DBZR ½

Chapter 25: Grant thee thy hearts desire

New Namek…

The peaceful world of New Namek. Home to the Namekians, after the unfortunate events of what had happened on their original homeworld. Thanks to Dende's wish, Porunga was able to locate a suitable world that was a near exact duplicate of their homeworld, with lush, blue grasses, mountains, plains and islands. They were at home here, and were at peace.

...at least until someone showed up to use their Dragonballs.

"Ah, Goku. Your arrival has been expected." The Grand Elder Namekian, Moori, greeted as he turned to face the recently, nearly silently arrived group. "And I see you brought friends."

"Yea. They're hoping Porunga can help them." Goku looked to the others as Cologne hopped down from his shoulder. "These are Elder Cologne, Akane, Ranma, Shampoo and Ryoga. Guys, this is Moori. He's a friend!"

"I sure hope so." Ranma muttered under his breath, taking note at the neutral gazes some of the other Namekians around them were giving, prompting Moori to smile and chuckle.

"Have no fear. If you are friends of Goku, you are friends of ours." The Elder Namekian paused, before adding as an aside, "Except for Vegeta. He's not allowed here, not after what he did on Namek."

Goku grimaced and laughed in embarrassment, scratching the back of his head. "Eh hehehe...yea…but he has gotten better!"

Moori gazed at the taller Saiyan dryly. "He murdered an entire village for a Dragonball. There's no forgiving that."

The Nerima residents just looked to each other, with Ryoga and Shampoo gazing back in sympathy. "Yea, I can see it." Ryoga nodded solemnly. Shampoo crossed her arms and also nodded.

"Master Vegeta does seem type to do that." She added.

The Elder Namek waved it off, his expression brightening once more. "But that's no matter. We have a team that's out to retrieve the Dragonballs now. However, it may be some time before they return. There is still much of this planet we have yet to explore, after all, so you may be in for a bit of a wait."

Goku nodded, just before his stomach growled. He placed a hand to his belly, and laughed weakly. "Ah, well, I guess if we have to wait, you wouldn't happen to have something to eat, would you?"

Moori grinned more widely. "Certainly. If you all need refreshments.." He looked to the teens and Cologne, all of whom shook their heads.

"Nah, but I could stand to stretch and walk around a bit." Ranma admitted, twisting his torso.

"Am I to understand correctly that you are all warriors?" The Namekian asked, a brow raising in curiosity. At their nods, he turned towards some of the other nearby Namekians. "Excellent. Perhaps if you are willing, we have some warriors here who could use some extra training. The experience of training against outside fighting styles should benefit everyone."

The teens all gave a grin, Ryoga cracking his knuckles. "Fine by me." Ranma rolled his head and shoulders. "That'll certainly let me stretch out nicely."

Four Namekians, dressed in the raiments of the warrior clan, came forward, also grinning. "We won't be going easy on you, Earthlings." One of them intoned as they took up stances.

"That's fine." Ranma replied as they also took up stances. "Neither will we." With loud battle cries, they all rushed forward towards each other, either on the ground or leaping up into the air.

Some time later…

Ranma sat on a rocky outcropping, his fingers digging lightly through the cyan-green grass as a breeze flowed over his form, causing his ponytail and hair to flutter. The time in the Chamber had certainly mellowed him, somewhat, at least in his opinion. The endless white expanse made it difficult to know which way was up and down, and was hard on the eyes. It took a significant amount of time for him, and Akane, to learn to differentiate between the two, so the chance to simply enjoy nature as it was, even nature with as limited a color palette as New Namek apparently had, was refreshing for both the eyes, and the soul.

His chest shifted in mirth as he smirked at himself. "You're becoming sentimental. What would Pops say about that?" A picture of his father in Panda form immediately came to mind, weilding a sign informing him he was becoming girly. He frowned and sighed, banishing the image away. The year away from his father, in a training situation and place of his choosing, was one of the best choices he ever made, even if his father wasn't against the idea to begin with. It was still his choice, and he was glad he made it. Now his father really didn't hold a candle to him, not that he did before. With the advanced chi, or energy, and sensing techniques he learned from Master Goku, he was positive even Genma's Umisenken wouldn't be effective anymore. He would have true freedom, thanks to his Master.

