Ranma/Lone Wolf Crossover Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2 or the Lone Wolf Series or any other characters. The rights to Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and for the Lone Wolf Series Joe Dever. This story is created solely for entertainment purposes and no profit as gained from this.
Note.
Kai Names:
* Ranma Stormgard (Saotome) - Wild Horse
* Braxus Stormgard - Swift Blade
Wild Horse of Kai
By Montymouse
' ' - Thought
" " - Speech
Chapter Eleven - The Past, the Present and the future of the order of the Kai
***
Immediately following the defeat of Darklord Zagarna by Ranma with the Sommerswerd, those who witnessed the destruction of the Lord of Darkness started a chain reaction among the forces of the Darklords. Panic and confusion started to spread as they realised the impossible had happened. Soon the mighty gates of Holmgard opened, and hundreds of men and knights poured out of the city, charging at the panic-stricken Darklord forces that had been laying siege to their capital for the past month. The war banners of both Sommerlund and Durenor were raised high to signal the end of the siege of Holmgard. At last it was their turn to fight back and drive the Darklord hordes back from whence they came.
With the combined might of both the Sommlending and the Durenese forces they were able to turn the tides of war in their favour. Lord Axim and Prince Pelethar made sure that all the Darklord forces had been forced back from Sommerlund, while Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade prevented the retreating forces from pillaging and razing the surviving towns and villages as they were driven into the Durncrag Mountains. It took about a week to finally rid themselves of the disease that had been plaguing their country.
During the invasion of the Darklords, much of Sommerlund had been ruined, rich farmland had been destroyed and many towns had been razed to the ground. But with the defeat of the Darklord and the heroic deeds of the two surviving Kai Lords, the Sommlending people were filled with renewed hope and determination. They set out with the enormous task of rebuilding the war-torn country of Sommerlund with determination and less than a year later; few of the scars of war remained visible.
After the threat of the Darklords was vanquished, Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade were royally summoned by King Ulnar V and his son Prince Pelethar to return to Holmgard for a very special presentation.
***
Holmgard - The Citadel of Ulnar
The splendid hall of the royal Palace of Ulnar is decorated as befits the court of King Ulnar of Sommerlund, being decked out with beautiful and expensive hangings from all corners of the Lastlands. There are no chairs except for those upon which King Ulnar and his son, Prince Pelethar, sit - everyone else must stand.
News of the exploits of Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade had spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom of Sommerlund. The court was full to overflowing with Knights, noblemen and clergy, all dressed in their best finery and armour. The royal court was divided into two. On the left side stood high-ranking members of the Sommlending royal forces and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star, their banners and shields waving in the background. On the right side of the royal court was the Sommlending neighbour and eternal ally, the Durenese royal forces. We can see among the count familiar faces and heroes of the war as they wait patiently for a certain two Kai Lords to arrive.
Soon the Royal Herald announced the arrival of the two Kai Lords.
"Lord and Ladies, may I present to you, Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade."
Entering the royal chamber of state were Ranma and Braxus; dressed in their finest tunics and cloaks they slowly approached the King and Prince Pelethar at the other end of the court. Ranma glanced to his right and could see Lord Rhygar and Lord Axim among the crowd, and they were nodding in approval and respect for all their efforts. Braxus spotted Banedon standing next to the Guildmasters of Toran; he simply smiled and silently waved to them.
Once Ranma and Braxus had reached the throne area of the king, they both bowed down in respect before they retold their story to the King and the royal court. After Ranma and Braxus had finished their tales of heroism and their respective roles in the war, King Ulnar slowly rose from his throne. Everyone in the court went silent as they waited for their King to say something.
"My lords, ladies, knights of Sommerlund and allies of Durenor, this is truly a most splendid tale we have heard, full of perfidious villainy and epic heroism. It is so full of excitement as to be worthy of the stage of our city's own theatrical arena."
There were murmurs of approval from the court.
"Now of all of Sommerlund is safe, for now, as the Darklords will need time to lick their wounds, and I expect the loss of their mighty leader will cause chaos among their own ranks as they struggle for power and position. I would like to give my eternal thanks on behalf of Sommerlund to our allies for honouring our everlasting alliance."
More murmurs of approval from the court as Lord Axim stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you King Ulnar, we are glad to honour such an alliance with such a respected and honourable country. All we ask is that if the time comes when Durenor is threatened by evil, we can expect the same help and aid as we had given you this glorious day," Lord Axim said as he saluted and crossed his right arm across his chest to his left shoulder.
"Indeed, we shall aid you when a such a time comes, and please tell your king that you have the everlasting friendship and aid of Sommerlund," King Ulnar replied.
"I shall deliver the message to my king, once I and my forces have returned back to our homelands."
"Before you go, please make yourselves at home, Lord Axim, as you are a royal guest of Holmgard, and we have much to celebrate."
Lord Axim nodded and saluted again as he stepped back within his own ranks. Then King Ulnar turned to face the court to address those in front of him.
"I would like to mention that without the courage and determination of these two Kai Lords, things might have turned out differently; but that is all in the past now. They have passed all the trials that the Dark Gods have set before them, and have succeeded where others would have failed," Ulnar said.
"Wild Horse of Kai, please come forward," King Ulnar said as Ranma stepped towards the King.
"For your crucial role in turning the tide of war in our favour and defeating their Darklord, I, King Ulnar V, bestow upon you the rank and title of Fryearl of Sommerlund."
More murmurs of surprise among the court. As far as they could remember no one in the history of Sommerlund had ever been given such a highly respected Sommlending title at such a young age; it meant that Ranma would have the rank and title equivalent to those of a Baron or Lord.
"This is the first time that I have bestowed such a honour upon someone so young, but I have faith in you that you will protect Sommerlund with your honour and your life. You and your Kai brother will resurrect a new order of Kai warriors as the surrounding lands of the Kai Monastery now belong to you, Wild Horse. The land will be 'Fryelund' and will be under your protection."
Cheers and shouts of approval echoed around the hall as the King finished his speech. Ranma was getting a little embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving. Looking over his shoulder, Ranma could see Braxus giving him the thumbs up to indicate that he deserved such a distinguished title.
Ranma nodded and stepped back as the King waved his hand to silence the crowd; they complied instantly.
"Swift Blade of Kai, step forward please." Braxus did as the King had ordered.
"Having heard what Prince Pelethar has told me, you are indeed courageous and brave to have protect my only son from harm. Also, you have played a crucial part in the war by keeping the brave defenders of Holmgard together and their spirits high at a time where all seemed lost. You are indeed a talented commander and, according to D'Val, you have foiled numerous attempts by the Darklords' forces to breach our city's defences."
Murmurs and whispers of approval echoed around the hall for a brief moment. Waiting for the noise to calm down, King Ulnar continued his speech.
"You have acted like a true Lord of Kai, and for that I bestow upon you a rare title that I haven't awarded for twenty years. Swift Blade of Kai, I bestow on to you the title of First Knight of Sommlending Royal arms."
The court started to whisper and murmur in approval and astonishment. The title bestowed upon Braxus would give him enormous power among the military ranks and the Royal Order of Sommerlund. Braxus immediately knew what he intended to do as the King's advisor handed him the royal sword of Ulnar. Getting down to one knee, Braxus bowed down as the King knighted him in front of the court.
Soon after that, the court erupted in cheers of approval as numerous Lords and knights from all over Sommerlund and Durenor congratulated Braxus and Ranma. They made there way out of the chamber of state and into the courtyard, followed closely by the royal guard, as they were led outside the citadel gates. What they didn't expect was that outside the Citadel gates were hundreds of Sommlending waiting for the two Lords of Kai.
News of what had happened in the royal citadel spread fast, and the people of Holmgard had gathered outside the citadel wanting to catch a glimpse of the Fryearl and First Knight of Sommerlund. Not knowing what to do in this situation, Ranma and Braxus just waved at the crowd, who started to cheer and celebrate as the two Kai warriors got on their horses and rode out of Holmgard. The crowd of Sommlending moved to the sides of the main road to allow them to pass while offering praises and thanks to the two young men who had saved them from the Darklords.
***
Two and a half years had passed since the invasion of the Darklords and there were few signs of the war that had taken place. Towns and cities such as Toran had been rebuilt and restored to their former glory. Farmlands had been replanted and ploughed back to working order as the Sommlending people tried to return to their normal lives. Their Durenese allies had returned to their home country after making sure that all traces of the Darklords' forces had been eradicated and that the Sommlending army was back to full strength.
During these years, one noticeable change in Sommerlund was the new monastery built over the ruins of the old Kai Monastery. Now under the protection and ownership of Fryearl Ranma Stormgard aka Wild Horse, the work to rebuild the Kai Monastery and restore it to its former glory had begun almost immediately. The bodies of the Kai Lords slain by the Darklords were found and placed in a crypt under the newly constructed Kai Monastery. Their names would be remembered and honoured by the new generations of Kai warriors to set an example and to show that their sacrifice was not in vain. Wild Horse and Swift Blade were kept very busy as new threats and challenges appeared, but with the help of Banedon and Ranko they were able to overcome and succeeded admirably.
A year ago, King Ulnar had summoned Kai Masters Wild Horse and Swift Blade to Holmgard to discuss an urgent matter concerning the Sommlending province of Ruanon. Ruanon was a small, remote mining province to the south of Sommerlund and was an important source of revenue. The people of this province had long prospered from their toil in the ore rich mines, living and enjoying their wealth under the protection of their lord - Baron Oren Vanalund. The gold and gems that were mined at Ruanon were then transported from the mining province to the capital, a monthly routine that had never been broken - until now.
