*Standard disclaimer*
This Fic is a crossover of Ranma ½ with Grandia and Sailor Moon there will also be elements of Grandia 2 and maybe a few other things please note that I own none of these, I'm just borrowing them, Thank you.
*AU warning*
The Grandia universe is going to be an AU and is going to suffer from some cross contamination from Ranma entering it. Some main characters will change, that's what Ranma does to people and places.
(Music – I wanna Be Sedated by Offspring)
For the want of an AspirinChapter 2
Shades of Grey
* * *
Dr Alma rubbed the bridge of her noise and scowled, she knew it was silly; Gadwin wouldn't lie to her even if he could do so but the only other option was just too unbelievable to contemplate. Looking at Gadwin's sincere face again and sighing in defeat, Dr Alma came to the conclusion that unbelievable or not the young man Gadwin had brought into her office unconscious had appeared out of thin air. Well that was Gadwin's story and he seemed to be sticking to it. Now that hurdle had been crossed it was time to get to what was important... that being the health of her newest patient.
Looking over the young man Dr Alma frowned at the strange mark on his forehead. Why in creation would someone have a silver sword with black wings tattooed there of all places. Shrugging this off until the subject was awake to answer questions Dr Alma focused her senses deeper and found something that would explain why her patient was in a coma like state.
He seemed to be suffering from the most complete Mana drain she had ever come across, and considering the size of the reserves she could sense that fact alone was worrying. That he had been forced to use so much Mana that he had needed to draw upon his own life energy just to do whatever it was that caused this was also rather staggering. What had he been trying to do, realign the moon or maybe cross the void between worlds? Laughing silently to herself at the thought of the last option she chided her flight of fancy before looking up to meet the concerned stare of Gadwin. "It's all right Gadwin, he just seemed to be suffering from 'Mana Burnout' though considering his reserves I'd rather never run into whatever caused this."
Seeing Gadwin sag with relief she cocked an eyebrow at him "Why the concern? From your story you've never met before." Gadwin seemed to think a moment before answering "Call it a hunch, but I think this lad's going to be important somehow... besides, he looks like he might make a good sparing partner, be better him then wandering the wilderness for weeks on end looking for a good fight wouldn't it?"
Dr Alma giggled softly "Well since you have such a vested interest in making sure he gets well you can stay here an keep an eye on him, I have some things I need to get from the Mogay merchant, then I need to talk something over with the Chief."
Gadwin nodded solemnly and leaned against the wall to rest.
Dr Alma sighed softly and shook her head before heading out to complete her chores.
* * *
Tanaka straightened his rumpled clothes and slicked back his messed hair before turning to Akane. "As I was saying Akane-sama, all reports say that Ranma has not been sighted anywhere near the other fiancés. Also, none have seen him at any of the eateries around Nerima or any of the other places he normally goes for time alone or to meet with one of the other girls. The best guess we can come up with is that he has gained word of a new challenge and is somewhere in the wilderness training to meet whatever threat looms."
Akane finished brushing the grass from her clothing listening with one ear to what Tanaka was saying, as his dissertation drew to a close her face grew thoughtful and she seemed to fall into a trance like state. After a few minutes of silence she shook herself awake and turned to Tanaka. "If all you say is true Tanaka-san then my thanks to you, It would seem Ranma has started to learn his place, one can only hope this is a glimpse to the end of the farce of a race between myself and the others, as if any of them had a chance at gaining Ranma's favor. Well if it is indeed as you say then I think I'll have to go make something special for Ranma as a reward for doing what's 'right'." After saying this, she calmly drew her self up from where she was leaning against a tree and started towards her home.
Some minutes later, a trio of scruffy boys one holding a video camera walked up to Tanaka. Once they drew close enough to speak without being over heard the tallest one asked "So why did you tell her the truth about Ranma, Most would have made up lies to get her angry." Listening intently to the boy Tanaka smiled as he finished and responded smugly. "Ah dear Izaru, true, if I had told Akane-sama something less honest she would indeed have been angered at Ranma." He spoke Ranma's name as a curse. "But now that she is pleased with him, she will no doubt try to cook him a feast, and for all she may try with all her heart her cooking is not fit for human consumption. This way, at worst, Ranma will anger her with his refusals to eat, thus earning honestly the braining that will follow. But if he should gather his courage and try her meal, then if we are lucky he may die a screaming death caused by our lady and if he doesn't then no doubt he will anger her anyway thus suffering his justly earned punishment." As he drew to a close he saw the looks of admiration in the eyes of his fellows and smiled, being praised by one's peers was always something to enjoy.
