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The air was filled with a sense of peacefulness reserved only for nature. A person walked through the forest with an exterior calm that belied her true inner turmoil. Her steps hardly made any noise as she walked over the dried leaves. She had been trained to be one of the greatest warriors, and she had filled her master's expectations. Now, walking toward her master in the martial arts, she didn't know what to think.
Cologne walked through the forest irritably, though any observant would say she was calmer than a sleeping baby. Her thoughts were a different matter though. *How dare she?* She asked herself as she neared her destination. She recognized the setting well enough, having walked from the village to this clearing more times than even she could remember. As the trees gave way to a clearing filled with flowers and grass, Cologne didn't waste any time in finding her master. *The Master.* She reminded herself. Since anyone could remember Soap had trained the finest Amazon warriors, and she had yet to be defeated.
The matriarch couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her instructor. She was old, older than any other living Amazon, yet she retained the body and appearance of a woman no older than thirty. How that was accomplished was a complete mystery for everyone but Soap herself. She shook herself of those thoughts as soon as they entered her mind. She wasn't sure if she wanted to live forever as the Amazon master would probably do.
Cologne, even being the wizened matriarch of the Amazons, held great respect for Soap because of her accomplishments as a fighter. She had never even come close to defeating the master, and she was the best fighter in generations of students. Soap had said so. The wrinkled old woman approached the other female figure and sat next to her. "Greetings, Soap." She said after a couple of minutes of contemplation of the forest. She had always found something out of place here. She felt as if she was being watched.
The amazon master opened her green eyes and smiled faintly. "It's good to see you in good health, Matriarch Cologne."
Cologne waved off the greeting. "Ignore the formalities and explain why you summoned me from the husband hunt." This was spoken as a demand, and she had the right to make it. Soap may be her master but Cologne was either way the Matriarch of the Amazons. For the Matriarch to be summoned from a husband hunt was something scandalous. In fact, Soap was still unpunished because Cologne expected for this to be something important. "And why did you call back Shampoo as well?" This was the part that made her stop from extracting any kind of punishment for the summon. Perhaps Shampoo was to be Soap's next disciple? The Matriarch really hoped so. That way the son-in-law would have no means to escape from Amazon Law. Shampoo would defeat him easily and return to the village with him.
Cologne waited for the answer, and when it came it wasn't from Soap's lips. "I didn't want Shampoo or Mouse behind my every step." A male voice said from the side. Cologne was, for the first time in decades, startled as she turned towards the male in a ready stance. Soap simply turned her head and smiled widely.
"I see you still like to make an entrance." The blonde amazon said.
As an answer the male smiled back. His smile turned into an annoying smirk as he noticed Cologne's shocked expression. "Hey, Old Ghoul!" Ranma greeted with a wave of his hand.
Ranma and Soap were awarded with a rare sight. Cologne's face was usually completely expressionless, but today that was thrown out the window. They could both see her face contort from shock, then confusion and finally anger. The Amazon Matriarch turned an angry glare towards Soap as she demanded. "What's the meaning of this?" Soap stared back at Cologne with a calm expression.
Ranma wasn't so patient. He frowned as he said in a hard tone of voice. "It means Soap was right about you, Cologne. You are her greatest student to date."
Things were going a little too fast for Cologne's liking. OK, way too fast. She couldn't make any kind of connection as to why Ranma and Soap knew each other. Her mind a swirling mass of conflicting ideas and emotions, she turned to Ranma with a look that dared to be messed with. "You stay out of this, son-in-law."
Ranma's expression turned into a mocking and condescending smile. He was obviously enjoying the situation. "Or what?" He challenged as he let himself fall into a fighting stance Cologne recognized immediately.
*Anything Goes.* She had learned to respect the style, though there were various weaknesses that she hadn't exploited yet. She didn't think dealing with someone like Happosai merited giving away her advantage. But submitting Ranma now that he was so close to the village was something worth that advantage. A grotesque smile spread across her features. She wasn't one to question her good luck. She would rather ask questions after Ranma was properly married to Shampoo.
Soap watched as Ranma taunted Cologne. *And she fell for it.* The Amazon master shook her head as she saw Cologne get ready to charge the pigtailed martial artist. She turned around and started walking out of the clearing. "I'll go get some healing herbs." Both soon to be combatants nodded their assent. The wind chose that moment to blow dramatically as the air between the fighters started to get charged with chi. Just before they jumped each other Soap let out one last comment before disappearing from view. "Please try not to hurt her too badly, Ranma-sensei."
