CHAPTER 6: The Journey
Shampoo struggled hard to contain herself and show herself brave
and unmoved at her loss. When she had heard the news last night that
Cologne had died, Shampoo just walked slowly to the girl's tent and
closed the flap. A part of Ranma wanted to go and comfort her, since
he, too, experienced a loss, but he knew that in Amazon tradition the
emotions at the loss of a loved one was not something to be shared
openly. Occasionally, during the night, Ranma almost thought he heard
the sounds of soft weeping from the tent, but it could have simply been
the wind.
Early the next morning, the Great Elder assembled the group of
martial artists in her court, consisting of Ranma, Akane, Shampoo,
Mousse and Ryouga. She sat high upon her throne when all had entered.
She was leaning on the arm of the throne with her hand on her forehead
and a scroll in her lap. After the group had bowed, she dismissed her
guards for a private session with a casual wave of her hand. Ranma saw
the same reluctance as before on the part of the guards, but soon they
were left alone with the Great Elder.
There was a moment of silence while the Great Elder gathered her
thoughts. She raised the scroll, "See this? These are the casualty
reports. Over half of my village was wiped out in last night's attack
by this fiendish army. In the thousand year history of this village, we
have never suffered such high losses. Our village has always stood at
the pinnacle of battle and has seldom lost a campaign. No other Amazon
village in China, nor any army in the world for that matter, could have
made such a claim. But all that ended last night. Dozens of friends
and comrades in arms that I have known since childhood are now dead."
The Great Elder stood up and shouted, "I want these 'nexus demons`
stopped!" All who were present jumped. She let her echo settle around
the room before she slammed the scroll down on her throne angrily and
descended down the right set of steps with her staff in her hand. All
kept their places and remained silent. She stopped at the last step
before she continued, apparently onto a different subject.
She raised an accusing finger in their direction. "I've heard
about that little stunt you pulled yesterday." Ranma and company
dropped their heads. "Let me tell you that breaking and entering into
the estate of a matriarch under Amazon law is punishable by death. The
theft of capital property is punishable by death. Attacking a matriarch
of this court is also punishable by death. The five of you leave me in
an awkward position."
"The six of us." Shouted Ukyou from her hidden position near the
left set of steps. Ranma jerked his head up in surprise. "I stand by
my friends in this." She stepped down and stood next to Ranma. Ranma
wondered how it was she was able to enter the room. The Great Elder
didn't seem surprised.
"Daughter, my sources inform me that you were kept at my enclave all
day yesterday except for last night during the attack. How could you be
involved in any of this?"
"I fed information to Ranma on when the council would be in session
so that they would know when Ling Po would not be at her estate,"
responded Ukyou.
The Great Elder slowly nodded her head. "Then it would seem that the
seven of us have a little problem." Ranma and company looked around in
confusion, before the Great Elder looked at Akane and continued. "It
was some of my guards in regular street clothing that hid your actions
while you took care of Ling Po yesterday."
Akane's eyes flashed in understanding. The Great Elder looked up at
the top of her staff. "I am too old and have been around too long not
to expect that something like this would have been attempted.
Especially at Ling Po's growing reluctance to release her amulet." She
looked back at them and approached. "So it would seem that in some ways
you have performed for me a great service. Ling Po, my main opposition
on the council, was dealt with, along with her defiance of my wishes.
Such defiance was an open threat to my power, and a leader cannot
maintain power if there is such insubordination." She placed a hand on
Ranma's shoulder. "Your father's sacrifice was not in vain." She next
placed a hand on Shampoo's shoulder. "Nor was your's." Shampoo dropped
her head back down.
The Great Elder moved back towards the steps and turned. "I have
called for special funeral rites to be given to Cologne, Genma...and
Ling Po. This morning I released a statement saying that they all died
valiantly defending the village from last night's attack. That their
actions were above and beyond the call of their station, and they are to
be given a hero's funeral. In this way also, we will not discredit
Great Sisters' Ling Po and Cologne, so that the image of the matriarches
are not tarnished. First, by Ling Po's open defiance, and second, by
Cologne's involvement in yesterday's...event. We will administer those
rites early this afternoon."
