Curse of the Ancient
Prologue: Curse of the Guide
I play.
He attacks.
I hurt.
He hunts.
I flee.
He chases.
I avoid.
He falls
I see need.
He sinks.
I help.
He lives.
I grow tired.
He regrets.
I sleep.
He mourns.
Bayankala Mountain Range, China
The Guide of Jusenkyo looked out over the springs. He had been working these springs for centuries and the guilt still hadn't left him. Sighing, he looked up to one of the mountains watching as the sun played across the springs. Listing to the sound of combat, he thought to the two fools who had wandered in the springs today. The Springs told him that both of them would leave cursed, one a simple spring, the Spring of the Drowned Panda, the other he didn't know, and that meant one of the Elder Springs. The Elders always made things interesting for their chosen. Hearing a splash, he stood from his chair and put some water on to boil.
With Ranma
Ranma was having fun. His dad had dragged him to some training ground and once again started fighting him. Both he and his father had quickly taken to the poles and swinging at each other. He had ducked and dodged several of the man's wild swings, before kicking him off the pole. Genma fell from the pole and landed in the pool below with a large splash. When he didn't appear after a few seconds, Ranma jumped down to the edge of the pool to see what was wrong.
As he got to the edge the water bulged up as a massive form emerged from the water with a roar. Jumping back he barley avoided the beast's vicious claws. The creature roared again and slipped into an offensive stance before launching at him again. Ducking under a swipe he jumped back, only to find the hulking beast quickly closing the distance. Jumping to one of the stalks he bounded off it and launched a barrage against the beast's head. The beast was dazed but quickly snapped out of it and retaliated. Ranma kept jumping from tree to tree trying to find an opening. Both fighters failed to realize their approach to the wooden walls of one of the pools.
Leaping over the beast, Ranma used one of the stalks to springboard onto its back where he landed several punishing blows to its head and neck. As the beast staggered around, Ranma was unbalanced. Using his imbalance, the beast managed to knock him off its back and slammed him through the wall. As he broke through the wall Ranma landed in the pool below.
Hearing the splash Genma smirked and raised his arms in victory. When he calmed down from the fight, he realized something about his body was off. He seemed heavier and his center of gravity was not where it should be. Putting a paw on his chin, he thought… wait PAW! Looking down he realized that he did in fact have a paw. Panicking he ran to one of the springs to see his reflection. When he looked into the pool he was startled to find a panda looking back at him. Turning to the broken wall he began to approach it when he heard footsteps approaching. Turning to the noise, he saw the Guide that he and his son had met earlier today.
Smiling sadly at Genma the guide looked at the broken wall. "It will be a few minutes before he comes out," he said. Seeing the bears questioning look he smiled. "The stronger the pool, the longer it takes for the curse to set in. The open pools are the lesser pools. Their curses are weak, usually animals or altered mindsets. They only take seconds to work. The fenced off pools are the greater pools or the more dangerous pools. These contain mystic creatures or creatures of great power, such as upper class spirits, or Dragons, these pools grant strong powers, but take longer to set in, usually 30-45 seconds. The walled pools are the oldest and the strongest. These are the Elder Springs. These pools are special in that each pool can only curse one person. Some will curse another once the previous victim dies, but most are just one shot deals. These pools contain the oldest spirits and grant the strongest abilities. Due to the power of these pools, the cursed must pass a test of the spirits choosing. If they pass, they receive the form of the Spirit and are allowed to leave the pool; however if they fail, the magic of the Springs will keep them in the pool until their body dies and the Spring once again absorbs their Spirit."
Genma attempts to speak, but all that comes out are animalistic grunts. Thinking for a second, he focuses his Ki, forming a small picket sign which he holds up to the Guide. /So I'm stuck as a Panda?/
"No, you can be returned to normal," replied the Guide, pulling out a thermos. Splashing Genma with the water he said, "With warm water. However cold water will turn you back into a panda. There is no permanent cure. Be thankful you only fell in a lesser spring, some of the Greater and most of the Elder Springs are permanent changes."
