YAY Chapter 2! Thanks to the reviews I've seen so far, I always love support, even if it's anonymous! Follow their example and REVIEW! Go on, it's only 5 minutes of your time!...unless...I hack your computer...and force it into a permanent rickroll...and the only way you could turn it off is by smashing your computer with a baseball bat. Nah, I'm just joking, I wouldn't do that to you guys. Well, maybe if you don't review... *grins and laughs evilly* Nah, I was just joking...or was I?

Guess what guys, DISCLAIMER TIME!

Disclaimer: I don't own ranger's apprentice. However, I do own Raven. Lucky me.

Oh and as I said in the 'review' I posted, I plan to hopefully update at least twice a week, usually on weekends, but occasionally otherwise. But, who knows? My plans might get majorly screwed up. Thanks to wolfdragonz for suggesting the idea I've decided to use, I totally agree with you man. By the way, this chapter will be my longest yet, because I haven't updated in a few days.

The Makings Of A Legend

Still Raven PoV, And Will Be Until I Say Otherwise

A double scabbard containing... a ranger's knives! I was so elated at this moment in time that I stared at them in awe, not noticing what was different. Mum and dad had huge grins on their faces at my reaction. I could tell even Halt was smiling, as he quickly pulled up his cowl, which normally means he's trying to hide a show of emotion.

"I don't think she liked it," said dad sarcastically.

"Definitely not," replied mum, equally as sarcastic.

At closer inspection I noticed the saxewas different to all of the other rangers' saxes that I had seen. It was made of that same special blu-ish tinted steel, but the hilt was different. It just looked...good. It had a decorative pattern on it, and the araluen courier symbol.

"How did you-" I started to ask, before being cut off by mum.

"What, do you think I'm blind? You want to be a ranger and I respect that; we should all make our own decisions in life. 'Questioning' your father confirmed my suspicions, and he and Halt both agree that you would make a great ranger."

"Thanks. For everything." I said, widening the grin on my mum's face. I hadn't noticed how large mine had gotten either, Halt wasn't one to give praise lightly. Not without some witty remark afterwards to make you feel worse, anyway.

"Alyss, Raven, Will, If your grins widen any more you'll have to see a healer!" Said Halt, making us all laugh.

"So I take it I get to train as a ranger then?" I said, trying to sound a bit more serious and less excited, but failing dismally.

"Well, obviously, we wouldn't have just given you a ranger's knives if you weren't going to become a ranger," Said dad.

"Am I allowed to? Me being a girl and all, and females have never been accepted into the corps before."

"Well, some rangers questioned it, but the only real reason there hasn't been any female rangers before is that we haven't seen any women with the skills necessary that want to be a ranger. Common folk think us sorcerers, you know," was dad's reply. I laughed at that.

"How anyone could think my fool of a father was a sorcerer I don't know!" I exclaimed jokingly. I could have sworn I heard a chuckle escape Halt at that.

"Anyway, Halt checked with Crowley, who said it would be ok as long as you share at least SOME of my ranger talent!" Interjected dad, wanting to change the subject.

"Bigheaded or what," said mum under her breath, making us laugh again.

"So, dad, am I gonna be apprenticed to you or Halt or another ranger?"

"Well, Halt's getting a bit old for apprentices, and I don't think any of the other rangers could put up with you," said dad, earning scowls from me and Halt in the process, "so I guess I'll just have to teach you."

"Yes, well, we've needed another member for the special task force since Horace and Cassandra took over royal duties after Duncan's assassination two years ago. Being king, Horace can't exactly just wander off and do dangerous missions in foreign countries, now can he?" Said Halt.

I'd been 13 when I'd heard the news of Duncan's death, killed in his sleep by a genesovian hired by the temuljai. I heard dad, Halt and Horace all tracked both the genesovian and the man who paid him down and killed them. Cassandra wanted to go too, but she had to look after their kids.

Anyway, what Halt just said suddenly dawned on me.

"I get to be in the special task force?" I 'squealed' excitedly.

"If you're good enough, after a year or so of apprenticeship, or maybe even sooner, I don't know," said dad, "for now Gilan will take my place whilst I'm training you. But with all of the treaties we've secured over the years there's not much call for the task force anymore."

This was true, I realised. Araluen now had treaties with just about every country I've heard of, except for Iberion, which was a country of cowards, so they weren't much of a threat, and the temuljai.

