Ranma the Patryn
Disclaimer: Read the previous chapters. It's there.
Author's rant: Well, here's another chapter of Ranma the Patryn! It feels good to be working on this, believe you me! -WD
Chapter 5 - Xar-Drax by Wanderer D (wandererd@hotmail.com) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranma dreamt. The air was alight with fire, he could see the other elements in the distance as hurricanes, tidal waves and earthquakes tore the mountains, forests and cities into nothing. The fire around him didn't burn him. He was part of it.
He felt as the pine-needles burnt into ashes as he grazed them. He felt the sensation of being fed as the wood splintered and smoked and burst into flames under his caress.
The world disappeared, and the elements stayed apart, floating in nothing. Then a light called them all and they became a swirl of color: freezing water twirling with burning fire; with biting air and with solid earth. Mixing under the command of that light. Giving themselves into this new world that was being born.
And as fire became sentinent he could see down into a huge jungle that extended beyond his sight. And entering this jungle were creatures. Weak creatures that walked on their hind legs, and had painted their bodies with magic.
Ranma extended his red, ruby-like wings with a roar. There was only one feeling that invaded his senses as he took to the air, a feeling that seeped from the ground, air, water and fire of this very world.
Destroy them!
***
Ranma sat up with a start. He looked around, trying to get his bearings and then noticed the tattooed arm around his waist. Looking around he breathed calmly as he took in the sight of Rue sleeping next to him.
Rue mumbled and opened her eyes, looking up at him and smiling. He smiled back, starting to forget his dream when suddenly he felt his heart beat so strongly that he fell to the side with a cry, hugging his chest in an attempt to control the pain.
"Ixar!" Rue shouted, jumping down from the bed and kneeling next to him as he gritted his teeth and cried out in pain.
***
Ambereye smiled, opening his eyes and looking up into the night sky. He could feel it. Ranma was about to die.
For a moment he regretted the fact that the boy would die. He would have enjoyed fighting him and killing him in combat. Ranma had outsmarted him after all, and he was strong enough to prove a worthy opponent.
All that he had to do was to wait now.
***
"No!" Urd shouted looking down at the lake. "If he dies... my world... his home world will..."
A look of resolve crossed her face, and she fell into the lake. "I will help him. He has much to do yet!" Urd declared as she went through the waters. The lake lit up and she felt a sudden pang of conscience. She hadn't even stopped to think... if the boy's destiny was to die...
***
Rue tried to take Ranma's hands in hers to try to heal him, but her lover's arms were tight around his body as he convulsed. It was unlike anything she had seen. Before her eyes his runes started to glow and unravel, earning another shout of pain.
Rue gritted her teeth. She wanted to call for help, but she couldn't leave him alone! Why hadn't anyone come here, anyway? Surely someone had heard him shout!
She tried again to take his hands.
"That won't work." someone said.
Rue turned around and confronted Urd just as Ranma gasped in pain behind her.
"Who are you?! Did you do this?!" Rue shouted, jumping to the side and taking her knife in hand.
"I didn't do this, and the name isn't important now." Urd said warily. She pointed to the convulsing Ranma. "That is happening because of the Blood Dragon's blood that he drank. It is destroying him because it was meant to destroy Patryns."
Rue lowered her knife a little. "Then what do I do?"
"You do nothing. There's nothing that Patryn or Sartan power can do for him. If he were a Patryn he'd be dead by now. A Sartan wouldn't do much better." Ranma convulsed yet again.
"What do you mean?" Rue asked warily, remembering that she didn't know this person.
"Nothing, really. If you want to know, ask him." Urd said as she looked at the writhing young man. "I think he will survive... but..."
"But?" Rue growled.
Urd sighed. "If you want Ixar to survive you and your friends must give him a little blood. Just a drop each will be enough. Drop each into this vial," she gave a small green crystal flask to Rue. "and make him drink it."
Rue took the vial. "Why should I trust you?" she asked.
Urd looked at the convulsing Ranma. "Because he might die."
Rue nodded but had one last question. "And what's in the vial?"
"Something that will make your blood much more powerful and help him regain control. Otherwise, Ambereye might be able to control Ixar."
Rue shuddered. When she looked up the woman wasn't there.
***
"Are you sure that is wise?" Haplo asked his daughter.
