The Amazon guard was in a quandary. Her village was under threat, and the village elders were at odds with each other. She assessed the strangers standing at the gate, as she walked towards them. Four women and the male was standing in the center of a circle of warriors. They appeared to be talking. The women forming the circle where evaluating their environment with a critical eye. The four in the center quieted down as she came within hearing distance. One woman and Mamoru stepped forward from the center of the circle. The woman did not appear to be a threat, but the male carried himself, as a true warrior should. They both bow towards her and wait for her to speak. "I am Liner, what you want with mighty Amazon Village?" She questioned. She cursed herself as she spoke in broken Japanese. She cursed herself yet again when the woman spoke instead of the male.
"She does not seem to be much of a threat, if Mamoru's skills are as good as he claims them to be." Thought Nabiki. "My male wishes to address your Grand Council of Elders with a grievance." Nabiki stated with flat, plain, and diplomatic voice.
"What is this grievance?" Liner asked without betraying any sign of emotion.
"Cologne and Shampoo acted most dishonorable while negotiating my male." Nabiki said.
Liner was disturbed by the news but kept a strong front. "'To call the matriarch dishonorable in any sense of the word was an automatic death sentence. Best to turn them away before they get themselves killed." She thought. "Your male?" She said chuckling. "You choose strangely I think. He does not appear strong." Liner said with confidence.
"What my male lacks in strength he makes up for in other abilities." Nabiki said with a confident smirk.
Liner begins to sweat internally. Ability had so many different meanings and/or definitions when it came to the art. She could tell he had some sort of training in the passed. "If you say so chooser of weak male." She said, while putting up a brave front. She smiles inwardly, when she notices the spoke woman blush. She knew the male was blushing, to even though she could not see his face clearly. Her thoughts were interrupted, when the woman composed herself enough to speak again.
Nabiki could not believe she was blushing like -- like a schoolgirl with a secret crush. She was better than that. She was always in control of her emotions. She had to regain control somehow, and the only way she could do that was to distract herself and everyone around her. "How about a quick match then?" She asked. "To prove my male's worth." She rubbed in to goad the warrior. "Of course all Amazon Laws will need to be rescinded for this spar. I don't need my male to be chased, when he defeats you." She stated to further anger the Amazon.
Liner was outraged; to imply she was weak and would lose to an inferior male was the greatest of insults. "How dare she!" She thought. To her credit, she kept her anger in check, and accepted the challenge to fight.
"Sisters! I have been challenged, so this male might prove his worth to address the council. I have also agreed to rescind all Amazon laws for this spar." She yelled so loud that it hurt the ears of those nearby.
Heads of amazons started popping over barriers and walls to watch the upcoming match. Liner looked at Mamoru with a glare that spoke volumes about her superiority "Are you in agreement weak male?" She asked.
"Was he in agreement?" Mamoru asked himself in silent thought "Hell No! Nabiki, what the hell are you doing?" He ranted to himself. "I knew some improvising might be in order but this is ridiculous." He concluded, not daring to voice his thought aloud. Trying his best not to make eye contact, he answers yes. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches a smile cross the guard's face. He listened carefully as she once again addressed Nabiki.
"Very respectful, this one, -- I think few of our males could take lessons from him. I think I let live when I win. Prepare yourself weak male." Liner said in broken Japanese.
Mamoru slowly walked away from his group of warriors to face Liner alone. He stopped and took a sloppy stance that showed a thousand holes in his defense. For the first time he looked Liner in the eyes like a warrior should.
Liner watched him walk away from his team, and take a stance that would have fooled a novice. It appeared to her to be sloppy, but the stance he took could quickly be adjusted. She would have to be careful with this male. It's when she finally was able to look into his eyes that she truly began to worry. Confidence, nothing but strong pure confidence showed in his eyes. Only a female warrior should display that kind of confidence. "Not to worry, I'll knock him down several pegs." She thought to bolster her own confidence.
With a warrior cry that her ancestors could hear, she charged him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh could be heard as the two combatants fought. Punches, kicks, and swipes were either blocked or connected, as the two warriors seem to be on par with each other. The occasional yell rang out across the village as they fought.
