Wheel of Fate

AN: Hi welcome to my new story. Hope you guys enjoy it! I'm using this fic to polish up my abilities in creating round characters and how to make subtle changes to fictional people that are believable. Okay, semi-believable. This is a Ranma story afterall. I also want to bring something to the table that would wrap the original tale up and resolve many loose strings. Hopefully, I will be able to do this!

Comments and suggestions are well received. I'd also like to express my gratitude for your contribution.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½, neither do I get any money from writing this story, so do not sue me!

Recommended music for the chapter (For those who like to read to tunes):

"Night Witches" and "Attack of the Dead Men" from Sabaton

Chapter 1: Defeat / Victory

"Run Shampoo! Run!" hollered Cologne at the top of her lungs. The Amazon elder was scared, desperate, terrified even. She was surprised how she managed not to soil herself considering the situation. Of all the people in the world... Hell! Of all the people who ever lived! It had to be them to come through that portal! She thought they were nothing but a myth!

The battle that followed was short, brutal and without mercy. The newcomers were, fast, efficient and terrifyingly powerful. It was a one-sided thing. They tore into the Amazons and handed them their rear with ease. The exhausted women, and the part-time duck, could only do one thing. Retreat! Get away! Run for their miserable lives like they never ran before! All they left behind was chaos and devastation. Craters, destroyed fences, wrecked homes.

The matriarch's great-granddaughter was right on her heels. The younger Amazon was huffing with fatigue. The fight took a lot out of her. Her legs were aching in protest at the rough handling their owner forced them through. She was too desperate to care about the pain. Neither did she care for the dead weight clinging to her. Mouse, currently white, covered with feathers, and not able to do much more than quack, was clinging onto his beloved Shampoo. It was not in another futile attempt to prove his love, but rather because of his need for self-preservation.

The young girl's danger sense spiked. She felt something powerful approach from the back. The ki she felt was through the roof. Guided by warrior instinct honed by years of practice, and the need for avoiding pain whenever possible, she jumped. The brilliant orange-yellow beam of raw life-force and magic raced by underneath. She let out a panicked scream as the attack passed between her legs just underneath her. The thing was hot! It scorched the ground beneath it, leaving a blackened trail in its wake. The sound it made was akin to a deep rumbling whistle. It reminded her of some science-fiction movie she one saw.

As she was in the process of landing she already felt the second attack incoming. It was just as strong as the last. This time the Amazon dropped forward. Her head almost hit the pavement. It was a close call. Not even an inch. The girl, however, had bigger problems. She screamed again. Louder than the last. The shot passed by just above her. She could feel the heat across her clothes. Some of her long lilac hair was lost to it. The shot passed closer than she would have preferred! It all felt too similar to being locked in a heated oven. The heat of it was unbearable. She didn't bother to stand back up and kept on running on all four like a cat. She didn't care. All she wanted was to get to safety.

Mouse wasn't that lucky. Situated on her back he was closer, a lot closer to the blazing spell than ideal. The heat of the incoming attack washed across his cursed body. The feathers covering him kept the worst away, but they suffered all the more. The blistering temperature radiating from the attack charred his plumes. They quickly turned brown then black. His tail got the worst of it and was left smoking. There were actual ambers! Shampoo didn't notice. She kept up her maddened dash to find safety.

Both projectiles took to the sky. They detonated high above, illuminating the area turning dusk into day. Sirens across greater Tokyo were set off. In the wake of their wails, a coordinated panic started to form in typical Japanese fashion. People from all across the city were seeking out the nearest shelters. They were acting patient, respective. But on the inside, they all had the same panicked thought. "Were these the first shots of a new war?"

Cologne glanced back at the pursuers and was appalled at the amount of power on display. Their battle auras were insane. Large and denser than anything she had ever seen. The two were just hanging in the air as if it was a casual thing. The floating spell was supposed to be one of the hardest ones to master. The power needed to keep it going was enough to wear down even the strongest of magic users. Within minutes at that!

