Well it seems with the christmas season I only had two response with
one promise and one corrections. Thanks Cyberwolf7790 and I found much
more problems after that. I guess I scared too many people off with the
mess. I cleaned it up a few, and this time with one pre reader, yay! If
anyone spots more (almost definite) feel free to shove it all back.
Oh and where's Lines of Destiny, Louis, *cackle*
If anyone reads onward, please C&C and all those stuff.
Previous chapters and other works can be found at
Http://www.angelfire.com/ny/Ohdear/FANFIC.html
Standard Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this story are the
property of their respective creators and companies. (Especially Tor
since it's pratically right in my backyard.) If anything I'm only
promoting
the series.
If you haven't and would like to, read:
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Raising
The Fires of Heaven
The Lord of Chaos
The Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
By Robert Jordan
Warning: Beware of falling grades or screaming bosses if not careful.
May put the thought of stalking Robert Jordan in your mind.
Since so far the setting is in Wheel of Time you might have to guess
some stuff if you're a bit rusty or never read wheel of time.
My BAKA Gaidin
Wheel of Time Series
Ranma 1/2
Keys
*(thoughts)*
Chapter 8
Saotome Ranma the great martial artist, the bearer of too
many women, had at least been able to seek safety and comfort within
the compounds of his own mind. When one such as him had two bodies,
too many fiancees, and constant mayhem, the comforts of being alone
in his own mind was bliss. Staring into those deep blue eyes, he knew--
no felt, his last bliss has ended.
Ranma felt it; a link of sorts, emotions that was not unlike his
own, but not his. Most of them mirrored his own, but it came from her,
that woman who nagged his memory so and malleted his head as
skillfully as another person whom he knew. She was perhaps a few
years above him, her face beautiful, but most of all those deep blue
eyes drew him in the most.
Siuan Sanche was the woman he only met a day ago, but he felt
it has been longer, hauntingly longer. If Ranma had been a better
analyst of his own mind, he would find that he had a need to be with
her, to protect her, to keep her safe of mind, body, and soul. Ranma
being who he was only ogled at everything he was exposed too and
stared mindlessly at her.
There was another presence besides Siuan's link; he was only
dimly aware of her, it was small compared to the person he was staring
at. She lay right besides him, unconscious by his attack. He hadn't even
founded a name for her yet, but right now all his focus or lack of focus
was upon Siuan, his Aes Sedai.
< OH MY! >
Siuan Sanche had more information than Ranma. She knew
what she was feeling if not completely startled by it. It was a bond,
one
between an Aes Sedai and her warder. A protector to some, a
companion to others, the range of reasons for having a warder varied,
but the bond she felt was enough of a reason, the boy in front of her
was her warder.
So much odd occurrences had happened since the Dragon had
been reborn, but it was another new one for her. Somehow she had
taken another warder, without her own knowledge. After so much
turmoil, her mind and her body needed a break as she felt the damp
surface of the ground before she realized she had fallen. Not
surprisingly the pain of her rear hadn't even registered in the process.
< OH MY! >
Siuan falling down snapped Ranma back to the present. He
spoke out immediately before he knew it, "Oi, you alright?" She wouldn't
answer; instead, Siuan carefully stood up and put on a mask of
calmness. He knew it was a mask, the bond told him that. Inside she
was frantic, uncertainty strong among many other emotions.
Walking up to him, she gave him a long calculating look, and
turned her attention to the person next to him; the other woman who
had tried to kill him. A sorcerer or something close to it he guessed.
She had thrown fireballs, and other magical stuff all with the most
destructive intent towards him. The woman had haunted his dreams,
and now she looked so peaceful and serene sleeping. She was beautiful,
but unlike Siuan, it was an ageless beauty. Ranma somehow kept
changing his estimation of her age. She would look young at a casual
glance, but closer observation felt as if she was much older. His
nagging memory told him that they had met, but not even a name was
able to surface.
"Is she dead?"
Ranma had to look at her and blink. *Dead?* "Err, no, she's
sleeping." He had a sinking suspicion she wanted a different answer.
< OH MY! >
Siuan studied the sleeping woman, who she knew as Moiraine
Damodred, a long time friend and accomplice. Reliable sources deemed
her dead battling the DarkOne's minion, a forsaken named Lanfear.
Something was wrong from the first moment she spotted her. She had
been embracing enough one power that easily equaled three full sisters
linked. Moiraine had been powerful, but never that much so. Perhaps
she had an angreal to boast her power; Moiraine had a less powerful
one in her possession, but that only explained a small fraction of all
the
unknowns she was given. Moiraine had also just tried to kill her, that
was enough to scare her.
*What to do with her?* This Moiraine was dangerous, much too
dangerous. The best course of action was to take her into questioning,
and enough sisters to shield her. That was if she was able to get her
shielded before she woke up. *First things, first* Lowering down she
searched the body, extending her senses to anything related to the one
power. *If she has such a powerful angreal, I must find it now, before
she wakes up*
Searching all around, she was amazed by the fabric of the
clothing. The first thing was the spotlessness of it, even lying on the
ground, there was not a speck of dust on the cloak or clothing.
Another surprise was the smoothness it felt. *It must have been made
with the one power�*
"Umm, what'ca doing?"
She frowned, but quickly returned to her mask of serenity. For
some unknown reason, just hearing the voice of that boy was enough to
annoy her. *Nothing, not a trace of anything related to the one power*
She would try again later. *Perhaps my senses are dulled after such an
exhausting battle* Siuan knew she needed to get the body back before
Moiraine woke up.
