This is my first fanfic.  This is also my first post.  I have had it on
my own page for a short time.  I apologize if you downloaded this
monstrously large fic in error, or the formatting is incorrect.  I
usually write in Word 97, and although I stripped it down to text format
with hopefully reasonable line lengths, I'm not really sure what you'll
actually get.  Comments are welcome.  Please be constructive.


Ranma � is the property and invention of
Rumiko Takahashi. The following story is
not produced for any monetary or personal
gain.

Keep in mind the journey is almost always more interesting than the
destination.

Journey

Part One: Back to the Real World

Chapter 1

 Ranma gracefully somersaulted over his opponent, landed
lightly on the huge pack and waited.  The boy whose pack he was
balancing on immediately turned around to face the direction he had
seen his hated foe go in.  Of course being who he was he actually only
turned to face a random direction.  Not that this mattered considering
where his enemy actually was.  �Ranma you coward!  How dare you
run out on a fight like that.  Come back and face me like a man.�
 �C�mon P-chan, not that I don�t appreciate you entertaining
me or nothin but why�re after me this time?�  Ryouga, realizing he had
been made a fool of yet again, threw off his pack in a single smooth
motion, hoping to catch his foe by surprise.  His pack flew in a
straight
line for 30 feet before impacting and demolishing a brick wall.
Looking intently at the devastation for any sign of movement, he at
first did not notice the person slightly behind him shaking his head and

tsking to himself.  �Miss Kragowa is not going to be happy about that.
That�s the third time this month she�s had to fix her wall.�
 �Ranma how dare you treat Akane that way.  Don�t you know
how much time she spent making that meal for you?� he screamed
while swinging his umbrella with one hand and throwing his bandanas
in his other.
 �Hey I can�t help it if I had to defend myself against that
sludge she tried to feed me!  I mean after it ate the table it started
to
lunge at me. A chi blast was all that saved my life!� Ranma loudly
declaimed while easily dodging the bandanas and umbrella while
occasionally guiding the closer blows away with a delicate tap.
 �Prepare to die!�  Ryouga was unaware that during the combat
he had been carefully led.  When Ranma stepped aside the umbrella
continued forward to demolish the public fountain he had been
standing in front of.  The destroyed fountain began to spray everyone
within five feet with cold water.
 �Bwee...Bwee!!!� screamed an enraged Ryouga in his new
piglet form.
 �Man, maybe that plan wasn�t such a great idea,� stated a
disgusted Ranma-chan from her position next to the piglet as it tried to

gnaw on her foot.  �It would have been better to simply beat you silly,
at least then I�d be dry.�
 �Ranma!!  Are you picking on P-chan again?  What did I tell
you about picking on my pet before, you pervert!�  Ranma-chan
shivered as he heard the voice behind him.  No, it couldn�t be.  She�d
just raced across Nerima to escape Akane and her cooking.  It just
wasn't natural.  �If you leave P-chan alone and try the new recipe I
have for you I may not mallet you.  Yet.�  The last part was delivered
in a whisper that Ranma didn�t think he was supposed to hear.
 �I am sooo out of here,� she stated while giving �P-chan� a
kick that sent him across the park.  She saw an enraged Akane start
running towards him, a huge mallet in her hand.  Just as she was about
to tear off sprinting into the distance she was engulfed in a splash of
light.

 To the others watching, it appeared that Ranma-chan was
covered in a descending cylinder of pure white light.  The beam then
dwindled to a thin beam and disappeared.
 Akane was left staring in bewilderment at the place Ranma-
chan last was.  �Ranma?� she said in a small voice.
 �What pervert girl do with Airen?� asked a well built blue
haired girl.
 �Shampoo?  What happened?  If this is one of your magic
tricks.....� Akane�s voice trailed off.  Shampoo and her great great
great
(etc) grandmother had been known to use magic to try to entrap Ranma
but these attempts had usually been limited to drugs and potions.
She�d never done anything as spectacular as what she�d just seen.  This
combined with the fact that Shampoo appeared just as confused as she
herself was made her consider that Shampoo may be innocent.  This
time at least.
 �Talk to pervert girl later.  Shampoo go to great Grandmother
now.�
 �Wait a minute! I am not letting you out of my sight if you
might know something about that...thing.�
 Shampoo just shrugged her shoulders.  If the violent pervert
girl wanted to follow her around she didn�t care.  She had more
important things to consider.  Her husband had just vanished in a flash
of light and it was her duty as an Amazon to find him and drag him
back to her village.  He simply didn�t realize how lucky he was to have
her as wife, but he would learn.  As soon as great Grandmother found
him.

Forgotten, a small black piglet wandered dazedly from the
park making small 'bweeing' noises.  If anyone had been able to
understand they would have heard it muttering about training journeys
and vengeance.


Chapter 2

 To Ranma-chan the world was lost in a glare of whiteness,
then there came a sensation of falling.  This was a very familiar
feeling
and she flexed her chi in the way she had learned to do to minimize the
damage and pain she would feel on impact.  She had much experience
at this.
 When the impact came she heard rocks shatter and a choking
cloud of dust arise around her.  By the feel of the impact she estimated

that she had fallen about 250 feet.  Well within her tolerances.
 Ranma-chan lay in the center of the crater she had created and
let her senses inform her of her surroundings.  She estimated about
twenty-one people surrounded her by the sound of breathing and the
light patter of leather shoes against cobblestone.  Ten more people had
bows that she could pinpoint from the creaking of the drawn bows.
Hmm, possibly hostile.  She made a note to pay attention the sound of
high velocity objects in the air and gently expanded her battle aura to
help minimize possible damage and aid the sensing of missiles.
 The sound of bows actually relieved her.  If the people around
her used arrows, pellets, darts shuriken, bandanas, spatulas or other
sub-sonic missile systems she was very confident she could catch,
parry or avoid them.  If they used these types of weapons chances were
they wouldn�t use guns or similar tools.  Ranma-chan theorized that the
Chestnut Fist combined with certain chi manipulated would allow her
to deal with higher technology but had yet figured a way to train that
didn�t involve crippling injury at the first failure.
 Believing she had gotten a grasp of the current situation, as
much as she could without seeing it, she slowly sat up and looked
around at the room through the subsiding dust.  Around her was an
open courtyard.  There were indeed twenty-one people surrounding her
on the ground, most wore something that looked like guardsmen�s
uniforms over some sort of chainmail.  The uniform was a red overcoat
with some sort of black vicious looking lizard thing that appeared to be

glaring at the watcher.  One wore ornate robes that looked like they
may have been appropriate on priests.  The robes were red and gold,
embroidered with bizarre looking symbols.  Looking up where here
senses informed her the archers were she noted they too were dressed
in the same type of uniforms the guards wore.
 Still moving slowly, she stood up, being sure to subtly gather
a few shards of rock in her hands.

 The mage was confused.  He was expecting something much
more impressive.  Before him stood a young red-headed girl barely
more than four feet tall.  According to the spell description he was
supposed to have summoned the demon or godling, also known as the
Lost One.  The prophecies spoke that in order to guarantee victory in
the upcoming war such a demon was required to be bound and
sacrificed.  The mage carefully examined the summoning circle.
Hmm, intact though the area where the...girl...stood had somehow
become badly damaged, he knew that part was not important.  It was
expected that the bound demon would destroy the area it stood.  It was
the rest of the circle that would confine said demon.
 �Are you the infernal being known as the Lost One?�  The girl
gave him a confused look and answered in some foreign tongue.  This
was not a good start, demons all had the gift of tongues, if this one
did
not understand then something was not right.  Giving it some thought
the mage regretfully came to a decision.  Rooting in the pouch he had
at his side he brought out the amulet he used while meeting with
foreign diplomats for the King.  Pulling the simple gold with the
stylized ibis head from the pouch he threw it into the circle at the
girl.
She gave him an odd look and bent down to pick it up.
 �Are you the infernal being known as the Lost One?� the
mage repeated his question.  This time the girl�s head jerked around in
surprise.

 Ranma-chan had picked up the amulet when the she heard the
guy in the robes speak.  This time she understood what he said.  �Nah,
sorry.  I think you must be looking for Ryouga.  I was just talking to
him.  How about you send me back and I�ll tell him you want to see
him?�  Ranma-chan asked in a hopeful voice.
 The man shook his head regretfully, �I�m sorry too, but if you
are not the Lost One we cannot allow you to go back to your home
plane and warn him.�  With a sad look he turned, walking away,
signaling with his hand.  Ranma-chan sighed, so much for the easy way
to get back home, from the way the guy had talked it was doubtful she
was on Earth.
 There were several twanging sounds as arrows appeared
where the red-headed girl once was.  A moment later and much louder
twanging sounds signaled the destruction of the bows courtesy of many
carefully aimed shards of rock.
 The guards surrounding the circle jerked their swords from
their scabbards as they finally realized that things were not going as
they had planned.  They frantically looked about trying to find the
target that was no longer safely contained in the circle.  The mage
turned back toward the circle to identify the source of the unexpected
sounds.
 This was when the horrible noises began.  Guards started to
scream only to have their voices cut off mid-yell.  The mage could see
little of the proceeding but what he could made him begin muttering
the beginnings of the guardian trigger spell he had not ever expected to

use.  The sound of metal shattering could be heard from within the
large clump of guards, and people were being jettisoned up in the air
twenty feet to fall only to the ground unmoving.  Occasionally the red-
haired girl could be seen jumping from the head, shoulder, sometimes
the actual blades of the guardsmen before leaping back within the pack
of guardsmen.  Then the bodies would start flying again.  In less than a

minute all twenty-one guards were unconscious, the mage assumed
they were dead.  Truly he had vastly underestimated the power of this
demon.
 Once the swordsmen were dealt with the red-haired girl
slowed enough that she could easily be seen again.  With deliberate
slowness Ranma-chan walked towards the still chanting mage.  �You
will send me home.  Now.�
 His voice rising in triumph the mage completed his spell.  An
eerie blue fog enveloped the area around him, seeming to distort the
distances of the courtyard.  A shimmering square plane of energy
sprang into being on each side of the mage until he was enclosed in a
cube of force.
 Ranma-chan had backed up, nonplussed at the unexpected
events taking place before her.  After a second, seeing that nothing
else
was happening she approached to cube, gathered up several pebbles
and flicked them with surprising force at the shimmering wall.  Ranma-
chan was not very surprised when they bounced off to no effect.
 The mage was feeling much more confident.  He had stymied
the demon-girl, and with his safety he would be able to initiate other
counter measures.  �You may as well admit defeat gracefully and die
with dignity.  This area was built with demon containment in mind.
This wall around me is impenetrable.�
 Ranma-chan walked up to the glittering wall.  With the test of
the pebbles she believed it was safe to touch, which she gingerly did.
She felt an incredibly smooth surface, no discernable temperature, and
totally unyielding.  Beginning with light punches she gradually built up

force to her most powerful.  Not seeing any effect she added significant

amount of chi to her blows.  Still no effect, except for stinging
knuckles.
 She was about to continue testing the barrier when her danger
sense noticed the robed man smile and look over her shoulder.  She
then heard a light whistling sound and felt an object broach her chi
field.  Cocking her head to the side she felt an arrow fly through the
space where it had been.  Quickly reaching behind her, she plucked a
second arrow from the air.  Just as she grabbed the arrow, the first
arrow hit the barrier Ranma-chan had been standing in front of.
Ranma-chan was caught totally by surprise when the impacting arrow
blew up in front of her, sending her flying 40 feet across the
courtyard.
Ranma-chan�s reflexes kicked in quickly enough to turn it into a
controlled somersault, but once she landed on her feet she staggered
and collapsed on her butt.
 The mage had been watching this with great delight.  When
the creature had showed it�s determination to get through the barrier he

had some doubts.  Few magic defenses had no weaknesses, and
although as far as he knew his were perfect, it was a very powerful
demon.  Demons didn�t cast magic in it�s traditional form, so while a
normal mage of sufficient power may have been able to get through the
walls of force with some type of dispel or negate magic, demons
shouldn�t be capable of this, but...it had looked very determined.
 The mage�s deliberation was interrupted by said demon
shaking itself out of it�s stunned daze, and after a look in his
direction
that spoke of much future pain, it blurred and ran at incredible speed
over to the balcony, jumping up the thirty feet to where the arrows had
come from and disappearing inside.  A few screams later the figure
reappeared carrying a quiver of arrows, and a bow.  While running by
the unconscious swordsmen she grabbed up a sword with an odd bluish
hue to it.

 Ranma-chan was really beginning to worry.  This place was
one unpleasant surprise after another. Cubes of force, exploding
arrows, and who knew what was next.  It seemed less and less likely
that he would be able to compel the old man into sending her home,
and she was becoming less willing to trust him even if it was offered.
She would try a few more attempted before she admitted that she had
to find another solution.  But first things first.  During the brief
combat
with the swordsmen she had concentrated on destroying their weapons,
much as she usually tried to destroy Mousse�s.  This works on most of
the guardsmen but a surprising few had swords that just would not
snap.  She actually took some minor cuts from these swords before she
adapted her style to this new danger.  However, it was time to see how
these weapons work on that cube thing.
 Ranma-chan walked toward the mage, stopping at the barrier.
Noticing that the man was mumbling something to himself, she picked
up her pace.  This guy seemed to have almost as many tricks as the old
goul.  Grasping the sword and channeling chi through it as Kunou did,
she combined it with the Chestnut Fist, the sword becoming nothing
more than an invisible blur.  Ranma-chan growled in frustration, the
sword had just slid off the barrier with no other effect.  Ranma-chan
tossed the sword aside, tools were for the weak, a true martial artist
needed nothing more than his body, mind, and spirit.
 Ranma-chan jogged about forty feet away from the cube,
turned and in a smooth motion notched drew and fired an arrow at the
cube.  Knowing the lack of effect this would have from the time the
other arrow hit the side of the cube, she fired arrow after arrow at the

cube to form one long explosion.  Frustrated with her lack of speed she
threw the bow aside and used his Chestnut Fist to throw all the arrows
that were left in the quiver, forcing one huge explosion from the
remaining arrows.
 The mage, although severely shaken from the continuous
explosions, persevered in his spell.  The Demon used tools.  He had
never heard of a demon that did that before.  He had been taught, and
learned this from past summoning experience, that demons just didn�t
do that.  He forced himself to complete the spell despite his
distraction.
He had the tiger by the tail and to let go would mean a quick death.  As

he completed the words of the spell, he looked up to see the demon-girl
smile as if she had had a brilliant idea.  She held her hands together
and
a brilliant sphere of light formed between them.  The sphere quickly
grew larger and suddenly came barreling towards the cube walls.
No...not at the cube walls, the ground under the cube.  Panic struck
just
before the light hit.  The cube only had five faces.
 Ranma-chan was very pleased with herself, she was a master
at analyzing a technique picking it apart and finding a counter.  She
may have overdone it a bit though.  She had put far to much energy in
the chi blast and there was a huge pit that the five faced cube was
presently hovering over.  There was also no sign of the robed guy.
Shit, she didn�t mean to kill him, even if he probably deserved, besides

he may have been the only way home.  Shit.
 Ranma-chan was so wrapped up in her contemplation that she
didn�t fell a slight quiver in the ground.  However, when the pillars
surrounding the courtyard crumbled, revealing the huge stone
golemlike creatures within, it did catch her attention.  They were slow
lumbering creatures, about 20 feet tall and they were moving towards
her.  Ranma-chan had no doubts he could defeat them, but there was
little point.  It was obviously the old man�s last spell, and he was
already dead. (Shit.)  She was tired, and hurt and this stupid battle
was
against one silly spell after another.  No challenge of skill, just
brute
force and stamina.
 If she knew Ryouga�s Breaking Point she might relish a battle
against rock monsters.  Of course the same reason she hadn�t bothered
to learn the Breaking Point was why she saw this whole battle as
disappointing.  The Breaking Point was a crutch.  A neat trick whose
whole purpose was to allow Ryouga�s fights to last long enough for
some skill to be displayed.  Of course she never expected to be attacked

by a rock, which made Ranma-chan rethink the value of learning it.
She did after all know the training method.
 Anyway it was time to leave.  She had a whole world she had
to search to find a way home.  With those final thoughts she leaped
over the courtyard wall, over the rooftops of what appeared to be some
sort of large mansion, and into the streets of a large city.
 Of the courtyard she left behind there wasn�t much left.  The
cube still hovered over the over pit, most of the trees were either
blown
over by explosion, or cut through by Ranma-chan�s own version of the
Kunou sword strike, which while ineffective against the cube seemed
to work well against everything else.  The stone walls of the courtyard
likewise bore long deep troughs, further evidence of the effectiveness
of Ranma-chan�s borrowed sword.
 Eight minutes after she left a shimmering formed in the empty
space inside the cube and the form of an old man seemingly dropped
out of his cloak which had suddenly appeared, jerked in the air for a
second and started to gently float down.  As he descended he looked
around at the devastation.  Then he noticed the stone golems were
wandering aimlessly around the courtyard occasionally eliciting a
groan or scream, sometimes only a death rattle, as the unconscious men
on the ground were stepped on by several tons of stone golem.
 �What am I going to tell the Emperor?� were his thoughts
before he started rounding up the stone golems.

 On another plane of existence a being of power looked in his
scrying pool, then up into the eyes of another being of great power and
nigh infinite knowledge.  �That is a human?  I always considered them
so weak before.  I am pleased that you informed me of her arrival.
With a little bit of training she has the potential to be a very
effective
tool.�
 �They prefer being called Champions or something with
favorable shadings.  Considering the danger this being is going to put
through on our behalf, we can at least be polite.�
 �Sure Thoth.  Whatever," he grunted.
"Remember, Ammit is not always to be believed, he most
likely has his own agenda aside from the goals of his alliance."
"I appreciate your concern, but this is hardly my first taste of
intrigue, Ammit asked for my aid and thanks to your counsel I have the
perfect�champion.  Of all of our pantheon you know I appreciate
martial skill."
"Be wary not to alienate your champion, you are both
honorable but he�er she is also very compassionate.  You can be very
strict in following what you believe, give her some flexibility.  When
she is done with your favor I will need her in good health for a serious

mission."
"How serious can it be if you wish to sent a human?"
"I need a human for the same reasons as you, they are almost
impossible to detect by deities and intellegences.  It therefore means
we
need as powerful a human as we can find.  This one is as powerful as
I've yet seen, I've come across weaker Godlings."
"And her mission?"
"Say nothing to the others but I believe I've detected the Old
Ones stirring."
After a moment of silence, "Well I suppose you can't get more
serious than that."


Chapter 3

 Ranma stood by the doorway of the tavern, absently keeping
an eye on the patrons within.  The weeks since his arrival had not been
happy ones.  Growing up on the road with his father had been lonely.
The only friends he had as a child had been Uchan, and Ryouga (sorta).
Both had been too short for an attention starved young boy.  The last
year he had stayed at the Tendos had been hectic, weird, dangerous,
weird, active, and weird but Ranma considered it almost Heaven.  He
had friends that stayed around for more than a few days, powerful
martial artists wandered in and taught him new styles and techniques
(although he doubted that's what they had in mind), many girls vied for
his attention (he didn�t know what to do with them, but the attention
was very nice), and he�d been reunited with many old friends from the
past (who would have thunk Uchan was a girl?).  Then suddenly he had
nothing.  Not even that honorless piece of filth he called his Pop.  It
was almost as bad as those times he�d been stuck in his girl form.
 Worse this city, maybe this whole world, sucked.  Oh sure
they had lots of guys throwing magic around...but little else.  He�d
looked around at some training centers, watched the elite guards
practice their art and had come to a conclusion.  They were pathetic.
Even Akane or Kunou would seem to be a fighting god to these people.
They all used weapons...poorly.  Oh sure they could give each other a
challenge but even the mediocre clods back home in the Kendo club
were better than the best he�d seen so far.
He�d doubled his training regime, working harder than he ever
had in the past.  New katas, imagining new techniques for situations
he�d probably never be in.  Ranma Soatome would not get soft, or let
his advancement in the Art suffer just because he was stuck in a world
that had no concept of real martial arts.  No way.
 He had the time.  Working as a bouncer was easy work.  A
pressure point here, a glare there and instant peace.  During most of
the
evening when he worked he was imaging different techniques he could
practice either later that night or in the morning.  The tavern was also
a
good place to get information.  They apparently had no idea how good
his hearing was and he had already learned of an underground
movement, as well as a few other juicy tidbits of information.
Apparently the city was the Capital of a country called the Western
Empire, the rather corrupt remains of an expansionist empire.  There
were rumors that the King had been considering taking up the
conqueror's mantle again, but was waiting for the right moment.
Whatever.  Politics didn�t interest him.  Getting home did.
 This led to his interest in magic.  It got him here it should be
able to get him home.  Unfortunately he had achieved a bit of notoriety
in the mage circles, so directly requesting help was out of the
question.
He had learned a bit about the different types of magic available in the

world he now lived in.  He had also learned of the places such magic
could be found.  Since the Western Empire seemed hostile to him, he
figured he might more easily gain aid elsewhere.
 Looking around he noted that his target had just seated
himself at his usual table, and decided to put into play the plan he had

come up with earlier.  He was no Nabiki but it seemed straightforward
enough.
 Ranma walked casually over to the elderly gentleman who had
just sat down at a table in the corner.  The importance, or at least
wealth, of this individual was displayed by the hulking brute of a man
that stood alertly behind him in a guard position.  �Greetings.  May I
have a seat?�  Ranma paid close attention to politeness.  The last two
people he had approached had been so offended by his blunt approach
they had immediately left and not come back, this fellow was the last
one he knew who fit his needs.
 �I really don�t have time for chitchat right now.  I�m getting
my caravan ready for travel in two days and I really need to hurry.
Besides it looks like you�re needed for your job,�  he said with a
slight
hint of amused condescension.  As he had been speaking the elderly
man�s attention had been drawn to the scene of one of the tavern�s
drunker patrons raising his mug over his head in preparation of
smashing in the back of the head of one of his fellow patrons.
 �Don�t worry on my account.  I have plenty of time to talk to
you.�  As Ranma calmly stated this, he flicked his wrist, sending a
spoon flying across the room to imbed itself through both sides of the
metal tankard.  Incidentally soaking the hostile tavern drinker who
still
had the drink raised above him.  Shocked at his sudden shower he took
a look at his tankard, the spoon through it, and the bouncer�s back and
wisely decided to leave well enough alone.  He wasn�t drunk to mess
with a magic user, even one hard up enough to be working as a
bouncer.
 �Ah, perhaps I can make a little time for you,� stated the
gentleman with considerably more respect in his voice.  His bodyguard,
however, was looking on with much more hostility and wariness than
he had demonstrated before.  Ranma didn�t care, it wasn�t his problem.
 �I have been thinking of leaving this town, but I don�t know
much about the area.  You have a caravan ready to leave for...er...was
it
Timiro or the Eastern Territory?�
 �Ha, it�s Timiro my friend.  Still want to go?  The rates for
passengers are 100 gold.  Or do you have something else in mind.�
 �Er, well,� Ranma fumbled, his concentration slightly thrown
by his own verbal slip.  �Something else.  Heh, heh..er... I heard you
have a need for guards, for your caravan.  I�m interested in that
position, until we reach on of the larger cities of...er...Timiro.�
Ranma
had his hand positioned nervously on the back of his neck and was
sweating bullets.  Give him the clarity and focus of battle.  Talking
was
for people like Nabika.  Heck even Pops negotiated okay...for a lying
honorless bastard.
  �If you can handle a sword anywhere near as well as you can
a spoon we�ll be happy to have you on our journey.  I will of course
need to speak with the tavern keeper, but as long as he�s been satisfied

with your services you will be a welcome addition.  The wages are 5
gold per week, food and lodging, what little there is while on the road
are included.  Agreed?�
 �Sword...yah, of course got a sword, I mean, am good with a
sword,� Ranma said chuckling nervously.  He hated lying, he�d have to
get a sword tonight.  Ranma quickly got up and backed away toward
his position at the door.
 �I�ll see you in two days at first light by the Eastern gate, ask
for the merchant Grayson.  Goodnight.�

 The brutish man scowled as Ranma left the table.  �I don�t
trust him.  He�s too good to be true.  And that bumbling shy boy
routine is also too convenient.  I think it might just be a clever mask
to
put us off our guard.  Someone might suspect who we really are and he
could be their response.�
 You might be correct in your suspicions.  We�ll take
precautions.  The first one being that barmaid draping herself over our
reluctant bouncer.  Call her over, she may have something useful.�
 When the barmaid arrived the merchant ordered a drink and a
light meal.  While chatting and flirting in a light hearted manner,
Grayson politely mentioned that she had something on her shoulder
and kindly plucked a long black hair that had been laying there.  A
moment later he wrapped up the conversation and asked to talk to the
tavernkeep.

 Later that night Grayson and the large man retired to their
room.  Bringing out a shallow silver bowl, he filled it with water.
Looking into the bowl, he chanted a few phrases while burning the hair
retrieved earlier that night.  After some moments the surface of the
water shimmered and an image formed of a black clothed girl with
several strands of red hair poking from a black cowl and mask.  The
two men looked at each other in confusion.  Something was not right.
Their look of confusion was replaced with one of intense interest soon
after.

 Ranma-chan hopped from rooftop to rooftop.  She kept a
careful eye towards the skies, several weeks earlier she had been
surprised to see one of the mages of a guard patrol take to the air and
fly above his earthbound cohorts.  It�s the things you didn�t know that
usually got you Ranma-chan had found.  She merely regarded it as a
healthy learning experience.  It didn�t really worry her.  Herb
flew...sortta, as did Tarou and Saffron.  Mid-air combat was a Soatome
specialty.  It just wasn�t usually quite that high.
 When she reached his target, she only hesitated long enough
to quickly scan the grounds for anything new.  She had been here in
male form earlier and knew the layout and probable guard location
already.  She leaped up to an outside window twenty feet up and while
holding onto the bricks with her fingers and toes, used her other hand
the remove the inner window frame from the outer window frame.  The
only sound heard was a short sharp snapping sound.  Still holding the
window she leaped inside, replacing the window loosely behind her.
Looking around she noted with approval that she was in a well-
furnished office.  She tsked as she saw the large metal safe in the
wall.
There were a few squiggles engraved on the metal but the owner
seemed a little overconfident.  Well she wasn�t here to rob the owner�s
safe, she had other plans.
 She quickly opened the door.  Coming down the corridor with
a drawn flaming sword was a guardsman.  Upon seeing a figure
opening the door the guard pointed his sword at it and barked out a
word.  Instantly a large fireball shot forth, screaming down upon her.
Her aura had had just started to turn blue when the fireball hit her
crossed arms.
The guard was just congratulating himself on an easy victory
when the smoke cleared.  Standing with her legs braced, arms crossed,
and a very visible blue battle aura was a very pissed looked off
redhead.  Her clothes were scorched with holes burned through in
several places, but except for this and black smudges on the skin she
looked overly healthy for his tastes.  The last that the guard saw was
her form blur toward him and an icy coldness when the aura touched
him.
It's very hard to maintain the icy calm necessary for the
Dragon Ascending Defeat and still be angry, but Ranma-chan was.
She wasn't angry at the guard�much, mostly she was mad at herself.
She kept telling herself to be careful, expect the unexpected, and then
casually strolled into a completely unexpected situation.  She fingered
the hilt of his new sword and wondered if every bozo she'd meet in this
world would be casting fireballs at her.  He might as well have stayed
on Mount Pheonix.
Walking down the corridor she halted as she heard the patter
of many feet coming her way.  He wouldn't be surprised this time.
Indeed Ranma-chan wasn't surprised when fifteen guardsmen came
around the corner.  She had knocked eight of them unconscious before
most could even ready their weapons.  When one the people in the rear
held up a necklace, pointed at her and she found herself firmly affixed
to the ground�that did surprise her.  Before she readjusted her tactics
to suit her stationary position one guard scraped his sword on her
forearm giving her a nasty cut.  Unfortunately for him a moment later
he joined his fellows in sleep.
Ranma-chan looked at his feet, looked his one remaining
opponent, and thought quickly.  Pulling out the sword (which burst into
flame upon leaving the scabbard) she brought the blade down with
great force on the ground next to her right foot.  Her gasp of delight
as
she found her foot free (albeit, with a chunk of the floor attached to
her
feet) turned into a groan of dismay as she found the sword now firmly
attached to the ground.  Meanwhile the remaining had fearfully backed
away and was pointing a ring he wore on his hand.  Guessing what
might be coming her way she readied her aura and her arms blurred in
a circular pattern before her.  Sure enough out of the ring sprang a
ball
of fire bearing straight at her.  Upon reaching her aura and moving
hands the fireball seemed to instantly be shredded and a huge
horizontal wind tunnel formed in front of her.
Ranma-chan, although feeling a huge force upon her, still had
one foot stuck to the floor.  The difficult part wasn't bracing herself
against the wind, it was balancing on one foot to prevent it being
reattached to the ground.  When the wind died down she noted that her
adversary was no longer before her.  She also noted the wall and a
good portion of the ceiling was no longer before her as well.  Upon
looking around her she saw only the few that had been stuck to the
floor or blown into the magic effect were still with her.
Grunting in satisfaction she used a conveniently place body to
keep her free foot from touching the magically enhanced floor, while
another borrowed sword freed her other foot.  Jumping out of the area
she continued down the newly renovated corridor and through the hole
in the wall.  Beyond the wall lay a hole in the floor through which she
lightly jumped.
Finally got here, Ranma-chan muttered to herself as she
looked around.  Surrounding her were the most pathetic group of
people she had ever laid eyes on.  Dressed in rags, those that were
dressed, about fifty people stood in cages.
"Please, help us," cried out one of the braver souls.
Ranma-chan nodded began to shatter the locks of the cages
with chi enhanced blows as she walked down the aisle.  The people
gathered behind as she moved until she came to the end of the cages.
Turning to face the released captives she drew in a breath and
gathered her courage for a speech she had already said several times in
the last few weeks.  "Who among you are familiar with the streets of
this city?"  Upon finding a volunteer, Ranma-chan pulled out a map
with directions written on it.  "This is a map to a location in the city

where you can find temporary hiding and shelter.  The people here
should also be able to smuggle you out of the city, or even the Country
if you feel it's necessary.  There should be several carriages in the
next
room, set them up and ride to this location.  I suggest you use as few
as
possible to avoid attention."
"Thank you, but why are you helping us?" asked the same
brave woman who had first asked for help.
"It's a martial artist's duty to help those weaker than himself.
Besides slavery is just plain evil."  The woman looked puzzled, as if
this didn't explain anything and seemed to be mouthing the words
'martial artist' or maybe 'artist of war' as if she had never heard of
such
a thing.
At that moment Ranma-chan felt the floor pieces come loose
from her feet, and she gratefully stepped off of them.  She did not
consider high heels very manly even if she was otherwise short in girl
form.  The crowd around her seemed more startled at her suddenly
shrinking several inches than her spectacular arrival.
"Does she seem shorter to you?" a whisper was heard.
"Hey!  Who're calling short," Ranma-chan cried out
indignantly.
"Now don't bother the powerful sorceress.  It's obviously that
time of month," a second whisper was heard.
"Hey!  Who're calling a girl?" only a confused silence met this
remark.
Not being sure exactly what they were talking about, she used
this distraction to galvanize the crowd into moving.  This rescue was a
lot noisier than she had expected and she knew the night watchmen and
city guards would need to be distracted away from these people's
rendezvous.
Once the people were underway she headed back upstairs to
pick up the flaming sword from the rubble and continued on to the
office she had originally snuck into.  Upon reaching it she paused for a

moment and then said to herself, "Why not?  If you can't steal from
slaver, who can you steal from?"
She gathered her chi and sent her fist smashing into the safe.

When she regained consciousness she found herself firmly
imbedded in the wall opposite the safe.  There wasn't much left of the
room except kindling.  Note to self: strange engraved squiggles on
safe=pain.  From past experience with unconsciousness she estimated
she had lost only a few minutes. Prying herself out of the Ranma-chan
shaped hole she collapsed and dragged herself on hands and knees to
the now open safe.  Damned if she had suffered through all that for
nothing, she grabbed the few pieces of jewelry, gems and coins and
tucked them into subspace.
This momentary breather was enough for Ranma-chan to get
her breathe back.  This was good, because after that explosion nothing
short of blowing up a guard post would be enough of a distraction.
She'd have to keep moving in order to maintain the guards attention yet
avoid any unknown magical traps.
It was going to be a very long night.

The two men looked at men looked down at the bowl, then
sideways at each other, then down at the bowl again.
Finally the huge man spoke, "Okay I'll grant you it's pretty
unlikely that was a Western Empire spy."
"If that was our bouncer he seems to be marginally competent
enough to be one of our guards."
After another moment of silence, the pair broke into hearty
laughter.

An exhausted Ranma-chan dragged herself to the tavern the
just before dawn.  Just before she was about to enter she noticed a
group of six people standing before her and the door.  "Oh what now!"
she sighed in a tired voice.
"We think you've been stealing.  You don't have permission
from the guild to steal.  You can either give us everything you took
tonight and forty percent of all future hauls or we'll take it anyway
and
place you in a world of hurt," grumbled the apparent leader of the
group.
After a moment of silence Ranma-chan stated in a
conversational tone of voice, "You know the difference between
Nabiki and you?"  At their puzzled glances she continued, "I don't hit
girls, and you ain't anywhere near being my sister-in-law."
The next morning a half dozen paralyzed thugs were found
standing in a fierce intimidating manner outside the tavern.


