The nightmare of the inter-dimensional transit surrounds Ranma Saotome as
he and Ifurita finally head for Nerima. But something went wrong Krillan
as he used to be and Roshi attacked them the added mass and energy throwing
off delicate balances inadequately controlled by an injured Ifurita.
Fighting to maintain consciousness in the stream of energy he realizes
something is wrong as he sees Ifurita scream in pain as raw power sparks
and flies from her.
(FLASH)
A verdant jungle fills the view craggy mountains fill the back ground, standing back to back Ranma and Krillan fire off round after round of machine gun blasts. Ranma wearing a camouflage outfit his face streaming with sweat swears as he sees more ground troops flood from the jungle into the clearing they find themselves in. Looking over his shoulder at his friend Krillan noticing he looks like he does now after the Emerald Eye got done with him with the close-cropped hair and . . . nose. Then with a thunderous roar trees fall to the ground with a crash as three Zaku's thunder toward them their large guns pointing their way.
(FLASH)
Everything is shaded green, the Legion controlled by the Emerald Eye reek havoc on the Earth. Vi now the Emerald Empress seeks to remake all, including all of them. Unable to do anything Ranma watches himself and the others forced to all manner of evil. Until Imra a.k.a. Saturn Girl shows up, chaos and explosions erupt, then.
(FLASH)
A Flattened and blackened Tendo Dojo taped police outlines of bodies all over.
(FLASH)
Young Mayday Parker still clad in her ripped and burnt Spider-girl costume screaming in pain and terror as the vortex pulls her from her world and into the dark reflection of it Ranma and the others had just left.
(FLASH)
Priss running away from him tears streaming from her eyes her heart broken as she flees into the Mega-Tokyo night.
(FLASH)
Nuclear mushrooms sprouting their rain of fiery death fill the Earth. Blazing radiation sweep across the planet as a metallic skull grins thru it all its red eyes glaring with an evil light.
************************
Only Human
By Verse12
Verse12@hotmail.com
**********************
Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Artmic, Youmex, Bandai, C2) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
***********************
Chapter 9
Ranma & Ifurita's Excellent Adventure Special
Or
Journey's End
*************************
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Ranma screams the sound filling the little room where he had dozed off. Sweat pouring from his face he sits up his breath coming in shuddering gasps. Looking about Ranma tries to realize where he is. Remembrance comes to him in a flash, leaving Amaro and the others of White Base and arriving in a world very similar to the one they had left from only without his influence and sixteen years in the future.
He had dozed off in the waiting room for the Budokai in which he and the much changed Krillan had decided to compete. Frowning at the Vegeta's of this world's laughter coming from where he and the other Z-senshi wait on the other side of the room. Ranma takes a deep breath and tries to ignore the derisive chuckling as he sees Krillan approaching him with a worried look on his face.
Coming over to his friend Krillan kneels down next to him asking, "you okay?"
Looking over to his old friend Ranma can't believe how much he has changed in the last two and half years that they have been traipsing thru the multi- verse. The biggest change being the military style hair cut and well, the nose he got cause of that bloody Emerald Eye. With a sigh Ranma nods to his friend, "yeah I'm cool, it's just a nightmare of some of the worst memories of our little trip."
With a sigh of his own Krillan nods himself before sitting down next to his buddy, "I know what you mean I've things that keep me up at night to. Especially . . . especially that year onboard White Base."
Closing his eyes Ranma leans his head back onto the wall before sighing, "I know what you mean even after all we went thru back home. That year with Amaro and the others . . . that was something different."
Looking over at his friend Krillan barks a quick melancholy laugh "lets be honest Ranma it was war pure and simple. And just because we didn't have any memories thanks to that $%#$@ Eye thing we still were responsible for all the things we did."
Looking into the haunted eyes of his friend Ranma shakes his head, "No, man we did what we had to do to help our friends, I mean if we had access to our training who knows what we would be able to do. But we can't live in the past, you know?"
Snorting in self-mockery Krillan responds, "I thought I was the one who was supposed to be cheering you up?"
Smiling slightly Ranma slaps his shorter friend on the back "as much as I appreciate it I think it's okay if we help each other, you know?"
Nodding the former monk smiles back, "I know I've had my fare share of bad dreams to."
Looking off into space Ranma remembers his most recent nightmare and nods his understanding.
"Hey lets not get so down, okay?" Krillan asks trying to cheer up his friend as he sees him falling into depression. "We've had some good times to right?"
Smiling Ranma adds, "yeah and we've made a difference in the lives of a lot of people."
"And we made a lot of friends, that's important to," Krillan comments.
