Chapter 4
"Ranko-chan, does it fit?"
"Just a minute," Ranma replied. She glanced down at the varied assortment of bras her mother had handed her before gently pushing her into the dressing room. Okay, it wasn't like she had never worn a bra before, but everytime she'd done so in the past she'd get splashed and her curse would ...
Hmmm.
She picked one of the plain underwire bras and put it on, adjusting the straps like the sales attendant had shown her a couple of minutes before. She bounced up and down on her toes a couple of times before launching herself up into a tight double aerial somersault. Her form was perfect, of course; she missed the ceiling by at least an inch and touched down without a sound.
Damn, it did significantly help her balance. Since she wouldn't have to worry about unexpected splash changes any more, a couple of sports bras for everyday use probably wouldn't be a bad idea.
Ranma caught her reflection in the mirror. She frowned for a second; while the bra she had just put on did indeed enhance her figure a bit - as if she really needed any help there - it didn't do much for her ...
She started rummaging through the pile of bras, looking for something just a little more attractive. "Girly" was right out, of course, but she'd be damned if she'd deliberately dress like a frump in either form.
Nodoka smiled happily. Her daughter had just taken a major step out from underneath the shadow of her brother, and it was all the more significant in that she had done so willingly. She'd have to be careful not to push her daughter too hard right now. However ...
She pulled a soft demi-cup off of the rack and held it out to her son's fiancée. "What do you think about this one? Isn't it cute?"
"Uhm ... I, uh ..." Akane replied with a stammer. She didn't know what to think at the moment. She didn't understand why Ranma's mother was now calling him "daughter", why he wasn't objecting to it, and why he wasn't making more of a fuss over shopping for "girl clothes" - something Akane knew he just hated with a passion.
"Oh, it's not for Ranko-chan, dear, I thought you might like to try it on yourself. I couldn't help but notice you've grown just a little bigger as well."
"HUH?!! You mean you can tell?" Akane couldn't believe it. Ranma's mother was always so nice - unlike a certain inconsiderate jerk of a son - that it was often hard to believe they were actually related.
"Of course I can, dear," Nodoka said. "I'm quite certain Ranma has as well. Now, why don't you go and try this on; I'm sure it will suit you quite nicely."
"Would you ladies care for a cup of tea?"
Akane turned just in time to see a sales attendant scurrying over with a tray carrying several cups of the hot liquid.
"Oops! Look out!"
Somehow Akane wasn't surprised to see the inevitable happen. The sales attendant went one way, the tray another, and all three cups of tea flew up and over the ...
"Aaaaaah! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!"
Yup, that was Ranma's screech of ... huh? Akane blinked. She could have sworn she had just heard ...
"Ranko-chan, dear, are you all right?" Nodoka quickly turned to the dressing room and took hold of the curtain. "I'm coming in."
Akane stood, frozen on the spot. If Auntie Saotome saw Ranma wearing a bra as a guy, she'd force him to commit seppuku.
The curtain slid open before Akane could do or say anything, revealing ...
... a soggy, topless, and very definitely still female Ranma - with one of the now-empty teacups still perched, upside-down, on the top of her red hair.
"I can't believe the incompetence of some people," Nodoka said with a huff. "You could have been seriously hurt."
"Don't worry about it, Mom," Ranma replied. "It was just a stupid accident; happens all the time."
"I certainly hope not, daughter," Nodoka said, giving the youngster a worried glance. "It's a minor miracle you weren't scalded or worse; you must have gotten splashed by all three cups."
"Yeah, well, I'm pretty tough," Ranma said with a grin. "Besides, look at all the free stuff we got 'cause of that."
"I know, dear, it's just ..." Nodoka sighed. She looked over at the pile of bags sitting next to her on the seat. All of their earlier purchases had been paid for by the store's management as an "apology" for the incident, as well as lunch in the store's restaurant which the three of them were currently waiting for. It was only right.
"Auntie Saotome?" Akane inquired.
"Yes, dear?"
"I, ummm, well, errr, I couldn't help noticing that you're calling Ranko 'daughter' now," Akane said in a rush. "I was just, well, ..."
"You're curious as to why, correct?"
Akane nodded.
"Akane-chan, it's been obvious from the very first moment I saw her that Ranko-chan was a Saotome," Nodoka replied.
