Disclaimer: I didn't invent Ranma ½ or its characters…they are pretty awesome, though…
Ch. 12
"A mirror?" Ranma stared at the illustration, questioningly. "How exactly is a mirror supposed to help Akane?" Cologne hopped up to the top of her cane, perching atop it like an old crow.
"You should know better than that by now, Son-in-law," the crone said. "This is no ordinary mirror." Mousse wiggled his glasses and squinted his eyes, straining to read the faintly printed text.
"It says it's called the 'Reversal Mirror'… I can't make out everything…but it seems to say something about 'a change of inner reflections'…" The duck boy read.
"What the hell does that mean?!" Ryoga asked, scratching his head. Cologne pulled out her trusty pipe and took a long puff.
"It reads," she began.
'Two hearts, two souls, one image between,
Thine inner reflections which eyes cannot glean,
Loving and kind, or dark and obscene
From one to the other, change what goes unseen.'"
The elder took another puff of her pipe. The trio surrounding her still seemed just as confused as before.
"Just cut to the chase, Old Ghoul…" a frustrated Ranma demanded, feeling more like himself. The wrinkled crone nodded.
"This mirror was crafted many ages ago by an ancient Chinese sorcerer…"
"Oh great…more backstory…" Ranma huffed, rolling his eyes. This time, Cologne used her pipe to whack him on his still healing head.
"As I was saying… The sorcerer originally intended to use it to gain more power…but he quickly found that the consequences of its misuse outweighed the benefits." She hoped off her perch and pointed at the image on the page with the tip of her cane. "Should two people look into this mirror at the same time, some essence of each individual would be transferred from one to the other. " Mousse placed a finger to his chin in curiosity.
"Essence would be transferred?" He pondered. Cologne nodded.
"Essentially the two onlookers would swap some aspect of their being with the other." Ryoga crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"You mean, like they'd swap personalities?" Cologne looked up at the porcine martial artist.
"Well it's a bit more complicated than that… There are many factors that affect exactly what, and how much, is transferred…such as the willpower of the individuals involved, their state of mind at the time, that sort of thing." She climbed back atop her cane so as to make better eye contact with the three adolescents. "Depending on the situation, two people might simply exchange their current moods at the time, their likes and dislikes, their taste in food…or, as you suggested Ryoga, their entire personality." Ranma stared intently at the eldest Amazon. She knowingly caught his gaze.
"So how does this help us cure Akane?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"I told you, Son-in-law, that it was not a cure I was offering…but a sacrifice." Ranma's expression remained firm. "The mirror was crafted in such a way that if one person's desire were strong enough, and their force of will were to overpower the other…then the strength of that desire would dictate the specific trait swapped." Mousse's head snapped from deep thought to attention.
"Elder…You're suggesting that…if one of us were to look in the mirror along with Akane…then there's a chance that the Pill's effects on her personality could be transferred?!" Colgone shook her head.
"Not ANY one of you…" She held her gaze on her would be Son-in-law. "Only Ranma…If it were to work according to plan then the Pill's effects would be transferred over exactly as they are now…So if either of you attempted, you would be the one to become Ranma's slave. Do either of you feel you could make that choice?" Mousse shook his head, but Ryoga paused.
"If it meant saving Akane…"
"As I said before, the aspects of each person that are exchanged depend on desire. However, in order to ensure that the trait transferred is the one we need…then that desire has to be EXTREMELY specific. Wanting to "save" Akane, though noble, is not enough…that is not a trait. By all physical means, she is not injured." She turned now to star at the eternally lost boy. "You would have to wish and desire, beyond a shadow of a doubt, to be Ranma's slave…Mind, heart, and soul…Could you do that, Ryoga?" Ryoga looked down at the floor for a moment, in thought.
He could do anything for Akane…but…could he do that? If the shoe was on the other foot, he would agree to be her slave in a heartbeat. Being at HER beck and call he could live with…but Ranma's…Slowly, he shook his head no…
"Then it's as I thought…You see, if Son-in-law were to use the mirror, he would completely swap roles with Akane, giving up his own freedom to her in servitude...A heavy decision...The choice is Ranma's alone." All eyes turned to rest on the pig-tailed martial artist. He said nothing, but glared at all of them, then looked back at Akane. She was still standing, blank and motionless…like an un-posed, life-size doll.
"You're sure this would work?..." he asked. Cologne's eyes narrowed.
"As I mentioned, that, Son-in-law, depends entirely on you."
"And why didn't you mention this before?" Ranma inquired.
"It was always a last resort, Son-in-law. Remember, however, that you have an entourage of fiancés. I still wish to see you marry my granddaughter…If you were to end up in Akane's place…" Cologne pointed to the immobile girl. "Well to say that it would greatly disrupt the plans I have in place for you would be putting it lightly…" She crossed her arms and looked up towards the ceiling. "Yet, I must admit that, over the years, I have grown very…fond of you. Not just as Shampoo's fiancé…but as a man. Not too many people could take on a god and live to tell about it." She glanced back at Ranma, her expression softening. "IT is out of that respect for you, combined with my own feeling of responsibility towards this whole affair…that I offer you this choice, Son-in-law." She turned and pogoed toward the closed door. "You can take your time to decide." Without wasting a second, Ranma grabbed the elder by the shoulder.
"I'll do it…" he said. Cologne could see the sheer look of determination etched on Ranma's face. He never was one to back away from a challenge…no matter the consequences.
"Very well…" Cologne nodded, curtly. Mousse, looking almost giddy from the prospect at having Ranma be a mindless husk rather than a rival for Shampoo's affections, spoke up.
"So where do we find this mirror, Elder?"
"Well," the crone began. "As fate would have it…the Reversal Mirror is already in my possession."
"It is?!" Ranma asked, feeling a mixture of surprise, anger…and relief. He assumed that they would have to take on some kind of journey to find the mirror.
"Indeed it is…I do pride myself on my extensive collection." She chuckled to herself. She opened the door and led the three into the empty hallway. "Wait here and I will go fetch the mirror from my artifact room."
The three patiently waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Cologne returned from within the confines of her storage room. She was empty handed…
"….Is there a problem, Elder?" Mousse inquired. Suddenly, the four turned as they felt a presence at the end of the hall. Ranma felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle in rage. It was Shampoo…
"There's a problem…" Cologne murmured.
"Nihao, Airen…" Shampoo cooed. "Looking for this?" She dangled the mirror in her fingers, tauntingly.
A/N: Sorry for the brief update...but I promise you this is getting close to its conclusion! Thank you all for sticking with it for so long!
