                                Dragon Child

Ranma Saotome and the gang belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I just write this for
fun

[" "]: Telepathic communication

< >: Thoughts

                                  Chapter 1

                                 Blood Bond

["No! I cannot stand it any more!"]

["You know the rules Sojan! We cannot interfere with human affairs!"]

["He will perish if he's thrown into that pit!"]

["That is not our concern! Besides, even if you do save him, the council
would not like it. And there's no way you could bring him here anyway."]

["There is one way."]

["You're not serious!"]

["Watch me!"]

["The council isn't going to like this."]

["Let me worry about them."]

Genma Saotome was an idiot. (No surprise there). Although he was considered
a good martial artist, his idea to train his six-year old son in the Cat
Fist left much to be desired. As he wrapped his son up in fish sausage, he
suddenly got an idea, (by no means a good one). He figured that if he used
twice as many cats and half the amount of fish sausage, he could get the boy
to learn even faster than what was said in the training manual. The manual
said that the trainee must be savaged by the cats in order for him to gain
the power of the Cat Fist. This proved to be a grave miscalculation.

With twice as many of the hungry felines and so little food to go around,
Ranma was savaged beyond human endurance. The hunger-maddened cats slashed
his body to ribbons, trying to get at what little food was available. The
young boy's screams quickly died down to barely a whisper as he lay on the
floor of the pit, his life's blood pooling around him.

Ranma knew he was dying. He could feel his body beginning to feel cold and
numb. His head began to feel dizzy from the massive loss of blood. Many of
the cats had bit him with rabid intensity, while trying to get at the
sausage. They had taken large chunks of his flesh and had reduced him to a
quivering, bloody mass. As he waited for the end, he heard a slight sound in
the darkness. It sounded like the flapping of leathery wings.

["Ranma Saotome."]

"W-who's there?"

["I am... Sojan. I can feel your pain and I cannot stand to see one so young
and innocent in such a state. I can also sense that... you are dying."]

"I... know."

["I can save you! I can make you well! However, there is a price!"]

"I don't have any money..."

["No Ranma. It is not you who must pay the price. I must be the one to pay
it. I am willing to do this, but I need your permission to do so. Will you
accept my offer of a... Blood Bond?"]

"Blood Bond?"

["Yes. We very little time and your life force grows weak. If you accept my
offer, I will give you some of my power. It will make you better! But...
with this pledge, I must take you from this place and away from your
father!"]

This caused the young boy to hesitate. His father had been a hard
taskmaster, but it was the only life that he knew of. "Will I ever see him
again?"

The one called Sojan became concerned. Things were going to be difficult if
the boy was going to remain loyal to his father. However, time was running
out. The child would soon be beyond even his help if he did not act now.
["In time... perhaps. However, I would prefer that you never ever see him
again. He is the worst excuse for a father I have ever seen. I will take
over in raising you. You have great potential and I will not see it wasted
by Genma's idiocy! I shall teach you many things and care for you as if you
were my own hatchling! This will be my gift to you."]

Ranma was a bit confused by the term hatchling, but now was not the time. He
was fading fast. "So... if I say yes, then I'll be all better?"

["That is correct."]

Ranma thought about his life with his father for the past year. It had been
hard and extremely difficult. Not at all like it was back home with his
mother. Genma had kept him isolated from others. They never stayed in one
place for very long. His father had made him do things that seemed wrong. He
had made him take things from other people, saying that it was all a game.
He had made him lie to others and fed him nothing but rice. Just as he
thought he was about to gain a friend in that boy who could make
okonomiyaki, his father had once again made him leave everything. Now, he
had done this to him. Ranma's body was about to become a corpse, and here
this stranger was offering a chance for him to be free of Genma's influence.

In almost the barest of whispers, Ranma said, "Yes."

In an instant, he felt a sharp pain in his right arm as if something was
biting him. At first, he thought it was another of the cats, but he then
felt a blessed peace overwhelm him. He closed his eyes and waited.

Standing near the edge of the pit, Genma was wondering what was going on.
The cats had stopped yowling and there had been no sounds of any kind for
more than ten minutes. He decided to see what was going on and lifted the
lid to the pit. Cautiously leaning forward, he peered into the darkness.
Ranma was gone! There was nothing left of the boy except for a small pool of
blood on the floor of the pit. Some of the hungry cats were lapping up the
crimson liquid as the last of the fish sausage was devoured.

