DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Ranma ½, Sailor Moon, Oh! My Goddess, or any other property which might show up. What I do own is the Freedom Society and it's world setting. They originate from a long standing Heroes Unlimited campaign that spanned six decades of in-game continuity. A setting and characters which the other former gaming group members gave me permission to use as my own.

Author Note: Still working on chapter 4. But for reasons unknown to even me I felt the need to write up a TV show opening credits sequence to insert as the first chapter.

Wild Horses Sometimes Breed

by Faerie Knight

What's in a name? A more sarcastic person might say 'letters'. Who am I kidding? I not only would say that, but I have in the past. A person's whole identity can be wrapped up around their name. For years I hated mine with a passion. Nicknames always pissed me off. I hate being given them. Yet for the past four years I've been going by my screen name exclusively. That should bother me. After all, my name is rather important to me. Not having someone use my proper name usually makes me angry.

Not even sure why I started using my screen name. At the time I'd had the feeling someone was watching. So I guess it was to remain anonymous. Since I'm in a fictional setting, traveling with the 'daughter' of a fictional character from another world, what if somehow people in my world are reading about my adventures? That's silly, I know. Yet me being here should be impossible. But anyway, what's in a name? Why is it so important to me?

It's easy to figure out why I'm obsessing about this. I'm currently being lead by a group of people. Not that being lead around is anything to make me go all introspective. No, it's the fact they had to link me to a bunch of others via a chain. Sure I got my stuff back, mostly. Need to replace my sword, again. But this was the only way to get me out of that place. Don't know where I'm going. And I don't have a choice about going there. That, and I'm worried about if I can resist the other geas when it's reapplied.

So what's in a name? Does it matter if I go by 'faerie knight' anymore? Should I just use my name? Or is it even mine anymore? I know that in magic names have power. Does my name still have power over me? Am I still who I was, or am I someone else now? Does it matter anymore? I've been turned into a freak of nature. Even if I found a way home, taking it would be tantamount to suicide. As the saying goes, you can't go home again.

XxXxX

Maybe he can do something, Sam thought as he lead almost three hundred slave girls. That two were his wife and daughter sat poorly with the man. He'd tried every trustworthy wizard he knew. Yet none had been able to remove the geas on the girls, or the curses. It was fortunate the slave chains appeared to partly suppress the geas. Trying to transport hundreds of girls who can barely move would not have been fun. As it was he'd dealt with misunderstandings multiple times.

The harpers had said they'd send people to deal with the keep. Shardrena and her friends had left to continue chasing the wizard Alistar Sam wished them luck. He also hoped Shardrena found the answers she was looking for. When they had first met the elven girl had been obsessed with finding the dragon that killed her parents. But now it was becoming increasingly obvious the dragon might have been one of her parents. At least it was obvious to the former super hero.

He didn't get along with the old man anywhere near as well as Ranma did. Still, it was useful to know someone on a first name basis with a deity. Sure they could have reached the destination faster using Ranma's ship. Except the various curses that wizard had used meant Ranma herself couldn't guide them, and Sam was unable to really interact with the tree. As the group approached the old wizard's tower Sam wondered again how things had gotten so complicated.

XxXxX

He was an old man. While still in fairly good shape, the man had seen better days. His once well defined muscles had softened over the years. Skin that once could almost withstand a bullet without injury had softened. Even his skills had deteriorated to an extent. His body just couldn't handle the stresses going full out entailed anymore. If there was one thing about the Japanese man hadn't changed though, it was his sense of direction.

Or rather, his lack of one. For sixty years he had struggled to find the one he blamed for all his problems. Sixty years of fruitless searching. Every time he got close, some spandex clad idiot would attack him. Ryoga Hibiki was a wanted man after all. They claimed him to be a murderer and terrorist. This too he blamed on Ranma Saotome. Everything was Ranma's fault, or at least it was if one asked Ryoga. Even being unable to tell left from right was his fault.

Even after seventy-four years he still was vowing revenge upon the pig tailed martial artist. He still blamed Ranma for everything that ever happened to him. This alone said something unflattering about Ryoga. At the moment the old man was wandering around a forest, somewhere. The week previous his depression had peaked again. In it's wake there was a new crater in the forest. When next he'd been in a city, he'd seen a newspaper laying on the ground.

It's headline had read "Terrorist strike in the heartland". As he read the article his blood boiled. The paper claimed he had murdered a dozen children in Iowa. The picture shown was that of a huge blast crater. One Ryoga recognized from intimate experience. That no one else was to blame but him eluded the obsessed man though. Instead once more he vowed revenge on Ranma Saotome. No one else in his mind could possible be to blame. So here he was, in the middle of nowhere searching eternally for the one man to blame for all his problems.

