Earth Never Loses

AN: Hello again, everyone! I have to say, my mind is still having trouble wrapping itself around just how popular this story has been. You all are awesome! Anyway, you guys gave me a lot of great feedback, so I just wanted to say thanks!

Without further ado, enjoy!

Another Life, Another Time

All was well. She basked in the Warm Light, along with her Brothers and Sisters and all of their Children. The Little Ones danced upon their skin, and the Darkness was kept at bay. All was well.

And then the Cold Light came. It forced itself upon her Daughter, and caught the eye of a Little One. The Little One embraced it, and began to feed on the other Little Ones, until the Cold Light completely enveloped her Daughter. The Cold Light spread to her Brothers and Sisters, until it surrounded her on all sides. It shined so bright that the Warm Light was blotted out, leaving her chilled to her very core.

But that was when the Shadow emerged. It pushed back the Cold Light and enveloped her, but its presence only sapped her warmth even further. One by one, her Brothers and Sisters were left ravaged and lifeless husks, as the Cold Light fed upon them to sustain itself against the Shadow, until only she and her Daughter remained.

The Shadow and the Cold Light clashed against one another. Neither could gain an advantage, and eventually… neither could sustain it either. They both burnt out, killing her Daughter and most of the remaining Little Ones in the process, and nearly killing her.

With the Cold Light and the Shadow gone, the Warm Light returned. The Little Ones upon her skin prospered, and she began to recover.

But her Brothers and Sisters and all of their Children were dead. She had endured, but she was alone.

It was a hollow victory, but a victory nonetheless. It was expected though…

After all, she never lost. She was-

Ranma sat up with a gasp, her body covered in a cold sweat.

A quick glance took in her surroundings, and helped dispel the odd dream. She was in a cabin in the village of the Juketsuzoku Amazon tribe. The day before, Ranma had faced and defeated the Phoenix Lord Saffron, rescuing his fiancée Akane Tendo in the process. The Amazons had welcomed him as a hero, and invited Ranma and his companions to stay the night before returning to Japan.

The Amazons had thrown a feast in honor of Saffron's defeat, but after eating his fill, Ranma had retired early, both due to genuine fatigue and to escape the Amazons eager to 'claim' the handsome hero. Even as she woke up, Ranma could hear the celebrations continuing outside.

Another glance confirmed that there was no one else in the room, and the door was closed, which lead Ranma to look down at her ample bust in confusion. 'I went ta sleep as a guy, but turned into a girl again,' Ranma thought. 'Why does it always happen when I have that dream?'

This was not the first time Ranma had experienced the strange dream that had awoken her, and every time she did, she awoke in her female form, regardless of what gender she went to sleep as. Ranma was not locked in cursed form, able to turn back with hot water like normal, so it was more of an inconvenience than an actual problem. In fact, Ranma was used to her curse, so she was more concerned with the recurring dream. Ranma knew that she was someone else in the dream, but always woke up before she could find out who.

Ranma stretched and yawned. A glance out the window revealed the glow of pre-dawn light, meaning that the celebration had lasted all through the night. Knowing someone would come to wake her before long, anyway, Ranma decided to get up and find some hot water.

Ranma got dressed, and headed outside. It was not until she was outside that she realized she had no idea where the baths were. The cabin she had spent the night in was a simple, primitive affair, without indoor plumbing.

Strolling through the village as dawn broke, Ranma could not help but think of the dream that had interrupted her sleep. Or, more specifically, the ones responsible for it. 'I started having that dream right after saving that Jadeite guy from those witches… but it doesn't seem like it has anything ta do with them… does it? Maybe I should ask someone if those witches cast a spell on me…'

"My, you're up early, Phoenix Slayer."

Ranma was snapped out of her thoughts by the voice of an old woman. Turning to the figure that addressed her, for a moment Ranma thought she was seeing Cologne. However, while she looked just as old and she wore the same style of clothing, her staff looked different and she wore a blindfold over her eyes.

"Uh, who are ya?" Ranma asked. "And how'd ya know who I was?"

"I am So Pa, one of the elders of this village." The old woman replied. "And after yesterday's events, I'm sure everyone in this valley knows who you are. Or, perhaps you were referring to my eyes?"

"Uh, no! I didn't mean that at all!" Ranma backpedaled, knowing from experience that angering elderly Amazons was a bad idea.

The old woman grinned, however. "Don't worry, child. I know full well how I appear to most. However, while I may not see as most do, my training with Ki lets me see far more. And I must say, your Ki tells quite an interesting tale."

"What d'ya mean?" Ranma asked, genuinely curious.

