

"Lets see," Emeral said, reading over Nadeshiko's notes. "We need to find the central hub, whatever that is."

"That looks like the exit from the field," Rose said, pointing at a giant, golden gate, the doors wide open, at the end of the road.

"It also looks like this road continues on for a long time after it," Sonic said, squinting as he looked into the distance. "Very odd."

"Somehow I think you are wrong," Joe said as they approached the gate. "I think we are about to have a sudden change in scenery."

"What makes you say that?" Rose asked as they stepped through the gate.

"Oh," Joe said as Rose's jaw dropped. "I have my reasons."

The four were no longer on a road going through a giant field, but rather in the middle of a giant city. A city with no apparent laws of physics, as people were quite literally everywhere. Taking a better look, the four realized that the city was just one of many, each one seeming to be a small piece of a giant chain that they could see going off into the distance. Every so often another chain would branch off of what they assumed was the main one, each of those also having chains branching off of them.

"We really need to find something to tell us what is going on," Sonic said, looking around.

"This terminal seems awfully nicely placed," Emeral said, tapping a terminal sitting in front of the group.

"Very much so," Joe said. "Considering it wasn't there a second ago."

"Lets see," Sonic said, activating the terminal. "We are in MM's mind alright. Which do we want to learn about first, the general way this place works, or how to find what we are looking for?"

"I think we need to have some idea of how this place works before we try to go anywhere," Rose said.

"Good idea," Sonic said, tapping that option. A moment later the four found themselves in a movie theatre with popcorn, soda, and candy.

"First off," a voice came over the speakers. "You were here." The screen lit up with a map of the area the four had been in a moment before, the field of dreams entrance marked. "Now you are here," the voice continued. The map zoomed out, showing the chain they had been on. It zoomed out some more, showing that the chains made up a kind of web. It zoomed out even further, showing that the webs made up larger webs. It zoomed out yet further, showing that the webs formed a kind of universe. Yet it continued to zoom out, showing other universes. Finally it stopped, and a line went from the red dot in the universe they had been in to another red dot in another universe.

"How about a general statement of where we are," Sonic said, sipping on his soda.

"Alright then," the voice said. "You are in the thought core of one self-declared Master of Magic, Entertainment universe six, arm three, planet three thousand forty two, theatre two thousand fifty eight."

"I am sorry you asked," Joe said. "What is a thought core?"

"You will find out when you are older," the voice said. "Now, lets get on to business."

The screen zoomed out again, further and further until nothing could be discerned. Then it expanded outwards, above the seats, and took on various coloring.

"Currently you can see the general population densities for various areas of the thought core," the voice said. "White areas have no population, black areas are highly overcrowded."

"What white areas?" Rose asked. "I see various bits of black, red, green, purple, and orange, but no white."

"There are no white areas," the voice said. "Blue would be light population, green is medium, orange is medium-high, purple is high, red is higher still, and black is over capacity."

"What kind of scale are we looking at here?" Emeral asked. "Hard to tell when you can't make out any detail."

"In this image the planet you are on would be a tenth of a quark in diameter," the voice said. "I think."

"Ok," Sonic said. "Now that we know we are mere specs in this place, what about the way this place works do we need to know?"

"This particular thought core operates as the sum off all the permanent inhabitants inside of it," the voice said. "It also has an absorption rate higher then any other thought core currently in existence. The general idea is that you have to convince one more then half of the people here to change something in order to change it on the outside."

"How often does that happen?" Joe asked.

"So far," the voice said, pausing. "I think three times a long time ago when there were less then twenty inhabitants. At this point, the thought core does pretty much anything it feels like, as there is no majority vote taking place for any given action. That is very rare in a thought core, actually."

"Is that all the people here do," Rose asked. "Influence decisions?"

"No," the voice said. "Each person here contributes to the overall power of the thought core. The more people here, the more power the core has."

"Ok," Sonic said. "Any chance you can tell us where the central hub is?"

"Very good question," the voice said as the screen shrunk back into a flat plane. "Unfortunately," the voice continued as a giant question mark appeared on the screen. "For security reasons, nobody knows."

"Great," Joe said. "That means we have to search the entire place for it."

"Well," the voice said. "I suppose a single, solitary inhabitant of this thought core knows."

"WHO," the four yelled.

"A very interesting new inhabitant," the voice said. "Hasn't been around long at all, really, and is very odd in that she is one of a kind."

"JUST TELL US WHO IT IS," Rose yelled, pulling out a giant mallet.

"OK ALREADY," the voice said. "IT IS DARK ROSE, OK?"

"How does Dark Rose know where the central hub is?" Rose asked.

"She is the only one here created from inside of it," the voice answered.

"How is that possible?" Rose asked. "She was made from part of ME!"

"Wrong Dark Rose," the voice said.

"I do NOT want to know right now," Sonic said, walking out of the room. "I will be out looking for Dark Rose, unless anyone has any better idea then just searching?"

"I have a better idea," the voice said. "Use the teleporters. Hang a left down the hall, fourth door in the ceiling."

"Thanks," Joe said.

Once they were outside the room, they looked up at the ceiling. The five mile high ceiling.

"HOW DO WE GET UP THERE?" Emeral finally yelled. "What are we supposed to do, WALK UP THE WALLS?"

"Yep," Joe said, standing on the wall. "This is inside a mind. Laws of physics need not apply."

"Right," Emeral said, a giant sweat drop appearing on her face. "I forgot about that."

"Actually," Joe said, grinning. "Why walk?" With that Joe floated off the wall and towards the ceiling.

"Why fly," Sonic yelled from next to the correct door. "Just think yourself here."

"Works for me," Emeral said, appearing next to Sonic. "Wait, if we can do that, why do we need teleporters?"

"We don't know where things are yet," Rose said. "As such, we need something that does to direct us."

"Then lets get going," Joe said, opening the door. Inside the group found a closet with a panel on the wall.

"Right," Sonic said, tapping the panel. "Where do we want to go?"

"Lets try the direct route," Emeral said. "Central Hub."

"Error," a voice said. "I do not know how to get to the central hub."

"Ok then," Rose said. "The closest point to Dark Rose you can get us."

"Error," the voice repeated. "There are two Dark Rose's I can get you to. Would you like the one inside the thought core, or outside of it."

"Inside, I guess," Rose said. Two seconds before that the group found themselves sitting on top of someone.

Closer examination revealed that someone to be Dark Rose.

"Nice of you to drop in," Dark Rose said. "Or rather, I think you popped in. Either way, could you get off my back?"

"Sorry," Emeral said, staring at Dark Rose as the group climbed off her. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"I'm not," Dark Rose responded. "My real body is lost in the bathroom. Well, actually, currently it is enjoying the spa sector. Lucky girl."

"What?" Rose said. "How is that possible? WE WERE JUST SITTING ON YOU."

"I am a partial copy," Dark Rose responded. "Hard to explain. So, what do you want?"

"We need to find the central hub," Sonic said. "We were told you are the only one here that knows where it is."

"Yep," Dark Rose said. "I know where it is. Hard to get to. Very confusing."

"Any chance of you telling us where it is?" Joe asked.

"Not unless you can catch me," Dark Rose said, grinning. "TELEPORTER MAIN COMPUTER, DISABLE ALL TELEPORTERS."

"Central Hub Teleporter Main Computer acknowledges request," a mysterious voice sounded. "All teleporters disabled by order of the protector of the hub."

"Bye now," Dark Rose said, vanishing.

"We do WAY too much chasing of people," Sonic said. "But I think this takes the cake. How do we find her in this place?"

"You don't," a familiar voice said. Turning around, the group saw Rose. Or rather, another Rose.

"We know exactly where she is," came another familiar voice, soon revealed to be another Sonic.

"You just can't get there," came the voice of yet another Rose.

"As only she knows where there is," yet another Sonic added.

"How many of us are in here?" Sonic asked, checking to make sure he was in fact himself.

"Too many," Rose said, doing pretty much the same thing.

"Two billion, three hundred twenty seven million, five hundred fifty eight thousand, two hundred forty six," a chorus of voices called from over the hill. "Give or take a million."

The group willed themselves over the hill, to find themselves looking at a sea of Sonics and Roses. No two were identical, however. Each one seemed to look or act slightly differently then all the others.

"What about us?" Emeral asked.

"You want sector Pre-Quantum nine for that," a Rose answered.

"Right," Joe said. "Don't suppose any of you have any clue as to how to get to Dark Rose right now?"

"Find the central hub," a Sonic responded.

"We need her to do that," Emeral said, sounding annoyed.

"Then you are out of luck," a Rose smirked.

"How do you all keep track of who is who?" Sonic said.

"We are all part of the same mind," a Sonic responded. "Thus, we know each other instantly on sight."

"Sounds nice," Rose said. "So because we DON'T know you on sight, we know we are the originals?"

"That is about it," a Q that suddenly appeared responded.

"Q!" the sea yelled. "GET BACK TO YOUR OWN SECTOR!"

"Sorry," Q said. "I am the original."

"Oh," a mixture of individuals from the sea said. "So you are. Sorry about that."

"How did you get in here?" Sonic asked. "We had a hard enough time doing it."

"I took a wrong turn at the showers," Q said. "I was hoping to join the real Dark Rose in the spa."

"Pervert," Rose said with a disgusted look on her face.

"She INVITED me," Q said, glaring at Rose.

"I wasn't talking about YOU," Rose said.

"You know," Sonic said, looking out over the sea. "If I wasn't looking at a couple billion copies of myself and my wife, I might be jealous."

"He has a point there," Joe said.

"Then again," Sonic said, grinning at Joe.

"Jealousy is strong," Joe said, grinning right back.

"Don't do anything brash," Q said, backing up a little. A moment later Sonic and Joe appeared in front of him holding giant swords. A moment after that Q was banished back to the bathroom by dual quantum shockwaves.

"Nice," Sonic said. "I didn't know you could do that."

"I don't think I can," Joe said. "But since when does that stop you here?"

"How did you two do that?" a Sonic asked. "We can't do anything like that here."

"So you have to follow whatever laws of physics seem to exist in the areas you are in?" Rose said.

"Yea," the Sonic replied. "We might as well be human."

"Then how did Dark Rose vanish like that?" Emeral asked. "She should have the same restrictions as you do."

"For some reason she doesn't," a Rose said. "She likes to tease us about that."

"Since we can do the impossible," Sonic said, grinning. "I say we split up to search."

"So we can search the seemingly infinite spans of the thought core in a quarter of infinity?" Rose said, glaring at Sonic.

"No," Sonic said, floating higher. "I say we split up more then that." With that Sonic became two Sonics, then four, then eight, then thirty-two, then sixty-four, over and over again until there were one million forty eight thousand five hundred seventy six of him floating there.

"Wow," Rose said as Emeral and Joe started to do the same. They had to stop at one hundred thirty one thousand seventy two, however.

"Apparently we can't do it forever," Rose said. "My turn." With that Rose duplicated Sonic's efforts.

Once their army was finished forming it spread out, methodically covering the entire thought core from end to end, top to bottom, side to side. With the increased numbers the search went by much more quickly.

By much more quickly, we mean that they searched for three months instead of three centuries.

Thus, it was three months later that the four recombined into four and met in a bar in bar sector eight. They had found no sign of Dark Rose, and were wondering if they ever would.

Meanwhile, in the shrine where this all started

"So far so good," Nadeshiko said.

"How can you say that?" Katarina asked. "They have only been gone for three minutes."

"I don't know," Nadeshiko responded. "I just have this feeling that they made it already."

Lets go back to the search

The four are no longer in the bar, which is driving the camera crew nuts. It would seem our few seconds outside checking up on the shrine was several hours in here, and the group has moved onto another location. Give us a moment to find them. In the meantime, lets go to the Dark Rose feed.

"Fools," Dark Rose said. "They will never catch me while I sit here in the central hub."

"Of course not," Joe said. "That would be too easy. We have to find a way to draw you out first."

"How did you do that?" Dark Rose said, jumping at Joe. "You aren't supposed to know where this is!"

"Sorry," Joe said. "I was taking my lunch break."

"Oh," Dark Rose said. "Sorry then. Didn't mean to snap at you like that."

"Besides," Joe said. "You are in the fake central hub in studio six."

"Dang," Dark Rose said. "I thought I missed by a few sectors." With that Dark Rose vanished once more, presumably to the real central hub.

"So where to now," Sonic asked. "Since we have no good leads on Dark Rose, we could catch a movie."

"I seem to recall part of each of us getting together last week and watching twenty movies straight," Emeral said. "About the same time we played golf, video games, role playing games, paintball, every sport in existence, several sports that wouldn't work outside of here, and saw that concert."

"Right," Sonic said. "Ok then, why don't we try brainstorming ideas for finding Dark Rose?"

"Or you could ask me," a familiar voice said. Looking over, the four saw MM standing a few meters away.

"Are you inside of your own mind?" Sonic asked, looking at MM.

"Yep," MM said. "In this thought core, the only way to know yourself is to have a copy of yourself inside of yourself."

"Ok," Rose said. "By the way, I could have sworn MM said he only had FIVE minds inside of his head, you just implied that ALL of the residents here are in his head?"

"Well, he isn't exactly knowledgeable about his internal makeup," MM said. "Hard to be, really. He can't truly look inside here, after all. Perhaps you should inform him that he does have many more then five minds going on at once."

"Makes sense," Sonic said. "We don't know much about how we tick either. Can we get on with this now?"

"Sure thing, but first off," MM said, grinning. "I have to do something."

"What would that be?" Rose asked, not liking the grin.

"This," MM said, pulling out a giant mallet and flattening Rose into the ground with it. "I am the only resident here that can do that, by the way."

"What was that for," Rose asked as she peeled herself off the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE IN HERE TRYING TO UNDO?" Emeral, Joe, and Sonic yelled.

"Right," Rose said. "Forgot about that. Sorry."

"Hell is my department," someone said, soon revealed to be one of several million copies of Kia. "Of course, we can't get to it from here. Would you like me to call the real me?"

"No thanks," Rose said.

"I guess you probably want my help now," MM said. "Too bad I just lost interest in doing so."

"WHAT," Rose and Emeral yelled. Sonic and Joe started to back away slowly.

"I said I no longer want to help you," MM responded, pulling out a yo-yo. "Are you two as dumb as you are deaf?"

"Are you sure you don't want to re-phrase that," Emeral said, rolling up her sleeves.

"Actually," MM said, doing a complicated trick with the yo-yo. "You two could probably stand to lose twenty pounds, right above the shoulders."

"Emeral," Rose said with enough emotion in her voice to cause the entire population of the thought core to run for the furthest point they could.

"Rose," Emeral reciprocated, causing the inhabitants of the thought core to push so hard away that the thought core DOUBLED in size.

Wait a minute, where did Sonic and Joe go?

"So this is where the roots for the pineapple trees go," Joe said, looking around at the nuclear waste site in the sewer. "No wonder they explode so well."

"Yea," Sonic said. "Just watch out. The quantum nuclear bombs in this place are really bad for your skin if they blow."

Right, lets go back to Rose and Emeral

"Like you wimps could do anything to me," MM said, making a face with the yo-yo string. "I bet you don't even cause me to flinch."

"ULTIMATE CURSE BREAKER," Rose and Emeral screamed at the same time, launching giant twin energy blasts at MM. The resulting explosion rocked the entire thought core, creating a quantum mushroom cloud visible from everywhere in the thought core at once. Even without the closed-circuit TV on.

Of course, when the smoke cleared, MM was still standing there, playing with his yo-yo.

"That HURT," Dark Rose said, picking herself up off the ground.

"Told ya you couldn't touch me," MM finally said. "Of course, this is my mind. I control the laws of physics here."

"But what about you," Rose said, pointing a finger at Dark Rose.

"I was relaxing in the spa section of the bathroom," Dark Rose said. "Or was I somewhere else? I feel like two people, but not quite."

"She apparently was pulled here by you two," MM said. "She must have merged with the piece of her that was here, but can't access her other self's memories."

"Which means what," Emeral asked, not liking that MM had gotten off without a scratch but knowing she couldn't do anything about it.

"Which means I am the only one that could help you get at the location you want to get to," MM said. "Currently, I don't trust you to not screw it up."

"So what do we do now?" Dark Rose asked, looking at MM. "For that matter, where the hell are we?"

"For now," MM said, reaching up to a rope that wasn't there a moment ago. "You get flushed for breaking the QAG." MM then pulled the rope, causing toilets to appear under Rose, Emeral, and Dark Rose before anyone could ask what a QAG was. A moment later they were sucked down the toilets, and found themselves dumped to various areas of the bathroom.

"Damn him," Emeral said, looking around at the bathroom. "I have NO HOPE of finding my way out of here."

"Correction," MM said, popping up on a small screen near Emeral. "You currently have a one in two million shot. Computer, switch the bathroom into 'Whimper' mode."

"Bathroom mode change successful," the computer said as the bathroom changed into a swirling mass of color with no source of direction whatsoever.

"Now you have no hope," MM's voice said.

"WHY YOU," Emeral yelled, running towards MM's voice. A moment later she realized that she was back where she started, although she wasn't sure how she knew. She tried running out again, with the same results. Not long after she was on her knees crying, hoping she wouldn't be trapped in this directionless void for the rest of her life.

Five feet away, although impossible to get to that easily, Rose was going through a similar situation. She had already screamed her heart out for a few minutes, and was finally falling into the crying phase herself.

Sonic and Joe were still wondering if it was safe to venture out of the sewer. They decided to continue their staring contest, figuring that the trouble the girls were in was their own fault.

Back in the shrine

"Rose must have tried a curse," Jeremy said, looking into the bathroom.

"What makes you say that," Emily asked.

"The bathroom is in 'Whimper' mode," Jeremy said. "Only dad can do that, but I wouldn't put it past Rose to pull it off anyway."

"Good point," Emily said.

"I wonder how they will make it out of there," Jeremy wondered aloud. "Dad can't even navigate the thing in 'Whimper' mode."

"I can," Emily said, handing Jeremy a bag of popcorn. "The only mode I can navigate, and I don't know why."

"Really," Jeremy said, looking at Emily. "You do know that the thing warps time and space, right?"

"Of course," Emily said. "I would say that if they are stuck in there, over the past couple of minutes it has seemed like days for them."

"Well I know they are stuck in there," Dark Rose said, sipping on a soda. "Well, I don't know about Sonic and Joe, but Rose and Emeral are."

"Then I guess I go in," Emily said, walking into the bathroom. "If I am not back in three centuries."

"Yea?" Jeremy said, raising an eyebrow.

"Keep waiting," Emily said, sticking out her tongue as she vanished.

"Five," Jeremy started counting.

"Four," Dark Rose continued, heading for the door.

"Three," Cologne said, smacking Happosai with her stick.

"Two," Happosai said as he bounced off his own head and out the window, Katarina following him with a mallet. Wait a second........

"One," Jeremy finished, pointing at the door to the bathroom.

"I'm back," Emily said, dragging Rose and Emeral out of the bathroom as Sonic and Joe fell out of an entrance to the sewer in the ceiling.

"You look different," Joe said, looking at Emeral. "Did you do something with your hair in there?"

"No you idiot," Emeral said, pulling out a mallet. "I AGED FIVE YEARS!"

"Oh," Emily said, giggling a little. "Sorry about that. The effect should wear off in a couple of hours."

"It will?" Emeral asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course," Emily said. "On the other hand, you are currently legal to drink, so......"