Nodding Ranma remarks, "that's true Jack and the guys in Sg-1, the Kasuga's, Manju and Rin, the Legion." Then face falling slightly he continues, "Priss and the others, John Conner . . . the Parkers . . ."
"Ranma you can't blame yourself, heck even the Parkers don't blame us. They know we did our best and as far as May goes Fury will look out for her until Ifurita gets back to Makoto so he can straighten out her messed up programming."
Nodding his head Ranma replies, "yeah we made a difference and your right that we left things better than they would've been on most worlds. But we did leave some places worse off than they would have been."
"But," Ranma continues cutting off Krillan's reply, "I've learned that regrets and bad feelings don't solve anything." Smiling at his friend "though I'm still gonna have some fun when we transit out of here and I finally get back to Nerima. I think I'm entitled to that, the question is are you still up for it?"
Chuckling at the thought of the plans Ranma had shared with him for when they finally get back to his old home. And in the last couple of years those plans had grown to include him and Muten Roshi, so thinking on these plans the former monk responds, "Yeah I'm still in. But don't forget that there is still a serious side to why you're doing this."
Shaking his head Ranma comes back with "I wont, it's time to start anew, we've had to many dark days and from now on I'm going to try to look on the bright side." Turning to look at his friend the former pigtailed youth asks, "you with me?"
Thinking for a second his eyes filled with hidden pain Krillin closes his eyes and with noticeable effort pushes it aside so when he looks at his friend again it is with more animation than in a long time. "Yeah I think your right it's time to get on with life I think the both of us have let the war clog our minds for to long it's time to be true to ourselves again. So yeah I'm with you."
Barking a quick laugh Ranma grabs his friend in a quick manly hug and with a hearty pat on the back lets go. Still smiling Ranma jerks his head at the Z-senshi, "lets get on to more serious stuff okay, like how to beat these guys."
Glancing over at the familiar faces Krillan nods with a smile, "in a straight up fight they'd clean our clocks, but in a match like this where all we need to do is get them out of the ring. Well I think we may be able to do something in a situation like that if we can keep them underestimating us."
Nodding with a sly smile Ranma motions his compatriot closer as they begin to plan their strategy.
*************************
Across the room the Z-senshi stand around some more patient than others.
"So Kakarot where is this human that can match us in terms of strength anyway. I don't see anyone here that would ever be any threat to my power." All this Vegeta exclaims boisterously only then realizing that Goku didn't seem to have been listening.
Annoyed doesn't even begin to cover his thought at being disregarded, "OY Kakarot, don't ignore me."
Starting Goku looks up sheepishly "sorry Vegeta I was just distracted."
Snorting Vegeta looks around at the gathered fighters and besides the two of them the boys and Gohan's brat no one has any kind of power.
"I think it's the short guy over there," comments Goten jerking his thumb in the direction of the short man sitting on the floor by the guy that had been screaming a minute ago.
Looking over at the man, Trunks squints his eyes before shaking his head, "Nah I don't think so. I mean he's more powerful than the others her but he isn't even that strong, heck Yamcha's stronger than him."
"No that's not him, but that's what has me worried he's hiding his strength," Goku confides to the others.
Snorting Vegeta says, "so what, he's still a weak human."
Nodding Goku agrees, "yeah he's not as strong as us but he's the strongest human I've ever seen. He's stronger than Krillan or any of them when they were younger. I'm just thinking where has this guy come from and how come we've never felt him before. And how did he get so good at disguising his power."
"What's wrong grandpa?" Chirps a sweet little voice from Goku's feet.
Smiling at the little fighter Goku picks up his granddaughter and sets her on his shoulder, "nothing for you to worry about Pan-chan."
Turning to look at the other fighters Goku's face turns serious, "I'm just thinking that this could be the start of something big."
Frowning the others look over at the fighter in varying degrees of interest and disinterest.
"Anyway the first match is any minute," comments Goku. Looking at Pan-chan he asks her, "you're up first, you ready?"
Nodding cutely she chirps "uhn, I'm gonna win grandpa."
Snorting Vegeta chimes in "She's fighting that cry baby over there with shorty so even she shouldn't have any problems."
Any further comments though are cut off as the Announcer calls out the first fighters.
*************************
The aging announcer steps into the ring his blond hair still full but wrinkles peak out from behind his dark sunglasses. Fixing the tie on his black suit he brings the microphone to his lips while turn around to gaze at the stands full of cheering spectators.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE AN UNBELIVEABLE TOURNAMENT FOR YOU TODAY. WE HAVE TWO CHAMPIONS OF THIS TOURNAMENT HERE TODAY, THE CURRENT CHAMPION HERCULE WHO WILL FIGHT ONLY IN THE FINALS, BUT ALSO FORMER CHAMPION SON- GOKU."
