Chapter 8
Arrival of the Unknown Element Part 3
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Ranma's attacks:
Due to his doubly cursed nature, Ranma is unable to utilize such chi based moves as the Möko Takabisha. Instead, Cologne has taught him to utilize pure ki attacks. There are as follows:
HEAVEN'S LIGHT CANNON: a continuous shot of pure positive ki.
HEAVEN'S LIGHT CHARGE: a quick shot of positive ki.
HELL'S FURY CANNON: a continuous shot of negative ki.
HELL'S FURY CHARGE: a quick shot of negative ki.
BIPOLAR SHOT: a quick shot combining positive and negative ki, each generated by a different hand.
BIPOLAR CANNON: a continuous shot combining positive and negative ki, each generated by a different hand.
This is due to both the dual nature of Ranma's Jusenkyo curses as well as the personality of Ranko disrupting his ability to try and channel emotion based chi attacks. However, such moves as the Hiryü Shöten Ha and the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken work as they require ki to enhance as well as perform; pure ki to enhance the speed as well as the conflict between hot and cold ki. The next chapter will go into more detail about this subject.
Dreamscape: a false world created by Ranma in his mind with the help of Cologne. Its purpose is to both provide a training ground for Ranma where time is not an option (weeks of dreaming can be fit into a single night's sleep), as well as a place for Ranko to exist without being alone or locked away in Ranma's mind. Though he may perfect training methods in the dreamscape, he will only acquire the ki aspects of them. He will need to practice in reality to gain the physical aspects of this training. As a result, dreamscape training in the Bakusai Tenketsu will only help Ranma see the breaking points, but will not help him earn the toughness also acquired with the training for this technique
Hotaru - 60
Setsuna - 55
Nabiki - 26
Kasumi - 23
Ami - 10
Minako - 8
Makato - 7
Rei - 4
Chibi-Usa - 5
All Senshi - 4
All Available Women - 4
Love Triangle - 27
Well, I guess we can eliminate everyone who has less than twenty votes. Keep voting.
It's so warm.
The little life-form opened her eyes, spotting her only companion within the warm area: her other. He was like her, attached to this place by a small cord that ran from his stomach to the wall. To anyone else, this place might seem like a prison.
To them, it was paradise.
They were safe, warm, wanting for nothing.
They had each other.
But fate struck against her. She could see her vision darkening, feel the warmth leave her. It wasn't fair. She didn't do anything wrong, she wasn't responsible for anything. Why was this happening to her?
She panicked, trying to force the light back, force the warmth to return.
But the light grew dimmer and dimmer, the cold soon replacing the warmth.
NO! NO! I won't leave this place, I won't leave my other!
She felt everything disappear for a moment; the warmth, the light, the cold, the darkness. It felt as if, for a moment, nothing existed.
Soon, she slept, feeling the warmth, safety, and comfort of the other.
All she could do was sleep and dream of the other, wishing she could enjoy it all beside him.
Beside Ranma...her brother.
As Ranma grabbed the last slice of pepperoni pizza from the box, he looked at the Senshi still sitting before him. All of them could only stare at him while he was finishing the story. Usagi, however, was finally getting up from the floor, her stomach no longer feeling like it would explode. He knew that, in a moment, she would challenge him again.
Well, he could always use more free eats.
"And that brings us to when we first met. Now you can understand why I was a little cold towards you guys. I've gotta admit, you sure are much nicer than those assholes I met in China. You make certain that whatever you're fighting is evil before attacking it."
"So, um, what will happen when this Cologne gets here?"
Ranma turned towards Makato. "Well, she's supposed to be bringing a spell that will separate my body from my cursed form and place my sister's soul in that form. Afterwards, we'll both have full lives. But if you're asking what will happen to the Jusenkyo curses, I ain't got a clue."
Ami decided to step in. "So, you might both get a full human form as either your cursed or uncursed form based on the Jusenkyo magic?"
"Maybe." Ranma looked out the giant window in the front room, seeing the stars finally starting to shine through the nightscape of Tokyo. "But Jusenkyo magic is pure chaos magic. You can't predict what it'll do beyond a certain point. Even if, in the end, we're both stuck as we are—two cat-people—then we'll still be happy. She'll be able to find her own path, her own life. That's all that matters to me right now."
