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 26: The Conclave of Mages… AND FOOD! Can't Forget About Food
Ranma wakes up from his sleep. He raises his torso up and stretches his arms out to the side, getting the tiredness out of his joints. Ranma walks outside of his tent wearing his usual Chinese silk fighting outfit and stretches all his limbs; shaking his legs out to loosen them, and doing pushups to loosen his back. He then stands up, looking at the sun in the sky above him.
Ranma: Hmm… Looks like it'll be a good day…
Ranma turns around and his ears pick up a noise. He sees Sheila getting out of her tent. She is in her hybrid form, and rearing a large dress-shirt as a nightgown. Ranma smiles at her and waves his hand.
Ranma: Good morning Shechan!
Sheila blinks her eyes a few times to get them into focus.
Sheila: Yaaawwnn… Good mornin' Ranchan… Yaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwnnnn…
Ranma (Blinks): You okay Sheila? You sound tired.
Sheila: I just woke up… How do you expect me to sound?
Ranma (Blinks): … Makes sense… Is Britchan up?
As if to answer him, a loud yawn is heard from Brit's tent. A few second later, a tired-looking Britanny steps out, wearing a blue nightgown. Her hair is a bit frazzled.
Ranma (Blink): Wow… I've never seen your hair so messy. What happened Britchan couldn't sleep well?
Britanny blinks her eyes for a few moments, trying to get them back into focus.
Britanny: Huh?
Ranma: Your hair.
Britanny reaches inside her pack and pulls out a mirror. She looks at herself and her eyes widen with horror.
Britanny: MY HAIR!
Britanny runs back inside the tent. Sounds of movements can be heard from within. When Brit steps out, she is fully dressed in a black t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers combo, her hair all combed, and done up in a pony-tail. Ranma whistles and Sheila blinks.
Britanny: How's this?
Sheila: You gotta teach me how to clean up that fast…
Ranma: You look good Britchan. But then again, I think you always look nice.
Britanny (Eyes sparkle): You mean that?
Ranma (Smiles, nods his head): Yes. I do.
Britanny tackles Ranma to the ground and hugs him fiercely. A huge, triumphant smile plastered onto Britanny's face.
Britanny: MINE!
Sheila frowns and narrows her eyes at Britanny. If looks could kill, Britanny would have been evaporated to nothing in .079 seconds.
Sheila: What are you doing to Ranchan?
Britanny (Still hugging Ranma): What's it look like?
Sheila: It looks like you're squeezing the life outta him.
Britanny (Blinks): Huh?
Sheila: Look at him.
Britanny turns to face Ranma, his face turning blue. Britanny lets go of Ranma and lets him catch his breath. She then extends her hand to Ranma. He gratefully accepts it, and Britanny help Ranma back onto his feet.
Britanny (Sheepish grin): Eh heh… Sorry about that Ranchan…
Ranma: It's okay Britchan. You just have to remember that I'm not a werecat like you and Sheila… I can't have my ribcage crushed to power and be expected to walk away from it…
Britanny (Sweat-drops): I'll keep that in mind.
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From a far off hill, Sabbo watches at the group with a pair of binoculars in one hand, and his other hand clutching onto a pair of pineapples.
Sabbo (Mutters to himself): Best investment I ever made in the Earth Realm… This is almost as good as a Clairvoyance spell, and they can't detect me watching them…
Sabbo continues to watch them. Sheila went back into her tent, and Britanny and Ranma are looking through their packs.
Sabbo (Thinks): I wish that they'd stop wasting time. They're almost to Durpan City… There, their mission will make more sense to them… And when they understand what they're doing, they will mature and Jade's prosperity will be secure…
Sabbo then narrows his eyes, as Britanny seems to be acting 'differently'.
Sabbo: I wonder what's wrong now?
(-)
Meanwhile, at Ranma, Brit, and Sheila campsite, Britanny looks on with horror as Ranma and her finish checking through the backpacks.
Ranma: I can't believe this.
Britanny (Twitches): We're… We're…
Sheila then steps out of her tent, fully clothed. She is wearing a dark blue leotard, light blue shirt, a blue band around her left thigh, and dark blue leggings, with holes cut out for her toes, heels, knees, and behind the legs where it bends for maximum flexibility.
