Tangled Fate

by Grounders10

When a group of Sidereal's attempt a ritual to change the world, things go rather sideways when the ritual fails catastrophically. In the process Ranma, Ryouga and most of their company of friends and rivals find themselves scattered across creation. With power beyond human limits can they change a broken world? [Exalted/Ranma]

5. Chapter 5

The entrance hall of the Scintillating River Palace was quite impressive to Kodachi as she walked in. It wasn't a traditional Japanese style, but it was still an opulent display of wealth, especially compared to the rest of the city.

As the rest of their group marched in behind them the noise of boots on marble tile echoed loudly in the hall. "HELLO!" Ryu called, "Anyone here?" The shout rebounded off the walls and floor, echoing within the stone tiled chamber.

After a moment a door down one of the hallways leading off the main hall opened and a blue haired young woman stuck her head out. Seeing them she walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her, and down the hallway towards them.

"Hello, I assume you're the guests that Setarial told us to expect?" She asked.

"Depends, is this the River Palace?" Ryu asked, stepping forward.

"Depends, by that do you mean the Scintillating River Palace and not the mist town house of ill-repute with a deceptively similar name?" The young woman replied airily.

"That would be it, yes." Ryu said, "I take it then that this is-" A clatter from above drew their attention. Bouncing from railing to railing, descending the height of the four story chamber as she did, was a very familiar redhaired young woman.

She landed on the first landing of the staircase, arms outstretched and on one knee, with only the slightest whisper of sound. Her elegant, if a bit short, kimono swirled about her knees as she stood and glared at the two of them. Her hair shone in the light of the hall, the glittering strands of gold woven in making her appear, to the young kuno, to be framed by the rising sun.

Caught unprepared, and frankly off guard, Kodachi shuffled behind Ryu in an effort to avoid the glare Ranma was shooting them. She held little hope that the soldier would be able to do anything if Ranma simply decided to toss them all out of the building.

This was not how Kodachi had wanted to meet Ranma. She still wasn't sure how she had planned to meet with the gender-switching young man she had become so infatuated with, or how she intended to make sufficient apology for her past actions. This though, was not in anyway remotely what she had hoped for, clad as she was in the tattered remains of what was once an expensive yukata and surrounded by armed soldiers.

Judging by the strength of the redhead's glare upon seeing her this meeting was an unwanted annoyance after a long day. While a small part of Kodachi found that thought very much offensive, the larger part of her couldn't entirely fault the other girl's reaction. After all, she would have shared it not even twelve hours earlier.

Kumon coughed into his hand awkwardly. "Hello Ranma." He said with more confidence than Kodachi was feeling. "Nice entrance." When she simply continued glaring at him he shifted nervously. "I'm here for the meeting this Setarial has called."

"And her?" Ranma asked, a flicker of golden light beginning to form on her forehead.

"A monk tried to kill her, called her Anathema." Ryu said, "I want to know why."

Ranma's eyes flickered to her for an instant before easing up on the glare ever so slightly. "I had the entire garrison up here try to kill me." She said, walking down the stairs. Kodachi could see the forced stiffness in her movements that belied just how much anger was currently being held back. Such restraint was admirable, and for a moment Kodachi blushed before silently reprimanding herself. Such thoughts had led to her problems before, she needed to be better than her desires now.

"Not that it did all that much." The young blue-haired woman observed as she joined the them in the entrance hall. "I'm sure you saw the results of those efforts outside."

"It honestly looks like you had less luck than I did some months back." Ryu said wryly, sending a nervous look to Ranma. Kodachi sent Ryu her own curious look. Encountering someone who had made at least an attempt on Ranma wasn't entirely unusual, though few were able to achieve even a small measure of success.

"You are claiming to have done better than several thousand men, and several dozen Dragon-Blooded?" The young woman was incredulous.

Ranma snorted. "He was an interesting challenge." She snarked, "Certainly better than anyone your lot tried to use." One hand toyed with the end of her braid, and for a moment Kodachi spotted a flicker of gold being run between her delicate fingers. She wondered where Ranma had found the strands of gold that now decorated her hair. The redhead's mode of dress was also a rather unusual departure from her normal preferences. She normally preferred, to Kodachi's memories, a more neutral or masculine style.

Ryu's response interrupted Kodachi's wandering mind. "I defeated you. Twice." Ryu said, puffing up.

"You nearly killed me twice." Ranma said, fixing her glare on him again. "I defeated you completely in the third fight, and unlike you I've been training. Unless you're more honourless than you let on before you haven't even touched the Yamasen-Ken since, have you?"

"I have kept to our deal." Ryu said, he shot Kodachi a glance out of the corner of his eye. "Even when I shouldn't've."

Ranma's eye followed his glance to her and she gulped as the ice cold blue sapphires focused on her for a moment. She shuffled behind Ryu just a bit more out of nervousness. "You said someone tried to kill Kodachi? I figured she'd be more than able to handle herself. Especially against this lot." Ranma asked.

"I-" Kodachi started, she flinched as Ranma's gaze swiveled back to her. "I was unconscious for most of the fight."

"She dropped out of the sky with enough force to crater the cobblestone street." Ryu added, "That monk, Junlein, found her a few seconds later. If I hadn't been there she'd have died before she could wake up."

The look in Ranma's eyes softened to a more understanding look and the redhead sighed, rubbing her forehead as she did. "You said Junlein?" The blue-haired young woman asked.

"Nellens Junlein was what he called himself." Ryu said, crossing his arms. "He was a good fighter. There's not going to be much trouble about this, is there?"

The young woman sighed. "Among some people there will be. However his death will make the next few hours somewhat easier to handle since we won't have to be ready for an Immaculate Monk to invite himself into the debate." She said grimly.

"By invite, you mean attack right?" Ranma asked dryly.

"Yes. Junlein was lenient by the standards of the Immaculate Order, but he would have felt it his duty to interfere if he heard of what Setarial plans tonight." She said.

"And what does Setarial plan?" Ryu asked pointedly.

"She intends to explain at the meeting." Seeing their less than impressed expressions she sighed. "Even if I knew all her plans I would still prefer to hold back until the meeting is called. It saves on repeating explanations."

"You offered to answer my questions earlier." Ranma pointed out, "Or was that a lie Lily?"

"I have special instructions regarding you." Lily replied stiffly. Kodachi doubted that she liked the accusation she was lying. "I am at your service for the duration of the day."

"Uh huh." Ranma's expression was openly suspicious. "Given how eager you were to start that clusterfuck earlier-"

Lily flushed brilliantly. "The situation has changed since then." She insisted, crossing her arms under her breasts.

"How has it changed, and what happened up here?" Ryu asked pointedly.

Lily sent a glance to Ranma who merely narrowed her glare. "I-"

"So this is the source of the voices I've heard." Everyone turned to find a large woman in a very expensive looking dress descending the staircase from the second floor. "I do hope you enjoyed the bathing facilities." She said to Ranma.

"Rather overboard for one person." Ranma replied sardonically.

"By the standards of the Realm our Palace is very much a small vacation home for one of the Empress' stature." The woman said with a mysterious smile as she reached the tiled floor of the entrance hall. "Welcome to the Scintillating River Palace." She bowed to Ryu and the rest. "I am Lady Bretegani Wild Petal. With my husband indisposed I am the Steward of our humble Palace. Be welcome Sirs and Ladies."

"Thank you, Lady Bretegani. It is a beautiful Palace." Ryu replied, he and the rest bowed in return. "I am Second Lieutenant Kumon Ryu of the Japanese Self-Defence Force."

"For a self-defence force you are far from home." Lady Bretegani noted.

"Tonight's incident is in no way indicative of our normal operations madam." Ryu said, "It has been a very unusual evening."

"For more than just you." She replied before glancing towards Lily. "The preparations for the meeting are almost complete. I've had one of the smaller dining hall prepared as requested."

"Excellent." Lily smiled, "Should I begin shepherding the Goddess' guests to the dining hall?" She asked.

"It would not be a bad idea." The Stewardess said.

Ranma sighed before looking to Lily. "Where's Ryouga?" She asked.

"Already waiting in the hall." Lady Bretegani replied, "He finished with his own bath some time ago." Ranma rolled her eyes and hmmed, but said nothing.

Lady Bretegani turned back to Kodachi and tutted. "Someone has obviously had a rough evening." She said as she took a moment to look her over with a critical eye that had Kodachi shifting nervously. While her kimono was once an example of exceptional quality and taste, the rough landing and trip through the streets had left it little more than a tattered shroud. If it weren't for the leotard she wore underneath she would be having significantly worse modesty issues than she was. "If we had more time I would recommend a bath, however we are pressed for time and as such I suppose new clothing will have to suffice."

Kodachi perked up at that. "I would be appreciative of any aid you might be willing to offer in the matter." She said with a slight bow.

"We are not short of noble women's clothing if nothing else." She replied before she walked over to the stairs and shouted up them. "JASMINE! JUNIPER! ANOTHER FOR YOUR CARE!"

"Be down in a moment, milady!" A soft voice called back. A minute or two passed, during which Lady Bretegani's fingers tapped impatiently on the bannister, before a pair of twin brown haired girls came rushing down the stairs, smoothing their hair and tugging at the ties of their elegant black maid's dresses.

"You called, milady?" They chorused as they reached the landing.

Bretegani steered Kodachi out of the group. "This young lady requires clothing, and hair styling. Unfortunately you only have a bit over a half hour, so be quick about it." She instructed.

They bowed low. "Yes Milady Bretegani." They chorused again as they gestured up the stairs. "This way miss…?"

"Kuno Kodachi." She replied as she climbed the stairs.

"Be quick girls." The Stewardess reminded them.

"We shall milady!"

