Broken Hearts Combined
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I do not own Gold Digger and its associated characters. They belong to that marvelous fellow Fred Perry. I do not own Ranma ½ 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?
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Broken Hearts Combined Chapter 17: Everybody was Magic Fighting… It was as Fast as Lightning (Bolts)…
It's a full week since the 'incident' with Gar and Britanny… Many events have happened…
Thanks to Nali's help, Ranma now has his spells under full conscious control as a Rouge Mage… Sure, he only knows six spells… Aura Beam, Aura Shield, Invisibility, Sunburst, Freeze, and Healing… But still… That will be very useful in the long run…
Ranma is also thankful to the Edge Guard. With them as constant sparring partners, Ranma has learned to use all his weapons much more efficiently, and, has learned how to fight against other weapons and magic users…
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Glaives…
We see the roof of the Edge Guard base in the Retreat from above. Gar is holding onto his magical weapon 'Thunder Edge'… He twirls the glaive like a bo, getting the feel of it. Ranma twirls his metal nun-chucks a bit, also getting a feel for his weapon…
Gar holds his glaive hi above him, the sky begins to darken, and lightning cackles through the air…
Gar: Lightning…
Suddenly, a large crack of thunder is heard through the air…
Gar: CRASH!
Gar points his glaive at Ranma, and seven different lightning bolts shoot down from the sky towards Ranma. Ranma jumps high into the air, as the lightning hits where he was standing. Ranma comes down in front of Gar. Gar does a horizontal swipe with his glaive to hit Ranma, who ducks underneath the attack. Ranma then uses the butt of his nun-chuck and smashes Gar in the abdomen, then brings it twirling up to smash him in the chin. Gar starts to fall backwards, as Ranma does a roundhouse kick, smashing 'Thunder Edge' out of Gar's hand. Finally, Gar lands on his back…
Ranma then takes a few steps forward. He grabs Gar's weapon as it falls downward. He then points the glaive at Gar.
Ranma: Looks like I win?
Gar (Rubs back of head): Argh… Yeah… Ow… That hurt…
(-)
Maces…
It is the arena of the Edge Guard base. We see Tirga twirling his magical chained-mace 'Fire Claw' around. He does it with almost insane speeds, as he gathers strands of magical fire around him.
Tirga: HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA! OH, I AM HOT STUFF!
Ranma stares. He is not impressed at all. He just points his nun-chucks at Tirga. He concentrates his energies, feeling the Etheral Stream around him and taking energies from it. A bluish white energy gathers around Ranma's weapon.
Ranma: Freeze…
A blast of ice then shoots out at Tirga. It hits his chained-mace and flames, freezing it all… Tirga is now covered in a prison of ice.
Tirga (Shivers, teeth chatter): Brr… That's not fair… FIRE WALL!
A wall of fire then shoots up from the ground in front of Tirga. It melts the ice, and he is once again ready for more.
Tirga: I AM SO DAMN COOL! NO ONE CAN TAKE ME DOWN! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Tirga then starts doing some sort of dance-routine. Jumping up and down into the air, as he twirls his chained-mace around, doing a dace of flames.
Tirga (Smirks): Think you can get through my Dance of the Phoenix? Go ahead and try! In fact, I dare you to!
Ranma then shakes his head. Tirga is starting to annoy him. Ranma then unhooks one of the staff parts of his nun-chucks. He aims it like a javelin at Tirga's head as he twirls and throws… Unfortunately, Tirga then does a jump into the air. The piece of the nun-chuck still hits Tirga, but a bit further south…
Tirga then falls to the ground on his knees, letting his chained-mace fall to the side. Tirga's skin pales, eyes widen to maximum capacity, and his jaw drops to the floor… He then grabs onto a certain piece of the male anatomy and whimpers.
Ranma winces in sympathy…
Ranma: Oooooooh… Sorry Tirga…
Tirga (Shakes): Ow… My family jewels have been cracked…
Ranma (Thinks): I don't know whether to feel bad about hurting him, or good about performing a public service…
A few minutes later, we see Tirga sitting the corner as he holds an ice pack to his family jewels… Sheila seems to be fussing over him.