A smile creased his lips. The Old Ghoul was certainly an effective teacher in her own right, but he was proud to be able to call Goku his Master. "Probably the only one that I will ever have. Certainly better than anything I had before."

The soft shifting of grass behind him, and the distinctive energy sense of one of his fiance's approaching, was his only warning. Still, he didn't react, continuing to look out over the green sea below. "Hey, Akane."

"Hey, yourself." She took a seat beside him, crossing her feet and dangling them back and forth as she leaned back on her hands and stared out to sea. "Beats the view in the Chamber."

"Yea, I was thinking that myself. It's refreshing."

They sat like that for several minutes, listening to the breeze blow over them, the waves lapping against the shore, and the continued sparring session going on back at the village. Finally, he asked, "Any more been found yet?"

"They're up to four now. Moori says they just need three more." She reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, only to have the wind blow it back over. He glanced over at her, taking a moment to look at her face in profile before looking forward again.

"Nothing wrong with a little wait, I suppose. What's a short wait compared to the Chamber?"

"You've got that right."

The silence fell between them again, before Ranma finally asked, "So, how long will we continue to keep up appearances?"

She gave a noncommittal shrug. "They have expectations of how we behave with each other. No point disabusing them of that until it's time." She turned to look at him with a wry expression and lightly punched his shoulder, prompting him to rub the spot. "Besides, you make it easy to maintain by saying the stupid things you do."

He grinned and nodded. "Yea, I can't really stop with the jibes. It's an old habit, and part of my version of our style, so it won't go away anytime soon. It would die hard anyway. But like I said in the Chamber when we came up with this plan, my apologies in advance."

She waved it off, letting her fiance off the hook easily. "It's alright. I'm better than that now, and I know you're just playing the role, same as me."

"Sure, but still, I feel I should at least make the attempt to apologize."

"That's fair. And accepted."

Once again, the silence fell between them as they stared out, enjoying the feel and view of nature, and the comrademanship between them. They both knew they had come far, and had further to go in their journey, whatever direction it takes them. Without the pressures of the family, or the craziness that was Nerima, bearing down on them, they had been able to work out a few of their issues and improve themselves. The mutual respect that they openly carried was one of the things that they had no problem showing the others.

Love...well, neither of them were willing to declare that. But they definitely had a healthy respect for each other's capabilities. They would even say they were friends, at this point.

Ranma leaned his head towards her, his voice contemplative. "Hey, when we get back, how about we try going out somewhere?"

Her head turned towards him, expression equally curious. "Oh? Like a real date?"

"Sure. It's not like we had the opportunity before. And besides," He turned his dark blue-eyed gaze towards hers, that quirky smile on his lips. "I don't want Pops to interfere. It's going to be our lives being affected after all. I want any decision made in that matter to be mutually agreeable."

Her lips quirked in a smile that was instantly both hers, and reminiscent of Kasumi's. "And what about the death threat from your mother?"

The young man waved it off. "I just have to prove I'm a man among men, whatever that nonsense means. After a year of training with Master Goku, I think we can both agree that I'm doing alright in that regard."

She considered, letting her gaze look over his powerfully built form, and nodded. "I suppose you are." Akane teased, a slight flush in her cheeks as she looked forward again. "Sure, let's do that. You going to ask the others to the same thing?"

"I was thinking about it." He admitted, relief in his voice that she suggested it first: as he said, old habits, and worries, died hard.

"Probably a good idea. At least with Shampoo and Ukyo. You might want to avoid Kodachi."

Ranma groaned and shuddered, prompting a giggle from Akane. "Hell yes I'm avoiding Kodachi. She's off her gourd, and I want nothing to do with that."

The raven haired girl made a face. "Yea, true." She contemplated for a moment, before adding, "You might want to be wary of Shampoo too. If her reaction to you when she came out is any indicator, she might resort to her tricks to try to ensnare you again."

The pig-tailed martial artist sighed, grimacing. "That thought did cross my mind. I think I can phrase it in a way that she won't want to. Maybe."

She snorted, raising up a long leg and stretching it out. "Good luck with that." The young woman stretched her torso forward, wrapping her hands around her outstretched foot with ease.

