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 Forty Three The two girls looked down at the items their departing sister had given them. They then looked up to watch her leave carrying the chest with her. She was followed by an angry scowling Tofu and a smirking Cologne. They then stared at their father still standing where he had been his gaze locked on the bloody katana. The two younger Tendos left him there and headed to their rooms. When they reached the hallway the stopped and both stared at the open door to Kasumi's room. They looked at each other and entered the room. All of Kasumi's possessions still remained. It was as if she wanted nothing to remind her of her lift here. The sat down on their older sister's bed and faced each other. Their eyes filling with tears of shame and regret. They then examined each of the gifts left for them by their sister and mother. Akane stared down at the locket. It had looked very old. It was a soft silver and looked to have been taken special care of. The locket was about two inches long and two inches wide. It was a square hanging by one corner giving it a diamond shape. The front of the locket was a filigree design over a mother of pearl background. In the center was a small star ruby stone. She opened the locket and gasped as inside she found two pictures. One of her mother and father on their wedding day. The other of her and her sisters. She jumped when the locket disappeared from her hand. She looked up to see Nabiki staring at the photos inside the locket a sad wistful look on her face. She looked up at her sister her tears streaming down her cheeks as handed the locket back to her. Akane took it and placed the locket back in the midnight blue velvet pouch that held it. She then moved to sit next to Nabiki. "Don't worry sis, we can get copies made for you. We will go and get a locket for you to keep them in as well." Akane held her sister tightly unsure how to take this new Nabiki. "T..Thank you Ak..Akane!" Nabiki tried to stop her tears but years of holding back her emotions did not help her. Akane reached out and picked up the red velvet pouch that Kasumi gave Nabiki. She turned it upside down and let the contents fall to the bed. Next to the Alexandrite pendant they both had laid a small but delicate ring. Nabiki reached down and picked it up. The ring was made of pink, yellow and white gold woven into a braid, they met at the center point forming a twisting rope braid in the shape of a heart. In the center of the heart sat a star sapphire. The rest of the heart was filled with tine opals. The two girls stared at the ring and felt a warmth come over them. Nabiki placed the ring back in the pouch as Akane had done with her locket. They then looked at the pendants given to them by Kasumi. They were identical. Both hung from a silver cord chain. The pendant was a tear drop shaped Alexandrite stone of green shifting to blue. The stone was quite heavy was two and half inches long. The widest part of the tear drop was at least three quarters of an inch in diameter. The two girls each put the pendants over their heads. The forty three inch chain hung from their necks. The stone landing just above their belly buttons. The sat in their sister's room holding the pouches to them and holding each other. They stayed their as the sun slowly set leaving the two young girls in darkness. They never left the room as they slowly fell to the pillow and held each other as the fell asleep. Not carrying that they had left their father in shock staring at the bloody katana on the floor before him. /*\*/*\ Kasumi walked with grace and dignity from her home. She never looked back. She turned and headed toward the park the chest held protectively against her chest. She walked with blurred vision as her eyes filled with tears she refused to shed. Her Faerie friends staying close to her. They feared she would try and again to commit suicide. She paused for a moment then looked up at her small companions and smiled at them. "I will not give him the satisfaction of that my little friends. I have a new life to live and I am going to live it." She told with determination as her tears finally came. "Can I join you in that life?" Kasumi turned at the deep voice behind her. She stared into the dark brown eyes of Tofu Ono, her fiancé. She smiled at him then held out her hand to him. He reached out and grasped it. A small breeze ruffling their hair enough to see pointed ears on both of them. Cologne stopped behind them. She stared wide eyed as she knew Kasumi was a crossover but did not know Tofu had joined her. She pogoed up to the young couple her eyes shining brightly. "Well child, what is next for you?" Kasumi turned to the elder behind her a frown on her face. "I am going to live with my _mother_!" She stated flatly. "I have nothing here any longer!" Kasumi's cold voice sent a shiver up Cologne's spine. The ancient Amazon noticed at Kasumi's last statement her hand tightened