Chapter 21: Ghosts
It was Saturday afternoon and word of Friday’s shocker was the talk of the town. The School, haunted? It wasn’t possible was it? Many had to double check the source and it was quite reliable. That source was Tatewaki Kendo and Meruna Seadra. It was on that day that Tatewaki was spending his one day off from counseling and town labor with his friend Meruna.
=Friday=
“So shall we go see the latest movie in town?” Tatewaki asked his friend as they walked the lower halls out towards town. Both had to stay behind to help clean up the cooking lab.
“Sure, it’s supposed to be a…” Meruna started to reply till she stopped. “Tatewaki… are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Tatewaki looked to where his friend was looking and had to do a double take. Before them was a woman in a star filled dress and ghostly star filled hair. The woman turned and smiled at them before moving across the hall where both of them ran down the hall to catch sight of the woman and find out why she was in the school when… they found only a wall. “No way…” Meruna said worried.
“Did... did we just see…” Tatewaki said before he had to catch his now passed out friend.
=Today=
Ranma and Ranko just blinked at Sparkle’s back and forward packing in her home where they all gathered. Next to Ranko holding her arm was Summer, next to her was Jackie, Ryoga, Dashie, and Pinkie. To Ranma’s side were Ukyo, Octavia, Vivian, Rarity, Shampoo, and Nabiki. “Come on Sparkle, you can’t be serious about this.” Nabiki said as they watched her.
“Of course I am Nabiki. Our school, OUR school, has a ghost in it. Don’t you find that fascinating?” Sparkle said going from private book shelf to private bookshelf of her bedroom.
“Um yeah… look Sparkle I’m not too sure we should even be going after this so called ghost.” Ranma worried remembering his last set of encounters with ghosts.
“I’m with Ranma on this, I mean you’ve seen all those ghost movies right?” Ranko said remembering her encounters as well.
“Come on you two, you both know that Ghostbusters was fully faked. This is a real life ghost and it’s in our school. We can study it and maybe find out why it’s here or more!” Sparkle said shivering in excitement.
“I think we lost her.” Ryoga said looking at her gaining a nod from everyone else.
---
Celestia/Principal Moon and Luna/Kasumi sat at Cologne’s Restaurant the Golden Dragon with their good friend Nodoka. “Sorry for the wait everyone.” Cologne said carefully bringing a tray of Raman Bowls and vegetable egg rolls.
“It’s alright Cologne, and thank you for giving all of us a privet night in your restaurant.” Celestia said using her magic to help Cologne with her load of dishes.
“Oh how I wish I could do that my dear and you’re quite welcome. Though I’m curious as to why Shampoo and the others are going into the school tonight.” Cologne replied sitting down next to Nodoka.
“The twins said something about a ghost in the school and Twilight… Sparkle wanting to investigate it.” Nodoka said after taking a bite of her noodles.
“Yes about that…” Luna said looking down. Celestia placed a gentle hand on her sister’s shoulder. “It was our choice Lulu, and I think it might be for the best as well.” Luna sighed nodding.
“What about this ghost Luna?” Cologne asked curious over her own bowl of noodles.
“We… forgave Nightmare and Happosai and they’re the ones ‘haunting the school’.” Luna said sighing and taking a bite of her noodles. “Cologne these are delicious. Can I ask for the recipe?”
Cologne smiled at this. “Of course. As for Nightmare and Happosai I think you did a good thing you two. There is an old saying I believe that went, a villain is one who believe what they are doing is right while one who is truly evil knows that their actions are wrong and fully enjoys that fact. Nightmare was only doing what she believed was right even though they were quite wrong.”
Nodoka nodded at this. “That is true. Also… she is your sister is she not Luna?”
Luna sighed at this and nodded, “Yes, we can’t overlook that fact now. Still to know that a priest in our home would do something like that?” Luna shook her head at this. “I truly believe my human family is far better off as it is now than if we did nothing.”
Celestia gently wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders in a much needed hug before speaking, “We’ve all had hard times as humans Lulu. We’ve all had to adjust, and now Nightmare must learn to do so as well.”
Luna leaned into her sister nodding. “I just hope… she won’t cause Shampoo and the other any trouble in the school.”
Celestia giggled at this. “Well she does seem to have our mischievous streak.” This gained a returned giggle from Luna as Nodoka and Cologne looked to each other in mild worry.
