Eilsa watched the youngling simply fly though the sky, dancing.  She'd   
have been hard pressed to recall a neither more graceful nor more   
potent fighter of even master rank.  The warriors of Earth had managed   
to develop unusual ways of using their life-force, and for those who   
were force sensitive, it truly took it to levels that even the great   
masters would be hard pressed to equal.  Eilsa's expression turned to   
a pixie grin as she imaged Master Windu's expression as a youngling   
handed him his rear.    
  
As Ranma hopped down, Eilsa decided to interest her in what the Force   
could do when properly trained.     
   
"Impressive, some of the best I've seen."  Eilsa watched as Ranma   
shrugged.  
  
"No big.  I'm the best."  The ego with Ranma spoke that with troubled   
Eilsa, but she knew she could get around it.  
  
Eilsa's raised eyebrow questioned Ranma's superiority, and before he   
knew it, he was in the air, being held by some invisible force.    
   
"Really.  An excellent fighter you may be.  However, what if a person   
chose to remove your edges like I just did?" Eilsa's tone was amused.  
  
Ranma struggled, twisting and turning becoming more frantic with each   
passing second, trying to find the grip points, then coming to a   
realization she was being held over every point of her torso and neck   
making breaking out impossible without leverage.  "Lemme go!"  She   
said that as she started to draw power to toss a kiblast at Eilsa.  
  
Eilsa lowered Ranma rapidly in response to the feeling of Ranma   
gathering the Force to do _something_ with it.  "That's the least the   
Force can do.  I can use it, and so can you."  
  
Ranma got up, and glared slightly.  "How did you do that?"  
  
"By reaching out and using the Force.  And many years of training."    
Eilsa smiled.  
  
"What's the force?"  Ranma's expression was still a bit irritated, but   
Eilsa noted the child's normal state had returned quickly.  
  
"It's what we use to defend others, and keep the peace.  It is energy   
created by all living things.  It surrounds and penetrates us.  It   
binds the galaxy together.  It is all, and from it comes life, and to   
it we return."  Eilsa smiled.  "You were beginning to draw on it to do   
something when I put you on the ground."  
  
"You mean you can lift people with Chi?!"  Ranma's expression was   
awed.  
  
"If by Chi you mean the Force, yes...  And that's the least of what we   
can do with it.  Would you like to learn?"  Eilsa waited to see what   
the possible padawan would say.  
  
Ranma kicked a rock while pondering it. "I dunno...  what else can you   
do with it?"  
  
Eilsa smiled inwardly.  Time to add more bait to the hook.  "Well, I   
can use it to read people's emotions, which helps me defuse fights."  
  
Ranma eyed her.  "De... fuse?  You mean like... not have the fight?"    
Ranma's face scrunched up; clearly remembering a few times she'd have   
loved to do that.  "Man... that'd would have been great, with the   
Tomboy.  Though it's fun sparring with Pigboy most of the time."  
  
Eilsa nodded.  "It's a long and hard road.  You never finish learning,   
of course, but the initial training took me years, and years.  And   
we'd have to go to my home, since that's where the training would take   
place."   
   
Ranma snorted.  "Betcha I could do it faster."  
  
"Really... care to prove it?"  Eilsa smiled.  Lesson one, padawan.  
  
"Sure!" Ranma beamed.  
  
"Then I'll personally train you myself."  Eilsa smiled.  "And it does   
settle what you're going to do till you regain your age again.  We'll   
go visit with your family, and tell them that you're coming with me to   
train, because you want to."  
  
Ranma nodded, asking a question.  "You'll feed me, right?  While we're   
training?"   
   
Eilsa shook her head slightly.  "Of course.  However, the real   
question you should have asked is this.  'Where do you live?'    
_before_ agreeing to becoming my padawan."  
  
The blink from Ranma told Eilsa a lot about his training.  "Huh?  Why   
would that matter?  And what's Padawan?"  
  
"Lesson 1 and 2, Padawan."  The Jedi smiled softly.  "Padawan is the   
term for a Jedi student, which you are now.  Second lesson.  Get the   
details of an agreement _first_, before agreeing to it.  I live on   
Coruscant, in the Jedi Temple.  Which is roughly 11 million light   
years away."  
  
Ranma just stared at her for a bit.  "Umm...  what's a light year?"  
  
"The distance that light travels in a year.  Didn't your school teach   
this?"  Eilsa's voice conveyed her shock.  Sure Nippon was primitive,   
but given the electronics she saw, they should know what a light year   
is.  
  
"Didn't do much Schooling, Pops thought it was a waste of time."    
Ranma shrugged.  "So, it's a long way?"  
Eilsa stared.  She just clued into why her new padawan was so skilled   
in the arts of war.  That's all he learned.  "Oh, yes, a very long   
way.  Even in my starship, one of the fastest built; it took over two   
months to get there."  
  
"Oh."  Ranma's tone of voice said it all to Eilsa.  
  
"Don't worry; I'll leave a commutations device behind so you can talk   
to your mother and friends.  It'll be real time, and it's quite   
costly.  I'll have a devil of a time justifying it to the Temple."   
Eilsa shrugged.  "It's not a problem.  I'm sure that the Council will   
want to investigate this planet more, anyways."  
  
Ranma just blinked repeatedly.  
  
"A bit of a shock?  Consider it the first lesson I can teach you about   
the battle fought with words instead of weapons."  Eilsa watched Ranma   
nod dumbly, realizing she had a long way to go with this student.  She   
sighed, and looked deeply into Ranma's eyes as she stated her next   
line.  "Ranma, I know you've spent most of your life devoted to   
training your body in your art.  However, if you are going to get the  
most of our abilities, you must be able to focus your abilities.  If  
you   
don't train your mind for combat, it becomes easy for you to be   
deceived.  In this case, you could potentially become that which you   
most fear - someone who hurts - or worse, kills - the innocent.  Do   
you want that?  I would say most of your problems with Akane are due   
to the lack of training with your mind."  She watched emotions play   
out over the child's face, and decided to add an extra little thought.    
"Some have stated that words are the most powerful weapon a person   
possesses, Ranma.  But think of this.  How many times have you fallen   
for a trick or a play of Nabiki's, or one of your other's rivals, who   
while not as skilled in the art of fighting, is skilled with the art  
of words?"  
  
Ranma just stared at the Jedi.  Apparently the child never thought   
about it that way.  "But... pops said..."  
  
Eilsa raised her hand.  "You agreed to allow me to train you.  There's   
a whole other dimension of combat and the use of what you call Chi,   
which he made sure you'd be unable to easily learn.  Maybe because he   
didn't consider it important, maybe because he didn't learn it   
himself..."  She trailed off letting him see if there was any other   
reason that Genma might not have made sure Ranma was well rounded.  
  
"Dammit, Pops.  Why?"  Ranma grumbled kicking a wall slightly.  
  
Eilsa shrugged.  "How many times has your father made critical   
mistakes?  How many times has he been wrong?  This is just a string of   
mistakes he made.  I might accept honest mistakes, except the   
consequences are so dire, for so many of these.  And they're repeated   
over and over again."  She watched as Ranma just pondered those words.  
  
With his continued pause she stood up, brushing off her robes.    
"Ponder it; I need to go visit your parents and family.  Sleep on it,   
indeed.  Just tell the droid what you want, and he'll get you some   
food."    
  
