Disclaimer: This fanfiction uses existing ideas, characters and or worlds, but is an independent work of art. I own nothing, hence the reason for publishing my writings here instead of in real books where I could make some money.
It was a sunny morning in the Dim Crag Mountains of Jade, the sky was mostly clear, and what few clouds there were, weren't the kind capable of raining on anyone's parade.
A gathering of energy on a rocky plateau overlooking a body of water signalled an incoming teleportation scroll.
"I appreciate the lot of you seeing me to Jade Realm, but I'm fine now …" appearing in the middle of the burst of energy, was a party of six, five of whom were women, Mrs Diggers was among them, and had been the one to speak. "I'd appreciate it if you used the second scroll to return to Earth Realm now, I'll be able to find my own way home."
The group certainly made an impressive sight, had there been anyone there to see it.
Mrs Diggers, Julia, wore what could only be called a risqué bathrobe in red with golden designs along the borders … the uniform, which she had claimed it to be, covered very little, leaving an extremely generous cleavage visible to all who saw it … actually, it looked like she was about to spill all, but some mysterious force was holding the two halves of the front together just enough to prevent that. The length of this robe extended barely past her bottom, which made it that much more … appealing to those attracted to the female sex. In her hand, Julia held a well-crafted rapier, which she had made herself in Gina's lab with the help of what was called the Micro-Nova 2, a forge that could synthesise any type of metal and burn with the heat six times that of an exploding sun. She had gotten to make a sword out of depleted uranium … the process of making that sword would normally have taken about five hundred years, but with the help of this forge it was done in five minutes. Ranma had remade his own sword in the same fashion, ensuring its safety should it fall into enemy hands that meant to destroy it … it would be nearly impossible to do so now.
Gina wore her normal expedition outfit, but wore a blue and green bodysuit with her initials over her right breast underneath the leather jacket instead of the bathing suit … this was after all a mostly unknown world to her, and she wasn't all that sure about how people would treat her sense of fashion … of course, after changing into her clothes, she had met her mother in her uniform, and thus didn't bother putting on something else. The only thing really out of the ordinary was that she was looking glossy-eyed at the sole full-fledged werecreature in hybrid form among them, but then, she always was boy-crazy … after her adoptive sister had opened her eyes to how she looked … all those years of repressing her hormones had made them catch up with her once she started releasing her hold on her emotions.
Brianna also wore a bodysuit, only hers was coloured purple and pale purple. If she had any initials printed on it, it could not be seen due to the purple light assault armour she wore. The backpack-mounted cannons were currently inactive, but carried with them an impressive array of weapons, ranging from high energy weapons to a non-lethal light-strobe with strong stunning capability. The backpack itself contained an Anti Gravity device, which made the entire setup weightless, and the targeting and firing process could be accomplished through voice command. She was alternating between looking with envy at Beebee and Lydia, to adoration at the man, to concentration at the conversation taking place.
Beebee wore a baby pink bodysuit with white stripes along her sides, and the banner "Caution; Content may be HOT!" printed across her chest in bold red letters. Resting on her shoulders were the same cannons she had taken on when she wished to discourage Ryan Tabbot from continuing his attack on Ranma oh-so-long ago, and resting in a holster on her right thigh was the same wicked gun she had fired to interrupt said attack. A new feature was the thick bracelet attached to her right wrist … it was silver in colour, but not material, and had a coloured gem attached to the middle of it, matching the colour of her outfit. She was the only one among the six that wasn't paying much attention to the conversation, her mind on the very tempting offer given by Madrid last night … that, and she was enjoying the close contact she had with the only male of the group.
Lydia wore a black bodysuit with a build-in hood and mask, much like the stereotypic ninja outfit. Bandoliers were stretched out across her chest, riddled with pockets, and she had on a utility belt in addition to this. All of these pockets were lined with Stuff-Space generators, and contained weapons for and of various designs, ranging from light explosives to melee to blades and weighted ropes. The only part of her that was visible, apart from her fingers, was the area around her eyes. She was also the lucky occupant of the other half of the man's side.
Ranma was dressed in his mage suit, kung fu slippers and pants … he had no visible pockets or backpacks, and being the only male member of the group, and being a werecat, he stood out like a sore thumb. He was also tired, despite his solitary guest room and comfortable bed. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why he was more tired than he should be … he also seemed cleaner than when he had gone to bed, which was very mysterious … the only thing he could remember from the night was feeling very good, and tickled pink over something, but that must have been a dream … maybe he had been walking around in his sleep and cleaned himself before going back to bed.