Chapter 4

Later that day a still tired Ranma forced himself awake and
trudged through streets of the city.  When he had first tried to find
this
shop he needed to ask for directions repeatedly.  He still didn't read
the
language (the amulet wasn't that powerful) but he usually remembered
how to get to places when he'd been there before.  Eventually he
stopped before a small unobtrusive shop.  It had only a small picture of

an open eye on the sign overhanging the door.
It had taken quite a bit of asking around to find this place.
Apparently even in a world disgustingly full of magic the city was
chock full of quacks and loons.  This was supposed to be one of the
finest shops where items of a magical nature could be found.  Soon
after he had arrived he had stopped by here to see what was available.
In a way he was disappointed, no sign of anything that could get him
was apparent.  On the other hand there were some really amazing
things that were available.  Even if most were useless to him he still
examined the more common and dangerous items.  You never know
when these things might be used on you by some misguided soul.  He
could just imagine Cologne drooling over the things he had seen.
When he went inside the first thing that struck him (as it had
on his last visit) was the size of the room.  The room seemed to stretch

on for about 80 feet yet still maintained a cozy feel to it.
Considering
how small the cottage-like building was on the outside, this by itself
was a testimony to the effectiveness of the owners talents.  The next
thing he noticed was the owner leaning on a staff some ten feet away.
He was looking directly at Ranma, and he had the disconcerting
sensation that regardless of when he arrived the owner would always
be in that same position ready to serve him or any other customer.  He
somehow didn't feel real.
"Greeting, my son.  I am pleased to see you once again," the
old man spoke in a creaking voice.
"Hi, Gramps.  Do you have that thing I ordered?' Ranma asked
cheerily.  He actually sorta liked the old man.  He could be his normal
irreverent self and the old man only seemed amused.  He hated being
polite, it was so�unnatural.
"Yes, and a very interesting request it was.  You seem to have
an interest in defective goods.  Two pairs of magical restraints,
indestructible and spelled so that even the most accomplished wizard
cannot spell himself free, or metamorph into another shape and free
himself in that manner.  Unfortunately the locking mechanism is
defective on both sets making them useless as shackles.  Ha, ha such
irony.  And all you wanted was the chains removed.  I would have
given them to you for almost nothing if it weren't for that.
Indestructible chains are very hard to get rid of."
"Yah, whatever, you got my watch, and that was supposed the
cover the manacles and gloves."
"Heh, the other defective item.  I wish all my customers
wanted my failures.  Well the claws of the 'Gryphon Claws' may not
work, but they are indestructible, I guess I could have sold it to some
Man-of-Arms as gauntlets�but that 'watch' of yours was very
interesting."
"Yep and it's worth a cool 1000 yen too (about $10).  Anyway
I recently 'found' some stuff and I thought I might actually want to buy

that speed ring you showed me last time."
"Ah, the 'Ring of Fleetness'.  Well that�s a good 30000 gold.
Are you sure you have those kind of funds?"
"I think so," he said nervously as he brought the jewelry, gold
and gems from subspace and handed it to the old man.
He took the items giving a low whistle.  "I'm no pawnshop
boy.  If these are stolen goods I won't take them," he stated in a
serious
tone.
"No really, the people I took them from were breaking the
law," it was only after he had said this that he recalled that slavery
was
legal in the Western Empire.
"Well�okay, but only because I can tell by your aura that
you're telling the truth.  I am an honest business man, and wish to
remain so."  Ranma let out a sigh of relief, he never thought having a
mouth that was faster than his brain would be a good thing.  "What you
have here it easily worth 50000 gold.  If you think you can get more
you can go to a jeweler and I won�t think any less of you."
"No, I'm going on a journey tomorrow and I need what time I
have to wrap some things up, I accept your offer.  Hey, is that cloak
new?"
"Yes it just came in three days ago."
"It's not something silly like that 'Pit Cloak' you showed me, is
it?"
"Well some people have found 'Pit Cloaks' to be useful, but
no, this is a 'Cloak of Guises'.  The old man immediately went into
salesman mode.  "It can turn into several full sets of clothing  at
will.
Almost anything you can imagine.  If you were a woman you could
have any style of dress you wanted at anytime.  The perfect gift for a
girlfriend or spy.  I hear they're also illegal in certain countries.
The
only drawback these have is the garments are all the same basic colors
and material.  For instance, this particular cloak is silk and has a
blue
exterior with a red inner lining.  This means it can transform into any
combination of clothing but it must always be some shade of blue or
red.  Oh, and it will always be silk."
"Hey�yah it could work!  Um�how sturdy is it," Ranma
started excitedly.
"Well it's not indestructible like those other things, but it's not
too shabby.  Unless specifically targeted it's very unlikely to be
destroyed.  Minor damage will regenerate over time."  He chuckled as
he thought of something.  "Ha, if you're so worried about it being
destroyed, the next time you're caught in a fireball, command it to
change into a kerchief and hide under your decorative manacles.  Ha,
ha, ha."  The old man was so caught up in his joke he started wheezing.
He abruptly stopped laughing when he noticed Ranma nodding silently
to himself.  "That was a joke son.  If you have a fireball coming after
you I think you got other things to worry about than your new clothes."
"Yah�very funny," Ranma muttered with a distant look in his
eyes.  "I'll take it.  How much?"
"Well, for you I'll make it 20000 gold, after all you've taken
some useless trash off my hands.  What do you need this stuff for
anyway."
"Well the manacle are for a curse, the gloves are for a training
technique I want to eventually try, the ring is for emergencies, but I
don't expect to use it that often."  He would be a poor martial artist
if he
came to depend on a stupid magic ring to win battles for him.  Then
again considering how weird this world was a ring that doubled your
speed could come in handy if things got really hairy.  "The cloak is
just
to avoid embarrassing situations."  Like being in a dress while in male
form, very bad.
The old man sighed, "If you didn't want to tell me just say so."
"Oh by the way, I got a sword the other night.  It bursts into
flame and throws fireballs an' stuff, but I�er�forgot the magic word."
"I'm sure you did.  I recognize the sword type, it's fairly
common.  Just point and say 'Acba' and instant fireball.  Just
'remember' it only works three times a day," the old man winked at
him.  "Oh that reminds me 'Acba' is a fairly common magical trigger,
be careful what you're touch when you say it.  Hmm�it's also the
trigger for your ring so you may want to wear it around your neck or
something if you plan on throwing fireballs and don't want to go into
overdrive.  Remember the ring also only works three times a day."


Chapter 5

Ranma met up the caravan the next day without mishap,
meeting Grayson just inside the East Gate.  Grayson greeted him
warmly enough though he kept glancing with an odd expression at his
sword.  He also learned that the large man he assumed was the
bodyguard was named Kahil.  Kahil wore a look a wary respect and
most of his previous hostility seemed to be muted.  Of course Ranma
noticed none of and just roamed around the milling horses until he was
given his instructions.  Once Grayson drew him away from the noise of
the caravan he was given his instructions.
"We need a scout to travel ahead of the caravan and warn the
main group of possible dangers.  You seem a young man in excellent
shape so I doubt you'll have any problem running back and forth, from
point back to the main group.  At night I of course expect you to scout
the perimeter, and then you can get a nice nights rest while the others
guards take turns keeping watch."  Grayson spoke with his back turned
towards Ranma, braced for some expression of outrage.  He was not
expecting what came next.
"Cool.  Sounds reasonable.  Is that it?"  Ranma said in excited
manner.
Grayson began coughing into his sleeve and kept his back
turned.  "Yes, that�s it.  If there's nothing else you want to discuss,
I
need to get these lazy camel herders moving."
"There is one thing," Grayson winced expecting some form of
protest.  "When do we eat?"
Grayson began another fit of coughing.  "Well there's some
food prepared over by the cart, you can snack on that this morning.
The normal schedule will be breakfast at dawn, a short stop for lunch
and dinner soon after the evening camp.  Enjoy."
Soon after Ranma went to the food, Kahil wandered over.
"Well?"
"He didn't protest at all.  I think I almost cracked a rib
laughing.  By the way did you see the sword?"
"Yes.  It seemed he is the one that gave us such an adventure.
Think he's a metamorphed dragon?"
"Could be, they're more common than people think among the
more advanced races of dragons.  I don't understand his easy display of
abilities though, a dragon would be more subtle, besides their not
known for any martial skills in their human form.  I'd almost think he
was a warrior monk, but he's much better than any I've seen before.
When we get back to Timiro we can send some feelers out to a local
Monastery and maybe consult a Summoner or two, in case he's a
demon."
"That's doubtful.  He showed a strong moral code.  Though
little common sense."
"True but on the off chance he's a demon or a slumming
godling, a Summoner could tell us.  He really can't be human.  I
checked his aura again this morning, he's wearing enough magic to
make a lordling green with envy but he still appears a human male of
high skill.  I'd say changeling for the sex change thing except they are

supposed to be extinct, and what lore I know says they have very weak
constitutions The boy's as strong as an ox."
"Hmm�that�s not the only thing he shares with an ox.  Look
at him eat.  Better sent someone to get extra rations," Grayson stated
staring as the pig-tailed boys hand's blurred on the path from food to
mouth.

The caravan was delayed a few hours.  Apparently the caravan
master had underestimated to supplied needed for his passengers.
Several of the wealthier passengers sniffed at this amateurish mistake.
Ranma didn't care except some of the female passengers kept
wandering over wanting to talk to him.  This combined with their
'accidental' touching had him nervous enough to leap at shadows.  He
was very anxious to leave by the time the horses started down the road.
Not to mention that his clothes itched.  The cloak that was
presently supplying his wardrobe itched something terrible.  It wasn't
quite physical, the silk was of fine quality and very smooth.  No, it
was
a tingling sensation whenever he flexed his chi in any way.  Being the
martial artist he was, this meant he was in almost a constant state of
distress.  The bracers he wore (defective manacles really, but they
looked enough like bracers to pass them off as such) also itched, but he

was able to ignore this as a lesser discomfort.
It was several weeks into his new routine when he came to an
abrupt realization of what this might mean.  He was several miles
ahead of the caravan running around as per his normal daily routine.
The trail was a wide rocky path that wound in a snaking pattern
between two mountain ranges.  He took out the ring he carried in
subspace to check his theory.  He wasn't having much luck with his test
until he became frustrated and commanded his cloak to become a
bandana wrapped under one of his bracers.  With the general
distraction gone he was able to sense a slight sensation coming from
the interaction between his battle aura and the ring.
He smiled.  If he could perfect this talent he would give
Shampoo a surprise the next time she tried to slip him a potion.  As a
side thought it crossed his mind that it might also come in handy
fighting magic users.  He did after all seem to be in a world that
couldn't take a piss without a spell to help out.  Of course in order to
do
this he would need to be able to tune out the magic he wore, it was
really playing havoc on his battle senses too.
As if to underscore this thought, he heard a voice behind him.
"I was going to warn you of bandits, but it appears you've already
encountered them."
Ranma looked behind him to see a rather well built female
with short black hair, wearing a plain brown robe, tied with a thick
robe sash.  She pointed behind her with her spear. This also happened
to be behind Ranma.  At this point it suddenly penetrated his brain that

he was wearing only his boxer shorts and T-shirt.  Sweating bullets be
immediately started babbling.  "I can explain�honest...it's like�I
mean�well�"
The woman interrupted him, "I'm sure you have excellent
reasons for being as you are, never the less there is a furious warlock
and his pet Elemental behind us.  I think we should probably leave.
Now."
Ranma immediately regained control of his tongue, beautiful
women he couldn't deal with, but fighting was his life.  It was like
breathing.  "Well I guess I'll just wait here for it.  There's a caravan
a
few miles back I'm guarding, so it's kinda my job.  Er�you bein' a girl
and all, perhaps you might wanna head over that way while I handle
it."
The woman's eyes went wide as she attempted to process the
insult.  Did the warlock have something against women?  That might
explain his violent reaction to her when it was obvious she had nothing
of value.  "Why that evil scum�I'll show him he can't treat a woman
like that!"
This only served to confuse Ranma, it was like they were
having two different conversations.  He was distracted from attempting
to get the woman to leave again by whistling sound.  Jumping over to
the woman he lifted her in his arms and jumped away just as a huge
boulder smashed down where they had been.  Looking back at where
the boulder had come from he momentarily froze in surprise.
"Man I really, really need to learn that Breaking Point thing,"
he whispered to himself.
Seemingly pulling itself out of the earth was a rock creature.
Not just any rock creature, a really large humanoid shaped one.  Ranma
estimated that it would be about fifty feet once it stood up.  Shaking
himself from his surprised stupor he bounded over to a large ridge and
deposited the woman there.  He then leapt of toward the rock creature.
He didn't usually pull out the big guns so early in the fight but he
believed that only his more powerful attacks would even dent this
creature.
By now the creature had pulled itself out of the ground, the
earth seemingly sealing itself up after the monster's exit. Ranma began
shooting his Fierce Tiger Domineering at the creature while closing the
distance.  The projectiles were doing damage but even a 5 foot crater in

the things hide seemed insignificant. When he had closed most of the
distance it pointed it's arm toward him and a huge shower of large rock
shards flew towards him.  He was able to dodge most of them, and the
few he couldn't he gathered in his arms similar to how he fought
Ryouga's technique.  Fortunately the creature was fairly slow, he could
dodge the rocks and it looked far to clumsy to physical touch him.
At this point he sensed a dangerous tingling from the ground
beneath him.  Remembering the adhesion spell he had encountered
earlier he leaped away as far as he could.  This turned out to be
fortunate when the whole area behind him became a seething mass of
lava.  "Shit, time to get serious."
Working his way behind the creature with quick leaps he
made a final large jump onto the things back.  Satisfied the creature
couldn't reach him he let loose with a powerful chi charged Chestnut
Fist.  Having created a crater in the things back as wide and deep as he

could reach he was feeling pleased with himself when he felt his chest
and legs enveloped in unyielding rock.  Looking up he realized in
horror that what was once the creature's back was now it's front.  This
was very bad, the thing was stronger that Ryougo and with his arms
trapped at his sides he had no leverage.  He might be able to summon a
chi blast, but enveloped as he was it would hurt him more than the
monster.
Fortunately the thing decided against squeezing him into a
paste. It gestured with its other arm creating a large chasm in front of
it.
Raising its hand it seemed about to throw Ranma down into it when it
was distracted from behind.  Ranma heard a small tink and a scrape,
from his scenic view fifty feet in the air he saw the woman strike the
creature's calf with her spear.  To his eyes it didn't seem to do must
damage, but she had a visible battle aura and from the way the thing
reacted it must have hurt.  It continued it's attempt to throw Ranma but

with it's timing off, he missed the crevasse and hit the ground.
It was a stunning impact but Ranma was used to similar falls.
With a small wince he staggered to his feet and prepared his next
attack.  Shouting to the woman to leave, he began a spiral around the
stationary beast.  It had no battle aura but it tingled in the field of
his
battle aura and he hoped that the magic or whatever made up the beast
would prove an adequate substitute.  He was fortunate that the next few
attacked were clear misses.  Once the creature gestured over him, but
whatever the purpose of this it seemed to be ineffective.  When he
reached the center and completed the move he was fearful it would
have no effect.  A moment later he was gratified to see the whirlwind
of the Heavenly Dragon Ascension form.  It seemed to actually have
much more energy than usual seemingly to glow an sparkle as large
shreds were ripped from the creature.
Usually Ranma left his foes flying helplessly in the air until
they landed, but considering the large scale of the thing that seemed
unwise.  Firing repeated chi blasts at the rock creature he waited for
it
to come down.  When the whirlwind abated so the weight of the thing
could no longer be supported it fell several hundred feet to land with a

crushing impact.  When it finally stirred and stood up he was dismayed
to see to creature seemed mostly unhurt.  The craters that had covered
it were smoothed over and the only sign it had been in combat was that
it was about half it's former size.
Ranma was exhausted.  He had given this thing all he had and
it was still coming on.  He didn't have enough energy for a chi blast or

Heavenly Dragon Ascension.  Well he was still faster than the monster,
he could only try.  Besides what better way for a martial artist to go
than protecting the helpless.
Just as he was about to close with the creature he felt a hand
on his shoulder.  He was about to tell the woman to find shelter when
he realized it was her.
Standing behind him was Grayson, Ranma looked around for
the other but he appeared to be alone.  "Allow me.  I have a certain
rapport with elemental."  He paused before speaking loud, "Peace my
Brother, we do not wish to harm you."  He paused for a moment as if
listening to something.  Ranma heard nothing but the sound of rocks
grinding together.  "Hmm� I see.  If you continue this conflict not
only will you have to deal with this human which has hurt you so much
but I will have to intervene and oppose you as well.  I do not wish
this."  Pausing to listen he nodded.  "So my fellow warlock keeps you
bound long past the terms of your agreement.  This is not right, he must

be punished for treating his brethren in such a manner."  Standing in
silence he considered things for a moment before continuing.  "The
commands the traitor gave you do not include a time limit.  Give us a
day to deal with the warlock.  If we succeed you will feel your bonds to

this plane cease.  If we do not you must of course continue with your
instructions.  Oh, before you go, please restore that human to it's
original state, we may need it to free you."
Ranma was puzzled by this last part until he examined the
landscape closer.  About fifty feet away was what appeared to be a
statue of the woman he had met earlier.  Mouth open in shock he was
running toward her when the granite surface of her skin began to glow
and slowly took on a pinkish cast.  When the glow disappeared she
collapsed on the ground.  When he looked back towards the creature
it's head was already sinking into the ground.  He also noticed Grayson
walking towards him.
"Well you impressed that one.  It called you quite the pest."
"Is she going to be all right?"
"She should be fine.  The stone transformation is only fatal if
the body is smashed while in that state.  It's actually very difficult
to
manage.  From what our friend had to say, he tried that on you a couple
times, but gave up once he found your resistance to direct magic to be
significant."
"Eh?  Direct magic."
"You know sleep spells, paralysis, transformation, spells that
affect you directly as opposed to indirect effects such as Fireballs,
Lightning, River of Lava, or Chasm," he said nodding toward the
slowly cooling magma and chasm.
Ranma congratulated himself again on getting the bracers and
made a note to find out what kind of offensive spells people and rock
thingies had available.  "So why were you so buddy buddy with that
thing?"
"I am a warlock, we are linked to the four elements, and more
relevant in this case, to elementals.  We consider them kin to us, and
they treat us in a similar fashion.  That poor fellow has been bound by
a rogue warlock who has used his bond to coerce the elemental into
servitude."
"You mean it wasn't evil."
"Evil is irrelevant, an Elemental's thought processed are not
those of a human.  They consider human, and most other beings
insignificant.  They won't actively try to kill you, but it may happen
anyway if you don't get out of their way.  The only exception is
warlocks.  Fortunately they are content on their own plane and only
leave it when summoned."
"So the bad guy is this warlock, right?"
"Yes, he is the 'bad' guy.  I told the Elemental we would deal
with him.  Of course until we do our caravan isn't going anywhere."
"Don't worry, you take the girl back to the others and I'll get
the warlock guy."  He was about to head off into the mountains when
he felt Grayson's hand on his shoulder.
"Do you have any idea where he is?"
"Er�no?"
"Well fortunately the Elemental mentioned his whereabouts.
By the way what happened to your clothes?"

Following Grayson�s directions Ranma came upon a rather
imposing structure entirely composed of crystal jutting out from high
up on a cliff-face.  Sighing in resignation Ranma began his climb.  An
hour later he reached the odd fortress and leaped from the cliff to one
of the structures openings.  Looking around he noted he was in a large
open room with a huge bed next to the wall.  The cleanliness of the
room made it unclear if this was where the warlock slept.  He was still
examining the room when a brushing noise caught his attention.  In the
adjacent room a brush was scrubbing the floor around a recessed tub as
if wielded by a disembodied hand.
Seeing the cleaning utensil was not hostile Ranma carefully
backed out of the room.  Hmm� I bet Kasumi could use one of those.
Pushing his musings to the back of his mind he carefully concentrated,
hoping to sense the warlock aura.  After several minutes of this he was
able to discern the sensation of what he believed was the warlock.
Opening his eyes and getting his bearings he proceeded through the
corridors always bearing towards the aura he had sensed earlier.
The whole building seemed full of animated cleaning utensils
merrily brushing, scrubbing or polishing.  Every few feet had some
new cleaning tool doing its work.  Obviously the guy had a real
cleanliness fixation.  Ranma was able to ignore this, he had seen
weirder things.  He couldn�t think of them offhand but he was sure this
was true.  What really distracted him was the interference that magic
apparently caused with his battle aura.  The whole place stank of it.
He
expected it of the brushes and stuff, but the walls themselves
distracted
him.  The only way he was able to keep his �lock� on the person�s
position was reducing the interference to a minimum.
Ranma finally came to the room where the aura was located.
With only a second�s hesitation he burst through the door.  About thirty

feet away a robed middle-aged man looked up from the mortar and
pestle he�d been using to mix some ingredients with a shocked
expression etched on his face.  The shock was almost instantly replaced
by indignation and the strangest battle Ranma had yet fought begun.
The man yelled something in a garble tongue, pointing at
Ranma.  Seeing this Ranma leaped towards the warlock before he
could cast something unpleasant.  He was only halfway there when he
was struck in the face with a feather duster.  As he fell to the ground
from his leap it was joined by several brushed and some kind of
buffing rag.  Hacking and choking he noted that the warlock was
casting some sort of spell.  Panicking he grabbed a brush from the mob
around him and threw it with significant force towards the chanting
mage, eliciting a yowl of pain and a curse.  Several seconds later the
chanting began again.
This continued for some time.  Ranma using his Chestnut Fist
to keep the mob of cleaning tools at bay while occasionally throwing
one to keep the magic user from completing his spells.  He could only
move slowly towards the mage while the mage in turn backed away to
keep a constant distance from him.  Once he tried to leap through the
whirling of brushes but was immediately forcibly knocked to the
ground.  Seeing how this stalemate could probably continue
indefinitely (or until he got tired enough that the mage got a spell
off)
he shot off a weak Fierce Tiger Domineering which was enough to
push its way through the mob of brushes and knock the mage back into
the wall.  Unfortunately while shouting the name of the attack one of
the brushes shoved itself forcibly into his mouth and almost down his
throat.  Choking and gagging he ignored the brushes still flying around,

beating him to concentrate on removing the foreign object from his
orifice.  After almost turning blue from the effort, he was successful
and staggered as quickly as he could over to the warlock�s body.
Grabbing him in a fireman carry he limped over to the closest window,
and while still being beaten by the cleaning crew, jumped out of it.
Ranma knew he could survive a fall from this height without
permanent injury but doubted the same was true with the warlock
(besides which, the brushes followed him out of the window).
Drawing sword, which immediately burst into flame, he spun it beneath
him while adjusting his aura appropriately.  The resulting wind funnel
was just enough to reduce his fall to merely tooth-rattling.  It also
had
the added benefit of blowing away the irritating cleaning products.
Okay I changed my mind, there is no way I�m getting Kasumi a set of
those things, a disgruntled Ranma thought.
After a few pressure points to insure his guest didn�t regain
consciousness at an inconvenient time, Ranma headed back towards the
caravan.

�You brought him back with you?� Grayson asked in a
puzzled tone.
�Of course, you didn�t think I�d kill him, did you?�
�No, of course not, it�s just that now we have to convince him
to let loose those he has bound.  If he had of course �accidentally�
died
all the entities he had placed in servitude would have naturally been
freed.  Warlocks are notoriously stubborn you knew,� he said,
apparently oblivious to any irony, while Kahil chuckled quietly to
himself.
�Don�t worry.  I think I know a way to convince him.�
"Say did you just take a bath, something smells lemony
fresh?"

�Don�t he ridiculous, you obviously don�t the guts to kill me.
Why should I get rid of any chance to free myself.  You must believe
me a fool,� stated the warlock known as Stabula, his voice dripping
with contempt.
�I think you�ll agree,� said Ranma having just come inside the
tent carrying a bucket.
�Yes of course I will.  When unicorns fly, boy.  You were just
fortunate, when you burst into my study dressed in your underwear,
surprise was the only thing preventing me from crushing you.�
Grayson and Kahil, looked sideways at Ranma, whose face
was red, and sweating bullets.  �I can explain it all!  I swear!  It was
all
part of my master plan to�to take him by surprise and get a tactical
advantage�yah that�s it!  Really!�  Grayson and Kahil gave a
noncommittal grunt.  Stabula�s was outright skeptical.
�Anyway�do as we say or I splatter you with�this,�  Ranma
said while pulling out a glob of mud from the bucket.
�C�mon lad.  Do you really expect a pathetic threat like that
to�to� Grayson�s statement of disbelief trailed off as he recognized
the look of horror on Stabula�s face.
�Now I�ve seen everything.  An Earth Warlock with a terror
of mud.  How did you find out, my boy?�
�My martial arts training makes me incredibly observant,�
Ranma just stated with a wise, inscrutable look on his face.  The effect

was ruined by a floating mop slamming into the back of his head.
Ranma�s hands were a blur as he grabbed the mop and stuffed it into
subspace, while cautiously looking around.
�What was that,� asked a confused Grayson.
�What was what?  Oh�that!  Probably just someone�s idea of
a practical joke.  Heh, heh,� Ranma chuckled nervously.


Chapter 6

Ranma was, as usual, several miles ahead of the caravan.  It
was several days since they had resolved the warlock issue.  The
warlock in question was under guard with the caravan�s main body.
Apparently there was some kind of guild for warlock where his crimes
would be reviewed.  Grayson seemed unconcerned with his banditry,
however he found his abuse of Elementals intolerable.  Ranma could
relate to that, sorta, but it was hard to get emotional over a pile of
rocks
that had been well on it�s way to flattening him.  As far as he could
learn from Grayson the only regrets the Elemental had in regards to its
past actions was that it had failed to finish off �that pest�.  Ranma
wasn�t positive but it just might have been referring to him.
He had almost trained himself to ignore the interference
caused by the cloak.  He wasn�t sure he trusted his newly focused
concentration in combat, but thought he would soon.  The reason he
was out a little further than normal was he had found his patience
failing with rock creatures lately.  There were far too many in this
world for his comfort.  It may have been ideal for Ryouga, him be�in
rock headed an all, but Ranma found it disconcerting being so woefully
unprepared.
He also was frustrated at the lack of perceptible progress in his
personal training.  Without other skilled opponents to test out the
effectiveness of the techniques he had invented he had no idea how
effective they were.  Sure they weren't the incredible destructive
maneuvers he had learned from Cologne, but he was fairly proud of the
throws, attacks, and defensive moves he had come up with on his own.
It looked like he might never find out if they were as good as he
thought they were.  He really wished Ryouga were here to spar with.
Sure he always beat the Lost Boy but it was always a good workout.
What was the point in being the best martial artist in the world if he
was also the only one.  He also missed the okinomiyaki Uchan always
made, and the friendly conversation, Akane and her hammer, the verbal
sparring, heck he even missed Nabiki�well not much, just a little.
He shook himself, if he kept obsessing about home he would
get as depressed as Ryouga, it was time to concentrate on the training
he could do.  To aid his initial concentration with the perception he
was
attempting to achieve he had banished all distractions, even his bracers

and had been banished to subspace.  The only distraction left was the
odd faint fluttering sensation he had come to associate with having
animated cleaning utensils using his subspace storage.  It had been very

disconcerting at first but he had to put the damn things somewhere.
The warlock hadn�t been able to call them off, apparently after freeing
his �brothers� he couldn�t change the last command he�d issued.  So
every once in a while a new brush or something would attack him.  He
got no sympathy from Grayson or the other�s, all they did was laugh as
he was chased around the camp, until he managed to force the tool
away.
He was standing next to a large boulder meditating, and trying
to feel how it was connected to him, when he heard footsteps behind
him.  Knowing who it was before he turned around, he desperately
rooted around in subspace for his cloak.  Spinning around, he mentally
commanded his cloak to form his normal clothing.  He was taken by
surprise when the thing in his hand started to whip around and
repeatedly smack him about the head and shoulders.
A giggling sound confirmed his fears.  �Sensei, is this another
of your new training methods?�  Sighing at yet another humiliation
Ranma calmed his mind and put the brush he�d grabbed for back into
subspace.
�No.  I was just brushing some of the dust off.  What do you
want.�  Ever since the battle the girl he�d met before had been
following him around like a lost puppy.  He was sort of flattered but it

did lead to awkward situations.  She didn�t seem to mind but it usually
embarrassed the heck out of him.  She was apparently a member of
some kind of Warrior Monk order.  Her martial arts weren�t anywhere
near up to his standards but they were the best he�d seen so far.
�I�ve been practicing those forms you showed me, and I think
I�m ready for something new.�
�Hmm�show me.  And remember I want to see some real
Battle Aura control this time,� he grunted.
He nodded in appreciation as he watched her gently glowing
form.  She was the first person with any chi control he had seen since
he gotten to�wherever he was.  It was crude and relatively weak but it
was there.  She said she was one of the best in her order but it was
obvious she�d been overwhelmed when she�d seen him in combat.
That was to be expected.  He was Ranma Soatome after all.  When she
had recovered she had begged him to teach her.  Usually he hated
fighting, or even teaching girls but she was so far behind in the
martial
arts that it would be some time before they would be up to sparring.
For now it was chi control, physical exercise, and katas.  Eventually
she would be able to be able to channel chi while doing exercises and
katas, she would find her speed and strength increasing rapidly
therafter as the chi flows optimized the body�s development.  He was
actually rather proud of her progress so far.  Not that he expected
anything else.  With him teaching there really was no chance of
anything but success.
After she finished her form he nodded in approval and
demonstrated her next exercise.  He ignored the fact he was in his
boxers.  He hoped she thought it was some weird teacher thing.  When
he was done they chatted for a while and she asked what he had been
doing.  Giving up the inscrutable teacher act he excitedly began
explaining about the Breaking Point and his plans to master it.  He
admitted that he didn�t have the traditional setup, but if he could
learn
the Chestnut Fist using water and fish he figured he could learning the
Breaking Point without a large boulder repeatedly smashing into him.
�Are you sure sensei?� she asked in a doubt filled voice.
�Of course I am.  No problem, I think I�m close too.  I almost
could see something the last time I tried.  Er� before you came by.�
�Could I stay and watch?�
�I suppose so, just stand back.  When the technique works the
rocks should explode.�
�That sounds very dangerous.  Are you sure about this?�
�Sure I�m sure, what could go wrong.  I mean the whole
technique�s point is to toughen the body.  Sortta like a stone skin
technique.  I mean really how often do you get attacked by stone
monsters�� Ranma trailed off as he mentally tallied the numerous
rock creatures he�d met so far.  �Anyway the technique only works on
rock, metals, and other really solid stuff.�
�If you say so.�
After making sure Jess had moved to a safe distance, Ranma
began his concentration again.  Reaching out he was able to sense his
surrounding much clearer than previously, but nothing that looked like
a Breaking Point.  Still after some time had passed he noticed on the
peripheral of his senses a faint network of lines.  As he focused on
this
new phenomenon he saw with sudden clarity how there was a lattice of
something, maybe energy, maybe chi connecting everything he sensed.
It was pretty but he wasn�t sure what good it did.  In a sudden moment
of inspiration he noted that there were nodes where lines connected.
Maybe that�s it, no one ever said what the points look like, maybe
that�s it.
With this thought he brought his finger forward towards the
rock to touch one of the radiating areas.  Nothing.  Hmm, probably
needs to focus chi into the point as well.  Ryouga sure made it look
easy.  Reaching out again he focused his energy through his finger into
the nexus.  He sensed the start of some sort of reaction and inwardly
began to cheer.  Yes!  I did�


For Jess it had the feelings some car wreck victims
experienced.  A huge disaster you could see clearly as it unfolded
before you, but were helpless to alter.  Ranma began to glow as he
reached towards the boulder and then he was engulfed in a huge
explosion.  Even from fifty feet away she was pelted with stinging
shards.  Ignoring this she ran toward the epicenter, where the dust was
rapidly dissipating while crying out Ranma�s name.
She found him laying unconscious in the bloody, tattered
remains of his clothes.  Small shards and slivers of stone were
imbedded in his skin.  She frantically checked his vial signs, and
breathed a small sigh when she saw he was breathing and no body parts
were missing.  Not being a stranger to wounds and healing she began to
pluck the shards from her teachers skin.  Knowing this would cause
additional bleeding she planned to remove the projectiles from a small
area at a time, clean it, then stop the bleeding and bind the wounds.
She had clothe in her pouch and the caravan would come by within the
hour.
Her heart almost stopped when Ranma�s body shrunk and
grew breasts when she first poured water on the first patch of wounds.
Stifling a yelp of surprise she continued to clean and bind the wounds.
Ranma would explain later, if she drag it out of him/her kicking and
screaming.  By the time she had finished Ranma was just regaining
consciousness.
�Agh�what happened.  I feel like I was blown up by the old
pervert,� Ranma-chan muttered groggily.
�Shh.  Lay still.  Your technique was just a little too
effective,� she softly said, trying to keep Ranma-chan still.
Looking down at herself, she moaned.  �Damn it�s going to
take days to heal this.�
�Your not upset?� asked a very surprised Jess.
�Nah, just a training accident.  I guess that�s why you�re
supposed to get pummeled by boulders for a while before you actually
use the technique.  Shit.�
�Doesn�t this hurt though?� Jess asked.  She was skeptical,
those wounds had looked fairly serious.
�Oh you bet it does.  But �the path of a true martial artist is
difficult.  Only real men can succeed against such trials.�  Besides I
know some chi healing techniques,� Ranma-chan stated, quoting her
father.
�About that �real man� thing�� she stated pointing at Ranma-
chan�s breasts.
�Shit.  How�d that happen?  Ah, never mind, can you get be
some hot water before the caravan gets here?�
�Hot water?�
�Yeah, I want to change back before anyone else finds out.  I
don�t like to advertise about the curse.  I�ll explain while you heat
the
water.�
Groaning in pain she sat up, ignoring Jess�s protests, and
started poking herself at pressure points meant to ease the pain.
�There�s actually not much to it.  There�s a valley where there
are over a hundred springs�or there was at least.  Each spring had an
animal or person drown in it.  Anytime after that, if someone falls into

the spring they take the shape of what drowned in it before.  I fall
into
spring of drowned young girl.  Very tragic story,� Ranma-chan spat.
�Now when splashed with cold water I changes into a girl.  Hot water
reverses the curse until next time.�
�But you get splashed all the time.  The others in the caravan
joke about it all the time.  Why haven�t we noticed this before?�
�Well, before we set out I bought these.�  Ranma-chan pulled
out the bracers from subspace.  She also made sure to grab her cloak.
�They lock my form in whatever I happen to be in.  They�re really
cool.  Is that water hot yet?�
�Sure.  Here.�  She watched in fascination as Ranma-chan
poured the hot water from the small pot and transformed into a man
again.  Looking nervously around he quickly put the bracers on again.
It was fortunate he did so for at that moment a light rain began.
�I�m not sure, but I think the curse also includes me being a
cold water magnet,� Ranma stated grumpily.


