Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Wanderings ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

---Disclaimer---

Ranma 1/2 and all its associated characters and locations are used without permission and belong to their respective copyright holders. Anything else (Teh Sthlhu, The Four Empires, Typhon Sidhe, Leannan Sidhe, Ceoeff, Merac, Hiwt, etc.) is owned by me. So there! ^_^

---Title---

Wanderings: Chapter Two
(Rewrite of The Wandering Saotome)
A Ranma 1/2 Altaverse
By Dr. Suekeiichi Kaiton
(Skaiton@netscape.net)

---

"...And out of Darkness came Light;
A warrior of might midst the plight;
'Round his head was a crown
Made of purest gold,
And polished like mirror-glass.
(Or so I've been told)
He rode on a ship high in the sky,
And there was no wave he could not ply,
Onward he rushed to his Doom.

The Enemy did turn
And cowered like a worm
As the King returned to the place of his birth.
For through Death and hardship he'd proved
His honor,
And courage,
And worth.

High in the hills,
And low in the seas
Did their battle rage on
'Till all their strength had been gutted and gone.
Out of the sea he did rise,
Sun on his shoulders,
And Stars in his eyes.
He had dispelled the gloom."
- From the 'Warrior' manuscript

---Mountain of Fire, Teh Sthlhu---

"This agreement of yours, Lord Sidhe, surely you must be joking." Seumethpro, King of Fire Mountain, lounged in his throne at the Lord Typhon and his entourage. To think that he had allowed the Warlord that close to him and his seat of operations, what was he, insane? The Warlord was notorious for feigning peace only as an excuse to draw close enough to draw blood. The Harpy King felt his abdominal muscles tense involuntarily.

"It is no joke, my dear Lord Seumethpro. My Lord Typhon has undergone a slight...change...that has brought about this reconciliation. He wishes to extend to you, the Harpy Nation (1), a hand of peace so that the Lan-Drian forces do not overrun your lands." Chamberlain Choiler spoke from the raised audience platform. Behind him stood the dread lord himself, silent and enigmatic.

"And what assurances do I receive that this is not all a ruse? A ploy to divert my attention and allow 'Lord Typhon' leave to overtake my people?" Seumethpro was no fool, Sidhe had used a similar tactic when he overthrew the Beast-men of Gargarotha, and nothing remained of that nation save the ruined Caverns of Pain in the western mountains. "Tell me what Typhon will give me if I acquiesce?"

Choiler, a normal man with the braised gold skin of the Desert Kingdom of Neir, turned to his lord and they conferred for several moments as the Harpy King clicked his talons on the gold armrest in irritation. If Typhon was going to attack, would he just get on with it? The waiting was eating away at his composure and patience. Still, as he looked upon the Fey Lord, there was something odd about his appearance, almost as if he had mystically grown younger. It was patently ridiculous, it could have been a simple glamour, but something around the eyes screamed wrong. No, it was all in his imagination. Lord Typhon Sidhe still retained all the evidence of his identity, the bracer, earring, and necklace.

"The Lord Sidhe offers you twenty of his children to train and maintain your armies. They are all masters of Warcraft and will follow my master's will if it be in your defense."

"I see..." Seumethpro scratched the stubble of his chin-feathers as he thought about the grand ramifications of such an offer. True, Typhon had many children, close to a thousand around the world if the rumors were to be believed, but if Seumethpro were to _marry_ a daughter...well, Typhon would be forced to aid him. The bonds forged by blood were always stronger than flimsy and combustible paper, after all. "And will these children be male and female? His sons and daughters?"

"Yes. My Lord Ranma will deliver unto your Mountain the eldest twenty, half sons, half daughters, within the night if you will agree to the Peace accord." Ah yes, Typhon had announced his first name scant weeks ago, perhaps in anticipation of these peace talks. It was perfectly acceptable to reinvent one's-self before changing one's political policy. Doubt hovered over the brow of the feathered harpy, doubt for the future of his people under the assault of Lan-Dria, and doubt of Typhon's good word. In the end, as he sat upon his throne, Seumethpro found he had no choice at all.

