I do not own Kamen Rider Den-O or Ranma 1/2. Those belong to their respective creators. It is also to note that Tamamos was originally created by Alienyouthct. I'm using her creation with her permission. Now that the legal stuff is out of the way, let's enjoy the fic.
Kamen Rider Ran-O
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 12: My Hero Zero
"Let me say this from the beginning," Zeronos AF spoke while lazily pointing at the Ant and Grasshopper Imagin. "I am VERY strong!"
Nabiki, Ranko, and Tamamos were watching the ensuing fight from a safe distance. Well, they were watching from the main gates to the Tendo property. As Nabiki was watching events unfold, she felt that things might possibly be unable to get any weirder. Her day started off with meeting Tenma Saotome, the actual son of the pigtailed martial artist who had come to live at her home. He and his Imagin Deneb had come from the future along with Tenma's little sister Ranko who also had an Imagin called Tamamos. They had gotten separated by the Fiancée Brigade who mistook Tenma for Ranma and began chasing him. That was when Nabiki had met him. Ranko had gone straight to the Tendo house where she had met up with the rest of the family. Nabiki's day got even weirder when Tenma told her that Ranma did not marry Akane or any of the Fiancée Brigade. When she and Tenma finally did get to the Tendo property, they ran into Ranko and Ranma before an Imagin appeared inside the Tendo house. Den-O went to fight it, but it them split into two Imagin and Tenma had to get involved by changing into a new Rider.
"Oh yeah," Nabiki chuckled when she heard what Zeronos AF had to say. "Only Ranma's son would say something like that."
"Yay, Onii-chan!" Ranko cheered from where she was hiding with her Imagin and Nabiki.
"Just as scrumptious as ever," Tamamos sighed.
Den-O SF just gaped at the green and black Rider which was standing next to them for a moment. This was the absolute last thing that he had been expecting to see. Sure, fighting two Imagin at once might be difficult, but he could pull it off. Then all of a sudden, that Tenma brat comes out of nowhere and changes into a Rider!
"What the hell?!" Den-O SF cried as he stomped up to Zeronos AF. "Just where do you get off coming in all cool like that!"
Zeronos AF turned slightly to regard Den-O SF before he started speaking, "Oh, come on, Momo-nii. You know that heroes have got to make a dramatic entrance before saving everyone."
"What?!" Den-O SF cried out. He was about to rage again when he suddenly took on a thinking pose. "You know, you're right about that."
As Den-O SF and Zeronos AF were talking, the Ant Imagin and the Grasshopper Imagin lost their patience. They were intent on granting their contractors wish even if they had to go through two Riders to make that wish come true. They both roared angrily before they charged with their weapons raised.
"Let's talk about dramatics later, Momo-nii," Zeronos AF spoke before he drew his green handle. He then attached it to his sword blade like a saber handle. He then drew the sword, but as he did, the blade grew to nearly triple its length. Zeronos AF hoisted the blade and let it rest on his shoulder. "Right now we have some Imagin to take down."
"I like the way you think, brat!" Den-O SF laughed before both he and Zeronos AF charged towards the two enemy Imagin. Deneb remained where he was. He knew better than to get involved in Tenma's fights unless Tenma said he could. Crossfire hurt a lot.
As the fighting began between the Riders and the Imagin, the front door to the Tendo property opened. From it, Nodoka and Kasumi both came out. Sieg was behind them, making sure that his princess was unharmed by the battle between the peons and the rouges.
"But, Kasumi," Nodoka cried out. "What is going on?"
"I said I would explain later, Auntie," Kasumi replied. "But right now it's too dangerous to be around here. We have to get to safety first."
"But-!" Nodoka tried to protest, but she was cut off when she saw the Riders fighting against the two Imagin. Her eyes immediately went sparkly as she clasped her hands together. "Uwaaaa! Who are those masked men? They're so manly!"
Deneb looked from where he was watching the battle and he saw Nodoka and Kasumi watching it. He immediately began to panic. Tenma would never forgive him if something happened to his grandmother or his favorite aunt.
"Oh! You shouldn't be here!" he cried as she dashed up to the two women. "It's too dangerous here! You must leave immediately."
"And who are you to order me to do anything?" Sieg asked in a grave tone.
"Oh please, Sieg!" Kasumi asked in an almost desperate fashion. "Auntie and I need to leave and we need someone to protect us."
"Very well, Princess," Sieg nodded, his attitude doing a complete 180. He completely ignored Deneb in favor of his princess. "Then I shall be your escort. We must make haste!"
"Thank you, Sieg," Kasumi smiled brightly. With that, Kasumi took Nodoka's shoulders and began to escort the older woman towards the front gates where Nabiki, Ranko, and Tamamos were hiding out and watching the battle.
Meanwhile, the battle was in full swing between the Riders and the Imagin. Zeronos AF was facing off against the Ant Imagin while Den-O SF was fighting against the Grasshopper Imagin. The Ant Imagin was a solid defender, but his attack strength relied solely on getting his opponent where he wasn't expecting it. The Grasshopper Imagin had very little defense beyond dodging attacks while his attack strength was up there.
"Can't catch me!" the Grasshopper Imagin laughed as he raced at Den-O SF, preparing to land a deadly blow.
"Wanna bet?" Den-O SF chuckled darkly as he readied himself.
The Grasshopper Imagin raised his violin for a club attack when he suddenly jumped into the air. Den-O SF looked up and saw him flying overhead, but there was something trailing behind him. Seeing an opportunity, Den-O SF grabbed a trailing antennae and he yanked it tightly, earning a cry of pain from the Grasshopper Imagin and sending it falling to the ground in a heap.
"Heh," Den-O SF chuckled. "And here I thought you were supposed to be tough."
Zeronos AF was busy with his own battle. The Ant Imagin was trying to duck low so he could score a hit on Zeronos AF's legs so he would be disabled. Unfortunately for the Ant Imagin, Zeronos AF was used to attacks like that so he could see them coming a mile away. As the Ant Imagin swung for the legs again, he found his shovel suddenly blocked by the ZeroGasher.
"I don't think so," Zeronos AF spoke while shaking his head. He then kicked the Ant Imagin in the head, sending it tumbling back where it landed next to its brother As Zeronos AF took a few steps closer, Den-O SF took a spot next to him.
"Since part 3 wasn't good enough for you guys," Den-O SF growled as he took out his Hyper Pass. "Then here's my Hissatsu Attack, Part 5!"
"All I need is one attack," Zeronos AF shrugged as he reached to his own belt.
"Full Charge!" both belts called. Den-O SF swiped his pass over his buckle while Zeronos AF pressed a button on his and drew out his card before punching it into his weapon. Red lines flew from the belt into the DenGasher while green lines flew from the card into the weapon before Zeronos AF took the card back from the weapon and placed it back in his belt.
Both of the Imagin were stumbling back to their feet as the Riders' weapons became fully charged. Den-O SF raised his sword into the air, letting the blade detach a second time. The red bade spun through the air before Den-O SF put it through an upward swing which tore through the ground before coming up at the Grasshopper Imagin.