* * *
As had happened before Ranma slowly rose from the depths of sleep. A yawn and stretch followed by bleary eyes opening and looking out across the black nothingness of the dreamscape. Seeing he was still technically sleeping, he grumbled looking around for the witch that had tricked him.
Spotting the red haired harridan floating some distance away from him, an amused look on her face, he did the only thing he could: he opened his big trap.
"Hey Lady, what do you think you where doing tricking me like that? You know as well as I do that I didn't mean what I said, at least not the way you took it."
A soft laugh answered this statement before the red head's eyes flicked open and she assessed him. "Ranma you really should have learned by now not to speak before you think about what's being asked of you. I mean you spent how long living with that girl Nabiki and what did you learn? Nothing, that's what, and now here you are sounding just like that little twit Akane just after you have beaten her in a sparring match 'I wasn't ready', 'You cheated', 'Try me for real this time' any of those sound familiar, hmm? Well maybe you should consider learning from it this time."
Silence was all that followed this volley, as it seemed Ranma was taking her advice and really thinking about what had been said. After a few seconds Ranma's eyes flick up to her face and he asks "How'd you know about all that, I thought you just woke up."
Grinning, Millenia replied "Well it's like this; really I've been with you all the time, just... asleep is the closest you could come to describing it. Everything that's happened to you has happened to me. I just needed to bond with you closer to access it." She pauses to roll over in midair so she would be lying on her stomach, thus giving Ranma a good look down her cleavage. "The main reason for that is so I can help and understand you better, one of the first things I intend to help you with, is being honest with yourself, whether you like it or not. But before that I think it's time you learned a little about magic, the basics if you will."
On hearing this Ranma's face screwed up in a look of distaste and he once again opened his mouth "Look I don't need nothing to do with magic, magic's nothing but trouble anyway. Feh, the only thing it's good for is causing me problems. Hell, look at that Setsuna chick, because of her I may never see my mom again and what's at fault? Magic, that's what."
Millenia just floated through this speal without a care and once he has finished counters, "Yes Magic may cause troubles, but look at it this way; If you knew anything about magic theory you would have been much harder for Setsuna to capture, those compulsions she used are like submission holds. They work great against someone with no magical training or someone who hasn't been taught how to counter them, but if you know where to push and where to bend they're easy to get around, even with your weakness towards water magic."
Ranma sat in silence a look of deep contemplation on his face, after minutes go by Millenia begins to wonder if he's sleeping with his eyes open like he used to do at school. After 15 minutes Millenia is about ready to zap him when his eyes flick open and he looks at her and sighed. "Ok maybe you've got a point about what you was saying about magic. I'll learn, after all if a chick can do it, it can't be all that hard." Just as his mouth shuts, the smell of ozone fills the area as a now crispy Ranma crumples to the floor thanks to a steamed Millenia.
"First rule, student" growled Millenia "Don't tick the teacher off."
* * *
It had been a day since the strange man had been brought into Dr Alma's office by Gadwin. Ever since then, Dr Alma had been trying to work out the puzzle that he represented. Because not only did he have massive Mana reserves but he seemed to show no signs of having access to any of the types of magic normally available. At first, he showed signs of a strong leaning towards fire magic, so strong in fact that he was virtually defenseless against water magic but that proved to be just another strange thing about this young man. After a day of worthless study, Dr Alma had given in and had contacted a friend who was responsible for magical research and the development of the current magic system, one Professor J.D. Ohlmsworth.
Prof Ohlmsworth had arrived a few minutes ago and was now studying the comatose man intently with a small monocle like device, taking notes every so often. After half an hour of study, he turned to the concerned Doctor and gave a small grin.
"It would seem that what we have here is an entirely new facet of magic as of yet undiscovered. From what I can gather it has something to do with darkness or shadow, so my guess is its opposite would be light though where we will gain the readings required to produce a light egg I have no idea. Give me a few minutes and I'll have all the data I require for this shadow egg."
