Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search Login Register Extras
Anime/Manga » Ranma » Dragons, Mages and Martial Artists font: B s : A A A . width: full 3/4 1/2
Author: Jerry Unipeg
Fiction Rated: M - English - Adventure/Fantasy - Reviews: 27 - Published: 04-02-08 - Updated: 04-05-08 - id:4172365

Ranma 1/2:
Dragons, Mages, & Martial Artists
Crossover: DragonLance
By: Dani Yanega

Chapter Seventeen

Ryoga and Mousse followed behind the people they had hooked up with since arriving to this world. Both boys watching Ranma with intense scrutiny. The two Nerimans could not understand why these people could not see the truth about Ranma as those of home could. They watched as the gold skinned mage and Ranma talked in low whispers. They sped up to get closer to them to try and see what lies Ranma was telling them. Only to find their way blocked by the mage's very large and very scary brother Caramon.

The two self absorbed martial artists fell back slightly their eyes narrowed with rage at the back of not only Ranma but Caramon and Raistlin as well. Ryoga and Mousse slowed down as the hairs on the back of their necks stood up. They looked around themselves as if trying to find something. Ranma paused also and began to look around her as if trying to find something.

"What is wrong?" The gruff voice of Strum broke through the three teens' concentration.

The three looked up to see Strum staring at them a scowl on his face. He then flit his eyes around him to see if he could see what the three young ones before him could obviously sense. When he saw nothing he brought his gaze back to the martial artists and saw them continuing with a slow visual search of the area. His eyes widen slightly as all three of them begin to glow slightly.

"Do you guys sense it too?" Ranma whispered as she forced her senses farther from her to find what she was looking for.

"Yeah we feel it, but we can't seem to locate it!" Ryoga snapped as he too pushed his sixth sense farther and farther away from him.

"What do you three sense!" Sturm asked again his sword leaving its scabbard followed by the others drawing their weapons as well.

"I don't know about Ryoga and Mousse but I can swear I feel someone watching us." Ranma told them as she continued to look for the hidden threat.

"It is the same with us we feel as if we're being observed." Mousse volunteered as he pulled a staff from weapon's space, sporting a wicked looking curved blade.

The other companions pull their weapons as they spread out protectively around the women. Ranma glared at Sturm as he tried to include her in the protective ring. She jumped to a nearby tree branch, and squatted down on the balls of her feet. Her eyes narrowed as she stretched her senses as far as they would go. Then tried to push them farther.

Her concentration was so deep on her scanning that she hadn't felt the slight change to her ki senses. Ryoga and Mousse felt the change and both turned to look at their mortal enemy. They didn't see anything unusal until they looked with their sixth sense. They gasped as they sensed the increase of Ranma's ki in shear power by at least ten fold, and continued to grow. They also realized it was not increased by ki but by some other power from within her.

They were startled out of their scrutiny when Ranma jumped from the tree to land in front of them. She stared at them first with confusion, then sadness, and finally barely concealed anger. She turned from them and headed for the Krynn natives.

"It is gone. Who ever was watching us has left, but I am not sure they were ever here. It is hard to explain." Ranma told them as her hand instinctively went to the back of her neck.

"That means whoever was watching us was doing it by magical means." The companions turned to stare at the white haired mage.

"It seems we have caught the attention of some very powerful magic users." Tanis said as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"We best be moving on before we meet that mage, then." Flint grumbled as he tried to catch the back of Tasslehoff's tunic.

The group moved on but with more caution and all weapons drawn and ready. Behind them three spheres of light appeared. One white, one of red and the last one of a blackness so deep it swallowed even light. The orbs slowly disappeared as the group disappears in the distances.

A black orb glowed brightly behind a shapely female's body. Her black curly hair reaching down past her waist. Her movements were fluid and graceful as she reached out and caressed the crystal. A small giggle escaping from her. Her tiny hand became a clenched fist as she brought it down on the crystal with an angry shout.