-0-0-0-0-0-

Tangled Fate

Chapter Five: Discussions of Broken Fate

By: Grounders10

-0-0-0-0-0-

Ranma watched Kodachi being led away up the stairs, along with one of the JSDF women, and sighed softly. Her eyes flickered towards Ryu. Seeing the pair of them had nearly spelt the end of her self-control. It had been a close thing, but she supposed throwing them out the door and into the exterior wall wouldn't be a… productive idea. Regardless of how much she'd enjoy it.

Still after everything the last thing she needed to deal with was one of her most lethal adversaries ever, and a girl who couldn't understand Jusenkyo if she'd been dunked in it. Only… She hadn't acted like normal. The young Kuno was the quintessential example of an arrogant, impulsive, and generally all-around unpleasant noblewoman. Her ego could fill a palace and still spill out into the streets, and her laugh was the sort of thing that small children had nightmares about. Only that wasn't the girl she'd just met.

Whatever had happened to the young Kuno since she had last seen her it seemed to have left a notable mark on her. Quiet where once she would be boastful. She flinched when she would have once glared with anger, or puffed up with pride. Not even a single arrogant laugh, possibly a record for Kodachi.

"Now," Lady Bretegani began as she turned back to the rest of them, "Allow me to show you to the dining hall."

"Please, lead on." Ryu said with a slight bow.

Bretegani smiled and returned the bow as she turned away. "This way please." She said. She led them up the first flight of stairs and down the left, West Ranma realized, hallway. The hallway was tiled in marble and was somewhat wider than the other hallways Ranma had been down that evening. Than combined with the open archways that led into sitting rooms on either side gave her the impression that this area was intended for hosting small get togethers more than anything else.

Half-way down the hallway the archways and sliding doors disappeared along one side and they quickly came upon a set of heavy oak doors. "Here we are Honoured Guests." Lady Bretegani said with a bow. "I have arranged for some snacks to be brought up if any of you wish for something to eat." She added.

"Thank you Lady Bretegani. My people will enjoy having something to eat after the rather unexpected events of last night." Ryu said with a slight bow of his own.

"You are welcome Lieutenant. I'm afraid I must leave you for the moment however, there are still some last minute arrangements to be made." The older woman replied.

"We should be fine. Thank you for your assistance." Ryu said with a smile.

"It has been no trouble Lieutenant. I will return shortly." She said before hurrying off.

Ryu turned to an older man who had been standing quietly near the back of the group. "Sergeant, guard detail."

"Yes sir." He stepped forward, "Corporal Kita leave two out here and post the rest, yourself included, inside."

"Sir, yes sir." One of the women saluted and quickly motioned for a pair to take up guard on the door before leading the rest inside.

Ranma watched them go, somewhat bemused, and followed the group headed inside. Behind she heard Ryu say, "Sergeant, come with me for a moment please." She put it aside as she entered the dining hall.

The dining hall was somewhat bigger than Ranma had expected it to be after Lady Bretegani's description of it as 'small'. Of course perception was dependent on perspective, and from the Steward's point of view it probably was quite small. The far wall had several tall windows that were even then letting in the first glimmers of light through their curtains. The long table that dominated the center of the room was still more than capable of seating fifty people comfortably. As it was there were a couple of people sitting down already.

The Corporal in charge of the soldiers had taken a seat down near the far end while Ryouga was a ways up the table leaning back in his chair, seemingly trying to catch a nap in however few minutes they had left before the meeting. Unlike Ranma he seemed to have gotten clothing that matched his preferences, though she had to admit the sight of him in a dress would have been amusing. Black slacks, more refined than what he usually wore, and a long sleeved green shirt with a loose brown leather vest thrown over top.

She rolled her eyes. It figured that he was taking a nap. She strolled around the table and carelessly poked him in the forehead. He groaned and yawned sleepily before shaking his head and looking around. He blinked dully as he caught sight of her.

"Ranma?" He asked looking her up and down.

"Seen any other redheads around here?" She quipped as she took the seat next to him. He continued to stare at her for a moment.

"Why the hell are you still a girl?" He asked in a low voice, leaning against the table on one elbow.

She leaned closer and kept her voice low as she replied, "The curse isn't working." He blinked and she continued, "No I don't know why, but I bet it's related to whatever brought us here."

"Well that… sucks. A lot." He muttered and Ranma could already see pity appearing in his eyes.

"Yeah it sucks. Just have to figure out what happened then I'll go back to being a guy." She snapped, her voice rising a little.

Ryouga frowned and sat back. He appeared thoughtful for a minute then said,"Do you suppose this mean my curse is gone?"

Ranma bit back a reproachful look. Of course the first thing he thought about was his curse. After a few tense moments she sighed. "We can test that later. Unless you want to spend this meeting soaking wet?" She asked sarcastically.

He smirked back at her. "I can wait a bit." He replied with a shrug.

A pair of door at the far end of the hall opposite them swung open and several servants began to wheel several small carts inside, which were quickly organized along the wall. Small plates of cheeses, smoked meats and various other easy to snack on foods could be seen.

Ranma's stomach growled and she blushed. "At least we'll have something to do while waiting." She said as she stood. It had been a long night and a long time since she had last eaten. They had missed lunch because of this whole mess.

"It would be a shame to let it go to waste." Ryouga agreed as the two of them headed for the buffet table.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Ryu led Akiyama down the hall to one of the small sitting rooms they had passed on their way to the meeting room. As they entered he slid the oak door shut behind them. Sergeant Akiyama came to attention in the center of the room waiting for him to begin.

"At ease Sergeant." Ryu said gesturing to one of several chairs scattered about the room. "Please take a seat. I need some advice."

The older man fell out of his ready stance but continued to stand. "This isn't something you could ask without heading off into unknown territory?" He asked, a hint of reproach in his voice.

Ryu waved it off. "It's about Saotome." He said, finding a chair for himself.

"Of course it is." Akiyama sighed before going to lean against the wall next to the doorway. "There's more to your history then you let on I take it? You never mentioned attempted murder before."

The younger man winced. "That was… I'd call it the foolishness of youth, but it's only been a little over seven months I guess." He confessed nervously.

"Hmmm…" Akiyama fixed his superior with an annoyed look.

Ryu sighed. "I fucked up alright." He said, "I'll tell you everything when we actually have time. For the moment I just need some advice on how to deal with him. Her. Whatever." He groaned. Trying to figure out pronouns for Ranma got annoying fast.

"Well she doesn't seem happy to see you. Or us for that matter." Akiyama observed.

"No she doesn't." Ryu agreed, "We parted ways… not amicably, but Ranma definitely had the upper hand after everything was said and done. I'd sworn off using the Yama-sen Ken and left. That was it."

The older man rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Apparently she holds a grudge. Who would have thought that after trying to kill her."

Ryu sighed. "I may have also threatened people she cared for." He admitted.

"... I am glad that you at least understand just how much your history is potentially going to going to screw us over… sir." Akiyama said dryly, bringing yet another wince from his superior.

"I-" The Lieutenant sighed. "She's a lot less happy to see me than I'd hoped. I mean I wasn't expecting a hug and 'great to see you man', but she was practically ready to thrown me, and the rest of us, out the front door."

"And probably through the fortress wall while she was at it." Akiyama noted calmly. She had seemed particularly angry but… "She seems angry, but I got the feeling it wasn't focus on just us. We merely had the bad timing to show up when she was in a bad mood." He noted.

"You think?" Ryu asked.

"Most likely." Akiyama responded, "Still this does suggest some issues with our plan going into this."

Ryu nodded. "That's what I was thinking, that's why I wanted to talk to you. Our plan was to try and get her to co-operate with us and hopefully get whatever mess that started this whole thing sorted out quickly…" He trailed off.

"However you doubt she'll be will to work with us because of your history together." The Sergeant noted.

"Exactly, and I have no idea how to fix it short of tossing what's left of my pride off the nearest cliff and groveling at her feet like a beaten dog." Ryu said, running a hand through his hair.

Akiyama snorted. "Keep what's left of your pride. I doubt she'd respect you enough to follow orders after that." He said, drumming his fingers against the wall as he thought.

"No, no she wouldn't." Ryu agreed softly. Such an action was too much like Genma or Mr. Tendo… "I don't think our original plan is workable."

"It was little more than a guideline anyway so that's no surprise." His second-in-command waved off his concern. "Getting her to work with us might not be possible, but what about us working with her?"

"What?" Ryu asked, confused.

Akiyama paused as he gathered this thoughts. "When that Raven came by the only ones mentioned there the Dawn, Ranma; the Lunar, who we still haven't met; and the Zenith, Miss Kuno. We were mentioned as a group and we knew of the Magistrate, the Lady Steward, and possibly one more who may be joining this meeting besides the 'Goddess' who is hosting it." He summarized.

He took a pull from his canteen and continued, "The Magistrate wasn't important enough to mention, neither was the Steward. We were mentioned as part of the invite, but only as a group. The only ones who were named specifically were Ranma, the Lunar, and Miss Kuno. Ranma and this Lunar I can understand. They apparently broke the back of this City's military by themselves. Miss Kuno however is wanted just because she is this… Zenith. Just as Ranma is The Dawn. As this unknown third is the Lunar. Whatever this meeting is about I have no doubt that it is not us, but them whom this Goddess is focused on. We are notable because of our association with Miss Kuno, nothing more."

Ryu sat back and turned over what Akiyama had said for a few minutes before sighing. "All of this is just speculation really." He said, rubbing his forehead as he could feel a headache building. "But assuming that you're right and we're just a sideshow at best, what do you suggest?"

"Our duty is to our soldiers and to the civilians who have been caught up in this mess." Akiyama started, getting an agreeing nod from his superior, "We need to keep that in mind no matter what comes up, but we need to think of ourselves as less a key piece and more of a minor player. We've got weight. It's entirely possible that we'll be the single largest force in the city once the Realm's forces pull out, but at the same time we both know how little value our troops have compared to even Miss Kuno when she is in fighting form."

