The characters of Ranma1/2 and Pokemon are not mine. Nor do any of the other known characters that may appear in this story.
2 B A Master by Lioconvoy
Chapter 3: The First Loss
Finally they were in Viridian city, Ranma was happy to return to civilization. Unfortunately it meant she was now going on a shopping trip with her aunt. Ukyo said there were some things she had to have and it wasn't that hard to figure out what she meant. Being a little honest with herself, she could use the support, her back was killing her. When she first saw what her cursed form looked like, she was amazed at how good it looked. Now having to live this way, she really would rather be flat chested. Bigger was not better. "Ucchan, the sooner we get this over with the better."
"Sure, Mousse we'll meet you at the Pokemon Center, unless you have a curse you've been good at keeping quiet about?" Unlike her nephew, Mousse didn't seem to keep any secrets, but again there were times during the last two days that he disappeared for short periods.
"Although Jusenkyo's power has weakened over time and its victims aren't the water magnets they used to be, if I had a curse you would have found out about it by now. I'll see the two of you later." The former Amazon walked away wondering what sort of torture the pigtailed trainer would be put through.
"Pika ka chu."
"I really don't see how."
"Ranchan, what did he say?" Both she and Mousse hated it when Ranma and Jean Luc conversed among themselves. In the last two days her nephew spent more time talking to her Pokemon then she did her or Mousse.
"He said, it could be worse. Considering I'm stuck a girl and I 'need' a bra, I can't see how it could get worse." Ranma sighed as Ukyo led the way to the store she already dreaded.
"Nodoka could be here and have you get some feminine clothes to go with your feminine body. My sister believes men should be manly and women should be womanly. Mom said she was shocked the first time she saw what she used to wear, and your mom is always telling me I should wear skirts. You know, now that I think about it, I have more in common with you than I do with any of my sisters." Ukyo sighed. Her sisters were right, she was a tomboy.
-v-v-v-v-
After nurse Joy finished with his Pokemon, Mousse sat down at a table in the Pokecenter. The last two days had been interesting. After spending some time alone meditating he came to a hard decision. He would teach Ranma some of the secret Amazon techniques. Shampoo would eventually come after the pigtailed trainer, and he would make sure the former boy was ready for her.
If Shampoo lost again she could not return to the village, she would be dead to them. He loved Shampoo with all his heart, but she was the Matriarch's great granddaughter. If she failed to return, then maybe that would send a message to the rest of the village. Maybe it would finally hammer in the fact that the Amazon's are no longer the world's strongest martial artists. His love for his sister out weighed his love for Shampoo.
Patting Mumu-chan on the head he thought about Ranma's problem. It was an evolution stone that locked him in his cursed state, could another unlock him. If the answer to that question was yes, it would be a while before they learned it. The problem was evolution stones were rare and rather expensive, when and if they found one, could they afford it.
He could always sell his Feebas, as useless as it was, it was still a rare Pokemon and the only one of his Pokemon he didn't really have a strong bond with. He took care of it as best he could, but leveling it up wasn't easy and it sort of annoyed him.
"Very well fair maiden, if you beat me I shall allow you to date with me. But let us take this outside first, it's inappropriate to fight inside this place of healing."
Turning around the former Amazon saw a taller boy dressed in kendo garb and carrying a bokken hitting on an attractive blonde girl.
"Who ever said I wanted to date with you?"
"Mina lets just go outside and you can kick his butt."
"Rei, if I lose to this idiot you're dating him."
"Do not worry there is enough of the Blue Thunder for both of you beautiful flowers.
So the blondes name was Mina, and her ravened haired friend was named Rei. Mousse followed the two girls and the Blue Dunder outside. He always loved seeing jerks like the sword boy get shown up for underestimating his opponent. After they stepped outside the former Amazon adjusted his glasses.
"You there, blind boy, will you be the referee, as this is an unofficial battle you don't need to be certified."
"Sure, if you want." Out of all the onlookers gathered around the Blue Dunder chose him to referee, well he could be fair. Mousse watched as the blonde grabbed a single Pokeball.
"I choose you Steelix!"
