Linear Destiny Part 2 of The Convergance Project A Fanfic by Animercury Chapter 2-The Future's Past Disclaimer: Almost every character and or event or anything else appearing in this story is not mine. The characters are the property of their respectful creators and or affiliates. Please don't sue. "I can't explain it." Marle said to Raye. "No matter what I do, I just can't seem to find the problem with her. I've tried everything and I just can't heal the damage." She looked critically at the ripe, red wound in Ami's chest. "Something is blocking my magic." "Can you help her?" Raye looked at her good friend, he still limp body barely moved as she breathed. "I'm trying, but I can't heal it all the way no matter what I try." Marle again pushed out with her magic. "It's like there isn't anything there to heal. It's blank." "Is she going to make it?" "I stopped the bleeding, so that isn't a factor. The risk of infection though, I just don't know what to say." Marle replied. "I've never run into something like this before. I have to get some air. Call if she changes at all." Marle sighed and left the room. "Would you like something to eat?" Lucca held out a sandwich. "Thanks." Marle took a bite and stared out of a window. "What am I going to do?" She commented to the calm air. "You're going to solve this dilemma, that's what." Magus dropped in. "It's your duty to keep on trying, Marle." "I can't help her, Magus. I'm not strong enough or something." She snapped at the aged wizard. "Maybe you're going about this the wrong way. Only time heals all wounds. Perhaps you should wait it out." Lucca reasoned. "No, she doesn't have more than a week. The bleeding stopped, but it will be a long time before her body heals. Something will get in and finish her off." Marle said despondently. "I can't help you with it, Marle, but maybe some time will help you solve the problem." Magus observed patiently. "Well I had better get back in there then." Marle put the sandwich on the counter. Lucca noticed that the small teeth marks were only in one spot, Marle hadn't eaten any more than the first bite. **Serina's House ** "Get out of here you little worm!" Serina shouted as she tried desperately to kick Rini from her room. "Nya nya, you can't get me!" Rini teased as she sprang out of the room. Serina slammed the door in her face and locked it. She pulled out her communicator, peeked under the door to be sure Rini wasn't spying on her, and tapped the button. "Raye here." Raye's image fizzled in. "You look awful!" Serina gasped. Raye's eyes were sunk back into dark welts protruding from her face around the eyes. Her hair was frizzed and unkempt, and she looked zombied. "Hasn't Ami improved at all?" "Not a bit." Raye even sounded like she was a zombie. "Has Marle made any break through? Done anything?" Serina probed. "She stopped the bleeding, that's all." "It's something I suppose. Get some sleep, Raye. You look like something the Nega- verse threw out." Serina closed the screen. "Now where's that rodent of a cousin?" She looked out the door. Nothing. "Good." She said sounding quite self-satisfied. Rini waited until she was sure Serina wasn't going to follow her. Once the blonde haired girl had disappeared back into her room, Rini pressed a button on her Kitty ball. A screen came up. //Unsuccessful in the attempt to communicate. Please try later. // Luna's voice told her. "Rats." Rini snapped her fingers. "Serina, you have to watch what you are doing here, I found out about a strange time anomaly. Tell your friends that I will take care of everything." Rini recognized the voice from somewhere but couldn't quite place it. "I will, but next time you have such high ideas wait until morning. I need my beauty sleep." She yawned. "Time waits for no one." Rini stepped from the room. A small hiss escaped from her sudden intake of breath. Serrina's companion heard it and turned around. "Rini? What are you doing here?" Magus swore incredulously. "Magus? How did you get here? Is there something wrong at home?" Rini looked at the blue-silver haired man. "No Rini, everything is fine." Magus stared openly at the small girl. " I have to go now. I'll come back later to check on you." There was a dark flash and Magus was gone. "You know Magus? How?" Two meatball heads said at once, one pink the other blonde. **Marle ** "It was Serrina again." Raye said as she closed the communicator. " She wanted to know if Ami was any better." "I don't have the time for these interruptions. I have to think." Marle sighed trying to collect her thoughts. "Don't take too long, Marle. I don't think we have the time to lose." Raye said gravely. "You're friend will recover soon. I think a week will do." Marle tried to fake. "I'm not stupid Marle. I can see that Ami isn't going to get better. I know you are trying, but we