Yes, this is my first fic (well, the first one I'm letting
out of my computer). I've noticed a great many writers have
relatively mellow, single universe fics to start out. I am
not one of those. I'd like to thank several writers, who's
fics have proved that yes, I can get away with this (that
means you, Shade).
To understand all that happens here, I recommend that you
have knowledge of the Rifts RPG, Ranma � up to vol 13 or so
(around the "Martial Arts Calligraphy" arc, not much
significance, that's just where I am), Record of Lodoss War
(all 13 eps), and R. A. Salvatore's Drizzt Do'Urden series
(up to Siege of Darkness). If you've never heard of any of
those, I recommend them.
This idea kinda came into my head, and wouldn't leave. I
would like to thank Gregg Sharp for one of the main ideas in
this story (the Ranma/Lodoss part). Anyway, I've babbled
enough, on with the fic.
Disclaimer: none of the characters, worlds, or just about
everything else in this fic (with the exception of the plot,
and the observing deities), belong to me. All pieces belong
to their respective owners (which are too numerous to name
at this point), and are used without permission. I do not
expect to profit financially from this writing. I know
this, you know this. Unfortunately, lawyers (like some of
my instructors) insist that I treat everyone as if they have
an IQ of a hamster, or Kuno (which one is lower is the real
question).
Note: * * takes the place of italics.
Title Pending (suggestions welcome, X-over From Hell maybe?)
by Andrew Wilson (templar@softcom.net)
Part 1: Discoveries and Voyages or "Uh-Oh!"
Two sets of eyes, one gold, the other green, exchanged
stares through a flickering flame.
The green-eyed one spoke first. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," the other responded, "I've spent the last four
centuries searching, as have you. I know his soul, and you
have confirmed the presence of the other."
"Can we go to them?"
"No, the dimension they are currently in is much too
chaotic. Attempting to go there would be suicide. However,
we could draw them out."
"And if they refuse? What then? Not to mention the fact
that it would take an ancient dragon's power to open such a
portal."
"If they reject us, we simply send them back and wait for
the next cycle. And I know of a place where we can draw
enough power for ten such portals."
"That place? You must be insane!"
"No, just tired of waiting."
A sigh. "As am I. Alright, I'll help."
"You made the right choice, old friend."
A laugh. "Who would've thought we would call each other
that."
"None but those who have shared experiences like ours."
"That is certainly true. What can you tell me about what
they have become?"
"Not much, Deedlit, but there are a few things that you
should know..."
*******
It was a place outside normal space and time. Many treasure
hunters had searched for it, hoping to find lost artifacts.
It is rumored to store the Arc of the Covenant, the Holy
Grail, Excaliber, the Cosmic Forge, or Elvis, depending on
the source asked.
In reality, it was a lounge for minor deities to watch
events in other universes. It was equipped with a wide
screen scrying mirror, several crystal balls (for
reference), and a few recliners made out of who-knows-what.
Right now those chairs were occupied by a handful of
entities. The central figure, a rugged looking man in
black, had the hint of a smile on his face.
"This should be fun," he said, taking a drag on his cigar
and blowing out the smoke in a ring.
"Fun?" Asked a woman with dark green metal for skin. "Fun?
You have got to be kidding, Ranger. Remember last time
those two tried something like this? Two whole planets are
still cleaning up the mess."
"Lighten up Jade," said another woman, this one with rather
<ahem> exaggerated anatomy, "it was a hell of a party."
"Thank you Amanda," Ranger said, "now just relax and enjoy
the show."
*******
Pirotess stepped out of the rift and surveyed the land
around her. Mountains rose around the site, and a cool
breeze blew off the snow covered peaks, thousands of feet
up. Behind her, Deedlit landed lightly on the ground,
flowed by four horse with packs, and quickly closed the
rift. The task complete, she looked at her surroundings.
"This is it?"
"This is the best place that is not heavily populated, by
man or monster. Besides, they now have the power to level
castles in a minor scuffle, so I want plenty of room to
move."
"Let's just get this over with. I got tired of waiting two
hundred years ago."
"For an elf you're very impatient. Don't you think I'm
tired of waiting too?"
"You just want to get Ashram back so you can go back to
destroying the world."
