Ranma 1/2: A New Awakening Alternate Continuation (minor crossovers) By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com Co-author & Concept by: "Jerry" starfire@brainerd.net Chapter Seven Nabiki walked into the house, fuming. She removed her shoes, while thinking of a way to get even with Akane. Kasumi came out of the kitchen, she looked up and noticed Nabiki, smiling she stepped forward. "Hello, Nabiki, welcome home." She said smiling sweetly at her little sister. "Hi Kasumi, I'll be in my room till dinner, ok?" She asked her. "Of course, oh I left a package on your bed, it was dropped off by one of your friends." Kasumi stated as she turned and went back into the kitchen. Nabiki smiled like a shark ready to attack and ran upstairs to her room. Once inside she locked the door, and took the package from her desk to her bed with her. She flopped onto her bed and opened the box. On top was a note from Miroshi but it wasn't what she expected. 'Nabiki, I did as instructed, but I am afraid the photos and tape will not be of much help. Some of the photos will need to be explained and some will make you slightly ill. Please meet me at our usual meeting place tonight at eight and I will explain what I can. Miroshi' Nabiki looked at the note one final time then went into the box, she pulled out the tape and a packet of photos. She put the tape in her recorder and began to play it while she went through the pictures. Miroshi was right some of them made her physically ill, while others made no since. Then the tape was even more confusing; she could hear Akane, Ukyo, Tofu and Cologne? What was she doing there? Then the sound of..no that can't be right. Nabiki sighed and looked at her clock, six PM, she had two more hours before her meeting. She decided she would take a nice long nap before dinner the go and get some explanations. /*\*/*\ "Alright Ranko, Nodoka your powers are controlled by your mind, magic where you need certain ingredients and or an incantation." Seran demonstrated his point. Holding up his hand to the sky, palm facing up he shot a huge bolt of lightening skyward. He then with his other hand palm down toward the ground created an air funnel which lifted him off the ground some thirty feet before he dissipated it. "We will start first with the lightening, as it is one of our most powerful defenses. With your ability to control your life force, Ranko you should be able to catch on to this fairly quickly." Seran said smiling at the young Sylph. "Now both of you hold out your hands palm up, we will start with just manifesting a lightening ball. Now you are going to draw the energy from the air around you, pull the electricity that is there and shape it into a small ball in your hand." Seran instructed, while showing them what to do. Ranko and Nodoka did as they were told, they began to concentrate on the electricity around them forcing it to coalesce into their hands. Nodoka to her surprise was able to get a spark to appear but it faded quickly, to her disappointment. "Don't worry, Nodoka it just takes practice." Raist assured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Seran watched this with a cold stare at the golden mage. Neither of the two seemed to notice, while Ranko worked on creating her lightening ball, using the concept of drawing chi from outside herself, but instead of chi she worked to lock onto the electricity that flows through the air. Seran pulled his attention away from the friendly gesture of Raist, unsure why it bothered him, and turned to face Ranko's attempt a collecting her ball of lightening. Seran gasped and stepped back from the young girl, both Nodoka and Raist turned at Seran's intake of breath and both stood agape with awe. Ranko stood very still her palm outstretched, her eyes closed in meditation, in her hand was a lightening ball the size of a watermelon, and still growing. While surging around her entire body was a halo of electricity. Which was shooting off her in random directions. "RANKO!" Her mother shouted, causing her to lose her concentration. "Huh?" Her eyes snapped open, and she jerked her head toward her mother. She released the lightening forming around her back into the air, but the ball of lightening was still there and shrinking in size. When she jerked to face her mother the lightening ball was flung from her grasp, heading straight for Seran. Seran barely jumped out of the way when the projectile shot past him, singeing the back of his leg as it passed. It hit the ground twenty yards from them and exploded. Dirt and debris flew everywhere. Finally when the dust settled Ranko looked sheepishly at the adults, and with an apologetic smile. "Oops, sorry." She told them with a hand behind her head. Seran looked up at her from his prone position, with wide eyes. Nodoka tried to hide her smile, but Raist didn't. He let out a loud laugh to the ire of Seran. Raist walked over and extended his hand to the downed Sylph. Seran looked