Author's Note: Couple things first. There seems to have been a misunderstanding back in chapter 10, and I apologize for not stating it explicitly, but when Ranma meets Kagura (and yes, its the Kagura from Inu-Yasha, with a couple hundred years to grow up) he's back in his own time. I fixed that (added a tiny lil sentence to the beginning of that chapter, so you won't have to re-read it).

Now, here's the outcome of the vote so far:

Kasumi: 15

Kagura: 24

Looks like Kagura wins...by a lot. But I don't really feel right leaving Kasumi hang like this. Err...there were a couple people who proposed I do both, I'm kinda forced to agree with , who stated in uh...his/her review that it'd go against Ranma's code of honor to engage in a relationship with both of them at the same time...and I'm not really sure I could pull it off, either. So, here's what I'm gonna do. I'll take Author Dudicoff drop's advice and separate the storylines from here. I'll finish this first with a Ranma/Kasumi pairing, then come back and rewrite the chapters for a Ranma/Kagura pairing. The revisions will take place during Arc 3, so you don't have to worry about them for now. I'll most likely attach the extra chapters at the end of the story with a side note to identify them. For now, "Mastery" is about to begin its conclusion, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

By the way, this chapter contains elements (for those of you who recognize them) of SNK's "The Last Blade 2." (See if you can find the references, hehe). I don't own that, either. Also, for those who enjoy the fight scenes, I'm terribly sorry they haven't been up to standard, but I've drawn a blank when it comes to them, lately. Or maybe the fights weren't all that important. In any case, sorry 'bout that.

Also, I apologize for the screwy formatting, seems like MS-Word doesn't like me double-spacing anything or even putting a line in between, so I had to resort to some exotic measures to signify scene changes.

Chapter Eleven: Beginning Conflict

Cologne looked up as she felt a strong surge of ki enter through the doors of the Neko-hanten. She held back her gasp of surprise, but her ancient eyes betrayed her shock at seeing a full Amazon war party being led into her restaurant by one of her fellow elders. "Khu Lon, we would have words with you!" an ancient voice crowed in Chinese. She left her place behind the counter and moved around the kitchen to meet them.

"What is it, Brush? Sho Pu?" Cologne started to get worried as she let her gaze wander across the assembled Amazons. The restaurant had bee all but vacated as the group of heavily armed women had entered. Brush and Soap were two of the more...radical elders of their tribe. She had no doubt that they would have no qualms to resort to violence and deception to get whatever they wanted.

"You have failed to bring back the outsider male who disgraced your great-granddaughter, and as such, disgraced our tribe. We are here to fix that. You have two days to bring him back to Joketsuzoku, or we shall take matters into our hands." The small figure leading the party spoke. Brush was the second eldest on the council of elders, and was the Amazon's weapons master. Soap was the keeper of their magical knowledge. Now, Cologne knew she had reason to be extremely cautious and worried. If those two chose to involve themselves, any number of things could happen.

"I do not know where Ranma is," Cologne began, taking care to refer to the pig-tailed martial artist by his name and not as her "son-in-law." "He is on his mastery quest, and even you would not deny him that, would you?" Soap snorted. "He is a male, what does he know of the fighting arts?" The statement caused Cologne to raise an eyebrow. "Really? Then you should think about just who slew the god-king Saffron in battle. Ranma is a fighter who is to be feared and respected for his skill."

"Respect a male? Don't be ridiculous. And you don't honestly believe that that mere boy killed Saffron, do you? It's all a fancy story to scare us away from him," Brush commented, causing Shampoo and Mousse to come around the counter, anger evident in their eyes. Cologne held up her staff to stop them. "Are you calling my great-granddaughter a liar, Brush?" Her fellow elder met her hard stare. "You have two weeks. Then we will do it our way. Nothing will keep us from the boy."

As they left, Cologne sighed and turned aroun. "We had better warn the Tendos and Ranma, if he can be found. This is not good."

