A/N: I keep thinking I'm going to finish this story within a chapter, but there's always more. Anyway, I'm really nearly at the end now. Yay! Thanks to all you people who kept encouraging me:)

DISCLAIMER: Ranma and Co. don't belong to me. I'm only playing with them.

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Chapter 14

“We’re here,” said Mousse, and studied Akane with concern. They were hiding in one of the dusty secret corridors that riddled the palace. The ex-princess was staring out the secret entrance that led into the Queen’s apartment with trepidation. Mousse studied her profile, so dear to him after days of spending time with Shampoo. But it was a different person under the skin. Even knowing that, his heart still experienced a pang. What would become of Shampoo, he wondered?

Unaware of Mousse’s nostalgic perusal of her, Akane peeked out through the eyeholes set in the wall. She could see the Queen seated at the fire, a warm rug tucked around her shoulders. She appeared to be asleep, her head canted forward so that her chin touched the collar of her dress.

Akane gathered her courage and pushed open the door. “Mother?” she murmured, stepping in.

The Queen looked up, startled. She saw the two unbidden visitors and drew breath to scream.

“It’s me!” Akane whispered urgently. “Akane.”

The Queen sat forward. “Really? How can you prove that? Both Akanes answer all the questions I put to them.”

Akane moved forward, tears welling in her eyes. “Mother, look at me.” She stood in front of the Queen, looking down at her. The Queen blinked. Akane sank to her knees, so that the Queen could see her upraised face clearly.

“It’s ME. It’s Akane. Don’t you recognize me?” Akane willed the only mother she had ever known to really see her, to see past the doubts, to recognize her, even if she wasn’t her daughter by blood.

The Queen searched Akane’s face keenly. Her eyes widened and she clasped Akane’s shoulders. “Akane! It IS you! Oh, my child!” She swept Akane up into her embrace, and Akane fell weeping into her mother’s arms, her troubles laid to rest for a moment.

Mousse stood apart from them, uncomfortable with the scene, knowing he could have brought about this reconciliation a lot quicker if only he’d spoken up. Guilt turned his face red.

“And who is this young man, who appears to be aiding you?” The Queen looked up at Mousse, who came forward and immediately bent his knee and made obeisance.

“Your Majesty,” he murmured.

“This is Mousse, mother. He is Happosai’s assistant,” Akane explained. “He’s been a big help to me.”

“Please rise, Mousse,” Queen Kimiko said warmly. “I thank you for my daughter’s safety.” She turned to Akane. “Now tell me, daughter, where have you been? What’s happened to you, and what do you know about…Ranma?”

Akane related to her mother everything that had happened since she had been kidnapped from the Mattie Horn, the ship taking her home.

The Queen listened with astonishment as Akane narrated waking up to Ranma and Shampoo, seeing Shampoo cut off her hair. She drew breath sharply when Akane told her about Kulloden.

“No, he is dead!” she exclaimed.

“You know him?” Akane asked.

“Yes! We all know him. He used to be Soun’s advisor, until Happosai exposed him for his evil sorcery many years ago. This was before…before you were born.”

Akane continued her story, speaking of how Mousse’s accidental geas had forced Ranma to trek to the palace, as well as take Akane with him. The Queen listened intently. Akane told her about Rouge the demon, and the Queen paled when she heard of Akane being almost eaten. Akane wisely left out all mentions of being kissed by Ranma. She did mention Ryouga.

“But Ryouga lives here!” The Queen exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” Akane asked.

“Why, Ryouga’s father is the royal head gameskeeper.”

Akane couldn’t wrap her head around this new information. “Unbelievable!” she said. Then what had he been doing out in the forest? Surely Happosai could have cured him!

“Oh Akane, I have so much to tell you!” The Queen drew back to look at her daughter, stroking away chopped strands of hair from Akane’s face. “This whole tale has made things much clearer to me now. I can see some of the pieces of the puzzle.”

She took a deep breath. “Akane, first of all, I must tell you this. You have always been the daughter of my heart. I love you, and Happosai’s vision…it will never change the fact that I’m your mother.”

