Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½, Slayers, Sailor Moon I wish I did but I don't.
Authors Notes: Well the next chapter has arrived, yet before it begins, house cleaning. As always I must first thank my excellent pre-reader Miguel Dubon for his awesome work, thanks dude.
Next up reviews, as always I welcome all criticisms and praise of my work, the good the bad the oblique, its all accepted.
So now to reviews
Terry: Thanks for that correction, as soon as I get around to doing a second edit of the stories I will correct this and also thanks for the well done.
Crystalstorm: Thank you, I'm glad you like the chapter, sorry about the long time it took to post this chapter. I can only say that the holiday season made me lazy
Confused Reader Patch: All those questions will be answered in this chapter, I am deliberately being confusing will some aspects of this story. It is to make the story less predictable and less like those that have come before it.
Dumbledork: No this is not the slayers world, that has long since passed by the time Ranma arrived in everhost. This is sister dimension to Earth similar in a way to gaia from visions of escaflornae (sp?) and jade from gold diggers.
Rose1948: Thanks, as for you question this chapter will tell you why
Ranko Lina Inverse: Thanks for the review, yes Orphelia is an original character
AscendedWarrior: Which part are you adding,
Lighthalk: Thank you for the review
Ranma-saotome-the-cursed-fighter: Thanks for the review, a few people have mentioned it was a short chapter hopefully I can lengthen them a bit without ruining the story
Jupitersthunder: Thanks that is the very thing I like to hear, I apologise for the lateness of the chapter
KitsuneOverlord: Yes this is a Slayers/Ranma crossover, as for the questions I cannot answer them now otherwise it will spoil several plots I have working, however you will find out a little more as each chapter comes along
Borg Rabbit: Thanks for the review, I will try to include more dialogue, though at this point there is only a small amount of action going on between characters. As for answering reviews, for me this is a much better way for a couple of reasons, One I feel that I owe it to those how have reviewed to acknowledge them in front of others, it is to me being polite and expressing gratitude, second it often alludes others to commenting on both the story and my replies, I found this was true in my first fic. Thank you for you opinions though.
Screaming Dean: Thanks for the review, I do intend to keep this fic going and getting around to finishing my other one.
Now on with the show
Key
"Speech"
"SHOUTING"
[Thoughts
Panda Signs
Telepathy
Chapter 1b Surprise – He's a what
Deep in the mountains lay a series of small caves, within these caves a gathering was taking place. Thirty or so Golden Dragons had gathered and were sitting in their human forms around a large pit where a pair of young human children were currently sleeping. Large fires surrounded the gather Dragons lighting the cavern casting great shadows across the walls. A large Dragon walked to the pit's edge and began to address the other Dragons.
"My brethren" the Dragon began his eyes sweeping the cave gathering insight into the minds of the others.
"My brethren, we have before us a Mazoku, how it came to be in these lands I do not know. BUT our laws are very specific on this matter, the abomination must be destroyed"
With that many of the gathered began to cheer, while others called for child's demise.
"KILL IT"
"SLAY THE ENEMY OF ALL LIFE"
"IT'S A WITCH BURN IT"
Several of the Dragons sweat drop at the last shout and dog pile the Dragon who said it. The lead Dragon then gave a hiss as it began to transform, its body glowed golden as it shifted from man to Dragon. His huge maw then moved towards the pit preparing to roast the to children within.
Halt Erbres
The crowed parted as the telepathic message entered their minds giving the now named Dragon Erbres to view another Dragon in human form. This Dragon appeared very old, its skin withered and cracked in some placed. His head bald save for a small patch of white hair at the back of his scalp. He was being supported by a pair of other Dragons in human form and was clutching a very knurled cane.
