First attempt at fanfiction.
Total. Fail.
Anyway, I'm keeping this around to remind me of how I started as a writer. I hope you can see how I've grown since.
The Prophecy of the Four Horsemen
By Lord Dragon Claw
This is a work of fanart (or fanfiction, or whatever). I have not made any money off of this, and I don't plan on it either. I have only $250 to my name, so you lawsuit mongers better look elsewhere.
"Ranma ½" and all of its related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. "The Wheel of Time" series and all of its related characters are property of Robert Jordan. "The Elenium" series and all of its related characters are property of David Eddings. All other characters and concepts belong to me. This is a cross-over between my story, titled "Jho-Phi," "Ranma ½," "the Wheel of Time," and "the Elenium."
The "Prophecy of the Four Horsemen" was devised solely for the purpose of this cross-over. It does not actually exist in the story of Jho-Phi.
This cross-over was spawned from the idea of what might happen if Ranma, Ukyou, Ryouga, and Akane were dumped into the story of Jho-Phi, and was developed from there. The character Strogan Vaaren was created for the purpose of tying "the Wheel of Time" to the fanfiction. The same can be said for Galedradha, the Aiel Spear Maiden turned Wise One. The idea of using Sir Sparhawk from "the Elenium" came to me in the middle of writing the prologue.
Key:
"Speech."
#Thought.#
""Japanese.""
"+Styric.+" (used to cast Styrician magic)
":Mandarin or other specified language.:"
"-Telepathy.-"
--Mind-linked Telepathy.--
"&Telecommunicator, television, telephone, etc.&"
Prologue
Haven't you ever wondered if everything you know happened to be a lie? Do you not feel that there is something controlling your future? Do you not longingly wish that magic was real? Or dragons?
Thousands of years ago, war waged across the face of a small blue and green planet simply called "Earth." On all sides, heavy losses were incurred. There were several factions of humans who wished to rule the planet, and took it upon themselves to wipe out all dragons and other forms of "demonic" life. There were several factions of dragons who wished to retaliate against the humans – with a mass-extinction of all human life. Even so, there were some humans and some dragons who wished to coexist peacefully.
The Avys Kræer, the first 12 dragons who graced the skies of Earth, were troubled by this development. One of them was very angry at humanity, and wished to eliminate them, but the other 11 chose instead to escape with those dragons and humans who wished nothing but peace to the planet "Mige," which existed on the other side of dimensional anomalies such as the Bermudan Warp Hole. Shortly after, the one who tried to wage war against humanity quickly fell in combat.
Before leaving, the remaining Avys Kræer set into motion an enchantment on Earth. All but one of the Avys Kræer died in casting it.
Earth became Cursed. Magic was suppressed. Records were changed constantly. Memories were erased and human minds became forgetful. Matters of the spirit were forgotten. Lifespans were cut short. Vampires were killed in the spreading of the Curse. Lancanthropists (people able to change into other forms under the influence of the moon, such as werewolves) could no longer transform. Those with gifts in terms of mental power had their abilities stunted.
All records and testaments to the existence of dragons were changed, and all skeletons of dragons were changed to resemble the fossilized remnants of the "terrible lizards" who had once walked the face of the planet millions of years previously.
However, not everything was cancelled out; two energies were not messed with: they were later named "chi" and "ki." Chi is emotional energies, and the Curse could not mess with one's emotions. Ki is an energy that comes from the part of the spirit which connects it with the body. Thoroughly depleting one's ki is lethal, so the Curse was designed to not mess with ki. Also, magical potions could still work, if anyone could remember how to mix them.
As it so happens, an area in China was still not completely affected by the Curse of Earth. Three tribes of people continued to practice some forms of magic, partially because the leader of one was a demi-god, and because they all were situated near some Cursed Springs called Jusenkyou.
Regardless, the rest of the Universe continued on, with wars waged using entire star systems as battlegrounds, until the Universe, being as dimensionally unstable as it was, began to die. Many of the inhabitants of the Universe, which had been named A-1 by physicists, began to flee to another Universe, the same one in which Mige actually existed. This Universe was named A-7.
