Gold Digger Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Smoke and Wind ❯ Final Moves Before Battle ( Chapter 10 )

The Disclaimer is in the Prologue.

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Nabiki sat in her jail cell and pondered what had happened. If what she was hearing was right, then she was directly responsible for the deaths of innocent people...and then maybe Ryouga as well. She was going to become one of those object lessons Master Gneiss was always discussing, about apprentices getting in over their heads.

She had started this, without thinking it through she realized, cursing herself, out of the samurai need to avenge her family's honor. And now she had stained that honor further. It was incumbent upon her to at least make an attempt to atone.

Or better yet, to bring the monster she'd created to a stop.

After all, she built it, she should be able to un create it. If she thought long enough she just might think of a place where there was a flaw in her design. Something she could use.

"Right, and the stars would fall," she muttered.

Which was about when the meteorite smashed through her cell wall, narrowly missing her.

Nabiki blinked in shock and looked down at the large, cooling meteorite for a moment before hurrying to snap her restraints off, using a sharp edge of the metallic lump.

In the process the meteorite cracked open dropping an irregularly shaped hunk of metal. Magical metal, Nabiki realized, and perhaps something she could use.

The sound of guards coming to check on that crash came to her attention and she quickly moved to the hole in her cell and snatched a bit of rope.

She cast a quick spell, filling her cell and much of the hallway beyond with a dark, harmless mist, and then she went to her next one.

She tossed it up, speaking a series of words as her eyes glowed and was satisfied as it stuck in mid air. Then it was just a few moments of climbing and pulling the rope into the extra dimensional space and she was out of sight.

The guards quickly discovered the room were the meteorite had hit, especially with the help of the bank of white fog. They were hesitant to enter at first, uncertain what effect smoke coming from the site of a possible magical incident would have. It became quickly obvious, however, that the mist was harmless and they pressed on.

They didn't hear Nabiki slipping down from her extra dimensional hiding place as they explored the area. But they did her low chanting before falling asleep.

Nabiki took a moment to find a female guard and then appropriated the woman's uniform and armor. Soon enough she was walking down the hall, trying not to look nervous as she hauled her chunk of meteorite iron out of the building.

She had very little time to work the thing into some with which to bring her creation down without killing Ryouga...or anyone else.

********

In an office of the Conclave of Mages, Gneiss, Theodore, Lei, Dee'em, Belidate and Bugie were gathered around a large scrying glass, watching as Nabiki was making her way out of the prison building in an Edge Guard uniform.

"I have to admit, Gneiss, your student got out of there QUITE handily." Dee'em admitted.

"And she's just given us an idea of how poor the staff is in its attendance of the jail." The Elven Mage Belidate added. "We'll have to do something about that."

"Agreed." Lei Seer, father of Seance said. Looking at Gneiss, he asked, "Where did you get the idea to use a meteor, Gneiss?"

"Actually, that was Bugie's idea." Gneiss admitted.

Bugie nodded his head. "Yes. The Realm I came from, a group of heroes and my grandson had to deal with a sword-swinger that summoned a rather large, evil, nasty Meteor. Almost destroyed the planet, I tell you."

"I see..." Lei Seer said. Keeping his gaze trained on Gneiss, he asked, "Are you sure this is wise, letting her go and giving her enchanted metal to work with?"

"I was thinking the same thing myself." Theo agreed. "She obviously has potential, but enough to let her risk making the situation riskier than before?"

"Relax." Gneiss said. "I have faith in Nabiki. You all saw her. She may be inexperienced, but her aura is VAST. She'll make a fine Aura Mage one day."

"But what about your tower?" Belidat asked.

Gneiss shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time the tower was destroyed. I'll just have to make repairs... Again..."

"So, the plan is that we just watch her progress, and decide her fate depending on how well she deals with the situation?" Lei asked, wanting to be sure.

"Correct." Gneiss said. "She's not bad. Just very misguided by notions of vengeance."

Theo nodded his head. "Hopefully she can find some way to deal with that Golem Armor she helped create, before anymore death comes about..."

********

Nabiki huddled over her collected glob of magical metal and pondered deeply what she should do with it. What she even COULD do with it in the time left before Ryouga reached Ranma.

Given the situation, Ryouga and several other people would likely be a grease spot in the wake of the situation. And that would be on her head. She resisted the urge to blame this on Ranma.

She had a firm case of Nerima-Thinking-Syndrome, but she was still capable of looking down the path of logic when mass death came into the playing field.

