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 Eighteen Nodoka finally stopped sobbing but held tightly to Seran, while they waited for Hiromi Masaki to return. They had returned to Hiromi's office an hour ago. When suddenly Nodoka bolted up right her eyes wide with terror. Seran grasped her shoulders and made her face him. "Nodoka, my love what is it what is happening?" He asked with some urgency. "Oh, Seran she has given up, my baby wants to die!" Nodoka collapsed against Seran, the tears flowing again. Seran stood pulling Nodoka to her feet, then headed toward the assistant, a look of determination in his eyes. She was on the telephone and way ahead of the Sylph. She had been watching them closely and felt sorry for the woman in her despair, but when she heard the last part she knew something had to be done to speed up the paper work. She first called the court clerks office and got them to rush the paper work, the called Hiromi with the urgency, telling her boss she can pick up the paper work on the way back to the office. She thought she could hear a young girl screaming in the background. "NOOO! SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO RANCHAN! I FEEL IT, I AM GOING WITH YOU!" Nodoka could hear her over the speakerphone and recognized the young woman's voice; she smiled sadly to herself. /*\*/*\ Ranko's concentration was again beginning to wan; she cast the flight spell because she was too exhausted to fly under her own power. Several times during the flight she and her passenger nearly crashed, but her determination to get the unicorn to safety kept her going. That and when she started losing altitude the fluttercorn would kick her with a hoof. While flying she talked to the fluttercorn, about anything happy she could think of, but she never finished her thoughts because to her they always ended with her being hurt. This brought her down even more and she resolved that when she got the fluttercorn to safety she was going to disappear and never trust anyone again. All people ever do is cause pain and she was tired of being on the receiving end of it. What Ranko didn't know was that fluttercorns were empathic, and the one she carried was sensing her emotions. Each time when she started a happy tale, to when she stopped as it got sad, it also sensed her determination to see it to safety and to vanish without a trace. Ranko started an another slow decent and the fluttercorn was about to prod her when Ranko stopped it. "I'm awake girl, we're landing there in that grove of trees. I will tend your wounds then you will be free to go." Ranko told the unicorn Faerie, with a single tear going down her cheek. [To go home to those that _love_ you. I should have known I would never find happiness.] Ranko thought as her despair filled the air around her. She landed in a small clearing, after setting down the fluttercorn she cast a small light spell. This enabled her to find twigs to build a fire. Digging into her pouch she pulled our her flint and striker. She held them in her hand looking at them; she rubbed her hand over them, as tears streamed down her cheeks. The fluttercorn empathetically felt her sad melancholy feelings and limped up to her. She then placed her head on Ranko's shoulder from behind and snorted softly. Ranko reached up and patted the fluttercorn's nose. "I am sorry girl, this was a present from one of my sensei, Coridan, he was a dwarf. He taught me a lot about axe and hammer fighting and survival in the woods." She wiped her eyes, then started a small fire. She put away the flint and striker, then turned to her patient to examine her. She checked the wings first for any damage that couldn't be fix and that might prevent it from flying. There was none she could see *YAWN*. She shook her head to keep awake, she was so tired, but her patient came first. She then checked its leg. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found it was not broken. Ranko then put her hands on the fluttercorns back and began to cast a healing spell her sprite sensei had taught her. Ranko and the fluttercorn glowed a soft golden yellow, as the glow covered the fluttercorn it seeped into its body healing its wounds and giving it back its strength and energy. When the glow dissipated, Ranko fell to her hands and knees, her head bowed low. When the fluttercorn leaned forward to nuzzle the young elf she could hear her desperately trying to get her breath. "WELL, WELL WHAT DO WE HAVE HEAR!" The deep booming voice bellowed, causing the ground to tremble. Ranko was so exhausted she was ready to pass out, but she struggled to her feet, taking a ready stance. She turned to face the intruder, and to protect the defenseless Faerie creature. She was unsteady on her feet and very weak but she didn't care about