Ranma 1/2 – Oh Mighty Isis
The Changing of Isis
Crossover Alternate
By: Dani Yanega
(Dani: Legend is listed in Profile. My profile is also where I will address specific questions or issues that readers ask about.
I do not own many of the Characters in this story though some are mine all the KNOWN characters belong to those who originally created them. Thxs.
Please also NOTE I write Alternate Universe (AU) stories whether they are crossover or not. The AU applies to ALL characters. Thus this will make them OOC to the original Story and I like it that way. So if you plan to comment that Akane is not like that sorry I write her like I like to. This goes for all the characters it makes the story more fun for me to write that way. Got to have some antagonist and some friends :D)
Chapter Five
Akane moved through Nerima her head bowed, it had been almost a month since Kasumi and Tofu had gotten married. They were due back today from their honeymoon. The new doctor that took over his practice until he returned was ok but she was not Doctor Tofu. As Akane entered her family compound, she headed toward the front door. She found it thrown opened by her eldest sister.
"AKANE-CHAN!" Kasumi said as she ran out and scooped up her little sister.
Akane's eyes bulged as Kasumi's strength had increased. As Kasumi put her down, she kept her arm around the youngest Tendo and led her into the house. As Kasumi, waited for her to remove her shoes she then led her into the dining room. At the dining table sat her family and Mrs. Konita who had taken the job as the Tendo's new housekeeper. Akane scowled, as her father would not allow her to become the cook in the family. As Akane looked at everyone, her gaze fell longingly onto the back of Tofu then was drawn to the pile of gifts in the center of the table.
"How was the cruise Onee-Chan?" Akane asked quietly as Kasumi led her to her place at the table.
"It was wonderful. It was even more so when we got home and found I got three scholarships to medical colleges!" Kasumi bubbled as she sat next to her husband taking his hand in hers.
"Now everyone open your gifts we got you each something from every port. You too Mrs. Konita since you will be a permanent part of the family.
Mrs. Konita was hired as the new Tendos housekeeper; she had been widowed for the past five years. She was fifty and had dark brown eyes that warred between the sparkle of joviality and the dullness of sadness over the loss of her husband. She stood five feet seven and half inches was slightly overweight at a plumpish one hundred and fifty pounds. Her hair was worn in a braided bun on the back of her head and was a red black with streaks of silver showing her age. Her face was soft and oval though if it was not for the silver in her hair it was easy to believe she was in her mid to late thirties. Her brown eyes sat on either side of a short thin nose over a pair of just slightly thicker then thin lips.
"Why, thank you my dear that was very sweet of you!" She said as she started opening the pile of packages in front of her.
That shocked Akane and her father but they said nothing as Nabiki had gotten their attention as their mouths opened to protest. Her, glare told them to 'SHUT UP' or face her wrath! They cringed in fear at the middle daughter of Soun Tendo but once her attention was back on her presents Akane glared at her, though only for a second as Nabiki stared daggers at her as if she knew Akane was glaring at her.
(l(l(l)l)l)
"So sis, are you going to move into Doctor Tofu's apartment?" Nabiki asked as she stacked the different presents on top of each other.
"You can just call me Tofu Nabiki after all we are family now." The good doctor smiled at the middle Tendo as she smiled back at him.
She had put on the one ring they had gotten her she loved it, as it was so unique. It was a silver braided band and the stone was a firestone that was what Kasumi had called it. It was about a two and half carat and sat in the center of the braided band. She could not wait to wear it. She wanted to wear the turquoise necklace and earrings too but she would put them on later. She loved the Native American jewelry she had been given.
"Yes we thought for now it would be best since Tofu has a lot of patients in the area. As I get closer to graduation we plan to find a larger office so I can open my practice there as well." Kasumi gushed as her husband kissed her hand.
"AAWWW 'Ono & Ono Medical Offices' I like it!" Nabiki said with a giggle and big smile.
"So are you still going to study for a pediatrician diploma?" Soun and Akane stared at the knowledge of Nabiki on what Kasumi was going to be doing.
"Oh yes but if Tofu needs me to help with some of the older patients I will be able to." She said as she smiled at her husband and stroked his cheek.
"Is that allowed? Won't that be too much to handle?" Nabiki asked as she looked at them.
"Well not really but I plan on getting a general practitioner diploma first and when I go through the pediatric training he will go with me and this way if need be we can help each other." Akane bowed her head as she watched as Tofu slipped even farther under Kasumi's spell.
Akane scowled as if she had been more persistent she would have had Tofu. He belonged to her! If she had not had to deal with the hentai squad and recently that forced marriage he would be hers. Kasumi stole him from her by seduction and treachery! As her rage grew she felt, someone pinch her thigh. She looked up and turned to her left she saw her father glaring at her she glared back but said nothing. She kept a tight rein on her anger though it was never tight enough.
After a mind-numbing hour of what _Kasumi_ had planned for her and Tofu, they finally got up to leave. Nabiki walked them to the door. Akane had not wanted to go. She was however dragged by her father. She wanted to run to her room and forget this horrible day ever happened. She went with him and she smiled as Kasumi gave each of her sisters a big hug and kiss on the foreheads. She then gave a hug and kiss to her father, while Tofu gave Nabiki and Akane a brotherly hug then shook Soun's hand. He led his wife to their home to start their new life together. Mrs. Konita had followed the Onos out the door her presents held tightly in her arms as she too went home for the evening.
Nabiki and Soun left the front door after closing and locking it. They headed up to bed leaving a frozen Akane standing at the door. As the lights went out leaving Akane in darkness, the Akane-rewrite-anator was working overtime as she broke down (Dani: ok trying to start a new trend after all someone had to start the Akane Airways right?). She knew he loved her! She felt it in his hug and he lightly brushed his lips on her neck! That was what men did when they wanted to take a woman to bed! Kasumi tricked him into marriage he only pretended to act weird around her so she would leave him alone! She was going to get Tofu back no matter what! He was hers and would be hers!
(l(l(l)l)l)
"Hello Ran...Kalya these lovely ladies told me you go by that name now." Shen Li spoke to the young woman, as he let go of her.
"But how did you get here so fast? Frosta and Misty just left what an hour ago?" Kalya turned to her generals who nodded.
"I got your missive after you regained consciousness to say what happened was unbelievable would defiantly be an understatement. I however have had seen many strange things in the Himalayas so I started making my way here." He began as they moved to the gallery chairs to talk her mother with her.
"Oh my please forgive me sensei, these are my mothers the Council of Elders of the Joketsuzoku, and this is my mother." Kalya introduced all the women to him.
"These are my generals but we are still waiting for three more." She told him not seeing as Mousse was trying to get her attention.
"Well the wait is over Ra...Kalya. These two men and I are your last three generals. The two Amazons found me so quickly because I was at Jusenkyo I was under the impression of double bodies the inner one had bled on the rock. When these two came up and began to tell me what had happened fifty years ago and just recently. As we were talking the guide called to us to leave but it was too late, Isis opened the ground under us and we were given the honor to join you. You know someone should really tell the guide to quit startling visitors you might get less cursed victims." Shen told his former student as those around them began to chuckle at his last comment.
"HUH!?" Shen Li laughed, as he was afraid there would be nothing left of the boy he trained for the passed three years.
"We have all tried Li-san but he seems to keep doing it." Jasmine said as she stepped forward.
Shen Li looked to be over two hundred years old but no one really knew for sure. Shen Li was not even sure. He stopped counting birthdays a very long time ago. He stood at five feet six and half inches and was rail thin and wiry. His long white hair went just past his shoulders while his mustache and beard went to his waist. His eyes were a pale blue-green and held centuries of wisdom and knowledge. They were small but not too small. They sat on either side of a bulbous nose that was on the small side. His nose sat over a pair of medium thin lips that was turned into a permanent frown.
"Ranma...!" Shen Li had begun he stopped when he was interrupted by Nodoka.
"Excuse me master Li but she is going by Kalya now. She chose to honor the Elf sorceress who stayed in the pool to merge with the Isis warrior." He noticed the resemblance between Nodoka and her daughter and smiled then nodded.
