Linear Destiny Part2 of the Convergance Project A Fanfic by Animercury Chapter3- Dueling Dilemma's "Marle, will you please calm down." The teacher said from his desk. "I'll not ask you again." "But sir, this is so boring. Couldn't you do something to make it a little more interesting? I mean it really doesn't matter if we can..." The teacher pointed to the door. "Yes Sir." Marle went through it. "You'd think that he would appreciate a few suggestions on how to improve his methods." She said to herself. Two doors down another teacher stepped out "And the next time you want to settle a problem, don't do it by smashing desks!" He shouted. He shoved Lita through the door and slammed it with a thud that Marle could feel in the walls. "Hi again." Marle said as she walked over to Lita. "What did you do this time? It wasn't the frogs again was it?" Lita said. "No. I just couldn't stand sitting there doing nothing while he droned on and on about nothing. I got myself kicked out." She replied. "Sometimes I wonder why teachers are such a stuffy lot." Lita commented. The two had been seeing each other out in the halls regularly as of late. Marle constantly felt the need to improve classes while Lita... well we all know her reasons. "Well misery loves company." Lita said. They both sank to the concrete floor. **Tetronite's Lair ** "At last! I have discovered how to use the Gate Key!" Tetronite exclaimed as he held the shining key up. "This means we can leave now." Andross snatched the key from Tetronite. "Of course it does, but don't you want to get your friend back? I will hold onto it until you have saved the Blue Ranger." Tetronite grabbed it back. "Fine then, but I am going to keep the key." Andross stole it back. Before Tetronite could say anything, he and the Rangers teleported away. "Da**" Tetronite left after them. **Elsewhere ** Renai closed the book Corius had given to her in his final moments. She had only read the first few chapters, but already she wasn't sure she wanted to continue. She opened up to the page that had caused her fear. >>Late one night I awoke to the sound of footsteps outside my door. I rushed to the door to see what poor soul was wandering around at that time of night. I opened it and there stood a woman. She was the loveliest thing I have ever seen. She held a blanket wrapped bundle, and it didn't take me long to figure out it was her child. She placed the baby in my arms and said, "This is a child of Destiny. I must place her into your hands until such a time that her destiny is revealed. Please good sir, I know you to be the best defense for my daughter. I ask of you to protect her as if she were your own. Will you do it?" She implored. And so I responded with the only thing I could, "Of course ma'am. I'll pretend she was the daughter I never had." She was such a lovely woman I couldn't refuse. Tears streamed down her face as she silently kissed her child. With a sudden fearful glance behind her she ran off, leaving me with a small silver-haired girl. The new baby was quite wet at the moment so I decided it would be best if I took her in and changed her. I had no diapers, but I reasoned one of my old workshirts would do until I could get some. The child didn't fuss at all as I changed her soiled diaper for the shirt. She simply gazed at me with those piercing blue eyes. She seemed to recognize that I was neither her father nor her mother. She didn't protest as I set her into my newspaper wrack, the closest thing I had to a crib. She burped, sighed, and fell asleep. >> Renai flipped forward in the book. The parts in between had no real value to her for the moment. Besides there was a different part that intrigued her. >>And so the day has finally come. A man in a black cloak has come to take away the child. I have had her little over a year, but the man feels it necessary. Personally, I don't see how he could possibly be related to my little Renai. He is cold, and uncaring. He says he is going to take her to a better place, a place where she can grow up with her father. I reluctantly agreed. The child is not mine after all. I placed my little Renai into the strangers' arms, and for the first time notice a similarity. His eyes match hers in the same piercing blue. << Once more she flipped to the only other marked page within the book. She carefully read down the lines. >>My dear child, Renai, has been returned to me and it has only been a week since I was deprived of her. The man in black came back and asked me to once again care for her, and to teach her in the arcane. I could barely hold in my joy at seeing my dearest back in my arms. A spell had been placed over her and so I asked of what type it was. "The spell has caused time to flow backward over her. She is once again the infant you once knew. I have locked away the memories of her time with me. She needs a good father, something I could never be. A time will come when her powers come to fruition, that will be the next time I return." His voice sounded like a wire brush