Akane felt fresh tears well up in her eyes. “Oh, mother…” she sobbed.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you were given birth by someone else- A friend of my own, in fact.”

“A…friend of yours?” Akane asked uncertainly.

“Believe it or not, Akane, many things I had forgotten came back to me when I saw Happosai’s vision. Your mother was the daughter of a count. She was one of my ladies-in-waiting when I was still a princess. We were best friends, as a matter of fact.” The Queen sat back, and a remembering look came into her eyes. “We used to sneak away into the city together, escaping our personal guard, and just breaking away from the palace. Well, eventually I was married, and so did she, to your father, the Baron of Marten. But we still snuck away together when our husbands were busy.

Then one day, we heard a fair was coming to town. Your mother, madcap that she was, could never resist such a thing. She dragged me along, and we went to the fair. We went from stall to stall, sampled food, tried on jewelry, examined the merchants’ wares, until we came to a dark tent, placed by itself in one aisle. Your mother peeked inside, and it was a gypsy’s tent. The sign said she would tell our fortunes, so of course we had to try.

“And…when the gypsy read your mother’s fortune, she looked up at her with blank eyes, and said, “You are the third daughter in your family.” Your mother was impressed. Then the gypsy said- The third daughter of the third daughter will destroy the snake that attacks this kingdom.”

“Huh? A prophecy?” Akane asked. “Kasumi, Nabiki. Then that would mean me.”

“Yes.” The Queen continued her story. “Your mother wasn’t sure what to make of the whole thing. She smiled and paid the gypsy, and we went back to the palace. After that, it was discovered that your father…” Here, the Queen stopped, and looked away.

“What is it?” Akane asked.

“Your father the baron was accused of stealing from the king,” the Queen said. “I couldn’t believe it, and my friend didn’t either. She begged Soun to reconsider, but in his fury, he stripped them of their titles, and turned them out of the country.”

Akane gasped, her hand rising to her mouth in astonishment. Her father, a baron, turned out by Soun the king, the man she had always thought was her father…oh it was so muddled…

“I was determined to fight for them. She was my friend, you see, but this is the strange part, Akane.” The Queen looked deep into Akane’s eyes. “When they left, I forgot about them. I believe they were erased from everyone’s memory, because no one ever mentioned them again. I mean, NO one. And not just because they were afraid of Soun. Your grandmother, who was also a vocal supporter of your mother, also fell silent, and grew ill and passed away, but I never once associated it with anything but real illness. I simply didn’t remember her.”

Akane sat stunned, her mind reeling from all this family history suddenly thrust upon her. Behind her, Mousse, too stood astonished.

The Queen looked up the ornate ceiling, lost in thought. Then she said, “Kulloden was Soun’s sorcerer at the time, and Happosai was still court magician. But Kulloden tried to attack Soun, to secretly bespell him and steal the kingdom. The plan was discovered by Happosai, who fought with Kulloden and wrested the Book of Juesnkyou from him.”

“Jusenkyou! What IS that?” Akane asked, recalling the name from her travels.

“Why Akane! You don’t know what Jusenkyou is?” The queen exclaimed. “Oh! I suppose it did happen before…”

“…I was born,” Akane finished. “Yes, I know.”

The Queen smiled at her. “Jusenkyou, my dear, is a grimoire- a magical book. Its pages are covered with descriptions of various people and creatures. It has the power to transform its reader into whatever the reader is reading about.”

“So if I were reading about a parrot, I would be turned into…?”

“Yes! And only the keeper of the book or a very, very powerful sorcerer can turn you back. Kulloden fooled many people into reading the book, and was planning to use it on Soun, you see, but thanks to Happosai, his plan went awry, he lost the Book and he was exiled from Nerima.”

“And now he’s back to conquer the kingdom again?” Akane asked.

“Yes. He obviously sent the fake Akane here to infiltrate the castle and find the Book.”

