TP-What to Prepare For[17 of 18][FanFic]

[Twister]

Chapter Seventeen
-----------------

Days passed, and then weeks as Twister and Nabiki studied.
Twister was doing very well in all his classes as he continued to study magic
in the 'special' one. Surprisingly, or maybe not given what happened in
the old warehouse, Yuriko and Natsumi became fairly close friends. The second
year Natsumi started helping the eager Yuriko with magic along with
Twister since she had experience with what they were learning already.
A now different Natsumi smiled a lot more and didn't use as much
make-up. She also wasn't as forceful to get Twister, but she did still
indicate interest at a lower level which didn't scare him away, much to
Nabiki's annoyance. Nabiki and Twister were going on more dates now
and their feelings towards one another were beginning to deepen, much to
Natsumi's annoyance.
This emerging triangle was starting to give Twister some worries.
The trips back to the Tendo home gave him some relief from the tensions it
was causing. Eventually, Twister became almost as good as Ranma and was
satisfied with that. Ranma did decide to teach him one of the special
techniques that he knew so that their practice fights would be more
interesting. Twister liked it because he thought it was neat and it would
be a nice thing to have for his female side to use. Fighting each other
released a lot of stress for both fighters.
At some point, Twister decided to use his male body in their practices
and they found out that, when he first arrived, he had been
unconsciously using his psionic abilities to slightly boost himself. That
explained why he had seemed stronger than Ryouga and Shampoo before, as
well as faster than Ranma. With his improved control from martial arts training,
Twister didn't do that anymore. He gave Ranma a good fight, but still
lost.
One embarrassing time was when Twister brought along a sample of the
pheromone to prove to Ranma that he hadn't been lying about the stuff.
Unfortunately, he had left a closed sample vial and Ranma-chan alone in a room
when Akane and Kasumi wanted a telekinetic hand with _something_, he didn't
know _what_, that Akane had made in the kitchen. A chuckling Twister and
a miffed Akane had returned to the door of the room a little later to see
the proof of how potent the chemical was. When Twister opened the door they
froze in the doorway at what they saw. Reacting quickly, Twister had pulled
Akane back from the door and slammed it shut. While Akane was still
stunned, he ran back to the kitchen and got some hot water. He returned to
the door, used his 'unnotice me' trick, and went inside. A minute later,
both he and a _very_ embarrassed, now-clothed Ranma emerged. Before Ranma or
Akane could say anything, Twister had said, "I _told_ you that stuff was
_powerful_! Don't drop a glass vial like that while looking at it next time,
hmm?" Ranma had flushed at that and then Akane when Twister added, "At least
you had been looking at Akane and not _me_! Good thing you weren't _both_ in
there." He would have continued, but the two threw him into the pond.

After several months into the college year, Prof. Miyabi told Twister
to wait for a minute after the period was over. All through class Twister
wondered what it could be and was itching to know when class finally ended.
After the students left, including Yuriko, Twister walked up to a
smiling Miyabi.
"What's up?"
Standing by the chalkboard, Miyabi started to talk, "Remember when
I mentioned a while ago about some 'things' I had to do, but could not
accomplish on my own?" Thinking for a moment, Twister finally nodded, warily.
Miyabi sighed, "Well, apparently one of those tasks needs to be done
very soon from the information I received yesterday." She paced the
floor now. "There is an evil spirit who is bound in a magical trap in
China. Every thousand years or so, the main component that binds the
creature needs to be replaced as the creature strives to corrupt it in
order to free itself. It is a crystal that must be found naturally and is
enchanted to become a powerful transportation device. The power of the
enchanted crystal keeps the spirit trapped in one spot. Unfortunately, it
takes at least four powerful magic-users to make it, and they must be
female as well. The Guardian of the creature is an old teacher of mine
and I promised that when I found a powerful enough apprentice that we
would help her and _her_ current apprentice create a new crystal."
Miyabi frowned now as she continued. "However, she and I have had
trouble _finding_ apprentices with a powerful enough mystic aura to do
the job and the current crystal is nearing it's breaking point. In
desperation, she has taken _two_ apprentices, instead of one, in order
to get enough power for _her_ half. _You_, Twister..." She smiled, "You
have a powerful enough aura more than necessary to be one of the
magic-users so all together we should not have any trouble." Walking up
to Twister, she laid a hand on each shoulder. "I _need_ you to come with
me on Friday night."
Twister smiled wryly, "Doesn't sound like I should _not_ go. I'm in."
She raised an eyebrow. "How do we get there?"
With relief, Miyabi answered that question easily, "I have a stone
from the village to home in on and I know the place to go to. Getting back
is easy." Thoughtfully, she looked at Twister. "You had better stay as a
girl, just in case."
"Huh? Why?"
"The village is called the 'village of the Amazons' for good reason
and..." She noted Twister's pained look. "You know their laws of combat
there then?"
Twister sighed and nodded, "I've heard of it from someone I know..."