"Though I cannot condon yesterday's activities on your part, I cannot
deny my own involvement. In truth, by our laws we should all be
punished, but I do not think that would be in the best interest of our
village. And besides, a great woman once told me that 'the laws of our
people will not mean a thing if there are not any people to populate our
villages`. So I charge all of you to see to the destruction of these
'nexus demons`. You will leave immediately following the funerals. My
staff even now are working on gathering the provisions for your
journey."
She approached Shampoo and stood straight. "Sister Shampoo," began
the Great Elder in a commanding tone. Shampoo snapped to attention with
open surprise on her face at being addressed as a matriarch. "I charge
you with the honor and responsibility of guarding my daughter on this
journey. You are to see to her conduct and safety as my
representative. When these demons have been properly delt with and
thoroughly vanquished, you will return to this village and take the
final steps necessary to become a full-fledged member of the Great
Sisters of the Circle." Shampoo remained at attention, but was shaking
with the amount of joy she held within.
The Great Elder relaxed into casual conversation and developed a
smile. "I believe Great Sister Cologne has thoroughly educated you for
this position and think you would be a great asset to my staff. Your
position would also be in honor of my departed sister...and good friend,
Cologne." The Great Elder lost her smile. "I only know of one failure
against you." The Great Elder grabbed Ranma by the shoulders and
resumed her smile. "You failed to snatch this young man as your
husband." Shampoo smiled, but her face hid a conflict of emotions. The
Great Elder let go of Ranma, looked him up and down wistfully like a
piece of merchandise and returned next to the steps.
"Daughter," she spoke in a tone that was both joyful and motherly.
Ukyou came forward. The Great Elder turned to face her. "When the
Nexus Spirit *hinted* at your adoption, I was at first very hesitant to
bestow such high honors to an outsider. But since I've come to know
you, I've been quite happy with that choice. You have a natural regal
air about you, as if you were born for royalty and command. Most
villagers I've known would have let all this pomp and ceremony go to
their heads, but you haven't, have you? You've earned my respect."
Ukyou smiled and gave her a big hug.
The Great Elder continued, "I've had two sons and one daughter, all
are dead now. My sons were both cowards," she waved her hand
dismissively, "but at least they honored me by having the good sense to
go and die in battle." The Great Elder brightened. "My daughter,
however, had she lived and not died of a disease, would have made a
great matriarch. She was brave and would have done anything asked of
her. You remind me so much of her." She spoke that last line as if
reminiscing. "Do an old woman a favor and visit me from time to time,
after you've finished your journey." Ukyou gave her another hug and
stepped back. The Great Elder next regarded Ranma.
"And you, young man." The Great Elder pointed her staff at him
threateningly and spoke half-serious. "You take good care of my
daughter, or you'll have the wrath of the Amazons on your head. Do you
hear me?" Ranma smiled ear-to-ear and bowed low. The Great Elder
turned and ascended the left set of steps. "And promise me plenty of
grandchildren." Ranma and Ukyou both blushed and smiled at each other.
The Great Elder returned to her throne and hit the gong with her
staff. Guards appeared immediately. "Show these splendid warriors out
and prepare the village for the funeral," the Great Elder commanded.
*****
The entire Amazon village showed up for the funeral of Cologne,
Ling Po and Genma. Many more Amazons had died repelling the zombies,
but their funerals would be taken care of separately, each according to
their rank and the military honors they had accumulated.
Shampoo and Ranma stood side-by-side in the center of the village and
in unison lit the fires of the funeral pyres that would consume Genma
and Cologne. The Great Elder herself lit the fires for Ling Po. Ranma
seemed to sense that the Great Elder enjoyed the experience, though she
gave no outward sign.
As the fires roared to life, Ranma remembered back to all the events
of his life where he had been influenced by Genma. Like Shampoo, he put
on a brave face in front of the crowds, but inside he was intensely
hurting. Ukyou sensing this, took his hand and showed her love and
support.
"Now, it's my turn," he said to her. She placed her head on his
shoulder in understanding.