"Not today, Den-O!" the Grasshopper Imagin called before it bent its legs and leaped into the air. The Grasshopper Imagin soared through the air before landing on the top of one of the houses. It laughed loudly before leaping away again into the distance.
Zeronos AF charged directly at the Ant Imagin. His blade was glowing with the energies that were meant to destroy the Ant Imagin once and for all. Once he was only a footstep away from swinging, the Ant Imagin ducked down before an eruption of dirt surrounded it as Zeronos AF swung his blade. The weapon cut through the dirt, but it didn't hit the Ant Imagin. The dirt cleared a second later only to reveal a large hole with chuckling coming from deep down within it.
"KUSO!!!" Den-O SF raged as he reattached his blade to the rest of his sword. "I can't believe he got away! What's he running away for!?"
"They've got a wish to grant," Zeronos AF answered before he looked over to where their captive audience was watching their every move. "I think I know who made the wish too."
Zeronos AF reached over to his belt and pulled out his card before carelessly tossing it away. Before it hit the ground, it dissolved into sand and vanished. He then grabbed his belt and pulled it off of his body, undoing the transformation.
"Great. More explanations," Den-O SF grumbled before taking off his own belt, undoing his transformation as Momotaros left Ranma's body.
Ranma heaved a sigh and turned towards the entrance to the Tendo property to see his mother staring at him with wide eyes, "Mom, we need to talk."
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Order was somewhat restored to the Tendo household now that the two Imagin had ran with their tails between their legs. Nabiki would have to call in some contractors, but the damage was minimal for a change considering who the ones fighting were. Currently, everyone was inside the living room, and that included Sieg, Deneb, and Tamamos, who Nodoka found to be quite curious creatures. Once everyone was situated, Nodoka began to hear the details on what the creatures were.
"So these Imagin," Nodoka spoke as she sipped her tea. "They come from the future to grant wishes so they can go to the past and change history. And it is up to these Riders like Ranma and Tenma to fight them and keep them from doing this."
"That's right," Tenma nodded.
"And Sieg, Deneb, and Tamamos are examples of Imagin," Nodoka continued. "Also, Ranma has four Imagin inside of him, but they aren't here right now."
"Yes," Kasumi nodded.
"I see," Nodoka sighed sadly. "And you need to find the Imagin that I had contracted before it is able to complete the wish and start affecting the past."
"Right, Mom," Ranma nodded. He then stepped towards his mother, trying to reveal how important the situation really was. "That's why we need to know what it was that you wished for. It would be a pretty big clue in figuring out where the Imagin is going to be."
"I undertsand," Nodoka sighed sadly. "In that case, what I had wished for was lots of grandchildren."
'That's it?' Momotaros grumbled. 'She wishes for a bunch of little brats?'
'Now now, Sempai,' Urataros chided. 'Nodoka-chan has been wanting grandchildren for a long time apparently.'
'I wonder why,' Kintaros pondered before his snores began to echo in Ranma's head.
'Yay! I'm gonna be an uncle!' Ryutaros cheered.
"It figures," Ranma grumbled before he stood up. "I'm going to go and see what I can find."
"You won't have to," Tenma spoke up from his seat. All eyes turned to him, looking for an answer. "Those two Imagin that we fought are going to need some time to recover. They are also going to need to figure out how they are going to grant the wish so we have some time to get our own strength up before we have to hunt them down."
"So we have some time to think up of ways how they might try to grant the wish," Nabiki began to smirk. Was this guy really related to Ranma? "That's something at least. It will give us a head start too."
"That works for me," Ranma shrugged. He then took his seat at the table while everyone began trying to think of ways of how the two Imagin might try to grant Nodoka's wish and get to the past. All the while Ranma mentally asked himself for the umpteenth time just why his mother wanted grandchildren so badly.
-----DenLiner-----
"What is with that woman?!" Momotaros growled as he lounged in his seat. "All I got about her in Ranma's memories is 'manly' this and 'grandchildren' that. She's gone off the deep end if you ask me."
"Don't say that about Mama!" Ryutaros snapped while standing up and pointing at Momotaros.
"It's the truth!" Momotros yelled back.
Over at the bar, Naomi was watching with her usual amount of interest. Hana was right next to her as they watched the four Imagin talk about things that concerned them or their host. The new subject was a nice change since they were mostly complaining about Sieg these days. Still, from what she had heard about Nodoka from the Imagin, she was wondering just what was wrong with the woman. She had a seppuku contract with Ranma and Genma to kill themselves if he was unmanly? The terms of the contract were pretty unclear as well since it hadn't stated what a man amongst men was. Now all Nodoka seemed to be about was getting grandchildren even if Ranma wasn't legally married to the mothers. What was wrong with this woman?
"I do wonder," Kintaros pondered. "Is Nodoka unhappy with having Ranma as a son? Is that why she wants to have lots of grandchildren?"
"It makes one wonder," Urataros shrugged. "A woman like Nodoka can be either one of two things. She can either be one with no substance in her head since she married Genma and seems almost clueless towards his less than stellar traits, or she could be hiding her intelligence since she has modeled herself after the samurai lifestyle of years past."
"She's loony," Momotaros growled. "That just proves it."
"She is not!" Ryutaros defended.
"Well, we'll have to see now won't we?" asked Urataros as he stood up. He then walked towards the end of the car before vanishing in a haze of blue energy.
-----Tendo Dojo-----
Everyone had gone their separate ways for the time being. Tenma and Ranko said they were going back to where they were staying so they could get some rest. Deneb and Tamamos had gone with them. Nabiki had wanted to ask where Tenma had gotten the belt but he was tight-lipped about it, much to her annoyance. Kasumi had gone to see what she could recover for a meal while Nabiki began calling to get estimates on the repairs the house would need. Nodoka herself was calmly drinking tea, but her shaking hands showed how she really felt. Ranma himself was about to head to the roof to think before he felt one of his Imagin shoot to the surface and take over.
"Mind if I string you along?" Ranma Blue smiled as he tipped his glasses up and smoothed his blue-streaked hair. He placed his hands in his pockets and strolled calmly towards the living room where Nodoka was trying to calm herself.
'What are you doing, Urataros?' demanded Ranma.
"Just getting a few answers to some questions we have," Ranma Blue shrugged. "Calm down. It shouldn't be too bad."
'This is my mom we're talking about!' Ranma retorted. 'Say one thing wrong and she'll try to get us to commit seppuku just for being unmanly!'
"Unmanly?" Ranma Blue chuckled as he repeated the word, finding it funny. "Ranma, I am a gentleman; nothing unmanly about that. You're still just stuck with your lazy father's idea of what a man is supposed to be. Just trust me my young host. Sit back and relax because you may just learn something."
Ranma was silent for a second but then sighed. 'Alright, fine, but don't flirt with my mom, OK? It's just weird if you do.'
Ranma Blue nodded. So Nodoka was untouchable, was she? Well, the blue Imagin always did love a good challenge.
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Nodoka was taking some deep breaths to calm herself. She had just been told a lot of information about what her son had been up to lately…and it frightened her. She knew that Ranma had been experienced in fighting supernatural foes if some of the stories Kasumi told her were true, but seeing that Imagin fighting her manly son and his friend truly frightened her. What made her feel even worse was that SHE was responsible for releasing it.