All contact with the mining province had suddenly stopped, and the monthly cargo of gold and gems had stopped as well. The king then decided to dispatch an investigating force to Ruanon consisting of one hundred cavalry from the King's guard led by Captain Remir D'Val. The mission was simple, Captain D'Val was ordered to find out what had happened in Ruanon and find the missing convey that was supposed to have arrived weeks ago and report back his finding. For a week now, D'Val had sent no reports back to the King; it was as if he had just vanished into thin air like the convoy. The King was so concerned with the disappearance of his best officer and troops that he had decided to dispatch a smaller task force led by Wild Horse and Swift Blade to Ruanon with the hopes that they would succeed in finding out what had happened. The task force consisted of elite Border Rangers, whose outdoor skills would prove to be useful.
The journey to Ruanon proved to be difficult and full of danger. Bandits constantly ambushed them as they made there way south through the Durncrag mountain range. Many Sommlending rangers lost their lives during this part of the journey, but Ranma was determined to make it to Ruanon despite the danger.
Eventually, Ranma and Braxus made it to Ruanon with only a handful of Border Rangers while making sure that word got back to Holmgard to report the situation. Ranma was relieved to see his friend Remir D'Val alive as most of the province of Ruanon had been overrun and destroyed by bandits. The only building that hadn't been destroyed was a small keep, which was flying the Sommlending Royal flag; but first they had to cross the razed farmlands to reach the keep, which was full of warhounds and bandit snipers. Upon reaching the keep, they discovered that a renegade noble of Vassagonia called Barraka had decided to turn his greedy eye upon Ruanon for the vast wealth in its mines, and most of the people of Ruanon were enslaved and forced to work in the mines.
Captain D'Val's men were ambushed on the Ruanon Pike, sorely outnumbered by Barraka's men, and were able to make their escape to Ruanon. Taking command of the small keep, he and his men were able to hold off the Vassagonian renegades, but couldn't send word back to Holmgard as the path back was full of Barraka's men waiting to ambush unsuspecting troop columns or scouts. They had been beleaguered in the keep and the morale of D'Val's men was beginning to fall due to the numerous attempts to overrun the keep, but under the leadership of D'Val, they were able to repel such attacks. The only problem was that the keep didn't have sufficient water and food, and hopes for help were beginning to fall until the arrival of Kai Masters Wild Horse and Swift Blade.
They found out that there was a more sinister motive to Barraka's invasion of the Sommlending province when they were introduced to the Baron of Ruanon. Baron Oren Vanalund was the only person to escape the mines and found out that he had lost everything: his castle, his land, his town and his family. Not only that, his only daughter had been taken captive by Barraka.
Ranma recited a verse that had been told to him by an old man at their beginning of their journey.
When the full moon shines o'er the temple deep,
A sacrifice will stir from sleep
The legions of a long forgotten lord.
When a fair royal maid on the altar dies,
The dead of Maakengorge shall rise
To claim their long-awaited reward.
Braxus realised that they had to stop this from happening, as this would reawaken Sommerlund's worse fears...
The return of DARKLORD VASHNA and his undead forces.
In the end, with the combined efforts of the two Kai Masters and D'Val's remaining forces, they managed to defeat Barraka's troops, but it wasn't until Braxus defeated Barraka in mortal combat that Ruanon was freed from his tyranny. Ranma managed to rescue Vanalunds' daughter (in typical damsel in distress style) just in the nick of time as she was about to be sacrificed in order to fulfil the sinister prophecy. Soon after that, the Sommlending army led by King Ulnar himself arrived to drive out the remainder of Barraka's forces from Ruanon.
Once Ranma had returned the Vanalunds' daughter back to her father, both he and Braxus were given the hero's treatment and would be eternally welcome in the province of Ruanon for their part in foiling another of Naar's plans to conquer all of Magnamund. Both Kai Masters had proven themselves worthy of the title 'Kai Lord' as peace was returned to the mining province. With their heroic achievements, both Ranma and Braxus had mastered almost all ten Kai Disciplines, all of which had saved them on more than one occasion. This led to the question,
Who would teach them the next level of training of the Kai order?
***
Kai Monastery
It is afternoon in Sommerlund. In the grand hall of the Tower of the Sun, we see a well-lit hall with an oak table and modest furnishing. It is well decorated with mosaic pictures and symbols of Kai. To one side of the hall is a large fireplace and next to it is a large wooden perch where Braxus' companion Kalona was perched, watching the people sitting around the table. Around the large oak table are four people. It is obvious that they are currently having a special dinner, as there is much food and drink laid out. As time passes, the four companions just talk about recent and past events during the past years.
At one end of the dinner table sat Ranma Stormgard aka Wild Horse. He was wearing the silk shirt that Ranko had given him a few seasons ago, the one with a horse embroidered on it. Sitting next to him was Ranko, who had finally revealed herself to Banedon and Braxus and had started to trust them. Ranma had eventually invited her after some prodding from his brother to do something about his relationship. She was wearing a very nice modest green dress, her long red ponytail resting on her right shoulder.
Sitting opposite Ranma and Ranko were Banedon and Braxus. Braxus was wearing shirt similar to the one Ranma was wearing, but in silver. Braxus thought that the two opposite him would make a cute couple. He spotted the white bracelet that she was wearing during dinner; it was oblivious that Ranma had given it to her. Although he didn't know the full detail of their relationship, Ranko said that they were just close friends. Braxus knew that she had deeper feelings by the way she would sometimes look at his brother when he was not looking, and he definitely knew that his brother shared the same feeling for her. All they needed was a little prodding from him, Auntie Saria and his mother Oriah, and things would go nicely.
Banedon was allowed to join them for dinner once the brotherhood was secure and safe in Toran, though it had taken months of hard work and determination to restore the city to its former glory after Darklord Zagarna's attempts to destroy them. Banedon was wearing a dark blue full toga-like garment, which he only wore on special occasions. He had been surprised at the level of magical power that Ranko emitted generally when she had first turned up at the Monastery. Banedon was even more surprised when Braxus whispered to him that she was some sort of goddess. He actually thought that he was joking until he studied Ranko's aura. He found that underneath her beauty and character, she possessed enormous power and magic, enough to take out a whole kingdom in the blink of an eye. Banedon wasn't really worried about that because, from Ranma and Braxus had told him about her, Ranko wasn't the type of Goddess that would do such a thing unless she was severely provoked and really, really p**sed off.
Banedon had expected Ranma to find someone really special due to his natural chaotic aura. In his experience, anyone that had an aura as chaotic as Ranma would never have a normal life, and had an increased chance of abnormal and supernatural things happening around him. He was happy that Ranma had found a nice girl, even though she was goddess of some sort.
"So tell us, what happened to you and Banedon when you were sent to capture Vonotar in Kalte? The reports we received were a bit sketchy and lacked sufficient details about the actual mission," asked Braxus.
"Yeah Ranma! Tell us your version of what really happened in Kalte," Ranko added, also curious and interested.
"Well, it wasn't a nice trip as it was freezing cold. We'd heard that the leader of Ice Barbarians, the Brumalmarc, had been defeated by a hunchbacked wizard according to reports," Ranma said.
"When the news that Vonotar still lived reached the people of Sommerlund. They demanded that the traitorous wizard should be bought to justice and be tried in the royal court of Holmgard for the crimes he had committed against Sommerlund, the order of the Kai and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star," Banedon added as he poured himself a glass.
"The King and Prince Pelethar vowed to the thousands of Sommlending surrounding the capital and demanding that Vonotar be bought to justice that Vonotar would be bought back to Holmgard. Prince Pelethar had personally asked for my help in capturing Vonotar. I accepted the arduous mission to Kalte. Banedon asked me if he could come along as he had heard rumours that a wise Guildmaster was being held captive by Vonotar after he fled Sommerlund. Also, Banedon and me still had a score to settle with the traitorous wizard, isn't that right Banedon?" Ranma said.
Banedon nodded in acknowledgement of Ranma's question.
"Yes, Ranma, we all know that part of the story, but Banedon, what was your reason in chasing after Vonotar?" Ranko asked Banedon.
"Apparently Vonotar escaped by means of teleportation, and the only Guildmaster that I knew of that had the ability and knowledge to do this was Guildmaster Loi-Kymar."
"So that's how he escaped without a trace," Braxus said, remembering that the Sommlending forces had spent days scouring the lands for the traitorous wizard.
"The fastest way to escape his pursuers was by forcing Loi-Kymar into taking him to Kalte. Loi-Kymar was initially reported to have died during the attack on Toran, but we never found his body. Then we received a very weak telepathic message from him, telling us that he was still alive and was being held captive. My senior Guildmasters confirmed that the message was genuine and that it was indeed from our brother Loi-Kymar. So they asked me to join Ranma here on his quest to Kalte with two objectives: Capture Vonotar at all costs, and rescue our missing Guildmaster if he was still alive," Banedon said as he took a sip from his drink.
Ranma continued.
"We heard that Vonotar had last been seen by sea merchant at the Ice Fortress of Ikaya in the northern part of Kalte. I think that Vonotar was expecting our arrival?" Ranma said.
"Now that I think about it, there were some events that were quite unexpected," Banedon said, remembering the arduous journey.
"Like what?" enquired Braxus.
"For example, there were a couple of Helghast assassins pursuing us disguised as humans. Luckily, I had the Sommerswerd with me; otherwise Banedon and I would have been in serious trouble. Then there was the encounter with the Ice Barbarians who ambushed us along the way, and some very unusual weather conditions such as ice blizzards."
"What's so odd about that? You should expect that type of weather when you go to places like Kalte," Ranko asked.
"Have you seen a blizzard that starts to rain down things the size of large boulders made of pure ice?" Ranma said
Ranko nodded.
"I have, but it's impossible for it to happen naturally in Magnamund unless magic is involved with the elements," Ranko explained.
"Don't forget that two-headed serpent we encountered; that was downright nasty!" Banedon added.
