Wow. Even my disclaimers back then were pathetic.

The Prophecy of the Four Horsemen

By Lord Dragon Claw

Chapter 2 Part A

You obviously read the last disclaimer, correct? I have only one change to make to it. I had to buy some gasoline. Now I have even less money to my name.

Key:

"Speech."

#Thought.#

""Japanese.""

"+Styric.+" (used to cast Styrician magic)

":Mandarin or other specified language.:"

"-Telepathy.-"

--Mind-linked Telepathy.--

"&Telecommunicator, television, telephone, computer screen, etc.&"

Oh, and a few notes on a race known as Pherros: A Pherro ("fair-row") has the appearance of a regular human, however, they can only breed with other Pherros. They are masters of pheromones, and many of their pheromones produce reactions other than just emotional responses. Some of their pheromones are flammable while others have a similar effect to liquid nitrogen. Also, Pherros have long lifespans. After they become of mating age (100 years old) they then are able to mate when in heat. This period of heat lasts for 30 years, with 120 year gaps in between each period. All Pherros are in heat at the same time, unless they are younger than 100 years old.

Also, a friend of mine was concerned that Udahr might be a Mary Sue. He isn't; I have many other characters who are more powerful, faster, stronger, more determined to win, and/or more clever than he is. But contrast that to someone like Genma... Yeah. Genma is way out of his league.

Okay. I'm done ranting… for now.

Chapter 2: Spring of Drowned Leopard

"Kennnnnn?" a throaty growl emanated throughout the compound which functioned as the home of Kenrish mo'Ghall and his wife, but was also shared with the Necrajin, a relatively large band of necromancers who have an eternal contract and psychic bond with one another, which they all willingly submitted to. Kenrish recognized the voice as belonging to Deadfire; perpetually smug and obsessed with the various types of dragons' breaths, Kenrish had easily befriended the half-human, half-dragon necromancer when they first met. "Keeeennnnrrriiiiiiissssshhhhh?"

#I wonder what that pyromaniac wants now?# The black-haired male Pherro turned to the green-haired female Pherro conducting her own studies at her work area behind him. "Lahlign, could you please open the door for Deadfire? I don't want him kicking it down... again."

Lahlign ge'Rouh was significantly shorter than Kenrish, and less skilled in the talents which all the Pherro have than Kenrish was, but she was pretty powerful in her own right. And where Kenrish was a powerful empath, she was a formidable psychic. Without moving or otherwise acknowledging her husband's request, she used what telekinetic powers she had to press the entry button which was installed next to the door. It quickly opened with a faint ZHHHHHHD! Kenrish turned to the door to see Deadfire blink, then moved his right leg from the snap-kick position it was in down to where his foot was firmly planted on the floor. The whole time, Kenrish's empathic abilities notifying him that Deadfire's usual smugness didn't lessen by a hair. Kenrish had also taken to finding out every last gesture that Deadfire outwardly made and tried to connect it to Deadfire's other emotions. "What do you want, you flaming cadaver?"

The half-dragon smirked, showing more of his razor-sharp teeth than the two oversized "tusks" which were set in his lower jaw. Like always, Deadfire took Kenrish's name-calling in stride, as it was a personal game between them. Amongst his blue mane of hair, Deadfire's left ear twitched in amusement. "Well, Mr. Mc'Skunk, I think I have information about the rest of the translation for that prophecy you found." Almost impossibly, Deadfire's deadly grin grew wider as Kenrish's eyes suddenly looked like the following but upside-down: U U. Deadfire's wings twitched slightly in satisfaction, as Lahlign suddenly became interested in the conversation and stopped her experiments.

"Well?" asked Kenrish.

"First of all, let me tell you how I came across this information."

"Sounds complicated," commented Lahlign. Left ear twitch.

"It was. Now, one of Prince Dragon Dagger's messengers, you know the ones with the blue and yellow armor, caught me when I was raiding those graveyards on Han-Han. He relayed to me a message from the High Prince."

Kenrish blinked. "Why would he have any information of that kind?"

"Well, he got it from Roddy Onk."

"Hmm… so Roddy'll help us find the other two Horsemen?"

"Nope. Roddy got his information from Dran."

"Huh?" both Kenrish and Lahlign said in unison. Deadfire's nose flared slightly, coinciding with the flare of his smugness.

"Yup. 'Double Dagger' Dran. He's the one who translated it. He couldn't read about the first two Horsemen, but the last message he gave Roddy was that he had found the Third, and Bethani is locating the Forth."

"Interesting… so what does the whole prophecy say?"

"'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. 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. 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. 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.'"

"'Three-Fold Land?' 'Crystal Rose?' What do those mean?"

"I haven't the faintest idea," Deadfire deadpanned. His two Pherro friends face-faulted (try saying that ten times fast). Nose flare and left ear twitch.

Well, Sparhawk could say to himself that he was having fun. #If you consider trying to untie this plot of Primate Annias's so that he may be eliminated as fun, anyway. Hmm… yeah, it's fun.# In his week back home in Cimmura, Sparhawk tried to follow Krager (one of Martel's henchmen; curse that Martel!) but was interrupted by one of the idiotic footmen who hung around the Church Knights (who were nowhere near as competent as any of the other orders of knights), visited the disguised Pandion Knight's in-city headquarters (looked like an inn), visited the castle where his Queen was locked in crystal to preserve her life and had to force Annias to re-light the candles in the room so that she wouldn't just sit in the dark, and had his friend the Earl of Lenda keep the candles alight.

Then, he went and visited the Pandion chapterhouse, saw the "Little Mother" Sephrenia, went to a den of thieves, found Krager again (without being noticed), and followed him into a brothel. There, he overheard Krager relay a plot to ruin the name of the Pandions to the Baron Harparin for him to relay to Annias. #Martel and Annias are obviously working together.#

At least he had gotten to see his squire Kurik, his good fellow Pandion Kalten, and the Preceptor Vanion. Plus he made allies with Talen, a clever pickpocket, and with Talen's boss, Platime.

#Martel's men are going to pose as Pandions and attack Count Radun's castle in Arcium? Well, it looks like the real Knights will have to get there first.# "Talen, put those coins back in my pocket."

"Okay…."

"ALL of them."

"Alright, alright! They're back!"

"Good boy."

Strogan liked training at the Black Tower, though he didn't trust the M'Hael. Anyway, he had been sent to Cairhien by order of the Dragon Reborn. He was to inspect the rubble which came from an explosion inside the Sun Palace. Apparently, a Forsaken had attacked the Lord Dragon. Strogan, just recently raised to full-fledged Asha'man, was very good at tracking people who could channel via the residue the One Power left behind. Although he still couldn't sense saidar, he could still feel the residue after the person was done channeling.