Tens of thousands of years passed, with thousands of wars fought, including the infamous Great Apocalyptic War mentioned in many prophecies. However, in other prophecies another war, even more devastating than the GAW, was predicted to occur, with the very ability to exist at stake. This war is referred to as the "War Between the Song and the Silence." It is also called the "War Between the True Song and the Silencebringer," as well as the "War Against the Silencebringer."
There is another prophecy which states that the True Song will lose the War unless all Four Horsemen are gathered against the Silencebringer…
Chapter 1: Genma is a Coward
"So wait, you haven't deciphered the whole prophecy yet?" Said a brown-haired man into the communicator which was part of his computer located in his spinal cord. He scratched the top of his scalp, relieving himself of the itch in his short-cropped hair.
"&Nope. Sorry, Udahr.&" replied the communicator. "&But I do know who the first Horseman is.&"
Udahr adjusted his glasses after hearing this tidbit of knowledge from his friend over the communicator's speakers, located on the tips of the frames of his glasses, right behind his ears. Udahr closed his brown eyes and sighed. "Kenrish, who is it?"
"&I'll read you the first part of the prophecy and see if you can guess.&" replied the other man.
"Fine. Let's hear it."
"&Alright, this is it: 'The Song of Life will be Silenced unless the Four Horsemen can be gathered. The First Horseman is of the Forest, and is the Harbringer to the Destruction of Civilizations. Lightning is his Herald and Battle is his Servant and his Life.' Figured it out yet?&"
"Of the Forest? That's more than a little confusing… wait. I think I've got it. That phrase, 'of the Forest' means 'wooden' doesn't it?"
"&Yes, it does.&" Udahr's face became a mask of smugness as he appreciated the irony.
"Heh, it's Troi, isn't it?"
"&Yeah. Convenient, huh?&" Udahr chuckled at this. He knew of the legendary city of Troy and the Wooden Horse which caused its destruction. He knew that Troi was named for the Horse, and lived up to his name-sake; therefore he fit the idea of being "the Harbringer of the Destruction of Civilations." Udahr also remembered Troi claiming that his "Ultimate Attack" had been named "the Lighning Flash Blade," hence "Lighning" being his "Herald." And since Troi had also accumulated the title of "Battlelord," the last descriptor removed all doubt as to who the First Horseman was.
"So Ken, do you have any more of it deciphered?"
"&Yes, but I am confused by it…&"
Udahr frowned. #Of course it's never easy.# He sighed. "Okay, well let me hear it."
"&Alright: 'The Second is the Wild Horse, who is Twice-Blessed of Chaos. He will be Cursed, but the Fight is always his. He will Hail from up the River, and will be Respected of Honor.' I have no idea on where to start looking… also, as for the rest of the prophecy, I have only the following phrase deciphered: 'The Third Horseman is a Defender.' And that's it.&"
Udahr was puzzled, and began to pace inside his starship, the Bloodfist. #Doesn't any reference to 'the River' mean time-travel? Hmm… I may need to get my hands on the Enigmâsian "Earth Records."#
"I think I know where to start looking. You just concentrate on deciphering the scroll. Also, I'm sure Lahlign wants you to spend time with her…"
"&Heh, I know. Well, I'll see you around, Udahr. You know where to find me!&" And with that, the transmission ended. Udahr sighed again. It would be a long day just to get inside the Enigmâs Borders as their Immigration standards had just become more strict due to smuggling activity.
In a mountainous area, a man and a woman were hiking at a leisurely pace. The man's name was Dran delBlemti Ventor-Kyze. He had shoulder-length red hair, and blue eyes. Under his sea-green shirt and black pants was tight-fitting body armor. He also wore a black leather jacket and black boots that went halfway to his knees. On his belt was a pouch, and two daggers. If there was anyone to observe Dran, they would have noticed that one of the daggers was light blue, and the other was blood-red. The hypothetical observer would also notice that the cut and style of Dran's clothing identified Dran as being from Blimmi.