"Oh yes, that Javek was extremely dangerous; one bite from that and you would be dead in a few seconds. The venom of a Javek is the most powerful natural poison in all of Magnamund, and not even my healing skills would have prevented the poison from spreading. Luckily Banedon cast a double-illusion spell that allowed me to tackle the Serpent. Then there was the Ice Demon, the Crystal Frostwyrm, the Kalkoth..."
Ranma started to list all the problems and encounters that they had had on their journey to the ice fortress. After a few minutes, Ranma finished his list of encounters.
"I see you and Banedon had a good time in Kalte," Braxus joked.
"Ha, ha, very funny, brother," Ranma said. He then noticed that Banedon was laughing at Braxus joke.
"Oh lighten up Ranma, we survived didn't we?" Banedon said.
"Well, I suppose you're right. At least we rescued your missing Guildmaster and captured Vonotar," Ranma replied.
"Yes, you must have been brave to take on those creatures of Naar," Ranko said.
Ranma smiled at Ranko who smiled back. "Why thank you, Ranko."
"So how did you capture Vonotar? I heard that he had grown in power since the last time you encountered him, and that this time he was well prepared for your arrival," Braxus asked.
Ranma turned his attention to Banedon. "You want to explain or should I?" asked Ranma.
"I think it would be best if you say your version as you had to face Vonotar by yourself. Myself and Guildmaster Loi-Kymar had to tackle the monster that Vonotar had summoned."
Ranma nodded and turned back to face Braxus and Ranko who were eager to listen to his story. "Well you see the situation was like this..."
*Flashback to the Ice Fortress*
Ranma, Banedon and Guildmaster Loi-Kymar were coming out of the ice tunnels of the fortress. According to Loi-Kymar, this tunnel would lead to the inner chamber of Ikaya, where Vonotar would probably be. Reaching the end of the tunnel, they entered a large open area. Across the large open area was a large splendid doorway, flanked by pillars of ice.
"Beyond that door and the room after that is the inner sanctum where we should find the traitorous Vonotar." Loi-Kymar pointed to the doorway.
"We should take a moment to rest and regain our strength before we enter. Knowing Vonotar, he probably has something special cooked up for us," Banedon suggested as they had been walking for quite some time. Avoiding all the magical traps that they had encountered had taken time and concentration. Luckily for Ranma and Banedon, Loi-Kymar was a skilled magician, and was able to detect the traps and disarm them.
Ranma nodded at Banedon's suggestion, as he could not sense any evil magic in the open area. Banedon walked up to Ranma and handed him a special potion from his pouch.
"Here Ranma, you will need this. Drink it, it will restore your strength. Take a dose of this," Banedon said.
"What is it?" Ranma asked out of curiosity. He trusted Banedon completely; he had been a loyal friend.
"It's something that we magicians/alchemists use when we are tired and weak. Its called Laumspur. It is created from a wild herb with a bright scarlet flower and it is highly prized for its healing properties if made correctly." Ranma nodded and took a gulp the potion.
Almost instantly Ranma could feel the aches and pains from his expedition start to fade away, replaced by a warm glow in his chest. Soon his full strength would slowly return to him as the healing properties - combined with his fast healing abilities - started to kick in.
"Thanks Banedon, I needed that." Banedon nodded at Ranma's compliment and moved to take the potion to Loi-Kymar, who was examining the door for any magical traps or enchantments hidden.
Five minutes later, the trio was ready to proceed through to the next stage. But before Ranma had the chance to open the door, Loi-Kymar stopped him.
"What is it, Guildmaster?" asked Ranma.
"Wild Horse, I want you to have this." Loi-Kymar handed him a large crystal with some bizarre runes inscribed on it. Ranma had a face of confusion and curiosity.
"This is a special crystal that may come in handy when you encounter Vonotar, as he has grown in strength."
"What does it do?" asked Ranma. His magical knowledge was still limited compared to his martial skills.
"You will know how to use this when the time comes. One word of warning, beware of his black staff, it is a potent and deadly weapon in his hands," Loi-Kymar simply replied as he opened the door.
Ranma turned to Banedon and asked him what this was.
"Hmm... According to those magical runes, it's some kind of reflective crystal, but haven't the foggiest how it works," Banedon tried to explain.
Ranma nodded and simply pocketed the crystal in the front pocket of his tunic.
As the trio passed through the door, they found themselves in another large courtyard but looked more like a small garden, once open to the sky but now covered with a sheer blanket of ice. The grass has long since withered away, dead and frozen in the ice. Petrified skeletons of trees and shrubs decorated the area, giving it an uncanny atmosphere.
"Nice garden. Someone should thank the gardener for his work," Ranma said sarcastically.
"Wild Horse, behind those double doors lies the hall of the Brumalmarc where Vonotar should be. Remember Kai Lord, we should use extreme caution and stealth when dealing with Vonotar," Loi-Kymar said
"Right, let's go," Ranma said, reaching for the hilt of the Sommerswerd.
Ranma gave the double doors a swift kick, opening them wide open, completely surprising the hunchback wizard who was sitting on the Brumalmarc's throne studying various tomes and books. Old tomes and the eldritch trappings of a Necromancer surrounded Vonotar.
"I like your method, it's really stealthy and cautious," said Banedon sarcastically.
"Well, it's time that we should take the initiative rather than waiting for him to do something." Ranma pointed to Vonotar.
"I supposed you're right. Let's get this over and done with. The sooner we get him, the sooner we can leave this place," Banedon said.
Ranma nodded as he unsheathed the Sommerswerd from his jewelled scabbard.
"Who dares disturb me? Vonotar hissed, as he rose from the Brumalmarc's throne, his eyes searching for the intruder who's dare to enter his chamber and disturb his dark studying. Seeing Ranma and Banedon standing near the entrance, he let out a cry.
"YOU AGAIN!"
Vonotar let out a horrified gasp and his face contorted into a look of complete shock. He had thought that his cunning traps and plans would have gotten rid of those two. He fumbled with his black staff while both Ranma and Banedon started to rush toward Vonotar before he had the chance to do anything.
"Ranma, we must prevent him from using his magic against us, and we have to act fast if we are to overpower him and capture him alive," Banedon shouted to Ranma as they ran across the hall.
Ranma nodded at Banedon's warning, and by the time they reached the edge of the plateau, Vonotar had managed to regain his composure and had pressed a hidden panel on the arm of the throne. There was a brief noise, sounding like something was moving, and Ranma was wondering where it was coming from. A wide circle of blocks descended around the throne, causing a huge gap between them and Vonotar, in which a deep moat was forming.
From the depths of the moat, they could hear a ghastly, inhuman gibbering, and they all knew that this wasn't good as they prepared themselves for anything well, almost anything. They were totally unprepared for the horror that now faced them.
"Wild Horse, Banedon, Loi-Kymar, I want you to meet my special friend." Vonotar smirked evilly.
From out of the dark slithered a huge, ghoulish, green monster. Its deformed head was a mass of tentacles and suckers that oozed a putrid black slime. At the centre of this writhing mass, a hideous yellow eye pulsated. Vonotar directed the monster towards the trio.
"Akraa'Neonor," whispered Banedon.
"A what?" Ranma asked Banedon.
"Ranma, that monster is an Akraa'Neonor, an undead creature that is created from dark magic and quite popular among dark Necromancers," Banedon explained.
Seeing Vonotar trying to make his escape through a secret passage, Ranma instantly knew what to do. Looking over to Banedon, he asked him,
"Banedon, can you and Loi-Kymar take care of that creature while I try to get Vonotar before he makes his escape?"
"Sure. We must get Vonotar or our mission will have been all for nothing," Banedon replied as he and Loi-Kymar started to blast the undead beast with lightning bolts and fireballs.
Seeing that those two could take care of the monster, Ranma did a running jump across the wide moat, leaving Banedon and Loi-Kymar on the other side. Looking up, Ranma could see Vonotar standing near the throne with some sort of crystal rod held high in his hand.
"Now, Wild Horse, you will die!"
'This guy never gives up, does he?' Ranma thought as he raced towards the traitorous wizard.
Vonotar took a careful aim and chilling cones of frost started to form at the end of his rod. He then hurled them from the tip of his crystal rod at Ranma. Ranma instantly pointed the Sommerswerd towards Vonotar's crystal rod, and in an instant the cone of frost arced away as it shattered against the golden sword.
"Damn you, Wild Horse, and your cursed blade!" hissed Vonotar as he dropped his crystal rod and pulled a black rod from out of his robes.
Ranma went to close in on Vonotar when he felt his feet becoming heavier and heavier, and soon they were stuck to the floor. Ranma realised that Vonotar had cast some sort of petrifying spell with his black rod. Slowly the petrifying spell started to creep up his leg and through his body, and Ranma knew that he had little time left before he would be turned completely to stone.
Vonotar was smirking as he watched Ranma slowly turning to stone.
"Soon, Wild Horse, you will be part of my collection of stone statues," Vonotar smirked as he pointed to a stone statue of the Brumalmarc.
'There is no way I'm going to be a garden ornament!' Ranma thought as he saw what he could become in a few minutes if he didn't act fast enough.
Ranma suddenly had an idea, and started to goad Vonotar into unleashing his most powerful spell at him. Ranma started to throw insults, mocking Vonotar's plans and his magical abilities in order to anger the wizard. Vonotar finally snapped when Ranma started to mention the curse that Ranko had given him, saying that he never became half the man he was, and other insults that usually come with a gender changing curse.
"SILENCE, PUNY MORTAL! NO ONE MOCKS THE GREAT VONOTAR! FOR THAT YOU DESERVE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH!" Vonotar threatened as he pointed his black rod of power at Ranma.
Vonotar started to gather all his dark energies for a split second as he channelled his energies through his black rod and uttered a powerful magic spell. A bolt of utterly black lightning leapt from his finger towards Ranma's chest.
