Spirit within II: El Hazard.
The first night: Battlefield of confusion.
Sixteen-year-old Makoto Mizuhara blocked another punch and retaliated
with a spinning back kick that took Ryo across his forehead and sent him
flying into a wall. Ryo pulled himself from the crater and jumped up, he
pressed his finger against the wall and cried "Bakusai Tenketsu!" sending
rubble at his opponent. Makoto smiled and simply stuck his finger out and
touched the largest piece that was sent towards him; it exploded sending
the other pieces flying away from him.
His opponent jumped through the cloud that resulted from his defense and
punched the boy in the gut. Makoto faltered and attacked with a kick,
which was blocked. The boy stood for a moment and regarded his opponent
with a grin. Makoto frowned and stared at him in frustration. He knew
what was about to happen, when ever Ryo got that look it meant that he
had another attack to show off. Makoto usually could not counter it. This
time however, Makoto knew exactly what it was.
"Moukou Takabishi!" cried Ryo shooting a ki blast towards Makoto; the
boy cupped his hands at his side.
"Moukou Takabishi!" he cried in returned the blast at Ryo who looked on
in surprise. The blasts negated each other and the crowd stared at them
in awe.
"Honestly he doesn't even go to school here, you'd think that this was
Furinkan high," said Nanami from her own little group as they watched.
"Darn that Ryo, doesn't he even know that acting like that is dangerous,
he could hurt someone," she continued.
"Yea, like Makoto," sighed one of the girls next to her with starry
eyes.
"Not likely," said one of the other ones with the same sort of look.
"Neither one of them ever really gets hurt," agreed Nanami with a nod.
"It's been like this since kindergarten. That's why no one ever tried to
stop them."
Ryo laughed as Makoto smiled back at him with determined eyes. "Well it
seems I've underestimated you this time Mizuhara. You win for now," he
jumped off over the crowd and vanished from view.
"I-I won?" said Makoto in shock. He smiled and walked towards the
school. After a few moments he stopped and leaned against the wall in a
shaded area. He sat there for a moment until he heard voices. One of them
was school president Jinnai the other one he could not make out. He froze
as they walked closer and their conversation became clear.
Out in the schoolyard a freshman walked over to one of the cracks in the
building that the battle had created. He gasped and backed away in wonder
and shock.
A few days later...
Men in construction uniforms and hard hats swarmed the campus. In the
basement Katsuhiko Jinnai stood combing his hair as a reporter questioned
him on his alleged discovery of the ruins. A few moments later Nanami
Jinnai pushed through the crowd and confronted him about the supposed
rigged election. Behind him, as he argues with his sister loudly, a
strange pillar stands ominously and waits for destiny to release the
sleeping demon inside.
[[[El-Hazard theme Music]]]
Masumiji Fujisawa pushed his way through the crowd and frowned as they
blocked his path. "All right break it up, every one get out of there," he
cleared the stairway of students who had come to catch a glimpse of the
ancient ruins. "Workers are going to be going down here all day so you
kids stay out," he said to the stragglers. "Go on get to class!" he
yelled at them as they stood staring at him dumbly.
He turned and tied a rope across the doorway to the basement and reached
in his pocket to pull out the tape grumbling to himself as he did. As he
pulled it out a small bottle of whisky fell out and clattered on the
ground.
"Look! Fujisawa's on the sauce!" cried one of the students.
"Now wait, it's medicinal," stammered the man as he tried to explain.
The students dispersed and the man looked close to tears. "Don't blame
me! I'm just weak!"
In a private meeting room Makoto Mizuhara sat surrounded by several
student counsel members. "With your testimony we can get that jerk off
the counsel for good," said one of them.
"I feel like such a snitch, I didn't mean to overhear him it was an
accident," replied Makoto looking worried.
"You owe it to the school," said one of the other boys.
"Yea, but Jinnai is still one of my friends ya know," muttered the boy
dejectedly.
"You got any balls kid?" said one of the third boy looking annoyed.
Makoto merely looked at him and he backed away nervously. "Uh, I didn't
mean it Mizuhara, really."
"Someone as well known as you could really help our case." said the
first boy again.
"I'll do it," Makoto gave a heavy sigh and looked at them seriously.
"Don't worry."
