Disclaimer: See first chapter.
AN:
Locations, some characters, and some situations in this chapter are drawn from the Everquest II game. The dialog is not from the game, however.
This is much shorter than I intended. I intended to include what is now going to be the next chapter in this one but felt since it has been a long time since I updated and my progress has been slow, I would go ahead and post what I have.
Beta:
Me, Myself, and I still. There are bound to be mistakes, especially dropped final letters and suffixes. If you spot plot holes or other mistakes, feel free to let me know.
Created: Started: October 19, 2013; Finished: February 10, 2014
[Jarsath Wastes, near Venril's Crown]
Mike Harmon sat at the table he was using for a desk, going over maps of the area when Adams, his field second in command stuck his head in the tent.
"Kildar, the Kildara have finished setting the charges on the large crystal.", he informed Mike. "Do you want to watch it blow?"(1)
"You double checked it?", Mike wanted to know.
"Yep! Everything is by the book, well as close as it can be using these gnomish potions and gadgets.", Adams assured him. "Should powder the rock with no problem."
"Ever wonder how this stuff survived a fall from space when a sharp blow pulverizes it?", Mike asked his second.
"Our intelligence spook says some kind of energy protected it.", Adams replied. "The girls say it was some kind of magic. I guess that figures considering what makes this world tick. Still, you gotta wonder if the bad guy was planning this that long ago."
"Could have been. Seems like your typical megalomaniac thing to do.", Mike agreed. "If you are ready, undo his work and blow that sucker. Just keep everybody a safe distance. We've not lost anyone on this mission and I don't want to start now."
The Kindar had brought three teams, half of his intelligence group, and fifteen of his girls. The squads had slotted into this world's professions predictably. Most were guardians with a few berserkers, paladins, and rangers mixed in with the bunch. The intelligence group were one swashbuckler, two rangers, and the rest troubadours. The girls had become mostly wardens and mystics with one templar, a fury, and one assassin which was unsurprisingly Katya.
Hearing the explosion, Mike thought to himself, "Good. A little cleanup, a final check of the region, and we can head back to Kelethin for some R&R before we find out our next mission."
[Qeynos, the Tent, the Day After the Guys Return]
It was mid-morning before anybody stirred out of the bedrooms and began making breakfast. Once the group was showered, fed, and dressed, they began planning the day. They all wanted a 'down' day where they could be together and enjoy life. Kasumi suggested a bit of exploring with a late picnic lunch at a small park near the palace entrance. While she and Luna went to fix the before mentioned picnic basket, the rest of the group emptied their packs of the books, materials, items, treasure, and other booty they had acquired over the previous seven days. It would all need to be checked for harmful enchantments before being sorted and studied.
The girls all decided to forgo their armor and wear the casual clothes that were common in Qeynos. This consisted of a fitted top with puffy short sleeves and a square neck line that showed a bit of cleavage. The skirt reached almost to the ground and was split up the front of the legs on both sides to the bottom of the hips leaving a panel in front to provide modesty. The skirt design was apparently to make it easier to ride horses and such but it also flashed a lot of leg as they walked. The outfit was completed with low heeled sandals. Harry agreed to wear the male equivalent which consisted of a open necked shirt, vest, trousers, and boots. Knowing that local magic caused clothes to change to fit the persons gender, Ranma decided to stay with his leather armor which at least still had pants when he switched genders.
When all eleven of them were gathered in the room outside the Tent, they set off to explore Qeynos, starting with the area around the inn. While largely residential, the area contained a number of shops and crafters. Shampoo discovered a small white kitten in a pet shop that she had to be persuaded not to purchase. Daphne, Hermione, and Jane were glad to see the books available in the Tower of the Concordium but were forced to concede that there would be time to explore them later.
