Pale Hues

Written by Shaun Garin

Disclaimer : Open Mouth, Insert Disclaimer...

Chapter 2 : The Nine Walkers

=======================

"One Ring to find them, and in the darkness bind them."

Yuka shuddered as the words echoed in her mind. Slamming the book shut, she
dared not read it anymore. After searching in the library for things about
the Witch-king, she had come across an old story trilogy well known in the
literary circles as The Lord Of the Rings. The echoes of the ancient elven
script haunted her as she set the book down. "The One Ring," she mummured to
herself, gathering her books. "Could it be?"

"Something the matter?" Yuka jumped and spun to see the friendly face of the
young Tolkien who stood behind her. "Oh, Lord of the Rings. My, no one reads
that book anymore."

"I just found it really," Yuka replied, heart racing. She had not heard the
young man sneak up on her, a testomony of silent walking.

"What did you think of it?" he asked. The mere question seemed to burn into
her soul as she closed the book and raced out.

"I gotta be going, see you later!" she exclaimed hurridly, running out the
door.

Ranma straightened up as he turned and smiled. "One down, eight to go." And
unseen to everyone in the small library, his ruby red ring glowed.

========================

"I'm home," Yuka exclaimed as the door shut behind her.

"Welcome home dear," her mother, Michiko said, stirring a pot on the stove.
"Did you have a good day at school?"

Yuka had to nod tiredly. "Yes mama, it was fine."

"Betcha she got in trouble," chirped Katsuhito, her younger brother who sat
at the table.

Her father remained buried behind the newspaper. "Don't tease your sister,
Katsuhito," he said without looking over the paper.

Yuka flopped onto the couch as she dug into her book bag. A puzzled
expression came over her face as she pulled out the thick leather copy of
The Lord of the Rings. Yuka nearly dropped it in shock. "Great, I forgot to
return this," she said half to herself as she set the book aside.

"It's good to see you reading something new," her mother said from the
stove.

"Yeah, if that'll make any difference." Katsuhito took the moment to cross
his eyes and stick his tongue out at Yuka. Yuka stuck her tongue out at him
as she gathered her things.

"I'll be in my room," she announced, dragging the heavy book behind her,
slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Dinner will be ready soon," her mother called out as Yuka closed the door
on her.

=====================

Yuka sighed as she flopped down on her bed, staring up at the poster of her
favorite singer. "I'll bet Miss Aino doesn't have anything to worry about,"
she grumbled, turning onto her stomach. "Martial artists, mass destruction,
a supposed murderer in town...."

The book lay beside her, enticing her sences with the rich scent of old
leather. Something within her wanted to read the book, even though those few
words scared her out of her mind. "One Ring..." she whispered, pulling the
book to the floor and flipping it open to a random page.

"... Upon it sat a shape, black-mantled, huge and threatening. A crown of
steel he bore, but between rim and robe naught was there to seem save only a
deadly gleam of eyes: the Lord of the Nazgul. To the air he had returned
summoning his steed ere the darkness failed, and now he was come again,
bringing ruin, turning hope to despair, and victory to death. A great black
mace he wielded...."

====================

Eowyn stood firm against the Lord of the Nazgul, eyes alight with rage and
courage. Her sword, a puny thing against the mighty mace of the Witch-king.
Behind him, stood a little man, no smaller than four feet and wielding a
sword found near the regions of the barrow-weights. "You shall not pass,"
she hissed as the large creature lumbered forwards.

The Witch-king only laughed in responce as his blow struck her shield and
armor, the first blow shattering the shield into splinters. Eowyn only stood
firm as she swung blow after blow. The Witch-king pressed onwards, gaining
the upper hand.

Suddenly, he howled as Merry's sword sundered his legs and back in two, the
barrow blade smoking as it passed through false sinew and muscles that held
the wraith up. And with that, the blade of Eowyn passed through the space
between his mantle and crown.

And thus, the Witch-king ceased to exist, as a single ring clattered to the
ground.

===================

Yuka snapped into reality as she heard her mother calling for supper.
Gathering her wits and removing a clear shine of sweat from her face with a
handy edge of her blanket, she called out to her, closing the book with a
thud. "I'll never read that again," she vowed, heading out for supper.

===================

The next day, Yuka felt relieved that it was sunday, as she had no school
for the day. A day of rest for her and her classmates, mainly due to the
fact that a late night fight had demolished most of the school, and would
take more than a week to fix due to the amount of broken material left over.
As she dressed for the day, the book still remained where it had been,
sitting there on the floor. The engraved crest seemed to stare at her as she
tried to ignore it's piercing gaze.