Sheila: Hey guys…
Ranma and Britanny continue to stare at their backpacks.
Sheila (Raises an eyebrow): Guys?
Ranma: Sniff… We're… We're…
Sheila: We're 'what' Ranchan?
Britanny: WE'RE OUT OF RATIONS!
Sheila (Blinks): Is that all? It's only about a couple more hours of walking from here to Durpan. We can eat and pack up on more supplies when we get there.
Ranma: How long do you think it will take Shechan?
Sheila: Hmm… If we pack up everything now, and start walking, it'll take about three or four hours.
Ranma and Britanny's stomachs growl. Sheila's growls in retaliation.
Sheila (Sweat-drops): Sigh… I'm picking up 'bad' habits from you two…
Ranma and Britanny look at each other and nod their heads in unison. They two work at super-sonic speeds to pack up everything.
Sheila (Blinks): Huh?
Britanny: We're leaving.
Britanny then tosses Sheila her backpack. Sheila catches it, but the momentum sends her falling onto her butt.
Sheila: Owwies… What was that for?
Ranma: Put simply Shechan… We need food, and we need it now.
Britanny: And I'll run at my 'usual' speed to get us there in a couple of minutes or so.
Sheila: Wait, is that a good idea? I mean, the mages of Durpan aren't used to werecheetah's running into the city.
Britanny (Shrugs her shoulders): They'll deal with it.
Britanny then puts on her backpacks, and grabs Ranma and Sheila under either arm. She then gets into a starting position and runs towards the direction of Durpan.
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Sabbo stares at the sight of Britanny running through his binoculars. He drops them with a trembling hand…
Sabbo: They're… They're… THEY'RE COMING THIS WAY!
Sabbo turns around and starts rung as fast as his pudgy legs will take him, so he can get to the nearest shadow… Unfortunately, this is an open field.
Sabbo (Continues running): FEET DON'T FAIL ME NOW!
Sabbo continues running. He turns his head around and sees a blur of many colors, (though primarily yellow) heading towards him.
Sabbo (Tears flow down his face): WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~CRASH!
Sabbo goes flying into the air. As he disappears on the horizon, one can still hear him screaming.
Sabbo (In the distance): THIIIIIIIIISSSSSSS SUUUUUUUCCCCKKKKKKKSSSS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUUUUUCCCCCCCHHHHHHHH…
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A few minutes later Britanny comes to a screeching halt and the trio arrives in Durpan City. Britanny lets go of Ranma and Sheila, and the two get onto their feet.
Britanny: WE'RE HERE! Now we can go get something to eat!
Ranma & Sheila: Already ate…
Britanny turns to look at the other two and sees them eating pineapples.
Britanny (Blinks): Where'd you get those?
Sheila (Shrugs): They literally smacked into us as you were running.
Ranma: Yeah. I just wish I knew where they kept coming from though.
Britanny: Maybe they're 'manna from heaven'?
Sheila: I doubt it.
Suddenly a delicious smell wafts through the air and is picked up by Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila's noses. The three have the same idea…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: FOOD!
And thus the trio run to the nearest tavern to get a bite to eat… (Where these three keep getting the money to pay for all the food? Well, let's just say this… Bandits are idiots, and are useful to get a quick couple of gold pieces, and they've taken in quite a few bandits that thought these three would be easy pickings). Unfortunately, the trio all try to go through the door of the tavern at the same time, and get stuck, with Britanny caught between Ranma and Sheila.
Ranma: … Uh oh…
Britanny: We're stuck!
Sheila: Damn it Brit, move your elbow out of my face!
Britanny: Well, get your elbow off of my back!
Ranma: Girls… Lets all try to push forward together on the count of three… One… Two…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: THREE!
With a burst of strength and speed, the three manage to crack the doorframe of the tavern, and get sent flying forward. All three fall face-first onto the floor.
Sheila: Owwies…
Britanny: Ow… I think I stubbed my nose…
Ranma: Ow… Is that possible?
Manager: LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO THE DOORFRAME!
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila glare at the manager. They get onto their feet and sprint towards him.
Ranma Britanny & Sheila (In the manager's face): SHUT UP!
Manager (Runs behind the bar): EEEEEEK!
The three walk up to him, as he begins to shake. They drop a bag of gold on the table.
Britanny: Food…
Sheila: Lots of it…
Ranma: NOW!
