Chapter III

A Hero Can Save Them . . . Maybe

Ranma opened his eyes and let out a big yawn. He looked around his room, sandstone walls, a bear skin rug, a tapestry on the wall depicting a beautiful woman sitting under a tree.
"Great, somehow I checked into a kinky hotel . . . the critical question becomes: who did I check in with?"
The door opened and Ryoga walked in, Ranma sighed. "Morning Ranma." Ryoga said.
"Look, Ryoga man, last night . . . whatever happened, it meant nothing." Ranma said. "Let's just get back to our normal lives and pretend it never happened."
"We can't do that, it's not that simple." Ryoga frowned.
"Hey look I understand if it was your first time man, believe me I don't go around–"
"What the heck are you talking about?" Ryoga demanded.
Ranma cocked an eyebrow at Ryoga, and scratched his head as the memories returned to him. "Oh . . . nothin'. So . . . what're you doing here? Wasn't your room in a different tower?"
"I woke up in the middle of the night, went out to the balcony and then when I tried to get back in I ended up here."
"I see . . ." Ranma shook his head. "So . . . how are we going to get out of here?"
"Well we can't leave until we complete our quest." Ryoga shrugged. "Last time I had to stop a dragon, this time I guess I'm supposed to save the king and stop these people from going to war. If I could track down the wizard I guess I could just ask him."
Ranma shook his head, "I don't like this place." He decided. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Come in," Ranma sighed.
A dashing young man entered, he wore a blue tunic and had long black hair and skin tanned bronze, he, like the king of this land seemed to have gone the past few days without a shave. "Good day sir . . ." The young man said, trailing off as his eyes came to Ryoga. "Y-you must be the dragon slayer!" He gasped.
"Well no, I like to think of myself as the dragon 'stopper'since I never actually killed Ranmorgan." Ryoga shrugged.
"Oh, it's an honor to meet you my lord!" The man said awestruck, "My name is Drinian of The Desert."
"And what are ya doin' in my room?" Ranma sighed.
Drinian snapped out of his stupor, "Oh, well prince Ranmorgan ordered me to be your aide-de-camp, that is he ordered me to assist both of you and teach you whatever you don't already know."
"Good, where's the bathroom?" Ranma asked.
"Bath . . . room?" Drinian seemed confused already.
"I really don't like this place." Ranma decided, Ryoga nodded.

Ryoga was very uncomfortable sitting through the planning session, Ranma had to be clued in to what was going on and then Ranmorgan began to outline the plans he'd come up with overnight.
They all sounded like suicide. One called for Ryoga to provide a one manned distraction to the two brigades guarding the walls–Ranma suggested he try to initiate some sort of conversation about swallows–while Ranma and the crack commando team snuck in through the sewers. Ryoga couldn't hear the next plan because Ranma had been laughing at the word crack, but it somehow involved a goat and some beans.
The third plan called for a giant catapult that would propel the commandos over the wall and land them right in front of the tower Nabiki was keeping her hostages in, thankfully Ranmorgan decided against it when he remembered that the Crimson Legion–his Catapult specialists–had defected.
The forth plan seemed the best, the team would split into three groups, one led by Ranma, one led by Ryoga and one led by Drinian, the three groups would enter Rubadub through the city's three gates and each team would make their way to the tower. From there they would attack from different sides and infiltrate, getting the hostages out and back to Dirt–hopefully-before the Crimson Legionnaires could seal off the city gates, to help with that Ranmorgan would have some of his spies working one the city's main entrance gates. Ranma and Ryoga would be given enchanted amulets which would tell them what direction they needed to travel in to get wherever they meant to be going, just in case they were separated from their teams.
Of course there was the problem that Ranma and Ranmorgan were identical so if Ranma went it would have much the same effect as if Ranmorgan went, but that problem was solved when a serving wench spilled a glass of cold water on a now embarrassed Ranma. After much explanation Ranmorgan decided that Ranma would simply have to go as his female self.
It sounded easy enough . . . how could Ryoga predict how incredibly wrong it would go?
As he wandered–literally wandered–the halls of the Sand Castle he was left to wonder . . . why was he here? They'd brought him back for this raid even though he was grossly unqualified?
As he moved down the halls he felt a weight on his shoulder, he sighed, it felt like he carried the weight of the world . . .
"Hello m'boy!" Happerlin cried. Ryoga turned his head to see the midget wizard sitting on his shoulder.
"Putting on a little weight, old man?" Ryoga sighed.
"I cannot begin to imagine what thou art talking about." The wizard scoffed.
"Good thing you're here, I've been wanting to talk to you." Ryoga said.
"Really? How curious, it was I who wished to speak to you." Happerlin shrugged. "I suppose you may speak first."
"Well . . . what's it going to take to get me back this time?" Ryoga asked. "How can I get home?"
Happerlin gave him an appraising look. "Thou does not know?" He asked.
"I've got a guess." Ryoga shrugged, the little wizard grabbed onto his ear and pulled it to keep from falling off. "Once I rescue these regent's sons and overthrow Nabiki's regime I go home, right?"
"Sounds reasonable." Happosai–er Happerlin agreed.
"So . . . that's it?" Ryoga asked.
"Sure. As long as I've got my handy dandy spell book I can send you back at any time."
Ryoga shuddered and hopped nothing happened to the spell book. "What did you want to talk to me about old man?"
"Oh I was just wondering if you were planning on going to the feast in your honor." Happerlin shrugged.
"Feast?"
"Princess Arkane and Prince Ranmorgan decided to hold a feast to honor the Dragon Slayer. But if you plan to get there before the food is gone, you had better make a beeline."
Ryoga shrugged and let the little wizard guide him with quite a lot of trial and error to the feast.

