Finally back on track to getting on with chapter 9, I felt it would be good to get some fresh comments on the story itself after so long.

    This should of been a repost, but with all the hacking and editing over[OVER 5 years of it!!] who knows what happened to it. Hopefully a fresh dose of comments will get me moving faster.

    Reading it over myself. I can see my advancement in english over so long of a time. I really should just rewrite the first couple of chapters if only to fit the later chapters. But I never had the heart to even if my earlier works were just bad.

C&C and all that other stuff much wanted.


Other fanfics are located at:

    http://www.angelfire.com/ny/Ohdear/FANFIC.html

    I don't own anything remotely original here and if any lawyers come,
I blame you- ALL of YOU~


                        My BAKA Gaidin
                        Wheel of Time Series
                        Ranma 1/2

    
    Keys
*(thoughts)*

    Prologue

    Spanning the stars of the night, flows of energy weave into its
target. Inside a tent lay a woman, young compared to her real age.
Shifting uncomfortably back and forth, she wasn't in the best of moods
by the reflection on her face. Dreams can do that to you. A person's
dreams is often a pleasurable experience though confusing, but
sometimes, like now, it was down right horrifying. Those were referred
to as nightmares.

    Gleemen, legendary traveling storytellers, have told of ancient
horrible creatures that plague the world, destroying everything in the
name of a great evil with uncountable names. It had been said there was
no worst sight then the eyes of a myrddraal, a fade, known by many
names. Some have claimed this was a fable creature to scare little
children at night, others who have fought them, have said 'to look into
the eyes of a fade is to know fear'.

    Among the stories the name Aes Sedai were also spoken, some good,
others bad. Once there were both male and females with mystic powers who
wore such a title, now there were only women. Siuan Sanche, known for
her recent dethroning as the Amyrlin, the chosen leader of such a clan,
had done little better then anyone else. The cold, utter hatred stare of
a fade is as terrifying as the first time it was experienced, Aes Sedai
or not.

    The fade moved with uncommon grace, slipping into the blackness of
the surrounding scenery. It seemed to phase in and out of view every so
often, blending in completely with the darkness, but not long enough.
With a cloak of pure darkness that never moved; it silently moved
towards her, never wavering, staring with those soulless eyes to strike
fear into its prey. It had an exposed blade out, a wicked blade as dark
as everything else on the shadowspawn, but the outline of the blade was
always clearly visible for all to know it was there.

    Siuan was not inexperienced; she knew what to do in the face of a
shadowspawn, but with all her past training nothing but panic flowed
through the mind as she took a step back. One step became two, two
became three, before long she ran with desperation on her face. Finally
some sense had gotten back to her. Facing the creature, she tried to use
her powers, quickly if not fumbling in doing so.

    An intricate weave of mystic power formed around the opponent, a
barrier of air to hold the fade, power that flowed through her with all
its sweetness and pleasure just to wrap herself in it. Siuan almost lost
herself to the sweetness, fumbling the flows like the first time she had
channeled. She made the weaves of air as thick as she could manage to
contain the fade, not a wise thing to do told by old lessons. One was
taught to never do anything short of destruction to any shadowspawn.
Still the fade seemed effected little if none at all. From Siuan's point
of view it had almost seem to smile at her feeble attempt.

    Reevaluating her efforts, Siuan deposed of the idea of air and opted
quickly with fire. She channeled with all of her strength, a bright
stream of fire flew from her hands at the shadowspawn as she shouted,
"Die!" To her fear the fire trickled down and vanished in front of the
fade as if some invisible barrier just squelched the stream. Siuan's
eyes widened, and mentally cursed to the unknown.

    The fade seemed to slow down, but little else was done as the storm
of fire continued to flow towards it. *How can this be happening, my
power isn't what it was, but it should have died. Died!* Siuan took a
step back trying to compensate for the fade's forward motion, never
letting up the blazing hot fire. Renewed panic and fear struck her with
vengeance as the situation rapidly spun out of control. *Stay back! Die,
burn you, DIE!*

    On the other side of the pitch black plane, if you can call it that,
was of little better scene. A young boy faced off his latest opponent.
Ranma Saotome of the 'Anything Goes Martial Arts' was doing badly in his
fight with the black cloaked thing. It was more like a struggle than a
fight as it currently had a firm iron grip on him. He kicked and fought,
but that had done little to free himself. What frightened him most was
the deathly stare of the creature, but being the great Ranma Saotome he
had worst.

    Normal men, even abnormal men, would cringe at the sight of a fade's
stare, but Ranma while still frightened had worst than the creature ever
could produce, namely Akane's cooking smelled, tasted, looked, and
probably was more dangerous then the creature could be. But that didn't
matter now; he clenched his teeth putting all his strength to release
the hold from his opponent. *I'm not gonna loose to a thing like you!
LET me go, damn you!*

    Siuan's efforts were having ill effects on her. She was channeling
with every bit of strength she can manage and beyond that. Her hold on
the One Power was weakening. The strand of power that connected herself
to Sadiar, the female half of the power, was strung high. Slowly it was
breaking apart, but that was an afterthought with the fade still coming
toward her. Then it broke; the strain of her channeling broke it apart.
The connection to the One Power snapped like a string holding a mad
horse. All thoughts were forgotten as Siuan desperately tried to latch
on to the fleeing string of power that was flung away. *No, NO, not
this, NO!* Fumbling hopelessly, it was like holding on to a squirming
wet kingfish, with no avail.

    Ranma's sight was starting to blur. His strength was gradually
decreasing. The grip of the creature had gotten tighter and tighter. It
was squeezing the life out of him. Then on the corner of his eye
something appeared, a tint of light, like a rope of some sort.
Desperately he tried to reach for it. *Come on, Ranma Saotome never
gives up!*

    Siuan would have dubbed the situation, "Slipped off the boat and
floundering to get back on," if she had that luxury. Mentally she
reached out to grab the strand that gave her to ability to channel.
Right now it was the only thought on her mind. Every time she thought
she had it, it just wriggled right out. In a final attempt she mentally
stretched with all her might, she lunged forward to grab it...it seemed
to grab her also.

    Ranma finally got a grip on the light rope that he had seen before,
it almost seemed to leap at him for some reason and pulled. *Got it!*

    Siuan pulled and pulled, it almost seemed like a hand now and with
that she lifted her self towards it. An image seemed to form from the
strand, almost like a body...a male body. *What the...*

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan's eyes shot awake. Sweat covered her face and likely the rest
of her body. She quickly sat upright, the only thought on her mind
was... *It was a dream, all a dream... It was so real... it...was a
nightmare* The last thought almost felt like a relief.  Cursing herself
for unknown reasons, she went into deep thought of what it meant. *My
stilling, the stilling was probably why I had the nightmare. The fear
that I would lose my powers again... Burn you Elaida!* Her rage quickly
died out as new emotions seemed to slip into her mind. It was much like
her own, but the feeling wasn't the same, it was different. She couldn't
describe it, it was odd and it also pointed in a particular direction.

    Ranma awoke with frenzy. *A nightmare...* He was confused as anyone
else that just had a nightmare. It had been a vivid dream, but not all
that uncommon when you were Ranma Saotome, nightmares and real life
weren't all that different. He soon shrugged off as being another
'Someone is going to kill you' nightmare and looked at his surroundings.
*Funny, the forest looked different from yesterday* Some of the more
obvious things were that it seemed much hotter then last night and the
leaves were now withered on the trees. But those thoughts quickly
subsided with new ones, very faint, something unfamiliar to him. He
seemed to look off into a direction, something was there, but again it
had been hampered with greater thoughts of food. *Man I'm hungry*

    In some unknown place a figure stood glazing over the distance and
appeared to be in deep thought. *My plans seems to be going nicely* As
almost always these events seemed to be the doings of some being and
their plans. *They should make a good match up, though I have to admit
there are better choices then Ranma in this world. Besides the fact that
I'm Pro Ranma (just have to love him), he does have some of the
qualifications for the job. Now to continue with my plans* Though the
figure had done all this, it really didn't have further plans or have
any experience with this type of stuff, but you have to start somewhere.
*Oh, this is going to be fun* and with that last thought it opened a
portal and disappeared.

    End Prologue

    Chapter 1

    The blazing morning sun shone in the sky over a withering forest. A
boy sat in deep thought all the while searching his faithful backpack
for a filling breakfast. He looked about seventeen, black hair, tied in
a pigtail. He was a handsome boy with crystal blue eyes and of course
with the build of a martial artist.

    Ranma Saotome was confused. Everything felt so weird, but then
lately everything was confusing. Recent events had turned his already
confused life even more confusing. He had been shunned out, not that it
hasn't happened before, but it wasn't serious last time. It had been
pondered over many times before and now it seemed little more than a
nagging memory. "I'm running a bit low," he muttered, noticing his food
supply was vanishing. *I wonder how much money I still have left*

    Breakfast had been pretty good to a starving Ranma, given his talent
for cooking. He would turn someone into a pulp if that someone ever
mentions it though. With stomach filled, he became more aware of his
other thoughts and feelings. The first was where was he. *This can't be
the same place I was last night* The whole place felt weird to say the
least. Withered trees were everywhere, dried and wrinkled. The land
seemed not to have rained in months and with the heat to match it. It
was not a pretty sight.

    The second thought puzzled Ranma to no end. He felt other emotions
different from his own, like it was not his.  It was faint. Confusion
seemed to be the strongest he felt. The origin of the emotions pointed
in the direction he was now facing. *There is probably a reasonable
explanation for this. Like going back in time or some wizard sending me
somewhere because Pop ate his dinner or something*

    Giving a sigh, Ranma went in that direction, commenting that some
things were getting too easy to predict.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan Sanche was recorded to be youngest Amyrlin to have ever lived,
or at least in the tower. The newly raised one was now even younger. Her
life had been stood on its head ever since that meeting with the Dragon
Reborn. Many things changed besides her now youthful face. She had been
the most powerful Aes Sedai, now she was one of the lowest, the highest
in rank and back down. The first woman to be cured of stilling that
anyone ever heard of.

    Stilling was not a thing done, or mentioned often in her society. It
was a fate worse then death to some and it led to eventual death to
those stilled. Anyone who channeled the power feared being stilled, as
it was the permanent cutting of the source that gave new meaning to
pleasure and happiness and if ever experienced would never live again
without it. It was said to be permanent until Siuan Sanche changed that
fact.

    Siuan thought she had faced everything that the pattern can weave
her into, but again something new and unheard of wiggles right to her.
Her thoughts and emotions were in turmoil. She felt something that
wasn't possible. To have felt a bonded man that had been long dead was
unheard of. *Alric... it can't be...* Alric, Siuan's warder, now long
dead when she had been dethroned. She had seen him die, felt him die,
and cried many nights for that.

    "He's dead, it can't be..." wide eyed, she spoke softly to herself.
*I can't be feeling him, could I? Maybe...no... there was no other I
could have bonded with. But he's dead!* She was sure of her memories at
least, there was no knowledge of her bonding with another man since that
day. *Maybe it was an effect of being stilled and brought back. No it
can't be...can it?* Siuan tried to think, there had to be some
explanation to this. *Leane! She would have felt something too*

    Leane, her keeper and companion for many years, was the only other
person to share the experience of being stilled and brought back. If
anyone had felt what she felt, it would have to be Leane. Barely getting
dress, she scurried out the tent opening seeking for answers.

    Leane and Siuan, former Keeper and Amyrlin Seat, had a plan to
pretend to hate each other, but that was far from Siuan's mind right
now. Dodging past women, she felt worried to no end, but decades of Aes
Sedai taught her to better mask that. Deep in her own worries, Siuan
almost ran over a body, when it hit her. In front of her was the
youngest Amyrlin to have lived, complete with the seven colors of the
Amyrlin's stole.

    "Mother," mentally and physically, she calmed herself all the while
mentally giving herself a good kick in the bottom for being so childish.

    "Is something the matter Siuan? You seemed worried to the point of
running me over," Egwene, now Amyrlin looked at her. Siuan's tutoring
had made Egwene act at least like the Amyrlin despite her youthful face.

    "Nothing is the matter, Mother," Siuan calmly replied with Aes Sedai
serenity. *Nothing much, just my dead warder coming back to haunt me!
Maybe I'm going crazy*  "I'm going to Leane to ask her something. Do you
know where she might be Mother?" Her face never wavered, giving no sign
of her emotions, but Egwene knew better.

