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 28: Giant Clan Law #356B
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila feel themselves being thrown through some kind of vortex. They know it is a teleportation spell of the gods, but…
Ranma (Flying through vortex): DANG IT! WHY DO WE KEEP GETTING SENT THROUGH THESE THINGS!?
Sheila (Flying through vortex): Look at it this way. It's getting us to where we need to go much faster than we would by walking!
Britanny (Flying through vortex): But still not faster than me running!
Sheila (Flying through vortex): Yeah it's faster!
Britanny (Flying through vortex): NO IT'S NOT!
Sheila (Flying through vortex): YES IT IS!
Britanny (Flying through vortex): IS NOT!
Sheila (Flying through vortex): IS TOO!
Britanny (Flying through vortex): IS NOT!
Sheila (Flying through vortex): IS TOO!
Britanny (Flying through vortex): IS NOT!
Sheila (Flying through vortex): IS TOO!
Ranma (Flying through vortex): Will you two please stop bickering!?
All of a sudden a larger spot of light appears in the vortex. The three free-falling fighters, (A/N dare you to say THAT three times fast!) hit the glowing spot of light and disappear from the vortex.
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It is a beautiful day that shines down on the village of Ryden… The city of the giants… The city that is also Julia Brigand-Diggers' birthplace, her hometown. Looking around one would notice two things that are out of the ordinary about this place. The first is, NO ONE is less than 10 ft in height, the other, is that the all the buildings are in proportion to these people, with some two story houses that reach up to 60 ft in height!
And it really is a beautiful day… Until a large glowing white vortex appears in the air, and deposits three people right in the center of town.
Ranma, Britanny, Sheila (Falling from vortex): WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
And thus, the trio lands in a pile. Ranma is face-first in the ground and he had Britanny lying on top of him, and then Sheila lying on top of Britanny.
Britanny: You know Sheila… For being such a small, jagwere… You weigh quite a bit.
Sheila: Humph… Like you have room to talk. You must weigh over 250 lbs as a werecheetah of full stature…
Ranma: Grooooooooaaaaaaaaaannnnn…
Britanny and Sheila look down. Their eyes widen when they realize that they're crushing Ranma under their weight. They jump to either side of him and they grab an arm, pulling him to his feet.
Britanny: Sorry about that Ranchan…
Sheila: Yeah Ranchan… Sorry…
Ranma: Why is it I ALWAYS end up landing first from those stupid portals?
Sheila: Because you step into them first?
Ranma (Shrugs his shoulders): Eh…
Britanny and Sheila let go of Ranma's arms and he stretches a bit to get the feeling back into his arms and spine. Once that's done, Ranma looks around.
Ranma (Turning head left and right): Where are we?
Britanny: Well Kishijoten said we were going to be sent to the village of the Giant clan… So I'm guessing we made it to mom's hometown…
Ranma: "Hometown"?
Britanny: Yeah. Mom was born in Ryden.
Sheila: Yeah… And we are most definitely in Ryden…
Ranma: Are you sure Shechan?
Sheila: Look behind you…
Sheila points behind Ranma and Britanny. Ranma and Britanny turn around to see a huge statue and plaque behind them. The statue is made from smoothened granite, shaped as a very muscular man in armor and wielding a glaive with two blades, facing off against what looks like star-shaped creature. Britanny walks up to the plaque, and reads it, since it's in English…
Britanny (Reads): "Welcome to Ryden: The Giant City. In memory of the first Armsmaster, who freed Jaden from the Shadows. 'Never forget what was fought for, never forget the past, or you are doomed to repeat it'. – Unknown."
Ranma (Blinks): So this is Ryden? Shall we start looking around? I don't think the Weaponsmaster will just come out to us…
Britanny: Actually she might…
Ranma (Raises an eyebrow): Oh? How's that Britchan?
Britanny (Smiles): Because Ranchan, my Grandma is one of the Weaponsmasters, and she lives here!
Ranma (Blinks): Britchan…
Britanny: Yes Ranchan?
Ranma: Is there anyone in Jade that you're related to that isn't some major high-level fighter?