Looking at the Guide Genma asked, "So which spring did my son fall in?"
Looking around at the landmarks the Guide said "He fell into the," frowning he looked around again. "That can't be right" he muttered, "It's never picked a candidate." Pulling out a map he confirmed his suspicions. Turning back to Genma he said, "Truthfully, I don't know what the creature was. All I know is that this is the oldest and most powerful spring. It is the Origin Spring. Its origin is truly the most tragic tale of any of the springs. If your son comes out I'll tell you its story. If not, then it is better left untold." Both men turned their attention back to the water.
Poolscape, 3 minutes earlier,
As Ranma felt himself hit the water he instinctively held his breath and closed his eyes. After a few seconds of sinking, the feel of water on his skin vanished, and he felt air rush past him. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was falling head first through blackness. Looking up, (or was it down?) towards where he fell he noticed a bright white circle, growing larger. He quickly realized that he was falling towards the light. Panicking he tried to right himself and reduce the damage from the fall. As he neared the circle his decent slowed and he felt himself flip over. As his feet touched the circle, the bright white cracked, and turned into doves, which flew away, revealing what seemed to be a stained glass circle. Since he was standing on it he couldn't make out the full picture, but half of it seemed to be a person standing in a fighting stance. Across from the figure where three large circles with some kind of creatures, but he couldn't tell what kind. Looking around he thought 'Where am I?' As he looked around he heard a faint giggling then a childlike voice replied "You're at a crossroad"
"A crossroad" he asked.
"Yep," came the cheery voice, "You have to pick your path."
"How?" asked the boy, confused.
"Simple," said the voice from behind him, "You open the door!"
Turning Ranma saw a large door at the edge of the circle. As he approached the door it opened, revealing a translucent staircase behind it. Seeing no other exit he climbed the stairs. As he ascended the stairs he looked back down on the circle. He couldn't make out the figure, but he could see the three creatures. The one closest to the figures feet looked like a strange armored deer, with a golden frame and its body. Under the curve of its strange helmet he could see two crimson eyes. The middle creature looked like a strange green fairy, . The top on looked like a strange pink cat with blue eyes. AS he neared the top of the stairs he found another door, opening it he found himself on another colorful circle. As he steeped through the door, it closed behind him and vanished.
Looking around on this new circle he saw three pedestals, one to his left, one to his right, and one directly across form him, each with a different object resting on top. The one to his left was a sword, about 60 inches long, with a decorated hilt, seemingly made of ruby. On his right was a glove its back and knuckles covered in sapphire. Directly in front of him was a jade sphere. "Choose one," said the voice, "Choose your path"
Looking around he approached the sword. As he neared he saw visions of battle, he saw him self attacking his foes, his blows shattering anything that stood in his way. He felt the bloodlust stirring within him, and the rage of the path. The images then flashed to himself , with glowing red eyes, sitting on a crystal throne, a black haired woman kneeling beside his throne. He ruled supreme.
Path of the Warrior
Strength unmatched
Tear through your foes
Let the song of Battle sound
Destroy all who stand in your way
Unmatched power tempted him; with it he could truly be unbeatable. However the bloody visions and rage he felt from the sword was enough to turn him away. Shaking his head he approached the ball. Once again he saw visions of battle. He saw himself striking from afar, using forgotten spells, and ancient powers. He saw standing beside a crystal throne, green eyes sparkling with ancient wisdom, whispering advice and giving subtle commands to a vacant-eyed blonde lady. He ruled from the shadows.
