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 23: Welcome to the World of the Shadow Elves…
It has been a long while of walking for Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila. They are all very tired, hot, and thirsty… But they're now very close to Trine, as they can see it in the distance.
Ranma: HEY! I CAN SEE THE CITY!
Sheila: Great. Another half-hour of walking and we can get something to eat!
Britanny: A half hour? … SCREW THAT! I'll get us there in half a minute!
Ranma: What are you planning Britchan?
Britanny doesn't answer them. Instead she picks up Ranma and Sheila under her arms and runs to Trine… Let's just say, Britanny's speed of230 miles/hour makes quite an entrance when she stops… Literally causing a gust of wind that sends everything lightweight flying forwards.
Townsperson #1: BY THE GODS!
Townsperson #2: A twister, a twister!
Britanny then drops to the two and stretches.
Britanny: There, wasn't that fun?
Ranma: No…
Britanny turns to Ranma and sees pineapple bits all over his face.
Britanny: Where do those things keep coming from?
(-)
Back in the Seer's Desert, we see the 'Hidden Emperor of Jade' Sabbo lying flat on his back. His right arm in a cast, his eyes little swirls, and foot prints all over his body.
Sabbo: … Ouch… Even if she is Armsmaster Julia's adopted daughter, I'm really beginning to hate that werecheetah…
(-)
Back in the port city of Trine.
Ranma (Wipes pineapple bits off of his face): Okay Britchan and Shechan, let's go start asking people if they know anything about the 'Grand Cavern'.
However, this is lost on Britanny and Sheila when the two werecats take notice of a very familiar scent wafting through the air…
Britanny & Sheila: FISH!
Britanny and Sheila start running to the ports. Not to get info, but to partake in the seafood. Ranma sighs, but follows as well, because he too is hungry.
Ranma: HEY! WAIT FOR ME!
And so Ranma takes off running after the two werecats.
(-)
After partaking in a lot of food and drink (and a bit of money spending) Ranma and crew sit at one of the table outside a café and start talking about what their next course of action should be.
Britanny: Well, I don't think anyone around here will tell us any information, so I think we should start checking the city for any entrance to the underground citadel of the Shadow Elves.
Ranma (nods his head): Not a bad idea Britchan.
Britanny: Thanks!
Ranma: Hey Shechan.
Sheila: Yeah Ranchan?
Ranma: Do know what a Shadow Elf is? I've never heard of them before.
Sheila just shrugs her shoulders.
Sheila: Sorry. I lived in Jade all my life, and she's NEVER heard of the 'Shadow Elves' before…
Ranma: It's okay Shechan. Maybe we should try looking around the inner part of the city for an entrance first, and then work our way out?
Sheila (Nods her head): Sounds like a plan to me.
Britanny: Yeah. That way we can find the fifth Weaponsmaster and get a move on out of here.
Ranma: Yeah. Still… I wish we could ask someone for help…
Sheila (Shakes her head): Too risky. Someone could take that the wrong way and we could be attacked.
Britanny & Ranma: Huh?
Sheila: Yeah. As I said I lived on Jade all my life, so why haven't I heard of the Shadow Elves before? They're probably very secretive, and asking about them could cause some problems.
Ranma: Yeah… I guess it is best to start looking for an entrance than…
Unbeknownst to the group however… There is one listening to them that knows of the Shadow Elves… For this man is one himself. He can feel a power radiating off of Ranma… A power that feels very familiar.
Shadow Elf (Thinks): So… Tsunami finally found someone to pass 'Shadow Strike' onto. This boy must be the one then…
The Shadow walks up to Ranma and the werecats who are talking to one another. Ranma turns his head when he feels a decent aura near him. He sees a man wearing dark blue robes, with twin crescent moon symbols embroidered near the bottom of it, and a silver star embroidered onto the hood.
Ranma: Uh… Who are you? Do you want something?