at it dubiously, before slowly taking it. When he stood his injured leg nearly gave out on him. He looked down and noticed a scorched area four inches across. Ranko looked sadly at the damage she had caused, and tears began to fill her blue eyes. She watched as Seran reached down with one hand and lightly brushed it over the wound, when he stood up the wound was gone. As a tear escaped, Ranko stared in awe at the speed of his healing. "Healing magic can't beat it during training." He said smiling at the tear streaked Ranko. "Raist I think I will have you work with Nodoka, and I will start Ranko on more advance Sylph powers, it seems her control of..chi is similar to our control of the air." Raist nodded and led Nodoka a little ways away. Raist worked with Nodoka who by the end of the training session was throwing lightening balls, it seemed Ranko got her ability to learn things quickly from her mother. Seran and Ranko proved to be a little different story by the end of their training session she had created a tornado that would put Mother Nature to shame. Her control however, had not yet been developed, thus she caught herself and Seran up in the whirlwinds. When she finally figured out how to disperse it both she and Seran where unable to stand straight. This received first a concerned look from her mother, who upon seeing her child was alright, brought on bouts of laughter from both Nodoka and Raist. Nodoka decided that before the next barrage of training, they would take time out for a picnic lunch. While she set things up Ranko started flitting around the training ground exploring more of what was there. She chased a butterfly and although she knew she could catch it she didn't want too. As she wove through the trees around their training area, she was teaching herself how to fly at high speeds and control her flight. When she flew threw one clump of trees she entered a clearing with a beautiful waterfall and huge lake. The waterfall was over a hundred feet high, and fell over a jagged cliff face of the mountains they were training by. Some of the rocks had be worn smooth the force of the water. The lake was full of water lilies that swayed in the ripples caused by the waterfall. Around the shore in clumps where cattails, and tiger lilies. She stared in awe of the site, but snapped to attention when a movement caught her eye. She saw flying in and out of the cattails and tiger lilies a tiny iridescent blue dragon with Faerie wings. Giggling she started after it. The little Faerie dragon was at first shocked and then afraid and took off for safer ground. It was amazed as it could not lose its pursuer, when it realized that the young Faerie did not intend to catch it, he decided to play along with her. Laughing merrily Ranko played flow the leader with the little dragon Faerie, as it swooped up high then low over the lake, skimming the water. Ranko was enjoying herself playing with the little Faerie creature that she did not notice they were being watched. The dragon Faerie however, did and knew it wasn't good. /*\*/*\ In a clump of trees on the far side of the lake stood a satyr watching lustfully the young Faerie maid chase the dragon Faerie. He waited for their play to bring her close to him so he could play too. He watched transfixed as the sun shoe off her long bright red hair, and caused her red wings to sparkle hypnotically. He watched her with longing. He began to lick his lips while thinking of tasting her sweet mouth with his. When he noticed something going wrong the dragon Faerie was leading her away from him. His anger rose and he began running through the forest to catch them before she got away from him. He would not allow that to happen the girl was his and he would have her. He watched in dismay while the dragon Faerie led her to the treetops and out of his range but he knew they would have to land soon. When they did he would be there waiting for his chance. /*\*/*\ The dragon Faerie knew which way the young girl had come from and headed back in that direction taking high to the trees to stay out of the reach of the satyr. The little dragon Faerie flew as fast as it could making dips and loops to keep the young sylph interested in following him. When he flew over another clearing he spotted the same red as the sylph's hair and made a beeline for the party. He led Ranko straight through the middle of three adults. Ranko giggling, all the while. "_Momma look what I found, can I keep him?