Ranma still had his left arm working, though the petrifying spell had reached his right arm and up to his waist. Quickly pulling out the crystal from his tunic, Ranma pointed it at Vonotar.
'Boy, won't he be in for a nasty shock of his life!" thought Ranma. The black bolt was attracted towards the crystal and struck it.
Vonotar instantly recognised the crystal that Ranma had taken out and had only enough time to throw up a magical shield before it killed him. The crystal glowed for a second, and then there was a deafening noise of crackling electricity as the bolt seemed to extend back, linking the crystal and the black rod that Vonotar was holding. The result was a large explosion, sending Vonotar flying across the hall and into the moat.
This caused Vonotar's petrifying spell to be broken, and Ranma's body started to revert back from stone to normal, taking about minute or so for him to fully recover. Once Ranma had regained his strength and mobility, he rushed over to the edge of the moat where Vonotar was floating in the dark murky water and checked his pulse. He breathed a sign of relief that Vonotar was still alive. Luckily, his magical shield had prevented his spell from killing him outright, but it wasn't enough to block the spell completely as the sheer power of the spell had sent him flying and knocked him unconscious.
Dragging the now female wizard, Ranma started to tie up Vonotar with rope, removing his rings and amulets while binding his hands together to prevent him from casting any more spells. Once he made sure that Vonotar wouldn't escape, Ranma looked over his shoulder to see that Guildmaster Loi-Kymar and Banedon were having a bit of difficulty dealing with the undead monster. Gripping the pommel of the Sommerswerd, Ranma leaped over the moat to help Banedon and Loi-Kymar, who were looking a completely exhausted. The blade of the Sommerswerd started to glow, as one of its specialities was that the blade was deadly to the undead, and an Akraa'Neonor is one of the undead - which made life a bit easier when dealing with the monster.
Once they had dispatched the undead beast, the trio was exhausted, and they just sat around in the hall of the Brumalmarc. Loi-Kymar approached the moat that separated the hall and Ranma noticed him hurling a handful of powdered herbs into it. Within seconds, a mass of vines and creepers had coiled upwards, forming a bridge across the moat to where the tied up Vonotar was and to other end of the Brumalmarc's hall.
"Wild Horse, where is Vonotar?" Loi-Kymar said. The only person he could see was a hunchbacked female tied up next to the throne.
He feared that Vonotar had escaped their grasp and would return to threaten Sommerlund again.
"Don't worry, Guildmaster. That's Vonotar." Ranma pointed to the unconscious female.
Loi-Kymar walked to the unconscious Vonotar and kneeled down to examine her to see if this was indeed the traitorous Vonotar. He could see the similarities, and she was indeed wearing the same outfit that Vonotar had been wearing before.
"This does look like Vonotar a little bit, but it's hard to tell," Loi-Kymar said after close examination.
"You have got to be kidding?" Banedon said, not believing his eyes.
"I'm afraid not. You see, that poor guy has a unique problem with the temperature of water. Remember that accident in Toran with one of your fellow apprentices?" Ranma reminded Banedon.
"Oh yes, I remember now; but that was a accident. Who would have done such an awful thing to him?" Banedon asked.
"Why do you want to know?" enquired Ranma, worried that Banedon looked as if he was about to take pity on him despite all the trouble they been through.
"Well, I just want to thank him or her for doing such a good job. He deserves everything he gets!" Banedon laughed, and soon Ranma joined in the laughter, which died down after a few moments
"Let's be serious for a minute. Is the curse permanent? It's going to be hard persuading the Sommlending crowds that she is Vonotar," asked Banedon.
"His curse is reversible, but you need hot water to revert her into a him," Ranma replied.
Wondering if this was true or not, Banedon started to heat up some water that he had in his canteen with a small fire spell. Once the water was hot enough, he poured it over Vonotar. Ranma was indeed right, as the water changed the female wizard into Vonotar, who woke up in shock as the water was bit too hot.
"ARRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGH!" Vonotar cried out.
After that, Vonotar started to moan and curse at Ranma and Banedon for the treatment he was getting.
"Ranma, would you mind shutting him up?"
"Sure, he's been getting on my nerves anyway." Ranma quickly gave Vonotar a swift hit to the head, knocking him out.
"Ah! Here she is!" the old magician eventually cried out triumphantly.
"What did find, Guildmaster?" Banedon asked Loi-Kymar who had been busy searching for something amongst the tangle of vines at the base of the throne.
"My Guildstaff, my young apprentice," replied Loi-Kymar. "Ah, I see that you have Vonotar tied up. Well done, Wild Horse. We would not want him to miss his special home-coming to Sommerlund," Loi-Kymar said.
Ranma walked over to Loi-Kymar and handed him his map of Kalte, pointing out the position of the ship the Cardonal. "Here Guildmaster, you may need this?" Ranma said.
"I'll not be needing that," he replied. "Maps are invariably wrong; I prefer to rely on my own sense of direction. Come, Wild Horse, and my young apprentice; it's time that we leave this place."
Ranma dragged Vonotar by his collar, kicking and screaming along the way at the way he was being treated. Ranma had to resort to knocking Vonotar out cold with a swift punch, as his whining and screaming was beginning to annoy him, before he joined Banedon and Loi-Kymar. Seeing that everyone was present, the Guildmaster spoke.
"Ready?" Ranma and Banedon nodded in acknowledgement.
Loi-Kymar raised his Guildstaff and a dazzling beam of light flowed from its tip. He made three wide sweeps of the air and the Hall of the Brumalmarc was transformed in an umbrella of light.
*End of Flashback*
"...The captain of the Cardonal was surprised at our quick return. He then congratulated us on our success in capturing Vonotar and rescuing Guildmaster Loi-Kymar. The rest of the journey back to Anskavern was swift and uneventful." Ranma finished telling his story to Braxus and Ranko, both of whom were listening to every word with keen interest.
"When we arrived in Anskavern, we were greeted by an anxious crowd including Aunt Saria. They had feared that our early arrival was a sign of our failure, but their attitude soon changed when Vonotar was escorted off the Cardonal," Banedon added.
"So what happened to Vonotar afterwards?" Braxus asked.
"We eventually secured him in Toran. On the dawn of the feast of Maesmarn, in the depths of the Guildhall of the Crystal Star, Vonotar the Traitor was tried by his brotherhood and unanimously found guilty of his terrible crimes. As his punishment, he was cast into the limbo of Daziarn," explained Banedon, who had been there when the Brotherhood had given their verdict.
"Banedon, what is this Daziarn you talk about?" asked Ranma.
"The Daziarn is an astral world which exists outside Aon. We have a portal in the Guildhall that leads to this dimension, a portal of total darkness, the door of an eternal prison from which there can be no escape," Banedon replied.
"Well at least the traitor has been dealt with. He won't be bothering us in the near future," Braxus said.
Ranko and Banedon nodded to Braxus' statement, though not Ranma. Something was bothering him that they hadn't seen the last of Vonotar, but he decided not to say anything to ruin this special occasion.
After the dinner, Braxus got up from where he sitting and walked over to Kalona's perch before stretching out his right arm. Once the blue bird was securely perched on his arm, he made his way back to the table.
"Hey Banedon, it's getting dark now. Let me show you to your room. This monastery can be a little confusing, and you may get lost along the way," Braxus suggested.
Banedon had a look of confusion at Braxus' statement. Ranma was giving his brother an odd look, trying to figure what he was trying to do.
"But you've already shown me my... err... of course, Braxus, lead the way." Banedon finally caught the hidden meaning of his statement.
Getting up, Banedon left the table and started to follow Braxus out of the hall leaving Ranma and Ranko all alone. Before the door fully closed behind him, Braxus popped his head round the door.
"Hey you two, don't do anything that I wouldn't do," Braxus joked as he closed the door.
Ranma turned a little red with embarrassment at Braxus' suggestion. Ranko turned her attention back to Ranma, a little confused.
"What you suppose he meant by that?" asked Ranko.
"Err... well, you see... he's always doing that... you know, trying to embarrass me in front of people," Ranma manage to say, struggling to keep his composure.
'She sure is beautiful, especially in that dress,' Ranma thought.
"Oh?" Ranko simply replied.
There was a moment of silence between them until Ranma noticed that there was a full moon and there would be enough light from them to walk around the monastery. Deciding to break the silence and increasing tension, Ranma got up from where he sitting.
"Ranko, would you mind if we go for a walk around the monastery?" Ranma managed to say without messing up his lines.
Ranko looked up to see Ranma giving his trademark smile as he offered his arm.
"Of course not. Besides, it's a lovely evening, isn't it?" Ranko smiled brightly as she accepted Ranma's offer and quickly looped her arm around his.
Ranma nodded and led her outside the hall and out into the courtyard.
'Perfect,' Ranko thought, snuggling up to Ranma as they both enjoyed the wonderful evening. The good thing was that Ranma wasn't getting all tense or nervous to her affections, which was a good sign of things to come.
As the couple walked around the courtyard of the Kai Monastery, they were being watched for a brief moment. Watching them from afar on the balcony were Braxus, Kalona and Banedon. They could just see Ranma offering his coat to Ranko, having noticed that she was a bit cold.
"You know, that's not a nice thing to do to your brother?" Banedon asked.
Braxus just smirked.
"Well it's about time Ranma did something, and besides, look at those two. Don't you think they make a nice couple? Besides, he probably deserves it the most considering his previous life." Braxus pointed to where Ranma and Ranko were standing on the monastery wall.
"I suppose you're right. We should leave them alone for the moment. Let's go in, it's getting cold, and you still haven't beaten me at chess yet!"
"But I want to see how they are... oh never mind. All right, Banedon, I accept your challenge. But this time I will beat you," Braxus replied, realising it wasn't his business to intrude.
"We shall see, we shall see," Banedon said as they walked back from the balcony into the main chamber.
TBC...
