Life of Chaos
Volume 4:
Chapter 2: Reunion

By Lord Archive

Ranma 1/2 characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, and several
other companies and are used without consent. Vision of Escaflowne
belongs to Kazuki Akane, Hajime Yadate, Shoji Kawamri, Bandai, Sunrise,
Anime Village, etc.... They have been borrowed and used without consent
for entertainment purposes only. I will return them as soon I as can
find them again.

***************

A pillar of light exploded on a bright shiny day over the kingdom of
Farnelia. Whether it was the sun's rays obscured it or the people were
too busy, it resulted in the same effect that only a few people saw it.
But, only a handful of people were expecting the pillar to occur.

"She's back." The new general of Zaibach's silver army set down the
report he was reading and then massaged his eyes. "It begins again."

***************

Unceremoniously two girls fell out of the white beam and into some
bushes and the guy into a nearby pond.

Hitomi struggled out of the shrubbery and looked around. Escaflowne
stood off to the side with a large plaque under it stating that this was
a statue of Van's guymelef. She knew the plaque was lying, that the
statue was really Escaflowne. Looked like one of Gaddeth's tricks of
hiding things in plain site.

"Ranma!" The short hair girl pried herself out of the bushes and ran to
the pond.

"Ugh! Why does this always happen to me?" The girl with red hair stood
up in the pond while rubbing her head.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, Akane, I'm fine. Where are we?"

"You are trespassing in the Royal Gardens of Farnelia. You are under
arrest." Two Farnelian soldiers stood with weapons drawn and ready.

"Farnelia?" Hitomi blinked repeatedly. It appeared that the guy turned
into a girl, but how was that possible? But that didn't matter at the
moment. She rushed to the knights. "Take me to your king."

"You will be taken to the first Brigade General."

Hitomi blinked. "But.... I guess that'll be okay." The general was
probably Allen and he would clear things quickly. Even if it was someone
she didn't know, once someone recognized her-- everything would be
cleared.

"Now hold on a second." Ranma, while flailing water around, stomped
toward Hitomi and the castle guards. "Would someone please tell me
what's goin' on?"

Hitomi, anxious to see Van and uncertain with how to deal with these
two, pointed to the sky. "You are in the kingdom of Farnelia on the
planet Gaea. Earth is over there."

"Oh, my!" Akane covered her mouth. "How?"

"No way...." Ranma stared in shock.

"I will be able to explain everything later. First, we have to get
cleared of this misunderstanding. I know we just met, but please trust
me. I will eventually be able to return you to Earth."

The castle guards shared confused glances.

Hitomi turned to the knights. "Take us to your Brigade General."

Ranma turned to Akane. "Should we?"

"We don't have much of a choice at the moment. Come on." Akane grabbed
her duffel bag out of a bush.

Ranma fished her bag out of the fountain and joined Akane and the
strange girl as the castle guards led them away.

Hitomi looked around. The last time she was here the place was being
rebuilt. Now it was almost finished. It was once again the impressive
medieval city she remembered before Zaibach decimated it.

The trek to the castle's barracks was short. They entered a large room
where many soldiers and knights were either lazing about or sparring.
Hitomi noticed that many of the Crusaders crew were here, the ones that
were lazing about.

Ranma glanced at the sparring fighters, and shrugged. If that's their
best, he had absolutely nothing to worry about.

The men stopped what they were doing and looked at the three girls. They
started to drool at the sight; a cute girl with short black-hair, a
buxom girl with a pig-tail, and a rather plain girl with brown hair.
"Lady Hitomi!" many of them called out, a few with a bit of surprised
vulgarity before it. They began to rush toward her.

"Freeze, scumbags!" The finest dressed knight walked over to her. "Lady
Hitomi? You've returned?"

Hitomi bowed slightly. "Hello, Gaddeth. It's been a long time."

Gaddeth clapped his hands sharply. "All right, you sacks of garbage!
Straighten up! We've got a royal escort to perform!" He looked around
the room and saw that his men hadn't moved. "Now, scumbags! NOW!"

"Yes, sir!" The men quickly filed into a double column.

