Disclaimer: I do not own anything (repeat)
Chapter 3: Black Waltz Prototype and the Journey to Lindblum, The Festival of the Hunt
Ranma awoke early to find that everyone was still asleep. He made sure no to wake anyone up as he left the camp site to do his workout.
When he was a good distance, Ranma started first with his unarmed kata. He flowed from a simple kata.
A forty-five kick, block, a rabbit puch, jump, axe kick, sweep, followed by a round house. Ranma repeated this for a while then he pulled out 'Sai'. He took a stance started his next kata.
Lunge, left strike, twist sword, upward-right slash, parry, parry, thrust, thrust. Ranma pulled back his sword and spun around. Creating a wave of vacuum blades, "Tornado Slash!" (1).
Ranma sheathed his sword and sat down not affected by dizziness. Unknown to him, two people watching him closely. Zorn and Thorn, jester (or bunglers) of Queen Brahne. They had been sent out to try and retrieve the princess.
They had developed a prototype weapon which they dubbed the Black Waltz P. They just added a P to it since it was only a prototype. It was strong but also unstable, they were going to test it to make sure the other three were going to work properly.
They found a test subject to work on, it was Ranma. They followed him when he woke up. The two jesters gave each other a thumbs up as they released their prototype weapon.
Ranma's danger sense sky rocketed, he heard something from behind. He turned around while getting into a defensive stance. What he saw looked like a bigger and older form of Vivi.
It was wearing the same clothes of Vivi except that the jacket was black and has two wings jutting out of its back. Its eyes showed malevolent evil as he stared at it. It was holding a rod with a bell on the top. The rod in its self looked like a plain poll colored dark blue. Ranma, however, knew that rod was anything but normal.
"Who are you!" Ranma shouted. "I am the Black Waltz and you have the honor of being my victim." The Black Waltz hit the ground with the but of his staff. A monster came bursting through the ground. "Come to my side! Creature of Flame! Hisaki!"
Hisaki reminded Ranma of Cerberus from school back in Nerima. It was a gigantic three headed dog. Though it was made entirely of lava and spurting flame from his mouth and every other part of its body. Its eyes were menacing red.
AAAAAWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Hisaki howled as he charged at Ranma, intending to barbecue the martial artist. Ranma rolled out of the way of the attack. Ranma noticed that everything the monster touched melted significantly.
Ranma's danger sense flared, he jumped out of the way of a thunder spell. It seems that the Black Waltz wasn't going to idle around. Ranma's danger sense was getting a good workout as it kept on telling him to doge an attack either from the giant monster Hisaki or from the Black Waltz. Both enemies were working exceptionally well together.
All of Hisaki's heads drew back, each launched a river of fire, Ranma jumped up, only to be hit by another thunder spell. "AAAAHHHH!"
Ranma hit the ground, creating 3 foot deep crater in the process. He shakily got up, he saw Hisaki and the black Waltz going in for a double team attack. Ranma drew a kanji symbol "Madoka!" Madoka appeared behind Ranma who held his hand, creating a barrier. Protecting Ranma for the time being. 'Kuso, this isn't good. These two haven't given me any openings to strike. I need to take out one before I can take out the other.' Ranma thought as concentrated on his barrier from the onslaught of fire and lightning.
Ranma drew out 'Sai' with his free hand and focused his ki and part of his magic into the sword. 'I hope this works.' Ranma thrust his sword into the ground. "Icicle Wave!"(2) Ranma sword emitted a blue hue as icicle started jutting through the ground. The icicles started heading towards both opponents like a huge tsunami.
The attack hit home as both Hisaki and the Black Waltz. Ranma fell to his knees breathing hard. He had to make sure that his barrier didn't break while he did his attack. He was surprised to see both his enemies still standing. Though Hisaki was hurt badly, the Black Waltz looks like it took minor damage.
"Fire!" the Black Waltz casted the spell on Hisaki. The fire dog immediately regained some health. It looked like it was ready to go another round. Ranma realized that the Black Waltz would heal the monster with a fire spell if it was badly hurt. 'I have to take out the Black Waltz first if I have a chance to beat his monster.
Ranma readied 'Sai' and charged in, intent for a quick kill. Hisaki, had other plans, it launched another stream of fire. Making the martial artist/sword fighter jump out of the way. Ranma dodged several lightning bolts but a few hit home.
'This is getting ridiculous. They are protecting each other from harm. Great, just great. I'll have to use more power then. This going to leave me drained for days' the once cursed man thought.
Ranma placed his sword in front of him and it started glowing blue. ICE DRAGON WAVE!"
