(Scene:  The den of SKJAM!.  He and Officer Kira Midori are 
playing chess again.)

Kira:  Mate in three.

SKJAM!:  How do you *always* do that!?

Kira:  Just lucky, I guess.

SKJAM!:  Welcome back, everyone, as we start MSTing Act Three of Onna:Red 
Side.

On Mon, 21 Jul 1997, KOUMA RYODACHI wrote:

   ****************

   Mists of black roiled, as a girl with ankle-length hair the color 
of dried blood smirked at a hazy image in a dark crystal globe.
   "Well," she said, "The spell I cast on Her Royal Bitchness appears 
to have taken complete hold. Now," she continued with a grin, "I can 
start on that bastard." Raising a clenched fist encased in a black 
glove, she swore quietly, "I will show you two the hell you've shown 
me. I'll show this entire fucking world what it's like to exist in 
endless purgatory..."
   She began gathering dark magical energy, laughing megalomaniacally.

Kira:  Who's this, then?

SKJAM!:  The villain of the piece, obviously. 

Kira:  I know!  It's--

SKJAM!:  Shhh!  Let's do this the proper way.

	(They take out large sheets of white cardstock (courtesy Jeopardy 
(tm)) and write their theories on them.)> 

   ****************

   Act Three: Dark Dawn

Kira:  Ranma's certainly familiar with those.

   Chapter 13: Blackest Waters

SKJAM!:  I tell you, these waters just ain't got soul!

   Mokona bounced through the Silent Forest, the Magic Knights and 
the martial artists following it.

Kira:  I thought it wasn't silent anymore.

   "You know," Ukyou mused, "We need a name."
   "Huh?" Ryouga asked. 
   "Y'know, a name. For the five of us." She pointed at the Magic 
Knights. "Those four (this got her a few odd glances, and a couple of 
chuckles) are the Magic Knights...we need something to call ourselves 
too."

Kira:  The Transformers!

SKJAM!:  The Secondary Characters!

   "That not too bad idea, spatula girl," Shampoo said.
   "Hmmm....a name," Mousse drawled. 
   "How about, Magic Rangers?" Ryouga suggested.

Kira:  Sounds good to me.

   Everyone scowled at him. He shrugged.
   "Well, if we're the Magic Knights, maybe you guys can be the Magic 
Squires," Umi mused.
   The five considered that, then shook their heads. "Sound stupid," 
Shampoo said.

SKJAM!:  And demeaning.

   "What about Nerima Rangers?" Ryouga offered. Everyone *glared* at 
him. 
   "Get off stupid Ranger idea, stubborn lost boy!"

Kira:  He doesn't get to see too much TV, so he probably hasn't gotten 
tired of "Ranger" stuff... 

   Before Ryouga or anyone else could say 

anything else, 
Mokona > suddenly came bouncing frantically towards them. "Puu! Puu! 

Puuuuuuuuuuuuu!" it said. It shook frightfully and bounced into 
Hikaru's arms.
   "What's wrong, Mokona?" Hikaru wondered. "Is it a monster?"

SKJAM!:  Is Timmy in trouble, girl?

   "Puu, puu! Puu puu puupuu puu puuuuu! Puuuuuuuuuuuuuu........"
   They warily continued forward, soon coming upon a large, table-
like tree. "Here's Eterna," Fuu commented.
   "Huh? Where?" Akane asked.
   Suddenly, a bolt of dark lightning shot out of thin air above the 
tree. Everyone took a step back. Mokona shuddered. "Puuuuuu...."

Kira:  Ask a stupid question, get zapped.

   "What the hell was that?" Ryouga asked.
   "Is that supposed to happen, sugar?" Ukyou asked.
   "No," Hikaru said worriedly. 
   "I think we'd best tell Clef and Cologne about this," Fuu advised. 
Agreeing, the group turned around, and began the journey back to the 
palace.