"Very well, Lord Chamberlain, bring forth the accord." The tall man of sleek black hair and darkened skin took the sheets of pure paper from an adjacent clerk and affixed them to boards of enchanted leather that assured both parties that the document would not rot, wither, or burn to dispel their agreement. Choiler carried the boards up the steep steps to Seumethpro's throne and knelt so that the Harpy King could affix his seal. With the burn of the King's ring the peace accord was ratified and accepted. Scampering back down he knelt likewise for his lord and Typhon pressed his index finger to the sheets of parchment.

It was no surprise that when he received his copy, the King of Fire Mountain found the Eye of Sidhe neatly embedded in the fibers. There was no indentation of stamp nor elevation to denote ink. He smiled slightly at Sidhe's obscene show of power before handing the accord to his chamberlain for processing.

"I will expect the agreed number tonight." No sooner had the feathered king opened his mouth then he spied a smug smile upon Sidhe's lips and knew he had been duped.

"I believe I will make an amendment to the agreement, King Seumethpro." The guards lining the audience chamber tensed and drew their swords. They had already been nervous of these outsiders but Typhon's outright audacity to change a signed document was enough for them to draw. If the Crimson Warlord was afraid of the harpy swordsmen he gave no sign. "Why not accept fifteen daughters and five sons?"

"What do you mean? What is the meaning of this breach in contract?" Seumethpro was up and flying down to dais. "Explain yourself, Typhon."

"It is quite simple, Lord of Fire Mountain." Ranma Sidhe stepped out from behind Choiler and stood toe-to-toe with the blistering Harpy. "Your women do not breed well, do they? No, I thought not. Take fifteen of my daughters then and increase your own strength, five of my sons will be enough to train an army of tens of thousands! Take the commodity you need from what I have no use for and further cement our bonds of loyalty. Of Friendship." Ranma's face betrayed no emotion as he held out his right hand to Seumethpro.

The King glanced warily at the proffered hand. "Friendship?"

"Friendship." Ranma Typhon Sidhe was gratified when the feathered talons of the King encircled his hand and shook it purposefully. At once the guards stood down. The two rulers shared a small smile.

---En route to Sidhe castle---

"That went well, lover." Ranma felt his 'wife's' hand in his head, groping around for the details of his recent victory. "I cannot say that I agree with your decision to use your children as bartering pawns but I cannot find fault in your actions."

He was sitting in a sleek hovercraft given to him by the Emperor Maximillian Xiang of Teh Sthlhu after explaining the current situation of his mind and the plans to make amends. (2) As the ship rushed atop the long grass on the boarders of his realm he could not help but reflect upon the changes in the people since his 'reappearance'.

It could be considered a philosophical question, what would the people do if, oppressed as they were, their oppressor suddenly freed their shackles and destroyed their yoke? Would they rebel and overthrow him for their years of servitude and slavery? Possible, considering that Typhon Sidhe had ruled the amalgam of lands in his keeping with an iron fist for the past hundred years (give or take). Instead of rebellion would there be an even greater devotion to he who freed them? Unlikely due to the deep-seated hatred of generations but unlikely and improbably things were always happening around Ranma.

So it happened that the people experienced a burst of pro-Sidhe sentiment in the wake of his announcement of their freedom. The military was strengthened in morale as he began personally training the soldiers in the basics of Anything-Goes (a vestige of his previous life), and the people were thoroughly devoted to him especially after the floods Lan-Dria forced upon them the first week of his reign. Ranma still felt odd and uncomfortable walking and talking in his new body as his mind still had not finished the physical assimilation but these were easily traded with the burst of power the fey had bestowed upon him.

He had powers that were beyond his understanding yet all were under his unconscious control. His Lady, the beautiful Leannan, was working with him on mastering the myriad spells and weaves that comprised the bulk of his magical power, but she hinted subtly at a deeper power underneath. Still, against the euphoria of the change he remained awkward in his movements if only in his mind and practiced such simple things and walking and running in the hopes of eventually overcoming such handicaps.

"Are you asleep?"

"No." He mentally responded through their bond. "I was merely thinking."