Ranma did a horizontal slash, quickly sixty serpent dragons of ice came out. All charged at his enemies. Hisaki launched another wave of fire from all three heads. One-third of the dragons melted, while the others went through the flames and hit both dead on.
When the steam cleared both were still standing. 'You've got to be kidding me!' Though Hisaki looks like it was about to drop dead, the Black Waltz was only charred. The Black Waltz was already chanting his next spell.
Ranma finally found his opening, he charged in sword at the ready. "Hiten Mitsurigi Style! RYU-SHO-SEN!" Ranma powered up 'Sai' with his remaining ki as he made an upward slash. His attack made it and the Black Waltz immediately dissolved into nothing. Hisaki collapsed on the ground in exhaustion.
Ranma jumped back and was about to attack Hisaki when he looked at it. He started to pity it. Its eyes weren't red anymore, it became blue and the looks in its eyes were the same look he had when he was in Nerima.
Ranma sheathed 'Sai' and walked up to Hisaki. The demon dog whimpered as it Ranma touched one of its middle head then its left, followed by its right head. "There There, don't worry, I won't hurt you." Ranma assured as he casted 'Firaga'(3). The effect was instantaneous as Hisaki stood up back to snuff.
All three heads looked at Ranma and bent down and started to lick its new master. "Alright, stop that! It tickles!" Ranma said as he was being licked. 'It seems Hisaki doesn't burn people he likes. Hisaki bent down as it looked at Ranma. "You want me to get on?" Ranma asked.
All three heads nodded in response. Ranma jumped on, Hisaki stood up, and Ranma directed it back to the camp. In a few short seconds they were at the camp site. Ranma got off his new friend. "Looks like they thought I left them." Ranma said "It's not your fault Hisaki." Ranma said instantly as he noticed the demon dog bob its head down. All three heads perked up after that assurance.
Ranma saw footprints leading away from the campsite. He recognized Steiner's boot prints. He smiled to Hisaki as jumped back on the dog's back and he followed the track to a cavern filled with ice. As Ranma raced off, Zorn and Thorn hoped Black Waltzes could recapture the princess before the strange man would catch up.
Ranma contemplated fro awhile. 'They might've passed through Ice Cavern and must already be in Dali(3). I'll have to catch up to them somehow.' Ranma looked at Hisaki. "You up for a mountain climb boy?" Ranma asked.
Hisaki barked in response and started running up the mountain side. After few minutes, they reached the top of the climb. Ranma saw an airship fly off, it was heading towards Alexandria, though it did a U-turn and headed for Lindblum. 'The others must be on that airship.' Ranma thought
Ranma urged Hisaki forward and followed the airship. He noticed that a battle was taking place on the airship after noticing another Black Waltz. Though that was all Ranma saw as Hisaki descended into the mist. Ranma prayed for the others safety as he heard an explosion ahead of him.
Hisaki raced up a mountain side once again. When they reached the top, Ranma noticed that the airship he saw earlier had already reached Lindblum. Ranma hoped of Hisaki and looked at the demon dog. "Thank you my friend. Your free to go." He said.
Hisaki nodded sadly but before Ranma left, Hisaki opened its mouth, a ruby the size of Ranma's fist dropped out. Ranma picked it up and looked at the dog. Hisaki smiled like any dog could and bounded of.
Ranma looked at the ruby and smiled, Hisaki gave it to him so he could learn how to summon the demon dog anytime he wished. Ranma equipped the ruby and left for Lindblum. He just hoped that the guards at the castle would let recognize him and allow him entrance to the palace.
When Ranma entered Lindblum he noticed that a festival was going to take place. He then remembered The Festival of the Hunt. The martial artist entered a tram and headed toward the castle. When he arrived he took the elevator up to third level. When he reached the third floor, Ranma set foot to the throne room. He was about to open the door when heard his friends voices.
Zidane: "I'm taking gil all the way."
Vivi: "Um…I'll take a card."
: "I'll take an add on"
Ranma didn't recognize the last voice but he knew that they were talking about the festival. Ranma smirked he had competed a few times but he always won when he joined.
Ranma opened the door and stepped inside.
Zidane and the others were shocked by his sudden appearance. Ranma noticed the oglop and sighed. "Cid, you should know that two-timing Hilda would get you in trouble." Ranma said solemnly.
"Uncle Cid I thought you were attacked while you were asleep by a bandit." Garnet/Dagger said "Gwop, Well, Gwop…." (5)Cid was saved from answering by Ranma.
"Anyway, I'm joining the festival. I'll take a garnet stone"
"Alright, the festival will begin shortly. Gwop, Artania will give you the details." Cid said before going back to his throne. Artania told their starting positions. Afterwards everyone left the throne room.