That the forest consisted of metal walls, floor, and ceiling hadn't registered on his brain yet. To those around him, they wondered how the old man had gotten on Earth's first government owned intergalactic transport shuttle. Security officers notified the captain. The captain called an emergency meeting of his top officers. The near legendary pig-man was onboard his vessel. And to make matters worse, none of the security personnel were skilled enough to deal with a terrorist of that caliber.

None of this registered to Ryoga Hibiki though. By the time he realized the forest had vanished, the vessel was already in hyperspace. A fact which did interesting things to the Hibiki directional curse. For the first time in his life Ryoga found he could differentiate between right and left. While his present location was still an unknown, it didn't seem like the world's features were constantly being rearranged on him. Almost reflexively he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Curse you Saotome! This is all your fault!"

It was only after the fact that Ryoga realized what he'd just done. Did I just blame Ranma for something good happening? He thought in confusion. Since the age of eleven he'd been blaming Ranma Saotome for everything that happened to him. Even his inability to find his way around a room with one door had been laid at Ranma's feet. A common claim of Hibiki had always been 'it's all Ranma's fault'. But until this moment he'd never considered one minor aspect of his claim.

If everything that happened to him was Ranma Saotome's fault, then Hibiki had to then attribute anything good that happened to the man as well as anything bad. This was a sobering thought. The idea of ascribing anything positive to his hated foe sat ill with the elderly man. He'd nurtured hatred for too long. Long ago revenge had become Rygoa's sole reason for living. Even he wasn't sure when exactly it happened. Even his sweet Akane hadn't been able to end the hunt for vengeance.

Granted, it hadn't helped when his curse had been revealed. Nor had certain actions taken when in a dark mood. If the man had ever actually studied chi manipulation he might have recognized the signs. There weren't many, but they were out there. For every thousand martial artists who devoted the time to become masters, there was one who dedicated their life to the art. While most of the chi masters usually were in their golden years, not all were.

Several decades ago Ryoga had witnessed a fairly young man in a garish green costume. This man had done things with his chi Ryoga hadn't thought possible. While the unknown man's strength had appeared normal for a human, he'd been extremely agile. Possibly as much so as Saotome. This man had managed to heal someone shot by muggers just by channeling chi into the wound. Even more impressive had been the man's fighting skills. His style had been far more graceful then Ryoga had thought combat could be.

Elsewhere on the ship

Sixty years is a long time to be separated. Even more so when it's because someone has been in prison. An elderly woman sat in her room and brooded on the past. Of mistakes made, and paths not taken. Never in her life had the woman considered that she'd leave the earth. But her sister was going to be released in a few weeks. And the woman felt it important to see her only surviving sister one last time. For you see, the woman was named Akane Tendo. And she was dying.

With her traveled Akane's daughter-in-law and granddaughter. For most of her granddaughter's life Akane had not been there. It had hurt too much to see her son. A man who looked so like his father. A man who just by existing had reminded Akane of her greatest mistake, and biggest shame. While Akane had never married, in her youth she'd been engaged. At the time she'd hated the situation. Her fiance had been struck whenever she was angered, weather it was justified or not.

It was only after the Saotome boy, by then a man, had left that Akane had started to see the full picture. For years she'd accused Ranma Saotome of picking on both her pet pig and her friend. The evidence of her eyes had been all that was needed. The context of the fights hadn't mattered. In retrospect, her discovery had only been a matter of time. Without the chaos surrounding the Saotomes, there had been nothing to distract her from discovering the identity of Nerima's final cursed individual.

And with that discovery had came a rage built upon by years of being taken advantage of. So at the time Akane had done what she usually did when angered or embarrassed. She lashed out. What had happened next had shattered Akane's illusions regarding personal skill in martial arts. Even now, forty years later, she couldn't bear to think of that day. On that day four decades ago she'd learned how little honor and morality Ryoga Hibiki had left. That was the day he stole something which can never be returned.

If given the choice, she'd have never had the baby. Or even given the child up for adoption. But the choice hadn't been hers. Daddy had put his foot down on the issue. The Tendo name and art would continue through the unwanted baby. So nine months after being violated Koukai Tendo had been born. Akane's oldest sister had been the one to mostly raise Koukai. Looking at her son merely served as a reminder of what had happened.

I couldn't even go to Koukai's wedding. He looked so much like that bastard. Her grandchild seemed to know what was wrong. The young woman was barely seventeen. Even in her old age, Akane still didn't like physical contact. But the young woman had still engulfed her in a hug. It was an awkward embrace that followed. The elder due to discomfort with such acts, and the younger due to not wanting to hurt her grandmother.

"Dad forgave you Grandma, please forgive yourself." The teen said with tears in her eyes.

"I know Nozomi. I wish I could have been there for you sooner." Akane told her descendent.

"Grandma, are we going to see Aunt Ranko?"