The manager of the tavern looks at the bag of gold and takes out a few coins. His eyes widen in shock when he sees all they got.
Manager (Smiles): Table for three, coming right up!
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Once the three have eaten their fill… (Let me put it this way… Not counting the cost for repair for the door, it was forty-eight gold coins). They head over to the building where the Conclave of Mages meet and discuss. The place is a large stone building, with a domed ceiling.
Ranma: That's the place Britchan.
Britanny: I think so…
Sheila: It is…
Ranma: Good. I think we have a lot of questions that Ecko gave us that we want answered…
Sheila: Indeed…
Britanny: Yeah. Like HOW DO I GET THIS DAMN ARK OFF THE BACK OF MY LEFT WRIST!?
And thus the three open the glass doors to the building and walk inside. Upon walking into the waiting area Britanny is recognized and becomes the main focus of the mages in the room for two reasons. First reason is that one of the members, a Dwarf named Dee'em remembers Britanny as Theodore Diggers' daughter.
Dee'em: Hello Britanny.
Britanny: Hi!
Ranma (Whispers): You know him?
Britanny (Whispers back): Yeah. He worked on a few projects with dad.
The other reason is that the mages there can feel the power coming off of Dain, (the Ark 'given' to Britanny) quite easily. When they see that 'Dain' is on Britanny's left wrist the mages there are in a bit of shock. The other mages, Like a human Psionist Mage named Lei, a weird living golem named Bugie, and an Aura Mage Elf named Belie-Dat decide to take the three to see Gaja; a werelion and teacher of Onoli and the organizer other Edge Guard members in the werecat group.
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Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila are lead through a couple of hallways of the building. Lei stops in front of a set of oak doors, carved with runes.
Lei: I believe you'll find Gaja out here somewhere…
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila step through the doors, and Lei shuts the doors behind them with a slight slamming sound.
Britanny (Looks around): Hey Sheila… Do you see Gaja anywhere? I don't know what he looks like.
Ranma: Me neither.
Sheila (Looks around): Hmm…
Sheila doesn't see her former 'leader' anywhere. However, her ears perk up when she hears a slight cutting sound. She looks up and spots him.
Sheila (Points): He's up there!
Ranma and Britanny look up to where Sheila is pointing and they see Gaja, a werelion in his late fifties, wearing black robes, pants, and boots. He is levitating in the air, pruning some small branches and twigs off of a very tall tree with a small pair of clippers.
Sheila: GAJA! DOWN HERE!
Gaja turns around slowly and looks down. When he sees Sheila down on the ground he smiles.
Gaja: Sheila, I'm delighted to see one of my students again… (Looks over at Britanny). As well as Diggers' daughter… (Looks at Ranma). Who are you boy? I don't believe we've been acquainted yet.
Ranma: Hello Gaja, organizer of the Seer's Hamlet's East Edge Guard! I am Ranma Saotome of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and student of Master Julia Brigand-Diggers in martial arts and other forms of combat.
Gaja: Student of Julia Brigand huh? (Scratches his chin). Hmm… Interesting…
Gaja then begins to concentrate on the thought of why Julia would choose someone to young to teach. However, his train of thought is broken and his eyes widen when he 'feels' a power coming off of Britanny however…
Gaja (Wide-eyed): The werecheetah… She has Dain…
Gaja loses his concentration for a second, and almost crashes on the ground. He lands a few feet in front of Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila and walks up to the group. He takes hold of Britanny's hand and studies the jewel on the back of her left wrist.
Gaja: I see you've met with Ecko to have gotten this… Why did he give it to you?
Britanny goes into detail about what Ecko had told them (omitting the part about Jade being artificial) and that basically, Ecko says they are to be the protectors of the three Arks and that they must protect the Arks from an evil power that is resurfacing.
Gaja (Nods his head): Ah… It makes sense now… So it has begun.
Sheila: Excuse me, sir Gaja, but what do you mean?
Gaja doesn't say a word. Instead he motions for them to follow him. They walk through the building of the Conclave for a bit, passing many rooms before heading to the basement. They enter what appears to be a tomb of some sort, with dusty shelves, a sarcophagus made from old moldy wood, and some torn tapestries.
Britanny (Shivers): Brr… This place gives me the creeps…
Ranma: Hey, Britchan…
Britanny: Yeah?