Would you slay an innocent merely because of what he is, if so you are no better than the humans
Erbres snarled
"Ancient one how can you defend this, THIS MONSTROSITY"
Because he has done nothing to harm us and because I do not wish us to become the target of vengeful humans
"Bah we have nothing to fear from the humans ancient ones, besides the small ones were attacked by a Troll it is more than likely that its perents believe them to be digesting in the Trolls stomach"
Can you be certain of that Erbres, I will look at the child
With that the ancient Dragon moved closer to the pit as Erbres reached ion and plucked the male child out, bring him to eye level with the ancient one.
Thee ancient one open its eyes and scanned the child form and aura, a frown creasing its brow.
Erbres this child does be some blood of the Mazoku
"I know that which is why…"
However, it is only a small amount and heavily diluted, he is more human than Mazoku. He also is not giving off any Mazoku power, I would say that this child does not bear any
"That cannot be ancient one I saw him use it myself"
No Erbres what you saw was in fact a very powerful artifact hidden within the child
"Yet he is still part Mazoku and .."
And no threat to us Erbres, in fact he will be of great use to us if what I'm feeling is correct. This child's mind has become open to me and I have seen his life thus far. He has been abused and used by those he considers family and friend. He can and will be taught by us to be a way to bridge between us and the other races. His former life means that any amount of kindness and support shown by us and our brethren with draw him to u
Erbres look in shock at the ancient ones proclamation as the old Dragon began to cough. One of the ancient ones supports quickly reached over to him.
"Master please do not exert yourself"
I am fine Aldresiac, do not concern yourself. Erdres I will clear the child's mind and you will instruct him to return to us one day. For now however he will be returned to the humans with the female
As the ancient one finished he leaned over Ranma his eyes glowing, erasing Ranma's memory. As he was doing this Orphelia woke up and upon seeing Erbres's form moved to cover Ranma's body with her own
"Please don't eat him, he saved my life."
Relax young one, we will not hurt your friend, soon both of you will be returned to you kind near the settlement you humans call Calidos
"Oh thank Mr. Dragon"
With that Erbres was shocked when Oprhelia hugged him believing him to be the one who decided to spare their lives, the ancient one sweat dropped as he saw this, only to start coughing again and let himself be lead away from the chamber.
Erbres gave a draconic sigh as he returned to his human form and placed Ranma on the ground.
"We leave as soon as your friend awakens, till then don't touch anything, don't move"
"Sure thing Mr Dragon"
Erbres sweat dropped as even as she replied Orpelia had already walked away from the Dragon back towards the pit and was looking down into it a small object firmly grasped in her grubby hands. Reaching over and grabbing the girl he quickly pulled the piece of cinnabar from her hands and set her on the ground, snarling he then stormed off.
It didn't take long for Ranma to wake up, unable to remember anything except his first name. Erbres returned with a small meal of roasted meat for the kids, he then transformed and after some cajoling managed to convince both of them to hop into his claws and flew off towards the city of Calidos.
The journey was short and soon the two kids were walking through the city with the now transformed Dragon looking for Orphelia's father. Erbres thoughts turned to Ranma
[It seems that the ancient one planted the knowledge of common tongue into the boys head
Orphelia's father was sitting in a small in on the outer part of the town of Calidos; it had been a full day since he had last seen his daughter. Neither he nor his driver had found the girl, not even in the innards of the Troll. Filled now with the sadness of his loss he was waiting for the man he was supposed to meet in order to tell him of his daughter's fate.
As Ophelia's father sat in the inn, a man walked in seeing Orphelia's father he walked over and sat down at his table. Ordering a drink with the innkeeper, the man turned to Orphelia's father.
"Why so glum Othello1, you're usually quite chipper, I hope the glumness isn't because of me taking your daughter away. Because we can put it off for a couple of years"
Othello looked up at the man and began to cry as images of his daughter flashed through his eyes.
"Brother its terrible, Orphelia ran off when the carriage stopped for a break, we didn't notice that she was gone until we heard her scream, we rushed to find her but is was too late, MY DAUGHTER IS GOOOONE"
Othello's brother frowned as he heard the news. He stood up immediately and closed his eyes pulling out a long wooden staff with a luminescent globe on the end of it.
