"speech (English mainly)"
"radio, feline language, or telepathic speech"
thoughts
/"different language or panda sign"/
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any other anime or manga that may crop up. I make no money from this, nor do I plan on trying to. This is purely for fun. Paragon City is borrowed from NCsoft, and is from the superhero MMO City of Heroes. Miss Meow is one of my characters in that game. Not sure if there actually is a supergroup called Catgirls United, but there may be. Sorry to it's members if there is.
Warning: There will be some OOC for some characters. It is an AU though, so that can almost be expected.
Wings of Crystal
This was it, the final showdown. Six teenage girls stared across the frozen wastes. Each knew that the odds of winning were low. To date they had yet to actually reach the throne room, much less defeat Queen Beryl. But this time they had a plan. It was a good one too. This time they would survive the day! Or not, whichever the case might be. And yet they were all getting tired of dying over and over.
The problem was not the distance. That alone could have been navigated easily enough. No, it was the army of yoma between the girls and the throne room. Maybe attacking as soon as we had the crystal wasn't a good idea, Sailor Mercury thought drily. From the mirroring expressions it was clear the others were starting to share her thoughts. It had seemed like such a good idea originally. Shortcut strait to the end and remove the problem right away.
"Hey everyone, I have an idea!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
She reached into her personal 'stuff space' and withdrew a life sized statue of herself. It was composed of hundreds of spherical crystals, at least. How she'd gotten the detail work to be so precise was anybody's guess. Neither was it obvious how the multitude of silver imperium crystals were able to stick together like that. It was only with intense study that one could even tell it was composed of a plethora of orbs. Even then it was more the impression of roundness then actual shape.
Sailor Pluto blanched upon seeing the monstrosity of Moon Kingdom magic. "Is that thing safe?"
"I got a bad feeling," Sailor Jupiter muttered.
"Well, when in Rome do as the Gnomes do," Sailor Venus cheerfully pronounced.
"I finally get to try this out!" squealed Sailor Moon.
The resulting blast of raw magic was enough to push the Earth out of it's orbit and into that of it's neighboring planet Venus. As the heavens rapidly shifted Sailor Moon could be heard muttering "oops".
Wings of the Cards
Leaving the dojo had been a great decision. Or at least a needed one. There was no way Ranma Nightbane intended to spend the next six months listening to the moronic duo. She assumed it would be six months mostly because that was how long these had been usually lasting. Sometimes it was more, sometimes less. The last one had only been a week. The final days had been... different. The media had been in a giant uproar over the fact the earth somehow had been propelled out of it's orbit.
"Stupid airhead should think before using an untested artifact like that."
Still, it did create new problems. For one thing she was now homeless, and in new city. Another was that some idiot with a deck of cards had just challenged her to a high stakes game. The problem being that she had no idea how to actually play this game. But from the sounds of it Ranma knew she had better learn, and fast. The stakes were for nothing more and nothing less then her soul.
So here Nightbane was, standing in a game shop. It was a place she'd never been before. And it was highly confusing. Now which game was it the kuno wanabe challenged me to? And why does everyone keep calling me Mai? Since she wasn't actually told which card game the duel was to be done with, Nightbane picked one seemingly at random. With a small ruby she paid for a box of starter decks and five booster boxes. This should be enough, I hope
Three days later found Ranma and some teenager calling himself Marick standing across from each other. "As pregame cards I play the weapons of choice Shield and Parrying Blade. I also play the persona card Ceirdwyn"
Her opponent laughed. "You fool, you brought the wrong deck and forfeit automatically. I win."
Ranma frowned at this. "Except you never stated which game. Thus it is up to the person being challenged to pick the weapon, or in this case game. Thus whichever game I brought a deck for would be the correct game. I was a little concerned at first since you failed to specify a format. So I looked up what the rules for such a challenge are. So, do you have a highlander deck or do you concede?"
"Say what?" Marick shouted in alarm.
"Let me guess, you trusted that I would be ignorant of the rules and thus believe you won when you didn't?" The smile given was not an amused one.