on the young doctors. She also noticed as her angry gaze flitted toward the Tendo Dojo, the anger shifted slightly to pain then back to anger. She stared back in the direction of the dojo and wondered what happened in that house. As she and Tofu came in at the end. She wondered what the patriarch could have done to make the gentle Kasumi enraged to this state. "Come let us go child, I am sure your little friends will be happier when they are away from what ever is making you angry." Cologne hopped off in the direction that Kasumi was heading. "Elder?" Kasumi asked leaving the question unasked. "What child? As the ruling matriarch here in Japan I must eventually pay a visit to your Queen Titiana. It would be rude not to thank her personally for her acceptance of the treaty between our peoples." Cologne told her as she smirked at the shocked look on the girls face. "But..?" Kasumi was stopped by a raised hand from the elder. "I know all the rules child, including not partaking of any Faerie refreshments. I am well versed, thanks in part to Silverwind." The name struck a cord in Kasumi's memory and she nodded. The three and half a dozen pixies and sprites headed toward the park. Kasumi watched the elder from the corner of her eyes, unsure if it should be her to bring the Amazon to her home. The elder was not really summoned by the queen and this could cause more trouble then help. She turned when she felt a gentle squeeze of her hand. She smiled as she looked into the worried eyes of her fiancé. He had taken the small chest and was carrying it for her. Her smile brightened up his heart. He smiled back knowing that now their life was going to begin. He is sorry for how it had come about but he was not going to risk loosing the woman he loved. Kasumi lowered her head to his shoulder as they walked, and he slipped his arm around her waist. They continued to walk in silence as they progressed toward the hidden grove to return to Illondra. They watched as the sun slowly set in the distance. The sky filled with bright vibrant colors as the sun slowly set. As they slowly progressed the colors darkened and faded to a darkening blue until finally it was a deep purple with a hint of the sun's glow still in the sky. The entered the clearing as the sun's light finally faded. Cologne stared at the boulder before her. She could feel the power coming from it. She hopped closer and examined the stone and the markings placed on it. She then looked to Kasumi who took her pendant from beneath her close. Cologne watched as the gems began to glow and travel from one stone to the other until it surrounded the center stone. She watched as the light traversed to the center stone causing a shaft of light to explode forward. The light hit the boulder causing the runes to light up with a red glow. Before Kasumi a vortex opened with spiraling colors of red, blue, green, yellow, purple and orange. The small group followed Kasumi through to find themselves in a small forest surrounded by unicorns and other forest animals. Kasumi smiled at the shocked looks on her guests faces. She greeted her friends and told them they were headed toward the castle and to have her mother met her there. They nodded then took off. Kasumi watched as they disappeared into the forest. She waited until the last of her woodland friends had disappeared. She then turned to the others and looked at them with a tilted head as they stared at her their mouths agape. She looked down to notice her clothes had shifted to her flowing green-blue robes. Nothing new there, that always happened when she came home. She then felt her face, no nothing different there, well maybe a little thinner then before. She looked back at her companions and noticed that they were pointing behind her. She turned but nothing was there. "Un..UNICORNS!" Came a stuttered shout from her fiancé. "*GIGGLE!* Yes dear, you will also see more dragons, flying horses, fluttercorns and a whole host of other mythical animals." Kasumi told the two shocked people as she continued to giggle. <"Through the heart of Alexandrite I call upon the gift of flight for me and for my friends!"> The strange language that Kasumi started speaking pulled the stunned doctor and Amazon from their shock. Their eyes then widened as they and Kasumi began to float toward the top of the trees. With Kasumi's aid once they were above the trees they flew off toward their destination. Their flight was uneventful and the new guests to the realm enjoyed viewing the wondrous sites of Illondra. Kasumi, however, was not enjoying the flight. She was worried. The guard towers were empty and many of the soldiers that usually patrolled this route were gone. As they neared the palace Kasumi suddenly stopped their flight. The sudden stop caused Tofu and Cologne to turn. They saw the shock on the elder Tendo's face and turned to where she was looking. In the distance was a beautiful palace, well it would have been if it wasn't for the