   When the group returned to the palace, they found the entry path 
flooded with Cephirans, all looking agitated and worried. Off to the 
east, the Blemish was encroaching upon more of Cephiro at an alarming 
rate.
   "What the--?" Umi wondered.
   A thunderclap scattered everyone from the entryway, as Clef and 
Cologne emerged from the palace, Ferio behind them. All looked solemn.

   "Guru Clef, Guru Cologne...what is going on?" Hikaru asked.

Kira:  Cologne got promoted!

   "A most terrible fate, child," Cologne said. Gesturing at the 
gates, she invited the warriors in. The palace guards quickly sealed 
the entrance, encouraging the crowd to scatter.

SKJAM!:  Move along then, show's over.

   
   The two gurus led the warriors into the chamber where Emeraude lie.
 They all gasped.
   A large portion of the princess's body had been claimed by the 
Blemish, it seemed. Of what was visible of her body, her entire left 
arm, leg, and the left side of her neck were blackened.
   "I thought Zagato had it contained," Umi said, frowning.
   "He did," Clef said sadly. Then he gestured to the other side of 
the chamber.
   Zagato lay on the velvet-cushioned window bench. His face and neck 
were black.

Kira:  This is not good.

   Everyone gasped. "No..." Hikaru said.
   Cologne nodded solemnly. "The high priest has been afflicted by 
the Blemish as well."
   "So this thing is contagious?" Ryouga asked.

SKJAM!:  Yes.  And you've all been exposed.  I'd say you have about 48 
hours to live.

   Clef shook his head. "It's a spell. A powerful dark 

spell. We > learned that moments ago."

   "Both the Princess and Zagato are enshrouded in a black haze, 
which  creeps along their own auras as the Blemish claims their 
bodies," Cologne said. "It is a horrible, evil spell. One that we 
cannot counter."
   "So...they'll..." Fuu began.
   "Not if we can find whoever's doing this and stop them," Clef said.
 "If the spellcaster can be found, and stopped, we can reverse the 
spell."
   "The spell is incomplete," Cologne continued. "The spell on 
Emeraude is the first step in the process, which is complete. The 
spell on Zagato was just cast less than two hours ago. It will take 
at least eighteen hours for the process to completely take effect."
   "Aiyah...then what happen?"
   Cologne closed her eyes. "Oblivion."
   "Not if we can help it! We're gonna find that sorcerer!" Ryouga 
said.
   "You'll need to be careful," Ferio advised. "This person is very 
powerful, and you will not have time to retrieve the Escudo."
   Hikaru bowed her head. "We can't get to it anyway. Something is 
wrong with Eterna."
   The Gurus and Ferio looked up sharply. Hikaru continued, "Mokona 
was frightened away by something. When we got to Eterna, a dark bolt 
shot out of it."
   Clef gasped, and turned to Cologne. Cologne considered that, and 
nodded sagely. "I believe you have inadvertently found our adversary,
" she mused.
   "You mean...the person doing this got into Eterna?" Umi asked. 
"How?"

Kira:  Well, she had a little head start.

   Clef shook his head. "We won't know that until we know who is 
responsible."
   Hikaru looked down at the two Blemished people, and her expression 
trned grim. "Do you think we have a chance of stopping whoever did 
this?"

SKJAM!:  Nah, but you might as well die trying.

   "With me along, you will," intoned a deep voice from the doorway. 
Everyone turned.
   Standing in the doorway was a tower of a man, with short dark hair 
and a striking resemblance to Zagato. His jet black, grey-trimmed 
armor and fluttering black cape served to make him appear very 
imposing, and the golden ring around his head gave him a somewhat 
majestic look. From a scabbard hung at his side emerged what appeared 
to be a nautilus shell, with a blue gem inset into it, and a sword 
grip protruding from its beak. Something small fluttered in rather 
tight circles around him.

Kira:  Flies.  Gad, the stench!

