Setsuna frowned trying to recall the goddess she'd caught only glimpses of through the Time Gate. She couldn't place a name to her face, not that that really meant anything. Most divinities were capable of appearing however they felt like.
She continued to scan Ranma's life however, hoping his transformation would provide some sort of clue.
Watching as the martial artist disappeared back to the real world he removed his helm and turned to his wife. "A most interesting choice, my dear."
The goddess smiled as her husband faded into view. "I thought so. Certainly he will be most useful in putting a short leash on your namesake and her followers, husband."
The god nodded. "I assume that his advisor is already off to see him as well then."
"Of course." The goddess took her husband's hands. "Now come. There are only a few months before I have to return to mother's side. Let's make the most of it."
The god laughed heartily. "Indeed, Persephone. Let's not waste another minute of it."
Ranma took a moment to examine himself and was pleasantly surprised to discover he was still quite male. Looking back, he could remember something about a second test and gaining control over his curse rather than being stuck female, but right now, he was just glad he was still able to be a guy.
Taking a quick glance around to assure himself that he was still out in the wilderness and quite distant from anyone living, he decided some training might be in order. He wouldn't be able to do any good if he couldn't use the powers given to him.
He quickly found a stream and set up camp. Then, looking around to make sure there was still no one else around - one could never be too careful with Ryoga, after all - he willed his transformation into action.
The transformation was unspectacular. One moment he was his normal self, and the next he could feel the power flowing through his veins. He made a makeshift mirror out of one of the pots in his pack and some water from the stream and took a look at himself. He was now dressed in a well-fitting tuxedo, a completely black one with golden trimming. A thin black mask decorated his face, and a long golden-trimmed black cape hung down his back.
"Ah, I see you've already discovered how to transform then," a musical, masculine voice said from nearby.
Jumping a bit in shock, Ranma spun, instinctively drawing on the powers he'd been granted.
"And I see you've discovered your knight attack as well. I must admit I am impressed." The voice came from a dog, and certainly not a small one. This one looked almost like a wolf-dog, one with red fur so dark as to be almost black. Something seemed off about its shoulders; they were unusually broad for a dog. "I am you're advisor, young master. You may call me Orpheus. I was sent by your patrons to help guide you through your new powers."
Ranma relaxed somewhat. Dogs he could handle, even wolf-dogs, if for no other reason than because dogs were good at scaring cats away. And at least Orpheus wasn't some cute little animal like a rabbit or hamster or something.
It was only then that he noticed that he had several items in his hands.
They were thin, small disks. Coins if he didn't know better. They looked to be made of copper, though he was hardly the best judge of that.
"They're not real coins, master," Orpheus commented. "But your patron for this form was often associated with wealth, and so too shall your knight attack. Those coins can be tossed like shuriken. You have an endless supply, and they are very good for disrupting magical attacks and slicing through bindings.
"Your cape," Orpheus continued, "is all but invulnerable, and can be used to protect yourself and others from attacks. You also have a top hat that goes with the rest of your outfit, but wearing it will render you completely invisible, even to magical detection; again, another nod to your patron."
Ranma nodded, but then frowned. "What about area attacks? Nothing you've described woulda helped much against that thing that beat me."
Orpheus nodded and responded, "This set isn't designed for that. It's designed for close combat, stealth, and times when you can't afford to use area attacks. The area attacks require you switch genders."
Ranma sighed, but nodded and almost reached for the cold water before remembering that he should be able to control the curse now. Willing himself to change genders, he could feel the subtle shift in the link to his patrons. "I thought I was only being sponsored by the goddess?" he, now she, asked.
Orpheus nodded. "Her husband is also your patron. They share the same portfolio, and rarely do things without the other's knowledge. He provided the power when you are male, and she when female."
Ranma nodded, and looked back at the mirror. Now she was dressed in a sailor fuku similar to what those senshi had worn, only hers was white with russet and brown trimmings. There were some important differences, however. For starters, there was a laurel of red, yellow, and brown leaves upon her head instead of a tiara. Her outfit lacked any other jewelry, much to Ranma's relief. She also had russet colored pants underneath her miniskirt; Ranma smirked, glad there would be no panty shots from him.
She tried reaching for the same power he'd used to create the coins, and instead wound up with a simple wooden bo staff, one that seemed to be rough-hewn, as though someone had done the bare minimum needed to transform a tree branch into a staff.
Orpheus noticed the curious look Ranma sent his way. "That is your weapon while in this form, master. It cannot be broken, chipped, or otherwise harmed in combat, but its primary purpose is as a focus for your area attacks. You're first attack should be Biting Frost."
Ranma nodded and quickly selected an area of the forest to target - a cluster of dead trees. "Biting Frost," she said as she pointed her staff
From the tip of the staff, a cone of dark mists shot forth. The trees in the targeted area were quickly covered in a dark green frost. A moment later, the trees started dissolving as the frost melted into an obviously potent acid. She noticed absently that the living trees that had been caught in the mess only lost their outermost layer of bark - the dead stuff used to protect the living parts of the tree from the environment. None of the dead trees dissolved away completely, though all of the dead foliage on the ground had.
"Your attacks are specifically designed to target unnatural things," Orpheus explained. "Dead material will also be dissolved by your attacks, but living, natural things - trees, animals, or people - will be unharmed. As you gain skill with each attack, you will be able to target specific things to be affected or not."
"What about my other attacks?" Ranma asked.
"You're not ready for them yet. These attacks are channeled directly from your patrons, and your body can only handle so much of their power at the moment. As you practice using your attacks, you will gradually be able to channel more power from your patrons. Only then will you be ready for stronger attacks."
"I can live with that," Ranma said, eager to see just what he was capable of now.
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(Posted Wed, 01 Sep 2004 11:05)
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