DRAGON'S DESTINY 2: School Is No Place For Horsing Around

a Ranma 1/2 Altered Destiny fanfic by Gregg Sharp

i don't own these characters, that doesn't keep me from having fun with them.


Thanks to Doug Ingebretsen for sending these my way.

Dragon's Destiny 2


=================

Ranma was running to school, not because he might be late, but because he simply enjoyed the exercise. Atop a chainlink fence, flipping to the roof of a building, then leaping in a manner that looked almost as if he were on the verge of flight.

Akane and Nabiki were grateful that he didn't know the way. If he hadn't kept coming back to them, they would never have been able to keep up with him.

As Nabiki tried to catch her breath near the schoolyard, she thought back to the conversation the previous evening.

-FLASHBACK--------------

Soun lit a cigarette, which disappeared from his mouth a moment later.

"You really shouldn't, Mister Tendo." Ranma shook his head. "Life is so fleeting anyway without you hurrying to join your wife. Patience is easy for those passing beyond the Veil. She will wait."

Soun glared at Ranma but didn't press it. "So, Saotome, what of this overgrown boy scout you've brought me? And, for that matter, why were you a panda?"

Genma explained that he turned into a panda through a curse picked up at a training ground called Jusenkyo. Ranma, however, had been altered through a wish.

"I wished that he would be a 'man among men' and what did I get? I got a wimp..."

Kasumi reached over to delicately slap Genma in the back of the head, but Akane had already gotten up and slammed the elder Saotome with the dining room table. Nabiki smiled at Ranma, hoping that the old fool hadn't hurt his feelings.

"Actually, pop," Ranma corrected, "what you said was 'I wish that Ranma were truly a man among men, a paragon, uhm, with powers and abilities far beyond mortal man, uh, so incredibly heroic that his mother couldn't possibly doubt that he was a man among men, uh or something like that.' Exactly."

Soun looked at Ranma with some surprise. The boy had gotten his father's voice and inflections down perfectly.

Nabiki grinned. With a talent like that he could be a voice actor/idol singer. Money, fame, power, with his agent/wife there to arrange it all. That meant merchandising was also possible! Yen signs floated through Nabiki's happy little fantasy.

Akane glared at Genma, warning him not to call HER Ranma a wimp again.

"So what exactly does that mean? This wish did exactly what?"

"Beyond the physical transformation, I seem to pick up new languages easily, I'm faster and stronger than I used to be, and then there's this." With a slight hesitation and glance towards the girls, Ranma removed his shirt.

"Yeah, baby, take it off!"

"KASUMI!" Akane looked in shock at her sister.

"Oh," said Kasumi, turning an interesting shade of scarlet, "my. Did _I_ say that aloud?"

Nabiki licked her lips as she contemplated the tight hard muscles under smooth golden skin. The way his dragon tattoo (obviously an expensive one) coiled its way up his body seeming to accentuate as it rode between the various muscle groups. She wondered what that tattoo would taste like.

"You got a tattoo?" Soun didn't understand the fuss. He'd gotten a small one himself years ago...

"Take a better look, Mister Tendo." Ranma thumbed the coil of dragon that passed over his heart. There was a faint color change as if jeweled scales had shifted slightly in the light. "There's no needle
marks, and it seems to move some whenever I raise chi or pull off something really difficult."

Ranma shrugged his shirt back on, bringing a chorus of protests from the Tendo sisters.

"Excuse me, son, raise chi?" Soun wasn't sure he'd heard right.

Ranma held out his hand. A glowing sphere appeared directly over his palm. "Like this."

Soun nodded and wondered what definition of 'wimp' Genma was applying here. "I see. Well then, your troubles aren't so bad. So which of my daughters will you marry?"

"I'm sorry, Mister Tendo, would you mind explaining this engagement thing to me?"

Soun went over the deal made while both fathers were trying out a new bar they had found called "Callahan's." Strange how they'd never found it again. The deal being that the son of Clan Saotome marrying one of Soun Tendo's daughters to carry on the legacy and the dojo.

"I see, so as a matter of honor, I must accept. However, would it not be more wise on this to wait until such time as it can be determined which of the young ladies would be happiest with such a deal?" Ranma shrugged. "After all, they might have other plans."

"Nononononono. Marriage is fine." Nabiki smiled, stood up, and would have moved to Ranma's side except for Akane grabbing Nabiki's ankle.

"Excuse me, dear sister, but since it involves the dojo, shouldn't the best fighter be the one to marry Ranma? We can spar for it."

Kasumi bypassed the two other sisters and happily moved alongside Ranma. Blushing delicately, and seeming to find her own feet fascinating, she reached out for Ranma's hand. "I do."

"KASUMI!" Akane and Nabiki were up in a moment to glare at their sister. How dare she when she already had Dr Tofu?

"Kasumi, Doctor Tofu loves you," Akane tried. "I gave up on him for your happiness."

Kasumi blinked. "Doctor who?"

-------------

Somewhere in Juuban, a man with an extremely long scarf sneezed and wondered where he'd put the key to his 'police call box'.

-END FLASHBACK------------
The school was at last coming into view.