***
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2 or the Lone Wolf Series or any other characters. The rights to Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and for the Lone Wolf Series Joe Dever. This story is created solely for entertainment purposes and no profit as gained from this.
Note.
Kai Names:
* Ranma Stormgard (Saotome) - Wild Horse
* Braxus Stormgard - Swift Blade
Wild Horse of Kai
By Montymouse
' ' - Thought
" " - Speech
Chapter Eleven - The Past, the Present and the future of the order of the Kai
***
Immediately following the defeat of Darklord Zagarna by Ranma with the Sommerswerd, those who witnessed the destruction of the Lord of Darkness started a chain reaction among the forces of the Darklords. Panic and confusion started to spread as they realised the impossible had happened. Soon the mighty gates of Holmgard opened, and hundreds of men and knights poured out of the city, charging at the panic-stricken Darklord forces that had been laying siege to their capital for the past month. The war banners of both Sommerlund and Durenor were raised high to signal the end of the siege of Holmgard. At last it was their turn to fight back and drive the Darklord hordes back from whence they came.
With the combined might of both the Sommlending and the Durenese forces they were able to turn the tides of war in their favour. Lord Axim and Prince Pelethar made sure that all the Darklord forces had been forced back from Sommerlund, while Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade prevented the retreating forces from pillaging and razing the surviving towns and villages as they were driven into the Durncrag Mountains. It took about a week to finally rid themselves of the disease that had been plaguing their country.
During the invasion of the Darklords, much of Sommerlund had been ruined, rich farmland had been destroyed and many towns had been razed to the ground. But with the defeat of the Darklord and the heroic deeds of the two surviving Kai Lords, the Sommlending people were filled with renewed hope and determination. They set out with the enormous task of rebuilding the war-torn country of Sommerlund with determination and less than a year later; few of the scars of war remained visible.
After the threat of the Darklords was vanquished, Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade were royally summoned by King Ulnar V and his son Prince Pelethar to return to Holmgard for a very special presentation.
***
Holmgard - The Citadel of Ulnar
The splendid hall of the royal Palace of Ulnar is decorated as befits the court of King Ulnar of Sommerlund, being decked out with beautiful and expensive hangings from all corners of the Lastlands. There are no chairs except for those upon which King Ulnar and his son, Prince Pelethar, sit - everyone else must stand.
News of the exploits of Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade had spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom of Sommerlund. The court was full to overflowing with Knights, noblemen and clergy, all dressed in their best finery and armour. The royal court was divided into two. On the left side stood high-ranking members of the Sommlending royal forces and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star, their banners and shields waving in the background. On the right side of the royal court was the Sommlending neighbour and eternal ally, the Durenese royal forces. We can see among the count familiar faces and heroes of the war as they wait patiently for a certain two Kai Lords to arrive.
Soon the Royal Herald announced the arrival of the two Kai Lords.
"Lord and Ladies, may I present to you, Kai Lords Wild Horse and Swift Blade."
Entering the royal chamber of state were Ranma and Braxus; dressed in their finest tunics and cloaks they slowly approached the King and Prince Pelethar at the other end of the court. Ranma glanced to his right and could see Lord Rhygar and Lord Axim among the crowd, and they were nodding in approval and respect for all their efforts. Braxus spotted Banedon standing next to the Guildmasters of Toran; he simply smiled and silently waved to them.
Once Ranma and Braxus had reached the throne area of the king, they both bowed down in respect before they retold their story to the King and the royal court. After Ranma and Braxus had finished their tales of heroism and their respective roles in the war, King Ulnar slowly rose from his throne. Everyone in the court went silent as they waited for their King to say something.
"My lords, ladies, knights of Sommerlund and allies of Durenor, this is truly a most splendid tale we have heard, full of perfidious villainy and epic heroism. It is so full of excitement as to be worthy of the stage of our city's own theatrical arena."
There were murmurs of approval from the court.
"Now of all of Sommerlund is safe, for now, as the Darklords will need time to lick their wounds, and I expect the loss of their mighty leader will cause chaos among their own ranks as they struggle for power and position. I would like to give my eternal thanks on behalf of Sommerlund to our allies for honouring our everlasting alliance."
More murmurs of approval from the court as Lord Axim stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you King Ulnar, we are glad to honour such an alliance with such a respected and honourable country. All we ask is that if the time comes when Durenor is threatened by evil, we can expect the same help and aid as we had given you this glorious day," Lord Axim said as he saluted and crossed his right arm across his chest to his left shoulder.
"Indeed, we shall aid you when a such a time comes, and please tell your king that you have the everlasting friendship and aid of Sommerlund," King Ulnar replied.
"I shall deliver the message to my king, once I and my forces have returned back to our homelands."
"Before you go, please make yourselves at home, Lord Axim, as you are a royal guest of Holmgard, and we have much to celebrate."
Lord Axim nodded and saluted again as he stepped back within his own ranks. Then King Ulnar turned to face the court to address those in front of him.
"I would like to mention that without the courage and determination of these two Kai Lords, things might have turned out differently; but that is all in the past now. They have passed all the trials that the Dark Gods have set before them, and have succeeded where others would have failed," Ulnar said.
"Wild Horse of Kai, please come forward," King Ulnar said as Ranma stepped towards the King.
"For your crucial role in turning the tide of war in our favour and defeating their Darklord, I, King Ulnar V, bestow upon you the rank and title of Fryearl of Sommerlund."
More murmurs of surprise among the court. As far as they could remember no one in the history of Sommerlund had ever been given such a highly respected Sommlending title at such a young age; it meant that Ranma would have the rank and title equivalent to those of a Baron or Lord.
"This is the first time that I have bestowed such a honour upon someone so young, but I have faith in you that you will protect Sommerlund with your honour and your life. You and your Kai brother will resurrect a new order of Kai warriors as the surrounding lands of the Kai Monastery now belong to you, Wild Horse. The land will be 'Fryelund' and will be under your protection."
Cheers and shouts of approval echoed around the hall as the King finished his speech. Ranma was getting a little embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving. Looking over his shoulder, Ranma could see Braxus giving him the thumbs up to indicate that he deserved such a distinguished title.
Ranma nodded and stepped back as the King waved his hand to silence the crowd; they complied instantly.
"Swift Blade of Kai, step forward please." Braxus did as the King had ordered.
"Having heard what Prince Pelethar has told me, you are indeed courageous and brave to have protect my only son from harm. Also, you have played a crucial part in the war by keeping the brave defenders of Holmgard together and their spirits high at a time where all seemed lost. You are indeed a talented commander and, according to D'Val, you have foiled numerous attempts by the Darklords' forces to breach our city's defences."
Murmurs and whispers of approval echoed around the hall for a brief moment. Waiting for the noise to calm down, King Ulnar continued his speech.
"You have acted like a true Lord of Kai, and for that I bestow upon you a rare title that I haven't awarded for twenty years. Swift Blade of Kai, I bestow on to you the title of First Knight of Sommlending Royal arms."
The court started to whisper and murmur in approval and astonishment. The title bestowed upon Braxus would give him enormous power among the military ranks and the Royal Order of Sommerlund. Braxus immediately knew what he intended to do as the King's advisor handed him the royal sword of Ulnar. Getting down to one knee, Braxus bowed down as the King knighted him in front of the court.
Soon after that, the court erupted in cheers of approval as numerous Lords and knights from all over Sommerlund and Durenor congratulated Braxus and Ranma. They made there way out of the chamber of state and into the courtyard, followed closely by the royal guard, as they were led outside the citadel gates. What they didn't expect was that outside the Citadel gates were hundreds of Sommlending waiting for the two Lords of Kai.
News of what had happened in the royal citadel spread fast, and the people of Holmgard had gathered outside the citadel wanting to catch a glimpse of the Fryearl and First Knight of Sommerlund. Not knowing what to do in this situation, Ranma and Braxus just waved at the crowd, who started to cheer and celebrate as the two Kai warriors got on their horses and rode out of Holmgard. The crowd of Sommlending moved to the sides of the main road to allow them to pass while offering praises and thanks to the two young men who had saved them from the Darklords.
***
Two and a half years had passed since the invasion of the Darklords and there were few signs of the war that had taken place. Towns and cities such as Toran had been rebuilt and restored to their former glory. Farmlands had been replanted and ploughed back to working order as the Sommlending people tried to return to their normal lives. Their Durenese allies had returned to their home country after making sure that all traces of the Darklords' forces had been eradicated and that the Sommlending army was back to full strength.
During these years, one noticeable change in Sommerlund was the new monastery built over the ruins of the old Kai Monastery. Now under the protection and ownership of Fryearl Ranma Stormgard aka Wild Horse, the work to rebuild the Kai Monastery and restore it to its former glory had begun almost immediately. The bodies of the Kai Lords slain by the Darklords were found and placed in a crypt under the newly constructed Kai Monastery. Their names would be remembered and honoured by the new generations of Kai warriors to set an example and to show that their sacrifice was not in vain. Wild Horse and Swift Blade were kept very busy as new threats and challenges appeared, but with the help of Banedon and Ranko they were able to overcome and succeeded admirably.
A year ago, King Ulnar had summoned Kai Masters Wild Horse and Swift Blade to Holmgard to discuss an urgent matter concerning the Sommlending province of Ruanon. Ruanon was a small, remote mining province to the south of Sommerlund and was an important source of revenue. The people of this province had long prospered from their toil in the ore rich mines, living and enjoying their wealth under the protection of their lord - Baron Oren Vanalund. The gold and gems that were mined at Ruanon were then transported from the mining province to the capital, a monthly routine that had never been broken - until now.