dragged over sandpaper. "And please, don't let her become hurt." He disappeared. With a dark flash. >> The fact that she was an orphan didn't really surprise Renai. She had long ago figured out that she was not related to Corius. What did trouble her was that her real father had abandoned her, and apparently for no reason. The memories she had of him were blocked, so she had no idea what he looked like. It was so frustrating. She threw the book onto the table in front of her. A small folded piece of paper spun out of it. She went to grab it, when a voice said from behind her, "Hi there, Pretty, can I get you something to eat?" A man in biker leather leered at her. "Buzz off." She reached for the paper which had drifted near the guys foot. "I don't have the time." "Well then, Pretty, make the time." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him. His breath smelled like a mix of motor oil and cigarette smoke. "Let me go!" She tried to pull away. The man held her tight. "Aww C'mon, Pretty, I only want a little fun. Let me treat you to a nice meal." He pulled her close again. "Maybe some other time." Renai tried to grab the paper again. "What's this?" The biker grabbed it. "A love letter?" "It's mine, give it to me now!" Renai punched him with her free arm. "That hurt, Pretty, I think it's time I got serious." The man set the paper on the table next to the book. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a knife. "Now let's just make this nice and easy." "I warned you." Renai reached for her staff. She grabbed it, and with a flick of her wrist snapped it into his gut. Seeing as it was now the size of a quarterstaff, she used it as such. She swung it down, causing the guy to eat dirt. "Now go away." She used the staff like a golf club, punting him over the Tokyo Skyline. "That was a remarkably good shot. It would have made Akane proud." Renai jumped at the sound of another male voice. "Ranma Saotome." He introduced himself. "I know who you are. I want to know why you followed me." Renai demanded. She went back to her book and tucked the letter into her pocket. "And don't worry, I know all about Junsenkyo. I understand your curse." Ranma seemed startled that someone had just shrugged off his curse like that. It seemed strange, but he didn't think he wanted to get her angry with him. " I didn't follow you, I was getting hot water." He explained. "Ah, so you are no longer in your cursed form." She looked over the martial artist. He was tall, with dark hair pulled into a pigtail. He wore Chinese clothing, and had a body that many girls would have swooned over. It took a lot more than looks to sway Renai. "Where is Akane?" "Getting' something to eat. She was gonna bring some for me. What's that?" He pointed to the book. "A diary of sorts." Renai told him. "May I see? I promise I won't tell anyone. You have my word of honor." //And honor means a lot to you, doesn't it Saotome? // "Certainly." She handed it to him. He opened it and let out a hiss. "Do you know who this guy is?" He held it for Renai to see. The picture was of a tall blue-silver haired man. It was near the back of the book, a place Renai had not yet examined. "No."//It does look a lot like the description of my father. //She kept the idea to herself. "I'm sure I've seen him somewhere. Give me a second." Ranma concentrated inward. He ran carefully over the events he could recall. The most startling one was of the encounter with the Sailors. With startling clarity he recalled seeing the man was hiding in the underbrush off to the side of the battle. "That's it. I saw him in a park yesterday." Ranma snapped his fingers. "Did he seem alright to you? I mean, he wasn't injured was he? Did he seem O.K?" Renai was suddenly overwhelmed with the possibility that the dark man was some sort of link to her father. "I dunno, he seemed alright, but I didn't really get a good look at him." Ranma responded. "Thank you, Ranma, I have to go and see him. Please where is the park?" "It's over in that direction, but I doubt he'll be there still." He pointed. "I have to try." Renai stood, folded the staff back up, and went on her way; the book tucked under one arm. "Was that the same girl who you lost earlier?" Akane asked as she set a tray loaded with food on the table. "Yes." Ranma immediately began eating. "So why was she here?" Akane asked. Ranma didn't notice the slight tightening around his fiancée's eyes. "I dunno, she was lookin' for someone. That was after she kicked this one guys butt." Ranma replied around a mouthful of fries. "Did a real good job of it though." "Really?" Akane pressed. There was a slight flickering behind her eyes, but Ranma was far to intent on his food to notice. "Yep, she used some kind of staff or somethin'. Nailed this guy clear to the States I'd bet." Ranma started on his burger. "Oh. And just what do you think of her?" Akane's battle aura began to glow. Ranma however missed even this. "It was a good swing. She seems like an O.K. person. She's one of the few girls I've