    Egwene blinked and quickly leaned closer to Siuan. "Is something
really the matter? You two are not to be seen with each other." Her
voice lowered to a whisper. Aes Sedai could not lie. They could make
truth stand on its head though, but Siuan was an exception. Another
secret effect of stilling. *Well I will find out later...* "I have
something to speak to you, daughter." She motioned Siuan to follow her
into the tent.

    "I just got this last night," Egwene pulled out a folded letter,
"it's a message from our group. They ask for you Siuan. Want you to go
to Caemlyn. There was no reason mentioned." Taking a breath to ready
herself, Egwene continued, "Siuan I have no idea what this means. Do
they have some intention for you or is this all a trick... maybe
Moghedien is... I don't know Siuan."

    Moghedien, one of the female forsaken, even the mention of such a
name would put fear into the bravest. Recently she had been captured and
had been made to do countless things that would call out for revenge.
Now that she was loose, she had four targets and two of them were Siuan
and Egwene.

    Siuan face had been featureless, while she calmly listened to all
this. "I know nothing that could pull me to Caemlyn. It's up to you,
mother." *Caemlyn, why in the light must I go there?*

    "All the same Siuan, I need you here. I will see if anymore
information comes. Be careful Siuan, if it's Moghedien..." Egwene's
voice trailed off not needing to explain further.

    There were little need for things to be discussed more and Siuan
left in search of Leane. *First Alric and now Caemlyn, could this be
Moghedien's revenge?* Things always got more confusing for Siuan in the
time of the Dragon Reborn.

    < OH MY! >

    In the streets of Caemlyn, Ranma was quite annoyed. The whole way
here, there was not a drop of water on the road. That was except the
splash of water on the now her. When he went up to a guy in a wagon
asking for directions, the guy accidentally spilled his water bag on
him. The guy fainted of course, but luckily he had told him there was a
city near by at the end of the road before he did. Then in the city, the
now female Ranma, found out something or someone had transported her to
a different time or a different place. *This does not look like Japan
even if it's a different time*

    Ranma thought she was in a pretty bad situation. *At least I speak
the language* He shuddered with the thought of the many times how the
lack of communication led to big headaches. The place looked like some
western movie with knights in shinning armor and stuff. Obvious with all
the guards around, and the large palace that he could see even before he
reached the gates.

    Looking around, Ranma tried to loosen up a little. *It's not all
that bad, not like I got anywhere to go anytime soon* Still she wanted
to go back to the world she had slept in yesterday. *First thing to do
is to get rid of whatever is happening to me and go back to...China. I
need to find the cure for my curse* With that settled she now went in
search of the temporary cure, hot water.

    Spotting a tavern, it seemed the best choice for hot water then any
place else around. So Ranma casually strolled in with a now slightly
oversized pack from the result of the curse. As usual there were stares
and whistling. Some not because of the backpack, but rather a pretty
face and some other looked at parts. She had been through this before.
Doing her best impression of 'One more look and I'll kill you' stare,
people quickly looked elsewhere.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan was confused, annoyed, and furious. Leane had outright mocked
her about the situation when she asked.

    Leane(V.O.): Why Siuan, I didn't know you wanted a warder so badly.
You should have became a green, with that sly mind of yours. You're
quicker to think of bonding then me.

    More emotions flowed through her. She was certain it came with the
mysterious bond that had inflicted her. It had all of a sudden tripled;
breaking down the mental barriers that kept her coolness. The worse part
was the emotion of confusion caused her to back down from Leane like a
little accepted to an Aes Sedai.

    It had took her a couple of minutes to control the boiling emotions,
but the feelings of the bond were as strong as ever. *This can't be
happening! Oh Light I'm going crazy* Siuan made up her mind, she had to
find out the source of the bond and strangely or rather not so much, it
came from Caemlyn. *It has to be in Caemlyn, the two events are too
closely tied* Trying to compose herself, she stalked off to find Egwene.

    Egwene wasn't far off when Siuan came up to her. "What is it
daughter?" Siuan had one of those looks that meant something
demoralizing happened. *Maybe Sheriam gave her a hard time again*

    "I ask to go to Caemlyn, Mother." Siuan tried her best to keep that
Aes Sedai calmness. It wasn't the emotions this time that worried her.
It was the fact that she would have to explain to Egwene.

    Scurrying the conversation off to the side from prying ears. Siuan
began her explanation with Egwene's eyes going wider with every
sentence. "I see..." Egwene sounded almost scared. There were certain
problems if this story got out. "I will make you a gateway to Caemlyn
and make up some excuse for the Hall. Be careful, the whole situation
cries of danger."

    Siuan gave a nod. "I will hurry back as fast as I can Egwene."
Little more was said.

    < OH MY! >

    A now male Ranma walked the streets again. While in female form the
emotions got thicker, much more thicker. It spooked him; this never
happened before. He became more aware of anger and confusion while in
girl form and was all too happy when the hot water went into effect. He
also felt like he was being watched. But between the pool of emotions,
thoughts, and unusual clothing he wore, he couldn't tell for sure.

    "Man, this is got to be the weirdest yet." Ranma swore to himself.
One good thing was the location of those foreign emotions suddenly got
closer, a lot closer, and was moving toward him. Somehow he could feel
she was close.

    *I wonder why I call it a she?* the unconscious part of his mind
asked.

    Siuan came out of the stable in Caemlyn. The trip was short, via
traveling. The bond was also close and headed towards her. She almost
jumped with nervousness from who it might be. *Alric please be you*

    Suddenly pain came, much pain. Siuan fell to the ground from a
dazing blow to the head. Fighting unconsciousness, she barely kept her
eyes open as her attacker dragged her into the alley. She tried to get
up, but all her strength went to keeping consciousness.

    Ranma felt a stab of pain. Somehow whoever it was, was in trouble,
she had been hit over the head and he felt it. Without a second thought
he leaped and sped to her from the rooftops. *She's in trouble, gotta
get to her!*

    There were five grizzly men circled around Siuan's moaning body.
Each had a fairly deadly weapon at hand, clubs, knifes, and the sort.

    "She's on of those Aes Sedai witches. Kill her!" one said.

    "She doesn't look like an Aes Sedai," said another.

    "They mean to control the Dragon Reborn. Kill all Aes Sedai witches
and anyone with them!" put in the third. They made their decision with
that as everyone prepared to kill.

    Siuan would have screamed if she could. All she could do was watch
them come closer. Suddenly a red and black blur came into view followed
by a "Oof" and a hard drop to the pavement.

    "Nobody is touching her!" a male voice snarled.

    *Alric...* She felt it, the bond came from him. A view of his back
could only be seen for Siuan; sleeveless shirt of red, loose fitting
pants, and braided black hair. The group only growled as the assault
began. Knifes and clubs swung at him, but he moved with lightning speed,
dodging and counterattacking with deadly accuracy. The five would be
attackers fell all with pain followed by unconsciousness from their
weaponless opponent.

    Ranma dodged easily out of the way of a knife while he ducked under
a clubbed swing. The attackers were armed men, but not very good. He
punched a guy in the gut and back kicked another guy's face. Something
was not right here. He couldn't quite define it, but everything seemed
easier. He felt more powerful, faster, stronger, more aware of
surrounding. His would be attackers fell with little effort from him.

    Ranma looked back at the source of his worries. The girl seemed to
be trying to get up. He could tell she was in pain. She took quite a
blow to the head. He acted instinctively, he picked up his pack on the
floor and the girl, and leaped up to the rooftop to a safer place.

    Siuan tried to scream yet again as her savior jumped to the rooftop
and sped away with her and at high speed at that. *This can't be Alric.
Who is he? I never seen him before in my life* The young boy she now saw
was definitely not her dead warder. But with all the denial, she could
feel the bond with him. There was no doubt she had gotten him as a
warder.

    A safer place away he put her down. Ranma saw a young girl, maybe a
few years older than him. She was pretty with blue eyes and dark hair
down to her shoulders. Even with a few screams of "Put me down!" he felt
she was confused.

    Finding a small medical kit from his pack he decided to ask, "How
are ya?" while trying to tend to the wound on her head. She wriggled a
bit, but eventually accepted.

    "Who are you?" Siuan asked in an infamous Aes Sedai tone, cold and
demanding. *He's not Alric, who is he? How did I ever bond with him?*
The boy was handsome, lean, muscular, and aged around seventeen or so.
Also very deadly from the show he putted for her, but nothing like what
a warder would be.

    "Urr...name's Ranma." He tried to act polite as possible. *Don't
want her to think I am crazy by blabbering out my feelings towards her*
"Yours?" he asked.

    "Siuan Sedai" Siuan replied calmly. Ranma blinked at that.

    "Nice to meet'cha, Siuan. Umm hey I know it crazy, but..." Ranma was
abruptly cut off by Siuan's cold stare.

    "I am Aes Sedai. " Siuan said coldly showing her golden serpent
ring, all the while staring daggers at him. *Why that insolent boy! Bad
enough the others look down at me, but my own warder!*

    Ranma backed away a bit, feeling anger from the Aes Sedai.
"Umm...sure, umm Siuan Sedai." He had not known what he had said to put
his foot in his mouth, but he could visibly see the anger on her with
that last comment.

    "I should teach you a lesson, boy, for being so insolent to an Aes
Sedai." Siuan was very much angered now.

    "Hey, what did I say?" Ranma spoke brashly back giving a mutter
"Uncute tomboy" at the end. He then felt and saw her anger go up more
than he thought already possible. *Uh oh, looks like she heard that one*

    Siuan hadn't really caught all that much of the end, but uncute,
added to his tone of voice was enough. *Why that...!* Weaving a small
flow of air she hurled the nearest object at the boy, which happened to
be a battered bucket.

    Ranma was good at dodging, but he had one downfall; with all his
skills, almost anything an angered woman throws at him, it always seemed
to go ten times faster.  Needless to say the bucket slapped him flat in
the face and he promptly fell over. Objects flown at him on their own
should have provoked some thoughts in Ranma (sometimes anyway), but the
only thought he was thinking was *Why do I always get stuck with violent
women?*

    At least the bucket was empty.

    Not far from the two, a white cloaked figure casually leaned against
the wall. The cloak covered the figure from top to bottom with red
triangle like patterns embroidered along the edges. "Humm... this is
sort of boring, just watching them like this. Maybe I should do
something else to keep myself...err help with the cause." The voice
emitted by the figure was definitely female.

    < OH MY! >

    A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red
decorations along the edges, steps out.

    Speaking out in a cute high-pitched voice, "Hellooo! This is a
special section to explain the Wheel of Time world that I'm
manipulating."

    "Channeling, drawing magical powers from the 'One Power' to do
magical things. Saidar is the female half, Saidin is the male."

    SD embraces the source, channeling, she starts throwing fireballs at
fleeing bystanders by weaving weaves of fire all the while cooking a
lovely dinner.

    "Bond, A male that is attached to a female Aes Sedai, those with
mystic powers much like magic. They generally get more power, better
senses, among other things. It is not known totally all the effects of
it, but it is very bad if it was broken whether through death or some
other means. Bonded men are called warders or Gaidin meaning protector."

    SD posts a 'Help wanted' ad, "Must have great fighting skills, must
be incredibly handsome, must have..."

    "Forsaken, a bunch of old fogies who think they're gods, but are
dropping faster then Akane can mallet Ranma, to Mister Dragon and some
insignificant others."

    [A cheap stick figure] : HAHAHA I AM God!
    [BOOM]

    "Amyrlin Seat, Miss president of Aes Sedai."

    SD reads the "Political Leaders and Impeachment" pamphlet.

    "Till next time on the 'I hate those women' world of Wheel of
Time..."



    Chapter 2

    In the grand city of Caemlyn, there was much trouble boiling. People
lived in fear since they had been taken over. Two foreign armies were in
the city with Aes Sedai and Asha'man somewhere about too. Aes Sedai,
women who could channel the one power, Asha'man, men who could channel
the one power. Put them together and there isn't much more to fear than
that. There was no need to mention the Black Tower was somewhere near by
also.

    Ranma wouldn't have cared for any of those situations. It wouldn't
scare him even if he'd known. What had scared him was the girl in front
of him. She had used some kind of power to hit him, but that wasn't what
scared him either. She had screamed and stared daggers at him, that
scared him a little, but that was nothing Akane couldn't do. What had
scared him was when she explained to him what the feeling meant. After
some boring lectures with screaming of "Are you listening!?" she had
told him he was bonded to her.

    Siuan had finally cooled down with Ranma enough to get some
questions answered. He seemed to be confused at where he was. He had no
idea about the world or even about Aes Sedai. It was hard to believe
someone could be that ignorant, but he seemed to be telling the truth.
Whether he was telling the truth or not was not the real problem.

