Disclaimer:  None of the characters of Ranma ½ and Sailor 
Moon belong to me.  I recommend that you don't sue me as 
I don't have the money to even afford a lawyer for 15 
minutes.

Twin Black Phoenix
A Ranma ½ and Sailor Moon Crossover
By Tomas Megerson

Note:  This is going to be dark in some places.  It will 
be extremely dark at times.  If you don't like dark fics, 
then I don't recommend it.

Prelude

	The two pick pockets looked at each other.  Looking 
back around the corner they saw the prey that caught their 
eyes.  A pair of girls with their money pouches hanging on 
the outside of their clothes.  Easy prey to expert thieves.  
Despite neither one being over thirteen years of age, both 
boys were experts in their field.

	"Well, Ranma, do we go for it or not.  It has been 
a long time since we had a real meal.  I wouldn't mind 
something besides rats for a change."

	"I don't know, I mean look at their clothes.  They 
must have some sort of rank to be wearing that.  It may be 
too risky to chance it."

	"Come on, I know that you could go for a real meal 
as much as I can.  Hell, I haven't even seen a rat in the 
past three days.  We haven't eaten for longer than that.  
Besides since when have we been caught?"

	"Well, Tomas, there was the time we first met.  
And what about when we tried to work the space port, or 
how about the time you tried to steal from that restaurant.  
Or maybe that merchant's ship last month or..."

	"Okay, okay, how many times have they actually 
held us?"

	"Alright, I'll give you that one.  Still should 
we?"

	"Come on we just need a few coins.  It isn't like 
we're going to beat them up and take it from them.  We'll 
use our normal routine.  I got left you got right.  Look 
they're movin' on.  We go or not?"

	Sigh  "We go, of course.  I could use that meal."

	The two of them calmly walked out of the ally and 
headed toward their targets.  Moving with a practiced easy 
they passed the two girls at a calm walk neither so much 
as breaking stride.  They rounded the next corner and smiled 
at each other.  Tomas opened his hand to reveal six gold 
coins in his palm.  Ranma opened his showing four.
	
	"See, piece of cake Ranma.  They never knew that 
we flinched them.  It was as easy as all the other times.  
Now how about that meal?"

	"Why don't we visit that small Earth food stand four 
blocks over.  We can get a lot for just one of these coins.  
We can eat for a week there."

	Another voice came from behind the two boys.  "How 
about you eat in the prison under the palace?  Stealing is 
wrong, especially from royalty."  They turned around to see 
a well muscled man wearing a Royal Guardsman Uniform.  One 
word came from the two of them at the same time.

	"RUN!"  Before they got two steps they were yanked 
off of their feet and hit over the head sending them both 
into darkness.
***
	Ranma slowly opened his eyes.  A putrid smell flooded 
his nostrals as he took in his surroundings.  He could feel 
what seemed to be straw or hay under his hands.  To him it 
was as if he was on the softest bed in the world.  It was a 
lot better than the streets in the alleys that he normally 
slept on.  He pushed himself up and glanced around at his 
surroundings.  The bars on the door gave away where he was 
immediately.  "Great, a dungeon.  How do we get out of this 
one."  Looking around he failed to see Tomas anywhere.  
"Separate cells, too.  This just keeps gettin' better and 
better.  Well, I can't do anything but wait now.  I might 
as well get some sleep."  Ranma laid down on the straw and 
allowed the darkness to claim him.

	Some time later Ranma awoke as his cell door slammed 
open.  He didn't even have a chance to sit up before hands 
yanked him off of the ground.  He was carried unceremoniously 
out of the cell and dropped on the floor.  A set of cuffs 
were locked around his wrists and ankles.  After being pulled 
to his feet he glanced to his right and saw Tomas similarly 
shackled.  Tomas gave him a slight smile and shrugged.  "So 
you were right this time."

	One of the guards hit him with a steel covered fist 
in the stomach.  Tomas doubled over in pain and dropped to 
his knees with a loud groan.  Another guard kicked him in the 
face at the sound.  Ranma moved to defend his friend when a 
club hit him across the back forcing him to drop to the floor.  
It was at that point that the man who had arrested them in the 
first place appeared.

