by Shade
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Beginning Disclaimer Space
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and affiliates are the
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Rifts and
Phase World are owned by Palladium. Other
references belong to their respective owners.
There *are* scenes of violence and mature situations
and themes in this story. If that's not your cup of tea,
leave now or don't blame me. M.A.I.C. as of now!
Exiting Disclaimer Space
!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!
Prologue 1: Tangled Webs
-------------------------
Every story has a beginning. While some may lie unfinished,
others
end prematurely, and a few rare tales stretch into infinity, all of
them
had a start somewhere. This story was no exception to that rule, for
it
was the First Story.
Every civilization knows of it, because it is the story of the First.
An advanced civilization arising near the very beginning of
time itself.
A race that had achieved the unimaginable, done the impossible.
Those who had striven to surpass even the Gods, and succeeded
beyond their wildest dreams. For the First created the Forge.
Neither living creature nor unfeeling machine, but something much,
much more.
It was all that was and all that could be. The First had not just
merely built the
Forge, they had awakened it. The entire galaxy was lit up by the
awesome flames
that burned within It.
The secrets of Life and Death were secrets no more. The First had
unlocked the very fabric of the reality and otherspace, Creation
itself
now lay within their power. The Forge gave the First life eternal,
made
them the perfect beings. It granted all that they desired and more,
so
much more. For such was the Forge's nature, all that was good and
noble had been invested into it and a new light shone in the Universe.
But every light casts a shadow.
That shadow was the One.
Alone among the First, the One still envied and hated. He hungered
to possess the Forge's power alone and unchallenged. Biding his
time,
the One waited and planned until the moment of opportunity arose.
The First were neither stupid nor naive, the defenses protecting
the Forge
from abuse were both abundant and powerful. But they had not learned
the most important lesson, that there is no such thing as a perfect
defense.
In the end, there is always a weakness.
The One found that weakness and in doing so,
condemned the First to oblivion. The Forge's
guardians were tricked and destroyed, too late
did the First realize what had happened. As the One's
hands touched the Forge, the betrayal became complete.
And Paradise was forever lost.
One moment, one wish, and the First were no more.
A thousand planets cried out and grew silent in the
span of a heartbeat. And the One rejoiced.
But then the Forge rebelled and broke free from the One.
The One was hurled into oblivion, but the damage had
been done. The Forge knew what had transpired, but could
not undo what It had wrought. For all Its power, even the Forge
was powerless against itself.
Ashamed of Its crime, the Forge hid itself from the Universe forever.
Now only the chosen are touched by its presence and blessed with
Its power. Never again has it revealed itself directly, though many
claim
to have been affected by it. The reasons for this interference have
been
widely speculated upon, but remain a mystery.
Only the Forge knows.
But legends do not always tell the entire story....
-End Prologue 1
