Chaos Quest

a Ranma Everquest Crossover/Fusion

by Chikiko (Chikiko@blastcomm.com)



Disclaimer:

Ranma ½ and its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Everquest, its world, and characters belong to sony online entertainment and/or verant.

To those cursed by the mystical waters of Jusenkyou who wish to overcome it, or to those who are familiar with one of its victims. Your audience is requested this Sunday at exactly 2:45 P.M. at the Tendo Dojo.

These were the mysterious words written on the letters addressed to Shampoo, Cologne, Moose, Ukyou, and Tatewaki Kuno. No one knew what to make of the letter. Was its claim real? Could a cure for Jusenkyou have been found as the letter seemed to imply? None of them where sure, especially Kuno, who was not quite sure what Jusenkyou was, but guessed it had something to do with the curse that Ranma Saotome had placed on the pig-tailed girl. But they were all sure they knew the person who did know what the letter was about. Nabiki Tendo.

They were all quite surprised when said Tendo had no idea what the letter was about or who could have sent the letter. In fact she only found out about it when Ukyou called wanting to know what it was about. After asking the other members of the family, Nabiki still had no idea what the whole thing was about. Which was surprising since both Ranma and Genma, were cursed at Jusenkyou. Yet neither they nor anyone else in the Tendo household received the mysterious letter.

One person suggested Ryouga as the possible source of the letter, being the only other Jusenkyou victim not to receive a letter. The idea was quickly discarded for several reasons, including the exact time, place, and nature of the letter. While a cure for Jusenkyou or his misdirection might be possible, the thought of both being cured was too much for anyone to believe.

It was soon decided that nothing would come from discussing the situation. They decided to let the matter rest until Sunday, when hopefully whoever sent the letter would present themselves. It turned out to be easier said than done. The days seemed to crawl slowly, which only raised the groups anxiety level. Even those normally good at keeping their feeling to themselves such as Nabiki and Cologne, were unusually fidgety and jumpy.

The Tendo Dojo residents were roused from the restless sleep Sunday morning by the yell of an indignant Ryouga. "Where the hell am I now?"

After rescuing him from the closet, they began to ask him questions on the mysterious letter. Unfortunately, he knew just as much as they did having received the letter two weeks ago. As expected, he spent the intervening time trying to find the Dojo. This did nothing to lessen the atmosphere that permeated the Dojo.

Whoever had set this up had purposely sent the letter to Ryouga 2 weeks earlier then everyone else, apparently knowing that it would take him that much longer to arrive. It was obvious the person who sent the letter wanted them together. The real question was who and why.

Kuno was the first to arrive just after Ryouga's coming had been announced, eager to 'save the pig-tailed girl from the clutches of the vile sorcerer Saotome. Ukyou and the Amazons came about two after closing their restaurants early.

Everyone in the house was uneasy and on edge. Those cursed by Jusenkyou were excited at the possibility of being cured. Yet others were skeptical due to the vagueness and secrecy of the whole situation.

When a knock was suddenly heard on the door, all noise immediately stopped as everyone turned their eyes to the wall clock to confirm that it was 2:45. Kasumi slowly stood up and happily said "I guess our guest is here, I'll go let him in."

As she left, almost everyone followed behind her. Only Cologne and Nabiki stayed behind with Ryouga who got lost and ended up back in the living room with them.

When Kasumi opened the door, she found a tall dark woman wearing an exquisite red robe. She wasted no time to state her purpose. "Is everyone here? The time we have is short and cannot spend it dilly dallying about."

"Oh my! Yes, I think everyone's here. Please come in we've been expecting you."

She quickly scanned those behind Kasumi and said. "I see only four Jusenkyou victims. Where is the fifth, the boy who always manages to get lost?"

"Pig boy was just here a minute ago, he can't have gone that far." Ranma said glancing around.

"He's in here Son-In-Law." Answered Cologne.

"Good then let us get him and proceed."

As they entered the living room Nabiki, who was impatiently sitting by the table waiting for them, asked. "Exactly who are you, and what do you plan to proceed in doing?"

"My name is Siland. I am a powerful wizardess and I am offering these five Jusenkyou cursed a chance to overcome their curses."

"I see, and exactly why does a powerful wizardess want to help THEM? What exactly do YOU get out of it?"

"Nothing much I simply get to return home."

"Right, you want to explain why you have to cure them and don't just go home by yourself?"

