Cologne sat for a moment to catch her breath. The old Amazon leader had been climbing for the past few days. She cursed herself for her spark of brash thought.

*Why couldn't you let it be? Why couldn't you see that Shampoo loved Mousse?* Cologne thought on that. *Because I couldn't allow it. Mousse is not worthy of the tribe. That should have been enough. But it wasn't... not for Shampoo.*

Cologne had thought she had won. Had thought that the time for triumph was at hand. She would have Ranma, and train him for the dark days to come.

It didn't work. She had seen that Shampoo was beginning to care for the half-blind Amazon boy, and had panicked. She had made herself cold and uncaring, as she hid her fear from her great-granddaughter.

It had driven her away, her act of solitude and indifference to feelings. She had never liked using that, and now it had led her to this.

*Break the seal, and trouble soon follows.* Had been her Mother's words, and her grandmother's words, and _Her_ mother's words, all the way back the Amazon line to Pah Fuum.

Cologne looked at her weathered hands. *Three hundred years of preperation for Son-In-Law, and I destroy the work in a single instance of blind rage. Ranma, I trust you to be strong for the ordeal you must endure. Mousse... if anything happens to Shampoo you will pay dearly.*

Cologne looked up and out over the pools of Jusenkyou, then to her right at the Irrepressible Mount Phoenix. Where Saffron once resided.

Cologne had never believed any of the legends, of Jusenkyou, of Saffron, Toma, or Kiirin. Everything had been proven true as Ranma's chaotic Chi forced the balance of the supernatural to look towards Nerima. Cologne had been in silent awe of the things that revolved around the boy. Every time it looked bad, every time hope was lost, every time there was no way out... Ranma emerged unscathed.

Cologne scowled as she began climbing again. *Damn Ranma. the Stars must have been in a cruel joking mood to have made my daughter cross paths with such a boy.*

Cologne thought about where she was, seeking out another legend, another Myth on Mount Shimitsu. *If Saffron couldn't defeat Ranma, then perhaps the Son of a Dragon can.* Cologne climbed in silence for several more hours, pausing again as the light of the sun kissed the horizon.

Cologne had recalled the first time she had met Ranma, and the arrogant self-assuredness that he displayed so freely. Even when she used the Full Body Cat-Tongue he was still confident that he would defeat Cologne eventually and retrieve the Phoenix Pill.

The only time Cologne had ever seen Ranma completely without hope was one instant after the Chiisuiton, Herb and his Damn Chiisuiton.

Ranma had almost, _Almost_ resigned himself to life as a woman. Luckily, the Hibiki boy had come and snapped Ranma out of his unwarranted depression.

If it hadn't have been for the help of those unlikely friends then Ranma would have likely have been stuck as a girl. If it _hadn't_ been for Ryouga, that would have most definitely been the outcome.

Cologne paused and watched the sun set, as the stars began to twinkle in the sky. She had groomed Ranma, for some time, to take over her position as Tribal Leader when she either passed on, or left the Village on one of her _long_ expeditions.

*I had been so close. I should have been more caring to Shampoo. I should have been... but couldn't be. The Tribes survival is of utmost importance, and Shampoo has ruined the Ancestry of our family, and has forced me into- this course of action. I had hoped that I might never have to do this.* Cologne looked up at the peak, not but a few hours climb to the top.

She began again, in darkness. Trusting her senses to guide her safely to the top... careful at which rock she placed her trust in.

She finally pulled herself over the sheer cliff and onto the plateau of Mount Shimitsu. Below her she could see Jusenkyo, each pool reflecting a single star and mirroring the sky like a brother.

Mount Phoenix stabbed the sky in defiance of the quickly growing night, standing tall and proud against the black miasma of darkness. Cologne looked below, to see the Joketsuzoku tribal Village as a tiny speck far below.

Cologne dwelled on the fight once more, trying to find some other way it could have ended... and trying to fathom who the odd boy was who had intercepted her wrath.

*Hiroshi.* Cologne recalled the name. There was a hidden story behind the person, a story which Cologne wished she knew.

Shampoo's defiance, she realized, could not have gone unpunished. She had failed in that punishment. She could not bear to see her only Descendant slaughtered because of a singularly selfless act. The tribal Law was clear... Shampoo should have been killed.

Or, someone should have been killed in her stead. Someone responsible for all the heartache that had been caused by her decision. Ranma was the one Cologne had chosen as the Martyr; Even that had not gone as planned.