"No way, mom!" exclaimed Brianna, and got a nod of agreement from the others. "You lost your title because of me! Because G'Nolga got the drop on me while I was sleeping and used me as a hostage – against you! It was because of me you couldn't fight back in that battle!" the youngest Diggers daughter struck a stubborn pose with her hands on her hips. "So I gotta help you get your title back!"
"Actually," cut Gina in cautiously, addressing her mother. "It's safe to assume that G'Nolga has massive resources, and no doubt she'll use them against you … even to prevent you from entering the tournament! You'll need all the help you can get to -" a gust of wind picked up, drawing attention once again to the skimpy outfit her mother was wearing. "Uhm … Mom? Isn't that outfit a bit … drafty?"
"Gina … Don't even go there!" warned Julia sternly. "I'd really prefer not to wear this, but I don't have a choice … it's the only way to get into Master Leep's Training Grounds. This "uniform" is his lecherous design."
The elder Diggers woman tugged at her uniform in an attempt to shrink the visible cleavage, but it was to no avail.
"Damn! I wish I could close this …" she muttered to herself.
"Master who?" asked Gina, puzzled at the unfamiliar name.
Julia gave up her futile efforts to make the uniform more decent and looked at the curious group.
"Master Leep. My old teacher," she explained. With one hand, she held the front of the uniform closed as much as she could while she continued her explanation. "The greatest Martial Arts instructor Jade has ever seen … but … he only instructs women …"
Seeing their disbelieving looks on the women, and the slight look of recognition on Ranma's face, she continued.
"I need his advice … well, specifically, I need to learn the "Renewing Breath" from him." Looks of confusion met this explanation. "It's a technique that triples a fighter's endurance. If truly mastered, one can never tire … well, hardy ever. If I'm going to enter the tournament with all those young, vigorous opponents, I'm going to really need that technique!" with a tired sigh, she added. "He probably won't teach it to me, but I have to try …"
This was where Ranma started zoning out. He was mostly capable of this on his own … did that mean he knew that technique? Nah … he made up that skill on his own … with the help of a few manga and anime … and his transformation …
"The training grounds are hidden in a mountain valley up ahead," Ranma heard Julia say, and started paying attention again, as it sounded important. He noticed her pointing up the mountainside, and correctly assumed that was where she meant. "I'll be there for at least a day. If you insist on staying with me here on Jade, you'll have to camp out right here!" Ranma could hear the underlying threat clearly. "I'll be back for you after I've met Master Leep."
Gina was not happy with this plan … and neither were any of the others. Ranma was more experienced in these matters, and wasn't more pleased than them.
"But … but, mom," stuttered the scientist and archaeologist. "I – I don't think I like you going to some "Pervert Kung Fu Master" … especially all by yourself!"
"I'll be fine, dear," assured Julia, and turned to them all with a sad expression. "But as long as all of you stay right here and watch out for each other today … only students are allowed … and … I'd rather you not see how Master Leep trains his pupils."
"Now I'm really against this!" interrupted Brianna stubbornly. "We're coming too!"
"This discussion is over," insisted Julia. "You are all to remain here, or depart for Earth Realm … clear?"
Silence met this question.
"Clear?"
With a collective and reluctant sigh, Brianna and Gina affirmed the question.
Satisfied that the group would do as told, Julia turned and started a light jog in the direction she had previously indicated.
Once she was out of hearing range, Brianna turned to Gina.
"What now?" she asked in a whisper, just in case their mother was not far enough away for them not to be overheard.
"Here …" replied Gina and fished a few items out of her pocket. One of these items was tossed to her sister. "My latest invention!"
The others also got one each.
"Huh?" asked Brianna as she looked the thing over. "What is it?"
The item in question looked a lot like a wristwatch.
Gina strapped one onto her own wrist, and smirked smugly.
"Cloaking Device," replied Gina with a loving tone. She was obviously proud of her achievement.
Ranma returned the device to a bewildered Gina.
"I can do without it," he explained, and suddenly disappeared from view. It might have been unethical to use this technique, but the wife of his sensei could be in danger, and it was his unspoken duty as a student to protect the family of his sensei, even from the fancy of perverted old men. He hoped no one would fault his logic.
