Sage: Hey, readers! Welcome to Blade's story...again!

Blade: And Will's getting shot by a 'water' gun while Crowley is thinking about equiping Rangers with such a deadly weapon, *dramatic drumroll* the 'Water' Gun 2000!

Me: Hey! You're not even introdued yet! Get the hell out!

Blade: You didn't introduce me yet? *runs off crying*

Valor: What the Hell did you do to my apprentice!

Me: You just ruined the story!

Valor: Uh...ignore me.

Sage: Sorry about the interruption. Blade does not own Ranger's Apprentice and he is sorry to the offended ones who thought the real Blade did try to kill Flanny...he didn't.

Me: Duh...

Sage: Anywho, this story is dedicated not to me, but Ranger Sage. Bladewielder05 also thanks you for reviewing chapter 1 of this wonderful story.

Will: I'm sorry I thought that you and Bladewielder05 were dating, Ranger Sage.

Sage: No, you're not! *gets out 'Water' Gun 2000*

Choosing Day

"Stand up straight! Come on now!" Martin yelled. The five wards looked at the secretary. Sage wondered why he always used a loud voice. It's not like they can't hear him. "Line up! Tallest to shortest!" the secretary yelled. Isaac went first, then Edgar, then Floyd. Sage looked at Vanessa curiously. The girl just smiled and made space for Sage to fill in. Sage was about to go when a voice stopped her. "You're shorter than her! You!" Martin pointed to Vanessa. "Move into your place!" Vanessa shrugged and scooted over. Sage followed, wishing her height wasn't so apparent. "Up straight! Up straight!"

"No need to yell, Martin," Baron Arald came through the door.

"My Lord!" Martin raised his hand in salute. Baron Arald raised his eyes to the heavens.

"You may call the Craftmasters in now. And please, Martin, don't yell at them." Martin nodded. He opened the door to where they were waiting and said in a low voice:

"The baron is ready to receive you." The Craftmasters walked in in no particular order. First was Battlemaster Rodney. Then came Master Chubb. Next was Scribemaster Nigel. Last came Lady Pauline. Sage watched the Craftmasters walk in. Then she felt someone was also present instead of just the baron and the others. Her eyes dart around and, unknowingly, met the gaze of Will Treaty. The ranger seemed to be examining her. Then he looked away. Sage shook her attention away from the ranger. "Who's first?" Martin yelled.

"Let's get the first in line," Baron Arald said. Martin nodded to Isaac. He stepped forward.

"Isaac Wilker, my Lord," he said.

"Do you have a preference?" the baron asked.

"Battle school, my Lord."

"Battlemaster?" Sir Rodney studied the youth. He seemed quite strong enough.

"Accepted, my Lord," Rodney said. Isaac breathed a sigh of relief and went back in line. Before Martin called out, Edgar stepped forward.

"Edgar Mayweather, my Lord. I would like to be a Courier," he said quietly.

"Are you sure?"

"All I know is that my grandparents, mother, and father were all Couriers. I feel the need to carry on the tradition."

"My Lady?"

Pauline nodded, "I've spoken to Edgar. I think he is better off a Courier than a Ranger." Baron Arald nodded. That was the answer he expected. Edgar bowed to Pauline and went back in line.

"Next?" Martin yelled. Floyd stepped forward.

"Floyd Dawnson, my Lord," he mumbled.

"Is there-?"

"Master Chubb, my Lord."

"Chubb?" the Baron looked at the cook. Chubb studied the boy.

"Maybe, maybe…what are you to do with a turkey pie?"

"…Keep it away from Sage?" he guessed. Sage blushed.

"True, how would you make it?" Floyd pondered this for a while. Then he went through all the steps and the ingredients. Sage was glad she didn't want to be a cook. It sounded so complicated!

"I'll take him, my Lord."

"Thank you!" Floyd breathed. The baron smiled at the boy.

"Quickly, now!" Martin yelled.

Vanessa stepped forward, "I'm Vanessa Hender, my Lord, and I would like to be in Scribe school."

"Scribemaster?"

"I've seen her works. She is accepted, my Lord," Nigel nodded. Vanessa had tears in her eyes when she stepped back.

"Last?" Martin glared at Sage. Some years ago, Sage had hid his papers and he got in trouble with the Baron. Sage quietly went forward, bowing to the Baron.

"Sage Necromancer, my Lord."

"Is there a place you seek?"

"…Ranger Corps, my Lord," she blurted. The baron frowned.

"Are you sure? You're not exactly a-"

"Boy," Sage was confused as the rest of the others. She didn't know why she wanted to be in the Ranger Corps. She wanted to be in Scribe School. What made her say Ranger Corps?

"She has potential to be a ranger," came a voice. The wards jumped.

"Will! Where were you?" so Baron Arald didn't know.

