By RankoSaotome
Disclaimer on first chapter
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Chapter 4 - Pure Blue Gem
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Ranma soon was overlooking a town from the cliffsides. She had never been to this town before, so had yet to know its name. However, what she did know was...
"It's so beautiful from up here..." Came Kasumi's thoughts, causing Ranma to giggle slightly. She had found she and Kasumi thought a lot alike, and she wondered if Genma and his cronies were causing trouble for her excursion here too. "Never seen a place so wonderful... This is my first time outside the Nerima area..."
"Yeah... The ocean is beautiful, isn't it? It makes our world seem like a big, blue gem with bits of green. A greenish sapphire... It's amazing just to look at it..."
"Sure is, Ranma." Ranma heard from Ryouga, the girl looking back at him. Ryouga was grinning, which made Ranma a little curious as to his thoughts. She felt his hand on her opposite shoulder, but didn't try to move it. After all, it wasn't like his hand was hurting her or anything.
Ranma finally nodded, looking out at the water once again before looking down at the city below. "Say, what was this city called again?"
"Hatoba, I believe. Never been here myself, but I hear nice things about the place."
And the group of three went down into the city, hearing a few conversations along the way. Most about the attack on Nerima, but some about Pirates, of all things. Ranma didn't know if Pirates were still around during this day and age, but she didn't discount the possibility.
After a quick stop for supplies, the group thankful for Ryouga having a bunch of cash on him, they set out for exploring. Ranma ran into a green-haired girl who kept asking her questions, but it wound up going alright.
But they got a few clues. Apparently, some certain people could help them out, but they had to find this guy at the bar.
The conversation, though, made Ranma furious. The guy was really sure he was a ladies' man, and Rana felt the need, the want, to belt him one.
Ryouga, though, saved her from embarassment by challenging the guy to a chili eating contest. The man accepted, much to Ranma's confusion.
And Ryouga won, scarilly enough, by drinking five chilis to the man's four. Ranma was impressed, as she knew just two chilis would be enough to make her pass out when she was a guy, and her female body had an even lower tolerance for the stuff.
"Hey, old man! Before you pass out, tell us about 'those guys'!"
"Heh... The place behind the gate, where they live, is Langoud. The people are rumored to be pirates, and that's why everyone's afraid of them. If anybody can... get to the volcanic island... It's them... Don't trust outsiders... Though..." Then, the man passed out and went to sleep.
Their next clue came about a legendary warrior on the outskirts of town. Quoting the need to check it out, Ranma went up to the outskirts alone.
Once there, she looked around, curious as to where this warrior would be amongst all the rocks and foliage. Slowly, she moved towards the exit of town, when she heard something from above.
Dashing forward, she barely got out of the way of the downcoming robed figure and hammer. Turning, she glared at the figure.
"Stop where you are! No one leaves town without fighting me!"
"Nice attitude there! Is it true you have a connection to Langoud?"
"None of your business, lass!"
Ranma had been called many things, but lass was a new one to her. "Fine then! Prepare yourself!" Ranma yelled, pulling her sword and rushing forward. Taking the initiative, she attacked.
The figure blocked with the hammer, and the parrying and countering of blows began. Ranma knew the hammer could destroy her sword if she wasn't careful, so she kept up her assault. She didn't dare let the figure get any attacks in.
But, Ranma wasn't taking something into consideration. But did after the first kick hit her. Growling, she faked an attack before grabbing the figure's cloak and yanking on it.
What revealed itself surprised her.
A woman, blond, with an eyepatch and what could only be described as a chainmail bikini.
"Heh, clever move, but it won't help you!" She yelled, as the mysterious woman attacked Ranma. Ranma readied herself, but when the hammer of the other woman came flying at her, and struck her in the side when she tried to dodge, Ranma dropped her sword.
The woman rushed in, but got kicked away for her efforts. Ranma quickly kicked the hammer away, in the direction of the woman before both grabbed their weapons and seperated.
"This is great! At last, someone that could get me so excited about a battle! Alright, let's go!" The woman called, taking up a stance.