been able to meet, who wasn't my fiancée or somethin'." Ranma picked up his drink and finally noticed the infuriated Akane. "Not that it's a bad thing ya' know. Umm it's more like, uhh..." THWACK "Go join your friends friend!" Akane shouted after the now airborne Ranma. Ranma back flipped and plummeted back to the ground. "Akane it ain't anythin' like that, sheesh." "Look, I'm sorry Ranma." Akane apologized, "It's just I wanted to have you alone for a week before I had to go back to Nerima. No Shampoo, no Ukyou, no Kuno, just us." "Well it's not like me and Renai are engaged Akane. You don't have to worry about that, Pop ain't here to screw up." Ranma accepted the apology. (Oh my gosh civility, I think I may just faint.) "Let's finish our meal and go home then. I don't think its necessary to keep talking about this." Akane responded. **Park ** "He isn't here." Renai said to herself as she finished searching the park. There were no signs of anyone that fit the picture. Several people had said they may have seen someone like him, but no real sightings. There was a prick in her pocket as she sat down. She reached in and pulled out the notebook paper. >>My Dearest Renai, If you are reading this letter, it means I have died and your parents have not yet returned for you. You figured that out a long time ago, didn't you? I was sure you had. Well then, I guess it's time for you to go out and meet Fate. Early on, I got a glimpse of your destiny. I have since gathered information on all things that were pertinent. The Black Book contains all the information I have gathered. Your parents have remained a mystery to me, I'm sorry to say. I have however managed to find energy signatures close to yours. You wouldn't believe my surprise when I found them to be over 1500 years old. I want you to go out there and locate the owners of the power. They are commonly called the Sailor Scouts. I don't know why, but your destiny is somehow linked to theirs. Please Renai, find them. This book contains all of the stuff I managed to find on them. It isn't much, but it may be of some help. They also fight against the one who forced your parents to bring you to me in the first place. Beware Spectre, for she is jealous of you and your possibility. The Scouts can protect you once you find them. Remember, Renai, I love you even if you are not my real daughter. I have loved you since I first saw you and shall continue to do so. Even in death. Good-bye. Corius. >> Renai sat there staring at the letter. She knew she should cry, but the tears just didn't want to come. She just sat on the bench, looking at the letter in emotional numbness. Now at least she knew why Corius had been killed. Spectre was after her, and Corius tried to stop her. The tears just wouldn't flow. **Marle ** "Detention is dismissed. You two may leave." "Finally." Marle said quietly to Lita as they both left. Lucca was waiting to one side of the door; Ami was at the other. "How is it that you and Lita have had more detention time this week than Serrina and Mina?" Ami inquired. "I guess we're just talented." Marle joked. "C'mon, dinner. My treat." She a glow surrounded her for a second. When it disappeared her school uniform had been replaced by her normal clothes. "All right, but we should really get Crono." Lucca reminded Marle. "I know, he's already waiting outside. He knows I'm late almost all the time." Marle said in response. "Man, you really did land a fine catch." Lita said as she thought over the implications of Marle's last statement. "Yep." Marle agreed. "Lita's been looking for someone for a long time, Marle, maybe you could help?" Ami said calmly. "Ami! I thought you were supposed to be the nice one." Lita said sounding shocked. "I am," Ami giggled, "But for some reason Marle brings out the absolute worst in me." "I think we're out-numbered." Lucca said to Lita. "Yeah." Lita agreed. **The Restaurant ** Now not many people believe in coincidence. It can't just be mere chance that the Restaurant Marle+Co decided to go to, happened to be the very same one that Ranma and Akane were currently dining at. The isn't too hard to swallow is it? But what is really odd is the fact that Renai, who was now in search of the Sailors, was also returning there for a bite to eat. Honestly, don't you people have any belief in Chance...neither do I. ^^ Regardless of whether or not this is chance or not, I think I should also point out the fact that whenever any good guys try to go somewhere together, inevitably trouble breaks loose. You have been warned. "Umm, I'll have the #2 please." Marle said. She was the last to order, so a waiter took the menu away. "I still don't see why we didn't sit outside." Lita commented. "I mean look at that couple, how romantic." She sighed as she looked at some black-haired guy and his date through the twisted glass. (Coincidence really is amazing.) "Lita, snap out of it!" Marle commanded. The glaze froze on Lita's eyes. "I see that you seem O.K, Ami. Marle is a great healer isn't she?" Lucca