V----------------------------------------V

Ranma woke up, sweating heavily. His eyes searched the area around him in panic for a moment, before focusing on the dying embers of the campfire. It had just been a dream. Or had it? Somehow, he had a feeling something bad was about to happen. It was a feeling he usually got when Akane was about to be kidnapped again, or someone had come up with yet another hare-brained scheme to get him married. Only this time, it was worse. Much, much worse. And he didn't like it one bit.

Nothing I can do about it, though. Ryoga ain't around and Mousse's probably back in Nerima, so what am I so worried about? Another shudder ran down his spine as a sense of dread crept up within him. Or maybe I should come visit. Just a quick one. Yeah. I'm gonna do that.

V----------------------------------------V

"Saotome!" Mousse shouted. Since he was currently in his cursed form, however, it come out more like a "Quackquacko!" It was enough to get the pig-tailed martial artist's attention, however, and Ranma turned and stared at the duck, surprise written across his face. "Mousse? What the hell are you doing here?" The duck quacked a couple of times, before Ranma realized he wouldn't get any answers this way. Picking up the kettle from the fire, he doused the duck, which promptly turned into his myoptic rival.

"So, Mousse, what brings you here? Not like you could just take off from Nerima and go look for me to challenge me." The Chinese boy shifted his glasses before replying. "Saotome, there is a problem in Nerima." Nothing new there, Mousse thought silently. "The council has sent a hunting group for you. They have two elders with them, and the old ghoul told me to warn you they were likely to do something rash, or stupid...or both."

"What?"

"If you thought Cologne treated me bad because I'm a male, you should see Brush and Sho Pu! They're dangerous." Mousse took a deep breath. "Listen, Saotome. I don't like you, and I don't want Shampoo to marry you. But those two will do anything it takes to bring you into the tribe. Either by beating you into submission, or taking hostages. It doesn't matter to them. I'm telling you this because as much as I dislike you, you've proven honorable so far, and I like them even less."

The two sat in silence for a moment, contemplative. "You better hurry back. The old ghoul said she'd keep an eye on them, but even she and Shampoo can't fight an entire war party on their own."

Ranma packed up his camp in less time than it took for Mousse to find cold water and transform, and promptly started running back, trailing the transformed duck towards the city he had left not too long ago.

V----------------------------------------V

And far away, in China, near the cursed valley of Jusenkyo, in the village of the Joketsuzoku, an amazon drew the final part of a magic circle. The mandala flashed, glowing an ethereal silver as it pulsated, then lifted off the ground. The glowing symbol hung in the air, slowly drawing power from the mystics of the Joketsuzoku, then moving on and drawing upon the pool of energy that was Jusenkyo itself. It turned from silver to an ominous blood red and started rotating, until sparks flew from it and a vortex of scintillating colors opened in its center.

From within, the bonds that held two individuals at the lowest levels of Niflheim weakened as the spell drew more energy into itself. The spirits of the pools cried in agony as their essence was ripped away from their only remaining link to the physical world, the unearthly howls of those long dead resonating in the valley.

Finally, it was over, and the mandala dissipated, leaving a man and a woman standing in the center of the village. The smle on his face was not a pleasant one.

V----------------------------------------V

Herb watched the proceedings at the amazon village warily. "Lime, Mint. Rouse the warriors, and put them on alert. Something is going on, and it is not something good." The dragon prince turned and rushed to the library, determined to scour the anxient texts for any hints of what their neighbors had done.

V----------------------------------------V

Nearby, within the depths of Jusendo, a chill ran down the spine of its lord. The God-King Saffron, while not fully matured yet, was incredibly sensitive to magical energy, something he accredited to his magical nature. And what he had just felt, was something akin to a magical howitzer. There had been a spell that had drawn incredible power, but that power had been used in the crudest of way, to break a binding spell. He shuddered at the raw power that was amassing at Joketsuzoku; it was enough to level the entire valley.