After saying this he set about taking more readings, not noticing the pained look of indulgence of Dr Alma's face, she had always said the professor had little in the way of bedside manner now he was proving it, it was most likely lucky that the young man was unconscious at the moment.
"Oh yes, by the way Dr Alma, could you please contact me when our young friend here awakens? I would like to talk to him about adding the data from his Mana egg to the other four all ready available at the moment."
Dr Alma took a moment to massage her aching head before replying "Yes Professor I'll make sure to contact you as soon as I am able."
Nodding the Professor stayed long enough to take a few more reading before bustling out like a small tornado.
Heaving a sigh of relief that the little man was gone, Dr Alma set about cleaning the mess he had created.
* * *
In another world, a young blond was sleeping restless in bed. At present, she was experiencing a nightmare that had plagued her for the last few days.
* * *
Usagi's eyes opened to a now familiar vista of shifting greys, as with the other times she found herself covered in only a blinding white aura of power. She turned her head slightly and leaned back into the embrace of the shadow clad man who had appeared just as he always did and leaned her head against his well muscled shoulder, giggling as his pigtail brushed her noise. For what seemed like an eternity and a few fleeting moments all at the same time they rested like this, happy in each other's embrace.
Then all too soon it appeared, a withered hand massive in size seized up the man and threw him far from where she was. Moments after this happened she felt her strength leave her and fell plummeting to the ground only to awake to her mother's gentle voice asking if she was all right. "It was just a nightmare mother," she replied as she had the last three days then rolled over and once again tried to get some small measure of sleep. Her mother looked down at her child with worry etched on her face before seeking her own bed and trying to find slumber's grip.
* * *
Across town from the young blond's restless repose, an equally young miko was awakened by feelings of foreboding. As was her want, she set out to the temple to try to find out the source of her distress by gazing into the sacred fire.
After kneeling in front of the sacred fire, she began to go through the preparations required for the fire reading. Slowly an image began to form, then suddenly it was as if she where living the vision. Floating high above the city cast in greys where two beings, power radiating from them in visible waves one of light, the other darkness. Looking closely, she could see that taking the auras as a single whole they formed a slightly marred Ying-yang symbol. As time passed the only feeling she could get from the pair was that of great power and equally great contentment at that which was. Suddenly the peaceful image was rent as a withered arm reached forth from beyond and grasped the being of darkness wrenching it from the embrace of the light and sending it somewhere beyond her vision. A feeling of loss keen as a knife's blade bit into her heart as she saw that with its other gone the being of light faltered and failed, plummeting to the ground and a death that surely awaited it.
Rei was slow to bring herself up from the vision's depths and once she was fully aware again she was shocked to see that the dawn was almost upon her. Shaking off her lethargy, she quickly rose and set about readying herself for the day, all the while hoping that these actions would drive away the depressing end that the vision showed her.
* * *
And finally in a third place on this world something was happening that would have had Ranma shivering in a corner if he had been around and aware of its occurrence. For you see Akane was cooking, now most people think that Akane's cooking turns out the way it does because of things like her refusal to read the cooking book, this is wrong however.
As we look down on the scene of a pot of bubbling darkness sitting on a stove, circling the pot we can notice three sets of eight four inch tall robe-clad figures. The closest two of the rings are on their knees facing towards the pot bowing repeatedly as they chanted, the outer tinge is marching in perfect synchronicity also adding their discordant voices to the chanting. Standing before the stove is an also robe clad Akane holding a tome covered with some kind of pale pinkish hide with a set of wavering Eldritch Runes on the main cover, that roughly translated meant "Cooking with Cthulu." Therefore, as you can see in fact she cooks very well... if one happens to be a Lord of the Underworld or some other hellish plain.
In addition to this already hellish scene, today Akane was trying something extra special, just a few days ago she had concluded that Ranma needed a thank you gift for all he had done recently. And as he was supposed to be out training then by her calculations (and the augury she had performed) he should be due in today at the very latest. Ok so sure, she couldn't pronounce the strange gaijin name of the dish but it sounded good, though why no one else liked her cooking she had no idea.
Yes, that's right Akane does taste her cooking, likes it even, how and why.
Well you see on the first page of the cooking book is a special recipe, after all you have to be able to taste your food to make sure it has been cooked properly, correct? Well this particular recipe changes a person so that they can withstand and even enjoy the same things as those of a Cthuloid persuasion... pity she never tried cooking it for Ranma, maybe then he might have enjoyed her cooking.
