//------------------------------// // Sibling Surprise // Story: Ponies One Half // by Emma Iveli //------------------------------// Chapter 15: Sibling Surprise “Is this really necessary?” asked Belle. Because of the events that have transpired from the night before, Belle was assigned some bodyguards. These just happened to be her friends. “I doubt that she’s going to just attack in broad daylight. At our school no less.” Just as she finished that sentence, Kodachi did just that, attempting to ambush Belle with a bamboo sword that would have hit if it weren't for a barehanded blade block by Ran. “Well, I stand corrected.” Momo shook her head. "Never tempt fate, Rarity!" Kodachi stopped her attack, then said, “ I didn’t come to attack you, but to see Ranma Darling.” She then dropped her sword and made her way to Ranma, only for her path to be obstructed by Akane and Shampoo. “What do you think you are doing?” “Akane engaged to Ranma!” said Shampoo. “What?” asked mentioned fiancée. “We keep secret until we ready to tell,” she was whispered. Akane sighed, still not used to the arrangement. “You are…” asked Kodachi, “What about Belle?” “I am merely a good friend of Ranma.” “That’s a shame,” Kodachi then turned to Ranma’s two fiancées (not that she knows Shampoo is too). “Looks like I have to teach these two a lesson.” Ranma watched, knowing that chances were things weren’t going to end well with Kodachi. That was when he noticed Kuno in the area, holding a bouquet of roses. He had heard about Belle being the emergency replacement for the Gymnastics Team and imagined her in the leotard, her beauty, her grace… She was perfect. That was when he saw the girl of (one of) his dreams. “Belle, I love you!” Kuno yelled as he gave Belle the flowers. “Oh, Tatewaki.” Belle tried to be polite in this situation, though considering this was Kuno, it was NOT an easy task. “This isn’t a good time.” “Why not?” Then Kuno saw the small standoff between Akane, Shampoo VS. Kodachi. “Kodachi, what are doing here?” Kodachi looked at him, “Oh, hello, brother dear.” She said. A dead silence ensued. Everyone looked at Kodachi and her brother, shocked. Ranma was the first to speak. “Wait… did you just say…” “Oh wow… that’s a twist,” said Momo as she pulled out some popcorn. “You see, I’m here with my beloved,” said Kodachi. “Your beloved?” asked Kuno. That was when Kodachi ran over to Ranma and hugged him. “Wait… it’s not…” Ranma tried to explain. “I approve! You have my permission to go steady.” “Hurray!” cheered Kodachi. Ranma quickly flinched. “Wait! You know I’m engaged to Akane!” said Ranma. “We can’t go steady.” Kodachi scowled, then glared at Akane. “It’s a shame that we will not fight. Unless you want to duel right now for Ranma.” “No, I won’t have a duel with you!” “Then again, I guess we should settle our little argument another time. At least until I finish off the germaphobe.” “I am not a germaphobe!” insisted Belle. “Perhaps if you are such a good friend Belle, maybe we should have a little wager about your friend’s love life.” “What?” “Perhaps if I win, Ranma will go out on a date with me.” “That… doesn’t make any sense. Why would I agree to that?” Kodachi scowled. “Perhaps I will go on a different route, but he will be mine. But I have to go school. Perhaps another time, Akane Tendo.” With that, she created a storm of black rose petals, then ran off laughing. To the ponies, this was reminiscent of a certain show mare’s exit. Hikaru sighed, then said, “Now that I'm over the initial shock, I’m not surprised they’re brother and sister.” “They do look a lot alike,” Momo commented, still eating popcorn. “So…which one is crazier?” asked Ran. Everyone else sweat dropped, not knowing how to respond. Kuno turned to face Ranma and said, “Take care of my sister.” Ranma stared at Kuno, thinking, She must never find out about the Heaven and Earth Solution. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The night before the match… Belle and Shampoo were having a spar, the reason being that Ryoga got lost (of course) and wasn’t able to coach Belle. Thankfully, due to Shampoo being her second, the Chinese Amazon was able to absorb enough of the lessons needed to make for a good sparring partner. Everyone else stood by watching. That was when Ryoga walked into the dojo. “Sorry I was gone. Did Kodachi try anything?” “Surprisingly, no,” Belle answered. “We’re all guessing she’s trying to look good in front of Ranma by not attacking his very good friend,” said Rainbow Dash. Ryoga stared at everyone, eyebrow raised. “What did I miss?” Actually, it happened when we went to school the next day,” filled in Applejack. “Turns out Kodachi is Kuno’s younger sister.” “Seriously?” Ryoga was surprised, but then he began to think about it. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” It was then that Shampoo and Belle decided to end their spar, with Belle downed again. “So, will you be able to make it?” asked Belle. “I’ll try,” said Ryoga. “You’re going on your own, aren’t you?” asked Ranma. Ryoga nodded, “Sorry, but this is something I have to do…” “I was hoping we could go together,” whispered Fluttershy. “Sorry, but like I said, I have to do this on my own. I’m sorry.” “Okay…” I think I know the perfect way to repay Ryoga, thought Belle. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The next day at Saint Bacchus’s School for Girls… “Seriously? Do I need all of you here?” asked Belle with a sweat drop. Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Hikaru, Alex, and Ran were all accompanying her, the last of them wearing sunglasses and her "Kuno is a Dope" shirt. “She might have cronies,” said Ran, who seemed to be her self-appointed bodyguard. “So you’re here…” said Kodachi as she confronted them. “And how fortunate you were able to fight.” She offered to shake her hand, but Ran grabbed it, showing it was full of tacks. “Oh, how did these tacks get in between my fingers?” Everyone else groaned. “Seriously?” asked Ran as she pulled down her sunglasses. “So I see you have a body guard.” Kodachi then noticed what Ran was wearing. “And where did she get that t-shirt?” “None of your business.” “I think she’s taking the whole bodyguard thing too seriously,” remarked Alex. “Yeah…” agreed Hikaru. “Oh, Ranma darling. I will win this match and prove myself to you.” Love filled Kodachi's voice as she said that. “Uh-huh,” agreed Ranma without enthusiasm, not knowing how to react. “Well, I must to go prepare. See you later, Ranma darling!” Ranma waved weakly after her as she left. “She must never know about our arrangement,” mumbled Akane. “My thoughts exactly.” “Hey, where are Pinkie and Fluttershy?” wondered Alex. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Meanwhile… In the Gymnasium where the match was about to take place, Momo was pleading with the to-be-announcer of the event, with Chiyo keeping an eye on her. “Can I please? Pretty please?” “Sure, why not? We should have someone from Furinkan High and I liked your announcing for the web cast of the recent race. You're in.” “Thank you.” Chiyo sweat dropped at this. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Meanwhile… In the changing room, Ran saw a bouquet of black roses, with a good luck note attached to it. Suspicious, she put the flowers in the goldfish tank that happened to be in there, causing the goldfish to fall asleep. “I wasn’t going to touch those roses after what happened to Ranma,” Belle said with a sweat drop. “Just wanted to be extra careful,” Ran replied. “Gee, thanks…” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Outside… On the school grounds, Ryoga was crying, why? Well, he was on the school grounds… on time! He really wanted to see the match. He had helped Rarity because she was a friend, he needed to be there for her. “All right! This is no time for crying,” he said. “I have to get to the gymnasium!” Unfortunately, he was under a window at that time, and some girls threw out some dirty water from clothes washing out from it. “Hey!" one girl called out. "What if someone was under there?” “Don’t worry, it’s only a pig,” answered another. And then some more girls saw the now Piggy Ryoga. “Oh, what a cute little pig!” squeed one. And so a large group of girls began to hold and baby him. He might have been a pig, but he was an extremely cute one. “Oh I get to hold him next!” squealed another girl. However, someone pulled Piggy Ryoga by the bandana. This someone was Kodachi, who had an especially devious smile on her face. Piggy Ryoga looked up at Kodachi and thought only one thing… Crap. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Later… Spectators were getting ready for the oncoming match. “It’s a surprise see you, brother dear,” Kodachi said upon seeing her brother among the crowd. “I am merely here to cheer on Belle.” Upon him saying this, all the girls in the area blushed at him, save for the ones in Furinkan High, who rolled their eyes alongside the male students and mumbled something about how ignorance is bliss. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At the announcers' booth, the two present were ready to begin. “Hello. This is Hana Ogawa, and I will be your announcer for Saint Bacchus. And joining me for the first time: Momo Mochi.” “It’s great to be here! I’m so excited! I’ve known Belle for a very long time.” “I see… Now our referee will be laying down the rules!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the crowd… “Wow… I can’t believe Momo got to be an announcer,” said Hiroshi. “I can,” said Daisuke. Both Yuka and Sayuri stared at him. “What? I meant about how she announced the race… nothing else.