After the funeral, the Great Elder told Ranma to first seek out the
Jusenkyou guide. She said he would have a scroll that would lead them
to the Cave of the Fire Dragon. She ordered the Amazons to provide
ample supplies for their journey and gave them an honorable send-off.
*****
Ranma and company left shortly after the funeral proceedings and
headed in the direction of the Jusenkyou tourist village. On the way,
Mousse kept turning around to look at Shampoo who seemed lost in
thought. He wanted to comfort her, but felt afraid to approach her just
yet on the subject. Mousse's glasses were on his forehead so he was
just following the shadows that were in front of him: Ryouga and Akane.
One time when Mousse was turned around, he walked backwards straight
into a tree. "Mousse, what's wrong with you? Put your glasses on!"
yelled Shampoo angrily. She put down her pack and picked up a sprawled
out Mousse off the ground.
Mousse sat up with his back up against the tree and he reached up to
his forehead, his glasses were missing. "My glasses...," he said and
began to grope around on the ground.
Shampoo picked up the glasses that were off to one side and was about
to put them on his face, when she stopped. "Poor Mousse, so helpless
without me." Yet last night he fought bravely against a matriarch,
and would have almost won, if I hadn't disturbed him. Mousse grabbed
onto Shampoo's wrist and pulled himself up, just like a blindman.
Despite his predicament, Shampoo began feeling pity for Mousse and
found herself once again admiring his chiseled countenance. She
remembered Cologne's parting words. Slowly, she placed the glasses on
his face and looked into his eyes with a smile. Mousse returned the
smile. With a short laugh Shampoo turned Mousse around, dusted off the
dirt from his pants, and gave him a smack on the butt to push him off in
the direction of the others. When Shampoo had gathered her pack, she
ran up to Mousse and grabbed him by the arm. Together arm-in-arm they
walked down the road.
*****
Ranma and company arrived at the Jusenkyou tourist village. The
Jusenkyou guide, hearing of their exploits, offered a chance to dine
with him in honor of their victory and to wish them well on their
journey. He had just married a new wife who was reputed to be an
excellent cook, and wanted to show off her talents, and his good
fortune.
After accepting the guide's invitation to dine, Ranma sent a wire to
his Mother, telling her about Genma. In the wire he simply said, "Genma
Saotome, the Panda, is dead. He fought bravely, and he died as a 'man
among men`." Ranma found his hand shaking after he sent it.
He also made arrangements to send Genma's ashes, which were kept in a
highly decorated jar. The Great Elder herself had issued the decree
that Genma was to be buried with high honors and dignity. So her own
craftsman had produced and decorated the burial jar.
Before the dinner, the Jusenkyou guide found the scroll the Great
Elder said he had, which told of the legend of the Fire Dragon. The
dust he blew off of it stuck in Ranma's throat while he listened to it.
A society had been built up around the legend about 3000 years ago,
and was so enclosed and isolated that they spoke their own language.
The mountain they had once inhabited and protected was still called by
the name they had given it, 'Xeng Kyu Dou`, which in their langauge was
roughly translated to 'Gates of Hell Mountain`. The mountain, the guide
indicated, was just on the other side of Jusendou and had shown signs of
volcanic activity in the distant past.
Much of the rest of the legend was as the Great Elder had discribed
it. In addition, the legend stated that those of the society were the
ones responsible for the waters of Jusenkyou being cursed, when an evil
wizard of their village had cast a spell on the valley and mountain
below. Ranma had great difficulty keeping his mouth shut.
*****
Ranma and company had just sat down to eat a big feast that the
Jusenkyou guide threw in their honor before they began there journey to
Xeng Kyu Dou Mountain. The guide rose up to speak holding up a glass.
"I give a toast in your honor, folks. May you have success on your
journey, luck on your side,... and not live in interesting times."
"Here! Here!" Someone shouted. Ranma held up his tea, since he
didn't drink. The guide sat back down. Everyone started to dig in.
"So much food," stated Mousse gazing around the table. Mousse picked
up a delectable looking morsel of meat and popped it in his mouth.
"Yes. My wife is an excellent cook." said the guide proudly as he
held up a finger, "You young men, always marry a girl who can cook.
