Ranma 1/2: DCM #4 [FanFic]

[Edward T. Hrzic III]

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Ranma 1/2: The Dragon Comb Mystery -- Part 4
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by Ed Hrzic
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Copyright (c) 1995 by Ed Hrzic
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Based upon characters created by Rumiko Takahashi
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Previous parts may be found at "ftp.std.com".
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Direct any comments to me at "bd...@yfn.ysu.edu".
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Text between < and > are used to denote a
character's thoughts.

<<< CONTINUED FROM PART 3 >>>

[Ed ducks. The bolts fly overhead.]

ED. (screaming) Trale!

[Trale waves the combs around. The air in front of him starts to
take a dragon shape. He then extends the combs forward quickly,
sending the dragon out at Ed. Ed is frozen with fear.]

[The wall behind him is destroyed.]

TRALE. (looking around) What-?

[He looks to the roof. Ranma grabbed Ed just in the nick of time
and dropped him on the roof.]

TRALE. This is no concern of yours, Ranma!
RANMA. It has EVERYTHING to do with me! (pointing at Ed) He's my
friend.
ED. <Friend?>
TRALE. Then fight!
RANMA. (leaping from the roof) Gladly!

[The rest of the Tendo/Saotome crew gasp.]

[Trale begins concentrating again.]

TRALE. You will see what happens...
RANMA. We'll see... (he begins his own concentrations)
TRALE. ***KINETIC BLAZING DRAGON COMB BLAST!***
RANMA. (throwing his arms forward) ***HIRYU SHOTEN HA!***

[The two blasts meet each other and fade.]

TRALE. You're getting sloppy Ranma.

[Ranma steps forward. He feels an arm on his shoulder.]

ED. Ranma...stop.
RANMA. Eh?
ED. Stop. If Trale wants to kill me so much...I won't let you
stand in his way.
RANMA. You're nuts!
ED. (giving a weak smile) Took you this long, huh?

[Ranma looks at both of them, then steps back.]

ED. I'm here Trale. If you want to kill me, do it now.
KASUMI. Ed! What are you doing?
ED. (facing Trale) SO MANY PEOPLE HATE ME! IT'S NO USE TO
CONTINUALLY BURY MY HEAD IN THE SAND ALL OF THE TIME!

[There is silence.]

ED. DO IT TRALE!

[Trale is about raise his combs, but stops.]

ED. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

[Trale stands there with his head down.]

[The crew gasps as Trale flies to the ground. Ed has hit him.]

ED. I've never hit anyone in my life! Least of all myself!
NABIKI. "Myself?"

[Ed shakes his head and calms down.]

ED. Trale, take my hand.

[Trale takes it and gets up.]

ED. I didn't come here to take you back. YOU are the one who
belongs here. I belong nowhere.
TRALE. Then why ARE you here?
ED. It's an accident. I'm not supposed to be here, but I am. The
key to get home is in your combs.

[Trale looks down at the combs.]

TRALE. Hmmm...

[Cut to later, Tendo Dining Room. Nabiki, Ed, Ranma, and Akane
are sitting at the table.]

NABIKI. Ed.
ED. Yeah?
NABIKI. What did you mean by 'hitting yourself' when you punched
Trale?
ED. Oh...well, Trale was supposed to be me in this world. Writing
stories, I wanted part of me to experience the world here. Never
thought that I'd be here.
AKANE. Where is Trale?
RANMA. He's on the roof, thinking.
ED. Seems like I should be doing the same.
RANMA. Well, I'm going to the dojo. I need to work off this
frustration.
AKANE. What frustration?
RANMA. Shut up you tomboy!
AKANE. (she swings at him) Pervert!

[Ranma dodges, running for the dojo.]

ED. They do seem to get along well.
NABIKI. (sips her drink) Yeah.
ED. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that is written about
them.
NABIKI. What do you mean?
ED. I'm not the only one who write FanFics. There are "perverted"
people out there who take advantage of the situations...

[Nabiki stares at him.]

