Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Forty Six /*\*/*\ Late at night in three apartments in the Joketsuzoku Complex three of the Light Warriors meet each other on the dream plain. The magic users stand in a triangle facing each other. Alex and Samuel are in their cursed forms, they stare at each other with glazed eyes. They reach out and clasp each other wrists. They begin to rise from the surface and spin first clockwise then counter clockwise. Their pendants flashing rapidly between each teams' colors. Their eyes widen and they all shudder when they feel the evil they all know so well. "Where are we?" Alex asks, while trying to focus on the evil. "We are in the dream plain, my people use this plain for much of its spirit travels." Samuel tells him, he then scowls at something. "You feel it too, don't you Samuel?" Ran Koh asks him, Samuel nods and Alex looks confused. "We were brought here to help, the Shaman counsel of the Tribe of Twelve. If we don't hurry the evil will not only kill the counsel but their heirs as well." Samuel tells them, then takes off in the direction to his right, his friends behind him. They move toward the evil they have all learned to hate. When they break through the haze of the sleep realm they see the spirits of the elder shaman fighting a large black light with red glowing eyes. The blackness has no shape they can focus on but they know they have to stop the massacre. The evil cries out in pain when three attacks converge on the location of the glowing red. "CHIFIRE!" Ran Koh calls as a beach ball size of her chi and ethereal fire leaves her small hands. "ICE SHARDS!" Comes Samuel's attack as he shoots hundreds of shards of glowing ice at the red glowing eyes, Alex pulls the components he needs and starts an incantation. Unlike his counter parts his attack does not get called out, but when he finishes his incantation a basket ball size of lightening forms on the palm of his hand which he throws with the same deadly accuracy as his counterparts. /*\*/*\ The new home for the Light Warriors is in turmoil, none can find the Tiger Sect leaders and even Sera is missing. Nodoka is frantic with worry, since they figure the two disappeared over two hours ago. It is an hour before school starts and the Amazons make preparations to head to the Tendo home to retrieve two of their own. When a noise is heard at the back door of the apartment building, from in the war room. Everyone heads to the war room only to find Ryoga and Ran Koh saying good-bye to someone on the other side of the door. When the two finally close the door they turn to stare at their friends and family all of who have a mixture of relief and anger. "_WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN_!" Ukyo screams, her anger overriding her concern. She takes a threatening step toward the Tiger Sect leaders. She stops dead in her tracks her face pale when her spatula suddenly falls to the floor in pieces. The Amazon elders stare with shock as they did not see either Ran Koh or Ryoga move. Sera steps forward his ears pressed firm against his head. He crouches low to the ground giving of a warning growl to the others in the room. Ran Koh reaches down and pats the tiger on the head. She watches the tiger closely as her mother steps slowly forward. "Dear, we were worried, we thought Genma and Soun had taken you and Ryoga. We were only worried for your safety." She explains to her two children. "*SIGH!* You didn't have to be, I can take care of myself, besides Ryoga and Sera was with me. Besides we left a note." She tells them looking into a group of confused faces. Ryoga walks over to the community room's bulletin board. He then calls there attention to a large piece of paper with the large kanji for 'Ryoga and I went to train be back in two hours', written on it. The group begins to look a little embarrassed at the two martial artists. The Tiger Sect leader just smiles at them glad they have so many people who care for them after living lives of loneliness. "Niece may I ask you something?" Ku Lon hops forward ignoring the growling tiger. "Of course Auntie Ku Lon, what is it." Ran Koh smiles at the slight shock on her aunts face at the term of endearment. "Who destroyed Ukyo's spatula neither you or nephew moved." Ku Lon asks pointing at the four pieces of Ukyo's kick ass spatula. "Oops, sorry about that but Sera thought she was going to hurt us." Ku Lon nearly falls from her perch. It is the quick reflexes of Msu Tsu that keeps her on her staff. "_You_ mean that cat knows the Neko-Ken?" Mas Cra stutters out while giving Sera a deadly stare. "Well yeah, they are going to be part of the battle so Ryoga and I decided they need to know something to protect themselves." Ran Koh answers looking with confusion at the fear on the others faces. "Are you two _out of your minds!