Ranma rushed her. The trading of blows and missed attacks brought the two almost nose to nose on a constant basis. Both girls fought and fought, for what must have been an hour or more... But, eventually, one must tire and Ranma had to make a desperate move. She summoned Aquoon.
While the attack was not enough to take the woman out, Ranma did collapse mere moments after her summon. Surprisingly, the other woman dropped her hammer to catch Ranma.
"That... was some attack..." The woman said while panting.
"I... Don't like using it too much... Draining as... all hell..."
"Strong, though... What's your name...?"
"R-Ranma..."
"I'm Wyna. Nice to... Meet you, Ranma..."
Wyna gently placed Ranma on the ground, before sitting down herself. They talked for a bit, mostly about how Ranma had done that, before Wyna said something... different. "Can I have your sword?"
"Huh?"
"I... I'm the daughter of the Langoud chief. My father and I fought recently, and... Well... I broke his favorite sword."
"No wonder you're so strong... When you threw that hammer at me, I thought my side was going to be crushed."
"Hehe, sorry about that... But anyways, I can't go home until I get his sword repaired, so... I can't fix it, so I'm going to replace it... I've been testing people for a while now... But no one's been able to fight back against me so well... Until, that is, I fought you."
"I... I can't give you my sword. It was my Great-Grandfather's best work, he made it especially for me... But... If I could see your broken sword, I could do my best to fix it."
"Really?"
"Well, it is an important sword, so I'll do my best."
"You'll really do it? That's great!"
"Yeah. Besides, I know where you're coming from anyways."
"Mind I ask what you mean by that?"
"Well, I come from a family that's very old fashioned... They disowned me."
"Aww. I know how that can be a bummer. So, shall we head to the smithy?"
"There's a smithy here? I don't remember seeing it..."
"It's in the eastern sector of town. Come on, I'll show you!"
It took a little time to get to the smithy, but Ranma was glad to be somewhere that she could call her own sanctuary. Being around all the tools, the fire pit, and the anvil made her feel at home. What surprised her the most, though, was when Wyna brought her into Langoud.
"Okay, I'll be at the tower. You can find the sword in the Warehouse. As soon as you fix it, bring it to me and I'll show you to the man." Wyna said, smiling before walking off. Ranma felt envious for a moment, since her side still hurt.
Getting the sword was easy. Bringing it back to the smithy, however, was when Ranma realized it. This was going to be hard. Ranma, channeling her own purity into her hammer, worked on the sword. It took a few times to get the feeling, the channeling power, right, but she did it.
"There... I hope this will be satisfactory..." She said to herself, heading for the control tower.
She found Wyna at the top and presented the sword to her.
"Wow! Impressive, Ranma, it looks even better than before!"
"It... It does...?"
"Sure. And I guess we better bring it to him. Join me?"
Sensing the question was more of a command, Ranma merely nodded and followed.
When she saw the chief, she was a bit confused. The man was vastly overweight, and looked a bit too soft to be that dangerous. But still, she watched Wyna present the fixed sword to him.
"Ahhh! Is that really my sword? It has a new luster... And even feels stronger. Ah, I get it! Did you steal a sword that looks like my old one? Well done, Wyna. That's my girl. Your thievery is the best in the whole of Langoud!"
"Uh, sorry to sink your ship, pops, but Ranma here fixed it. She's a Spirit Blacksmith."
"Is that a fact? Haha! Well, that's really something! Let me introduce myself. I'm Great Grapple, the Chief of Langoud. You took care of my girl. To that, I thank ya. Do ya want something? Money? Men? Just name it!"
Ranma was a little embarassed at either thought, since she wasn't quite ready for men yet and money... While necessary, just seemed wrong.
"My traveling companions, not here, and I wish to goto Volcanic Island. Could you take us all there?"
"Well well! You want to go to that island? You and your friends must be pretty brave, then, kid. Not a problem, I'll take you there. Get your friends, then return."
Ranma nodded, and left to do so. Upon her return, she heard a siren call for people to get on deck... Then, it hit her. 'What have I gotten myself into?' She thought, before rushing with the others to the control tower.
"Sorry to seem rude, but where is the ship?"
"You're standing on it, child."
At first, Ranma wondered what they meant before Ryouga spoke up. "You mean your city is the ship?" To this, Ranma had to look up. Come to think of it, the place did look like the bridge of a ship...