Ranma: Dain is glowing.
Britanny looks at her left wrist. Indeed, her Ark is glowing slightly brighter than usual.
Britanny (Blinks): Why's it doing that?
Gaja: I can answer that one…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: Huh?
Gaja walks up to the sarcophagus and opens it. There is no body inside. Instead, what Gaja pulls out is a small wooden chest. Gaja opens the chest and takes out a small bundle of cloth. Unwrapping the cloth, Gaja reveals a green gem to the trio that Sheila recognizes as the 'Jasper of Leadership' Gaja was teaching Onoli to use. Sheila asks Gaja a question.
Sheila: Master Gaja… That's the jasper that you had Onoli using… Isn't it?
Gaja: Yes… This is the jasper you saw me teaching Onoli to use Sheila. However, it is not only that…
Sheila: What do you mean sir?
Gaja: I thought to have Onoli use this, since he is a pure soul, trained in the ways of the was of Apollo, the god of light and truth… But… Apparently, Ecko has chosen you three to take care of this.
Britanny: Huh?
Ranma: What do you mean?
Sheila: Yeah. We're supposed to be looking for the Arks.
Gaja (Shakes his head): This is not really a jasper Sheila… This is 'Rain', the Ark of Light and Spirit… Now… If it is true what Master Ecko has said to you, then the Ark shall choose one of you…
With that, Gaja lets go of Rain and it stays hovering the air. Rays of green light begin to shoot out of Rain as is 'scans' Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila. Suddenly, both Rain and Sheila are then enveloped in an emerald colored light. Suddenly, Rain then dissipates and reappears on the back of Sheila's left wrist. Sheila looks over the Ark Rain. A huge smile spreads across her face.
Sheila: The guys back at the Edge Guard in the Retreat are never going to believe this! I AM SHEILA, PROTECTOR OF RAIN, ARK OF LIGHT AND SPIRIT! I KICK ALL ASS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Gaja smiles and shakes his head… Britanny smiles at Sheila, feeling a bit happy for the little Jagwere. Ranma smiles at Sheila with pride.
Ranma (Thinks): Just what Shechan needed… More confidence in herself and her abilities…
Ranma: Hey Gaja, can Britchan and me ask a few questions?
Gaja: Sure.
Britanny: Well, I want to know if there's a way to take off the Arks.
Gaja: You can't.
Britanny: Shoot… Now I'll have to coordinate my all my clothing around this stupid, little thing…
Ranma: Gaja, I want to know about a power that is aligning itself back on earth.
Gaja (Confused): What do you mean?
Ranma: Well Gaja, Master Ecko told us that there was a power from Jade banished to earth by Balthazar that we'll have to deal with. Do you know what it is?
Britanny: Yeah. I'd like to know what we're going up against.
Sheila (Nods her head): Yeah.
Gaja is surprised, but knows this must be happening. Master Ecko. Leader of the Shadow Elves is one of the most respected people in all of Jade, and would never say anything unless it held purpose.
Gaja: I cannot tell you. But I can lead you three to Balthazar's study, where you can talk with him.
Sheila: Yeah. That would be good.
Ranma: Lead the way old man.
Gaja (Sweat-drops): … "Old man"?
(-)
After walking through a few more stone corridors, Gaja stops in front of a wooden door.
Gaja: We're here.
Gaja opens the door slowly and quietly. They all see Balthazar, an older Elf wearing blue robed and pointed hat is working with some potions. He pours it on some scrap metal… Nothing happens. Gaja chuckles and talks to Balthazar.
Gaja: So, still looking for a spell to turn other metals into gold, eh Balthazar?
Balthazar turns around from his 'work' to look at Gaja. He sees that Gaja has a few 'children with him. He sighs in defeat.
Balthazar: Sigh… Yes, I was trying to turn metals into gold again… But every time I try… I either change it to something else, or nothing happens.
Balthazar looks around Gaja and takes notice of the 'children' with him. He recognizes two of them as Theo's daughter Britanny, Gaja's former student Sheila. His eyes widen when he sees that now Sheila has one of the Arks as well.
Balthazar: What's going on here? Why do those children have the Arks?
Britanny & Sheila: We're not children!
