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Disclaimer:
All characters and settings are used here without permission.
"Aah! Megami-sama" (or "Oh My Goddess!") was created by Fujishima
Kosuke, and is licensed to Kodansha and AnimEigo.
"Ranma 1/2" was created by Takahashi Rumiko, and is licensed to
Shogakukan Inc., Kitty, Fuji TV, and Viz Communications Inc.
"Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" (or "Sailor Moon") was created by Takeuchi Naoko, and is licensed to Koudansha, TV Asahi, Toei Douga, and DIC Entertainment, L.P.
"Forgotten Realms" was created by TSR. Inc. and is owned by Wizards of the Coast.
All original characters, places, and other creative wonders belong to me. Please drop me a line if you want to use them. 6c
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Myth Drannor
Ranma-neko danced around the lightning and fire that the Twisted Ones threw at her. The night sky was alight with angry lights and deafening explosions. She could sense that her enemies were trying to trap her, and could feel their unnatural minds trying to break her. She couldn't conceptualize the mental attacks, but she did know that the Twisted Ones were deadly opponents. She felt them trying to tame her, to collar her and she fought them tooth and claw. These two were quite different from their fellows. They were smart enough to keep her at a safe distance, out of the reach of her claws and her teeth.
They kept her moving too.
Every time she landed on something, fire would attempt to burn her, or ice to freeze her, or the earth to consume her. They pushed her relentlessly, refusing to allow her a moment's rest; all the while they attacked her body and her mind in tandem. But despite their attacks, Ranma-neko didn't leave them unscathed.
It was a harsh battle that neither side was gaining any ground in. At least until the third Twisted One made its presence known. She felt something akin to tangle vines snarling her body mid-leap. She couldn't see or smell them, but that meant little since she could feel them. Her back paws were bound and something had pinned her front legs close to her chest, but she was still able to roll with her impact on the large flat stone field beneath her.
They were cunning; she had to give their pack credit for outsmarting her. That didn't necessarily mean that she was going to roll over and show her throat to them though.
She lashed out viciously, raking her claws through the air and shredding and gouging the pair that had drawn close to finish her off. Her teeth came down on the invisible vines and began worrying them. She watched the third Twisted One some distance away as it rolled and spun in a frantic dance. Its paws were clawing at the air, leaving odd arcs of light in their wake, and it seemed to be growling in a strange way. She didn't understand the behavior of the Tainted, but she could feel the vines finally giving way beneath her teeth. The air was thick and charged with energy, but Ranma-neko did not stop to assess the sudden change in the environment.
She burst from her bonds and immediately launched herself at the abomination. Her body impacted heavily, driving the creature up and over the palace proper with a flurry of strikes that tore incredible gouges in the creature's body as well as the area surrounding the combatants.
The Twisted One screeched as she finally severed one of its remaining paws, but not before it completed its nefarious work. Ranma-neko blinked and noted something strange happening within her. First there was a light tug, and then a solid yank on the core of her being. Something sharp and painful struck her and caused her to yowl in agony. There was no concept for the exquisite torture in her limited and feral vocabulary. However, deep within Ranma's soul a daunting black prison shattered. There was a moment of clarity as the spirits of cat, human, and deity knew one another, and then the cat was literally torn from Ranma's soul. The once feral martial artist watched numbly as a ball of energy that looked vaguely feline rocketed toward a shimmering necklace in her opponent's severed hand, falling to the courtyard below.
Ranma's pain climaxed, sending her mind into a chaotic dance.
It was the most unbearable experience she had ever felt. She couldn't even find breath to scream. Her blood was aflame, consuming her from the inside out and the heart of her identity started to splinter and come undone. She screamed in anguish and frantically reached out to the ki around her. The lines were tainted and sickening, but she seized them with little regard for the damage it might do to her in the long run. The most important thing now was to keep herself intact. A darkness surged through her, making her want to vomit but it kept her spirit from finally shattering. It was like drinking directly from a sewage pipe though, and it was all that she could do to hold on until the mystical attack was finally repelled.
What little control she'd maintained was swept away in a torrential flood of power that literally burst from every pour in her body. Ranma finally found voice for her pain, and it echoed for miles around the dead city of Myth Drannor.
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Hemmerling
"Will you please at least tell me about your dreams?"
Usagi walked on beneath the dark shapes of the trees, pretending not to hear Ulin's question. The questions had been coming non-stop since the group had begun walking and the displaced Senshi was incredibly tired of the pestering. There were times that she thought Ulin could teach Luna a thing or two about nagging!
"You can ignore this all you want, Usagi. It doesn't change the fact that you haven't been eating well or sleeping through the night since we left the mines. There is something terribly wrong, but I can't help if you will not share what ill you are carrying. Are you troubled about Goruch's death?"
The young woman stifled a mighty yawn at the mention of sleep, but chose not to acknowledge Ulin's query. Instead she turned her attention further up the line of refugees to the stumpy figure of a round-shouldered dwarf and their guide, Marcus.
"How much further to the estate, Mister Marcus?"
Ulin's face soured and the air filled with the distinctive smell of brimstone and ash.
"So be it, Girl! If you are woman enough to ignore my offer and my counsel, then you are woman enough to solve your own troubles. You can rot for all I care! Let your dreams consume you from the inside out! See if I concern myself about your health and well being ever again!" The Genasi hissed as she spun on her heel and stomped through the crowd, towards the back of the line. Usagi watched her go with some regret, but it was tempered by a healthy dose of frustration as well.
"Not ta be puttin' me nose where the hornets are buzzin' Mistress," Garl Blackhammer moved quickly to fall in step with Usagi. "…but I'm fer thinking that the Earth Sister was aimin' ta be helpin' ye."
Usagi sighed as she turned to look down at the stout dwarf. He sported a large wickedly rooted club that looked very much like a miniature tree, save for the very detailed faces that Garl had carved into the wood. He shifted the weapon so that it was resting over his right shoulder, and a soft smile, which seemed totally at odds with the rest of his stony face, grew as Usagi looked for the right words.
"I know, Mister Blackhammer. But there are some things that she can't help me with." The dwarf snorted and knuckled his mustache. "She's got more than enough to worry about without having to add me to the list."
"Beggin' yer pardon, Lady. But if it pleases you, me name's Garl." He nodded matter-of-factly and scratched his beard nervously. "And if ye'll pardon me nose again, I'd say it's fair obvious that yer at the top o' her list."
Usagi shot the dwarf an icy gaze through narrowed eyes that should have frozen him in place. Had he been paying more attention to her rather than the tree line, he might have been properly cowed. She started to say something in rebuttal, but immediately found herself bereft of breath and flying. She hit the ground in a roll that left her feeling very dizzy and disoriented. The air seemed incredibly still for an instant, and then screams began echoing up and down the forested road.