Path of the Keeper
Wisdom of all Time
Time shall bend to you will
Follow the wisdom of the Ages
Stand eternally undefeated
Wisdom sounded nice, but staying behind the scenes and out of battle didn't sound much to his liking. He wanted to have credit for his achievements and he couldn't be the best from behind the scenes. Turning he approached the glove. For a third time images assaulted him; he saw himself weave in and out of foes, using their own spells and blows to reduce the others. He was having fun dodging, weaving, manipulating the battle to his favor. He saw himself floating unseen above a crystal throne, watching a blonde queen settle disputes, as a pink haired girl sat fidgeting in. He smiled and floated down behind her. His blue gaze catching the Queen's eye he vanished with her, off to play. He didn't need to rule.
Path of the Trickster
Cunning unknown
Battle shall be your board
Seek the thrill of the present
Play the game of life
Smiling at the battles, it looked like fun. No wake of shattered foes, no hiding behind soldiers, just the joy of fighting; win or lose, it was fun. It sounded like his kind of path. Making up his mind, he grabbed the glove and slipped it on. As he did, the pedestals vanished with a flash of green and red. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned and saw another strange door, this one blue with gold swirls. Approaching it, the door swung open and he steeped through.
He found himself in a vast white plain, only marred by a streak of green, that led to a large red arch, filled with swirling colors. Above the arch was a neon sign that proudly displayed the word EXIT. As he stepped away from the door, it vanished leaving him alone in the whiteness. The voice once again spoke to him, "Head towards the Arch if you want to leave. No matter what happens, stay on the Path.
As he took a step towards the Arch, he heard a scream. Looking towards the noise, he saw a young black haired girl, being attacked by three blackish creatures. As she ran, he could hear her screaming for help. He started to run towards her, but an emerald wall cut him off, along with the voice. "Don't leave the Path, for any reason!" "But, she needs help!" "If you leave the path, tragedy will befall you." Leaping over the wall, he pushed off it and charged towards the screaming girl. As his foot touched the whiteness, he heard a resounding crack, as blackness spider-webbed from his landing point. Glancing around he saw that black cracks had began spreading around the entire plane. "You fool," cried the voice, "the plane is collapsing! If you don't get through the arch quickly you'll be trapped here!
Ignoring the voice he continued to run towards the girl. "You cant save her! You only have about 20 seconds, if you don't get through the gate before then, you will die when the plane does!" "I don't care if I die! I have to at least try to save her!" He charged towards the black creatures, and landed in front of the closest one. Planting his foot he used his forward momentum to spin, using it to land a brutal roundhouse kick to the thing's apparent head, unaware of the blue flames clinging to his body, causing it to burst into black smoke.
As the first beast faded, he stepped up to the second, nimbly dodging its blows. He danced through its guard, landing an elbow into its gut, which he followed up with a vicious uppercut that tore through its head, causing it to fade as well. Leaping over the blow of the third, he grabbed its wrist, using it as leverage; he pulled himself towards it and used the momentum to land several crushing kicks to it's torso, and he could hear the sound of bones breaking. Releasing its wrist, he pulled himself into a front flip as it staggered from the blows, before it could recover he landed a flaming axe-kick to its neck and was rewarded with the sound of breaking bones, before the thing turned to smoke.
Looking at the girl, he noted that she looked to be about 12 with purple eyes and violet hair. Quickly grabbing her, he turned and sprinted towards the Arch, heedless of the breaking ground. As he approached the Arch a large part of the plane in front of him broke away. "You'll never make it carrying her!" cried the voice, "You have to drop her if you want to escape!"
"Never!" cried the boy, leaping from the edge of the chasm. Even as he leapt, his mind knew he would never make it, he wouldn't be able to make it to the Arch after he landed. As he flew, he formulated a plan, at least one of them would survive. Using his training he forced himself into a spin as he began his decent. As he neared ground, he used the spins momentum, to fling the girl towards the Arch, The force of the throw pushed him away from the path, and back into the chasm. The last thing he saw before he fell into the black pit was the girl's startled face as she flew through the portal and disappeared, just before the Arch collapsed, followed quickly by the rest of the plane, and Darkness consumed his vision.