The commander of his guard, his confidente Kiima, was by his side immediately. "My lord?" He glanced at her, and for an instant, she caught the faintest flicker of fear in her god's eyes. "Put the guard on alert. Something is happening." The winged woman nodded, trusting her king's intuition. "And Kiima, I need you to do me a favor."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Go to Japan, and find Saotome Ranma. I have a feeling we will have need of his help." Kiima didn't like the idea of asking the boy who had once dashed all their dreams and hopes and killed their king for help. While she was amazed at his martial prowess, she resented him even more. Yet, if Saffron was certain they needed the pig-tailed boy's help, she would get it...whatever the cost.

V----------------------------------------V

"Your two weeks are up," Brush announced as she walked through the door of the Neko-hanten once more. Unlike Cologne, she wasn't perched on her staff, but instead held on to a long, metal lance that had to be six times as high as she was. The elder Amazon glanced up from where she was cooking for the lunch crowd. "I have told you before, Brush, Ranma is not here. I do not know where he is." They kept the conversation in Chinese to keep eavesdroppers from listening in...although a war-party of warrior women was rather suspicious in any case.

"Then we shall take whatever measure it takes to bring him back from his foolish enterprise and return to the village with us. By force, if necessary." Cologne didn't like the underlying tone in Brush's voice one bit. "I do not want to know what you meant by that, Brush. But know that I will not let you harm those who have nothing to do with this matter." It was about time someone stood up to Brush's old-fashioned ways...and if Cologne had to be it, then she would. For the survival of the tribe.

"Don't be a fool, Khu Lon. We take what we want. If we hurt a couple of these weaklings while we're at it, who cares?" Brush snorted. "That doesn't sound like you at all, Brush," Cologne replied, taking care to ready her staff. Actually, it was just like her to say something like that...but Brush had never been this radical. "You would attack innocent people, for what?"

"The boy sees himself as a protector. Once he hears of their suffering, he will come back. And then we shall teach him a lesson." Cologne had heard enough of this. "Brush. Leave and take your women with you. You are no longer welcome here. I, too, want Ranma in the tribe, but not with these methods. Do you know what could happen if you alienate him? If he becomes our enemy? If I have to, I shall fight you with my entire might."

"So be it. Next time we meet, it shall be on the battlefield," Brush declared, before turning around and leaving. "Shampoo! Mousse! Come here, now!" Cologne hollered. Time was of the essence now.

V----------------------------------------V

The sounds of fighting could be heard, even as Cologne and Shampoo hurried to the Tendo dojo. The two Amazons arrived to see four warriors laying into Ryoga who was shielding Akane with maces, spears, and swords. The Jusenkyo-cursed martial artist was barely able to hold his own, partially hindered by Akane, who alternated between wanting to fight and hiding in fright.

Cologne scanned the area, not noticing any of her fellow elders in the vicinity, but taking note of the three women that were waiting on the other side of the wall as reinforcements. This was not good. "Shampoo, take out the two on Ryoga's left. I'll deal with the others," she instructed, before leaping off the wall and into the fight.

Shampoo nodded and withdrew her bonbori. She didn't like fighting her sister Amazons, but she didn't particularly like the methods they were using, either. "Ha!" With a yell, she slammed one of her maces into a spear that would have skewered Ryoga from the side, before twisting around and bringing the other one to bear on the spear-wielding Amazon. And then, the fight was on.

V----------------------------------------V

Ryoga growled as he ducked under another slash. He had no idea where these Amazons had come from, but he had gotten lost again and found himself at the Tendo dojo when they had attacked with a warcry as their only warning. The numerous throwing knives and pointed weapons protruding from the wall behind him spoke of the fact that these Amazons at least didn't care about collateral damage. He grunted as he blocked a mace with his forearm, before jamming his finger into the ground. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" The ground exploded, throwing up dust and dirt, obscuring his view for a few moments.