Apparently these two didn't read that memo. Not only that, but they seemed to be able to pull off other feats of magic that shouldn't be possible. Flying or not. A human being just wasn't supposed to be able to do what they did.

Her eyes focused in on the one in snow-white attire. His armour looked heavy, with several layers of protection. Only his blue eyes were visible from underneath. While his protection looked immense it also emitted a feel of insane speed. The glaive at his side fell forward. The assailant was aiming at her now. The warrior's already impressive aura flared up even more. A series of glyphs and magical runes lit up around the tip of the weapon. It was a clear sign of a powerful attack soon to come. Cologne shuddered. The runes were in two neat rows circulating in opposite directions. The matriarch felt the magical surge as the attack started to charge. "Impossible!" hollered her mind. "Gathering that kind of magic while flying!"

The ball of energy grew to worrying levels as it gained strength. The symbols suddenly froze. Then they joined together in a singular circle. Apparently it was the last act of the spell. The energy stored in the weapon shot forward surging towards her like a blazing bullet.

Any normal fighter would have prayed and dodged. Cologne was different. The elder skidded to a halt. In this attack, she saw her best chance to fight back. She gathered all the strength. Readied her body for the soon to come trial and focused all her leftover reserves into her cane. After years of infusing it with magic, the simple wooden staff became almost indestructible. Her plan was simple. Take hold of the attack. Gain control and return it to the sender. It was her best bet at actually doing some damage. If she could pull it off it could be a lifesaver. A bruised nose may be just enough to give the two a pause. In theory...

Cologne waited and focused. She needed to act just the right moment. Too early and she will waste what precious little she had left for simply deflecting the attack. Too late and she is dust. The light was blinding, the heat unbearable. She felt the wind created by the attack wash across her body. The blazing sphere of magic was driving it forward. She somehow managed to stand her ground despite what her instincts were telling her. At the last possible moment she swung the cane against the incoming ball of pure energy. Her timing was perfect. The attack lost momentum.

The Amazon elder smiled even as she was pushed back. The attack was slowing down. Her feet were skidding backwards. The concrete slabs of the walkway were being turned to rubble underneath, but she was gaining the upper hand over the projectile.

Then she noticed a small crack on her cane. Then another. The outlying edges of the staff, less protected by her magic, were starting to peel off under the pressure. The rod was also starting to emit a worrying amount of smoke. The ball of magic she was countering was also starting to act in a worrying way. It was starting to turn more and more into a blob. The organised nature of the patterns inside was collapsing. Those patterns were the ones keeping the spell stable. Keeping the energy contained. The thing was coming apart at the seams.

Cologne's eyes widened with realization. There was a fuse attached to the magical attack. And the fuse was about to reach its end. The whole thing was about to blow up right in her face. Sending it back to the sender suddenly became secondary. The best she could hope for was to direct it skywards. With careful movements and concentration, she set forth to do just that. Thanks to centuries of knowledge, a lot of practice, and some quick thinking on the fly she managed to pull it off. The unstable blob took to the sky and not soon enough. Just as the elder was about to relax; it detonated.

It would have been glorious if she wasn't so close. Cologne was hit by the shockwave. It sent her to the ground. She landed hard on her rump. The sound of the explosion left her ears ringing. Everything else was blocked out by the noise of the blast. A nearby tree caught on fire. Shattering glass could be heard all across the suburb of Nerima. The craftsmen in the area had a lot of trade to look forward to in the near future. As the light started to fade she tried to use her cane to stand up. She didn't get far. It snapped in half at the slightest pressure. The lower part of it clattered on the concrete walkway. Further charred pieces broke off it. The other end, still in her hand, was slowly falling apart. It was turning to dust in front of her eyes.