herself anymore. She had to make sure the fluttercorn was safe. She flared her aura and that proved too much, she fell to her knees and curled up into a tiny ball. It was through tired tear filled eyes that she watched a huge silver dragon enter the grove. /*\*/*\ The dragon watched from her perch outside her home in the side of the mountain. The moon glinting off her silver scales. Normally a rouge Faerie holds no interest for her, but this one had power she had never before sensed, and from this far away too. The Faerie was still miles away from her shores. The other thing that caught her attention was the fact that the Faerie was carrying a fluttercorn. There must be something very special about that Faerie for a fluttercorn not to bolt; even a wounded fluttercorn will escape all attempts to hold it. The pair finally made it to a clearing near the dragon's home; she took flight she wanted to meet this extraordinary Faerie. When she arrived she watched and listened to the girl talk to the fluttercorn. She couldn't understand why she was crying, was it a happy crying? It didn't _feel_ like it was. She marveled at how the Faerie used the last of her strength to bring the fluttercorn to safety. The dragon had never seen a Faerie do something so selfless, sure they help those in need, but never to the extent where it would risked their own lives. She needed to meet with this young girl. She reached the grove just as the Faerie settled in to build a fire. She wondered why the young girl was crying. She listened to her as she talked quietly to the fluttercorn. She knew there was more to this then just a gift from a teacher, but what it was she didn't know. She watched as the girl struggled through setting up the fire, she was exhausted, but she kept pushing herself for some reason. Once the redhead had the fire lit, the dragon watched as she turned her attention to the fluttercorn. She began to examine every inch taking special care to note where the major wounds were. The dragon was shocked when the young girl then cast a healing spell using the last of her energy reserves to cure the fluttercorn. [This is not good, she can die, with her energy so depleted, I must help.] The silver dragon thought with determination. The silver dragon cast its own healing spell, around the young girl; she healed her giving her the strength to cast the spell. She watched as the girl collapsed but she seemed fine just weak. This confused the dragon she should be fine then realized with amazement that Ranko took the additional strength she had given her and gave it all to the fluttercorn. The dragon smiled as she decided now was the time to meet her guests. "WELL, WELL WHAT DO WE HAVE HEAR!" She announced while entering the grove. The silver dragon watched with awed interest as the young girl did something no Faerie would ever do, she took a martial arts stance. The dragon lifted an eyebrow at this turn of events and was even more determined to meet this girl. Then something dawned on her. [Could this be Seran's pupil?] She thought as she watched Ranko fight to keep her balance. She was even more surprised when the redhead was able to flare her battle aura, not only because of her weakened state but because she was so young to begin with. The dragon was brought out of her thoughts when she saw the Faerie collapse and curl into a tiny ball. The Faerie stared up at her through tired tear filled eyes. The dragon leaned its head down to look at Ranko then it glanced up at the fluttercorn and snorted out a deep resounding laugh. The young girl tried to get to her feet; it was almost as if she thought that the dragon was going to hurt the fluttercorn. Suddenly a bolt of lightening hit the silver dragon's tail, causing her to cry out in pain. She looked up to see an ancient blue circling over her. The silver stood in a protective manor over the young Faerie and fluttercorn. When she heard a faint whisper. "Cerulean, my Cerulean!" The silver looked to the redheaded Faerie then up at the blue, and decided to try something. The silver did not want a fight this close to the village, nor did she want to see the young girl and fluttercorn hurt either. Staying protectively over the girl she called to the blue spiraling closer to her. "CERULEAN! WHY HAVE YOU LEFT THE CHROMATIC'S DOMAIN, TO TRESPASS ON MINE?" Silverfire booms at the blue. The ancient blue lands in front of the silver, knowing she was no match for him in strength or years. He didn't attack because she blocked his path to his soul bonded. He looked to the weakening Ranko then to the silver. "I CAME BECAUSE SHE SUMMONED ME!" The blue responded, its hackles raising as it felt the wood elves sneaking up behind it. "CALL OFF YOUR WOOD ELVES, I AM HERE UNDER A TRUCE WITH TITIANA!" The blue bellowed at