Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½™ or Sacrifice™ or any related characters, terms or concepts.
Author's Notes: Glad to see that this story has its fans. I especially like your "power chart" MysticSuperSaiyanGohan, though I personally would think Ranma's Ki and Mana levels are equal. By the way, are you the one who PM'd me to let me know you were getting a copy of Sacrifice? If so, how's it going? Not too big a disappointment is it?
Part 15: The Dragon Spooker and the Wild Horse, Part 3
Lina Inverse had to marvel at her luck sometimes. First, she and Gourry had run into Zelgadis here in Delasoa. And now Amelia was here too; just like the old days! She didn't even notice Amelia's guests until they were sitting with the rest of them. She looked up at the two boys sitting across from her.
"And who are they?"
"Oh, I met them on my trip. This is Ranma Saotome, and Ryoga Hibiki."
Each boy nodded when his name was mentioned. Lina gave them a casual once-over, and then resumed her conversation with Amelia. Gourry kept eating, barely noting their presence, while Zelgadis tried to scrutinize them without them noticing what he was doing; there was something about them that made him uneasy. He failed, though neither of them gave any sign that they noticed, and he also failed to notice that Ranma was also scrutinizing him. Ranma wasn't suspicious of Zelgadis or anything like that; he was using the extra senses bestowed upon him by both his martial arts training and his magic training to examine Zelgadis' chimeric form.
During their talks, Amelia had given him the bare bones on Zelgadis; how he had wished for power, and how his grandfather/great-grandfather (now there was some serious squick factor) Rezo, a powerful wizard possessed by a fragment of the Lord of All Demons, Ruby-Eye Shabranigdo, had granted his wish by transforming him into a creature that was one-third human, one-third rock golem and one-third brau demon. The old Ranma would have, in his way, been sympathetic towards Zelgadis. The new Ranma though had immediately begun correlating data in his mind as to potential uses for the situation. First, to break the ice…
"So, you're Zelgadis, huh?"
"Yes."
Zelgadis' answer was delivered in his usual cold, emotionless tones. Ranma took no notice; he used the same tactics himself now and was far better at them, and continued.
"Amelia told me a little about your curse, and you have my sympathies."
Zelgadis stiffened, but said nothing, choosing instead to simply pull his disguise tighter across his face.
"No, don't block me out! I may be able to help you…"
Zelgadis turned a wary eye his way and released his grip on his face-clothes, at which Ranma began to talk to him in a quiet voice.
"I'm not exactly unskilled in the Arts Arcane myself. You've been searching for a cure for a while, right?"
Zelgadis nodded.
"Well, I'm afraid to say there's a very real chance that a conventional cure may not exist."
Zelgadis stiffened.
"The spell used upon you may have been an original creation of Rezo's, which means that only he could undo it, at worst, or that you need to reverse-engineer a cure from a copy of that spell at best. Have you checked his labs, or anywhere else he may have stored his work, for any signs of a copy?"
"Yes, no sign of it. Many of his labs were at least partially demolished too."
"Well, that means there's only one real source of a potential cure left. Rezo was possessed by a fragment of Ruby-Eye Shabranigdo, right? Logically, those fragments would share a rapport, so that what one knew, all knew. That means that Ruby-Eye should know the spell Rezo used on you, either because he shared Rezo's body or because he was the one who cast the spell on you, through Rezo, in the first place. Of course, that method means you would have to track down a fragment, release it, get it to cure you and then destroy it or seal it back up again."
Zelgadis' heart began to sink.
"Can I ask you something though? Why would you want to be cured anyway? I mean, sure, you're not exactly the prettiest of guys with the curse, but your powers are beyond human; you're almost invincible, stronger, faster and generally 'better' than then any mere human, your magic capacity has been greatly enhanced, is it really that bad a deal? Besides which, think about your safety; it's safe to say you've made a lot of enemies, right?"
Zelgadis nodded, wondering what he was getting at.
"And supposing curing you doesn't just render you human again, but renders you exactly the way you were before you got cursed? Just as weak as you were back then, but older and with more memories. Curing you means you're just an ordinary guy again; fodder for anyone with enough physical or mystical might to start pushing people around. Have you considered that?"
It was clear that Zelgadis hadn't, but Ranma wasn't finished.
"But I know a way for you to get the best of both worlds; chimera powers and human appearance. Where Ryoga and I come from, there is an ancient training ground, long abandoned. It is a natural series of springs, but each spring bears a powerful curse. If you fall into a spring then, from that day forward, you are henceforth cursed to assume the form of whatever drowned in that spring whenever you are touched by cold water. Hot water will reverse the curse until the next time you get splashed."
"And this helps me how?"
"Isn't it obvious? One of the springs there is the 'Spring of Drowned Young Man'. A quick dip in there, and you can be human or chimera whenever you want!"
Zelgadis looked sceptical. Ranma sighed.