Usagi caught one last glimpse of Garl Blackhammer pulling his club down into a very menacing position, before her vision was obscured by running bodies and clouds of dust. She was forced to scramble to her feet to avoid being trampled, but once standing all that she saw was bedlam.
Men, women, and children were running every which way, being chased by large wolfish shadows and other armored figures brandishing weapons. Usagi could see Shandri standing valiantly against one of the towering monsters in order to protect four little girls. She had no weapon and already one arm hung limp and bloody at her side.
Usagi started to go to her aid; one of Ulin's newly taught spells already leaving her lips. Once she had let loose the magical darts (that strangely enough looked like tiny pink hearts), she started running towards the girls. She had taken less than five steps, when she was brought up short by the image of the man from her nightmares blocking her path.
COMPENSATION MUST BE MET, DAUGHTER OF THE WEAVE. His voice was cool and placid, like the still waters of a lake in late autumn. NOT EVEN YOU CAN STOP THE HANDS OF FATE. THE BALANCE WILL BE MAINTAINED.
Rage and frayed nerves fought with Usagi's pent up terror. It was a familiar feeling. She'd felt it when facing Beryl. She'd weathered it when facing Wiseman. It had been there when she had confronted Galaxia. But there was something else that had been present in all those instances as well. Determination.
The armored man brought up his sword in salute to her as she let the fires of her spirit surge forth. Her traveling clothes disappeared in a shimmering cascade of power, being replaced by a gown of the purest white.
"I know you now." She said calmly…more calmly than she truly felt at least. That well-known sense of detachment settled over her as she felt her power gathering. "You are the end of all things."
He nodded to her once in acceptance.
"I must fight you." Her voice was steady in spite of her sweaty palms.
YOU CANNOT. It was stated as a fact and punctuated by a woman's scream.
"I will fight you." She felt her anger beginning to boil in her throat at the sight of a man, Kern Deffin, fall to the ground with an arrow protruding from his throat.
HOW CAN YOU HOPE TO WIN? There was no amusement in his voice, nor did he patronize her. Usagi noted with some surprise that he seemed to have had this discussion many times before. That thought alone made her angrier than she had ever been in her life.
"I will win because I have to!" She growled. "DO YOU HEAR ME? BECAUSE I HAVE TO!"
A silver wave exploded outward from her person, augmented by the power of the Silver Crystal pendant hanging about her neck, bathing the small battleground in argent fires. The heat of conflict was stolen from aggressor and defender alike, leaving everyone staring dumbly at one another. An unnatural peace settled over the glade. Wounds healed. Fatal attacks were reversed, and the monstrous wolfmen that had been loping to the kill became…something else completely. The armored man before Usagi had not moved however. In fact, he looked intent on approaching the wobbling Usagi to lend her a hand. Some how she managed enough strength to straighten and glare at the warrior she had named Death.
YOU MAY FIGHT, AS MANY DO. BUT A PRICE MUST BE PAID, SILVER PRINCESS, FOR THOSE YOU HAVE WRONGLY TAKEN AS YOUR OWN.
"…what's the price you're asking…?" She croaked.
THE SCALES MUST BE BALANCED, SOUL FOR SOUL – EITHER THIS OR A PURE SOUL FREELY GIVEN TO FILL THEIR VOID.
Usagi trembled a bit at the finality of the figure's words. People and creatures alike had come to circle the tableau out of fear and curiosity. The young woman looked up and smiled at Ulin with all the love that she could muster, before stepping forward and opening her arms.
"I offer myself then, on their behalf, if it is an acceptable trade."
The specter of death simply stared back at her for a moment. His hesitation did not last though. His hand reached forward and took Usagi's. The moment her skin and his touched, there was a massive explosion that threw everyone to the ground. The deathly warrior and Usagi alone stood, but they were trapped in a column of shimmering energy.
IT HAS BEEN DECREED FROM THE BEGINNING, NO DIVINE HAND SHALL PREVAIL OVER THESE. HEAR THESE WORDS, KELEMVOR. HEAR THEM AND OBEY.
There was another explosive blast, but this time the deathly warrior was consumed in an implosion. Usagi found herself thrown from her feet to land in a heap near Shandri, sapped of her strength. All that she could muster was a small smile of victory.
"…I won…?"
(oo0/8/0oo)
Myth Drannor
The bodies of the dead – mortal, elf, and Infernal littered the clearing haphazardly. Braerindra had never thought she would be glad for something as gruesome as this to decorate her grove. Nor would she have ever envisioned a day when watching bodies decaying would be a welcome respite from the boredom of eternal servitude. She sighed a ghostly sigh and looked up to the gathering storm clouds blocking out the stars above her eternal post.
Something on the edge of her perceptions tugged at her…pulling at the magic that anchored her to the grove. The tug became a solid pull, filled with urgency and panic that tore her free from the geas. From her seat on the stone bench at the center of the grove, Braerindra felt the mystical chains binding her snap and for the first time in uncounted centuries, she was free. She heard the sound of ultimate suffering echoing throughout her once beautiful home and followed the undeniable draw to its source.
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Ranma fell, wreathed, like a tiny star, in black lightning and silver flame. She plummeted into the palace proper, unconsciously burning and blowing away the stone and mortar that attempted to bar her path. As she limply looked heavenward, she could see a writhing, cone-like shadow descending rapidly in her wake. Its remaining two appendages glowed with power and a fierce chanting filled the air.
On some level Ranma knew what was coming. The gestures and the patterns that were being drawn in the air were familiar to her. She could feel the chaotic energy…her energy…building. She knew that the spell being cast would open a maw of chaos, ripping the air and the surrounding area to shreds, and she would be at the center of it all – most likely flayed alive…if she was lucky.
She wanted to puke, and her limbs felt like they were melting from the inside out. She'd never felt anything like this in her waking life. Hell, not even the Neko-ken was this painful. She knew that she was crying, and on some level she was glad that she was a girl at the moment.
It was so hard to concentrate. What had she been thinking about? She'd lost her train of thought. Not that it really mattered. Damn. She felt like she'd faced Taro, Ryoga, Herb, and the frickin' pervert all at once. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and die. Sleeping forever was sounding really good about now.
Who was she kidding though? She was Ranma Saotome. That lame excuse for a windsock had just opened a can of whoop-ass on her and here she was, wanting to throw in the towel. Rat-bastard was worse than the panda when it came to taking cheap shots.
As she fell she could sense somewhere deep below her, a well of more power…pulsing in time with her erratic heart and swirling with the chaos that had become her soul. The wild, tainted force called to her, yearning to be used…begging to be cleansed. The sudden buzz in the back of her head drove away the pain, pushing it back and veiling it behind a flimsy veil of numbness. She wasn't sure whether it was a late dose of adrenaline kicking in or what, but she grinned all the same.
Never let it be said that Ranma Saotome didn't give as good as she got.