Turning towards the boy, she commanded in her decades-
tempered Aes Sedai voice, "Carry her and follow me, quickly." He gave
her a long look and slowly picked Moiraine up. *I will deal with this
boy
later, but first things first. Fish Guts! Why is it never simple�*
< OH MY! >
Ranma easily was able to keep up with Siuan's trot, she was in
one of those moods. What that meant he couldn't specify, but he just
knew better than to talk to her in one of those moods. It was startling
to know these things about a girl whom he met a day ago.
Switching his attention to the woman he was holding, he still
had little idea except for the dream. She used magic, yet she knew
martial arts too. It was a strange battle; the woman never changed her
expression. She never once spoke, never once smiled or frowned, or
became angry, just that serene, calm look. *Maybe it was a technique*
She was an excellent martial artist, not as good as he was of course,
but had great potential.
Giving the battle a bit more thought he found her abilities a
little odd. While she was not able match him, it was almost haunting
that she seemed to get so close to breaking his defense. It was as if
the woman knew his every move and found every single hole in his
defense to attack. Ranma was not using his full potential, but he knew
he was not that sloppy. The fact that she landed a couple of solid blows
on him was already discouraging enough. *If she had been faster and
stronger, I would have been hard pressed* The idea of a girl beating
him was very discouraging indeed.
Sighing, he focused back on Siuan. He had to get answers to
why he had this strange connection to both her and to the woman he
was carrying. *But how to do it�* He couldn't tell her he could feel
what she was feeling, but that might be bad. He had enough bad
experience with violent women who could weld mallets.
< OH MY! >
Siuan looked back at the boy. He was lean and muscular,
healthy and well trained it seems in fighting. He moved with such
unnatural grace, it would not be surprising if he was a warder. From
what little she saw during the encounter he was well able to fight. *Not
the worse choice for a warder I guess* Another thing finally struck
her, he had jump in front of a ball of fire when he tried to save her,
but
the boy looked unhurt, not a scratch on his body besides the slight mud
stains. *How is that possible?*
What Siuan asked was another question then the problem she
had been thinking though. It would be wise to be subtle when needed
so. "Your name is Ranma, correct?" She was somehow sure it was, but
it would have been contradicting from the facts presented.
"Umm�well, yea�"
"There is a young girl in our camped also named Ranma. Do you
know of her?"
"Umm hehe, really? Gee, isn't that odd. Nope, don't know her,
wonder why she has my named, heh." Siuan blinked, it was such an
unexpected answer she briefly lost her train of thought. *Either the
boy was the worse liar in Andor or it was a masterful display of acting*
She was unsure of how to proceed.
They boy, Ranma, seemed to take her pause to ask his own
question, "What are we going to do with her?"
Siuan tighten her lips as the change in the line of questioning
was made. She realized that despite the youth, Ranma had skillfully
avoided her attempt to get the information she wanted. *I have to be
careful, the boy can't be taken lightly* She remembered an old saying,
'even if the waters are calm, jagged rock still lay underneath'.
"We are taking her back to the camp, for questioning."
She cursed her luck, as they had already reached camp before
she could further question the boy, but she was also happy Moiraine
hasn't woke up yet. *What to do�* It would be best to take her to the
Amyrlin, it would be too much risk to reveal to everyone. With a few
selected sisters, they could shield her and safely conduct a
questioning.
"Hide her face with the cloak. Follow me quickly, and don't talk
to anyone," he seem to frown, but she could care less what he felt, she
had to race against time.
Weaving through people and wagons, she analyzed that there
was still a safe amount of time before march, enough to conduct a
questioning. Finding the intended tent, she quickly dashed in and
chasing out the servant.
"Siuan, what's wrong? You look frantic."
She hadn't notice she had dropped her features. "Mother there
is something urgent you must see."
< OH MY! >
Egwene looked up at Siuan and then at the boy behind her. He
was fairly handsome in a blue woolen-buttoned shirt and loose black
pants. He looked just short of being called a man and would be better
called cute then handsome. He looked at her with uncertainty and said
"hi".
"What about him, Siuan?" she was confused at what was so
wrong that Siuan would loose her calmness.
To Egwene's surprise, Siuan shot him a glare and pulled back
the hood of what the boy was holding. Her breath caught, *It can't be!*
Dashing up to the boy she too a long closer look. It was Moiraine. The
same Moiraine Sedai who had save her and everyone else by pushing
both herself and Lanfear into the arch ter'angreal.
She remembered that event clearly. Rand stood kneeling
before Lanfear, crying, Lanfear glowing with the one power standing in
front of him and right behind that arch. Then at that moment, Moiraine
came running forward and dove into Lanfear, pushing her into in to the
arch that lead into the unknown while latching onto the forsaken. The
Arch had melted after that with both Lanfear and Moiraine dead. *Or
assumed dead�*
Suddenly Moiraine moved and shifted. Egwene jumped back with
a fright. "She's alive!"
"Hurry, shield her, quickly!" Siuan screamed out. Siuan had
already embraced the source and was weaving a shield as powerful as
she could manage.
"Huh?" commented the boy looking genuinely puzzled.
"Why Siuan?"
"Please! Do it, she tried to kill me!"