---
“You sure we’re going the right way Sparkle?” Ranko asked for the fourth time as they walked the halls of the school. For the past hour they had been walking the halls of the high school part of the school with no way of going upwards to the area where Tatewaki and Meruna had seen the ghost.
“For the fourth time Ranko yes. I have the school’s map right here and even if it’s dark in here I do know where to go.” Sparkle said matter-of-factly.
“Whoa, easy Sparkle.” Ranma said holding up his hands in his sister’s defense, “We’re just wanting to make sure, since well… it feels like we’re going around in circles.” Sparkle looked back to everyone and saw they were all nodding. “I think it’s a good idea we forget the map since this could be the work of the ghost.”
Sparkle just sighed at this. “You might be right. I mean it’s not like the movie Ghostbusters but… well this could be that vertigo that one book spoke of.” Sparkle soon pulled her bag open and pulled out a book turning it to a bookmarked page. “Yeah it’s right here. Sometimes a ghost will draw enough energy to it that it will cause vertigo to those sensitive enough to them. They draw this energy to try and manifest themselves in the mortal world.”
“Okay so how do we solve that?” Dashie asked worried. “No offense but I don’t want to spend all night here in the school.” The others agreed to this till Ryoga walked forward looking to a compass. “Hey where’d you get that?”
Ryoga smiled at this. “I always carried one on me in the past till I lost it. I just got this one and it doubles as a watch.” Ryoga said showing it off.
“Well now that we got that covered where to Ryoga?” Jackie asked smiling and blushing lightly wondering why she didn’t think of that. Ryoga looked the school map over along with the compass and nodded. “This way, the stairs to the second floor aren’t that far off.” Ryoga said taking point.
“Um, what…. What if the ghost doesn’t want to be disturbed?” Summer asked holding onto Ranko’s arm frightened. “I-I think we shouldn’t be here. Can’t we all go home?” Summer held onto Ranko tighter as they looked to the group.
“We can’t Summer. If we don’t to this the school will stay haunted till someone does do something about it and honestly I’d rather we do this that someone else.” Sparkle said tiredly.
“I’m with Sparkle on this one guys.” James said looking around. “I mean think about it, coming to school every day getting confused as you go to class ending up in the wrong place each and every time? Or worse getting so confused you can’t even find a way out of the school and get stuck here. We need to take care of this now, not later.” Everyone looked to each and with a sigh agreed. “Alright then, Ryoga lead the way.” Ryoga nodded as he led the group to the floor the ghost where spotted on and allowed Sparkle to pull out more flashlights and a few extra books and a written on map.
“Okay everyone listen up.” Sparkle said putting the map up on a wall. “These stars show all the locations of the last known ghost sighting in the school.” Everyone nodded at this seeing the stars on the map. “Yes we know there was only one sighting talked about throughout the school but I also talked to a few of the teachers who reported these areas as well.” Sparkle explained pointing them out.
“So this hall way wasn’t the only area the ghost was spotted huh? Sound familiar to you guys?” Ranma said to Ranko, Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Nabiki who all nodded in return.
“What do you mean?” Sparkle asked looking to them. “Well…” Ranma said as he began explaining their experience with a school haunting before. “And in the end it was actually Tatewaki taken over by this crazy looking sword but thankfully it was destroyed when a bolt of lightning stuck it.” Ranma finished gaining shocked looks from the rest of the group.
“So your say this might be a hoax, but what about all them sightings?” Jackie said looking to the map. “Best we can do is eliminate the most obvious ones. Ones we know can be easily explained.” Ranma replied pointing out a few.
“Good idea. Let’s see… well we can take the ones you pointed out Ranma and these as well.” Sparkle said removing the stars from the map. “These too, I can easily explain them.” James added in as the group went over each star only leaving a total of six left. “Okay so… where are these at?” Sparkle asked towards Ryoga who had the original school map.
Ryoga looked the two maps over and nodded. “Okay, the first one is here on the third floor, near room Classroom Thirty. The next one is a floor below us, near rooms Fourteen and Fifteen. The third and fourth sighting where on the same floor by near the Sports Meeting rooms. The fifth one was inside the gym. The last one is where Tatewaki and Meruna spotted the ghost, in this hall way near the dead end.” Ryoga said pointing it out.