"BUT FIRST THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF BOTH OF THESE CHAMPIONS, THE TINY TITAN SSSOOOONNNN-PPPPAAANNNN!"
At the announcers roaring introduction and with the crowd screaming adulation four year old Pan-chan leaps and skips into the ring with boundless energy. Throwing her little fists into the air she turns about basking in the crowds cheering. "YEAH!" she yells with a little jump and a grin.
"AND HER OPPONENT, A NEW COMER TO THE TOURNAMENT, RRRAAANNNNMMMMAAAAA SSSSAAAAOOOOTTTTTOOOOMMMMEEEEE!"
With that the announcer points at the fighters entrance where the former Neriman slowly and methodically walks to the ring, ignoring the boos of the crowd for daring to fight Pan-chan. While walking his mind wanders to the differences in this world compared to his.
'I'm glad Ifurita was so understanding of why I wanted to enter this tournament I need to see them up close even if they aren't my loved ones. I had to see them and after feeling their strength I sure had to test myself against them.'
'This Goku, he looks and acts so much like my Goku but he seems a little more absent minded. And if what I gather is true of this world after Gohan died he had no one till Bulma showed up that explains a lot. He's SO strong though it's almost scary even to me. BUT it seems that someone has never taught them the lesson that strength isn't everything.'
'Vegeta seems so much calmer than the one I knew, almost nice. Well not that, he's still a little jerk. But seeing how Bulma has mellowed him out over the years shows me some things I never understood. Of course if I hadn't gotten over my hatred of the prince a few worlds back I would never have allowed myself to see this about him. Kicking his younger self's butt on that other world helped a lot.'
'This Goten and Trunks I don't know. I have no idea about them they don't even exist in my world. Well Trunks does but he's only a little guy and he's Goku's son. This one,' he thinks looking over at the purple haired teenage Sayia-jin, 'is Vegeta's son, like future trunks was.'
'But this Pan-chan is the cutest little thing I've ever seen, I'm not so sure she should be in the Budokai like this at age four but I guess she's strong enough. One thing's for sure I need to find out who her mom is and try a little meddling for my Gohan when I get home.'
After climbing into the ring and walking to the center the announcer walks up to the fighters and repeats the rules to them, "win by knockout, falling out of the ring, or submission and if you kill your opponent you forfeit. Understand?"
At the nods of the two fighters he walks away and down the stairs once off the ring he calls out, "BEGIN!"
Hopping back and into a ready stance Pan-chan looks at Ranma warily as he simply stands there looking nonchalant. Then nice as can be Ranma calls out to the little girl he is supposed to fight, "hi I'm Ranma. Your name is Pan?"
At his polite question Pan-chan looks at him confused for a second before relaxing slightly, "uhm? Yes?" Then in a more certain and less confused tone she answers, "yes I am."
"Well it's nice to meet you Pan-chan," he says with a little bow. "You're the granddaughter of two champions?"
"Uhn," she nods in confirmation still confused by this guy wanting to talk and be nice than fight. "My grandpa Goku is real strong and my grandpa Hercule is the one who beat Cell, though it was really my daddy that did that," she says with a proud little tone that only a little girl talking about her daddy can do.
Then in an instant she realizes what she said and in a scared look she utters, "uh oh, I wasn't supposed to tell that to anyone."
Smiling indulgently the man nods, "that's okay it can be our secret okay."
Relief plain on her face, the girl nods with a smile "thanks mister."
"Where is your mother and father anyway?" Asks the man
At her pointing at the box seats over the fighters waiting area Ranma looks up there. Spying the assembled family and friends of the Z-senshi as well as the ones who have seemingly have been forced out for being human and not able to keep up. Seeing the adult Gohan so different from the one he has known causes Ranma a little regret at not being with his Gohan. Looking at Gohan's obvious wife Ranma grins in a sly fashion as he asks Pan-chan for her moms name only to bark a quick laugh at her answer of "mommy."
"No dear what does everyone else call her?" he asks with a smile.
"Oh, uhm . . . oh yeah, Videl!" she exclaims happily the fight forgotten in her youthful exuberance.
"Videl huh?" Ranma mutters a meddling look on his face.
And for a second or two Ranma thinks about these people that though very familiar are also very different.
'Gohan, this one is so different than the one of my world, but I guess considering Chi-Chi's his mom it's understandable. He also totally given up on fighting it seems, it's like he has no fire. This man just seems like a pale reflection of the boy I know."