Sheila: I told you that you couldn't beat Ranchan…
Tirga: Well… (Smirks). Will you kiss my boo-boo and make it better?
Sheila blushes a deep crimson. She then smashes Tirga in his 'jewels' again, with thee butt of her scimitar, his eyes widen
Pan to a shot of the Edge Guard base from a few miles above…
Tirga (Voice): OW! SONUVABITCH THAT HURTS!
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Nun-chucks
In the arena of the Edge Guard again, we see Thropan walk into the arena, as Sheila and Onoli carry Tirga out of there. Thropan turns around and looks at the three other Edge Guard members and blinks.
Thropan: You did that?
Ranma: Yep…
Thropan shrugs his shoulders. He then walks summons his weapons from a little pocket of space the Edge Guard keep all their weapons.
Thropan: Earth Flail!
And with those words, Thropan's bladed nun-chucks appear in his hands. He then smashes his flail to the ground.
Thropan: SEISMIC SERPENT!
And with that, a wave of energy goes through the ground. Ranma jumps over it, and brings his nun-chucks down upon Thropan, but Thropan holds his weapon out horizontally, blocking the blow. Thropan then does a summersault-kick, smashing Ranma away from him. Ranma lands in a roll, and jumps back to his feet.
Ranma: Not bad…
Ranma then starts twirling his nun-chucks at an incredible speed, letting his ki flow into it. It starts to glow with a blue light.
Thropan: … I'm in trouble…
Ranma: MOUKO TAKABISHA!
He then snaps his nun-chucks like a whip; the Mouko Takabisha shoots forth as a thin bolt towards Thropan. Thropan manages to deflect it with the 'Earth Flail', but this gives Ranma all the time he needs to run up to Thropan, and do a roundhouse kick to Thropan's head.
Thropan skids across the ground, his head swimming with pain.
Thropan: Ow… Okay, okay, I give up… You've gotten too good…
Ranma (Smiles): Thanks Thropan.
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Swords…
Sheila stands there, holding onto her magical scimitar 'Ice Fang'. Ranma nods his head. He uses the hidden weapons techniques to put his nun-chucks away, and take out his katana.
Ranma: Are you ready Shechan?
Sheila: Yeah! I'm ready to give you a kapowie! CHARGE!
Sheila starts running forward and Ranma smiles.
Ranma (Thinks): Shechan may be skilled with her scimitar, and fighting skills, but she really should work on her strategies…
Ranma holds out his hand and begins to concentrate, gathering energies. He then uses the spell he learned from her…
Ranma: FREEZE!
Ranma shoots the ground between Sheila and him. Sheila then starts to slip and slide as she steps on the ice. She drops her scimitar and starts flailing her arms.
Sheila: WHAWHAWHAWHAWHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?
Sheila then starts stumbling forward on the ice, heading towards Ranma as she flails her arms to keep balance.
Ranma (Wide-eyed): Uh oh…
Sheila then smashes Ranma in the face with her fist, and she smashes into him fully, pushing him to the ground, and landing on top of him. Ranma rubs his nose.
Ranma: Ow… Okay… Maybe I'm the one that needs to work on strategy…
Sheila: Huh?
Ranma: Never mind… Hey, Shechan?
Sheila: Yes?
Ranma: Can you get off of me now?
It's at this point Sheila realizes her position. She has Ranma on the ground, and she's on top of him.
Sheila (Blushes): Eh heh… Sorry about that… But…
Ranma (Raises an eyebrow): But?
Sheila: You're actually pretty comfortable to lie on… (Smiles). Purr…
Ranma blushes. He silently thanks Kami-sama that Britanny isn't here… However, the doors to the arena burst open and Tirga limps in on a pair of crutches.
Tirga: RAAAAAAANNNNNMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Ranma: Sigh… Just what I needed…
Sheila: Hey Tirga… What's with the crutches?
