A Child of Light Born of Darkness: Chapter 4

No one had moved at the Tendo residence when the senshi returned
through Setsuna's portal.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find my duffel bag, would
you?" Usagi asked Nabiki.

Nabiki shook her head slowly and asked,"Who are you people?  What did
you do to Ranma?  Where is Ranma?"

Kasumi, the only other Tendo conscious at the moment, left her
father's side and hurried off to the dojo.  The blonde girl must have
left it in there.

"That's none of your concern," Rei snapped.  She wanted to get as far
away from this place as possible.

"Oh no, I believe it is.  You girls show up, Ranma goes berserk and
almost kills his father, and then you kidnap him.  I'm sure the
authorities would love to ask you a few questions.  Hmm, if you would
hold on just a moment." Nabiki pulled a small cell phone from her back
pocket and flipped open the cover.

"Why you?" Rei growled and made a lunge for Nabiki but Makoto caught
her by the arm and pulled her back.

Ami looked at her friends and asked,"Can we trust her?" Of course they
wouldn't mention anything relating to the senshi, that was an unspoken
agreement, but enough truth could sate Nabiki's curiousity.  They all
eventually agreed, though it was with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Before Ami could tell Nabiki anything, Kasumi came walking through the
new garage-sized door in her home with the duffel bag that held Luna
and Artemis.  She was holding the bag as away from her body as
possible to avoid whatever was inside of it that was hissing and
screaming.

"Thank you!" Usagi said to Kasumi, then she casually punched the bag a
few times."Heheh, all better."

"I'm waiting," Nabiki said.  She wasnted to know what in hell was
going on, but the sooner these girls left, the sooner she could call a
construction contractor.

"Oh my!" Kasumi saw Akane and rushed over to her.

"The simple truth of the matter is that Ranma is Usagi's grand son,"
Ami told Nabiki, pointing to Usagi who waved brightly in
acknowledgement."Rini," she indicated Rini who gave a shy nod,"is
Usagi's daughter, and Ranma's mother."

Nabiki looked from the ditzy looking blond to the little pink haired
girl and burst out laughing.  After she calmed down, she asked
herself,"What has the jerk gotten himself into this time?" To Ami, she
asked,"And are you all super heroes too?" They all started shifting
nervously.  Oh this was rich!

"I'm not asking you to believe me.  In the future Usagi will give
birth to Rini.  Rini is just visiting the past as a sort of
educational vacation.  When Rini is older she will have Ranma during a
war and bring him into the past to keep him safe.  This has already
happened and will continue to happen in a never ending cycle.  Rini
didn't count on Genma stealing Endymion, which is his real name by the
way, and we've just now tracked him down." Finished, Ami breathed a
sigh of relief.  She hadn't 'really' lied, just warped the truth in a
couple of places.

"Suuure, whatever you say." Nabiki raised the phone and prepared to
dial.

"Keep in mind what you saw Usagi do," Rei said."And the portal, where
did it come from?  You're dealing with forces beyond your control or
understanding, so why not just save yourself the trouble of dying, and
leave us and Ranma along."

"You obviously haven't come through Nerima lately," Nabiki quipped."We
have people that can do magic visiting at least every two weeks.  A
little less than a month ago we had a fight between Ranma, an ancient
war goddess, and a giant minotaur, so you can see how your little
threats wouldn't bother me."

"What about your family?" Rei asked nastily."How would you feel if you
woke up one morning and they were all dead?  Nevermind that, we can
just go ahead and get rid of you now." Rei hoped that her friends knew
to go along with her."Who wants first shot?" she asked.

Usagi said,"I would, but I'm feeling a little tired, why don't you do
it Rei?" Wow, pretending to be evil was fun!

Rei grinned to herself.  The meatball head did have a brain after
all."Oh well, guess you have to burn now." She held her hand out and
focussed all her concentration on the sacred flame back home at her
temple.  Silently, Rei called out for its assistance, reminding it who
had kept it alive for the past decade.

No one had any idea what Rei was doing, but they weren't going to
spoil her performance by asking.

With an explosion of breath, Rei clenched her fist then reopened it.
Fire exploded into being, the miniature blaze roaring and throwing off
sparks."Don't worry, I won't kill your father, he didn't see anything,
but you and your sisters are another matter entirely."

