Ranma 1/2: Ranma of Grayskull Crossover: Masters of the Universe By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Fifteen The sorceress watches from her tower as Teela, Ranma and Battlecat disappears over the horizon, a stream of tears flowing down her face. When she can no longer see them she turns back into the castle. She walks to her throne and sits down staring at the locket that belongs to Ranma. She knew this locket would help her set up a link to her mother for it contains a small amount of magic already. The spell within the lockets keeps the owners who possess them in touch with each other with a magical link. It was easy for her to add to that magic making it stronger. When she was casting the spell she found the other spell. One of protection. Once the lockets are given they can not be taken without the consent of the owner. She smiles at this thought, if Ranma speaks the truth about her father and Nabiki's nature they are in for a big surprise. The sorceress also enhanced the second spell as well. She sits on her throne staring into space a smile on her face. Her mind going through the daydreams of _her_ raising her child. Of _her_ teaching her the ways of Grayskull. A sad frown crosses her face when she thinks of a man of about six feet tall with long waist length russet brown hair always worn in a loose ponytail. His emerald green eyes still haunt her. She remembers the day he disappears, she never was able to tell him of the gift she was going to give him. The sorceress puts the locket on the arm rest of her throne and then gets up and leaves the room. She walks through the rough honed walls of Castle Grayskull, they always have given her a feeling she is living in a cave. She walks past the 'Hall of Sorceresses' in which hang paintings of all the previous sorceresses of Grayskull and their alternate forms. Hers not yet adorns the walls. This is to prevent an enemy that may breach Grayskull's defenses from finding out her alternate form. She continues deeper into the castle, past Grayskull's power core, deep into an unused portion of the castle. She stops in front of a nondescript door of dark mahogany. The only decoration on the door is a gold and silver crest. The crest is two feet high and about a foot and a half wide. It consists of a gold shield with a silver sword and staff crossing over top of it. On the left side is a gold dragon and on right is a silver Unicorn. A silver ribbon across the bottom has the engraving of 'Our honor is our Strength'. The sorceress reaches up and lovingly caresses the crest. She pulls from around her neck a gold chain with a silver key. The top of the key is adorned with the same crest. She unlocks the door and enters. She casts a light spell then shuts the door. Soft sobs can be heard behind the door and gentle words filter through the thick door. Their meaning is inescapable even if they are unintelligible. /*\*/*\ Teela and Ranma sit quietly for a while as they drive toward the castle. Ranma watches the scenery pass by her not really noticing it. Teela looks at her from the corner of her eyes, and Battlecat watches both women from the back of the transport. Teela's curiosity finally boosts her courage enough to start a conversation. "He-Man and She-Ra say you are a great fighter? My father says he has never seen such skill in someone as young as you?" She pauses wondering if she should continue as it seems Ranma is not interested in talking. "I have been training since before I could walk in the martial arts." She tells the captain of the king’s guard. "What was it like? I mean having a mother?" Teela could not believe she question that passes her lips. "I don't know really. For most of my life my pop had me on the road training. He let me think my mother was dead. When I finally did meet her I had to do so in this form." Ranma tells her watching her reflection in the window, she sees Teela's eyebrow shoot up. "Oh, yes the curse, that must have been hard for you." Teela states, to the surprise of Ranma. "That's funny." Ranma says as she shakes her head. "What is?" Teela asks her companion. "You are the first person to even acknowledge the trouble of switching genders. Most girls think I should be happy to change to girl. They get down right violent when I tell I hate changing sexes." Ranma says as she turns to face the driver. "Oh, don't get me wrong Ranma, I am afraid I agree with them. I do however understand that you were born a man and for you to not only change genders but now be stuck it has to be hard for you to keep your sanity. I don't think I could do that." Teela tells her with a sincere smile. "That is what I mean. You understand how hard it is. I mean believe me I