A growl. "If I wanted the world destroyed, do you think I
would have stayed out of the conflict after Fire Dragon
mountain?"
Deedlit turned her back on her companion. "You were just
licking your wounds, you nearly died casting those
protection spells. After that you spent a year digging
through the rubble of Beld's castle looking for Ashram's
body. Do you expect me to believe that you two will stay
out of trouble?"
"I will follow him to the ends of the universe. I don't
care what he has become. You, on the other hand, seem to
have some trouble accepting Parn's new form."
Deedlit turned a bright red. "That's none of your
business. Besides, I'm going to try to remove those curses,
on both of them. What about your companion's... unique
problem."
Pirotess barked a laugh. "Problem? That's an
understatement. Now let's stop arguing and get on with it."
"Fine by me." Deedlit began drawing a circle with a powder
from her pouch, chanting as she made special marks around
the perimeter.
*******
Another of the deities was wondering what the elves were up
to.
"Hmm. Ashram and Parn, reborn somewhere? I wonder."
A search. Then a choked gasp.
"What is in Zaranth?" Jade asked.
"Oh no, not them. Not on Rifts Earth. Not in the company
of those two!"
Jade looked at what the humanoid panther had found, and
almost screamed. Her words summed it up perfectly.
"Oh, shit."
"It get's better," Ranger said, "look who's about to be
caught up in this."
*******
"And if our paths should ever cross again," Drizzt Do'Urden
said to Harkle Harpell, "I would be honored by your
company."
Cattie-brie concentrated on keeping the false smile on her
face. If she had to spend another minute in the company of
the Harpell clan, she would surely go mad.
The two companions had retrieved their horses and were about
to exit the mansion grounds when an explosion ripped apart a
corner of the house. They had enough time to mutter a few
choice words about wizards and workshops and the Harpell
family before being swept up by a wave of blue energy.
When the smoke and energy cleared, Drizzt and Cattie-brie
had disappeared from the face of Toril.
*******
"Ranma!! Prepare to die!!!"
Ranma Saotome quickly dodged the attack from Ryoga Hibiki.
The eternal lost boy hit the ground instead of his target,
causing a meter-deep crater.
"Damit Ryoga, what's the problem this time?"
"Do you even need to ask that?!"
Another attacked dodged. "Gee pig-boy, between you, the old
ghoul, the old pervert, the bimbo, the tomboy, Kuno, and all
the other assorted idiots that keep attacking me, yes I do
have to ask that."
Try as he might, Ryoga couldn't connect his blows with
Ranma. "Stand still and die!!"
A large blue-white gateway opened up behind Ranma. Turning
to look, he was hit from behind by Ryoga, driving the two of
them through.
*******
Jade and Zaranth looked back at Ranger and Amanda.
"If I didn't know better," Jade said, "I would say that you
set this up."
Ranger took a sip of nectar (the drink of the gods; of
course, the divine realms were in an uproar wondering how a
mortal by the name of John Stith Pemberton had gotten a hold
of the formula). "Relax, it gets better."
*******
The rift opened in the prescribed place, though it was about
forty feet above the ground. The screaming forms of Ranma
and Ryoga plummeted to the ground, making two man-shaped
depressions. Shortly after the impact, another light blazed
and the two more figures, this time on the ground and on
horses, appeared.
Deedlit looked over at Pirotess.
"Oops," was all the other could say.
Drizzt was doing his best to ignore the headache that had
suddenly developed, but was not succeeding very well. In
front of him were two figures that appeared to be elves,
though there was something strange about their ears, and one
of them seemed to be a drow.
"Who might ye be?" Catti-brie asked.
"My name is Deedlit," the blond one said, "and this is
Pirotess. I'm sorry if we dragged you here, our dimensional
portal spell must have gone wrong."
Drizzt inquired as to their location. "A place known as
Earth," Pirotess said, "don't worry, we'll send you back to
your home as soon as possible."
Questions about how they were able to understand each other
was delayed as a pair of groans emerged from the nearby
dents.
*******
The pale blurred image resolved itself into a blond elf as
Ranma regained consciousness. *Wait a minute,* he though,
*elves don't exist!*
"She was right," the elf whispered, "it is you!"
"Huh?" Ranma was confused (no surprise there). Before he
could say anything else, the elf had her arms wrapped
tightly around him, babbling about searching (and waiting)
centuries for him.