Crossing over into the Harbor district, the group explored the stores and taverns found there. Ranma noted a large arena that he planned to check out later. Since it was well after noon, they took the local bell to North Qeynos. The bell transport deposited them just below the bridge to the palace entrance so they were close to the park that Kasumi had suggested. Spreading some ground cloths to sit on, the group ate the picnic lunch that Kasumi and Luna had packed while they listen to a family band that was performing in the park. After about an hour spent chatting quietly while the band performed, the group packed up to continue their explorations. Luna went over to the band and left a handful of gold coins in the bowl that was there for that purpose.
Rather than explore North Qeynos, the group decided to take the local bell to the Elddar Grove, which even Luna and Kasumi hadn't been to yet. The bell placed them next to a monk training hall. The Grove was a wooded area with very few structures. One was very unique in that it was in a large tree. Talking to the people standing near the bottom, the tree house was the headquarters of the Qeynos Scout Guild. The guild offered training and scrolls that might be useful to Nabiki and Ukyo. There was also a shop nearby that sold arrows and other ammunition but the two girls decided they would rather make their own.
At this time, they realized that Ranma was not with them. Figuring he had stayed behind at the training hall, his spouses decided to prank him a bit.
"Ranma, get over here!", they all called in unison over their mind link.
"Yikes! Sorry, gotta go!", he told the sensei he was talking to and slid to his girls. All four of his wives. At the same time. And now there were four of him. One by each girl. Each very shocked girl.
"What in Merlin's name just happened?", Harry said, confused.
"It looks like husband learned great grandmother's Shadow Clone technique.", Shampoo replied, coming out of her shock a bit. She punched her Ranma in the arm.
"Ouch!", Shampoo Ranma said, rubbing his arm.(2)
"This Ranma is real one!", Shampoo squealed.
"Wait a second!", Ukyo demanded and punched her Ranma.
"Hey, quit with the punching!", that Ranma complained.
"Let me check something.", Daphne said, pulling her wand and casting diagnostic spells at each Ranma. After view the results, she continued. "They are all equally real but there seems to be some kind of time factor involved. I'm not sure what that means."
"It is almost like a time turner was involved but not quite.", Hermione noted. "How do you feel, Ranma?" All four Ranma's started to speak. "Uh, Kasumi's Ranma."
"Fine.", the Ranma next to Kasumi replied. "I can still feel the girls but I can sort of sense the other mes as well. Other than that my ki levels seem to be normal and nothing seems to be off."
"Nabiki's Ranma?"
"Same here." The other copies of Ranma soon agreed with the first as well.
"What were you focusing on when you slid?", Hermione continued her questioning.
"All the girls that had just called me.", Kasumi's Ranma replied.
"Well, we better head back so we can investigate this and fix it if it is a problem.", Daphne stated.
"I do not think it will be a problem.", Luna observed. "I think it is one of the powers of the bond."
Suddenly, there where four Harry's, one by each of his spouses. "Harry James Potter!", Hermione screamed. "What did you do?! How could you be so reckless?!"
"I just focused on all my bond mates and slid!", the Harry next to her said in a placating tone. "I don't think there is any danger and this allows me to be with each of you. Besides, I'm pretty sure I know how to reverse it."
"Well, reverse it then!", Hermione said in a huff.
"I will when we get back to the Tent.", her Harry promised her. "In the mean time, I can spend time with all my ladies!" He then kissed her and her expression softened a bit. The other Harry's followed suit and kissed their girls as well. The Ranma's decided they had better get it in gear and kissed their ladies as well.
The group didn't exactly hurry back to the inn but they did cut short their explorations of the city. They took their time walking back to the local bell, holding hands and occasionally kissing on the way with Jane tagging along with Hermione. When they reached the Tent, they sat down in the living room as couples with Jane taking a chair near Kasumi.
"So how do you reverse the duplicates?", Hermione demanded.
"First, before I explain, I'd like Ranma to not try to reverse his duplicates, at least for a while.", Hermione's Harry said. "I think there is a time limit on the ability. Since he did the split first, his time limit will be coming up slightly quicker."