Thoughts of burning herself out never entered Ranma's mind as she embraced the bedlam. She opened herself up to the lifeblood of the world once more, tapping into the limitless well and drawing its power to her. She screamed defiantly as the power washed over her and through her, scouring away tiny bits of blackness as it went. The corona of fire and lightning exploded outward, melting and disintegrating the stone, mortar, and anything else that happened to get in her path. She could have sworn that she'd seen someone's startled face disappear before her, but she couldn't be certain.
Something powerful on the fringe of her consciousness attempted to wrest control from her and she immediately began fighting this new opponent with everything she could muster. There was no doubt that she could not afford to lose this new battle, for more than her life was at stake. Her very soul was on the line.
The Phaerimm's spell went off above her, just as she punched through the ceiling of a large chamber deep within the bowels of the Coronal's Palace. Ranma twisted and faced her original opponent as the air about her literally exploded with malevolent energy, ripping and tearing into her body. She reflexively began to absorb the magic, pulling it into her. The effort itself was incredible and she almost faltered. The entity on the fringe of her mind surged forward, but some how in her desperate thrashing she managed to hold it at bay. The strain was too much though, and Ranma was barely able to maintain consciousness, let alone bleed off the continuously building energy.
She screamed again, straining her voice until all that came out was a raw growl. Something snapped in her as she hit the surface of the soiled Pool of Radiance and her world was suddenly bathed in a bright azure flare.
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Highden
Keiichi carefully stepped over a large root in the deepening darkness and moved into the grove he'd selected for his altar. Brother Evandur had been ecstatic to hear that he wanted to learn more about the proper forms of building and consecrating an altar. At first it seemed an odd request coming from the consort of a goddess, but after Keiichi had explained that he'd never really needed to build a place of prayer before, Evandur understood his dilemma.
Looking back on their discussions, Keiichi had known some of the process instinctually, but even coming from a society as steeped in ritual and tradition as the Japanese, he was still a product of modern society and had to admit ignorance in what it took to build an altar. Evandur had read a number of texts to him, allowing Keiichi to take his own notes and helped answer questions when he'd had them.
The first step was obviously finding a place for the altar. Evandur had cited that the location was probably more important than the actual edifice, simply because it had to be a place where the symbols of his goddess were at their strongest. It had taken Keiichi days to find the perfect spot. At first he'd thought of using a small corner of the shop, but upon reflection, he felt that was more suited to Skuld than to his Belldandy. He'd taken to going on long walks in the mornings until he literally stumbled upon this small grove just northwest of the town's border. It was private and had an opening in the canopy of trees that allowed for a spectacular view of the sky. It reminded him of the many times that he had encountered Belldandy singing to the trees and animals that lived near the shrine. It was just the type of place that he'd find her in, if he'd been at home.
The second step was selecting materials to build the altar. Evandur went into great depth about the power of symbols and their importance in worship, but Keiichi couldn't fathom what types of materials Belldandy preferred. He pestered Evandur for ideas until the man began pestering him in turn for physical descriptions of the goddess. In the end, he had remembered some of the stories he'd heard Urd spin about "the old days" and how the Norns were always associated with the roots of Yggdrasil and upon searching his grove, he'd found an ancient Ash with a number of exposed roots. He'd also come across some symbols in a dwarven text of Duncan's that reminded him of the runes he'd seen the goddesses use from time to time. He couldn't remember which one was Belldandy's and so, he decided to carve them all into a large stone trapped in the roots of the tree at Duncan's suggestion.
The next step, dressing the altar, was something he was familiar with. He'd maintained shrines in his home as a little kid, and so he went about town looking for things that he knew Belldandy would love; a beautifully embroidered linen tablecloth, a fresh cutting of flowers from Sam's flower garden, and a sweet smelling incense were all purchased for his altar. Now, Keiichi knelt humbly before the tree and gently laid them all out at the base of the stone he'd carved the symbols in.
Last but not least, Evandur had said that he needed a personal sacrifice…something that was important to him to prove his sincerity and dedication to his goddess. Of all the memories to jump to his mind, the time Urd had made all his hair fall out stood out the most. So, very delicately, Keiichi took up his knife and cut a lock from his head and placed it at the center of the linen cloth.
Keiichi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't know what to expect from this, but Evandur said not to look for signs and whatnot. After all, prayer was supposed to be more a test of his faith, than a test of his goddess' love.
He bowed his head and closed his eyes; starting tentatively, uncertain what words he should use.
"Uhm…Belldandy-chan, I don't know if you can hear me or not…shoot, I don't even know if I'm doing this right…." A feeling of complete foolishness and great anxiety overwhelmed him, forcing him to his feet. He began to pace nervously before the altar. Evandur had suggested that he try and visualize her in his mind, and simply talk to her as if she were there.
"Dang, I miss you Bell. I don't know what happened to get me sent here, or how I'm supposed to get home, but I'm doing my best to keep busy and not think about being stuck in a place so far away from you. I've been making friends and helped one of them finish a project he's been struggling with. I'm sorry I haven't done this before now. You know…praying and all. It wasn't something that occurred to me might help. Another friend of mine, Sister Maerdith, chewed me out for not showing more gratitude to you. Heh. It's just like me to get wrapped up in things and forget to call you."
Keiichi knew he was babbling, but a sense of serenity washed over him as he poured out his soul to his long lost goddess. The moon rose and fell again, but Keiichi hardly noticed. He told of his experiences to date, laughing at the memory of arriving buck-naked in the middle of a religious ceremony. He spoke of the excitement over the sewing machine and the Iron Horse, and he expounded on Duncan's problems with Haroun Mostana.
"How can I help him Belldandy?" He ran a hand through his shaggy hair and threw up his other in frustration. "I don't want him to get in trouble because of me. He and Sam have been so good to me…I just…I just…"
Had he been less absorbed in his thoughts, Keiichi might have been able to step over the root that caught his toe. By the time he realized he was falling, it was too late.
"Oh! Crap!"
Crack!
Pain lanced through his skull from where his forehead impacted the side of the stone in the roots. His head swam with dizziness as he struggled to right himself against the small boulder. A damp, sticky, warmth trickled down into his eyes and dribbled onto the stone. He raised his fingers to the wound and saw them come away red in the waning moonlight. He leveraged himself against the stone, smearing blood across three of the carvings he had made in its surface.
As he turned away, the runes began to glow beneath his fingers.
A wispy cloud of glowing white smoke began to rise from the stone, and was soon followed by two other tendrils – one gold and one red. He watched in awe as the smoke began to form into bodies.
The gold cloud solidified into a kind elderly woman. Her hair was white, and her skin was evenly bronzed. She was slightly hunched over and wore a simple gray silk dress. Her glowing, mischievous eyes were very familiar to Keiichi however.
"Urd?"