_" Ranko bubbled happily still chasing the dragon Faerie. Nodoka reached out without even looking and grabbed her daughter's leg pulling her back and to a stop. Both men marveled at Nodoka's quickness. When Raist felt a nudge at his back he turned and recognized the little dragon Faerie as one of the ones that helped him collect hard to reach ingredients for his spells. "No dear you can not keep him, he may have a family that needs him, now sit down it is time for lunch." She stated as she pulled her child into a sitting position next to her. Raist listened to the thoughts of the dragon Faerie and what was waiting in the woods for Ranko. Raist raised an eyebrow then narrowed his eyes in anger. He thanked the little dragon and gave him a honey cake and sent him home. He then turned and began scanning the woods. He would tell Seran when he could he didn't want to upset Nodoka and Ranko. /*\*/*\ The satyr stood inside the trees lining the clearing, he watched the four Faeries. His desire grew even more when he spotted Nodoka, who was just as beautiful as her daughter, and just as desirable. He drooled as he thought of what he wanted to do with the two redheads, his eyes narrowed to slits when he looked at the two males. He needed to get rid of them to make his plan work. He watched while they finished eating lunch, and the young one helped her mother clean up. He then looked on curiously as the young one had the three adults line up and began to train them. He fell over when the young Faerie started demonstrating with her mother the moves they were to learn. It appeared that Nodoka was not idle in the ten years her son and husband where away. Raist and Seran were paired and mimicked what Ranko was doing with Nodoka. "We have an unwanted visitor." Raist whispered angrily to his sparring partner. "What are you talking about?" Seran asked while scanning the area. "That dragon Faerie was one I use when I need to retrieve certain ingredients for spells, he said there is a satyr in the trees with eyes for Ranko. I am also sure he now has them for Nodoka as well." Raist watched as Seran's face grew red with anger. The men kept a wary eye on the trees lining the training ground for any sign of the unwanted visitor. They did not notice that during their training Nodoka and Ranko had moved closer to the trees. Their surveillance was broken when they heard Nodoka scream. They turned and saw a flash of red disappear into the trees. They ran toward, where the women disappeared only to be knocked over by a flying satyr. It scrambled to its feet and dashed behind Seran and Raist, shaking with intense fear. They looked to the frighten satyr then back from where it flew out of the woods. Standing there was Ranko glowing so brightly she overshadowed the sun. Nodoka was standing behind her holding a piece of her torn clothing up where the satyr had ripped it. Seran and Raist turned angrily to the satyr but froze when a voice dripping ice spoke softly behind them. "_No!_ He is _mine!_" They stood back and Ranko moved slowly and gracefully forward. The glow around her growing brighter, the three adults watched in fascination as her aura began to change. Seran ran up to Nodoka to make sure she was fine, he put his arm protectively around her. She leaned into his embrace, leaning her head against his shoulder. while Raist slowly backed away watching in a hypnotic state what was happening in front of him. Ranko walked slowly toward the immobile satyr, his eyes wide and bulging. Ranko's aura beginning to spark with electricity, soon flashes of lightening coalesced around her like a web. She held up her hand and her aura began to grow in her palm the chi ball growing to the size of a basketball, was pulsing with lightening. Ranko drew her arm back, while the satyr stared first at the blue ball of lightening, awed as this was power he had never seen before. He then looked to the beautiful face he lusted after and saw a mask of pure rage, with eyes that were once a deep sapphire blue are now an almost white ice blue. "You tell your other friends that if you or any of them touch me or my mother again, I won't hold back on my power and I will destroy you all." She spat as she let loose the ball in her hand. It hit the satyr square in the chest sending him flying back at a high velocity into the mountain some hundred yards away. The satyr left a nice little impression in the stone, then slid to the ground unconscious. Raist ran over to check on him, and was surprised that he was not dead. "I think today's lessons are over with. We will begin again tomorrow, and I don't think we will have anymore problems with the satyrs." Seran said as he led Nodoka away. Ranko picked up the picnic gear and followed behind them, very sullen. Raist looked to the satyr with a sly smile, then followed them. Pausing when he heard the satyr moan, Raist shook his head then continued on. [I have got to learn how she does that!] He thought as he followed them back to Nodoka and Ranko's home. /*\*/*\ Ranko and Nodoka's training over the next few months had been intensive, just as intensive as Seran, Raist, and Nodoka's from Ranko. The hardest part for Seran and Raist was the meditating, Nodoka had no problem with that coming from a marital artist family, so she was farther along then the two men. By the end of the first month Nodoka and Ranko were well ahead of schedule on their Sylph powers, and Nodoka was to the point she