acid marks and bloody bodies that littered its courtyard. Towering over the destruction stood a copper dragon. Kasumi started casting a spell to ward off the dragon when a glint of sun light caused her to stop. She changed her spell to sight of an eagle and stared at a spot on the dragon's forehead. She recognized the embedded coat of arms and shook her head. "I don't believe it they got another one!" Kasumi said with a small half frown half smirk. "What are you talking about child shouldn't we do something about that attacking dragon!" Cologne asked worry in her three hundred year old voice. "No, not really. First it is a metallic dragon. Their the good guys." Kasumi started but was cut off by a retort from Cologne. "He doesn't seem to be very good to me!" She sneered as she watched the dragon mow down a group of dark skinned elves. "He is, you may not be able to make it out but he bears the coat of arms of the Aurora clan on his forehead." She pointed toward the giant lizard, as she used her eagle site to see who it was fighting. "He is fighting an arm of drow elves! We must hurry the palace is under attack!" Kasumi finished heading toward the royal palace her companions in tow. They reached it gates of the court yard fifteen minutes later. The battle pretty much over. The dragon turned as was about to attack them when he noticed the aura around the brown hair girl. He stared down at her his eyes narrowing. She interned didn't flinch even though Cologne and Tofu stood in fear of the behemoth before them. The dragon then bowed to Kasumi. "GREETINGS ALEXANDRITE PRINCESS! WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER? SHE COULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL THIS DAY!" The dragon asked as he stared at the other two immobile people. "She is coming. What happened?" Kasumi asked. "SOMEONE SHADOW WIZARD CALLED BALKIER ATTACKED WITH DROW ELVES! I WAS ABLE TO HELP SOME IN THE FIGHT WITHIN BUT EVEN WITH MY CONTROL OVER MY ACID IT WAS TO DANGEROUS FOR ME TO CONTINUE! I MIGHT HAVE HIT THE KING OR QUEEN! NOT TO MENTION ONE OF MY NEW FAMILY, SO I KEPT THESE FROM ENTERING THE FRAY INSIDE!" The dragon told her as he looked around at the bodies littering the courtyard. "I see, we will go inside and check on the others will you tell mother when she arrives?" Kasumi asked sweetly as the dragon nodded. The copper then turned to search for any more attackers. Once he turned the corner Tofu and Cologne was able to move again. They took a deep breath then Tofu headed for some of the nearby bodies to see if he could help them. He was stopped by a gentle hand on his arm. He turned and looked into the hard eyes of the woman he loves. He could not believe the hatred that resided there. "They are not worth saving, they are drow elves. Though if I thought we could save any of their lives I would, but it would only be for their execution. They are dead when a dragon fights they leave no living." Kasumi turned and entered the palace Cologne following her. Tofu shuddered at the hatred he had seen in her eyes. He looked down at the bodies around him his martial art senses telling him the truth of Kasumi's statement. He slowly followed the others into the palace keeping his senses open for any victims still alive. He caught up with the women at a set of large doors. He came up and listened as Ranko told the group a tall blonde regal looking women was with child. Ok with children. He stretched his senses again and found she was correct. He noticed Cologne also checking the validity of Ranko's statement. The trio entered the room and walked toward the small group of adults. They listened as a man going in and out of shadows tried to reason with the tall blonde whose happiness filled the room. Even with all the death around her, it did not seem out of place. "Beloved, don't get your hopes up, she can be wrong!" Oberon whispered at his wife trying to save her from the pain if she is not with child. "But she isn't!" Came the ancient voice of Cologne. "COLOGNE!" Nodoka looked in shock at the Amazon elder. Then Nodoka's eyes focused on who else was there. Her mouth opened in utter shock. She froze at the pained look on Kasumi's face. The Aurora matriarch rose and went to the heir to the Alexandrite Witches throne. She took the woman in her embrace and though Kasumi tried not to she broke down and cried on her _auntie's_ shoulder. "Shh, child it is alright. You are here now where you belong. "AAAARRRRGGGGG!" The screams startled everyone. They turned toward the scream and found several of the queen's guard frozen in a state of dragon fear the reason being the giant head of a copper dragon sticking through one of the windows. It looked with disgust at the cowering soldiers then turned its attention toward Nodoka and Kasumi. "THE ALEXANDRITE WITCH PRINCESS AS ARRIVED. SHE IS ON HER WAY IN AND SHE ISN'T HAPPY!" A bolt of lightning landed near the coppers head. The dragon turned to see a sapphire hair man standing