Dear FFML readers, this is my FIRST fanfiction ever, ok? Ok.
For those who haven't read Dragonlance, my sincere condolences, since you
haven't lived!
For those who have: Good for you! (hug, slap in the back, hand shake, etc.)
Disclaimer...
NOT MINE! OK? N.O.T. M.I.N.E.
Ranma � - Dragonlance Crossover
Chapter 1; 'Unexpected Arrivals'
The companions rested inside the cave they'd found, Flint lay in an
unconscious heap next to the fire, completely soaked and muttering 'b-boat'
under his breath.
Goldmoon, although tired, still watched over the two girls and their 'pet'.
The Red-haired one was the one that she and Flint had heard moaning. And
while they were on the boat the one with brown hair had waked up for a
moment and muttered 'Ran-chan' while she grabbed the other girl's hand and
fell unconscious again.
Now again the red-haired girl stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She
suddenly sat up startling Goldmoon.
The girl looked at the assembled group and then at his still unconscious
companions.
"Ukyo? P-chan? Where am I?"
Goldmoon placed her hand on the red-headed girl. "Rest easy child," she
whispered "you've been unconscious for at least three hours, tell me your
name."
The girl looked at the others stopping for a second on each studying them.
Raistlin frowned slightly, as did Tanis, this was not the way a normal girl
would act.
"The name's Ranma Saotome." The girl extended her hand at Goldmoon, who for
a moment didn't know how to react.
Caramon walked up to where Sturm stood guard at the entrance of the cave.
"Strange girl." The knight muttered.
"How's that?"
"Look at her demeanor, she's acting like nothing's happening, and when she
looked at me, she wasn't just curious, she was sizing me up."
Just then the small black pig opened its eyes and looked around, then when
it saw Ranma it jumped at her wailing and biting.
Ranma jumped backward just avoiding the little pig and held it from the
bandana.
"Hey! What's the big idea Pig-boy?!" the little pig tried unsuccessfully to
break free.
Tanis and Raistlin looked at each other. 'Pig-boy?!'
The other girl moaned and Ranma tossed the small pig away, then knelt
besides her.
"Ukyo?" she whispered.
The girl opened her eyes and looked up at Ranma, she then embraced her.
"Ranma honey!"
Ranma hugged Ukyo back for a moment before noticing the stares everyone was
giving them. She quickly let go.
"What?!"
Goldmoon cleared her throat. "Excuse me, but who are you?" she asked Ukyo.
Ukyo stood up and bowed, "I'm Ukyo, Ranma's fianc�e."
Riverwind looked at her. "You lie."
Ukyo stared back. "It's the truth!"
"Why does this sound so familiar?" Ranma thought miserably.
"How dare you question this young lady's honor?" Sturm walked forward.
Tanis quickly stood up. "Okay everybody. Hold it. We don't want to attract
any kind of attention." He turned towards Ukyo, and smiled slightly.
"Listen, Ukyo, Ranma can't be your fianc�e, she's a girl remember?"
Ukyo blinked a couple of times. "Ranma, are you a girl?"
Ranma fumed "Ofcourse not!"
Ukyo turned happily at Tanis. "See? Told ya!"
Raistlin sneered, Riverwind scowled - he still didn't trust the Mage- ,
Caramon sensed this and looked at him wearily. Goldmoon, still kneeling,
looked at Ranma puzzled. Suddenly Tas spoke up.
"Hey," he said, tugging at Ukyo's shirt. "What's that pig doing?"
Everyone turned to look at P-chan, who was at the moment trying to douse
himself in hot water. Ranma walked up to him and picked up the thermo P-chan
was pushing around. "Here, let me help you..." Ranma smiled mischievously,
and soaked P-chan with the hot water.
Immediately the transformation took place, where a little black pig stood,
now stood a young man with black hair.
Sturm unsheathed his sword. "What kind of sorcery is this?"
"It's not," a harsh whisper stated "sorcery, Sir Knight." Sturm paled
briefly at the title, but quickly recovered his pose. He looked
questioningly at Raistlin. "Then, what is it?"
"It's a curse." The boy with the bandana muttered as he tried to grab Ranma.
The red headed girl nimbly ducked out of the way.