The fat martial artist turned white as he began rubbing his neck nervously.
How was he going to explain to Nodoka that he had lost their only child to a
pit of starving cats?

----------

Ranma Saotome awoke in what appeared to be a small cave. As he sat up on the
floor of the cave, he looked down at himself and noticed that his body was
totally healed. All the terrible cuts and gashes were totally healed without
a trace of scars. His gi was still shredded but they did not have the
horrible bloodstains. He noted that on his right forearm was a small mark, a
tattoo. It depicted a small red dragon with wings.

It was then that he heard the flapping of leathery wings. Looking above him,
he saw a red blur dart overhead. It then made a beeline towards where he was
sitting and landed in front of him. Ranma's eyes widened as he took a long
look at it.

The creature was roughly the size of a small house cat and its body was
similar to a quadrapedal dinosaur, but it had brightly colored, red scales.
On its shoulders were batlike wings that were currently folded down its
back. Its head was wedge-shaped and sported two curled horns mounted behind
its head. As Ranma stared at it, he noted that its mouth had two sharp and
pointed canines protruding upward from its lower jaw. What fascinated the boy
most was how those brilliant amber eyes stared at him as it sat on its
haunches. Then amazingly, he heard a voice coming from it.

["Hello Ranma! Welcome to the Dragon Realm!"]

Ranma could swear that the dragon's mouth did not move, but he heard the
voice all the same. He scrambled backward as he continued to stare at the
little creature.

The little dragon smiled and said, ["I understand that you're a little
scared and I didn't mean to frighten you! Oh where are my manners? I'm
Sojan."] He made a slight bow with his head at the child.

Ranma stopped moving backward as he heard that name. "S-Sojan? Y-you were
the one who saved me?"

["That's right, Ranma. And if you're wondering how we are communicating, I'm
simply projecting my thoughts by using telepathy. Dragon vocal cords were
never meant for human speech."]

"T-Telapa... what?"

["Oh I'm sorry. I keep forgetting. You're only six. You do don't know stuff
like that. Here."]

Sojan lifted a paw and made a simple waving gesture. Bright sparkles of
light appeared, then the boy glowed slightly with a white aura. As soon as
the light faded, Ranma brightened.

["Wow! That was neat!"] Ranma thought, then became surprised. ["Hey! How did
I do that? What was that thing you did?"]

Sojan nodded. ["Oh, it was just simply a spell of comprehension. Since you
already have a portion of my power within you, due to the Blood Bond, you
are able to speak with just your mind. My spell simply explained how to use
telepathy and you are now able to accomplish this."]

["Blood Bond?"] Ranma looked down at the tattoo on his arm and raised it for
Sojan to see. ["You mean this thing?"]

Sojan nodded. ["Yes Ranma. That is the Dragon's Mark. You are now connected
to my own life force, which has strengthened yours. As a result, you have
become part-dragon."]

The boy became very confused at this statement. ["Y-You mean..."]

Sojan shook his head. ["Don't worry Ranma. You're still human... more or
less."] <Actually a little less, considering... but you will find that out
later. > ["But you will discover a few changes. In any case, I need you to
follow me."]

"Why?"]

["I'm afraid that I had made a breach of conduct by bonding with you and
bringing you here to the Dragon Realm. The Council is sort of... well,
irritated at the moment."] Sojan took on a sheepish look.

Before Ranma could respond, the two of them were enveloped in a bright flash
of light and vanished from the cavern.

The two of them reappeared on a plateau near the rim of a large and quite
active volcano. In less than an instant, they had been transported to a
place deep within Fire Tongue Valley, the hottest area of the Inferno
Plains. Ranma could feel the intense heat being emitted from the lava. Large
clouds of smoke and the smell of sulfur and charcoal permeated the air.
Gouts of flames periodically shot out from geysers. It was like being within
Purgatory, yet something about the place assured the young boy that he was
not dead. He was so awestruck at the sights, he didn't notice that his body
was not showing slightest bit of discomfort from the intense temperatures of
the place. His nose did wrinkle a bit at the smell of brimstone though.

Sojan noted Ranma's indifference to the searing heat. <Hmm... it looks like
the Blood Bond has started to take effect. His skin has become as tough as a
young dragon's hide and his body is compensating for the heat.>

Ranma turned and said to Sojan. "Where are we Sojan? Why are we here?"

The little red dragon looked up to his charge and replied. ["We are in a
place called Fire Tongue Valley, which is part of the Southern Kingdom of
Fire. Look below."]