"It's just a book," she whispered to herself, sliding it underneath her bed.
"There's nothing like that here now.... I hope."

Walking downstairs, she found her father brooding over the newest paper.
"Morning papa, mama, Hito."

Katsuhito stuck his tongue at her as she replied in kind. "What's up for
today?"

"Nothing really," Yuka replied, sitting down for breakfast.

"A young gentleman called this morning, dear," her mother said, setting down
the morning meal. "He asked if you were available at noon."

"Did he leave a message?" Yuka felt flushed, since most guys ignored her
from school. "Who was it? Did he leave a name?"

"He said his name was Ranma Tolkien and he wanted to meet you at the old
Clark and Gable bookstore on 53 street at ten." Her mother looked at her and
smiled warmly. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Yuka flushed deeply. "NO! Just a friend from school really." Inwardly, she
wondered why Ranma was calling her. She didn't know him very well save in
passing. "I guess I'll go meet him."

"Oh, one more thing. He said to wear shorts and a t-shirt, something you can
exersize in. Is he your trainer for gymnastics?"

Yuka blinked. "Um... yeah," she lied lamely as she attacked her food.

===================

"Clark and Gable Bookstore." Yuka looked at the carved panel wood as she
steeled herself. Opening the door, the smell of old books reached her, the
musty tang of old leather greeting her nostrils. An old bell jangled at the
entrance as Ranma Tolkien looked up at her from behind the counter, a worn
leather bound book in his hands. "Ranma?" she asked.

"Yuka, you came." Storing the book away, Ranma stood up. "Welcome to Clark
and Gable. I trust you got my message?"

Yuka nodded, unsure of the situation at hand. "Yeah, um, what's so important
that you called?"

"Come with me."

Ranma walked to the back of the store and pulled out a large book. On the
side, there sat a keyhole which he slotted an old looking key into,
unlocking the book. "You have been reading Lord of the Rings, correct?"

Yuka's heart pounded at the mention of the book. "Yes, I have."

"There were nine," he said, his voice distant as he opened the book,
revealing eight rings laying in the false book, one missing. "Nine Rings,
borne to mortal men doomed to die. But, nine walkers, opposed the Nazgul,
the Fellowship of the Ring."

She swallowed. Hard. "What does that have to do with me?"

"You," Ranma said, turning and withdrawing a fancy ring that gleamed
elegantly in the light of the store. "are the decendant of Aragorn, Son of
Arathorn. You, hold the legacy of kings and queens. You, are the second, of
the Fellowship."

Yuka opened her mouth to protest but found no sound coming from it. "You
know," Ranma said, his gaze penetrating. "You have always felt different,
like you were special. Uncanny acts occour around you, the very fabric of
space bows at your command. All you need, is Aragorns Ring. The Ring, of
Kings."

"I..." Yuka found her voice. "I can't! I mean, I'm just a school girl from
Furinkian! I can't be a queen!"

"You have the potential, the legacy, you MUST take it." Ranma held her hand
as he pressed the ring into it. "You must help, gather the rest of the nine.
Only then, we can stop the Nine. The Black Riders. And with it, the power of
the One."

"NO!" With a horrified scream, Yuka kicked away and burst out the door.
Ranma watched her, holding his stomach in surprise. "Well, that went well,"
he mused to himself, fingering the ring on his finger.

=================

Yuka crashed into the park, tumbling through bushes and trees to find a
place where she could hide. Hide from the destiny she knew was her own. No
matter how much she tried to hide the fact, the ring pulsed warmly in her
hand, feeling content in it's place.

Stumbling to the base of a tree, Yuka buried her face in her hands. "I can't
handle this!" she exclaimed to herself.

Looking at the ring in her hand, she clenched her fist and tried to throw
it... but stopped. Why? Why was she throwing it away?

"I'm just a girl," she said to herself, looking at the beautiful ring. "Just
a girl."

"A girl with a destiny," the Ring whispered in a male voice. Yuka jerked.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not evil. I never was."

"Who... who are you?" she asked, astonished that the ring spoke.

"I am Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. I, am your ancestor, the spirit of the
ring."

"But.. that can't be. You're just a charecter in a book."

The ring seemed to shake it's head. "No, I was real, so many centuries ago.
Let me tell you a story. Centuries ago, the Dark Lord Sauron created the One
to rule all the Elven Rings of Power. We defeated him, and destroyed the
Ring. To this end, we members of the Fellowship forged our own rings, Rings
that would pass on our power when we passed on, to guide the people we need
to set things right."

