Chapter 8: The greatest gift?

“So now that they’ve gone” Ukyo began, “How’s about that drink?” As she suggested this she wrapped her arms around the shoulders of her companions.

“No” replied Ranma, shrugging off the arm. In his mind he could still recall the last time Ukyo had gone for a drink when she was supposed to be doing something else. Nabiki began by nodding her agreement then stopped.

“Wait” Nabiki said, “Maybe you have an idea.”

“Course I do sugar,” Ukyo agreed. “If you want to know how much something costs you may as well start with a pint.”

“Guys” Ranma argued, “I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Sure it is Ranchan” Ukyo disagreed. “We need to find out about the Games and get an idea of how much things cost. Honestly can you think of a better place?”

“Sure I can” Ranma disagreed.

“Well?” Nabiki asked Ranma just grumbled under his breath, already knowing that he had lost the argument. “Then lets see what the local brew tastes like.”

“This is not a good idea” Ranma re-iterated, but followed on behind the girls.

O

O

An hour later found the three of them sitting with ‘Tomolo’, the middle-aged but well built proprietor of the Singing Sparrow, savouring their second round of his heavily spiced beer. Tomolo was it turned out, nearly as foreign as them, having arrived from the near east years ago, illiterate and unable to understand more than a smattering of the local language. Since then he had obviously prospered, up until the point where he had been able to buy the sparrow and begin to refit it in a manner more to his taste.

Which is why the four of them were sat on cushions around a low table whose only accompaniment was a large urn topped off with smoking pipes. It might also be the reason why the serving maids were wearing little more than Arabic-esque semi-transparent harem-girl costumes, or alternatively there might have been another reason.

“So do you think one of those would suit me?” Ukyo said, somewhat drunkenly, nodding towards one of the girls.

“Of course it would child” Tomolo agreed, “and should you be looking for some work while you are in town the benefits are…”

“Strange” Nabiki observed.

“What?” slurred Ranma, proving once again that he had nowhere near his father’s tolerance for alcohol.

“Normally it would be you ending up in the harem-slut outfit,” she replied smiling and leaning close so as not to be overheard. Ranma responded with a glare and a mutter, which only made Tendo-san smile all the harder.

“Don’t you think we had better be getting back to…” Ranma suggested after taking another look into his tankard and deciding he couldn’t take another swig.

“Nah” Ukyo disagreed, “we got plenty of time, and things here are just starting to get interesting,” she finished looking Tomolo in the eyes.

“No-“ Nabiki began.

“Whoa!” Ukyo insisted, temper fraying, “Far too many people have been saying that to me far too often today! You ain’t my dad, I do what I want!”

“Fine” responded Nabiki, her own temper twitching. This time it was Ranma’s turn to calm her with a touch.

“We don’t need her” Ranma explained, “we’re just sounding things out and she’s safe here” Nabiki nodded and stood. The two left with only a slight sway.

“Now get me another drink and lets talk about those ‘benefits’” Ukyo was saying as the door shut.

O

O

O

“So you want a hundred for this glamoured blade but only thirty for this one?” Nabiki asked. She was standing in the Arena market talking to a dwarven vendor, he was a little under five foot tall, stocky and heavily bearded, but other than that he was little different from any other denizen Nabiki had met. The man was the very first dwarf she had seen and half the reason she was talking to him was because of that rather than the quality of his wares. Nevertheless the stout man was impressing her, he seemed to really know his wares and was offering her a substantial discount.

“Well yer see lass” he explained, “the light it glows matches yer eyes an I just could’nae forgive myself if I did nae give yer a chance to buy it.”

“And” Ranma interrupted, newly returned from a food vendor’s stall. “This one is seriously flawed just above the hilt guard.”

“What!” demanded the dwarf, “You dare tae accuse me o’ sellin’ flawed blades?”

“Yes I do!” declared Ranma, hackles bristling.

“Can you nae see what I am?” the man demanded. “I am a dwarf!” he declared, “An there has never been a dwarf in this life who has sold a shoddy sword!”

