The central object was a pine marten. Fierce in looks and his fighting techniques, this pine marten was a force to be recon with. As each attack came the blue pine marten with orange tipped fur dodged, blocked, or even threw the attacker. His features had something resembling what those from this world generalized as Vermin, the bad guys. True in parts of this world he was called a vermin, a good vermin but one nonetheless. In so being, an “evil,” cocky smirk was on his muzzle and in his eyes as he avoided each beast’s attacks.

He didn’t even see the attack coming from the eldest member of the fighters. A shrew of a brownish gray coloring took him down with one flying kick, using the tattoo on his upper left arm as a target. The shrew followed up as the muscular marten was knocked to the ground, paw raise for a killing blow, her blue-gray eyes ice cold towards him. The marten stiffened as his red eyes looked back at the shrew in astonishment. Her features soon smiled down on him and her raised paw was put forward to help the taller beast up.

“You and your sister have done very well during your stay here, Zensen-kun,” the shrew smiled telling the class for sure that the “everybeast against one” match was over. Zensen looked over at his sister, purple in color and looking like a female version of himself with longer headfur, then again they were twins. She had a calm look to herself though a fire burned in her silvery eyes, she had not thrown a punch in the fight saying something about it being unfair to be the only one to hit him.

“It has been an honor to be taught by you Ranma-sensei,” he replied, “Our time speaks very highly of you and our many times great grandmother, or so our okaasan tells us.”

“I can only say it’s good to hear that the Saberfist and Bloodfang clans have stayed so close throughout the seasons,” Ranma replied, “Sad to hear that you are made to grow and age at ¼ that of us but it seems to work for you.”

“It makes it easier on us where we reside now, Sensei,” Fireriot replied as she joined her brother, “We now age at the same time as humans. Okaasan despises it at times but so it must be.” She readjusted a cherry blossom that was carefully arranged by her ear. Ranma chuckled seeming to understand; the twins had lived all their life at the same speed as humans, their mother had not.

“Mirai-Ranko was right then,” Ranma replied and ignored the chuckles from the children of the future, or as she said Mirai, Ranko; it was legitimate, after all their mother had a dragon by the name of Miraith, “You finished you training right when she said you would.”

“Domo arigatou gozimus, Ranma-Sensei,” the twins stated happily bowing extra low to their teacher for the past few seasons. The fact that they were still related to the people of this world had caused them to learn the techniques quickly yet because of their aging process it was like teaching a human to be a black belt within a year of beginning as a white belt.

“That’s it my gakuto,” Ranma smiled turning to the rest of the class, “We’ll work on this more tomorrow.” The students bowed to their teacher and went off to their own tasks, some quietly some with as much noise as possible most headed towards their homes.

“Join me for tea while we wait for your okaasan,” Ranma commanded of the twins. The duo followed their master obediently. The trio were soon seated in the house only a few yards away from the dojo, passing a small pond as they went. Both twins found their eyes wondering over to the tranquil little thing with over sized gold fish that varied from white, to yellow, to orange, and to red, swimming lazily about in the clear waters.

“Don’t even think you two will be as ideal as those carp are,” Ranma told them as she brought the twins attention back to her, “From what I’ve been told, you’ll be quite busy with healing dragons of all sorts and helping those teachers of the Werlings, Dragoners… what ever you call them.”

“Weyrlings for Pern and Fledglings for Alskyr, Sensei,” Fireriot smiled, respectfully correcting her marshal artist mentor. Ranma nodded to the female.

“Yes that’s it,” the shrew continued, “You may look different to these furless beasts but you can show them a thing or two about the healing powers of a Bloodfang Warrior.” Both twins seemed to look a bit cocky at this, after all it isn’t every day that someone you’ve learned about as being one of your history’s greatest warriors compliments one from the future... Then again it’s a rare thing in the first place, both twins thought at the same time.

“Don’t let what I just said get to your heads,” Ranma quickly lectured her students, “You may have mastered mine and Ranko’s techniques but the true test of your skills is still to come… The battle ground will be real life, not a fixed setting.” The twins sobered some at the statement and sipped their tea in silence. It wasn’t until there was a soft rap on the sliding door that another word was spoken.

“Do you know who that is?” Ranma tested them.

“It’s not our okaasan,” Fireriot smiled and eyed her brother to continue on their thought.

“But she sure does look like her. It’s Ranko isn’t it?” he continued more stated then questioning who the beast was.