Summer whimpered at this news holding Ranko even tighter out of absolute fear. “Okay so how do we handle this?” Ranko asked rubbing Summer’s back to calm her. “Well…” Sparkle said thinking, “We could check out the closest areas to us now then check the others in order.”
“Good idea and I think Ranko and Summer should stay in one of the classrooms till we get them. No offense you two but I really don’t think Summer’s going to last long in here. I mean look at her.” Ranma said looking to their shy yet kindhearted friend. “If you say so Ranma, I brought the sleeping bags just in case we needed them. We’ll set up in room Thirty-one, just come and get us when you’re ready to go okay?” Ranko said gently guiding Summer into the class room.
“We will sis. Alright, let’s get to work guys.” Ranma said as they headed to the dead end first. It wasn’t that far away and was literally a dead end with only a window for nighttime observation there. “I can see why this is a great place to do star gazing.” Ranma commented as he looked out the window.
“I agree. But remember we’re looking for the ghost everyone.” Nabiki reminded as they check the hall. “I don’t see how anyone could have left this place without doubling back.”
Ranma nodded to this. “I’m with you on that Nabiki, something’s not right here.”
“Maybe we should check the others. Who knows maybe those two saw a shadow here from the outside.” James said looking to the window. “James this is the third floor. How could anyone see a human shaped shadow up here?” Dashie said shaking her head. “Yeah well…” James said before they heard a bit of laughter. “Did you guys here that?”
“Yeah I did,” Ukyo said nervously, “and it didn’t sound like it was from Ranko and Summer.” Vivian looked around the hall till she pointed down the stairwell. “It came from there.” Everyone looked to her confused. “It was an echo and being a DJ I can tell what sounds good as echoes in music and also how to make them. I just timed the echo with what was around here and pin pointed where it came from.” Vivian explained gaining a hug from Octavia. “Who knew you were so good with sounds?” she said pecking her on the cheek. “Well you of course.” Vivian replied smiling.
“Okay you two break it up.” Shampoo said smiling at them.
“She’s right, let’s get going.” Octavia said going towards stairs.
“Wait.” Rarity said pulling out a large silver spool out of her brought shoulder bag. “What’s that?” Shampoo asked looking to it. “It’s piano wire darling. I use it to make my necklaces and now we’re going to use it to lead us back to here.” Rarity said tying one end to the window in the dead end hall.
“Good idea Rarity.” Ranma said smiling. “Now we can’t get lost if that ghost causes us to get turned around.” Rarity smiled at this and made sure the wire as securely fastened. “Alright guys,” Ranma said looking to the stairs, “let’s get this over with.”
---
Ranko sigh as Summer held her tightly and cried out of fear. She loved Summer and… “Summer, it’s going to be okay. They’ll be back.” Ranko assured her as she gently brushed her hair with her fingers.
“But… what if the ghost gets them and gobbles them up or decides to possess one of them and try to hurt the rest of them or…” Summer said franticly before being hushed by Ranko.
“My brother and I have faced ghost before Summer. They’ll be fine.” Ranko said before kissing Summer on the cheek. “Come on, it’s late. I have a cot set up over by the chalk board if you want to use it.” Summer hid behind her hair and nodded before returning Ranko’s kiss.
After bringing Summer over and covering her up on the cot Ranko started to head to the door before, “R-Ranko?” Ranko turned towards Summer. “S-Stay with me… please?” Ranko smiled and nodded walking over to her and taking her hand.
“I’ll be right here Summer.” Both smiled at this till Ranko looked up and gulped. “S-Summer…”
“Yes?”
“Whatever you do… don’t look at the board.” Summer got confused at this and turned towards the board and read one word: Boo.
---
Everyone turned as the heard a very high pitched scream. “That was Summer!” Dashie yelled getting ready to run to her.
“Dashie wait! It could be the ghost playing a trick on us!” Sparkle said grabbing her arm. “Besides she’s with Ranko and you know she won’t let anything bad happen to her.” Dashie opened her mouth to say against this till Ranma put his hand on her shoulder.
“Trust me Dashie, sis can protect her. We both have enough experience with ghost to protect anyone.” Dashie gave him a look that said, protect who? “Present company considered of course.”
“Don’t worry Ranma I’m just kidding with you. Still… you sure we shouldn’t go check on them?” Dashie said looking back to the stairs. “I mean, you know how Summer is when she’s scared.”