Strogan decided against Skimming the whole way there. He wanted to see the city from the outside, so he Skimmed to about one league outside the city. After walking a few spans, his black cloak waving in the wind, he became aware that eyes were watching him. He quickly scanned the trees, the road, the sky, everywhere for where the eyes were. But he couldn't see their owner. He began to get nervous. Then he felt something cold... it was preventing him from channeling! He was shielded! But by who? He tried to punch through the shield, and he tried to wriggle his way to a weakpoint, but to no avail. The shield, though obviously tied off, was like rushing water - impossible to punch and impossible to fight the current to find the weakpoint, if there was one.

Then Strogan saw him as he stepped out from behind a tree. Strogan committed the man's face and clothing to memory. Blue eyes. Red hair which reached his shoulders. Black pants. Black leather jacket. Sea-green shirt. Black boots which reached his knees. Black belt pouch. Two empty dagger sheathes. And he was holding two daggers, one sky-blue and the other blood-red, in his right hand. Somehow, Strogan knew that the daggers were what created the shield on him... well, maybe the blue one. #But how? Are they ter'angreal?# Strogan drew his sword. The other man put his blue dagger in his left hand.

"So you think you can beat me without the use of the One Power?" asked the strange man.

"What other choice do I have?"

"You can relax, put your sword away, and stop trying to channel."

"Why should I?"

"Because, if I didn't stop you, you very well could have endangered the Lord Dragon."

"What?" Strogan was thoroughly confused. #How would serving the Lord Dragon endanger the Dragon Reborn?#

"You've heard of the Pattern, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"You don't belong in it."

"Huh?"

"You are an anomaly. You don't belong in the Pattern, and your existence in it endangers it. With you around, it is more likely that the Lord Dragon will loose Tarmon Gai'don. Without you, he has a higher chance of success."

"What does my being an 'anomaly' have anything to do with the Lord Dragon?"

"You are like unto the Lord Dragon. You are like a ta'veren. You pull the Pattern in the direction you wish it to go, even subconsciously. However, unlike a ta'veren, the Pattern cannot restrict you. In other words, the Pattern will snag and tear on you and you will cause things to go awry. And, you are not endangering just the Lord Dragon, but your whole world."

"What should I do? Should I simply die?"

"Nope. You are important, but not here. You are needed where I come from."

"Wait, isn't the One Power crucial to the Pattern?"

"Yes, but it is also separate from it. Certainly, the One Power - saidin and saidar - rotate the Wheel of Time as it creates the Pattern, and it is almost exclusive to your world, but you'll still be able to channel where I come from without any adverse effects. Besides, when you channel anywhere but on your world, the Taint on saidin will be unable to affect you."

"Hmm... okay." Strogan sheathed his sword. "My name is Strogan Vaaren, Asha'man."

The man smiled. "For obvious reasons, I am called 'Double-Dagger' Dran," Dran said as he sheathed his daggers and the shield over Strogan dissappeared. "However, my full name is Dran del'Blemti Ventor-Kyze, Twin Dagger."

"What's a 'Twin Dagger?'"

"It's what happens when a Chill Dagger becomes a Blood Dagger or a Blood Dagger becomes a Chill Dagger. Blood Daggers and Chill Daggers are mercenaries."

"Oh. Well, when do we leave?"

"In a little while. First, we need to go and find a very specific Aiel woman."

"Why?"

"Because she is the exact same kind of anomaly that you are. She'll need to come with us or else the Dragon Reborn will lose anyway."

Ranma was astonished. ""You mean to say that you know every form of martial arts which my world currently has?""

Udahr looked amused. ""Yeah. Except that I don't know everything about the Saotome School of Anything-Goes. That's why we're waiting here, in the so-called Phoenix Tribe territory.""

""What happened to them? This place seems so empty.""

""Oh, their leader claimed to be a God and such. His claim was false though. After getting rid of that false God for good, most of the people went into a crazed frenzy and tried to kill me. I got to them first though.""

""Are there any survivors?""

""Just six of them. They wouldn't dare attack me again. I think they're hiding from the Musk and Amazons now though.""

""Only six!"" Ranma was appalled. How could this man talk so casually of exterminating nearly a whole tribe?

Udahr noticed Ranma's reaction. ""So you think I'm evil now? Just shut up and keep listening."" Ranma sat back down. ""My home was burned to dust when I was five. My parents? Both dead. Most of the rest of the city? In turmoil due to a riot. Why?""

Ranma gaped. He didn't know how to answer.

""I have been searching and I have found a company which all evidence points to as the cause. I still haven't found out why or precisely who was responsible, but that company has caused more deaths than I ever have. Killing a bunch of false Phoenixes doesn't even begin to compare to the carnage I've seen.""

""So... why did you have to kill so many?""

""They would have caused World War III, but the history books I read say that that war will happen in the year 2052, not 1991. I had to preserve the timeline, else who knows what may happen? Though I am merciful. I didn't kill all of them. Besides, I hate false Gods.""

""So why are we just waiting here?""

""Because your poor excuse of a father is going to unwittingly teach me everything he knows about fighting.""

Two hours later...

A panda came rampaging up the slope of Phoenix Mountain. He had a backpack on his back. He was Saotome Genma. Udahr spotted him long before he even reached the base of the mountain. Once the overweight waste of space made it to the rather large ledge where Udahr and Ranma were, he pulled out a thermos and changed into his human form with some hot water.

""I have come to take my son back!""

Udahr yawned, angering the bald, bespectacled man. ""Baka. I'd love to see you try.""

Genma jumped into the air, spinning a bit for a powerful backhand. Blocked by Udahr's right fist. Using Udahr's arm to push off from, Genma went for a roundhouse kick to the abdomen. Blocked by left palm. Left jab blocked by right palm. Right knee blocked by left fist. So on and so forth.

Ranma noticed that Udahr had stopped paying attention to Genma. #So he's blocking by instinct alone? Amazing!#

Udahr was simply counting the trees he could see in the distance while his instincts helped him block the obese man's attacks. After two minutes, Genma got in the way of Udahr's view, panting from exertion. Only then did Udahr realize that Genma had stopped attacking.

""That's it! SAOTOME SCHOOL SECRET TECHNIQUE: UMISENKEN!"" With that, Genma pulled a sheet out from under his shirt and disappeared.

Ranma was astonished. #Secret Technique? He never taught me those... grrr! He had so many lies!#

Pulling out a blank cloth scroll, Udahr simply said, ""It's about time you reveal something worth my effort."" Unrolling the scroll, he grinned. Unknown to Ranma and Genma, Udahr had gone to a school of war which specialized in ki attacks. Also, neither of them knew that Udahr could copy virtually any ki technique due to his training. ""UMISENKEN!"" With that, Udahr pulled the scroll over his head and also disappeared.

Ranma was wondering what would happen next. Suddenly, something hit the bolder off to the left with a sickening thud. Genma, covered by a white sheet, stood up and pulled the sheet off of him. Udahr also reappeared near Ranma as he was rolling up the scroll.

