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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Suikoden 3 or any other characters that I put into this story except for my own OCs. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any.
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Help Wanted!
I still need a new co-writer. Ilikesecret has lost his writing muse. Till he get it back I be needing a new co-writer to help me with this fic. Anyone that wants to help keep good fics on the web email me for the job. Also you must have internet connection at home so there won't be days that I can't email you. And it also helps if you have knowledge of anime and manga.
Chapter 25 – Gearing Up
In the vast grasslands of the Grasslands on the plains of Yaza travelers that have been going through the area for years came to a surprise as a new fort appeared on the grass plain. It had just appeared on the plains out of nowhere one day. The size and make up of the castle and the buildings inside the stonewall look all new. How can something that big been built so fast and that well as everything was built solidly. Every traveler and tradesmen stop by there as a lot of new stuff being sold in the fort. Just like its counterpart of Lake Castle.
While most of the trading that is done at Lake Castle is now done by merchant ships docking at the small harbor there the new castle does most of its trading by carts and wagons. Inside it walls shop keepers quickly set up shop in the empty buildings after they had gone as sign the ownership papers. Wagons of a merchants train rolled through the main gates that could let in ten elephants standing side by side through at a time. Iron plated gates ten feet thick protected the gate that could be close at a moment notice. The two gates on both sides of the castle walls were larger versions of the main gate of Lake Castle that only needed one person to close the gates and needed a crank to open them afterwards. Dealers and new storekeepers dickered and yelled trying to get people to look at their wears.
And the businesses that have been running in Lake Castle had also expanded into the new castle town. The newspaper, book, manga, and card games publishers who are two kids Arthur and Kidd. They had set up shop in one of the large buildings having a printing press being set up in the building as they needed to have more presses to supply the demand for the printed works. With the new supply they had gotten there were more mangas they needed to expand their production to meet up with the demand. Also they were copying the books that are being kept in the library of Lake Castle to sell on the open market. Also they have been busy printing books for the new school that's going to open in the town soon. A mature woman with a shapely body that is very like the Rune Mistress of the Rune Shop in Lake Castle had them printing the books that she'll order from them. And she also said to them that she wants them to be done with her books on time while fingering a coin with a hole in the middle of it.
Scott the owner of the trading shop in Lake Castle has also expanded his operations to the new castle. One of the big buildings in the shopping district in the town became the side branch of his business. The building was now called the Lake Trade Building. It's being run by two young women one who had gotten the building for him. One of them is a young woman with brown-reddish hair who wears a purple kimono most of the time. With her sharp business mind she got the trading shop up and running fast. The other woman was a long haired blonde who handles most of the paper works that needs to be done to make sure that the right person gets what they ordered from them. She also seems to be at one place at one moment then another place at the next. Rumor has it that she's a skilled as a ninja letting her keep an eye on any shady deals that people try to make in the building. They are quickly taking away many business deals with the Zexen Trading Guild as they were still under arrest when Salome places the high counsel members under their control for helping Harmonian in their invasion.
Outside the castle walls were the farmlands and ranches that fed the castle. Fields of newly planted crops were spread out as farmers who had left their homes when the Harmonian Army started invading made their homes in the new farms houses and ranches. One of the ranches is being run by a young blond haired cowgirl. She had run the ranch at Lake Castle but left that to be run by her father who's staying there. She's also running the small stable area in the castle so she'll be close by to the master of the castle. Both the farms and ranches were also supplying the castle with wool, cotton and leather for cloth for the textile mills for clothing. There were also the lumber mills that are supplying building materials as new buildings were being built as will as defensive barriers when the castle would be under attack. The water power saw was really speeding the work up as the workers fed the freshly cut timbers into it.
The castle is manned by the combine forces of the Grasslands as they must stop the Harmonian from taking over the Grassland. One could see lizards and ducks looking around the stands looking for a good buy. Alma Kinan female fighters a rarity to see were also on the streets a lot of them were being hit on by males seeing them it those green dresses that they wore that showed off their legs real well. There are groups of Karayan fighters as while as Zexen could be seen as they go about the town. Also there were some Free Knights of Camaro and Tinto Army troops walking around the town as well. There were some of them that were on their patrol looking out for trouble. They were all station at the guardhouses or the barracks that are doted along the town. Each of the different forces had their own barracks so there wouldn't be any trouble as some of the soldiers were still holding bad blood between them.