Nabiki's calm exterior and icy expression of skepticism, began to get
some serious cracks in it when Rei's hand had caught fire.  Ranma
wasn't here to protect them now, and she was outnumbered by a group of
witches.  Just as Rei had her arm drawn back as if she were about to
through a baseball, Nabiki hurriedly said,"Okay, okay, you win, just
call off the firebrand!" She snapped her cell phone shut and pocketed
it."I won't tell anyone about Ranma.  I'll even make sure that
everybody thinks he ran away or something, deal?" Nabiki had learned
the art of the bluff years ago, but you could only take a bluff so far
before you had to lay your cards on the table, and Nabiki's cards were
her's and her family's lives.

Rei let her hand fall to her side, the fire gone as soon as Nabiki had
spoken."Good.  We'll be going now."

The girls were a block away from the Tendo home when they all dropped
their dire expressions and cracked up.  Rei had tears in her eyes from
laughing so hard when she hugged Usagi,"You were great, meatball head!
Did you see how scared she was?" She started laughing again.

After everyone had regained their composure, Ami thought to ask,"Rei,
how did you do that?  With the fire."

"I summoned part of the fire from the temple's sacred flame."

"I wish I could do something like that," Usagi whined.

Rei and all the other girls looked at her in confusion, then Rei
said,"Usagi, are you an idiot?  You 'can' do stuff like that!"

Usagi was about to scream at Rei for insulting her again, but movement
in her bag alerted her to Luna and Artemis' return to consciousness.
She unzipped it and looked down to see both felines glaring up at her,
their heads each crowned by a huge lump.

"Usagi, have I ever told you that it's not polite to mistreat your
advisors?" Luna asked calmy.  Before Usagi could answer, though, the
cat sprang out of the bag, followed by Artemis, and began a systematic
mauling of her princess.
****

Ranma regained consciousness a few hours after the Princess brought
him to her.  Setsuna had spent the time aquanting herself with events
that had led up to the revelation of Ranma's true idenity, and
reviewing some of the more momentous events of his life.  Who would
have thought Saffron, a pitiful fire elemental during the Silver
Millenium, would achieve such power?

As Setsuna had sat before the Time Gate watching Ranma's life fly by,
she couldn't help but curse herself for not dealing with many of the
super natural relics and entities of the Silver Millenium.  They could
have been used against her fellow senshi and the Princess on numerous
occasions, but luckily their enemies had never thought to look for
such remnants.  They appeared somehow drawn to Ranma, though.  It was
nice to see that Queen Mercury's efforts to splice human DNA with that
of  certain species of the Draconic race that had once inhabited her
planet were at least partially successful.  The Musk Dynasty would be
a powerful ally in the future if the traits in their rulers continued
to breed true.

The Amazons of Jupiter, too, seemed to have found a home on earth, and
were keeping their martial tradition alive.  It was as if the whole
valley of Jusendo had somehow weathered the storm of the downfall of
the Silver Millenium.  The same magic that had cloaked it from her
time sense had obviously kept it hidden from Beryll's forces.  Setsuna
felt sorry for Ranma.  Almost every bad thing in the last two years
that had happened to him were because of the Silver Millenium, but the
struggles he had fought were also responsible for awakening his true
soul.

"Argh, what hit me?" Ranma groaned from his place on Setsuan's bed.
He sat up, resting his back against the carved headboard and surveyed
his surroundings.  The walls weren't visible, draped as they were in
black and purple silk, the floor was a single unbroken slab of marble,
and the bed he was in was sheathed in dark purple like the walls.
There was also a tall, green-haired woman with a regal baring, sitting
in a leather chair against the wall."Who are you?"

"Setsuna, a friend of your mothers," Setsuna answered with an almost
imperceptible smile.

"She never mentioned you," Ranma said warily.  He through back the
heavy comforter and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.  His
slippers were waiting for him by the bed.

"Your 'real' mother, Ranma, not Nodoka Saotome," Setsuna corrected.

Ranma continued to sit on the bed."Oh, is she here?" Wherever here
was.  Ranma remembered bits and pieces of his actions before passing
out and the image of Genma's bloody body froze in his mind."Setsuna,
do you know if I killed Oy-...Genma?"

"Luckily no, Usagi stopped you and healed most of his wounds.  But
that's why you're here, to learn to control your new power."

Usagi had stopped him?  Damn, beaten by a girl.  Well, she did have
the crescent so she must have had some kind of power like his."I can't
believe I lost control like that," Ranma sighed.

"We will soon correct that problem, but now I need your help," Setsuna
hated asking for assistance from anyone, but this time there was no
helping it, she could not use the crystal key by herself."If you would
follow me?"