could produce a small aura. Her speed had increased, as did her strength, agility, and durability. Her wings were now almost as durable as Ranko's, she couldn't fly as fast but she was gaining on her daughter. During their time at the training ground the adults kept a close eye on Ranko, and watched out for revenge seeking satyrs. They were relieved when it appeared that the satyrs had sense enough to stay way from the new Sylphs. They however, never let Ranko wonder off alone, Raist would always go with her. He began seeing Ranko as the little sister he felt he needed to protect. Which surprised him as at first he wanted to seek her as a love interest. Seran decided that Nodoka and Ranko could start learning human magic from Raist in a week, since they were doing so well learning how to control the elements of the air. What amazed the three adults was watching as Ranko continued to combine her Sylph powers of lightening and air with her chi making more powerful spells. /*\*/*\ One morning before their training with Raist was to begin Nodoka informed Ranko that they were taking the day off for themselves to site see. Nodoka had also decided today was the day she would tell Ranko why they were really chosen to become Faeries. Nodoka packed a picnic lunch into her bag of holding. Then put on one of her training outfits so that if they decided they could work out. She wore her light and navy blue combination. She and Ranko then left their home and started by flying high above the Realm of the Light Faeries. They flew toward the palace and saw nothing but a vast forest below them. They swooped down into the trees then paused and gaped as it turned out the trees were actually buildings. While they flew in between the buildings Nodoka paused and then stopped in front of a store that seemed to shock her. Ranko came up beside her and stared as well. In front of them was an electronics store with a couple of different computer systems and a stereo system in the window. "Well dear it looks like we are going to go on a little information hunt today." Nodoka said to her confused daughter. She took hold of Ranko's hand and pulled her into the store. The two Sylphs stared in awe at the vast amount of equipment before them. While Nodoka looked at some of it she noticed it was far more advanced then what was back on earth. Ranko fluttered in and around the shelves of equipment fascinated by all the electronics. Nodoka jumped and turned with a start, when she heard a deep and sultry voice from behind her. "Welcome to 'Wolf Elec'. May I help you?" Nodoka spun to face the sexy voice. Standing in front of her was a very beautiful Sylph female. She had long ebony hair that reached down to mid calf. Her skin was a golden honey brown, which caused her vivid emerald green eyes to stand out. She was the same height as Nodoka, but with a more petite body. She wore a long flowing red silk dress with heart shaped neckline, and long bell shaped sleeves. She smiled brilliantly at Nodoka as recognition crossed her face. "Oh my, you are the new Sylph that Queen Titiana created, aren't you?" She asked with a deep sultry voice. "Y..yes, we are." Nodoka answered looking around for her wayward child, and seeing her weaving out of one aisle and down another. The other Sylph smiled while she watched Ranko's enthusiastic exploration of her store. Both women could hear Ranko giggle when she caught site of something that fascinated her. "Seran has talked of nothing but the two of you since he started training you. Oh where are my manners. My name is Aerial Gray Wolf." She said extending her hand to Nodoka. Nodoka looked at the extended hand, her heart slowly breaking. When the name 'Gray Wolf' was given, as she began to think that this was Seran's wife. She slowly extends her hand, to take hold of Aerial's. "I am pleased to meet you I am Nodoka and that is Ranko. So have you known Seran long?" Nodoka couldn't stop herself as she had to know for sure. "Oh, yes I know him quite will, he is my twin brother." She said still watching Ranko, and not seeing the relief wash over Nodoka. "Um, Aerial, how is it that you have electronics here? I have not yet seen electricity being used." Nodoka asked, Aerial laughed seductively. "_Oh_, that is easy we use magic to power them, you will be learning how soon, I am going to be your teacher in that." She stated as if everyone knew that. Nodoka looked at her confusion on her face, when they hear a squeal coming from one of the aisles. They turn and a red and blue blur heads straight for Aerial. Unable to get out of the way fast enough Aerial is slammed into and lifted in a spinning hug. "Your gonna be one of my sensei? When? Can we start now? Please!" Ranko blurted out excitedly as she loved meeting her new teachers. Nodoka just shook her head and lowered it into her hand. A small smile across her face. Aerial's eyes bulged as the air is knocked out of her. She gasped for breath but still managed to smile down into a bright shining face with sparkling blue eyes. The bell on the door is heard followed by a familiar laugh and voice. "Well sister, I see you have already met hurricane Ranko." Everyone turned and stared at Seran. "_POPPA SERAN!