"NO SHE IS MINE!"

In a small room with walls of windows, a man in red watche\d intently into a red crystal. He glanced continually from the crystal to the book in his lap. As he wrote something down. He stopped as his head snapped up and he peared intently into the blood red crystal.

"My, my this will never do! A balance must be maintained." He mumbled as he wrote some more.

The white mist swirls slowly around the bright white light. A wrinkled hand appeared from within the mist toward the white glowing sphere. The hand paused above the sphere and slowly waved over it causing it to glow even brighter.

SIGH!

"She is quite beautiful." A soft female voice was heard in the mist.

"Yes, I guess so." A deep and ancient voice responded.

"Is she the one you seek?" The female voice asked as it got closer.

"Yes!" Was the short reply.

"As the others seek her?" The female voice persisted.

"Yes!" Again came the short response.

"Will you interfer?" The soft musical voice persisted.

"If I must!" The ancient voice told her with sadness.

"If I must!"

Nodoka followed her parents into the Nekohanten a small frown on her face as she stared down at her right hand. Her mother gently took her arm as she led her to a round table in the corner where Cologne waited for them. The restaurant was dark save for the lighted candles on the tables. Keitaro helped seat his daughter at the round table then took a seat next to his wife, ignoring the arched eyebrow of the Chinese Amazon elder.

"Have you heard from the other elders of your tribe, Cologne-san?" Taji asked her eyes shining in the candle light.

"Yes and I fear it is not good news. They do agree to the right to punish Genma and the panda is already on his way back to China." Cologne told them a shudder surged through her body at the thought of the many different punishments her sisters can devise.

"They had gone through our store of tomes but I fear it was unsuccessful. Nothing like what has happen to Elder Ranma has ever happened in the history of Jusenkyo. Plus Mascra brought up the fact that we don't know what changes might have occurred when the banished one used the orb on them." Cologne continued as Shampoo entered with a tray of tea and cakes.

Cologne nodded to her granddaughter who served everyone save Keitaro then sat down. The glares of the Japanese women did not go unnoticed by Cologen but Shampoo ignored them completely. Nodoka rose from her seat and walked to her father taking exaggerated steps in serving her father and showing him extreme respect. Shampoo watched this with callous disregard and disgust. Cologne watched with curiosity and disappointment aimed at her descendant.

"Shampoo you will apologize to the patriarch of the Takashi clan and show to him the respect a warrior deserves." Cologne's voice brook no leaway for argument.

"I am Amazon warrior and best of my generation. If Japanese sisters forget Amazon heritage it not Shampoo fault. Shampoo not ko...kowt... bow to man!" Though she had argued.

"I see then you are going against your elders and Amazon law?" Cologne asked her great granddaught, an eyebrow raised slightly.

"HUH?!" Shampoo asked as she turned to face her grandmother.

"In the missive I received from our village they had found the treaty we signed with the Takashi & Morboka clans. It seems because of their Japanese decent we allowed them leeway if you will as to how the men of their tribes interact with the female warriors." Cologne's voice was cold and authoritative.

"What Great Grandmother mean?" Shampoo stared at her grandmother a shiver of fear rose up her body, she, however, was unsure if she really wanted to know.

"It means Great Granddaughter that in the Japanese tribes the ancient tribes allowed them to share authority with their males. The woman had final say if there was a dispute but their male's were listened to and their ideas utilized to make a stronger tribe." Cologne watched her great granddaughter hoping her training as her heir was not wasted.

Shampoo's mind left the conversation her next move was a very important one for her future as heir to her great grandmother. She sensed this and by the way the Elders present were watching her. Though she cared not what the Japanese Elders thought she did about her Great Grandmother. Shampoo thought over the past two years and how it all started with female Ranma showing up at the tournament. Her life changed that day and for the most part for the better. She was a better warrior now, stronger, faster, and she hoped more intelligent. Her pride however was stronger too, and she was not about to usurp 3000 years of heritage because of some stupid treaty no one knew about until today. Shampoo opened her mouth to refute the treaty and to take a stand based on the laws of her village when a stray thought screeched to a halt and stood dead center of her brain to be recognized.