am the lucky one, I at least stay human, but..!" She stops not sure if she wants to go there. Ranma looks back out the window her talk with the sorceress on the skull of the castle late one night playing in her mind. She can still not believe she was able to articulate her feelings as well as she did. She finally has someone she can talk to without feeling the fear of having to commit seppuku. Teela watches her, reining in her curiosity. This could be a new friend for her one she can train with, and talk to about her feelings. She needs not to push her to hard. Her father has told her of her life and she doesn't want this person feeling she is out to claim her as property. Teela goes for a change of subject to keep her talking. "I understand you are going to ask King Randor to purchase some land?" She asks figuring this is a one hundred and eighty degree turn and hopes it puts her passenger at ease. "Yes I am." Teela watches as a small appreciative smile crosses Ranma's face as she lowers her head and shakes it slightly. "Do you mind if I ask where?" Teela continues with a small smile at her hopefully new friend. "The 'Valley of the Mists'." Ranma states flatly, she chuckles at the look of surprise on Teela's face. "But no one can get into that valley!" Teela tells her, her eyes wide with shock. "I can." Ranma says quietly her attention drawn to the front of the vehicle by the sound of an explosion. "What was that?" She asks Teela as her attention is now focusing in the same direction. "I don't know but it came from over the next rise. Stay alert it may be a trap." Teela cringes as Ranma cracks her knuckles and a sardonic grin crosses her face. "Good I need a workout." Ranma's eyes glitter with anticipation. /*\*/*\ The little group crests the hill to see a line of boulders across the rode. On top of the fallen boulders stand Skeletor, Evil Lyn, Beastman and Panthor. Ranma's smile broadens as Teela pulls the transport to a halt. The women begin to exit the vehicle when Skeletor shoots a blast at them. The three barely escape as Skeletor's blast blows up the transport. Teela watches in fascination as Ranma taunts Skeletor into a rage. When Ranma jolts her from her daze with a question she plays along. She watches as Skeletor shoots a blast at her charge only to freeze with shock as she absorbs the blast returning a more powerful one. Teela, Evil Lyn and Beastman watch in awe when the blast sends Skeletor and Panthor over three hundred yards away into a boulder. When Ranma's wings of fire appear Evil Lyn takes this opportunity to attack Teela, who though in shock never takes her eyes from Skeletor's two cohorts. Teela jumps out of the way of the blast tucking and rolling to her feet her sword drawn for battle. Beastman charges toward her but is intercepted by the giant green and gold tiger that is with them. Battlecat and Beastman tumble down a trench at the side of the rode. Beastman trying desperately to keep the big cat from taking a bite out of his throat. Teela faces off against Evil Lyn as the witch shoots another blast at the Eternian warrior. Teela deflects the blast with her sword then charges the witch. Evil Lyn stands her ground and continues to send magical blasts at the charging Teela, who uses her sword to parry them away. Teela closes the last few feet to Evil Lyn, the witch shows her true colors and vanishes. "Skeletor can take care of you himself I have more important things to do!" Evil Lyn's parting comment fades on the wind as Teela smiles smugly. She hears the scream of Beastman and runs to the side of the rode in time to see him run off a piece of his loin cloth hanging from the mouth of Battlecat. The tiger spits out the material with a disgusted snarl. He then roars at the fleeing Snake Mountain resident. Teela laughs as Battlecat continues to spit. "He needs to wash his cloths more often!" The disgusted cat tells the King's captain of the Guard. Their attention is drawn to the sound of a blast. They look up in time to see Ranma fly back into a boulder. Skeletor standing with a smug look. He slowly saunters over to the recovering martial artist his hand glowing with ethereal fire. Teela begins to head toward the evil sorcerer when she pauses in shock and a little fear. Battlecat following behind her runs into her. He looks around the frozen warrior to see with smug satisfaction that Ranma is doing just fine on her own. /*\*/*\ "Com'on _bone_ head, can't you take a little blast?" Ranma taunts Skeletor a cocky grin on her face, as she hovers over him her fiery hair flowing around her. "Yes I can but the question is can you?" Before Ranma can dodge Skeletor releases a powerful blast at the flying fighter. Ranma barely