The others activated the devices they had been given, and Ranma was surprised that he could suddenly not hear or smell them anymore. He could see them, but they were very faint, like a ghost, pale and see-through like a poorly printed overhead paper.
The ghostly Gina tried speaking to him, but realised that he could not hear her, even when she used a small radio transmitter. That and she couldn't see him, so she had no idea of where he was. She turned off her device.
"Ranma, where are you?"
"Right where I was," replied Ranma, giving the women a slight start. "If we are to catch up with your mother, we had better start soon, just lead the way, and I'll follow."
It must have been disconcerting to have a voice come out of thin air, but Gina handled it well.
Lydia latched onto the space where she had heard the voice, and thus latched onto Ranma. Heh, the others probably hadn't thought of this.
By the time the group caught up with Julia, she was bowing respectfully, if somewhat reluctantly, to an old, bald man with a grey moustache, nearly half her height, who was holding open the giant wooden gates. There was a bruise on Julia's left cheek, but she didn't seem worse for wear, and two women were seen retreating over on the other side of the gate.
Ranma was surprised … the man didn't seem to be half as bad as he was made out to be … he even seemed somewhat polite …
"-Fah!" the old man scoffed at something Julia had said. "Call me what you used to call me. Eh?"
"Sorry …" sighed Julia. "Ol' geezer … there's been a lot on my mi- EEEK!"
Ranma now realised why Julia thought of the man as she did, as he quickly goosed the woman and stepped away, out of reach.
"Ah … Mmm! Still firm and supple as ever. Heh!" Leep commented with perverted glee. "Hmm … Although you have yet to learn never to take your eyes off me …eh? Guard can be relaxed. Guard can never be let down." Though Ranma could not help but agree with the sentiment, the method of proving it was not to his tastes. It didn't seem to suit Julia's tastes either, as she whipped around to glare at her former master. "I, on other hand, have learned. Always to keep out of lunging range after I "instruct" Julia." The man finished in a small chuckle.
Surprisingly enough, Julia started chuckling as well. "One of these days, ol' geezer …" she promised.
The two proceeded through the gate, which closed behind them, coincidentally locking the party of five outside.
This had the effect of keeping them from hearing anything said on the other side.
Lydia had the solution, and jumped onto the wall, abandoning Ranma's side. She then pulled out a rope, which she dangled along the outside wall. As the rope extended beyond the reach of the image-reprocesser, it became visible, allowing those of the party not physically capable of jumping that high to scale the wall.
Once on top of the wall, the group was presented with a grand view of what could only be a garden.
A path of dirt led from the gate to a gazebo surrounded by neatly trimmed shrubbery, and Julia was walking with Master Leep towards it in conversation, though they were unable to hear what was being said from that distance.
By some stroke of luck, the thick stone wall came close to the gazebo further down, and the group managed to get there together, though Gina insisted on staying behind to look elsewhere. She mentioned something about keeping all your eggs in one basket … a sentiment Ranma agreed to after reading it on her ghostly lips, but the others would not let him go once they had managed to get a hold of his invisible form.
Ranma could see that Brianna was speaking into a radio, but due to the cloaking device, he couldn't hear her.
Not that it mattered, anyway. There were more pressing matters at hand … a female elf in the same green uniform Julia wore was creeping up on them, following their trail with a perplexed curiosity.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Ranma could do that would not tip off the elf to their presence, so he was forced to watch as Brianna suddenly noticed as well, and started to panic.
"That's odd … the trail ends here …" the elf commented to herself as she stopped just short of bumping into Brianna's left shin.
"Well, did you find anything, Kelith?" asked a coarse female voice from the ground before them. Ranma silently cursed himself for getting reckless and not paying enough attention to his surroundings … how could he have missed the patrol coming this close?
"Um … evidently not …" sighed the elf, Kelith. "The trail of those odd footprints led right here, but …"
"Hmph," grumbled the troll female at the foot of the wall. "Another elven false alarm."
"Still …" continued the elf without paying attention to the grumbled insult. "Something seems out of place here …"
Ranma could sense Brianna's panic as the elven hand drew closer and closer to her foot.
However, that didn't really compare to the shock the elf woman got when she made contact with a foot, causing the rest of Brianna to appear, as the image-reprocesser had been overloaded by the contact.
