Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 67
Location: Macedonia ("Hercules: The Legendary Journey" & "Xena: Warrior Princess").
In the time of yore, when the gods and monsters walked the Earth, there was a man amongst men…who possessed the body of a woman!
Enter: Ranma the Were-Wench-
"Hey!" Ranma said, as he snatched Gabrielle the Scribe's scroll. "I don't mind you writing about my adventures and all, but is 'were-wench' REALLY necessary?"
"Think of it as 'poetic licensing', Ranma," said the blond-haired girl. Gabrielle the Scribe was once the companion of the legendary Xena, a legendary "Warrior Princess"; Gabrielle was also the Queen of the Amazons, of the House of Antiope. Long ago, half of the original Amazon Nation, led by Queen Hippolyta, left "Patriarch's World" on a mission from their gods. After Hippolyta's sister, Queen Antiope, died, Gabrielle, who was adopted by Antiope, became "Queen". Ranma and Gabrielle would meet up with the others in Athens for the annual "Contest of the Scribes" event in Athens. Since Xena's death, it has been his role to protect Gabrielle as HER companion…in all aspects.
"Besides, since the others are now…gone, you are the source of my stories, Ranma," Gabrielle says.
"Well, I suppose so," Ranma replies, as his mind begins to reflect on the things that he has experienced thus far in this ancient land…
In the beginning, somehow, some way, Ranma, Usagi, Hoshi and T'Pol ended up in a time after the Third Age, when the forces of Light defeated the dark Lord Sauron for the final time. Thus, the Fourth Age, also known as the Age of Heroes came to the fore, when a brave heart, a wily mind and cold steel could challenge both god and monster on equal grounds.
The Serenity had merely leaped at least a thousand years, when the crew had arrived in ancient Macedonia. They lacked the means to make a single jump back to the future, so they had to make smaller jumps every so many years. That didn't mean that the crew merely "hid" from view. On the contrary, these jaunts gave them an opportunity for adventure, especially from Ranma's vantage point.
There have only been two people with whom Ranma would be close to.
The first person was the legendary Hercules, who was the son of a woman he had rescued (from a hydra) when she was a small child. Ranma would later be asked to train the demi-god to best utilize his great strength. They would go on to become good friends (even so far as to help form the band of adventurers known as "the Argonauts"). There was one incident that occurred that would have ended in tragedy between them; the Olympian goddess Hera, who hated Hercules, caused a friction between him and his cousin Theseus and the Amazons of Themiscyria. Since Ranma had been made an honorary Amazon (thanks Usagi being adopted into the nation as an "Amazon Princess" herself, after saving Queen Hippolyta's life from a monster), Hera was hoping to pit the scion of Zeus against his former mentor.
Thankfully, Hera's duplicitous nature was exposed before any serious harm was done.
The other person was Xena, the daughter of a tavern owner. Ranma and crew had protected her homeland from the onslaught of a warlord and his army. Those actions spurned the young woman to become a warrior herself, but her trials and tribulations had turned her into a warlord herself. Ranma had to put a stop to her rampage in Asia, when Xena went east to invade China. Ranma's act of mercy would go a long way in showing the error of her ways.
After Hercules' ascension unto Mt. Olympus, Xena and her companion Gabrielle (a scribe and second Amazon Princess) grew closer to Ranma and his crew. Together, they would fight against the armies of Troy, though the reason for the fight was utterly stupid. Ranma would develop a close relationship with Achilles (who was like him in many ways) and Odysseus (whom he respected for his guile and dedication). After the war ended, Xena and Gabrielle went eastward (to repay an old debt), while Ranma and the others went west to Ithica with Odysseus…and ended up on an odyssey that would last for ten years. Only a handful of the people who accompanied Odysseus back to Ithica survived the trip. And in the last part of those ten years, the sea-witch Calypso, a goddess, managed to do no other female could do: get Ranma into the sack. She was successful because of the relationship she managed to build with him. She was lonely, and she was determined to be with the Ranma.
Strangely, she reminded Ranma of Nabiki. Strange…
At any rate, the end result was a daughter named "Rhea", who was born a demi-goddess, and would follow her mother's footsteps in the mystic arts.