No this is not right, none of what great grandmother and I have done for the last two years were right. We ignored the rights of others in their own country. While we demand they respect our laws and customs. If the Amazons are to make it in this new world and to its 4000 year we must change and grow. This male though use to being the leader stepped aside to allow his wife to conduct these meetings. He did this to honor our laws. I am an Amazon, but I must grow to accept this change if we are to survive. Shampoo's eyes widened as she stared at her grandmother who nodded as if she knew what her granddaughter was thinking.

Shampoo rose, she would not scrape on the floor but she would bow, showing her respect. She turned and faced the Japanese Amazons and bowed deeply at the waist after all she is still an Amazon and she must uphold some pride in her heritage.

"Shampoo humbly ask patriarch of sister tribes, forgiveness. Shampoo make to big mistake. Shampoo realize can learn from patriarch on how to honor Amazon law and heritage and laws and heritage of other tribes. Please forgive Shampoo, maybe teach how best to serve my village?" The girl asked as she straightened up a small smile on her face.

Keitaro looked at the young warrior then to his wife and daughter. Both women nodded their ascent. He then looked to Cologne and she also gave her consent. Cologne then turned to her great granddaughter and smiled as she waved her back to her chair.

"Very good granddaughter, you have learned a valuable lesson, you are well on your way to take my place as Elder." Cologne told her with a warm smile.

"Now we must get down to other business, I noticed when you entered Elder Nodoka you were staring at your right hand. Then you felt the change in the connection with son-in-law?" Cologne just couldn't stop calling Ranma that as she liked it even if the young warrior was no longer bound to Shampoo.

"Yes, it was as if Ranma was w..waiting to die!" Nodoka's eyes shone with unshed tears.

"Hmm, I could not feel that but I felt a shift in the alignment of our connection. It might be that your connection to your child is stronger and you can ascertain what she is feeling. This is very interesting, I will need to check this with the young mage she is connected too. It might be we are on the outside looking in, as it were to a growing mental link between you and son-in-law." Cologne's eyes shone with excitement at the prospect of the spell mutating even more and learning how to make it even stronger.

Cologne held out her left hand to Nodoka who looked at it with a small amount of uncertainty. She then slowly put out her right hand and grasped the small wrinkled hand in her own. She then closed her eyes and thought of her child. She mentally called to her child, with her eyes closed she had not seen the gray and red smoke encompass her and Cologne's hand. Though she felt her connection to her child grow stronger as she felt the tingle grow in strength.

The little growing group trudged along staying to the roads and only going into the forest at the sign of trouble. Their only problem was that Strum and Ranma refused to be forced into hiding. They generally were dragged kicking and screaming. Well they tried to scream but strong hands over their mouths prevented it. It was during one of these off road adventures that caused the companions to retreat deeper into the woods.

"MMPHTHM!"

"Now Sturm you shouldn't talk like that around the ladies." Tanis teased as Riverwind helped drag him deeper into the forest.

"How is she Raistlin?" Tanis then turned his attention to the mage and Ranma.

"She is still in a trance and the glowing is growing brighter on both our hands.

"She is going to get us killed! she should be left behind to protect the rest of us!" Ryoga growled though the companions knew he was shouting through his clenched teeth.

"We could just leave you and your friend." Goldmoon spoke finally feed up with the two boys behaviour and treatment of Ranma.

As they entered the third glade, Tanis called a halt to the fast paced trek. He ordered camp to be made since it was getting late. Caramon set up his, Ranma's and his brother's tent while Raistlin attended to the comatose Ranma. Ryoga and Mousse watched them intently both boys scowling in anger. They either hadn't seen or ignored the glares they received from the women of the group. The two Neriman martial artists watched as Raistlin carried Ranma into the now erected tent. They sat down in front of their tent waiting like the other for what was happening. Like the others they jumped at the scream of anguish that came from the Majere tent.