gets her aura up to shield her from the blast. Skeletor's dark blue blast crashes into Ranma's bright blue aura sending her back toward the debris of Skeletor’s making. Ranma crashes into one of the boulders her wings quickly fading. She slides down to the ground her hand to her head as she shakes it to get the cobwebs out. She senses the arrival of her opponent. "Now, wench let me show you the power of Snake Mountain!" Skeletor tells her as he raises his hand and it glows with a black blue power. "To late bone head one shot is all you get!" Ranma tells him as she fades from view. Skeletor looks around for his adversary, he hears the growl of Panthor and turns to see Ranma hovering forty yards away from him. His spell blinks out as she is surrounded by a raging inferno. He looks into her eyes and gulps as the permanent flame that now resides there completely fills her eyes and beyond. Flames shoot out the sides of her eyes, the tendrils reaching between two to five inches. Skeletor shudders at the smile that crosses her face. It has none of the warmth that surrounds her body. "You wanted to fight the Mystic Warrior, bone head? Well you got your wish!" Ranma punctuates her statement with a basket ball size ball of fire. Skeletor raises his hand and shoots of a ball of magical lighting when the two blasts meet there is a huge explosion and a bright flash. Ranma and Skeletor turn their heads as do the other spectators. Skeletor uses this to his advantage and creates a portal, grabbing Panthor by his saddle he pulls the struggling purple cat through it. The portal closes just as another ball of fire hits where it was. /*\*/*\ Teela arrives at the castle of King Randor on the back of Battlecat, her father standing there to greet her. She gets of the large tiger as her father runs up to see her. He looks around for the transport and their guest but doesn't see either one. Teela points upward and Man at Arms raises his head to see Ranma hovering over them. He watches as she descends to the ground next to his daughter and Battlecat her wings of fire slowly fading from view. "What happen? Where's the transport?" He asks worry evident in his voice. "Skeletor happened!" Was all Teela says as she dusts the dirt from her white body suit. "Are you two alright?" Comes a voice from behind Duncan. The three look in the direction of the voice to see a woman of about forty with red hair and a gold crown on her head. She wears a floor length green dress and her blue eyes sparkle with merriment. Duncan and Teela bow respectfully to the woman and Ranma follows suit. "Yes your majesty it seems Skeletor did not like the taste of Phoenix fire." Teela tells the queen of Eternia. She nods a smile on her face. She then turns her attention to the new comer her eyes wide with amazement. She stares at the girl before her making Ranma fidget nervously. The queen smiles apologetically at the girl. <"So you are from my home world of earth, Japan I believe He-Man said?"> The queen begins speaking Japanese much to the surprise of Ranma and the three Eternians. <"Yes, your majesty. Where did you learn Japanese?"> The martial artist asks the queen respect glowing on her young face. <"My father was in the military, we were stationed there for about five years. It is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom."> Queen Marlena tells her with a wistful look. <"Yes it is. That is my favorite time of the year."> Ranma tells her as she watches her closely. "Come, my husband awaits. Teela show Ranma to the 'Hall of Kings'. Randor is finishing up some business with some of the local Barons. He will be ready for her shortly." The queen looks wistfully again at Ranma then honors the martial artist by bowing deeply to her, Ranma returns the bow just as deeply. The queen then walks back into the castle, as Duncan and Teela just stare in shock. Teela leads Ranma to the 'Hall of Kings', and then excuses herself to fulfill her duties. Ranma watches her go a warm smile on her face. She watches Teela till she disappears around a corner. [I hope we can be friends, I like her.] Ranma thinks while she looks around the 'Hall of Kings'. Ranma walks up and down the room looking at the paintings of past monarchs of Eternia. She stops in front of a painting of a king she knows well. On the wall before her hangs a picture of Jagar. His hair is a darker shade of blonde then He-Man's almost a light brown. She is surprised to find she is wrong on his eye color she had guessed they were dark brown and hard. The painting however shows them to be a bright blue and full of mischief. "He was my twentieth generations grandfather. There is not much on his reign though all his records were lost in