In the end, Ranma would not be able to see her daughter grow up; Lord Zeus had managed to convince Lord Poseidon to allow Odysseus and his crew to be allowed to return home.
More adventures sent Ranma and company far and wide (even to the uncharted territories of the "New World" for that matter). Friends began to die off and move on to their great reward, including Xena, who died after a cataclysmic battle at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan…
The battle…was over.
An ancient "dragon", a protégé of the long-departed Sauron, had sought to turn Japan into a base of operations, with the reluctant help of the souls of the dead, from which to take over the known world.
And Xena had delivered the final blow…at the cost of her life.
Slowly, Ranma took off the helmet of his armor. His face was grimy, as beads of sweat continued to roll down his face.
Or was it tears?
The dragon, which tried to use the souls of Xena's victims as part of his army, was finally vanquished. During her warlord days, Xena had slaughtered thousands of Japanese in her bid to take over "the Land of the Rising Sun". By sacrificing her life, Xena was finally redeemed.
Ranma looks over to where Usagi was crying, as she and Gabrielle knelt by the prone, still body of Xena. He then looked over to where Hoshi was helping T'Pol over to Usagi's position. Ranma goes over to the dying warrior princess.
"R…Ranma?"
"Yes, Xena?"
"Did…did I do good?"
Ranma stroked Xena's face.
"You did great kiddo. I'm proud of ya."
Xena manages to smile.
"Take care of Gabrielle…for…me…"
And with that, Xena of Amphipolis, the Warrior Princess, dies.
Hercules appears.
"I'm here to take Xena to her reward."
Ranma nods, as he picks up Xena's body before handing it off to Hercules.
"Will we see her again?" Gabrielle asks.
"Not in this life time, I'm afraid," Hercules replies. "But you WILL see her again, some day."
And with that, Hercules was gone.
As everyone mourned for his or her lost, Ranma looks on. He vowed to keep Gabrielle safe, no matter what-
"Ranma?"
Ranma's mind returned to the present.
"It's nothing."
"You want me to change my scroll?"
"Naw, go right ahead. Just make sure to get my…good features."
Gabrielle merely shakes her head, always perturbed by Ranma's narcissism, as she went to check her precious bundle. Recently, while on the road, the Bard gave birth to a daughter. Named after her best friend, little "Xena" had tufts of dark hair, but looked like Ranma's female form. Gabrielle looks at Ranma, and smiled. She knew that Ranma would make a great father for her daughter…in spite of his thick-headedness.
Location: Camelot ("King Arthur").
"Get up," Sir Ranma said, as she cracked his knuckles. He had tracked down the source of Lord Mordred's machinations, after Merlin the Wizard had discovered the clues of the whereabouts of the student of Queen Mab. So while King Arthur was dealing with his son Mordred, and Merlin was dealing with Mab, Ranma had to track down Morgana Le' Fey…who had kidnapped Usagi in a bid for power.
In the beginning, Ranma wanted to finish his tour as a member of the Roman Calvary in Britannia, and then return to Rome. What he didn't know is that his squad leader, Arthur, would end up becoming king of the Britons, after his marriage with the Pictish princess Guinevere. And he didn't know that he would end up as a knight of the Round, nor did he know that he would stay with his king for the next twenty years. When Ranma did not return, Usagi and the others joined him, and became part of King Arthur's court.
Queen Mab, the queen of the Fae, did not appreciate this, nor did she appreciate her former student Merlin trying to help Arthur set up his court. So, she took up an apprentice in the form of Arthur's half-sister Morgana, who, in turn, would use her son Mordred to take over Arthur's court.
Morgana, now a powerful sorceress, had staggered to her feet. She had sought to create a powerful barrier that prevented Arthur and his knights from entering her citadel. The barrier was specifically designed to prevent any MAN from intruding on her domain, while she drew out the life force of Dame Usagi unconscious body. If successful, her son Mordred will have the power to defeat the knights of the Round. Curse her for not realizing Ranma's curse! Curse Ranma for stopping her plans-
And then, it dawned on her.