"WINE HO!" Emeral yelled, throwing the mallet at Joe and missing.

"I wonder," Joe said, watching Emeral down several BOTTLES of wine at once. "What is going to happen when that wine hits her system......"

"She will get drunk," Sonic interrupted. "Duh."

"Just before she reverts to normal," Joe finished.

"Oh," Sonic said, looking at Emeral. "Shit."

"Really," Emily said, making some popcorn. "She never let me finish."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, melting some butter. "What were you going to say?"

"Not much," Emily said. "Just something along the lines of 'On the other hand, you are currently legal to drink, so I should probably warn you about the side effects of drinking alcohol before you revert back' or something."

"Did you say side effects," Emeral asked, already seeming slightly tipsy. "What kind of side effects?"

"Lets just say if they hit you full force," Emily said, throwing Emeral a bag. "You might need these."

"These look like," Emeral said, opening the bag. "DIAPERS?"

"Yea," Emily said. "Drinking alcohol before regressing to your correct age causes you to lose all control of your bladder and bowels for, oh, three days."

"Ok, that would be a bad thing," Emeral said, pulling out a diaper. "DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE LITTLE HAPPOSAI PERVERTS ON THEM?"

"They turn into flattened Happosai perverts when you mess them," Emily smirked.

"Grrrr," Emeral said, stuffing the diaper back in the bag and storming off.

A few hours later

"I don't wike these diapies," Emeral said, too drunk to walk. "Mean man is on them."

"Serves you right," Rose said. "Getting so drunk you have to crawl around like a baby. You probably couldn't use a bathroom even if you didn't have that side effect."

"Bad room?" Emeral said, looking slightly scared. "Me not want to go to the bad room."

"WHY AM I PLAYING BABYSITTER?" Rose screamed.

"When do I tell her that the diapers are cursed?" Emily asked Sonic.

"Right now you don't even HINT at that around her," Sonic said, picking up a deck of cards. "Poker?"

Three weeks of diaper changing later

"Three days," Rose grumbled, grabbing another diaper to put on Emeral. "This was supposed to last THREE DAYS, and it has been THREE WEEKS."

"Not our fault you accidentally turned Emeral into a child," Joe said, studying his poker hand.

Yes, it is the same poker game from three weeks ago.

"You could have told me the diapers were cursed to begin with," Rose said.

"You could have just followed the directions to reverse the curse," Emily said. "Instead you had to try to make your own cure that regressed her. Your fault."

"You know," MM said, walking into the room. "You haven't checked up on Wendy for three weeks now."

"HOLY SHIT," Sonic, Joe, and Rose yelled. A moment later they ran into the next room, where Wendy was unchanged. A moment later, three holes were in the floor in that room, soon followed by the three climbing out of said holes and walking over to MM.

"If she is still unconscious," Sonic said, grabbing MM.

"Then who the hell are you," Rose continued, grabbing MM's hood to pull it back. Only it wouldn't pull back, she couldn't budge it.

"I am myself," MM said. "But I am also not myself. Such is how things go in the thought core."

"What the hell are you talking about," Joe asked. "You FLUSHED us from the thought core."

"No I didn't," MM smirked. "I flushed you into a holodeck. Computer, end program."

The shrine around the group vanished, as did anyone else that was in it. The five occupants of what appeared to be Voyager's Holodeck 1 stood there. MM pulled out a yo-yo, while Emeral decided to giggle and play with her feet. Sonic, Rose, and Joe fell over in shock.

"So we were alone in an advanced holodeck that entire time," Sonic said, pulling himself off the floor.

"Well," MM said, fiddling with the yo-yo. "Still not sure how, but Katarina and Happosai made a brief visit."

"Ok," Rose said. "So how do we fix Emeral and you?"

"Right," MM said, launching the yo-yo at Emeral. A second later Emeral was back to her original self, diaper less, and glad to be sitting as she wouldn't have been able to stay standing after the sudden restoration.

In New York

Happosai dived into the New York subway system, dodging subway train's.

"You leech! Stop Running and hand over my panties!", Katarina yelled. A train came her way and she watched as Happosai dived through the window and ran down the empty train, Katarina raised her mallet and slammed it down on the door, but instead of it breaking apart the door was forced through the steel flooring and into the ground below. The train began to slow due to the door being in the ground.

She ran down the train and dodged several men who tried to get a hold of her, and nailed a few of them in the process.

The train came screaming down the tunnel, it then opened up into a boarding area where the train came to a stop. Happosai launched himself through the door and up the stairs.

"Get back here!", Katarina yelled as she made her up the stairs that Happosai had just come up.

She ran down the street, dodging Taxi cab's and other car's, watching Happosai as he grabbed other woman Panties that where either hanging down cloth line's or in hampers.

Back at the Shrine

"One of our Camera men just got a shot of the two strange people that where spotted in Paris not to long ago One is apparently an old man, the other a female but she doesn't look familiar, or pretty for that matter", said the male reporter.

Back in New York

Katarina heard that and brought her mallet down on the Male Reporter, then continued the chase.

Back at the Shrine

"Hmmm, something just happened to him", Said Kalshion as he bit into his sandwich.

"I recognize that old man, but the other person I don't", Katarina said while trying to figure who the lady was.

At the great zero of the thought core

"Great zero," Sonic said, looking around. "Not bad. How does it help us?"

"For now," MM said, looking at the great zero. "It doesn't. It is turned off, and only I know how to turn it on again."

"So turn it on," Rose said. "We don't have all century."

"I can't," MM said. "I have to have permission to do so."

"Permission from WHO?" Joe asked, kicking a pebble. "If you can turn it on, just do it."

"Permission from the thought core," MM said. "I have to declare the general reason I wish to turn it on, namely helping you, and see what the vote says."

"Go for it," Emeral said. "Wait, what happened to my headache?"

"The great zero doesn't tolerate headaches," MM said. "It will return after the decision is made, but not before."

"Great," Emeral said. "Time-delay headache. Can we get on with this?"

"Ok then," MM said, walking up to a microphone. "I, the image of the form we take on as a whole, request permission to start the great zero. I request to do this in order to help those that have come claiming to try and fix what they inadvertently did to us."

"Is that it?" Sonic asked. "That is all you had to do?"

"Now we wait," MM said. "And hope this doesn't do what I think it will."

The votes are being cast over the next..........oh wait, never mind, they just finished

"Lets see," MM said, walking back up to the microphone. "The votes are in. We have a dead tie between 'Turn it on', 'Leave it off', and 'screw you, I was in the shower'."

"What is that red light?" Joe asked, pointing at a red light on the microphone. "It just came on."

"That is what I was hoping wouldn't happen," MM said. "Although I thought it would a two-sided thing. At any rate, civil war has just erupted outside of the great zero."

"So we are safe in here?" Rose said.

"Yes," MM said. "Although the war isn't based on the question posed, but on what to do with you two."

"Then let them have them," Sonic and Joe said, grabbing Rose and Emeral and throwing them into the auto ejector pods in the wall.

"Why did you do that?" MM asked. "There is a WAR going on out there."

"A war caused directly or indirectly by their combined actions," Sonic said.

"They deserve it," Joe said.

"You do know that civil wars here are notoriously short," MM said. "Right?"

"How short?" Sonic asked.

"This one should have finished two minutes ago short," MM said. "This is officially the longest civil war to have EVER occurred before."

"Why are they so short?" Joe asked. "You have so many different people here."

"Nobody can be hurt," MM said. "Thus, we tend to realize immediately that we aren't going to get anywhere."

"Wait a minute," Sonic said. "Can't Rose and Emeral be hurt?"

"And we just threw them out there," Joe said.

"Where is the door to get in here?" Sonic asked, looking around.

"You are standing on it," MM said. "Keeping it from being opened by Rose and Emeral, who have been trying pretty much constantly since you threw them out."

"OH," Sonic said, jumping back. No sooner did he do so then the door opened, Rose and Emeral jumped in, chased by an explosion, and the door shut again.

Sonic and Joe blinked, during which the door went from open able to sealed in concrete.

"What happened to you two," Sonic asked, looking at Rose and Emeral as they sat on the concrete panting. "Your clothes are mostly gone, you are covered in dirt, and is your hair singed?"

"WE WERE THE ONLY HURTABLE TARGETS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CIVIL WAR," Rose screamed, cracking the concrete. "WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO US?"

"You are ok though," Joe said.

"I am," Rose said. "Emeral was caught in an explosion, she has a temporary lack of hearing."

"Ouch," Joe said.

"I do have a question for you," Rose asked. "How did we get out there?"

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.

"One second we were being told there was a civil war out there," Rose said. "The next thing I knew, we were in the middle of it."

"I don't know," Sonic said, giving Joe a 'do NOT open your mouth' look that Rose missed.

"I heard that!" Emeral said, jumping up. "I CAN HEAR AGAIN!"

"Good," Rose said. "I didn't find out how we got out there."

"DAMNIT," Emeral said. "So, what was the outcome of the war? Will you help us?" Emeral asked MM.

"The results were inconclusive," MM said. "Everyone forgot what side they were on and shot at you instead. However, the second voting has me helping you by two votes."

"Two votes?" Sonic said. "It was that close?"

"No," MM said. "Only two people bothered to vote the second time."

"Then turn this thing on," Joe said.

"Ok then," MM said, pushing a giant green button labeled 'On' that the group had completely overlooked before. A moment later there was a bright flash that overcame the entire thought core.

In the Shrine

"Did Wendy just FLASH?" Kalshion asked, scratching his head.

"I think so," Cologne said. "I wonder why."

On the bridge of the Enterprise, in the Thought Core

"Actually," MM said. "This is a combination of all the bridges of all spaceships ever created. It just looks like the Enterprise from where the camera is."

Yea, get technical on me

"So why are we here?" Rose asked, looking around.

"Not so loud," Emeral said. "I have a killer headache."

"No you don't," MM yelled.

"DIE!" Emeral screamed, pulling out a Nexial Elimination Mallet and attempting to hit MM with it. She missed, however, when she went unconscious due to the massive headache she obtained from the strain.

"Now you do," MM said, grinning. "As for why you are here, this is level one of the central hub."

"So we can find Dark Rose and get instructions for getting to where we need to be now?" Joe asked.

"No," MM said, pointing at where Emeral's mallet had landed. "Emeral just obliterated what was left of the fake, so to speak, Dark Rose." Sure
enough, the remains of Dark Rose's clothing was sitting under the mallet.

"Why are the two instigators on this trip again?" Sonic asked, tapping the clothing with his foot.

"Because Nadeshiko said they have to do the final step," Joe said. "Unfortunately, they can only do it from here."

"What is the final step?" MM asked. "I haven't bothered stealing your instructions to copy them yet."

"They have to attempt to curse the thought core itself from within the central hub," Joe said, reading off the instructions. "Specifically, curse it to expand into infinity."

"RED ALERT," a conglomeration of computer voices said. "Emergency eject into main thought core initiated. Sealing intruders out of central hub."

"WHAT?" Sonic yelled.

"WHY?" Rose added.

"No time," the computer voices said. "Bye now."

With that the group found themselves sitting in a field in the forest sector, Emeral still unconscious.

"What was that about?" Joe asked.

"You don't get it," MM said. "The central hub is the ONLY PLACE in the thought core where ANY curse attempted by ANYONE is guaranteed to succeed. If they had attempted that curse from there then instead of the expected failure and fix all control would have been lost and the Nexial Matrix would have been destroyed."

"SO NOW WHAT DO WE DO?" Emeral asked, somehow coming out of her unconscious state.

"You find my daughter," MM said. "Now, you should probably find a teleporter to vacate the thought core. Try exit five, should get you right to the shrine."

"I think I will go with the bathroom exit," Sonic said, opening a door to a transporter in a tree. "Exit five doesn't sit well with me."

"Like I care?" MM said, walking away into the forest.

"Where does exit five go?" Rose asked as they piled into the transporter.

"Lets just say it isn't a pleasant route," Joe said, pinching his nose.

"You don't mean," Emeral said, gesturing to her backside.

"That would be it," Sonic and Joe said at the same time.

"YUCK," Rose and Emeral yelled.

"WARNING," the computer said as Sonic pushed the activate button. "Coordinates invalid. Picking random coordinates in Sewer. Coordinates selected. Teleporting."

"NO!" Sonic, Rose, Joe, and Emeral yelled at the same time. Too bad they yelled it too late as they were dumped into the sewer, right into the 'Hall of Crap'.

"I think I would have rather used exit five," Sonic said. "Lets get to the janitor's office so we can get to the main bathroom and clean up."

"Easy for you to say," Emeral said, looking rather sick as she picked herself up out of a pile of crap. "You and Joe landed in the MIDDLE of the room. Rose and myself landed IN THE CRAP."

"Don't complain," the janitor said, coming around the corner. "My office is right around the corner."

"I thought the hall of crap was on the other side of the sewer from your office," Rose said, straining not to get grossed out.

"It was," the janitor said. "Until I installed five thousand new doors to my office, so I can get to and from it with ease. Better still, they all appear to be the same door INSIDE the office."

"Then get us to the showers," Emeral said.

"Sure thing," the janitor said, motioning for them to follow him.

Three days later

"I finally feel clean," Emeral said. "Although I don't know why I put a diaper on."

"Remains of the cursed one," Rose said. "At least, that is my guess."

"Doesn't explain why you have one on," Sonic said, walking in from the other side of the room.

"What?" Rose said, looking down and seeing that she was, indeed, wearing a diaper. "What gives?"

"Hey you three," Joe said, coming in from yet another door. "Girls, why did you use the baby shower?"

"What do you mean?" Rose and Emeral asked, turning around to look at the shower they had used. Sure enough, the woman's shower was right next to the baby's shower, and they had used the wrong one.

"Guess that explains the diapers," Sonic said. "At least you won't need them, the shower just makes you more comfortable in one for a couple of hours after using it."

"In that case," Rose and Emeral said, walking into the woman's shower. "We can take them off."

A moment later they returned, looking slightly less comfortable, but not wearing diapers. The group then headed out to return to the shrine, wondering why Emily hadn't done anything to help Wendy if she was the one that was supposed to be able to.

She is MM's only daughter, right?

Back in New York, or rather the outskirts

Happosai and Katarina made there way up and over each mountain that they came across, military choppers and fighter jet's following them.

"I think we've gained a lot of attention", Katarina said to no one in particular as she looked over her shoulder and saw some military apache helicopters following them, one of them had a camera on it. "I don't mind a shot but taking shots of my ass is unacceptable", she said and threw her mallet at the camera, the mallet smashed through the camera then returned to her.

In the wrong Japan in the wrong Matrix in the wrong Nexial Matrix

"WHERE ARE WE?" Sonic yelled as a jet plane passed a dragon overhead.

"You are in dragon nine," a little girl said. "Node sixteen, matrix forty six, nexial matrix seven. Well, we think we are nexial matrix seven, we never did figure that out for sure."

"How did you know we needed to know more then the standard name of the town?" Rose asked, looking at the girl.

"You came out of the bathroom," the girl said. "Nobody in this nexial matrix can get into the bathroom, let alone leave it."

"That answers that question," Sonic said. "Now, where are Joe and Emeral?"

"The two that looked a lot like you but aren't you?" the girl asked.

"Yes," Sonic said. "How did you know that? For that matter, how do you people know the bathroom exists if you can't get into it?"

"First, the two that came out with you fell into the transport tube behind you and are probably at the great gate now," the girl said. "Second, we know about the bathroom because the great gate leads to it, but it won't let us through it."

"You seem very smart for your age," Rose said. "How old are you, anyway?"

"Two hundred forty six," the girl said, grinning.

"Oy," Rose said. "Where is the great gate, so we can find those that came with us?"

"Just hop in the transport tube behind you," the girl said. "It will take you right to it."

"Ok," Rose said, throwing Sonic in before hopping in herself. The tube sucked them up about twenty feet to the balcony they had been standing under before spitting them out in front of a giant gate.

"You would think they would have put stairs in front of this thing," Emeral said. "Instead of a balcony and a one-way transport tube from twenty feet below the balcony."

"Can we go now?" Sonic asked, walking over to the gate. "We need to get back to OUR matrix."

"Not yet you can't," the gate said. "First you must prove you are authorized to enter the bathroom."

"We need authorization," Sonic said. "Authorization to go into the place we came out of after attempting to reverse what Rose did to MM by going into his thought core. Authorization to try and get back to where we BELONG?"

"Actually," the gate said. "Knowing about MM and his thought core is authorization enough for ya. What Nexial Matrix would you like to go to?"

"Which one is MM in?" Rose asked.

"Zero," the gate said. "You are currently in nine."

"They think it is seven," Joe said. "Or at least, I think that is what that girl said. Harder to hear from the balcony."

"It is seven," the gate said. "At least, the other half of it is, which is where the research was done. Somehow seven and nine merged."

"Well," Emeral said. "If MM is in zero, we want to go to zero."

"Unfortunately," the gate said. "I don't have access to zero."

"Let me guess," Sonic said. "You can get us to six, or to anything above nine."

"No," the gate said. "I can get you to seven or eight, you have to use seven to get to six, and I can get you to anything above nine."

"You also can't get us to the gate itself," Joe said. "Because that would be too easy. You can only get us to a random location in the general area of the gate, right?"

"No," the gate said. "I can get you to the gate itself, but all gates seven and below require riddles or logic problems to be answered."

"DAMNIT," Rose yelled, shaking the nexial matrix they were in.

"Sorry, I forgot," the gate said. "Gate One doesn't have a riddle or logic problem, but you won't like it anyway. Shall I get you on your way?"

"Why not," Joe said. "Better then standing around here."

"One last warning," the gate said as it opened. "This and the gate I am going to send you to now follow similar laws of physics to the ones you are used to. That won't really happen again until you reach your destination, although you may not notice it each time."

"Just get us," Sonic started saying, before the four were engulfed in a bright light.

A moment later, the four were standing in front of another gate.

"Out of...." Sonic didn't quite finish. "That was fast."

"Gate Nine told me you want to go to Nexial Matrix Zero," the gate said in a whiny little girl's voice. "To get to Nexial Matrix Six you have to answer my riddle."

"Why do we have to answer your riddle?" Emeral asked. "It isn't like any gates ABOVE you need a riddle answered, is it?"

"Because I am bored and want some entertainment," the gate said. "Not being able to see, smell, or touch, riddles are pretty much the best I can get and still use my intelligence."

"Figures," Rose said. "Riddle please."

"Here ya go," the gate said. "A man while looking at a photograph said, 'Brothers and sisters have I none. That man's father is my father's son.' Who was the person in the photograph?"

"Lets see," Sonic said. "He has no brothers or sisters, so his father's son has to be himself. Thus, he has to be the man's father, so the man must be the person's son."

"Good job," the gate said. "The people of these two Nexial Matrixies couldn't have gotten that if they had wanted to."

"Why not?" Rose asked.

"Hasn't been a man in it for five billion years," the gate said. "No clue how they survive though."

"So," Joe said. "Any hints as to what to expect at the next stop?"

"Water," the gate said as a couple of scuba suits appeared in front of Joe and Emeral. "You may want to put those on before you go."

"Where are the bathrooms?" Emeral asked.

"Bah," the gate said, a bright flash causing the scuba suits to appear ON Joe and Emeral. "Can I send you on your way now?"

"Alright," Rose said. A moment later the four vanished, but the scuba suits didn't go with them.

"Ooops," the gate said. "Oh well. Sucks to be them."

