Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Twenty Two After an exhausting day Ran Koh enters her small apartment. Leaving her shoes by the door, she turns on the light and enters the parlor. The parlor is set much the same in her rooms as for everyone else. Across from the entry is a small sofa with two matching chairs, the only difference is the colors. The furniture in her room, as a velour sky-blue. There are two dark cherry colored end tables on each end of the sofa, and a coffee table of the same color. On each end table are braided brass, copper, and silver table lamps. To the left of the sofa and chairs is a sliding door, which leads to the bedroom. Across from the bedroom door, is a small desk and with a worktable and a laptop computer. As Ran Koh looks at the laptop she frowns slightly, then sighs. Next to the desk is a work table making a 'L' in the corner with the desk this houses a work center printer and CD burner. Ran Koh really did not like the laptop, but she used it to keep Ku Lon happy, besides she had been using it to store the rewriting of her tomes to the CD burner, so she guesses it is good for something. The rest of the wall space at the end of the worktable contained a wood shelving unit where she stores her computer books and the blank CDs she uses, for putting her tomes and techniques on. Ran Koh stretches and enters her bedroom. Here again it is modestly furnished with a twin bed, and nightstand. A set of dresser drawers and a small closet. There is also a small vanity table with a mirror, and a bench. That only holds a brush, comb, and a small wooden trinket box. Which Ran Koh uses to hold Ra Koh's locket when she goes to bed. The furniture like the wood furniture in the parlor is of a dark cherry color. Ran Koh slowly gets ready for bed, she first removes her red silk Chinese shirt and black pants and put them in the wicker clothes hamper next to the dresser. She is left standing in her boxers and muscle tee shirt. She goes over to a large window, the only window in the room and pulls the drapes aside a little to look out at the stars. Then she opens one of the windows and the drapes enough so that the open window is exposed. She is glad Ku Lon had some of the non opening windows replaced with ones that can be opened. She can not believe how many listening devices were found in the 'Joketsuzoku Village' and how angry the Amazons got when it was discovered that some were placed in their private quarters. Ku Lon was almost unable to keep the others from going on a _killing_ hunt. Ku Lon plans the next visit for Mr. Iyoshi's people to do a bug sweep. Then she sent everyone to bed. Ran Koh was glad she set up the visits for once a month, and with them being random the Amazons won't know when they will show up. Ran Koh then crawls into bed to get ready for sleep; she can't believe the look of surprise on Ku Lon's face when Mas Cra, La Si's great grandmother showed up with the delivery from the Joketsuzoku Village. She could tell her great aunt was not very happy. Ran Koh yawns deeply then rolls over a drops quickly off to sleep. /*\*/*\ There is nothing, but blackness all around, a small shaft of light can be seen in the distance. Nearing the light there is a lone figure, Ran Koh sits there in female form. Her legs crossed looking down at the silver locket, which contains the ivory profiles of Ra Koh's husband and triplet daughters. Tears roll down her cheeks as she gently caresses the images. Ran Koh suddenly senses she is not alone and looks up. In front of her is a large golden tiger with white strips. Ran Koh feels no fear as she does not believe the animal poses a threat to her. She tries to talk to the tiger, but she has no voice. She grasps her throat in fear. The tiger walks up to her and nudges her, letting her know that it wishes her to follow. Looking at the tiger with panic, she slowly begins calms as the tiger starts glowing a golden white. Ran Koh rises to her feet and follows the glowing cat into the darkness. Soon the darkness surrounds the two travelers, leaving complete blackness. /*\*/*\ Mas Cra sits at a table in the restaurant nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, she is staring off into the distance, her mind a million miles away. She does not hear Ku Lon enter the restaurant. She watches Mas Cra for a few moments; Ku Lon clears her throat. "Ahem, Mas Cra may I join you?" The old matriarch jumps slightly then turns to glare at the intruder. Ku Lon smiles ruefully then shakes her head. "I am sorry I tried not to startle you." Mas Cra nods a pushes out a chair for Ku Lon to sit on. She pours her counterpart a cup of tea then turns to stare back out the window. Ku Lon sips her tea for a few moments then turns to the other woman. "Why did they send you here, Mas Cra?" Mas Cra looks from the window into her teacup then up at Ku Lon; she shrugs her shoulders, and sighs deeply. "I asked to come. When you wrote telling of how La Si is becoming close to the boy Ryoga, I wanted to be here when the challenged was issued." Ku Lon nods then looks at Mas Cra as if waiting for the rest. "The counsel is also worried about the other information