All contact with the mining province had suddenly stopped, and the monthly cargo of gold and gems had stopped as well. The king then decided to dispatch an investigating force to Ruanon consisting of one hundred cavalry from the King's guard led by Captain Remir D'Val. The mission was simple, Captain D'Val was ordered to find out what had happened in Ruanon and find the missing convey that was supposed to have arrived weeks ago and report back his finding. For a week now, D'Val had sent no reports back to the King; it was as if he had just vanished into thin air like the convoy. The King was so concerned with the disappearance of his best officer and troops that he had decided to dispatch a smaller task force led by Wild Horse and Swift Blade to Ruanon with the hopes that they would succeed in finding out what had happened. The task force consisted of elite Border Rangers, whose outdoor skills would prove to be useful.
The journey to Ruanon proved to be difficult and full of danger. Bandits constantly ambushed them as they made there way south through the Durncrag mountain range. Many Sommlending rangers lost their lives during this part of the journey, but Ranma was determined to make it to Ruanon despite the danger.
Eventually, Ranma and Braxus made it to Ruanon with only a handful of Border Rangers while making sure that word got back to Holmgard to report the situation. Ranma was relieved to see his friend Remir D'Val alive as most of the province of Ruanon had been overrun and destroyed by bandits. The only building that hadn't been destroyed was a small keep, which was flying the Sommlending Royal flag; but first they had to cross the razed farmlands to reach the keep, which was full of warhounds and bandit snipers. Upon reaching the keep, they discovered that a renegade noble of Vassagonia called Barraka had decided to turn his greedy eye upon Ruanon for the vast wealth in its mines, and most of the people of Ruanon were enslaved and forced to work in the mines.
Captain D'Val's men were ambushed on the Ruanon Pike, sorely outnumbered by Barraka's men, and were able to make their escape to Ruanon. Taking command of the small keep, he and his men were able to hold off the Vassagonian renegades, but couldn't send word back to Holmgard as the path back was full of Barraka's men waiting to ambush unsuspecting troop columns or scouts. They had been beleaguered in the keep and the morale of D'Val's men was beginning to fall due to the numerous attempts to overrun the keep, but under the leadership of D'Val, they were able to repel such attacks. The only problem was that the keep didn't have sufficient water and food, and hopes for help were beginning to fall until the arrival of Kai Masters Wild Horse and Swift Blade.
They found out that there was a more sinister motive to Barraka's invasion of the Sommlending province when they were introduced to the Baron of Ruanon. Baron Oren Vanalund was the only person to escape the mines and found out that he had lost everything: his castle, his land, his town and his family. Not only that, his only daughter had been taken captive by Barraka.
Ranma recited a verse that had been told to him by an old man at their beginning of their journey.
When the full moon shines o'er the temple deep,
A sacrifice will stir from sleep
The legions of a long forgotten lord.
When a fair royal maid on the altar dies,
The dead of Maakengorge shall rise
To claim their long-awaited reward.
Braxus realised that they had to stop this from happening, as this would reawaken Sommerlund's worse fears...
The return of DARKLORD VASHNA and his undead forces.
In the end, with the combined efforts of the two Kai Masters and D'Val's remaining forces, they managed to defeat Barraka's troops, but it wasn't until Braxus defeated Barraka in mortal combat that Ruanon was freed from his tyranny. Ranma managed to rescue Vanalunds' daughter (in typical damsel in distress style) just in the nick of time as she was about to be sacrificed in order to fulfil the sinister prophecy. Soon after that, the Sommlending army led by King Ulnar himself arrived to drive out the remainder of Barraka's forces from Ruanon.
Once Ranma had returned the Vanalunds' daughter back to her father, both he and Braxus were given the hero's treatment and would be eternally welcome in the province of Ruanon for their part in foiling another of Naar's plans to conquer all of Magnamund. Both Kai Masters had proven themselves worthy of the title 'Kai Lord' as peace was returned to the mining province. With their heroic achievements, both Ranma and Braxus had mastered almost all ten Kai Disciplines, all of which had saved them on more than one occasion. This led to the question,
Who would teach them the next level of training of the Kai order?
***
Kai Monastery
It is afternoon in Sommerlund. In the grand hall of the Tower of the Sun, we see a well-lit hall with an oak table and modest furnishing. It is well decorated with mosaic pictures and symbols of Kai. To one side of the hall is a large fireplace and next to it is a large wooden perch where Braxus' companion Kalona was perched, watching the people sitting around the table. Around the large oak table are four people. It is obvious that they are currently having a special dinner, as there is much food and drink laid out. As time passes, the four companions just talk about recent and past events during the past years.
At one end of the dinner table sat Ranma Stormgard aka Wild Horse. He was wearing the silk shirt that Ranko had given him a few seasons ago, the one with a horse embroidered on it. Sitting next to him was Ranko, who had finally revealed herself to Banedon and Braxus and had started to trust them. Ranma had eventually invited her after some prodding from his brother to do something about his relationship. She was wearing a very nice modest green dress, her long red ponytail resting on her right shoulder.
Sitting opposite Ranma and Ranko were Banedon and Braxus. Braxus was wearing shirt similar to the one Ranma was wearing, but in silver. Braxus thought that the two opposite him would make a cute couple. He spotted the white bracelet that she was wearing during dinner; it was oblivious that Ranma had given it to her. Although he didn't know the full detail of their relationship, Ranko said that they were just close friends. Braxus knew that she had deeper feelings by the way she would sometimes look at his brother when he was not looking, and he definitely knew that his brother shared the same feeling for her. All they needed was a little prodding from him, Auntie Saria and his mother Oriah, and things would go nicely.
Banedon was allowed to join them for dinner once the brotherhood was secure and safe in Toran, though it had taken months of hard work and determination to restore the city to its former glory after Darklord Zagarna's attempts to destroy them. Banedon was wearing a dark blue full toga-like garment, which he only wore on special occasions. He had been surprised at the level of magical power that Ranko emitted generally when she had first turned up at the Monastery. Banedon was even more surprised when Braxus whispered to him that she was some sort of goddess. He actually thought that he was joking until he studied Ranko's aura. He found that underneath her beauty and character, she possessed enormous power and magic, enough to take out a whole kingdom in the blink of an eye. Banedon wasn't really worried about that because, from Ranma and Braxus had told him about her, Ranko wasn't the type of Goddess that would do such a thing unless she was severely provoked and really, really p**sed off.
Banedon had expected Ranma to find someone really special due to his natural chaotic aura. In his experience, anyone that had an aura as chaotic as Ranma would never have a normal life, and had an increased chance of abnormal and supernatural things happening around him. He was happy that Ranma had found a nice girl, even though she was goddess of some sort.
"So tell us, what happened to you and Banedon when you were sent to capture Vonotar in Kalte? The reports we received were a bit sketchy and lacked sufficient details about the actual mission," asked Braxus.
"Yeah Ranma! Tell us your version of what really happened in Kalte," Ranko added, also curious and interested.
"Well, it wasn't a nice trip as it was freezing cold. We'd heard that the leader of Ice Barbarians, the Brumalmarc, had been defeated by a hunchbacked wizard according to reports," Ranma said.
"When the news that Vonotar still lived reached the people of Sommerlund. They demanded that the traitorous wizard should be bought to justice and be tried in the royal court of Holmgard for the crimes he had committed against Sommerlund, the order of the Kai and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star," Banedon added as he poured himself a glass.
"The King and Prince Pelethar vowed to the thousands of Sommlending surrounding the capital and demanding that Vonotar be bought to justice that Vonotar would be bought back to Holmgard. Prince Pelethar had personally asked for my help in capturing Vonotar. I accepted the arduous mission to Kalte. Banedon asked me if he could come along as he had heard rumours that a wise Guildmaster was being held captive by Vonotar after he fled Sommerlund. Also, Banedon and me still had a score to settle with the traitorous wizard, isn't that right Banedon?" Ranma said.
Banedon nodded in acknowledgement of Ranma's question.
"Yes, Ranma, we all know that part of the story, but Banedon, what was your reason in chasing after Vonotar?" Ranko asked Banedon.
"Apparently Vonotar escaped by means of teleportation, and the only Guildmaster that I knew of that had the ability and knowledge to do this was Guildmaster Loi-Kymar."
"So that's how he escaped without a trace," Braxus said, remembering that the Sommlending forces had spent days scouring the lands for the traitorous wizard.
"The fastest way to escape his pursuers was by forcing Loi-Kymar into taking him to Kalte. Loi-Kymar was initially reported to have died during the attack on Toran, but we never found his body. Then we received a very weak telepathic message from him, telling us that he was still alive and was being held captive. My senior Guildmasters confirmed that the message was genuine and that it was indeed from our brother Loi-Kymar. So they asked me to join Ranma here on his quest to Kalte with two objectives: Capture Vonotar at all costs, and rescue our missing Guildmaster if he was still alive," Banedon said as he took a sip from his drink.
Ranma continued.
"We heard that Vonotar had last been seen by sea merchant at the Ice Fortress of Ikaya in the northern part of Kalte. I think that Vonotar was expecting our arrival?" Ranma said.
"Now that I think about it, there were some events that were quite unexpected," Banedon said, remembering the arduous journey.
"Like what?" enquired Braxus.
"For example, there were a couple of Helghast assassins pursuing us disguised as humans. Luckily, I had the Sommerswerd with me; otherwise Banedon and I would have been in serious trouble. Then there was the encounter with the Ice Barbarians who ambushed us along the way, and some very unusual weather conditions such as ice blizzards."
"What's so odd about that? You should expect that type of weather when you go to places like Kalte," Ranko asked.
"Have you seen a blizzard that starts to rain down things the size of large boulders made of pure ice?" Ranma said
Ranko nodded.
"I have, but it's impossible for it to happen naturally in Magnamund unless magic is involved with the elements," Ranko explained.
"Don't forget that two-headed serpent we encountered; that was downright nasty!" Banedon added.