Ranma did so and peered over the edge of the plateau. He saw a line of
reddish-yellow in a deep ravine some several hundred feet below.

"Is that... a river?"

["Yes. Below us is the River of Gold. That's pure, molten gold. The heat
down there is so intense that the gold will never harden, so it flows as
easily as water. However, to dragons, the monetary value of gold is
meaningless. The river IS steeped in magic though, collected over the
millennia."]

"Wow!"

"I shall show you many of the wondrous sights of the Dragon Realm, but right
now we have more important business to attend to. We are here because the
Dragon Kings wish to speak with us."]

"Dragon Kings?"

["That's right, Ranma. There are four major rulers of the Dragon World, who
are also members of the great Dragon Council."] He then looked up and said,
["And here they come now."]

Ranma looked up and was in awe at what was flying toward them.

In the sky above the two was a flight of dragons. At the front of the
formation were four that looked like Sojan but were far larger. Each one of
them was about the size of a Boeing 747 and was colored differently. Behind
the leaders were smaller dragons of various shapes, sizes and types. Ranma
recognized the forms of a few that resembled those of Chinese and Japanese
legend.

Ranma was so entranced by the sight of them all that he made absolutely no
move as the gigantic beasts came down for a landing on the plateau. The
ground trembled and large gusts of wind were created as they touched down.
The sudden updrafts threw Ranma off his feet. The boy landed on his rear,
but quickly got to his feet and took a fighting stance.

["Ranma. I would suggest that you relax. I severely doubt that your martial
arts skills would be of any use against one of the lesser members of the
Council, much less against a Dragon King."]

The little child looked up and saw that the dragons all had their
eyes focused on him. Many of them were wearing amused looks as
they assessed the boy. Seeing that he was about as much as a threat
to them as a flea is to a leviathan, Ranma decided to follow Sojan's
advice. He took a non-threatening stance and waited as the little
dragon moved forward and spoke in a clear and steady voice.

["Hail to thee, Dragon Kings and esteemed members of the Dragon Council."]

The four Dragon Kings stepped forward a bit. The first of them, a dragon
that was as black as night, spoke in a deep rumbling tone that reminded
Ranma of a small earth tremor. ["Skip the pleasantries Sojan. You know why
you and this... child have been summoned."]

As he spoke, Ranma gazed upon the ruler of the Northern Kingdom. He looked
like the pictures of the Western-Style Dragons that the boy had seen in
books, but his wings resembled more like the fins of a fish. He was very
streamlined and appeared as a cross between a sea-dragon and the Loch Ness
Monster. He had several long spikes protruding from the tip of his tail.

Sojan paused for a moment before addressing his superior. ["Radarne, Dragon
King of the North. I am... aware of the reason why we are here."]His voice
had taken on a more humbled tone.

The dragon beside Radarne, a blue-colored one, spoke out in a slightly
higher pitch. ["Sojan... you have made a Blood Bond with this human, a
ritual that has not been practiced for over three thousand years. You had
acted without the approval of the Council and brought this boy to our world.
Have you forgotten about the consequences of such an act? It is our laws
that we no longer directly interfere with human affairs!"]

Ranma's attention turned his attention to the blue dragon. The Dragon King
of the East had scales that shone like brilliant sapphires, and he was
bulkier than his black counterpart. He resembled a dragon of King
Arthur's time, with large, bat-like wings, square head and so on, but he had
brilliant amber eyes that set off a stark contrast to the rest of him.

["Please Socran! Great Dragon King of the East! This boy would have perished
if I had not brought him here! He was about to die after his foolish father
had tried to teach him the Neko Ken!"]

This new bit of information caught the attention of some of the Council
Members. Many of them nodded slightly as they all knew of the dreaded Cat
Fist.

A white dragon that was on the other side of Radarne remarked, ["Well, Sojan
does have a point. I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to try that
technique. Even though the manual states clearly that all users of the Neko
Ken would go insane, should they even survive the training at all."] The
Dragon King named Surek was the slimmest of the four, with a body that was
build primarily for speed, especially in the air. His wings had scaled
surfaces that resembled the feathers of a bird. His head was wedge-shaped
and his body was coated in a special resin to reduce air friction. His
internal systems were adapted to withstand high altitudes and the thinning
air. He was among the fastest of all dragons and was well-suited for life in
the Cloud Mountains.