"I curse you to that form, SIR Ranma!" Morgan Le Fey says, as she puts the whammy on Ranma.
ZAP!
"You shall live with your affliction! HAHAHAHA…!"
And Morgana disappears.
"Usagi!" Ranma yelled, as she ran over to her friend. "Usagi?"
"Uhhhhh…" Usagi managed to say, as Ranma freed her from her bounds.
"I am SO glad that you are okay, Usa-chan!" Ranma bubbled.
Usagi looked at Ranma with a quizzical eye. As a trained mystic who studied under both Gandalf and Merlyn, she immediately picked up something strange.
It turned out Morgana, as a last ditch for revenge, took away Ranma's manhood. Already both mind and body were slowly becoming ONE. Unfortunately, given Ranma back his manhood would not be easy, since it's essentially would be Ranma-chan becoming a new man, rather than restoring what she was before. And without that key element, Arthur's court would fall.
It would be years before Ranma becomes "normal" again.
Location: Never-Never Land ("Kingdom Hearts").
"Thank you for teaching me how to fly, Peter," Ranma said, as she flew with the Prince of Never-Never Land.
"Aw, it's nothing," Peter replies, as Tinker Bell the Sprite flew circles around them. Peter and Ranma then spotted an old friend.
"Hey, isn't that-" Ranma began.
"Hey, Sora!" Peter said, as he spotted the boy with the giant key. The two landed, and went up to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Captain Bunny kidnapped Riku and Kairi!" Sora said. "She let me go to tell you to bring your friend…or else."
"That witch!"
Peter Pan turns Ranma.
"You don't have to worry, Ranma! I'll protect you-!"
"No, Peter! I got to help the Moon Princess!"
Peter smiles.
"I like that!"
Soon, Peter, "Tink", Ranma, Sora and the rest of the Lost Boys mounted an attack on Captain Bunny and her pirate crew.
"So, Peter Pan!" Bunny sneered, as she took out her rapier. "It looks like it's to play!"
Peter took out his short sword.
"En garde…GIRL."
"Grrrr-!"
Meanwhile, Sora and Ranma snuck pass the fighting.
"There!" Sora said, as he peeked where Riku and Kairi were being held.
Ranma nodded. She couldn't run the risk of using her full power. Still, she picked up a few tricks from her time with the Lost Boys.
Ranma performed a birdcall.
TWEET! TWEET!
One of the guards, out of curiosity, stepped forward…
WHACK!
The sound alerted the second guard…
WHACK! WHACK!
With the guards down, Sora and Saturn freed Sora's friends.
"Sora!" Kairi said, as she hugged her friend.
"Finally, you did something right," Riku smirked good-naturedly.
"Thanks," Sora said.
"Sora, we had just learned from King Mickey that the Heartless put the mind of Captain Hook into the Moon Princess' body. That's why she acts like the captain!"
"Yeah!" Riku interjects. "We were on our way here when we were captured."
"So, what are we going to do?" Sora asks.
"I can use my power to get Hook out of the Moon Princess, while you can seal him away!" Ranma says.
"So let's do this!" Riku says.
"Right!" says the others.
Back in the battle on the pirate ship of "Captain Bunny"…
"Nice move, lad," Bunny said, as she leaped after Peter Pan. "But the game is still afoot!"
"Sure is!" Pan said, as he and his opponent crossed swords.
"Peter!" yelled a voice. "Jump!"
Peter immediately took to the air.
"Wha-?" said Bunny.
Ranma used the talisman, acquired from the treasure trove of Ursula the Sea-witch, to restore her friend.
"ARRGGH!"
With Bunny down, the spirit of Captain Hook floated out of her body.
"No!"
Sora then aimed his key-staff, a shot Hook.
"ARRGGH!"
And with that, Captain Hook was sent back to the Heartless.
"Uh…" said Usagi, as she sat up. She then looked at herself. "What happened, and why am I dressed like a pirate?"
Interestingly, the talisman that Ranma has just used also restored him to his normal status.
"I'm back…I'M BACK!" Ranma yells triumphantly, as he thumps his chest.
