Wheel of Anime: Book 1 – The Eye of God Chapter Five: That One Will Shake The World By John Biles http://www.thekeep.org/~wombat/Jordan/ ******** Ryouga looked around the room, trying to figure out how he'd gotten out of Dr. Hypnos' wagon and into a huge domed room with a large metal contraption near one of the walls. For lack of something better to do, he wandered over to the machine, which seemed to consist of many tubes and metal spheres full of holes. "Hello, traveler," a man's voice said. Ryouga started, then turned and saw a handsome man, dark skinned and purple haired, clad in expensive white and purple clothing which screamed 'I am royalty'. "Oh, I'm sorry, I think I'm lost." "Perhaps I can help you find your way," the man said. "I am Prince Dios." "I'm Ryouga Ayabara, sir," he said. "I get lost easily." "Well, perhaps I can help you find your way," Prince Dios said. "Where are you supposed to be?" "Well, I was with the Tinkers, somewhere north of Whitebridge, assuming they aren't lost," Ryouga said. "You travel with the Tinkers?" the man asked in surprise. "Yes," Ryouga said. "We're hoping...Ukyou and I, that is...to find our way back to our friends. We got cut off from them by...umm...this monster." He couldn't bring himself to say its name. "A Fanboy? A Kabuki? A Dubhound?" "Mashedpotatoes," Ryouga said as fast as he could. "Ahh, the great evil of Shady Logon. I hope you didn't take anything out of the city." "We were warned. So we didn't. At least, I didn't." "Come, we can have some tea and you can tell me about your adventures," Prince Dios said. "Alright," Ryouga said, and tried to follow him out of the room. Instead, he found himself in the middle of a desert. There was a huge mesa a few miles away, and he could see a road had been carved into its sides leading up to a huge crack in the mesa. He could dimly make out what might be buildings up inside the crack. Down where he was, the ground was sandy with a lot of small rocks. Several strange green tubular plants with dozens of spines stood nearby, and a small gray lizard sunned itself on a rock. A little further away, a shallow stream ran through a long depression, with lots of plants blooming alongside it. The air was cooler than he expected from such a desolate place. It was only when the ground shook that Ryouga turned and saw two women running in his direction. One was medium in height with long purple hair, clutching a mace in each hand. The other was tall and thin, with long black hair. She held a sword in one hand. Each wore practical clothing for combat, white tops and red pants with a dark jacket. They were being chased by a three hundred foot tall woman who held giant frilly dresses in each hand and wore one herself. "YOU CAN'T ESCAPE YOUR DESTINY!" the woman bellowed. The two women saw Ryouga, looked at each other, and nodded. They grabbed Ryouga as they ran up to him, lifted him high, and threw him at the woman. "HEY!" he shouted as he arced upwards, then fell down through the neckline of her dress. The woman dug him out of her shirt and stared at him, then threw him off across the landscape. He hit like a meteor, then passed out. Some hours later, he woke up in the wagon. Dr. Hypnos said, "Any interesting dreams? I got a major spike on the dream-meter some hours ago." Ryouga told him everything. "Interesting. I think you got so lost, you wandered into someone else's dreams. FASCINATING." Ryouga rubbed his forehead. "But why would women be afraid of frilly dresses? Most girls like them." "Perhaps it represents a forced marriage," Dr. Hypnos speculated. "Tomorrow night, when you dream, see if you can deliberately enter their dreams." "Are you sure that's a good idea?" "Not at all, but we must all take risks for SCIENCE!" Ryouga didn't like risks. ******* "He's not coming," Kurz said. "Or maybe he's just not been able to catch up yet," Nanami said. "My brain hurts," Ranma mumbled, rubbing his forehead and trying to drink his tea. They'd stopped at a small inn along the road to Caemlyn for lunch. It was somewhat run down, but the food was good and the tea was bearable. A couple of the men sitting at one of the tables made Nanami nervous, though. "Sick again?" Nanami asked. "We have GOT to find some kind of Wisdom to help you." "I'll be fine, it comes and goes," Ranma mumbled into his tea. "At least I haven't had any more dreams where I'm stuck as a woman." "Nothing wrong with being a woman," Nanami said a little sharply. "I bet you wouldn't like turning into a man," Ranma said. "Hmm, I could wear boxers like that," Nanami mumbled. "What?" Ranma asked. "Nothing," she said. "Anyway, we should press on once we finish eating," Kurz said. "I remember Setsuna told us there was an Aes Sedai in Caemlyn. I'm sure she can help us." "Fatora, right? That's her name?" Nanami said. "Something like that," Ranma said. "Ugh, my brain hurts." "That's it, we're finding you a Wisdom if it kills us," Nanami said. "Kurz, you can eat while we look." He got his food and they asked around town, finally finding someone who directed them to Old Mother Watkins, who turned out to be a tall, thin woman with gray hair which had been obviously and badly dyed black. "Hmm, an interesting set of symptoms. So you have fits of chills and bursts of fever and sometimes headaches? And they're coming closer and closer together?" Ranma nodded. "Yes." "Very strange," she said. "Can you think of when it started?" "Around when we boarded a boat from Saldea on the river to Whitebridge," Ranma said. "Hmm, could be some new plague from the Blight, I suppose," the old woman said. "If you were a woman, then it would make sense, but being a man... Then again, maybe that's for the best too." Ranma blinked. "It would?" "It's very rare. I've only seen two cases of it myself, but I've heard tell of five or six cases from my teacher and from other Wisdoms I sometimes meet with," Watkins said. "And that's in a long life. Never, ever heard of it in a man. Unless maybe that was Sachem's problem, but I'm convinced it was that awful home-brewed liquor he drank all the time. Addled his brain, it did." Ranma looked over at the others. Kurz asked, "Can you treat it in a woman?" "Maybe, but the cure doesn't work often enough as I'd like," she said. "I managed to save one, and I hear Allma Perkin managed to save her daughter when she had it." She frowned. "I can try the cure on you, but it takes several days of care and it might not work, on a man. Assuming you have the same problem." She put her hand on Ranma's forehead again. "Do you still have the headache?" "I'm fine now," he said. "There's this thing..." "Thing?" "Can I have a glass of water?" She got him one; he threw it on himself and transformed. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head, then she said weakly, "You...but how?" "Some sort of Aes Sedai item my father stupidly found and never explained to me," Ranma-chan said. "Hmm, were you...a woman when this started?" "Yes." "Then you'd best stay here and let me try to treat you," she said. Ranma-chan looked at the others. Kurz said, "We've got money, we can stay at the inn while you get treated. And maybe Basara will catch up with us." "I hope so," Ranma-chan said. "Alright, I'll stay." "I will start mixing everything up, then," Watkins said. "Come back after dinner, and I will be ready to start treating you." "Thank you very much," Ranma-chan said. "We have money. To pay you." "Good, some of these herbs are hard to get. I'll see you in a few hours, child." ******** Hinako crinkled her nose. "Do you smell that?" she asked. "Tinkers," Soun said. Hinako's eyes widened. "Tinkers? TINKERS?" Setsuna shuddered. "Even Fanboys fear and avoid coming near the Tinkers. But I'm afraid we can't, as I think they have Ryouga and Ukyou." "No wonder we found a crater along the trail," Hinako said, looking around. "They probably aren't lurking under every rock," Setsuna pointed out. "I'm trying to find something I can drain to power myself up," Hinako said. "Just take it from the Tinkers," Setsuna