"Ok by me.", Kasumi's Ranma agreed.
"To answer Hermione's question, the split feels sort of like using a time turner but not quite.", Hermione's Harry continued. "Maybe another kind of folding instead. It seems to only work when there are multiple bonds and only to the bonded as Jane did not get a copy of me."
"Jane will get a spouse bond, just not to you.", Luna interjected. "She is now a real person but there is something happening in the future that makes a bond with you not the best choice."
"Oookay. Anyway, I can feel my other selves. Somehow I know by concentrating on a me or all of them, if they agree, we will merge." With that the Harry next to Daphne disappeared. "I now have the memories that Daphne's Harry had, as though I had lived the time twice." Harry concentrated and Daphne's Harry returned. "It appears I can do partial splits as well. Now to merge all of me." All but the Harry next to Hermione vanished. "There is not a 'real' me and duplicates. There is just multiple me's." Harry's brow furrowed and all four of him were back. "Any me can initiate the merge although I pretty sure there is a limit to how long I can remain split."
"How do you know all of this?", Nabiki wanted to know.
"I'm not sure.", Harry replied. "It is like the magic is telling me. Maybe it is built into the bond magic."
"Before we get any further along, would anybody like something to drink?, Kasumi queried. After a chorus of yes, she got up and went to the kitchen with Winky following her to help. When they returned and passed out the drinks a little splashed on Shampoo's Ranma activating his curse. The other Ranmas remained unchanged.
"Well, at least we know what happens to one of us doesn't happen to the rest!", the now Ranko said with some exasperation.
"Do you want some hot water?", Kasumi asked.
"Naw, I'm good for now.", Ranko replied. "I'll get some in a while."
The split for Ranma chose that moment to wear off and the Ranmas merged back into one. Except they didn't quite. The was one Ranma next to Kasumi and Ranko next to Shampoo.
"Oh, my!", Kasumi exclaimed. "I better get that water!"
"We can try but I don't think it is going to work.", Ranma stated. "I remember being splashed and changing into my girl form so my memories came back to this me."
"I don't think it will work either.", Ranko said in a quiet voice. "I don't feel like Ranma any more. I remember being him but I've got faint memories of being someone else."
"Here is the hot water.", Kasumi said returning with a kettle. Ranko took the kettle and upended it on her head to no effect. "It appears you are locked! I'm so sorry, Ranko."
"Don't be Kasumi.", Ranko replied with a slight smile. "For some reason this feels right."
"Well, the obvious thing would to see if Ranma still has his curse.", Daphne noted. "If you don't mind, Ranma?" At Ranma nod of acceptance, she cast Ice Water at him and after a couple of seconds, he became a she. "Hmm, let me try something else! Lukewarm Water! Ranma changed instantly back to a male. "Cool Water!" Ranma remained male. "You still have the curse but the trigger seems to be different. We will probably need to experiment a bit but it seems to now require very cold water to trigger. Can you try splitting again?"
"It is probably too soon.", Harry interrupted. "I think there is a limit to how much we can be split in one day."
"What ever the reason, I can't do it now.", Ranma put in.
"I'm sure we will find something in the library confirming that.", Luna mused. "We need to check to make sure that Ranma and Ranko both have complete souls." She cast Mage Sight on herself. "Hmm, Ranma's is the same mixture of male and female but whole. Ranko's is whole as well but purely female and very different from Ranma's."
"Like I said, I do remember being Ranma but I also vaguely remember being female and fighting bandits near some pools of water.", Ranko said in thought. "I had just parried a blow with my sword when a blow from the side knocked me into a pool. I couldn't swim with my armor weighing me down and I guess I drown."
"Hence the Pool of Drown Girl.", Nabiki commented.
"It looks like the pool left an imprint of your soul on Ranma and what ever magic split you used that to create a new one for you.", Luna commented.
