While Yu Yevon was circling the area, Ranma called out: "Carbuncle! It's your turn!"
The small hole in the ground opened up, Carbuncle peered out and popped up into the air. Instantly, the dark cloud rushed towards him... but just bounced off his skin.
Carbuncle seemed to grin at the spirit. 'Can't possess me, can't possess me...' He giggled.
Without saying anything, Yu Yevon suddenly transformed into his true form: The dark cloud surrounded the purple glowing symbol of his church, and all over the surface of the jellyfish-like body, curved fangs were jutting out.
"Yu Yevon, we came here to end your reign of terror." Yuna obviously tried to sound impressive, but it didn't seem to bother the demonic spirit much.
"I don't know if he even understands you, Yuna," Rikku said. "Perhaps his spirit has turned into something that inhuman that the concept of communication has become something alien to him."
Ranma stared at the floating spirit darkly. "Whatever! This ends NOW!"
He closed his eyes. 'Mom, please help me finish this... let us bring peace to this world together.'
Next to him, the image of Nodoka appeared, Katana in her hands. "Ranma, I'll be with you!"
Ranma stretched out his hand, and out of nothing, the Masamune appeared. He grasped it and held it in the same pose as his mother did.
"Where did you get that sword?" Tidus asked in amazement.
Ranma grinned. "Ryoga gave it to me."
Akane blinked. "RYOGA actually gave a present to YOU? And a powerful weapon? Well, that's new..."
Ranma and Nodoka raised their weapons.
"Ranma, the Saotome school was always a school of martial arts, developed by your father's master Happosai... and while I never liked the old pervert, his teachings made a strong fighter out of you.
However, the style of the swordplay was taught to me by MY parents... and I would be proud if I could teach you something as well. Our family Katana is an old blade... and yours seems to be a sword that is even more sacred then every sword you can find in our home country.
Now, let's end this... together!"
They ran towards Yu Yevon, jumped into the air, drew their weapons and slashed at the spiritual demon.
"DOUBLE ZANTETSUKEN!"
Their slashes created a huge cross of light over Yu Yevon's ugly body and hit him with deadly precision. And while even the normal Zantetsuken wouldn't have been enough to beat a being like Yevon... their combined attack was too much even for him!
And as the monstrous spirit, ex-summoner, controller of Sin and once father of Yunalesca, floated down onto the ground, Ranma could think only of one thing:
'Strange, he controls one of the most dangerous creatures I ever saw... but when he's defeated, he just breaks apart like a regular fiend.'
----
The pilgrimage was over. Sin was beaten and the Spiral of Death was broken. Sin would never return, and no summoner or guardian would have to sacrifice himself ever again.
The friends were standing together on the podium inside Sin's body, which was slowly falling apart around them. In front of them, Yuna's Aeons were standing.
Bahamut looked down at Ranma and Yuna and nodded, as he wanted to thank them. Then, the mighty dragon closed his eyes... and sparks of light floated away from his mighty body. The other Aeons did the same, and in front of them, the fayth appeared... the spirits of the summoners that once gave their life in Zanarkand.
Bard looked up at Bahamut, who once again became a pure Esper. "It was fun," he simply said, and Bahamut seemed to grin.
Then he turned back to Yuna and Ranma. "I can't say how this world is in your debt... but don't worry about it! You can now concentrate on your future life, Yuna... without the burden of being a summoner. At least, not of a summoner in the traditional sense."
His look swept over his old friends from Zanarkand. "We fayth will now leave the temples and go to rest. The long-awaited eternal sleep will be like a salvation for all of us. The Espers that were merged with us will go back to their realm... but they will visit Spira frequently from now on, make pacts with the people, and a new form of summoner will be born."
He looked towards Tidus. "Well, when we go to rest, that means our dreams will end, too. You know that, right?"
Tidus sighed. "Yeah, I know..."
Suddenly, Shuyin and Lenne appeared in front of Tidus and Kasumi. "Wait a minute," Shuyin said. "I know what you mean. Now that your dream will stop... Tidus will disappear, right?"
Yuna and the others gasped.
Bard nodded. Shuyin looked at him grimly. "No, that won't be necessary. I'll take his place! I stopped living for a long time... but I never really died. But now I'm ready. I'm giving my life force to him, then I'm ready to go to the farplane."
He and Lenne embraced. "Both of us," Lenne added.
Kasumi looked sad. "Are you sure about this? It was nice having you around..."
Lenne smiled at her. "For me too, Kasumi. But... our time is over, you know? Our Zanarkand doesn't exist anymore. We want to go to the farplane... where everyone of our old friends is waiting... our family..."
Kasumi nodded. "I can understand." She embraced Lenne as best as she could. "Goodbye, Lenne. I'll miss you."
Shuyin looked at Tidus. "Well, it certainly was an interesting experience, travelling with you. And now that I helped to defeat Seymour, I think I can rest in peace. Take care of you." His gaze wandered over to Yuna. He smirked. "And of your girl as well. And never, never let her go, you hear?"