Nabiatrix sat in her carriage, surrounded by guard dressed in the black and red of her new Nabitopian military. Kaneosuke was riding alongside the carriage explaining various tidbits and details that the empress simply didn't care about. People lined the streets, bowing as the carriage passed and probably praying to the gods that lightning would strike it. Nabiatrix was loving every second of it, the people were hers now, whether they liked it or not it would work out for the best in the end.
They weren't far from the tower where her prisoners waited in greater luxury than even she enjoyed. Nabiatrix had been dreading visiting her family, she had not said a word to them since she took control.
How could she now just walk in there, having taken everything from them? She meant to offer them their freedom in exchange for their support, knowing that they'd die of starvation–quite a trick since they also ate better than her–before they'd submit.
"We've gotten an unusual report from Castle Sand." Kaneosuke said, Nabiatrix was suddenly giving him her full attention, however just as quickly he crushed her hopes, "Ranmorgan cut his border tour short, he and the council have been gathering. He may try to strike at us."
"Let him. He knows I would love the chance to paint him as the evil invader. People will rally against an invader far more readily than they will rally to invade." Nabiatrix shrugged.
Suddenly there was a commotion, Nabiatrix looked to the crowd as a small girl ran past her guards and leapt into the carriage, throwing her arms around a surprised empress.
"Hold rapscallion!" Kaneosuke cried, sword drawn and pointed in the little girl's direction.
"Calm yourself, it is only a child!" Nabiatrix said, hiding her amusement.
"One can never be too careful . . . there are assassins everywhere." Kaneosuke said softly.
"A little girl is going to assassinate me?"
"They are creative, these assassins." The Red Knight shrugged helplessly and put his sword back into it's scabbard.
Nabiatrix realized that her carriage had come to a halt, everyone's eyes were on her, so without allowing her reluctance or disgust to show she returned the girl's hug.
"I'm so happy you're our new queen!" The girl squeaked. "You'll keep us safe from that evil Dragon Prince, wont you?"
Nabiatrix smiled. "Certainly." She said. "My people have nothing to fear from Ranmorgan."
The gathered crowd let out a cheer, Nabiatrix sent the girl back to her parents and looked back at Kaneosuke.
"How much did you pay her?" Kaneosuke asked.
Nabiatrix shrugged, not really denying that she'd paid the girl, deciding to let Kaneosuke believe she'd had the foresight to do so. "Effective display, no?"
"Indeed. And it is the first time I've heard Ranmorgan referred to as 'Dragon Prince'. When did he receive such a title?"
"Actually I gave it to him." Nabiatrix said with a smile designed to charm a crowd of ignorant but loved peasants. "Or rather I paid some beggars to give it to him. I thought the people could do with a little reminder as to who it was that slaughtered the holy order of knights a year ago."
Kaneosuke laughed. "Stir them up in remembrance, eh?"
"Why not? I stirred them up in rebellion easily enough." Nabiatrix shrugged. "When I'm through they'll hate Ranmorgan as much as I do."
She gestured for the driver to continue, she wanted to get this little meeting over with as soon as possible.