Katsuhiko Jinnai walked down the halls and ripped the posters off the
bulletin boards in frustration. "My world is crumbling! Why is he doing
this to me?!" He ripped several other posters off and looked at an
announcement of test scores. "I'm number two! Even he can't take that
from me," he thought in a poor attempt to control his anger. Then he
looked at the first slot above him. "Mizuhara Makoto," He tore it down
angrily and stabbed a picture of Makoto winning a race with his compass.
"I loathe you Makoto Mizuhara," he said as he twisted it around in the
boy's neck tearing the news paper scrap in two. "In his mind various
instances where Makoto obliviously one upped him without really trying
played over and over. "You're nothing! Less than nothing! Yet you always
get in the way of my superiority!" he yelled as he slashed the Photo.
"You won't win now, not this time I'll show you! It is not that easy to
get rid of me! Things would be allot easier for me if you were out of the
picture," he began to laugh loudly until the other students began to
stare and Jinnai coughed in a vain effort to hide his laughter.
At the end of the day...
Makoto reached into his locker absently and found a note in side. He
opened it and began to read. "Dear Makoto, I'm not usually this forward,
but I must talk to you. Meet me after school in the forest. I'll be
waiting. Nanami Jinnai."
"I wonder what she wants to talk to me about? Aha! Great! Maybe she
likes me!" said Makoto to himself. "But her brother..."
Ryo got to his home and sat down in front of the TV. He frowned as he
saw the report on the discovery of the ruins. "I have to get to Shinanome
high," he thought and left the home. He turned and looked at a photo on
the wall. A sad smile crossed his lips as he looked at his family. "Do
not mourn long for me," he said as he looked at them for a final time. At
that he ran up the stairs, grabbed his traveling pack, and left through
the window of his room. As he landed he tightened the straps that held
the umbrella sitting across his back and walked towards his destiny once
again.
"Did you write that letter?" said Makoto to Katsuhiko Jinnai as he
emerged from behind a tree.
"Of course not, I would never do a thing like that. I simply stole one
from my sisters ample collection." said Jinnai.
"Creative writing 101?" said the boy with a disappointed look
"There's one to Wada of the music club and another to Haiashi of the
science fiction club," Jinnai held a small stack of letters up.
"That's swell," Makoto looked even more down.
"A simple but effective ploy, it served the purpose of bringing my life
long rival to me," said the greasy looking boy with a smile.
"What? Life long rival? Oh man, not another one!" wailed Makoto in
frustration.
Jinnai chuckled and held up a rope.
"What are you planing to do with that?" said Makoto with an annoyed
stare.
"I want you out of my hair, at least until tomorrows student government
meeting is over," Jinnai stepped forward and tried to look menacing.
"Leave me alone you creep. Have you forgotten who I am?" said Makoto
standing confidently before Jinnai.
"What?" said the boy in surprise. "How stupid do you think I am?"
"I beat up guys twice your size every day," said Makoto with a sneer.
"I know that you fool. Why do you think I brought along the entire Judo
club? Boys come on out." he sneered.
Nothing happened.
"Are you deaf?" cried Jinnai.
"You didn't say nothin about no Mizuhara boss," said a small voice from
one of the bushes. At that rustling sounds could be heard from the bushes
as the club collectively ran away.
"I beat them up last week Jinnai. The coach got mad when I refused to
tell him about my secret techniques. If you weren't so busy giving bribes
you would have known that," Makoto turned and started to walk away.
"Come back here!" yelled Jinnai running after him.
Nanami walked into the room where Fujisawa stayed on night duty and
drank sake. He looked at her in surprise as she entered. "Nanami, what
are you doing here?" he said as he hid the bottle behind him.
"Well I thought you might be hungry so I made you some dinner," she said
holding out a box to him.
"This looks really good! I'm so lucky to have a student like you," he
said as he ate.
"Tea? To wash it all down?" she asked him as she held up a container.
"Thanks," he replied.
"That will be one thousand yen for the food and tea, please," said
Nanami flatly.
"Your charging me?!" cried Fujisawa as he spit out some of the drink in
shock.
"A girls gotta make a living ya know," said the girl with her best
smile.
Ryo walked around the campus and looked around for the area where the
ruins were supposed to be. "Damn, I never thought to check this place out
before. I only know my way around the front courtyard," he muttered as he
wandered. He turned and saw Makoto carrying a helpless and tied up Jinnai
under his arm as he walked around looking thoughtful.
"Where should I leave you?" he said out loud. Jinnai stopped struggling
suddenly and Makoto froze for a moment and then looked down at Jinnai in
confusion. He let go of the boy and he simply stayed in midair. "What
the?"