"Oh yes, that Javek was extremely dangerous; one bite from that and you would be dead in a few seconds. The venom of a Javek is the most powerful natural poison in all of Magnamund, and not even my healing skills would have prevented the poison from spreading. Luckily Banedon cast a double-illusion spell that allowed me to tackle the Serpent. Then there was the Ice Demon, the Crystal Frostwyrm, the Kalkoth..."
Ranma started to list all the problems and encounters that they had had on their journey to the ice fortress. After a few minutes, Ranma finished his list of encounters.
"I see you and Banedon had a good time in Kalte," Braxus joked.
"Ha, ha, very funny, brother," Ranma said. He then noticed that Banedon was laughing at Braxus joke.
"Oh lighten up Ranma, we survived didn't we?" Banedon said.
"Well, I suppose you're right. At least we rescued your missing Guildmaster and captured Vonotar," Ranma replied.
"Yes, you must have been brave to take on those creatures of Naar," Ranko said.
Ranma smiled at Ranko who smiled back. "Why thank you, Ranko."
"So how did you capture Vonotar? I heard that he had grown in power since the last time you encountered him, and that this time he was well prepared for your arrival," Braxus asked.
Ranma turned his attention to Banedon. "You want to explain or should I?" asked Ranma.
"I think it would be best if you say your version as you had to face Vonotar by yourself. Myself and Guildmaster Loi-Kymar had to tackle the monster that Vonotar had summoned."
Ranma nodded and turned back to face Braxus and Ranko who were eager to listen to his story. "Well you see the situation was like this..."
*Flashback to the Ice Fortress*
Ranma, Banedon and Guildmaster Loi-Kymar were coming out of the ice tunnels of the fortress. According to Loi-Kymar, this tunnel would lead to the inner chamber of Ikaya, where Vonotar would probably be. Reaching the end of the tunnel, they entered a large open area. Across the large open area was a large splendid doorway, flanked by pillars of ice.
"Beyond that door and the room after that is the inner sanctum where we should find the traitorous Vonotar." Loi-Kymar pointed to the doorway.
"We should take a moment to rest and regain our strength before we enter. Knowing Vonotar, he probably has something special cooked up for us," Banedon suggested as they had been walking for quite some time. Avoiding all the magical traps that they had encountered had taken time and concentration. Luckily for Ranma and Banedon, Loi-Kymar was a skilled magician, and was able to detect the traps and disarm them.
Ranma nodded at Banedon's suggestion, as he could not sense any evil magic in the open area. Banedon walked up to Ranma and handed him a special potion from his pouch.
"Here Ranma, you will need this. Drink it, it will restore your strength. Take a dose of this," Banedon said.
"What is it?" Ranma asked out of curiosity. He trusted Banedon completely; he had been a loyal friend.
"It's something that we magicians/alchemists use when we are tired and weak. Its called Laumspur. It is created from a wild herb with a bright scarlet flower and it is highly prized for its healing properties if made correctly." Ranma nodded and took a gulp the potion.
Almost instantly Ranma could feel the aches and pains from his expedition start to fade away, replaced by a warm glow in his chest. Soon his full strength would slowly return to him as the healing properties - combined with his fast healing abilities - started to kick in.
"Thanks Banedon, I needed that." Banedon nodded at Ranma's compliment and moved to take the potion to Loi-Kymar, who was examining the door for any magical traps or enchantments hidden.
Five minutes later, the trio was ready to proceed through to the next stage. But before Ranma had the chance to open the door, Loi-Kymar stopped him.
"What is it, Guildmaster?" asked Ranma.
"Wild Horse, I want you to have this." Loi-Kymar handed him a large crystal with some bizarre runes inscribed on it. Ranma had a face of confusion and curiosity.
"This is a special crystal that may come in handy when you encounter Vonotar, as he has grown in strength."
"What does it do?" asked Ranma. His magical knowledge was still limited compared to his martial skills.
"You will know how to use this when the time comes. One word of warning, beware of his black staff, it is a potent and deadly weapon in his hands," Loi-Kymar simply replied as he opened the door.
Ranma turned to Banedon and asked him what this was.
"Hmm... According to those magical runes, it's some kind of reflective crystal, but haven't the foggiest how it works," Banedon tried to explain.
Ranma nodded and simply pocketed the crystal in the front pocket of his tunic.
As the trio passed through the door, they found themselves in another large courtyard but looked more like a small garden, once open to the sky but now covered with a sheer blanket of ice. The grass has long since withered away, dead and frozen in the ice. Petrified skeletons of trees and shrubs decorated the area, giving it an uncanny atmosphere.
"Nice garden. Someone should thank the gardener for his work," Ranma said sarcastically.
"Wild Horse, behind those double doors lies the hall of the Brumalmarc where Vonotar should be. Remember Kai Lord, we should use extreme caution and stealth when dealing with Vonotar," Loi-Kymar said
"Right, let's go," Ranma said, reaching for the hilt of the Sommerswerd.
Ranma gave the double doors a swift kick, opening them wide open, completely surprising the hunchback wizard who was sitting on the Brumalmarc's throne studying various tomes and books. Old tomes and the eldritch trappings of a Necromancer surrounded Vonotar.
"I like your method, it's really stealthy and cautious," said Banedon sarcastically.
"Well, it's time that we should take the initiative rather than waiting for him to do something." Ranma pointed to Vonotar.
"I supposed you're right. Let's get this over and done with. The sooner we get him, the sooner we can leave this place," Banedon said.
Ranma nodded as he unsheathed the Sommerswerd from his jewelled scabbard.
"Who dares disturb me? Vonotar hissed, as he rose from the Brumalmarc's throne, his eyes searching for the intruder who's dare to enter his chamber and disturb his dark studying. Seeing Ranma and Banedon standing near the entrance, he let out a cry.
"YOU AGAIN!"
Vonotar let out a horrified gasp and his face contorted into a look of complete shock. He had thought that his cunning traps and plans would have gotten rid of those two. He fumbled with his black staff while both Ranma and Banedon started to rush toward Vonotar before he had the chance to do anything.
"Ranma, we must prevent him from using his magic against us, and we have to act fast if we are to overpower him and capture him alive," Banedon shouted to Ranma as they ran across the hall.
Ranma nodded at Banedon's warning, and by the time they reached the edge of the plateau, Vonotar had managed to regain his composure and had pressed a hidden panel on the arm of the throne. There was a brief noise, sounding like something was moving, and Ranma was wondering where it was coming from. A wide circle of blocks descended around the throne, causing a huge gap between them and Vonotar, in which a deep moat was forming.
From the depths of the moat, they could hear a ghastly, inhuman gibbering, and they all knew that this wasn't good as they prepared themselves for anything well, almost anything. They were totally unprepared for the horror that now faced them.
"Wild Horse, Banedon, Loi-Kymar, I want you to meet my special friend." Vonotar smirked evilly.
From out of the dark slithered a huge, ghoulish, green monster. Its deformed head was a mass of tentacles and suckers that oozed a putrid black slime. At the centre of this writhing mass, a hideous yellow eye pulsated. Vonotar directed the monster towards the trio.
"Akraa'Neonor," whispered Banedon.
"A what?" Ranma asked Banedon.
"Ranma, that monster is an Akraa'Neonor, an undead creature that is created from dark magic and quite popular among dark Necromancers," Banedon explained.
Seeing Vonotar trying to make his escape through a secret passage, Ranma instantly knew what to do. Looking over to Banedon, he asked him,
"Banedon, can you and Loi-Kymar take care of that creature while I try to get Vonotar before he makes his escape?"
"Sure. We must get Vonotar or our mission will have been all for nothing," Banedon replied as he and Loi-Kymar started to blast the undead beast with lightning bolts and fireballs.
Seeing that those two could take care of the monster, Ranma did a running jump across the wide moat, leaving Banedon and Loi-Kymar on the other side. Looking up, Ranma could see Vonotar standing near the throne with some sort of crystal rod held high in his hand.
"Now, Wild Horse, you will die!"
'This guy never gives up, does he?' Ranma thought as he raced towards the traitorous wizard.
Vonotar took a careful aim and chilling cones of frost started to form at the end of his rod. He then hurled them from the tip of his crystal rod at Ranma. Ranma instantly pointed the Sommerswerd towards Vonotar's crystal rod, and in an instant the cone of frost arced away as it shattered against the golden sword.
"Damn you, Wild Horse, and your cursed blade!" hissed Vonotar as he dropped his crystal rod and pulled a black rod from out of his robes.
Ranma went to close in on Vonotar when he felt his feet becoming heavier and heavier, and soon they were stuck to the floor. Ranma realised that Vonotar had cast some sort of petrifying spell with his black rod. Slowly the petrifying spell started to creep up his leg and through his body, and Ranma knew that he had little time left before he would be turned completely to stone.
Vonotar was smirking as he watched Ranma slowly turning to stone.
"Soon, Wild Horse, you will be part of my collection of stone statues," Vonotar smirked as he pointed to a stone statue of the Brumalmarc.
'There is no way I'm going to be a garden ornament!' Ranma thought as he saw what he could become in a few minutes if he didn't act fast enough.
Ranma suddenly had an idea, and started to goad Vonotar into unleashing his most powerful spell at him. Ranma started to throw insults, mocking Vonotar's plans and his magical abilities in order to anger the wizard. Vonotar finally snapped when Ranma started to mention the curse that Ranko had given him, saying that he never became half the man he was, and other insults that usually come with a gender changing curse.
"SILENCE, PUNY MORTAL! NO ONE MOCKS THE GREAT VONOTAR! FOR THAT YOU DESERVE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH!" Vonotar threatened as he pointed his black rod of power at Ranma.
Vonotar started to gather all his dark energies for a split second as he channelled his energies through his black rod and uttered a powerful magic spell. A bolt of utterly black lightning leapt from his finger towards Ranma's chest.