said. "Then you can smite them with their own power." "Good point," Hinako said. "Let's go!" She spurred her horse forward. Soun smiled a little. "She's a very brave woman." "Yes, she is," Setsuna said. "It will serve her well in the Tower." Then she spurred her horse after Hinako. ******* "BOO!" Dr. Fogler jumped out from behind a wagon at Ukyou. She started, then said, "I won't explode, no matter how many times you startle me." He scribbled on a notepad. "Hmm, perhaps the beautiful, beautiful night would do the trick." "We've been on the road several days, and I haven't exploded at night," she said. She half- wished she could explode on command, just to make them stop asking her to. "Ahhhh!!!!!" She heard Ryouga scream. This was happening all too often lately. Ukyou immediately ran over to one of the wagons and hopped in. The walls were splattered with a thin layer of pureed vegetables, as was Ryouga and Dr. Popeil. "How do you like my AMAZING VEGOMATIC?" Dr. Popeil asked. "I don't think men were meant to wear vegetables," Ukyou said. "But wouldn't it make your life simpler?" Dr. Popeil asked. "No," she said, taking the dazed Ryouga by the hand. "Come on, Ryouga, let's get you cleaned off." He finally began speaking again once they were at the nearby stream, with her dumping buckets of water on him. "These people are insane," he said. "I keep wondering if the Tinkers actually Broke the World instead of the Ronin." "I think that..." He paused, cocking his head. "I hear horsemen coming." She blinked. "I don't hear anything." "Lots of them, maybe even dozens," Ryouga said. "We'd better warn the Tinkers." "And possibly the horsemen too," Ukyou said. Ryouga laughed as he wrung his shirt out. "Good point." They walked back into the camp and found Dr. Wasyuu, who while as insane as the others, seemed to have a little more intelligence to go with it. "I hear horsemen coming," Ryouga said. "Hmm, that's strange, we'll only hit the farmbelt tomorrow; why would the Royal Guards patrol out here?" "It might be Fanboys on horses," Ryouga speculated. "Hmm, I'll get to test my horse whistle," Wasyuu said. "Well, let's get ready, just in case." The Tinkers swarmed about, getting the wagons hitched to horses, but pulling them into a protective circle. Metal plates came out of storage and were strapped into place between the wagons, while others slid down to protect the exposed side of each wagon. Soon, they had a small metal fortress in place. Ryouga was actually impressed. Soon, they all heard the hoofbeats, and then around three dozen SubNazis rode out of the forest. "We are in search of three notorious dubfriends! Tell us if you have any of them!" "There are no dubfriends here! Only the friends of the BEAUTIFUL NIGHT!" Dr. Fogler shouted. "Friends of the Dark One!" one of the SubNazis shouted. "Kill them! Kill them all!" The SubNazis were about to attack when a voice shouted, "Ahah! A bunch of delinquents! You people are soooo naughty! DELINQUENT PUNISHING ATTACK!" Wisdom Hinako had arrived. Soon, the SubNazis were lying utterly exhausted on the ground, while Adult-Hinako leaped off her horse. "Ryouga, Ukyou, are you there?" Setsuna came into sight, saying, "It is often wise to ask questions first and shoot later, you know." Soun looked impressed at all the SubNazis laid low. "Halt and identify yourselves!" Dr. Wasyuu shouted. "I am Hinako, Wisdom of Nerima's Field," Hinako said. "I am Setsuna Sedai, and this is my warder, Soun." "I thought Aes Sedai couldn't just go around blasting people," Dr. Wasyuu said. "Not that I like SubNazis, mind you, but..." Setsuna Sedai frowned. "She is not Aes Sedai. Yet. I assure you that no full sister, or anyone with any self-control would blast people like that." "Hi, Wisdom!" Ukyou said, waving through a porthole to Hinako. "Can you let us out?" she asked Wasyuu. "These are friends of ours." The Tinkers began dismantling their fortress. Ukyou rushed over to Hinako, while Ryouga ambled after her. He started to veer off towards the river, so Soun rode forward and lassoed him. "You won't believe what happened to us," Ukyou said. "We met these people who think they're descended from Tenchi Hawkwing, and I think they live way off across the ocean." Setsuna pursed her lips. "It is possible. He sent away two expeditions, one to the west across the ocean and one to Shara. Some of his children went with each." "His own empire was very brief-lived, but I suppose his children might have done better," Soun said. "Where's everyone else?" Ukyou asked. "On the way to Caemlyn, I think," Setsuna said. "Now that we've found you, we can go after them." "I hope they're alright," Adult-Hinako said. "I'm sure they're just fine," Setsuna said. ******* Ranma-chan drank more tea, trying to get the nasty taste out of her mouth. Why did medicine always taste so horrible? "I know it tastes horrible, but it's good for you. It'll also clear your sinuses out and gets rid of cramps," Old Mother Watkins said. "You're not on your period, are you?" "No, I'm not," Ranma-chan said. "I try not to stay a woman long enough to get one." "Alright. Let me know if you need anything, then," she said. "I've shown you your bedroom, so you can just lie down when you're ready. I'm going to bed soon, but there's some books over there." She pointed to the bookshelf, which held eight books. "If you want to read." "Thank you for all your kindness," Ranma- chan said. "Just rest and get healthy. That's all I ask. If you have a bad spell, just go to bed early, or wake me if you start to throw up or bleed." Ranma-chan nodded. "I will." "Goodnight, then." Ranma-chan went to check the bookcase and discovered she had a choice between two almanacs, an herb book, four romance novels and a romance short story collection. Maybe I'll just go to bed early, she decided. ******* "Need any laundry done?" Nanami asked Kurz. "Yeah," he said. "How much is it going to cost me?" "You get the friend discount, so only six coppers." "Alright." He paid up and passed her his laundry. "Try not to lose any of my underwear this time." She looked a little embarrassed. "I bought you new underwear." "I know. That's why I'm letting you do this again," he said. "How do you get it all so clean?" "Trade secret," she said, then laughed and went off to do laundry. ******** As he laid down to sleep, Ryouga decided that he would try what Dr. Hypnos had suggested. I'll probably regret it, he thought. But I'll wonder forever if I don't. He tried thinking about Ranma as he went to sleep, hoping he could maybe reach Ranma's dreams and tell him to wait for them. Instead, he found himself wandering the hallways of some very well-built, expensive looking building. Servants flitted about, barely wearing any clothing at all, all of them women. If this is Ranma's dreams, it's a good thing Wisdom Hinako can't see them, Ryouga thought, while trying to avoid nosebleeding to death. He came round a corner to the doorway of a large room. It was full of women in mono- colored bunny suits. There were exactly three women dressed in each of the following colors: red, blue, silver, gray, yellow, green, purple, white, and brown. Two women stood before them, one tall and dark-haired, wearing a striped bunny costume and holding a whip, the other wearing a brown bunny costume, but with striped ears. The second one held a plate which had several lit candles, various sheets of paper, and several small carved seals. She kept rubbing against the first woman's leg, and she was exceptionally short for an adult; only Wisdom Hinako was shorter that Ryouga knew. "I think having all Aes Sedai wear bunny costumes is illogical," one of the women in white said. The woman in the striped costume began to whip her. "Silence, dog! It makes you more pleasant for me to gaze upon, as a vacation from my hard work! Kneel! KNEEL BEFORE FATORA!" The woman in white knealt, but she didn't look too happy about it. "Now, fetch!" Fatora threw a stick across the room. The woman looked at her dubiously. Fatora turned to her companion. "I