I thought quietly to myself that we might be seeing a lot more missions than dad expected; the time seemed ripe for the temuljai to try and invade the western world again. Dad, Halt, Horace and Cassandra helped the skandians stop them invading last time, and Halt 'helped' the previous time.

"Anyway, Raven, I figured I'd let you enjoy your birthday, and we'll start training in a couple days, or sooner if you want."

"Why not tomorrow?"

"Ah, well, I thought we might surprise everyone and go and pay a visit to Castle Araluen; no-one besides the senior rangers and you're mother know you're going to be apprenticed, and I seem to remember Gilan was away when we had that meeting. Although I suspect most people have guessed this was what you wanted," said dad.

"We're going to Castle Araluen?" I asked, surprised.

"Didn't I just say that?" replied dad, slightly mischievously.

"Why must you always answer questions with questions?" I replied, mimicking Halt's grim tone and mannerisms. "Time for some coffee!"

Even under his cowl, I could see that Halt's cheeked had reddened, and he was doing his best to look unimpressed. I could tell that he was secretly grinning, however. The rest of us were in fits of laughter."

"What's so funny?" I heard another voice at the door. I turned around to see my brother Daniel walking in, a curious look on his face.

"Dan!" I shouted, running up to hug my older brother. We'd always been close, and I hadn't seen him for eight months. He'd been busy with an annoying bandit organisation in his fief that kept coming back and another mission he was sent on.

I was surprised to see that mum and dad were surprised; I thought this might have been a surprise planned by them.

"Daniel, I thought you said you wouldn't be back from your mission on time, it's great to see you!" Mum said, genuinely surprised and happy.

"Yeah, well, I managed to track the thieves down quicker than expected, earning some delicious Arridian coffee from Selethen in the process," replied Dan, "and you'll never guess what I found out. The outsiders are back. Only this time, they're based in Gallica." The news struck the others hard, but I couldn't remember hearing of the outsiders before.

"Wait, you were in Arridia?" I said, disbelievingly.

"Yes," smiled my brother, "I'll tell you all about it later." That's when it hit me. The outsiders were a group of liars and thieves who went around, pretending to be following a religion they made up, and unknowingly to the villagers causing stress and disaster in their towns. The outsiders then claimed to know what was going on, and their gods would help for donations of money. Of course, the outsiders took the money for themselves and stopped causing the disasters.

It was a clever scheme, but I thought my dad Halt, and Horace's mission to get rid of them permanently had been a success; Halt had nearly died in the process. Evidently not.

"Now is not the time to discuss such matters. Today is young Raven's 15th birthday; an important age for all, as I have no doubt you're aware," said Halt.

"Of course I know my own sister's birthday, you idiot," replied Dan.

"Yes, but there's something you don't know," replied Halt.

"What?" said Dan, scowling.

"You're going to be the brother of the first ever female ranger in the corps," said dad.

"Really! That's great!" Said Dan, turning around to face me, a huge grin forming on his face, but not looking too surprised. I had forgotten that he was the one person I actually confided my wishes of becoming a ranger to, and he helped me improve my bow skills. We both take after our dad, with uncanny natural accuracy with the bow. The first time I ever used one was with Dan, and he was impressed.

Several hours later after assurances from many people in Redmont, the Baron, Battlemaster and Lady Pauline included, that I would make a great ranger, we set off for Araluen. We walked through the bustling market streets and found Jenny's restaurant, and it just so happened that Gilan's horse, Inferno, was tethered outside. I remember his old horse, Blaze, dying. He was distraught; all rangers share a special relationship with their horse, and Blaze was getting old.

I found it funny how the two horses had similar names, but still. Alyss took our horses and snuck them into the barn whilst the three rangers and I snuck inside. Normally, Gilan would have noticed us, but he was pre-occupied in conversation with Jenny, who was taking a break for lunch. The kids were out. Oh well, I thought, we'll see them later anyhow.

He probably would have noticed most people but not rangers and I had developed some skill in stealthy movement, also. However, if he was concentrating, Gil would have noticed us. He is widely regarded as the best unseen mover in the corps, after all.

As we snuck inside, Jenny noticed us and had a surprised expression on her face, and was about to say something when I silenced her with a gesture. I tried to silently tell her we wanted to make Gilan jump, and she kind of caught my drift. Gilan didn't seem to notice us at all. As we got closer, I caught bits of their conversation.

"I wonder how Raven is doing, I've just realised it is her birthday. I hope her presents got to her safe and well," said Gilan, "I wonder what she'll decide to do, she is 15 now. I have my suspicions, but..."