_" Squealed a happy Ranko as she slammed into him. Seran was expecting this and with the training he received from Ranko was only knocked back a dozen steps. He put his arms around the happy Sylph and smiled down at her. She looked happily back up at him and gave he a big hug. Aerial raised an eyebrow at the scene and mouthed the words 'poppa Seran'. Seran just smiled back sheepishly. /*\*/*\ Soon after Seran arrived Nodoka and Ranko left and continued on their site seeing trip. Nodoka marveled at how the Faeries made their buildings to resemble the nature around them. Keeping one eye on an excitedly exploring Ranko, while the other was on what shops there were and what they had to offer. Soon they left the city and moved on past the palace, before they got completely away from the palace guard, Nodoka stopped and asked where Queen Titiana's borders were and to find out if there was a good picnic spot. She talked briefly with a dwarf guard then the two moved on. They finally came to a stream that is about five miles from the eastern border and decided to stop there. While Nodoka set up their lunch Ranko explored, but at the request of her mother she reluctantly stayed close. When everything was ready Nodoka called Ranko to lunch. "RANKO, DEAR LUNCH!" Ranko came scurrying back, carrying a bouquet of wild flowers. "Ranko, where did you get these?" Nodoka said with a small scowl, as Ranko handed her the flowers. "From my friend, Myeta, she's a nymph. She said it was alright to pick them, I asked." Nodoka looked around but saw no one. She laid the flowers down beside her and served her daughter her lunch. They ate quietly for a few minutes. Then Nodoka put down her plate of half eaten food. She stared off into the distance trying to get her thoughts together. Ranko watched curiously while still eating. "Ranko, do you know why Queen Titiana chose you and I to be her messengers to earth." Nodoka asked her child, who looked slightly confused. "'Cause I can fight, and protect you when we go back." Ranko answered with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Well that is partly right dear, but not the whole story. Ranko do you remember when you met Ukyo?" Nodoka watched her child's face light up with joy. "Yeah she was my bestest friend ever, I sure do miss her." Ranko said with a bowed head. "Yes, little one that is part of it and it is best not bestest." Nodoka corrected, then continued. "Do you remember what happen just after you left Ukyo and before you had that terrible cat fist training." Nodoka asked with a flare of anger. "We stayed in a real pretty forest and ate the food from Ukyo's cart." Ranko looked thoughtful, with a small smile. "Tell me about the forest Ranko?" Nodoka asked her daughter. "During the day it was just a forest, but...oyaji says I shouldn't talk about what happened." Ranko finished uncomfortably. "Ranko he is not here and you are no longer his child. You are mine and I say it is just fine for you to talk about such a _wonderful_ memory." Nodoka had grasped her child's face between her hands, staring earnestly into a pair of uncertain eyes. "Ok, momma." Ranko said nodding her head, while she concentrated trying to get her thoughts together. "At night momma all these fireflies came out it was like the stars came down from the sky to play with me. Oyaji didn't set up the tent, so I laid and watched them moving around the camp." Ranko talked with a wistful smile, while staring blankly into the distance. "I got up and sneaked away. I chased the fireflies all around the forest for most of the night. I think I would have continued to play with them except oyaji woke up and hunted me down *SIGH*." Ranko's eyes began to brim with tears. "He beat me for a really long time, telling me that a man above men don't go around like a little girl chasing lightening bugs. He dragged me back to camp and put me to bed. I'm sorry momma, I'm not very manly anymore am I?" Ranko asked lowering her head. "You don't have to be manly anymore Ranko, you don't even have to womanly. All I ask from you is to be who you want to be, and to be happy. If you don't know who you are don't worry you have plenty of time to figure that out." She told her child while lifting her chin, and smiling proudly at her. "Now what happen next, sweetheart?" Nodoka urged her child on. "The lightening bugs swarmed the camp, but I couldn't keep awake and fell asleep. The next morning we got up real late and oyaji left the cart, it was empty anyway and dragged me from the forest." Ranko said finishing her story for her mother. "I see, well daughter those weren't fireflies those were pixies, and they enjoyed playing with you. When however Genma started beating you they