* * *
The cooking had been completed a full eight hours ago and still Ranma had not appeared. To add insult to injury Nabiki seemed to know something and knowing Nabiki it would be costly to get the answer, well costs she could handle... not to mention she could always take it out of Ranma's hide when she got her hands on him. Steeling herself for the confrontation Akane pushed open the door to Nabiki's room wrinkling her noise at the smell of the Divine that permeated the room she kept it from her face as she walked over to where Nabiki was looking over some of her books.
"So, how much is it going to cost me to find out what's happened to that baka."
She bit out, wincing at the glower that shot her way at calling Ranma an idiot and just knowing that whatever the price had been it had now doubled at the very least.
With a Feline stretch, Nabiki closed the book she was reading, something in Egyptian by the looks of it, Nabiki turned her smoky eyes to her younger sibling though how they where related she had no idea.
"Well, sister dear. That's really two questions you see, for the first half of the answer 600,000 yen, cheap at twice the price I might add, for the second half however that's going to cost you 200,000 yen and three favors of 'my' choice when ever I want them."
Akane winced at the favors part, the money was simple enough to get, but the last time she had to do one of Nabiki's favors it had cost her weeks of work and three of her pets (1). Akane figured she could workout the second half of the answer with her own sources. "I'll take the first part of the answer, the rest I can work out myself. Same account as last time or another one?"
Nabiki smirked "The same one will be fine sister dear, thought you might be surprised at how hard the rest of the answer will be to come across." Nabiki was sure she would, she had better anyway considering the work Nabiki's pawns had put into destroying all evidence of Ranma's leaving the timeline. Though enough remained for him to be able to get back, though anyone checking would be unable to workout where he had gone let alone the fact that he had left at all.
Akane just snorted and pulled a cell phone from somewhere and dialed a long string of numbers once it was answered she barked a few words in an unearthly tongue and hung up. "You should find everything is in order."
Nabiki's eyes grew dull for a moment before she nodded and began to talk.
"From what I understand, three days ago Ranma was contacted by someone who claimed to be able to help him find a cure for his curse. This 'S. Meiou' as proof sent along a ring that would hold off the curse's transformation for a total of six hours. The time limit was used from the time the wearer is hit with cold water until they are doused with hot water. The time is cumulative and it recharged at midnight. The ring worked as stated, the next day Ranma left after leaving the information I've passed onto you with me."
Akane's face turned dark. "So that pervert's gotten cured and left us high and dry has he? Hah, typical. Hope he rots." This said she stormed out of the room.
Nabiki watched as she left her face passive, once the door closed he face became sad. "You really should have forked over the rest of the price for a full answer, little sister. Oh well guess that means it's up to me to take up the engagement when he returns. Oh what hardships I must undertake for my family." This last part was said with sarcasm dripping from her word's leaving it plainly obvious that she considered it no hardship at all.
* * *
A sigh of relief and a workstation was turned off. Bast hoped her plan paned out; she would hate having gone to all the trouble of setting up prophetic dreams and visions if it didn't. Shrugging an elegant shoulder she hummed to herself.
It was in the Fate's hands now. After thinking this thought she cursed herself, just as a hand tapped her on the shoulder.
Turning around, Bast once again cursed herself as standing before her mallet on shoulder was Skuld, youngest of the fates and the least likely to like what she was doing. Bast calmed herself enough to speak and asked, "Yes, was there something I could do for you Skuld?"
Skuld sighed and handed a large sledgehammer to Bast. Bast cocked and eyebrow and asked "What this for?" Skuld smirked "Just giving you something a little more subtle to use when meddling in the lives of mortals." Skuld then turned on her heel and marched on her way. Bast muttered to herself about bratty kids and suddenly felt a lot more sympathy for Urd then she ever had to date.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the home of Setsuna, much contemplation had been going on.
Setsuna had always understood that her teacher viewed the Silver Millennium with little fondness and thus would greatly favor something like it never again coming to pass. But what had not come to her attention was just the level of dislike Tio maintained, looking back on it, it wasn't all that hard to see why, considering Tio's kind where originally designed to help in the overthrowing of a similar rule. All this was what had caused her to pause and consider before putting Tio's plan into action. After all the slowing of the flow of time was not something to be done without careful consideration, something she could now indulge in without the constant pain associated with Ranma's existence.