The woman's name was Bethani delBlemti and she was Dran's wife. Though she didn't look a day over 25 years old, her silver hair reached her waist. She also had red-colored irises in her eyes and a heart-shaped face. Her boots were dark brown, her pants were a yellow-green, and her collared, long-sleeved blouse was orange. Over her blouse was a brown leather vest. Her belt held, at her left side, a high-quality broadsword and on the buckle of the belt was a "Z" that had been stylized to look like an hourglass. If someone were to see her, they would instantly notice two things: that her clothing was of Shénan design, marking her as a citizen of Shén-Dorrhaun and because her… endowments bounced as she moved, she didn't wear a bra.
"Beth, explain to me why we're here on Arken, and why your father wants us to help explore some old ruins," said Dran.
Bethani eyed Dran for all of a second. "You weren't informed?"
"Nope. Seems like Troi enjoys playing mind games with me..."
"My daddy enjoys playing mind games with everyone." Dran laughed at that. Bethani knew what kind of sense of humor her husband had, even if they had been married only seven months. She was still not used to having a last name, especially since neither of her parents had last names.
"So why are we here again?"
"Daddy said that the previous archeologists died in an explosion of energy. The amount of energy was relatively low, but it still killed them all. Also, the writing on the walls has not yet been translated. I had you come with me because you're good at translation, and I think that your daggers might help us with any other traps that were left."
"Wait a minute! If that's what I'm going to do, I'm going to have to charge Troi for my services. I am 'Double Dagger' Dran, and Twin Daggers do not work for cheap."
Bethani got a mischievous little grin, and stepped in front of Dran, facing him and stopping him in his tracks. She giggled. "How about if I reward you on my father's behalf?" She emphasized the word "reward" by swaying her hips.
Dran smirked and chuckled. "Certainly. I'll charge you one night per day we're stuck out here."
Bethani smiled as they continued to walk towards the buried temple.
The instant he saw him, Udahr started sizing up the man in black darrakite armor. #He IS as strong as they say.#
"Hmm…" the man in black armor began, as he adjusted his orange cape with a large dragon emblazoned on it's center. "… Judging from the appearance of your robe, and your green camouflage pants, and orange camouflage shirt, I'd have to say that you were Udahr Jayson Greigh."
"That is who I am. Judging from the Royal Crest of the Dragon on your cape, your armor design, and the black glove on your left hand with the word 'Darkmaster' stitched into the palm of it, I'd have to say that you are Prince Dragon Dagger of the Enigmâs Empire?" Udahr paused respectfully as the man in armor lifted his face guard revealing blue eyes and dirty-blonde, mid-length hair.
"You are correct, Interrogator Udahr." Udahr stiffened. Dragon Dagger laughed. "We heard quite a bit of interesting information about you, Udahr. It is no secret to us that you became a member of TID in the Dragonoidian Covert Network."
Udahr blinked. "You knew?"
"Yes. Lance told me how you wiped the floor with him. I find it funny that someone was able to do that. So, what brings you here, Interro…"
"Udahr is just fine." Udahr interrupted.
"Ah, well what information are you looking for?"
"I need to see your records from Earth, such as uncorrupted police records, birth records, arrest warrants, and other such."
"Ah, well I can get you passage to the Great Library here on Mige. Luckily, I found you here at the space port." He paused. "Mind telling me why you want to look at the cursed planet of old?"
"I found a prophecy about the War Against the Silencebringer… I need the information to give us a chance of winning."
"Odd, that you need obscure information from the past."
"Well, I don't know if I am going to get the needed information from these records, but it was as good a place to start as any."
"Strange. I wonder what this room was used for," said Bethani.
It was a rather simple room with only one visible entrance. It had a column that rose from the floor in the middle of the room, but wasn't tall enough to reach the ceiling. In fact, Bethani was taller than the column. There was no writing on the walls in this room except for some exactly opposite of the doorway. Also, the column was covered in several hundred symbols.
"I'm not sure what it was used for," replied Dran. "All I know is that this happens to be where the explosion originated. In fact, I think that the column is the exact epicenter of the blast."
"I suggest examining the pillar later. The writing on that wall seems to be important."