Usagi stood up, nearly causing her barely under control stomach to rebel once again. "Then we—as the Sailor Suited Warriors of Love and Justice—will assist you in returning your sister to this world in her own body."
After everyone finished sweat-dropping at her silly statement, the others continued. Setsuna was first, however. "Does this mean she will assist us as well?"
Ranma gave pause to that thought. Well, would you like to fight with them as well, Sister?
I don't know big brother. What if I ain't as good as you are? What happens if I don't get any fighting skill when we separate? What if—
That's enough, Ranko. You and I won't let fear stop us. We'll come out of this, only in two different bodies. Hell, we might even keep this link when we're finished. The only thing we really have to worry about is separating into the wrong bodies. I ain't interested in being the one who births kittens.
PERVERT!
Well, at least you're thinking clearer now.
... Sorry, big brother. I guess maybe I am worrying a little too much. But we need to talk with Mother. We need to make certain that worthless bastard of a father didn't make multiple promises in my name as well.
Agreed, we need to remove the panda from our lives. But can we really depend on our mother?
We may have to go ronin. We may have to ask one of their families to adopt us into their clan, but we need to get away from the trouble his worthless ass causes. There is no way in hell we're following her agreement when she believed Genma could raise you as a man among men— whatever the hell that means to her. Big brother, by my definition, you have fulfilled that promise. You have honor beyond reproach now. You have responsibilities and you fulfill them to the best of your abilities. You refuse to dishonor others for your own sake, and will dishonor yourself to save others. I am proud of you, big brother. If our parents aren't, then fuck them. I'll always support you.
Including in their fight?
Especially in their fight. I can't let the only true family I have left fight a war on his own. And since I did save your ass—
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You saved my ass?
Who killed the last one?
Fine, but he got in a lucky shot.
HE LAID YOU OUT!
Whatever...
You know I'm right.
"Well, Ranma, will she help?"
He shook his head, forgetting for a moment how easy it was to zone out in a conversation with Ranko. "Yeah, she's in. I just hope you have room for someone with an ego that size."
The headache he got laid him out quicker than the monster had. The only thing the Senshi heard was a small, almost female voice. "Idiot brother."
Yes, a sister always gets revenge against her brother, no matter how much it hurts her.
As Genma lay, nearly beaten to a bloody pulp by his wife and Ukyo, the two listened in to Ryoga and Shampoo as they told their stories of their time with Ranma. The funniest being when Cologne had explained what a period was to Ranma.
Nodoka's mouth hung open. "You mean to tell me my son panicked when he learned what he might have to go through in his girl form?" She turned toward the lump of flesh formerly known as Genma Saotome. "Husband dear, you promised Ranma's education would not be lacking, as well."
"Don't feel too bad, Mrs. Saotome." Ryoga didn't care what happened to Genma, but did want to show that Ranma had grown in intelligence. "Granted, it was funny as hell to see Ranma running around the village, screaming 'I ain't gonna be bleeding from there!' at the top of his lungs. And though, that sight nearly did give four Elders heart attacks—"
"Aiyah, was very funny. Elders say they no laugh that hard since twelfth Musk King dunk future-bride-animal in Spring of Drowned Boy by mistake." She felt it best not to mention that most Amazons thought that might not have been a mistake.
Ryoga struggled not to remember that story, as he was barely able to keep talking with a straight face after recalling the Bleeding Ranma incident. "Well, he really improved his smarts while in the village. He learned how to speak proper Mandarin in a day, and learned to write it with perfect calligraphy in two. When Ranma puts his mind to something, there isn't anything that can stop him."
"Well, that is something. I am just saddened that my husband's stupidity may have hurt my son's future chances for a career."
"My son will run the Dojo after he marries a Tendo!"
(WHAM)
Genma was once again sent into the floor by the flat part of Nodoka's blade and Ukyo's spatula.
Nabiki shook her head. "And exactly how did you plan for him to know how to run a dojo? Any respected dojo is run by people with college degrees. It sounds like you were setting Ranma up so that you could retire off his hard work and run things behind the scene, keeping the real power for yourself."
"Anyway," turning away from Genma, Nodoka began to speak again. "I would like my son to move back with me to Juuban, tomorrow after school."
"But he must marry one of my daughters; it is a matter of honor."