The companions walked quickly but silently along the narrow, quiet road. Everyone on the looked out for anything out of the ordinary. They were traveling so far without any incidents when their luck changed.

"Ranma what is wrong?" Was heard being hissed by Raistlin.

"Mom!" The group turned to see Ranma standing transfixed her eyes glassy and her hand glowing faintly a gray with red tinge.

"What about her Ranma? Ranma?" Raistlin inquired.

Ranma didn't answer and Raistlin was getting worried as he waved his hand in front of her face and got no response. Goldmoon and Laurana came to help the mage. When they got a look at the boy locked as a girl they gasped, their eyes widening in fear. They stared into a face as white as a sheet, with revulsion and fear emiting from her sapphire blue eyes.

"What is wrong with her?" Goldmoon asked barily able to get out her question.

"I don't know she called to her mother then went into this catatonic state. We best get her off the road until we can figure out what is going on." Raistlin suggested as he and the two women helped lead Ranma toward the forest.

The rest of the companions followed them worry on most of their faces, rage on two others. They found a glade not far from the road and settled down for a few moments to check on the condition of one of their newest member. They watched as Raistlin took his glowing right hand and placed it in the left hand of Ranma's. Nothing happened and Raistlin scowled. He hadn't had time to consider what was wrong when Ranma let loose.

"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Her scream was filled with rage, betrayal and deep seated pain.

Raistlin picked up the young fighter and headed deeper into the forest and away from the road. He was followed closely; by his brother and the rest of companions. Mousse and Ryoga brought up the rear. They traveled deeper into the woods for more then an hour. Nothing came from Ranma but quiet mumblings and occasionally a painful whimper. Raistlin tried to make out her rantings but they had not made any sense. After more then a couple of hours Tanis called a halt at the next glade. He ordered the camp to be set up and defenses set in place. Raistlin waited for Caramon to put up their tent, as he tried to connect to Ranma's home world.

Ranma followed the companions next to her friend Raistlin. A friend she hoped she wouldn't lose. She thought back to the strange feeling she and the other Nerimans' felt when they were being watched. She was quite surprised they all could sense magic. She knew her abilities were growing and with the addition of the Jusenkyo magic so was her aptitude in magic. She was surprized Mousse and Ryoga though could also sense it. She was definitely going to run a scan on them tonight when it was her watch. Ranma's thoughts were interrupted as an image of her mother's worried face flashed into her mind.

At first she just tried pushing the image aside as it hurt to much to think about her mom and how she would probably never see her again. But the harder she tried the more persistant the image became. Ranma glanced a gray and red glow out of the corner of her eye. She looked down at her hand and saw that it was beginning to glow. She looked up quickly and uttered one word.

"Mom?" She felt more the heard Raistlin as he turned toward her.

She was about to tell him what was happening when the images changed. He still saw she mom and her appearance scared her. She was angry, disgusted, and looked a little ill. The then other images started to slowly appear. With a ghostly image of Nodoka superimposed over them. The images were from a journal, one she had never seen before. She, however recognized the hand writing as her father. She also noted the dates as all before she was even born. What got to her was it was her training trip in minute detail.

Everything, the Neko-ken, the dragging her behind the train. All the training she had thought her moronic father accidentally came across. Then as the pages slowly moved by as if someone was reading them besides her. She saw the entry about Jusenkyo. She read how he was originally planning on throughing her into a cat type spring to be able to control her easier. After that page Ranma halted, she couldn't believe what she had read. She hadn't noticed in the waking world that Raistlin was getting worried.

The content of the text began to change as her birth neared according to the dates on the journal. She read about Tarkoda, and what he did to the Tendos and Akane before her birth. It was to much for her as the evil that was her father begun to emerge.

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Escaped her as she collapsed.

