"It's a Kind of Magic"
A Ranma 1/2 X-over
Written by Curtiss Nelson (aka Me)
A brief note: Yes, yes, I am still working on Night Sabers (though Part 7b
is probably going to be late; sorry!). This is a rough draft, with many
spelling and grammar errors; it is more a prototype test craft than it is
a limited production model, to use an engineering analogy. Please see
after the end of the 'fic for other comments. Enjoy!
Introduction
It was a remarkable day in Japan; school was out, yet the
ordinary bustle of everyday life was like a mist, vaguely seen about, but
not truly felt. The sun sang the praises of the beautiful day to the beings
below, showered with its bountiful radiance. The warmth was just as
remarkable for Japan, for it was warm, yet not stifling, like a warm blanket
around the body, placed by a loving mother and father.
Yes, this day was not magical. No, it was something much
different than the paltry definition of what magic is commonly called. No,
it was the vibrant uniqueness in all creation called life. It was ordinary,
yet beautiful, which made it all the more precious and rare.
Especially to the group of teenagers walking down the street.
They were people quite often at odds with each other. More often than
not, they would be fighting each other, or arguing with each other, or
insulting each other, or even trying to seduce each other. But today- no,
not today. Today, even Ranma Saotome was willing to speak carefully.
Today, even Ukyo Kounji was willing to just enjoy the day and throngs
of people about. Today, even Tatewaki Kuno was willing to compose
the haiku that came to mind _in_ his mind, rather than spewed aloud.
Today, even Kodachi Kuno was willing to let the demons of her mind
rest, and the scared child of herself come out. Today, even Ryoga Hibiki
was willing to let go off his anger and depression, instead allow himself
to be filled with joy. Today, even Shampoo was willing to enjoy the
simple pleasures of walking about. Today, even Mousse was willing to
enjoy the day, glasses put away, trusting in his other senses to know
pleasure. Today, even Kasumi Tendo was willing to lower her
conservative propriatariness and instead allow her true self to show
through. Today, even Akane Tendo was willing to relax her anger and
paranoia, and just enjoy the company of her friends around her. Today,
even Nabiki Tendo was willing to ignore thoughts of blackmail and
money, enjoy nature, and for once never wonder what it's worth-worth-
worth; damn, CD player was skipping again. Nabiki switched to another
track, as she engaged in her forbidden pleasures listening to Disney film
songs. All in all, it was a good.
A cry and screams of fear and pain suddenly erupted up ahead.
And given that this was Nerima, of course such a wonderful day
could not last.
* * * * * * * *
Three horrific, demonic beings stood in a rough semi-circle,
trapping a cowering man dressed in outlandish and bizarre clothes
against the wall. They appeared to almost be gargoyles, except no stone
gargoyle ever moved, or was made of a black fluid, let alone making
smoking footprints in the stone and wood, as waves of heat arose from
their bodies.
Ranma and Shampoo were the first two there, and they saw the
monsters attacking the man. Around the monsters, a number of people
were frantically backing away, two helping a woman who was staring
with horrid fascination at an inky darkness that seemed to be crawling up
her arm, staining her. Splashes of blood abounded and tiny fires raged
all around.
Ranma looked over at the others, and met their gazes. In this,
they were of one mind as all of other looked at each other.
Kasumi and Nabiki immediately rushed to help the other people
move away from the monsters.
With a cry of fury, Ryoga leapt into the air, his finger extended
as he landed between the people and the monsters with a cry of "Baketsu
Tenken!" as a cloud of rubble and dust erupted forth, hiding the
escaping people.
Kodachi unwound her gymnastics ribbon, and with a sudden
twirl, lashed it out to entrap the trapped man, and pull him to the other
side.
Ukyo unsheathed her enormous spatula, custom made by
Spatula City, as Kuno drew worth his bokken. Shampoo and Ranma leapt
into the air, Akane, Ukyo and Kuno leading the charge as they all
targeted the center monster, the one nearest to them, one that seemed to
be wearing the dull brown carcass of some kind of shelled creature as
armor.
"Ha!" cried Shampoo as she landed on the left shoulder of the
monster, ignoring the pain as her shoe began to smoke, while her other
leg drew back to deliver a sharp and vicious kick to the monster's neck, a
killing move she had been taught never to use unless it was the most dire
of circumstances. These circumstances seemed to fit the bill.