Her voluptuous body was gone, replaced by a form that reminded Keiichi of his grandmother. The old woman winked at him and inclined her head to the white cloud that was solidifying to her left. His eyes traveled up the figure, afraid to hope. By the time his eyes finally settled on Belldandy's timeless face, Keiichi was holding his nose tightly. Her blush only heightened her beauty. His own face was flushed at the white silk dress the mature woman wore. It reminded Keiichi of something from Urd's wardrobe.
"…Belldandy…gorgeous…." The goddess before him blushed even more.
SMACK!
Keiichi sighed from the dirt his head had been buried in. He waved at Skuld as he extricated himself and marveled at the changes in the girl before him. She was no longer a cute twelve year old. She, while younger looking than Belldandy, had the body of a mature young woman. She was dressed in form fitting armor with a plated skirt that showed off her muscular legs, and carried a wicked looking warhammer slung over one shoulder.
Keiichi could only stare in humility at the women before him. Power unlike anything he'd ever felt before wafted off of the three, making him feel tiny and insignificant. He started to talk, but stopped when the goddesses began to speak in unison.
"WE ARE COME, MORTAL SON OF ADAM, FROM ACROSS THE VOID AT THY BLOOD'S CALL."
Keiichi trembled in fear and awe at the way their voices intermixed with one another. The echoes of eternity danced in his ears, and for the very first time, he understood just who and what the sisters were.
"URD, NORN OF THE PAST, GODDESS OF DREAMS LONG FORGOTTEN."
Keiichi looked to Urd and noted that her body began to reshape itself into a more familiar form. The simple gray dress was replaced with something even racier than Belldandy's.
"VERTHANDI, NORN OF THE NOW, GODDESS OF PRESENT NEED."
Unlike Urd, Belldandy's form and attire did not change. Something Keiichi was secretly grateful for.
"SKULD, NORN OF THE FUTURE, GODDESS OF THINGS TO COME."
Skuld's body didn't change either, but her warhammer seemed to grow a bit larger, and if possible more menacing.
"BE AT PEACE BELOVED OF THE NORNS, AND SPEAK THY HEART."
Keiichi blinked at that and looked at each goddess in turn. Tears were in their eyes and he noted that his vision was becoming blurry too. He wanted to run to them and embrace them, but he felt uncertain if it was something a mortal could do. Belldandy giggled and answered the question for him – bending down and kissing away the wound on his forehead. A tingling raced through his body and he felt incredibly refreshed.
"Hello dear. How are you?"
Keiichi enveloped her in a hug and kissed her passionately.
"Oi!" Skuld groused. "Stop molesting my sister, pervert! Our provisional visas only give us a little bit of time here so tell us what you want already!"
"Give them a break, Squirt. Let love run its course." Urd poked her sister in the side of the head. Keiichi finally broke the kiss and tried to organize his thoughts enough to ask the questions that had weighed on him over the last few weeks.
"I didn't expect you to come…I mean I didn't know what to expect, but you being here wasn't one of them. I just figured that you couldn't reach me." Belldandy's smile faded a bit.
"We wanted to Keiichi, but there are rules that had to be observed first. We couldn't cross over until someone called upon our names and offered a proper tribute. We would have been here sooner if it had been possible." Keiichi smiled and stroked Belldandy's face lightly.
"I've missed you so much. My dreams haven't done you justice." Belldandy blushed more and turned for his benefit, causing his eyes to bug. Skuld made a gagging gesture with her finger and rolled her eyes, earning a slap upside the head from Urd for her trouble. When Keiichi's gaze started to wander over Belldandy's form, Skuld's hammer fell again in retribution, smacking him in the face.
Belldandy frowned at her little sister as a snickering Urd pulled out a little mirror for Keiichi's benefit. The word "Pervert" was branded across his forehead in bright purple letters. Abashed, Skuld waved her hand and wiped the mark away, but Keiichi was still the recipient of her glare o' doom. Urd helped Keiichi to sit up again, and settled across from him while Belldandy snuggled up behind him. Skuld settled herself on one of the roots and began tinkering with a gadget.
"Okay, Keiichi-chan. Listen up. We've got a lot to do and only a little time to do it in. So sit back and pay close attention." He nodded as Urd motioned for Belldandy to lead off the discussion.
"There was an event at the System Operations Office that ended up pulling you and two other people from Earth into this world." Belldandy began stroking his hair, holding him close.
"You mean there are two people from our world trapped here too?"
"Don't interrupt." Urd scolded. She nodded to Belldandy to continue.
"Yes. They are very nice people and I will try to tell you more about them if there is time. However there are more important matters to discuss. The Ultimate Force is currently working to fulfill your wish, but in order to do so you must be here for a time. Unfortunately, we are forbidden to directly interfere with this test."
"Test? What test? How do I pass something that I haven't even studied for?" Belldandy took his face in her hands and looked him deep in the eye.
"You are a very special man, Keiichi. A promise was made and the Powers of Heaven are moving to make them reality. Have faith and all will be well."
"Belldany's right, Keiichi. You've got what it takes to Ascend."
"URD!" Skuld hissed. "You can't say anything about that!"
"Duh! Squirt, if you'd take a peek, you'd see that someone's already spilled the beans to him."
Skuld's eyes closed tight in concentration only flare open furiously an instant later.
"PERVERT!"
THWAK!
"Keiichi!"
"What'd you do that for?"
"Did you see what he wanted to do to Belldandy on his birthday last year?"
Skuld and Belldandy blushed scarlet. Keiichi managed to groan in pain from his place in Belldandy's lap.
"Yeah, so?" Urd closed her eyes and smirked. "It's not like he'd ever have the guts to go through with it."
"But…but…that's so gross!"
"You only think so now, Squirt. Wait a few years."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SQUIRT, YOU OLD HAG!"
"HAG!"
Keiichi closed his eyes and sighed, attempting to ignore the familiar bickering.
"Bell-chan…how am I supposed to do this? How do I become a…a…you know?" Belldandy kissed him lightly and hugged him close. Even though she was nearly transparent she felt as real as she ever had. He could almost smell her….
"To me Keiichi, you are already divine." She tapped his nose and bathed him with her love. "Have faith in yourself. We know you can do this." She waved her arms wide and both Urd and Skuld stopped their squabbling. Urd gave him a thumbs up and a wink, while Skuld snorted and smacked him over the head with an incredibly thick book.
"Since you bled all over the altar like some creepy fanatic, I gotta give you something." Skuld growled. She smirked as the large tome dropped painfully into his lap. "You asked for help with your friend's problems, so here. This is my notebook from Primary School. It should give you some ideas." She frowned and put her hands on her hips menacingly. "But, I'm taking it back in ten days! And you better not read any of the private stuff either!" The small goddess of the future slapped her hammer in her hands in order to show how serious she was.
Keiichi nodded and swallowed hard.
