Hey I’m back once again. I’m going to be picking up the pace on my writing from now on. I want to get this fic done so I can continue work on golden legends or the sequel to this one. Not that there are only about two or three parts left to be wrote in this fic including this one so be prepared. THE END IS COMING! AHHHHHHHHH!

Disclaimer: Um…yah…you know the drill so on with the fic!

"ASH NO!" shouted Misty diving to the edge of the hole.

"MISTY DON’T" shouted Brock pulling her back from the edge.

"LET ME GO LET ME GO I HAVE TO HELP THEM" Misty screamed as she flailed helplessly at the hole.

"You can’t help them," said Brock calmly. "Don’t worry. This is Dylan and Ash where talking about. They can pull through somehow". The statement sounded hollow. Even to Brock.

************************************************************

"Holy shit," yelled Ash. Both him and Dylan where falling rapidly to the bottom of the pit and it didn’t look too pleasant.

"Grab my leg," shouted Dylan. When Ash had latched on Dylan drew his sword and drove it into the wall. The metal screamed in protest as chunks of rock went flying everywhere. They came to a halt just two feet from the cavern floor.

Ash let out his breath. "That was close," he said.

"Um Ash?" said Dylan looking down.

"Yes?"

"Let go of my leg please".

"Oh sorry" said Ash dropping to the floor.

Dylan braced his feet on the wall and yanked the blade free. He checked it over and, finding it to be fine sheathed it. "Well this is just great" he grumbled. "You see any way out?"

"Over there" said ash indicating a side passage.

"Well I guess we go that way".

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"Be quiet" whispered Ranma looking out over another chamber full of those monsters.

"Why" growled Shampoo. "I kill all them".

"No" Hissed Brock putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Why not?"

"Because we have no chance against them that’s why" said Misty from somewhere behind everyone else. "Nobody does".

"Don’t say that" Said Akene. "We can still get the orb. It can grant any wish remember?"

Misty perked up at this. But only a little bit.

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"We’ve been walking for hours" Growled Ash. "And we haven’t even run into a side passage. How much longer is this going to take?"

"I don’t know. We fell at least five hundred metres straight down so it’s going to take a while".

"How could you know that?"

"Because any less and we would have joined those things as greasy spots on the ground".

"Fair enough"

They continued walking for quite a while until Dylan suddenly stopped. "That’s interesting," he said.

"What is it," said Ash squeezing up beside Dylan. They where on a ledge overlooking one of the huge caverns. This one was also filled with the creatures that had caused them to be thrown into the pit. "There’s no way down"

"Would you want to go down there?" Asked Dylan.

"No I guess not," said Ash. "There’s a ledge running along the upper part of the cavern".

Dylan followed Ash’s gaze along the ledge. "There’s another passage," he said indicating an opening on the other side of the cavern. They began edging along toward the other passage.

*************************************************************

"Where is this thing supposed to be?" grumbled Ranma looking down another passage.

"I don’t know," said Akene. "This place is like a maze".

"Quiet" said Brock "I hear something".

Everyone stopped to listen. There was a faint rumbling down one passage. It grew louder and louder until abut two dozen of the monsters came barging around the corner straight at the companions.

"RUN!" Shouted Brock as they all turned and bolted down a side passage with the thing in close pursuit.

*************************************************************

"How are we going to get back down into the main passage?" asked Ash looking down over the edge of another ledge.

"I don’t know. Wait. Did you just hear somebody yell?"

"No"

Dylan tilted his head to listen. When he heard another scream he pointed at a passage and shouted "Down there".

Him and Ash ran into the passage.

*************************************************************

"Where trapped" shouted Misty banging her hands on the wall.

"Misty, that won’t help" said Brock.

"We fight," said Shampoo. She had a strange glint in her eyes.

"I don’t see any alternative do you Akene?" said Ranma.

"None" she replied. Everyone turned to face the onrushing horde.

*************************************************************

Dylan and Ash sneaked up to an overhang above where the others where fighting. "What are we supposed to do?" asked Ash.

Dylan looked around and spotted some boulders on either side of the passage. "Ok here’s what where going to do".