"An interesting choice. Very well I choose Lavitar."
After the Blue Dunder released his Pokemon, Mousse raised his hand and let the battle begin. It seemed as if the sword boy was going to let the blonde win, using a first stage Pokemon against a second stage one.
"Steelix, Sandstorm!"
The steel snake spit a wave of sand at the smaller Pokemon, but the Lavitar held its ground, it even seemed unphased. Mousse frowned. It wasn't the Blue Dunder that underestimated the girls, it was the girls and himself that had underestimated him.
"Earthquake."
The robed boy could barely hear the command whispered by the sword boy, but it was obvious by what happened next. The small Pokemon jumped up and landed hard on the ground sending a miniature earthquake at the steel Pokemon. Ground type attacks are affective against steel type Pokemon to begin with, but to know that move…its level had to be fairly high. The outcome was very bad for the blonde. "Steelix is unable to battle. The winner is the Blue Thunder."
"Fear not my fair lady for you have still shown yourself worthy to be in the presence of my company."
The former Amazon couldn't help but feel sorry for the two girls.
-v-v-v-v-
As they left the department store Ukyo smiled, in contrast he nephew frowned. "Oh come on it's not like I had you buy any skirts. Just some pants that fit you better, those odd shirts you have seemed to fit you fine in either form."
"Yeah, but in addition to the underwear I'm wiped out. Genma's going to be mad if I can't feed him, and I doubt the Pokemon Center would be willing to feed a Snorlax." As Ranma sighed she thought about how convenient Pokemon Centers were. They gave free check ups for Pokemon, free overnight lodging and even free meals, all for Pokemon Trainers. Unfortunately because neither she nor her father were registered Pokemon Trainers they couldn't use the Pokemon Centers during their training journey.
"I could make you pay me back for the Water Stone you used, then you'd really be in trouble money wise. Besides, shouldn't Genma be asleep for a little while." The youngest Cerulean sister accepted that some of Ranma's predicament was her fault. Even if she knew about the curse she still would have let him see the evolution stone, and the same thing would have happened. There was just no way either of them could have known what a Water Stone would do to someone with a Jusenkyo curse.
"Genma's not your normal Snorlax; He'll be awake by tomorrow. At most he'll fall asleep for three or four days at a time." A normal Snorlax could be asleep for months at a time, hers though, she was lucky if it slept for a week. Hopefully she could earn some cash taking on the local gym.
"Ukyo, Ranma!" Mousse saw the two girls as they neared the Pokemon Center and joined them. "How did the shopping go?"
"I learned a lot of things I never wanted to know." The redhead frowned. She hoped beyond hope that her situation wasn't permanent. If she could at least become half a man as she was before she could dump all the girly knowledge gained on the shopping trip. "I'm going to get Jean Luc and Genma checked out."
As Ranma left their small group Ukyo frowned. Once in the Pokemon Center and out of hearing range she decided to speak her mind with the Amazon. "She had the nightmare again last night."
"Well the transformation did only happen only three days ago. You can't expect her to get over the change immediately. I'm somewhat surprised she's doing as well as she is." Mousse adjusted his glasses. Ranma had a strong spirit, one worthy of techniques he wanted to pass on to her.
"But she thinks my sister is going to kill her."
"She explained that, her father made a promise that she be a man among men. Considering she is no longer a man, her subconscious mind is assuming the worst possible outcome of the broken promise." Mousse wasn't an expert in matters of the mind, but he did do a lot of research into the subject. Mainly to try and convince the people of his village it was time to change their ways.
"It still worries me." Maybe she could calm her own fears by calling home and talking to her sister.
-v-v-v-v-
Nodoka smiled another perfect victory. She was a little rusty, but she still held the qualifications to be a Gym Leader. She felt sorry for the applicants that ended up against her, but if they couldn't beat her they wouldn't go very far in the Indigo League.
Then she heard the video phone ringing. Who would be calling the family line? Walking over and answering it, she was surprised to see her littlest sister. "Ukyo, mother said you were going to visit me, are you calling from Professor Okido's?"