They were all standing around Ranma's bed as he cried out and convulsed. Haplo, Marit, Alfred and his two kids, Usha, Jorel and Aghathar had all given one drop of blood for the vial. Now all that remained to be done was to give it to him. But no-one knew this woman that had appeared. How could they trust her?
"His skin burns to the touch. He calls for water and drinks all he can in one gulp, then asks for more. His tattoos are unravelling. We have no choice." Rue said through gritted teeth. "And if this doesn't work... that woman will have to face my revenge." She promised solemnly. She felt someone's hand on her shoulder and looked at Aghathar.
"And mine." The Sartan said, grimly.
"And mine." Rena added.
"And mine." Hugh said.
"And ours." Haplo said for all the others.
Rue forced a smile. She really was grateful, but she hoped they all had sworn for nothing. She held up Ranma's head and poured the liquid from the vial in.
Ranma drank it up greedily and slumped back, suddenly he gritted his teeth and screamed in pain, his muscles tightened and his eyes flared open, staring at nothing.
Rue cried out. "That bitch! She was lying!"
But Merit grabbed her arm. "No... look!" she pointed at the tattoos on Ranma's body as they started to unite again into their proper order. One by one the unravelled runes became legible once again, glowing slightly, after a few tense seconds that seemed like hours Ranma eased back, asleep into the bed. The tattoos slowly stopped glowing the angry red.
"Incredible..." Alfred said, studying the tattoos. "They are all blood-red now."
***
Ambereye was amazed. The kid had survived. His link to him let him know that his opponent was still alive, if nothing else. He smiled to himself. It was good. He would get the chance to kill Ranma after all.
It was then that he noticed the Patryn that had walked into his new lair. He regarded the creature for a moment before speaking.
"You are no Patryn. Who are you? And what do you want?" he growled menacingly.
The 'Patryn' smiled in a very reptilian way. "You are sharp, Ambereye, just as I had heard."
The dragon didn't answer.
"My name is Xar-Drax." The Patryn impersonator said. "And I have an offer for you. A new war, and a new chance to escape the Labyrinth."
Ambereye had already deduced the creature's nature by its impersonation of a Patryn. The runes were backwards, as if he were looking at a Patryn in a mirror. And the name. A mixture of the names of the two most feared masterminds to ever set foot on the worlds.
"And what do I gain from that, besides the obvious?" he asked the Dragon Snake.
"You will lead the Blood Dragons into war. Most of the spoils will be yours. And you will be able to fight the Patryn boy that destroyed your last lair: Ixar. And the best part of all... it will be in the world as it was before the Sundering."
***
Ranma slowly woke up. It was morning, and he was alone. The curtains were closed, but there was enough light coming through for him to know it was late morning.
"Good. You're awake." Someone said.
He looked around the room until he noticed a glowing sphere materializing over him. It turned into a small amulet with something akin to runes on it.
"If you want to know why and how this all happened. Your coming here, you surviving the cat-fist training, and also surviving the Blood Dragon's kin test... use that amulet to guide you there." The voice said. He noticed it was a female voice and somewhat familiar to him.
"How do I use it?" Ranma asked.
"Just say: I want the truth. It will guide you there."
"Who are you?" he asked, but no one answered.
Rue came a few minutes later with breakfast, finding Ranma looking at a strange amulet in his hand. "Ixar? What is that?" she asked.
***
Urd drifted down to the side of the huge lake, settling down on the shore as the images on it disappeared. She had done what she could. She could feel that any more would cause great displeasure from Kami-sama. But it gave her hope.
***
"I'm going." Ranma said.
Rue and the others from his group nodded.
Ranma had received various stares from the people around when he emerged with the dark-red runes. Some had even thought he was an impersonator, but Haplo and Alfred had already told many that it was a result of surviving the poisoning from the Dragon Blood.
So, even as he received stares, he had received small cheers and slaps on the back. Still, he didn't have time to delve on that. So, he had rounded Aghathar, Hugh, Rena and Rue up and told them about the amulet and that they would have to go on without him until he found the truth.
"I can understand how you feel, Ixar." Rue said. "But it is going to be dangerous, you should let us go with you."
Ranma sighed. "Listen guys, I have already thought this over, there's no point in all you going, I mean, this may just lead up to nothing..."
"It doesn't matter, Ixar." Hugh said. "We're a team, we go together."
"Besides, we don't want to face your mother and father and try to explain why we let you go alone." Aghathar said with a smile.
Ranma grinned at them.
***
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaseeee, Mythtril?" Rena asked going all puppy eyed.
