[Ranma][Fanfic] Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery -- #7

[Edward T. Hrzic III]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery
-------------
Part 7 of 7

Written by
Ed Hrzic

Copyright (c) 1995 by
Ed Hrzic

Based upon characters created by Rumiko Takahashi and Warner Bros
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Previous parts may be found at "ftp.cs.ubs.ca" in the directory
"pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma".
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Direct any comments to me at "bd981@@yfn.ysu.edu".
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Text between < and > are used to denote a
character's thoughts.]

<<< CONTINUED FROM PART 6 >>>

[Ed and Ms. Hinako (young) run behind a building.]

MS.H. What's this about?
ED. How should I know?!

[Yakko and company pop out of a trash can.]

YAKKO. We're here!

[Ed and Ms. H spaz out and run away.]

ED. This is insane!

[The armored men walk along the streets of Nermina. People give
them weird glances.]

MAN #1. Is this the last place he was seen?
MAN #2. (pulling out a small circular device) Yes, according to
the scans.
MAN #1. Good.

[The device glows purple.]

MAN #2. Sir, the sensor! It's going-

[Ed's foot lands on his face. He falls down.]

MAN #3. Who was that?
[Ms. H steps on man #2, continuing after Ed.]

MAN #2. gaaa...urg...ippp...

MAN #4. What are you saying? (he leans down to listen) Uh-
huh...uh-huh...uh-huh...what?!
MAN #1. What is it?
MAN #4. That's the person we're searching for! He has the combs!

[They see the dust cloud of Ed and Ms. H running.]

MAN #1. After-

[Smack! Yakko, Wakko and Dot step on him while running.]

DOT. (still running) 'scuse us!

[Cut to Ms. H and Ed.]

MS.H. What should we do to stop them?
ED. I don't know!
MS.H. Well, we can't run forever!
ED. No, but we can try!

[Cut to Ranma's room. He's laying on his fouton.]

RANMA. <Something... something...> (his eyes widen) That's it!

[He rushes downstairs in a hurry, passing Kasumi.]

KASUMI. What's wrong?
RANMA. No time to chat!

[Ranma opens the door and runs outside.]

[Cut to Ed and Ms. H. They turn a corner and end up in an alley.]

ED. We're trapped!

[They turn around. At the edge of the alley, the Warners slide
in. They smile, then begin walking slowly.]

WARNERS. It is useless to resist... Resistance is futile...
ED. Do something!
MS.H. Do what?
ED. I don't know!

[He thinks and looks up. He sees a bucket of water up on a window
sill. He then looks down.]

ED. <Of course!>

[The Warners continue to close in.]

ED. (to Miss. H) I've got a plan.
MS.H. To do what?
ED. When I give the signal, go into the fifty-yen satsu, and try
to absorb them.
MS.H. What if it doesn't work?
ED. Believe me, I think it will.

[Ed takes one of the combs from his back pocket and throws it.
Yakko pulls out a tennis racket and bats it upward.]

WAKKO. Bad shot.
DOT. Could be worse.

[Ed looks up at the flying comb.]

ED. NOW!
MS.H. Hoppo fifty-yen satsu!

[The whirlwind of yellow energy is absorbed into the coin. Ms. H
grows. The Warner hardly seem affected.]

[The comb hits the bucket, falling down and dousing Ed. He
changes.]

ED. The things I do...

YAKKO,WAKKO. (at Ms. H) Helloooo teacher!

[They run at her.]

MS.H. HOPPO NO-YEN COIN RETURN!
YAKKO. Ga!

[The yellow cannon of energy flies across and slams Yakko out of
the alley.]

YAKKO. I can fly!

[Wakko jumps.]

WAKKO. I finally got it!

[Ed grabs him.]

WAKKO. Hey! Leggo! If you don't, I'll- Hey! I can't hit a girl!
ED. Good!

[Ed punts Wakko out of the alley. He pours a kettle of hot water
on himself.]

ED. (to Dot) Come here Dot. We've got a surprise for you.
DOT. (inching away) I've got to be going...

[The armored men step behind her.]
MAN #1. Ah! You're the one with the Dragon Combs. (sticking out
his hand) We'll be taking them back now.
ED. Huh?
MAN #1. Don't stall. We want them back.
ED. Says who?
MAN #1. Says me. Are you going to give them to us, or will we
have to take them by force?
ED. Force. I'm not handing them over.
MS.H. Why not, if the combs are theirs?