Several hours later he still looked pretty awful, but no longer
in danger of falling over and dying.  Ranma lay back down.  It looked
like he would have to put off completing the Breaking Point Training
until he found a nice quiet spot to pummel himself with rocks.  He
doubted be would have survived at all if he hadn�t been toughening
himself all along by letting Akane hit him.  Of course if he could
survive her cooking he doubted anything less than divine intervention
could kill him.
There had been a priest among the passengers who had been
pleased to offer his healing ability for a fine guardsman unfortunate
enough to get caught in a rockslide.  He had a lousy bedside manner
though.
�It�s a good thing you didn�t die, isn�t it?� the priest chatted
merrily.
Ranma gave him a disgusted look.  �Yah, it sure is.  Would
have ruined my whole day,� he said sarcastically.
�Well I could always have asked my patron for HIS
Intervention.  Or if that had failed I�m sure Master Grayson would have
been happy to hire a priest or mage to raise you,� he stated
nonchalantly.
Ranma sent the tea he�d been drinking spewing across the tent
staring incredulously at the mad man in front of him.  The priest
misinterpreting his look continued, �Of course he would have.  It�s
frightfully expensive of course but this has been the most uneventful
caravan trip I�ve ever been on.  Don�t think we haven�t noticed the
unconscious Ogres and Kobolds we�ve seen by the trailside.  I doubt
they just decided to take a nap on their own.  Now I don�t know why
such a nice powerful mage like you decided he wanted to protect a
caravan, but we all appreciate the thought.  In fact if you tell me what

mage guild you belong to I�ll be happy to write a letter of
recommendation to them.  I�m sure Grayson would do the same,� the
priest added helpfully.
The last the priest heard from Ranma as he left his freshly
healed patient was some muttering, �Great now I DO have to worry
about divine intervention.�

"Ranma, what are your plans when we get back to
civilization?  Do you have a place to stay?" Grayson asked one evening
after dinner.  Ranma was off to the side of the camp with Jess.  She was

doing katas, while he watched and corrected her occasionally.  It was
several weeks into the journey and they had already passed a few of the
smaller towns near the border of Timiro.
"Well, I talked to Jess and she says the Monastery in the area
would be happy to put me up.  She's going to vouch for me.  I ain't
gonna be dead weight either.  I can teach some of the more advanced
maneuvers and katas to them.  Maybe the basics of chi manipulation.  I
mean they got they one trick with focusing their aura through their
spear but if they can do that I don't see any reason they can't learn�"
"Ahem!  That's very nice Ranma.  I had a little more in mind.
Like long term goals."
"Well�I guess I can tell you.  I've known you for a while and
you seem to be an okay kinda guy an' all." Ranma paused to gather his
thoughts.
"I think I'm from another world or something.  I was sparin'
with a friend of mine when I suddenly appeared inside this circle.  The
guy went on about   if I was the 'Lost One'.  He's the guy I was I was
sparin' with�I think."
"You think you were sparing with the 'Lost One'?"
"Yeah, he must have been talking about Ryouga, he has a
really bad sense of direction.  Anyway I says I'm not but if he'll send
me back I'll tell Ryouga that he want to talk with him.  He says he
can't
let me warn him and tells everybody to attack me."
"Everybody?"
"Yah there were some guards.  Anyway I take care of
everyone of course but I accidentally toast the old guy who summoned
me so I leave."
"How many were there?"
 "Um�twenty one plus the archers."
"Mercenaries?"
"I don't think so, they were wearin' red uniforms with lizards
on them.  I figured they might be town guards but the guys patrolling
the streets wore different uniforms.  The guys on the street were still
lookin' for me so I decided to go someplace that had a good reputation
for magic know-how but not hunting me."
"Hmm�sounds like a wise decision.  Those uniforms sound
like those worn by the emperor's elite guard."
"Ha, no wonder!"
"What?"
"One of my teacher's was always saying how some Chinese
Emperor was always in terror of her martial arts techniques.  I figure
if
that Emperor had guards that pathetic it would explain why he was
always cowering in terror."
"Um, makes sense, I suppose," Grayson looked as if wasn't
following the logic.
"Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is I was wondering
where I can find someone who could get me back home."
"Well it sounds like you were grabbed by a Summoner, so
finding a Summoner would make sense if you wanted to get back."
"What's a Summoner?"
"A mage that specializes in ritual magic like circles and to a
lesser degree wards.  They are best known for summoning and
controlling Demons through certain circles.  Thus their name."
"Hey!  I'm not sure I want to talk to some guys that summons
demons for a living!"
"Oh, don't worry they are perfectly sane�well most of them.
You can also contact the mage guild.  They're always happy to learn
about new dimensions.  The Mind Mage Guild�well I don't see how
they could help you�unless you live on the Astral Plane.  Ha, Ha,"
Ranma was not enamored by Grayson's sense of humor and was
rapidly losing patience.
"Alright already!  Which one has the best chance?" Ranma
asked in an exasperated voice.
"Why, I told you, the Summoner's."
"But I don't wanna go to Hell!"
"But they specialize crossing to other planes.  I'm sure they
know how to go to other places besides Hell.  I'll tell you what, I have

some connections with the palace Alchemist.  I'll ask him about it.
Even if he doesn't know he'll probably know who does.  Okay?"
"Uh, thanks.  What's an alchemist?"
Grayson sighed, "Didn't they have any magic where you came
from?"
"Of course we did," Ranma answered indignantly.  "It was just
mostly curse magic, a few magic swords, mirrors, but mostly potions.
Lots of potions," Ranma theorized he'd had a good portion of these
tried on him.
"Alchemists are very adept magic users, usually masters of at
least three different schools of magic.  They also specialize in
creating
magic items and constructs.  Like the ones you wear."
"Hey!  How'd you know what I'm wearing?"
"To anyone who can sense magic you radiate like a bonfire on
a cold winter's night.  You had significant amounts the first time I met

you.  Since then it just became more noticeable with the things you
wear.  Maybe it that chi aura you keep mentioning."
Hmm, I could try masking my aura, Ranma thought.  But if I
do that I'm almost blind to danger. Well at least I know there's a
problem now.  "What about warlocks?"
"Not very useful unless you wish to visit the Elemental plane
of Fire, Earth, Air, or Water.  Sorry."
"Hey, the priest said he can raise the dead.  Does he know any
other useful magic?"
"He can channel many magics from his patron God, or
Pantheon.  Unfortunately you need the location of your home plane.
For that knowledge you would need to communicate with the God
directly."
"You can do that?"
"No.  If a God wants to talk with you he will appear before
you or summon you.  It's very uncommon.  Usually very unpleasant
too."
"Not nice guys, eh?"
"Gods deal with very large issues.  If they want to talk to you
you've either done something very bad, or they want you to do
something of planetary or Cosmic importance.  Being a Cosmic errand
boy usually pays poorly and has a lousy benefits package.  Everything
I've heard says that if you think you've come out ahead, you didn't read

the fine print."
Wow, Nabiki would make a really good deity, Ranma thought
with a shiver.
"Of course the Gods of Darkness are worse, but even Gods of
Light can be pretty callous."
"I guess I'll leave the priests to themselves if I can help it."  Or
maybe it would be like dealing with Happossai.  Nah I can't imagine
anything that bad, unless there's a pervert God.  Ugh.  "Anyway, the
Monastery is close to the city so after I'm done teaching I'll pop over
there and look around.  It might even be fun without the guards after
me."
"Well thanks for the advice.  I gotta go teach Jess some more
katas.  She needs to know more if she's going to help teach."


Chapter 7

A rather well dressed man waited in a large, dimly lit room.
The room was dominated by a large table in the center.  Above the
table a softly glowing sphere hung without support.  This light was
enough to illuminate the table but the corners of the room remained
shadowed.  At the table he sat as was arranged several piles of
document he seemed to be perusing.  Despite this an observer would
easily note he seemed to be waiting for something else, only giving
cursory attention to what lay before him.
A flash of light came from the corner, briefly seeming to trace
out a circle before dimming.  The man knew he was no longer alone.
"Greetings, my King.  It's been too long."
"It has.  Good to see you again.  What are you going by these
days and who is your guest?"
"People know me by 'Grayson'.  Really don't you read the
reports I send?  Why do I bother?"  Grayson sighed obviously teasing.
"Ah, here it is!  I know I should have read it before you
arrived," returned the man in good humor, after playfully shuffling the
documents.  "Seriously, who is our guest?"
"I have the pleasure to introduce the Master of our local
Monastary, Master Reteife.  Master Reteife, this is my liege and friend,

King Monfrey."
"I am honored to meet you my liege," Master Reteife quietly
said.
"I am pleased to meet you.  I hear you have been 'blessed' with
a most unusual guest yourself."
"Yes, I discover more things than I ever knew of the world
before.  Some though, I suppose I could have lived without."
"So tell us a bit about him.  I hear he stirred up quite a nest of
bees over in the Western Empire."
"He is�powerful.  Our order focuses our spirit or as our guest
says 'chi'.  By this we enhance our blows in some small manner.  Our
guest, Ranma, focuses an immense amount of 'chi' to accomplish things
I believe many a magic user would be hard pressed to duplicate."
"So his powers are merely skills?  I heard he was human, but
if he isn't using magic�"
"Oh he's quite human, and while mere may not describe his
abilities, yes they are learnable skills.  Chi is not magic.  Magic as
you
know is the excess energy from living creatures.  Mages can collect,
store and use this for various spells.  Think of chi as magic energy
that
has been processed and turned into spiritual energy.  Already my
brothers and I have learned the simpler channeling, our sister Jenn is
even further along."
"What makes him so formidable?  From what I hear nothing
he does can't be done by some type of magician or another."
"It not actually what he does, but how quickly he does it.
Never have I seen such speed.  Even mages using that speed spell..."
"Fleet Feet," supplied Grayson.
"Yes, that one.  Even they can't come near his speed.  A mage
may toss off a fireball once about every 8 seconds.  Ranma can do 10
chi blasts in that time, while avoiding attacks.  I don't even think
I've
seen him put his full energy in one yet."
"Still a mage can, in fact usually does, use talismans to store
spells for quicker casting, and he usually has defensive spells as
well."
"I mentioned his dodging before.  He's�very hard to hit.
Also very durable, not only does the 'battle aura' he emit reduce
damage, but through a lifetime of channeling and exercises he has
shaped his body into a very durable weapon.  Heh, heh�in fact right
now he's probably training by being slammed by a few 5 ton boulders
he had a few brothers set up in some kind of swing.  It looks very
painful, but the mere fact that he survives such training is a testament

to his present durability."
Monfrey was silent a moment, "If he's truly that dangerous�"
The monk quickly interjected, "I wouldn't be afraid.  He's
powerful, but certainly not invincible.  If he got out of hand a
carefully
coordinated attack, using large amounts of magic of course, could stop
him.  Besides he has a good heart.  Considering his incredible
arrogance and freely moving tongue, it's probably all that's kept
someone from killing him already," the monk finished with a dry
chuckle.
"Irritating?" the King asked with the beginning of amusement.
"Oh very, very irritating.  But he means well.  During every
lesson he'll go over what he considers the duty of a martial artist."
"What sort of duties are these?" Grayson asked curiously.
"It's odd some of it seems to come straight from those
Paladins you people rave about.  Helping those weaker than yourself,
don't bully those who can't defend themselves, risking their lives at
the
drop of the copper.  It's actually very appealing.  You'd be quite the
hero if you followed it."
"Did you read the report I sent on his activities in the Western
Empire?" Grayson asked the King.
"Yes.  It seemed that he does indeed have a strict moral code.
A good thing I suppose."
"If he was only one of the many martial artists in his world
then it would need a strong code to survive."
"From what he's said there were quite a few people of skill
where he lived.  Of course he always mentions that he was the best,"
the monk said with a smile.
"Have you been able to help with his desire to go home?"
"No we have no lore of that type.  He would do better
consulting a Summoner."
"I told him that too," mentioned Grayson.  "I don't see why
he's so reluctant.  I mean most of them are sane."
"Hmm.  Thank you for your support in this matter Master
Reteife.  You may go back to Monastery.  Just step through that circle
there. No, the other one," with a flash the monk was gone.
"Well, Grayson, do you agree with the good monk?  It our
friend harmless?"
"I think harmless is an overstatement, but I generally agree.
So does Kahil, and if you can't trust a Mind Mage in judging someone's
character who can you trust?"
"Well�Kahil is one of the best."
"With his code of honor he would be a very impressive ally to
his friends.  I think we should encourage good relations with him.  If I

could get access to the Royal Summoner it would help him and make a
favorable impression"
"The Royal Summoner?  You mean Old �Zar.  Ye gods man!
I thought you wanted his friendship.  The man's a certified loon.  He's
only Royal Summoner because he's too dangerous to let out in public, "
the King exclaimed in a shocked tone.
"Well he's none too stable I'll give you. He is the best in the
kingdom, if he can't help in a question dealing with other planes, I
don't
think anyone can."
"All right.  I give you permission to ask for his aid.
Convincing him is your problem.  Talking to him gives me headaches,
and if it isn't an emergency he ignores me anyway," the King stated in
disgust.
"You're just mad because he made a pass at your daughter,"
Grayson said smugly.
"He's not allowed anywhere near my daughter.  He's a pervert
and a dirty old man," shouted the King.
"Yes, but he's a very useful pervert.  And mostly harmless,"
pointed out Grayson.



Ranma was just limping back to the bathing area.  He was
grateful that the Monastery he was staying at wasn�t so dedicated to
poverty that it didn�t have hot water.  Of course this world didn�t have

much in the way of technology but with all the magic flying around he
wasn�t overly surprised when he saw how common hot water was.
Some of the larger cities even had running water and a working sewer
system.
The structure only had one hot water tub so Ranma shouldn�t
have been surprised when he walked in on a woman who was quite
naked.  Stuttering apologies, with his eyes closed, he quickly backed
away and closed the door behind him.  Once outside, he breathed a sigh
and leaned against the door for support.
Jess was right, the woman inside thought while stifling a
giggle, he is cute when he�s like that.
Ranma was about to head back to his room, when he noticed
Grayson approaching him.
�I�m glad I found you.  Have you had any luck finding a way
home?�
�Well, no.  I went to the mage�s guild but they just laughed at
me.  I don�t think they believed me.  I challenged one of the obnoxious
jerks to fight, but they just kept laughing.  I was tempted to chi blast

them, but it wouldn�t have been right picking on weakling like that,�
Ranma stated with more than a hint of resentment.
�Just as well, in their own guild they have very adequate
defenses.  Most mages are in their middle or late twenties before
they�re even out of apprenticeship.  They probably believed you were
too young to be taken seriously.  I have some contacts inside that
guild,
we�ll see if we can get a private interview with one of the more open
minded members.�
�Hey thanks!  That would be great!�
�No guarantees but we�ll see.  Anyway since you�re
temporarily at a dead end perhaps you would be interested in a lead
I�ve managed to uncover?�
�Sure!  I mean, it�s nice and all here, but it�s kind of weird
too.  The guys hang on every word, and there�s this one guy who
follows me around with a big book, writing down everything I say.  It�s
creepin� me out bigtime.  I mean I can�t really blame them.  After all I

am the best they�ll ever see, but all this talkin is not really my
thing.�
�Didn�t you mention that you eventually wanted to become a
teacher of your arts?�
�Yah but not for years.  And they really pay attention to what
I say.  I guess I�m just used to bein� ignored when I explain stuff.�
�From what I hear, you�re doing amazing things, advancing
their skills.  It�s only to be expected.�
�Yah, whatever,� Ranma replied morosely.
�Anyway I�ve managed to get permission from the king to
talk to the Royal Summoner.  He�s the most knowledgeable person in
the Kingdom, maybe the continent, when it comes to other planes.
Well among humans anyway.�
�Are there a lot of non-humans around?� Ranma asked
curiosity aroused.
�Yes quite a few.  You probably haven�t seen too many yet
since we just came from the Western Empire.  They tend to be very
humancentric.  Unless you�re one of their allied Cyclops you better
stay out of there unless you want to end up part of their Arena
bloodsports.  We�re not perfect here, but non-humans are tolerated and
have the normal legal rights.�
�On they way here I saw lots of big Neanderthal type guys.
Strong but lousy fighters.�
�Those were most likely Ogres.  They are very violent when
in the wild.  We have had serious problems at the borders involving
them.  Still they are not a real problem as long as they stay
disorganized.�
�I also saw a really short, stocky guy in the marketplace the
other day.�
�Probably a dwarf.  One of the ancient races, along with elves
and dragons.  The route we used from the Western Empire to here
passed through the Old Kingdom.  It�s not much today but used to be a
very powerful dwarven kingdom, before the Elf-Dwarf War.  Now it
just has some minor dwarven kingdoms, a few kobold tribes, and of
course the Ogres.  It acts as a buffer zone between Timiro and the
Western Empire,� Grayson lectured.
�Hey can I fight some dragons?� Ranma ignored most of the
speech, focusing in on the interesting parts.
�That would be a bad idea.  The young hatchlings are mostly
harmless, the older ones might be a bit more than even you could
comfortably swallow.  Besides, as long as they obey the laws of the
kingdom they are protected like any other citizen.�
�So� there aren�t any ravaging monsters to beat up?� Ranma
asked hopefully.
�If I hear about any you�ll be the first to know,� Grayson said
while repeating a calming mantra in his mind.  �Getting back to the
point.  I made an appointment with the Royal Summoner for tomorrow.
Are you interested?�
�He�s not one of the insane ones you were talking about
before, is he?� Ranma asked warily.
Grayson started to walk away at a rapid pace seeming to not
hear him.
�Hey, wait a minute, I�m not sure I want to talk to him if he�s
some sorta freak,� Ranma exclaimed, getting ready to follow the
retreating form.  Unfortunately, at that moment the door he had been
leaning against opened unexpectedly, removing his sole support.
Ranma fell backwards, grabbing hold of anything that might stop his
fall.  A sense of dread filled him when he noticed his were full of a
towel�and something yielding.
He instantly dropped the towel, falling the rest of the way to
the ground.  A second later the towel fluttered down on top of him.
With his eyes closed he blindly grabbing the towel and held it up to
where the girl last was while babbling apologies.
With a shrug the woman took the towel and walked down the
hall toward her cell.  �He is soo cute when he does that,� she muttered
to herself.
It was several minutes before Ranma noticed that the girl was
gone. Sighing he shook his head, and stumbled into the bathing
chamber.  He just had to remember that this world wasn�t filled with
Violent Tomboys.  He wasn�t sure if this was a good thing or not.

Walking through the city to meet Grayson Ranma was lost in
thoughts of home.  He was starting to really miss it.  He wasn�t used to

extended trips any more, and was thinking of Nerima more and more.
He was respected here but didn't have any friends except maybe Jenn.
He was totally lost in thought when he heard a familiar cry.
�Where in the world am I now!�
Ranma stopped, not even breathing, before tearing off in the
direction of the voice.  He always joked about Ryouga�s ability to get
lost, but if he was actually here it meant �pig boy� was weirder than he

thought.  He leaped to nearest rooftops, glancing warily around.  The
last time he was up here he was given a stern warning by a some flying
mage wearing a guard�s uniform about respecting other people�s roofs.
Seeing the way was clear he leaped from rooftop to rooftop toward the
voice.
Finally reaching the source of the voice he looked down to see
a familiar bandana clad boy, looking around the streets in a bewildered
fashion.  Leaping down he came up behind and gave him a big hug.
�Howya doin� Ryouga.  Am I glad to see you.  It�s been months.  Is
everyone OK.  How�s Mom?  Is Akane alright, that Tomboy didn�t do
anything stupid did she?� Ranma babbled on, oblivious to a large aura
developing around the other boy!�
�Ranma, how dare you hug me!  Bad enough you trick me
while you�re a girl, but now when we�re both guys?  Prepare to die!�
Letting loose with a huge chi blast he threw Ranma off him.  Ranma�s
finely tuned danger sense had belatedly kicked in, allowing him to
avoid the chi blast.  While flipping out of the way Ranma noted in
horror that it had blown by him and demolished a large portion of a
strangely familiar looking mansion.
�Hey watch where you�re throwing those things!  You might
hurt someone!� Ranma shouted with the beginnings of anger.  Here he
was lost in another dimension for months and all pig boy could think
about was fighting.  Besides he didn�t want to be thrown out of the city

or nothin�.
Ryouga was lost in a fit of rage, he would dispense justice on
his rival and then Akane..er Akiri would be his.  So absorbed was he
that he didn�t notice that Ranma was standing in front of an attractive,

well dressed girl, who was surrounded by hard eyed men in armor who
could be mistaken for nothing else but bodyguards.  Ranma noticed
though, and he noticed with something verging on panic that if he
dodged, there would be little chance of the people behind him
surviving.  Calling on his reserves he pumped up his battle aura and
started a return chi blast.  He would be too late to counter Ryouga�s
chi
blast, but should be able to end this fight before anyone was injured.
Ranma�s pumped up aura was able to lessen the damage
enough that Ranma was still standing afterwards.  Long skid marks on
the cobblestones spoke of the force he had absorbed while being
pushed back.  Still Ranma hurt, really hurt.  Smoke rose from his
clothes, and black smudges covered his face where bruises didn�t.
Ranma idly thought, still in analytical mode, Ryouga must have been
doing some very intensive training, that was much larger than his
usual, almost as large as his 'Perfect' Depression Blast.  Despite his
training in the Breaking Point Ranma had a difficult time keeping
focused.  Through a monumental effort of will he was able to keep the
chi he had been gathering from dissipating and loosed it towards
Ryouga.  Or rather the trough of water next to Ryouga.  The bursting
trough splattered water on everyone in the area including the two
cursed boys.  Instant P-chan.
Ranma looked behind him to find he had been pushed directly
in front of the girl by the blast.  She was wet and more bedraggled than

when he last saw her and had a wild, confused look in her eyes.  �Are
you alright?� he asked hurriedly.  At her hesitant nod he ran forward
picked up P-chan and leaped to a nearby rooftop.  Time to leave before
guards arrived.  This wasn�t Nerima and he didn�t want to explain what
was happening.  Heck he didn�t know what was happening.
Jumping down to a narrow alleyway he collapsed against the
wall and started berating Ryouga. �What were you thinking!  Didn�t
you see that girl behind me.  She might have been killed.  You could
have become a murderer today P-Chan.  This is serious this time,�
Ryouga was subdued, Ranma for once had a point.
�Here I am lost in another dimension and the first thing you
do is attack me.  I have a half a mind to give you to the guards.�
Ryouga shook his head frantically.  �Well then you're going to sit there

quietly and listen, and do as I say.  This time you screwed up big time
pig boy, and one way or another you�re going to pay,� Ryouga nodded
sadly.
Ranma recapped the last couple of months, ending with how
he had been on the way to talk to a powerful mage when he had run
into Ryouga.  �Here�s the deal.  I have a cure for your curse,� Ryouga�s

attention was instantly riveted on Ranma.  �I�ll give it to you under
the
following conditions.  First no more sneaking into Akane�s bed, it's
just
wrong.  I know you got a sense of honor in there somewhere, and once
I give you this cure you won�t have any excuse.  If you accept this deal

I�ll consider my promise not to tell Akane void, and inform her of the
truth of P-chan the first time I see you try it.  I don�t mind,� well I
do
mind, but no one needs to know that, �If you shout your love to the
world and try to woo Akane an stuff, but no sneaky stuff, OK pig boy,�
said Ranma watching for Ryouga�s answering nod.
 �Alright then, second no more random fights.  I mean I really
enjoy our fights, but it�s just too dangerous.  At our power level
innocent people can too easily get hurt or killed.  If you ever want to
fight me, pick a time and a place and I�ll even lead you to it so you
don�t miss it.  OK?� he again waited for an answering nod.
�Finally I don�t know how you got here but if you did, you�re
eventually going back.  And if I have anything to say about it, I�m
going with you.  I�m going to stick to you like glue until we�re both
home,� Ryouga seemed to think about his for a moment and then nod.
�Okay then let�s go find some hot water, since you made a
spectacle of yourself I gotta hide you.  So I�ll put you in subspace for
a
few minutes.� Say this he stuffed the pig into subspace, commanded
his robe into more presentable, less blackened shape and walked out of
the alley to find hot water.  He had the odd feeling he was forgetting
about something.
Stepping out of the alley he went to a small caf� a few minutes
away.  Asking for a mug of tea he paid for both the mug  and tea and
went to find a nearby alley.  Slipping inside he quickly grabbed a
twitching P-chan and poured the liquid onto him.  In the place of a
piglet stood a dazed looking Ryouga, his hair in disarray and smelling
lemony fresh.
�Ranma what kind of perverted Hell did you put me in?�
shouted the lost boy.
Oblivious to Ryouga�s distress Ranma shushed him.  �Quiet,
you got people looking for you.  Put your clothes on and these Bracers.
They�re what locks the curse.  While you�re wearing them you can�t be
changed,� after a moment Ranma added, �By any means.�
Ryouga shrugged, he was more interested in the cure for his
curse than deciphering what Ranma was saying.  He was also trying to
think of anything except the strange and humiliating last few minutes.
Once he was dressed, he walked off, assuming Ranma was following.
After a moment he turned around to give Ranma a piece of his mind
when he noticed something.  He appeared to be in some dessert, around
him were high sweeping dunes.  There were no building or people in
sight.  There was also no Ranma.
�Where in the world am I now?� a despairing Ryouga Hibiki
shouted.  �Ranma this is all your fault!� followed a moment later.

Ranma saw Ryouga disappear around the corner and gave
chase.  When he reached the area he had last seen Ryouga he looked
frantically around.  After an hour of furious effort he finally admitted

defeat.  Despite his best effort Ryouga had gotten lost without bringing

Ranma along for the ride.  What a loser.


Chapter 8

Ranma finally got to the Palace slightly worse for wear.  At
the gate he was challenged by the guard.  �State your name and
business,� an obviously bored guard droned.
�I am Ranma Soatome of the Anything Goes School of
Martial Arts.  I�m here to see Grayson about meeting with the Royal
Summoner.�
�Ranma�Ranma�Ranma.  Hmm�how do you spell that?�
the guard asked, obviously not finding the name under his scheduled
appointments.
�Oh well it�s�uh�I guess I don�t know how to spell it in
your language,� ended a puzzled Ranma.
�Ooookay, lets try Grayson.  Don�t see anything for him
either.  Oh wait a minute, here he is.  Well we got a slight problem
here.  You were supposed to be here an hour ago.  Sorry I can�t let you
in.  You�re going to have to get a new appointment.�  With a sound of
finality he snapped the book shut and went over to talk to the next
person in line.
�But�but�� sputtered a frustrated Ranma.  After being
ignored he gave up and walked away.  He didn�t go far, slipping
around the Palace wall he jumped twenty feet into the air to the top of
the wall and down to the other side.  Or that was the plan.
At the apex of his leap, just as he was landing, a series of
squiggles engraved on the wall glowed at his approach.  An earsplitting
shriek filled the air filled the air with a sound that could be compared
to
the cry of the damned.  Immediately thereafter another flash filled the
air and the top of the wall was engulfed in a blazing inferno.  Ranma
gave a startled squawk but was too close to avoid the flames and had
no time to adjust his aura.  He landed squarely in the middle of the
glowing mass.  Giving a sharp cry of agony he immediately leaped
forward, attempting to minimize the excruciating contact.  He landed
on the other side, weak from the pain and staggered over to lean on a
tree for support.
Due to the Phoenix Pill he actually was uninjured from the
heat, unfortunately the effects of the Cat Tongue pressure point made
contact with heat just as painful as if he were affected.  And by the
way
that little encounter hurt he guessed a normal man would be ashes at
this moment.  Taking control of his still screaming nerves, he adjusted
his cloak again and stumbled further from the wall.  That shriek was an
alarm, which meant the area would soon be filled with guards.
After a few minutes he had recovered sufficiently that the
people he passed were no longer giving the �drunk� disgusted looks.
His sense of hearing was muted, an aftereffect of the loud piercing
siren he had just encountered.  Guards were running around but since
they didn�t seem to be noticing him, he ignored them.  He had to find
that Royal Summoner guy.
He was about to ask one of the people he was passing in the
Courtyard for directions when he saw the girl.  She was faced away
from him, berating one of her bodyguards.  This would be good, he
could make sure the girl was okay after the earlier close call and ask
about the Summoner at the same time.  He patted himself on the back
for being an efficient person, and went to speak with her.
�Excuse me miss,� he started.  He didn�t get far, the girl
turned around, saw him and jumped towards him wrapping her arms
around him.  Ranma responded with his usual eloquence.
�Uh...well...er�ah�hi?� he said with his arms waving
randomly around.
�I am so grateful!  You saved my life!  You must meet my
father, so he can reward you!� she squealed.  The guards behind her
glowered, but made no move to interfere.
�I�d love to�really�yah, to meet your father.  But I have an
appointment right now and I really can�t be late.  Gotta go�bye,� he
stuttered as he fruitlessly tried to disentangle his limbs.  The girl
had a
look in her eyes that was oddly familiar.  He didn�t know what it was,
but every other time he�d seen it the next thing he knew he was
engaged to someone.
�Oh an errand, how cute.  I�ll come with you and afterward
you can see my father.�
�That would be�fine�I suppose.  Er�you�re not lookin� to
get engaged or something are you,� Ranma asked with trepidation.
�Oooee, this is so romantic, my savior asking for my hand in
marriage!  Well I�ll have to ask father, but I�m sure he�ll give us his
blessing,� the girl said with a vacant smile on her face, already making

plans for the upcoming wedding.
�No!  That�s not what I meant�I mean I already got a
fianc�e.  Can�t we just be friends,�  Ranma babbled grasping at straws.
�Don�t you like me?� she asked with tears in her eyes and a
quivering lip.
�I don�t even know your name.  I�m sure you�re a very nice
girl, but we just met.�
�Oh, that�s okay, now that we�re engaged you can take me on
dates.  We�ll have so much fun!  By the way my name is Cindra.
What�s yours?�
�Ranma Saotome.  Pleased to meet yah,� Ranma responded
with a shellshocked whisper.  I am so dead when the others find out
about, Ranma thought with dread.  The amount of pain he was in for
would truly be legendary.  It was a good thing he had completed his
Breaking Point training, he might even survive.  Maybe.
�So where are you going,� Cindra asked.
�The Royal Summoner,� Ranma replied his mind still
disengaged from his mouth.
�Ugh.  What a creep!  Well I guess I can�t go with you.
Daddy told me never to go near him.  As if he had to say anything.  I�ll

take you to the base of the tower and wait outside.  Then we can go and
make our engagement official�
�I can�t wait.�
Cindra and her guards led him around the sides of the palace
to the back where a large tower sat.  It seemed to sit a good distance
away from the main grounds.  The rocks that it was constructed from
gave it a reddish hue, and the way the sun reflected off portions of the

surface gave it a wet bloody texture.
 �I be waiting,� Cindra stated blowing him a kiss.
�Be right back,� Ranma said practically running into the
ominous structure.  Given a choice between battling demons and
confronting fianc�es Ranma would always go for the demon.  At least
in a physical conflict there was a chance he might win.