Usagi looks at Ranma with a quizzical eye.
"And why are you wearing a Catholic school uniform?"
Ranma had the good sense of being embarrassed.
Location: The Sea of Hyrule ("Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker").
Tired of traveling back and forth like a moron, Ranma decided to take on Cyclos, the god of cyclones. According to his companion The Red Lion, who served as his boat's masthead, defeating Cyclos would enable him acquire the power to transport via cyclones, vis-à-vis, his "wind waker" (a conductor-like wand). He already knew how to manipulate the wind with it, so he needs the song for cyclones.
At least in theory, that is.
Since coming to this world, Ranma and his companions decided to rest for a while. So they set up shop on Outset Island, while the Serenity was repaired (after another jaunt through a rift in the space-time continuum. Unfortunately, some gigantic bird had kidnapped Usagi. Unfortunate still, some jerk named Gannondorf kidnapped Usagi in order to gain access to some "Triforce". Legend has it that this Triforce, if acquired, will grant anyone a single wish. Well, the only thing that Ranma wanted was to find his friend. And in order to do so quickly, he needed an extra means for travel…
There! Ranma thought, as he sees a huge cyclone. It was churning water like nothing else.
Ranma and his boat were caught up in the cyclone.
"HAHAHAHA!" said the frog god. "YOU DARE DISTURB ME?"
Ranma smirked, as he takes aim with his arrow.
"Bring it, 'Kermit'!"
Needless to say, Ranma defeated Cyclos, and gained the power over cyclones. Soon after, Ranma rescued Usagi (who turned out to be the chosen one to bare the Triforce of Wisdom). Incidentally, Ranma's adventure enabled him to acquire the Triforce of Courage. Gannondorf, who possessed the Triforce of Power, had managed to acquire Usagi and Ranma's pieces. He could have made his wish, but, at the last minute, Ranma shattered THE Triforce, and scattered the pieces. Ranma took out his Sword of Hyrule, and turned his attention to Gannondorf.
"Your time is at an end, Gannon-DORK!"
Location: Jurai ("Tenchi Muyo").
"And that will be all for now," said the instructor. "Be sure that you and your lab partner have your projects ready for review for the next class. Good day."
"Wow, Washu, I can't wait until the semester is over," Usagi said, as she gathered her electronic notepad. "I want to go on vacation as soon as possible."
"Why waste time when there's so many cosmic secrets to untapped?" the spiky-haired Washu replied. "No thank you."
"So, you are going to the seminar with Kagato then?"
"Maybe…if he and that drinking buddy can complete the Juraian trials for Knighthood perhaps."
"You know, I never understood why a royal would want to become a warrior and a scientist."
"Beats me. I guess Kagato wants to have something to fall back on if he doesn't earn his place in the royal family. Yosho is expected to be Crown Prince someday."
"Yosho…he's so dreamy," Usagi thought.
"I guess so. He's only been a friend to me since we were kids."
"Well, you two do make a cute couple."
"If you say so."
The Serenity managed to make it through another rift, only to be intercepted mid-transport, thanks to a young science student named Washu. The wormhole had deposited Ranma and crew on the planet Jurai. Stuck there for the time being, they decided to go native. So they went back to school by attending the Juraian Science Academy (though Ranma was more interested in learning Juraian martial arts).
"So, what do you think of my suggestion for our project?" asked Usagi, as she and Washu walked across the courtyard.
"I think it's doable. We will have to go to Earth to the samples, though. I don't think the royal family will lift the ban of the quarantine of that particular system."
"Why don't we ask Yosho to help? I'm sure he can get a special permit for us."
"Alright, I'll see what I can do."
When the two arrived at the home of the royal family, they were greeted by some sad news.
"Miss Washu! Miss Usagi!" said the sentient guardians Azaka and Kamidake said together, as they stood in front of the entrance that led to the Royal Family's inner quarters. "We do not today is a good day for a visit."
"Why? What's wrong?" asked Washu.
Before the two could answer, Yosho came running out to greet his friends.
"Thank goodness, you are here!" said a distraught Yosho. "I wasn't sure if you have received my message yet."