[Ed picks up the one on the ground, and fires a bolt at Man #1.
He pulls out his combs and cross them together, parrying the
blast. The rest scatter.]

ED. What?

[Ed turns, seeing Man #2 bearing down on him from overhead.]

ED. Oh no!

[Man #2 is knocked into the wall by a flying kick.]

RANMA. Not so fast!
ED,MS.H. Ranma!
RANMA. In the flesh. There's something I want to ask you, Ed.
ED. No time!

[All scatter as the alley erupts in a flash of energy. Dot,
burnt, flies and lands in a fountain.]

[Ranma, Ms. Hinako and Ed make their way out into a park.]

ED. Ms. H, you better stay out of this!
MS.H. Says who?

[Man #3 charges. Ed and Ranma scatter.]

MS.H. HOPPO FIFTY-YEN SATSU!

[The absorption is taking place. Man #3 runs forward and slashes
her dress open.]

MS.H. Ow!
ED. Ms. Hinako!

[Ed slashes downward. Man #3 parries.]

[Cut to Ranma. Man #2 and #4 surround him.]

RANMA. Heh. Let's see. Two against one. It doesn't seem hardly
fair.
MAN #4. Who said life is fair?
RANMA. I was commenting on that fact that the odds aren't exactly
in your favor.
MAN #2. What?

[Ranma slams his fist into Man #2's face.]

[Cut to Ed. He parries the attack of Man #3.]

MAN #3. It would be wise to just hand over the combs.
ED. (leaping back) Who are you anyway?
MAN #3. We are the Dragon Comb Knights. We guard the streams of
reality.
ED. And what does that have to do with me?
MAN #3. When the barrier through the realities were opened, a
door to our domain was opened. There, your friend stole two
dragon combs from an opponent.
ED. He fought the opponent because he was attacked outright. What
was he supposed to do? Just sit there and take it? At least for
the assault, he should be able to keep them.
MAN #3. There is far too much power that exists in them to be
used by an amateur.

[Man #3 shoots him. Ed flies to the ground.]

MAN #3. (pointing the comb down at him) Now, I will take them,
even if I have to kill you.

[The comb shines with a yellow light, just as he is nailed with a
large energy blast.]

ED. (looking over) Ms. Hinako!

[Ms. Hinako is still older, clutching the remains of her dress to
her chest.]

ED. You look like hell.
MS.H. And feel like it to boot.

[She is nailed in the back with an energy blast. Man #1 is
standing back there.]

MAN #1. I WANT THE COMBS BACK! NOW, YOU INSOLENT MORTAL!

[Ed goes to Ms. Hinako's side. She doesn't move.]

ED. (snarling) Then you're going to have to EARN them.

[He pulls out both combs.]

[Cut to Ranma. He runs into a pond. The water reaches his
ankles.]

RANMA. (panting heavily) <These guys are too defensive. They
parry too often. Like Kirin... That's it!>

[Man #2 and #4 run in front of him.]
RANMA. Here we go! (leaping forward) KATSU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN
REVISED!

[Man #2 and #4 are showered with blows, but they continue to
block.]

[Several water balls fly from Ranma's fists, smacking Man #2
several times. Man #2 flies back toward a tree.]

[More water balls fly toward Man #4. Man #4 jumps to the side.]

MAN #4. I'm wise to that attack.
RANMA. That's what I was counting on.

[Ranma rushes toward him again.]

RANMA. HIRYU SHOTEN HA REVISED SHORYUKEN!
MAN #4. WHAT?!

[Man #4 sees Ranma's fist rising to meet him, as well as the
energy dragon. He is knocked high and far, slamming into the tree
where Man #2 lay.]

RANMA. Now, where's Ed?

[Cut to Ed and Man #1. Ed parries an energy blast. Ed jumps
back.]

ED. KINETIC BLAZING DRAGON COMB BLAST!

[Energy pours out of the comb, Man #1's form disappearing in the
blast. Smoke rises when the blast is finished.]

ED. Whew...finally...

[The smoke clears. Man #1 is still standing there.]

ED. What?!
MAN #1. Is that the best you can channel? How about this?
ED. Huh?
MAN #1. INFERNAL HELL COMB FIRE!