Siland sighed. "If you must insist on wasting the little time we have on questions, I'll try to explain it all to your satisfaction. As I said, I am Siland. I was doing research on teleportation in an effort to help my husband in his studies. That was when I noticed an irregularity in the magic. It wasn't until some time later that I noticed it again. I realized what I sensed was another possible portal. Not just any portal, but one that connected to one of the alternate planes of existence."

"So I sought to study this new irregularity and see what I could learn of it. Over the next several years I would record every detail I could think when I found the burst of irregular magic. I realized that the doorway to the plane only seemed to appear every three and one third weeks, and that the door way would only stay open for exactly 23 minutes. So on the time the doorway appeared, I attempted to go through it. Unfortunately I seemed to lack the power to connect with it and was shunted off to some random location on the planet."

"So I began to experiment with material components. I had tried a large array of gems and other items of magical nature to no avail. That is until the day I accidentally used a fire opal I had imbued instead of a normal one. The moment I cast the spell I felt the magic I had imbued into the gem escape toward the portal converting it back into an ordinary fire opal. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. I knew I was on the right track, so I started to try other imbued or summoned items that stored magic. Finally with an imbued fire opal, an imbued black opal and vial of viscous mana I was able to bridge the connection and teleport myself to this world. Where I have been stuck for the last several years."

"Surely you could have found the things you needed here?" ask Cologne.

"Not really. While I could find the black and fire opals, I cannot imbue the black opals or create the vile of mana. My studies of magic do not lead me in those directions and I need the assistance of others to create those for me. Besides those are ineffective in this world as this world is too weak in magic. With so little magic on this world I could not hope to create the gate needed to transport me back to my world."

"So then what exactly are you hoping to accomplish by curing them of their Jusenkyou curses?"

"I am sorry I should clarify what I just said. While most of this world is extremely weak magically there is one place where there is an abundance of magical power similar to my world."

"Jusenkyou." Cologne said beginning to understand.

"Yes exactly. Jusenkyou is probably the largest bank of magical energy I have ever seen, even on my world. I attempted to cast the spell from there many times but the magic was too powerful and would not allow itself to be harnessed. So I plan to use the power imbued in the five of you just as I did the gems."

"So that it'll cure us of our curses?" Ranma asked sounding extremely excited and hopeful.

"No, I don't think it will. Jusenkyou's magic is incredibly strong, but it will weaken it significantly. As a way to express my appreciation for helping me back to my world, I offer you the chance to come to my world, where magic is strong. If you could not find a cure there to your then weakened curses, I am sure there are many who could with time and study. But there is no time to waste. Time is short. We have already wasted too much time explaining. If we miss this chance it'll be another two and a half years before we can try again."

"Two years!!! I thought you said it was only three weeks?"

"Yes three weeks and one third weeks in my world where magic is the norm. Here the doorway only appears every two and one half years. That should be an indication of how lacking this world of yours is magically."

"So why invite those of us who weren't cursed by Jusenkyou sugar?"

"I am a patient woman, I have tarried on this world now for approximately seven and a half years, away from my husband, my art and all that are dear to me. But I will not wait another two and a half years because one of you, decides they cannot leave without first saying good bye to one of their friends or loved ones. All must be here to do the spell. Also the five of you must decide if you shall all come or stay. I cannot promise how long it will take to cure you. With the collective might of some of the most powerful spell casters on the planet, It could take as little as a few months to a year or two. If you do choose to stay here, your curses will not be as powerful. You would still change when splashed with water, but perhaps the temperature needed to change you would be lowered or perhaps you might cease being water seeking. I cannot say exactly, but to say that it will be lessened."

"Can some of us come with if we want?" Akane asked.

Siland shook her head. "I am sorry I can only take these five."

"Oh." Akane said glumly.

"What if we decided to go but want to come back?" asked Ranma.

"If you do decide to come, you may return anytime. From my world I could easily return you to this world at any time you please, just be aware that once you do return it might be impossible to return. Now what do you say? Will the five of you stay or go? Considering that it will be more advantageous to you to help get me home, I would hope that you will at least not turn down that offer."

Shampoo, Moose, Ryouga and Ranma turned quickly glanced to Cologne and Nabiki to see their opinion of it.

Cologne nodded. "Yes, I would agree. There seems to be no reason to turn down your offer to help you return home. As for whether or not to follow to you're world, with the possible exception of the panda, these are the probably best young martial artists I've seen in many years. I'm sure they could fend for themselves until you could find a way to cure them of their curses. Who knows, they may pick up something useful from your world."

"If great-grandmother say is ok Shampoo will go, but what of Nekohanten Grandmother?"