He watched her for a moment as he laughed. "I'll probably need it. I do feel bad about Ukyo. She's going to be so far behind...and a year younger on top of that. Not very fair."

"True. We're also going to have a hell of a time maintaining our strength, much less getting stronger." She straightened up and leaned back, pushing her chest to the sky and doing interesting things to her gi top. Which he certainly didn't pay attention to, no way.

Not directly. That corner of his eye though caught a lot. And it was most appreciative. Another change from a year ago that he had come to understand, and enjoy, more so than he had before. Sure, he appreciated the female form before, especially his other form, but...well, he just had a better appreciation now.

"Yea, I've been thinking about that. Not sure how to resolve that yet." He leaned back on one arm, the other propped up on his upraised knee. "There are a lot of strong fighters though. Maybe we could take up the tournament routes, learn some new techniques, maybe find some places where one can train…" His expression darkened. "...hopefully without any curses involved."

"I doubt we'll find something like the Lookout back home, but we'll find something." Akane agreed, finishing her stretch and sitting up, drawing her legs under her. "So, whatcha wishing for?"

It was at that moment that a rogue wave crashed up against the rocks below them, the kinetic energy shaking it and sending splashes flying high, enough of which struck them both to dampen clothing and exposed skin. With characteristic results.

Ranma gave her fiance a dry look. "I think that's pretty obvious." Shaking her red hair and sending droplets of water flying before she returned to looking to Akane. "What about you? Got something in mind?"

Akane's face became thoughtful. "Haven't decided yet. I was listening in to Cologne awhile ago, and she was asking some very detailed questions about the Dragonballs and how the wishes can work and be phrased. She's definitely up to something, something pretty specific. Still," She looked back towards the village behind them, where Shampoo and Ryoga were still sparring with a couple Namekians. "It was useful to listen in. Gave me some thought as to what I could wish for. If it works the way they told her it does, I might have an idea then. Would be nice to know what exactly she is up to though." Her expression darkened, sharp eyes picking out the Elder Amazon chatting pleasantly with the Elder Namekian. For his part, Goku was watching the fight between the four active combatants with a pleased, and appraising expression.

The red headed martial artist snorted. "She's always up to something. I would have been surprised if she wasn't. Probably some way to rope me into the tribe or something. Though Shampoo might go against the Old Ghoul's wishes, she seems to want to play it somewhat fair now." Ranma now looked back as well, watching the Namekians, and frowning. "You know they were taking it easy on us, right?"

Akane nodded, her expression becoming somewhat morose. "Yea. We surprised them with our techniques, but they were still much stronger than we were. The skills we've developed give us an edge, and allowed us to beat them, but I'm not sure it'll be enough in the long run."

"I was thinking that when we were sparring back on the Lookout with the others. They've been training with Goku and the rest for years, and we held our own against them. I feel that, even though they weren't really pushing themselves against us, that they have reached their peak, unlike the Saiyans." Ranma took a deep breathe, her top straining briefly before she released it, sighing wistfully. "Would be nice if we were like the Saiyans. Always getting stronger, and if badly injured, they recover to be many times stronger. Talk about not fair." She snorted, picking herself up and brushing her backside off before tightening her belt to avoid an embarrassing situation with her pants. "But the curse has to go first."

"Yea. After that, we'll see." Akane stood up as well, and the two of them began to walk back to the rest, Ranma tucking her hands into the pockets of her pants. As they walked, they gently verbally sniped at each other.

"You really do have a hell of a swing with that hammer."

"With the amount of practice I've acquired, I should probably try out for the Japanese Olympic Baseball team."

"They wouldn't take you. Wouldn't be fair to the rest of the world."

"Jerk."

"Uncute tomboy."

In Nerima...ish...

Ukyo stood across from a young woman at a park, watching with a look of surprise as the girls chopsticks worked in fast flight in attacking one of the chef's signature dishes. "And I thought only Ran-chan ate with that much gusto…" She shook her head as Sakura Kasugano ate, watching the young street fighter closely. It had taken a significant amount of time to find the fighter, more so than she had expected. The journey had taken her almost throughout the entire ward before she found some folks who were familiar with the street fighting circuit and could point her in the right direction.