******  
  
Balance of Force  Book 1, Chapter 1  
  
The Child  
  
By Andrew 'MageOhki' Norris  
With grateful assistance from Nicholas 'NightElf' Leifker  
Various members of the #fukufic crowd and special thanks to   
Quedrom  
  
******  
  
Eilsa consulted the map that she had acquired, along with the   
directions Ranma had given her, and quickly found the Dojo.  She was   
glad Ranma listened to her and stayed on the ship to sleep.  She   
didn't want the negotiations to be disrupted by the child's presence.  
  
As she walked through the gate, many emotions washed over her, the   
most   
predominate was worry and fear.  She blinked.  Some anger, yes, but it   
was almost lost in overriding fear and worry.  She shook her head,   
realizing she had once again let her initial thoughts override her   
better judgment.  She forgot at times how difficult it was to separate   
her natural empathy from her logical mind.  Master Yoda kept telling   
her to control it.  Worse, as with everyone in there, Ranma's very   
force signature simply shouted her emotions at anyone with the talent   
and training to read them.  She knocked on the wood frame of the door,   
and waited as she heard movement to the door.  
  
Kasumi slid the door open, and saw a hooded woman dressed strangely at   
the door.  "Tendo Residence, I am Tendo Kasmui, how can I help you?"   
Her voice was tight from the worry and frustration she was hiding.  
  
Eilsa raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly. "I would speak with you   
and your family and the Saotomes if they are here."  She was calm and   
collected, while she read Kasumi's emotions, and felt worry,   
frustration, and a sudden spike of hastily repressed anger that didn't   
reach her face.  
  
"I'm afraid that this is not a ... good time to handle business...   
"Kasumi let her words trail off hinting that she would like a name.  
  
Eilsa thanked the Force that she listened to Ranma pronounce his name,   
and the correction she gave, so she could answer this correctly.   
"Jardon Eilsa.  It's... about Saotome Ranma."  She didn't miss the   
spike of hope, anger, resignation that all flashed though the young   
woman in front of her.  Eilsa itched for a force tester to confirm   
what her senses were telling her.  
  
Kasumi nodded sharply, and bowed, saying "Please, come in, then." She   
watched as the hooded figure bowed and walked in, removing her hood.    
She   
studied the person, placing her age as older than most of Ranma's   
fiancées, and noted the warmth in the eyes, but couldn't quite repress   
the irritation she felt as the person didn't remove her boots.  
  
"I'm sorry, I'm a stranger in a strange land, am I doing something   
wrong?" Eilsa's voice calmed Kasumi.  
  
Kasumi couldn't keep a slight smile from appearing.  "We take our   
shoes off in houses in Nihon, Jardon-san."   
   
Eilsa blinked but shrugged and quickly removed her boots, while Kasumi   
discreetly nudged a pair of slippers towards her.    
  
As the slippers were put on, Kasumi gestured at the hall mentioning to   
the older woman, "You are quite excellent in your timing, Jardon-san,   
for both families you wish to talk to, plus some of Ranma's friends   
are here."  
  
Eilsa walked into the room, pausing to take the scene in.  She blinked   
at seeing a panda with a blade at his neck and the blade was held by a   
redheaded woman with a striking resemblance to Ranma.  She swept over   
the rest, and noted that besides a glare from the redheaded woman at   
the panda, and several young women occasionally glaring at a young   
man, the overall mood of the room was as she felt outside. One of   
worry and fear for someone.   All eyes turned to her.  
  
Eilsa took a deep breath; she looked from one person to another and   
locked eyes with them.  Diplomacy had its nuances.  Sometimes it   
worked best to appease and show peace; other times, a show of force   
was required.  "Saotome Genma?"  
  
The panda nodded weakly.  
  
"Saotome Nodoka?"  
  
The woman next to him nodded not removing the blade from the panda's   
neck.  
  
Eilsa noted the source of some of the anger, and focused her eyes in   
that direction.  "Tendo Akane?"  
  
"What did the idiot do now?" she replied.    
  
Eilsa held her ground; she let her Force presence extend further,   
increasing her intimidation.  "Other than receiving treatment for   
hairline fractures to her skull?  Accepting my offer to train her in   
areas both relating to the art, and in areas that were severely   
crippled by her father."  
  
Akane blinked.  Before she could respond, Kasumi had muttered   
something about "about time..."    
  
Nodoka paled and her katana slipped from her fingers, scraping the   
panda's fur off.  
  
"But..." Akane trailed off wincing at the level stare from the lady.  
  
"Some apparently are about a month old, though given the child's   
healing abilities, I'd put them at anywhere from several days ago at  
the   
earliest."  Eilsa raised an eyebrow.  "Care to tell me how she got   
them?"   
  
Before Akane could respond, Nabiki butted in. "See what happens when   
you play with your toys too hard, could break them."  Nabiki grinned   
at her younger sister, clearly not concerned about Ranma.  
  
Eilsa saw Akane pale more, and a glare from Ukyo and Shan Pu to her   
along with a repressed spike of emotion from Kasumi filtered into the  
Jedi's mind.  She found Akane's emotions most interesting.  Shock,  
denial, her angry overtones suppressed for the time.  
  
"Fortunately for you, you're not the only one I need to talk to."  She   
turned her eyes toward Genma.  "When I found Ranma, she was acting in   
a most... peculiar manner.  When she came to, she mentioned something   
about the Nekoken.  You wouldn't have anything to say about that,   
would you?"  
  
She had the satisfaction of watching Genma pale, and Nodoka look   
puzzled.  She tried to estimate Nodoka's age, and came to a sobering  
conclusion.  Nodoka was no more than a child herself, really, when she  
had Ranma.  
  
Her eyes alighted on Cologne who had a mask herself on, and was hiding   
her emotions behind a primitive shield. Eilsa filed that away, and  
swept   
her eyes across the rest of the room gauging others' reaction to this   
news.  
  
Eilsa sighed.  "There comes a time to settle accounts; now is a good   
time as any would be.  Ranma is very much a mystery wrapped in an   
enigma, as are most of you - and I will know why.  I have a five-year-  
old girl who claims to be a sixteen year old male at times, and a cat   
at other times.  Her medical history or currently healing injuries   
would have killed her, if it wasn't for her ... more unusual talents."  
  
Nabiki smirked.  "10,000 yen" She clearly expected to be paid, and   
Eilsa felt the emotions radiating from the young girl.  
   
Eilsa turned the most contemptuous glare she could.  "I didn't ask   
you, Tendo Nabiki.  I'm asking them."  
  
Nabiki smirked.  "They don't have the whole story, _I_ do."  
  
The headshake she was returned with surprised her.  The next words   
stunned her.  
   
"No, you don't.  Lie again, and you won't know what happens to you."   
With that statement, Eilsa turned to Kasumi.  "Do you know what   
happened?"  
  
Before Kasumi could speak, Nodoka interrupted confusion clear in her   
voice.  "Excuse me.... did you say girl?  Why are you saying my son is   
a girl?"  
  
Eilsa blinked, realizing Nodoka didn't realize about the 'curse' as   
Ranma called it.  "Ah... well.  When I came across Ranma, she was  
female, as she fell into the Neko-ken.  And her signature was far more  
...   
visible to me, in her female form.  The Force wills, as it wills."  
  
Nodoka glared at Genma, understanding the reluctance of him to tell   
her Ranma's curse.  Genma shivered thanking the kami that Kasumi had   
managed to get Nodoka to destroy that contract.  
  