"What?!?" This exclamation was performed in perfect stereo by the two youngsters.
"Oh, yes," Nodoka confirmed with a nod. "No other family has girls with hair that particular shade of red, and Saotome women have always filled out early, well before they hit their last growth spurt. Ranko-chan would have passed for my twin sister had I still been her age."
"Mom?"
Nodoka gave her daughter her best smile. "Don't worry about it, dear."
"But ..." Akane began, her confusion quite obvious.
"Why did I wait until now before confronting her?"
"Well, yeah ..."
"Akane-chan, I don't know know why clan Tendo felt it necessary to hide my daughter's lineage from me," Nodoka replied. "The Saotome and Tendo clans have been friends and allies for generations and our traditions have never once strayed from the old ways. Though I may not have birthed Ranko-chan myself, all of Genma's children are my children as well. Surely clan Tendo has not forgotten this duty?"
"Uhhh ..."
"Mom, this mean you want Ranma to ..."
"He better not if he knows what's good for him," Akane interrupted with a distinct growl.
Nodoka sighed. "Girls, I can see you both have much to learn of your heritage. Akane-chan, the first child is to the wife, always. The identity and lineage of the clan's heir must be clear and without question. I will certainly have words with my husband over the timing of his dalliance which resulted in Ranko-chan, but that doesn't make her any less my daughter - and that Genma has had encounters with other women is simply a fact of life and one which is expected. This is a duty you will have to accept with Ranma as well once the two of you have married."
Ranma tried to edge away from Akane in the booth seat - the aura her fiancée was producing was rapidly bleeding into the visible range. She was a bit startled when Akane suddenly stood up and her aura disappeared in a wink.
Akane reached over and slung her purse over her shoulder. She smiled at the elder Saotome.
"I'm going on home now, Auntie Saotome," She turned walked rapidly away, waving over her shoulder as she left. "Bye!"
"Akane-chan ..." Nodoka stared for a moment before turning back to her daughter. "I wonder what that was all about?"
"Dunno, Mom," Ranma replied with a shrug. "I've never been able to figure her out."
"Surely she can't be upset over what we just discussed?"
"Could be. She's always actin' jealous over Ranma's other fiancées; don't see why she'd stop now."
Nodoka cocked her head slightly. "Why would she be jealous about her sisters? I know about sibling rivalry, of course, but it's not as if the Tendos don't understand what the agreement between our clans entail."
"Huh?"
"Look out!"
"Aaaaaah! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!"
Nodoka gasped, placing a hand over her mouth in surprise. This was the second time - the second time - that her daughter had been the target of a tray full of hot beverages - coffee this time - in the same day. Since it didn't appear that Ranko-chan had gotten injured this time either, she waited patiently for the store manager to appear once more while the waitress ran around in a small panic.
The store manager blanched when he saw just who had been involved in the unfortunate repeat of an earlier incident. He groveled quite nicely, too. The promise to pick up the tab for all of their purchases for the entire day put a smile on Nodoka's lips and a definite dent in the manager's personal account.
"We're home!" Ranma caroled out. She left the genkan doors open this time, as there was more than just herself and her mother to worry about at the moment.
"Saotome-san, where would you like us to put your purchases?"
Ranma smirked while she put on her house slippers. Her mother had taken full advantage of the store manager's apology and it had taken seven of the store's huskier stockroom employees to carry all of their "purchases" home with them. Poor guys - it was kind of funny to see someone else get stuck playing packhorse for once.
"Please put them in the first room to the left up the stairs," Nodoka replied. Both of them stepped to the side to let the procession through.
"Good afternoo... My goodness," Kasumi exclaimed from the hallway.
"Afternoon, Kasumi," Ranma said with a smirk.
"Good afternoon, Kasumi-chan," Nodoka added with her own smile.
"Good afternoon, Auntie Saotome, Ranko-chan," Kasumi replied. "We were beginning to wonder where you were when Akane-chan came home so early, but I can see you've put your time to very good use indeed."
"Yup!" Ranma said, her smirk getting even larger - if that was possible. "Mom's a really good shopper and all it cost us was me gettin' a face full of hot tea."
"I still can't believe you were hit with two full trays, dear," Nodoka said with a shake of her head.
"Not the first time it's happened, Mom. Probably won't be the last time either."
