Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or the Teen Titans. If I did I would be filthy rich and not writing a fan based work of fiction
"" - Normal conversation
'' - translation
Chapter 2: Of Myths and Legends
The guide looked Ranma over in amazement, then turned back to look at Genma panda unconscious some feet away, sighed and bowed his head. "I'm so sorry young customer but you fell in spring of drowned star being, first person to do so I might add." The guide finished exclaiming in barely contained awe. He then directed the youth to follow him to his hut, "Do not worry though the curse is reversible." He stated reassuringly. Ranma blinked at the guide oddly for a moment, then shrugged, and followed him several questions popping into mind.
After stepping through the door, Ranma looked around the hut. It was almost one giant space with the kitchen and bedroom divided only by a table cutting the room into two. Only near the far end of the hut was there a door that seemed to lead to another room. A single window, opposite the kitchen side, gave a broad clear view of the all the springs in the valley. The guide placed a kettle on the stove, poured some water into it, and placed some tobacco in a small smoking pipe. He then motioned for Ranma to take a seat at the table.
After Ranma sat down the guide turned to face the young man and began explaining, "Young customer and his father are now among a long list of victims of the cursed pools." The guide paused as he put a small-lit stick to the tobacco-filled pipe and began taking some slow puffs. The guide then turned to look out the window of his hut onto the cursed valley of Jusenkyo. "Each pool carries with it the magical ability to transform its victim into the shape or personality of the original being who drowned in it." The guide moved to Ranma's left side and turned to look at him, his thumb jerking outside to where Genma panda was 'napping'. "Older customer fell in a spring where a panda drowned 2000 years ago."
The guide sat down in front of Ranma as he continued to explain. "Now older customer is a panda himself", he then gestured to Ranma, "While young customer…" As the guide continued to talk, Ranma was watching him closely, something seemed odd about there conversation and then it hit the young martial artist. Before the guide spoke in slightly broken Japanese; now however Ranma could understand every inflection and statement the guide made, it was freaking the young man out a bit. "Wait a second." Ranma interrupted the guide by holding up his hands, "Why can I clearly understand what you're saying?" he asked staring intently at the guide.
The guide looked very puzzled by Ranma's question. He then lowered his head in thought for a moment. Then he quickly raised his head and exclaimed quietly, "Ah yes of course that would explain it." A few moments past and it became apparent that the guide was caught up in his own thoughts. Ranma coughed slightly to get his attention. The guide looked toward the young man sheepishly before asking, "Young customer what language do you think I was speaking in?"
"Japanese." Ranma responded quickly, humoring the guide who then shook his head. "No young sir in my excitement I was speaking to you in Mandarin, my native tongue." It took Ranma a moment to process that information, when he did his eyes became wide with the realization, "But that means—".
"Yes young customer," the guide interrupted with a smile, "you have gained one of the star beings abilities as described in the old account of him. It was called the 'Gift of Tongues'." The guide then shifted his gaze back onto Ranma, a serious expression on his face. "He hinted that this ability was granted by touch but I am not sure what that entails exactly." Ranma nodded, absorbing the information the guide was giving him before looking back toward his host. "And the other abilities of this being such as flight, ki blasts, and such what does the old account say of them?"
The guide paused in thought, "Sketchy details and fluff but there is an interesting poem he shared with the Jusenkyo guide of the time. I have a copy of the account if you want to look at it?" The guide inquired. Ranma nodded his consent and the guide got up from his seat. He headed toward the only door Ranma saw initially when he stepped into the hut, taking out a keychain as he neared it. After unlocking the door the guide stepped through the threshold leaving Ranma alone. The young man turned his gaze onto his right hand and wondered what other surprises lurked in store for him as he flexed his fingers.
After what seemed like ten minutes, the guide came back to his seat with a slightly old discolored red bound book. He placed the book down on the table, flipped several pages to the middle, and showed it to Ranma. While it was written in Chinese, Ranma was still able to read it perfectly. Ranma grinned and attributed this to his new gift from the spring. He slowly read the paragraph the guide pointed to in the book.
Take this simple lesson to heart
Emotions are where you should start
First comes joy unchained
Unbridled by anything
You soar with unseen wings
Next must come faith in oneself
Which must be endless to help
Relieve the burden of weight on yourself
Last but not least is the stuff of wrath
Though dark it maybe channeled righteously
It can light a just blaze for all to see
"Nice but it seems to get a bit…cryptic near the end." Ranma observed as he turned his head toward the guide. "Do you know anything specific?"
Before the guide could answer the kettle began whistling indignantly trying to tell the two occupants of the hut that the water was boiling hot now. The guide excused himself, grabbed a thick circular cloth, and laid it in the middle of the table. The guide then went and grabbed a small piece of cloth and grabbed the kettle by the handle. He placed the kettle on the circular cloth and went through the cabinets for two teacups, a bowl of sugar cubes, and two spoons. The guide set one cup for Ranma the other for himself with the bowl sitting within easy reach of both of them.