The images of her father's journal kept coming driving Ranma closer to insanity. She could hear Raistlin shouting but her mind focused only on the pages as they flashed before her. The fact that the dates were long before the actual events at first confused her but she eventually realized that these were not daily journals but a future plan for her father to follow to achieve what he wanted wealth and power. Ranma decided what she wanted was for this to end.

Raistlin watched as Ranma went into a catatonic state her eyes stared at nothing with a glassy sheen. He was becoming worried for his new friend. He noticed her hand was still glowing and he reached over and took hold of it. He then concentrated on completing the connection.

"Brother how is she?" Caramon looked into the tent flap worry written on his face.

Caramon saw his brother as he grabbed Ranma's glowing hand he watched in fascination as the smoke coalesced into a twisting spiral which ended in a large sphere at the top. The smoky spiral flowered out underneath the sphere. He watched as the sphere begun to shimmer and pulsate.

"Caramon! I told you to keep a watch on Mousse and Ryoga!" Caramon jumped as he had been so engrossed in what was happening.

"Sorry brother." He looked out into camp and noticed both boys were not at their tent.

Caramon looked around quickly but could not find them. He heard his brother clear his throat and he looked toward Raistlin. He saw his brother pointing to two shadows on the back of their tent. Caramon's eyes narrowed, in general Caramon was a gentle souled warrior, unless his brother was endanger. As far as Caramon was concerned these two were a threat to his brother. He nodded and disappeared from in front of the tent. Raistlin waited, he saw movement go past his tent and light as it reflected of silver armor. He smiled as he realized Strum had followed the boys. He turned his attention to the shadows on the tent and was surprised that instead of four ther were five shadows. He wondered who was the fifth.

Ryoga and Moussed stared at the Majere tent. They watched as Caramon stared intently at them an angry scowl on his face. They watched as he became distracted with the events inside the tent. The two boys then snuck off toward the Majere tent's back side. They did not notice that Sturm and Riverwind was watching them. Nor did they notice as the two men followed their example.

The two boys got to the tent but wasn't able to see much not even shadows. So they listened they heard Raistlin call out Caramon's name but after that everything went silent in the tent. They waited for something to happen when they were startled out of their eavesdropping.

"You do not belong here boys I suggest you leave." Caramon's large frame loomed over the two Nerimans.

"You can't make us leave we out number you and out class you!" Ryoga's scowled but his smug voice echoed into the tent.

"Caramon asked you to leave, I think you should repair to your own tent and leave the three of them alone." Sturm had spoken one of the longest sentences since the Majere's had known him.

"WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, SHE IS OUR FRIEND!" The two warrior's arched an eyebrow then scowled, but before anything could be said a third voice made itself known.

"You seem to have a funny way of showing it. You have tried to kill her twice already." Came the quiet but resounding reply.

"Riverwind?" Raistlin's raspy voiced whispered from inside the tent.

The two boys stared daggers at the three companions. Ryoga grew angry and started to glow a sickly yellowish green. However calmer heads prevailed and Mousse hit his partner in the head with one of his metal duck potty chairs. Though it did nothing but caused Ryoga to glare at Mousse. The ex-Amazon was undaunted by the stare as he grabbed Ryoga's arm and pulled him away toward their tent. The three companions watched all three had angry visages.

"Thank you for your aid." Caramon told the two that came to help.

"We all like Ranma, and we are not so sure we want to send her home with those two cretins." Sturm said in a matter of fact tone.

"We are not even sure we want to associate with them, but we know Ranma is loyal to a fault and she did make a honor pact with them. Though Ryoga seems determined to dishonor himself and break it." Riverwind answered his voice a low growl.

"Do not worry Caramon we will help protect the young warrior, she is strong and has much to work through. You and Raistlin guard her well and we will aid you when ever you need us." Sturm said as he walked away followed by Riverwind.