"Kalya this is Tarragon of the Musk and Niitmin of the Phoenix people they are healers and warriors." He said as he pointed to the two men with him.
"Greetings I remember seeing you two at training." Kalya said with a smile.
"Yes we also trained with Minuet she helped us integrate our medical beliefs with our warrior creed." Niitmin responded to her.
Niitmin stood six feet three. His face was square and his eyes a pale green almost white. They were set on either side of a short lean nose that sat over a pair of full lips. His hair was pale jade green and hung loosely just past his shoulders. He was thin and wiry but had some muscles. His wings had a forty-foot span and were three shades of green. The tops were a dark forest green to about a third of the way down then the next third was a light green and the last third was white with dark green stripes at the tip. The wings did a gradual change to the three different colors like an umbrae material. The dark green stripes were three inches wide with a one-inch stripe above and below it separated by the white of the wings.
"We saw you training with her and Mulon are you a healer?" Tarragon asked Kalya.
Tarragon stood a little less than six feet. He had short sienna hair with amber eyes, which had a slight cylindrical, look to them. He had a triangular face, which held a long lean nose over a pair of full lips. He was muscular (Dani: Swartzenagger terminator). He wore a leopard tunic over brown pants tied with leather thongs from the knee to the ankle over a pair of soft brown leather boots.
"No it is just I am more martial artist then warrior in my beliefs so I also needed her help in merging the two ideologies...!" Ryoga cut off Kalya.
"Don't let her fool you she also wanted to learn the shiatsu points that they use." Ryoga grinned devilishly at his leader.
"HEY! I figure if I hurt someone I can help fix them!" Kalya went nose to nose with the bigger boy.
*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The laughter that filled the room caused Ryoga and Kalya to turn to see everyone laughing.
"I knew you were still in there somewhere!" Ryoga stated as he quirked an eyebrow at Kalya who just glared at him but it was ineffective because of the grin on her face.
"This is all well and good but now that we have the last three warriors we need to figure out where Seth will enter this world and be there to stop him and the bloodshed he will cause!" Marjoram stated as she headed to the map that hung in the Council chambers.
As Isis and her generals moved with the ancient elder, the three new generals moved quickly so they could be brought up to date on what the rest of them had been working on. As they studied, the map of ley lines and the map that Ric would mark each of the new attacks Shen like Spray had noticed the section where there were many nexuses, which could be used but had not been. As he listened to all that they had found out, he began to create his own hypothesis. He moved next to Elder Spray at the map, began to speak his idea, and asked if that was where Elder Spray was going with her observations.
"This grouping of nexuses they by themselves are large enough that Seth can enter this plane. But look here even though the ley lines don't actually touch or cross they are close enough to each other that Seth once in this world can use his power to move them closer to one another to open a portal large enough to let his army through. Is that where you were headed with this Elder Spray?" He asked as he noticed her angry scowl.
"Uh...um yes I was. To go further I think we should occupy the central point of this and the surrounding areas. This way maybe we can disrupt the ley lines enough he won't be able to use them." Spray finished as she smirked at the elderly man next to her as he nodded.
"How do we do that?" Mousse asked as he moved in and looked at the group of nexuses that they felt Seth was planning his attack.
"That will be my task as Isis' librarian but if I heard right Elder Snow Pea has a large magical knowledge base, could I get her to assist me." Shen Li asked, as he looked at the purple robed elder.
"Yes I will assist Elder Li." Snow Pea shocked her compatriots with her show of respect to a male.
"Thank you mother Snow Pea. Since I have notes taken on every book in Isis' library, I will pull out the books on the ley lines." Kalya told them.
"You copied all of the goddess' books in the time your soul was merging?" Snow Pea asked her eyes almost getting as big as she was.
"Well yes and no. I taught myself a speed reading technique that I was able to transpose into a speed writing technique. I also used my training with Li-sensei and only had to sleep for an hour before working for another twenty-three. However, if you find information missing because they are not verbatim copies I can make new copies when I go back to Isis during meditation." Kalya said to a stunned audience.
"Do you think the goddess would allow us access to her library? It might be better for us as we could more quickly locate needed reference materials." Shen Li asked his student.
"I don't know but I can ask. She may not allow you at her temple but she might move the library into a subspace pocket that you can view them." Kalya told them where that idea came from she was not sure.
"Yes dear that would be very helpful." Jasmine told her as they continued talking about where the changes to the map would lead them.
(l(l(l)l)l)
Kalya jumped to the roof of the guesthouse and took her place on the roof's peak. She went into a meditative state. She began her meditations and as her body began to glow golden her consciousness was pulled from her body to the plane of the goddess Isis. When she touched down in front of the wading pool, a fast and furry friend hit her square in the chest. She was to close, to the edge of the pool and she and her friend fell backward into the water.
"*COUGH COUGH* Mr. Tabbs!" Kalya scolded the soaking wet cat while giving him a big hug and kisses at the same time.
"Sorry about that Kalya he wanted to come see you and I am afraid he snuck out of the temple." Isis said as she stood at the edge of the pool trying not to giggle at the two wet _cats_.
"It is ok Isis-momma." Kalya had started calling Isis that after her first training session with Aker and the two Cat goddesses.
"So are you ready for more training in the Neko-ken?" Isis asked glad to see her daughter.
Kalya jumped from the pool and landed next to Isis. The goddess had taken a blanket from Kali as she moved closer to her _daughter_. She wrapped both Kalya and Mr. Tabbs in its softness. She then led Kalya toward the temple. Before they entered, Kalya removed her shoes and left them on the outside of the temple.
"No Aker has finished with my Neko-ken training though I had wished he was here. I like being around him." Kalya said as she buried her blushing cheeks in Mr. Tabbs neck.
"Well he does have other duties to perform but he might stop by later." Isis said with a knowing smile.
She knew Kalya had a crush on the god of the Sunrise and Sunset. Though she knew, it was not a woman and man together kind of crush. Kalya had never had a male figure in her life that cared what happened to her physically or mentally. Aker had cared a great deal especially on that first visit where she fought Sekhmet, when the Cat goddess went too far. After that, each visit they got closer and Aker took the roll as her father in her heart and mind.
"So how are things going with you and your generals? Now that they are all together should you not give them their medallions?" Isis asked as Kalya and Mr. Tabbs sat on a pillow beside Isis' throne.
"OOOPs! I forgot. I'll have to give them to them tomorrow. We have been monitoring the news broadcasts and keeping track of the weird occurrences that have been happening. We have figured that Seth is trying to lure us out to commit to one of his hit and run attacks. Then he would burst into our world half way around the world." Kalya told the nodding goddess as she scratched the ears of the tabby cat.
"We have noticed an area that has an abundance of Chaotic Nexuses in or around it. Spray-Mother and Shen Li-sensei feel he plans to manipulate the ley lines to cross all the nexuses to make one big Chaotic nexus then he and his army would come through in one big burst." Kalya said as the goddess scowled.
"Are you sure they are correct? It sounds like a big gamble not to investigate those other attacks." Isis was worried if they were wrong, many innocent people would die and Seth would gain control of earth.
"Normally I might agree, but through the news broadcasts the authorities where Seth has been attacking, they are able to handle his incursions. What we have been noticing is that the area we suspect him to make his attempt has been suspiciously left alone. In this area, there are about five medium sized nexuses and about three large ones. The elders feel that he may try to sneak through one of the smaller nexuses then pull the ley lines together to link the nexuses to allow him to open them all up as one and allow his army through." Kalya explained to Isis as Mr. Tabbs purred happily.
"No! He could not possibly do it, Kalya!" Isis said, as she looked frightened.
"Isis-momma I have a request from Li-sensei and the elders they were wondering if they could access your library. The books you have amassed may be what they need to stop Seth. Since Li-sensei is your librarian, he would need the access to help us. He asks if you would allow him and Snow Pea-mother to use the books." Kalya said as she continued to pet the outboard motor cat not seeing the fear on Isis' face but felt it through her empathic abilities.
