Dragon, Mages, and Martial Artists

by Dani Yanega

Mousse steals an artifact from Cologne, he uses it to send Ranma to another world. The problem was when he used it Ranma-Chan was fighting Ryoga and Kuno saw Mousse banish is pigtailed Goddess and hit him into the aftermath of the spell. Now all three are on a new world. A world at war with their Gods.

14. Chapter 14

Ranma 1/2:

Dragons, Mages, & Martial Artists

Crossover: DragonLance

By: Dani Yanega

Published 8-19-18 - Completed

(Dani: Legend is listed in Profile. My profile is also where I will address specific questions or issues that readers ask about.

I do not own many of the Characters in this story though some are mine all the KNOWN characters belong to those who originally created them. Thxs.

Please also NOTE I write Alternate Universe (AU) stories whether they are crossover or not. The AU applies to ALL characters. Thus this will make them OOC to the original Story and I like it that way. So if you plan to comment that Akane is not like that sorry I writer her like I like to. This goes for all the characters it makes the story more fun for me to write that way. Got to have some antagonist and some friends :D)

Chapter Fourteen

The companions slept soundly except for one. Goldmoon tossed and turned though she did not seem upset she was not happy. She curled up tightly in a ball and clutched the wood form of the blue crystal staff closer to her. As she brought it against her body, it glowed blue and turned to its crystal from. The blue light travelled over her as if a protective cocoon.

"Goldmoon." Goldmoon woke but really was still a sleep she was now in her inner mind she recognized it from her meditations Ranma had taught her.

"Who is there?" Goldmoon looked around the blank field of her mind she knew which direction her spiritual core was and moved away from it to keep this visitor away from it.

"I will not harm you Goldmoon. I am here to help you! You know me Goldmoon you carry my staff!" The soft seductive female voice told the Que'Shu princess.

"Mishakal?" Goldmoon stopped and turned around to the voice behind her.

"Yes dear!" As Goldmoon turned, she saw a bright blue light before her but she felt the deity within the light.

"Have I done something wrong?" Goldmoon did not understand what was going on and hoped she had not caused the goddess to take back her healing gift.

"No child I am quite proud of you just as Paladine has been. You and your friends have gone a long way to heal the pain of your new friend Ranma. At the arrival of Ranma, things in the time line have changed. If the new time line works out you will beat Takhisis before she can even get started. However, it is time to move on. You are near the lair of Khisanth she holds the Disks of Mishakal. They must be given to the chosen one." She told the Que'Shu princess.

"How will I know the chosen one?" Goldmoon asked as her nervousness rose, as she was not sure she was up to this request.

"You will know him child. Just as you will know what you must do when you face Khisanth." The blue light started to dim when Goldmoon realized something important.

"Wait who is Khisanth!" She asked quickly before the light was completely gone.

"She is the black dragon down the corridor from you and your friends. But be careful black dragons do not fight fair but will run if they cannot win." The blue light was gone completely as Goldmoon lowered her head to think on what she was told she felt a gentle touch on her.

Goldmoon looked up there was no one there. She was alone in her inner mind but she felt the touch and still felt it. She realized she must have called out in her sleep and had awoken her friends. With a heavy sigh, Goldmoon forced herself to awake. As she opened her eyes, she looked into the smiling face of Ranma and the worried face of Riverwind.

"Glad I am not the only one who has visitors in my inner mind." Ranma said to her as Riverwind helped her to sit up.

"I felt left out." Goldmoon said with a wry grin as she saw Ranma and Riverwind was the only ones awake.

"Can you talk about it?" Ranma asked as she handed Goldmoon a cup of tea, Goldmoon looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I woke up the minute I felt the deity enter your mind. I could tell it was aligned with good but it was not Paladine." Ranma said with a knowing look.

"I made some tea and woke Riverwind." Ranma said with a mischievous grin.

"Why I was in no danger?" Goldmoon looked between the two with confusion.

"What and have him yell at me! Are you nuts!?" Ranma said trying not to giggle.

"Well there is that." Goldmoon said as she too tried not to giggle as Riverwind just looked at them sternly, which had the effect to get them both laughing.

"Seriously though can you tell us what happened or do you wish to wait for the others?" Ranma asked as she smiled at Riverwind then raised an eyebrow as he stuck his tongue out at her causing Goldmoon to giggle again.

"I think I should wait for the others; as this will concern all of us." Goldmoon told them as she sipped some of the warming tea she then noticed Ranma's journal was opened.

"May I see?" She asked the new grandmaster of her school as she pointed at the journal in her lap.

"Of course." Ranma smiled proudly as she showed an interest in the esoteric part of the art.

Goldmoon took the book from Ranma and looked at what was on the page. Though she could not read the Japanese language and hoped they would start learning it soon. She looked at the drawings of the power lines. She knew they were not hers as by the pictures they were very powerful. She figured it was of the deity Mishakal. She noticed that the lines shimmered and that confused her. She looked up at Ranma and before she could ask Ranma held up several shimmering color pencils.

"The color pencils I use have a small set of metallic I wish there were more colors. Mom also found these. I guess they're new. They have glitter in them to make them sparkle. It helped when drawing Mishakal's power centers." Ranma explained as she held up a package of twelve colored pencils with very tiny sparkles.

"I am going to see if they have a box of only metallic pencils in more colors." Ranma continued as Goldmoon tried to understand what was written on the page.

"I would like to learn more about this if I may?" Goldmoon asked as she remembered how Ranma and the others worked on Riverwind and the treatments Ranma gave to Raistlin.

"That would be nice I will be happy to train you. I hope the Amazons include their scrolls on shiatsu points they have many healing points that have been lost for thousands of years." Ranma said with a warm smile.

"Could I ask for some of these as well? I will pay you for them when I get some gold or gems." Goldmoon asked as she pointed to the pencils.

No not really. I will get pencils for any who wish to learn this aspect of the art. It is my gift to my students." Ranma said as she hugged Goldmoon tightly.

"Well it looks like I have competition!" The three looked up and saw Raistlin, as he stood there with his new red resin staff tapping his foot with mock ire.

"Well what can I say I like to share!" Goldmoon told him as she looked at him with big soulful eyes that caused Raistlin, Riverwind, and Ranma to laugh.

"So finally another of our team wishes to learn those pressure points that Ranma does to me. Good it will help not only the whole team but also others. If more then just Ranma and I can help the wounded." Raistlin said with a warm smile at not only Goldmoon but also Riverwind.

"My it looks like we are having a party." Tika said as she walked over to the growing group.

"Well not yet but almost." Ranma said with a little giggle.

"C'mon Tika I will help you get breakfast started." Ranma said as she stood up handing a cup to Raistlin and pointing to the teapot.

"I will help as well." Goldmoon said as she smiled at Raistlin who winked at her as she rose to her feet to help the others.

(l(l(l)l)l)

As the companions and their newer members finished up eating Goldmoon pushed her food around her plate. She picked at the stew her mind in deep thought. She jumped slightly as Riverwind gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see the worry in his face and she smiled at him reassuringly.