"Hold on a minute," he said, wiggling out of her embrace,
"who are you?"
Her eyes began to tear up. "You don't remember?"
"Of course he doesn't," a dark-skinned elf said, standing
over Ryoga's unconscious form. "When a soul is reborn, the
memories are locked away. The second spell can unlock the
memories, but only if they are willing."
Ryoga groaned and sat up. "Ranma, this is the last straw,"
he growled, then opened his eyes.
"Urk," the sight of Pirotess derailed his train of thought.
"Uh . . . who . . . wha . . . eh . . . huh?"
"You used to be much more eloquent."
"You said yourself, they have no memories." When she had
both men's attention (that didn't take long), she sat down.
"I'll make this short, since those two," she pointed to
Drizzt and Catti-brie, "have to get back to their own
dimension. Four hundred years ago, there were two men, Parn
and Ashram. They were mortal enemies, but there was also a
kind of kinship between them. If it wasn't for them, our
world would be dead, along with anyone on it. Ashram died
in the battle, and Parn died years later, giving his life to
finally destroy the demon dragon, Shooting Star."
"You loved him," Drizzt said, "didn't you."
Deedlit was close to tears again, so Pirotess answered.
"Yes, she did, just as I loved Ashram. It was a love that
went beyond physical or mental states. It was the joining
of souls. Do you understand what I am talking about."
Drizzt and Catti-brie shared a look.
"Of course you do," Deedlit said, "I can see it."
"What does this have to do with us?" Ranma asked.
"Simple," Pirotess said, "you, Ranma, are Parn, and Ryoga is
Ashram. I spend four centuries searching, and have watched
you for a while now. Why do you think that you have never
truly been able to love anyone? Why are you men of honor,
in an age where honor is seen as a weakness? I could name a
thousand reasons, but I won't. You know what I say is
true."
"You knew who we were," Deedlit said, "I could see it in
your eyes when you woke up, don't deny it."
"Alright," Ranma said, "enough. What do you want?"
Everyone stared at him for a minute. "I think what he
meant," Ryoga said, "is what are you going to do about it?"
"You have two choices," Deedlit said, "the first is that we
simply send you home, and wait for your next rebirth. The
second option is that we unlock some of you memories, though
not so many that you would go insane."
"And then what?"
"That depends on what you want to do after the unlocking."
The two men exchanged a look. "Can we talk this over?"
Ryoga asked. At Deedlit's nod, both he and Ranma moved off
a ways. They looked back, particularly at the ears on the
elves' head's, and moved further.
*******
"So," Catti-brie said, "when can ye send us home?"
Deedlit replied. "If they want to stay with us, tomorrow.
If they want to go home, it may be a while longer."
"Why so long?"
"So we don't open a dimensional rift to some ungodly place."
Pirotess answered. "We have enough problems without
attracting trouble from a demon. Because of the magical
energy on this world, demons can enter completely, not just
sending a portion like on other worlds."
"What about banished demons?" Drizzt asked.
"If they are banished from another world they may still come
here." Pirotess noticed the looked passed between the two
companions. "Is something wrong?"
"We may be in danger here. Whatever caused us to be here
may have also attracted the attention of a Balor that has
great hatred for me."
"What did you do to it?"
"I bested it in single combat."
Deedlit had to regain use of her jaw before speaking. "A
balor? One on one, and you beat it? Is this true?" Both
nodded, and Pirotess gave a low whistle. "That's amazing!"
"Not so amazing," Drizzt said, drawing Icingdeath, "this
sword does not like creatures of fire."
A wordless shout interrupted the conversation. Both groups
turned to see Ranma and Ryoga exchanging punches. Deedlit
and Pirotess shook their heads. "Some things never change,"
Pirotess said.
Suddenly, Ranma went flying into the air. Ryoga calmly
walked back to the group.
"Sorry about that," he said, as Ranma crashed to the ground
in front of him.
"You mind telling us about what happened?" Deedlit asked.
"One last fight," Ryoga said.
Ranma groaned. "He wanted to settle the score between us,
so we could have a true fresh start here."
Pirotess gave a small smile, "I take it that's your
answer?" Both nodded. "Well then, shall we begin?"
