Okay, I've revised the battle scene and Cedric gets a run for his money and
the battle is undecided by the end. Cleaned it up and reworded it. Notes:
Emania-Celtic land of the dead. Bri - Chi. Bua - Spell energy basically.
King of Ducks Publishers Proudly Present,
In association with Seven Drunken Albino Dwarves Ltd.,
Funding Provided by Nabiki Tendo Investment Firm (NTIF),
Blood of Heroes
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
Written By: The King of Ducks.
Chapter 1:
<Insert standard disclaimer here. For more information check out
"Disclaimer" by the Offspring on Ixnay on the Hombre.>
Time does not flow like a river like some would have you to believe; no,
instead it is a maelstrom moving only to the whims of Chance and Fortune.
Some say the past is unchangeable, and even if you write history differently
than it happened, that which really happened is unchanged and the truth will
come out once more. This is true if you only rewrite history in the literal
sense, but what if you were to go back and change it?
Time sweeps backwards and forth according the whim of the dice of fate
and thus can someone from one age find him/herself thrown into another age,
either in the past or, more strangely, the future. Sometimes, something
other than fate changes things; spirits have great power over the mortal
world, though they can rarely utilize it or will rarely utilize it. Sages
differ greatly on this subject, they assume that the more important the
spirit was, the greater power the spirit has over the world of the living.
Some can even be reborn in it, (assuming that they wanted to, of course) but
sometimes, even what a spirit wants doesn't matter . . .
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The old man whirled and danced around a burning fire within a forest
clearing. As he spun, his chants seemed to stretch into eternal blackness of
the night sky. With each step, the forest around him grew darker and darker
as the power stretched into Emania. With each passing moment, the echo of
the spirits grew more and more powerful until the old man stopped. Now the
land beyond his fire was indescribably dark and the icy presence of the
spirits there made the wind colder than it should have been for a summer
night. The old man slowly sat down, chanting words of power to ward off evil
and to bind the summoned spirits until he was finished, or until dawn,
whichever came first. After a few moments he stopped and looked into the
darkness.
"Hound of Culan, step forth from the darkness that binds you!" the old
man cried into the night wind.
Within the passing of a few minutes a groaning could be heard as a
translucent figure stepped into the light. The figure stood, clad
resplendently in age-worn battle armor, and slowly solidified. He stood
taller than the old man and his long black hair hung down past his shoulders.
Looking down he stared at the old man with icy eyes that were filled with
cold anger.
"Shaman, why in the name of all the gods did you bring me here? Is it
time for my
rebirth?" the Hound of Culan asked the shaman.
"That is up to you, great warrior."
"What do you mean, 'it is up to me'?"
The old man's eyes had the look of one speaking to the fey as he related
the message. "That star which fell and slept when ere the earth was full
formed is soon to awaken and rise. Then shall its light battle a darkness
which is soon freed from sleep. With the light may ride a host of the past
and with the darkness a similar host. Then shall the blood begin and the
star and the shadow truly fight. Three outcomes are possible and, as in all
things three is the number of Fate, Fortune, and Chance. The first of these
outcomes is that the light rises and shines through the darkness and from him
springs forth a new generation of man whose bri and bua shall achieve great
wonders.
The second is if the Shadow smothers the Star. Then all shall perish in
the ensuing night.
The final outcome, should either one not come to pass, is that both Star
and Shadow being weakened by the conflict shall sleep once more and gather
their strength for another battle on another day."
"The truth, Shaman! Speak ye not in riddles!"
"In no other way may we speak, Hound of Culan. In no other way may we
speak and in no other way may we live."
"Which of these three outcomes will come to pass?"
"Chance, Fate, and Fortune have decided to leave this destiny in the
hands and the spirits of man. We are required to summon the spirits of both
sides; light and dark, to align them in rebirth. Now, Hound of Culan; stand
ye to the side as we summon the Second, upon this darkest of nights..."
"Great Bear appear!"
A huge bear of a man loped forward from the tree-line, solidifying
instantly as he stepped up to the fire. He was in every way a contrast to
the other; the First was tall and the Second not. The First's eyes were as
cold as ice and the Second's burned with a fire. The First's bearing was
that of a soldier and the Second's was that of a king. The Bear sat in front
of the shaman and stared lazily at him.