Opening the oversized front door he rushed inside.  Seeing no
women in sight he slowed down and took a look around.  The first
floor seemed to empty except for a stairway going up.  Shrugging he
started his trek.  It was after about five minutes of rapid ascension
before Ranma noticed that something wasn�t quite right.  At the rate he
was climbing he should have been at the top already.  The next time he
passed a window he looked out.  About twenty feet beneath him was
Cindra starring up toward him.  When she saw him she wave
enthusiastically at him.  After waving back he continued.  The next
time he passes a window he again looked out.  Cindra again waved at
him from twenty feet off.
Nodding to himself he ducked back inside.  He expanded his
aura and continued upward, this time concentrating on the area around
him.  Sure enough about a minute later he felt a tingling sensation he
had associated with active magic coming from a ten foot section of the
stair in front of him.  Lightly leaping over the area he continued
onward.  The stairs were still unnaturally long, but this time he didn�t

find a window with Cindra outside.  After quite a few spirals he saw a
found a placard on the wall with writing neatly stenciled onto it.
Ranma was about to ignore it when the unintelligible words seemed to
flex and suddenly became comprehensible to him.  �Beware of
Elemental, turn back now� written in a smaller letters beneath were, �If

you wish to continue, please write your next of kin in the space
provided.  Thank you.�  A long stylish quill pen seemed to rise out of
the placard waiting for use.
Ranma grunted in disgust and continued on.  This was the
whole point of his Breaking Point training.  No more running from
rock monsters for him.  Any Rock Monsters, Elementals, or other
statuary that attacked him was going to get a short but unpleasant
surprise.  Ranma cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
He was running up the stairs a grin on his face when he
stopped in shock.  �Uh oh,� was all he managed to get out before he
had to dodge madly around the narrow stairwell in an attempt to avoid
a humanoid shaped ball of fire.  After a few minutes of this Ranma had
had enough.  That thing hurt!  Jumping over it he raced upward,
keeping barely ahead of it.
While running he altered his aura making it as cold as he
could.  Not only was it essential for his plan, but it allowed him to
mostly ignore the heat of the thing close at his back.  Ranma hadn�t
been sure his spur of the moment plan would work.  He was pretty sure
the technique had not been designed with a spiral staircase in mind, but

hey a spiral is a spiral is a spiral.  He had almost given up hope of it

succeeded when he felt a change in the airflow that told him the
technique had not only succeeded but it was time for the final trigger.
Bracing himself for the pain, he stopped suddenly, leaped backward
through the flaming entity and lashed out with a icy fist.
The change in pressure was instantaneous, a howling wind
tore through the corridors rapidly picking up force.  The air seemed to
be glowing as he noticed the chi charged vortex seeming to feed off his
opponent�s energy.  As with the Earth Elemental he had used the
technique on before it seemed to be feeding of a source other than the
opponents battle aura.  It almost seemed to grasp the enemies inner
magical nature and turn it against itself.  Perhaps whoever had designed

the technique had more than mundane enemies in mind when he
created it, was a fleeting thought before other things occupied his
attention.
Before when he�d used this indoors he had been firmly
�attached� to the floor.  Unfortunately although he was not the focus of

vortex he was being drawn up in it�s wake.  Ranma was plucked
helplessly off his feet and thrown up the stairwell.  In this way he got
a
fair view of the damage being done to the Fire Elemental as he was
bounced around the walls on the way up.  After a few minutes of this,
he heard a crashing sound as the creature broke through the door at the
top, triggering some sort of explosive defensive magic as it flew
through the opening.  Ranma following through the air behind the
creature, didn�t feel anything at the door and assumed that monster had
triggered all the defenses.  Good monster, he thought as he was thrown
to the ground just past the door.
Ranma slowly picked himself off the ground.  He felt
remarkably sound.  �At least I got something out of that Breaking Point
training.  Fire Elemental!  Bah!� he said disgustedly.  It has never
even
occurred to him that he could be facing something other than an Earth
Elemental.  Brushing himself off he looked up.
There was no sign of the fire creature.  That didn�t surprise
him, what surprised him was the older looking man, with thinning grey
hair standing in front of him, looking at him in an irritated manner.
It
worried him that he hadn�t sensed him.  Taking stock of himself for a
moment he noticed that although he didn�t feel physically weak his
battle aura was about half the size it should be.  That was probably why

he didn�t sense the fellow, he was far enough away that his reduced chi
senses couldn�t detect him, and his hearing was still recovering.
�By now you may have noticed that no magic is usable except
mine.  I hope you have a excellent reason for breaking in here.  If you
don�t, I doubt that anyone will miss just one more thief,� the old man
said with a smirk.
Ranma wasn�t too worried, sure with chi capabilities were
damped a bit but they were far from the crippled state the man
obviously expected.  �I have a friend waiting for me outside.  I�m sure
Cindra�ll have someone look for me if I take too long.  Besides I think
you�re expecting me.  Grayson set an appointment up for me to meet
the Royal Summoner.  Er�you are the Royal Summoner right?�
Ranma asked, suddenly unsure.
�Ah, the sweet Cindra.  Such a sweet young flower.  How
tragic that her father disapproves of our relationship.  The things I
could teach such an innocent.  Still there are many others almost as
sweet who may be educated,� the old man almost seemed in a trance, a
small bit of drool started to dribble out of his mouth.
Ah, great, Ranma thought.  I must be like a perverted freak
magnet.  I just can't seem to avoid them.  At least this ones not
grabbing my chest, he shuddered.
�Hello?  Hello!  Excuse me!  Grayson made an appointment
for me?� he almost shouted trying to grab the old man�s attention away
from his fantasies.
�Grayson�well I do recall something of that nature.  Too bad
you�re late.  Maybe next year, I have a lot of demons to summon and
only a limited amount of time.  Sorry.  Go away,� he said dismissing
Ranma with a wave of his hand.
�But�but Grayson said you could help me!� exclaimed
Ranma desperately.
�I�m sure I could.  Grayson went into some detail about your
problem.  I do know a way to find your home plane, but I don�t care to.
You have nothing I want, and what you ask is no insignificant thing.
Again, go away,� the old man stated coldly.
�What if�what if I got you a date,� Ranma cringed inwardly.
He really, really didn�t want to do this.  Where were the demons when
you needed them?
The old man�s entire demeanor underwent an incredible
metamorphosis.  Instantly he was warn and chatty.  �Come in my dear
man.  Call me Balthazar�no make that �Zar for short.  Let�s talk
business.�  With his arm draped companionably over Ranma�s
shoulders he led them away from the splintered doorway toward a cozy
little den.  There was tea on the table and two overstuffed chairs
opposite the hearth.
Ranma sat in the chair but something on the edge of his senses
kept him from relaxing.  His battle aura was muted and his chi senses
dimmed but there was something very dangerous in the room with him.
Craning his neck he searched for the source of his discontent.  His eyes

settling on one of the room�s darkened corners.
�Zar noted his stare and smiled.  �I see you sense my pet.  You
are a very capable mage.  Very impressive.  I�ll introduce you.  Come
out Phebe!� called the Summoner.  A huge demonic wolf melted into
visibility while stepping out of the shadows.  Five feet at the
shoulders,
smoke poured out of the nostrils when the creature breathed and a
baleful crimson light glinted in it's eyes.  It looked hungrily at Ranma

and acidic drool dripped from six inch canines.
Oddly enough now that he could fully sense the entity he
relaxed more.  He hadn�t been kidding when he stated he would rather
deal with demons than fianc�es.  Keeping aware of the position of the
demon, but otherwise ignoring it, he turned his attention to �Zar.
�Zar nodded in approval of his attitude.  Now about this
�date�, tell me about her,� he commanded.
�Fine.  I happen to have a picture of my sister.  She�ll go out
with you in return for the way home,� Ranma stated with a grimace of
distaste as he took out one of Nabiki�s pictures of his girl-type from
subspace.  �No funny stuff, just a nice normal date, and then the way
home.  OK?�
�Sister, aye?  She's a real beauty.  A red head too.  Well a date
sounds fair.  It will be the Palace Ball.  They prefer me to stay on the

grounds anyway.  Makes them nervous when they don't know where I
am.  Heh, heh.  Have her here by sunset, we shall go to the Ball.  Come
here at noon tomorrow and I'll see what can be done regarding your
problem," his face took on a dreamy cast as he started thinking about
later that night.
Ranma took this as his cue to leave and got up.  Looking
around he spotted a window and headed towards it.  Looking out he
saw a grim landscape, with river of dimly glowing lava.  A thick
choking smoke hung over the ground and the very air seemed to have a
dim red glow.  Quickly pulling his head back, he looked around for
another window.  He didn't want to meet Cindra on the way out, but
didn't want to have to go through Hell to do it.
He saw another window closer to the still shattered door and
went over to it.  It seemed to be the Palace grounds.  He didn't see
Cindra or her guards so hopefully they were on the other side.  Cindra
might call the Palace guards if her 'fianc�e' didn't eventually show up,

but right then he didn't really care.  He had a bad taste in his mouth
and
had the feeling the day was going to get worse before it got better.  If
it
got better.  Stepping out the window he dropped two hundred feet to
the ground, wincing slightly as his feet made contact.  He had some
things to do before sunset.


Chapter 9

Ranma-chan found it simple to get inside the Palace gates later
that evening.  Upon telling the guard that she was there for a date with

the Royal Summoner she was quickly let in.  The guard was heard to
be muttering over the 'poor girl' and 'fates worse than death'.  This
did
nothing to improve Ranma-chan's mood.
For the moment she wore a simple dress.  She had no idea of
what these people thought regarding fashion.  Earlier in the day she had

wandered around the city and the dress shops and tailors but been too
embarrassed to ask about any of the clothes.  It was then that she had
developed her plan.  That was the reason she had come to the Palace
early. The plan was simple, find an attractive, well dressed girl, copy
her dress and live happily ever after.  Nothing could possibly go
wrong.
A slight chill in the made her shiver slightly as this last
thought occupied her, but she ignored it.  She'd been having those
chills ever since she was cursed, they probably didn't mean anything.
She wandered over to the area the Ball was being held and
looked around.  Most of the preparations had been made already, so
few people were actually there, except for the few servants setting out
the last of the food.  Ranam-chan's stomach growled loudly as it
reminded her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast.  She hadn't eaten as

much as she usually did back with the Tendo's.   The monks ate a
ridiculously small amount and she almost felt guilty eating as much as
she did.  She supposed that their food intake would increase as their
chi
training progressed.  A large appetite seemed to be an acceptable price
for martial arts mastery.
"You there!  Girl!  Get away from that food!  It's not for the
likes of you."  Ranma-chan turned as she heard a familiar voice.  Sure
enough behind her was Cindra, looking very displeased.  It was only at
that moment Ranma-chan noticed the carrot sticks she had in her had.
Looking guilty she shoved her hands behind her.
"Why, hello Cindra.  Fancy meeting you here.  How ya
doin'?" she said with a nervous smile.  Cindra didn't know about her
curse but she still felt mildly uncomfortable in the presence of her
wanna be fiancee.  She somehow expected a mallet blow that never
landed.
"How dare you address me so familiarly, peasant.  I saw you
eating from that plate.  That's food reserved for tonight's Ball.  I'll
not
have a lowly one like you ruin it, due to you're gluttonous hunger." The

irate girl exclaimed.
Ranma-chan was quite surprised, this girl was nothing like the
sweet, if overly forward girl she had met earlier that afternoon.
Considering how much magic there was around she supposed it was
possible that she had been possessed, or drugged, or had a spell cast on

her.
"Hey Cindra maybe you should see a magician.  I think
someone might have cast a spell on you.  You're acting a lot more
unpleasant than usual."  Her helpful suggestion was not taken in the
spirit it was proposed in.  Cindra's face became red, and a very
unladylike grimace spread across her face as rage consumed rational
thought.  "You're definitely not looking right.  You should see a doctor

or something, you never know when you might be possessed by some
evil oni or something."
"Guards grab that dirty little peasant.  She has the food behind
her back.  That should be enough to have you in a cell until after the
Ball."  Ranma-chan quickly flicked the carrots away, sending them
across the room to embed themselves into the wall.
"Hey, I don't have nothing.  Keep your goons to yourself.
Boy you sure got unpleasant all of a sudden," she held her hands out in
front of her to display her innocent.  The four guards hesitated in
their
approach, looking in askance towards Cindra.
"Don't be idiots.  She obviously hid them in her dress.  We'll
just search and then stick her in a cell," screamed a furious Cindra.
"You guys are not feelin' me up.  Keep your hands to
yourself."  Ranam-chan easily sidestepped the guards lurch towards her
helping them forward with a subtle nudge with her shoulder and knee.
The guards continued onward falling headlong into one of the huge
tables with food on it.  Soon culinary masterpeices were flying
everywhere.  Ranma-chan happily grabbed the food flying towards her.
Waste not want not was her motto.  Besides those carrot sticks just
made her hungrier.  The people surrounding her were not as skilled in
avoidance, the guards and Cindra were covered in dips, chips and
vegetables.
 Munching happily on her new-found lunch, she looked over
at Cindra.  "Hey it's too bad about your dress.  It looked really
pretty.
Hey, can I borrow that celery, it doesn't look like your using it,"
Ranma-chan stated hopefully as he grabbed a celery stalk that had been
lodged in her dress, held in place by the numerous pools of sauces
dripping from her.
Ranma-chan left the screaming girl while chewing on her
snack.  She really felt sorry for the girl.  She couldn't be blamed for
being upset.  If Ranma-chan had a bunch of incompetent bozos
guarding her like that she'd be pretty angry too.  Yah, those guards
really did a number on Cindra's dress.  It was really too bad, Ranma-
chan didn't know anything about fashion, but even she could tell that it

had been a really fabulous dress.  The perfect kind for a Ball.



Ranma-chan walked unhappily back towards the Ballroom.
Attached to her arm was the limpet of a man known as the Royal
Summoner.  From his mouth poured syrupy sweet lines of what she
guessed was poetry.  Ranma-chan just tried to tune him out.  After her
experiences with Kunou she had it down to a fine art.  It was because
of this that she didn't notice when she was being introduced at the
entrance.
"This is my date for the evening,  The beautiful Ranko
Soatome.  This is the hostess of the party, the beautiful princess
Cindra.
You look really�interesting my dear.  Ah, I'm afraid I must leave.  I
see your father coming this and you know how upset he gets when he
witnesses our shared affections."  As he left, dragging Ranma-chan he
didn't pay attention to the glazed look in Cindra's eyes, the set
grimace
of her mouth, or the twitch that she seemed to suddenly develop on her
face.
"She had my dress.  The little tramp had my dress on.  She
will pay�"  Cindra muttered as her father walked up to her.
"Cindra, I love you very much, but you really must pay more
attention to the guests.  That's the fourth one in a row you've ignored
as
they arrived," he examined her dress for a moment.  "By the way what
happened to your gown.  At first I that those dark splotches were part
of the dresses' design, but now that I look closer, and see it next to
the
gown that pretty little red-head is wearing, it's fairly obvious
something
stained it."  He received only a blank faced response, which was soon
replaced with an expression barely repressed rage.  "Hmm�I'll have
your sister greet the guests.  Why don't you change, maybe lie down
and rest for a few minutes.  You don't look well," her father continued
in a concerned voice.

Ranma-chan would have been having fun, if it wasn't for a
few niggling details.  The first was 'Zar, he was just really
irritating.  It
was almost as bad as going on a date with Kunou.  Her mind shied
away from this, but it was true.  The constant attention, the bad
poetry,
the groping.  If the guy pulled out a bokken she was out of there, trip
home or no.  It was spooky.  The second was the embarrassment factor,
'Zar loved to dance, which meant she was dragged out on the floor to
make a spectacle of herself.  She learned the steps quickly, meaning her

clumsiness was short-lived, but still.  She was a guy, prancing around
in a dress, especially opposite some Happossai wanna be was the stuff
nightmares were made of.  Third, she'd finally found a cure for her
curse (or a reasonable facsimile) but here she was in a dress again.
Truly the gods must have it in for her.  The most irritating thing of
the
night was that the other guests kept splashing her with hot and cold
liquids.  Tea, wine, beer, brandy, mulled cider, you name and she'd
been hit.  If it weren't for the magical nature of her gown she would
have long looked as bad as Cindra had earlier in the evening.
Near the middle of the evening 'Zar decided that a walk in the
Royal garden would be just the type of romantic interlude she would
enjoy before they went back to dancing.  Ranma-chan just grunted.  As
long as he didn't try anything funny she was just along for the ride.
The garden was dimly lit with glowing spheres of energy.
'Zar babbled on about the different plants and how the lighting could be

increased to daylight intensity or dimmed further for a romantic tryst.
The unpleasant date had Ranma-chan on edge all evening, so when she
felt a high velocity object fly towards her she practically wept with
relief.  She didn't of course, really bein' a guy an all.  But almost.
Plucking a dart from the air she shrugged out of 'Zar's
embrace to leap into the shrubbery.  One shriek of pain later she was
back at 'Zar's side lifting a large man dressed in black leather armor
by
the collar.  The man had no visible wound but was unconscious.
"My you are a healthy young girl.  I see you know the same
mystic arts as your brother," examining the man Ranma-chan was
holding.  "He appeared to be an assassin.  I'll have one of my pets
watch him.  I'll talk to the King and have the guards fetch him for
questioning when I see him at the Ball.  He really dislikes assassins in

the Palace."
Ranma-chan shrugged, the excitement had only lasted a
moment before she had realized she was fighting one of the pathetic
human fighters that seemed to be the norm on this world.  She had
almost wished it had been one of those shapeshifted dragons she kept
hearing about.  Ranma-chan couldn't think of a reason why one would
attack her, but mindless violence never stopped her enemies in the past.

She tossed the would-be killer onto the ground and watched in
interest as she felt the tingling associated with magic and a large
wolf-
type demon appear next to the man.  Seeing the demon showed no
violent inclination, she sighed and followed 'Zar back into the
Ballroom.  So much for the fun part of the evening.


Ranma-chan was being swept around the floor, and not
particularly enjoying it.  She was counting down the time to the end of
the party, but it was approaching with excruciating slowness.  It was in

this frame of mind she felt someone behind her, seemingly bent on
collision.  Grabbing a firm hold of 'Zar she swung him around to take
the brunt of the impact, he was the lead man so to speak.  There was a
thud of bodies colliding, and then 'Zar exclaiming over Angels leaping
into his arms.  Looking down she saw two intertwined bodies on the
ground, Cindra and 'Zar.
'Zar seemed pleased, Cindra less so.  Ranma-chan was about
to help Cindra off the ground when her danger sense she had developed
over ten years of training told her something bad was about to happen.
Looking around she noticed a man dressed as a servant throwing
something that looked like an amulet.  She immediately grabbed two
random object from subspace and threw one at the servant and one at
the amulet.  The mop slammed into the servant with great force,
sending the servant flying back ten feet.  While the dazed man
struggled to his feet a pair of guards, who had just noticed that
something odd was happening, approached him.
These events were lost on Ranma-chan.  Her other throw,
some sort of short handled broom, twitched in midair, causing the
amulet to merely stop short of her instead of being knocked completely
away.  What caught Ranma-chan's attention was that the amulet had
started glowing brightly.  Her chi senses also informed her a large
source of magic was pointed her way.  Before she could react to this
information a shimmering cube sprang up around her and the couple on
the floor.  A feeling of foreboding flooded through her as she
recognized the wall of force she had encountered when she first
arrived.  A shimmering in the air above the amulet told her the item
had not finished it's work.  The light increased in diameter until it
seemed a small circular hole of about ten inches hang in the air.  A
moment later dozens of small humanoid insectile creatures poured out
of it.  They were each about a foot and a half tall covered in spiky
chitin and fangs.  As they appeared they immediately leaped to attack
the human.  Ranma-chan's hands were a blur as she smashed them from
the air, smacking them back into the sides of the cube's walls.
'Zar's voice could be heard droning behind her, "Ah the Lasae
demon, a small, though vicious demon.  Wouldn't seem to be a problem
normally, our red-haired friend seemed well equipped to deal with
them.  Unfortunately that seems to be a gate into Hell.  I would guess
it
that it opened directly into a large nest of these fellows, considering
that more keep coming through as fast as Ranko deals with them.
"Can't you wave your hands and cast a spell or something, I
can't keep this up," Ranma-chan complained.  It seemed the only
competent magicians were those attacking her.
"I'm a Summoner, I draw circles and summon demons.  I don't
wave my hands.  If we were in my lab dealing with a nuisance like this
would be simple, out here on the dance floor it is not.  I could call my

pets but I actually think they couldn't do any better than what you're
doing.  The King's mages should be here soon, they should easily be
able to dispel these walls.  Of course the demons will still be a
problem
unless I can get back to my lab."
"I'm not sure we have a few minutes," after a moments
thought during which constant crunching sounds came from her fist
crushing the oncoming demons.  "Okay, what's underneath us?"
"Well I can't say for certain but I would guess it would be the
sewers."
"Ugh.  Fine.  If I can get us down there can we make our way
to your tower?"
"Why yes, we can.  I am quite familiar with the sewers."
"Kind of like a home away from home," sneered Cindra.  She
had stayed silent until then, frozen in horror, but had broken out of
her
fright enough to think and react without breaking into a mindless
screaming fit.
"Yes," stated 'Zar oblivious to Cindra's disdain.
"Okay, get ready," Ranma-chan warned before letting loose
with the Breaking Point underneath them.  She made certain to aim the
rubble toward the portal in the hope that the rocks might temporarily
block the entrance.
When the dust from the explosion cleared, Ranma-chan saw
that although the small rift in space was covered already the rocks were

moving, giving evidence of activity beneath them.  At her feet was a
deep hole that opened up into some sort of cavelike system.  Without
wasting further effort talking she picked up her two companions, one
under each arms, and leaped down into the hole.

Several minutes later they were running down the tunnels,
ankle deep in water of questionable quality, with a chittering pack of
demons on their heels.  'Zar seemed true to his word, unerringly
leading them through the twisting ways and branching corridors.  Once
they entered a large cavern that had some large hungry looking reptiles
in them.  The creatures slowly started to move after them, but were
soon left behind.  Soon after this loud roars of pain and anger could be

heard and the chittering seemed to get fainter for a short time.
Every few hundred feet 'Zar would pause and smear a small
amount of his blood on the walls while muttering a few words.  When
Ranma-chan asked about he got a panting lecture on how the distance
of the gate from his tower made amplification and focus necessary to
pinpoint his circle's effects.  Ranma-chan didn't understand much of it.

It was a mage thing.
Cindra held up fairly well but when she fell behind Ranma-
chan swept her into a fireman carry.  As long as she was going as slow
as 'Zar she could probably carry Cindra's weight all day.  Cindra gave a

weak protest but fell silent as she listened to the demon's noises
echoing through the caves.
After an indeterminate time, they came to an oversized steel
door at the end of the corridor.  'Zar fumbled with the keys slightly
before finally sliding the correct key into the lock.  Slamming the door

behind them they ran up the stairs.  When the reached ground floor of
the tower 'Zar spoke a sharp command and the fiery creature Ranma-
chan fought earlier appeared before them, paused for a moment then
headed down the stairs.  The sound of metal, slowly being shredded,
could be heard.
They again started to run up the stairs, when the came to the
teleporting steps that had so confused Ranma-chan earlier, the
summoner spoke a word.  Ranma-chan seemed to blink, she must have,
because the were in a large room with a vaulted ceiling.  On the ground
all around them were circles of all sizes.  They all had odd designs and

pictures drawn within them.  Ranma-chan gathered herself to step out
of the circle she had arrived in.
"Stop,"  'Zar's voice loudly commanded.  "Do not leave the
circle.  This room is warded against all manner of intrusion.  Wait here

I will bring amulets which will temporarily safeguard you against my
defenses," saying this he hurried towards a cabinet on the far side of
the wall.  Muttering something unintelligible the doors glowed slightly
and he opened them.  Waking back he threw two amulets towards his
companions.
"Place them around your necks and hurry to the seventh circle
from the left.  No! Your other left!  Wait for me, I need to activate
several circles, then I'll be right there."  Walking to three other
circles
in the room he muttered arcane words that seemed to briefly hang in
the air.  Although the circles looked the same a sudden familiar
sensation told Ranma-chan that those circles were now very active.
Nodding to himself he walked briskly towards the others.
This turned into a running gait as a loud thud was and the
sound of numerous talons scratching against stone came from a
corridor facing the room.  Panting slightly the Summoner began an
incantation.
Meanwhile from the corridor a wave of lasae poured into the
room.  Upon entering a good half of them burst into flames, exploded
or just keeled over, but those that survived swept forward like
lemmings.  Ranma-chan again took up her position in front of the
others and a regular staccato crunching sounds could be heard.
Ranma-chan was seriously getting concerned about demons
sneaking around her to attack her companions when 'Zar's voice rose to
a shout and the incantation seemingly ended.  For a moment nothing
appeared to have changed.  This illusion was quickly dispelled when
the crack of displaced air was heard.  Throughout the whole chamber
starting from those closest and working quickly to those farther, the
little demons vanished.  Within seconds the last had dispelled.
"There we go.  Now that wasn't so bad, was it," 'Zar received
only a cold glare from Cindra.
Ranma-chan was still dressed in her gown.  Even the magical
fabric seemed somewhat bedraggled, and numerous bloody cuts and
scratches covered her arms. "So that still counts as a date, right?"
Ranma-chan inquired.


Chapter 10

King Monfrey sat in the dimly lit room with his head in his
hands.  Things hadn�t gone very well the last few days.  Personal and
City level crisis had apparently decided this would be a good time to
come to a head.  A young guard with a Captain�s insignia sat across
from him.
�Alright, Captain Inrio.  Let�s go over this again,� the King
said tiredly, reaching for the cup of spiced wine.
�Well, I wasn�t there personally but the guards on the scene
described two young males involved in an arcane duel in the middle of
the city.  Report vary but it appeared an unidentified young mage in a
red silk shirt was attacked by another unknown young male mage
wearing a huge backpack, and swinging an enchanted umbrella.  The
red mage avoided the other�s first attack.  Unfortunately the Mage�s
Guild was hit.  No one was killed, but several people had to be dug
own of the wreckage and taken to a healer.�  The young Captain took a
huge sheath of papers from the floor beside him.  �I almost forgot.
These are complaints and damage claims from the Guild.�
�Sometime during the battle the Princess showed up,�  the
guard paused and shook his head in disbelief,  �instead of diving for
cover she apparently stayed to watch the conflict.  We have reports that

the red  mage shielded the Princess from the blast, and then ended the
fight by transforming his opponent into a pig.  He then grabbed his foe
and jumped on top of a nearby building.�
�Yes I�ve heard that much from my daughter,� the king said
absently.  He had heard that much and more.  His daughter would not
stop going on about the handsome young mage and how he had asked
for her hand in marriage.  From what her guards had said privately it
sounded more like she had railroaded the young man into �proposing�.
Still she really needed to settle down, a husband and a few children
would calm her down.  He really needed some peace of mind.  He had
put her off, but perhaps he should relent and let her have the boy.  It
wasn�t like she was the heir, indulging her a little wouldn�t impact the

Kingdom.  �Continue,� the Monfrey commanded.
�Well that�s all I have on the altercation, Your Majesty,� the
guard replied apologetically.
�That�s all right.  I already know who the red clad �mage� was.
I am satisfied with his innocence.  The umbrella wielding fiend who
almost killed my daughter is another story.  I want the Kingdom
outposts and garrisons alerted to his description.  Put a bounty of
100,000 gold on his head, that should stir things up a bit.  Hmm, also
talk to the mage guild and put them on an indefinite commission.  I
want them to keep scrying for him until he�s found.  A Royal
Commission should also quiet them down a bit.�  Pausing to gather his
thoughts the King nodded.  �Alright, next disaster.�
The guard gave a wan smile in appreciation of the royal wit
and continued, �Although we thought at first they were connected, it
appeared that there were actually two separate unrelated assassination
attempts.  The first was a an attempt with a poison dart, this was
foiled
by the victim herself, a girl named Ranko Soatome.  She apparently
captured the assassin as well with the aid of the Royal Summoner.�
Seeing the frown on the King�s face the guard hurried on in his
narrative.  �This was the Western Empire�s Thieves Guild.  They seem
to have connections with the Thieves Guild in our own kingdom and
when a contract was put on her for unauthorized theft, it seems their
�brother� guild was happy to oblige when Miss Soatome was finally
found.�
�This is unacceptable.  The Thieves Guild is far too bold.  Do
they honestly think I�ll ignore an assassination attempt in the middle
of
the Palace.�  Shaking his head in irritation, �I want the Thieves Guild
chastised.  Start investigating their activities, crack down on what
leads
you can find.  Hrmph, they�re called the Underworld for a reason, they
must be taught to stay under their rocks.�
The guard coughed delicately, �This could cause
repercussions.  The Thieves Guild is not without power.�
�I think they�ll go into hiding for a while.  Or at least the wiser
elements of it will.  Most likely only the more foolish of the Guild
will
be captured.  Such as those who sent a contract assassin into my Palace.

Ease off after about three months.�  A dangerous glint entered his eyes.

�If they take offense to this we�ll just have to scour them from the
face
of the Earth.  I am King of this country, and I dislike even the darker
elements of my Country working with our potential conqueror�s,� the
King ended with a growl.  His eyes refocused on the young guard,
�There�s more, I believe.�
�Well, the last is probably the worst.  Another assassin, we
guess he was hired by the Western Empire directly, attacked near the
end of the Ball.  Disguised as a servant he through a multiple stage
trap
amulet at the same Ranko Soatome that was attacked earlier.�
�She seemed to have quite a lot of attention focused on her for
such a pretty little thing.�
�Yes.  I haven�t been able to find anything about her.  Well
except that she was the date for the Royal Summoner,� he quickly
continued when the King growled.  �For all we know she was a
Succubus Balthazar summoned to the Ball.�  The guard chuckled at his
own jest.
�I know a little of �Ranko� as well.  Leave it be,� Monfrey
said with a slight nod.  �continue with your report.�
�The first stage was the Impervious Walls of Force.  Whoever
designed the trap had a huge amount of energy, the spell involved five
faces.  As you know the base spell is very costly and calls forth only
one face.  Only a Kingdom or Mage Guild has those kind of resources.
The Royal Summoner, The Princess and Ranko were caught within the
trap.  The Second stage was only very impressive.  An actual portal to
Hell was opened into a large nest of lasae.  The Summoner was
somehow able to burrow through the hole and escape through the
sewers to his Tower.�
�How did you know they had gone to the tower?�
�We didn�t really, Sire.  On of the guards did notice an
animated mop floating towards the Tower so we sent a patrol in that
direction and found the Princess waiting for us.�
�A mop?�
�Yes, Sire.  We never really found out about it, but it could be
related to the incident.�
�Never mind.  Probably just a case of someone�s domestic
spell getting out of hand.�
�I understand the demons were finally destroyed or sent back
to their own plane.  Were there any other injuries?�
�The second assassin died of �mysterious� circumstances.
Another reason to believe it was a professional job from the Western
Empire.  The imperial assassins are well known for that type of cover-
up.  Other than him I think there were no casualties.  We still have
patrols out, just incase.  These specific type of demons are supposed to

be particularly vicious.�
�Thank you for your time.  You may go.  Oh, and keep me
updated,� nodding in dismissal, the King�s eyes went back to the pile
of paper in front of him.  Sometimes it didn�t pay to get up in the
morning.


Ranma waited anxiously in the circle, sitting cross-legged
across from 'Zar.  Apparently that Ball and the aftermath did indeed
count as date, since the Summoner had agreed to track down Ranma's
home plane.  Now Ranma watched the old man kneel in the circle with
a brush, paint, and big multicolored candles.
"Are you almost done yet?" Ranma asked impatiently.
"If you don't stop asking me that, I'll send you on the demon
express to the darkest corner of Hades I can find.  I need concentration

to finish this circle.  So shut up!  Why could Ranko come, she was so
much more pleasant to be with.  To hug.  To kiss," the old man sighed.
"Hey!  Leave me�er�her out of your perverted fantasies, old
man."  To keep himself occupied Ranma began finger strike excercises
for pressure point attacks.  Though as he thought of it, maybe be could
combine it with the Breaking Point.  Lost in thought he didn't notice
the ripping sounds his hands made in the air as they danced in the air.
Stop it!  Stop it! Stop it!  Just shut up!  Do not move!  Don't
make any sound!  Just stop it!" 'Zar screamed in frustration.
Ranma stopped, looking at the old man in a puzzled fashion.
What he'd heard about Summoners was really on target.  They really
had no self control.  Sighing in resignation he stifled the urge to ask
'Zar when he would be finished and meditated on centering himself,
and chi control exercises.
'Zar nodded to himself.  He had finally gotten through to the
infuriating punk.  Finally with some peace and quite he bent to the task

of painting the correct symbols in the circle, muttering words of power
under his breath.  He had just finished putting the final touches on the

circle when he noticed a bright red glow coming from behind him.
Whirling around to confront the threat he noticed that Ranma was the
only one there.  Of course he was glowing an intense shade of red and
hovering gently an few inches off the ground.
'Zar started cursing under his breath.  "Damn mages, just
because they don't need a major preparation for magic they think
they're so superior. Ha!  Let's see them try to summon and control a
Greater Demon and we'll see how far their pathetic tricks get them!"
Still ranting he knelt carefully beside Ranma and while leaning close
bellowed, "Wake up Ranma, my boy, it's time to go home!"
Shocked from his trance Ranma collapsed to the ground,
clumsily scrambling away fom the Summoner while trying to gather
his wits.  "What are you trying to do?  I could have blasted you by
accident or something," Ranma berated the old man.  Probably should
have done it, no one would miss the old freak, Ranma thought, heart
still racing from an adrenaline rush.
"I'm sure you have more control than that," the old man
smiled benignly.  Ranma looked suspiciously at him, that look didn't
work when Happossai used it either.  "Anyway, I have finished the
circle.  If you'll get back into the circle I'll start the ritual."
Ranma stepped back into the circle while 'Zar began chanting.
A blue glow began to surround the large circle opposite them.
Gradually the outline of a huge creature began to appear.  As it faded
into view, Ranma began to appreciate how hideous the creature
actually was.  It had a huge lizard-like head, the mane and front half
and claws of a lion, the rear half of the creature seemed mostly that of
a
hippopotamus with the exception of a long thick lizard tail.  From head
to tail, it was 28 feet, completely dwarfing the circle it stood inside.