“Ranma?” Nabiki asked, suddenly unsure.

“See this mark here” he said, turning the blade and indicating with his finger so she could just make out a tiny blemish on the cutting edge, “and how it runs to here” he continued, “that is a flaw.”

“Er” the dwarf started, suddenly deflated and looking around nervously.

“And a bad one” Ranma added, “otherwise you wouldn’t know until the weapon failed on you as you used it.”

“Er, my mistake” the man said, “that one was made by my Human apprentice, I wonder how it got in there?” he mused, not very convincingly.

“Just in case you spotted a dupe” Nabiki suggested. “It seems you have wronged me,” she suggested, “now lets talk about how you are going to make it up to me…” The dwarf gulped hard.

O

O

A good hour later Nabiki and Ranma finally left the market and started wandering back, down a steep hill. They had got the information they needed direct from the Arena and were two reasonable blades richer at very little cost to themselves, they were also significantly less drunk than when they had set out.

“So how?” she began

“Travelling with pops” Ranma explained, “we stayed at this forge near Koyama. As normal we ended up owing the owner some money, the big difference is that he had pop’s tanto so we had to pay. Pops sold me to him as help. It was actually one of my favourite times on the trip, I got to sleep in the forge and he knew loads of interesting stories. Somewhere along the line I picked up a fair bit about steel and swords.”

“There’s still so much I don’t know about that trip” she mused.

“Trust me,” Ranma objected, “there’s plenty you don’t want to know.”

“Look at that!” Nabiki said, pulling on Ranma’s arm to stop him. In front of them the city descended into the bay, upon which rode the gently bobbing forms of a half dozen full rigged sailing ships. The sunlight glinted off the gently rippling waves and the gently sloping roves throwing the city into sharp relief. Ranma looked at it and then back at her, her smile was lighting up her entire face.

“Yes it is” she agreed.

“Huh?” he asked.

“Oh sorry” Nabiki mocked, “the big tough martial artist doesn’t want to admit…” Then she caught on and for the first time in a long time blushed like a schoolgirl. There was an awkward silence then Nabiki smiled and grabbed Ranma’s arm, leading him away down the hill, pretending not to notice that their arms were linked.

The wind shifted as they entered a poorer district and suddenly their noses were assaulted by a terrible smell and a new set of noises.

“The slave market” Nabiki postulated, wrinkling her nose a little and trying to blot out the sounds and smells of human misery.

“Uh-huh” Ranma agreed, a little spaced by the girl’s public display.

“We could…” she began, but trailed off when Ranma stiffened.

“You’re not serious” he insisted, letting go her arm

“Wait a moment Ranma,” she objected, a little wounded, “think about it for a second. It wouldn’t be real slavery like they know, we’re only going as far as the gate and then we can let them go. It’s not as if we would be mistreating them and-“

“Nabiki” he broke in, “No. It is just not right!”

“Maybe back at home but here…”

“Nabiki no” Ranma insisted, “people aren’t property to be traded!” Nabiki was going to argue again but saw the look on Ranma’s face and decided against it.

“Okay” she agreed and led them on a more circular route.

The wind shifted again and a whole new set of smells assailed them. This time the smells were simpler, what they were smelling was sewage.

“Sheesh!” Nabiki swore, “that stinks!”

“It’s coming from over there” Ranma pointed to a pit that was barely visible between two houses. Suddenly there was a flare of light and a roar of noise.

“An incinerator?” Nabiki queried, leading the way down the alley. Ranma took one look at the less than salubrious area around them and caught up, this was not the sort of place any sort of woman should be travelling in alone.

o

“Oh my!” Nabiki breathed. In front of her was a massive pit, easily two hundred foot across and a good thirty feet deep. Into the pit opened dozens of pipes, all of which were dribbling raw human effluent. Most amazing of all however was the method of disposal, chained in the centre of the pit was a truly massive winged lizard, which in turn was breathing flame across the pit to burn the sewage. It was easily twice Ranma’s height to the shoulder and coiled around all but filled the pit.