Genma was furious. #He mimicked my technique so easily? Let's see how he likes my wind blades!#

Udahr made no effort to dodge. He simply used his Wind Geomancy to disrupt the ki-generated wind blades, causing them to dissipate harmlessly. Udahr was still surprised anyway. ""I had no idea that you could do that with ki. Let me try!""

Genma nearly threw out his back avoiding the seven consecutive wind blade pairs. #What the hell! Grrr... I'll try something else!#

The rest of the battle continued with Genma desperately trying to catch Udahr off-guard with another one of his Secret Techniques, Udahr copying it, and then countering it until Genma had taught him all of his Secret Techniques. Finally, he was nearly exhausted. Udahr looked disappointed.

""That's it? Oh well. Sleep."" and with that, Udahr hit a pressure point on the bridge of Genma's nose, and the fat moron passed out. ""Okay, Ranma. We're leaving for my time now.""

Ranma smiled.

About two days after Udahr left with that boy who was now cursed to become a girl with cold water, another odd event happened that the Guide at Jusenkyou will never forget. While tending to his garden, he heard a splash from one of the springs. #What? Again? So soon? I never get a break.# He walked around his hut towards the springs in time to see a leopard crawl out of one of the springs. The Guide froze. #Spring of Drowned Leopard. Hopefully, whatever fell in won't be dangerous or at least won't try to kill me when I change it back.# He always hated it when that happened.

Then, the leopard turned around and reached into the spring with its maw. It pulled out a traveler's pack. The Guide sighed a sigh of relief. #Oh good. It was a human who fell in.#

The leopard, on the other hand, wasn't so relieved. #Oh great. I've been turned into a beast. Hmm... a leopard? Well, at least I won't be totally helpless.# It began to growl. The Guide, who was edging towards the leopard in the least threatening manner possible, froze again, trying to decide whether to advance or retreat. Meanwhile, the leopard kept getting angrier. #Saotome Ranma... look at what you've done to me!# Suddenly, a thought crossed its mind. #Wait! What if Ranma also got turned into something too. If he became another leopard, then no problem. If he became a prey item, it would be dishonorable to attack him.# Suddenly, the leopard noticed the Guide. It cocked its head, then relaxed and layed on its side, its back facing the Guide. #There. Now he should not be afraid to get too close to me.# The Guide did indeed notice the guesture.

The Guide walked closer, then stopped about a meter away. The leopard looked up at him. ":Hey, do you understand me:" No response. ""You understand now?"" The leopard nodded. ""You fall into Spring of Drowned Leopard; only one of many cursed springs here at Jusenkyou, each with own tragic story. All who fall into that spring turn into leopard. Wait here. I get something for change you back."" The leopard nodded, while raising an eyebrow at the guide's bad Japanese. The Guide quickly walked into his hut. He returned with a teakettle. ""Hot water change you back."" He began pouring water on the big cat, changing it to the form of a boy.

#Ow! That's hot! Hey! I'm me again! And... I'm naked?# He quickly covered himself. Also, he was wrong. He wasn't entirely naked; he was still wearing a silk bandana, with a leopard-spot design, on his head.

""So sorry if too hot. Cold water change you back into leopard."" The boy winced. ""But you still you. Would you like to borrow some clothes or you still have some in pack?""

""I have more in my pack. Um... sumimasen?""

""Hai?""

""Did another boy about my age come through here? He should have blue eyes and black hair braided into a single pigtail. His name is Saotome Ranma.""

""Hai. Your friend here two days ago. He fall into Spring of Drowned Girl.""

The boy blinked. Then his jaw dropped as his eyes widened. #Woah! He got a worse curse than I? I feel sorry for him now. Not even all the torment I've received would make him deserve that fate.# He collected himself, then opened his pack and started putting on clothing. ""I have a favor to ask.""

""Hai?""

""If he comes back here, tell him Hibiki Ryouga was looking for him.""

""Hai. I tell him for you.""

""Oh, and one more thing...""

""Hai?""

""Could you put some hot water in my thermos?""

""Hai. No problem.""

#Finding that orphaned girl in the middle of the forest surprised me. Looks like Sephrenia has taken her as an apprentice.# Sparhawk was in the lead of the group going to save Count Radun. The girl whom they found was being called "Flute," a nickname Sparhawk gave her because of her refusal to speak and because she was found playing a flute. She was a Styric girl.

As they rose over the next hill, they found the ruined castle (eight leagues west of the city of Darra) where Sparhawk was planning to meet up with the remaining Pandions, including his friend Kalten and his squire Kurik. Kalten rode up to greet them.

"I thought you'd got lost," Kalten said as he reined in once in hearing range, blonde hair getting into his eyes a bit. He began looking curiously at Flute, who was sitting in front of Sparhawk's saddle, bare feet on either side of the horse's neck and Sparhawk's cloak enveloping her. "I'm pretty sure it's a bit late for you to start a family, Spar."

"We found her on the way here." Sparhawk handed Flute over to Sephrenia while rolling his eyes.

"Why didn't you give her some shoes?"

"We did. She's lost seven pairs so far. I don't think she likes wearing them. In any case, we'll try dropping her off at the nunnery at the other side of Darra." Sparhawk looked at the castle ruins. "Is there any shelter in that rubble?"

"Some. At least it breaks wind."

"Let's get down there then. Kurik brought my armor and Faran, correct?"

Kalten nodded.

"Relief at last. This horse is a little unruly and thoroughly stupid, and the armor Vanion gave me for a disguise chafes me in more places than I could wish to count."

Kurik was waiting for them in the part of the ruin which was now a makeshift stable. "What took you so long?"

"Kurik," Sparhawk began, a bit defensively, but still sarcastic. "It's a long way and those wagons can move only so fast."

"You should have left them behind."

"And abandon our supplies and extra equipment?"

"Point," Kurik grunted. "Let's get inside and out of the weather. Greetings, Lady Sephrenia." Kurik noticed Flute in Sephrenia's arms. "My, have you been keeping secrets from us?"

"Haven't you learned, Kurik? That's what Styrics do best." She laughed. "How are Aslade and the boys?"

"They are fine, Sephrenia."

"Glad to hear it."

"I already have water boiling for your tea."

"Thank you Kurik. Very considerate."

Early the next morning, the group of now five-hundred Pandion Knights and two Styrics arrived at the nunnery at the other side of Darra. After leaving Flute with the Mother Superior there, they rode off to the south, towards Count Radun's castle. After several leagues, they crossed over a knoll, and Sparhawk reined Faran in very sharply - partly out of surprise and partly to keep himself from face-faulting out of the saddle. Kalten was not as skilled and left his face's imprint in the dust next to his horse. In front of him was a large white rock, and atop it, sitting cross-legged and happily playing her oddly-shaped Styric flute, was Flute.