"So to make our numbers mean something you're thinking we might be forced to back someone in these upcoming discussions?" Ryu guessed.

"It's a distinct possibility." His 2IC noted.

The Lieutenant sighed and forced himself to his feet, stretching as he did. He noted the faint outline of brownish light that was washing out the colour of the wall around the Sergeant. "Miss Kuno is a visible mess after whatever brought us here. Ranma hates her as well. We know nothing of the Lunar and Ranma hates us. Fuck." He deadpanned the curse as he massaged his forehead again.

"Hates her is a bit strong I feel." Akiyama noted, "She seemed almost worried for a moment when you brought up she had been attacked."

Ryu had to give the Sergeant that point. The annoyance and anger at them had diminished visibly when he'd dropped that little piece of information. "Well Ranma thinks she's annoying at the least, so it's still more unwelcomed tension. I guess we'll just have to wing it won't we?"

"Ito won't be too happy." Akiyama noted.

"Well fuck Ito. I've been less than impressed by him so far." Ryu said bluntly, "He keep trying to piss off the majority of our soldiers." The man's misogynist attitude was already grating on a lot of the JSDF soldiers, himself included.

Akiyama shrugged. "He is who he is." He said.

"Well he's going to find a boot up his ass unless he learns to adapt." Ryu responded before sighing. "We need to get back. Come on Sergeant, back on the clock."

"Sir, yes sir." Akiyama responded with a picture perfect salute before sliding the door open and stepping out, his head swivelling about for threats.

Ryu refrained from rolling his eyes as he followed his, entirely too paranoid, 2IC down the hall.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Ranma nibbled a piece of cheese from the plate she had amassed earlier. Most of it was gone, the victim of her usual appetite, but there was enough left to nibble on for a while. Next to her Ryouga had gone back to trying to take a nap, something she was certainly tempted to do herself. Still Ryu and his Sergeant had returned a few minutes previously, and taken up seats directly across from her, and with them that only left Lily, her companion, Kodachi and the Goddess herself as the only people who had yet to arrive.

She finished the small square of cheese and reached for another as the main door opened once again to admit Lily, who was carrying a wrapped bundle, and her wounded companion who was being aided by that soldier from earlier… Lonlen? Locklon? Maybe Lockler? Something like that anyway.

"My apologies for the delay." Lily said offered the room with a slight bow. "I had to retrieve several important items from the battlefield before they could be looted by scavengers." She set the bundle of cloth down on the table with a slight clunk.

"I can assume we'll be starting shortly then?" Ryu asked, pre-empting Ranma's own response.

Lily nodded. "Once the last of your companions arrives we will begin." She said, sliding into a seat on the left hand of the end of the table where they had all congregated. Zeriah was eased into the seat next to her.

"Thank you Sergeant." He said to the man who helped him.

"No trouble sir." He replied before stepping back towards the wall.

"Stay and sit." Zeriah said before the man got more than two steps.

"Sir?" The man sounded puzzled.

"Your insight could prove useful. Sit." It was clearly a command, and after moment's hesitation the man sat down beside the injured Magistrate.

"And who is this?" Ryu asked leaning forward to peer passed his own sergeant at the somewhat overweight man in half plate armour.

"He's from the Garrison." Ryouga said, opening his eyes for the first time. "You're Lockler right?"

"Sergeant Ragara Lockler of the Greyfalls Legion." The man replied, drawing up somewhat straight.

"Yeah, he's the guy who sicced the entire barracks on me." Ryouga added nodding.

Ranma blinked. "He's the one who started it with you?" She asked curiously. He certainly didn't appear to be anything impressive to her. Overweight, slightly balding, and with several small scars in his beard he looked like a soldier who would have been better off behind a desk than fighting. Still if what she had seen in the entrance hall was any indication he was at least decent with a blade. For an ordinary man anyway.

"Yeah, took off running pretty damned quick to." Ryouga reminisced, "Took off shouting about Anathema and their evils or some such nonsense." Across the table the sergeant was shrinking into himself nervously, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"It is what the Immaculate Order teaches when concerning those like you two." Lily said with a shrug as she leaned back in the plush dining chair. She waved a servant over and whispered something Ranma couldn't hear. The young man nodded and headed off.

"What is the Immaculate Order?" Ryu asked, popping a cracker with cheese and sausage into his mouth. "I assume it possesses some influence given that the soldiers I encountered were willing to follow the orders of a Monk."

Lily hesitated then sighed. "Were I dealing with anyone other than yourselves I would be surprised at your complete lack of knowledge concerning the Immaculate Order. Even the laymen of the threshold know rumours of it." She said drumming her fingers on the table. "It is difficult to know where to start, so much about them is tied into information than you and yours completely lack.

"The beginning helps." Ranma quipped, popping a cheese square into her mouth with a cheeky grin as the other woman shot an exasperated look at her.

"Then perhaps the beginning is where we should start." Zeriah said as the young servant returned and placed two wine glasses and a bottle next to the two magistrates. Lily smiled, thanked the servant, and popped the cork off the bottle without a second thought.

Everyone blinked and stared as she filled her glass then half drained it with a satisfied sigh. "Wine? This early?" Ryu asked, voicing the thoughts of most of the table.

Lily shot him an annoyed look as she took a deliberately loud sip of wine. "I have been up for nearly thirty-six hours, watched a single girl utterly thrash the standing strength of an entire Satrap and am participating in a conference that would have the entire Immaculate Order baying for my head." She gave the wine an appreciative look before draining the glass. "If you think I am continuing this course of action entirely sober I'm afraid you are mistaken."

Zeriah sighed and poured a small amount into his own glass. Taking a sip he nodded his own appreciation. "Drinking habits aside," He began, "Allow me to explain what we do know of the Immaculate Orders origins."

Ranma leaned back, propping her plate of rapidly disappearing snacks on her knee. Hopefully it wasn't going to be as boring as her mother's Genealogy lecture yesterday, but even if it was at least it might have some use. Know your enemy and… she couldn't remember the rest of the line.

"According to the Immaculate Order themselves their history began around fifteen hundred years ago, at the beginning of the lower first age during the rise of the Shogunate." Ranma saw more than one person from Japan mouth the familiar word to themselves. "I personally know very little about that period, at least as it pertains to the Immaculate Order. Few outside the order do or care enough to learn. It has been the religious arm of the Realm since its inception under the Scarlet Empress who ruled until her disappearance five years ago. We'll come back to that later I imagine."

He sipped from his glass and continued, "The Immaculate Order teaches that at the end of the High First Age five Dragonblooded warriors known as the Immaculate Dragons overthrew the tyrannical reign of the Anathema and ushered in the age of the Shogunate. Known as Mela, Dragon of Air; Pasiap, Dragon of Earth; Hesiesh, Dragon of Fire; Daana'd, Dragon of Water; and Sextes Jylis, Dragon of Wood. It is said that all Dragonblooded are descended from them, and that is why the Dragonblooded are to rule Creation. Or so it is taught." He swirled the glass of wine and sipped once more.

"And Anathema are…?" Ranma prompted. The word had been thrown at her enough times over the last twelve hours she really wanted to know what they meant by it, though she doubted it was anything nice. Even the connotations of something being 'anathema' were rather clear to her already. Still it seemed to be a bit more specific in this case.

"The Immaculate Order teaches that they are individuals of great power, skill or potential who are weak in spirit and virtue who, in their weakness and sin, are taken over by demons who have stolen power from the heavens. They are said to worship dark gods, cloud the minds of men so as to make them perform horrific deeds, and themselves perform acts of horrid depravity and perversion."

Ranma and Ryouga exchanged a look. It was like Kuno had created a religion… "I don't feel like I've been possessed." She quipped to Ryouga, who snorted.

"I suppose you'd be an expert on that?" He said with a raised eyebrow. She scowled.

"I was asleep when that happened."

"All I'm hearing is excuses." Ranma huffed and turned back to the Magistrates, both of whom were giving the two of them with rather blasé expressions.

"May I continue?" Zeriah asked rhetorically. Ranma waved him on with a roll of her eyes. "Very well. Amongst the many duties of the Immaculate Order foremost is the continued suppression of any new Anathema and the regulating the interactions between mortals and gods so as to prevent them from enslaving mortal."

"Enslaving?" Ryu asked.

"Yes. Mortals are exceptionally vulnerable to the powers of gods and very easily fall under the sway of those with wicked intentions. Dragonblooded are far less susceptible to their tricks. Thus it is the Immaculate Order who is responsible for ensuring that each god receives their fair due, worship, for their role in maintaining the order of the world… I imagine such things are different where you come from?" Zeriah prompted as he slid his empty wineglass towards Lily, who filled it without looking as she nursed her third glass.

Ryu, Ranma and Ryouga all exchanged looks. Ranma sighed. "Gods… don't normally get involved in day to day things. Saffron might have been one, but I'm not entirely sure." She said.

"You think he was?" Ryouga asked thoughtfully.

She shrugged and adjusted the shoulders of her kimono. "It would explain a bit about how he came back after I ripped him to teeny tiny pieces." She said.

"Gods do not usually stay dead unless killed in their sanctum." Lily noted, "There are methods, and exceptions, but coming back from being killed is a quite normal when dealing with gods."

"Hmm.." Ranma frowned. "Well he was also a member of the phoenix tribe so turning into an egg after death might be normal with them for all I know."

"An egg?" Zeriah asked.

"Yeah, about this big." She held her hand out to about the size of an overly large watermelon.

"He threw around a lot of fire and regenerated pretty damned quick as well." Ryouga noted.

"Where was this?" Ryu asked, drawing attention. "We've got records of most of the stuff that goes on in Nerima, but this is news."

Ranma shrugged. "China. First time I had to kill someone. Mind you he didn't stay dead, but there ya go." She said. Saffron had been the hardest and most dangerous fight of her life by far, and very nearly her last one as well. Saffron was physically weak, but his firepower, quite literal as it was, and his regeneration made him nearly unstoppable. She'd be the first to say it was only because of luck that none of them died.