Britanny (Thinks for a moment before answering): Um… Nope. Getting adopted by my mom Julia basically put me in an interesting position…
Ranma: Well… I hope your father's side of the family is more 'calm'…
Britanny: My dad's mother is deceased, (God rest her soul) and dad's dad is an extremely evil lich!
Ranma (Blinks): What's a 'lich'?
Britanny: Um… I'm not sure what the term means… All I know is he had gone by the title of the "Lich King" when he had power…
Sheila: Sigh… Ranchan, so you know, a lich is an undead magic-user.
Ranma: Oh… Okay… Thanks Shechan.
Sheila (Smiles): Don't mention it.
Ranma: Okay Shechan. Well… Shall we go a search for your grandmother Britchan?
Britanny: Sure. Just one thing Ranchan…
Ranma: Oh? What is it?
Britanny: Promise not to hurt Grammy too much, okay?
Ranma: I'll try Britchan… I'll try.
Britanny: You better. She's the only grandmother I got left!
Ranma: Okay, okay… I'll try not to hurt your grandmother too much Britchan.
Britanny: Good!
Sheila: Can we go find Mrs. Brigand and get this over with now?
Ranma: Sure!
(-)
And so, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila search around Ryden for any trace of Brunhildagard Brigand. They decide to check her house first, and find nobody home.
Ranma (Knocking on the door): Hello? Anybody home? (Knocks on door again). Hello?
Britanny: I don't think grammy is home at the moment…
Sheila: Shall we continue searching?
Ranma: Might as well. We can't move on until I face Brunhildagard in combat and defeat her.
And so the trio turns around from Brunhildagard's home.
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After searching around Ryden with the girls for a bit, Ranma notices that everyone seems to know Britanny and Sheila. (Sheila IS a member of Edge Guard, and Britanny is the adopted daughter of their champion Julia after all). After awhile they finally get a lead. Britanny walks out of one of the houses with a tall man, about 12 ft. tall, messy blonde hair and blue eyes wearing brown leather overall and a dirty dress-shirt.
Ranma (Stares up at the giant): Do you know where Brunhildagard Brigand is?
Giant: Uh… Yes'm. I shur know where ya alls can find Bruni.
Sheila (Thinks): Ye Gods! This guy has the worst speech-impediment I ever heard!
Britanny: That's good. Can you lead us to my Grammy?
Giant: Duh… Okay… It would be my pleasure to escort ye loverly ladies to Bruni.
Ranma: Um… I'm not a lady…
Giant (Stares at Ranma): Why 'course ye are! Yer hanging out wit' these other ladies aint'cha? And a purty lady like you deserves a kissie from ol' Barnarby
With that the giant Barnarby kisses Ranma on his left cheek. Ranma's aura begins to glow a bright red.
Ranma: Excuse me… But where would the warrior Brunhildagard Brigand be?
Barnarby: Well, she'd be in ta' forests to the west of this city… She like do go out and chop 'er own firewood. Good exercise…
Ranma (Cracking his knuckles): Thanks you…
Ranma pulls his right fist back and then shoots it forward, sending the giant Barnarby flying high into the air.
Ranma: THAT'LL TEACH YOU, YOU PERVERT!
Britanny (Blinks): Wow… Ranchan's pissed…
Sheila: Definitely…
And so, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila head west, as to hopefully find the warrior of the Giant clan Brunhildagard Brigand.
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Sabbo trudges through a meadow of grass. He is covered in assorted bandages, and he is lying against a walking stick as he moves.
Sabbo: Ow… My body aches all over… I swear to Zeus, those three are going to put me into an early grave!
Sabbo's eyes widen.
Sabbo: … What's that whistling sound?
Sabbo notices that the area around him darkens with shade. He looks up and sees a huge unconscious giant falling down towards him.
Sabbo (Teary-eyed): … Mommy…
CRASH!
Sabbo lies at the bottom of a large grater, with the unconscious Barnarby on top of him.
Sabbo: … My life suuuuuuuuuckssssss… Ugh…
Sabbo's head falls to the ground unconscious.
