Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Three <"That is what happened Elder."> Finishes Ta Nge, as he takes a sip of his now cold tea. <"Are you sure about what you have seen the child do to her father?"> Ta Nge nods as he sips his tea; Xian Pu looks on in surprise. <"Yes, I am. Then she told him her male side was dead and that she was no longer his child and spat at his feet. The funny thing is, and I don't think the father noticed, she talked about her male half as if he was _not_ her."> Ku Lon raises an eyebrow, while her granddaughter stares at him with confusion. <"What do you mean?"> <"Well, she said something to the effect 'I will not let you hurt him any more, he is dead to you.' And something about 'You will fulfill the promises for he will not.' That is not exactly what she said but it is close and that is how she referred to her male side."> Ku Lon rubs her chin in thoughtful contemplation. Ta Nge pours himself another cup of tea, then waits for Ku Lon to speak. Xian Pu sits in contemplation of what the guide just told them. <"Now that is fascinating, and her eyes glowed lavender, when she held him by the throat?"> Again he nods while taking a sip of tea. <"Wait here, please Ta Nge."> The old woman disappears into the inner sanctum of the house. Both Ta Nge and Xian Pu can here her use some ancient Chinese curses, then a loud crash is heard. Xian Pu gets up to go check on her when she reappears carrying a tome that is bigger then her. She waves her great granddaughter off. Xian Pu recognizes the book, it is the Tome of Amazon Ancestry, Ku Lon's family has the honor of being in charge of keeping it updated, though, and updates are always made in the presence of the counsel. <"What is it grandmother?"> <"Something Ta Nge said about the girl sounds familiar."> Ku Lon lays the book on the table and starts flipping through the pages, stopping every now and then. Both Xian Pu and Ta Nge stand behind her eager to learn what is happening. Ku Lon stops about midway through the tome and reads nodding her head, then closing the book she faces her granddaughter and the guide with a smile liken to that of the cat that ate the canary. <"Well, well, if I am correct this young child is of Amazon descent which means either that _pig_ of a father is an Amazon or the child's mother."> Xian Pu gasps, Ta Nge nearly drops his teacup in surprise. <"_NOT_ him grandmother he is so..so.."> Xian Pu shudders at the thought of Genma being a blood Amazon. Ku Lon pats her granddaughter's arm then turns to the guide. <"Thank you Ta Nge but this is now Amazon business, a hunting party will be at Jusenkyo shortly to follow the path the child took, please prepare for us."> Ta Nge nods his head and leaves, followed by Ku Lon and Xian Pu. /*\*/*\ Ku Lon stands in front of the counsel chambers, ringing the counsel summoning bell. She and Xian Pu wait for the counsel to arrive. When, all members of the counsel are present she relays what the Jusenkyo guide had told her. She then tells them what she found in the Amazon Ancestry Tome, plus what she suspects has happen to the boy. However, she can not verify it without the child. The counsel wants more information from the father before they will believe the _wild tale_ Ku Lon has surmised. Genma is then brought in front of the counsel. He stands nervously before the counsel, looking for any escape. "Genma, it is Genma is it not?" Ku Lon asks, Genma in fluent Japanese. Genma nods, as beads of sweat trickle down the side of his face. "The guide has explained to me what has happen to you and your son. I believe we may be able to help you, _but_ the counsel needs some additional information. May I ask if the clan Takashi is part of your heritage?" Genma recognizes that name, but not from his family. He looks suspiciously at the room filled with old women, he opens his mouth about to spout out some inane lie, but instead decides to answer truthfully. With their help he might get that insolent boy back. Then he can be on his way to a life of leisure at Tendo's. "Ah, no, the Takashi clan is that of my wife." Genma notices that all twelve of the old women of the counsel let out a collective sigh of relief. "Why do you want to know about my wife's family?" "We are just clarifying some information we have found. We are assembling a hunting party to look for your son. The guide has given me a description of him in both states. It would be faster for us if you remain here Pa Fum and Ro Gae will look to your needs. We will bring your child here to you." Genma likes this idea. He will get free food a comfortable bed and the Amazons will do all the work of bringing his wayward child back to him. "Ah, Cologne, is there a cure for the curses?" "No, there is no known cure for a Jusenkyo curse." Genma's shoulders sag slightly. Ku Lon waves the guards to take Genma back to his room. <"Well, then this Ranma is an Amazon and a descendant of Ra Koh."> Remarks an elder that was just as old looking as Ku Lon. <"Which means that if the true secret of Jusenkyo is to be believed the boy has awaken her spirit from the pool. Which means the magic we lost when the Musk took her can now be returned to us."> Came a comment from one that was not quite as old. <"Yes, but, what if the child refuses to stay in the village. He is an Amazon and has all rights especially since he is of her blood and possibly has her soul which now makes him her only heir."