Note, this chapter is new, and still in the process of being finished.

Legal: The characters of Ranma � were created by the great Rumiko Takahashi,
Dr. Strange was one of the greatest creations of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
I am using them without permission, hopefully for the purpose of
entertaining someone.  If anyone who has a right to sue me has that desire,
I have almost no money.
 C&C is appreciated, you can contact me at brendan@wiltonnewyork.com.  And
if you want to see the earlier parts of this and my other stories, you can
find them at http://www.wiltonnewyork.com/Brendan
--------

Ranma Saotome: Master of the Mystic Arts
By Brendan O�Donnell
Chapter 7

 Ranma glanced down from the fence at Nabiki.
 Nabiki walked beside her sister, a slightly uncertain expression on her
face.
 Ranma shifted his glance to Akane who walked calmly and deliberately.
 With a sigh Ranma hopped down between the two girls.  �I haven�t mastered
the Spell of Forgetfulness yet, but if you want something removed from your
memories I could ask Strange-Sensei.�
 Akane snapped her head with a slightly shocked expression.  �I don�t want
to forget anything!�
 Nabiki simultaneously raised her hands defensively and hopped back.  �No,
no thanks for the offer.�
 �I was joking.�  Ranma responded, shaking his head.  �I was just worried
because you were so quiet.�
 Smirking Nabiki responded, �Hey I thought you�d be glad that I wasn�t
pointing out how your dad kicked your ass this morning.�
 Ranma scowled, then it shifted into a half smirk.  �I�m not bringing up
last nights accident, am I?�
 Nabiki turned bright red at the memory.

Flashback:
 Nabiki shook her head as she looked at the three Sorcerers chatting at the
table.  �I don�t know about you but I�ve got homework to do.�  She said as
she rose to her feet and started out of the room.
 Two steps from the table, she suddenly felt every hair on her body stand on
end.  Just to her side, a stream of mist appeared, then spread into a small
curtain of fog.  Then the center of the curtain seemed to disintegrate from
a great light shining out of it.
 Power poured from the newly formed portal like heat from an inferno.
Backing away Nabiki tripped and scrambled back with hands and legs.  Then a
face made of flames appeared within the portal.
 Ranma�s two fellow sorcerers talked to each other, the only thing that
penetrated the overwhelming fear was a name.  Dormammu.
 �Surely you did not think you had heard the last of me?  I have something
to show you victorious one!�  Dormammu�s voice shifted, loosing some of it�s
anger and gaining a touch of happiness.
 Nabiki remained frozen, watching the banishment a white hared girl.  Then
she felt hands pulling her to her feet.
 �That�s enough.�  Ranma said softly, putting a hand in front of her eyes as
he pulled her from the room.  �There are just some things you don�t want to
deal with.�  He paused and sniffed the air a moment.  Glancing down he
added, �Ah, the Furo.  I�ll ask Kasumi to get you some clothes.�
 Nabiki blinked, and looked down to confirm the feeling of wetness she
suddenly recognized in her pants.
End Flashback.

 �Yes.�  Nabiki said coldly.  �Let�s not bring that up.�

 Shan stood on a rooftop and gazed toward the canal that was about a mile
away.  He smiled as his magic enhanced sight picked out Ranma and two of the
girls from the house he was staying at.  He smiled a very fierce smile.
�Well, Ranma.�
 He raised a hand, beginning to gather mystical energy between his fingers,
then dropped his hand.  �No, not yet.�  He looked in the direction the three
youths had come.

 �I shall no longer be deceived by Gaijin lies!�  Kuno proclaimed, stepping
forward, holding a gohei above his head.  He was dressed in a white kimono,
and had strapped two burning candles to his head with a headband.  He
lowered the gohei, it�s paper strips rattling as he pointed it at Ranma.
�Now Ranma, your foreign arts shall fall before the Power of Japan!�  He
charged, snapping the gohei back and forth in front of him.
 Ranma waited for Kuno, then dropped into a crouch, his leg shooting out to
knock Kuno�s feet out from under him.
 �I fight on Saotome!�  Kuno declared as he pulled himself from the ground.
�Ugh.�  He added as Ranma kicked him back onto the ground.

 Shan stood outside the Tendo Dojo.  He nodded to himself.  �That spell I
felt this morning was the Ancient one departing.  And Strange has also
 left.�  He smiled.  �So it�s just Ranma and I.�  He raised a hand to touch
the leather bag hanging around his neck.  He chortled quietly.

