Ok well I remember I said that I had ended the 
flashbacks.  I'm sorry I lied.Well I didn't exactly 
lie, but I had already started this part but then I had
this nice idea of...well this chapter so I had to go 
back and change it.  People keep in mind that
I am still writing this so any comments that you make
might have an effect on the storyline.  Already someone
convinced me to change the character for Silk to Nabiki.
Though I now need to revise the first couple of chapters
I don't really mind.  And please let me know what you
think of the story, even if it's just to say it's good or not.
I'll take any comments I can get.   Well anyways here it is.


  I hate this, thought Ranma.  If these past few days  
are anything to go by this trip is going to be pure 
hell, and we haven't even met up with Aunt Nodoka
yet.  These are just old friends, and I can't even tell 
them who I am!  I know this is going to be another one 
of those trips I'm gonna regret goin' on with that
old fool, but I just had to see Aunt Nodoka 
again...even if only as someone else.


The Ranmariad ch5  The Long Road Home
Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi(sp) and David Eddings


  Ranma sat in a decidedly unremarkable tavern in the
unremarkable town of Winold.  All villages were much
the same in the countryside, filled with average people
who thought entirely too much of themselves.  He, or
rather she, was waiting to greet her old friends as
strangers, and so she sat alone at a table, mulling over
a tankard of beer.  It was thus that she saw the first
of her friends, Silk, also known as Princess Nabiki,
though that was a fact that she wished could be kept
as quiet as possible.  She was dressed, as usual, in
brightly colored tunic and breeches, her hair cut in
that decidedly improbably hairstyle.  Yes, this was
definitely Nabiki, self styled juggler and acrobat.  In
actuality she was also a thief and a spy; but then, 
nobody was perfect.  She walked over to a table in
the corner, not too far from Ranma's and sat down to
await the arrival of her soon-to-be companions.  Shortly
thereafter, Barak entered the room.  Barak was a brute
of a man, giant in size.  His legs, easily the size of
tree trunks, were cross wrapped in animal skins.  He
wore a mail shirt that hung to his knees and was belted
at the waist.  His red hair and beard were braided, adding
a somewhat odd look to the man. Normally, he would
be wearing a broadsword at his waist, with a double bladed
war axe strapped to his back; however, he had obviously
foregone them for this meeting with his friends.  He 
sought either Silk or Ranma, and immediately found 
Silk; not that he would recognize Ranma, even though 
he was there, in a way.

  Silk saw Barak coming towards her table and waved to
him.  "Hello Barak.  Don't you think you're a little
overdressed for the occasion?  I mean, one does not
usually wear mail shirts into a town.  And sit on the
other side of the table, or at least, downwind of me!
You smell like a rusty ironworks."

  "But Silk, I feel undressed without it."

  "You're hopeless, Barak.  So, do you have any idea as
to why our mutual friend has called us here?"

  "I have no more clue than you friend Silk.  I just
received a letter from Genma to meet Ranma here today.
He never said why exactly.  Speaking of friends, though,
where do you think Ranma is?  It isn't like him to be
late.  As a matter of fact, I would have expected him to
have been here a day or so early."

  "I haven't a clue, Barak.  Any bets on when he shows
up though?" Silk's eyes lit up at the thought.

  "Oh no friend Silk.  I know you too well by now.  You
probably blackmailed Ranma to leave and come in later,
just to make some money."

  "Moi?  Would I do that."  Silk gave Barak the most
innocent look that she could muster.

  Okay.  Now is the time to butt my pretty little head
in, before things get off track.  Walking to her friends'
table, Ranma's heart seemed to become heavier.  This was
a bad idea, she thought.  Oh well, just go and get it
over with.  She finally closed on the table, clearing
her throat, she broke into her friends conversation.

  "Well Silk...," looking up, the two saw a strange girl
standing at their table.  "Eh...yes miss, can we help
you?"

  "No, I don't think you can.  But I do believe that I
can help you two out.  You see, Ranma isn't going to be
able to make it.  We ran into a little trouble down in
Mooissa, and he was delayed.  I don't think he will be
able to join us on this trip."

  Her two friends stared dumbly up at her.  Finally, Silk
regained her composure and spoke up.  "Excuse me, miss,
but exactly who are you?  I haven't heard of you before
from either Genma or Ranma."  There was definitely
something about this strange girl, she thought to herself.
Something odd.

  "Yes, well, introductions are in order, I believe.  You
my friend, must be Nabiki; and, yes, I know you prefer to be
called Silk.  And you, my overly hairy friend, can be none
other than Barak.  Am I right?  Well I am Xdera, but
please call me Ranko.  I do prefer the name."

  The pair blinked dumbly up at her again.  So that's
what it was, Silk thought.  Her skin it's ever so faintly
greenish.  Speaking up almost accusingly, she said,
"You're a Dryad.  What are you doing out of your forest?"

  "Well, yes.  You see, I'm somewhat a freak.  I'm a Dryad
without a tree.  I met Ranma and Genma last time they
came through the forest, and I decided to travel along
with them.  It was better than being pitied and barely
tolerated by my sisters.  Now, if you don't mind, I will
join you here and we can talk more comfortably."  Not
waiting for an answer 'Ranko' sat herself down.  "There
now.  Isn't that much more comfortable?  Now, let me tell
you what little I do know of why we are here.  A couple
of weeks ago, Genma left for Japan, not telling us why he
left us in Sendar to wait.  Now, when he returned, he was
frantic he kept on muttering that 'he' had stolen 'it'.
Now, who, and what 'he' and 'it' are, I have no idea, as he 
refused to tell us.  His only reply was, 'No!  He can tell if 
you talk about him.' Sounded paranoid to me, but I don't
contradict the old fool.  He can still take the both of us out
in a fight.  He sent us both down into Mooissa and Tolnedra
on some errands while he presumably sent the letters to the two
of you.  You already know that Ranma was waylaid in
Mooissa, and he had to stay in Algaria to recover.  Anyways
that is the extent of my knowledge.  Now, as to what he
wants us to do now, that I do know.  He wants us to buy
ourselves a couple of wagons and a load of some sort of
produce.  We are to be posing as wagoneers to chase
'him'.  This is just so 'he' doesn't get suspicious that
someone is following him.  Genma definitely doesn't want
to lose this man."

  At the mention of purchasing the wagons and produce,
Silks eyes lit up with an evil gleam.  "Well now, Ranko
my young friend, you just give me some gold for the
carts and some silver for some produce.  I promise I can
double the silver for you when we drop it off." 

  "All right Silk, but I am going to hold you to that."
Yep, that was definitely the same old Silk.  No doubt
about it.

                  *  *  *  *  *  *

  'Ranko' was woken from her reverie by Silk calling out
that they were at the campsite.

  Finally, we're here.  The campsite.  All we have to do
now is wait.  It can't be that hard, it's only a couple
of hours.  Only a couple of hours until my past catches
up with me and my future begins. 


End chapter 5

hey guess what I am already halfway through with the next chapter.  Yippee.
next chapter will be
Chapter 6:  Back at the Farm (funny I know but it's all I could think of)

And I would like to add a special thanks to my editor and prereaders out
there.
Thanks!  Wow I finally got one out when I said I would, I'm impressed with
myself.

This and all of my other stories can be found on my homepage at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3488/index.html

Join the Church of Eriond----
   a David Eddings Belgariad/Malorean fan club (contact me)

Sir Olin 'Neplusultra' Petty
Incidentally I put all this stuff at the bottom becuase I figure not many
people really read this close to the sig.(and apparently not too many
people do for all the 'could I see previous chapters' requests I get)