Well, Good news and Bad News. What do you want first? Good or Bad? Bad? That's good. Ok so I have lost my job making it to where my constant search for a new one is interrupting my writing. (Gomen Nasai) Not to mention all the bad stuff that keeps happening to me. Stupid dumb blondes calling me on the phone and me "being a nice guy and all" not hanging up getting my girl friend mad at me (I'm such a retard. Sry Chels)… not to mention all sorts a other crap that's been going wrong. Ah well, that's life… I'm sure things will turn around. I always bounce back. Done it before, will do it again. But anyways. Want the good news? I FINALLY Downloaded the entire manga of SM and have now read through it and feel like I know the ins and out's of SM. So yeah, I suppose I don't have the "I don't know sailor moon" excuse any more. That's a good thing right? Lol. The good news definitely does not out weigh the bad but now I will be able to begin to work on the Sailor Moon side of the story! Yayyay! O well. Here's the next chap. On with the show!

P.S. OH MY GOD THIS IS GETTING HARD... (Not to mention fun ; I like it even more now!)

Chapter 6: The Miracle At Tarwin's Gap

Ranma glanced around, not at the blades pointed towards him, but at his arms, legs, what little facial features he could see, and his down-right awkward hair.

"What in the Light…! What is the meaning of this?" A stern female voice demanded. Ranma looked on and saw the blue cloak he had seen on one of the women within the ways. The one who had opened the door.

She strode through the crowd and, scrunched as they were already, the crowd scooted together to form a path for her, bending around her like flowing water.

Moiraine felt annoyed. She was angry at the crowd directly outside. She had just finished speaking with Lord Agelmar about her plans and walked outside to find a crowd of men, swords drawn. "Men," She thought. She chuckled to herself. It wasn't often that she thought about men in that exasperated way that most women did.

It was easy to see what the swords were aimed at. The man, wearing the exact same clothing as the red-haired girl had, though the clothes now seemed much too tight, was standing in the middle of the crowd, a head taller then the tallest of the Shienaran soldiers.

The man fidgeted. He was.. Uncomfortable, not frightened.

"What are these?" He asked suddenly in a heavily Saldaean accent. He pointed towards the blades with genuine curiosity "These shiny things? What's… a Darkfriend? And… why are you all so… angry… Your… angry right?" He asked.

Moiraine was… surprised at his actions, as were the men surrounding him. Who looked into forty or fifty blades pointed directly at them with naught but curiosity?

She finally made her way through the crowd and into the middle. She stood calmly and was about to speak but the black haired boy spoke first.

"You… are you the one who opened the door?" Ranma asked. "In the ways?"

"Door?" Moiraine replied confused, not by what she had done but how this man had known what she had done. She had opened the door in the ways yes but this man had definitely not been present unless… Moiraine considered herself smart and hoped that she had put the correct two and two together.

"Are you the red-haired girl? The one who saved our lives?" Moiraine asked quizzically.

"I am." Ranma answered plainly.

During the course of their conversation Ranma had almost completely forgotten about the men and their shiny pointed objects.

"Sheath your swords!" Moiraine cried instantly. "Be him Darkfriend or not in your eyes, He saved my life. He is owed respect. May The Light Shine and Illumine you." Moiraine said proudly as she bowed her head but only for a moment.

While bowing, Ranma couldn't help but think that somehow this woman had received more respect from the onlookers than he had. It truly annoyed him but he managed to live.

"I must know how you and the girl are one in the same." Moiraine said the instant her head had raised from the bow. She may have had the Shienarans withdraw their swords but she had embraced Saidar the moment she first spoke with the man.

She was Aes Sedai and she would not be fooled or tricked by innocent looking actions.

Ranma looked around, the shiny metal pointed objects, swords the woman had called them, had been slid back into the cases the men wore on their belts.

Ranma vaguely recalled seeing a few of them every now and then in one or two of the more awkward people's lives in his book. But no one had used or seen one in the book in a very long time and, unfortunately he had forgotten the name.

"I… I don't remember really…" Ranma said shakily. "It's so hazy… but I do know that… hmm." Ranma began to think to himself. The phrase "Springs of Sorrow" kept randomly popping into his head. He took a step forward and instantly tripped onto his face.

"Ouch." He moaned. He stood quickly and tried another step, but wobbled having a hard time keeping balance in this new and awkward form. The protrusion between his legs did not help matters at all.

"I… haven't been a guy in… eheh.. A really long time. My curse is… water based I think. Cold water turns me into a girl. Hot water into a man… Um.. Who are you ma'am…?" Ranma asked.

"My name is Moiraine. Moiraine Sedai." Moraine replied steadily though inwardly she wondered what in the world the word Ma'am meant. "May I ask your name?"

"Uh… I'm Ranma." Ranma replied unsteadily. "Um… why do you… well. Um… can I ask where I am?"

"Your in Fal Dara, child." Moiraine responded still coolly. "Fal… Dara…? Never heard of it." Ranma said quickly. But I have heard of a place like it… um.. Mafal Dadaranell, I think it was called.

Moraine's eyes widened but she did not show her surprise visibly.

"You must be from very far to have never heard of Fal Dara. Your Saldaean accent says you can't be from too far, I believe." Moiraine said. "From where do you hail?"

Moiraine had carefully ignored the last comment from Ranma, it wouldn't do to ask how this man knew THAT name. Mafal Dadaranell was a city built by the Ogiers but had been long since destroyed. But it had been rebuilt by men as Fal Dara.

"Saldaea? Oh yeah! Machin told me about Saldaea… but… not much. It was just a fledgling country in the northwest when he was lost in the Ways..." Ranma told her. "No… I'm not from Saldaea. Never even been there. I honestly don't think I'm on the same world I was born on." Ranma said casually.

Moiraine could not help but blink with surprise at this but she shielded it from her expression before the boy noticed. "You… claim to… know Machin Shin? The Black Wind?"

"I… well… I used too but an… accident led to his madness… his current form. He was sane once." Ranma said somberly.

The men who had gathered around were now chuckling at the impossibility of the… man's?… comments. ANYONE who came near the Black Wind of the Ways died or went insane. Simple as that. Everybody knew it… didn't' they?

Ranma, seeing them laughing behind his back, couldn't for the life of him figure out why?

Moiraine noticed this and decided that she would continue her conversation with the man in a more private place. She had to hurry though. The Eye of the world resting in the Blight would not come to her. Upon her hopeful return she would question the man claiming to be the girl more thoroughly. The changing of sex was… very odd but not unheard of. Documentaries from the age of legends stated that it had once been possible. The reason for it's study was much more… playful, however it was possible when Saidin and Saidar were mixed together. Incredibly flawed, but possible nonetheless.

If this man, Ranma, had been cursed to be like this, then perhaps Moiraine had even less time than she had first thought. Only one, or more, of the forsaken could curse someone like this…

"I would ask that we continue our conversation somewhere more private?" She asked cautiously.

"Um… ok!" Ranma replied happily. She couldn't very well turn down the woman who had returned her freedom.

They walked through the crowd Ranma, avoiding the hatred covered glares of some of the more bold men. Ranma didn't understand the facial expression. In her book, no one had ever seemed so… angry. Ranma followed the woman into a large tower and through a series of winding corridors and a few staircases before finally reaching a room. It hadn't taken long for her to realize that this world, unlike her own, knew practically nothing about technology. Electricity, irrigation, even plumbing were all unknowns to these mundane people, based on their way of acting.