"I don't know Kalya I do not want any but you access to me and my temple." Isis said, as she feared Seth would use them to get to her.
"I explained that to them Isis-momma. Is there a way you could move the library to a subspace room they could access the library but nothing else?" Kalya asked as she smirked at the contemplative look that crossed the goddess' face at the suggestion.
"Yes I suppose I could, I will talk with Kali and Rajha and see if they would be willing to be the guardians of the library. It is important that nothing leaves the library as they are rare books and there is no other like them." Isis said with a thoughtful look.
"I agree and if we make them swear on their honor Li-sensei as the grandmaster of his school and any Amazon on their Amazon heritage they will not remove any books. However it would not hurt to put a charm on the exit so they can't take anything from the library without your expressed permission." Kalya said as Isis smiled as she had been learning about her two sources of magic.
"Alright Kalya I agree the library will be moved to a protected subspace room. I however want it known that only Li-sensei, Snow Pea and you have permission to enter. There will be a charm to prevent any items inside from being removed. The items that they, themselves had brought into the room can be taken out with them. There will also be two guardians of the library to help them find what they need and to protect the books." Isis said, as she thought about it a bit longer in case she forgot something.
"That will be fine Isis-momma they will agree or not enter the library. If they need more help could a librarian from the Musk and Phoenix people be permitted to help? They have not said anything yet but they might. I am hoping they can bring more tomes, scroll, and books to the mix to help as the Amazons have already done." Kalya said as the cat jumped down and ran out the door of the temple Kalya watching as he disappeared.
"Let me know who and I will decide then." Isis said as she noticed the sad look as her daughter watched the tabby leave.
"Huh!? Oh, yes I will let them know and thank you Isis-momma." Kalya was brought back to the goddess as she followed the disappearing cat with her eyes.
"Don't worry dear he will be back after all here he is alive and has certain things he must do once in a while." Isis tried to hide a giggle at the confused expression, as it slowly turned to realization at what she meant.
"Oh!" Kalya said, as it was all she could think to respond.
"Did someone lose something?" The double booming voice came from outside Isis' temple.
"AKER!" Kalya shouted with joy and ran outside to find Aker holding Mr. Tabbs and scratching his stomach.
Aker put down a disgruntled cat as he scooped Kalya up in his arms and gave her a tight squeeze. He then put her down just as Mr. Tabbs jumped at them both. He caught the cat by the scruff of its neck then handed the orange tabby to Kalya. She smiled and took the cat and held it tightly against her. Aker smiled as Isis stood at her temple door giggling behind her hand.
"Welcome Aker!" Isis said as she moved toward the god of Sunrise and Sunset.
"Greetings Isis, I heard little Kalya was here and thought I would come and see her." Aker said as he smirked as Kalya bristled at the 'little' comment.
"HEY I AIN'T THAT LITTLE!" Her old Ranma self showed itself at the comment.
"You're little to me!" Aker said as he shrugged his shoulders and moved toward Isis.
"So Bastet letting you kitty-sit?" Aker asked as he pointed to the tabby in Kalya's arms.
"No he won't go home with her. He wants to stay here to see Kalya when she comes to visit. I don't mind though he is a very good cat and very protective." Isis said as she pictured his saber tooth alter ego in her mind.
"Well Bastet will be here shortly. She said something about trying to get the fur ball to come home." Aker smirked as the said fur ball growled deep in his throat.
"Looks like you are ticking off everyone today Aker." Isis said as she tried not to smile.
"Yes, yes I am. It is the only fun I have now a days." He said with a fake sad frown since his eyes were sparkling with mischief it was hard for the two women not to laugh.
"Come Aker join us for something to drink and eat. Kalya has been telling me what has been happening on earth." Aker's arched his eyebrow on his twin faces as he moved into the temple of the queen of the Egyptian Pantheon.
(l(l(l)l)l)
Nodoka sat on the roof she leaned against one of the many chimneys she chose one that was warm since it was a cold night. She laid her sword across her lap as she kept an eye on her meditating daughter. She was not about to let Seth attack her again. She jumped slightly when she heard the trap door to the roof open and close. She smiled as Mousse joined her at the chimney.
"So the others are still planning?" Nodoka asked as the Hidden Weapons master sat down next to Nodoka and stared at Kalya as if checking her status.
"Yes, they are hoping they can get access to Isis-sama's library, it seems that some of the other tribe members think there is more to his hit and run tactics then what we believe. Tarragon and Niitmin have returned to their homes for the night to talk with their rulers and librarians. They are using this time to get their belongings." Mousse told her as he pulled two blankets from Weapon space, as it seemed to be getting colder.
"Needless to say the Council was a bit perturbed that they didn't think of it first. Not to mention it was a lowly male that made the observation." Mousse chuckled freely as to Nodoka he seemed more outgoing and friendly then what the villagers had described him from before this all started.
Nodoka started to rise to cover her daughter when Mousse stopped her. She looked at him confused and little angry but he pulled her back down. As he helped her to readjust herself, he began to explain to the mother of the new Isis Warrior. Even so, Nodoka was still a bit angry. She decided she needed to read the tomes and scrolls possessed by the Amazons, Musk, and Phoenix Mount to learn what the other Generals seemed already to know.
"It is not safe for you to cover her Nodoka-san, if you accidently cause her to move even a fraction of an inch, it could prevent her soul from finding her body when it is time for it to come back." He told her as he covered her up with the blanket.
"She is fine if you open you ki sight you will see her aura surrounding her. It will keep her warm as she meditates." He explained as he felt her inadequacies at not knowing what she felt were common knowledge.
"No Nodoka-san, it is not common knowledge to people outside this valley. We learn as children about magic and out of body experiences. I suggest you talk with the council it might not be a bad idea to get you and the other outsiders of the team caught up." He smiled at her shocked look.
"I am never going to get use to that!" Nodoka said as understanding dawned on her.
"Well once you and the others have mastered the technique to block your thoughts it will be easier and your thoughts will be your own again." Mousse said with a chuckle as he pulled out a small camping stove and teapot of water.
"But what if we need help?" Nodoka said as she looked at her daughter noticing a red glow on her right hand.
"Our empathy ability will allow us to feel one another's pain and help us track each other. We would then open our minds to them so we can communicate with them." Mousse said as he made tea and handed Nodoka a cup.
"Thank you, I suppose so. Tell me Mousse did you meet my son before he was merged?" Nodoka asked as no one in the village had a chance to know him before the double dip at Jusenkyo.
"No I did not. My first encounter with her was after the panda threw her across our village cracking her head opened again in order to get to the winner's buffet." Mousse said as he remembered the feeling of carrying her to Elder Cologne's home.
"I see, you know I do not even know what he looked like as a grown young man. Genma took him when he was still very young." Nodoka stared at the meditating young girl before her trying to picture what she looked like as a boy.
Nodoka looked down when Mousse placed a picture in her lap. She looked down at it and saw Genma and a young boy as they stood outside a temple. She picked up the picture and stared at the young man. There was a sad wistful smile on her face. She then looked up at her daughter and saw the same young man there as well. Her smile broadened as she looked from one to the other. When she finally stopped comparing the two, she looked down and gently rubbed her hand over the boy's face. She then handed it toward Mousse. Mousse just put his hand against hers with the same sad smile she wore.
"You keep it Nodoka-san. Just do not expect her to be him again. He is gone. However, if you wish to know _him_ Shen Li-sensei trained him before he came here. If it is all right with you, I would like to sit in on that discussion. I too would like to know him after I have met her. I would like to know what part of her is actually him." Mousse said as he stared at his leader for the upcoming battle.
"Thank you Mousse, and when I talk with Li-san I will make sure you are there as well." Nodoka said as she leaned over and hugged the young boy who though a bit shocked at the show of affection tentatively hugged her back.
(l(l(l)l)l)
The O'Leary brothers moved through the woods both angry as to what had happened at the village of women warriors. However, each of them was angry for a different reason. Sean being just a few months away from twenty was angry at being dismissed. After all, he was a man and should be treated with respect. He never thought about the fact that the Amazons deserved respect as well for not, only surviving for three thousand years but for the skills in battle and for just surviving.