"I had a vision last night." Goldmoon said aloud, clanking of forks hitting metal plates echoed slightly in the large room.

"What kind of vision Goldmoon?" Tanis asked her his face showed worry, as he feared it was something that would cost lives.

"Mishakal came to me. Ranma sensed her and was at my side with Riverwind when I awoke." Goldmoon wanted Ranma's validation as she saw the narrowing eyes of Ryoga.

"She is right though at the time I did not know it was Mishakal I knew it was a deity because she gave off the similar power signals." Ranma said with a stern look at the formally lost pig.

"What did she want?" Tanis asked again as he ignored Ryoga's growl.

"The black dragon holds the future of our world. She guards the Disks of Mishakal. I am to retrieve them to give to the chosen one who will bring back the worship of the old gods." She said as she looked at the myriad of emotions.

"To a lot of Krynn they were never gone. They abandoned us!" Tika said a bit angry but relieved as well.

"Yes but we must fight to keep the world under the rule of Paladine and not the Dark Queen." Sturm said as his eyes glittered with excitement.

"So what do we do Goldmoon?" Flint asked her, as he wanted some action instead of babysitting a dishonorable moron they should have eaten in the first place.

"_I_ must retrieve the disk and take on Khisanth to claim the Disks of Mishakal. I am her priestess." Goldmoon told them as that was, a fact they figured out a while ago but was still surprised to hear.

"Who is Khisanth?" Tasslehoff asked as he sat down next to Goldmoon, then patted her arm tenderly as she smiled at him.

"She black dragon down there!" They all turned to see Bupu at the entrance a scowl on her face.

"You not fight is bad mean dragon!" Bupu told her as she moved closer to the corridor to block them from entering.

"I must Bupu Mishakal has commanded it." Goldmoon saw on the face of the Gully Dwarf, she knew who the ancient deity was.

"Mishakal good goddess! She not send Goldmoon to dragon!" The little Gully Dwarf fidgeted as she tried to keep them from going to the den of the great beast.

"We aren't going this minute Bupu but we must retrieve the Disks of Mishakal to bring back the ancient gods." Raistlin said as he held out a hand to her.

Bupu looked at the extended hand. She then looked at the others they all smiled at her. When she looked at Ryoga, she shuddered as his smile reminded her of the black dragon. She moved toward Raistlin and sat close to him and Ranma. She then glared at the Hibiki boy and hoped he would not survive the dragon. She then lowered her head in guilt for thinking such thoughts.

"We should get these disks and leave quickly we cannot stay here to long or we will be found." Matharos told them knowing Porthios would be worried.

"I agree but we are not going in there blind we need to find a way to see what is in that room and where the dragon is hiding or can hide." Tanis told the Silvanesti Elf.

"I can do that." Ranma said with a sly smile.

"How Ranma you may be able to move as a blur at the speeds you can manage but the dragons are cunni...!" Tanis stopped and gawked as Ranma faded from view.

"BY THE ANCIENT SHE IS A MAGE!" Sturm jumped to his feet angry he cared for one such as her.

"No Sturm I am not a mage. Though, I am now a sorcerer. This is a martial arts technique. The panda claimed to have created. It is a way of bending light around me to make me appear invisible.

Ranma reappeared standing next to Laurana and Tanis. They all jumped as she appeared out of nowhere. She smiled and winked as she disappeared again. As she hoped, they all opened their senses to her technique. She smiled as they all frowned, as they could not find her. When she reappeared, she was sitting again next to Raistlin. She looked at her friend and he nodded ne was fine with giving them more information.

"Raistlin has learned this technique and in doing so has helped me to refine and strengthen its abilities. I can now sense anyone using this technique or a modified version of it. I can also use it in conjunction with the soul of ice to lower my body temperature to that of the air around med." Ranma paused to catch a breath when Mousse's voice rang out in the anti-chamber.

"To prevent reptiles from using your heat signature to finds you." Mousse said with awe.

"Yes actually Lanell had the spell that allowed her to use their heat sensing vision. She then helped to learn how to use the Soul of Ice to lower my body temperature and to judge the temperature in the air around me." She told them as she picked up Bana as he moved toward her.

"I was waiting to teach this until you all learned the Soul of Ice. Since I have not started teaching you Amazon Techniques yet I can't teach the improved version." Ranma said with a sad smile.

"Why not?" Tanis asked, as she did not seem to mind teaching them everything she knew.

"The Amazon law is very specific on this matter another law I want to try and get banished." Ranma said with a frown as her blue aura formed a thin line around her.

"Amazon law states anyone not an Amazon using Amazon techniques are to be killed on the spot. If they are coming here she fears they may kill you if you know them." Mousse said as he looked at Ranma for confirmation and received it.

"It is more than that though; the law goes as far as to say once an Amazon learns a technique it belongs to the Amazons and the true owner and all his students and heirs must die." Ranma looked up at the collective gasp from the room.

"Ranma I might have a way to get you around that. She is the Elder of the vanished tribe. You, your family, and the Morboka outnumber the remaining tribes. Though, the other two tribes will probably agree with you. You can get the laws changed or forbid the Joketsuzoku Amazons from enacting them against you or them." Mousse said as he wished he had the law books of the other two tribes.

"Cologne won't let me talk alone with the other elders coming to Japan. I would hate to put them on the spot." Ranma said thinking they might not like it and would disagree because she had.

"Well what if you talk with your mom when you sleep tonight and see what she can do on her end. Another way around that until it is changed is claim them and all the rebels as the Krynn Amazons that gives you the right to teach them Amazon Techniques and any Rebel you teach is an Amazon under the protection of the law." Mousse said as Ranma looked at him with sincere awe at his ability to think outside of his laws and with great wisdom.

"Well I kinda asked mom last night to tell Cologne I have claimed them as Amazon to protect them against those Amazons of your tribe that will try to bypass the council's' edict during the war. However is there a rite or something or do I just claim them?" Ranma asked as she looked at Mousse.

"No no rites just as long as they understand as Amazons the women rule and are in charge. You can claim the rights of the Japanese Amazons which is the women are in control and may seek advice from the males but they make the final decisions." Mousse said as a forlorn look washed over him.

"Ok here goes. I Elder Ranma Takashi Saotome one of the three branches of the Japanese Amazons and sole Elder of the four lost tribes and an Elder of the three remaining tribes." Ranma talked slowly as she tried to cover everything she thought she might need as she did she watched Mousse and saw his slight nod at each reference.

"Claim the ten companions of Krynn that had taken me in and housed me and helped me grow and go through my pain. I Elder Saotome claim Matharos and Bupu as part of my new tribe and all Krynn Rebels as long as they have caused no dishonor to themselves, others, or the Amazon Nation. I Elder Saotome also claim these new Amazons' right to learn all techniques of the surviving tribes and those of the long vanished tribes. However, The Krynn Tribe will follow the laws of their world and the example set forth in the Japanese Amazons, they will follow Amazon Laws as long as they are just and will secure their survival. They will not follow the Outsider Laws, Marriage by Challenge Laws or the laws pertaining to outsider Training." Ranma paused for a breath trying to see if she forgot anything and saw as Mousse smiled.