"Othello I can still sense her, Orphelia is alive and heading this way"
Finishing off in a puzzled tone Othello's brother looked over at the door as it swung open. A tall man stepped through ushering in a pair of children one them easily recognizable to both the men at the Table
"" ORPHELIA"" Both men shouted as they raced towards the young girl, enveloping her with hugs
"DADDY, UNCLE ORSINO3"
Orphelia hugged her father and uncle back fiercely why babbling about her strange adventure.
"TherewasthisTrollanditattackedmeandthisboycameandheblastedtheTrollwithsomekindaspellandthisDragoncameandittookustoastrangeplaceanditwasgoingtokilltheboycausehewasamassugoandthenIaskedtheDragonnottohurthimandtheydidn'tandthentheDragonbroughtusbackhereandleadustothisplaceandhereyouareandImissedyou"
The two men sweat dropped as Orphelia speech rabbled on each trying to decipher what she had said.
Othello[What that boy saved here from Troll
Orsino[Hmm a spell she said this bears looking into
Both[What is a massugo?
Both men stuck in their thoughts failed to see Erbres depart, the Dragon made a quick get away. Seeing Erbres leave and the two men standing in odd positions (both were slightly hunched over, one hand resting on their chins) the children decided to sit down and wait for the men as well as order something to eat. Ranma grabbed the menu and signaled the innkeeper over, he then pointed to several items on the menu causing the innkeeper's eyes to bug out.
By the time Othello and Orsino came out of the thoughts the table was covered in dishes some full other empty, both the children digging in. Othello clutched at his chest at the sight, while Orsino jaw dropped.
Othello[Gack where did all the food come from how am I supposed to afford all that
Orsino[How in the hells, where did that food come from and how are those two able to eat so much
Sanctuary was the largest city in the lands known as Esraad, its size would be equal to London or Tokyo. Sanctuary was also the capital and training ground for the peoples known as the conclave.
Orsino Wulfenguld was a member of the conclave and had traveled to Calidos in order pick up his niece and take to Sanctuary so she could under go the training to become a mage like him.
It hadn't taken long for Orphelia to convince her father and uncle that Ranma should go with her to Sanctuary and be tested. Orsino had readily agreed after a quick scan of the boy had confirmed traces of residual magickal energies.
So Orsino had taken both children to the human magickal capital of Everhost. After there arrival he had placed both of the children into the care of the high priestess of Gaia and had sought out the council.
The council of the conclave was the governing body of the conclave, made up of representative's of each of the different magickal paths. In addition one member of the council was voted to become its head. Each member was a grand vizier, the highest obtainable rank for the mages of the conclave.
The council had readily agreed to the testing of Ranma, anybody that could kill a full-grown hill Troll at the age of six would be a prime candidate. The organized the conclave Oracle to meet with the boy.
The Oracle was a seer3, a mage that specialized in seer's magicks (magicks that allowed the user to see places far away, hidden rooms, closed containers, magickal energies even into the past and future. They could also de-spell illusion's and see through disguises and glamors). The Oracle confirmed Ranma's magickal potential.
With that the council agreed that Ranma would be trained.
End ?
Hey guys Ranma here and huh the next chapters a montage no way, next up I get trained as a mage, met up with some new friends and face of against some new rivals. Aw man it's my life all over again.
Next – Ranma receives magick training and meet some new rivals and friends
Like, lump it, let me know.
This is a draft copy of this chapter as the chapter is still being edited, I will replace this with the fully edited version as soon as it is ready.
1 I decided to continue with the Shakespeare theme for names with Orphelia, Othello seemed a natural name for her father.
32 Yet another Shakespeare character name starting with O, Orsino comes from the comedy Twelfth Night
3 Seer's are an import from the game dark legions, I've also given seers the spells of detection from hero's quest.