Shadow Elf: I see by you having possession of the magical weapon Shadow Strike that you have beaten the leader of the Ninja clan Tsunami. Very well… Follow me… I will lead you to the next Weaponsmaster.
The man starts to walk away. Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila look at each other. Having no better leads on the Shadow Elves and next Weaponsmaster the three decide to follow this guy. And, if he should try anything, they are confident enough in their abilities that they could take him on.
(-)
After an hour of walking the Shadow Elf leads them outside of the city. Once a good distance, he stops.
Shadow Elf: Are you certain about fighting the Weaponsmaster.
Ranma: Absolutely!
Britanny: Yeah! Ranchan will kick that guy's ass!
The Shadow Elf smirks with the confidence the group has. He then performs a spell that makes a weird portal of blue energy.
Shadow Elf (Points to the portal): Please, step in.
Ranma is on a bit of the defensive. He doesn't know where that's going, and he sure as hell isn't going to send his friends in if they don't know where it will lead. The man just shakes his head and starts chanting. Ranma is prepared for anything the man may try… Except for a huge gust of wind. Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila are blown into the portal.
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: HEY!
The Shadow Elf looks at the group disappearing into the portal and smirks.
Shadow Elf: Confidant, yes… Powerful, no…
The Shadow Elf then steps into the portal as well, and it disappears.
(-)
The portal reappears in an area that is done like an amalgamation of a medieval castle and a building like one a person would find in new York City, made of metal and glass. Ranma and crew fall out of it in an unsightly pile, with Ranma on the bottom, and Britanny and Sheila landing on top of him and the man steps out of it calmly as it disappears behind him.
Britanny: Owwies… I think he busted my pride.
Sheila: I know what you mean…
Ranma: Can you two please get off of me?
Britanny and Sheila look down and see Ranma beneath them. They get up and help lift Ranma back onto his feet.
Britanny: Sorry about that Ranchan.
Sheila: Yeah, we're really sorry.
Ranma (Dusts himself off): It's okay… Hey… Where are we?
Ranma looks around; there are many people in robes like the Shadow Elf was wearing, but with slight variation, but still pertaining to an overall theme. The Shadow Elf that brought them to this place looks towards another Shadow Elf that is wearing pale green robe with white star/crescent moon patterns adorning it. The Shadow Elf starts talking to the green-robed Shadow Elf.
Shadow Elf: Master Ecko, it is just as you said.
Ecko: Good work for bringing them here Guardsman. You may rest now. As for the rest of you, you may all leave as well for I have many things that I must discuss with these three guests.
With that Guardsman and the other robed figures leave the room leaving Ranma, Britanny, Sheila, and Ecko alone in the room.
Ranma look the man over, and gets a bit of a shock.
Ranma (thinks): KAMI-SAMA! This guy's aura is nothing like I've ever felt before. It's as if the energy radiating from him is that of a condensed sun…
Ranma then Ecko looks up at Ecko and hesitantly asks him a question.
Ranma: A, are you a Weaponsmaster?
Ecko: What? Me? Ha ha ha ha ha! That's a laugh indeed. No. I am not a Weaponsmaster. I am Master Ecko, leader of the Shadow Elves. You are looking for the Weaponsmaster, correct?
Ranma: Yes. I was sent on a quest by Master Julia to find and defeat all ten Weaponsmasters.
Ecko (Nods his head): Ah… I see… Well, follow me. I shall take you to fight with our champion if you so wish. This shall also let me see if you are the one I should indeed have a 'talk' with…
Ranma: Huh?
Britanny: What's that supposed to mean?
With that Ecko just ignores their questions starts to walk away, stopping a moment to turn his head towards Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila.
Ecko: Well, are you three coming or not?
And with that, Ecko continues walking. Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila look at each other.
Sheila: Should we trust the guy?
Ranma: I'm not sure. But I'll follow him anyway, since he seems to know his way around this place.
