Ranma 1/2: A New Awakening Alternate Continuation (minor crossovers) By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror Site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Co-author & Concept by: "Jerry" starfire@brainerd.net Chapter Thirty Nine A blanket full of partially eaten food was spread in the sand. One corner of the blanket flapped in the slight breeze. There were two sets of footprints that led away from the blanket toward the crashing sound of the waves. Two people stood ankle deep in the ocean the shorter woman leaning into the protective arms of her male companion. Her long bright red hair fluttered slightly in the wind while the main portion of her hair floated on the surface of the water. They walked down the golden sand beach the crystal blue water lapped gently at their feet. The woman stopped forcing the man with her to stop as well. She turned and looked out across the water the setting sun filled the sky with a rainbow of colors. She then turned to face the man whose arms she was tightly embraced. “Seran, do you think we did the right thing?” Nodoka asked her husband her back still toward him. “In relation to what, my dear?” He asked her as he kissed the top of her head. “Allowing Mousse and Ukyo to come over? I mean both were a large part of Ranko’s problems in her previous life. I am just afraid they will go back to their old ways.” Nodoka’s shoulders slumped as Seran wrapped his arms tightly around her. “I don’t know beloved. I do know that there is something else going on with our children. I can feel it. I felt it when we entered the throne room yesterday.” Seran turned his wife toward him his gaze hard and searching. “There is another reason for Ukyo and _Micca_ to join us. The three of them are connected to one another long before the crossover. I do not know what it is but I felt it when I did the dream walk with Ranko and Micca.” Nodoka looked at her husband in shock, her hand gently caressing his cheek. “In what way? Why didn’t you say something?” Nodoka’s eyes filled with hurt. “That’s just it I can’t explain it, I don’t understand it myself. Those three children are connected by their souls more then just soul mates or soul bonded. There is something else..something _divine_ in the connection.” Seran told her as he pulled her tightly to him. Nodoka thought about what Seran had said and she shivered in his arms. This caused Seran to tighten his grip around her. Nodoka’s tears flowed as her mind raced with Seran’s words. [‘Something _divine_ he said. OH! KAMI-SAMA why can’t you leave my child alone. Let her finally have some peace and happiness. They all deserve it!] She then pulled back and looked up at her husbands handsome face. "What do you think the changes will be in the children?" She asked him, while her tears continued to flow. "Don't worry beloved the children will be fine you will see. Now Titiana sent us here for the day so you could relax. The children will be coming out in a day or two so stop worrying." Nodoka laughed with very little mirth. "I can do nothing but worry." She said as she looked out across the waters. Seran pulled her tighter to him, her head resting against his chest. Seran laid his head down on top of Nodoka his cheek resting against the top of her head. His grip on his wife tightened as he felt her shudder with quiet sobs. His one hand moved to cup her face. He turned his head slightly and kissed the top of her head, 'shhing' into her hair. "Seran _what if_ I am wrong for allowing the other two to join us! I don’t want Ranko’s first chance at happiness destroyed!” 7Her statement was whispered through sobs into her husband's chest. "I mean if they do we can't send them back to earth they can not return to being humans. I don't want Ranko to go through what she did before we crossed over. She needs a new life and a happy stable home." Nodoka sobbed as she watched the sun slowly set. "Nodoka, you know the lives they led. Their lives in one way or another were so much the same that they all deserve the right to relive them with good parents. Then there is what Corellon told us about the Egyptian Goddesses. The children have a destiny to fulfill and it is one that is done together." Seran's grip tightened, when he felt Nodoka stiffen. "Why my children why must they be the ones to have this destiny thrust upon them. Whey can't the Kami fight their own battles? Why must Ranko and her friends always be the ones they use!" Nodoka's tears dried as the heat from her aura turned them to vapor. Seran just smiled and bent down and kissed his wife. Her aura winked out as she looked into his eyes as his lips closed in on hers. He kissed her deeply for several minutes. The gentle waves lapped against there ankles. He pulled away slightly and looked earnestly into her eyes. His gaze searching hers for his answer. "Nodoka, they are our children now, they are no more then babes. They will grow healthy, happy and loved. Something they were not given in their mortal life. You and I will make them into a family, they have already let their