That is my advice to you." Plum, the guides daughter, just shook her
head, she had heard all this before. Ukyou nudged Ranma in the ribs and
Ranma returned a smile. Akane dropped her head for a moment, then gazed
around the table. She tried the same dish Ryouga was tasting.
"What is this, it's delicious?" asked Akane indicating a dish.
"Well, this is Mu Shu Pork, that's Peking Duck, and this over
here..."
Suddenly, it looked like Mousse and Ryouga were holding a spittoon
contest. As Ryouga spat out his meal, it ricocheted off the back wall
and landed in Ranma's tea cup.
*Pyeewww* *Twang* *Plop*
Both Mousse and Ryouga began turning green. The guide was stunned by
the sight and looked insulted. "Why don't you like..." Suddenly, the
guide had an expression of realization on his face."
"Oh, you're...?" The guide indicated to Ryouga and he nodded.
"...and you're...?" The guide then pointed to Mousse, and he nodded.
The guide then burst out laughing bringing all others, except a still
green Mousse and a sick-looking Ryouga, into laughter with him. Akane
tried to control herself and just hugged Ryouga, but couldn't help but
chuckle anyway.
Shampoo was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. Until Mousse
reminded her with hands on hips, "There still are some places in China
where they eat *cat*." Shampoo suddenly went cold and looked at him.
Mousse just wagged his head. Ranma and Ukyou shuddered at the thought.
"A thousand apologies! I hadn't realized. I'll have my wife prepare
something else immediately." The guide was about to summon his wife
when Mousse interrupted. "No, I'll think I'll eat these vegetables. If
you don't mind."
"Yeah. Me too." said Ryouga picking up a root with his chopsticks.
Ranma, who was about to drink from his tea cup, then turned to the
guide. "Could I have some more tea...in a different cup?" The guide's
daughter Plum looked at the morsel floating in the cup and promptly
replaced it with another cup of tea."
*****
They left the Jusenkyou tourist village early the next morning and
traveled south around Jusendou for about half a day to Xeng Kyu Dou
Mountain. Ryouga, looking through field glasses, was the first to spot
the cave entrance high in the side of the mountain. "Look up
there...between the two low-hanging ledges."
"That must be Cave of Fire Dragon," added Shampoo.
Using grappling hooks fired by Mousse, they began climbing the rock
face. They tied each other together by rope for safety purposes. There
were areas along their climb that were sheer drops. The sun was high in
the sky and began warming the rock face. Snow, that was caught in
ledges and crannies, began to melt, making the climb treacherous, since
they had to avoid areas of flowing and dripping water coming down from
the rock.
Mousse, Ryouga, Ukyou and Akane had just cleared a cliff about
halfway up the mountain. Shampoo, followed behind by Ranma, were still
making their climb. High above was a second cliff with icicles hanging
off of it. The icicles were dripping with cold water. All at once, one
of the icicles came loose and fell. It hit Shampoo and knocked her off
the rock. Some of the cold water in the icicle must have also struck
Shampoo as she transformed into a cat. Though she had been tied by a
rope, her new form was much smaller than the loop in the rope, so she
fell through it.
Ranma had been busy trying to find a foothold, when he felt a release
in the tension of the rope and an object fall on him. It knocked him
off the rock and he found himself hanging by the rope. The rope, after
Shampoo, had next been tethered to Mousse and he found himself almost
pulled off and over the edge of the cliff. Ryouga, who was experienced
in rock climbing, since he had used it on his travels around the world,
had been smart enough to tie his end of the rope to a rock jutting out
of the cliff while he waited. It prevented him from being pulled over
the cliff as well. Using his strength, he pulled Mousse up and over the
cliff edge.
Ranma, having said a silent prayer, opened his eyes and found himself
suspended by the rope in mid-air. He looked up and saw Mousse and
Ryouga straining to hold their end of the rope.
"Shhhhooo!" he said big-sweating, he smiled and began wiping the
sweat from his brow. He looked down and about went into shock.
"Ahhh! C-c-cat-tt!" Ranma called out closing his eyes again and
reflexively lifting his legs up. He shook visibly, more than he had
been shaking before.