"That was perfect Ranma I don't think you forgot anything. I guess hanging around Cologne you picked up more then techniques." He said to her then watched as Ranma scowled.

"Is it legal under Amazon law Mousse I mean I am the only Elder here and won't I need other Amazons to agree or be witness to it?" She asked as Ryoga chuckled at her preemptive blunder.

"No not really Ranma if I understand your status. You are the Elder of the Saotome clan, you, and your children. You are an elder in the Takashi and Morboka clans as well as the three remaining Chinese tribes and the four vanished ones. So technically you had an Elder from every tribe present." Mousse told her with a sly grin.

"Though here I wrote down what you said, the next time you talk to your mother give her this with your seal on it and she can give it to the elders from the other two tribes. If she and her mother also put their seals on it along with them Cologne and Snow Pea can't stop what you have done." Mousse told her as he handed her the piece of paper he wrote on as she claimed Krynn Rebels as her tribe.

"Thanks Mousse. Gee I guess I will need to design a seal before I give this to mom." Ranma said as she looked down at the paper.

"Yes I guess you will. Then you have to make it." Mousse said as he realized with out a seal for this tribe it might not go through any of the tribes.

"I actually need to create two don't I one for the Krynn tribe and the Saotome Tribe at home, right?" Ranma asked as her mind raced through some quick designs.

"Yes that would be a good idea." Mousse said as the others just listened as they cooked up a way to protect them from the incoming Amazons.

"I would suggest you make a seal to match the seven tribes. This is because you are making this claim as an elder of each tribe and of the Takashi and Morboka tribes. Here is my law book the seals are on the outside here." Mousse said as he pointed to the tribal seals of all the tribes.

"Do I need to make an individual seal apart from the Saotome Tribe seal?" Ranma felt she had just opened a can of worms.

"HHHUUMMM! I know great grandmother had one just four our clan you might want to do that just to cover your bets." Mouse said as he smiled at the awed look on Ranma's face.

"Ok I will get started on them today, now back to business. Bupu is there a way into the black dragon's den other then through that door?" Ranma turned to little Bupu as she stared at the paper not understanding what they were saying all she knew was Ranma wanted to protect her too.

"Yes I use to go in dragon lair." She said as she stared at the paper that Mousse had written.

"Then take me there; Bupu. I want you to wait outside the lair for me to come back. I can't make you invisible, well I can but I will be moving quickly and I can't keep you close enough to me so as not to expose you." Ranma told the little Gully Dwarf who nodded she understood.

"Ranma you can't do this alone. It is to dangerous!" Laurana said with worry written on her and everyone else's face but Ryoga.

"Naw it ain't dangerous unless he goes with me. I will be fine. Besides that old dragon won't know I am there." Ranma's old cockiness appeared and Mousse was surprised to find out he missed it, Ryoga just snorted in anger.

"I will go with you Ranma since I know this technique and can find you if something goes wrong I will be backup." Raistlin said as Caramon opened his mouth to protest.

"No brother you forget I am trained as you are now and can take care of myself. #Though I will never be trained enough not to need you!#" Raistlin told Caramon whispering the last sentence to only him as he placed his burning hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Thank you brother! I hope as a warrior I can be as honorable and valiant as you!" Raistlin again whispered then moved to follow Ranma and Bupu to the hidden entrance Bupu used to visit the dragon's lair.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane and Soun entered their home both loaded down with packages. As they removed, their shoes Soun handed his bags to his daughter. Akane's angry scowl deepened as he pointed to the stairs. Akane turned and headed for the stairs she stopped and turned to her father her visage still angry.

"You could have helped me by telling me what I needed!" Akane growled at her father who walked passed her to the table.

"I should not have to if you were paying attention instead of finding a way to blame your _ex_ fiancé for problems _of your_ making. Now take those packages to your room. Ms. Hinako will go over what you bought to make sure you have everything." Soun told his daughter as he sat down.

"Why can't I store them in the guest room?" Akane knew why but she just wanted to push her father's buttons.

"Well I guess Ms. Hinako could stay in Kasumi or Nabiki's room but since they come by every weekend that would not work. So do as I told you and put your supplies in _your_ room." Soun picked up the several papers he picked up while out and began to read.

Akane glared confused and angry she directed that look at, her father. She never remembered him being this stern or aloof from any of his children. Though she was glad, the abnormal crying was gone but was not happy with his lack of malleability any longer. Akane stood and watched him for a few more minutes then the weight of the packages not bothering her as of all the buckets of water she had to hold since Ranma showed up. Akane finally turned and was about to stomp up the stairs when her father cleared his throat. She turned and looked at him and saw an angry visage that frightened her.

Akane disappeared up the stairs quietly and into her room. Once inside she put all her packages at the far end and organized them according to what was in them. She then went toward her window. She grabbed her desk chair and placed it next to her window. She opened the window and then sat down next to it. Her head leaned against the window frame as she stared out at the blue sky.

She wondered what the sky looked like where Ryoga was. She wondered if he missed her as much as she missed him. She frowned as she promised a great amount of pain to Ranma if he, no she did not protect her P-Chan. Akane sat up quickly he no longer had a curse and why did she still want him to become a pig. She shook her head and continued to look out the window. As she sat thinking, she eventually fell a sleep sitting at her window thinking of Ryoga and Ranma.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane slept deeply she dreamt of the first time Ryoga and she showed their love for each other. She dreamt as he laid, down gently on top of her and then bent down to kiss her deeply. When he pulled back so she could look into his deep brown eyes she stared instead into a pair of pained filled sapphire blue. Akane pushed Ranma from her but when she looked at him, again it was Ryoga. Akane was confused as Ryoga shifted between him and Ranma. Akane closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as she whispered a mantra she hoped would stop this nightmare.

"This is what Tarkoda did to me I love Ryoga but Tarkoda wants me to love Ranma!" Akane repeated that sentence over and over until suddenly she felt herself being shaken.

"Tendo-kun, are you alright?" Akane opened her eyes and stared into the dark blue eyes of Hinako-sensei now back in her child form.

"Ye...Yes Hinako-sensei. Uh...Uhm how long did it take for you to change back?" Akane tried to stop herself but could not her curiosity was too great.

"I was quite surprised it took almost eight hours and that was not even Happosai's battle aura. Just think how long I would have stayed an adult if it was." Ms. Hinako jumped up and down excited as she clapped her hands with a purely joyous expression.

"Yeah there is something to try. To bad Ranma is not here he always gets that pervert angry." Akane growled causing the little girl to scowl at her.

"Show me what you bought for tomorrow's training!" The anger in the little girl's voice went over Akane's occupied mind.