Cologne blinked, narrowing her eyes, trying to recall something.    
"Excuse me.  The Force?"   
  
It took a great deal of effort for Eilsa to keep from smiling.  "What   
do you know of the Force?"  
   
"You have a strong aura, one of the strongest I've seen, and the   
words familiar to me.  But that's it.  Are you talking about ki or  
chi?"    
Cologne inquired.  
  
Eilsa did smile.  "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an   
energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and   
penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.  It is all.  Why, do you   
know something more?" Her inquiry was met by a stunned look from   
Cologne who hit Shan Pu to the ground, groveling, along with her own   
grovel.  
  
Cologne from a kneeling position spoke with a reverent tone.  "Honored   
Jedi,  Master of the Light.  Our legends speak of You and yours."    
  
Her tone shifted, as if she was reciting a basic tenant to a student,   
and wasn't aimed at Eilsa. "The Jedi, Masters of the Light and the  
Sith, Lords of Darkness descended from the heavens at the end of the 
Great War.  They fought on the blessed and cursed ground known to us 
all as Jusenkyou.  The powerful and terrible magics warped the world 
and the   
very fabric of life around them.  Blood from the light and dark   
spilled there, staining the waters with red and leaving the impression   
of those magics used even today.  In the end, the remaining Jedi   
defeated the Lord of the Dark, sending him to the pit of darkness, and   
destroyed his forces.  The remaining Jedi each went their own ways.    
One, a great bird went into the mountain of Jusendo to watch over us  
all, leading a small band of his own kind.  He was changed by the very  
powers he wielded.  Another group, made mostly of males made their  
home near a second mountain forming the Musk.  One other group, 
comprised mostly of females, formed my very tribe, being our 
forbearers.  A few left, wandering away, including the one that held 
them together and his   
wife."  
  
Eilsa raised an eyebrow.  "Do you know the names of these Jedi?  Or   
the Sith for that matter?"  
  
Cologne didn't rise from her stance on the ground.  "The avian, my   
lady was Saffron, while our leader only allowed herself to be called   
the Exile.  The Musk were lead by Atton Reed.  The leader of the whole   
was called Revan, and his wife was Bastila Shan."  
  
Eilsa blinked.  "I wish I had my holocron handy."  She shook off the   
wish for it and continued on.  
  
"Now.  I do recall that you have some stories to tell?" She smiled a   
bit more frostily as she continued.  "Tales of dumping a child into a   
pit of cats, perhaps?  Or maybe instead I could find out just how many   
times a person was hit over the head with a blunt instrument?"  She   
waved at Cologne.  "I do not accept service nor do I accept worship,   
Cologne. Please, please, rise and be seated."  
  
Cologne rose with respect, and sat down.  "May I ask a question first,   
honored Jedi?"  
  
"Of course."  
  
"Since it is clear you've had contact with Ranma, perhaps you could   
answer a question that is burning in all our minds?"  Cologne's   
slightly sardonic tones were belied by her smile.  Cologne received an   
amused nod in response.  "Where is the child?"     
   
Eilsa smiled. "On my ship, sleeping I believe.  Or depleting my food   
stocks, whichever."  
  
Nodoka's eyebrows rose slightly, along with Cologne's.  Before   
Cologne could speak, Nodoka broke in with a sharp question.  "And just   
why didn't you bring my son back?"   
   
Eilsa gazed upon the younger woman, and shook her head.  "For two   
reasons.  As by her injuries, she was clearly what any medical   
professional would consider abused, so I would be ill done to possibly   
take her back to an abusive environment."  Eilsa sipped at the tea   
Kasumi placed by her side, as she watched Cologne touch various places   
on each of the teenagers backs, to keep them still.  She nodded with   
a smile of appreciation to both Kasumi and Cologne, and continued.    
"Second, she accepted my offer of training, and as such, has become a   
Padawan of the Jedi order, under me as her Master.  Which makes _her_   
MY responsibility under Republic law."  
  
Nodoka gripped her katana again, while trembling slightly. "I am   
Ranma's Mother!"  
  
Eilsa nodded accepting that.  "Not questioning that, Saotome-san.    
However, once a child is accepted by the Jedi order as a trainee, the   
child loses all legal ties to his or her birth family.  Usually this   
is done with the full concurrence of the birth family, of course...   
which I do intend to get."  
  
"And if Auntie Nodoka and Uncle Genma don't give you their blessings?"   
Kasumi inquired sweetly.  
  
Eilsa turned to look at Kasumi with a raised eyebrow.  Kasumi's naming   
of Genma had a repressed spike of distaste and anger.  "I don't think   
they would be... difficult to convince.  Even setting aside the   
'magics' I possess, I'm quite convincing on my own, plus I'm willing   
to comprise on several aspects of what the Order tends to do."  
  
Nodoka marshaled her arguments to be undercut by Eilsa's raised hand.    
"I'm sorry, Saotome-san, but I think you should hear all the reasons   
why this is a _good_ thing for Ranma."  
  
Eilsa paused to be sure she had all their attention.  "First and   
foremost, while Ranma's case of ailurophobia is the most extreme I've   
heard about, I am _very_ confident in the Order's healers to severely   
lessen it, or remove it all together."  Nodoka's blink and shocked   
expression indicated that Nodoka also didn't know about this.  Eilsa   
stomped on her anger again, knowing it would do no good and lead to   
the darkness if she just lopped off Genma's head.  "Second, the order   
and I know a lot more overall about what you call Chi, and we the   
Force, and how to use it.  I mean, can any of you lift a car with your   
will and 'Chi' alone?" Eilsa smiled a bit amusedly as she noted  
Cologne's   
brief expression of disbelief.  "I see you don't quite believe that."    
  
Cologne nodded. "I have lived for 300 years, and I have not seen   
anyone able to do such a thing, Honored Jedi..."  She trailed off,   
inviting proof of Eilsa's words.  
  
Eilsa nodded and raised her hand.  Before the room could react,   
everyone BUT Eilsa was a good two feet off the ground.  She lowered   
her hand and smirked slightly.  "Proof enough?"  She was rewarded by a   
stunned nod by all.  "Thirdly.  _I_ can FIX the damage Genma has done   
to Ranma's growth as an honorable and good person.  Right now, I don't   
think the poor child has the ABILITY to have a relationship, or at   
least one of his proper age, much less have one of an adult nature."    
She stopped, taking a deep breath, watching as Cologne and Kasumi 
nodded,   
and Nodoka stared at Eilsa in shock.  
  
"All of which, I'll concede are not by themselves viable reasons in   
separation.  I am sure that you could cure the Neko-ken, am I wrong?"    
Eilsa waited for Cologne's statement.  
  
"No, we cannot.  We cannot even lessen the fear given how long Ranma's   
been affected by it."  Cologne sighed.  Eilsa nodded, hiding a smile.  
  
"Fixing Ranma's lack of education and socialization, well, I'm sure   
that could be done too..."  Kasumi's expression argued against it as   
well.  Eilsa blinked.  Ranma did have defenders here... just   
overwhelmed by the situation.  
  
Cologne sighed.  "And what about the honor debts he has acquired?"    
Eilsa smiled in response to that statement.    
  
"Can she honor them as she is?"  That statement was rewarded by a   
hesitant shake by Nodoka, and a stronger shake by Cologne.  
  
