Star Trek: Ranma's Adventures 7 – by DS Wynne
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 7
(The following takes place between 1:00pm and 2:00 pm.)
Azabuu Juuban, Tokyo, Japan: "Cafe Americana".
With the meeting slowly wrapping up, UN Aide Worker Diana Prince (other wise known as "Wonder Woman", the Princess of the Amazons), decides to chat with her "father".
"Father, how are things?"
"Ah, there okay, I guess," Ranma said, as he and his daughter stepped outside onto the terrace. "How's Hippolyta?"
"Well, she and Herakles have decided to rekindle their relationship."
"I'm not surprised," Ranma said. "Even at Herk's worst, Polly tends to be WAY more forgiven."
Ranma leans on a nearby railing.
"And how is Lyta?"
"Um, you DO know that she is one of the Sailor Scouts these days, right?"
"Oh, I forgot."
Yep, Ranma did forget how complicated his "family" is these days, and the irony is that it's tied to the Amazons of all groups of people!
FLASHBACK!
The Age of Heroes.
"Do we have to go?" Usagi cried, as she, Ranma, Hoshi and T'Pol treked over Asia Minor, as they continued they search for the Uruk-hai marauders from the West and into East. It been some time since the fall of the Mordor and the demise of Lord Sauron's "One Rinig". Since then, the fortunes of Man have risen, in this Fourth Age. The Uruk-hai, bestial creatures made for Sauron's war by Saruman, are on a steady decline, but are still dangerous.
"I mean, they are heading East," Usagi says. "Let THOSE people deal with them."
"For once, I agree," T'Pol says, as she marched behind Ranma. "We have a wedding to attend, and we do not have time to give chase."
"Look, we'll be back before you know it," Ranma says, as he turns to face his companions. "And I want to attend my daughter's wedding before she and her fiancée go off the Valinor."
"You mean, OUR daughter, Ranma," T'Pol fumed.
"Okay, if you want to include yourself-"
"Guys!" Hoshi said. "There they are!"
For several days, Ranma and his group were striking down this particular group of Uruk-hai every chance they get. A week before, this group of Uruk-hai had attacked the long-departed Frodo Baggin's Hobbit Shire, in retaliation for their role in their master's defeat. Now, Ranma and his companions were specifically charged with the task of eliminating them.
Ranma signaled his group to hide, as he watched a Uruk-hai encampment. He then signaled Hoshi to create a "Field of Silence" around the party, he signaled Usagi to ready some offensive spells, and he signaled T'Pol to prepare an anti-magical effect to prevent the Uruk-hai chieftain and his remaining mystic from casting a spell to affect his party's combat effectiveness. Ranma himself utilized his own spell-casting ability to create an affect to increase his party's damage capabilities.
"Alright," Ranma said, as he readied his sword, a Rune sword named "Mars", and his psi-sword (an energy blade fueled by the power of the mind). Ranma preferred no weapons, since he was a practitioner of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, but, from his experience, he didn't want ANYTHING to do with touching THINGS.
For years, Ranma and his party has been growing stronger, in both prestige and personal power. This had attracted the attention of many powerful beings, particularly the Titans of old. In particular, because Cronus tried to "seduce" Usagi against her will, after learning of her "Moon Princess" destiny, Ranma and the others sided with Cronus' son Zeus during the Titan-Olympian War. The result was the party were rewarded with "godling" status. However, as attractive as this may sound, being awarded such a status simple means that Ranma and his party has A degree of immortality (Ranma and the others could still die by mortal means), no power (such as a domain or sphere of influence), and has a mailing address on Mt. Olympus that includes a single tattoo marking on their foreheads to indicate such. Lord Zeus wanted to give Ranma and his party full godhood (Ranma would have been the new "God of War"), but everyone agreed that such a move would one, change the course of human history, and, two, be tied down to one faction within the supernatural community. Ranma had every reason to go after Cronus, and not just for what the Titan tried to do to Usagi; the Lord of Time was also a supporter of Lord Sauron, who wanted to partner up with the renegade Valinor out of fear of a bigger threat: the faerie folk known as the Sidhe. Still, that particular fact did not stop Ranma from helping to destroy Cronus and his ilk.
"Ready?" Ranma said, as he got into position. So far, the Uruk-hai has not noticed his presence.
Usagi, Hoshi and T'Pol nodded collectively.
"NOW!"
Sometime later...
"Ow," Ranma-chan said, as she removed the last metal splinters from her body. "I should've request FULL immortality..."