_" Mas Cra asks them with disbelief. "Wait a minute you said _THEY_, you didn't teach any other cats did you?" Their great aunt demands, Ryoga and Ran Koh look at the two elders, Ryoga nervously and Ran Koh with defiance. "We have an army that the evil coming has never fought against before in their existence. We did nothing wrong and we will continue to train the cats until all of them like Sera has reached their Neko-Ken abilities. I want to see as few people die this time around as possible and if training the cats will help do that then I _will_ do it." Ran Koh tells the Amazon elders with narrow, glowing eyes. "Sera only destroyed Ukyo's weapon, because he will not harm the Light Warriors or their allies, but he won't let them do what he perceives as an attack." She continues while picking up Ukyo's spatula. Ran Koh kneels next to Sera, who watches her intently. Ran Koh lays each piece of the weapon down on the floor in the order needed to fix it. She then casts a spell over the weapon, which causes it to be repaired. She then picks it up and hands it back to a stunned Ukyo. "Now if you will excuse us we need to get ready for school. Oh, yes please remember if you can't find us check the bulletin board in the war room we will leave notes there. Otherwise those two idiots found a way to over power us." The two Light Warriors leave Sera close at their heels. The people in the war room hear the closing of the Tiger Sect leader's apartment door. With the conversation effectively at an end the two Amazons look to the other Light Warriors for help. They look back and shrug their shoulders and prepare to walk away. When the elders stop them by blocking the door. "Don't you people understand the implications of this?" Mas Cra chides the Light Warriors. "They are bringing a set of warriors into the mix that 'He Who Devours the Light' isn't going to expect. The cats can be instrumental in fighting this evils foot soldiers." Taj tells the old women. "I agree, this evil lives in the shadows and because of the Neko- ken in Ryoga and Ran Koh are comfortable in those shadows and so are the cats." Roberto continues with the reasoning. "I am afraid I can see where the Light Warriors are going with this, although I will have to agree with the Amazon Elders. Cats are unpredictable creatures, they are out for themselves first and foremost. What will stop all these cats from just booking when the fighting starts and leave us with no backup army." Daniel puts in, although he does not understand half of the things they are talking about, he decides to talk with Ryoga later. "Because it _is_ in their best interest to help us!" Everyone turns to see Ryoga and Ran Koh standing there in their school uniforms. "Elders do not misunderstand me, please. I take your counsel very seriously, but I and Ryoga are probably the only two people on earth who can truly understand the nature of cats. Earth is just as much their home as it is ours. After that first battle with this evil we lost the alliance of all the other races that use to inhabit earth. We now have a new ally, one that has been over looked for centuries because there was no way to communicate with them." The white haired warrior looks at the each of the 'Light Warriors and the others in the war room. "Ran Koh and I were given control over the Neko-ken, even the monks did not expect that Genma's stupidity had given them an unexpected edge. Therefore, they split the Neko-ken between us and now we have a chance of bringing an entire army of the best cat fighters in the world into this battle. We didn't recruit them, they came to us through Sera. They want this battle, they want to save their world as well." Ryoga continues to explain while Ran Koh gently strokes Sera's back. "The legend of 'He Who Devours the Light' might be removed from our collective memories to prevent his premature awakening, but not from the legends of the cats. They have fought in their own way for eons, but this time they want to do more damage." Ryoga finishes with a smile at Ran Koh as Sera as she scratches the big cats stomach. "How long have you been training the cats, boy?" Mas Cra asks Ryoga her eyes a flame with rage. "Well _grandmother_, not long actually a few days Sera seemed to have learned the fastest although there is more for him to learn. We think it is because he is still a wild cat and closer to the ferociousness of the Neko-ken, the domesticated cats are taking a little longer, but it won't be long now." Ryoga smiles at the old woman and her shock at the familiar name, La Si giggling behind her grandmother. "Come we can continue this later, but it will do no good. As the leaders of the Tiger Sect and one set of the Light Warriors, it is up to use to use what ever resource that is given us to fight and protect this world. The cats have demanded the right to fight this battle and we plan to make sure they are equipped to do just that. Now come it is time to leave for school." Ran Koh tells them with the same defiance shining in Ryoga's eyes. With that the students leave, being watched by a group of Light Warriors and Allies