The Dragon of Pryan tried not to sigh. She was trying her darnest, but he had seen her battle like a true warrior before and he wasn't buying it. "Listen, Rue, I would be glad to take you guys into a mission, but under no circumstances am I allowed to take you out just like this!"
"Oh, come on, Mythril, we really need to go there." Rue added.
The dragon looked down at the assembled group, as he was about to speak someone interrupted him.
"It is a nice day for an uncharted flight, isn't it?" An old man in a gray robe with a crumpled, over-abused hat said to his companion, an imposing man, dressed all in black: black breeches, black velvet coat, black silk stockings; white hair, tied in back with a black ribbon.
"It is, indeed, Sir." The gentleman answered.
The Dragon snapped his mouth shut.
"I wonder, what does the vast Labyrinth have in store for those brave and adventurous enough to fly in?" the old man said dreamily.
"I imagine quests of certain importance might find closure there, sir." The gentleman said.
"Yes, that is true. Reminds me of what's his name half-elven and his group, of friends." The old man said looking up into the air. "I think if he hadn't given Goldilocks a chance they might have never met me, eh?"
"I think her name was Goldmoon sir, and no, they wouldn't have met you. But I do believe it is time we left sir, you had a meeting to attend." The white haired man said, looking at some device on his left fore arm.
The old man snapped to attention. "Ah, yes, we had to meet Mr. Jones about that Arc thing, didn't we?"
The gentleman took the old man's arm as he guided him out of the Dragon caves. "No sir, Mr. Jones already managed to control that situation."
"Ah, then it must be Mr. Quincy that I was going to meet?" the old man's voice slowly faded.
Mythril didn't hear what the other answered.
"Mythril?" Rue asked again, and the dragon blink-blinked.
"What?" he asked, a little confused.
"You zoned out on us for a moment there." Ranma said.
"Zoned out?" Rue asked. Ranma just smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Ah... yes, what were we saying?" the dragon asked.
"You were about to tell us if you were taking us or not?" Hugh prompted.
Mythril sighed. He would get in trouble for this, he just knew it. But then again, his group of Rescuers was always getting into trouble, it was time their dragon lived up to their fame. He gave his consent with a nod.
***
"Oh, here you are, lass." The old man said, as he and the gentleman walked towards Urd.
The latter was looking gloomily at Ranma's group as they jumped on the back of the Dragon of Pryan and started their journey.
"You!" Urd said, jumping up and pointing at him.
Startled, the old man turned around and then faced the gentleman. "She seems to have a problem with you." He said.
"Not him!" Urd growled. "YOU! Mr. Bond!"
The gentleman's eyebrow twitched. He looked at the old man. "Bond?"
The old man stood up straight and nodded. "Quite right, old chap."
"Sir... this young lady deserves to know your real name." the gentleman said.
"You think?" The old man asked, a little embarrassed. "But I like her calling me 'Mr. Bond'"
"Ha! I knew you were not James Bond! What is your real name?" Urd asked, with a gleam in her eye.
"See what you've done?" the old man asked the gentleman, glaring at him.
The man in black didn't answer, just gave him a stern look.
The old man sighed. "Well, my name is... uh..."
Urd pulled out the blue letter. "Here it says that it begins with an 'F' and that you're 'The Magnificent'" she said venomously.
The gentleman looked a little amused as he regarded his aged companion. "'The Magnificent'? Shouldn't that be 'The Fabulous'?"
The old man looked downcast for a moment. "But last week I was 'The Most Amazing'... I really wanted to change that one, you know?"
Urd wasn't paying attention to him though, something had sparked her memory. "The Fabulous... the fabulous..." her eyes opened wide and she pointed an accusing finger at the old man. "FIZBAN!"
The old man whirled around, looking behind him. Hat falling down, eldritch energy glowing on his staff he looked around. "Where?! Where is he! Damn him! He's always following me!"
Urd blinked, a little confused.
"She means you, sir." The gentleman in black clarified.
"Oh..." the old man said. The eldritch energy on his staff puffed out and he turned around to face Urd. "I guess I'm Zifnab, then." Fizban said.
"Fizban." Urd said, arching an eyebrow at the man in black, who nodded back at her, confirming her suspicions.
"Zifnab, Fizban, what's the difference?" The old man said, sounding a little fed up with the whole deal.
"But... but... weren't you... gone?" Urd asked.