*******
They began after sunset, each elf going to her respective
soulmate. The two fell into a deep sleep, letting the
memories of past and present join.
*******
Ranma saw thousands of images. Each image was accompanied
by physical, mental, and emotional sensations. Life, death,
joy, sadness, love, and hate. One of the most vivid images
was of leaping down to a floating alter, holding the swords
of light and darkness, to rescue the woman he loved. The
images slowly faded, nestling in a corner of his mind. They
did not intrude in his life, but they were there if he
wished to see them.
He sat up quickly, seeing Deedlit before him. For a long
time, he could say nothing.
"It's hard to believe," he said at last. "Did I kill the
dragon?"
"Yes," she said, and collapsed into his arms, crying tears
of joy.
*******
For Ryoga, the images were darker. Visions of death,
destruction, and conquest. The only bright spot being the
dark elf, and even then he was blind to it until nearly the
end.
"NO," he screamed in his mind.
"Yes," a voice said. From the images came an armored
figure. The figures pale skin contrasted with his black
hair and armor. The landscape around them changed from the
black infinity to a cave lit by red light. "It's time for
you to live up to your potential, boy. You've wallowed in
the shadow of that weakling long enough. Let us join
together, and let nothing stand before us."
"Never," Ryoga growled.
"You don't have a choice. We are of the same soul. I know
what you want. You can kill Ranma at last. You could be
the greatest warrior in the universe. Do you really wish to
waste such potential."
"What good is power if it is won by the blood of others. A
true ruler doesn't lead with an iron fist. A true warrior
is honorable. You were no warrior, just a petty thug."
A surprised look crossed Ashrams face. "An intellectual,
that's surprising. I guess I didn't look deep enough."
"Over the years, I've had plenty of time to read."
In an instant, the talking was over. Ashram charged,
bringing his sword around for a killing stroke. Ryoga
rushed inside the swords swing, and delivered a punch
combination that sent his opponent to the ground.
"I am not like you!"
*******
"I'm not like you," Ryoga mumbled, still asleep.
"Will he be alright?" Ranma asked.
"Maybe," Pirotess replied, "or maybe not. He's changed over
the lifetimes, as I have over the centuries. He is fighting
with his old personality. You did not have to because you
haven't changed much."
"Is there anyway I can help him?"
Deedlit shook her head. "This is his own battle, there is
nothing you could do for him, except help him when he wakes
up."
"And if it's not him that wakes up?"
Pirotess looked to the sleeping form. "Then be ready."
"For what?"
"To kill your closest friend."
*******
The landscape faded from caves to a city street. Ashram
spit a glob of blood to the ground, and raised his sword
once more (though with only one hand). Ryoga stood ready,
his left arm hanging useless at his side, many small cuts
covering his body.
"It's over," Ryoga spat.
"For you, maybe," Ashram replied, "I can still fight."
"Really, then how come your losing control of the
surroundings?"
"A minor problem. I doubt that you can fight with one arm."
"I can fight a lot better than you can with eight broken
ribs, two shredded tendons, a shattered arm and wrist, and
bruises over almost every inch of skin."
Heedless of the pain, Ashram charged once more. Ryoga threw
a single blow, aimed at his opponents sword.
It shattered.
Ashram looked at the fragmented blade in shock, and slowly
faded away.
*******
Ryoga's eye's fluttered open. It was still night, but the
campfire had burned low. "How long was I asleep?"
Pirotess was at his side immediately. "Over half the
night," she said. "What happened?"
"Was that all that I was? An agent of evil, whose only
redeeming factor was some perverted sense of duty?"
"You had power," Pirotess said, "and that is what drew me to
you at first. You were the greatest warrior in all of
Lodoss."
"That doesn't matter. I didn't realize what really mattered
until near the end, though he has forgotten."
"He?"
"He's in here," Ryoga tapped his temple, "I can hear him. I
have him trapped, powerless. He is trying to find a way
out."
"Ashram?"
"Yes, the original. The one that sees you as nothing more
than a tool. The one who wishes to unify the world through
conquest and death."
"And what do you want," a third voice asked, "what are your
ambitions?" The pair looked up to see Drizzt's lavender
eyes glowing in the night.
"I have no such appetites. I could say that all I want is
to grow old with the one I love, but that would be boring.