Ryo watched all this from his spot and frowned. Then it hit him, "I can
move?" he thought to himself. "Hey, Makoto."
Makoto spun around and faced Ryo with an angry stare. "So, you did
this?!"
"Hey, ease off buddy. I didn't do this. Something has stopped time," the
boy was looking at Makoto seriously. "As martial artist it is our duty to
investigate," he continued with a wry grin appearing on his face.
"What are you doing here anyway?" asked Makoto after a moment.
"Well, I was gonna take a training trip for a while since you beat me
earlier. I was just passing through on my way to the bus station when
every thing froze up," lied Ryo. "I followed an energy signal to here."
"An energy signal?" asked Makoto.
"Yea, a disruption in the Chi field. Can't you feel it?"
Makoto looked at him strangely and stopped. "I can feel it!" he said in
shock, "but it feels strange, almost like it isn't moving."
"That's right, nothing but us is from what I can tell. Let's go check it
out."
A few minutes later they were in the ruins...
"So this is it," said Makoto as he walked into the light beams coming
from the ground. They wrapped around him and held him fast as the ground
beneath him began to glow. "Hey, Ryo you jerk! Help me out of this!" he
cried only to see Ryo watching the pillar as it began to move in wonder.
Ryo stood almost frozen in fear. "I should have learned what it means to
interfere last time," he thought to himself.
It shifted and opened revealing a woman inside. She opened her eyes and
looked up. "Makoto at long last we meet," she said as she staggered
forward.
She walked past Ryo and clung to Makoto. "I've waited so long for you,
I've been patient these past ten millennia. This moment has arrived after
ten thousand years," she hugged him tighter with tears freely flowing
from her eyes.
"What's your name?" asked Makoto in shock.
"You mean you've forgotten?" she asked him.
"He hasn't met you yet," said Ryo from beside him.
The woman looked at Ryo with an unreadable gaze and stepped back.
"Prepare yourselves, I will use the last of my strength to send you to
El-Hazard. Makoto I know I can count on you," a light began to form
around her hands.
"What I've been training you for," thought Ryo. "Good thing I packed
well. This training trip may take longer than I thought," he said calmly.
"Are you insane? What's going on?" said Makoto in an unusual panic.
"Calm down, are you a martial artist or not?" asked Ryo as the world
became white. The light shot in all directions enveloping the entire
school. A beam of energy shot into the sky and Makoto felt himself
falling.
Makoto found himself standing in the middle of a forest with Ryo clung
to the base of his jacket. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure we weren't separated. I grabbed you when I started to feel
like I was falling." said the boy calmly as he let go and looked around.
"Where are we?" asked Makoto.
"Well, that woman said something about El-Hazard," Ryo looked thoughtful
for a moment "Maybe this is it?"
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" cried Makoto angrily.
"How can you not be? You are a martial artist, you should be calm in any
situation," snapped the other boy tightly.
Makoto started and looked somewhat ashamed. "I guess your right. I think
we should call a truce until we figure out what's going on,"
"For as long as you like," replied Ryo calmly, he didn't seem to be
paying much attention at the moment.
A rustling came from the bushes and Fujisawa walked out of them with a
confused gaze. "Christ where the hell am I? That does it. I'm swearing
off the cheap sake," he said as he finished up his dinner.
"Mr. Fujisawa?" gasped Makoto in surprise.
"Hey Makoto, What ya been up to?" he said calmly. "Oh I see, fighting
again. Really Makoto you're giving Shinanome high a bad name."
"No, we weren't this time I'm afraid," said Ryo as he looked around some
more.
"How did you get here?" asked Makoto.
"Not sure, one minute I was eating, the next I was wrestling the
shrubs," said the teacher as he threw his cup over his shoulder. "Guess
I'll be heading back now, I'm working nights now, can't keep the campus
open."
"Ya know, something seems out of place here. This might not be Japan, or
even earth," said Makoto nervously.
"Gee, what makes you say that Makoto?" said Ryo dryly as he emerged from
the bushes with what looked like a red eel with wings in his grasp. He
let it go and it flew off squawking loudly.
"Uh huh, have you two been hanging out with Haiashi of the science
fiction club?" asked Fujisawa. "Well I gotta hit the road."
"And just what road will you be taking?" asked Makoto.
"What? You think I don't know," said Fujisawa defensively.
"No," replied Ryo digging through more bushes.
"Will you quit that? Who knows what you'll pull out of there!" cried
Makoto.
