Heir to the Empire
Part VI
By Ozzallos
Edited by Quizer
It was a warzone.
There was no other way to put it, Usagi thought as she silently pushed the door open. The place was in absolute disarray; as if some major battle had taken place on the premises. She had seen places trashed by youma, and this one was every bit the battlefield. It seemed no part of the premises remained untouched, and it was all the guardian of love and justice could do not to power up into full Senshi mode right then and there. The blonde odango-atama nudged the door open wider, allowing a shaft of morning light to further illuminate the apartment. She cringed. To say the property damage was extensive was an understatement of massive proportions. Broken tables. Shattered lamps. Even the television looked like it had taken a critical hit or two.
And the bodies.
Usagi's eyes widened as they came into view. She was about to assume the worst until a loud snore broke her panicked thoughts and a huge sweat drop rolled down the side of her forehead.
"They're sleeping?" Ami inquired, peering through the door herself. Moon could only stare as the rest of the Inners filed into the disaster area. It would have been a hilarious sight if not for the carnage surrounding them. On the sofa were the first bodies, Setsuna Meiou sitting comatose in her purple night gown with a silver-haired Ranma Saotome in a ballroom dress draped across her. Both subjects were, for all intents and purposes, inert. Haruka Tenou lay crumpled in a plush chair nearby, wearing only a pair of panties and a cutoff t-shirt. Michiru Kaioh lay near by. In fact, she laid curled around Haruka's feet in her nighty. The final combatant was passed out in the middle of the floor, as if she had tried to make it to the next room but was assailed by her arch nemesis, gravity.
"Why is Hotaru in her adult form?" Rei asked, stepping around the planet buster's long, luscious hair carefully.
"God only knows…" Makoto was staring herself, managing to avoid the remains of a shattered… something. It could have been anything from a plate to vase for all she knew.
"This might have something to do with it." Minako bent over, picking up an intricately cast glass crystal bottle. "Praxiteles Vineyards, 347 SM."
"Apparently it was a good year." Ami replied dryly, looking over the fallen Outers and their Queen.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Moon," Minako smiled as she set the bottle on one of the only tables left standing. "Your mother is so cool!"
Usagi stared at the woman that was allegedly her mother passed out across Setsuna's lap and twitched. She would have sooner believed a youma attack. Maybe the next big enemy. Definitely not an all out party blitz.
With the apartment door opened further to admit guests, the shaft of light illuminating the room grew in intensity. Were the beam of sunlight now pouring through the open door a physical manifestation of some sort, it would have burnt a clear line across the living room, over a three legged chair and up the sofa, severing Ranma in half and burning Setsuna's retina's out as snored softly on the sofa. Fortunately, the morning light wasn't a physical manifestation of any sort, so the only thing in series of events to actually occur was the Princess of Pluto's retina being burned out as she cracked one eye open, evidentially disturbed from her alcohol induced coma.
"UuuuuuHhhggg…" All eyes turned on Time's Senshi, who was now blinking furiously at her impromptu wakeup call. "My head…"
"She lives." Rei watched with raised eyebrows as life seeped back into the Senshi of time.
Setsuna pressed her fingers to her temples and began massaging with a pained expression writ across her face. "God, I hate hangovers…" After another moment of studying her audience with squinty eyes, the Senshi summoned what energy she could and pushed herself off the sofa.
THunk!
The Mistress of Time paused with the sound of heavy weight hitting the floor, then noticed the horrified expressions of the Inner Senshi staring at her and her feet. She too looked down and found her queen's body lying at her feet. Setsuna stared down at Ranma for a moment longer and yawned. "Sorry 'bout that Senny."
"Ninety…ZZzzzz… six." Came the muffled reply, half absorbed by Ranma's carpet infused face and an accompanying snore.
Setsuna Meiou adopted a bland, disinterested look. "Ninety-seven." The Inners gaped as Setsuna proceeded to step over their monarch, somehow adeptly avoiding the three legged table despite her apparent haze. She cast a side glance over to her silent observers.
"Coffee. Lots of it." When combined with her hung-over, disheveled state, the look she gave them was sufficient motivation to peel Makoto from their ranks to comply with the order. The remainder shuffled nervously back as Setsuna found the crystal bottle at the end table. She stared at for a moment and grabbed it, upturning the container and staring up the opening. "Yep, that would explain it."
It didn't explain it for Minako, who had been a party girl herself, back in the days of fighting for love and justice solo. "But it's only one bottle!"
The green-haired woman simply shook her head, staring at the bottle. "One bottle of 14,000 year old fire wine." She set it down gently. "The stuff might as well have been reactor fuel. Michi and 'Ru went down after only five shots. 'Ruka, eight. Senny took ten and I didn't last much past twelve."
Usagi's mouth hung open. "You got the Outers drunk!"
"And your Mom." Minako added, clearly amused. Usagi cast a rather unamused glare in her direction.
Setsuna began to massage her temples again with the blonde's pitched voice. "No, she was already drunk. I just got her plastered."
"Just." Rei intoned dryly, eliciting a nod from Setsuna.
"Trust me, she needed it." The green-haired princess paused as a familiar scent wafted across her nose. Seconds later a smiling Makoto reappeared with a fresh steaming cup of coffee. Setsuna's eyes locked onto the white china cup and snatched from the Senshi's hand as soon as it came within nominal striking distance. The black liquid was instantly set to her lips and a soft, gurgling moan accompanied its consumption. The remaining teens looked at her with mild surprise and slight disgust at the display of gluttony. From Usagi, it was the norm, but from the mysterious Sailor Pluto?
"Mmmmuuuhhg…" The silver-haired figure on the floor grumbled, causing Setsuna to look down at her feet. The girl rolled into a slightly more comfortable position, prompting her best friend to nudge her with a bare foot.
"Up, Senny." She frowned, motioning with her nearly empty cup of joe. "If I have to suffer, so do you."
"...damn newsies…" The girl grumbled, still very much asleep. Setsuna rolled her eyes, while Ami arched an eyebrow.
"What's a 'Newsies'?"
Setsuna didn't even spare her a glance, draining the small cup entirely before giving Ranma a harder nudge with her foot. "Wrong century, Serenity-chan."