"I hope you were thinking of ravishing me when you return to the castle because that is what I eagerly await." Her sultry drawl was even more passionate and sensual through their link as she sent emotions and impulses that triggered various parts of his mind.

"I'm sorry, my Lady, but I am not ready for that yet...just give me more time." Choiler was sitting across from the King in the enclosed canopy of the swiftly-moving vehicle and wondered just what Ranma was whispering.

"I have given you five weeks, Ranma. Surely you have felt my attraction through our bond?"

"I have, although I am not prepared to act upon those feelings."

"Why?"

"I have no idea what to do." He rested the back of his head against the seat and stared up at the quickly moving clouds hanging over the land. Imagine going through puberty in the span of three seconds, growing from a twelve-year old with no concept of the sensual to a man whose lusts were very much a part of his body. Never underestimate the power of the body over the mind, it is often an exaggerated point that the mind alters the body, those who enforce that dogma never met Ranma Sidhe.

"I believe your education in that area is wanting, my Lord. Allow me to instruct you when you return, perhaps I may explain over your evening repast?"

Ranma found himself speaking the words of Typhon's mind rather than the words he himself spoke. "I believe that is acceptable. I will be at the castle before nightfall." It was frightening to speak a phrase like 'okay, I guess so' and have it twisted by the tongue and lips into 'I agree in mind and body'. The whole interplay between he and the Harpy King back at the Mountain of Fire terrified him because he had no control over the mouth or voice as it spilled out. It was rather like being a passenger on a train that was fully automated going to a destination of your choice. He had no control over the speed or ride nor the horn but it was carrying him where he needed to go; according to Leannan those feelings would pass in a few more weeks as his mind absorbed more of what was Typhon Sidhe and acclimatized itself to the sensations.

---The next morning---

Ranma awoke to the sound of rustling bedclothes and the sighing yawn of Leannan as she stood from their bed wrapped in a deep purple robe. The past night had certainly been educational to say the least, with Ranma's prowess in marital affairs following the precedent set by his earlier abilities. He had found that as soon as a motion or action that Typhon had any experience in was begun the body would begin moving automatically. This was useful in such things as sword fighting where the knowledge bubbled up in his mind as soon as the blade was placed in his hands. The fact that the information opened in his mind like a book was advantageous for him, no sooner had Ranma begun 'reading' through the sword-fighting abilities and memories then he was adapting them for Anything-Goes and improving their each and defense. The original Typhon Sidhe was many things but an innovator was not among them.

So it had occurred that as they began his lesson in her chambers last night, Typhon's mind had opened into a veritable sea of positions, techniques, methods, and movements. Typhon was well-known throughout the world for his sensual abilities which explained the proliferation of his children around the world, and indeed any woman would consider herself blessed to catch his eye. From that profound base of pleasuring techniques, Ranma, being the innovator and refiner that he was, sought to improve upon the original Sidhe's 'style' with explosive results. It was rather funny, however, that Ranma had compiled his list of modifications and in scant minutes after dinner was putting them to the test upon his very eager, _very_ willing subject. (3)

He awoke quickly and opened his eyes immediately upon full realization that it was indeed morning. It was a welcome change for the displaced soul to not have to struggle with sleep any longer and waste time rising as it had on Earth but his behavior could also be traced to sleeping a full night and not pushing himself to exhaustion each day. He sat up mechanically and reached for the black silk robe he knew awaited him on the post of the bed by his head. Doffing the thin material he walked over to the bathroom that faced his side of the mattress and relieved himself, thankful that the facilities of Sidhe castle were much in line with those of modern Japan and China. In the deep recesses of Typhon's mind he remembered paying the Technology Guild a King's ransom for the installation of such facilities in the castle.

A word should be said of Sidhe Castle itself as its unique infrastructure and location prove integral to the tale of Ranma Typhon Sidhe.

Sidhe castle was constructed several thousand years ago atop the smoldering chasm of an inactive volcano. The volcano had been inactive for a hundred years before construction began so a dense, if not large, forest had sprung up at its base. A path was cut through the Slyvinia wood and a paved road set down to the base of the mountain so that when it was finished, the castle's flying bridge would be anchored to the ground of the path.