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A few minutes go by. Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila have made it to the forested area that surrounds the village of Ryden.
Ranma (Stepping over tree roots): Dang this place is cluttered. How the heck do you walk around out here!?
Britanny trips over a raised tree-root when her foot gets caught, but Ranma catches her.
Ranma: You okay Britchan?
Britanny: Yeah… Thanks for catching me.
Ranma (Smirks): I guess this is why you don't see a cheetah in a forest, right?
Britanny (Smiles): Yep… Plains of the Serengeti for us werecheetahs…
Sheila: Uh… May I please get little help here?
Ranma and Britanny turn their heads towards Sheila and find her shirt stuck on a branch of lower height.
Ranma: Hold on Shechan.
Ranma helps Britanny to her feet, and then he goes over to Sheila and works on loosening her shirt.
Sheila: Thanks Ranchan.
Ranma: Don't mention it. This place is a nightmare.
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After a half hour of trekking through the forest, they finally find Brunhildagard 'Mumsey' Brigand. She is chopping down some trees in the surrounding forested area in one swing with a HUGE axe. Mumsey lifts her head into the air when she feels a familiar aura.
Mumsey: What is that…
Mumsey turns around and sees Britanny. She smiles upon seeing her granddaughter. She drops her axe, smiles, and runs towards her granddaughter, making the earth tremble as she runs.
Mumsey: BRITANNY!
Britanny: GRAMMY!
Grandmother and granddaughter connect in an embrace. Mumsey is so glad to see Britanny. She hasn't seen her since the failed wedding, and she hopes that Britanny is doing well.
Mumsey (Lifting Britanny into the air): Oh Britanny, I missed you SOOOOOOO MUCH! How're you feeling? Have you been eating well? Have you been training hard? Oh tell me, tell me!
Britanny (Wide-eyed): C, c, can't breathe…
Mumsey (Blinks): Oh… Sorry.
Mumsey lets Britanny down and allows her to catch her breath. Mumsey looks around and notices the jagwere Sheila, and some boy she's never seen before.
Mumsey: Hello Sheila. How is your brother Garfield doing?
Sheila: Hello Mrs. Brigand. It's good to see you again. And Gar is doing well.
Mumsey: That's good for you Sheila. (Looks at Britanny). Hey Britanny…
Britanny: Yes Grammy?
Mumsey: Who is the boy with you?
Britanny (Smiles): Grammy, allow me to introduce you to my friend. This is Ranma Saotome, the new Grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts.
Mumsey (Raises an eyebrow): Anything Goes? That sounds quite familiar…
Ranma: It's the fighting style that Master Leep teaches.
Mumsey (Raises an eyebrow): Ah yes… That's right… So, what do you want young warrior? Do you want to fight the great Brunhildagard Brigand?
Ranma: As a matter of fact, yes.
Mumsey (Blinks): … You're either joking, or there's more to you than you're letting on…
Ranma: Well Master Julia set me on a quest…
Mumsey: "Master Julia"? You mean my little Julia?
Ranma: Yes… Your daughter is also my master…
Mumsey: Ah… Go on…
Ranma: Well Master Julia sent me on a quest. I am to fight all ten Weaponsmasters then I am supposed to enter the Tournament of Arms.
Mumsey (Blinks): Sounds like quite a bit of work for on person… How far have you gotten?
Ranma: In the past three months, I've beaten seven of the ten Weaponsmasters.
Mumsey (Blinks): Seven!? That's quite an accomplishment young man.
Ranma: Well, thank you.
Britanny: Yup, and to top it off, we're supposed to be the protectors of the three Arks.
Mumsey (Blinks): WHAT!?
Britanny: Yeah. See for yourself Grammy.
Britanny holds up her left hand to Mumsey. Mumsey looks down at the back of her left wrist in shock.
Mumsey: D, Dain! How did you get this!?
Britanny: We got it from Master Ecko, when he took us to the Grand Caver to fight their Weaponsmaster. He told us we are supposed to be the protectors of the three Arks.