"But what about Boromir? He died against the Uruk-hai." Yuka felt completely
overwhelemed by now.

"That is where the spirit of the Witch-King comes in. The soul freed from
Sauron's evil, he vowed to set things right, and choose his avatar. Ranma,
is his avatar."

"Then, what... why, am I your avatar?"

"You already know." The ring seemed to smile. "Now, take your destiny, and
put me on. I will guide you through the rest."

Yuka hesitated for the barest moments, and then, slipped the ring on.

=================

It walked, the sword of Minas Morgul in its hands.

Draped in heavy black robes, it was a spirit given form. The power of
darkness flowed from it, like a torential rain of evil. And at it's feet, a
teenage girl sat, cowering. He looked down, and seemed to glare with
sinister glee. And he raised his sword...

=================

Yuka gasped. "There's someone in trouble!"

"Indeed," Aragorn said. "Take your power and help those in need!"

Yuka hesitated, but then called out the words of power, instinctively
thrusting her hand upwards.

"Force of Aragorn, I Command Thee!"

The world seemed to explode outwards as Yuka felt lights engulph her, the
sound of energy playing over her body. She felt, Power. Enough power that it
made her feel WONDERFUL. Like she could go ten times with Akane and win
hands down. To fight demons and youma without breaking a sweat. She lowered
to the ground and set off in a run.

Elsewhere, Ranma looked up, and smiled to himself.

=================

The Nazgul raised his sword, Sayuri screamed...

And a firey arrow smacked into it's side as it shrieked horribly, dancing
around in flames.

Sayuri looked up, half expecting to see the Sailor Senshi, as they appeared
at monster attacks. Instead, there stood a girl holding a bow and wearing a
quiver of arrows on her back. She was dressed in hunter green and brown,
tracking colors that blended in with the trees around her, a dark cloak on
her back. Bracers and sturdy boots were worn, and at her side she wore a
long sword that gleamed in the afternoon light. "You will not harm her," the
girl said, glaring out at the Nazgul that patted the flames from it's cape.

Sayuri scrambled to the side. Even though she wore no mask, Sayuri couldn't
tell who she was. The girl hooked her bow back onto her back, unsheathed the
sword as she lunged at the Nazgul, crying "Elendil!"

It was a dance, as the girl and Nazgul parried blade to blade, shining
sparks emitting from the clash of metal on metal. The girl ducked under the
vicious swing of the sword, and ran her own blade through the Nazgul. It
keened shrilly as it collapsed into a heap of robes, a fine mist flowing
free from the hood.

Sheathing her sword, Yuka looked at Sayuri who stood up with some help. "Are
you okay?" Yuka asked her best friend.

"I'm fine, miss..." Sayuri's eyes were filled with admiration for her hero.
"Can I have your name?"

Instead of the typical, "Sayuri, it's me!", Yuka found herself saying, "I am
the Second of the Nine. Till next time." Yuka walked away with Sayuri
watching her, admiration in her expression.

The Sailor Senshi appeared two minutes late, finding only a pile of robes
and an old battered sword.

==================

The door jangled as Ranma looked up. "Hello Yuka." A hearty slap echoed
across the room. "I guess I deserved that."

Yuka folded her arms. "Damn straight."

"I can't blame you," Ranma said, looking at the book and up at a painting of
the Fellowship. "I wasn't so sure I could do this, gather the Nine." He
smiled, despite the red handprint on his face. "But I think we could do
this."

"We?" Yuka asked in trepidation. "You mean, you, right?"

"Who was the one who took out Ulaire Lenmeya? It was YOU. I'm not saying
we'll do this alone, but we need to gather the Nine, before the rest of the
Eight awaken. So, how was it, being one of the Nine for the first time?"

"It was... wonderful, like I could do anything I wanted," Yuka admitted with
a blush. "It seemed like I was invincible, a heady source of power flowing
into my body."

"Well that's good. I've already located the third of the Nine, the one
bearing the mark of the ever faithful Samwise Gamgee. His name is..."

==================

"Sasuke!"

"Yes Master Kuno?" Sasuke asked, kneeling before his master.

"Prepare another flower order for Akane Tendo. I wish to woo her tonight."

Sasuke sighed. "Yes Master."

==================

Authors Notes : I figured I couldn't pull it off without it becoming like an
anime sentai series. I promise, no giant robots though.

This is reaching far beyond the expectations of my original idea. Email me
for more ideas or review.