don't have the time to sit and wait." Raye spoke the message as if it were of the utmost importance. "Why does everyone keep telling me we don't have the time. It makes no difference how much time we have, because I can't help her. No matter how much time I had!" Marle shouted. "Marle calm down, you're just a little angry. Slow down and think." Raye softly tried to turn back Marle's rage. A look of profound discovery flashed onto Marle's face followed by exultation. "What?" Raye said confused. "We don't slow down, we speed up. Ami's natural defenses are already healing this, but to slowly. If I speed her up, she'll heal herself." Marle placed both of her hands on Ami's head. "Haste." She whispered. In her minds eye a clock descended onto Ami. There was a rush as Ami sped into hyper time. The wound seemed to close all by itself, sealing up with a jagged pink mark. Marle released the spell and softly said again "Cure." The pink jagged line faded away, leaving Ami with no mark at all. "Marle, you're brilliant!" Raye joyously exclaimed. "I can't believe that worked." Marle said, the exhaustion returning to her voice. "You mean you weren't sure?" Raye said. "Well there was no way to tell until I had done it." Marle replied. "Marle, we have to talk about your methods." Raye laughed. "After I take a nap." Marle zombied out of the room, Raye not far behind. **Hotel ** "Ranma, wake up!" Akane demanded sharply. The martial artist rolled over and snored loudly. "All right, I didn't want to do this but…" She threw a glass of cold water over him. Ranma jumped to alertness as the curse surged. "What wazzat for?" The red head asked irritably. "Well you wouldn't wake up. I had to do something." Akane responded. "C'mon, I found some really neat things to see!" She held up a tourist booklet. "What happened to cooking?" Ranma said absently as she looked over the small paper. "I found a class I can join, for free! Let's go!" "Akane, what has gotten in to you?" Ranma asked. "Well, I'm just feeling really good right now. Can't I be happy?" Her face sank. "Naw. I like it when you smile. You should do it more often." Ranma confessed. Akane positively beamed. "Thank you, Ranma." She said. "Let's go to your cooking thing first. I wanna see who's giving lessons for free. They are really going to have their work cut out for them." Ranma said, poking a little to get a reaction. "I'll ignore that, but only because I agree. It's too good to be true." Akane grabbed Ranma and pulled her out the door. **Marle ** "Crono, you really should give her credit, she did remarkably well." Magus said to the swordsman. "I expect she is far more than we originally thought." Crono nodded. "Of course you knew that didn't you?" Magus guessed. Crono smirked and nodded again. "Teen-agers!" Magus moaned. **Lita's residence ** (Where is that anyway?) "Just a second!" Lita yelled as the doorbell rang again. She finished putting her stuff away and went to the door. "All right, finally someone came." She looked at the pair outside the door. One had flaming red hair that would make a fire engine jealous, and the other had a soft black cut that looked a lot like Ami's. Lita also recognized her from yesterday. The girl with the guy in the park was right there. Come to notice her red haired companion looked a lot like the martial artist. "Umm, did we surprise you?" Akane asked as Lita froze in mind numbed stupidity. "No, no, come right in. The counter is over there, and I'll be right back." Lita pointed. She walked down a hall into her room. Once she was sure they hadn't followed she tapped her communicator "Guys you wouldn't believe who's at my house. The girl with the guy who took out the Red Ranger. Umm Ranma was his name, I think." There was a pause. Then Serrina spoke, "Keep her there, Luna and I will be right over." Lita clicked it closed and went back out. "All right then, what do you want to try to cook first?" She asked. "Oh, I'm not here to learn, just to watch." Ranma-chan said. "That's all right, no charge. What's your name?" Lita conceded. "I'm Akane Tendo, and this is Ranko Saotome." Akane said, remembering Ranma's usual disguise name. "Lita. No formal names. Now I think we'll start out with the basics. Bread." She took out a cookbook and began to teach. **Later ** "Just a second!" Lita shouted as the doorbell rang again. "Akane that's salt for the last time. This is flour. Use the flour not the salt. I'll be right back." Lita wiped a little flour off her hands and went to the door. "Is everything O.K?" Serrina said worriedly. Luna hopped down from her shoulder and ventured in. "Nothing odd so far. Akane just wanted a cooking lesson. I convinced her friend to join us. I think she and Ranma are related, but I didn't ask." They were interrupted by a loud shriek. "CAAAAT!" Ranma ran down the hall as