	"You will remain silent at all times.  Unless a 
question is spoken directly to you will not answer it.  Do I 
make myself clear?"

	 "Go to hell, you bastard" Tomas spit out a glob of 
blood on to the soldier's boot.  Then man's eyes narrowed 
and he nodded to his subordinates.  Whips descended on the 
two thieves in numbers.  After a half-hour of the flogging 
the two boys were yanked to their feet.

	The man, they now knew him to be a captain, grinned 
wickedly at the two.  "Now that you seem to have learned 
your lesson we can go.  The Queen wishes to see you."  The 
two semi-conscious youths were dragged through the corridors 
of the Royal Palace of Serenity.  The walls were bright with 
lanterns glowing giving the entire place the feel of a warm 
home.  There was thick carpet running along the floor.  It 
was a royal blue color with a red one running along it.  The 
two boys would have gapped at the ancient furniture, the 
expensive paintings, or the irreplaceable vases if they hadn't 
been occupied with something else.  Ranma and Tomas were 
busy trying to stay conscious as they headed for an unknown 
destination.

	Ranma raised his head as they came to a stop in front 
of a pair of closed doors.  Glancing off to the side, his face 
paled.  He turned to Tomas who had a similar expression of 
terror on his face.  They were in the presence of the famed 
Sailor Senshi.  It wasn't a good fame, either.  They were 
commonly known as Queen Serenity's personal 'removal' agents.  
They handled all of the people who spoke out against the 
Queen and in as violent a manner as they could.  Both boys 
had witnessed such an operation while they were in the slums.  
A pair of Senshi came over the wall letting loose their 
magic at everyone.  A large number of people were critically 
wounded and there were more than a few deaths.  Only three 
others besides the pickpockets escaped unscratched.  The fear 
they had of the two Senshi standing guard paled when they 
were faced with what lay in the room, however.

	Before them in all her glory was Queen Serenity.  
She would be passing judgment on them herself.  The two young 
thieves froze at the look in her eyes.  She was like an 
emotionless void.  Her eyes were so cold hell didn't even have 
a chance of melting them.  They could see it in her eyes, how 
she didn't care for them at all.  It was as though the only 
thing that mattered to her was herself, and everything else 
was to be stepped on.  It was when she spoke, though, that 
made them want to run.  It took every bit of courage that 
both had to keep from trying to run away.

	"What is the crime Captain?"

	"Thievery, Your Majesty, of the Royal Family of 
Saturn."

	"Are there any witnesses?"

	"I saw them commit the crime myself, Your Majesty."

	Serenity's eyes never changed.  "Very well, hang them 
at dawn."

	"Yes, Your Majesty."

	It was here that Lady Pluto, Senshi of Time stepped 
forward.  "Your Majesty, I need to speak to you in private 
concerning this matter."

	Serenity nodded her head and looked once more at her 
soldier.  "Captain, have one of your soldiers toss them in 
the same cell.  We can allow them to be together one last time.  
Also feed them, they are young after all.  Then return here."

	"Yes, Your Majesty."

	After the two had been dragged out Serenity turned to 
her first advisor.  "What is the matter Lady Pluto?"

	"I saw the stream of time ripple around those two when 
you sentenced them.  If they die, it will lead to your downfall.  
Their deaths will be the spark that turns everyone against you, 
no matter who they are.  If you want to secure your power, they 
must live."