    The boy, Ranma Saotome, had not even known he was bonded.  Ranma was
very poor at keeping his face straight, either that or he was a very
cunning liar. Siuan would have to right either one of that if he was to
become her warder. There was little choice; Blues could only bond to one
man at a time. The other choice was to pass him to someone else, but
that would mean extreme embarrassment and even if a tenth part of the
situation got out, there would be more than embarrassment to worry
about.

    The answer would have to wait as her true assignment lay elsewhere.
The party that was to tell the Dragon Reborn that 'they mean no harm'
needed her for some mysterious reason. Siuan had told Ranma about what a
warder's job was, he hadn't liked it at first, but he seemed to accept
it now. "Come along Ranma, I have things to do," she commanded him to
follow.

    Ranma sighed at his new life beginning. Siuan said that there was
almost nothing to break a bond short of death and the others were not
all that better either. He couldn't just leave, he could feel her and
letting her die was unthinkable. Besides, she had coldly stated the
facts of the effects of her dying would have on him. Revenge and death
was not such a nice future.

    Ranma noted that Siuan was a mean one. She had a temper like Akane
and a mind and expression like Nabiki. *Probably the only reason she
told me the death thing was to have me follow her around forever* His
life wouldn't give him something good for a change. He hadn't got much
of the Aes Sedai thing and Ranma hadn't thought she would want to repeat
anything or he would have more flying objects at him. *Does every girl I
meet have the power to beat the crap out of me?*

    The two walked down the street with the Aes Sedai giving her Aes
Sedai serenity and Ranma, her warder, sulking behind. *I need to get him
in some decent clothes,* Siuan mused. The unusual form fitting clothes
Ranma had on would definitely draw some attention. Siuan gave a sigh as
it would take a lot of work to make him a suitable warder. *Burn them! A
lake full of catfishes to sort out and in comes another one!*

    "Oi, Siuan, where are we going?" Ranma from behind asked her.

    Giving him a cold stare he quickly shut his mouth. Off to the corner
of her eye, Siuan spotted a familiar sight. Aes Sedai, but not anyone
that was part of the group. Even without the shawl, she could notice an
Aes Sedai, but she could also see that she was a Red. Quickly she sped
her pace with Ranma looking around in puzzlement.

    Finally Siuan and her warder went into an inn and ordered rooms.
She Shoved her bag at Ranma all the while giving him a commanding stare
"Bring these to my room and stay there till I come for it."

    Ranma gave back a defiant stare, but said, "Sure, whatever," and
going off.

    Siuan's attention went back to the owner of the inn, one of her eyes
and ears. "Tell me what has been going on in Caemlyn. And how many Aes
Sedai are here."

    Ranma put the stuff on the bed inside the room. *She was afraid of
something back there. Great, I thought I was done saving Akane every
other day and now this* He looked around for something to do, but
nothing much came to mind. *I'm going to have to talk with her and if
I'm lucky I won't get hit by anything. Well at least this time I'm not
engaged to her or nothing* He chuckled with the last thought.

    < OH MY! >

    "Finally, food!" As fast as Siuan had seen Ranma move before, it had
done nothing for her now as the would be warder moved faster then
lightning getting to the food prepared out. It was an amazing if not
startling sight. She had never seen anyone move that fast towards food.
*What is he?* Of course, she had to repeat that thought as Ranma seem to
move even faster as what can be barely called eating.

    "You have no manners Ranma." Siuan said after she had seated. "I
will not have that since you are now my warder." She tried to ignore the
gruesome scene while at the same time examined him, she began to eat
herself.

    "I have manners! It's just that I'm hungry." Ranma shot back,
finally slowing down to a somewhat normal speed. Half the food on the
table was already gone by this time. *Ain't my fault I was hungry. To
think of it, it's been a long time since I've been this hungry*
"Umm...Is there more coming or do I have to order?" Siuan finally lost
her mask of Aes Sedai calmness.

    < OH MY! >

    On the rooftop of the Inn, the familiar white cloaked figure sat
shaking a sphere like object. "Oh ultra magical eight ball, which Ajah
should I visit. Is it Red, Green, Yellow, Brown, Blue, White, Gray, or
Black? Wait, I shouldn't choose blue, but then it will be the ultra
magical seven ball." Giving it a bit of thought, she began to reach into
the cloak. "I wonder if I have a purple here somewhere..." she muttered
to herself.

    After a replacement, the ball told her to torment the Reds. *Lucky
me, they're close by*

    < OH MY! >

    Back inside with everything back to normal, Ranma was eating
normally or as normal as he could get of what's left of the food. Siuan
on the other hand was the image of a Queen on her royal banquet. "Where
are you from Ranma? I have never seen that type of clothing before,"
Siuan asked. *It looked like clothes Domani men would wear, but he was
not even close to a Domani*

    That was true enough as Domani were copper-skinned. They were also
known for their flirting. *If he dares drawing any kind of unnecessary
attention, I'll skin him*

    "I told ya, I'm from another world, I think," answered Ranma in
between bites.

    "Some people think anywhere beyond their farms are a different
world." Siuan had again wore that no nonsense Aes Sedai look. To Ranma
it reminded him too much of Nabiki or Cologne.

    "Fine, don't believe me," said Ranma not really caring. *Better
change the subject. If she's anything like Nabiki, she'll probably poke
into some things I don't like*

    "You were afraid back there. Who did you run away from? I am your
protector or something right? I'll protect ya."

    Siuan gave back a slight frown. *Perhaps he isn't as thick as he
appears* "You would be of little help, It is a Red sister and I would
not swim near any silverfishes." Finally finishing up her plate, her
eyes gazed back at her warder. "You must change those clothes of yours.
If anything would get unwanted attention, it would be you. I have
already prepared some."

    "Hold on a minute!" roared Ranma. "I'm not changing my clothes for
anyone!"

    "You will do as I say. I will not have a fool warder." Siuan's voice
went up slightly. *He will learn I'm not to be disobeyed* She hadn't
needed to control a warder in years but tonight... *Compelling would put
the fool boy in his place*

    Giving a tug on the bond to do as she command, nothing of the
decades of Aes Sedai training prepared her for what would happen. As if
the power just backlashed, a wave attacked her mind, a hammer would have
been softer. Wide eyed, her sight was even more startling. Ranma at that
moment went brighter then almost anything she had seen before. Stumbling
uncontrollably she fell to the floor.

    Siuan had an ability that was not part of her Aes Sedai-ness. She
could see a ta'veren. They shone with brightness above others. The most
powerful she had seen was, one Rand al'Thor, The Dragon Reborn. Ranma
Saotome, her warder, now came in second.

    The brightness was gone in an instant. Nothing of what she had seen
was there. Her head was pounding with agony. *What happened...*

    "Siuan, what happened? Are you alright?" she heard Ranma say.

    < OH MY! >

    A 'thump' could be heard as the cloaked figure fell to the ground
and seemed to be in pain. "Ahh, that hurts!" she muttered. Slowly with
agony, she got up. Something had just mentally slammed her head. There
was little that could explain what happened. "Baka, Siuan. Maybe I
should have kept the blue in the magical eight ball." Tormenting Siuan
would not be so bad right now.

    < OH MY! >

    On a plane of pitch-blackness, a figure stood there. "Mom?" Ranma
asked. Something was not right here, on top of this his mind was fuzzy.
Without any thought he moved closer.

    The figure who looked like his mother was smiling, a polite smile.
"You'll do fine," he thought she had said.

    Suddenly, she frowned, she looked like Akane now. Something began to
stir behind her. Like a cloak it wrapped around her as she began to
struggle against it. It slowly pulled her into the darkness. Ranma began
to run towards her. "Siuan!" he screamed. He could now clearly see that
face to be Siuan's. "NO, Siuan!"

    "RANMA, GET UP!"

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma's eyes shot awake. "Siuan..." he breathed out. Quickly he
scanned the room. *It was a dream...nightmare* Calming down, he could
now see it was morning. After Siuan fell last night, he helped her to
her room and that was it. It was odd how she suddenly fell.

    "With the way you have been sleeping I thought someone killed you in
the night. You better learn to keep your eyes open, I don't want to lose
another one." Siuan glared at him with daggers as he struggled out of
bed. "There is little time, we must move. Some sisters are here and I
don't want to be."

    "Umm, ok," Ranma replied when a soft thump was heard behind him.
"What's this?" He looked at the pile on his bed.

    "These are your clothes," Siuan said, cool and demanding as he ever
seen.

    "I told ya, I'm not wearing them" he spoke back angrily. *I don't
think so!*

    A discussion promptly took place, shortly followed by shouting. Oh
yea, Ranma got hit over the head with his own shoe this time.

    < OH MY! >

    A few hours and miles later, our Aes Sedai and warder traveled the
road with Caemlyn a dot to be barely seen behind them. Siuan led the
front with Ranma a bit back on the rear. Ranma was struggling a bit
having minor trouble with the horse that he had on. Siuan was doing
little better and perhaps even worse at riding then him. He was wearing
a gray cloak. *This cloak is hot as anything with the sun. At least I
didn't have to wear the stupid clothes*

    "You better start doing your job as a warder, Ranma. I have been
doing all the things you should have been doing. I will have no nonsense
as I would not mind spending money for one instead of two." Siuan was
looking ahead giving no notice of him. Ranma said nothing.

    Suddenly, she felt it, the one power being used. Very powerful if
she could not see it, but it was close. She felt a woman channel and
something must be about if she could feel it from here. Making her horse
go faster she sped towards that location. Ranma gave a second before
following closely behind.

    Off a distance they saw a black cloaked figure just before Siuan's
eyes went wide. A fireball streaked out of its hand directly towards
her.  Desperately Ranma flew from his horse grabbing his Aes Sedai and
diving into the ground.

    As Ranma tried to get up he was lifted off the ground by some
invisible force. He tried to struggle out, but nothing worked. Siuan was
in the same situation, but had not struggled much.

    "Settle down and be quiet, Ranma, you can't do anything," she said
while she glared at two black cloaked men.

    "Should we kill her?" one asked.

    "No, take them to the M'Hael," answered the other.

    A portal promptly opened and all went inside it when it closed.

    Behind a withered tree, our white cloaked figure stepped out.
Surveying the area she said, "Not good. I did not expect this." She gave
herself a bit of thought. "Well I better do something." A portal
promptly opened for her too as she disappeared.

    < OH MY! >

    In the palace of Cairhien, Rand al'Thor was not happy. Someone came
wanting to speak to the Lord Dragon, something about a black cloaked
man. It hadn't taken him much thought to know what it meant. *Burn you,
Taim*

    "Bring her in," he commanded.

    The door opened and came in a girl. It was an amazing sight. She was
pretty with fair skin and a slender body, around his own age if not a
year or so younger, but that was not what was amazing. The girl wore
pure white silk, with a large emerald brooch, a thick golden bracelet on
each arm, and a light blue belt tied to the waist. The brooch sparkled
as she moved with each step. Rand had seen odd arrangement of clothing
before, so this was not very startling. What was amazing was the color
of her hair. She had very long hair, a bit lower than her waist that was
braided in two equally large, thick tails. The color of the hair was a
startling light shade of green and if that was amazing, her eyes were
purple, a pure color of purple. Rand internally struggled to keep
himself expressionless and focus on the reason she had came.

    "My Lord Dragon, I'm...my name is Philia. I was...." She seemed to
be very uncomfortable, stumbling and franticly scanning the room and
back to Rand. "I am a scholar...that is I was traveling and there was
a...I mean near Caemlyn, I found a black cloaked man and he...I think
there was a message since...something of Aes Sedai, a lot of them and
a...a tower, black tower." She was hard press with speaking the whole
line. Clearly she was in a panic. "Lord...my Lord Dragon, I'm sorry if
it was not clear...I will try..."

    "It is alright, Philia, I know what you mean. You may go now," told
Rand. Aes Sedai and black tower, it only meant one thing. "By the way,
why is your hair green?" She looked confused by the question, then
examined a strand of her hair and left without an answer. As soon as
Philia scrambled out, he would be making a trip to the black tower. *I
doubt Elaida could send enough to take down the black tower without me
noticing. Still it is serious*

    Outside the gates of the palace, Philia smiled to herself. *Aes
Sedai eat you heart out* Everything she said had been somewhat true.
There was a black cloaked man and Aes Sedai and the black tower. *A bit
of acting and he thinks he knows everything* Turning around in to a
narrow alley it was her turn to be startled.