*************************************************************

Ranma sidestepped a blow from the monster he was fighting and roundhouse kicked the thing in the jaw. It staggered back for a second then came right back at him. Ranma jumped up to avid a low shot and slammed his heels into the monster’s head caving in its skull.

Next to him Brock was giving commands to Geodude who was throwing rocks and boulders at the monsters to keep them at bay.

Shampoo was simply bashing any monster’s head in that was stupid enough to get near her. But despite all their efforts it was a loosing battle.

*************************************************************

"Wait for it" mouthed Dylan from his side of the passage. "Wait for it". He looked down on the mob of monster’s waiting for the perfect time. Just a little more and…there! "NOW" he shouted. Both him and Ash jammed their swords under a rock on either side of the passage and heaved. With a massive roar the entire section of tunnel collapsed on top of the monsters.

*************************************************************

The entire passage came crashing down burying everyone in a pile of small rocks and dirt. Ranma dug himself out of the rubble and helped everyone else up. "You all okay?" he asked.

"Yes. But what happen?" Asked Shampoo. "Cave, cave in all of sudden".

"I don’t know. But the timing was perfect. It squashed all the monsters". Then they heard a cough off to the side. Everyone turned too see two others diging ot of the pile and everyone’s eyes went wide. "Dylan? Ash? Is that you?"

Everyone ran over and helped them out of the rubble. "YOU OKAY!" squeaked Shampoo latching onto Dylan.

"Ah. Careful careful" he said reaching over and yanking a jagged rock out of his side.

"PIKA" squeaked the little mouse pokemon as he and Misty latched onto Ash.

"So what happened?" asked Brock.

"It’s a long story," said Ash managing to wiggle free of the death grip Misty had him in.

"No time for stories now" said Dylan indicating the wall. "Look". Everyone turned and saw that a huge chunk of the wall had collapsed revealing a chamber with a raised pedestal at the other end. They all climbed through the broken wall and looked around. It was a long hall lined with ornate pillars and a deep crimson carpet was leading up to a dais. On the pedestal was a red cushion and sitting in the middle of it was a sparkling orb about the size of a golf ball.

"It’s the orb," said Ash running up to the dais with everyone else following close behind. Dylan walked up to the orb and read the inscription on the top of the pedestal.

"‘Those who seek the orb of ages’" he began "‘have reached your goal and yet are so far from obtaining it’ great an ancient riddle. I was hoping not to run into one of these. ‘One trial awaits you still. Are you prepared or are your bones destined to lye here with those of the others before you who have failed’. Oh lovely". Dylan reached out and grabbed the orb and quickly held it to the end of his sword’s pommel. The end took on the shape of a dragon’s head and melded around it so it looked like a dragon was holding the orb in its mouth.

Then just as he was about to make the wish the shadows from the pillars detached themselves and formed into warriors wearing billowing cloaks and holding huge serrated swords. "Oh fun" grumbled Ash drawing his sabre.

"Anybody have any bright ideas?" said Dylan.

"No do you?" said Ranma.

"Not really. How many are there? I count about twelve".

"That sound right," said Shampoo.

"I guess we fight" Said Dylan. With that he charged the nearest guardian. He swung his sword up in an arc but the guardian easily blocked it and lunged. Dylan turned the blow aside and brought his sword around in a downward swing, which was also blocked. A second guardian jumped at him from behind and he swung his sword around in a wide spin forcing both assailants’ back then took the opportunity to try out his new technique. "Breaking point" he yelled as he hit a pillar with the side of his hand. The thing cracked right up the middle and went crashing down on top of one of the guardians effectively squashing him.

Dylan then spun and threw a fireball at the other throwing the guardian against the wall. It collapsed dead in a smoking heap. He spun to around and saw one guardian right on top of Akene and slashed it across the back. It gave out an ear-splitting shriek and Akene shoved it off of her before driving it into to the wall with a punch. "How did you learn that?"

"Ryoga taught me" Said Dylan going back on the defensive. Ranma and Shampoo joined them.

"How did you get Ryoga to teach you that?" Asked Ranma.