Britanny and Sheila nod their heads in agreement with Ranma and the three take chase after Ecko.
(-)
After a few minutes of leading the fighters through the underground city, the three are already entranced by it. They have never seen buildings like this before, of seemingly endless metal, stone, crystal, and such intricate carvings and decorations in all of their lives. The place is absolutely amazing.
Ranma: Hey Ecko.
Ecko (Turns around slightly): Yes?
Ranma: What is this place? I've never seen anything like it. And what's with that large light up there on the ceiling? It's like a full moon.
Britanny: I wouldn't say that… Ranchan. Otherwise Sheila and me would kinda be a bit more feral.
Ranma: Oh…
Ecko: Well, this is the first chamber; the Grand Cavern, where we; the Shadow Elves make out home.
Sheila: Wait… "First chamber"? THERE'S MORE!?
Ecko doesn't say confirm or deny Sheila's statement. Instead, he runs with Ranma's question.
Ecko: As for that moon-like object, it is our 'light'. It nourishes everything it touches with what we call, the 'Infinity Energy'.
Ranma: "Infinity Energy"?
Ecko: Yes. While in that glow, one will never grow tired or sick; one will never grow hungry or thirsty… One will never die…
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila stare wide-eyed at Ecko.
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: WHAT!?
Ecko: You heard me.
Ranma: … Holy…
Sheila: I don't believe this…
Britanny: Damn… Gina is going to flip when I tell her about this place…
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After walking for a few more minutes, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila notice that the air seems to get denser… As if there's an aura choking the place. Soon Master Ecko reaches a building with a huge circular clear crystal adorning the top of the doorframe. He opens a huge marble door.
Ecko: We're here.
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila look around. Inside is a platform, with a muscular man of dark skin with white tattoos, and white clothing of Egyptian influence, seemingly meditating in the center of the platform. Master Ecko walks up behind the man.
Ecko: Rhaoton.
Rhaoton: Yes my liege?
Ecko: He is here.
Silence follows for a minute.
Rhaoton: Julia's student?
Ecko: Yes.
Rhaoton: … Excellent…
With that, the man stands up, taking a glaive off the floor next to him. He throws off his shirt and cloak, and more white tattoos are revealed. Ranma can't see the man's eyes under the Egyptian-styled crown, but he can see a horizontal scar on the man's left cheek. The man seems to look Ranma over, and motions for him to step up.
Rhaoton: Come boy… I know you have 'defeated' four of the Weaponsmasters. But now you shall see how truly weak you are… For I am Rhaoton, Weaponsmaster, champion of the Shadow Elves, master of the glaive and chi and ki usage.
Ranma takes out the katana 'Shadow Strike'. Might as well use it now… Ranma tests the waters, moving around, and parrying a few thrusts, to see what the man's potential is. Rhaoton begins to let out a guttural growl…
Rhaoton: How dare you…
Rhaoton then uses incredible speed and smashes Ranma across the face with the force of a tank. Ranma goes flying across the platform, his jaw throbbing with pain. Britanny and Sheila want to help, but Ecko puts his cane in front of them to hold them back.
Britanny: HEY! OUT OF OUR WAY YOU JERK!
Sheila: Yeah! HE'S TRYING TO KILL RANCHAN!
Ecko: The fight has begun. The only person that can help Ranma is himself.
Rhaoton walks up to Ranma as he gets back onto his feet
Rhaoton: How dare you child… How DARE YOU!? DO YOU MOCK ME!?
Ranma: No, I…
Rhaoton (Interrupts): SILENCE!
Ranma takes a step back and gets into a defensive stance.
Rhaoton: How dare you boy… How DARE you enter a battle with your stance slackened and eyes unfocused!? Just who do you think I am BOY!? I am one of the TEN! Yet you face me as if I was just another fighter! Do you think getting as far as you did makes you SPECIAL!? NOW FACE ME LIKE A MAN! Prepare to face one that is indeed your SUPERIOR!