"SENSEI?!" Cologne stuttered as she saw Ranma close in on her with a smile she didn't like.
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Pain. That was the first and only sensation she was aware of as she started to regain consciousness. Her old bones felt as if she had started training with Soap all over again.
She wasn't the Matriarch of the Amazons for nothing, though. As soon as she regained consciousness she controlled her breathing and other body functions to assimilate those of a sleeping person. She was rewarded by listening in to a conversation that completely caught her interest.
"So you're Setsuna. I'm glad Ranma-sensei found you. I haven't seen him like this before." Soap said truthfully.
"I'm glad he found me too." Setsuna answered.
"You make it sound like I was dead." Ranma protested accusingly. Though it could be heard from his tone of voice that he wasn't in the least angry.
Soap laughed, a sound Cologne had never heard before. "Your passion for the Art was there, but you have to admit out of that you had nothing."
Ranma smiled as he placed an arm around Setsuna's shoulders. "I had a few good friends like you, but you're probably right."
Soap smirked. "I'll have to mark down this day. 'The day Ranma-sensei admits he's wrong.'" She finished taking a solemn air.
The three of them laughed at that and after a couple of seconds Ranma finally asks. "She's your student, Soap, so how long do you think Cologne will keep pretending unconsciousness?" He smirked as the elder groaned and slowly sat up.
"How did you know?" She asked as she struggled to find a comfortable position. Ranma had worked her over pretty good.
Soap answered in her sensei-voice, the only one Cologne had heard till today. "Your chi wavered slightly."
Ranma couldn't help but put in his two cents. "Besides, your breathing was too even for someone so beaten up." He finished with his annoying smirk. (TM)
Cologne sighed as she considered what was happening. She knew for a fact that Soap was a lot older than any other living amazon. Ranma's words about her being Soap's best student echoed in her mind. It was all too much of a coincidence, but it made sense either way. "You were testing me." She stated.
Ranma's smirk turned into a smile rarely seen by anyone. It wasn't a smile of happiness or a condescending smirk. No. It was a smile full of pride towards both Amazons. "As perceptive as the master. After all the things I've put you through I'm not surprised."
Cologne slumped tiredly, all her years showing on her aged body. "Why all the trouble? When did it all start?"
Setsuna had remained silent for the entire conversation from the time Cologne sat up. She didn't want to intrude in something that didn't concern her and was eager to learn more about what Ranma had been doing all these years.
Ranma sobered entirely and said. "It all has a purpose, Cologne. From the time you finished your formal training with Soap all that happened was meant to both test you and make you stronger. All the trouble, as you call it, made you into what you are today. Finally, all the chaos in Nerima was meant to test your teaching abilities. I won't lie to you and say that was the only purpose, but all the time I kept an eye on you to see and evaluate your actions."
Soap smiled faintly at the awestruck elder. "And guess what. You passed."
Cologne was shocked to the point of being speechless. From the time she finished her formal training with Soap? That was more than two hundred and fifty years ago! Had her whole life been planned for her? "Now what?" She asked.
Ranma nodded and answered her question. "We can do one of two things. It depends on your decision. You can tell me to get lost so you can continue with your Amazon life."
"Or?" Cologne asked, knowing the other option would be much better, but would also come with a price.
Soap directed her a friendly smile. "Or you can leave the Matriarch life behind and dedicate yourself to the Art. You'll become Ranma-sensei's student and learn more than you can possibly imagine."
Before Cologne could say a word, Ranma lifted a hand to silence her and seriously said. "This decision shouldn't be taken lightly, Cologne. Consider all that you hold dear in your heart and eliminate doubt. Once you've chosen your path, you can't back down, ever." He relaxed a little and continued. "We'll be here tomorrow morning." He stood up and helped Setsuna to her feet. Turning to Soap, he said. "Tell her as much as you find appropriate." Then the couple was gone. They simply vanished in thin air.
Cologne considered Soap's expression after they were gone. It had gone from a happy smile to resignation. The Matriarch was very good at readying emotions, and she knew for a fact Soap was in love with Ranma. When she decided to comment on this, Soap smiled looking towards the horizon. "Yes, Cologne. I love him." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I love him as the man I'll never have. I love him as the father I never had. I love him as the friend he's always been." She finished and turned to her student. "Pick one. He's the one that taught me to love the Art."