"My turn! We might not be able to aid in your ascension, but no one said that we couldn't help you fit in here a little easier." Urd grinned and shoved Skuld out of the way with her hip. With a mighty flourish, she produced a large bottle of a bright, incandescent, blue green liquid. "Here you go! Drink up!"
Keiichi eyed the bottle in his hands and grimaced.
"What's it do?"
"It's an Urd Super Potion tm!" The goddess of the past declared triumphantly. "Just what you need in a time like this!"
"You didn't answer my question." Keiichi deadpanned.
"A little bit of this and a little bit of that." Urd smiled and waved dismissively, but said no more. Keiichi sighed and looked at the potion with trepidation. When Urd's foot started tapping angrily, Keiichi sighed and downed the entire contents in one massive gulp.
It was like swallowing a Maltov cocktail with a blueberry cordial chaser. Keiichi's eyes began to water and he felt something…distinctly odd. Urd's grin became very serious as she began ticking things off on her fingers.
"Don't swim for an hour or you'll sink like a rock. Open flames and you are not a good idea for at least forty-eight hours. Be sure to eat lots of greens and carrots over the next two months to get your coloring back, drink lots and lots of water, and…sorry about the hair."
Skuld, much to Keiichi's astonishment, swept him up into bone crunching hug and told him to hurry home. Urd kissed him on the forehead, causing a tingling sensation to course through his body, and then stepped back next to her little sister. He held the empty bottle out to her but she didn't take it.
"But what's it do?" Keiichi whimpered as Urd and Skuld slowly disappeared. He sighed in defeat and allowed himself to relax against Belldandy. The Norn of the Present smiled compassionately and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"I too must give you a boon for your blood, Keiichi." She whispered coyly. "Will you accept my gift as well?"
Keiichi stroked her face lovingly.
"Your love is the greatest gift I could ask for."
Belldandy's eyes were bright with tears of joy as she embraced him tightly. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with power and authority.
"TO YOU, I GIVE ALL LOVE!"
Keiichi felt something within him change. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that he wasn't the same man he had been an hour ago. The air seemed crisper, the sky seemed bluer, and everything seemed so much more…real. A warmth settled deep in his heart and the entire world seemed at peace.
"Thank you for coming." He whispered. He could feel the weight of time over them and knew that she would be leaving soon. "Can I call you again sometime?"
"I will always hear you, Keiichi-chan." She kissed him passionately, with a fierceness that chilled him. When their lips broke from each other, she was crying.
"Wherever you are, my dearest Keiichi, I will see you. Wherever you go, I will walk with you. I may not be able to act on your behalf or speak to you directly during this trial, but I will never forsake you. Always remember that the Ultimate Force is working on your behalf." He reached up and brushed away the nearly transparent tears. His lips found hers again, and his heart ached for the moment to last forever. Sadly, she was starting to fade. "Come home soon."
"I will." He said fervently. Sun light began to filter in through the treetops, and then she was gone.
"Somehow, I will." Keiichi sat in the grove for a very long time, basking in the peace that Belldandy had given him. He remembered too late that he had many more questions that had been left unanswered, and it wasn't until an hour later that he noticed the color of his skin. He must have been right about the blueberry cordial, for his skin was a luminescent bluish purple. When he felt his scalp, he began to weep.
"Bald again…."
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Myth Drannor
Khindristryx strained as the elf-witch pushed her away yet again. The air around the dracolich was super charged with the ambient magical energy that was rolling off the maiden from the Phaerimm's spell. There was no time for subtlety or finesse. Already the small glowing star was falling into her sanctum. The undead dragon scrambled for purchase as she clutched at the power of the well. Her mind was already aflame and there was little doubt that her body was burning as well. There was no turning back from this and she doubted that even the magic binding her to the phylactery would be strong enough to keep her spirit tied to this plane should she fail to gain control of the pool.
Khindristryx felt her body disintegrate as the power of the pool suddenly consumed what was left of her mortal body. She attempted to jump to the corpse of a lesser red that she had lured to its death, but as she had theorized, the pool held her fast.
Panic set in as the dracolich realized her folly. Such was hubris, to realize at the final moment of one's life, the idiocy of recklessness. Something hit the surface of the pool and the power spiked incredibly. The dracolich silently roared in impotent frustration as her soul was totally consumed by the sudden instability in the magical flows of the pool.
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Ranma hit the pool with enough force to send, for a lack of a better metaphor, the liquid magic splashing throughout the chamber. He felt his body shifting uncontrollably between male and female. He would have cursed had he the strength, but the taint of the pool immediately set about poisoning his system even more than tapping the dead land's ki had, but he absorbed it willingly any way. Something in him relished the darkness and welcomed it, even as another, equally alien part of him attempted to reject it. A new battle began, only this time it was at the center of his soul.
Darkness sought supremacy over the Light and Chaos sought to dominate Order. Ranma, ever the focal point, was caught in the middle of the spiritual tug of war. He thought he heard female voices screaming at him, but the familiar tug of war was not imaginary. Fatigued and beyond conscious pain, Ranma floated amidst the magic, drawing it in and filtering it through his unstable soul, harnessing it to keep him alive when he knew he should be very, very dead.
Something shifted as Ranma tried to seize command over himself once more.
He was so sick of being fought over. He was fed up with people trying to control him. He was his own man damnit and he wasn't going to lose control of his life again. It was time for him to make the calls, and damn anyone who thought differently!
Enraged, yet completely focused, he reached deep within himself and seized the opposing forces, resolutely holding them at bay. More power flowed through him and he felt his flesh burning anew. It felt as though a sun had been born inside his chest, and then something else within him…twisted. Magic mixed with magic, threading together until it was no longer unique streams, and Ranma felt his blood turn to ice. It felt as though his body was going to explode and freeze simultaneously, and he reflexively sought to release the pent up power that coursed through his system.
He screamed and Myth Drannor screamed with him as the Pool of Radiance exploded in a bright flash of darkness.
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The Phaerimm for all its cunning and intellect could not escape from the chamber in time. It felt the build up of power and knew that there was no way that it would be able to gain control over of the mystic well before it went critical. It tried to teleport, with no success. Likewise, it's Dimension Door spell failed – blocked by the chaotic maelstrom of magic tearing the area apart. The creature was left a single recourse, flying out the way it flew in. Even now, it could feel the waters churning and boiling uncontrollably beneath it, like a tiny angry sea. It cursed it's all around vision as the initial wave consume the chamber.
Suddenly, without warning, the energy within the belly of the palace collapsed into a small four-foot sphere of azure tinted blackness. Large tendrils of cerulean energy lanced off and struck the walls of the chamber, grounding the magical energy as it finally went critical.