"I seem to think that Nodoka doesn't know the full story of Ranma's   
life?"  Eilsa inquired, resulting in two sighs from Kasumi and   
Cologne, an attempt by Genma to edge out the door, only to be stopped   
by Cologne's quick staff tattooing a pattern on his back, and Nodoka's   
hesitant statement.  
   
"I had received progress reports..."  Cologne snorted.    
  
"Kasumi-chan.  Perhaps you should tell us all what you know, since   
you've had the most conversations with Ranma."  Cologne was rewarded   
with a small smile from the mentioned woman.  
  
Kasumi looked at Nodoka and glared at Genma.  "Well, Auntie Saotome, 
it   
began one rainy afternoon, as our father called us to a family   
meeting..."  Eilsa listened intently to Kasumi's tale, with additions   
from Ukyou,  Shan Pu, and Cologne.  Nodoka's expression became more   
and more horrific as each new detail came out.  Kasumi finished by   
explaining what happened after Akane had implied that there were no   
more mushrooms to restore Ranma's and Ryouga's age.  "Father attempted  
to cheer up Ranma by giving her a mustache rub, and she fled that.    
Akane had hidden some of the mushrooms, and figured that Ranma would  
return shortly.  After they were the proper size, and cooked, we found 
that Ranma hadn't returned.  Akane, Ukyou and Shan Pu went out looking 
for Ranma, and Ryogua stayed behind.  In a fit of anger over Akane's 
worry for Ranma, he destroyed Ranma's mushroom, and right now, we have 
no   
more mushrooms."  Kasumi finished, taking a sip of tea to relax her   
throat, while pretending to not notice Akane, Ukyo and Shan Pu's   
glares at Ryogua.    
  
Eilsa sipped some tea and nodded.  "I see.  This matches with what   
Ranma told me, not as in much detail, and excepting the bit about   
there being more mushrooms, but there are some differences, of   
course."  She paused.  Her eyes tracked to Nodoka.  
  
Nodoka's eyes were streaming, unable to make a sound.  Eilsa nodded in   
relief, it appeared that her initial thoughts on Nodoka were wrong.    
However, her eyes went to Genma's prone form.  Only the pressure   
points that Cologne had struck that kept Genma in one place.  Eilsa   
sighed.  She really had a bad feeling about this.  "I take it that   
divorce is legal here?"  She raised an eyebrow at the slight   
disappointment from Kasumi, and the nod from Cologne.  
  
Eilsa's eyes tracked over the rest.  Ukyou's horrified and pale face   
indicated she was unaware as well, while Shampoo's hunched over form   
indicated the same.  Akane had joined Nodoka in crying, while... where   
was the middle sister?  No matter.  Soun was apparently attempting to   
work up some indignation.  
  
Nodoka gathered herself.  "You say your healers could fix this...   
Neko-ken?"  Nodoka was rewarded by a nod from the Jedi.  "Then, if it   
is truly my child's wish... I must consent.  I will hear it from his   
own lips, however.  And I want my child home as much as possible, and   
to hear from Ranma as often as possible."  Nodoka's further statements   
were broken by Soun's rising to the statements she made.  
  
"No!  The Schools MUST BE JOINED!" Soun was rising and Eilsa's hands   
flew to her lightsaber as she felt a tainted feeling forming around   
Soun.  Before her hand had removed her lightsaber from her belt, and   
activated it, Nodoka had already scooped up her katana, and had it   
across Soun's neck, interrupting the building up of the Force Eilsa   
felt.  
  
"Haven't you done ENOUGH in that mindset?"  Nodoka's voice was quiet.    
"Haven't we _all_ just done enough to ruin _my_ child's life already?    
You with the pressures of an engagement, without helping Ranma to   
solve his problems.  Me, letting Genma lie to me repeatedly!"  Nodoka   
couldn't continue as she started to sob.  
  
"Scattering the ashes of the past is never pleasant.  Realizing our   
dreams of the future are as much dust as well is even less pleasant."    
Cologne took a breath.  "It does allow for new dreams to rise,   
however, such as new growth can rise from a fire in a forest."  She   
shook her head.  "We have failed ourselves, our ancestors, and more   
importantly Ranma, all in the name of greed for his body.  This has  
resulted in all of our dreams for him destroyed, and the things the  
child held as important, ruined.  We never asked what _he_ wanted out  
of this.  Our failure again.  Perhaps we can grow as well."  Her eyes  
met Eilsa's.    
"What will the future hold for young Ranma?"  
  
Eilsa nodded slightly in response to Cologne's statement.  "Training,   
of course.  Doing what a Jedi does.  Communications with you all, of   
course.  I am not the type to take a person away from those he or she   
views as friends.  Besides that?  I've never been one to see the   
future, nor hold much faith in those visions.  In motion, it always   
is, and it makes fools of those who seek to control it."  
  
Cologne nodded.  "And when can we see Ranma?"   
   
Eilsa nodded.  "As soon as I go to my ship.  I still need to find fuel   
and certain supplies.  Is there a chance you can help me?"   
   
Cologne winced.  "While I have contacts, I would need a list of what   
you need, and what could be used... before saying one way or the   
other."  
  
Eilsa nodded.  "Then I will bring back both my padawan, and the list.    
Good day."   
   
*******  
  
Genma waited for a moment.  He mentally snarled, keeping that   
expression off his face as to not warn anyone.  No mere woman was   
going to take HIS heir away.   Happosai had taught him well.  If you   
wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself, and do it as   
painfully as possible.  Shame that the bombs didn't kill the bastard   
pervert.  He kept his eye on Cologne and his wife as they discussed   
something, and as she moved her eyes from him, he moved.  
  
Cologne spun, and seeing Genma hunch over, began to move.  However, to   
her shock, Genma was gone before she could get to him.  "Dammit!"    
Kasumi's eyebrows rose up in response to Cologne's curse.  
  
"Child, I suspected Genma would try something.  I underestimated him,   
though.  Apparently the pressure points wore off before I thought they   
would on him.  Must be Happosai's influence.  Come, we have to follow   
the Jedi, else she might kill him." Cologne saw several blank looks as   
if asking 'This would be bad, why?'  "While _I_ don't disagree with   
killing the panda, children... Ranma would!"  Several nods of  
comprehension answered her, as they all got up to track the woman who  
had left.  
  
Genma roof hopped in his technique of invisibility, keeping a eye out   
on the woman who had his heir, and was occasionally looking back, as  
if someone was following her.  He smirked.  Cologne was foolish to 
think   
an apprentice to Happosai would be affected for long by pressure   
points.  The master was a genius with them, especially the more   
painful ones.  And this woman? Ha.  She was no warrior, for she never  
looked up, not that she would have seen him anyways.  
  
Eilsa checked back again.  She'd have _sworn_ someone was following   
her.  No signs of a stealth cloak, and her senses didn't _say_ anyone   
was following her... just the back of her neck itching.  She shook her   
head, and suddenly spun, igniting her lightsaber and ducking.  She'd   
never know how she was warned, but the clang of the fist against her   
ship's hull made her thankful.  She rolled, and stood up in a neutral   
stance.  "Genma.  I should have known you were too passive." She   
hissed at the man.  
  