Gaddeth turned back to her. "Lady Hitomi, are these people with you?"

Hitomi nodded. "Yes."

"All right. If you would step in the middle, between the two columns,
I'll take you to King Van."

"We're in over our heads, again. Aren't we?" Akane was having trouble
absorbing what was going on.

Ranma shrugged. "Safe bet."

They followed behind Hitomi, and hoped she would explain all of this
mess soon.

***************

Van rubbed his forehead. The new defenses on the inner walls were taking
forever to build. They've been having supply problems for weeks, which
most of that was blamed on the recent rash of terrible weather that had
struck the region.

He looked up and glanced over his city. It had been three years since
Zaibach destroyed it, and it was now near it's former glory. There was
still some things missing from it, but he hoped that would be fixed
soon.

Van shook his head when he noticed the soldiers walking in columns.
Someone must have pissed off Gaddeth again. He blinked realizing they
were actually escorting a few people. He peered closer, but was having
trouble making them out. As they marched closer, he recognized the dress
one of them was in. His heart skipped a beat. "Hitomi," he whispered in
disbelief. She had returned to Gaea, returned to him. "Hitomi!" Van
released and spread his wings, and then jumped into the air.

Hitomi rushed toward the king. "Van!" Before she knew it, she was lifted
into the sky by his powerful arms. She hugged him as she began to cry.
"Van."

"Oh, Hitomi. Never leave me again."

Akane blinked as she looked upon the sight. The girl that had brought
them here was in a romantic hug with an angel. She had seen some weird
things, but this was messing with her concept of the world. Now a guy
with wings was nothing new actually, but it added to everything else.
That she wasn't on Earth, that she was in some medieval city, and all of
that after just being on a mountain shrine mere minutes ago.

Ranma looked at the soldiers around him. Some were smiling at the flying
couple, some were cheering, while others were in shook or fear. He
really wished someone would explain what the hell was going on.

Van gently landed with Hitomi still held tightly. His wings disappeared
in a shower of feathers. He looked over at Gaddeth. "There are a lot of
things that need to be discussed, and we shall do so over a feast that
will honor Hitomi's return. Make sure the appropriate council is there."

Gaddeth nodded. They would need many of the nobles and the knights to
attend this.

Hitomi looked at Van strangely. "That sounded awfully... regal."

Van smiled weakly. "I've spent the past three years as king. I've got
aids and advisors pestering me about how to speak."

Hitomi giggled and rested her head against his chest.

Ranma stomped toward Hitomi and the King. "Now can someone explain to me
what's goin' on?"

Gaddeth stepped toward Ranma but signaled his men to not follow suit.

Hitomi reluctantly pulled away from Van. "Um, we'll explain things over
diner. There's a lot that needs to said. It'll be better that everyone
gets the full story."

Ranma growled angrily.

"See that these two are treated as royal guests." Van led Hitomi away.

Gaddeth didn't relax until Ranma did. "Do you two want one or two
rooms?"

Ranma kicked a pebble. "Just one."

Gaddeth nodded. "We'll have it made ready immediately. I suspect you'll
want to freshen up first." He turned to his soldiers. "Rexton, Valborn,
escort these fine ladies to the baths." He turned back to Ranma, who
seemed more upset. "If that's all right with you?"

"Yeah. I guess so. Come on, Akane."

The two castle guards that had arrested Ranma, Akane and Hitomi shared
nervous looks as they followed their General's order.

"Rex, not that I mind escorting these girls, but we've volunteered
ourselves to every task possible, haven't we?"

Rexton sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. We did just arrest our King's
girlfriend."

"We didn't know that!"

"Val, ignorance is hardly a defense, especially with the General."

"Did you know the King's part of the Dragon Clan?"

"No, but in some things, ignorance is bliss."

Akane could only hope that Rexton's statement was not the case.

***************

"Hiiiitomiiii!"

"Eep!" Hitomi found herself under a rather large cat-girl. "Merle, get
off of me."

Merle grinned viciously and then stood up, she was now almost as tall as
Hitomi. She looked like a deceptively sweet cat-girl of fourteen or
fifteen. "You're finally back! How long are you staying?"