'Zar looked shocked, Ranma would have been amused by this
except when your resident demon summoner looks surprised at what he
caught it bodes very ill indeed.  "My Lord Ammit.  How very
unexpected, I apologize for disturbing you.  I was attempting to contact

a demon from Hades, I really did not mean to contact a God of your
stature.  Let me �"
'Zar would have continued to babble and grovel further if the
beast had not interrupted.  "I know.  I have an ally in Hades.  I am
here
on his behalf.  I have a use for the human next to you.  He will come
with me," a deep growling voice echoed in the human's mind.
"Wait a minute.  I came here to get home.  I ain't going to
follow the first ugly scaly thing you summon.  Who knows where I'll
end up," Ranma protested.  That creature was the biggest thing he'd
seen since his trip to that water of life place, but he wasn't about to
stand still while some goofy dragon monster dragged him to heaven (or
hell) knew where.
"Silence mortal, you have no choice.  Let it be known that
your life will be expended in the most useful way possible, and be
satisfied," the creature continued, disregarding Ranma's protests.
Seeing he was being ignored Ranma powered up a chi blast to
full power and threw it at the creature.  The energy hit the creature in

the face prompting a response, "Ow.  You impudent wretch!  You shall
suffer many torments for that indignity."  Ranma, slightly unnerved
that his largest chi blast had been mostly ignored, prepared for the
battle of his life.  He was still caught completely by surprise when he
found his feet leave the ground and himself floating without any
support in midair.  Whatever was affecting him was not magic, Ranma
sensed nothing that he usually felt involving magical energies.
Leaving the theories for later, Ranma flailed wildly for a moment
before giving up trying to move and just started shooting chi blasts at
the thing as fast as possible.
"Ow.  Ow.  Ow.  Stop it, you insect.  Ow. Ow.  Enough, I
need you in one piece for now but you will feel the torments of Hades."
At this Ranma felt a huge force bearing down on his mind, breaking
through barriers he had never even realized were there.  Then his body
was filled with mind numbing agony.  Ranma was stunned for a
moment by this completely unexpected attack before he rallied and
attempted to ignore the mind through his focusing techniques.
Although it was mostly worthless in reducing the pain, it was sufficient

to allow him to gather his concentration and act in spite of it.
Gathering his chi he renewed his bombardment on the creature.
"That should keep the mortal busy.  As for you summoner, I
suggest you leave.  I might come to the conclusion you were in my way
and you would need to die.  I only need him alive.  Eh?  Ow.  Damn
you human gnat," the deity raved.  While the human hadn't a hope of
defeating him, those rapid fire chi attack hurt more than any mortal
attack had a right to.  Roaring in outrage the deity lunged out of the
circle toward the helplessly floating human.  The circle, which was
meant to hold demons, did nothing to slow the god.  However the
room's defenses would not be ignored.  Magic flickered into existence
around the god, and the deity roared in pain as powerful wards bent
their destructive energy towards the creature.  'Zar knowing the
futility
of facing a even a minor deity unprepared had slipped out of the room
when Ammit had threatened him.
Soon the initial ward's effects were shrugged off and the
creature lunged again toward the hovering mortal.  Ranma was almost
grateful for this.  Without any leverage all he could was pure chi
attacks, which at least seemed to marginally hurt the beast.
Unfortunately he couldn't keep it up, throwing a barrage of chi bolts
was not only tiring but plainly not going to win this battle.  When the
monster hit Ranma, he easily absorbed the merely physical blow and,
using the momentum of the strike, began his next attack.  Orienting
himself so he struck the wall feet first, he leaped over the creature to

the wall behind it and repeated the maneuver.  He did this ten times,
each rebound faster and more powerful, glowing brighter with
concentrated chi.
Ammit swung his head back and forth quickly trying to follow
the annoying mortal, but was not having any success.  Giving up on
physical attack he was about to initial a psionic strike, similar to the

first two that seemed to have devastated the human when he heard the
cry 'Meter Kick' and felt a huge hammer blow strike his back.
Writhing in a failed attempt to escape the incredible force that stuck
him he turned to again face his foe.
Ranma grinned at the success of his attack.  His confident
smile dimmed when he saw the deity shake it's head and stand up
almost unscathed.  With his chi reserved at their lowest point since he
had entered this realm, he knew he would be need to face the creature
in hand to hand until he had enough energy to try a Dragon Ascension
variant.  Teeth gritted in determination he jumped closer to the
creature.
Now that the human had stopped leaping around Ammit tried
to strike the man with his huge claws.  He soon learned that this was
not effective.  The gnat was too agile and quick, he would strike with
those blurring fists that felt like he was being bombarded with pins and

leap away before Ammit could strike.  On the few occasions he did hit
the mortal, it simply flowed with the blow taking very little apparent
damage.  The embarrassment was too, this mortal was thwarting his
Godly will.  While mostly unhurt the humiliation was too much.
Psionics were too kind for this human.  Soon the mortal would see his
full glory and power.  Drawing on all the magic within him, Ammit
invoked his deific powers.
Ranma was already seeing the Ammit's power.  This thing
would not go down.  He thought he just  might have enough barely
enough chi to pull a Dragon Ascension but he wasn't sure.  He was still
dodging and contemplating tactics when the creature paused and
started glowing crimson.  Without further warning Ranma saw a flash
of light and a incredible beam of energy surge towards him.  He
attempted to dodge, but the crimson light almost seemed to move with
him.  He was engulfed in raging flames a moment later.  Crying out in
surprise and pain Ranma was knocked back into, and through the stone
wall.  While he struggled to get up he was struck again.  Desperate to
get away he used the Breaking Point to escape through the floor.
He was about to use the Saotome Special Final Attack (run
away until you think of something better), when a flickering in the
corner of his eye caught his attention.  Just as he turns he saw the
creature materialize before him.  Forewarned, he was fully prepared to
avoid the energy blasts when the creature struck again.  He blinked and
found himself part of the wall again, whatever those freaky blasts were
he simply could not get out of the way.  An image of Kunou spouting
off about the 'Vengeance of Heaven' made him grit his teeth.  This
Saotome wasn't going down without a fight.
Realizing the futility of dodging he brought his aura under
control and began a variation of his most powerful move.  When the
next strike hit him he ignored the pain and focused his concentration
and remaining chi on the perfect Dragon Ascension strike.  If it wasn't
perfect he had no chance of surviving many more of those hideous
fiery blasts.  As he redirected the incoming energy he felt the breeze
that was the precursor to the complete move.  It was with satisfaction
that he saw a charged funnel of rioting energy enveloping his foe.  As
he fell to his knees in exhaustion he noted with pride the creature had
been thrown through multiple walls to fall in a sprawl several hundred
feet away.
He was just thinking how remarkable it was that the inside of
the Tower was so large when he collapsed in an unconscious heap on
the floor.  This was just as well, it probably would have broken his
heart if he'd stayed awake long enough to see Ammit slowly get to his
feet, shake the rubble off his huge body and start to limp towards him.


Chapter 11

Ranma was just drifting on the edge of consciousness when he
realized the background noises he was hearing were actually voices.  It
was too much work to tune them out so he simply let them flow over
him.
�Well, you look like you were in quite a battle.  Did the mortal
put up much resistance," asked a deep almost growling voice.
�Yeah�nothing I couldn�t handle.  Are you sure he�s just a
human?  I don�t remember those kind of mortals demonstrating that
level of power,� the voice Ranma identified as Ammit reverberated
within his mind.
�Thoth assured me it was so.  If the God of Wisdom says he�s
human, then he�s human.  How did he put up such a fight against you.�
�It was odd.  I couldn�t lay a paw on him, or when I did he
just literally bounced back, he seems very resistant against normal
attacks.  He went down fairly easily once I started to show him the true

power of a god.  I admit that if I hadn�t been so furious I would have
just sat back and used psionics, which were very effective by the way.�
�From the burns it looks like you called upon Hellfire.  Hmm,
if he is defeated too easily by psionics it could be a problem.�
�Well�let�s say he�s only a little more resistant than a normal
human in that area.  He�ll do better than I first thought in our
mission,�
the voice grudgingly admitted.  �He may even survive. He withstood
four or five direct strikes of my fire before going down.�
�He better survive, Thoth has an important mission for him
after yours is complete.�
�Bah, Thoth is a oblivious scholarly fool.�
�Be wary with your tongue, he may be ridiculously
absentminded, but no one in there right mind crosses him without
excellent reason.  He has forgotten more arcane lore than the remaining
pantheon is even aware existed.�
"His loyalties lie with the Gods of Light, it will inevitably lead
to conflict with us."
"Thoth is perfectly aware of our loyalties, he has excellent
relations with the Darker elements of our pantheon.  Set himself has an
acceptable relationship with him.  As long as open hostilities don't
break out we can be assured of Thoth's neutrality."
"Hmmph," Ammit grunted unconvinced.
"Look at it this way, he discovered the human.  If he hadn't
felt generous, niether you or I would be aware of him and our plans
would have a much smaller chance of success."
"I'm sure he did it from the goodness of his heart," Ammit
sneered.
"I am aware of some of his purpose for the human.  I am not
at liberty to say more but I find no fault with them.  You came to me
for aid, no be quite and accept it." The voice said in a low growl,
obviously losing patience.
"Fine, the human is your pet, you coddle him.  I'm going to go
and kill something, call me when we're ready to start," Ammit stated in
disgust.  True the human was more than he had initially expected, but
he was still merely a human.  Having to think of it as more left a bad
taste in mouth.  He opened a portal to his own realm and ambled
through it.
There was a moment of silence and the deep voice continued,
"You can open your eyes now.  I can tell you're awake, though your
aura control is admirable.  You will not be harmed.  Ammit was�over
enthusiastic with his invitation.
Ranma carefully opened his eyes bracing himself for battle if
necessary.  He noticed he was in a huge chamber, it's ceiling well over
50 feet above him, it and the room he could see was constructed of
solid polished grey marble.  If Ranma had been better educated he
would have noticed a subtle, almost Egyptian motif in the design and
decorative carvings about him.  All this didn't really register, he was
busy being faced with something straight from his darkest nightmares.
Standing before him was a giant man, at least eighteen feet
tall.  It wasn't his size that aroused Ranma's horror, it was the fact
the
man possessed the head of a lion.
"C-Cat!!!" he screamed in terror, immediately running in the
opposite direction as fast as his legs would take him.
The lion headed god watched his rapidly retreating champion
more than slightly nonplussed.  He had struck terror into many a
mortal, but considering the bravery this human had shown in previous
battles this was really the last thing he had expected.   The fact that
the
mortal was creating humanoid shaped holes in the stone walls merely
added to his puzzlement.  A quiet chuckling sound behind him jerked
him from his bemused contemplation.
"Greetings, Anhur.  Ah, the neko-ken.  I never thought I'd see
that again.  Then again only an idiot would try to teach that technique
to someone.  It certainly wouldn't be a worshipper of mine," a voice
stated.
"Thoth," Anhur acknowledged his fellow deity's presence, still
gazing after the human.  "The neko-ken?  I've heard of it.  I'm afraid
many of my followers aren't nearly as wise as yours.  Several of my
more misguided people have tried learning the technique.  Although
this is the first person I've actually seen to survive the training.  I
think
it needs a little fine tuning."
"The training requires a large amount of ability to channel
one's spiritual abilities.  This combined with the extreme youth needed
for the training leads to a very large number of fatalities.  I've done
a
little research on the issue, only a handful have ever survived to
training.  One ascended to godhood in an obscure pantheon, one
achieved demi-god status before his violent death, all have been
ferocious warriors."
"If you knew, why didn't you tell me.  I wouldn't have greeted
him in my Primal Manifestation," Anhur asked, afraid he already knew
the answer.
"It slipped my mind, I suppose I was thinking of something
else," Thoth stated blandly, if truthfully, not really apologizing.
"Of course, and that curse of his?  I was expecting a female,"
Anhur sighed in exasperation.
"Eh?  What about the curse?  It just makes him a better
candidate.  In a highly magical environment such as our home plane
here, Dyval, or Rifts Earth it will give him the stamina, strength, and
durability of a creature of magic.  Despite this he's still as hard to
perceive as a normal mortal, I think he can improve this by suppressing
his aura as well.  He really is quite the perfect candidate for both our

purposes."
"Do you know how to get him out of the neko-ken?  I've never
dealt with a survivor before," he asked the God of Wisdom.
"From what I've found out about our friend Ranma, a sudden
shock will work.  Unless you want a protracted battle I suggest taking
his bracers off and dousing him with cold water.  Anyway that may not
be a problem.  Since he successfully left your presence he shouldn't be
fully under the neko-ken."
"Thoth, many of my servants are of the Ramen race.  By now
he has no doubt met several.  If being surrounding by humanoid cats
doesn't drive him fully under the neko-ken influence, I can't imagine
what will."
"It's really very ironic," Thoth said in a contemplative tone.
"No.  What's ironic is that Ammit's mission is for Abdul-Ra.  I
don't think Ranma needs to know his mission is sponsored by the Lord
of the Raksasha."
"He's a nice fellow for a Demon Lord, I've met him a few
times.  Very polite," Thoth said good naturedly.
Anhur looked sideways at the Lord of Knowledge.  Only a
fool would antagonize Thoth, besides most entities curried his favor.
Thoth could provide incredible magics and artifacts if he chose to.
Fortunately he was wary of placing too much power in unreliable
hands.
"Whatever, lets go find our champion.  Maybe he's in a tree,"
Anhur said, while walking off towards the hole in the wall.  He
doubted it, there wasn't a tree for miles.


Several unpleasant minutes later Anhur stood holding a wildly
scratching Ranma by the neck, at arms length.  Around him lay a pile
of unconscious feline servants.  Anhur himself had metamorphosed
into merely an eighteen foot tall human.  He had managed to grab one
bracer and yank it off his erstwhile champion.  Presently he was trying
to grab the other arm's.  The claws of chi and wind-milling blur of arms

made this a challenge.  Off the side Thoth stood with a huge gold
inlayed bucket of cold water.  He looked distracted as if he had other
things on his mind than the skirmish taking place before him.
Anhur now knew how Ammit had felt.  He was covered in
long bloody gashes.  He was not seriously injured, and his wounds
were healing only slightly slower than they were inflicted, but it was a

frustrating battle.  He knew he had been fortunate to grab Ranma early
in the conflict.  From the speed he'd demonstrated he doubted he would
have been able to lay a finger on him if he hadn't.  The human also
exhibited incredible strength, the god was still significantly more
powerful, but Anhur was still impressed that a human, unaugmented by
magic or science was strong enough to match many of the weaker
deities he knew.  He was also slightly concerned, unlike Ammit he
didn't have access to the disabling psionics he had used.  Thoth did, of

course, but his mind was obviously elsewhere.  He could call on his
deific powers as Ammit had earlier, but he needed Ranma in one piece,
especially with Thoth right there watching�well sort of watching.
As the God of War of the Pantheon of Taut he would have
been enjoying himself if he had been sparing with his champion in the
normal manner.  This clawing at each other lacked dignity.  Anhur
finally grasped the other arm, and after struggling a little for the
correct
grip, pulled the other bracer off.  He then looked expectantly at his
fellow god.  He was thoroughly ignored.
"Thoth!  Hey Thoth!  Pay attention, I need that water now,"
Anhur shouted loudly.
"Eh?  Oh!  Sorry, I was just think of a new spell.  It was
actually very interesting, involving a combination of opposing�"
Thoth rambled on, still distracted by his musings.
"Thoth!  The water!  Now!" Anhur bellowed.
Finally bringing his full attention to his surrounding, Thoth
nodded, and poured the water over the still attacking human.  As the
human stopped struggling, Anhur put down the wet, bedraggled, and
very female Ranma-chan.
Ranma-chan came back to consciousness, standing at the
intersection of a huge stone corridor.  Furry bodies littered the floor
around her.  Fortunately for her sanity she didn't pay any attention to
that.  Her attention was riveted to the two enormous creatures in front
of her.  One was a eighteen foot tall man dressed in a golden breast
plate.  He had deep cuts on his arms that were visibly healing as she
watched.  The other was odder still, an equally tall humanoid with the
head of a bird (ibis).  It wore a beautifully decorated robe, a staff in
one
hand and a golden bucket in the other.  It was hard to tell, but it's
eyes
seemed to be focused elsewhere.
"Again I greet you.  I am Anhur, God of the Pantheon of Taut.
This is Thoth, known as the God of Wisdom.  We have brought
because we have need of your services.  If we can come to an
agreement, you will be my champion and representative in certain
affairs.  Let us retire to somewhere less cluttered.  Thoth?  Thoth!
Pay
attention!" growled Anhur with a lionish roar, eliciting a nervous
glance from Ranma-chan.


Soon the three were in a cozy little room, with plush,
comfortable chairs. A table sat before them with cookies, deserts, and
tea on it.  Ranma-chan wasn�t sure exactly when it happened, but she
thought that she had blinked and suddenly Anhur and Thoth were
merely human sized.  Although, it was probably meant to put her at
ease, such flexibility with what seemed reality made her very nervous.
This did not stop her from tucking away large quantities of the sweets
in front of her.
�Well, what do you want me for,� Ranma-chan mumble
almost coherently around a mouthful of food.
�A friend of Ammit's needs a favor.  A female friend of his
has been forcibly detained.  Due to Ammit�s friend�s nature, if he
attempts to even approach her he will be instantly detected.  This is
where you and Ammit come in," Anhur stated.
"Rescue a girl?  I can do that.  And you'll send me home
then?" Ranma asked, not paying close attention to the conversation.
"Yes.  There's more though.  Aside from the details of the
rescue plan, Thoth has a proposition for you after you have completed
it," Anhur stated.
"I thought you said you'd send me home afterward," Ranma-
chan asked suspiciously.
"This would be after you have been returned.  While Ammit's
mission is personal, Thoth's has more Universal implications."
"Er�how big do you mean," the pig-tailed girl asked.
"If Thoth's theories are accurate, it could impact every
dimension I know of�"
"Suffice to say every plane of existence would be affected.  I'll
go into more details once you return.  You could of course be
compensated.  Aside from the benefit of keeping the dimensions free of
horrors beyond human imagining," Thoth casually interrupted,
apparently his attention being caught by the subject of the
conversation.
"Can you cure my curse?" Ranma-chan asked excitedly.
"I could.  But I won't.  The 'curse' you are under makes you
very useful in certain circumstances," Thoth stated.
"But�"
"Besides, now that you have those defective manacles, the
curse would seem to be adequately controlled.  They also provide an
excellent defense against further transformational magics," Thoth
nodded benignly.
"But what else could I ask for?" Ranma-chan asked.  Deprived
of her primary goal she was somewhat lost as to what else she wanted.
"I am the God of Knowledge but I can't say what you desire.
Once you decide that, maybe I can help," the Lord of Wisdom
shrugged.
"Hmm�may have a suggestion.  Ranma, you practice martial
arts, yes?" Anhur asked.
"Yah.  I'm the best," she stated confidently.
"Truly?  There is no one that you could learn from?" Anhur
asked with a level stare.
"Well, the old mummy can sometimes, well�usually�beat
me with one of her tricks.  And the old freak would win a lot more if he

wasn't so easy to distract.  I guess Pop even has a few moves he thinks
are too dangerous to teach," Ranma-chan said hesitantly.  She didn't
like thinking about such unpleasant truths.  If she really needed to
win,
she somehow would find a way.  She was Ranma Saotome.
"So there are things you could learn to perfect your art?"
"Yeah.  I guess so.  But the old freak won't teach any anything
he knows.  All he does is grope women.  The mummy, she's taught me
stuff, but I doubt she'll give me much more.  I think she's finally
realizing that I won't marry her granddaughter.  Besides the really
advanced stuff I think she'd only teach an Amazon," Ranma-chan
sighed sadly.  What she wouldn't give to learn those techniques.
"Well Thoth?  It seems we now know what she wants.  Any
Ideas?" Anhur asked helpfully.
"Let's start with the 'old goul'.  I believe her actual name is
Cologne.  What does she want?" the bird headed god asked.
"Well�she want a really competent heir.  I guess three
hundred years is a long time even for her.  Shampoo isn't anywhere
near as good as her though.  She must be getting pretty desperate."
Ranma-chan felt kinda bad about that.  It wasn't Cologne's fault
Shampoo had been dishonored or whatever.
"Without physically or mentally transforming Shampoo, I'm
not sure what I can do about her skills or ability.  However Cologne's
age is easily dealt with.  Would she be more cooperative if you could
offer her youth to her?" Thoth asked.
"You�you can do that," a shocked Ranma-chan asked.
"I could do it personally, or I could give her detailed
directions on a construction and use of a circle that could do the same.

I think she is adequately skilled in ritual magic to make use of it.
That
might be the best approach.  She could in turn apply leverage on the
other's you mentioned.  Training for youth,"  Thoth mused.
"That takes care of the goul�er Cologne, Happossai and
Pops.  Wow, cool.  Too bad I can't help Shampoo, she still has to try to

marry me even without Cologne's support," Ranma-chan said with
mixed emotions.  On the one hand her dream of being the best martial
artist just may be coming true, on the other hand he still had most of
his
other problems�and maybe a new one.
"Wait a minute, that means we'll have a young Happossai
groping women.  Can I be responsible for unleashing that kind of
horror on the world," Ranma-chan exclaimed in realization.  "Maybe
Cologne can think of something."
"Would this be acceptable?  You would be achieving your
dreams.  We would be getting a champion of impressive skill, and the
Universe would have the aid it needs," Anhur asked.
"I�yes.  I accept," Ranma-chan said.  She was worried she
might be making a huge mistake, but she had just been offered a dream
come true.  This combined with a chance to fight for the salvation of
the universe�well, it was her duty as a martial artist to accept.  She
just hoped she wouldn't be regretting her decision.
Thoth simply nodded in acknowledgement and faded away.
Apparently going back to his home.
"Excellent!  You will be training for a short time here, in my
home.  Then you and Ammit will leave for the Dyval plane.  Upon
you're return Thoth will give you the directions for circle, you can go
home and train there until Thoth requires your assistance again," Anhur
stated in a hearty tone.
"Wait a minute, who's Ammit?  Hey, isn't he that ugly lizard
thing that attacked me?  I ain't going nowhere with that thing!" Ranma-
chan shouted.
"Calm down.  We have already agreed with the terms, besides
Ammit has learned some respect for you.  You will need to cooperate
on your mission to Dyval."
"Hey what's this Dyval place like anyway?"
"It is where the Deevals dwell.  It is here that the Deeval Lord
Mephisto holds Rhada."
"Deevils, eh? Deevils?  As in Devils?!  You guys are trying to
send me to Hell?  Are you guys nuts?  And who's this Mephisto guy?
His name sounds familiar."
"Dyval is not Hades.  Hades is where demons dwell.  There is
actually a very violent rivalry between the two realms.  Mephisto is an
extremely powerful Deevil Lord who is mainly in charge of guarding
Rhada.  He power is equal to most greater gods.  We have arranged a
diversion, since it would be unreasonable for you and Ammit to
confront him.  You should only need to deal with a few minions such
as Deevil Serpents, Dire Harpies, and maybe Leviathan."
"Who's Leviathan?" Ranma-chan choked out.  She was
suffering from information overload, and was having a difficult time
keeping track of things.
"Leviathan is a much weaker Deevil Lord, though she is still a
significant danger.  She rules the Dire Harpies.  Mephisto controls the
Serpents.  Mephisto will probably not leave Rhada guarded with mere
minions.  He may have Leviathan stay in his stead."
"I don't fight girls�" Ranma-chan protested half heartedly,
her head still spinning.
"She is a Deevil Lord.  I think you might want to consider her
in the monster category rather than a girl.  Although the manifestation
she usually chooses is attractive�" Anhur's voice faded into
speculative silence.
Don't worry you won't be fighting all the minions at once.
Stealth will aid you more than anything else.  Also the Fenry will be
helping you.  Ammit will take care of that."
"Fenry?  Isn't that the kind of demon 'Zar had?  Why would
the Fenry help us?" Ranma-chan asked plaintively.
"Well you are going in to rescue their mistress."
"No I'm not.  I'm going in to rescue a trapped girl.  Wait a
minute�is the girl I'm supposed to rescue even human?"
"Er, no.  She's a Deevil Lord as well."
Ranma-chan started to bang her head against the table.


Chapter 12

"My lovely Cindra are you sure you want to do this?" 'Zar
said, obviously having mixed emotions.
"I am not your Cindra.  I am simply using your services in
exchange for a price,"  Cindra stated, her voice dripping disgust.
"Ah yes.  A date and a kiss," a dreamy look entered his eyes as
a thin line of drool exited his mouth.  Shaking himself from his stupor
he continued, "Of course it would be best if your father was unaware of
our relationship."
"There is no relationship, you freak!  I mean, of course Daddy
doesn't need to know.  He'd get all upset over nothing.  I am an adult
and since Daddy gave his permission to marry my love, it is my duty to
track him down," Cindra said with conviction.
"He may very well be dead.  He was taken away by a God of
the Pantheon of Taut.  They are not known to be friendly towards
humans," 'Zar warned.
"I may not be able to follow him to whatever fate my be his,
but I can follow him home.  Surely if he lives he will find his way
back.  And I will be there waiting.  It's so romantic," Cindra sighed.
"Er, yes.  Very.  Anyway once Ammit left us I was able to
summon an alternate demon and find out our friends home plane," 'Zar
nodded to himself in obvious pride.
"Hey I am not a demon," a querulous voice rose from the
corner of the room.
"Be silent.  If you weren't a demon and of supernatural evil
my containment circle would have had no effect, demon." 'Zar stated in
dismissal towards the source of the sound.
 "But I wanna go home.  It this any way to treat a harmless old
man.  Why is everybody always picking on me?" wailed the diminutive
figure, which could now be made out in the darkened corner.
"Oh stop your whining.  Here," 'Zar hushed while throwing a
piece of cloth at the containment circle.  The figure leaped towards the

object only to crash against an invisible surface, which happened to
coincide with the edge of the circle.  Fortunately a moment later the
clothe fluttered down to land on the figure's head.
"Ah!  Panties!" the old demon sighed in satisfaction.
"Fortunately these demons of perversion are all simple minded
and easily to satiate.  I'll send him back when I'm sure you're safely
arrived.  Have a care, my Princess.  I anxiously await our date," 'Zar
continued smiling suggestively at Cindra.
"Oh please.  I think I'm going to be ill.  Just get on with it,"
Cindra said, fighting her gag reflex.
"Fine," 'Zar stated while tapping a circle with his staff,
mumbling incoherent words.  After several minutes of this a glow
formed in the air and a ripping, electrical cracking sound could be
heard.  A portal soon irised open in front of the couple.
Through the gate a young lady in a apron and dress could be
seen turning from a sink and a pile of dishes, a look of mild surprise
on
her face.
Cindra took the time to grab her bags and walk through the
portal. As she stepped through the portal closed quietly behind Cindra
"Greetings, I am the fiancee of Ranma Saotome.  I will be
staying here until my love comes for me."  Seeing the girl still
unresponsive she took some gold coins from her belt and placed them
in the girl's unresisting hand.
"Oh my!  Guests!  Paying guests.  Nabiki will be so pleased,"
the girl said, looking vaguely confused.


"Anyway, Hades and Dyval have a violent rivalry that has
been going on for�hmm�probably since just after the Old Ones were
subdued, which is a good hundred thousand years," Anhur started after
Ranma had stopped beating herself.
"What does Hades have to do with anything?" Ranma-chan
asked.
"I'll get to that.  Rhada, who is the Deevil Lord whose
dominion is the Fenry, captured Abdul-Ra more than three hundred
years ago�"
"Who is Abdul-Ra?" Ranma-chan interrupted with a query.
"My you certainly inquisitive all of a sudden.  Abdul-Ra is a
Demon Lord of Hades whose dominion is�not important right now.
Apparently Rhada fell in love with her captive.  She freed Abdul-Ra
because of this.  It's really too bad the other Demon Lords found out
about that little incident.  They were really upset that one of their
own
would demonstrate such freakish emotion, especially towards such
hated foes.  They chained her in her own castle, bound her powers so
she couldn't escape, and have been arguing over what to do with her for
three hundred years."
"Abdul-Ra left his girlfriend to sit in a dungeon for three
hundred years?" Ranma-chan exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, it's not as if he ever proclaimed his love for her.  That
combined with this probably being the first time he's ever had anything
resembling a warm emotion since�well, most likely ever.  I know him
by reputation, very honorable, which I approve of.  Unlike most of the
Demon Lords he takes his responsibilities towards his minions
seriously, but love?  Ha!  He's probably been wondering what in Hades
happened to him for the last several centuries."
"If he's not a friend of yours, then why are you helping him?"
Ranma-chan asked.
"Well, actually this part is much less straightforward.  Ammit
is a�friend�of Abdul-Ra.  He has been a go between for Abdul-Ran
and Rhada since shortly after the incident.  You see if Abdul-Ra, a
Demon Lord, sets foot on Dyval, the very ground will scream his
presence for all to hear.  Ammit, though a fairly powerful deity, is of
the Dark Pantheon of Taut, and there are no overt hostilities between us

and Dyval."
"Then why don't you go help Ammit?"
"It's not my concern.  Furthermore I don't want it to become
my concern.  It would be distracting to come into open conflict with
the Lords of Dyval.  As it is Ammit will owe me a large favor for your
services that I will eventually collect."
"Hey!  What about me?  I don't want a pack of
Demon�er..Dyval Lords after me either!"  Ranma-chan protested.
"It's very simple, you are merely human.  Humans are very
hard to sense, especially compared to other greater supernatural
entities.  Since you won't be declared my champion until after this
little
enterprise I won't be officially involved.  The Dyval Lords will assume
any mere human is a minion of Ammit's.  Only the most petty would
specifically target you for vengeance."
"Won't Ammit's involvement cause him trouble?"
"That's not a concern to me.  Ammit can fight his own battles.
The Dyval Lords would be fools to declare war on the entire Pantheon
of Taut.  Not to mention that in that type of general conflict our
'brother' Pantheon of Ra might be drawn into the war.  Hades and
Dyval's other enemies would take advantage of their weakness and
Dyval would cease to exist soon after.  It would be truly glorious, but
very unlikely.  They will confine their ire to Ammit," Anhur stated
with finality.
"Okay, that explains your involvement, now how'd I get
involved?"
"Thoth has been trying to deal with the problem with the Old
Ones for long time, even for us.  He needs someone whose power is so
negligible as to be unnoticed�"
"Hey!" Ranma-chan protested.
"�Yet ironically he also requires a being of great power and
ability." Anhur finished.  "You have significant power and ability, yet
if you hid your aura I myself would be hard pressed to sense you in this

very room."  Ranma-chan nodded, her ego soothed.
"Thoth can be very persistent so he finally found a candidate.
You.  He was actively looking and you caught his attention when that
fool accidentally summoned you for his own petty goals.  You aren't
quite ready yet so he contacted me.  He has access to incredible
knowledge, but for the arts of war I am your tutor."
"So you'll teach me�wait a minute, you mean you would
have gotten me trained even if I hadn't asked for it," Ranma-chan cried
out.
"Yes," Anhur replied simply.
"Greyson was right," Ranma-chan sighed in a defeated tone.
"Why do you want me as your champion, and what is a champion
anyway?" she asked still looking dejectedly on the floor.
"Aside from helping Thoth on an issue that is of vital
importance, I am a god of war.  This means that all aspects of conflict
are of interest to me.  I possess many armies, some with magical
weapons and artifacts of destruction, others with technology people
from your world have yet to see, or even imagine.  But armies are
useless by themselves, and though I am a god I am not omnipotent.
There are only so many places I can be at once.  So I also collect
individuals of intelligence and power, these are my generals and
representatives.  They wield my armies and even some of my power
when I cannot be there myself."
"But I'm no general!  I admit that I'm great with tactics, but
leading an army isn't me.  I'm a martial artist!"
"I never said you were.  Besides my generals may be required
to negotiate, and I think you need to mature a bit before you develop
the patience and wisdom for that." Ranma-chan looked toward the floor
in embarrassment again.  I do require a champion, however.  There are
times where disputes with other powers arise where open conflict is not
desired and can be dealt with a contest between two minions.  There
will also be times where my own minion will commit crimes and must
be brought back to be judged."
"I'm not going to kill anyone you point to.  I'm no assassin!"
Ranma-chan vehemently protested.
"I am aware of your limitations," Anhur stated, a hint of
disdain crept into his voice.  "Thoth informed me of your moral
shortcoming and I assured him that I will take them into account.  Your
missions will be limited to those even you would consider criminals.
Likewise I will not force you to kill.  It is usually easier than
capture,
but I will leave the decision in your hands."
"Well, that's okay then," Ranma-chan said, still unsure that it
was 'okay'.
"As to your powers as champion, they will be similar to those
of a priest�"
"Hey I ain't going to worship you or nothin!" Ranma-chan
indignantly cried out.
Anhur sighed, "That won't be necessary.  A simple
acknowledgement of me being your chosen god is enough.  That, and
your obedience."
"Well�as long as you don't tell me to do anything
dishonorable," Ranma-chan nodded.
Anhur rubbed his temples, he could tell Ranma was going to
be more work than almost any other follower or worshipper he had.  If
Thoth hadn't personally asked for his forbearance on the matter�and
of course, short of the major supernatural entities under his command,
Ranma had the most potential.  It was all a simple matter of resisting
the overwhelming temptation of blasting the idiot out of existence,
while waiting for that potential, and his protege's mouth, to mature.
"Your powers as a champion are as follows: you may
dimensionally teleport to any dimension I have personally been to,
assuming you know it exists.  This is not very accurate without a quite
a bit of practice, be careful, you may end up anywhere on that world.
You can use this three times a day.  However on the bright side,
whatever world you end up in you will be able to survive the local
ambient conditions, and speak the local tongue
"Why three times a day?"
"It's the standard number, ask Thoth, I'm sure there's an arcane
reason he'll be aware of.  Second you will gain a slight resistance to
possession, mind control, soul-drinking and magic in general.  This is
because I am imbuing a small amount of my essence into you.  Not
much, as it would defeat the purpose Thoth has in mind for you.  Your
life span will, as a side effect, be enhanced and you will be age at one

tenth the normal rate."
"But as a martial artist and a master of chi I already had that.
Why if Cologne and Happossai can live to over three hundred I bet I
could double that," Ranma-chan boasted.
"It doesn't really matter.  If what you say is true, you could
look forward to a lifespan of six thousand years under my service.  As
it is, if you make use of the circle Thoth will give you for Cologne
periodically, you can work in my service for whatever part of eternity
you wish, and then retire for the rest of forever.  Aside from all that,

you are far more likely to die of unnatural causes," Anhur smiled
cheerily to himself, imaging himself to be one of the causes.
"Wow, I could get, like really good, given forever," Ranma-
chan mumbled dreamily to herself.  "And I wouldn't even shrink like
Cologne did."
"Yes, I'm sure you could.  You also have the ability to contact
me directly to ask for divine intervention or simple communication.
Do not do this often.  I don't need a champion if I have to do all the
work anyway."
"I won't need any help," Ranma-chan confidently stated.
"We'll see.  Finally if you die in my service, assuming your
soul is not trapped, dispelled, destroyed or otherwise inconvenienced, I

will undertake it upon myself to resurrect you."
"Wow.  Neat.  I mean how often does that stuff happen?"
Ranma-chan rhetorically asked.
An uncomfortable silence greeted her question.  Just as
Ranma-chan was going to follow up on  her question again with more
emphasis, Anhur continued on a completely different track.
"If you decide to leave my service I will remove these
abilities, and you may continue normally with your life.  Be warned, if
you anger another deity, and he is aware of your special 'status' he has

the capability to strip these abilities from you one by one.  At least
until
you again come into my presence and I renew the contract."
Anhur paused to gather his thoughts. "For now the only
glaring faults I see in you is your ignorance of Deevils and demons in
general, and the Neko-ken.  The first can be dealt with easily," Anhur
extended his hand and a large tome appeared in it, "Take it.  It is a
complete description of the powers, abilities and anatomy of most
dyvals, demons, elementals and dragons.  These are the most common
of the supernatural threats you may face."
"Does this have pressure points and martial arts technique in
it?" Ranma-chan asked doubtfully.  That book looked way too much
like school work.
"No.  Supernatural entities are very resistant to simple nerve
and chi manipulation.  It does contain diagrams of the musculature,
skeleton, tendons, and full range of motion capable by such creatures.
The specific techniques I will leave to you.  Mostly for now you should
think of how to apply the maneuvers you know to creature having a
completely different center of mass, density and flexibility.  It would
be most embarrassing to try a throw on a demons only to be
disemboweled when you find the joint actually moves the other way."
"Hah!  Never happen," Ranma-chan stated, gathering the book
under her arm with more appreciation than previously shown.
"The next problem is the Neko-ken.  There may or may not be
cats in Dyval, but there are definitely fear spells and shape-changers.
It
would be unfortunate if you went 'cat' in Dyval, you might win the
battle you were in, but I doubt we'd ever see you again.  Ammit would
certainly not bother to bring you back if you resisted," Anhur laughed
with good humor that was somehow lost on Ranma-chan.  In the short
term I have a amulet that will keep you from feeling fear.  Don't use it

too often, preferably only in combat.  It blunts the self-preservation
instinct, and most other emotions as well as fear."  He tossed Ranma-
chan another object he had pulled from nowhere.
"For the long term, I will have a mind mage in my service
show you certain meditation techniques, that will allow you to control
your fear.  I think that with enough time and practice you might be able

to employ the Neko-ken techniques at will, without the debilitating side

effects."  Ranma-chan perked up at this wonderful news.  "You can
probably perfect the technique in just a few centuries," Anhur
continued heartily.
Seeing Ranma-chan's dejected look, he offered some advice.
"I suggest you start looking at the long term, you're going to be busy,
but forever is a long time even for a god.  However, for now you
should start studying.  I'll have one of my servants show you where
you'll be eating, training, and sleeping."
As one of the feline Raman walked into the room, a terrified
Ranma-chan created her own exit leaving the room in the opposite
direction.  Sighing Anhur motioned to the servant to bring a bucket of
hot water.
"I suppose I should have had him wear that amulet first.  Oh
well, I knew there was a reason I loathed pets," he muttered to himself.