It took a few more forceful nudges to bring the Queen of the Silver Millennium out of her comatose state and into something that was more…lively. Or alive. The Inners continued to watch the scene with morbid fascination as Setsuna helped her best friend to the couch. It took a few more minutes of coaxing for the majority of the Queens brain to come into what could be loosely termed an operational status. This event was notably marked by the words:
"Oh, God, my head…"
The world slowly came back into focus for the Saotome, causing eyes as red as her former hair color to squint first at Setsuna, then the surrounding Inners. Great. Just great. It was only the second time in her life she had gotten drunk, and now she had more witnesses to the act then the first. Her eyes drifted onto the blonde, whose blue eyes shone brightly with concern. It was like she was looking into a mirror. The alcohol induced hangover only made the situation all the more surreal.
"Mom… Are you… alright?" Neurons fired sporadically, and it took Ranma a moment to realize just who Usagi was referring to her. Worse still was the fact that she couldn't even deny it anymore, had her higher logic functions been up to the task. The silver-haired girl frowned as the realization was accompanied by a dull, painful throb through her head.
"OOOooooh… No." She shook her head and took another thoughtful look at her daughter as the implications rang home. "Definitely not okay." Her gaze drift over to the passed out Outers. "Some bodyguards."
"If I remember correctly, you ordered them to celebrate." Setsuna offered.
"Ordered them?" Rei blinked cluelessly.
"I stand corrected," Minako said, smiling widely at Usagi. "Your mom isn't just cool, she rocks!"
"MOOOOM!"
"Owowowowo…" Ranma winced at the pitch of her daughter, causing her best friend to wince in kind. The commotion, in turn, disturbed the remaining casualties from last night's apocalypse. The Inners watched the spectacle repeat itself as it had with Ranma and Setsuna before her with the same horrible fascination. It was like watching the dead return to the land of the living. Usagi had actually performed the former, but it had been much prettier and far less excruciating than the sight before her now. Haruka and Michiru were understandable. A good snockering wasn't beyond their capabilities. A disheveled and fully adult Hotaru, on the other hand...
Setsuna watched the sight, shaking her head with more empathy than she wanted to share at the moment. "More coffee, Makoto. Stat."
Tap-tap-tap.
Ranma Saotome, Heir of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and Ruler of the former Silver Millennium empire sat alone in Setsuna Meiou's bedroom, staring at the clothing laid out on the bed in front of her. On the surface of things, the dilemma was obvious—When she summoned the ballroom dress last night, she had banished her Chinese silks to God only knew where. Given her loose grasp on her newly found power, it didn't look like they were coming back anytime soon either, which meant that unless she wanted to stay a spectacle all day, she needed to borrow some clothing. Her diminutive female stature was somewhat problematic, as none of the other girls seemed to have the right frame to donate spare clothing…
There was one person, however.
That's where Ranma's problem quickly descended into murky angst. The clothing on the bed in front of her belonged to none other than Usagi Tsukino, the girl that was all but certainly her daughter. Weird didn't even begin to cover the situation as a whole, let alone finding out she had had a daughter in the first place. That, in turn, dredged up memories on how she had gotten a daughter to begin with. All in all, it was an endlessly circle of depression, fond memories and brutal reality that took its toll on the martial arts queen.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
It didn't help matters that the sleeveless orange blouse-skirt combination was a tad over the top in terms of femininity. Ranma had gone through the Outer's closet and would have much rather worn some of Haruka's stuff, but the sizes were just all wrong. Michiru did have some panties to donate, but whether that was a blessing or yet another curse had yet to be determined. She was pretty sure the lacy shimmering panties weren't a blessing, and her only consolation was that she had worn worse over the last two and a half years with the Tendos. At least nobody else would be seeing this particular undergarment.
At least I managed to avoid the thongs, Ranma thought to herself with a slight cringe. Even that particular thought worried her. The cringe wasn't nearly as strong as it ought to have been, because at the back of her mind she knew she could wear one, had worn one and looked good in one. At least in the distant past. Fortunately, that part of her personal past hadn't reasserted itself with any force… yet. She knew there were changes going on behind the scenes. Subtle changes in her behavior, such as a lower tolerance for bullshit. In fact, she was amazed that she had been so tolerant in her stay at the dojo as she reflected upon the matter.
Regardless, that particular topic was several priorities lower than the one at hand. It could be dealt with later. The fact that she had a daughter, on the other hand…
Tap-tap-tap—
"Go away."
"Umm," A muffled voice issued through the doorway, which clicked open. Ranma recognized the face immediately, and the pit in her stomach grew exponentially. "Just wondering if my stuff is fitting you okay… Mom."
The silver-haired girl sighed silently at the girl's not so subtle attempt to open a conversation with her. Evidentially, Fate wasn't about to leave her alone to find some other poor, unfortunate sap to beat up. Either that, or it was extremely adept at multi-tasking. This time, the sigh was audible.
"Look… I… You… we…" Ranma began is a somewhat edgy tone, but it quickly dissipated as she looked into Usagi's eyes. "They… they'll fit just fine."
Usagi nodded and an expectant silence settled between them. Both girls stared at one another until Usagi's expression cracked, her eyes glistening.
"Am I really so bad, mother?"
Ranma blinked. She had been expecting small talk. Chit-chat. Definitely not a scorned child desperately seeking redemption from her the woman she thought was her mother. And now, she felt like an absolute heel. A tear trickled down the blonde's cheek and any resistance within Ranma collapsed. She stepped forward and pulled the girl into a hug.
"No… No, it ain't you…" She replied as her daughter buried her head into her mother's shoulder, sniffling. "It ain't you at all…"
The sobbing continued for another five minutes as Ranma stroked Usagi's. It was awkward and unnatural to the martial artist, but there was little else she could do. The experience that came with this life wanted to vehemently deny that any such nonsense had occurred. Then came the memories. Fragmented and marginal, but they were there, and they showed that the child in her arms now was most definitely hers. She let the girl sob on her shoulder for another minute before the tears began to subside, allowing her to finally pull away.
"It's just you…" Usagi sniffled. "After all this time…"
"I know… " Ranma shook her head, plopping down onto Setsuna's soft bed. She motioned her daughter to sit next to her, patting the space next to her. "It's hard to explain... On one hand I got all these experiences as a guy and on the other, I'm a queen. Not just a queen, but a mother. Guys aren't supposed to be mothers…"
Ranma drift off into silent contemplation with the statement as Usagi found the spot next to the silver haired girl. She still could barely believe that this girl, nearly the same age and height as her was her mother. "But the memories…"
"Heh." Ranma sniffed with faint amusement. "After all the crap I've been through, it's pretty easy to explain away the weird stuff." Usagi looked at her curiously and Ranma elaborated. "Weird memories? Probably some Amazon hair care product. Think I'm a girl? Been knocked on the head once too often. Strange powers? Nothing a run-in with a half dragon prince won't put into perspective."