"You don't believe me, do you? Well, I guess a practical demonstration is always the best…"
"Oh no Ranma! Don't you even- BWEEEE!"
As he had spoken, Ranma had channelled a little of his power to create handful of freezing cold water, which he had promptly splashed into Ryoga's face. This prompted reactions from the Slayers crew; even they have never seen a guy turn into a little black piglet before. Lina and Amelia stared. Zelgadis' mouth dropped. And Gourry dropped his fork. Seized by a sudden, inexplicable urge, Ranma grabbed P-Chan and held him an arm's-length above his head.
"Behold! The power of Jusenkyo!"
P-Chan sweat-dropped at this, while the Slayers ignored it. Gourry grabbed P-Chan and began stroking him.
"Oh, you're a cute little piggy, yes you are, who's a cute little piggy?"
Apparently insulted that a grown man would talk baby talk to him, P-Chan chose to express his displeasure by clamping his jaws firmly onto Gourry's nose.
"EEEYOWCH! Get him off me! Get him off me! GET HIM OFF ME!"
Ranma slapped his forehead, while the rest of the Slayers face-faulted. From his prone position (not that he had a choice; his wire hair had stuck in the wood) Zelgadis muttered.
"He's fought Mazoku Lords, dragons, monsters and legions of bandits and what brings him down? A piglet."
Ranma sighed as Gourry continued to try and pull P-Chan off his nose.
Maybe I should get him checked for rabies…"Ryoga, if you don't let go of his nose then I am going to turn you back into a human, coat your genitalia in fish-paste and then throw you into a pool of ravenous piranha!"
That statement made Gourry and Zelgadis wince, despite the fact they didn't know what piranha were, and P-Chan quickly released Gourry's bleeding nose. Ranma grabbed P-Chan and gave him an icy glare before turning back to Gourry.
"I really must apologize for my student. I'll understand if you want to seek compensation."
Gourry blinked in confusion.
"Why?"
"Hello, he just bit you on the nose! Why wouldn't you?"
"I've had worse. Besides, turning into a little piglet like that has to be worse than anything I could ever think up."
"Like you ever could think of anything."
Muttered Lina. Ranma followed Gourry's lead and ignored her, using a small surge of electricity to heat a glass of water and turn P-Chan back into Ryoga. Seeing that Zelgadis was subtly trying –and failing- to pull himself free, Ranma sighed, grabbed his cloak with one hand and yanked him free in a single effortless tug.
"Thanks. You're pretty strong."
"We're martial artists, it's our job to be strong. That's why Amelia is paying us to be her bodyguards."
The Slayers looked up at that piece of information, especially Amelia.
"Since when am I paying you?"
"You've been telling us how to get around, haven't you? That was our fee. And I think it's a pretty cheap payment, considering what you've hired."
"And what has she hired?"
Lina asked.
"We don't need to brag. All you need to know is that we've survived training methods that would probably kill you."
"I'll say."
When the Slayers looked at Amelia in confusion, she pulled out the Nekoken booklet Ranma had given her and showed it to them. Ryoga leaned over to Ranma and whispered in his ear as they muttered amongst themselves.
"Where did that booklet come from anyway? I would have thought you would have destroyed it when you took control of the Anything-Goes School."
"For a while, I did consider destroying it. But I figured that there were probably other copies out there, and people stupid or unlucky enough to actually train in it without noticing the warning, like my father. So this 'revised' booklet clearly outlines the dangers and the effects of the Nekoken before explaining how the training works- in plain, simple language. I had one of my Brainiacs scribe it while I was carting Happosai down to the roots of Dalara Peaks."
Ranma finished as a chorus of "No way!"s erupted from the Slayers. Ranma blinked at the expression on Gourry's face. Lina snorted in derision.
"Oh yeah, like anyone would really do that to a person."
"My father did it to me when I was six years old. I've lived through that nightmare. Are you calling me a liar or a weakling?"
Lina, stubborn as always, didn't move an inch. Her companions, having a greater sense of self-preservation, and Ryoga, who had experienced the wrong end of Ranma's wrath before, hastily got out of the area. Ranma leaned closer, then gave Lina a cold, malicious smile.
"They say seeing is believing. Perhaps a demonstration of our talent?"
Lina nodded, at which Ranma leapt from the chair he was sitting in to Ryoga's side in a single elegant movement.
"C'mon Ryoga; let's find someplace where they won't mind us ripping everything apart."
As the two darted from the inn Lina snorted.
"This I gotta see."
Seeing as how all the food had been eaten, the Slayers ran from the inn, just in time to witness first Ranma and then Ryoga leap up to the roof of a nearby building with all the casual ease of someone stepping over a puddle. Three Raywings later and they were zooming behind the roof-hopping duo.
The spot Ranma and Ryoga had chosen was well on the outskirts of town, close to the forest. Ryoga dumped his backpack near the spot where the Slayers had been told to stay.
"All right Ryoga, let's make this interesting. I'll take it easy on you, see how long you can last."