Ranma, when he had been a she and prancing around the city, had realized that horses were the fastest transportation available. That said a lot about a nation's, or even world's, economical abilities. He had been plunged into the dark ages of another world. And he still had to get home. Still had to get his revenge.

HIS revenge.

"How you came to be cursed like this and if you could demonstrate it for me?" Moiraine asked sharply as she abruptly turned around and sat in a wooden chair. She would get straight to the bottom of this. She didn't feel this was the time for a slick tongue and smooth words.

"I… don't really remember how I got it… it must have been, oh almost twenty thousand some odd years ago. I keep thinking of the phrase "Springs of Sorrow." I think that must be WHERE it happened…" Ranma replied.

"What… do you mean? You can't possibly be saying that your -"

"Did you know!" Ranma interjected quickly. "Yesterday was my Twenty Thousandth Birthday! I got such a great present, too!"

Moiraine suddenly began to rethink Ranma. This was no ordinary person at all. He seemed to… be both a child, elder, and middle aged girl and boy randomly whenever he chose. It was so… confusing. Now apparently he had chosen to act as a child. Curiosity covered his face as he looked at things and felt them with awe and joy.

"I… I… something is in my nose." He said awkwardly. "It… it… oh what's the word? Tastes.. No… smells! That's it! I'm smelling something!"

Ranma danced about excitedly as if he had made some great discovery.

He knew he sounded stupid and childish but he could not help it. Everything was so new to him. He knew politics, he knew dealing and money, he knew advanced calculus when he really thought about it because he had learned it as the people from his book had done. But simply understanding what it was to smell something was beyond his brain's capacity. He couldn't imagine what tasting something would be like. Now if he could just remember what tasting meant…

"Please, demonstrate your… curse for me." Moiraine asked. Even so, Ranma thought that there was some sort of demand in that question. As if the woman were commanding him even whilst asking him to demonstrate.

"I… sure. I need some… hot water and cold water I think." He told her.

Moiraine stood and walked out of the room leaving Ranma to examine the contents of the small compartment. A few old books, a bed that looked extremely uncomfortable, and a walking staff were all of her possessions it seemed.

She returned quickly with two pots full of the desired contents.

"Ok… I… I hope something happens here. I'm not sure if this is exactly how it works." Ranma said. He picked up the pot of cold water and began to drink a little of it.

Nothing happened.

"I… Nothing appears to be happening." Moiraine said.

"Hmm… Ranma thought."

Suddenly he upended the pot onto his head drenching himself and the floor he stood on. His form phased and he felt and awkward tingle. The woman before him grew taller and the room became larger, though the clothes she wore seemed to grow in size as well no longer clinging to her skin as they had as a man.

"Amazing," Moiraine commented. Fortunately for Ranma, she had felt no use of the one power.

"And I think hot water will turn me back." he said.

He tipped it over his head and felt himself grow tall, the clothes grow tight, his balance fade, and the feeling of joy at returning to his true form re-enter him.

"Extraordinary." Moiraine said in much the same tone as when he had first shifted forms.

"I… would you tell me your story? Where you were born and how you came to be in the Ways?" Moiraine asked almost impatiently.

"I'll… tell you what I remember if you want." Ranma said snapping his attention back to her instantly, once again returning to the voice of an older, frailer Ranma.

Well it all started on a normal day. I was going to school like most other people my age on my own world when it happened. Close to the end of the day…

He spun his tale of the great Sailor Pluto and how she had spirited him away into that deep dark realm with nothing but a view hole to his home world. How he, though a she at the time, had escaped after eighteen thousand years and then spent around fourteen hundred years with Machin Shin, and how he had gone insane when he had touched the light about six hundred years ago.

He had left out almost anything that he recalled that involved his home world. He remembered too little of his actual life though normal things he recalled very well. His book...

He told her every story he had, all the way up to his last encounter with Machin Shin protecting the very woman who stood before him. It was well into midday by the time he was done with the telling. Far too late for Moiraine's liking.

"That is… an amazing story. Far to elaborate to be fake." Moiraine told. "But I'm afraid I have no more time to listen. I have urgent matters to attend to within the Blight to the north."

"What kind of matters? Can I come?" Ranma asked as a child again.

"I… would ask that you would stay. If you are truly as strong as you seem perhaps you could be used at Tarwin's Gap." Moiraine said. She did not know what it was about the boy that made her trust him. But she did. This boy was… different. Innocent. Pure.

"Tarwin's Gap? What is that? Is it a smell? An item? OH! It's a place! I remember!"

"Yes, Tarwin's gap is a place. It is where the blight will be sending it's next attack." Moiraine replied calmly.

"Attack… why are you being attacked? What is the blight?" Ranma asked not recalling anything Machin had said about this, "Blight".

"The Blight?" Moiraine asked, surprised once again. "Well, I… suppose… have you ever heard of the Blasted Lands?" Ranma twitched and nodded her head. "Machin said that the stories he had been told said that the Blasted Lands held great monsters and things like that. He… never believed them. Said it was all a…" Ranma stopped and laughed quietly to himself for a moment. "A load of rabbit dung. Something only a wool-headed fool would believe..." Ranma finished.

"I must leave here. I have wasted too much time but I thank you, Ranma. May the light illumine you." Moiraine said. "But I leave you one bit of advise. Those stories? Believe them. Look around for yourself for a while and when you think you know the city somewhat, ask around to find Lord Agelmar. He will help you find a place to stay for the night."

"I… o… Ok." Ranma stuttered. And with that, Moiraine was gone.

Ranma was left alone to ponder what he was going to do. How was he going to get back home. As he stood and walked towards the door he fell flat on his face by loss of balance again and wondered when he would ever figure out how to walk in his true form without busting his nose.

Usagi was in a bad mood. It was not normal for there to be so… few youma attacks. Not normal in the least. It was a "Calm before the Storm" type of feeling. She knew the feeling instinctively. She had felt it before Pharaoh 90 and had BATHED in it before Galaxia.

And now here she was, feeling it again. Though not quite as bad as she had for even Pharaoh 90. It was a smaller feeling as if, no matter what happened, she knew that the damage of the next attacks would not be directed at her.

She was beginning to enjoy her forewarnings.

This of course, was not the only thing putting her in a bad mood.

She knew the time was coming closer. In the next ten years she would be crowned. Pluto had told her so, whether the attack that was coming wiped out the rest of the solar system or what not, she would be crowned.

She skipped merrily enjoying the days she had as a regular high school student. Because she knew they would soon end. She would soon be a queen, unable to enjoy things such as solitary peace.

Most people thought she was still the ditzy blonde she was back when she had first become Sailor Moon in her Jr. High School though they of course, knew nothing of her true identity as Sailor Moon0. But no, she was far more complex then she had been then. But no one knew it. Not the other scouts or even Luna. But she did.

She felt herself change on the inside more every day. Felt herself becoming, older. She knew it was due to the fact that she was receiving memories from her past self. But still. She felt that by the time her change was complete, Usagi would be gone for good. And all that would be left would be Princess, soon to be Queen, Serenity.