"You have our word of honor, and we keep our word." Was the last thing Riverwind said as he disappeared around the corner of the tent.

Caramon watched as they left a small smile on his face. He then returned to his post. He looked in and saw that Raistlin was straining to keep the sphere from completely connecting with Ranma's world until it was all clear. Caramon nodded to his brother who released his hold. Caramon turned his attention toward the tent which housed Ranma's companions. He however listened to what was going on inside his tent.

"Young mage where is son-in-law?" Came the ancient voice of Cologne.

"Elder! Is Ranma's mother there?" Cologne raised an eyebrow at his gruff reply.

"Yes, but...!" She was cut off as Raistling interjected.

"BREAK HER CONCENTRATION BEFORE SHE KILLS HER CHILD!" Raistlin shouted his gravely voice made it more like a loud whisper.

"GASP!" Came from Caramon as he didn not know it was that serious.

"What are you...!" Cologne became agitated at his importance.

"DISRUPTED HER CONCENTRATION NOW!" Raistlin leaned into the sphere his face inches from it.

"Nodoka, dear!" Came a quiet voice out of view of the glowing globe.

"She won't snap out of it?" Came the voice again.

"THEN SLAP HER IF YOU DON'T BRING HER OUT SOON RANMA IS DEAD!" Raistlin's voice was getting more urgent but was never above his raspy whisper.

SLAP! He heard the sound of a hand as it hit someones cheek.

"M..mother, why...!" The voice paused as Raistlin heard the hurried whispers.

Raistlin turned to the magically induced sleeping girl. A small relieved smile crossed his face as he watched her relax. Her eyes finally closed with the magic and the glassy stare vanished as they did. He hung his head and sighed deeply in relief.

"RANMA!" The shout brought his attention to the knew face in the center of the sphere.

"She is in a magically induced sleep ma'am. She will wake in an hour and we will contact you then." Raistlin told Ranma's mother as he recognized her from the other communications.

"What happen I don't understand how was I...!" She trailed off not wanting to think of what she was doing.

"I am not sure I need to talk with Ranma, but she first called your name then screamed. I am assuming you and she now have some kind of link. What were you thinking of before you were brought back around?" Raistlin asked wanting as much information as possible to protect his friend.

"I..I called to Ranma, and felt her pushing me away. I continued to call her name until I heard her voice in my head say 'mom'. Then for some reason I started visualizing the journals we found that my soon ex-husband had written. Horrible things including all the torture he had put Ranma through and the things he planned to do and did do to the Tendos only to be able to kill them and take all they owned. I had memorized those pages I..OH NO!" Nodoka broke down as she realized Ranma was forced to see those pages as they past through her mind.

"LET ME TALK TO MY BABY!" Came her panicked scream.

"She is sleeping when she wakes in an hour we will connect back with you. Oh yes and she wants to talk to someone called Dr. Topu, no that's not right Dr. tonee..!" Raistlin could not remember who it was she wanted to speak with.

"Dr. Tofu!" Cologne interjected at the frustration on the mage's face.

"Yes that is it. She wanted to ask him some questions. Would it be possible for him to be there?" Raistlin asked.

"Yes we will have him here. How goes it otherwise, young one?" Cologne asked trying to get any information she could.

"If her companions would stop trying to kill her everything would be fine." Raistlin's gravelly voice got low and angry.

"I thought they had an honor pact to protect each other?" A voice asked off view of the sphere, Raistlin recognized it as the voice that brought Nodoka out of her trance.

"Ryoga tends to forget that and quite regularly." Raistlin growled.

"Yes well he never was one to take responsibility for what he did. Do not worry, he who was banished, will honor the pact and try to get the pig to do the same." Raistlin stared in confusion then he remembered Mousse has forced out of his tribe for taking the artifact that brought them to his world.

"Very well I will reconnect as soon as Ranma is awake." Raistlin told them then released Ranma's hand thus breaking the connection.

This is were Dani Yanega stop on this story.



Return to Top