Mamoru slowly turned up the heat as they fought. He yawned inwardly as he soon realized this Amazon did not pose a challenge. He opted instead to demonstrate her weaknesses in her defenses.
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Nabiki watched awe struck as Mamoru fought Liner. She glanced over at her sister, only to see the envy bug had once again bitten her.
"It's not fair, I study and practice all my life and Mamoru has only studied for a year, and he has already surpassed me." Akane said with envy in her voice.
Nabiki could understand and appreciate Akane's envy. Her thoughts interrupted, when Ryoko jumped into the conversation.
"Mamoru is such a natural at the art. I was there for eight months of his training." Ryoko said with just a slight ting of envy in her own voice. "We all knew his background, and none of us could understand how he learned or adapted so quickly." She mused aloud not addressing anyone specifically. She looked at Akane with a look that bore concern and worry. "He knew all this himself of course, and once asked my Mom how he was able to progress so quickly. She can't or won't find an answer to his question. The memories of Ranma alone can't be all it. Even with Ranma's knowledge, he should have spent years training his body. Ryoko said in an informative way. "I now have my own suspicions with these reincarnated people coming out of the wood work." She said in her blunt and callus fashion.
Nabiki retreated into thoughts to pondered what she had just leaned. She needed time to think. "Could he be a reincarnated warrior from the past, or is it just his drive to succeed and prevail?" She questioned. Ryoko brought her back to the present by interrupting her thoughts a second time that day. Her attention was brought back to the fight.
"Look at that, he is just toying with her." Ryoko said in frustration.
Nabiki was once again shocked when Akane stood up for him.
"Don't be to hard on him Ryoko." Akane said with a hint of awe and envy intertwined. "I thought that myself at first, but he is only going after her weaknesses, and she has slowly been closing them up." She said with the up most confidence. "Let them be, she is learning from a new opponent. How I wish Ranma had that kind of respect for me as a fighter." She said with pure envy in her voice this time.
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Cologne, Lash, and A'von were watching the spar from afar. A'von was shaking her head in frustration.
"One of our best warriors in this young generation can't even defeat a simple male. He is making a mockery out of her." A'von said with frustration resonating in her voice.
Cologne and Lash glanced at each other. While they were at odds with each other, they both knew a training spar when they saw it.
Cologne having trained many of the warriors herself shakes her head. "I was afraid of this. Mamoru was just learning the arts when I left Japan. He had a very natural talent back then. While his style is, Anything Goes. I can't help notice a flavor of something else." She informed the other two elders. "I know that style, but I can't place my finger on it." She said less confidently.
"A'von I would not concern myself with him making a mockery of her. He is training her and she knows it. If she does not bow in respect at the end of this fight she should be punished." Cologne said in a voice that she reserved only for her position as leader of the village.
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Liner was panting. It did not take her long to figure out she did not have a chance in this fight. In fact she believed he was holding back, but not in a humiliating way. He was giving as well as he was receiving. She quickly realized it was like fighting one elder. He was only going for the obvious holes she left in her defenses. She quickly closed those holes only to open new ones. The match that turned into a spar went on a full twenty minutes before she had her defenses closed off. She found herself flat on her back when the male turned up the heat once again with a powerful roundhouse kick. Before she could respond, he was on top of her. He had his hand held back for the killing blow.
Both knew the match was over and she totally relaxed to show she surrendered. Mamoru sprang up from his position over her with the flexibility of a cat, and then he offered a hand up to show no hard feelings. Liner quickly grasped his arm, and allowed herself to be pulled up to her feet.
Liner was surprised when he spoke to her in perfect Meridian.
"Warrior Liner, you have much potential. Please feel free to sign up for training should these negotiations prove fruitful." Mamoru said with as much respect as he could muster.
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Everyone aboard Tsunami shuddered nervously as Washu laughed mechanically and yelled in the voice of a classical mad/evil scientist. "The Universal Babel Fish Translator! It works! It works!"
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She nodded and bowed while thinking evil thoughts. "I hope Elder Cologne goes down in flames." She thought. She then looked over at Nabiki. "I apologize for insulting you ability to find a strong mate." She said with confidence and warrior pride. She smirked with satisfaction when she saw them both power blush.