Now that Ranma was gone there was enough juice for everyone . . . at least there would have been, but Nabiki had promptly muscled in on his territory.
Akane watched him in the crystal ball, and scratched her head. "They don't really look like they're in any danger."
"It may not look that way child, but they are." Cologne said. "All we can do now is pray for them."
Akane shook her head and examined the image on the crystal ball . . . of Ranma and Ryoga at what looked like a grand celebration having an arm wrestling contest that had drawn quite a crowd.
Some good looking woman showed up with a tray of golden goblets and gave one to Ranma, who started flirting with her and lost the arm wrestling match to Ryoga.
Akane's fist flew towards the image of Ranma, but Cologne's stick whacked it away. "Oh yeah . . . they're in mortal danger all right." Akane growled.

Ranma sighed and rubbed his wrist. "No fair, you cheated." He said.
"No I didn't." Ryoga scoffed.
"Yes you did!" Ranma insisted.
"I did not!" Ryoga snapped.
"You did too!" Ranma shouted.
"Hmm . . . maybe I did." Ryoga decided.
"No you didn't." Ranma scoffed.
"This seems familiar." Ryoga said.
"No it doesn't." Ranma scowled, just trying to mess with Ryoga.
"Do you do this often?" A young woman asked. Ranma turned to see none other than Akane, or as Ryoga had explained, Princess Arkane. "Argue back and forth like that?"
Looking at the beautiful princess Ranma sort of missed Akane, but he also wondered if Arkane was as violent. If so, how did she and his lookalike have such a tranquil relationship? Maybe he'd pick up a few tips before he left.
"I remember a year ago Sir Ryoga and I used to argue all the time," Arkane said, "Not nearly as much as he argued with my sister Nabiatrix, but quite frequently. I always supposed he was simply a stubborn person, I didn't realize it was a matter of culture."
"Oh that's Ryoga all right." Ranma chuckled. "Stubborn as a pig, ain't that right P-Chan?"
"No I'm not!" Ryoga protested.
"See what I mean?" Ranma laughed, playfully patting Ryoga on the back, though the other boy just swatted his hand away.
The spread at the prince's table was awesome, though a lot of the food looked like Akane had cooked it, and many of the main dishes still had their heads, one taste of some spongy jelly thing (Ranma was sure he'd be happier not knowing the name or ingredients) had him convinced that the chefs were masters of their craft. He was pilling up as much of everything as he could on his rather large plate when his lookalike showed up.
"Hold Sir Ranma, do not eat yet."
"What, we gotta pray or something?" Ranma asked, Ryoga's answer was a shrug.
"No," Ranmorgan said, "But I wish to see the skills of your land."
"Eh?"
"A contest of swordsmanship between the two of us." Ranmorgan translated.
"Oh . . . can't we do that after we eat?" Ranma asked.
"I pray thee indulge me." Ranmorgan said.
"Besides, if you eat first you might get a cramp." Ryoga pointed out, "or be weighed down by all that food."
Ranma shrugged in resignation. "I'll be right with you, don't go anywhere." He told the food, and he followed Ranmorgan out to a sort of courtyard.
Drinian was there, he presented Ranma with a saber similar to the one Ranmorgan had drawn on him at their first meeting. Ranma took it and tried to look like an expert as he examined it. It was wooden, like the one Ranmorgan now held.
"On your ready, show me the fighting skills of . . . whatever land you and Sir Ryoga are from."
"Nerima." Ranma said, then took up a fighting stance.
"The prince fights aggressively, but he lacks stamina, you can ware him down if you remain on the defensive." Drinian whispered.
"Yer sellin'out yer king?" Ranma raised an eyebrow.
"He did order me to assist you in all things did he not?" Drinian shrugged.
"I'm takin'yer word on that one buddy, I don't think he meant for you to sell out his weakness." Ranma shrugged back.
"Any skilled fighter would have figured it out sooner or later." Drinian said and took a few steps away from Ranma.
Ranma nodded and turned to face Ranmorgan who was already charging, he feebly brought the wooden saber up to block but Ranmorgan batted it aside and struck Ranma in the shoulder.
"Do not go easy on me," Ranmorgan said, "I have been well trained."
"I wasn't ready!" Ranma protested. "Round two!"
The two fighters circled each other for a moment, then Ranmorgan charged in, he took a swing and Ranma ducked low to avoid it. 'Just like fighting Kuno.' He decided, sweeping the prince's legs out from under him, and bringing his sword down where the prince's neck should have been had he fallen over as Ranma had planned.
Instead Ranmorgan threw himself backwards and flipped, coming in for a second charge without a moment's pause, Ranma rolled to the left and came up quickly as the prince charged right past him, Ranmorgan turned around and came at him again, the wooden blades collided and cracked as both Ranma and Ranmorgan struck with all their might.
But it was Ranmorgan's wooden blade that broke first, and unable to stop the momentum of his blade, Ranma's sword struck the prince in the stomach.
"I win!" Ranma cried. "Now can we eat?"
"Ahh . . . you go ahead." Ranmorgan grumbled, rubbing his stomach.
"Hey pal, you challenged me." Ranma reminded him.
"Yes, yes, I underestimated your strength." Ranmorgan said, looking at the broken toy sword. "But if this had been my real blade it would never have broken."
"If these had been real blades you might be gathering up your insides right now." Ranma pointed out.
Ranmorgan forced a smile, Ranma could tell this annoyed him greatly. "We shall call it a draw."
"No way!" Ranma cried, "I beat yer butt, Ranma Saotome one, Ranmorgan . . . uh . . . Ranmorgan (whatever) zero!"
The prince straightened up, and scowled indignantly. "It is Ranmorgan Le Fay!"
"Oh . . . is that a boy's name?" Ranma raised an eyebrow at his lookalike.
"What!?" Ranmorgan roared.
"Uh . . . let's get you two back to the dining hall!" Drinian said, jumping in between the two, "Princess Arkane is probably wondering where you are my lord."
"Of course." Ranmorgan nodded.
"Food!" Ranma fondly remembered.

