pre style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"Broken Hearts Combined

I do not own Gold Digger and its associated characters. They belong to that marvelous fellow Fred Perry. I do not own Ranma and its associated characters. They belong to the wonderful lady Rumiko Takahashi. This production is strictly for entertainment, and I am not making any money off of the writings. I am just a poor student, so please Don't sue me Please?

Broken Hearts Combined Chapter 10: History of the Jade Realm

It's now been four months since Ranma has come to stay with his friend Britanny and her home. He's been doing more training with Julia with their training sessions

The fighting

Ranma does some more punches and blocks with Julia. Ranma does a roundhouse-kick, but Julia ducks down and sweeps with her right leg, and sends Ranma falling on his butt

Julia: You have a bad habit of not protecting your legs. You really should work on that

Ranma (Lying on his back): This sucks

The absolute workouts

Ranma doing one-fingered push-ups.

Julia (Arms crossed, tapping her foot): Faster Ranma! Faster!

Ranma (Doing the one-fingered push-ups): Grunt (Lifts his body up, then down, then up again). Hundred one (Lifts his body up, then down, then up again). Hundred two (Lifts his body up, then down, then up again). OOF Hundred three

Later we see Julia and Ranma running side-by-side around the Diggers mansion numerous times in a row. (Not an easy feet when you consider that the Diggers Mansion has it's own ZIP code!) Julia seems fine, but Ranma

Julia: FIGHT!

Ranma (Sweating): Fight

Julia: FIGHT!

Ranma (Sweating even more): COUGH! Fight

Julia: FIGHT!

Ranma (Sweating a lot): HUFF PUFF Fight

Julia: FIGHT!

Ranma (Sweating to death): Fight Wheeze Master Julia

Julia: Yes Ranma? Ranma (On the verge of collapse, barely keeping up with Julia as they run): Are we COUGH, GASP! Are we done yet?

Julia: Now, now Ranma Only forty-eight more miles to go

Ranma stares at Julia as they run. Ranma then stops, his eyes roll to the back of his head, and he falls face-first due to heat exhaustion and dehydration

The 'obstacle courses'

We see Ranma running down a stone path with many arrows with fire tips being flung at him. At the end of the pathway there's a 'cave-like area with three separate entrances. Ranma goes into the left entrance And goes running back out as a hug fireball goes flying after him. Ranma then tries the center entrance And is flung out with a burst of water, soaking him, and turning him into a girl. Ranma-chan decides the right entrance is the one and rushes in. She runs awhile through it and makes it out the other side where there's a bit of raised land, and large rocks at the top of it start t slide down and roll towards Ranma-chan.

Ranma-chan (Running from boulders): WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Finally the boulders catch up to Ranma-chan and roll over her, indenting her into the ground.

Ranma-chan (Face-first on the ground): I hate my life

And, to top it all off, there are still his 'sparring sessions' with Britanny

Ranma (In boxers, running down hall): AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Britanny (In nightgown, runs after him): COME BACK RANCHAN! DON'T YOU WANT TO 'SPAR'!?

Theo (Demon-head attack): RAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! STOP CORRUPTING MY LITTLE GIRL!

Yup It's pretty much been the same for Ranma Saotome But, for the oddest reasons He likes it here at the Diggers mansion. Sure, it may seem like 'hell' at times, but he is getting a 'peace' he never had at the Tendo Dojo in Nerima The people actually listen to him so he can actually talk things out with people, for once he is actually being trained, instead of being attacked, so he can really make improvement, and, to top it off, the people here actually care for his well-being Sure, things may get a slight bit hectic at times, but compared to Nerima This place is heaven-on-earth for the pig-tailed martial artist

Julia sits meditating in her room. There are a few incense candles burning. She is clearing her mind, thinking about everything she's seen Ranma do, during all their times training together, and the times she's seen Ranma sparring with Britanny and teaching her what she has taught him She knows deep down what she should have done She should have stopped teaching him once she learned he was teaching Britanny what she would teach him But, she couldn't Ranma has a potential to him One that she hasn't seen in a loooooooooooooong time The last time she saw it, it was in a mirror over twenty-five years ago, when a young female warrior, after fighting and training for so long had finally become the best-of-the-best and became Armsmaster washed her face to clean it up after the final fight Ranma could very well be the one