"No my ray of hope, but you will meet an aunt."

"When will I get to meet Aunt Ranko? I've never actually seen her, just exchanged letters."

"I don't know dear. She left earth before you were born. When we last spoke Ranko said she needed to live a peaceful life for awhile. She was hurting as I remember. She'd just buried several old friends."

What Akane didn't mention was that an honor pledge between her family and the former Saotome still existed. There was no indication her former fiance had ever had any children. Then there was another complication. What if Ranma's real family disapproved of the agreement? No, it was better not to mention the family's other shame. When she saw the disappointment, Akane couldn't help but feel for the teen. A soft chime indicated there was a message. Earth had opted to use chimes instead of having the little imps shout out 'Message' in an annoying voice.

After retrieving it, Akane noted that the message was addressed to her, and labeled as private and urgent. She didn't recognize the sender. A quick once over however showed that it was about her sister. This warranted more detailed reading. At first Akane's expression was one of concern. This quickly morphed into a stony mask. The message scroll was crushed, and dropped by a still shaking elderly woman. Concerned, Nozomi picked up the scroll and started to read it.

"I regret to inform you of a grevious injustice done to your family. While transporting the cryo tube for prisoner 66197 it was discovered technicians had deliberately sabotaged the stasis unit. An investigation is currently under way. However there is no means to determine how long this has been let sit. The results of the tampering is to leave the prisoner conscious while still within cryogenic stasis."

"Grandma, why is the galaxy police chief writing you about a prisoner?"

"Because she's my sister."

XxXxX

Four figures sat around a low table. They were all female, and appeared to be quite young. Two of them were obviously a couple, their hands entwined with each other. The others looked annoyed and sheepish respectively. They were the Masaki family, and the youngest Masaki's friend. Although Faerie didn't appear too pleased with being a busty female with tan fur and black spots. Anna herself was uncomfortable too. This was a reunion she wasn't exactly ready for.

"Mom, mom, I'd like you to meet Faerie Knight."

The felinoid shook her head. "Actually, it's Dan. Faerie Knight is my screen name when online. And you must be Ranma Saotome."

The red haired teenager spoke up. "Masaki, But how do you know me?"

"Right," Dan began. "Because where I come from I enjoy reading the manga about you and watching the anime. And you are Sam Bricklbuster?"

The teen with blue hair shook her head to indicate the mistake. "Masaki, we're married."

When the tan furred girl blinked the couple laughed. "I don't suppose there's any relationship to a Tenchi Masaki?"

"Her cousin," Sam replied.

"Riiight," Dan said sarcastically. "Then would someone mind explaining how I'm sitting in front of one of my heroes unlimited characters and my favorite anime's main character? And while you're at it, mind explaining how the frell we're all in the most famous Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings? Magic I can understand, hell I have a faerie of some sort that keeps visiting my apartment. And my best friend uses ritual magic. But I just had Elminster the freaking archmage remove two curses and tell me I'm going to keep changing into a freak of nature."

Her comments raised a couple eyebrows. Neither of them had heard of 'dungeons and dragons'. Nor had the Masaki family heard of anything called heroes unlimited. The closest they knew of was a newsletter for the heroic community called 'Heroes United'. Then there was the disturbing fact this stranger seemed to know them both. Sam did her best to refrain from any snarky comments. Her wife on the other hand made no such attempt.

"So you claim to be the kami messing with my life?"

Dan thought a moment. "Kami, kami, let's see here... No, I'm no god. In my world though you are a fictional character. I have to wonder though, what the frell is Sam Bricklbuster doing as a teenage girl?"

It was rather clear the furry girl was having trouble reigning in her temper at the moment. That she managed to curtail any foul language was a feat in it's self. Ever since the rescue a month ago Dan had been growing increasingly irritable. And unlike the others from the slavery ring, Dan hadn't immediately reverted to original gender and race. It had been determined the recently transformed felinoid would be able to, but not when. It had also been learned her new form was a permanent addition.

The reasons for that had been unknown. It might have had something to do with the unusual magic coursing through Dan's body. Or due to her being from another plane of existence, according to the ancient mage. It might even have been due to a previously unknown spell being used. No one could rightly say. Long experience hinted to the teenage Masaki elders what the problem might be. And it worried them greatly.

I really hope this girl isn't really a berserker. They're bad enough. But a berzerker going through pms? No fucking way do I want do deal with that! Sam thought to herself. After six decades she and Ranko had developed a sort of silent communication. The two former superheroes exchanged glances before nodding in unison. Unlike the barbarians of this world, the girl calling herself Dan had all the hallmarks of someone truly dangerous to those around them.