Ranma shrugged and followed Setsuna out through the break in the wall
hangings that served as a door.  The long corridor that they travelled
down had no visible walls, obscured in the same way as the room they
had left, and the floor was still a single unbroken piece of smoothe
marble.  They finally reached the end of the corridor and with it the
end of whatever building they were in.

Ranma found himself in a featureless landscape composed of a marble
floor and endless gray mist.  He looked back towards the exit of the
corridor only to find that it was gone."What is this place?"

"This is no place.  We are in a pocket of limbo where time does not
flow," Setsuna answered.

Ranma had no idea what limbo was, but decided to wait a while to ask.
For now he would simply observe.  Perhaps a minute later the mists
began to part and Ranma saw the oldest structure in existance.  Of
course he didn't know that, but he could feel the age practically
radiating from the simple hoop of gray metal.

"This device predates our universe, Ranma.  Through it, the winds of
time are funnelled and and the endless strands of probability are
woven into a coherent destiny for creation."

"Whatever you say." Ranma wasn't about to call her a liar.  For all he
knew she could be the goddess of twinkies, or just as easily some
loonie chick with magic powers, but she hadn't tried to kill or marry
him yet, so he went along with her.

Setsuna had never honestly believed that she would have to ever give
up her position as the Guardian of the Time Gate, but as the only one
of the senshi who could actually give her powers to another, the
possiblity had always been there, nestled deeply in the back of her
mind.  Maybe it had been that small piece of knowledge that had driven
her to choose a favorite replacement for herself every generation, and
not just boredom like she had believed.  The current favorite was a
bit on the elderly side, but the Time Gate could correct that."Stand
away from the Time Gate, Ranma," Setsuna ordered.

Ranma obeyed, taking several steps backwards.  He watched Setsuna pull
a funny looking little stick from somewhere and hold it above her
head.

"Pluto Planet Power, Make Up!" she called out loudly.

To Ranma, Setsuna was enveloped in a column of energy for a fraction
of a second, but when the woman was once again visible, the black
slacks and green blouse she had worn were gone and in their place she
were a stylized school uniform, with too many bows and a shorter than
regulation skirt.  In her hand she held an ornate staff that looked
something like a giant key.

Setsuna touched the Time Key to the edge of the gate and opened her
mind to the time stream.  Once she had located her target, an image
flickered into existance within the metal hoop.

Further to Ranma's amazement, the image in the Time Gate thing was of
the interior of the Nekohaten.  It was closed for the night and no one
was visible.  At some ungiven signal, the picture shifted.  First it
alighted on a duck sleeping in a small bamboo cage in the kitchen,
then on a familiar purple haired girl who was slowly brushing her long
purple hair and stairing at a poster sized picture of Ranma, and
finally, the image shifted once more to reveal the small form of
Cologne, meditating upon a tatami mat.

Cologne's eyes snapped open and she asked,"Who's there?"

The large garnet gem on the head of Setsuna's staff flashed with
blood-red light and Cologne disappeared from the picture in the loop
and reappeared, tatami mat and all, beside Setsuna.

Cologne didn't move, only eying Ranma and Setsuna evenly."Son-in-law,
I wouldn't have expected you to deal with dark forces."

"You mistake my intentions and my idenity, Cologne," Setsuna said."I
have brought you here merely in hopes of naming you my successor."

Cologne raised an eyebrow at the claim and asked,"Successor to what,
may I ask?"

"Why the Guardianship of the Time Gate of course," Setsuna answered.

Cologne's proportionately too-big eyes, grew a couple sizes larger,
but she controlled her obvious suprise, asking,"And what does the boy
have to do with this."

"His grandmother, my future queen and eventual ruler of the earth, has
commanded me to train him in the use of his powers.  To do this I must
give up my position as guardian so that I may access my full powers."
There was no point in lying to Cologne.  The woman would eventually
find out anyway.

"Grandmother?  Queen?  Ruler of earth?" Ranma spouted the questions
rapidly, unable to comprehend the information.

Setsuna, who for so many years had been without humor that she had
nearly forgotten what it was, the look of complete astonishment on
Ranma's face at her next words actually made her laugh."Oh yes Ranma,
one day you will be prince of the earth, and eventually king."

She spoke with such certainty that Ranma couldn't help but believe
her.  With her laughter bubbling helplessly behind him, Ranma sat down
roughly on the cold marble floor and buried his face in his hands,
muttering,"Damn," repeatedly.