"Why have ye called my soul from Avalon?" the Great Bear plainly stated.
The fey mists were
comfort enough for me."
The shaman related the same tale to the Bear as they did to the Hound.
The Bear sat for a moment in thought, then he asked the shaman, "And you wish
for me and my cousin to return to the world of life before our true time of
rebirth and fight this shadow?"
"Yes Great Bear, that is our wish. Chance, Fate, and Fortune require
that we ask."
"I don't like it," the Hound snorted with derision.
"Yes cousin, but you didn't like much of anything," the Bear replied
without looking from the shaman. "If we do return, which of the three
outcomes will come to pass?"
"That is blocked by mists even we cannot penetrate. Not even the three
know that
destiny".
"Son of the Lake, come forth from your watery sleep."
A third figure emerged and solidified upon the ground as soon as one
ghostly foot touched it. He strode forward without care and the fire danced
upon his fair features. He stood proud and confidant behind the Bear and
looked down upon the shaman with disgust.
"Thou foul and filthy peasant! "Why hast thou awakened me from mine
deserved rest? Speak now, and quickly, ere I strike thine head from thine
shoulders!" the Son of the Lake's voice sounded as thunder.
Once again, the Shaman's tale was told. The Son Of The Lake beamed. His
smile grew as he pulled his sword from the scabbard at his side. Holding the
sword above his head the Son of the Lake shouted out in a thunderous voice,
"A quest in which I, the Son of the Lake, greatest warrior of the Bear's
court can truly shine. Surely I, the Son of the Lake, am this star of which
thou hast spoken."
The shaman lifted his head and stared into the Son of the Lake's eyes,
"No. You are not the StarSworn who will rise and shine above the earth."
"Then I shall fight with him to ensure victory once more. The shadow
shall rightly fear my prowess as I..." A fist from the Hound cut the boasting
to nothing, leaving the Son of the Lake in a gasping heap.
"Fool," was the Hound's only reply. "I agree shaman. I have but one
question, ere I return to my slumber."
"Which is, oh Hound of Culan?" the shaman asked.
"What of my descendants? Have they kept the way that Merlyn, the druids
and I taught them?"
"Yes Hound of Culan, the next to be born will be the greatest master of
your way this world has seen for over a thousand years."
"Then he must be the StarSworn of whom ye spoke!"
"We do not know that. So now the Hound and the Son of the Lake have
agreed, do you Great Bear?"
The Great Bear sighed, "I don't like having to make decisions like this
without ample time to think. But then again, I have been told that thinking
isn't my strong point. Alright shaman. You have a deal."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Akane Tendo stood within the strange building, taking it its decrepit
state. Vines covered some sections of the walls as well as the rubble where
parts of them had fallen in. Dusty spider webs covered everything like a grey
shroud. Everything, that is, but the strange crystalline statue against the
far wall. Shaped like a bishonen man, it held a long, thin sword in one hand.
It looked strangely alive and newly-carved, as though the craftsman
responsible had only just completed it.
/This is weird,/ Akane thought.
/Is it so unusual daughter of the faeries?/ a strange voice asked,
filling Akane's mind.
/Who's there? Who are you? What are you doing in my head?/ Akane
screamed mentally.
/I am the granter of desires, all desires. It is I who seek to fulfill
all of your deepest wants and needs. It is I who brought life into this
world and gave mankind their start! To some I am known as Prometheus. To
others I am called Raven, Coyote, the Great Manitou. I am the master of
magic, the holder of wisdom, the granter of strength! I am a djinn greater
than that which Aladdin held within his ring! I gave Rama the powers
necessary to finish his quest and I inspired Heracles throughout his Twelve
Labors. I led the way for Jason and made sure Odysseus found his way home to
Ithaca. Then I made sure all of the suitors were slain by he, the old man,
and his son. I protected Hiawatha until he could take care of himself and
brought safety to Lief Erikson. It was I who made sure Arthur of Camelot
held Excalibur and Lancelot got his queen! Throughout history I have been
the friend of mankind. Now I come to you./
/What do you want from me?/
/No, it is not what I want from you, Tendo Akane, but rather, what do
you want from me?/
/What... do I want... from you?/
/Yes. What do you desire? Tell me what you need and I shall provide.
Within my grasp are your dreams, within my hand I hold your fondest wishes.