Without another word, she motioned them to follow and led them to the square. If she felt any shame in her defeat, she did not show it. She walked in pride, as she was now a better warrior. She could see hints of envy show in her sister's face as they went through the village. Other warriors would want a crack at this male.
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As his team and he was lead through the village by Liner, Mamoru took in his surroundings. The village sported a very simply, functional look. No fancy architecture could be seen anywhere. It was nothing more than a basic bush village. No signs of electricity could be seen anywhere. To say they were completely primitive would be a mistake. There was some equipment used for agricultural purposes through out the village, and he did spot a solar powered phone.
When they reached, the center of the square Mamoru noticed the elders of the village approach. He looked down at the ground in respect. He would not look at them until specifically addressed to answer a question.
Liner was the first to break the silence after everyone settled. She loudly addressed the invader's team for the entire village to hear. "Invaders of Amazon territory." She let those words hang for dramatic affect. "Why have you risked your lives to come here?" She finished. She curiously waited for an answer herself. If the women's ability was anything like the male's ability than they could have easily taken what they wanted by now with great losses to the village.
To the surprise of the villagers one of the women spoke and not the male. Nabiki followed Liner's lead and loudly announced their intent in Meridian. She had taken the time to learn the language when the Amazons had first arrived back home. She bowed. "Honored Elders, we are here to retrieve Ranma Saotome. He was taken against his will while my male "Mamoru" was in negations with Elder Cologne for a peaceful solution to the your village's claim to Ranma."
Nabiki then went into the story of how Mamoru had come into their lives, and the decisions he made to find a peaceful solution to Ranma's life. She then went into the history of the warriors that had come with them, and why they were there.
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Well, that is it for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Again, any constructive criticism is welcome.
A big thank you to Aleh who has pointed out several of my mistakes in chapter 23. You have more than likely noticed a revision in my writing style once again in this chapter. After researching every thing, he pointed out to me. I have tried to tighten up my own writing.
He has not looked at chapter 24 yet so any mistakes are my own. I did not want to keep you waiting as I plan to revise the whole thing at some point in the future.
Adyen: Ya, I think I went a little overboard myself. Then again, I've tried to make it clear the Senshi would more than likely not be fighting.
As to Nura and Umino, I'm setting up material for the third arch. I put them in testing to get the completely out of the way. You won't be seeing them again till the third arc, which belongs to the twins.
OM
"She does not seem to be much of a threat, if Mamoru's skills are as good as he claims them to be." Thought Nabiki. "My male wishes to address your Grand Council of Elders with a grievance." Nabiki stated with flat, plain, and diplomatic voice.
"What is this grievance?" Liner asked without betraying any sign of emotion.
"Cologne and Shampoo acted most dishonorable while negotiating my male." Nabiki said.
Liner was disturbed by the news but kept a strong front. "'To call the matriarch dishonorable in any sense of the word was an automatic death sentence. Best to turn them away before they get themselves killed." She thought. "Your male?" She said chuckling. "You choose strangely I think. He does not appear strong." Liner said with confidence.
"What my male lacks in strength he makes up for in other abilities." Nabiki said with a confident smirk.
Liner begins to sweat internally. Ability had so many different meanings and/or definitions when it came to the art. She could tell he had some sort of training in the passed. "If you say so chooser of weak male." She said, while putting up a brave front. She smiles inwardly, when she notices the spoke woman blush. She knew the male was blushing, to even though she could not see his face clearly. Her thoughts were interrupted, when the woman composed herself enough to speak again.
Nabiki could not believe she was blushing like -- like a schoolgirl with a secret crush. She was better than that. She was always in control of her emotions. She had to regain control somehow, and the only way she could do that was to distract herself and everyone around her. "How about a quick match then?" She asked. "To prove my male's worth." She rubbed in to goad the warrior. "Of course all Amazon Laws will need to be rescinded for this spar. I don't need my male to be chased, when he defeats you." She stated to further anger the Amazon.
Liner was outraged; to imply she was weak and would lose to an inferior male was the greatest of insults. "How dare she!" She thought. To her credit, she kept her anger in check, and accepted the challenge to fight.
