No. 5 revised. A few people commented that Ranma wasn't
likely to change his name on a whim, and when I took another
look, I had to agree. So, I made some changes and this seems
more in character to me. A couple of name changes as well to
put them in keeping with Slayers Universe.

Glance! Reflections of the Past.
By Kagami

The Church of Ceipheid in Zefielia was way too large for the
attendance at their small wedding. The white-robed priest of
Ceiphied solemnly intoned the preliminaries before arriving
at the critical questions.

"Ranma Inverse, do you consent to take this man to be your
lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," Ranma replied serenely.

"Zelgadis Graywers, do you consent to take this woman to be
your lawfully wedded wife?"

Zelgadis answered, "I d..."

... and awoke gasping in panic. A bad dream, that's all it
was. He nervously wiped at the sweat covering him, before
relaxing slightly in his bed. A simple nightmare. Thank
Ceiphied for reality.

A female voice carolled from outside the room. "Zel-chan,
it's time for breakfast."

Then again, reality wasn't that much better.

---

Zelgadis surreptitiously stared the young girl - no, young
woman - gobbling up breakfast in front of him. His mind
drifted back over the events over the past two years that
had led them to Zefielia.

***

On a grassy hilltop.

"I wonder where we are, Zel?" Ranma asked as he massaged
his temples. Of course, now that he currently in his female
body, thought he was female and showed no inclination to
change back, the male adjectives probably weren't too
appropriate.

"You're on the outskirts of Saillune," a male voice
answered unexpectedly.

Zelgadis and Ranma turned to see a young man, slim and with
raven-dark hair, standing there. He snapped his fingers
suddenly. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Philionel,
wandering Champion of Justice. Nice to meet you."

Zelgadis felt his eyes widen involuntarily.

***

In a nameless inn.

"Aww, come on, Zel-chan. Lighten up a bit, willya?" Ranma
mumbled as she munched steadily through an enormous platter
of edibles. "We've got money after saving that bumbling
prince's hide and putting him on the throne. Even got paid
for those martial arts lessons. We're free and we can eat
all we want. Why're you grousing so much for?"

"Well, we haven't been able to find a way home or find a
cure for you," Zelgadis said.

"I don't need a cure," Ranma shot back. "There's nothing
wrong with me."

"This is serious, Ranma. It's like you're the opposite ..
. no, the inverse of who you were before," he said with
concern. "We've got to get you back to normal."

Ranma sat back with annoyance. "Inverse, inverse! Look,
the mirror cured me, okay? I'm me, Ranma Sao... feh, fine
then, if you want it that way ... Ranma Inverse! For as
long as I'm in this world, you can call me Ranma Inverse,
wandering martial artist and apprentice sorcerer."

"..." Zelgadis tried speaking but nothing seemed willing
to emerge from his gaping mouth.

"You can close your mouth now, Zel-chan," Ranma said
mischievously. She flashed a quick smile, glad to have
diverted Zelgadis' train of thought. "Yeah, I like the
sound of that."

This, Zelgadis thought faintly, wasn't a good sign.

***

In a bandit camp.

"So, why are we going to Zefielia, Ranma?" Zelgadis asked as
he stepped over one of the groaning bodies.

"Because Rei Magnus is there," Ranma replied. "You know,
legendary guy who created the Dragon Slave and Blast Bomb?"

"Is he still alive?" wondered Zelgadis.

"Well, that bard said so. We'll see when we get there.
Lucky guy," Ranma said with a grin, "he's gonna get me as
an apprentice."

***

On a shattered mountaintop.

"Don't die, Rei-sama!" Ranma begged as she knelt by his
side. She clasped his cold hand between her own.

"It's ... all right, Ranma." Bright blood bubbled between
his lips, and Ranma hastily wiped it away. "Z..Zefielia
is ... safe now. I've lived ... beyond my years ... and I
have you ... to carry on. J..Join the Knights like you
planned. You've a ... bright future, Ranma." His eyes
flicked to her side.

"I hope ... things go ... wellll ..." Then, he died.

"Rei-sama! Rei-sama!" Ranma felt the tears trickle down her
face. She whirled and buried her face into the comforting
presence by her side. "Waahhh! Zel-chan, what am I gonna
do?"

"It'll be okay, it'll be okay," he soothed, his arms
awkwardly placed around the sobbing girl. "It'll be all
right. I promise, Ranma ... chan."

***

In Zefielia Castle.

"I knight you, Ranma Inverse," said the king as he laid the
flat of the blade upon her shoulder. "Rise, Lady Ranma, and
join the exalted ranks of the Knights of Ceipheid."

The king turned to the second kneeling figure and proceeded
to dub him as well. "Rise, Sir Zelgadis."

The crowd cheered the surviving Heroes of Mount Phalos, and
the band struck up a merry tune of celebration.

Ranma, resplendent in a white gown and with her flamehair
cascading in glorious waves, turned with a cheeky smile to
her partner. "May I have this dance, Sir Zelgadis?"

"I didn't know you could dance, Lady Ranma," Zelgadis said
in surprise.

"Well, no," Ranma conceded. "Though that's hardly a polite
thing to say to a lady," she murmured, eyes flashing. Never
one to keep grudges, she relented quickly. "But you can
teach me, Zel-chan, can't you?"

"Well ... I guess."

***

That had been six months ago, Zelgadis mused. Since then,
things had stayed in a funny state of comfortable and
awkward between the two of them. He was uncomfortably aware
that her feelings had changed from mere friendship whereas
he couldn't get past the fact that he still saw her as a
guy ... mostly.

"What's the matter, Zel-chan? Not hungry?" Ranma's voice
broke into his reverie. "And I spent so much time cooking
it this morning too," she weedled.

"No, no, I was just thinking," Zelgadis answered as he
started eating with relish.

---

Akane sat back in exhaustion, staring at her grime-covered
fingers. Two weeks of excavation and divination spells had
determined that Ranma and Zelgadis weren't trapped or dead
beneath the massive cave-in.

That didn't leave them much to go on. It was as though they
had just vanished.

"Where is that idiot now?" she murmured despondently.

Lina slammed her hands on the table. "All right, let's face
it. They aren't here anymore and we have no idea where they
are." She hesitated. "Much as I hate it, there's only one
thing left to do."

"What's that, Lina-san?" Amelia asked from her slumped
position.

Lina's voice trembled with dread, "We have to go and see my
sister ..."

---

Ever wondered why Prince Philionel (Amelia's father for
those unfamiliar with Slayers) knows martial arts or who
Luna and Lina learn magic from? Well, here you go.