"Good eyes, lad. Watch this, lassy, it'll knock your socks off!"
There was a call from one of the crewmembers. "Starting the Elemental Reactor... Priestessses, please get ready." To that, Ranma felt all of the bridge shake. The city itself was shaking... He was right! The place was a big ship!
Moving to the window, she looked outside, and was struck by the view of the ship. It wasn't just a ship, it was a large camouflage, too! And boy, did this ship move fast!
Ranma looked over to her friends, before looking back outside. She had never seen such an amazing thing before.
"Hey, Ranma." She heard, coming from Grapple. Turning, she smiled.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you have a look around while they ready the banquet? All of you, feel free to wander the place! Just try to be back in time for the food! Haha!"
Ranma merely smiled and nodded. "Alright. See you all later." She said, waving to her companions before wandering off." She did notice Wyna following, but said nothing. She merely wanted some air anyways. So, she went out onto the deck.
"It's really lovely, isn't it?"
"The ocean? Yeah... I always did love being able to look at it... I could stare into the sapphire-like waves all day, if I could get away with it..."
"Yeah, same with me. I was born to live on the sea... And by the time I'm old and grey, I'll die on them too."
Ranma looked at Wyna now, a bit surprised in how passionate Wyna sounded about that. It sounded so bland, but when spoken from Wyna, it sounded like a dream come true.
"I wouldn't know what that is like... I was born to fight the Dark Acolytes... My life and death was predetermined before I was even three months in my mother's womb."
"That's terrible."
Ranma was going to answer, when she heard Grapple's voice over an intercom. It was announcing dinner. Thinking he wouldn't like her being late, she smiled to Wyna. "Let's continue another time."
"Yes, let's."
And the two went right back upstairs.
The rest of the group, and Grapple, were already at the table, waiting for them.
"Let's eat!"
After a bit, Ranma was digging in with her friends. However, she didn't spot exactly where Wyna went as she practically vanished the moment Ranma entered the room.
After moments of eating, Grapple spoke. "How do you like it, guys?"
"It's very good, Grapple. Thank you. By the way, did you see where Wyna went to?"
"Ah, Wyna... Most important thing in my life, she is."
"Huh?"
"Aye, if only she were more feminine, I dare say no guy would leave her alone!" Grapple said with a laugh.
To this, Ranma smiled. "Heh, she might even have some of the women of the world after her too. But, hey, I think she's fine the way she is."
"You're kind to say that, Ranma. But, sometimes the girl's too strong for her own good... I don't know if she'll ever find a husband, that girl of mine." Grapple said, as he slowly drifted to sleep. Ranma, seeing Ryouga still eating and Kasumi having left, left herself.
She found herself out on the deck again, before she smiled upon noticing that Wyna was there too. Slowly, Ranma snuck up behind Wyna and spoke. "Twenty yen for your thoughts?"
"Isn't it usually ten yen?"
"Yeah, but we all know a girl's mind has to have some secrets." Both girls laughed, before Ranma moved up beside the other girl.
"My old man... He's just so old-fashioned... Kind of like your family. He still thinks a girl's dream is to get married and have kids..."
"Heh, I can understand that NOT being a dream. I mean, I could hardly see myself having kids. I like kids, yeah, but I'll have them when I'm good and ready." Ranma remarked, looking over the sea again.
"Yeah! And what's wrong with a girl being independent?"
"Absolutely nothing. It's the new-age anyways, women have rights now."
"Exactly!"
Both girls then trailed off, as Ranma looked up to find Wyna staring at her. At first, Ranma was a bit confused, before Wyna merely smiled.
"Well, sometimes, I wonder if he doesn't realize I have feelings of my own..." She said, and Ranma could have sworn she was hinting at something.
But before she could answer, she was saved by a crew member calling about the Volcanic Island. Looking up, she listened.
"Volcanic Island! Dead ahead!"
And Ranma smiled, before walking away. She did not catch how disappointed Wyna looked after her. Though, she did hear Wyna calling that she was going with them. And, to be completely honest, Ranma was glad of that.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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Well, another part done. I'll have the next one out soon.