Tidus seemed speechless for a moment, then he sighed. "Shuyin... buddy... thanks. I almost was ready to join my father... I wouldn't have minded it that much... but staying here, with Yuna and my new friends, is more important to me than anything else. Thank you!"
Shuyin clasped hands with him. "Hey... that's what friends are for, right?"
He took Lenne's hand and looked at Bard. "We'll join you guys, if you don't mind." Bard nodded.
And while the fayth, Lenne and Shuyin were standing in front of the Espers, they began to fade away.
Tidus gulped. Just before Bard was disappearing, he shouted: "Hey! Tell... tell my father, I..."
Bard smiled. "He knows it, Tidus! He already knows!"
And the spirits disappeared.
The place started shaking.
"I guess we should leave," Bahamut rumbled in his deep voice. "Sin's body is falling apart without the constant summoning of Yu Yevon."
Ranma nodded. "All right, let's get out of here!"
----
They all stood on a high cliff and watched as Sin's body slowly fell apart and disintegrated into pyreflies, as he was just a regular fiend.
Yuna just finished saying goodbye to the Espers that were at her side all these times, merged with the fayth to form her Aeons. Only Valefor was staying behind on Spira. The other Espers would return, but for now, they couldn't wait to finally go back to their homes in the Esper world.
And, one after another, they disappeared. Ifrit and Shiva, Ixion and Yojimbo. The only ones that stayed behind were Valefor and Bahamut.
"Well, Ranma," the dragon chuckled. "It seems like you passed our test. You are now truly worthy of serving the multiverse as part of an inter-dimensional team of heroes. Now you just have to join us in our HQ, where we will register you and tell you of your duties and privileges. Your final training will start there, as well."
"But wait," Akane shouted. "What about me and my sisters? And Ukyo and Shampoo? Aren't we part of this? Won't you take us along as well?"
It was Carbuncle, who responded: 'While you also are true heroes, you are not quite on the same level as Ranma. But we grant you the title of 'Heroes of Spira'. This title allows you to contact Espers and to travel from Spira to your homeworld - and back. Just contact a summoner that can call for us...' He smiled as he looked at Yuna. 'Or call us with this number.' He gave Akane a small business card.
Akane sighed. "Just great... Oh well, it's certainly better than nothing... And this whole adventure was certainly an experience that I won't forget."
Nabiki nodded. "You can say that again."
"Do you want to return home instantly?" Bahamut asked the Tendo sisters. Kasumi and Nabiki nodded instantly, while Akane seemed unsure.
"What, you don't want to stay?" Rikku asked Nabiki in a disappointed tone of voice. "But think of all the fun we could have together."
Nabiki thought about it, but shook her head. "Sorry, Rikku! But I'm just not the type of girl that likes to go on some adventures... and in this world, there are way too many fiends for my taste." She smirked. "But don't worry. I'll come for a visit. You haven't seen the last of me, that's for sure."
Kasumi nodded. "I know I'll miss all of you, but... father will be worried about us. I need to make sure that everything was fine during our absence. But as Nabiki, I promise that I'll come for a visit."
Akane spoke up: "Nabiki... Kasumi... I decided I want to stay for a while... I'm going to wait for Ranma, and I certainly don't need Nerima's weirdness to kill time."
Yuna smiled. "If you like, you can come back to Besaid with us." Akane smiled back. "That would be great."
Ranma hugged his mother. Now, her contract with Hades was fulfilled, and she was once again a normal human being. "Take care of yourself, son," Nodoka said. "And make your mother proud."
"I will, Mom," Ranma replied. "Tell the old panda I said hi, okay?"
They made their farewells. Rikku told Nabiki and Kasumi they could keep the dresspheres, Shinra certainly wouldn't mind. And when the two older Tendo sisters and the Saotome matriarch were ready, Bahamut spoke up into the empty air.
"Eden, beam them up!"
And with a flash of light, the three women vanished.
Now Ranma had to say goodbye to Akane, and it certainly wasn't easy. It will take several years, before he could come back, Carbuncle told them. But Akane didn't mind - she would wait for him.
Ranma and Tidus shook hands. "Was a pleasure travelling with you," Ranma grinned. "And good luck with Yuna, man!" Tidus blushed.
Ranma also shook hands with Aura and Wakka, gave Kimahri a smirking thumbs up and accepted quick hugs from Rikku and Yuna.
Afterwards, he stepped next to Bahamut and said: "Ready if you are, big boy!"
Bahamut nodded one last time. "Farewell, heroes of Spira... and enjoy your new-found freedom!"
And with three additional flashes of light, Ranma, Carbuncle and Bahamut vanished.
Akane looked at the empty place with tears in her eyes. "I'll be waiting for you, Ranma... I always will..."
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:11)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.