Shocked, Egwene embraced the power and wove a shield to
keep Moiraine from the one power. *Kill Siuan?*
Moiraine opened her eyes and looked at her.
"Moiraine, your alive!"
"Egwene�" Moiraine spoke out in that calm musical Cairhien
accent. Slowly she looked up to the boy holding her, taking a long look
at him. Then again she looked at Siuan. "Siuan� is that you?"
"Moiraine, what happened to you?" spoke an enthusiastic
Egwene. It had been a long time since she seen her. In reality she had
never thought to see her again.
But on top of her, Siuan said, "Who are you?" Egwene looked at
her in surprise.
Moiraine looked back at the boy again.
The boy looked back obviously alarmed and nervous, "Err�
hi�"
"Can you put me down?" the boy did as he was told as Moiraine
rose unsteadily to her feet.
Finally being able to take a good look at her, Moiraine's attire
looked nothing like what she'd remember. It was a mostly pristine white
array of clothing. A silk shirt laced with blue trimmings, Egwene
guessed, with partially transparent sleeves. The bottom half was
composed of a long thin blue cloth tied around her waist, matching
white loose pants constricted at the ankles and blue delicate looking
slippers. A brooch with a large purplish looking gem was clasped above
her breast and draped in a white cloak with red triangle patterns
embroidered along the edges. She had never seen such sight and it
seems neither had Moiraine as she was observing her clothing along
with Egwene.
"What has happened? Where am I?" Moiraine was focused on
her, that searching look that she had been accustomed too since they
met at winter's night. *So much has changed since then�*
"Who are you?" Siuan asked again, her voice far from pleasant.
"Siuan what are you talking about, this is Moiraine."
"Only a fool would sail a boat into the strait at night without
prior knowledge no matter how calm the water looks. She tried to kill
me before." She had to frown at another one of Siuan's fisherman
sayings. She seems to have enough of them for every situation. *But
she's right, I've been hoping so much it was Moiraine, I embraced her
immediately*
Before she could answer, Moiraine looked back at Siuan and
smiled slightly. "Only Siuan would spout one of those fish sayings. You
have changed much my friend, much must of happened. I still
remember the time you put those mice on Elaida's bed."
Siuan kept her frown at that statement. *Mice in Elaida's bed?*
Egwene would of never imagine Siuan doing such a thing, but then she
did have that temper of hers.
"I remember a certain accepted gleefully along side of me doing
something very similar."
"True, but it was your plan Siuan." Egwene knew Siuan and
Moiraine were friends when they were training, but such an act she
would of never imagined.
Siuan sighed, "Only Moiraine would know about that last part,
but it still does not explain why you would tried to kill me."
"And me too," that came from the boy but no one paid
attention to him.
"I have no knowledge of ever doing such a thing. The last
moment I remember was at the pier and knew what must be done,"
turning back towards her, she continued, "After I went through the
arch with Lanfear, I opened my eyes now in this boy's arms."
"Hey! I'm not a boy!"
That sparked Egwene's thought process, the whole time, he
was here where he shouldn't of been. *How could I have been so blind to
not take notice?* "Who are you?"
Give an arrogant smirk he answered, "Ranma Saotome, Heir to
the Anything Goes Martial Arts." She frowned, the title made little
sense at most.
She had to be sure the boy's mouth with not speak of what he
shouldn't. Things were more complicated then he ever hoped to
imagine. "Ranma, what has happened must not be spoken to anyone but
us, this is a direct order by Amyrlin," Glancing at Siuan, "Siuan make
sure he is properly cared for."
Giving a sigh very much unlike Siuan, "He is my warder, mother,
he will not speak what he is not suppose to." Everyone turned their
attention towards Siuan *Warder?*
"Warder, what�s that?"
Egwene was shocked yet again by the revaluation, she wanted
to know what in the light has happened, but time was running short.
She was supposed to meet the sitters and prepare for march very
soon now. If things went on longer, someone who notice. "We don't have
time right now, it is almost time to break camp. We must continue this
later. Moiraine, people must not know you are here."
Moiraine raised one eyebrow slightly, "By your leave Mother."
Moiraine had spoke with the most formal tone and a curtsy proper
enough for the Amyrlin.
Quickly the group went out the tent flap, pushed in the case of
the boy, Ranma. It was odd, she was certain the girl they had found
was named Ranma Saotome. *It is possible to have the same name, but
both given and family name? Too many questions* She rubbed her
temples in resignation, *Everything is giving me a headache*
Another thought came to her, *For some reason I though
Moiraine looked a little different from the last time I've seen her and
I
could of sworn she was taller then before too.* Shrugging it off she
blamed it on her memory and the headache she had.
< OH MY! >
Outside, Moiraine put the hood of her cloak over her head. The
Cloak was not the perfect design to conceal, but in such cold weather,
it was not surprising for an Aes Sedai to put up her hood. If anyone
looked it would be an Aes Sedai, preferably white, sheltering herself
from the cold. Siuan doubted if anyone would remember what the now
famous Moiraine Sedai would look like and if anyone could recognize her,
they would doubt their memory on seeing a hero come out from the
dead.
"What's that about me being this warder? What's is a warder
anyway?"
Siuan took a long gaze at the boy, Ranma. The person who had
skillfully deflected her questioning before. *How can he not know about
a warder? Is he acting, or ignorant?* Frowning, "A warder is one who is
bonded to an Aes Sedai."