"Hmmm…" Dran was looking at the writing, and after some time he repeated the first line said in Common Human. "'The Song of Life will be Silenced unless the Four Horsemen can be gathered.' Seems to be a prophecy of some sort. Not only is it in an ancient language, but they apparently ciphered it as well."
"Wow. You deciphered it in five minutes! What does the rest of it say?"
"Well, the other four parts each use a different cipher from the first one. I can't read most of it, but I did figure out the cipher for the second to last part."
"And?"
"'The Third Horseman is a Defender. He shall wield His Half alongside His Desert Mare and Her Half, and together They will confuse all Mages. They shall come from the Tower of Pitch, and a Three-Fold Land.'"
"'…confuse all Mages'? Heh, well, I'm already confused."
Dran smiled at Bethani, then turned back to the wall. "I think I may have figured out the final part: 'The Fourth shall be the Winged Horse. He shall be a Troll-Killer and a Speaker of Magic. His Sword shall always Strike True, and He shall command the Crystal Rose.' Hmmm… also very confusing."
"You said it."
"Good morning, High Prince!" greeted the headmistress of the Library.
"Good morning, Keeper Veronica. Umm… do you mind telling me today's date?"
The middle-aged redhead raised an eyebrow. "May I inquire as to why?"
"Because I forgot." mumbled the Prince. Udahr simply raised his eyebrow while Veronica sweatdropped.
"Okay then," she began, blinking the surprise out of her green eyes. "Today is the third day of the thirteenth month, Kon Kallar in the year 32,035 AV."
"Thank you, Keeper Veronica."
"Anytime, High Prince."
Dragon Dagger took Udahr to one of the larger computer terminals in one of the backrooms of the Library.
"We have transferred all the data from the Earth Records onto this console, for easier sorting and searching purposes."
"Efficient." Udahr complimented as he sat down. "Well, let's start with the police records of missing persons."
"What do you mean this pillar is part of a transportation system!"
"That's what the symbols on it say," answered Dran. "Hmm… This one here says… Eastern Manetheren? Very interesting…"
"Could it be a teleporter?"
"No, I think it's a transdimensional beacon."
"Hmmm…" Bethani pulled out of her Æther presence a device, and booted it up. The device was rather small, and looked very similar to a Palmocom, or Palm-sized Computer, one of those devices which most bounty hunters now carry.
"Your Dimensional Residue Tracer?"
"Yes." Bethani's DRT began beeping, and the screen flashed on. "Strange, it leads to the dimension S-2."
"I thought that dimension was the kind of anomaly which does not allow access into it…"
"It is, but apparently we found a secret back door."
"Hmm… interesting!" Udahr exclaimed.
"What do you mean? What makes this one stand out more than the others?"
"Well, although I've had some trouble with searching for a 'Wild Horse,' I just found someone whose name is 'Wild Horse.'"
"And?"
"Well, look at how insane and difficult his life is up to the point he disappeared while in China…"
"Holy… that does say 'Seppuku Contract,' right?"
"Yup. I think that this one is the one I need. Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Erm… If you're going to call me by one of my titles, I'd prefer it if you called me High Prince or Prince Dragon Dagger."
"Fair enough. I'll see myself out now."
"I hope to see you again, Udahr. You're an interesting person."
"Same to you. May the Shadows scout your way…"
"… and protect you from harm. May the Darkness guide you safely back." Dragon Dagger completed the traditional farewell unique to the technologically advanced nation of the Enigmâs, which based most of its magic studies on Shadow magic.
Ranma knew something was up. He simply knew it. They were going to some weird training ground. Again. But this time, Genma promised that they were headed to Nerima in Japan afterwards, then sold Ranma for a sirloin steak and stole him back only yesterday. Genma was getting exited, even though he did his best to hide it. However, he didn't know that Ranma was more perceptive than Genma was led to believe. The way Genma had a slight smirk on his face, the way he held himself in a slightly more relaxed manner, everything about how the bald man was acting today seemed to indicate that he was happy. In Ranma's opinion, Genma was too happy about something or other.