A wide-eyed Neko-Shampoo was desperately clinging onto one of the
footholds about two feet below where Ranma was suspended. Her hold on
the rock was tenuous at best. At the moment, only her claws kept her
from a certain death.
"SHAMPOOOO!" yelled Mousse, straining against the pull.
Akane, who had been looking over the edge, said, "Oh no! She's a
cat." She realized its implications on Ranma.
Ukyou, looking down next to her, said, "He's going into the
Neko-ken." She could sense he was loosing consciousness through the
connection. Ukyou found that she, too, was frightened by the sight of a
cat, and all but closed her eyes. She never used to be shaken by the
sight of a cat, but that was before she had joined with Ranma in the
nexus. Bringing herself under control, Ukyou began radiating as much
calm as she could. It had an immediate effect on those around her, but
Ranma and Shampoo were too far away to feel its effects.
Ukyou tried to fill the connection with love and peace. Though
shaking, she employed her meditation exercises she had picked up from
Tori's conversation with Ranma. "{Ranma, NO! You have to fight it.
Don't let it take you. Shampoo needs your help.}"
The peace Ukyou was sending through the connection was helping.
Ranma, who was just barely on the edge of loosing consciousness to the
Neko-ken, was responding. He was still curled up in a ball with his
eyes held tightly shut.
"{Ranma, you have to get Shampoo. Hurry!}" Ukyou spoke slowly and
with determination. She turned to look over her shoulder at the
straining pair holding the rope. "Let some of the rope out, he needs to
be able to reach her." Akane, who was not frightened by cats and had
the greater visibility from her vantage point, helped direct Mousse and
Ryouga to release just enough rope to lower Ranma to within grabbing
distance of Neko-Shampoo.
"{Ranma, you have to reach out. You *have* to reach out!}" said
Ukyou.
Ranma popped his eyes open for a moment. When he saw the cat, he
re-closed his eyes and shook his head 'No` vehemently.
"Saotome, you bastard! Get her!" yelled Mousse. His teeth were
gritting and he was starting to lose his grip.
"{Ranma! Shampoo will die if you don't save her. Reach out, now!}"
Ukyou strained to send as much love, peace and calm through the
connection as possible. She then added, "{Ranma, if you love me, save
Shampoo!}"
Ranma slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Ukyou. He kept his
eyes fixed on Ukyou and her face. She smiled back at him. He could see
in his peripheral vision a frightened object in front of him as he
swayed from side to side blown by the wind crossing the rock face. With
his eyes still on Ukyou, he reached out with his arm until it contacted
fur. Instinctively he recoiled, then he reached past it and steadied
himself by hanging onto the foothold. Neko-Shampoo scampered across his
arm and clung onto his backpack. Ranma winced when he felt the claws
dig into his arm and almost lost it again to the Neko-ken, but he kept
concentrating on Ukyou's face. He could feel the added weight on his
back, and did his best to ignore it.
Mousse and Ryouga, helped now by Akane and Ukyou, pulled Ranma and
Neko-Shampoo to safety. Upon clearing the cliff, Neko-Shampoo scampered
to safety and hid behind a rock shaking badly. Ukyou closed her eyes so
that she, too, didn't enter the Neko-ken. When Ranma cleared the rock,
he grabbed onto Ukyou and held her tight.
"Thank you, Saotome." said Mousse, patting him on the shoulder as he
ran back to hug a frightened cat, making sure to keep it out of Ranma's
field of vision.
"I want to thank you, too, Ranma. I didn't think you could do it."
said Ukyou, looking him in the eyes. Ryouga and Akane held each other
close and watched.
Ranma shook again as he remembered the event. He brushed his face
against her cheek and breathed in the fragrance of her hair. It helped
him to recover. "I just thought about loving you, and it helped me to
pull out of the Neko-ken. Thank you...my love." he whispered into her
ear. She hugged him until he had calmed down.
After resting and recovering, they continued their climb to the ledge
that overlooked the cave Ryouga had spotted. Neko-Shampoo rode in
Mousse's backpack on the journey up. Ryouga carried Shampoo's pack as
well as his own. It took about an hour longer for all to make it to the
ledge overlooking the cave.