'The others seem so old and tired, it's like they just gave up and let the Sayia-jin's take care of things.' Shaking his head he brings his attention back to the ring hearing the screams and boos of the fans looking for a fight as well as the comments over how they can understand how someone could be off put by having to fight a little kid.
Smiling at the confused girl Ranma asks her, "hey I think we should get started ya know?"
Looking up at the nice man Pan-chan nods her head "uhn, but don't think I'm gonna go easy on you, okay? I'm a lot stronger than I look you know?"
Nodding with a smile the man replies "I understand just try your hardest okay?"
With a smile and a giggle she hops back into a fighting stance while he does the same. And with a hop from foot to foot she dashes forward trying to quickly get inside his guard with her short reach.
While in the box seats the assembled friends and family of the little girl look on with pride believing she will finish off this guy shortly. All except Piccolo and Master Roshi who watch the man across from Pan-chan, his power is nothing more than any average human's. But what isn't average is the way he moves, his stance and walk, that combined with his surprising lack of power even though he's obviously skilled, makes both of them concerned that this may be a very bad thing. Because if anything happens to Pan-chan it's not Gohan that they are worried about its Videl and Chi- chi, "Burrr" they shiver quietly at the thought.
But back to the match, as Pan-chan comes in expecting a hit and a quick end to the match she is surprised though when Ranma simply leans out of the way. Her follow up is also dodged and the one after that as well.
For several minutes this goes on Ranma simply using his advanced skill to avoid her attacks, (A.N. think like the first ep of Ranma and the fight with Akane, but more intense.) and all the while he comments on her style criticizing her and helping tighten up her defense.
"You sure are strong Pan-chan, I hope you understand that I have to do all I can to win though." And with that Ranma leans around one of her blows and taps a spot on the side of her neck and instantly she crumples to the ground asleep.
And after a moment the crowd erupts in a roar of hate at Ranma daring to beat the favorite Pan-chan. But this is nothing compared to the screams that come from the box seats the only question is who is louder Videl, Chi- chi or Hercule. And Gohan's quiet stare of pain is not to be discounted either.
Ignoring the screams and death threats Ranma leans over and picks up the sleeping girl not even paying attention to Videl and Chi-chi as they lean out the window seeking to jump down and get at him. Only being stopped by Gohan holding them about the waist as they struggle to escape.
Walking over to a waiting Goku Ranma hops down from the ring and passes the little girl off to her Granpa. And with a muttered "I just hit her sleep pressure point, she'll be awake in a few minutes" Ranma walks back into the waiting room.
*************************
The match between Captain Chicken and Kiraano begins soon after and all of the real fighters ignore this yawn fest. Goku puts Pan-chan down on a blanket and gives Ranma an odd look not paying attention to Goten's questions about Pan-chan.
Ranma goes over to Krillan and reminds him to go according to their plan, for him to go all out but be tricky use misdirection tactics. Hearing a cheer Ranma looks up seeing Kiraano has won he looks over at Krillan as he confidently strides to the door nodding to his opponent Goten.
Then with a smirk he calls back to Ranma "it's been a year since I've had a chance to cut loose," then glancing over at the curious Goten he continues, "This'll be fun."
And with that the man know to us as Krillan strolls out to the ring letting a little of his power show.
Confused Goten looks to his father for advice only to see him looking at Ranma his gaze intense and wondering. So shaking his head Goten walks to the ring for his fight.
*************************
To be continued in:
Chapter 10 of Only Human
Or
Things heat up
A scene from Chapter 10:
Hopping to catch Goten off Balance Krillan blurs forward and imbeds a fist in his gut following up with a spin kick to the head that sends him into the air where Krillan follows after.
A dual overhand blow sends Goten crashing into the ground in an explosion of concrete.
*************************
Endnotes:
Well I'm sorry it's been so long but a number of things have kept me from this. But most of all has been I've just not felt like writing. So I'm just sorry. Not to say I haven't been working on stuff, I have, I've been doing a lot of plotting and planning.
Also a note of explanation, this takes place in the final eps of DBZ. The only change from canon is that the order of fights and a slight change in the structure of the tournament has occurred.
A lot of planning went into how I was going to do this, at first I was going to do 3 chapters from different points in the journey. Then as I was planning where they would go I thought hey this is good lets ad another 9 chapters and just do the whole trip home. Then I realized that it would probably be like 20 extra chapters and I didn't want to wait a couple of years to get them home.
So then the plan became do a short interlude with Ranma in the last place on the trip before they got home having an introspective moment. But after 4 pages that fell apart and thus the current 3-chapter story arc telling this whole tournament and dealing in flash backs with some of the events that have occurred in the trip.
