Something was subtly different. Ranma couldn't tell what, but something was different in Nerima as he made his way back to the Tendo Dojo. It just seemed like Nerima had become more... sedate since that morning. "What is going on?"
The staff's voice rang through his head, that staff herself had transformed into a locket and chain that Ranma now wore. "As I said... now that the cards in the area have been returned to their true forms, their effect on the area has also disappeared."
"Huh?"
"Even though they didn't realize they were Cards, their powers were still effecting the area around them. Think about it - Akane was the Passion Card, able to raise any emotion to the extreme. So, when a boy was attracted to her, he was suddenly obsessed with her. If they disliked her, suddenly they despised her. And so on and so forth. Passion was driving this area to the extreme.
"Similarly, Shampoo - the Fight card. She's been with the Amazons for pretty much their entire history... and can you think of any other culture that so encourages conflict? Amazons aren't just poor losers with extreme laws, they are equally poor winners. Literally everything in that culture revolves around fighting or provoking fights... if they weren't so damn good at it, they would have died out long ago!
"But now that they are gone, their immediate influence has also dissipated. Without Passion driving up the emotions and Fight making people naturally belligerent, Nerima has quite literally calmed down."
Ranma shook his head, but realized that she was right. Nerima didn't feel nearly as dangerous anymore. "I wonder if there are more Cards in the area..."
"Maybe a few more, but not too many. The Cards don't usually gather in large groups if they can help it."
Ranma nodded. "Do you think I know any of them?"
"Maybe. I doubt the other Tendo Sisters are Cards, simply because Passion was there, but I'd need to check them. Get me near anyone you suspect is a Card, and I'll be able to tell. And as we collect more, you should feel your own magical awareness increase, and you'll be able to eventually tell on your own."
"Yeah, but until then is there anything I can look for, to try and find these Cards?"
"Well, they will always be women, usually appearing to be preteen to mature. Cards can't have children, but if one chooses to marry, they usually adopt. The best way to look is to find a place where something unusual is considered normal. Like Nerima was. Or, for example, the Sword card will probably be in a place where swordfights and fencing are common-place, and not considered too unusual."
"I see..."
But any further communication with the Staff was over, as Ranma entered the altered Tendo Dojo...
(Posted Mon, 09 Dec 2002 23:19)
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