"I know you say that, dear, but no mother enjoys seeing their daughter placed in danger in such a manner. The store manager's apology was barely adequate - you could have easily ended up in the hospital or worse."
"Mom, it's really not that big a deal. I'm tougher than that, y'know."
The "pack train" came back down the stairs. All of the guys appeared to be more than a little out of breath. The stockroom floor manager bowed to Nodoka. "Will there be anything else, Saotome-san?"
"I believe your duties here for the day are completed, Sato-san," Nodoka replied with a shallower bow. "I thank you for your assistance this afternoon."
"It was our pleasure, Saotome-san, Saotome-kun," Sato Ichiro replied with another bow to each. The other six stockroom helpers bowed along with the floor manager before wearily following him out the door of Tendo-ke. Nodoka tried hard not to giggle as she closed the genkan doors behind them.
"Daughter, while I do not approve of what happened to you today in the store, I will have to admit that I haven't enjoyed a day's shopping like today in quite a long time."
Ranma felt like she was glowing on the inside - she had made her mother happy. "Yeah, it was kinda fun a that. Can't believe how tired I got, though."
"Shopping is a much more difficult task than most men will ever realize, dear," Nodoka replied. Ranma was startled when she felt her mother's mood plummet. "I just wish my son had been with us to try on all of the things we bought him today. Oh, how I do miss my Ranma."
Ranma swallowed around the large lump which had suddenly appeared in her throat. "Umm, Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
"About ... Ranma. He's ... out ... for a couple o' days, but he should be comin' back sometime by the middle o' the week. I know he really wants to see you once he gets back."
"Really, dear?" Nodoka's mood soared just as quickly as it had fallen a few seconds ago.
"Yeah," Ranma replied, nervously scratching the back of her neck. "I promise to make sure he comes over t' see you as soon as he gets in."
"Oh, daughter!"
Ranma barely had time to shrug her backpack off of her shoulder before she was enveloped in another one of her mother's nearly bone-crushing hugs. She silently apologized when she heard Bendis's startled yip.
"Oh you poor dear," Ranma heard Kasumi exclaim. A second later she felt the elder Tendo's presence behind her for a brief moment. Well, at least Bendis will receive a bit more attention than she had been getting from her today.
"Daughter?"
"Yeah, Mom?"
"I love you, dear."
Ranma felt her eyes tearing up. She sniffed, trying to hold it all in. "Me too, Mom."
She looked up when she felt her mother relax her grip a bit. Her mother positively radiated joy and happiness again - almost as much as she had earlier that afternoon.
"Dear, will you accompany me to our home once more today? I have something which belonged to your great-grandmother that I want you to have."
"Sure thing, Mom. Kasumi, I'll be back in a while."
Ranma wasn't at all surprised when she heard no reply. She only hoped Kasumi wouldn't pet Bendis to death - and judging from what happened earlier that was a distinct possibility.
Unlike her earlier trek over to Saotome-ke, this one was filled with neither trepidation nor sorely jangled nerves. Ranma had finally spent an entire afternoon in the company of her mother, complete with several inevitable "splashed by hot liquid" incidents, and not once did she have to worry about the consequences of unexpectedly changing genders in front of her.
Now, she was sitting down at her mother's table once more and was actually looking forward to a hot cup of tea in her presence. If this was the only thing she ever received from the temple kami she would be content.
That is, provided Bendis wasn't lying to her when she had said her curse would automatically unlock in a few days. If not, well ... that was an entirely different matter. Somehow, though, she just knew that the little black "I'm really not a kitsune" fox was telling her the truth.
She smiled up at her mother as Nodoka sat down at the table to her left. Her mother was happy, honestly happy - and Ranma fully intended to make sure her mother would continue to feel that way for as long as she was able. The feelings she now got inside herself on seeing her mother's joy were simply indescribable. Akane's infrequent smiles had made her feel somewhat the same in the past, but never to quite this extent.
Their first cup of tea from this pot was shared in a warm and companionable silence.
Nodoka set her empty tea cup down on its saucer with a soft *clink*. She then pulled a small lacquered box out from inside her obi and placed it on the table in front of them.
