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Nodoka Saotome was quite worried about her son as she finished cleaning up the house to prepare for Ranma's arrival. She had read the letter that Ranma had sent her two weeks ago telling her about Akane's betrayal and that he was going to be training alone for two weeks so he could cool off before coming home at least once a day. Nodoka had mixed feelings about her son finally coming home. On the one hand she hadn't seen her 'son' for ten years and here he was returning home to her. On the other hand it was because his promised bride had betrayed him and left both families with shattered honor.
As Nodoka was looking through her bedroom trying to find something to clean, she noticed a class yearbook from when she was in high school. On a whim she took the yearbook out and started looking at it. Eventually she came to a picture of just her, her best friend Ikuko Ikari, and Ikuko's boyfriend Kenji Tuskino. Nodoka felt a tear on her cheek as she put the book back and thought about her old friends. Ikuko and Kenji had married shortly after the picture was taken and now her friends lived about 10 minutes walking distance away with their son Shingo and their daughter Usagi.
Ranma was enjoying a quiet walk through the park as he was heading home to his house. The evening after he had discovered his Jovian heritage Ranma had made another discovery. With a mild drain on his chi while he was in normal form, he was able to summon some energy from Io. Although not useful for fighting with Ranma was able to use it so that if he knew where the water was coming from he would be able to heat the water up enough so that he wouldn't change. Ranma figured he could do the same trick with just his Chi, but it would then be twice a draining on him. Knowing that in his transformed state it would be impossible for others to recognize who he was unless he wished it or they already knew that it was him Ranma had had a long debate.
Ranma remembered his mother talking about the sightings of 'Sailor Scouts' in the neighborhood Ranma knew then that the old royal guard was reborn and apparently at times fighting against enemies of the population. Knowing that his previous mother was Sailor Jupiter, Ranma decided not to mention their relationship until she confronted him about it. It would be too awkward otherwise. However much he would want to help the Sailor Scouts, Ranma knew that he couldn't fight as himself without drawing undue attention; he didn't want the nuts of Nerima to come over. Therefore an alias was needed and Ranma had decided to be known as the Jovian Paladin.
Ranma's peaceful walk was interrupted by the sound of a girl crying coming from the path ahead. Stopping to think it over Ranma bit the bullet and started heading over to the person crying. As he approached Ranma saw a girl about 15 or 16 years old sitting on a stone bench crying her eyes out. She was in a school dress and had her long golden hair done up in ox horns with long ponytails trailing down out of the ox horns. A small part of Ranma's mind whispered that she was quite lovely. Maybe she was not supermodel beautiful, but she was beautiful just the same.
Ranma quickly squashed that part of his mind and forgot that it had even whispered to him. He was in no mood to try and go after girl; Akane's betrayel still hurt him deeply. Besides, the girl was crying; going after a girl in that condition was just despicable. As the girl continued to cry, Ranma grew more and more uncomfortable. Although the merging along with his mother's letters had helped Ranma gain a little knowledge of how to handle social situations he knew that it was not is forte. But on the other hand Ranma never could stand to see a girl cry.
Ranma took a moment to actually think about what he should say to calm the girl down before he opened his mouth and said. "Why are you crying?" The girl turned around to face him and Ranma saw that she had soft blue eyes. The girl took a look at Ranma's inquiring face and then said. "M-my boyfriend just dumped me." That hit him in the heart. Now with Ranma you normally have to fight tooth and nail to get anything about his past out of him, but Ranma felt that this one time it would help the girl if she knew a little bit of his past. After all, a pain shared is a pain halved or so he had heard.
Sitting down next to her on the bench, Ranma closed his eyes and then started to speak. "I know what that pain's like. I had a girlfriend once." Opening his eyes Ranma turned to look at the girl as he spoke again. "However I caught her cheating on me with one of her friends. So you see, even though it hurts it could have been much worse. Don't worry. The pain slowly goes away with time." With that Ranma got up and started walking away leaving the girl to ponder what he had said; not knowing if they would ever meet again or not.
Usagi Tsukino was sitting on a stone bench pondering what the unknown young man had just told her. It had been a roller coaster of week. First she had traveled 1,000 years into the future to fight invaders from that time. Next she finds out that in that time she was queen of the whole Earth with her boyfriend as her King and husband. After an exhausting battle against the death phantom she and her friends get back to the twentieth century. Finally her boyfriend goes and dumps her in the park just after her friends leave. Needless to say, Usagi felt she deserved to have a good cry.