At first glance, Sakura didn't seem all that different from herself; approximately same age, similar build. That she was a fighter was clear, as she wore her red sparring gloves constantly, as well as a long, white headband. She also kept her brown hair cut short, considerably more-so than even Akane currently did. Her movements, while quick, were also fairly precise. Too, Ukyo could sense a presence, a power to her, that was not unlike the aura's of the usual group she associated with, only it wasn't being brought out for battle: it was simply present.

Sakura was apparently not one to try to hide her strength. Either a show of confidence...or she simply didn't see a need to do so. Or even knew how. That said, Ukyo was positive that this girl would be able to help her. She managed to find her in the middle of a street fight against a lanky male, who had some decent moves; however, Sakura simply outmaneuvered and overpowered the man, leaving him to pick himself up and shuffle away while brushing her gloved hands off. Having been told about the Techno Rave Battle, the chef could see why, and how, she managed to get the best of Ryoga. "Fast and strong like Ran-chan, but none of the ego. Or the need for tricks. Pragmatic and to the point. Ryoga wouldn't have expected that."

So Ukyo had offered to cook up a special meal for the fighter, if she would not be adverse to a short discussion. Sakura enthusiastically took her up on the offer, and that was how they had ended up in a park. Best place for her to do her usual quick setup and preparation, and a nice open space for training.

If it reached that point. She was hopeful, but kept that tamped down, if just to avoid potential disappointment.

Sakura finished the last of the meal and sighed happily. "That was delicious! Thank you for the food!" She handed the plate back to Ukyo, who took it and tucked it away. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well...I have heard that you are a pretty strong street fighter," Sakura giggled and waved her hand dismissively as Ukyo continued, "and I know you took down someone I know rather easily at the Techno Rave Battle."

"Oh yea...big guy with the yellow shirt, right?" Sakura frowned in annoyance. "Jerk damaged my uniform and gloves. He also cheated, using those sharp bandanas of his. Weapons weren't allowed, that idiot!"

Ukyo nodded, brushing over the rules issue; she wasn't there, so she didn't have any say on the matter...not that the reveal of what Ryoga did surprised her in any case. As hot headed as he was, it certainly fit his personality. "That's the one. He's pretty tough, but you managed to take him down." The chef leaned forward expectantly, unable to stop herself. "Word also has it you know how to use your chi for attacks."

The other teen nodded. "I'm not great at it, but I'm getting better all the time." She suddenly gave Ukyo an appraising look, before pointing. "Are you a fighter too?"

"Yes. I'm a martial artist, as well as a chef." Ukyo stated proudly, pushing her chest out. "My style is unique, as it's cooking based." She suddenly deflated, looking to the other girl with a somber expression. "That said, I think I've reached my limit with it as it is currently, and I need to find a way to make it better and get stronger. I was hoping I could learn some chi techniques from you and find a way to incorporate it into my style."

Sakura tapped her chin in thought, considering. "Well…" She drew out. "...I can certainly show you what I can do and how its done, but like I said, I'm not the best at it. You're just looking to learn how the technique works so you can incorporate it, not try to master it as it is, right?"

Ukyo nodded, doing her best to curb her growing hope and excitement. "That's right."

"Hmmm." Sakura crossed her arms and legs where she sat, thinking it over deeply. "I'm probably not your best option, but I can at least show you what I've figured out. I'm also friends with a couple other fighters. Their styles may work better with your cooking style than what I do."

Ukyo couldn't stop the smile from creasing her lips. "That'd be great!" She held up her fists triumphantly, until Sakura held up a finger. "There's one catch tho."

The chef blinked. "Uh...what's that?"

Sakura looked back up, her expression taking on the hint of challenge. "I will teach you, if you keep making that awesome okonomiyaki!"

Ukyo's face lit up, even as her eyes filled with an inner fire to match Sakura's. "You've got yourself a deal!"

They shook on it, Sakura rising in the process before walking towards an open clearing in the park, skirt fluttering in the breeze as Ukyo followed. "So, when do we start?" the dark haired girl asked, a sneaking suspicion in her mind.

The young street fighter spun about in place, tugged her gloves down, and then took up her stance, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. "No time like the present! Before I teach you, let's see what you've got!"

"Alright, but I won't go easy on you!" Ukyo took up her own stance, smiling. She could get to like this girl.