with look of shock, bemusement, and uncertainty. One of the watchers gives her all three but hidden deep under them is the look of lust and wanting. It flashes briefly in his eyes but he hides it quickly behind a glib smile. /*\*/*\ The Light Warriors and Amazons walk into the schoolyard, they look around and see the all of Furinkan's male population is split into two factions. When they enter the compound, Akane follows behind them her battle cry heard across the campus. "I HATE BOYS!" The group of boys on the right of the schoolyard surge toward the Tendo girl. "AKANE, DATE WITH ME!" "I LOVE YOU AKANE, COME BE MINE!" "I AM YOUR SLAVE COMMAND ME AKANE!" The warriors just watch and shake their heads in disgust, the little group stops in shock when the other faction makes its move. "RAN KOH, BE MINE!" "DATE ME, RAN KOH!" The boys suddenly stop moving and look in fright at the four glowing Light Warriors and two glowing Amazons. The faction fighting Akane also freezes and Akane is left looking frustrated and angry. She turns to see what is happening and gawks at the six glowing warriors. Then in a quiet voice that rings through the whole school, Ran Koh speaks to the boys. "I will not fight any of you. I do not fight those who can not fight at my level. I will not be a party to this travesty that has befallen Miss Tendo. If you doubt my ability to end this quickly observe." Ran Koh begins to levitate off the ground and she spots the culprit behind the mob. "Ahh, my angel, come fly to the arms of the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!" Kuno tells the floating Light Warrior as he steps from behind the tree. "Kuno, I am not your angel and I will not tolerate your treatment of me, as you have treated Miss Tendo." Ran Koh tells him, she then looks around her to the lust in the eyes of the boys staring up at her. "Watch and remember, this attack is the weakest of my most _deadliest_, and if you continue to attack me I will be forced to use it on _you_!" Ran Koh raises her hands to in front of her leaving a space of about a foot. She then began to mumble in an archaic language the boys eyes widen when a fireball appears between her hands. They gasp when the bright yellow of the fire begins to turn purplish yellow with streaks of green, and golden white. Ran Koh then sends the spell to its intended target. "CHIFIRE" Ran Koh releases the spell and the one-foot ball of ethereal fire and chi hits Kuno square in the chest. The whole school yard, and those in the school watches as the spell engulfs Kuno. His screams are heard for blocks, when the fire dies down Kuno is unconscious and he is one massive burn. Ran Koh then floats up to the pest and casts a small healing spell. She cures him to where his injuries are not live threatening but leaves enough of the burns to make an impression. Then she rejoins her friends she lands, as they turn and walk into the school. The boys and Akane watch her leave, all of them to frighten to move. Akane snaps to first and runs for the building before the boys have a chance to attack her. She is determined to learn how that _pervert_ did that. Class passes without incident, and to the amusement of Mr. Morboshi, most of the male students are finally able to come to class, they all watch the white hair girl with nervous glances. He frowns as Akane's total attention seems to be the new girl and her friends. Mr. Morboshi throws an eraser at Akane hitting her square in the forehead. She turns to glare at the instructor's back as he is busy writing on the black board. Akane forces herself to pay attention, she figures she can talk to Ranma after class. Finally the bell rings and Mr. Morboshi prepares his things to leave. When he summons Ran Koh to the front of the room. The boys watch her with mixed emotions of awe, fear, and lust. Akane tries to hear what they are talking about but they are talking to quietly for her to hear. She notices Ranma has given Mr. Morboshi a business card then she bows to the teacher and heads back to her chair. /*\*/*\ Akane slumps angrily in her chair as the next instructor starts the class. Akane daydreams about her being able to fly like Ranma and to throw a chi blast to put Kuno down and the rest of the perverted boys in school. Akane snaps awake as another eraser bops her in the forehead. She glows slightly but since no one is paying attention she feels why waste the energy. Her classes pass quickly and she is happy to finally be able to go to lunch. She turns to see Ranma and his friends have already left. She mentally kicks herself for not paying attention, she gathers her things and heads outside to try and catch them. She makes it outside in time to see the small group meet up with the exotic guy from yesterday. "RANMA! WAIT UP!" Ran Koh bristles at the mention of her dead past and ignores the Tendo girl, as she and her friends start to leave the compound. Akane sees that Ranma heard her as she watches Ranma stiffen. She then gets angry when