you sent about these monks and the emblems on Ranm..I mean Ran Koh and the boy. They felt two wizened old women might have better luck figuring out what is going on." Ku Lon smiles knowingly then looks at her sometime friend and sometime rival. "I am glad they sent you, and as for La Si and Ryoga, I would advise, _not_ to force the challenge, Ran Koh is adamant about letting them decide on their own about their feelings." Mas Cra beings to look very angry at the presumption of the newly born Ran Koh. Ku Lon pats her shoulder warmly, and continues. "Just remember this stems from what that _pig_ of a father has done to her, besides, Ryoga and La Si are getting closer on their own, he will make a fine husband and son-in-law. The only problem is his terrible sense of direction." Both women chuckle at that. The two women talk quietly about village business and other things, just to catch up with what is going on. Ku Lon fills her in with more details about what is happening with Ran Koh and Ryoga. Mas Cra nods as Ku Lon talks. Suddenly they both freeze, then their auras burst into existence. They jump from the table and head to the upper levels where two very special people are sleeping. Mas Cra goes to Ryoga's room while Ku Lon pogoes toward Ran Koh's. /*\*/*\ As each woman enters their chosen rooms, they see a similar sight. Ku Lon stares in awe as Ran Koh's body glows, first a golden white, then sifts to a silver black, and finally to a coppery red, and back again. The aura around the sleeping artists cycles through those colors then flares even brighter. Both elders turn away covering their eyes from the glare. When they turn back the warriors are sitting up in bed, eyes wide with understanding. Both Ku Lon and Mas Cra notice the colors still flashing in the eyes of the teenager they are checking on. They walk to the side of the beds and gently wake the still sleeping teenagers. When they wake they look at the elders with lost and confused looks. The elders help them up and on with robes, then gently lead them back to the restaurant for some tea and conversation. /*\*/*\ Ku Lon pours tea for Ran Koh and Ryoga, who thanks her as they sip the relaxing brew. Mas Cra waits for Ku Lon to seat herself, before she asks her question. She notices that although not as bright the light is still rotating in their eyes but seems to be settling down to their original eye color. Mas Cra is about to speak, but Ran Koh holds up her hand to stop her. Next Ran Koh starts glowing. Mas Cra's eyes go wide as this is the first time she has seen one of the altered auras. Ran Koh silently mumbles a small spell, creating a light blue-white dome over the foursome. She then nods for Mas Cra to continue. Mas Cra looks to Ku Lon who nods she will explain that later, then Mas Cra turns to Ran Koh and Ryoga and asks them. "Can you tell us what happen?" Ran Koh looks into her tea then shaking her head she looks first to Ryoga who nods slightly, then back to Mas Cra and Ku Lon. She answers for the both of them. "A dream, maybe or a premonition would be more like it." Both elders lean back in their chairs, their eyes wide with surprise. Ku Lon was the one to ask the next question. "Can you tell us about it?" Ran Koh takes a deep breath, then a small sip of tea. Gathering her thoughts, she begins to describe hers and Ryoga's dream. "Now there may be some minute differences, but for the most part I believe we were having the same dream." Ryoga nods, as though he is reading her thoughts, Ran Koh takes another sip of tea then she starts to describe what was in the dream. "I started out in the center of my mind. I was sitting there looking at the locket of great grandmothers family, I was crying or at least grandmother was for her lost family. When I felt a presence, I felt no danger from it, when I looked up there stood the tiger from my hand." Ran Koh holds up her hand to show the glowing golden tiger emblem, then continues. "In Ryoga's dream I am safe to say that it was the tiger from his emblem." Ryoga nods as he sips his tea. Ran Koh takes another drink then continues. "I tried to talk to it, but I had no voice. This really freaked me out, but before I could really get too panicky the tiger came over and nudged me to follow it. I was still scared about losing my voice, when the tiger started to glow. I suddenly felt very calm, I then got up and followed him. We ended up at a glade. As I entered the clearing, I saw Ryoga being lead by his tiger and..." Ran Koh pauses and takes a deep breath. "What child, what else did you see?" Mas Cra asks, looking worriedly at the young woman. "We are not the only ones that are being chosen." Both Ku Lon and Mas Cra nearly drop their teacups, at this implication, then nod for her to continue. "There were four others, two with dragons, there was a black dragon with silver wings, and stomach and a silver dragon with black wings and stomach. The other two where with Phoenixes, one Red with copper stripes on the wing tips and tail. It also had a copper plumb, the other Phoenix was just the opposite Copper with red trim." The elder listen quietly, their minds racing looking for any information that