 Ranma sat in his chair, dividing his efforts between watching the board and
keeping awake.  Suddenly his half-closed eyes popped wide open.  �The
 House!�  Leaping to his feet, he ran to the window and jerked it open.
 �Mr. Saotome!�  the teacher responded, flipping his eraser into a perfect
throwing grip.
 �Bathroom!�  Ranma responded as he launched himself through the window.
 All the other students flocked to the window, to watch Ranma leaping over
the school wall, then bouncing from roof to roof.
 �Wow, look at him go.� One student commented
 �Yeah, I wonder what made him run off like that?�
 �Class,� The teacher said in a very cold and angry tone.
 Everyone but Akane dashed back into their seats.  *He said something about
the house,*  Pivoting she ran to the door.
 �Tendo!�
 �Family Emergency Sensei!� Akane cried as she ran into the hall.

 Ranma leaped across the roofs as fast as he could, thinking of what he had
felt.  *Whatever knocked down my wards had a lot of power behind it.*  Not
like the Ancient one or Strange Sensei, but still tough.  He thought for a
moment of slowing down, taking time to judge the situation and wait for
help.  �No.  Mr. Tendo, Pop and Kasumi are home.�  He jumped from the roof,
and sprinted down the street to the Dojo, sliding fifteen feet to stop
himself in front of the door.  The brightly glowing red door.
 Raising his hands, Ranma expanded his senses.  *This aura feels familiar.
Like Shans.*  He looked at the Door.  �An alarm spell, but mostly a
signature.�  He redirected his senses up and around the house.  �There�s not
even anything else.�  Ranma commented as he sprinted toward the wall and
leaped over it into the yard.
 �Nothing else is necessary, Saotome.�
 Ranma turned toward the Dojo where the voice had come from.
 �Just an invitation for us to finish what we started.�  Shan continued as
he stepped out of the dojo.  �No more pretenses, just magic and death.  He
smirked and nodded his head slightly.
 From the roof of the Tendo home, Soun and Genma leaped down and charged at
Ranma.  Ranma stood waiting, not turning his head from Shan.  Then as the
pair wound up for a strike, Ranma casually took a step back and raised his
arms, striking both in the face, each with their own backhand punch.
 �You can�t expect that someone under mind control can fight well enough to
really hurt me.�
 �Not really, no.  I just wanted to see if you would really hit your father
and his friend.�  He looked past Ranma frowning slightly.  �Well?�
 Kasumi�s voice responded from behind him.  �Um, are you sure you want me to
hit Ranma with this teakettle?  It�s a very nice kettle, and if it gets bent
out of shape it might not make such nice tea.�
 Shan rolled his eyes.  �Ok, go cook up a victory feast.�
 �Oh, thank you sir!�  Kasumi responded, as she turned and walked back into
the house.
 �Peaceful girl.�  Shan commented.
 �Extremely.�  Ranma responded, raising his hands and gathering his magical
strength.
 Shan raised a hand, projecting a mystic bolt at Ranma.
 Ranma raised his own hand, forming a shield.  The blow caused the shield to
buckle, but it held.  *Not Good* Ranma thought to himself as he leaped to
dodge a second blast, releasing a blast of his own in response.

 Akane was almost out of breath as she came to a stop outside the Dojo.  She
looked around quickly.  �Nothing. . .� She paused and looked at the door.
There was something odd about it.  The color seemed wrong, and when she didn
�t look directly at it, it almost seemed to be glowing.  She extended her
hand to gingerly touch it.  �OWW!�  She pulled her hand back shaking it.
*It�s electrified or something.*
 From the corner of her eye she saw a beam of light shoot from the yard.
�Ok!�  She ran to the wall jumped, and grabbed the top, vaulting herself
into the yard.
 Looking around she saw her father lying on the ground close to the house.
Ranma�s father was next to him.  And by the Dojo Ranma and a Chinese
stranger were throwing yellow lightning at each other.  Well it was mostly
the stranger who was doing the throwing, Ranma was gesturing, and the blasts
were being blocked by something invisible in front of him.
 *A sorcerer like Ranma.*  She thought as she carefully moved along the edge
of the yard.  *Could I stop someone like that?*  She considered Ranma�s
encounters with Kuno, and felt a chill run down her spine.  *Well whatever I
do, I�d better try to do it by surprise.*

 Ranma felt the sweat on his forehead as he blocked another blast.  Shan�s
form was somewhat sloppier than he had seen, but his strength was far
greater than it had been before.
 *He feels odd, but I can�t sense any outside power.  Besides if he had
gained power from a demon he would be even stronger than this.*  He released
a blast which was deflected by Shan�s shields.  Shan fired a counter blast,
Which passed beneath Ranma�s feet as he jumped.
 With a smile, Shan raised his left hand, a single glowing chopstick held
between two fingers.
 *DAMN!*  Ranma thought as Shan hurled the chopstick.  Boosted by his
crafted spells, it accelerated and struck Ranma�s shield, punching through
them easily.  �GRAAH!�  Ranma gritted his teeth as he grabbed at his stomach
where the chopstick was now embedded.
 His smile expanding Shan gestured with his left hand.
 �AHHHHHHHH!�  Eldrich power blazed from the wooden weapon, flowing through
Ranma�s body like hot liquid pain through a hose.

