AN: well here's the second Chapter hot off the presses, I just hope I can keep my steam until I'm finished the rest of the story, I'm working on the Ideas for multiple chapter's at the same time, hoping that it will stave off a case of writers block, I've also have the basic plot of the story planned.
"Speech"
'thoughts'
-sound effects-
Chinese panda signs
Chapter 2: Of Ancient Legends and Chinesse Amazons
It was slightly after lunch when Ranma finally left for the Neko Haten (Cat Cafe). The whole problem was bringing this too the Ghoul.
Cologne might seem like an old bat but she was intelligent enough to use this to her advantage. She could use this too black mail her into marrying Shampoo but that was unlikely, obviously she wanted Shampoo to win 'him' by herself otherwise she would have done a more direct intervention, but that obviously was not the case. There were other problems to deal with at the Cafe too, not all of which were pleasant, such as that duck Mousse, he always was willing to fight for his Shampoo, no matter her thoughts on the deal. 'Well might as well face the reaper, there's nothin doin,' thought Ranma as he continued down the street. 'I just hope that Mousse isn't there otherwise it ain't gonna be pretty.'
Shampoo was on her break after lunch i.e. she had Mousse doing all the in house orders, she was fantasying about her favorite subject, her Airen (husband). He was one of the best specimens of Manhood she could think of at the moment, well she had seen better looking men, but they were either taken or not very good fighters. Unlike that stupid duck Mousse he was too damn obsessive, unlike her Arien he went as far as to ignore her. She knew it was all an act anyway, he obviously liked her, the kitchen destroyer was just a cover to keep her jealous... well he might not be that strong in the brains department but you can't have everything -sigh- 'wait' thought Shampoo as a large grin split her lips.
'Well here it is, time to face the reaper' thought Ranma as she entered only to be intercepted by a blue Amazon missile set to 'glomp.
"Oof" said Ranma intelligently as the air was knocked out of her. "Shh..ampoo...can't...breath... getting...dark...can...see...bright...light" said a suffocating Ranma as she was blacking out. Shampoo let go of the shorter girl having the decency to look embarassed. "Shampoo sorry wont hug so hard next time, get hot water now yes?" said Shampoo before running to the back.
"Wait, ah never mind she'll find out soon enough," muttered Ranma. "Oh well at least I can get to talk to the ghoul," she said thinking out loud.
"Saotome defiler of women what are you doing here?" said a very angry Mousse.
"I'm just here to talk to the ghoul Mousse," Ranma said with a sigh.
"Yeah right I'm on to your scheme's Ranma, your obviously here to steal my beauteous Shampoo!" yelled Mousse while withdrawing both his hands into his robe
"Are ya thick Mousse, I'm just here to see the Ghoul not your precious Shampoo," Ranma continued with a sigh as she got into her 'no stance'.
"I'm on to your trickery Saotome!" yelled Mousse as he charged.
Opening up with his classic chain blitz Mousse attempted to pin his opponents arms to the side of her body, but Ranma as usual was not cooperating by not being there to take the attack like a 'man' i.e. punching bag. Ranma dodged through the door to get more room to attack the hidden weapons master and back flipped to the center of the street across Neko Haten.
"Just stand still and die Ranma!" yelled Mousse as he drew double scimitars from the cavernous sleeves of his robes.
"Mousse I'm in no mood ta deal with ya right now so could you please sod off, so we can do this another time?" said Ranma yelling back while dodging between scimitar attacks.
Mousse ignored the banter from his foe as he switched to a more aggressive attack pattern, going for more swing with less chance of defense. 'That's it, I'm tired of trying to reason with this numb skull,' thought Ranma. While parrying his continued attacks with the scimitars with well placed hand blows to the flat of the blades, she looked for the perfect moment to attack, 'there' thought Ranma as she went in for the kill.
Mousse couldn't help but smirk as he saw the tiny hole the redhead had in her defenses, his right scimitar continued it's fast attack pattern while his left scimitar stabbed foreword to stab her in the right arm just above the elbow. 'Damn' were Mousse's last thoughts as Ranma quickly reversed the momentum that she was moving in and made a solid hit to the center of his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him, she then proceeded to finish him off with a strong upper-cut to the chin that sent him flying backten feetinto the wall of the Neko Haten.