Soon, Julia comes to her decision It wasn't easy for her to think on this, and took some major contemplation

She decides to take Ranma's training to the next step

Julia gets up from where she was sitting in her room. She walks over to the incense candles and takes a small metal cup on a handle, snuffing the slight flames with the cup shape She then walks out of her room and down a hall Down the stairs Down another hall, passing S ance, who is holding a pile of laundry in his arms as he walks the opposite way she's walking Turning right and through another hall Finally she reaches the door of the gym. She sees Ranma lifting some weights She knew she'd find him here Julia then calls out to him

Julia: Ranma

Ranma stops what he's doing. He puts the weights down and looks at her.

Ranma: Yes Master Julia?

Julia: Follow me We have Much to discus

Ranma nods his head and gets up, Julia walks out of the room and Ranma follows her. After going through a few more wings of the house, Julia takes Ranma to an almost bare room The only thing in it is a large, intricately detailed wooden wardrobe, with details of dragons, birds, cats, a unicorn, and other mythical creatures carved into it She walks over to it and opens it. There is a set of armor, and a large book. Ranma recognizes the one outfit that is in the wardrobe easily

Ranma: Hey Isn't that what you wore the first time we sparred?

Julia: Indeed it is Study it Ranma Do you feel anything 'peculiar' about it? Do what I taught you Extend your aura into it Feel what makes it up

Ranma looks at the armor and sends his aura into it He can feel the materials

Julia: What do you feel there Ranma?

Ranma (Eyes closed, concentrating): There's cotton Leather Silver Lycra And And (Eyes widen). I don't know what it is

Julia: Oh? As in, do you not feel it, or you cannot tell.

Ranma: I cannot tell I never felt materials like some of the stuff your outfit is made of

Julia: Ranma That's because not all those materials are native to this realm

Ranma: Huh?

Julia (Puts a hand on Ranma's shoulder): Ranma I think it's time we went more into your studies It's time I told you about my home The Jaden Realm

Ranma (Wide-eyed): "The Jaden Realm"? What's that?

Julia: Not 'what' Ranma 'Where'

Ranma: What do you mean?

Julia: Ranma Listen to me well as I tell you about Jaden Or as it's now known as 'Jade'

Julia then walks over to the wardrobe and takes out the book. She moves over to the center of the room and asks Ranma to sit opposite of her. He does. Then Julia opens the book, and begins telling Ranma a bit of history

Julia: Ranma Try to picture it Two sister dimensions that are adjacent to our own

Ranma: TWO!?

Julia: Please Don't interrupt And don't you remember this? I had told you before that there were three realms altogether.

Ranma: Oh yeah (Blushes). Sorry Master Julia

Julia: It's all right These two dimensions, unlike our own, are shaped by magic, rather than technology For long ago, in an age that has long disappeared into the sands of time, humans fought with other magical beings for the control of the territories of earth Tremendous human cities of great power and wealth were built over the ashes of small Elven and Dwarven towns, reshaping the earth through the 'advancements' of what are known as 'science' and 'technology' With the increasing of the understanding of science, came the decrease in the use of the old ways, and the number of mages and magical creatures began to rapidly dwindle. And when it seemed that the spark of light known as 'magic' would be snuffed out of existence forever, a new world was discovered Select members of the clans of magical beings were sent as an exploration party to cross the dimensional barrier and explore the new world. When they set foot on it, they were amazed. It was a beautiful, so pristine, and lush with vegetation of all sorts. There was no sign of any intelligent life Except for a strange scrap of stone, that was seemingly hidden in a cave. The explorers used their magic to determine what it was, but couldn't interpret it With no other life on this realm, the explorers proclaimed this new world as theirs A place where magic could be preserved and passed on to the future generations, who would never have use for technology They proclaimed this haven of magic 'Jaden', after the strange stone that they had found That is how it came to be

Ranma (Nods his head): So You're from this realm of magic Master Julia? But you look so human

Julia (Smirks): That may well be, but I am far more than I seem. Do you realize that I am half-giant? Haven't you ever wondered why I was taller than 'normal' people?