"Sounds more like an Elemental than a god, but it is said that the forms of the Gods are as varied as the matters in which they deal." Zeriah noted, "Still I believe you can understand why such interactions are normally dealt with by those equipped to handle such opponents. Should god with more ambition than morals treat with mortals they may attempt to solicit more worship than their actions and station truly warrant. Subverting the wills of mortals in the doing."

"And that is the primary duty of the Immaculate Order?" Ryu asked.

"As far as day to day affairs go, yes." Zeriah said, "They have a dedicated group known as the Wyld Hunt who deal with Anathema and those who deal with them. Fortunately for you the local chapter is no longer an issue."

Before Ranma could ask why the doors once again opened, this time to admit a much tidier and well dressed Kuno Kodachi and her bodyguard. She had apparently opted for one of the many dresses that Ranma has ignored simply because they were too impractical to wear into a fight. Still the long curve hugging black dress and shawl suited her quite well. Her hair was likewise less ruffled than before and was pulled back into a proper ponytail.

She stopped and bowed as she realized all eyes had come to stare at her rather hurried entrance. "My apologies, I hope I am not late for this?" She asked hesitantly. She flinched slightly as Ranma found her eyes.

The redhead frowned at the reaction and resolved that maybe she needed to speak with her normally less than welcome suitor at some point after this meeting. Flinching at every little glance was not normal for her in the least and could not mean anything good. "You're fine." She said, "We're still waiting on our host."

A soft cough at the head of the table pulled the attention of everyone in the room like a compass needle pointing north. Standing on the table between Lily and the empty seat at the head of the table was the Raven, Leitleen, who had invited them earlier.

"If you would please be seated we can begin this meeting in earnest now." The Raven said, gesturing to the spot next to Ryu with one wing. Taking the hint Kodachi quickly seated herself as her minder took up a spot along the wall with the rest of her unit. Leitleen cleared her throat. "Welcome everyone to the Scintillating River Palace, my mistress is pleased that you all indeed decided to join us. She wishes to extend her apologies for the delay." The raven bowed low, wings extending far enough that not even Ranma, on the other side of the table, was able to see the chair at the head. "May I present my Mistress Lady Setarial, Goddess of Greyfalls and Lady of the Glittering Eastern Lights." With a flourish she swept her wings up, revealing the now occupied seat, and stepped aside.

Ranma stared speechless for a moment as she looked at the woman seated in the chair. She was tall, lithe and yet had more curves then she would have expected. Her hair, bound in an incredibly elaborate braid that spilled out behind her pointed ears, was darker than the night sky itself yet glittered with the barely perceptible twinkle of thousands of tiny crimson and gold kimono hung off her shoulders, exposing tantalizing amounts of tan skin as well as the tops of her breasts. Her hands were folded politely in her lap even as she scanned the table with an intense gaze and a smile that seemed to say many things, and nothing at the same time.

"Welcome everyone." Her voice was clear like the night sky as she spoke, containing a slight unnatural yet alluringly husky echo. "I apologize for the delay. When I said dawn I had intended this meeting to be then, however events have led to delays for many of us and I would rather we all start at the same time rather than repeat explanations and waste our valuable time."

Ranma blinked as the words washed over her and shook her head to clear it. She could see what Zeriah meant about subverting people's wills. If other gods possessed even a fraction of the presence this Goddess seemed to exert casually then ordinary people were probably little more than putty in their hands. It was almost disturbing in a way.

"All of you have questions." The Goddess continued, "Tonight has been confusing for all of us I imagine, though I will admit even I do not know more than a little of the happenings of this last night of Calibration." Another term to ask about later, Ranma noted. "It is my hope that between us me might come to understand them and avoid further conflict within my city."

"Your city?" Kodachi asked, showing remarkable resilience to the Goddess's presence.

Setarial's smile became genuine. "Yes, my city. I am the City-Mother of this city and the Goddess of the greater Greyfalls Nation, and will remain such until the later grows sufficiently as to warrant a division of the position. What occurs then is a matter for the future however." She said. "Now, based on what Leitleen has informed me, and from what I have heard with my own ears, all of you are from a place far from here. Perhaps further than many of you realize."

Ranma nodded and spoke up. "Maybe even from another world entirely." She said, drawing a look from Ryu and the other JGSDF members. Ryouga looked unsurprised and even Kodachi appeared unsurprised. They had probably also put the clues together from what they had seen. "This place is just too different."

"Those mechs alone are a bit odd." Ryouga added, splitting the attention of the table between them. "Add that to the stupid amount of magic weapons they were trying to kill us with."

"And the fact this Realm is supposed to be over three thousand kilometers from here." Ranma continued. "I don't see how we can be back home.

Ryu sighed. "If we are in another world," He began, turning back to Setarial, "Do you have any idea how we came to be here?"

Setarial shook her head. "I'm afraid not. My first warning of your arrival was a surge of essence far to the west. There was a flash of light and then. Well some of your companions simply fell from the sky like fallen stars." She said.

"Excuse me," Lily said, "but what is this about other worlds?" She took a sip from her glass. "While I know of other realms, none of them is particularly welcoming to mortals to my understanding."

"Creation has expanded and contracted many times over the ages." Setarial said, "It is not impossible for enough to have survived from one of those many contractions to have evolved into its own world. If it was long enough ago to avoid the ravages of the primordial war it could even help explain the strange feats we have witnessed in our guests. That is, however, purely speculation." Lily nodded and sat back, taking another sip of her wine. Her fifth glass of wine, Ranma noted.

"Primordial War?" Ryu asked after a momentary pause in the conversation.

"An ancient war that ended the times before mankind and brought about the First Age." Setarial replied, "I imagine we will come back to it later in our discussion, so let us put it to the side for the moment." She smiled at Ryu and he nodded his assent. "Thank you. We have a number of matters to discuss, and I'm afraid our time is quite a bit shorter than I would prefer. Let us begin with a quick introduction, so as we all know with whom we are dealing. Lily if you would like to start us off?" She looked to the Magistrate who was sipping her glass of wine.

"Yes of course." She said standing quickly. "I am Whitemane Lily, Magistrate of the Realm and servant to the Scarlet Empress. My companion is Ragara Zeriah," Next to him Lockler seemed to do a bit of a double take. "We are at this moment the ranking representatives of the Realm who are remaining in the city."

"Thank you. Lieutenant I believe it is?" Setarial prompted Ryu, who stood quickly.

"Thank you. Most of you know me, I am Lieutenant Kumon Ryu of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. I am currently the ranking officer of those caught up in tonight's events, unless someone of higher rank should come forward." He said, "The man next to me is Sergeant Major Akiyama Daichi also of the JGSDF." He hesitated for a moment before awkwardly sitting back down.

"Thank you Lieutenant." Setarial smiled before turning her attention to Kodachi. "And you are?"

The Kuno rose cautiously from her seat. "Kuno Kodachi of House Kuno. That is all I'm afraid." She said, bowing low. Ranma blinked as she quickly sat back down. The soft statement was rather… Well it was nearly a complete one-eighty from her normal behaviour. She raised speaking to Kodachi up her mental to-do list a few more points.

"Not quite all." Setarial noted, "And our other two guests, who it should be said made quite an entrance. I've never seen anything quite like that tornado you conjured."

Ranma puffed up as she and Ryouga both stood. They shot eachother identical looks of consternation before shrugging. "Not that hard to do when your enemy runs into it like a concussed lemming off a cliff." She said a smirk that provoked a disgruntled look from Lily. "You all know me by now, I'm Saotome Ranma, nice to meet ya."

"And I'm Hibiki Ryouga. Also good to meet you." He said, bowing slightly as he did.

"And so we are introduced properly. Now, let us begin handling the matters before us." Setarial said with a smile. "To start with there is the matter of your arrival and its effect on the Realm's hold on my City and Nation."

"They seemed a bit jumpy when I showed up." Ranma said, shooting a look at Lily who simply drained half her glass in response, while glaring back with half-lidded eyes.

"That is normal for the Realm, and really anywhere when someone comes crashing through the roof." Lily said as she set her empty glass on the table. She gave the mostly empty bottle of wine a look then ignored it.

"There is that, and other things we shall get to." Setarial interjected before Ranma could respond. "Please allow me to finish." Once both of them had settled down she continued. "Greyfalls has an unusual relation with the Realm. Leitleen if you'd please grab a-" Before she could say map the raven had procured and unfolded a large map from somewhere that Ranma couldn't see. Perhaps it was like Mu Tsu's hidden weapons technique. "Thank you." She leaned forward and tapped a point on the far east of the map. "We are here, at the meeting of the Lesser and Greater Rock rivers. The Greater is responsible for the waterfall that gives the city its name."

Reaching a ways down the table she tapped the isle in the center of the map. "This is the Blessed Isle, home of the Realm. Its borders end at the edge of the island but its influence can be felt everywhere in the world. In most directions its influence reaches deep into the regions known as the threshold. The East, however, is different. This area," She outlined a not very small area that started west of greyfalls and went all the way to the ocean. "This is the Scavengers Lands, home to the Hundred Kingdoms and the Confederation of Rivers. The inhabitants have successfully fended off the forces of the Realm several times. They were however forced to cede Greyfalls some centuries back during the last Realm led invasion."

Ryu ran a hand across the map. "I'm having some issues reading the script on this map. It's similar to what we use back home, but…" He trailed off. Ranma had to agree the writing was very similar to Kanji, but… Well it was a bit like dealing with Chinese. It looked familiar, but the meanings were completely different. Still she was reasonably sure it wasn't chinese.