"Foul being of the Stygnian Abyss, I shall smite thee!" cried
Tatewaki Kuno, as his bokken slashed across and then down, all his
strength and skill behind it. It was a cruel move, one he would never
perform on a mortal foe, but these were akuma. The wooden bokken
slammed down, tearing tendons and crashing bone in the back of the
kneecap of the monster, even as the blade began to char.
"Take this!" cried Ukyo, as her spatula, driven by all her muscle
and the momentum of her uncoiled waist twist, went sideways, catching
the monster at its neck, loosely severing the head as a showering of red-
purple ichor came forth, burning wherever it landed. Even though she
knew it was necessary, Ukyo felt a sudden stab of conscience at her
actions.
"You!" screamed Akane, as she slammed her mallet into the
monster with a skill born of frequent practice. It impacted the decapitated
monster, throwing the body at another of the monsters, who staggered
under the sudden weight. Even more remarkable, Akane noticed, was
how the slain monster seemed to shiver into grey smoke, before
vanishing into a dissipating mist.
Seeing his initial foe fall, Ranma quickly shifted tactics as he
landed. He *would* defeat these monsters. No one beat Ranma
Saotome. No one! He would beat this monster into a pulp. "MOUKO
TAKASHIBA!!!" cried Ranma, as his confidence flew out as ki, in a gold
energy burst that hit the monster to the left, who had turned around,
heading for the man Kodachi was even now dragging away.
The blast caught it full in the chest, as it shrieked in pain and
anger, but still continuing forward.
"Not so fast!" called out Mousse, as his chains and weapons
sprung from his robes like striking serpents, snagging and entangling the
monster, bringing it to its knees even as those same weapons began to
heat up and smoke.
"Take care of the one on the left!" Ranma called to the Kuno
siblings, Ukyo, Mousse, and Akane. He turned to the one on the right,
just as another cry of grief, sorrow, and emptiness half-heartedly sang
out.
Ryoga had seen the woman, her body slowly turning a stained
black and brown, the skin molting. He has seen the child, crying over the
blood on her older brother's shirt. He had seen, the fragile mortality. His
body began to glow green. The futility of their resistance. And Ryoga
knew that the monster that did this would come for them soon. Like dear
Akane. The thought of her dead, her body torn and bruised. The glow
intensified. Alone, without her. Without any of the others. Even that
jerk Ranma. Alone, so alone.
"The world is a dark and lonely place", Ryoga whimpered to
himself. The glow was nearly a flashlight illumination. The dust from his
first attack had cleared enough for Ryoga to see one of the monsters.
Finally, he found his release.
"SHI-SHI-HOUKODAN!!!!!" screamed Ryoga as the horizontal
column of ki caught the monster full on, pushing it onward, through the
wall. Ryoga almost collapsed from the effort.
Ranma rushed forward, finding the monster dying. His rage
unabated, Ranma called out "KATCHU-TENSHIN-AMAGURIKEN!" as
his fists of fury finished the foul fiend off, finally.
Standing, nursing the sore skin on his knuckles, Ranma looked
around. The speed of his attack had saved him from serious damage, but
the others had not been so lucky. Both he and Ryoga rushed over, to
see Ukyo with tiny holes and burns across her legs, where the blood
spray from the creature had caught her. Akane was clutching a badly
burnt arm, as Ukyo helped her wrap a clean piece of cloth about it. Kuno
was staring in shock at the pile of ash that was his bokken, just as
Mousse was gathering up his heat deformed weapons.
"Is everyone OK?" Ranma and Ryoga called out, even as
Ranma snagged Ryoga towards the correct direction.
"Um" nodded Akane as she bit her lip, tears at the corners of
her eyes as Ukyo tightened the bandage.
"Ukyo?" Ranma asked.
"Don't worry about me Ran-chan. I've been burnt worse than
this working the grill. And don't worry about Akane. She will be fine.
Trust me", she added, seeing the worry in Ranma's eyes.
Ryoga looked up at the others. Both Kunos just met his eyes
and nodded, while Mousse just held up his twisted weapons with a
shrug.
"Methinks, were our advantages not numbers and surprise, we
would face more serious injuries", commented Kuno, as the others
nodded.
"Nabiki! Kasumi!" Akane called out.
"We're fine, 'Sis!" called out Nabiki, as she came into view.
"The injuries were not too serious, and that strange blackness
disappeared after those monsters were gone." She was looking at the
man the monsters had been threatening.
He seemed ordinary, a Westerner by skin and hair, pale and
blond. His eyes were brown, and his expression oddly calm for one who
had just been attacked. Perhaps shock. He was quite young, no older
than his early twenties. He was dressed in a simple pair of blue jeans, a
button-up white dress shirt, and a pair of loafers. A small handbag was
in one hand.