"Stupid duck, time to see the Ghoul," Ranma thought out loud.
As Ranma approached the Cafe she noticed that Shampoo had watched the end of the fight -sigh-"Stupid duck boy never beat Airen, when will he learn?" said an exasperated Shampoo. "Here hot water Ranma, use to change back to boy-type yes?" said the ever-bubbly Amazon.
With a sigh Ranma decided that a practical demonstration was needed, quickly upending the kettle over her head. She then proceeded not to change, getting a gasp from the afore mentioned Amazon "I'll get Great Grandmother," said Shampoo in a subdued tone.
As Shampoo entered the Neko Haten, she was followed by the slightly depressed Ranma whowent to one of the table in the corner of the room and sat down to await the old Ghoul.
-Thump--thump- -thump- the rhythmic beating of a cane on the floor reached Ranma's ears as she sat looking at the entrance to the back of the restaurant. A few moments latter what appeared to be a shriveled old monkey on a walking stick wearing green robes with a circle divided four in the center, this was the Amazon elder Cologne.
"What did you do this time son-in-law... interesting," said Cologne as she caught a glimpse of the sapphire on Ranma's forehead. "Where did you get that son-in-law?" asked intrigued Cologne.
"I got it from strange stone I found on the road, alls I did was touch it and then there was this bright flash and I wake up at Tofu's the next morning with this thing on my head." said Ranma while facing the mummy on a cane.
"Were there any other side effects that you know about?" asked Cologne, seemingly thinking something over.
"Yeah the damn thing has locked my curse, at least I hope that's what it was, otherwise I have no Idea." said Ranma while unconsciously fingering the gem on her forehead.
"Hmmm. come into the back I might be able to help you," said Cologne while hopping back into the kitchen with Ranma and Shampoo following.
"Come along young one's" said cologne as she ascended the stairs. After a few minutes of walking they finally reach Cologne's room in the upper floor of the restaurant. The room itself is rather Spartan with only a bed, a small desk and dresser if it wasn't for the large book case and chest it would look like a classic monk's cell in a mountain monistarty. "hmm... I have quite a few books broaching on strange crystals and ways to lock the curse," said Cologne as she searched through many of the old tomes and scrolls on the bookcase. "Please sit children this could take awhile," she continued. Ranma sat on the floor near the door to the room while Shampoo seated herself on the single bed in the room.
Cologne continues to hum and examine several of the older tomes in the room taking time to open and read a few passages before shaking her head and moving on to the next one. Finally after what seems like a couple hours she settles on one tome and brings it to her small desk to read.
"Very interesting," said Cologne after stealing a glance at Ranma's forehead, "yes I do believe this is the one." She continued moving towards the small desk. The book itself looked to be as old if not older than Cologne herself, it's leather binding well worn with age, it was a small wonder that it was still in one piece. The craftsmanship was almost perfect and it had obviously been preserved by some unknown means. Cologne sat there reading a few passages from the book to herself turning the pages a few times; finally she stopped and made a coming motion to Ranma.
"Son-in-law does this seem familiar?" asked Cologne while pointing to what looked like an oddly looking misshapen rock that had an odd glint to it.
"Yeah, it kinda looks like the funky looking rock I saw on the ground," said Ranma as she glanced at the picture in the book.
"I thought as much, did you touch this stone," said Cologne as she sifted her gaze the pig-tailed girl.
"Yeah, I reached out and touched it and that's when everything went white, I didn do anything wrong did I?" said Ranma. Seemingly unnoticed by both was shampoo looking over her Great Grandmother's shoulder.
"Yes there are many legends concerning stones such as these, this book here is one of the only ones that have a detailed account of what the stones are. Do you wish to hear it son-in-law?" said Cologne looking slightly older sitting there holding the tome.
"Might as well, 'sides I've nothin better to do," said Ranma after thinking for a second.