Akane showed Ms. Hinako the things she got. She just hoped she did not have to go out and get more. She pulled out four bibbed aprons she had gotten restaurant grade aprons. She got a yellow, blue, green, and red one. She explained she did not get any kitchen utensils or pans since they already had them. She also pulled out several notebooks and mechanical pencils for taking notes and writing recipes. She then showed her the basics on sewing and crafts. She had bought several patterns that were supposed to be easy to do and she liked. She also bought all the notions to go with each of the patterns. She also got starter kits for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitching, and needlepoint. She then went to another bag and pulled out a ledger book for keeping a budget in.

"Very good Akane. Did you remember what I had said or did you remember these things from your electives at school?" Hinako asked as Akane blushed she thought about fibbing then she remembered an image of a flattened Ranma appeared in her mind.

"I remembered them from my electives." Akane told her truthfully and let out the breath she was holding when the little girl smiled.

"Good I will get you up at four o'clock tomorrow to start your day. I am sure Kasumi cleaned much of the heavier duties in the morning before breakfast to do it while still cool. So we will start there as well." The little girl could not keep the giggles out of her voice as she turned and left before Akane could get angry at the time she had to get up.

"Don't be late tomorrow Akane or else!" Ms. Hinako said as she shut the door on a confused Akane.

(l(l(l)l)l)

"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGG!" Akane woke to the ice cold water with ice cubes that still had not melted, that was thrown on her she glared at the back of Hinako-sensei as the little girl skipped out the door humming a happy little tune.

"Kasumi-Chan was right that was fun! Now get up and be downstairs in five minutes!" Akane's face went from anger to shock as her teacher disappeared down the hallway swinging her empty bucket happily.

Akane slowly got out of her bed and pulled the blankets and sheets from the bed to prevent them from ruining her mattress. She then got dressed in a pair of dark washed blue jeans and a yellow tank top. She then put on the green apron. She picked up her sheets and blanket taking them downstairs to tumble in the dryer.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane came downstairs her wet hair combed and dressed. She wore an old pair of Ranma's battle slippers she had found stuffed back in his closet. They were nearly worn through but since he had so little that was his, he could not throw them away. She heard Hinako-sensei in the kitchen and moved to the laundry room. She deposited her wet bedding in the dryer and turned it on. She then headed toward the kitchen. As she entered the kitchen, she found two stacks of papers on the table. Akane moved to one and sat down. She looked down and saw it was her daily schedule as to what she would be learning. As she looked through it, she pulled a pencil from the pocket of her apron and started to mark down what she needed in the way of supplies she had and didn't have.

She did not like being forced to learn something she did not have to do. She knew how to cook, clean, sew etc. She took all the courses though those teachers hated her and was jealous of her skills. That was why they flunked her in those courses. She figured she might get even better before Ryoga came home and she would make a better wife for him. As she marked her schedule with notes Ms. Hinako turned slightly and smiled as Akane was taking her new training seriously. Well the little girl hoped she was but with Tendo-Kun, you never knew for sure.

"Now Akane we will need to start the stock for Miso soup so it can cook while we go through the tasks of getting the major cleaning out of the way.

"Did you bring a notebook to take notes?" Hinako saw she did not.

Akane looked up and smiled sheepishly she ran upstairs to her room and grabbed pencil refills and several of her notebooks since she did not know what was going to be needed. She then grabbed one of the plastic shopping bags and dumped the contents on her bed and put all the things she needed to take notes on and with in it. She quickly looked through her drawers and found all the recipes she had gotten from cooking class. She put them into her bag then ran back down stairs to the kitchen.

"Ok Ms. Hinako I also brought the recipes I got from cooking class." Akane said as she sat back down at her spot at the table.

"Very good dear why the shopping bag?" The little girl asked as she peeked into the bag hoping for candy or a toy.

"I brought all my notebooks and refill pencils and erasers. I didn't know how many to bring so instead of running up stairs all the time I figured I would start bring this bag with me every day. It is also large enough I can carry my other projects with me too." Akane quickly explained as she watched her teacher look through the bag.

As the little girl nearly crawled into the bag looking for candy Akane smirked as she pulled a candy bar from her apron pocket and while her teacher was occupied, she slipped it on the table near the end. When Ms. Hinako stood up her face had a frown on it. She handed the recipes to Akane. She began to look for Miso soup and at the same time looked up through her lashes as the teacher turned and spotted the candy bar on top of her papers.

"WHEEEEE!" Her gleeful shout made Akane smile as she watched as the little girl gobbled down the candy bar as she looked for her recipe.

Akane was angry that Hinako-sensei was being forced on her to learn what she already knew. After all Kasumi was her sister just as Nabiki and she can do anything, they could. She also however looked upon the teacher as a child when she was in that form. So, she made sure to buy a package of candy bars for the little teacher, as she loved to make children happy. As Ms. Hinako enjoyed the chocolate nut covered nugget (Dani: Avalanche, chocolate covered Paydays candy bars. YUM). The package called them Avalanche.

"I have the recipe Hinako-sensei." Akane told the little girl, she had actually found it a bit earlier, but she wanted to wait for her sensei to finish her treat first.

"Mumpht!" The little girl said which Akane believed was ok.

Akane got up and gathered a stockpot and the ingredients, she would need. As she moved quickly through the kitchen, she tried to keep her mirth from the teacher. It was hard not to see Ms. Hinako as a child when she was in that form for most of the time. It was when she was an adult that Akane would become angry with her.

"Now Tendo-kun before we put all those ingredients in the pan tell me according to your recipe what you need. Please pull them from what you have there." Hinako blocked Akane's access to the pot and stove.

Akane grabbed all the ingredients and put them next to the stove as what she planned to use. There were over thirty ingredients and she kept every last one. Hinako-sensei stared at the packages her angry scowl confused Akane. She looked at the number of ingredients and the recipe and saw there was way more then she needed. She always added to a recipe to make it her own this was how she made Miso soup.

"Tendo-kun I asked you to pick out only the ingredients in the recipe for Miso soup!" Hinako-sensei, shrill little girl voice sound dark and menacing.

"I did this is what I always put in my soup." Akane said as she looked at the things lined up on the counter.

"I don't want your recipe ingredients Tendo-kun I want what that recipe from your class has listed and ONLY what that recipe has listed." The little teacher told her.

"Why my recipe is just...!" Akane was going to fight with her teacher anyway she liked her recipe.

"ENOUGH! Let us look at what you put in your soup shall we!" Hinako grabbed a box read it then turned the package to Akane.

"So you put Rat poison in your soup?" She continued as she slammed each non-ingredient onto the table.

"Oh here's a good one bleach, let's see oh ammonia must make your soup smell good. If the fumes don't kill you the poison will. Let's see here is bottle of dishwashing soap and laundry soap! Do I need to go on Tendo-kun! Nothing you have on this counter is in Miso soup or any soup! You can't be this stupid I think you actually wanted to kill your family we know you want to kill Ranma." Hinako-sensi growled as Akane looked at everything she had out for her soup and nothing was eatable.

"I think I will let your doctor know she will need to find the reason for your hatred of those that love you." The two turned and saw Soun standing in the doorway Happosai on his shoulder.