After the preparations for construction and design were completed an entire face of the mountain was carved out and the castle built into the volcanic rock itself. As the magma and pressure increased their heat and gas was used to power the structure and therefore was allowed to vent naturally. The palace sat atop the boiling shaft that lead down to the molten core of the world and thus was a perfect energy collector for Typhon to use for refueling purposes. The palace had extensive tunnels and caverns built into the opposing side where his fleet of assault ships and transports were stored and refueled, ready at a moment's notice to launch and attack. A veritable fortress of rock, metal, and glass, the castle itself grew over the years until its faade facing The Dukedom came clear out of the mountainside and projected for several kilometers. Such a large portion of the palace could not be left hanging in midair so another building was constructed for support which later became the military base of his Kingdom.

In short, Sidhe castle was more of a fortress and a centralized location for his base of power. Chambers and rooms, storage and servant's quarters, gaming rooms and audience halls, all were built in circular layers around the molten shaft. The main audience chamber sat stop the cylinder of encapsulating metal and was visible from the air as it projected out from the summit covered by thick red glass. It had been said that Sidhe Castle was more than a fortress and palace and such rumors were correct as it was also a miniature city in and of itself.

Although it was general knowledge that Typhon had negotiated an agreement with the 'Beast-people' of Gargarotha (4) several generations ago, it was unknown where they disappeared to and how he had dispatched them. It was a constant fear in his enemies hearts for no one knew how a single man could destroy an entire society; Typhon liked to keep his enemies in check with fear. In truth the Crimson Lord had done no harm to the Beast-people; in fact, he had assisted them in defending against the territorial expansion and slavery of the Lan-Drian Empire. It was a story known only to those who lived within the palace walls or the members of his military but the Gargaroth were alive and well beneath the palace.

Indeed, the Gargaroth had taken refuge in the immense labyrinth of tunnels and caverns underneath Sidhe castle. In return for their protection and the cost of their mass-exodus and relocation, they swore to forge awesome swords and armor for Typhon. The pact was made and they flourished in the next hundred years, carving out more caverns and perfecting the rock into a magnificent city of obsidian and gold. It was there, assisted by the unbelievable heat of the volcano that they forged items of intense strength and durability.

Typhon never broke his word to them for they continued to churn out newer and more powerful works each successive year. Even as the madness was upon him he never pressed the terms of their agreement for it would have been a commodity hard lost.

At times the Gargaroth would rise to the surface and serve in the palace as maids, servants, warriors, or enter military service. It was not uncommon at all to see Gargaroth females among the harem girls as their rugged durability and strength of muscle and will were a delicious amusement and change of pace from the frail and endlessly naive human girls. Why the Gargaroth followed and served Typhon so eagerly, even after the members of the first generation died, was simple: they were taught to thank the Lord for his kindness to their people. The myth and lore of their society included the tales of Lan-Drian invasion and the starvation of their ancestors in the Caverns of Pain, and of their eventual survival due to the Crimson Lord's intervention. Propaganda it may have been, but not propaganda issued by Typhon. He was blissfully unaware of their worship of him...which might have been for the best.

"What are you thinking of so intently, lover?" Ranma was broken in his musings and remembrances by Leannan's tongue sliding across his lips.

"I was remembering the deal at Gargarotha." He shook his head free of the images and emotions. "How long was I out?"

"Only a few minutes but I had begun to wonder why you had not opened the door already." He looked down to see his hand on the door handle and pried it away from the clammy metal. He brought both hands up to her shoulders and held her at arms length as if seeing her for the first time. "What is it?"

"I'm trying to remember how we met." She laughed, the melodic trill eliciting a sudden shiver up his spine. He was beginning to desire her again.

"Do not think on such things, Ranma, for they will make you older than you should be...it is too far back." She brought a hand up to his cheek and traced the lower curve of his cheekbone down to his lips. Her fingers ghosted over those lips and slid down the side of his neck until plunging between his arm and side, embracing him ecstatically. "Ranma," she spoke into his chest, "try to retain who you are, who you were before this happened. If you do not, you will turn into Typhon in both mind and body...and I shudder to think what you may be capable of my love."