think she needs to be frisked for treason." The woman in white's eyes widened. "Alright! I'll go fetch!" She ran after the stick. What a complete freak, Ryouga thought. He tried to concentrate on ending up in another dream, but instead, a voice behind him said, "Mother! There's a man spying on the Hall!" He soon found himself dragged into the room and trussed up before the women. "Hey, I'm just lost!" he protested. "An ugly man has invaded the White Tower! He must be punished!" Fatora announced. "I wish only to be surrounded by beautiful women! Or at least just women, beautiful or not!" "I'll leave! Just show me the door!" "Bring the figs, the mice, and the grape jelly!" Fatora shouted. Ryouga tried to think what you could do with that and then nosebled so hard he passed out. He woke up later with Hinako shaking him. "Ryouga, Ryouga, are you alright?" "Bad dream," he mumbled. "Did I scream?" "You must have had a naughty dream," Hinako said. "I would have punished you for it, but I think you bled so much you look pretty weak." "..." "Soun noticed you bleeding while he was on duty, keeping watch," Hinako said. "Here, drink this." He drank the green liquid. It tasted horrible. "Medicine?" "You'll recover your bloodloss faster," Hinako said. "What did you dream about, anyway?" "Some crazy woman who wanted to kill me," Ryouga said. He resolved not to go seeking people's dreams in the future. "Well, don't do it again," Hinako said. "And let me know if you feel weak in the morning, okay?" "Okay." He quickly went back to sleep. ********** "How are you feeling?" Nanami asked Ranma-chan. "Awful," Ranma-chan said. "I'm really nauseous and my legs hurt for no good reason. No headache, at least." "Well, apparently some sort of peeping tom who also steals underwear was spotted around town last night," Nanami said. "Everyone was in an uproar." "Well, I slept like a rock," Ranma-chan said. "And the medicine is really nasty, but I guess I'll have to see if it gets better." "We've got plenty of money," Nanami said. "And we're probably ahead of Setsuna and everyone else, so this may let them catch up to us." "I'm just worried what else might catch up," Ranma-chan said. "We'll just have to take that risk," Kurz replied. ********** That evening, Ranma-chan could feel her nerves jangle as she got up and paced around the room Old Mother Watkins was letting her stay in. She did feel somewhat better, but that might just mean her latest spell had passed. There was a knock on the door, and she went and let Nanami and Kurz in. "No luck today?" Ranma-chan asked. "No one's shown up yet, so we likely won't see them today," Kurz said. "We thought you might be interested in a card game or something." "Thanks," Ranma-chan said, sitting down on the floor. "That could be fun." Kurz was halfway through shuffling the deck when the wall exploded. Nanami was flung into Ranma-chan and they both fell over. Kurz gave a cry as pieces of wall smacked into his back, and he tumbled, dropping the cards. He staggered to his feet as he spotted six men with clubs coming out of the smoke. Kurz panicked. Only an Aes Sedai could blow a wall open. Which meant either some hostile Aes Sedai was after the three of them or a male channeler was in the area and had gone mad. In either case, he wanted out. He grabbed Nanami and Ranma-chan as he made for the door. "Let's go!" The men charged after them, and they ran through Old Mother Watkin's house, out the front door and down the street towards the inn. As they did so, a mob gathered in front of the inn pointed at them. "There she is! The underwear thief! That's her!" one of them shouted, pointing at the trio. "Run!" Nanami shouted. They ran down the street, chased by the mob; there was no sign of the men with clubs. Fortunately, they were young and vigorous and desperate, and soon they fled out into the fields and vanished into the nearby woods. "Nanami, have you been stealing underwear?" Ranma-chan asked in confusion. "Most certainly not!" she said. "It would be unethical to deprive people of their soft, silky, delightful underwear." Kurz raised an eyebrow. "You sure?" "I swear by my bra that I haven't stolen anything!" Nanami insisted. Ranma-chan sighed. "Well, I can't see why they'd..." "They just blamed me because I'm an outsider," Nanami insisted. "I guess we're gonna have to make for Caemlyn. I still have some money." "And me," Kurz said. "I've got all of mine," Ranma-chan said. "Which wasn't a whole lot." "Well, we'll just have to improvise," Nanami said. "A cute girl like you and me can get money out of men pretty easily." "I'd rather be a guy," Ranma-chan pointed out, then rubbed her head. "Dammit, I'm starting to get sick again." "Guys can't get money as easily by flaunting their bodies," Nanami said. "I bet I could," Kurz said. "Well, we'll have a little contest," Nanami said. "Next town, we'll see which of you two can get the most money flaunting your body, okay?" "You're on!" ********* "Does ice help?" Nanami asked Ranma- chan. "Not when you've been kicked there," she said, wincing in sympathy for Kurz. A passerby saw Kurz curled up in pain, clutching his groin, and tossed him a few copper coins. "Hmm, the sympathy route," Nanami said. "You'd better get moving, Ranma, or he'll beat you that way." "Let's get him out of the middle of the street, first," Ranma-chan said. "Thank you," Kurz mumbled. ******** "I noticed the local wise woman's house was badly damaged," Setsuna said to the short, skinny innkeeper, Baldo. "Surely no one would attack a wise woman." "We're not sure what happened," Baldo said. "The damage looked like..." He looked around warily. "Aes Sedai work. But after going to all that trouble, whoever did it only stole Old Mother Watkins' underwear. They stole a lot of other people's underwear too. Some folk think this orange-haired girl was to blame, but Old Mother Watkins' said there were several outsiders with clubs who robbed her." "Orange-haired girl?" Setsuna asked. "Yeah, she came into town with a tall blond guy and a busty redhead. The redhead was sick, so she went to stay with Old Mother Watkins. They all ran away when the townsfolk got in an uproar about the underwear thefts." "How long ago was this?" "Just a few days ago." We'll have to press harder, Setsuna thought. If we ever want to catch up. ********** "Going to Caemlyn?" Nanami asked the old farmer, hoping that her partially unbuttoned shirt would help her case instead of hurting it. The last farmer had given her a lecture on wantoness, then left them in his dust. The farmer looked at her, then at Ranma- chan, who was babbling incoherently and sweating heavily despite the coolness of the weather. Kurz was having to help Ranma-chan stand. "Is she infectious?" the farmer asked. "It only effects women, sir," Kurz said. "We're trying to get her to Caemlyn in hopes of finding someone who can treat her." The farmer said, "Alright, I could probably use some help selling everything when I get to Caemlyn. Hop in the back." The back of his wagon was full of kegs. "I'm good at selling things," Nanami said. She looked carefully at the farmer, then said, "Yes, I think I can definitely help. And Kurz can carry the kegs for us." "I'm Kurz Cauthon," Kurz said. "This is Ranma al'Thor and she's Nanami Farshaw." "Ranma? Isn't that a boy's name?" the farmer asked. "I'm Wil Heston." "Her father wanted a boy," Kurz said. "Ahh, my older sister had that problem until I was born," Wil said. "Ever been to Caemlyn?" "Never, sir," Kurz said. "Well, I hear it's pretty crowded because they're going to be bringing that False Ronin through town. The one they captured in Ghealdan. Chiba, I think. Mamoru Chiba, that was his name. I heard Kanrinin Sedai ran him over with some sort of magical wagon." "Magical wagon?" Kurz asked, curious. "I understand she tools around the countryside with some sort of magical wagon that doesn't require any horses. It runs with the One Power. Somehow." "Wow, that would be kind of cool," Kurz said. Very useful for an army, he thought. You