Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Freedom In Exile ❯ Vials For Victory ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Damn!! This took me forever! And it was already typed and everything. I just never put it up.
Sorry.



Freedom In Exile Chapter Three: Vials For Victory


Ranma sipped on a large mug of warm, watered down, mushroom ale. It was completely
disgusting, but he had discovered that it was about all they had. There was a clatter in front of him
and he glanced up.

The barkeep grinned at him, a big hairy man who probably hadn't shaved in a while. " I say
yeh come down 'esterday. Where's 'er pretty little friend?"

Ranma shrugged, " I think she's still getting ready. You know how women are, they take
forever."

The barkeep laughed, it was deep laughter and Ranma felt vibrations go through his glass. "
Aye, aye, they certainly do! I'm Thor, by the way. I got sent down 'ere quite a while 'go, and I
always like to 'elp out by givin' advice."

Ranma raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. "Really? What kind of advice?"
Thor leaned forward as well and glanced around, "'Ell, I can tell yeh one thing. Yeh better watch
out 'er that little friend of yeah's. A lot a these 'en down 'ere ain't had somethin' as pretty as 'er in
a long time. An bein' down 'ere makes 'em a little whacho , if yeh know what I mean. Ain't no
tellin' what 'ey might do to 'er." With that said Thor nodded to Ranma and walked away to tend to
other customers.

Ranma stared at the spot Thor had been standing. Thor has a good point, Usagi was pretty,
and she was really small. Ranma knew Thor was underestimating her though. He'd seen Usagi
throw fireballs the size of boulders like nothing!

The barstool next to him squeaked," Hey , Ra-ra! What's for breakfast?"
Ranma slid his drink in front of Usagi and watched as she took a big gulp of it. Her eyebrows
furrowed and she let out a high-pitched, "Ewww....Gross!!"

Usagi glared at Ranma ,"What is this stuff?"

Ranma snickered,"It's mushroom ale. There's a food shrtage right now and this is all that's left.
We have to save what we got from Luriel for the road.' Usagi sighed,"Aww, man. This sucks! I
want some real food!"

Ranma was about to agree, he wanted food too, when someone else spoke," You should leave for
Fort Arys. It's quite a ways north but there's plenty of food, and it's cheap."

Both Usagi and Ranma turned to look behind them and blinked. A women with long white
robes, brilliant red hair, and light green eyes stood behind them. Around her neck she wore a thick,
heavy gold chain with a huge cross hanging from it. She was obviously some kind of priestess.

{Usagi's P.O.V.}

The women smiled warmly at us," My name is Orion. I couldn't help but overhear you
conversation. I didn't mean to intrude."

I flashed the lady one of my big, happy smiles," You're not intruding, Madame Orion. We
don't mind."

Madame Orion looked at me in suprise," Oh! You called me Madame, are you familiar
with the Church of Divine Divination?"

Familiar? I couldn't say I was, not really. Back home, my school teacher had been
Madame Haruna. She always told us that priestesses of her religion, Divine Divination, were called
"Madames".

" Not really, Madame. I just used to know someone who was.' The Madame nodded in
understanding," Well, as I was saying, Fort Arys is a few days travel from here if you travel quickly.
I usually wouldn't recommend fresh victims to take such a dangerous journey, but both my brother
and I have watched you, and we have seen the strength in your auras"

Of course, Ranma just couldn't let the compliment pass without adding his own comment,"
You got that right, Madame! Me an Usa-chan can take on anything!" It's nice to here him so
optimistic about things, despite all that's happened.

Madame Orion laughed softly," My, you sure are full of life! Yes, I think the two of you
will do quite well down here. Although, it is a shame you got sent down here in the first place, such
bright souls should not be kept in such dreary places."

Ranma and I both nodded, it was sad indeed. Ranma tilted his head to the side, " Soooo, you
mentioned lots of food?"

"My brother, Thereon, and I travel from place to place spreading the Divine Divination, you
see, and we visited there some time ago. It was quite nice, and their taverns had the most wonderful
food."

I jumped out of my seat," And it's cheap right?!" Ranma jumped up next to me, " This
sounds great!" And indeed, it did.

Madame Orion eyes twinkled with amusement and she nodded. "All right, we're going to
Fort Arys!!" Several other patrons of the bar glared at Ranma's outburst, but I just laughed and
agreed. Somehow the events taking place reminded me of when I first left my village to travel the
surface. I was so easily excited back then, and I could almost feel that part of me acting up again.

Madame Orion's chuckles stopped our childish antics. Ranma's smile faded," What's so
funny?"

"Child, the two of you may be strong, but even the strongest need help at time." I blinked,"
What kind of help?"