She recalled the other things that had made her this way. The reality of the death of her four companions during the attacks from Queen Beryl all those months ago had probably been the trigger. It had hit her the hardest, the responsibility and so on that she now held.

Then it was slow moving. Her daughter, coming from the future and then becoming the advocate of the Black Moon. That entire episode of her life seemed somewhat surreal.

The Doom Tree. Pharaoh 90. Galaxia, and now the human murder of a boy she didn't even know. All of them had made her even more slowly aware of how little time she could have left.

How much she wanted to do with that time.

"Rei!" She cried joyously to the Scout of Mars as she approached her on the sidewalk. "Hey meatball head." Rei said happily. She had just two weeks previous gotten out of the hospital. They had said that she had fallen off a three story building and the lie had worked perfectly. She had been treated and restored to perfect health, as Sailor Moon's healing spell had not completely worked. So here they stood, meeting and acting as if nothing was wrong.

Well, Rei didn't know anything WAS wrong.

But as she walked with Rei, feigning her normal, bubbly attitude, which was becoming more and more of a hassle every day, she decided that it was time to begin to drop her facade. She couldn't pretend to be her old self anymore. If she was going to rule, she have to become… different. Better. Stronger. And she would have to show it.

She could no longer feign her child-like attitude for their peace of mind. But she would not let them forget who she once was.

"Rei." She asked calmly.

"Hmm?" Rei asked curious at the calmness of Usagi's voice.

"Rei, I'm… changing." She said hastily.

"Hmm?" Rei repeated now looking at the short blonde girl in pigtails which hung to her feet, formally known as her princess. "Usagi… is… something wrong?"

"Yes." Usagi replied. "I am changing Rei. I'm… losing Usagi. Soon I'll be Serenity. Every day I lose more of the person I was. The crystal. The duty. Everything that has happened. It's changing me more than you can tell Rei"
"Usagi…" Rei began but Usagi held up her hand.

"Once I only appeared to be Serenity when I was in dire need. But… it's going to be me completely Rei. Someday Sailor Moon won't exist. I'll be just… Serenity." She told.

"All I ask, is that you don't forget who I was. All the… stupid things I'd done. Don't forget them? Please? I ask you this as a friend." She asked in all seriousness.

"I… of course. I… I'm sorry." Rei stuttered, unused to this kind of seriousness from her princess.

"What are you sorry about!" Usagi said with a large grin. Rei smiled. The Usagi she usually knew was back. For a little while at least. For a little while…

They continued walking in silence until suddenly they heard a shout. "WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW!" Came a loud, sharp yell.

Rei shivered as the bandana clad boy in yellow who had thoroughly pummeled her into the ground not two months previous appeared around the corner. They stood on guard and walked toward him along the sidewalk.

"Uh, hi." He said suddenly approaching them. "Um. I was just wondering if you could tell me where I am exactly? I'm pretty sure that Nerima is SOMEWHERE near here…" He trailed off looking down at an old road worn atlas.

Rei couldn't help but become nigh on frightened. She held it well but bit her lower lip to the point of bleeding. She recalled the brutal beating he had given her

"Um.. It's… uh. It's that way! Goodbye!" She exclaimed as she raced down the road away from him for once forsaking her pride to leave Usagi alone.

"Uh… is… something wrong with her?" the man asked awkwardly. "Um… well. I think you scared her." Usagi replied plainly. Sweat dropped off the back of her head.

"Oh… well… could you tell her I'm sorry? I mean, I thought that you scouts were evil kidnappers and, no offence, but A: I'd thought you kidnapped Ranma and B: Akane told me that you were the bad guys."

"You… you know who we are?" Usagi asked surprised.

"Well, yeah. I mean it's pretty obvious and if anyone else had been on the sidewalk I would've asked them but you were the only ones and I really need to talk to Akane so -" Ryoga began but was interrupted.

"And you just… walk up to us like that? Knowing full well who we are?" Usagi asked. "That you and her fought a death match just two months ago?"

"But… I… but… I needed the help!" Ryoga pleaded.

"…"

"You sir, are insane!"

"But… I -" Ryoga began.

"Of course you would scare Rei to death! Her untransformed and remembering you beating her like you did! It took almost five minutes of constant spell work to heal her injuries and even THAT wasn't enough!" Usagi shouted. "And then you come up and ask for DIRECTIONS?"

"I… I'm really sorry. I didn't know the whole story and I can't really say no to Akane. I don't like to hit girls but I love her and would do anything she asks sopleaseforgiveme!" Ryoga begged falling to his knees with his hands over his head.

Listening to the boy talk so quickly she was somewhat reminded of herself. At least, herself when she was younger. More foolish.

"Hmph. Your not asking the right person. You should ask Mars to forgive you." Usagi said. She had fully dropped her Usagi-ish normal attitude letting the moral thoughts of Serenity rule her judgment. It seemed to work well.
"I… um… could you do it for me? I.. um.. I'm really shy with… girls.. And.. Well especially ones I've accidentally um… well. And I sort of have this little direction problem and… uh…" He trailed off.

"What's your name anyways?" Usagi asked, now impatiently, seemingly ignoring his request.

"I'm… I'm Ryoga." Ryoga replied nervously.

"Well, I am Usagi. You seem like a pretty nice guy Ryoga. But I think you should apologize to Mars yourself." She said calmly. "Since you knew me I'm going to assume you knew that girl who just ran off was her. Her name is Rei if you meet her again."

"I… ok. Thanks." Ryoga muttered looking down.

"I've got to run. But it was nice to talk to you Ryoga." Usagi said quickly. She glanced around to see where Rei had run off to and did manage to notice a red skirt sticking out from behind a tree three blocks down the road.

It appeared to be quivering.

"I… alright. Next time I see her… I'm… sorry. Sorry to bother you!" He finished quickly and ran off to the east conveniently forgetting that South had been the direction Rei had pointed out to him.

"What a strange guy…" Usagi thought as her state of mind began to trail back into usual thought patterns of the original sixteen year old Usagi. "Cute though!"

She ran up and caught up with Rei hiding behind the tree.

"Rei! How could you just run away on me like that!" Usagi demanded in a pouting tone.

"I… I'm sorry, Usagi. I just… I saw him and… I remembered what he did and…" She shivered quickly and continued. "I panicked. Gomen nasai." Rei said with her head bowed, apologetically.

Usagi smiled. "It's alright. I can't say I wouldn't have panicked either. I didn't see you fight but your bruises afterwards were horrible… I forgive you." "I… thanks, buns." Rei stuttered as she lifted her head.

Usagi smiled again. Today perhaps wasn't her best day… but… it wasn't bad either.

She was feeling better already.

Akane stood on the pole. It was her favorite pole. It had a nice flat top with a tall sturdy unmoving fixture about it. She understood now why Ranma had stood atop the high spot so often. It's immaculate view. The wind blowing her hair back.

The safe feeling of sturdiness. The feeling like she couldn't be touched.

This was why Ranma had enjoyed this pole that stood twenty stories from the ground.

It wasn't actually a pole. It was a cell phone tower with a large pole sticking out of the top as an antenna.