"Interesting." The Goddes mused then sighed. "That is an issue however. Still one we can hopeful solve given time. The point however is the local forces are quite cut off. While troops can be sent the trip is, even with river travel, very long and fraught with risk. Thus Greyfalls is mostly left to its own devices. Greyfalls has never had a local government beyond that of the Realm's Satrap and his local administrators. In truth it has more common with a prefecture than a Satrapy being directly governed unlike other tributaries. While this has had a number of benefits. For example Greyfalls has the best infrastructure of nearly anywhere outside the Realm itself, it also has led to something of a situation in light of last night's events. Lily if you would."

"Thank you Lady Setarial." The Magistrate bowed in her seat to the Goddess before turning to the rest of the room. "The Satrap has decided that the position of the Realm forces in Greyfalls is untenable and has ordered a full pull out by noon today. I imagine the docks are an absolute mess, as are the roads leading down there. While most of the Dragon-blooded were involved in last night's mess they only represent a fraction of the Realm Dynasts who call this city home. Most, if not all, of them are probably heading out of the city with all speed."

Ranma and Ryouga shared a look. They hadn't meant to literally drive out an entire army. Why was it these things just happened to them? Across from them Ryu groaned softly. "I can't image that is a good thing for Greyfalls." He said.

"I'm afraid it couldn't have come at a worse time." Lily said, "The city, and in fact the entire nation, is facing a major threat at the moment."

And so the shoe dropped. Ranma sighed. "Let me guess, someone's invading right now?" She asked blandly.

"Yes actually. A forsaken is leading an army out of Vaneha with the intention of burning the entirety of Greyfalls, the city and the state, to the ground." Lily said.

"What is a forsaken?" Ryu asked.

Setarial spoke before Lily could reply. "The correct term is a Dawn Caste Solar Exalted, and as for what a Dawn Caste, you merely need look to Ranma to see." The redhead in question blinked.

"The same as me?" She asked, getting scrutinizing looks from everyone as she did.

"Similar is perhaps a better description." Setarial allowed, "I will go into what a Solar Exalted is once Lily is finished explaining the situation we find ourselves in. Is that acceptable?" She looked about.

Ranma bit her tongue and nodded along with everyone else. She was very tempted to demand an immediate explanation, but something was telling her that would be a bad idea. Perhaps it was the respect that Setarial seemed to garner without trying, or the raw power that floated in the air about her. Power that made Saffron seem like a bug. No something inside her was telling her to wait. She would get her answers, it would just be a few more minutes. She missed flickers of gold on her forehead.

"Please continue Lily, and use the correct terminology this time." The Goddess admonished.

Lily buried a scowl and nodded. "Very well. The, Dawn caste is currently leading an Army out of Vaneha in our direction. They have been burning and conquering everyone between us and them."

"Submit or die." Akiyama observed.

"Essentially." Lily agreed, "Unfortunately we will not be given the same choice. Greyfalls is the largest city in over a thousand miles and it is a symbol of the Realm. We aren't entirely sure why, but we do know that this Dawn caste hates the Realm. Or at least hates it more than is normal among their kind." She twitched as Setarial hummed at that. "The point is he has stated repeatedly, and openly, that he intends to burn Greyfalls rather than take it. It is a symbol of the Realm's prosperity, and he wishes it gone."

"Shit." Ryu sighed, a sentiment Ranma agreed with.

"We had sent most of our troops out to face him, however…" Lily looked to Leitleen, "They were slaughtered from what I understand."

"Taken entirely by surprise." Leitleen confirmed. "I wasn't able to get a good count in the aftermath, the trees and it being Calibration severely hampered my ability to count, however my most conservative estimates put the army at at least Ten Thousand strong."

"Ten Thousand." Ryouga repeated.

"Yes. That is why the Satrap decided to leave." Lily confirmed, "He might have been able to hold the city, even outnumbered three to one. However you smashed over a third of our manpower and wrecked the fortress walls. You even brought low the two remaining Warstriders. Unless something is done the City will burn."

The 'And it's all your fault' went quietly unsaid, but Ranma wasn't that dense. Beside her Ryouga was sitting back in his chair looking a touch stunned. She didn't blame him. Sure they'd been fighting for their lives, but they might have just, accidentally, run off the only defenders the city had.

"How many people live here?" She asked after a moment.

"Upwards of fifty thousand." Setarial answered, "The Greater Greyfalls region contains nearly five hundred thousand, including the city."

A string of creative curses cut the air as Ryu expressed his displeasure. Other than a bored look from Lily and an amused one from Setarial there was little reaction from the assembled group, especially since most of them agreed. "How long until they get here?" He finally asked.

"It depends." Setarial said, "If he is a solid general we could potentially see elements of his forces in the area in as few as five days. His main army won't take more than two weeks regardless however."

Silence descended on the group for nearly a minute before Setarial spoke again. "I do, however, have a plan. For it to work I require your assistance. That is the foremost reason I have called this meeting."

Looks were exchanged around the table. Ryu leaned forward. "While I can understand the desire to protect the city, and its people, I do not have the manpower to do something like that. Even if this fortress didn't have a gaping hole in the side I know I don't have enough people to man the walls, or enough weapons to hold them." He said.

"Then there's the matter of having compared someone to Saotome here." Akiyama said nodding to her, "The mere thought of fighting someone like her has been a nightmare for our organization for decades. Even if we had a full battalion and our equipment we're not sure we could win."

The corner of Setarial's lip twitched upwards ever so slightly. "It should be reassuring then that I do not expect their General to be even a fraction as powerful as Lady Saotome here." She said. Ranma twitched at the feminine title attached to her name.

"Then what was the point of the comparison?" The sergeant asked.

"The Nature of his power is the same as the power that Lady Saotome and Lady Kuno have recently been invested with." Setarial said. Ranma suppressed a second twitch, and the urge to say something.

"The power of the Unconquered Sun." A voice whispered. It took a moment for them realise that is came from Kodachi. As quiet as she had said it there was an odd look of certainty about her.

"Who?" Ranma asked as the name sparked… something. It sounded familiar to her, yet she was also certain that she'd never heard it before. It was… odd. Very odd, which was never a good thing in her experience.

"Precisely." The Goddess nodded, ignoring Ranma's question as she did. "This is the point where we return to those questions that you had earlier. In order to understand this foe you must understand the power he wields, and in turn understand the power two of you now bear. In order to do that I must explain, to all of you," She looked at the magistrates with a flat gaze, "the true nature of Exaltation. Firstly, however, Lady Saotome,"

"Stop calling me that." She snapped. The Goddess blinked. "I ain't a Lady. Of any kind." She could hear the sound of Ryouga's chair scraping on the floor. A glance proved that he had added an additional half foot between the two of them. Well she was glad to know whose side he was on.

"My apologies." The Goddess demured, bowing slightly in her chair. "Do you have a preference?"

Ranma sighed and rubbed her forehead. She hadn't meant to say that, as much as she felt it, it had just… Come out. Despite her reservations about accidentally insulting a Goddess. "Just- Just call me Ranma alright." She said.

If anything the Goddess seemed a touch amused. "Very well… Ranma. Am I correct in saying you practice Martial Arts?" That received snorts of amusement from nearly everyone at the table, Ranma included.

"I suppose you could say I'm the best at it." The Redhead replied with a smirk. She could almost feel Ryouga's protest at that fact despite the added distance between them.

"How much of what you did this evening was merely Martial Arts?" The Goddess continued.

"All of it. Why?" Ranma asked suspiciously.

"Did you notice anything, out of the ordinary about your skills? Did things come easier for you than is normal?" Setarial asked.

"You mean other than the whole glowing bit?" Ranma quipped, thought her mind was already turning over the question. There had been a few odd things yes. Very odd things.

Setarial chuckled. "Yes other than that."

After a moment's thought Ranma held out one hand, palm upturned, and summoned into it a round glowing sphere of golden ki. For the first time during the meeting Setarial looked genuinely surprised as she looked at the glowing sphere. "I could do this before, but I had to focus on an emotion of some kind. I've been trying to move away from that, but pulling on Ki without emotion is difficult at best. Moment I tried to do it here though. It came to me like I'd been doing it my entire life. Hell all of my ki was practically singing to me during the fight earlier."

"The same thing was happening to me." Ryouga said, leaning forward to examine the sphere. A moment later a glowing silver orb joined the first golden one as he held out his own hand. The twin lights, silver and gold, cast the room in flickering shadows as they temporarily drowned out the light pouring through the uncovered windows.

"The nature of your powers are similar, but different." Setarial noted, "Just as the sun and moon are similar so are the powers you possess. An Exaltation is simply put, power and the ability to realize potential."

Ranma and Ryouga shared a look over their ki spheres before dismissing the pair of them and sitting back. "That is… vague and unhelpful." Ranma noted as she settled back into her chair, popping the last piece of cheese into her mouth as she did.

The Goddess chuckled. "And yet that is the power of an Exaltation. Allow me to elaborate. The Immaculate Order would have you believe that the power of the Solar and Lunar Exalted is stolen from the heavens. The only thing correct about that statement is that their power comes from the heavens. Before the First Age of Man more than five thousand years ago was the age of the Primordials. They who had created the world, and created the gods to ensure is that the world continued to operate as it was designed to. At the same time they created the Unconquered Sun, Sol Invictus; and the others who would become known as the Incarnae, the greatest of the gods. Lunar Goddess of the Moon, and wife of the Unconquered Sun, and the five maidens of fate. Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn." More than a couple from Japan crooked an eyebrow at those names.

"For a time they, as all the gods did, served the Primordials. In time, however, the Unconquered Sun grew discontent. You see the Primordials may have made Creation, but they cared little for its inhabitants. It was, afterall, little more than a playground for them to amuse themselves with. It was during that age when I first came to being in fact." That got a reaction from everyone, even the two Magistrates.

"I've never heard of a god so ancient." Zeriah noted, "Outside of the Incarnae that is."