said. She calmly sipped at the tea she'd ordered. "If it wasn't for my unusual life, I would have never thought this possible." Ami thought over the injury. Marle had healed a life-threatening blow with relative ease. "You make it sound like it was easy." Marle commented, "It wasn't. I had a heck of a time figuring out what to do." "As opposed to conventional methods, that was easy." Ami retorted. "If only there were some way to make your power into a pill or injection. We could save hundreds of lives." "I'd just as soon not, thank you. I hate tests." Marle said as she picked up a complimentary roll and chewed over her thoughts. "I hate 'em too." Lita picked one out and bit into it savagely. "It probably has something to do with the fact that you manage to fail everyone you take." Lucca joked. "Hey! I don't fail all of them. I passed Phys Ed with ease." "Lucca..."Ami chided. "Leave Lita alone." There were several shouts from the outside dining area. People began running around, screaming for all they were worth. "Just try and have a nice quiet meal with friends, and look what happens." Lita muttered as she began looking for somewhere out of the way to transform. "We'll hold it off." Marle said as she pulled her crossbow out. "Lucca, Crono c'mon." "Aren't you going to transform?" Lita said as she spied a handy broom closet. "Not unless I have to. Don't worry, we can handle it for a few seconds." **Outside ** "This ain't too bad." Ranma said to Akane. "Not to bad at all." "It's very nice out." Akane said as she pushed her chair back a little. "Yeah, look at the sun over there. It's just barely touching the horizon. Pretty ain't it?" Ranma said as he pointed. "And the sky, look at all the lovely colors. Red, blue, orange all in a wonderful mosaic." Akane replied. "Uh, Akane, the sky is up there." Ranma noticed Akane was looking right at his face. "I can see just fine right here." Akane continued looking at the soft reflection in Ranma's eyes. "Are you O.K?" Ranma asked. Akane never acted this way toward him. Now all of a sudden she was being nice. "I'm fine. Honestly, Ranma, don't you have an ounce of romance in you?" "Umm...heh..."Ranma struggled, trying to get his thoughts back to coherency. "Your energy is mine!" A monster shouted as it grabbed a boy in two huge horns. A glow surrounded the young man as the thing sucked away his life force. //Thank goodness for this kind of thing. // Ranma sighed inwardly. Dealing with monsters, demons, and the psychos of Nerima was preferable to trying to really communicate his feelings to Akane. "I'd better go stop that thing." He jumped away from the table leaving a furious Akane in his wake. Ranma sized his opponent up. The thing had a large mushroom like shell covering its back. It had four pincers in sets of two. In between those sets was a pair of human like hands. Large scales covered the shell in a murky brown color. It stood on two thick trunk- like legs, and glared at Ranma with a hungry eye. All together the thing didn't look to tough. "Listen pal, I dunno who you think you are, but I was busy eatin'. I hate bein' interupted so why don't you put that kid down and move onto the main course?" "O.K, punk. You're next." The thing lumbered forward on its stumpy legs. "Mouko-Takashiba!" Ranma put both hands together and flung the chi projectile at the huge monster. A huge cloud of smoke erupted as it connected with a crunch. "Heh didn't have much did ya'?" Ranma looked at the cloud of smoke. "Or maybe you overestimated yourself. Your energy is mine!" The thing jumped forward surprisingly quickly. The two horns locked around Ranma's waist as it lifted the helpless martial artist into the air. The glow poured over Ranma as the creature sucked away. "Ranma!" Akane shouted in alarm. She jumped up, mallet in hand. She brought it down with a mighty swing. The creature grunted as the mallet bounced off of its shell. It glared at Akane even as it finished drying up Ranma's energy. "So be it. Your energy is mine!" The thing dropped Ranma and lashed at Akane. It's horns shot out and locked around Akane. It lifted her into the air and began to feast. "Drop her, now!" Marle demanded. She fired a shot at the monster. The crossbow bolt broke off as it sank into the shell. "Crono, heads up!" Lucca tossed a ball of energy into the air. Crono jumped up and connected with the energy. There was a shimmering sound as he brought down the Fire Sword attack. A huge hole cracked into the shell of the creature. "Mercury Bubbles, Blast!" Sailor Mercury filled the hole with a storm of cold. The creature shrieked in pain and dropped Akane to the ground. "You haven't beaten me yet. Yakra is angry. Full power!" The monster roared. There was a shimmering glow all over it's body as the shell spread, now covering the whole thing in it's impenetrable protection. "Your energy is mine!" It picked Lucca off the ground and drained her right in front of the other stunned heroes. "This would be a bad thing, right?" Marle said to Sailor Jupiter. "I