Cologne considered this for a moment. Her own experiences with Ranma had been enjoyable at the very least. The pigtailed martial artist had a way of making others like him. Even now, when he was obviously trying to be annoying, he had his moments. That smile of pride towards both Amazons was something she would remember for a long time, if she ever forgot about it. "Why don't you fight for him?" She asked, knowing Soap had a very good chance.
The master laughed and replied. "I can't do that to him. Did you see his eyes? Did you see his expression when he looked at Setsuna?" She turned to the place where the couple had been sitting. "She's the only woman he truly loves. The only woman he's ever loved, from what I gather. I don't know much about their story, but this is the first time I see Ranma-sensei happy outside of training. I won't do anything to change that." She stood up and offered a hand to the Matriarch. "Would you like to continue this conversation as we walk? It would be nice to have something to eat."
Cologne took the offered hand and nodded. "I would like that..., Sensei."
Soap smiled again as she started walking outside the clearing. "No need to call me that. Even if you refuse Ranma-sensei's offer he's already started training you. We're more like training partners."
Cologne stopped at those words. *Training me?* She couldn't remember an instance in which she had been trained by anyone but Soap. Said Amazon stopped and turned around. Cologne managed to get one question out. "When did he ever train me?"
"You met someone right after you finished training with me, didn't you? Someone you hated with all your might and that was more than a challenge for your abilities. You trained harder than ever to defeat that person, but he was always one step ahead of you."
Cologne's eyes widened in remembrance of that. A day after she returned to the village from Soap's place. That fateful day one male entered the village and her life. "Happosai." She muttered the most displeasing name of Amazon history.
Soap nodded. "Yes. The Grand Master of the Anything Goes Martial Arts." And with that she started walking again. Cologne quickly hopped by her side. As they continued advancing through the forest Soap continued explaining. "Ranma-sensei has taught many students through his direct students. Nearly all of the Amazon techniques are from his teachings in a way or another. I've developed some on my own, but we owe our strength mostly to him. He taught you in a different way, though. He made you reach your potential through tests and challenges. Your exam was actually today when you fought him."
Cologne shook her head. "Then how come I passed?" She could remember the fight all too clearly for her liking.
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Ranma charged with an evil smile on his face. He closed in on Cologne with a speed she thought impossible. Her centuries of training saved her from a quick defeat by a finger strike to the throat. She deflected the blow with her staff and jumped back to get to even ground. She realized her mistake when Ranma followed with a jump of his own. She knew very well Anything Goes specialized in air combat. A fury of fists was thrown at her, and she managed to dodge or block most of them. The few that did land touched shiatsu points that made her gasp. *Since when does son-in-law know of these shiatsu?* She thought shocked. If she had been another person, one less in tune with her own chi, she would be dead by now. She barely managed to stop her heart from exploding.
They landed on opposite sides of the clearing, watching each other carefully. Cologne decided to go for the disabling blow. She couldn't risk another attack like that or she could be defeated. She wouldn't allow such disgrace to the Amazons. Running forward she prepared to use her knowledge of the Anything Goes. She attacked forward with her staff. No feint or try to mask her intentions, just a straightforward attack. As she expected, Ranma dodged to the side and prepared a counterattack. That counter was a feint for the real thing, as Ranma jumped over her and tried to land a kick to the back of her head. Only Cologne wasn't there to receive the blow. The kick hit nothing but air as the Matriarch flowed behind Ranma. The problem with Anything Goes was that on the ground it depended too much on feints and unpredictability. The obvious attack was never the real one, so most opponents fell into a trap as they tried to counter. Cologne had noticed this from teaching Ranma. His natural reaction was that of always going for a three or more moves attack, never attacking directly. She took advantage of this as she prepared to hit a pressure point on his back that would render him unconscious.
Cologne thrust her staff forward, targeting the back of his neck. Her eyes nearly took her entire face as her attack was deftly blocked by Ranma's left hand. It was as if he knew what she was about to do. Without looking back, the pigtailed martial artist flexed his right leg impossibly and hit Cologne in the back of the head. Since she didn't expect the blow she let go of her staff and was projected towards a tree. With practiced ease she managed to rebound off the tree and to the ground, but not without a great loss. Without her staff she was seriously lacking in reach. She fixated her eyes on Ranma as he casually twirled her staff in his left hand.