"If only there was some way to deactivate the damn..." Nabiki paused and went over what she remembered of the ribbon she had seen while fixing up the golem.

If she could interrupt the flow with a different bit of ribbon, maybe...

"That could just work," Nabiki determined.

Hours later, after using what was left of her magic to shape the metal and mark it. Nabiki held up in her hands her best chance at stopping Ryouga.

A thick, ribbon-emblazoned dagger that she held easily in her hand. Now all she had to do was get the dagger into the joint of the golems head and neck and it was finished.

Nabiki gave a nervous sort of half-crazed chuckle.

"I am SOOOO fuckin' dead," she muttered.

********

Back at the Saotome Home. . .

Julia shook her head, "As much as this is interesting, I could use a little help."

Ranma smiled at Tanya, "I promise we'll get to those extra sessions later." He then kissed her on the lips passionately which Tanya returned hungrily.

Julia blinked and raised an eyebrow when they started fondling each other. She cleared her throat, "Um, before you start, a little help please?"

Ranma broke the kiss reluctantly, "Sure." He looked into his wife's eyes, "Sorry Tanya, but I don't want it to rain while there's a hole in the wall." Tanya nodded. Ranma got off the couch and went over to where the Armsmaster was and grabbed a board and put it against the house while she nailed the board in.

Tanya sighed, she was still slightly miffed about the fact that she hadn't been her husband's first time, but understood. She looked up and was surprised that they were almost done. Tanya blinked a few times, "Wow, you two work fast."

Ranma came in and nodded at her while walking over to her, "Well, with all the times one of my fights broke apart the Tendo Dojo back on Earth, you kinda learn how to repair stuff quickly."

Julia came in a moment later and went to sit down at one of the other chairs around the table. "Wasn't too hard, your husband works incredibly fast."

Tanya nodded, "Oh Ranma, there's something I want to show you." She got up and practically dragged him to her work shop. Julia shrugged and went with them.

When they got inside Ranma blinked as he saw the completed golem. "Kinda looks like you Ranma."

He turned to look at Julia, "Yeah, just with cat's claws on the hands and feet."

"The slitted cat's eyes."

"And the fact that he's bald."

"Plus the cat-ears."

Tanya huffed, "What you don't like it?" She was surprised slightly when Ranma wrapped his arms around her.

He whispered in her ear, "Of course I like it, I was just making an observation."

Julia rolled her eyes. She then looked around the lab, 'Hmm, minor golems, probably for home-defense.' She blinked when she saw small, little golems. "Um, Tanya, what are those little golems for?"

Tanya looked at her as her husband let go of the hug and was examining the golem she was making, "Oh them, well the last time I was at your place I saw something your daughter had done with small, but powerful explosives."

Julia paled, "You mean these things are based on Brianna's Peebos?"

Tanya nodded, "Yep. Might give G'Nolga a thing or two to worry about."

Julia shuddered, 'Just what all the realms need, two mad bombers.' She continued to look around the lab and blinked as she saw a red orb glowing slightly. "What's this?"

Ranma turned to look at her, "Oh that, not quite sure. One of the bandit gangs that I beat up had that and since no one claimed it, it was ours. I gave it to Tanya for a gift. Though she's going to use it as the core for the new golem."

Julia nodded, it really didn't matter to her what Tanya did, just as long as she didn't try and harm her family, especially her daughter and granddaughter, or innocent people. "Well, we still have at least a day before G'Nolga gets here, so just be ready." She turned to leave the workshop.

Ranma frowned, "And with my luck, Ryoga will show up at the same time."

Julia nodded while thinking, 'That's just what we need, both G'Nolga and the Sentinel here at the same time. I couldn't beat Sentinel without Theo's help last time, I wonder how we're going to do it this time?' Out loud she asked, "I hope you don't mind if I spend the night."

Ranma looked at Tanya, "This is your decision."

Tanya looked to the ground a bit to think and then raised her head up and nodded, "Yeah, you can stay." Though she was thinking privately, 'That way I can prove to you that I'm not going out of my way to hurt your family.'

Julia nodded and left.

********

Meanwhile at the Mage Council. . .

Theo blinked as he saw Deem get on a dirty brown cloak. "Dee'em, just what are you doing?"

Dee'em smirked at him, "Why I want all the players in this game at the final place of conflict." Theo was about to say something, when Dee'em held a hand, "Don't say anything. We all want to see just how she's going to take care of this problem, and I shall give her that chance." With that he teleported out.