"That's fine. Neither will I!" Sakura replied, before they charged at each other.

A significant amount of time later…

Ukyo curled onto her back, and then flipped up onto her feet, battle spatula at the ready. "Wow, that attack was stronger than I thought!" She admitted, gazing at her opponents. A taller, and rather buxom Chinese woman stood across from her, as well as an even taller, and more buxom Japanese red headed woman. Both were dressed conservatively, or at least attempted to, in yoga pants and athletic tank tops. The problem with the latter item was that on their well developed bodies, it didn't look terribly conservative in the least, with cleavage showing prominently.

That didn't take away from their fighting prowess. After their short sparring session, which the street fighter thought was really good (to the point of wanting to do a real match sometime), Sakura had called in her favors, and the two adults had been willing to indulge the younger girl. There was some tension at first as they glared at each other, the red headed woman having shown up dressed in a modified blue qipao, much to the ox horn haired woman's significant annoyance. After a sudden spin where the qipao vanished, surely into a hammerspace type of place, and replaced with the athletic workout wear, the tension eased.

Sakura then introduced them. The shorter woman was Chun-Li, trained in Chinese martial arts and an Interpol agent, and the other was Mai Shiranui, a ninja and practitioner of Shiranui-ryuu. Ukyo was especially interesting in learning additional ninjutsu techniques, as she was familiar with the Shiranui-ryuu style, insofar as she heard about it from her father.

Ukyo's hands and arms were still tingling from the after effects of the strike she blocked from Mai, as a tassel somehow appeared from behind the woman as she spun about and slammed into the spatula, complete with a burst of fire. "Never knew one could channel their chi to create fire…"

"When you're number one, you can do anything, kid!" Mai grinned and held up two fingers in a V sign.

"Heh." Chun-Li wryly looked skyward briefly before she took a few steps towards Ukyo, bringing up her spiked bracelet-clad arms, the muscles sifting sensuously under the skin as she took up a cat-stance with one leg held up, a foot lightly touching the ground. Ukyo had to admit that she was highly amazed at the musculature in the Chinese woman, the tights leaving little to the imagination, insofar as how powerful her legs were. "Those legs look like they could take my head off with a kick!" She observed silently, before focusing on the task at hand, watching as Chun-Li began to gracefully, and deceptively, slip forward.

Ukyo screwed her face up in determination as she adjusted her stance, just before the Interpol agent slipped her foot forward, causing her to partially crouch while her raised up hand pulled back and then firing at her opponent, crying out, "Kikoken!" A burst of blue energy erupted, the air rippling around its passing and impacting against Ukyo's chest before she knew it and sending her onto her back once more.

"Ow!"

"That was a low powered version." Chun-Li advised as the chef rolled and flipped up once again, brushing at her chest in irritation. "Regardless of how much chi you pour into it, it requires you to focus and channel the power into the palm of your fist before you launch it at your opponent. The movements I use are from the various elements of Chinese martial arts that I have melded together, and help me to channel my chi. You must find a similar method, if you wish to make use of the Kikoken." The older woman gave a wry smile. "It's not as if you don't have the chi reserves to make them work. I can sense you have the capability within you. You just need the training to do it."

"Yea, definitely." Mai agreed, drawing a paper fan from elsewhere, likely the same place as that annoying tassel, and fanning it open to waft it in her face. "You're young tho, you'll grow into that power, just like Sakura has been. All you need is to find the right movements and focus, and you'll be able to do just about anything with your chi. Just keep it natural to you."

"Thanks...I guess?" Ukyo shook herself off, considering what she had seen and experienced so far, while Sakura gave the taller Japanese woman a glare. Mai hadn't really told her how her Ryuu Enbu worked, but with what Chun-Li had stated, and what Sakura had instructed prior to their arrival, there were some ideas coming to mind that could make use of what they had provided. From her own knowledge, she recalled that Ranma had learned about the differences between hot and cold chi, and, incidentally, so had Akane and herself when they assisted him in the process. That said, she hadn't personally put much thought into making use of that knowledge. However, after being struck by all three women with their different chi attacks, she was beginning to understand the differences.