wouldn't need to haul fodder for the cart horses, thus enabling you to carry more food for your men. And great for impressing women. "Sounds dangerous to me. Was certainly dangerous to Chiba." Wil chuckled. "Been a lot of False Ronins lately." "There's one up in Saldea, we heard," Kurz said. "I expect the Tower will stop him too." "There's been a few who came close to defeating the Tower, but in the end, they all lost," Wil said. "I can't say I'd trust an Aes Sedai much, but I'd never be crazy enough to fight them. Or to want to channel. Some men are just stupid, though." Ranma-chan shouted something loudly and incoherently, though just for a moment, Kurz could almost understand it. "She do that often?" Wil asked. Nanami frowned. "Too much lately." "Sounds a bit like something I heard from a gleeman's tale once," Wil said, trying to remember. "The Old Tongue." "The Old Tongue?" Kurz asked. "I wonder what she thinks she's saying." ********** Godai stared into the Palantir. "So, Be'lal's forces have overrun Takari? But why? There's nothing there but a..." "But a pickle-making plant and a meat- packing plant," Espirita reported. While not a channeler, she was one of Godai's top agents and most trusted lieutenants. "I think it's pretty obvious what he's after." "Pretty obvious? How does he plan to...oh." Godai sighed. "I should have realized what he was doing when he went after the chopsticks manufacturers." Godai cursed himself. He should have expected this after the man defected to the Shadow. It was, after all, Be'lal who had been the one who had turned the once innocent activity of 'eating' into a way to kill people, in the first years of the war. It had seemed necessary at the time, for the Shadow had to be fought. But now... "He's supposed to inspect it tonight. I can try to snipe him," Espirita said. "Too risky. Kyoko would never forgive me if I let you get killed," Godai said. "Just report in to Mitaka and get a new assignment." "Yes, sir," she said. "Over and out." Godai stared at the now lifeless Palantir. It was all going downhill, inch by inch. He had to do something, before it was too late. Before more nations fell, more people defected, more foodstuffs were used to slay the innocent. Something. But what? ************* Ukyou stood in a great grassy field, staring up at the sky. A huge segmented metal sphere hung in the sky above the field, slowly cruising north. One side of it had a giant stylized eye carven into it. It was flying to Shayol Ghul to destroy it, she suddenly realized. She could feel it drawing massive amounts of the Power, somehow. And then, the ground cracked open and a giant hand reached up and grabbed it. The hand was pitch black, with long talons. It seized the Eye, and ropy tendrils of darkness began to probe into it, and the Eye began to turn black. The Dark One, she realized. It's after the Eye of God, she thought. Whatever that was exactly. She awoke in a cold sweat, to find Setsuna on watch, staring up at the stars. Setsuna looked over at her. "Bad dream?" "The Dark One was after the Eye of God," she said. "I'm not sure what it is, other than a huge metal eye thing, but..." She shuddered. Setsuna frowned. "All the more reason for us to find the others quickly." "You think...it might have been a true dream?" Ukyou asked. "Perhaps," she said. "Best to take no chances. Some rare Aes Sedai have true Dreams. You would be the first in centuries." "Wow," Ukyou said, then yawned. "I'm going back to bed." "Sleep well." ************* Kurz stared at Caemlyn as they approached it across seemingly endless fields of white which would become farms when the snows finally cleared. "Wow," he said. "It's huge," Nanami said, impressed. "Ia Ia..." Ranma-chan mumbled. "The second largest city in the world, after Tar Valon," Wil said with a little pride. "Maybe half a million people live here." Kurz stared. "Half a million? That's...that's..." "About ten times the entire Two Rivers," Nanami said. "Probably about as much space as well." "We'll be staying at the Hina Inn," Wil said. "It's a good inn." Kurz looked off south of the city, where he could distantly make out a fairly substantial camp of men. "Is that where they have the False Ronin?" "Probably," Wil said. "I expect they'll probably put him in the stocks or something, for folk to mock." "I'll have to see him," Kurz said. "I bet Ranma will want to see him too." Ranma-chan waved her arms about, shouting incoherently again. Nanami sighed. "Just hold on, Ranma. We'll find you help, soon." ************* "Weaving is the most consistent metaphor for using the One Power," Setsuna said to Ukyou, while Hinako lurked nearby, pretending not to listen. "We create threads of the One Power, and weave them together. There are five kinds of 'thread'. Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit. Some effects use just one." She held out her hand and quickly wove Fire together to create a dancing tongue of flame. "Others are more complex." She took out a small pouch and extracted a seed, then planted it in the ground and wove Earth, Water, and Air into it. The seed sprouted, and soon a violet erupted out of the ground, reaching for the sky. Ukyou stared in amazement. "The first step, however, is to learn to touch the Source of your own desire instead of by accident. You must learn enough control that you can't cause any explosions in your sleep any more," Setsuna Sedai said. "We will begin with a simple exercise. Imagine yourself as a flower." Ukyou closed her eyes and imagined herself as a rose. Hinako quietly closed her own eyes and imagined herself as a violet. "Now, imagine the sun rising. It is the Source. Open your petals to the sun, let it soak into you," Setsuna said softly. Ukyou tried to imagine her petals opening, and without thinking about it, opened her arms and legs wide. Ryouga began to snicker at how silly she looked. "Shut up, Ryouga!" Ukyou shouted, and tried to do it again. Hinako imagined her petals opening, but then she started worrying about whether she'd been watered lately and what sort of soil she was in, and whether it was the right time of year to bloom and how all the other flowers were so much bigger and it just wasn't fair. Setsuna held the Source, letting its serenity enfold her, so she wouldn't have to beat anyone to death. Ukyou ran through the exercise again; she could feel the sun beating down on her, her petals absorbing the warmth. "Okay, I'm full of sunlight." Setsuna studied her, impressed. "On the first try," she said. "Impressive. Now, let go of it." Ukyou tried to close her petals, but the sun didn't want to stop. Finally, she had to shove it away from her. Unfortunately, the sun responded by going nova. KABOOM. Setsuna crawled out of the rubble. "I see this is going to take some work." ************* "I see you grow more skanky with time, Fatora," Kanrinin Sedai said to Fatora Sedai. Kanrinin Sedai was a very short, old woman, who dressed rather more like a peasant than an Aes Sedai, a kerchief wrapped around her head, with a blue tunic, black leather jacket, and brown pants. Fatora had hoped she was dead, as the rumors had indicated, but instead she had come roaring into town, smoke belching from that annoying semi-mechanical ter'angreal steed of hers, leading the pack of Aes Sedai who had brought down the False Dragon of Ghealdan, Mamoru Chiba. Mamoru would soon be paraded through the city as a way of publicly bragging about the victory, but the rest of the Aes Sedai were currently camped with soldiers and their prisoner outside the south gate. Fatora did her best to draw herself up into something approximating dignity, while being thankful that Alielle Sedai was being smart enough not to cling to her leg and try to feel her up in public today. Instead, Alielle stood next to her, her own brown evening gown matching Fatora's elegant black. "I see you are still obnoxious, Kanrinin." "Queen Lum, it is good to see you," Kanrinin Sedai said to the Queen. "How are your children?" Queen Lum seemed displeased to have had