Setarial bowed slightly. "I have served in many posts over the years, Greyfalls however is one which I chose for myself. An opportunity to get away from the politics of Yu Shan for a few centuries." Zeriah nodded and fell silent. Ranma herself was… doubtful, but something about the Goddess lent truth to her claims of being older than the Japanese people. Perhaps it was the way she held herself, a calm regality, or the way her eyes seemed to glitter with the promise that she knew more than she had even hinted towards. Still, she had aged quite well for being over five thousand years old. Maybe it was god-thing.

"I remember that age. The fear of my supplicants as they prayed to me for protection. Of how little I actually could do to protect them, despite my efforts." The creaking of wood could be heard as the goddess took a breath. "The predations of the Primordial's servants we could fight, yet against them we were bound. A magically binding oath, forced upon us at our creation, bade that we never fight the Primordials. Such things bound all of their creations. From the Dragon Kings to the Lintha. From the least Darkin, to the greatest of Gods. We could not fight even as they stole our charges away for games of casual cruelty and horrific sport… Then they created a race that they deemed so weak as to not need the oath. Mankind. Humanity. Weak, hairless apes they thought. Good for providing prayer and little else. They had potential, yet lived lives short enough to never realize it. I was not there at the beginning, when The Unconquered Sun conspired with Luna. I was not there when they consulted with Autochthon, the Great Maker. The one on whom all the other Primordials looked down upon. I was not there when they conspired with Gaea and the five Elemental Dragons. Yet I was witness to what their efforts bore. Exaltation.."

She cast her gaze about the room, not one person seemed able to find the words, or will, required to interrupt her. "The power of the Greatest Gods could match that of their makers, yet they themselves could not wield it against them. None could, except one race. Lowly in the eyes of the primordials, yet with potential untapped. The Gods chose the lowliest race in Creation, mankind, and empowered them with the might to cast down even those who had created the world. With the aid of Autochthon they forged seven hundred Exaltations from shards of their own power. Three Hundred Solar, each bonded to one of the three hundred Lunar, and an additional Twenty for each for the Maidens of Fate. To provide them with an army they bade the Five Elemental Dragons bless ten thousand mortals with the power of the Dragons in a lesser, yet more prolific, form of Exaltation. This Exalted Host Cast down the Primordials and ushered in the First Age."

She took a deep breath and sighed. "That is the power of Exaltation. It is not realized in a day however. Its bearers do not receive their Exaltation and then begin moving mountains the next day, or even the next week. Such feats are, however, entirely possible given time. Given time they can build wonders unmatched or cast down those who created the world. This is the might you now bear with all its potential, and all its responsibility." Across from Ranma Kodachi shifted in her chair uneasily.

After a few moments Ryu cleared his voice and leaned forward once more. "You're saying that these, exaltations, have the power to… Kill Gods?" He asked.

"To kill those that created the Gods." Setarial said, "Even the least Exalted, those who carry the blood of the Dragon, can kill most gods. The Solar Exalted, however, can strike down even the creators of the world. It is a feat that should have been impossible, yet they made it happen."

"But they were defeated at some point?" Ranma asked.

"Yes. In the Usurpation the Dragon-Blooded rose up in revolt and slaughtered them." Setarial said. She sighed. "Solar Exaltation granted them power unimaginable, yet you must remember that at their heart each Exalted is still human. They can still die as any mortal man will. That is why I ask for your help. The Dawn Caste who comes for this city is only a man. Yes he is a bearer of the Dawn, yet he is young for a Solar. He has yet to fully come into his power. More importantly he lacks the same martial skill you possess Ranma."

She blinked. "What?" She asked.

"I believe that your martial skill is more than a match for his." The Goddess said, "Even if you lacked your exaltation I would still believe that."

Ranma looked at the smiling Goddess and couldn't help a frown. "You've just spent the last couple minutes building up the reputation of these Exaltations, and now you're saying I can beat a guy who's had… How much longer than me to get used to one?" Ranma asked. Beside her Ryouga leaned forward, a frown on his face as well.

Setarial shook her head. "You listened, but you did not understand. This Dawn Caste, known as Dawn-Comes-With-Thunder, was not a martial artist like yourself before becoming a Solar Exalt. He was a warrior, yes, but only a mortal one. It takes time to wield the powers that brought low the Primordials. Decades of experience, centuries even."

Ranma blinked. "Centuries?" She asked, across from her Kodachi twitched.

"Exaltation enhances all aspects of a person. From their skills, to their form, to their lifespan. The First Age was ruled by the Solars as part of the Creation Ruling Mandate laid upon them by the Unconquered Sun at the end of the Primordial War, yet they only ever had one Queen during its entire length. Queen Merela, a Dawn Caste who had fought and slain a primordial with her bare hands. She lived until the Usurpation. A span of over four thousand years." Setarial said.

Kodachi's chair scraped against the floor loudly as she stood up. "Please excuse me for a moment." She said before, to everyone's surprise, quickly leaving the room.

"Go after her." Ryu barked to the woman who had been following Kodachi earlier. The Soldier hurried out the door after the young woman.

Setarial blinked before sighing. "Oh dear." She said.

"Oh dear?" Ranma echoed.

"I appear to have miscalculated." Setarial admitted with an embarrassed look.

"Define miscalculated." Lily asked, pouring more into her wineglass. The bottle was starting to get rather empty.

The Goddess remained silent for a moment. "Would I be correct in saying that she is normally less… reserved?" She asked Ranma.

"That's one way of putting it." Ranma replied, "She's usually rather obnoxious."

"Ah. I see." Setarial frowned. "There are five types of Solar Exaltations. Dawn, Zenith, Twilight, Night and Eclipse. Each was intended to take on a different role in the Exalted. The Zenith, which is what Lady Kuno is, just so happen to be Priests and Priestesses of the Unconquered Sun. While the Unconquered Sun may choose to visit one of this chosen when they exalt, and grant them a vision of some kind, most do not receive such. The exception are the Zeniths, who always receive such a vision. It is usually either thought provoking or inspirational in some manner."

The doors banged open as the soldier returned. "She's gone." She announced.

Setarial sighed. "Or they can be life altering." She finished, "This would not be the first time I've seen or heard of one having doubts after Exalting."

Ranma sighed and set her plate on the table before standing. Next to her Ryouga went to stand and she pushed him back down. "Stay. Don't need you getting lost on us." She said with another sigh.

He frowned at her. "I don't get lost that easily." She raised an eyebrow. "I don't."

"Keep telling yourself that sheepdog." She replied with a smirk before heading for the door. She paused at the double doors. Looking over her shoulder she said, "I'll find her and bring her back. Don't wait on me." Before she walked through the doors into the hallway. Any reply was cut off as the oak doors swung shut, leaving her alone in the hallway.

She sighed and stretched. She wasn't stiff but it felt good being out of the meeting. Still… Power to kill a Primordial… Though what the exact difference between a Primordial and a God was she had no idea… She could almost see why Kodachi took off. The power, and the responsibility that came with that kind of power, it was terrifying in a way. Still maybe she could put that power to use to help find Kodachi. It was supposed to enhance everything so…

Looking around she tried to figure out which way Kodachi could have gone. The mark on her forehead flickered to life once more as she focused. A nearby door was open, it hadn't been earlier. She slipped into that room carefully. It was a sitting room, much like the others she had passed earlier. Items that had decorated the table were on the and the window was open.

"Of course." Ranma mumbled as she stuck her head out and looked up. A single thread of purple silk clung to the corner of the window. It wasn't unusual for martial artists of their caliber to go to the highest point possible when they wanted a chance to think. It was something of a learned habit really. Most people simply couldn't reach the same places they could without investing time and effort.

The redhead slipped out the window and bounced to the next window ledge. She easily covered the next four floors with a couple quick leaps. She landed on the roof with a light clatter, not even trying to hide her presence. The roof was mostly flat, though the edges did turn into more traditional tiling towards the sides. Kodachi was standing, looking out over the walls of the fortress at the city beyond. It was an impressive sight, especially the waterfall and cliffs that towered over the far end of the city where its lower levels met the river. A thick mist obscured most of the lower city, it glowed red and gold in the sunlight.

Kodachi looked over her shoulder. "I didn't expect you to follow me." She said softly.

"Well, I did. Not entirely sure why, but I did."

-0-0-0-0-0-

Greyfalls was a city unlike any other Kodachi had seen before. That wasn't saying all that much. She had never traveled outside of Japan before, let alone to other worlds. Still greyfalls was like something out of a storybook, or so it seemed from so high upon the palace roof. The city was divided into tiers. Those buildings on the tiers closest to the fortress seemed to hold to an asian aesthetic, a mishmash of styles that could have just as easily originated in Japan as China or even Korea. Those levels further down the hill, and closer to the cliffs where the waterfall blanketed the lower city in a thick mist, slowly transitioned towards a more european style. Or she thought it was european, it was difficult to tell through the mists.

Behind her a soft clatter announced the unwelcome arrival of someone on the roof. Kodachi looked over her shoulder. "I didn't expect you to follow me." She said softly.

"Well, I did. Not entirely sure why, but I did." The redhead said just as quietly. Kodachi turned back to the view. She wasn't ready for this conversation, not in the least.

She admired the view for a few moments, ignoring the sound of the one person she wanted to speak to least getting closer. "A beautiful view." She said as the footsteps died off, just behind her.

"I guess. I've never cared all that much for the scenery. Never seemed to last long enough to appreciate." The redhead said, wry amusement audible in her voice.

Despite herself something resembling a chuckle escaped. "If last night was any indication I guess I can see why." She said quietly. Silence fell for a few more minutes before she turned to face Ranma.