Everything you ask, I can provide./
/You could give me anything?/
/Everything./
Images flew across Akane's mind as he made his promises. Ranma and
Akane holding hands; Shampoo/Kodachi/Ukyou fighting and Akane defeating each
of them; Akane being Ranma's equal in single combat; Akane cooking and it
turning out better than Kasumi's; Akane swimming; Akane watching her children
running free in the sunlight.
/Is that what you want?/
/Ye... yes. More than anything,/ Akane felt like something was breaking
down inside of her. She felt like crying.
/There there, do not be ashamed of your desires. They are among the
noblest I have ever heard./
/They are? You mean it isn't wrong for me to have them?/
/No. It is never wrong to wish for love. You are a warrior, never be
ashamed of that. You are a girl, never be ashamed of that. You love this
Ranma, never be ashamed of that. These are the things that give you the
strength you need. Truly I have chosen well in decided to grant your desires
Tendo Akane./
/Then you can help?/
/Yes. Tomorrow, I want you to hike into a small forest right outside of
Tokyo.
Head northeast into the forest for 2.5 hours and you will reach my temple.
Tell no one of this. Tomorrow one of your desires shall be granted./
/Thank you,/ Akane said as she nearly choked on tears of happiness.
/No, thank you Tendo Akane. Now awaken.../
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Akane awoke with a start and looked over at her clock. The red digital
display read 4:30 A.M. Slowly she shook her head as she tried to banish the
strange dream from her mind. /That is what it was, wasn't it?/ She had no
answer, but something kept telling her that it was true. Akane struggled
with the thought for a few minutes until her eyes got heavy and she fell into
deepest slumber once more.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Cedric departed the plane with a yawn, he was tired and hungry after his
18 hour plane ride. /But still,/ he thought, /Here I am, Japan. Land of the
Rising Sun and makers of video games./
He headed to the baggage claim to wait for his luggage and held opened
up the envelope his grandfather had given him. Looking around for an empty
chair he saw a very strange an looking at him intently. There was something
about the man's eyes that Cedric just didn't trust, something familiar that
he just couldn't place. The man made no move however, so Cedric paid him no
heed.
"Ah, here's a chair," Cedric mumbled as he sat down and read the letter
which his grandfather had written him...
"Dear Cedric,
I hope your plane ride was without incident and if you followed my
instructions, which I know you did, you are sitting in the baggage claim
reading
this. Well, I'll cut through the crap and get to the point, you are in
danger. It
pains me to tell you that I am either dead, dying, or soon to die. The
Soulless
who killed your girlfriend are after you and they are after me.
Luckily, they'll
underestimate you this time. I on the other hand, shall not be so
lucky. They
know me and my past efforts against them. I do take pride in knowing
that our
school will live on with the strength of the greatest master in over a
thousand
years, you. But then I also take pride in knowing that I am going to a
few of the
bastards with me.
Cedric, go find my old friend Soun Tendo and have him take you to
the
1st Tokyo Bank of Nerima and open the safety deposit box in Soun's name.
He
has the key. Take the old parchment scrolls you find there to a man
named
Happosai who can translate them for you. Then you can learn our school's
greatest techniques. These techniques are not to be taken lightly, each
one has
more power than you can imagine. With them you will be one of the most
powerful beings in the world, so please remember what I have taught you
about the
weight of that power.. Finally, you are to stay in Tokyo and train
under Soun at his school. I know you think you already know enough, but
there will come a time when you are deprived your ability to know an
opponent's moves ahead of time. I'd like you to be able to fight
effectively without the Wiseman Sees All skill. The ticket I bought
you is an open ended ticket which means you stay over there until Soun
feels you are ready. Try to train under Master Happosai if you can. Be
warned that his methods are a little unusual, well, very unusual, but he is
one of the greatest martial artists in the world.
Sincerely ,
Dafydd ap Tristan"
Cedric sat there for a long period of time, first Eowyn and now Dafydd?
/And then me. Well I hope the bastard gets here soon, I am going to have to
discuss something with him,/ Cedric thought bitterly.
The sounds of people screaming broke Cedric out of his reverie and he
looked up. About twenty yards the strange man was going on a rampage and
throwing people around. Cedric's face grew angry and fierce, here was the
fight he had been looking for.