Ranma knew that there was something weird waiting for him in Nerima, and he had a foreboding feeling about today…
Ranma also felt that there was another pair of eyes watching him and his father, but he had yet to locate the owner of those eyes. Genma was blissfully unaware of the eyes. Maybe that family he was sold to yesterday had sent someone to steal him back from Genma? Not likely. Who could it be? It couldn't be Ryouga who was tailing him – that boy is so lost that he couldn't even find the lot behind his house, much less follow the trail he and his father were leaving. Not knowing who it was that was following them like a shadow quickly grew irritating.
Something weird was going to happen today, and Ranma just knew it!
As they cleared the next rise, Genma grinned ear-to-ear. They had finally arrived at the Legendary Training Ground of Jusenkyou! He and Ranma rushed off to begin their training as some annoying man came running out of a nearby hut. Ranma realized that the pudgy man yelling at them was not the same as the thing which had been following them.
":Hey, don't do that! Get down from there before you fall in:" And then the Guide and caretaker of Jusenkyou realized #Oh, they might not know Mandarin!#
""Made! You not want fall in springs! Oi!"" #Why do they never listen?#
Galedradha of the Codarra clan wondered why the Wise Ones had summoned her. She was going to try to protect the Car'a'carn with her fellow sisters of the Far Dareis Mai – "The Spear Maidens" – when a gai'shain came and stopped her. Now he was leading her back to the camp in Rhuidean. Hopefully they weren't going to have her become a Wise One, like Aviendha, her friend, had to when the Wise Ones discovered she could Channel. But if they did, she would not resist.
#Hmmm… the boy is very perceptive. He sensed my presence, even though the fat one did not. He has talent.# Udahr watched as the Guide tried to keep his quarry from falling into the springs. #That Guide's Japanese hasn't improved one bit!# He stifled a laugh when the fat, bald man fell into the Spring of Drowned Panda. He could hear the youth taunting the idiot.
""Oi, oyajii! You must be getting old!""
""Ohhh, that Spring of Drowned Panda! All who fall in, become Panda!"" This finally caught Ranma's attention.
""Nani?"" Just then, a large, black and white blur burst from the water. #What the… ? He is a Panda! Uh oh!#
Too late. SPLASH!
Genma was about to retort and tell Ranma that he needed to be retrained when he growfed. #Growf? What?# Then he took a better look at himself. #Gah! I've become a panda!# Then he turned his attention to the annoying Chinese man.
""I try to warn you! This Spring of Drowned Girl! Now all who fall in, turn into Girl!""
""Ahhh! Breasts!"" Onna-Ranma screamed in horror.
Udahr nearly facefaulted, but caught himself on the tree branch he was perched on. #Strange, how that was the first coherent thing he said once transformed…# Udahr shook his head. By now the Guide was trying to explain about their curses. Udahr figured that now was as good a time as any to "kidnap" his quarry. He preformed the hand-seals for his Water and Fire Elements of his Geomancy…
Genma gave a yelp of pain when he suddenly was splashed with hot water which fell from the sky. He found that he had returned to his human form again, but Ranma had not. And the annoying man and Onna-Ranma were both startled by the sudden appearance of the hot water.
Onna-Ranma suddenly snapped out of her shock when she realized that the stalker had just exited the tree-line behind her. She quickly took a stance, and lost her balance when two pieces of her new anatomy bounced. She landed flat on her rear, but was facing the threat at least. She looked up to see someone who looked like an American, but his strange clothing was very different from anything she had seen or heard about. She was startled when the man began to speak in perfectly accented Japanese.
""Well, well, if we don't have a horrible father with his miserable son… daughter, then I must be blind!"" Onna-Ranma took this time to memorize the man's face, even though she was a little peeved at his remark of being Genma's daughter. She noticed that his brown eyes were the same shade of brown as his short-cropped hair… #Are the lenses of his glasses, GLOWING?#
Genma started sizing the man up and down and realized that the man had more than enough ki in him to re-enact Hiroshima. He quickly realized that this man was an accomplished martial artist, and if he could get him to train Ranma… # … my retirement would be assured!# Genma panicked at what the strange man did next. Onna-Ranma simply gawked.