    "What! How! Who... It can't be..." She was more then startled at the
sight in front of her. In front of her was an image of a woman, a misty,
transparent image of an Aes Sedai, Moiraine Damodred. "How can you be
here...you should be or maybe..." Looking around the area to see if
there were any spectators, Philia gave a big sigh. Clearly she was more
then startled.

    "I do not know," replied the image of Moiraine. "I was sent here to
give this to you." She held out a rolled up letter as transparent as her
hand.

    Taking the letter from her, it suddenly became as solid as
everything else around. Philia opened it and began to read...

    I'll bet you are surprised right now and angry after you read this,
so I am already running. You are now stuck here for an indefinite amount
of time and you are to drag around Moiraine Sedai here with you.

    P.S. HA HA

    At first Philia looked at Moiraine with an angry expression, then
she gave a bigger sigh.

    < OH MY! >

    A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red
decorations along the edges is seen trying to slip away.

    "Ackk! I don't like this job anymore! Look at this...I don't wan'na
do this chapter's explanations!!"

    Being sued for false advertising she finally starts this chapters
lecture.

    "Male Channelers, bad people, they go crazy like raid your
refrigerator, wreck your house, cause property damage...basically like
any other men, only they can channel. Aes Sedai especially Red Ajah are
sometimes called witches because they wack them with brooms to get them
out of your house."

    "Compel, a thing Aes Sedai do to their warder...a 'Call me queen
thing,' I think."

    "Ta'veren, they do weird stuff to people and events. Great way to
get rich or find if your boyfriend is really cheating on you."

    "Men in black-cloaks (Asha'man), the Dragon bloody Reborn's personal
channeling army of men."

    "All seven colors of the Ajahs for Aes Sedai, too long, here's an
excerpt of the 'Darkone's Dictionary' by Joe "Uno" Shaw and Bill
Garrett:

    <snip>
    Ajah

    Societies among the Aes Sedai, to which all Aes Sedai belong, except
the Amyrlin Seat who is the sole member of the Rainbow Ajah. They are
designated by colors: Blue, Red, White, Green, Brown, Yellow, and Gray
Ajah. Each follows a specific philosophy of the use of the Power and the
purposes of the Aes Sedai. For example, the Red Ajah bends all its
energies to finding men who can channel and gentling them, so that they
cannot spread the truth, which the Reds see as vicious lies. The White
Ajah loses touch with the world by dedicating itself to questions of
philosophy and truth, which have no application to the real world. The
Brown Ajah, on the other hand, knowingly forsakes involvement with the
world to see knowledge and study history, which any fool knows will
repeat itself anyway, so why bother studying the past? The Blue Ajah
mucks around with causes, manipulating governments and societies for
their own benefit and personal pleasure. The Yellow is primarily
interested in healing, but seldom affiliates with 'regular people', so
they're not much good. The Gray likes settling arguments, but as
everyone knows, the best way to settle an argument in your own favor is
to start it and blame it all on someone else. In this way, the Grays are
like the Blues, but much craftier. The Green Ajah talks about preparing
for battle, but its main interest is in meeting guys. There are rumors
of a Black Ajah dedicated to serving Ishamael's 'needs', but these
rumors are hotly denied.
    <snip>

    "Hopefully there will be no next time on 'Explain The bloody World
of Wheel Of Time.'"


    Chapter 3

    Rand the savior of the world and all that, was trying to figure out
what had happened. He walked down the corridor with his usual ring of
maidens and Asha'man. Their presence hadn't bothered him anymore for a
while now. *Why can't anything be easy? I told those Aes Sedai what
would happen if they went after the Black Tower. They never listen*

    His mind went back to the carrier of the message. She was an odd
girl to say the least. An exotic girl would better fit Philia. *Why
would anyone dye their hair green of all colors?* Rand couldn't place
where Philia was from either. He mentally cursed himself for being
distracted by such things as appearance.

    The group finally reached the room specially used for traveling. He
motioned the Asha'man to open a gate. "To the Black Tower," he
commanded. *Those eyes, how could anyone have purple eyes* They were big
and purple that seemed to sparkle with mysterious powers.

    < OH MY! >

    Philia looked at Moiraine. She was not very happy, but she had
learned to roll with the punches so to say. So being grounded on this
world was a bit shocking, but then she wanted to have a vacation anyway.

    Moiraine Damodred was every bit like she had thought she would be.
She was short, slender, dark haired with those penetrating eyes, and
most of all Aes Sedai. Philia wondered why she had to drag the Aes Sedai
with her. "So, you are to follow me... Who sent you? Wait, don't bother.
What happened to you after you went through the doorway? Do you know
what happened to Lanfear?" Philia knew a lot about the tale of the
Dragon Reborn and his companions, but not everything. Like any other,
curious minds want to know.

    If Moiraine was uncomfortable with someone asking questions about
her past she didn't show it. "I do not know. When I woke up, I was told
I was needed back and was sent to you." She spoke with a musical and
also somewhat commanding voice.

    Philia waved away the all too obvious answers, looking in other
directions. *So Moiraine is here. She has to come back anyway. Well she
is back... in spirit anyway." She swung back facing Moiraine as if a
moment of revelation had came to her. *It couldn't be... If Moiraine was
back and I was the cause, then I am part of this line of destiny* It was
either that or was purely coincidence. *How could something like destiny
sneak up on me...*

    "It seems we are in Cairhien, it appears some time has past. How
much time?" The weather was acting up from the mysterious powers of the
Dark One and it should have been hard to tell if it was winter or
summer, but Aes Sedai somehow knew things like this.

    The comment seemed to snap Philia out of her daze. "Yes yes, no need
to do the old Aes Sedai bit. You are to follow me around for some time
so I will tell you all you need to know. Now follow me."

    One moment they were there, the next they were gone.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma was sitting in a cell. How a barn basement had a cell, he had
no idea. Many questions filled him on what happened. The black cloaked
men had been sorcerers, he knew that much, but using a barn as a base?
Ranma did not know very much.

    He still felt Siuan's bond so she was alive. He could also feel that
she was scared and angry at the same time. *Ok, so I break out rescue
her and maybe defeat the boss, typical*

    Ranma could destroy easily the bars as they hadn't seemed to be well
made or maybe just blow the wall with a chi blast, but the guards, not
to mention a whole camp of sorcerers around made the rescuing part hard.
He needed to think up some plan. *Why can't anything be easy these days.
I have a curse, engagements, violent tomboys, some mystical bond, and
now I am locked up*

    One of the black cloaked guards glazed over at Ranma. He was in his
mid-forties with a shaggy beard and a grisly voice. "You're too young to
be a warder, kid. I heard the Aes Sedai was young too, if she is one.
What happened to you? Do those witches steal children now for there own
pleasure or were you fool hearted enough to go running after Aes Sedai?"

    "I didn't ask to become one. She just showed up and said I was her
warder," Ranma replied trying to figure out the why too.

    "I feel sorry for yea kid. You don't seem like the warder type," the
guard sympathized with him. "Here's some water kid, life is never what
you expect, eh." The guard turned around walking back to his post.

    *Bingo* Ranma looked at the water, it wasn't what he liked, but it
was the best choice if he wanted to get out of this place.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan was scared, who wouldn't be, being captured by these men. She
was shielded and was wrapped up. At least she was in a comfortable
position.

    She had kept her mouth wisely shut, not wanting to reveal anything
bad. The fact that she was Siuan Sanche, the ex-Amyrlin Seat, was not
favored with many people, especially these people. She doubted that
anyone would believe such a name, but than Aes Sedai were said they
could not lie even if she could. Either way it was better if she would
not speak.

    *I must escape this place and soon* Who knew what men who could
channel would do to her. The thought that men who could channel would go
crazy and destroy anything around had not even registered.

    < OH MY! >

    Rand viewed the scene about him. Asha'man all around of course, but
his sights quickly came on to Taim. He never liked the man, but that
could not be helped.

    "What an untimely arrival my Lord Dragon or should I call you King
al'Thor," Taim intoned in an arrogant voice. "Let us discuss why you
have come over, over chilled wine. The heat is getting worse every day."

    Rand ignored all that, it was a standard Taim greeting. "I heard
that Aes Sedai attacked the Black Tower." He left it at that. Taim would
fill in the rest.

    "News travels fast," he muttered. "Greatly exaggerated my Lord
Dragon. A skirmish with some Aes Sedai while a group was off near by.
Three Aes Sedai were captured, but that last one did not look it and her
warder even less."

    *Three? How could something so small...* "Three you say, how many
men did you lose?" Rand was curious now.

    "We did not lose any. The two reds gave some small struggle. The
last one... Well she was just captured," Taim answered. He seemed almost
baffled if you could actually see any anything on his face. "A bit later
after the other two were brought back. She has the ring, but was too
young to be Aes Sedai and her warder was but a kid. She is keeping
quiet."

    Rand listened to all this in astonishment. *Three Aes Sedai, no men
lost, just captured. But then the girl said...* "Did you have any other
'skirmishes' or any men lost?" he asked with curiosity.

    "None," was Taim's only answer.

    "Show me to the Aes Sedai that is keeping quiet," Rand commanded.
*How could the strange girl know that Aes Sedai had attacked if it just
happened. Was she lying or was it all some secret plan* Rand grew up on
a farm, but recent experience had taught him to see things not just on
the surface and odd things like an odd Aes Sedai could be more than just
odd.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma was dumb-founded. Here was her great plan in escaping and
everything went wrong. Well it didn't really go wrong, but it hadn't
happened the way he expected. First she turned in her curse form and
pretend a little so the unsuspecting guard would come, except no one
came. After a bit of yelling and frustration she decided to blow the
cell door. Then he found that the guard or rather guards as the ones
around were out cold too. That was good, but the fact that she had to
turn into a girl she hadn't liked.

    "Why can't anything go right," she muttered. Ranma was a Martial
Artist, she knew how to keep her cool, but she definitely didn't look
it. *She's afraid...no more than that, way more than that...damn I have
to get to her fast...stupid tomboy can't cha keep it to yourself*
Emotions of fear was affecting Ranma to say the least. The heir to the
Anything Goes Martial Arts was, well the curse heir at the moment, was
frantically looking around and constantly missing a step all the while
rushing though to her destination.

    With all this and the sleeping guards earlier, she wasn't prepared
when she stumbled out into the open with oh, say twenty or so men in
black cloaks staring at her. Ranma was shocked when she realized
everyone and was staring at her. Shifting in to a battle stance, she
tried to spot any opening for her escape.

    "Hold it, hold it. Some boys here just aren't used to seeing a
maiden that's all, no need for blood," a somewhat old man in his late
years said all to quickly. Some cleared their throats, while the others
quickly looked elsewhere.

    *What the...! Well better then the other way. Maiden?* Moving
quickly, but still on guard for anything, Ranma went towards the near by
house. It was a pretty big house, something you don't see on a farm, but
when did a farm have cells and sorcerers all around.

    "Aiel are so odd," commented one.

    "Are you sure that was Aiel? She's young and...and those aren't any
clothes I've seen before," added another.

    "She had to be a maiden, look at that fiery red hair. Besides The
Lord Dragon is here," put in a third.

    "What a looker though, wouldn't mind having her on my lap," piped in
fourth.

    "Would also stick a knife in your ribs. Not even the M'Hael would
save you from a maiden," a fifth one lectured and chuckling at his own
comment.

    They all started to gossip among themselves with some chuckling here
and there.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan was very afraid, no beyond that, she was frightened to death.
As if nothing could be worse, drowning in a lake full of silverfish and
in came the big kingfish himself. Rand al'Thor the Dragon Reborn just
walked in and it seems he was shocked also. *No, this can't be!!* Siuan
almost bit her tongue and wished she had.

    "You know her?" asked Taim.

    "I know those eyes anywhere," answered Rand. Never letting his eyes
wonder off of Siuan, he continued, "It is a surprise to see you here
Siuan Sanche; former Amyrlin Seat, isn't it?" There was a collective
gasp and raising of eyebrows around the room.

    Siuan forced herself to say calm as possible, which was not very
much. *I have to do something, have to get out of this... somehow*  With
so much fear bottled up, she never noticed that her savior was close and
getting closer.

    Suddenly a large 'BOOM' was heard from outside. Everyone went on the
alert.

    "What in the light was that!" yelled Rand. In a flash Rand was
running toward the origin, followed by many others.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma spitted out some foul tasting water out of his mouth. *How
come rescues never happen the way they were suppose to!* The now male
Ranma got up from a big wooden tub of water. It had been warm enough to
activate his transformation. He figured it was very weird for a tub of
hot water to be outside a farm, but then everything had been weird so
far.

