Having gotten tired of my own procrastination (as well as of a severe
writer's block) I release this is a teaser of sorts as a way to both
put pressure on myself, and as a request for prereaders. In particular,
I need people who can take a story and shred it to pieces, as well as
bug me constantly so I don't fail to deliver --for instance, I'd really
appreciate people like Mr. Kleppe to preread this new, improved edition
of my years-old fanfic (crossover elements notwithstanding ^.^;;).
[BTW, to Lurker and Louis-Philippe... I'd like to go back to the old PR
routine we had during SotP's early years. Lurk, I'll also contact you
soon to see what can be done about Pencils.]
Anyhow, on with the teaser.
It began in 1995...
"As she faded into the scarlet-yellow lights of the sunset,
Ranma stared at her silently. For all that time, he had wanted so much
to get rid of her... But as he saw the small figure merging with the
distant sunset, he couldn't help but long for her already.
She was literally a part of him. They had been through many
experiences together, some of joy, others of sadness. But in a way,
they had always helped each other. He didn't care about the troubles
she had caused anymore: deep down, he had fully admitted she was his
little sister. And he just couldn't let her go like that.
But he also knew she was almost identical to him. He was sure
she would be careful, and that set him at ease. Even though she
couldn't see him, he waved goodbye at her, completely silent..."
--- The Four Birds of Fire ---
Two worlds, very different from each other, met in passing...
An ancient tragedy was amended, bringing a new family to peace...
And the surface of a greater truth was only scratched...
In 1997...
"With tears streaming down her eyes, Seraphim looked up at
Nodoka. She kneeled by the angel, taking her daughter in
her lap while Seraphim herself disappeared into the ether.
Akane's eyes were flooded as she whispered his name. She
couldn't take it any more. She quickly turned around and met Ranma's
embrace, letting her face be buried in his shoulder.
Nodoka looked at her, then at Ranko. It was for the best
to make her sleep. Sighing, Nodoka stroked her daughter's head.
The sorrow was infinite. Too much pain had been endured.
Too many tears had been shed."
--- The Caller's Plight ---
In the wake of a cataclysmic war, two people rediscovered what had
been lost in the mists of time... only to endure the pain of a
thousand years once more...
...1998...
"But it was useless. The light itself advanced and swallowed
him. The last thing he saw before passing out was a pair of deep blue
eyes, sadly staring back, while a small golden bracelet slowly slipped
off of a drowned girl's wrist. And then, it was all darkness.
Thus it happened. No one was there to record it. But when the
Joketsuzoku arrived, barely five minutes later, they could only
realize one thing when they saw the spring.
It was to be called Nyanniichuan."
--- Lightbirds --
The peace regained, even greater challenges loomed ahead, and they
would have become mere pawns in a conflict as old as time...
But now, everything has changed...
"The Dragon Prince glanced away towards the cursed valley,
recalling the pain... the suffering of a childhood lived over
fifteen hundred years ago..."
Ancient fires are rekindled...
"The entire planet shuddered as hundreds of Alexandri rose
from its depths, their raw force of pure life setting the landscape
aglow with what little remained of the twins' souls."
The sacrifices are greater...
"They tried, uselessly, to shield themselves from the unholy
light that surged from Aurora's eyes, a light that seemed to erase
their very existence."
Loved ones become the most cruel foes...
"When it comes down to your daughter, or all life on Earth,
what will you choose?"
...and the stakes grow to the heights of infinity.
"Will you still remember me when you are reborn?"
Song of the Phoenix
- TRUE -
July 2000
Ranma 1/2, its characters, events and related material are the
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan/Kitty Films.
Final Fantasy (n), Chrono Trigger, their respective characters,
situations, objects and timelines are the property of Squaresoft Ltd.
Song of the Phoenix TRUE -- by Jorge A. Pratt [Zef/Zephyr]
al709382@academ01.ccm.itesm.mx
terbril@rocketmail.com