Jumping back, he shifted so that Akane was behind him again, urging her once more to get into the house. The girl wouldn't have any of it. "I'm a martial artist, too! These floozies come and invade my house, and I'll..." what she intended to do to the Amazons would never be known as a sword flew past her ear, missing her by a mere inch.

Then the dust settled, and Ryoga prepared for the oncoming assault. It never came. Instead, through the hazy air he could make out the familiar form of Shampoo standing, bonbori extended over their fallen enemies. A shouted kiai and the sound of wood meeting flesh with a loud crack spoke of Cologne's presence. "Pig-boy not hurt?" Shampoo asked, never turning her attention from the hole in the outer wall of the dojo property.

"Y-yeah, we're okay." Before he could say any more, Cologne hopped into his field of view, tossing a bottle to Shampoo. "Xi Fang Gao. Erase this day." The younger Amazon nodded and went to work. Within moments, there were six amnesiac Amazon warriors sans weapons lying unconscious on the ground before them.

"What is going on here?" A new voice demanded. Cologne rolled her eyes as she waited for the elder Tendo and Saotome to come out of hiding. "The council decided to send a war party here to fetch Ranma," Cologne simply said. "It seems they want him at any costs...and Brush and Soap are more than willing to go those lengths, I'm afraid."

V----------------------------------------V

The knock on the door startled Saotome Nodoka out of making tea. "I wasn't expecting any guests, who could that be?" She started towards the living room when Kasumi called out, "I'll get it, Auntie!" A moment later, Kasumi's startled gasp could be heard, followed by a distinct male voice, "Hi, Kasumi." Ryoko's chuckle and reply caused the auburn-haired woman to freeze up for a moment before rushing out into the living room, the tea temporarily forgotten.

"Ranma!" Said pig-tailed martial artist barely had time to brace himself before his mother barreled into him with enough force to knock the wind out of him. The breath exploded him him as she clamped down to him in an embrace that put Shampoo's best Amazon glomp to shame, and he warily placed his arms around his mother. Kasumi smiled as always, although it seemed brighter somehow. Ryoko just shot him a knowing smirk.

"You've come back!" Ranma slowly relaxed and a smile crept across his face as he hugged Kasumi with his other arm. A slight blush crept across the girl's face, eliciting a knowing smirk both from Ryoko and the Saotome matriarch. "What brings you back so soon, Ranma?" his mother asked, hoping against all odds he had completed the task set before him in the few weeks since he had left.

"Just visiting, mom," the pig-tailed martial artist replied, extricating from the embrace. "I haven't mastered the Neko-ken yet." He shrugged. "Can't I come by and just visit you?" Nodoka practically beamed. "You know you can always come home, son. Even if you don't master the Neko-ken, I would never love you any less."

As the topic of their small-talk slowly drifted over to other matters than his training trip, Ranma felt himself let out a sigh of relief. Apparently, there wasn't anything wrong here. He tried valiantly to ignore the nagging voice in his head that told him, not yet.

"So, Ranma, have you met any nice girls while you were travelling?" Nodoka asked. Ranma gulped. His mother had this "I'm-still-waiting-for-grandchildren" look on her face. "You know how training is, mom...no time for anything else! Besides, none were as cute as Kasumi here!" He totally missed Kasumi's blush and Ryoko's snicker. "Oh? So that means you haven't been manly, son?" Nodoka had invalidated the seppuku contract a while ago, and both she and Ranma knew she wouldn't hold him to it in either case, but he was proving so fun to tease.

"Eh...that is...I mean... of course! There were lots of girls!" That earned him a a pout from Kasumi. Afraid that he'd hurt her feelings, he quickly continued stammering, "But I'm not interested like that! I mean, they were cute an' all, but I didn't wanna..."