The air itself seemed thick with wild unpredictable magic that caused the Phaerimm to tremble even as it sought to escape the inevitable doom. It had almost made it to the outside of the Palace, when the sphere shrank further, becoming a pinprick of glowing blue light. A sudden scream of ecstatic release ripped through the area pushing the abomination up and out into the stormy night sky. Elated, the Phaerimm felt safe at last, until the Pool of Radiance exploded into a forceful geyser of blue light, immediately consuming the unnatural entity and everything within a four-mile radius of the palace. The geyser punched heavenward, incinerating the clouds as it went.
Then, as sudden as it began, the magical energies reversed themselves. The shockwave from the sudden reversal leveled the land in a perfect circle for ten miles from the epicenter. A great, circular wind sprang to life in and around the ruined city, kicking up a dark cyclone of ash and debris over a mile wide. Had there been anything alive to witness the event, they would have observed countless multitudes of elven spirits swimming in the current of the winds…inexorably being drawn to the center of their once proud capital and into the soul of a young man that floated at the heart of the magical maelstrom. They would have witnessed the climax of the phenomenon, and been privy to a most unusual gathering of entities. The gods themselves had come to witness the advent of something new and unique among the pantheons of magic and elves.
The heavens heralded the event with a shower of stars that exploded into the ruins of the once fair Myth Drannor and truly the foundations of the earth trembled beneath their rain. The clouds opened and added their tears as testament to the final passing of a noble dream of unity and prosperity. But even among the ashes of death, a new hope was born.
Ranma Saotome, he who would be known as Glauenthiel, The Well of Souls among the elven peoples, was born. The Hand of Change had risen, and the foundations of the world would truly shake with his passing.
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Myth Drannor
Elminster's portable tower
Dinner had come and gone. Breakfast had come and gone. It had neared mid-morning before Elminster was finally ready to cast his spell. He and Valor had both donated a vial of their blood to tie themselves to the Quest spell; and while much of the enchantment was beyond the drow's understanding, Valor knew that no matter where on Toril Ranma Saotome went, she and Elminster would be able to follow.
The Old Mage led her to the pinnacle of the tower with the spell focus, a small mirror etched with the likeness of Ranma's face, and set about triggering the numerous spells he'd cast on it the night before. The balustrade was bathed in a pulsating light that shifted colors sporadically from the focus. A pair of luminescent blue stars, rose calmly from the mirror and orbited the wizard and his scribe. Valor watched the glowing ball of light spin closer and closer to her, in tandem with Elminster's star, eliciting a tingling sensation to dance across the surface of her skin.
All at once the magical lights paused before the hearts of their targets, then shot forward with the speed of a bullet into their bodies. At that same instant, not all that far away, the target of the spell became something more than either Valor, or her patron had ever expected.
The drow screamed as something in the magic affecting her changed. Had she been more aware of her surroundings at the moment, she would have heard Elminster mimicking her. Indeed, all across Faerun, those in tune with magic felt yet another change sweep through the Weave. Sorcerers in particular felt the shift most intimately, and in their minds and hearts came to feel the birth of a new god of magic. A name came to their lips readily, even if they didn't understand what the word meant.
And that name was Ranma.
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Hemmerling
"RANMA!"
Usagi gasped and sat up abruptly. The sheets of the bed she found herself in were covered in sweat and her body was aglow with a silver nimbus. Beside her bed, Ulin was in much the same disheveled state. There was a question on her lips, but Usagi brushed her aside in order to dress.
"What are you doing?" Ulin demanded.
"I'm going to help him!" Usagi countered.
"Who?"
Usagi frowned at the silly question.
"Ranma, of course!"
"And who is this, Ranma?" Ulin had crossed her arms, and watched Usagi expectantly.
"Ranma is…is…" Usagi rubbed her temple anxiously.
"What does he look like?" Ulin pressed.
"Tall, yummy tush…" Usagi closed her eyes to get a better picture.
"…Dark hair pulled into a tight little braid…" Ulin finished. Usagi stared at the jade skinned woman blankly for a moment before nodding.
"How…?"
"He was in my dreams too." Ulin frowned slightly and then shrugged. "I suspect that he was in a number of people's dreams, waking and asleep."
"But why? I mean, what does it mean?"
"Who can say?" Ulin shrugged again. "I believe that it's safe to assume that he's a fairly powerful individual, perhaps even a new force among the gods of magic. If that is the case, then we will hear more about him in our travels."
"But what if he's not? I mean, what if he's hurt?"
"Even if we could help, do you know where he is?" Ulin placed her hand on her friend's shoulder and Usagi shook her head. "Neither do I. So we'll just have to offer a prayer for him and hope it's enough."
Usagi nodded and allowed the silence to stretch between them. Ulin waited for a long time before breaking the quiet.
"I'd like to apologize for the things I said before the battle. I…I was afraid that I had lost you."
"I'm sorry too." Usagi looked out the large window and sighed. "I guess I wasn't ready to talk about the things that have been bothering me lately."
"A great deal has happened." Ulin conceded. "But that doesn't mean you should carry the burden alone."
Usagi nodded.
"It's hard though. Some of the dreams I've been having are scary and strange."
"It comes from the stress of leadership."
Usagi shook her head and tossed her nightgown over a large chair. She dug in her saddlebags until she found a blouse and skirt that weren't too dirty. She was going to have to do the wash today…if anyone let her.
"It's not that, although it might be part of it." She sighed and sat back down on the bed. "No. It was more real than that. I…I…Oh, who am I kidding, you'll probably think I was crazy. I think I'm crazy!"
"No one will think you're crazy, Usagi. Not after seeing you fight Kelemvor himself." The displaced Senshi looked up at Ulin blankly through her silver bangs.
"Kelemvor?"
"The Lord of Death. We saw you face off against him during the attack."
Usagi fairly leapt from the bed again.
"Ohmigosh! The attack! Is everyone okay?"
Ulin caught her by the shoulders before the frantic girl could get past her, and eased her back to the bed with a comforting smile.
"I would say that everyone is more than okay. In fact, I can assure you that not one life was lost in the conflict, on either side." Usagi's anxiety deflated. "That does bring up another topic for discussion."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Something…miraculous…happened on the battlefield, Usagi." Ulin paused, obviously looking for the right words to describe the event. "Everyone stopped when you and Kelemvor faced off. We watched you defying Death."
Ulin, unable to contain her emotions, began to cry.
"You were so beautiful…radiant even! And when you gave yourself up in ransom…a blinding silver light flashed from your heart. The light swept over the battlefield mending wounds, reviving the dead, and burning the evil from our attackers hearts. You changed us. I can't explain how, I just know that you did."
The Genasi looked up, eyes filled with tears and fear.
"What is this power that you have? Are you a goddess made flesh?"
Usagi swallowed and shook her head frantically.
Ulin bobbed her head. "I wanted to be angry with you, because it seemed that you had burned something vital from everyone on the battlefield. It felt like you had stolen our ability to choose right from wrong."