"One's Ki is effected by everything they do, and similarly, everything that is done to them marks them, as well. For one such as I, who has dedicated their life to mastering Ki, it is easy to read the story those marks tell." The old woman replied.

"Really?" Ranma asked eagerly. "Can anybody learn ta do that? Seems like that kinda technique would be pretty useful in a fight."

"Indeed, but even a prodigy like yourself would need a few decades of meditation dedicated solely to the theory and application of Ki techniques." The old woman replied with a wry smile. "Your talents seem to lend you towards more directly combat oriented techniques, anyway. Especially if…no, I doubt that's the case."

"What d'ya mean by that?" Ranma asked warily.

"Hmm, just an old legend." The Amazon replied. "It tells of a powerful warrior who is as one with the Earth. Your Ki feels like that of a tree or river; an extension of the Earth itself. No doubt it is merely a reflection of your adaptable nature, though."

"I guess that makes sense," Ranma said. Remembering what she had been doing before running into the old woman, she went on. "Hey, d'ya know where I can get some hot water?"

"The bathhouse is down that way. It is connected to a natural hot spring, so you should be able change back to your birth form there." The elderly Amazon replied as if reading Ranma's mind, gesturing in the general direction with her staff as she did. "As an honored guest of the village, feel free to use it as you wish while you're here."

"Thanks!" Ranma said over her shoulder, as she headed in the direction the old woman indicated. As she headed off, Ranma's mind wandered back to the strange dream that had been haunting her sleep.

"Something is wrong with Beryl."

Jadeite's words immediately drew the attention of the other three members of the Shintennou away from the unconscious form of Tuxedo Mask before them.

"What do you mean, Jadeite?" Kunzite asked. "And shouldn't you address her as 'Queen Beryl'?"

"That's just it, how did she become 'Queen'?" Jadeite answered with a question of his own. "She used to be a Guardian, not royalty. And besides, Earth had a Prince, not a Princess."

Jadeite's words triggered various reactions in the other three. Zoisite pressed a hand to his head, as if getting a sudden headache. Nephrite gained a confused expression. Kunzite merely closed his eyes in thought, before speaking. "A Prince… we… served the prince…" Opening his eyes once more, he looked to Jadeite as he asked, "Jadeite, how did you come to know of this?"

Shaking his head, Jadeite replied, "I am clearly not the only one who has begun to regain the memories of their past life. However, I can remember serving Beryl even then, yet she was different from how she is now."

"I remember that… but I also remember serving the Prince." Nephrite spoke up. "Did we abandon him?"

Jadeite frown at that. "I still can't remember what made us leave the Prince's side. However, that has little impact on our current situation. I-"

"Actually, I think it may have a great deal to do with it." Zoisite interrupted him. "Or am I the only one to think that this young man we captured bears a striking resemblance to Prince Endymion?"

As soon as he said the Prince's name, another memory appeared in Jadeite's mind.

"ENDYMION! You would sacrifice billions just for your own happiness!? What happened to the noble Prince I swore allegiance to? What happened to your sense honor? To your duty to this planet and its people!?"

"…I fell in love, Jadeite. Can you blame me for wanting to be with her? For doing whatever it takes to do so? You've had your own heart stolen by one of her Senshi, have you not?"

"Have you forgotten? I am the Knight of Patience! I will wait for her, and stand by my duty! My Prince, I will say this now… If you leave this planet, then you shall do so without me!"

Jadeite gritted his teeth, suddenly filled with feelings of rage and betrayal. However, while he was still recovering from the sudden flashback, the conversation continued.

"Could he really have been reborn at the same time?" Nephrite asked.

"The four of us were, so there is no reason to doubt that he would be, as well." Kunzite answered. "However, there must have been a reason we came to serve Beryl instead. And there's one more point we should address…"

"What's that, Kunzite?" Zoisite asked.

"Our 'Great Ruler'," Kunzite replied. "Beryl says we are gathering energy for them, but has yet to tell us why, or even who it is."

"I believe she is taking the latest energy we gathered to the 'Great Ruler' now." Nephrite said. "Perhaps we should follow her?"

"Indeed, we have a right to know, and this may be our best chance." Kunzite said, making the decision as the de facto leader of the group. "We shall discover the truth of this, and then decide what to do with these new memories."

Jadeite considered mentioning his newest vision, but upon hearing Kunzite's final words, he knew it would be pointless to bring it up now. The decision made, the four of them headed into the bowels of the Dark Kingdom, seeking the truth.

A few minutes later found them following Beryl at a distance. "I never knew there was a path deep down here." Jadeite said.

"Does it lead to the 'Great Ruler'?" Nephrite asked rhetorically.

Eventually, Beryl came to a massive, ornately carved stone door. Opening it with her magic, she passed through.