"Um…Ranma where were you?" Vivi asked innocently. "Yeah, we could have used your help with those Black Waltzes." Zidane added. "By the way, this is a friend of mine, Freya Crescent" Zidane introduced the two.
Freya wore a red tunic, brown boots and a red hat with a feather sticking out of it. "Charmed" Ranma said "As I" Freya replied.
"Anyway, you three weren't the only ones fighting a Black Waltz. I made to Dali to see you guys take off on the airship" Ranma said. Everyone gave him a curious look. Ranma started to explain. "I wake up early to do my morning exercise. That's when I battled a Black Waltz, and let me tell you. The one I fought was exceptionally powerful. The Black Waltz I fought had captured a demon dog of fire and the two worked like a well oiled machine. When I finally defeated the Black Waltz I was able to make back to camp to find you gone." Ranma left out Hisaki, he didn't want them to find out about him yet. Ranma smiled as he told them one more thing "It actually thanks to Steiner's rusty boot print that I was able to follow you guys."
Steiner blushed in embarrassment as he rubbed his neck. Zidane, Vivi, Freya and Ranma went to their starting points as Steiner and Dagger (as Ranma was told) took the spectator area.
Ranma found his place the industry area, he wasn't told where the others were so that he could not cheat. Ranma snorted he wouldn't cheat anyway it was his rivals back in Nerima that would cheat. As the Festival started Ranma drew out 'Sai' as he slashed any monster that would get in his way. The monsters that were let out were mostly goblins, fangs and trick sparrows.
Ranma cleaned up his are in record time he made his way to the living are which he found to be almost devoid of monsters. Afterwards he went to the shopping area, there he saw Vivi being chased by a fang which he promptly decimated in a matter of seconds.
Ranma heard the scream of children and immediately rushed to the source. He saw a monster, a Zangghol(spell?) fighting Freya and Zidane. Both were protecting the children. Ranma smiled as he joined the battle. "Mind if I join?" he asked as He readied 'Sai'
Zidane gave him a grin as he dodged an electric charge from the bull type monster. "Nope" he answered as he dashed in to do a quick strike. Freya had disappeared during the battle to attack from the air using her Jump ability.
Ranma did the same by attacking from the air. "Lightning Flash!" Ranma used his thunder magic and charged towards the monster. His attack killed the monster but before the monsters brain could register that it had been killed it rushed towards the children.
Zidane jumped on its back and stabbed both of his knives on the head. While Freya charged forward and struck the forehead. When the brain finally registered Ranma's attack, it dropped dead.
Though it seemed like Zidane and Freya did the kill all three of them each received the same amount of points. After the festival ended, it was Ranma who was declared the winner. Since he was the fastest at killing monsters he was able to kill more than Zidane, Freya or Vivi.
He received the garnet stone which he placed into subspace. That was when a bloodied Bermucian soldier entered the throne room. "We were… attacked by Alexandria. Please…send help." The soldier said. Regent Cid nodded his bug like head. "We will send help." The soldier nodded his head "I must…. return now." He turned over, dead.
Everyone bowed their heads for him. "He made her by sheer will, it was amazing he made it here at all." Freya said. "We will ready the dragon gate for your usage, so we should eat while we wait." Cid said.
Everyone nodded and they went to the dinning hall. When everyone was seated they all started to eat. Ranma, however didn't touch his food. "I'm not hungry" was his reply, but he knew better. 'This food has been drugged by a sleeping weed.' Ranma's experience from the amazons and Kodachi had taught him how check if his food has been drugged.
Everyone except Dagger, Steiner and Ranma fell asleep. "Great plan Dagger." Ranma praised as Dagger looked surprised. "Don't deny it, I know that after hearing that soldier say that Alexandria attacked you wanted to go back." Ranma said.
He stood up and walked to the door. "Don't worry. I promised Bea-Chan I'd protect you, and I will. No offence Steiner." Steiner looked at Ranma with a smile "None taken Ranma." Ranma raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden change in attitude?" he asked
"Anyone who is friends with Beatrix has to be a good person." Steiner replied "It takes a lot of guts to even talk to her. Even more for her to drop her icy façade." He added.
Dagger looked at the two with a small smile. "Thank you, you two." With that, the princess of Alexandria left Lindblum with her two escorts.
1 I took this from Zelda: Ocarina of time, when Link spins around like a tornado
2 Think Mikagami's icicle flow except it charges into a wave
3 Ranma has a high level of magic with his constant training
4 Ranma has been traveling a lot
5 Ranma entered a few times, so Cid and Ranma are good friends.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews you guys. I know I'm rushing the story and I'll slow down don't worry. I'll try setting aside a side stories on Ranma's training and adventure. Thanks for encouraging me.
Blaze Knight