Mumsey: … Did you get the others?
Sheila: Only one. And I got Rain!
Sheila holds up her wrist. Mumsey's eyes are wide with a mixture of awe and shock. Sheila does indeed have Rain.
Mumsey: … I think you better tell me what's been going on…
And so Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila tell Mumsey what's been going on. Starting from the beginning with Ranma and Brit's failed weddings, how they've been training, how Sheila got caught up into this, how they got the Arks (omitting the part about how Ecko told them that Jade is artificial), and all the battles they've been through.
Mumsey then thinks and decides to do something about this. After all, her daughter Julia has trained Ranma, he has beaten her husband Shade, and they have two of the three Arks. She wants to see just how powerful Ranma is.
Mumsey: Ranma…
Ranma: Yes?
Mumsey: I offer to challenge you in combat.
Ranma (Smiles): I accept.
Mumsey leads them to an area in the forest that has been cleared for a training area. Mumsey puts down her axe and takes her sword up from off the ground. She then turns around to face Ranma.
Mumsey (Points her sword at Ranma): Are you ready?
Ranma then concentrates on the Hidden Weapons technique and takes out his titanium katana.
Ranma: I'm ready Mrs. Brigand…
And so, Mumsey and Ranma go at it for a bit. Ranma is surprised by how Mumsey fights. The older Giant is deceptively fast for her size, and still has all the strength he would expect.
Mumsey: Is that the best you got!?
Ranma: No way!
And so Ranma and Mumsey charge at each other again, and Britanny and Sheila watch from the sides.
Sheila: GO RANCHAN!
Britanny: GO RANCHAN! BUT HURT MY GRAMMY AND I'LL HAVE TO KICK YOU CUTE BUTT AFTERWARDS!
Ranma sweat-drops as he parries another blow from Mumsey.
(-)
Still in the grassy meadow a ways from the city of Ryden.
Sabbo (Tear-eyed, still stuck under Barnarby): Will somebody PLEASE help me out from under here!?
Looks like Sabbo may be there awhile…
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After making the training area a bit larger by destroying some trees, Mumsey yields.
Mumsey (Breathing heavily): Wait… Stop…
Ranma (Blinks): What's wrong?
Mumsey: I'm getting too old for this… I yield to you…
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila blink. Mumsey had forfeited. Why? She looks as if she could still keep on fighting no problem.
Sheila (Thinks): She's yielding? That's odd…
Britanny (Thinks): Grammy yielded? Oh, I hope she's okay! She wouldn't stop unless something bad happened to her…
Ranma (Thinks): What's wrong? She seems fine…
Mumsey smirks to herself. She is very impressed by Ranma and she notices that Britanny and Ranma seem to get along together real well (especially from the story they told her). Mumsey then gets an idea.
Mumsey: Ranma… Britanny…
Ranma: Yes Mrs. Brigand?
Britanny: Yes Grammy?
Mumsey: Would it be all right if I could watch how good you two are in fighting compared to each other? I would like to see how well my granddaughter's training has progressed…
Ranma: Sure… I'm never one to turn down a challenge, and neither is Britchan. Right?
Britanny: Dang right! I'll show you how well I've progressed Ranchan… And then… (Smiles). Puuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…
Ranma (Blinks): Huh?
Sheila: Kick her butt Ranchan!
Britanny (Stares at Sheila): Hey!
Mumsey: Enough! If you two would please… I would like to see a match of pure fighting skill. No weapons, no ki, NO CHEAP MAGIC!
Britanny (Sweat-drops): Dad doesn't like it when you call magic "cheap"…
Mumsey (Smiles): Well, little Teddy isn't here, now is he?
Ranma (Snickers): Heh… "Teddy"…
Britanny: Ranchan!
Ranma: Sorry Britchan…
Mumsey: Still though… I do want to see you two fight a battle that purely revolved around strength, speed, and skill.
Ranma and Britanny nod their heads in agreement and they get into the center of the clearing. They stare at each other, studying each other's strength and weaknesses.