Sean was just about twenty years of age. He was nearly as tall as his brother at five feet nine and half inches. His hair was a dark auburn like his brother's hair. His hair however, was at least a shade lighter. His eyes were a dark hazel and sat on either side of a thin nose over a pear of medium thin lips. His features sat in a square chiseled jaw line. It was not at all babyish like his brother's it was hard and gave him a cold demeanor. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans with a button down white shirt with a royal tee underneath it. On his feet, he wore a pair of dary gray polished leather boots.
Ebon was angry for being dismissed but not because of what Genma tried to get them to do. He was angry because something was wrong he felt it. He sensed the magic around the village and the area. There was however something wrong. It felt evil to him. His gran'ma had always told him he had inherited the family genes for doing magic but there was no one left who knew how to tap into it. His family came from a long line of Druids though they no longer practiced Druidism some of his family was born with a direct link to them. He was his generations. However, after their great great six or so more great aunt was killed before she could teach the next generation of Druid clerics. He was able to sense the magic and when needed it protected himself or his family but it was never controlled. He had some serious thinking to do before they left the valley.
Ebon was about twenty-four years of age and stood five feet eleven inches. He had dark auburn hair with hazel eyes. They were set on either side of a long slightly bulbous nose over a pair of medium thick lips. His features sat in a soft square jaw but instead of hard and chiseled it was a bit soft and gave him a babyish face. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans with a button white shirt with a red tee underneath it. On his feet, he wore a pair of black scuffed leather boots.
As Ebon led, his brother toward what he thought was the seaport village where they had landed. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he was letting the magic within him pull him toward the most powerful magic source within the valley. He was not listening to his brother he had blocked his incessant muttering out of his mind as they walked that was until he was being shaken violently.
"EBON WHAT ARE YOU DOING! PAY ATTENTION!" Ebon finally pulled from his thoughts looked at the angry dark hazel eyes of his brother before him he could not understand why Sean was angry until he looked passed his brother's head.
"OH...!" He saw behind his brother the valley of 'The Springs of Sorrow' cutting off the last of his comment.
"What are you thinkin' Ebon you trying to get us cursed!?" Sean's anger lessened as he noticed his brother was now back, among the living.
"Sorry brother, I was thinkin' about what they were sayin' back at the coun...!" Ebon was cut off as his younger brother's anger rose again.
"DON'T GO THERE BROTHER! THOSE OLD WOMEN TREATED US LIKE WE HAD THE PLAGUE!" Ebon just shook his head, as the only thing his hotheaded brother heard from the council was being dismissed like children.
"SEAN! STOP IT!" Ebon could always out shout his brother but it also helped when he slapped the back of his little brother's head.
"OW! Wha'cha do that for?" Sean asked as he rubbed his head.
"OH NO MISTER CUSTOMER! SPRINGS CURSED!" Before Ebon could explain, the guide of Jusenkyo came running up after hearing them shouting.
"It is alright sir. We are not going near the springs. Tell me is there a campsite near here with a source of fresh water?" Ebon asked as he pinched the arm of his brother to keep him quiet.
"OUCH!" Sean said as he rubbed his arm and glared at his brother and a smirking guide.
"No should stay near springs to dangerous!" The guide had two people who were listening to him and he was going to make sure it stayed that way.
"No we did not plan on it, but is there a spring of fresh water nearby?" Ebon persisted and finally the guide pointed to the east with a frown.
"Is a small river that way one mile?" He said as Ebon bowed then shook the man's hand.
"Thank you sir, com'on Sean we got some talkin' to do!" Ebon said as he moved away from Jusenkyo a shocked guide watching them go.
(l(l(l)l)l)
As Sean and Ebon reached, the line of trees around Jusenkyo Ebon stopped. Sean stared at his brother and nervously stepped back at the glazed look in his eyes. Sean knew what that meant the magic of the ancient Druids was active inside him. Sean watched as his brother slowly moved to the edge of the 'Springs of Sorrow'. Sean grabbed the guide and shook his head, as he had learned only once never to awaken Ebon from a magical trance.
"No he under a magical trance. Let him do what he must!" Sean told the guide quietly as he watched his brother worried the trance might get him cursed.
Ebon stopped at the first line of springs but went no further. The guide and Sean watched fascinated as the springs began to glow each one a different color. They watched as Ebon's eyes also began to glow and strobe through the colors of the springs. They watched for fifteen minutes as Ebon stood there. Finally, the elder O'Leary brother bowed deeply to the springs turned and returned to his brother and the guide. Sean watched as his brother moved passed them toward the campsite told to them by the guide. Sean just shrugged and followed his brother leaving a bewildered guide behind as the man stared at the springs in confusion.
(l(l(l)l)l)
Kalya woke from her mediations and found her mother and Mousse sitting across from her. They were leaning against each other sound asleep. She smirked as she rose and began to stretch out the kinks. It was a good visit to Isis' she got a lot of information from not only Isis but Aker and Bastet as well. As she turned to leave, her mother and Mousse began to stir.
"Com'on sleepy heads we got a lot of work to do!" Kalya told her generals as they moved quickly to keep up with her.
As Nodoka quickly folded the blankets for Mousse, he gathered up the small camping stove, water kettle, tea, and cups. Nodoka handed him the blankets once he had stowed the other items. They then hurried after Kalya who was waiting for them at the trap door into the house. She stood there holding the door tapping her foot with faux exasperation. Mousse and Nodoka both felt she was only teasing them. As they passed her to go down the ladder to the third floor, hallway they both stuck out their tongues at her.
As the three of them came down to the first level they were met not only by the other generals but the council of Amazon Elders plus Tarragon and Niitmin but two others she had never seen before. One was a Musk Warrior the other Phoenix. She figured they must be the lore masters or mages from the other tribes.
{They are lore masters though they like Snow Pea also have the most knowledge in magic.} Kalya nodded as Niitmin's voice entered her mind.
{Thank you, Niitmin.} She responded not wanting to let the non-generals know they could communicate through telepathy, though she felt they assumed they could she did not want to validate it.
"Before I tell of what the goddess Isis, Bastet, the god Aker and I discussed I will have Niitmin and Tarragon introduce the two they brought with them.
"This is Basil he is the Lore Master of the Musk." Tarragon indicated the man next to him.
Basil was tall about six feet maybe an inch or two more. He had golden eyes. He had a triangular face. His golden eyes sat on either side of a broad nose that ended over a pair of thin lips. His hair was sienna brown and was woren long just past his shoulders. His build was muscular but more on the athletic side.
"It is nice to meet you and thank you for your assistance." Kalya said as she bowed to the Musk Lore Master who returned the bow with a curt nod.
"Niitmin you brought with you?" Kalya asked the Phoenix healer as she arched an eyebrow at Basil's curtness.
"This is Saamin he is one of our three Lore Masters but is the more knowledgeable on magic and esoteric parts of the world." Niitmin said as Saamin stepped forward and took Kalya's hand and kissed it lightly with a mischievous smile as she blushed.
Saamin had brown wings and silver stripes at the tip. He carried a six-foot staff of dark red mahogany inlayed with golden runes. On top sat a silver dragon's claw as it held a white pulsing orb. He stood six-feet five inches tall. He had a round face with emerald green eyes. His eyes sat on either side of a hooked nose looking very similar to a bird's beak. His nose ended over a pair of full lips. He was muscular in physic. His hair was silver with a one-inch stripe, of brown hair on the left side of his face.
"Welcome Saamin." Kalya cheeks were getting redder when Saamin refused to let go of her hand.
Kalya directed the group to the living room where chairs awaited them. As she moved, Saamin finally had to release his tight hold on her hand. As they entered the living room, Meran and Dolphin disappeared into the kitchen. They returned a few moments later Dolphin with a tray of cups and tea. Meran carried a tray with dessert plates and two plates of Mochi that Nodoka had made the previous night before she went to sit with Kalya on the roof.
"Please everyone sit down. We have much to talk about." Kalya said as she waited for everyone to find a chair then sat on the floor in the center of the group.