"Ah, hello, Nodoka-chan," a suave voice spoke from the entrance of the room.
Nodoka turned to see who was taking and was somewhat surprised to see her son standing in the door. The voice that she heard was most definitely not her son. Nodoka also took notice of his glasses and the blue streak in his hair. His styled hair was also quite noticeable. While Nodoka may not have been present for most of her son's life, even she was able to recognize changes in her baby boy.
"Hello to you too," Nodoka nodded. "Are you one of the Imagin residing within my son?"
"Why yes," Ranma Blue nodded as he stepped closer to the table. He quickly took a seat across from Nodoka. "Quite the observant one. I am called Urataros."
"I am pleased to meet you," Nodoka bowed politely. She smiled with some humor. "One does have to be observant when they deal with Genma on a constant basis."
"Oh I agree," Ranma Blue nodded with his usual charming smile. The smile only lasted for a moment before it became a frown and his voice became darker. "He is quite the slippery one. My three companions and I are not very fond of him at the moment."
"You aren't?" Nodoka blinked. "I realize Genma may have less than outstanding morals, but judging by the tone of your voice you make it sound as if you hate him."
"That is a rather accurate summary, Nodoka-chan," Ranma Blue answered, earning a gasp from the Saotome matriarch. Ranma Blue hated having to cause a woman like Nodoka distress, but it was unavoidable. "You have not been treated to the unedited view of the training journey."
Nodoka suddenly froze. Ranma Blue immediately blinked at her sudden immobility.
"You…you know everything that happened during that trip?" Nodoka asked with some trembling hands. Whether she was excited or afraid was still up in the air to the watchful eyes of the possessed young man.
"Everything," Ranma Blue nodded in confirmation.
"I see," Nodoka nodded. Her hands were still trembling. "Could you please tell me? Genma won't tell and I haven't been able to ask Ranma while the Tendos don't know. I truly wish to know what my son has done during those years we have been apart. Perhaps it will allow me to get closer to him."
"I will," Urataros nodded. "If you will answer some questions I have."
"Then please ask," Nodoka answered immediately. "I have nothing to hide and much to gain."
Ranma did not like how the situation was turning out. His mother looked like she was losing that calm face she always wore no matter what was happening around her. He wanted to tell Urataros to tone it down a little, but the Imagin wasn't going to hear of it.
'Are you sure that we want to tell her about the trip?' Ranma asked with some unease. 'I mean, fur is going to fly if she finds out about half of what Pop did.'
'That's exactly why she deserves to know,' Urataros replied. 'Genma probably hasn't told her because he knows he did things she would not approve of. One of these was never mention her to you and then when he couldn't avoid it, make you fear her because of the contract and how desperate he is to get you married to Akane. I believe that it is high time she learns more about her son.'
'The turtle has a good idea for once,' Momotaros grunted.
'A mother should always know about her children,' Kintaros agreed.
'It would make Mama happy,' Ryutaros nodded, sounding strangely calm.
"Now then," Ranma Blue began to speak. "Why do you wish for grandchildren so badly? Are you that dissatisfied with Ranma as a son?"
"NO!" Nodoka cried out, even dropping her sword along with her surprising outburst. The action itself was significant because Nodoka always had her sword on hand and never let it stray far from her grasp. Just letting drop showed how much her answer meant to her. "I was never once dissatisfied with how Ranma turned out! He is kind, skilled, honorable, and a number of other things which make me so proud to be his mother! Learning about his duties today has only made me more proud of him! He's putting his own well-being on the line to protect others! He is not perfect, but I do not care! He is the perfect son to me!"
'…Mom?' Ranma whispered out. He had never heard his mother talk like this before. She was actually proud of him? She thought so highly of him even after she saw the craziness of his life?
"Then why do you wish for so many grandchildren?" asked Ranma Blue.
"Two reasons. One is selfish while the other was more for Ranma's sake," Nodoka sniffed, wiping some tears which had leaked out of her eyes. "My own parents died when I was young. I was left alone with only servants to really spend any time with me. I was never any good at making friends since I had to act as a person befitting my status. I grew up so lonely. When I married Genma and had Ranma, I was so happy. I wanted to have more children, but then Genma brought up that training trip and took Ranma from me. Ten more years alone, this time with barely anyone since Genma had stolen from about everyone nearby and we had to lay low. I could only wait and hope that Ranma would have many friends growing up."
"So you wanted many grandchildren not only so you wouldn't be alone anymore, but also so Ranma would not be alone either," Ranma Blue finished, throwing his own two cents into the conversation. "Am I correct?"
"Yes," Nodoka shivered. For some reason, it felt good to finally say that. "I didn't want my baby boy to be lonely like I was."
'Why hasn't she said this before?' Ranma wondered.
'The stupid stereotype!' Momotaros growled. 'She couldn't say anything because of all this stuff about the proper housewife! Makes me glad I don't buy into that crap!'
"Then what about the contract?" asked Ranma Blue. "Would you really have carried it out?"
"Never," Nodoka replied in a sad whisper. "I could never force my baby to do that. I'm not sure if you know, but it is very easy to make Genma do anything you want if you threaten him with bodily harm. Since I am a woman and he won't hit back, I can easily harm him. My idea was if I threaten him with death then I could be sure he would raise Ranma right."
'She wasn't even going to go through with it?!' Ranma cried internally. 'This is the last time I listen to Pop about this!'
'A clever ruse,' Kintaros chuckled.
"A logical idea," Ranma Blue nodded. He didn't really have the heart to tell Nodoka that her idea failed miserably. Not yet anyway. "Then what about your fixation on manliness? We are under the impression that a manly person to you indulges in peeping on women, petty theft, and casual intimacy with women."
"My word!" Nodoka gasped. "What ever made you think that? What I consider manly is strength of will and the courage to do what is right no matter what. Those other things are just things I consider boys to do, a step in growing up. I know boys have needs at Ranma's age and I just gave him my blessing to see other girls should he feel the urge to get close to someone. Perversion and theft are not what I consider manly. I just consider them...intimate."
"Ahh, so you are into role play then," Ranma Blue snickered. Nodoka's cheeks turned bright crimson.
'Role play?' asked Ranma.
'Huh?' Ryutaros blinked.
"But what did make you think that that I found those things to be manly? Perhaps in being my husband, but it is nothing I consider part of being a man amongst men," asked Nodoka. She seemed to be genuinely perplexed.
"Well, your contract never specified what you found to be manly," Ranma Blue replied. "Genma seemed to fill in the gaps with what he assumed to be manly. That is where we got the idea of petty theft and peeking."
"But the contract does state what I find to be manly," Nodoka argued. "I placed it at the bottom of the contract as a footnote. Didn't any of you read it?"
Ranma Blue frowned slightly at Nodoka's admission. He looked through the memories that he held of the contract and any of the contact Ranma had with it, but found that there was surprisingly little. Ranma Blue began getting suspicious that Genma may be hiding something else.