Genma smiled at her, a evil smile. "You think that little toy will do   
you any good? Try my power! KIJIN RAISHU DAN!"  With his cry, his   
hands snapped backwards, and only Eilsa's honed instincts allowed her   
to drop to the ground, and parts of her hair went to the ground, cut   
off by the vacuum blades, which went on to cause tears in her ship's   
hull.  Genma sped forward attempting to stomp her into the ground, but  
was failed by her quick kip and flip forward over him, and her attempt  
to stab him though the chest, which he dodged, and leapt to the side   
avoiding any follow up attack.  
  
Eilsa eyed Genma, going into a Makashi stance, and preparing to move   
smartly.  She put everything out of her head, including the arrival of   
several sets of footsteps, and settled herself into the Force, letting   
it guide her to victory in this fight.  She was rewarded by the sense   
to move one way and she did so as Genma chased one of his vacuum blade   
attacks in, and she spun around, striking, running her lightsaber   
though his shoulder via a spin and a stab though the back.  
  
Genma rolled clutching his shoulder, and standing up, snarling.  "I'll   
make that your last, woman!"  Eilsa just eyed him, as Cologne held   
Nodoka back.  
  
"Bring it.  Only reason you have your head, is I don't think Ranma   
would want you dead."  Her calm and clear voice answered his snarling   
fury.  
  
Genma took a deep breath and rapidly swung his hands back causing a   
crackling sound, as several small blades raced for the Jedi who weaved   
though the vacuum blades, losing bits of her clothing, and small   
slices on her skin appearing.  He attempted to take a few steps back   
to engage the Goshin Dai Ryu, but Eilsa was on him, and before he   
could finish wrapping the cloth, or even take another step, a sharp   
burning pain screamed from his left shoulder as he heard a thump on   
the ground.  Eilsa spun and eyed Genma, blood dripping from several of   
her wounds.    
  
"Do you yield, Genma Saotome"  She asked, showing no strain from the   
combat.  
  
Genma snarled; his remaining hand glowed with power.  Elisa sighed and   
prepared herself for the final charge, when a single word cut through   
the air.  
  
"Hold!"  That voice laced with power and instant obedience stopped   
all but three.  One, a small child sneaking down the ramp of the ship,   
but sticking to shadows; second, a wizened old man, and third, the   
Jedi master, who spun towards the voice.  
  
The Jedi was rewarded by a dry chuckle.  "I didn't believe my master   
on the legends.  Shame on me.  Good thing I remembered.  We owe yours  
a debt, Jedi."  The voice belonged to the old man, who had a small 
smirk   
on his face, while he held a small tube in one hand.  
  
Eilsa raised an eyebrow a calm expression showing on her face.  "Oh?"    
Inwardly, she was rattled.  She had never heard her title spoken with   
such rancor and hate.  Only... Oh... dear.  
  
Happosai smiled as she paled slightly.  "I see you have figured it   
out.  Excellent.  Shame on you poaching my heir, Jedi.  Please, you   
didn't think I wouldn't follow the last of the Revan's heirs? To   
finally sway them to the truth of the Force? The one and only truth!"  
  
Eilsa nodded.  Revan's departing of the other survivors made perfect   
sense now.  He knew that a Sith was left.  She got a further shock as   
a red blade arose from the tube in the old man's hand.  She settled   
herself deeper into the Force, preparing to take the battle to him.  
  
Before Eilsa could move, a ping pong ball attempted to slam in to the   
wizened old man, only to be batted aside with a force push, and   
then... "Time for you to learn to respect your _real_ master".  As   
Happosai said that, sparks, then sheets of low powered lighting   
slammed into Ranma, knocking her out, not before she screamed briefly   
as her body arched in response to the electricity and hate running  
though her frame.  "There, that'll keep you out of this!"  The words  
were accompanied with a truly evil smirk, showing that the old man had 
enjoyed that.  Happosai flipped back as Eilsa charged attempting to 
end the fight fast with a stab to the chest, only to be met by his 
flip and parry.  
  
Eilsa leapt back, and back again, retreating from his hyper aggressive   
attacks. She needed leverage to be able to set him up in a trap, but   
he was so small and so fast, it was worse than fighting Master Yoda!    
Not to mention, for such a small man, he was incredibly strong as her   
one attempt to lock blades nearly resulted in her decapitation by her   
own blade.  
  
Happosai smiled.  "Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Jedi?"  His sinister   
words and twisted expression were in accentuation to his force thrown   
bombs that kept the Jedi hopping, and completely on the defensive.    
Not to mention the blast fragments added more tears to her clothing,   
and more scratches to her body.  
  
"No, just a bit surprised.  I'd have figured anyone as old as you   
couldn't rise to the occasion." Eilsa bit back, hoping to throw him   
off balance as she leapt over, and whirled though more fragments.  She   
needed a distraction badly.  
  
Happosai smirked. "Not bad, not bad.  Time to show you how I can   
really rise to the occasion."  With that, he took a step back, and   
several dozen trees of ancient oak came out of the ground and then   
aimed themselves at the Jedi.  She was nearly shaken off her feet by   
the earth's response to the trees being torn from the ground, and   
Nodoka had fallen because of it.  
  
She eeped, and force leapt out of the way, as the trees came in, two   
of them shattering on her ship's hull, one being driven into the ship;   
and the rest went beyond the ship.  Her landing was shaky and she   
wondered just how in the name of the Force he did that.  She risked a   
glance at Genma, and saw him looking more and more drained, along with   
Soun, who had come with them.  Both men had painful expressions, and   
looked like they wanted to scream, but couldn't.  She felt the earth   
shake as the trees landed, rearranging the landscape behind her,   
flattening a small hut.  
  
Eilsa stared, realizing what he was doing.  "COLOGNE!" She shouted as   
she sent a tree back at Happosai, who nimbly leapt over it, landing in   
the position he was in before.  She watched as the tree that she threw   
embedded itself into the ground, causing a second shiver to run though   
the earth.  She had to keep him distracted till Cologne could attack   
and hopefully defeat him.  
  
Before Happosai could do anything else, a shout of "JOUTEN MOUI   
BAKFUU" rang out, as a pure sphere of power slammed into him from his   
flank, followed up by several dozen small spatulas and two girls   
charging in, with blunt instruments ready to maul.  He stood up,   
shaking off the blast, and met the young ladies' charge with his   
lightsaber ready.  
  
Happosai flipped away from spatulas, and sheared though Shampoo's   
bonbori, landing on Shampoo's rear leg, breaking the bone there,   
causing her to bite a scream off.  The whimper brought a gleeful grin   
to the man's face.  Leaping up again, while dodging Akane's mallet,   
which shook the earth as much as it would have shook the Sith.  As   
Akane attempted to bring it back up for a smash, he force pushed her   
into the ship's hull, knocking her out.  Cologne stood by, panting,   
building up energy for a second try.  
  
"So, going to interfere, Cologne.  Thought you knew better.  Shame.    
Could have been fun."  With that, Happosai shot out a second sheet of   
lighting, causing Cologne to drop to her knees, while she refused to   
give him the satisfaction of screaming.  A slight expression of   
displeasure was seen on his face, and he sent more lighting onto the   
elder.  Caught up in this, he nearly failed to dodge the giant spatula  
that nearly took his head off, but did leave a long cut along his  
back.  Ukyo spun away, dodging her way out of his immediate range, as 
her slice caused him to drop his lightsaber.  He smiled evilly at the 
look   
of fear on Ukyo's face.  
  