"I’ll explain later. There’s about five of these things left". They charged the remaining guardians. One had lost its sword and was wrestling with Brock trying to push him down a hole. Another was trying to reach Pikachu who was firmly latched onto its back biting and clawing at it. Ash was fighting the third and the other two and Misty and her pokemon backed into the corner. Dylan sheathed his sword and used the breaking point technique to send a stream of shattered rock along the ground that threw the two guardians that had Misty cornered off their feet. Shampoo took the opportunity to send one flying. Ranma kicked the other down a nearby hole. Ash finished his off with an overhead chop that bisected the guardian and Pikachu let loose with a huge bolt of electricity that fried his guardian. Brock kicked out at the guardian he was fighting and when it was off balance he threw it down the same hole it had bee trying to toss him down.

"Uh. Ok that was easy," said Ash sheathing his sword.

"Don’t say that you’ll jinx it" grumbled Dylan. All the bodies of the guardians melded back into the shadows and the wall behind the pedestal opened up to reveal the front entrance hall. Everyone just stared at it dumbfounded. "You mean to tell me," said Dylan, his voice raising. "That all we had to do was BREAK DOWN THE WALL! GOD DAMMIT!!!!!" He stalked out of the room grumbling incoherently about video game like dungeons.

*************************************************************

Everyone stepped out of the portal just as the sun was going down. It closed up behind them and the floating ball of light that was the wizard greeted them. "I see you made it out. Did you make the wish?"

"Yes" said Ash. "Dylan made it on the way out but all he’s done since then is grumble about the twisted people that most likely designed that place".

The wizard chuckled. "Well I suppose you could say that. The lord was a time traveller actually. If I remember correctly he got the inspiration from something called Skores and Arcabula or something".

"WHAT" said Dylan. "You’re kidding right?"

"No"

"Dammit I knew it. Skies of Arcadia. Of all the… I mean it’s just that…ah I give up lets just go home".

The wizard chuckled at this. "I suppose you should. There isn’t any other artefacts or anything to recover". With that the wizard disappeared again.

Everyone started off back to their hotel. Dylan was walking in the back considering all the bizarre things that had happened since he had arrived when Ranma fell back to walk next to him. "So" he said. "How did you get Ryoga to teach you that?"

"I gave him some waterproof soap".

"But…anyone can get that".

"Yes but I figured out how to make the effect last for bout a week instead of a day".

"Really? How?"

"Baby powder".

"What?"

"Don’t ask. Just accept that it works".

"I think that’s for the best. So why didn’t you use any?"

"I told you. I’m not so inept as to get wet every ten minutes"

WHAM. "That’s not funny"

Dylan rubbed his shoulder and chuckled. "I thought it was pretty good".

************************************************************

(Ok there is a major jump forward here. Quite frankly nothing happens but random arbitrary crap that would follow a similar pattern to the Ranma ½ TV show. So I’m going to skip forward to about a week before Cappa Shathon is released. Kind of like those gaps in the timeline that occur in shows like Dragon Ball Z. nothing happens but training so here you go.)

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Dylan was sparring with Ranma when the wizard’s energy ball appeared again. "Hello" it said.

"Oh hi. What do you want now?" said Dylan.

"Well your pretty casual about my glowing ball thing".

"The shock value wears off after the hundredth or so time".

"I see. Well as I’m sure you have guessed it is almost time".

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and stared at the ball. "What did you say?" Sputtered Ash.

"Cappa Shathon’s release is near. It will occur in a week at midnight".

"A week, Friday the thirteenth on a full moon? I hate coincidences," said Dylan.

"It is no coincidence. He planned his escape for a night such as that for it is a night when evil power is most abundant".

"Where will he emerge?" Asked Brock.

"Somewhere in the mountains north of here. Make preparations while you can. In one weeks time I will transport you and any who intend to aid you there".

"Ok. Couple things though. First of all that note you sent me with the sword. It said I was stuck here forever but what about the orb? And second. Why did you need me anyway?"