soon as she saw Luna. With a shriek she dove into the bathroom. "Oh no, Ranko is deathly afraid of cats. I'll go get her." Akane said despondently. "Please put the cat out. For her sake." "Luna, go wait in the hall." Serrina place the crescent kitty outside. **Tetronite's Lair ** "I'm still working at the Key. Don't fear I'll have us all home soon enough. Will you do me a favor and go get me these things. I need them to continue my experiments. Just beware of the Sailors." **Lita's Residence ** "Here you go Serrina, what do you think." Lita held a piece of bread out for her to taste. Serrina took a bite and swallowed. "It was good." She said. "And this one?" Lita held out another. Serrina took a bite. Her eyes began to water as she tried to swallow. The bread was awful, but it wouldn't go down. She sat there and gagged, trying to get the nasty thing out of her mouth. Lita jumped up and began pounding her on the back. Finally it slid down into Serrina's stomach. "What happened to that one?" She asked as she continued to breathe hard. "Akane made it. What did you do wrong? I wasn't gone but a minute." She turned to her pupil. "Well I added the flour and began mixing." Akane said as she retrieved the bag. "Oops." She held it up. In bright red letters it said 'Salt' "We have got a long way to go." Lita rolled her eyes to the sky. "Serrina go and get some more flour won't you?" "Actually I think we have to go. Gettin' late." Ranma pulled Akane out. "I thought you wanted my cooking to improve." Akane said as soon as they were out the door. "I do, but that isn't why I wanted to leave. Didn't you recognize them? Even a little?" Ranma whispered. "No." Akane whispered back. "They're both Sailor Scouts, remember from yesterday?" //Flashback// "You'd better hope so, because if she ain't I'm gonna rip the price outta your hide. Ranma Saotome." "And you're Serrina, Lita, Mina, and Raye." TJ pointed to each in turn. //Present// "See the connection. I only just now realized it." Ranma whispered. "Let's go then. I don't want any more trouble. At least not for a little while." They never noticed the black cat watching them from around a corner, her ears perked forward as she listened intently." I have to warn Serrina and Lita." She rushed into the closing door. **Elsewhere ** "Stop, thief!" An old man shouted after the group of helmeted thieves. "Chill out, old man. We won't give you any trouble." The Yellow Ranger responded. "I'll call the cops." He ran back into his store. "That's our cue to leave." The Silver Ranger said. "Guys, stop this madness!" From out of nowhere the Blue Ranger jumped out. "C'mon don't listen to Tetronite!" He stood, blocking their escape. "Humph, and who's going to stop us?" The Red ranger stepped forward. "I will if it's necessary." The Blue Ranger pointed his Astro Blaster at his red counterpart. "Return the stuff." He said gesturing with the pistol. "You don't have the guts to shoot. Go ahead and do it." Red pushed against TJ. "I'll do it, Red Ranger. Stop." He ordered. "No, I know you won't do it. Nice try weakling, we have to leave now if you don't mind, so move." The Red Ranger pushed past. TJ lowered the gun. "I didn't think you'd do it." The Yellow Ranger sneered. "I, on the other hand, have no objections. Venus Love Chain, Encircle!" The golden chain wrapped around the bag of loot. Venus yanked the chain and the bag flew to her. "Now for you guys." "Not likely. Super Silveriser, Battle ready." The Silver Ranger fired a shot at Sailor Venus. She dove out of the way as he aimed again. There was a blur of motion as something struck the gun. It clattered away pinned to the ground by a single red rose. (I'm sure you guys were wondering where Tuxedo Mask was this whole time.) "That was not very gentlemanly. You need a lesson in manners." Tuxedo Mask declared. He landed in front of Zane and drew his cane just as the Silver Ranger grabbed the Silveriser. There was a flurry of clacks and bangs as the two fought. Zane tried to stab the man in the tuxedo, who would calmly swipe the strokes away and then drive in at the guy in silver spandex. "This is a fight you can't win. The Power Rangers never lose." Zane did a furious swipe with the weapon. "Funny, and neither do I." Tux blocked it easily and slammed his cane into the Silver Ranger's gut. He flew back from the impact. "Anyone else want to try?" "Why you!" The Red ranger hissed at Tuxedo Mask. He pulled up his Astro Blaster and prepared to fire. "Venus Crescent Beam, Smash!" Sailor Venus blasted his weapon away. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" She said mildly. "We'll be back, Sailor Scouts. Next time you won't be so lucky." The Red Ranger retrieved his weapon and raised his hand to the sky. He and his teammates disappeared in a rainbow of color. "Thanks Darrien." Venus said as she approached the man in the suit. "I was in the area. Who were those guys? And what's with that one?" He pointed to the Blue Ranger who had holstered the blaster. "The Power Rangers. Apparently they work for Tetronite, a member of the Nega-verse." She explained. "Then why didn't he attack?" "We broke the spell over him. Actually Sailor Moon did." Venus replied. "I have to stop them. Stop Tetronite or something. They don't know what they're doing." The Blue Ranger said as he approached the two. "They sure seemed to know what they were doing. Stealing jewelry." Venus looked in the bag. "And lots of it." She threw the bag into the store. "I wonder what they wanted with it." Tuxedo Mask thought out loud. **Spectre ** "Magus, what a pleasure to see you again. Please make yourself at home. I'm curious to know what you did with my body guards." Spectre lounged into her throne. "I gave them the night off. I came to see Tetronite, but for some reason he doesn't seem to be in residence. Perhaps you could explain?" Magus said as he looked about him. "Relax Magus, I won't have you harmed, so long as you don't anger me. As to Tetronite, he and I had a disagreement. I'm afraid he's left us. Permanently." "Spectre, he's still screwing around with the time-line. All sorts of things could happen. Can't you keep a handle on your dogs?" "Magus I think this conversation has reached an impasse. I'll have Kaolinite escort you out." Spectre snapped her fingers. "Yes, Mistress?" Kaolinite appeared. "Magus, it's you. How I've missed you since we parted company last." "I remember Kaolinite. I trust everything with you has gone well." "Not as well as if you were still here. Remember the entertainment we used to give each other?" "Wait for the future Kaolinite. Everything becomes clear with time." There was a slight catch in the wizards' voice. "Why Magus, I do believe you are blushing." Kaolinite said. "Only because you have not seen what I have. Good day, Mistress. I don't think I'll be dropping in too much." Magus disappeared. **Somewhere ** "Ranma, I don't see why we had to leave so soon." Akane said as she readjusted the stuffed pig that Ranma had won her. "I ran outta money." He said. "Is that all? I still had some." Akane reached for her purse. "Nah, it's getting dark, Akane, I wanna get some hot water. I've been a girl all day. Besides I think I saw a cat following us." "Oh, O.K." Akane said. "I understand. After you change back, we can get something to eat. I saw this great looking café near our hotel. You'll love it. Let's go!" She pulled Ranma after her. They were going so fast that Akane couldn't stop in time as she rounded a corner. They rammed into a girl carrying a sack of groceries. "Excuse me." Akane instantly bent down to retrieve the fallen items. "Thank you." The girl's voice sounded like a ray of sunlight bouncing of a mirror. "It was very kind of you to stop and help." "No problem." Ranma also began picking the stuff up. She looked at the girl. She was probably a year younger than Akane. She had silver hair tied back in a ponytail and a red vest on. She wore a white shirt beneath it and a pair of jeans. Her eyes were a deep icy blue. Ranma could swear she'd seen eyes like that somewhere before but couldn't quite place them. "Ranma, get over here." Akane said as she started down the road. "I'm coming." She said as she shook out of her thoughts. "Bye the way, my name is Renai Skeiler. A pleasure to have met you Ranma Saotome." She turned around the corner. "How did she know my name?" Ranma said to Akane. "I don't know, go ask her. Hurry back." She glared." Just don't think you've heard the last of this." "Aww Akane, it ain't like that." Ranma dashed around the corner. Renai was already gone. "How weird." Ranma scratched her head. **Above ** "I really shouldn't have done that to her." Renai laughed silently to herself as she watched Ranma below. She jumped to the next building. (What is it with these people and rooftops anyway?) "Corius, I'm home!" Renai shouted into her home. She looked around for her guardian. "Corius?" "I'm afraid he won't be able to help you. Please miss, don't make this any harder than it has to be." A huge vine monster said. Its long grassy tentacles sprang forward, entrapping her in an inescapable grip. "Now as Spectre ordered I shall eliminate you." The vines began to squeeze. "Leave her alone." A middle aged, slightly balding man lurched in behind the monster. "Oval orious, Attack." A ball of orange energy sprang from his fingertips. It struck the monster causing it to go flying back, releasing Renai. "Nova Blast!" Renai's eyes flashed. A wave of fire swept over the monster. It was instantly burned to a crisp. "Oh good, you are O.K." Corius said looking at Renai. He stumbled forward and collapsed against her. "What's wrong? You