"How did you..." Sparhawk shook his head. Then he called out, "Sephrenia." She was already out of her saddle and walking up to the bolder.

Sephrenia began speaking to her gently and softly. "+My my. Looks like you have some real talent, Young One. To teleport ahead of us using only your ghyrij is no small feat. And to think that you're only six winters old... You nearly killed my friend from surprise.+" Sephrenia finished with a wink. Flute stopped playing her ghyrij (the "flute" she plays) and gave Sparhawk an impish grin. Sephrenia giggled and took Flute into her arms.

"How did she get ahead of us?" Kalten asked, visibly puzzled.

"Who knows?" Sparhawk replied. "I'll take her back to that nunnery then."

Sephrenia looked up at him. "No, Sparhawk. She desires to go with us."

"Too bad. I'm not taking a little girl into the heat of a battle."

"Don't you concern yourself with her, Sparhawk. I'll care for her." She smiled at Flute. "She'll be protected as if she were my own." She laid her cheek against Flute's glossy black hair, both looking way too cute. This caused Sparhawk and Kalten to sweatdrop. "In a way she is."

Sparhawk decided to give up. "Very well." As he began to turn Faran back towards Radun's castle, he felt a sudden chill followed by almost palpable hatred. "Sephrenia!" He turned to her, worry in his face.

"I feel it too!" she cried, drawing Flute closer. "It's directed at the child!"

Flute struggled briefly, and Sephrenia, visibly confused, nodded and set her down on the ground. The six-year-old's face was like stone, looking more annoyed than angered or frightened. She raised her ghyrij to her mouth and began to play. Rather than the usual light airy melody in minor key which Flute usually played in, the music was noticeably darker. It was very stern and peculiarly ominous. Suddenly, from some distance away came an agonizing howl, layered with deep pain and complete surprise. Almost immediately, the howling began to fade, as if it's source were fleeing for it's life at an incredible rate. Once it could no longer be heard, Flute relaxed and stopped playing.

"What was that?" Kalten exclaimed.

"A malicious spirit of some sort," Sephrenia calmly answered.

"What drove it away?"

"Flute's song. It seems that she can adequately protect herself."

Kalten turned to Sparhawk. "Do you understand what's going on here?"

"No more than you. Let's keep moving. We still need to ride hard if we're to help Count Radun."

""Ranma, did you ever have any childhood friends?""

""Yeah. My buddy Kuonji Ukyou from when I was real little, and my sparing partner Hibiki Ryouga who I met about a year and a half ago. Why do you ask?""

""... Just curious.""

""Well, Ranma, are you ready for the future?"" asked Udahr.

""As ready as I'll ever be.""

""Alright. Let me call my time machine.""

Udahr's glasses began to glow again. This time, Ranma was close enough to see that projected onto the lenses were words, numbers, writing, and various other high-tech-ish symbols and designs. #Those must be... um, what're they called? Ah yeah, computer monitors.# Ranma was entirely correct.

Suddenly, Ranma could feel something coming towards them...

Out in space, behind the largest asteroid near Earth in the Asteroid Belt, was a relatively small, oddly shaped starship. It looked to be the inspiration for "War of the Worlds" and various other UFO movies and books from the 1960's. It was shaped like a "flying saucer" but it had a three-sided, low-rising cockpit in the center of the top of the craft. Each corner of its triangular canopy pointed towards a small, spire-like protrusion. The bottom was covered with several large bulges that looked as if they could open up like the bomb-bay doors of an aircraft. It also had seven smaller, semi-spherical bulges which could also open, except like eyelids. Upon closer observation, one would correctly conclude that they were for the retractable landing gear. Where an eighth landing gear bulge should have been (at the "front" of the craft), a larger bulge existed. Closer inspection would reveal it to be an entry hatch.

The craft's overall diameter was about fifty feet, and (not counting the landing gear) from it's lowest point to the peak of the canopy (the uppermost part of the ship) it was about twenty feet. the canopy was clear, like glass, and the cockpit's interior was a dark dull gray. The outside of the ship was primarily black, whereas the three spires were a deep blue. All over the whole ship, orange lines covered the hull in strange patterns which seemed almost alien. The lines met at odd angles and were full of curves, circles, jagged lines, right angles, sinuous lines, and straight lines.

Suddenly, the cockpit flared to life, revealing all sorts of control consoles and monitors crowded around the pilot's seat, but also revealing the three passenger seats behind the pilot's seat. All four seats were empty. One of the monitors began to scroll with writing:

"&INCOMING SIGNAL ON ÆTHER COMMUNICATOR. PASSCODE ENCRYPTION PROCESSED. AUTHORIZED USER RECOGNIZED. ESTABLISHING DIRECT LINK. PROCESS COMPLETE. COMMAND?&" After another few seconds, more writing appeared. "&COMMANDS RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED. PREPARING STEALTH DEVICES.&" The orange lines turned neon green for a second, before the whole ship disappeared. "&TASK COMPLETE. INITIATING SUB-LIGHT ENGINE.&" If it could have been seen, one would have noticed the outer edge of the craft glow a light yellow, dispensing particles to provide lift, propulsion, and flight controls. "&PROCESS COMPLETE. COMMENCING COMMAND: LAND AT POINT 5723991 AND STANDBY.&" With that, the invisible craft swung around the asteroid and sped towards Earth, using Mars's gravity field in a slingshot maneuver along the way to save fuel and time.

The ship's stealth devices were so good, no one could have detected the craft without the use of an Æther-field sensor, which no one in this Universe had access to... yet, anyway.

Ranma could hear a low-pitched humming coming from above them, but couldn't see anything. Suddenly, Udahr's glasses flashed on again, and Udahr was pleased to see them say: "&PROBLEM WITH COMPLETING COMMAND: LANDING GEAR CANNOT EXTEND WHILE STEALTH DEVICES ARE ACTIVE. DISENGAGE STEALTH DEVICES?&" By thought, Udahr wrote a reply on the computer attached to his spine, and sent it to the ship's computer. It read: "&Affirmative.&" The ship replied: "&CONFIRMATION RECEIVED. DISENGAGING STEALTH DEVICES.&"

The humming was replaced by a louder rumbling as the ship became visible again. The lines changed from neon green back to orange. Ranma fell backwards onto his bottom in surprise. #Woah! That looks cool! Well, mostly. It is a flying saucer after all.# Ranma was even more amazed to see seven spider-like limbs emerge from some of the bulges on the underside and touch down. The yellow glow around the edge of the ship disappeared.

"&LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. STABLE LANDING PLATFORM CONFIRMED. SUB-LIGHT ENGINE DEACTIVATED. COMMAND COMPLETED. STANDING BY. COMMAND?&"

"&Activate voice command system.&"

"&COMMANDS RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED. MICROPHONES ARE ACTIVE. VERBAL COMMANDS MUST BE PRECEEDED BY 'COMPUTER:'. COMMAND?&"

Udahr turned to Ranma. ""Surprised?""