Ranma-chan and the others were bathing in an idyllic, fresh-water lake, whose waters ran straight into the Black Sea.
"Cannonball!" Usagi said, as she jumped into the lake.
SPLASH!
Ranma-chan shook her head.
"Don't be such a stick in the mud, Ranma," Hoshi said, as she swam up to Ranma-chan. "We got the bad guys, and we can return home."
"Yeah, yeah. Though, I must admit, this lake is kinda cool."
T'Pol swims up to Ranma-chan.
"We can camp here tonight before heading back."
"Fine with me," Ranm-chan says. "I can hunt for some food to resupply ourselves and stuff."
T'Pol nods.
Meanwhile, while the four women were bathing and swimming, their actions were being observed by the Olympians Ares and Aphrodite. They were cloaking their presence.
"See, lover?" Aphrodite says. "Women CAN be excellent warriors."
"Perhaps, but Lord Ranma was born male," Ares said. "Even as a female, that aspect is always to the fore."
"Then, let's create an experiment. We can create a new race of warriors dedicated to peace and harmony."
"That is NOT the way of a warrior," Ares replied. "However...I am intrigued by your proposal."
"I'm glad that you are so inclined to engage in my grand scheme."
The next day, after Ranma and the others headed back to the Western Lands, Ares and Aphrodite appears on the shore of the idyllic lake.
"LET US FASHION A NEW RACE OF WARRIORS, USING LORD RANMA, LADY USAGI, LADY T'POL AND LADY HOSHI AS THE TEMPLATE," the two gods said in unison.
Within the waters, the blood of Ranma-CHAN and her group began to coalesce with the clay that lied within the lake bed. The clay began to collect, grew larger, and began to rise to the surface...
"LET US FUSE THE SOULS OF THE DEAD, WHO LIE IN THE WOMB OF GAEA, TO BE GIVEN NEW LIVES AS OUR DAUGHTERS...THE AMAZONS!"
SPLOOSH!
Fifty women popped up out of the waters of Lake Themiscyria. Strangely, the the first two, one blond and one brunet looked familiar. The one with dark hair looked like Usagi, while the blond looked like Ranma-chan. The dark skinned female looked like T'Pol, while the red-head looked like Hoshi. The other forty-six females looked like variations of Ranma-chan and her companions, each one with different qualities of the aforementioned adventurers.
The women looked up at their creators.
"WE CHARGE YOU WITH THE ROLE OF WARRIORS FOR PEACE," Ares and Aphrodite says. "SERVE YOUR ROLES WELL."
"Yes, Father and Mother," the women said in unison.
"HIPPOLYTA AND ANTIOPE!"
The dark-haired "Usagi" and the blond-haired "Ranma-chan" step forth respectively.
"LEAD YOUR SISTERS! BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY!"
"Yes, Father and Mother!" Hippolyta and Antiope said together. Somehow, the Amazons picked up the racial memories from their progenitors (i.e. Ranma and company). They instinctively knew a local language, combat skills and the like. However, their divine mission was from their creators. And thus, the Amazons were born...
The years roll on, and Ranma and company continue to make names for themselves. Kings and Generals sought their services, but Ranma and his fellow adventurers kept their involvement in the affairs of Men to a minimum. As a result, they took up residence in Ithaca, an island kingdom located west of Greece in the Ionian Sea (the waters which also hugs modern day Italy), after the mythic kingdom of Atlantis "fell". They had been invited to live there by King Cephalus, the son of Hermes the messenger god of the Olympians and a nymph. Ranma had fought on Cephalus' side in order to free an oppressed people, and thus was rewarded some lands. In one parcel, Usagi, T'Pol and Hoshi opened up a tavern by the sea, which, in turn, became an important port of call for heroes for many...
"Alright, young sire!" Usagi said, as she greeted a customer at her bar. "What can I get ya?"
A young, man, no older than eighteen looks around nervously before speaking.
"I am looking for...'The Wild Horse' for training," said the young man.
"And you might be...?"
"My name is Perseus, son of Zeus and Princess Denae of the Kingdom of Argos."
"Ah, I see. Ranma! We have another one!"
"I'm coming!" Ranma said, as he steps out from the kitchen. "What's up?"
"Apparently, Lord Zeus has sent another one to become a hero."
Ranma sizes the boy up.
"So, why should train ya?"
Perseus bows his head.
"I've heard of a great hero, who is a contemporary of the great teacher of heroes Chiron."
Ranma sizes the boy up.
"Alright, kid. I'll train you, but first-"
Ranma handed Perseus a large wooden bucket.