Hitomi gave a half-smile. "For the rest of my life."

Merle blinked. "You're not going to go home again?"

Hitomi shook her head. "Gaea is my home now. When I went to back to
Earth, I felt more like a visitor."

Merle frowned and looked down. With Hitomi staying for good, the
question of Van marrying the crazy-mystic girl changed from if to when.
Not that it changed matters for her, she was Van's 'little sister' and a
cat-girl-- two strikes against her being with the king. She forced
herself to smile since at least Van would get to be with his love. "It's
great to have you back. I actually missed you."

"I missed you too. How have things been for you?"

Merle shrugged. "Good, I guess. I've been more or less helping with the
reconstruction of Farnelia. Van's gotten a lot of help from my people
and the wolf men by promising them equal freedom to humans. Some people
don't like that, but it's helped us a lot. Even if it brought him."

"Him?"

"Talon, he's cat-boy who has a crush on me. He won't take no for an
answer." Merle's tailed moved irritably.

Hitomi giggled.

***************

Ranma and Akane were led into the massive, and rather plain, dining
hall. There was only one giant hanging rug of a dragon, the rest of the
walls were bare stone. Many of the seats were already filled. The king
sat at the head of the table, with Gaddeth sitting on the right and
Hitomi on the left.

Rexton and Valborn were rather confused. They had led a red-head girl to
the baths, but now she was supposedly a he. Not wanting to over-react
again, and since Akane was a royal guest, they did as the couple told
them. So, when they arrived they announced them to the meal. "Saotome
Ranma and Saotome Akane."

Most would consider it wise to show some respect, some honor, or some
formality upon entering this room. Unfortunately Ranma saw the
individual seated to the left of Hitomi, and his reaction was nothing
that the people gathered expected. "C-c-c-cat!" He turned around and ran
into and dented the meter thick stone wall.

Akane sighed looking at the cat-girl. "Oh, no. Not again." She walked
over to her husband and slapped him awake.

Many voices asked if Ranma was all right. The rest stared in disbelief
at the damaged wall.

Ranma pushed away from Akane. "I'm fine. Just keep the c-cats away."

"Why?" Merle's tone wasn't pleasant.

Ranma was studiously looking at the wall. "It's nothing personal. Just
don't like murph...."

Akane held her hand over Ranma's mouth. "Sorry. It's not that he hates
cats or, um, cat-people or whatever your race is. He's afraid of them
because of something his father did to him. I don't suggest anyone try
to use the fear against him, as bad things will happen to everyone
around him."

Ranma scowled angrily, but didn't try to say anything.

"Don't be upset with them, Merle." Hitomi placed a hand on the
cat-girl's shoulder. "It's just that they're from the Mystic Moon and
haven't seen your race before. He's just afraid of an animal that you
look like."

Akane bowed her head. "Perhaps it would be best if we were seated at
opposite sides of the room."

"I have no problem with that." Merle turned around sharply and walked
back to her seat.

Gaddeth walked over to Akane. "Excuse me, but what happened to the red
haired girl with you?"

"Um, well you see..." Akane fumbled.

"She's, well, um...." Ranma wasn't any better.

Hitomi peered at Ranma closely. "You are the girl, aren't you?"

Ranma glared. "How do ya know that?"

"I saw you fall into the pond. And, well, I've seen you in a vision."

Akane blinked. "Vision?"

"Um, yes. I'll be explaining that after dinner."

"Would someone please explain?" Gaddeth crossed his arms.

Akane sighed and turned toward her husband. "You're going to have to
explain it to them."

Ranma grumbled under his breath. "Fell into a cursed spring a while
back. Cold water now turns me into a girl, hot water changes me back."

Many surprised comments filled the room.

Teo had been a loyal member of the Crusader, as such he was now a
ranking officer in Farnelia. That didn't mean he stuck with
responsibility well. He poured cold water onto Ranma's head. He then
found himself painfully attached to the wall on the other side of the
room.

"See." Ranma waved disgustedly at her body. "Now I'd like some hot water
to change back inta a guy."