"A curse? A Curse? Really?! That's great! I mean, I guess it's not, since it
's a curse anyway , but it seems awfully interesting. Don't you think Flint?
Uh, why is everyone looking at me that way?" Tas backed up a step, however
he was caught and lifted by Ranma.
"It's NOT interesting!"
"That will be enough!" Tanis walked up to Ranma grabbed Tas, and looked
sternly at the three kids and the kender. "In case you haven't noticed, we'
re here in this cave trying to lay low for a night so we can go to Haven
without the Theocrat's goblins looking for us. Now all of you are going to
sit down and answer some questions."
Ranma looked at Ukyo and the other boy, then back at Tanis. She shrugged and
sat, as did the others.
Sturm looked at the cave's entrance. "I'll stand guard outside." Riverwind
stood up. "I will watch with you." He said harshly.
Sturm stopped midway between the cave's entrance and the outside. He turned
around slowly until he faced the tall plainsman.
"Uh, oh." Ranma and Caramon muttered at the same time.
Although shorter in stature than Riverwind, Sturm's air of nobility and the
rigidity of his stance made them look almost equal.
"I am a Knight of Solamnia," Sturm said "My word is my honor and my honor is
my life. I gave you my word, back in the Inn, that I would protect you and
your lady. If you doubt my word you dispute my honor, therefore you insult
me. I cannot allow that insult to remain between us."
"Sturm!" Tanis was on his feet. -again.-
"Don't interfere Tanis!" Sturm warned, never taking his eyes from the
plainsman. "Well? What will it be? Swords? Knives? How do you barbarians
fight?"
Ranma looked at Riverwind intently, he knew, as everyone else did that a
wrong answer would start a fight then and there.
Finally, Riverwind spoke. "I did not mean to question your honor, I do not
know men and their cities, and I tell you plainly- I am afraid. It is my
fear that makes me speak thus. I've been afraid ever since the blue crystal
staff was given to me. Most of all I'm afraid for Goldmoon." The plainsman
looked over at the woman, his eyes reflecting the glowing fire. "Without her
I die. How could I trust-" his voice failed. The stoic mask cracked and
crumbled from pain and weariness. His knees buckled and he pitched forward.
Sturm caught him.
"You couldn't." The knight said. "I understand. You are tired and you have
been sick." He carried the plainsman to the back of the cave with the help
of Tanis and Ryouga. "Rest now while I stand watch."
With that Sturm stepped out of the cave into the rain.
Ryouga sat down again, he looked at Riverwind while Goldmoon sat at his
side. He felt weird, here at last, was someone with whom he could identify,
someone who understood what it was to love someone so deeply as to give his
life for her. He felt he liked the Plainsman already, and that was strange,
as he usually regarded strangers with some suspicion.
"Well, now's the matter with the three of you." Tanis said as he sat down.
"First off all tell me your name." Ryouga stood up and introduced himself
with a small bow.
"That's better, my name's Tanis, as you might have guessed, the tall
plainsman and the beautiful woman beside him are Riverwind and Goldmoon of
Que-shu, the shivering snoring dwarf is Flint," He pointed to the snoring
figure that laid besides the campfire. "The kender is Tasselhoff Burrfoot,
the mage is Raistlin, and that," he motioned to the huge warrior "is his
brother Caramon Majere, the Knight standing guard outside is Sturm
Brightblade."
Ryouga lifted his hand and waved it in the air. Tanis looked at him. "Yes,
Ryouga?"
"Uh, exactly what is a Kender?" Ranma-chan and Ukyo nodded
Caramon snorted, Goldmoon and Riverwind both looked surprised, (to say the
least), Tanis looked incredulous from one to the other. "You don't know what
's a kender?" Tanis asked. Raistlin frowned slightly.
"I thought everyone knew what a kender was!?" Caramon stood, walked up to
Tas and lifted him by the scarf. He then walked infront of the three kids
and shook him. "This is a kender."
"What you call kids with pointy ears 'kenders' around here? Jeez, I would've
called them. 'Spocks' or something." Ran-chan pointed out.
Tasselhoff stopped squirming in Caramons grasp. "Hey! Who're you calling a
kid! You gully dwarf reject! I've known Trolls with more brains than you!
What's more if I had a fazmhhmph!! Lnnt mo ommph mnjhe!!" Ignoring the
kender Caramon held his hand over his mouth.