[Fire flares from the comb. Ed parries. The combs become too hot
for him to hold, and throws them backward.]

MAN #1. Now, I will be rid of you once and for all. (he lifts his
comb to fire)

[Ranma bowls him over.]

[Akane and Ryoga arrive on the scene.]

RANMA. No you don't!
MAN #1. (rolling over and getting back up) Hmm. (seeing all of
her fallen comrades) I should have brought better warriors.
RANMA. (cracking his knuckles and stepping toward him) Don't
worry, you won't need them.

MAN #1. (smiling) You're right about that.

[He reaches forward and grabs Ranma.]

RANMA. What?! Let go of me!

[Man #1 holds one of his combs to the sky. A bolt of lightning
flies down to the tip of the comb and channeled to Ranma.]

[Ranma screams as he's nearly fried.]

ED,AKANE,RYOGA. Ranma!

[Ranma drops, coughing.]

[Cut to the edge of the battlefield. Someone picks up the two
combs.]

[Man #1 poises himself over Ranma and smiles.]

AKANE. Ranma!

[Man #1 is knocked over from an energy blast. He falls.]

[Ranma gets up. Everyone turns. Trale is standing there.]

AKANE,RYOGA,ED. Trale!
RANMA. No, it isn't.
AKANE. Huh?

[Trale walks closer.]

RANMA. Hello, Ed.
TRALE. So, you figured it out.
RANMA. Actually, I guessed. Also, it was pretty odd on how both
of you were so closely tied and why you look like one another.

[The other Ed gets up from the ground.]

TRALE. They've found out.
ED. (getting up) Oh.
RANMA. I don't get it. Why did you two act as though you were
each other?
ED. It's hard to understand. I explained it all to Trale before I
left. You see, when a human is here, he begins to take on the
characteristics of an animated character. That's why I had to
leave.
AKANE. Then, what was all of that about when Trale got headaches
and pains?
ED. That was actually partly my fault.
TRALE. You see, Ed and I are actually the same people, but in
different worlds. It's a bit metaphysical. In each reality, there
exists another person who is exactly the same as in another
reality.
RANMA. So Trale's name is actually Ed?
ED. Yes.
RYOGA. Then, why did you come back?
ED. I knew the dragon comb knights would be returning for their
combs.
AKANE. And how did you meet them?
ED. That was sort of a mistake. They thought that I attacked one
of their kind. While I still walked around in China, one of the
dragon comb knights was already on my tail. I ran, but he was
crushed under a rock that he created by shooting a cliff. I took
the combs because they looked neat.

[Ed gestures around.]

ED. As you can see, the dragon comb knights have already
teleported back to their own dimension.
RYOGA. I'm confused.
ED. As well you should be. I also came back to finally settle
matters with Trale. There are some other things that demand his
attention.
TRALE. There's something I've been meaning to ask you as well,
Ed.
ED. Shoot.
TRALE. Why are the combs so powerful.
ED. First of all, the have the power to harness a small sun in
energy. Secondly, you can shift through dimensions with it.
TRALE. Hmm.
ED. Trale, there is also something else.
TRALE. About the combs?
ED. No. Since you are me, and in this world, you have been
changed irrevocably. We can either go back together, or you can
wander through the dimensions.
RANMA. But, won't he meet himself?
ED. The odds of that happening are very slim.
AKANE. But you met Trale...I mean Ed...I mean-
ED. Yes. Because I searched for him.
TRALE. I'm going to wander.
ED. If that's your choice, and it also puts me at ease. Now I can
go back without side-effects.
RYOGA. Side effects?

[Ms. Hinako stirs. She sits up.]

MS.H. Ow...my head...

[Ed pulls her up.]

ED. Are you okay?
MS.H. Yes, but- Wait...two of you?
ED. Trale can explain before he leaves. I must leave, though.
I've cause far too much damage here in Nerima.
RANMA. 'tis nothing. Hey, at least I got a question right. That
makes blowing up a city well worth it.

[Ed sticks out his hand.]

ED. You don't know how much of a pleasure it was meeting you,
Ranma. No one will ever believe it.
RANMA. Same here. But everyone here DOES believe it.

[Ed steps to Akane and they hug. He then shakes Ryoga's hand.]