"I DON'T HATE MY FAMILY! THIS IS ALL RANMA'S FAULT!" Akane screamed as she tried to push past the solid wall of her father who grabbed her arm and forced her to look at what she used to make food.

"THIS IS NOT RANMA'S FAULT YOU COOKED LIKE THIS BEFORE HE EVER CAME HERE! WE WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE YOUR BLAMING OF OTHERS! YOU WILL NOW LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES AND GET YOURSELF OUT OF TROUBLE! NOW START LEARNING FROM HINAKO SENSEI OR YOU WILL BE RONIN AT THE END OF THE DAY!" Soun pushed Akane back into the kitchen then turned and left the room and headed out to the dojo he needed to think.

"His personality is changing what did you do to him!" Akane growled at Happosai as he sat on a chair he had dragged to in front of the door.

"I brought back the man I use to know. A strong willed decisive man that would love his family but would not allow them to walk all over him!" Happosai growled as Akane glared at him.

"Now Ms. Hinako is ready, start listening to her and not what you use to do. I am here to emphasize her training if needed." Hinako looked at him she understood the veiled threat.

"Non-lethal child I promise but it will get stronger the harder she fights against what you teach." Happosai growled as a black aura formed around his body as a small stream of dark chi hit the floor at Akane's feet.

"EEEPP!" Akane tried to jump away but crashed into the sink and slid to the floor her face shocked and angry as she snarled back at the old grandmaster.

"Don't even try it Tendo-kun you will now get up and get the ingredients listed on this piece of paper and only on this piece of paper. After you return everything you got out back to where they belong." Hinako-sensei snarled as she pulled a five-yen piece from the pocket of her frilly apron covered with flying unicorns on a blue background.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma, Bupu, and Raistlin entered a set off double doors followed by the others. Riverwind stared transfixed at the statue of Mishakal her empty hand held out in front of her. The others looked around the room at the fading pictorial reliefs that covered the wall. As their friends looked around Bupu led her new friends to the door, she used to invade Khisanth's lair. When the others turned around their friends had disappeared and no one saw where they had gone.

"Its ok Bana Ranma will be back. You can't go with her she might get hurt trying to protect you!" Tasslehoff said as he petted the Krynn raccoon as Tass sat down under the statue of the goddess and held Bana close to him as he petted the frighten animal.

"It is alright she will be right back you will see!" Tass told the animal as Tika sat next to him and tried to keep him calm.

"If she doesn't I will take that varmint home to Akane!" Ryoga gloated, as he knew Saotome was not that good to get passed a dragon.

Ryoga did not see the scowls of the others as Bana shrieked and tried hard to go find his friend. Goldmoon moved toward Tika and Tasslehoff. When she knelt down in front of the little animal she smiled at him then light touched him with the tip of her crystal blue staff. The little raccoon calmed instantly and slowly fell asleep in Tass' arms. She then rose to her feet as she smiled down at Tasslehoff and Tika.

"He will rest until Ranma returns." Goldmoon then turned and scowled at Ryoga but said nothing to him as she and the others felt he was not worth the effort.

(l(l(l)l)l)

While the others were distracted Bupu quickly led Raistlin and Ranma to the hidden entrance. She did not want the two from Ranma's home to know where the hidden doorway was she did not trust them. The three moved behind a dais that held six different types of armor. They were of different knighthoods that stood against the far wall opposite the Mishakal statue. Bupu pulled out her dead rat and as she had learned placed it first at the top left corner four feet high then halfway down in the right three feet from the other side. She next placed the rat across from the right side at the side on the left. She finally moved it to the top right hand corner of the door.

As the door opened silently the three of them slipped in. Once all were in and moved away from the door Raistlin was going to shut the door when it closed on its own. He smiled at that then turned and headed up the corridor. As they moved up the three-foot wide hallway, the roof slowly lowered until it was about four and a half feet high. Raistlin put the staff of Magius in his storage space then grumbled, as he had to crawl on his hand and knees. He kept getting his legs entangled in his robs.

"Remind me when we are done to talk to you about getting something like you wear, Ranma!" Raistlin growled in a deep raspy whisper, Ranma tried hard not to giggle.

"Ok Raistlin." She managed to whisper back but the mirth was in her voice.

The corridor was long and they made two turns to get to the corridor that led to the hallway of the black dragon. As they got closer, they started crawling over gemstones. They watched as Bupu stuffed some of them in her pouch. Raistlin and Ranma did as well. Ranma figured to help support herself and though she did not feel, they needed that courtesy Ryoga and Mousse. She just did not want the additional burden on her friends. She would also use them to help buy more supplies for the others. She wanted to save what Happosai gave her for when she was ready to set down roots.

Raistlin picked up only gems that might work as a magical artifact or catalyst in a spell. He handed the smaller ones to Ranma knowing why she collected them. Ranma smiled, as they got closer to a dark square surrounded by bright light about an inch wide around the square. As they got closer, they realized it was some type of cabinet. On either side was a small walkway no wider then two to two and a half feet. The corridor was blocked on the far side by a mount of gems that went the whole length of the wall.

"I take many months make halls to move into lair. Tried do through but gems fall to much." Bupu whispered to her friends.

"Ok now Bupu you stay here with Raistlin. If I run into to trouble get out of here!" Ranma hissed quietly as she glared at Raistlin who gave her an arched eyebrow of questioning.

"Yeah I figured as much!" Ranma said with a hung head, as she knew Raistlin would not leave her there.

Bupu and Raistlin watched as Ranma faded from view they then moved back from the door some four or five feet so the dragon would not find them. They were not sure Ranma had left the tunnel until seven or eight large gems landed at the feet of not only Raistlin but at Bupu's feet as well. The two looked at each other then grabbed up their gifts like children on Christmas. They smiled back at the door to wait for their friend.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Under the cloak of the Umi-Sen-Ken Ranma slipped out the narrow opening around the little door. She went out the left side of the door. Once outside she looked back and saw a large weapons cabinet that no longer held any weapons. She looked around her and saw no obstructions down the two and half foot isle. Bupu it seemed kept it clear for travel. As Ranma turned to continue left, she spotted over a dozen large stones. She took them gently and threw them back into the tunnel. Half of them landed at Raistlin's feet the other half landed in front of Bupu. Both grabbed them up with childlike glee. As she moved down the corridor, she found several pockets of large stones and collected them. She was going to have Raistlin show her how to make them magical. She also picked up more of the smaller stones to pay for supplies and support her and her friends.

When she reached the end of her isle she was at the far wall. She decided to take a peek over the mountain of stones and saw in the center of the room a large stone table and coiled around it laid the black dragon Khisanth. Ranma scowled at the smell of acid. She hoped the dragon did not smell her. She froze as the beast raised its head in her direction. She tested and she had her core temperature the same as the room.

