What did genies do inside their rings while waiting to be summoned forth? Mostly they slept, as Moon certainly did, but Mercury studied using the etherial network to download the latest tomes.
“I am the Marid of Ice and Cold Intelect!,” the wise old marid introduced herself. “Protecting my master with mist, ice, and really good information, I am the one they call Warrior Genie Mercury!”
“I am, uh, the Heir to the Saotome School of Martial Arts,” Ranma responded in kind, “I’m, er, the one they call Ranma Saotome.”
Putting her book away, the blue-rinsed woman studied instead the girl who now held her ring by the light of a summoned glowing orb of water. Just holding, or wearing, the ring did not bind its genie in any way but did grant the holder the ability to converse with her. That the girl already wore two kindred rings told Mercury that she was either dealing with a powerseeking collector or true hero - which it was depended on whether she had really bonded with those rings or just wore them.
For all that the ringwearer looked like an extraordinarily cute but otherwise ordininary little girl, she’d obviously just fallen through the ceiling but seemed more embarassed than hurt. Mercury was ready for about anything.
“Sorry about this,” Ranma said, observing the book - Saturn had drummed some manners into her master. “I didn’t mean interupt ya, but can you get me outta here?” She was a little nervous, as the last few adult genies, the only ones she’d met aside from Saturn, had pretty much tried to kill her.
Nervous, but not afraid. Not at all. Really.
“Think nothing of it, miss Saotome,” Mercury said and ran through the speil:
“You hold my ring in your hand,
put it on and your wish is my command.”
That was not quite true, but it would either bind Mercury to a worthy master or reveal her for a fake while the genie was out and about.
“Oh,” Ranma agreed and fumbled for a moment before slipping the ring onto a free finger.
Mercury released a satisfied gasp as she felt the ring bind itself to the girl. She had the pure heart of a true warrior knight - a Jann to be proud to serve, or would be if she grew into that promised potential. The connection also allowed her to access information from the other two rings. And so she also gasped in surprise at what she learned.
Saturn! The girl had bound the Warrior Genie of the Void to herself! The dreaded harbringer of Silence was active and ... contented? Mercury received a tired, but friendly, greeting from the exhausted genie of destruction.
And Mars was ... tainted, somehow. A chill darkness mingled with the familiar warmth. Mars positively snarled back through the connection and Mercury hastily severed the contact.
The fearsome Genie of the Void and Destruction was warmly friendly but the Genie of Fire and Passion was full of chill hostility. There was much about the situation that Mercury didn’t understand.
“So, can you get us out of here, now?” Ranma interupted Mercury’s contemplation.
“Certainly,” Mercury agreed and weighed the options. She could try a teleport, but that was extremely draining and not her forte. She could form an ice sculpture in the shape of a staircase, which was easily within her power.
Or they could just use the door. “Shall we go?” she asked and held out her hand. “Is something wrong?”
“Sorry,” Ranma said with a flush of embarrassment. “It’s just that the last few adult genies tried to kill me.”
“The Dark Genies are active then?” Mercury guessed, “you’ve fought some of them, and you’re still alive? I’m impressed.” Even with Mars’ and Saturn’s aid that was a mildly impressive feat for such a small girl, though it explained why Mars’ ring had been tainted.
“Feh,” puffed Ranma as her ego swelled. “They didn’t have much.”
Mercury smilled tolleranly. “Still, if it makes you feel better I’ll change...”
Mercury posed then was engulfed in a stream of cold water. Ranma flinched away, remembering the Sea Change attack. But the only thing that changed was Mercury, who’d become a girl her own age.
“Is this better?” Mercury asked as she accustomed herself to the mental changes rejuvenation brought. It felt as though her mind had just been washed of a lot of naughty knowledge.
“Neat!” Ranma exclaimed. “Can you change me too?”
Mercury smiled shyly as she adjusted her glasses, then shook her head. “Sorry, that's not within my perview.” She was now a young girl in body and mind, but still a brilliant young girl.
“Oh,” Ranma sighed in disappointment.
“But why would you want to change?” young Mercury asked. “You’re such a pretty young girl!”
“I am not!” Ranma denied vehemently.
“Oaky, you’re not,” Mercury said agreeably, figuring that her mistress had a self image problem. If they could cleanse Mars or find Venus or Jupiter, they could give her a make-over or something. That really wasn’t something Mercury was very good at. “Shall we go now?”
Taking Ranma’s little hand, Mercury lead her out of the room and into...
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(Posted Thu, 21 Nov 2002 11:21)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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