She knew that the redhead really was Ranma, yet despite having faced and come to understand that fact there was a part of her that had issues seeing the young man who she had been so infatuated with in the young woman who she had hated for so long. The curves, enough to make even her jealous; the finely braided hair, its ornaments glittering in the morning sun; and even the Kimono, abbreviated as it was, all served to blur her ability to recognize her as him. Yet now that she knew it was there she could see things about the redhead that leapt out. Things she had been blind to for so long. Small things mostly. The way her braid was tied, the way her feet sought the same stance, how her fingers tapped the same pattern on her thigh that he did when waiting. Or, most importantly, how she recognized that look of concern on her face, the same look that she remembered from that night two years earlier.

"Of everyone who might have followed to check on me… You were the last I expected." Kodachi said finally, her voice cracking slightly.

The redhead rolled her eyes and stepped passed her to look out over the city herself. "Yeah well you weren't acting like you." She said over her shoulder.

Kodachi blinked. That was it? "I would have thought you would appreciate someone less violent than I've been." She said honestly. The wind picked up around them, the chill biting at her legs and sending goosebumps racing across her skin.

Ranma shrugged. "Not having you go off like a firecracker was nice, but it's not you. So o' course I was worried." She replied before turning back to face Kodachi. "So when did you figure out the curse?"

Kodachi's smile was brittle as she replied, "I didn't. I had it shown to me… Last night."

Ranma blinked, her mouth forming a silent 'oh' sound. "Setarial mentioned that Zenith's get uh, 'visitations' or something like that when they exalt. Is that what happened?" She asked carefully.

Kodachi nodded. "Yes… You didn't receive a vision?" She asked. The redhead shook her head. "I see… Yes I received a vision of the Unconquered Sun. In it I saw my life. Everything I've ever done. Then he forced me to judge myself, to see my actions not as I wished to see them, but as I had been taught to see them."

"What?" Ranma asked. She sounded confused, not that Kodachi could blame her, that was perhaps not the best explanation.

"In the vision I saw my life. He showed it to me, from my memories. He asked me to judge, without bias, my own life by my own values. I'm not sure how, but I did. I saw for the first time in… I have no idea." She took a shuddering breath and tried to wipe away the tears that were forming. "When did I start thinking like that. That I could just.." A sob shuddered through her. "I- I was raised by my mother to be a lady. A lady does not poison. She does not assault innocent people over high-school sports. She does not allow delusion to replace reality." Her legs crumpled and her knees hit the stone tiles as she started crying openly.

"I failed my mother's teachings. I something so simple a child could have managed it." She sneered through her tears as she continued to try and wipe them away. "And now-now… Why did he pick me..? Me? I don't understand. What I did with so little power I just… whywhywhy" Her hands pulled at her hair as she repeated the word over and over until a red and green blur knelt down infront of her.

"Stop that." She said as she took Kodachi's hands in hers and pulled them away. "Look at me." She ordered, her presence overwhelming Kodachi at that moment. "I don't know what it is he saw, but he saw something. The Unconquered Sun saw something in you, and according to what we've heard he's the big man in charge of everything here right? The Highest of High Gods or something like that."

Kodachi nodded. "Y-yes. Something like that yes." She said, choking back a sob. "I just… I can barely trust myself. How can you stand here and and comfort me like this. Most of what I did I did to you! WHY DON'T YOU HATE ME!"

The redhead reared back as if she'd been slapped for a moment, a frown appearing as she did. Then she raised one hand, and Kodachi flinched expecting to be struck. Instead it wiped away some of her tears as Ranma sighed. "I don't hate you. I've never hated you. Just like I don't hate Akane, or Ukyo, or Shampoo despite all the stupid shit all of them have done at one time or another." She said, her hand settling on Kodachi's shoulder.

"Really?" Kodachi's voice cracked as she spoke the word.

Ranma smiled and shrugged awkwardly. "Not much point in hating someone, just leads to people doing stupid things. Like Ryouga and the whole chasing me to china over that stupid duel of his." Kodachi blinked. She hadn't heard of that one. "I'll admit you annoyed me on occasion, but everyone else manages that anyway. Not that big a deal."

A half-truth if she'd ever heard one, but at that moment Kodachi didn't care. Tears pouring freely again she threw herself at the redhead, sobbing hard. It was a wonder that she only knocked the smaller girl onto her bottom rather than off the roof, as close as they were to the edge.

After a few awkward moments the redhead's arms found their way around Kodachi and ran soothingly through her hair as she cried. They sat that way for some time before Kodachi, having run out of tears, pulled back. "Oh dear." She said as she saw the wet state of Ranma's shoulder. She wiped a few tears away and blinked at the make-up that came away. "I've made a bit of a mess of everything haven't I?"

Ranma shrugged. "Been a long and weird night." She said, picking at the wet fabric on her shoulder before sighing. "Good thing this ain't mine." She said with a smile that brought a teary giggle from the Kuno.

"I am s-" She was cut off as a finger poked her in the nose. "Really?" She asked aggrieved.

"I think you've apologized enough for one day alright?" Ranma quipped before her smile turned a bit more serious. "You alright now?" She asked.

"I- No. I'm not." Kodachi said, her voice catching once more. "Why did this power come to me?" She asked.

Ranma shrugged. "Why'd it come to me?" She asked in return. "I get it's terrifying. If Setarial's tellin' the truth we're both walking around with the potential to punch out gods like Akane did those admirerers your brother siced on her before I showed up. I'm already responsible for breaking a couple o' mountains, and now I've got the potential to do… what? Punch out Gojira? Not sure there's anyone who's really ready for that kind of thing to be dropped on 'em."

As Kodachi watched something seemed to shift in the Redhead as the flickering mark on her head flared to life. "It's a lot of power, but that just means we have to try hard to be better. It's the duty of a martial artist to help people, this power is bigger than that though. It was created to protect people from things I'd run from." Something stirred in response to the rising tone of the Redhead's words. "To kill the unkillable, to break the unyielding. Maybe we'll never be worthy of it, but there's something inside both of us that caused it to choose us, which means we've got a chance. It might be a long shot, but we both own it to ourselves to at least try, right?"

Kodachi nodded and Ranma smiled brightly before standing. She held out a hand and Kodachi took it, allowing herself to be helped to her feet. "We good for now?" She asked, a smirk forming.

Despite herself Kodachi found herself nodding as a small smile formed. "Better than before at least." She allowed before, in a fit of impish mischief, she leaned down and kissed the redhead on the cheek. Pulling back she laughed at the dumbfounded look on Ranma's face. It lacked the obnoxious pitch she had always forced, for it was a free laugh, high and joyous. It was probably the first real laugh she had had in years. Still laughing she swept passed the redhead to the edge of the roof and looked back. Ranma was still standing stock still where she had been. Giggling uncontrollably the Kuno Heiress leapt lightly off the sixth story roof.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Kodachi had kissed her. Her that was the important bit, and it hadn't involved drugs, poison, or that annoyingly obnoxious laugh. There had been laughter involved but it was of the normal non-insane variety. Still… She had quite willingly kissed Ranma in her female form when not even a day ago she'd have cheerfully garroted the redhead in her sleep.

Finally shaking off her surprised stupor she sighed and rubbed her forehead to ease the headache that wanted to start. Setarial had said the visions could be life altering, but that... "Oh god it's Ucchan all over again." She complained out loud. Why was it whenever she had a chance to just get rid of one of the fiancees she never just took it?

Still she'd managed to head off what appeared to be a full breakdown, so that was a plus. Kodachi was crazy enough the way she had been, gods knew how terrifying she'd be with an exaltation. Still that speech she'd given.. It had come from within her, drawn from deep within her mind as easily as if she'd been breathing. Was that an example of what Exaltation did? Did it simply make one better? She wasn't going to complain if it did. She sucked at emotional stuff so any help there was appreciated.

She walked over to the end and looked down. Well there wasn't a body sprawled out in front of the main door so she probably wasn't dead. Hopefully. With a shrug she stepped off the roof and hit the ground with scarcely a sound. Turning on one heel she walked back inside and headed back up the stairs to the second floor.

On the second floor, just down the hall from the dining room she found Kodachi looking into a hanging mirror and working on wiping away the smudged make-up with handkerchief. She looked up at Ranma and smiled wanly. "Tears are rather hard on make-up I'm afraid." She said with a guilty smile. "A pity since those two girls do good work."

Ranma shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I didn't let them put any on me." She said.

Kodachi blinked then shrugged. "I don't suppose you would, would you." She said before wiping away the last bit and hiding the handkerchief. "Good enough I suppose. I'll just have to go without."

Ranma rolled her eyes as she walked passed. "You look fine." She said.

"Fine is not good enough when dealing with a Goddess." Kodachi replied, a touch of pride in her voice for the first time in the entire day.

Ranma smiled. There was some of the fire she was used to from the other girl. "I don't know, it seemed to work just fine for me." She teased lightly.

"Perhaps." Kodachi allowed, her own lips twitching towards a smile as they reached the doors. They shared a look. "After you in this case I think." Kodachi said after a moment of staring at the door.

The roll of her eyes was entirely necessary in Ranma's opinion before she stepped up and entered the room, pushing the double doors wide with her hands as she did. Whatever conversation in the room stopped as she entered with everyone from Setarial to Ryouga and Ryu turning to look as the two solars entered the room.

"You were gone for quite a while." Setarial noted, "I was starting to wonder if I should worry."

Kodachi coughed into one fist with a blush. "We had… matters to discuss." She said carefully.

"That's one way to put it." Ranma said, not even noticing as Kodachi's blush doubled. Ranma walked around the table to her seat, and Kodachi followed, quickly finding a seat on the other side of Ryouga. "What did we miss?" Ranma asked.

"Not too much." Ryouga said with a smirk that sent off alarm bells in Ranma's head.

"Not much?" Ranma prodded her rival.

"Not too much." He repeated with a drawl.

"Uh huh." Ranma looked at him dubiously. She seriously doubted it wasn't much.