Meanwhile, the four had appeared in front of a giant gate in the middle of a seemingly endless universe of water. Had they had time to properly explore it, they would have found it to be about the size of the matrix and lit by some unknown light, but since they don't have that kind of time they don't know that.

"Should I be mad at that gate?" Emeral asked.

"Given that we are here," Joe said. "Not to mention alive and breathing, I think we got off ok, even if we don't have many clothes on."

"Seashell bra for Emeral," Rose said, taking out a camera. "Otherwise, wearing nothing but the scales on your new tails."

"TAILS?" Emeral and Joe said, finally looking down to see they were merpeople.

"That explains why they didn't die instantly," Sonic said. "This must be a very interesting nexial matrix, with all the water."

"Which way is up?" Joe finally asked, realizing that the light came from everywhere yet nowhere, not to mention a lack of gravity.

"What is this 'up' you speak of?" the gate boomed. "Never heard of such a thing."

"Too hard to explain," Emeral said. "What do we have to answer to get past you?"

"You have intrigued me," the gate said. "Normally I give a complicated, near impossible riddle. Instead, I will settle for a description of what this 'up' is."

"Can we hear the riddle to see if that would be easier?" Sonic asked.

"How can you prove that a man has three heads?" the gate boomed.

"I think that might be easier," Emeral said. "Either that, or both are impossible."

"Lets go see if we can find someone who MIGHT be able to help us," Sonic said. "I think there is a community somewhere to the......."

"Lets call it 'behind where Emeral is floating' for now," Rose said.

"Yea," Sonic said.

"That would be 30 degrees nova, 93 degrees vega" the gate boomed.

"Wait," Sonic said. "Can you give us a visible line of 0 degrees nova and 90 degrees vega?"

"Sure thing," the gate boomed as a red and a purple line appeared in the water. "The red one is nova, the purple one is vega, represented as if I were absolute zero."

"Well then," Sonic said, looking at the lines. "In that case, that purple line is what we would call 'up'."

"Damn," the gate squeaked. "I was hoping for something more impressive."

"What happened to your booming voice?" Joe asked.

"It comes and goes," the gate squeaked. "I guess I have to send you on your way now, don't I."

"YES," Rose and Emeral said, just before the four vanished.

"Does that say three thousand, two hundred fifty four?" Rose asked, looking at the top of the gate they had just appeared in front of.

"Weren't you supposed to be at gate five?" a small man sitting next to the gate reading a newspaper asked them.

"We thought so," Sonic said. "Why are we here?"

"Gate six is dyslexic," the man said. "Always finds a way to send people here instead of gate five."

"So does that mean you can send us to gate five?" Joe asked.

"That depends," the man said. "Have you even noticed what happened to ya?"

"What do you mean," Emeral said, looking down at herself. It took her a moment to realize that she was, for lack of a better term, in 'Chibi' form. A few moments later she realized she wasn't even female.

"Not only am I a girl," Joe said, pulling some long blond hair forward. "But I am a chibi girl. Somehow, I think I prefer this to having a tail. At least here there is an UP."

"That is where your problems begin," the man said. "Sonic and Rose, being quantum beings, are exempt from these rules. Emeral there has no issues, you do, because only chibi females that pass a specific test can get through this gate to the gate it is currently linked to."

"That seems rather unfair," Emeral said. "We get gender-swapped and at least one of us is expected to pass a gender identity test?"

"Blame gate six," the man said. "I told you it was dyslexic. It got your genders backwards."

"How hard can being a girl be?" Joe asked.

"Considering your period starts at midnight," the man said. "Pretty hard."

"Periods aren't THAT bad," Emeral said, looking at the man.

"Not where you come from," the man said. "In this place a woman's period causes pain you would normally associate with having your skin peeled off one layer at a time. That is why half the women here are insane, the pain drives them to it the first time they have a period."

"How often do they have one?" Sonic asked. "Once a month, or is the time period different here?"

"Once every ten years," the man said. "Given that we live an average of a thousand years and are fully matured at age one we feel it is often enough."

"How long will the period last?" Joe asked, fear in her eyes.

"Oh, a day or two tops," the man said. "Unless you had pizza for lunch, then it might last a week."

"Good thing I skipped lunch," Joe said.

"I suggest we get some sleep," Emeral said. "You are going to need your rest."

"Good idea," Joe agreed. "But where do we sleep?"

"You want to sleep for five minutes?" Rose asked, pointing at a clock tower nearby.

"Damnit," Joe sighed. "So much for that idea."

The four stood there in silence as Joe watched the clock tick down to midnight. As the last few seconds ticked away Joe got very nervous.

Finally, the clock hit midnight, and Joe started laughing uncontrollably. Everyone just stared, wondering why there was no apparent PAIN involved, just lots of laughter.

"This is very odd," the man said, having discarded the newspaper. "It is almost like the period....tickles."

"So this is going to last a day or two?" Emeral said, looking at Joe rolling around laughing.

"I don't know," the man said. "This is unheard of here."

"That was fun," Joe said, the laughing fit apparently over. "So, how do I act feminine?"

"That all depends on Emeral," the man said, walking away. "The gate will open when you succeed, by the way."

"How does it depend on me?" Emeral wondered. "What can I do to help prove he......."

"Ummm," Joe said, looking at Emeral. "Did your brain short out or something?"

"No," Emeral said, flashing a decidedly 'naughty' grin. "Not at all."

"This won't turn out good," Sonic said, looking at the two.

"It all depends on how Joe's mind sees Emeral right now," Rose said. "But I get the feeling you are right."

Before anyone could say anything else, Emeral leaped at Joe. Unfortunately for those in the audience, a censor screen blocked the cameras for a good three hours. When all was said and done Emeral and Joe were found asleep in a bed that hadn't been there before, with Sonic and Rose just standing there in shock.

Luckily, we have that nice man to explain to us what the hell just happened.

"Hormone overload," the man said, pointing at a chart. "In this nexial matrix a female's period ending causes a hormone overload in her body, causing her chosen spouse to become intensely aroused. Shortly after the female herself becomes aroused, and I think you get the rest of the picture. Unfortunately, this doesn't qualify for feminine behavior for Joe, so they have to try something else."

Well, that clears that up. Lets skip ahead to when they wake up in the morning.

In the morning

"Woa," Emeral said, sitting up. "That was a very interesting night."

"You can say that again," Sonic said. "We only recovered from the sight an hour ago."

"It was definitely odd," Rose added. "This place works in odd ways."

"Did someone get the number of the planet that hit me?" Joe said as she sat up. "I can barely remember what happened last night."

"You can't remember what we did?" Emeral asked, wide-eyed.

"There was the ticklish period," Joe said, running through the events of last night. "Then you spaced out for a moment, just before we......"

"Ummmm," Emeral said, looking at Joe. "Did YOUR brain just short out?"

"We," Joe said, eyes going wide. "I, you......."

"Joe?" Emeral said, worried.

"YOU PERVERT," Joe screamed, materializing an axe and attacking Emeral with it. Luckily, Joe missed and the axe got stuck in the ground in front of the gate.

"That REALLY could have been worse," Sonic said as Joe tried to pull the axe out of the ground. It took everyone a moment to realize, however, that the gate had just OPENED, and thus they were free to go.

Well, Joe hasn't figured that out yet, and she just got the axe free.

"MAKE WAY," Emeral yelled, darting through the gate like a madman was after her.

"You know," Sonic said, jogging next to Emeral. "You should really change your darting strategy. You don't have a madman after you, you have a madwoman after you."

"I don't care," Emeral said as the Axe whizzed by his head. "I just want to live to see the sun rise again."

"In that case," Rose said, walking up to Sonic and Emeral. "You might want to step off the treadmill."

"Good idea," Emeral said, hoping to the side just as Joe was about to reach him. A moment later the four were through the gate.

We interrupt the action for these words from our sponsor

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Thank you, now back to the action

"What the hell was that about?" Joe asked, noticing he appeared to be himself again.

"I have no clue," Emeral said, happy to be female once more.

"Nice distraction," Sonic whispered to the camera. "Gave me and Rose time to change them back."

"No problem," a voice whispered back to Sonic.

"Shouldn't we have appeared in front of a gate by now?" Rose asked, looking around at the void they were in.

"Not before you die," a booming voice called out just before quantum lightning killed the four. A moment later their ghostly forms solidified in front of a gate.

"What was that for?" Sonic asked. "It STUNG!"

"I only exist in the spirit plane here," the gate boomed. "Partially because the spirit plane here is the only plane that has anything IN it."

"Will you bring us back to life when you send us on our way?" Rose asked.

"Of course," the gate said. "Unfortunately, you will have to answer my riddle first."

"Then lets get on with it," Emeral said. "I am not liking the way this place seems to adjust randomly around us."

"Ok then," the gate said. "Omesay ytray otay idehay, omesay ytray otay eatchay, utbay
imetay illway owshay, eway alwaysway illway eetmay.
Ytray asway ouyay ightmay, otay uessgay ymay amenay, Iway
omisepray ou'llyay owknay, enwhay ouyay Iway oday aimclay.

Owhay amway Iway?"

"Eckchay easeplay," the four all said at the same time after a moment of mild shock.

"Nice one," the gate said. "So, do you have an answer?"

"Would the answer be death?" Joe asked.

"Nope," the gate said.

"Eathday?" Emeral asked.

"Nope," the gate said.

"It isn't death, or death in pig latin," Rose said. "What else could it be?"

"Boton?" Sonic joked.

"CORRECT!" the gate boomed. "You know, you are the first people to come through here and know that."

"You know," Boton said, flying by. "I AM on vacation this week, so you should really change your answer."

"This is where she goes on vacation?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It wasn't her choice," the gate said. "But anyway, it is time to send you on your way."

"I wonder what is next," Joe said as the four were sucked into the gate, meeting up with their bodies in the process.

"You HAD to ask," Emeral said as a searing pain shot through all four of the travelers, causing them all to fall unconscious.

And now another word from our sponsor

If you didn't see the previous event coming, shame on you

Ok then..........lets get back to the four unconscious dolts

"What happened," Emeral asked, sitting up. She immediately knew something was vastly different about her, but couldn't place it right away.

"I don't know," Rose said, apparently elsewhere the room. She also couldn't figure out what was wrong, never mind the fact that she didn't think she would have changed to begin with.

"Where are the boys?" Emeral asked, looking around. She figured Rose was behind the curtain across from the bed she was in.

"I don't know," Rose said. "My more immediate concern is finding the floor though."

"The floor?" Emeral said, leaning over to look down. Instead of seeing the floor, she saw Rose looking up at her.

"There seems to be a distinct lack of one," Rose said. "Makes me wonder how we got in this two-sided bed."

"How about we see what happens when we climb to the other side of this thing," Emeral said. "You go over this side, I will go over the other?"

"Works for me," Rose said as Emeral moved to the other side of the bed and the two crawled around it. When all was said and done they were right back at square one, but on opposite sides of the bed.

"That did nothing," Emeral said. "You got any ideas of how to get off this island of a bed?"

"Teamwork," Rose said.

"Huh?" Emeral asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"The wall," Rose answered. "It says Teamwork. I think we need to work together somehow."

"You two are taking long enough," Sonic called from the door.

"We would help ya," Joe called. "But it is against the rules."

"Why I outta," Rose said, trying to summon her mallet to throw at the door. A moment later she found out she couldn't, confusing her.

"Rose," Emeral called, sounding scared. "I hadn't noticed before, but there is something seriously wrong here."

"There is NO FLOOR and we are sitting on opposite sides of a bed in the middle of the room," Rose said. "OF COURSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG."

"I wasn't thinking that," Emeral said. "I was thinking more along the lines of something wrong with US."

"I admit I feel odd," Rose said. "But I can't place why."

Can you feel the sheets under you?" Emeral asked.

"Yep," Rose said. "Nice ones, too."

"But aren't you wearing clothing?" Emeral asked.

"Come to think of it," Rose said, looking at her skirt. "Yes."

"Pinch your shirt," Emeral said. "Don't ask why, just trust me."

"Ok," Rose said, pinching her shirt sleeve. "YEOUCH, that smarts!"

"So our clothes are part of us somehow," Emeral said. "Now, try to climb onto the same side as me."

"Ok," Rose replied. She was curious as to why she wasn't getting any of this before Emeral, though, as she started to move to the other side of the bed. Before she got there, though, gravity adjusted itself and yanked her back to her side of the bed.

"I think we have to walk on each other," Emeral said. "Should make getting around interesting."

"Worth a shot," Rose said. "Shall we head towards the door?"

"Yep," Emeral said. "I am putting my feet over the side of the bed, put yours up against them."

"Ok," Rose said as the two put their feet together. "Now what?"

"Now we stand up," Emeral said. "I hope I got this right."

"I hope so too," Rose said. "On the count of three?"

"One," Emeral said.

"Two," Rose said.

"Three," the two said at the same time, standing up.

"We did it," Rose said, a little more giddy then she expected.

"Now we have to try to WALK like this," Emeral said.

"This is odd," Rose said. "I can feel your shoes on the bottom of my feet."

"That is because your shoes ARE your feet," Emeral said. "You know, looking at the mirror over there, I can't tell who is who."

"You know," Rose said. "I can't either. Well..."

"You see something different about us?" Emeral asked.

"We are mirror imaged," Rose said. "What is on my right side is on your left."

"You are right," Emeral said. "Perhaps this makes moving around as one easier."

"I hope so," Rose said.

"Lets try this," Emeral said. "I assume if we make it to the door the boys can explain the rest to us."

"You got that right," Joe yelled. "By the way, who was that? Your voices are identical."

"You tell me who you are first," Rose yelled.

"Bah," Sonic said. "Just get out here."

"What is keeping you two anyway," Joe said. "It isn't like you are naked."

"Technically we are," Emeral said. "Our clothes ARE part of us, after all."

"True," Sonic said. "Get out here so we can do the big reveal of what we look like for the audience. Some of them are probably going nuts trying to figure it out."

"Alright already," Rose said as she and Emeral started walking towards the door. They didn't even have to think about moving as one, they just did, walking through the door without any issues.

"That wasn't that bad," Sonic said, on the same side as Emeral. "I assume Emeral is on top, as I thought you switched only once."

"Yep," Emeral said. "Who is on the top with you two?"

"I happen to be Sonic," Sonic said. "Of course, the top is relative to the person."

"No," Rose said. "I think this is definitely the bottom."

"Why is that?" Joe asked.

"All the text is upside down from this perspective," Rose said.

"Nice brown hair," Sonic commented. "Longer style then I was expecting."

"Yea," Emeral said. "You are at least color coordinated, short blue hair with short blue eyes."

"Well your eyes are blue, aren't they?" Joe said. "I like the pink shoes, thigh-high socks, and miniskirt."

"Your blue shoes look much more suited for this, and they match your pants," Rose said. "Or is that armor? We get to wear pink and purple shirts, although I guess they do match our shoes."

"Don't know," Sonic said. "Your pink shirts look better on you then our white and gray ones do on us, though."

"That is your opinion," Emeral said. "I personally like the look on ya, the matching gloves and off-color elbow protectors work well on you."

"Can we get on with finding the damn gate?" Rose asked. "I would rather be able to look Emeral in the face."

"There is a problem with that," Sonic said. "Joe, why don't you explain it."

"You see," Joe said. "The gate is in a location that is very hard to get to in this state."

"How hard?" Rose asked.

"Almost impossible," Sonic said.

"I do not like the sound of that," Emeral said. "How do we get to it then?"

"With a gravity reversal pad," a gentleman said, walking on another gentleman over to the group.

"That could quite possibly make it much more possible," Sonic said. "Where do we find one?"

"Right under the gate," the other gentleman said. "You may wish to hurry though."

"Why?" Rose asked.

"The longer you stay here," the first gentleman said.

"The more likely you are to permanently become what you currently appear to be," the other finished.

"WHAT," all four yelled at once, running off to the gate. Sonic and Joe ran in front, with Emeral and Rose following them.

"You know," a woman said, walking up to the gentlemen. "You could have told them the whole truth."

"What they don't know can't hurt them," the gentlemen said at the same time.

"I suppose they wouldn't have liked the rest of the situation either," one of the women said.

"What possible reason could they have to want to become merged upon traveling through the gate?" the other woman said.

"You know," Rose said as they stood in front of the gate. "This was easier then I thought."

"I have to agree," Joe said. "Who would have thought they would have devices for adjusting your height in this place?"

"They would have to do something about that," Sonic said. "Now, as for this gate, why isn't it talking to us?"

"I can tell ya that," Emeral said.

"Then tell us already," Rose said, stomping her foot on Emeral's.

"We have to plug it in," Emeral said, pointing at a plug by the side of the gate, the cord sitting there next to it.

"Sounds simple enough," Joe said as the four walked over to the plug. Sonic tried to pick up the cord, however, and found he couldn't.

"What gives?" Sonic asked. "I can't reach it."

"It is on my side," Joe said. "Without something to climb around, we can't cross over the barrier."

"And the plug is on our side," Emeral said. "So you can't plug it in."

"Then how the hell DO we plug the gate in?" Rose asked. "It isn't like we can move the plug or the cord to the other side of the invisible barrier."

"ARE YOU FOUR STUPID OR SOMETHING?" a child yelled from below them.

"You can CHANGE THE HEIGHT OF YOUR BARRIER," the other child yelled. "JUST MOVE IT ABOVE OR BELOW BOTH OF THEM!"

"Is it me," Sonic said as they walked over to adjust their barrier height again. "Or are we not thinking clearly?"

"It isn't you," the gate boomed as it was plugged in. "Riddle time......."

"Oh come on," Emeral said. "Can we please not go through this every time?"

"There has to be an easier way then to go through each gate one by one," Joe said.

"Ok then," the gate said. "I will make a deal with you. You answer two thinking puzzles, I break the rules and send you straight to gate one."

"DEAL!" the four yelled, pulling out pads of paper and pens. "Puzzle away!"

"The first of your puzzles is the following," the gate boomed. "A man walked into a bar and was immediately knocked unconscious. Why?"

"Got it written down," Sonic said. "Do we answer that one first, or are you giving us both right now."

"Come back when you have answered that one," the gate boomed. "If you have any questions then ask the nearest magic eight ball. I have ensured they will all answer truthfully, but only within their limits. Oh, and as a bonus, I made it so that your stay here won't affect you upon leaving. That way you can take your time."

"Thanks," Joe said. "Lets go solve this stupid thing."

Three days later

"We think we have it," Emeral said. "Took us a long time with a collection of eight balls though."

"What is your answer?" the gate asked. "Since it took you long enough to figure it out."

"The bar was an iron bar," the four said at the same time.

"Correct," the gate said. "Now tell me how you REALLY figured it out."

"Alright already," Rose said.

"We walked into one ourselves," Sonic said. "Hurt too."

"Just got out of the hospital," Joe said. "Now, as for the second riddle........."

"Puzzle, not riddle," the gate corrected. "For it we will need a floor........"

Suddenly the four found themselves standing not on each other, but on a circular floor between them.

"Now, lets move you up so you can all see me," the gate said as the floor moved upwards to the center of the gate. "This will also facilitate you walking through me later, if you get past this."

"Anything else?" Rose asked.

"Yes, actually," the gate said. "Now we need a third party."

"Who do we get for that?" Sonic asked, looking around. "I don't see anyone nearby today."