he ignores her and continues on. Akane puts on a burst of speed to catch up with the group. Her battle aura in full bloom at the slight, she grabs Ran Koh's shoulder and spins her around to face her. Akane screams in pain, she pulls her hand away and finds four little scratch marks on the back of her hand. Ran Koh glares at her, but says nothing to her and turns and starts to walk away. Her companions turn to follow her. With her pain forgotten Akane's anger flares again. This time she brings forth her mallet and charges the Light Warriors. "AAARRGGG!" She screams in frustration bring her mallet down toward the back of Ran Koh's head. Akane freezes with shock and fear as her mallet falls to pieces on the ground at her feet. Standing in front of her a little more then six feet away, is a glowing Ran Koh surrounded by her purple multi colored aura, except this time it is darker more blackish. It is also the shape of a cat, her friends seeing this before slowly step back all but Ryoga and Samuel. They both try to calm the leader of the Tiger Sect. "I have warned you before _Tendo_, my name is _Ran Koh_, and you will use it if you wish to stay healthy. I have tried to give you some leeway, since you are a practitioner of the Anything Goes School, but all I see from you is not martial arts but bullying. Attack me again and I won't just stop at your mallet. You are _not_ a martial artist, and your father should be ashamed for teaching you the art, since you are not capable of controlling your anger!" She growls angrily at the stunned girl. She then turns and storms off her friends behind her. Akane watches her leave, her anger boiling over at the insult to her father and her. She then hears the sound of applause from behind her, turning she sees a large group of girls clapping and cheering as they wave at the retreating figures. Akane's aura explodes with self-righteous indignation and anger. She summons another mallet and charges the group of girls. /*\*/*\ The warriors walk silently away from the school Ran Koh glowing slightly while she tries to calm herself. When they hear the scream of anger behind them they turn to see Akane charge at a group of frightened girls to scared to move. The warriors move into action, to protect the girls and stop Akane. Samuel shifts to his wizard form and casts a spell. They watch as Akane barrels into a wall of ice. She bounces off and lands on her back her mallet flying away from her, it lands a few feet out of her reach. When the girls see Akane is stopped they turn and run for the school before she can get to them. Her two friends staring at her through the ice wall with looks of pity and anger. Akane sees them and has the decency to look embarrassed. Akane raises to her feet and turns to face seven angry warriors. She gulps and steps back against the wall of ice. "_HOW_ dare you call yourself a martial artist, and charge a group of defenseless girls because they decide they like seeing you get told off!" Akane stares into the blazing eyes of Ran Koh as she is demeaned in front of her classmates. "YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! I AM THE BEST MARTIAL ARTIST IN NERIMA!" Akane screams back at her trying to cover her fear. "_YOU_ are nothing! You are not even worth the effort of a challenge! BUT, hear me good _girl_ if I catch you attacking innocents again I will use the laws of the _ancient_ Amazons against you! I suggest you check with the elders at the Nekohanten to find out what that is because as far as I am concerned I want nothing to do with you!" With that Ran Koh storms off her friends behind her. Akane turns and stares at the ice wall, she goes to her mallet and uses it to smash the wall. It takes her the rest of her lunch period to break through the magical ice. When she is finally through she hears the bell ending her lunch. She returns to class glowing a dark red. /*\*/*\ On an Indian reservation, in the Midwest United States a counsel of war is being convened. In a community room a group of chiefs from the different tribes on the reservation sit at a conference table. With each leader are two young braves and an old shaman. The twelve shaman have moved off to a corner of the room, they are being watched closely by the other occupants. The shamans form a circle around a small fire pit each chanting in their tribes language. White smoke rises from the small fire then a bolt of lightening shoots from the center of the flame into the smoke to disappear. The chiefs and their warriors stare transfixed as the smoke becomes a black smoky void, flashing with black lightening. They gasp as they watch white glowing smoke rise from the shamans and that converge on the black smoke. The black smoke tendrils around the white spirits of the twelve men only to pull back with a bone chilling scream. The twelve spirits surge forward and surround the black smoke, which begins to shoot black lightening at the ethereal warriors where the lightening strikes pieces