Ranma still had his left arm working, though the petrifying spell had reached his right arm and up to his waist. Quickly pulling out the crystal from his tunic, Ranma pointed it at Vonotar.
'Boy, won't he be in for a nasty shock of his life!" thought Ranma. The black bolt was attracted towards the crystal and struck it.
Vonotar instantly recognised the crystal that Ranma had taken out and had only enough time to throw up a magical shield before it killed him. The crystal glowed for a second, and then there was a deafening noise of crackling electricity as the bolt seemed to extend back, linking the crystal and the black rod that Vonotar was holding. The result was a large explosion, sending Vonotar flying across the hall and into the moat.
This caused Vonotar's petrifying spell to be broken, and Ranma's body started to revert back from stone to normal, taking about minute or so for him to fully recover. Once Ranma had regained his strength and mobility, he rushed over to the edge of the moat where Vonotar was floating in the dark murky water and checked his pulse. He breathed a sign of relief that Vonotar was still alive. Luckily, his magical shield had prevented his spell from killing him outright, but it wasn't enough to block the spell completely as the sheer power of the spell had sent him flying and knocked him unconscious.
Dragging the now female wizard, Ranma started to tie up Vonotar with rope, removing his rings and amulets while binding his hands together to prevent him from casting any more spells. Once he made sure that Vonotar wouldn't escape, Ranma looked over his shoulder to see that Guildmaster Loi-Kymar and Banedon were having a bit of difficulty dealing with the undead monster. Gripping the pommel of the Sommerswerd, Ranma leaped over the moat to help Banedon and Loi-Kymar, who were looking a completely exhausted. The blade of the Sommerswerd started to glow, as one of its specialities was that the blade was deadly to the undead, and an Akraa'Neonor is one of the undead - which made life a bit easier when dealing with the monster.
Once they had dispatched the undead beast, the trio was exhausted, and they just sat around in the hall of the Brumalmarc. Loi-Kymar approached the moat that separated the hall and Ranma noticed him hurling a handful of powdered herbs into it. Within seconds, a mass of vines and creepers had coiled upwards, forming a bridge across the moat to where the tied up Vonotar was and to other end of the Brumalmarc's hall.
"Wild Horse, where is Vonotar?" Loi-Kymar said. The only person he could see was a hunchbacked female tied up next to the throne.
He feared that Vonotar had escaped their grasp and would return to threaten Sommerlund again.
"Don't worry, Guildmaster. That's Vonotar." Ranma pointed to the unconscious female.
Loi-Kymar walked to the unconscious Vonotar and kneeled down to examine her to see if this was indeed the traitorous Vonotar. He could see the similarities, and she was indeed wearing the same outfit that Vonotar had been wearing before.
"This does look like Vonotar a little bit, but it's hard to tell," Loi-Kymar said after close examination.
"You have got to be kidding?" Banedon said, not believing his eyes.
"I'm afraid not. You see, that poor guy has a unique problem with the temperature of water. Remember that accident in Toran with one of your fellow apprentices?" Ranma reminded Banedon.
"Oh yes, I remember now; but that was a accident. Who would have done such an awful thing to him?" Banedon asked.
"Why do you want to know?" enquired Ranma, worried that Banedon looked as if he was about to take pity on him despite all the trouble they been through.
"Well, I just want to thank him or her for doing such a good job. He deserves everything he gets!" Banedon laughed, and soon Ranma joined in the laughter, which died down after a few moments
"Let's be serious for a minute. Is the curse permanent? It's going to be hard persuading the Sommlending crowds that she is Vonotar," asked Banedon.
"His curse is reversible, but you need hot water to revert her into a him," Ranma replied.
Wondering if this was true or not, Banedon started to heat up some water that he had in his canteen with a small fire spell. Once the water was hot enough, he poured it over Vonotar. Ranma was indeed right, as the water changed the female wizard into Vonotar, who woke up in shock as the water was bit too hot.
"ARRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGH!" Vonotar cried out.
After that, Vonotar started to moan and curse at Ranma and Banedon for the treatment he was getting.
"Ranma, would you mind shutting him up?"
"Sure, he's been getting on my nerves anyway." Ranma quickly gave Vonotar a swift hit to the head, knocking him out.
"Ah! Here she is!" the old magician eventually cried out triumphantly.
"What did find, Guildmaster?" Banedon asked Loi-Kymar who had been busy searching for something amongst the tangle of vines at the base of the throne.
"My Guildstaff, my young apprentice," replied Loi-Kymar. "Ah, I see that you have Vonotar tied up. Well done, Wild Horse. We would not want him to miss his special home-coming to Sommerlund," Loi-Kymar said.
Ranma walked over to Loi-Kymar and handed him his map of Kalte, pointing out the position of the ship the Cardonal. "Here Guildmaster, you may need this?" Ranma said.
"I'll not be needing that," he replied. "Maps are invariably wrong; I prefer to rely on my own sense of direction. Come, Wild Horse, and my young apprentice; it's time that we leave this place."
Ranma dragged Vonotar by his collar, kicking and screaming along the way at the way he was being treated. Ranma had to resort to knocking Vonotar out cold with a swift punch, as his whining and screaming was beginning to annoy him, before he joined Banedon and Loi-Kymar. Seeing that everyone was present, the Guildmaster spoke.
"Ready?" Ranma and Banedon nodded in acknowledgement.
Loi-Kymar raised his Guildstaff and a dazzling beam of light flowed from its tip. He made three wide sweeps of the air and the Hall of the Brumalmarc was transformed in an umbrella of light.
*End of Flashback*
"...The captain of the Cardonal was surprised at our quick return. He then congratulated us on our success in capturing Vonotar and rescuing Guildmaster Loi-Kymar. The rest of the journey back to Anskavern was swift and uneventful." Ranma finished telling his story to Braxus and Ranko, both of whom were listening to every word with keen interest.
"When we arrived in Anskavern, we were greeted by an anxious crowd including Aunt Saria. They had feared that our early arrival was a sign of our failure, but their attitude soon changed when Vonotar was escorted off the Cardonal," Banedon added.
"So what happened to Vonotar afterwards?" Braxus asked.
"We eventually secured him in Toran. On the dawn of the feast of Maesmarn, in the depths of the Guildhall of the Crystal Star, Vonotar the Traitor was tried by his brotherhood and unanimously found guilty of his terrible crimes. As his punishment, he was cast into the limbo of Daziarn," explained Banedon, who had been there when the Brotherhood had given their verdict.
"Banedon, what is this Daziarn you talk about?" asked Ranma.
"The Daziarn is an astral world which exists outside Aon. We have a portal in the Guildhall that leads to this dimension, a portal of total darkness, the door of an eternal prison from which there can be no escape," Banedon replied.
"Well at least the traitor has been dealt with. He won't be bothering us in the near future," Braxus said.
Ranko and Banedon nodded to Braxus' statement, though not Ranma. Something was bothering him that they hadn't seen the last of Vonotar, but he decided not to say anything to ruin this special occasion.
After the dinner, Braxus got up from where he sitting and walked over to Kalona's perch before stretching out his right arm. Once the blue bird was securely perched on his arm, he made his way back to the table.
"Hey Banedon, it's getting dark now. Let me show you to your room. This monastery can be a little confusing, and you may get lost along the way," Braxus suggested.
Banedon had a look of confusion at Braxus' statement. Ranma was giving his brother an odd look, trying to figure what he was trying to do.
"But you've already shown me my... err... of course, Braxus, lead the way." Banedon finally caught the hidden meaning of his statement.
Getting up, Banedon left the table and started to follow Braxus out of the hall leaving Ranma and Ranko all alone. Before the door fully closed behind him, Braxus popped his head round the door.
"Hey you two, don't do anything that I wouldn't do," Braxus joked as he closed the door.
Ranma turned a little red with embarrassment at Braxus' suggestion. Ranko turned her attention back to Ranma, a little confused.
"What you suppose he meant by that?" asked Ranko.
"Err... well, you see... he's always doing that... you know, trying to embarrass me in front of people," Ranma manage to say, struggling to keep his composure.
'She sure is beautiful, especially in that dress,' Ranma thought.
"Oh?" Ranko simply replied.
There was a moment of silence between them until Ranma noticed that there was a full moon and there would be enough light from them to walk around the monastery. Deciding to break the silence and increasing tension, Ranma got up from where he sitting.
"Ranko, would you mind if we go for a walk around the monastery?" Ranma managed to say without messing up his lines.
Ranko looked up to see Ranma giving his trademark smile as he offered his arm.
"Of course not. Besides, it's a lovely evening, isn't it?" Ranko smiled brightly as she accepted Ranma's offer and quickly looped her arm around his.
Ranma nodded and led her outside the hall and out into the courtyard.
'Perfect,' Ranko thought, snuggling up to Ranma as they both enjoyed the wonderful evening. The good thing was that Ranma wasn't getting all tense or nervous to her affections, which was a good sign of things to come.
As the couple walked around the courtyard of the Kai Monastery, they were being watched for a brief moment. Watching them from afar on the balcony were Braxus, Kalona and Banedon. They could just see Ranma offering his coat to Ranko, having noticed that she was a bit cold.
"You know, that's not a nice thing to do to your brother?" Banedon asked.
Braxus just smirked.
"Well it's about time Ranma did something, and besides, look at those two. Don't you think they make a nice couple? Besides, he probably deserves it the most considering his previous life." Braxus pointed to where Ranma and Ranko were standing on the monastery wall.
"I suppose you're right. We should leave them alone for the moment. Let's go in, it's getting cold, and you still haven't beaten me at chess yet!"
"But I want to see how they are... oh never mind. All right, Banedon, I accept your challenge. But this time I will beat you," Braxus replied, realising it wasn't his business to intrude.
"We shall see, we shall see," Banedon said as they walked back from the balcony into the main chamber.
TBC...
***