Many of the soldiers were at the training areas of the barracks are learning sword skills from the students of the castle master. The trainers are the top ranking students that have been trained by the castle master or from his fellow fighters since there were too many of the soldiers to train all at once. Many of the soldiers were also learning some hand-to-hand combat from the students as well. The Alma Kinan females were also taking quite an interest in the fighting art of two twin girls that came from a tribe of women fighters too. Also at the archery ranges the women were also trying out the new crossbows that have been coming out of the blacksmith factory. The new crossbows unlike the ones that needed to have to turn a crank on the bow to reload it the new crossbows have a pump action grip. The pumping action would reset the bow string without the lag time with the old ones.
The blacksmith factory is a very busy place as there was much work that needed to be done. The supervisor of the factory is a student of the great blacksmith Mace who's teaching the workers of the factory the art of metal working. He had gotten a lot of knowledge in the books from Lake Castle and working with the blacksmith there. They are pouring out new armor and weapons for the war. Dozens of people are laboring with hand tools at workbenches scattered throughout the cavernous interior of the factory. The work load was huge as they need to produce enough armor and weapons for the combine Grassland forces as will as new recruits that are coming in to join the fight. They had plenty of metal to work with as iron bars were being ship into the town from traders that are coming in. Also there was the armor and weapons that they had took from the Harmonian Army when they retreated. The armor and weapons that they couldn't repair are being melted down and reshape into new ones. This helped them save money using retooled weapons and armor then creating or buying new ones.
Also right by the metal works factory was a building that was coming out with new inventions. The building is run by a mother and daughter pair that had opened a branch of their shop there. The shop they have in Lake Castle is being run by the assistants they had train to help them with the gadgets they had made when they move to the new shop. They're getting a lot of help from a young girl with purple hair and wears glasses. Many of the merchants have been paying the factory visits trying to get them to trade some of the blueprints for the inventions that they have been shipping out there. She's been helping them on a new project dealing with transportation. As they needed to get supplies from the castle to Lake Castle a couple of miles away. The new castle is part of Lake Castle to protect it as well as the surrounding villages in the area. A fast transport system was needed as they needed to move tons of supplies between the two castles quickly as well as shipping supplies to Brass Castle the frontal line of defense against the Harmonian Army. From the rumors that are coming out of there they're trying to make a machine that can move on its own using stream to power it. They have been at it for a couple of days now and once in awhile there's an explosion that rocks the factory as one of their prototypes backfires on them. The residents are sadly to say are getting use to the explosions as they happen almost every day or so. But that's life in the new town of Windia.
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Inside the castle –
Inside of the room that's the master bedroom. Ranma is laying on his back on the gigantic bed that took up most of the room. Many things were going through his mind as he watch over the sleeping form of Iris as she's curled up against him resting her head on his chest. He was surprise to find out that his room had such a giant bed in it. The bed was soft and firm at the same time making it feel like sleeping on a cloud. The girls really like how it felt laying on it as also they also wonder how it would feel to have something firm to hold onto as they sleep like the firm body of a certain young man with a pigtailed. Also he found a book with a letter on top of it when he had entered the room. It was from Top Hat, Tina's older sister with details to the castle that Brute Hat had rebuild from the temple and the house that they had stayed at in his home world. As for the book he knows that once the girls find out what kind of book it is they will want him to show them what he has learned from it big time on them. (1)
He had to admit that the changes that Brute did to the place really help the place to adapt to this new world. Gone where the light bulbs since they would had eventually burn themselves out now they have been replace by those Light Crystals that Mind made giving the rooms and halls lighting that candle and fireplaces lighting can't do. There are also small air vents throughout the castle small ones since there where too many times that people have gotten into a fortress that way. Also there's some spinning fans circulates that air as well keeping people from going through the vents as well as the iron bars at every entryway into the vents. Also there was running water in every building inside the castle walls that many of the people that are moving into the town were very grateful for. And it made things easier as well also that means flushing toilets inside the buildings instead of outhouses. As only a few cities and towns had sewer systems for running water and needed to be next to a river or a large body of water for help with the drainage. They pump the water from the nearest river using pipes to feed the water tanks below the castle.