However Usagi thought about the strange teenager and what he had said. He had blue eyes and black hair that was in a pigtail in the back. From the quick glace at his body she noticed that he obviously worked out. She also noticed that he appeared nervous about her crying and was trying to calm her down even if he didn't know how. Still, his few words were true. Usagi could have found Mamoru cheating on her like the boy said his girlfriend had done to him.
Getting up from the bench, Usagi started walking home. She knew that her mom was waiting for the whole family to get home to tell them something. What it was Usagi had no idea but apparently there was something that was eating at mama for the whole week. During the walk Usagi thought about her relationship with Mamoru. As she thought about it she came to the realization that she and Mamoru didn't really have much in common in this lifetime. As she entered her home Usagi decided to try and make the most of the situation and not cry about the loss of her 'prince charming' too much.
Deciding to try and do something, Usagi heading upstairs to her room. There she pulled out her book bag, grabbed one of her textbooks, and started catching up in her homework. It was not fun for her, but Usagi figured that she needed to keep moving for the day to help her handle the pain of the breakup. Finally, after two hours of work, Usagi was able to finish all of her schoolwork and her make-up assignments.
Putting her books away Usagi thought about the Sailor Scouts. Although she usually didn't like being the princess and having to lead the scouts, she did think about their situation. Usagi wondered why it was that after 1,000 years of experience Neo-Queen Serenity had needed HER help to face the Black Moon Family. Suddenly a though crossed her mind. The Scouts were her body guard reborn, but they were also supposed to be soldiers. As their leader maybe she should read a book or two about how to fight battles? However that thought left her mind as Usagi heard her mother calling the family together downstairs.
When Usagi got downstairs she saw her parents sitting at the table waiting for Shingo to come in the room. Once the whole family was together Ikuko started to speak. "Okay Usagi, Shingo, as you know I like to visit an old friend of mine from high school Nodoka Saotome. Shingo, you weren't born yet but Nodoka has a son that is a year older than Usagi who is coming home after a ten year training trip with his father. Now your father and I along with Nodoka have decided that we'll all go out to eat and celebrate her son coming home."
Usagi smiled at that news, she remembered 'Aunty Nodoka' and her very frequent visits over to the Tsukino home with fondness. Besides a small party with her family and friends sounded like a good end to the day. Shingo wasn't as excided as she was, he wanted to stay home and play the new game he got from a friend. With that the whole family got up and started walking over to the Saotome home.
Usagi wonder what Nodoka's son would be like as she walked silently. She really hoped that he would be caring and gentle. But what if he was rude and arrogant like some of the jocks she knew of. After all, if he was on a ten year training trip he must be into martial arts. Would he be a friend to her or would he tease and torment her? Oh the questions were springing up in her mind and getting her worried. Usagi was pulled out of her worried state of mind when her mother stopped in front of a house and said "We're here." When Ikuko opened the door Usagi was able to see the Saotome family. Aunty Nodoka was easily recognizable, but Usagi practically froze when she saw who that the son was the same boy she meet in the park.
Nodoka smiled at her friends' family, she honestly like Shingo and Usagi like they were a daughter and son to her. Speaking up Nodoka started. "I think that introductions are in order". Gesturing to each person in turn Nodoka smiled and stated. "This is my son Ranma, Ranma this is Ikuko Tsukino, her husband Kenji Tsukino, their son Shingo Tsukino, and their daughter Usagi Tsukino."
At this point Ranma Spoke up and said after Usagi was introduced. "We've meet." At this the parents all raised an eyebrow and Kenji started talking with a stern face. "Oh? And when did this happen?" Usagi started to sweat and Ranma continued oblivious to the bombshell he was unknowingly setting off. "I meet her in the park, she was crying because her boyfriend dumped her."
Two words best describe the scene that happened upon Ranma saying those words, COMPLETE. MANIA. Kenji rotated between yelling at Usagi telling her that she should never have had a boyfriend in the first place and him promising to castrate the guy who broke his little girl's heart. Ikuko was trying to calm Kenji down. Nodoka was comforting Usagi who was slumped down on the ground with a huge sweat drop on the back of her head. Shingo kept on trying to get Kenji even angrier because he thought that the situation was hilarious. Finally Ranma was hitting his head on the wall muttering about how stupid he was bringing this up.
However, this seen of panic ended when a water pipe over Ranma's head burst open activating the curse. Turning around to seen the shocked looks on the Tsukino family and the resigned look of his mother Ranma spoke up "Ranma Saotome, sorry about this." Shingo was the first to speak up and pointing to Ranma Shingo said, "Dude, why did you just turn into a girl?" Ranma walked over to the kitchen as he spoke. "It's a curse I picked up in China by falling into the spring of drowned girl. The spring is one of many, each spring having their own cursed form. Cold water turns me into a girl and hot water turns me back into a guy. Before you ask, yes I am a guy and no, I don't like boys when I'm in my girl form."