Mai was definitely a hot-chi practitioner, considering how she was able to channel her chi into open flame for the Ryuu Enbu. Chun-Li was similar in many respects to Cologne: reserved and composed, her Kikoken power not burning, but not weak either. Sakura was between the two, where her Hadoken could be either hot or cold-ki, it just depended on what kind of focus she was applying. Not that any of the three of them seemed to indicate any knowledge of such subtleties, but Ukyo would not have been surprised if, during Chun-Li's training, the Interpol agent had picked it up, being from China, same as Cologne, after all.

Ukyo also had to admit she didn't have Ranma's innate quick talent with dissecting and reworking techniques...but she wasn't unskilled in that area either. Ten years of nonstop training along the sea certainly helped in that regard, and the kernel of an idea continued to grow in her mind on how to make use of this new knowledge. She just needed more data. "This is a lot tougher than I thought it would be, and a lot more advanced! No idea how Ran-chan makes it look so easy, but I'll damn well figure it out!" Looking at the three women, her lips quirked in a smirk. "I think I might be getting it. But how about we do this a few more times. Show me what you've really got!"

Mai laughed happily. "I like her spirit." She directed to her compatriots, who also grinned, pleased.

"Very well. Who shall go first then?" Chun-Li asked, tapping the grass with her foot, settling her shoe into place a little better while Sakura pulled on her gloves in expectation.

"How about I go first?!" Ukyo yelled, rushing forward before leaping skyward, launching flour bombs and throwing spatulas at all three, a fierce grin on her face as she bore down on her surprised opponents.

Even later…

Ukyo winced as she set her battered battle spatula against the wall of her room, and began to disrobe for the night, her bandoleer of throwing spatulas clanking on the floor as she dropped it. The training sessions had been grueling, but she felt that it had been worth it, even if she did lose multiple times. The limited chi usage she had been partaking of previously was effective, in its own way, but what she had been shown, and what she was able to attempt, suggested she could take it much further. Her chi reserves, however, needed significant boosting up to make full use of that knowledge.

Already, her mind was working and thinking up further ways she could incorporate some of the techniques she had seen, and experienced first hand, that had been used by Sakura, Chun-Li and Mai, their suggestions and advice safely ensconced in her thoughts and beginning to apply to the idea she had earlier. Much like a good sauce, one has to apply the right ingredients at the right time and place in order to maximize the flavoring, especially when taking into account what it would be applied to in the end. Too much of one thing, and it would be too sour. Too much of another, and too sweet. Or too salty, or it could be a complete disaster entirely.

There had been many cooking experiments that ended in the latter, but they always made her a much better chef in the end. Regardless of the components involved, the end result was the same, be it with cooking or with her Art. It would require patience, keen observation, and constant practice to achieve what she could see was in her mind. And it would require time. Still, she had to start somewhere!

Pulling her obi off from her waist, she then pulled her dogi top apart and let it fall to the floor, wincing once again at the movement. Looking in the mirror, she took stock of her body: bruising was forming in multiple locations on her torso and arms, and, as she removed her tights, her legs revealed the same kind of damage. "I've been neglecting myself too long." She muttered, pulling the ribbon out of her hair and allowing it all to flow down her back before throwing the clothing into a bin for washing later, quickly followed by her underwear. Pausing briefly before the mirror, she turned to the side, looking at her form in profile and pursing her lips. "Well, at least nothing is broken. I don't look too bad, considering the thrashing they gave me."

That brief observation of her looks prompted her to glance at her most noticeable indications of femininity, and gave them both a small lift and caress, sighing at the touch. "I don't have the build of Shampoo, but this isn't bad. Like they said, just need time." Her moment of introspection over, she released her chest and went to go and wash up and soak in hot water for the next few minutes, her mind idly considering what Ranma was up to...and less idly considering the effects of his training will be on his body, prompting her heart to speed up.

"Maybe he'll like what he sees when he gets back, when I show him that I'm getting stronger." She mused, taking up a bucket to fill, her teenaged mind already ramping that thought up further and prompting a blush to grace her cheeks.

Perhaps the washing up will be a little longer than usual tonight.

New Namek…

"The last of the Dragonballs has arrived!" Moori announced as a final pair of Namekians landed in the center of the village, immediately putting a stop to the battle between the two Nerima teens and their opponents.