The girls were really helping around the castle without them to help out things wouldn't be running as smoothly as they are now. Everyone was helping out getting the castle running doing what they can. Some like Tina, Kanna, Red Bean, Green Tea, Sakura, Emily and the other fighters were training the soldiers to fight together while maintaining a fighting style that let them change tactics in the middle of battle. Lachette and Sumire have been busy getting all of the new business that are opening up in order making sure they got a list of all of the shops that are inside the castle walls. Kodachi has been hiring servants for the castle to help keep the place clean and in working order. As she had grown up in a mansion and had help in keeping the upkeep of the servants. She had became the head of the castle as she was the only one that really knew how to keep in order all of the work that needed to be done in the castle. The castle ninjas have all been busy as well keeping an eye out on trouble as people began pouring into the castle looking for a new home or to set up shop.
Orihime and Mamie have been helping training the kitchen staff as well as an old friend that Ranma thought he wouldn't see ever again.
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Ranma was greeted with the sights of his old fiancées Ukyo. She had change from the young woman that he had last saw that night. Ukyo had really changed as she still wore the same outfit she wore all the time but her eyes they had change. They were no longer the same eyes he had last look into. He could tell that she had gone through much hardship just to get to him. They had met up as he was on the main tower of the castle as the others were checking out the castle. He was looking down on the surrounding layout of the castle from the tower when she stepped into his sights.
"Hello Ukyo," Ranma greeted her, "I was wondering how long you would stand there."
"So you knew, I was there," Ukyo said.
"How did you get here? Did gramps help you out?" Ranma asks.
"Yes, Dr. Jones helped me in getting here with that mirror," Ukyo said looking downward, "I left my family as you did with yours. You were right my father is very much into the old ways when I told him I would try to go back to you. I had to sell my restaurant just to get to the states to get to your grandfather for his help."
"So even after what, I said to you that night you still want to be with me?" Ranma asks.
"Yes, I know that I took you for granted seeing you as just a prize to win. But even after you left me, I still love you. I know that there are other women in your life and that you're thinking of who's your daughters Iris and Reni will think the most to be their mother," Ukyo said looking into his eyes, "Even if, I don't stand a chance to win you back all, I want is to be at your side. Because no matter what I love you Ranma. Will you let me be at your side again?"
"Ukyo," Ranma said as he step to her hugging her body close to his, "It will be hard for you as you may never be able to go back to our home world. I can't say if, I will fall in love with you again but, I will say this, I will always be there for you when you need me."
Looking up into his eyes Ukyo eyes filled with tears as Ranma was giving her a second chance to win his heart, "Thank you for everything Ranma-chan." As she cried into his chest knowing that she had to do much to earn his forgiveness for what she has done to him in the past.
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Ukyo has all but become his personal servant that goes where ever he goes. She shadows him like Maria does with him so that now he has two of the girls that love him with him at all times. The other girls have expected the fact that Ukyo has given up everything just to be with him. But they're still didn't like the fact that Ukyo once she has woken up would be standing next to his door waiting for him to get up. She has vowed to serve him for the rest of her life for what she has done to him.
Petting Iris head Ranma got out of the bed leaving her sleeping on the bed. He entered the bathroom that's in his room another thing he's thankful for as he didn't have to wait in line or have someone walk in while he's undress. But there were times the he had to quickly cover himself when one of the girls came in wanting to asks him or show him something. He figures that it's mostly because they wanted to have a peek at him. After shaving and washing up his face Ranma walk over to the large closet that held his outfits that were pick out by the girls. Some of them were for everyday wear and some for special occasions that the girls said he should wear when there's something special that needed to be done.
Putting on his usually outfit on his red shirt and black pants Ranma look at his day planer that Lachette had drop off in his room earlier. There were many things that needed to be done to get a new city going off the ground. Windia is part of Lake Castle so it was owned by Thomas but his friend gave the ownership to Ranma making him Lord of Windia while it was still part of Lake Castle. It also severs as the frontline defense and would pay tribute to Thomas to help with all of the building that was being done.
There were taxes that needed to be collected as there were so many things to pay for. What laws should be passed and what punishments should be pass for the crime. What new businesses could open up inside the walls and which couldn't be allowed to open inside the town. And there was the problem with how to handle all of the people that are moving into the city walls.
Looking at the day planner Ranma saw he needed to attend a meeting with Sumire. It was dealing with a well known trading company from the Island Nation that he has heard from Jeane was started by one of the fighters that that had fought in the Island Nation war. It turns out that a merchant ship had come over to sign up some trading deals with Lake Castle. But Lilly whose staying in Lake Castle that Hugo is also staying at was also trying to get a similar trading deal with them. And Scott who's in charge of the trading in Lake Castle was having a hard time dealing with both of them. So Thomas was asking them to help him out with the trading deal that would take place around 2 in the afternoon at Lake Castle. It's a good thing that the girls are helping out with all of the work that needed to be done around the castle.