She jumped slightly when Ryoga handed her a cup of tea she smiled thankfully at him and watched as he and Mousse helped Dolphin and Meran to serve the rest of the room. She was surprised when both boys sat down next to her flanking her on either side. Both then glared at Basil as if they had felt his disdain at having to follow her into battle.
"We talked long after Bastet and Aker joined us they gave me much to think about. I did take notes so I would get it right." She said as she pulled the journal out of subspace deciding to use it for her meetings with the Egyptian gods.
"First Isis has agreed to move her library to a subspace pocket for us to use. At this time however only I, Snow Pea and Li-sensei are permitted in and _nothing_ is to leave the library...!" Kalya was cut off by Basil's outburst.
"THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!" Not only Tarragon but also Sage stopped him as well.
"Please continue Kalya." Cologne said as she glared at the Lore Master of the Musk.
"I told her that the Musk and Phoenix people were going to be sending Lore Masters to help though they wouldn't be generals because all of them had been created. She said when they arrived she will determine if she will allow them access." Kalya said as she took a sip of tea, as she watched the Musk Lore Master over the rim of her cup.
"That sounds fine to me, though we may have to get a Musk Lore Master that is not so 'male' minded." Saamin said with a deadly grin at his Musk counterpart.
"Watch it _bird brain_! I am also a warrior of the highest caliber in my Prince's army!" Basil rose to his feet as his aura bursting around him.
"_Sit down Lore Master Basil_!" Kalya's voice was quiet though the growl low in her throat made Basil stop and shudder.
"The goddess will decide who may use her Library and your attitude will keep you on the outside! Tarragon is there another Lore Master we may use I don't want his behavior to cost the Musk access to the library." Kalya said as she looked with a smile to her Musk healer.
"No Kalya I am afraid we only have two and Cumin is too old for battle since we will be required to fight." Tarragon said as he glared at his Lore Master.
"I will talk with Prince Herb. If it is necessary and see what can be worked out. We have several Lore Master Apprentices that might work. I believe one or two of them have nearly finished their training." Tarragon smirked at Basil loving that he could bring him down off the pedestal Basil put himself on.
"I DO NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS!" Basil screamed as his anger at being dismissed by the group before him and his own brethren.
"Actually you do!" The double booming voice told the group there was someone else at the meeting, they did not know about.
"Everyone meet the god of Sunset and Sunrise, Aker and the _man_ I consider my father." Kalya said with a smile as everyone fell from their chairs as Aker appeared behind her.
As those in the room looked around it seemed only the Generals were not surprised at the appearance of the ancient deity. The Amazon Elders quickly return to their chairs. The elders were divided some with a scowl, for the surprise while others were grinning at the surprise. The ones with the biggest smiles were Snow Pea, Sapphire and Rouge the three practical jokesters on the council.
"Greetings great god to our humble village we are honored by your presence." Jasmine said as she bowed, as the leader of the council it was her responsibility to acknowledge him for the tribe.
"Greetings Elder, and please Aker is fine with me." The god's two faces smiled a sharp toothy grin as his voice resonated throughout the guesthouse.
"What brings you from the Egyptian Pantheon?" Lotus asked as she licked her lips lustfully at the giant man before her.
"Well at Kalya's visit the night before I decided I wanted to help Isis keep tabs on her so I enhanced her ring from Isis to allow me to feel when she becomes agitated, angry or in pain." Aker left it at that as he stared hungrily at Basil who swallowed hard.
"Aker-poppa, behave or I will tell Isis-momma!" Kalya said though everyone in the room could tell she was joking with the Egyptian god.
"Now while I am here daughter why don't you point out this Happosai to me?" Aker said as he looked around the room at the different people.
"He is the one hiding behind Cologne. I guess he has not fixed his Neko-Ken training completely." Kalya said as she sensed the ancient master's fear.
"Come here man! I don't bite...well, not much anyway." Aker said as he winked at his new _daughter_." Kalya giggled and the others in the room looked on shocked, as it was the first time they saw her even smile let alone giggle.
"I...I am sorry Great god of Egypt I did not know it was your technique when I found it!" Happosai tried to explain.
"Take it easy old man. I would like to train you, because of what you taught Kalya, she was able to show me. If you spar with me a few times, it will take care of the last bit of fear you have. We need to make sure that Seth has no weakness in any of you he can exploit." The cat god said as he held out his hand.
"Thank you Aker-sama!" Happosai's eyes opened wide with excitement at a chance to be at the level in his Neko-ken as Kalya was after his and Aker's training.
"I must return now but I will come for you when I can start your training. Oh and Kalya, Bastet sent you a present one that will keep you from being hurt!" The two-faced lion god spoke as he stared at Basil touching the cat part of his ancestry.
"Really? What is it?" Kalya jumped to her feet so fast she nearly knocked the god off his feet.
"It is not a, what my little one but a who!" Kalya looked confused then smiled so brightly that it lit the room as she heard a purr from behind Aker.
"MR. TABBS!" She moved from side to side to look behind Aker who was having fun keeping her from succeeding, Snow Pea, Sapphire and Rouge loved watching the joking nature of the god.
"OH COM'ON POPPA!" Kalya pouted seductively as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well I guess I can, for you my precious one only for you!" He bent down and kissed the top of her garnet hair then handed her the fat orange tabby with bejeweled ears.
As Aker brought the tabby from behind his back, it jumped into the arms of Kalya and purred loudly after it licked her nose. The room watched as all the generals quickly moved to surround Kalya and the cat. They all petting the animal and cooed over it as if it was a lost friend. Only the generals knew the story behind the tabby and it was now a part of their fighting force though no one else knew that.
"Th...thank you poppa and tell Bastet how much I appreciate her letting me have him back." Kalya said as she moved through the generals to the lion god and hugged him with one arm around his waist.
"Sekhmet gave him a gift!" Aker whispered as he pointed to the leather collar.
"She wanted to tell you how sorry she was for what happened when first you met but she won't say it so she showed it. It will allow you and the generals to talk to Mr. Tabbs and other cats if he is around." Aker continued to whisper as he hugged Kalya close to him
The collar was two straps of black leather that formed a 'X', which crossed in the middle through a gold ring that was about an inch and half across. In the center of the ring sat, a silver 'X' that had a three caret glowing ruby in the center of it. It glowed from under Mr. Tabbs chin. Meran snuck up behind Kalya and gently pulled the pudgy cat from her grasp. As Kalya turned to glare, she could do nothing but laugh, as all her generals were busy petting or scratching his ears and stomach. All the while, he was sounding like an outboard motor. Kalya turned back to Aker and gave him a true hug goodbye under the watchful eyes of her uncle and mother.
"Thank you for coming Aker-poppa can you come regularly?" Kalya asked as Aker let go of the hug he gave her.
"Not too often we have to prepare the Pantheon. Seth's main goal after taking over this world is to get revenge on us. We are hoping however you and the generals can stop him." Aker said as he hugged her again now he understood why Isis was so beguiled by this girl.
"*SIGH* Well at least I will have the aid of some of the world's best warriors." Kalya said as she looked to those assembled.
"Yes but now I must go. Next time I will try to get Bastet to come. No, Kalya Isis cannot leave her temple she would be at to great a risk from the minions of Seth. They know better than to try and attack me." Aker said as twenty-inch ki claws appeared on the back of his hand.
"Yes I would say so poppa." Kalya giggled again as everyone in the room stared with awe.
"Happosai I will be back though I do not like you knowing the Neko-ken with your character, you have made me reconsider when you helped Kalya to learn it faster and have showed that when you are needed you are there to help!" Aker told the old master who was still behind Cologne.
"Thank you sensei I will do all I can to stop Seth just as I did fifty years ago." For the first time since Aker arrived, Happosai sounded strong and able.
"Goodbye all and take care of my daughter!" As Aker spoke, his angry gaze landed on Basil.
