As a faerie kingdom, it was entirely populated by the various fae races. There were nymphs and satyrs, oriads and naiads, merfolk and gnomes, and so on and so forth. And one human.
It was this last that got everyone talking. Many of the fae races enjoyed gossip as much as they did fermented beverages. It was quite a coup for Queen Amaranth to take a human child as heir, something as unique as that was sure to be the envy of all the other kingdoms.
While somewhat scandalous in her own kingdom, the other kingdoms were even more astonished. A human child? A changeling like the old legends? And SOUTHFIELD had him?
Ranma quickly began letting people know that standing around gawking at him wasn't something he enjoyed. He didn't mind getting some attention, but all the muttering and staring made him feel like he'd done something wrong.
"CUT IT OUT! I DIDN'T DO NOTHING!"
"Ranma, it's time for your studies," said Queen Amaranth, rising from her throne as the echoes of Ranma's shout died out. "You wish to study unarmed fighting, is this not so?"
"Well, yeah," agreed Ranma.
"Then you shall," agreed Amaranth. She clapped her hands twice. "Captain Silver?"
A tall cloaked elf moved forward from the wall.
"Captain Silver, who is the best unarmed warrior in my employ?" asked Amaranth.
"That would be Sergeant Gnorrsh," said the Captain, eyeing the young boy.
"The four-armed troll?" asked the Queen. "Very well. He is to train Ranma in the fighting arts to his satisfaction. Have a healer on hand, just in case."
"It shall be done," said the Captain with a salute.
Ranma gawked and gaped and stared.
"You want me to turn THIS into a proper hero?" asked the living mountain, raising his gaze to the heavens. "They expecting miracles out of a poor little fellow like meself."
Ranma wondered who was the poor little fellow. Most of the court and the Queen had been elves. Median height, slender, graceful, almost delicate, and physically quite "bishie" if one were to categorize them.
THIS fellow was anything but. Was that moss growing on the top of his head? He was bulging muscles, he had gray skin where it wasn't scarred a darker hue - and he had scars EVERYWHERE. He also had, as advertised, four arms. One of which ended in a metal hand that had been affixed to a stump.
"The Queen requires it," said Silver.
"Hmph," grunted Gnorrsh. "A poor doddering old man getting on his dottage, and you want me to try teaching some young 'un. What makes you think the boy can stand up to me trainin'?"
"I can take it," insisted Ranma, feeling his pride pricked. "I ain't scared of ya."
Gnorrsh made a rumbling sound like an avalanche getting started that it took Ranma a moment to realize was laughter.
"Boy, you will be," said Gnorrsh. "You're so delicate it'd be difficult not to break ya. I'm gonna put you through hell. You're gonna curse my name day and night and wonder what sins you committed to be punished so severely. If you survive, even with the healer I ain't puttin' bets on it, you're gonna be able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil - cause you'll be the toughest sonnova in the valley. I don't see how a little baby like you could last a day, but if you survive you is gonna be one badass mofo. Not 'cause of what the Queen wants, but because anythin' less is reflecting on ME."
"I can take it," said Ranma.
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(Posted Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:34)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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