"Sad to say that none of us had much time to look at Genma's copy of the contract since he refuses to bring it out," Ranma Blue frowned. "We will have to take a closer look at what Genma's copy actually says."
"Yes, we should then, shouldn't we?" Nodoka agreed. "In the meantime, can you tell me the whole story of what my husband has done to my son Ranma?"
Ranma Blue smiled. "Well, certainly. Let me tell you about the Neko-ken training…"
By the time Ranma Blue finished, Genma would not be able to show his face to Nodoka for a good long time.
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Meanwhile, Nabiki was up in her room with Tenma and Ranko. Deneb and Tamamos were also present, as they were both contracted Imagin of the two future Saotome children. The middle Tendo had secretly asked them to come there since she wanted some answers for herself. Sneaking past everyone allowed them to speak freely.
"So, you got a time train too, right?" Nabiki asked. "I mean, Ranma has his own so that means you got your own too."
Tenma chuckled. "Yeah, I do. You guessed it, Auntie Nabs."
"I told you never to call me that," Nabiki glowered.
"I know," Tenma replied. "I just love seeing that look on you face."
"Tenma, you really shouldn't call such a young lady 'auntie'," Deneb advised. "It would be considered very rude."
"Whatever, Deneb," Tenma sighed.
"So, does this train have a name?" Nabiki asked.
"The ZeroLiner!" Ranko piped up. "You should see it, Auntie Nabs! It's really cool!"
Nabiki smiled. She liked the little girl already. Maybe she had grown attached to the young tike. Well, technically she would be considered like family by the little girl. "ZeroLiner, huh? Can you tell me what your Rider form is called then?"
"It's Zeronos. Kamen Rider Zeronos," Tenma answered, knowing fully well where Nabiki was going with this. "And thanks again for thinking of the name 'Kamen Rider'. It really sounds a lot cooler that way."
"It was for marketing purposes, but thanks for the compliment," Nabiki said. So, another Rider…this could prove profitable. She had gained a lot of money through Den-O's growing popularity, so what was wrong with gaining more from Zeronos'? Tenma seemed to be able to see the gears in her head turning.
"Well, if you're gonna use Zeronos' image for profit, how about a cut for me?" Tenma suggested. Nabiki quirked an eyebrow. This kid was a lot smarter than Ranma. Must've gotten it from his mom, whoever that was. Well, Tenma wasn't going to tell her and she could understand why. If news got out, then there would be chaos coming from the Fiancée Brigade and the fathers.
"How does 10 percent sound?" Nabiki asked.
"How about we negotiate first before making a deal?" he asked back. Ranko looked between Nabiki and her brother. She sighed.
"What's with adults and money?" Ranko asked.
Tamamos explained to her young charge, "Money does make the world go round, Ranko-hime."
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"Zeronos?" Hana asked. "ZeroLiner?"
"Yes," Owner said as he ate some of his fried rice. "But I never expected to see the ZeroLiner again. It supposedly vanished along with your time."
Hana blinked. Did that mean that…Tenma and Ranko came from her time?
"But how did they get the ZeroLiner?" Hana asked again.
"The origins of the ZeroLiner are a mystery, Hana-kun," Owner replied. "If we wish for the answers, then let us question this young man, Tenma Saotome, who claims to be the son of our own Ranma."
Hana frowned. She headed towards the door. She was going to find out the answers for herself. As the door slammed shut, the flag in Owner's plate of fried rice tipped over. "Oh, no!" he gasped, placing his palms to his face.
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Nodoka sat very still as Urataros finished telling the tale of Ranma's upbringing. Ranma Blue was very thorough as he told of several exploits in which Genma had risked Ranma's life or had done something that she would definitely not approved of. She heard the tales of the speed training in which Ranma had to protect his meal before Genma stole it all and let him starve, the Neko-ken, how Ranma ended up being engaged to Ukyo, Shampoo, and quite possibly other girls that Ranma had no idea about. Ranma Blue even spoke about their exploits as Den-O, which lifted her mood slightly, but not by much.
"What kind of mother am I?" Nodoka whimpered. "To let my baby be abused like that in the name of training?"
"Now, now, Nodoka-chan," Ranma Blue spoke soothingly. "You did nothing wrong. Genma had promised you and as expected, he slipped through a loophole."
"But," Nodoka sputtered.
"Ranma has grown into a fine young man who is much beyond Genma's manipulations," Ranma Blue continued. "He has become a man amongst men like you had hoped. He may be rough around the edges, but I think that is where a mother's touch is needed."
Nodoka smiled with tears leaking to her eyes. The Imagin possessing her son was correct. Ranma may have proven to be a true man, but he had so much further to go. Perhaps Urataros was right and she should become more involved in her son's life.
"Thank you," she smiled as the tears welled in her eyes. "Please continue to honor my son with your friendship."
"I promise, Nodoka-chan," Ranma Blue smiled.
Inside his own mind, Ranma was now feeling very conflicted. He had never seen his mother so emotional save for when they were finally reunited. He had long since figured that his father's training methods were strange, but they were quick and effective. Seeing his mother gasp in shock and almost scream in terror made him try to figure out just how they were so terrible to other people. She looked ready to blow when Ranma Blue had told her about how he got engaged to so many girls. Right now, Ranma was desperately trying to figure out just how much of his world could be taken at face value after seeing the true face of his mother.
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Meanwhile, the Grasshopper and Black Ant Imagin were both standing in front of a hospital building. Both exchanged grins as they were ready to grant their contract holder's wish. There would be a lot of newborns so it was only a matter of grabbing at least one of those little brats for Nodoka before going into her past to do some damage.
"Let's do this!" the Grasshopped Imagin said.
"Yes!" the Ant Imagin agreed.
Both Imagin nodded to each other before they began a running charge at the hospital. The Ant Imagin took the lead before he smashed right through the doors. It escaped his notice that they were automatic, but at that point it didn't really matter anymore nor did the Imagin care.
Nurses and patients screamed and cried out as they tried to get away from the monster which had suddenly busted in the front door. The Grasshopper Imagin strolled inside at his own pace and chuckled as he reached the reception desk. He found a secretary cowering behind the front desk.
"Where are the babies kept in here?" the Grasshopper Imagin demanded while raising his weapon.
"Waagh!" the secretary screamed as she tried to get up and run. She was met with the black armor of the Ant Imagin as it cut off her escape.
"He asked you a question!" the Ant Imagin growled as he hefted his shovel over his shoulder.
"Third floor!" the secretary whimpered. "Big sheet of glass looking on the babies. You can't miss it!"
"Thank you," the Grasshopper Imagin nodded before he walked away laughing. The Ant Imagin laughed as well as they left the whimpering secretary on the floor.
The Two Imagin wandered up through the hospital in their search for a grandchild for their contract holder. Doctors and nurses alike screamed and ran away from them. Many patients were left where they lay but the Imagin just ignored them. Children's screams mixed with the adult ones as they reached the children's wing.
"Just where are those little brats?" the Ant Imagin growled as it searched. It was tempted to just smash through a couple of walls and try his luck.