Usagi was speechless. What could she say to these questions? It had always been a silent fear in the back of her mind, ever since learning of Crystal Tokyo. She'd never spoken of her fears and reservations to the other Senshi, and now…when faced with this…. She wasn't sure how to react.
"I…I'm sorry…. I didn't mean for this…."
"Shhhh." Ulin placed a long jade finger over her friend's lips. "I've been thinking about it quite a bit over the last few hours, and I've come to a realization." She paused looking Usagi square in the eyes. "Nothing was taken from us. You simply showed us our evil and offered us forgiveness for our crimes and petty faults. We chose to accept your offer, and were remade into something better. We still have the ability to choose, but why would someone want to walk away from something so wonderful?"
"What about the monsters? Those wolfman things."
"The Gnolls accepted your offer as well, and came away changed like everyone else." Ulin smiled warmly. "They are calling themselves the Loras now, and have asked to see you at your earliest convenience."
Usagi groaned. People were going to start treating her even weirder now! Darn it! Why couldn't she be a normal average teenage girl? What had she done to deserve being a superhero and a magical princess? How come she had to get sucked into all these stupid adventures any way? She hated this!
"Don't worry about it too much, Little Princess. Your dragon will guard you." Ulin stroked Usagi's head and kissed her hair. Usagi simply cried tears of frustration.
"I don't want this, Ulin! I don't want to be the 'Silver Princess' or 'Sailor Moon!' I just want to be plain old Usagi. Why can't I just be like everyone else?"
"There is nothing wrong with that desire, dear heart. But this is a part of who you are. There is nothing that says you have to be the 'Silver Princess' or this 'Sailor Moon' persona you detest so much. You do not have to embrace the expectations of others. You define who you are, but you must learn to accept all aspects of yourself. If you cannot, I fear that you will destroy yourself from the inside out."
Usagi paused thoughtfully and nodded.
"Be at peace, Little Princess. You will find your own path. I don't know where this destiny will lead you, but rest assured that I will be by your side every step of the way. I will see to it that you live to fulfill your life's purpose…even if it costs me my own life."
Usagi looked up at Ulin sharply and something in her heart lurched. A promise freely given…a mantle knowingly assumed…the conviction of Ulin's declaration was answered by the Ginzuisho as it floated from the center of Usagi's heart. Power immediately flooded the room, lifting Ulin from the floor. She cried out in ecstasy as the magic of the crystal endowed her with the power to make good on her promise.
When the magic faded, Usagi looked down at Ulin's armored body and blinked. Her new clothing was very reminiscent of Galaxia's armor, but there was a harder edge to the whole ensemble. The silver metal was thin and flexible, with etched runes and gems decorating the trim. An odd rune flared to life on the Genasi's brow and a pillar of light shot heavenward. Usagi could think of only one thing to say, when faced with the newest of her Senshi.
"HOLY CRAP!"
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The Plane of Shadow
Shar raged and her world tore itself asunder. Her anger knew no bounds, and those tied to her through faith and magic suffered her wrath. Those that had the ability, fled her realm. Those that could not were consumed by her fury.
"I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS MINE!" It took a small eternity for her wrath to play itself out, and to Shar's surprise it was replaced with an indescribable hunger.
"I will reclaim what is mine, Ranma Saotome." Shadows boiled to life around her throne, forming themselves into the likeness of a handsome young man. "I will make you mine and you will pleasure me. I will see you willingly serve my cause, and through you, I will take back all that I lost, and whatever power you happen upon."
Shar's laughter echoed chillingly throughout the Plane of Shadow. And throughout the scope of her influence, the images of a young man and a young woman were imbedded into the minds of her most faithful servants. The Lady of Loss buried an obsessive need to capture these people in the hearts of her followers, and laughed again at the thought of bringing Ranma to kneel before her.
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Dweomerheart
Mystra appeared in the main throne room of her court, amidst an unusual, albeit not unexpected gathering of gods. Azuth, Savras, and Velsharoon stood in uneasy company as Mystra ascended the steps to her throne in silence.
"My Lady…"
Mystra held up her hand as Azuth approached.
"Hold your peace for the moment, Lord Azuth. We await the arrival of a few more guests before we will proceed."
The Patron of Mages nodded and stepped back to his place next to Mystra's throne. After a moment, four distinct lights flared announcing the arrival of the Moon Goddess Selune, Kelemvor the Lord of the Dead, Corellon Laraethian the God of Elves, and the Elven Goddess Sehanine Moonbow.
"Ao's Peace be upon all. Be welcome to my realm and rest assured in your safety." The gathered deities bowed respectfully to the Mother of Magic. "My thanks for coming with such haste."
"How could we not?" Corellon smirked. "Young Ranma poses something new and exciting for everyone here."
"I wouldn't have phrased it so, Lord Coronal." Azuth frowned. "But the sentiment is accurate enough. The Weave has been tainted by this boy's touch, and already the ramifications are being felt."
"More than you know, Spell Lord." Mystra whispered. "More than you know."
"Are you unwell, Lady?" Velsharoon's skeletal grin did nothing to hide the demigod's hopes for a positive response. The opportunity for power was always attractive, especially to one of Velsharoon's standing.
"Your concern is duly noted, Lich." Mystra's smile was frigid. "Sadly, I must disappoint you with my answer. I am fine, and the Weave will settle with time."
"What then is to become of this Ranma character?" Savras asked.
"Can you not see the outcome, Savras the All-Seeing?" Azuth taunted.
"I see many outcomes, Lord Azuth. Some are favorable, and some not…especially for you." The god of seers grinned nastily.
"Enough bickering!" Mystra's patience was thin, and she had no desire to deal with infighting. "Ranma will declare his own path, as he has so ably demonstrated. To ease the strain on the Weave, I have given him dominion over sorcerers and those that naturally channel magic without the aid of book, scroll, or artifact. Beyond that he will forge his own trail."
"You have given him a large portfolio, Lady of Mysteries." Selune said.
"Ao has granted him dominion over the Shadow Weave." Everyone save Corellon hissed in surprise. "His portfolio reflects Ao's trust."
"Me thinks it reflects more than that." Kelemvor snorted. There was a thin veneer of jealousy hidden behind his smile. Mystra's eyes narrowed.
"I did not ask for your opinion, Lord Kelemvor. Should Ranma look for my company, he is welcome to it – in any form he desires." Mystra said proudly. "Have a care that your words do not tempt me to finish the oh-so-recent beating my daughter gave you." The Lord of the Dead backed away with a smile and hands raised in defeat.
"The reason for this meeting is not to discuss, bedmates and consorts. It is to establish an understanding of Ranma's place among us." Mystra turned to the elven deities. "Your gift was generous Corellon, incredibly so. However, I do not understand all of the subtleties behind it. Could you explain how he will impact the rest of us?"
The Lord of Elves bowed gracefully.