As she was trying to clear her head and get on her feet she looked up. It was a mistake. The two figures came to a halt right above her. She froze. This time the one in black was the one to raise a weapon at her. The Chinese-style sword was pointing right as the Amazon. For a fraction of a second, the elder marvelled at the bulky armour. It seemed to have a certain sense of sophistication to it. It was a beautiful piece that put an emphasis on the apparently female wearer's attributes. This assumption was further affirmed by the delicate strands of silver hair escaping at the neckline of the mail. They hung loose, spilling across the protective gear. It was a stark contrast to the raven surface.

Cologne was brought back to life by another magical surge. The need to dodge. A series of needle-like projectiles were released at her from the tip of the sword. The elder escaped certain death by crawling backwards on all four. She zipped around in an erratic manner not understanding how she managed to evade. The small strands of light were devastating. They punctured asphalt and concrete alike leaving a line of holes in the ground where they hit. They also didn't disappear like ki attacks were supposed to. No, they remained, standing where they landed, not too dissimilar to the quills of a porcupine.

After frantic seconds of panic and hectic activity, the attack suddenly stopped. Cologne gulped swallowing copious amount of salvia when she noticed the zigzagging trail she had left behind. It wasn't pretty. She once more looked up at the woman clad in black. Reddish-pink eyes met her gaze. They were cold, calculating, and worst of all... Amused! All will to fight left the elder.

"These two are just playing!" hollered her mind as he took off in a full-fledged rout. She was jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Like a drunk flea, bouncing all over the place trying to avoid any incoming fire. Her main goal became to leave the immediate area. To get these monsters off her tail! The attackers exchanged a glance before floating after the fleeing woman.

It didn't take long before the Elder caught up with Shampoo. By now Mousse was clearly smoking. He was still hanging onto the young girl for dear life. Although, the feathers on his tail were now home to a small flame. It was a testament to his failed attempts to put the smouldering ambers out. The matriarch grabbed both and started to drag them along at a speed the other two thought to be impossible for a human being to reach.

The Cat Café came finally into view. The Amazons felt relief. Cologne had a very good reason why she bought that particular house. Aside from the affluent traffic and good layout, it was also bang on top of a minor magical focus-point. The matriarch made a few modifications to the building. Among other things, she made the place theft-proof and somewhat more resilient against damage. When one considers that the people living inside had a tendency to make their own doors so to say... Yes, it was a good thing. Essentially the restaurant could survive anything that wasn't on the level of a small tactical nuke. It would serve as their refuge in this dire situation. A fortress the attackers had no chance to crack.

Shampoo was surprised when her beloved great-grandmother suddenly hurled her into the general direction of the front door. She was used to see Mouse getting tossed around the place in that manner. That wasn't a rare thing to happen. For her, this was a first. If the situation wasn't so dire she would have objected for sure.

"Open up and get in!" hollered the old woman after her.

The younger Amazon dug through her pocket mid-flight and came up with a nothing. She knew the key was there. There was only one reasonable answer. It must have fallen out at some point during the previous fight or during the mad dash for safety. To her luck, the part-time duck was along for the ride. He was hanging onto her with a death grip. "Mouse, give key, now!" she barked. They were approaching the Nekohanten at a worrying velocity. The by now slightly burned duck quacked an affirmative at her. The boy turned fowl started to dig around in his darkened feathers. Daggers, knives, a spare bike, even a portable heater had made an appearance. No key! As they were getting closer to their destination the Amazon girl also joined in on the search. The street was left littered with the most surprising things. Wrenches, swords, a porta-potty, a boat along with its paddles made their appearance. Finally, Shampoo found what she was looking for. She twisted and turned mid-air preparing for a landing.

The touchdown was more like a bullet smacking against the wall. Any normal construct would have been torn down by the impact. The fact that it didn't happen was a testament to her grandmother's genius. Now they only had to get inside. The rest was up to Cologne. Once she crashed into the café it would only take seconds to activate the wards and they would be safe. In theory.

