Ranma mulled over the events of the past three days as he packed for the journey. Whatever had possessed Ryouga to bring that cube to the Tendo Dojo in fist place. If he hadn't brought it, they would all still be home instead of being lost in another time. He'd get Ryouga for that as soon as they got on their way, they had all promised to refrain from violent acts in the presence of the Tuatha'an and the effort was having obvious effects. No doubt as soon as they were away from the Tuatha'an a full Battle Royal would ensue. One Ranma was looking forward to.
Feeling a gaze on him, Ranma looked up. There by the few horses they had gotten from the Tuatha'an was one of the Warders. His strange cloak that shifted colors as you watched it blowing in the wind. He reminded Ranma of a Wolf. Scratch that Elyas was the wolf, wild and unpredictable, compared to him this guy, Jorn, was a trained attack dog, lethal but loyal to his masters commands. Being careful not to stare Ranma let his eyes wander over his traveling companions.
A few meters in front of him and to his left Kasumi was busy packing. A meter behind her, the two Aes'Sedai were watching her pack. If Ranma didn't know better, he would say the women were wary of her.
Kasumi looked at her pack and how little it contained. How could she cook a decent meal with so few cooking supplies? Oh well, she would just have to buy some more when they reached a village. Eyeing the cube that was also packed with her things, Kasumi frowned.
Those women were still watching her. Didn't they have some work to do? She had more important things to do than be watched by two women with flames on their shoulder. Picking up her pack, Kasumi glanced behind her. The women and their flames were still there.
Funny, Mother never used to tell her this much about people before. But those women had flames all the time. Not only that but Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo had them now. Then their were the cute wolves that Ryouga, Nabiki, and that Elyas guy had. In addition that rosary with eight large beads Ranma had around his neck. As well as several other images that kept shifting around the others. So many in fact that it was giving her a headache. Sighing, she looked up to see Nabiki approaching her.
After checking on Kasumi and making sure all was well with the cube Nabiki went looking for Ryouga. All her hard work at hiding their eyes would go for nothing if he forgot to wear the sunglasses she sold him. It was a good thing she had the two pairs of sunglasses in her purse. If anyone saw their eyes, there would be too many questions. Besides it was more profitable if people were unaware of her newfound abilities.
As she searched for the lost boy Nabiki mused over the events that had transpired in the past three days. Remembering all the things that her new sister, Dapple, taught her during their talk. Who would have thought... A wolf of all things? She wished she could help her new sister but affairs of the heart were never something she was good at. And now they were of on this quest to find a way home.
Sure Nabiki had debts to claim, and money to make but, if that story the gleeman, Coledare mentioned last night meant what she thought it did. Going back was less safe than staying in this time. Shuddering at the thought of the two giants �Mosk' and �Merc' fighting with lances of fire. No, Thermonuclear War was not something she wanted to return to.
Then again the prospect of staying around here for Armageddon wasn't to pleasing either. If what she had learned from the Traveling people was correct.
Sighing as she approached Ryouga. His head down and no sign of his sunglasses. Nabiki made ready to make him toe the line. At least their new abilities made sure that he could follow by scent without getting lost.
Coledare sat on his mare with a slight grin on his face. He didn't know why but he felt compelled to travel with these people. Something told him that this would be an epic of a story. Calmly he surveyed the group as they started on their journey. In the lead was that odd man Elyas. Followed closely by one of the warders. Then came Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome joking along like two kids. Flowed closely by Kasumi Tendo and grinning Dr. Tofu. A short distance behind them rode the two Aes'Sedai with a Warder and the old woman Cologne. Then followed the �kids'; Akane, Nabiki, Ranma, Ryouga, Kuno, Moose, Taro, Shampoo, and Ukyou. All of them watching the others as if expecting the others to attack them. Behind the group came the little servant Sasuke and the old man Happosai. He himself rode behind them with the third Warder acting as rear guard.
Watching the kids more intently he watched them joke and tease each other. Throwing mock punches and dodging blows. Coledare frowned, those punches were good, the dodges better. The kids really knew how to fight. Reaching into his multicolored cloak, he pulled out his good luck charm from his childhood. A crystal bead. A strange pattern suspended inside. For a moment it caught the light of the sun and glowed. Putting it back. A great adventure indeed he thought.
Several hours later.
Suddenly Nabiki felt revolted. Almost turning green as she realized what her friends had seen. She then saw Elyas talking to one of the Warders explaining what was ahead. After a minute the Warder motioned to a second and they disappeared over the rise ahead of their party. Turning around she saw Ryouga turning green. If he lost it now, their secret may get out. Not to mention the fact that she would probably loose it to.
"I wonder why Elyas stopped us?"
"Why? Aren't you glad to get a rest?" Ranma teased.
"I don't know there was some commotion before and two of the Warders went on ahead. Maybe there is some danger."
"Then why don't you go up there and find out."
"Me, well if you're too scared, I guess I'll have to."
"Me, scared never." With that Ranma went forward to find out what was going on. With the rest of the group closely following. As they left Nabiki caught Ryouga's gaze. He had managed to compose himself while, she had distracted everyone.
As they joined the rest of the group around Elyas, the two Warders reappeared from over the ridge carrying a bloody heap. At seeing that the bloody mass was a man Dr. Tofu and an Aes' Sedai, Malia, went to give aid. Dr. Tofu no longer in his giddy state due to the severity of the injuries and his constant exposure to Kasumi over the past three days, was pressing pressure points and applying bandages that Kasumi brought him. The Aes Sedai calmly laid her hands on the man. Her eyes widened as she saw the doctor press some pressure points. Then they bulged, and became a glare as Kasumi brought Dr. Tofu some bandages.
"There is not much more I can do. He is bleeding internally."