"Good point," the gate said. "In this case, lets go with a pair of absolute idiots who could never think their way out of anything. A pair that would stand there unsure of themselves no matter what if they had to figure something out based on what they were looking at. Or two that will not break the rules I lay out for them, whichever I find easier to find."

"Ok," the four said.

"But first I am blocking any abilities to read minds any of you may still possess," the gate said.

"Dang," Sonic and Rose said, having hoped that would have helped them.

"Now, however, we have your 'partners' Daihokuse and Daikokuse," the gate said as the brothers appeared on the circular floor. "Now you two, you know the rules as I outlined them to you a few minutes ago, right?"

"Yes," the two answered in unison. "We must only do what you explicitly say to."

"Very good," the gate said. "Now, to start this off...."

A blast of light blinded the six individuals, preventing them from seeing what the gate was doing. A moment later they recovered, blinking as they looked around.

"I have marked the foreheads of certain individuals," the gate said. "If you can see a forehead marked then please raise your hand."

The six individuals all raised their hands, although the camera angles are not helping with showing who was and was not marked. Aren't we nasty?

"Now, you know who you can see that is marked and who can see someone who is marked," the gate said. "Now, you may only put your hand down if you can say for certain that you are or are not marked and why you are or are not marked. The brothers Daihokuse and Daikokuse will not be participating in this part of the game, however."

"We know," the brothers answered in unison.

The six stood there, none of them putting their hands down, all trying to decide if they were or were not marked.

Three hours later

"This is impossible," Joe mumbled. "How can we figure this out?"

"I know!" Emeral suddenly yelled, putting her hand down. "Why didn't I see it earlier?"

"You must answer," the gate said. "Are you or are you not marked?"

"I am marked," Emeral said.

"How do you know you are marked?" the gate asked.

"If I were not marked then Sonic would have known he was marked because...umm...is that Daihokuse or Daikokuse....whoever he is would have only seen Sonic as being marked and not me," Emeral said. "Had Sonic seen me not marked he would have had to have been marked. Since he didn't know he was marked and I know whatshisname was marked I must have been marked as well."

"Congratulations," the gate said. "You have passed. You were all marked, by the way, and you solved it the hard way."

"What was the easy way?" Rose asked.

"I never said you couldn't ask each other if you were marked," the gate said.

We interrupt you to bring you this scene in downtown Hidjustisu, Nexial Matrix five hundred and six, matrix eight, node fifteen, world three, planet five million and six, continent four, country two, city five thousand six hundred ninety seven.......

"So much for that downtown," a passerby said. "Flattened by an earthquake."

"What the hell is an earthquake?" their companion asked. "The ground has never shaken like that here before!"

Now, back to the gate we were just at

"Alright, lets go," Sonic said, slinging a bag over his shoulder. "We have to get through that last gate to get home and fix MM."

"Assuming he still exists to be fixed," Rose said. "There might not be a home to go home to."

"Don't worry," the gate said. "You will most likely get back home shortly after you left."

"Four dimensional travel," Joe said. "Gotta love it when you have a major situation on your hands."

"Have a nice trip," the gate said as the four walked through it. "You will need a good deal of luck though."

On the other side of the wormhole through a time warp through an inter-nexial portal through the bathroom we find another gate.....

"Welcome to gate one my duckies," a man with red hair and a cane called out from atop the gate. "Too bad you have to beat me at my own game to get through it."

"Not him," the four moaned. "ANYONE but him!"

"Rose?" Sonic asked, grinning at Rose. "Shall we?"

"No you shall not," the man said.

"Shut up Mad Mod," Rose said. "We will do whatever we want, we don't need to follow your rules."

"Oh but you do," Mad Mod said. "Your powers are useless in this world, as quantum levels are reversed."

"WHAT," Sonic and Rose said, trying to summon some of their quantum abilities. Their failure put them into partial shock.

"I, on the other hand," Mad Mod said, floating into the air. "Have quite a few abilities at my disposal."

"We," Joe and Emeral said in unison. "Are a different story."

"Really?" Mad Mod said. "What, prey tell, can you two blokes do?"

"THIS," the two yelled, launching a combined quantum assault at Mad Mod. Mad Mod, not being prepared for it, was blown out of the sky. He did not get back up.

"How did you two take him out that easily?" Rose asked. "He should have been the same level as you two."

"He is half a level below us," Joe said.

"We are only half of a quantum level due to being half of ourselves to begin with," Emeral said. "Enough to survive, not enough to differentiate us from any level ones elsewhere."

"Can we go home now?" Sonic asked. "Or are we waiting for him to wake up so he can put us through some torture?"

"HOME," Joe and Emeral said as the gate opened to reveal the dueling black holes of the bathroom.

"Can you get us any closer to the MFM sector of our home matrix?" Rose asked the gate.

"Oh alright," the gate moaned, sucking them into a suddenly appearing swirling vortex.

In the shrine, inside of Wendy's "room"

"Ouch," Sonic said. "That landing smarted."

"Thirty minutes," Nadeshiko said, looking at the clock. "Looks like you failed though."

"We tried," Rose said. "We failed. Can we go take a nap now?"

Sonic

Chapter 49
Hang Over
I don't think a prairie oyster will be enough...

"They spent all that time in dad's head and they still haven't fixed him?" asked Emily waiting on the toast to toast.

"They didn't even fix them selves," replied Jeremy snatching the Toast just as it popped out of the toaster which promptly exploded in his face leaving a crisp piece for Emily to eat.

"More fun that way though," giggled Kia looking towards the bed room, "Four is better than two."

"I resent that!" yelled Emeral coming out from the bathroom, "I'm NOT a pervert!"

"Leave it to a succubus to think of the most perverted situation," said Joe popping out of the cubby from the Bathroom, "though, there was that whipped cream incident."

"What!?" blushed Emeral before slamming Joe with a Mallet before sitting down at the table, "Any rate, how was your jog."

"A bit enjoyable, until I got lost," said Joe rubbing his head, "I wish I could navigate that thing better."

"Navigating it was rather easy until we got split," said Sonic coming out of his room with his wife Rose. The two were in their usual black body suit outfit but this time they were wearing red capes instead of red robes.

"Ummm, what's with the wardrobe change?" asked Emily as she blocked Jeremy's fork saber.

"Change?" asked the two looking at each other, "Oh, didn't notice."

"Good grief," replied Emeral taking a bite of her egg, "Looks like those two were more affected inside MM's head than we were."

"Don't suppose this happen when we stumbled over the countless number of Rose and Sonic's in MM's head," said Joe.

"What makes you think that?" replied Emeral.

"I think one set of all of them where wearing a cape instead of robes," answered Joe.

"Now that you mention it," said Sonic, "We just kind of slipped into the whole black suit, red robe deal after we discovered Lunar."

"I don't think we even noticed it for several months," replied Rose.

"What about your pink shoes," asked Sonic pointing to Joe.

"What?" asked Joe looking at his shoes.

"I think those are Emeral's Tennis shoes as Emeral is wearing Joe's," said Rose.

"So we are," replied Emeral after checking her feet.

"You two just now noticing that?" commented Emily snatching a biscuit from Jeremy and taking a bite out of it only to find it was baked Akane style.

Flying across town we find Akane and Ranma walking towards the shrine Katarina and Kalshion live. Ranma of course is walking on the fence along side with Akane.

"Stop fussing, aren't you at all worried about Wendy?" asked Akane.

"Not really," said Ranma turning a cheek.

"Honestly, your so heartless," said Akane.

"Wendy isn't that kind of person to be taken down by some silly backlash curse," said Ranma jumping down next to Akane, "but what you have in that basket may be worse."

Akane looked at the basket which had some horr...

"SHUT UP STUPID!" yelled Akane somehow throwing one of her rock hard cupcakes at the author.

"OW! That Hurt!" replied the Author wondering how the hell she pulled that off.

"What a haul, What a HAUL!" came a voice from behind as Akane started to calm down.

"The old geezer," commented Ranma as he spotted Happosai jumping up and down dashing away from the girls trying to smash him to a pancake for taking their underwear.

"Ranma, a present!" called Happosai laying a pink Panty on Ranma's head and dashing off.

"He's with that old letch!" called one of the girls as they came after Ranma like a stampede.

"It's not like that," said Ranma backing off but getting trampled, smashed and kicked by the girls.

"Not again," said Akane as the panty floated down onto her face where she promptly picked it up, "AHHH, This is mine! GRANDFATHER!"

"Lets play again sometime," called Happosai already long gone but knowing exactly what was going on.

"I'll get him for this," rumbled Ranma as the girls took off having their fill of beating up Ranma.

After a rugged trip, at least for Ranma being almost crippled from the girl trashing, Akane and Ranma made it to the Dragon Shrine. Once they walked in Ranma pulled off his usual full recovery routine and Akane put on a normal face. This was interrupted momentarily though by Happosai smashing out of one of the windows with a few bras and a silk Chinese panty. The resulting screams informed the two that the underwear belong to Katarina and Shampoo.

"Shampoo?" asked Akane as Shampoo came running out after Happosai with Katarina.

"You Filthy Man, Shampoo Punish!" she yelled pulling out her Bonbori's as Katarina came following with a bow and some arrows.

"Heavenly Retribution!" called Katarina taking a pot shot at Happosai.

"What was that all about?" asked Ranma.

"And why was Shampoo here?" asked Akane.

"Why hello there Son-in-law," said Colonge appearing out of no where, "Came to check on Wendy too?"

"Grandmother," said Akane.

"Oh, so the old ghoul is here too," said Ranma getting wicked on the head.

"Shampoo and I came here last night to keep and eye on things," said Colonge, "Things were going fine till Happy showed up and took off with the girls things."

"Seeing your here, it must be a serious matter," said Ranma.

"Not really," replied Colonge, "I just get nervous when someone of that power is unconscious."

"Nice to see you two," said Kalshion spotting Ranma and Akane coming in, "Wendy is in the next ro...wait, when did that get there?"

"When did what?" asked Akane as they looked at the entrance to the room to find a metal detector surrounding it.

"Hmmm, I don't know if this means Wendy is getting better, or this is just an act of self-protection," said Colonge.

"What do you mean," said Ranma walking into the room with no incident.

"You'll see," replied Colonge hopping into the room also.

"Still don't know how it got there, but if Ranma can get through, so can I," said Kalshion walking through.

"Wait for me," said Akane running through only to slam into an invisible barrier followed by red lights flashing everywhere and sirens that sounded like 300 Paris police cars were surrounding the house. Suddenly the words 'Akane Cooking Detected' appeared in red on the metal detector.

"What in the world?" asked Akane rubbing her head and backing away when suddenly mechanical arms popped out of the walls and slammed wooden mallets on her.

"About time she was on the receiving end of those," grinned Ranma followed by another arm popping out and slamming him with an iron mallet.

"When the hell did the Dragon Shrine move to Paris," yelled Emily walking in and hitting the 'Kill Alarm' Button next to the door.

"Since Akane tried walking in with her cooking," said Kalshion.

"Hmmm, perhaps she should do it more often," said Jeremy pulling out a piece of paper, "You get a lot of frequent flier miles when she does that."

"EH?" asked Ranma getting back on his feat.

"Your right next the damn Ifle Tower!" yelled Emily.

"WHAT!?!" yelled Akane shocking everyone that she was conscious again.

"Don't bother trying to go site seeing though," said Emeral walking in with her other half and both husbands, "those 300 police cars are blocking off the entire area. I also heard something about bio-terrorist containment being called in."

Akane got real mad at this and began to storm into another room slamming the door. This in turn creating a shock wave that sent the shrine back to its original place in Nerima and giving Jeremy another piece of paper with more frequent flier miles. Thus the group took this moment to stare into nothiness.

"That Akane sometimes scares even me," said Colonge finally breaking the silence.

"Oh that reminds me old ghoul," said Emily, "If you are so nervous when dad is unconscious, where were you during his century long nap?"

"Ummm," said Colonge trying to think of something.

"Busted," said Jeremy.

"Wait a minute, how the hell did you know she said that?" asked Ranma.

"What do you mean? Can't you hear someone from several blocks away?" grinned Emily.

"OF COURSE NOT!" yelled Ranma.

"Oh that's right, you're only full human," smirked Emily.

"Well to answer your question," responded Colonge, "This isn't by his choice."

"Dad is a he?" asked Jeremy.

"Ok, it isn't by her choice," corrected Colonge.

"Dad is a she?" asked Emily.

"WILL YOU STOP THAT," yelled Colonge starting to go nuts.

"So how is sh...erm Wendy doing," said Joe walking into the room.

"Not much improvement," replied Kalshion following Joe.

The gang soon followed into the room, that is until Emeral smashed into the barrier causing Starfleet Enterprise E Red Alert Alarms to go off. Soon the red wording 'RWCFCRU' Showed on the Metal Detector. Emeral braced herself as metal arms came out to smash her, but instead she heard several clashes. She opened her eyes to find Sonic had smashed every arm to bits.

"Thanks," said Emeral before she realized Sonic was giving her a cold look, "What?"

Before she could react, Sonic rushed up to her and slipped his hands into her pockets. Unfortunately for Sonic's image, it looked like he was slipping his hands into her pants, but we digress... Rose immediately went nuclear, mostly because she was jealous and because she was, well jealous. Just before she was about to blast Sonic out of MM's Barrier, despite it being there, Sonic pulled his hands back out revealing a small device.

"HOW DID YOU KNOW?" yelled Emeral being upset.

"I had my suspicions, the alarm confirmed it," he said before his face got real big, "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING! I DON'T WANT TO CATCH EITHER OF YOU WITH A COMPUTER YOU GOT FROM CURSE 'R US AGAIN!"

"So that means," started Rose.

"That RWCFCRU meant 'Rose with Computer from Curse R Us?" ended Joe.

"I was just trying to see if I could help Wendy," said Emeral giving the innocent girl act.

"Oh, you would have helped her alright," said Sonic pocketing the computer, "Helped her stay unconscious for another century or two."

"Not that I want to burst anyone's bubbles, but the strain of that detector going off seems to trigger a slightly increased decline in Wendy's condition," said Colonge.

"What?" asked Sonic taking back out the device, "NANI!!!!!! THIS IS A CURSE INTENSIFIER!"

"ITS WHAT!" screamed everyone!

"QUIET, WE'RE TRYING TO SLEEP!" yelled the other half of the world that was sleeping.

"Sorry," whispered the gang.

Somewhere in the App Mountains...Again

"GET YOUR LEACHURAS BUTT BACK HERE!" yelled Katarina as she chased Happosai.

"SHAMPOO TEACH YOU!" commented Shampoo.

"Catch me if ya can," laughed Happosai as he ran into a cave before vanishing like he smacked water.

"What that?" asked Shampoo stopping tripping Katarina into the water like air of the cave causing her to disappear than the cave itself.

Later that Day at the Shrine...

"What am I going to do with her?" asked Sonic taking a gulp of his tea.

"What do you mean you, she is my wife too." said Joe drinking his tea with grace.

"Well I figure Emeral is your wife and Rose is my wife until we become whole again," said Sonic putting his tea down, "At least till we merge again which will follow one hell of a headache."

"I hate this, why did Rose have to do that stupid curse anyways splitting us up like this?" asked Joe.

"Not to mention we still will have two wives when we merge, with Dark Rose and all," said Sonic rubbing his head.

"Lets change the subject, your giving me a headache already," replied Joe.

"WILL YOU TWO LAZY IDIOTS STOP SOBBING IN SORROW AND HELP!", yelled Rose.

"WENDY IS GETTING WORSE!", added Emeral.

"So what else is new," replied Sonic looking at the window.

"Why should we bother helping when all you do is make it worse," added Joe joining Sonic in the daze of sorrow.

"I'LL GIVE YOU A REASON!" yelled Emeral and Rose smashing the two with Mallets.

"Perhaps the previous topic was better," said Joe with a cracked Mallet on his head, "The previous headache was less painful."

The two got up with the Mallets still on their heads and walked into Wendy's room where Colonge and Kalshion where trying everything in their power to fix Wendy.

"I don't suppose throwing the kitchen sink at her would help," said Sonic as a bump popped up on his head dropping the Mallet on the ground.

"We can't figure this out," said Colonge, "We've tried every healing magic in the shrine book and all the medical techniques in my 3000 years of Chinese History and NOTHING works."

"By the way," said Joe looking around, "Where are Emily and Jeremy."

"Those two took off a while ago with worried looks," said Emeral, "Can't blame them with their dad laying in this condition."

"If you two had helped instead of sobbing we might actually have fixed her by now," scorned Rose.

Joe and Sonic gave each other sarcastic looks before they walked out the door to look for Emily and Jeremy. The two girls gave a "umph" before returning to helping Colonge with Wendy.

"YOU IDIOTS, DON'T USE HEALING MAGIC ON HER!" yelled Kalshion, "YOUR MAGIC MAKES THINGS WORSE!"

Down in the back of the Shrine Sonic and Joe found Emily and Jeremy talking in secret. Being Curious and having nothing better to do, the two decided to 'accidentally overhear' their conversation.

"I sense a disturbance in the force," said Jeremy.

"Normally I would beat the shit out of you for that comment, but this time I agree," replied Emily.

"Than that would mean....", said Jeremy.

"OH SHIT, OOOOH SHIT!" yelled Emily sending Joe and Sonic in the air, "DAD'S SOBER!"

Joe and Sonic soon slammed into the ground, "WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT!" yelled Joe.

"You two were eavesdropping on us?" asked Emily spotting the two.

"No, we were just looking for you," said Sonic.

"Didn't hear anything about sober," added Joe.

"Oh," said Jeremy as the two cracked their fists.

"Mmmphy ufth shuld kepp ufth muth sufft," said Sonic 3 minutes later with a swollen face with bruises.

"Sophy," replied Joe in a similar condition.

App Mountains...

"Why am I getting no attention this chapter?" asked DS sitting on a rock before he noticed something.

"DAMNIT HAPPOSAI! Why are we back HERE again?" yelled Katarina with a 9m automatic anti-lecher machine gun.

"Like I know?" said Happosai dodging before he stopped flat in the air.

"Now I got you!" yelled Katarina before she saw what caused Happosai to stop.

"GET YOUR LEACHERUS BUTT BACK HERE!" yelled a Katarina a few hundred meters away.

"Say, isn't that me chasing you?" asked Katarina.

"Yep," replied Happosai as they watch Shampoo trip Katarina into the cave.

"Figures, Time portal," said Happosai.

"So where were we?" asked Katarina.

"Right about here," said Happosai dashing off.

"Sounds right," said Katarina following.

"Idiots," said DS resuming his mopping.

At the shrine

Back with Wendy, Kalshion is busy holding the two girls back with some restraining magic as Colonge reads through a book.

"Let us GO!" yelled Emeral.

"We'll be good, WE PROMISE," said Rose.

"Alright," said Kalshion letting the restrain magic go before getting punched in the face.

"You pervert!" yelled Rose before noticing a small girl at the front door.

"You can't come in here little girl," said Emeral glaring at the girl.

"Yea, who are you anyways?" asked Rose also glaring.

The young girl looked up, showing a mixture of hate and anger that caused Rose and Emeral to cringe and back off, letting the girl pass.

"Who are you?" Cologne asked, not in an accusatory manner but in a curious manner.

The girl said nothing, however. She just walked up to Wendy's side, put her head down as if in silent prayer, and stood there for a few moments. Then she shocked everyone by whipping out a mallet and flattening Wendy into the bed with it.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?", Wendy yelled, jumping up. "Oh, hi Sarah." A moment later Wendy realized something, and fell back on the bed.