""Yeah. It looks a little corny. Does everyone in your time use a flying saucer?""

Udahr chuckled. ""No. In fact, the starship I regularly use looks a lot like a dragon. But this is my time machine. Sadly, I had to shape it like this for it to be able to travel through time.""

""Oh. Now it makes sense.""

""Well, let's go." Computer: open hatch."

"&COMMANDS RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED. AIR IS DETECTED TO BE BREATHEABLE. TEMPERATURE: 77 DEGREES. AIR PRESSURE: WELL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE BOUNDS. UNSEALING HATCH.&" A hissing sound could be heard. "&TASK COMPLETE. OPENING HATCH.&" The hatch glided open. Ranma was astonished at the rather roomy interior but was disappointed that the hatch didn't reach the ground. "&TASK COMPLETE. EXTENDING HATCH RAMP.&" Ranma was surprised to see a metal plank with a metal surface covered with little, smooth protrusions (obviously to help with walking up it) extend from the edge of the hatch to the ground. "&COMMAND COMPLETED. COMMAND?&"

""Come along, Ranma. Time to leave.""

""Hai, Udahr-sensei.""

With that, they both climbed into the ship. However, Udahr detected the presence of a relatively powerful spirit and quickly recognized it. #So, Kho Lon still wants revenge on me? I don't see why. When Xiam Pu attempted to give me that "kiss of marriage," all I did was dodge and force her to give that kiss to the idiot with the glasses, Mu Tsu. Well, then I asked Mu Tsu to teach me the Amazon's style of fighting as a reward and he gratefully complied.# Udahr shook his head slightly. #Well, whatever. Ah, there she is. Sweet dreams, you old hag.# Udahr used his Wind Geomancy to hit a pressure point on Kho Lon from the distance they were at, instantly knocking her out and off of the staff she was pogoing over on. Unfortunately for the old bird, Udahr happened to have pushed her over a particular body of water... And Udahr snickered before going inside.

Only one hour after that Hibiki kid had left, the Guide was surprised to hear another splash come from the springs. He turned to see a rather old-looking duck come out of the Spring of Drowned Duck, coughing. It ruffled its feathers a bit, then got back in the water and dove down. It came back out with a rather familiar looking staff in its weathered beak. After it had returned to shore, it then grabbed the staff with its wings in a familiar way, then began to glare at the Guide, as if expecting him to do something. The Guide scratched his head, then took a closer look at the duck's eyes. The Guide, still confused, cocked his head. The on the duck's forehead, a vein began to bulge, even though it was clearly impossible for a duck to do so. The duck then wrote in the dirt in kanji: ":Get the hot water you numbskull! I am Kho Lon.:" The Guide's eyes went wide while on the back of his head a big sweatdrop appeared; he quickly ran into his hut to fetch the tea kettle. Kho Lon mentally berated herself. #Curse him. He detected me, then forced me into one of the Cursed Springs. Or maybe it was my own stupidity?# She sighed. Well, tried to. It sounded more like a quack. #Whatever the reason, I can't detect him anymore, so he has indeed left our world. I guess I'll have to break the news to Kon-Ji Xiu-Na, Xiam Pu's cousin, that I couldn't catch her a husband.#

Skorn was enjoying the show. He felt that the old hag deserved to be turned into an old duck. Although he couldn't assume a real form, he would have loved to have met this Udahr fellow. And that Ranma kid? #Hell, he's twice blessed of Chaos. I'd love to meet the kid!# However, doing so could alert certain people to his presence on Earth, a planet Demons had long been forbidden to visit. He'd hate to have those people aware of where he was. They could summon him (which Skorn figured to be the most annoying thing there ever was) and then kill him, not just one of his copies. Skorn hated Demon Summoners who tried to summon him. He especially hated those who knew his Song Name - regardless of whether or not they tried to summon him. And anyway, he didn't want to die, either. #I guess I'll just have to wait until I see that Ranma kid again.# With that thought, Skorn's undetected nothingness drifted to another world, where he might be able to relieve himself of his boredom.

Walls encircled Count Radun's castle, which sat atop a high, rocky hill. The sky was clear and the noonday sun warm as Sparhawk, Kalten, Sephrenia, and Flute rode up to the fortress. Such as Radun was known to do, the two Pandions, the Little Mother of the Pandion Order, the girl, and the three horses were admitted inside without a question asked.

Later, in the Count's private study, Sparhawk was bringing the Count up to speed on the events which were unraveling.

"Are you familiar with the name of Annias, primate of Cimmura, my Lord?" inquired Sparhawk.

Radun grimaced while answering shortly: "I've heard of him."

"You have also heard of his reputation then?"

"Yes."

"Good. By sheer luck, Sir Kalten and I uncovered a plot hatched by the primate. Also, he luckily is not aware of the fact we know about it. It is your common practice to freely admit Church Knights, is it not?"

"Of course. I revere the Church and her Knights."

"Within a few days - a week at the most - a large group of men in black armor and bearing the standards of Pandion Knights will ride up to your gates. Do not admit them."

The Count was astonished. "But-" Sparhawk interrupted by holding up one hand.

"They will NOT be Pandions, my Lord. They're a rabble of mercenaries lead by a renegade named Martel. If you let them in, they will kill all who are within the walls of your estate - with the exception of a churchman or two to spread word of the atrocity."

"Monstrous!" gasped Radun. "What reason could the primate of Cimmura have to bear me such hatred?"

Kalten then said: "This plot isn't directed at you, Count Radun. Your murder is designed to shame and discredit the Pandion Order of Knights. Annias wishes for the Hierocracy of the Church to become so infuriated that they'll disband or execute every member of the Order."

"My nephew must be notified immediately!" declared Radun, jumping to his feet. "As King of Arcium, he can get an army here in two days - three at the most!"

Sparhawk stood and placed his hand on the Count's shoulder. "That will not be necessary, my Lord. I have five hundred fully armed Pandions - real Pandions - concealed in the woods just to the north of your castle." The Count relaxed, and sat down. Sparhawk returned to his seat and continued: "With your permission, I'd like to bring one hundred of them inside your walls to strengthen your own garrison. When the mercenaries get here, try to find some excuse for not letting them in."

"Would that not seem strange?" asked the Count. "I have a reputation for extending hospitality to travelers, particularly towards Church Knights. I'd think that'd tip them off."

"The drawbridge," Kalten said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Tell them that the windlass which operates the drawbridge broke down. Then tell them that you have your men working on it and ask them to be patient."

"I refuse to lie," Radun replied stiffly.

"That's alright, my Lord," Kalten assured the Count. "I'll break it myself; that way, you wouldn't be lying."

Count Radun stared at Kalten for a moment, blinked, then burst into riotous laughter. Sparhawk then shared his strategy once Radun got back into the chair he fell out of: "The mercenaries will be outside the walls giving them very little room for maneuvering. That's when the Pandions in the forest will get them from behind."