Tirga (Ignoring Sheila): Yes… Now it all makes sense… Now I understand… You decided to 'cripple' my manhood, so you could move in and take my girlfriend… Well… NO MORE! FOR I SHALL…
Ranma & Sheila: FREEZE!
The dual blast of ice from Ranma and Sheila freezes Tirga in a block of ice…
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Dual weapons…
We see Gar and Thropan in the corner of the arena, using picks to break open the ice that Tirga is frozen in.
Sheila sits on one of the benches on one of the sides of the arena. She watches as Ranma faces off against Onoli.
Onoli faces Ranma calmly. He summons his short twin katanas Seraphim. They gleam with an aura of holy light. Ranma lifts his katana to the ready. He makes mental note of Onoli's stance. It is balanced. Favoring the right weapon as the main instrument to fight with, while he holds the weapon in his left hand more defensively. In a way to use it to Sheila, but can easily be used to attack with.
Ranma (Nods his head): Not bad…
Ranma starts to circle around Onoli, as Onoli keeps his eyes on Ranma. Onoli nods his head as he watches Ranma's movement.
Onoli (Thinks): Interesting… He thinks to study my stance, looking for an opening… Well, he will not find one… For I am the leader of the Edge Guard! I am cool, calm, collected, and serene. No one will ever take me down. For I must be the pillar of strength for the team. Show them that whenever the worst seems possible, that a light of hope shall shine through…
Ranma blinks.
Ranma: Why isn't he paying attention? Oh well…
Ranma strikes Onoli across the back of his head with the butt of his sword. Onoli falls to the ground.
Sheila (Shakes her head): Sigh… Onoli REALLY should pay more attention…
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With his training complete (well, for the most part anyway), Ranma is ready to face off against his next challenge…
Karia…
Ranma asks Sheila and the other Edge Guard to come with him as witnesses to the battle between him and Karia.
Onoli (Rubs back of head): Okay… I think we can manage going…
Gar: Hmm… Should be interesting…
Thropan: Hmm… I may be able to make a song off of it, if it's a spectacular battle…
Tirga (With a blanket, shivering): Brr… Ok, k, k, k, kay… I'll go…
Sheila: You want us to watch you fight a Weaponsmaster?
Ranma: Yeah. That, and… Um… I don't know how to get to Karia's place… And I need you guys to lead me there…
Tirga, Gar, Onoli, and Thropan face-fault. Sheila only sweat-drops, as she is used to this sort of behavior from Ranma.
Sheila: Sigh… Ranchan…
Ranma: Yeah Shechan?
Sheila: You really need to stop being so blunt at times…
(-)
Before going to Karia's place Ranma, followed by the Edge Guard, walks back to Nali's home. Ranma promised Britanny that he'd let her watch him fight this time. She was really upset with him the last time… And he doesn't want to anger a werecheetah again…
Ranma knocks on the door to Nali's home.
Ranma: Hey, it's me! Ranma! Anyone home?
The door then swings opens inwards and Britanny lunges out, tackling Ranma to the ground.
Britanny: There you are Ranchan! You didn't tell me where you were going earlier today! I couldn't wait to see you again… Purr…
Ranma (Mutters): Sigh… Why do I keep getting tackled a lot lately?
Britanny silences Ranma by kissing him on the lips. The others stare at the scene with mixed feelings…
Gar (Thinks): Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out… No, I don't really want to tear Ranma apart and make Britanny my woman right here and now, really I don't… Must stay calm… Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out…
Onoli (Blinks): … Oh my…
Tirga (Thinks): Why that lucky bastard! I got to hand it to him though… Getting Britanny AND trying to take MY Sheila… Looks like I'll have to kick his as later…
Thropan: Hmm… I sense the makings of a great romance novel if I write about these two…
Sheila (Thinks): Okay… Keep calm… Keep calm… You know Ranma and Britanny belong together… So why do I feel jealous?
Gar (Whispers): Hey sis, why are you blushing?
Sheila (Whispers): No reason… In particular… Breathe in… Breathe out…
Gar gets a puzzled expression.
Britanny's eyes perk up as she hears the comments from the peanut gallery. She breaks the kiss and looks up. She has the decency to blush.