“My, they are getting good,” the beast on the other side of the door chuckled. Gently the door was slid open and the face of the twin’s ancestry appeared in a kneeling position, a sakabatou wrapped softly in a deep blue silk was bound at the older pine marten’s waist. She wore a green traditional Turasaken dress that was slit down both sides of her legs though they too were covered with a black pants making the dressage less formal but still proper.

“Obaasan!” the twins smiled and Ranko scowled at the word that meant grandmother.

“Quit that, you make me feel old,” the brownish pine marten growled playfully as she entered the room shutting the door in a formal manner.

“It’s hard not to when you are our many times hibaba, Ranko,” Zensen smirked.

“Aside from the fact that, our okaasan was named after you as well,” Fireriot chuckled. Ranko shifted uneasily, she was still trying to get used to another beast by her own name… not to mention the beast looked like her yet was a rusty red color instead. It was almost as unnerving as seeing Fireriot and Zensen having many looks her mate and she had.

“When will she appear with her dragon?” Ranko asked sipping the tea that had been poured for her, “I’d like to ask her about things from the future.”

“Most honorable, Ranko Bloodfang,” Fireriot smiled bowing to her many times great grandmother, “I believe our okaasan said as the sun set on our last day of training she would come to pick us up… right niisan?”

“Hai, onaasan,” Zensen answered his sister. Since their time in on the island that was known as Turasake the twins had learned how to better use their native language and used it quite frequently. It was like a game between them, to see who could say the most Turasaken words in one sentence and still make sense.

“Would you two quit that,” Ranma chuckled, as she scolded, “Even the youth from this island don’t use that many Turasaken words so quickly.”

“They’re quite the learners, Sensei,” a voice came from the door that was opened to the world outside, “They have been since they were cubs, nearly sixteen year ago, turns if you prefer the Pern way.”

“Okaasan!” the twins shouted in unison and charged their mother of approximately forty-three years, though she’d lived for 91 seasons if she’s still lived in this world… then again if she’d never been cursed she would more than likely be dead by now and her children coming nearer to that themselves. Soon the three pine martens were rolling about the ground and the future Ranko was cursing.

“What did you do to them, Obaasan? Sensei?” the rusty colored pine marten jeered, “When I left them here they weren’t even able to knock me over now they can do that and nearly keep me down.”

“Like you said Mirai-Ranko,” Ranma chuckled as she tried holding Ranko from joining the tussle because of her many times great grandchild having called her grandmother, “They are quick learners, your offspring. They learned and they are nearly able to defeat me. Zensen needs to be less cocky in battle but other wise they are great fighters.”

“Cocky in battle, Sensei?” Fireriot raised an eyebrow as the mock battle stopped, “You gotta be kiddin’ he’s cocky even when he’s not in battle.” Zensen growled at his sister’s remark and tackled her, unfortunately for him Fireriot rolled making him pinned underneath her. She smirked and poked her brother in his blue outlined orange nose, “En guard”

“Now who’s being cocky, onaasan?” Zensen growled.

“They’re both cocky,” the present day Ranko replied solemnly taking another deep sip of her tea.

“Obaasan!”

“I’ll ‘obaasan’ you!” Ranko growled and tackled the newest generation of her linage. The twins giggled as they fought with their ancestor, it would probably never happen again and they were determined to enjoy it while it lasted. The future Ranko chuckled and joined Ranma at the table.

“We’re going to miss seeing those two around here, Ranko and I that is,” Ranma sighed and the future pine marten blinked for a moment still trying to get used to another beast having her name… and being a very famous one to her at that.

“They may come back for visits from time to time,” the dragon riding pine marten nodded, “Whether by me or their own dragon should they impress. I’m sure they’ll miss the two of you as well.”

“Are you making them take on a dragon?” Ranma asked the time traveling pine marten. Ranko chuckled and shook her head.

“No. If my chibi, er they’re not that young anymore are they,” Ranko chuckled as she watched her double wrestle with her children, “If they want to, they may impress a dragon, that is if the dragon chooses them.” She caught the questioning look from her homeland’s greatest hero and continued, “A beast, or person, may want to be a dragonrider with all their being but that means nothing to a dragon, they will choose who and if they will impress… there have been hatching where one had died though because the rider they wanted was nowhere near by.”

“The bond is that deep?” Ranma asked, and Mirai-Ranko nodded silently, “Then your Miraith would die if you were to die?”