His door open as a redhead maid came into the room wheeling in a cart with two plates of eggs, ham, and cheese for breakfast. She's wearing the uniform that Kodachi had designed for the maids to wear. It was a simple black dress that went down to their ankles with a white apron over it. She bowed to him before she exits the door. He grabs one of the plates sitting down on the bed as he began eating. He didn't want to wake Iris up yet but he would have to have someone wake her up before her food gets cold.
Giving Iris one last look who still sleeping on the bed Ranma went out through the door after putting his plate on the cart. There waiting for him were Maria and Ukyo who are glaring at each other. Both of them didn't like the fact that both of them are acting like his personal bodyguard.
"Hi Ranma what's on the planner today?" Ukyo asks being as humble as she could.
"Well, I need to attend a trading deal with a trading company in the Island Nations and with Tinto," Ranma said, "The meet will take place at the meeting hall in the Lake Trade Building. Lilly and the son of the company that's called Cat's Trading Company are coming here to settle the deal. Thomas and Scott are also coming over as well."
"So Thomas couldn't get the two sides to make a deal?" Maria asks.
"Nope so he's wants me and Sumire to help out since both sides want to make a trading deal with the mangas and the new farm produce coming out of our area," Ranma said.
"Yeah who would think that coffee beans would be a big trading item," Ukyo said as there were coffee shops opening up in both Lake Castle and Windia.
"Well just wait till the Coco Trees start bearing pods then it will be chocolate," Maria said. The small supply of chocolate that they had brought back were quickly being eaten up as there weren't any coco plants in this world or no one had found them yet. They were growing quickly as the warm climate was the right kind to grow them. Bart said that the pods are almost ready to be harvest from the farming book that he's reading on growing coco plants, "Also there are those orange trees that will take awhile to grow big enough to bear fruit.
"So what you're going to do till then?" Ukyo asks.
"Well, I think that, I should go around and see how things are going around the castle," Ranma said.
"So how about checking out the Armory Kohran has been waiting to show you something all morning," Maria told him.
"Sure," Ranma said as they went out of the castle.
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At the Armory Iron Works Factory –
"It's called a division of labor," Mose said to one of the new foremen that have been hired to help with the workload.
The long worktable was being work over by a line of metal workers. At one end of the table thin rods of steel went into a machine of metal drums and crank handles. Two strong lizards heaved on levers, and the steel rod was drawn through cast-iron dies until it became a thinner steel wire wound on a length of smooth round oak. There was a smell of hot iron and stale sweat as well as the smell of the smoke coming from the furnaces of the factory.
The wire went from bench to bench some of the workers cut the links into circles, others flattened the ends still others fitted the rings together into preset shapes. At last the rivets were closed by lever-operated presses, and the end product was tumbled in boxes of sand to polish it, then washed and wiped down with flaxseed oil and rolled up for packing and transport. Chain-mail hauberks were being ship to the Grassland troop barracks since they didn't really like to wear plated armor saying it slows them down in battle.
"Shouldn't they all be working on their own sets of armor instead of working like this," the new foremen ask him.
"Well when it comes to plated armor we have skilled workers doing that," Mose said, "But with chain-mail it does take awhile to make if only one person does it alone. So in this way the work goes a lot faster as they all have only one thing to do in making the chain-mails."
"So this will be the section, I'll be over seeing?" the foremen ask.
"Yes just make sure everyone is working and make sure that all of the finish mails are sent to the right barracks," Mose said as he left to see how the rest of the factory was doing. Ranma had chosen him to run the iron works in building up the weapons and armor that's needed to armed the troop. The new machines that Kohran, Meg and her daughter made were speeding up the production time. But he just didn't feel the same thing on working the armor and weapons the old way where it took weeks to months to make a weapon or a suit of armor. But then again this way there would be plenty of equipment to go around when they fight again. Since Ranma wants everyone to be well armed and armored in the next battle.
"So Mose," Ranma said spooking him as he had spoken up while he was behind him, "How's the production going?"
"Oh Ranma, when did you get here?" Mose asks turning around seeing those two girls Ukyo and Maria with him.
"Oh just a now," Ranma said as he look down from the railings at the work being done below, "So the mass production going smoothly?"