Usagi was staring at the girl next to her intently now. "Wow… And my life didn't start to get weird until I took on my Moon kingdom persona for the first time."
Ranma nodded. "And now it's like looking though two sets of eyes. One pair sees you as just this blonde girl and the other…" The silver-haired queen paused, her face taking on a look of concentration. "…and the other sees you as the… child I… I… love…"
Usagi watched the tension build into Ranma's frame then drain away as the last word was spoken, as if she were a balloon who had suddenly lost its air. Ranma couldn't even make eye contact with her and realization dawned on her.
"Was saying it that hard?"
Ranma nodded, still unable to bring herself to look at the girl as shame and love waged war within her psyche. Ranma Saotome, martial arts prodigy and manly man gave birth to a girl. A beautiful, wonderful girl, the counter point drifted through her brain. "Hard ain't the word. I've had this man among men stuff drilled into me all my life. My Mom. My Pop. Being the best was the sole focus of my life for so long… God, it feels like my brain is gonna explode."
Usagi nodded sympathetically. She was still aclimating herself to her role as future ruler of humanity, let alone enduring the shock of finding out she had two mothers, and it was becoming a test of loyalties. Who was her mother? The birth-mother in this lifetime or this the one who only existed in the haze of memory? Still, if the girl before her born a boy could take that first step... Both sat in silence for a moment, a moment that was interrupted by arms snaking around Ranma in a warm embrace.
The silver-haired queen couldn't have been more surprised, looking into her daughter's bright blue eyes and warm smile. "Don't worry, Mom… I don't remember it all yet, but I remember enough to know you were always there for me, even after you left. I'll always be here for you too."
The pair sat gazing into the one another's soul for a moment longer before a single tear ran down Ranma's own cheek, causing her to pull the Princess of the Moon back into the embrace. Mother and daughter held one another for a small eternity, simply content that a large part of their lives had just been completed by the other. The feelings were still foreign to Ranma Saotome, but there was one thing for certain… If this was her child, she was going to do a better job than Genma had. By the time they pulled away from one another, both had damp faces and wet eyes.
"I should let you dress…" Usagi admitted with a warm smile. Ranma nodded and the blonde odango-atama turned to the door, opening it.
THWa-Wump-Wump-wump-wump!
With the twist of the knob, the door flew open and six bodies instantly piled at Usagi's feet. Mother and daughter blinked at the pile of groaning, tangled Senshi limbs.
"You were listening to us the entire time!" Usagi shrieked, eliciting weak smiles from the pile of teenage girls. Ranma herself was far from amused.
"Uh, heh… heh?"
Her gaze narrowed sharply on the tangled magical girls. "Looks like I might have to start training sooner than expected."
The Senshi paled. Any amusement born from eavesdropping on the queen and her daughter died a quick and painful death.
"Home!"
Kasumi Tendo paused her kitchenly duties momentarily and cocked her head, readily identifying the unseen female voice that had just stepped through the door. With it came a curious sound; that of many other feet and… wheezing? It was enough to cause the eldest Tendo to set the vegetable knife aside to poke her head out the kitchen doorway. What she found was quite fascinating.
"Oh my…"
Ranma looked from the blonde beside her, finding Kasumi peering out of the kitchen with wide eyes. It wasn't the overly feminine orange blouse that triggered the eldest's mental fallback, or even the fact that its style seemed to match the blonde in an almost eerie fashion. No, the "oh my" was born from the six sweating, bedraggled girls behind them, every one of which were gasping for breath save the slight girl with short black hair. Unlike the panting girls, she seemed to be enjoying herself immensely.
"Hey Kasumi… Don't suppose we could get some water, do ya?" Ranma asked with a light smile. The girl next to him nodded agreeably while those behind her continued to catch their breath. At least three were doubled over at the moment.
At least he appears to be in a better mood than last night, Kasumi noted and returned Ranma's smile. "Of course, Ranma-kun. Would your friends care for a snack?"
"No snacks." Ranma shook her head absently. "We're just here for a pit stop. Still got another five miles of running, ya know?"
"You said three!" The other blond protested between gasps and Ranma turned back to her.
"I lied." The silver-haired girl smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile.
"I take it all back, Usagi," Minako shook her head with a scowl plastered across her face. "You're mom's a meanie!"
The first blonde didn't even get a chance to rebuke the Senshi as Ranma cut in with that same, horrible smile. "Just for that, you get to carry Hotaru for the next leg."
The Senshi of Love's jaw dropped, but no further words came out. She didn't dare say anything else. Makoto had been the last Hotaru-bearer, and she was bent over, drenched with sweat for the trespass of calling the Queen's daughter "meatball head". Truth be told, one excuse was as good as another for Ranma. They were all going to get a chance to carry Saturn's guardian by the end of the run.
"Oh my, are these your magical girl friends from last night?" Kasumi asked, noticing what appeared to be friendly banter. That, and they looked awfully familiar.
Ranma thought on it for a moment as part of her mind churned thought the logic dilemma only a reincarnated gender cursed martial arts queen of an ancient empire would face. The guy was there kicking and screaming. He was a martial artist. He wasn't running around with a bunch of school girls, let alone people that could be called "girlfriends". They'd probably get in their thick skulls sooner or later that he was fiancé material or something, and what fun wouldn't that be? The other part was entrenched in the shadows of nearly a millennia's worth of memory. She had hand-picked these very girls to defend all that was just, and each and every one of them had given their lives to that cause. It was there, and for possibly the first time that her dual nature found a common ground. Even the male martial artist within her quieted with that revelation. Their honor and commitment was beyond question, both today and in the annals of history long forgotten. For once, the tug-o-war within her mind as Queen and martial artist came to an agreement.
"Yep, the same." Ranma let a fond smile flow across her face. "My best friends."
The coughing and wheezing behind her stopped for a moment as the Senshi stopped and stared. The tough, guarded girl they had only known for a couple of days seemed to melt in front of them and they couldn't help but to smile with her. It was even a pleasant surprise for Kasumi herself, who knew that the martial artists' list of true friends was a short one, indeed.
Click.
Ranma's head swiveled on the familiar sound and the light smile vanished abruptly as she found Nabiki Tendo at the top of the stairway, camera in hand.
"The same friends as last night, eh Saotome?" The middle Tendo smiled. It was eerily similar to the smile Ranma had just given Minako only moments earlier. "The same friends who were, in fact, Sailor Senshi last night?" Usagi's eyes widened at the implication. "You just made me very rich, Ranma."