"Daughter, the bracelet inside this box has been in the possession of the Saotome clan since well before records of the clan were kept, and has been handed down from mother to daughter and from sister to sister every generation. It is Saotome tradition for the clan's daughters to wear this bracelet during the whole of their sixteenth year. This tradition has never before been broken during our clan's entire history and I am pleased not to be the first to do so. Will you accept this bracelet and uphold the traditions of our clan, my daughter?"
"Ummm ..."
Ranma opened the box her mother had placed before her. Inside, nestled in a bed of black velvet, was a simple cuff bracelet of tarnished silver. It was about two and a half centimeters wide and had the shape of some unrecognizable animal head - maybe a goat or a dear or something - cast in the exact center of the cuff. The bracelet looked very old - all of the edges of the original casting had been worn down to a nearly amorphous blob.
"It's not much to look at, is it?"
"No it isn't, Ranko-chan," Nodoka replied with a smile. "My grandmother Umeko called it the Hunter's Ring and said it would shield and protect any girl of the clan who wore it if their heart was honorable and good."
Ranma gave the ring a skeptical look. "Do I hafta wear it all the time?"
Nodoka chuckled. "No, dear. An hour or two every day is all that the charm needs to be effective. At least that's what my grandmother told me."
Ranma grimaced briefly before picking the bracelet up. Well, it seemed harmless enough, and it didn't give her any funny vibes like Cologne's stupid magical junk always did. She slipped the bracelet over her left wrist and waited a few seconds before relaxing when nothing happened.
The ginzuishou detected the sudden presence of an inactive power focus in direct physical contact with its host. The immediate defensive reaction was aborted when a quick threat analysis returned negative - the focus item's biometric phase emitters had been permanently degraded past its own minimum activation levels. Fortunately, the inherent polarity shift was well within acceptable parameters and the residual power reserves it contained would considerably shorten the necessary conversion process. The item's physical envelope was malleable and could easily be forced to assume dual forms which satisfied the somewhat unusually restrictive parameters which had been recently uploaded. The energy cost in conversion was a full order of magnitude less than the creation of its own focus according to the current design specifications and converting the existing external focus would markedly shorten the time required to complete the overall assimilation. This action was permitted by its current core directives, and since the creation of a suitable focus was the only active task remaining in the initialization queue before its host could initiate full synchronization, the decision tree was quite trivial.
The ginzuishou rapidly computed an optimal conversion sequence for the external focus item. It deprioritized the current design task to offline hold before injecting the conversion sequence into the item's core matrix. A supervisory diagnostic subroutine was attached to the process and a regulated power tap installed to initiate the conversion. The crystal then shifted back to secondary standby and carefully monitored the progress of the two active execution tasks.
Nodoka smiled at her daughter's reaction to the ... aesthetics ... of the Ring. She had long ago given up hope that she would be able to fulfill this clan duty, and the warnings her grandmother had given both her and her mother over breaking this tradition had been dire indeed. Watching Ranko-chan fuss over the bracelet's appearance made her want to giggle in relief. The Ring was cast in nearly pure silver and tarnished quickly in the Tokyo climate, but it would take very little effort to restore its original finish. Her breath caught in her throat when the Ring suddenly began to glow with a rich golden light.
"Ah, crap," Ranma exclaimed with a growl. So much for the damned thing being harmless.
Nodoka watched in awe as the Hunter's Ring writhed and shifted on her daughter's wrist. "The Ring will know its true owner," her grandmother had told her more than once. "The signs of this are quite unmistakable. Guard your daughters well, for one of them may end up becoming the clan's Chosen."
The light cast from the ring was quickly joined by one which emanated from Ranko-chan's forehead - a golden crescent moon appeared above her eyebrows and cast a brilliant array of rapidly rotating light beams for several seconds. The combined display increased to nearly blinding levels before cutting off completely. Both Saotome women spent a few moments trying to blink the spots from their eyes before they could see what changes had been left behind.
Ranma held up her left wrist and groaned. The ends of the bracelet had flowed together and fused, turning the bracelet into a single unbroken circlet of metal. The tarnish and corrosion had disappeared and the bracelet was now a bright silver, decorated with crescent moon cutouts around most of the ring's circumference. The section located at the top of her wrist was solid and now sported a golden dragon in bas-relief with a small diamond inset for the dragon's eye. The bracelet was snug to her wrist - she'd have to get the damned thing off before she changed back to her guy form or her wrist would get seriously crushed.