Fujisawa looked around. "You're right, I don't know," he said. "I know!
I'll just ask the next person who comes along."
A strange creature emerged from the bushes and made his way across the
clearing they were standing in. Makoto and Fujisawa stood in shock.
"Uh, sensei? You didn't ask him," said Makoto.
"You saw him too? I thought I had the DTs. I need a cigarette," said the
teacher as he fumbled for his lighter. He inhaled deeply and frowned. "A
drink that'll calm my nerves," he muttered and reached for his bottle. He
looked into it and gasped. "Gone! It's all gone! God I need a drink I
can't live with out it! I need a drink!" he cried hysterically.
"Pathetic," muttered Ryo as he walked over to them.
Then someone screamed.
"Oh, shit! Someone else is out of alcohol!" cried Fujisawa.
Ryo snorted in amusement and the three of them ran towards the sound.
Somehow that line was funnier in reality.
They ran into another clearing and Fujisawa cried out in surprise as a
scantily clad woman came running towards them.
"Help me!" she cried as she collapsed in front of them.
"Hey lady, what happened? You all right?" asked Fujisawa.
"She's just not used to running that's all," said Ryo looking her over.
Fujisawa stared at her and moved in front of the boys. His face turned
completely red. "Stop looking you're too young! I know how easily you
kids get stimulated."
"It's nothing I haven't seen before," commented Ryo under his breath.
"Sensei what's that?" cried Makoto.
"Do I have to blind fold you? I told you not to look," cried the man.
"No, I'm not talking about that, look," Makoto grabbed the teachers head
and forcing him to look at the purple mass that was coming towards them.
"What in the hell do you think of that?" said Fujisawa.
"Can we carry her and run?" asked Ryo.
"Not fast enough," said the other boy tightly.
"Then we fight," said Ryo getting into a ready stance. Makoto followed
suit and several of the giant bug looking things jumped at them and
almost landed on Fujisawa. The man swung and batted them away.
"Huh? what the?" said the teacher looking at them fly away from him.
Ryo and Makoto took up defensive positions on either side of the girl.
"He's as strong as we are!" cried Makoto.
"It would appear so," agreed Ryo.
The bugs jumped at them and the three easily swatted them away. "Not
very smart eh?" said Ryo with a grin.
"What's goin on?" asked Fujisawa looking at his hands.
"This is great Sensei! I didn't know you did martial arts too!" said
Makoto.
"All right!" said the man smacking his fist into his palm.
He charged into the crowd of bugs with Ryo and Makoto along side him.
They easily tore through them and devastated their defense.
"That's not martial arts," said Ryo watching the man's fighting.
"You're right, but how did he get so strong?" asked Makoto.
"Makoto, dragon!" yelled Ryo as the swarm of bugs continued their
attack.
"Right!" yelled Makoto as they stopped their attack. The bugs continued
their assault and surrounded the two dodging martial artists.
Ryo checked on Fujisawa and the girl and saw that they were easily two
hundred yards away from them with Fujisawa keeping the insect swarm at
bay easily. "Now!" c
In almost perfect unison the two boys raised their arms in the air and
shouted. "Hiryu Shouten Ha!!" The blast was easily a sixty yards in
diameter and it was all they could do to stay on the ground. The bugs
were blasted high into the air and the few that remained retreated
immediately.
A large group of men walked up and looked on in awe as the two boys
stood in the center of the dying blast and leaned on each other's backs.
They started laughing and walked over to Fujisawa and the girl; who was
surrounded by girls and men who looked at her with concern.
A tall dark skinned man walked over to them and kneeled. "Great
sorcerers we are forever in your debt for saving the life of our
princess. From what kingdom do you hail?" he looked at Makoto and gasped.
"Incredible!"
The women helped the woman they had saved to her feet and she looked at
Makoto with a gaze of pure joy. "Fatora! You're back! Where have you
been? I've been so worried about you!"
"Uh oh, I'm afraid there has been some confusion, I'm not your friend
Fatora," said Makoto.
"You're not her?" said the girl in surprise.
"My name is Makoto Mizuhara."
"I can vouch for him you see he's one of my students. Oh, where are my
manners? I am Masumiji Fujisawa, a teacher at Shinanome state high
school. Pleased to meet you."
"And I am Ryo of the Kagome school of martial arts," said the other boy
as he bowed politely.