"Gh- GHOST!" Kelith screamed in panic, pointing to the newly appeared Brianna. "PHANTOM! MAGICIAN! WRAITH! HELP!"
This, needless to say, drew the attention of the rest of the elf's patrol.
"An intruder!" growled the troll woman. "An invasion! Sound the alarm! THE SCHOOL IS UNDER ATTACK!"
It did not take many moments for the heavy ringing of bells to start up, alerting the rest of the school, as well as anyone within a two kilometre radius, or more with the Ecko of the mountains, to the disturbance.
Had Brianna and Gina been alone on this trip with their mother, this would have been a disaster, as Brianna knew very little hand-to-hand combat, and would thus have a problem dealing with the strong troll and a fast elf. Gina herself was outside the danger area, and so could have escaped.
With three extra persons on her side, Brianna was left relatively alone.
True, the patrol of troll, elf and human had been slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance of a werecat, a ninja and another strange woman not unlike the first intruder apart from smaller charms and red hair, but they had assumed that they were protecting the captain of their assault force, and tried to find ways around the formidable trio to cut off the serpent's head … so to speak.
"Gina!" screamed Brianna into her radio. "We need an exit! We've got a lightning-quick elf and a half-nekkid she-troll on our tails!"
As she screamed this last bit, said troll got past Lydia and made a sizable dent in the ground near where Brianna had been standing, with a powerful stomp.
The elf tried to get around Beebee, only to get kept back by her red ponytail, which was being held firmly by Ranma.
Before his transformation, Ranma wouldn't have dreamt of doing something as underhanded as this, having been the owner of a pigtail … but after losing the braided lock of hair, he realised what a health-risk it was to have long hair in combat … it could be used to gain or lose leverage just as he had just done to the elf. It was a small wonder that more people hadn't taken advantage of it in a combat situation …
The suddenly reversed momentum caused the elf to fall backwards, and crashed her head into the hard stone ground, knocking her silly.
Brianna and Beebee seemed to have similar ideas to each other, and sent concussive blasts at the troll simultaneously, giving her a double dose, which caused the female troll to stumble to her knees, looking like she was about to have a reunion with her breakfast.
Lydia caught up with the human woman of the patrol and knocked her unconscious as she tried to run for more help than the alarm would bring in, and faster.
It was at this time Gina came running with a gun that looked like it had a plunger attached to the end. This was the hypno-ray, and Ranma knew she had been looking forward to using it … too bad she didn't get the chance this time.
"Are you guys okay?" asked Gina as she came to a stop.
"Fine … though, I think I pulled something in that dodge … Ow!" commented Brianna.
"Then let's get going!" insisted Gina. "We have to get out of here before mom-"
"Ehem!" interrupted a stern sound from behind them.
"Zoinks!" exclaimed both Diggers daughters and turned to the noise to see their mother standing at the ready for an explanation, like only a mother can, tapping her foot and with her arms crossed under her chest, stern expression marring her face.
"You … all of you," started the angry maternal figure. "Promised me that you wouldn't come here! Now, what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"Ehem!" interrupted another person, surprising Julia. "Actually, you promised me that you would never return here …" Julia slowly turned her head to look over her shoulder at the speaker, nervous sweat starting to roll off her face. "But after slipping me a dose of "week-sleep" into my tea last night – I see you had different plans … dear …"
Standing mostly hidden in the shrubbery and in the shadow of a big tree, was none other than Ranma's newest sensei, Dr Theodore Diggers, imitating Julia's stern pose.
"Eheeheehee!" chuckled Master Leep. "This is going to be good!" he sing-songed in anticipation, while Julia gulped nervously.
"Raphiel? Are you sure you want to continue your training?"
Sheila was having a slightly better day than she had lately … they didn't have to patrol the city dump today, and Raphiel had asked if there was a possibility for more training, something she had been happy to offer, as there had been little time to train since they had supposedly fouled up the case of the disappearing magicians and this was also a chance to better herself.
Currently, she was facing the living golem werecheetah in the training arena of the Northern Edge Guard Head Quarters.
"W-well … I think so, Sheila …" said the werecheetah uncertainly.
"Uh-uh!" protested Sheila. "You gotta know so, Raphie! Okay, let's go over the basics again …"
With a bit of insecurity, Raphiel engaged in a sparring match with Sheila. They were both aware of being watched by Onoli and Tirga, who were on the balcony overlooking the training arena, which might be the reason Raphiel was nervous. He was aware of the weretiger being attracted to Sheila, and knew he was being watched with suspicion … Sheila could see it in the werecheetah's eyes and body-language.