"Bonded? You mean all those things I sense from you? Get it
off me, I don't need that in my head."
Siuan made her hands into a fist to avoid loosing her calm
appearance. Somehow the boy made her so frustrated she could hit
him. "Yes, that is the bond we share. As for breaking a bond, it is not
easily done. It can be broken if one of us dies, that is why you are my
Gaidin, my protector as you see it." *Yes that sounded reasonably
suitable, why am I still so angry?*
"Death!? You're kidding, aren't ya? Oh man, Akane's going to kill
me when she hears this. There's got to be another way. I don't need
two more latching onto me."
Her lips tightened when she realized what her warder said,
"Two?"
"Yea, I can sense this bond from you and her, it's freaky I tell
ya."
Siuan turned her full attention to Moiraine. "It seems so, I can
also sense a bond with young Ranma here." *This isn't happening�*
< OH MY! >
Ranma walked sulking through the outer corners of the Aes
Sedai camp. He was tired, but not because of walking, but because of
all the information shoved down his throat. It wasn't so much
information as half of it were probably threats by his Aes Sedai. He
had no idea why he was still around. He should of left long ago. He had
the sinking feeling he wasn't in his own world from the start. The
clothes were different, and everything else he had learned just got
worse. So far he has guessed it had to be pop, Happosai or the old
crones fault. What ever happened had to of been magic. He also knew
that some of his memory was missing. He can sense there was a gap in
his memory that could explain what had happened to him. He wasn't
going back to the Tendo's soon.
On another topic, he cursed the kami's that his life was a never
ending trouble by the opposite sex. Fiancees were one thing, but it was
worse right now. There were two presences in his mind now. It was
always there, and only distance seems to have any effect on it, but it
was still always there. Siuan was the worse of the two, he thought. She
had that sensation that Nabiki always gave him, always finding some
way towards her advantage. But Siuan was also like Akane, violent and
more then once had hit him over the head by some invisible force. He
guessed it was magic, The whole camp was full of women magic users
who called themselves Aes Sedai. *Women�* He gave a groan again,
just thinking about it make him want to stick his head inside a hole.
The other one, Moiraine was quiet most of the time. She had
been in his dreams. She had tried to kill him, but she claimed to know
nothing of it. She had tried to kill Siuan too, but now they were all
friendly. She hadn't said much towards him, with Siuan doing most of
the explanation. One thing she had said though, that two Aes Sedai
bonded to one person was never heard of and impossible. *Figures that
would happen to me�* He guessed Moiraine would be the better one of
the two, she had at least saved him a couple of times from getting hit
on the head. *Why am I always stuck with violent women*
He kept thinking of leaving but just as fast dissmissed it.
Something made him want to stay with them. It could have been
another effect of the bond. Still the idea of going crazy if one of them
died wasn't all that good either. The only good thing that came out of
this was the mention of extra strength and heightened senses. He
hadn�t notice it before, but he had felt sharper with all his senses. *I
have to test how much better I am one of these days*
Looking around he groan at the sigh of snow. It hadn't
mattered as much when he was leaving, but now he was stuck here. He
didn't like the idea of everyone knowing about his curse, and worse yet,
they might do some of their crazy magic experiments on him. He
shuddered at that thought, he would have to be extra careful.
Almost at the moment of that thought a wave of water came
hurling. Ranma leaped up just in time to save his sex from changing. He
hadn't bothered to yell back, his mood was beyond that. He also knew it
never helped, the old water out of nowhere thing was almost a daily
occurrence. Looking around more carefully, he fail to miss the patch of
recently formed ice in his path.
The obvious happened as Ranma fail to keep his balance and
felt face first into a barrel of cold freezing water. "Gah! That's cold!"
Looking around he was glad that no one was around except for horses.
*Time to find a kettle*
"You!"
Whirling around, he mouthed a wordless, 'Oh no' as he saw her,
Faolain. Cursing her luck she dashed away, he had a sinking feeling that
if she caught her, it would be very bad. *I hate my life*
A Chase began as Ranma quickly too the most confusing route
around wagons and supplies, while Faolain tried to follow. Then the
accursed ice patch came into play again. As Ranma slipped and fell flat
on her face, cursing she quickly got up and ducked around a wagon. But
by that time Faolain had cut her lead a lot and was a few moments
behind her. Then Faolain hit into something firm and it caught her.
Looking up Faolain saw straight into those blue eyes and felt
those hard muscles with a firm grip on her. Her heart skilled a beat.
"Err�hi," said the now male Ranma.
Slowly steadying herself, Faolain blurted, "A girl, a red head
girl, she was here, where did she go?"
Ranma made his best attempt to act innocent. "Umm I think
she went that way," as he pointed into a random direction. She looked
at him again, he had a funny feeling he saw that look before, and ran
off.
He released a grateful sigh. There was a kettle there, just
when he needed it most. He found that odd, it was almost never easy
to find hot water when he needed it. Shrugging off the thought he went
on his way. *No sense cursing my good luck*
< OH MY! >
Moiraine sat inside a tent meant for Siuan. Much has changed
since that night at the dock. But that was to be expected with the
Dragon Reborn loose upon the world. Things had not bold well for the
White Tower either. Too many things to count. Even Siuan had been
caught up. It was a relief that she was not killed though. That was at
least a good thing. Surprisingly somehow Nynaeve had discovered the
impossible, of healing stilling. She knew the girl had a talent, but
this
was much more then expected.