Ryoko leaned over and whispered something in Nodoka's ear, causing her to arch an eyebrow. "So that means you are interested in...men?" The pig-tailed martial artist was even quicker to deny that, nearly breaking out into hysterical whining. "No, no way! No way! Never! I ain't that way! I mean, I am interested in girls! Girls are cute! Like Kasumi! I mean.." By that time neither of the other three could contain their mirth. Nodoka and Kasumi started giggling like schoolgirls, accompanied by Ryoko's deep chuckle.

Ranma realized he had been set up, and glared at the trio for a moment, before grinning, as well. When they had finally controlled their laughter enough to breathe, Ryoko stood and withdrew a scroll from his pocket. "I think I've intruded enough. Here's a scroll with some of the basic techniques of both the Mugen Tenketsu and the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu. Study them well, Ranma. Ladies, I take my leave." With a flourish, he tossed the scroll to Ranma, and bowed slighty to the two women before leaving.

Ranma was about to return his attention to his mother when a warcry from outside the house echoed through the open door, followed by a grunt of pain. Exchanging a glance with his mother, Ranma rushed outside, to find the house surrounded by Amazon warriors, most of which had bows and arrows drawn and aimed at Ryoko, who was kneeling in the middle of the yard in a small pool of blood. A sick feeling began to rise in his stomach as Ranma noticed the shaft of an arrow protruding from his friend's side. All of a sudden, Mousse's warning echoed in his head. They'll do anything to get you into the tribe, no matter the cost.

It took but a moment for several of the archers to train their weapons on him, as well. "Ranma, what's going-" his mother stopped in mid-sentence as she saw the small army assembled in front of her house. Kasumi stopped just behind her, hidden from view. "What is the meaning of this?" Nodoka demanded. The tone was low, almost a growl, and threatening enough some of the Amazons actually squirmed.

"You, Saotome Ranma, come with us now. Or your friends die," one particularly brave woman called out from behind the mass of archers. Before either could say anything, a low chuckle came from Ryoko. "Are the Amazons that craven they have to hide behind numbers and bows and wait in ambushes? You're a joke!" The wounded man started laughing, a laugh that, Ranma reflected, was creeping him out. This was a side of his friend he hadn't seen so far, his expression was neutral, but his eyes burned with a hate he had only seen once before – when he'd told him to kill any youma he came across.

The pig-tailed martial artist shifted into a defensive stance, hoping fervently his mother and Kasumi would move back into the house and shut the door. "We no cowards!" One woman screamed, abandoning her bow for her sword and charging forward. "Now you die, outsider!"

Before any could react, the Amazon flew back, a thin line of red slowly spreading at her throat. "Come at me again and I won't hold back," Ryoko growled as she nursed the papercut the windblade had left at her neck.

"We no need for him, kill them all!"

Ranma narrowed his eyes as he noted several archers taking aim at his mother standing behind him. He moved in front of her. "No way," he ground out. "You wanna hurt mom, ya gotta go through me!" The Amazons pushed forward, tightening the circle around them. "You come with us now and accept punishment like good male, and we may let your family live," a tiny figure leaning on a two meter lance told him as she stepped forwards from between the archers. An elder, Ranma figured.

"I am elder Brush of the Joketsuzoku. You have violated our laws for too long. Now you carry the consequences. What will it be? Are you coming willingly, or do we have to harm your friends and family before you concede to our claim?" She indicated at Ryoko. "He was in our way. As you can see, even he is no match for us." Ranma's gaze flickered over to Ryoko as the man stood, blood still oozing from the wound in his side.

"You needed to show up with an entire army of archers to hit him with an arrow?" He asked incredulously, in a half-mocking tone. "Maybe he's right, the Amazons really are pathethic. At least Cologne was honorable. You," the pig-tailed martial artist growled, "are not."

"It doesn't matter. You will come with us, one way or another. Now, either you come with us, or I'll order these warriors to open fire and kill every last one of your friends. Slowly." Her toothy grin was something Ranma utterly despised, despite seeing it for the first time.