    Of course the reasoning of the mysterious tub took a back seat in
his line of thought. The main thing on his mind was, *WHAT WAS THAT!!??*
He was just about to finish surveying the area when some loud explosion
made him accidentally fall into the tub.

    Ranma scanned the surrounding a bit more and saw all the guards were
gone. He didn't know how good a group of women were, but they had sharp
weapons and faces ready to kill. Not that he couldn't defeat them, just
that they would probably distract him long enough for those black
cloaked sorcerers to come.

    Now there wasn't a guard in sight, and so he casually strolled in.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan's mind for once became a blank. There was no scheming, no
hidden agenda, no plans for escape, not even pondering if she should get
a new dress when her old one looked like mud...struck by lightning. The
rapid change in emotions from fear, across the spectrum, all the way to
confused, had fried her brain. Having her brain fried, she didn't see
Ranma casually walk in and give the pitiful two guards a nap.

    The savior, one Ranma Saotome, smiled at the easiest rescue that he
could remember. There had been no crying fathers, no "halt stop right
here," fights, not even a boss at the end who seems to have some weird
fighting style that he must figure out to win. Of course a small part of
his mind finally, after it screamed at the other parts for a while, told
him that something was wrong. Siuan in front of him had not moved in the
slightest and seemed 'to be out of it.'

    "Oi, you all right Siuan?" he said with a hint of worry in his
voice, nothing. So he waved a hand in front of her face and added, "Yo,
you there? Hello. Snap out of it." *Oh boy, something must be wrong with
her* He could feel that she was there, but nothing else.


    *This is not good, with my luck they'll be back way to soon* Ranma
considered his options which wasn't much that his Martial Arts brain can
come up with. Grabbing his still frozen Aes Sedai, he bolted. He also
refrained from taunting her about her weight; it was rather nice that
for once it was a silent escape.

    < OH MY! >

    The Great Dragon Reborn was in one of his daily sour moods. He knew
that there were secret plots against him all around, but this one was
more annoying than he had expected. It had him running in circles, a
weird girl, an unexpected arrival, now a fake diversion. He cursed
himself that he went after the first sign of trouble and with him
everyone else followed; now she had escaped. *What kind of Aes Sedai
plot are you playing now?*

    "Her warder had somehow escaped too," Taim informed. "It would seem
his appearance is deceiving; even if he is young, he must be a warder.
Most likely he somehow made the explosion and rescued her. There are no
horses and the land is barren, they will be founded."

    Rand hadn't listened, as he was a step out the door by then. *I'll
find you, Siuan Sanche, and get whatever you're planning out of you*

    < OH MY! >

    "You should've gotten horses Ranma, or at least have taken some
supplies..." Siuan had finally woken up from her frozen state and oddly
enough there were no more traces of what ever happened to her. She was
right back to her old self or as much as Ranma could see.

    Inside Siuan was still scared and Ranma could sense that. *She's
scared to death of something* He could also feel she was trying to hide
this, but with little luck. That's why Ranma wisely hadn't argued with
her.

    "This way, there is a bit more trees for us to hide in. Without
horses they will find us fast and light, if we do get away maybe we
would find something to eat to survive," Siuan rambled on as if on top
of the whole situation.

    Inside she was scared and wanted to run as far away as she could and
was all too happy when she found out her warder rescued her. *It was my
fault for getting caught, but he doesn't need any encouragement or he
will never learn* Lecturing Ranma was the only thing she could do to
push away the fear of what the Dragon would have done to her. They
weren't on the best of terms and she would figure Rand would want to
skin her alive if he had the chance.

    They stopped when two thin lines of light appeared in front of them
and than expanded into portals. Siuan hardly had time to grasp the one
power before it was shielded from her.

    "Light, not again!" intoned Siuan as she tried to run, do anything,
but she couldn't move. Fear ran again at the thought of being caught
again, before something very startling happened.

    Ranma was glowing an eerie blue as far as Siuan could describe it.
It was faint, so faint she almost couldn't see the glow, but the
presence of it somehow made, felt, that Ranma became more dangerous. The
Asha'man were as startled as her and maybe even more as they seemed
shocked.

    Suddenly Ranma's glow flared into a blazing blue fire as he kicked
the first Asha'man with a flying kick of amazing speed and accuracy. The
second had just enough time to draw his sword before he too fell down.
"Night, guys," he smirked at his two opponents. *Wonder why they didn't
use their magic*

    More thin lines were emerging a short distance before Siuan had time
to yell, "Run! This way!"

    "Hey, I can take them on!" Ranma shouted back, but she paid no
attention to the comment and was already running. He had little choice
but to follow, not because of her ordering him to, he briefly thought.
*Don't want them using that holding trick again*

    The ground erupted between her and the Asha'man with what little of
the one power Siuan could handle. *I hope that will slow them down* Then
it went up ten times as the earth seemed to explode with rocks flying
everywhere, steam shot out of the ground, and smoke started to cover the
area.

    "Did ya have'ta over do it that much!" Ranma screamed as he a stream
of boiling steam shot out right next to him.

    "I didn't do this, I couldn't have!" screamed back Siuan, as she
stumbled in the cloud of smoke and trying to avoid the shards of rock.
*What in the light is going on here!?* Then it got worse.

    Ranma's instincts reached critical when a melting hot fireball
nearly took his arm off. Without a thought he leaped at his Aes Sedai,
tackling her to the ground. *Ah SHIT!* Siuan unfortunately didn't have
that caliber of survival instincts.

    "GET OFF ME BEFORE I SKIN YOU!" she yell at the top of her lungs.
Had Siuan bothered to pay attention to her warder's actions she wouldn't
have yelled. Another fireball came, narrowly missing the two and
destroyed a piece of the already broken up land.

    More fireballs flew out of the thick cloud of smoke and steam, again
missing its intended target. This time the accuracy was much better
liked for Ranma and Siuan. They opted for a run, duck, and cover plan.

    Things were looking worse and worse, he had to do something.
Fighting against such odds wasn't that bad, but on exploding ground, it
wasn't making it any better. *Damn! Can't fight those guys with her
around* Ranma would never admit he was running from a fight even when he
used his 'Saotome secret technique'. Another fireball streaked pass him,
he could still feel the heat grazing his skin. *Those things are hot!*

    It came to him, the ground shot out hot streams of steam, the
fireballs flying all around, and a cloud of thick sweating smoke, it was
perfect for his technique and equipped to handle a lot of opponents at
once. Ranma prepared for it closing his eyes, trying to stay calm. He
needed to stay calm for it to work. *Must stay calm*

    He briefly heard Siuan calling to him. He could feel she was afraid,
worried, angered, but he pushed away, staying calm, drawing power he
would need. *Calm, ignore everything around, cold, distant, I'm
centered, the cold eye at the center...*

    "Ranma? Ranma!" Siuan called when she gasped, she even ignored a
fireball flying across her. Her warder was glowing a bright hue of blue
and it kept getting bigger.

    "Hiryu Shoten Ha!!"

    < OH MY! >

    Not far from the wave of fireballs, smoke, and rocks, two figures
stood watching the scene, if one can see beyond shadows over the cloud
of smoke. One was cloaked in white with a hood hiding the identity; the
other was a misty figure of a person long thought to be dead.

    "Your really quiet Moiraine-chan," a cute girl's voice spoke. "If I
have you hanging around with me, let's at least have a normal
conversation."

    The misty image of Moiraine almost seemed to smile at this, ever so
slightly moving her lips. "You have not told me much, but I presume you
will tell me when you're ready to." With a slight pause she continued,
"You said you will not interfere with them, yet you help them escape and
create this screen to hide them in."

    "I said I would not directly interfere with them," the figure
corrected without a pause. "Besides it was sort'a my fault, heh. I was
visiting this red and well I guess she went a little nuts and..."

    "Hiryu Shoten Ha!" was heard stopping her explanation. One could
almost heard her comment "Oh dear..."

    < OH MY! >

    A roar of wind, rocks, and everything else flew up into a giant
spiraling tornado. The technique was even more powerful than Ranma had
thought. The normal use would have been safe in the eye of the tornado,
but this one was far more powerful and loose pieces of rocks of various
sizes had caused a slight mishap on his plan.

    Both, Ranma and Siuan were caught in the huge tornado now. He
currently had a tight grip around Siuan trying to shelter her from
flying debris. *Damn, this is too powerful*

    Siuan mind was strangely rational, trying to figure some way to save
them. They would surely die here if something wasn't done. *What can I
do? There must be some way out, traveling would be great if I had my
full power. I will not die like this!*

    She forced her head to look at her warder and saw, felt that he was
in great pain. Incoming rocks had struck him multiple times. *I must do
something, must somehow get away. Traveling...I can barely make a gate
big enough for a mouse. I can try to make it bigger... I would burn my
self out...better then dying* She made up her mind, drawing all the one
power she could, she drew more, that's when something happened. Power
came rushing into her, lots of power, like she was holding on to an
angreal or san'angreal.

    A gate had promptly opened and both flew in.

    < OH MY! >

    Rand walked through the scene with confusion and anger. Taim had
informed him that Siuan had been found. It was a quick gate to the scene
before a huge column of wind came up devouring everything. He had been
far enough from the tornado, but he still felt the sheer power of it.
When it finally died, pieces of the land were scattered all over with
bodies in between.

    "There is no deaths as odd as it may sound, maybe it was your
ta'veren," Taim came up to him and quickly informed. "Some had been near
death, but was healed in time. Siuan Sanche and her warder were not
found..." Taim was cut off as Rand swiftly walked off toward some
decapitated trees and rocks.

    There was a body lying unconscious in the mix of the rubble, the
body of Moiraine Damodred.

    < OH MY! >

    A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red
decorations along the edges walks reluctantly out. SD is supposed to
explain some concepts of TWOT.

    "I don't want to do this any more! I quit!... Please NO MORE!"

    The light's come on: "Helloo!"

    "Moiraine, real important, she did a bunch of stuff ok...OK!!?"

    "Taim, very sadistic S.O.B., he is the M'Hael or teacher for those
men."

    "Aiel, if you ever see one, don't mention the word 'dance'. They
like to poke people with spears, work for Rand who sometimes walks with
Dawn."

    "Maidens of the Spear, female Aiels. Don't ever dance with them!
Rand's personal bodyguard among other things."

    "I'm not getting paid enough for this...better renegotiate my
contract next time..."




    Chapter 4

    A mind floated in the void, everything was dark, quiet, nothing
moved, nothing happened, nothing was here, but the presence of herself.
She felt light and fuzzy, but calm. Millions of questions flowed in the
void, but each one meaningless and went pass in the blink of a second,
until many undefined moments later. The usual questions surfaced to the
mind, *Where am I? What happened? What's going on?* Rays of light
pierced the void and promptly swallowed everything.

    It had been seconds before her vision cleared, a wave of heat and
drowsiness swarmed the mind and finally, slowly, things came back.
Slowly she sat up from the bed, just in time to see a figure, guard,
running out the door. She was confused, but calm, she probed into her
memories to figure out what happened.

    Looking around the room, there were a number of furnishings and the
remaining guard standing next to the door as if nothing had happened for
the whole day. He was an Aiel, she knew that, it was very hard to
mistake it once you know what an Aiel was. A rugged man with a harden
face wearing faded clothes with the trademark veil and short spears. The
fact that she was in the palace had been easily puzzled out, but why.

    Flashbacks attacked her mind with images of hurling winds that she
saw just before everything Faded. *Arr, Ranma you idiot!* Looking at the
guard again she figured she was in Caemlyn or Cairhien, chances are she
had been rescued by Rand. Observing more she found something more
startling.

    On the corner of the mirror that was mounted nearby, she saw her
refection or more accurately not her reflection. The opening of the door
brought her out of her daze, before her was Rand al'Thor and a bigger
then normal group composed of Aes Sedai, Maidens, and too many others
for her comfort. *I'm Moiraine... In Moiraine's body at least. How?*
Giving a look at the Dragon she knew things were getting very much out
of control.

    The person who looked like Moiraine though with years of experience
was still trying to keep a bearable straight face. This suited her
purpose anyway as not even the legendary Moiraine Sedai could keep an
entirely composed face when one woke up to the faces that most seasoned
ruffian would cringe at.

    Briefly scanning the crowd, she opted not to say anything that would
have been bad. A slight raise of her eyebrow betrayed her, but again it
would be perceived as another Moiraine like quality.

    "Moraine, where have you been? We thought..." Strangely the first to
speak was one Kumira Sedai, while she was one very commanding and
authoritive Aes Sedai, she knew opening her mouth will give her
another...uncomfortable session to speak before the Wise Ones. Another
fact that seemed to slip her mind was that Kumira likely never seen
Moiraine in her lifetime.