The city of Nerima was beautiful. Especially beautiful at sunset on a cloudless, sunny, yet cool day. But it was coming close to the point that she would not be able to view it from here. Seven months pregnant. They had decided that it would be best if she stop attending school. So every now and then her friends, loyal ones anyway, would stop by with her homework and help her with it and bring it back for her the next day.

She was doing quite well in classes, considering all that had happened to her. But she didn't know how much longer she could go on with the guilt. It had begun to eat her away along with one other feeling. A feeling of… manipulation. Like she was a pawn in a gigantic chess game moving where ever her manipulator assigned her. Possibly being sacrificed for a larger piece.

Cologne. Devious little worm that she was, had not returned. But Akane kept her guard up. She assumed that any day now, when she was at her weakest, Cologne would appear along with Shampoo.

And the Sailor Scouts. She had begun to suspect something wrong. Certain things were just not adding up. How in the world could she have become pregnant with Ranma's baby? Sure she had thought she loved the jerk, but the ONLY way for that to be possible would be if he… if he..

"Said it first." She said aloud to herself.

Suddenly she heard a scream. It was a joyous, happy scream that she had not heard in a little over half a year.

"SWEETO!"

"Oh no…" She thought and then in a very Ranma-ish style said simply, "… my life sucks."

And she hopped down from the pole, landing gracefully on the ledge ten stories down. And then jumping to the ground.

"Whatta Haul! Whatta Haul! Panties? Bras? You name it, I got it! Whatta Haul!" Happosai exclaimed joyously bounding from building to tree to ground.

"Ah! Sweet joyous rapture of the silky luscious - BANG!" Akane's fist collided with his face with a resounding echo and he stopped in midair clutching his impaled stomach, and then fell to the ground.

He coughed a few times before finally standing. It was odd that this time there was no crowd of women following him.

"Who dares do this to the Grandmaster of the- OH MY GOD, AKANE? What's happened to YOU?" Happosai cried.

Akane sighed and turned away facing towards the river letting the wind blow her hair around recklessly.

"Yeah yeah, rub it in already." Akane muttered.

"Heh heh heh… so Akane-chan. Who's the lucky guy? I bet I know! It must Ranma! It is isn't it!" Happosai exclaimed as he winked one eye and jumped up to nudge her in the shoulder.

"I… it is." She blushed turning away. She had it clinically proven to be Ranma's child, which scared her so much she couldn't stand it. How could she have killed the father of her baby? It… it just didn't make sense.

"OH HO HO! I KNEW that you two would make a GREAT couple someday! Well, where is he? Where's the lucky father? I've been gone for over half a year! I should have a good welcoming party so where -"

"Shut up!" Akane screeched.

"I… uh… A…ka..ne?" Happosai said cautiously. "Is… something wrong with Ranma?"

"Grandfather Happosai… can.. Can I trust you to keep a secret? If… if I don't tell someone soon I think I'll burst." Akane whispered as she fell to her knees looking down at the decrepit master of the Anything Goes School.

"Well, of course little lady. I wouldn't tell a secret from you if you asked me not to. But what do ya say we go somewhere more private hmm?" Happosai asked in a calm voice that he only used when he was serious.

"I.. mmhmm." Akane replied.

They jumped from house to house until they reached the top of a tall tower, too far up for anyone to hear them. A perfect place for a private chat.

"Jeez, I've been gone what? Eight months? I come back and my precious Akane-chan is seven month's pregnant, Ranma apparently gone, and a severe lack of… well… fight in the girlies… What's happened here, Akane?

"Well, Anyone else would tell you that Ranma was kidnapped. But… that's not what happened." She began.

"Oh I see…" Happosai replied.

"I… I…killed Ranma, Jijii." Akane said solemnly.

"You WHAT?" Happosai exclaimed.

"I killed, Ranma," She gulped.

"How?" Happosai asked angrily. "Why?"

"With my mallet." She replied quickly turning away from him yet again. "And... why... I can't remember."

"You KILLED him? What did the boy do? RAPE you?" Happosai asked enthusiastically.

"I… wait… that… that could be.. But. Ranma would never…" Akane said more to herself then to Happosai. Meanwhile Happosai studied her.

"Akane dear may I please ask you to sit down here for a minute?" He asked calmly interrupting her thinking-aloud.

"I… sure jijii. I… thanks for understanding." She said kindly.

"No problem dear. Please just sit here and relax." Happosai said still calmly. He guided her to what appeared to be a box containing a fan of some sort, mounted to the top of the building.

"Now I'll just give you a little massage here to relax you. You must have had a bad couple of months." Happosai said as he jumped onto a higher placed yet similar box that Akane leaned her back against.

"I.. thanks Happi." "Not a problem, Dearie." He replied as he massaged her shoulders.

"It's… so nice… to finally, aaahhh, that feels good... ahhh! Tell someone… that.. I… mmmmm…." Akane moaned. Under Happosai's aged shiatsu pressure point skill, Akane was quickly lulled to sleep on the make-shift bench.

"Now let's have a look here." Happosai said to himself as he placed his hands on her head. He closed his eyes and began to execute a technique far older then he himself. A mind reading technique.

He entered her mind, mixing their auras and he found many memories and dreams and thoughts. The dream she was currently engaged in involved her pet pig P-chan and Ryoga. Though apparently she still hadn't realized the connection between the two.

He searched further. Three weeks ago.

"Hey Akane! How ya doin'?" Sayuri called.

"Hmm, I'm pretty good actually." Akane smiled up towards her. It was always a good day when Sayuri decided to sit with her at lunch time. She… Akane didn't think she came around often enough. She sat under the same tree for lunch most days now it was the shadiest, not to mention closest to the lunch room, tree and everyone seemed to leave it open for her due to pity or congratulations or something like that. Nevertheless it was open and she loved it.

"So… what do you think it's gonna be? Better yet? Wha'da'ya want it to be?" Sayuri asked. It was pointless to ask what Sayuri was asking about and it was equally pointless to ask her to stop asking. Akane wanted the baby to be a boy. She told Sayuri every day and the next day she was asked again, regardless.

"Hmm." She sighed. "I want a boy, Sayuri. I told you yesterday!" She cried. "Yeah, but we gotta ask every day! Just for the pure sake of making sure what you would want." Yuka said appearing from behind the tree Akane leaned against.

"I… well, ok. Thanks for caring you guys." Akane said.

"No problem, Akane!" Sayuri winked.

Akane smiled. Perhaps life wasn't all bad. "So what's up with Ranma? Ain't he coming back yet?" Yuka asked.
"…"

"Damnit." Akane thought.

Happosai moved onward. Further back… six weeks. Further. Ten weeks. Further. Twelve and one half weeks and he saw it. A gigantic purple block with imprints on it. It looked much like a memory but was not. It was as if someone had taken Akane's true memories and put a block over them.

The next three months back were all blocked with different memories, generated by poorly placed and used, yet enormously powerful magic.

It was kind of sad, thought Happosai as he looked at Akane's memory alteration. Whoever had done this was an amateur with memory alteration. A more talented magician would have simply erased the memory.

But Akane's true memories remained.

Unfortunately, Happosai knew that he would not be powerful enough to remove a memory block with this much power backing it up. "Someone very strong yet, unknowledgeable and inadequate did this." He thought to himself. He left Akane's mind. He knew Ranma couldn't possibly be killed by Akane. Ranma wouldn't have let that happen. He was an in-grown martial artist. If it became truly necessary Ranma would bend his ki reserves to keep him alive in a comatose state, looking dead.