But please let me know what you think, I appreciate any comments, thank you.
Oh I need Pre-readers if you would like to be one please Email at Verse12@hotmail.com, also make sure to make the subject about pre-readers.
Signed: Verse12
(FLASH)
A verdant jungle fills the view craggy mountains fill the back ground, standing back to back Ranma and Krillan fire off round after round of machine gun blasts. Ranma wearing a camouflage outfit his face streaming with sweat swears as he sees more ground troops flood from the jungle into the clearing they find themselves in. Looking over his shoulder at his friend Krillan noticing he looks like he does now after the Emerald Eye got done with him with the close-cropped hair and . . . nose. Then with a thunderous roar trees fall to the ground with a crash as three Zaku's thunder toward them their large guns pointing their way.
(FLASH)
Everything is shaded green, the Legion controlled by the Emerald Eye reek havoc on the Earth. Vi now the Emerald Empress seeks to remake all, including all of them. Unable to do anything Ranma watches himself and the others forced to all manner of evil. Until Imra a.k.a. Saturn Girl shows up, chaos and explosions erupt, then.
(FLASH)
A Flattened and blackened Tendo Dojo taped police outlines of bodies all over.
(FLASH)
Young Mayday Parker still clad in her ripped and burnt Spider-girl costume screaming in pain and terror as the vortex pulls her from her world and into the dark reflection of it Ranma and the others had just left.
(FLASH)
Priss running away from him tears streaming from her eyes her heart broken as she flees into the Mega-Tokyo night.
(FLASH)
Nuclear mushrooms sprouting their rain of fiery death fill the Earth. Blazing radiation sweep across the planet as a metallic skull grins thru it all its red eyes glaring with an evil light.
************************
Only Human
By Verse12
Verse12@hotmail.com
**********************
Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Artmic, Youmex, Bandai, C2) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
***********************
Chapter 9
Ranma & Ifurita's Excellent Adventure Special
Or
Journey's End
*************************
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Ranma screams the sound filling the little room where he had dozed off. Sweat pouring from his face he sits up his breath coming in shuddering gasps. Looking about Ranma tries to realize where he is. Remembrance comes to him in a flash, leaving Amaro and the others of White Base and arriving in a world very similar to the one they had left from only without his influence and sixteen years in the future.
He had dozed off in the waiting room for the Budokai in which he and the much changed Krillan had decided to compete. Frowning at the Vegeta's of this world's laughter coming from where he and the other Z-senshi wait on the other side of the room. Ranma takes a deep breath and tries to ignore the derisive chuckling as he sees Krillan approaching him with a worried look on his face.
Coming over to his friend Krillan kneels down next to him asking, "you okay?"
Looking over to his old friend Ranma can't believe how much he has changed in the last two and half years that they have been traipsing thru the multi- verse. The biggest change being the military style hair cut and well, the nose he got cause of that bloody Emerald Eye. With a sigh Ranma nods to his friend, "yeah I'm cool, it's just a nightmare of some of the worst memories of our little trip."
With a sigh of his own Krillan nods himself before sitting down next to his buddy, "I know what you mean I've things that keep me up at night to. Especially . . . especially that year onboard White Base."
Closing his eyes Ranma leans his head back onto the wall before sighing, "I know what you mean even after all we went thru back home. That year with Amaro and the others . . . that was something different."
Looking over at his friend Krillan barks a quick melancholy laugh "lets be honest Ranma it was war pure and simple. And just because we didn't have any memories thanks to that $%#$@ Eye thing we still were responsible for all the things we did."
Looking into the haunted eyes of his friend Ranma shakes his head, "No, man we did what we had to do to help our friends, I mean if we had access to our training who knows what we would be able to do. But we can't live in the past, you know?"
Snorting in self-mockery Krillan responds, "I thought I was the one who was supposed to be cheering you up?"
Smiling slightly Ranma slaps his shorter friend on the back "as much as I appreciate it I think it's okay if we help each other, you know?"
Nodding the former monk smiles back, "I know I've had my fare share of bad dreams to."
Looking off into space Ranma remembers his most recent nightmare and nods his understanding.
"Hey lets not get so down, okay?" Krillan asks trying to cheer up his friend as he sees him falling into depression. "We've had some good times to right?"
Smiling Ranma adds, "yeah and we've made a difference in the lives of a lot of people."
"And we made a lot of friends, that's important to," Krillan comments.
Nodding Ranma remarks, "that's true Jack and the guys in Sg-1, the Kasuga's, Manju and Rin, the Legion." Then face falling slightly he continues, "Priss and the others, John Conner . . . the Parkers . . ."