    "Moiraine, I thought you were dead. What happened to you?" Finally
Rand spoke as if unsure of what he was seeing.

    After a few silent uncomfortable moments, "Well answer!" the old
leathery face Sorilea a demanded. She had the face that told it was not
a good thing to speak before her. Everyone, but Rand, who spoke before
her usually started praying to the creator, likely what Kumira was
doing.

    *What to say...what to say...* The mental brainstorm was blowing
with chaotic ideas to solve this unpredicted situation. When all else
fails, stall.

    "I...I... should get dress first, please leave." Oh not one of the
group liked the first word out her mouth, but after a few more silent
moments all the while having some frowns, they left.

    < OH MY! >

    Rays of sunlight peered though the leaves of semi-normal trees woke
our Aes Sedai from her well-needed rest. Siuan for the first time in a
while felt relaxed and well rested. It wouldn't last as haunting
memories of why she was in the middle of nowhere slowly, but surely came
back. There was much to think about, even in her ten years of being the
watcher of the seal, the flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat; she had
never had so much trouble facing a subject no matter how disturbing it
was. *The boy, Ranma, he can...Oh light! I'm bond to a... But how, it
should of...* Not a thought was completed as they kept clashing with
still more new ones.

    Standing up, she was barely aware of her immediate surroundings. The
trees were still green if still looked withered and the air was moist
unlike the dry air of Andor. She was faintly familiar with it; the land
was by the sea, which would mean she was near the cost. Growing up a
fisherman's daughter in Tear, Siuan could never forget the way the salty
summer breeze felt even if it wasn't summer. *I'm in Tear...no, maybe
Illian. Ranma, where is he?* Looking around, her warder was nearby with
his face flat on the ground, unmoving. She briefly checked the link to
see if he was alive, the fact that Ranma was, wasn't surprising, as it
should.

    Rolling the sleeping form over, Siuan used the standard procedure of
probing his body and soul. *He's...he's not there, Oh light! Wait.
There's a faint link* Any Aes Sedai would feel his mind was empty as
well as soul, but Siuan's bond felt something more, like a faint thread
as fine as a catfish's whiskers, but her warder was not lost, barely.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma felt faint, but forced himself to stand despite that. The
familiar effects of being trampled by mobs of angry women or when all of
his fianc�es meet were usual causes of such awakenings. After he
stretched and checked all his body parts were in place, he scanned the
surrounding. There was a much-expected pause as he recognized that he
was standing inside the Tendo residence. Usually, it would be the spot
he gets caught by Akane when she'd cooked breakfast. It's wasn't right
as the last thing he remember was fighting off hordes of black cloaked
sorcerers while protecting a violent...

    *How? What happened... was it a dream...* Using a newfound talent,
he faintly checked the back of his mind where a warder would check for
his Aes Sedai. *Siuan's there... then it was real. Where is she?* The
link was weak, but he'd learned it would be if the distance between them
were far apart.

    Finding himself back at the Tendo's, the first thing he knew he
should do was to check up on everyone. As much as Ranma convinced
himself he was leaving, he still wanted to go back. *Saying hi is fine,
I guess*

    "Yo, everyone!" he bellowed out. A slight pause, no answer. Ranma
gave a quick look outside and assumed it was still morning, everyone
should be around and eating breakfast, unless of course Akane was
cooking. *I guess I can say hi to the tomboy before I run* Walking into
the predicted room, everyone was there, "Hello everyone. Hi Pop." Again
nothing, maybe they were ignoring him.

    "It's been quiet around here Tendo," the familiar voice came out of
the ever-familiar bald father.

    "It's been awhile Saotome. Ranma being gone is working very well to
my house." The voice behind the paper commented. "He should be back
soon, his love and honor for my daughter will draw him back any day
now."

    "Of course Tendo, but the lesson for tricking me to take his place
of his duty to sit with Akane and her rare cooking... would be learned."
Genma explained to his long time friend. Akane gave a "Humph!" at that.

    "Are you sure it wasn't because he wanted to visited Auntie Saotome
again," our ever blunt Nabiki said with her ever casual tone.

    Genma glasses seemed to reflect the morning sunlight despite the
probability of it happening at such an uncomfortable time. "He probably
learned his lesson and coming back right this minute," continued the
bald headed father like Nabiki never spoke.

    Ranma, during the interaction already noticed he wasn't seen so gave
a well planted kick trying to send Genma into the pond when it faded
right through. After a bit more testing he knew that he was perhaps a
ghost or something like it. After frustration passed, Ranma ponder if it
was another trick or something of the sorcerers he fought just before
everything blacked out.

    "I don't care if that idiot ever comes back. I hope he stays away!"
Akane finally spoke up. Standard comment really, but Ranma seemed to
give a cool stare towards her at that.

    He needed to figure out something when something not so familiar was
standing outside near the pond. An odd woman was standing there looking
directly at him. "Who are you!" bellowed out Ranma, stepping onto the
grass.

    "I'm Moiraine," replied the musical voice of the out of place
figure. "It's seems we don't belong here." She was short and slender,
Ranma observed. He couldn't figure out what, but something told him she
belonged to whatever world he recently became apart of.

    "Do you know what's happening? Are you causing this?" Ranma was also
known to be blunt along with some other things.

    "I know little more than you do, but something has happened for us
to be here. We must find a way back." Moiraine was never known for being
blunt, but when she is, there were ten other things the Aes Sedai was
hiding.

    < OH MY! >


    Inside the walls of Cairhien, the fake Moiraine was trying to get
dress while deep in her own thoughts. *Ok, so somehow I'm in Moiraine's
body, even though she never came with one. I guess it makes sense now...
I never thought destiny would spin me into its events. Imagine me,
Maintainer of Destiny...well off duty Maintainer of Destiny stuck in
something she was toying around with*

    Looking in the mirror she observed that the dress was being
stubborn, *Stupid dress, easier to just mumble a spell or have my normal
clothes* Blinking a moment, she looked around and stuck her hand at
nothing and it seemed to bend into some hidden wall. *At least I can
still access my pocket space, so much more convenient. Maybe I can get
one of my usual...no I should keep my image of being Moiraine, the
pattern might have ill effects if I change completely* The physical
appearance of Moiraine gave a devious smile, *Maybe it still can be fun*

    Arranging her hair, she cursed that she had to wear such
uncomfortable clothing. It was made of silk and of fine quantity, but
that was below standard from her usual, as the custom made material kept
proper normal temperature, smoother than any silk, never dirty, the list
goes on. Such things spoiled her over the years, but she guessed it
wasn't very bad.

    Doing a mental check she tried to keep in mind some less than
obvious, but important changes, *My power would have to be limited now,
poopers. Maybe a couple of magic boosters will pass as jewelry* Spells
weren't a problem if one can control the power needed to focus it. *Now
it's time to put on my best Moiraine impression, don't think I can keep
them away much longer* As an after thought, *Perhaps I can wield the One
Power too*

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan had to figure out something. She could leave Ranma, but the
power and mystery behind him would be lost and he was her warder, even
if the wool-headed fool can't do anything right. *What can I do, light
help me* Healing wasn't her specialty and with the power she has now, it
wouldn't do much good if Siuan was a Yellow.

    A thought came back to her, *How was I able to open the portal...*
Too many questions, finally Siuan decided to drag him to some shelter,
the land was dry, but there was some indication of used land. It might
have been used for hunting and with it shelter. With some luck there
might be one close.

    Wincing under the bulk, she swore that the fool would wish he was
dead by the time she was finished with him.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma looked at the close door which led to the closet, nothing was
out of the originally, but he felt the pull of the bond toward it.
Moiraine said little. She seemed to know about him and Siuan and would
say little except to tell him what to do. Moiraine was like Siuan in a
way, Ranma felt both had that cold demanding stare, and look. But while
Siuan would get angry, argue, and eventually throw things at him,
Moiraine just smiles and suggests something else that would ultimately
lead to what she wanted.

    He didn't like Moiraine, in a way she was almost like his mother
trying to persuade him/her to do something. All that niceness was worse
than any bullying Siuan could do. He had enough experience with Akane.
Facing Moiraine had been like trying to fight Kasumi...well it wasn't
that much like Kasumi. Moiraine was... also like Nabiki only even more
harder to figure out and manipulative. Siuan was hard to dodge, but
Ranma Saotome's 'make her so angry that she hits you and forget about
what she was talking about' technique worked on his Aes Sedai.

    Thinking back, he knew Moiraine was holding back something. She was
the one that suggested for him to try to feel the bond between Siuan and
him. How she could know about that, Ranma couldn't figure it out. She
also told him that if he wanted...needed Siuan, he would somehow find
her. *How does she know about this...*

    Ranma was no master detective or he would have noticed that Moiraine
also wore the gold serpent ring.

    "Don't know what this door got to do with the way out," said Ranma
while feeling the smooth surface of the closet door. Moiraine also put
her hand on the door and to their surprise both hands began to melt
through.

    "Interesting," commented Moiraine, "Well we have a way, let's go
Ranma." Just then Akane came though.

    "I'm going to school now father," yelled out Akane moving quickly
towards the outside. Ranma gave her passing a searching look.

    Moiraine's only response was a slighting raising her eyebrow. "Shall
we be going?" He only gave a nod and both disappeared through the
invisible portal.

    < OH MY! >

    Rand sighed as Moiraine left; as usual the Aes Sedai kept her mouth
shut, claiming she knew nothing. The talk had shifted from asking where
she had been to what he had been doing. It would be very much like every
Aes Sedai to sway the conversation a different direction, but there was
something different about Moiraine. He didn't know what, but she was
nicer and friendlier or more generally, showing more emotion. Not that
anyone could tell, but he just knew that something was slightly
different with Moiraine. *Is this a new tactic she's using? Was she
hiding from me all this time, feel it was time to push me again... the
Tower is broken, what is she up to now. Can I... did I ever trust her*

    Giving a quick look towards the door he knew the others would
question her many times more then he had. Ranma knew Moiraine liked to
work alone, "Never trust Aes Sedai," Moiraine had written in the letter.
*I think I trust you Moiraine, I owe you even if you tried to leash me.
I'll help you keep them off your back...*

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma followed Siuan's lead, after going through the door he woke up
being carried by Siuan. They gave the usual exchange of greetings, Siuan
sending out a sharp lecture of how useless he was and Ranma trying his
best to rebut, 'Ranma style'. He was happy to be back with Siuan,
dealing with her was easy compared to Moiraine.

    Ranma's mind was else where now, he couldn't help but wonder what
happened. *Was it a dream? Who was this Moiraine, what happened to her?*
There was a calculating look that Moiraine kept giving him, he couldn't
help but shudder at that. Ranma wouldn't want to be around her that
much, being around Siuan was enough for his nerves, but he wanted to
find out what happened. *Who ever she was, she knew something*

    It was a short talk before something came up. He saw that it was a
small patrol of three soldiers and two women. One was strangely leashed
to the other. Ranma unconsciously tensed up from the link that meant
Siuan was really worried about such a small group. From the way he saw
it they wouldn't last a minute with him. She had gone as far as almost
throwing something at him to  get away from the patrol.

    Passing the patrol, Siuan had again took the lead much to Ranma's
displeasure. When he asked who they were and why was she so afraid,
exact words:

    "What are you so afraid of, with me here they wouldn't last a
minute."

    Siuan as usual said, "It was none of your business," he protested,
but her bullying finally convinced him to accept. Ranma quickly dropped
it.

    Inside Ranma's mind, he was deeply disturbed. Something felt
different, more accurately the bond. He could still feel Siuan, but
something else was there like another invisible hand waving at him,
every time he checked it, it kept going back to Siuan's bond.

    "What did you do back there?" Siuan asked out of no where, putting
him out of his self-analyzing.

    "What are ya talking about?" came the reply.

    "Whatever you did with the wind back there. You were glowing. Don't
hide your channeling from me!" commanded his Aes Sedai.

    "I don't know what you mean. Channel what? Look, it was technique
using my chi." Ranma tried to get it all out while clenching his teeth
in frustration.

    "Chi? What in the light is that!"

    Ranma suddenly walked in front of her and put them both to a halt.
Siuan could see Ranma was looking around at the surrounding trees and
bushes. "What, Ranma?"

    "There's someone around, watching us," Her warder whispered to her.
"Come out!" Ranma called out, getting in to a defensive stance all the
while shielding his Aes Sedai.