ED. Hey! I don't do it! I wrote only one Ranma FanFic! <What did
Kasumi say? Hmm... Might as well give it a try.> Hey, Nabiki.
NABIKI. What now?
ED. You're been one of the most "interesting" characters in Ranma
1/2, as well as one of my favorite ones.
NABIKI. (giving him a blank look) What are you getting at?
ED. Are you going out with anyone?
NABIKI. (almost dropping her drink) Huh?
ED. Are-you-going-out-with-anyone?
NABIKI. You must be joking.
ED. You're right. I'm joking.
NABIKI. (peers at him) No, you're not.
ED. Am I so transparent? Sorry, I'll leave. (he gets up and walks
out)
NABIKI. Hey! Wait! (she watches him leave) Idiot.

[Cut to the roof. Trale is sitting down.]

TRALE. Hello, Ed.
ED. Hi, Trale. It's weird to see myself here.
TRALE. I want to ask you a question.
ED. (sitting) Go ahead. I'm already in a depressed mood. That's
when I usually answer to anything.
TRALE. Who am I?
ED. "Who are you?" What do you mean?
TRALE. What am I?
ED. (adjusting the glasses on his face) You're a fictitious
character, created to explore the Ranma universe.
TRALE. So, I'm nothing?
ED. No. Now you're real, since I'm here. Not only that, you are
me as well, for all intents and purposes. I can give you all my
memories...but I can't...
TRALE. You can...and you can't?
ED. I've got too much pain...I don't want to give it to anyone
else.
TRALE. Ed, I want to feel the pain. I want to be someone.
ED. (stares out into the city) So would I.

[Cut to Ed walking up the stairs.]

ED. Bad idea from the start. (he stops) <Why AM I here? Shit.>

[He looks up to see Kasumi walking toward him.]

ED. Hey Kasumi.
KASUMI. Oh, hi Ed! Where is Trale?
ED. Still on the roof.
KASUMI. Would you like to take a bath?
ED. Uh...no thanks...
KASUMI. Besides, it will calm you down.
ED. But...I don't ne-

[Kasumi has already disappeared. Ed is now holding a towel.]

ED. This is not going well.

[Ed goes to the laundry room and undresses. He then opens the
bathroom door.]

ED. <Okay now. Let's hope that no one bursts in...>

[Ed sinks into the bathtub.]

[Trale walks into the kitchen. Kasumi is busying herself with
something.]

TRALE. Kasumi?
KASUMI. Oh, hi Trale. Can I help you?
TRALE. Where is Ed?
KASUMI. Taking a bath.
TRALE. Can you tell him something for me?
KASUMI. What?
TRALE. Tell him 'thanks.' I won't be staying here. I need to go
and explore this world, since I am somebody. Tell him thanks for
the talk, and all he's done for me.

[Trale runs away.]

KASUMI. Trale...

[Cut to Nabiki's room. Nabiki is laying on her bed.]

NABIKI. <What was that idiot saying? "Are you going out with
anyone?" What did he mean? Did he want to go out? He is
relatively cute though.> (she stands up) I guess I should say
something.

[Cut to kitchen.]

NABIKI. Kasumi? Where is Ed?
KASUMI. He's taking a bath.
NABIKI. Perhaps I'll interrupt him.
KASUMI. Wouldn't that be nice?

[Cut to Laundry Room.]

NABIKI. <Here goes.> (she knocks) Hello? Ed?

[There is the sound of someone diving under water.]

NABIKI. Ed? Ed? Are you okay? (she opens the door)

[She walks in, up to the tub.]

NABIKI. Ed? (she reaches into the water) Ah! Got ya! (she pulls
up)

[A green-haired girl's face stares at her.]

NABIKI. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!
GIRL. I-uh...
NABIKI. Where's Ed?

[The girl looks down. Shock comes over Nabiki.]

NABIKI. Don't tell me! You're Ed?!

[The girl slowly nods.]

NABIKI. You've got a lot of explaining to do.

[Cut to Tendo Dining room. All family members are sitting around
the table, plus Ed-chan.]