"Ranma you can't blame yourself, heck even the Parkers don't blame us. They know we did our best and as far as May goes Fury will look out for her until Ifurita gets back to Makoto so he can straighten out her messed up programming."
Nodding his head Ranma replies, "yeah we made a difference and your right that we left things better than they would've been on most worlds. But we did leave some places worse off than they would have been."
"But," Ranma continues cutting off Krillan's reply, "I've learned that regrets and bad feelings don't solve anything." Smiling at his friend "though I'm still gonna have some fun when we transit out of here and I finally get back to Nerima. I think I'm entitled to that, the question is are you still up for it?"
Chuckling at the thought of the plans Ranma had shared with him for when they finally get back to his old home. And in the last couple of years those plans had grown to include him and Muten Roshi, so thinking on these plans the former monk responds, "Yeah I'm still in. But don't forget that there is still a serious side to why you're doing this."
Shaking his head Ranma comes back with "I wont, it's time to start anew, we've had to many dark days and from now on I'm going to try to look on the bright side." Turning to look at his friend the former pigtailed youth asks, "you with me?"
Thinking for a second his eyes filled with hidden pain Krillin closes his eyes and with noticeable effort pushes it aside so when he looks at his friend again it is with more animation than in a long time. "Yeah I think your right it's time to get on with life I think the both of us have let the war clog our minds for to long it's time to be true to ourselves again. So yeah I'm with you."
Barking a quick laugh Ranma grabs his friend in a quick manly hug and with a hearty pat on the back lets go. Still smiling Ranma jerks his head at the Z-senshi, "lets get on to more serious stuff okay, like how to beat these guys."
Glancing over at the familiar faces Krillan nods with a smile, "in a straight up fight they'd clean our clocks, but in a match like this where all we need to do is get them out of the ring. Well I think we may be able to do something in a situation like that if we can keep them underestimating us."
Nodding with a sly smile Ranma motions his compatriot closer as they begin to plan their strategy.
*************************
Across the room the Z-senshi stand around some more patient than others.
"So Kakarot where is this human that can match us in terms of strength anyway. I don't see anyone here that would ever be any threat to my power." All this Vegeta exclaims boisterously only then realizing that Goku didn't seem to have been listening.
Annoyed doesn't even begin to cover his thought at being disregarded, "OY Kakarot, don't ignore me."
Starting Goku looks up sheepishly "sorry Vegeta I was just distracted."
Snorting Vegeta looks around at the gathered fighters and besides the two of them the boys and Gohan's brat no one has any kind of power.
"I think it's the short guy over there," comments Goten jerking his thumb in the direction of the short man sitting on the floor by the guy that had been screaming a minute ago.
Looking over at the man, Trunks squints his eyes before shaking his head, "Nah I don't think so. I mean he's more powerful than the others her but he isn't even that strong, heck Yamcha's stronger than him."
"No that's not him, but that's what has me worried he's hiding his strength," Goku confides to the others.
Snorting Vegeta says, "so what, he's still a weak human."
Nodding Goku agrees, "yeah he's not as strong as us but he's the strongest human I've ever seen. He's stronger than Krillan or any of them when they were younger. I'm just thinking where has this guy come from and how come we've never felt him before. And how did he get so good at disguising his power."
"What's wrong grandpa?" Chirps a sweet little voice from Goku's feet.
Smiling at the little fighter Goku picks up his granddaughter and sets her on his shoulder, "nothing for you to worry about Pan-chan."
Turning to look at the other fighters Goku's face turns serious, "I'm just thinking that this could be the start of something big."
Frowning the others look over at the fighter in varying degrees of interest and disinterest.
"Anyway the first match is any minute," comments Goku. Looking at Pan-chan he asks her, "you're up first, you ready?"
Nodding cutely she chirps "uhn, I'm gonna win grandpa."
Snorting Vegeta chimes in "She's fighting that cry baby over there with shorty so even she shouldn't have any problems."
Any further comments though are cut off as the Announcer calls out the first fighters.
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The aging announcer steps into the ring his blond hair still full but wrinkles peak out from behind his dark sunglasses. Fixing the tie on his black suit he brings the microphone to his lips while turn around to gaze at the stands full of cheering spectators.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE AN UNBELIVEABLE TOURNAMENT FOR YOU TODAY. WE HAVE TWO CHAMPIONS OF THIS TOURNAMENT HERE TODAY, THE CURRENT CHAMPION HERCULE WHO WILL FIGHT ONLY IN THE FINALS, BUT ALSO FORMER CHAMPION SON- GOKU."