"You're going to regret doing that!"
Ranma smirked and slipped into a (somehow mocking) battle-stance as Ryoga drew his umbrella and charged forward. Ryoga lashed out with his umbrella, Ranma dodging each blow before launching a sweeping kick that caused Ryoga to leap upwards. Ryoga raised his umbrella over his head and dove downwards, Ranma flipped into a handstand as Ryoga attempted to smash him into the ground with the end of the umbrella. In a repeat of his first battle with Ryoga at Furinkan, Ranma effortlessly leapt away as the earth simply evaporated under him, leaving Ryoga in the center of a two-foot deep and six-foot wide crater. Ranma landed on the crater's edge as Ryoga gracefully rose from his crouch.
From the sidelines, Lina scoffed.
"So he's strong, big deal."
"He's pretty quick too."
Gourry pointed out in his usual clueless manner. Lina hit him on the head with her fist as Ryoga suddenly opened his umbrella, drew his arm back and then thrust it at Ranma, launching the umbrella so that it shot across the ground, spinning like a top. Unlike the first time he tried this though the umbrella didn't simply zip across the ground. This time the umbrella was spinning so fast that it actually gouged up the ground it shot across, rendering it into a spinning vortex of dust and gravel. Just like the last time, Ranma simply dodged it, the umbrella shot past him into a tree close to where the Slayers were sitting, grinding it into sawdust before falling closed and falling over. Amelia tried to pick it up. Tried.
"Oof! This thing is heavy!"
Gourry went over and had a try; it took both hands and some straining, but he managed to pick it up.
"Sheesh, this thing must weigh a couple of tons. And he wafts it around like a feather!"
Ranma's eye flicked back from the Slayers towards his opponent.
"You've been practising with that, haven't you?"
Ryoga said nothing (and Ranma rejoiced; maybe he was learning how to control himself after all) and simply launched himself at Ranma. He launched a vicious flurry of attacks, but Ranma simply dodged, blocked or countered each and every single attack. Ryoga was beginning to get mad.
"Come on Ranma! Fight back!"
"Okay."
Me and my big mouth…At his next punch, Ranma didn't simply dodge it but seized Ryoga's arm in an iron grip and then leapt with all of his strength straight up. The two martial artists rocketed into the sky, where Ranma used his Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken to mercilessly batter Ryoga before he flipped and threw Ryoga, full-force, into the ground. Already partially stunned, Ryoga was unable to land himself, smashing into the ground with such force he actually bounced. And that was when Ranma landed on his stomach and thrust-kicked with both legs, driving Ryoga into the ground and flipping to gracefully land before the stunned Slayers.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
"You'd convinced us! You didn't have to kill him!"
"Kill? Ryoga? With that? Oh no, he's perfectly healthy. If I know Ryoga, and unfortunately I do, then he should resurface… right about now."
"RANMAAA!"
The Slayers 'eep'ed and cringed as one as a furious Ryoga, faintly glowing red, burst up behind Ranma and lashed out with a blow that looked like it could take Ranma's head off. Ranma dodged it and, in the same move, spun around in a high-kick that smashed into the side of Ryoga's head, hurling him across the clearing and straight through a tree. Ryoga shook his head like a dog with water in its ear, snarled and then charged Ranma, the red glow even brighter.
"That's it pig-boy, get good and mad, may as well end the show with a bang…"
As the Slayers watched, Ranma led Ryoga in a spiralling pattern, his face blank and emotionless. The moment he reached the center he spun around and launched an uppercut, shouting:
"Hiryu Shoten Ha!"
The Slayers had no idea what he was doing. But they found out. There was a mighty explosion and Ryoga was launched howling into the sky by a swirling vortex. It carried him high into the sky before shooting back down, Ranma leapt aside to avoid being caught in the crater it formed. Once the vortex dissipated, Ranma leapt down into the crater and then leapt back out with the unconscious form of Ryoga slung across his shoulders. As he walked over and picked up Ryoga's backpack and umbrella, Lina turned to Ranma, her eyes burning with determination.
"Teach me how to do that!"
"No."
Lina pouted like a little kid while the other Slayers heaved a sigh of relief; they really didn't want to even think about what Lina might do with that attack. The group walked back to Delasoa, Lina trying to persuade Ranma to teach her the Hiryu Shoten Ha and Ranma refusing every advance. No sooner had they gotten out of sight than Xellos teleported onto the scene, drawn by the intense surge of rage that was the Hiryu Shoten Ha. He sighed when he beheld the scene; all that lovely destruction and he missed it.
"Oh well, I'm getting closer at least."
He then disappeared again.
All right, not my best chapter, in fact probably my worst; I just can't write fight-scenes. Seeing as how the "Ranma & Ryoga in the Slayers World" arc will probably take a while, I was wondering; what do you think if I do 3 or so chapters of that arc, then do a "sub"-chapter detailing events occurring in Nerima while Ranma & Ryoga are absent? Go or no go?