"Now What?" Cologne asked.

"I'm sober," Wendy said. "Get me some quantum aspirin, this is going to be one HELL of a hangover."

At that moment the phone decided to ring which Kalshion promptly answered only to hear a very loud yelling voice that allowed everyone to also hear, "Hey! Hell is MY Department," said the voice before a click.

"Here," said Joe popping out of no where with his face still bruised with a Quantum Aspirin.

"What in the world happen to you?" asked Emeral shocked.

"Just some sparing with Emily and Jeremy," said Sonic popping up behind the girls scaring them, "Would you want this quantum prairie oyster I have too?"

"Sure, how did you know though?" asked Wendy taking the egg.

"A little bird told us," replied Sonic rubbing his swollen check.

"And you were keeping this info from us because?" asked Rose with fire in her eyes.

"I just.." started Sonic.

"Listen Girls," started Wendy finishing her egg, "Let me go to my house first. I feel that headache already coming and I don't need any of this to add to it."

"Ok," said the girls waiting for Wendy and the little girl to go into the Bathroom before turning to Joe and Sonic. "HEAVEN RETRABUTION!" yelled the two girls with their fists closing into Joe and Sonic's face...

That evening at Dr. Tofu's

"Welcome," said Dr. Tofu as Katarina came in with a Bazooka in her hand.

"Hey Doctor," said Katarina slamming the bazooka on the ground, "I think I sprang my ankle chasing that Letch all the way to the Amazon Jungles."

"OK," replied Tofu, "Come on in, I'm just finishing up with Sonic and Joe."

"Oh?" said Katarina intrigued.

Katarina walked into the treatment room to find Sonic and Joe sitting on their beds having bandages wrapped around their body by Emeral and Rose. Both had their mouths wrapped preventing them from talking and were eyeing the two girls for it too.

"Hey Katarina," said Emeral finishing up, "Catch Happosai?" added Rose.

"You two really shouldn't do that," said Katarina causing Sonic and Joe to feel important that someone actually saw what Rose and Emeral was doing to them to be wrong. "I know you two are part of the same being, but please don't finish each other's statements."

Sonic and Joe soon went back to their depression as Tofu came over to take one last look at them, "Looks like you two are ready to go."

The two tried to mumble thanks you but couldn't get a clear world out. The two girls grinned before bowing, "Thanks for your work Doctor."

On the way back home...

"You two didn't have to go THAT far," said Sonic finally removing the bandages off his face.

"Says you," said Rose grinning.

"Lets just call it a truce," said Joe removing his bandage off his face as they got to their front yard.

"We're home," called the gang as they walked in noticing immediately something was wrong.

"Quiet isn't it," said Joe looking around.

"A bit too quiet," added Sonic.

"Wouldn't Kia be making a comment about us being out so late about now?" asked Emeral.

"For that matter, wouldn't we hear sounds of Remote Sabers going off as Jeremy and Emily duke it out for the TV?" continued Rose.

"There is a good reason for that," called Jeremy from the den. The gang walked up to him to find him sitting enjoying the TV for a change with Emily KOed on the reclining chair with an ice pack on top of her head.

"Now that isn't right," said Joe, "You two would never finish a fight this fast."

"I didn't knock her out," said Jeremy thumbing towards the kitchen. There they found Kia sitting at the table rather upset.

"What’s wrong Kia?" asked Emeral. Kia turned around and gave them a look before she went back to pouting.

"She can't speak," said Jeremy, "Dad must have cursed her."

"So why did she knock out Emily?" asked Joe.

"Emily was making fun of her about not being able to speak," started Jeremy, "So she got mad and threw the bathtub at her."

"Makes sense," said Joe.

"So does that mean we'll have to use the public baths?" asked Emeral sounding a bit excited.

"Guess so," replied Rose, "Been a while since I took went to a public bath house."

"Sounds like a plan than," said Sonic grabbing a few anti-pervert war heads out of the closet.

"Good idea," said Joe going into his room before he came back out with explosive bra's to use as decoys.

"You guys are insane if you plan to use those," said Jeremy flipping through a few channels.

"And why would that be?" asked Sonic popping the war heads in a bag.

"Lets see," said Jeremy counting his fingers, "Dad has a hang over, Having a hang over makes you very sensitive to sound, war heads and explosive bras make a lot of sound. Shall I continue?"

"Hmmm," thought Sonic and Joe, "I suppose that means Happosai isn't stupid enough to cause a racket in the bath house."

"He may be the greatest evil in Japan," said Emily surprising everyone, "But he isn't THAT stupid."

At the Public Baths

"Nothing like a good steamy bath," said Emeral with her hair tied up as she sat down in the tub with a towel on her chest.

"You're right," replied Rose doing the same thing, "Been a while since I stopped to enjoy a public bath house."

"Kind of odd though," said Emeral, "Bathing with one's self."

"We're not THAT identical," commented Rose, "We have different eye and hair colors."

"You also have bigger breasts," grinned Emeral.

"Oh come on," said Rose blushing, "We have identical bodies."

"I dunno," said Emeral, "You did make a few small adjustments to your figure after you evolved."

"Wait, I don't recall doing that," answered Rose, "And how would you know, don't you just have memories of before I evolved?"

The two girls sighed before they sat still for a bit to enjoy the nice warm steam covering their faces until they heard a familiar voice, "Hey you two, enjoying the baths too?"

The two girls looked towards the direction of the voice to find Akane with a towel, "Akane, nice to see you," said Emeral.

"Did you're bath tub break too?" asked Rose as Akane sat down next to them.

"Yep, Mr. Satome insists of not changing back to human before jumping into the tub," said Akane.

"Stupid old man," said Ranma sitting next to his pop with Joe and Sonic on his other side, "Stop breaking the damn tub."

"What are the chances," asked Joe.

"Of both tubs breaking at the same time," finished Sonic.

"Will you two please not do that," asked Ranma.

"They can't help it my boy," said Genma, "They are two of the same person anyways."

"Its still annoying," replied Ranma.

"So you used to visit the public baths often back at your own world?" asked Akane dumping some water on her at the sinks.

"Yep," replied Emeral, "Used to go with my friends all the time."

"I don't recall that," said Rose, "I thought that we always went to the springs in the apartments."

"We had a spring?" asked Emeral confused.

Rose put her hand to her head, "Damn memory split."

"I still can't figure it out," said Ranma rinsing his hair with water, "Gramps has been sitting over there doing nothing other than giving depressed looks at the wall. Shouldn't he be trying to peep at the girls?"

"He isn't going to risk it," said Sonic scrubbing his back with a towel.

"MM has a hang over making him sensitive to sound," continued Joe.

"Thus if Happosai causes a ruckus, a lot of noise would be produced," added Sonic.

"And MM would be extremely angry at him," finished Joe.

"You two just won't stop that, will you?" eyed Ranma.

"Nope," the two said at the same time.

"Still, what is this world coming to if the Master can't peep at women?" exclaimed Genma.

"What is this world coming to?" asked Akane, "We can actually take a bath in peace without Grandfather running a muck peeping at us."

"World peace?" snickered Emeral getting up to go back to the bath with Rose.

"That would be the day," laughed Akane filling up a wooden bucket with water to douse the shampoo off her head not noticing the shiny spec falling into the bucket from the phoset. She than splashed her hair with the water before rubbing her hair some more to make sure she got the shampoo out of her hair. What she didn't realize was she ended up rubbing the spec into the top of her forehead where it promptly vanished.

The Dragon Shrine

"Hmmm?" said Kalshion putting down the paper he was reading, "Hey Kat, did you feel that?"

"Feel what?" called Katarina from the bathroom before a loud crashing sound was heard.

"The klutz," Kalshion sighed, "I guess it was just me than."

Back at the JERKS house...

"Hey, when did this house get called the JERKS?" whisper Joe who noticed the name.

"You get JERKS when you use the first initials of all the residents, minus you and Emeral," whispered the author.

"Makes sense," replied Joe.

"Ooooh, that was a relaxing bath," said Emeral stretching as she sat down on the sofa.

"The best part was Happosai not trying to peep at us," said Rose coming from the bathroom after putting her wash material away.

"Actually, I thought it was boring without him causing a ruckus," said Sonic standing behind Emeral.

"What!?" the two girls said trying to keep their voices down, "You WANTED him to peep at us."

"More like we wanted to battle it out to stop him from peeping to show off," said Joe.

"That and you wanted to 'accidentally' go into the girl's side to peek at Emeral and Rose," said Jeremy grinning.

The two girls gave a look at the two boys who had worried looks on their face. Weather it was from Jeremy figuring them out or the fact that the girls were about to hurt them, we aren't sure. At least, they had worried looks until the two girls shrugged before watching TV with Jeremy and Emily.

The two boys sighed and decided to join the rest of the gang at watching TV. They didn't realize that Emeral and Rose were holding small black mallets behind their backs, until they had whacked them on their heads KOing them without making a sound.

"These Silent Mallets work like a charm," said Rose tapping it on her palm.

"Thanks for getting us these Emily," continued Emeral.

"Not a Problem," said Emily, "I had to get some anyways to bash Kia to a pulp."

"Noofff fphair," said Kia laying on her bed with spinning eyes.

Next Morning at the Tendos

"Good Morning" said Nabiki coming down stairs and sitting at the table. Soun was also at the table reading a paper while Ranma and Genma had a morning practice on the pond. Like usual, neither was given in, at least until Kasumi showed up.

"Everyone, breakfast is ready," she said sitting down a dish of omelets followed by Akane bring in some scrambled eggs.

"Oh, Thanks Kasumi," said Genma followed by Ranma smashing him into the pond.

"You're getting sloppy pops," said Ranma before Genma splashed him with water.

"Now who is sloppy?" said Genma via a wood sign.

The two of them sat down at the table and join everyone at looking at the food Akane brought in.

"Say Kasumi..." started Soun.

"Yes Father, Akane made those scrambled eggs all by herself," answered Kasumi.

"That...erm...nice," said Soun afraid to touch it.

"Well!?" stared Akane, "Are you going to try it?"

"You know, I think I'll skip breakfast," said Ranma getting up only to be slammed back down by Akane.

"Try It," said Akane with an evil stare.

Ranma reluctantly spooned some eggs onto his plate before picking up some with his fork and placing it near his mouth. He stared at it for a moment with sweat drops forming around his head.

"EAT IT!" yelled Akane.

Ranma took a gulp before he shoved the contents of his fork into his mouth and braced for a nasty shock from the food. After six seconds of bracing Ranma still hadn't tasted anything sinister, in fact, he tasted a heavenly fluffy sensation in his mouth. And when we say fluffy, we don't mean a giant three headed dog.

"Well?" asked Akane still eyeing Ranma.

Ranma swallowed before he dropped his fork causing everyone in the room to wonder how poisonous Akane's food was this time.

"That..." started Ranma trying to bring out the words, "That was...the most...DELISIOUS BREAKFAST I HAVE EVER TASTED!" he exclaimed.

The rest of the group was stunned by this, uncertain if Ranma was lying to keep his skin, until Ranma started to dig into the eggs like there was no tomorrow. Nabiki gave a curious look and decided to get Akane's eggs a try. Soun, Genma and Kasumi watched in anticipation to see what would happen to Nabiki. Akane would have been watching Nabiki try her food, but she is in a daze of happiness watching Ranma scarf down her cooking.

"Here goes nothing," Nabiki said trying a fork full of Scrambled Eggs followed by dropping her fork, "This...This...THIS IS ACTUALLY EDIABLE!"

"My," said Kasumi happily, "Akane finally was able to cook something good."

Genma and Soun looked at each other in disbelief, unsure if this was some prank being pulled on them. Genma than grabbed Happosai who was walking by in depression from not being able to go on panty raids and stuffed some of Akane's Eggs into him.

Happosai had the fear of god in his eyes when Genma shoved some of Akane's cooking in him and began to beat the ground with his fist from the horrible taste. He continued this for a few moments before he stopped realizing there was no bad taste, in fact, it was heavenly.

"Wait," said Happosai, "This is actually rather good."

"That’s it," said Soun, "Give me some!"

"Sure," said Kasumi putting some scrambled eggs and her fathers plate.

Soun looked at the egg for a moment before he boldly plopped some in his mouth. A moment later tears were rolling down his face, "My daughter, My daughter is cured!"

"Stop acting like I had a disease dad," said Akane actually noticing that everyone was now eating her eggs.

"Still, when did you finally learn to cook?" asked Nabiki finishing her seconds of Akane's eggs.

"I dunno, I just cooked like I usually do," said Akane.

"Who cares," said Ranma finishing his third plate, "These eggs are terrific!"

Akane gave a happy smile, "You think so?"

"Sure," said Ranma grabbing his school bag, "Why don't you try cooking supper too?"

"Really!?!" exclaimed Akane.

"Just don't screw up," said Nabiki grinning.

"Thanks sis," eyed Akane, "We're we off!"

"Take care," said Kasumi as the three ran off to school. She than looked at the table where Akane's eggs were all gone while her own omelets weren’t even touched.

"What's wrong Kasumi?" asked Soun noticing something from her.

"Oh its nothing father," said Kasumi smiled, "I'm just glad Akane finally figured out how to cook."

Kasumi than looked back at her omelets, "Nothing to worry about," she thought to herself.

Meanwhile...

A small explosion ripped through the house causing Emeral and Rose to stop fiddling with their hair and run into the kitchen to find Emily with a charred face from the toaster exploding, yet a perfectly toasted piece of bread was sitting dead center where the toaster USED to be.

"Couldn't leave it at toast, could ya?" asked Jeremy.

"Oh shut up," said Emily, "At least the majority of the fusion reaction from the overloaded reactor was channeled to the dueling black holes of the bathroom."

"Why you had to have a fusion powered toaster is beyond me," said Emeral sitting down, "Say, where's Joe?"

"Come to think of it," added Rose looking around, "I haven't seen Sonic either."

"Those two woke up rather early," said Kia sitting a plate of her usual 'human food' on the table, "They seemed rather disturbed so they went to take a walk."

"I wonder," started Rose.

"What that is," continued Emeral.

"About," finished the two of them at the same time.

"WOULD YOU TWO STOP THAT!" yelled Emily before realizing she shouldn't have raised her voice and braced for an impact from her father. After a few minutes of total silent, she looked back up, "That's odd, I was sure I yelled rather loud."

"Come to think of it, shouldn't the toaster have caused a loud enough bang to get dad upset?" commented Jeremy.

"Maybe he's feeling better," said Emeral.

"I guess that means its safe to attempt a visit to see if he can FIX us," added Rose.

Somewhere in the App Mountains...

"You know, we haven't said a word since we left the house," said Sonic looking at Joe, "And both of us seemed to have a very disturbing dream."

"Do you think we should talk about it?" asked Joe.

"Sure, why not?" replied Sonic, "After all, we are the SAME PERSON."

"Well, since its your idea, why don't you start?" grinned Joe.

"Damn you," said Sonic, "Alright you win." After taking a breath, "I've had it before, its a dream where I see Rose in great pain holding her chest while DS is holding the Dragon Aura laughing at me. She has a tear in her body suit as if DS plunged his fist into her."

"That gives me chills right there," said Joe, "After all, we'll be just plain Sonic and Rose soon won't we."

"Yep," replied Sonic, "So what's your dream about?"

"Well mine wasn't that horrifying by sight," said Joe, "But the feeling I got from it sent chills down my spine."

"Oh?" said Sonic.

"I see Rose staring at this strange floating ball of energy. The energy is so strange I can't make head or tails of it, but I see Rose starting poke it...That's when I woke up screaming," continued Joe.

"What, THATS IT?" eyed Sonic, "Just an odd ball of ENERGY?"

"Oh shut up," barked Joe, "I told you, it was the feeling I got, not what I actually SAW!"

Sonic sighed before he looked around, "By the way, doesn't this place give an awful familiar aura? It feels like DS was here."

"Are you that dense?" asked Joe, "Do I LOOK like I could sense things like that?"

"Dunno," said Sonic, "but sensing DS isn't about his Aura, its more of a...gut feeling."

"Alright," said Joe, "I admit, I feel a bit uneasy here."

Sonic stopped and thought for a moment before his watched beep. Where he got the watch and how it appeared on his wrist at that very moment, no one knows.

"I guess its time for breakfast," said Sonic, "Shall we get going?"

"Sure," replied Joe as the two went to a rock and opened a door to the bathroom that wasn't there before.

The Camera than zoomed out and moved to an area where DS usually sits...Wait a minute, DS isn't there! "Yo DS, Get your but out here, its time for your part!" yelled the Narrator.

On Mount Fuji...

"Bah!" commented DS, "I finally got tired of those App Mountains, so I came over here."

"That isn't in the script!" objected the narrator.

"So?" DS said Eyeing the Narrator.

"Yea...um...so why don't...you..." started the Narrator looking at DS's eyes, "Never mind."

"Damn straight," said DS looking back at the lava pit, "After that dream of those eyes filled with rage beyond anything comprendable, I think I deserve a little break too."

"Hmmm, now DS is also having a strange dream, perhaps we should go to an expert on this...Domonic, your opinion?" said the Narrator. The scene than changed to a hut in the middle of no were with a young man sitting on a table with a crystal ball sitting by him.

"Premonition dreams," said Domonic, "Very common for those with second sight abilities. Too bad those three don't realize they have a second sight, and thus won't take the dreams seriously."

"Ahhh," replied the Narrator, "So those events will happen in the near future?"

"Who said it had to be NEAR," replied Domonic, "For all we know, they are simply seeing a premonition in another nexial matrix."

"That makes sense...WAIT, how do you know about other nexial matrixies?" exclaimed the Narrator, "I didn't even know there was a Nexial Matrix until a while back in this story!"

"You should try reading more," said Domonic holding up the book 'Quantum Levels and Planes of Existence: From World to Nexial Matrix to the Sprit Plane to Anti-Limbo'.

"Damn you, I need a copy of that!" pouted the Narrator.

Back at JERKS...

"Where have you two been?" asked Rose as Joe and Sonic walked into the house.

"Just on a stroll in the App Mountains," answered Sonic walking up to the kitchen table.

"Figures you two would leave without a word than show up when I finished making breakfast," said Emeral sitting a pot of scrambled eggs on the table, "We would have some toast, but Emily overloaded the Fusion Reactor on it."

"Damn," said Joe, "I was in the mood for plasma toasted Toast too."

"So I take it since the Toaster exploded and Emily is fine and dandy that MM seems not to be sensitive to sound anymore," said Sonic gulping down some eggs.

"Seems so, that's why we plan to use the pendant to go see him after breakfast," replied Rose eating some of the eggs.

"Sounds like a plan," said Joe finishing up his eggs, "You ready now?"

The two girls stared at Joe before looking at their nearly full plates of breakfast, Sonic looked at his half way finished plate before making a comment, "I see where my appetite went to now."

"WARNING! ANTI-MATTER CONTAINMENT FAILURE IMMENATE..." came a computer voice scaring the girls.

"Relax," said Joe getting up, "Its just the doorbell."

"Who was the IDIOT that made the door bell use Star Trek Computer Sounds," growled Rose.

Joe answered the door finding a delivery guy with a small box, "You're new Fusion Powered Toaster is here," said the Man, "Got a Stamp?"

"Great, let me get it," said Joe jotting over to his room. A moment later he brought a stamp the size of himself and stamped the delivery guy himself, "There ya go."