"Akane… Akane-chan wake up, Dear." Happosai said as he shook the girl gently.

"Uh.. Wha… what… what happened? I fell asleep? Oh.. I feel… weird." She moaned.

"Well, yes, that will happened when someone enters your mind…" Happosai said.

"Enters my… wait. Happosai you… you… YOU!" She screamed. She charged towards him preparing to kick him into the sky.

"Stop!" He shouted instantly flaring his aura for a brief second. And suddenly she stopped, mid-kick, and fell over on the top of the building.

"Happi you little, how could you do a thing like -" Akane began.

"Akane dear please forgive me but I had to make certain what you told me was true and from what I found it was not. There has been a long term memory block placed within your brain. What you remember is not the truth." He interupted quickly.

"I… but.. I KNEW IT!" She exclaimed. "Are you sure! Are you.. I mean… are you certain? Can you remove it?" She asked excitedly.

"I can't, and I know of no one who can. I'm sorry Akane-chan but if it's beyond my four hundred years it will take time to find someone strong enough to destroy a magical memory block that powerful." He replied solemnly.

"I.. oh… I… well"

"But I can assure you one thing!" Happosai said hastily. "Your man is alive. And, knowing Ranma, I'm sure he'll be home soon. That kid doesn't fall I tell you. I knew it the second I first saw him."

"I… thank you Jijii… thank you so much… I… I dunno what I'd have done if… if… I don't know how to thank you..." Akane trailed off.

"Don't mention it Akane-chan! All you need to do is let me keep this little piece of cloth and you are completely off the hook!" Happosai exclaimed holding up the bra that Akane KNEW she had been wearing not ten seconds previous.

"Why you little…"

"Akane-chan?"

"HENTAI!" Akane cried.

Happosai flew far into the fading sun with a loud cry. "NOW I REMEMBER WHY I LEFT THIS PLAAAAACCCCCEEEEEE!"

And then he was gone off to parts unknown.

Akane looked towards the last yellow lights of the red sun and smiled. "I knew I wasn't a killer. Arigato… Happosai."

She jumped down from the tower with a new mission. To find someone who could get rid of her memory block.

"I have just listened to much of the boy's story, lord Agelmar." Moiraine said quietly. "And I trust him. He seems so.. Young yet so old at the same time. He is carefree. Pure. I ask that you find someone to take care of him and teach him how to behave. And show him respect. He saved my life… he is owed that much."

Lord Agelmar was as tall as any Shienaran, broad shoulders, strong arms, and had his hair tied back in a topknot. He wore a blue velvet cloak and leather boots. His brown eyes were hard and war-worn with a heavy and saddened look about him.

"Are you sure, Moiraine. My informants tell me that he.. Well.. That he was a she and that the she changed into a man! Is this not the Dark One's doing?" He asked.

"I do not believe so. He says he was cursed at a place called "The Springs of Sorrow" but I've never heard of the place." Moiraine told him. "Nonetheless, help the boy out. He is very old but he is a child to the outside world. He has been in solitary confinement for over a thousand years."

"A thou.! A thousand YEARS! That's… That's impossible!" Agelmar exclaimed.

"Nonetheless again. Help him find a place to stay tonight. I must be off. I have spent too much time dawdling today." She said quickly.

"The eye of the world. Once again are you certain you can find it?" He asked with uncertainty.

At the shake of her head as confirmation he continued speaking so as not to offend her.

"Ah yes, I suppose you're right Moiraine Sedai. May the light illumine and protect you. Have a safe journey." He said.

"You as well Lord Agelmar. Knowing you, I would expect no less then to see your victory at Tarwin's Gap." Moiraine said.

"You try to boost my spirits… My men will die and Fal Dara will fall from this battle in the Gap." He said.

Moiraine looked closely at the man and thought she noticed the slightest glimpse of a tear in his eye but it was blinked away as fast as she had noticed it. "Lord Agelmar… if anyone can escape the Dark One's hand in battle it is you." Moiraine said in what she hoped was a helpful attitude.

"Yes… I suppose so. Thank you, Moiraine Sedai. You must be going though. I will help the boy." He said.

"Thank you as well, Lord Agelmar. Perhaps I shall see you again soon." Moiraine said contentedly.

"Perhaps." Agelmar replied.

"So you are Ranma? The girl who became a boy. There are rumors spreading like wildfire in my city about you boy. So… what are you? A boy or a girl?" The man asked.

"I. uh… well. I think I… no… I'm pretty sure I'm I guy." Ranma said. "Um… are you lord Agelmar?"

"A… guy?" Agelmar thought, not understanding the word but he dismissed it. "Yes I am Lord Agelmar, ruler of Fal Dara. And, I suppose I must find someone to keep you for this night. It will be quite difficult considering the stir you've cause among my people…" Agelmar trailed off.

"Gomen Nasai." Ranma said quickly.

Agelmar looked at him, confused. "Oh uh.. I'm very sorry. It means, I'm very sorry." He said nervously.

"Well, Ranma. I think I know just the person who will give you a roof to rest your head under for this night." He said.

"Really? Um… who?" Ranma asked biting his finger.

"Blademaster Aron always welcomes a guest. I think he will be glad to have you for tonight." Agelmar told him.

"Oh… well.. Thank you Mister Agelmar." Ranma said.

Agelmar was almost offended by the slack, unimpressed name Ranma had given to him. He was LORD Agelmar. But then he recalled Moiraine's words and decided to simply reprimand him this time.

"My name is Lord Agelmar. I am afraid I must ask you to call me this at all times. Talk to a lord like that in Cairhien or Tear and you might just get your head cut off!" Agelmar said pleasantly.

Ranma gulped. "Ok sir… UH I mean uh… Lord.. A..gel..mar." She stuttered even more nervously then before.

Agelmar laughed on the inside at the plight of his seemingly young charge. This boy couldn't possibly be that old!

"Ah here we are. Master Aron, peace favor your sword." Agelmar said bowing slightly to the man he had just approached.

"Why Lord Agelmar, your presence warms me! What brings you here at this time of the day?" He asked suspiciously.

"I have a charge for you. I was hoping you would be able to keep this man under your roof for the night." Agelmar said with a practiced tone as if he had done this before.

"Ah well, you know, new faces are always welcome under my roof. What be the lad's name?" He asked.

Ranma studied the man. His accent was so awkward. It reminded him of some pirate on some childish television show but still he seemed like a nice man.

"This is Ranma. He is the boy all the rumors were spreading about." Agelmar said as he pushed Ranma in front of him.

"Uh… hi. I'm Ranma Saotome, sorry bout' this." Ranma said, still nervously.

"The one who they said was a girl? Who changed into a man? He's the one?" Aron asked curiously.

"Yes, though I have not seen it for myself. Will you take him? Moiraine Sedai says that he is trustworthy." Agelmar said patiently.

"Of course I will. You know me, Lord Agelmar!" Aron exclaimed.

Agelmar turned around quickly and, looking back over his shoulder said, "Yes, it seems that I do. Thank you, Master Aron. I must be going now. Tomorrow's battle at the Gap is beginning to worry me." With that Agelmar, turned and walked down the street.