 *Ranma!*  Akane Jumped at Shan, twisting into a downward punch which passed
through the space Shan had occupied a moment earlier and tore a small crater
in the ground.
 �Bad move.�  Shan stated from where he now levitated, ten feet away.  He
thrust his hand forward, releasing a blast of concussive force, throwing
Akane back to the wall.
 Lowering his hand Shan turned to Ranma.  And frowned.  �Going for help?  I�
d advise against that Saotome!�  He said loudly.  �I�ve set a few detection
spells, and if your astral body gets to far out of the area, it�ll
automatically trigger a few nasty effects on your father and those other
two.�

 Akane shakily pulled herself halfway up, gritting her teeth against the
pain.  *Danm, what can I do against that monster?*
 {Akane, don�t talk, just focus your thoughts and I�ll hear them.}
 �R. . .�  {Ranma?}  Akane bit back her verbal response.
 {Yeah, that weapon he had set really did some damage to my body, but I was
able to shift into my astral form.  Unfortunately I�m a lot weaker like
this.}
 {Like with Dr. Strange, would you be stronger if I let you use my body?}
 {I�d prefer to have an alternative, it�s a real risk for you.}
 {Like being here with this nutcase isn�t!}

 �I know you�re still close, Saotome.�  Shan said, floating near Ranma�s
body.  �Maybe you need more of an incentive to come out and fight?�  He
pivoted, turning until he was looking at Akane.  �Maybe this girls screams
will bring you back to fight.�

 {Damn!  Clear your mind, try to let go of everything!}  Ranma projected as
he phased his astral body out of the ground into Akane.
 {How, Right.  Clear, Clear, Blank. . .}  Akane closed her eyes and forced
herself to relax as something invisible gently lifted her into the air.
 �Hmm,� Shan commented as he floated to Akane.  �Where to begin?�  He raised
a hand, energy crackling along it to focus in two extended fingers.
 Akane�s eyes shot open, and with a sudden burst of levitation she darted
forward enough for her rising kick to slam into Shan�s side, throwing the
sorcerer toward the Tendo House.
 Drawing in mystical energy from the surroundings Ranma wove a strong mystic
bolt that shot after Shan.

 A foot from the house Shan�s movement stopped, and he instantly rotated
back toward Akane.  �Heh, You actually think you�ll be able to challenge me
indirectly Saotome?�  He said as he raised a hand and deflected Ranma�s
attack.  Feeling the energy of the talisman around his neck, he floated
forward and dropped to the ground.  �Here, I�ll let you have a free attack
so that you can truly understand your helplessness.�

 *What to do?*  Ranma thought to himself.  He was weaker than in his real
body, and even then Shan�s strength had been overwhelming.  *There has to be
some spell, some power. . .*  Ranma blinked, then raised his hands and
gathered his strength.
 �By the myriad great powers
 �That rule the day and night.�
Energy began to coals and build between Ranma�s two hands.
 �May the Faltine Flames now pierce you�
 At the center of the ball of power a green spark ignited into an emerald
conflagration.
 �With a thousand points of light!�
 Ranma thrust his hands forward, and the ball of flame exploded away from
him, spawning a swarm of flaming projectiles.

 As Shan saw the fire forming, his grin faded, and he redoubled the strength
of his shielding.  A moment later the green flames reached him.  �GRRRRA!�
Shan focused everything he had into holding his deeply cratering shield
together.  �AHHHH!� he screamed and one then another and another missile of
fire pierced his defenses to stab into him.  As the attack died, he raised
his hand to the bag around his neck, extending his power to the talisman
within, letting it wipe away his feelings of uncertainty, fill his reserves
with more power.