"You wouldn't." Even as the words left Ranma's lips, she mentally rolled her eyes. This was Nabiki she was talking about. Of course she would.
"After all," Nabiki continued heedlessly. "Who wouldn't pay millions for the true identities of the Sailor Senshi?"
"That isn't very nice, sister." The Senshi turned from the stair-borne sister to the eldest one in front of them, looking at her with incredulity for what had to have been the understatement of the year. It didn't even faze Ranma. Had the girls behind him known Kasumi better, they would have realized that statement was the next best thing to a stern scolding.
It didn't faze Nabiki either. She simply shrugged. "Sorry sis, but this will set us up for life. No way can I be talked out of this one."
Ranma's gaze bore into the middle Tendo and she stared imperviously back. "You don't wanna do this, Nabs."
Now it was Nabiki's turn to be taken aback slightly. Was Ranma actually challenging her? He'd been acting weird all weekend, but this was definitely out of the ordinairy. Not that it changed thing any. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I do, Saotome. It'll more than make up for that huge diamond you insist on keeping to yourself."
"You'll endanger their families, Nabs." Ranma countered. Had Nabiki's greed consumed slightly less of her attention, she might have identified the silver-haired girl's words as a warning. "It's a secret identity for a reason."
Nabiki simply smiled the smile of the unsympathetic. "They're magical girls Ranma. If it's really that big of a deal, have them hire body guards like other famous people."
The martial artist moved away from the girls and started up the stairs. "You don't wanna push me on this one."
As soon as her first step hit the stairwell, alarms began sounding inside the middle Tendo's brain. What the hell was he doing! He wasn't actually going to try to force her to give up her evidence, was he? As if! With the amount of dirt she could bury him under, he'd be begging for her to stop. The number of fiancées she could send his way would make his children weep. The smile on her face chilled as the staring match continued. No, he had no leverage. No power. This was just the initial Saotome bluster. Give him a few minutes to get it out of his system and he'd fold like always.
Ranma cleared the top step and was now staring up at Nabiki from her diminutive stature. Even through her confidence, the Tendo couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. "Last chance, Nabs."
"Pah-lease." Nabiki snorted. "What can you possibly do to me, Saotome?"
A single finger came up from Ranma and she pressed it into her chest, near her heart. Nabiki blinked, and watched as the silver-haired girl turned away and back down the steps. "What? Was that it? Is that the best the big bad Ranma Saotome can do?"
Ranma paused halfway down the steps and cocked her head with a neutral expression on her face. "Pressure point, Nabs. I'll leave it to you to find out which one."
She continued down the stairs as stunning realization hit Nabiki like a sledge hammer. A pressure point? Ranma Saotome is extorting me? "Get back here right now and undo this, Saotome!"
"Or you'll do what?"
Nabiki lost all cool as Ranma called her bluff. "I'll…!"
"Release the secret identities of the Sailor Senshi?" Ranma arched an eyebrow, clearly unmoved by her anger.
"Not just that!" She retorted angrily, moving down the stairs to physically confront the martial artist. "I'll send so many fiancées your way you'll never be able to dig yourself out of the mess they create!"
By now, Kasumi's eyes had widened. She wasn't sure exactly what had precipitated Ranma's change in attitude as of late, but she knew the dynamic between her and Nabiki had changed radically. "Sister, I wouldn't…"
Poke.
A single finger touched Nabiki at the left shoulder joint, stopping her anger cold with eyes wider than Kasumi's. "Guess what that one was."
The sister took a horrified step back, partially due to the fact that she had been on the receiving end of yet another pressure point, but more due to the fact that her negotiations had collapsed so completely… with Saotome, no less! He was just a martial arts… stud? Nabiki stared at Ranma with a critical eye and began to take in all the differences she should have noted earlier. This incarnation was still confident, but not to the point of arrogance. She was absolutely certain in position and superiority, and it wasn't ego. Given the situation, there was only one thing to do.
"We'll… We'll talk about this later, Saotome!" Ranma gave the girl a bored look as she quickly stomped back up the stairs from whence she came.
"Well that was… Interesting." Ami blinked as a door slammed upstairs.
"Um, Ranma…" Kasumi stepped forward with a bit of worry in her eyes. "Which… pressure points did you use on Nabiki?"
"The first one was Cat Tongue." Ranma said with a light grin and the eldest Tendo put a hand to her lips with a silent 'oh'. The words easily conjured memories of Ranma's own painful run-in with the pressure point.
"What's a 'cat tongue'?" Usagi asked, leaning toward Ranma.
"Pressure point." The martial artist supplied. "Makes any temperature of warm water excruciatingly hot."
"Ouch." Haruka replied with little sympathy.
"And the other?" Kasumi pressed, and Ranma simply shrugged.
"Just a poke to the shoulder." The smile widened. "No reason to pour it on too thick… yet."
Kasumi Tendo just nodded. "I see. Oh, water." The sister turned back to the kitchen, if only to avoid wandering any further down the path created by the changes in the silver-haired girl's personality. She disappeared through the door and all eyes turned back on Ranma.
"So why aren't you making Usagi carry Hotaru?" Rei asked, returning to the previous topic with just a hint of resentment.
"Mother-daughter bonding, of course." Michiru smiled knowingly, causing Ranma to roll her eyes.
"Don't worry, she gets Hotaru tomorrow." Their queen replied, causing Usagi to nearly choke.
"But MOM!"
Any objections the princess may have had were cut short as the door behind them clicked open, admitting a middle aged women in a finely decorated blue kimono that was offset by her chestnut red hair. The katana didn't go unnoticed by the girls.
"Speaking of mothers…" Ranma grumbled and the woman stopped short upon seeing the crowd of girls in the living room. It only took a moment of study to pick out her son from the group, a task made easier with the addition of silver hair.
"Your father and I were worried about you, son." Nodoka moved through the girls, embracing your son. "Well, at least I was. Genma couldn't stop going on about how ungrateful you were."
"Why am I not surprised?" Ranma deadpanned and Nodoka began to size up her child's appearance.
"And may I ask why you're wearing such feminine clothing?" Ranma's mother asked with a slight of warning in her voice. "While I can overlook the occasional trespass in your manly behavior because of your curse, you seem to be growing entirely too accustomed to that body."
The martial artist sighed. "Thought we went over this, Mom."