"Who awaits my presence within the common rock of my Home?" A soft feminine voice whispered from the wind.

Cologne had been prepared for this.

A bright flash of fire encircled the Mountain, as a serpent of Flame wound it's way from the sky and plunged itself into the Plateau with a viscious shake of the Mountain.

Cologne struggled to stay standing, as the Serpent changed to a shade of blue. The fierce green and red mane was whipped in the wind as the huge dragon-eyes glared at the Joketsuzoku Chieftess.

"Who would suffer such a long ordeal to talk to a slumbering Dragon?!" The voice began to get angry.

"I am Cologne, of Joketsuzoku. Your Tribe of Amazons," Cologne bowed deeply.

The Dragon looked down at the Mortal with a hint of amusement.

"You are a daughter of Paah Fuum. I am impressed, I had not been aware any of you _strong_ vermin were still living," The dragon chuckled and began to shrink. The shape changed form, shifting as scales arranged into the semblance of clothing, soft curves forming on the previous Dragon's body, features becoming more... human, more female, more beautiful.

"Forgive the intrusion, Shimitsu of the Kami. The ancient line is in dire jeopardy. The staff has been broken..." Cologne trailed off as the Dragoness's soft blue eyes began to burn with an intensity that frightened Cologne.

"That staff was one of similar origin of myself. The breaking of it is a disaster you can _not_ imagine. I put that staff into the care of your ancestor for a reason... so that it would be protected," Shimitsu looked at Cologne, considering her as one would consider a fly.

"I understand the legend, Shimitsu. My efforts to preserve the line of the Amazons has met with an unfortunate, and disastrous end. There is a boy named Ranma who is the center of it all, if it were not for him-" Cologne was silenced by the resonance of the Dragoness's voice.

"I know of this Ranma. He is a great warrior of even greater skill, but his pride will one day lead to tragedy. He is a worthy suitor for your daughter. That is, if She had not already been taken," Shimitsu smirked at Cologne's wince.

"How did you-"

"It is my responsibility to watch over all those born in the Village below, as well as those cursed by the waters of Jusenkyo. I have taken considerable interest in your lives, however, as I have not had as much laughter in such a long time," Shimitsu smiled openly, putting Cologne at an uneasy relaxation.

"She was the only heir, so I assume you know what I am here for," Cologne bowed again slightly, and Shimitsu frowned.

"Yes. Of course, my Son is a distance away... he has been gone for at least a century. There is nothing I can do to summon him." Cologne seemed to visually wither as Shimitsu spoke.

"I imagine you are quite disappointed in this turn of events," Shimitsu approached Cologne, and the Old Amazon tensed up involuntarily.

"I made a vow when I broke the staff... that I must keep. Son-In- I mean, Ranma. I swore that he would suffer torment. I cannot, and _will_ not, go back on such a promise. No matter how much my feelings have changed since then," Shimitsu considered Cologne's words, and began floating in mid air as she thought.

"You do not realize the trial that your 'Ranma' is already going through. But then, neither does the young one. The next Month shall not be a pleasant one for the child. If you truly wish to witness this, I suppose I can help you. _You_ however must promise _me_ something," Shimitsu dropped back to the ground quietly and looked at Cologne's withered features.

"I promise, so long as it is within my power to do so," Cologne bowed again, wondering what the Dragoness had in mind.

Shimitsu grinned and began to speak, "It is quite within your power to do. You will return to this- this Nerima. Not now, but in a Month. Once there, you will see that the words you spoke in haste have taken a tight hold upon the people there. Yes, Ranma will suffer for the next month. Mayhaps not physically... for Ranma is too strong to be harmed permanently by any type of injury. However, Ranma _will_ suffer a trial not yet realized. You will help the boy through this difficulty, I want him unharmed... and when Ranma marries, I want his children unharmed as well. This is what I ask of you," Shimitsu began to shift her shape again, melting back into her dragon form.

"But- Shimitsu, I am not sure I can return! I'm not sure if I'm welcome anym-"

"Silence!!! You will return. Until the time comes, you must train. And heed this; Those most confident will fail, those rising in victory will fall, those who sacrifice... are spared," And the Dragon vanished in a sparkle of stars.

Cologne shunned the words, how could she help Saotome? She despised the boy that he could destroy so much without even trying. How could she get by her bias?

And why did she feel odd?

Cologne froze and looked down, taking in her new shape... a shape she hadn't seen in over two and a half century's...

A high pitched teenage scream echoed off of the Mountains in the Tsing Hai Province.