 Ranma forced down a moment of double vision.  *That bag. . . Have to end
the fight now.*  He shifted Akane�s legs into a slight crouch.  Raising
Akane�s right hand before her face he began chanting once more.
 �Winds of Watoomb fill my hand.�
 As the air began to swirl around Akane�s right hand, Ranma leaped, flying
into Shan like an arrow.
 �Send my foe beyond this land!�
 As the palm strike shattered through Shan�s still disrupted shields, the
swirling wind encasing Akane�s hand expanded and wrapped around Shan.  As he
flew backward from the palm strike to his stomach, his flight accelerated,
and moments later he was nothing but a dot on the horizon.
 Akane dropped to the ground and sighed, tiredly.  She took a breath, then
exhaled shakily as Ranma pulled his Astral body from her.
 �Wow, that was. . . wow.�  Akane said quietly.
 Ranma floated toward the house, looking closely.  Then he raised his hand,
and began a quick series of movements with his hands.   A few moments later
he nodded and floated to his body.
 Akane looked down in worry at the stick imbedded in Ranma�s body.  �Is
there anything I can do?�
 Ranma looked at her and smiled.  �The weapon doesn�t have any serious
enchantments, it was just meant to quickly disable.  It�s magic has already
faded, and it just needs to be removed.  Dr. Tofu would probably be able to,
though I�d expect you�d want to check on your sister first.�
 �Kasumi!�  Akane turned and ran into the house.

 �Ranma?�
 Ranma turned his astral head to look at the ancient one�s astral form
floating toward him.  �Master, I thank you for coming.�
 �Don�t fear, Shan�s act draws my interest by itself.  Do you have any idea
what has driven him to reveal his true allegiance?�
 Ranma shook his head.  �I know that his strength was boosted somehow.  It
seemed tied to the bag around his neck.  And there was no trace of another
power to him, so I doubt he�s pacted with any power.�  Ranma scowled.  �He
almost had me.  He would have had me if not for the Flames.  And if he hadn�
t been so overconfident as well.�
 �Indeed, the Flames seemed much stronger than you have ever been able to
summon them.�
 �Akane must have some affinity, I guess.  He�ll be back.�  Ranma looked to
the horizon.
 �You will have two or three days, my student,� the Ancient one replied.
�Shan has been thrown across the world, and even boosted he lacks the
strength to teleport or fly back here.�
 �Two days.  Not like it�ll do any good.�  Ranma commented in a depressed
voice.
 �Ranma?�
 �I got lucky this time.  If I try to stop him again, he�ll win easily.�
His face twisted into an angry expression.  �Dad raised me to avoid asking
for help.  I still hate it, but the Tendo�s are at risk too.  And the only
way they�ll be safe is if someone who�s magic�s worth something steps in.�
 �No.  There is another way.�

 Ranma and the Ancient One floated above a cave in the mountain near the
Ancient One�s temple.
 �When I granted Dr. Strange the improved Eye of Agamato, I placed the older
eye deep within that cave.  If you can reach it and pass it�s test, it will
make all the difference in your next fight with Shan.�
 �What�s this test?�
 �One of your own making,�
 Ranma looked at his teacher.  With a smile on his face, he bowed to the
Ancient One.  �Ok, I�ll be back with the eye soon.�  Turning he flitted down
and into the cave.
 The Ancient one sighed and looked down.  �May Agamatto show you mercy,
young one.�

 Ranma�s astral form extended a hand to feel the mountain.  It felt quite
solid, even to his spectral hand.  �Ok,� He commented, flying to the
entrance to the cave.  �That�s no surprise.�  Cautiously he floated into the
dark tunnel into the mountain.  Drifting along the natural corridor, he
stopped before the sealed door at it�s end.  Reaching out a hand he realized
that it was not shielded against Astral intrusion so he phased through it.
Into the light.

 Ranma raised a hand before his eyes, before remembering his spectral
nature.  Lowering his hands he looked into the brightly lit room.  At the
center of the natural chamber was a pillar, and above the pillar floated a
sphere of brilliant light.  Within the light he could make out the square
outline of Dr. Strange�s old amulet.
 Ranma felt for barriers, traps, or anything keeping him from the amulet.
Sensing nothing he cautiously began to float forward.
 *Vision*
 Ranma saw himself fighting Shan.  His body was injured and he casually
seized Akane�s, his pride demanding that he use her before asking for help.
 *End Vision*
 Ranma shook his head, as he looked back into the chamber.  *IT WASN�T LIKE
THAT!  I couldn�t. . .  If I had tried. . .*  He looked back into the light.
Screwing his determination he floated forward again.
 *Vision*
 Ranma fought Shan, his pride *No!*  He saw Shan�s barrier, tasted the
cruelty in Shan�s smile.  *Not just for pride!*  He thought of Kasumi and
Akane, recalling his desire to protect them.  {To Impress them and gain
praise} *They would have died if I fled, I had to keep them safe, whatever
their response.  I. . .*
 *End Vision*
 Ranma floated deeper into the room.
 *Vision*
 Ranma was
 *End Vision*



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