Right now all I wish is to be free of my curse, so that I
may be a true man again."
Pirotess smiled, "we're working on that. For now, just
sleep."
Ryoga looked once more into her golden eyes, and drifted off
into a dreamless sleep.
*******
"That's gonna come back to haunt them."
"Duh."
*******
Drizzt wandered over to where Catti-brie sat, her sword
across her lap in meditation. Drizzt quietly sat down
beside her.
She cracked an eye open. "Ye're getting sloppy."
"Oh really."
"Aye. Someone without eyes or ears could tell ye were
coming."
Drizzt looked at the sword in her lap. "I believe that
person has other ways of perceiving the world. Has it given
you any more trouble?"
A smile. "Nay. Cutter won't be a problem unless things get
boring."
"That seems to be the topic of discussion lately. Though I
doubt that will happen."
"Especially if we stay here."
Her comment took him by surprise. "What?"
"Think about it. Our world has enough hero's to last a good
long time. Here, if Deedlit tells us right, is a world in
need of a hero like Drizzt Do'Urden."
"But they are planning to leave, we would be trapped here.
And what of the people back home?"
"They're going nowhere. I talked with them while ye did yer
patrol. Their home, Lodoss they called it, might be a
little too calm for the likes of them. So they want to stay
here. As fer home, the Harpells will know how we
disappeared, and will start searching fer us. By the time
they find us, we'll either go, or send a message back home.
Besides, on this world drow are as rare a roc's teeth, so ye
don't have to worry about any bad reputation. The only
thing I be wondering is how we can understand their words."
"From what I understand, the common tongue on our world is
almost identical to the main language on their own. As for
the other two, it was suggested that it has something to do
with the oddities of their universe."
"Oddities?"
"When it rains, you will understand." Drizzt chuckled at
that thought.
*******
The next morning, Drizzt pulled a small statue from his
pouch. "We are in hostile territory," he said, "does anyone
mind another friend?" When none of them objected, he placed
the figure on the ground. "Guenhwyvar, come to me my
shadow."
A gray mist appeared from the statue. The mist formed the
image of a giant cat, which then solidified into a huge
panther. It eyed the assembly before moving over to Drizzt.
A half feline, half human sound drew all eyes to Ranma, who
was standing rigid and staring wide eyed at Guenhwyvar.
Deedlit and Pirotess exchanged glances and a muttered
"uh-oh" as Ryoga dove for cover.
A red blur streaked through the assembly and collided with
the cat, forming a red and black ball of fur, flesh, and
aggression. By the time Guenhwyvar was able to free
herself, the panthers flesh was torn is several places.
Drizzt quickly stepped between his friend and the now
berserk Ranma. Even four decades of combat training and
experience were no match for the ferocity of the cat-fist.
By the time the elves managed to restrain Ranma with their
spells, Drizzt had been swatted aside, bleeding from several
small cuts. Only the enchantments of his weapons kept them
from being destroyed.
Drizzt quickly returned the panther to her home, and the
group turned back to Ranma, who was floating in midair
within a blue globe. His posture and expression was that of
a frightened cat. His hands slashed repeatedly against the
barrier, and Deedlit saw that the globes power was
weakening.
Before they could react, Ranma burst out of the shell,
heading toward Deedlit. She closed her eyes, bracing
herself for a world of hurt. To her surprise, she was
knocked to the ground, and then felt a weight in her lap.
Opening her eyes, she saw Ranma curled into a ball, purring
like a kitten.
She looked toward Ryoga. "How do we snap him out of this?"
Ryoga shrugged. "Triggering his curse should do it, though
I've only seen him do this with one other person."
"Who?" Cattie-brie asked, amazed at the display she just
witnessed.
"A woman from his world," Pirotess said. "Had the situations
been different, they might have become close friends, maybe
even lovers for a time. Unfortunately, because of the chaos
in his life, and her prejudice, they would have eventually
become bitter enemies."
Deedlit reached into a small pouch on her hip. She tossed a
pinch of dust into the air, then muttered a few words. A
small cloud formed from the dust, and proceeded to dump
several gallons of water on Ranma, soaking both of them.
Ranma sat up and shook the water off her head. "What
happened?"
"A cat," Ryoga said.