“And I for him,” Ranko replied, “Miraith is a part of me, heart and soul. I value his life the same as I do my children… more than my own.” Ranma nodded in understanding, she had just recently had her first child as well and would gladly give her life for her tiny buddle of joy, a female whom she’d named Hikari. Though like the other chibi to be born on the island she was an odd color, light green fur, Ranma like the other island dwellers thought nothing of it, just that she was her child and nothing less.

“Well, Ranma-sensei,” Ranko sighed, “We should be going now.”

“You time travel, you could stay here for quite some time yet,” Ranma argued not wanting to see her prize pupils go quite yet.

“That I do, sensei,” Ranko smiled weakly, “But on my original jump I misjudged it and appear here fifteen minutes from now. I will tell you it is not the most pleasant of feelings being so close to yourself, it weakens the body and could endanger lives.” Ranma nodded a bit surprised but still understanding. With in minutes the twins were saying their goodbyes and their things were gathered onto the shoulders of the large red-black dragon who stood only three times higher than their mother. It was amazing that Miraith could carry so much weight at once… then again he was a dragon and it was said a dragon could carry as much as he or she thought they could carry. That theory had as of yet to be disproved in the eyes of the dragonriders.

Fireriot’s ears perked up as she and her brother entered the training center in the Healing Den. Had she not lived there her whole life she would have thought it weird to walk into this room. There was a weight training area in the far right corner, a gymnastic area near the entrance of the training center. A court to play games known as basketball or racket ball and around all this was an eight lane track that was four hundred meters around the inner lane. Fireriot, unlike her brother, ignored most of these features and looked to the back of the room where a door lead to another room.

“Niisan,” she commented to Zensen without looking at him, “I’m going to the range for a while.” Fireriot didn’t even wait for a reply from her brother or didn’t hear it, she wasn’t too sure, and walked off towards the door on the other end of the workout room. It didn’t take her long to arrive at the door and open it entering a small passage with another door at the end. On her left was an office with one soul occupant in it save for the multiple range of weapons on the wall behind the “shop keeper.” The weaponry ranged from simple bows and arrow mock-ups to small fire arms, whether using bullets or laser beams.

“Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you at the shooting range, Fireriot,” the man behind the counter smiled cheerfully at the female marten, “Which will it be today?”

“I think I’ll start out with the hand gun today…. Then we’ll go from there,” Fireriot replied. The arms keeper nodded at the pine marten’s decision and handed her a jet black hand gun and then pulled out a pair of ear plugs and a oddly long tub.

“Ear plugs, or silencer, my friend?” he asked her seriously. Fireriot looked at the two items for a time and picked up the bright orange earplugs.

“First need to get my shot back, then I’ll try my assassin gig,” the female smiled in a somewhat evil way. In her younger days her mother wanted her and her brother to be versed in all arts of combat and so had taken them to many different futures and pasts. Her brother had a passion for Marshal Arts but she had more of a passion for firearms and was one of the best at it. While away on Turasake she’d kept up to shape by shooting arrows from bows and cross bows. Now that she was back in her birthplace she was determined to bring up her manual and automatic weapons that were considered future types to her

The purple pine marten gathered the handgun into her paw and checked that the safety was still in place. With practiced ease she opened the gun and made sure there was no ammunition in the black weapon. The arms keeper didn’t need a word from the female as he set three clips of ammunition down on the counter. Fireriot calmly picked up the three sheaths of bullets and walked through the second door placing the orange earplugs in her large ears. Her attitude was cold as she approached one of the “shooting stalls” and entered the area. Her only protection from other gunners, if there had been any in the shooting range, was a bulletproof glass

As if performing some ancient ritual, Fireriot placed the handgun in her right paw releasing the safety of the empty clip to the ground and replacing it with one of the full clips in such a way that it looked like a dance with her paws. As this all happened her footpaw pressed a large petal on the floor and a buzz sounded mutely in her plugged ears. The marten’s eyes blazed with a primitive fire and a riot of bullets were shot at her target which she had summoned via the foot pedal on the floor. Those who could have watched her at this moment would have thought that possibly her mother had predicted this when naming her. Fireriot would have coolly replied that they may be right. After all, her mother had the power to see the future at times, having her red black Miraith only helped that ability even more.

With a sniff from her dark purple nose, Fireriot released the now empty clip at the same time as hitting a button to her left with her tail causing the target to come forward so she might take it off the line. The young pine marten groaned as she looked at it, she was in need of more practice that she thought.

“Only nine hit center!” she growled at the three bullets that had made their mark in the second to the middle ring. Deciding something she walked back through the door, pistol placed in her sash around her waist and held her paw up with all five digits extended when the arms-man looked up at her early retreat.