"But a shadow game can only recognize duel monsters!"
Hearing this, Ranma blinked. "You mean according to this 'shadow game thing' we both forfeit? So what happens now?"
Marick stared in shock, unsure himself since this had never happened before.
Wings and Virtue
"What do you mean we can't be the sailor senshi?" Asked an irate Sailor Moon.
"Just that," said a woman sitting behind the city hall super group registration desk. "Before you can register a super group the founder has to least hold a security level ten clearance. A security level which I note you don't have 'Sailor Moon'. I also note that none of you have registered yet. I'll have to ask you to go to the meta-human law enforcement registration department. Next please!"
A woman of above average height approached the desk after the six 'sailor senshi' were lead away. The woman had shoulder length blond hair and wore a brown duster. Beneath that was what appeared to be some sort of body armor covered in wires. The woman had a pistol of unusual design and a sawed off shotgun holstered at her hips. Other then the armor and weapons one would easily have mistaken her for a civilian.
"Hello Miss, I'm new in town. Can you direct me to where paranormal threat eliminators have to register? As I understand it I have to have a license in this recursion to practice my trade secondary."
The city hall employee frowned at the wording. "That depends, do you use magic, technology, natural skill, a genetic mutation, or scientifically bestowed abilities?"
The tall woman thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure really. As I understand it my mother was an avatar for a goddess. However I use weapons and devices I built by hand. An old friend of mine once said my equipment reminds him of technowizardry in that it is powered by my innate psionic abilities though."
"It sounds like you want the M.A.G.I. Department. That's down that hall, first door on the right. Is there anything else you need?"
The armed woman smiled warmly. "Actually yes, my husband and I want to reserve the super group name of 'Mason Exterminators' for when we qualify for our level ten security clearance."
Once the proper paperwork was filled out the woman headed for the M.A.G.I. Offices. There she bumped into the six teenagers from before. I wonder if they know shouting wont help? Probably not, after all they don't quite realize yet something's wrong. While she didn't see a line, there was a sizable crowd of gaudily clad men and women surrounding one spot. Occasionally someone would run off at high speed. All around the rest of the room were various urns and crystals with the occasional stone tablet.
When Sailor Pluto finally noticed the newcomer to the crowd she turned and approached the woman. "Excuse me, but just who are you?"
"My name," the blond said, "is Susan Wellingon-Mason. How have you girls been doing? I haven't seen you since that time at the airport with the demon summoning madman. What was it, eight cycles ago?"
Sailor Jupiter noticed the new arrival and approached. "I still don't see why all this was needed."
"I'll explain later, but for now I think it's your turn. The crowd has left."
XxXxX
He awoke with a massive headache, again. It was an event that was becoming quite annoying. A quick glance showed he was once again back in the Tendo dining room. And that meant only one thing, that something had happened yet another reset. Probably those girls, again. One of these times I really have to restart their training. Although they did last longer this time. Wait, why are they speaking english? I don't get it.
As the youth stood something crashed through the wall. That something proved to be feline, and humanoid. It was also wearing the tattered remains of some sort of colorful outfit, and female. Upon seeing the cat-girl Ranma shuddered. Nearby a yowling could be heard. He looked over and saw that Akane had dropped to all four limbs and was hissing at the unconscious intruder.
"Okaaaay, so she's still affected by the neko-ken? I didn't see that coming. It figures, with a temper like hers of course she can't resist fear very well either."
"Oh my," came a voice from the kitchen. "Someone should move Miss Meow before Akane shreds her, again."
Feeling completely out of place, Ranma sighed. "And who is 'miss meow'?"
Briefly the middle sister debated selling the information. But the fact it was readily available almost every other block put a damper in that idea. That and the eight restraining orders, twelve civil suits, and the fact she was currently on probation after charges of blackmail and extortion. Sometimes it seemed like every third person in this city was either a would be super villain or a super hero, even in high school.
"Just a member of the super group Catgirls United. She's a local hero, not a very good one at that. One of the trolls tosses her through the wall about once a week. Which always sets off sis If she's home."