"Indeed," Nodoka admonished. "I thought it would be clear that if you are to perform your manly duties with your fiancée, you would need stop this foolishness." She paused, and her eyes gained an unnatural gleam to them. "And provide me with grandbabies, of course."
"Manly duties?" Minako asked as Ranma's face began to turn a healthy pink.
Haruka stared at the woman, then her queen. "She wouldn't mean…?"
"Unless all these girls are your mistresses." All speculation was cut off as eight magical girl heads swiveled on her simultaneously, mouths gaping.
Nodoka couldn't have known that she was about to annihilate the last remnants of Ranma's patience which Nabiki had steadily eroded only ten minutes earlier. Ranma Saotome could take many things from her mother, if only because she hadn't seen her in years and was desperate to rebuild that relationship. But on this particular topic, she was done. On top of having a gender curse, she was now having the mother of all identity crises. And speaking of mothers… An evil thought came to mind, a thought that would never have occurred to her without the help of her 14,000 year old self. Had anyone seen her mental smile, it would have made them shiver.
"So you want grandchildren, mother?" She asked sweetly and Nodoka regarded her son blandly. A pit began to develop in Usagi's stomach simultaneously.
"I am pretty sure I've mentioned it, son." The other Senshi began to back away from the Queen and her daughter, sensing the approaching storm.
"Well it just so happens you're in luck today." Ranma stated offhandedly, stopping his mother cold.
"I am?" She blinked. Several times, in fact. "You…?"
Ranma grinned. "I'd like you to meet your granddaughter, Usagi Tsukino-Saotome, my daughter and heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium."
Usagi produced a surprised, impromptu bow and Nodoka continued to blink for the next minute. Her stare continued to switch from Ranma to Usagi and back. Finally, a very perturbed look flowed across Nodoka's face.
"I'm not amused, Son."
"Imagine my reaction." Ranma whispered to herself, then back to his mother. "I'm serious."
"And you would expect me to believe that this girl is your blood?" The Saotome matriarch asked rhetorically. "If you are quite done with this foolishness, I must insist—"
"The eyes, Mom."
Nodoka stopped for the second time and looked the girl directly in the eyes. Not that those would do anything to convincer her that this blonde child could possibly be… Her thought process stopped cold as her eyes locked on the the girl's blue orbs, then snapped back to Ranma's. It was impossible, the mother rationalized! The genetic traits of her family were certainly rare ones, and Ranma's female form had certainly inherited the more extreme aspects of them, but blonde hair wasn't among them. But the eyes… Impossible as it was, she had stared lovingly into those eyes too many times not to recognize them.
"But… No… She can't be…" Nodoka stammered, leaning into Usagi to scrutinize her further.
Ranma mustered the most matriarchal expression she could. "Sa-chan, say 'hello' to your grandmother."
Usagi twitched, but recovered quickly, throwing herself into a more formal bow than before. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Grandmother!" The hint of desperation in her voice pleased the silver-haired martial arts queen enormously. Ranma watched the duo stare at one another for another couple of minutes before nodding to herself with satisfaction.
"Okay girls, get your water. We're leaving in five." Ranma stated, turning back to the watching Senshi.
Ami looked from Ranma, then to the grandmother and grandchild. "Umm, what about Usagi?"
Saotome-Serenity merely produced a lopsided grin. "Trust me, she'll be more than occupied enough any moment now." As if on cue, Nodoka lunged at Usagi with huge smile and an unnatural gleam in her eyes.
"Grand-daughter!"
Ranma Saotome-Serenity slowed her easy jog upon viewing the green-haired woman down the street in downtown Nerima, doing nothing more than waiting on the corner for her. Pluto's Senshi was clad in a somewhat relaxed dress with a deep 'V' that showed off her well defined curves. From a fiancée, her appearance might have made the new Queen slightly nervous, but this was Setsuna she was talking about. Her memory told her that she had been her best friend for damn near a millennium. Not only that, those same memories also told her she didn't mind the attention either. Set-chan had always been the 'look, but don't touch' sort. Those memories did little to quiet the male side, however. It was rather divided on the issue. Part of it wanted nothing to do with ogling at other women since such ogling could only lead to fiancée trouble, a well-abused topic in the martial artist's life. The other part of him couldn't help but to notice that Setsuna Meiou, Mistress of Time and Princess of Pluto was a fine specimen of woman hood.
All in all, it did nothing but serve to underscore just how screwed up her psyche was at the moment.
Setsuna Meiou greeted her best friend with a smile, then looked behind her curiously. "Um, where are the others?"
"Left Usagi back at the dojo with Mom and the others should be behind me in a minute or so. Ranma stated evenly, but it didn't prevent the Senshi from noting the frown.
"Problem with the family?"
"Nah." Ranma shook her head. "Just realizing what all this reincarnation crap is doing to my brain."
"Thankfully, I was spared--" The words dropped off Setsuna's lips as a group of teenage girls came jogging- or rather lurching around the corner, drenched in sweat while gasping for breath. She stared at the bedraggled group for a moment, then down at Ranma. "My, what a taskmaster you've become."
"Meh. I may not have a complete memory, but I know they trained harder than that." Ranma shrugged as the girls ground to a stop around the pair, panting and coughing up various organs.
Setsuna gave the dying teens another once-over (and shrugged mentally. Nearly ten kilometers from Juuban to Nerima without the benefits of their armor. Oh sure, the girls still had their innate mana taps to their respective planets and thus better than average endurance in their civilian forms, but apparently Ranma had burned through that buffer in the run. That, and she couldn't help but to notice Hotaru dismounting Minako. This made her smile as it reinforced her confidence that the silver-haired pig tailed girl was, in fact, her best friend. Having them carry Saturn all over the place was definitely the mischievous touch of Queen Serenity. She turned from the wheezing girls, back to her Queen the smile faded slightly. "Are you sure seeing the Amazon again is such a good idea?"
"Cologne ain't that bad." Ranma shrugged. "Sure, she's a manipulative ol' hag, but she ain't the sort to stab me in the back… If only because of how much she has invested in me."
Setsuna flipped a lock of green hair, considering her logic. "Perhaps, but I know her sort. She has an agenda."
"Oh, Cologne always has her own agenda," The silver-haired pigtailed girl snorted with dry amusement. "but I'm more worried about the rest of 'em back in China. Last thing I need is a dozen more 'obstacle is for killing!' girls looking to put a sword in my back..."
"Or marry you." Pluto's Senshi chuckled, causing Ranma to frown.
"Oh, laugh it up, Setsy." The perturbed reincarnated queen folded her arms. "Ya wouldn't be laughing if you knew."
