Of Magic and Martial Artists
my first attempt at fanfiction. Harry Potter / Ranma
prologue
15 years ago
Two young men squared off in a small bamboo grove. They stood absolutely motionless, each trying to stare the other down. The tension in the air
was almost a physical force.
Suddenly a bird flew from a bush near the edge of the grove, squawking loudly. It seemed to signal the end of the silent contest of wills as both
men pulled thin wood rods out of their robes, leveling them at each other. The larger man with glasses was the first to act. He yelled out a single word and
his moustached opponent flew back, his rod sailing out of his grasp.
The smaller man quickly recovered, however, turning his wild sprawl in to a graceful roll easily capturing his wayward rod before it hit the ground.
Once again leveling his rod at the larger man he shouted "Petrificus Totalus" and grinned at his opponent.
The other man would not go down so easily however. The rotund man ducked whatever had been sent towards him and rolled towards his still
grinning opponent. Standing out of his roll he launched a flurry of punches and kicks at the smaller man, who blocked every one of them and proceeded to
launch his own assault.
The battle raged on neither combatant seeming to notice the deer in the woods behind the larger man that seemed totally unable to move.
The two combatants broke off their engagement simultaneously and began to circle each other warily. Suddenly the large man stood up straight put
his hands on his hips, laughing uproariously. "You've become weak without me to pound you, old friend."
The other man was also laughing. "And you have become slow without me to dodge those poundings, old friend'." The smaller man laughed
again. "Where have you been?" he said, "I haven't seen you since graduation five years ago"
"Oh here and there. I get around." The other replied. "And what of you? Still chasing that girl I presume."
"You have been gone a while, friend, our first daughter was born last month."
"Then it seems congratulations, and a bit of a celebration are in order"
"And you know just the place, right?" The small man smirked at the look his friend gave him, kind of like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie
jar. "I know you too well my friend."
Their conversation was broken off, however as a new voice was heard. "Oh, well done, well done!" Both me spun towards the voice drawing their
rods as they pivoted.
"There's no need for that boys, I was just complimenting your skill. It's rare to find others who can combine those two arts. I thought that I was
the only one to practice both." The speaker looked to be a diminutive old man wrinkled beyond belief. "Tell me boys, I am not long for this world and I
have no heir for my school, of magic or martial arts. I see that you two have quite a bit of talent. Would you like to become my disciples and learn at my
feet."
The two young men looked skeptically at the old man in front of them. "Ah," the old man cackled, "it would seem a demonstration is in order
then."
What followed was short and brutal, and when it was over the two young men were battered bruised and broken while the old man calmly smoked
a pipe that seemed to have appeared from nothing. "Well boys, what do you say?"
The two young men hastily bowed to the diminutive old man. "Please master, teach us everything." They said in unison.
"Very well," the old man said graciously, "I shall teach all that you can learn. But first tell me your names."
Later that day
The old man stood before an orb the size of a basketball, quietly muttering an incantation over it. Suddenly it blazed with blue light and a face
appeared in it.
"It has been a while since we last spoke, Happosai." A cold voice said from the orb.
"Forgive me, master," Happosai cringed, "but I have brought good news this time."
"Oh, continue." The cold voice seemed to drain the life from the clearing.
"I have found two new servants, master, they thirst for knowledge and strength; they will be easy to corrupt."
"You have my permission to do as you will with them then. If they prove useful I may even forget the infrequency of your reports. I would like to
know their names, however."
"They are Genma Saotome and Soun Tendou, master."
"Ah," the cold voice said, "I hope for you sake these new servants work out then." With that the light from the orb vanished leaving the clearing
totally black.
"Yes, Lord Voldemort." The old man said before returning to his new pupils.
C&C welcome. Flames used as kindling.
grizz@jusenkyo.com