“Dashie,” Sparkle said hugging Dashie’s arm, “we know, we all know. And it’s why we left her with Ranko. Now come on we’re almost to the gym.” The moment Sparkle said this, the sound of a ball bouncing was heard. “A-are you guys hearing that?”
“Yeah, sounds like it’s coming from the gym” Vivian said pointing towards the gym. “You guys?” Everyone nodded to this and quickly followed the sound till they got to the door. “It sounds like there are a lot of basketballs bouncing. No wait… now it’s only one.” Vivian said confused.
“Maybe it’s the gym making it sound like there’s more than one?” Octavia asked worried. Ranma went to the door and listened beside Vivian.
“No, it really does sound their there’s only one ball in there bouncing.” Ranma said before reaching for the handle. “Dashie,” Dashie nodded at this and stood right next to Ranma taking Vivian’s place at the door, “on three, one, two… THREE!” Ranma pushed the door open with Dashie only to yell at what they saw.
“T-that’s not possible!” Sparkle yelled as she watched every last basketball the school had bounce all at the exact same time.
“Tell that to the ghost.” Shampoo said trying to not freak out.
“Let’s… move on out of here before something weird happens.” Jackie said before the balls changed tempo and started to sound like music. “What in tarnation?”
Ukyo and Octavia just looked at each other than to Vivian as the balls bounced. “That’s… that’s Moonlight Sonata.” Octavia said watching the balls bounce.
“Yeah, a dub step version.” Vivian added nodding to the beat of the song. Everyone just looked at her. “Okay, so it’s not dub step. But if it was this would be some base.” It was at this Ranma carefully went up to one of the balls and grabbed onto it causing the rest of the balls to just stop and bounce all over the gym.
“Hey why’d you stop it?” Octavia said disappointed. She loved Beethoven’s music.
“Sorry but… something’s different about these balls.” Ranma said tossing one to Dashie, Jackie, and Shampoo. “They’re heavier.”
The girls nodded at the weight of the balls. “Well, any idea what would be doing this?” Jackie asked looking to her friends.
“Well…” Sparkle said flipping through her book of ghosts, “um… no. The book doesn’t say anything about this.”
“Okay so… what else can this ghost do?” Ryoga asked taking the ball from Jackie and tossing a three pointer. “I mean we got dizzy spells, a scream from the class room, bouncing basketballs that play music and are heavy. What’s next?” The answer soon came from a roll of toilet paper rolling out from the locker rooms. “I had to ask.”
“Okay so… we split up?” Ukyo suggested looking to everyone.
“I’d rather we not but… what choice do we have?” Sparkle replied looking to the paper roll.
“Okay then. Ryoga, James, let’s go. Are you girls going to be okay on your own?” Ranma said then asked.
“Don’t worry Ranma. We got this covered.” Shampoo said with Ukyo, Dashie, and Jackie nodding. After a group nod everyone one went their separate ways, the boy to the men’s locker room, and the girls to the women’s locker room.
---
“So… so what exactly are we looking for?” Ryoga asked checking the room over with James and Ranma.
“The ghost Ryoga or at least where that one roll of toilet paper came from.” James replied checking the storage room door. “And we already found out one this. It didn’t come from here, the door’s locked.”
“Or from anyplace else in here, come on guys let’s head back before…” Ranma said before something rattled. “Whoa, was that…”
“Yeah it was, sounded like it came from the shower room.” Ryoga said leading the way. “But… what would a ghost want with a shower room?” The moment they all stepped into the room the showers turned on and soaked them.
“YOU HAD TO ASK!” James and Ranma yelled at him
---
“So… now what do we do Sparkle?” Nabiki asked looking over the locker room. “We’ve got bouncing balls, sorry, musical bouncing balls, and a scream from Summer, a roll of toilet paper…” Nabiki started to list till…
“Why in the world did it do this?” Rarity called out catching Nabiki’s attention quickly. Quickly going to her the girls soon stared at a bunch of unrolled rolls of tissue paper. “This is quite a mess and… makes no sense.”
“I agree with you on that.” Sparkle said looking the rolls and mess over. “I’m not sure but… I think it’s playing with us.” The girls all looked to her confused.
“Hold on. Are you saying that this ghost is smart and already knows we’re here?” Shampoo said worried.
“Um well… after seeing all this… Yes.” Sparkle said looking to everyone. “But like Rarity said, none of this makes sense.”
“What if… it’s not meant to make sense?” Ukyo said thinking.