"So lad, I must ask… is it true that you are truly a woman?" He asked curiously as he fiddled with a sword. Ranma was glad she had remembered what the shiny pointed things were though fortunately she concealed it this time.

"I'm.. not sure... uh.. I can turn into one..I can show you if you would like?" Ranma asked, tentatively.

"No no no first you must meet, my family. Please, come in come in!" He said merrily.

Ranma smiled. "Ok!"

Aron placed his hand around Ranma's shoulder and walked him over towards a small wooden cottage a few meters from where they had just stood.

SPLASH!

The ecstasy of being a male left her and she felt sort of cold compared to the raised body heat of her earlier form. Yet still, being a girl and having her perfect balance back set her at ease.

"Wow. So… it's a curse?" Tio asked.

"Tio, it's is time for you to get back to your sword practice. You are bothering out guest." Aron said. Tio pouted a little, just like most eight year old boys would, but still he went of to his cot in a small room near the back of the cottage. Aron's two other daughters, Saniah and Sarlith had both been sent to their room immediately upon their introduction to Ranma which Ranma was thankful for.

They had been eyeing him with lustful eyes. No matter how much time went by Ranma never forgot the look of lust in someone eyes.

Tio Bladesback was Aron's son. Though it seemed his wife was dead, Aron appeared to be quite the family man, tackling three children at once. He had called this work easy, compared to when his two other sons had still lived with him, though they had now moved out and actually left Fal Dara in search of something better.

"Yes it's just a curse. I really can't remember how I got it. I just know it came from a place called the… Springs of Sorrow. It's really not all that bad. Just… uncomfortable." She replied happily. "Thank you again by the way Mister Aron! I'm glad you let me stay with you!"

"Not a problem Ranma. It… It doesn't really matter much anyways. I think we will soon have to retreat from Fal Dara." He said sadly.

Fortunately Aron had already seen Ranma's transformation and was not surprised by it this time. He had complimented Ranma's female side and Ranma, still unsure of what to do in that sort of situation, blushed and said. "I… I'm a guy, sir… uh… Master Aron."

He had laughed it away by saying "Of course, of course!" several times and then changed the subject as Ranma turned herself back into a man with hot water.

"Retreat from Fal Dara? But it's such a strong looking city… why?" Ranma asked.

"Tomorrow," Aron said solemnly, "Fal Dara, once again will wage war with the Blight. But this time the Blight stirs. Many thousands of Trollocs and Halfmen are gathering. I do not think that we will win this battle, many Shienarans will die tomorrow. Perhaps it is our time. As the Aes Sedai say, "The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills." Perhaps it is our time." He repeated.

"But… but then… I… People will die? How? Why?" Ranma asked.

"Ha ha! Why? Trollocs will attack and someone must defend. Otherwise the entire world will be over run!" Aron laughed.

"Trollocs? What are these… trollocs anyways? Machin… told me of them. He said they were great green monsters but he didn't believe they truly existed." Ranma told him.

"Oh they definitely exist. My wife was killed… well… let us not get into that depressing subject. We should live while we can." Aron said still keeping his tone happy.

"I… Ok…" Ranma said.

They sat in silence for a moment, drinking in the moonlight.

"People are gonna die!" Ranma suddenly exclaimed.

"Of course. That's what war is all about, lad, er… lass. Why does it seem to anger you so much?" Aron asked curiously.

"I… I want to fight. I want to see these trollocs for myself!" She said angrily.

"Well, don't be too hasty child. Can you fight?" He asked in a parental sort of protective voice.

"I… a little." Ranma said. She didn't know why she said it but somehow being humble seemed the better choice to acting superior.

"Well, the let's see what you have." Aron said as he tossed a sword to Ranma, which she grabbed instantly.

"Hmm, good reflexes." Aron noted.

"I.. uh.. I'd rather fight unarmed." Ranma said cautiously.

"Unarmed? I… have done it before but I'm mostly only accustomed to the sword. I can't fight unarmed very well.." Aron said.

"No no, it's ok. You use your sword. I.. I sort of want to see how good I've gotten." Ranma said.

"Hmm… Well, alright. Let's see what you have got." Aron said challengingly.

Ranma's eyes lit up.

"Your on!" She cried. Aron didn't know what the phrase meant but he supposed it was a challenge or taunt based on the smirk decorating the girls face.

They stood in the center of an open yard facing each other.

"Alright then lass, don't think, I be goin' easy on you because you're a girl at the moment." Aron said.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Ranma replied.

Aron decided to start off with a light and slow arm up and sliced right across and down with his blade, which he was glad to note that Ranma easily dodged.

Suddenly she was gone and in an instant Aron flashed around placing his sword hilt up, leaving the point towards the ground. Ranma stood for a split second on the flat end of the blade crouched. He had blocked her kick, but barely. This girl was fast.

"I underestimated you." He said.

"I get that a lot." Ranma replied, words from what seemed like a past life flowing to her lips as exhilaration filled her. The rush, the excitement, the challenge.

The will to win.

This was her life.

She flashed towards the blade master like lightning, and tapped her foot into his face, then twisted around and re-kicked lightly with her other foot.

Ranma saw it happen in slow motion but she had not expected it. His neck snapped like butter. Eyes rolling into the back of his head. He slumped to the ground, neck twisted half way around his head.

There was no doubt about it. He was dead.

"Oh my god… what.. What have I done?" She backed up slowly… away from his corpse.

"Blademaster Aron!" Came the cry. It must have been a split second after he died but the shout came. The man ran towards the fallen blade master and looked at his lifeless body.

A few tears spilled out of his cheeks. But he quickly spun around and glared a look of hatred at Ranma.

"You… you killer! Darkfriend! I knew we shouldn't have trusted you the second I saw your twisted magic!" Said the man, whom Ranma had never met.

"I.. I… I didn't mean it… it was a mistake! I'm sorry… I can't.. I… I…" Ranma tried to reason.

The man didn't let her say another word. He ran full speed at her, sword drawn ready to slice for a kill. "I WILL KILL YOU!"

"I DIDN"T MEAN IT! FORGIVE ME!" Ranma begged as she leapt to the sky, over the high walls and dashed as far as she could through the forests further and further to the north, trying to run away from her shame.

For hours, maybe days, she ran onward until the sun fell from the sky tears flowing from her eyes. Sooner or later she slowed and slumped to her knees.

"How could I.. how could I have… I… I… sorry.." She whispered. She held her face in her hands begging herself that this was all just a dream.

She had hit Machin like that and he had shrugged it off without a second thought! But he had had two centuries of martial arts training! She was such a complete woolhead.

First day of freedom, and she already managed to kill someone who had freely taken her in. She was a monster… spent too much time alone… to much training. Too strong…

Perhaps she didn't belong with other people. Perhaps she was… meant to be alone. Maybe Pluto was right in banishing her…

For the first time in her life… Ranma had no goal.

She lay on the grass, crying for hours. Pluto was right to banish her.

Pluto was…

Right…

Ryoga was tired. He had tried to find Akane but for some reason it was taking hundreds of times longer than usual. It was coming to the point where Ryoga was thinking that… that…

That…

Maybe he didn't really WANT to see her. Not like he used to anyways. Akane… a… a killer? Even if it was that dirty Ranma she killed… it… it just wasn't right.