"Thank you for save me. I sorry. My Japanese not good", said
the man, with an odd accent.
"Are you alright?" Ukyo asked.
"I not hurt. Just little scared", the man replied calmly.
"Hey, why were those monsters attacking you?" asked Ranma.
The man shrugged, "I know not. Many monsters here?"
"No, not really. Usually they stay in Juuban" Ryoga muttered.
"I thank you for save me. I owe you many", the man said,
bowing deeply. "But others hurt?" He gestured to the people.
The Nerima crew began to disperse, looking about, even as
more people and a medical team from a local clinic came to look at
everyone. After five minutes of hectic running about, everyone found
themselves bandaged, a little tired, and contemplating the ruins of the
their perfect day.
"I thank you again", the man said. The Nerima crew looked over
at him. "You save life."
The various members of the Nerima dwellers waved off the
comment, though Nabiki had a look of avarice in her eyes.
"I insist", asserted the man, "I owe you. Pay back." His eyes
darted from face to face.
"Thank you, but that really isn't necessary", Akane began.
"Food", the man said, and Ranma and Ryoga, and several
others in the party immediately stared at him. The man nodded, as
though confirming something.
"I buy food. Pay back. OK?" the man asked, almost pleading.
"Uh, sure", Ranma said, as the others began to nod. If it meant
that much to him.
"Good", said the man, as he slung his small backpack over his
shoulder.
* * * * * * * *
On their way towards a restaurant the man seemed to know, the
Nerima group chatted amongst themselves, until Nabiki advanced on the
man.
"So, what is your name?" she asked, as several of the others
leaned in.
"Name?" the man repeated, a little confused.
"Yes, N-A-M-E, who you are?" Nabiki spoke slowly, so that he
could understand better.
The man's eyes seemed to blaze as he stepped back. "You wish
to know *true* name?!?"
Nabiki felt a little uncertain, as startled as the others by the
violent reaction.
"Yes, knave, what are thou called from whence though came?"
Kuno asked.
A look of understand seemed to dawn on the man, as he sighed
and his eyes darted about in relief. "You mean _name_! Oh, name is
Citrus." He answered, as the group passed by the supermarket.
"Oh, well it is a pleasure to meet you Citrus", Akane said, trying
to be as polite possible, even though this was a boy she was talking to.
The others expressed similar sentiments.
"So, where are you from, Citrus?" asked Nabiki, curious.
The man blinked twice, before he looked at her with a smile,
answering "Hokkaido?"
The others blinked at that. This man was not Japanese.
"Hokkaido?" Ryoga said, disbelieving.
Citrus looked at his companions, then spoke again, "I come from
Hokkaido?"
"Oh, you just came from Hokkaido! I thought you were
American for sure, sugar", Ukyo commented.
Citrus nodded furiously, "Yes, America. I am from America."
"So why are you in Japan?" Shampoo asked.
Citrus smiled, a full smile, "Just looking for now."
"Oh, a tourist?" commented Kasumi, with a smile, "How do you
like our country?"
"Beautiful. Many continents. Much resources. Many people.
Good place" Citrus answered with a smile.
The answer threw many of the Nerimites off.
"Ah, don't you mean-" Nabiki began, her thoughts gathering.
She had noticed those looks he had kept tossing about, as though
expecting to be attacked yet again.
"And where is this restaurant?" asked Kodachi Kuno, becoming
impatient.
Citrus stopped, seeming to look around. Then he stopped, and
pointed.
Kuno felt his own jaw drop at what Citrus was pointing to
"Ikoyu?"
"There ain't no way we can afford that place!"
Kasumi approached Citrus, "Thank you for the kind offer, thank
you very much, but this is too much. You might have the wrong
restaurant-"
Ignoring her, Citrus went up the steps, settling his large
backpack on his back.
Curious, the others followed.
* * * * * * * *
"Truly, 'twas a feast fit for the gods that though did provide for
our consumption, friend Citrus!" Kuno announced as he leaned back
from the table.
The table was Western style, and huge, the entire expanse
covered with a silk tablecloth, set with silver forks and spoons and
knives. The glasses were fine crystal, and the chopsticks hand
lacquered, along with the finely made dishes.
On the table also rested the remains of the food, only a little
more than half eaten. Piled lobster, fine filet mignon, an entire assortment
of dozens of different dishes, from live patte to the finest of sushi.