the silver. Silverfire raised an eyebrow, and stared at the blue with disbelief. She was about to ask why the queen would call a truce with a blue dragon when she heard the weakening voice of the young Faerie call to the blue. "Cerulean, help me take me away, please!" Came the horsed whisper from Ranko, while tears fell freely. "HOLD ELVES! DO NOT FIRE! YET!" She needed time to figure this out. The silver turned her back for the first time on a chromatic dragon, she leaned into the face of the fluttercorn, the dragon's confusion being felt by the little Faerie unicorn. "Kiri, what is going on here?" The dragon whispered at the fluttercorn to the surprise of the struggling girl. Ranko looked from the fluttercorn to the dragon, in surprise. Then as she watched the dragon began to shift its shape into that of a tall silver hair elf. Fear flashed in her eyes, which was noticed the dragon turned elf. The hunting party of wood elves slowly entered the grove and surrounded the four occupants. They kept a wary eye on the giant blue, which watched the young redhead carefully. They waited as the dragon looked to the fluttercorn for an explanation. The fluttercorn stood protectively over the struggling elf as the dragon waited for her question to be answered. The fluttercorn scowled at the wood elves knowing that somehow elves had caused her savior great pain. The fluttercorn then told of how Ranko had saved it from the orcs and during their flight here _tried_ to tell her happy stories from her life, but all her stories ended with deep sadness, pain, and despair. /*\*/*\ Ranko watched as the fluttercorn looked to be talking to the dragon-lady. She wanted to get up and fight to protect the little creature but she had no strength, her will to live was gone as well. She reached out toward Cerulean, wishing she could die in his arms. With all eyes on the silver-hair elf and fluttercorn Ranko laid her head down for what she felt would be the last time. She closed her eyes and let the darkness wash over her taking away the pain. Now no one would be bothered by her any more, they can all live happy lives. [Bye momma, I still love you even if you don't love me no more.] She passed out her life force slowly ebbing away. /*\*/*\ Raist and Hiromi returned Ukyo to her restaurant, laughing all the way. When they got to the door, Ukyo stopped and became ridged, she then screamed a blood curdling scream that shook the doors. Raist turned her toward him and gasped at the fear and anguish he saw play across her beautiful face. "Ranko something is wrong! OH MY GOD SHE WANTS TO DIE! NNNNOOOOO!" Ukyo screamed collapsing into Raist's arms. The two Faerie folk entered Ucchan's carrying the sobbing girl. The pixies all hovered around the young girl. It was then that, Hiromi's cellphone began to ring. "Moshi, Moshi. Yes I understand, we will be right there." "NOOO! SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO RANCHAN! I FEEL IT, I AM GOING WITH YOU!" Ukyo screamed as she tried to get up from the booth Raist put her in. "No Ukyo you can't she is in the Faerie realm, we will go to her, she will be fine you'll see. We will let you know through the pixies what has happened alright!" Raist told her, he cringed as he stared into eyes of raging fire, and then they slowly closed. He looked up at the pixies that nodded. He smiled at them, then headed back toward Hiromi's office. When they got there Nodoka was in shock staring off at a wall but not really seeing it. Raist went to her but Seran stopped him, Raist scowled up at the Sylph. He then backed up at the look of utter sadness on Seran's face. "She received a faint telepathic message from Ranko. The child told her she loved her even though she didn't love her any longer." A tear escaped his steel blue eyes as he watched Nodoka stare blankly. "She has lost the will to live and Nodoka says she can feel her dying." He gently touched her cheek, as Hiromi and Raist stared dumbfounded. "Then there is hope!" Raist said as he shook himself out of his stupor. He pushed past Seran and grabbed Nodoka by the shoulders; he shook her violently into the waking world. Seran began to glow with anger, but Hiromi stepped in front of him blocking his path to the Faerie mage. "Leave him Seran he knows what he is doing!" Seran scowled but nodded slightly. Nodoka came out of her stupor to look into the anxious face of her friend. She then bowed her head as silent sobs began to rack her body. Raist put his arms around her and began to hurriedly talk to her. "Nodoka, please we must hurry if we are to help Ranko, I can use your link to her and help her stay alive." He told her quickly. "She doesn't want to stay alive Raist, she wants to die." Nodoka stated flatly, tears still falling. "I don't care what she wants she is a