"Oh daughter, I'm so proud of you."
"Ack!" Speaking of getting crushed - Ranma found herself once more enveloped in her mother's arms. She didn't mind ... honest! ... but she was beginning to wonder if her mother had taken glomming lessons from Shampoo sometime in the past.
Fortunately this particular glom was relatively short-lived. Ranma caught her breath when she looked back over to her mother. It took her a moment to recognize the expression blazing across the older woman's face.
It was pride.
"Mom?"
"Ranko-chan, you have just been chosen as one worthy to be Champion of the clan's honor."
"Kami-forsaken magical CRAP," Ranma exclaimed to herself in disgust. She had been tugging and pulling on the bracelet ever since she had left her mother's house several minutes ago and it hadn't budged a single millimeter from its current position. Fortunately it was seated up on her forearm just far enough so that it didn't hamper her wrist movement at all, but whatever magic which had fused the damned bracelet together was also keeping it firmly in place.
Maybe Bendis or the temple kami could figure out how to get the stupid thing off.
"Well, if it isn't the Femboy herself in all her glory. Just the cross-dressing girly I was looking for."
Ranma stopped and glared at the tall figure leaning against a tree across the narrow alleyway. She did not need this right now.
"What d'ya want this time, Pantyhose?"
Taro pushed himself upright and began sauntering over towards the shorter redhead. "You know, normally I'd take offense at you calling me that, but I've finally figured out what I've been doing wro... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You've turned girl for real now, haven't you?"
Ranma clenched her fists and growled.
"Goodness, just look at the girly girl. Black fitted slacks, tailored blouse; okay, so it's still that horrid red and black combo you seem to like so well, but still! You're even wearing jewelry, and if I'm not mistaken that's a bra you've got on underneath all of that. Finally getting in touch with your feminine side, Femgirl?"
"AAAAAARRRRRRGH!!!" Ranma launched herself at her sneering opponent, jumping just over his head while kicking down with a powerful roundhouse snap-kick ... fully intending to separate his head from his shoulders. Unfortunately it was a move Taro had seen before; he timed his crossed-armed block perfectly and caught her ankle with both hands once the kick had been robbed of its power.
Ranma grunted in pain when she was slammed hard into the concrete by her leg. That had hurt just as bad as catching one of Ryouga's punches straight-on. Before she could react Taro leaned over and grabbed a hold of the same ankle with both hands again. A quick snatch-throw resulted in her flying briefly through the air before being suddenly and forcefully acquainted with an extremely stout and painfully solid brick wall on the other side of the alley. She slid down to the ground with a thump.
"Like I was saying," Taro said, slowly stalking over to his opponent. "I finally figured out what I've been doing wrong all this time." He stopped in the middle of the alleyway and pulled a canteen out from behind his back. "I've been trying to get you guys to help me in catching the evil freak, but every time I've been here we somehow end up fighting each other while the retched little pervert gets away and laughs. This time I figured I'd have better luck if I simply got rid of you first, so you couldn't interfere when I finally catch up with the old runt and tear the bastard from limb to limb."
Ranma staggered to her feet with a groan.
Taro gave the redhead an evil smirk. "And since it looks like you've turned into a real girl now, I can even show you a good time when it's all over with." Taro's expression hardened. "Once I've beaten you to a bloody pulp." He uncapped the canteen and poured the contents over his head.
"MRAWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Ranma grimmaced. Massive minotaur body and head - check. Ridiculously undersized crane wings - check. Eel tail - check. Eight massively oversized octopus tentacles anchored under the wings - check. Unpleasant attitude to match - double check. At least it didn't look like he'd added anything new this time. Small favor.
She leapt over the first wave of octopus tentacles flung in her direction. Taro's cursed form was bad enough to go up against when she was fresh, but she was anything but fresh at the moment ... and it hadn't helped that he'd gotten in a couple of really good shots right off the bat, either. She wasn't able to avoid Taro's second volley - a wiry coil snagged her wrist in mid-leap, tumbling her briefly end-over-end. A second tentacle whipped around both her legs and quickly tightened to a cinch. Ranma heard Taro's rumbling chuckle just before she was hammered repeatedly into the sidewalk. She nearly blacked out after the fifth full-body slam.