of the white disappear with a scream that freezes the souls of the men watching. One of the warriors takes a step toward the twelve entranced men only to be stopped by his chief's hand on his arm and a shake of the leaders head. The battle rages on between the Indians spirits and the dark evil that has come to stop them. The chiefs begin to worry as it looks to them that their spiritual advisors are losing. The evil has dwindled their shaman's spirits down to a fourth of what they were when they started. There is suddenly a loud roar of pain from the center of the black smoke and the warriors and their leaders gape as lights of coppery red, golden white and silvery black burst from the flames. The men watching sense that this silvery black and its companions are here to help. They watch in awe as the new lights flashing fight back the evil then one of each of the young warriors gasp and step forward, they stand before the flames transfixed. The twenty four warriors where there to be tested to take the place of the twelve old shamans. Each of the young warriors is a powerful shaman, in their own right. They are the strongest their tribes have to offer. Only one though can take the place of the shaman leader for their tribes. The battle is over shortly after the intervention of the three lights. What remains of the old shamans' spirits, finally return to their hosts. They are all near death and they see before them their replacements. It is then that those chosen turn and stare horror stricken at their brethren. A young Navaho steps forward he is to speak for the others. "We can not take our rightful place as shaman leaders let it fall to our brothers." There is an uproar from the Chiefs as they stand with anger. "LET US FINISH!" The brave from the Apache yells, the Chiefs stare dumbfounded but anger rules their faces. "This was not the normal test of the new shaman leader, look at them they are nearly dead!" The Navaho continues, the others look to the old shamans as they lay on the floor in heaps of panting flesh and bone. "That which they fought was trying to stop them, it is trying to prevent our joining the coming battle!" The Chiefs and warriors look to the young Navaho with confusion. "We saw in the rescuing lights three figures of great magical power. A woman with white golden hair a man with red coppery hair and another an Indian with black silver hair. They are the leaders of the warriors converging to fight the evil that tried to stop the shaman elders. We can not take the elders place for we are summoned to fight against this evil that threatens every living soul on earth." The twelve young shaman stand tall and determined, but they are affected by what they felt and it shows in the haunted looks in their eyes. "Where must you go then Jonathan?" The Navaho Chief asks his youngest son. "A place called Nerima Japan and we must leave _now_!" The Chiefs look undecided when they hear a hoarse whispered voice from behind the braves. "They *cough, cough* speak true, they are chosen to fight this battle *cough wheeze* not take our place. Let them go or we may all perish!" The Cherokee shaman gets out before like his brethren passes into oblivion. /*\*/*\ In China at the Joketsuzoku village there is much turmoil. The villagers three days ago have said goodbye to the elder Li Ly and thirty of their best warriors. They head to Japan to join elders Ku Lon and Mas Cra, and the new Japanese tribe in the coming battle. The villagers now gather in the town square to say goodbye again to the two groups of emissaries that will go to try and gain more fighters and allies for the coming war. A group of twelve males and twelve females prepare to leave. They say goodbye to their family and friends and head out from the village. The group of males head north from their village and into Musk territory. While the group of woman head east toward Phoenix mountain. The remaining villagers watch with a little fear as most of their warriors have gone and they are almost defenseless. If it was not for the fact that the remaining ten elders were still in the village the villagers would have abandoned their homes for a safer haven. /*\*/*\ The group of men make their way north, keeping their eyes, ears and senses open for ambush. They didn't have long to wait when they reach a clearing just inside the borders of the Musk, a group of warriors surround them. The chosen leader of the Amazon males steps forward with his hands up in a non threatening jester. "We have been sent by the Amazon elders with a message for princes Her Rbe, it is of the utmost urgency." The forty something Amazon tells the warriors. The Musk warriors don't seem to be very impressed and make ready to slaughter the apparently unarmed ambassadors. The Amazons though had the protection of the gods that day as a chi blast hits some of the Musk warriors knocking them back into the trees. The remaining warriors both Musk and Amazon look to the sky to see a young man