Ranma then got a glass out of a cabinet and poured himself a glass of hot water. Not noticing that his guests had followed him into the kitchen Ranma poured the water on his head returning him to a guy. At this point Shingo said, "That's really freaky." Noticing the pained look in Ranma's face at the words her brother had carelessly spoken Usagi spoke up. "Hey, it's not his fault that he has that curse, besides at least he's human. Didn't you hear? There were a lot of cursed springs there. He could have just as easily ended up as a dog, a rat, or a Panda!"
At this point Ranma started laughing as he said. "Pops has the Panda covered, fits him too." Nodoka just shook her head and said. "Sadly yes son it does fit him. But he does have his good points. After all, look at you; I'd say that you've grown up pretty well except for your bluntness." Ranma nodded his head as he dried off his hair. At this point everyone agreed to drop the conversation silently and left to go to the restaurant
Kenji had been the one to select the restaurant and had chosen an Italian place nearby where he worked. Over all he was happy with how the dinner went. While still mad that Usagi had a boyfriend that. He. Didn't. Know. ABOUT! He was able to calm down. During the meal he had paid a lot of attention to Ranma. The boy was quiet and tried to give off an air of confidence but with an eye used to noticing small details of pictures Kenji notice that Ranma was uncomfortable, nervous, and sad. Ranma wouldn't start a conversation and tried to keep his words a few as possible. In fact Nodoka and Usagi seemed to be able to get him to talk in more than three word sentences unless provoking him.
One such instance was how Kenji found out about how Ranma's fiancé betrayed him. At first Kenji was shocked that Ranma had been engaged at such a young age but his heart went out to the young man. No one deserved to have their heart broken like that. Noticing the look of sadness in Usagi's eyes at that story Kenji felt that he should look into his daughter's life more.
They were all walking home with Ranma and his mother when suddenly five guys appeared around the corner and four appeared behind them. The center guy spoke in a creepy voice. "Give us all your money, credit cards, bank pins, and any valuables and we might let you live." Kenji was reaching for his wallet when one of the gangsters spoke and asked the boss if they could have some 'fun' with Usagi. The man's tone and perverted gaze left no question as to the kind of 'fun' the criminal was referring to. Kenji, while fearing for Usagi, noticed Ranma's face get hard with a cold rage before the boy's image flickered. Suddenly too fast for his eye to follow, Ranma bolted from his spot in a blur taking down each and every one of the gangsters.
Grabbing the person who had spoken to them Ranma slammed him into the wall and growled. "If I EVER hear about you, or your people, hurting anyone else; I will make you wish you could hide in any of the seven hells." Ranma then slammed a fist into the ground leaving the cement cracked. Bringing up the fist so that the scum could see that Ranma's fist was in good condition Ranma spoke again. "Do we understand each other?" The gang then ran away from Ranma like he was some demon after their souls.
Ranma then turned away and looked at the Tuskino's and said. "Is everyone okay?" There was no trace of the harden fighter all that Kenji could see was a nervous young man worried about him and his family. As they split up and headed home Kenji thought to himself that interesting times were coming.
Two days latter was Monday and school. While Usagi was running to get to school on time Ranma and his mother were walking to the same school in order to enroll Ranma in Juban High. Actually, Nodoka was walking on the sidewalk and Ranma was on the railing as he usually was to be found. Nodoka was in her usual kimono and Ranma was sporting blue jeans and a black T-shirt. Nodoka had gotten him several new sets of clothes for when he came home and Ranma wanted to try one out.
In no time at all Ranma and his mother were speaking to the principal of the school. Apparently the school couldn't get a hold of any transcripts for Ranma beyond middle school. This was due to Genma's laziness and Furinkin's Craziness. The Saotomes' sat down and discussed the options that were open to Ranma with the vice-principal. Finally it was decided that Ranma would take a test to see what grade he would go into.
The test took Ranma three hours to complete. The geography of Japan and China was easy for Ranma due to his having been to those locations. The rest of the world geography was a bit of a struggle for Ranma. History was easy as well as Math in which Nephelite was a child prodigy in. However, the Science part was up to the favor of the kami as to whether he succeeded or not. Over all things were looking up for Ranma as he handed in his test to the secretary for computer checking.