"Hey asshole! Come over here and fight!" Cedric screamed as the man
looked up. A brave yet foolish security guard took this time to bash the man
over the head with his club. The man went down, hard.
"Thanks kid," the security guard said as he pulled out a pair of
handcuffs. Quickly he brought one of the man's hands behind his back and
slapped one side of the metal beauties on. The man turned and pulled the
cuffs out of the guard's hands.
The man stood and looked into the security guard's eyes. Then before
the guard could move the man struck out with a side kick and sent the
security guard onto his back. The guard rolled over and got to his feet.
"You... are a very stupid young man. Now you get the pleasure of dying
from my favorite technique. BlackBlade Beam!" the semi-handcuffed man said
as he shot a beam of dark chi into the guard's chest. The guard crumpled
over. "Idiot."
Cedric's face went ashen as he witnessed the dark beam travel through
the air and strike the guard in the chest. A smile broke across the man's
face as he turned and faced Cedric. The man's smile grew wider, more wicked
as he watched Cedric's reaction.
"What's the matter my young friend? Never seen anyone die before?" The
man's voice reeked of condescension.
A low growl escaped Cedric's throat as he charged forward and jumped.
Cedric spun in the air and struck his foot, hitting air. The man swung his
foot out and hit Cedric with a crescent kick.
"Come on! You can do better than that."
"Shut up asshole," Cedric said as he slowly stood up. /Gotta get
through him. But how?/
"Well, I guess I've wasted enough time with you boy. BlackBlade Beam!"
A beam of dark chi once against shot out towards Cedric.
/Shit!/ Cedric thought as rolled out of the way, just barely missing the
shadowy doom.
"What's wrong boy? You aren't afraid of a few shadows, are you," the
man laughed hideously.
/Dammit! This is going to take a while.../ Cedric thought as he
prepared another assault...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Ryouga slowly walked through the airport terminal and sighed, "I don't
remember any of this." He continued onward in the hope of finding someone
who could tell him how to get to Tokyo. Ryouga kept his head down as he
walked, so he didn't notice the people who ran past him first, but when the
scream's started, Ryouga looked up. All around him people were running,
running in the opposite direction of where he was going.
"Hey, um, wait," Ryouga yelled trying to get someone to stop and tell
him what's going on. "I said wait!" A man stopped in front of Ryouga and he
looked Ryouga over.
"What's wrong with you boy? Why aren't you running? The man back there
is going crazy! He is throwing thunderbolts! Can't you see? It's Susanoo
omi Kami and he is going to destroy us all," the man yelled before running
off.
"What the hell?" Ryouga muttered as he continued in this direction.
"Susanoo indeed. That's a laugh." Ryouga reached the baggage claim when the
last of the people had managed to flee the airport. As he reached the
baggage claim he heard a man shout the words: "BlackBlade Beam!" and saw a
beam of black energy hit a chair. The chair fell apart. A green-haired boy
about Ryouga's age immediately attacked the man.
/Nice kick there,/ Ryouga thought as he watched the boy get hit with a
crescent kick. Then the man shouted again and the beam of energy flew
outward once more, just missing the kid. Ryouga shook his head, the kid was
outmatched and over powered. He really shouldn't have picked the fight.
Ryouga started to walk off when he saw the security guard's body, The
chest had a gaping wound in it from a projectile of some type. The stench of
burnt flesh rose from the wound, tainting the air-conditioned airport air.
Ryouga slowly turned and loosed his umbrella as another beam shot off and
shattered a window...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
"Fuck!" Cedric screamed as he ducked to avoid another blast, then he
rolled away from a follow up sweep. So far it was all Cedric could do to
avoid the man's assaults and he only did that because he knew what the man
was going to do a few moment's beforehand. Of course against an opponent
this fast, a few moment's made no difference. The man tried a spin kick and
Cedric ducked under that and countered with a rising back kick which knocked
the man off his feet. Cedric dropped back, breathing hard.
The man got to his feet and looked at Cedric with a smirk on his face.
"Bravo young man, you did better than I expected. Few are able to even touch
me before I kill them, but not you. You actually hit me. I commend you."
The man clapped lightly.