"Yes at the rate were going we should have enough equipment for all of the soldiers coming in," Mose said, "And the new machines that the people next door are really helping out with the workload. With the new metal refining techniques that me and Peggi have learn from those books of yours we're getting plenty of steel in good quality for all of the orders we're getting."
Ranma look down seeing some of the more skilled workers creating weapons for the war effort. There were some Lizards making spearheads for their three bladed spears of theirs. Duck smiths making those long handle axes that they all use. Karayan blacksmiths are making those knife-like swords of theirs. Alma Kinan craftswomen are overseeing the production of the new crossbows. And the Zexen blacksmiths are making weapons and armor that all the knights wore and used.
Work crews are shoveling black lumps of coal into the furnaces as machines were pumping the bellows. The raw ores that are being wheeled in were being separated into two grades the high-grade ones for weapons and the low-grade ones for armor. Before they were dump into the giant melting vats as they were melted down into steel bars. Then the smiths repeatedly heated the bar, hammering it and stretched it out, trying to get as much of the slag out as possible. Then would fold the red-hot steel back in on itself getting rid of the impurities and produce a consistent piece of high-quality steel weapon.
Then there are some other workers creating some armor with the low to medium-grade ores. Armor didn't require the same quality of ore as did weapons. It had a low-to-medium carbon content, but it could still be heat-treated or tempered like a sword blade making it stronger. The new plate armor that Chris's knights were to wear were lighter but stronger then the ones they had before and to almost the point were a one-handed sword strike would be ineffective against it. However, an axe or mace or other sharp-pointed weapons could still smash or cut through it causing fatal damage. In the corner were some people putting shields together. The shields are being made of a number of different layers of wood, which were glued and nailed together in layers running in different directions. A metal plating cover the face of it then reinforce with metal strips that help held it together. The shields were curved to help the soldiers to more easily deflect the blows from the enemy and the bottom edge came to a point to reduces, the weight of the shield and also meant that it could be rested or secured on the ground while being gripped.
"There you are, I have been looking all over for you," Kohran said as she entered the factory.
"Oh you have something to show me?" Ranma said turning to her. Then stared stun at what she's wearing. She had on armor that he had seen before but only in the mangas and the anime from where she had gotten the design from. A white sleeveless female body armor with yellow outlines that also has on large dome shape shoulder guards. It was smooth and curved so that an attacking weapon would slide off. She also wore blue shorts over her torso and a blue short sleeve shirt. She had on white boots and white fingerless gloves over her hands. And added the fact that she's wearing that helmet of hers that could read power readings it really wasn't hard for Ranma, Maria and Ukyo on where she had gotten the idea for the armor from.
"So you like this armor it can become the standard suit that all the castle guards will wear since we do need a uniform to tell our guys apart from other forces," Kohran twirling around showing the front and back sides.
"I see you're really into DragonBall," Ukyo said looking over the armor she's wearing.
"Are you kidding she watch that show every time that it was on. And she has all of the volumes of the mangas too," Maria said remembering how Kohran hog the TV whenever the show was on.
"That looks like good light armor you made there," Mose said looking over the armor.
"Yup this is for people who fight using Ranma's style of fighting. It lets the body move around freely but still gives good protection to the wearer from most blows from most weapons," Kohran said, "I have already made three sets of armor already. So how about it Ranma it does suits your style of fighting that many people are learning here?"
"Well, I guess how strong is the armor anyhow?" Ranma asks.
"Well this one took a direct hit from one of the bolts from the new crossbows that we're making and it didn't go threw the armor," Kohran said showing them the dent in the armor where the crossbow bolt had struck. (2)
"Okay so how many of them can you make if you get started right now?" Ranma asks knowing that a well protective fighter would be one that had the better chance of living to see another day.
"Well I can have about a hundred sets of armor ship out of here for wear by the end of the week," Kohran answer.
"So who has the other two suits that you made?" Mose asks but then his question was answer as Red Bean and Green Tea hop into the building behind their cousin. Both of them were wearing the same kind of armor that Kohran is wearing but without the shoulder guards on them.
"Hi guys," Red Bean said.
"Aren't these armors Kohran made cool or what?" Green Tea asks.
"So what's with those extra shields?" Ranma asks seeing that both of them had their shields strap to their backs and each of the holding new ones.
"Oh like these are our new fighting shields," Red Bean said.