Ranma looked hungrily at the mass of food before him, even as
his stomach protested that he had exceeded maximum tolerance.
Ryoga looked around, blushing, trying to look less like a
country buffoon without manners.
The Kunos, of course, handled themselves perfectly, even as
they proceeded to devour the food speedily.
Mousse and Shampoo tried the variety of strange foods,
obviously expensive, though they were not quite sure why.
Ukyo, Akane, and Kasumi tried to be respectable, eating a
decent amount.
Nabiki looked at the meal before her, and reminded herself why
money was so important. In time, it would be hers.
Citrus, the provider of the meal, touched none of it, merely
looking about.
"Yes, thank you very much", Kasumi said, as the others chimed
in.
"I pay back my debt to you", Citrus answered, before he raised
a finger, motioning to a waitress. When she came over, he whispered in
her ear briefly, before discreetly handing her a bundle of wrapped money.
"I arranged so that you may take a memory of this meal home
with you", Citrus said, as the waiters and waitresses began to clear the
table.
Again, there was a series of "thank yous".
Citrus smiled. "You saved my life. I owe you this, at least."
The servers brought forth a new tablecloth and a number of
small desserts, though the white expanse looked barren without the
former banquet.
"So, not to be rude, but how much was this meal?" asked
Nabiki, even as Kasumi tried to shush her rude behavior.
"Five hundred thousand yen", answered Citrus, indifferent.
All around the table, action stilled as the figure rocked through
the minds of those present.
"Five hundred thousand yen?" Nabiki repeated, numbly. This
young man was rich. She had to know more!
"I no know how to give to you", Citrus shrugged. "You looked
hungry, so I change cash for food."
"CASH?!?" Nabiki started to rise from her seat, eyes bulging,
only Kasumi's hand keeping her seated.
Citrus shrugged, as though it were unimportant.
After a few moments of silence, Citrus spoke again.
"Want to play a game?"
* * * * * * * *
"...well then, I tap my two plains for white mana, negating you
attack. Oh my, that killed you didn't it?" Kasumi said, pouting a little.
Nabiki threw down her cards, joining the others, leaving only
Kasumi and Citrus, as it had been for the last seven games. Once again,
Citrus was winning by a large margin, his life 103 to Kasumi's 8, and the
land difference was shocking.
Citrus grinned, "Well, I will tap, invoking my Curse of Darkness,
while hitting you with two lightning bolts, and a seventeen point fireball,
as well as a twenty point life drain."
Kasumi laughed, and put down her cards. "You win."
Citrus smiled widely. "Of course. I have much more experience
than any of you. I was surprised you didn't gang up on me. That is what
most of my opponents do."
Snorting, Ryoga asked, "Does it work?"
Again that smile, "It hasn't yet."
"Well, I enjoyed the game", said Ranma, and he had, "but we
really have to get going."
"Yes, fun game, Shampoo liked it very much", Shampoo gushed.
The others agreed.
"But I must agree with that peasant Saotome. 'Tis soon to be
time, alas, for partings." He stood up, stretching a little, as the others did
likewise.
Nabiki leaned over Citrus, "Hey, if you ever needed any help or
a tour around Nerima or Tokyo, just give me a call." Nabiki smiled
winningly as she held out one of her special business cards, hand-
calligraphy and fine paper.
Citrus smiled, and took it, "I think I will be taking you up on that
offer, soon enough."
As everyone stood, Citrus cleared his throat. "I noticed you
enjoyed the game."
"Yeah, it was fun", Akane said.
"Kind of addicting though", Ukyo commented.
"Indeed", Citrus answered. "One could spend days, even
weeks or months, perhaps years and decades, into centuries and
millennia, until eternity", he smiled, "trying to master this game."
"Yeah, but it is just a game", Ranma yawned.
"Life is only a game as well", Citrus snapped, before relaxing. "I
have one other gift I would give you, for saving my life and the other gift
you have given me. This will set us even, alright?"
"Sure", was the general response, even as Nabiki began to
dream of sports cars and more fine eating.
Citrus reached down into the large duffel bag he had, and
carefully drew out a number of small boxes. Each had the familiar five
stones, blue, red, green, black, and white on the cover, but these were
real gemstones. The wood was a finely polished grain, so well made the
seems of the edges to the lid could not be seen.
"My, wow pretty", Kasumi commented.
Citrus stood and carefully began to sort the boxes out, which
was rather odd, as they seemed to be identical. He placed one in front of
each of those present, save himself, before returning to sit at the head of
the table, as did the others.