The next few days Twister ate furiously in order to make sure he had
enough energy for what he would help Miyabi with when he left on Friday.
He told Nabiki that he was going to go help the professor with something
magical, but wisely refrained mentioning _where_ as it would only worry her.
When Friday afternoon finally came, he sent a letter to Ranma saying
he couldn't make it that weekend and got ready to go. The Dragonsword he took
with him for helping with the enchantment of the crystal. An option Twister
had put in the sword was to make it a _focus_ for mystic power to make the
use of magic easier. Another option let Twister shrink the sword to fit
into a special holder he had made for it under his shirt. With that done, he
was finally ready and teleported to Prof. Miyabi's.

In the village of the Amazons, worried eyes viewed a once-pure
crystal, the old village scrolls said it had indeed been that way, that was
now black as coal.
*I hope that old friend of Mistress Perfume gets here soon with her
new apprentice. The crystal won't last another week, I think.*
The person contemplating the enchanted crystal was a very lovely
young girl whose long brown hair framed her face beautifully. She was standing
in a magically protected room that had a large, flat, circular stone in the
middle. It was pitch black and matched the color of the crystal that hovered
above the center of the stone. Her brown eyes regarded the crystal with
concern.
Another girl confidently strode into the room and spoke to the now
tense occupant mockingly.
<Still ready to faint when that thing dips slightly, Lotion?>
Not willing to give the raven-haired girl any satisfaction
at seeing her so nervous, Lotion chuckled as she kept her eyes on the crystal.
<Of course, Masque. Though _you'll_ likely be running too fast to
see me do it.>
Lotion didn't see the fiery flash of anger in Masque's eyes,
but she could sense it all the same. The slightly taller and older
apprentice gave out a lot of insults, but didn't receive them too well.
Masque's voice was angry as she spoke again, <Hmp. At least we won't
have to worry about _this_ thing after a few more days if that apprentice of
the outsider magic-user is strong enough. But I doubt it very much
since she was apprenticed only this year.> She snorted. <Cast into doom by
incompetent planning.>
A voice from the only door to the room quelled Lotion's response.
<The planning was _mine_, apprentice. Be wary of the words you speak
for careful ears always lurk close by. Whether they be friend or foe.> An
ominous light was present in their Mistress's eyes as she arched her eyebrows
at a nonrepentant Masque. The Mistress of magic was very old, but did not
show her true age thanks to magic. Tall and regal she stood, confident
in her formidable abilities. Perfume's beauty was enhanced by the wisdom
found in her eyes. She turned to Lotion. <Any change, Lotion?>
<No, Mistress. It will likely fail when you predicted. Three days
from now.> Lotion shuddered at the idea.
<Calm, child. The others will be here very shortly. We must make
them welcome when they arrive and bring them to our home to get them
settled. Miyabi and I must prepare the new crystal for the power it shall
receive.> Perfume turned around and was about to leave when they heard a
loud pop outside.
She smiled. <Ah! That must be them now.>
With an eager Lotion and a smirking Masque behind her, Perfume regally
walked outside to meet the new arrivals to the village.
Lotion was wondering what the new apprentice would be like. *I hope
she's not like Masque. It's not likely since she is as new as I am.
I wonder if she's pretty...*
She blushed at that thought.
One reason she had accepted Perfume's offer of apprenticeship after
finishing third at the last martial arts competition was that she didn't want
to have to follow the village laws about being defeated by an outsider. That
had happened to the best, Shampoo, a few years ago by that girl who had
wandered in that Lotion had been so attracted to. The village was still
puzzled over Shampoo, Mousse, and the old martial arts Mistress, Cologne,
staying in Japan. Shampoo was apparently having trouble getting that male
Ranma to marry her and nothing was being said about that female Ranma that had
defeated Shampoo before the other Ranma did. The two sisters, Linlin and Ranran,
had gone to check, but they weren't saying anything.
Very curious indeed.
She sighed. *When I found out my...tastes were different, I decided
not to take the chance of getting married to some man I don't want _or_ having
to kill a girl I _do_ want. Magic allows me to escape that martial arts
fighter's rule for outsiders by simply not fighting. No one usually
_wants_ to physically fight a mage. I hope so anyway.*
There was a commotion outside when the three wielders of magic left
their large home. Their new guests were surrounded by angry villagers with