And then there was one more thing. Ranma himself. Him? Dead?
"Ranma can't be dead." He told himself firmly.

Three weeks previous he had decided to embark on a new quest. To find Ranma. Ranma had to be somewhere. Now the only question was where. Where in the hell was he?

So he searched. Usually if he searched for Ranma for about a week he would find him. His horrible sense of direction seemed to work for him like that. He was always there when something important was happening.

Well if anything was important this was.

Unfortunately…

Three weeks of searching for him in particular and still no sign of Ranma. Ryoga was getting desperate. He needed his rival… otherwise… what… what would he do?

"I have to find Ranma." He thought to himself.

So he wandered onward from village to village. Stopping in every one asking around for a boy with black hair or a girl with red hair tied in a pigtail.

No success.

So here he now stood. In the middle of a dense jungle.

"Oh jeez.. It's so hot!" He thought to himself. He looked around and noticed a monkey swinging around in the trees. He really was in the jungle just like he had thought.

"Heh ha! My sense of direction IS getting better!" he thought.

Suddenly ahead of him he saw a river. "Oh alright!" He thought to himself. He ran forward and sure enough, there was the river in all of it's cold glory. He dunked his head in straight away to relieve himself of the agonizing heat of the midday sun.

He pulled his face from the water and let out a long loud and happy laugh. It had been almost half a day since the last time he had seen a river. He had lost the last river. It had appeared to flow to the right but when he followed it that way it some how managed to turn to the left and disappeared from him.

"Well! I won't lose it this time!" He thought to himself.

He looked around when he suddenly heard a voice.

"HEY! What the heck are you doin' you idiot? Don't you know that's the cage where the wild lions are kept!" Came the shout from somewhere behind him.

And suddenly three enormous lions appeared.

"Oh jeez, I thought Lions lived in the wild plains of Africa… not in the jungle… hmm.. Oh well.

"You idiot move! They're wild! They'll eat you alive!" Someone shouted again.

"Hmm… I know I hear someone shouting at me… but.. Nah! It's probably just a figment of my imagination, I'm deep in the jungle! Who would possible be here!" Ryoga thought.

He jumped forward and slammed his fist down on the first lion's head, then the second one's, and then the third knocking them into unconcious bliss.

"Well, that was easy." He said.

"Get out of my Zoo!" Said a janitorial looking man appearing right in front of Ryoga.

"Huh? Za… Zoo?" Ryoga exclaimed.

"Yes Zoo? Where did you think you were? The jungle? Now come on! This way!" The man said.

Ryoga glanced to the left and saw a large glass fence and a bunch of faces looking at him through it.

"Uh.. Hehehheheheh! Hi!" He waved.

Suddenly the man grabbed his arm and began to drag him towards the exit.

"Come on mister popular." He said angrily.

Ryoga found himself back on heavily populated streets in no time.

"Jeez, what was his problem?" Ryoga asked the air. "Hmph, oh well." He turned and continued walking glancing at the grocery shops and other such places along the way, hoping to fill up on his supplies. He had been in that jungle for quite a while.

Suddenly the scenery changed. And he knew it had happened again. He didn't know what it was but, as always, he warped from one place to a completely different place. There was a good chance he was on a different hemisphere of the world.

Usually when he really wanted to be somewhere he would simply pop up there, no matter where it was. When it happened he always felt so full… powerful. And, it did happen quite often so he was used to it by now. The queasiness of the movement. The incredibly powerful and light, yet sickening feeling that he had learned to know by heart. It was helpful at times. Sometimes he popped up at the most convenient times.
It still irked him that he never seemed to show up to the challenges he issued on time. But at least he was always there for life threatening situations and the like.

He walked on a little ways and quickly realized that this place was… different. The plants leaves were.. Awkward. Yellowed, some black. The trees were dead and the air was smoky.

It was well into nightfall here and the stars looked beautiful to Ryoga except for the great black cloud towards the east… or was it the south? He walked on a little further and realized that there was a horrible stench in the hazy yellow-white fog of the warm night.

He saw a plant that had a few berries on it. He was about to pick them but something told him that they weren't right. They were, foul. Poisoned.

He pulled his hand away and continued on.

"What is this place?" he thought. It wasn't like any forest or jungle he had seen before. This place was.. Dead.

And that's where he saw her.

She lay on the ground whimpering and repeatedly moaning, "She was right… she was right… she was right…"

"Oh my… Ra? Ranma? Is that you?" Ryoga asked calmly.

The red-haired girl twisted her head and looked at him.

"Go ahead and kill me… I deserve it. I'm sorry.. It was an accident… I didn't mean it. I'll never fight again… I swear it! I swea.. I swear.." She moaned.

"Ranma… what's.. What's happened to you? Where are we? Akane said she'd killed you -"

"AKANE!" Ranma scream as she ran towards the man. "You KNOW Akane?" She asked as she clung to his feet.

"Of course I… Ranma what sort of trick are you trying to pull here? Where the heck are we!" Ryoga demanded. "And… why exactly did you just swear never to fight again?"

"So… your not from Fal Dara?" Ranma asked.

"RANMA! What in the heck are you talking about!" Ryoga demanded. "I'm from Japan! Where else would I be from?"

"Japan… Japan… you… you're… I know you. I know your face. You… AH, It's been SO long… I'm so tired…" She muttered somberly.

Ryoga was trying to hide his shock. This beautiful, long haired, pigtail-less girl was definitely Ranma. She responded to the name but… what had happened to her? "I'm… Ryoga… Ranma you don't… you don't remember me?" He asked almost fearfully as he crouched down to look at the dirt covered girl clinging to his leg.

"I'm… sorry. I vaguely recall the name… but it's just been "

"How DARE you forget your greatest rival!" Ryoga exclaimed as he lifted her by her collar.

"I'm sorry… I can't do anything right. Just… just kill me and get it over with." She said sadly, tears still streaming down her face.

"Ra… Ranma.. Are… You have to tell me what's happened to you. Ranma." Ryoga said, realizing the seriousness in his… 'gulp' fr… frie… friend's attitude.

"I… I… you are really from Japan? And you really know Akane?" Ranma asked again.

"Of course I know Akane! I talked to her just a few months ago! Don't you remember anything?" Ryoga questioned. "Tell me what has happened to you… Ranma."

"I don't know where to begin. But… well, I… I just… killed that man. He was so kind to me.. But. I killed him!" Ranma cried.

"You what! Ranma how.. How could you do a thing like that?" Ryoga demanded.

"I… I got two strong. I just… tapped him and his neck, it… it…" Ranma stuttered as she collapsed in tears yet again, though this time it was on his shoulder. She grasped him in a hug, though she made sure the embrace was as light as she could possibly muster, and her tears flowed by the gallons.

She muttered the words "I'm Sorry." over and over again.

"Ranma…?" Ryoga asked when she had somewhat settled down.

She now sad on her knees facing him towards him though looking down.

"Ranma, at home… they think you were kidnapped by Sailor Pluto though… Akane seems to think that she killed you. But you don't seem dead to me." Ryoga said in what he hoped was a cheerful tone.