"Found them," the Grasshopper Imagin called from around a corner. The Ant Imagin walked to where his companion was standing and they found themselves looking through some glass into a room with dozens of cradles with babies inside of them.
"The question is," the Grasshopper Imagin chuckled. "How many would Nodoka like?"
"Let's just grab one and see," the Ant Imagin sighed. "We can always get more later."
"Agreed," the Grasshopper Imagin nodded.
The two creatures from the future found the door to the nursery and found it locked. The Ant Imagin just pried it open with its shovel. Numerous wails started coming as the babies made their discomfort known. The Two Imagin didn't bat an eye as they stormed into the room.
"Which one?" asked the Ant Imagin as it tried to decide.
"Mothers like girls more generally," the Grasshopper Imagin shrugged. It looked to see a baby girl who couldn't have been more than a few days old. She hadn't even been named yet. "This one will do nicely!"
The Grasshopper Imagin reached down to the wailing infant and picked her up in her blanket. It was being uncharacteristically gentle since there would be problems if the child got injured before they could deliver it to their contract holder.
"Good. Now let's deliver the brat and go!" the Ant Imagin sighed as it began heading for the door.
"Agreed," the Grasshopper Imagin nodded. They then rushed out of the hospital through where they came in. Soon, a news report will broadcast about a monster attack as well as a kidnapping.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the DenLiner, Momotaros jumped up to his feet, "Those bugs just made their move!" He cracked his knuckles, "Good, time for me to show me at my climax!" With that, the oni-like Imagin vanished into a haze of red energy.
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As Ranma Blue and Nodoka were talking, Urataros was suddenly rudely shoved out of Ranma's body so that Momotaros could take up residence. Nodoka witnessed as the glasses and blue streak of hair on her son vanished only to be replaced with unruly hair with a red streak in it. His eyes also shifted from blue to red.
"Ore Sanjou!" Ranma Red announced his arrival. Nodoka noticed that this must be another one of her son's Imagin friends. He seemed to be loud and very similar to her son. "Woman, that Imagin you contracted has just made its move!" Ranma Red said rather rudely.
Nodoka gasped, "Really?"
"Yeah, that means they are coming right here!" Ranma Red smirked. "And it's high time I have a rematch."
The door on the side of the living room burst open as the two insect Imagin kicked it. In the Ant Imagin's arms, crying out loud, was the baby girl they had kidnapped. The little thing was wailing and the Ant Imagin was half tempted to kill it just to make it shut up but its Grasshopper Imagin half had advised him countless times to just ignore it so they could complete their contract.
"Here's your brat!" the Ant Imagin shouted as he threw the baby. Ranma Red gaped in shock at how the Imagin was treating the kid. Nodoka's eyes widened at how reckless the two Imagin were being with the small baby.
Suddenly, Hana arrived and jump in to grab the little rugrat before it got hurt. She managed to keep it from falling badly. Before long, the little one managed to stop crying, finding that it enjoyed being in this woman's arms.
"Now, contract complete!" However, both Imagin were suddenly sent flying out of the house by Ranma Red's fists.
"Oi, Stinky Flower Woman," Ranma Red grinned. "Thanks for the save."
"Yeah, whatever," Hana grumbled as she held onto the baby protectively. Nodoka, though shocked, decided to ask.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Hana, a friend of Ranma's, Mrs. Saotome," Hana bowed. "Now, come on, we need to get out of here."
"But-" Nodoka began to protest. Hana, however, insisted that they run so that Nodoka wouldn't get hurt.
"Don't worry," Hana assured her. "Momo and Ranma can handle it."
"Don't get in our way, Den-O!" the Grasshopper Imagin said as it got up.
"Because we'll kill you!" the Ant Imagin added.
"Well, let's see you try!" Ranma Red said as he got out the Terminal Belt. As he was walking towards the door, Tenma appeared from the stairway with his own belt wrapped around his waist with one of his cards at the ready.
"Is this a private party, Momo-nii, or can anybody join?" Tenma asked, smirking.
"Fine, brat, but leave me the fun part!" Ranma Red said as he strapped on the belt and pressed the red button. "Henshin!" He waved the Hyper Pass over the buckle.
"Henshin!" Tenma called as he slid the card into his belt buckle.
"Sword Form!"
"Altair Form!"
There was a flash of light as both young men were wrapped in their respective suits of armor. The pieces which composed of their thicker armor appeared around them before connecting to their bodies. The peach slid down Den-O's face before locking into place while the mooing bull heads did the same for Zeronos. The peach split in half becoming Den-O's eyes as the bull heads reconfigured themselves to become Zeronos' horned visor.
"Ore sanjou!" Den-O SF stated gruffly.
"I'll say this from the beginning," Zeronos AF spoke. "I am very strong!"
Both insect-like Imagin were now getting fed up. It wasn't enough that they had to deal with Den-O, but this new Rider was making their jobs even more difficult to do. Well, they weren't about to be taken down when they were so close to finishing their job. This was no time to be Rider smashing even though they were sorely tempted to do just that.
"We don't have time for you, Den-O!" the Grasshopper Imagin spat.
"We have a job to do!" the Ant Imagin roared.
"Well tough!" Den-O SF grunted as he cracked his knuckles in anticipation of a good fight. "'Cause there's no way you're getting past me without a fight!"
"Heh," Zeronos AF snorted. "I've never turned down a fight; especially when there's a good reason for it. Try your luck, gentlemen!"
Both bug Imagin snarled before charging at the two Riders with their weapons drawn. Both Riders were quick to assemble their own weapons before they charged forward to attack the two Imagin. The two Riders were quick to swing their blades for a slash when their targets moved yet again.
"Hup!" the Imagin cried out as the Grasshopper Imagin leaped over Den-O SF while the Ant Imagin rolled past Zeronos AF. They both got to their feet again before they took a running charge towards the Tendo home, and Nodoka.
Off at the stairway, the familiar mop of red hair which belonged to little Ranko was watching the fight. She was hoping to see her big brother in action again since she looked up to him and enjoyed watching him beat up bad Imagin. Deneb and Tamamos were both with her, making sure that she didn't get hurt. Nabiki was with them too, but she was snapping pictures of the two Riders.
"Gramma! Auntie Hana!" The young Saotome cried out as she witnessed the two Imagin get past her future father and big brother.
The two Imagin stretched out their arms towards Nodoka before snapping their fingers. Nodoka suddenly stiffened before her body split down the middle with a green portal appearing in the space between the two paths. The two Imagin nodded before they leaped forward and dove into the portal before Nodoka's two halves came back together.
"Nodoka!" Hana gasped as she got closer to the woman. She was able to hold the baby in one arm before pulling out one of the blank tickets she carried.
"Gramma!" Ranko cried before she ran over to the older woman. Nodoka was dazed and just staring into empty space. The little girl likewise reached into her pocket and pulled out a blank ticket of her own that had a green border.
Both tickets got an image of one of the two Imagin on it as a date appeared. The date was thankfully the same: March 12 1991.
"Onii-chan!" Ranko cried as she ran to her brother with the ticket. "Here!"