"What do you mean, 'whatever magic'?", Hermione queried. "Surely it was just an accident, a fluke?"
"Think about it.", Luna responded. "There are thousands of Illusionists on Norrath. Do you not think that if it was normal or possible for your Personae Reflection to become independent, someone would have mentioned it? Jane is now just as real as you are complete with a soul. I suspect a higher power decided we needed Ranko and Jane to complete our goal. Have you tried casting Personae Reflection recently?"
"No. I just assumed that Jane was already here and nothing would happen.", Hermione grumbled. "I know, don't assume." She cast the spell and a smaller version of herself appeared. Jane looked on with interest.
"Jane, you should cast it as well.", Luna suggested. Jane did so and got the same results so that there were four identical women, except for size, standing in the room. "Hmm, maybe you should change your hair styles and clothes so we can tell you apart."
"So now we have Hermione, mini Hermione, Jane, and mini Jane.", Harry said. "Do the mini's have souls?"
Luna shook her head. "No. They are what appears to be normal for the spell. They also do not have Earth magic."
"Good! I love Jane as my sister but I think two of us are enough!", Hermione stated emphatically.
"I agree!", Jane said equally emphatically. "I will change my hairstyle so the rest of you can tell us apart. The reflections should be obvious as they are smaller."
"I can help you with that!", Kasumi volunteered. "I enjoy the occasional chance to style someone's hair."
"Now that it appears that everyone has stopped splashing Ranma and Ranko!", Winky said with exasperation as she cast drying spells on the room and wet people.
"Getting back to Ranko,", Harry said, "are you a Monk as well?"
"I can do that because I have Ranma's memories and, I think, skills but I would prefer a sword and shield."
"We can take you to a training hall in the morning to see what fits you best.", Ranma suggested.
"We also need to check in with the temple of life to see what they have for us.", Harry noted. "That will impact how long we have to rest and train. Why don't we get some dinner, have some quiet time, and hit it in the morning?"
"Why don't you and Ranma make dinner?", Hermione requested. "We girls need to have a chat. Nothing bad so don't worry."
"Uh, oh", thought both guys.
"Sure, no problem! Come on, Ranma."
[Tent Living Room, after the guys have left]
"Luna, are Jane and Ranko bound to Harry and Ranma?", Hermione asked. "I mean with a soul bond."
"No. Jane has a bond to you but it is not a soul bond, more like a sibling bond.", Luna replied. "Ranko has a similar one to Ranma. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if we could add them to the existing bonds, assuming they want to, of course."
"I assume you mean Jane to Harry and Ranko to Ranma?"
"NO!", Ranko interjected. "That just feels wrong! Like he is my brother!"
"I wouldn't mind being bonded to Harry but I don't have the strong attachment to him you do, Hermione.", Jane put in. "Ranma is cute too!"
"We can add women to the bond if every one agrees.", Daphne said. "But there has to be at least some affection for it to work."
"Since I split off from Ranma, I find that I have a girl's outlook on things.", Ranko noted. "However, although I find Harry attractive, I'm not ready for that yet. Maybe after I have settled down into being me."
"I just thought I should bring it up.", Hermione explained. "You two are out of the loop when it comes to sliding or telepathic communication. If you were bonded, you would get that."
"I'm not opposed to it, I'm just not ready yet.", Ranko returned. "I expect that Harry would still have problems because he is used to thinking of me as a guy, body not withstanding."
"True.", Hermione pondered. "But you want to keep the option open for the future?"
"I think that is a good idea, Hermione.", Nabiki agreed. "I also think Jane should group with our part of the team and Ranko with yours. That would give us a mage and you a fighter plus letting them get to know their potential bond mates."
"Sounds like a plan!", Daphne said with a smirk. "Now we just have to tell the guys!"
"I think plan is a too too good one.", Shampoo commented. "You agree, Ukyo?"
Ukyo nodded. "Other than having to share Ranma more but that may not be a problem with this splitting ability he seems to have."