Across the table Ryu rolled his eyes. "Quite a bit, more like." The Lieutenant said, shutting down the back and forth without a care. Ryouga rolled his eyes as Ranma turned to look at the Lieutenant.

"We discussed plans to save the city." Setarial said, speaking up with an amused smile.

"Her plans mainly." Ryu said, "To which I've agreed, conditionally, to."

"Conditionally?" Ranma asked, she was starting to get annoyed.

"Among them, uh, you accepting." Ryu said with a smirk.

Ranma's eyes narrowed and she looked from Ryu to Ryouga and groaned internally. They were ganging up on her now. Just wonderful.

"Enough, both of you." Lily said speaking up. "Lady Setarial could you please?" She asked the Goddess plaintively.

The Goddess chuckled and nodded. "Very well." She said before turning to Ranma. "The Lieutenant has agreed to provide what manpower he can, however he has less than a hundred men. Not nearly enough to hold the city. There are other sources of manpower of course. A militia could be raised to assist, however we have something of an issue when it comes to supplying them with weaponry."

"We don't have enough." Lily said bluntly.

"I was sent to check the Fortress armory earlier," Sergeant Lockler said, "It's nearly empty. Plenty of arrows, but it's low on spears, swords, and pretty much everything else. I suspect the Satrap had it stripped of everything he could on the way out."

"Which leaves us with the issue of supplying enough weaponry for a militia, on top of actually being able to organize one." Ryouga added, "The Magistrates might be able to convince people to join one, but…" He trailed off allowing Setarial to step in once more.

"With the Realm pulling out I know of several influential groups that are going to want to try and take power, unless we can undercut them before they get a chance." She said.

Ranma frowned. "I'm not going to like this next part am I?" She opined. Next to her Ryouga chuckled.

"Doubt it." He said, earning an annoyed glare for his quip.

Lily leaned forward. "Greyfalls has been developing an undercurrent of nationalism for some time now. A lot of it at parties in this very palace in fact. We've been keeping an eye on it, but according to Leitleen its progressed somewhat further than we had imagined." She said, gesturing to the raven at Setarial's side.

The Raven hopped forward a bit. "A small number of landowners have begun to stockpile weapons in several Mist-town warehouses. They do have some degree of support, however it hasn't reached the level where they could conceivably launch a coup."

"What I still don't understand is why you did not bring this to our attention before." Lily said irritably.

"I've been trying to determine where they are getting the weapons." Leitleen said stiffly, "I suspect the Guild, but proof has been scarce."

"The Guild?" Ranma asked curiously.

"A mortal organization dedicated to trading across the breadth of Creation. They are quite powerful, however they are banned from trading on the Blessed Isle, and even here in Greyfalls they are limited to trading in the City itself." Zeriah said, "With good reason as well. While some Guild Factors are honest, many are practiced at subverting government officials and deal with.. Less than legal trades."

"I suspect they may be supplying the weaponry in hopes of opening up the country." Leitleen said, "Still despite the buildup of weapons they do not have an army just yet. We may, and that is may, be able to persuade them to contribute the weapons to the defences of the city. The bigger issue, however, is that they are not unified. In point of fact I doubt any of the ones who have been stockpiling weaponry have expliciting told any of the others."

"You're worried they'll try and take control the moment the Realm finishes pulling out." Ranma realized.

"Correct." Setarial said, "Without a unified leadership I believe it to be quite likely that they'll fall to infighting before the day is out. As Leitleen said, if each one has been building up their supply of weapons independently, then they are most likely intending on putting themselves forward as the new 'King' of Greyfalls. While some might bend knee to each other there are none amongst them whom I would say possesses the charisma, or record required to garner sufficient support to prevent bloodshed."

"And if they're fighting each other they aren't preparing for the army marching on the city." Ranma groaned.

Setarial smiled. "You at least see the issue. Of course there is a way to circumvent this entire issue." She said.

Ranma's eyes narrowed as she observed the slightly too wide for comfort smile on the Goddess's face. "That feeling of 'I'm not going to like this' is getting stronger." She said with a resigned sighed.

"Yes well," Setarial's smile did not diminish in the slightest. "Several among these conspirators have attempted to reach out to me. In hopes of garnering my Blessing for their actions. I have held back thus far because as little love as I may possess for the Realm it has been the best choice to date to protect my people. That has, of course, changed as of last night. I intend to invite these conspirators, both those who have amassed weaponry and those who have not, to my temple. I will make it clear I intend to grant my blessing to a new 'King' or 'Queen' who will take over the throne of Greyfalls. That will be enough for most of them I imagine."

"You sure?" Ranma was sceptical about that. In her experience just being told to 'deal with it' never worked.

"She is the Goddess of the Nation and the City." Leitleen said, "Her word carries weight. Add to that the fact that most of them don't want the throne, they just want independence from the Realm. If we put forward a King or Queen they will follow them. After all the Goddess of Greyfalls is ancient and wise. Whomever she picks is bound to be the best choice."

"Maybe." Ranma frowned. "Not going to work for all of them."

"No, it's not." Setarial agreed, "Not one of them won't come. The chance of gaining my Blessing is too great to ignore. However I imagine some may have issues with my choice."

"Really not liking where this is going." Ranma muttered, garnering a chuckle from Ryouga.

"No you're not." He mumbled back.

Ranma rolled her eyes are her rival. "And who are you choosing?" She asked, though she was rather sure she already knew.

"You." Setarial said, confirming the redhead's suspicions.

"Nope." She replied instantly. "Not doing it. Pick someone else."

"Told you." Ryouga said smugly.

"So you did." Setarial allowed. "Unfortunately there really isn't anyone else."

"How about Ryouga here?" Ranma said pointing over her shoulder.

"Hell no." Was his deadpanned reply. "Also I'm not the one who broke the legion. You break it, you buy it."

"I didn't do it alone." Ranma said glaring at him.

"They were doing fine until you did the whole tornado thing." He replied, "They were scared yeah, but they kept coming."

"While they still would have been forced to withdraw due to the casualties." Lily said, "The average person is going to hear of your actions and equate their defeat with you. Zeriah and I are out. We're Realm. Kodachi is… Well no offense but no one knows anything about you." The Kuno shrugged and waved it off. "Shapeshifting is associated with monsters more than rulers. A Lunar would simply be unacceptable in most people's eyes, despite his contributions to driving out the Realm. Politically out of everyone here you're the only one who can actually stand as a possible 'Queen'."

"Not a Queen. Not a Princess. Not Royalty damn it." Ranma growled. She'd be damned before she accepted something like that.

"Even if it's the only way to keep the city from erupting in a civil war right before an invasion?" Ryu pressed. She twitched, visibly at that. "Face it Ranma you broke the balance that was keeping the city from going up like a roman candle. Well now the fuse is lit and unless you step up its going off." He said.

"That was not my fault." She snapped, causing more than one person to reel backwards. She sighed and slumped. "I've met royalty before. Bunch of stuck up bastards the lot of them. I am not becoming one of them." She said firmly.

"Normal royalty is indeed like that." Setarial said with an understanding smile, "Why do you think I do not want to choose one of those who have been conspiring to bring war to this city simply so they might seize a throne that does not yet exist?"

The Goddess pushed back her chair and stood for the first time since arriving. Slowly she started to walk around the table towards Ranma. "These men claim patriotism. They claim loyalty to a nation, yet even as they did so they sought to bring it low so that they might claim it for themselves. I cannot trust them, not with the duties that come with a crown. Nor with the safety of my people." She stopped in front of Ranma and, to her astonishment, knelt before the Dawn. Her head bent low she continued her plea. "Please, Saotome Ranma accept my Blessing and take up the Crown of Greyfalls. I have no one else I may turn to in this matter, no one else who might protect my people from the coming storm."

Ranma starred down at the Goddess in utter disbelief. What did you say when a Goddess got down on her knees and begged you to do something. A large part of her wanted to say 'no'. She didn't want a crown. She didn't want a nation. Hell she wasn't really all that sure what she wanted, but it wasn't this. Still… She glanced over at Ryu who seemed to be as surprised as she was. He had a point. She had, essentially, broken whatever chance they might have had to stop this…

"We own it to ourselves to at least try." Ranma blinked as Kodachi spoke up, "That's what you said up on the roof." Ranma turned to Kodachi who smiled. "We've been given power for some reason. Maybe this is part of it." She said with a shrug.

Ranma frowned thoughtfully and turned back to the Goddess, who had remained kneeling quietly waiting. "I-" She sighed. "I don't want a Crown, but… I guess Ryu's right. I broke it. My job to fix it. If you want me to wear a Crown I'll do it. Just… Don't call me a Queen, alright?"

"Well that gets rid of the easiest title." She heard Lily mutter to Zeriah who chuckled.

"Thank you." Setarial said with a smile as she looked up at Ranma. "Lily if you would, as we discussed."

Ranma blinked as the Magistrate unwrapped the cloth bundle she had laid on the table when she arrived. Inside was a long sword in an equally long scabbard. Actually she recognized the blade. "Isn't that the Ice Guy's blade." She asked.

"Yes it is." Lily said as she picked it up and walked around the table to Ranma. Kneeling she held out the blade hilt first. "As the ranking representatives of the Realm left in the city I give this gift, the sword of Mnemon Ice Hand, as a sign of our unconditional surrender."

After a moment's hesitation, and a prod in the back from Ryouga, she reached out and grasped the hilt before drawing the blade. The strange blue metal shimmered in the daylight. It was a magnificent blade. Longer than she'd have preferred, but perfectly balanced without a single chip, crack or imperfection anywhere along its length. It was a touch heavy though.

"I accept your surrender Whitemane Lily." Ranma said as she turned the blade over in her hands. Taking the scabbard she slid the blade back in and looked around. "So… Where do we start?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

Chapter Five, some 16,500 written in Marathon. Oh boy did writing this one burn me down. Still I hope you enjoy it. Remember to leave a review if you did. :)