AKANE. Do you have any advice for us? I mean, you know about the
future of us, don't you?
ED. Yes, but that doesn't matter. Any more changes, and the Ranma
1/2 fans on earth will get mad at me.

[Ed looks at the setting sun and sighs.]

ED. I must leave now. Goodbye everyone.
RANMA. How are you going to get back.

[Ed smiles, and begins to fade from sight.]

MS.H. I don't understand any of this.
RANMA. Don't ask me. Ask Trale.
MS.H. Trale?
TRALE. That's me.
MS.H. But you're Ed.
TRALE. No, I'm Trale.

[Ms. H shakes her head.]

TRALE. We'll talk over dinner.
AKANE. Looks like Ms. H found someone she could count on.
RANMA. Let's go. I'm hungry too.
AKANE. You're always hungry.

[Akane, Ranma and Ryoga leave. Trale looks at the sunset, just as
Ed did, and smiles.]

TRALE. Thanks Ed. For everything.

[Trale and Ms. H begins to leave. He turn back and picks up the
combs on the ground.]

FIN

THE CREDITS

I think that I shall never be the same again.
After all that I have been through.
The world has been changed somehow,
The earth, and every man and woman.
*
Hold me, shine on me,
Hug me, touch me so.
You're like a ghost;
If you don't, I fear that you might go.
If I could be somebody,
if I could help somebody,
It would be you.
You're as fathomless as the sea!

I see you fight. I see you run.
I see you seeing me and having fun.
It's not a joke to me. I'm not invisible.
Just reach out and touch me!

Repeat *

I cannot hide, I cannot try
To avoid your eyes. I know you see me,
I know you know me.
Can we every be the same again?

Repeat *

Once again we begin to suffer
Once again we become each other's lover,
We can be what we always wanted to be:
It's always you and me.

Repeat *

Somehow the fires die,
Someway the heart begins to sing,
And when we finally see what we can do,
It's to late to change anything.

Repeat * twice

WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY ED HRZIC

ENDING THEME:
"HOLD ME" (SHINE ON ME)
Lyrics written by Ed Hrzic
Copyright (c) 1997 by Ed Hrzic

...SEE YOU NEXT FIC...

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Well, this was the final installment of Dragon Comb. However, in
my usual fashion, I have quite a few things to say.
Let's start with something I read just after getting back on
the 'net. Being a fan of Mr. Schumacher's "Crys Saga" (mainly
because it was the FIRST fanfic I'd read), I found the sad end to
the series laying in the depths of "ftp.cs.ubc.ca". His apology
and ending are going to be similar to mine, so I'm going to use
his as a basis.
Since the "Crys Saga" was the first fic I'd read, I thought
"Wow! I can put myself in the Ranma 1/2 universe and do really
cool things!" And that's how it came about, with Trale beginning
his trip to Nerima, and the beginning of "Ranma 1/2: The Dragon
Comb Mystery". At the beginning, I thought that I had the fic
under control.
By the middle, things were unravelling, and in the end, things
were totally LOST...you know, Animaniacs and all.
In my haste, I had created something that I really hadn't
thought through. Just as Schumacher considers his "Crys Saga" to
be a "piece of garbage", I consider "Dragon Comb" to be my WORST
work. In agreement with Mr. Schumacher, it was a mistake. I had
so many ideas that I wanted to use, I probably had enough for
three fanfics. Another reason that I could attribute the
"Stupidity Factor" to was writing so many fics at the same time.
I had, what, six going on? So that limited my creative energies
to this work, and in the end, it died, choking on its own bile
(pretty gruesome description, huh?). About the only thing I
LIKED about DC was the song that you just read (which is ALSO
copyrighted by me; I like to take precautions).
The end of the series was to somehow get me out of the fic, and
confuse just about everyone and their grandmother. Simply, I
rushed to the end because I WANTED it to end.
But to all of those who LIKED DC, thanks for tuning in.
Perhaps I'll do a complete revision for the series...but don't
count on it in the near future, or even at all.

- Ed Hrzic
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--
----------| Ed Hrzic -- Anime fan and fanfic writer! |-----------
......A MATTER OF OPINION...SUDS...VGHOSOI...MUNE KNIGHT........
"Surrender or die like lemmings!" - Omega Rugal, KOF '95
--------------------| bd...@yfn.ysu.edu |------------------------