Ranma (Thinks): Hmm… Britchan has definitely gotten a lot better… She's gotten a heck of a lot faster and stronger under my training… However, I've also improved by leaps and bounds. Fighting against these Weaponsmasters has been like an incredible version of the Bakusei Tenketsu…
Bu some unknown signal, Ranma and Britanny start running at each other. Britanny uses her superior reach and speed and manages to smash Ranma across the jaw with a well-placed right punch. Ranma flies back, but easily places his hand on the ground, and flips himself back onto his feet. Three months ago, that one punch would have put Ranma down, but not this time!
Ranma stands there, looking at Britanny as he wipes away a small trail of blood from his mouth.
Ranma: Not bad Britchan… Not bad…
Ranma then charges at Britanny again. Britanny charges at Ranma. The two begin to trade blows at incredible speeds, then break away as Britanny smashes Ranma in the abdomen, and he punches her in her right shoulder.
They begin to circle one another looking for weakness.
Ranma: Not… Bad… Britchan…
Britanny: You're not doing too bad yourself Ranchan…
Ranma's eyes widen. He realizes one weakness he might be able to capitalize on.
Ranma (Mutters): That's it…
Ranma once again charges at Britanny.
Britanny: Sigh… How many times are we going to do this?
Britanny charges at Ranma, extending her fist out to punch at Ranma. However, Ranma then just leaps towards the ground as he and Britanny get closer to each other. He tackles Britanny's legs, letting inertia send her sailing to the ground.
Britanny (Falls, flailing arms): DANG IT!
WHAM!
Britanny his the ground face first. Ranma snakes his body from underneath Britanny, and Gets on top of her back, pinning her arms behind her back as well.
Ranma: Give up?
Britanny (Trying to kick him): NO WAY!
Britanny kicks trying to kick Ranma with the heels of her feet. She keeps missing him, and he hasn't loosened his grip on her arms at all. He's basically got her stuck.
Ranma (Smiles): Give up now Britchan?
Britanny: Okay, okay… You win Ranchan.
With that, Ranma let's go of Britanny's arms, and gets off of her. He then takes her hand and helps her onto her feet.
Ranma: You did well Britchan.
Britanny: Next time I won't go so easy on you Ranchan.
Mumsey claps impressed by Ranma's skill. She calls out to him and Britanny.
Mumsey: Congratulations! I now pronounce you man and wife!
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila stare wide-eyed at Mumsey, who is grinning ear-to-ear.
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?
Mumsey then explains a certain law of the Giants.
Mumsey (Smiles): Confused? Well it's actually VERY simple…
Sheila: "Simple"?
Mumsey: Aye. You see we have a law…
Britanny: "Law"?
Mumsey: Aye. Giant Clan law #356B!
Ranma: "Law #356B"?
Mumsey: Yes. That law states that when an outsider male warrior beats a female warrior of the Giant Clan, she has to marry him. And since Britanny IS adopted by my daughter Julia, she is also a member of the Giant Clan. And so that means the laws apply to her as well. So congratulations!
Ranma and Britanny just stare blankly at Mumsey for a moment. They faint.
Mumsey (Blinks): I thought they would take it a lot better…
Sheila is a bit angry at the moment, but she doesn't think they'll stick to that law… At least she hopes they don't.
Mumsey: Oh well. I better take these two back to the village.
Mumsey picks Ranma and Britanny up in each arm. She takes their packs in her hands. She looks over at Sheila.
Mumsey: Are you coming?
Sheila (Blinks): Uh… Sure…
And so, Mumsey, and Sheila walk back to Ryden.
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When Ranma and Britanny wake up, they are in a room with Sheila, who is sleeping as she sits in a chair in the corner of the room. Ranma and Britanny bolt upright when they remember what Mumsey told them. They look at each other and chuckle a bit nervously, waking Sheila up.
Ranma: Uh… Britchan?
Britanny: Yeah Ranchan?
Ranma: What the heck's going on?
Britanny: I have no idea…
Sheila: Giant Clan Law #356B…
Ranma: … So it wasn't a dream… Was it?