Happosai leapt away, panting.  In a reddish storm around him, energy   
streamed from Genma and Soun straight into him, healing the wounds of   
battle the ladies had inflicted on him.  Eilsa watched horrified as   
Genma simply... shriveled up, becoming one with the force, and Soun   
joined him shortly.  Before she could formulate a response, a shout   
interrupted her thoughts.  "SHI SHI HOKUDAN!"  Ryouga had snuck up   
onto a flanking position and used his most powerful move, and she  
didn't like the feel of depression and fear in it. Happosai was blown  
into her ship's hull by the green blast, and slid off the hull,  
leaving a dent.  Before he could reclaim his lightsaber, or even set  
up a new defense he was quickly pounced on by a young man dressed in a  
hakama.    
   
"STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE!"  Accompanying those words, was a blur of   
strikes from the wooden blade in the hands of the young man who   
finally found his calling as a Samurai.  
  
Eilsa watched as several of the high speed strikes struck, rattling   
the Sith lord, but before she could rush to the side of the brave man,   
Happosai's lightsaber flew to his hand and reignited.  Happosai spun   
up, landing behind the swordsman and he struck, separating Kuno's   
waist lengthwise and he twisted and knocked the two halves of the body   
apart.   
  
A horrified shout of "BROTHER!" rang out, followed by repeated whip   
strikes, which were all destroyed by the flashing lightsaber, and   
Eilsa had leapt forward to take advantage of the distraction, but   
wasn't fast enough to keep the young girl from screaming as a tree  
branch impaled her, but she watched amazed, as the leotard clad girl 
kept struggling to reach her enemy.  
  
Chains whipped in, and before Happosai could react, several spikes   
linked to chains penetrated his body and pinned him to the hull of the   
ship, with a sword following the chains, narrowly dodged as the old   
man pulled away from the spikes, leaving a blood trail on the hull.   
Happosai's response was a sheet of lighting on the young man holding   
the chains that caused the younger warrior to arch and scream before   
he fell, smoking.  Eilsa had gotten close enough to strike and spun  
onto the Sith master, plunging her lightsaber though his heart,  and  
pulled the energy blade up, separating Happosai's head from his body.   
Eilsa stood and deactivated her lightsaber.  
  
Sickened beyond words at the cost of this battle, she went first over   
to Ranma, placing herself in the grip of the force, long enough to   
check on those living.  As she suspected, the Sith had calculated the   
lighting just enough to put Ranma out, not to hurt the child, and with   
Cologne's call, she rushed over to the leotard clad girl.  Scanning   
quickly, and suppressing the gore that rose from the injuries the girl  
had suffered, she nodded. "We need to take this out, then I can  
attempt to heal it."  Cologne nodded.  
  
"Good, she was brave, and proved herself a worth Amazon, she shouldn't   
be allowed to be wasted by this injury, and we have no time to get her   
to a local healer.  She is Kuno Kodachi, from a samurai line.  Proved   
worthy of her ancestors today, she did." Cologne eyed the shell   
shocked survivors', who were dazed at their first taste of real   
battle.  As the two worked to save the girl's life, the others came to  
grips with this bloody day.  
  
Ryouga walked over to Mousse's side and dropped to his knees, while   
the three girls concentrated on helping Cologne and the Jedi save   
Kodachi.  "You did good, today, Mu Tsu" Ryouga whispered in Chinese.    
"I'll make sure your village knows you died worthy of their respect   
today.  He stood up, and walked to Kuno's side, and bowed, while   
clapping his hands three times.  His prayer was unheard of by anyone,   
as Eilsa had dashed into her ship, bringing out a few supplies, and a  
weird looking robot who went to work on the wounded Kodachi.  
  
Elisa let the Force widen her focus; she let the entirety of the   
battlefield absorb numbly into her consciousness.  M-21J carried   
Kodachi back into the ship, where a bacta tank no doubt awaited; she   
would be scarred, but she'd live.  At the edge of her vision, she   
noted Nodoka cradling her child in her arms, and crying in relief at   
Ranma's minor injuries.  A gasp from behind her caught her attention;   
she whirled around to face the source.  Next to Akane's elder sisters   
was a brown haired man, who was just... centered, as she could put it,   
and even at the signs of carnage didn't turn a blink, just went to   
each dead body, confirming the deaths.  The two girls just stared at   
Genma and Soun's lifeless and desiccated bodies.  
  
Eilsa walked over to the two father's bodies, placing a hand on both   
girl's shoulders.  She had heard rumors about such a Force-leeching   
technique used by the Sith, but this was the first time she had seen   
it's horrible effects.  Desiccated husks that could have been dead for   
years curled up on the ground, their fetal position and looks of agony   
were the only testament to what had gone on only minutes before as  
they were used to fuel Happosai's power.  The Jedi sighed as she  
watched Nodoka's fussing over Ranma woke the child, and the young 
martial artist's eyes widened in shock at the battlefield, unable to 
form   
coherent words at the sight of carnage that would not normally be   
expected by anyone.  
  
******  
  
The Jedi walked into the Cat Cafe, looking for someone.  Her eyes   
brightened as she spotted the elder at a table, doing paperwork.  The   
crowds this restaurant normally would have respected the black   
bordered picture, and chose to wait till the mourning for a death was  
over, before resuming a normal routine.   
  
Eilsa didn't like asking the elder for assistance since she was   
handling all the arrangements for the funeral.  As she walked over to   
the table in the corner she pondered her situation.  While her ship   
was damaged, she did have a astromech droid on board, allowing the   
majority of the repairs to go with little hassle.   Most of the   
supplies and parts she needed for repairs she was able to gather, or   
had spares for, however this did not include one critical item,   
without which she'd be unable to return home.  The Jedi assumed a   
relaxed standing position, as she arrived at Cologne's table.  Eilsa   
noted the exhaustion in the elder's slumped shoulders, the only   
outward sign of the costs of the previous day's battle.  She waited   
till the Elder sighed, and interrupted her.  "Elder Cologne? I have a   
request if you don't mind the interruption?"  
  
Cologne eyed the younger woman.  "I am glad for the interruption.    
What can I do for you?"   
  
"I need a certain form of chemical, and was wondering if you had the   
contacts for it."  Eilsa didn't hold out hope, but knew that she   
didn't have the contacts to even begin to hunt down the fuel, or even   
cause it to be made.  
  
Cologne tapped her staff slightly.  "I might, especially if you have   
it's chemical formula, if nothing else, the local school's chemistry   
club should be able to help."   
   
Eilsa nodded, handing over the fuel formula.  "The one I really want,   
the top formula, is called Tibanna, but that's a naturally produced   
chemical, so I doubt Terra has it, I'd take the other two in order of   
preference, one's called Elinian, the other Zorkia, both used to cool   
my ship's hyperdrive and act as propellant for my engines."  
  
Cologne waved her to a seat, and smiled.  "I take it while you have   
their formulas, you don't know how to make it?"  She was rewarded with   
a smile from the Jedi and a nod.  Cologne continued onwards, with a   
topic she preferred more.  "I take it you're taking a break from   
training Ranma?"  The elder inquired as she was pouring a cup of tea   
for the Jedi.  
  
Eilsa shook her head.  "No, I'm letting Ranma enjoy these few days   
with her mother."  
  
Cologne sat back and quirked an eyebrow.  "I do have a question, if   
you don't mind."   
   