He laid a warm hand on her brown locks as they fell in a swirl across her neck. "I will not forget my past nor who I am. Whatever may happen, I shall be Ranma Typhon Sidhe as you say." Ranma's soul was beginning to intermingle and settle into the bones of his body, settling and subtly changing Typhon's physiology in response to the new needs of his mind.

Her body relaxed against him and her head rubbed against his chest as she caressed his back. "I desire you again, my lord." She sent an image of possible positions and her own feelings of arousal through their link. He smiled at the influx of information and lead her back to the bed.

---To be continued---

(1) Harpies, to those who do not know, are bipedal birds with human faces and arms. The top portions of their bodies and heads are covered in thick plumage but they have no covering on their legs. They have large talons on their feet and smaller, but still deadly, versions in their hands. The finger talons, however, are retractable and can be removed periodically as they grow back. Their heads can be compared to chickens with human faces framed by glossy feathers and feathered eyebrows. Female harpies have a thick layer of downy plumage between their legs and around their nipples that males lack. In short, imagine a Phoenix warrior then cover their bodies down to the waist in feathers. They also possess beaks.
(2) Teh Sthlhu, ruled by the Emperor Maximillian Xiang, is the most technologically advanced of the societies in The Realm and home of the Technology Guild. The Technology Guild has bureaus in every nation in the world and if responsible for the excavation of ruins and dispersal of technological knowledge. Typhon had to journey into Teh Sthlhu, and pass through the security checkpoints, to procure their services in the construction of his castle. Each society specializes in a different discipline in The Realm. Teh Sthlhu specializes in technology, The Empire in military tactics and weaponry, The Dukedom in art, the Sidhe in mysticism/magic, The Allies in finance (also home of the Bank Guild), and The Amalgamated Forge (a member of the Allied Nations of Siler) in weapon-making and smithy craft.
(3) He may still be Ranma the twelve-year old in soul, but his body and mind are used to tremendous amounts of sexual release each day. Typhon's body is used to it and moreover, it needs it to continue working correctly. Leannan is willing mainly because she hadn't received his attentions in _decades_ and needs to work off her frustrations.
(4) The Gargaroth are miners and the most skilled craftsmen of weapons and armor in the world. When The Empire began hunting them down and destroying their underground city in the Western mountain range, Typhon gave them asylum under Sidhe castle. Because of their isolated situation, the Gargaroth are not a member of the Amalgamated Forge, the union of blacksmiths and weaponsmiths that regulates the price and practices of their craft. The Gargaroth are typically tall and muscular, the men averaging 7'5-8'2 and the women averaging 6'3-7'7. Due to the intermingling of humans (servants, soldiers, Typhon) with their blood half-breeds are of normal human height but increased strength and durability, exceeding that of normal or 'pure' Gargaroth. The males are bald and greenish in skin-tone, usually a foliage green, and possess enlarged arms and hands to work the forge. Females have shimmering straight black hair and are darker in skin color than the men, closer to a deep olive. Their arms are of normal proportions but they have wide shoulders to carry rock. A comment must be made about the sexual organs of the Gargaroth as it will have a bearing on Ranma's relations with the females. Gargaroth males have a phallus usually an inch wide and eight inches long. The penis is thicker at the base than at the head by two inches and they lack foreskin. The females have an enlarged labia to accommodate the male's girth but the passage narrows significantly as it nears the cervix. The hymen of a female lies six-inches within the passage and is thicker than a human's, meaning that it is extremely painful for the Gargaroth female to take in anything thicker than an inch. Considering that Ranma (in Typhon's body) has a fey endowment of two to three inches girth (depending on state of arousal) and eight to nine inches length it speaks of the Gargaroth's devotion to him that any female would willingly be a member of his harem. All Gargarotha with the exception of half-breeds have black eyes with no pupils. They also have no body hair save that on their heads and a downy fuzz around the genitals. Their skin can withstand intense temperatures because of their exposure to the lava flow and are not easily punctured by knife or sword. In all other respects they resemble humans, they have normal ears, teeth and bleed red blood. The Beast-people are always eager to try new things due to their monotonous life in the city of Helmdenthal beneath Sidhe Castle.