“What do you mean?” Sparkle asked.
“Well think about it. If this ghost is so smart that it knows we’re here, why hasn’t it done anything to us yet? I mean it has us in the greatest place for a perfect…” It was at this the toilet paper from the room flew out of the room and covered all of them. “Prank…”
---
“I said I was sorry.” Ryoga said as he, James, and Ranma walked out of the locker room ringing out their shirts. “How was I supposed to know that was going to happen?”
“It’s a ghost Ryoga… what did you think was going to happen when you say that?” Ranma said a bit annoyed. “It was going to pop out and hand us candy?”
“I thought I was supposed to do that?” Pinkie said cheerfully with the others following her.
“What… happened to you guys?” James asked looking at the mummy looking girls.
“We got pranked.” Sparkle said tiredly. “And it looks like you did as well.”
“Yeah we… wait pranked?” Ryoga said giving his shirt one last ringing. “As in someone set this up?”
“Didn’t all this seem a bit off to all of you?” Sparkle said to everyone. “The sounds, the sightings, all of it, it was just one big prank.”
“Okay so if this was all just a prank, then who set it up?” Ukyo asked finally out of her so called mummy costume. “I mean we all saw the looks on Tatewaki and Meruna.”
“Yeah from what I could tell those two weren’t lying when they said they saw a ghost.” Jackie said helping the others get unwrapped.
“Okay so if it wasn’t them… then who?” Dashie asked looking to everyone who looked back confused.
---
Nightmare/Akane just blinked at what she saw. There was Ranko Cloudsdale with Fluttershy/Summer Monarch, trying to get her from being… paralyzed? “Summer, Summer, come on Summer talk to me, please.” Ranko said a bit panicked. Ranko looked around the class room and noticed it was one of the science rooms. Going over to the sink she quickly turned on the cold water and found… “Ugh don’t tell me this is the class with no cold water…” Shaking her head she quickly turned the hot water on to a drizzle and ran her hand under it to gain a bit of water shocking Nightmare. Ranko… didn’t change to Ranma? But he was cursed correct? After a few seconds Ranko’s hand was damp enough she carefully shook it over Summer’s face spraying some of the water till…
“Ah!” Summer screamed before getting a tight hug from Ranko. As soon as she was in Ranko’s arms she began crying.
“Shh, it’s okay Summer, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m right here.” Ranko said running a hand through her love’s hair. Nightmare just… didn’t understand. It was a harmless prank; they should have been laughing not crying. She… she…
“Ranko, is she okay?” Nightmare/Akane asked stepping out of the shadows.
“Who... Akane?!” Ranko said quickly taking up a stance before Summer. “You better stand down before I MAKE you stand down.” This shocked Nightmare more. Ranko was now willing to fight her? Thinking carefully she held up her hands.
“I yield, seriously.” Nightmare/Akane said looking to her and Summer with a worried look.
“Yeah right Akane. Moment I stand down you’re going to whip the mallet of yours and hit us just like you tried to do with Nabiki!” Ranko nearly yelled causing Nightmare/Akane to flinch.
“Um… sensei if your there I think I need some help.” Nightmare/Akane said slowly sitting on the floor.
“Sensei, who are you talking about?” Ranko demanded with Summer whimpering more.
“She’s talking about me my dear.” A voice said before the classroom door opened revealing…
“Oh great, now I got to fight you too?” Ranko said to Happosai.
“Not at all Ranko and if you’d stand down I’d show you why.” Happosai said holding up a folder.
Ranko watched the two for a good while and soon turned to Summer hugging her. “You try to hurt her I’ll make sure you really regret it.”
“I know you would Ranko. Here you are.” Happosai said placing the folder on a desk before going and sitting beside Nightmare/Akane.
Carefully Ranko went over to the desk and picked up the folder and read its contents. “Probation papers for both of you? Along with citizenship papers, you really expect me to believe this?” Ranko asked waving the folder at them.
“Yes, they were signed by the state. You can see that yourself and they have the seals as well.” Happosai said looking to her.