There was a loud knocking at the entrance to the Queen’s suite. From the Queen’s bedroom, the three of them watched as a lady-in-waiting opened the door cautiously.

“Yes?” she queried of the guard outside. “What do you want? The Queen is resting.”

“The King and Happosai ask the Queen to join them in the King’s study,” the guard reported. “There is news of some import that she may wish to hear.”

“Very well. I will ask her. Wait here.” The lady closed the door and approached the Queen’s bedroom. Akane and Mousse froze, unsure what to do.

“It’s all right,” the Queen said. “Don’t leave.” She stood and greeted her lady, who looked shocked at the sight of these unexpected guests who had arrived from nowhere. She knew Princess Akane at least was locked away in the tower.

“Your Majesty!” she gasped.

“It’s all right, Antwone,” the Queen said calmly. “Trust me. I heard the guard. I will go to the King.”

A few minutes later, the door to the Queen’s apartments opened and the Queen, followed by two lightly veiled ladies-in-waiting came out.

“My attendants and I will follow you, Captain,” she said. The guard bowed.

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In another part of the castle, Shampoo shivered in her chair and watched as Kulloden consulted his books of magic. In her mind, she kept reliving the moment when the angry and bewildered Kunou had turned into a fly. Her throat was frozen. She wanted to call out as Kulloden’s long thin fingers came up, slowly, ever more slowly in her memory-it seemed as though she had all the time in the world to cry out, but she never did- and ended his life.

She looked at the clock. Only fifteen minutes left to midnight. And then Ranma would be under Kulloden’s power forever. For good. No longer would he own his mind or soul.

Not that she cared. She and Ranma had been rivals for as long she could remember. They had fought each other for Kulloden’s attention, for food, for the warm spots in the caves. For all she cared, Ranma could be a puppet for the rest of his life if it meant that she, Shampoo, could move permanently into the palace for the rest of her life.

Perhaps she could look up Mousse. Master was quite skilled at removing people’s memories. Perhaps he could remove Mousse’s memories, and they could start over.

She had quite liked him, really.

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In the study, King Soun, Happosai, Ryouga and Ranma watched as the Queen and her attendants entered. A servant closed the study door tightly behind them as he left. Ranma studied the woman who was supposed to be his real mother. To think- he had never been abandoned after all, but stolen from his crib. Kulloden had much to answer for.

“You can leave your attendants outside, my dear,” Soun said, waving to the figures behind the Queen.

“No, I can’t,” the Queen replied. “They are quite necessary to these proceedings. Don’t worry, they are very discreet. And what is Ryouga doing here?” She looked questioningly at Ryouga, who blushed and bowed.

“Ryouga is here because I’ve asked him to be, Your Majesty,” Happosai replied. “His news was invaluable to us, if unwelcome. I cannot say the same of your attendants.”

“Let it be, Happosai,” Soun said. “We have more important things to worry about.”

“What news have you?” the Queen wanted to know. She seated herself.

“Ranma has been telling us quite a lot about his childhood,” Soun said. “He spent his life with Kulloden, as you know, my dear. He had a …classmate, I might say, a girl named Shampoo…”

One of the attendants twitched.

“Shampoo was the one who impersonated Akane all these days,” Happosai explained in turn. “Having listened to Ranma about the details of the spell, I believe I can now recognize the true Akane if I see her.”

“Then please, do so,” Akane said, and threw off her veil. Mousse followed suit. Soun, Happosai, Ryouga and Ranma sat shocked. Ranma knew instantly that it was the real Akane. He couldn’t have said how he knew. It was something about the way she carried herself, her expression, the look in her eyes.

“Akane!” he exclaimed, unable to stop himself. Those glorious brown eyes swung to him, fury in their depths.

“Ranma,” she muttered. “I wish you were dead.” He cringed, knowing she had good reason to wish so. After all, the last time she’d seen him, he’d been tying her up in a nasty little room, and leaving her to rot.

“Mousse! What are you doing here?” Happosai questioned in the meantime.

“I’m sorry, master. I knew which Akane was the real one, but Ranma and Shampoo threatened me with Akane’s death if I revealed anything to you.”