her advisor insulted so blatantly, as her voice was chilly on her reply. "My children are quite well. I expect they will need to go to the Tower soon." "Well, they would be welcome to travel with us," Kanrinin Sedai said. "I expect we'll be moving on in about a week, once we resupply and show off the prisoner." "I would like to see him," Alielle Sedai said. "I've never seen a False Ronin, so I would be curious to find out why he got the idea he was the Ronin." "He babbles on about Moon Kingdoms," Kanrinin Sedai said. "I fear he may have already gone mad." "Well, we'll see," Alielle Sedai said. "Some of my researches indicate one of the nations of the Age of Legends had that name." "Well, if you wish to meet him, I can certainly arrange it," Kanrinin Sedai said. "And you too, Fatora." "I have better things to do than spend time around madmen," Fatora Sedai replied. "As you like," Kanrinin Sedai said. She turned back to Queen Lum. "Did the plans I sent ahead for the public parade arrive? Are they acceptable?" "Megane informed us that the plan met with his approval, so it has our approval as well," Queen Lum replied. "All can go forward." "Good, good," Kanrinin Sedai said. "Come with me, Alielle." Alielle nodded and followed after her. Once they were gone, Queen Lum said, "The stories about how obnoxious she is are quite true, I see." "At least she didn't drive her Harley into the throne room this time," Fatora said, frowning. "How can someone who dresses like a drunken peasant call me skanky?" "I should have blasted her," Queen Lum said. "Your highness, potent as your Heavenly Wrath is against those who cannot channel, any competent Aes Sedai would easily shield you, while slicing your weaves to ribbons." Fatora could have, but did not add the comment that it was the only trick Queen Lum knew which was much more potent than putting a spot on a wall. Everything beyond that was done with the collection of ter'angreals which formed the royal regalia of Andor. The Queen had gone to the Tower, as did all Queens of Andor in their youths, but she had only the tiniest amount of channeling ability, though like almost all channelers, she had one trick she was exceptionally good at. "And do not forget that she once kidnapped the King of Tarabon out of his own palace for failing to pay the rent he owed her on his summer house. Obnoxious as she is, she is not to be underestimated." "I thought she did it because he was a channeler who had to be gentled," Queen Lum said. "That was only found out after she got the rent money out of him," Fatora said. "I had thought she had died, but like a bad penny, she keeps turning up." "Well, hopefully, she will leave soon. I hope there will be no incidents." "My sisters will handle this False Ronin. There will be no incidents," Fatora said confidently. ********* "Welcome to the Hina Inn," Innkeeper Haruka said, a cigarette stuck in the corner of her mouth. "Mitsune, get your lazy butt out here." Where Haruka was a short-haired brunette of middling height, Mitsune was a grinning blonde, shorter and fuller figured than Haruka. She looked Kurz up and down and grinned, then said, "Not bad, not bad at all." "I'm not your dating service, Mitsune," Haruka said. She asked Wil, "How many rooms?" "Three. One for me, one for the two girls and one for the boy. They're paying seperately; I just gave them a ride. Can you recommend a good Wisdom they can take the sick one to?" Mitsune looked at the sick girl and her grin faded. She said, "I know a good one." "Alright, Mitsune, get the keys for rooms four, five, and six and take them to their rooms," Haruka said. "Dinner will be ready in two hours." "Thank you," Kurz said. They headed upstairs and got what few things they had squared away, and then Mitsune took Kurz to go find the Wisdom she knew while Nanami watched over Ranma-chan. As they walked, Mitsune asked Kurz, "So where are you all from?" "The Two Rivers, originally. We set out for Caemlyn together, then got separated and the three of us ended up getting here without everyone else." He sighed. "I hope they're alright." "Well, if you're interested, I could show you around town some time. I know Caemlyn pretty well," Mitsune said. "Sure, that would be fun. I bet you know all the best places for kissing." She laughed. "In more than one sense." They soon found Wisdom Dara's house. The Wisdom turned out to be a mountain of a woman, huge, right down to having huge hair. "Hmm, it sounds pretty bad," she said, gathering various herbs. "But it may not be too late." Once they got back to the inn, Ranma-chan was sitting up, having a glass of tea. "When did I eat last?" she asked. "The last time you kept it down was dinner, yesterday," Nanami said, right as the Wisdom came in. Dara strode over to Ranma-chan. "Hmm, you don't look so bad as they said." "It comes and goes," Ranma-chan said weakly. "But it comes back faster each time." "Tell me everything," Dara said, then listened to Ranma-chan recite the symptoms. "Well, I suspect what's happening is that you aren't getting enough rest to work through it all the way, due to all that travelling. I want you to lie down and rest until you get better. Also, I'm going to brew you some medicine you need to take at each meal, until the symptoms stop." "Alright," Ranma-chan said. "I'll do that." "And make sure she eats. You need food to get healthy," Dara said. "I'll make sure of it," Nanami said. "And button your shirt, girl, you're showing too much skin." Nanami looked embarrassed and buttoned her shirt the rest of the way up. "Alright. Let's see about getting the medicine made." ******** Nanami carefully studied the hole she'd made in the wall. It would give her a good view of Kurz's bed, just in case the moves he and Mitsune seemed to be making on each other came to fruition. Ranma-chan was asleep already, mumbling in her sleep. Nanami wondered what she was mumbling about. I hope Setsuna shows up soon, Nanami thought, though she knew Setsuna could easily search for weeks to find them in Caemlyn with no luck. Maybe I should see about getting an audience with that Fatora who Setsuna mentioned. She's an Aes Sedai. She might know what to do, Nanami thought. Worth looking into, anyway. ********** "Fatora Sedai generally doesn't meet with random people wandering off the street," the gate guard said. "But it's really important!" Nanami said urgently. "She's really sick, and we don't know if Setsuna Sedai will show up in time." "Well, we'll pass on your message, but don't get your hopes up," the guard said. Nanami frowned. "Alright. We're at the Hina Inn, if she wants to find us." He nodded. "Good luck." If she doesn't come, I'll make her pay, Nanami thought. Somehow. ******** "She's moaning again," Mitsune said. "She does that a lot," Kurz said. He was watching over Ranma-chan while Nanami was in town; Mitsune was keeping him company. "Is she supposed to be glowing?" Mitsune asked nervously. "No." Ranma-chan gave a great cry, and then her hands pointed at the ceiling and fire erupted from them, burning a large 5 into the ceiling. Then she stopped moaning, rolled over and went to sleep. "The Ronin's mark..." Mitsune mumbled. "That's got to be a bad omen," Kurz said. "This is going to go on your bill," Mitsune said. "I was afraid of that." ********** Ranma-chan sat up and stretched. She felt exhausted, but other than that, she felt healthy. Looking over, she saw Nanami in the process of folding, sorting, and ironing a lot of underwear. "Picking up some money by doing laundry?" Ranma-chan asked. "Umm, something like that..." Nanami said, then quickly said, "Feeling better?" "Yes." "Good," Nanami said. "As there's someone who wants to meet you. Even if that stupid Aes Sedai never returned my visit." "Eh?" "That stupid Fatora wouldn't come heal you, like I hoped," she said. "But, I discovered there's an Ogier staying here. A real, live Ogier." Ranma-chan stared. "They're really real? I mean, like, really alive here and now real?" "He came to Caemlyn to see the Ogier grove here