"So do you accept?"

"How could I not?  The legends still speak of the Guardian who rides
the Winds of Time.  This is an honor beyond all imagining, though I'm
afraid I won't hold the position for very many years." Cologne
chuckled slightly at her jest.

"Your youth will be returned to you in full when the mantle is passed
to you.  Though I'm asking you to fill my place, there are
restrictions on your future actions that I must tell you about now.
The future has been planned in advance for over a thousand years.  You
will have to carry out those plans exactly as given for the world to
have any lasting peace."

"What of my Amazons?"

"Until very recently they have been hidden from me by magic ancient
and powerful, therefore I do not know what the future holds for your
people, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you any in
way seek to interfere with their fate you will be placing the world in
grave danger and destroying thousands of years of careful work.  Even
knowing this, do you still consent to the position?"

"I may be old, but I'm no fool.  I could never put a single tribe of
Amazons over the welfare of the entire planet," Cologne answered
earnestly.

"I believe you, but still I must warn you.  Misuse the power granted
to you and the Queen, Ranma, or myself, anyone of us, could destroy
you with a thought.  It is the nature of our power that allows a bond
between a human and the Time Gate." Cologne nodded."Ranma, get up, I
need your help."

Ranma climbed to his feet.  So much for a peaceful existance.  At
least no one would try to kill him if he were a king.

Setsuna gave Ranma the blue crystal key and drew its twin from a long
silver necklace.  She unclasped the necklace and held the key in her
hand."Okay Ranma, go to the other side of the Gate and find the little
black box with a key hole in it, then stick the key in." Setsuna
followed her own instructions but on the box on the other side of the
Gate.  After Ranma was in position, she said,"On the count of three
turn it clockwise. 1...2...3."

As they turned the keys, the space inside the Time Gate became milky
and distorted.  Setsuna released her key and beckoned for Cologne to
step forward."Cologne, take the key and once again when I count to
three you and Ranma turn them, but this time counter clockwise."

Cologne had to stand on the very tips of her shrunken little feet and
reach as high as she could to turn the key, but as Setsuna's count
reached three she turned the key as commanded and allowed herself to
relax.

"Is that it?" Ranma asked.  From what he had heard from Setsuna there
were some major powers changing hands.  Shouldn't there have been some
flashing lights or something?

"What did you expect, fireworks?" Setsuna asked.  Ranma
nodded."Nothing actually happened that would case any energy to be
released Ranma.  All that little ritual did was to split my bond so
that Cologne is now getting a trickle of the same power I get from the
Time Gate." To Cologne she said,"You won't be able to feel it for a
while, but the magic will begin to revitalize your body within a week.
You must have your affairs in order by then."

"I had best be getting back to the Nekohaten then, if you don't mind?"
Cologne asked, pointing a wrinkled finger at the Time Gate.

Setsuna placed the Time Key on the Time Gate and the image of
Cologne's room at the Nekohaten reappeared."Just step through."

As Cologne stepped through the portal, she said,"Thank you Guardian,
for my youth and the honor and trust you have given me.  Farewell
young prince."
****

Setsuna led Ranma through the mists for a couple minutes until they
came to a normal looking wooden door.  Beyond it was a small,
windowless apartment."Within the mists, I can control reality to a
degree. I've placed these rooms here for your comfort since until you
gain at least rudimentary control over your powers you can not return
to earth for fear of you losing control again."

"Can I go outside to practice?" Ranma asked.  If the prospect of a
little peace didn't sound so appealling to Ranma he would have been
more than a little upset at being confined like an animal in the zoo.

"It's best that you didn't.  You would become lost within the mists
easily.  If you wish to practice your martial arts, go out the door in
the kitchen.  There is a dojo there."

"Cool.  How about telling me some stuff about this whole prince and
king business?  And I wouldn't mind meeting my mother."

"All in good time, all in good time, but now with my bond to the Time
Gate diminished in power, my old powers are returning and the process
is exhausting me.  I will return tomorrow and we will begin your
education." With a small wave, Setsuna, her face drawn and her red
eyes weary, left Ranma to himself.
****

Author's Notes: I was gonna use Nabiki, but the more I thought about
it the less I liked that idea.  I honestly hadn't even thought about
Cologne as the new pluto until one of my readers sent in the idea.
Thanks whoever you are(too lazy to go back and check, but I'll put
your name in the next post).  C&C welcome at dark_phoneix@hotmail.com