Ranma (Eyes widen): But, I thought a giant was a size of a house, if not a large building!

Julia: That's just a misconception. Giants are around 10 ft to 14 ft in height.

Ranma (Nods his head): Ah (Eyes widen again). Does this mean Gina's a giant too? And is she actually going to grow!?

Julia (Laughs heartily): Not quite. Gina does indeed have the blood of the Giant clan However, she is only giant The more the blood is deluded, the less magical properties it has

Ranma: Okay Well, how about the other realm?

Julia: The other realm was something that the exploration party was totally not expecting. It was the polar opposite of the other two realms Where Earth and Jade are composed of matter, the third Realm is composed of anti-matter

Ranma (Eyes widen): So What happened to those people?

Julia: Like everything else there They died For that realm, since it was literally the opposite of Earth and Jade was the Nether Realm The realm of the undead Where souls of the wicked go It is literally what some religions have taken to referring to as 'hell' A realm where evil is the true force in nature, and killing one another for power is the way of 'life' It's sad when I think about Theo's father going there

Ranma: You mean Dr. Diggers' father went there?

Julia (Nods her head): Yes But it is quite a long story, and we have many other things to talk about before I get to my point

Ranma: Okay

And so Ranma sits across from Julia, as she reads more from her book, going into detailed history of Jade, specifically the Legend of Shadows, and about the first Armsmaster of Jade, and then going a bit into the history of the Undead Realm, to satisfy his curiosity Ranma is so engrossed by what Julia is telling him Never before has he thought that worlds like this could exist It is all so amazing

After a couple of hours Julia finished telling Ranma all she could about Jade. Ranma is damn impressed History is probably the only thing that he had interest in at school beside P.E. and lunch And learning about two other worlds, that seem to have come out of a fairy tale, and knowing that they DO exist It's all so incredible

They just sit there for a few moments, as Julia allows Ranma to fully digest what she has told him. When Julia 'feels' that Ranma is 'ready' for what she has to say, she speaks

Julia: Ranma

Ranma: Yes Master Julia

Julia: Are you ready for what may be the final part of your training?

Ranma (Wide-eyed): Huh?

Julia: Ranma Do you want to become greater? A better martial artist than ever before?

Ranma (Nods his head): Yes!

Julia: Good Ranma, I want you to take a journey One where you can learn all you can about the Jade Realm, all the fighting styles of Jade, and the origin of the art of the Anything Goes School and Amazon Wu-Shu. A journey where you may very well be able to learn to gain better control over the Neko-Ken What do you say?

Naturally, Ranma is all over a chance to become a better fighter.

Ranma: YES! I'LL DO IT! LEAD THE WAY MASTER JULIA, FOR I AM READY!

Julia: You can Ranma, but You have to hold up your own end of this

Ranma is curious as to what she means so he listens.

Julia: Ranma Once you start this journey, you cannot go back until you have completed it

Ranma: No problem! There's no challenge I'm not willing to face!

Julia: And

Ranma: And?

Julia: Ranma, I know you've been teaching Britanny my techniques without my permission It was obvious from all the times I saw you sparring and training with her

Ranma gulps audibly He feels like he's in trouble until he hears what Julia says next

Julia: As a result of that, you will have to take Britanny with you and continue her training along the way

Ranma (a bit shocked) Master Julia, it's not that I don't mind teaching Britchan, but I don't know what the full extent of the dangers in the Jade Realm are, and I don't want to drag Britchan into a dangerous situation I'm sorry

Julia: Fine But know this Either you take Britanny with you, or my teaching you is over

Ranma (Wide-eyed): HUH!? WHY!?

Julia: Simple You had no right to teach my daughter my techniques, until I say she is ready. Didn't you think I had a reason for not training her yet?