Anhur then went to start a process that he hoped wouldn't become a
habit.


Chapter 13

Ranma rolled between the twenty foot creature's legs and then
leaped up between the spread wings.  Reaching out he clamped a hand
onto the wing, near the base, while pummeling the spine and back of
the monster with a chi enhanced Chestnut Fist.  The demon couldn't
reach behind it and was reduced to trying to flailing it's wings around
in the hope of dislodging Ranma.  The creatures struggles were getting
significantly weaker when it realized this tactic was useless.  Reaching

out an arm, a long firey whip appeared within the huge clawed hand.  It
then proceeded to swing the whip over it's back.
Ranma was almost impressed.  He parried the whip with his
bracers, and continued beating the demon.  Within a short time the
creature gave a low groan and collapsed to it's knees.  Seconds later it

completed it's fall to the ground with a resounding thud.
"This is pathetic.  The creatures Happassai summons are
tougher than this.  Of course they usually are a lot faster, but less
durable.  That last sure could take a pounding, almost put Ryouga to
shame."  Around him slumped the twitching bodies of five other
demons.   Groaning they slowing dragged themselves from the arena
area.  Apparently quite a few creatures of the nefarious planes owed
Anhur, and were presently working off their debts being beaten
unconscious by a human.  It was humiliating, but right then all they
wanted to do was drag their bodies away to regenerate, away from the
sight of a certain pig-tailed martial artist.
Ranma ignored them with little effort, they were demons.
They were evil by definition, and unworthy of his sympathy.  "Let's
see, that completes the common lesser and greater demon, deevils.
Anhur doesn't have any elementals on hand.  From what I've read the
greater elementals are much tougher.  The two I fought earlier were
certainly more challenging."  Ranma muttered to himself, deliberately
not thinking of the inconclusive outcomes of those battles.
To be honest, all the greater demons seemed very durable.
They couldn't block his attacks, or usually hit him, but it still took a
lot
of time to wear them down.  The book Anhur had given him proved to
be invaluable.  Many of the entities he fought had special attacks or
abilities.  Nothing that he probably couldn't have dealt with, but they
would have been very surprising to just have happen in battle.  There
was the one that generated an aura of fear, he'd found himself almost
slipping into the neko-ken before he managed to slip on the amulet
Anhur had given him.  Of course when he attempted to Slam it with a
Fierce Tiger Domineering attack he had found the negative aspect of
wearing that item.  He just couldn't muster the confidence needed for
the attack, indeed all his emotions seemed muted.  This was rather
disturbing to Ranma since many of his chi techniques depended on
carefully balanced states of awareness to successfully channel.  He had
defeated that demon, but not as quickly or surely as he had expected.
Other demons could cast certain spells as innate abilities.
These had also proven to be a challenge.  Ranma was confident that in
a fight with a mage he would easily win.  Mages just took too long to
trigger their spells, they were unconscious before they had finished.
Talismans, magic items that stored spells and could be triggered with a
gesture were far more dangerous, and could be used by non-mages.
Despite this the person still had to hold the item and trigger it, which

usually gave Ranma the chance to avoid the attack.  Demons were
usually limited in what they could do, but could do it with little or no

warning.  Very unnerving, his chi senses had barely saved him from a
few such attacks so far.  That, combined with the book describing the
likely effects of these attacks.
Ranma was so engrossed in analyzing his previous battles he
barely noticed as the earth seemed to move beneath him.  He took little
more notice when an irritated demon threw him off it's back where he
had been standing, and  started to trudge towards the arena exit. Giving

only a glance of disgust at the martial artist who had somersaulted in
midair and landed lightly on his feet, still seemingly ignoring his
surrounding.
A distant gong sounded, this seemed to draw Ranma out of his
distracted state, "Damn, it's time for my meditation lesson with Master
Arien."  Ranma took off running out of the Arena and down the
corridor to his appointment.  He didn't really register the various
demons whose heads he bounced off on the way.


Anhur withdraw his attention to his own plane.  He had been
perceiving a battle through the eyes of one of his Generals when a
disturbance on his own plane disturbed his concentration.  Spreading
his senses through his domain Anhur attempted to pinpoint the source.
There, fairly faintly, an unauthorized entity.  Hmm, felt vaguely
demonic, though something was off.
Since he knew the location he opened a portal directly to the
source and stepped through.  Once there he looked around expecting to
see a minor demon, probably a spy from one of the many planes he was
presently in conflict with.  It was stupid for his opponents to think he

wouldn't expect demonic intrusion, but they still tried the tactic.  Not

seeing anything obvious threat he was about to expand his senses when
he heard a voice behind him.
"Where in the world am I now!  This is all Ranma's fault!"
shouted a boy wearing a bandanna around his forehead, waving an
umbrella wildly in the air.
Well this was certainly different.  An acquaintance of
Ranma's.  Altering his shape to that of a six foot human Anhur coughed
softly to capture the boy's attention.
"I believe you are looking for Ranma?" he asked.
"Er�no.  Ranma's lost somewhere.  Could you direct me to
the Tendo Dojo?" the boy asked, while turning to face the new fellow.
"Just out of curiosity, where do you think you are now," asked
Anhur, speaking ancient Egyptian.
"Well Canada of course.  Though I hadn't realized Canada had
deserts," Ryouga muttered to himself in Egyptian.
"What language do you are you speaking in now," Anhur
continued, switching to Atlantian.
"Listen, I don't have time for silly questions.  I need to find the
Tendos.  If you won't tell me where they are, I'll just find them on my
own," the lost boy shouted back, also in Atlantian.
"If you answer my questions, I will see you to your destination
personally," Anhur stated, reaching a hand to the boy's shoulder to
delay his leaving.
Ryouga shrugged out of the hold on him, or at least he tried.
Whoever this guy was he might even be stronger than Ryouga.  His
eyes widened as he realized this.  Up to now the only ones stronger
than him were Herb's minion and Tarou's minataur's form.
Acknowledging the stranger's prowess Ryouga turned around
gave him his full attention.  Anhur seeing this, released his grip on
the
lost boy and stepped back.
"Are you a martial artist" Ryouga inquired suspiciously.
"Yes, though I practice a very different style than yours.  Do
you accept my bargain?"
"Alright, maybe we can spar a little as well," Ryouga said
eagerly, anxious to learn a new technique in his quest to destroy
Ranma.
"Hmm, maybe.  I might enjoy that.  However, I do know
something that may be of service to you.  I am willing to aid you in
exchange for a favor sometime in the future."
"All I want to do is reach the Tendo Dojo, you already
promised me that," Ryouga said, wary again.  This stranger was acting
very odd.
"You suffer severe directional problems," Anhur continued
despite Ryouga's protest to the contrary, "If I could explain the cause
of
your problem and propose a solution, would you find this worth a
favor?"
"You mean never be lost again?  You can do that?" Ryouga
exclaimed, a slight amount of his constant depression lightening
slightly.
"I can show you what needs to be done.  The rest is, of course,
up to you.  Do we have a bargain, boy?"
"Assuming you don't want me to do anything dishonorable,
yes," Ryouga qualified.
"I tire of you humans constantly questioning my honor!  But
enough.  We have an agreement.  Come into my study and we will
answer each other's questions."  Saying this he walked to a portal that
opened to one side of the two of them.
"Hey is that a technique I can learn?" Ryouga asked eagerly,
following the man through the gate.
"That is the question, now.  Isn't it?" the man responded to a
confused Ryouga.

Ranma was walking towards the study.  He had finished his
meditation practice and his sparing with his demonic partners, and was
searching for a snack.  He had found that the study he had originally
met with Anhur and Thoth always seemed to have fresh tea and
cookies on the table.
As he neared the door he heard voices.  Not wanting to make a
nuisance of himself, he was about to walk away when he noticed
something familiar about the voices.  One was Anhur, of course.  The
god had a memorable voice that always made him shiver and think of
lions.  The other one took a moment to place.  When he finally
recognized the source he almost fell over in shock.  What the heck was
Ryouga doing here of all places.  Was he following him or something?
So it was that Ranma stayed silent and listened to the conversation.
"Were your parents as directionally challenged as you are,"
Anhur's voice carried through the door.
"Well father was, Mom just followed him around," came
Ryouga's voice, much fainter, seemingly less substantial than the god's.

"How far back in your family history does this problem go?"
"Well we don't keep really good records of that kind of thing,
but I think it was at least five.  So you know a cure?"
"I'll get to that.  As some background information, let me tell
you a little about supernatural entities and dimensional travel."
"Dimensional travel?  What does that have to do with
anything?"
"You may not have noticed but you are not on your home
plane.  The fact that you haven't noticed is the root of your problem.
However, background first.  Many entities, dragons, deevils, demons,
elementals, Titans, gods and similar beings possess the ability to
travel
to other planes and to teleport from one place to another within a
single
plane."  Many of them also had the ability to understand and speak any
tongue as well as a slew of miscellaneous talents, but he didn't want to

cloud the main issue.
"This ability relies on three elements.  Perceiving the exact
point in the dimensions where you are, and either remembering or
perceiving the exact point where you are going.  Finally, the ability to

actually move to where you're going.  You seem to have one out of
three of these abilities.  It's the deficiency of the other two which
are
the source of your problems."
"But� I'm no supernatural entity.  Hey, if I'm not on earth
where am I."
"You're on my home plane.  Don't worry about it, it's
irrelevant.  Anyway most of the creatures I mentioned are incapable of
siring offspring n humans, and yes you are mostly human.  Gods,
however, possess the unique capacity to crossbreed with any race in
existence.  You've probably heard legends of such events," Anhur
stated, dark humor hidden in his voice.
"You think I'm descended from a god," Ryouga asked
disbelieving.
"Well, probably more than five generations back.  After all
this time I'm surprised it bred true.  What gives me hope that I can
train
you in the perception you lack, is your presence here."
"Why?  What's so great about being here?"
"I know a small amount about you, do to a mutual
acquaintance.  It's you're obsession regarding this person which is
attracting you to places he either is, or has been.  The very fact you
unconsciously can follow him, though inefficiently raises a hope you
may someday do this on your own."
"You mean I'll know where I am at all times?"
"Maybe someday.  Perhaps your senses may, one day, be keen
enough to actually travel the planes with some degree of accuracy."
"Great!  How long will this training take?" Ryouga asked,
hope tingeing his voice.
"Well, I have an idea that will keep you from straying off your
home plane and accidentally teleporting.  Gaining actual perceptual
skill and control should take no longer than�about a century."
"A�a century?  I can't wait a century!  Ranma, this is all your
fault!"
"Be quiet!  And sit down.  The actual perception is a simple
thing.  Once I open your eyes to the universe around you, you can
practice on your own.  As for your mundane sense of direction, use
mundane means of control.  Surely even your primitive world has some
means of tracking things.  Use them!"
"But a hundred years, I'll be an old man by then."
"I have been informed that a chi master of your level could
easily live past three hundred.  Anyway, your friend Ranma has a
method of extending this as well.  Ask him the next time you speak
with him."
"Getting on with things, put these on," Anhur stated while the
clanking some sort of metal was heard.
"Bracelets?  Why do I need bracelets?" a bewildered Ryouga
asked.
"Your manacles gave me the idea.  Ingenious use of restraints,
by the way.  These are similar.  Occasionally it is necessary to
restrain
a supernatural entity.  It can be difficult when they can disappear at
will, so these were constructed to prevent escapes.  They should also
prevent you from 'traveling' too suddenly around your world."
"Ranma gave me a set of manacles?  You want me to wear
another set?  Ranma, I'll get you for this!"
"Stop being so temperamental and put those on.  Since your
you already have a pair on your arms simply place these on your
ankles.  There we go.  Stop grumbling."
"I don't like the idea of being shackled!" groused Ryouga.
"Don't worry, the shackles aren't locked.  They aren't attached
to the usual chains, anyway.  There really is no down side to this
arrangement.  Your friend has even used those things to parry attacks,
crack walnuts and a few other useful tricks."
"Ranma is here?  Where is he?  He'll pay for what he put me
through!"
The door opened and Ranma poked his head through, "How's
it going, P-chan?"


Ten minutes later an increasingly angry Anhur tired of
watching the destruction of his home.  Returning to his normal lion-
headed, eighteen foot tall form.  He bellowed at the two juveniles to
stop.
Strangely enough Ryouga stopped, mostly from the shock of
seeing the man he'd been talking to a few minutes before change into a
very large monster.  Ranma stopped from shear fear.  Surprisingly, he
did not take off running in terror as he had the last two times.
Instead
he stood stock still, his eyes closed, sweating and shivering as if
under
a great strain.  Ryouga looked from the suddenly monstrous felinoid to
Ranma in confusion.
"Ranma?  Snap out of it!  What are you muttering about?  Are
you scared or something?"
"I would suggest you don't disturb him.  He is presently
employing some meditation techniques he recently learned to control
the neko-ken.  Breaking his concentration would be inconvenient."
"Oh.  A martial arts technique.  That's okay then.  By the way
what spring did you fall into?  I haven't seen that one before."
"I am a god." Anhur stated in a dignified manner, hiding his
irritation after his initial blowup.
"Gee, bummer.  I didn't know Jusenkyo effected god's too.
Don't let the other god's bother you over it.  It's not your fault,"
Ryouga
said in his best sympathetic voice.
"I did not fall into a cursed spring, I am a god.  This is how I
normally manifest myself before my followers," Anhur growled loudly,
quickly losing what patience he had.  The noise caused Ranma to
shiver and sweat even more profusely, while increasing the volume of
what could now be recognized as a mantra.
"Oh.  If you say so.  I'd be careful around cursed springs
though, you never know," Ryouga said, confused, but determined to be
helpful.
"Grrr.  Let's start your training.  I will initially show you the
way, you will then work with Master Airen to learn the self-hypnotic
trance and meditation to continue training on your own."  After stating
this Anhur walked over to Ryouga, who looked nervously back at the
huge deity.  Placing a large clawed hand on Ryouga's forehead, he
embraced the awareness of the universe around him, the beauty of the
overlapping planes and the sure knowledge of his place within this
scheme.  Then after forging a telepathic bridge to the demi-human
before him, he crammed the complete content inside his student's skull,
smiling slightly at the cries of agony from a mostly mortal being trying

to grasp more than man was meant to know.
After a few minutes of this he released his grip.  Letting the
now blissfully unconscious human fall to the ground.  Much more
relaxed he called for the servants to tend to the boy while he enjoyed
some tea.  His happiness was short-lived, as the uncontrollably shaking
Ranma, now shouting his mantra, snapped at the presence of the
felinoid servant and ran through the walls. Again.
"Help with the Old Ones or no, this is stretching my patience
near breaking.  When this is over I will ban these silly martial artists

from my home.  They aren't worth the headache," Anhur said with a
disgruntled growl.
"Master, should I get another bucket of cold water?" the
Raman servant inquired.
Staring at the hole in wall contemplatively, he sat down in the,
now huge, chair and sipped his tea.  "No.  No hurry.  I'll just sit
here,
and finish my tea.  Warn the servants away from my champion."
"What of the demons you asked to be here for your
champion's training?"
"I'm sure they'll find out on their own," with a nod, sighing at
the well made cup of tea.


Jenn looked with satisfaction at the rows of her fellow monks
as they practiced their katas in unison.  They were approaching her
own level of skill and she really had practically nothing more to teach.

She sensed a presence behind her, easily deducing who it must be.
"Greetings, Master Reteife.  It's a beautiful morning, isn't it."
"Yes.  But sometimes it takes more than excellent weather to
satisfy ones yearning," he paused before continuing.  "You have been
unhappy since Ranma's departure.  You know my dear we are not a
celibate order.  If you wish to take a mate, we will only wish you well.

Managing one's duties and one's family is a task most people must
eventually learn."
"No!  It's not like that at all!" she paused gathering her
thoughts.  "I feel I have reached a dead end in the Art.  I have seen
someone fly, while I trudge along behind, barely hopping.  I want�I
want to learn to fly, and I just don't know any way to do it.  Oh, if I
study and practice on my own I'll certainly advance to some degree, but
I'll never even approach the level I saw," she said sadly.
"Hmm.  This is true.  Our monastery has seen an increase in
our skills I had never dreamed of, but we could do better.  Do you see a

solution to your�our�dilemma," the elderly monk inquired.
"No.  Ranma is gone.  Maybe dead.  No one knows where he
went, or really what took him."
"Well actually, I had heard it was a dark god of the Pantheon
of Taut," Jenn gasped in dismay, "But there is little we can do for him,

my dear.  Think about it, Ranma did not learn his skills by himself.
He's very good, but no one is that good."
"Of course he learned his skills, but since we have no idea
where he learned them from, this doesn't really help us, does it?" she
asked uncertainly, the old master was leading to something.
"I spoke with your friend Grayson the other day.  He in turn
has been in contact with the Royal Summoner.  It appears that we do
indeed know where Ranma came from.  I would not object if you
undertook a training journey to this location.  You would of course be
expected to come back, some time in the future, and pass on the skills
you learned."
"The Royal Summoner is willing to send me to this place?"
she asked excitedly.
"He hasn't agreed yet, but I think we can arrange something.
The monastery will of course supply you with funds for your journey.
It wouldn't do if you were too busy trying to survive to continue your
training."
"This is a great honor, Master.  I will strive to live up to your
expectations," Jenn said humbly.
"You already have.  Simply act as you have already
demonstrated you can.  Since it seems you will be going to Ranma's
home perhaps you could deliver this to him."  Master Reteife pulled a
wooden box out of his robes.
"A visitor came to our door and asked us to deliver this to the
red haired girl.  I didn't understand what he meant until I heard from
Grayson that Ranma has a red haired sister.  Although I still don't know

how they found out.  Anyway, when you get there give this package to
a Ranko Saotome.  I don't know who it's from."
"Should I go to the Royal Summoner now?" Jenn eagerly
asked, accepting the package.
"I don't think that is necessary.  He has an unsavory
reputation.  I'll have Greyson make the arrangements, and get you a
talisman to help you speak the language.  Perhaps you should pack and
make any other personal arrangements."  He really envied the girl.  If
he was fifty years younger he would jump at the chance to learn at the
feet of the wise and serene teachers she would undoubtedly encounter.


"It is time," Ranma looked up from the kata he was
performing to see the human appearing Anhur in the entrance of the
arena.  "You have a sufficient knowledge of the Deevils you may
encounter, and can control the neko-ken�at least long enough to
employ the amulet if necessary.  You will leave immediately.  Ammit
will meet you at your destination.  Either he or Rhada will be able to
return you here upon completion of your errand.  Any questions?"
"How's Ryouga?"
"Recovering.  He has met Master Arien several times already
and is almost ready to continue on his own.  Chances are he'll be home
before you.  He'll probably get lost soon thereafter, but that's not my
concern," Anhur stated dismissing the matter.
"I guess I'm ready," it would be nice to go home and see his
friends again.  Of course he had to go through Hell...er�Dyval to get
there.
"Very well," Anhur nodded, and without further ado a
strangely menacing portal opening not far from Ranma.  With only a
slight gathering of chi as a sign of the trepidation he felt Ranma
walked
through.


Chapter 14

When Ranma stepped out of the portal he first noticed the
deep silence.  As he looked around, his initial impression was only
deepened by what he saw.  He was in a forest, the trees surrounding
him dwarfing almost all others in his experience except those of
Ryugenzawa.  There was a distinct difference between this place and
the home of the Orochi.  His present location seemed to ooze menace.
The light that reached the ground was a dim ghostly thing.  The plant
life might have been green, black or grey.  With the light available,
the
difference was not discernable.  And then there was what had struck
him first, the silence.  He expected to see corpses littering the
ground,
for only a place of death could have a silence so deafening.  Ranma
made his breathing shallower, the noise it made seeming to cry out for
all to hear.  He was about to expand his battle aura to enhance his
senses when he heard his first sound.
"Greetings, human.  Spooky, isn't it?" a voice echoed in his
mind, while a audible growling sound accompanied it.  Ranma leaped
forward thirty feet, while twisting in mid-air to face the direction of
the
growling.
Behind him was Ammit, the beast god.  He seemed much
cheerier than he had been.  He didn't look any different but the tone of

the mental voice communicated as much.  On either side of him were a
dozen demons Ranma recognized as Fenry, the huge demon wolves
exuding a dark aura.
Ranma grunted in greeting, not trusting his voice.  It was
probably just as well, insults seemed to accidentally pour out when
confronting people he didn't like.  Considering he needed the lizard
freak to get home that would qualify as unwise.
"This forest has the interesting property of absorbing sounds,"
Ammit demonstrated by walking forward.  No sound disturbed the
dead silence.  "By now Lord Mephisto has received word that his home
is under attack, as soon as my scouts report he has left Rhada's castle
and prison, we will head towards it.  With good fortune all we will
encounter will be Deevil Serpents."
"And if we're not?" Ranma asked, finding his voice again.
"Then you follow my directions and we still finish this
mission.  I have planned this for quite some time.  It is unlikely that
Mephisto, Lord or Deception and Lies, will ever fall for a similar ruse
again.  Rhada will be rescued today.  This is just a nice turn of
phrase,
of course, Dyval has no day.  They appreciate perpetual dusk in this
corner of the Deevil realm," letting out another growl, enjoying his
own wit.
When Ammit noticed the Fenry giving hostile, and somewhat
hungry looks at the human he chuckled again.  "Be patient, we need the
human to complete our plan to rescue your mistress.  Besides I think
you'd find his meat surprisingly tough to chew."
He was just turning back to the martial artist when another
Fenry leaped into view.  The creature stared at Ammit while giving a
series of low growls.  It then ran back in the direction it had come,
equally silent.  "Mephisto has left, hopefully he didn't add any
surprises.  Follow me."
At this Ammit took off in an awkward, lumbering gait, which
may have been amusing in a creature less massive.  The Fenry seemed
hard pressed to keep up with the pace the dark god set.  Ranma himself
had a difficult time.  His speed was incredible over short distances,
but
constantly pushing his body to break the conventional laws of physics
was draining on his chi resources.  It was hard to tell, but he guessed
they were travelling at close to sixty miles per hour.
After about twenty minutes of this pace they reached the edge
of the forest.  Ranma almost let loose with a chi barrage as they were
surrounded by over a hundred pairs of glowing eyes.  Ammit ignored
the horde of Fenry that met them, allowing them to fall into flanking
positions on either side of Ammit and Ranma.
As they left the perimeter of the dead forest, sound slowly
trickled back into existence and the pad of hundreds of feet could be
heard rustling in the black grass.  Ranma would have found this
reassuring, but he was preoccupied with the fortress looming ahead of
them.  The castle walls were of black obsidian and the gates, which
were presently closed, were likewise of some manner of stone.
As they approached the gate, a stirring and screeching could
be heard as demon called to demon, warning of an impending invasion.
Soon fire and lightning strafed the hoard of onrushing Fenry as the
unseen defenders called upon magics they either personally wielded or
were built into the walls.
That was when Ranma noticed something resembling liquid
flame falling from above, that he looked up in the air and noticed the
Dire Harpies.  Large demonic harpy creatures were flying high
overhead and spitting at the forces beneath them.  The Fenry struck by
this lava-like substance shook their heads or bodies in irritation,
apparently immune to the heat.  Considering each monster was about
eighteen feet from head to claw, Ranma knew that they were unnatural
simply by the fact that their wings enabled them to fly.
Ranma had been nimbly avoiding the missiles, conserving his
strength, rather than counterattacking, when he saw several of the
harpies come within leaping range.  He was about to leap on one of the
creatures when he was surprised to see one of the Fenry leap thirty feet

straight up and latch onto the bird hybrid.  While it's weight seemed
insufficient to drag it down it did cause enough drag that another Fenry

was able to leap up and attach itself with it's teeth.  This seemed to
be
adequate, as the harpy fell to the earth amid a snarling pack of wolf
demons.  Ranma, seeing his original target incapacitated chose to leap
up to a second harpy unwise enough to fly within range.  He grabbed
onto one of the bird talons and flipped himself up towards the torso.
Letting loose a quick Chestnut Fist, he was about to follow up with a
chi blast when he noticed the creature was unconscious.  Shaking his
head in disgust he used the deevil's body to cushion his impact, as the
now immobile creature plummeted to the ground.
Standing up from his opponents body, he glanced around
seeing most of the remaining harpies retreating to higher altitudes.
Ranma didn't care, this reduced their combat effectiveness to almost
zero, considering everyone, including himself, seemed immune to the
lava attacks.
Looking at the gate he saw that the charge had momentarily
stalled as Ammit and the Fenry clawed at the massive stone barrier.
Ranma sighed, you think they would have at least been prepared with
explosives or something.
"Out of the way!  I'll take care of the Gate!" he commanded
running over to the clump of his allies.  Not waiting for them, he
struck
the stone wall with the Breaking Point.  After the massive explosion he
looked up to find he was only halfway through.  Grumbling in disgust
he kicked one of the unconscious Fenry, who had been too slow to
leave the blast radius, out of the way and again applied the Breaking
Point.  He was standing there in triumph, when he noticed that on the
other side were arrayed several dozen rather attractive snakes.  It
wouldn't have been a concern except these were twenty feet long and
three feet in diameter.
With his battle senses on full alert, he could feel magical
energies gather around, he was in the process of leaping away when a
blinding blast of sand was blown at him at hurricane velocities.
Thrown back several yards by this unexpected attack, he was about to
roll with the blow and then leap forward with a counter when he
encountered the effects of a second spell. Attempting to land on his
feet
he suddenly found himself waist deep in quicksand.  Where a moment
ago lay packed earth, now the ground in front of the castle was
enchanted mire.
Struggling to free himself of the sludge, Ranma was unable to
avoid attacks by the harpies flying above.  Shouting in pain he was
bombarded by the molten saliva of the foes circling above.  It may not
have done any damage but the agony was enough to keep him from
focussing his chi for a counterattack.
He was about to try to gain solid land again, when he found
himself lifted by an unseen force and roughly deposited on firmer
ground.  Ammit's voice rang in his head, "Stop playing in the mud.
You have proved your worth by gaining us entry, but if you fall for
every petty spell cast your way it will not be worth the effort to
rescue
you."
Ranma ignored the voice's snide remarks and quickly leaped
into battle with the serpent creatures, finding that without their
spells
they fared only slightly better than the Dire Harpies.  Ranma had taken
down his fifth Serpent when he again heard Ammit's 'voice', "Leave
those Serpents to the Fenry.  The Dire Harpies seem to be getting more
reinforcements outside.  This may mean Leviathan is in the area.  Let
us find Rhada before she can interfere."
"You're too late Ammit.  I'm here already.  I may not be a big
bad Dark God like you, but I think I can occupy you until Mephisto
and his other minions arrive," a sensuous voice gave a throaty chuckle.
At the other end of the courtyard stood a beautiful blond woman
carrying a large hammer with a twenty foot long handle in one hand
and a ten foot long short sword in the other.  These proportions only
seem odd until it is realized the woman stood over twenty-eight feet
tall.  A shining sphere of energy revolved around her head, giving her
almost a halo effect.  "I've taken the liberty of summoning a sphere of
destruction just for your benefit," with a barely discernable nod of her

head the glowing sphere flew toward Ammit.  She watched in glee as
Ammit began to twist in an attempt to avoid the flying object.  When
Ammit was unsuccessful at dodging one of the passes, it seemed as if
his entire body lit up from within, and shook as if electricity flowed
through it.  Ammit raring in pain threw himself away from the sphere
and towards Leviathan only to be balked when the sphere swung back
around in front of him.
Ranma had been watching all this with interest.  He held no
fondness for Ammit and it was entertaining to see him leap and wriggle
around.  It was also evident to his practiced eye that Ammit was in no
real danger.  The sphere, although it looked really painful, was
actually
doing less damage than his chi blasts had done to Ammit earlier.
Ranma know from bitter experience how ineffective they were.  The
dangerous element involving the sphere was that each time it hit
Ammit the god seemed stunned for a few moments.  From watching
the beast god writhe around it was obvious he hadn't learned the art of
simultaneously attacking while dodging.  Too bad really, Ranma
mused.  Looking at the Deevil Lord he shook his head in wonder.
"I go all the way to Hell�or wherever�and I can't get away
from violent tomboys," Ranma marveled.
"Tomboy!  How dare you can me names.  Ammit, it appears
I'll have to teach your little pet human his place.  Too bad it's going
to
be a smear beneath my feet," the outraged Deevil Lord shouted.
"Well of course you're a Tomboy.  I mean really, shouldn't
you be home tending little deevils or something?" Ranma taunted,
getting into the spirit of the game.  It almost felt like home.  She
even
had a hammer.
The giantess was fast and strong, even somewhat skilled, but
she was no martial artist.  Ranma easily avoided the hammer and the
sword.  The Hammer she wielded started screeching in a tormented
wail that sent fearful shivers down his spine.  Bracing himself against
the hideous noise he continued with his campaign.  He couldn't bring
himself to attack her, even if she was a Deevil, but his insults
apparently hurt more than any mere physical damage.
 "I mean here we are, you're big...er�bigger, than an ox.  And
you're like strong, like and ox.  But you really shouldn't be fighting.
Your thighs are too thick.  You can't even kick," he said glibly as her
mountainous foot flew overhead.  "Unlike an ox.  You talk like a hick."
Leviathan was more furious than she had ever been in her
entire existence.  Here was a mere puny mortal mocking her beauty,
and grace.  Every blow she sent in his direction he seemed to avoid
with ease, laughing at her while he did so.  The ground about them
looked like a war zone, ten foot wide craters littered the ground where
her hammer had missed him.  He had even started commenting on her
fighting skills, correcting her posture and giving little tips and
pointers.
She was going to kill him.  Then trap his soul and torture it for
the rest of eternity.  No, no, that was too good, this maggot had to
suffer more than any other of her victims had suffered throughout the
ages.  If she hadn't expended all of her energy on the sphere she would
show this little insect of a human not to trifle with Leviathan.
She was so incensed by this hated mortal, that she failed to
notice that her sphere had stopped attacking Ammit, indeed, lacking
any direction from her it had started to wander away searing it's way
through random stone walls of the fortress.  If she had been paying any
attention whatsoever, she would have noticed the telltale red glow
around the beast god as he summoned the same godly Hellfire that had
defeated Ranma earlier.  She wasn't.  It came as a complete surprise
when a firey crimson beam slammed into her back, after she had
embedded her hammer into the ground for the fiftieth time.  Crying out
in shock she realized her mistake just in time to turn around and take
another blast in the face.
Ranma stood by again and winced in sympathy.  He knew
exactly how hard those blasts hit.  He had to admit though, she
certainly took them better than he had.  She looked hurt, but far from
out.  He had only been able to take four or five of those things, it
looked like she'd be able to handle far more.  These greater
supernatural creatures just had way too much stamina.  He smiled to
himself, it just wasn't natural.
The two entities continued to trade blows.  Ammit appeared to
be stronger, and the Hell fire he threw was certainly doing more
damage even than the huge hammer Leviathan wielded.  It was also
obvious that each entity was incredibly durable.  This battle could last

for hours.  Ranma somehow doubted they had hours.
"Human, I will keep Leviathan occupied.  She is overmatched,
but all she needs to do is delay us until Mephisto arrived.  Behind you
on the ground you will see a small black file with runes inscribed on
the sides.  Take it and follow the Fenrys waiting for you in the
corridor.
He will lead you to Rhada.  Go now.  I do not know how much time we
have," Ammit mental command resounded like a bell through Ranma's
mind.
Looking around and finding both the file and the demon wolf
he followed it done the corridor with nary a backward glance.  Until he
developed a much more powerful attack, he'd leave Deevil Lords and
Gods to themselves.  But only until then.  Ranma Saotome never gave
up.