"I know. If your friends give me room I can save him."
Recognizing the passion of another healer, Tofu pulled Kasumi away and asked her to bring some water. He then set to getting everyone else back, with the exception of the warders. When he turned back to the patient he could see that his breathing had slowed to a raged pace and the Aes Sedai had her hands on his chest. Suddenly the mans body spasms as he coughs up blood. Rushing back to the patient Tofu sees that the man is breathing regularly and most his cuts and bruises had been healed. Looking over at Malia he could see how drained she was from the healing.
"Malia Sedai, you need some rest. Kasumi!"
"Yes Doctor, here is the water you asked for."
Tofu completely missing the flinch Malia gave at the name. "Thank you Kasumi. Malia over exerted herself helping this man. Could you make her some tea and make sure she gets some rest."
"Certainly doctor." Grabbing Malia's hand Kasumi practically dragged her away.
Nabiki continues to watch the doctor tend his patient. By just surviving the carnage the twisted ones did to him and his companions speaks well of his abilities as a fighter. "What is he?"
"From his height, and black veil I would say he is an Aile." Coledare said as he walked up beside her.
Nabiki cursed herself silently for allowing someone to sneak up on her. She could now smell him as he stood beside her. She should have heard and smelt his approach instead of being surprised. "Aile? What are they." Nabiki asked as she returned to watching the doctor.
"Fierce warriors from the waste beyond the spine of the world. They will not use a sword. Then again they don't need one. It is said that an Aile barehanded and a swordsman are an even match if the swordsman is good. Rumors say that they serve the Dragon others say that they fight..." Coledare trailed off as the doctor removed an object from the Aile's hand.
The Doctor lifted up what looked like a glass bead and spoke. "Tei". Nabiki could barely make it out. Tofu then did a hurried examination of his patient, stopping at his right hip. Tofu then nodded and got a grim expression on his face. He then returned to his normal care of his patient.
A bead with the mark of �Tei', Brotherly love , and something on his right hip; Nabiki may not be an expert on samurai but she had sold enough pictures to Kuno to know a thing or two. Those two she recognized and judging by Coledare's reaction she was not the only one. Suddenly words Coledare spoke from his performance last night came to her mind. "Ages come and go on the wheel of time. The events of the Age first become legend, then myth, and finally forgotten till the age that gave it birth comes again."
Nabiki suddenly fond herself wanting to get to know Coledare better.
End Part 1
Author's notes:
Where, did this come from?
This fanfic originated from two ideas.
1. Introducing Ranma and Co. to the Wheel of Time
2. What other Legendary Heros could be bound to the Wheel and Reborn
before the Last Battle.
-The Hakkenshi.
Putting the two together gave me my start. But as I continued to work
things out some problems occurred so I am devising these Rules so that I
am Limited in whom I can Use but not limited in what I can do and where I
can go.
Rules.
1. Dogs of the Saotome will parallel Jordan W.O. T. books not rewrite
them.
2. Little or no interaction will come between Ranma and Co. and the Main
Characters. (I.e., I can't bring back Moraine because she would be
identified by the main Characters.)
3. Ranma & Co. are to provide assistance in the background of RJ's
Story. (I.e., fight dread lords who could be a nuisance if allowed
to grow in power, ECT.)
4. Minor Chars can and will be used.
5. nothing is set in stone.
If anyone out there would be interested in assisting me with this, let me know. The story I have in mind might be too big for me to handle by myself.
Some of the events that have been hinted at in the above will be written in future chapters and side stories.
W.O.T. Notes
For those not familliar with the Wheel of Time
Kasumi-
Kasumi has the ability to see the patern. This manifests as symbolic
images in ones aura. I decided to give Kasumi this ability since birth.
To everyone else the were just a childs fancy. After her mother died the
images started to make more sense to her and she realized that others
could not see these things. Little Kasumi then rationalized that her
mothers spirt was showing her these things and everything would be
alright. Kind of explains why she can be so oblivious and yet so
observant at the same time.
Also Kasumi has the effect of being a walking Steading. Steadings are places that will cause one to feel refreshed, relaxed and at peace. They also have the property of preventing anyone within their confines from accessing the One Power. This range will vary depending on Kasumi's mood but generally a channeller, one who can access the One Power, will be cut of if standing within a meter of her. After time as she comes to realize what she is doing she will be able to expand the field to several meters.
Elyas, Ryouga, and Nabiki
The Wolves Kasumi saw around these three are to show that they are
Wolfbrothers, Wolfsister in Nabiki's case. A Wolfbrother has a telepathic
communication with wolves. More to the line of scents sound and images
than actual words. Also a Wolfbrother gains increased senses of sight,
sound, and smell. Thirdly they receive access the the world of dreams
which has several properties from showing what may be to receiving
injuries even death from wounds suffered within. There is also a visible
change as the eyes turn yellow and will almost glow in the right light.
Chanelers
The flames on the shoulder
This is how Kasumi's viewings are showing her channelers or those who
can learn to be channelers. Channelers can weave the Elements of Earth,
Air, Fire, Water, and Spirt to achieve a varrity of effects. Malia's
Healing. There are Extreme differences between how a woman channels and
how a man channels. These will be explained latter but for now I will
mention that any man who channels is doomed to eventually go mad and
die. Possibly taking those around him with him.
The rosary with Eight large beads around Ranma's neck
This has to deal with the Hakkenshi (Eight dog Warriors) and will be
explained in subsequent chapters.
IF you desire more information on the Hakkenshi this sight I found is my primary source of technical information though I am also basing this loosely of of the characters in the anime. http://www.dtinet.or.jp/~opaku/shogun/index.html
For more information on the WOT I recommend the WOT index http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/kor2/WOT/WOTindex/