might be stored deep within their three hundred year old minds, but can find none. "Our guides pushed us into a circle and got us to hold hands. While they stood guard behind each of their charges..well I think they were standing guard. Any way once we all grasped hands the light show started. We all burst first into the golden white light. Then it faded into the silver black and finally into the coppery red. It flashed those colors for some time. During that time I could feel the thoughts of the others, I..I think we were telepathically linked. Then the guides of the females of the group nudged us forward. We as if by instinct took our hands with the guides likeness and clasped each other's wrist using that hand. I took the wrist of the dragon, she the phoenix, and she mine, forming a triangle. Then the guides of the males pushed them forward and in between us and they too clasped each others' wrists in the same fashion." Ran Koh stops and takes a deep breath then sips some of the tea to coat her dry throat, but it is Ryoga who picks up with the description. "Once the men had clasped wrists the rotating lights pushed themselves down our arms to the centers of both triangles. Next we were lifted off the ground the girls about a foot, us guys a half foot higher. Then the males started slowly spinning clockwise while the girls went counter clockwise. During our spinning I noticed the monks in gray robes, six with each set of animal guides. "As I stared at the monks I noticed that nine more animals showed up standing behind the guides, they all sported the Tao symbol in their respective colors. I saw Sanders, in his eagle from, plus a golden white griffin, and Centaur. The other six were in shadows and I could not make them out, although I am sure our counter parts could see their own group. "The flashing lights finally pooled in the center of both triangles, then it exploded up into a column of, golden white, silver black, and coppery red light. We heard the monks start to chant. Then the top of the column fanned out like the top of a funnel. We all looked at the funnel because we felt the presence within it. We couldn't see it but we knew it was there. It spoke to our minds, in changing voices between male and female." Ryoga stops more for effect then to take a drink of his now cold tea. Both matriarchs leaning in, eager for more information. Then Ryoga looks to Ran Koh and she nods for him to continue. "It was a brief message, but one with a lot of meaning. The voice told us 'Welcome my children, your time is coming neigh. You six are to be my leaders. You must finish gathering your teams as they will be needed. My love goes with you my children and I will help where I can. Good Luck.' Then it was gone, the only thing I am sure of is it had large white wings. Once it was gone the funnel closed up, and the lights started to fade. As we slowly stopped spinning and were set on the ground the monks, animal guides and other Jusenkyo victims where gone. Before we could talk to the others we all faded from each others view, I guess like us they woke up." Ryoga took a sip of the hot tea Ran Koh had poured for him. While the elders sat back and thought about what they had heard. Then Mas Cra raises an eyebrow and leans into the two young warriors and asks. "You said you could understand them as if telepathically linked does that still hold true. Ryoga and Ran Koh look at one another. Then they turn to face the old Amazons, Ran Koh replies for them both. "Yes, we now have a telepathic link with each other and with our counterparts." This shocks the matriarchs, into a numbed silence for a few moments. When Ku Lon asks the next question. "Are you able to communicate with them now?" Both Ran Koh and Ryoga shake their heads no, and Ryoga explains as best he can. "I think we are to far away from them right now, they like us need to find the rest of their groups, but we have a vague impression of them." "How many are there in your groups?" Ku Lon asks them. Ran Koh shrugs as she replies. "I am not certain, but since there was three standing behind our tiger guides they are the ones we are looking for, is that right Ryoga." Ryoga looks thoughtful and then nods his ascent. "Hai, we found the eagle that is Sanders-san, we just need to find the griffin, and centaur, I guess those are the cursed forms we have to look for." Ku Lon and Mas Cra look at one another then a thought comes to Mas Cra and she turns to warriors. "Can you describe the other leaders to us?" Both Ryoga and Ran Koh shake their heads, it is Ryoga who again speaks. "No, their appearance to us was blurry and out of focus. The only things we saw clearly were the guides and the monks. We will know them though when we finally meet them." "Why don't you two go back to bed, tomorrow will be a big day for you, we will see you in the morning." Ku Lon tells the teenagers. As they get up to leave they each bow to the elders and head up stairs, the elders then hear Ran Koh comment to Ryoga. "No, Ryoga not that way, come on, man, you can get lost in a _closet_." The elders shake with silent laughter as they listen to Ryoga grumble as he is being lead to his room.