Had it been two months ago, she would have reciprocated the attraction from Tirga, but had wanted the weretiger to make the first move … after meeting Ranma, she had slowly started to lose any feelings of attraction she used to have for Tirga.
To make matters even worse, she suspected the young, in terms of time since his creation, werecheetah was starting to fall for her.
Her theory was proven when Raphiel lost his balance as she tried to teach him proper footwork, dragging her down with him, and landing on top of her in a compromising position.
Had it been Tirga, she would have pounded the crap out of him for being a pervert and arranging for the accident, but Raphiel seemed so innocent that staying angry with him was near impossible … she just didn't feel attracted to him.
To keep him at ease, she made a joke of the entire deal, and laughed.
"I really like hearing you laugh, Sheila," commented Raphiel, winding down from his own bout of laughter. "You're so cute!"
If there was one thing he could have said to make her uncomfortable, this was it.
"W- why – thank you, Raphiel!" she stuttered. "T- That's so sweet of you!" Sheila wiped some sweat from her forehead while thinking quickly for an excuse to get away for now. "W- well … it's almost time for the team meeting … I have to go …"
"Awww …" complained Raphiel.
"But you practice your balancing … we'll have another class tomorrow, okay?"
"Oh Boy!" exclaimed Raphiel with innocent enthusiasm. "Thanks, Sheila! I can't wait!"
"Neither can I, Raphie!" returned Sheila, trying to match his level of enthusiasm as she got up and started for the exit. "Bye!"
Relieved at getting away from the stressful situation, Sheila started whistling as she left the training arena, thinking about what she would do the next time she saw Ranma … he wouldn't know what hit him.
"Heh. You can be a nasty little wench when you want to be, sis …" commented Gar, who was leaning against the wall outside, just where she would pass.
"What do you mean?" asked Sheila, knowing full well what her brother thought she just did.
"You know what I mean, Sheila. The way you were cozing up to Raphiel … being so "friendly" with him … doing everything you could to raise the "Jealousy Factor" in Tirga …"
"Look, Gar …" started Sheila. "Raphiel doesn't think of me as a girlfriend … we're just buddies …"
"But!" interrupted Gar. "Tirga doesn't understand relationships like that, Sheila … with him, it's either lovers or not lovers. To him, you and Raph look like budding lovers …"
"Pheh! The guy doesn't know a real relationship when he sees one, how could he think I like Raph like that?"
"You can drop the act with me, sis," argued Gar. "You and I both heard how Tirga's heart-rate rose every time you touched Raphiel … you've had your fun giving him a taste of his own medicine, but it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt! Tell him how you feel before it's too late …"
"I don't know how many times I have to tell you, brother dear, but I don't have those feelings for that tomcatting weretiger anymore," replied Sheila in a huff.
"I don't believe you," argued Gar. "There's no way a couple of days with this Ranma character is enough for you to let go of Tirga like that!"
"Gar …" groused a new voice.
The klak of wooden sandals against stone carried to their sensitive ears.
"What in Jade?" asked Gar as he turned to the source of the sound along with his sister.
"Wh- who are you?" asked Sheila, nearly forgetting the conversation she was having with her brother.
"My name does not matter," informed the man behind a crudely cut wooden mask. "Gar! Your sensei has returned to this realm … she needs you … and Jade needs her …"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute … I know this guy," chuckled Gar. "He almost had me going."
"How about filling me in?" whispered Sheila. "What kinda freak wanders around in a grass skirt and a mystic's mask, clutching a pair of pineapples?"
And indeed, that was basically what the man looked like. It must have been a polite omission that kept Sheila from mentioning his massive gut. Seeing a fat guy in a grass skirt was not a pretty sight.
"You are forgiven for your ignorance, my loyal scrubjects …" declared the fat man in a booming voice. "Few have had the privilege of being in the presence of the one who rules Jade from the shadows … indeed … how could lowly scrubjects such as yourselves comprehend this realm's eternal, inenucleable Emperor at first sight? You need not bow to your knees … for I need no worship to sustain my inexhaustible power … but heed my words, my little scrubblings, heed for the good of your world …"
Gar guided Sheila on past the half-naked fat man.