Fizban smiled, a little conspiring smile that edged on being manic. "As a visitor once answered when I asked him the same question said: That is a secret!"
Urd sighed. "If you're here it means you're not gone."
"Oh, sure, spoil it for me, will you?" Fizban said, annoyed. "It sounded cool when he said it."
Urd just shook her head. "Anyway, what are you doing here, sir?"
"Don't 'sir' me, young girl." Fizban said, and the crazed look left his eyes. "I came to tell you that you did the right thing. Ranma would have survived, but you have given him the strength of friendship and love to help him survive the trials ahead. Kami-sama is not angry with you. He knows you love the earth."
Urd sighed in relief. And Fizban continued. "However, you are not to continue intervening, the amulet has sped things up, for the good, I hope." When he saw Urd droop a little he smiled gently and patted her shoulder. "I'm sure it will work out fine. Your sisters have each one opportunity for intervening, but of their own free will and as they see fit."
Urd sighed, feelings of gratitude seeping from her heart to the Elder God from a distant universe. "What makes you think it will be alright?" she couldn't help but ask as the two visitors started walking away.
Fizban turned around, with a faraway smile on his face, and the goofy looks back. "I made a bet with Kami-sama and a demon! So it'd better be alright!" He said, pulling his hat back a little to let him see her from under the brim.
The gentleman in black frowned for the first time. "Sir, what had we agreed on betting?"
Fizban cringed a little, but smiled encouragingly to Urd. "That I shouldn't bet the fate of the universe with God." He answered the man in black in a sing-song tone and winked at her from under the brim of the hat.
The two visitors walked away from the coast of the lake, leaving a much relieved Urd behind.
***
"Ixar, we have already passed the Fifth Gate." Mythril informed everyone on his back. "We are well into enemy territory now. You know that patrols stop by the Seventh Gate."
Everyone was nervous about the whole situation. Ranma's amulet pulled them towards the other end of the Labyrinth. At first it felt like a normal mission, except that they hadn't gone past the Sixth Gate before. Ambereye's lair had been partially hidden in the mountains of the Seventh Gate, close to the Sixth, but not in it. And now, they were flying over the Fourth Gate. The farther they were from home the harder it would be to get back, even on a dragon.
Of course the Labyrinth would make it easy for them to get in. Ranma thought gloomily. The scariest thing about the Labyrinth was that it was sentinent. It knew when someone was in it and it would do it's best to stop them from leaving.
"It keeps pulling forward." Ranma said aloud while holding the amulet up and feeling the small tug in the direction of the First Gate. Ranma already feared that it was there that he would find his answer.
Mythril nodded slightly and kept on going. They still had a few hours before night.
It happened when they crossed over the Second Gate. A sudden screech was all the warning they had when a group of Griffons swerved out of the trees below and attacked the Dragon of Pryan.
Mythril swore and let out a huge flame from his open maws managing to burn one Griffon out of the sky. However there were still around fifteen!
Ranma and co used their magic, trying to bring down the fast moving predators, but the Griffons were already used to fighting Patryn and avoided most of their spells.
"Ixar!" Mythril shouted. "I will have to drop you off in the forest to take care of them! Carry on to the first gate!"
Ranma shouted back that he understood and looked at his companions. Everyone was pale but they nodded bravely.
When Mythril made a low swoop, they jumped and landed hard on the ground. They ran into the forest just as the Griffons swooshed past their landing spot.
Ranma spied Mythril from the shelter of the trees. The dragon was gaining altitude, trying to lose his pursuers.
"Mythril will be alright." Ranma said to the others. "We will meet him in the First Gate." He added, pointing towards a huge range of mountains.
"Should we leave him, like that?" Rena asked. "What if he needs our help?"
Ranma was torn. Mythril was their friend, after all. But he shook his head after a moment. "If we stay here were in danger. Mythril will probably try to lose the Griffons rather than fight them all, and he will look for us in the First Gate."
Hugh nodded. "He's right, sis." He said, giving an angry glance at Aghathar as the latter put his arm around her shoulders, but bit back his angry comment. "Mythril is a good warrior, and Dragons of Pryan are much more powerful than Griffons. He'll meet us at the First Gate."
He couldn't help it when his voice cracked a little at the mention of the First Gate. They knew how hard it was for anyone to survive all the way back into the Nexus.
Rue nodded. "Let's go then."
*** End Chapter 5
Next Chapter: The First Gate
R&R Please! Specially if you want more!