"BUT FIRST THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF BOTH OF THESE CHAMPIONS, THE TINY TITAN SSSOOOONNNN-PPPPAAANNNN!"
At the announcers roaring introduction and with the crowd screaming adulation four year old Pan-chan leaps and skips into the ring with boundless energy. Throwing her little fists into the air she turns about basking in the crowds cheering. "YEAH!" she yells with a little jump and a grin.
"AND HER OPPONENT, A NEW COMER TO THE TOURNAMENT, RRRAAANNNNMMMMAAAAA SSSSAAAAOOOOTTTTTOOOOMMMMEEEEE!"
With that the announcer points at the fighters entrance where the former Neriman slowly and methodically walks to the ring, ignoring the boos of the crowd for daring to fight Pan-chan. While walking his mind wanders to the differences in this world compared to his.
'I'm glad Ifurita was so understanding of why I wanted to enter this tournament I need to see them up close even if they aren't my loved ones. I had to see them and after feeling their strength I sure had to test myself against them.'
'This Goku, he looks and acts so much like my Goku but he seems a little more absent minded. And if what I gather is true of this world after Gohan died he had no one till Bulma showed up that explains a lot. He's SO strong though it's almost scary even to me. BUT it seems that someone has never taught them the lesson that strength isn't everything.'
'Vegeta seems so much calmer than the one I knew, almost nice. Well not that, he's still a little jerk. But seeing how Bulma has mellowed him out over the years shows me some things I never understood. Of course if I hadn't gotten over my hatred of the prince a few worlds back I would never have allowed myself to see this about him. Kicking his younger self's butt on that other world helped a lot.'
'This Goten and Trunks I don't know. I have no idea about them they don't even exist in my world. Well Trunks does but he's only a little guy and he's Goku's son. This one,' he thinks looking over at the purple haired teenage Sayia-jin, 'is Vegeta's son, like future trunks was.'
'But this Pan-chan is the cutest little thing I've ever seen, I'm not so sure she should be in the Budokai like this at age four but I guess she's strong enough. One thing's for sure I need to find out who her mom is and try a little meddling for my Gohan when I get home.'
After climbing into the ring and walking to the center the announcer walks up to the fighters and repeats the rules to them, "win by knockout, falling out of the ring, or submission and if you kill your opponent you forfeit. Understand?"
At the nods of the two fighters he walks away and down the stairs once off the ring he calls out, "BEGIN!"
Hopping back and into a ready stance Pan-chan looks at Ranma warily as he simply stands there looking nonchalant. Then nice as can be Ranma calls out to the little girl he is supposed to fight, "hi I'm Ranma. Your name is Pan?"
At his polite question Pan-chan looks at him confused for a second before relaxing slightly, "uhm? Yes?" Then in a more certain and less confused tone she answers, "yes I am."
"Well it's nice to meet you Pan-chan," he says with a little bow. "You're the granddaughter of two champions?"
"Uhn," she nods in confirmation still confused by this guy wanting to talk and be nice than fight. "My grandpa Goku is real strong and my grandpa Hercule is the one who beat Cell, though it was really my daddy that did that," she says with a proud little tone that only a little girl talking about her daddy can do.
Then in an instant she realizes what she said and in a scared look she utters, "uh oh, I wasn't supposed to tell that to anyone."
Smiling indulgently the man nods, "that's okay it can be our secret okay."
Relief plain on her face, the girl nods with a smile "thanks mister."
"Where is your mother and father anyway?" Asks the man
At her pointing at the box seats over the fighters waiting area Ranma looks up there. Spying the assembled family and friends of the Z-senshi as well as the ones who have seemingly have been forced out for being human and not able to keep up. Seeing the adult Gohan so different from the one he has known causes Ranma a little regret at not being with his Gohan. Looking at Gohan's obvious wife Ranma grins in a sly fashion as he asks Pan-chan for her moms name only to bark a quick laugh at her answer of "mommy."
"No dear what does everyone else call her?" he asks with a smile.
"Oh, uhm . . . oh yeah, Videl!" she exclaims happily the fight forgotten in her youthful exuberance.
"Videl huh?" Ranma mutters a meddling look on his face.
And for a second or two Ranma thinks about these people that though very familiar are also very different.
'Gohan, this one is so different than the one of my world, but I guess considering Chi-Chi's his mom it's understandable. He also totally given up on fighting it seems, it's like he has no fire. This man just seems like a pale reflection of the boy I know."
'The others seem so old and tired, it's like they just gave up and let the Sayia-jin's take care of things.' Shaking his head he brings his attention back to the ring hearing the screams and boos of the fans looking for a fight as well as the comments over how they can understand how someone could be off put by having to fight a little kid.