"If this is going to work, Ranko should take the sixth room on Harry's side of the hall,", Kasumi instructed, "and Jane should take the one on Ranma's side."
"I've been sleeping in Hermione's room since she rarely uses it, so that works for me.", Jane agreed.
"We can let the guys know over dinner.", Kasumi said. "Now, Jane, what kind of hairstyle were..."
[Qeynos, next morning]
As they sat down for their morning meal, everyone admired Jane's new pixie hairstyle and Ranko's new shoulder length wavy locks. Hermione joked that maybe she should have gotten the style because it looked easier to care for. Ranko explained that she had Kasumi cut her hair to look different from Ranma's girl form and to fit under a helmet easier. Both girls were told the styles suited them.
After breakfast, the group trouped down to the local training hall for Ranko's evaluation and to get some practice in against sparring pardners they weren't familiar with. After working with the trainers for most of the morning, Ranko was informed that she would make a good paladin because she had the ability to use cleric magic and was formidable with both one handed and two handed weapons. She agreed and was given a paladin's spell book with instructions to check with the paladins at the Temple of Life if she needed more training.
Leaving the training hall, the group rode down to the Temple at the north end of the Qeynos Capital District. After asking a number of people about who was dealing with the undead problems, they were directed to a paladin by the name of Toranim Skyblade. A priest pointed him out and they rode over and introduced themselves.
"Jessolt mentioned that you would be coming this way when he passed by awhile ago.", Toranim said as he looked them over. "Although he said there were ten of you and I see twelve. Did you pick up some local recruits?"
"Not exactly.", Harry answered. "Jane and Ranko are additions through magic. We suspect a higher power influenced their joining us." He pointed to the two girls as he said their names.
"Yes, I can see the aura of Mithaniel Marr around the two of you.", Toranim commented. "And you, Miss Ranko, are a paladin sponsored by him."
"I thought you had to be a worshiper of a god to be their paladin?", Hermione said with a question in her voice.
"Usually that is the case,", Toranim replied, "but since you are not of this reality the Truth-bringer has chosen to grant you his support as though you were."
"Have you any instructions for us?", Harry wanted to know.
"First of all, you have accomplished a great deal in what you have done so far.", the older paladin informed them. "We have determined that the enemy is much weaker and believe he is somewhere near Qeynos. However, we have two other trouble spots we would like you to look into once we receive more details. One is in the Enchanted Lands while the other is in the Feerrott. We hope that after those two areas are dealt with, our foe will be weak enough to take on directly when we determine who he is."
"So check back with you daily?", Ranma asked.
"No, I will find you or send a messenger.", Toranim declined. "Although, if Paladin Ranko is willing, I can spend a few hours each day training with her and let her know when we have the details we need."
"Since I'm new to this paladin stuff,", Ranko spoke up, "I can use the training, especially with the spells and whatnot."
"Can you be here two hours before noon everyday, starting tomorrow?", Toranim asked.
Ranko looked around at the rest of the group. Seeing no dissension, she said, "I can do that."
"Good, it's settled then. Bring your equipment although we may not use it all the time.", Toranim instructed her. "Until tomorrow, Paladin Ranko and until we next meet for the rest of you."
[Back at the Tent]
Grabbing a quick lunch, the team split up to deal with different tasks. Shampoo and Ukyo grabbed Ranko and headed to the workshop to get her outfitted with armor and weapons. Winky and Kasumi went to work in the greenhouse while Nabiki, Daphne, and Hermione began going through the stuff everybody had brought back. Jane and Luna did research into the areas they were probably going to next. Harry and Ranma inventoried food and other supplies to see what needed refilling.
During dinner, the group discussed their plans for the next day. It was decided that Harry, Ranma, Kasumi, and Winky would go out into Antonica to hunt and gather foodstuffs and other materials. Kasumi was excited about possibly getting some new seeds for the greenhouse while Winky wanted to see what new flavors could be found. Ranko would train with Shampoo, Ukyo, and Luna when she wasn't at the temple. The remaining four would continue sorting through spoils and researching.