Udahr narrowed his eyes on Genma, then pulled out a pen and a piece of parchment, upon which was some sort of legal document. ""Either I take your life right now, Genma, or you sign your… daughter's life away onto this contract. Which will it be?"" #As if I didn't already know.#
The Guide, all but forgotten, simply blinked as he tried to will his jaw back from it's current position on the ground in front of him, yet it remained slacked. #It's that guy from 16 years ago! And he doesn't look any older! How?#
Genma nervously snatched the pen, and signed his name in kanji on the dotted line. As if by magic (which it actually was, but Genma didn't know that), some sort of Western characters appeared below it. Then he realized that they were the romaji for his name, spelling out: S A O T O M E G E N M A. Then the contract suddenly rolled into a scroll and Udahr secreted it into his robe. Genma was splashed again, by cold water this time, as Udahr finished the Water Seals using a pair of his invisible Matternia Hands.
""Alright you Chicken-Panda, get running before I change my mind and slaughter you anyway!"
Genma needed no more encouragement.
":Nihao. Long time, no see, huh:" Udahr addressed the Guide. Onna-Ranma's face perplexed as she knew very little Mandarin. The Guide, on the other hand, had finally wrested his lower jaw away from the clutches of Gravity, if only for a moment.
":Uh, yeah… Why did you threaten him? Why haven't you aged! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN:"
":I was doing research. Besides, that idiot deserves a fate worse than death for what he did to his… son.:" Udahr turned to Onna-Ranma, and had two pairs of his Matternia hands do the required Seals.
Onna-Ranma stiffened as hot water hit her head. Then he shuddered as he realized that large amounts of water kept on appearing out of nowhere. He glanced up as soon as Udahr began talking in Japanese again… it was rather unsettling to hear some gaijin speaking perfect Nihongo.
""Well, Ranma, what are your thoughts on what's happening?""
""How the hell do you know my name?""
Udahr simply smiled. Ranma sweatdropped.
Strogan Vaaren was a simple farmer's boy who only wanted a simple farmer's life. But news was that the Dragon had been Reborn, and that a revolution had rocked the foundations of the White Tower. Though he was already 17, his parents feared for him and for his future.
Plus, his father had become alarmed yesterday when Strogan accidentally got himself with that axe trying to chop firewood. What had the three of them concerned though, was the fact that his body had healed when they got his trousers off to examine the wound. And his pants were still cut and blood-encrusted. Did that mean he could channel? #Oh, dear Creator no! I don't want the Reds after me!#
It was while he was tending the tomatoes in the field when a man in a black cloak with the hood pushed back showed up, riding a horse…
Sparhawk was finally home. After ten long years of exile to the Sun-baked, sand-blasted lands of Rendor, Sir Sparhawk was finally back in the kingdom of Elenia, and at the capital city, Cimmura, no less.
He wondered how much had changed since the late King Aldreas had banished him for some stupid reason or other… perhaps it really was that Aldreas didn't want his daughter Ehlana to fall in love with him.
Whatever the case, Sparhawk would be glad to see Kurik, his squire, again.
"Faran, don't you dare bite the guards at the city gates… you'll have to behave." His warhorse reluctantly grunted it's agreement.
In the Jusenkyou Guide's hut…
""So you've been stalking me for my entire life?"" asked Ranma.
""Pretty much."" replied Udahr. ""I come from the future, by the way.""
""Time-travel?"" Ranma remembered such a concept. He learned of it from a Super Famicom game that he was able to play during his short stay at a dojo in western China two years ago. Luckily, the Master of the Dojo had several boys, all of whom were intently focused on their respective TV screens. And luckily, they all knew Japanese as well.
""Yeah. The technology is not very common in my time, especially since its use is quite forbidden.""
""Then how… ?""
""I broke the law."" Udahr paused to take another bite of his ramen, which the Guide had so graciously provided. ""It was necessary to come and get you, as you are important in the future.""
""What? How am I important?""
""I'll tell you later.""
""So, umm… when did ya come from?"" That sounded cheesy, but it was the only way Onna-Ranma could think to say it.
""Hmm… what year is it, currently?""