Those present were not sure which to be more surprised of, the man that
turned into a girl or that Teo had been punch across the room. A large
commotion erupted as they started to debate what to do. Most of it was
not favorable to Ranma's continued health.

"Enough!" Van slammed his fist onto the table to get their attention.
"The Saotomes are guests of Hitomi's and shall be treated as royalty. Is
that clear?" The room became silent and then he bowed toward Ranma. "I
am sorry for your mistreatment."

Gaddeth looked over at Teo. "Are you all right?"

"Talk about control." Teo dizzily walked to his seat. "Hurts like a
bitch, but nothings broken." He glanced back at where he hit the wall.
"'Cept the wall, that is."

Gaddeth appraised the girl before him. Punching someone like that and
not killing him would take an enormous amount of control and skill;
skill equivalent to the three greatest sword-fighters that ever lived.
He took a step toward Ranma. "Are you a guy or a girl?"

"A guy." Ranma scowled angrily. "And Akane is my wife, so don't get any
ideas."

Gaddeth nodded and walked back to his seat with a sick look on his face.

"So much for love, eh General?" Kio, another Crusader crew turned
officer, snickered.

"You've got night-watch duty."

Kio groaned.

The feast began and the food was eaten with little or no manners. This
surprised Akane, but not Hitomi as she had already learned first hand
Asturia was trying to invent table manners on Gaea. Outside of a noble
Asturian feast, dinner etiquette was usually non-existent.

Hitomi didn't quite feel right about asking a certain question, but she
needed to know the answer. "Van, where's Allen?"

Van looked at Hitomi with an odd expression. "We don't know. No one has
seen him since shortly after you left us."

"What about his sister, Celena?"

"She is probably with Allen."

"I see."

They returned to eating their diner, with them stealing glances at each
other. While Hitomi's were covered with uncertainty, Van's were clouded
with worry-- and yet both contained longing.

When the feast ended, it was time for everything to be explained. "Long
ago this world, known as Gaea, was created by the people of
Atlantis...."

A nobleman that Hitomi did not know interrupted her. "How could they
possibly make Gaea?"

"I will explain that." Hitomi sighed. "The Atlantian people are better
known as the Dragon Clan. They lived on the Mystic Moon, or Earth as my
people prefer to call it. They developed their mind, skills, and
abilities to the point that could make their every wishes reality,
including creating this planet."

Another noble interrupted. "If they could do that, how were they
destroyed?"

"They destroyed themselves. When every wish becomes granted, they
conflicted and caused havoc until everything was destroyed and Atlantis
sank beneath the waves. Remember the end of the Destiny War? How every
nation was at war amongst each other? That was because Zaibach activated
a device that would grant everyone's wishes. The kings wished to rule
more lands, and attacked their former allies to gain that land. Warriors
wished to be the best, and so fought each other to prove it. The result
was pure anarchy, and if Van hadn't destroyed the device-- Gaea would've
been destroyed."

"The legend of Atlantis is true?" Akane asked.

"Yes and their power still exists and affects us today. The ability to
make wishes a reality is still present, but only a few have the desire
and the will to do it."

A noble scoffed. "You mean I could wish for peace, and all fighting
would stop?"

"Only if you truly wished for that to happen, and no one with a stronger
will opposed you."

Ranma stood up. "I could wish to go back? To be cured of my curse?"

"I'm not sure. The curse is from Earth, and any cure you find might only
work on Gaea. As for returning home... I'll be able to do that once I
figure out how to just send you two."

"You can send us back now?"

"Um, not really." She had the ability to do so. She was sure of that.
However, she didn't have the desire. The Saotomes were going to be
needed, and she couldn't send them back without risking everything.

Ranma slumped into his seat.

Akane promised herself to ask Hitomi later about this. That 'not really'
sounded a bit hollow.

Hitomi returned her attention to everyone at the table. "Most of you
know that I am able to glimpse the future. I recently had a vision of
Zaibach beginning a new war against Farnelia. I can't give much
specifics, but I do know that Ranma and Akane are crucial to victory."

Ranma glared at Hitomi. "Why should we help you? You're the one who
dragged us here."