Britanny (Blushes): Eh heh… Sorry… Didn't realize you guys were here…
Sheila: No problem. Right guys? … Guys?
The other continue to stare…
Ranma: Hey Britchan, you mind getting off of me?
Britanny: Oops! Sorry Ranchan…
Britanny gets off of Ranma, and Ranma gets himself off of the ground.
Ranma: Hey Britchan, you want to go watch me fight with Karia?
Britanny: Oh? You finally going to fight her?
Ranma (Nods his head): Yep. I feel that I'm finally ready… And I remember you asking me to go and watch the next time I fought.
Britanny: COOL! Lead the way!
Ranma: Um… Onoli, could you?
Onoli (Smirks): Of course…
Onoli leads the way to Karia's place. Tirga moves over to Sheila.
Tirga: So, what do you think?
Sheila: Well… They're a loving couple… What do you think?
Tirga (Mutters): I quote… "Dear Penthouse…"
Sheila frowns and elbows Tirga in the stomach.
(-)
And so, after a few minutes, Ranma and crew have walked all the way over to Karia's study. The building is like any of the others in the Retreat. It's disc-shaped, made of wood, glass, and stone.
Ranma: This is Karia's place?
Onoli: Yes. This is her study.
Ranma: Doesn't look special.
Suddenly, out of the corner of Ranma's eye, he notices something out of place. The outside of the building has a sign on it like a Dojo's… But it's in a language Ranma doesn't understand…
Ranma: Hey… What's this say?
Sheila: That's Elven writing… Fortunately, Thropan here can read it. Thropan?
Thropan: No problem.
Thropan walks up to the sigh. He reads it silently first. He concentrates for a bit, thinking on how to put it into words in their language…
Sheila: Thropan?
Thropan: Rough translation. "Visitors, knock on door. Challengers, walk in through side door. Merchants and Dwarves, go to the nine hells!"
Ranma (Blinks): Not a very sociable person is she?
Thropan: She is… It's just that Elves of all types have never gotten along well with Dwarves of any type…
Ranma: … Okay… Well, I'm going in…
Ranma and crew head to the side-door, surprisingly, it is unlocked. They walk in…
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Once inside however, is NOT like what any of them was expecting. It isn't any sort of study like the other mages, but it's like a gym.
Ranma: You sure this is a mage's study?
Onoli: … I thought it was…
Ranma walks around. Eventually he finds Karia lifting a set of weights… About 350-lbs. each… Ranma is surprised by the strength the woman has, and he notices her ears perk up, and she turns toward him with a smile.
Karia: I can hear you sweating. So, are you sure you're ready?
Ranma: Ready when you are.
With that Karia smiles. She places her weights down, and flexes slightly. She looks around and sees all the Edge Guard and Britanny there.
Karia: Well, at least you brought some witnesses for this. Listen, I suggest you all stand outside… I don't want you people getting hurt.
Britanny: HUH!? How can we be witnesses if we can't watch!?
Karia smiles. She gathers her energy, making a globe of magical power, that's about twice the size of a basketball.
Karia: You can watch us through this…
Karia tosses the ball to Britanny. Britanny catches it.
Karia: Well… What are you waiting for? GET OUT ALREADY!
Britanny: Geez… What a grouch… KICK HER ASS RANCHAN!
Ranma: Will do.
Britanny and the Edge Guard walk outside. Karia smiles at Ranma.
Karia: Are you ready?
Ranma: Ready as I'll ever be.
Karia: Good…
With that, Karia charges at Ranma and the battle begins.
Karia makes a dashing punch, but doesn't reach, as Ranma jumps into the air and kicks his leg out, smashing Karia in the face, and sending her flying back, and crashing into one of the walls, and stumbling to the floor. Karia then back onto her feet again.
Ranma doesn't show any expression. He just continues to wait there, letting Karia come to him…
Karia smirks. She is really impressed that Ranma was able to give her such a powerful kick to her face. Karia gets tired of waiting for Ranma to make a move, so she rushes towards him. Ranma is prepared to block an attack of higher altitude this time from Karia, but instead Karia does one from an even lower elevation, praying on Ranma's slight 'flaw'…
Karia: ROLLING FIRE BALL!