“Okay, let’s say I do believe this.” Ranko said holding Summer protectively. “It still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“We’re here for the same reasons as you Ranko. We’re here for a new way of life and so that we can do what we’ve needed to do, apologize.” Happosai said causing Ranko to lift an eyebrow. “During the wedding I had honestly thought the keg was full of drink. Had I known it was your one and only cure I wouldn’t have drunk it. For this I deeply apologize. It was not till I was contacted by Akane here that I found what my test school had done, yes I’m talking of the Anything Goes Ranko. When I first created the Anything Goes I wanted to create a powerful martial art that none could defeat unless they could surpass its user, an art for any occasion. Sadly over the years it got twisted, corrupted, wrong, and you’ve seen what such an art has done to your father and Akane’s. Akane told me the moment she got a hold of me what she had done around Nabiki and what had happened during her trip. I… I’ve disbanded the school of Anything Goes and have returned to my natural art style, Ninjitsu, the art of the ancient ninja that used the power of dark chi to battle those who tried to harm their home and clans. Don’t worry Ranko; the art I’m teaching Akane is the right kind for her. It’s actually made her calmer and now sees the bright side of the moon as it were.” Happosai explained gained a smile and nod from Akane before frowning.
“I’d like to apologize to the one behind you first Ranma. I… I didn’t think my prank would do that. I wasn’t thinking and… I’m sorry.” Nightmare/Akane said looking right at Fluttershy/Summer.
Ranko looked to Summer then back to Akane/Nightmare then back before Summer spoke. “I-I f-forgive you.”
Ranko just blinked at Summer, “You sure?” Summer only nodded. “Alright, but for now you’re on probation till the Mayor can clarify that these papers are real. If they’re fake; you know what will happen.”
“We know Ranko. And… look I’m sorry for what I put you through. Our Dad’s just wouldn’t back off and well… you know how school was for me before you came. I didn’t tell you everything.” Nightmare/Akane confessed.
“Well I’m sorry but that’s a bit hard for me to believe.” Ranko asked looking right at her.
“Ranko… Nabiki and Kasumi never saw what kind of training I put myself through after mom died. Yes I cried a lot but… each time I tried to have Dad train me he just… he just wouldn’t. So I began training myself… I used whatever books I could find and just went at it. Our school was Anything Goes right? So I thought that Anything Goes meant just that, you could learn anything and use it. Some of the book I used…” Nightmare/Akane just looked to Happosai who sighed and handed a few books he had on him over. They were small but they were readable.
“Martial Arts Street Fighting? Street Fighting and you? What’s this about?” Ranko said looking the small books over.
“Ranko, you might wish to read them and find out.” Happosai suggested frowning.
---
“I am so tired right now.” Ukyo said leaning into her sister. “Let’s just get back to the class room and sleep.” Everyone nodded to this as it was slowly becoming sunrise.
“I’m with Ukyo, it’s almost morning and we haven’t found anything more from the ghost.” Octavia said holding her tired sister with Vivian.
“At least we don’t need to worry about getting lost anymore.” Ryoga said carrying a sleeping Jackie wedding style. Throughout the night the group had searched all the places the stared map had shown finding nothing. Having gone from one end of the school to the other had worn out most of the small group and they were now heading back to their sleeping bags and cots. “How’s Rarity Nabiki?”
Nabiki carefully guided a very tired Rarity down the hall as carefully as she could. “She’s really warn out and so am I. How much farther is it Ranma?”
Ranma looked back to Nabiki sighing as he carried a sleeping Pinkie on his back. “Just this flight of stairs and we can all rest.” Everyone sighed happily at this as they slowly and tiredly climbed the stairs. “Room thirty, room thirty-one, we’re here guys.” Ranma said stepping out of the way for James who was carrying Shampoo fireman style.
“Good now we can…” James said opening the door before seeing Happosai and Akane before Ranko and a now sleeping Summer, “oh boy.”
Ranma got ready to take a defensive stance before Ranko waved him down. “Okay what’s going on?”
“A lot of mistakes my boy.” Happosai said pointing to the book Ranko was looking over.
“You got that right.” Ranma said looking at the old grand-master.
“Not the mistakes you’re thinking of Ranma.” Ranko said before turning the book around and pointing at a passage. “These kind, come take a look.”
Ranma came over with Pinkie, placing her next to Summer for the moment and took the book. “To cause a critical blow to your enemy you must focus all your power on one point. This will take many practice hits to accomplish but a focus is best for such attacks. Anger is one such focus one can use to cause true harm to your enemy… What is this?”
“One of the books I learned martial arts from Ranma, the wrong kind of martial arts.” Nightmare/Akane said bowing her head in regret.