Sheila: Nope.
Ranma: Damn…
Britanny just keeps quiet. She seems to have a hurt look on her face.
Sheila: Hey Ranchan, Britanny, Mumsey said she would be downstairs if you wanted to talk to her.
Ranma: Thanks. Come on Britchan, Shechan. We need to find out how or why the heck they even have a law like THAT!
And so the trio leaves the bedroom to go to talk to Mumsey about the law.
Downstairs, Mumsey sits in an old rocking chair, sipping from a mug of tea.
Mumsey: Ah… Nothing like Jasmine mint tea to relax with…
Mumsey turns her head as she hears a lot of commotion coming from the stairs of her home.
Mumsey: Looks like they're awake.
Ranma: Mumsey. Listen, not that I'm mad or anything, but what the heck is it with the Giant Clan having a law that seems like it came out the those stupid Chinese Amazons' rule book?
Britanny: Yeah Mumsey! I don't want to have to marry Ranchan before I'm ready!
Mumsey (Blinks): You know of those traitorous Amazons?
Ranma: Yeah, I… (Blinks). Wait… You know what I'm talking about? And what do you mean traitorous?
Mumsey: The Chinese Amazons are actually an offshoot from the Giant Clan. It's just that the Amazons were too strict with their ideas of making a warrior. And they also had very strange notions, like men were totally useless in battle. So, we of the Giant Clan kicked out those that didn't want to follow the ways of the Giant clan.
Ranma: … Dang…
Britanny: What do we do know Ranchan?
Mumsey: How about you two settle down and give me great-grandchildren?
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila stare at Mumsey.
Mumsey: Well… I'm not totally strict… So you two don't have to do it now.
Ranma: Oh good…
Mumsey: HOWEVER…
Britanny: However what Grammy?
Mumsey: However… I expect you two to follow through with Law #356B. Do I make myself clear?
Britanny: Sigh… Yes Grammy…
Sheila: Just out off curiosity, what's Law #356A?
Mumsey: That law states that when an outsider female warrior beats a female warrior of the Giant Clan, she has to beat the crap out of her as quickly as possible.
Sheila (Blinks): … Huh?
Ranma: Well… At least they're more lenient than the Amazons…
Britanny: What do you mean Ranchan?
Ranma: They'd have the female warrior give the female outsider the 'kiss of death', than have her kill the outsider.
Sheila: Damn… That's ruthless.
Mumsey (Shakes her head): Tsk… You can see why they were sent away from our clan. They're too strict, and obsessed with their own goals and ideals.
Ranma: Yeah…
Mumsey: So… You three want to stay for breakfast?
A collective growl is heard from Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila's stomachs. All three warriors blush.
Mumsey: I'll take that as a 'yes'.
(-)
After breakfast, the Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila give their goodbyes to Mumsey, who wishes the 'young couple' and Sheila luck on their quest to become better warriors.
Fortunately for Ranma, Sheila knows of the last place they have to go to. Unfortunately, it is VERY far away, almost two months worth of travel from Ryden. They need to go to Nira, a deserted city that is owned by the final two Weaponsmasters. Gamadore and his servant. They have two choices. Almost two months of walking, or a month of walking, then making a boat outside the Icor Swamp and sailing down to Nira. Ranma opts for almost two months of walking. He says that they'll have more time to do training, so they'll be better fighters by the time they get to Nira. Sheila and Britanny don't want to walk, but they can't help with agree with Ranma's logic… Especially with the 'reputation' Gamadore has…
(-)
End Chapter 28
Next Time: We take a small break from Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila's quest in Jade again so we can find out just what the heck Ryoga's been doing! (A chapter somewhat dedicated to the Eternal Lost Boy).
Author's note: HAHAHAAAAAA! There you have it. The Amazons were once part of the Giant Clan in this, and now Ranma and Britanny are supposed to follow up on that law of the Giant Clan…
However, the question is… Will they?
And a special thanks. I forgot to thank fellow fanfic author Thrythlind for the idea of using Kishijoten in the story. Thanks Thryth.
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
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