Ranma: Geeze… What a crabby old Geezer…
Balthazar stares at Ranma in shock.
Balthazar: O, o, "OLD GEEZER"!? Why you young, impudent…
Gaja: BALTHAZAR!
Balthazar backs down from his tirade, seeing Gaja getting angry. After things have calmed down, Ranma takes the time to explain to Balthazar what Ecko explained to them (once again omitting the part about Jade being artificial) and Balthazar pales in fear and goes silent… He knows of only one 'person' he had ever banished from Jade… But apparently, that wasn't enough… Balthazar swallows with a dry throat and pales a bit more as he mutters a single name…
Balthazar: Fauntleroy…
This confuses Ranma, and the others.
Ranma: Huh?
Britanny: What?
Sheila: That name… It sounds so familiar…
Gaja: Balthazar, I believe you should expand on that. The 'protectors' need to know what they'll be up against.
Balthazar calms himself down, and begins explaining.
Balthazar: There was once a terribly powerful Golden Dragon that terrorized all of the West And East Continent of Jade including the area of werebeasts known as the Retreat. The 'Adventuring' Dragon as he was called…
Ranma: 'The Adventuring Dragon'?
Balthazar: Yes… A dragon that possessed a strange mockery of the adventurer's spirit… A dragon that ventured NOT into dungeons or caves of the unknown to claim lost treasures as it's own, but into citadels and castles to steal! A dragon that felled knights and guards instead of goblins and ghouls… That Dragon's reign of terror continued until it invaded the wrong kingdom… The Kingdom of Dubois… My home…
Sheila: I remember Dubois… What happened to it?
Balthazar: Fauntleroy destroyed it…
Sheila (Winces): Oh… I'm sorry…
Balthazar: It's all right. It wasn't your fault… To continue, after using a powerful Sealing spell, I sealed Fauntleroy into human form, cutting of most of his Dragon powers and magic, and then I sent him to the Earth Realm where he would be powerless, ending Fauntleroy's twisted 'adventures'. And if what Ecko told you about this power is true… Then is can only be Fauntleroy… For he is the only person I ever banished from the Jade Realm. I am sorry. This is all my fault.
The others just look at the ashamed Balthazar for a bit. None of them blame him for what he did. Gaja and Sheila don't, since they know how cruel that dragon was. But now it is obvious what is happening. Fauntleroy is most likely searching for a way to get the Arks, since they should have enough power to break the curse.
Ranma: Hey, why should we be worrying? After all, if that Fauntleroy person banished from the Jade Realm, and the Arks are here, then why worry about him getting the Arks?
Balthazar: Because Fauntleroy has fifty wives that are not cursed. They can try to steal the Arks for him.
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila's eyes bulge upon hearing that Fauntleroy has fifty wives.
Britanny: F, f,f, f, FIFTY WIVES!?
Sheila: THE PERVERT!
Ranma: This could be a problem…
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And so, after spending a bit of time at the building where the Conclave of Mages meet, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila keep on traveling in a Southeastern, so they can get to the eighth Weaponsmaster.
However…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila (Eyes wide with horror): WE FORGOT TO GET SUPPLIES!
And so the three go running back to Durpan.
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On a nearby hill, certain beat-up looking Hawaiian wearing a Mystic's and neck-brace watches them through a wheelchair through a pair of binoculars with a cracked lens.
Sabbo: Ah… They're making their way out of Durpan now… And from what I can see on Sheila's wrist, they now have the Arks Dain and Rain… Good… Now all they have to do is defeat the other Weaponsmasters, and the final Ark will practically be theirs… I hope they don't screw this up…
Sabbo then pushes on the wheels of his wheelchair… His chair then flips over.
Sabbo (On ground): GAH! WHAT IS WITH THAT STUPID EARTH REALM CHAIR!?
Upon closer inspection, one can see that the brand of the tires on it is "Firestone"…
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End Chapter 26
Next Time: Traveling south through the West Continent of Jade, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila come across and old set of ruins… Temples of Artemis: Goddess of the wild, Apollo: God of truth, and Kishijoten: Goddess of luck. Ranma finds out a bit about his heritage as well as finding out the truth behind Jusenkyo.
Author's note: Heh heh… Sorry… I just had to put in a fight with G'nolga. (She's one of my favorite 'villains' in Gold Digger).
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
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