"It must be fate, we were on our way to consult the Psychic this very
day to learn the whereabouts of princess Fatora. Meeting you must be a
sign from god," said the tall man to the little group.
"Yes," agreed the woman.
"Perhaps you two could answer something for me? Just where exactly is
this place?" asked Fujisawa. "We really need to get back to school cause
I'm sure some people are probably looking for us."
"No, we can't let you return without repaying you," said the man to
them. "It would be an embarrassment to the royal house, please allow us
to return you to the palace to reward you for your bravery."
"We can't accept rewards, it's against the martial arts code," said
Makoto.
"Where the hell did you get a stupid idea like that Makoto? We do not
want to be rude to these people, lets allow them to take us," said Ryo
calmly.
"But, I have to get back I have classes to teach," said Fujisawa to
them.
"I will simply not take no for an answer, come along now. I am Lanz
chief servant to the royal family," said the man pulling Fujisawa along.
"But I have a job to do," insisted Fujisawa.
"Prepare the Transport at once!" cried Lanz.
"Interesting," said Ryo as he followed and saw the massive ship.
The three of them sat inside a great floating ship that sailed over the
ground through the forest. Ryo watched the trees go by and smiled.
"Tell me more of this land from whence you came. I wish to know more of
this kingdom," said Lanz. "Ah I see you enjoy our wine."
"Yea this is good stuff," replied Fujisawa, already in a half-drunken
state.
"But that girl, she said something about El-Hazard," said Makoto.
"The woman you rescued leads the many tribes of El-Hazard, She is
Princess Rune Venus. A member of the royal family of Roshtaria, whose
blood line has long ruled this land," said Lanz proudly.
"A princess? Very interesting," commented Ryo. "I am now certain we are
no longer on earth," he was still gazing out the window at the sky.
"Your friend speaks strangely," said the man watching the foreigners
carefully.
"He isn't my friend. He's my rival," replied Makoto glaring at Ryo.
"We have a long history between us. We have battled since we were very
young, do not be alarmed we are allies for the time being," said Ryo
calmly without looking away from the view.
"How fortunate," said Lanz eyeing the boys even more carefully now.
"Whasat?" slurred Fujisawa as a light approached.
"Do not be alarmed, we approach Floristica the royal city of Roshtaria!"
said Lanz dramatically as they exited the forest and the great city came
into view.
"Whoa!" cried Makoto.
"This is better than a commercial," quipped Fujisawa.
"Hmm, impressive," agreed Ryo nodding calmly.
They flew over a great city with Persian architecture and great plants
and gardens could be seen on many of the buildings. The air ship
approached the largest building and settled in the courtyard.
They were lead down a hall and ran into Lanz's back as he stopped.
"This way please," he said indicating a pair of large doors.
They entered and the doors closed behind them. Leaving the travelers
alone in the great room.
Lanz turned to the two guards that were with him. "You stand watch alone
until he returns. You summon the director of the royal academy, Dr.
Stalumbau, immediately!" he commanded.
"Sir!" replied the men.
Makoto, Ryo and Fujisawa walked out to a large balcony. Ryo gave the
impression that he was having the time of his life here. He removed his
pack and sat on it overlooking Floristica with the others as they leaned
against the wall. Fujisawa lit a cigarette. "I wonder where we really
are?" he commented.
"Lanz said we were in El-Hazard. Ryo got any Ideas?" said Makoto.
"This is not earth. Too much I don't recognize to just be another
country," he said thoughtfully.
"It might as well be Never never land," said Fujisawa in half hearted
frustration.
"I hope we won't be stuck here for long," said Makoto.
"Look at it as a vacation from normality Makoto," said Ryo with a grin.
"I hope we get home before I run out of smokes," commented Fujisawa.
Ryo walked over to the great fountain that sat in the center of the
room. He dunked his head and pulled it out letting out a relieved gasp.
"I don't think they have air conditioning here. That would explain all
the fountains and gardens we saw," he commented as he sat on the edge of
the fountain. He looked down at his reflection in the water and stared
for a moment. Apparently the thing that sent him here had a sense of
humor. He began to laugh heartily.
"Ryo what is it? Is something wrong?" said Makoto as he walked up to the
boy who was nearly falling over in hysterics. He put his hand on his
shoulder and shook him.
Ryo looked at Makoto and snickered. Makoto backed away. "What the?" he
cried.
"Oh its nothing, just that coming here reactivated my curse that's all,"
said Ryo-chan with a giggle.