took great offense. When they stormed the camp they put you to sleep then took Genma to meet Queen Titiana and King Oberon. They were not happy of his treatment of you. They consider children as a special gift to be nurtured and loved." Nodoka paused and took a sip of the water she'd been drinking. "You haven't met King Oberon yet have you dear?" Nodoka looked at her daughter over the rim of her teacup, to see her shake her head no. "I guess he can put forth a very frightening visage when he wants too and he did just that when Genma was brought before he and Queen Titiana. Your father being the _coward_ he is groveled at his feet and offered him..." Nodoka paused a tear began to trickle down her cheek. Ranko got up and sat in her mothers lap. She then put her arms around her mother as tears began to flow from Nodoka while she embraced her child. Ranko whispered into her mothers neck. "He offered them _me_ if they would let him go." Nodoka placed her cheek on the top of Ranko's head and let her tears fall. "That was all I was to him wasn't it a means to support himself without any consequences or responsibilities. I do all the work he takes all the rewards *SIGH*, while leaving me to deal with all the consequences." She sat up a little and looked into the sad face of her mother. "Why didn't they take me then, momma?" Ranko asked with sadness and curiosity written on her face. "Well, from what Queen Titiana told me they were going to take you right then and there, but Genma talked them into allowing him to say goodbye first. When the Sylphs came to get you, both you and Genma were gone. They didn't catch up with you until Jusenkyo. They were however watching over you, the Faeries on earth kept an eye out on you, but were not able to stop Genma in his stupidities. The Faeries tried many times to take you from Genma but he would figure out they were there and disappear with you. When they could the Faeries tried to heal you when he got too aggressive. That's why you healed so fast in your old life. The Faeries enchanted you to help you heal if they weren't there." Nodoka looked into Ranko's searching blue eyes, while she stroked her red hair. "Ranko the Faeries are why you have the curse you do. Genma gave you the curse that was inevitable. They fixed it so that you would have the 'Drowned Girl' curse." She told her child, who looked at her with surprise. Ranko turned her head away from her mother and looked to the ground in stunned shock. She then leaned against her mother, and with a gentle sigh, held onto her while she thought about what her mother revealed. Nodoka caressed her daughters hair while she thought. "Momma, why didn't they take me at Jusenkyo, why wait till now to do it?" Ranko asked her mother, while not looking up. "Well part of it was the curse they needed to find a way to fix it, but the only way they found was to make the curse permanent. They found ways to cure the animal curses. It is because you have a human curse they had to do it this way. I don't understand all this magical stuff yet but it will get clearer as we learn more. Plus they couldn't get to you long enough since Genma kept moving around." Nodoka explained to her, still stroking her hair. "When you finally settled they decided that it would be better to bring me with you since you would need your mother, because of your young age. They needed to build up enough magic before they could do the transformation. They also wanted to wait to see if you would finally have a happy life without them taking that last step. After the failed wedding, and nothing changing they decided it was time." Nodoka leaned down and kissed her daughters head. "They converted me first since I would take longer, then you. You had the magic of Jusenkyo which had accelerated the process for some reason, Queen Titiana did not explain that part to well. She is probably waiting till we learn more about magic. I was reborn that morning about two o'clock. When Akane called me to Dr. Tofu's I knew what had happened and knowing Akane's unreasonable temper toward you I came there as soon as I could." She finished still holding her child tightly. A hand placed gently on the back of her head the other wrapped around her waist. Her cheek resting on the top of Ranko's head. Ranko sighed again, then tightened her hug on her mother. Nodoka felt the warm liquid of her tears land on her arm. "I am glad we're together momma, but I wish I could have stayed a guy to do this." She finished in gasping breaths. "It wouldn't have worked dear those girls would never have left you alone, they would have found a way here and destroyed this realm and you in order to claim you." She whispered to her daughter, Ranko nodded her agreement. "We'll make a new life for ourselves here and we will forget the pain of our old lives." Nodoka whispered into her daughters hair, then gave her a kiss while gently rocking her sobbing daughter, her own tears mixing with Ranko's.