Disclaimer: Read the previous chapters. It's there.
Author's rant: Well, here's another chapter of Ranma the Patryn! It feels good to be working on this, believe you me! -WD
Chapter 5 - Xar-Drax by Wanderer D (wandererd@hotmail.com) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranma dreamt. The air was alight with fire, he could see the other elements in the distance as hurricanes, tidal waves and earthquakes tore the mountains, forests and cities into nothing. The fire around him didn't burn him. He was part of it.
He felt as the pine-needles burnt into ashes as he grazed them. He felt the sensation of being fed as the wood splintered and smoked and burst into flames under his caress.
The world disappeared, and the elements stayed apart, floating in nothing. Then a light called them all and they became a swirl of color: freezing water twirling with burning fire; with biting air and with solid earth. Mixing under the command of that light. Giving themselves into this new world that was being born.
And as fire became sentinent he could see down into a huge jungle that extended beyond his sight. And entering this jungle were creatures. Weak creatures that walked on their hind legs, and had painted their bodies with magic.
Ranma extended his red, ruby-like wings with a roar. There was only one feeling that invaded his senses as he took to the air, a feeling that seeped from the ground, air, water and fire of this very world.
Destroy them!
***
Ranma sat up with a start. He looked around, trying to get his bearings and then noticed the tattooed arm around his waist. Looking around he breathed calmly as he took in the sight of Rue sleeping next to him.
Rue mumbled and opened her eyes, looking up at him and smiling. He smiled back, starting to forget his dream when suddenly he felt his heart beat so strongly that he fell to the side with a cry, hugging his chest in an attempt to control the pain.
"Ixar!" Rue shouted, jumping down from the bed and kneeling next to him as he gritted his teeth and cried out in pain.
***
Ambereye smiled, opening his eyes and looking up into the night sky. He could feel it. Ranma was about to die.
For a moment he regretted the fact that the boy would die. He would have enjoyed fighting him and killing him in combat. Ranma had outsmarted him after all, and he was strong enough to prove a worthy opponent.
All that he had to do was to wait now.
***
"No!" Urd shouted looking down at the lake. "If he dies... my world... his home world will..."
A look of resolve crossed her face, and she fell into the lake. "I will help him. He has much to do yet!" Urd declared as she went through the waters. The lake lit up and she felt a sudden pang of conscience. She hadn't even stopped to think... if the boy's destiny was to die...
***
Rue tried to take Ranma's hands in hers to try to heal him, but her lover's arms were tight around his body as he convulsed. It was unlike anything she had seen. Before her eyes his runes started to glow and unravel, earning another shout of pain.
Rue gritted her teeth. She wanted to call for help, but she couldn't leave him alone! Why hadn't anyone come here, anyway? Surely someone had heard him shout!
She tried again to take his hands.
"That won't work." someone said.
Rue turned around and confronted Urd just as Ranma gasped in pain behind her.
"Who are you?! Did you do this?!" Rue shouted, jumping to the side and taking her knife in hand.
"I didn't do this, and the name isn't important now." Urd said warily. She pointed to the convulsing Ranma. "That is happening because of the Blood Dragon's blood that he drank. It is destroying him because it was meant to destroy Patryns."
Rue lowered her knife a little. "Then what do I do?"
"You do nothing. There's nothing that Patryn or Sartan power can do for him. If he were a Patryn he'd be dead by now. A Sartan wouldn't do much better." Ranma convulsed yet again.
"What do you mean?" Rue asked warily, remembering that she didn't know this person.
"Nothing, really. If you want to know, ask him." Urd said as she looked at the writhing young man. "I think he will survive... but..."
"But?" Rue growled.
Urd sighed. "If you want Ixar to survive you and your friends must give him a little blood. Just a drop each will be enough. Drop each into this vial," she gave a small green crystal flask to Rue. "and make him drink it."
Rue took the vial. "Why should I trust you?" she asked.
Urd looked at the convulsing Ranma. "Because he might die."
Rue nodded but had one last question. "And what's in the vial?"
"Something that will make your blood much more powerful and help him regain control. Otherwise, Ambereye might be able to control Ixar."
Rue shuddered. When she looked up the woman wasn't there.
***
"Are you sure that is wise?" Haplo asked his daughter.
They were all standing around Ranma's bed as he cried out and convulsed. Haplo, Marit, Alfred and his two kids, Usha, Jorel and Aghathar had all given one drop of blood for the vial. Now all that remained to be done was to give it to him. But no-one knew this woman that had appeared. How could they trust her?