"Th...anks," said the delivery guy as Joe closed the door and took the toaster to toast some toast.

"Smart thinking on ordering the toaster Sis," said Jeremy sipping some Orange Juice.

"I didn't order it," said Emily, "Joe, who ordered it?"

"Lets see," said Joe looking at the delivery slip, "1 Washu Tech Fusion Powered Toaster, ordered by Sarah."

"Sarah?" asked the Emily, "Who's Sarah?"

"FORGET THAT!" said Rose and Emeral, "Just keep us AWAY from that thing!"

"Oh come on," said Joe putting in a piece of toast, "Washu's tech can actually work ya know."

"Toast done," came a computer voice from the toaster a few seconds later.

"Alright," said Joe as a green glowing krypton radiating toast popped out...

"Read the instructions next time you idiot," said Jeremy.

"Why? Its extra Kryptonite, the way I like it," said Sonic snatching the toast.

"Ewww..." shivered the girls. "Not only do we know where you appetite went, but also your taste buds," commented Rose.

Furinkan High School

"Is it True Akane?" asked one of Akane's friends, "Ranma actually ate all your breakfast?"

"Yep, and he wants me to cook again," said Akane with a cheerful face.

"That's wonderful Akane," said her friends.

"You're KIDDEN," said Ukyo, "You ATE her food, asked for thirds, and you're STILL ALIVE?"

"I'm not sure about it myself," said Ranma, "But Akane seems to be able to cook now."

"This...Can't be," growled Ukyo.

"I'm actually starting to wonder though," said Ranma with Ukyo too upset to notice him talking, "Could this be caused by one of those dragon thingies."

"AwwwCHuuU!" sneezed both Kalshion and Katarina walking into class.

"You think someone is talking about us?" asked Katarina getting a shrug back from her brother.

The two sat down in their desks before they started to look around, "No doubt about it brother, there is a Dragon Aura around here." said Katarina.

"If only this odd...drunk like feeling wasn't around," said Kalshion, "We could probably pinpoint it..."

Looks like Rose, Emeral, Joe and Sonic are ready to use their pendant

"Everyone got their seatbelts fastened?" asked Sonic.

"Stop with the wise cracks and just activate the damn thing," said Rose still looking a tad pale from watching Sonic eating that 'concoction'.

"Alright already," said Sonic zapping the pendant with some energy causing a portal to open up which they promptly entered.

Inside the world of the light, the gang waited for MM to show himself. After a minute and a half, a door appeared out of no where and Nadeshiko tripped inside.

"Hey Nadeshiko, where's MM?" asked Emeral.

"Still in his room from the hangover," said Nadeshiko getting up.

"Than why didn't he react to the toaster blowing up?" asked Joe a bit curious.

"Oh, Sarah did something to block the sound on him," said Nadeshiko gesturing them to walk into the door, "She should be finishing up with the hangover remedy."

"Sarah?" asked the gang looking at themselves as they walked in.

"Yea, Sarah," said Nadeshiko looking at a door which was presumably where MM was. A second later the door open and the little girl who smacked Wendy with a mallet came out with a box.

"That's Sarah!?" exclaimed the group.

"Sure is," said Tommy sitting on a sofa near by, "About time you dolts figured it out."

"Ok, What's HE doing here?" asked Sonic thumbing at Tommy.

"He came with Sarah," replied Nadeshiko, "Seems he is the only one that can hear her."

"WHY HIM!?" yelled Rose before she slapped her mouth.

"She says Relax," said Tommy relaying Sarah's thoughts, "She put earmuffs on him to keep him from hearing."

"Ear muffs?" asked Joe, "What kind of Ear muffs could stop a being at that magnitude from hearing?"

"These," said Tommy throwing an extra pair of Earmuffs at Joe. Joe looked at the earmuffs and threw them far away from him the moment he saw 'Washu' labeled on them, "Sorry I asked."

"I'm more interested in this box she is carrying," said Sonic looking at the box Sarah was carrying which was labeled 'Master of Frigin Magic Family Hangover Remedy'.

"Why would YOU have a family hangover remedy?" asked Rose who got a glare back from Sarah.

"Hello!" yelled Tommy, "She's MM's daughter!" This promptly caused the gang to fall over, except Nadeshiko who was sipping some Tea she just replicated for herself.

A moment later Sonic was back up looking at the box, "So what is this remedy, or is it top secret?" Sarah promptly handed Sonic a piece of paper which he started to read out loud.

Grab Nadeshiko, have her make a batch of meatloaf, take the result and put it through a processor to remove the impurities to create weapons grade meatloaf. You should get about a cup out of it. You take that cup, give MM a tablespoon of it. Oh, and run for the hills immediately thereafter. Trust me on that one.

"Wait, I didn't see you running when you came in," said Emeral objecting.

"She did," replied Nadeshiko opening MM's door revealing miles of hills.

"Ok..." said Sonic reading some more of the paper...

Approximately two weeks later MM will wake up with the hangover gone. However, if you add Quantum Sugar to the meatloaf, the Hangover will be gone within 3 days.

"Hmmm, never heard of quantum sugar," said Joe.

"So we have to wait three whole days before we can find how to fix ourselves," said Emeral a tad upset, "I'm getting tired of staring at my other self and getting jealous over her figure."

"Ok...WAY TOO MUCH information there," replied Sonic, "Say Sarah, want to come with us? I'm sure Emily and Jeremy will want to meet you."

Sarah nodded followed by Tommy standing behind her, "You won't be going without me," he said grinning.

"Alright, you can tag along too," said Sonic before looking at Nadeshiko who surprised him by answering before he asked.

"I'll be staying for a bit longer to make sure everything is alright," she said taking another drink of her tea.

"Alrighty than," said Joe, "Shall we head back?"

The group nodded and headed back to the light world with the door back to their house. After the door closed the computer spoke up, "You worried about the Sugar high?"

"Worried? More like terrified," said Nadeshiko nodding.

Back at JERKS...

"So who's the shrimp?" asked Emily looking at Sarah, "Haven't we seen her before?"

"Well Emily, this 'shrimp' happens to be your SISTER," said Emeral.

"My Sister!?" exclaimed Emily, "Yea right!"

"If you're truly one of dad's kids, prove it!" said Jeremy boldly.

Sarah than promptly pulled out a quantum saber which had a 'Washu' Patent on it.

"Impressive," said Jeremy as the two of them pulled out their quantum sabers while Joe and Emeral backed away slowly.

Sarah than grinned and turned on her saber as Emily and Jeremy did so. The only thing was that nothing was happening with Sarah's saber, at least nothing they could see. However Sonic and Rose are now clear across town on the hills, shivering.

"Are you kidding!" yelled Sonic, "With the AURA that thing is putting off!"

"We can feel it all the way out here," added Rose.

"What is this?" asked Emily as Sarah walked up and taped her saber on their sabers.

Instantly their saber’s shorted out from an overload. A few seconds later Emily and Jeremy were standing on the ceilings with their heads as if gravity just switched. Sarah just smiled before she powered down her saber and put it up.

"Is it over," asked Rose peeping her head through the door?

"Yep," said Tommy laughing at Emily and Jeremy, "Does that prove she's your sister?"

"I'm pretty sure they would respond to your question Tommy," said Joe looking at the two, "But I think they are in shock."

Furinkan High...

"You ready to go home Akane?" asked Ranma eagerly waiting for her next meal making Ukyo upset.

"Sure," said Akane.

"Good Luck Akane," cheered her friends as they walked out of the classroom and passed Katarina and Kalshion who were wondering around.

"For a moment I thought I felt the aura a lot clearer," said Kalshion eyeing around.

"Lets give uup broo," said Katarina looking a bit tipsy, "Nothing we *hiccup* can dooo now."

"If I didn't know better, I say you were drunk," eyed Kalshion.

"Watchaa meaan," replied Katarina loosing her balance.

"Great, this drunk atmosphere is getting to you," said Kalshion smacking his head.

The Tendo Residence

"Check", said Soun putting down his rook in direct path to Genma's king. Genma, in his panda form, gave a shock look and eyed Soun. "No Take Backs," said Soun smiling, "Lets see you get out of this one Satome."

"Father," said Kasumi walking up catching Soun's attention, and allowing Genma to switch the chessboard, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"What?" asked Soun a bit confused, "Isn't Akane cooking tonight?"

"She is?" asked Kasumi.

"Don't you remember, Ranma asked her to cook tonight's meal," replied Soun.

"No," said Kasumi putting her hand on her check, "I don't seem to remember, but that's ok. I'll just cook desert than."

"Sounds good," said Soun looking back at his board, "AHHH, I thought I was winning!"

Well, Emily and Jeremy have come out of their shock...

"How could her lightsabre be that powerful?" Jeremy asked as he plopped himself down on the sofa.

"If she could speak I bet she would tell us," Emily said.

"She said she used some of Washu's research and a raw anti-energy crystal," Tommy said. "Whatever that is."

"Dad must be playing favorites," Emily said.

"You don't care that she is your previously unknown sister?" Joe asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We are curious," Jeremy said. "But that lightsabre, DAMN."

"This family continues to intrigue me," said Sonic to Joe before looking at his wives, "Than again, who am I to talk?"

"Why are you two sitting with Sarah in-between you two?" asked Joe, "Shouldn't she be over here to get acquainted with her family?"

"But she is SOO CUTE," said Emeral hugging Sarah.

"How could we give up such an adorable thing," added Rose putting her hand on Sarah's head.

"Didn't you two not like her back when you two were caring for Wendy?" asked Sonic.

"That was because we were in a bad mood," replied the two of them.

"Mood wings," sighed Sonic.

"So, how old are you two anyways," asked Sonic, "And how old is Sarah?"

"I refuse to answer that," said Jeremy giving a fearful look of Emily.

"We're sixteen, can't you tell?" continued Emily.

"Right..." said Sonic, "That still doesn't help me determine if Sarah is your younger or older sister."

"She says she is Younger," said Tommy, "But older than you."

"If that's the case, why are those two still cuddling her?" asked Joe.

"I told you, she's cute," said Emeral giving a slight pinch to Sarah's cheek. A flash later, Emeral was laying on the ground with a Mallet stuck to her head and Sarah was beet red causing nearby traffic to stop.

"Oh I forgot to mention," grinned Tommy, "Sarah doesn't like anyone touching her cheeks."

"Erm..." said Rose backing away, now afraid of Sarah.

"From cute to scary," smiled Joe, "You two really live an exhausting life."

"Oh shut up," said Rose slamming a throwing Mallet at him.

"Still, how did she pull out a Mallet out of thin air and gave an impact in THAT short of time?" asked Sonic, "She doesn't appear to have any active quantum abilities."

"Mini Mallets, I have several on a belt under my shirt." said Tommy as Sarah lifted her shirt up a bit reveling a Batman Utility belt with several mini-mallets the size of golf balls.

"Ahhh," replied Sonic pulling out a small notepad and jotting down a few notes on it, 'Beware of cancelled Mini-Mallets' under the 'Avoid Mallets Section'. "There," he said finishing, "Say, where did I get this pen?" A moment later a mallet launched out of the Pen and smacked him in the face. "Ow..." he said Getting back up, "Anyone got a Pencil? I need to jot down a note about Mallets coming out of Pens."

Tendo Residence

"Hey Kasumi," said Akane walking into the Kitchen still in her school uniform but with an apron.

"Welcome home," said Kasumi smiling, "You need any help with dinner?"

"Nope," said Akane pulling up her sleeves, "Say, what are you doing?"

"I thought I would making some pudding for desert," said Kasumi putting what she had made into the fridge.

"I look forward to it," said Akane as she started to prepare the rice.

It was a while later when Ranma, who was training in the dojo, noticed that he hadn't heard any smashes, explosions, battle cries, and in short, a battle from the kitchen. After a bit longer he finally decided to back into the living area to see what was going on.

"Is Akane cooking yet?" asked Ranma.

"Yes she is," said Kasumi sitting by the table with some tea, "Been in there for almost an hour now."

"Ok, something is SERIOUSLY wrong," thought Ranma, "Normally the racket from her cooking is so loud I have to go to the dojo to get some peace."

Meanwhile Akane was humming as she happily started to skin a potato when the kitchen door opened and Ukyo came through followed by Shampoo busting a whole in the wall.

"U..Ukyo, Shampoo...What do you two want?" asked Akane.

"We came to see what you were doing to pull off actually cooking decent food!" exclaimed Ukyo.

"We know you cheat to get Ranma!" continued Shampoo.

"What are you talking about," said Akane putting down the potato and checking what was in the oven.

"You know what we mean sugar," said Ukyo readying her spatula, "Now Tell us!"

"I still don't know what you are talking about," said Akane tasting the soup to see if it was alright.

"Forget it, no talk just fight!" said Shampoo taking a pot shot with her Bonbori.

Akane quickly moved to the side dodging the attack before continuing to shave more potatoes. Shampoo growled and began to attack variously followed by Ukyo sending some of her mini-spatulas at Akane. Shortly Later Akane walked out with her food while Ukyo and Shampoo were laying on the ground exhausted.

"When Akane this good?" asked Shampoo between breaths.

"I don't know," replied Ukyo trying to get enough breath to speak, "But something is up."

We Are the Borg, Lower your Shields and Prepare to be Assimilated...

"LET ME AT IT!" yelled Rose being held back by Sonic, "I'm going to blow that door bell to smithereens."

"Hey Kalshion," said Joe at the door before noticing Katarina wasn't around, "Where's your sister?"

"Drunk," said Kalshion walking in getting everyone's attention.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Emeral brining some tea for Kalshion.

"Well, a long story short, We sensed a Dragon Aura Shard," started Kalshion, "But it was immediately drowned out by this overwhelming 'drunk' feeling."

"Oh," said Sonic finally being able to let go of Rose, "That would be because MM has a hang over."

"Well, his hang over is causing Katarina to get drunk," continued Kalshion taking a drink of his tea.

"What, she can't handle her liquor?" chuckled Tommy.

"What's HE doing here?" asked Kalshion.

"He's a translator," responded Sonic.

"Translator for what?" inquired Kalshion.

"Sarah," replied Sonic, "MM's youngest Daughter...To our Knowledge."

"Why am I not surprised," responded Kalshion looking at Sarah who wasn't giving any facial expressions, "At least she's cute."

"Cute but deadly," responded Emeral, "She smashed me with a mallet in a blink of an eye after I touched her cheek."

"Heh," laughed Kalshion.

"ITS NOT FUNNY!" yelled Emeral ready to pounce on Kalshion only to be held back by Joe.

"No, what's not funny is that lightsabre," interrupted Jeremy.

"Eh?" said Kalshion confused.

"Long story short," started Sonic before Emily smashed him with a Mallet.

"Long story short, Dad is playing favorites," grumbled Emily.

"Ok..." said Kalshion deciding not to ask about it further.

"So where do you think the shard is at?" asked Sonic.

"I think its at school moving around," replied Kalshion.

"I wonder if anyone found it yet and is using it for no good," commented Joe.

Tendo Residence...

"I'm stuffed," said Ranma collapsing over, "I can't eat another bite!"

Akane Smiled, "Thanks!"

"You out did yourself Akane," said Genma, "You'll make Ranma an excellent Wife."

"Would you stop that," said Akane getting a tad angry.

"Anyone hungry for desert?" asked Kasumi getting ready to distribute the pudding.

"Another time," said Soun, "I think we're all stuffed from Akane's feast."

"Oh," said Kasumi eyeing her pudding.

"Actually I'll have one," said Akane taking one of them and starting to eat it, "Good like always sis."

Kasumi smiled, "Thanks Akane."

Later after everyone had went off to do their own thing, Shampoo and Ukyo where sitting with Kasumi eating her pudding. Kasumi was busy fixing a shirt that had got a whole in it while Shampoo and Ukyo where talking about Akane.

"I still can't put my finger on it," said Ukyo taking a bit of her pudding.

"She got good in cooking and martial arts," replied Shampoo between bites.

"You don't suppose its related to these strange events going on do ya?" asked Ukyo as Kasumi got up to get some more thread.

"You mean events caused by UFOs?" inquired Shampoo.

"No, Not THAT," said Ukyo slamming her palm on her head.

"By way," said Shampoo, "Doesn't Pudding not taste as good?"

"Now that you mention it," said Ukyo, "It is lacking a bit of the taste that Kasumi's food usually has."

The two didn't noticed however that in the hall Kasumi had heard them and had dropped her thread in shock. She stood there for a while before she depressingly went up stairs. A bit later Ukyo and Shampoo went out of the hall way and noticed the thread.

"That’s odd," said Ukyo picking up the thread, "Not like Kasumi to leave stuff around like that."

"Maybe its Akane," smiled Shampoo.

"Perhaps," said Ukyo smiling too before the two left.

That morning Kasumi was late coming downstairs causing Soun to overreact with worry. Akane was cooking breakfast while Soun moaned at Kasumi's door begging her to tell him what was wrong. All Kasumi would say was she didn't sleep much and everything was fine.

After everyone minus Kasumi had a delicious breakfast and left, Kasumi came down and cooked herself some breakfast. Genma and Soun went out to celebrate at a local bar over Akane's improvements in cooking while Happosai was on his morning Panty Raid. Kasumi sighed as she sat down with her breakfast and started to eat it. She stopped for a moment after the first bite noticing something about her food but went on eating it after more of the depression sat in.

"What a Haul!" said Happosai coming in noticing some food on the table. He promptly took a bite out of one before he chocked, "I thought Akane was getting better," he said shacking his head to get the taste out before he went to his room.

Kasumi looked at part of her meal which Happosai ate and mistook as Akane's, she sighed again and continued to eat it.

Furinkan High School...

"Isn't Akane a bit late?" asked one of the girls in their gym tights.

"Yea," replied another girl, "Akane isn't one to miss out on Gym, even if its the morning."

"I wonder what’s wrong?" said another girl as Ranma in his girl form wearing a swim suit came up.

"Hey, where's Akane?" asked Ranma.

"We were wondering the same thing," answered one of the girls.

Meanwhile by the storage shed, Akane, in her gym clothes, was being confronted by Ukyo and Shampoo yet again. The two were furious and were demanding answers. Akane was a bit uneasy, not sure herself why she could cook, let alone tell THEM.

"Spill it Akane," said Ukyo taking a fighter stance with her spatula, "What are you using to cook!"

"I really don't know what you are talking about," said Akane backing off a bit.

"You lie!" yelled Shampoo, "Now we punish!"

The two jumped into the air and headed straight for Akane. Akane made an effort to dodge Shampoo's attack and got hit by Ukyo's spatula. She fell to the ground before she flipped herself away dodging Shampoo's fist. She landed on her feet and took a fighter's stance despite being already exhausted.

"Now you get it!" yelled Shampoo throwing one of her Bonbori at Akane only to be deflected by Ranma.

"What's going on?" yelled Ranma-chan.

"Say out of this Ran-chan," said Ukyo.

"This between Akane and us," blasted Shampoo.

"I don't really get it, but you two need to stop this at once!" replied Ranma causing Akane to blush a bit.

"Ran-chan..." said Ukyo.

"Why you taking sides with Akane," asked Shampoo.

"Well...I..." started Ranma blushing and playing with his fingers, "I want her to cook more of her delicious food!"

"You saying my okonomiyaki is good enough?" growled Ukyo before she realized Akane smashed Ranma with a Mallet.

"Is that all I'm good for?" scowled Akane, "Fine than."

"Akane!" yelled Ranma as she walked away.