> Ku Lon nods, sadly. <"well we might be able to get Ranma to stay for a couple of years by teaching him the Amazon Techniques then while we teach him, he can teach us Ra Koh's magic. If he decides to return to Japan we can help set him up in his own home and Dojo."> <"_WHY_ would we do that? We don't want him teaching Amazon secrets."> Ku Lon raises a calming hand. <"He won't. We tell him he can teach only Amazon secrets to Amazons, including his magic. Remember he is a martial artist in his own right. This way we can use his home as a safe house when we send our sisters out into the world for knowledge or for a retrieval."> Several of the counsel nod at this. <"What if he refuses? You know we can not battle the power of Ra Koh's magic. We lost that part of our heritage when the Musk killed her."> Ku Lon thought for a moment, nodding sagely. <"We can only hope that Ra Koh's loyalty to the Amazons will at least keep him here long enough."> They all nod. <"Now, I feel that I and Xian Pu should go search for him since we are also descended from Ra Koh. That connection may be very useful."> One old woman rises, she looks to be about the same age as Ku Lon. She is the same two feet tall, she also has long flowing white hair, her eyes instead of black are a deep brown. She is wearing, sky blue robes. She proclaims to the other counsel members. <"I too will go and will bring my great granddaughter La Si."> A regal looking elder stands. She looks to be older then even Ku Lon. <"Agreed, but take two more guards with you. You are heading into Musk territory."> Ku Lon and the elder Mas Cra agree. They leave the counsel chambers after selecting an Amazon named Jas Mia and the other guard is the woman Xian Pu had beaten in the tournament Dou El. With their party complete and provisions gathered, they all head toward Jusenkyo. Genma watches from the window of the guesthouse were he is staying, smiling while stuffing his face with food. /*\*/*\ The Amazons arrive at Jusenkyo, late in the afternoon. Ta Nge is standing outside his hut waiting for them. Ku Lon pogoes up to the guide balancing on top of her cane, behind her the other elder Mas Cra follows also balancing on her staff. <"So Ta Nge which way did the boy go?"> Ta Nge leads the Amazons to the path that the young martial artist took when he left Jusenkyo as a she. Xian Pu and La Si check the path for a few yards then they return to the elders and guide. <"The one we seek may have gone this way, but it is hard tell, someone or something was following him."> La Si tells the elders. The guide turns to the elders, with a look of understanding and explains. <"Ah, yes, I remember now, another came to Jusenkyo. He did not get cursed but saw what happened. Maybe he followed Mr. Customer?"> Ku Lon nods, as she rubs her chin in contemplation. <"well at least he left us a well-defined trail to follow."> The six Amazons bid goodbye to the guide as they head down the path. By the time the sun sets the Amazons are setting up camp at the base of the mountain that Ranma and Ryoga were camping on. <"Look elder!"> One of the Amazon guards points up the side of the mountain, the others look up to see a fire. They then notice the fire is more then half way up the mountain. <"They must be very strong and agile to get that high up the mountain so quickly!"> Gasps Xian Pu, the others nod their agreement. <"Come let us get to sleep, we will need to climb a great deal to catch them."> After eating the Amazons go to sleep but not before posting guards and setting up a rotation for guard duty. /*\*/*\ When the sun begins to rise, two figures can be seen half way up the mountain climbing to the next and final level. At the base of the mountain four young Amazons and two elders start their ascent, the younger Amazons are in awe at the fact the two diminutive elders are pogoing up the side of the mountain like a pair of mountain goats. <"Come young ones, can't you keep up with your elders?"> Goads Mas Cra, as she shouts down at the three young girls and thirty something woman. Ku Lon stands a short way up from Mas Cra giggling. Ku Lon shakes her head and chides Mas Cra. <"Now, Mas Cra, it isn't nice to tease the young ones."> Mas Cra mock glares at her. She starts laughing heartily. Ku Lon shrugs still chuckling she concedes. <"Well ok, it is fun, yes, but it isn't nice."> Both elders start laughing and continue up the mountain. The climb is uneventful. As the sun starts to set the six Amazons reach the plateau that Ranma and Ryoga camped at the night before. <"Let's set up camp we will begin again at first light."> Ku Lon orders, and the Amazons set up their camp making use of the now dry fire pit the two climbers had used the previous night. \*/*\*/ Ranma and Ryoga reach their final destination, a plateau almost at the top of the mountain. They have two hours before the sunsets, as they step onto the final ledge. Ranma walks toward a solid granite wall. Ryoga watches as she raises her arms and mumbles some words Ryoga can not hear or understand even if he could. She starts to glow with her new purple aura. Suddenly a cave entrance appears and Ranma walks in, Ryoga gapes then when Ranma disappears into the cave, Ryoga runs to catch up. Just as he enters the cave the opening closes up again. "What is this place Ranma?" Ryoga asks as he reaches out to touch where the entrance use to be, quickly pulling his hand back as if burned, when he touched solid stone. "Ra Koh's laboratory." "Ra