On top of the ledge, which turned out to be a small plateau, Ranma
looked out and over to the cave, then turned to the rest. "Since it's
already close to evening, we'll camp up here tonight then search the
cave in the morning." Being weary from the hazardous rock climb, the
others agreed.
Ranma stood up and looked back toward the plateau. Off in the
distance he could see a meadow. Beyond the meadow he could see some old
ruins that he guessed was the village spoken of in the legend.
*****
After making a dinner from the provisions in their packs, they were
captured by the beauty of the evening sunset. The pinkish skies along
with their high-altitude gave a feeling of being on top of the world.
The reddening sun was in striking contrast to the purpling mountains and
hillsides off in the distance.
Finding a grassy area that lead to a small meadow out and away from
the ledge, Ranma and Ukyou sat next to each other warmed by the last of
the evening's rays. Soon, Ryouga and Akane joined them next to a tree.
Mousse, who had wondered where the others went, was soon joined by
Shampoo who hugged his back while she, too, observed the remarkable
sunset.
"{Isn't it so wonderful that such beauty exists on this world.}" said
Tori with a touch of awe in his voice.
Ukyou sat on Ranma's lap and gave him a kiss. Not to be outdone,
Akane was startled when Ryouga stabbed his umbrella into the ground and
picked her up off her feet. She hugged him and they to shared in a
kiss. Shampoo, who was still behind Mousse, came around to one side and
kissed him on the cheek. He looked into her eyes and they traded
smiles.
All were too busy and lost in each other to notice the sun sink
behind the twin mountains in the distance.
*****
Ranma and party clambered over the ledge the next morning, lit
torches and went inside the cave. They were stopped about 30 meters
inside the cave by a shallow wall.
"{Tori, the cave is blocked off.}" said Ranma.
"{See that piece of rock jutting out of the left side?}"
"{Yeah, what about it?}" asked Ranma.
"{It's a door.}" said Tori.
"{A door? How do we get inside?}" asked Ukyou.
"{Well, you could always knock first.}" responded Tori bluntly.
Ukyou nodded her head at Ranma and he went over to the rock Tori
indicated. "KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!!" The sudden barrage of blows
reduced the boulder to mere pebbles.
Ryouga, who felt left out, crossed his arms. "Well, I could have
done that."
Ranma thought for a moment, turned and answered, "Yeah, but you would
have probably brought the entire mountain on top of us, too."
Ryouga just nodded and looked inside. The walls of the new entrance
were as dark a coal and the light from the torches were quickly
swallowed up inside. A feeling of foreboding came upon all present as a
distant scratching noise could be heard.
"That must be Fire Dragon," said Shampoo ominously, eyes wide. Akane
gasped.
Ranma took the lead and slowly crept into the entrance, the others
followed. "Look! The walls have been burnt." A slow breeze was
blowing in their faces from deep in the cave carrying a putrid, foul
stench. Each had to pull out cloth to cover their noses. The tunnel
started to dip down and soon the floor became slippery and wet.
"Ranma? H-haven't you noticed something?" asked Akane following
behind Ryouga.
"What's that?"
"That scratching, i-it's stopped." Ranma stopped to listen and found
that Akane was right. All he could hear now was an occasional dripping
coming down from nearby, and a low rumble from somewhere down and far
away in the tunnel. As they continued the low rumble was becoming more
noticeable, like the sound of grinding rock. Ranma also noted that the
temperature was rising as they went deeper. He saw a red glow from up
ahead.
*****
The HELIOS project was given a scientific grant to study the sun.
Combining satellites and ground-based observatories, they collected
large amounts of data on the ordinary star at the hub of our solar
system.
One day, satellite imaging began picking up a red tint to the sun's
surface and some strange rainbow-like projections extending from the two
poles of the sun. Something seemed to be draining the sun in huge
quantities.
*****
There was a sudden turn in the tunnel that opened out into a huge
black cavern. A very large ledge leaned over a gaping river of lava
flowing noisily from their left. A thin precarious bridge arched over
the fiery mass as it went rumbling by. The bridge connected with an
island on the opposite side. Ryouga noticed a dark apparition sitting
in the center of the island.