Taro laughed in delight - this was fun. He was just about to pummel the little bitch into the ground again when he suddenly stopped on a thought. He laughed some more - oh, that would be perfect, just perfect. Taro negligently tossed the nearly-unconscious redhead up in the air and released his hold on her legs.
A half-second later a massive fist smashed directly into Ranma's torso and punched her three blocks to the south. She landed with a painful crash in an abandoned and overgrown lot.
That really hurt - she was barely able to stand.
Bendis woke up with a start. Something was wrong, very wrong ... and what ever it was that was happening required her immediate and undivided attention without delay. The distinct tug in her mind she felt was to the ... east, and about ... fifteen blocks away.
She'd have to hurry. Now.
The black fox leapt out of the comfortable nest the sweet but overly-attentive Kasumi person had made for her and ran towards the house's main room. She could smell the outside air coming from that direction, which meant that at least one of the exterior shoji which lead to the koi pond had been slid open. She practically flew through the open doorway before skidding around the corner of the hallway.
*THUMP*
Owie.
Bendis shook her head briefly to clear her vision before looking up at the roadblock she had just run into at full tilt. A massive black and white panda stood in her way.
[Pets are an unwanted distraction ...] Panda-Genma signed. *FLIP* [Hope you enjoy the ride.]
Bendis didn't have a chance to move out of the way. Genma swung the sign-board with deceptive speed and swatted the black fox out the open shoji and up over the perimeter fence on the other side of the koi pond. He nodded in satisfaction when he heard the furry little pest land with a muffled thump in the alleyway beyond.
[Stupid flea-bitten mongrel.] *FLIP* [I'll just tell the boy his "pet" ran away.] *FLIP* [What he doesn't know won't hurt him.] *FLIP* [He can't afford the distraction, and just why in the ...] *FLIP* [... hell am I thinking out loud with these signs?]
Ranma stood on rubbery legs and watched Taro's massive form touch down lightly on the ground about five meters away from her. He pulled out a tea kettle from somewhere and doused himself, shrinking quickly down to his uncursed form. A small pantyhose-wrapped bundle fell down on the ground beside him. Taro casually unwrapped the bundle and dressed himself with the contents, smirking at the redhead all the while.
"You really didn't put up much of a fight there, Femgirl," Taro said with a sneer. "Look a you - you can barely stand up after a couple of measly little hits. Why don't you take a load off your feet, lie down, and relax for a while. While you're at it, you can spread those pretty little legs of yours apart like a good little girl and we can spend a bit of 'quality time' together."
He picked up the pair of pantyhose which had bundled his clothes off the ground and stretched it out between his hands. "I imagine the sight of you buck naked and bundled up all nice and helpless with your legs tied wide open will bring the little freak over here in a hurry, don't you? Of course, I can always prime the pump a bit beforehand just to make sure - that should really bring him running 'round. He'll be so over-excited he'll never see it coming."
Taro paused for a moment when his ... "helper" ... began glowing. He chuckled when he didn't sense anything more than a small trickle of ki buildup from the cross-dresser.
"Hey, that's a cute trick, Femgirl. What are you trying to do - 'flash' me to death? HAHAHAHAHA! Get it? 'Flash' me? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Ranma stood her ground - barely - and fumed while she listened to Pantyhose rant about doing that to her as if it was nothing of consequence. She felt a pressure build up inside of her, a ... rage ... which centered in her heart and threatened to ignite her very soul. She hadn't yet been defeated, but her customary reserves of ki were almost totally expended. It had taken nearly everything she had inside to shield her body from the punishment she had just endured and there was literally nothing left to fuel her anger.
When Taro mentioned that he was going to stake her out as bait for the old freak, though, something inside of her snapped.
Ranma felt a veritable tsunami of power flood into her. It wasn't ki - she couldn't direct it into her limbs or use it to shore up her reserves but it demanded release none the less. Her entire body shook with the effort to contain the rush of power flowing into her from somewhere.
It would not be stopped.
It would not be contained.
It needed release - guidance - direction - form.
Form given substance by concepts - ideas - words - words of power.
Phantoms gibbered in her ears. Words were the trigger.
The trigger! THERE!
Ranma thrust her left fist straight up in the air and screamed her release from the storm raging within.
"SILVER IMPERIUM CRISIS, MAKE UP!!!"