Ran-chan, Ukyo and Ryouga had three Big sweat-drops.
"Umm, Tas is no kid. Maybe you have heard about half-elves?" they shook
their heads.
Raistlin glared at Tanis. "You can explain that later Half-elf, now, if you
don't mind, I'd like to hear about their curses," Raistlin smiled cynically,
"unless ofcourse you don't want to know."
"My curse is none of your business, all you need to know is that it's ALL
RANMA'S FAULT!!" Ryouga pointed an accusing finger at Ranma, who glared at
him.
"OH, IT'S NOT AND YOU KNOW IT, YOU'RE JUST AFRAID OF ADMITING IT TO
YOURSELF!! BESIDES, I'M CURSED TOO! SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP?" Ryouga
jumped to his feet.
"ME? SHUT UP? AT LEAST YOU REMAIN HUMAN!!! AT LEAST YOU DON'T GET ALMOST
EATE----" Ryouga continued talking but no noise came out of his mouth, he
looked surprised and put one hand on his neck. Ranma smiled and opened his
mouth.
"Don't you dare," the soft whisper managed to stop Ranma from talking and
Ryouga from checking himself. Raistlin stood, leaning on the Staff of
Magius, his golden eyes reflecting the fire eerily. "You don't know a thing
about curses."
He took his hood off, Ukyo backed a step, as did Ranma, Ryouga however
couldn't tear his eyes from the mage's gaze. Long white hair, rested on
Raistlins shoulders, his skin had a metallic-gold hue to it, it also did
little to cover the young mage's cadaveric features, his eyeballs shone
liquid gold, but most notable off all were the pupils. Shaped like
hourglasses, they let nothing out.
'If the eyes are the mirror of the soul. I'm almost willing to bet he's got
none.' Ukyo thought as she grabbed Ranma's arm.
Raistlin walked towards Ryouga, keeping him paralyzed by his gaze. His voice
was cold, it sent shivers through Tanis' back as he watched the mage. Even
Tas was looking wide-eyed at the display, the fact that Caramon still had
his hand over his mouth all but forgotten. "Look at me Ryouga," Raistlin
continued, making the eternally-lost-boy's name sound ominous. "Look at my
skin, at my face and hands," Everyone present could feel Raistlin's burning
anger behind the cold tone of his voice. "This are marked by the suffering I
faced," Raistlin suddenly doubled over coughing violently, he took a white
handkerchief out and wiped his mouth with it, Caramon looked worriedly at
his brother, he could -as everyone else could- see the blood-stains in it.
Raistlin, however, never took his eyes from Ryouga. At last he stopped in
front of him and opened his eyes wide. "But the curse, the real curse, are
these. I see time as it passes by, even now I see you, I see everyone and
everything withering and dying, I see your clothes tattered, and your skin
decomposing, I see no beauty at all, tell me boy, what is your curse to
mine?"
Again Raistlin was attacked by another fit of coughing, this time he almost
fell to the ground, but Ryouga caught him. He looked with horror at the
mages white hair, and at the small blood drops that stained he cave's floor.
Caramon cried out loud and let go of Tas, running towards his brother. He
helped Ryouga carry Raistlin to the back of the cave, near the fire. While
Caramon tended to his brother, Ryouga looked down at the Mage. "I.. I'm
sorry.I didn't know, didn't realize." Caramon covered his brother with a
blanket. And stood, placing a hand on Ryouga's shoulder, he led him away, to
where Tanis and the others were staring. He then walked back to his brother
and sat down besides him.
Ranma looked worriedly at her enemy/friend. "Hey, P-chan, you Okay man?"
Ryouga just nodded, ignoring her, and sat down shivering. "Guess not,"
muttered Ranma. "Hey, Tanis!"
The half-elf looked at Ranma. "What?"
"How 'bout explaining that Half-elf bit?" Ran-chan said as she sat down,
Ukyo besides her.
Tanis sighed in relief, anything that would distract him from the recent
situation would be welcome.
"Okay, how many years old do you think I am, Ranma?" Ranma frowned, looking
at Tanis.
"Um, I don't know sugar, about. 30?" Ukyo offered. Tas started snickering.
Ukyo, thinking she had offended Tanis somehow, quickly apologized. "Sorry!"