Therefore, she had spent the three days since Ranma's eviction going over all the complications, factors, and possible forces that may intervene and unfortunately, she had come to the same conclusion at Tio: Slow the passage of time in the hope that Ranma would, against the odds, find a way to return before Usagi fell in her battle with Beryl.
Course set and resolve unwavering, Setsuna faded from this plane of existence to appear at the Gates of Time.
* * *
Long ago, at the dawn of creation, there existed a race unlike any that would follow. This race found power in belief rather then logic and facts as most others.
It was they who created the Gates of Time so very long ago, and they who forged the pathways between planets. No one knows what happened to this race, as long ago they simply faded from existence.
Maybe they felt they needed another place to dwell as new races began to spawn. Maybe some horrible disaster struck them. Whatever the case, no one in this day and age knows and few of the artifacts remain.
What most of this meant was that Setsuna would have to find, hidden deep in the maze like halls of the Gate, a room most often kept locked as being considered far to dangerous to let any wander unknowingly into it.
Setsuna cursed, kicking a snotling out of her way. She had always hated the little terrors that kept the gate running, though they where far better then the few gretchin that seemed to take a perverse delight in hiding in the most odd places, ready to jump out and startle the unwary. Thankfully, she seldom had to deal with such beasts as they only dwelled in the deep halls.
After minutes or years of wandering (it was hard to tell, and didn't really matter anyway), Setsuna came across a rickety door with "SEKRAT STUF, DO NOT ENTA – THIZ MEANZ YOU N00BZ"(2) stenciled across it in florescent pink paint.
Pulling out a rusty key and fitting it into the strange lock, Setsuna listened to the clunks and grinding cogs, not even having turned the key yet. As the door swung open she saw a dusty workshop cluttered with seemingly useless things, over in a cleared corner were a set of twin leavers one bright red, the other a deep dark blue.
Setsuna stalked over to the levers and gave the blue on a pull a display flickered alight reading "SLOW TIME", and Setsuna nodded her head, still unsure why red things went faster.
* * *
As dawn stroked the rooftops at Dight Village, there was a stirring in the Doctors Office. Ranma lay in bed, peacefully as he had done three days previous, however something was different today.
If you looked closely, you might notice a flickering of black flame-like energy around his chiseled face or across his muscled arms. As the day continued the energy seemed to ebb away until around Seven. As the clock struck six minutes passed seven things started to happen. In a massive surge the black energy flowed across Ranma, coalescing into twin wings of pitchest black. Ranma's eye snapped open, the formerly cerulean blue orbs now a single uniform void black.
With a massive leap Ranma surged to his feet, scanning his surroundings, noticing he seemed to be inside a doctor's office and that there was a really big guy with an equally big sword standing in front a woman who looked to be the owner of this office.
After a moment of thought, Ranma scratched his head and laughed uneasily the wings adorning his back seeming to flow back where they came from as he did so. "Sorry about this, just overreacted since the last thing I can remember wasn't a situation I wanted to be caught unawares in, didn't mean to startle you. Oh, I'm Ranma Saotome by the way sorry to be a bother."
Gadwin kept his sword drawn for a moment longer until Dr Alma hit him in the stomach making him gasp for air. "Now Gadwin, put that thing away, Hello Ranma, I'm Dr Alma, This big lunk is the one who found you. Gadwin why don't you go help Ranma to the Inn, I'm sure he must be hungry after four days without eating."
Just as Ranma was about to say something his stomach roared it's thoughts on something to eat, laughing again he mumbled something about that sounding like a good idea. As Ranma started towards the door he seemed to sway, starting to fall, Gadwin moved quickly and gave him a hand. "Look's like you might be a mite more out of it then you thought, here lean on me and well get you something to eat."
A.N. Hmm shorter then I thought it would be. Managed to get everything I wanted said quicker then I thought I'd be able to. Oh well I've gotten Ranma awake, shown a few things that I wanted, and set some things into play.
Next chapter: Leen makes an appearance *near the end of the chapter* and some of the villains come out of the shadows to make themselves known. ^_^
(1) Best not to think of what said pets where, you might have nightmares ^_^
(2) Yes that's right, The gates of time where made by ORK's, WAAAAAGH