and to see the False Ronin," Nanami said. "He's kind of geeky, but pretty nice. And just so...big." Ranma-chan stretched. "Well, I wouldn't mind seeing the False Ronin myself," she said. "If my health holds up. And I'd like to meet him." "Alright. I have work to do here today, but if you feel up to it, you and him could go see the parade today. Kurz already left to go watch it." "I feel a lot better," Ranma-chan said, standing up. "There is, umm, one thing..." Nanami said a little nervously. "Eh?" Nanami pointed up. Ranma-chan looked up at the ceiling. "What the...how did that get there?" "Kurz says you burned it into the ceiling." "..." "It would appear you're a channeler." "But...I'm a guy!" Ranma-chan said in a panic. "Not right now." "But...I mean..." Ranma-chan shook. "I could go mad." Nanami sighed. "Setsuna Sedai will know what to do. I hope. For now, go get some food and go see the False Ronin and try not to worry. I'll be here, working on the underwear, if you need me." "Alright," Ranma-chan said. "I'll see you later, then." She headed down and got some food, then asked Haruka, "Nanami said there was an Ogier here?" She nodded. "He's upstairs. I'll call him down. He seemed quite curious to meet you." "I'm curious to meet him." Haruka soon brought him down; he was huge, a good ten feet tall, with huge pointed ears and very bushy hair, his eyes hidden behind very thick glasses. His nose was very large, big enough to put a pipe in, Ranma-chan noticed. He had a book under one arm and a notepad in the other. "You must be Ranma," he said to her. "I'm Umino." She nodded. "Nice to meet you." She looked him up and down. "I thought Ogier were even bigger than you." "I'm short as Ogier go," he said. "So you're from the Two Rivers It is the Two Rivers these days, right? I remember dimly that area was the kingdom of Tomobiki, I think." he asked, sitting down gingerly on a chair as if afraid it would break. "Yes, it's the Two Rivers, and we've had quite a few adventures since leaving home." He got out his notepad. "Would you like to talk about them? Nanami told me about you and Kurz being ta'veren, and I thought you might make for an interesting book, especially once your friend Ryouga shows up." Ranma-chan felt a little flattered. "Sure. We can talk while we eat, and then we can go see the parade." "Thank you," he said. "Did you know your name follows the ancient Tomobiki naming practices?" "No, not really," Ranma-chan said. He launched into a long lecture on names, which was eventually interrupted by them heading into the city. They found their way to one of the major roads, but they couldn't see anything. Well, Umino could, but Ranma-chan couldn't. "You should find something to perch on," Umino said. "Can I ride on your shoulders?" she asked. "Hmm, that could work," he said, and picked her up to ride on his shoulders. Now she could see the marching of the soldiers through the streets quite easily. Soldiers of Andor, Murandy, and Ghealdan all marched together, escorting a man who rode in a cage. He seemed to have a lot of dignity despite all that, sitting as if he was a king being carried in a palanquin. Angry looking women marched and rode alongside his cage. There was something strange about them, Ranma-chan thought. But she wasn't sure what. He doesn't look insane, Ranma-chan thought. He looks dignified, maybe even a nice guy. I guess not all madness shows. And then he turned and his gaze seemed to fall upon Ranma-chan, his head turning to track her as he was hauled past her. He stared at her intently, and then his lips curled into a smile. He nodded to her, and then he was past her, being hauled off into the distance. "I think he was looking at me," Umino said. "Why does everyone always stare at me?" It must have been Umino, Ranma-chan realized. And I must have looked weird riding on an Ogier's shoulders like I was his girlfriend or something. "He probably hasn't ever seen an Ogier." "Really? There's several steddings in Ghealdan. I think they're in Ghealdan," Umino said. "Well, we've seen all there is to see," Ranma-chan said. "Might as well go home." "Alright. Do you have any interest in a game of ma'rah?" "Sure, though I have no idea what it is." "Really? I thought it was very popular in Tomobiki." "Which fell two thousand years ago." "Hmm, true, true. Alright, I'll teach you, then." They headed back to the Hina Inn. ********* Kurz scrambled up the wall. If I go this way, I should be able to see the parade easily from way up here, he thought. The wall was starting to crumble, and he climbed it easily. As he perched on the wall, he could see a very nice little garden courtyard and a huge house on the other side of it, but he turned his back to that and watched the parade, discovering the flaw of his plan: from here, everyone looked like little tiny toy soldiers. He was startled by a high-pitched voice. "Excuse me, but the wall is very dangerous to sit on." He started, lost his balance, and toppled backwards over the wall. The ground rose up to meet him and he blacked out. He awoke with a bandaged head, lying in a bed in a plush bedroom. A woman sat nearby, reading a book. She was gorgeous, with elaborately done up dark hair and a very modest, expensive black and blue dress with the Lion of Andor embroidered across the chest and stomach in golden thread. "Where am I?" Kurz asked. "You are in the Royal Palace of Andor," the woman said. "I am Nuriko, a member of the royal family." Kurz' eyes widened. "I'm in the palace? And you're a princess?" He rubbed his head. "Did I forget some things?" "I am not sure," she said. "I'm afraid you fell off the wall and landed on your head. I think you were watching them parade the False Ronin through the streets. I'm sorry I startled you." "Oh, that was you?" he asked. "Don't worry about it. I should have been more careful. Oh, I'm Kurz Cauthon. From the Two Rivers." "A pleasure to meet you," she said. "My sister, Usagi, will be here soon; she helped put you back together again." The door opened and a lovely blonde walked in, younger in appearance than Nuriko. Kurz judged she was probably about the same age as him. She was short, with hugely long ponytails trailing from hair knobs on either side of her head. "Oh, I see you're awake," she said, smiling. She had a tray with a teapot, cups, and cookies on it. "Would you like some tea?" "Yes, I would," he said. He leaned forward, then suddenly realized he was mostly naked. Though only mostly. He pulled the covers back up. "My clothing..." "Nuriko undressed you and sent your clothing to be cleaned. It was stained and dirty from landing in the violets," Usagi said. She stumbled, nearly spilling the tea onto Kurz, but Nuriko nimbly leaped to her feet and grabbed Usagi in time, pulling her back to stability. Kurz's eyes widened a moment, while Nuriko grinned. "He has very nice legs," Nuriko said. "I...uh...thank you," Kurz said. "You're very lovely yourself." To Usagi, he said, "I'm Kurz. Kurz Cauthon. Nice to meet you, Princess." Nuriko smiled broadly, while Usagi giggled, then poured everyone some tea. "So where are you from, Master Cauthon?" Usagi asked. "The Two Rivers," he said. "We were heading to the Tower with Setsuna Sedai, when we got scattered by Fanboy attacks." "Fanboys? In Andor?" Nuriko asked dubiously. "It's true!" Kurz said, sipping his tea and watching Usagi gobble the cookies like there was danger of them getting away. "We had to run for our LIVES. Sure, I can take two or three, but not as many as we met, all at once." Nuriko looked at him curiously. "Planning to become a Warder?" "I'm not sure what Setsuna Sedai has planned for me and Ryouga," Kurz said. "I think she wants Ukyou and Hinako to become Aes Sedai. And Basara was just sort of tagging along for the ride." He paused. "Let me start at the beginning." He had just gotten to where he was defeating the SubNazis in Baerlon when the door opened. Fatora Sedai glared at Kurz. "What is this? Princess Usagi, why are you cavorting with a HALF-NAKED MAN?" "He fell off