Setsuna Meiou's smile faded with the words. "I do. Took about two days running through the highlights."
"When did you do…?"
"Remember when I disappeared the first time you visited the shrine?" Ranma nodded. "I took the opportunity to review your life through the Gates, then back-stepped two days. I know all about it." She didn't feel it necessary to add that it was all she could do not to find a creative way to violently remove some of the more disturbing elements from her life during those two days. Ranma simply nodded, quietly keeping her peace on the subject. She'd learned to accept the chaos of her life a long time ago, but that didn't make the trip down memory lane any more pleasant. Seeing her best friend's pensive mood compelled Pluto to change the subject and turned back to the sweating girls.
"Go find an alley and transform. Should perk you right up." And provide the necessary show of force should Serenity's friend choose to contemplate other avenues of 'negotiation', she added silently.
"Welcome back… Ranma." The uncertain pause didn't go unnoticed by the martial artist as she, Setsuna and a full contingent of magical girls stepped into the vacant space of the Neko Han Ten. Not that she could honestly blame her, as she had gone from guy to girl to son in-law to queen of an intergalactic empire to potentially the most hated enemy the Amazons had ever known. She'd be confused. In fact, she was. The Amazon elder eyed the grouped with a mixture of caution and curiosity. The message in the magical girl escort was obvious, and she sincerely doubted it was son in-law's idea. The green-haired one, then, Cologne concluded silently. Ranma would have come alone, therefore the show of force was her recently acquired shadow's idea. And it was an effective one, all things considered. Sure, none of them could match her or her own in single combat, but there was something to be said for overwhelming numbers. At their power levels, they'd only have to get lucky once. Even without any direct indicator as to her skill level, that revelation alone made her one of the most dangerous people in the room. Cologne gave the slightest of nods to the Ranma's friend before continuing. "You are undoubtedly here to check on your… Handiwork?"
Handiwork was one way to put it, Ranma thought ruefully. After all, resurrecting somebody wasn't something she did everyday. Ranma looked from Cologne to Shampoo and Mousse who stood behind her. It had to be the first time that an expression of lust or hatred weren't found on the faces of either. Both radiated just as much curiosity as the old woman between them.
"Yeah, among other things."
Cologne nodded, then turned to the back of the restaurant. "Potion. Wax. Come."
The door to the kitchen opened and two Amazon females stepped out. Ranma was immediately hit with a wave of déjà-vu (you can probably ignore the accents if you like) as both were garbed in the familiar Chinese Amazonian silks, nor did it help that their current pastel shaded dress came from Shampoo's own wardrobe. Setsuna leaned in close as the two took their places to the right of Cologne.
"Careful," The Guardian of Time whispered. "One of them might just marry you."
Ranma cast an edgy glare at her friend before turning back to the Amazons. The first was nearly her height with teal hair that hung down her back, soft purplish eyes and an ample figure. The second was a full head taller with a wiry figure and complex coils of pale blonde braiding. A nervous glow danced in her grey eyes, amplified by the fact that they darted from one corner of the room to the other as if the shadows themselves held unseen threats.
"Potion, Wax… Your savior, Ranma Saotome." Both focused immediately on the silver-haired girl with the Elder's words, who held them in pregnant pause. "…Serenity."
The aforementioned martial artist simply rolled her eyes with the dramatic introduction that she herself had only scarcely accepted. The reactions were enlightening, however. Potion's eyes immediately widened and a sharp intake of breath accompanied her involuntarily step back. Wax stilled abruptly and her eyes stopped their nervous flicker, focusing on her to the exclusion of all else.
The stand-off dragged on for another moment before Ranma let loose an exasperated sigh. "I swear if I hear another Amazon scream 'I kill' I'll snap. I really will. And don't even think about sending any of those kisses my way."
The outburst was sufficiently unexpected enough to cause both Amazons to blink and turn to Cologne for an explanation, which she provided in the form of rapid fire Mandarin. Potion responded in kind, albeit a shorter verse of the pitched language. Cologne smiled, turning back to the silver-haired pigtailed girl. "She says you certainly don't sound like the Great Enemy."
Ranma 'hmmf'd and returned her attention to the Amazon contingent with a pleading look. "Please tell me this ain't gonna end in swords and kisses."
Amusement sparkled in Cologne's eyes, even if the expression never reached her face. "Not quite. The situation concerning Potion and Wax is rather… precarious at the moment."
"How is that?" Pluto reached for the question before Ranma could herself.
The Elder paused a moment, considering the source of the question. This woman really was Ranma's shadow. If she didn't know better, a second in command and close confidant by the way they interacted. More surprising was the fact that her former son in-law accepted her company in kind, forcing herself to accept the green-haired woman as if she were talking to Ranma directly… As well as making it increasingly more difficult to refute the fact that the boy she had known for the last two years was indeed The Serenity… Which in turn would make the following explanation all the more difficult.
"Potion and Wax are effectively dead to the Amazon nation," Cologne began, gesturing to the pair. "as they were both ascended by the hand of Beryl."
"I ain't liking where this is going…" Ranma murmured, already jumping ahead to the next logical conclusion. That conclusion was now backed by partial memories of just who Beryl was… And what ultimately became of her.
"Indeed." Cologne nodded gravely. "They are dead and you, The Serenity, have brought them back to this plane of existence. The two events do not sit well in one another's company."
"You would think they would be grateful." Sailor Neptune commented off hand, causing Cologne to frown.
"Unfortunately, one cannot take the casting out and subsequent damnation of our own so lightly." The second oldest woman in the room finished.
"Damnation?" Mercury stiffened. "Why would they be…?"
"Serenity." Pluto deduced easily. "Apparently, being resurrected by the Amazon's greatest enemy is not a desirable thing."
"Indeed." Cologne concluded, her point successfully communicated.
Ranma shook her head. "Come on! When was the last time I summoned a demon? They annoy me and kidnap Akane, and I sure as hell don't call 'em to do that."
Cologne favored Ranma with a piercing stare for a moment before conceding the point. "It would also require intimate knowledge of our people and society. Regardless, it leaves me with a difficult decision."
"Such as how to deal with tribal sisters that are technically personae non grata in the eyes of Amazon law," Setsuna pointed out. "Doubly so when they're considered conjured demons via your worst enemy."
Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous! Cologne's mind sang as Setsuna distilled the entire meeting down to one thought. And she was sure that her skill easily matched that knife-like intellect of hers. The Elder looked from Potion to Wax, then hung her head. Her staff tipped slightly in her grip and her weary demeanor all but indicated they had arrived at the crux of the matter.