"Yeah check it out," Green Tea said giving him hers letting Ranma look over the strangely shape shield. That is colored the same color as Green Tea's name as Red Bean's is colored red.
The shield was solid steel that was thick but light at the same time and felt solid too. The shield is shape like a leaf reminding Ranma of the shields that the elves used in 'Lord of the Rings' when he saw it back in his home world when Viki had rented it from a video store after she had read the books. It's tapered to a point at each end which served two purposes it allowed the edge of the shield to extend for as long as possible so that the shield could be tilted left and right that still gives protection. The point could also be used as a stabbing edge as the shield's edges are razor sharp. The center has a boss and an unusual handgrip that extended from the top of the shield to the bottom. Meaning that, the shield could be wielded two-handed. So that it could be used both defensively and offensively.
"These shields will really help us in the next battle," Red Bean said as their old shields were large round ones meant more for defending then attacking.
"And also there are a lot of young women around here that want to learn our fighting art," Green Tea said.
"Yeah and without those old dried up mummy's around we don't have to follow their laws," Red Bean said.
"We're already training some of the Alma Kinan fighters our art and they're getting a hang of it really fast," Green Tea said.
"Hey Mose can you start production on these shields and armor that, I design right away?" Kohran asks giving him the blueprints of them.
"Well, I see what I can do," Mose said taking the blueprints. Then he hurried off as one of the workers spilled a wheel-barrel of coal over the factory floor.
"Thanks," Kohran said, "Oh yes by the Ranma there's someone that wants to talk to you back in Lake Castle. Mind said that she wants you to be there for it to work."
"What does she have in mind now?" Ranma asks as going to Minds lab wasn't something that he really wanted to do.
"Well she did say it has something to do with Shampoo," Green Tea said.
"Yeah maybe she came up with a way to make her human again," Red Bean said.
"Okay does anyone know where Viki is?" Ranma asks as Mind was still at Lake Castle basement.
"No, I haven't seen her today," Maria said.
"Well, I saw Little Viki near the new school that Ms. Hinako is opening up soon," Kohran said.
"She'll be able to teleport you to Lake Castle fast," Red Bean said.
"Thanks," Ranma said as he took off for the new school followed by Maria and Ukyo.
Kohran look on as Ranma walk off with Maria and Ukyo but she more in staring at his rump as he walk away. The word of buns of steel can up to her mind. She was so into staring at Ranma's 'backside' that she didn't even see her two cousins sneak up on her. And then suddenly both of them leap onto her back.
"So Kohran when are you going to tell him?" Red Bean asks hanging onto Kohrans back.
"Tell him what?" Kohran asks as she's struggling to stand up with the combine weight of her two cousins on her back.
"That you're in love with him," Green Tea said eyeing her as her face went red.
"What you guys talking about? I like Ranma as a friend!" Kohran shouted trying to keep from falling over.
"What that's not what your diary says," Red Bean said leering at her.
"Yeah that story you wrote on how you want Ranma to feast on your young tender body was so hot," Green Tea said giggling as Kohrans face turned a very deep red color. But then both of them gulp as they saw the dark aura that started coming off of her.
"You two read my diary?" Kohran shouted throwing both of them off of her. Then started running after them as they ran away screaming from their streaming mad cousin who had somehow gotten a hold of a huge wooden mallet from the workshop.
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At the new school that's opening soon –
The campus of the school took up a wide area of the walled city. The entire school was composing of five main buildings three of them are for teaching in while one is for a library, a magic hall and a dinning hall. The campus is surrounded by a stone wall with an iron gate at the only entrants into the school grounds. The only thing it was missing was a gym but in this kind of world where most young kids work on farms and travel around on foot there was no real need for a health class to keep people in shape. Overall the either school looks like a school from Ranma's home world. And the person in charge of the whole place is a rather mature woman that's really getting the attention of the males and some females in the castle.
Inside of the headmistress office the person who got the school started was currently looking over a stack of papers as there were so many things that need's to get done before the school could open. The teachers had to have a background check to make sure they only get the good teachers not the bad ones into the school and they would be also be well paid as back in her homeworld she knows all too well how low teachers pay are as she is one. The amount of students that go into classrooms and she didn't have to worry about school boards butting in and overcrowding the classrooms. And students that start to cause trouble like gang members could be booted out without their parents making a big deal out of it and get some support from some school board members through some means. Since the one in charge of the city is a personal friend of hers and that some hardheaded parents won't be able to blackmail him into getting their kids back into the school. Like how the old school she use to work in ended up the way it did as the parents always manage to get their trouble making kids back into the school by using the school board to do so.