child, something must have happened to her to get her this depressed, and when I find out what it was..!" He left his threat dangling, with venom. Nodoka nodded and Raist took her hands in his. Having her connect with Ranko, he began to cast a very powerful healing spell, pushing it into Nodoka, who then tried to force the spell through her telepathic link to her dying daughter. She has never done this, she was frightened she wouldn't be able to do it now. She then felt a strong familiar hand on her shoulder helping her guide the spell. Not all the spell got through the link, but enough of the magic was able to make it too the intended recipient. The three Faeries only hoped that it was enough to do the job. When the spell is finished and Nodoka had completed in sending it through the link, she fell back into the arms of Seran who knelt down and held her against his chest. His arms wrapped around her from behind. Hiromi came up from behind Raist, placing a hand on his shoulder; he turned to look at her. He saw the questioning look on her face; he shrugged at her unanswered question. He turned to the Sylph couple. Nodoka after catching her breath reached with her link to her daughter, pushing her love through the link to her child. She reached trying to touch the mind of Ranko, the tears flowing down her face as the link seemed to be gone. /*\*/*\ The party of Faeries headed out over the orc territory toward the home of Kajri, in hopes that the wood elves or dragons had seen the missing child. Corellon stewing in anger, as he contemplated what he would do to the four elf women who started this. He felt a calming spirit wash over him, knowing it is his mother Rhiannon. He realized he needed to be calm and in control if he was to find her. He reached out with his senses, feeling for her as he did when he visited her at night. He reached for the spark of life that would tell him he is on the right track. He began to worry as he felt nothing; if she was alright he should have felt something, anything. [Are we too late? _NO_ we can't be I won't allow it not now, not when I came this close!] He thought, as he sped up, the others following suit. They head out over the ocean that separated the metallic dragon territory from that of the orcs. The guards kept one eye on the queen as they flew on. Many in the group were tiring, but they couldn't rest until they reached safe lands. That wasn't until the dragon's domain. /*\*/*\ The silver hair elf listened to the thoughts of the fluttercorn, as it told of its capture and escape from the orcs. She told the dragon-lady of the strange things the young Faerie had done to free it and herself. The elf was quite surprised, but continued to listen. Neither of them noticed a wood elf slowly approach them and the young Faerie, but Cerulean did. The wood elf was the village healer, he watched the redhead with some concern as the great lady Silverfire, or Lady Dracon when in elf form communicated with the fluttercorn. Something wasn't right, she was weakening. He could sense it from some thirty feet away. He moved closer too her, and he didn't like what he was _not_ feeling from her. A bolt of lightening landed on the ground in front of him and he paused. He looked at the angry blue with a malevolent stare and continued on. He knelt down and placed a hand on her heart. His movement was caught by Lady Dracon; she turned to scowl at him when he looked up at with sad eyes. "She has lost the will to live, she is almost gone." He stated in a flat tone. "NNNNOOOOO!" All present turned to the blue, Lady Dracon falling into the arms of the healer. The blue began to shimmer and glow a pale golden orange. His body started to shrink and reshape itself into a 6' 2" tall human male he looked to be roughly twenty to twenty-five years old. It is hard to tell human age when you compare to a dragon's. He had the slitted eyes of a dragon, his features reminded the dragon-elf of the young Faerie in front of her. His hair went to his waist and was a sapphire blue. He looked down at himself then up at the changed silver. He then thought no more about it as he ran to the young elf girl and took her in his arms. He brought her close to him, and in that instant a pale golden light surrounded Ranko, the blue held her back slightly. The lady and fluttercorn looked on anxiously when it faded the elf knelt down beside the blue and young girl. Ranko's eyes fluttered open slowly and she looked up at the silver-hair elf, then at the blue hair man that..LOOKED LIKE HER! She passed out from the shock. "Come help me get her to my cave, and no funny stuff blue or I strike." She told the changed blue dragon. "Do not threaten me _young_ one, I eat young dragons for fun!" He scowled at her, while lifting an unconscious Ranko in his arms. They get to her cave and she makes a place for Cerulean to put the young girl she then knelt next to her and shook her lightly. Ranko's eyes slowly open to see the silver hair elf but the other one was not there. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, but is distracted when the elf started talking to her. "I am the Lady Victoria Dracon, you can call me Victoria my dear, how do you feel." She asked as she brushed a strand of wild candy apple red hair from her face. "Let me die, I won't hurt anymore then." Ranko gasped out, as she lowered her head again and closed her eyes. "NO, RANKO...!" Victoria held up her hand to stop the blue. Victoria was not about to let that happen, she again cast her healing spell this time it won't be passed on to anyone or anything else. The spell did its job but Ranko refused to waken it was almost like she refused to be healed. The healer came forward again. "What is it Ijas? Why won't she _heal_?" She asked looking from the girl to him. "It is as I said mistress she doesn't want to live, some great pain has taken hold of her and she won't release it. Until she does we may lose her." He said as he sadly looked at the young Faerie. "_NO_! SHE CAN'T DIE!" Cerulean rushed forward and pulled her into his arms trying to reach into her mind to find out what did this to her. /*\*/*\ Lady Dracon walked over to the blue she knew what he was trying to do. A wood elf started a fire in an alcove near where the young girl laid. She turned when she heard a soft flapping and looked up to see the fluttercorn flying near the roof. "Kiri I thought you went home?" She said staring at the fluttercorn. It thought back to the changed dragon. Victoria nodded, and the fluttercorn landed next to Ranko and watched intently as Victoria place a hand at either side of the girls temple. Cerulean looked up at the silver with an angry scowl. Lady Dracon ignored him as both he and she probed the young girls mind. She then cast an ancient spell, remembered only by dragons for exploring the thoughts of another. Ranko's life as a mortal played out before Victoria and Cerulean in gory detail. She looked up at the blue that stared at her with shocked eyes as he was picking up the images as well. The cruel and torturous training, the loneliness, the curse, the battering at the hands of a violent young girl she had feelings for. The constant fighting to survive, the dishonor of a friend against the young girl, and the need to be the best or lose all he had. The changing, the night terrors, the saving of the blue, the joy of being loved by her mother, and sensei alike. The party the meeting of a god, who knew more then he was letting on. Then came the morning after the horror that she was again alone, that still no one really wanted her, the escape from Titiana's realm. Her landing at the small spring in orc territory the not caring any longer the wanting to die getting stronger. The threat of her continual rape, by those disgusting creatures, then the danger to an innocent. Silverfire marveled at the shear power of the girl, she felt the force of the martial arts techniques she used amazed that a human was able to access her ki to that power. Cerulean could not believe all that his bonded had gone through, he now understood why she fainted when she saw him. He was her, her other side now gone for good but how? Her landing in the grove, and all that happened to get her to this point. Lady Victoria rose, after implanting the sense of her being needed and loved in her mind, which she was. She felt the love that came through that spell to heal her. Through the telepathic link she had with her mother. She hoped the thought she planted would take hold enough to make her want to live. All they could do now was wait. Ijas sat with her wiping her brow in an herbal mixture of orchid, jasmine and lavender, to sooth her jangled nerves. They waited, Ijas sat tending the girl, thinking about what he saw when the Lady went into the child's mind. They could not see what she saw but from the look of pure rage and hatred that went across her face, it must not have been good. He worked cautiously as the blue dragon watched him closely, and suspiciously. He feared that whoever caused this girls pain was going to be in a lot of danger when the two dragons came after them. Ijas actually believed they would join forces just to get revenge. Ijas was still young as elves go, he took over as healer when his father was killed by an orc raid one hundred and fifty years ago. He was two hundred and thirty years old and was still in training when he had to take over. A lot had changed and he had to learn fast. Like most wood elves his skin is well tanned and he is lean but muscular. His hair is black as ebony, and wore to his waist in a braid. He