"What is that girls problem," said Ukyo.

"She too too violent," replied Shampoo.

"Hehe...*hiccup*...Akan...Ran....ve..." said Katarina stumbling by causing the three to grow wide eyes.

"What was THAT about?" asked Ranma.

Back at the JERKS house

"Why the hell are you two dressed like that?" asked Sonic looking at Joe and Emeral.

Joe was in a Furinkan High School navy blue uniform complete with the gold buttons while Emeral was in a the teal dress with a white shirt. She had also tied her hair up into a pony tail using a white ribbon.

"We're going to school to check out the Aura aren't we?" replied Joe.

"We might as well dress the part," responded Emeral twirling around, "Though these uniforms are longer than my Reigny High School uniform."

"I can fix that," said Kia popping up.

"NOOO!" yelled Rose smashing an Anvil on her, "Can we just go now?"

"I suppose," responded Sonic.

Somewhere in the Bathroom...not sure where though...

"So the Raw Energy Crystals are beyond this door?" asked Jeremy looking at the large round white door.

"Yep," said Emily, "All we have to do is hack that access panel." Emily pointed to a small black access panel to the side of the door with a palm reader and a series of numbers.

"OK," said Jeremy, "First of all, when did Dad need a Palm Reader? Second of all, don't these buttons remind you of a Playstation Controller?"

"Who cares, just hack the damn thing," said Emily, "I want those crystals to get back at that sister of mine."

"OK already," said Jeremy plugging up a palm pilot to the access panel.

After a few minutes Jeremy started to smile believing he was making progress causing Emily to get excited...until the entire area went red and a computer voice boomed out. "Access attempt to Raw Energy Chamber detected, now flushing!"

"What?" yelled Jeremy before they smelled what was coming their way, "Oh my..."

"No Damnit! I just took a shower," yelled Emily as brown water smashed into them taking them down a ways till they hit a drain and popped out in the back yard of JERKS.

Furinkan High...

"You think we got enough people staring at us?" asked Rose looking around as they walked into the school with the majority of the school frozen looking at the four.

"Perhaps they aren't used to there being two of us each now," said Sonic.

"You sure it isn't my attractive uniform," said Emeral giggling.

"Would you STOP THAT," yelled Rose, "Your body after all is also MY body!"

"And you were the one that split us, remember?" replied Emeral.

"Just shut up," said Rose at they vanished down one of the halls.

"Did everyone else see that?" asked one of the girls.

"If you saw two Joe and Emeral's at the same time, than yep," replied a boy.

"And I thought one each of them was enough," said a Girl as Happosai rushed away with some Gym Shorts without anyone even noticing him.

"Any luck on the shard?" asked Sonic sitting down with everyone next to a tree with Kalshion and Katarina.

"Nope," replied Kalshion, "And I don't think Katarina is getting any better."

"Oh hush *hiccup* bro..." giggled Katarina.

"On another note, WHY is everyone STARING at us?" asked Kalshion.

"Probably because there is now two Joe's and two Emeral's," replied Joe.

"You sure though the shard at school right now?" asked Rose.

"Positive," said Kalshion looking at Rose, "Well at least till you two showed up anyways."

"Which two?" asked Emeral.

"You and Rose," said Kalshion, "You're own shards are making it more difficult to sense the rouge one."

"Wait, we both have shards?" asked the two of them checking themselves. Rose finally materialized 7 shards in her hand while Emeral couldn't figure out how to pull them out of her body.

"Give it up," said Joe, "You aren't a quantum being right now."

"Say where's Akane and Ranma?" asked Joe looking around.

"Not sure," said Kalshion, "I heard there was a fight between Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo a while ago though."

Meanwhile...

"Your the best Akane," said Ranma in his now male form racking in food from a lunch box.

"Really?" said Akane with a smile and her eyes closed, "Glad we choose an isolated spot to enjoy our lunch."

"Like anyone would look for us in the Principle's Pineapple storage facility?" said Ranma between bites.

...Back with the gang

"Yo Chumps," said Tommy walking to the tree with Sarah.

"There goes the neighborhood," said Rose looking at Tommy.

"So what do we owe the...visit?" asked Sonic.

"Nothing much, just wanted to see how you guys were doing," replied Tommy.

"Same as this morning," said Joe, "Haven't been put back together or anything."

"You mean you didn't read the book Nadeshiko is reading?" said Tommy relaying for Sarah as he gesture towards Nadeshiko who was sitting in a tree reading a book. A moment later Rose and Emeral were by Nadeshiko demanding for the book.

"That was quick," said Joe.

"Not was quick as when I did the frame jump back in the RPG," grinned Sonic.

"What is it girls," asked Nadeshiko a tad nervous with Emeral and Rose looking like they were ready to pounce on her.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US THERE WAS A BOOK ON HOW TO PUT US BACK TOGETHER!" yelled the girls.

"What are you talking about?" asked Nadeshiko confused.

"Ladies, allow me," said Sonic taking the book from Nadeshiko's hand and reading the inside back cover.

"Instructions on Remerging separated Quantum Beings due to Rose's Backfire Curse by MM", said Sonic.

"Hmmm, didn't know that was there," said Nadeshiko getting glares from the girls.

"She's right, she didn't," said Sonic reading an note in the instructions, 'Oh, I don't know why Nadeshiko is reading this book, its rather boring.'

"I though it was rather interesting," said Nadeshiko giving a face.

"You idiots," said Tommy with Sarah by his side.

"So how do we merge back?" asked the girls anxious to get back together.

Sonic slapped his head before he finally got the courage to reveal the 'big secret', "Says we have to merge into Dragon Mistress."

"THATS IT!?" yelled the girls causing most of the students to fall over from shock.

"Sounds like it," said Sonic poking his pinkie in his right ear as Sarah snickered silently.

Home Economics Class...

"Look at Akane go," said one of the girls as Akane rushed between several ovens. She was making cookie dough in one area, adding chocolate chips in another, baking a batch in a third, and using cookie cutters in a fourth.

"Ms Tendo..." said the instructor astonished, "I couldn't even dream of you using one area safely, but FOUR at ONCE?"

"Thanks," said Akane which shocked everyone that she wasn't getting upset. She continued running around and finally finished cutting out a batch of cookies and sliding them into a bag. She was about to go to the oven when she instinctually pulled out a fork and deflected a purple ribbon that came out of the window trying to snatch her cookies.

"What's the Meaning of this, Tendo Akane!" yelled Kodachi sneaking it, "How dare you try and take my Darling Ranma away with your cheap cooking!"

"Cheap?" asked Akane a tad confused.

"You have no right to cook for my fiancé," said Kodachi attempting another ribbon blow.

"I have every right," said Akane calmly as she evaded the ribbon and brought out the next batch of cookies.

"You little wrench," growled Kodachi pulling out her 'metal rod' ribbon and taking a pot shot at Akane.

"Do you mind, you are interrupting class," said Akane slicing the metal rod in half with a butter knife she pulled out shocking Kodachi.

"When did you get so good?" asked Kodachi backing off.

"I'm afraid I don't know what your talking about," said Akane putting in another batch of cookies in a blue sack, "Now would you please leave."

"Very well, I'll retreat for now, but I shall return Tendo Akane," replied Kodachi spreading out black rose petals, "Until than, Ado."

Kodachi than jumped out the window with her usual laughter while everyone stared at the window. Well, everyone but Akane, it seems she finished her last batch giving her 64 cookies total.

"Akane, isn't that too much?" asked on of the girls as Akane put the last batch in another bag.

"You think so?" said Akane.

"Say, what are these three cookies here for?" asked another girl noticing Akane missed some.

"Oh, don't worry about those," said Akane putting them in a green sack.

"Alright girls, Home Ecs is over," said the Instructor.

"Oh boy, here come the girls," said one of the boys standing outside the home ecs as the girls came out. The guys wasted no time in surrounding the girls putting on the charms to get some food. Ranma soon showed up and greeted Akane who had several sacks of cookies in her hand.

"Wow, did you make all those?" asked Ranma.

"Sure did," smiled Akane.

"It is said that a woman knows no true happiness until her cooking is enjoyed by the man who she loves," said Kuno popping out of no where with a fork, "Allow me to try your cooking, Tendo Akane!"

"Give it a rest Kuno," said Ranma, "You already did this one."

"If at first you don't succeed, try try again," replied Kuno, "Or something like that."

"That's ok Ranma," said Akane giving Kuno the green sack, "I already made these cookies especially for him."

"WHAT!?" yelled Ranma.

"Th...The...These cookies just for me?" asked Kuno speechless.

"Yep," said Akane smiling, "Go on, try them."

Kuno promptly ate the three cookies in record time before he gave a bold stand, "These are the best cookies I have ever HAD!" he yelled.

"Yo...You gave Kuno COOKIES?" exclaimed Ranma.

"Glad you liked them," said Akane with a slight grin, "Lets go Ranma."

"Wo, Akane!" yelled Ranma as Akane grabbed Ranma and ran out.

The rest of the students stared for a moment before they glanced back at Kuno to find he wasn't there. It took them a few moments to realize Kuno was now on the floor fast asleep, obviously from the cookies.

"Why did you give Kuno cookies?" asked Ranma.

"I gave him sleeping cookies," laughed Akane, "I figured that was the best way to shut him up for a while."

"How long is a while?" asked Ranma.

"If I did the recipe right, he should be out for the rest of the week," grinned Akane, "That way he won't get in our way."

"Wow," said Ranma not sure if he should be impressed or scared that Akane just pulled a Kodachi.

*SMASH*

"OWW!" yelled Emeral with a nasty bump on her head laying by the sofa in their house.

"Who's bright idea was that again?" asked Rose.

"That would have been Joe's," said Sonic trying to regain his balance.

"I don't understand," said Joe crossing his arms, "Theoretically running into each other at the same time should merge us back together. Perhaps one of us was off timing a tad?"

"NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE," yelled Rose pulling out a Mallet.

"Chill!" said Sonic, "Don't you want to get back together?"

Rose growled for a bit before she put the Mallet up, "So another try?"

"I suppose," said Joe looking at Emeral, "Assuming she's up for it."

Emeral stood up and rolled up her sleeves, "I'll go to hell and back to get back together."

"I can arrange that!" interrupted Kia before she was thrown out of the house.

"OK, on the count of three," started Joe, "One, Two..."

*SMASH*

"What do you suppose there doing in there?" asked Jeremy as he blasted his sister with a very high powered hose.

"Probably trying to get back together," replied Emily, "OK, I had enough."

"OK," said Jeremy turning off the hose and trying to give it to Emily who simply ignored it and went into the house to take a bath, "Hey, what about me?"

SMASH

"I think that time I got a concussion," wined Emeral with a blood mark on her head.

"WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING JOE!" yelled Rose grabbing him.

"I don't know!" responded Joe.

Tendo Residence...

"I'm home!" called Akane as she came through the front door. She waited a moment before she realized Kasumi wasn't responding and called out again, "Sister Kasumi?"

"I'm afraid she's come down with an upset stomach," said Nabiki coming into the hall.

"Kasumi?! With an upset stomach?" asked Ranma.

"We're as stunned as you," replied Nabiki, "She obviously made a mistake in her breakfast and made something horribly, yet she still ate it!"

"I wonder what’s wrong with her," asked Akane, "I guess I'll have to cook supper again."

"That would be great," said Nabiki walking off waving her hand.

"Still, isn't it rare for Kasumi to get sick, let alone from her own cooking?" asked Ranma.

"Yea," said Akane as they walked into the living area where Genma-panda and Soun were playing a normal Chess game. Akane than pulled out one of her blue sacks of cookies and sat it on the table, "I made cookies Mr. Saotome, dad."

"Why thank you Akane," said Soun not noticing Genma switching the chess board again.

"Many Thanks," said Genma using a sign not noticing Soun switching the chess board BACK.

"Prepare yourself Tendo Akane!" yelled a voice that could only be Kodachi followed by a barrage of ribbon blows that were deflected by Akane using a fork she pulled out of no where.

"Why are you carrying a fork with you?" asked Ranma.

Akane looked at the fork, "No Clue, but it seems to help me fight."

"Now we Punish!" yelled Shampoo.

"Stay out of this Ran-chan," added Ukyo knocking Ranma into the back of the room with her spatula.

"Would you guys stop," said Akane pulling out a red bag of cookies.

"It is you who needs to stop," said Kodachi sending her ribbon.

Akane dodged the ribbon with speeds that could almost rival Ranma's. As everyone was in astonishment, Akane jumped outside, "If we are going to fight, lets at least fight OUTSIDE?"

"Fine," replied Ukyo as the girls stood at one end of the pond and Akane on the other. The girls stared each other down for a moment before Ukyo, Shampoo and Kodachi jumped into the air for an attack. Akane simply grinned which scared Ranma.

"Tendo School of Anything-Goes school of Martial Arts Final Attack," said Akane holding up her red bag, "Cookie Bombs!"

"COOKIE BOMBS?!" yelled the girls as Akane threw several cookies like Frisbee at them. A moment later a nice explosion followed by a mushroom cloud took place sending the girls out of town.

"Not only as her cooking improved," said Soun standing up impressed, "But she can now channel her once bad cooking into devastating weapons."

"You don't say," gulped Ranma.

Somewhere in the Bathroom

"Why does this place have to be so big?" asked Hikeya in her young white dragon form. She was wondering around hopelessly until she came across a wine cellar. She looked around to see what other paths where available and decided to go down the wine cellar to the other door. Shortly later she found herself right back where she started.

"WHY, Why can't I find Kalshion," she yelled picking up one of the wine bottles with her tail and starting to drink. The camera man than stepped back and focused the camera on the sign which read "Quantum Wine Cellar"

*SMASH*

"Lets take a rest," said Joe finally falling backwards from the impact.

"If I didn't feel so dizzy I would beat you with a mallet," said Emeral leaning on the sofa with stars circling her head.

"I suppose that’s a good thing," replied Joe finally getting his footing and walking over to the TV.

"What are you up to?" asked Sonic who had a feeling what Joe was about to do.

"What else," said Joe smiling pulling out a Playstation II from a hiding compartment by the TV.

"Boys," said Rose walking to the kitchen, "Emeral, want anything?"

"Chocolate!" exclaimed Emeral hopping up as if she never ran into a brick wall.

"Girls," said Joe flipping on the game, "So we take turns per battle?"

"Sure," said Sonic looking at the 'Star Ocean 2: The Second Story' logo pop up.

Back with Hikeya...

"Sorry to say, but she is totally wasted," said the Camera man showing a sleeping Dragon with a lot of wine bottles scattered around her.

"Kal...*Hiccup*...shion..." mumbled Hikeya in her sleep.

"I'll let ya know when she starts moving again," cued the Camera man.

"That's around 80 Points!"

"Damn, how did you do that?" asked Joe astonished at Sonic's quick battle.

"This was one of my favorite RPGs back in the day, so naturally I have more experience in it than you do," grinned Joe.

"Considering my perspective is that of a sixteen year old," groaned Joe, "I hate this memory swap thing."

"Probably why we should work on getting back together," said Sonic as he noticed the girls behind him, "Been watching have ya?"

"So curiosity got to us," grinned Emeral.

"Must have gotten bored after the cat ran away," snickered Joe before Emeral slammed him with a Mallet.

"Still an interesting game," said Rose, "And I think the blue hair girl is rather cute."

"Eh?" said Joe and Sonic at the same time looking at Rose.

"What?" asked Rose.

"You don't RECONIZE HER?" asked Sonic.

"Of course not, I haven't seen her till I came in here and watched you guys," said Rose.

"What about you Emeral?" asked Joe.

"Ditto," replied Emeral.

The two boys than slapped their faces before Sonic realized something, "Yet you know why they should know?"

"You know, that’s a good point, I do," said Joe, "I guess some of their memories went into one or both of us."

"Would you two stop speaking in circles and explain what you are talking about," growled Rose.

"And why should we know that girl?" asked Emeral.

"Maybe because," started Joe.

"YOU TRAINED WITH RENA ON HEALING POWERS!" yelled Sonic.

Tommy's House

"Idiots," said Tommy pouring some Apple Juice in a glass before handing it to Sarah. She just smiled as she took the glass and resumed watching the TV which was showing the gang.

Back with the "Idiots"

"That’s it," said Emeral grabbing Joe by the collar and dragging him to the middle of the room followed by Rose doing the same to Sonic, "We Merge right here, Right NOW!"

"Say Joe," asked Sonic, "Would their anger contribute or hinder our efforts to merge?"

"This is THEM we are talking about," said Joe with a sweat drop on his head, "Totally unpredictable."

"That's comforting to know," said Sonic as they started to run into each other.

SMASH

"OW!" yelled Sonic, "That REALLY Hurt."

"That's probably because we bounced off their battle aura's," said Joe pointing to the girls with glowing eyes.

"GET UP YOU TWO!" yelled Rose.

"Shall we play dead?" asked Joe.

"I fear playing dead will really make us dead," answered Sonic.

"What's all the ruckus about," came a small voice.

"Who was that?" asked Rose loosing her battle Aura.

"Hikari and me were taking a long nap when you two woke us up with that huge battle aura," said Kibou flying in and sitting on Sonic's shoulder. Soon Hikari stumbled in and sat on Rose shoulder before she hiccupped.

"Have you two been drinking?" asked Sonic.

"We wanted just a small bit of your blood wine, but we ended up falling into the bottle," replied Kibou.

"So what are you guys up to," asked Hikari followed by a hiccup.

"We're trying to merge to Dragon Mistress to undo my curse," said Rose.

"You probably didn't have much luck, did you?" asked Kibou.

"You're right," said Sonic, "How would you know we wouldn't?"

"We were also separated ya know, so we need to merge together with ya guys," replied Kibou.

The gang stood there for a bit digesting what Kibou had said. Crickets could be heard cricking in the background followed by a bull frog croaking. Finally Sonic slapped his hand on his face and Joe gave an expression as if his life was about to end.

"J...JOE" said Emeral shacking her fists trying her best not to spring on him.

"Lets just try this again," said Rose with a shaky voice.

"On the Count of three," said Sonic, "One, Two..."

Tommy's House

"Damn, you win," said Tommy dropping five 100 Yen coins in Sarah's hands as the TV screen filled with white light.

Back at JERKS

"I suppose it work," said Dragon Mistress looking at her self. A moment later she split off into two separate lights, one yellow, one pink before they materialized into Sonic and Rose.

"We're whole again," exclaimed Sonic, "Even Kibou and Hikari."

"Finally," said Rose before she looked at Sonic and grinned.

"What?" asked Sonic before a Mallet smashed into him.

Tendo Residence the next day

"Kasumi still not feeling good?" asked Ranma sitting down at the table.

"She just needs a few more days of rest," said Nabiki in her school uniform.

"Breakfast," said Akane in her uniform with a 'Piyo Piyo' apron on her as she came in with breakfast.

After breakfast Nabiki grabbed her bag and ran off for School while Genma went off to help Soun brush the front walkway. Happosai soon ran off to inventory his collection leaving Ranma and Akane at the table.

"We better hurry or we'll be late," said Akane putting the dishes on the tray to quickly take over to the kitchen.

"Say, what's this last bowl of Miso soup here?" asked Ranma looking at a bowl still sitting on the table.

"I left that for Sister Kasumi," said Akane.

"How nice of you," said Ranma grabbing his bag, "Ready?"

"Yep," said Akane rushing off with Ranma.