"It is such." The matriarch admitted, well aware of the thin ice she was transversing between tribal law and the future of her people. There really was only one choice left to her if she was not to slay Ranma here and now, and it basically amounted to treason of the highest order. It involved betraying the Goddess of Amazononian legend. A goddess she had sent a child to... And possibly sent to her doom if what Ranma and her friend was saying were true. If she were to commit to her next words, the name 'Cologne' could very well go down in Amazon history as one of the worst traitors to ever walk the Earth. She had to know. Had to know for certain… She needed something if she was to save her people!The old woman took a deep breath and committed herself fully. "By decree of the Council of Elders, the avatars of Potion and Wax shall hereby be put to death. May Beryl have mercy on their eternal souls."
"WHAT?"
"Are you insane!"
"The Queen just brought them back to life and you're going to kill them!"
"Not a chance!"
"You can't just kill them!"
The outrage was complete and the only ones left standing still among the gathering of magical girls was Ranma and Pluto, both locked in a staring contest with Cologne. Wax and Potion stiffened, but otherwise remain unnaturally calm, as if they had expected the outcome. The Ghoul might have even informed them of it ahead of time, had Ranma the time to speculate on the possibility.
"Shampoo, my spear." Cologne's never left the two women in front of her and Shampoo remained frozen in place for only a fraction of a moment before ducking behind the counter to retrieve the spear. She traded it off for her Great Grandmother's cane and Cologne brought it down, examining it's now jeweless tip. "This spear has slain five demons of the Rite. It will now slay two more."
The increasing teen outrage was suddenly cut off as a wave of pure white light flooded the room, blinding the occupants momentarily. When their eyes adjusted, they found Ranma Saotome glowing with power and her borrowed clothing leeched of color. The only thing neither silver or white beyond skin was her eyes, which radiate a pure, crystal blue. Those blue orbs now focused sharply on the Amazon Matriarch.
"No."
Cologne did her best not to take an involuntary step back as power wafted around her like a blanket. "The Serenity, I presume?"
The glowing martial arts intergalactic queen cocked her head as if considering the question. "Some days more than others."
"The enemy of the Amazons?" Cologne pressed.
"Only if you make me one." Ranma replied impatiently. "Ain't gonna let you cut them, Ghoul. I don't think you will, but I'm only now getting' to realize just how screwed up the Amazons really are. Can't take the chance."
"Why?"
"It's a senseless death." Ranma explained, allowing a bright ball of light to coalesce in her hand absently. It gathered to the size of a softball and floated there lazily. "Honorless, even. They ain't demons and I ain't the monster you think I am. Death by stupidity is the worst, and I won't let you use me as an excuse to do it."
Even as Cologne wondered at the destructive potential contained with in the seemingly harmless ball of light, the green-haired second in command on her left flank stretched out an arm. A pink flash filtered through the room and her hand now held a heart tipped stave, its glowing red gem pulsing angrily with power.
"I was hoping the show of force would help you contemplate other avenues of negotiation." Sailor Pluto frowned; bringing the staff parallel across her body. "But when it comes right down to it, the Queen and I can clear this room without breaking a sweat."
Behind her, the Matriarch watched as a glowing sword was being drawn and an exotic pole arm flash into existence. She was right. Cologne could vouch for son in-law ability on the spot, and it didn't take much imagination to realize her Second's deadly potential. There was no doubt that the woman was a seasoned combat veteran. The remaining girls were simply overkill after that. She let her shoulders slump and tipped the spear away from her Amazon sisters, mentally exhausted. So the die has been cast…
"You are correct… Serenity." She watched Ranma's teeth grind with faint amusement as she used the title. "I would not slay my own tribeswomen outright without being sure, and the only thing that I am sure of at the moment is that you are not the monster of legend."
"Duh." Ranma remarked dryly and the aura around her diminished slightly. Her escort took it as a cue to back down slightly. "Next time you see me summon a demon, you let me know."
"Regardless," Cologne pressed forward. "It does not change the fact that Potion and Wax's lives are forfeit in the eyes of the Council." She paused once again, contemplating not only the fate of the newly reborn women, but herself, her great granddaughter and the entire Amazon nation. Step carefully…
"Potion and Wax." The pair of Amazon's came to attention as the Amazonian Elder addressed them. "In your time you were Amazon elite, ascended to the heavens by Beryl herself to serve, a task at which you have obviously failed. You have been cast out by our goddess and in your fall, allied your souls with the most ancient and dire of evils."
What are you playing at, Cologne? The shadows of Ranma's millennia year old persona asked as she watched the scene play out before her. It was a sentiment Ranma's present day psyche shared, but that part of her would have never seen through the Old Ghoul's performance so effectively. She was up to something, something beyond the condemnation of two resurrected warriors. The warriors in question stood at ridged attention, accepting their trial as if everything their Elder said was not only true, but a given. To them it is, Ranma reasoned internally. Last they knew, they were Beryl's chosen. Now they're here facing the keeper of Amazon hell… Me. There really could only be one explanation. But Setsy's right, she reminded herself. Cologne always has an agenda, especially in anything concerning me.
For once she was actually looking forward to seeing one of her schemes come to fruition.
"As you are now damned and allies of The Serenity, we refute your existence." Cologne's gaze narrowed menacingly on the women. "No Amazon shall ever speak your name henceforth and we shall remove them from the Watcher's Archive. Such is the fate of traitors to our Goddess." She paused, then framed Ranma with the same steely eyes. "Take your infernal minions and leave us, Serenity. Others more suited than I shall be forthcoming to deal with you… In the very near future."
Ranma cocked her head as the Old Crone's words clicked into place. She considered the diminutive spear wielding Elder carefully before consenting with a single nod, then turned to speak over her shoulder. "Girls, we're gone. Wax, Potion you're mine now. Let's go."
The Inners watched with slight surprise as the two Amazons snapped from their frozen stance, falling in behind their queen without a word. The Outers gave them a wary look, their response only checked by a look from Pluto herself. Without another word, seven magical girls, two newly resurrected Amazons, one Guardian of Time and a reincarnated martial arts queen of a long dead empire left the Neko Han Ten.