Ranma leaned down and took the ticket from Ranko and checked the date. He looked at the date and then turned to Den-O SF.
"This is Pop's birthday," he reported.
"Eh?" Den-O SF blinked behind his visor.
Zeronos AF jogged up to Nodoka and kneeled before her. He took the ticket and held it up for the Saotome matriarch.
"Excuse me," he spoke. "But I need to know what happened on this day."
"Hm?" Nodoka blinked. Her eyes softened as she seemed to remember that day. "Oh yes. That was the day I named Ranma."
-----Flashback-----
Nodoka was humming a soft lullaby to the small baby wrapped in a blue blanket being held in her arms. She was still sore from giving birth, but she was well enough to take the small baby boy out to the courtyard where the beautiful gardens were kept. The baby's immune system was strong if what the doctors said was true.
The newborn made a small noise, indicating that he was hungry again. Nodoka smiled as she walked to a bench so that she could feed her little one properly. He was so energetic for someone who was just born.
She knew exactly what to call such a little child. She wanted to talk over her choice with Genma, but he was too busy getting drunk with his best friend Soun for some reason or another. When he was told he had a son he cheered loudly and made a terrible ruckus. He was well on his way out when he actually went to meet his son. He kept mumbling something about schools and other nonsense so she didn't really pay much mind.
"I know exactly what to call such a little bundle of energy," she smiled as she looked down at the little boy who was eager to be fed.
"I will name you Ranma," Nodoka smiled. "Ranma Saotome."
-----End Flashback-----
'That's her strongest memory?' Ranma asked with some shock. He was half-expecting her strongest memory to be when she met his father or something along those lines.
"What are we waiting for?" Den-O SF growled as he snatched his ticket out of Hana's hand. "Ikuzo!"
"Right," Zeronos AF nodded. He turned his gaze over to where the two Imagin he was friends with her staying out of the way. "Deneb! Let's go."
"Right!" Deneb nodded as he stood straight and waked towards Zeronos AF. When he was at the door of the house, he turned and bowed to everyone politely. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Come on, Deneb!" Zeronos AF cried as he yanked his Imagin out of the house. He turned his attention back to the remaining Imagin in the house. "Tamamos, Keep an eye on Ranko until I get back."
"Of course, Tenma-sama," Tamamos nodded as she stepped daintily over to the little girl in question. "Happy hunting."
Both Riders moved outside the Tendo property to get to the past. As they got into the clear, a loud whistle caught their attention before a familiar vortex opened up and the DenLiner came cruising into the street with tracks appearing in front of it.
"Come on!" Den-O SF called as he leaped on board.
"Thanks," Zeronos AF shrugged. "But I'll wait for my own train."
"Huh?" Den-O SF suddenly froze. He was about to rage again, but the sounds of a loud horn echoing through the air cut him off.
A second portal opened before a long black train came out of it. Den-O SF gaped at the train which came out. The first car was black with a green bull head which was adorned with two yellow horns. Steam poured from the bull's snout. The second car was black with yellow adornment sand a hawk's head on the front.
"Say hello to ZeroLiner," Zeronos AF introduced. He then dragged his Imagin over to the doorway and the two of them boarded.
The ZeroLiner then gave off a loud honk before it chugged off into another portal.
"Hey!" Den-O SF cried as he raced to the front of the DenLiner. "Don't think you can hog the glory brat!"
The DenLiner then gave off a whistle before it went off into its own portal.
-----------March 12 1991-----------
Nadoka was singing a lullaby to her infant son, Ranma, when she noticed sand falling out of her clothes. She watched curiously as the sand collected in front of her into two piles. Her curiosity turned into horror as she watched the piles turn into the two insect Imagin, the Black Ant and the Green Grasshopper.
"Now to do some damage!" the Ant Imagin announced.
"And we'll start with the brat before he becomes Den-O!" the Grasshopper Imagin cried, pointing at Nodoka who was cradling the infant.
"No, stay away!" Nodoka shouted, reaching for her katana blade but the Ant Imagin threw his shovel at her, forcing her to draw her hand back.
"Sorry, lady, but request denied," the Grasshopper Imagin said as he prepared to play a fatal song.
Suddenly, two portals formed in the air and the two Imagin looked up to see both the DenLiner and ZeroLiner racing out of them. The two Riders then leapt out of their respective trains to stand in between the two Imagin and their targets.
"Hey, you know how troubling it was to go after you," Den-O SF said. "It wasn't easy."
"Which is why we're here to take care of you dorks once and for all," Zeronos AF said. Deneb then came out of his body and approached Nodoka.
"Madam, please, come with me," Deneb said to Nodoka, who was still frozen on the spot due to shock. "It's not safe here for you or your son."
"My…son…?" Nodoka spoke, now remembering her baby in her arms. She didn't know who this strange creature was but she felt that she could trust him. Deneb then led her over to an enclosed space away from the battle. She held her newborn child protectively to her chest.
"Everything will be okay," Deneb nodded. He then turned to the battle which was heating up.
"Die, Den-O!" the Grasshopper Imagin cried as he swung at the red Rider. Den-O SF brought up his sword, fully assembled, and blocked thee attack.
"Heh, not today," Den-O SF snorted. He knocked the violin back and laid a punch into the Grasshopper Imagin's gut. The green Imagin was knocked back.
"Risking a kid's life! That's real low!" Den-O SF growled as he pulled the Grasshopper Imagin up by his antennae before head-butting him. "That puts me at my climax real fast!"
Nodoka continued to cradle her crying son as she watched the red armored fellow fight. He seemed to be a rather rough individual, but she could tell that he had a heart of gold.
'Sempai,' Urataros spoke up. 'You aren't the only one who wants to cast a line into this fight. He caused Nodoka-chan considerable distress and I plan to correct that.'
"What?!" Den-O SF cried out. "No way! This guy's mine!"
Den-O SF's right arm suddenly stiffened and began to tremble. It reached down to his belt and managed to press the blue button, turning the emblem blue and bringing the new tune out. As much as he was fighting it, Den-O SF brought out his Hyper Pass and swiped it across his belt.
"Rod Form! The belt cried before the armor flew off of Den-O's body. It reconfigured into the blue form before reattaching as a turtle slid down his face and became his visor.
"Mind if I string you along?" Den-O RF asked as he began disassembling the DenGasher.
"No you can't!" the Grasshopper Imagin roared before he charged at the new Den-O.
"So rude," Den-O RF commented before he lay a single kick down on the Imagin. It was sent stumbling back as Den-O RF began assembling his weapon again.
The Grasshopper Imagin came to a stop near a pair of doors. It struggled to get to its feet but it suddenly became distracted as the doors opened and a pair of nurses came walking out. The two young women both took on look at the Grasshopper Imagin and began to scream.
"Shut up!" the Grasshopper Imagin roared before it aimed to silence the two. He wasn't able to fire his attack when he was kicked solidly in the side by Den-O RF.
"You ladies shouldn't be here," Den-O RF commented as he finished assembling his weapon. "Beauty such as yours shouldn't be seen in battles such as this."
Den-O RF then marched forward to fight the Grasshopper Imagin. He didn't need to check back to see the two young women blushing and watching him go dreamily.