Ranko for her part was considering another aspect of this stranger. She claims to know about my life in Nerima. And seems to be spot on for the most part. She also knows about the Masaki's. Maybe it's time to tell Anna about her family. I'd rather be the one telling her, not some stranger. Even with her conviction, it was a hard decision to make. For twenty years Ranko had been running from her pain. It might not have seemed like it to others though.

The deaths of her friends had hurt far more then Ranko had admitted. It hurt enough to cause her to flee her homeworld. Enough even that she settled into the life of a housewife. For twenty years she'd avoided the past. But now it was catching up with her. Sam too had been running from the past. But not quite for the same reasons. After all this time, Ranko understood her husband. He didn't fight injustice because it was the right thing to do. No, he did so because of a deep rooted guilt.

"Sam, I think it's time we stopped running. Maybe not pick up the 'never-ending battle' just yet, but it's time to confront our ghosts. Besides, Grandpa should beet our daughter."

XxXxX

Her name was Shampoo, and it had been entirely too long since she'd seen home. At first it was due to being in prison on an alien world. Then the amazon woman had been forced into a school of some sort. While her Japanese was still broken, she'd managed to become fluent in the main galactic trade languages. But that was more due to necessity. The galaxy can be unforgiving to someone with poor language skills. It was also humbling to know her tribe's three thousand plus years of history meant little in the grand scheme of things.

It's actually hard to consider your tribe important when there's scientists who have lived longer then your tribe has existed. Even harder when you actually meet said scientist multiple times. It's hard to look down on males as weak when you meet several who can stop a pirate cruiser's weapons fire. Pride, she discovered, takes a backseat to survival. And over time her ideas of what constituted survival had changed too. No longer was Shampoo content with living a simple life.

After touching the stars, returning to being a simple warrior woman for a backwoods village seemed less important. It wasn't that Shampoo had stopped being a warrior. She just changed venues. Instead of defending her village and way of life, Shampoo now defended her ship from pirates. But Pride of Life was in dry dock for repairs. On their last trip pirates had attacked, crippling the vessel. It was only the timely arrival of an unusual GP ship captained by the near legendary Seina Yamata that saved them.

So now she was waiting for the transport that would take her home. For the first time since being released, Shampoo would return to Earth. She couldn't help but wonder how things had changed. Such thoughts were put on hold though when the lights began to blink red. Klaxons sounded throughout the station as well. The warrior woman grabbed her sword and pistol before checking in. The situation proved to be serious.

The transport from Earth was under attack by an unknown fleet. Which meant the station it's self would also likely end up under assault. As any professional soldier can tell you, it's not the combat that gets to you. What really hits the hardest is the waiting. When you know bullets are about to fly, but not when. That is the real killer. It plays havoc with one's nerves. That was an aspect of war her youth had never prepared Shampoo for. When young, war had seemed a game.

Stakes like life and death hadn't seemed that big. When a teenage girl had challenged for the prize of her village's tournament it was pride that gave the kiss of death. Even love had been a misunderstood concept. Anymore, the idea that a male loves you just because they defeated you in combat was laughable. It had taken a shipmate dying in her arms to drive home just how serious things were. The first time Shampoo had killed, she'd been unable to stop crying for two days.

As she waited for the inevitable boarding action Shampoo couldn't help but dwell on past mistakes. As well as how they had affected her life. In some ways life was better now. There were times the earthling felt glad she'd been arrested. If things had continued as they once were, where would Shampoo be now? The question was impossible to answer. When had things changed so drastically? She didn't know the reasons why, but it had started when Ranma Saotome had vanished.

But war wasn't a game anymore. And now she could only wait while one of the few links to the past was in danger. Shampoo was after all just a member of her ship's security crew. Pride of Life was a GP cargo transport ship after all. They had been delivering supplies to this station. One used mostly for the release of prisoners. In fact it was the same station Shampoo herself had awoken on after her sentence. Is that a Jurian tree ship? Shampoo thought as she observed the space battle on a monitor.

It was sometimes hard to tell them apart. All tree ships looked pretty much alike to the woman. Then again it was uncommon to actually see one. The Devil Princess was the most likely to be seen, and even that was an event to dread. The monitor screen then flashed read with the kanji for 'wild horse' flashing. It was a little known warning signal. One not used very often, and not seen in twenty years. But Shampoo could guess what it meant.

Seto's triple z is much more commonly known. But then she actively patrols. Wild Horse wasn't quite as powerful. It's radius was about half that of the triple Z. And it's only been used twice to Shampoo's knowledge. There was also only one ship authorized to use that warning code or weapon. It was a man or woman, the reports were indecisive, who hadn't been heard from four two decades. Shampoo could guess who the person was despite not having high enough clearance to know.

Past and present converge as danger looms on the horizon. But who would dare attack a Galaxy Police outpost? Next time on Wild Horses Sometimes Breed: Of Foes and Family, reunion of the heart