Kalten grinned from ear to ear. "It will look like a cheese grater when we begin grinding them up against your walls; just red instead of orange."

"And I'm think of some rather nasty things to drop on them from my battlements," added Radun, sharing Kalten's grin. "Arrows, rocks, burning pitch, full chamberpots - that sort of thing." Sparhawk smirked at Radun's mention of full chamberpots.

"My Lord, I feel that you and I shall get along quite splendidly," Kalten said.

Sephrenia cleared her throat. "I will accompany Sir Sparhawk and Sir Kalten in the battle."

This surprised the Count. "But-"

"This Martel whom Sparhawk mentioned is a former Pandion and has delved deeply into secrets which are forbidden to honest men. I will have to counter whatever magic he may try to throw at us."

"Very well. I shall make sure that the girl is well protected here in the keep."

"No. She'll ride with me."

"But surely the child-"

"Flute must stay with me," Sephrenia sternly interrupted. She looked over at Flute, who had gotten one of Radun's books down from the shelf and was curiously opening it. "No!" she said, perhaps more sharply than she intended. She got up and took the book from Flute and returned it to the shelf. Flute sighed, and they both left the room, Sephrenia talking gently in a Styric dialect which Sparhawk couldn't understand.

"What was that all about?" inquired Radun.

Kalten shook his head. "She believes that reading will interfere with their magic."

He was a scout. He was to find that abomination and gauge his strength and influence. The intelligence he was to gather would help when the Lady and the three existing Lords destroy that False God.

He was glad he was chosen for the task. Being a Phoenix Warrior, he was granted the power to Blind - powers granted by the Dark Phoenix, the first Phoenix Lord. He was also an accomplished swordsman - even before he had been Reborn into a Phoenix. Also, he was an expert at intelligence gathering and sneaking around - both of which were heightened by the powers granted by the Dark Phoenix.

He entered Earth's atmosphere, above China. No country could detect him on radar and no one could see his dark-blue Phoenix flames or hear the roar of his descent - such was the all-blinding powers of the Dark Phoenix. He landed on Phoenix mountain. #Odd. No one is here. There used to be a city somewhere around here.# Shifting into his humanoid form, black and blue-colored armor with a helmet shaped like a Phoenix's head adorned his muscular form - and from the beak of the helmet, a permanent shadow covered his face. In order to be in the service of the Lady Phoenix, losing one's human face was a meager cost.

As he walked up the mountain, the sight of the ruins of a once-bustling city surprised him. He could feel no significant life-readings. He entered a cave he was sure he might find the False God. He was correct.

He cocked his head as he looked at the decaying form of Saffron, the False God and Impostor Phoenix, covered in flies and maggots. #Someone did the job for us? Strange. I wonder who was aware of this tribe of False Phoenixes...#

He left the cave. Then he realized that there were some life-readings on the other side of the burned-out city. He drew his Phoenix Sword and carefully made his way through the rubble, blinding any who might notice him against his presence. All anyone would see would be a pile of rubble; they would not hear him moving amongst the toppled buildings; no animal would be able to pick up his scent.

As he got closer, he determined there to be six beings of moderate power huddled together, trembling - not from the cold, but out of fear and confusion. These were the last of the False Phoenixes. He decided to allow them another chance. He uncloaked his presence and spoke to them in the Phoenix Tongue:

":The Lady Phoenix is willing to forgive you of your sins and turn you into true Phoenixes if you but forsake Saffron and come with me.:"

At the sound of his voice, they turned as one towards him. When he was finished, they agreed. The Phoenix Tribe was no more.

Galedradha had finally finished her training as a Wise One. She was now accepted as a full-fledged Wise One. She also discovered that she could enter Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams and she had the Talent for Dreaming; in addition to channeling saidar, she had prophetic dreams.

However, she seemed to have only one dream recently, and she kept having that same dream over and over. It featured four horses: one made of wood, one who was wild, one made of iron, and one with wings. They all danced around something which she couldn't identify; something which emitted a soothing and relaxing yet energizing and awakening song. The horses protected that object from an encroaching sense of total silence. She knew the silence to be evil, but other than that, she didn't understand the meaning of that part of the dream. However, the second part focused on the Iron Horse. The Iron Horse specifically approached her and asked her if she would take up the spear again and ride with him. Then the dream ended. She knew that she would soon be approached by someone whom she did not know and be asked to take up the spear again. Most non-Dreamers could figure that part out easily. She determined that she would take the spear again when asked; in order to fight the Total Silence, she would do anything. She was pretty sure the Dark One and that Total Silence were working together.

A Spear Maiden appeared outside Galedradha's tent. "Wise One, may I come in?"

"Certainly, Rhiurai. Come in, come in."

Rhiurai was tall, and of the same sept of the Codarra clan as Galedradha. They were childhood friends... emphasis on "were." Custom dictated that Galedradha break all friendships she had with others.

Galedradha asked why Rhiurai had come.

"There are a pair of wetlanders here. They asked for the Wise One in our camp. That is you, correct?"

"Yes. I will go to see them."

In a lean-to tent on the edge of the camp, surrounded by twelve Red Shields (the enforcers of the law among the Aiel) were two men. One wore a black cloak with a silver sword on one side of his collar, and a gold and red enamel dragon on the other side. Underneath he wore brown-colored clothing, and had a sword on his belt. His brown hair looked beautiful, as were his brown eyes. #What in the name of Avendesora am I thinking? He's just a wetlander... who looks like he's more ready to kill than a veiled Maiden? Hmm...# The other man looked very strange. Red hair reached his shoulders. His blue eyes looked feral, but calculating. A black leather jacket covered his sea-green shirt, which disappeared at the waste under his black pants. His pants were tucked into his black boots. At his belt, Galedradha could see a pouch and two daggers; one red and one light-blue.

Before she could speak, the redhead said, "Shade and water to you, Wise One."

"Shade and water to you, wetlanders." The redhead chuckled at that. "What is so amusing?"

"I am not a wetlander, although Strogan here is."

#Curious.# "Then what are you?"

"An Offworlder." Most of the Red Shields leveled their spears at his neck after this odd statement. The redhead simply rolled his eyes at their reaction. "You are all so ready to 'dance' with me, huh?"

"What do you mean by 'offworld?'" inquired Galedradha.

"Well, I came from another world. In fact, I came from another universe."

"How can that be possible?"

"I found a pillar in the ruins of a building on a world called Arken. It was shorter than I am and covered with various symbols. I identified one as Eastern Manetheren. That lead me to an area East of the city of Andor, about where the Dragon Reborn, whom you know as the Car'a'carn, is gathering men who can channel."

#I have seen one of those pillars in Rhiudean.# "So why have you come here?"

"To gather two people who are a threat to the Pattern, but who are also needed to save all universes."