Kalya turned from Aker and with her index finger, pointing to the floor twirled it quickly. The entire room realized what it meant and turned around, all that was but Basil. He did not care that Aker was her protector. Women were nothing more than slaves, used to create strong male warriors. He hated the peace treaty he felt the Amazons would be best used to make male children and the bird peoples as food for the Musk.
"AAAARRRRGGGGG!" Basil regretted that he had not heeded Kalya's warning Aker disappeared in a light as bright, as twenty suns.
"Kalya warned you Basil." Sage told him with disgust.
"Tarragon we may have to get one of the Lore Masters apprentices." Sage said as he used his empathy to detect the disgust Basil was feeling toward the females in the room.
"Agreed I will take him back and see if Prince Herb will allow for one of them to take his place." Tarragon said as he dragged Basil from the room under the watchful gaze of the generals and a pudgy tabby cat that hissed.
"Sage?" Kalya called to the Musk warrior quietly.
"You don't think we could get him to change?" Kalya did not want to cause hurt feelings between the tribes after the past fifty years of building a new relationship.
"No Kalya many of our warriors are still like him as I am sure there are some die hard Amazons and Phoenix warriors who don't want to see the status quo change." Sage said as he shook his head sadly.
"However the ruling parties of all three tribes want to coexist together, to help each other survive so we will be there to stop Seth and those like him from abusing their gifts against the people of this world." Mousse completed for the Musk warrior.
"Now tell us daughter what information do you bring us from the goddess?" Sapphire asked as she led Kalya back to the center of the room.
Kalya sighed as she wanted to wait for Tarragon to return first but she knew her Amazon mothers would not wait that long. They had very little patience when they wanted to know something. She sat down and got comfortable. As soon as she was ready to talk, she looked up at the yowl from Mr. Tabbs and smiled as he wrenched himself free of the generals still spoiling him. He ran to Kalya and curled up in the center of her crossed legs. He laid down there as she gently petted him purring contentedly.
"As I began she will create a subspace pocket for you to enter and use the library however only I, Snow Pea and Li-sensei will be able to use it. She will decide on Saamin and whoever comes back with Tarragon after they agree to help." Kalya said as she reproduced her journal that she took notes in for this meeting she also felt as Sage transmitted what was being said to Tarragon.
"She wants those who enter to swear on their birthright they will not take anything from the library. She will also put protection spells to help prevent this. She has also agreed to allow you to make your own copies of her books, scrolls, and tomes." Kalya quickly stated as she saw Mascara and Lotus getting angry.
"This is because these books are beyond priceless they are the only copies and can't be replaced. She has also agreed to leave and keep stocked cases of journals so you can make the copies you need without having to keep getting new blank journals." Kalya read as she flipped pages.
"She has also declared that since Shen Li-sensei is her chosen Librarian/Warrior he is in charge of the research and library no matter who is inside or out. He is in control of all knowledge received from her books and those of the Amazons, Musk, and Phoenix." This time Kalya put up her hand to forestall the explosion she knew was coming.
"She is doing it this way as he is, if you will a disinterested third party. Even though your tribes are at peace there are still things each tribe wants kept secret. That information will go through Li-sensei and he will assimilate it and will rewrite it for use by the other tribes." Kalya spoke solemnly as she continued to read her notes.
"How big is her library?" Cologne asked wondering if they could get copies of every book in the library for their permanent use.
"It is quite large Mother Cologne. It holds copies of everything ever written. Well it felt that way when I went through it." Kalya said a goofy grin on her face, as she moved through the notes she had created.
"When can we start?" Li-sensei asked as his eyes glittered with uncontrolled excitement.
"Well it will take a few days mayb a week or so by then she should have decided on whether or not Saamin and the Musk Lore Master may enter under the same rules." Kalya said with a wagging finger.
"She also has to get the subspace library created and the books and everything moved into it. Then once she has the protection spells and your oaths you will be given the key to enter. Your keys will work for only each of those permitted to be in the room." Kalya told them as they nodded with excitement.
"Alright then we will leave you to your rest. I would recommend sleep tonight Kalya." Jasmine said as she kissed the girl's head then headed to her great grand children and gave them each a hug and proud smile.
"Elder should Saamin and the Musk Lore Master stay here?" Kalya asked hoping so they needed to get to know the new comers though not appointed generals they were an integral part of the group.
"Yes they should what about you Snow Pea do you wish to join them here or stay in your own home?" Jasmine asked their contribution to the research team.
"I will stay in my own home, I rise early enough I can come every day when I get up. If anything was discussed in my absence they can update me on it." She said as she walked out the door ending the conversation.
"Ok, that was easy. Now Kalya go to bed it is late! You need your rest!" Cologne said as she wagged a finger at her adopted daughter and pointed to the dark sky outside.
"Yes mother I promise as soon as I eat something." Kalya said as her stomach growled followed soon by everyone else.
"Well I think if we have anymore of these long sessions we should have it catered for all of us!" Jasmine said as her stomach started growling in agreement, as they all giggled as they left.
(l(l(l)l)l)
The following morning found Tarragon flying over the village with another young Musk warrior. He landed outside the Guesthouse that was now to be his home. As he and his passenger settled on the front porch the door burst opened and a fat tabby jumped out and knocking Tarragon down as he passed over the Musk healer the cat licked his nose as an apology but disappeared over the wall to do his morning business.
"Sorry Tarragon, he needed to go to the...well we don't have a kitty litter box for him." Kalya tried to explain as delicately as she could.
"No problem Kalya. He said he was sorry." Tarragon smiled as he allowed Kalya to help him to his feet.
"Come in we were just sitting down to breakfast. Snow Pea is here already so we can introduce your friend here." Kalya smiled at the young man next to Tarragon.
As they entered the house, everyone was sitting around the dining table that was laden with a huge amount of food. Both men stared awestruck. Kalya led them to the table. She had closed the door but opened a window near it so Mr. Tabbs could get back inside when he was ready. The two Musk warriors took two of the three chairs the last chair they left for Kalya as it sat between Snow Pea and Nodoka. Though Snow Pea, Saamin, and the new Musk Lore Master did not know it, the generals were catching up Tarragon on what Isis had decided. Though he caught most of it, there were some gaps, as their long distance telepathy had not yet been perfected.
"Everyone Prince Herb agreed that Basil's antiquated notions would be detrimental to the battle to come. He has resumed his duties under the Primary Lore Master Dill. Dill decided that Thyme would be the best from the apprentices that have completed their training. He is a fast study and learns quickly and efficiently." Tarragon nudged the still sitting Thyme to rise.
Thyme stood five feet eleven inches tall. His hair was a dark amethyst in color and was held back in a braid that ended at his waist. His eyes were ice lavender almost white. They sat on either side of a long bulbous nose though not to bulbous. His nose ended over just a slightly thicker than a thin pair of lips. He was thin and wiry but moved with deadly grace and skill. He wore an iridescent green snake skin like tunic with black woolen pants and hard sole leather boots. He carried an eight-foot staff of dark mahogany covered in runes filled with gold. On top of the staff sat a coiled King Cobra of white jade around a bright blue pulsating sapphire the size of a goose's egg.
"Greetings I am Thyme a junior Lore Master and am honored to be allowed to work with you all. I hope I can be of great help." Thyme bowed at the table then sat down followed by Tarragon.
"Now Thyme Elder Jasmine has decided that you and Saamin though not my generals as selected by Isis. You two as is Snow Pea an important part of the team as the three of you and Li-sensei will be responsible for giving us the information we need to make an informed and timely decision. In order for us to bond as a team, the two of you will be staying here in the guesthouse. Snow Pea will return to her own home which is not far from us if she is needed." Kalya said as she dished up some scrambled eggs then passed the bowl to the next person as the next plate of food was given to her.
"Please eat this meal was sent to us by the Amazon village I believe it is in honor of the fact all the Generals are now here and they hope to go to battle soon." Snow Pea told everyone as the food made it at least once around the table.
"So when do we start our job?" Thyme asked as Kalya looked at him from under her lashes.
"At the moment we don't unless you have access to knowledge on ley lines. Isis is still setting her library up in a subspace pocket. She will have her decision whether you and Saamin may enter along with myself, Shen Li-sensei and Elder Snow Pea." Kalya watched him to see his attitude toward this information.