the garden wall and hurt himself," Usagi protested. "He needed help." "A naked man was breaking into the palace and you think he needs HELP?" Fatora demanded. "He wasn't naked at the time," Nuriko pointed out. "I had to undress him so we could treat his wounds and wash his clothing." "Disgusting," Fatora said. "I'm going to have him flogged and thrown out." "You'll do nothing of the kind!" Usagi said, standing up and facing off with Fatora. "He's under my protection." "You will soon be a novice," Fatora said. "You need to get used to obeying Aes Sedai." "But I won't be a novice, and he's under my protection too," Nuriko said. "You can't have him flogged, unless Mother says so." Fatora fumed. "Then we'll take him to the Queen and let her decide." "Can I, um, have some clothing first?" Kurz asked. Nuriko said, "Usagi, go get some of Sousuke's clothing." "He'll want to know why." "Tell him a man needs clothing so he doesn't have to run around naked. He should accept that." Usagi nodded and ran off. ******* A little later, Kurz found himself regally dressed before the Queen of Andor. He bowed deeply. "Your highness, I'm sorry to intrude," he said. "Hmm, quite well dressed, I see," Lum said. "I dressed him right up," Nuriko said. "Since it was my fault he fell off the wall." Lum looked at Nuriko, blinked, then looked at Kurz. Kurz grinned a bit. "I'm very grateful to Nuriko for all the kindness I have received." Lum smiled. "Well, then, I'm sure it was just an accident." "He was half-naked!" Fatora protested. "He's trouble, that one is!" "Now, Fatora, we appreciate your concern," Lum said. "But I'm just happy to see Nuriko has made a new friend. Feel free to visit any time you like, Master Cauthon," Lum continued. "But...he...naked..." Fatora spluttered. "Does he look good half-naked?" Lum asked Nuriko. "Most definitely." "Not a problem, then," Lum said. "Nuriko, I suggest you show him around the palace before he goes. And Fatora -- Not a word." "But...but..." "I'll go with them," Usagi said. "Be their chaperone." Nuriko laughed, then took Kurz with one arm and Usagi with the other. "Let's be off, then." *********** Ranma-chan studied the ma'rah board. It had two levels, identical in squares, but with different movement rules. Keeping track of all of the rules was making her head swim. She reached for a piece, but Umino shook his head sadly, so, instead, she reached for one of her cavalrymen. Umino winced, so she moved it several spaces, then sat back. Her entire strategy consisted of reading his reactions to her moves, since she was still trying to learn the rules. It seemed to be working pretty well. Then Kurz walked in. "Hey, Ranma." He came over and studied the board. "This looks kind of interesting." "It's ma'rah, an ancient game," Umino said. "I've been teaching Ranma, since we finished watching the parade quickly." "You been off getting in trouble?" "Hah, you're looking at a man who has TWO princesses sweet on him," Kurz said. "You are so full of it," Ranma-chan said flatly. "You are a lucky man," Umino said. "Oh yeah, they want me," Kurz said. "And they invited me to come visit them again." "You are so full of it," Ranma-chan said. "There is NO WAY two princesses would be all over you." "Well, you could come with me on my next visit," Kurz suggested. "They've got a brother, and he's not bad looking." "I am NOT LOOKING FOR A BOYFRIEND!" Ranma-chan shouted. Umino began scribbling on his notepad. "Whatcha writing?" Kurz asked. "A farmboy meeting two princesses who fall for him. If that isn't a ta'veren effect, I don't know what is." Kurz looked thoughtful. "Are repeated groin-kickings also a ta'veren effect?" Ranma-chan asked. "Probably." Kurz frowned. "How's Nanami?" "Haven't seen her; she's up in the room, I think." Mitsune came in. "Ahh, there you are, Ranma. Just wanted to warn you, we've heard there's an underwear thief in the area." Kurz said, "Geez, it's like everywhere we go, some underwear thief shows up." "Yeah," Ranma-chan said. "Ever since Whitebridge." Kurz paused, looking thoughtful. "Kurz, you're looking thoughtful. This means you're about to get us in infinite quantities of trouble." "Something just sank in." "Just sank in?" Ranma-chan asked. "Remember how we got chased into Shadylogon by a bunch of Fanboys?" "Uh huh." "Who kept chasing us afterwards?" "Uh huh." "Remember what happened to Shadylogon?" "Nothing hap...oh, in the past, you mean?" "You think one of the Fanboys took some underwear out of the city?" "They must have freed Mashedpotatoes," Kurz said. "Hmm, I always heard it that H would be freed to leave the city if anyone took something out of it," Umino said. He made a note in his notebook. "I would imagine a perverted man could pass among humans easier than an evil mist." "True." Kurz sighed. "We'd better keep an eye out for it, and warn Nanami." ******** "He'll never take my underwear alive!" Nanami proclaimed. "He'll rue the day he came for it," she continued. She began to rant about how she would fight to the death to defend her underwear, only to pause and look at Kurz. "Huh." "Huh?" he asked. "I could see you screaming about being a man and running in terror." She frowned. "Not sure why." "Anything about me successfully macking princesses?" "No, not at all," Nanami said. "Though I have seen you dancing with some woman in a red wedding dress." "Huh," Kurz said. "Was she cute?" "I couldn't make out her face." "Well, not a problem yet," he said. "Anyway, if you want to visit the palace tomorrow..." "I'd best stay here and defend my underwear," Nanami said. "Uh, right. Well, we'll probably go visit in a day or two, so if you change your mind, let us know." Nanami nodded. "I will." ********** Ryouga looked around, trying to figure out if he was dreaming or had gotten lost. He was inside a beautiful garden, surrounded by a walls and a ceiling made of glass, which were keeping out a howling rainstorm. He didn't like the look of the storm. He wandered through the garden, noting that Ukyou and Setsuna and Soun and Hinako were all here, asleep. Surely I couldn't actually drag them in my sleep, could I? Then it suddenly hit him that probably Ukyou had exploded in her sleep again. Although there was no damage here, so... He frowned and went over and tried to wake up Setsuna Sedai. However, to his surprise, he felt a strange tugging as he tried to shake her, and only barely let go before he was pulled...it almost seemed like it was trying to pull her inside him. Further experiments with Soun and Ukyou showed the same results. Finally, when he was trying to wake Hinako, he didn't pull back fast enough. The world blurred around him, and he found himself back in Nerima's Field. It was a sunny summer's day, and the town was bustling with activity. He was wearing his blacksmithing apron, pushing a cart full of wood down the street to take it to the smithy. As he did so, Soun and Hinako, in her adult body, came walking down the street arm in arm. He tried to ask them what was going on, but instead, he said, "Good day to you, Master Mandragoran, Wisdom." "Good day to you, Ryouga," Soun said, sounding more cheerful than usual. "Your work going well?" "Very well, sir," he said, despite what he tried to say. "We're off to have lunch at the Winespring," Hinako said. "Just in case there's any forging accidents, you can find us there." "I'm sure there won't be unless Kurz decides to try hiding fireworks in the forge again," Ryouga said. "Am I going to have to give him a richly deserved beating?" Soun asked. "I hope not," Ryouga said, tipping his hat to them. They went on past him, and he felt himself grow insubstantial, and then he was standing over Hinako again. What the flaming ashes was that, he asked himself. He decided to explore the indoor garden a little bit. The doors were locked quite tightly, and sealed with little white discs on which was embossed a tongue of flame. The garden was full of many beautiful flowers, but had a few practical crops as well, like potatoes and tabac and blackberry bushes. He