with red dragon slitted eyes and green dragon scale armor hovering over them. "It is not your decision as to whether I listen to the Amazons. Make that assumption again and it will be your last! Now bring them to my throne room and treat them with respect or it is the last thing you do!" The Musk guards escort the Amazons deeper into the their territory following their prince to the Musk citadel. /*\*/*\ The group of female Amazons head east carefully going through the Jusenkyo valley. They travel at the far edge of the clearing where the springs lay, being careful not to get too close. Ta Nge watches the warriors with a curious stare but knows better then to interfere with an Amazon war party. He turns and reenters his hut and lets them pass unquestioned. When the amazons have passed through the Valley of the Cursed springs they change direction slightly and head northeast, toward a towering mountain. As night begins to fall they find a clearing and set up camp, knowing that the fire will attract the attention of those they seek, they create a small bon fire. They then sit in the shadows and await the arrival of their guests. The Amazons wait for much of the night, taking turns napping. Their _guests_ finally arrive late into the night. The Amazons perk up at the sound of flapping wings and stare toward their bon fire. They watch in stunned silence as twenty or so humanoid's land in their camp. Their wings wrapping tightly around them. The leader seems to be a tall female of six feet with short white hair and beautiful white wings with black tips. The leader of the Amazons clears her throat to catch the bird peoples attention, they all turn to the sound, with weapons ready to fire. When a command in deep sultry voice stops them "HOLD!" The white hair female steps forward slightly and waits for her counterpart to come into the light. She does not have long to wait. An Amazon of 6' 3" enters the light of the fire. The Amazon is about thirty with long salmon colored hair that reaches just past her knees. Her eyes glow from the fire, but they seem to be a deep midnight blue. The Amazon steps forward with her hands raised to show she carries no weapon. The bird woman steps closer her hands raised in the same manner. The two warriors stand facing each other, the bird woman covered in shadows while the Amazon glows from the light of the fire. "I am Kima of the Phoenix what do you want in our territory _Amazon_!" The Amazon's eyes flash with anger, but she controls it for this is a negotiation. "I am Jas Min; I and my party have been sent by the elders, we request to speak with your king. There is a danger that threatens the entire planet and we have come to ask for the aid of Phoenix mountain." She tells the bird woman. Kima looks at the Amazon with undisguised suspicion in her emerald green eyes. She turns and heads back to her party of warriors. Jas Min watches her as she goes to a very old looking birdman. Although he still stands tall at 6' 2" he is slightly slumped and leans heavily on his walking staff. Jas Min watches while the two confer, Kima seems adamant, and the Amazon can guess about what, but the old birdman looks to be on their side. Kima stands ramrod straight her hands clenched in tight fists. She spins on her heel and storms away from the older birdman and toward the other side of the clearing. The elder comes toward the Amazon with a wide grin on his face, the Amazon watches him carefully. "Greetings my dear, I am Calcoridan, and am first advisor to King Saffron. Why don't you tell me why we should allow you and audience with our king when relations between our people have been non existent." Calcoridan asks, his hair is golden brown and his wings are black with gold piping. "Greetings Elder, I wish I could but _my_ elders have told me what to say to those that first meet with us. We can not tell all until we are in the presence of your king. We come unarmed as ambassadors of the Amazons. I can tell you that your help is greatly needed." Jas Min tells the advisor, he nods to her with a thoughtful look. "Summon your warriors my dear I will allow this meeting, for the Amazons to send a war party unarmed means a great trouble is close at hand. Guards each of you will carry an Amazon, take them directly to the Royal throne room, you are responsible for their safety, treat them well or suffer the consequences. Kima and I will go and talk to his majesty King Saffron." Calcoridan commands, as the Amazons come forward a Phoenix guard comes forward. They wrap one arm around the women's waist and take to the sky, heading for their home at Phoenix Mountain. Kima comes up to stand beside Calcoridan and glares at him with undisguised rage. He doesn't even look at her but instead takes to the sky, heading for home. Kima watches him shaking with rage. Then she follows him. She leaves the bon fire which has dwindled to a campfire size. She knows that the rain that has started to fall will put it out completely.