Radarne snorted as he remained unconvinced. ["Be that it may, it was still a
human affair and Sojan had no just cause to get involved! You are forgetting
yourself, oh mighty Dragon King of the West."] Radarne's voice dripped with
sarcasm at his fellow's title. ["The fact that this boy's father attempted
to teach his son in that worthless technique is proof enough that humans are
nothing more than foolish creatures that are not worth the effort of
helping. They are greedy, crude and have absolutely no value at all!"]

["I beg to differ."] Remarked a red-colored dragon. ["There have been some
instances in which humankind has shown potential that is worthy of our
attention."]

["Oh don't tell me that you approve of Sojan's actions, Karrida!"]

["Well, you tell me. I mean, you've known Sojan longer than any of us, and
so far he's never made a mistake in judgment before. I would think that he
wouldn't form something as important as a Blood Bond with a human unless he
feels that the boy has the potential."]

Karrida was at home in the Inferno Plains, as it was part of the Southern
Kingdom. He was longer than most and resembled the Chinese Dragons of legend
with his elongated body. However, he did have a pair of wings located behind
the shoulders of his front legs. Though he looked like an oversized gecko
with wings, he still commanded great respect among his subjects and the
members of the Dragon Council. He was the absolute master of fire, and
getting on HIS bad side was something to be avoided. Normally, he was
mild-tempered and even whimsical at times, but get him angry and he'd reduce
the offender to a cinder in a heartbeat.

["Bah! This mere human isn't worth even a glance."] Radarne commented as he
looked over to where Ranma was standing. It was then that his eyes widened a
bit as he stared at the boy.

Ranma was sacred stiff as the huge beast leaned forward and took a closer
gander at him. His heart was going at two hundred beats per minute as the
head of Radarne came closer. He could feel the hot breath of the Dragon King
wafting over him. For a moment, it looked as if he would snap up the boy and
devour him.

Radarne gazed closely at the boy and wondered. The little human was so
paralyzed with fear that he was like a statue. It would be such a simple
matter to destroy him and be done with it, but something kept him from
opening his jaws and crushing him between his huge teeth. It was the boy's
aura. Only in a few cases had a human ever possessed such potential. The
power that was slumbering within this child was more than impressive. It was
at that time that he noticed a few other things as well.

Radarne's vision was among the keenest in the Dragon Realm, as they were
adapted to penetrate the dark depths of the Ocean of Eternity and the Great
Abyss, where his den was located. He looked over the boy and saw the changes
that his body had undergone after receiving the Dragon's Mark. Though his
skin

looked relatively normal, Radarne could see the microscopic alterations of
the skin cells as they were arranged in a pattern that resembled... scales?
He then looked the boy's hair. Glancing back over his shoulder, the Black
Dragon King of the North compared Ranma's hair to the whiskers of one of the
Chinese-type dragons, that were present. Finally, the most telltale sign
that he saw in Genma's son was his eyes. The pupils... were slitted.

<Impossible! A Blood Bond cannot cause such traits in a mere human! Added
strength, speeds, durability and extended life span perhaps, but not much
else. To cause such a physical change would mean...>

The black dragon looked back at Sojan who was grinning at him.

["You knew, DIDN'T you?"] Radarne said with an accusing tone. ["You knew
what this boy is! There can be no other explanation for the Blood Bond to be
affecting him like this!"]

Sojan's grin became even more pronounced. ["Is Ranma now worthy of our
attention?"] He asked innocently.

The rest of the dragons were more than shocked to hear of this and the three
other Dragon Kings looked at each other. They focused their gaze on to Ranma
and after a few moments they had come to the same discovery. Giving the
others a silent nod, Socran addressed Radarne and Sojan.

["Well, it seems that we have no choice."] The blue dragon rose up to his
full height and said. ["Radarne, in order for this boy to be accepted as
Sojan's charge, we must all be in favor of it. I, Socran, Dragon King of the
East do hereby approve of the Blood Bond between Sojan and Ranma."]

The white dragon also nodded as he said, ["I, Surek, Dragon King of the West
also approve of the Blood Bond."]

Karrida nodded. ["The Dragon King of the South also approves of Sojan's
merger."]

Radarne gave Ranma a final glance and then gave Sojan an annoyed look. With
a sigh he replied, ["The Dragon King of the North gives his... blessings."]

----------

Some time later, back in the cavern...

"What was that all about?"

Sojan replied with a bit of hesitation in his voice. ["Well, due to
certain... circumstances, they had reconsidered and approved of our Blood
Bond. They have seen the potential within you as I have and believe that it
is possible that you can realize that potential."]