Rhaoton begins to glow with insane amounts of his ki, at the same time gathering chi from the area around him. He literally glows like a white flame.
Ranma: What the hell?
Rhaoton: AEGIS CRASH!
Ranma's eyes widen as a huge bluish white bolt of ki/chi shoots out towards him. Ranma jumps out of the way, just as the attack obliterates the piece of platform he was on. Ranma is definitely impressed. This man can definitely back up his words. Ranma suddenly feels the man's glaive on his neck.
Rhaoton: Checkmate…
Ranma doesn't know what to do… Either accept defeat, or try to get away from the man's hold… Ranma does something he never thought he'd do. He drops his sword… And does a back flip to the edge of the platform. Ranma may now be weaponless, but he can still fight. Ranma summons his energy, glowing with a bright white light. He keeps on gathering energy, as to try something new on Rhaoton.
Ranma: GINKA GENKI GAN DOUBLE!
The two balls of pure ki fly towards Rhaoton, but he just smirks…
Rhaoton: Pathetic…
Rhaoton winds up, gaining his own internal energies and those from around him, his whole body glowing with a swirling light of white, gold, and light blue
Rhaoton: AEGIS STORM!
A HUGE burst of energy strikes out from Rhaoton in all directions, obliterating Ranma's attacks, and sending Ranma flying into a wall.
Britanny & Sheila: RANCHAN!
Ranma however, still won't give up. Rhaoton just smiles at Ranma's actions.
Rhaoton: I admit, you have stamina… But you should give up boy. You are way out of your league. Go home.
With that, Ranma attacks Rhaoton again… But Rhaoton manages to evade all of Ranma's blows.
Rhaoton: Too slow boy…
Unexpected to Rhaoton, Ranma then falls back into defense, getting away from Rhaoton.
Rhaoton: COME BACK HERE BOY!
Rhaoton then pushes on. No one notices that Ranma is going into an inward spiral, using the Soul of Ice Technique to keep himself calm as he blocks and gets bruises from Rhaoton's attacks until it's too late…
Ranma: HIRYUU SHOTEN HA!
A huge tornado goes through the building of the underground city. The entire building is on the verge of collapse when the tornado finally calms down. Ranma is tired and his arm is dislocated from that last punch… But he won. Britanny and Sheila run up to Ranma and hug him. Making Ranma both smile and grunt in pain.
Ranma: You know… My arm is kind of dislocated at the moment ladies.
Sheila: OH! So sorry Ranchan!
Britanny: Here, let me help.
Britanny grabs Ranma's arm and shoulder, and pops his shoulder back into place.
Ranma: OW!
Britanny: Sorry about that. Feel better?
Ranma (Moves his arm): Yeah actually.
Suddenly, Rhaoton gets up. He's bruised, bloody, and looks pissed!
Rhaoton: Boy…
Ranma (Wide-eyed): Uh oh…
Rhaoton then moves with great speed, grabs Ranma, and… He starts twirling Ranma around in the air while laughing his head off.
Rhaoton: GHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! THAT WAS INCREDIBLE BOY! YOU ARE A MARVEL! A TRUE MARVEL! I HAVEN'T HAD THIS GOOD A FIGHT IN FIVE YEARS! THANK YOU!
Ecko watches this, and smiles under the shawl he wears with his robes. He hasn't seen Rhaoton this happy in years. And this Ranma… He IS the one. There is no doubt in Ecko's mind.
Ecko: Ranma. Would you and the werecats meet with me after our healers patch you and Rhaoton up?
Ranma: Sure, I guess…
(-)
Afterwards, Ecko leads Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila through the entire city.
Britanny: HOW BIG IS THIS PLACE!?
Ecko: About the size of Seer's Hamlet, multiplied tenfold.
Sheila (Wide-eyed): Damn… That's big…
Ecko: Correct… Now keep following.