Later, the group settled into the living room with drinks to explore the new splitting ability. Harry opened the conversation. "First, if somebody could time him, I'd like Ranma to see if he can split now and for how long."
Nabiki pulled out her watch and said, "Ready when you are, Ranma, love."
Ranma concentrated and three more Ranmas appeared, making one next to each of his spouses. They immediately sat next to the closest wife and put their arms around them.
"Well, you didn't lose a self when Ranko was born.", Hermione commented.
"I didn't think he would," Harry stated, "because he said he retrieved the memories from the self that became Ranko. Now I'd like to see if one of my girls can split by focusing on the rest of the group."
"I'll do it!", Daphne volunteered. She concentrated for a moment, then appeared to concentrate harder, then relaxed. "Nothing. I can 'feel' everyone but when I try to slide to them, nothing happens." She paused and suddenly appeared next to Hermione. "I can still slide to a single person, just not all of us."
"I did not expect that to work.", Luna spoke up. "Our bonds with Harry and Ranma are like a star with the boys in the center and the girls at the points. They can slide out to the points while we can only move our point to another point or closer to the center."
"Well, enough research for one night!", Harry exclaimed. "Ranma, I suggest we use this ability to spend time with each of our ladies!" With that, he became four and each of him scooped up a spouse and headed for the bedrooms with the girls giggling.
"I'm on board with that!", Ranma agreed and matched his actions.
Ranko turned to Jane. "Suddenly I'm feeling a bit frustrated. I'm going to the training room to work some of it out on a few golems. Care to join me?"
"You know, I believe I will."
TBC
[Omake]
The mate, a mighty sailing man, turned to the skipper, brave and true.
"It sure was nice of that little girl to give use this boat and promise to get us back to port."
"Sure was, little buddy. Though why she said we needed to sail back and forth in this area is beyond me."
"Skipper, looks like a storm is blowing up!"
"You'd better let the others know! The girls are sunning on the foredeck. The Howells are in deck chairs on the main deck. I think the professor is in his cabin."
"Aye, aye, skipper!"
The mate came running back.
"Skipper, there are moving skeletons climbing on board!"
"Stand by to repel boarders!", the skipper yelled as he grabbed a belaying pin.
The mate slipped as he ran down the stairs and slid across the deck, knocking skeletons ever which way including overboard. The girls, hearing the commotion, joined in the fight with the shorter girl treating the skeleton skulls like softballs and the taller high kicking them while wearing spike heels. The millionaire's wife knocked the skellies down with her purse allowing her husband to use a golf club to drive them off the boat. The professor came on deck with a coconut launcher which he used to bash the skeletons. In short order, the attackers were destroyed or knocked overboard.
"Hey, skipper! Who's steering the boat?"
CRUNCH!
"Uh oh! It looks like we ran aground!'
"This island doesn't appear on the charts we have!"
"Looks deserted, too!"
"Not another one! What's this, fourteen?"
"Sixteen by my count. Good thing this ship is tougher than the Minnow."
"Yeah! Come on little buddy. Let's get her afloat again so we can get underway. Professor, would you add this island to the charts for me?"
"Sure thing, Skipper."
With that the passengers went back to what they were doing.
(The bad guy made me do it. No, I don't own 'Gilligan's Island' either.)
Footnotes:
(1) The Kildar, Kildara, and other characters in this scene are from the 'Paladin of Shadows' series by John Ringo. They do not belong to me either. They just stopped by to make a cameo. Katya is a former hooker bought by Mike, augmented by the US Government, and trained as a spy. She is also a sadistic bitch.
(2) For this story, Shadow Clones vanish if hit. These are not Shadow clones. I realize splitting/cloning Ranma/Harry has been done before but this is my take on it.