"What do you mean? Who were those big dragons?"

["You WILL address them with the utmost respect, Ranma. They are the four
rulers of this realm, the Dragon Kings."]

"Dragon Kings?"

["Yes. You see, the Dragon Realm is divided into four kingdoms; East, South,
West and North. The blue dragon is the eldest of the Dragon Kings. He is
Socran. He is an elemental dragon of rock and he rules the Eastern Quadrant,
which includes the Iron Wood Forests and Crystal Caverns, where his den
lies."

"He's a... rock dragon?"

["Well, his main element of control is the ground and all that is connected
with it. Things such as gravity, magnetic waves, plants, rock, ores,
crystals and so on. He is quite powerful and he is often the one to make the
final decision in the Dragon Council."]

"And the red dragon?" Ranma asked.

["That was Karrida, the Fire Dragon King of the South. That place that we
were in was part of his kingdom. Naturally, he is the Master of Flame. He
knows just about all there is to know about manipulating fire. His den is
located at the end of the River of Gold."

"What about the white one?"

["Surek, White Dragon King of the West. His kingdom lies in the Cloud
Mountains. He makes his home atop Mount Dragon Wind, the highest point in
the land. Of all the Dragon Kings, he'd probably be the easiest to make
friends with."]

"Huh?"

["Trust me."]

"Okay.... and that black one?"

Sojan nodded. ["He's a close friend of mine. Radarne, the Water Dragon King
of the North. He rules the Ocean of Eternity he lives deep within the Great
Abyss. He may seem a bit abrasive, but he is only thinking of the welfare of
his fellow dragons. He will be the hardest to win over. It took me three
hundred years to gain his trust, but I think that you will be able to do so
in less time."]

"But..."

["Do not worry, Ranma. The Four Dragon Kings have given us their blessing
and I am confident that you will live up to their expectations. You see,
there are some dragons that think that humans do have the potential to
achieve great things, and there had been a growing sympathy between our two
worlds. It was their hope that such individuals would be able to bridge the
gap between humans and dragons."]

Ranma was a bit confused by all this but nodded for Sojan to continue.

["Unfortunately, many humans had feared us and coveted our power. Over the
countless ages, we had been hunted down and killed by humans for magic
talismans and such and we became very distrustful of them. About three
millennia ago, the remaining dragons had left the Earth realm and had been
residing in this dimension ever since. There are still a few dragons on your
world, but for the most part, we don't exist on Earth anymore. We still kept
tabs on mankind as it progressed, but so far it hasn't gotten much better."]

"So what does this all have to do with me?"

["The Blood Bond is one of our most sacred rituals. When a
dragon comes across an individual with whom he has deemed as worthy, he has
the option of taking that person under his wing and teach him the ways of
dragons. The Blood Bond imparts a portion of the dragon's power into that
person, as I had done with you. The ritual was created long ago, when we
used it in our attempts to aid mankind. Unfortunately, man's greed and
violent ways made us abandon the bonding process as many humans abused the
gift that we had bestowed upon them. Many wars were started as a result of
misusing the Blood Bond."] Sojan looked serious as he gazed at Ranma.
["Ranma, our bond has been the first in well over three thousand years. I
gave you those powers for a reason. It is my wish that you will be able to
prove yourself worthy of the dragon's blood that now courses through your
veins. I have high hopes that you will be able to prove that mankind is
indeed worthy. The four Dragon Kings have given you a chance due to your...
special traits."]

"My... traits?"

["Yes Ranma. You had certain traits within you that were activated when I
gave you the Dragon's Mark. If I had not gotten you away from that father of
yours, then you would have perished, never knowing about your untapped
potential. The others are allowing me to raise and teach you for they too
believe that you can achieve that potential. Do you understand?"]

"I... think so."

["Excellent! Now, it is time for you to get settled in. Tomorrow, we
shall begin. Rest assured, I shall teach you many things and show you the
many wonders of our realm. You have so much potential, and I'm glad that I
was able to save you. To think that idiot father of yours was putting you
through that horrible Cat-Fist training."]

Ranma winced at the memory. "Well, Pop said that is was important for me to
learn it, if I wanted to be the best martial artist in the world."

["Hmpf! That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of!"] Sojan let off a
sigh, which caused small wisps of gray smoke to be released from his mouth.
["I have lived for more than 5,000 years and let me tell you, the Cat-Fist
is a joke! I had seen it being it created as a way to torture mankind. Trust
me. You're better off without it! Even if you had survived the training, it
would have left you with an irrational fear of cats. I'll admit, you would
gain some power, but overall, the technique is more trouble than its
worth."]