Eilsa nodded, and sipped at her tea.  
  
"Why do you think of Ranma as a girl? It's clear the child prefers his   
male form, and that was what he was born as."  Cologne's expression   
was guarded.  
  
"Ranma's force signature as a male is powerful enough to be a Jedi,   
but in female form, blazes with the Force.  I've never seen a Jedi or   
Force sensitive with as deep of a connection as Ranma does when   
female."  Eilsa shrugged slightly, and added. "Plus, water doesn't   
seek her out as much, when not male."  Cologne laughed at that, and   
then spoke.  
  
"Oh, if you try to hide it, hot water will seek Ranma out... unless   
there's a change in the curse... which is possible, I assume.  The   
pools do strange things, and are quite quick to make sure the forms...   
fit the person's needs.  Not wants."   
   
Eilsa nodded in response, and sat back in a relaxed silence with the   
Elder.  
  
Eilsa was the first to break the companionable silence, with a   
question.  "What of the children?"  Her question was vague, but  
Cologne knew the meaning of the question.  
  
"As you know, my great granddaughter's claim is honorably voided, but   
the Cat Cafe is bringing in enough money to be worth continuing, and   
she'll be useful here.  The Tendo sisters?"  Cologne sighed.  "I've   
made arrangements to take care of them, given their current situation.    
Akane will train under me.  Perhaps I can rebuild her family's legacy   
that she is to continue.  I've asked several warriors and a lore   
master friend of mine to come.  She will bring a few of our histories  
and a few of our treasures here, not just for the Tendos, but... "    
Cologne's face hardened, and a steely glint entered her eyes as she   
continued.  "for Kodachi, I have taken her to live here.  Her...   
father has left again.  Her family's wealth is immaterial, to my   
decision.  I think she will be a fine addition to the tribe."  Cologne   
watched as Eilsa shook her head in both disgust and amusement.  "And   
as for Ryouga, he seems to be thinking deeply on many things, and   
hasn't been seen recently.  Now.  What can you truly tell me of   
Ranma's future?"  
  
Eilsa shrugged slightly.  "Besides having to tell a overly traditional   
group that she's my new student.  Eh.  The usual. Learning how to use   
a lightsaber, how to build one.  Use of her force abilities, of   
course.  More important in my eyes, a good basic education, and   
training in the social aspects of life.  Ones sorely neglected."    
Cologne nodded in response, and Eilsa wagged a finger.  "Ethics,  
morals, when to use and when not to use, the Code, the traditions are  
also included, of course.  Even given that Ranma seems to be a  
prodigy, she will have many years learning."  Cologne grinned, as if  
she knew something the Jedi didn't.  Eilsa's eyes narrowed.  "What...  
aren't you telling me."  
  
Cologne just waved off the comment with a series of low chuckles.  
  
"Right." Eilsa's voice was low.  "I assume you will also deal with...   
the problems here the children have?"     
   
Cologne nodded.  "I especially look forward to dealing with Ukyo's   
father, though she needs the least help from me."  Eilsa shuddered   
slightly at the grin on the wizened woman's face.  Cologne nodded   
suddenly and sighed.  "However, these papers will not wait for the two   
of us to finish enjoying each other's company."   
  
"Till anon, then, Elder."  Eilsa rose with these words, bowing in   
respect.  
  
  
******  
  
Ashes. Ashes and smoke.  
  
Some scents lingered in the mind, and could only be for one purpose;   
the smell of burning flesh returning to dust was one of them. Soft   
mantras wound their ways through Elisa's mind, forming the mask that   
made her visage; it was the one comfort from sighs and might-have-  
beens.   
  
In one afternoon, both the impossible and the inevitable had come to   
pass. What could be said; what words could bring understanding to the   
moment? The infamous pervert of Nerima, Happosai, had been destroyed   
- but not before killing both his prized students and two of the   
larger-than-life youths who had called the ward home. What could be   
said of Mu Tsu's death, or Kuno Tatewaki's, other than their heroic   
demise?   
  
Ashes and smoke. What might have been. All that could be said could be   
tasted on the wind, as their bodies smoldered on the pyre.  
  
The affair, to be honest, had been a simple one. Four torches lit from   
a sacred fire, each from the living head of the clan or nearest   
equivalent. Kasumi had lit Soun’s pyre first; the genuine sadness in   
her whispered prayers let Elisa know that this disciple of Sith, at   
least, had some good in him. Nodoka’s prayers, by comparison, were a   
touch more flippant; Elisa couldn’t make out all of it, but Nodoka   
apparently suspected her husband was not going to find the afterlife   
pleasant. Kodachi had said nothing while setting her brother’s torch   
ablaze, and Cologne had kept her whispered prayers beyond the ears of   
anyone mortal.  
  
From there, the congregation began to move forward. The community was   
as varied as would be expected, and had more than its share of color.   
Teenaged girls enamored of the “cute” waiter at the Nekohanten came   
to urge his soul onward; practitioners of the local school of   
swordsmanship offered wooden swords and their elegies to their fallen   
comrade. Some had come if for no other reason than politeness and   
curiosity; a hero’s death was no surprise for any of these souls, but   
so soon in life was. One by one, they paid their respects,   
occasionally stopping by the families of the slain to offer their   
condolences before leaving.   
  
In the end... ashes and smoke were all that remained. After the stream   
of casual mourners, the only people left were those that mattered - a   
family that should not be, but were. Kasumi held her younger sisters   
as they sobbed uncontrollably; the hand on her shoulder from the young   
doctor was probably the one thing giving her the strength to go on.   
Shampoo visibly shook, as though willing herself not to break down;   
despite this, tears flowed freely down her face. Kodachi and Cologne,   
ironically, had the same look - a thousand-year stare that offered   
their willingness to tears, had they any left to give. Others, such as   
Ryouga and Ukyou, held the general sadness that comes with a friend   
and comrade-in-arms leaving and acted accordingly, a quiet stoicism   
mixed with tears.  
  
Only two reactions left her puzzled. Both were sad, true... but the   
mother held some relief, and the child fear. She would need to talk   
with both of them in the next couple of days; she had her suspicions   
as to why, but fear from a Padawan generally wasn’t a good thing.   
However, that would come in time.  
  
Whatever this family had been before the storm, they would be   
something very different afterwards. Already, she could sense the   
petty disagreements from earlier discussions fading, as they   
understood just how important to each other they were. Death was   
solidifying them, making them one - making them stronger through fire.   
Much would need to be worked out... but they would stay together.  
  
Sensing where her place needed to be, she walked to Cologne’s side.   
The Elder was tired, far more tired than she let on, and this loss was   
not without its toll.   
  
Cologne let out a long sigh. "It's never easy, even as old as I am.   
Especially when at least two of them had so much ahead of them... I   
can comfort myself with the thought they at least died as they would  
wish. Proving themselves as what they believed they were." Cologne  
received a nod from the younger woman, as both watched Ranma and  
Nodoka together.  
  
"I take it that none of the children had seen death before?" Eilsa was   
rewarded by a nod.   
  
"Not like that, not in battle. Shan Pu's mother died, but she was   
young and didn't really know her mother. The Tendo sisters lost their   
mother, as well, and the two oldest remember that clearly. I've taken   
some steps with the help of a friend to assure their survival and that   
they keep their house, which their mother did make sure would stay in   
their family." Cologne sighed. "I do wonder if this will shake their   
personalities any."  
  