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Onstage… The referee was announcing the competitors. "In the East Corner, hailing from Saint Bacchus School for Girls, we have Kodachi Kuno!” As most of the crowd wasn't from Furinkan High, there was a very large cheer. Ranma and his friends simply groaned. “And in the West corner, coming from Furinkan High, we have Belle Perle!” At this, all of Furinkan High cheered, as well as a few students from Saint Bacchus who hated Kodachi. “Now come to the center to shake hands.” As the referee tried to get the two to do so, Kodachi suddenly yelled out, “What’s that over there?!” While the referee looked where she pointed, Belle didn’t fall for the ploy. “Really?” “You are smarter than I thought,” said Kodachi. “Oh well the referee isn’t looking.” She then placed a cuff onto Belle’s arm. Attached to the cuff was a chain… and attached to that was another larger cuff that was on Piggy Ryoga’s body. “How did…” Piggy Ryoga looked embarrassed, as if apologizing. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Oh no…” whispered Chiyo, who had joined Belle’s entourage in her corner. Ranma was strangely optimistic on the situation however. “Well… at least he was able to make it.” Everyone else looked at him. “Come on, I can’t be the only one thinking that.” Alex and Ran both looked slightly embarrassed at this; Ranma had a point. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “This match has no time limit,” Hana announced. “No barehanded blows allowed.” “The match will end when one of them is completely knocked out or is out of the ring,” finished Momo. “Let the match begin!” “That was quite low,” Belle said as she glared at Kodachi. “Using a defenseless pig like that!” Belle wasn't about to tell her opponent that this "defenseless pig" was actually the one who taught her about Anything Goes Marital Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics. Belle had a ribbon on hand, which she then used to try and trap Kodachi, but it was swatted away with a rope. “You're quite good for a beginner.” “Impressive!” Hana remarked in the booth. “She’s wielding the rope as if it was a rod.” “How is that even possible?” Momo wondered. Kodachi tried to whack Belle with the rope-rod in the head, but Belle managed to dodge it, but just barely. As it turns out, the rope really was a rod. “Hey!” yelled Akane to the referee in the stands, “Isn’t that against the rules?” “As long as it’s not a barehanded blow…” Momo then said, "I thought she was going to screw the rules because she has money!" The WHOLE audience groaned at that one. That was when Kodachi switched from the rope-rod to a spiked club. “Referee! That club has spikes!” yelled Alex. However when the referee looked at it there weren’t any spikes. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “That's cheating! I saw the spikes!” yelled Momo from the booth. “Right,” Hana agreed. “It’s clear her mace is using retractable spikes.” “You hate her?” “No, I don’t hate her… Just, really, really, really dislike her.” “Okey, dokey, Loki!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “My sister using such cowardice,” said Kuno as he watched from the stands. “It is something I must say about my own sister.” Belle glared at her opponent and said, “I can’t believe you would use such methods.” “What do you mean?” “You really want to win so badly that you resort to cheating?” Kodachi just glared back. “I merely think of it as doing anything to win.” Belle returned a more intense glare. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Um Rarity, I don’t think she understands the concept of playing fair,” Alex said, though couldn't be heard. “I hate to but I have to agree,” said Kuno. “My sister will cheat in ways that would seem unimaginable… It doesn’t matter what it is she will always use dirty tactics. Even when it doesn’t make sense.” Belle sighed, “What am I going to do?” That was when she saw Ryoga looking up at her. “Rarity! I think Ryoga wants to help you!” said Chiyo. “But…” “Hoop!” called out Kodachi. Her assistant sweated a little as she handed Kodachi the asked item. Kodachi threw the hoop at Belle, who narrowly dodged it. Good thing too as the hoop sliced off the top of the corner pole. “It razor blade!” Shampoo shouted. “Are you trying to kill me!” yelled Belle. “All's fair in love and war,” Kodachi told her, “Sorry… I know you‘re just friends with him…” Belle stared at the girl, it was clear to her that Kodachi was insane and would continue to cheat no matter what. She didn’t know if she would be able to defeat her as she was still a beginner. She took a breath and looked at her opponent. She knew this battle was only beginning.