After two hours of walking, Ecko stops at a wall at the edge pf the city, and touches a marking. The carved patterns begin to glow with a violet light as a piece of the wall slides over, revealing… Another hallway…
Ranma: What is this?
Ecko: This is the second chamber. Now, follow me.
Britanny: MORE WALKING!?
Sheila: DANG IT!
(-)
After ANOTHER two hours of walking (By this time, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila's feet are killing them), they come to the end of the hallway, and enter a room with a mosaic with a large metal pillar with intricate carvings in the center of the room. Ecko turns to the three and asks them a serious question.
Ecko: Ranma Saotome, son of Genma Saotome and Nodoka Saotome… Britanny Elin Diggers, daughter of Xerxes and Cyan by birth; and Theodore Diggers and Julia Brigand by adoption… Sheila, daughter Marcus and Aeila… You three are about to partake in a piece of knowledge that only a select few know of. Are you prepared for a truth that will shatter your views and turn your world upside down? If not, turn back now. This is your last chance.
Ranma and the girls look at each other.
Ranma: Well, I've come this far, so I'm not going to just turn back now. (Especially not after all that walking).
Britanny: Yeah! That walking was murder on my feet.
Sheila: And all that running you do isn't?
Britanny: Well, I'm supposed to run!
Ecko nods his head and points at the mosaic adorning the walls and ceiling.
Ecko: We Shadow Elves have lived as the most proud and powerful race in the Jaden Realm since the was first settled many a millennia ago… And… It's history, it's ways… It's all one titanic… Lie…
Ranma: A lie?
Ecko: Indeed… You should know that the harsh truth is finally about to catch up with Jaden… Our end is near…
Ranma and the girls look at the Ecko, as he begins the tale of Jade.
Ecko: I'm sure you know of the Legend of Shadows, but let me explain it better. So came about Jaden's first Armsmaster, a warrior who surpassed all others… A warrior who defeated the shadows and caused them to retreat by using special weapons we, the inner circle of Shadow Elves provided him with. Equipment and weapons without equal… And without magic… But… The legends leave questions… Who were the shadows, and what were the weapons… I shall tell you. It started when the first Elf ventured into these caverns we are now. He knew he had discovered a true paradise. But like all paradises, there is a 'forbidden fruit'. He had discovered the cavern we are now standing in; a veritable 'Pandora's box'. When we had 'opened' it, it attracted the Shadows like a moth to a flame. The Shadows came from beyond the sky, and conquered all of Jaden. No magic could affect them, and even the most powerful mages and dragons of Jaden… Became their helpless slaves. Our people became desperate. Our beautiful under-city would be invaded. But… We knew a spell… A spell that would grant us the properties of whatever we sampled… We sampled from the Shadows themselves… We gained protective immunities from it… Out time as normal Elves had ended. From that day we had become 'shadowed'…
Sheila: Wait! How did you get to sample from the Shadows?
Ecko: We had found one… In a third chamber…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: A THIRD!?
Ecko then pushes a button on the wall of the cavern they are in. In it is some strange stone device, glowing with a bright yellow energy… Floating within that energy is a mass of black, shaped in a mockery of an upper human torso, arms and head.
Ecko: That is the Shadow…
Ranma, Britanny and Sheila stare in awe. They never would have believed anything like this…
Ranma: This is incredible…
Ecko: And it gets better…
Ecko then touches the button again, closing the door to the third chamber.
Ecko: While the rest of Jade suffered for our mistakes, our treachery we hid in the safety of the darkness… An unforgivable CRIME! What made it worse than it was, was the simple fact we had the power to repel the Shadows all along and never even knew it! And we used that power to help them… We helped them through the first Armsmaster with weapons created from the same technology used to create Jaden…
Sheila: CREATE JADE!?
