And now...we return to Onna: Red Side...

	Act Four: Putting the "War" in "War Preparations"

	Chapter 18: Parting of the Ways

	The mood in the palace's war room was tense and somber. Assembled were the
Prince, the two Gurus, the three Magic Knights, the five warriors from
Nerima, Lantis and Primera, Mokona, Presea, and several of the Prince's
chiefs and retainers.
	"Okay," Ferio began, "what do we know about the incident in Bima?"
	"Very little, Your Highness," said one guard.  "So far the only thing we
can determine is that magic was not responsible."
	Ferio's eyes widened, as did Clef's. "No magic? But...nothing else could
cause that..."
	Cologne frowned. "Except technology."
	Everyone from Cephiro blinked at her. She sighed. "Our world's magic is
subdued. Our civilizations tend to thrive on machines built by mankind..."
	"Mashins?" Clef asked. Cologne smacked herself in the forehead.
	"No, no...don't misunderstand me. In our world, we create things that help
us tame our world. Some of them are small, some are large; some are simple,
and some are complex."
	The Cephirans were clearly lost. Cologne frowned; how does one explain
technology to a world powered by magic? 
	Suddenly, Ryouga blinked, and slapped the table, almost denting it.
"That's it!" he shouted. Everyone looked at him. Grinning, he said, "I know
how to explain it." He shrugged off his backpack, and began digging around
in it. "Hmmm....aha!" He pulled an electric lantern from his pack, and
switched it on. The Cephirans blinked. 
	"What is that thing? How did it produce light?" Presea asked.
	"It's called a lantern," Cologne said.
	"Doesn't look like any lantern I've ever seen," Lantis muttered.
	"It's an electric lantern," Ryouga said. "Battery powered."
	"What powered?" Clef asked.
	"How best to explain this..." Cologne wondered. Then, deciding on her
approach, she cleared her throat and said, "In our world, some time ago
people figured out how to harness a force called electricity. It's like
very small lightning," she elaborated. "You know that metal attracts
lightning. In our world, people create devices with very small pieces of
metal, which attract the electricity, which powers our devices."
	"Ohhhhh...I think I get it," said Presea. Clef nodded understanding also. 
	"But...how, without an incantation?" Lantis asked.
	Cologne shook her head. "Electricity is generally harnessed from natural
sources. No magic is involved."
	"As interesting as this all is," Ferio said, "We still need to figure out
what happened in Bima."
	"Could it have been a bomb?" Akane wondered.
	Cologne nodded. "That is the most likely explanation."
	"That crazy," Shampoo said. "No is even gunpowder here. How they make
bomb?"
	"Actually, we do have gunpowder here," Presea said.
	"Oh, that's right...Presea-san did have a cannon in her armory," Fuu said.
	"Hmmm...but who would bomb Bima, and why?" Clef wondered.
	One of the healers entered. "Your Highness, Ascot is awake."
	Ferio, Clef, Cologne, and the Knights rose. Ranma shifted into Hikaru
without any fanfare. The group made their way to the room where Ascot was
being attended to.
	
	Ascot looked up as the group entered. His eyes widened at the sight of the
Magic Knights. "Magic Knights...they've returned..." he breathed. Then, he
noticed Hikaru. "How...I thought you were..."
	"It's a long story," Hikaru said. "Right now we don't have time for it."
	"We need to know what happened to you in Bima," Ferio said.
	"Of course," Ascot said, nodding his head weakly. "I was helping
townspeople who were trapped in their homes. Then I heard a voice in the
air."
	"A voice? What did it say?" Clef asked.
	Ascot relayed the words spoken to him exactly. "I'll remember those words
to the end," he said.
	Umi's eyes widened. Fuu frowned. "This voice-san was speaking in an Osaka
dialect?"
	"Osaka dialect..." Umi whispered, then gasped. "That...I only know one
person on Cephiro who talks that way..."
	Ascot nodded. "And she's dead, by your own hand."
	Clef frowned. "Ascot...what are you trying to tell us?"
	Ascot sighed. "The voice...I know it's not possible, but somehow...it was
Caldina. I'm sure of it."
	Clef went pale. "Caldina..."
	Presea smirked. "Well, seems like rising from the grave is fashionable
these days." Hikaru shot her a *look*. 
	"If it *was* Caldina," Clef mused, "why did she attack you, Ascot?"
	Ascot shrugged. "I don't know. The last thing I remember is being struck
down by a bolt of black lightning."
	"Ascot needs his rest now," the healer said. Ferio nodded. "Yes, of
course. We will speak more later, Ascot."
	Ascot nodded weakly. "Yes, Your Highness." He closed his eyes. 

	Back in the war room, Ferio sighed. "Any suggestions on how to proceed?"
he asked.
	Clef rubbed his chin. "For now, I think we need to concentrate on
retrieving the other Fire Mashin, and on locating Escudo for weapons for
our new allies."
	Hikaru nodded, and shifted back to Ranma. Ranma said, "We'll have to go
back to our world, and go to China, to get the last Mashin."
	"The five of you," Presea said to the group from Nerima, "will need to
remain here in Cephiro to find Escudo, and improve your skills with magic."

	"But we can't just send Ranma back alone, can we?" Ukyou wondered.
	"We'll go with him," Umi said. Fuu nodded.
	Clef thought about that for a minute, then nodded. "It would be best if
all of the Magic Knights were present for the awakening of the Mashin," he
conceded. "Also, it shouldn't prove that difficult to retrieve this one.
I've seen the skill our new friends possess, and I'm confident that they
will be able to defend against any attack in the absence of the Magic
Knights."
	"I would go with them," Lantis said, "to ensure their safety."
	"Are you sure, Lantis-san?" Fuu asked. "We're going to a different world,
after all.
	Lantis shrugged. "I can do my brother no good by standing over his bed
worrying, and we don't even know who our enemies here are yet. I would feel
better if I could do something useful in the interim."
	"Alright then, it's settled," Cologne said. "In the morning, Mokona will
send the Knights and Lantis back to our world. The rest of you, will begin
your search for the Escudo. I suggest you all get a full night's rest," she
concluded.
	The meeting adjourned, and the young warriors retired to their
bedchambers.

	The next morning, after farewells were made, Ranma, Fuu, Umi, and Lantis
stood in a small circle, as Mokona bounced happily in front of them. 
	"Be careful," Cologne said. "Try to stay out of trouble."
	The four nodded. With a mighty "Puuuu!", Mokona created a portal beneath
them. As the group disappeared, Presea said, "Okay you five, to my armory.
I'll show you where to go for the Escudo."

	The observation deck of Tokyo Tower solidified beneath the Knights and
Lantis. As they recovered their wits, Umi realized where they were, and
growled. "MOKONA!" she yelled.
	"Puu?"
	Umi grabbed the white creature by what could have been its neck, and tried
to throttle it. "What kind of BAKA stunt is this? Do you realize you
dropped us a VERY LONG WAY from China?"
	"Puu."
	"Argh! Stupid...I should make fluff out of you!"
	"Puu..."
	"In any case," Fuu said, "We had best make plans. We have a long journey
ahead of us."
	Umi sighed, and dropped Mokona. "Just great."


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Zankoku na tenshi no TEEZE
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
Hotobashiru atsui PATOSU de
Omoide wo uragiru nara
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku
Shounen yo shinwa ni nare

The Eternal Lost Lurker
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net

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