"It was… it was Pluto… I've wanted my revenge for so long… but now…" Ranma said.

"So… it was Pluto then… that means that girl DID mess with her memory!" Ryoga exclaimed.

" "Sniff" Mmhmm, an.. I could never do anything, "AHCHOO!" About it.." Ranma sniffled.

"So… where have you been?" Ryoga asked patiently.

I've been alone… I was.. It was a prison… I waited there for… Eighteen thousand… years… but I broke out when I found out about Pluto messing with Akane's memory… and "

"Whoa whoa whoa! Hold the phone! Your telling me that you've been in some prison for Eighteen Thousand YEARS?" Ryoga exclaimed.

Ranma nodded. "And… and I could watch my home… through the book…"

She pulled out the book. It was still perfect in condition. Not a single bent page, even though they were all blank except for the center page.

"Here… See. Your seeing through the eyes of Setuma Ayo. He goes to Tokyo university… he… he cheated o his girlfriend three days ago. It was…

"So your telling me that you've been just watching this book for Eighteen thousand years? And that's… all you did?" Ryoga asked. That was impossible? Eighteen thousand years? That was impossible!

"I… I trained a lot. I got to where I could light up the prison for as far as I could see!" Ranma exclaimed trying to sound like she did something of an accomplishment.

"And… and then what?" Ryoga asked now truly not believe his former rival.

"Well… I… I spent another two thousand in the Ways… but… but I got out yesterday… I thought it was a great present for my birthday… but… but now I'm not so sure."

"Your… birthday?" Ryoga asked.

"I'm…. twenty thousand years old yesterday…" Ranma muttered.

"Ok, now I KNOW your making this up!" Ryoga exclaimed.

"But it's… it's… true… And then I… killed.. I… can't believe... I..." Ranma returned to her constant babbling of denials and I'm sorrys and forgive mes.

Suddenly they heard a shout.

"Yes! She ran dead north! The little sex changing witch! I knew she would be trouble and not twenty minutes after she's here one of Fal Dara's best swordsmen is dead! I'll kill her, him!" The voice said as if it couldn't decide.

"They're gonna kill me. I.. I deserve it… Ryoga." Ranma said as she quickly remembered his name.

Ryoga looked back at the shadows of the three or four men.
"Lets hurry, come on Ranma I want your full story and your not dying until I get it." Ryoga demanded.

He grabbed Ranma and carried her further to the north. Fortunately, his feet took him in the right direction for once and soon the men were so far behind it would take them a day to catch up.

They continued talking deep into the night and well into the wee hours of the morning, finding out what had happened. Ranma tried to catch every little slip of information on Akane he could but Ryoga wouldn't talk about he girl too much.

Soon they decided it was time to go to sleep causing Ranma to simply shuck her clothes and lie down on the grass, leaving Ryoga with something right next to a heart attack to deal with.

Whatever feminine modesty Ranma HAD had before her imprisonment, had obviously been washed away with eighteen thousand years of nakedness.

"Ranma… everything is different now." Ryoga thought. As he went to sleep he couldn't help let his thought, not to mention his eyes, wander over her naked body.

She was very beautiful, especially with long hair.

He quickly turned away thinking of Akane as much as possible and waited for the next morning to come.

"What an interesting day…" Ryoga thought as he fell asleep. "I never thought I'd feel sorry for Ranma in my life but… wow… Eighteen Thousand Years… I know I'd go insane."

His eyes closed and he slept peacefully. His mission, his first one that had come from when he had first met Ranma, was fulfilled. Ranma's happiness had been destroyed.

Poor Ranma.

Ranma didn't do it consciously. It was a reflex that made her move. The blade sliced down into where her neck had been just seconds before. She flared her aura towards the thing and it exploded blasting it's insides all over the trees behind it.

Looking over she saw that the same fate that would have befallen her, were it not for her ungodly reflexes, was about to happen to her newfound companion. Her eyes narrowed.

This great green monster was no human. And it threatened her friend. It had reason to be killed, considering it was about to slice of Ryoga's neck.

It's head fell to the floor as a disk of white light flew from her outstretched palm removing the said body part.

"So you're a trolloc?" Ranma thought as she looked at it's bloody head.

"AH AH AH AH AH? What the heck is going on?" Ryoga cried as he pushed the enormous body off of his hand. He wiped some of the slimy blood from his left hand, which was the only thing the headless body had landed on fortunately, and looked at the thing with disgust and horror.

"I think it's.. a… trolloc. It almost got you but I killed it first…" Ranma said, though she flinched at the word killed.

"Ranma… I.." Ryoga stuttered

He was touched. He never would have shown Ranma the same kindness… but now…

"Come on!" Ryoga called to Ranma. "I think I hear something from this way!"

Ranma nodded and followed. They didn't travel far. The trees opened up to give Ranma the most magnificent sight she had ever seen.

"Oh my -" She started.
"God." Ryoga finished.

On the right side of the valley, far below them, were thousands, no, tens of thousands of the green beasts, along with other, more fearful looking humanoid, black riders.

Meanwhile near the left of the valley were thousands of soldiers, dressed in full battle armor, ready for the war of their lives. "They're doomed." Ranma said solemnly.

"No kidding…" Ryoga replied.

"I… I have to help them… I have to get my redemption." Ranma said.
She stood and held her hands into the sky.

"Ran…ma?" Ryoga asked.

"I'll kill them all. I won't let one Shienaran soldier die!" She cried.

And with that, Ryoga's vision exploded with the blinding light produced by Ranma's energy.

One by one Ranma blasted enormous spheres of ki down into the army, taking out hundreds at a time per each shot. When it became apparent that she wasn't destroying them fast enough she began to launch them two at a time from each hand.

"Oh my god… Ranma are you?" Ryoga tried to ask but Ranma paid no attention to him at the moment.

She hovered herself into the air for a better view of the craters and the monsters she had left to destroy, and while she didn't notice it, a veil of her ki wrapped itself around her.

She kept on firing, blast after blast after blast into the gigantic hoard of the ten foot tall giants with horns on their heads.

All of her bombs were exploding one by one as they impacted the ground. The trollocs and Halfmen, or black riders as they were commonly called, began to panic below, running backwards into the north. Their bodies flew everywhere in the explosions and shrapnel of Ranma's constant blasting. For almost twenty minutes Ranma blasted out each line of enemies until she had destroyed as many as she possibly could.

A cheer arose from the Shienaran army as they looked far up to the forested high ground on the right to see the girl encased in the blue light, firing the exploding blasts of magic into their enemy.

Ranma's aura flickered. And faded. She twittered about in midair as she ran low on her energy.

"I… can't I…" Ranma moaned. The lights disappeared, and the ki that wrapped Ranma faded. She fell, and would have slammed her head on the rocky ground below had Ryoga not caught her.

"Ranma… you did this all that?" Ryoga asked her unconscious form.

Ranma's lips curled into a smile and she whispered one phrase. "Thank you… for forgiving me…"

"Ranma… what have you become?" Ryoga asked her.

She smiled again.

End Chapter
It was in this chapter that I realized just how HARD this is going to be. But I did it, I did. I hope you all enjoyed.

I know Obsidian Fox Just came out with his next chap of Eldritch Asylum and you guys are tired from reading that but please if you will...
Review me too!