"Scattering the ashes of the past is never pleasant." Eilsa sighed.   
"Realizing that the dreams of the future are with them, is even less   
of a pleasant thought. People change when their world burns." Eilsa   
was rewarded with a nod from Cologne.   
  
"I have seen it before, and before I join the ancestors, I'll see it   
again. It is never good to collect the ashes of your loved ones,   
Jedi." Cologne's eyes are far away.  
  
Eilsa nods, accepting the need for quiet while both remembered their   
own ashes.  
  
  
******  
Nodoka finished sorting though the papers she had to deal with in the   
aftermath of her husband's death.  Luckily, there was little trouble   
as all the assets were in her name, and she was able to shuffle all   
the debts onto Genma's name personally, not the family.  Perhaps some   
fiancees still lurked, but that would be the only remainder of Genma's   
legacy of greed.  She stopped and looked at a box she had uncovered   
and nodded.  
  
Ranma watched as his mother fussed with a box.  "What'cha doing, Mom?"  
  
Nodoka sighed.  "What are you, Ranma-chan. Not What'cha."  She was   
rewarded by a soft mumble from Ranma, and she hid her smile.  It was   
nice to have her child back, even though he would be gone shortly.    
"I'm finding a family heirloom of our line.  You do know Genma married   
into our family, no?"    
  
Ranma blinked. "Really?"  
  
Nodoka kept the snarl from her voice or face, as she got more proof of   
Genma's willful neglect of Ranma's education.  If it wasn't for her   
needing a husband, when her father had died, she wouldn't have latched   
onto the first man able to meet her requirements. "Yes.  At any rate,   
one of the family heirlooms is a tube, belonging to our ancestor.  It   
looks like the weapon your new teacher carries, though we've never   
been able to use it."  
  
Ranma just stared at his mother.  "We have a lightsaber?"  
  
Nodoka nodded. "If that's what it's called, yes.  Until now, we   
thought it was just a heirloom, and didn't understand what it was   
for." Nodoka finally unlocked the box and removed one tube and several   
small pouches with it, not opening the second layer of the box.  
  
"This is your ancestor's last gift to his heirs.  I feel that it's   
been waiting for this moment."  Nodoka had a soft smile.  "Somehow, I   
knew you would receive these to be used, not just to keep in trust."  
  
Ranma accepted both, slightly bewildered.  "Um..."  
  
Nodoka laughed slightly at the puzzled look on her son's face.  "Don't   
worry, I'm sure it was just a mother's hope.  Come."  She rose,   
collecting her child. "I'm sure there's a meal around here somewhere   
for growing children!"  
  
Ranma grinned. "Great!"  He hurried down the stairs.  
  
Nodoka sighed, and was happy, at least for now.  
  
******  
  
Ranma looked up at the stars that were his friends for so long.  This   
would be his last night with his stars.  What would the stars on   
Coruscant be?  What would it be like to travel between those stars?  
  
Ranma shook his head as he heard a soft thump next to him.    
  
"Enjoying your last night here, Ranma?" the aged voice of Cologne   
washed over the child.  "Ice cream, cake, tearful goodbyes because the   
others all have things to do tomorrow, just by coincidence, I'm sure."   
  
Ranma snorted in reply to Cologne's gentle snort.  Long goodbyes   
didn't suit him.  "Wondering if I made the right call, Cologne."    
Cologne blinked at the respectful tone her name was said in.  
  
"It is good that you are learning the way of our people's ability,   
Ranma."  
  
Ranma snorted.  "All it brought Pops and Soun was death, Elder."    
Ranma blinked away the grief at the thought of his father.  
  
"Indeed, and others." Cologne sighed.  "We lost much over the years,   
Ranma.  It's only right that you, in their memory learn the right way,   
and bring it to us.  That is what a true master does."  Cologne   
grinned, unseen.  
  
"What did Kodachi and Shan Pu give me, Cologne, you were smiling at   
both of them."  Cologne snickered slightly, but couldn't answer quick   
enough to forestall Ranma's next comment.  "Not to mention Nabiki   
giving me some small gems.  Said they'd be useful for money.  Master   
Eilsa agreed, you noted."   
  
Cologne nodded. "While I suspect Kodachi's gift is more of the same,   
Shan Pu gave you a treasure.  Use it well, Ranma.  It's not the only   
one the tribe possesses, but it is a useful and vital treasure for   
you."  
  
Ranma blinked. "Generous of you."  His tone left many things unsaid.  
  
Cologne quickly disabused him of those notions. "Freely given, with no   
strings attached, Ranma.  I KNOW you will return.  And when you do, we   
will be here.  Not to force you into a choice.  Not this time.  You're   
too young for Shan Pu anyways!" She laughed, and was joined by Ranma   
who stopped after a while.  
  
Ranma shook his head. "Don't feel right to be leaving Momma for such a   
long time, old ghoul.  She just lost Pops, and well..."  Ranma trailed   
off, as Cologne's staff lightly tapped his head.  
  
"You accepted the offer of training, with trickery, yes, and your   
mother sees it as a good thing.  You'd be returning your ancestor's   
legacy to us.  This is a good thing."  Cologne sighed. "It's late, and   
you still have packing to do tomorrow before you leave.  Sleep,   
Ranma."  
  
Ranma nodded... and stopped before leaping off.  "I'll miss you, old   
ghoul.  If anyone taught me anything while I was here, it was you,   
y'know."  Cologne's answering smile gleamed in the night.  
  
  
******  
  
Kasumi knelt in front of Ranma.  "Learn well, Ranma-kun, and bring   
honor to us all.  You have our hopes and prayers."  With a hug, and a   
nod from the child, Kasumi stood up, wiping at her eyes.  
  
Ranma eyed all the people here to see her go.  What was noted was the   
absence of the fiancees, which she was both grateful and upset over.    
Cologne noted the young redhead's look, and smiled.  "This is not   
goodbye, Ranma. This is till we see you again, which will be soon, if   
I don't miss my mark."  Ranma nodded, before he was engulfed in a  
fierce   
hug from his mother.  
  
"Be happy, and forget all the pain Genma did.  Remember the good he   
had." Nodoka's whisper in her ears surprised Ranma.  At the funeral,   
Nodoka had not shown any grief for her dead husband.  
  
"I will, Momma..."  Ranma whispered back.  "And I promise to call   
often."  
  
Eilsa sighed.  "It's time."  Nodoka separated from her child and   
pushed gently in the direction of the ramp, and stepped back to where   
Cologne and Kasumi were waiting.  
  
All three ladies kept a eye on the child as she turned and looked back   
and waved.  They returned the gesture, and watched as the ramp closed.  
  
The liftoff did not come with the explosion of power expected of   
rocket, but a soothing breeze, and as Nodoka watched with the others   
from a safe distance, a warm, comforting gust of air washed over the   
group as the ship raced into the setting sun, in preparation for its   
run to the stars.  
  
Nodoka shielded her eyes as she tracked the starship into the sunset.    
She remained there until not even a speck of the ship's drive could be   
seen.   As the glow from the engines faded from sight a soft thump   
approached from behind her.  "Come, daughter.  There is much to do   
before the child returns.  It is time to get to work."  
  
"Indeed, Elder."  Kasumi's eyes were focused on the point where the   
engines were last seen.  "Ranma won't return in peace."