"What happened?" asked Usagi.
"Ayeka has taken ill, and the royal doctors don't know the cause."
"Can we see Ayeka?"
"Why are they here?" said a distraught Azusa.
"Husband, please be calm," said a concerned Misaki. "They are Yosho's friends and our guests. I'm sure it will be fine."
"Your majesty, may I confer with the doctors? They may have missed something."
"Our doctors are the best in the empire! If they don't know what's wrong, then no one does."
"I'm sure it won't hurt for Washu to do so."
"Fine."
"Thank you. If you can excuse me…"
Meanwhile, Usagi sat down on little Ayeka's bed. The little girl was stirred by Usagi's presence.
"Hi Usagi," Ayeka said weakly.
"Hey, squirt. How are you feeling?"
"Tired, I guess. All I was doing was playing in Mother's garden…"
"Don't worry about it, kid. I promise you that you'll be fine."
Leaving the girl alone, Usagi went to confer with Washu on the doctors' medical exam.
"So, partner, what do you got?"
"This is rather strange. There is a viral agent that was masking itself as an allergen."
"Let me guess. The compound breaks down immediately, leaving no traces of the original configuration, right?"
"That's right! How do you know?"
"I recognize the residue chemical configuration from my study of plants a long time ago."
Going to Queen Misaki, Usagi asked her if she recently came into a set of new plants. The queen responded that the garden recently received new additions of exotic plants from a newly discovered sector of space. When the queen asked why these plants affected only Ayeka, Usagi replied that Ayeka's you made her susceptible to the pollen. The pollen carried a deadly viral strain that collects in the blood.
With this information in hand, the royal doctors were able to heal little Ayeka. As a way of showing thanks, Misaki, with Azusa's permission, gave both Washu and Usagi Juraian Seedlings. The seedlings were symbols of the power of the Royal Juraian family. Washu saw the seeds as an opportunity to explore the possibilities that her seed possessed, while Usagi took her seed with gratitude. It would be later that she would discover their real purpose…
Location: Saturn Sector ("Macross").
"Keep a tight circle, people!"
Lt. Usagi Tsukino, in her transformable "Veritech Fighter", peeled away from the Zentraedi battle cruiser, as a pair of Zentraedi battle-droids was following her. Her pilot mates Rick Hunter, Max Sterling and Ranma Saotome, of the elite "Skull Squadron" followed suit. This latest surprise attack by the aliens left many wondering how long will these skirmishes will last.
"Usagi, incoming!" said Lt. Hoshi Sato, from the deck of the command bridge. "You have five sets of 'bogies' coming in at vector 50-34-80!"
"Okay, guys, if you have any suggestions, I can use them!" Usagi called.
Lt. Rick Hunter, who was Usagi's second-in-command, thought back to a stunt that he recalled from the family air show.
"Form a ring turret!" Rick called, as he fed data into the combat computer, which would then be fed into his pilot mates' systems.
"Right!" the other called.
The four pilots began to move from the incoming Zentraedi wave, and transformed their "mechas" into "walkers" (half jet, half-soldiers). Flying backwards in a corkscrew motion, the Valkyries began to lay down their firepower at the incoming wave. The strategy worked, because the counter cut the incoming attack by half.
"Break, and go 'soldier'!" Rick yelled.
The Valkyries separated, and flew about, until they surrounded the remaining Zentraedi warrriors. Then they switched to "soldier" modes.
"Bingo," Usagi said, as she armed her turrets to fire.
BLAM!
Meanwhile, aboard the SDF-1…
"Sir," Lt. T'Pol said, as she looked up from her science station. "Dr. Lang has said that we are ready for the new configuration."
Captain Gloval nodded.
"Commander Hayes, prepare the ship for 'reconfiguration'."
Lisa Hayes nodded.
"Lt. Sato, signal the general alert. Lt. Grant, have all departments ready for 'reconfiguration'."
"Right!"
The huge fortress had been in a state of revision, ever since the warp to Pluto Sector. However, Dr. Lang discovered that the SDF-1 could change its configuration. And with that…
CH-CHING-!