Theo shook his head, "Well, good luck old friend."

********

Nabiki scowled, "Just where the hell is he? How hard can it be to find one giant golem?" He then blinked and groaned, "I forgot, this is Ryoga I'm talking about, he could probably slip into the pentagon unnoticed until he had gotten inside." She sighed and continued to walk, hopefully in the direction that Ryoga was heading. After a few minutes she stopped, "Wait a sec? Gawd, I'm so stupid. He's heading for Seer's Hamlet, if I wait there I'll find him."

With that in mind, she took off for the direction of Seer's Hamlet, but then stopped, "I forgot, Seer's Hamlet is on the Eastern Continent, and I'm on the Western Continent. How am I suppost to get there?" She spoke to herself, not expecting an answer.

She got one anyway, as an old and gravelly voice spoke up from behind her, "Excuse me young one, but you seem to be having some problems."

Nabiki gave a startled jump, and turned around, "Don't do that!" She put a hand over her heart, while trying to calm down her breathing. As she looked at the figure, she couldn't help but notice how short he was, 'Probably a dwarf.' She couldn't tell any characteristics, because all he was wearing was a dirty brown cloak that concealed all his features.

"So sorry, but you seem to want to get somewhere. May I ask where?"

Nabiki sighed, she didn't know what the harm was allowing someone to know where she was going. "To Seer's Hamlet. But it's on the other continent."

"Ah, yes, mucho problems you have then." The figure reached into his robes. "Here."

Nabiki blinked, "A gate scroll?" She then got suspicious, "Why are you giving it to me? And just where does it lead to?"

The man chuckled, "I suppose that would be a good question. You see, I am a scroll mage, but I am retiring and I thought to give away some of the less dangerous scrolls that I have."

Nabiki blinked, "Oh." 'But I thought mages didn't retire, oh well, don't look a gift's horse in the mouth Nabiki.'

She accepted the scroll, read it and then tossed it onto the ground. A portal opened to Seer's Hamlet and she stepped in and when she was through, it disappeared.

********

Gneiss smirked at Dee'em as he teleported back in, "That was corny. 'I'm a scroll mage that's retiring,' give me a break, you know mages don't retire."

Dee'em just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "It worked didn't it?"

Theo nodded, "Yes it did." He turned to Bugie, "Are you sure it was wise to allow G'Nolga free reign to Seer's Hamlet?"

Bugie nodded, "Yes, unfortunately she's hurting and killing people left and right as is that young man Ryoga. If we call off everyone from getting in their way, then there will be less death."

Theo nodded, "I can see your point. I don't like it, but we can't stop them as it stands."

Gneiss spoke up, "Especially since we don't know where they are at this moment."

Dee'em frowned, "Why don't we just go and try to stop them once they get to Seer's Hamlet?"

Gneiss raised an eyebrow, "You actually want to take on the Sentinel and G'Nolga at the same time? Not to mention that you'd probably be hit with bio-energy."

Theo blinked, "Bio-energy?"

Gneiss nodded, "I did a little research on Ki and Chi after Nabiki told us that she welded a cannon onto the shoulder of the Sentinel. Apparently, on the Earth Realm the Ethereal Stream is practically an unknown, just like Jade and the Undead Realms are. Anyway on Earth, there are those that can manipulate their own life-force or bio-energy to do things similar to what we can do with magic."

Theo raised an eyebrow, "Like what?"

Bugie picked it up, "Increase speed, strength, and toughness. Those are the basics, then some can increase healing, senses, gain a danger sense. Then there are those that can fire bio-blasts, become invisible, incorporeal, manipulate the elements, teleport and even fly in some cases or at least levitate."

Theo nodded, "Well, at least that explains why Julia was off guard when she sparred against Tanya's husband."

Dee'em then spoke up, "Shall we watch the show? Those that can defeat G'Nolga and the Sentinel are in place at this moment." Everyone nodded, though they were hoping that there would be no more bloodshed.

********

Nabiki blinked at the barkeep, a transformed dragon, who had a horn on his head and wings sticking out his back. "What do you mean he doesn't live here?"

The barkeep nodded, "That's what I said, Ranma Saotome, who's saved Seer's Hamlet from Bandit gangs and the Bluette that plagued us doesn't live here. He lives in the Retreat."

Nabiki sighed, "Thanks."