"These are for you, should you choose to accept them", Citrus
smiled, gesturing to the boxes.
Hesitantly, they all opened the boxes, feeling a jolt of wonder as
they extracted the tiles within. They were like the cards, only much
larger, more like placards. They were tiles, each as large as the hand.
They seemed to be made of carefully carved ivory plates, one side cover
with leather. The blank side had the five small gemstones, and the
corners were of a thin, brownish-yellow metal. The other side, the card
side, had a wonderfully handwritten description in brilliant calligraphy. It
was not Japanese, not printed, though each stroke was perfectly uniform.
Above the description was an incredibly life-like painting of the effect or
creature. Each placard, by itself, was a work of art.
"We can't take these" Nabiki protested, shocking herself, even
as she gazed at the perfect picture of the island, each wave captured by
the artist's brush.
"I insist. They are not like the card game we were playing.
These are the Universal Edition", Citrus explained.
"They're beautiful", Ranma said, examining the picture of the
artifact card he held.
Ryoga said nothing, just looking at the forest so detailed, he
could almost smell the fragrance of the flowers on the moss.
Kasumi smiled at the picture of the transcendent female angel
on her card, though she wondered why the goddess with the markings
on her face looked so familiar.
Mousse was trying to focus his glasses, but even that handicap
could hide the glitter of each scale of the sea dragon he held.
Shampoo could not believe how detailed her cards were.
Kodachi simply gazed at the black flower blossom, which she
knew to be one of the rarest cards in the game. But more then that, it was
a perfect reflection of herself.
Tatewaki just starred at the shocking blue of the lightning bolt
painted there. So much like his own name.
"Well then, I must be off. I hope you enjoyed the meal and gift,
for both are necessary for you. Good-bye, for now."
And with that, Citrus stood, slung his bag over one shoulder,
and walked out.
It took many seconds before the group realized he had left, even
more time to rouse themselves from the contemplation of their gifts.
"Hey!" Ranma said, as he stood up, and bolted out of the
restaurant.
Finding Citrus absent, he took to the rooftops to continue his
search.
* * * * * * * *
Citrus stepped into the alleyway, away from watching eyes, and
sighed. He was getting too old for this. It had been a stroke of good
fortune that those young warriors had been there, and that he had been
able to manipulate them into guarding him until he could regain his
strength. Which he now had.
Citrus smiled. Yes, he owed them twice. Once for saving his
life, the second for...
His gaze swept around taking in the sights.
This was a beautiful place, a nice world. Once he finished what
he had been so rudely interrupted doing, perhaps he would make a
more... prolonged visit here.
(Yes, that would be nice), he thought, just before he faded
away.
* * * * * * * *
Ranma landed in the alley, looking about.
He was sure he had seen Citrus, if only for a brief second as he
jumped from rooftop to rooftop.
After a few more minutes, he found himself coming up empty.
Disappointed, Ranma headed back to the restaurant.
* * * * * * * *
It was thus Ranma found himself several hours later, one arm
cradling the box of cards in one hand, while the other held the wrapped
boxes of left-overs from their meal. The latter had been the only thing
that had saved him from being smashed by Akane when she had
undergone one of those chick things and gotten all upset. Instead, she
had just become angry, yelled at him, then stormed off, holding her own
box and her own section of leftovers.
There wasn't anyway he was sharing his section of the food
with his old man, no matter what Akane thought was a good idea. It was
his food, and one the things he had learned on the road was that you
always ate when you had the chance. And why had Akane gotten so
mad at him, saying he ate like a pig? Ryoga ate like a pig.
Balancing the food on one hand, a trick learned from the
Nekohaten, Ranma opened the box of cards he had, before selecting a
number of land tiles. Lands. His entire box had been all five colors.
Which meant he could never be the best in the game. Still, it gave him an
assortment of beautiful pictures to look at.
* * * * * * * *
Ryoga wandered through the forests of Japan, lost again. He
had been with the group for only a short while, before the street seemed
to have gone left while everyone else went right. Or maybe it was the
other way around. Ahh, it didn't matter! He was lost! Again!
At least he wasn't hungry. He had eaten the rest of the food
soon after entering the forest, throwing the remains in the garbage. He
had no refrigeration, so everything would have gone bad anyway.
Sighing, still wandering aimlessly, Ryoga took from his
backpack, and the wrapping he had made, the wooden box the gaijin had
given him. Reaching inside, he pulled out the top card, one of the
beautiful forest cards. For a moment, as he look at it, it was as though he
were in another world.