Nodoka delivered a mean glare at Soun. "If my husband had valued the honor of your agreement, he would not have made a pledge with Ms. Kuonji's family here, nor the other families that have come to my door with similar agreements. Just because my soon-to-be dead husband has not betrayed your agreement yet, do not be so blind as to assume he would not." She softened and offered Soun a small token, "Your daughters—assuming they do so of their own volition—may pursue my son."
"Oh my. Then it is quite fortunate that Ranma is friends with the Senshi. But will they allow him to go to school as he is?" Kasumi wanted to be the voice of reason, and she had to admit that yes, she did like Ranma at least as a friend, and did not want her friend to leave. "Plus, you still have to get ready for when they try to separate Ranko from him."
Nodoka nodded. "Yes, I will have to take them shopping first to prepare their rooms. Plus, I will need to find them proper clothing. That cloak and hood just aren't becoming for two high school scholars."
They had explained it earlier to her that all odds were that Ranma and Ranko would be stuck in permanent Neko-form. But once again the girls and Ryoga sweat-dropped at the fact that Nodoka was forgetting that both children may not recover a fully human form. They had spent ten minutes telling her why they couldn't be cured at Jusenkyo. This didn't even cover the fact that Juuban was not exactly accepting of people who didn't look one hundred percent human.
"But that is beside the point. I would love to spend time with my child. Besides, he could still spend time with you. But you are right, I will need to set several things up beforehand."
"What about him?" Ryoga pointed towards the remains of Genma.
"Well, I suppose we could get most of the money he owes people by selling him to a zoo. Though I don't know how much we could get for a castrated panda."
That was the comment that Genma heard as his mind shut down. That was guaranteed to generate some nightmares.
"Ah, Subject Beta, how I enjoy these tests."
The good doctor was sitting in front of what passed for a computer to him. He was working lightly right now, trying to determine the correct mixture of gene sequences that would allow his new creation to counteract Subject Beta's ability to produce attacks that were neither completely magic-based nor life-energy based. Soldier 1A3FC had been a breakthrough. If they only had to deal with Subject Group Alpha, they would be well on their way to conquering this planet in the name of their master. There was plenty of data on that group. It seemed to be entirely magic based, relying on that magic for all of their enhancements and attacks.
They were very sloppy in the doctor's opinion. They confined themselves to one area, and thus could easily be exploited and defeated, as Soldier 1A3FC had proven. One soldier had been enough to nearly destroy the girls, playing around with them until it had gained enough energy to effectively engage Subject Beta. While it was true that Subject Beta's fighting ability and style were not on record, he had been able to confront and stand against Soldier 1A3FC as well as determine his ability to absorb magical energy.
The doctor was impressed indeed. It was his fondest hope that they would be able to capture Subject Beta. He could learn so much from his weird energy combination attacks, which should not have been possible. As well as that shape shifting ability. Now those would prove useful in future conquests.
He had such...ideas of how to use the DNA of Subject Beta, both forms of Subject Beta. Oh, how he would enjoy conducting those experiments to determine the full DNA abilities of his new guinea pig. No one could understand the thrill it would give him.
In another part of Tokyo, a certain Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe sneezed. But that didn't stop her from plotting once again to get a sample from Tenchi.
But the doctor had other things to work on before he could experiment on Subject Beta. A living specimen would be preferable, but they needed to be able to defeat the specimen.
The next soldier would need their own power, but would be able to supplement it with the power used by the Subject Group Alpha. It needed a humanoid form for greater mobility and dexterity, as well as supreme fighting knowledge.
The doctor smiled. He had a sample to use that might get him the advantages he was looking for. He would use a sample of Specimen 104H4.
But to Subject Group Alpha, it had been known as Pharaoh Ninety.
After Ranma had from when his sister had mentally knocked him out, and after they got Usagi to relinquish Mamoru's credit card—though the future queen did cry about how now she wouldn't be able to train to beat Ranma for the next eating contest—Setsuna transformed and returned him close to the dojo. He hadn't wanted to be dropped off there directly for fear of what their sudden appearance might set off, and he didn't want any of the Senshi to be drawn into his fights.
She returned to be confronted by the other Senshi. "May I inquire as to the reason for this intervention?"
"Setsuna-mama, are you drinking too much?"
It was Rei that interrupted the quick remark Haruka was about to make about how much the Senshi of Time shouldn't be drinking on the job. "All right, spill it, Setsuna. We all know that something must have originally happened for you to be this out of date with information on Ranma, let alone on the enemy we're facing."