The behemoth scowled in her direction then lowered its head and went back to sleep. Ranma waited she wanted to be sure the dragon was really sleeping and not playing possums. She reached out with her senses and railed at the evil that filled them. She realized the dragon was not asleep and was waiting to spring a trap on her. Ranma could wait she sat down and leaned gently against the wall. Still cloaked she began to study the dragon.

As Ranma reached out with her senses, she studied the life force and emotional lines of the beast. She found they were very strong but her emotional lines were stronger. Ranma also noticed that as Mishakal had told Goldmoon the dragon leaned heavily on deceit and cunning along with the darker emotions. She was raised under those emotions and she was ready to fight back. Though she felt sorry for the black dragon, as it would take the brunt of her rage at her fath...at the panda for what he did to her and the Tendos.

Ranma wanted to take out a journal and write down her notes but she feared it would call attention to her and get her killed so she burned it into her memory. She could always make correction after she drew them from memory later. As she continued to look for weaknesses, she heard as the dragon rose again. Ranma moved silently down the other direction toward the large granite tower in the room. As she moved, she lifted off the ground and floated silently using her chi and keeping a tight rein on it to prevent the beast from sensing her. When she reached, the other end of Bupu's highway the dragon stopped moving toward the wall.

Ranma sighed silently she did not want the dragon to find the isle way as it would then know someone kept coming in and it would be on the look out for her little friend. She rose over the mountain of gems and toward the freestanding granite tower. She watched as the dragon turned as if trying to follow where she was. She however, was not going to help it find out. As she flew over the top of the tower toward the back edge sat a stack of blue crystal disks. She smiled as she lowered herself down the backside of the tower. As she passed the disks, she grabbed them and stuffed them into hyperspace.

"YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS LAIR WITH THOSE ABOMINABLE DISKS THEIF!" Ranma smiled, as she was right the dragon did know she was there.

Ranma however kept her mouth shut as she was wondering how the beast was finding her. She cloaked her chi and ki even more to prevent even the smallest amount to be detected. It had taken her a long time to figure out how Cologne, Happosai, and Doc Tofu were doing it but she had. Then when she studied under Master Wu her sensei in ki and chi he taught her to refine the technique. She now could increase or decrease the cloaking as needed. As she continually dampened her power cores, she moved out from behind the granite tower. As she watched the dragon, it moved its head to follow her.

Ranma smiled as suddenly it stopped and looked from where she was back toward the granite tower. Then Ranma moved to the wall opposite her tunnel and her friends. The dragon did not notice it and headed for the tower. As Ranma continued to move around the room, she took in every detail as it might come in handy as she felt Goldmoon had something that had to be done before they left. Well at least Mishakal hinted at it.

The dragon went around the tower then quickly came out as Ranma released some of her dampening to see how adept the dragon was at reading her power levels. She allowed her full power to show including the Neko-Ken then it disappeared just as quickly. As the dragon came back out from the tower Ranma saw the fear in its eyes at the level of power it had to have felt. Ranma then moved from the spot in the far corner from the tower back toward the tower in the far corner from the Bupu highway.

As she settled in that corner, the dragon moved to where she had been. The dragon then shot a small amount of acid at that corner's wall. When nothing happened the dragon turned a scowl deepening on its face. Ranma watched as it headed back toward the tower. The dragon moved more hesitantly toward the tower. Ranma moved toward the acid covered corner.

As Ranma moved along the wall she spotted several necklaces that, she might be able to sell to help the rebels and her get what they needed. As she passed over them, she grabbed them and as they entered stuff space, she watched as the dragon sensed the additional ki and charged toward her. Ranma rose quickly and increased the dampening of her ki and chi then flew quickly to the granite tower. She reached it just as acid had hit the wall where she had just been. She smiled, as this was an important learning tool for she knew she would soon be fighting more dragons and the Draconians may have the same ability. She had been sneaking out to the cave to study the clerics and Draconians. She did not tell anyone as she did not want them to worry. Raistlin found out on her second visit and went with her to do the same. Her students would need to practice more on their dampening as well.

As Ranma moved around the room, she looked for other jewelry she could sell to help her friends and as she found them placed them in hyperspace. She made sure the dragon's back was to her and she could not be spotted in any mirrors or shiny surfaces. Once she was satisfied the dragon did not know where she was she left the room. She moved quickly behind the large cabinet as she floated down the corridor still invisible she grabbed Bupu and Raistlin.

"It's me let's get outta here!" Ranma whispered very softly as she flew to the other end of the tunnel.

After she made the second turn, she reappeared and let down Bupu and Raistlin. They headed toward the door out. Raistlin and Ranma watched as she opened the door again. And once they went through, they saw everyone still in the room watching for them. Once the door was shut, Ranma again grabbed Bupu and Raistlin around the waist and all three disappeared.

"Don't want others finding the tunnel they might not be careful enough and allow the dragon to find it." Ranma whispered again as she flew across the room behind a large oak cabinet with no doors.

Once concealed behind the large piece of furniture Ranma set down lightly on the floor and released the Umi-Sen-Ken. She swore both Raistlin and Bupu to secrecy they stepped out from behind it as if that was where they had come from. An excited Bana met Ranma. He ran to her and jumped into her arms. As Ranma caught her, little pet Bana began to lick her excitedly as she held him.

"Well how did it go?" Tanis asked as he walked up to the three.

"Let's go back to the other room first." Ranma said as she carried a still licking Bana followed by Bupu and Raistlin.

The three explorers led the precession. The friends just watched a bit confused as the three left like a force of magic to be reckoned with. They tried not to giggle but in some cases, it was hard not too. They followed them back to the room they were staying in when they got there Ranma had already started a pot of water for tea. Her friends fast liking the strong beverage as it helped to warm them and tasted better then with hot beverages they had made with wild herbs. As they began to sit down Raistlin handed them cups of the hot liquid.

"Ok so what happened?" Tanis asked again he hoped Ranma was not picking up Raistlin's bad habit of keeping important information to himself.

"I have a gift for Goldmoon." Ranma said as she got to her feet and pulled from stuff space the Disks of Mishakal.

"You found them? How?" Goldmoon asked her as she took the disks and rubbed her hand over them gently.

"I found them on this tall granite tower in the lair. I will explain later in more depth but I need to get the dragons lair sketched out before I forget. It will make it easier to explain what happened." Ranma said with a wide grin.

"We have the disks we won't have to face the black dragon again!" Ryoga growled, as he wanted to know now.

"You are wrong as usual Hibiki! Goldmoon will need to face the beast Mishakal told her as much. The more information she has when she does the better for her it will be." Ranma snarled at him her eyes flashed red.

"I won't allow her to go in that lair!" Riverwind growled as he moved protectively toward his true love.

"We don't have a choice Riverwind. There will be a confrontation but not of my making." Goldmoon said with a sad smile.

"Ok go do what you need to do. We will get the food ready for supper and we can discuss what happened then." Tanis agreed begrudgingly as Ranma smiled at him and moved off to where she and the Majere brothers slept Bana followed closely behind her.

"Do you know anything Raistlin?" Tanis asked the red mage.