think so, yes." She confirmed. "Silveres Burst!" A girl that Marle had never seen before pointed a staff weapon at the creature. A glob of silver energy covered the thing totally. The monster shell began to crack as the energy tightened. There was a thunderous crash as if someone had just shattered a huge skylight window. The monster shell shattered into a thousand pieces. "Jupiter Thunderclap, Sound!" The ball of lightning struck. The creature melted into a pile of dust, a small star like object fell, unnoticed, onto the top of the pile. "Spiral Saber!" The Red Ranger appeared and slashed at Sailor Mercury. "Star Slinger!" The Yellow Ranger fired at Sailor Jupiter. "Satellite Stunner!" Rays flew towards the mystery girl. "Go shrivel up and die!" Akane who had gotten back to her feet slammed into the Red Ranger. Sparks flew as he collapsed. "Ah, so Magus has managed to find some more aide, no matter." Tetronite grabbed the Gate Key from the unconscious Red Ranger. "I should thank you." "You can join your friend." Akane tried to smash Tetronite. Her arms froze in mid swing. "Leave them alone, Tetronite. Your fight is with me!" Magus declared as he too appeared, scythe at the ready. "Is it Magus? I think not. I prefer to use this." There was a shuvip as a new Gate opened. Tetronite stepped through it and vanished as it closed. "Come back here coward." Magus disappeared. Sailor Mercury rolled as she hit the ground. The Red ranger continued his inexorable rampage. Crono was suddenly there but the Red Ranger chopped his hand, causing the Rainbow to fall from his hands. Andross then picked him up and tossed him to the side. "I think it's time that you actually died, don't you?" He raised the Saber. Sailor Mercury reached around, trying to find something to hit him with. Her hand passed over the hilt of the Rainbow. She tried to lift, but it was far heavier than it looked. She desperately put the sword up. The Ranger swiped contemptuously at it. Sparks shot from the sword sending him flying backwards. "What the?" Ami said in wonderment. Renai felt a surge in her blood. She slammed her staff into the Pink Ranger and looked in the direction it had come from. Sailor Mercury was trying to use some kind of sword, but could barely lift it. The surge came again as Mercury tried to lift it once more. Renai ran over to the struggling Scout. "Let me try something." She placed her hands on Ami's forehead, both thumbs touching the jewel on her tiara. //Corius said my destiny was closely linked with yours. //Renai whispered into Sailor Mercury's mind. //How are you? // Ami tried to think back. //Never mind. Please, just try and blank your mind. //Ami complied. //In the darkness of the night, only my strength can ignite a light. To Sailor Mercury does my strength become, my power only second to none. Allow to her a powerful weapon, my destiny is seen. Silveris Flash!" A mental imaged flashed through the two girls' minds simultaneously. Ami raised the Rainbow before her, point raised parallel to her. A silver beam shot down from the sky, igniting Sailor Mercury in a fiery storm of silver. There was a slight wavering to the Rainbow as the energy struck it. Then with a sound like a hammed striking the cherry iron of a forge the thing split in two. One fell to the ground next to Crono; the other remained firmly clasped in Ami's arms. The strange energy continued across the one that Sailor Mercury held. Its blade shimmered and became a translucent blue crystal. Its hilt suddenly glowed with the sigil for the planet Mercury. "Behold, Sailor Mercury, your weapon. Use it only to hurt those who would harm you, or to save your friends, unless you wish to lose its power forever." Renai intoned. Then as if she were suddenly exhausted, she fell to the ground. Ami brought the weapon down into a proper fighting position. Sometime during the exchange she had managed to pick up the basics of how to use the blade. She lunged at Andross, her mind concentrating on what was to come. It struck into his hastily raised Saber. An orange glow shattered from around him as the spell broke. At almost the exact same time the other Rangers suddenly found themselves free of Tetronites evil. "What the heck is going on?" Andross said in a confused voice. "You were under a spell. I freed you." Sailor Mercury replied. The others were answering similar questions. Akane sat on her heels next to Ranma, holding his hand tightly. Ranma's eyes opened slowly. Akane sighed and laid her head against his chest relieved that he was O.K. "And don't you ever do that to me again." She commanded. Sirens sounded in the distance. The Sailors, Nerimans, Renai and Lucca made a discreet exit. Crono retrieved the Rainbow, flipped it a few times at his wrist, and whistled as he left the scene. Please, please, please E-MAIL me with Commemts, Critisisms, Flames, ANYTHING RELATED to The Convergance Project (The Web Site, Fan Art, Bio's, Banner, Ideas, ANYTHING) I check the E-mail frequently. PLEASE SEND Stuff to ANITERRA@hotmail.com