Meanwhile, Zeronos AF has just assembled his ZeroGasher in its saber mode and swinging at the Ant Imagin. The Ant Imagin avoided a few of the swings but grew careless before he was stabbed in the gut. It hissed before swinging its shovel at Zeronos AF who dodged each swipe. Zeronos AF then kicked the weapon out of his opponent's hands and then slashed at him repeatedly with his sword, sending sparks flying. He then grabbed the Ant Imagin by the antennae and held on them firmly as he relentlessly attacked with swords swiped that caused the Imagin to scream out in pain.
Deneb, seeing this, grew distressed. "Tenma, wait!" Deneb shouted as he ran over to separate the green Rider from his foe. This interference caused Zeronos to let go of the Ant Imagin as Deneb knocked into him, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Deneb!" Zeronos AF shouted as he grabbed Deneb by the shoulder and began shaking him roughly. "I almost had him! Why did you have to mess it up!?"
"But, Tenma!" Deneb protested. "Fighting like that isn't exactly fair!"
"Fair! He's a freakin Imagin!" Zeronos AF shouted. Deneb didn't seem fazed.
"Regardless, you must learn to treat your opponents with honor and respect. Your father was telling you that since you started martial arts."
Zeronos AF stiffened slightly. He then looked to the ground and sighed. "Fine…let's do it your way."
"Roger!" Deneb saluted before he stood behind Zeronos AF as he drew out his card and turned it over to reveal the side with the yellow patterns. He then pushed the switch on his belt and slid the card back in. The lines on the buckle connected with the card to create a glowing yellow 'V'.
"Vega Form!" the belt announced as Deneb placed his hands onto Zeronos' shoulders to form cannons as his visor vanished. Thicker black armor covered his chest as Deneb vanished into his body. A panel on the chest opened and Deneb's face popped out. Finally, a drill slid over the face, spinning, before it split apart into a star-shaped visor with round red eyes. A cape hung from his back as well.
Den-O RF sent the Grasshopper Imagin tumbling with a kick to see the change. "Hmm?" he blinked as he turned to see Zeronos VF.
'He changed,' Ranma admired.
Zeronos VF hefted his large sword onto his shoulder before he announced, "Let me tell you this for starters…"
"Not again…" the Ant Imagin groaned as he was about to hear Zeronos' speech again.
Zeronos VF continued, "The face on my chest is only a decoration."
The reaction this got was all the other people in the battle, Rider and Imagin alike, to facefault.
"Hah!?" the Ant Imagin let out in annoyance.
'What's with this guy!?' Momotaros let out. He was still angry about being shunted out of a fight.
'Idiot, what are you saying!?" Tenma shouted.
"But, Tenma," Zeronos VF replied, "We shouldn't deceive others. It isn't nice."
'No one is stupid enough to believe a person's face can be on their chest!'
"I guess you have a point," Zeronos VF nodded.
"Hey, are you ignoring me!?" the Ant Imagin roared angrily.
Zeronos VF turned his attention towards the Ant Imagin. "Oh, please forgive me. I am sorry but I was in a conversation with Tenma. Speaking of which, I apologize on his behalf for using underhanded tricks." Zeronos VF bowed, "I know if he could he would say the same thing."
'Not bloody likely!' Tenma cried. 'Now can we please beat this thing before he kills my dad and grandma?'
"Oh, right!" Zeronos VF nodded. He then gripped the ZeroGasher and took a ready stance.
"I'm going to crush you!" the Ant Imagin roared.
The Ant Imagin charged at Zeronos VF with his shovel raised. Zeronos VF raised his own blade and the two fighters collided. Sparks flew from the two weapons as the steel made impact. Both warriors grunted from the force they were putting behind their weapons. Zeronos VF used a cross punch to knock the Ant Imagin backwards.
Acting quickly, Zeronos VF disconnected the handle of the ZeroGasher and returned the blade to a smaller size. He flipped the handle around and attached it back to the blade again. He gripped the blade section and pulled the centre, letting the sides open up and letting the tip point forward. There was a flash of light before the weapon grew into a large bowgun.
"Take this!" the Ant Imagin roared as he hurled his shovel at Zeronos VF.
"Woah!" Zeronos VF cried as he ducked underneath the oncoming projectile. He also fired at the Ant Imagin at the same time. The blasts impacted the Ant Imagin, knocking it silly as it stumbled backward.
"Whew. That almost hit me," Zeronos VF sighed in relief.
"AHHHH!" a female voice cried out.
Zeronos VF turned to the source of the voice and he blanched when he saw that Nodoka was about to be crushed by some falling rubble. The shovel had struck the wall and caused it crack. It had also snagged Nodoka's clothes, forcing her to remain where she was. Sections of wall were ready to fall on her.
'Grandma!' Tenma cried.
"Nodoka-dono!" Zeronos VF cried. He completely forgot about the Imagin as he charged towards the distressed woman and the baby which would one day become the father of his contract holder.
Nodoka looked up to the sections of wall which were about to fall. A particularly large piece of the masonry finally came loose from the wall. Nodoka was too terrified to scream as she watched it came down upon her.
Her vision was filled with shadow, but not because of the slab of wall. Her vision was blocked by the image of Zeronos VF. The possessed Rider was managing to hold the large piece of masonry up, but he was struggling in the act of just keeping it up.
"Urg!" Zeronos VF grunted under the strain. He turned to look at Nodoka. "Can you…move?"
"No!" Nodoka sobbed as she struggled to get unhooked from the shovel. "I'm stuck!"
Zeronoz VF looked over to Den-O, who had shifted to Axe Form sometime during the fight. The Grasshopper Imagin was keeping Den-O AF's full attention on him. The Ant Imagin was due to be getting up pretty soon.
"Hnn!" Zeronos VF huffed. "I can't…hold this…forever!"
'Damn! I won't let anything happen to grandma!' Tenma growled in his head. 'Deneb! We'll have to use that technique!'
"Roger!" Zeronos VF nodded with some strain. "Full Synchro!"
Zeronos VF's body was slowly engulfed in a large green aura. It seemed to engulf his entire body. Zeronos VF's body seemed t get stronger as he managed to toss the slab of stone off of him and onto the ground. He slowly turned to face Nodoka as the aura began to become absorbed into his armor. His chest armor had taken on green highlights on the edges while the face mask had turned from red and silver to green and silver with the eyes actually glowing with green power. His shoulder cannons were still mostly silver, but the former black sections had green on them now. His black cape which was on his back had silver highlights near the neck and shoulders.
"Don't worry," Zeronos FS spoke before he yanked the shovel out of the wall with almost no effort. "There. You'd better run. This excitement can't be good for the baby."
Nodoka nodded before she checked to see that her newborn child was still well. Seeing that he was still fine, she immediately went for the doorway out of the way of danger.
"What the-!?" the Grasshopper Imagin gasped as he saw this new Zeronos standing tall and facing both himself and his recovering brother.
"Eh?" Den-O AF grunted as he caught a glimpse of the changed Rider.
'What the heck did they do?' Ranma asked incredulously. 'I can feel their ki from here. It's weird though.'