Ranma Nightbane, frequently known as Saotome sighed again. "And this place is still standing because?"
"Very good construction companies," Nabiki Tendo deadpanned.
From outside the sounds of gunfire, melee combat, and the occasional detonation of a fireball sounded. When he looked out the hole a scene strait out of a manga appeared before his eyes. Several men and women in gaudy and/or silly costumes were doing battle with large green skinned men with horns. A human shaped blur ran past, and a couple women in skimpy outfits were flying through the air towards unknown destinations.
XxXxX
Three months later
A phone rang, and a blond haired woman picked it up. "Mason Exterminators, paranormal threats a specialty. I'm Susan Mason, how may I help you? Job for MAGI huh? What can you tell me about this demon, any known allegiance? It works alone you say? That's unusual, usually they are summoned by the Circle or any number of criminals from the Isles. My husband is currently out on another job, but I should be able to handle this myself. Sixteen you say? All right, I'll be careful."
The woman was tall, nearly eight feet tall in fact. Her frame was a little broad with well defined muscles. But not so defined that they looked out of place or hampered movement much. Her complexion was fairly plain. While she looked nice, no one would claim her to be a model. For those who knew what she did, it amazed them she had no scars. For what Susan Mason did was hunt supernatural evil.
She was a rare breed of specialist, one who knew a lot about the paranormal and had the tools to slay anything from ghosts to gods should the need arise. While a registered and licensed 'hero' of Paragon City, she didn't easily fit into the standard classifications. Her strength was superhuman, as was her durability. When combined with armor she could empower with an impenetrable force field initially the people who interviewed her had assumed a 'tanker' with superhuman strength and invulnerability.
Susan also carried a bastard sword and could regenerate nearly any injury within minutes. This had created speculation she was a broad sword and regeneration scrapper. The fact she also carried a sawed off shotgun that fired fireballs and a pistol which fired either energy or telekinetic force made the agency assume her to be a blaster of some sort. Even which branch of the agency had been up for debate. Susan was a demigod, thus clearly fell under M.A.G.I., and yet her tools were technological in nature thus she might have belonged with the technology branch.
Her husband had been equally hard to place. It had been initially decided he was a 'claws and super reflexes' scrapper due to his agility and the bionic claws he possessed. Yet he also demonstrated a high level of proficiency with martial arts, in styles the city had never seen before. His chi manipulation skills allowed him to heal himself and others while also preforming a sort of ranged attack, so it had also been debated if he should be classified as a 'defender'.
Even which department he belonged with had been iffy. He had the ability to fly due to a scientific experiment, yet had clearly technological modifications too such as a cybernetic computer in his chest and bionic claws. Then there was his magic sword. That alone gave him abilities which it was speculated should put him with MAGI, the department that dealt with magic and the supernatural.
Even what security level to assign them had been iffy. Normally one's security level depended on both level of power. The higher one's security level the more effective in combat, and the more difficult assignments that could be given. Normally neophyte heroes would grow in experience, learning how to better utilize their abilities. How to cause more damage with their weapon, or growing in strength and durability.
But not these two. Or at least, not in the way Paragon was use to. Susan's weapons were almost ineffective against non-supernatural foes. And her favorite one, the pistol or 'ghost gun' as she called it always was the same effectiveness. Her strength didn't increase, nor did her regeneration speed up. Sure she grew more durable, but that was mostly because she could withstand more injuries before being incapacitated.
Her husband was almost the same way. He had already nearly reached the peak of what his physical skills would ever reach. Not to mention they had already tackled things that caused many of the more experienced heroes of this city to blanch. Susan and her husband were veteran warriors from other dimensions, not neophyte heroes who barely knew which end of a weapon to hold.
So when a call came about a demonic incursion or extra-dimensional invasion they both knew it was serious. Time and again over the last few months both of the Masons had proven to be a force to be reckoned with, both separately and together. It helped that the demon forces they encountered the most were far weaker then any fought in the past. That she was being called in because of a lone demon said something about the threat level to be expected. Especially since by all reports this one had already defeated sixteen of the city's champions.