"Sisters! I have been challenged, so this male might prove his worth to address the council. I have also agreed to rescind all Amazon laws for this spar." She yelled so loud that it hurt the ears of those nearby.
Heads of amazons started popping over barriers and walls to watch the upcoming match. Liner looked at Mamoru with a glare that spoke volumes about her superiority "Are you in agreement weak male?" She asked.
"Was he in agreement?" Mamoru asked himself in silent thought "Hell No! Nabiki, what the hell are you doing?" He ranted to himself. "I knew some improvising might be in order but this is ridiculous." He concluded, not daring to voice his thought aloud. Trying his best not to make eye contact, he answers yes. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches a smile cross the guard's face. He listened carefully as she once again addressed Nabiki.
"Very respectful, this one, -- I think few of our males could take lessons from him. I think I let live when I win. Prepare yourself weak male." Liner said in broken Japanese.
Mamoru slowly walked away from his group of warriors to face Liner alone. He stopped and took a sloppy stance that showed a thousand holes in his defense. For the first time he looked Liner in the eyes like a warrior should.
Liner watched him walk away from his team, and take a stance that would have fooled a novice. It appeared to her to be sloppy, but the stance he took could quickly be adjusted. She would have to be careful with this male. It's when she finally was able to look into his eyes that she truly began to worry. Confidence, nothing but strong pure confidence showed in his eyes. Only a female warrior should display that kind of confidence. "Not to worry, I'll knock him down several pegs." She thought to bolster her own confidence.
With a warrior cry that her ancestors could hear, she charged him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh could be heard as the two combatants fought. Punches, kicks, and swipes were either blocked or connected, as the two warriors seem to be on par with each other. The occasional yell rang out across the village as they fought.
Mamoru slowly turned up the heat as they fought. He yawned inwardly as he soon realized this Amazon did not pose a challenge. He opted instead to demonstrate her weaknesses in her defenses.
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Nabiki watched awe struck as Mamoru fought Liner. She glanced over at her sister, only to see the envy bug had once again bitten her.
"It's not fair, I study and practice all my life and Mamoru has only studied for a year, and he has already surpassed me." Akane said with envy in her voice.
Nabiki could understand and appreciate Akane's envy. Her thoughts interrupted, when Ryoko jumped into the conversation.
"Mamoru is such a natural at the art. I was there for eight months of his training." Ryoko said with just a slight ting of envy in her own voice. "We all knew his background, and none of us could understand how he learned or adapted so quickly." She mused aloud not addressing anyone specifically. She looked at Akane with a look that bore concern and worry. "He knew all this himself of course, and once asked my Mom how he was able to progress so quickly. She can't or won't find an answer to his question. The memories of Ranma alone can't be all it. Even with Ranma's knowledge, he should have spent years training his body. Ryoko said in an informative way. "I now have my own suspicions with these reincarnated people coming out of the wood work." She said in her blunt and callus fashion.
Nabiki retreated into thoughts to pondered what she had just leaned. She needed time to think. "Could he be a reincarnated warrior from the past, or is it just his drive to succeed and prevail?" She questioned. Ryoko brought her back to the present by interrupting her thoughts a second time that day. Her attention was brought back to the fight.
"Look at that, he is just toying with her." Ryoko said in frustration.
Nabiki was once again shocked when Akane stood up for him.
"Don't be to hard on him Ryoko." Akane said with a hint of awe and envy intertwined. "I thought that myself at first, but he is only going after her weaknesses, and she has slowly been closing them up." She said with the up most confidence. "Let them be, she is learning from a new opponent. How I wish Ranma had that kind of respect for me as a fighter." She said with pure envy in her voice this time.
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Cologne, Lash, and A'von were watching the spar from afar. A'von was shaking her head in frustration.
"One of our best warriors in this young generation can't even defeat a simple male. He is making a mockery out of her." A'von said with frustration resonating in her voice.
Cologne and Lash glanced at each other. While they were at odds with each other, they both knew a training spar when they saw it.
Cologne having trained many of the warriors herself shakes her head. "I was afraid of this. Mamoru was just learning the arts when I left Japan. He had a very natural talent back then. While his style is, Anything Goes. I can't help notice a flavor of something else." She informed the other two elders. "I know that style, but I can't place my finger on it." She said less confidently.