A few minutes later Kasumi came downstairs and looked at Akane's miso soup. She sighed before she picked it up and took it into the kitchen where she threw it away and cooked herself her own Miso soup and Fish. Soon she was back at the table eating her poorly made food while staring outside.

Somewhere between the school and Tendo Residence

"You did another great job on breakfast Akane," said Ranma running on the fence.

"You think so," smiled Akane, "I wonder what I'll make for supper."

"I'm sure it will be great what ever it is," said Ranma hopping off the fence and running along side of Akane.

Things went normal until a kid out of no where hoped from behind a fence and shot a water gun filled with Tsubasko sauce. Ranma looked at his favorite red shirt for a moment before he looked at the kid who stuck his tongue out and ran.

"Come back here you little brat," yelled Ranma before another kid popped out from behind and squired Ranma with a normal water gun changing him into a girl.

"Na na," said the kid before he ran off the opposite direction as the other.

"Since when do kids know about your Jusenkyo curse?" asked Akane as Ranma-chan growled.

"I don't know, but right now I'm going back home to get a new shirt," she said.

"I'll go with you," said Akane.

"No, you go ahead and go to school, you don't need to be late," said Ranma taking off for home.

"Cya in class than," yelled Akane.

It didn't take Ranma long to reach home where he rushed upstairs and grabbed another red shirt for himself. "Stupid kid, squirting me with tsubasco sauce," thought Ranma as he went to the kitchen to get some hot water. After dousing himself real quick he noticed some leftovers sitting on the kitchen counter.

"I don't recall Akane making fish," he thought noting the fish skeleton sitting by a bowl Miso that was only half finished, "Did Kasumi make this?"

"He took out a spoon and took a taste of the Miso soup only to gag on the intoxicating contents and fall down grasping his throat. After a few minutes of trying to breath he got up and looked at the soup, "Kasumi couldn't have made this, its too horrible," he said to himself.

Ranma than went upstairs and knocked quietly on Kasumi's door, "Kasumi, may I speak to you?" he said quietly.

"Come in," replied Kasumi in a weak voice, "Shouldn't you be at school Ranma?"

"I had to come back after some kid blasted me with a water gun filled with tsubasco sauce," said Ranma walking to Kasumi's bed where she laid.

"Oh my," said Kasumi still weak in her voice.

"Kasumi, I have a question for you," Ranma said in a concerned voice, "Did you make yourself Miso soup and fish?"

"Yes I did," said Kasumi in a worried voice, "Why do you ask?"

"I tasted the Miso soup," replied Ranma.

"It was horrible, wasn't it," said Kasumi with gloom in her eyes, "This cold of mine seems to interfering with my cooking skills."

"Why didn't you just eat the soup Akane made for you?" asked Ranma.

Kasumi's eyes widen a tad with hatred before she quickly returned to her normal self, "I felt like having fish," she said smiling.

Ranma, who noticed her expression decided to leave it at that, "OK than, you take it easy now."

"Thanks Ranma," replied Kasumi as he walked outside.

"Could Kasumi's sickness be pure jealousy towards Akane's cooking?" thought Ranma as he shut the door and walked to the living area. He sat down and began to ponder on the events that have unfolded; Akane's sudden cooking ability, Kasumi's odd behavior and sickness, and then her horrible cooking.

"I don't know," he said to himself, "Maybe I should go ask an expert on health..."

Back to Rose's House...

"It feels great to be whole again," said Rose stretching as she came into the Kitchen for Breakfast.

"I still say its more fun with four than two," said Kia giving a grin.

"Don't you ever stop?" asked Rose as Sonic came in with an odd look on his face.

"What’s wrong with you?" asked Emily jabbing for Jeremy's eggs only to find five billion gigawatts.

"Say Rose, did you do anything to the Aura Shards?" he asked.

"No, why?" asked Rose.

"I keep feelings a small presence of the Aura, yet It seems to be coming from everywhere at once.

"Maybe your imagining it," said Rose.

Mount Fuji

"Why do I sense the Aura?" asked DS looking around, "Its coming from everywhere."

Back to Sonic

"Maybe your right," said Sonic sitting down, "Pass the syrup."

"Sure," said Kia passing the syrup just as the phone rang which Rose got up to answer it.

"JERKS residence," she said.

"HEY!" yelled Sonic, "Just because the author uses that, doesn't mean you have to use it."

"Oh hi Mr. Dragon," said Rose throwing a small mallet at Sonic.

"You would think he would learn by now," said Jeremy stealing toast from Emily and breaking his jaw on it.

"What?" said Rose getting their attention, "Sure, we'll be over as soon as we can."

"What was that about?" asked Sonic as Rose came back in.

"Seems Kalshion and Katarina are sick," replied Rose, "At least, he THINKS they're sick."

"What does that mean?" asked Sonic taking a bite out of his pancakes.

"He couldn't explain it, so he wants us to go over there and see of ourselves," answered Rose.

Tofu's Clinic

"Hi Ranma, what can I do for you?" asked Dr. Tofu.

"Hey Doc, I had a question for ya," said Ranma coming into the examining room.

"I'll try my best to answer," replied Tofu.

"Is it possible for someone to get jealous that causes them to get real sick, and possibly cause things they can do real well to go horribly wrong?" asked Ranma.

"Well," said Tofu grabbing a book and flipping through it, "Its rare but there are a few people in the world that suffer from that. They usually are kind hearted and are depended upon a lot. When that depended feeling is taking away, the jealousy they feel towards the person causing a massive depression that starts to physically and mentally hurt them. In some rare cases, its even KILLED them."

"It can be FATAL?" exclaimed Ranma.

"Yes it can, do you know of someone who's having this issue?" asked Tofu a bit concerned.

"Uh no," said Ranma as he quickly dished up a Lie, "Just a research project at school."

"Ahhh, I see, well you better hurry off to school than," said Tofu.

"Thanks doc," said Ranma jotting off.

Near the Dragon Shrine

"Hey, Watch it!" yelled Sonic as two kids rush by with water guns.

"That’s the third set of kids we've seen on their way to school," said Rose a tad curious, "Usually we don't see any."

"Maybe its a hectic day," replied Sonic as they came to the shrine.

"I'm glad your here," said Mr. Dragon when they got to the door, "Please, come inside."

"So what’s going on?" asked Sonic as they were lead to Kalshion's room.

"They woke up this morning with pains all over their body," replied their father, "They've been laying in bed in sweat ever since."

"How you feeling Kalshion," said Rose standing beside his bed.

"I've been better," said Kalshion struggling with the pain.

"I'm not sensing any virus or anything like the last time," said Sonic looking over him.

"I agree, it feels like something is trying to blast out of him," said Rose, "Like he's gaining too much power."

"Go see if Katarina is having the same issue," said Sonic looking over Kalshion.

"On it," said Rose dashing off.

"So any particular places it hurts," asked Sonic.

"Well it was my entire body," said Kalshion taking a big breath to relieve his pain, "But now my teeth hurt more than my body."

"Lets see," said Sonic pulling out a small wooding stick doctors use to check your throat, "Say ahhh."

"Ahhhh," replied Kalshion as Sonic took a look before Kalshion shot out a Dragon Blast from his mouth singing Sonic's face.

"You OK??" asked Kalshion worried.

"Aside from blasting me with a Blue Dragon Blast," responded Sonic shaking the blackness off his face, "You're growing FANGS!"

"WHAT!?" yelled Kalshion before Rose showed up in a panic state.

"Katarina has FANGS," she exclaimed.

"So does Kalshion," replied Sonic, "And an interesting breath."

"And what does that mean?" asked their father.

"I don't know," said Rose, "Maybe their dragon heritage is being affected by a curse or something?"

"Or something..." said Sonic thinking, "Could it be?"

"Be what?" asked Rose.

"Don't you recall that soft feeling of the Aura I felt earlier," said Sonic.

"Oh give it a rest," said Rose, "It would take hundreds of FULL size Dragon Aura's to transform them against their wills. With MM out like a light, there is no one that could even remotely pull off something like that. Besides, I don't feel the Aura."

"Now that you mention it," said Sonic, "Neither do I."

"Well I certainly don't," said Kalshion as the phone rang and Kalshion's father picked it up.

"Rose, its for you," said Mr. Dragon.

"Eh?" asked Rose taking the phone.

"Actually Rose, it would only take a hundred and twenty three in a fifty mile radius of them," said Nadeshiko on the other side before hanging up.

"OK," said Rose a bit disturbed, "When did she learn to do something like that?"

"With MM as her mentor?" chuckled Sonic before receiving a Mallet blow.

Rose tossed the mallet aside and was about to say something when everyone in the room, minus Mr. Dragon, stopped with dreaded looks on their face. It took a minute before Mr. Dragon finally got the nerve to speak up, "What's wrong?"

"HOLY SHIT," exclaimed Rose, "Where did all of THOSE come from?"

"All of those?" asked Mr. Dragon.

"I'm sensing ALOT, emphasis on ALOT, of Dragon Aura's," added Sonic.

Mount Fuji

"Fifty, no sixty, NO Hundred, wait there's another, GAHHH!" yelled DS turning left to right and pulling out some of his hair.

MM's Computer Room

"123 Full Dragon Aura's within a 50 miles radius of the Dragon Shrine have been detected in Nerima," said the Computer.

"I hate it when he does that," said Nadeshiko looking towards MM's room, "How Many in total?"

"Hell if I know, I overflowed my variable length counting them," responded the Computer as a ding sound went off, "PM from Kia."

"What does it say?" asked Nadeshiko.

"Hell is my department," responded the computer.

"How did she learn to do that?" asked Nadeshiko.

Dragon Shrine

"Ummm, guys?" asked Kalshion as blue streaks came down his cheeks while claws grew on his fingers followed by his ears turned pointy and transformed into what could be described as a cross between elf and dog ears with blue fur. To top it off, Kalshion jumped up a bit as something popped below him, soon revealing itself to be a long blue tail.

After a moment of silence, "I think the ears are sort of cute," said Rose forcing a smile.

"Do I ask for a mirror?" said Kalshion.

"No," said Sonic as Katarina in a similar getup came in, "You look very similar to your sister."

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!" yelled Katarina.

"I say the massive amount of Dragon Aura's have overloaded the Dragon Heritage in you," replied Rose.

"WELL I CAN'T GO OUT IN PUBLIC LIKE THIS!" whined Katarina.

"Why not? Not like anyone cares, they never complained about a Star Dragon walking around town." said Sonic noticing Rose, Kalshion and Mr. Dragon leaving the room, "Hey, Where are you going?"

"SONIC!" yelled Katarina blasting Sonic with a Dragon Blast smothering the room.

"I had to ask," said Sonic all black blinking his white eyes.

Say, what are those pesky scientists doing?

"Examining the energy signature these gems put out," Scientist One said.

"What are you babbling about?" Scientist Two asked.

"Dunno," Scientist One said. "Just had the urge to say that. At any rate, I can't identify what kind of energy these things are putting out."

"Is there anything similar enough to compare to?" Quin asked, passing a chart to Scientist Two over Scientist Four's head, bumping Scientist Four in the process. Scientist Four shrugged it off and continued to examine his computer screen through his goofy glasses.

"Nothing at all," Scientist Three said. "The database came up empty."

"Damn," Quin said. "The cereal makers claim these things started out as plastic too. Will we ever figure out what they are?"

"Don't know," Scientist Three responded. "By the way, what is the new guy doing?"

"Looks like he is hugging that thing," Scientist One said.

"That's IT! IT CAN WORK!!!" yelled Scientist Four, dropping into an evil laugh. "Soon the world will be MINE!"

"What on Earth is he babbling about?" asked Scientist Two.

"Call Ben," Quin yelled to an assistant.

"Already did sir," the assistant replied, opening the door.

"Agent Prester of the Mad Scientist Special Unit," a man with brown hair wearing a matching coat said as he flashed his badge. "Where is the scientist?"

"Laughing boy over there can't be hard to miss," Quin said, rolling his eyes.

"You can never be sure," Agent Prester said. "Some day one of these types will make something that makes other people laugh like that just to serve as a diversion."

"DON'T GIVE HIM IDEAS!" the other scientists yelled as Agent Prester put the handcuffs on Scientist Four.

"Sorry," Agent Prester said. "At any rate, he seems to be in the early stages of Mad Scientist Syndrome, so he isn't a danger YET."

"Yea, well," Quin said. "Take good care of him."

"Will do," Agent Prester said. "By the way, what is his name?"

"No clue," Quin said. "Ask personnel. This was his first day, and he dived right into his work."

"Thank you," Agent Prester said, dragging the scientist out the door.

Furinkan High

"I wonder what happen to Ranma," said Akane sitting with her friends eating.

"You sure he only went back to change shirts," asked Ukyo.

"Well that and change back to a boy," replied Akane.

Tendo Residence

"What to do," thought Ranma sitting on a tree glancing at Kasumi's window.

"Check," said Soun placing his knight near Genma's kings.

"Do Over," said Genma via a Sign.

"Not this time Saotome," said Soun before he glanced at Ranma, "Son, I know its odd for Kasumi to be ill, but she'll be find with a few days of rest."

"He has no idea," thought Ranma as Genma took the opportunity to eat Soun's knight before he pulled up a sign.

"You aren't trying to switch to Kasumi are you?" said the sign.

"AS IF!" yelled Ranma throwing a small branch he broke off at Genma.

Dragon Shrine

"My beautiful complexion," moaned Katarina looking at her face in a mirror.

"Would you relax already," said Kalshion, "It isn't going to last forever."

"Would you shut up!" yelled Katarina blasting her brother with a dragon blast.

"Now you done it!" yelled Kalshion firing back.

"Aren't they a tad more aggressive than usual?" asked Rose.

"Probably the effects of the aura," said Sonic, "Although I'm not sure there is much of a difference with Katarina."

*BLAST*

"You really should learn to keep you mouth shut," replied Rose looking at Sonic's charred face.

"Bah, I don't think that's possible," said Sonic shacking off the blackness from his head.

"So what should we do with them?" asked Rose.

"Leave them be," said Sonic, "We should focus on where these extra Dragon Auras are."

"I might be of assistance on that," replied Mr. Dragon.

"Really?" Rose said. "Can you sense something about them you haven't told us?"

"Nope," Mr. Dragon said. "I have, on the other hand, seen several young children with necklaces resembling the description of the completed aura."

"WHAT?" Sonic and Rose said in unison. "CHILDREN?"

"Yep," Mr. Dragon said. "Don't know where they got them, though, or if they are even real."

"Point us to the direction of those children," said Sonic grabbing his wife's hand which confused her.

"I believe it was that way," said Mr. Dragon pointing north moments before Sonic and Rose vanished, "Where did they go?"

"Sonic dashed out with Rose the moment you pointed them where the kids were," said Kalshion, "I'm pretty sure Rose was screaming too, but I think they were moving faster than sound."

"WAIT A MINUTE" yelled Rose's voice.

"I guess it just caught up," replied Katarina.

In front of an Elementary School

"Honesty!" yelled Rose brushing her hair, "Any faster and my hair would have flown off."

"So I was in a hurry," replied Sonic noting the school, "I guess school's out."

"Why do you say that?" asked Sonic.

"I dunno," said Sonic, "Perhaps the fact that the windows are broken, part of the school looks like it just went through a game of Battlezone and kids running around wild?"

"What?" replied Rose looking at the school, "Oh, I see your point."

"Coming through gramps," yelled a kid being chased by another with a water gun and a necklace with a blue object attached to it.

"Do I look that old?" asked Sonic pointing to himself.

"Who CARES," yelled Rose, "That kid has an Aura on his neck."

"Oh, right," said Sonic dashing in front of the kid in a blink of an eye and picking him up, "Hold it shorty."

"Hey, Let me go!" yelled the kid as Rose took his gun.

"We just have a question for you," said Rose looking at the kid.

"What do you want old lady," said the kid trying to reach for his water gun.

"OLD LADY!" yelled Rose getting ready to blast the kid.

"Rose, stay on topic," said Sonic.

"Grrr," replied Rose with some smoke coming out of her ears.

"So kid, where did you get that jewel on the necklace?" asked Sonic.

"From my cereal box," exclaimed the kid, "Stupid parents wanted to see what it looked like on me so they forced me to put it on. Now it won't come off!"

"What do you mean it won't come off?" asked Rose.

"Try to take it off, you'll see," said the kid.

"So where's the latch," said Rose looking around the kids neck.

"The latch is that little disc holding the aura," said the kid, "I think its magnetic or something."

"OK than," said Rose yanking on the chain to pull it apart but receiving a nasty shock instead.

"If my dad couldn't do it, what makes you think that an old lady could do it," said the kid finally slipping free and running off after giving a tongue to Rose.

"Why that little brat," said Rose puffing out smoke again.

"So, do you think that kid was telling the truth?" asked Sonic.

"I think the brat was MM himself," said Rose turning around.

"I thought you just said MM couldn't be doing any of this?" said Sonic confused.

"Well I changed my mind," said Rose storming past Sonic.

Sonic gave a look before he quickly caught up to his wife, "Shall we at least CHECK the local grocery store?"

Rose turned her head towards her husband and gave him a look...

Sorry, the Camera man's camera just shattered...lets see what DS is doing.

"Would you GO AWAY!" yelled DS hugging a rock and shivering so hard that the rock was starting to break apart.

Ummm...oh good, we got a backup camera

"Figures, she's GOING towards a grocery store," said Sonic on the top of a telephone pole shivering.

Mandy's Market

"Am I the only one that feels uncomfortable going into this store?" asked Sonic noting the name of the store.

"Like MM is going to make it that noticeable?" asked Rose.

"I dunno," replied Sonic noticing someone walk out with their paper bag which had two M's, one black, one white on it.

"So," said Rose stopping at the cereal isle, "What Cereal do you suppose has it?"

"Lets see, they got Frosted Flakes, Morning Muffins, Lucky Curses, Satan in a Bowl and Jusenkyo Toast Crunch," said Sonic finally picking one up, "Lets try this Rice Crispies."

"Well, what are you waiting for," said Rose, "Open it."

"We have to BUY it first," said Sonic walking up to the crash register and paying for it.

"Oh...yea," replied Rose.

"Lets see," said Sonic taking the cereal box out of the paper bag outside the store. Soon he had the cereal box open and was digging around until he finally found a plastic bag inside. "I think I found something," said Sonic pulling out the bag revealing a Dragon Aura on a necklace chain.

"So the brat was telling the truth," said Rose, "That still doesn't mean MM's not behind it."

"I'll agree," said Sonic, "MM could have set up a time or trigger curse that has activated now."

"Or he could be OUT of his hang over," replied Rose.

"Ok, I wouldn't put that past him," replied Sonic.

"Then again," Rose said. "Why would he do this to begin with? It doesn't make any sense. Couldn't he play with Kalshion and Katarina without going to all this trouble?"

In MM's computer Room

"Little do they know his goal was to mess with them, not the dragons," said Nadeshiko sitting in a leather chair, "And I can't do a thing to warn them."

"All you have to do is reach that phone sitting by the console to your left," said the computer.

"Oh shut up," said Nadeshiko, "I'm GLUED to this chair!"

"I know," said the Computer showing tongues on all the monitors.

"Hey Camera Man, why don't you put that camera down and help me out!" yelled Nadeshiko.

"Sorry," replied the Camera man, "We don't get paid if we interfere with normal operations."

"Paid by Who?" asked Nadeshiko.

"Yours truely," said the man, "MM."

"Damn," said Nadeshiko.