The first eight had tried attacking individually. The other eight had gone in together. That meant this was not a typical demon. It worked alone, but wasn't from the Isles apparently. If it had been she would have more information. First order of business is to learn exactly what I'm dealing with. For that I shouldn't need my full arsenal. Normal concealed armor and my ghost gun should be enough. Now for the address, six-fifteen Justice Avenue huh? That's over in Skyway. Fairly deep in troll territory too. Time to track down the ones already defeated. I have questions, and they have answers.
After leaving a message she headed for the nearest train station. It was only eight blocks away, so the jog didn't take very long. Susan showed the attendant her boarding pass and got on the first bus heading south. The compartment she rode in held two dozen other costumed crime fighters. A trend she didn't really understand. All she'd ever felt was needed was armor, holster and sheath harness, and a trench coat. Maybe a fedora as well, but that wasn't required.
XxXxX
For the eighth time the woman approached the building. She had brown shoulder length hair that was poorly maintained. The woman's chest and arms were covered with a yellow and black leather jerken that went just past her elbows. While the main color was a dingy yellow black stripes went down both arms. The front and back also had a contoured stripe of black. Black chitin like shoulder guards adorned both shoulders She wore black fingerless gloves on each hand
Her legs were partly encased in organic appearing spires of black metal. What type of metal, she had no idea. On her feet she wore purplish green ribbed combat boots The back of the boots had a set of three fin like spines each. The lower half of her face was obscured by a black veil with gold dots on it. She was known as Madam Enigma, a mysterious hunter of humans. Madam Enigma was known as a hero, but just barely.
Two weeks ago she'd heard a group of neophyte blasters had gone missing. That had started an investigation. Fifty members of the Troll gang had been hospitalized after she interrogated them. Fifty more hadn't survived the process. However it hadn't been as informative as Enigma had hoped. All it turned up was a kid going by 'miss meow' had been defeated multiple times by some sort of clawed monster.
It had been enough to send the homicidal warrior into this neighborhood. And when Miss Meow once more went flying through the wall of one house in particular Madam Enigma had finally seen her prey. Said prey was a teenage girl of Asian decent and potentially lethal energy claws. When the 'heroine' moved to put down the feral she'd been confronted by a red haired teenage girl with bat wings and fire projection abilities.
It had been the first encounter with the demoness calling herself 'Nightbane'. The first, but not the last time. Defeat was no stranger. However in the past Madam Enigma had always managed to come back and win the second time. Or sometimes the third time if her foe got exceptionally lucky. But this demon had so far constantly out fought her. It was always close. The last battle had lasted nearly two hours. Longer then Enigma had ever had to fight a single foe before.
During the final approach she noticed a tall woman nearby also studying the house. Hyper senses informed the killer her prey was in the attached dojo, again. It was almost always where she found the demon. At speeds which almost boardered on superhuman Madam Enigma burst through the wooden door. Her organic metal claws burst from her hands, ready to shred this inhuman monster.
XxXxX
"All right girls, time for a break."
Ranma was currently male while he trained former students. Almost three months ago they had been found beaten nearly to death just outside the Tendo home. It was after that he restarted their training. This time however he didn't hold back quite as much as before. Since they insisted on trying to be super heroes for some unknown reason, Ranma decided to make sure they would survive the experience. And who knew, maybe they would stop getting themselves (and occasionally the world) killed over and over.
Seconds after the girls had left to get cleaned up the dojo's street entrance shattered inward. In the ruined door stood a figure he was growing to despise. She was almost as bad as that Hibiki person about unjustified assaults. Nabs better not charge me for this. Ranma stood there and waited for the inevitable attack. When it didn't come he blinked slowly. This was the first time the madwoman had not tried killing him immediately.
"Well," he began, "are you going to try killing me again, or just stand there? Better make up your mind quickly. An old friend is heading our way and I want to talk with her."
