With a loud SNAP, the shark's mouth clamped down and nearly bit off Ranma's hand. The pig-tailed martial artist let out a stream of bubbles in surprise (screaming doesn't quite work under water) and tried to get away. Would this be a battle on solid land, Ranma would have showed the beast his skills, but like this... Ranma didn't even have much air left... he had to get back at the surface.
But as sharks are quick and nimble swimmers, it wasn't quite that easy as he had imagined. He had to concentrate on dodging the numerous bites from the sea predator, and his air was being pressed out of his lungs more and more...
"Hey, he may be the amulet's holder! We should help him!"
"Are you nuts? He's a MAN! A man can't be the holder."
"Well, that's true... but if he defeats him, we can get the amulet, right?"
"Did I say I hate it when you're right?"
"Yes! And now hurry up!"
Ranma just hit the shark with the strongest punch he could deliver under water and frantically tried swimming up to the surface.
The shark recovered quickly and swam after him. He opened his mouth... Ranma could see the billions of teeth within... he nearly reached his legs...
And two nimble little shapes zipped around the shark's head, disorienting him and distracting him from his prey.
Ranma wasted no time with thinking what happened and swum faster. Finally he broke through the surface with a mighty gasp. Panting and wheezing, he tried to catch his breath. After taking several more deep breaths, he dove under again.
He saw how the shark was trying to catch something, two small, quick shapes that he still couldn't identify. He didn't mind... he concentrated on the fight. Propelling himself towards the shark, he used his distraction to hit it with a powerful double punch.
The shark bumped against some rocks. Ranma grinned. That should be enough.
But the beast flipped over faster than it should be possible, and this was the first time Ranma began thinking that this perhaps was no ordinary animal...
But before the shark could attack again, his tail fin was grasped by two powerful hands that spun him around several times and threw him upwards.
'Ryoga?' Ranma couldn't speak at the moment, but his eyes showed his surprise clearly. His bandana-clad rival smirked and gave him the thumbs up.
----
Meanwhile, the swimsuit contest was in full activity. Naru, Rei and Usagi already had shown off their figure and swimsuits to the judges. Shampoo was next. She was upset that Akane could compete after all, but she was hoping her superior looks would help her win the contest.
After Shampoo was finished, the judge nodded and called: "And now, Akane Tendo, please!"
Akane strode towards the wooden platform with a big grin on her face.
Suddenly, a big splash made most of the gathered people turn their heads around.
Usagi and her friends were not the only ones that gasped when an enormous shark broke through the surface, seemingly being hurled up by some powerful force.
When he splashed back into the water, Akane gasped. "Ranma is out there! He might be in danger!"
And without saying anything, she just left the contest and ran towards the shore.
"If Ranma is in danger, we should all go, isn't that right?" Usagi asked her friends. Minako and Rei nodded and ran after her.
The judge chuckled weakly. "Hey, doesn't anyone win here or what?"
"Excuse me," Shampoo said. "That mean Shampoo is winner?"
"What's going on out there?" Nodoka murmured.
"Looks like Ranma is fighting a big shark," Genma replied. "Well, I could help him, but I think he'll do fine..."
Nodoka grimaced. "Husband, you're a coward..."
Shampoo gasped. "Airen is in danger? Oh no, I have to help him..." She stopped herself. "But if I go now, contest will be lost... Oooooh, what should Shampoo do?"
Then she decided. "Ah, forget contest! Shampoo is coming Airen, you not worry!"
Naru looked around. The crowd of competitors was shrinking by the minute. Well, perhaps she was lucky...
----
The frightened girls reached the shore at that moment Ranma and Ryoga broke through the surface. "Hey girls," Ranma shouted and waved. "What's up?"
"Ranma," Akane shouted. "Are you all right?"
Ranma nodded. "Yup! Never better! Ryoga and me just had to teach some overgrown sardine some manners. Hey, you weren't actually concerned, were you?"
Akane's face of relief turned into anger. "Ranma you jerk! I threw away the swimsuit contest just so I could save you! I hope you're happy!"
Angrily, she turned around. "Now what did I do wrong?"
Shrugging, he went out of the water. He approached the judge and held up a small bag. "Here, I found the pearl!"
Ryoga gasped. "WHAT? I helped you fight the shark and you already found it?"
"Not really," Ranma replied. "I was just dodging one of his attacks when you grabbed him. I just happened to find the 'big muzzle' mentioned in the clue... Just a big fishhead made of plastic. So I just snatched the pearl. And here it is!"
The judge smiled. "Excellent! I hereby declare Ranma Saotome the winner of the diving contest."
Suddenly, a loud splash made them all turn around. In mid-air, the dark shape of the shark was floating, staring at them with red eyes.
"That... that's no ordinary shark..." Ryoga stuttered.
"I think we all know that, thank you," Ranma responded and prepared himself for battle.
The flying fish fiend opened his mouth... and a shrill scream came out of his muzzle. Suddenly, his body split up in five identical sharks, every one of them ready for killing.
"Ha, I kicked his butt once, I can kick it again," Ryoga snarled. But then, at the worst possible time, she water-proof soap lost it's effect.
With a wet 'plop', P-chan the black piglet landed on the wet sand, and Ranma turned into his red-haired girl form.
Ranma sighed. "Just great..."
Akane stared. "P-p-p-p-chan? Ryoga is..."
'I'm pork roast!' Ryoga thought. Akane's grimace of shock turned into one of rage. "Ryooogaaaa..."
But she had no time to do anything as the five sharks gave off another screech and started their attack.
The judge screamed and ran away.
"No one else is here," Usagi shouted. "We can transform now!"
"No, wait..." Ranma shouted...
"Moon Cosmic Power..."
"Mars Star Power..."
"Venus Star Power..."
"Make Up!!"
Ranma sighed. "Never mind..." He looked down at P-chan, who had passed out after a massive nosebleed.
Akane stared down at him. Then she glared at Ranma. "After this battle, I expect some answers, Ranma!"
Ranma gulped and nodded. The grasped their amulets.
Shampoo just arrived at the shore and skidded to a stop. She saw The Sailor Senshi, Ranma and Akane and... five flying sharks?
"Aquarius Zodiac Power, Make Up!"
"Leo Zodiac Power, Make Up!"
"Aiyah..." Shampoo said. "Ranma and Akane are Senshi?"
"Yes, and you have to help them," a gurgling voice next to her said. Shampoo turned around. "Huh?"
Two glittering fishes were fluttering next to her in mid-air, both with shining, wing-like fins. The left one had silver scales, the other one black ones.
"Has Shampoo eaten something unedible?" she muttered. "Flying and talking fish?"
"We have no time to explain," the black one said with a gruff, male voice. "Take the amulet!"
Now Shampoo saw the golden pendant they were carrying in their mouths.
"What is this?" she wondered.
"That's your pendant, the Pisces Amulet," the silver fish explained in a soft, female voice. "Sailor Pisces... nice to meet you! I'm Fin, and this is my brother Fun... We're your advisors!"
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(Posted Fri, 08 Sep 2006 19:15)
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