RANMA. Another curse?
ED. Yes.
AKANE. How?
SOUN. Yes! How?
ED. Well, let's go back to a few weeks ago.

[Flashback.]

ED V-O. Well, back in China, I was searching for a way to get to
Japan. That way I could meet up with all of you.

[Pictures of Ed-kun walking around.]

ED V-O. As you know, China is very big. (pause) Well, one day, I
was walking around, and I found it.
GENMA V-O. Found what?
ED V-O. Jusenkyo.

[Picture of Jusenkyo.]

EVERYBODY. Eh?
ED V-O. I was surprised too. I knew enough to stay away. Besides,
the Guide told me to stay away too. It would have been perfect. I
went the other way for several meters.
NABIKI V-O. And what happened?
ED V-O. I fell into a pool.

[Picture of Ed falling into a pool.]

RANMA V-O. Of Jusenkyo water?
ED V-O. No. Something different. I would soon find out it was
another place called "Kusenkyo."
GENMA V-O. "Kusenkyo?"
ED V-O. Yeah, I sort of disbelieved it myself. That Guide knows
more than we give him credit for. It seems that it is sort of a
"sister" place to Jusenkyo. Anyway, it seems that the keys to the
curses are reversed -- cold water changes me back, hot water
invokes it.
RANMA V-O. It must suck taking a hot, relaxing bath then.
ED V-O. You're telling me.

[Back to dining room.]

ED. But, those combs that Trale has are the key to getting me
back home...probably getting me back to normal as well.
RANMA. I wouldn't hold my breath for too long. I've been trying
for just how long?

[Ed looks down.]

ED. Where IS Trale?
KASUMI. Oh, he told me to tell you to say thanks. He said that
just as he was running away.
ED. What?! (she gets up and runs outside)

[He looks off into the distance of the city.]

ED. Trale... Dammit, you're going to make me search for you
again, aren't you? (she takes a step forward) Eh?

[Her foot catches on something in front of her. The two combs are
laying there, with a note attached. Ed picks it up and starts
reading.]

TRALE V.O. I was about to leave when I remembered that you may
need these to get back home. I am going to explore this great big
world now that I am someone. Don't worry we'll meet again in the
future. I promise. Good luck in your own struggle. Sincerely,
Trale.

[Ed sighs. Kasumi walks outside.]

KASUMI. Are you alright?
ED. (turning to her) Yeah, everything's fine.
KASUMI. That's nice. Since Trale is gone, you can have his room.
ED. Oh, okay.

[Ed stops to douse herself with cold water before he goes
upstairs. He walks up past Nabiki who stops.]

NABIKI. Hey Ed? I want to tal-

[Ed continues walking and enters his room, not speaking to her.]

NABIKI. (following him) Ed?
ED. Leave me alone. I have nothing to say.
NABIKI. What do you mean? You said I was one of your favorite
characters, right?

[Ed looks down.]

NABIKI. Then-

[Ed clutches at his head.]

NABIKI. Ed?
ED. Ouch...
NABIKI. What's going on?

[Ed doubles over in pain, still holding his head. He screams. The
crew comes running upstairs.]

ED. The pain...
AKANE. What's going on?
NABIKI. (reaching down to him) I don't know! Ed, what's
happening?
ED. I can't stand the pain...not again...please...not again...
NABIKI. What are you talking about?

[A tear slips down from his eyes as he falls unconscious.]

>>> END OF PART 4 <<<

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Coming soon from me! -- A Matter of Opinion #8...Suds #5...
Ranma 1/2: DCM #5...Iczer-4 #2...VGHosoi #1...Mune Knight #3...
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--
-----------| Ed Hrzic, Anime Fan and FanFic writer! |-----------
A MATTER OF OPINION...SUDS...RANMA 1/2: DCM...VG HOSOI...MUNE
KNIGHT...ICZER-4...AND MORE...COMING FALL '95: MEGA-CROSSOVER...
---------------------| bd...@yfn.ysu.edu |---------------------