Ranma: Well, um

Julia: Put simply, she is now YOUR student And to take you away would mean taking away her 'master'. And it is the master's responsibility to train the student, and keep them on course. So you can do it here, or you can bring her to Jade with you So what's it going to be?

Naturally, Ranma folds to the threat made by Julia

We see Britanny doing rapid-fire kicks and punches to a really beat-up looking punching bag Then Britanny winds up a punch with her right fist, left is go, and obliterates the punching bag. Britanny looks over the mess the bag made when it exploded, leaving sawdust everywhere.

Britanny: Shoot These things don't last as long as they used to

Britanny's ear twitches. She hears someone walking close to the gym. She turns around to see who's coming It Ranma.

Britanny (Waves at Ranma): Hi Ranchan!

Ranma: Hi Britchan

Britanny: Hey Ranma, want to do a bit of sparring? I'm more than ready for you now. So what do you say?

Ranma: Well Britchan There's something I want to tell you

Britanny's eyebrow shoots up. Could he possibly be asking her, what she thinks he is

Britanny (Thinks): He is going to as me to OH HOHOHOHOHOHOHO! Britanny's a happy little werecheetah!

Ranma stares at Britanny for a while, wondering why her eyes are suddenly hearts and there are little hearts, flowers, and bells floating around her.

Ranma: Um Britchan?

Britanny, upon hearing Ranma's voice, snaps out of her little dream world She shakes her head a bit then looks at Ranma seriously.

Britanny: So Ranchan What is it you want to talk to me about? (Thinks: Please say what I think you're going to say, please say you want to elope, oh PLEASE!)

Ranma: Well Britchan Julia wants me to go onto the next step of my training

Britanny: Oh Is that all? (Thinks: DAMN IT!)

Ranma: And well I have to leave and go off to Jade

Britanny (Voice slightly trembles): Oh I see So you're leaving then (Thinks: DOUBLE DAMN IT!)

Ranma: Yeah But the thing is

Britanny: OH? (Thinks: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!)

Ranma: Well, Julia says I have to take you with me

Britanny (Confused): HUH!? What do you mean?

Ranma: Well, the thing is, I wasn't supposed to train you in what Julia taught me

Britanny: Are you in trouble?

Ranma: Kind of

Britanny: What do you mean by, "Kind of?"

Ranma: Well, Julia says I'm your master now, and that I can't just stop halfway through your training So I have to take you with me and train you as I go on the quest Julia wants me to go on

Britanny: What quest?

Ranma: To fight all ten Weaponsmasters and then enter the Tournament of Arms

Britanny (Wide-eyed): SHE WANTS YOU TO DO WHAT!?

Ranma: I said She wants me to fight all ten

Britanny (Interrupts): I know that! But why?

Ranma (Shrugs his shoulder): I don't know. But I guess she thinks I can do it

Britanny: Okay So what now? Get packing and set out to Jade?

Ranma: Yeah But first I have to make a weapon.

Britanny: Huh? Why?

Ranma: Britanny, it's the rule for the Tournament of Arms that a contestant fights with the weapon he or she forges for himself or herself. And I'm not sure HOW to even MAKE a weapon

Britanny: Well, aren't you the lucky one Ranchan

Ranma: Huh?

Britanny: You do have an edge over the competition with us

Ranma: What do you mean?

Britanny doesn't say anything, but walks to the intercom on the wall. She starts talking with Gina for a bit, and then gets off to talk to Ranma.

Britanny: Well Ranchan, we better get down to Gina's lad

Ranma: Why?

Britanny: Because that's where we'll be forging your weapon.

Ranma: Huh?

Britanny: Sigh Just follow me

Ranma: Okay

And so Britanny walks out of the gym and Ranma follows her.

After walking through the halls for a while, and going through a bit of Gina's lad, Ranma and Britanny enter Gina's 'forge' The Micro Nova Chamber 2000!

Ranma (Looks around in shock): What the heck is this place?

Gina: Hi! Welcome to my 'forge'. THE MICRO NOVA CHAMBER 2000!

Ranma: Okay So what's so special about this place?

Gina (Blinks): ARE YOU BLIND! This area of the lab has it's own 'furnace' that's six times hotter than an exploding sun! And for materials Depleted uranium can be synthesized here to any type of material needed.