"Why is such a door down here?" Zoisite asked, a tinge of nervousness entering his voice.

"Just be quiet and follow me." Kunzite replied, stoic as ever, as he led them after Beryl once more.

However, what was beyond the door, none of them were prepared for. An enormous, amorphous entity filled the room, appearing as if made from shadows mixed with magenta flames, it's only distinguishing features were its piercing eyes and a crimson cross between them.

"That's our 'Great Ruler'…?" Jadeite whispered incredulously.

"I remember that thing now!" Nephrite hissed. "She's materialized that much?"

"But, what's that mark on her forehead?" Zoisite asked.

Before they could speak further, Beryl addressed the malefic entity. "Queen Metalia. We have concluded that the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou that was absorbed by Tuxedo Mask's body has indeed vanished. There is no sign of it."

"Then get rid of him." A raspy voice came forth from the being she called Metalia in response. "The Maboroshi no Ginzuishou must still be with the Princess."

"There is still an opportunity to use Tuxedo Mask." Beryl said. "Please, leave him to me."

"Queen Beryl, we still need more energy to take over this world." Metalia chastised her. "Now that the Princess has completely awakened, there's not a moment to lose."

"I will settle this soon." Beryl reassured the eldritch being. "Before my subordinates, the Shintennou, regain too many of their lost memories…"

Looks of shock ran across the faces of the four men listening in, at those words.

"She knew?" Jadite gasped.

"Yet she hid it?" Nephrite went on.

"What did she mean by 'too many'?" Zoisite asked.

"We fell for her schemes before we could regain our memories." Kunzite said.

However, they had been too loud. "So, you remembered after all."

The four turned back, only to find Beryl looking straight at them.

"Queen Beryl." Kunzite growled out. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Were you just using us?" Jadeite asked, still trying to reconcile his ancient memories of a young Guardian with the woman before him.

"That's right." Beryl replied calmly. "You are all merely disposable pawns to obtain my goal."

"Curse you!" Kunzite cried out as he charged forward.

However, Beryl was prepared, slamming her staff into the ground, and sending dark energy outward to attack the four men.

"Look out!" Jadeite cried, using his power to form a shield to block the attack.

He was a moment too slow, Kunzite crying out in agony for a moment before Jadeite's shield protected him. Nephrite and Zoisite quickly added their own power to reinforce the shield, but Beryl's expression remained confident, and her attack only seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.

"We can't hold this for long!" Zoisite cried out, sweat forming on his brow from the strain.

"Jadeite, how long has it been since you started regaining your memories?" Nephrite suddenly asked.

"Is now really the time?" Jadeite snapped back.

"Just answer me!" Nephrite yelled, started to show the strain of maintaining the shield himself.

"The first memories came the night Sailor Mars appeared." Jadeite answered.

"Does that really help us now?" Zoisite asked through gritted teeth.

Nephrite shot a glance at the still recovering Kunzite before speaking. "You said it yourself, Zoisite, we can't maintain this shield. Jadeite, you need to take Kunzite, and get out of here!"

"WHAT!?" Came the simultaneous reply from Zoisite and Jadeite.

"You've regained more memories than the rest of us, Jadeite. If anyone can discover the truth of what's happened, it's you!" Nephrite explained. "And Kunzite is the strongest of us. If we are to be avenged, you'll need his power!"

Jadeite frowned, reluctant to leave his comrades behind, but Zoisite spoke up as well. "As much as I hate to admit it, Nephrite is right. Just promise us you'll make Beryl and Metalia pay for this!"

"I'm not done with you yet!" Beryl cried, throwing more power into her attack.

As the shield began to buckle, Jadeite made his decision. "I promise, I'll discover the truth and avenge you both." Cutting his connection to the shield, he quickly lifted up Kunzite. "Nephrite, Zoisite… Farewell." With that he teleported away.

"FOOLS!" Beryl cried, furious at having been denied. Throwing even more power into her attack, the Shintennou's shield shattered, and the remaining pair were enveloped by the dark power.

When Jadeite teleported, he had initially thought to return to Tuxedo Mask, but the memory of Endymion's betrayal changed his mind. Which left him with only one person outside of the Dark Kingdom that he might turn to; the redheaded girl that had first triggered his returning memories.

He just had not expected to appear in a bathhouse, with her completely naked.

AN: And there you go! Got a bit heavy in the second half, but there should be more humor next chapter (as if the last part wasn't an indication). As one reviewer pointed out, Ranma is a comedy character, after all! ^_^

What will Beryl do without her Generals? How will these events effect the Senshi's battle against her? How will Ranma and Co. react to Jadeite and Kunzite's arrival? Find out in future chapters of 'Earth Never Loses'!