They're right, Setsuna." Michiru turned to her friend and roommate. "No offense, but people like Ranma usually fall under the 'shoot first, ask questions later' type. Why is it so important that we work with him?"
She let out a long breath, before motioning for them to sit. "What I am about to tell you does not leave this room; it is not meant to be known to Ranma. We have enough trouble earning his trust. He may tell us things, but it is doubtful he trusts us completely. Is that understood?"
All she received was a confirming nod from all the Senshi, and the moon cats.
"Originally, Ranma saved our collective asses on many occasions. But he had no affiliation with the Senshi other than that. We would get into trouble; he would show up on his own in either form and kill it, and then leave. At most, we were co-workers in saving the planet. And eventually, we did destroy or at the very least dissuade the current new threat.
"But that was where the partnership ended. And when the Great Ice came, he came to us, for the first time, on his knees: begging, groveling, for us to help him stop it."
Ami raised her hand. "But you said that the Great Ice has to occur in order for Crystal Tokyo to form."
"Yes, but Ranma's future becomes more chaotic the farther into it I look. When we turned him down, Usagi explained to him what was to happen. To say he was pissed is an understatement. He yelled at us, claimed we were abandoning humanity to a fate worse than death. He asked us how such a future could be justified being built on the grave of two thirds of the planet's population. He swore he wouldn't stop fighting until he found a way to save them, saying it was what—as heroes—we should have been doing as well."
"Did any of us help him?"
"Only one, Makato. It was Hotaru."
The group turned towards her, as if Hotaru would be able to explain why she would have done that in the future.
"Forget staring at her. Even the Gates of Time weren't able to give an explanation. Suffice to say, she stayed with him to fight the Great Ice while we went into stasis.
"The future that was shown only gave me bits and pieces. Ranma, Hotaru, and three others were able to find a way to stave off the Great Ice for a hundred years. They combined their powers for an attack that created a disruption in the cold energy, keeping the planet habitable for a century, but at the cost of their own lives.
"I saw when Ranma and Hotaru left their children and several other neko-kids—from other co-wives or mistresses, I'm not really certain—in the care of those they trusted, swearing to them that they were doing this so that all would have a chance.
"After it was done, a massive explosion of technology came forth from government strongholds. In fact, some of it was a mixture of alien and Silver Millennium technology. Before the second coming of the Great Ice, only fifteen percent of the Earth's population was still on Earth, and they had moved to more suitable locations in the equatorial regions. The rest of humanity had formed massive space colonies, lunar colonies, and set up colonies on Mars and within the asteroid belt.
"When we came to, it was a descendent of Ranma's who was there to explain our situation. By that time, humanity had rediscovered the lost seeds of magic that had once allowed humans to live on all ten planets including Nemesis. But we weren't within the Sol System anymore. They had moved us to some distant and forgotten world. You see, Ranma's last wish was that we not be blamed, no punishment given for choosing not to help. So we were moved when our chambers were discovered. We were placed far enough away that not even a Sailor Teleport would get us back to Earth, and the worlds it could get us to were not very Sailor Senshi friendly. We were made outcasts, given only what we needed to survive. Ranma's descendant mockingly called the planet Crystal Tokyo. He said we were to be stranded here for the rest of our prolonged lives, as punishment for abandoning humanity to die simply because we desired an outcome to occur."
"That...that's horrible." Usagi looked as if she was about to cry. "Setsuna, could we have helped Ranma and Hotaru, and not cost them their lives? Could we really have saved all those people?"
"I don't know, Usagi. The Gates still are unable to show me what it was exactly they did to stop the Great Ice. And events afterwards are quite pockmarked. All I know is that the humanity that arose afterwards saw us as pariahs. We were cursed people. They had even discovered the Gates of Time, which were now guarded by the new Sailor Saturn. She was the only one they revered, only because the first one had died to save so many. The only reasons we were even left alive was because of all we did before and the last wishes of Ranma and Hotaru. In the end, we only had ourselves to blame."
The Senshi all looked downcast. They had seen Crystal Tokyo, and while they didn't like the fact they had grown so stuffy in old age, they had enjoyed the possibilities that future had offered.
So much so, apparently, they had given up hope of finding another way.