    Seemingly out of no where a figure stepped out from the camouflage
of the woodland. A tall built man with a little gray around his temple
stood out. His face was stone hard, like chiseled from a mountain. He
was dangerous, Ranma could tell, perhaps the most dangerous he had seen
so far. "A surprise to see you Siuan Sedai, what have you brought here,
a young lion cub ready to pounce?"

    Siuan's face never changed through the meeting while her companion
on the other hand looked back at Siuan. "It's a surprise to see you too,
Lan Gaidin."

    < OH MY! >

    The fake Moiraine looked out from the window of the palace of
Cairhien. *I wished I knew where Moiraine was* It had been an exhausting
day trying to maneuver around all the questions. It was especially hard
for that Wise One Sorilea  and Verin Sedai as they kept asking
questions. That was when she felt something that she hadn't felt before.
Perhaps it was because the day occupied her so much. *There's
something...like a feeling at the back of my head, An invisible hand
maybe...weak, but I can feel it. Is this the feeling of a bond?*

    < OH MY! >

    Out in the middle of nowhere, the sky was scattered with muffled
sounds. Dozens of large shadows danced by the single light of a small
lit campfire. Bodies as large as trees lay in the crumpled heap as a
single human boy threw around more. The red bamboo umbrella was swung
around like a bat and with the power of a battering ram. The boy with
his trademark back and yellow striped bandanna ducked under the slash of
large wicked sword as the nasty spiked club of another had been kicked
away.

    Ryouga Hibiki also known as eternal lost boy, snarled at the
incoming armored creatures. They just came out from the night, at first
a couple, then more. Though their weapons were deadly, they had little
skill above looking hideous. He guessed someone would fall under the
constant attack, but he had been more hard pressed the time he was
constantly slammed by boulders.

    The impact of the Ryouga power punch left the final creature
sprawling on to the ground. He knew there was another, It was probably
the leader as the black cloaked figure glided toward him with uncommonly
grace. Quickly turning around, he faced ready to pound who ever dared to
attack him. Staring into the face of the maggot faced creature; he felt
a chill shiver down his back. The wicked glowing back blade went into
motion, as did Ryouga.

    < OH MY! >

    A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red
decorations along the edges gets pushed out. SD looks like she had seen
better days...

    "Umm...my demonic contract says I need to do another explain Wheel
of Time stuff."

    "Sorilea, A wise one, who bullies you into thinking she's wise.
Think of your oldest meanest teacher...then think of her oldest meanest
teacher...about 5 times later you get Sorilea...who needs Holloween"

    "Kumira, Green Aes Sedai. Aes Sedai and Royalty, you get a work out
from bowing...think of what she gets, she probably does twice as much to
Sorilea."

    "Lan al'Mandragoran, Moiraine's ex-warder and a bunch of other's
warder...guy sure gets around."

    "Next time I am doing a formal protest to this."


    Chapter 5

    Life was never easy, it always seemed to bite him in the rear, but
he was a man and he could take it like a man. Things always popped up,
whether it be a mallet to the head, a "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die,"
or just having two or more fiancees together. Running away wouldn't
solved anything, he knew that now. He ran from one and this time he was
locked and shackled to another, but right now he was cherishing this
moment. Why? Because Siuan was focusing on the poor fellow in front of
him, rather than him.

    "You will answer me, Gaidin, why are the Seanchan here. Why is any
of the party still here!?" Siuan didn't like being kept waiting, she
always liked to know how the situation was. *Burn you Moiraine, why did
you have to raise such a stubborn warder*

    One would usually listen in and get information that mentions either
danger or running from danger, that was not on Ranma's mind right now.
After all when jumping off a building became less fearful to him then
missing lunch,  he felt that these certain things would be found out
soon or later so what was the point.

    Lan, was a harden warrior. Until now he hasn't seen another warder.
Ranma shivered at the face on the guy, he had all the signs of a
veteran, but the face was bleak. He saw that expression before, on his
travels he could remember how some old soldiers wore the face of death.
They saw one too many deaths perhaps or something that had been even
worse.

    The young warder shivered at the thought. He too was a warder now,
would he end up the same way? Ranma never thought of it much, even if
the path of the art could lead to such a state. He never thought it
could happen to him, frankly he feared more about becoming like his pop,
with all those thievery and lies.

    Could he just get away from this, go back to the Tendo's? *Akane...*
Whether he would really see her or not, he felt comfort in that place.
It was his first real home, but now... *She said it was bonded for life*
He didn't want to think of it, life was a challenge and he would face
every challenge like a man.

    *Maybe it's just him...* Like everything, there were always risks in
life, and he would face them rather then run. He knew running never
worked now.

    Lan had long ago knew how to deal with women, especially Aes Sedai.
'Never meddle with women's business.' He would adopt one of those "Yes
Aes Sedai," "No Aes Sedai," and "Sorry Aes Sedai" demeanor and ride the
storm. Better to let Aes Sedai deal with Aes Sedai or he would get
caught in the middle.

    "Are you listening to me!?" Siuan could dump him in rotten fish oil
about now. She knew the information would come when she met up with
those two, but knowing things in advance always gave one more leverage
and she needed all the advantages she can.

    "Yes Aes Sedai," Lan mechanically said. His attention was on the
young lad, from his face, he was weighing him for information. *So Siuan
picked a new warder...* Lan could tell he had potential, the grace of
his casualness screamed years of training. Young, very young, yet he
knew the lad could easily take down a seasoned soldier, a very rare boy.
Siuan choose well, but Lan hoped she had not destroyed the boy's life by
making him her warder.

    The veteran knew that Siuan was harsh, and would use what she could
for her own gain. He might have to talk with the lad, it was not right
to let a cub face a wolf and not even teach him how to pounce.

    An odd thing that immediately caught Lan's attention had been the
lack of a weapon. Both Siuan and the boy were dirty and worn, possibly a
result from battle. The fact that they were missing supplies meant
something had happened. *Siuan was never one not to prepare* Still a
warrior would never part with his weapon unless it was truly necessary,
so how does the boy fight?

    Skill was not lacking, but he did not look to be a swordsman. His
clothing were light and flexible, no sign of a sword belt or any place
to wear a knife. Perhaps an archer, but still not quite. *What power
does this boy posses?* One thing Lan could tell was the that boy was
agile, the grace he causally wears was like a dance itself, if he was a
swordsman there was little doubt he would float pass any attack like a
bird taunting a cat.

    It hadn't been long before a farm came into view, it was mostly flat
terran, but there was not a body in sight. Ranma could tell it was
occupied, well-worn tracks could be seen and more obviously a well
conditioned building. *They were hiding, but why?*

    He could spot others even if they were supposedly hidden. Ranma also
wondered about the cloak that the warder wore, it felt almost magical as
it seemed to let him fade out of view. *If I'm suppose to be a warder, I
should get one too* From his left he saw another person, probably
another warder for he also seemed to fade out of his sight every so
often.

    "Ranma get yourself cleaned up, I have business," the Aes Sedai
coolly told him. *She sounds like Nabiki's usual* It was more than he
hoped for, maybe things will finally calm down now that she was back
with her own kind... whoever they were.

    He causally followed Lan, it was best if he learned more of how
these guys worked.

    "You looked like you got ran over by a cart, perhaps we can find you
something less dusty." Ranma could only nod; he didn't feel very
comfortable anymore in tattered, mud-filled, stiff clothing.

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan knew what reactions might be expected, but hers was even more
surprising. Maybe it was just from being weather worn, or from dealing
with Ranma, but her usual serene face dropped like a fish trying to fly.

    She had been expecting Elayne, Nynaeve, and Aes Sedai, not a full
group of what looked like to be wilders or more precise, the Kin and
Seafolk. The Seafolk were obvious with their tanned skin and exotic nose
rings, but it took a bit of searching to see the red belts on the other
wilders, naming them the Kin. Also there was the fact that they had been
in Ebou Dar, the city of the legendary meeting place for women who were
thrown or ran away from the tower. It wasn't that legendary as it had
been a secret group, but some things where better kept away from the
public.

    It wasn't as bad for Siuan because their faces hadn't done any
better. She knew her appearance wasn't exactly fitting right now.

    "Siuan, how..." Elayne barely breathed out.

    "You should not be here! GO back to where you were told, this is Aes
Sedai you are interrupting," a voice spoke out. It was from the Kin,
Reanne.

    That snapped everyone out of the awkward trance, they or at least
the wilders thought of her as a runaway, dirty and traveled worn walking
into the wrong place at the worn time. This got Siuan very annoyed and
was about to 'politely' correct them when Elayne spoke out.

    "Siuan Sedai, it's a surprise to see you here," Elayne quickly tried
to recovered the situation, Siuan Sanche was also legendary for her
lashing tongue. One thing she didn't need. It was delicate enough
situation as it is to maintain the three groups.

    There was some major attitude changes all of a sudden with apologies
and cheap excuses filling the room and one 'humf' from Nynaeve, as
usual.

    "Siuan, what brings you here, and what happened to you? I thought
The Amyrlin needed you, has something happened?"

    Politely as possible with Elayne as expected, but Siuan wasn't
really satisfied being used to always spoken to with higher standards.
She pushed that away, what was important was that she had the upper hand
right now, and it would be a shame to waste it. It had been a long time
since she was in control.

    "It has been a tiring journey, have you some supplies for me to
freshen up?" Her voice and features were back to the usual cool, serene,
and demanding with no hint of question. All everyone could do was comply
and the game of Aes Sedai had begun with who would be able to get more
information out of the other.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma felt much better in clean clothes and more importantly food.
He opted with light black pants and a white long sleeve shirt. His shoes
had to be thrown away too, and the boots that he had donned on, while
light still were heavier then he was used to. That mattered little, as
both were made of light silk and he had carefully banded the helms and
tucked inside the boots so it would be battle fit.

    Experimenting a little, he went into a light series of kicks and
punches to test out any unwanted restrictions. He also noticed Lan and
the other warders that was near raise an eyebrow at that.

    "Where did you learn that boy? You don't look Aiel, but those
movements, a deadly fighting style." Lan's question now had been easily
answered. *So he was an unarmed fighter* Besides what the Aiel did, bar
brawling was not very effective against an armed opponent, but this
kind, if you had a sword and knew how to use it, you should pray to the
light that you would walk out alive. It made sense, the way he moved,
the lack of any place for a weapon, they were of little use if one's
hands were already enough to kill. Still he was not Aiel, he could be
sure of that much, and the style was different, he had seen extensively
how the Aiel fought.

    "I learned from my pop," Ranma answered casually "and what is an
Aiel?"

    *So he doesn't know about Aiel. Odd, but not unheard of* Ever since
the Aiel war, they had been a lot more well known, but some would much
rather forget they ever existed. "Aiel are a deadly bunch."

    Even with those casualness of movement, he knew easily the boy had
mastered something very deadly at his age, but even the Aiel had their
spear and bows, he seemed to carry none. *How deadly was he?*

    Reading the boy's expression right, Lan knew the boy knew little of
what being a warder meant.

    "You, young lad are pretty good, but being a warder maybe over your
head. Siuan is a well seasoned Aes Sedai, perhaps she didn't fully
explain to you all there is to be Gaidin."

    "Boy, you could say that again..." Ranma commented.

    < OH MY! >

    "I do hope you feel much better now Siuan. It must have been a very
harsh journey. I don't know what the Amyrlin would sent you to tell us
when she couldn't herself." Elayne always started out with the polite
and comforting method. She was really doing well trying to be Aes Sedai,
but Siuan had much more years of experience.

    "There's no need to be so formal, I think we've been together long
enough to drop such things," she spoke casually while slipping her tea.
It was quite enjoyable to have a clean dress again and having some food
and tea. She was content with any, but growing up as a fisherman's
daughter told her to cherish such things when she can. "There was a
message requiring me go to Caemlyn, I ran into some problems, so only
the light knows why I ended up here."

    There were only three of them, Siuan, Elayne and Nynaeve. Convenient
that she didn't have to try so hard in this little game. Also dropping
the name of Caemlyn had roused up her questioner, she hid it well, but
Siuan knew better.

    "Caemlyn? Has something happened?" The best bait was one that was
familiar to the fishes.

    "Nothing I could find out," Siuan dismissed without a hint of
hesitation. "I suppose you would be heading there soon, I knew you were
planning to ever since the mission. Are you going to bring this whole
assortment of wilders along?" When the fish gave a tug, then you change
the tide by pulling with firm power, because you now have a hold on them
while they already lost theirs.

    < OH MY! >

    Ranma blinked a few times, "You mean they were suppose to ask you
first?"

    "Some might not ask it in such a manner, but it is the law of Aes
Sedai," Lan almost darkened with that line.