"Keep walking, Sheila … he's just that wandering lunatic prophet," said Gar. "I forgot his name … Sappo, Blabbo, Saggo … or something. Try not to make eye contact …"
"Ew, his breath stinks … even from behind that mask!" commented Sheila. "And how did he know your name?"
"Seek …" continued the fat man, calling out after them. "Seek out your sensei, Gar … Find Julia Diggers … Jade needs her …"
Back at Leep's training grounds, Julia and Dr Diggers were having a tense moment.
The silence between them had stretched for an uncomfortable length of time, and was due to break at any moment. The three women of the patrol had started to return to their senses again, but refrained from attacking because their Master was there and seemed to be handling things.
"I deceived you …" confessed Julia, having regained some steam during the silence. "And for that, I am sorry, Theo … but you would never have understood if I'd told you I was going back to my old teacher after I promised you I wouldn't … I have to study here, Theodore … I have to learn from Master Leep the techniques I need to get through the Tournament of Arms and win back my honour from G'Nolga! I know you're upset right now-"
"Correct, Julia!" interrupted Dr Diggers sternly. "I am upset! And don't I have a right to be? You know how Master Leep trains his pupils! You expect me to stand by and let my wife be molested?"
"Humph!" snorted Master Leep. "Everybody so critical to my teaching style … fail to see results …"
"You …!" Dr Diggers snarled.
"Fah!" interrupted Master Leep. "It is I you should be angry at … not Julia … you got a problem with way I teach, boy? You talk to me."
Ranma could tell there was bad blood between the two elder men. But he stood in the background of this scene along with the younger Diggers daughters, Beebee and Lydia.
"Leep … I told you what would happen if you ever touched Julia again …" threatened Dr Diggers.
"Hmph … save your threats, Diggers …" interrupted Master Leep. "You know full well who would win if you ever challenged me … and I wish not to upset Julia by harming you … boy …"
"How dare you!" exclaimed Dr Diggers angrily. "You take advantage of innocent young women for your own perverted amuse-"
"SU!" interrupted Mater Leep with cool anger. "I only train veterans, Diggers … expert fighters who want to learn from my teachings … Pain means little to them – they've been through harshest of training … conventional discipline techniques are a joke to them …"
Ranma could see the old man's point … though he didn't necessarily agree with the methods he employed.
"Hmph!" snorted Dr Diggers, glaring down at the man half his size. "How convenient for you!"
"You are no longer welcome here, Diggers," stated the elder man. "These grounds are for students only … and you need not worry about me "goosing" Julia any longer. That is for my disciples only … and from this moment on, she is no longer my student!"
This sudden turn of events seemed to have a devastating effect on Julia's demeanour, as she suddenly looked despaired, something she most likely was, given the reason she had sought out her old master. "But, Master Leep …" she asked timidly.
"Carla and Luan …" continued the old Master. "Tomorrow morning, you will see Julia from school. She is never to return as a student …"
"Master Leep? Why?" asked the woman in green uniform and short, brown hair. She and her companion seemed as upset about this as Julia.
"You are going with her …" continued Master Leep. "You are both students of Julia Diggers now … my fellow Master of the Leep style … she is to start her school on Earth-Realm … Kelith, bring Julia's Master gi …"
Relief flooded Julia's demeanour. This was much better than she had feared.
Julia was not the only one to show a change in expression … the two women, Carla and Luan, were bouncing in place with glee, screaming joyfully "We're training under Julia! We're training under Julia!"
Ranma had to force himself to look away, as the jumping affected not only their charms, but also caused their uniform to lift in strategic places, displaying their skimpy underwear for all to see. The reason he looked away, was the heated glares from the women clutching to his arms … he didn't want to give them any ammunition for arguments by staring at other women. He also didn't want to call attention to the situation that was rising in response to the view he had by calling attention to himself.
While the other women were in full activity, Dr Diggers approached the younger group that had had clustered around Ranma.
"Guys … let's go …" he announced. "Julia will meet us later … I believe she has work to do now …"
"Dad?" asked Brianna suspiciously. "We're not just going to leave mom alone with that Leep guy, are we?" she cracked her knuckles in a symbolic gesture, a promise of pain to any who violated her mother.
"Julia's fine, Brianna," assured Dr Diggers. "As Leep stated … Julia is no longer his pupil. There is no longer cause for concern."