plucked himself some berries and sat down to wait and see what happened. What happened was that he eventually slipped off into sleep. *********** Kurz felt confused. He was balancing on top of a pole, stuck into a pool of water which was one of dozens, spreading in all directions, with only thin strips of land between them. Mountains rose up all around the little valley full of pools. Two of the pools caught his eye as especially strange. One was pure white in color, the other pure black, while all the rest were normal water. Every pool had a sign, but they were all in some language he didn't know. A funny little man wearing a grey jacket and pants and hat (with a red star on the hat) gradually approached, cautiously walking along the narrow bands of turf. "Hello, traveller. Welcome to the Springs of Jyusenkyo. I am the Red Man." "You don't look red," Kurz said. "Very tragic and apparently unsuccessful joke." "Uh, right," Kurz said, then paused. "Wait, the Red Man? Who watches over the Tree of Life?" The Red Man nodded. "I used to watch over the Tree of Life, but then it was sent to new guardians. Now I watch over the Springs, and other things of which I may not speak." "Why am I up on a pole?" Kurz asked. "Don't ask me, I didn't put you there," the Red Man said. There was a distant boom on the horizon. The Red Man turned, worried. "Trouble." "Trouble?" Kurz asked. "Dark One's forces have come to conquer the Springs and take the treasures entrusted to me. You must defeat them." "What me? By myself?" "Only the Ronin can stop them," the Red Man said. "Excuse me, but I'm not the Ronin," Kurz said. "Hmm, I guess I have time to make my will out." Kurz watched the roiling storm on the horizon rise up over the side of the mountains. "If I was, say, the Ronin, what would I have to do to stop the Dark One?" "Use the pools of Drowned Saidar and Drowned Saidin to destroy the Dark One's forces," the Red Man said. "How?" "Channeling." "I can't channel." The Guide handed him some paper and a pen. "Here, you can write your will too." "Well, I guess...I mean..." He stared at the storm; he could feel the evil in it, even from miles away. "I won't know until I try." "Okay, just jump down from the pole, go over, and blast all the evil." Kurz leaped off the pole, then ran over to stand by the two pools, trying to concentrate. "Any idea at all how to channel?" "Aes Sedai make it all look easy," the Red Man said. He frowned and concentrated. He was still concentrating when the evil swept down over him and he screamed himself awake. ********** Ranma-chan was confused. She was balancing on top of a pole, stuck into a pool of water which was one of dozens, spreading in all directions, with only thin strips of land between them. Mountains rose up all around the little valley full of pools. Two of the pools caught her eye as especially strange. One was pure white in color, the other pure black, while all the rest were normal water. Every pool had a sign, but they were all in some language he didn't know. A funny little man wearing a grey jacket and pants and hat (with a red star on the hat) gradually approached, cautiously walking along the narrow bands of turf. "Hello, traveller. Welcome to the Springs of Jyusenkyo. I am the Red Man." "You don't look red," Ranma-chan said. "Very tragic and apparently unsuccessful joke." "Uh, right," Ranma-chan said. "So what are the Springs?" "A special training ground. You fight here, and if you fall off pole, you land in a pool that turns you into something else when you get wet." Ranma-chan's eyes lit up. "Is there one that turns you into a man?" "Whyfore does a pretty woman like you want to be a man?" "Because I'm really a man!" The Red Man poked her breast. "Looks real to me." She wobbled, then toppled off the pole, landing in the pool. Nothing happened. "Hey, this pool didn't work." "That's the pool of Drowned Girl, of course it not work," the Red Man said. "Which one is the boy pool?" she demanded. "Can't tell you," he said, staring at her in her now wet clothing. "PERVERT!" she shouted, punting him skywards. He landed in one of the pools and crawled out as a puce wombat. Avoid that pool, Ranma-chan decided. She wandered over to the pure black and white pools. The white pool rippled gently as she approached. She could feel the power in it strongly, and the power in the black pool very dimly; it was very turbulent, where the white pool was serene and calm. They both called to her. On the horizon, a huge storm cloud rose over the mountainside; the evil in it made her skin goosepimple. It was vast and powerful and wanted to destroy her, the valley, the world. She could make out a man, blonde and half-naked with a huge cloak, riding the storm and laughing maniacally. Dark Schneider. That was his name. He was the Dark One made flesh. His power awed her, and she fell to her knees in terror. He was so full of power and strength and she was nothing, just a little child. The pools called to her, but she couldn't hear them. All she could hear was the terror in her mind. And then there was the sound of hoofbeats. She turned and saw Prince Dios on his steed, sword drawn, leading a charge of dozens of heroes across the pools, riding horses which didn't touch the ground. He swept her up onto his horse to ride behind him; she could see all of the other heroes also had a princess to protect, riding with them. They charged and a massive battle ensued. Shadowspawn erupted out of the cloud and fighting raged around her. Terrified, she clung to Dios' back, watching the battle go on, until finally, Dios impaled Dark Schneider with his sword. Dark Schneider shouted, "I AM INVINCIBLE! I WILL BE BACK!" Then he exploded, but Dios brought his cape up and shielded Ranma-chan from the worst of the blast. Nevertheless, she passed out. She awoke, lying on a very plush bed, with him sitting in a chair nearby, holding her hand. "Dear Princess," he said softly. "I hope you are well." Ranma-chan felt very confused. "I don't understand, what's going on?" "The Dark One wanted to destroy the Springs of Jyusenkyo, before they can be used against him," Prince Dios says. "He fears the treasures guarded there by the Red Man. Fortunately, the strength of our love enabled me to come to your aid and stop his evil plan." He held out a ribbon to her, with a brooch set into it, designed to be tied around her neck. "If you wear this, I will always come to your aid when you most need me." She took the ribbon and looked at it, with the vague feeling something wasn't right. Her love? When had they fallen in love? Wasn't she a guy? Where was she? It was all so fuzzy and hard to think. Wasn't there someone...someone she had known...someone... Wasn't... And then she felt someone groping her chest. Instinct took over. "PERVERT!" Her fists came around, and Dios went through the roof. The world ripped apart, and she woke up with Nanami's face planted in the middle of her breasts. "Nanami," she mumbled, shaking Nanami. Nanami woke up. "I was eating the most delic..." She looked at where she was. "Why, Ranma, you're so forward tonight." "Nanami, you rolled over on top of me again." "Oh, right. Sorry." Ranma-chan sat up, rubbing her eyes. What a really messed up dream that had been. She groaned, rolled over, and went to sleep. ********** Akiko Sedai looked over at Mamoru in his cage. He was smiling. He'd been smiling ever since the parade, and none of the Red sisters understood why. Surely he understood where he was going, that he was going to be gentled. Yet, he seemed to have somehow made peace with that. But why? Mamoru sat in his cage and smiled. He had a touch of the Foretelling, as the Aes Sedai called it. Somehow, he always knew where he needed to go, where he was supposed to be. And, on occasion, he would see things to come or know things which would be. When he had glanced at that red-haired girl, it had come upon him. He did not know her name, but he knew she would rock the Tower to its very foundations. That one...that one would shake the world.