"His skin burns to the touch. He calls for water and drinks all he can in one gulp, then asks for more. His tattoos are unravelling. We have no choice." Rue said through gritted teeth. "And if this doesn't work... that woman will have to face my revenge." She promised solemnly. She felt someone's hand on her shoulder and looked at Aghathar.
"And mine." The Sartan said, grimly.
"And mine." Rena added.
"And mine." Hugh said.
"And ours." Haplo said for all the others.
Rue forced a smile. She really was grateful, but she hoped they all had sworn for nothing. She held up Ranma's head and poured the liquid from the vial in.
Ranma drank it up greedily and slumped back, suddenly he gritted his teeth and screamed in pain, his muscles tightened and his eyes flared open, staring at nothing.
Rue cried out. "That bitch! She was lying!"
But Merit grabbed her arm. "No... look!" she pointed at the tattoos on Ranma's body as they started to unite again into their proper order. One by one the unravelled runes became legible once again, glowing slightly, after a few tense seconds that seemed like hours Ranma eased back, asleep into the bed. The tattoos slowly stopped glowing the angry red.
"Incredible..." Alfred said, studying the tattoos. "They are all blood-red now."
***
Ambereye was amazed. The kid had survived. His link to him let him know that his opponent was still alive, if nothing else. He smiled to himself. It was good. He would get the chance to kill Ranma after all.
It was then that he noticed the Patryn that had walked into his new lair. He regarded the creature for a moment before speaking.
"You are no Patryn. Who are you? And what do you want?" he growled menacingly.
The 'Patryn' smiled in a very reptilian way. "You are sharp, Ambereye, just as I had heard."
The dragon didn't answer.
"My name is Xar-Drax." The Patryn impersonator said. "And I have an offer for you. A new war, and a new chance to escape the Labyrinth."
Ambereye had already deduced the creature's nature by its impersonation of a Patryn. The runes were backwards, as if he were looking at a Patryn in a mirror. And the name. A mixture of the names of the two most feared masterminds to ever set foot on the worlds.
"And what do I gain from that, besides the obvious?" he asked the Dragon Snake.
"You will lead the Blood Dragons into war. Most of the spoils will be yours. And you will be able to fight the Patryn boy that destroyed your last lair: Ixar. And the best part of all... it will be in the world as it was before the Sundering."
***
Ranma slowly woke up. It was morning, and he was alone. The curtains were closed, but there was enough light coming through for him to know it was late morning.
"Good. You're awake." Someone said.
He looked around the room until he noticed a glowing sphere materializing over him. It turned into a small amulet with something akin to runes on it.
"If you want to know why and how this all happened. Your coming here, you surviving the cat-fist training, and also surviving the Blood Dragon's kin test... use that amulet to guide you there." The voice said. He noticed it was a female voice and somewhat familiar to him.
"How do I use it?" Ranma asked.
"Just say: I want the truth. It will guide you there."
"Who are you?" he asked, but no one answered.
Rue came a few minutes later with breakfast, finding Ranma looking at a strange amulet in his hand. "Ixar? What is that?" she asked.
***
Urd drifted down to the side of the huge lake, settling down on the shore as the images on it disappeared. She had done what she could. She could feel that any more would cause great displeasure from Kami-sama. But it gave her hope.
***
"I'm going." Ranma said.
Rue and the others from his group nodded.
Ranma had received various stares from the people around when he emerged with the dark-red runes. Some had even thought he was an impersonator, but Haplo and Alfred had already told many that it was a result of surviving the poisoning from the Dragon Blood.
So, even as he received stares, he had received small cheers and slaps on the back. Still, he didn't have time to delve on that. So, he had rounded Aghathar, Hugh, Rena and Rue up and told them about the amulet and that they would have to go on without him until he found the truth.
"I can understand how you feel, Ixar." Rue said. "But it is going to be dangerous, you should let us go with you."
Ranma sighed. "Listen guys, I have already thought this over, there's no point in all you going, I mean, this may just lead up to nothing..."
"It doesn't matter, Ixar." Hugh said. "We're a team, we go together."
"Besides, we don't want to face your mother and father and try to explain why we let you go alone." Aghathar said with a smile.
Ranma grinned at them.
***
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaseeee, Mythtril?" Rena asked going all puppy eyed.