He was about to answer when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Glancing back at his mother, he saw her smile as she shook her head. "Ranma, do what you think is right. I will stand with you no matter what you decide. Do not let the threats of others rule your life, my son." He noted her hand was hovering over the hilt of the family katana, now resting in her kimono's obi.

Ranma gave her an imperceptible nod, before turning and glaring at the elder Amazon. "No," he simply said, sliding into a defensive stance. Ryoko, on the other hand, crouched low, head lowered, his eyes hidden by strands of hair. His hands were resting at his side, and his breathing deepened as he assumed a zero-stance.

"So be it. You have the blood of your friends and family on your hands." Brush extended her lance, signalling the Amazons to attack. "Provided you can get through me," Ryoko hissed as his aura exploded from around him, casting an eerie silver light into the bright afternoon. The Amazons halted for a moment, even as Brush ordered them forward, yelling, "He's just a male!"

Flinging his arms out, fans materializing in his hands, Ryoko shouted, "Soyokaze!" The result was anyting but a gentle breeze. The shockwave of ki blasted into the ranks of the Amazons, blowing them off their feet. Panting, the martial artist rose to his feet and stood, raising his arms into a defensive stance. Brush and the few Amazons that were still standing were staring at the carnage before them in shock. Ranma mirrored their expression, staring at the circular area around Ryoko where the ki blast had all but devastated the ground and anything on it.

"Come on, let's dance," Ryoko whispered as the Amazons regained their wits and attacked once again. Ranma stared in amazement as Ryoko, despite his wound, danced amidst their attackers, dashing in and out of engagements, each of his strikes perfectly executed and possibly lethal. It reminded him of Kagura's style in its beauty and elegance. Spotting a second group of Amazons approaching the lone fighter from behind, Ranma smirked and leapt from the porch to meet them. "One thing," he ducked under a bonbori. "I ain't," Ranma began, as he blocked a kick and twisted around a punch, "gonna marry any of you!"

As the last of his opponents fell to the ground unconscious, he glanced over the yard. Ryoko had lain out most of the remaining Amazons, while Brush was fighting...his mother? The elder leapt at the woman, her lance leading the way as she sought to impale her, only to meet cold steel as Nodoka brought the katana out of its sheath and up and about in a ringing parry. The younger woman smirked, an expression that seemed totally alien on her youthful face, yet at the same time seemed strangely fitting for her. The two combatants circled, with Nodoka sheathing her sword. Brush leapt forward again, only to have Nodoka duck and slash out, with a yell of "Touma ni te Kiru Nari!" The reddish tinted windblade knocked the Amazon off her feet and sliced through the tassel that hung from her lance.

Nodoka never stopped smirking as she sheathed her katana once more as she waited for Brush to recover. The elder approached more warily this time, testing her defenses with quick jabs of her lance, only to find each strike swiftly deflected by the sheath or hilt of the sword. Brush, however, wasn't one to grow impatient. Age had taught her many lessons, and patience in a fight was one hard learned. She waited, eyes darting across the battlefield. Seeing that she was the only Amazon who remained capable of standing, she chose to attack.

Nodoka met her charge head-on. "Hasshou Suru Shinki Nari!" In a blinding flash he sunlight reflected off the katana's blade as it flew out of its sheath, turning into a blur of silver. A crack resonated in the yard, followed by a dull thud as the first quarter of Brush's lance dropped to the ground. The auburn-haired woman calmly stood, sword already back in its sheath, her back turned towards her opponent.

"You are formidable, indeed. But we will not be deterred," the elder claimed. Go after the girl, a voice told her in her mind. The weakest link of the chain. Brush's eyes flashed momentarily, before she launched herself at Kasumi who was helping Ryoko with his wound. "Kasumi!" Ranma's cry echoed through the yard, even as Ryoko spun around, turning Kasumi out of the way of the attack. The dagger Brush had produced glanced off one of his fans, and he leapt back, closer to Nodoka, who took a defensive stance in front of them.