To herself also things have changed. She had the feeling that
something was missing from her memory. A feeling of time passing,
but not remembering what it was. It would also connect with her
supposed attacking of Siuan.
The boy, Ranma, was even more a mystery. *Two sisters
bonded to one man is unheard of* Whatever had happened neither her,
Siuan, nor Ranma knew how that had happen. She would have to deal
with it, as will Siuan. Taming the boy would require effort. He was not
easily malleable as he appears. Siuan's approach of a firm hand was
only going to push him away more. Her experience with Rand showed
her that much. Another way must be needed. He had the skill of a
warder though, the way he walked proved that much.
Looking down upon her attire, she frowned at what it was. It
was definitely not silk or any other material she knew. It felt
amazingly
smooth, and spotless even with the abuse the mud had on it. Her
slippers showed that much. Not a spot of mud was on it, not even the
sole. That would mean it was made from the one power. Whoever
dressed her was a mystery and she was afraid of what other things
her mysterious patron had given her. She already knew she had an
unidentified need to keep the clothing on. Time will give her this
information, hopefully, there was little she could do as of now.
< OH MY! >
Sometimes during the night not far from the sleeping Ranma,
events took place. In the morning there would be no march. The wheel
weaves as the wheels will, and Siuan would be extra grumpy in the
morning.
< OH MY! >
Morning came peacefully for Ranma. For the first time since he
woke that started this nightmare, he hadn't dreamt of her. This could
have been for the obvious fact that she was currently sleeping right
next to him on the cot. He was on the floor of course, he wasn't about
to sleep on it with her there. She was still sleeping in those clothing
he
first saw Moiraine in, cloak and all. The warder guessed it wasn't so
hard to believe because he slept in his clothes too. The weather was
too cold otherwise. He found it odd that Siuan hadn't came back last
night. He felt she was still some distance off. She had been sleeping
somewhere else, he guessed. Ranma shrugged the thought off as there
was only one cot in this tent anyway.
Getting up Ranma went off to search for Siuan, it was the only
way to get breakfast anyway.
< OH MY! >
Siuan was in a sour mood, she had been drag out in the middle
of the night after sleeping on the floor by that blasted Gareth Bryne.
After that it was all the more worse, as she had to run around in the
bone freezing night, stepping on slippery ice along the way. *At least
there would be no march today*
Then suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Hi, Siuan, what's
up?" Siuan gave a frantic yell as she turned around and almost fell on
her rear. Ranma had been standing right behind her looking as if he
didn't have a care in the world.
"Don't do that! Fish guts! You scare me half to death you sorry
excuse for a lummox!" Her heart raced, *How did he do that, coming
out of no where�*
"Teh, not my fault you couldn't sense me. I bet you couldn't
even sense a rampaging boar the way you were surprised," replied a
smug Ranma.
Give a cold glare, "What do you want Ranma, before I use your
guts as fish bait?" *The nerve of that boy, and to think I'm bonded to
him*
"I was hoping you knew where I could get breakfast?"
*For breakfast!?* "Get it yourself, I have no time for your
whining."
"Well, I would if I knew--" He stopping in mid speech as he
turned his glazed behind him. Siuan peered at were her warder was
looking and spotted another matter of annoyance. Gareth Bryne was
walking up to her.
"If you would spend more time washing my shirts and less time
talking to boys, I can finally get a clean shirt Siuan." She frowned
upon
Bryne. *Men are infuriating!*
"Eh? All high and mighty Siuan here, washes clothes, I never
would of expected it." He still had the smirk plastered on his face. The
two males whom she could not bear to stand have collaborated against
her. *This is not happening*
"And who are you boy to speak to Siuan Sedai?" Bryne turned
his attention towards Ranma.
"Ranma Saotome, her warder I guess. Don't suppose you know
where I can get something to eat around here?"
"Is this true Siuan? This boy here is your warder?" Bryne's grip
on holding his face-guard seemed to tighten.
Siuan gave a loud snort, "He is, at least when he can properly
learn to be one."
"Then you can clean my shirt and I will give your warder here a
meal," Bryne threw her a bundle, "and tell her they know." That was all
he had to say as the two left an angry Aes Sedai shooting death glares
behind them.
< OH MY! >
Gareth Bryne took a long look at the boy who would be Siuan's
warder. Young, just short of manhood, and from his attitude, arrogant
and naive. But besides all of those qualities, the boy had skill. The
way
he walked easily showed that. The boy named Ranma radiated prowess
of a warrior. Still that alone should not have been enough to become
Siuan's Gaidin. He had little idea why she would pick this boy. Bryne
threw Ranma a sword sheathed inside a scabbard.
"What's this?"
"Your sword, boy. If you are going to be a warder, you have to
have a weapon to protect her with."
"I don't need a weapon to protect that violent tomboy," refuted
Ranma.
"You will need one if you want to protect this Aes Sedai, boy,
she's a trouble kind, more then a child like you can handle." He meant
every word of it. Siuan was a hard one to protect and with the way
events are going she would need the best offered. This boy was not it.
Deep inside he wanted her warder to be him, but he knew he was only
fooling himself. He was who he was and she was an Aes Sedai, whatever
he felt for the woman. Siuan was from the Blue Ajah, which meant she
could only have one warder at a time. He had hoped deep down it would
be him, but that fantasy was shattered. He could almost laugh at
himself for doing something so foolish as falling for Siuan of all
people.