""It currently 1994, late spring."" responded the Guide.
""That would make it be the year 8,801, according to the calendar I am used to."" Onna-Ranma gaped. ""And I came here from the year 31,562.""
""WOW!"" Onna-Ranma exclaimed. ""Am I going to live that long?""
""I think you failed to understand me.""
""Huh?""
""I came back in time to take you to my time.""
""Why?""
""Because, I can't very well train you to save people's lives while you are inhibited by Earth's inherent curse.""
""You mean…""
""Nope. That body changing curse is a completely different curse, and has no cure.""
""… dammit."" Smack! ""What'd ya do that for?""
""Until I deem you mature enough, you are not to speak any profanities. Period.""
Ranma just glared. When Udahr returned the glare, he suddenly felt very weak. He knew that Udahr could have his butt handed back to him whether he was in her male form or not. He quickly resorted to the one thing he could think of to get Udahr to stop glaring at him.
""Gomen…""
""Forgiven. Now, continuing, there is a curse that affects everyone born on this planet. It makes everyone forget, and shortens their lifespans. It makes it seem like dragons were only a fantasy. Basically, the Curse lies to everyone, and has been doing so for the past 9,000 years.""
Ranma perked up at this. He was sure that dragons were only myths and legends, even though he desperately wanted it otherwise. He had always respected the majesty and beauty that a dragon possessed, and was in awe of the powers dragons were known for in the myths and legends. And now he was hearing Udahr tell him that dragons existed? He became very interested.
""Besides, I must inform you of what is going to happen if you come with me. I'm giving you a choice: either come with me, or stay with your father.""
""Okaaay… why give me the choice?""
""Because, I want you to realize that you are the master of your own destiny. I want you to know, though, that although your destiny is yours to decide, a lot of innocent lives depend on your choice.""
""What? How?""
""If you come with me, about 2,000 people will die because you won't be there to save them.""
""…"" Ranma had a very worried expression on his face.
""But if you stay here, countless billions of innocent people will die in the future.""
Ranma passed out.
Onna-Ranma woke with a start when she was splashed with ice-cold water. ""Eeeek!""
""Sorry, you passed out."" Udahr helped Onna-Ranma back into her chair.
""Well, what ya said startled me.""
""Good. You need to understand exactly how dire the situation was for me to have to break the law and travel backwards in time.""
""I… I think I get it.""
""Well, there are other things which you do not know about.""
""Like what?""
""Well, if you stay here, you'll happen to have a rather large number of fiancées fighting over you. All because Genma doesn't care about your free will. Or about honor.""
Ranma was visibly pissed. He wanted to strangle that poor excuse for a human.
""Also, if you come with me, you'll learn so many different martial arts and other fighting styles that what your father taught you will seem like kindergarten to you.""
""Shut up."" Udahr was visibly surprised at this. ""You had me at the fact that dragons do exist earlier. I had nearly made up my mind when you gave me the potential casualty counts.""
Udahr was intrigued by this. #Hmmm… I wonder where he's going with this. I have no idea, but then again, he is twice blessed of Chaos.#
""But the fact that my father has done so many dishonorable acts, and you brought that back to the surface, though I have been trying to deny it my whole life, has settled it. I'm coming with you. There was no need to try to temp me with more martial arts styles.""
Udahr chuckled. ""I must say, that was an unexpected reaction. But I wasn't trying to tempt you. I was informing you of the truth.""
""Gomen… I assumed you were acting like…""
Udahr cut him off ""… like Genma? I understand why you would assume such. He's all you knew of person-to-person relations before this, wasn't he?""
""Yeah. Well, when are we gunna go?""
""In a bit. Oh, you'll want to know that Japanese isn't the dominant language where we will be staying.""
""Oh, what language then?""
""You call it English.""
Ranma just stared dumbly at Udahr.
""To start your training though, I'll have you be staying with some who still speak Japanese. They will teach you many useful skills, as well as the culture of the different nations. Oh yeah, I am from the Neo Dragonoidia Empire, a nation primarily populated by dragons.""
Ranma smiled ear to ear at this.
End Chapter One.