"In response to your first question. I found out about the orb afterwards and put an enchantment on the orb so it would merge with the sword. And second. Like I said before. You wanted this to happen. And there is something else about you. I hesitate to call it an Inner Light because you are not the most pure hearted person around. But there is something about you. About all of you. You all have a destiny to fulfil for good or evil. And some others from your world have this quality as well Dylan".

"What others?" asked Dylan.

"I cannot tell you. Not yet. I must go now. I can no longer maintain this connection and I need to gather my strength in case you need my aid. No matter how small it may be". Then the ball was gone.

"I’m really tired of his disappearing" grumbled Ash.

"It’s not like he has a choice in the matter" said Dylan.

"Still, he should drop the mysterious act".

"I suppose your right Ash. But you know" Said Dylan walking up beside him. "You know how I used to be able to guess the future?"

"Yes?"

"I think it’s coming back temporarily".

Ash cocked his eyebrow. "Really? How so?"

"Well I predict that…" Dylan stopped and shoved Ash into the fishpond. "You are way to easy to pull pranks on".

"A sputtering and transformed Ash sat up in the pond. "Not funny".

"Just trying to lighten the mood. You know the whole we might die thing"

Ash splashed Dylan in the face causing him to transform as well. "There where even" she said hauling herself out of the pond.

Dylan just shrugged and said "you know I don’t care. I don’t like the curse but I don’t care".

"Why not?"

"Oh it…has its uses".

Ash shook her head. "Your acting really strange today Dylan".

"How so?"

"Well for one…hey where did everyone go?" said Ash looking around.

"You didn’t notice?" Asked Dylan cocking her head. "They went inside after the wizard left".

"Hmm. You would think they would stay out here to talk about what happened".

"I think that’s why they went inside".

"Oh…so why did you push me in the pond?"

"You know what? It just seemed like a good idea at the time".

************************************************************

"So what we need do before we need go?" Asked Shampoo looking around.

"I would say we have some fun" suggested Dylan as her and Ash walked into the house.

"But…we need more time to train. Where not ready" stuttered Ranma.

"Be that as it may what we have been preparing for, for three years is here. And it won’t help if we all tense up about it. Let’s take the next few days off to rest and enjoy ourselves".

"Are you sure that’s a good idea?" Asked Brock.

"Positive" shouted Dylan over her shoulder as She headed out the door.

"Wait for me" said Shampoo running out the door Behind Dylan.

"Well that was strange," said Kasumi. "Dylan was the last person I expected to want to take a break".

"I bet hees worried and wants to take his mind off of what’s ahead" said Brock.

"Are you sure?"

"No. But would you want to be constantly reminded of the weight of an entire world resting in the palm of your hands?"

"I suppose not" replied Kasumi looking down at the cup of tea she was drinking. "But I am still worried".

***********************************************************

//What am I doing// thought Dylan sitting down on the grass he and Shampoo had wandered into. //I can’t save anything//. Dylan shook her head. //Stop it// she thought. //Of course you can win. With the help of my friends I know I can//. This stopped Dylan’s train of thought cold. //My friends. Do I really want them along?//. Dylan shook her head again. //it’s their decision. They wanted to help. They need to help. Still, I don’t feel any better//. Dylan looked over at Shampoo who was looking at her. "Well Tzu" said Dylan standing up (He had taken to calling her that after her learned her name was San Pu. And Tzu sounded better than Pu (not to mention more appropriate) so…well you get the idea). "Let’s go find some hot water and than get some lunch K?"

"Ok" said Shampoo smiling.

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"Ok is everyone ready?" asked Ranma looking around at the other five people there. Everyone nodded and headed outside to where Dylan was standing next to the wizards glowing ball thing.

"It is time," said the wizard. With that there was a flash and everyone was gone.

Well there you have it. One more chapter down one more to go. I admit ill miss writing this…NOT! As soon as I’m done with this I’ll start on the sequel. You can only read that on my site though as the pokemon characters will make very little appearances if any at all. Oh and don't forget to visit my site at http://www.geocities.com/hedric_wolfmane/reddrakelair.html and now http://griffvaldez.deviantart.com as well. Well, bye for now!