["Then how am I going to learn the martial arts?"]

["Is that all you want to know?"]

["Well, that's why I was on that training trip with Pop!"]

The dragon smiled a bit as he said, ["Well, I must admit. Much of your
potential does fall within the fighting arts. If you want to learn how to
fight, then I can teach you."]

["Really?"] Ranma asked.

["Yes! I have seen every martial art and fighting skill ever developed on
Earth! I know every trick and special technique, both in armed and unarmed
combat, including the style your father uses."]

"The Anything Goes?"

["Yes! I can teach it all to you in far less time than that dope Genma
could ever hope to accomplish."]

"Wow!"

["However,"] Sojan continued. ["I don't want to limit you to just the fight.
I want to teach you other stuff too. There will be times in which fighting
is not the answer."]

"But what else could I learn besides martial arts?"

["Well, would like to learn magic too?"]

"I can do that?"

["You can! And I want to educate you in how to act toward others. Your
father was far too stupid not to have trained you in anything other than
fighting! He kept you from making any friends and you were always alone,
right?"] Ranma nodded. ["Well, now it's time we start correcting those
deficiencies."]

Ranma at age eight...

"DRAGON FIRE!"

Ranma threw his hands forward and a huge stream of flames shot out and
melted a boulder. Sojan hovered nearby and smiled.

<Excellent! The boy has already mastered the basics of the Anything Goes
fighting style and several others as well! I must say, the way he learns
things is astounding! The dragon power within him is boosting his learning
curve to unbelievable levels! He only has to see a move or technique and
he'd be able to master it within minutes!>

Sojan continued to watch his protg as he went through a series of complex
katas that would have taken an expert martial artist years to perfect.

Ranma at age ten...

["Sojan! I've finished reading that spell book!"]

The tiny dragon nodded as Ranma placed the thick book in front of him. With
a wave of his paw, the book disappeared. ["Now then, show me what you
learned."]

The boy nodded as he began using his ki energy to tap into the magical
fields around him. His aura glowed a bright blue, tinted with white. Then
Ranma began to lift off the ground.

Ranma at age twelve...

["Awww! Do I have to go to school?"]

The dragon gave him a stern look. ["Now Ranma! You know that some day you
must return to your world to live! We haven't been making these short trips
to Earth for fun you know. You have to learn about the Earth and be able to
associate with people. I'm sure you'd like to make some new friends."]

Ranma brightened at the thought. If going to school meant that he'd be able
to meet new people, then it was worth going through boring classes. Not that
the teachers there could teach him anything new. The Dragon Library was more
extensive than any on Earth. Going to school and associating with kids his
own age might be fun though.

A few months later, high above the floating Cloud Mountains...

["Catch me if you can, Ranma!"] Surek teased as he shot across the skies at
better than Mach Two. Far behind him, Ranma was straining his powers to the
limit, but was barely breaking 300 mph.

["No fair!"] Ranma whined.

["Have you forgotten that speed spell that I taught you?"] Surek reminded
telepathically.

The boy swore-snapped his fingers and began invoking the spell to increase
his speed. His body became surrounded by a nimbus of light, which took on an
aerodynamic shape, cutting down on air-resistance. Then in a sudden
explosion of reduced air-pressure, Ranma shot forward like a rocket,
catching up to his instructor... then overshooting him.

Surek hovered in the air as he watched his protg disappear over the
horizon. At the rate he was going, the boy would be over the middle of the
Ocean of Eternity before he slowed down.

<Hmmm, next lesson... how to stop. > Surek thought to himself, as he started
using that same spell to follow Ranma. In less than an instant, the Dragon
King of the West was shooting across the heavens like a comet.

A few months after that...

Ranma was entranced by the beauty of the Crystal Caverns as he followed
Socran down a winding tunnel that led to his den. The surfaces reflected
light like polished gemstones and displayed a rainbow of colors that
sparkled and glistened. Torches and lamps illuminated the caverns as the two
went even deeper into the depths of the Dragon Realm.

As they navigated their way through the maze of passageways, the youngster
began hearing the sounds of pickaxes and shovels. When they came to a
outcropping which over looked a large, open area, Ranma saw dozens of short,
massively built, green-skinned, pointy-eared people milling about, digging
and carting away crystal shards and what appeared to be some dull-colored
metal ores.