"There has been a vacancy in our pantheon crying to be filled for eons. Too long have the souls of our bastard children wandered without guidance or representation. Lady Moonbow has many worshippers among the half-elves, but her other duties have always taken precedence. She has seen young Ranma's heart and feels that he will be the perfect patron for these wayward children. The fact that he has acted as a repository for the souls trapped in Myth Drannor, has gone a long way to aiding Sehanine find peace as well. We are thus granting him a secondary responsibility as her attendant, to aid in gathering lost and restless souls."
"Will this not conflict with Lord Kelemvor's domain?" Velsharoon asked.
"No. Although he may impact your interests quite severely, Lich." Sehanine growled. "Ranma will be my attendant, and act as a guide and protector to those souls that cannot find their way to me. He perchance may work in tandem with Lord Kelemvor, should he so choose, but his primary responsibility will remain our half-elven children."
"And his magical aspect?" Azuth asked pointedly. "How will that interact with your pantheon?"
"As he is an attendant to Lady Moonbow, he will become an aide to me as well. I look at young Ranma as a bridge rather than a division, between our two pantheons." Corellon bowed to Mystra, who returned the gesture.
"As it should be, Lord Coronal. We are and always shall remain friends and allies. May this new opportunity be fruitful in furthering that end." Mystra paused a moment, looking troubled. "I cannot but be concerned how Ranma will receive the news of his divinity though. We did not have the opportunity to explain ourselves to him, and he is now closed to us."
"Might I remind you, Lady," Azuth interjected. "…that he will have to appear before Lord Ao at some point, before his divinity is sanctioned. Until such has occurred, he will simply be an extremely powerful mortal."
"Immortal." Corellon corrected.
"As you say, Lord Coronal."
"This will happen in due course. In the mean time, it is obvious that Ranma will need looking after." Selune said.
"The Auditor…" Mystra frowned slightly. "The Auditor has assured me that he has been taken in hand, and judging by her choice of mentors, I cannot disagree."
"Who was chosen?" Selune asked.
"Elminster of Shadowdale."
Corellon and Sehanine smiled and nodded at the choice. The Archmage had helped found Myth Drannor, and had been a good friend to the elves over the years.
"How will this impact your plans, Selune?" Mystra asked.
"It changes a great many things, but not terribly so. My children still seek him out, and I will approach him myself if need be. Perhaps together you and I can convince him to aid in hampering Shar's interests."
Sehanine frowned.
"This brings up another matter altogether. If young Ranma is now Master of the Shadow Weave, how will Shar respond?"
Selune shrugged, but it was Mystra that answered.
"Who can say with her? She will not tempt Ao's wrath, I am certain. That doesn't mean that she will simply leave the Shadow Weave to Ranma."
"No." Selune agreed. "Shar will most likely attempt to seduce Ranma, luring him to her camp through subtlety and false promises. Once there, she will slowly strip him of his power. There are many loopholes in Ao's Decree concerning Ranma and the other two. Shar will undoubtedly try to exploit those to her benefit."
"She will have a devil of a time seducing him, that is certain!" Mystra laughed. There were many confused glances until Mystra opened her mind and replayed a few select memories for those gathered.
"Hanali is going to enjoy playing with this one." Sehanine smirked impishly.
"There is no doubt." Mystra smiled knowingly.
"If I may be so bold…" Azuth interrupted. "I am seeing a pattern that must be acknowledged and respected in our planning." Mystra motioned for him to continue.
"Ranma is a bridge between the elven pantheon and the human pantheon through his dual calling. He is also a bridge between the Light and Dark, by virtue of his dual command of the Weave and the Shadow Weave. It is my belief that Lord Ao is using Ranma as a buffer between the hereditary oppositions."
"Interesting insight, Azuth." Mystra nodded. "I wonder how the others will fit into the grand scheme of things."
"The Norns are active in their champion's life here." Selune said, drawing many stares and a few surprised gasps. "He is already starting to shake things up among the Gondar."
"Good." Azuth snorted. "It's about time someone did."
"He will be a force to be reckoned with…" Savras' voice took on a dreamy quality.
"What do you see, Savras?" Velsharoon asked.
"He is the keystone. At some point he may well become as powerful, if not more so, than our dear Ranma."
"And what of Serenity?" Selune asked.
"Ask dear Kelemvor. My daughter challenged him and won." Mystra said with a wicked grin. The Lord of the Dead shook his head and smiled.
"She has tamed my heart. I have never met a soul so pure." He smiled wistfully and looked out into the ether. "I pity the fools that dare to challenge them, should those three ever join forces."
"Indeed." Savras shivered.
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Myth Drannor
Zueez bent his head against the wind, squinting his eyes the best he could against the rain that kept obscuring his vision. He had seen the flash of light and felt the heat of the explosion from where he had finally come to rest after watching his goddess battle the evils of Myth Drannor. The primal struggle against the impressive powers of the infernal horde and his kin was more telling than anything that he had seen her do.
The drow had seen a great many things in his life, but none had been more magnificent than what she had shown him. She was the Unbreakable One. The Crimson Death. She had faced the denizens of true evil and wiped them from the face of Toril. It had made him question the very core of his morality. He knew, in that moment, that he would have to choose the path that he would walk for the rest of his life. Would he embrace her love and follow the righteous path of redemption that she had so obviously opened to him? Or would he shy away from her offering and hold to the cowardice and treachery that he had been taught since birth?
The stars fell from the heavens before him, striking the ruins of Myth Drannor with a vengeance. They tore into the earth, creating a number of small basins that were quickly filling with water.
The vista was an epiphany, filled with symbolism.
She didn't want him to change completely…at least not all at once. He likened his soul to that of the earth before him. The power of the heavens would destroy one's weaknesses and replace them with life giving strengths.
The whole event was incredible, not simply for the things that had happened to Zuieez, but for the simple miracle of a cold hearted, murderous drow finally seeing beyond the self-consuming treachery that ruled his life.
He laughed and spun in the rain joyously. His heart soared on the winds and in his blind happiness he didn't notice how close he had come to the edge of a cliff over looking the field of pools. He cried out to his goddess and professed his undying love for her, promising to serve her forever more.
His foot slid in the mud and before he knew what was happening he tumbled into the air. He never had a chance to curse his luck, or even to think about the unfairness of it all. All he knew in that last brief moment of his life, was that hitting water from a great height really hurt like the Nine Hells.
The water that broke his body flared to life with powerful magics, and subsequently consumed his soul. The pool boiled and frothed for a moment, then all was still.
And so it was that Fendrellinor, the Pools of Sorrow, claimed their first tragic story. Hours would pass after the divine storm ended and a sparrow would drink from the pool that would later be known as Dodrowsendi, the Spring of Drowned Penitent Drow. Its magic would change the bird into the Voice of the Pools. Thus the first holy site to Glauenthiel, the Well of Souls, also known as Ranma Weave Bender, was created.
The more things change….
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End Realms Chapter 6