Ecko: Yes… Jaden is artificial… An alien race constructed Jaden and the dimension it is contained in right after the formation of the universe with the Earth came into being. Jaden, or 'The Nexus' as the alien race called it was to be the perfect 'hiding place' for the three Arks. Three extremely powerful space ships that had transported them from some great disaster… The weapons the first Armsmaster used were in a sense, THE Arks themselves! Each one corresponding to a balance of a warrior; Intelligence, Strength, and Spirit! The shadows, were in actuality, another alien race after the Arks… They knew Jaden was artificial… And so did we… We knew what game they were playing… So we were eventually able to drive them back once we understood the 'rules' to the 'game'…
Ecko stops, giving the listeners time to digest the information about how Jaden or 'Jade' as it is now called is nothing more than an artificial form. Ranma looks up at Ecko.
Ranma: What was the point of telling us this?
Ecko: Ranma… Destiny is calling you. It is your destiny to protect Jade, and the three Arks. Julia was right about you. I can see it in your eyes, your soul! You are a true warrior, on par with the original Armsmaster. And I can say this with full honesty. I was there. I am over 190,000-years-old, and I'm not getting any younger. I know I am not immortal. The Arks will need a new protector… Especially now that a power banished from Jade years ago is starting to align itself back in the Earth Realm. Ranma… You and your two comrades, Britanny and Sheila… You three are to be the protectors of the three Arks… Do you accept?
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila look at each other for a bit. Ranma turns to Ecko, his face a portrait of determination.
Ranma: We'll do it. But first, we want to know what we're going to be up against and what is going to happen when we accept?
With that, Ecko nods his head in recognition and goes to the center of the room and starts chanting at the pillar. Soon, a bright white light pierces through the mosaic and hits a jewel on top of the pillar. The center of the pillar opens up, revealing a light blue gem, with a glowing circle in the center. The jewel floats from it's resting place and stops between the group and Ecko.
Ecko: This is 'Dain', one of the three Arks. As for what you will be up against… You should talk to Balthazar of the Conclave of Mages about that… He can explain it far better than I can… Now… As for what will happen… All I can say is once you accept this task you will have to gain all three Arks. Once you have all three Arks, the connection you three warriors share will be strengthened. To what extent it will be strengthened, I cannot say… Now… Are you ready?
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila nod their heads. Ecko grabs Dain and tosses it into the air, and it starts spinning, moving around the room. It stops in front of Britanny, a blue aura of energy enveloping her. Soon, Dain dissipates, and reappears on the back of Britanny's left wrist. Ecko nods his head in understanding, as the others look the Ark over on Britanny's wrist.
Ecko: So the Ark of Wisdom and Intelligence has chosen Britanny… That's… Actually interesting…
The others look at Ecko, and then Ecko just shrugs his shoulders.
Britanny: Um… Not to be 'picky', but… Does this thing come off?
Ecko (Shakes his head): No.
Britanny: WHAT!?
Ecko: Do not worry yourself. You three are already getting closer to the end of your quest… And as a bit of help, I'll help you get to the next continent.
Ranma: Hey, thanks.
Ecko then starts chanting, and the whole room starts to glow. A swirling vortex of energy forms in the center of the room.
Ecko: If you haven't guessed, this is another portal. It will teleport all of you to Lrith, one of the major cities on the West Continent, and the town you three would have first gotten to if you had taken a two week long trip by ship.
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila thank Ecko, and give their good-byes. They then step into the portal. The portal disappears from the room once all are in, leaving Ecko alone. Ecko chuckles to himself.
Ecko: Heh heh… Things are going to be interesting now that those three are to be the protectors of the Arks…
(-)
End Chapter 23
Next Time: Ranma and crew are literally dropped off in the city of Lrith; saving them at least a two weeks worth of time in sea-travel. Now it's off to find the sixth Weaponsmaster; and former teacher of Aura Magic to Dr. Theodore Diggers, Gneiss…
Author's note: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! Finally, it's all starting to fall into place… See you all next time.
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
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