Shampoo raced to the door and grabbed the handle. She fiddled with the keys, trying to find the right one. Cologne was getting dangerously close. She was dodging and weaving again doing her best to avoid getting hit. It was also a final attempt to give Shampoo some much needed time.

Another blast created a huge crater in the middle of the street. Shrapnel was flying all around bouncing off walls. The noise was too similar to bullets impacting on concrete. The old woman she was once more busy avoiding the needle-like darts of magic that were threatening to skewer her. She was getting slower and had the bruises to show for it. "What are you waiting for girl move it!" she yelled. Desperation was starting to take over. Hope left her long ago. She was bouncing around at an insane speed. She needed that speed just to stay away from the magic tossed her way. To keep her from getting mutilated. It was a battle she was losing. Shampoo did her best, but her hand was shaking with fear. Despite her best attempt she just wasn't able to find the hole. The key repeatedly bounced off the wooden surface of the door or the metal frame of the lock.

The word utter madness was not good enough to describe the sight of Cologne's desperate attempts at saving her own hide from the destructive force brought to bear. In her wake was nothing but craters, magical flashes and devastation. Shards of broken stone and masonry were flying around all over the place as the attackers were slowly but surely turning up the heat. The noise was deafening.

The feeling of imminent danger made the old woman end her erratic movements. She hit the brake and came to a screeching halt. It saved her life! A ball of magic impacted on the road not even two feet ahead of her. At first, she thought this was it. She was frozen stiff with fear. She was staring at the blazing ball of power. She awaited the imminent explosion that would finally send her to her ancestors. However, there was no explosion. The ball simply flared up emitting an ungodly amount of heat. Within seconds it dissipated leaving behind a hole in the road that was about three feet wide. It was a perfect semi-circle. The very ground within had been vaporized. Turned to smoke. The hole was glowing bright red. It was emitting low, plinking sounds. Some of the melted asphalt slid down the side to come to a rest at the centre. The last time she saw something like that she was on the inside of an active volcano. For a few seconds, she stood there completely stunned. Her life flashed by in front of her.

Then elder took off like a bat out of hell. This time she took the direct route. She had enough. She wanted out and headed straight towards the Cat Café's main entrance. Shampoo was still struggling with the door. Her fighting spirit had been broken much earlier. Complete panic had taken control over her long ago. The Amazon girl didn't even register that the key she was trying to use had been broken. The front end of the mangled piece of metal was on the ground. The door was still standing, was still closed, but now had a dozen dents showing off her futile efforts.

"Mind if I help you with that?" asked a masculine voice. It was the man clad in white. The girl went pale. She stiffened she didn't dare to move. If she had seen the man's smirk underneath the helmet she would have fainted. He slammed his fist against the door knocking it off its hinges and sending it flying. Shampoo could only stare in horror. The wall on the far end of the room was what finally brought the now-defunct door to a stop to. In a sickening crunch the thick, steel-laced, magic-infused, high-security door shattered on impact. The crash, more like an explosion, was the finale. Everything went eerily quiet afterwards. The sounds of explosions that belonged on a battlefield and not a Tokyo suburb faded.

Cologne could only stare in horror. It was clear. There was no escape and no place where they could hide. This was further confirmed when the sword of the woman in black appeared in her field of vision. It was pointing right at her nose. Not even in inch away. "I'm willing to negotiate." declared the Amazon putting on her best poker-face.

The elder didn't know when or even how things turned so sour. The term "worst-case scenario" was not enough to describe it. It was supposed to be a simple plan. One she didn't like, but one that had to be done. It would have put an end to the whole ridiculous farce that had been going on for more than two years. She was ready for some complications. That was a normal part of life in Nerima. But not this...

How she longed now to go back in time and smack herself for even thinking of it.

