Author's Note: The 365 Project is an experimental project to write and post at least one short every day for the next year, not including my semi-regular bi-weekly updates. Whether or not that goal can be reached, we'll see... This is The 365 Project, 19 March.

I can never remember the exact Japanese or Chinese for what Shampoo's people are called, but I know it translates out as 'Tribe of Woman Warriors' or something along those lines and is usually simplified as 'Chinese Amazons'. Now, like a lot of people, when I hear 'Amazons', the ones I think of are more Greco-Roman than Chinese and that got me thinking... If you've read my Love Hina short featuring Keitaro becoming Green Lantern, you've probably got an idea where those thoughts led me by this point...

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi and is being used for entertainment purposes without permission or intent to profit. Wonder Woman is the property of DC Comics and is used for entertainment purposes without permission or intent to profit.

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"The Amazon Champion"
By J.T. Magnus, 'Turbo'

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In the middle of the village, Xian Pu knelt before the Matriarch, secretly glad for all that had occurred with the Phoenix people and Saffron's attempted ascension to godhood. The Elders had declared her Airen free of all obligations owed the Tribe by Kiss of Marriage or Kiss of Death, seeking to avoid giving him a reason to turn the power that had defeated Saffron in their direction. In doing so, they had also freed Xian Pu to take up her own destiny by freeing her from having to kill girl-Ranma and marry male-Ranma because of the Kisses she had given in Airen in each form.

"The history of our people begins at a distant time in a far away place," the Matriarch spoke ceremonially, "Pursued by enemies and greatly outnumbered, our foremothers looked to the Heavens for help and were answered by the Goddess of War and the Queen of the Gods. In exchange for their loyalty and a promise, they picked up our foremothers and placed them far beyond the reach of any of their enemies, here on the other side of the world. To honor their oath, our people have trained in the ways of War since and fought bravely against new enemies sent us to test our resolve. Now the time has come to fulfill the promise made those thousands of years ago to the Goddess of War and the Queen of the Gods by our foremothers and once more carry their names and our ways out into the world that has forgotten them."

"You, Xian Pu, daughter of Da-xia, daughter of Rong Wing, daughter of Ku Lon, descended of Amytis; despite the curse you bear, you have been chosen to be the champion of our Goddesses and our messenger to the outside world. To aid you in this quest, you will be given certain gifts. You have already recieved the battle garb blessed by our patron Goddesses, now you will recieve the others..."

One of the other Elders stepped forward and placed a gold circlet around Xian Pu's head while the Matriarch spoke.

"As the Goddess of War is also the Goddess of Wisdom, so may this tiara bring you wisdom in times of combat."

While the first Elder stepped back, another stepped forward and placed a pair of silver bracers around Xian Pu's wrists.

"The Queen of the Gods is our protectress," the Matriarch intoned, "Honor her with these indestructible bracers to protect you from harm."

The second Elder switched positions with a third, who strapped a golden girdle around Xian Pu's waist.

"The first Matriarch of our people wore this magic girdle," the Matriach explained, "Gifted to her by the ancient Gods before being stolen by the accursed half-god whose name shall not be spoken, reclaimed by the Goddesses and returned to our people when we were brought to this place. Now you shall wear it to bring you strength as our champion."

A fourth and final Elder came forward and took the third's place, tucking a looped robe of shining gold into the girdle that Xian Pu now wore.

"The Goddess of The Hunt came to our aid later and it is in her honor that any man who wishes our bodies must prove himself to us as the Great Archer proved himself to the Goddess of The Hunt," The Matriarch recalled their people's history and traditions, "One hunts not only with bow and staff, but with cunning to snare one's prey. This Golden Lasso shall be a snare to your enemies; unbreakable and enchanted to bring forth truth from the lies. Now rise, Xian Pu, and take your place as Champion of our people."

At the Matriarch's command, Xian Pu rose, bowed to the Matriarch and each of the four Elders in turn before turning to face her people and bowing to them, causing applause to break out among the villagers and echo in the valley.

"Come with me, Champion," the Matriarch said, drawing Xian Pu's attention back to her and gesturing for the younger woman to follow her to the Matriarch's hut, "There are things of which we must speak."

As soon as they were in the Matriarch's hut and alone, Xian Pu dropped from her native Chinese into the pidgin-Japanese she had grown accustomed to speaking and tugged on the 'battle garb' she wore, "Great-grandmother, Shampoo no have problem being champion, wait for this day long time. But why Shampoo have to wear silly swimsuit to be champion?"

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Author's Notes: I chose the names for Xian Pu/Shampoo's foremothers using an internet name site, Da-xia is a Chinese name which means 'Big Hero', Rong Wing is a combination of two Chinese names that together means 'Martial Glory', Amytis is a Greek name meaning 'Amythyst' - something I thought appropriate considering Shampoo's purple hair.