Karia makes a ball of magical fire in her hand, and rolls it like a bowling ball at Ranma. It strikes Ranma in his left leg and he jump back. He begins to pat at the flames with his hands, to snuff out the flames. Luckily, he manages to put the flame out. He starts walking away from her, to give himself some distance.
Karia starts to frown at seeing Ranma move away from her…
Karia: Leaving so soon? I guess a more 'direct' approach is in order than…
Karia then concentrates, gathering energy from the Etheral Stream and changing it to a glowing gold light in her hands. When it is ready, Karia then shoots the energy off at Ranma…
Karia: LIGHTNING BOLT!
Ranma's eyes snap wide-open.
Ranma: Oh shit!
Ranma then gathers his energies as quickly as possible, and performs a spell to counter-act Karia's attack.
Ranma: AURA SHIELD!
A translucent ball of magic then envelops Ranma. Karia's Lightning Bolt smashes into Ranma's Aura Shield, and gets deflected to the sides, making two new entryways in Karia's home.
Ranma: Oops… Sorry about that… (Eyes widen). Uh oh…
While Ranma was distracted by the attack spell, Karia used the time to close the distance between Ranma and her. She comes rushing to him. Ranma sees Karia coming right at him and flips onto his back. As she runs, Karia wonders what Ranma is doing, when Ranma then suddenly straightens himself upwards. The heels of his feet aimed directly at Karia's face. The blow surprises Karia, and sends her flying back into some training equipment.
Ranma (Winces): Ooh… That's gotta hurt…
Karia then gets herself up off the floor. She pushes some of the broken training equipment off of herself and smiles. Once back on her feet, she gets back into her fighting stance.
Karia (Smiles): Heh… Apparently, you may be a challenge Ranma…
Ranma then powers up. He gathers his blue ki, summoned by his confidence into his hands, and intensifies it with magical energies. He takes aim at Karia and fires!
Ranma: MOUKO TAKABISHA DOUBLE!
The two magic enhanced ki blasts fly towards Karia. Karia waits a few moments, jumps over the two ki projectiles and charges towards Ranma again. Ranma also charges towards Karia, the two connect in a hand-to-hand combat of incredible speeds, trading punches and kicks. Karia then does a flip-kick, smashing Ranma in the face, and sending him flying backwards. After he lands, and puts some cracks in the floorboards, Ranma flips himself back onto his feet, and lands not too far away from Karia. He then smiles cockily at her.
Ranma: That all you got? I expected more from a student of Anything Goes…
Karia: Heh… I could say the same about you… I didn't think Leep trained men…
Ranma: Let's just say… That I'm a special case…
Karia smiles and nods her head. She then rushes forward and smashes her right fist forward. Ranma manages to move to the side in time and punches Karia in the side of the head with a well-placed punch, and knees her in her side ribs. Karia is stunned from the pain. Ranma uses her hesitation and pummels Karia with his Katchu Tenshin Amaguriken. Ranma then enhances one final punch with a bit of ki, powering it up, and he smashes it right into Karia's face, sending her flying right into the wall of her home. She appears to have stopped moving…
Ranma: Sigh… I did it…
Karia lies with the back to the wall, her head swimming with pain. Her eyes suddenly glow with a red light.
Ranma (Wide-eyed): HUH!?
Karia then lifts her head up and looks Ranma directly in the eyes. A malicious smile appears on hers lips…
Krauser: Heh… Not bad… Not bad at all… You indeed are a challenge worth the effort… I will enjoy this fight…
Ranma (Gets into stance): Bring it on Weaponsmaster…
Karia stare begins to harden in its intensity, to one that could melt Dwarven steel in a matter of seconds… Karia then gets off the ground and rushes towards Ranma once again.
Karia: You're going down boy… FORCE BOLT!
