Queen of the Fairy

Ch II

ISDH

"So, What are You?" Nabiki Asked.

"Nabiki." Kasumi hissed.

Ranma raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I will tell you. But first we need to remove the...Normals." She turned to look at the Panda and Soun who were still a little glazed from Kasumi's spell. "Hostess, if we may have some heated water. Not too hot..."

Kasumi raised an eyebrow, then returned with a tea kettle. Ranma checked the temp, then poured a small amount on her head, shifting to a taller male with black hair and long ears. The water, when poured on the panda, revealed a heavy set balding man with glasses.

Seeing his old training partner, Soun snapped out of his daze. "Saotome, my old friend. What is this I hear about your son is a girl?" he wrapped his arm about the shoulders of his closest friend. "It sounds like a most trying tale, Why don't we go to my favorite bar and you tell me the whole story over a few drinks."

"What about..." the fat man stuttered out.

"The kids? My daughters know my wishes, and I find it is so much easier to tell them what is required, and let them handle things." Soun guided his best friend out of the house.

Ranma raised an eyebrow?

Nabiki snorted, "And you have no idea how hard it was to train him, a whole six months, and he still slips from time to time." turning to the youngest sister, "Don't you have a workout to finish?"

Akane just snorted, and stomped off to the dojo.

"A bit harsh, ne?" Ranma asked.

"Her training is a bit different. " Nabiki slinked closer to the male, "So, What are you?"

"Nabiki," Kasumi hissed again, "what are you talking about?"

"Onesan, I have heard you and mom talking to 'them' since I was three, and while I have never truly seen one, I do know about the 'wee folk'" Nabiki ran a finger along the quivering left ear of the Fey that stood before her. "According to Father, this One is all but given to us. I just want to know what it is that I am getting."

"Speaking like that is rude, Nabiki. Besides, he has not said anything about the Marriage agreement."

"Marriage!" the long ears flickered, turning furry for a second, before Ranma regained control. "Pops never said anything about Marriage!"

"OOO, a furry one." Nabiki was impressed.

"Besides who said He was yours?" pressed Kasumi.

Nabiki turned from her close inspection of Ranma, "This One would be mine, seeing as you already have a male, you both have all but declared your feelings for one another." Kasumi blushed and looked away. " All you have to do is claim him before another does. Akane is too angry to accept a new male into her life. " turning back to Ranma, "So, What. Are. You?"

Now for those who do not know something about the Fey, there are few that can truly lie, and they are the feather weights. Most are just able to bend the truth, edit it, or at the most omit certain facts, but not out and out lie. Repeating a Question that they have yet to answer can anger your more powerful, and asking a third time will get you the truth, if you dare to ask. Now Ranma was not firing on all cylinders so his fairy magic tripped its basic protocols; "Pooka."

Nabiki cocked her head to the side, as a grin slid across her face. "Hey Puuca, I am Garu!"(*1)

Kasumi froze at the Word. Pooka were, to her knowledge, the European Kitsune. While not of the darker fey, they could be trouble if you angered them. While they did have power rankings like the Kitsune, the did have a reputation for being strong loners. The true extent of what they could and could not do was known only to them.

"Excuse me." a small voice sounded from the floor at Ranma's feet.

Shaking the daze from his head, Ranma squatted down to speak to the small man at his feet.

Nabiki gasped. "And you would be?" She inquired.

Looking up at her, "House brownie number 2 2 3, Chip be my Name, Miss. The Misses really loves working for you, Miss." the little guy refocused on Ranma. "Finished with this," He offered the clear glass orb, "There was a recall, but it has sense been overturned."

Looking at the glass sphere, Ranma swallowed, "Ahm, could you hold that for me, I fear one close to me would find it and either throw it away as useless, or try to sell it. I get the feeling that it would be safest in your protection. "

The brownie's chest puffed out in pride, as he strolled back into the shadows.

Ranma turned to Nabiki, "I think we need to talk." Bowing to Kasumi, "May I request some tea, while we talk about this Marriage issue?"

*1; for those who missed the reference, Garu is a ninja who is loved by a noodle princess named Puuca, who chases him about the country trying to kiss him. sometimes she catches him.

12321

Her purple mane flying, Xian Pu worker her way through the kata, hopping from bamboo pole to pole. Her Great great grandmother perched on her staff, near the beginning of the course.

There was a subtle pattern of poles laid out, it forced one adjust ones course as the Artist moved along the poles. it was rumored, by those who believe, that the poles would shift slightly while One worked their way across the pools. just enough to either guide the Artist to safety, or to doom.

Some say if you make it all the way to one end point, you mastered the kata, but failed the 'Test of the Pools'. That while you are skilled, the 'Pools' find one lacking in reasons to be 'blessed' by their choice.

Sometimes one fell from the poles and landed one solid ground, a failure of both the Kata, and the 'test'

But that was not what was not what was going through her purple haired head. No, she was thinking of the defeat that happened last month. When the funny looking redhead came to the village, and let the stupid Panda eat Xian Pu's trophy feast.

-1-

The redhead had declared, "If I beat you, then the food is/was mine. No Sweat."

Leaping to the log, brandishing her bonburi, Xian Pu readied herself to face the redhead. The Redhead hopped up, shook her shoulders.

"Ready?"

In answer, Xian Pu clanged her maces together, only to have them break apart. She stomped her foot in anger, and the log splintered and broke, pinning her underneath. When she had drug herself out from under the log, the Panda had grabbed the girl, and run for the hills.

Elder Cologne had stopped her from giving chase, and turned to the guide. A few pointed questions and the Elders were very interested. It was decided that in view of her skill, Xian Pu would be allowed to try the 'Test of the Pools'.

-1-

So here she was dancing four feet above the rippling pools of water, her mind not solely on the kata, when one of the poles shifted. Her course thrown a touch to the left, while her swing to the right causing her to over extend, and to fall. Years of balance and fall prep, allowed her to roll in mid air, changing her course once more from the pool of 'buck-toothed-drooling male, moron' into the pool of 'imported divine cat'

Elder Cologne was there to pull the wet cat-girl from the water that should have been only waist deep. Where once was a 5'6" busting beauty with long purple hair, now stood a 3'2" Neko-tama. ((think Ryo-Ohki in her cat-girl form, but in Shampoo's colours.)) tisking over the fact that her heir was now a creature of myth and very possible was empowered.

It would take another four weeks for her heir to learn the weaknesses of her new form, and to learn to counter them.

121

The three of them sat the table, sipping their tea. finally Nabiki put her cup down.

"Okay, Our Father has stated that you and one of us are to be married. Is there any reason that you can honestly raise to block this arrangement?"

"Three." Ranma's ears twitched. "One, I do not think my father has completely dealt fairly within views as to Marriage arrangements. Two, I am not marrying anyone without my mothers consent or a six month engagement with a real emotional bond. Three, there are some 'things' that need to be shared, but not at this time. " his ears drew back, tight to his head, "I know my Mother is alive, but have not seen her in ten years. I will need to talk with her, in person, before I agree to anything more then a trail engagement."

"An engagement, not less then six months, not longer then three years. If both parties are found to be acceptable, a wedding it is decided. Between Tendo Nabiki and Saotome Ranma." Nabiki intoned. At Ranma's nod, "Deal made, Bargain struck."

Ranma's ears snapped up. "Where did you learn that phrase?"

"Just an old book of Mother's" Nabiki answered coyly. "Speaking of mothers, I will try to find yours for you, I have a few contacts that are just happy to help me out."