This confused most of the group, but they followed the grey-haired man as he led the way back to the spot Julia had chosen for their campsite in the emerging darkness.
It was dark by the time they made it there.
"Dad? How long has mom been a student of Master Leep?" asked Brianna once they started slowing down.
"Hmmm …" responded Dr Diggers. "She became his pupil just after I met her, Brianna … We were both only just beginning back then … we both had to learn from an adept. I was your age when I first met Master Leep, Gina … he was very polite … courteous … and wise …and … Julia had a crush on him. A lot of his other students did too …"
"Mom? Had a crush on that old guy? You're joking!" exclaimed Brianna in disbelief.
"Leep looked a lot different over twenty years ago, Brianna …" explained Dr Diggers. "He was very distinguished. But it was all a façade … Leep began showing his true colours after a big fight broke out among his students over who was Leep's favourite pupil … Apparently, his suppressed lecherous tendencies were ignited by that fight … he changed his uniforms … and changed his teaching technique … suffice to say, Julia's crush on him soon vanished after that …"
"Hmmm … at least he was harmless … or at least he seemed as such," mused Brianna.
Gina was busy setting out a device that looked like a flat backpack with a push-button extended from it.
"Actually, the person we should be worrying about is this G'Nolga character," commented Gina as she stood up. "I'm setting up the tent … stand back …"
She took the push-button cord in her hand and pressed it.
-FTOOM!-
Suddenly a big metal object crashed into the ground where the device had been, and extended three legs to the ground for stability. A set of stairs led up to what looked like the door of a submarine. Ranma thought it looked like a three-armed octopus.
"Say, dad?" started Brianna. "What does G'Nolga have against mom, anyway …?"
Ranma was interested in hearing about this, and paused in his observation of what Gina thought setting up a tent meant.
"Those two have been in a feud that extends a long way into the past, Brianna," explained Dr Diggers. "A deadly feud …" he made a few gestures, and suddenly an outhouse popped into existence not far away, complete with a crescent moon cut into the door. "Mmm … we may need one of these, too …" he added in afterthought.
Seeing the expecting expressions of everyone, he continued with the story.
"On Jade, many disputes are settled in duels or tournaments instead of wars … G'Nolga and Julia first met when the Barbarian tribe, the Dwarven kingdom and the Elven nation held a small tournament to settle a border dispute. Julia, representing the Barbarian tribe, narrowly defeated G'Nolga, representing the Dwarven kingdom. They've been bitter rivals since that first battle …
"Julia faced G'Nolga many times … winning only by a slim margin each battle … the last time they fought was the last Tournament of Arms.
"Julia used a secret technique G'Nolga had never seen before then … naturally, G'Nolga took this defeat very badly. She accused Julia of cheating her out of her rightful place as Arms-Master … then disappeared after swearing to have her revenge …"
Ranma thought this sounded very familiar … why?
"I see …" hummed Gina in understanding. "Well, mom's got her hands full this time … we've got to be ready to back her up …"
Brianna suddenly came out from behind the "tent" with what looked like a flame-thrower.
"Hey, guys …" she called out excitedly. "I got the Plasma Thrower! Let's make s'mores!"
Dr Diggers didn't respond to this, but slowly walked away from the campsite.
"Dad?"
"I'm just going to wait for Julia over here … good night," said Dr Diggers calmly.
Author's Notes; The reference to where Leep's Training Compound was located, I got from Broken Hearts Combined, by RedPriest17, as I could not locate it nor the location of the Tournament on any map I have gathered on the Jade realm, nor can I find reference to it in the comic books, though I am still quite a few issues from having the complete Gold Digger series. If anyone knows the proper locations of these places, please share them with me so I don't make a bigger ass out of myself than necessary.
Small writing tip; supplied in part by borg rabbit; "Loose" and "Lose" are not interchangeable. Something that is "Loose" is not firmly held or fixed in place. If you "Lose" something, you do not know where it is, for example because you have forgotten where it is.
Credits; The bracelet is the compact form of a blaster weapon, not too unlike the one Megaman uses, only it doesn't cover as much surface of the hand as the original. The idea for this weapon was from a combination of sources. The first source was of course; Suikoden One Half , by MadHat886, where Ranma is given such a device by Science Hat, I believe. The second source was ChaosRune, who suggested it to me in a review at some point, just after the violent confrontation between Ranma and Ryan.