"No I'm at the Viridian City Pokemon Center, I ran into Ranma."
A frowned appeared on her little sisters face, the oldest of the Cerulean sisters started to get worried "Is Ranma okay?"
"She's physically okay, but I kind of cured her of her curse and she's been having nightmares."
"She, cured?" Now she was no genius, but Nodoka, believed Ukyo was telling her that Ranma was stuck in his cursed form. Ranma was having nightmares…oh no. "How much longer will you be in Viridian city?"
"Not long, we plan on leaving after Ranma challenges the Gym. We're heading to Pewter City next."
"I'll see you there then." After hanging up the phone Nodoka headed to her room. She had threatened Ranma with the promise his father made, he or rather she, must be thinking the worst. The mother of one, needed to straighten things out with her only child. Ranma needed to know she would accept her however she was.
-v-v-v-v-
"Ranma I really don't think you're ready to take on a gym yet." After leaving Ukyo, at the Pokemon Center, Mousse and the pigtailed trainer made their way to the Viridian City gym. The robed boy was trying and failing to convince Ranma not to challenge the gym leader.
"I have to start somewhere, and I don't see why it can't be here. Besides, I overheard some people saying the gym leader lets girls win." It wasn't the best way to get his first gym badge, but it was a start.
"Ahh, if it isn't the blind referee. Was not my victory spectacular?"
"A friend of yours Mousse?" Ranma looked at the older boy addressing the Amazon. He dressed like he was prepared for a Kendo duel, minus the padding.
"He's called the Blue Thunder." And he wasn't a friend. Mousse had a bad feeling about the Dunder's presence.
"I am Tatewaki Kuno the leader of this humble gym. To many I am also known as the Blue Thunder, the rising young star of the Pokemon world." Kuno took the redheads hand and kissed it gently. When he got upright again his eyes deceived him and he thought he saw a look of disgust on the young girls face. Surely that was impossible.
Rising young star…when the world of Pokemon was concerned someone his age was already considered a geezer. Young stars were five or six year olds without licenses. Mousse shook his head, with what he saw from the Blue Dunder earlier, Ranma didn't stand a chance.
"Do you mind if I kick your butt and get this over with?" At least the idiot only kissed her hand. If he tried anywhere else… well he'd be a dead man. Jean Luc sat on her shoulder just as ready to punish the fool.
"My pigtailed goddess how many badges do you have?" The anger appearing on the redhead's face did not suit her at all. Sighing Kuno wondered if it was that time of the month for her.
"Pigtailed goddess? I have a name, it's Ranma Saotome. I don't have any badges, so what?" This guy was really starting to bug her.
"Ranma? That is hardly a proper name for a beauty such as yourself." The Blue Thunder frowned. He didn't like picking on weak trainers. "I'm sure you've heard I let females win in this gym. I'm afraid nothing could be further from the truth. Every trainer to beat me has earned their victory after facing many other challenges."
"I saw him battle earlier, and his opponent was female and he did beat her. Easily I might add." The former Amazon frowned. "Ranma the badge this gym rewards is called the Earth Badge for a reason. Kuno uses Ground Type Pokemon; Jean Luc wouldn't stand a chance against him."
"Pika pika chu."
"But…we." When she got stuck, she and Jean Luc made a promise. That promise was what kept her from being depressed about her current state, but now her partner was afraid?
"Does she understand her Pokemon?" Truly this girl was amazing. Kuno had a Trapinch that had been acting up lately; maybe he could get her to find out what was wrong with it.
"Jean Luc is the only Pokemon she understands, it was rather interesting at first but it gets annoying real quick when you only get to hear one side of the conversation." Ukyo would normally get Ranma to repeat what her partner has said before allowing her to reply, but he normally tried to ignore them. The robed boy had a feeling that the Pikachu had come to it's senses.
"Pikachu."
"It's okay; I won't force you to fight a battle you're not ready for. Let's go Mousse. Ukyo's probably still at the Pokemon Center." Ranma couldn't hide her disappointment, but if Jean Luc didn't think he could win she'd only be sending him out to get hurt. She'd love to send Genma out, but she couldn't rely solely on him to see her through.