The barkeep just looked at her, "You're not planning on going up there are you?"

"Why not?"

"There are reports of G'Nolga heading this way as well as a giant golem. And from all accounts both are after the same thing."

Nabiki sighed and nodded, "I know."

The barkeep shrugged, "Well whatever."

********

Meanwhile in Atlanta. . .

Brianna chuckled at Penny, "I still can't believe that Charlotte was the only one that could hold Tiffany out of the three of you."

Penny grumbled, "I don't know why she screamed when I held her. Charlie picked her up out of my arms and then Tiffany just calmed right down."

Gina blinked, "Maybe it's because you had those silver arrows at one point and Tiffany somehow knows that."

********

Julia was sitting in the guest bedroom on the bed wearing a robe that Ranma had gotten her. 'I have to admit, this silk robe does feel nice.' She stretched and walked out to the living room. She blinked as she saw Ranma sitting on the couch in a pair of shorts and a muscle shirt, just holding Tanya, who was wearing a robe. They weren't talking, but the atmosphere was pleasant, not strained. She shook her head and wondered, 'I know I can beat him if we were to fight again, and I know he's 'defeated' G'Nolga before, but I wonder just how good he really is.' Julia was thinking that, in a month or so, Ranma could take on the other Weaponsmasters, excluding G'Nolga, to see where he ranked.

She blinked when she heard knocking at the door. Seeing Ranma sigh and start to get up, she spoke up, "Don't get up, I'll get the door." She walked to the door, uncaring of her state of dress, after all, her fighting clothes showed even more skin than what she was right now. When she got to the door, she blinked when she saw her father. "Hey dad, um, did you get Sabbo?"

Tsunami shook his head, "No, that fat fool used a move called the Sabbo Secret Final Technique: Teleport your @$$ off the realm. Then he jumped into a shadow and vanished, unfortunately he did jump dimensions. And since I'm not a mage I couldn't follow him."

Julia chuckled, "Sounds like him." She then waved her father in, "Why don't you come in dad?"

Tsunami shrugged, "Sure why not?"

********

A few hours north of Seer's Hamlet. . .

G'Nolga was marching towards that Hamlet that had cost her so much; respect, honor, and health. "When I get to him, I'm going to rip his spine out and hang him with it." She then blinked, "Of course I said that in our fight, but he still beat me. But not this time. I'll beat him, I'm through holding back against anyone but Julia." She then smirked, "Though I have to admit, that whelp had me fighting at a level that I usually reserve for the other Weaponsmasters." She shook her head, "Doesn't matter, I'm going to catch up with him and beat him for humiliating me, and there's nothing that can go wrong!"

*Crack-a-doom!!*

G'Nolga blinked, "Thunder? But the skies are clear." She shrugged, "Oh well."

********

A few hours east of Seer's Hamlet. . .

R-Sentinel just glared at the ground, as if that would help him get to Seer's Hamlet faster. "RAAAANNNNMMMAAAA!!! WHERE THE HELLL ARE YOOOOUUUUU!!"

Oh he would find Ranma and he would make him pay for causing him to kill all those people. In typical Neriman fashion, he placed all the blame on someone else. Ryoga wouldn't kill people normally, just knock them around, but unfortunately, the Sentinel carried out it's programming to the extreme. It had originally been programmed to protect Britanny Elin Diggers from situations that could have killed her, Gneiss should've gotten help from Tanya when building the thing, (of course Gneiss is a prankster who created a dragon out of cream cheese that blew big green soap bubbles that nearly destroyed a village until Julia and Theo stopped it.) because it carried out all its programming to the letter, even if it was off at times. Since Ryoga wanted to defeat Ranma, the Sentinel was allowing it to do so, however, it would let nothing get in its way to finding and defeating Ranma.

********

In Nerima at the Tendo Dojo. . .

Nodoka, who was in the living room, couldn't explain it, but for the past few days she had been getting chills up her spine that said that her son was in danger of some sort. "Please Kami-sama, protect my son."

Amazingly in the kitchen Kasumi was thinking the same thing. "Please Ranma-kun, be very careful."

********

Meanwhile in the castle of a certain Undead Knight. . .

Rook sat alone on his throne, in the throne room of his castle. A glowing Scrying Glass was set before him on a marble pedestal, aligned to Rook's eye-level for where he was sitting. His hands clasped before him.