“That bad, huh?” he asked placing five more clips of bullets on the counter. Fireriot merely grunted in annoyance and flipped some of her long headfur back over her shoulder. The shop keeper chuckled at the arrogance of the somehow pretty young beast. The young marten walked back through the divider door readying a clip for her next firing practice. She was not fully into one of the booths when she hit the target petal with her tail and placed a new clip in before the target appeared before her and she started to shoot once more.

It was an hour and nearly sixty clips later that Fireriot came out of the range, satisfied that she had brought her standards back up to nearly where she’d left off… there would be other days to perfect her aim again. As she thanks the arms keeper for his services she found that her brother was done with his weight training for the time being and was waiting for her.

“Good work out?” the twins asked one another at the same time. They both chuckled at this, thought they’d grown out of chibihood quite some time ago they still had the tendency to say the same thing at the same time and finish one another sentences. They had been serious trainers for most of their lives and it was rare to be able to have a good chuckle. In some respects the twins had never really grown up, they were still young inside and it showed some in moments like these.

“Very good, thanks,” the both said as one and gave another laugh. Both pine martens growled playfully at that moment and a small scuffle ensued before the others in the training room. A mixture of purple, blue, and orange blurred around the floor and sometimes sperated into two streaks before coming back together in fits of giggles and balls of laughter.

THUD!!

The twins both shook their heads at having their fun stopped because they had, for a spit second, not been paying attention to where they were going and who was there. To their surprise and major embarrassment, they found they had knocked over a woman, and not just any woman. This was a woman with dark hair that had a streak of white through it, this was Baeris!

“Gomenasai, Baeris-sama!” both twins apologized with deep bows on the ground. Baeris sat up and shook her head to clear it. Seeing who it was that knocked her over the woman sighed. In truth she had been looking for them but it amazed her at times that these two were nearly nineteen years old and still played wrestled like some young children. Though she didn’t know their mother’s home language she did understand, at least roughly if not fully, what they were trying to say.

“I understand you’re sorry, you two,” she replied rubbing the back of her head, “but it’s usually more polite to help the person you knocked over up before bowing in apology.” The twins couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle as they helped the dragonrider up though she more than likely didn’t need it anymore. Baeris gave them a reproachful glare about the collision to which the twins started to apologize again.

“It’s alright,” she replied in the end, unconcously finger the lock of her hair that was white, “It’s not like you caused me any harm…. I was looking for the two of you when you bumped into me actually.”

“You were?” The orange tipped blue pine marten replied his ears twitching in curiosity. Fireriot also too on a very interested expression as Baeris motioned them to follow her. The two pine martens complied and walked out of the training room and down of the many corridors. They soon found themselves in a place that was quite familiar to them from years ago, Baeris’ office. Out of habit both marten’s ears drooped feeling they had not apologized enough. The former Weyrwoman closed the door behind them and chuckled.

“You two look like you’re children again with your ears drooped so,” Baeris chuckled, “You’re not in trouble at all,” the twins let out a sigh o relief, “Your mother brought to my attention that the two of you may be interested in being dragonriders like your mother. Is she correct on this?” The two pine marten teens blinked at the woman before them. This is what she wanted to ask them.

“Well don’t most beast want to be bonded to a dragon?” Fireriot counted and could only smirk at the human’s reaction to her wording of beast. For some reason it amused her that humans didn’t like to be known as beasts thought they were descendents of beasts of one species or another. The female human however didn’t vocally object the wording and nodded.

“Most do,” she replied, “some don’t, that’s why I ask.” The twins looked at one another and this time it was Zensen who spoke.

“We’d both like to impress dragons one day.”

“Well then,” Baeris brightened, “while the two off you were off being trained by your ancestors there was another frenzy, the Cross Gender Frenzy, a flight for dragons with riders of the opposite gender of themselves.”

“Did Okaasan participate in it with Miraith?” Fireriot asked. During their whole lives the twins had found that their mother had never entered the dark red-black dragon in a flight. It was thought, and probably true, that she did not enter him because she still felt the loss of her mate all those years ago

“No,” Baeris replied, “but she did want the two of you to stand at this clutch if you got back before the hatching… and were willing.”

“We’ll do it!” the union of the twins’ voices rang in the room causing Baeris to wince.

“In that case, consider yourselves candidates for the sands of this clutch,” she smiled, “and when the time comes you’ll be quickly notified to go to the sands” The to pine martens bowed deeply to Baeris before leaving the room extremely happy and for the time training was forgotten. Dragons were more important now.