"Pigtailed goddess it shows just as much strength to know when not to battle as it does to win one. There is no shame in the path you now choose. When you have faced other gyms and have earned their badges, then return here and I shall allow you to challenge me for my badge and the right to date with me." As a gym leader, it was his duty to steer Pokemon Trainers upon the right path. The pigtailed goddess was not yet ready for his glory.
"Whatever." Ranma left the gym entrance with Mousse in tow. As soon as she got back on the road, she and Jean Luc would do some intense training. Hopefully they would be ready by the time they reached the next town. For now, she counted this as her first loss.
-v-v-v-v-
After Ranma and Mousse rejoined her, the three of them left the Viridian city and headed to their next destination, Pewter City. Ukyo could see her nephew was depressed but she didn't really know what to say to her. "You guys haven't said what happened at the gym yet."
"The gym leader was pretty full of himself, but he advised Ranma against challenging him. Honestly Ranma, you couldn't beat him, not with Jean Luc and Genma. Jean Luc has a type disadvantage, and Genma, do you really think you could control him. He was your father's Pokemon, so I don't think he'll take orders all that easily from you." Mousse worried about the pigtailed trainer. Since they left the gym she hadn't said a word. Not even when Ukyo rejoined them.
She didn't need to be reminded how she wasn't ready. She knew full well she wasn't ready and it annoyed her to no end. Jean Luc admitted Kuno scared him and that he didn't think he could win for her, he apologized and she accepted it, but it left her wondering if her partner would always back down like that. What good was their promise if he didn't plan to uphold his end?
-- After being locked --
Ranma got herself away from Ukyo and Mousse. She was stuck this way. She was going to be a girl for the rest of her life. How could this have happened? Why did it happen? Was the life she led so wrong that the gods had to punish her?
Now what was she going to do. Her mother wanted her to become a Pokemon Trainer to prove she was a man among men, but now she wasn't a man at all. Ukyo said that wouldn't matter, and maybe it wouldn't, but why did her mother have her take this path if it didn't?
"Pika?" (Ranma?)
"Jean Luc, what do you think? What should I do?" Her partner followed her. Looking around she made sure he was the only one that did.
"Pika ka pi pika chu." (I want to beat that Charmeleon.)
Of course her partner had no idea what she was going through, he was just a Pokemon after all. Maybe she couldn't be a man among men, did it stop her from becoming a great Pokemon Trainer? She did have fun training with Jean Luc, it made her stronger, and strength was all she had left of her former life. "Okay Jean Luc, we're going to get stronger. And when we do We're going to show Ryoga that you can beat his Charmeleon without Genma's help."
"PIKA!" (Yes!)
-- The Present --
What strength was there in not even trying? Sure running away was a practice of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, but it was a tactic she didn't like using. She'd rather think on her feet than retreat. There was only one thing she ever retreated from …to get Jean Luc stronger … she would have to do that.
-v-v-v-v-
Ukyo set up the tents with Mousse, she really would rather be staying at the Pokemon center for the night, but Ranma was so insistent to get back on the road. Where was her nephew? "Mousse where did Ranma go?"
"She asked for Shampoo and went training with Jean Luc."
"He's borrowing Shampoo! Isn't she afraid of feline Pokemon?" Something was not right, Ukyo was now very worried.
"It's just one cat. Maybe she's trying to overcome her fear with Jean Luc's help." Admittingly the former Amazon didn't know much about the Neko-ken, but surely one cat wouldn't cause Ranma to go into the Neko state. For now he would trust she knew what she was doing.
-v-v-v-v-
Even in it's pokeball Ranma was worried about the Meowth she was carrying. Still in her mind this was the best way to train Jean Luc. Releasing Shampoo she gathered her strength and stared it down. "I want you to run about fifty meters away and then attack me."
Shampoo just returned her gaze. "Jean Luc, can you explain it to her?"
"Pika. Pika pika ka chu pika chu." (Okay. Ranma want you to run away then attack her.)
"Meowth?"
"Chu pika ka." (She wants to know why?)