If there was one thing he could do it was to teach this boy to protect
her.
Ranma sighed, "Would you stop calling me 'boy'. I am Ranma
Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes martial Arts."
*Anything Goes? Martial Arts? Art of war?* Bryne had never
heard such a title in all his years as a General, or any time in his
life for
that matter. "I don't know what that means, or care, you are an
arrogant boy who thinks being a warder is game," unsheathing a sword,
he spoke slowly, "Come, boy, lets see what you know of facing an
enemy."
"Fine, I guess that's a challenge," unsheathing his own sword,
Ranma took too a couple of test swings as if it were a stick and came
into a defensive stance Bryne thought was 'waves crashing over the
mountain', but it looked more loose and agile than a solid stance. "Come
and get me," he said in that arrogant tone, except this time it had an
edge of expectation in it.
He had never seen such a variation stance before, but he could
tell it was not because of sloppiness, the boy knew what he was doing.
Lowering his eyebrows he rushed towards him, it was time to find out
how good the boy was.
Gareth Bryne met an opponent like none he ever met before,
the boy was like lighting one second and a mountain the next. His slash
came crashing down only to be met by Ranma's own and the strikes
after that, He was like a mountain never loosing ground to his
advances, as he hands almost blurred parrying his every attack. Then
suddenly he would change completely and float out of the strike as if
he never needed a sword to defend in the first place. And so they
danced.
*He's playing with me!* He can tell clearly he was no match for
the boy, he was just simply dancing around him, then he grinned. A
block became an attack. He could barely keep up, as his concentration
on offense became defense. Ranma's strikes like his parry was like
lighting, he lost ground to the boy rapidly. Desperately he strived for
a
counterattack when the boy disappeared *No he jumped!*
Looking up his sight focused just enough on a blur passing by
his vision. Turning around to face him it was too late as he felt a
painful sting on his hand as his sword flew away onto the ground.
Gareth Bryne had been disarmed. The boy, Ranma had kicked the sword
out of his hand.
"I win," Ranma replied with a smirk.
*He is a Blademaster� A boy blademaster�* He had never
heard of such a thing, but the way he moved, the ease of which he
attacked and blocked. He had to be a blademaster, Byrne had never
seen anyone move that fast. "So you did Ranma Saotome, heir to the
Anything Goes Martial Arts," Giving a chuckle he continued, "Perhaps
you can be Siuan's warder, but it takes more then skills to protect a
leopard like her, much more."
"I can do it," throwing the sword down, "and I don't need a
weapon to do it." With that he walked away.
"Maybe you are right�" he muttered to himself, "or maybe
not." He despised the boy, but not because he was more skilled then
him or because he was an arrogant boy, but because he was her
warder. He also despised himself for letting the chance slip away from
him, for falling for that woman. *No I don't despise that�* He gave a
low chuckle, he wished he never chased that girl with those deep blue
eyes.
Oblivious to Ranma, and Bryne, a crowd had gather on their
battle. Ranma probably thought it was regular to walk away with a
crowd, after all he had people staring at him all the time from the
battles he constant had. There were mutters of a blademaster, boy-
child that was the warder to Siuan Sanche, former Amyrlin and many
more. Some Greens voiced their jealously, other pondered at how Siuan
got a hold of such a rare child. Still other ponder the title of
'Anything
Goes Martial Arts' and Siuan would not be happy.
< OH MY! >
Siuan trampled along still unknown to the happenings of Bryne
and Ranma. *The nerve of that man! Washing his shirts!*
"Siuan, what's this I heard about you getting a warder?" an
almost teasing voice came out. It was Lelaine's voice, one of her secret
accomplices and her ex-keeper. *My warder?*
Looking up at Lelaine she asked in a resigned voice, "What did
the boy do?" She knew Ranma must of done something hair-brained to
get attention.
"Why he only fought with Gareth Bryne, and won surprising
enough. How sly of you Siuan, not even telling me about this boy
blademaster you somehow gotten a hold of."
*He fought Gareth Bryne!* She had to make her hands into a
fist to keep from lashing out at the first person she saw. *Boy
blademaster!? What was she talking about* Her anger quickly turned
into surprise, it was a never ending emotion for Siuan it seems.
"Blademaster, what in the light are you talking about Lelaine?"
"What? You didn't know Siuan, he had moved so swiftly and
powerfully he can only be a blademaster. This warder of yours is a rare
sight."
*This is not happening�* Siuan was about to get one of those
headaches Egwene was talking about before.
"I came to tell you the seeds are in place, and I should probably
be going now, before other sisters get a hold of you. I really hope to
meet your warder later though, I was unable to get a hold of him
before."
After saying that, Lelaine quickly dashed off. *This can not be
happening�* She considered compelling Ranma, but quickly dismissed
the idea, something inside told her it was more trouble then it was
worth. Peering off on the corner of her sight she spotted two Green
sisters actively talking to each other. She doubted they would pass her
by. *I am going to have a long talk with my blademaster warder*
< OH MY! >
Night came and the morning of another came up. Ranma
Saotome, this time was almost dressed like a real warder. He was
riding a horse besides Siuan in his new color-shifting cloak. He had
seen
the other warders wear one all the time. In fact every Aes Sedai riding
had their own warder with them, he guessed that was why he had to
come. He had been lucky he didn't have to wear the clothes she gave
him, just the cloak. They had argued for a while before Moiraine
convinced her they he didn't need it. He was very glad for that. He
hated those constricting clothes with all those lacing and colors and
junk. It made him look like an idiot. He liked his own chinese style
blue
wool shirt.