"Ranma, stay clear of this. It's my fight and I don't want you to get hurt." Akane smiled up at Ranma. "Please."

"Oh, Ranma, let ME escort you to your class."

The three came to a stop, Nabiki with Ranma as Akane went a little further to meet the crowd of boys that were attacking.

Suddenly the doors burst open to Furinkan High. Within moments the male part of the crowd present had become trampled underneath what appeared to be the entire female population of the high school.

"It's an idol singer!"

"It's an actor!"

"Oh, he's sooooooo cute."

"Kumiko, what about your boyfriend Sanjuro?"

"Who? Oh, him."

---------------------

The goddess turned to the cat. "Okay, Toltiir, explain this, exactly what the heck did the wish do that has THIS sort of effect?"

"Turn your attention to the line that goes:'so incredibly heroic that his mother couldn't possibly doubt that he was a man among men'- in this case it means that he is perceived as immediately good and noble and all those other paragon/manly virtues by those who
happen to see him. Whatever virtues the viewer seeks, he is seen to have."

"Hmmm. That also explains why he's so clueless about it himself, since being clueless about such things is a male quality."

Cats don't normally shrug. Toltiir did. "What can I say? He's still Ranma."

------

Kuno stepped forward, the crowd of women ignoring him as they paid attention to whatever was at their center. He couldn't see what was going on, and with all the girls talking amongst themselves, he
couldn't hear what was being said either.

"Akane Tendo? Akane? Whither my proud tigress?" Finally Kuno caught a glimpse of her and moved decisively. She would be his.

-------

*GLOMP!*

Akane stiffened as she realized that she'd left herself defenseless.

"See, Ranma?" Nabiki made SURE that Ranma saw this. "Akane already has a boyfriend, so she CAN'T be your fiancee." Taking his arm, she quickly hustled Ranma into the school, explaining that they did NOT
want to be late for their first day of class.

Akane twitched slightly, still caught firmly in Kuno's grasp, a feeling of disbelief and betrayal sweeping over her.

"Kuno..." Akane's voice had a quiet tone to it.

The crowd filtered into the school, leaving piles of crushed boys lying around with Kuno still holding Akane in the center. An errant breeze blew leaves in a brief swirl then away.

"Ah, Akane, my love. You have allowed me to capture you, showing that you return my affection. Come, my fierce falcon, let me bind your heart to my...urk!"

There was a snapping sound as Akane held Kuno's hand in one of her own. A closer examination would reveal that Akane's hand was rapidly approaching the closed position.

"My sister...my own sister...No. THIS IS YOUR FAULT! DIE, KUNO!" *SMASH* "BAKA BAKA BAKA" *CRUNCH* "YOU OAF, YOU SIMPLETON!" *Suplex* "YOU POSTURING EMPTY-HEADED MANIAC!" *Airplane spin* "YOU LOWGRADE MORON!" *Mongolian piledriver* "YOU PUSTULE ON THE BUTTOCKS OF THE UNIVERSE!" *Flying haymaker* "YOU... Kuno? Where'd he go? Grrrrr." Akane reconsidered, maybe it wasn't too late. They might share a class,
and she'd still have a chance with him. Maybe after she cooked something for him, proving that she could do the feminine stuff too.

Nabiki reached over and gently closed Ranma's mouth as they watched Akane leave the battleground and run into the school. "Well, Ranma, I've got to get to my own class, but I think you've seen why I am a clearly superior choice here. See you at lunch, big boy."

Ranma nodded absently. He watched Kuno land finally, having spent considerable air time since Akane's last attack. He really was impressed by her martial arts skills. Hmmm, it DID make his decision a
little easier, though. Nabiki or Kasumi.

For that matter, maybe he'd just caught Akane on a bad day.

He could read Kuno's lips. "...she must love me well to reject me thus." Ranma shook his head, that guy really could use counseling.

----

The teacher looked a little flustered. The class looked awed. Ranma looked bored.

So far the teacher had been playing "stump the newbie" and hadn't gotten anywhere. Most teachers would find such a thing a pleasant change from the usual pace.

Most teachers wouldn't be working at Furinkan Senior High School. Most teachers knew better.

The junior or senior class always pulled SOMETHING. This group had the interesting variation on the "forbidden fruit" theme: Akane Tendo (voted most likely to be relegated male roles in the Drama Club for life) had to be defeated in combat to be dated. From having NO boys trying to date her, she'd suddenly become very popular indeed.

Most people assumed that Tatewaki Kuno was solely responsible. Most of the staff knew that to pull something like this off, and to be continually profitting from it, was the work of someone else entirely. Mr Kawasaki was just glad that Nabiki Tendo was NOT in his class.

Hmmph. And the LAST group had merely done pranks like rebuilding Mr Honda's Toyota inside the kitchen. Of course, the pizza STILL tasted like motor oil.

Now this. Mr Kawasaki wondered how the boy was cheating. He was about to reprimand the boy when a sound like a distant explosion rattled the windows.

Ranma was fully awake now.

Another explosion, louder this time.

"Damn," Hiroshi had taken the opportunity to look out the window. "Something blew up on the first floor."

"Cool," partner in crime Daisuke immediately chimed in.