"Makoto, who is this?" said Fujisawa as he walked up to the pair. "And
where is Ryo?"
That was enough to start Ryo up again and she rolled on the floor with
laughter. "I think she's insane," said Makoto still in shock.
"Oh, come on Makoto san. You know who I really am now don't you?" said
Ryo with a small case of the giggles.
Makoto just shook his head.
"I am Ranma Saotome, of the Anything goes school of martial arts. Just
like the Manga," said Ryo smiling at Makoto. "Well I was in my last life
anyway."
"And you look just like me?" said Makoto in shock.
"Mmmmhmm," said Ryo approvingly with a grin. "I didn't before now, this
is probably somebody's idea of a joke."
"What do you mean last life?" asked Fujisawa.
"Well, I died and was reborn here," said Ryo calmly.
"What? That's crazy!" said Makoto.
"So is turning into a girl, traveling dimensions, learning the Chestnut
fist, the heaven blast of the dragon, and throwing chi blast," replied
the girl.
"I guess you have a point," said the boy looking strangely
understanding.
"I agree, this is all too crazy," said Fujisawa.
"Are you really him? How did you die?" said Makoto looking at Ryo in
wonder.
"Yes I am, and I died of old age, heart failure. I lead a good life. One
hundred and twenty years," said Ryo with a distant smile.
"You don't act that old," grumbled the boy bitterly.
"Well, I am only sixteen emotionally. I think that is the only reason
that I didn't go insane," said the girl looking thoughtful again.
"Emotionally?" asked Makoto.
"Yes, I keep my memories, but my feelings and such are still the same as
a normal sixteen year old. For example I can fall in love with a girl
just like you can; have the same type of relationship that you could. A
hundred and twenty year old man loves differently than a
sixteen-year-old, or a father and grandparent would. It's hard to explain
really." She seemed to realize something and turned to Makoto "Get my
pack will ya? I should have a portable stove in there. I'd hate to meet
them like this."
About two hours later Ryo sat with Makoto and Fujisawa as they ate and
told the tale of their arrival to Lanz and Stalumbau.
"If I am to understand this correctly you claim that you have come to
our world by way of crossing dimensions?" asked Stalumbau. He was an
elderly man with long gray hair and an equally long beard.
"That's the best I could come up with," said Fujisawa.
"I agree, it's the only way to explain his powers," said Ryo.
"Yes, that would explain much about your mysterious powers my boy,"
agreed Stalumbau.
"No sir. We haven't changed, only he has gotten stronger. We were always
like this," said Makoto with a little pride in his voice.
"Tell me are there many beings as powerful as yourselves on your world?"
asked Lanz in surprise.
"No, we had to train many years to achieve our skills. Only a select few
who train their bodies and souls become like us," answered Ryo.
"I learned because I had to, because of him," said Makoto with a dark
glare at the other boy.
"You two are enemies?" asked the elderly doctor.
"No only rivals," answered Ryo again before Makoto could speak up. "If
it is important enough we can easily put our differences aside for a
while."
Makoto looked at him in surprise and kept silent.
"We give praise to the men who use such strength to defeat the odious
Bugrom," said Lanz nodding at the three.
"You mean those bug things that we saw." said Ryo, it wasn't really a
question.
"Yes, we wage an ancient battle against their forces. They are our
enemies. All the Nations of El-Hazard have allied themselves with us to
combat this threat. The ancient holy river of god splits the lands of
El-Hazard in two. On the other side of this great body of water lurks the
land of the Bugrom. Led by the ruler Queen diva they wage an ongoing
battle against the lands of El-Hazard," said Stalumbau gravely.
"Roshtaria's alliance with the neighboring countries of El-Hazard is our
greatest strength."
Katsuhiko Jinnai lay tied up in the center of the strange pentagonal
structure in the middle of the forest. "Shit where the hell am I? Makoto
you bastard this is your handy work. I'll get you for leaving me here in
the wilderness!" he ranted as he struggled with his bonds. His gag hung
loosely around his neck now and he was extremely pissed off. At last the
ropes shifted and gave a little and he was able to free one of his arms
to get the rest of himself untied. He stopped after he untied himself and
looked around. He heard noises from the woods and turned to see that he
was surrounded by what looked like gigantic bugs. "No! Stay away!" he
cried as they closed in around him.
"It is a quandary, there appears to be no means of sending you back to
your world." said the doctor as he closed the book finally.
"What?" cried Makoto in shock.