past lives fall behind them. We must do the same, I know that Ukyo and _Mousse_ caused _Ranma_ great hardship and pain in his previous life. That life is gone now and so is your son. That previous life killed him, as it did Ukyo and Mousse." Seran stared deeply into his wife's eyes, he watched her emotion flicker quickly through her eyes. "They are starting a new life one that has made many changes in them and those around them. Give our children a chance my love let them show you that you made the right choice in allowing them the wondrous gift of a new beginning." He watched as Nodoka mulled his words over in her mind. Seran watched as the love for Ranko and the fear of what might happen with the other two warred on his wife's face. He also watched as her growing love for their new son and soon to be daughter slowly showed itself. He smiled when she looked up to him and smiled brightly at him. He pulled her into another passionate kiss, lifting her in his arms, he turned and headed for their picnic blanket. "IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU NOTICED I WAS HERE!" Seran stopped dead, he and Nodoka staring wide eyed at their guest. /*\*/*\ Akane slowly walked to the special training she was being forced to take. Nabiki walked with her to make sure she went and to see if there is anything she wanted to be trained in. She missed a lot of the extra curricular activities growing up. Nabiki watched her little sister closely, yesterday was a hard day for her. She learned she was not the best though Akane still refused to believe that. She lost her fiancé for good this time. Kuno had stepped up his attempt to capture the fair Akane Tendo's heart and this morning her little sister learned her first crush was marrying Kasumi. Nabiki just shook her head. Nabiki's brow furrowed as she remembered the reaction of her family to Kasumi's news this morning. Nabiki snorted in disgust not believing what had happened. She looked to her younger sister and a flash of anger crossed her face but didn't stay there long. ***Flashback*** Everyone was sitting at the table, drooling over the food Kasumi had placed on the table. Though no one touched it as the Tendo matriarch had forbidden it. She sat at the end of the table across from her father, nervously looking from her father to Akane. She looked at Nabiki who smiled and gave her a slight nod to get started. Kasumi took a deep breath and looked at her family a small shy smile appeared on her face. "While I was cooking breakfast this morning, I had a visitor." She paused and looked at the semi-bored faces before her, only Nabiki seemed interested, a proud smile on her face. "It was..um..ah..mynewfiance!" Kasumi blurted out then rose quickly from the table and bolted for the kitchen to get more tea. Nabiki watched her go, a smirk on her face. She shook her head and a small chuckle escaped her. Not the normal sarcastic chuckle she usually gave but on of mirth and happiness. This did not go unnoticed by her little sister and father. Soun and Akane watched as the unflappable woman scurried away like a frightened mouse. Their brows creased with concentration as they deciphered what Kasumi had told them. Nabiki watched them curiously her keen eye picking up their thought processes. She followed them by the emotions flashing across their faces. She watched first as Akane realized what was said then their father. Their reactions surprised her as she thought they would be happy for the eldest daughter. "WHAT!" Screamed Akane and Soun together. "KASUMI!" Came another simultaneous cry form the two Tendos. Kasumi slowly returned to the table a pot of tea in her hands. She knelt down next to Nabiki while placing the tea on the table. She then clasped her hands in her lap and bowed her head, her eyes filling with tears. Nabiki reached over and took her older sister's hand and squeezed it. Kasumi looked up at her younger sister and smiled sadly at her. Nabiki then turned her Ice Queen gaze on Soun and Akane who deflated slightly and returned to their positions at the table. "K..Kasumi who has done this?" Soun asked with a slight stutter of fear as his middle daughter glared at him. "I have _excepted_ the proposal of Dr. Ono Tofu. We will hopefully be married quickly so we can start a new life together." Kasumi told him her gaze hard and her back straight as she took strength to stand up against her father from Nabiki. The cracking of porcelain was heard. Kasumi and Nabiki looked to see Akane squeezing her tea cup to the point of breaking. Soun stared at his eldest daughter a myriad of emotions running across his face. One of which was fear, that passed when he looked at Akane then at the food on the table. The other and the one that settled in was anger. "I FORBID IT! YOU MUST STAY AND TAKE CARE OF US! WE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, UNTIL THEY ARE MARRIED AND I AM WITH YOUR MOTHER!" Soun's demon head formed around him as he shouted at Kasumi. Nabiki watched anxiously as the happiness she saw that morning in her big sister's eyes began to fade. She looked to Akane for help but she didn't get any. Akane's head was bowed and Nabiki could see the tears forming but her aura was blazing so brightly that they evaporated before even leaving her eyes. "HOW DARE YOU! HE SHOULD BE MINE! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SADDLED WITH THAT SEX CHANGING PREVERT!" Akane's fist clenched and unclenched as her aura got darker and darker. Kasumi stood and walked toward Akane her gaze as hard as diamonds. Nabiki tried to stop her but couldn't. Kasumi stood a few feet from her little sister her eyes flashing rage. An aura blazed around Kasumi its shifting colors between green and blue. Her family stood shocked their mouths hung opened. Akane's aura winked out. The whole family began to shake with fright as a ghostly image of Kimiko Tendo superimposed itself over her. "I will _not_ have you address me in that manner! Tofu-sensei _was NEVER_ yours. Your violent nature toward Ranma disgusted him! I was forced into the role as mother and I took it gladly to help my sisters grow happy and healthy. Well I failed didn't I. Well at least one sister has learned from her mistakes." Kasumi's aura grew brighter as she looked from Soun to Akane, a warm smile crossed her lips when she gazed at Nabiki. "You have done nothing but dishonor our family with your unwarranted attacks on poor Ranma, now to protect him from you the Faerie folk have claimed him. He however still showed he cared for you by stopping his father from stealing all that we had. You are not happy though are you? You got your wish Ranma is out of your life, but that messes things up doesn't Akane? Now you have no one to blame _your_ mistakes on! No one here for you to poison with that _slop_ you call food." Kasumi eyes have narrowed to tiny slits as ten years of oppression escaped her. The family just stared at Kasumi like she now had two heads. In a small way she did as the ghostly image of Kimiko still stood over her. It scowled at her family disgust evident on her beautiful ghostly face. True tears filled Soun's eyes as he stared at his daughter/wife, his heart breaking as it is Kimiko's voice he heard, accusing him. Not that of his enslaved daughter Kasumi's. "You are a fool little sister Ranma loved you, he _KILLED_ for you! Yet you would never give him the one thing he craved. The one thing he needed most of all from you! Your unconditional love and trust. No you saved all your trust and caring for that dishonorable Hibiki boy! Who slept in your bed and tried you kill your fiancé." Tears rolled down Kasumi's face slowly drying due to her glowing blue-green aura. "I will marry Ono Tofu and when we are married I will leave this house and not return. Until then I am the eldest and as such _YOU_ will start your special training classes today or you will find somewhere else to live! I have had it with you and father! He nearly cost us our home and freedom. by blindly turning everything over to that _bastard_ Genma Saotome. A collective gasp escaped everyone at Kasumi's chosen words. You and your temper have cost us just as much! You stole from us our future brother!" Kasumi's eyes suddenly widened with shock. The group watched as the ghost of Kimiko stepped forward into Kasumi's field of vision. Kasumi stared at the image of her mother. She slowly reached out to touch her beloved mother but her hand touched only air. Kimiko smiled at her eldest pride evident on her face. Though they had not seen her mouth move they heard her voice in their hearts and mind. {I am sorry daughter, but you needed to release those emotions or you and your beloved Ono could never be happy. You did a wonderful job in my absence, but it was not your job to undertake nor was it Nabi-chan's to take over the finances. I am ashamed that your father allowed this to happen, but now it is up to him to run _his_ family.} Kimiko tried to stroke Kasumi's face but she had no substance and her hand passed harmlessly through her daughter. {AKANE! You will do as you are told and DO NOT ever raise your voice against Kas-chan again!} Kimiko told her youngest without even bother to look at her. {You will now get ready for your classes and when you see _Ranko_ again _YOU WILL_ apologize to her for your behavior toward her when she was your fiancé!} Kimiko faded away as she finished her last command her family felt the pain of her loss again, as they all broke down into body wracking sobs. ***End Flashback*** Nabiki looked again at her sister jealousy would had flashed across her face as their mother had at least talked to her. Instead a small smile crossed her lips as she remembered her mother’s parting words to only her. “Nabs-chan I was ashamed of what you became, but now I have nothing but pride for you. You showed true strength by confession your wrongs and working to change them. Good luck daughter I will watch over you.” She was brought from her mother by a shout near by. "WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW! RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" The familiar battle