Suggested changes: {before : after}
On Thu, 30 May 2002 23:44:27 -0400 "L.S McGill" <lsmcgill@hotmail.com> wrote:
Prologue:
"The Wheel of Souls has spun out once more that which once
was. Look to the past to find the answers of the future. Be
strong {Dragons : Dragon's} Child, for the future you choose may affect more
than just yourself. The game has just begun. You may face
many dangers and many foes, yet behind them all is the same
enemy. Choose your destiny with care, Little Mouse..." She
turned to go.
Chapter 1:
Zhu Shu had been doing her katas for hours, lost in the
dance as her mind whirled its own dizzying patterns. The
physical exercises, ingrained so deeply they were reflexive,
had helped her to tune out the outside world and focus inwards,
trying to once more find her center {Amidst : amidst} the raging emotions
in her mind.
Finally centered once more, and in control of her raging
heart, Zhu Shu opened her chi paths again, feeling the warmth
of the golden flow. She would forever share Akane's energy, as
Akane shared hers, but like the link, she considered that a
blessing. She might have lost her center for {awhile : a while} from the
shock, but she had gained so much more...
"Yet one dragon loved shall never die..." Zhu Shu finished
as Raye's voice trailed off. "My father would sing me to sleep
with that song when nightmares woke me as a child... before
he... before he died. It has never failed to comfort me with a
sense of The {Dragons : Dragon's} presence, even here so far from home. I
have never heard it from anyone before... How come you to know
it?"
"Shampoo only see Zhu Shu use techniques. Shampoo spar much with Zhu Shu. {
:} Will Akane spar?"
"Aw, {mom : Mom}." Ranma blushed{: .}
<< A bloom cannot live away from the tree that nurtures it.>> a quiet {
:} voice spoke in her mind. She turned but saw nothing. Only a wind through the trees. She turn forward again and stared at the flower as the single drop of dew was joined by another. It had sounded so much like her voice...
<<Dreaming? Most definitely. You haven't slept in over twenty-four hours {
:} and you sat down to meditate. You fell asleep and I took advantage of your proximity to the shrine to enter your dreams>>
<<Oh...>> Zhu Shu thought back, then jumped up to hold her. <<Gods, Cherry {
:} Blossom, I've missed you!>>
<<Yes.>> Cherry Blossom stepped away from Zhu Shu so she could look at {
:} her, but kept her hands intertwined. <<You have been so distressed lately. And I know that a part of you fears betraying me.>>
<<Oh, Love. I know that consciously, you don't think about it, but I {
:} could always read your heart. I came to comfort you.>>
<<Divided?>> Cherry Blossom smiled. <<I can tell.>> Her fingers reached {
:} out to touch Zhu Shu's back, Zhu Shu's clothes suddenly
vanishing as Cherry Blossom traced out the pattern of petals
on her back. <<Without you, I faded as a flower torn from a
tree will. The Tiger will always be a part of you, yet ever
apart as well. And there are two you have yet to meet.>>
<<No. I was the Flower... Like any flower, I was not destined to {
:} remain... I grieve for the pain my loss caused you, yet we
were not destined for more than our brief span. But the Flower
turns into the seed, as I planted the seeds of the woman you
have become in you. Akane is the Tiger and like the tiger, you
needed the strength her love will give you, as she needed the
control you gave her. Together you will both be more than
either of you would have been apart.>>
<<Do not mourn for that Beloved. There is happiness in
store for you {
:} beyond all measure.>>
<<How? I am destined to wed one whom I can never love and
fulfill my {
:} family duties.>>
<<No... you are destined to fulfill your family duties with
one you will {
:} love.>>
<<I want you to have better memories of me than just our parting... {
:} Happier memories.>>
The imp continued laughing as it deflected the spinning
disc with a claw. So all of its lures were coming to play.
The teacher had to be close. "So good of you all to come my
little {Sailorscouts : Sailor Scouts}." It smiled as the five girls surrounded
it. "Now my pet!"
Chapter 2:
For a moment, all was silent, then like a meteor impacting
a planet, Raye {impacted : fell} into Zhu Shu's arms...
"She was dead, like really messed up and blood everywhere!"
{Sailormoon : Sailor Moon} said.
"Zhu Shu is fine. And we should thank this wonderful
citizen for helping us like she did. Don't you agree
{Sailormoon : Sailor Moon}?"
"And the {monsters : monster's : monsters'}. I can't figure it out yet."
Kasumi nodded. "I'm sure you'll work it out." She checked
mentioning the morning paper to Nabiki off her mental to-do
list. Nabiki had already prescribed her own therapy to deal
with the residual emotional stresses {with out : without} Kasumi's
prompting. Kasumi's smile grew a little wider as she went back
into the kitchen to finish her father's cure to the
aftereffects of his therapy. She hummed happily.
Raye finally fell asleep, and the day passed slowly. The
other scouts slept in, missing school for once for a reason
other than battle. Ranma, Akane and Shampoo continued
sleeping, Kasumi finally took a nap, and Nabiki spent most of
the day on the phone. Soun and Genma finally awoke and availed
themselves of the ample supply of hangover remedy that Kasumi
had left for them. Luna sat in the window sill while Serena
tossed and snored, waiting to see if Artemis would contact her
to let her {now : know} what he found out. Finally, around mid{: -}
afternoon, the cause of all the fuss awoke and quietly slipped
out of the temple to the Koi pond to meditate.
<<I am here...>> The faint memories of her dream echoed. <<I am always and {
:} forever...here...>>
<<I am here...>> Cherry Blossoms memories said once again. <<I am always {
:} and forever... here...>>
"Wait! One last thing." A small {halo : holo : hologram} of the old woman
appeared. "Do you know who this is?"
Much later, a very subdued, even slightly pale Urd entered the kitchen of {
:} the Morisato {house : home}.
After the girls checked to make sure Raye's grandfather was
napping soundly and that Chad was out on errands, they
assembled in Raye's room, moving the massive manga collection
around to get enough room for Zhu Shu and Akane to {set : sit} on the
bed. Artemis and Luna sat down in the middle of the table and
looked at each other as the girls waited, looking like they
were nerving themselves up to speak. Finally Luna took a deep
breath.