Someone ran past in the hallway. There was an explosion at the far end a moment later.

"Could it be a terrorist?" Yuka backed away from the door, having seen "Die Hard" just the other day.

A door slid open and a purple haired girl stuck her head in. "Ni hao? AIYAAAA! Shampoo find right room AT LAST!" Door closed.

Door bursts open as Shampoo makes entrance.

"YOU!" Shampoo assumed a martial arts stance. "Ranma no respond Shampoo's challenge!"

"You're that girl from the Amazon Village? How do you know my name?"

"Got it from girl at port. She remember you, EVERYONE remember you." Shampoo pointed at Ranma, doing a fair sentai stance. "You RUN but you no hide from Shampoo."

"Okay," Ranma sighed, getting up from his desk. "Let's get this over with."

"No you don't," Akane jumped from her desk, moving to get in between Ranma and Shampoo. A brief fantasy played in her head. Yes, the Evil Outsider Bimbo (looking suspiciously like an SD Shampoo with
devil horns) threatened the Handsome Prince (suspiciously had a ponytail like Ranma's), when the Valiant Knight (insert SD Akane) knocks the Bimbo out of the way. Confetti drifts down as the Handsome Prince and his Valiant Defender kiss.

Unfortunately, the fantasy ended at that point when Shampoo hit a set of pressure points and walked over Akane as she hit the floor.

"NO!" Another entered the room, posing as he did so. "It is MY fight with Ranma Saotome this day."

Everyone looked at Shampoo, then over to Kuno.

"You wait your turn, is MY fight with Ranma."

"The Blue Thunder of Furinken High will not delay the punishment of this newcomer!" Kuno got his first good look at this "Ranma" fellow. Why, he was the spitting image of a young Miyamoto Musashi! He carried himself like Ieyasu himself might have. No doubt of noble samurai blood himself, and therefore a worthy opponent.

"Shampoo have first dibs on fight with Ranma!"

"Oh, and who are you to challenge the great Tatewaki Kuno?"

"Shampoo no challenge stick-boy. Shampoo challenge Ranma!"

"Why do you want to challenge Ranma, anyway?" Nabiki strode in. "He's MY fiancee."

"What?!" Shampoo absently punched Kuno through a wall, ending THAT distraction. She noted that the girl she was standing on was beginning to come to.

"He hasn't chosen you yet, Nabiki." Akane felt realized that someone was standing on her. "Would you GET OFF ME!"

"It no matter, Shampoo challenge Ranma many many days ago. Now we fight!" The bonbori were pulled out.

"It doesn't matter. I don't hit girls." Ranma sighed, flipping his ponytail back. Two girls in the back of the class swooned. Ranma noted this and wondered if Kasumi's illness was passing through the entire school.

"Then Shampoo make Ranma fight her." Shampoo lunged towards Nabiki, bonbori swinging up to strike.

Ranma kicked out, breaking the handle of the bonbori. It arced up then slammed down on Shampoo's head. Shampoo went down.

"Oh, Ranma," Nabiki said, pressing tightly against her fiance. "You've saved me." She idly fingered the front of his shirt with one hand while using her other arm to anchor herself to one of his arms. "Why, however can I repay you?"

"Na-bi-ki." Akane got up and glared at her sister. "He's still got almost a month before he chooses who he's going to marry."

Nabiki's eyes widened as she heard the muttering from the various girls. Even she wouldn't be able to ride damage control on this. Within hours it would be all over the school.

Shampoo got up, recovering quickly. She moved to glomp position. Glomp achieved. "Wo da airen."

Ranma's eyes bugged out. He couldn't have heard right, could he?

-------

Ryouga entered the cave and saw the tablet floating in air. "So this is where Ranma was last seen?"

It didn't seem fair that his old rival had come here to China only to pass away in some remote cave, without ever having to face the fists of justice of Ryouga Hibiki.

The tablet grabbed his attention. "What's a frivolous wish?" Something grabbed his attention. In a wide cave like this there should be some echoes. Why weren't there echoes? What was keeping the tablet
suspended?

"Probably something like wishing Village Elder would stop snoring," the little girl who was his guide shrugged. "It powerful magic, you no disturb dragon spirit without good reason. You do, poof, no more you."

"Well, don't worry, you don't have to go back to THAT village. We'll find a place for you." Ryouga remembered finding the little runaway. "I certainly seem to find enough odd villages."

"Dragon spirit say Ranma alive, but changed by magic of cave. He much stronger now."

"Yeah, right." Ryouga thought it odd, the little girl claimed that spirits talked to her, and this is why she was beaten so often in her home. Anything went wrong, she was always the target of choice.
Superstitious nonsense.

"He now have fragment of dragon spirit within him. Have dragon's chi, dragon's blood." Mao Yin knew Ryouga didn't take her gift seriously, but he was the first to show her actual kindness in some time, so stuck with him.

"Well, if it granted wishes, and it made Ranma stronger, then I'd just wish that I had an even HIGHER power level than Ranma!"

"This is fate," came an impossibly deep growling voice within the cave. "So be it. GRANTED!"

Ryouga screamed as the Change took place.

===================

Later,
gregg