	Serenity's eyes narrowed.  Had it been anyone else to 
say such a statement she would have laughed them off and had 
them quietly taken care of.  Pluto was different, though.  
Her views of the future were never wrong.  If she said that 
they must live to secure her throne, then she had no choice.  
She wasn't about to let Pluto get away with giving these 
orders to her, though.  "Fine, you deal with them.  I don't 
care what you do, but you will take care of them.  Our 
background checks proved that neither has a family.  They 
will be placed under your direct care as of tomorrow.  You 
are responsible for them now, Lady Pluto."  Pluto looked as 
though she was going to argue the point, but the look in her 
Queen's eyes made her step down.  Serenity turned toward the 
soldier standing by the door.  "Captain, you will escort 
Lady Pluto down to the detention cells tomorrow morning so 
she can retrieve her wards.  That will be all, from the both 
of you."  The two bowed and took their leave of Queen 
Serenity.
***
	The door slammed close on the cell containing Ranma 
and Tomas.  Ranma picked himself up and moved over to the 
single slab of stone that was to be used as a bed.  Tomas 
pulled himself over to the wall and sat with his back to it.  
Neither felt like talking about what had happened in the 
queen's council chamber.  They both knew that unless they 
did something they'd be dead by the time the sun rose into 
the sky.  Ranma laid down on the slab of stone, feeling its 
cold send shivers through his spine.  Much like the queen's 
eyes did.  He glanced over at his friend.  "I was scared 
Tomas.  I was scared shitless of her."

	"So was I.  I'm surprised that I managed to stay 
still when she looked at me.  I want to bolt out of the room 
try to escape even die just to avoid that stare.  It was like 
the eyes of the Devil himself."

	"All of the rumors are true.  People just disappearing 
without a trace.  Other thieves just missing for weeks and 
then appearing with their throats cut.  I wouldn't be 
surprised if she drew the knife across their throats herself.  
She looks heartless enough to do it."

	"No, Ranma, she wouldn't.  She'd order some one to 
do it and watch from the side laughing the entire time at 
the fate she dealt out.  And we're next for her.  She marked 
our funeral as the next one to go."  Tomas sighed and 
stretched his legs out.  Closing his eyes and drooping his 
head he tried to think.  "There must be a way to get out of 
here, to escape.  All we need to do is find it."

	Ranma sighed and shook his head.  "We can't do 
anything, Tomas.  They brought supper with us when they threw 
us in here and put on paper.  We've got no silverware to use, 
and they wouldn't do anything about us if we acted sick.  
They're going to hang us in the morning anyway.  All that 
would do would be to save them some money on the rope.  What 
can we do?"

	A hard look came into Tomas's eyes.  It was the look 
of someone who was prepared to face death and had nothing to 
live for.  "We ambush them when they try to get us in the 
morning.  I'll rush the first one in.  You try to get his 
weapon.  Maybe Lady Luck will shine on us and we can get away.  
If we make it to the spaceport we can stow aboard a shuttle and 
leave to a different planet.  What have we got to loose?"

	Ranma brought a grim smile to his face.  "Nothing.  
They hang us, or shoot us.  Either way we'll be dead.  At 
least we can go down in a fight.  You know I never thought 
it would end this way."

	"What did you think would happen?  We're a couple 
of pickpockets, Ranma.  The only future we had was to either 
get out of the black, or die 'cause of these Royal bastards.  
Looks like it might be number two."

	Ranma moved toward the side of the door and sat 
against the wall.  "We'll make it Tomas.  We're the best ain't 
we?  We're not goin' down without a fight, and we have yet to 
lose a fight.  Let's get some rest.  Wake me up for a second 
shift."

	"Sounds like a plan.  G'night, Ranma."

	"Night Tomas."

***
	Setsuna walked up to the cell door.  The captain of 
the guard nodded to greet her on the morning.  "Lady, are you 
ready to take them off of our hands?"

	"Yes, Captain, please open the door."  The cell opened 
to reveal Ranma alone in the back of the room.  Setsuna raised 
an eyebrow and stepped through, only to be tackled by something 
off to the side.

	Ranma sprung forward going for the guard's weapon, only 
to realize too late that they were dead.  "Tomas its one of the 
Senshi!  RUN!"    Tomas looked down to see a set of ruby eyes 
that he recognized from the day before.  Diving out into the 
hall he drove his fist into the captain's stomach.  Caught by 
surprise, the large man doubled over with the wind knocked out 
of him, only to have his nose broken by an open palm strike.  