The pig-tailed martial artist, however, was angry. He felt a familiar heat burning up inside him, hatred for the Amazon before him slowly rising. It was a familiar feeling, and he dreaded the possible results. He was no killer. But the person before him had attacked, meaning to harm his mother and Kasumi. His eyes narrowed into cat-like slits, tinted with a hint of gold. Lashing out at her, four tiny distortions left his hand and traversed the distance as his mind played through the possible consequences of her attack on Kasumi. Someone had attacked his family, with intent to kill. They would pay.

The ki blades tore into the staff Brush held before her protectively, shortening it even more. The elder stared in shock at the obvious sign of the Neko-Ken, before snarling a reply and leaping off.

V----------------------------------------V

"Shishi Hôkôdan!" The ki blast impacted with the unprepared Amazon, sending her back into the wall, collapsing the already taxed bricks on top of her. Ryoga growled as he traded punches with a second, taking more blows than he could dish out from the nimbler woman, while Shampoo and Akane teamed up on two other Amazons off to the side. With a grunt, he hauled back and snuck a punch through the girl's defenses, belting her across the jaw with enough force to make her loose consciousness instantly.

He braced his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. At Cologne's warning shout he turned around, in time to see the end of a quarterstaff flash out and strike him rapidly, hitting shiatsu points intended to disable him. He could feel the ki flow to his left arm slow to a trickle, could feel the muscles and nerves in his legs freeze up, and could hear the crack of his right arm breaking. Ryoga stood helpless as the paralysis took effect, and watched as Brush and Soap joined the fight.

Cologne launched her staff at Soap, forcing her to abandon her spellcasting to dodge the projectile, then jumped at Brush. The two met in mid-air, clashing at speeds that rivalled the Amaguri-Ken, their small forms blurring. Cologne had adapted Ranma's version of the Amaguri-Ken, throwing rapid punches at her opponent, while Brush merely whipped her lance around her, making it clear just why she was the Amazons' weapons master. Without her staff's extra reach, Cologne found herself at a severe disadvantage. She only spared a single glance to the side to see Shampoo getting knocked out by the combined efforts of five warriors, none of which were too gentle, and she swore she saw a nasty gash on her great-granddaughter's side where a sword had found its mark. Next to her, Ukyo had appeared, spatula in hand, attracted by all the commotion, and was doing her best to defend the prone form of her great-granddaughter.

Then the world went black for her as Soap's spell rammed into her unprotected back, coupled with the searing pain as Brush's lance speared her through her shoulder.

V----------------------------------------V

The only thing that remained intact in the Tendo compound's yard was the koi pond. Fresh puddles of blood made the bare ground a slippery trap, and as Ranma, his mother, Kasumi and Ryoko arrived, they could only stare in abject horror as Shampoo and Ryoga were lying on the ground unconscious, in growing pools of blood, while Cologne was on the receiving end of a silver bolt of lightning, blasting the elder out of the air. Ukyo was being pushed back and had her back against the wall.

"What the hell happened here?" The amazon warriors present turned to face the newcomers. Brush's eyes narrowed. "So, you followed me. Now, we can end this." She nodded at Soap, who prepared another spell, while the women around them closed in. Ranma and Nodoka took defensive positions, while Ryoko drew his fans and slashed at the air in the direction of Soap. "Don't let her cast," he hissed. Catching his eye, Ranma noted he was serious, and prepared to follow up his friend's windblade with a ki blast.

Brush leapt in front of Soap, catching the windblade on her staff, while her fellow elder finished her chant. With a snarl, the sorceress brought her arm forward, pushing the web of magical energy she had created towards the small group of martial artists. The blast never reached them, however, as a white and black barrier flashed into existence between the Amazons and their target. A pair of ruffled feathers slowly floated to the ground, one white, one black, as lightning flashed overhead.