Smiling at the confused girl Ranma asks her, "hey I think we should get started ya know?"
Looking up at the nice man Pan-chan nods her head "uhn, but don't think I'm gonna go easy on you, okay? I'm a lot stronger than I look you know?"
Nodding with a smile the man replies "I understand just try your hardest okay?"
With a smile and a giggle she hops back into a fighting stance while he does the same. And with a hop from foot to foot she dashes forward trying to quickly get inside his guard with her short reach.
While in the box seats the assembled friends and family of the little girl look on with pride believing she will finish off this guy shortly. All except Piccolo and Master Roshi who watch the man across from Pan-chan, his power is nothing more than any average human's. But what isn't average is the way he moves, his stance and walk, that combined with his surprising lack of power even though he's obviously skilled, makes both of them concerned that this may be a very bad thing. Because if anything happens to Pan-chan it's not Gohan that they are worried about its Videl and Chi- chi, "Burrr" they shiver quietly at the thought.
But back to the match, as Pan-chan comes in expecting a hit and a quick end to the match she is surprised though when Ranma simply leans out of the way. Her follow up is also dodged and the one after that as well.
For several minutes this goes on Ranma simply using his advanced skill to avoid her attacks, (A.N. think like the first ep of Ranma and the fight with Akane, but more intense.) and all the while he comments on her style criticizing her and helping tighten up her defense.
"You sure are strong Pan-chan, I hope you understand that I have to do all I can to win though." And with that Ranma leans around one of her blows and taps a spot on the side of her neck and instantly she crumples to the ground asleep.
And after a moment the crowd erupts in a roar of hate at Ranma daring to beat the favorite Pan-chan. But this is nothing compared to the screams that come from the box seats the only question is who is louder Videl, Chi- chi or Hercule. And Gohan's quiet stare of pain is not to be discounted either.
Ignoring the screams and death threats Ranma leans over and picks up the sleeping girl not even paying attention to Videl and Chi-chi as they lean out the window seeking to jump down and get at him. Only being stopped by Gohan holding them about the waist as they struggle to escape.
Walking over to a waiting Goku Ranma hops down from the ring and passes the little girl off to her Granpa. And with a muttered "I just hit her sleep pressure point, she'll be awake in a few minutes" Ranma walks back into the waiting room.
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The match between Captain Chicken and Kiraano begins soon after and all of the real fighters ignore this yawn fest. Goku puts Pan-chan down on a blanket and gives Ranma an odd look not paying attention to Goten's questions about Pan-chan.
Ranma goes over to Krillan and reminds him to go according to their plan, for him to go all out but be tricky use misdirection tactics. Hearing a cheer Ranma looks up seeing Kiraano has won he looks over at Krillan as he confidently strides to the door nodding to his opponent Goten.
Then with a smirk he calls back to Ranma "it's been a year since I've had a chance to cut loose," then glancing over at the curious Goten he continues, "This'll be fun."
And with that the man know to us as Krillan strolls out to the ring letting a little of his power show.
Confused Goten looks to his father for advice only to see him looking at Ranma his gaze intense and wondering. So shaking his head Goten walks to the ring for his fight.
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To be continued in:
Chapter 10 of Only Human
Or
Things heat up
A scene from Chapter 10:
Hopping to catch Goten off Balance Krillan blurs forward and imbeds a fist in his gut following up with a spin kick to the head that sends him into the air where Krillan follows after.
A dual overhand blow sends Goten crashing into the ground in an explosion of concrete.
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Endnotes:
Well I'm sorry it's been so long but a number of things have kept me from this. But most of all has been I've just not felt like writing. So I'm just sorry. Not to say I haven't been working on stuff, I have, I've been doing a lot of plotting and planning.
Also a note of explanation, this takes place in the final eps of DBZ. The only change from canon is that the order of fights and a slight change in the structure of the tournament has occurred.
A lot of planning went into how I was going to do this, at first I was going to do 3 chapters from different points in the journey. Then as I was planning where they would go I thought hey this is good lets ad another 9 chapters and just do the whole trip home. Then I realized that it would probably be like 20 extra chapters and I didn't want to wait a couple of years to get them home.
So then the plan became do a short interlude with Ranma in the last place on the trip before they got home having an introspective moment. But after 4 pages that fell apart and thus the current 3-chapter story arc telling this whole tournament and dealing in flash backs with some of the events that have occurred in the trip.
But please let me know what you think, I appreciate any comments, thank you.
Oh I need Pre-readers if you would like to be one please Email at Verse12@hotmail.com, also make sure to make the subject about pre-readers.
Signed: Verse12