“Dragon” Ranma asserted, instinctively readying himself for a fight.

”Not that bright is he” came a voice that seemed to fill Nabiki’s head.

“Whoa” she said, somewhat surprised.

“You’re the dragon!” she figured aloud. As she did the dragon turned to look at her, its massive Alligator head bringing its burning red eyes to bear directly on her.

“Huh?” asked Ranma.

”Well done” it replied, ”Now go away!” and with the command came a wave of nausea, swamping all of Nabiki’s other thoughts. ”After all who would want to look at a sewer!” it added with bitterness. Another gout of flame burst from its maw, incinerating a fresh flow of effluent.

“You’re talking in my head” Nabiki said, between gasps.

”Very clever Girl. And you are talking with your mouth. And the warrior beside you is standing mute. Have you any other subtle observations to make or perhaps you would like to tell me what colour the sun is?” the dragon sneered, ”if not then finish your pointless taunting and Leave!” As it finished the dragon flicked back its neck, stretching the chain, and revealing it to be a bright shiny gold colour where the filth had not reached.

”That’s so I can’t burn my way out fool” the dragon told her ”Even if I was foolish enough to try I would only burn myself” the scarring around the dragon’s neck clearly showed it had been just that foolish, or that desperate. Suddenly a ring of burning flame seemed to catch Nabiki around the neck, searing through skin and scorching flesh.

As quickly as it came it was gone, leaving Nabiki gasping on her knees and Ranma ready to jump into the pit.

“No!” Nabiki interrupted, “Not my kind, I would never”
”Nabs” Ranma said turning with concern on his face.

“Not now” she said, waving him down. ”You’re not hearing my voice are you” she thought.

”Why would I be interested in your voice?” the dragon asked

”I don’t know,” Nabiki admitted, feeling lost ”but…how….why”

”I’m a dragon yea, but immune to heat no. My flame is my own to command but the heat is another matter. And why do I hate you, I hate you because you…wait, who are you?”

“I am Tendo Nabiki and this Is Saotome Ranma” Nabiki said aloud, ”And we never did anything to you!” she insisted.

”I am Ellegon, disposer of wastes” the dragon pronounced with bitter pomposity. ”For Three centuries I have laboured here, burning the sewage of the city so they don’t ‘foul’ their harbour.” Then Ellegon let Nabiki feel a bit of what it was like to be chained in a pit of filth for three hundred years. She fell onto her side, heaving up her lunch.

“That’s it!” Ranma declared, heaving her upright to bound away.

”That’s right they caught me when I was still a child, less than half a decade out of the shell and bound me here! Do you think that’s right? Do you?” the Dragon demanded. Another wave of nausea accompanied the question.

”Please don’t” Nabiki pressed, pushing the confused Ranma away.

”You don’t do you” replied the dragon to its own query, ”You wouldn’t have done this.”

”Never” Nabiki insisted, trying to quosh the rebellious conscience that hinted otherwise. ”This is wrong!” she said, echoing Ranma’s earlier words. She looked again at the pit and another wave of revulsion passed through her, this time all her own. But what could she do, the chain was thick and the dragon looked hungry…

”I am Hungry” the dragon exclaimed, ”We don’t need to eat but it has been a Very long time” he let Nabiki feel a hint of the remembered satisfaction of crunching a cow, ”We like to eat,” it concluded.

”I didn’t know” Nabiki admitted, ”I don’t know anything about dragons”

”Are you stupid or just ignorant” he sneered.

”Just ignorant I hope” Nabiki replied, letting the last traces of nausea pass.

”Very well” the dragon replied, ”I have a proposition for you ‘Ice Queen,’ I shall do two things for you if you will do but one for me?”

”Explain” she prompted assessing her options.

”True I can’t reach your mind from much further and I wouldn’t be able to talk to you or do thi-”

”NO!” Nabiki commanded ”don’t make me be sick again. But you’ve got to know that I can’t get down there.”