"Some I do know I need a different set of clothes if I am going to be crawling through tunnels." Raistlin said as he rose to his feet to follow Ranma.

"Caramon I hope you are preventing him from teaching Ranma to be secretive!" Flint said with frustration on his face mimicked on the rest to the groups' faces.

"I am trying Tanis I am trying." Caramon said as he stared after his brother trying hard not to chuckle at the parting comment.

The women prepared the meal as Ranma worked quickly. The men ran interference as both Ryoga and Mousse several times tried to head over to where Ranma was working. As the dinner got closer, Ranma had not only finished the map but drawing out the power source of the dragon. She even found where the acid was stored if you will and she might be able to block the access to it. As she finished with Raistlin watching over her shoulder, they rose and headed to the rest of the group.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma sat down and took out her journal and sketchbook. She started on the sketchbook first. She drew the room what was in it and where. She included the piles of gems, gold, silver, etc. She was glad she had found almost a dozen gold bars and piles of gold coins, which she also took it might be easier to use then the necklaces and gems. She drew the granite tower. She also drew it from the perspective of a bird. She showed what remained on the top of the tower and marked where she found the disks. She drew the table and the distances between the different large items. She also drew the doors from the corridors but she did not indicate where the hidden tunnel they used was located.

Once She did the drawing of the room, she then started putting what she learned about the dragon in as well. She put everything including the strength of the dampening field one needed to hide from the reptiles. Raistlin watched her and when he was confused, he asked her to clarify or elaborate. This helped her a great deal as she had to explain what she drew she remembered things she missed. When they were done, Ranma was almost one hundred percent certain that it was accurate. As they, rose then moved toward the rest of the group and sat down.

As they ate, Ranma explained her sketch and what she found out in testing the dragon. The other companions were mortified that she took those chances. Ranma just shrugged and said it was necessary. As she continues she told them what she found out and what she might be able to do. She would have to go back into the lair to verify it. She ignored the outburst from her friends and continued.

"It is necessary the more I know about them the more likely I can teach you and we can cripple their most important weapon the Chromatic Dragons. They have to be similar so what I learn with the black dragon should translate over to the others. If not I am sure it will just be minor adjustments. Which means do not engage them until you do an examination to verify." Ranma said as she took a bit of her stew.

"But Ranma it is much too dangerous! What if the dragon finds you this time?" Laurana asked as she push a strand of her shimmering red hair back before taking a bit of her own stew.

"Naw not any more. I know where my dampening needs to be and just in case the dragon was toying with me I plan on making it stronger." Ranma said with a cocky grin.

"What about us! We need to dampen our ki and chi too!" Ryoga snarled at the redhead.

"No not really since you don't know the Umi-Sen-Ken and won't know it you just have to hide." Caramon said as he understood with the Umi-Sen-Ken Ryoga would have a better chance in killing his and Raistlin's friend, Caramon had learned Raistlin changed for the better because of Ranma and he did not want that change to revert back to the old Raistlin.

"Enough said Hibiki!" Ranma said with a scowl at the lost boy.

The group talked for several more hours and this time Matharos joined the conversation. Ranma was going to give Tanis the coins but decided to do it when they were alone. She also wanted to know how to get the gems and gold he got for the rebels to the correct leaders of each faction. As Matharos talked about the war effort Ranma started taking notes. She had no intention of spreading the Anything Goes through out Krynn during the war. She knew the gift from Paladine only included her friends. Though, she could train them in some techniques that might save their lives. As it started to get late, they all started preparing for bed. Tasslehoff and Flint took first watch. As Ranma and the Majere's went to, their sleep area Bupu joined them. She snuggled in-between Ranma and Raistlin. The rest of the group watched them and smiled.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane dragged herself to her room. She knew not everything Hinako-sensei made her do Kasumi did everyday. She tried to get her anger to rise but she was so tired she just gave up. What had made her so angry was Happosai stood guard and if Akane refused to do the tasks the way the little teacher wanted, he would persuade her. She would fix them all when she got her skills back and her Ryoga would help her to make them see how wrong they were. Akane dragged herself into her bedroom and just made it to her bed. As she stretched out on her nice soft bed waiting for sleep to overcome her, she tossed and turned, as she could not get comfortable.

Akane scowled as she realized all the chi bolts Happosai used on her to emphasize Hinako's point after she had made the same mistake several times. She was hit with quite a number of those bolts. She had chi scorches nearly all over her body. Her father saw what the old pervert was doing but did not stop him. He just stared at her with those blank pained filled eyes. Akane shuddered as her new father's eyes appeared in her mind. As she tossed and turned, she finally found a spot Happosai missed and was able to go to sleep.

Akane slept the deep sleep of exhaustion. As she slept, she dreamt about Ranma and Ryoga. She dreamt of when Ranma brought her back to life though she really only knew what others told her. She was sure he said he loved her. She dreamt of the time at his mother's cabin when they talked about his feelings and he would not marry someone who would not trust him. As she dreamt of her time with Ranma her, tears fell unnoticed to her pillow. Then her dreams changed to her time with Ryoga. She frowned when she dreamt of when she found out Ryoga was P-Chan. Her frown deepened as he blamed Ranma for his dishonoring her by allowing him to sleep in her bed. As her normal brain functions where Ranma was concerned tried to kick in her subconscious would not allow it.

In her sleep state, her subconscious mind tried hard to get her to understand she did love Ranma and he had loved her. It tried to show her she threw away a man that had respect for her even though he was trained never to show it and loved her as much as she loved him. It then wanted her to see that _she_ threw it all away for a pig. Akane's tears continued to flow as her face contorted into a mask of rage. The sleeping Akane could feel as her heart was breaking as she realized, what she had done and what she had allowed Ryoga to do to her and Ranma. As she slept her heartache was great as her subconscious continued to show her what she had done to the man she loved all because of Tarkoda.

As she fell into a deeper sleep where no dreams plagued her, she still cried. Her right hand clutched at her heart as she tried to hold it together. She knew she had to fix it with Ranma she had to make him see she was wrong and she now knew it and wanted to start over. As she slept her, mind finally passed the dream stage her tears though continued to flow but the angry visage slowly softened as she slept. Though, it was not for long as four o'clock always came early.

"AAAAARRRRGGGGGG! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR I JUST WENT TO BED!" Akane screamed as Hinako-sensei left swinging her wet bucket.

"You slept for six hours that is plenty!" The little girl's voice trailed off down the hallway.

Akane scowled with rage at her door then got out of her wet bed filled with ice water and ice. She was going to have to get one of those bedwetting guards if the little girl was going to keep doing that. Akane got up, took off all her wet clothes, and laid them out across the footboard of her bed and her desk chair to dry before putting them in the hamper. She then striped her bed and threw the wet sheets and her blanket in a pile by the door. She next pulled out her clothes for the day and then put on a robe and gathered her bath supplies. She went down stairs and to the furo for a nice warming soak.