"I have searched but I have found no way of manipulating Dimensions. I
am afraid that this technology is beyond our grasp," said the old man.
Ryo nodded with his eyes closed seeming deep in thought, he had been
that way for some time.
"Have you thought of anything?" asked Makoto with a little hope.
Ryo started to snore, loudly.
"Great were stuck here," muttered Makoto
"I am sorry," said Stalumbau.
"How was the girl who sent us here able to send us here? There just has
to be a way of figuring out how she did it," said Makoto as he tried to
work his brain.
"I'm afraid my boy that we have no clue of her link to El-Hazard or why
she sent you," said the old man.
"Well that's a problem principal," said the drunken Fujisawa.
"It's dean not principal," said the doctor in frustration.
"Makoto lets go," said Ryo as he halfway woke up and left the men to
their argument. Makoto followed wordlessly and they went out and stared
at the world of El-Hazard silently from a balcony.
Princess Rune Venus stood and watched the sky in her chambers. She
sighed and turned as her servant could be heard entering the room. A
small cat-like animal watched her from her side and followed as she
walked towards her guest.
"Princess Mr. Mizuhara is here per your request," said Lanz as he bowed
to her.
"I thank you for coming, my purpose for asking you here is entirely
selfish. Before I ask you I would like you to see something," she said to
them indicating a portrait of her and what seemed to be Makoto in drag.
"What are you doing in drag boy?" asked Fujisawa.
"She looks just like me. You've been here before?" asked Makoto. Ryo
looked at him and shook his head.
"This is my sister Fatora," said the princess.
"Say where is she?" asked Fujisawa looking around.
"She's missing if I recall," said Ryo.
"How do you know of this?" asked Lanz as he reached for his weapon.
"You told us remember? Why else would you need a Psychic to find out
where she was?" replied the boy in annoyance.
"That's right. They did mention that when we met them," said Makoto.
Lanz relaxed. "Yes I remember now, apologies. We suspect the Bugrom are
involved in her disappearance, but we have no proof of this."
"I'm so sorry, You have my sympathy princess," said Fujisawa sadly.
"This was foretold in the holy apocalypse. 'When the eye of God blinks
the path to the sky will open up, and the shadow nation becomes one,'"
said the Princess quoting from an ancient poem.
"According to legend the eye of god is the ultimate weapon. When two
princesses of Royal blood unite as one, The weapon is theirs to command,"
said the dark skinned man.
In the forest Jinnai sat in a great circle of Bugrom and smiled. "Well
fellows, looks like your troubles are over. With Jinnai here to help
you," he began to laugh and one of the bugs handed him a block of food.
Jinnai greedily accepted and took a bite from the substance. "Wow! This
is like mana for the gods!" he exclaimed as he chewed. "Yes sir! Looks
like we're gonna get along fine, Like bugs in a rug." With that said he
began to laugh hysterically again.
"At one time the rulers of El-Hazard destroyed one another during the
holy war. The devastating use of the eye of god will never be forgotten,"
said Stalmbau. "It is because we hold this weapon that our enemies are
held at bay. Even queen Diva will not attack Roshtaria as long as we hold
a unity of alliance between the two princesses of Roshtaria."
"Wait a minute, I hope your not asking me what I think you are," said
Makoto in surprise as he realized what was happening.
"We would like you to impersonate the Princess Fatora," said Lanz.
"Is that what you had in mind for me all along?" said Makoto angrily.
"If the leaders do not whiteness both princesses at tomorrows summit
meeting, our fragile peace will be jeopardized." The man almost seemed to
be pleading with them
"I won't be someone's sister! Find someone else for the job all right!?"
yelled Makoto as he stood angrily.
"Makoto, think how many will suffer for your pride. And remember your
tongue, she is royalty," chided Ryo calmly.
"I won't do it!" cried the boy bitterly; then something hit him. "I've
got an idea. What if we use a real girl?"
"We would, but there is no one who resembles the princess in all the
kingdoms of El-Hazard as closely as you do," was her answer.
Ryo stopped and stared at him for a moment as Makoto's Idea began to
sink in. "You wouldn't dare!" he cried angrily. Makoto grabbed a vase
from a table and flung its contents at Ryo who cried out and stuck up his
arms in a vain attempt at defense.
"I've got just the person," said the boy with an evil grin as he waved
his hand dramatically at the now female Ryo.
Everyone but Fujisawa and Makoto stared at Ryo in disbelief. "Damn," she
muttered. "I'll get you for this Makoto."