That peace was shattered when Ranma heard several people scream at the top of their lungs in terror. Seeing the secretary start running away he figured it was time for the Jovian Paladin to make an appearance. Closing his eyes a second in order to find the tendrils of power that flew from him to the heavens; Ranma opened the mystic floodgates to the planetary manna and allowed it to flood his entire being. Opening his eyes Ranma was now Prince Nephelite under the alias of the Jovian Paladin.
Opening a window Jovian Paladin leapt up and onto the roof in order to head towards the origin of the disturbance. Reaching the edge of the roof Jovian Paladin saw a strange creature that looked like a strange mix of a woman and a car facing off against five young women in short fukus. Instantly Jovian Paladin knew that the women were the princess, his old mother, and the inner scouts.
Suddenly the daemon launched an enormous attack that looked like black fire that left the scouts frozen in fear. However it wasn't going to hit the girls as far as the Paladin was concerned. As he leaped down to protect the girls he noticed that they started to run but that the one in the center tripped and fell on her pigtails. Thanks to the aerial training that Ranma had gone through Jovian Paladin was able to correct his fall so that he was between the fallen scout and the incoming attack. Once on the ground he let loose a yell of "Callisto Celestial Shield!" this caused a sparkling dull purple and red wall of energy form in front of the prince stopping the attack.
As the smoke cleared Jovian Paladin looked around and recognized that the scout whose life he saved was the Princess who was looking at him with wide eyes. The first friend that he ever had; that thing had tried to kill his best childhood friend and the heir to the kingdom, this was UNFORGIVABLE. A cold rage grew within him making him want to only destroy the THING that would DARE attack the sweet girl in front of him.
Turning towards the daemon the Jovan Paladin spoke with a voice filled with controlled rage and malice. "Attacking the High Princess with the intention to kill merits only death." Raising his fists in a boxing position the prince smirked as he stated "prepare to pay the ferryman, RAIDEN'S RAGE!" His fists now crackling with lighting all around and emanating from them Nephelite ran towards the daemon and started pounding the life out of it.
After a minute of fast and brutal punishment at the Paladin's hands the daemon was lying on the ground apparently gasping for breath. Lowering his hands and allowing the lightning to fad Jovan Paladin looked on demonic creature and allowed the rage to fad a bit. Raising an arm up Nephelite yelled out "IO INFIERNO!" sending with the sweep of his hand a blade of blazing red energy that cut the daemon in half ending its life.
Turning around to face the shocked scouts Nephelite spoke softly in a voice that was commanding and yet comforting at the same time while his face softened slowly as he spoke. "I am the Jovan Paladin reborn from long ago by the grace of Queen Serenity. All who threaten this city's people or attack the Queen's daughter will die by my hands." Not waiting for the Scouts to respond to that statement the Paladin jumped up onto the roof and quickly vanished from sight.
At the Cherry Hill Shrine latter that day after school let out pandemonium reigned. The scouts were all there with the moon cats talking at each other about the attack and the appearance of the 'Jovan Paladin'. Finally Luna had enough of trying to follow the conversations and putting her paws to her face whistled loudly to get the gaggling girls' attention. The scout all stopped talking to face the feline familiar and waited for her to speak. "Okay," she started, "during class your school was attacked by a daemon. During the fight this Jovan Paladin showed up, brutally attacked and then killed the monster. Now one at a time girls, can you add any RELAVENT information about the monster and its slayer?" Luna added the emphasis while looking at Minako and Makoto.
Rei looked up and then said. "Now that you mention it, he was dressed in armor like Prince Endymon but the color looked closer to the colors worn by Makoto when she's Sailor Jupiter." Ami decided at this point to add her observations. "He seemed enraged when he saw that Usagi was attacked by the daemon and referred to her as the princess." Usagi who was munching on a rice ball made a comment in between bits. "He had a gold crown with the symbol for Jupiter engraved on it." At this point everyone turned to face Usagi with shocked looks. Usagi ate for a moment before she noticed that everyone was looking at her and exclaimed "What!" Rei muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Amazing that meatball head actually noticed that." This comment set Usagi off crying for a few minutes.
Artemis turned the facts over in his head for a minute before a memory came to him turning his blood cold. Softy in a voice filled with fear that everyone somehow heard he spoke. "Prince Nephelite, the Abomination." Looking up and seeing that he had everyone's undivided attention Artemis side and said. "Sit down girls; I just remembered something that will shock your view of the past."