Half a world away, another diminutive Joketsuzoku Elder draped in crimson stood in the middle of a rainforest nestled in the valley of the Bayankala mountain range, staring at a outcropping of weathered, monolithic stones with no small trepidation. These were the Grounds of the Rite, the very doorway by which the Goddess Beryl ascended the worthy. Like all Amazons her age, she had been here before, but was passed over. Perhaps she wasn't needed at that time. Perhaps she lacked a certain quality. But regardless, she was here now and the need was great. Behind her stood her contemporaries, the Council of Elders. Close enough to witness the event, but far enough away to avoid any unplesantries should she fail.
She was nearly two centuries old, yet that age and experience did not stop her breath from trembling as she cross the first line of vine covered stones. The last time she had done so over 150 years ago had spawned a hellish demon to judge, and if necessary, dispose of her by violent means. Thick gray clouds rolled across the sky as if they were another foreboding portent of things to come, and she stepped past the giant markers. Hard magic immediately flowed around her and the sound of buckling earth reached her ears for the second time in her lifetime. She didn't even need to turn around to know that there was a demon crawling out of the ground behind her as she progressed toward the center warding stone. There would only be a few precious moments to herself before the monster was on her.
"Goddess Beryl! I humbly ask of your presence!"
"ROOOWWWoooOWWWRL!"
The gray-haired elder swung around as the beasts torso cleared the crumbling earth. There was no doubt now as to its rage was fixed on. She turned away from its flaming beady eyes and turned her attention back on the three foot stone in front of her. "It is a matter of life and death for the Amazon nation! Please, I must speak to you!"
The growling continued and the monster cleared the trench, drawing to it's full thirteen foot height. The Matriarch didn't even bother to look at it. She had seen one before; Reddish pink, skin stretched across jutting bones, no hair and vaguely female. The scythe claws and massive fangs did nothing to endear it to it's visitors. It only took a few lumbering steps to bring the monster within effective striking distance, and the old woman simply closed her eyes, screaming, "The Serenity has come, Beryl! We require your divine guidance to purge it from out realm!"
The growling at her back stopped abruptly, and she hazarded a look over her shoulder to find the demon complete frozen, claws outstretched only inches from her back. She sucked in an involuntary breath and turned back to the stones, only to find the ghostly image of her goddess floating over her like a displeased, red-headed apparition. The shock elicited a gasp and she quickly found the ground with subservient groveling.
"Your Eminence!"
"The Serenity has come?" The apparition asked without emotion.
The Elder dared not raise her eyes. "It has, My Goddess."
"You have done well." The redhead nodded, her eyes studying the Elder before her. " The day has come. You and yours shall be my chosen implements of her destruction." Now the Elder's head couldn't help but to snap up in awe. The entire tribe had been found worthy under her leadership? The honor! "Take these implements of power and bring her head to me."
A ghostly arm motioned to the stones around her, all of which seemed to promptly sink into the ground over the next minute. In their place rose obsidian black pedestals, each with three daggers resting upon them. A quick glance told the elder there had to be at least fifty total, if not more.
"Give them to your best warriors and victory will be assured." The translucent goddess continued with an evil smile. "Now go."
With that final command, the divine visage fade out along with the youma at her back, leaving the Elder alone at the center of ring of pedestals. She slowly rose to her four foot height and stared at each on in complete awe. She had just been given a commandment by the goddess herself and vested with supreme authority over the Amazon Nation toward that end. She walked over to a pedestal in her daze and picked up one of the curved jeweled daggers gently. She could feel the power coursing through it!
Yes… she thought with a mental smile as evil as the one her goddess had favored her with. It is high time we crushed the Serenity once and for all, with blood and woe to all those who stands against us…
"Chinese Amazons?" Usagi stared at her reincarnated mother in disbelief, then over to the Amazons in question. While she would normally be inclined to disbelieve such a tale as a children's bedtime story, the evidence spoke for itself. Or rather didn't speak for itself. The Amazon's had yet to say anything to anybody since Ranma's acquisition of them, though they did tend to follow her like puppies… armed, lethal and incredibly cute puppies decked out in pastel silks that left plenty of room for hand to hand combat mobility. "But what are you going to do with them?"
It was a good question, Ranma thought as she divided her attention between the Amazons in question and her daughter. Part of her psyche cringed at the word, as if it were still a forbidden topic best not discussed in the realms of manhood anywhere, but that part was steadily loosing ground. At least thinking about the blonde next to her as a daughter didn't produce a nervous tick anymore… Visibly, at least. She had found a temporary answer to that question and for the moment, set her two lethal demonic Amazon minions to the kitchen…
…helping Kasumi prepare for dinner.
"For that matter, why did she even give them to you in the first place?" Usagi continued, taking her eyes off the Amazons in the house to find the remaining Senshi. Her mother had since paired them off for sparring practice in the dojo courtyard, with Setsuna and Haruka directing the action.
"The Old Ghoul is up to something." Ranma Saotome-Serenity rose from her cross legged sitting position gracefully. Even though her power had faded from the visible spectrum, her clothing was still a pure white, as if the very act of loosing so much power ate the dye straight from the fabric itself. "Somethin's happening back in China and it's something she ain't too happy about. Could have been a slip of the tongue, but I doubt it. She don't make mistakes like that. They're coming, and when they do…" The martial artist lapsed into silence, marked by a slight frown. She snapped out of it nearly as quickly as it was manifest. "Setsy! Need ya over her!"
Setsuna motioned for Makoto to take over the basic combat instruction and broke from the group, walking easily over to Ranma with a light smile. "Your Highness?"
"Amazons are coming. Lots of 'em." Ranma stated with certainty. "What's left of the Moon?"
The Mistress of Time's smile widened. "I thought you'd never ask."
Author's Notes;
Trying to manage the balance between fun, seriousness and sap the best I can while weaving an intricate plot. You already know I normally have my ending mapped out before the first chapter is complete, so you can expect this winding road is going somewhere. Hope you're enjoying the ride so far.
Usagi's Wardrobe; We had a discussion at length as to whose clothing would fit Ranma best, and it was a tossup. Generally, Usagi has the right frame, but not the curves. There was a lot of ambiguity here, so I took a bit of license her in saying yeah, it would work. Maybe tight in some areas, ahem.
Timeline errors; I believe in a previous part I mention that the fall of the Silver Millenium was 2-3000 years ago. This is incorrect. I think I mixed up timelines with tBoT because I'm scripting this one as fallen nearly 14,000 years ago. Recovering from an intergalactic war just doesn't happen over night.
Thanks again to the Fukufics crew and my online database, Delta-Theta.
Special thanks to my Pt6 Editor, Quizer, who has infinitely more patience than I in technical editing and grammar than I do. This part is probably my most technically correct piece to date because of his efforts.