“Akane has been learning Street Fighting all this time. No wonder she was mad all the time it was her Ki focus.” Ranko said pointing the books out.
“Ranma, we have to talk, but only after we all rest and we go see the Mayor.” Happosai said getting up and walking out the door. “I suggest the girls sleep in this room while we men sleep further down, at the end of the hall. And don’t worry Ranma I’ve given up my old ways for good. I have a new form of entertainment to enjoy. Training Akane, oh and Akane be sure to be up around four. We don’t want to keep everyone waiting for us to meet the Mayor.”
“Yes Sensei, please rest well.” Nightmare/Akane said bowing deeply to her sensei.
“I will my dear. Let’s go boys, these girls need some privacy.” Happosai said walking down the hall.
“That was the Old Leech right?” Ryoga asked pointing towards Happosai.
“Well if it isn’t, they can keep the original.” Ranma said leading Ryoga and James out of the room. “We’ll keep an eye on him, night girls.”
“Good night.” The girls replied looking to Akane right after.
“Um… I… can explain everything.” Nightmare/Akane said holding up her hands in defense.
“You just stay away from me.” Nabiki said guiding Rarity to the far side of the room.
“She… hates me doesn’t she?” Nightmare/Akane asked looking the remaining group over.
“She has her reasons Akane,” then Ukyo got close and whispered to her, “or should I say Nightmare Moon.” Ukyo said smiling.
Nightmare/Akane’s jaw dropped but quickly recovered and whispered back. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Shampoo and Ukyo know about us Nightmare.” Twilight/Sparkle Sunset replied whispering as well pointing to them. “Only one who doesn’t is Nabiki and we’re going to keep it that way till we can trust her.”
Nightmare/Akane nodded to this till Ranko spoke up, “Come on guy stop grilling her. Or at least wait until tomorrow in the mayor’s office.” Everyone nodded to this and soon went to sleep.
---
The next day the Mayor was carefully looking the folder Happosai had alongside Principal Moon. “Well Mayor?” Principal Moon asked handing her stack over.
“Everything looks in order and I called the Governor’s Office along with Japanese Embassy. These two are official citizens of the United States and are cleared of all charges.” The Mayor said tapping the papers.
“And these show that Miss Akane is seeking counseling for her anger issues. It seems these two can live here, as long as they follow the law.” Principal Moon said smiling at them.
“Principal Moon, Mayor, with no disrespect. YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!” Nabiki said then yelled.
“Miss Silver, please calm down.” The Mayor requested but Nabiki just shook her head.
“Calm down? That… woman didn’t care what she was doing in that restaurant when she smashed that table and threatened the supervisor! She didn’t care that she nearly hit me with that hammer of hers! SHE’S DANGEROUS!”
“Not according to these papers!” The Mayor said looking right at her. “We’ve done a full check with the Embassy and the Governor’s Office; however we have not run a background check on this doctor she’s been seeing. If this doctor is falsified we’ll have no other choice but to have her arrested and request that she be given proper counseling. However that will take a few weeks to do so on your behalf Miss Silver, I will have her under town arrest and under constant escort except in the school. She’ll be taking classes under Miss Cheerily, at night and under supervision by Principal Moon and Mr. Hibiki. He was able to handle that incident with Prince Kuno after all.”
Nabiki growled at this but nodded. “Fine, but if she harms anyone… I’ll be on your head.” She soon turned and walked out of the office hotly.
“Give her time Miss Tendo. She’s still quite shaken from your last meeting.” Rarity said to Akane/Nightmare.
“I know. And I am sorry for that.” Nightmare/Akane said sighing. “I just hope she can forgive me, like you two have.” She said towards Ranma and Ranko.
“We may have forgiven you Akane,” Ranma said turning to leave, “but it doesn’t me we trust you yet.” At this everyone but the Mayor and Principal Moon left causing Nightmare to look at them.
“Thank you sister,” Nightmare said smiling at her with tears in her eyes, “for this chance to redeem ourselves.”
“Yes Princess. We’re in your debt.” Happosai said bowing to her.
“Of course,” Principal Moon/Celestia said gathering Nightmare in a hug, “just remember… you only have one chance and yes… I do forgive you. You were angry and I ignored your concerns. Can YOU forgive ME?”
Nightmare/Akane returned the hug tightly and nodded sniffling. “I do sister. I do.”
To be continued