"Don't worry about me, I'm sure I'll find a way to get by until you come back."

"If Shampoo goes then I will of course go also!" exclaimed Mousse.

"Get off me boy, I'm not Shampoo!" said an indignant Genma still upset from Cologne's words about him.

"You can count me too! What about you pig boy?" Ranma said taking a chance to tease Ryouga.

"Shut up Ranma!" Ryouga said angrily.

Akane had been confused about something throughout the entire conversation. Why were they referring to Ryouga as if he had a curse? She was sure Siland must have made a mistake thinking Ryouga was cursed too. But no one spoke up to correct her about that. It made no sense to her, why they wouldn't say anything about it. She finally couldn't take the confusion anymore and said "Um I think you may have made a mistake Mrs. Siland. Ranma, Shampoo, Mousse and Mr. Saotome all have a curse but Ryouga doesn't have one. So you can't use him."

Ryouga paled. OH NO Akane, she'll find out about my curse. I can't go! What am I going to do?

"Ya Ryouga why dontcha get your little piggy wiggies wet and show her your curse?"

"Ranma!!! SHUT UP!" Ryouga yelled glaring at Ranma.

"Calm down. In fact the boy is right. I will need for all of you to change into your cursed forms. Jusenkyou's magic is stronger when you are in your cursed forms and we'll need all the strength we can get to cast this spell. Now hurry up we don't have time to waste we have only about 10 minutes left and creating a portal will be hard enough without having to try to rush it so we can make it on time. So say your goodbyes and get changed."

Ryouga sighed. What other choice did he have now? She already knew he was cursed it would only be a matter of time, before she figured it out anyway. It was best if she knew. "Um Akane can I, uh talk to you about it?"

"Uh, sure Ryouga. What do you want to talk about?"

Siland saw Ranma was about to do something and decided to stop this fight before it began. She quickly cast a spell and suddenly Ranma found himself unable to move. "We don't have time for this!"

Kasumi came out of the kitchen with five glasses of water. "Here you go. I got you each a glass of cold water."

"Thank you child. You may have, in all likely hood, saved me another two years on this world." Then turning to address the five she said. "Here take these and splash yourself when I tell you to."

"So what were you gonna tell me Ryouga?"

Ryouga looked at Akane, and at Siland. "Uh, I just, um wanted to say sorry for not telling you earlier and that I, uh didn't mean anything by it."

"It's ok, Ryouga. I understand. It must be embarrassing for you to be cursed and you didn't want anyone to know. I don't mind really.

"Thank you Akane." He said. Let's just hope you still feel that way after you see what my curse really is.

"Now if we can continue, I'll begin to cast the spell. Just near the end when I tell you now, is when you will have to splash yourselves. Do you understand? Seeing them nod their heads, she began to cast the spell.

Siland along with the five cursed at Jusenkyou began to feel the familiar feel of magic. For those with Jusenkyou curses it didn't feel all that different except it seemed as if they were changing in extreme slow motion. To Siland, the magic felt as it normally felt. After seven years of feeling weak and crippled by the world's lack of magic it felt great to her. So great did the feel of being able to wield true magic again that she didn't notice the incredible difference, until she gave the signal to splash themselves.

The moment the five splashed themselves the powerful chaotic magic imbued in the five erupted. The magic flared uncontrollably engulfing everyone in the room. Siland, the cursed five, and those there to watch them off. All were encased by both the arcane and chaotic magic. Before any of them could react, a shimmering portal appeared before them and engulfed them all.

High in the sky three large flares of light could be seen all throughout the world. They each seemed to head a different direction, but those with magically enhanced vision could in fact see far more than just three, most of which headed in their own directions.

One of the flares made up by three smaller tendrils landed on the northwestern part of the world. Two landed somewhat close by while the third veered to the south.

Another flare landed on the eastern coast of the same continent as the first flare. Each of the smaller tendrils that made this flare landed separately one far to the southeast. The other landed near the eastern coast while the third landed somewhat northwest of the second.

Finally the third and largest of the tendrils landed on the eastern continent. There all four fragments of the flare headed there own directions. Each landing in a different corner of the continent.

On the far western continent of Odus, Siland wife of the greatest wizard currently alive on the world of Norrath and a great wizardess on her own accord, was awoken from her sleep. From her window over looking the ocean toward Antonica Siland felt as if something of great importance had just occurred. She watched the flares disappear. Around what she presumed to be Halas and Qeynos. Whatever the significance of the flares she knew that for good or ill something wrong had occurred and it would somehow directly involve her.



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