The Dragon of Pryan tried not to sigh. She was trying her darnest, but he had seen her battle like a true warrior before and he wasn't buying it. "Listen, Rue, I would be glad to take you guys into a mission, but under no circumstances am I allowed to take you out just like this!"
"Oh, come on, Mythril, we really need to go there." Rue added.
The dragon looked down at the assembled group, as he was about to speak someone interrupted him.
"It is a nice day for an uncharted flight, isn't it?" An old man in a gray robe with a crumpled, over-abused hat said to his companion, an imposing man, dressed all in black: black breeches, black velvet coat, black silk stockings; white hair, tied in back with a black ribbon.
"It is, indeed, Sir." The gentleman answered.
The Dragon snapped his mouth shut.
"I wonder, what does the vast Labyrinth have in store for those brave and adventurous enough to fly in?" the old man said dreamily.
"I imagine quests of certain importance might find closure there, sir." The gentleman said.
"Yes, that is true. Reminds me of what's his name half-elven and his group, of friends." The old man said looking up into the air. "I think if he hadn't given Goldilocks a chance they might have never met me, eh?"
"I think her name was Goldmoon sir, and no, they wouldn't have met you. But I do believe it is time we left sir, you had a meeting to attend." The white haired man said, looking at some device on his left fore arm.
The old man snapped to attention. "Ah, yes, we had to meet Mr. Jones about that Arc thing, didn't we?"
The gentleman took the old man's arm as he guided him out of the Dragon caves. "No sir, Mr. Jones already managed to control that situation."
"Ah, then it must be Mr. Quincy that I was going to meet?" the old man's voice slowly faded.
Mythril didn't hear what the other answered.
"Mythril?" Rue asked again, and the dragon blink-blinked.
"What?" he asked, a little confused.
"You zoned out on us for a moment there." Ranma said.
"Zoned out?" Rue asked. Ranma just smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Ah... yes, what were we saying?" the dragon asked.
"You were about to tell us if you were taking us or not?" Hugh prompted.
Mythril sighed. He would get in trouble for this, he just knew it. But then again, his group of Rescuers was always getting into trouble, it was time their dragon lived up to their fame. He gave his consent with a nod.
***
"Oh, here you are, lass." The old man said, as he and the gentleman walked towards Urd.
The latter was looking gloomily at Ranma's group as they jumped on the back of the Dragon of Pryan and started their journey.
"You!" Urd said, jumping up and pointing at him.
Startled, the old man turned around and then faced the gentleman. "She seems to have a problem with you." He said.
"Not him!" Urd growled. "YOU! Mr. Bond!"
The gentleman's eyebrow twitched. He looked at the old man. "Bond?"
The old man stood up straight and nodded. "Quite right, old chap."
"Sir... this young lady deserves to know your real name." the gentleman said.
"You think?" The old man asked, a little embarrassed. "But I like her calling me 'Mr. Bond'"
"Ha! I knew you were not James Bond! What is your real name?" Urd asked, with a gleam in her eye.
"See what you've done?" the old man asked the gentleman, glaring at him.
The man in black didn't answer, just gave him a stern look.
The old man sighed. "Well, my name is... uh..."
Urd pulled out the blue letter. "Here it says that it begins with an 'F' and that you're 'The Magnificent'" she said venomously.
The gentleman looked a little amused as he regarded his aged companion. "'The Magnificent'? Shouldn't that be 'The Fabulous'?"
The old man looked downcast for a moment. "But last week I was 'The Most Amazing'... I really wanted to change that one, you know?"
Urd wasn't paying attention to him though, something had sparked her memory. "The Fabulous... the fabulous..." her eyes opened wide and she pointed an accusing finger at the old man. "FIZBAN!"
The old man whirled around, looking behind him. Hat falling down, eldritch energy glowing on his staff he looked around. "Where?! Where is he! Damn him! He's always following me!"
Urd blinked, a little confused.
"She means you, sir." The gentleman in black clarified.
"Oh..." the old man said. The eldritch energy on his staff puffed out and he turned around to face Urd. "I guess I'm Zifnab, then." Fizban said.
"Fizban." Urd said, arching an eyebrow at the man in black, who nodded back at her, confirming her suspicions.
"Zifnab, Fizban, what's the difference?" The old man said, sounding a little fed up with the whole deal.
"But... but... weren't you... gone?" Urd asked.