"C-c-c-c-c-c-at? Where?" Her head whipped around
frantically.
"It's gone," Deedlit said, "don't worry. It's not here..."
she trailed off when she noticed the expression on
Cattie-brie's face. The look was a combination of
disbelief, horror, and a warning about impending
unconsciousness.
"No you don't," Ryoga said, steadying her, "we have to get
moving today, and you fainting won't help."
"How... what.... who..." Cattie-brie looked to Drizzt, who
was busy laughing at the scene. "And what do ye find so
funny?"
"After all this time," Drizzt replied, "and all that we have
seen, does a little magical shape change cause for such a
reaction?"
"I see what ye be meaning when ye said I'd find out when it
rains."
"Now that you've all had your laughs," Ranma said, "can I
get some hot water, please?"
"No time," Drizzt said, "there are many dangers about, and a
we can't afford a delay simply because your uncomfortable."
With that, he mounted his horse, and Cattie-brie did the
same.
Deedlit and Pirotess guided the four the four they brought
with them over. "Come on," Deedlit said, "there's a
friendly city a few days ride east of here, we're going
there first."
"Why?" Ranma asked, approaching the horse as though it was
going to attack her.
"Let me ask you this," Pirotess replied, "what do you do in
unfamiliar territory surrounded by many potentially hostile
beings?"
Ranma appeared to think about this for a second. "Start
kicking ass and taking names?"
Everyone but the two martial artists had to pick their jaws
up off the ground. And even Cattie-brie's sword sent a
mental message of *you have got to be kidding* to her.
"Tell me young one," Drizzt said, after he had recovered,
"how old are you?"
"17," both replied.
"I see. Now, if you met someone who had trained under the
best instructors for over fifteen years, and then spent
another ten battling for survival in one of the most hostile
environments known, would you head his advise?"
"If this is about the old freak, forget it. I'll never
follow what he says."
Another collective jaw dropping. Ryoga slapped Ranma on the
back of her head. "Idiot. This is worse than anything that
old lecher could do."
"Indeed. I know not of this 'freak,' but from what I have
been told there are many things on this world that regard
humans as nothing more than cattle. Others that see torture
as a source of pleasure. Still others that could destroy
you with a nothing more than a though. Now, would you
please get on your horse so we can find some semblance of
shelter?"
"Alright, alright," Ranma grumbled as she and Ryoga leaped
into their saddles. Within moments, they were hanging on
for dear life as the group set a fast pace towards the
east. Of course, Ryoga's horse was secured by a thin line
to Ranma's, to keep him from getting lost.
*******
"Now that those two are out of that continuum, what happens
there?"
Jade looked up from her crystal ball, "Shampoo and Mousse
get married and move away. Kuno invites both Akane and
Nabiki to a nude polygamist colony, and they accept. Kasumi
marries Tofu."
Amanda laughed. "Yeah right. I never knew you had a sense
of humor Jade, so what really happened?"
"Cologne and Happosi kill each other in a duel. Shampoo and
Ukyo open a chain of restaurants. The Kuno's get thrown in
a mental institution. Akane eventually hooks up with
Mousse, who stayed in Nerima to further his education and
get eye surgery. Kasumi marries a man that can to Nerima
trying to kill Happi, I think his name was Taro or
something. Within ten years, Nabiki owns ten percent of
Microsoft and AMD."
A synchronized blink.
"So which was real," Zaranth asked, "and which was a joke?"
Jade simply smiled.
*******
That night, Drizzt approached (the again male) Ranma. "I
heard your claim of being a warrior."
Ranma snorted, "'Claim?' I'm the best there is."
"Would you like to spar them?" Drizzt asked, pulling out a
pair of padded sheaths for his scimitars.
"Bring it on." Ranma said, cracking his knuckles.
"No weapon?"
"Weapons are a crutch. No true warrior relies on them.
They only hinder you."
It took all he had for Drizzt to not burst out laughing.
"Very well then, we shall see."
They faced off. Ranma gave a short bow, while Drizzt only
saluted with Twinkle. The others stood a distance back,
trying to predict the outcome. Ryoga bet that Ranma would
win, Cattie-brie bet on Drizzt, Deedlit said a tie, while
Pirotess just watched.