"We have to cross the bridge." Ranma yelled over the deafening roar
of the flowing lava.
Ranma was about to take a step when he was stopped by Ryouga.
"What's that?" Ryouga pointed to the apparition.
Ranma just shrugged. "I guess we have to go find out." Ranma took
inching steps out onto the jagged bridge and Ryouga followed soon
after. Akane followed Ryouga, next was Shampoo and Mousse with Ukyou
taking the rear.
Underneath lava flowed swiftly by except around some occasional rocks
that stuck up out of the flow. These projections created eddies and
tide pools where it was easy to see that the lava was very gelatinous
and plastic as huge bubbles slowly formed and burst back into
non-existence.
The roar of the flowing lava was overwhelming and they had to cover
their ears. In trying to cover her ears, Akane lost balance and started
to fall, she lost her torch as it disappeared into the angry muck
below. In a move that should have *hurt*, Ryouga dropped down and
locked his legs on both sides of the bridge and caught the falling Akane
by the arm. With an assist from Ranma and Shampoo, Ryouga pulled Akane
to safety. Ranma just stood and stared at Akane with a warning glare,
but she was too wrapped up by Ryouga to notice.
When Ranma turned back, he noticed a swirling of white light in the
dark apparition, like smoke billowing from a camp fire. As they drew
near, the swirling increased in speed.
"Look! Something's forming." said Mousse, pushing his glasses back
into position while trying to keep balance. No one could quite make out
what the object was.
When all had reached the island, the swirling mass suddenly resolved
itself into a fire-breathing dragon. It roared and shook the earth
beneath their feet. Mousse and Ryouga jumped protectively in front of
their respective choices. Ranma and Ukyou took up defensive positions on
opposite sides of them.
"It's Fire Dragon!" said Shampoo, sounding very frightened.
Tori broke in, "{Ranma, this is an illusion, it is not real. It's a
kind of trap that's powered by the fear it generates. The more afraid
you are, the more deadly it becomes.}"
"{Keeps the tourist's away, I bet,}" said Ranma, once again employing
Tori's meditation techniques to calm himself down.
Ukyou did likewise and turned to the others and radiated calm. "It's
not real! It doesn't exist. Whatever you do, don't be afraid of it."
"Are you crazy? I can feel the heat of its breath." said Mousse
holding up a protective hand. A blast of fire shot over his head.
"No! It's not real. Just calm down. Don't be afraid of it." yelled
Ranma, trying also to radiate calm. The dragon roared again and
lightening arced across its back. The dragons tail swished around and
made a scratching sound.
"{Ukyou, I've got an idea,}" said Ranma. He continued out loud over
the deafening din of the dragon. "Everyone hold hands and form a
chain. I'll lead you through the illusion."
"{Ranma, we need to put Shampoo near the end. She's the most
frightened.}" said Ukyou. "Shampoo, hang on to Mousse's hand. I'll
hold your other hand." Ukyou took Shampoo's hand and took up the rear
of the chain. She tried to bathe Shampoo in as much calm as she could
generate. Ranma did the same for Akane who was holding his hand.
"Close your eyes. Ignore what you hear and feel. Remember, it's not
real."shouted Ranma. Everyone but Ranma and Ukyou closed their eyes and
he lead them through the center of the apparition. Ranma brought his
fear under control and tried to keep his center. The image was an
awesome sight, and he could feel Ukyou wavering also through whatever
connection it was that bound them together. Akane and Shampoo kept
stopping in reluctance, but eventually their fears evaporated when they
heard the dragon's roar end up behind them. No one broke their grip.
Ranma saw a small platform in the center of the island. As soon as
he set foot on the platform, the cavern lit up bathed in white light.
The lava and dragon disappeared out of existence like someone turning
off a light switch. He could see a patch of clear water in the back of
the cave and an object with a funny looking green glow above it. All
was calm, and the calm itself caused a ringing to form in the ears, a
leftover from the roaring din of a moment ago.
When all had stepped onto the platform, it too, disappeared.
*****
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End chapter 6.