"Bust these tables. Training begins everyday at the first light of dawn. The rest of the day, you will have to earn your keep."
"Aye, my lord."
And so it went.
Whenever Ranma takes on a student, he or all of his companions get mixed up in some sort of adventure involving his students soon after. It started with Peseus, and then there was Hercules...
"See?" the scion of Zeus said, as he lifted a boulder to prove his great strength.
Ranma yawned, as he simply tapped his fingers on another boulder-
BOOM!
"And I didn't need to break a sweat!"
"..."
And even the young Xena was trained by Ranma.
"YA-YA-YA-HA!" Xena yelled, as she flipped about the obstacle course. She suddenly sensed the presence of her 'master'.
CLANG!
"I can see how enthusiastic you are, girl," Ranma said, as he got close and personal. "But silence can be deadly."
It was no secret that Xena was attracted to Ranma, but had to remember that he was her teacher.
Of course, there was Jason, Atalanta, Bellerophon, Theseus and even Cephalus's great-grandson Odysseus to be trained Ranma and his companions over the years. In fact, it was a virtual "class reunion" of sorts, when Ranma, Usagi, Hoshi and T'Pol were asked by Jason to accompany him and his "Argonauts" to retrieve the Golden Fleece. And it was during this time that Ranma would end up meeting the Amazons...
Ranma, Hercules and Theseus (Hercules' cousin) were part of a hunting expedition in the region. Ranma came along because he was familiar with it, and Hercules was there to retrieve Queen Hippolya's Sacred Girdle as part of his penance; Theseus was the 'tag-along'. Ranma, thanks to his own experience with Amazons of the Joketsu, didn't care for them at all. Still, he was curious, and it gave him and excuse to hang out with his former students.
"Wait," Ranma said, as he stopped his horse. "I hear something-"
And that's when the Amazons, who was using their skills to hide their presence sprung into action.
Back in Ithaca...
"Ranma's been gone for TOO long," Usagi said, as she got her gear ready. "I'm going after him."
"You shouldn't go at it alone, Usagi," Hoshi said.
"Yes," T'Pol says. "We should close up shop, and accompany you-"
"That's okay," Usagi said. "Xena will help me on this one."
"She's still a pirate, isn't she?" Hoshi asked.
"Yeah, but she'll help me find Ranma, when we hit land near the Black Sea."
And with that, Usagi left Ithaca to find her friend Ranma...
Sometime later, Usagi and Xena did find the City of Themiscyria, the home of the Amazons. She was shocked to find that Ranma was being held "hostage" by the Amazons. Of course, being held hostage meant becoming a stud for breeding purposes.
"You jerk!" Usagi said, as she belted Ranma. "I was worried about you!"
"I gave my word that as long as Hercules has the Polly's Girdle-"
"Who is Polly?"
"I am," said one of the Queen of the Amazons.
Usagi was shocked to see a virtual mirror image of herself. Only, this version was a lot more regal and mature...not to mention that the Amazon queen had black hair.
"So, I finally get to meet you, my Sister," Hippolyta said. "But I have to warn you that until I get my godly gift back, Lord Ranma is not free to go. Or until my sister Antiope and her warriors return with it."
"Hmmm..."
"What do you think we should do, Usagi?" Xena asked.
Usagi steps forth.
"I challenge you for the life of Lord Ranma!"
Hippolyta smirks.
"Very well, but know that I am the best warrior of my nation..."
Ten minutes later...
POW!
In a quick feint, Usagi delivered a knock-out punch to Hippolyta.
"You have skills, but you lack experience to defeat me!"
Hippolyta stands.
"Then, as it is written, I am not worthy to lead my people..."
"Polly, I don't want you to loose your throne. I just want Ranma to have his freedom."
Hippolyta nods with approval, and gives Usagi a kiss on the lips. She then turns to her people.
"Know this, that on this day, I consider Usagi of Ithaca a member of my House. Thus, from this day forth, she will be known as Princess Usagi of Themiscyria!"
The assembled crowd roared with approval.
And thus, Usagi became an Amazon PRINCESS.
Hippolyta turns to Xena and Ranma.
"As for you two...Xena of Amphipolis, and Ranma of Ithaca...I name you two members of the Amazon nation.
Xena nods approvingly. It'll certainly further her reputation of sorts...
However, Ranma took it a different way.
"WHAT?"
"Congratulations, Lord Ranma. You are now one of US."
Ranma laughed with mirth.