The remaining journey was almost anticlimactic.  The
corridors were teeming with Serpents, but Ranma and the Fenry had
the element of surprise, as the battle was supposed to be taking place
elsewhere.  Some of the Serpents even congealed from smoke or mist,
forming with little warning.  Despite this, they still seemed more
surprised than Ranma, and he soon learned to sense these gaseous
threats before they even started to materialize.  Without the time to
cast
the irritating spells they knew, the Serpents fell quickly to Ranma's
physical assaults.  The shocked, almost dazed look in the poor demon
wolf's eyes gave witness to the fact that this was one Fenry who would
never underestimate the power a 'mere' human could wield again.
After a ridiculous number of winding corridors, they finally
reached one that spiraled downward.  Knowing that dungeons are
always deep under ground, Ranma was almost expecting it when one
final door opened in to a large dimly lit room.  Smoky, guttering
torches sent uncertain illumination throughout the room.  Unlike the
rest of the fortress, which appeared exquisitely constructed, with
barely
a seam visible, within the chamber the designer seemed to have
purposely made the walls from mismatched pieces of stonework.  The
air was humid and trickles of moisture could be seen on the walls.
"Be wary, my minion, I yet have guards," a melodious voice
warned from the darkened corner of room.
The Fenry sniffed the air and then stiffened growling.  The
growling was sudden cut off.  Looking toward his demonic companion
Ranma first noted it seemed unnaturally stiff.  With a start he
recognized the effects as transformation magic, similar to that used on
Jenn.  Warned he focused his senses and felt the chi of two other
demons in the room.  With this to orient upon, he saw what appeared to
be two sets of serpent's eyes hanging eleven feet up in the air.  A
subtle
tingling sensation from his bracers informed him they were working to
stave off tranformative magic.  Ranma didn't remember the book
saying anything about floating eyes and petrification, but inwardly he
shrugged.  Live and learn.
Leaping towards the first pair, he sent a powerful kick directed
at the eyes.  He was shocked when his foot struck something
prematurely.  Something dimly sensed snaked towards him and he
instinctively flung himself away.  Realization instantly dawned on him.
He wasn't fighting two sets of floating eyes, he was fighting two
unknown opponents, probably about twelve feet tall, who only had
their eyes visible.  Listening carefully he heard a soft slithering
sound
and low hissing noises.  His guess confirmed, he closed his eyes.  They
would only deceive him, his ears and chi senses would best lead him
through this battle.
Now prepared, Ranma again leaped toward the presences he
felt, avoiding the flailing objects that were probably limbs.  He moved
tentatively, not used to fighting invisible foes.  Striking several
times
he threw his two opponents up against the wall.  Due to his intense
concentration, his blows were not the devastating chi enhanced strikes
he had uses in his earlier fights, so he was not surprised when he
sensed
his foes struggling to get up.  He was surprised at how little his
attacks
had hurt them.  His chi senses felt very little dimming of the enemies
aura.
Increasing the intensity of his attacks, he focused more energy
in to his blows.  This of course meant he had a difficult time tracking
the deevil pair with his chi senses.  Gritting his teeth he poured more
power into faster Chestnut strikes.  Ranma winced in pain as the return
strikes of his enemies caused sudden, bloody rents to appear in his
clothes.  With a final burst of effort, a combination of strong blows
sent
his unseen assailants reeling into the wall.  He sensed that they were
now seriously injured, perhaps even temporarily stunned.  He himself
was fairly well torn up as well.
That didn't really concern him.  What really worried him was
the powerful, evil presence he felt rapidly approaching.
"Shit!  I think Mephisto is here!" he shouted.
"Quickly!  If you can please free me," the voice from earlier
pleaded.
Nodding Ranma replied, "One moment."  Raising his hands he
opened his eyes and summoned the chi for a dual blast that knocked
both of his opponents into the walled, firmly imbedding them there.
Unconsciousness evidently ended whatever method of invisibility his
foes had used to evade his sight.  Standing half-in the walls were two
hideous cloaked humanoids with snakes for hair.  At the moment the
serpents had ceased their hissing and lay limply around their head.
Nodding to himself he muttered, "Gorgons.  I thought so.  Though the
book didn't mention they could turn invisible."
Obstacles removed, he turned to face the voice that had
spoken earlier.  Against the wall, mostly hidden in shadows was an
incredibly gorgeous twelve foot tall woman, long silver hair draped her
head and shoulders in shining glory.  She was shackled to the rear wall,

sitting on what looked to be an uncomfortable crude stone bench.
Only Ranma's constant exposure to women and his familiarity with his
own female form prevented gouts of blood from spewing from his
nose.
"R..Rhada?" Ranma stuttered.
"Yes!  Now free me if you can, quickly.  If Mephisto comes
our attempt will be for naught, we must leave before he arrives.  Who
sent you?"
Bringing out the black file he approached the large, beautiful
woman and started applying it to the single oversized shackle on her
right wrist.  As he touched the manacle with the file, sparks crackled
and spat, singing him.
"Ammit sent me.  He's doing it for Abdul-Ra.  Hold on, I
think it's working," Ranma said as he noticed the file cutting through
the enchanted manacle like a hot knife through butter.  Unfortunately
the deeper the file bit the more numerous and hotter the sparks given
off by the interaction of the magics.  As he approached the finish,
vicious streams of  sparks caused burns to appear on his hands.
Ignoring the pain Ranma continued.
"I suggest you get ready to leave.  I was told you could
teleport us out of here once you were free.  Well�there�you�go!"
Ranma said through a triumphant hiss of pain, having removed the last
bits of the restraint.
At that moment the door melted to slag and a very large, very
furious, and obviously very powerful Deevil Lord stood in the
archway.  The creature was just building up a huge amount of energy,
preparing for a devastating offensive when the human, the prisoner,
and a very realistic statue of a Fenry faded from the room.
They say the resulting roar of outrage could be heard even in
the silence of the Dire Woods.


Chapter 15

One moment Ranma was preparing himself for a battle he had
a difficult time trying to convince himself he could win, the next he
found himself somewhere grass-like plants reached up to his chest.
Still on edge from his previous battles he looked around warily,
searching for enemies.
For as far as he could see lay grassland.  Knowing his view
was limited by the plants surrounding him, he leaped straight up thirty
feet to get a clearer idea of his environment.  Far off in the distance
herds of some sort could be seen placidly grazing.  He couldn't tell
what sort of animal it was but it seemed large.  The tops of the grass
barely reached the creatures knees.
"Alright, I give up.  Where the heck am I this time," he
muttered in exasperation.
"Well assuming we haven't been moved elsewhere, we should
be in the Realm of my Abdul-Ra," a woman's voice answered behind
him.
The voice startled Ranma for an instant.  It wasn't that he had
forgotten Rhada was next to him.  She was a beautiful twelve-foot tall
woman.  It was simply that his mind had labeled her a non-hazard, and
had continued scanning for more relevant dangers.  Due to this he was
as surprised as if a piece of furniture had spoken.  Considering how
often he ran into Tsubasa, it wasn't actually an unfamiliar sensation.
"You can stop hopping around now.  We should be safe here.
I can't imagine a Demon Lord going through the trouble of freeing me
only to trap me again."  A faraway look came into her eyes, "I can only
hope this means he feels as I do," she whispered to herself.  Shaking
herself from her reverie she continued, "I am sure he is aware of our
presence and will soon send his minions to greet us.  You may as well
relax and wait."
It was at this moment Ranma noticed that Rhada herself had
taken her advice to heart and was seated on the only support in sight.
"Are you, uh, going to be able to restore him?  It's not like I
care or anything, but we fought together so I probably should get him
fixed up" Ranma asked, pointing to the female's chair.
"Oh don't worry.  He is my minion, he fell trying to protect
me.  As soon as I have the resources he will be restored," she calmly
assured while swinging her legs from her perch.
Something clicked with Ranma's thinking, "Did you say this is
Abdul-Ra's home?" he asked.
"Yes," Rhada languidly stated, staring up at the sky and
admiring the view.
"He's a Demon Lord, right?" Ranma continued with growing
trepidation.
"Yes, he is," she purred, obviously thinking pleasant thoughts
about said Demon Lord.
"So we're like in Hell?" Ranma casually asked.
"No, of course not," Ranma relaxed.  "We're in Hades."
Ranma became tense again.  "But I must admit this is a very nice
corner of it.  So nice to finally be out and stretch my legs," she
sighed
in relief.
"Umm, who's he Lord of?" he asked, scanning the area with
his senses.
"The Raksasha of course."
"Hmm, that doesn't sound familiar.  I could have sworn I read
the whole book," Ranma grabbed the Demonic Compendium Anhur
had given him from subspace and began leafing through it.  "It should
be here.  Hey!  There's a few pages missing!"
"Don't worry, I feel them approaching.  It's been a very long
time.  I wonder if his fur still gleams in that delicious way it used
to, "
Rhada mused to herself.
"They're here?  Fur?  Well fine, I can handle monsters.  No
problems," Ranma cracked his knuckles to enunciate his point.  He too
felt several presences closing in around them.  Unlike Rhada he was
slightly concerned about the unknown threats.  Without the book as a
reference he had no idea the power level of these new demons.
"On behalf of my Lord Abdul-Ra, I greet you�" a deep voice
purred.  Looking around he saw one of the creatures he had sensed
closed enough to see through the vegetation.  It was worse than he had
thought, much worse.  Padding regally towards them was a ridiculously
large tiger.  Orange and black stripes ran across a very healthy looking

pelt.  Ranma had other things on his mind.  Like teeth.  Teeth and
claws.  It was the largest tiger he had ever seen.  Even his nightmares
hadn't had such hideous creatures in it.
Grasping for the meditative state Master Arien had taught he
desperately concentrated on ignoring the horrible thing in front of him.

Muttering his mantra loudly to himself he slowly backed away, while
clutching spasmodically at the Phobia amulet in subspace.  Each time
his hand closed on a cleaning tool his mantra became louder.  By the
time he had backed into something solid enough not to give way
behind him he was shouting his calming chant, being distracted by the
various brushes beating him about the head and shoulders.
"Looks like the little human you brought is a bit nervous.
Mind if we play?"  the distracted tiger thing gave a growling chuckle.
Rhada had finally brought her attention fully on the events
around and she was puzzled.  Her rescuer was acting terrified.  She
knew Raksasha were greater demons but this reaction was all out of
proportion to the level of threat.  Especially considering this human
had minutes before been prepared to face Mephisto himself.  "I think it
would be wise to�" was as far as she got.
The cat creature in front of Ranma slowly approached,
looking in amused contempt at the obviously terrified human.  The
look on the human's face when he turned to face what he had backed
into and saw an equally large lion monster was priceless.  Finally
seeing that he was surrounded on all sides by huge feline horrors,
Ranma's legs gave way.  The creatures laughed uproariously, seeing the
human collapse in terror.
The humor gave way to puzzlement when the human
"Meowed".  Puzzlement soon gave way in turn to terror and pain.




A limping, somewhat mangled, tiger slowly led the Lady
Rhada into the presence of his Lord.  Abdul-Ra sat in a large wicker
lounge chair in the middle of a wide clearing of merely ankle deep
grass.  In a circular pattern around him hung several glowing portals.
Abdul-Ra himself shared many physical traits Anhur himself did.  He
wore a humanoid shape with a large sleek panther-like head, and black
glistening fur.  Instead of the impression of restrained violence given
by Anhur, Abdul-Ra radiated grace, intelligence, and ruthlessness.  To
one side of him was a round table of wrought gold, with a glass top and
an unfurled silk canopy to give shade.  Upon seeing Rhada he slowly
got to his feet.  Walking towards her he drank in her beauty.  He wasn't

sure what he felt but he was enjoying whatever it was.
"Greetings, my Lady.  It has been too long.  I apologize it
couldn't be sooner," his deep voice growled.
"Yes, it has.  I assume by my presence here that you feel the
same way," she asked uncertainly.
"I�I don't know.  I feel something between us.  I don't know
if it's this 'Love' you declared to me three centuries ago, but I need
to
find out.  I think 'we' need to find out.  If you'll stay by my side
until
we work this out between us, I would be most appreciative."  The
demon lord stated, almost as if saying a speech he had practiced for.
Only a hint of confusion and worry in his eyes showed the depth of his
feelings.
"Of course I will.  I will stay as long as needed to work this
out to it's end.  I hope it will be a long time.  I have looked forward
to
being here, " her voice trailed off as she moved closer to the Demon
Lord.
A disgruntled 'meow' brought her from the mellow daze her
had been falling into.  Looking down she noticed a slightly peeved
Ranma-neko being squashed between the two powerful entities.  Rhada
and Abdul-Ra stepped back, each somewhat surprised that they had
been so close to the other.
"Why are you holding a human?" Abdul-Ra questioned,
finally noticing the odd sight.
"He is a minion of Ammit's who aided in my rescue.  He is a
ferocious fighter, but seems to suffer from a severe phobia of cats.
It's
very odd, when confronted by your minions in their feline form he
showed extreme fear, then suddenly took on the mental state of a cat
himself.  He was mangling quite a few of them before they managed to
subdue him with psionics.  He seems to have taken a liking to me.  Do
you think Ammit would mind if I kept him as a pet," Rhada said as she
stroked Ranma's head.  Ranma himself lay pleasantly curled in the
twelve-foot tall woman's arms and purred contently.
"Hmm. I think I've heard something about that type of phobia.
Can't remember what it was though.  I think Ammit may want him
back.  Good help is hard to find.  Aye Random?" he called off to the
side.  An armored human stepped out of one of the portals in the
clearing.
"I would hope I have given you cause to think you had found
such help, Master," the muscular man grunted in reply.
"Rhada, this is my human servant Random.  Could you bring
us some refreshments?  Oh and some food for my Lady's pet, as well."
"Yes, my Lord," stepping through one of the dimly glowing
portals he vanished again.
"We may as well sit and talk until my human arrives.  It
shouldn't take long, he's very efficient, and dedicated.  As humans go,
I
don't think he's quite sane, but I must say he fits in well around
here."
He turned his attention towards Ranma once more.  "Your pet seems to
have fallen asleep.  I'll change my form to a more human one.  I
wouldn't want to startle him."  With that his feline features and fur
seemed to blur and retreat taking on a human cast.
"You look handsome in any form," Rhada stated, and the two
fell into an almost dream state, staring into one another's eyes.


Ranma woke to a familiar sensation.  It was comfortable until
he remembered why it was familiar.  Leaping from his perch he started
to babble.
"It's not what you think, Akane. I can explain�" he protests
trailed off when he noticed it wasn't Akane's lap he had been crouched
in.  This combined with the fact that the two large human appearing
creatures sitting across the table from one another were ignoring him,
quickly silenced him.  To be more specific, they seemed to be ignoring
everything around them in the interest of looking into one another's
eyes.  Ranma hated being ignored but decided against taking any steps
to remedy the situation.  For now.
Looking around he observed he was in a clearing surrounded
by glowing circles.  He was about to explore a bit more when a bulky
man in armor stepped out of one carrying a large tray.
"Well, if sleeping beauty isn't up and around," the man
sneered.  "You're not going to last long around here if you're
frightened
of a few cats.  I look forward to throwing your dead body to the
demons, my boy," he continued with hateful glee.
As he stepped past Ranma he swung his arm in a roundhouse
swing which would have laid any normal man flat on the ground
unconscious.  Ranma had noticed the intense hostility radiating from
man and was not surprised by the maneuver.  He deftly sidestepped the
blow, and while the man was recovering, kicked him back through the
portal he had come through.  He was careful to catch the tray before it
fell though, something smelled good, and he was starving.
Humming in anticipation he walked over to the table and
dropped the tray off onto it.  When he slid the cover off it was obvious

whose meal belonged to whom.  There were two large gallon sized
mugs, holding lemon-aid and ice, and one smaller glass with tepid
water.  There were also three plates, one large dish with a feline motif

around the edge, a second of equal size with dogs or wolves on the
outer edges, and a third plain dish.  The actual meal looked mouth
watering, a delicious looking fried fish with some unknown vegetable
on the side.  The plain dish lacked the garnish, the vegetables and the
fish was half the size as the other two.  Ranma gave a surly look at the

portal he'd kicked the annoying man through.
His feeling quickly changed when he started the meal.  It was
delicious, truly a masterpiece.  Every bit was a work of art rivaling
the
best Kasumi had made.  There was something odd about it though.  It
reminded him off the food Akane made for him.  As he ate, he
pondered this dichotomy.  He was just finishing up his small plate
when it came to him.  Arsenic!  It tasted just like arsenic with a touch

of hemlock.  It actually added rather nicely to the flavoring.  He
remembered it being one of Akane's better meals.  He still had ended
the night getting his stomach pumped, but at least he was able to keep
it down.  That was all Akane seemed to care about, that uncute tomboy.
Boy this meal really brought back the memories.
Smiling he moved on to what he guessed was Rhada's meal.
She and the big guy (he guessed it was Abdul-Ra) were so engrossed
with each other he doubted they'd mind.  Scarfing down Rhada's plate
he noticed her meal had the same lethal spices and something he didn't
know the name of but tasted like one of Kodachi's hallucinogens.  It
sure tasted great.  As he was eating the last dish he noted that it at
least
seemed not to be poisoned.  Apparently that clumsy oaf was only out to
get him and Rhada.
When he was done with the dishes he casually threw them
through the portal where he had kicked the man.  Listening carefully he
was rewarded with several sharp cries of pain.  Nodding in satisfaction
he leisurely sipped his water, after borrowing a few ice cubes from his
companions.  Rhada's seemed to have a trace of nightshade in it,
actually adding some nice flavoring to the water.  While waiting for his

companions to notice him he sat in the shade and relaxed.  It had, after

all, been a long day, and the neko-ken always exhausted him.
He was about to drift off into sleep when he noticed a slight
rustling in the grass next to him.  Cracking his eye, he surreptitiously

scanned the area around him for danger.  Not seeing anything he was
about to chalk it up to the wind when he noticed a set of impressions in

the ground that looked disturbingly like footprints.  Then one
disappeared and reappeared closer, then the other impression did the
same thing.  Ranma wasn't a genius, but he didn't need a diagram for
this one.
Closing his eyes spread out his senses.  He was unsurprised to
find a chi presence where those footprints were slowly approaching
him.  He was slightly more impressed that it seemed to be wielding a
minor magic sword.  It was time to take off the kid gloves.  As he
sensed the enchanted blade swing down at him, he rolled out of the
way, while kicking his foe's feet from under his.
Still with his eyes closed, he sprang to his feet, walked over to
the still prone figure and plucked the weapon from the stunned man's
hand.  Giving a grunt of disgust he again booted the invisible oaf
through what he assumed to be the kitchen portal.
"Impressive.  You handled my valet with ease," Abdul-Ra's
voice drifted too him, laced with approval.
"Hah!  Your valet is a pathetic psycho.  Good cook though, if
you don't mind an upset stomach."
"The poison didn't bother you?  I'll have to talk to Random
regarding poisoning guest.  He must know I would simply resurrect
you if you died here.  I suppose he's just spiteful."
"Nah the poison's alright.  If I can survive Akane's cooking
it'll take more than a few spices to hurt me.  By the way can everyone
around here turn invisible or something?"
"No, not everyone.  Although many of my minions can, it is
not unknown to purchase or acquire a magic item.  Random, my valet,
for instance has a ring of invisibility.  It's actually fairly harmless
as all
demons and most supernatural entities see invisible." He paused for a
moment.  "Well enough of my valet, since you have done me a great
favor, what may I do for you?"
"I don't really need anything except a way home.  Can you get
me there?"
"I don't see a problem.  Rhada, why don't you wait here, while
your human and I take care of this. I'll be right back and we can
continue our discussion."  Rhada gave a demure smile and blushed.
Ranma supposed it was possible that there may have been more
happening than what he had seen, they sure were acting funny.
Abdul-Ra walked through the portal to his right and Ranma
followed closely after.
"Come back and visit any time," Rhada told him as he left.  It
was so nice to have pets once in a while, she thought wistfully.


When Abdul-Ra came back a few minutes later Rhada asked,
"Did things go well?"
"Oh yes everything went fine.  It's too bad I couldn't do
anything more.  As it was I insisted he accept a Raksasha ring in token
of my gratitude."
"What's that?"
"It's a ring that allows you to take the shape of any feline."
"Doesn't he have a severe phobia of cats?"
A long pause, "I suppose that wasn't the best way to thank
him.  I'll contact Ammit sometime next month and warn him about it.
It shouldn't be a problem, it's not as if you can accidentally activate
it."
"So he is home now?"
"Yes.  I sent him back to Ammit.  Next time I see him I'll ask
if you can borrow him.  Or if you want we can stop by the Splugorth
slave market and get you another pet."


Ranma looked around.  The sky looked overcast, and he
seemed to be on the bank of a great river surrounded by reeds and other
water dwelling plants.  Out in the water logs could be seen floating
placidly by.  He ignored them until one of the logs opened an eye and
looked at him.  Hungrily.
Taking a longer look at the logs, Ranma noticed that they all
looked like large versions of Mr. Turtle.
"This doesn't look like Nerima, unless Kodachi's pond
flooded," Ranma muttered to himself.


Chapter 16

Ranma kicked a few stones out of his way as he dejectedly
wandered along one of the banks of the river.  This place seemed
almost deserted.  It had been a few day and he was losing hope of ever
getting home, or even civilization.  The sun never seemed to rise, but
it
never seemed to get truly dark either.  The constant gloom was wearing
away at his optimism.  It wasn't like he was hungry, those big crocodile

things were actually pretty tasty, and had more meat than even he could
eat.  Maybe more than Genma could eat, though it boggled the
imagination.
The crocodiles were large but didn't seem supernatural or evil.
They weren't even very intelligent, wandering into his path until he
kicked them into the river.  He tried to cheer himself up by thinking of

it as training for Mr. Turtle, but considering Mr. Turtle was never a
threat put a damper on what little enthusiasm he could work up.
The main problem was the time this oppressive place gave
him to think.  Ranma admitted to himself that this wasn't his favorite
activity.  He just didn't enjoy silent contemplation.  If he had the
choice
he would rather train, perform hard physical labor, or even just
meditate on his chi.  The only thought exercises he enjoyed were
strategy and tactics.  Here he had to keep moving, the crocodiles
weren't really dangerous, but were enough of a threat that he had to pay

some small attention to his surrounding.
Being forced to think about his situation wasn't helping his
mood either.  Sure the gift/bribe he was receiving from Thoth would
get rid of three of his major problems, Cologne and perhaps Happossai,
maybe even his father.  This wouldn't help his situation with Shampoo,
Ukyo, or Akane.  It wouldn't help Kodachi either, but Ranma was hard
pressed to work up any tears for that raving loon.
It wasn't that he didn't like the girls, he just wasn't sure if he
loved any of them.  He and Akane had been getting along much better
since he had rescued her from Saffron.  At times he even thought it
might be more than friendship.  Still, he was pretty sure that she was
unaware of how little her hammer strikes and the other objects he was
beaten with on a regular basis, actually hurt.  While he feared her
cooking (except for the curry), he had to admit he now knew more
about toxins than maybe even the old goul, and it had really helped
increase his general resistance.  He hardly ever had to go to the
hospital
to get his stomach pumped anymore.  Still the very fact that she was
willing to inflict what she considered massive amounts of pain, often
made him wary about future relationships with her.
Shampoo was an enigma.  She said she loved him and then
drugged, or spelled him into oblivious.  She knew he was
uncontrollably terrified of cats, yet continued to 'hang' onto him in
cat
form.  Most of his Neko-ken experiences could be attributed to her.
During her encounter with the ghost cat she had refused to give up the
enchanted bell, despite the terror he was obviously suffering on her
behalf.  Yet she still helped him when he needed it.  She had even
opposed some of Cologne's schemes to help him.  Of course many
times he only needed help because of her in the first place.  He had few

illusions regarding his plan with Cologne.  Getting the old goul off his

back would make Shampoo even more desperate, especially when it
became obvious that Cologne no longer needed an heir.  She was
required to win him as a husband or kill him.  Killing him in honorable
combat had been beyond her capacity for quite some time now.  It
might help resolve his feelings towards her if he knew if it was just
Amazon law behind the apparent about-face she had undergone, from
trying to kill his girl half, to falling in love with his male half.
Even Ukyo wasn't immune to these weird fits of violence that
seemed to plague the females in his life.  She had gone from wanting to
kill him, to wanting to marry him in the time it took for him to say she

was cute.  Most of the time she was kind and supportive, but she had
her grimmer moments.  He had long since forgiven her (being almost
incapable of holding a grudge) of crashing his aborted wedding, but
she had come very close to killing people he cared about.  Besides, he
still couldn't seem to think of her as more than a old buddy.
Without any distractions the situation revolved endlessly
within his mind.  Honor versus love.  Love versus friendship.  The job
for Thoth and championship for Anhur promised to keep him busy and
away from Nerima for large portions of time, but this solution left a
bad taste in his mouth.  He loved his father, but wasn't sure he liked
him.  He was positive he didn't respect him.  He had watched, not
always understanding what was happening, as Genma ran away from
one situation after another.  Most of Ranma's problems could be traced
back to his father, one way or another.  What Ranma feared most (aside
from those of the feline persuasion) was that he would start to run from

his problems and spend the rest of his life in a never-ending retreat.
It was with some relief that he was jarred from his thoughts by
a rustle of reeds, and the sensation of a presence hurtling at him from
behind.  Grinning in anticipation, he confidently stepped to the side,
allowing his new enemy to hurtle by him, while slamming his fist on
the thing's head as he moved through.  At least that was the plan.  The
blow he aimed at the creatures head merely glanced off the skull, it's
skull being much flatter than he expected.  The tail of the creature
whipped around in passing and slammed into his thigh.  If it wasn't for
the burning agony that spread from this impact he wouldn't have even
noticed the force.
Leaping back, away from the creature, he looked down at his
leg to gauge the damage and was shocked to see a deep puncture
wound seeping a black fluid.  Beginning to be concerned, he examined
his attacker more closely.  About twenty feet away, turning to face him,

was some sort of humanoid crocodile creature.  The long scaly tail
whipping back and forth behind the creature had a long hooked stinger
attached to it.  A moment passed before he recognized it, a scorpion
sting.  He had a moment to consider than he had never been exposed to
scorpion poison when the first wave of weakness hit him.
Ranma kept his feet under him through the dizziness, drawing
forth his battle aura in an attempt to stop, or at least slow, the
poison's
effects.  He had an enemy to deal with before he could concentrate
more fully on his wound.
The creature leapt towards him claws outstretched for a raking
blow.  Leaping over the creature using his good leg he avoided the first

attack.  As he expected the tail, he was able to safety grab the tail as
it
sped at his still leaping body.  Landing behind the creature, he used
his
momentum to swing the monster by his appendage, over his head and
into the ground.  Feeling another wave of weakness, he quickly
followed through with his advantage hitting the creature with several
Chestnut Fists while maintaining his grip on the tail.  Ranma was
actually surprised that it took several blows before the thing slumped
into unconsciousness.
Ranma was about to slump to the ground in relief when his
senses picked up seven more creatures approaching.  As he turned to
face his new enemies his vision briefly doubled before returning to
normal.  Four of the monsters rushed forward while the remaining
three stood back growling at him and glowering at him in seeming
concentration.
Ranma repeated a variation of his last move, this time
tumbling between the large creatures legs and grabbing the tail in
passing.  Still kneeling he swung the lizard into his two companions.
He had just returned to his feet when he felt an ominous wave of magic
from the three creatures in the rear.  Cursing his failing senses to
have
not detected this earlier, Ranma attempted to jump out of the area
where he senses the gathering energies.  He was disappointed, but not
overly surprised when he found his feet firmly attached to the ground.
He'd seen this effect before and he didn't like it at all.
One of the creatures he'd hit seemed to be down, the other's
merely bruised by the impact.  Seeing how the human was now
incapable of dodging their attacks the three remaining fighters closed
in
from different directions.  The effects of the poison seemed to have
reached a plateau, not debilitating him further but far from releasing
his
body from it's effects.  He found his vision alternately blurring,
doubling, and clearing.  Despite this he was able to block all the tail
strikes and most of the claw strikes.  The ones he couldn't parry caused

long bleeding cuts, joining the now almost healed marks from his fight
with the Gorgons, and the now forgotten skirmish with the Raksasha.
The crocodile monsters did not escape unscathed.  Since
Ranma had been concentrating his parries on the tail's and his
counterstriked at what he believed were vital points, two of his
opponents tail's lay trailing brokenly behind them.  Without two of the
three scorpion stings to worry about, he was able to eliminate two more
of the opponents within grappling range.  He made sure that one of
these was the one with the working tail.
He was about to finish to last lizard thing, when one of the
three who had remained further back growled something at his
companion.  Taking this as a signal, the conscious reptile, which
Ranma had been fighting, backed away.  The reptile mage who had
done the grunting, waited until his companion had backed away before
completing a gesture.
A sudden hurricane wind demonstrated what this magic
involved.  Ranma, grimly expecting something, was still unable to halt
his fall, as his injured leg collapsed beneath him.  He found all his
limbs, except his right forearm immobilized.  He also noted that his
head was free of restraint.  This was a mixed blessing, as he watched
the reptiles regroup and begin to walk toward him.
Ranma knew he was still far from helpless.  Most of his
options had been removed, true, but he still had sharper teeth than
these
creatures knew.  He could probably take out at least half the opposition

with a barrage of chi blasts.  The problem was he was fairly sure he
couldn't take them all out before they scattered.  The barrage would
also reduce his chi reserve more than he thought he could afford.  He
was presently using a large portion of it merely to keep the more
debilitating effects of his poisoning at bay.  Reducing that too much
and unconsciousness was the least of his worries.  He also doubted he
would be able to accomplish much after that degree of effort, which
would again leave him helpless.
He hadn't wanted to experiment.  He had theorized about the
deeper ramifications of the techniques he knew, but laying on the
ground was not the condition he had in hoped for when he first tried it.

Still the move had the potential to take out the entire lizard brigade
at
once, and that was the only thing that might save his life.  He also
believed the maneuver would be much more energy efficient, if harder
to control, than just throwing energy at the creatures.
As the lizard's approached he made up his mind.  He didn't
like it but many of his most devastating attacks were developed in
midst of a crisis.  This definitely counted as such.  Gathering the
perception he needed to perform the Breaking Point, he was
surrounded by the familiar web of energy.  Focusing deeper still, he
strove to see, not merely the single points, but the multiple points
between himself and the enemy that might conceivably form a line.
Finding such a configuration he focused his chi, not at the one
intersection that was the Breaking Point, but the point that was the
beginning of his line, and passed his chi through it.
"Breaking Point Revised, Cascade Avalanche Strike!"
Ranma watched in fascination as the chi burst traveled in
almost the exact path he had predicted.  As the energy traveled through
the intersections, wave upon wave of explosions burst forth, creating a
straight line of devastation as it progressed.  Ranma didn't get the
chance to see the end result of his new technique.  He had barely time
to note that a small portion of the energy he had projected was
reflecting back toward him.  His last sight of the battlefield was the
ground around him exploding.


A portal opened in the air above the silent field.  A large deity
with the form of a human and the head of an ibis, stepped out of the
gateway.  As he stood floating above the carnage he sighed at the
devastation.  A crevasse cut through the ground below him.  Two
hundred feet in length, twenty feet in width and ten feet deep it looked

as if the hand of god had reached down and gouged a furrow through
the land.  Thoth was pretty confident it hadn't been him, so he reached
out with his senses.  After a moment the only life signs he detected was

at the bottom of the trench fifty feet from where it began.
Sighing again, he used his psionic abilities to throw the dirt
and rocks off the object of his search.  Minutes later a battered figure

was revealed.  Only shallow breathing showed that it lived.
"Let's get you out of here.  I don't know how you ended up in
Ammit's back yard, but I think we should leave before he notices your
renovations."