can't be that weak after just one attack." Renai pushed him away. She was surprised to see her jeans covered in a sticky red film. "You're hurt. I'll get you to a hospital." She grabbed the phone. "Too late. You have to go. Get my black book. The one I told you never to touch. Take it. It contains all the information you need to know. Good bye, Renai, you were the daughter I never had." He gave a shuddering sigh and died. "Corius, when I found out who did this to you, I'll finish them." Renai said holding the dead mans hand. She went to her room and grabbed the staff Corius had insisted she keep. It was made of a silver metal and stood as tall as she was. If she wanted to, with a flick of her wrist it would fold down to about the size of a wand. She did just that and clipped it to her belt. She then went into Corius' lab and grabbed the volume she had been instructed to. After a few last looks she silently locked the door behind her and ran blindly into the streets. **Marle's Suite ** "Something is happening again." Magus suddenly looked around. "Tetronite is messing around with the timeline. **Serrina's House ** "Magus and I have been pals for a long time Serrina. Not that it's any of your business." Rini said. //Flashback…or is it FlashForward? // "Don't worry your majesty, I will protect your daughter." Magus' voice said as he examined the new heir to Crystal Tokyo. "Magus, I want you to be sure she's safe. Don't let anyone harm her." "I won't. I'll care for her as if she were my own daughter." Magus said as he gently picked up the small child. "Speaking of with, how is Janelle? We haven't seen her for awhile." The Queen took back her child. "She's as beautiful as her mother, and growing like a weed. She's nearly eight now." Magus said, positively gushing with fatherly pride. "You know I wonder if beneath that harsh outside you're some softy." The Queen teased. "I wouldn't push it." Magus warned. "Father!" A small girl ran in with a very serious expression on her face. "I need some help. There are monsters in my closet." She said. "Who told you that?" Magus replied. "Marle." "Oh did she, well she would know monsters wouldn't she. Let's go investigate. Your Majesty." Magus bowed. "Have fun Magus. Perhaps one day Janelle will make a good Sailor Scout." She said trying not to break down into tears. "Serrina, please don't say that. I don't want my daughter out there fighting those things." Magus corrected her sternly. "As my advisor says. Good bye Magus." Serrina turned away, scuffing out a laugh. //Present// "But I was only an infant then." Rini said to herself. "How can I be remembering all of this." "Remembering what, Rini?" Serrina asked. "Nothing. Good night Serrina." Rini left Serrina there, more confused than ever. **Spectre ** "Kaolinite, I hate being wrong. Should you or any of your monsters encounter Tetronite I want them to destroy him. He becomes a priority, but only if he decides to interfere. Otherwise concentrate your efforts on eliminating Magus' meddling." "Of course, Mistress. It shall be your will." "Kaolinite, I don't want your personal feelings for Magus to interfere. Should he prove to meddlesome, eliminate him." "Off course. By your leave Mistress." >>Not that I would be able to stop him. Not even you have that power Spectre. << **Marle ** "Well I should really thank you for your help." Ami said in a barely audible voice. "It was nothing, really. Just don't make us go through this again." Marle gently made Ami lay down. "I don't want to have to sit through all of it again." Raye said as she entered. "You're going to feel very weak for the rest of the day, but you should be able to be up and about after that. We all need the rest." Marle assured her. Lucca entered and appraised the situation. " I think its O.K. to come in." She said to someone outside. A dark skinned guy entered holding a rather large bundle of flowers. "These are for hurting you." He said as he set them on a handy table. "I didn't know what I was doing. I'm really sorry." "Who are you?" Ami said, trying to puzzle it out. "My name is TJ, but I'm also the Blue Ranger. I was under a spell; I didn't know what I was doing. Can you forgive me for that?" "Of course. As long as you don't do it again." Ami sniffed at the flowers; "They're lovely. Lucca could you get some water for them? Please?" "Sure." Lucca left. "It seems to me that we've been placing a lot of trust into people we don't know very much about, lately. First Marle and her friends, and now this Blue Ranger. I don't like it." Raye stated glumly. "Trust should be something you earn." Well then, there is the end of chapter 2. I hope you all have the patience to read it. Remember that comments, critisisms, flames, anything at all in relation to the story can be e-mailed to me at ANITERRA@hotmail.com. Chow for now.