*******
"Drizzt," everyone said at once.
*******
They circled each other, each watching how his opponent
moved. Ranma struck first by executing a leg sweep followed
by a strike to Drizzt's solar plexus.
But Drizzt wasn't there. The dark warrior flipped over the
boy, landing behind him and slapping the sides of the his
head in quick succession. Ranma spun around, and launched a
punch Drizzt parried with the flat of Icingdeath. The
vibrations through the sword told Drizzt that dozens of
blows were landing instead of just one.
They broke apart, and began circling again. Neither had
gained and advantage, save that each knew a trick the other
could, and would, pull. With inhuman (and even greater than
any drow) speed Drizzt charged in, his blades forming a
barrier, streaked with Twinkles blue glow. Ranma's hands
shot through the barrier, moving at a speed that was, at
least for all but two present, quite insane. Both withdrew
yet again, Drizzt sporting a few small bruises, while
Ranma's arms were a covered with large ones.
"Care to see how you would fare in armed combat?" Drizzt
asked.
As a response, Ranma charged again. This time he leaped at
the dark elf, intent on delivering a powerful kick. Drizzt
threw his blades up in the air, grabbed Ranma's ankle, and
swung the boy around. Ranma went flying, while Drizzt
simply caught his swords.
Ranma dusted himself off, and bowed to Drizzt. "Arigato
sensei."
Drizzt shot him a questioning glance, then saluted and
dropped his stance. "Do you still believe that weapons are
a hindrance?"
"Against you, I doubt anyone would win."
Drizzt smiled, "I could say the same about you. Your skills
are, impressive."
"He spent ten years with his father on the road thinking
nothing but the art," Ryoga said.
"Indeed, that sound much like my own upbringing."
"Was your father an idiot as well?" Ranma asked.
"No," Drizzt replied, "Zak was a island of sanity in my
youth. Why do you regard your father as an idiot?"
"Long story, another time maybe."
Nothing more was said. They broke apart, ready for a nights
rest. The two magic users cast a minor warding spell before
they all drifted off to sleep.
*******
The dawn saw a campsite with two figures sleeping, another
pair sitting on top of a rise watching the sun rise, and the
final two fighting.
The amount of noise they were causing made sure that the
sleeping figures wouldn't be that way for long. Ranma and
Ryoga exchanged blows that would have been instantly fatal
to most normal humans, but did not even bruise the two of
them.
Drizzt and Cattie-brie turned their attention from the dawn
to the sparring that was going on behind them. With a sign,
the two decided to begin their own practice session.
Deedlit and Pirotess awoke to a combination of ringing
metal, grunts, and more colorful cursing than either had
heard for a long time. On one side there was a display of
inhuman hand to hand combat skills. On the other side,
there was a human woman sparring with one of the greatest
swordsmen in the megavese, and not losing by very much.
Pirotess look at her companion. "Any ideas on where we go
from here?"
Deedlit mutely shook her head.
"You realize that we won't last long here unless we learn to
adapt.."
"Yes. And it won't be easy. But if it was easy it wouldn't
be worth doing."
"True. But you're going to tell them about guns."
"I though we agreed that you would."
"No, we agreed that you would tell them about the weapons,
and I would tell them about all the other technology."
"Alright, but you go first."
"Fine," with that the dark elf walked off, unsure of how she
would explain thing she herself only half understood.
End Part 1
I felt this was a nice place to cut off. A few
explanations:
1)no, Ranma and Ryoga will not start carrying guns. Likely
none of the group will adopt high-tech weapons, they have
enough confidence in their own abilities and weapons
(besides, the magic weapons and armor are more powerful on
Rifts Earth). They may try to acquire force fields and
'plain clothes' armor, but that's about it.
2)If you think Ryoga calmed down a bit too much, you're
right.
3)Where is this going? You'll see. One thing I will say,
there will be a great deal of trouble to come because of
this group coming together (muhuwahahahahahahaha *hack*
*cough*). Also, like I said (through Cattie-brie), the
world they're on needs a few hero's.
4) John Stith Pemberton is (according to the information I
found) the guy who invented Coca-cola.
Any gamers want stats for these six? I'm working on that. I
will accept suggestions.
Before you comment, keep in mind I am a Computer Science
student, not a pro writter.