"A'von I would not concern myself with him making a mockery of her. He is training her and she knows it. If she does not bow in respect at the end of this fight she should be punished." Cologne said in a voice that she reserved only for her position as leader of the village.
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Liner was panting. It did not take her long to figure out she did not have a chance in this fight. In fact she believed he was holding back, but not in a humiliating way. He was giving as well as he was receiving. She quickly realized it was like fighting one elder. He was only going for the obvious holes she left in her defenses. She quickly closed those holes only to open new ones. The match that turned into a spar went on a full twenty minutes before she had her defenses closed off. She found herself flat on her back when the male turned up the heat once again with a powerful roundhouse kick. Before she could respond, he was on top of her. He had his hand held back for the killing blow.
Both knew the match was over and she totally relaxed to show she surrendered. Mamoru sprang up from his position over her with the flexibility of a cat, and then he offered a hand up to show no hard feelings. Liner quickly grasped his arm, and allowed herself to be pulled up to her feet.
Liner was surprised when he spoke to her in perfect Meridian.
"Warrior Liner, you have much potential. Please feel free to sign up for training should these negotiations prove fruitful." Mamoru said with as much respect as he could muster.
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Everyone aboard Tsunami shuddered nervously as Washu laughed mechanically and yelled in the voice of a classical mad/evil scientist. "The Universal Babel Fish Translator! It works! It works!"
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She nodded and bowed while thinking evil thoughts. "I hope Elder Cologne goes down in flames." She thought. She then looked over at Nabiki. "I apologize for insulting you ability to find a strong mate." She said with confidence and warrior pride. She smirked with satisfaction when she saw them both power blush.
Without another word, she motioned them to follow and led them to the square. If she felt any shame in her defeat, she did not show it. She walked in pride, as she was now a better warrior. She could see hints of envy show in her sister's face as they went through the village. Other warriors would want a crack at this male.
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As his team and he was lead through the village by Liner, Mamoru took in his surroundings. The village sported a very simply, functional look. No fancy architecture could be seen anywhere. It was nothing more than a basic bush village. No signs of electricity could be seen anywhere. To say they were completely primitive would be a mistake. There was some equipment used for agricultural purposes through out the village, and he did spot a solar powered phone.
When they reached, the center of the square Mamoru noticed the elders of the village approach. He looked down at the ground in respect. He would not look at them until specifically addressed to answer a question.
Liner was the first to break the silence after everyone settled. She loudly addressed the invader's team for the entire village to hear. "Invaders of Amazon territory." She let those words hang for dramatic affect. "Why have you risked your lives to come here?" She finished. She curiously waited for an answer herself. If the women's ability was anything like the male's ability than they could have easily taken what they wanted by now with great losses to the village.
To the surprise of the villagers one of the women spoke and not the male. Nabiki followed Liner's lead and loudly announced their intent in Meridian. She had taken the time to learn the language when the Amazons had first arrived back home. She bowed. "Honored Elders, we are here to retrieve Ranma Saotome. He was taken against his will while my male "Mamoru" was in negations with Elder Cologne for a peaceful solution to the your village's claim to Ranma."
Nabiki then went into the story of how Mamoru had come into their lives, and the decisions he made to find a peaceful solution to Ranma's life. She then went into the history of the warriors that had come with them, and why they were there.
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Well, that is it for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Again, any constructive criticism is welcome.
A big thank you to Aleh who has pointed out several of my mistakes in chapter 23. You have more than likely noticed a revision in my writing style once again in this chapter. After researching every thing, he pointed out to me. I have tried to tighten up my own writing.
He has not looked at chapter 24 yet so any mistakes are my own. I did not want to keep you waiting as I plan to revise the whole thing at some point in the future.
Adyen: Ya, I think I went a little overboard myself. Then again, I've tried to make it clear the Senshi would more than likely not be fighting.
As to Nura and Umino, I'm setting up material for the third arch. I put them in testing to get the completely out of the way. You won't be seeing them again till the third arc, which belongs to the twins.
OM