"Business."

"So Sage can become a Ranger?" Arald asked.

"I've seen her skills."

"How about it, Sage?" Arald looked at the girl. Sage studied the ranger. She wasn't sure she was exactly keen on being a ranger. Then again, there were rumors that she was a ranger in disguise, being that rangers were magicians and her name meant a lot of magic.

"Thank you, my Lord…"

"Good!" Baron Arald said happily. "All of you report to your Masters at 8 o'clock sharp." The wards nodded and Sage led them outside. As she went out the door, she bumped into someone. Once again she fell to the ground with a thud.

"Are you okay?" Edgar helped her up.

"I'm fine," she looked at the person she bumped into. It was Valor, again.

"Again?" the ranger asked. Sage nodded. The ranger shook his head and went into the baron's room. "Oh, Sage?" the girl looked at the ranger that was back outside. "Report to Will's cabin at 6 o'clock."

…

Sage studied the cabin of the ranger. It seemed quiet enough, considering it was far away from town and in a forest. She trudged with her belongings to the cabin. She hesitated at the front door. Finally Sage had the courage to knock.

"Come in," said a voice. Sage opened the door, wincing as the door creaked. She found herself in a comforting dining/kitchen. There was a pot of wildflowers near the window and two rooms. And there was Will sitting on one of the chairs. His cloak was on a hook. The cloak had concealed a lot about Will. He had a fresh young face, messy brown hair, and brown eyes. "Finished staring?" he asked.

"Oh! Sorry, sir," Sage said. He stood up. She noticed that he was smaller than average.

"Your room is right over there," Will pointed to one of the rooms. Sage nodded and went to place her things in her new room. As she went outside, she saw him making breakfast.

"Sir?" she heard him sigh. "Are rangers black sorcerers?"

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, normal folks can't see you…"

"Normal folks couldn't see you when you sneaked into Chubb's kitchen."

"Wait, how did you know?"

"I saw you," he looked her, eyebrow raised. She blushed.

"And what do rangers do, sir?" she asked.

"Rangers don't ask pointless questions!" she was taken back by his raised voice. He sighed, "Rangers, more importantly, ranger apprentices do housework."

"Oh," she eyed a broom, took it, and started sweeping.

"Interesting," Will thought to himself.

…

Sage went into the room after gathering water and pouring it into the water barrel. It had taken her thirty trips to fill the barrel. She had spent her whole day doing chores: sweeping, cleaning the fireplace, scrubbing the pots and pans. She found her mentor sipping some coffee and reading some documents. He looked up as she entered the room.

"Finished?" she nodded. "Take a seat." He slid the documents across the table and faced his apprentice, "Do you know how the Ranger Corps was formed?" Sage nodded.

"King Herbert needed an intelligence force to keep the kingdom safe. So he organized the Ranger Corps," she answered. Will nodded approvingly.

"Good." Sage let go a sigh of relief. "Do you know anything else about the Ranger Corps?"

"Ranger Crowley and Ranger Halt helped reestablish the corps when it was disorganized?" she asked. Will raised an eyebrow.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I'm telling you."

"Correct," Will said. Sage hesitated, then decided to ask the question:

"What skills did I have that enabled me to be in the Ranger Corps?"

"You could move quietly, you're inquisitive-"

"What does that mean?"

"You want to know answers and ask questions," Will answered. He stood up, "Time for you to learn how to cook."

…

As Sage washed the plates in the river, Will laid back in his chair. He always thought that an apprentice would be a lot of work. This one, however, seemed responsible enough. He sighed contently.

"You're one to talk," scoffed a voice. Will shot out of his seat. His sharp eyes scanned the area. Sage looked curiously at her mentor.

"Is something the matter?" she asked. Will shook his head.

"Nothing," he replied. The girl shrugged and continued to wash the plates. Will darted his eyes around. Where was the voice?

"Over here, stupid," the voice came again. Will glanced at the other chair. In it sat a Ranger.

"Damn you, Valor. Don't scare me like that," Will grumbled. Valor snorted.

"You're exactly like Roy," at the mention of his old friend's name, his face fell. Will looked at him sympathetically.

"Anyways…how's the girl?" Valor asked. Will shrugged.

"Thought she'll be more trouble. Turns out, she's pretty responsible."

"Unlike you."

"…Don't push it."

Valor: Would you look at that, Will. Sage's smarter than you!

Will: No, she isn't! *shoves chapter 3 in his brother's face*

Valor: *reading it* So what? Every apprentice makes that mistake.

Halt: I didn't.

Me: Riiiiiiiiiggggghhhhhtttttt, Halt.

Halt *death glare*

Me: Wanna fight? *takes out 'Water' Gun 3000*

Crowley: What the ****! How am I going to keep up with technology?

Gilan: Give it up while you're ahead.