Karia uses energies from the Etheral Stream, and creates a bolt of compressed air. It moves with blinding speed, smashing Ranma in the abdomen, and making him cough up a bit of blood. Karia then runs at the stunned Ranma again. She rears her right fist back, and shoots it forward, smashing Ranma in the face, and sending him flying into some of her equipment, his head, smashing against one of her dumbbells.
Ranma (Clutches back of his head with hands): Ow, ow, ow, ow! Shit, that hurts.
Ranma tries to look at Karia, but his vision is now blurry. He feels a swift kick to his head. Then he feels another kick, and another, and then an incredibly powerful punch to his chest. He feels his ribs crack with the blow. He stumbles to the floor… He can't really see anything, but he can still hear…
Karia (Voice): Phew… I'll admit this… You were one hell of an opponent Ranma… I am thankful for the match…
Karia feels her face with her hands. She winces as she feels pain. Her face is definitely going to be bruised tomorrow… Karia's eyes widen as she feels a power begin to rise behind her.
Karia: What in the nine hells?
Karia stares at Ranma… He is somehow standing… His aura is glowing a mixture of a glowing gold and bubbling black, his eyes glowing with a piercing white. The aura suddenly moves onto his fist. He talks, his voice resounds with an echo…
Ranma: I… Will… Not… Lose…
Ranma's aura moves onto his hands, the energies of black and gold swirling in an incredible pattern. Claws begin to form on his hands…
Ranma: Neko-Ken special attack… KIRU NEKOTSUMEKAZE!
And so Ranma does the Cutting Cat Claw Wind… He stands there perfectly still, balancing on one foot… His energies start to swirl around him, and he beings to turn around and around at incredible speeds, creating a tornado of gold and black, that cuts up at it's surroundings.
(-)
Britanny and the Edge Guard watch all this in awe through the little magical ball Nali gave them…
Britanny: Incredible…
Sheila: The Neko-Ken is a truly powerful art…
Gar: Damn… This is insane…
All of a sudden, due to the stress of the battle, Karia's building begins to give way. It literally falls apart, and the pieces of Karia's home fall from it's spot connected on the tree, and fall down towards Seer's Hamlet below…
Gar: SHIT!
Onoli: EVERYONE, GET DOWN THERE! WE HAVE TO KEEP DAMAGE TO A MINIMUM AND HELP THE CITIZENS!
Soon, the Edge Guard and Britanny start rushing down ladders and such, as pieces of Karia's home smash into the streets, and buildings of Seer's Hamlet below.
Thropan: Shit… There are gonna be a lot of pissed off people…
(-)
After spending an hour checking the area to make sure no one was hurt by falling debris, the Edge Guard then go to look around for Ranma. They find him sitting in the center of Seer's Hamlet, amongst the debris. He is cradling Karia's unconscious form in his arms.
Britanny: Ranchan? Are you okay?
Ranma turns around and looks at Britanny. He gives her the thumbs-up. He's tired, bruised, and bloody… But he won.
The other Edge Guard members make it over to where Ranma, Britanny, and the unconscious Karia are.
Gar: Ranma!
Onoli: Ranma, are you and Karia all right?
Sheila: Damn Ranchan! THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!
Tirga: I must admit… That was pretty damaging what you did… BUT IT WAS FRIKIN' AWESOME!
Thropan: Can I have the exclusive rights to write songs about you?
Ranma stars at them all and blinks. He then chuckles lightly to himself…
Ranma: You know… It's funny… It took everything I had to keep on fighting, and it eventually took conscious… Or possible, unconscious use of the Neko-Ken to take Karia down… Well, I proved that I have what it takes to beat one of the best… I'm king of the world! Heh heh… Wooo… I'm getting woozy.
With that, Ranma faints… Er… Gets a well deserved rest…
(-)
End Chapter 17
Next Time: Ranma awakens after battle. He's defeated the third Weaponsmaster… Now it's time to find and fight the fourth… However, thanks to a suggestion from Karia, now Ranma and Britanny won't be hoofing it across Jade alone…
Looks like Ranma may be in some hot water now…
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
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