"Who are you?" Galedradha and all the other Aiel present were surprised when the spearheads of every spear suddenly fell to the earth. The redhead was holding his two daggers out in the open. Galedradha barely saw him move, but was even more surprised when she saw that the blades of his daggers were the same colors as the hilts.

"I am Dran del'Blemti Ventor-Kyze, a Twin Dagger. I am also known as 'Double Dagger' Dran." Suddenly becoming aware of their situation, the Red Shields tried to pull out their bows, only to find that all their bowstrings had been cut in half and the shafts of their arrows had been cut into thirds. "I did not come here to threaten you, but the feeling of pointy metal objects around my neck was annoying me." He had the nerve to smile.

"If you did not come here to threaten, then why are you here?"

"I believe that you are one of the threats to the Pattern. You are like a ta'veren, pulling the threads of the pattern towards you, but rather than pulling them to where they should go, you are fraying the Pattern to tatters. The longer you stay here, the more you'll endanger the Car'a'carn and the rest of your world."

"Why should I believe you?"

Dran pointed to Strogan. "Because he is the Third Horseman; he is the Guardian, the Iron Horse."

Galedradha gasped, surprising the other Aiel in the shade of the lean-to. She looked into Strogan's eyes. He had the exact same eyes as the Iron Horse in her dream. Her heart began to race.

Strogan spoke up, "I know that what Dran says seems to be impossible, but it's true. Will you come with us to save this world and to learn how we can save other worlds?"

Galedradha looked thoughtful, for a moment. Then she spoke, "Rhiurai?"

"Yes, Wise One?"

"You will tell the other Wise Ones that I died when a few Shaido Aiel attacked us on our way home to our sept."

"But that would be a lie..."

"Even so, I must not be followed or searched for. Do you Red Shields also understand what I say?" They nodded. "Good."

Dran then had a suggestion, "Since you're coming with us, it would be best if you dressed like your friend there."

"Dress as a Spear Maiden?"

"It would be best. Besides, we're leaving your world behind; the rules of your society will no longer apply to you."

She sighed. "Very well. If you'll excuse me?"

"But of course." She hurried back to her tent to put on a Spear Maiden's cadin'sor, the "working clothes" of a warrior. She had kept several of her cadin'sor to remind herself of her past as a Far Dareis Mai. When she came back, she saw Dran repairing the weaponry which he broke. He would take the two halves of a bowstring and set them down on the ground in front of him. Then he placed his blue dagger over the cut, his dagger would glow a little, then he'd remove his dagger to reveal that the bowstring was whole. He did the same with any spear or arrow brought to him.

"Why are you doing this?"

He looked up briefly, "Because, I do not wish to deplete your people of their protection any more than I have to." He went back to his task.

Galedradha was puzzled. Then she realized she was being addressed by Strogan. "Excuse me, Wise One."

"Yes?"

"Dran means that he is depleting their protection by taking you from them."

Rhiurai looked annoyed. "We can handle ourselves."

"Really? Can you channel? No? Then we are depleting you of your protection." Rhiurai scowled, then turned away from Strogan. "By the way, Wise One..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"... we don't know your name. My full name is Strogan Vaaren."

"Galedradha of the Codarra Aiel."

"Hmm... Gelid-radda? Gal-edra-tha? Hmm... difficult for me to pronounce. May I call you, um, 'Gale'?"

"You mean like the fierce wind?"

"Yes."

Galedradha tried not to giggle, but she wasn't very successful at preventing it. "I won't mind." She noticed that Strogan's face flushed red briefly. "So tell me about you?"

"I became an Asha'man recently."

"Oh, how old are you?"

"Barely seventeen. Yesterday was the day I was born."

"Well, I recently became a Wise one. I am twenty-one years of age and the day of my birth was six weeks ago."

Rhiurai interrupted, "Why are you being so friendly to a wetlander?"

"First of all, he's not a treekiller, you know, from Cairhien."

"Okay." Rhiurai was less tense now.

"Second, he is the Iron Horse. He is important. That is what my dreams were telling me." Rhiurai looked to be simply annoyed now.

Strogan blushed. "You dreamed of me?" Realizing what she said, Galedradha shared his blush. Rhiurai grew angry.

"So you're dropping us all, just like that? Does being an Aiel Wise One mean so little to you? What about the friendship we once had? Was that meaningless!" Galedradha was at a loss for words. "I was going to request that we be made first sisters! But since you seem to like this 'metallic pack animal' more than being Aiel, you can forget it!" Rhiurai ran to her own tent, almost openly sobbing.

One of the Red Shields spoke up, "She's just been a little stressed recently. She knows not what she says. She always got overdramatic when we were kids, but I thought she grew out of it." Galedradha recognized him as one of Rhiurai's many blood-brothers.

"Perhaps she still has some growing to do," Galedradha mused. Strogan still looked astonished.

Then, after a few seconds of silence, Strogan asked, "What's a first-sister?"

"It's an Aiel custom," she explained. "First-sisters and first-brothers aren't necessarily related by blood, but are often closer than blood relatives."

"Interesting," mused Strogan.

Dran finished his repairs of the Aiel weaponry and turned to Galedradha and Strogan. "Well, I'm done repairing the damage I've done. Are you two ready?"

"Always," replied Strogan.

Galedradha looked at the other Aiel present, then nodded. "I am also ready. Where shall we go?"

"Back to where I entered your world. It is the only way back."

"I'll go get some waterskins then..."

"No need," interrupted Dran. "I can guarantee that we'll find plenty of water along the way. Let's go."

Two days after their arrival at Count Radun's castle, just before sunrise, Kurik rode quietly into the camp outside the castle walls. He shook Sparhawk once, and Sparhawk's mind jolted into consciousness.

"You'll want to get up," explained Kurik. "They're here."

Sparhawk quickly got out of his bedroll and began to get his armor on, Kurik assisting him. "How many?"

"I'd say it would be about two hundred and fifty smelly sell-swords."

"Where's Kalten?"

"He wanted to be sure that there weren't any surprises so he snuck himself into the end of their column."

"He did WHAT?"

"Don't worry, Spar. They're all wearing black armor. He'll easily blend right in."

Sparhawk held out a bright red ribbon. "Help me tie this on." The ribbons were issued to each Knight so that the real Pandions would know each other from the enemy.

Kurik took the ribbon and began to tie it around his Lord's upper arm. "Kalten's got a blue ribbon. Said it matches his eyes." After finishing the knot, with a grin, he stepped back, then said, while rolling his eyes: "Adorable. You'll make Flute jealous."

Sparhawk laughed. He then gestured towards the other sleeping Knights, most of them youthful new recruits. "Let us wake the children - it's almost playtime."

As the two of them went through the camp, shaking the Pandions awake, Kurik said: "I have a bit of bad news though."

"What is it?"

"Martel's not leading the rabble."