"Weird?" asked Den-O AF.
'I know that there are two of them at least,' Ranma frowned internally. 'But I can't tell them apart. It's like they are one person.'
"I'll say this from the start," Zeronos FS spoke. He pointed at where the two Imagin were "I'll play by the rules and I'll still defeat you!" The only difference in his voice now, if anyone noticed, was that it was Tenma and Deneb's voices mixed together, like they were talking as one.
"I'm getting tired of you!" the Ant Imagin roared as it charged directly at Zeronos FS.
"Ha!" Zeronos FS cried as he charged forward with his ZeroGasher in hand. He raised his projectile weapon and fired several shots at the Ant Imagin, causing it to stumble again. It was distracted through, which allowed Zeronos FS to get up close to the Ant Imagin with a raised fist.
"KACHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" Zeronos FS cried before his fist became a blur of motion. The Ant Imagin was punched several times that were too fast to see before one final punch sent it flying away and landing in a head.
'No way!' Ranma cried. 'Where'd he learn the Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken?'
'He's your son, Ranma, remember?' asked Urataros with some humor. 'I assume it was you who taught him.'
"Most impressive," Den-O AF commented as he blocked a strike from the Grasshopper Imagin.
'Kuma-chan!' Ryutaros called out. 'I wanna turn! He almost hurt Mama and Ranma Nii-chan! I wanna fight him!'
"Hmph," Kintaros nodded before he cracked his neck. He punched the grasshopper Imagin backwards before standing straight. "Very well."
Den-O AF reached to his belt and pressed the purple button, which called up the techno tune. He summoned his Hyper Pass before swiping it over his belt buckle.
"Gun Form!" the belt cried before detaching the outer armor and bringing it into the Gun Form configuration. A purple dragon slid down Den-O's face before reconfiguring into a purple visor.
"Mind of I destroy you now?" Den-O GF asked as he began to put the DenGasher into his preferred form. "I don't hear an answer!"
"No you can't!" the Grasshopper Imagin growled before he began another charge.
"Too bad!" Den-O GF laughed before he finished his gun and started firing shots.
Impact after impact rained down on the Grasshopper Imagin. The force of the shots forced it backwards as it cried out in pain with every blow. Den-O GF was his own mad whirlwind of twists and turns as he danced forward to keep the heat on the green Imagin who was his opponent.
"Boom!" the purple Rider laughed with a final shot which knocked the Imagin over and let it tumble right next to his brother.
"Not bad, Ryu-nii," Zeronos FS nodded as he walked over to stand next to his fellow Rider. "But I want to end this fight."
"Okay!" Den-O GF nodded. "I was kinda bored anyway."
Den-O GF summoned his Hyper Pass yet again before he brought it down to pass in front of his buckle again. Zeronos FS pressed a button on his own belt.
"Full Charge!" the two belts cried out.
Den-O GF began to take aim as purple streams of energy began flying from his belt and into his gun. Zeronos FS pulled his card from his belt and punched it into his Bowgun which caused yellow beams of energy to flow into the weapon.
Both of the Imagin were slowly getting up. Of course, they didn't immediately see what was happening in front of them before they heard both Riders pull their respective triggers.
A purple ball of energy flew from Den-O GF's weapon before it collided with the Grasshopper Imagin. The green Imagin exploded on impact from the blast. Zeronos FS fired a 'V' from his own weapon that collided with the Ant Imagin and left a 'V' imprinted on it before it fell over and likewise exploded into an inferno.
"Yeah!" Den-O GF cheered as he danced in victory.
"Not bad if I do say so," Zeronos FS nodded to himself.
-----Present-----
Both Ranma and Tenma both were dropped off outside the Tendo property. The two boys both leaped off of their respective trains before they walked into the yard.
"How did you do that fusion thing with Deneb?" Ranma asked with burning curiosity. If Tenma could do it then so could he!
"It's called Full Synchro," Tenma explained. "It allowed me and Deneb to combine our power. It's a good thing me and Deneb are friends or else we wouldn't be able to use it."
"Yeah, but how do you do it?" Ranma pressed.
Tenma looked blankly at his future parent for a while, "Jeez, Pop, I just said it how you told me. You didn't seem this dense back home. Maybe Mom rubbed off you after all."
"She did?" Ranma asked, now feeling a little curious. Maybe he could learn a little about who Tenma and Ranko's mother was. "How do you think?"
"How about manners?" Tenma laughed. "Mom scolded you something fierce every time you forgot them."
"COME BACK HERE, GENMA!" Nodoka yelled.
"AH, NO-CHAN! WAIT! I CAN EXPLAIN!"
The two Saotomes then turned towards the property to see Genma barreling out with his tail between his legs as Nodoka gave chase with her sword. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SON!?"
Tenma and Ranma looked to each other and shrugged. By now nothing would surprise the two Riders. Both young men decided to just let the married Saotome couple tire themselves out while Nodoka got some steam out of her system with a good Genma bashing. It always made Ranma feel better.
"What's with Grandma?" asked Tenma as he and Ranma walked into the house. They were met with Kasumi, Nabiki, and Ranko who were seated at the table. On the table itself were two worn pieces of paper. They seemed identical with a written signature and a handprint, but one was noticeably longer than the other.
"Gramma's mad at Grandpa because he fibbed about the contract," Ranko explained.
"He lied," Ranma sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Get this," Nabiki smirked as she held up Nodoka's copy. "It says right here on the bottom what Auntie sees as manly attributes.
"Really?" Ranma blinked. He strolled up to the table and took a seat while snagging the contract. "Let's see then."
It was a small list that was written at the bottom of the contract. It was surprisingly short, but Ranma figured that if it was short then it wouldn't be that hard to try and live up to.
'this refers as to what the contract holder, Nodoka Saotome, considers to be what is considered manly behavior and shouldn't least be attempted to be taught to one Ranma Saotome during the course of his training journey.
1.He has a fiery passion for battle, but remembers what the reason for battle is in the first place.
2.Being calm and collected at all times, but a certain touch with women is considered a plus.
3.Easily shows his strength when it is needed, but is also able to tell when his strength isn't enough or the strength of another is needed.
4.Has a playful outlook on life and enjoys having fun with whatever he does, even battle.'
Ranma blinked as he read those suggestions. It didn't sound all that complicated, but where had he heard about guys with those qualities?
'Hey!' Momotaros grinned. 'It seems we're men amongst men!'
'I already knew that, Sempai,' Urataros spoke calmly. 'I fulfill Nodoka-chan's views of manhood quite easily.'
'We have proven our mettle!' Kintaros spoke happily before cracking his neck.
'Does this mean Mama will like me more?' Ryutaros asked hopefully. 'I don't hear an answer!'
Ranma blanched when he heard his friends talking. His mother actually wanted him to be more like them? Well, with the way they possessed him constantly, he was probably going to pick up a thing or two from them anyway.
To Be Continued...
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this new chapter. For those of you wondering about Legendary Celestial Warriors, I have managed to recover the data on it thanks to a friend of mine. It shouldn't be too much longer before it's updated.