Then the man slumped to the ground unconscious as a bamboo umbrella
clocked him in the head. A Japanese boy about Cedric's age stood behind the
man. Cedric looked him over and saw that he was well-muscled, but not bulky
like a body-builder. His black hair was held back by a yellow with black
spots bandanna. The massive pack on his back showed he was strong, as if the
blow he had rung didn't already say as much. Then without so much as a word
he walked forward and stared into Cedric's face. Cedric stared back, he
wasn't going to be intimidated by the other boy. Cedric wasn't going to be
intimidated by some kid his own age, he was above that. But still, something
had to be said.
"Who are you?" Cedric asked the boy.
"Hibiki Ryouga. Now, who the hell are you and who the hell was that?"
Ryouga gestured to the fallen man.
"Cedric ap Tristan, and I have no idea who the hell that was."
"What happened? Why did he kill that guard and injure the others?"
Ryouga gestured towards the fallen people.
"I don't know. I heard people screaming and saw him kill the guard."
"One last question."
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me how to find the Tendo Dojo?"
"No. Tomorrow I am going to find it. I have some business to take care
of."
/No doubt another one of Ranma's rivals,/ Ryouga thought bitterly.
"What the fuck?!" Cedric asked as he pointed behind Ryouga. Ryouga
turned and saw the man rising up and then start floating a few inches off the
ground. Then the man changed form, his eyes grew black and the pupils glowed
with the fires of hell. The man's skin turned red and an exoskeleton-like
substance grew over it. Two horns jutted out from the sides of his head.
The man's hand's grew larger and his fingers grew claws. His feet narrowed
into blades and his arms and legs became thicker, stronger. Two long fangs
protruded from his mouth and wings projected from his back. The wings were
black and looked like they were rotting, only a few feathers remained on the
decaying frame. The man's hair grew long and it ran down his back. A long
jagged scar traveled down the side of his face. Mirroring it's angle a line
of pure white hair grew in the wild black mane.
"Now mortals you shall know my full powers and the strength of the
Profound Darkness. You should have killed my when you had the chance," the
man's voice had also changed, it was now deeper, more sinister.
"Wh-who the ffffuk are you?" Cedric stammered his question and Ryouga
mouthed the question.
"I am BlackBlade, herald of the End of Life. My master has been looking
for you boy," the daemon pointed towards the boys. "And don't worry too much
about your little friend," BlackBlade said as he pointed towards the fallen
guard. "His soul was delicious and his own energies will be enough to
destroy the two of you."
Ryouga grew angry once more and a battle-aura grew around him. The
green light bathed everything around him and BlackBlade smirked. Ryouga
smiled back and threw his umbrella. BlackBlade dodged and laughed.
"You fool. You might as well try to strike the gods themselves with
that toy off yours." Ryouga just smiled and lets his fangs show.
The umbrella boomeranged and flew back towards Ryouga, knocking a now
annoyed daemon to the side. BlackBlade rose up to his full seven foot height
and then rose above Ryouga. Cedric however, had slipped away while the
daemon was distracted.
"It appears your friend has abandoned you. I guess you'll just have to
die alone,"
BlackBlade said with a menacing laugh.
"Au contraire," Cedric's voice said from behind BlackBlade. BlackBlade
turned and saw Cedric smiling at him. He then turned his head to Ryouga, who
was also smiling. "I guess I know who was looking for me, no? You realize
I' ve got three deaths to make you pay for now?"
"Three deaths?" BlackBlade raised a diabolic eyebrow.
"My grandfather's, Eowyn's, and now this guard."
"And you kinda piss me off," Ryouga added as an afterthought.
BlackBlade smiled at the two boys. "So you think you can easily defeat
me, eh? Well let's see..." BlackBlade dived downward at Cedric.
BlackBlade's bladed feet stuck out like an arrow as he approached Cedric
rolled to the side and Ryouga let loose a series of bandannas. The
bandanna's left a series of painful, but meaningless cuts on the daemon's
exoskeleton. Cedric struck with a palm-heel strike and then a reverse punch.
The daemon backed off a little before flying back up.
"You do have unusual choices for weapons boy," BlackBlade said looking
at Ryouga.
"Tricks of the trade," Ryouga replied shrugging.
That moment was all the time the daemon needed to fire off another beam
of dark chi. Ryouga just managed to dodge.
The daemon fired another, and then another at the lost boy while Ryouga
rolled. Cedric however countered with a technique of his own...
"Silent Mists!" Cedric screamed as the temperature dropped and mists
formed. All sound within the fog stopped...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-