Chapter 17

Once Ranma had been healed, he was brought to the sitting
room where most of his conversations with Anhur had taken place.
Across from him sat the two deities he spoken with earlier, wearing
merely human proportions.  Ranma was ravenous and was consuming
large quantities of the inexhaustible supply of food and treats laid out

on the table.
""I have spoken with Ammit.  He seems pleased with your
performance.  He is also under the impression that Abdul-Ra sent you
directly to me.  I chose not to enlighten him," Anhur stated.
"I don't know how I ended up by that river," Ranma mumbled
through a mouthful of food.  "Even if Abdul-Ra thought I wanted to go
to Ammit's home.  And what were those crocodile things.  They really
took me by surprise.  Not that I couldn't handle then or nothin," Ranma
ended somewhat defensively.
"You actually were in the area that Ammit calls his home.  If
you had truly been one of his minions you could have easily found
your way to Ammit's lair.  It was probably just as well that he didn't
send you directly there.  There seems to be some hostility between the
two of you.  If he had thought you were beyond either my, or Thoth's
protection, he might have taken steps to eliminate what he thought as
an irritant."
"I would have found out relatively quickly, but I may have
been too late.  Gods have ways of permanently losing things or entities.

I may not have been able to recover you," Thoth clarified.
" The crocodile creatures are a race named Tautons.  They are
general minions used by the pantheon of Set.  I have my own adherants
that use, but the Tautons have there place.  As for Ammit, I understand
you had some difficulty dealing with Ammit when he was summoned.
On his own plane he is significantly more powerful.  It would have
been a short conflict," Anhur warned.  Ranma responded with a sullen
silence.
"Anyway, you have completed your errand for Ammit.  It is
time to send you home so you may begin your preparations for my
task.  My mission is not as clear-cut as Ammit's was and will likely
require some degree of scouting and exploration before we even have
enough information to be proactive," Thoth added cheerfully.
"Um, I'll need that circle information for Cologne.  What if
she tries to get out of our deal?  She's kind of tricky.  I mean I think
she
has some sort of honor, but with those Amazon laws of hers there's no
way of really telling how she'll react," Ranma said with a belated sense

of caution.
"Don't worry," Thoth stated as he handed Ranma a small
booklet.  The cover seemed to be made of some sort of silvery metal
with a strange, almost hypnotic design on the cover.  The pages inside
the book were penned in precise strokes, the pages having a smooth
silky texture that tingled when touched.  "These are the directions I
have written for the circle.  Before you give Cologne the book,
describe to her the terms of the agreement.  When she accepts the
books, the magic I imbued into this will enforce the contract."
"What if she grabs the book before we finish talking?"
"That would be unfortunate.  For her.  The enchantment will
force anyone who uses this book, or willingly has this book used for
them to come under the contract."
"Then why do I need her agreement?"
"The enchantment is powerful.  It would be unfair to inflict
these conditions on someone unwillingly.  However, if she attempts to
steal the book the consequences will be on her head.  The contract is
simple, whoever accepts this book or magic must teach you, to the best
of their ability, any martial arts skills they know.  It's quite an
overwhelming compulsion.  I even consulted with the Greek pantheon,
as they are known in your dimension, to be sure it could effectively
bind the Amazons," Thoth explained, nodding in satisfaction.
"Greek Pantheon?" Ranma asked, confused by the apparent
change of subject.
"Well, the Amazons have their origins in ancient Greece.
Although they have migrated over the millennia to China and the Gods
that they acknowledge have slowly changed, I was still able to get a
reasonable idea of their nature by asking Athena.  While I was there I
also spoke with Hecate, she is quite a pleasure to converse with.  I
might have spoken regarding our problems with Hecate but she
seems�a bit focused on other things," Thoth stated distractedly,
obviously about to go off on a tangent.
"She's a power obsessed power mad psycho.  I suggest you
leave her out of your discussions." Anhur interrupted, aware of the
pending signs of Thoth's distraction.  "Suffice to say the willing
acceptance or use of the book will have the desired results,"
"There's nothing wrong with the pursuit of knowledge," the
God of Knowledge stated defensively.    "Though I admit she does tend
to pay more attention to things that give her power�" Thoth trailed
off, realizing that Anhur probably had a point.  "She's still a
fascinating
conversationalist."
Ranma's attention had wondered away from the conversation
and back to the food.  He didn't know or care about some Greek girls
named Diana or Athena, and Hecate just sounded like a sneeze.  A
prickle of remembrance motivated him to ask Anhur, "Hey, that
Demon Book you gave me, how come it didn't list the Raksasha?"
"We know how nervous you get about felines, I didn't want to
aggravate your condition," Anhur smoothly answered.
"Well�don't do again.  If I'd known that I was going to meet
a bunch of demon cats I would have been wearing that amulet you gave
me," he still shivered at the memory of those hideous cats.  At least
Anhur's Ramman servant's didn't go out of their way to terrify him.
"So you're not going to tell me anything about what you want
me to do?"  Ranma inquired of Thoth.
"Not the details.  There are still some thing I need to find out
about before I decide where to send you to scout things out.  I should
know more specifics by the time you finish your training.  I can give
you a little background on who and what the Old Ones are, if you like."
"Will it take long?"
"I'll try not to take up to much of your time," Thoth returned
with some irony before continuing.   "In the beginning of the
Multiverse eight Intellegences were formed from the very fabric of
space and time.  These were the Old Ones.  They were the first, and
greatest of the Intellegences.  Because they are a fundamental part of
the multiverse, they are very much indestructible."  After a moment of
thought, he clarified, "Or rather, in order to destroy them you would
run a large risk of taking what we know as reality with it.
Unfortunately, these entities were not benevolent.  Each one seemed to
embody some negative aspect of the emotional spectrum.  There was
Xy, who was Power incarnate.  He was the greatest among the Old
Ones.  Al-Vil, who embodied envy and jealousy.  Erva represented
darkness and death.  Netosa was eternal suffering, despair, and
undeath.  Tarm-kin-toe, who was synonymous with hatred treachery,
vengeance and pain.  Ya-ahk-met, whose dominions was the blind
quest for power and light.  Ya-blik, a connoisseur of pestilence,
betrayal and pain."  Unnoticed by Thoth, his voice turned bitter as he
spoke of Ya-Blik, and Al-Vil.  "The last one, Agu, was a bit of a
deviant, for an Old One.  He actually enjoyed the emotions of life,
birth
and rebirth.  If he hadn't actively supported the others, there wouldn't

have been any need for his defeat. These creatures created many
lifeforms that we know of today," after a moment of sad contemplation,
perhaps remembrance, Thoth continued, "they also exterminated many
whose memory has passed from us."
"As I said, they used the other, lesser races as their playthings.
They fed off the negative emotions of those they tortured.  Consuming
the energies released by such activities, when nothing more could be
extracted they consumed the body and then the soul of their victims.
The known dimensions were all under their dominion, and such
universal hell was the lot of all the mortal, and many of the immortal
races."
"These creatures were powerful but not omniscient, or
omnipotent.  They created many powerful servants, who are now
known as the gods of today.  There were also many Intellegences,
lesser in power, but still not to be trifled with.  These Intellegences
were forced into service as well, reluctantly bowing to their distant,
more powerful kin."
"What's the difference between Intellegences and god's?"
Ranma asked, confused by the terms.
"Gods are entities of magic.  As mortal are made up of atoms,
gods are made up of the life energy, or magic of the universe.
Although many were created by the Old Ones, others were made by the
lesser Intellegences, some even were called into existence by mortal
races, around whose focused belief coalesced the manifestation of their
faith.  Gods are simple in theory to bring into existence, less so to
control."  Thoth chuckled darkly.  "Few who have created Gods have
long remained in control of them, whether the superstitious mortals, the

lesser Intellegences�even the Old Ones.  Intellegences are mostly
weaker relations of the Old Ones.  They share some benefits from
being so closely intertwined to the fabric of reality.  They are for
instance very durable, although fortunately only the Old Ones were
nigh indestructible.  They are not as strong as most gods are on their
home plane, but an Intellegences power does not fluctuate depending
on it's location or number of worshippers, and on neutral ground an
Intellegence's power will most likely be greater.  Some, like the
Splugorth, are a whole race of significant number, others are alone and
unique.  Most tend to be hostile to mortal life-forms and highly
territorial.  Deities do have the advantage of generally having a higher

degree of magical skill, and although a last resort and costly, our
Diefic
powers can be terrible weapons.  I think Ammit may have
demonstrated this to you."
"�"
"Getting back to the subject.  The Old Ones had few allies,
even their weaker cousins�especially their weaker cousins, loathed the
submission and servitude forced upon them.  When Xy, the greatest of
them mysteriously disappeared, a movement coalesced.  This
movement was composed of most of the Intellegences and gods, the
ancient races such as the dragon, titan and elves.  Even the infernal
powers known today as demons and deevils joined in the rebellion.
That was over a hundred thousand years ago," Thoth seemed lost in
thought for a moment, while Anhur hands twitched as he relived
ancient battles.
"When the struggle was over, many races had been wiped
from the face of reality.  The noble Titans were reduced to a fraction
of
their previous numbers, whole pantheons were destroyed.  But we
prevailed."
"You are too modest.  You were pivotal in the struggle against
the Old Ones," Anhur stated grimly.
"I may have designed the final enchantments, but it was
Lictalin, Lokum, and Kym-nark-mar who completed the great spell.
"If destroying the Old Ones destroys the universe, how come
we're still here," Ranma asked, struggling to stay focused.  Only the
epic struggle keeping his attention engaged.
"We didn't�couldn't� destroy them.  We placed them in an
enchanted slumber.  The most powerful entities still in existence
periodically check and maintain these bonds.  It is usually merely to
keep them from degenerating due to age, and the unconscious flexing
of their captives.  After all, who in their right minds would willingly
free them?"  Thoth shook his head in wonder.  "Still, it appeared it has

happened.  I have found several of the enchantments weakened.  I
could easily strengthen them, but then whoever tampered with them in
the first place would find another, perhaps more subtle means to
sabotage the bindings.  Ways I may not be able to neutralize as easily."

Ranma stared at the ibis headed god, "So�how can I effect
this.  I know I'm good, but this seems a little�much."
"We need a mortal agent to go places we cannot go without
causing our prey to detect us and go to ground.  You are powerful for a
mortal, but still a mortal.  With certain training you will be more
powerful yet.  You can also effectively hide your power level and
aura."
"But the way of the quiet thief are sealed�" Ranma protested.
"That is the extreme effect of hiding your aura, but even
without resorting to that, you can damp your aura to that of a normal
human without crippling your power too much.  I suggest you use the
circle I gave you to 'convince' your father to unseal his techniques.
You will need every advantage possible against our unknown
opponent."
"So basically I'm a spy?" Ranma asked, not pleased at being
reduced to such a dishonorable role, regardless of the necessity.
"Spy, catspaw, bait.  You will play any role needed to prevent
some idiot or maniac from reawakening the Old Ones.  The multiverse
is not a paradise.  There are some corners of reality that are true
horrors
to behold.  Still they are relatively small portions.  When the Old Ones

ruled, every dimension, every world suffered under their heel.  What
we have is not perfect but it is infinitely preferable."
Thoth stood, "If you have no further questions, I need to
research our problem.  When I find somewhere for you to begin our
search I will come for you.  You should have plenty of time to pursue
your studies, the entities responsible seem adept at covering their
trail."
With a short nod the Lord of Wisdom faded from view.
"Looks like you may have irritated him a bit.  Don't worry
about it.  Remembering the time of the Old Ones tends to rile Thoth up
a bit.  He's too easy going to remain that way long.  We would have
lost if it hadn't been for his spell.  We were losing, slowly but
surely.
Then Thoth appeared, he didn't remember where he came from, but
that's not unusual for gods.  Most likely some library of researchers
and
scholars prayed him into existence.  Whatever his origin he came into
existence knowing more than anyone short of the Old Ones themselves.
Thoth, together with Lictalin the elf, Lokum the angel, and Kym-nark-
mar the Dragon designed and implemented the final enchantment.  I'm
not sure about the others, but Thoth was accepted by Osiris into our
pantheon,  and I believe Kym-nark-mar along with his fellow dragon's
ascended into their present Dragon-God status."
"How is that different from a god?"
"Ancient dragons often rival a god in sheer power.  Imagine
and ancient dragon who has shuffled off the dragon's semi-mortal coil
and ascended to their equivalent of godhood."
"Powerful?"
"Yes.  Very.  However, I suppose the DragonWright pantheon
earned it's position.  Most races of dragon are not social creatures,
they
work terribly together.  Before Kym-nark-mar and his fellows wrestled
control of our dragon allies, they were nothing more than loose
cannons.  Many dragons died merely by rushing in by themselves, or
simply ignoring orders.  There was one particularly grisly instance
where two males fell to fighting over territory and domination in the
middle of a heated combat.  They died of course.  Good riddance."
"Dragons sound really stupid," Ranma said with disgust.
"Not really.  One-on-one they can be very wise.  Get two or
more males together longer than a few hours and you should be
prepared to bury one of them.  Females are more stable, but still don't
work well together."  Anhur's eyes glowed with pleasure.  "But when
led by Kym-nark-mar, never have I seen such an incredible army at
work.  Truly, it was one of the turning points in the war.  We were
losing quite badly until then.  Afterward�well we were still losing, but

it was an organized, slow retreat, rather than a rout."  After a moment
of silence he continued, "But enough of that war, it was glorious, but
it
long over.  With a bit of good fortune and planning we should never
have to see an Old One awake."
"Can I go home now?" Ranma tired of always being in a
strange dimension.
"There is one last thing you need to do before you go.  Do you
still wish to accept the role of my champion?" a serious glint in his
eye.
"Uh�sure?" Ranma said, somewhat lacking in his usual
confidence.
"Then simply state that you accept my authority over your
actions."
"Well, as long as you don't ask me to do any thing
dishonorable," Ranma qualified, oblivious to the now glowing deity.
"Stop questioning my honor!  You dirt hugging mortal!"  The
war god shook as he tried to control his anger and not do something
unwise like burn the silly nit to ash.
"Alright!  Alright!  You gods sure are touchy.  Sheesh.  Okay
I accept your authority," Ranma said attempting to placate the angry
god.
"Fine.  You are now my champion," Anhur growled through
gritted teeth, finally successfully reigning in his temper.
"That's it?  Shouldn't there be a light show or something?"
Ranma asked somewhat disappointed.
"Yes.  That's it.  You now have a direct link to me.  It's not as
if you are gaining godly powers, after all, you're simply borrowing
mine.  To access them simply concentrate on me and ask what it is you
wish.  The same applies for the dimension teleportation, except you
simply picture the location you wish to go and state that by MY power
you will go there.  Unlike a direct request for my attention I probably
won't notice your use of this ability so be wary�"
"By Anhur's power take me home!" Ranma interrupted,
shouting excitedly.  Then he promptly vanished.  Leaving behind a
very irritated war god.


Ranma looked around.  Well there were humans, although
most of them seemed to be Caucasian.  They weren't wearing any fancy
alien garments, so it was probably the correct dimension.  This was
supported by the cars going by on the street.  Of course the cars were
driving on the wrong side of the street.  Turning to look behind him he
observed a large expanse of water behind him.  On an island off in the
water, was a familiar blue green statue of a woman holding a torch.
He was just opening his mouth to curse, when he felt a heavy
blow to the back of his head.  Leaping away, he turned to face the
direction of the blow.
An angry looking Anhur stood in all his armored glory.  "Are
you an idiot, or merely an imbecile.  I told you it would take a large
amount of practice before you could properly travel.  Do you really
want to spend the next few months randomly hopping around the world
until Thoth fetches you?"
"No," Ranma said is a subdued tone.  "Er, how did you find
me so quickly."
Okay, he's an idiot, Anhur sighed to himself in exasperation.
"Normally I wouldn't notice, but since you did use MY powers to
teleport in front of me, it was a simple matter to find where MY power
sent you."
"Oh, yeah.  I guess that makes sense."
"I'm glad you find my logic acceptable.  I will send you home
now," and good riddance, "I suggest you study and memorize the book
before you give it to Cologne.  Even though Cologne will be compelled
to teach you it will increase your options should she attempt other
strong arm tactics."
"Isn't that kind of stuff hard to learn?"
"You don't have to be able to use it.  Memorize it so you can
give accurate directions to a qualified user of magic.  Someday you
may be able to use it yourself, but until you can, keep in mind the
smallest error could kill you or transform you into something far worse
than a girl."
Without further warning Anhur opened a portal and pushed
Ranma through.  With any luck Thoth's little mission would take a few
decades.  Ranma needed time to mature into an effective champion.  If
Anhur saw the infuriating martial artist, or for that matter any martial

artist from Nerima, before then he refused to be held responsible for
any acts of destruction that might ensue.
Sighing in relief, he was about to transport himself to his own
domain when he heard a familiar voice behind him speaking ancient
Egyptian.
"Excuse me.  Could you tell me how to get to the Tendo
Dojo?"


Chapter 18

The first thing Ranma saw as he stepped through the portal
into the Tendo home was Nabiki.  She sat at the living room table
staring with a silly grin at a small pile of yellow coins in front of
her.
Ranma couldn't understand why this struck him as inherently wrong
until he realized he had never seen Nabiki so happy before.  This was
bad.  A happy Nabiki meant many other unhappy people.
He was taken further aback when Nabiki looked up at him, her
grin becoming marginally wider.  "Ranma, we're so happy to see you
back.  Why don't you go to the Dojo.  Akane's in there, and I think she
has something she wants to show you," she purred idly stacking the
coins in neat rows.
  "S.s.sure Nabiki.  Anything you say," Ranma stuttered
nervously, carefully backing away from the happy girl.  As soon as he
was out of sight Nabiki dived for the phone, clicking on the quick dial.

"Ukyou, how much would you pay to be the first to receive
some very important information?"
He would have been almost relieved to see her acting in a
more typical fashion.  Almost.


When Ranma reached the Dojo he heard the thump of feet,
and shuffling.  Wondering who could be in the room sparing with
Akane, he opened the door.  He saw a female figure hurtling towards
him.  He instinctively moved to cushion the impact of the person
landing on him.  This had unfortunate consequences as he noticed an
angry Akane glaring at him.  "Er, hi Akane.  Long time, no see,"
Ranma chirped.
"Ranma!  You're alive!  I'm so happy to see you survived!  I
was so worried!"  Ranma did a double take, not expecting such
emotion from the Tomboy.  An odd feeling of tension overcame him as
he realized the voice had come from the girl in his arms rather than
Akane.
"Ranma!  I can't believe you!  You're back five minutes and
you're already fondling all the girls around you!"  A now glowing
Akane stalked towards him, her favorite hammer in a ready position.
Ranma looked down to see a familiar face, alarmingly close to
his.  "Jenn?  What are you doing here?  I thought you were staying with
the monks?" a shocked Ranma asked.  "How did you get here?  You
aren't even from this dimension?"
"You can stop groping her, you pervert!" Akane shouted as
she slammed her hammer down on Ranma's head.
"Erk, sure!  I mean I didn't mean nothin by it.  I mean�"
Ranma, now aware of the embarrassing manner he had been holding
Jenn, quickly put her on feet.  He hadn't taken any notice of the impact

from Akane's weapon.  His brain was too frozen in shock to even
pretend it had hurt.
He was a still a little too slow, from behind him a new voice
carried, "Ranma, you have finally arrived.  Now we can return to my
father's kingdom and marry�what are you doing with that lowborn
tramp in your arms.  I knew you were after my Ranma.  Training, bah.
I should have realized it for the pathetic excuse it was.  Prepare to
die,
you little harridan!"  The poised declaration of love, slipping into a
screech of rage.
"Cindra?  But�How�Why�How..." Ranma sputtered.
"You brought back two new fianc�es?  This is a new low even
for you!" Akane shouted, oblivious to the fact she herself had thrown
Jenn into Ranma's arms.
"Ranma honey, I'm so glad you're back," the voice of a brown
haired chef drifted in from the main house.
"Shampoo glad too!  Now we go back to China and live in
village.  Yes?"
A hail of sharp objects flew over his head, as Ranma tried to
absorb the events taking place around him.  "Ranma!  I will not let you
molest my Shampoo.  I will defeat you�" the voice would cut off as
the thud and crash of a body slamming through a wall was heard.
Ranma was at a loss.  He was sure there was an important
reason he had come back to Nerima, but at the moment it escaped him.
Hades seemed like a nice place to visit in comparison.  Sunny, green,
only one incompetent psycho, and a few cat demons after him.  Hmm,
Abdul-Ra seemed to like him.  Perhaps a short visit would be in order.
Still pondering the wisdom of a vacation, he ran out a newly created
Ranma sized doorway in the wall of the doorway and ran as if there
were a pack of Raksasha chasing him down the street.
He passed Kasumi sweeping the walkway, as he exited.  "Oh,
Ranma.  You're back.  How nice!  And you brought you're friends.  Be
sure to be back in time for dinner," she called out pleasantly.
He was slowly out pacing the large, expanding mob following
him when a portal opened over his head and a mangled, bruised
Ryouga fell on top of the fleeing martial artist.  "Ranma!  This is all
your fault!" croaked the injured lost boy as he temporarily pinned a
very surprised Ranma beneath him.
He was incapacitated just long enough for the mob to catch up
with the tangle of limbs, laying in the street.  For quite some time
afterward, they took turns alternately beating and hugging, kissing and
killing a very confused pigtailed martial artist.  It was an interesting

welcome home.


Ranma trudged through the kitchen wearily.  It was the next
morning and he still ached from the beating he had been subjected to.
Fortunately, he had been able to discourage his father from wasting too
much of his time this morning by a few well placed kicks to the head.
"Morning Kasumi.  What's for breakfast?"
Oh...just the usual�"
"Hey!  Wait a minute!  I almost forgot!  I got some spices that
the people in the market said you might find interesting," he
immediately reached in to subspace and grabbed it to give to the oldest
Tendo girl.  He realized he had been a little bit hasty when he found
himself holding on to a brush that seemed intent on battering the
already bruised boy.
"Oh, how nice a brush.  I can never have to many of these,"
Kasumi said, and reached for the wildly gyrating cleaning instrument
before Ranma could stop her.
He was relieved and immensely surprised when the brush
lapsed into calmness at her touch.  "It was very thoughtful you.  Oooh,
look!  It even cleans by itself.  What a helpful brush." Ranma looked
on in wonderment as the brush began to polish the floor around them.
"Well you know me.  Always thinking about others," Ranma
modestly acknowledged.  "Look I have even more," he said as he
began pulling the annoying tools, one at a time from storage.  Just as
the first one did, each struggled until touched by Kasumi, whereupon it
would begin cleaning the area around it as directed by her.
"Oh, and here's the spices, too.  I got some for Ukyou and
Shampoo, too," he magnanimously added.  A wide smile was spread
across his face, he hadn't realized how irritating those things had felt

until he had removed them all from storage.
"What about Akane?"
"Well I wanted the spices to be used as a force for good�" he
didn't finish as a mallet slammed into the side of his head.  "Oh, hi
Akane."  The girl in question growled in frustration at having her
strongest blows ignored.
"Well what about me?" she growled, jealousy oozing from
her.
"Well I got this for you along the trail to the Timiro
Kingdom," Ranma said as he drew out a large war hammer.  Even in
the morning light a slight blue shimmer seemed to cling to the mirrored
metal surface.  He didn't mention the huge ogre who was it's previous
owner.  He figured if a weakling like him could effectively wield the
large weapon, Akane with her sheer brute strength could easily handle
it.  For once he kept silent in regards to his opinion.  Weapons weren't

for real martial artist, but hey, if someone wanted to rely on tools,
fine,
let them.
"It�it's beautiful.  Thank you," Akane said hugging her gift.
Ranma was glad he had taken the time to clean the dried blood and
mud off of it.
"Yep.  I figured a violent Tomboy like you could handle it if
anyone could," Ranma said without thought, inevitably losing his war
with his mouth.
"Die Ranma!"  Akane's hammer blow was accompanied by a
huge thunder crash as the hammer's enchantment augmented her blow.
Wow, Ranma thought from deep inside his impact crater, that
actually hurt.  A lot.  Maybe giving her an enchanted mallet wasn't the
smartest thing to do.  Gotta admit, she sure looks cute with it.


Later in the day Ranma slipped away from the house.  He had
studied the circle book all night and this morning.  He was confident he

could explain the procedure in exquisite detail.  It was now time to
confront Cologne.
Entering the Nekohanton, he looked around the caf�.  Not
many customers.  That was good, fewer distractions.  "Hey!  Old
gou�er�Cologne!  I need to talk to you."
"Oh Ranma!  You date with Shampoo?" the purple haired blur
asked as she attached herself to her husband.
"Er�no.  I need to talk to Cologne.  It's really important.  Oh
yeah, here's a gift.  I would have given it to you yesterday, but I was
kinda occupied."  Ranma handed her the scabbard flaming sword he
had taken from a guard.
"Very nice!  Ahh!," Shampoo dropped the sword as it burst
into flames.  Ranma deftly caught the blade by the handle and returned
it to her.
"Yah, and if you point it at something and say the word Acba,
it shoots fireballs," Ranma nonchalantly stated.
"Ooh, Shampoo so happy!  Acba!" she said, promptly
pointing it at an innocently sweeping Mousse.  She watched in
enjoyment as he flew in a graceful arc out of the window.  Sheathing
the sword she promptly hugged Ranma again.
"Greetings, son-in-law.   I see you have been to some
interesting places.  It is fortunate you found your way back, I was
worried you would be lost forever.  I wasn't making much progress
finding you."
"Gou�Cologne.  I need to talk with you.  Alone.  I have
something you might find interesting."
"Hmm�Shampoo, take care of the customers.  Son-in-law
and I will be in the back."




"I acquired something that might interest you.  Probably
enough that we can come to some sort of arrangement," Ranma
nervously began.
"What kind of arrangement, son-in-law?"
"I have a book that gives precise instructions on the creation
of a circle that would restore youth to the user."
"Hmm.  Really now, son-in-law, do you really expect me to
believe this without proof?"
"After we agree on terms, I'll give you the book.  If it is not
magic, you can give it back and everything we agreed upon can just be
forgotten.  You can't lose." Ranma stated gaining some confidence as
he laid out his argument.
 "We'll see if I can't lose after you say what you're after, son-
in-law."
"Well, um, it's simple really.  I'm going on a mission for a god
soon�"
"God?" Cologne interrupted skeptically.
"Yeah, Thoth, God of Wisdom.  He gave me this book for the
sole reason of getting you, Happossai, and Pops,   to train me in
everything you know about martial arts.  Says I'll need them."
"Alright, sonny boy let's see this enchanted book," she said
raising an eyebrow.
"Well, all right.  Don't touch the book before we come to an
agreement.  It will enforce the contract between us."
"Just how do you know this person you were talking to was a
god?  You aren't really stupid, son-in-law, but you do lack somewhat in
wisdom."
"Well, he said he was," Cologne snorted, and he continued,
"he cast some spells, teleported at will, was about twenty feet tall,
and
has the head of a really big bird."
Cologne was silent, absorbing the odd information.
"He was pals with Anhur, another god, who made me his
champion.  I can now teleport too.  It ain't that accurate though.  I
think
I ended up in England or Germany somewhere.  Oh, he also said I
could speak any language."
"It that true?" Cologne asked in Chinese.
"Well, I guess so I haven't had a chance to find out yet.  I also
took this amulet from the guy who summoned me. And it seems to do
the same thing, so who knows," Ranma said, oblivious to the fact he
was speaking in perfect Mandarin.
"Well it seems you have had a few adventures while you were
gone, son-in-law."  She wasn't quite sure if she believed him, but
Ranma was a notoriously poor liar.  He obviously believed what he
said.  It wouldn't hurt to humor him, even if he turned out to be
deluded.  "You can tell me about them later.  What are you're terms."
"Well, as I said I want training in all the techniques you know
and your help to convince Happossai and Pops to teach me everything
they know.  The use of the circle for myself, my family and my friends.
Oh, and you also don't support Shampoo in her hunt for me or take any
action against me."
"That's quite a bit, son-in-law.  Although I am the Matriarch
of my tribe, I'm not sure I could promise all that."
"C'mon Cologne.  I ain't stupid.  You need an heir, bad.  You
and Happossai are over three hundred years old.  I know you're getting
desperate for someone suitable.  With this you wouldn't need Shampoo
so bad."
"Do you really hate my granddaughter so badly?"
"No!  Look, I know she's in a really bad situation.  But the
first time I saw her she's trying to kill me, the next thing I know she
loves me.  Those laws of yours are stupid.  I mean really, if I beat her

once, and she promises to hunt me down, what's to keep me from
killing her the next time I see her.  I mean if I fought women.  Don't
you lose a lot of warriors that way."
"We did in the beginning.  The law encourages the Amazons
to be the best.  Eventually we were.  It wasn't made for the likes of
you
though.  I must admit though, I'm the only Amazon that stands a
chance against you in combat.  Would my leading the tribe into the
future be worth creating someone I most likely wouldn't be able to
defeat?  What if you turn against us in the future?  What if you teach
our enemies our secrets?" she sighed wearily, if Ranma hadn't been
fooled these were very serious issues.
"I�I could promise not teach anyone your techniques without
your permission.  You know I keep my word.  And I wouldn't attack
your village�unless you did something really, really horrible to me or
my friends.  I don't think you'd do that."
"True.  Such an action on my part would be unwise, but you'd
still be a loose cannon."
"Well, what if I promise to help defend your village.  You
know that not much can stand up to me.  Especially after you train me.
I mean defend, too.  If you go off and attack someone on your own, I
ain't lifting a finger.  I'm no trained attack dog for no one," his
conscience twinged as he thought of his deal with Anhur.
"Keep in mind that my not actively supporting Shampoo isn't
going to stop her.  The law states she must win you or face punishment.
Even If I had a hundred more years as Matriarch, it would be difficult
to change the law."
"Ha!  With this circle you'll have more than a hundred.  I'll try
to keep the situation as stable as possible until you do.  It'll
probably
help that my patrons will probably be sending me all over the place for
a very long time," Ranma grumbled, halfway looking forward to it.
"I couldn't guarantee Happy's aid.  He does what he wants.
He always has," she said sadly.
"If you dangle youth in front of him I know he'll leap at it.  It
will be a pain dealing with him as a young pervert, but with both of
you training me, I could do it.  Besides, if you use the magic of the
book on him he'll be under contract to teach me too."
"Just how powerful is this 'contract'?" Cologne asked
suspiciously.
"I don't know.  It was created by Thoth.  He said he also asked
some Greek girls for advice."
"Greek girls," Cologne's eyelid twitched.
"Yah, Atheta, or Arena, or maybe Athena," Cologne's staff
creaked under the strain she unconsciously placed it. "Yeah that was it,

Athena.  The other one was like a sneeze�er, Hecate!"  Ranma stated
triumphantly.  Cologne's staff snapped.
"I suppose that would be fairly powerful, then.  Athena is the
Greek Goddess of wisdom and war.  Hecate was one of the Titan
precursors to the Greek gods.  She was the Mistress of magic.
Although the Amazons no longer actively honor these gods, they are
known to me."
"So what about it?"
"Hmm, that leaves only your father.  As weak a willed ninny
as any male I've ever seen.  I don't think we'll have a problem getting
him to agree to train you in those 'forbidden' techniques, and giving
you his blessings to use them," she said with disdain.
"Well, he may be pathetic, but he is my Pop," Ranma rallied a
weak defense.
"My apologies, son-in-law.  You have my agreement.
Training, no interference with your relationship with my granddaughter
or with your friends, and help convincing the two deviants�"
"Hey!"
"�to fully train you.  If what you say is true, regarding the
book, that should not be much of a problem.  In return you will give
me the enchantment of youth, your aid in defense of our village, and
your promise to not pass on our secrets to outsiders without
permission."
"Alright!"
"So be it.  I still hope that someday my granddaughter will
succeed in her goal, future-son-in-law.  Now give me the book."




Chapter 19

Jenn smiled as she handed a puzzled Ranma the wooden box.
She had completed her errand for the Master of her Order.  She almost
skipped as she went off to the Dojo to train with Akane.  She hoped she
would be able to train with Ranma sometime in the near future too.
Akane was moody since Ranma had come back but she didn't seem to
hold the earlier incident against her.  It was good to be alive.

Elsewhere an old man received a mystic warning.  He
gathered his crimson and gold robes around him and stood.  Now that
the tracer was in the target's possession he could start to initiate
some
of his contingency plans.  The plans of the Emperor would not be
delayed much longer.


"That�s quite a generous offer," 'Zar spoke carefully to the
deevil, being sure to avoid eye contact with the creature within the
circle.  "And in return all your mistress wants is the general
coordinates
of his home plane?"
"Yes," the creature hissed.
"Okay, we have an agreement," the summoner eagerly agreed.
He didn't know why this deevil's Master was interested in the
information.  He didn't really care.  Ranma had been dragged away by
Ammit, and regardless of what he told the others, he was most likely
dead or worse.  If he could turn a nice profit, magically speaking, he
didn't see the harm in dealing with a few Gorgons.
There's a reason most people believe that summoners are
insane.





Here ends Part One of the Journey
Started 02-12-99 finished 03-16-99
Revision 1

Please send any question or comments to
daniel.ruth@worldnet.att.net
The newest version of this story can be found at
http://home.att.net/~daniel.ruth
My author's note and updates
http://home.att.net/~daniel.ruth/Author.htm
My explanation of Palladium/Rifts history
http://home.att.net/~daniel.ruth/Pallnote.htm
My attempt at describing the Nerima Martial Artist in
Palladium/Rifts terms http://home.att.net/~daniel.ruth/Nerima.html