Sparhawk was visibly disappointed. "Who is it, then?"

"Adus. His chin was covered in blood; I believe he's eaten raw meat again."

Sparhawk swore.

"Look at it this way: at least the world will be a cleaner place without that brute."

"At least there's that."

About an hour after dawn, Kalten rode back into camp.

"Anything interesting, such as Martel hiding amonst the group?" asked Sparhawk.

"Afraid not. Just Adus."

"Nothing unusual about the mercenaries."

"Not really, but about half of them are Rendors."

"Rendors?"

"Yup. They don't usually smell very good, do they?"

"No. They don't." They both laughed.

An hour later, all of Sparhawk's forces were ready. All fully armored, armed, mounted, and hidden in the edges of the forest, watching the black-armored imposters march towards the gate.

Adus, who was accustomed to communicating via grunts and belches, rode up towards the gate and began reading, though haltingly, from a piece of paper which he held at arm's length. He completed reading the request, albeit with some trouble with the word "admission," as it had more than one syllable.

Count Radun appeared on the battlements and announced that the windlass of his drawbridge was regretfully broken. He then asked them to be patient while it was repaired.

Adus stood there, mulling it over. After quite some time he simply sat down on the grass. The mercenaries dismounted and began lounging at the foot of the castle wall. A red banner appeared at the top of the keep.

"That's the signal," stated Sparhawk. "Radun's forces are ready." He put on his helmet, gathered his reins, rose in his stirrups, firmly holding Faran in, and raised his voice to roar: "CHARGE!"

Sparhawk was angry. Adus was getting away. Adus had killed one of the rookie Knights whom Sparhawk had grown fond of. Faran was snorting his frustration, probably at Adus's horse being faster than him.

Whenever Sparhawk began to gain on Adus, one of the other mercenaries who was trying to escape would get in his way and engage him. Each of these fights, although they always ended after Sparhawk's first strike, put more distance between him and Adus. It was infuriating.

Suddenly, Sparhawk saw a glint of metal (a weapon, perhaps?) flash ahead of Adus. Then Adus seemed to explode into a gory mess. The remaining three mercenaries immediately fell backwards out of their saddles - a throwing knife lodged in each of their throats. As Sparhawk got closer, he could see that Adus has been cleanly sliced in half horizontally just under the ribcage. Also, his horse had been decapitated. He then saw the person who had killed Adus. It was a woman who was holding an impossibly large sword. Although she had waist-length silver hair, she looked to be very young - not more than twenty-five years old. She stood there, smiling at him with her strange red eyes. She wore sturdy brown leather boots. #How oddly scandalous of her to wear pants - yellow-green pants at that.# She had an orange, long-sleeved blouse buttoned up to her neck with a collar, and over it she wore a brown leather vest. Attached to her belt at the hip was a broadsword, still in the scabbard.

Despite her having helped him by killing Adus, Sparhawk was wary of her. #If she is able to use that sword at all, then she must be extremely dangerous.# He squeezed Faran with his knees, edging the horse backwards. Then he addressed the woman: "Thank you, my Lady, for killing this dangerous man."

"You're welcome," she replied in a beautiful, melodious voice. "I figured that he didn't deserve to escape you, Sir Sparhawk."

So surprised at her knowing his name Sparhawk face-faulted. The woman began giggling. When Sparhawk looked up at her, his face covered in dirt, she began laughing, causing her endowments to bounce. Sparhawk's face reddened, then he got himself up off the ground and wiped the dirt from his face. At this time, Kalten, Kurik, Sephrenia, and Flute rode up.

"So who's your girlfriend?" asked Kalten. Sparhawk shot him a look.

"Oh, I'm already happily married to someone else," the woman said before anyone else could say anything.

"That is one gigantic weapon!" exclaimed Kurik. She then easily lifted it off the ground with both hands and hefted it over her shoulder, causing everyone else to go wide-eyed.

"Yeah. It's called a zanbattou." She then looked very thoughtful, then her expression changed as if she had decided on something. She began to swing the large weapon towards Sparhawk, but it disappeared in a flash of light when it had reached the apex of the swing. "I figured I ought to put it away."

Sephrenia was the first to stop gaping. "Who are you? WHAT are you?"

Sparhawk added his own question to the list: "How did you know my name?"

"My name is Bethani del'Blemti. I am a warrior-mage from another world. I have been watching you, Sir Sparhawk. I have come here for the Winged Horse."

"The 'Winged Horse'?" asked Kalten. "I haven't seen any horse with wings. Ever."

Bethani smirked. "I'm not talking about an animal. The 'Winged Horse' is a title."

"Well, I haven't heard of anyone who goes by that title."

"Of course not. The 'Winged Horse' doesn't even know that it is his title."

"So who is this 'Winged Horse' supposed to be?" asked Sparhawk.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that the Winged Horse is you, Sir Sparhawk." She smirked as everyone else, except the horses, face-faulted.

Ranma decided that he hated time travel. He still felt weak and queasy from their hop down the time stream. He hated feeling weak. He hated being queasy. #At least I'll never have to do that again.#

""Ranma,"" Udahr began. ""We're landing. Welcome to my private estate.""

""Aughhhhh..."" he replied, swaying as much as his harness would let him. ""Your estate? All I see is a planet.""

""Yes. I own the whole planet.""

""NANI!""

Udahr laughed. ""Didn't know I was rich, did you? That planet was what you'd call a 'deserted planet' - much like a deserted island - able to sustain intelligent life, but none was present on it when it was discovered. I bought it.""

""Wow...""

""Yeah. It's name is" Yetro-Nuchim. "Means 'Beautiful Dusk' in the" Dragonoidian "language.""

After landing and storing his time machine, Udahr impressed Ranma with his other ship. It was long and snake-like - in fact, it looked like a clockwork Japanese dragon. Like Udahr's other ship, this one was covered in the orange lines. The rest of the ship was a pattern of red and black. Down the "spine" of the ship was a white mane-like sail, which actually happened to be the ship's Sub-Light Engines. The cockpit was in the "head." Various projectile weaponry was concealed in the "mouth" and at various points in the "belly" and "tail." The long "whiskers" were various sensors and telecommunication devices. The four "legs" functioned as both landing gear and energy blade projectors.

""This is what I usually use. It is named" Geostalker. "It is a Devastator-Class Starcruiser.""

""Sugoi!""

Exiting the portal, the Geostalker "slithered" its way towards another planet.

""Ranma, this is the planet" Likop "in the Dragon Master Imperium. Here live the descendants of the Japanese from Earth. They will teach you English and test to see if you have talent in the Samurai or Shinobi Arts. They will also test to see if you can learn Geomancy. I will have to leave you with them for a few months. I challenge you to master the English language by the time I return. Do you accept my challenge?""

Ranma smiled. ""Hai, Udahr-sensei. I accept.""

End Chapter Two