Flame roared ”No need, fool. I wouldn’t ask that of you of course” it sneered, ”not from one of your kind! But if you could see your way to bringing me something to eat, a sheep, a cow, something? In return I will tell you something you need to know of the World Gate you seek.”

”How?” Nabiki asked, defensive.

”I read minds human” the dragon roared.

”Fine” she concluded, ”A sheep or the like for the info, if it proves worthwhile.”

”Agreed!” the dragon asserted ”Firstly the Gate you seek is below the great mountain at Bremon, just north of the Waste of Elrood.”

”-Have probably already found such. I doubt it but there is more. Something they could not have discovered, something I know purely because of what I am.”

“Nabs” Ranma broke in.

“Shhh, I’m talking” Nabs replied, waving him down.

“To the dragon?” he asked.

”Yes to the dragon!” Ellegon replied, his mental voice cutting through both minds. Ranma whirled back into a stance.

”But your mind is much easier to talk to” Ellegon finished.

”You were talking about what you are..” Nabiki prompted.

”Yes,” Ellegon began again ”I am a dragon, and as such I know where my kind are.”

”Then there is a dragon at the gate” Nabiki concluded. That was a problem, still with any luck it would be smaller than this one and it wasn’t as if Ranma hadn’t –

”Fool” Ellegon cried, ”He is much larger. He is old enough that the mountain grew around him. He is the first of us and he sleeps there guarding the gate.”

“Whoa” Nabiki said. Then she turned to Ranma who was only just calming again. “Ellegon just told me there’s the daddy of all dragons guarding the gate.”

“Nabs” Ranma interjected, “Would you please tell me what’s going on,” he implored.

”Tell him to go away. His mind is too closed” Ellegon said into her mind.

“Does he know of any weaknesses?” Ranma asked, getting back on track.

”Fool”

“I heard that” Ranma replied indignantly.

”And fool you are. He is the first of us, do you really think you could beat him. You could easier destroy the mountain he is under than dent a single one of his scales!”

“Uh-huh” Ranma agreed, remembering Herb, Saffron and two mountains.

”Tendo Nabiki I have told you this will you now bring my sheep or must I show you more” Ellegon asked.

”You make that sound like a threat” she countered, ”and I don not respond well to threats”

”Very well then I will make you understand” Ellegon insisted.

“Understand what” Nabiki replied and then her Universe fell apart.

He was sixteen, had been on the road most of his life, never had time to settle but that was okay he was going to be the best, a Man among men.
Jusenko, the pools, a fall, an ending of everything.
A village, a reawakening, the joy of the art bringing life back to a broken child.

The chase, fight or run, to fight means to kill the girl so run, too busy to think of anything other than escape.

Nerima, the Tendo-ke, why? What’s he up to? A friend? Betrayal, hurt, darkness.

Then a challenge, a victory, the elation of excelling, even some recognition for his deeds. But….
'Freak!’ ‘crossdresser!’ ‘pervert!’ ‘tool’

And so it went on a spiral of small rises followed by crashing falls. Every time he managed something he would be brought down again, reminded of how little his life was worth. Systematically betrayed by everyone he cared for, friends, family, new acquaintances, even his own body.

Nobody cared.

As any teenager he was insecure but with all of this….

Then it got worse.

Saffron, the big high, a God! Followed by the marriage, his last chance gone, half a man for ever more, honour sold for another meal.

Married, the happiest day, a hammer, an accusation, a challenge from a friend, a night broken and bloodied with only worse to come.

Xian, normally so vibrant, so fallen, his fault, should lay down and let it be over, honour served.

No! Stand! Fight! Never give in!

Too late? Too slow? Not enough?

Find a way! Dig deeper! Remember Saffron, Herb, the others, FIGHT!
Deep down, the darkness, beyond... OBLIVION’S EDGE!

Xian, broken, bleeding, dying.
‘what have I done?’