As Akane showered off yesterday's strenuous housecleaning and cooking she tried to remember what she dreamt about. She felt it was important but it would not come to her. Her Nerima mindset kicked in and she figured it was about how her life was going to be when Ryoga got back and they were married and had a lot of little Ryoga's and Akane's running around. As Akane moved to the furo she tried to smile happily at the thought of her future family but it was not a smile but a frown. It was not just a frown but also an anger enraged frown. Akane sat up she had splashed water onto the floor but did not care why was she angry with her and Ryoga having a family? The more she thought about it the more enraged she became and the more confused.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma rose earlier then usual she moved to where Tanis was on guard duty. She smiled down at him and pulled out the gold coins. She decided to go ahead and give him the necklaces and two thirds of the gems. She had gathered for him to help pay her and the other two martial artists way. She also dumped what she had gathered for the rebel cause. He looked up at her with shock and she just smiled even bigger at his confused look.

"This is to help with the added expense of me and the other two. I also grabbed some of the dragon's treasure to help defray some of the costs associated with the war for the rebels." Ranma said as she walked away toward the Mishakal room, Tanis watched as she disappeared he jumped as he looked down to see Bana in his lap curled up asleep.

Tanis smiled at the little animal that seemed to have attached itself to everyone but Ryoga and Mousse. He then started putting away the fortune Ranma and gathered for their group and the rebels. He smile ironically as the Dark Queen was now funding the rebels. He chuckled quietly as she was not really going to be very happy about that either.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ranma entered the room where the statue of Mishakal was found. She shut the door and did an hour of kata and practicing some of the new techniques. As she finished, she sat down, pulled out her journal, and began to alter the original techniques with her modifications. When she was happy with the changes, she rose and headed to the door to the tunnel to the dragon's lair. She moved behind the line of different armor and opened the door. She slipped in then waited until it closed then moved slowly up the tunnel.

When it got to the low ceiling, she began to crawl. After she made the first turn toward where they had entered the lair she set her ki and chi dampening technique. She had masked her signature so much she could walk into a crowded room of dragons without the Umi-Sen-Ken and they would not see her. When she reached to opening behind the large weapons cabinet she sat down next to it. She pulled out her journal she started on the dragon and then opened her senses. As she reached out to the sleeping behemoth, she went over what she had drawn yesterday. She made a few corrections with what she found out yesterday. She then began to explore the giant lizard even more. As she found new information, she marked it down. After another hour, she put her journal and pencils away then left. As she reached the doorway to the Mishakal room, she heard frantic voices. She implored the Umi-Sen-Ken then exited the tunnel. Once back into the large room she floated over the scene of Tika demanding Raistlin show her where the entrance to the dragon lair was so she could rescue Ranma. Ranma smiled; as she did not have, so many people ever care that much about her. She also heard Raistlin's reply.

"Then you want to get her killed like Ryoga?" That sent a shockwave through the others that was there with them.

"Wha...no but...!" Tika was confused, hurt, and frightened at the thought of her hurting Ranma, Ranma wanted to land and let her know it was all right but she wanted to get to the cabinet first.

"I didn't mean to hurt you Tika but you can't go tearing down that tunnel and alerting that dragon to the hidden doorway to its lair and Ranma." Raistlin said as he placed his burning hand gently on her shoulder.

"Hey what's going on?" Ranma said as she stepped from behind the damage cabinet as everyone turned to stare at her.

"RANMA!" All three of the other redheads and Bupu ran to the returned fighter.

Ranma spent the next hour getting them to understand that she was fine and that she just went to verify her sketches from the night before. That she never went back into the lair. She also wanted to see if there was anything else, she could find out. As the women sat around her protectively, Ryoga more then Mousse grew angry. As Mousse was not Japanese, it seemed he was slowly loosing the Neriman mentality where Ranma was concerned. He still did not like Ranma because his Shampoo wanted him but since male Ranma was gone, he decided it did not matter any longer. Ryoga on the other hand was never going to change. He however could not do anything at the moment as Flint and Sturm flanked whim with weapons drawn.

"Oh Raistlin here I won't be needing these any longer. I never got a chance to wear them. I only open new clothes after the old ones get destroyed. Mom brought mine to me last night." Ranma said as she gave him all the tangs a pair of kung-fu pants for each of the five shirts." Ranma said as Raistlin took them from his friend.

"Thank you but are, you sure?" Raistlin said as he looked at the shirts through the strange wrapping.

"Yeah, though I will need your help later trying to work on those spells to protect our clothing." Raistlin nodded as he smiled at the clothes before him.

As they finished with breakfast and what else, Ranma had learned they got up and started their training. This time though instead of just Mousse and Ranma Ryoga helped training the companions in his techniques. Ranma though not known by Nerima did not hold to his father's belief of not using weapons. She learned from different schools when she went on her esoteric training. She practiced the Takashi School and worked with the others but Ryoga and Mousse on how to use it. Ranma felt if they used Ryoga's technique that would be the same. She was not going to make her enemies any stronger. When they finished training Ranma and Raistlin went over the spell books she got from the three sorcerers. They had already picked out the spells they just now had to figure out which would give them the most protection.

"Did you find anything?" Laurana asked as she brought Ranma and Raistlin each a cup of tea then sat down, as she wanted to wear the gifts from Ranma's mother as much as the other women did.

"Well we think so. This spell has a byproduct of preventing clothes from getting damage." Raistlin said as he looked at the spell more closely.

"A byproduct? What kind of spell is it?" Laurana asked as Goldmoon and Tika joined them along with the others.

"Well it is actually a spell that turns what you are wearing into super armor. However, at the same time keeping it pliable like the clothes it is enhanced from." Raistlin said as he wished he could cast these spells but he still feared he would loose his magic altogether.

"That sounds like the best spell then?" Tika asked as she wondered if it could be cast safely on all the clothes at once or it if it has to done individually.

"Well Raistlin and I feel we need to do everyone's clothes but we have to do each piece of clothing at a time. What I am looking for is a spell that will do more than one piece and then see if we can combine them to get them to work." Ranma said as she looked up from her tome.

"How will you test it?" Goldmoon asked her.

"Well I have some of my older clothes that I have sewn a lot of the damage up and I use 'em to sleep in so I can use them." Ranma said with an embarrassed grin.

"Do you guys need help looking?" Tika asked as she stared at them excited.

"The books were written in the language of magic...Wait a minute." Ranma said as she picked up another tome.

The women watched as she quickly flipped through the pages she then stopped and looked at the women. She smiled at them with a glimmer in her eyes. They looked at her confused but with a small smile.

"I have a true seeing spell that will allow you to be able to read the text for about an hour." Ranma said with a wide grin as all three women nodded.

Ranma nodded as she looked down at the spell then at each of the women. She rose then stood next to each woman. As she cast the spell, she placed her hand gently over their eyes. She then cast the spell. Once she had done all three women, they took the book Ranma had found the true seeing spell and began to go through it. Ranma smiled then looked to Raistlin. He was smiling at the three other redheads and then went back to looking for another spell that would allow them to either combined the two together or would do everything they wanted it to do.