"You got me after all, you old ghoul," Ranma said to himself, thinking how ironic his new situation was.
More years pass. When the "Trojan War" took place, Odysseus formerly requested Ranma's aid; he would have gone anyway, since Usagi's Amazon ties compelled her, when Gabrielle the Bard, now the Amazon Queen of Antiope's line, formerly made her request. Ranma had hoped to wrap up the war quickly, but realized that with the Olympians taking sides in this conflict, the war would take a long time run its course.
In fact, it took ten years to bring down the C ity of Troy, and it was due to one of Odysseus' tricks.
Unfortunately, due to an inadvertent slight on Odysseus' part, Poseidon made sure that NO ONE returned home. At least, until a certain cosmic entity named "Q" performed some arm twisting on a certain sea god...
The Island of Calypso, the Sea Witch.
"Father, must you go?" asked Rhianna, the Ranma and Calypso's daughter. Her bronze skin gave and ultra-long red hair gave Rhianna an exotic look.
"I have to kiddo," Ranma said, as he held his young daughter. "I have...obligation to attend to."
And then, Ranma gave his daughter a living memory crystal, an artifact that he had acquired in the Rifts.
"This is for you, Rhia-chan. Everything that you need to learn and know from me is within this crystal."
"How will I know to use it, Father?"
"You'll know. You'll know..."
And so Ranma and his party departed Calypso's island, and returned to Ithaca, where they helped Odysseus and his family clear out the braggarts that had took over Odysseus' home.
Sometime later...
"Must you go, my friend?" Odysseus asks. Ranma and Usagi had waited until Odysseus' son Telemachus had gotten married before pulling up stakes.
"I have to, my friend," Ranma says. "Xena and Gabrielle have been missing for years, and we need to know what happened to them."
"I see," Odysseus replies. "Then know that Ithaca will always be your home."
And this was true. Years later, even in modern times, the tavern that Ranma and Usagi and their friend started still stands, and is known as "The Wild Moon". In fact, a certain family Japanese family, the Rantsu clan, still owns the deed to both the tavern and the land that the building rests on...
Eventually, Ranma and his allies caught up with Xena and Gabrielle along the Russian steeps. An emergency gathering of sorts of all remaining Amazons in "Patriarch's World" had been called, after the son of Artemis, Artemus, had sought to destroy to Amazon for failing to take sides in Xena's war against the Olympians...a war that resulted in his mother's death. Now, Ranma and his allies stormed Artemus' home turf, located deep in the woods of Siberia.
"You cannot stop me!" Artemus declares, as he directed his "huntsmen" to attack the Amazons. "And you call yourself a man?"
Ranma was furious, as he cracked his knuckles. He may not have liked the Amazons, but he was honored bound by the original decree that Hippolyta, who had already left Patriarch's World with half the Amazon Nations on a mission of their gods, had laid down. Even more so, Ranma's various interactions with the Amazons allowed Ranma to create an endearing friendship with these warrior women.
Besides, many of them were the based on him, so they were family for all intents and purposes.
Ranma stared hard at the demi-god Artemus. He was fast, strong, and possessed his mother's skill as the finest hunter in the world.
He's going DOWN.
"Artie, let me tell you something. One, the Amazons are both my Sisters and my daughters."
POW!
"Two, you think you're special because of your mother? Don't make me laugh. Artemis was the biggest tease next to your aunt Aphrodite."
SMACK!
"And three, I'm MORE than a man than you will EVER be. Any man who feels threatened by a strong woman is NOT a man at all!"
BLAM!
With Artemus laid out, Ranma was satisfied with what he did...
As the large funeral pyre was lit, burning hundreds of Amazon bodies, Ranma stood a bit away from the assemblage of females.
"Ranma?"
Ranma turns to Gabrielle. It was hard to believe that "The Bard" has come a long way.
"Yeah?"
"Why are you standing back there?"
Ranma sighed.
"I...I don't think I should...well...you know."
Gabrielle held Ranma's hand.
"You ARE one of us! You fought, you shed blood...you protected what really matters. And you did it not for the sake of war...but for the sake of PEACE. Come. Join us."
Reluctantly, Ranma does just that.
As the fires continued to burn, each Amazon sang the songs of old. And then Gabrielle, the present Queen of the Amazons, concluded with these words:
"For the Nation."
"'For the Nation'," Ranma says.
Tbc.
Author's note: Since the Wonder Woman and the Hawkgirl stuff is LONG, I'm doing a two parter. So when the next entry is uploaded, it will still be, time-wise, between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. See you next time!
