To Fight, To Protect
A Dragonball Z and Ranma 1/2 Crossover.
Disclaimer-
This is a work of fanfiction, of course, meaning I don't own Ranma 1/2 or DBZ, or any of the characters therein.
Preface:
All right, this is my first fanfic, so be nice and give me a review. Criticism is fine, praise would be nice though. The story is set after the Ranma 1/2 canon and after the end of GT, although in this world the Dragon Saga (and therefore Goku's disappearance) never happened.
Chapter I, The Tournament Begins
The World Martial Arts Tournament...the greatest competition that drew fighters from all over the world to determine who was the best of the best. Saotome Ranma sighed, glancing over his shoulder for the oft missing Hibiki Ryouga. For once, the Lost Boy had avoided performing his namesake activity and merely trailed slightly behind the pigtailed martial artist. The pair, more often enemies than allies, had come together to seek a common goal: the perfect tournament. After several weeks of travel in increasingly foreign lands, the two had discovered that the World Martial Arts Tournament was to be held in South City. The two relatively new companions and highly competitive martial artists had jumped at the opportunity to prove their skills.
Now, however, Ranma was less sure. Despite being entirely too confident in his skills, a dark and pessimistic feeling fell like a shadow over his soul. Why, he didn't know, but the young Saotome felt that something was sure to go wrong. "Hey Saotome." The grunt from his companion jolted Ranma from his reverie, "Where do we go to sign up?"
"Where d'ya think P-chan?" Ranma replied sarcastically, jumping back to his arrogant self. He pointed to a desk manned by a pair of the monks in charge of the tournament. Ryouga growled in response but offered no retaliatory response; after weeks of traveling together constant bickering had become a mere annoyance. The two pushed through the crowded city street until they stood in front of the sign-in desk, intent upon reaching the first stage of their goal.
"Names?" the overly round and slightly balding monk asked upon discerning the reason for the pair's approach.
"Saotome Ranma and Hibiki Ryouga," Ranma replied, grinning. His confidence was back in full force and appeared to be intent upon making up for lost time. "I'm the one who's gonna win this tournament!"
"Of course," the monk replied dryly, his tone hinting at boredom. He filled in the sheet with in front of him before asking a few questions, such as masters and style of fighting. The two answered them, and shortly after they received I.D. badges. "Take these and head that way," the man said, pointing to an entryway into the stadium behind the desk, "You'll find the preliminary examiner on the first door to your right. Good luck." The two teens looked at one another in confusion before heading the way he had indicated, The same thought passed through both of their minds as they did so: What was the preliminary?
The monk sighed, shuffling the sign in papers as he thought of the two newest contestants. "Arrogant young fools, entering the world's greatest tournament...they don't have a chance." Little did he know, stranger things had happened before in the history of the WMA.
"So...all we gotta do is punch that machine?" Ranma asked doubtfully, frowning at the preliminary examiner. The taller middle aged man nodded, turning to the machine.
"That's right, he replied, turning his attention back to Ranma. "Just give it your best shot. The machine will record your strength and the top eight scores will move onto the tournament."
"Only eight?" the pig tailed martial artist asked, seeming to recall rumors that the last time the tournament had been held, sixteen people had been allowed in.
"Yeah, they're bringing the tournament back to it's roots. Originally it was eight, so they made it eight again this year." Ranma nodded, unconvinced as to the impact that this test had in terms of pure fighting skill and the wisdom of having only eight competitors; however Ryouga was about to take his turn. The Lost Boy's aura flared momentarily and he charged, delivering an immense punch that left a dent in the machines metallic exterior. "All right...that was Hibiki Ryouga, number 72," the examiner said, nodding appreciatively and writing something down on his clipboard. "You're up." Ranma nodded at the man's comment and positioned himself in front of the machine. Reaching for his confidence, the pigtailed martial artist wrapped it around himself as he drew forth his ki, causing his own aura to flare outwards in response.
"All right...I don't lose," he thought, giving the aura a final flare before charging forward and landing his own fist in the same location as his rival's prior attack. The already heavily weakened machine gave a sickly groan before folding in on itself.
"Damn! I'll have to fix that before the next contestant arrives... Nice work, Saotome Ranma was it? Number 71...okay, got it. Good luck, you can wait in the rest area until the results are listed," the examiner said, jotting something down on his clipboard before pulling several tools from a bag nearby. The pair walked off, Ranma grinning slightly to himself.
"Show off, you wouldn't have been able to manage that without me hitting it first..." Ryouga grumbled, his dark voice echoing off the walls of the tunnel as they proceeded on their way.
"So?"
"Wow! It looks like there are some really strong fighters here this time around!"
"Just shut up Kakarot." The strongest pair of rivals in the known galaxy had entered the preliminary exam area, only to discover the machine temporarily out of order.
"Aww...come on Vegeta, this year's gonna be fun!" A derisive snort escaped from the Saiyan Prince as he looked up at his spiky haired companion.
"Kakarot, the only reason I entered is to finally prove once and for all that I am the strongest warrior in the universe; I could care less about the pathetic humans, the only fight I want is with you." Goku, the universe's repeat savior, looked down at his rival with a grin. He had been correct, this year's tournament was sure to be entertaining...
"Wow...I can't believe how many weirdos are here..." Ranma observed from a bench situated on the wall of the arena's rest area. His position gave him the perfect place to view the many different types of people, many of whom looked like they would be more at home in a science fiction novel than a martial arts tournament. As if to illustrate his point, what appeared to be a werewolf walked by, eyeing the two fighters with a grunt.
"You're not exactly normal yourself Ran'ko'," Ryouga replied choking back a snort of laughter as the lycanthrope walked away. Ranma responded with a withering glare, and was about to follow up with a verbal response when the silver haired announcer entered the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the relic from an age long past began, "the preliminary results are in." Ranma and Ryouga exhanged glances before looking back at the announcer, each praying that their name would be one of the ones called. "Number 12, Son Pan," he began. A mutter arose from the surrounding contestants. Of course she was in, she was the champ's granddaughter! Who else! "Number 85, Uub. Number 13, Son Goten. Number 14, Briefs Trunks. Number 85, Son Goku.Number 87, Vegeta." As the number of available slots dwindled, so did Ranma's confidence. Was it possible that, despite his best effort, he had finally failed at something besides romance? "Number 72, Hibiki Ryouga." Ranma felt despair arise from within him, bordering on rage. If Ryouga had made the cut, he certainly should have! He had broken the machine for Kami's sake! "And finally, last but not least, Number 71, Saotome Ranma!" The ancient announcer finished, folding up the paper that had contained the names of the tournament finalists.
"I knew I made it," Ranma said to Ryouga, smirking as his lost arrogance rushed back in.
"Sure," Ryouga replied with a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Those of you whom I called, if you'll follow me. Those whom I didn't, well better luck next time," the WMA staple said, turning to enter the tunnel which lead to the waiting area for the tournament. Ranma and Ryouga nodded to one another and stood, following after him. Both knew that nothing had been certain until their names had been called, this place held the most powerful fighters on Earth and it was time to see who was the best of the best.
So, Ranma has met the Z Fighters, and has made it into the tournament. How on earth will he react to their powers? Find out when I finish the next chapter...
Also, on the way is the villain of this story. Of course there's a villain! It's DBZ for crying out loud! And yes, it's short, but it was meant as a set up for the rest of the story. So...yeah. RR and all that.
-Darkness-through-light