"F-Fatora?" stammered Rune Venus.
"No, sorry, but I'm not," said Ryo.
"What sorcery is this?" cried Lanz as he stood and glared at her.
"He fell into a cursed spring back home called the spring of drowned
girl. When ever he gets wet he turns into a girl until he gets a hot
bath," explained Makoto.
"Actually any hot water turns me to a boy," said the girl quietly.
"And you look just like Fatora?" asked Lanz skeptically.
"Only since I came here. I had cured myself but I guess this place
reactivated it and altered it. Sort of a cosmic joke of sorts," said Ryo
with a sigh.
"Interesting, but we must do something about her hair. Fatora had brown
hair and this girl has red," said the doctor examining Ryo's hair
carefully.
"I am a boy," snorted Ryo angrily.
"Not at the moment," replied Makoto.
"I'll do it on one condition," said the girl giving her rival a sidelong
glance.
"Name it," replied Lanz.
"Makoto has to dress up as my private servant and follow me around like
a puppy until this is over," she said with a sneer.
"What? I won't!" said Makoto angrily.
A few moments later Fujisawa and Makoto stood next to Ryo with a
defeated look. As the doors to the prison closed on the three of them.
"This is all your fault ya know," he said to Ryo.
"Relax I'll just tell them I changed my mind tomorrow," said Ryo with a
grin, at least they had allowed him to turn back before placing him in
here with the two men.
"Fear not children! My super human strength will get us out of this!"
cried Fujisawa as he punched the wall. "Yow!" he cried holding his hand
in pain, as it was ineffective.
"What happened to all his superhuman strength?" said Makoto.
"What are you worried about? If we need to we can leave anytime," said
Ryo calmly as he pulled Fujisawa down and made him sit next to him.
"You should respect your elders ya know," he growled at Ryo.
"I'm over a hundred years old." said Ryo dryly.
"Oh, I guess its OK then," muttered the teacher.
"You're drunk teacher. I guess alcohol weakens you in more than one
way," said Ryo looking him over.
"You mean the drinking is why he's so weak?" asked the boy giving the
man a quick once over.
"Yup, I figured you'd have known by now Makoto. By the way what kind of
weapon does that eye of god sound like to you?" said Ryo with a knowing
smile.
"Maybe it's a nuclear bomb?" offered Fujusawa.
"I don't think so. It doesn't sound right. Makoto?" said Ryo.
"Your right! Open a path way to the sky, shadow nation becomes one. That
sounds like a dimensional weapon!" said the boy in surprise.
"Which theoretically means that if we play along..." said Fujisawa
thinking out loud.
"We can maybe get our hands on it and use it to get home!" said Makoto
triumphantly. "You already knew that didn't you?"
"Of course. Why else would I play along?" said Ryo calmly as he lay
across the stone floor of the cell.
"Because you're a pervert that's why!" snarled Makoto standing up.
"I'll show you!" yelled Ryo standing as well.
The next day....
The guards entered the dungeon and came upon a horrifying sight. The
place was almost completely destroyed. In a corner the peacefully
sleeping Fujisawa woke up and stretched. Ryo and Makoto stood in the
center of the room grappling with each other neither of them was giving
way and both were obviously tired. "You two are still at it?" said
Fujisawa as he walked to the door from the only undamaged area of the
room. Even the ceiling had burns on it from energy blast and the floor
was riddled with holes from Breaking point blasts. The walls were now
almost non existent.
"They aren't human!" cried the guards that had been assigned to stay and
guard them in the night. They had peeked in to try and quiet them and
seen part of the fight first hand. They were cowering in fear when the
next shift came to relieve them.
"Truce?" asked Ryo.
"Truce," agreed Makoto as the two slumped to the floor and went to
sleep.
Ryo awoke and Lanz stood over him. "I understand you have agreed to help
us," he said as Ryo discovered she was a girl again and sleeping in a bed
with Makoto on a couch a few feet away.
"Yea, I was gonna anyway, but I just needed to get Makoto alone for a
while," she muttered sleepily as she slowly woke up all the way. She
sneered as Makoto also stirred awake.
"Ah, I see. I thank you for not holding your battle in public then. Come
we must prepare you," said Lanz. Ryo sleepily complied.
TBC...
I've decided to finish this up now before I go on to anything else. It's
almost completed and you'll be seeing several more post over the next few
days of the other parts.
C&C to CarrotGlace@juno.com
URL: Http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/faountain/3203