the reason being obvious once they looked at the two new arrivals.
Lotion was shocked. *It's that same girl who beat Shampoo! She looks
taller now and filled out a bit more, but it's _her_! Is _she_ the
apprentice??*
A momentarily taken aback Perfume paused for a second before striding
into the circular crowd. She and her two apprentices were almost into the
center when they heard a loud and frustrated voice speaking in Japanese.
"For the _last_ time! I am _not_ Ranma!"
Finally through, the three saw the reason for the red-headed girl's
shout. The two girls, Linlin and Ranran, were standing a short distance away
from the newly arrived pair and looked ready to attack the girl with the
red-hair.
A worried Miyabi was looking around and spied a bemused-looking
Perfume standing inside the circle with relief. "Perfume! Could you get those
girls to calm down and not attack my apprentice, please?"
Regaining her composure, Perfume looked at the angry, red-haired girl
and saw the very powerful mystic aura surrounding her. Perfume had witnessed
the female Ranma defeat Shampoo and had discretely checked for mystic
ability, to prevent cheating. She had seen nothing there except an
advanced martial artist's focused aura.
This was not the female Ranma.
Raising her hands, Perfume shouted out to the gathered villagers
around her. <This is not the Ranma girl! _That_ one had no magic potential and
_this_ one does!> Turning a questioning gaze to the red-head, she asked
in perfect Japanese, "What _is_ your name?"
"Twister," she sighed with relief. "Thanks for the save. Two points."
Twister warily watched a disappointed Linlin and Ranran walk away into the
crowd.
Miyabi raised an amused eyebrow at Perfume. "I didn't expect _this_
kind of welcome, Perfume."
With a bow of apology, Perfume smiled slightly at Miyabi and Twister.
"Forgive my village. Your apprentice looks exactly like a girl who
defeated the champion of a martial arts contest a few years ago."
Twister snorted. "Hmp. I didn't think they would be _that_ mad.
Shampoo didn't look like it."
That caused Perfume to blink. "You know Shampoo? Has she found and
killed the female Ranma yet?"
*Eep! I guess Shampoo and the others haven't said anything about
Ranma's curse. Shoot.* She shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't know anything
about killing a _female_ Ranma, just that she's still trying to catch a _male_
Ranma. Cologne's helping. Mousse is there as well."
"Mousse?" Perfume chuckled mirthfully. "That could explain the delay.
My sister is sure to speed things up though."
"Sister??" Looking at the beautiful sorceress before her, Twister
was understandably startled. "You two certainly don't look it...er...I
mean..." She stopped to prevent further embarrassment.
Perfume laughed. "One of the many benefits of magic you shall
find." Remembering the purpose that the two had come for, Perfume went
on, smiling, "But now I must introduce you two to _my_ apprentices." She
waved the two standing behind her forward to be presented. "This is
Lotion and Masque. They shall both be helping with the new crystal. I had
been worried about the strength of your student, but I need not worry
about that now. She is quite strong I see."
Twister blushed at the praise as Lotion looked at her with curiosity
and something else. Masque was not gazing with the same friendliness as Lotion
and had a rather annoyed look about her as she heard Perfume's statement at
the new arrival's power.
"Shall we start the preparations then, Perfume?" Miyabi was anxious
to start.
"Yes." Perfume turned to address her students. <Take Twister here
and make her comfortable. Miyabi and I must prepare the crystal now for the
power it shall receive on Sunday.> That said, she and Miyabi walked off into
the large house, leaving an awkward feeling Twister behind.
"Come then. Not stand like dumb statue," Masque impatiently said as
she too went into the large building.
"Sheesh! Hold your horses." Twister smiled at the curious Lotion. "Do
you mind leading the way?" She noticed that Lotion was still looking at her.
"Hello?"
Starting, Lotion quickly bowed to hide her blush and swiftly turned
to lead the way into the house. "Of course. Follow Lotion." As she walked
towards the house Lotion sighed to herself. *Such a cute looking girl. Too
bad she won't be here long...*
Inside the house, Masque was maliciously plotting.
*So. The new 'prentice is stronger than me in magic is she? We'll just
see how _smart_ she is.* She smiled wickedly as she recalled Lotion's
ill-concealed expression when she had seen Twister. *And I think I can teach
that uppity Lotion a lesson as well.*
Her wicked smile broadened.

--
==============================================================================
Darren Steffler a.k.a "Twister"- mail at <umst...@cc.umanitoba.ca>
==============================================================================