Tanis smiled reassuringly at her. "It's okay, actually I'm over 100 years
old."
Caramon yawned, as always, he had taken his and Raistlin's turn in watch. He
looked up, it would still be a couple of hours before dawn, he could still
see Solinari's faint glow in the horizon.
Shuddering he glanced at the vacant space where, Raistlin said, the
constellations representing the god Paladine and the goddess Takhissis used
to be.
Even after living around magic for most of his life, he still was unnerved
by some things, like missing constellations.
He turned around when he heard the rustling of the bush that covered the
entrance to the cave.
Ranma (in male form), Ukyo and Ryouga stepped out of the cave and looked
around, when they noticed Caramon they approached him.
"Hey! Good morning Caramon!" Ranma greeted.
"Good morning, kids," Caramon smiled. "What's up?"
"Nothing sugar, it's just that we're used to waking up early, that's all."
Caramon yawned again. "Uh, right. Listen, you wouldn't mind keeping watch
for a while, while I get some sleep, would you?"
"Ofcourse not sugar, go ahead. We'll be right here."
"Thank you," Caramon stood up, and walked towards the cave yawning yet
again. "Just remember: if you have any problem don't doubt to wake us up."
The three watched Caramon walk into the cave, and after a few seconds they
could hear him snoring. "You know, it's really sweet of him, the way he
takes care of his brother." Said Ukyo.
"Yeah, it's not that he deserves it though," Ranma stretched and walked with
Ryouga to a clearing, and both assumed combat stances. "I don't understand
how he keeps up with Raistlin. Ready Ryouga?"
Ryouga grunted and soon they were both sparing.
Ranma dodged Ryouga's kick, and tried to bring him down with another. "Hey
Ryouga, you haven't talked much since yesterday, what's up?" Ryouga hit
Ranma with a his fist, Ranma was thrown back a couple of steps. He quickly
recovered and tried an uppercut which was blocked, his round-kick, however,
hit it's mark in Ryouga's chest. Ryouga grunted before answering. "It's
Raistlin. I just can't shake a feeling I've got since last night." He jumped
and Ranma quickly followed, they started jabbing, kicking, blocking and
hitting each other in the air.
"Hey! No fair! I gotta practice too, you know boys?" Ukyo tried to clobber
Ryouga with her giant spatula, but he blocked her with his umbrella, and
threw a hundred bandanas at Ranma.
Sturm woke up, he looked around, what had awakened him? Then he heard a
shout from outside. He registered who was inside the cave, everyone was
here. but the kids! He quickly stood up, and noticed Tanis, Tas and
Riverwind followed suit. They looked at each other for a moment, then when
they heard another shout they quickly ran to the entrance of the cave.
Breaking outside, swords, Hoopack and bow ready, they stopped short. The
kids weren't being attacked, they were fighting.
As a bewildered Tanis looked, slowly putting down his sword, Ranma landed on
the ground from an impossibly high jump and rolled on his back barely
avoiding three small spatulas that embedded themselves one after the other
in the ground.
Ryouga swinged his umbrella and missed Ukyo, who propelled herself into the
air (by pushing herself from his head) and threw more spatulas at him.
Ryouga countered them throwing his own bandanas striking each spatula. One
of his bandanas got past the spatulas, and Ukyo had to shift forcibly in the
air to avoid it.
Sturm watched horrified as the flying bandana sliced through a tree branch
taking it down with a clean cut. Ranma, meanwhile ricocheted from a tree
trunk and landed next to Ukyo, both facing Ryouga.
What happened next would later be described by Sturm as Sorcery, and by
Tasselhoff as; "Wow."
"Bakusai-ten-ketsu!" Ryouga embedded his finger into the ground, for a
second nothing happened. Then suddenly, the earth infront of him started
exploding straight to where Ranma and Ukyo stood. They jumped. High. Very
high, and landed behind Ryouga, who just stood up and dusted himself.
Ryouga, Ukyo and Ranma then noticed their audience.
Walking towards them, they commented on their 'sparring session'.
End
Well, the first chapter is finally finished. I'm sorry I didn't have it for
Monday as I expected to, but I'll try to have the next chapter for next
Wednesday.
NEXT: "The Forestmaster."
More action and fights in this one. I promise.
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