The Madame motioned for us to sit with her at an empty table near by. She peered at us
from across the slightly uneven wood table and, suddenly, she looked older than she should have. "
Many lose their lives out of foolishness and overconfidence. You can't do everything alone. As a
member of the Divine Divination, I also make potions and antidotes to sell for the churches profit. I
have a great affection for you two though, so I'm willing to give you a discount."

Ohhh, she shouldn't have said that. Ra-Ra practically growled next to me," So that's why
you're telling us this! You just want us to buy your stuff!"

Madame Orion tried to explain something to him," No, chi---

Ranma interrupted her," Well, forget it! Usagi's a sorcerer, she can make potions herself!"

Actually though, I can't. Not without proper material, you know. And lot's of time.
Potions are delicate. Besides, potion making isn't my best art, no matter how many times I practice,
I still manage to knock over a cauldron. I still wonder why Professor Snape didn't kick me out of
his class all those times......

"Don't be foolish child!! I'm simply trying to help!"

"You're just and old hag! I bet your potions don't even work!"

Whoa!! Did I miss something?

{Authors P.O.V.}

Usagi nervously glanced at the other patrons of the bar who were beginning to look pretty pissed
about all the noise....

"Leave us child!! I wish to speak to the other, not you!"

Ranma practically snarled," As if I'd leave Usagi with you!"

Usagi rolled her eyes and stood up quickly, holding up a hand to silence them." Ran-kun,"
She purred out sweetly," I'd really like to speak with the Madame alone for a few moments,
please?" Enter the puppy dog eyes.

Ranma winced at the sight and his dissolve crumbled. "Alright," He snapped," I'll be over
there." He stalked off to the other side of the bar and dropped bonelessly onto a bench, glaring
darkly at the wall next to him.

Madame Orion nodded and sat back down, smoothing out her hair and outfit. Usagi
mimicked her actions," Sooo, what did you want to talk about?"

"You know what divination is, don't you?"

"Of course! It's the practice of seeing the future by several different methods."

"Yes. That is what my church is about, seeing the future. Often I watch the fires and read
my cards for a sign of what is to come. Not often do I have actual visions though. But..."

"But?....."

" This time was different, child! I saw you and your companion, I saw you walking through
the gates of freedom!!"

" What?!"

"In my vision, I saw myself meeting you here, I saw us speaking as we are now! I saw the
two of you at Fort Arys, I saw the two of you face many hardships! I saw you make and lose many
precious ones! I saw you.....I saw you free the exiled. I saw you find freedom!!"

"It...It sounds like you saw a lot."

"Indeed. A three day vison, my brother was worried I would not awake. I rushed to this
tavern as soon as I awoke though, and here you two were. You must understand, I'm just trying to
help."

"And these hardships... You just want to make them easier for us?"

"Yes. My potions are among the best, I swear upon my church. They will be of great
assistance. They can heal great wounds, and cure great poison."

"Well then, mmm, I guess I'll take two of each!"

"Wise choice, child. A wise choice indeed."


{Ranma P.O.V. }

What!! Is Usa-chan actually going to by from the old hag?! After what she said to me? It's not
like we have that much money to waste anyway! We're gonna go broke at this rate!!

"Ran-kun, come here!!"

Muttering to myself I trudged over to her and glared at the back of the retreating "Madame". Then
I turned to glare at Usagi as I plopped down in the seat in front of her. "I can't believe you bought
from her!"


Usagi gave a happy sigh," Oh, but look at the colors, Ran-kun! These are potions made a
master maker! They were worth every gold!"

I glanced at the vials on the table. Two large blue ones, and two small red ones. I couldn't'
see what was so great about them. But then again, I'm just a Rogue. Usagi's the Magician.

"Whatever, Usa-chan. When do we leave?"

I know I sounded cold when I said that, and I felt a pang of guilt when Usagi's eyes dulled a bit.
But I couldn't help it, I was angry at her for buying from the old hag, and I was angry that she
hadn't even asked for my opinion on the matter.

"We can leave tomorrow ,and get a early start. I'm gonna go look around the fort.....I'll see
you latter."

Great! Now she's all sad and stuff. Just great!!

I let my head hit the table with a thud.


{ The Church of Divine Divination In Fort Avernum}

"Orion, love, are you sure that they're the ones?"

Orion turned to her twin brother and nodded," It was just like in my vision, there they were. Them
and their future companions will surely be the ones to lead us home."

"That's good, love. I hate seeing you so sad about being down here. You deserve better
than this wretched place."

Orion sighed lovingly and wrapped her arms around her lover's neck," It's not really all that bad,
honey. At least we were sent down together, not like some who were separated."

Her twin made a sound of agreement, and buried his face in her hair.



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