Cologne, the respected and much-celebrated leader of the Joketsuzoku was not happy. She was clutching a letter in her aged hands. They were shaking with equal measures of indignation and helplessness. That simple piece of paper brought news, bad news; of things that may very well spell the doom for her village. The end of everything the Amazon nation stood for more than three thousand years. Cologne placed the paper on the kitchen table and grabbed a kettle from the cupboard. She needed a drink. The typical sound of tap-water crashing onto this metal filled the kitchen. She waited for the container to fill. It took too long. Her usual nerves of steel were braking down. The kettle was already half full when she reconsidered. The old woman hastily turned and twisted the tap, turning the faucet off. The kettle soon landed among the plates in the sink. The crash of the impact was followed by the clatter of broken tableware. She couldn't care less. They had more than enough money.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The attempt to relax did help but not much. She knew. Tea would not do. She needed something stronger. The old woman opened a liquor cabinet and peered inside. The beverages were for the guests, she abhorred alcohol, but this time she made an exception. Things were too dire. She needed to calm down before making a decision.

Cologne grabbed a glass and a bottle of scotch. She poured a shot and downed it in one fell swoop, then immediately poured a second round. The situation was bad. It had to be remedied immediately. The matriarch knew that well. She gazed at the empty kitchen and wondered where she had lost track. Her people were supposed to be the most important thing to her. Where did running a restaurant in a foreign land become her priority? Where did she lose sight of keeping her tribe going? She was an Amazon matriarch first and everything else came second. Or at least that was supposed to be the case.

The old woman shook her head and made her way to the reception area. Her steps were quiet. It was late and she could only hope that the earlier crash didn't wake up the children. She didn't want her great-granddaughter to see her in that state. The Amazon took up residence at one of the tables. The bottle let out a deep clink as she placed it on the polished wooden surface. The sound was reflected by the walls in an eerie manner.

Cologne let out another long sigh as she looked around, cradling her drink. She really liked this place. She had worked a lot to get it as popular as it was. It was her pride and joy. Her way of telling the world that she may be old, but she can still keep up with the young ones. She hated letting it go, but there were things more important than her own satisfaction. The tribe was more important. The boy was just an excuse. At least to some degree. By Amazon law she and Shampoo should have just taken what they wanted. Sure, there would have been consequences. The Japanese government would have thrown a fit at the very least. Not that she would have cared much about that.

It hasn't been even a month since her future son-in-law had done the impossible and defeated a demigod. That in itself was good news. The Musk were left weaker than ever before and the Phoenix were essentially finished. It was a golden opportunity for her tribe to gather the survivors and grow in strength and power. If things were only that simple! They rarely were!

As much as she hated to admit the Joketsuzoku village was just a pimple on the map of China. If it was worth that much. That was a good thing in some way. The communists running the country didn't care much what the locals of a little and insignificant province were getting up to. They had bigger fish to fry than a few rowdy people in some backwater. However, something, or rather someone blowing up an entire mountain... Now that did catch the eyes of Beijing. The soldiers sent out to investigate reported back on the situation. Big brother soon stepped in with help and aid, siphoning away much of the hopeful new-blood. This left the Joketsuzoku high and dry.

Cologne took a sip of her drink she cringed at the taste. It was bitter, almost painfully so. But it was also just what she needed. It is not an everyday thing that one learns their nation, the one they worked for so hard, is on the brink of oblivion.

The loss of new-blood was something the Joketsuzoku could accept. They could keep going. To fight another day! The real meat of the matter was that the Musk and Phoenix were not only the ones getting seduced by the communist government. Many of the Amazon tribe, especially the young, were intrigued by the outside world. The comfortable lifestyle it promised.

The little creature comforts that were taken for granted by the general populous was something akin to luxury for those living on the fringe. It was all too easy to fall prey to the prospect of a more comfortable lifestyle. Things were made worse by her not being there. It was too much as if she had abandoned her beloved tribe. She had spent two entire years chasing after the boy. In the eyes of many, this looked like as if she had fallen to those lures. She begrudgingly had to admit that living in a modern city had its perks. Living in Japan was good. She loved it in the island nation, but all good things must come to an end. There were things more important than her.