"Now you see why we must have Ranma as a close ally, why we must have his full support. We may not be able to realize the future of Crystal Tokyo without him. We may not be able to survive this new war without him, and if Queen Serenity is to rule, we will need the support of all of humanity to do so."
Omake!
It had taken a few minutes, but they finally had returned Ranma to the world of the waking.
It would have been sooner, but they had to keep Usa from trying to beat the hell out of him. Apparently, pregnancy did not agree to well with the future princess.
"Okay, I think I got it now. Apparently, in the future, you and me get together, you become pregnant with my child, and I disappear."
"Yeah, you bastard! How could you abandon me?"
Ranma was scratching his head. He wasn't used to being blamed for shit he had yet to do. "Well, when was the last time you saw me—I mean, your Ranma?"
"About five minutes before I left."
Everyone—save for the pregnant girl from the future—face-faulted. "You traveled back a thousand years to blame me for leaving you after I had been gone for five minutes! Did I say I was going somewhere?"
"The store, but I fail to see how this lets you off the hook for abandoning me."
Mamoru started laughing, but was shut up by Ranma. "I wouldn't laugh, Tux-boy. I hear women act just like their mothers did when they were pregnant."
That shut him up, quickly, as well as raised his own level of fear about how Usagi will act when she gets pregnant with Usa.
"So let me get this straight. Because I left to go to the store for something I couldn't get from the Palace, you think I'm abandoning you?"
"Correct, so did the rest of us."
Normally, one would think that a panther-boy couldn't be observed to pale. They'd be wrong. "O...o...others?"
"Yes, well, Mom and Dad were gone, and the rest of the Senshi and I got together for a little party. We got a little drunk and Minako made a joke about what catnip would do to you."
Usagi delivered a harsh glare towards the Senshi of Love. "And the result was that Ranma knocked you up?"
Usa looked a little nervous. "Well, not the only result."
Ranma paled more. "What do you mean, not the only result?"
Another bright flash behind Usa caught everyone's attention, as well as sent Ranma's eyes to be larger than his face, and caused his tail, ears, and pigtail to stick straight up.
Behind them were eleven Neko-children.
"We, the Neko-Sailor-Suited Warriors of Love and Justice—"
The tomboyish girl who wore a costume that resembled Sailor Neptune's interrupted. "Ya know how stupid that sounds?"
"Shut up, Neptune. As I was saying, we, the Neko-Sailor-Suited Warriors of Love and Justice, Sailor Neko-Moon—"
"Sailor Neko-Mercury—"
"Sailor Neko-Venus—"
"Sailor Neko-Earth—"
"Sailor Neko-Mars—"
"Sailor Neko-Jupiter—"
"Sailor Neko-Saturn—"
"Sailor Neko-Uranus—"
"Sailor Neko-Neptune—"
"Sailor Neko-Pluto—"
"And Sailor Neko-Nemesis—"
Sailor Neko-Moon continued. "Have come to the past to train with our...father. Um, hello, Mommy. What are you doing here?"
Sailor Neko-Earth and Sailor Neko-Nemesis turned towards Sailor Neko-Moon, both speaking at the same time. "Good job, Sis. You got us busted by Mom."
"I'm having triplets!" Usa nearly fainted at that. She had heard from the others how difficult her own delivery had been. But to have that compounded by three children...
Usa fainted and was caught by Mamoru.
The rest of the future mothers turned towards Ranma, who was now beginning to once again return to blissful unconsciousness, certain that somewhere, some when, he had seriously pissed off some Kami.
Omake by Howard!
The doctor smiled at his latest creation. After intense research using a specially created device to view alternate realities, he'd finally created a youma guaranteed to be able to defeat Subject Beta. Using genetic samples stolen from many of those alternate realities, he'd made a youma that would strike terror in the heart of the Senshi's neko-partner.
Standing there, shaking in rage, Soldier 4K4N3 was waiting, eager to be sent after her mortal foe. Her red skin was offset by her blue and white costume and her clawed fingers were clutched into fists at her side.
The doctor pressed a control and a portal opened up before the soldier.
Brandishing a hammer she hadn't had a moment before, Soldier 4K4N3 leapt forward screaming her battle cry, "RANMA NO BAKA!"
If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.
Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.
Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.
Finally, stop by my website and check out the forum. You'll see some ideas I would like to try later on, as well as partial postings of my stories before the next update. Thanks.