Noticing that everyone was sitting down Artemis continued. "During the Silver Millennium every one of the planets had life on them including the Moon. All of them but the Earth was ruled under Queen Serenity as you remember with you acting as guards for the Moon princess besides being princess' yourselves. Besides you, the four outer worlds had princess' who were sailor scouts as well. These Outer scouts were more powerful generally than the inner scouts with Saturn being the strongest capable of destroying a world with her power. However, during the last years of the Silver Millennium someone else was born who was feared above all, even Sailor Saturn whose awakening was said by the lower masses to herald the death of worlds. This person was Prince Nephelite, Makoto's first born son." At this point every scout was shocked and Makoto fell passed out from the shock.
Waiting for his audience to be able to hear him again Artemis collected the memories that were flooding his brain before continuing. "Prince Nephelite was the first born son EVER recorded to be born to a citizen of the Silver Millennium. His power, when he was born, was the highest birth power recorded except for the princess's. He drew his power from Jupiter and its major moons naturally when scientist's had insisted that it was impossible for a mortal to sustain a connection like that to more that one celestial body.
These facts led to the boy being called the Abomination by the common people. It got so bad at one point that the Queen had to bring him to the Lunar Palace in order to protect him. Attacks' on the prince's life ended do to the efforts of the Queen and the fact that if an assassin managed to get to the young prince, his powers were manifest killing any threats to his life. I guess when the Queen set you all to the present to be reborn she sent the prince as well."
For a few moments everyone in the room was silent before Makoto got up the nerve to as a question that was eating at her once she heard that the handsome hero was her reincarnated son, "W-who's the f-father of m-my son?" At this Minako blurted out. "General Nephrite, you told me when you asked my to be your child's godmother even though it was a secret." Makoto fainted on hearing who the father was and Minako snapped her fingers in frustration that another cute boy was off-limits to her.
At the underground hidden lab Kaolinite was chewing out Eudial over the failed attack. "What were you thinking? Your mission was to find a talisman and instead of victory our daemon was destroyed and you didn't even attempt to steal a heart crystal to check if it had a talisman. Now what do you have to say for yourself hum?" Eudial looked at her superior and grinding her teeth spoke out her first words. "Magnus Kaolinite, I was trying to get the heart crystals of the Sailor scouts as it seemed likely that a talisman was hidden in one of them. Before the daemon could weaken them so that I could steal the crystals an unknown fighter appeared and killed the daemon. I then left due to the objective being impossible."
Kaolinite thought about what she was told for a minute before speaking. "Very well, your actions are excusable. Now go." With that Kaolinite turned around and left Eudial to simmer in the room. As Kaolinite was walking out she thought to herself. Hum, this new fighter changes things, but by how much? With that she left to go and talk with the professor to see if he had any ideas about what to do with their plans to revive Pharaoh 90.
Entering the part of the lab where Professor Tomoe was working on creating Daemon seeds Kaolinite softly approached and then spoke. "Professor there is a problem; a new fighter appeared and prevented one of the Witches Five from obtaining a heart crystal. Does this new person affect our plans to bring Pharaoh 90 here to Earth?" The Professor turned to Kaolinite and said. "This changes nothing, the Witches' Five WILL collect the talismans allowing Mistress 9 the strength she needs to summon our master here." Kaolinite bowed her head and stated that she understood before letting the professor continue his work in peace by leaving the room.
In his room at home Ranma was meditating about the fight and what he should due in the future. Thinking to himself Ranma spoke in his mind to focus his thoughts. "What happened out there? I was calm and ready to fight the daemon. Even when it attacked the scouts I was fine. But when I saw that it was the princess… I just lost it. WHY! Maybe it was a one time thing, yah that's what it was. The scouts should figure out who I was by now unless they don't remember; either way, I won't tell them who I am or who I was until they figure it out.
What about that monster? Was it acting alone or was it part of an invasion? Mum said that the Scouts fight monsters in what seem like sets of fights. Each set of fights seems to last several months before stopping. Then there's ah few weeks or months before the next round happens with a different set of leaders leading the monsters. If it's been quiet sense I started writing to mum then that means that another round is starting up again.
If that's the case then I'll have to 'disappear' for 'Jovian Paladin' to fight the bad guys. Mum's going to worry about me if I keep disappearing on her. If mom asks if I'm fighting the monsters what am I going to due? I don't want to lie again; 'Ranko' was enough lying to mom for me. I guess the only thing I can due is tell mom about prince Nephelite.
Ranma went down stairs and found his mom. After showing and telling her about Prince Nephelite and what he could remember about the Silver Millennium he stood and waited for her to say something. Needless to say it was quite a shock to her system to hear about it but finally she spoke and told Ranma how proud she was of him and that she wouldn't speak of his alternate identity to anyone, unless he stated that the person knew about his secret.