Soun glowered at Ranma, who flushed a dull red. This was not a good place to be, right now, he decided. He’d committed many crimes against Akane, and if Soun knew the half of it, he’d kill Ranma with his bare hands, blood son or no.

“Please, Happosai,” Akane said, moving forward gracefully. “Prove it’s really me. That’s all I care about right now.”

“I can’t do that,” Happosai said stiffly. “I need to despell the fake Akane. There is nothing I can do to the real one.”

“Then try your spell here. If it doesn’t work on me, then you, at least, will believe it is me,” Akane tried to persuade him.

“Very well,” he agreed. He raised his tiny hands, and muttered an incantation. Nothing happened. Happosai lowered his hands, his eyes moist. “It is really you, Akane.” Smiling, he stood and embraced her. “You have been through a lot, princess.”

“Don’t call me that,” Akane said, hugging him back. “The title if royal truly belongs to Prince Ranma here.” Her tone was cutting, and Ranma, who could only take so much, stood up.

“I didn’t know this was going to happen!” he exclaimed.

“Well, you were only here to conquer Nerima for Kulloden, weren’t you?” she asked. “Don’t deny it!”

Ranma spread his hands. “I can’t. Not with Kulloden about to take me over any minute.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Akane demanded.

Happosai took a deep breath and explained to them about the geas Kulloden had placed on Ranma.

Akane began to laugh. It was an ugly, mocking laugh. “So it’s true,” she said. “What goes around really DOES come around.”

“It might be what I deserve, princess,” Ranma added her old title mockingly. “However, as I AM the blooded prince, being taken over by Kulloden is NOT going to do Nerima or any of you any good.”

“It’s nearly time,” Happosai said worriedly, looking at the nearby water clock.

“Can’t you take the geas off him?” the Queen asked.

“It’s been there since he was very, very young, Majesty,” Happosai explained. “Only Kulloden can take it off.”

“I didn’t…” Ranma began, and then groaned as pain shot across his chest. He trembled, and fell to his knees, as wave after wave of pain began to shoot through him. His heart pounded like a snare drum. Blood rushed in his ears, and he felt faint. He put a hand to his head, and could barely make out the sound of concerned and angry voices around and above him.

Ranma’s hands clenched in thick soft carpet, trying to ground the pain. To no result. It continued.

“What can we do?” Akane demanded. She’d dropped to her knees too, and grabbed Ranma by the shoulders. But he wouldn’t look at her.

“Happosai, there must be something!” Soun shouted.

“Ranma, listen to me!” Happosai commanded. “Fight this! Fight it!”

Ranma shuddered and grew still. He lay flat on the carpet now, his body quiet. Finally, he got to his knees, and looked up at them through level grey eyes.

“It feels better now,” he said. “I tried to fight it. I…don’t feel possessed.” He stood with Akane’s help. Despite her angry words, her touch on his arm was gentle.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Happosai asked suspiciously.

“I…think so,” Ranma muttered. “I tried to fight it like you said, and the pain decreased, but…my hand still throbs.”

“Let me see,” Happosai said, moving forward. He picked up Ranma’s hand and examined it. “I don’t see…”

Ranma raised his hand, and sent out a blast of blue flame. The brunt of it hit Happosai, who was flung backward against the room. The force of the blow made him hit his head against the opposite wall, and he fell unconscious to the floor.

“Ranma!” Akane exclaimed, shocked and frightened.

“Ahhh, I’ve been waiting years to do that,” Ranma purred, examining his smoking fingers. A blue light glowed in his eyes. “Not bad for a puppet.”

“Wha…? Why…?” Soun protested. Everyone began to back away.

“He’s already in Kulloden’s power,” Ryouga warned. “The geas has taken effect.”

“Ryouga,” a voice purred from the entrance to the study. Everyone spun around, except for Ranma, who stood still.

Kulloden and Shampoo stood in the doorway. Kulloden carried the Book of Jusenkyou under one arm. He strode into the room, smiling.