Cologne knew it she had to return and set things right. If she didn't the youth of the tribe will leave. It would mean the end. There was a slight problem. She had to return victorious. Otherwise, nobody would take her seriously. Who would listen to a matriarch who can't even control their own son-in-law? Her hands were tied. She had to act! Now!

This is where things became interesting. Beforehand she had time to spare. She could wait for the Saotome boy and the Tendo girl to break up. The children didn't seem to agree with the arrangement their fathers made anyway. In the beginning, there was a genuine resistance to the engagement. She thought a few months and things would sort themselves out. They didn't! Instead, the children started to grow more and more fond of each other. Even if they didn't have the guts to admit it! Even to themselves! She had seen the small signs.

Once it became clear that waiting won't work she started to scheme and make up elaborate plans. She made sure to poke the budding relationship from every possible angle. To send crazy Chinese princes and whatnot to kidnap the Tendo girl. She had all the time in the world. Sooner or later something had to stick. It never did! The elder made went to great lengths to create trouble from one source or another. To take away any chance of normalcy the children had. She hoped they would eventually get fed up and give up. To her dismay not only did they not break up, but the teens kept getting closer. Luckily they were still shy about it. Nothing ever worked. It was driving the old Amazon insane.

Cologne actually came to like the fiery Japanese girl. There was a spunk in her that many real Amazons lacked. This was what made things so hard. She didn't want to do it. To kill her. The elder took another sip of her drink. This time the beverage went down without making her cringe.

She placed the glass on the table and stared at it. She had a few more ideas to break the couple up, but all of them would take a lot of time. Time she no longer had. She was on the clock. There was no more horsing around. She had to get rid of the Tendo girl. Killing her however was not the answer. Not anymore! Raising the ire of a martial artist who took down saffron was not a good idea. If anything it would turn him into an enemy. An enemy that was just as likely to bring the tribe to an end as the modern world.

However, there was another option. If the Tendo girl somehow happened to go missing... Sent to a place from where it was humanly impossible for her to return... At that thought, an idea was already starting to form in Cologne's head. The mundane part was simple enough. Kidnap the girl and make her disappear without a trace. Then blame it all on the Phoenix people. The real problem would be the magic needed to erect the portal. It would need a day at the least to get things set up. The magic was also hellishly dangerous. On the upside, it would be a permanent answer to her predicament.

The elder laughed, more in disbelief than anything else. If the Tendo girl only knew! The Amazon nation's top-secret, last resort weapon was to be used to get rid of her. In a certain, perverse way, it was honouring the girl beyond reason. Such a magnificent tool to get rid of such a small bump.

Once the obstacle, created by her, was gone things should go smoothly. Cologne would make sure that Shampoo is always there to comfort the mourning boy to seduce him in every possible way. It would take a few weeks. Maybe three, four tops! Once he fell, he would agree to go to China on his own accord. Happily even!

The idea was good. The best one Cologne could come up with on short notice. However, it didn't mean that she liked it. It felt as if she was some evil mastermind creating an insidious plot. At that thought, she laughed. She was just that. An evil selfish mastermind. Plotting against good people for her own needs. She had been doing that for two years. The only difference was that beforehand she was only planning to cause heartbreak. Breaking up a couple was not a big thing. But her newest plan. It felt different. It felt wrong.

To her dismay, there was no easy way to do it that could ensure an immediate solution. There was no time to review, to create elaborate back-up plans. She had to set things into motion. Once more there was that foreboding feeling. That she shouldn't follow through. She quickly chalked it up as getting soft. For the sake of her tribe, the Tendo girl had to go! The matriarch grabbed the glass and downed the remaining scotch in one go. She then slammed it on the table with a determined expression on her face. Her decision was made. The old spell it will be!

There was just one thing picking at the old woman's resolve. Will she ever be able to forgive herself once the deed is done...