Disclaimer: Just in case you missed it the first three times: this is a work of fan fiction. I don't own Ranma. I don't own Exalted. Do NOT beg your Exalted GM to let you get away with any of this, because most of it breaks the rules of the game. In the interests of telling a good story, canon material will be run through a shredder, and ideas will be smacked by a very large ball peen hammer until they cry for mercy. Signed C&C and reviews accepted. Pointless flames will be impregnated with catnip for use as cat toys. Avalon needs her fix.
Cestus Sol
A Ranma/Exalted RPG crossover by the MadPanda
Chapter Three: The Ring's The Thing
Ranma dreamt.
He stood, clad in his armor, glittering in the first rays of dawn as the sun rose in the sky. Below him, across the blasted plain that had once been his realm, the massed forces brought to bear against him swarmed over wreckage and ruin, streaming toward the hill where he awaited them with stoic patience. He nodded in appreciation: theirs had been a fine plan, a good plan, well executed.
This would be a fine death.
He turned to regard his companion, a woman of unearthly and savage beauty, armed and armored as he was. Once he was sure she was listening, he smiled sadly.
"Go, love. Leave me. They do not come for your blood, and I would not have you fall here. Not like this."
She shook her head and snarled. "What, am I so weak that you would send me away? I shall not leave you!"
"You must." He sighed. For a moment, the conflicting emotions in his heart tossed his mood this way and that: love of this woman, pride in her courage, sorrow at the truth of his impending death, resolve that it must not be in vain. He glanced down at the pursuing army. "One of us must live on. And it is already decided that I will not leave here alive."
"But..."
"It is already decided." He laughed with grim, resigned amusement. "They have done well, our traitorous servants. They have been clever, and my kind have been blinded by our own stupid, selfish pride. It is fitting that they shall slay us. There is a kind of justice in that."
"I cannot leave you! Please, my lord...husband..."
He reached over, brushed a tear from her cheek and kissed her gently.
"I will come back to you, though it takes a thousand, thousand lifetimes and a dozen ages of Creation. You do not abandon me, and I am not helpless before my fate. Grant me this last desire, heart of my heart."
They shared one last, passionate kiss. He whispered his final wish to her just as she let him go. Tearfully she backed away and saluted him solemnly before turning and dashing away. He watched her go, a sad smile on his lips.
"You hold me in too high regard, beloved. I was as guilty as all the rest, and the vengeance of heaven has proven as slow, subtle, and sure in this as in all else. I am duly served for my crimes."
He gripped the hilt of his mighty blade and flowed effortlessly into a strong ready stance just as the first of his foes crested the hill. Smiling calmly, he leapt into the fray, the sword singing its savage and joyous hymn of battle...
Ranma sat bolt upright, soaked with sweat and gasping for air. With frustration and relief he recognized the Tendo's guest room, the slumbering bulk of his father's panda form, the first light of false dawn hitting the windows...
"Only a dream! Thank the kami!"
He paused briefly to regain his wits before he rose and headed for the bath, determined to get a head start on his day. Normally he would never do this, but today he had company coming...and the strange little girl owed him answers. While the morning spar was usually at least somewhat enjoyable, he didn't want to be late for her arrival.
While soaking in the furo, he put one idea to the test. The ring would not come off his girl-side's hand either. Not, he reminded himself firmly, that he had really expected anything else. It was just as well that nobody else was awake to notice and ask questions he couldn't answer. Almost too late he remembered to retrieve the crystal ball, but he made it out into the yard just as Urvasi hopped up onto the wall and and beckoned to him.
"This is a good morning for a run, Ranma. Would you join me?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Catch me, then, if you can!" Giggling, she turned and bounded away across the rooftops of Nerima. With a giddy grin, Ranma gave chase, delighting in the innocent play for a few moments and allowing the excitement to chase away the last lingering shivers of his nightmare.
She led him to the park and perched on a lamppost, making faces at him and almost daring him to leap up to confront her.
"That won't help, 'Vasi-chan. I can easily jump that high," he laughed.
"Yes, I know." She suddenly sobered and glanced to the East. "Tell me, warrior, what is the purpose of your art?"
"A martial artist's duty is to defend the weak," Ranma recited out of long habit.
For just a moment, she seemed both solemn and so much older than twelve, with ancient wisdom in her eyes and dust in her memories.
"Then so be it. Forgive me for having doubted you. May I...may I take back that orb, just for a moment?"
"Sure." He tossed it up to her. "Uhm, what exactly is it really?"
"Something very precious, Ranma. Something very special. And...something that belongs to you by right." She raised it to her lips and whispered a word, as if speaking to the crystal itself.
"You're gonna explain this, right?"
"Yes. It is time."
She lobbed it to him underhand. It hung there for a moment, glittering in the rays of the sun, before dropping toward him. He reached out for it...and just before it fell close enough for him to catch, the full light of dawn fell on him. There was a sound of shattering crystal, and the light was suddenly everywhere in and around him, silent and painless...
And then the lawn sprinkler system activated. If it isn't one thing, it's another.
After an eternal moment of power and light, Ranma opened her eyes to find Urvasi kneeling before her, head bowed.
"Greetings to you, Ranma, Sword of Heaven!"
"Uhm...'Vasi-chan?"
"Yes, Lightbringer?" The girl raised her head...and stopped abruptly. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Her gaze dropped down to chest level, then came right back up to meet Ranma's eyes.
"You...were a man."
"Yeah, uhm, this is embarrassing...it's a curse."
"You are a man?"
"Yes."
"Who sometimes is a girl?"
"Uh...yeah." Ranma fidgeted.
"Is it reversible?"
"Huh? Oh, sure. Cold water makes me a girl, hot water changes me back to a guy. Another of my stupid father's bright ideas."
Urvasi smacked her forehead. "This comes of being my mother's daughter. Oh, well. 'Tis no great matter, Sword of Heaven. The power cares not what form wields it, save that they are worthy." She grinned up at Ranma. "Besides, I doubt it will alarm the Nightfang."
"The who?"
Urvasi pointed. After a moment's confusion, Ranma realized she was indicating the ring. She held up her hand. And stared.
"Hey! I'm glowing!"
"A side effect of the Exaltation. Fear not. It shall fade over time. Now, about the ring...it marks your bond with an old friend of your innermost heart."
"Huh? Is that a fancy way of sayin' I got another fiancée? I already got too many, thanks to my stupid old man and his stupid promises."
"Fiancée...this means an intended bride?"
"Yeah."
"Ah. That would explain why you were so concerned that I was one." Urvasi laughed. "No, do not fear, Ranma. The Nightfang, the one who wears the companion to that ring, is no fiancée."
"Oh, good!"
"She is your wife."
To Be Continued
Tune in next time when we meet (Urvasi's) Mom, the Tendos get an inkling of what just happened, and Ranma contemplates married life with a woman he doesn't remember yet.
Author's Notes
Okay, hands up, everyone who saw that last line coming a mile away.