Ukygo glared at Nabiatrix, who returned the look with just as much intensity. The First Knight could just see the look of superiority and triumph in the princess's eyes. "If I ever get free of this cell–"
"You'll be cut to ribbons by the guards." Nabiatrix cut her off. "Unless of course you submit to me, I do need a first knight."
"What about your traitorous boyfriend?" Ukygo scowled.
"Who? Sir Kaneosuke? I should say not. I'd like to experiment with an entirely female government, what say you to that?"
"I say you're lucky these bars are steel, sugar." Ukygo tied to keep her tone casual.
Nabiatrix smiled. "I knew you'd be the last person to surrender. I admire that, I really do."
Ukygo scowled. Her cell was lovely, it was nicer than her old quarters, the bed was soft and the blankets were warm. She had no idea prisoners were treated this way, it beat going legit. But that didn't mean she liked it, or thought Nabiatrix any less of a monster, or coward. "You can admire me all you want. First chance I get you'll be admiring the sharper end of a sword."
Nabiatrix sighed. "Come now, we're old comrades, you and I. We fought the dragon together, did we not?"
"I didn't like you then either." Ukygowain pointed out.
Nabiatrix gave her a serious look, "Things will go better for you and everyone else if you would just cooperate, don't you realize that this kingdom is better left to me?"
"I realize that you think it is." Ukygo scowled at the princess. "But I don't work for traitors. If you'd just come a little closer I'd show you how deadly I can be without a weapon."
"It would be the last thing you ever do!" Kaneosuke warned.
Ukygo just rolled her eyes at him. "Get out of here princess, leave me." She said, trying to emphasize the word 'princess' just to spite her, having heard from the guards that Nabiatrix preferred to be called queen or empress.
Nabiatrix smiled warmly. "I admire your conviction. But I wonder if the hangman will feel the same." She said, then she moved on. Ukygo scowled at the hated empress. She stomped back to her extravagant bed and kicked it over. She'd sleep on the floor tonight. But even the floor was sinfully soft.

To Be Continued . . .