    Ranma thought of it a bit, she just told him and didn't seem to be
too happy about it. Sort of like Akane now that he thought about it.
They both hadn't liked it, being forced into engagement. *Why can't I
ever have a choice, another engagement* He had to sigh at this.

    "Well it too late now, once you bare the duty, it is as strong as
any bond." The elder warder spoke with years of experience pushed into
the phrase. "Whatever the situation, never let your Aes Sedai face the
danger while still living."

    Ranma nodded with an all too familiar understanding.

    "And never let them do what they think is best," a woman leaned by a
wall lazily spoke out. "Aes Sedai always think they know what's best,
but you must know better when she is in danger."

    She was an archer and very skilled from her pose, a warder ,long
braided golden hair hung about her back, she seemed to always have the
bow and arrow ready. She wore clothing that was battle fit,  she was a
fighter, and dangerous one.

    Her words were true though, the times Akane would just jump in,
always thinking she could handle it, and he ended up saving her. Siuan
had the same trait. *Always my luck with violent women*

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan little game went fairly well, whatever happened in Caemlyn had
sent them to little outside Ebou Dar and had found out that the two
recently raised shawls, Elayne and Nynaeve, had accomplished their
mission of attaining the Bowl of Winds. She had brief knowledge of how
the rest of their little group came about, but more importantly the
Seanchan, feared by many and ever more to one who channeled, were
nearby.

    They used the one power as a weapon; enslaving women who channeled
to become living weapons of destruction, the fact that they aren't
getting well away from this area still gave her the shivers. *Burn those
two little guppies that don't know when a Jellyfish's arm is tapping
them on the head* Also the fact that Aes Sedai are following those two
meant they had gain a large amount of respect. She knew they would do
so, only a matter of time. Now was not the best of times.

    Siuan gave up little; the message from Caemlyn hid away her seeking
of her mysterious warder. That she kept to herself, only Egwene knew the
half of it.  The shock of the Asha'man kept them pondering enough to
escape without the question of how someone of her power can travel to
Ebou Dar.

    *I'm going to slap it out of that boy if I have to use a ship's
paddle to do it* What he did was impossible, channeling, yet not with
the signs of channeling. She should not be able to see a thing and the
power that made the gate, Siuan knew that she carried no angreal--then
it hit her, *I linked with him, Oh light it can't be, he can't be a male
channeler and my Gaidin!* Was it even possible to link with a man, she
didn't know, but the evidence was there along side with more mysteries.

    The group was getting ready to show the wilders how to link now.
Whatever deal the two girls made, it was clearly too late. They meant to
use the Bowl of Winds to change the weather and composing a link of
thirteen to do it, but in the process would be teaching Aes Sedai
secrets to those wilders. The world truly was changing.

    Siuan was not apart of the group; her power was now too low to join.
They had composed of the thirteen strongest around to use the
ter'angreal, it made sense, but she did not like it. It was annoying to
be constantly reminded of how weak she was now compared to before. Yet
she stood over to watch, at least they had given her that.

    The idle Aes Sedai watched with surprise, she was not so arrogant to
think that Aes Sedai would know everything, but the wilder Seafolk was
displaying weaves that were years more complex then what she had been
taught. After a bit it finally ended, when the pattern acted up once
more with the distant rumble and screaming outside.

    < OH MY! >

    It was some kind of winged monster, a fleet of them with someone
riding it. Ranma could tell this was not a good thing, after all the
other warders sprang into action, but he knew things could never be
quiet for long, he almost expected another 'Ranma prepare to die' line
coming up.

    The female warder, or so he thought, shot one down, she was an
excellent archer. There were seven warders counting him, and right now
everyone was readied to fight.

    He needed something to throw, so he kicked up a fist size rock into
hand, and let it into motion. A painful hit smacked trough the
creature's left wing and it went into a free falling spiral. *Well these
things aren't very tough* But still he could see an army getting closer,
and he knew running would be a better option, and knew the others
thought the same. *Aw hell, stick an army in me would ya."

    < OH MY! >

    Siuan yelled, "Ranma get over here, now!" Giving a no-nonsense look,
a deeper one then the usual, if that had been possible, "Get the horses
and meet me down the hill, and I'm not repeating myself!" He knew it was
not the time to argue, besides he was too tired for another mallet size
headache, feeling she _really_ meant it now.

    "And Ranma, I don't want you to do what ever you did before." She
had that warning look again. She was very uncomfortable with his chi
attacks even though she lived in a world of magic, which was an odd
thing.

    Ranma felt that she wanted to talk to him, but pushed it away with
the danger present. He had some idea of what it was. He remembered that
warders and their Aes Sedai were supposed to have no secrets. *She
doesn't say a thing to me, so why should I!*

    "Yea, sure, whatever," muttered an already departing Ranma. 'Bend to
her and her's will bend when time comes to step in front' That had been
a phrase Lan had muttered, it wasn't working.

    Catching a sight of Lan, he had a guess of where to get the horses.
Weaving through the chaos, Lan suddenly stopped and turned towards him.

    In one swift motion an object flew at him and he caught it all the
same. "Here, you'll need one." It was a sword with a scabbard; it looked
a bit fancy, but slightly moldy, meaning it had just been just taken out
of storage.

    "I don't need it," Ranma intoned, he never really much cared for a
weapon.

    "Better to have something that can cut a head off of those things,
you'll need it." It had been true enough; a weapon against creatures
would be better. He gave a look of understanding and attached it to his
side. It felt odd to have a sword by his side, but it didn't hinder much
movement.

    The sword had some fancy decoration etched into the hilt, but little
else; it was sturdy and fairly sharp, good enough. Not the time to think
of such things so Ranma quickly got moving.

    "What took you so long!" Siuan never seemed satisfied, but
complained little this time.  Getting on her horse became a spectacle,
he could tell she was never meant for a horse and helping her earned him
a kick to the face, standard Siuan reaction really.

    She had changed her clothes, this time to a much more revealing
dress. It was cut for riding, but it was something that she obvious
didn't like wearing. Siuan wasn't the type to flaunt and was in one of
those moods. He would have chuckled if he didn't have a foot implanted
in he face.

    The army was getting closer and Ranma unconsciously almost reached
for the sword when a gate opened. *Sheesh, the bond must really be
getting to me for me to use this sword* Ranma had seen it before with
the black-coated sorcerers. He could feel the Siuan was very worried and
anxiety raged through her. He was glad there was no cold water around,
he had figured out that while being a girl everything got much more
emotional and that was very bad. *Can't ya keep it to yourself, Siuan*

    Going through was slow, but steady, everything seemed to be going
well when Siuan stopped.

    "What are you doing!" screamed out Siuan. At first nothing was
wrong, but then he could see the opening slowly fading. That was not
what was supposed to happen from the experience with the black-coats.

    "I'm unraveling the weave, we can't let the Seanchan get a hold of
traveling," came the replied. Ranma still had no idea from the
explanation.

    "Fool girl! We'll be killed by this!" that explained much better to
him.

    Siuan cursed at the turn of events. *Why can't anything be easy*
Unraveling a weave was dangerous, anything could happen, deadly things.
Perhaps it could be used so no one could ever sense that weaving had
been done, but the risk made it a fool's choice.

    An argument started, but it was announced too late to stop. The
others were sent to move on, but for some reason Siuan stayed.

    "If you can do this fool thing, I might as well stay here to witness
it," Ranma could only shrug, he was not leaving her. Now only the girl
warder and three others were around besides him and his Aes Sedai.
Everything was quiet until the archeress had fired the first shot. The
army was here.

    Everyone had been stuck with screams of pain, but then crossbow
shots returned back.

    "Watch out!" but it had been too late as Birgitte, Ranma thought
that had been her name, and the other red haired one got hit. Then a
surge of pain screamed thought his mind, but it wasn't his.

    Siuan clutched her arm in pain. *Damn!* Worse of all, more came. He
sprang into action taking a few steps and drawing the sword in one swift
motion. The hands became alive as the sword danced with the wind to
slice down every crossbow bolt that even got close to him while in front
of Siuan. It was the 'Tenshin Amaguriken' while using a sword. Ranma had
learned it by a combination of catching chestnuts and swatting bees.
Swatting mini arrows made little difference.

    There were some gasps, but quickly passed with the fire erupting
from the hurt red haired girl's hands. Ranma quickly picked up Siuan and
jumped onto the horse, much to the horse's annoyance. It seemed Ranma
and the horse had an understanding though as the panic quickly died
down.

    "Run for the crest, I can't keep this up much longer!" was screamed
out. The enemy started coming through the gateway by now, but the most
important thing had been to run. He was the only one not hurt, not for
long though.

    *BOOM*

    A shock wave hit him unknowingly for the second time while the horse
almost threw him over, the shock wave though, had. Ranma took the blunt
of the fall and the sword lucky fell harmlessly to the side, all was
quiet. A little pain by his standards as he propped himself up. Everyone
was alive. The area where the gate was however looked like a full
powered 'Perfect Shishi Hokodan' site.

    "What a day..." Ranma muttered to himself, the same way he mutters
almost everyday.

    < OH MY! >

    A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red
decorations along the edges gets pushed out. SD seems to be a little
grouchy. (Boy is that an understatement)

    "Due too court order that enslaves me to this, I present you... ah
whatever this is supposed to do!"

    "Seanchan, they are all weird and stuff and like to collar women to
women...humm...kinky."

    " Elayne Trakand, self-proclaimed queen, Green Ajah, and has a
tendency to sniff."

    "Err... _Nyna_eve_ Al'Meara, self-proclaimed Yellow Ajah, Wisdom,
and has a tendency to pull her hair."

    "Wilders, Aes Sedai are tame even if they don't act it, wilders are
every other women that can channel."

    "Seafolks, Sea-folks."

    "Bowl of Winds, a bowl that can do winds...and some other things..."

    "What there is more!? Shoot me now..."

    < OH MY! >

    She looked out the window from the palace of Cairhien. She could
feel the winds of destiny changing. A major event had happened. The time
line was still going accordingly, or how she remembered it might be. She
wasn't fate, whatever she thought was 'a might' and nothing more. Still
it was an advantage.

    Rand was coming; she had a magical tracker on certain people
including him. It was much more convenient if one knew where certain
influential people were. Ranma and Siuan were a different matter
however, something happened when the Hiryu Shoten Ha was used. It was a
blur for them now, but a little snooping would find them again.

    Rand came in as expected, "Moiraine, I'm leaving for Illian, I am in
need of an advisor." His voice was cold, harsh. She knew full well why,
but should she help with his renewal? It was a tap on the pattern that
could send deadly waves on destiny. She hated working when she wasn't
suppose to, but the world falling to the 'DarkOne' was not an option.

    "I have many things to catch up, I would rather not accompany you
right now," she spoke that with the most politely, friendliest, smile.

    Rand took the reaction very deeply, right now she believed he would
be analyzing it bit by bit, but he said nothing more. He was definitely
on the brink of exploding into emotional trauma. "As you wish Moiraine."

    Then his mask dropped, something was wrong. "Moiraine, your
face...is something wrong?"

    Blinking a few times she unconsciously touched the face that was not
hers. "I do not know, many things are a mystery to me right now." True
enough, but Rand didn't comment on this, maybe he thought it was another
trick and left.

    Looking into the mirror, her face, Moiraine's face, was changing.
The once large dark eyes now had a tint of blue... or perhaps purple,
and the hair... there was also a faint tint of blue on her bangs. The
face looked a bit younger, slightly, almost unnoticeable unless you knew
something was wrong. *So that's it!*

    Realization hit her; it had been a setup. She was on another
assignment, but only this time she had direct contact with events and
unlike ordinary ones, she didn't know what she was suppose to do.

    A grim smile crossed her face, *So, I can do anything I want,
carefully, but none the less, no restrictions* A brief thought that she
might have to involve herself with a dark power, sparked, but paid
little attention to it. *I have much to do then, first I have to get
Ranma's things, then find those two* Her power wasn't really gone then,
only it was buffered and slowly returning. That was why her features
were slowly changing or merging into what she was. *I would have to
lighten Rand up, he's still the catalyze to defeating the DarkOne and
now he has one more ally, even if he doesn't know it yet*

    She also was going to need to prepare, it didn't matter anymore that
she had to act like Moiraine, a lot of trinkets were waiting for her in
the pocket space.


Author's babble~
If I don't get comments I might just get depress and never write again! [Which author then goes off to take some prozac and forget's all about it]

Chapter 9 is chucking along now...
-----------
~Kuku
Saturn Crystal Power, MAKEUP! *glomp*

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