After clearing her throat Cologne began to speak," The aptly named crystals of life and death, for there effects are both sinister and benevolent at the same time. Each crystal is said to be the gathered life energy of the planet, they are only created near Nexus of magical power, places with high amounts of Ki user's and areas where great strife has occurred. The crystals of life are characterized by their assorted colours. They take on the natural colour of a user's aura, so each person that happens upon a crystal of life will have a different coloured crystal. The crystals of life have quite a few special properties, most of these derived from the ambient left over Ki and Chi in the area they form."
Taking a breath she continued, "The crystals of death are easily recognized, each is a pure obsidian gem that adorns the forehead like some hideous mark of evil, and each of these crystals is formed in area's of great strife, where thousands have died. Anyone who acquires one of these crystals of death are driven to madness, they seek to end the life of all other beings in the world, through any means. Both crystals have similar passive properties, the wielder of a crystal will be immune to most diseases, and poisons, along with most types of mental illness, this is where the crystals differ. The crystals of death affect one's personality while the crystals of life protect and preserve it."
Said Cologne as she paused to turn the page, "One thing a possessor of a crystal should know is their aversion to malevolent shape shifting magic. It is not known what they do but the wielder is immune to most shifting magic such as polymorph (see appendix 4 section 3 of the sorcerers guide to magic). The only problem therein is how it deals with chaos magic, anyone that is the target of any form of this magic knows how chaotic it will make their lives, the crystal responds differently for each person affect by such magic. Sometimes it may intensify the affect, while other's it may completely remove the effects," read Cologne.
After she finished reading the page she showed the two youths the pictures on the page, a few looked like the crystal on Ranma's forehead if it was removed while one picture looked similar to the one in Dr. Tofu's book, only more worn.
"What exactly does that mean?" questioned Ranma.
-Sigh- "I would say that anyone that anyone who comes in contact with one of these crystals would become 'cured' of Juesenkyo's magic, become a hybrid of the two forms or become locked. The problem is because of Jusenkyo's chaotic magic you may never be able to change again, or this lock may disappear in a few days. I cannot be sure so I will make no promises," said Cologne with a sigh.
"You mean I might be stuck like this permanently?" stated Ranma in awhisper.
"Maybe child,butwe cannot be certain. I would like to try a few things first, and maybe visit a few of the places rumored to be able to negate different types of magic before we give up hope... first we should try some of the water from the Kaisui-fuu (Open water Kettle) that I have stored in the Store room." said Cologne.
"Come with me children," said Cologne, as she descended the stairs to the kitchen and lead them into the storeroom.
They entered the back room, of the Neko Haten it was quite large for the size of the restaurant but not overly so. There were shelves all along the wall each with what appeared to be caskets of water. One of them displayed the kanji for Open water kettle on it, which is the one they approached.
"Hopefully this will work otherwise we will have to go for more drastic measure's," said Cologne as she got a sample from the casket. They both followed the Amazon matriarch in to the main room as she heated the water.
"Here try it now," said the Cologne said after they finished heating the water in a kettle.
"Here goes nothing," said Ranma with a sigh as she poured the water on her head and waited for the change that would not come.
"As I thought, were going to have to go for more drastic measure's" said Cologne. "There are a few ruins over in china that may hold the key to unlocking the curse, the only question is whether you are willing to go there to seek them out...," she continued
"Damnit yaold Ghoul, are ya sure this ain't no trick to get met to your village?" said Ranma in a slightly angry tone.
-Sigh- "If I wanted you in the village we would be going straight there. There is no cure for this in the village, the Amazons are many things but we are not magi," said Cologne.
"Let me think 'bout it okay?" said Ranma.
"Go ahead son-in-law take as long as you want," said Cologne while giving her a glare.
"See ya later old Ghoul -whack-," said Ranma before getting hit on the head by Cologne's walking stick.
As Ranma walks out of the restaurant, her path is followed by a few sets of eyes one the aged Matriarch of the Amazons. "I hope the I'm wrong about this," said Cologne with a sigh.
To be continued
AN: is this any good? I hope so I'm going to try and at least complete book 1, I'm also hopping to get at least one Pre-reader for my story, I hopping that it will improve my writting overall.
Revision: I corrected a few spelling errors, and a couple of the paragraphs have been shortened.