   Everyone stared. Finally, the man spoke again. "Would anyone care 
to tell me why my brother lies so still, obviously suffering from an 
evil spell, while you all stand and gawk at me?"

SKJAM!:  Because you're more interesting.

   Clef finally spoke up. "Lantis..."
   Lantis nodded gravely. "I sensed something terrible here. I 
returned as quickly as I could." After a pause, he said, "Well? Would 
anyone care to fill me in?"

Kira:  No, but we'll brief you.

   Several moments later, Lantis' already grim expression was even 
more so as the two gurus wrapped up their summary. During the 
conversation, his companion, a cute yet annoying fairy named Primera, 
had managed to thoroughly antagonize every female in the group, and 
Mokona had already swallowed her twice. 

SKJAM!:  Primera's a fast worker.

   Just as Mokona was getting ready to open wide again, Lantis rose, 
and nodded toward the warriors. "I shall accompany you to Eterna. I 
think I can get us into the lake. We need to take out this sorcerer, 
so that we can heal the Princess and my brother before it's too late.
"
   Clef nodded. "If Lantis is with you, there will be a much better 
chance of success."
   After a moment, Hikaru stood as well. "All right then, we should get 
going."
   The group wasted no time in returning to the legendary lake. 

   The entrance to the two-dimensional lake Eterna was usually 
tranquil and difficult to locate. Today, thick black clouds roiled 
around the portal, forming a spinning vortex from which dark 
lightning crackled and ominous thunder rumbled. Everyone except 
Lantis glanced at it nervously.

SKJAM!:  he being too stupid to.

   The swordsman stepped up to the portal, and cautiously pressed 
against it with his hand. Sparks crackled around his hand, and 
repelled it. Undaunted, he drew his sword, which was bathed in a 
bright light. He  struck at the portal with the weapon, to no avail.
   "So, we can't get in?" Hikaru said sadly.
   Lantis frowned ever so slightly. "It's going to be difficult. I 
believe this portal will only respond to one type of magic. If we 
find the right type of magic to use, we might be able to get through 
this thing."
   Everyone took turns with their weapons and magic, trying to breach 
the portal. Nobody had any luck. Then, Hikaru tried.
   "Honou no yaaaa!"
   When the flame arrows struck the portal, it flickered wildly for a 
second, then became stable again.
   Lantis nodded. "Fire. Fire will  crack it."

Kira:  Jinkies, a clue!

   Hikaru sighed. "Mine doesn't seem to be powerful enough."
   Lantis shook his head. "You just need to hit it repeatedly. If it 
takes enough fire hits without restoring itself like it did just now, 
it should open."
   Hikaru nodded, and braced herself. Suddenly, Akane spoke up. 
"Hikaru...maybe you'd better let Ranma take this one."
   Hikaru blinked, then nodded. Lantis looked mildly puzzled. "Who's 
Ranma?"
   "I'll explain later," Hikaru said, as she plunged her sword into 
the ground, letting the flames engulf her. The inferno died to reveal 
Ranma, as the sword of flame  split and became his gauntlet claws. 
Lantis gaped. Primera gave Ranma a funny glance.

SKJAM!:  Like this? ;=%

   Ranma approached the portal, and tensed himself. The claws on his 
wrists gleamed menacingly as he concentrated on what he  was about to 
do. 

Kira:  But his mind kept wandering to lunch.

   With a cry of "Tenshin Amaguriken!", Ranma released a flurry of 
punches at the cloud-covered portal. Each time the claws connected, 
the gate flickered. After a few seconds, it collapsed altogether, and 
a surprised Ranma tumbled inside. Shrugging, the others entered as 
well.
   "Now to find our spellcaster," Lantis said. His  expression was 
neutral, but  his voice made it very clear that whoever had done this 
was about to know pain.

SKJAM! (Lantis voice):  Spellcaster, this is Pain.  Pain, this is a 
spellcaster.

 > 
Kira:  And that's the end of the chapter!