Empty.
Honour? Manly man? Protect the weak? Care for your friends?
Waste.

Easy answer, honourable answer, only way to make things right.

As Flowers on the wind
So are we,
Lost

White shirt, sword bright, death’s grinning skull.
Nabiki, bringing him back, blood on her hand.
One person, one who didn’t lie, who was there, needs him still. Beautiful.

For her.

“That’s it Nabs” Ranma said pulling her into his arms.

“Wait!” she croaked. Looking into his eyes, swirling with fear and concern and something else? ”Understanding eh?” she thought, closing her eyes.

”Did you, could you see?”
”No, he is far too closed for me to tell, but you…” the dragon replied. Nabiki slowly opened her eyes to see those cerulean orbs staring right back at her as if by force of will he could see what was wrong. She reached up her hand, curling it around his head.

Slowly she brought him to her lips. The kiss scattered all else, for a moment the universe was them. Hearts beating as one, beings bound together. Perfect seconds.

Then it passed and she was looking into his eyes, seeing only confusion.

“Ranma” she said.

“Uh-huh” he replied seemingly dazed.
”I need you to do something for me” she asked in a quiet voice. He just nodded in reply. “The dragon should not be chained,” she finished. Again he nodded, setting her on her feet. Somehow he just knew how serious she was.

”Ellegon” she prompted, ”I always pay my debts,”

”Then I get my sheep”

”no”

”NO?” demanded the dragon.

Ranma strode to the edge, and dropped.

”What are you doing?” the dragon demanded.

”Not now” Nabiki replied, ” besides I thought you read minds?”

”You’re too clouded, too intense, I….” The dragon replied, watching Ranma stride through the warm filth. ”You’re not?” he wondered, not believing, not daring to believe. ”Please please please, please” he repeated. ”Don’t change your mind please.”

Ranma reached Ellegon, effortlessly hopping up to him, and onto his foreleg. “Lift your head” he ordered, “If there’s a weakpoint it’ll be where you can’t see, or bite.” Ellegon raised his neck, hearts hammering. ”please human don’t change your mind” he blurted, ”I’ll fly away, gone, into the skies-”

“Shh” Ranma insisted, concentrating on the chain, looking for a flaw. Nothing. “Damn”

“Shh” Ranma repeated, still searching. Still nothing. He could almost hear the dragon’s disappointment. There was only one answer.

”No” The dragon said, a tremor in his voice. ,”that is too much, I can’t ask-”

“Shh” Ranma repeated, placing his hands on the chain and reaching down into himself for the darkness.

There it was, the hate, the fear, the wrath. Now beyond...

“Oblivion!” he whispered and between his hands all things ceased.

Suddenly the world lit up, bright incandescent lights, magic burnt awry, exploding.

And a drawn out ‘clash’ as a mage-wrought chain fell free.

”FREE!” Ellegon cried to the world, ”FREE!”.

He reared up once, full stretch onto his hindlegs, crying defiance to the world, ”FREE!”

Then he came down. ”You two,” he called, ”I never…”. Gently he lifted the filthy Ranma up to the edge where Nabiki stood.

”Stand Back” he ordered.

“Wait!” cried Nabiki seeing him rear back and gather his breath, “Don’t” Suddenly flame enveloped the two of them, driving away the filth and so much more. A cleansing shower of flame. ”My flame could never hurt you” Ellegon declared with real emotion in his voice, ”never.”

Then it stopped. The dragon looked at them once more and then leapt for the sky. ”FREE!”

“Fly free my friend” Nabiki offered to the fast dwindling speck.

“Nabs?” Ranma started, “sometime you really have to tell me what just happened.”

“Sure I will Hero” she replied, “but for now I think we had better run. Somehow I don’t think the guild guys are gonna be pleased.” Ranma looked once back at the pit then back to her. She grabbed his hand and they ran.

“Damn! That feels good!” she swore with a smile on her face that could have lit Hades itself.

And in the background they maybe could just hear a faint call ”Free!”