"What are they, Socran?"

The Dragon King of the East nodded as he replied. ["They are the Trolls of
the Ikarin tribe. There are several dozen clans of trolls, which inhabit
these caverns. They are my subjects, along with the dwarves, the golems and
the other species of Rock Dragons. In exchange for letting them live here
under my protection, the trolls mine the metal Rigidium, which can only be
found in these caves."]

"Rigidium?"

With one claw, Sorcan nudged a loose shard of the ore that was strewn about
the ledge they were standing on. ["This metal has many special mystical
qualities, and once it has been forged, it becomes virtually indestructible.
Though it requires dragon power for it to be shaped."]

"So that's what they're doing? Digging out this... Rigidium?"

Socran gave a lopsided shrug. ["That and other so-called precious gems and
metals. The caverns are also filled with iron, copper, tin, and other ores.
The trolls may can keep anything, but the Rigidium. As you know, gems and
gold mean nothing to dragons, but I find that sleeping on the stuff to be
very comfortable."]

Ranma shrugged as he followed the Dragon King to his den.

A month later, somewhere at the end of the River of Gold...

["Are you all right, Ranma?"]

The boy was still hacking a bit after taking a nibble of Karrida's special
Demon Inferno Peppers. It was if he had swallowed a mouthful of the molten
gold that was bubbling in the river.

When the boy finally was able to talk, all he could say was...

"That was one SPICEEEEEEEEY meatball!"



Two years later, in the depths of the Great Abyss, some fifty fathoms below
the surface...

"Hello handsome. You come down here often?"

Ranma tried very hard not to faint as the very seductive mermaid sidled up
to him. Though he could hold his breath for over two hours now, he was
already feeling an overwhelming urge to surface. It didn't help matters that
the mermaid wasn't wearing anything to cover her ample breasts.

A short distance away, Radarne couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's
nervousness as Farinda continued to approach him. Over the years, Radarne
and the other Dragon Kings had been occasionally helping Sojan in training
his student. Though the ruler of the North Quadrant had been against the
Blood Bond, he had to admit that Ranma was indeed special. He tended to grow
on people as time passed on and teaching him was no longer a chore, but a
pleasure.

Ranma at age thirteen...

["I really wish you didn't hit him that hard."] Sojan exasperated as he
watched Ranma effortlessly pick up the battered and unconscious boy. The
dragon was using a concealment spell to keep him from being seen by others.
["I think you sometimes forget that you are far stronger and faster than
normal humans."]

["I tried to hold back as much as I could, but Ryoga just wouldn't listen! I
had to knock him out!"]

["Yes, but your one punch alone cracked several of his ribs! The dragon
power inside of you, plus all the martial arts training has made you
formidable! Ryoga was seriously outclassed."]

["I'll use my healing spells to fix him up."] Ranma replied. ["I hope this
satisfies his honor. I can't believe that he'd get so upset over a few
sandwiches!"]

["A FEW SANDWICHES?"] Sojan stressed.

Ranma nodded sheepishly. ["Okay... a LOT of sandwiches, but I did wait for
him for four days, right?"]

Some time after that...

["Hey Sojan! What's that you're doing?"]

["Oh, it's nothing that you need to be concerned about for now, Ranma. Now
have you finished mastering those sword techniques?"]

Ranma nodded as he held up his wooden practice sword and went through a
series of motions that would have made a kendo master green with envy.

Sojan nodded with satisfaction as he turned his attention back to the object
in front of him. It was roughly three feet in length and metallic. Its long
shape glowed with an intense red light as Sojan opened his mouth and let
loose with another fiery blast, shaping the object even further.

Ranma at age fifteen...

["Very good Ranma."] Sojan praised as he watched the boy master yet another
martial arts fighting style in less than twenty minutes. <He's already
become adept at performing all dragon-based techniques and swordmanship! He
has become a proficient spell-caster and alchemist! I think it is time...>
["Ranma! Would you come here?"]

["What is it Sojan?"] Ranma asked as he approached his mentor and guardian
of nine years.

Sojan smiled as he looked at Ranma. In nearly a decade, the lad had grown
from a small and scared little boy, to a tall and well-muscled adolescent.
His raven hair was long and tied in a loose ponytail that went halfway down
his back. His facial features were more angular and well defined. His eyes
were gray-blue and contrasted well with his tanned skin. By the standards of
his race, he would be considered very handsome.