Membership in that other world also seemed to take precedent
over the real world, and because of this unfortunate dual exclusion,
Ryoga never noticed the root of a tree that he tripped over.
Suddenly, he was pitching forward, the objects in his hands
falling. Realizing this, Ryoga made a snap decision and carefully closed
the lid of the box, preventing anything from falling out. Which left the
card that had been in his hand hanging onto empty air alone. And while
Ryoga had many strengths, speed was not one of them.
The perfect card fell, striking the earth and moss, before
bouncing back up, almost as though it were made of rubber. The card
then fell towards the tree, before vanishing, and Ryoga felt as though
someone had just punched him in the stomach.
Ryoga searched, looked high and low, uprooted trees, but the
card was gone. Dejected, he continued on his way, looking at those
cards he had left.
* * * * * * * *
"Oh, my", said Kasumi, as another one of her cards, one of the
ones with the placid plains on them, fell to the ground and disappeared.
Once again, Kasumi felt the gut wrenching loss of her pretty cards, but
then felt a certain warmth flow through her as she realized that someone
else might find them, and treasure them just as much.
"Oh well", she said to herself, smiling, as she left the fourth
hospital she had visited today. For some reason, she had felt like visiting
hospitals. Seeing all those sick people had made her feel sad, but all that
hope and love had made her feel good. Perhaps she needed to see more
people. Maybe she could stop by that new church, and that Shinto
shrine, and even give a card to the monks who came into town every now
and then.
Yes, that would be nice.
* * * * * * * *
Akane was furious. More than furious.
She had lost another one of her cards!
It was because of those stupid boys at the arcade! Always
jostling and getting into fights. They had bumped her, and when she
had looked for her card, it was gone! On top of which, their jostling had
made her sick to her stomach!
And it had been one of her favorite mountains too! And she
had liked the others, before she had lost them at those dojos while
watching other martial artists fight. At this rate, she wouldn't have any
cards left!
* * * * * * * *
Kodachi stood at the gravesite of her favorite pet, Kachiko.
Aw, yes, poor Kachiko. The authorities had been so unreasonable after
the few unfortunate incidents. Besides, they had only been peasants.
They just didn't understand that a Bengal tiger needed space of his own!
She had been visiting quite a few of her old pets. Even some of
her family members. For some reason, she had just felt... called to go
from grave to grave, even stop by the morgue briefly. And at each site,
she had left one of her new, precious possessions in remembrance.
The only problem was that she was running out of her swamp
cards, and the other cards just didn't seem appropriate.
"OHOHOHOH!" she suddenly laughed, continuing on her way.
She had other sites to see!
Like the drugstores. She must be having some bad indigestion,
judging from the pain in her abdomen.
* * * * * * * *
"Mousse, you take my cards!" Shampoo demanded, pointing
her sword at the myopic duck-boy. She did not need this. First she
started losing cards from her new gift, and now she didn't feel well. This
was too much!
"I didn't steal any of your cards! I thought you took some of
mine!" Mousse shouted back at her, backbone materializing from
somewhere. It was bad enough his beloved Shampoo was accusing him
of crimes he had not committed, but now part of his set was missing! He
must of lost some cards while doing some errands for the ghoul. All that
running around was making him a little queasy.
"Stupid Mousse no lie to Shampoo!" she cried.
Mousse sighed. It was turning out to be one of those days.
* * * * * * * *
Kuno went through another kata, trying to dull the pain in his
stomach, trying to find control. It was not easy. Not since he had found
his box vanished from his hands, the very hands that had clutched it
tight, disappearing as if by magic, most likely by the hands of that foul
sorcerer, Saotome. Not since that strange fever that had struck him. It
made him feel as though he was on fire, some primal energy desiring
release.
Tatewaki Kuno fought off another shudder and began another
kata, seeking to quell his anger and weakness.
Yet something told him that his discontent was just beginning.
* * * * * * * *
Ryoga was lost.
This made Ryoga angry.
But Ryoga tended to get lost quite a bit, and this was nothing
new.
Ryoga had lost all of his cards with the beautiful pictures of the
landscape.
This made Ryoga furious.
But Ryoga had been furious before. He had seen Akane and
Ranma show affection for one another.
But Ryoga had also lost his new box, with all the other cards!
And with it, Ryoga had lost control.
He walked the forests, his body burning with a furious ki aura as
depression and rage cloaked him.
This was all Ranma's fault! But even that thought did not help
him. It rang hollow.