"Unfortunately no," the guide began cautiously. "That poem was the only response left by the Star Being when my ancestor, the Jusenkyo guide almost 600 years ago, asked about his powers." The guide put two cubes into his cup and calmly spooned his tea as he thought. "The rest of the book is more fiction than truth: an epic story explaining why the star being came down from the heavens." He said somberly before taking a sip of his tea then pointing his free hand toward the book, "By the way that's a reproduction; I have several of them feel free to take that with you on your journey."
Ranma bowed, closed the book, and placed it aside. He then turned back to the guide. "Well you said there was a cure, what is it?" Ranma asked curiously. The guide then took the cooled pot of warm water and poured it on Ranma who sputtered as the water engulfed him. "Hey what ya do that for?" He asked angrily until he got a good look at his hands and saw they were pink again. He quickly looked to the guide for an explanation. The guide smiled and stated in broken Japanese, "Hot water reverse curse until splash with cold water again."
Daybreak
Mornings were an awkward time for Ranma, part of him still wanted to sleep in but another knew that his father would try to attack him if he indulged in that activity. So as the morning light started to filter into the hut Ranma slowly got up and looked around his surroundings. He was on a simple futon in the middle of a room. To his left slept two other forms while to his right was a small kitchen area. Taking a closer look at the kitchen he saw a table neatly folded in a corner.
The table brought back memories of the guide and their talk; which lasted well into the night. The guide had promised to show the two a village that could better explain the abilities Ranma had gained thanks to his being dunk in a spring. But that was in the morning, which was why the guide offered them sleeping arrangements in his hut. Come to think of it when Ranma focused on the two sleepers he found the guide was the one nearest him. Ranma snorted, of course he'd put someone between him and pops. Knowing the old man he'd probably try to attack him at night spouting nonsense like 'A martial artist must be ready at all times for attack'. Looking around Ranma saw a bit of sunlight shining through the covered window of the hut. Seeing that neither the guide nor his pop were going to be up and about soon Ranma decided to experiment with his new body. Getting up out of the bedroll and putting on a new gi from his travel pack the young man grabbed a small cup, filled it with cold water, a small towel, and proceeded outside.
Once outside the dwelling Ranma unceremoniously dumps the water on his head. He gained a half a foot in height, his skin turned orange, and his hair became a fiery red. Ranma examined his new self, noted the need to buy new clothes as his gi looked diminutive on his new frame, and began slowly pacing around to adjust to his new center of gravity. After a few minutes Ranma stopped, looked down at his hands with green eyes, and muttered, "Time to see what this body can do."
An hour later inside the hut…
Genma awoke slowly, blinking the sleep from his eyes, and groaning in slight pain. He stood up on his hands and took a look at his surroundings. He had been sleeping on a futon inside some building. How Genma got here he couldn't remember; come to think of it the last things he recalled was the glare of the bright orange—thing his son had become, a bright green light, and pain, lots of mind numbing pain. Genma shivered involuntarily at the thought of what Ranma could do now. That green ki blast of his was as strong, if not stronger, then the dreaded masters finishing move. He had to find a way to return his son to normal; Otherwise controlling—guiding—him in the Art would be next to impossible. With this thought Genma rose slowly out of the futon intent on searching for his wayward son. Once he was fully up he heard a few loud battle cries coming from outside the building. Quickly finding a door, Genma opened it, and saw his son, Ranma, still in his non-human form outside practicing some katas. Normally this would swell Genma with pride, now he merely frowned at his son. Taking a critical eye to his son's movements, Genma slowly began circling the youth, each time he saw a mistake he began calling it out to Ranma. "Don't overextend your left leg." He started, "Tighten your footwork." and so on, he kept at it for several minutes. Finally, as a vein was popping on his forehead, Genma threw up his hands into the air before exclaiming, "ENOUGH! If you cannot do the Art correctly in that form boy change back right now!"
Ranma ignored him and kept on practicing. This irritated Genma, "Well boy?" the older man bellowed. Ranma just glared ahead with those green eyes as he brought his kata to a finish. "Stuff it father, it is your fault we have these curses now and I have to deal with it." Ranma started as he toweled off before glancing back at Genma with contempt. "You, on the other hand, can deal with it as you do everything else; ignore it and hope it goes away or run away like a coward when it proves too much for you to handle."
Genma closes his eyes as tears start to well up then fall from them, "Oh what shame to have a boy that doesn't respect his father so!" he began but was interrupted by Ranma jump kicking him into the ground, "Save your crocodile tears for someone who cares old one!" Getting up Genma glared at Ranma, "Time to teach you some manners boy!" he exclaimed as he performed a leg sweep. Ranma jumped up to avoid the attack.
With that the two Saotomes began airing their grievances as they had since the beginning of the training trip...with fierce hand to hand combat. After a few moments the guide appeared, saw the fight, and ran toward the two, "Aiyah sirs, please stop fighting very bad if you fall in springs again!" Genma spared the guide a contemptuous glance, "Stay out of this, I have a right to discipline my son and no mere tour guide can tell me otherwise!" The overweight martial artist shouted. Unfortunately Ranma capitalized on his father's distracted attention to get a spin kick in that smashed the older man into the ground. Ranma smirked as he landed, "Well old one, looks like my control is good enough to kick your kajput to the ground."