He watched many an occurrences that went on around Jade thanks to this Scrying Glass. It was set to such a frequency that one would need at least the combined power of five arch-mages to trace it. And so far, no one alone has been able to find out about this project.

'After all... Can't let them guard their thoughts and occurrences from my eyes...' Rook thought. 'I must know all before I can strike...'

And so, Rook watched as flashes of images went through the Scrying Glass, a quick overview one could say. Flashes of the Saotome Residence in the Retreat... G'Nolga at rest... Nabiki hiding out in Seer's Hamlet... The R-Sentinel on the march...

"Do you get HBO?" Came a male voice. Rook moved his eyes for a second to see Happosai, but then went back to looking at the Scrying Glass.

"No, Happosai." Rook said. "That would cost extra."

"I see." Happosai said. "Do you have the picture within a picture feature with this thing?"

Rook nodded his head. "Yes. I was inspired to have my undead mages design a variation for Scrying Crystals it after hearing how televisions in the Earth Realm could do that." Rook then turned his head to look at Happosai. "What is it you're looking for?"

Happosai looked at Rook seriously. "Nabiki and Ryoga."

Rook didn't know why that old man wanted to know about the children, but it wouldn't do any harm. With a flick of his wrist, the Scrying Glass changed, to the large image was with R-Sentinel, and the smaller screen was Nabiki. R-Sentinel was causing more and more destruction, and Nabiki was just sitting in an alleyway, while trying to keep warm with a blanket.

With a long sigh, Happosai shook his head. "Hmm... Ryoga seems to be failing miserably... But... Nabiki's still passing at least..." Happosai sighed sadly. "But she still has quite a long ways to go."

Rook just raised an eyebrow to the old man's comments. "Say, Happosai... Just why do you care so much about these children? I know you sent Ranma here for a reason, but what about these two. Why do you give a damn about their fates?"

Happosai was silent for some time, just watching what was going on in the Scrying Glass. Finally after some time he said, "Very interesting..."

Rook growled in annoyance. "So what's the real reason you sent Ranma here?"

Happosai raised an eyebrow and looked back at Rook. "Oh, just what do you mean?" the old man asked innocently.

Snorting in annoyance, Rook said, "Don't give me that bull. You wouldn't be like that if you didn't have a plan of some sort.

Happosai let out a long sigh. "You're right. I knew there was a reason I raised and trained you two hundred years ago. When you were still alive that is..."

Rook nodded his head. "And you still had more than a foot of height, you mean..."

Happosai ignored Rook's jab about his height. "I planned all this, Ranma and Ryoga getting teleported here was a plan of mine, I was just waiting for him and Akane to realize that they weren't meant to be. Then I teleported the two of them here. I then let Nabiki get her hands on that scroll and teleport herself her. It was all part of a plan to get them to grow up. And Ryoga is failing miserably..."

"What do you expect? He's an idiot!" Rook said. "Not even I was THAT clueless when I was alive..." Rook sighed. "And I admit, I was pretty dense..."

"And still are." Happosai said.

Rook chuckled. It was a little game they had. Each jabbing each other with insults back and forth. After all, a tenant of the Anything Goes School was to piss off your opponent with insults. But as years went by, it became more of a jest than anything else, for the ancient martial arts master, and the undead samurai.

Looking over at Happosai, Rook asked seriously, "But what of the others of Nerima? Surely, they have to grow up as well?"

Happosai nodded, "Yes they will, without Ranma there to foist their problems on to and without Ryoga around to continue to blame others and without Nabiki manipulating events, they will all have a chance to grow up."

Rook nodded and asked seriously once more, "What now?"

"I must wait." Happosai said. "I cannot act until this battle is over. And if Ranma acts accordingly, I will reveal myself to him."

Rook snorted. "Sounds like a suicidal gesture, revealing yourself to the one you 'banished'."

Happosai just laughed. "On the contrary! He might actually thank me. Just look at all the good he accomplished by being here."

"True enough." Rook said. "True enough..."

After some time, Happosai said, "So, do you get Skin-a-Max on this thing?"

Rook smirked. "Actually, that IS one thing I was willing to spring for!"

And so, with a wave of his hand, Rook changed the frequency to an imported channel from the Earth Realm.

Happosai smiled widely. "Ah, bless your black, Undead heart, Rook."

Rook chuckled. "I learned form the 'best' after all..."

Hanzo, who had been listening in from outside the room, grumbled to herself, "Well, at least now I know why Rook is such a #$%&ing pervert."