"Oh, ok I guess after Basil's antics she wants to be sure. As far as ley lines yes I have studied them. I though can't remove the books from the Musk library but I made many notes on what I read. I happen to find ley lines fascinating." He told the shocked stares at the table.
"Which is probably one of the reasons Dill picked you?" Tarragon said as he slapped the thinner man heartily on the back.
"That and he felt they needed to see not all Musk is as ugly as you are." Thyme said with a rye grin.
"HUH!?" Tarragon said as he turned his head to the new Musk member then to the rest of the table as they tried not to laugh.
"OOOO, I knew bringing my cousin into this was going to be a mistake." Tarragon said with a frown that never reached his eyes.
"Now Thyme I think you and Saamin can share a room as Tarragon and Niitmin will also share a room. Right now, we still have more rooms available if the Isis team grows any more. However if the house starts to get too full before we leave we will have to triple or maybe even quadruple up. The rooms are large enough for that I think." Kalya said as she took a bite of a honey cake.
"So what are our plans for today?" Thyme asked as he took another bite of the pancake with blackberries and whip cream that filled his plate.
"Well first we want to go over what you know of ley lines if you have it written down I would like to make copies of it later?" Kalya asked as she sipped some tea.
"Sure are you compiling the information from all the tribes this way?" He asked his eyes a lit with hope of seeing the final information.
"Yes she is and when she has finished she will present a copy to each tribe. This way those that don't go with us can still help by analyzing information for us. Li-san however by Isis' decree will control all the information from the tribes and assimilate it before it goes to each tribe and the scholar team." Ryoga said tired of not getting to say anything.
Snow Pea glared at Ryoga who ignored her. Kalya smiled at him with a slight nod. The rest of the generals saw she approved then they all started answering questions as they were put out there by the new comers to the team. As they talked back and forth, Mr. Tabbs finally came back and headed for Kalya's chair. He put his paws on her leg and she lifted him into her lap. She began to feed him what was left on her plate. After a few bites and looking around the table, he jumped down and made the rounds locating the soft touches for food. The rest were going to be a challenge.
"Well if everyone is done eating we need to go to the council chamber. We are going, there Thyme, Saamin because that is where the map with the Seth attacks are recorded on the Amazon map of the worlds ley lines." As everyone rose, half the generals cleaned off the table and returned about thirty minutes later after cleaning the kitchen and dishes.
"Oh and your name will be added to the cleaning schedule we all help keep the Amazon guesthouse clean." Kalya told him and Saamin as they headed out the door Mr. Tabbs close to Kalya.
As they headed to the council chamber, Ric, Nodoka, Hayashi and Dolphin took flight and head toward a seaside village. Before the new members could ask, Cologne and Happosai joined them. They moved toward the council chamber and as they passed each Elder's home if they had not already left, they joined the parade.
"Kalya where did, those others four go." Thyme looked off after the four generals envy could be read in his eyes.
"There must have been a big hit and run by Seth they go to Ric's yacht moored in a village near here. They use Ric's ship radio to get more information. They mark all the attacks on a regular map then transpose the information onto the Amazon's ley lines map." Kalya said as they moved closer to the council chamber or they would have, if it were not for the party of Amazons in front of them led by Shampoo.
"Shampoo what do you think you are doing?" Cologne moved in front of the procession followed by her husband, Snow Pea and three other elders that had joined them.
"Shampoo no marry stupid Mousse! Shampoo challenge general! Others want challenge males!" Shampoo glared at Mousse daring him to try to stop her and he did as he moved next to Cologne.
"Tell me Lash what did she tell you about my beating her?" Mousse turned to Lash because she had always been truthful with him though she did not love him or want him as a husband she liked him.
Lash was the same age as Mousse and Shampoo but at nineteen she still had a baby face that caused her to look fourteen. It was a trait, she hated at this time of her life. She though stood almost six feet tall. She had long ginger colored hair that went to her knees and was straight. Her eyes were amber, were wide, and sat on either side of a perky medium length nose. Her nose stopped over a pair of medium thick lips of natural rose. She wore a Chinese pantsuit of lemon chiffon. The top had a high collar but had an oval cutout just over he chest. The sleeves were tight and ended at her wrists. She wore a darker pair of yellow kung-fu slippers on her feet.
"She said you tricked her into a spar and claimed a marriage challenge had been given." Lash's amber eyes told those before her, she was not sure about Shampoo's side of the story.
"Then she didn't tell you she _attacked_ me first because Isis chose me as one of her first warriors instead of, and I am quoting here, 'this generations best warrior'." He watched as Shampoo's posse began to look angrily at Shampoo.
"I am sure she also did not tell you that Elder Cologne, Thorn, and Jasmine were present as well as Matriarch Marigold, when I defended myself against her unprovoked attack and won fairly. I am also sure that I put her in limbo by refusing to marry her until the war with Seth has been won. She also probably forgot to mention she is prevented from taking or issuing a challenge to or from marrying an outsider even if he beats her." When Mousse finished he went back to stand beside Kalya and jumped slightly at the tug on his robe he looked down to see Mr. Tabbs playing with the long sash he used to tie it shut.
"Now if the rest of you do not want to be punished for Shampoo's attempt to circumvent our laws I would return to your duties. Oh and any attempt to challenge any of the Isis Warriors will be met by a dip in the 'Pools of Sorrow'. Remember they are controlled by Isis now so it would not be safe for anyone to challenge her chosen ones." Snow Pea said as she placed a hand specifically on Mousse's shoulder.
"Shampoo you will go home I will take care of your punishment then. Do not do any more stupid things or it will be worse for you!" Cologne told her great great granddaughter a deep scowl on her face.
"NO! I NO MARRY STUPID BLIND MOUSSE! HE BENEATH ME!" Shampoo wanted her freedom she wanted one of the warriors before her.
"Perfume will you and Misty please secure my great great granddaughter in a detention cell until I have time to handle this. Please also set a guard to prevent any of her friends from freeing her." Cologne signaled for two Amazons walking passed the group.
"Yes elder." Misty said as she and Perfume took Shampoo to one of the detention cells.
"Well I guess we better get moving mom and the others should be back by now." Kalya said trying to break the tension as she, sped up the pace.
When the group arrived, they were met by a flurry of movement. Ric and Hayashi were posting the new information to the ley line map. While Dolphin and Nodoka were going over some of the other maps, that Ric brought back with them. They moved in and around the flurry of people trying to pick up as much information as possible.
"He is now attacking some of the more obscure ley lines under the seas. This is causing tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes." Ric told Kalya as she came up beside him.
"What about the eight we think he will be using to bring his army through?" Kalya asked as she looked at the map not noticing as Thyme came up behind them to examine the map.
"No nothing." Ric said as Thyme's eyes suddenly narrowed as he pushed past Ric and Hayashi and looked closer at the map.
The two men were a bit perturbed but Kalya waved them off. She moved closer to Thyme and looked at where he was staring. She frowned as he was looking not at the eight nexuses they had marked but at Jusenkyo! She placed a hand on his shoulder and pointed to where they needed his attention he however continued to look at Jusenkyo for several more minutes then moved to the nexuses already used by Seth. He finally stood up, and walked to an empty table and sat down. He pulled forth two journals one empty and one transcribed from his time in the archives.
Kalya followed she was not happy that he ignored her but she also knew he knew the most about the ley lines and may have spotted something they missed. Ric left Hayashi to finish with the maps and joined Kalya and the Musk Lore Master. They sat in the chairs on either side of Thyme as he began to write down what he saw. The two Isis Chosen warriors read as he wrote and their eyes grew as more appeared.
"Are you sure about this?" Ric whispered as he kept reading as Thyme wrote.
"Well almost a hundred percent. I need to go to Jusenkyo to check my theory. The only problem is I really don't want a curse." Thyme said as he shuddered at the thought of what he could end up with as a curse.
"I will take you. You tell me where among the springs you need to go and I will keep you above the ground so you don't fall in." Kalya told him as he continued to look pulling the other journal closer to check out information in it.