"Alright! Now you guys will be able to resolve that curse thing!" Goku exclaimed happily, moving to join the rest gathered nearby the set of seven glowing orange orbs, urgently humming in sync with the rise and fall of the glow intensity.

Moori turned to the Nerima residents, all of which gazed back with a mixture of hopeful anticipation, excitement, and, in the case of Akane's frequent glances to Cologne, wary suspicion. "Do you have your wishes ready?"

Ranma took a step forward, holding up a clenched fist and grinning. "You bet I do! I'm so ready to be rid of this curse!"

"That makes two of us!" Shampoo jumped up in excitement, breasts bouncing from the action.

"Three." Ryoga muttered under his breath, crossing his arms.

Moori nodded. "Then I shall summon Porunga." He turned to the assembled set of orbs, and held his hands towards them. "Takkaraputo popurunga pupirittoparo, Porunga!"

The sky quickly darkened as a powerful burst of golden energy exploded from the Dragonballs, unleashing a bolt of serpentine energy up towards the heavens, rapidly widening as it reached its apex, a torso and arms becoming discernable in the light. A bellowing roar echoed across the plains, bouncing off the nearby cliffs as the light faded away, leaving a powerfully built creature towering above all and gazing down at the assembled beings below it.

Ranma gazed up in awe at the massive dragon above, amazed beyond belief. It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't the only one doing the same, picking up that most everyone present was gazing at the great dragon in equal parts awe and wonder. "He is amazing!" He intoned. Having seen the previous one, who was awe inspiring in and of himself, this one was even more so.

He was glad that he hadn't become completely jaded by Goku being able to interact with gods and the like to be able to still be awestruck by something that was worth it.

"You who have gathered the Dragonballs and summoned me forth, speak to me your hearts desire. As the Maker of Dreams, I shall grant you any three wishes within my power." Porunga instructed, a low growl emanating behind and with his words.

Moori turned to the Nerima group with a smile. "I will have to translate your actual wishes for him to grant them, but you may ask him any questions beforehand if you need to before you make it."

"No worries. I've already know exactly what I want to wish for." Ranma took a few steps closer to the Elder Namekian, his heart thudding in his chest. The moment was finally here! "I wish for the curses that Jusenkyo placed upon everyone be removed!"

Moori turned back to the great dragon, and quickly translated. Time seemed to stop as he completed the translation, everyone holding their breath with expectant, hopeful grins plastered to their faces...

...and then the proverbial second hand on the clock ticked down...

"I cannot do that. That is beyond my power."

TBC…

Ok, before we wrap this up, and before you come at me with a flaming pitchfork for yet another cliffhanger, a quick bit of legit business in regards to this story, as well as one quick Q&A.

I know I had mentioned in an Intermission that I wasn't going to modify or change any of the earlier chapters. After a couple folks have pointed out there's a formatting issue with the first three chapters when you have the Black Background and White Text contrast option chosen (and I was finally able to duplicate it myself), I had reached out to the FFN support folks to see if they had suggestions to correct it.

I never received a response to my email. Admittedly, I'm not surprised, having worked in tech support for over ten years myself now. Emails are a bane to deal with, because they cover everything and anything under the sun.

So I will be making some adjustments to those first three chapters to see if I can correct them. If I successfully do so, I'll likely proceed to rework the formatting for the rest of the chapters too. Not necessarily editing them again, I'm not going to go quite that far, but certainly get them to match the formatting that I've established with the last few chapters I've done. After over ten years of existing on this site, turns out that some of the formatting doesn't quite stay in place like it should.

Though I admit there's a couple parts I'm half tempted to yank out anyway. Sometimes you just can't stop yourself from considering it.

Q&A: nick222238 asked (and I couldn't DM him back), "What was the point of the Goken thing at all? Were you just trying to introduce a random plothole?"

Answer: No. Back when I originally wrote that chapter, I was in regular communication with the writer who provided that snippet, and I wanted to build a kind of shared universe among multiple writers and their stories. Turns out that was more ambitious than I had the capability or time to execute, and at this point, it's probably more a detriment than providing value to the story. So it may not be there in the future.

Back to this chapter…

I'm evil. That's all there is to it. Rest assure...I'll probably do it again. :P Consider this chapter a Part 1 of sorts.

Until next time…

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