Another thing he was glad for was that Siuan had stopped
lecturing how he should act and stuff. He decided it was best if he just
kept his mouth shut and follow her around, it would save him a lot of
badgering later. He needed a rest, Siuan was worse than Akane, at
least Akane just shouted at him and hit him, Siuan also badgered him.
"Are we there yet?" He wasn't very good on the horse he
admitted mentally, and it was starting to have its effects on him.
"Almost" For once Siuan was not about to argue with him, she
seemed to be just as bad with a horse.
< OH MY! >
The meeting was a bit surprising to say the least for Ranma. It
was rare for him to be in the middle of a couple of thousand armed
men. He was afraid there was a war when the Aes Sedai took over a
thousand men from the camp, but all the flashy clothes and Siuan
convinced him otherwise. Siuan was beautiful dressed up like that he
idly thought.
He just stood behind Siuan for most of the introductions, a
feeling and Siuan's glare told him that he would be in a lot of trouble
if
he spoke during this. Though some things said gave him a feeling there
was going to be a war, he wasn't interested in fighting in a war, but he
had to protect Siuan, and Moiraine.
After the talking was over, everyone broke up to chat among
others, Ranma just followed besides his Aes Sedai, like every other
warder.
"A young Aes Sedai and an even younger warder. Forgive me
Aes Sedai, but I don't believe I've seen a pair such as you two before."
Ranma looked at the lady who commented.
"It's all right child, but we are All Aes Sedai, do not forget
child," Siuan answer in that calm serene voice. It was almost haunting
how Siuan could act so different from what he was exposed to. Right
now it was like trailing after Nabiki in one of her rounds. Ranma made a
mental note to be extra careful about his curse towards Siuan if she
was anything like Nabiki.
There was a couple of more comments like it as they walked
around. Ranma wondered about Siuan being young. He was aware that
besides the leader, Siuan seemed the youngest of all the Aes Sedai he
had seen. What was more was that he finally noticed that all of them
had that ageless face, except for the two. Even Moiraine had it.
After a short time they were ready to leave. He was glad about
that; all those people looking at him was getting freaky. Even when the
other Aes Sedai was looking had giving him the shudders. But that was
not what was on his mind, Siuan had been scared behind that mask of
calmness all throughout the ride and even now she was even more
afraid. Something was going to happen, and he had a feeling he was
going to play protector soon.
< OH MY! >
Ranma walked slowly inside the camp, Siuan had pushed him off
to talk with the leader, he can still feel something was wrong. He knew
something was wrong and she would not let him beside her. Whether he
cared to protect her or not, the feeling of the bond was going to haunt
him until she was safe. Suddenly he felt it, a spike of sorts, through
the bond.
Turning around he went into a full dash, he felt something
terribly wrong; he had to reach her. Veering off he turned to the
outskirts of the camp, he felt she was there.
"Hello Ranma." He finally found Siuan standing in the center of
a clearing. He felt a jumble of emotions from her; the warder could not
make heads or tails of what that meant. She had a small smile on her
lips, and she looked at him with an almost sultry look on her face. It
was not like Siuan at all.
"Siuan, are you all right? His senses we going off in an alarming
rate, something was very wrong here.
"I'm fine my Gaidin, come to me." This was not like Siuan at all.
"Umm are you sure you're all right, Siuan, you're acting odd."
Ranma had enough experience with magical potions and the like to
sense when someone was acting very much not like themselves.
Siuan frown, "Why must you always fight me, Ranma? Why
can't you ever do what I SAY!"
Suddenly he couldn't move; some invisible force had wrapped
him tight. He squirmed as she was getting closer and he couldn't move.
Trying harder he raised his power level. He wasn't about to let her do
whatever she wanted. The invisible force disappeared in an instant.
"Why Ranma? WHY!?" Siuan screamed as she threw a huge
fireball at him.
"Youch!" he pivoted out of the path of that fireball. "Siuan, now
now, calm down and we can talk about this." He waved his hands up to
ward her away.
Raising her hand a gigantic glowing mallet appeared in Siuan's
hands. "Ack!" Ranma got out as he frantic jumped out of way of the
over grown glowing blue mallet. Siuan swung it again, and again. "Hey!
Siuan! Don't--do--this. Woah! Watch where you're swinging that thing!"
Ranma jumped, ducked, and dodged as the gigantic mallet made
large holes on the ground as a crazed Aes Sedai went on a rampage to
mallet Ranma. He had knew it had a familiar relation to his other
malletings.
"WHY--DON'T--YOU--LOVE--ME!? WHY!?" screamed Siuan while
swinging another attack.
"What!?" the helpless Ranma blurted out. "What are you talking
about!?" Flipping back from another attack, he figured Siuan was crazy.
*I have to stop her before she makes okonomiyaki out of me*
Jumping out of another swing he lunged forward and grabbed
onto Siuan's wrist, "Stop this Siuan!"
She only smiled as she went and did something totally
unexpected to Ranma; she hugged him, fiercely. *Wha�* Then he felt
it. He winced as he felt his power draining rapidly, "What�are you
doing�to me�" He felt his knees failing, he couldn't move, she was
draining the life out of him.