"Kalya I will go with you too. This way we can maybe make a sling to carry him in, this way he will have more freedom to look where he needs to." Ric started reading the other journal as Thyme looked up information.
"That sound like it would work how long to make the sling?" Thyme asked as he continued his research.
"They're already on it Thyme." Nodoka said as she came up after receiving the information from Ric and Kalya about what the new Musk Lore Master was doing.
"It won't be long now. Though I think, there should be more then two of you depending on how long it takes him. You might not be able to hold him up for too long." Meran said as she came up followed by Sage and Snow Pea who was curious as to why everyone kept coming to see what Thyme was doing.
"I don't want anyone cursed. I will take him." Kalya said with flashing eyes.
"No, Kalya you can't do it alone. You will need help with the sling. Though I think, it might be better if Ryoga helps you, as he is as strong as you are. Snow Pea said as she pushed between Ric and Thyme to see what he was reading.
"I agree with her. Though I think, Meran is right also. So Sage is pretty strong and so is Mousse they can be our relief if it takes longer then Thyme thought it might. The extra members can be a guard unit. When we are not helping Thyme we will be on guard for Seth's minions." Ryoga said as he checked the other generals with them.
"I don't have a choice?" Kalya asked, as she looked around her the violent shakes of all the heads told her she did not.
"Here you go!" Meringue said followed by Dolphin.
The five warriors left Thyme carrying his journals though Snow Pea wanted them left behind she knew he needed them to test his theories. They now had to play the waiting game. The warriors left behind went back updating all the maps and information that Ric and his party were able to retrieve from the outside world. They were however not concentrating on the tasks at hand, as they followed the group in their minds as they flew to Jusenkyo carrying Thyme in order to get there before dark.
(l(l(l)l)l)
Shampoo glared at Perfume as she shoved her into the holding cell and slammed the door shut and locked it behind her. The smile on Perfume's face showed her gloating at Shampoo's predicament. Shampoo also knew that Perfume was still angry at being beaten by Shampoo when the purple haired Amazon beat her in the second tournament she had won when she was eighteen.
Shampoo watched as Perfume closed the door for the one-foot square barred window in the door leaving her in almost total darkness. The only light in the cell came from the single barred window. She looked out the window and saw the sun had moved its position. She frowned as it was several hours until nightfall and she was sure her great grandmother would not come until then.
As she looked out the window, her eyes adjusted to the slowly dimming light she jumped to the window when a movement in the sky going away from the village caught her eyes. She saw a shimmer of silver and gold then spotted an iridescent green shine. As she watched, she noticed there were five people flying toward...Jusenkyo!
She kept watching as her eyes began to notice some details she smiled evilly as she realized one of the five was the unwanted intended she was saddled with. She prayed silently that Mousse fell into a permanent spring of something horrible like a fly or slug. She watched as they disappeared into the distance. When they were gone from her sight, she jumped down and sat down on the single cot. As she looked around the room she noticed a small table and two chairs she assumed was for the elders when they came to 'talk'. There was nothing else, which was worth looking at so she just sat on the cot her back against the wall and stared at the door.
She sat on the cot and leaned her back against the wall. She crossed her legs and took a lotus position. She decided to meditate on a way out of her predicament with that stupid blind idiot. As she thought of Mousse, she grew angrier at his beating her. He had never been able to do that before his eyesight prevented his ability to beat her. She wondered what happened why he was able to take her down so quickly!? As she thought, her anger kept her from truly seeing the solution.
She finally gave up trying to figure out what had changed. She stretched out on the cot facing the cell's only window. She put her hands behind her head and watched as the clouds moved slowly across the sky as if following the sun. Her beautiful face was misshapen into an ugly enraged scowl. She would not marry Mousse she hated him! He was only good for a good laugh at his expense. She would not be the laughing stock of the village by becoming his wife.
(l(l(l)l)l)
The sound of the keys rattling and unlocking the door woke Shampoo from her slumber. She jumped to her feet and faced the door. She gave a quick look out the window and saw it was nighttime. As she waited for the heavy door to open, she ran her fingers through her hair to straighten it out. She stood stoic with no emotion as the door opened. She frowned when it was not her great grandmother but Rouge, Jasmine and Thorn that entered the cell.
"=Greetings warrior. The council has decided that we will handle your un-warrior like behavior. Jasmine and Thorn are here as they witnessed your attack on Mousse and his subsequence defeat of you=." Rouge said as she glared at Shampoo.
"=I do not accept Mousse as my Airen! He is damaged and a nuisance that should have been banished years ago! It was not an official marriage challenge so I am not obligated to accept his defeating me as such=!" She hated admitting the blind boy beat her but she knew if she was to break the limbo she was in she had to be honest and keep her pride to a minimum.
"=Very eloquent young warrior _except_ you are here for going against council edict which _forbids_ all warriors from challenging the Isis Warriors. As for Mousse _you_ alone are responsible for your marriage to him. You were the one that _attacked_ him without provocation and in front of three elders. You lost and he used the laws to lock you into the limbo you now find yourself=!" Thorn spoke as she put a hand on Jasmine's shoulder knowing the girl would not accept anything she said.
"=I am the best warrior of my generation! I should be the new Isis! I should at least be one of her generals=!" Shampoo growled as she tried hard not to shout and get hysterical as she knew if she did she would lose.
"=So you have been saying. You say you would kill the new Isis Warrior to claim her status even though you will not have her powers since the Elf/Isis Warrior spring is now empty of their souls as they now reside in Kalya=?" Jasmine asked as she glared at the purple haired Amazon.
"=What? Yes I am the best and can defeat Seth without the powers of Isis=!" The three elders raised an eyebrow at her arrogance then sighed as they bred that arrogance in their warriors.
"=I can still jump into the spring and get some of their magic. So I do not see the problem! I can fight against this evil better then she ever could=!" Shampoo continued as she read disbelief and frustration in their faces.
"=You are wrong child. If you try to force yourself on Isis she will fix it so you _do not_ leave the spring alive! Kalya is under her protection and the goddess considers her as her daughter as the god Aker considers her as his daughter as well. Do you understand what would happen if you killed Kalya for a role you are not qualified for=?" Rouge asked as she was tired of this and planned to put a stop to it in the next council meeting.
"=I don't...=!" Shampoo started to tell them she did not care when her mind became flooded with the images of her and her people and the tribes of Jusendo laid waste.
The images moved to the world as if she flew over the destruction. People of all ages, shapes, and sizes were dead and laid in pools of mingled blood. As she followed the carnage, she found in the famed palace of India the Taj Mah Hall that the bodies lead to its door. The reflection pool in front of it was red with blood. As the images moved her into the building, she was placed before Seth.
She licked her lips, as he was strong, very handsome, and very desirable. Until she noticed, he was torturing a small child in front of her mother. The mother tried to go to him and stop him but his animal head minions held her in place to force her to watch. Shampoo tried to pull free her sword and attack but she could not she was held immobile a prisoner forced to watch as well. Shampoo shook her head to wake herself from this horror before her.
"=If I kill the Isis Warrior I kill the world=." She whispered as she stared at the three elders as they nodded.
"=Yes child. Isis is choosing her warriors and she has chosen the two Amazons she wanted. If we alter her choices she pulls her warriors to her and allows Seth to have this planet and its multitude of people for his own playthings=." Rouge answered the young warrior before her.
"=The goddess has chosen two Amazons=?" Shampoo asked as her head snapped up to glare at the elders.
"=Yes the second could have been you Shampoo but you had to play your little games and trick other warriors into breaking the council's edict. She chose both of my great great grandchildren=." Jasmine told Shampoo but noticed only her last statement registered with the young warrior.
"=Dolphin and Mousse! Dolphin is not even a real Amazon! She is half Phoenix=!" Shampoo snarled as that was how the tribe considered her since she received her curse.
"=I see so when her curse helps you she is an Amazon but when you want what she has she is Phoenix=." They all looked to the open cell door and found Lily standing there with a mask of rage on her face.