More importantly, Sojan was proud at the boy's attitude and personality. He
was smart, polite and understanding. In the beginning, Ranma had some
arrogance, rudeness and conceited outlooks on how the world should be.
Probably due to Genma's influence. Not now. His aura was a shining blue and
white, which reflected his confidence, determination and sense of honor. He
was the exact opposite to Genma. Of course, he still had a bit of a temper,
probably due to his dragon side, but Sojan was working on it.

Over the last few years, the other members of the dragon race had become
rather fond of the boy and aided Sojan in training him. Even the Dragon
Kings themselves got involved. Radarne, the one that had opposed the Blood
Bond the most, had to admit that Ranma did indeed have the potential of
attaining greatness and after a few uneasy encounters with the boy, decided
that perhaps he may have been wrong. In any case, the boy's natural charm
was just too irresistible.

["I have something for you, young one! I think you are ready for it!"] Sojan
gestured to a long, cloth-wrapped bundle in front of him.

Ranma picked up the parcel and unwrapped it. His eyes widened as he saw what
was inside it.

One year later...

["I guess this is goodbye..."] Ranma said tearfully as he stood by a large,
circular portal of light.

["Yes my pupil..."] Sojan said in a quiet voice. ["I knew that this day
would come. And I have seen the wanderlust in your eyes. It is high time
that you rejoin with the rest of the world. I will miss you."]

["You can come with me!"]

Sojan shook his head. ["No. I'm afraid that you must find your own way in
the world. I have cared for you as if you were my own hatchling for ten
years. But the time has come for you to break free and build your own life.
What I have taught you will help you deal with whatever problems you
encounter. And I will always be with you."]

["Will I ever see you again?"]

["Don't worry Ranma! If you ever need me, use this!"] Sojan magically made a
small medallion appear. ["This medallion will allow you to contact me and
lead you to a portal to enter the Dragon Realm. Mind you, you can only use
it twice every 24 hours! So use it only when you really need me. I will also
visit you from time to time to check on your progress. For now, good luck!
This portal will send you back to your world to a place called China."]

["Why not Japan?"]

["Right now, the portals in Japan are out of alignment with the
mystical forces between our worlds. The closest I can get you to your
homeland is a place near Jusenkyo."]

["Jusenkyo?"] Ranma repeated. The name sounded familiar. ["Hey! Isn't that
the legendary Training Grounds of Cursed Springs? I think I read about that
place in the Dragon Library."]

["That's right! Please make sure you don't fall into one of the springs! It
happens to have some very powerful and ancient magic there."]

["I'll be careful. Thanks Sojan! It's been great these past ten years! I'm
going to miss you and the others!"]

["And we shall miss you! Now... your way Ranma!"]

With a final look at the dragon that had been more of a father than Genma
ever was, Ranma stepped into the portal and vanished.

A minute later, Sojan was contacted telepathically by the Dragon Kings.

["You still have not told him, have you Sojan?"] Karrida asked.

"No. He still has much to learn before he can fulfill his destiny. I think
that him being by himself in the human world for some time will help educate
him. Despite all that I have taught him and the visits made to his world, he
is still a bit nave. He needs to experience those certain things that make
humans...unique."]

There was a small chuckle by Radarne. ["At first I was skeptical, but I must
admit, the boy has progressed nicely."]

Socran agreed. ["Yes. The Blood Bond has made him far stronger than any
normal human. Then again, he wasn't exactly all human to begin with when you
bonded with him."]

Sojan nodded. ["The boy's family has very strong ties to our kind."]

["I have to give you credit Sojan."] Surek remarked. ["I didn't believe it
either until I started looking up the boy's family. The Saotome name meant
nothing to us. Just like his worthless father. However, his mother's
side..."]

Sojan chuckled a bit. ["Yes, the main reason why the Blood Bond affected
Ranma more fully than most of the other humans that we have merged with over
the millennia. Ranma didn't know it, but he had been born with some dragon
blood within him. He is in effect... a Dragon Child."]

To be continued...

Author's Notes

Well, I hope the rewrite has cleared up certain questions about this story
and perhaps given the readers a better view of the Dragon Realm. One can
think of it along the lines of Dungeons and Dragons or Record Of Lodoss. I
have been thinking about Ranma returning to this world and perhaps bringing
a few people along with him as well. I have also been getting new ideas
about Ranma meeting up with Herb of the Musk Dynasty, but that's for the
later chapters as I rewrite them as well. For any other questions, check out
the Dragon Lore section which provides an index to the world of Dragon
Child.