cry brought both girls to an abrupt halt. Akane's battle aura flared as she stomped off toward the voice, cracks appearing in the concert as she went. Nabiki watched her, sadness flashing quickly across her face. She realized her sister's dream of being a great martial artist will always be out of her reach and leave her nothing but a bully. Nabiki followed Akane in the hopes she could prevent her little sister from killing the lost boy. She rounded the corner Akane had turned and stopped and stared in shock. There in front of her glowing sister groveled Ryoga. He was prostrating himself on the ground in front of her mumbling his usual excuse. "Akane-san it is all Ranma's fault." He repeated this over and over. Nabiki's eye brow shot up as she watched Akane's aura blink out. She grew angry while she watched her sister aid the lost boy to his feet and smile sweetly at him. This caused Ryoga to start the fantasy playing in his mind (Fantasy #27 Akane smiled at me!). Nabiki's aura flared into existence. "It's alright Ryoga I should have known that pervert was behind all of this." Nabiki blew a major blood vessel. She stormed up to Akane pushing Ryoga roughly. She did not however notice she pushed him some thirty yards away. Nabiki then slapped Akane sending her twice as far. Nabiki watched shocked for a moment then quickly regained her composer and anger. She stormed over to her sister. "I guess strength runs in the family!" Nabiki snarled down at her sister who had hit a wall and was sitting on the ground. "WEREN'T YOU PAYING ATTENTION THIS MORNING! HOW CAN YOU FORGIVE HIM! HE LIED TO YOU, HE SLEPT IN YOUR BED! FOR KAMI SAKE _HE_ SAW YOU NAKED AND YOU TAKE HIS SIDE AGAINST RANMA!" Nabiki screamed at her cringing sister. "You will never change little sister you will always believe the world will revolve around you, but you had better change and quick because we won't tolerate it any longer." Nabiki's eyes flashed rage her aura blazing almost black. Nabiki leaned down and grabbed Akane roughly by her arm. She began to haul the fallen girl to her feet. Her anger still evident. Akane gasped out in pain as Nabiki squeezed her arm, and the aura began to burn through the sleeve of her dress. "YOU LEAVE AKANE ALONE!" Ryoga charged Nabiki his umbrella drawn and ready to crash into her untrained body. /*\*/*\ Nabiki watched her eyes wide with horror as Ryoga charged her. Akane still caught in Nabiki’s grip. Nabiki’s aura gone. Her emotions ran between, 'it is about time the bitch got some of her own back!' To 'OM MY GOD SHE WON'T SURVIVE AN ATTACK FROM RYOGA!' Akane tried to move to break free of her sisters grasp. She had to help her sister but her body wouldn't answer her call to action. "RYOGA NO!" Was all she could do, as Ryoga's umbrella arced down toward Nabiki's head. /*\*/*\ The castle was busy in its daily routine, the servants and maintenance workers moving around the pod at a safe distance. Titiana would giggle if one of them got to close to the pod and a small electric shock crashed into their posteriors. Cerulean never shot a bolt that would harm anyone. Just one that would let them know they were to close for his comfort. She was glad to have gotten Seran and Nodoka to take a short day trip since the children won't be out for at least another day. Their nerves were frazzled and after what happened the day before, they needed to get away. ***Flashback*** Kajri and Tuik returned to the throne room. Tuik glared angrily at his son who cringed slightly but stood his ground. Tuik walked up in front of his king and queen and bowed deeply to them. He then turned and bowed just as deeply to the Aurora leaders. "FATHER!" Tuik stood and faced his angry son. "How can you bow to _her_! She is nothing but a mongrel her and those three rotten brats! After what they did to my Miya you should be..!" He was cut off by a cold and artic glare from his father. "You're lucky I was not here when your wife and the hags she hangs around hurt that child. I would have demanded they be put to _death_!" Tuik snarled at his son gasps were heard throughout the throne room. Nodoka turned to face the pod her eye brow raised in curiosity. Seran turned with her and watched as she approached the pod with halting steps. Seran followed her. They both knelt by the pod the rest of the group finally noticing their actions. "Nodoka what is it? What is wrong?" Titiana asked with worry as she saw tears flowed down the woman's face. Nodoka reached out and touched the pod. They watched as it moved and expanded slightly as if someone inside was trying to reach out to her. Seran leaned in moving his hand toward the bulge. He and Nodoka touched it at the same time. A bright light flashed from the pod and covered the two Aurora adults. The whole room was quite and in shock as they watched the events unfold. The light was mostly white but there was a blue-green tint to it. The glow covered the adults completely for no more then a few seconds then faded. "I heard her call to me!" Nodoka whispered as she gently caressed the pod. "Our telepathic