“Ryouga, my goodness, how you fooled me, dear boy,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming. “Free me from my curse,” he mocked in a falsetto voice. “I detest Happosai! So! You were working for that cretin all along, were you? My enemy had more foresight than I thought.” H stopped, moving his gaze from one to the other.

“Ah, Soun,” he smiled. “My liege! The author of my exile. At last you can pay for the years I lost on the rocky little island, training my two pups to help me conquer this kingdom, when instead I could already have been sitting on the Nerima throne by now.”

Akane stared in horror. Oh, no. Happosai had been her last hope. He had vindicated her, but for what? Just so Kulloden could walk in here and imprison her all over again? No! She’d never allow that to happen.

“Kulloden, you bastard!” Soun shouted. “You won’t get away with this, I swear! I should have listened to Happosai and had you beheaded sixteen years ago!”

Ranma, his eyes blazing blue, raised his arm and shot a bolt of blue at Soun, who crumpled.

“Father!” Akane cried, stepping forward.

“Akaaaane,” Kulloden smiled, drawing out her name as he turned to her. “Of course. You should be thankful to me. Thanks to me, you had the opportunity to grow up as a princess instead of a fisherman’s daughter. It’s a chance every girl dreams of. Do you really want to lose all this? Come, Akane, join me. Join me and we shall rule Nerima together. You shall be my bride!” He grasped her chin with his slim hand, pulling her towards him.

Bride? The part of Ranma that was still him, holed away but watching everything that transpired, stirred at this. Bride? Kulloden’s bride? Akane? He looked at the stunned, captured princess. Hell,no. There was no way he was letting Kulloden get his hands on Akane, not when he’d been on Kulloden’s side, and definitely not now that he’d learned Kulloden had been tricking him all along!

Akane felt a strong sense of déjà vu. Kulloden sounded just like Kunou, she thought to herself. They both seemed to think that all she cared about were the trappings of royalty.

“I’d rather die,” she spat.

Kulloden frowned. “Die, then,” he said and waved a negligent hand at Ranma, releasing Akane and turning away.

Ranma’s arm came up, slowly. Akane stared at him, terrified. The arm came up, inch by inch, but oh so slowly. Sweat beaded on Ranma’s forehead.

“Are you fighting me, boy?” Turning back, Kulloden grinned a shark’s grin. “Interesting. You seem to care for this chit. I suppose it makes sense. After all, you did spend a few days together. Did you tumble her on the road, then? You are the son of my heart, Ranma, if not my loins…”

“Shut up!” Ranma roared, and released the building blue energy in Kulloden’s direction. The energy enveloped him, came up against his barriers, and dissipated.

“It’s no use fighting me, Ranma,” Kulloden gloated. “I am your master, now and forever! Accept it, boy. I will erase all their memories. Happosai is finally beaten. I will kill him and ensure that everyone remembers only you, the crown prince. Through you, I will rule Nerima.”

“Run….Akane,” Ranma muttered through clenched teeth. “I can’t…hold out against..him. Run…you FOOL!”

Akane tried, heading for the doors but they were locked. Ranma was already being forced to raise his arm. She turned around, the doors at her back. A shot of blue fire blasted from his fingertips and came hurtling towards her. Akane was not a coward anymore, but old habits died hard. She closed her eyes.

There was an explosion, Akane fell backward, and magic swirled harmlessly around her. Akane opened her eyes, and gaped. The doors behind her had blasted open, sending her falling backwards onto the ground.

Rouge in her demon form stood over Akane, shielding her from Kulloden’s magic. The sorcerer, too, looked nonplussed.

“R...Rouge?” he stumbled.

“Kulloden, you old dog! What the hell are you up to?” Rouge demanded through her fangs.

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A/N: Somebody asked when Rouge was going to appear. I saved her for the end! And here she is. Since you all reviewed, I tried to update as fast as I possibly could, despite a hard drive crash and other problems.

Only one more chapter, really! And probably an epilogue, but I'll put them out together, hopefully.

So, review:)