Ryoga hated his luck. First, he had been second dither to that
new student, Ranma, when he had become a teenager.
Then he had wandered, lost, late for the duel with his nemesis.
So he had wandered, across even oceans in pursuit.
Then he had been cursed. To turn into a small, helpless, animal.
More and more put-downs and failures. Like his life.
And now he had lost his box of cards! They had disappeared
from his pack!
It wasn't fair! Why couldn't life be different? Why couldn't it be
simple? Why couldn't it be like that card game with Citrus, were he had
beat Ranma seven times out of nine?
Once, just once, he wanted power. True power. Not simple
martial arts techniques, but awe inspiring power.
Power that would make women, even Akane, looked up to him in
awe.
Power that would crush even Ranma, make him jealous of how
much better Ryoga was to him.
With a fanged grin even in his depression, Ryoga recalled the
shocked look on Ranma's face as Ryoga had gleefully announced how
his twenty four mana fireball had killed Ranma.
He wanted that again, for real.
He wanted to cry out "FIREBALL!" and see that look once
more.
"Yes", he muttered to himself in the still humid air. "I want it!
To see Ranma humiliated!" He could feel something building in himself.
It was anger, yes, but something more. For a brief moment, Ryoga felt
the sudden impression of the forests he had wandered through, of the
mighty peaks he had scaled, and the memory of their majesty made him
swell with sureness and power.
"Yes, I want it Ranma! To see it in your eyes again, when I face
you and defeated you! When once more, after that, I shall call out
FIREBALL!"
A sudden, irresistible force rushed from Ryoga, as he felt a
tenuous connection he never quite knew he had drained away. At the
same time, he felt the sharp pain in his carelessly thrown out hands, as
something made him cup them together.
But all this paled in comparison to the shock Ryoga knew as a
ball of plasma and magma flew from his hands, growing larger with each
meter it traveled from him, until the harsh, red glowing ball struck the
mountainside away from Ryoga, and forest there became a sheet of
flames.
The only thing Ryoga could think of as the shockwave blew him
back, the superheated air burning his clothes, was simply,
(WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
* * * * * * * *
They started screaming long before they were lowered onto the
sharpened wooden poles.
All around the newly conquered world, in every city and sky,
images appeared, even as the hordes of creatures, some mortal, most not,
grimly paraded around, rounding up the people to watch the scenes.
Scenes of the impalement of ten thousand of the people's rulers,
religious leaders, and prominent citizens was displayed, as the people,
magically suspended in the air above the poles, were displayed.
"Know that you, people of Ferrin, are defeated. Your armies are
scattered, and your leaders before you. Know that you, people of Ferrin,
are now part of the glorious Iron Empire!"
The voice of the massive demon bellowed, carrying for leagues
as the last of the generals hurried to the meeting. Their Leader had
demanded his presence, and it had taken time to get back here, after the
unfortunate accident. The general, a Seraphim, was mighty, even
fearless, but there was no denying that he felt something akin to that
emotion at the very thought of the one he had been forced to bend knee
to.
"You will obey the laws of the Iron Empire! You, people of
Ferrin, are now citizens of the Iron Empire, with all the rights and
responsibilities that come with this august honor!"
The Seraphim passed the outer guards, a thin layer at most, as
the powers of those beyond made mortal security a show, not a
necessity. The Seraphim gingerly up the stairs before him, onto the
raised dais, the stone a construct formed of magic.
The dais was a flat disk, with every general arrayed around in a
circle, except for the iron throne that lay directly opposite the steps.
Arrayed around was over thirty beings; mighty and massive dragons,
cunning and potent sorcerers, ancient and evil vampires, the darkest of
demons, and the brightest of angels. All were in submissive pose to the
figure seated on the iron throne.
"So glad you could join us. Take your place", gestured the
figure to the Seraphim, who moved to his position.
"Excellent", said the figure.
"Now we have-" the figure broke off as an agonized shriek of
mortals, slowly being impaled, broke through even the booming voice of
the demon. The Seraphim could only weep.
"As I was saying", the figure continued, "we now have to
contemplate our next target." The figure gestured to one of the mages,
"Totas? Your suggestions, based on your short trip?"
The sorcerer stepped forward, "My lord, I have a perfect world
for our next target. I observed and even interacted with the residents.
Here is the world", Totas gestured, his fingers sparkling as they brought
the image of the world he had visited into being.
"Excellent", broke in the figure. "I trust your choice. Though
one of your number has betrayed my trust."