Ranma (Wide-eyed): REALLY!?

Gina: Yes.

Ranma: COOL!

Britanny: I knew coming to baby sis was a good idea for once Hey, Gina

Gina: Yeah Brit?

Britanny: How long should this take?

Gina: Not to worry! You'll be able to craft a blade that is a true work of art in FIVE MINUTES that would have taken FIVE CENTURIES the OLD way! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Ranma (Blinks): Dang You were right Britchan Gina really can be nerdy

Upon saying that Gina face-faults and Britanny laughs.

And so, five minutes later (as promised) Ranma has used Gina's tools to forge himself a pure titanium katana One that is cut with a laser so the edge is only a molecule thick

Ranma uses the katana and slices through a wall in Gina's lab in an effect similar to a hot knife through butter Britanny whistles

Ranma is now quite impressed at what you can do with the technology Gina has come up with. Which makes it even easier to talk Ranma into making a few other weapons just in case

So Ranma also makes himself a set of intricately carved steel nun-chucks with a meter long titanium chain connecting them, and two sets of fingerless-gloves that are made from an incredibly dense leather and have titanium rhinestones on the knuckles for 'extra hurt'. Ranma gives the other set to Britanny, and she likes it VERY much.

Britanny (Smiles): THEY'RE GNUCCI BRAND!

Gina is pretty glad her technology can be used to better the lives of the 'mentally challenged'. As a bonus, Gina throws Ranma a mythril scabbard to hold the katana. Ranma asks what mythril is and Gina explains that is a magical based metal more powerful than titanium. Ranma asks why she didn't offer it to him to make his weapons out of, and Gina explains you aren't allowed to use magical weapons in the Tournament of Arms. They even have a magic barrier around the arena that cuts of the etheral flow of energy into the arena to prevent magic usage during the fights. Ranma can use the mythril scabbard since it really isn't a weapon, but something to hold his weapon in.

Now that they are equipped with weapons and backpacks of camping gear, Ranma and Britanny are set to go to the Jade Realm They wait for Theo to cast the spell

Theo: Are you ready?

Ranma Britanny: Yes.

Theo: Are you sure you're ready?

Ranma Britanny: Yes

Theo: Are you absolutely SURE you're both ready?

Ranma Britanny: YES!

Julia: OH THEO, STOP BEING A WORRY WART AND SEND THEM ALREADY!

Theo: But you want me to teleport them to Leep's Point! I WILL NOT HAVE MY DAUGHTER IN THAT EVIL LITTLE MAN'S CLUTCHES!

Britanny (Confused): What evil little man?

Julia: It's all right Britanny. Don't worry about the "Ol' Geezer" I know that Ranma will be able to help you should you need it

Theo (Mutters): That's another thing I'm afraid of

Julia: Theo

Theo: Okay Julia I'll send them Oh, and Ranma

Ranma: Yes Dr. Diggers?

Theo does his Flaming skull demon-head attack.

Theo: IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO MY DAUGHTER BESIDES PROTECT HER, I'LL

Julia: THEODORE PISQUAL DIGGERS!

Theo (Calms down): Sorry Julia Old habits die hard

Julia: I'll bet Goodbye my student Goodbye my daughter. I hope to see you both again soon.

Britanny: So do I mom.

Britanny hugs Julia goodbye as Theo starts to cast the spell. Britanny let's go of Julia, then her and Ranma wave goodbye to them. The finished the spell and Ranma and Britanny are teleported to the starting point of their quest. An area known as 'Leep's Point' in the Dim Crag Mountains

End Chapter 10

Next Time: Welcome to the Jade Realm Ranma and Britanny get to meet Julia's old teacher, Master Leep And why are all of Leep's students scantily clad women!?

Author's note: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Things will be really heating up now that Ranma and Britanny are in Jade And the true focus of this series will start to be realized

-This is RedPriest17, signing off.

Send your questions and comments to Ryutsurugi

Note: Flames will be read and then used as lining for Charlotte's birdcage./pre