"I don't know how to convince you to help us. I'll be able to send you
back eventually, but there are probably other means for you to return
home. I had to bring you here, your presence may be what's needed for us
to win. Please consider helping us."

"You're asking me and my wife to fight in a war? To risk our lives?"

"I can guarantee that you'll live through this." Though Hitomi wasn't
sure that they would want to live through it.

"How are we supposed to even believe you can see the future?"

"I've never met you before, but I know you're a high ranking martial
artist and have some magical abilities. In my vision I saw you stand
against a Zaibach guymelef. It used its flame-thrower, and you somehow
managed to get the flames to spiral around you. You then punched into
the air and a tornado erupted."

Ranma blinked. "That's Hiryu Shuten Ha.... You're saying I did that
while standing in place?"

Hitomi nodded. "I can't be sure if that is literal or imagery."

Ranma rubbed his chin. He had a few ideas of how to make that work.
"Okay, so maybe you can see inta the future. I'm not entirely convinced.
Besides, that's just martial arts, not magic."

Gaddeth folded his hands. "Hitomi, what specifics about Zaibach can you
give us?"

"Well, the first full scale battle on Farnelia, itself, will occur
during a celebration of some sort."

"Celebration?" Van raised an eyebrow. The closest festival planned was
in six months. "Can you describe it?"

"There were white and gold streamers lining the streets."

Van blinked, dazed.

Merle grimaced.

Gaddeth grinned. "Were you standing near an altar?"

"I think so, but I'm not entirely sure."

Teo leaned back while smirking. "So, Zaibach is going to repeat history
and attack your wedding this time."

Hitomi blushed and blinked. "My wedding?"

"Gold and white streamers are used for Farnelia royal weddings." Van's
voice sounded emotionless. "I'm the only surviving member of the royal
family."

Hitomi laughed nervously while looking a bit pale. An altar shattered
and two who were once inseparable would be forever apart.

Van looked at Hitomi and shock was replaced with worry. "Are you all
right?"

"I'll explain later."

Gaddeth looked serious again. "Anything else that may be of some help?"

Hitomi sagged. "Zaibach will get a hold of an Ispano Guymelef."

The room was filled with surprised sounds of shock.

"Are you sure?" Gaddeth pressed.

Hitomi nodded. "Yes, I saw Van piloting Escaflowne against another
Ispano."

Van looked grim.

Gaddeth shook his head. "Anything else."

Hitomi shook her head. "Nothing besides Ranma knocking out eight or so
Zaibach soldiers in less time than you killing three, and at another
time, while in female form, he will defeat two guymelefs. The locations
were not in the city, but I think they weren't too far away-- maybe a
few days travel or so by foot."

Van looked over at Gaddeth. "Any word from the spies we sent to
Zaibach?"

Gaddeth nodded. "Two have reported nothing out of the ordinary. The
Mole-man seems to have disappeared, but that's not very surprising. If
Zaibach is going to do anything soon, they're keeping it a tight
secret."

Van nodded. With Hitomi's vision, they certainly seemed to have the
upper hand if Zaibach was going to start a war. They had plenty of time
to prepare. Why did this seem too good to be true?

Gaddeth stood up. "Well, if the first assault doesn't occur until the
King's wedding, we've got at least a month or two of preparations to go
through. We have some time to prepare for them, so I suggest we all get
a good night's sleep and will convene a war council tomorrow. If that's
all right with you, your majesty?"

Van nodded. "We will need to prepare to deal with Zaibach's
technological advantage, particularly the stealth mantels. Try to think
of anything that will help our defense." He stood up and turned to
Hitomi. "We need to talk."

"Yes, we do."

"A month or two?" Ranma clenched his fist. "They expect us to sit around
here for the next couple months?"

Akane shook her head. "At least this way no one will be able to find
us."

"Bet Ryoga could."

Akane scowled. "How is he supposed to do that? He can get lost, but not
lost enough to end up on another planet."

"Why not? We just did."

Akane blinked and tried to fire back a retort, but failed. "Whatever.
It's getting late. Let's go to bed."

***************

Author's Notes:

Thanks to HPackrat, Michael Chase, and JJang for prereading this.