The woman, he thought she called herself 'madam mystery' or something like that, seemed confused. A reaction which puzzled the pig tailed warrior. Then it hit him, this woman had never attacked when he was male before. It had always been while he was a female. Bet she doesn't even know who I am. The feral growl coming from the costumed woman was a bit alarming. It almost sounded like Akane when she went neko. Or when he use to do so.
From behind Madam Enigma came a woman's voice. "So Mister Nightbane, I take it you are the demon that's been taking out heroes for the last month or two?""
"Hello Mason-San," Ranma said with a smile. "You may want to back up. I think this lunatic is about to attack me, again. I'll answer your questions after she's disabled."
Upon having it confirmed this man was in fact a demon, Madam Enigma snarled and pounced. Just before she could slash with razor sharp claws the murderous heroine had to flip backwards. This let her avoid a roundhouse kick that had come out of nowhere. From her new spot five feet away from the demon she slashed down with her right fist. In it's wake a lethal air pressure wave was launched at Ranma. He countered by tossing a bolt of fire into the path of her projectile.
"Do you know what your problem is?" Ranma asked as he casually grabbed Enigma's wrist and flipped her through the air. "And it's one shared by every 'hero' I've seen since arriving here." He leaned back to avoid a pair of claw swipes aimed at his head. "You rely too much on one limited set of maneuvers." He flipped over Madam Enigma and threw a punch at her lower lumbar which was dodged easily.
"You also tend to jump to conclusions without the full facts." Madam Enigma dashed backwards and unleashed a beam of green laser light from her eyes which singed Ranma's arm. "Do you attack me because I'm a demon? What difference does it make?" An ax kick caused Madam Enigma to weave to the side, only to run face first into a fist. "The only people I've fought since getting here were you 'heroes' when you attack me without cause or when the street gangs try to mug me."
"Not that I can talk about relying on one type of move too much. I was like that too once," He said as he tied up the heroine. "But then spending five hundred years or so training in martial arts under various masters has helped me overcome the flaws my style originally had. Now Mason-San, I imagine you're here about my students. They are fine, but I wont let them risk their lives until I'm confidant they wont get killed in seconds. I'm rather tired of resets every six months."
Wings of Recursion
part two
Sometimes I hate my job. I mean, you would think a recursive loop similar to my home dimension would be nice and relaxing. Or at least familiar. But noooo, this loop just has to have widely used time travel. It's taking most of my time just to prevent more problems then these loops are suppose to fix. Fortunately I have a few allies this time around. Unfortunately those same allies are the ones causing me the most trouble.
There was a time when temporal mechanics would have been so much Greek to me. Then I got instated as this dimension's guardian of time. A fancy name for what should merely be a caretaker. My predecessor however was a moron. She used time it's self for her amusement. And not just on rare occasions. No, that would have been bad enough. She had to do so almost on a weekly basis for an unbelievably long time.
From what I understand the guardian of time normally doesn't need to know temporal mechanics. Not me though, I had to have it shoved sideways into my head. I had to know what was wrong with the time stream so I could figure out how to fix it. Cause and Effect, they should be constant. And yet they aren't anymore. That's a problem you see. It's a seriously bad problem. If left unchecked this entire time line was going to break down within a century.
To fix things I had to select a group of people who represented various universal constants. Earth, air, fire, water, light, dark, chaos, order, and time, these all needed someone to anchor them. I got lucky and found two people who represent two universal constants each. These anchors I blessed, or maybe cursed with being mostly exempt from each chrono reset. Effective immortality for as long as it takes for time to be repaired. The ability to grow in skill and knowledge to unknown limits.
Last time I talked with Mister Nightbane he'd expressed a distaste for immortality which I quite honestly agree with. He also chewed me out about where the resets start at. But that's not my fault. I've no clue why it always starts there. If I could I would aid him by changing when they begin. Fate however is a fickle thing. What must be must be, and some things must remain constant.
Maybe in the next loop I'll be able to relax.
Author Notes:
For an image of Madam Enigma go to my Photobucket account, profile Red_Knight1979. There you will find a screenshot from City of Heroes for both at rest and one for 'combat'. You can also find images for several other characters that have cropped up in my stories.