has pointed ears and angular sculptured features. His eyes like his hair were black. He stood tall for most elves at an even six feet. He leaned over and put his ear to Ranko's lips to hear what she began to mumble. "Momma, I'm sorry, I was bad, please love me again!" Ranko mumbles quietly, as Ijas moistened the cloth and put it on her forehead. Ijas sat back and began to scowl, how could a mother not love her child? He gently dabbed the side of her face with the cloth. Under the watchful eyes of the fluttercorn and Cerulean. Ijas' wife came in with a tray of food, for him and his patient. "How is she doing my love?" His wife asked as she sat down. "Not good Mieka, I will be staying the night with her, she must be watched." He stated as he dipped the soft cloth in the herbal mixture and began gently wiping her face and neck. Mieka took the cloth from her husband and smiled. "Eat now, my sweet I will sit with her." Mieka began to gently caress Ranko's red hair while singing an old elf lullaby to her. Mieka like her husband was well tanned, she was just barely over two hundred. She stood, 5' 8" and had reddish brown hair that went to her knees she also wore it braided. Her eyes were a vibrant sparkling blue green. Where her husbands features were hard and chiseled, hers were soft and rounded. Mieka reached over and patted the head of Kiri as she rose and went to the food tray where her husband sat. She bent down and picked up a large cup of broth and a spoon. "Well if I can get her to eat it will help, don't you think?" Ijas smiled and nodded. He watched his wife sit with Ranko's head on her lap and began spooning broth into the unconscious girls mouth, slowly so as not to choke her. All the while singing her elfin lullabies. Cerulean did not like losing control, this was his soul bonded and he must sit by while these _elves_ take care of her. She should be with him in his cave, not a _silver's_ cave. He glared at the two wood elves that seemed to ignore his presence. "Momma, please come back don't leave me, please." Ranko cried out reaching for what she hoped was her mother. Mieka was stunned, and shocked, she reached under the girls arms and pulled her into her lap and cradled her close. She stroked the girls long hair talking soothingly to the child, calming her down. Kiri came up and placed her head in the lap of Ranko, while she sat cringing in Mieka's lap. A young elf came running into the cave, he looked first at Mieka as she held the Faerie girl. He then turned to Ijas, with a harried look, as he began to speak he spotted the morphed blue dragon. The young elf felt the dragon fear come from him and froze in terror. Ijas blocked his site of Cerulean and slapped him once to bring him around. "What is it, Najha?" The young elf shook his head as he faced Ijas. "Lady Dracon has sent me with a warning a party from Queen Titiana's court has landed and the queen is with them. She feels they may have come for the girl." He nodded toward Mieka and Ranko. "Fine I will set up a defensive shield until otherwise informed." He said as the elf was leaving. "Lady Dracon is not going to give her back is she?" Mieka asked with worry while she looked down at the girl clutching to her. "I don't know my pet, I just don't know." Ijas left but was soon back with what he needed. He was just getting started to set up the shield when a strong hand landed on his. He turned to stare into the slitted angry eyes of the blue dragon. Cerulean motioned him toward Ranko and his wife. He reluctantly did as the blue bade him, with wide eyes Ijas watched as the dragon began to cast a dragon warding spell much stronger then anything he could ever erect. When the dragon finished Ijas watched as the dragon began to change shape and transform back into his original shape. He watched as the dragon took a guard position right in front of the door, watching out toward the woods. Ijas slowly moved closer to his wife's side. He looked at his wife who was rocking the girl and trying to get her to eat a little more broth. He smiled at her and knew when their child was born. She would be a wonderful mother. His smile dropped to a scowl as he thought about the woman that abandoned this young Sylph. /*\*/*\ The rescue party had landed near the village, Kajri leading them. Titiana followed her, with Oberon by her side. Corellon Larethian closely behind them. The rest of the party bringing up the rear. They were met at the outskirts of the village by twenty armed wood elves, and more could be detected in the forest around them. "It is I Kajri, we are looking for a missing Sylph child have you seen her, we believe she came this way?" Kajri asked from a distance knowing better then to advance upon them. "We have her, and here she will stay." Came a soft silky voice.