centuries of battle." Ranma turns and faces a young blonde man with a page cut similar to that of He-Man's Ranma reaches out with her senses and her eyes widen with what she finds. She turns at a noise and sees a young blonde girl with shoulder length hair and a flying _rat_ in a red hat and robe. She smiles her cocky smile at what her senses tells her. "Hello, Ranma." The young girl says as she holds out her hand, Ranma reaches for it taking a firm hold mischief twinkling in the blonde's eyes. "We thought it would be best to get this over with quickly. Please don't tell anyone who we are." The blonde boy asks pleadingly, Ranma looks to the small floating creature. "Oh, were are my manners. This is Orko, he and Duncan know." Ranma nods her mind still sifting through the surprising information. They all turn at the clearing of a throat. The group turns and sees Man at Arms standing behind them. His arms crossed over his chest and a deep scowl on his face. The two blondes can see the twinkle in his eyes. Ranma however is too busy trying to figure out if the flying creature is a demon or not. He steps forward and in a conspiratorial tone whispers to the man and woman. "Do you think it wise to blab your secrets all over creation, Prince Adam, Princess Adora?" Ranma's mind snaps out of her quandary as Duncan identifies the two young people before her. "Oh, stop it Duncan, you knew she would know it when she net us. This way we get to her first and ask her not to tell." Adam tells his old friend slapping him on his back. The little flying creature nods his head enthusiastically as he floats up to Ranma. He taps Ranma's shoulder causing her to jump slightly. She stares with narrowing eyes at the little creature. Wondering how he got past her senses. Orko floats around her not offended at all by her scrutiny. He is actually enjoying the attention. He then flies over behind Prince Adam and Duncan, Ranma watching his every movement. Ranma using her senses to determine if Orko is a demon or something. The other three in the room talking about the how good of an idea it is to tell her. A scowl appears on Ranma’s face as she picks nothing up about the little blue creature except that he is magical and even that was hard information to come by. Ranma leans slightly sideways as she tries to look around Adam at the floating Trollan. He leans back around Adam and waves at her. Her eyes widen slightly when he _pops_ out of existences. Ranma looks around for the little floating creature, her senses not being able to locate him. Orko is not demon there is no evil in him. She has already determined it as a magical entity. Other then that she can not read it with her senses. "Boo!" Orko pops back in behind her. "AARRGG!" Ranma jumps after being startled. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare her so bad?" Orko tells the others sheepishly while pointing to the ceiling. The three turn at the scream of Ranma only to find her missing. Orko's apology comes quickly and they all follow his pointing finger to the ceiling some forty feet high. They stare in awe, their mouths hanging open as Ranma clings to the ceiling with just her fingers and toes. "HEY I WEREN'T SCARED! Just a little startled that's all!" Ranma complains as she looks down at the little magical being. Ranma lets go of the ceiling. This time it is Orko and the others that let out a short gasping scream. She flips on the way down and lands lightly in front of them. She brushes off her outfit and looks up at the astonishment on their faces. With a sheepish smile she puts her hand behind her head. "Sorry about this." She replies to their shock. "I promise I won't tell!" The others look at her confusion on their faces then they smile. "Come, I almost forgot, King Randor is ready for you Ranma." Duncan leads the group out Ranma keeping a wary eye on the flying, giggling little magic user. /*\*/*\ They stand outside the throne room Adam and Adora on either side of their new friend. Orko in front to the left of Duncan. Duncan pauses in front of the two solid wood doors with gold inlay. He looks back over his shoulder to see Ranma looking around curiosity written on her face. A noise catches their attention and they all look to the left to see Cringer cowering behind a potted plant. Ranma smiles and waves at the frightened tiger. Cringer ducks behind the planter shaking with even more fear. They all chuckle, then turn toward the doors. Duncan pushes the doors open to reveal a warm golden glow. Ranma can hear the voices within slowly dwindle down to an ominous silence. Both Adora and Adam place a friendly hand on Ranma's shoulder to show she had friends then the small group enters the throne room.