not far from him. The copper's eyes narrowed with rage as he opened his mouth to let loose with a blast of acid. "NNNNOOOOO!" The weakened cry came from Ranko as she struggled to stop the copper. "Wind Raven! _DO NOT_ attack the bonded of Micca and Ranko!" Came the stern reprimand from Nodoka. "Cerulean _YOU WILL NOT_ attack another member of the Aurora clan DRAGON OR OTHERWISE!" Nodoka glared at the indifferent blue hair man. Cerulean just turned and walked away changing into a duck as he waddled over and into the arms of a struggling and frightened Ranko. Ranko scooped up her bonded then retreated deeper into her father's embrace. Micca moving closer to his two bonded his aura flickering in and out because of his being so tired. Mychol came up and placed his hand on Micca's shoulder. The young re-born Sylph leaned into his grandfather much like his sister leaned into their father's embrace. Micca's eyes drooped as did Ranko's. Setsuko found herself leaning quite comfortably in the arms of Raist. She laid her head on his shoulder a yawn escaping her lips. Lava and Frost protectively at her feet. Kiri standing behind Seran's kneeling body her head poking over his shoulder to look down on a drowsy Ranko. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" The room turned to stare as Janna stormed into the room. "AND WHERE THE HELL DID THAT OTHER DRAGON COME FROM!" She raged as she pointed toward the head of the copper still in the window. "I AM A MEMBER OF THE AURORA CLAN! SHOW ME THE RESPECT DESERVED OF THAT HONOR _WITCH_!" The copper snorted as he removed his head, the sun glinting off the crest on his forehead. Janna stared at the retreating dragon's head her mouth falling open in stunned silence. She turned back toward the group her eyes met by the ice blue ones of Nodoka Aurora. Janna just shook her head as her gaze fell on the weeping girl in the Aurora matriarch's arms. Janna's gaze softened as she walked to her weeping daughter. The Alexandrite witch took Kasumi from Nodoka's embrace. She smiled thankfully at the other woman. "You will have to tell me how our clan ended up with another dragon!" She whispered as she began to stroke her daughter's back. Nodoka nodded and turned to the other two guests. One hovering protectively around Kasumi the other standing near Seran. Nodoka watched as Cologne stared at the children. She chuckled as she watched the old woman's eyes go wide with shock. Cologne turned and stared at the matriarch of the Aurora clan. "Ukyo?" She asked pointing to the sleeping Sylph in Raist's arms, his staff hovering behind him. "It _was_ Ukyo it is now Setsuko, she is our third child. We will talk more about that later. What are you doing here and what do you mean Ranko is correct?" Nodoka just could not contain her curiosity any longer and she knew the rest of the Faerie folk were about to die if she didn't explain. "Why I am here is really Kasumi's right to tell and she will when she has regained her composer. I came with her as part of my duties as Ambassador of the Niechiezu." She bowed to who she thought was the royal couple by their stances. Titiana and Oberon looked stunned at the shriveled up old woman on the six foot staff. Their eyes wide with awe and confusion. They shook themselves free of their surprise as the old woman bowed as best she could for being only two feet tall. Titiana stepped forward and bowed back to the Ambassador of the Amazon Nation. Oberon came up from behind his body flicking in and out of shadows followed his wife's example and bowed to her as well. Cologne stood up and smiled at the couple. "Finally, what I meant was Ranko is correct you are with child, well in your case children. There are twins growing inside of you. I also can sense their life force which tells me you are well into your third month." Cologne hopped over to the queen and placed a tiny hand on the woman's abdomen. The guards in the room already jumpy drew their weapons. Oberon raised his hand and the guards stopped but their nervousness still showed as they moved anxiously closer to the royal couple. A bandaged Rohn pushed his way through the guards his eyes flashing the fire of rage. As he drew nearer his progress was stopped when a blast of blue and white chi landed mere inches in front of him. He looked up and saw the fluttercorn behind Seran glowing blue white. "Yes it seems she was correct. My she is learning well. You will be having a boy and girl. It seems the boy is very protective of the girl also." Cologne told them as she stepped away from the royal couple. Rohn stared in awe as the news of what the troll has just said. He cannot believe it. The ugly little creature must be wrong, there cannot be any more heirs. Rohn listened as the information spread through the people in the throne room. His eyes flashed as he stared at the old woman and when they fell on Ranko still in her father's embrace they burned with hatred. He watched as Seran stood still holding