The figure stepped from the shadows and the Iron Throne.
"One of you, while I battled to defeat the poor coalition of mages who
attempted to stop me- us; tried to destroy me."
The figure whirled to one of the dragons, pointing, "You,
Krasssuth! You banished me to another world, a Neutral plane!"
"I-" the dragon began.
"But only to save me from a mana backlash!" The figure whirled
and pointed to a demon lord who quickly lost his smug look. "You,
Bazzelbub, tried to destroy me! You sent the Shadow Demons after me,
one armored in the carcass of a Thrull! I do not tolerate betrayal!"
The figure snapped his fingers, and a spear of rainbow force
rose from the ground, impaling the hapless demon lord. The spear
shimmered, engulfing the demon lord, before it contracted, condensing
into a sphere, which floated to the figure's hand.
Which crushed the sphere, and the soul and existence of the
demon lord. The figure looked about. "I trust this object lesson is not
lost on the rest of you? Good. Now go, and do my bidding!"
The generals scattered as the figure examined the image of the
world Totas had suggested. Yes, this one would be suitable for now.
Until he could return to where he had just been, as he fingered the card
clutched in his hand. He now had a material link to that world, and one
who desire his presence. It was perfect.
It would be easy, that conquest. The people were too
dependent on their constructs, so like Urza's fabrications. And he
doubted that they would use his gift wisely. Human nature would take
care of that. They would take the trauma and pain of awakening the
lands, so that later he could claim the mana. Yes, it would be a worthy
addition. Like this one, that Totas had suggested.
The image shifted, becoming a whirling pool of motes of light,
each a world that he had conquered. Four hundred and eighty three
worlds. Four hundred and eighty three worlds that were his!
"One could even spend an eternity", whispered the figure,
repeating his earlier words.
The figure allowed the light to wash over him, throwing his
features into view. The countless artifacts that were worn as decoration
and adornment were awesome, splendid, and magnificent. The person
who wore them was almost plain.
Tall but not greatly so, with simple brown eyes and blond hair.
But the eyes of this one seemed like stars, burning with ambition and
desire.
Had Ranma or Ryoga seen those eyes, they would have killed
him where he had stood. Had Nabiki seen those eyes, she would have
done anything to join his side.
But then the fire was gone, and the eyes placid. Ordinary.
Yet appearance was probably the only thing ordinary about the
Lord of the Iron Throne. The Mage of All Colors. The Master of Worlds.
The One Whose True Name Was Forgotten.
(But...), thought the mage.
(Citrus is a good enough name), decided the Mage of All
Colors.
(Yes), thought Citrus. (Under that name, I shall rule that world.
That... Japan. That... America.)
(That... Earth).
* * * * * * * *
Yes, you guessed it. It is a Ranma/Magic: The Gathering Crossover. I
probably won't continue this; I don't even know if something similar has
been written. It is just one of many ideas I have floating about it my
head.
Here is the rough breakdown for magic:
Ranma: All colors.
Akane: Red.
Nabiki: Blue, with some black.
Kasumi: White.
Ukyo: Red and white.
Ryoga: Green, black, with some red. (Maybe just green, or green and
red?)
Shampoo: Red and green.
Mousse: Blue and red, with some white.
Kodachi Kuno: Black
Tatewaki Kuno: Blue, red, and white.
Any comments?
This is one of a number of fanfic "starters" I have half-written, but I do
not know how they will be received. Given that I am writing for an
audience as much as I am writing for my own betterment and enjoyment,
feedback (whether for this teaser, or more fanfics) is appreciated.
Other 'fics (an incomplete list of 'fics, incomplete or finished):
BGC/WoD:VTM (Night Sabers) (about 1/5 complete; serial)
BGC/3x3 Eyes (Seeing Through Your Eyes) (started, never finished;
serial)
BGC/YYH (Bloodties) (Never finished; serial)
AMG (Heritage) Moderate-Long (unfinished)
Ranma 1/2 (The Greatest Challenge)
Ranma 1/2 X-overs: Many ideas
Evangelion (You are just like your father) Short (partially complete)
Evangelion ("Tests") Moderate-Long (1/5 done)
Evangelion (The Fall of Nerv) Short (partially complete)
Evangelion (The Angel Virus) Short (just started)
These are just a few 'fics in the works, or abandoned. My time is
becoming increasingly limited, but I was curious if there is any interest.
Ah, my embarrassment is starting to get the better of me.
Please send any comments or questions to Curtiss Nelson,
curtiss@seattleu.edu