"Hey, look at that!" Lt. Ranma Saotome said, as the squad went back into fighter mode.
Usagi noticed that the apparatus for the Reflex Guns was activating…
Commander Roy Folker picked up his secured communications link, from his post from "Operations". Hehad sustained ann injury from another Zentraedi attack the previous week, so he had to sit out from this one.
"To the entire Air Wing: return to base! I repeat: return to base! This is not a drill!"
"Let's get out of here, guys!" Usagi said, as she turned tail. Having learned of the power of the Reflex Cannons, she knew how dangerous the weapons could be.
"Usagi! Ranma's thrusters are out!" Max said.
Somehow, a stray Zentraedi had clipped Ranma's thrusters. He was slowly loosing power.
"You two head on back, I'll deal with 'em."
"Right!" said Rick and Max in unison.
Usagi piloted her fighter around to intercept Ranma's fighter, while laying down firepower against the Zentraedi weapon pods. She had to be careful not to hit his fighter. She then whipped around, and came behind Ranma.
"Okay, Ranma, there will be a slight…bump."
BUMP!
Usagi interlocked her fighter with Ranma's.
"Hey, I thought I was suppose to be your knight in shining armor!" Ranma said jokingly.
"Hang on!" Usagi said, as she applied thrusters.
Back on the SDF-1…
"Standing by, Captain Gloval," Lisa says.
The former Russian submarine officer rubs his forehead.
"Commander Folker, we need to launch our 'weapon'," Gloval says.
Roy looks at the screen.
"Just give them…five more seconds."
Gloval nodded.
"Commander Hayes, you have your orders."
"Aye, sir."
Come on, Usagi, Roy thought. You can make it!
Meanwhile, Usagi continued to push Ranma's fighter, taking the brunt of the attacks. Finally, she hit upon the idea of jettisoning her fuel tanks, and using her under-carriage lasers to detonate them…
BOOM!
With the added push of the explosion, Usagi made it out of the Reflex Guns' blast radius.
"Sir!" Hoshi says. "Lt. Tsukino has made it!"
"Fire the weapon!" ordered Gloval.
"Firing, sir!" Lisa says.
FWOOSH!
The blast takes out not only the enemy fighters, but the enemy cruisers as well.
Usagi sighed, as she relaxed.
"We avoided another one, eh Ranma?"
"Yeah, we did, Usagi. I guess I owe you one."
"No, we're even, Ranchan.
Later, in the pilots' lounge...
"I…shouldn't be in charge of our unit," Usagi lamented.
"You did okay," Rick replied with assurances. "Heck, you certainly saved Ranma's."
"But you're a better pilot than I am! The only reason why I'm in charge is because of my aptitude scores. Maybe we wouldn't have gotten in that jam, if you were in charge."
"Look, I just have more experience than you do, but that doesn't make me a better leader. You'll do okay."
"I suppose so…"
"Besides, you do look cute in a uniform, Serena," Ranma replied.
"You better be careful!" Max chuckled. "You know how she gets!"
"Tell me about it," said Hoshi, as she sat her tray down. T'Pol was still on duty.
"Hey, Hoshi," Usagi said. "How are things?"
"As well as it is to be expected," Hoshi replied. "T'Pol can be a real battle axe about getting those action-after reports done right."
"Yeah. So…have you decided yet?"
"About what?"
"About the talent show contest, silly!"
"Yeah, I got money riding on you, you know!" Ranma says.
"Well, Minmei is talented," says Max.
"Are you two trying to make a bet?" Rick says.
"What? Are you concerned about your 'girlfriend'?"
"It's nothing like that!"
And the crew of the SDF-1 "Macross" continues to have a good-natured laugh, as the war against the Zentraedi continues.
Tbc.
Next time: We conclude Ranma's trip down memory lane, as we see him learn the ways of "The Force" ("Star Wars"), rescue Usagi from the dreaded Xenomorphs ("The Alien Quadrilogy") and from herself ("The Chronicles of Riddick"), get up in colonial strife ("Serenity") and help raise the would-be "Monkey King" to manhood ("Dragonball"). See you next time!