Seeing the combat had ended or at least had paused for the moment, the guide stepped forward and addressed Ranma. 'Young sir, did you forget where we were going this morning?' he asked in seriousness. A moment of thought passed through the young aliens features before he smacked his right hand in his left palm. 'Oh correct, the village. Forgive me, I was interrupted with the old ones antics as I was attempting to identify any flaws or limitations my new form had on my martial skill.'
The guide nodded as Ranma finished. 'That's quite alright, the older customer needed to learn tact and nothing was harmed,' the guide exclaimed with a smirk as Genma got up groggily holding his head, 'That one's empty head took the blow.' To which Ranma chuckled and nodded his agreement.
Genma shook his head slowly trying in vain to stop the world from spinning, "Well boy," he cautiously began, "at least your hand to hand skills haven't diminished but I've got my eyes on you."
Ranma rolled his eyes at that, "Do whatever you wish old one, I have to pack we're going deeper into the region."
Genma quickly grabbed Ranma's wrist stopping him and glared at the boy, "We have to head home boy!" Ranma looked down at his father's hand then twisted out of his grasp. "Just as soon as I learn how to control this form or do you want me to get arrested because I can't control my powers?" Ranma calmly rebutted. Genma huffed and turned back to the hut to grab his backpack. The guide just shook his head at the exchange.
It took about half a day to reach the outskirts of the village the guide spoke of, along the way the trio had to cross a natural bridge under a waterfall which caused Genma to turn into a panda. Ranma himself never got out of his cursed form and seemed to be taking the pace in stride though the guide and his father were a bit winded. The guide pulled ahead a bit, as they passed the gate, he gestured to the village surroundings "Mr. Customers, this is village of amazons." The guide exclaimed causing Ranma to quirk his eyebrow. 'Is that what it is actually called?' he asked curiously to which the guide replied quietly, 'It's more like the Village of Women heroes, but outsider tourists seem more enraptured by Amazon title.'
Ranma nodded at the explanation, 'So where exactly are we going?' as he started to walk beside the guide. The guide quickly scanned the buildings and then pointed to one in the far distance that seems more like a large hall or palace. 'An elder council runs the village from there and know much of the history of the region. They should be able to help you with your questions about the star beings abilities.' As the trio moved closer to their destination the sounds of combat filled the air and the people grew into a densely packed crowd around a raised stone stage. On stage were two young women fighting on top of a raised log. Both had on a breastplate above their silk clothes for protection. One had a polearm with a morning star attached to the head and seemed to be more homely in appearance, she was raining furious blows on her opponent. Said opponent was an attractive purple haired warrior brandishing a pair of chui with grace; she blocked each strike from her opponent with ease.
Ranma eyes were sparkling with excitement as he quickly turned to the guide to ask, 'Do they allow outsiders to fight in their tournaments?'. The guide was packing a pipe with tobacco and calmly turned to the cursed boy to respond, 'Yes and no, but unfortunately we've missed the time to sign up for this particular display of martial strength.' Those words caused Ranma to deflate in disappointment. Suddenly a loud shout of pain drew their attention back to the fight, the mace wielder had thrust her weapon into an opening her opponent had left when she tried to jump up and smash down with her weapon. The homely opponent was sent skyward and came crashing down off the entire stage. The purple haired warrior grimaced but raised her weapon in triumph. Ranma whistled as he reviewed the fight, "That girl has some serious power, right old one?" When he heard no reply both he and the guide started looking around for Genma, "Old one, where did he go?"
The guide and Ranma decided to split up to find the panda. Ranma looked around the right side of the stage for a bit but saw no signs of the panda, but when he turned his attention to a table set up nearby he found the beast eating dumplings and various dishes. Thinking it an odd place for a picnic Ranma took a closer look at the table and found a sign in Chinese attached to it proclaiming it as the 'first prize feast'. Ranma's eyes narrowed to pin pricks and a drop of sweat ran down his face. Before the cursed martial artist could do anything however a familiar chui slammed down on the bench the panda was sitting on causing him and the food he was about to eat to drop to the ground. Brown eyes glared with contempt at the Panda as the young woman turned to Ranma, 'You there outsider, you should take better care of your pet! Now both of you are thieves for stealing my prize.'
End Chapter 2.
Authors Notes: Phew finally after a decade it was last updated and 11 YEARS it was published I finally got around to revising and getting this pup beta read. Really sorry for the delay but life and my own procrastination got in the way. Also didn't help that I got writers block and didn't know where to go with this story. But things are back on track now. I can't promise regular monthly updates, I have a job and life outside of fanfiction but I want to continue writing this idea out and finish it. Big thanks to TJ Rice for agreeing to be a beta reader for this. Hopefully the next chapters will come out quicker, later folks.