"Ye spirits, hear my call,

Lord of Thunder, Lord of Wind

Grant this one your power,

Force of Nature, come forth

At thy mistress's beckon,

To strike these unworthy ones!"

The lighting cascaded down from the heavens, striking the amazon warriors one by one, leaving them stunned and unconscious on the ground. When the lightshow was over, Urd lowered herself from the sky, winking at them. In front of the group, World of Elegance mirrored her expression. "We have a problem," the goddess announced.

"No kidding," Ranma muttered, as he glanced around the battle field around them. Ryoko, Nodoka and Kasumi were already at work, checking over the two amazons, Akane, and the one lost boy for injuries, even as Nabiki popped her head out of the door, telling them she had already called an ambulance.

Cologne was already recovering by the time it arrived, and was warding off the doctors, insisting they take Shampoo and Ryoga with them and hurry. Ryoko, meanwhile, was sitting on the porch, trying futilely to get a fussing Urd off of him. Nodoka had shot the young man a concerned glance, but he had reassured her he was fine, despite the obvious gaping wound in his side. Urd hadn't quite accepted that as readily, and was searching through her robes for a healing potion – and Ryoko was very glad she wasn't finding it, considering her track record with potions.

The amazons, meanwhile, were thoroughly trussed up and piled up in a corner of the yard, with Soun and Genma watching over them...over a shogi board. "So, what's the big news, Urd?" Ryoko asked, as they had finally gathered around the dinner table.

"Firkraag's on the loose. Somehow, he broke his seal. Also, there's somerthing going on at Jusenkyo, but we're not sure what it is, exactly. It seems like someone's draining the magical energy out of the valley, but that's impossible," the goddess replied. Cologne picked up for her. "It seems that the council is getting desperate to get you into the tribe, Ranma...desperate enough to resort to foolish actions, it seems." The pig-tailed martial artist only growled in response, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Any further comment was forestalled by the arrival of someone at the front gate. "Kiima? Mint? What are you guys doing here?" Ranma stared at the two in surprise. For a moment, the Phoenix woman and the Musk stared at each other, scowling, before entering the house, somehow managing to squeeze through the door at the same time. "Lord Saffron bid me to ask you to come, Saotome," Kiima growled. She didn't seem too happy with her orders, Ranma noted with a hint of amusement. "He said there were dire matters approaching Jusendo."

Mint, for his part, was currently rather distracted by the plentiful females present. Unfortunately, those females didn't quite take having him staring at a certain part of their anatomy very well, and the Musk soon sported a series of lumps on his head, which served to sober him up – for the moment. "Prince Herb said the same thing. He told me to come get you, 'cause we need your help. The Amazons are up to something. He said something about the 'spirits of Jusenkyo crying,' or something."

Urd was visibly shaken by the comment, as was Cologne. Ranma stared at the quizically, an expresion he found mirrored on Ryoko's and Nodoka's faces. "What does that mean?" he asked.

"There is a reference in the ancient magical texts about making the pools of sorrow cry and shed their life," the amazon elder began. "It is said that when the spirits are released from their mortal form, they shall unleash the power of a thousand gods..."

"And the wrath of a thousand deaths," Urd finished for her. "Don't tell me someone cast Ragnarok..." "What is this 'Ragnarok'?" Nodoka asked, seeing the pale face of the goddess. "Ragnarok is a spell that draws the magical energy of everything in its vicinity into itself, and when there's no more left, the very essence of life. It creates a vortex of energy more powerful than you can imagine, that is just waiting to be given form in a spell. But because it feeds itself, it burns itself out eventually, killing everything around it when it does."

"How powerful are we talking here?" Ryoko was starting to sound worried.

"If it has access to the Pools of Sorrow at Jusenkyo? Easily more than a hundred gods can muster." Urd gulped. "And that's not the worst part. If Firkraag's out, and he gets a hold of all that energy...it would be enough to completely reset Yggdrasil. Which means he could do almost anything."

There was dead silence around the table, following that declaration.