Cologne was not fool. She noticed Ranma knew exactly what she was trying to do. That could only mean he knew of the Anything Goes weaknesses and used them to his advantage. "Very good, Ranma." She whispered so softly that the sound of her words was lost in the wind. She was only looking at the negative side of the situation, though. There were things she could still do. Techniques Ranma didn't even know existed. She decided to use one of them. A technique so incredible that Soap had only taught it to three people in Amazon history. Not because it was forbidden to others, but because only three people were able to learn it. Charging her chi subtly the Amazon Matriarch prepared her most effective attack. Twice had she used it, and twice had she defeated her opponents with it.
The Amazon ran forward at an incredible speed and suddenly turned into two identical Colognes. Ranma narrowed his eyes and concentrated. He could feel a small emanation of chi coming from the one on the left. He feinted attacking the one on the right and at the last moment turned his attention on the one in the left. His right fist went right through the smirking face of the Matriarch. "Too easy, son-in-law." Cologne boasted as she pressed several shiatsu with Amaguriken speed. Those would keep Ranma sleeping for hours.
"Yeah." A male voice behind Cologne was heard. The all went black for the Matriarch.
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"I still don't know how he did it?" Cologne said sighing.
Soap smiled and said. "Remember most of the Amazon techniques are actually Ranma's own. I would guess you were fighting a Ranma image from the beginning. The reason you passed was because you exploited the weaknesses Ranma purposely put in the Anything Goes, and when they proved ineffective you moved on instead of trying something futile again."
"You mean to tell me that the Ranma I fought against was just a chi form? The chi control needed for that exceeds anything possible." Cologne protested, unbelieving that Ranma outclassed her that badly.
Soap shook her head. "Always the prideful Amazon. Why is it that you can't accept a male is stronger than any Amazon? No one is invincible. We all have our weaknesses. I'm not sure Ranma-sensei used that particular technique during the fight, but I can tell you he can use it for long periods of time."
Cologne frowned at the first two comments. "You sound like the Amazons are less important to you than Ranma is." She accused.
Soap shrugged. "Considering that Ranma-sensei is the actual founder of the Amazons and my Sensei I couldn't argue with that." The following minutes were spent in silence as they reached their destination. Soap's house was small, but comfortable for only two people.
The Amazon Master had no trouble sleeping, but for Cologne it was a long and restless night. She couldn't believe what she had learned from Soap. The Master was sincere about her own words, and Cologne suspected she had been there when it all happened. Her view of the world was changing so drastically she had trouble convincing herself that she still retained her sanity. Amazon legend spoke of the foundation. A group of women had decided to rule over men and started a society where the warrior way was the way of life. One of them taught the rest, and she herself learned from a God. Was that God Ranma? Was that woman Soap? She didn't want to think about it, yet her mind didn't stop repeating those questions over and over.
Did she really want to forsake her life as the Matriarch? To lose all that she had earned? Would she risk everything just to learn from someone she wasn't sure was who he said he was?
It was a long night indeed. A long night where Cologne didn't sleep even for a minute.
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The next day found Cologne standing in front of Ranma. Soap and Setsuna were talking about Ranma as they prepared breakfast in Soap's house. The Sun had just appeared over the horizon, bathing the place with its golden rays. The sounds of the wildlife gave a sense of peace, of knowing everything had a balance. As they stood there, they both felt their chi intertwine with the life-force of nature.
Cologne looked up to Ranma, to those blue eyes. Eyes that she now recognized for something more than the ones of a young inexperienced boy. "We'll start after breakfast." Ranma said as he turned around and started walking towards the house. Before Cologne could protest he looked over his shoulder with an understanding smile. "You don't have to say anything, Cologne. Your chi speaks for you better than words ever could." And with that he continued walking.
Cologne stopped from protesting and concentrated on making her aura visible. There was a very noticeable difference from everyday. Her chi was more vibrant and alive. With a smile she gave chase to Ranma before he finished with breakfast by himself. She didn't need Ranma's knowledge of chi to know why her chi was different today. She was eager to learn the Art. And she was eager to learn it from 'him.'
END PART 6
Author's notes: Another chapter out. I hope this more or less explains why Ranma had repeated encounters with the Amazons. He was simply testing Cologne. I know this chapter answers some doubts and generates many others, I hope to keep that up. The less you know the more you want to know.
Anyway, this was a short chapter because I wanted to deal only with the Amazons. Shampoo will later find out about all of this, and her reaction won't be nice.
Well, that's about it. See you in part 7! |