"Cause something bad will happen if she gets too close to me. Your job is to make sure she doesn't, can you do that?" Mousse had said he just got Shampoo and her level was low, so hopefully she would be an even match for Jean Luc. Ranma hoped that giving her partner a reason to get stronger would help him over come his fear.
"Pika Pika?" (Something bad?)
"Yes, something really bad, can you at least get her to get away for now." Even if she had a reason for doing what she was doing. She didn't like it, it was just one Meowth, she could handle it. Couldn't she? The fear was creeping up on her, but she stood her ground, she couldn't run away, it would set a bad example for Jean Luc.
Pika. Chu ka pi pika chu. (Okay. She says its training.) Jean Luc looked at his master one more time while Shampoo ran away. Could he keep the 'something' bad from happening? He would do his best.
-v-v-v-v-
Ukyo worried about Ranma. It had been hours since she left and it was starting to get late. Every time she asked the Amazon boy if they should go look for her nephew he said that interrupting Ranma would be a mistake. What was Ranma doing?
"Pika!"
"Jean Luc! Where is Ranma?" Ukyo got up from around the campfire where she was sitting. Here was Ranma's Pokemon where was she?
"Where's Shampoo?" Mousse did not like Ranma's partner returning on it's own. If Ranma when into that state, Shampoo could be seriously hurt. Maybe he should have observed Ranma's training after all.
"Pika Pika chu!"
The youngest of the Cerulean sisters watched as Ranma's Pikachu started running off. She couldn't understand what it said, but more than likely it wanted her and Mousse to follow it. So that's just what they did.
-v-v-v-v-
Nodoka finished packing her bag. She didn't know how long it would take Ranma and Ukyo to get to Pewter city, but she would wait there until they did. Pulling out a Pokeball she released her Pidgeot.
"That wasn't a very long visit." Kimiko frowned. It wasn't often her big sister was home and now she was leaving already? When Nodoka arrived she said this would be a longer visit.
"I'm sorry. Something happened to my son. I need to see him right away." The oldest of the four sister's expression matched that of the second youngest. She would love to spend more time with her family now that she didn't have to worry if her husband and son would ever return to her, but now that she had Ranma back. She couldn't lose him again.
"I see, when you return will you be bringing him with you?"
"No, I'm hoping he'll continue his Pokemon Journey. But…I don't know what will happen. I'll explain when I return." With that Nodoka got on her large Pokemon and flew off to Pewter City.
-v-v-v-v-
"Ranma!" After following her nephew's Pokemon for thirty minutes Ukyo and Mousse found both Ranma and Shampoo. Both were laying unconscious upon the ground. The redhead didn't look hurt at all.
"She just fainted. He's okay. Shampoo on the other hand, Jean Luc you did a number on her. I see you didn't come out unscratched either. I guess Ranma couldn't keep her fear subdued for the entirety of the battle. It's too bad I can't understand her Pikachu, I'd love to know how long she lasted." Mousse put Shampoo back in her Pokeball, it would keep her in stasis till could get a better look at her.
"That idiot, why did she do this to herself."
"Who knows? Help get her on my back and I'll carry her back to camp." The former Amazon boy smiled. Ranma had a great strength; she believed her partner was afraid so she had it protect her from her own fear. An interesting strategy, Ranma was worthy of what he had to teach.
-v-
Lio's Corner:
-Although Ranma is stuck a girl Ukyo had decided to still think of her as her nephew.
-No additional crossover/fusion here, I was just lazy so I used Mina and Rei as extra's. I'll probably take most of the extra's from other anime/manga.
-Euphemism: Sorry about the title, but I'll be keeping it as is. If for no other reason than when I started writing this story three years ago I thought it was a good title.
When the Tendo's show up Ranma will be female and will know nothing of his father's promise, so they'll just be a one time appearance. This won't be a Ranma x Akane story.
-tatewaki2000: Well I don't think I'll be updating this too often, but this chapter was fresh on my mind so here it is.
-borg rabbit: Ranma won't be gaining any abilities from the stone. I had thought about it, but in the end it seemed too silly.
Update 22 Mar 09:
-Minor corrections
