[FFML] [Fanfic][R1/2] Legends - Prelude

[Ignacio Moreno]

Disclaimers:

- Ranma belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

- This story is made for fun and is meant for the enjoyment of the fans.

- The idea is Brendan O'Donnell's and I am using it with his permission.

- I have to thank Black Dragon for revised the first version of this
prologue. This is the second version and I didn't proofread the changes yet.

- Please R&R.

- If anyone is interested to proof-read or to make illustrations of any of
my histories, please email me. I will be happy to accept it. Thanks.

----------------------------------------------Prologue

China is an ancient land, home of many legends. Some of those legends are
related to the valley of Jusenkyou, in the province of Qinghai, near the
mountain range of Bayanhar. In this valley are more than 100 small pools,
each one with their own tragic legend.
________________________________

It was growing dark when, upon one of the cliffs that borders the valley,
two travellers appeared.

Both carried heavy backpacks, and their clothes, worn away and dirty by the
life on the road, identified them as martial artists in training. The
youngest had long black hair tied in a pigtail and blue eyes. The other one
wore a bandanna to cover his lack of hair, and wore round glasses.

They advanced to the edge and, from there, looked at the valley that
stretched out past their feet. This was covered by more than a hundred
ponds, all of which had at least one or two bamboo poles stuck on them.

"Finally we have arrived at the legendary training ground of Jusenkyou!"
said the older of the two. Turning to the other, he added, "Ready to begin,
Ranma?"

"Whenever you are, old man."

Ranma let his heavy backpack fall to the ground before getting into a
fighting stance. His father, Genma, got in the same stance and during a few
minutes both contenders watched each other, waiting for any sign that
allowed attack.

Suddenly the growling of an empty stomach was heard.

Genma's relaxed his stance, turned around and walked towards the nearby
forest.

"It's too late. We will continue tomorrow." was Genma's only comment as he
walked away from Ranma, who looked at him surprised.
________________________________

Usually Ranma slept deeply, but this night something managed to wake him. He
lay watching from his sleeping bag, trying to find what had woken him up.

The night was clear and, between the trees branches, he was able to see the
stars clearly. Around him the forest stood calmly and the only sound that he
could hear was his father's snores.

'That's it', he thought, 'the old man woke me up with his snoring'.

He turned over in his sleeping bag and tried to fall asleep again. Then he
heard it. A strange melody began to play between the trees. Thoughtlessly he
got up and went to toward the music.

After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at the cliff where he and his
father had looked down on the valley before. There wasn't any doubt that the
music came from down there. Ranma peer into the abyss and was shocked at
what he saw.

In the place of the innumerable springs that had occupied the valley
previously, an enormous lake filled Jusenkyou. The calm waters were being
shaken by concentric waves that formed and disappeared without apparent
reason, and the waves created strange geometric forms that became more
complex according to the music.

Ranma fascinated by the strange phenomenon, knelt down in the edge of the
cliff and continued kneeling there as he watched the source of the music. He
soon lost track of how much time he had spent looking at the lake, so lost
in thought he was.

That is, until a completely different sound, the noise of stone cracking,
drew him out of his trance. In spite of all his training, Ranma wasn't quick
enough to escape. A massive rift split into the cliff, and before he knew
it, the platform of rock he was standing on began plummeting into the lake.
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