"Yes Ranma, you are mine now, all mine�"
< OH MY! >
Moiraine jerked her head up as she felt a spike, a spike from
the bond. Something had happened to Ranma, something terrible. She
immediately stood up and raced out the tent to find him.
Through the bond she could sense he was near, dashing
through another wagon she turned when she slammed into something.
Slightly dazed she found out it was Egwene.
"Moiraine, what are you doing?"
"Something terrible has happened to Ranma."
"If Ranma is in danger, than Siuan�" Egwene finished off.
The two of them dash off towards Ranma.
< OH MY! >
Moiraine had just reached the outskirts of the camp when they
found themselves in a clearing. In the middle they saw Siuan hugging
Ranma. Siuan was glowing with a tremendous amount of power. *What
in the light�*
"What's going on here!?" yelled out Egwene.
"Why won't people ever leave us ALONE!?"
A wave of air suddenly slammed into both Moiraine and Egwene.
It was enough to knock both of them a couple of feet. Moiraine felt
Egwene embraces the source as she also was doing the same; then
suddenly power filled into her, much more power then she could safely
hold. It swelled inside her, she felt more alive and with more one
power
than she ever had before. It was just in time as another wave of air
came. Quickly she wove her own barrier to defect it, but Egwene was
not so fortunate as it broke through her barrier and she went flying
back.
Another wave came and this time she sliced the weave before
it formed. "What are you doing Siuan!?" Moiraine manage to say while
slicing another weave.
"Leave us ALONE!"
She had to do something, Siuan was out of control. *This is not
like Siuan at all* Franticly she sliced another weave. Even with the
unexplained boast of saidar she held, it still paled compared to
Siuan's.
Suddenly the answer came to her, she hadn't known how she knew but
it felt right, and she was left with little choice.
Slowly she stumbled towards them, towards Siuan and Ranma,
while slicing threw weave after weave. Slowly and with great effort she
reached then and grabbed onto Ranma. A torrent rushed into her, she
felt more power then even before the moment she latched onto
Ranma's arm.
"He's mine!" Siuan pulled back in response and her power
weakened. She knew what must be done now. With all her might
Moiraine pulled back, harder. The vast amount of one power came back
to her. It was tug of war; who ever had more of Ranma had more
power. Moiraine pulled with all her strength, and Siuan pulled with all
of
her's.
The war went on, neither giving up, the power went back and
forth. Moiraine felt like she would throw up with each tide turning of
power. *I must keep up�*
*No. Let go.*
Her eyes widened, a voice came out of nowhere; before she
knew it, she had let go of Ranma's arm.
Siuan fell back in surprised and Ranma along with her. Their lips
met. Siuan eyes widen and almost immediately push him off of her.
Scrambling to her feet she edged back franticly, eyes wide with fear.
Moiraine felt a weave forming behind Siuan. Suddenly vertical glowing
line appeared and widens into a hole. *A gateway�*
Siuan jumped through it and the gateway closed immediately.
Moiraine could only stare at her leavetakings.
< OH MY! >
Somewhere in the snow cover woods a black piglet with a yellow
and black stripped bandanna pulled a big heavy backpack with his teeth.
It was an amazing feat.
Ryouga was not in a happy mood, he was in his curse form in a
snow covered forest unable to even able to build a fire to change back.
The last thing he remembered just before waking up was the attack by
those beasts and that guy that moved so unnaturally. He was just
about to attack when a light came from nowhere and burned the guy to
crisp. When he looked it was a woman that had done it.
She had given him a black sphere thing and said to deliver it to
someone. Before he could ask more his vision blurred and fainted. He
wasn't sure what had happen after that, but he had a feeling it was all
Ranma's fault. It always was.
< OH MY! >
A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red decorations
along the edges walks out. SD for once is humming cheerfully.
"Hello there, finally able to negotiate a new contract, I am now
here to explain about things from the Wheel of Time."
"Lanfear, meaning Daughter of the Night in the old tongue has
this thing for the Dragon. She is very devious and probably psychotic
too. One thing though is that she is very beautiful and men will fall
dead
just from that fact. But for our hero Rand, she is just one of his many
girl troubles. Every hero must have those."
"Compel and compulsion. I've been asked to explain these more
clearly. Though I threw a book at the person suggesting it, I will do it
anyway. Compel is what Aes Sedai do to their warder. Don't ask, it's
probably kinky. Compulsion is a weave that can make people do what
ever you want. Don't ask, that's probably kinky too."
"The Aes Sedai camp. It seems they didn't agree which color to
choose and split up, with Blues on one side and Reds on the other and
every other color stuck in between. Now the Blues want the tower back
and they have a big, paint spra--I mean army to do it."
"A little tidbit, Aes Sedai if they want to can take their
warders energy as their own. If they choose or need to they can drain
it till the warder dies. How very mean, and how very clever, tee-hee."
"Okay, this is all because I deemed it so. It's so nice to have a
new contract."
The author in the background starts rambling some gibberish
and was muffled by a loud crash. Apparently from a huge mallet.
"Author no baka"
Authors babbles:
It's been a while since I wrote on this, I might be a bit rusty
especially with characters as I haven't read the books in a while, heh.
Gereth Bryne and Moiraine, I know of just used my memory. Well it seems
almost every chapter has one sort or another cliff hanger, and this one
I guess is no different. What is going on here, guess! *Cackles madly
until SD slams a giant candy cane on ranting author*
~Kuku