	Ranma, meanwhile, was in a struggle against the Senshi 
of Time.  Both had their hands wrapped around the Time Key and 
were struggling for the weapon.  Setsuna finally got a bit of 
leverage and propelled Ranma into the wall, knocking him out.  
Turning to the door, she approached Tomas from behind a struck 
him across the back of the head with the Key.  He collapsed 
immediately at her feet.

	Setsuna took a good look at the guards around her.  
(That boy did a lot of damage.  If I hadn't been here, they 
just might have escaped.  This confirms what I thought about 
them, though.  The pig-tailed one shouldn't have even been 
able to touch the Time Key.  They will do nicely.)  She looked 
at the captain who was struggling to rise.  "Go get a medical 
team for your men.  And have that nose looked at, you don't 
want it to become crooked.  I'll be taking these two from you 
now.  If the queen asks, just tell her that I was right."  
She raised her staff and the two boys disappeared along with 
her into the gates of time.

***

	Tomas slowly awoke from his forced sleep.  He kept 
his breathing shallow and his eyes only slightly opened.  
(Where am I?  And why does it feel so soft under me?)  He 
opened his eyes fully and sat up.  As he looked around the 
room, he started to get nervous.  The place wasn't just rich 
it was opulent.  Getting out of the bed, he headed toward the 
dresser on the far side of the room.  He was considering 
searching through it when the door opened.  Spinning on his 
heal, he came face to face with a sight that he feared.  
Standing before him was Sailor Pluto.  She spoke softly, but 
commandingly.

	"Follow me.  I have need to talk to you and your 
friend."  Not knowing anything else to do, Tomas nodded and fell 
in behind her.  His gaze wandered around the halls.  He saw 
expensive vases and elegant paintings and a number of other 
riches as well.  It was hard for him to keep his mind on the 
fact that their was one of the Sailor Senshi in front of him, 
taking him to who knew where.  Eventually they came to a stop 
near a small wooden door.  Pluto motioned Tomas to the door.  
He approached and hesitantly opened it.

	What he had been expecting was a torture chamber or a 
dungeon.  What he saw was an empty room save for three chairs 
and Ranma.  Knowing his part, Tomas moved over to Ranma and sat 
in the chair next to his.  Pluto closed the door and moved to 
sit in the chair across from the two boys.

	The silence lasted for almost five minutes.  Ranma and 
Tomas were too scared to try and break the silence.  So far 
the Senshi hadn't hurt them, but they knew it could change.  
After an almost unbearable time, Pluto broke the silence.  
"The two of you are dead."  Both of the boys faces blanched.  
They were sure that the gallow was next for them.  Pluto 
ignored the frightened looks.  "As far as everyone is concerned, 
you were hanged yesterday morning.  The people you were no 
longer exist."  Her face never changed as the surprise flew 
onto their faces.  She had to make sure they would join her, 
and to do that, she had to move fast.  "The two of you have 
been chosen.  Now you have a choice.  You can serve me, or you 
can really go visit the hangman.  Those are your only options. 
If you have any questions, ask now.  I may answer them."

	Ranma and Tomas looked at each other for a long minute 
until they turned back to her.  It was Ranma who spoke.  "If 
we serve you, what would we be doing."

	"You will do whatever I tell you, no questions asked.  
You will serve as spies sometimes, bodyguards at others, and
decoys in other parts.  I will have you do whatever I think you 
must."

	The two boys looked at each other a long time.  The 
choice wasn't hard, but the emotions of making such a choice 
were.  Tomas slowly nodded and they turned back to Pluto.  
Once again it was Ranma who spoke.  "We will serve, Lady."  
Pluto never blinked.


Author's Notes.
Well, the new prelude is done.  I came up with the idea for 
this fic one night, and I think that it will go better with 
the Twin Black Phoenix title.  I am not dropping the original 
plan.  I will get around to writing it too.  Send me some C&C, 
please.  Also, I am looking for pre-readers for all of my 
stories except Immortal.  If you want to help, drop me a line.