"Ask her yourself" I interjected, making Gilan jump out his skin. Everyone started laughing.

"Seriously, Gilan, I think you're losing your touch," said dad, "you're supposed to be the best unseen mover in the ranger corps, yet you didn't notice myself, a doddery old fool of a ranger, a 15 year old girl and one of the I think 3 most junior rangers in the corps sneak up on you? You need to be more aware." Gilan looked flabbergasted.

"Will, what did you just call me?" Said Halt.

"Umm, a doddery old fool believe," replied dad, chuckling at Halt's reaction.

"Do you WANT to spend the night up a tree?"

"Why yes I do!" said dad sarcastically. I had a sort of skill of reading people's hidden emotions, which was useful with Halt. Then, for example, he was pretending to be annoyed, but I could tell he was probably inwardly grinning that they were joking around, like old times.

"Haven't seen any of you in a while! It's great to see you!" said Gilan, as soon as he stopped blubbering and managed to talk again. "So Raven, what are you planning to do with your future?"

"Haven't you heard?" I replied, "Wait, I forgot, I seem to remember dad saying something about you not being at the meeting when it was announced." Recognition dawned on his face, and his eyes flicked towards the double scabbard, now around my waist. He grinned.

"I suspected that was what you wanted to do!" exclaimed Gilan, "I could tell you had the talent for it, but I didn't know if they'd accept a girl!"

"Thanks," I muttered, before talking more clearly again. "So you're not all that thick then."

Jenny still didn't understand what we were on about, and I saw the look of burning curiosity on her face.

"What are you all going on about?" She finally asked. Everyone grinned. I looked to Dan, who hadn't spoken much.

"Well, Jenny," he said, "it seems you haven't caught on yet. Raven is going to train as the first female ranger."

"Really? That's wonderful! I'll cook you a batch of pies for celebration! I did wonder whether you'd want to be a ranger, and whether you'd be accepted, or whether you'd be a courier like your mother."

"Nah, she's too rough and wild like us to be a courier, not to mention headstrong like her father," interjected Halt, attempting to get back at dad for earlier. However, dad merely grinned. I rolled my eyes. They were always going at each other one way or another. Then I realised that I was just like them.

"Have you got any coffee? Also some honey?" I asked.

"Just from that one question, well technically two questions, I can tell you'll make a great ranger," replied Jenny, "and the answer's yes. Got to be with Gilan 'living' here."

"True, True," I replied, and everyone laughed. It was a widely known fact to anyone who was friends with the rangers that pretty much every ranger was addicted to coffee, and Halt and his apprentices were famous for liking it with honey. With that, Jenny left out of the other door to go make the pies and told Gilan to make coffee. At that moment Alyss walked in. "I wondered where you'd got to, mum. We managed to give Gilan here quite a fright, shame you missed it, it was hilarious."

"Is that what you're all laughing about now?"

"Nah, we're laughing at a remark about coffee."

"Ah," she said, and smiled knowingly at me. After a while Jenny came back with some of the most delicious pies I'd ever tasted, and we all sat round and ate whilst drinking coffee. They gave us three separate rooms to sleep in at their restaurant/inn, and we decided to turn in and see Horace and Cassandra in the morning. They had the matter of the outsiders to discuss.

I shared with my brother, Dan. I didn't mind sharing with a male, as they were two separate beds and he is my brother, and we gave each other privacy to get changed. Mum and Dad shared a double room, and Halt had his own room. I would have said he was lucky but he was right next to Gilan and Jenny's room. Apparently, 'he struggled to get to sleep because of Gilan's incessant snoring, and he was amazed how Jenny could get to sleep in the same room as such noise'.

In the morning, He decided to confront this 'issue'.

"Jenny, how on earth do you get to sleep next to someone making such a racket?" asked Halt.

"Oh it's easy," replied Jenny, "you just have to make sure you get to sleep first." We had a quick breakfast and then departed for the castle, Gilan opting to tag along with us. Halt and Crowley needed desperately to discuss the matters of the outsiders, Horace and Cassandra needed to be informed and Dan had to be formally debriefed. We had a long day ahead of us.

So guys I hope you enjoyed this chapter; next one should be along in a day or two. Possibly longer, because there's some stuff I gotta do, but hopefully not. If you're particularly interested in Nihon-Ja, you may want to check out another story I'm developing (the prologue should be out soon) called "The Rangers Of Nihon-Ja". Thanks again to wolfdragonz for giving me the idea of the ranger knives.