Fizban smiled, a little conspiring smile that edged on being manic. "As a visitor once answered when I asked him the same question said: That is a secret!"
Urd sighed. "If you're here it means you're not gone."
"Oh, sure, spoil it for me, will you?" Fizban said, annoyed. "It sounded cool when he said it."
Urd just shook her head. "Anyway, what are you doing here, sir?"
"Don't 'sir' me, young girl." Fizban said, and the crazed look left his eyes. "I came to tell you that you did the right thing. Ranma would have survived, but you have given him the strength of friendship and love to help him survive the trials ahead. Kami-sama is not angry with you. He knows you love the earth."
Urd sighed in relief. And Fizban continued. "However, you are not to continue intervening, the amulet has sped things up, for the good, I hope." When he saw Urd droop a little he smiled gently and patted her shoulder. "I'm sure it will work out fine. Your sisters have each one opportunity for intervening, but of their own free will and as they see fit."
Urd sighed, feelings of gratitude seeping from her heart to the Elder God from a distant universe. "What makes you think it will be alright?" she couldn't help but ask as the two visitors started walking away.
Fizban turned around, with a faraway smile on his face, and the goofy looks back. "I made a bet with Kami-sama and a demon! So it'd better be alright!" He said, pulling his hat back a little to let him see her from under the brim.
The gentleman in black frowned for the first time. "Sir, what had we agreed on betting?"
Fizban cringed a little, but smiled encouragingly to Urd. "That I shouldn't bet the fate of the universe with God." He answered the man in black in a sing-song tone and winked at her from under the brim of the hat.
The two visitors walked away from the coast of the lake, leaving a much relieved Urd behind.
***
"Ixar, we have already passed the Fifth Gate." Mythril informed everyone on his back. "We are well into enemy territory now. You know that patrols stop by the Seventh Gate."
Everyone was nervous about the whole situation. Ranma's amulet pulled them towards the other end of the Labyrinth. At first it felt like a normal mission, except that they hadn't gone past the Sixth Gate before. Ambereye's lair had been partially hidden in the mountains of the Seventh Gate, close to the Sixth, but not in it. And now, they were flying over the Fourth Gate. The farther they were from home the harder it would be to get back, even on a dragon.
Of course the Labyrinth would make it easy for them to get in. Ranma thought gloomily. The scariest thing about the Labyrinth was that it was sentinent. It knew when someone was in it and it would do it's best to stop them from leaving.
"It keeps pulling forward." Ranma said aloud while holding the amulet up and feeling the small tug in the direction of the First Gate. Ranma already feared that it was there that he would find his answer.
Mythril nodded slightly and kept on going. They still had a few hours before night.
It happened when they crossed over the Second Gate. A sudden screech was all the warning they had when a group of Griffons swerved out of the trees below and attacked the Dragon of Pryan.
Mythril swore and let out a huge flame from his open maws managing to burn one Griffon out of the sky. However there were still around fifteen!
Ranma and co used their magic, trying to bring down the fast moving predators, but the Griffons were already used to fighting Patryn and avoided most of their spells.
"Ixar!" Mythril shouted. "I will have to drop you off in the forest to take care of them! Carry on to the first gate!"
Ranma shouted back that he understood and looked at his companions. Everyone was pale but they nodded bravely.
When Mythril made a low swoop, they jumped and landed hard on the ground. They ran into the forest just as the Griffons swooshed past their landing spot.
Ranma spied Mythril from the shelter of the trees. The dragon was gaining altitude, trying to lose his pursuers.
"Mythril will be alright." Ranma said to the others. "We will meet him in the First Gate." He added, pointing towards a huge range of mountains.
"Should we leave him, like that?" Rena asked. "What if he needs our help?"
Ranma was torn. Mythril was their friend, after all. But he shook his head after a moment. "If we stay here were in danger. Mythril will probably try to lose the Griffons rather than fight them all, and he will look for us in the First Gate."
Hugh nodded. "He's right, sis." He said, giving an angry glance at Aghathar as the latter put his arm around her shoulders, but bit back his angry comment. "Mythril is a good warrior, and Dragons of Pryan are much more powerful than Griffons. He'll meet us at the First Gate."
He couldn't help it when his voice cracked a little at the mention of the First Gate. They knew how hard it was for anyone to survive all the way back into the Nexus.
Rue nodded. "Let's go then."
*** End Chapter 5
Next Chapter: The First Gate
R&R Please! Specially if you want more!