Koh who is that?" "She is the spirit that merged with me after I picked her up from falling into the Spring of Drowned Girl." "Well you can tell me all about it over dinner." Ryoga says as he looks around the dark cave. Suddenly the cave is suffused with a light purple glow. Ryoga turns to see Ranma glowing purple and lighting the way to some torches. Ryoga goes over and lights one torch then takes it to light the others. "What about fresh air to keep them lit?" Ranma points to the ceiling. Ryoga looks up and sees tunnels only big enough for a field mouse around the upper level of the cave. "Those small tunnels are opened at the other end, fresh air is constantly coming into the cave, which is also why this place is so cold." Ranma points out, after Ryoga finishes lighting the rest of the torches Ranma's glow disappears. Ryoga looks around the cave it is quite large and has several alcoves. Two of the alcoves were made up as bedchambers. "Have many guests?" Ryoga asks pointing to the extra bedchamber. Ranma laughs her musical laughter. Then a sad smile appears on her gentle face. "My great grandmother would bring her children here once in a while." "The spirit was your ancestor?" Ryoga asks in awe, Ranma nods her head. "Yeah, she was." Ranma shrugs. In four of the five alcoves are shelves with books and jars of herbs, and items Ryoga assumes to be magical. In the fifth are about two dozen-cubby holes, each filled to exploding with scrolls. Ranma heads to a large desk where a large book is laying she sits down and gently touches the tome. "Well 1500 years were not kind to my books." "Can you cast a spell or something to make them ok again?" Ryoga asks as he looks over her shoulder at the dusty old book. "It's possible, but I don't know one." "So what are you going to do." "I guess rewrite the ones that I can still read." Ranma sighs and rubs her amethyst eyes. "Let's have something to eat then I will secure them to take with me and rewrite them later." Over dinner Ranma tells Ryoga what had happened the night before, while he slept. Ryoga's eye widened in surprise. She told Ryoga how she now has all of Ra Koh's memories and knowledge in magic and martial arts, she just needs to practice to gain the skill. "Can you teach me?" Ryoga asks eagerly. Ranma shakes her head sadly. "I wish I could but my memories about the Amazons say no, if I do it could get you killed, the Amazons are very protective of their secrets. Now if you were to become an Amazon then maybe." "How could I do that?" "Well I am not sure a lot of Great Grandmothers memories are still fuzzy but I am sure it will clear up soon then I will let you know." They finish the rest of the meal in silence. When they are done Ranma takes some of the hot water and returns to his male form. After which Ranma starts preparing the items in the cave for transport. There were several trunks of animal skins and pouches. He uses the skins to wrap up the books and scrolls. There were thirty books in all and some look even older then 1500 years. The scrolls Ranma lost count on their number. When Ranma finishes wrapping the books he stacks them on the desk and piles the scrolls back in the cubbyholes they came from, and on the rapidly emptying shelves. Ryoga watches from his bed, in one of the alcoves as Ranma packs up everything. Yawning while he stretches, he asks his busy friend. "Are you going to go back to the village, Ranma?" "Probably not, they wouldn't believe me about the spirit and I don't feel like facing the outsider laws in either form." Ryoga looks at him confused. Ranma sighs then stands to face the lost boy. "Amazons follow many laws it is what keeps their society functioning, even though they have no basis in modern society, or outside the village. Two of these laws are the outsider laws. If an outsider female beats an Amazon in combat then the Amazon gives the Kiss of Death. She must then hunt down the female and kill her." Ryoga looks horror stricken, as Ranma continues with his explanation. "If an outsider male beats an Amazon then she must give _him_ the Kiss of Marriage, and must marry him whether he wants to or not." Ryoga's eyes get even wider with that, and he whistles in disbelief. "Well I am glad you told me, if I come across them I will be sure not to fight _any_ of them." Ranma chuckles while shaking his head. "Sorry man, but it don't work like that." "Huh?" "If the Amazons think you would make a good catch _they_ will challenge you to the match. Then attack not giving you a chance to turn them down." Ryoga's shoulders slump in defeat. Trying to change the subject Ryoga asks a question. "Ranma why did Ra Koh curse your dad?" Ranma sighs, he stares into the fire for a moment then turns to face his tentative new friend with a set jaw and clenched teeth. "it's a long story, and I would prefer to talk about it later ok?" Ryoga nods as he sees the anger flash in his friends amethyst eyes. While Ryoga watches Ranma collect all the books, and paraphernalia then either wraps it in a skin or puts it in one of the many pouches. Ryoga slowly succumbs to the day's exertion from the climb and he finally lets sleep take him. Ranma notices this, he walks over and covers the eternally lost boy with the blanket that is on his bed. Several hours later, Ranma has finished with packing everything. He stretches to release the tension in his back, then he goes to the other bed and falls into a fitful sleep of night terrors.