link has finally returned." Nodoka looked to her husband tears flowing down her face. "What was that glow Nodoka can she tell you?" Kajri asked before anyone else could. Nodoka looked to the pod. She kneeled quietly as if talking to someone inside. It was not Nodoka who answered however. To the surprise of everyone including Nodoka and himself it was Seran who replied. "It was the combined auras of the children. They can hear what is going on and they wanted a stronger connection with us. The auras bonded us with our children strengthening Nodoka's link with Ranko and bringing it back to her. It also added links to Micca and Ukyo. They also added me to the connection." Seran did not look up he just stared at the pod before him, and like his wife gently stroked its surface. "Oberon is that possible? I mean without our help?" Titiana asked her gaze falling nervously upon the pod. "I told you, you would rue the day you brought these _humans_ into our midst." Rohn snarled as he stared at the pod. "I suppose it is quite possible since they combined their skills. I do not know enough about the use of their life force to understand it completely." Oberon after glaring at Rohn answered his wife. "I may be able to help explain it." The group turned at the deep voice to see Cerulean in human from. "I have been sensing a strange mix of power inside the pod. It is not only the magic you used to encase them but also that of the Egyptian Goddesses that visited last night." Cerulean raised an eyebrow at the scream that came from the elves in front of him. "WHAT! WHAT GODDESSES!" The simultaneous shouts carried far down the corridors of the castle. "During our watch last night Bastet and Sekhmet paid us a visit. They came to gift the children with a special blessing and gift. They told Corellon Larethian and us that the children were now their Avatars. That at their births these three were linked with a special soul bonding by the Gods." The group gasped and stared wide eyed at the pod. "NNNOOOO! WHY CAN'T THEY LEAVE MY CHILD ALONE!" Nodoka wailed as Seran wrapped his arms around her. "They are to be the generals of the Gods as there is to be a battle against an evil the Gods can not fight alone." Cerulean continued as if Nodoka did not even speak. "Did they say when the children would be needed?" Oberon asked his voice cracking over the word children. "No just that they would be and that they are now the avatars of the cat goddesses." Cerulean said shaking his head. Tuik watched the ancient blue in front of him he had not believed his wife when she told him of the curses being transferred to the blue. He can not deny it now for only Reds have the ability to shape shift into elf form, of the chromatic dragons. Tuik squinted his eyes as he stared and noticed a strange sheen to the blue's hair. He couldn't place it but he would have to figure it out later. "Nodoka dear why don't you and Seran take some time for yourselves. You can take a picnic lunch and go to the beach for the day." Titiana suggested softly to the sobbing woman. "No! I can't leave my children they need me!" Nodoka whispered as she held tighter to her husband. "Come beloved they are not ready for us let us go and relax tomorrow they should come forth and if Ukyo is anything like Ranko and Micca we're going to need all our strength." The last statement got a chuckle from the distraught woman. Seran helped Nodoka to her feet. Titiana motioned for a servant to fetch a picnic lunch for the couple. Seran held Nodoka to him as she looked over her shoulder and stared down at her children. {Take care my darlings your father and I will be back soon!} She told her children {Yes, and behave if you come out before we get back!} Seran added although never having the ability it felt kind of silly thinking at the pod. "WE WILL MOMMA AND POPPA!" Came three distinct voices. Seran stared in awe at the pod the others watching him and the Aurora matriarch closely. She laughed, sounding like a hundred crystal bells. She leaned up and kissed the cheek of her husband, then shook her head at his expression. "Don't worry dear you will get use to it, we both will." She laughed again as the servant returned with the basket. ***End Flashback*** "Eeep!" Titiana jumped slightly when a hand was laid on her shoulder. She turned to see her husband smiling at her, she smiled back and leaned into his embrace. She didn't care if it was proper or not. Oberon wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her to him tighter. Then encased them in shadows to give them a bit of privacy. "Ahm Hmm" Two exasperated sighs escaped the shadowy blob next to the Aurora pod. Oberon pulled back the shadows from his wife and lowered their intensity around himself. The royal couple turned and faced a glaring Rohn. They both dared him to say anything, but he was showing good judgment and kept his mouth shut this time. He did however add it to his list of mistakes Titiana was making. "The Gray Wolf Clan has arrived and wishes an audience and to see the _pod_!" Rohn's disgust was evident.