Ranko. He bowed to Titiana and Oberon a warm smile on his face. The stared blankly at him the new still swimming through their minds. The struggled as to understand what the old woman had told them. It had been so long and they had tried for so hard to bring another of their union into the world only to be disappointed. "Your majesties with your leave we need to get the children to bed." Seran asked the still stunned royals. "Yes you may put them to bed." Oberon said absently as he stared as his wife's stomach, his hand resting lightly on it. Nodoka smiled at them with wry grin and then turned to the others. She motioned for the three to follow her and she in turned followed her husband, Raist and Mychol as each carried one of her children. The small precession left with Seran leading the way to the Aurora suite. Oberon and Titiana still standing in shock in the middle of the throne room. Kajri smirked as she and Tuik led them slowly out to their chambers. Wind Raven watched with curiosity, when he noticed Seran and Nodoka leaving. He pulled his head from the window and tried to follow them. He used a small amount of magic to try and locate them but it was impossible with all the other Faerie people in the palace. He then remembered the fluttercorn but better yet the ancient blue. He recast his spell to search for the blue. His maul cracked a smile that sent shivers down the spines of the guards that saw it. He slowly marched off following the trail of blue. He moved slowly and carefully so as not to injure any of the people in the courtyard. His smile widened as he quickly found the rooms given to his new clan. He pushed open the window with his snout and stuck his head in. He was met by the sounds of hissing which soon turned into two distinct growls. He looked around the room as best he could and over by the bed three twin beds where his family and two large tigers with long canines that hung several inched from their mouths. Wind Raven snorted disgustedly at the two felines but hadn't made any sudden moves as he could detect powerful magic's around them. "EEP!" "ACK!" Came the startled responses of the adults in the room at Wind Raven's snort. They turned to see the copper dragon's head in the window looking warily at the two tigers but with anxious curiously at the children. Nodoka walked over to the two tigers and patted them gently on the heads then walked over to the window. She stared into the eyes of copper who stared back. "You need to be careful I am afraid the children's little friends are very protective." Wind Raven looked at Nodoka confused then to the tigers. "BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THEY ARE NO THREAT TO ME!" The dragon roared with mirth. "That is the mistake many people seem to be making." The copper looked to the voice to see the sapphire hair man standing there. "YOU ARE NOT THREAT TO ME EITHER _BLUE_!" The venom dripped from the last word as the copper's eyes narrowed. "Then you are like most of your kind _COPPER_ fools!" Cerulean snarled his disgust at saying the word copper evident. Cerulean shrugged and turned back toward the children. He moved to place himself near Micca and Ranko as the two tigers moved toward Setsuko. Kiri curled up at the foot of Ranko's bed laid her head down on her hooves but kept an eye on the copper. "DO NOT TURN YOU BACK ON ME _BLUE_!" The copper roared anger growing. "Wind Raven!" Nodoka's tone stopped the dragon cold. He looked at her his eyes wide and wondered when his mother had gotten there. He remembered his mother using that same tone and how it stopped him dead in his tracks. He turned at the sound of bell like laughter. At the door to the children's room stood a Sylph her dark blue wings fading from view. "It seems dragon that all mother's have the ability to use that tone." Wind Raven looked back at blue a smirk on his smug face. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Wind Raven knew what he was saying he just didn't want to admit Nodoka's tone got to him. "My mother used that same tone on me as everyone's mother had. Why do you think the female is laughing?" Cerulean asked as he pointed to the Sylph in the door. Yiri came into the room her eyes filling with tears. She knew it was really not that funny of an occurrence, but the tension of the attack. The near death of her son, the attitude of her his wife and then finally discovery of the queen's condition. Was too much and she needed to release the tensions. The interplay between Nodoka and the copper was just enough to push the stress to the limits. Instead of breaking down into hysterics she broke down into uncontrollable laughter. Mychol went to his wife and held her as he knew this was not normal laughter. As soon as he enveloped his wife her laughter turned to tears and she finally let the anguish take her. The others in the room stood quietly as Yiri cleansed her pain. Cerulean changing to his duck from and curling up at the end of Micca's bed.