Also inside the room two other people are helping her get the paperwork done for the school to open. The list of students that want to enter was already several lays thick. Hinako was already choosing which kids could enter her school and which couldn't as they need to make sure that the classrooms wouldn't be overcrowded as they are back in her homeworld. The two that are helping her are Jeane who had become good 'close' friends who had opened her up to some things that she had only thought about before. Well at least when she finally finds a man as good as Ranma it would be her first time with a man that is. Also she had taught in another Academy a few years ago in the Zero Nation. It's called the New Leaf Academy that's the main school that most people send their kids to when they saved enough money that is to send them there. And the other person in the room is a mirror image of the young woman that she had gotten to know well when she had accidentally teleported herself into her homeworld. Little Viki was really helping her in picking out which students would do well in the school and which ones would just make trouble if they would get into the school.
"How about this boy from the village that's near Lake Castle?" Hinako asks Little Viki showing her his papers. She wonders what her connection to the older Viki as both of them look so much alike, like sisters or mother and daughter. Jeane seems to know who she is and Piccolo seems to know too but both of them won't say anything about it. She does have an idea of what her connection to the two Vikis but she thinks she knows why Jeane and Piccolo won't say anything about it. (3)
"He'll be okay," Little Viki said helping filing the papers.
"Thanks," Hinako said as at least here she didn't need to worry about big dumb jocks here. That are only were in the school because the school needed to win a big upcoming game that the people in charge of the school wanted to win. And best of all there wouldn't be any air-headed cheerleaders who think they're better then other girls in the school, thinking that they're all that. Here she could create a school that didn't have all of the problems in the schools in the other world as there were always people that wanted the school to be a big sport base school that wins games instead of a place where kids can learn at. (4)
The front door open letting in Ranma followed closely behind by Maria and Ukyo. "Hi guys," Jeane greeted them as they entered.
"You know you really should have knock," Hinako remained them.
"Well we're in a hurry," Ranma said as he turned his attention to Little Viki, "We can't find Viki and, I need to get to Lake Castle fast as Mind thinks she can turn Shampoo back into her human form."
"Oh really?" Hinako asks.
"Yes she said she maybe able to do it. So Little Viki can you teleport us there?" Ranma asks Little Viki.
"Sure ok," Little Viki said smiling at him.
"By the way Viki is with Lexx his sister and Apple in Muse in the Zero Nation to get some help from there," Jeane inputted.
"So what about Joey why didn't he go with them?" Ukyo asks.
"Oh Joey is spending time with Jillia," Hinako said, "And in spending time, I mean in that they're doing what you're going to do with the girl that you Ranma will do to the girl you take to your wedding bed." Hinako smiled seeing Ranma, Maria and Ukyo blush a very deep red.
"Yup they're trying to get a kid," Jeane said, "They're using that new drug that makes the chances for getting pregnant more likely."
"Doesn't that give the two of you ideas?" Hinako leered at Ukyo and Maria who blush under the glaze of the older woman.
"Um Little Viki can you teleport us to Lake Castle?" Ranma asks wanting to get away from the two older women as they keep doing this to him and the girls.
"Find," Little Viki said as she waves her wand and the four of them were teleported to Lake Castle leaving the two older women alone in the room.
"Well that was fun," Jeane said.
"I wonder how long he's going to hold off on choosing one of them," Hinako said.
"Choosing indeed," Jeane said giggling at an inside joke.
"So you know something don't you?" she asks her friend.
"Well, I can't say it but, I will say that it's a juicy one," Jeane said.
"So what it take for me to learn it?" Hinako ask in a sexy toned voice.
"Well now let's get this done first then let's go back to my room and see if you can get me to talk or not," Jeane said as she very much likes what she has unlocked inside of Hinako.
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In the caves under Lake Castle –
Mind had set up her equipment that she needed to get her experiment to work. After seeing Ranma transforming into a weretiger Mind had been hard at work getting everything she needs for this. Where Piccolo's magic failed to do she would do with scientist as she would turn Shampoo back into a human. All she needs is Ranma to act like a relay point to turn her back.
Shampoo is sitting on the metal floor mat where the transformation would take place. The equipment that Mind is going to use on her is a giant laser cannon that she had sat up in front of her. When she turns on the laser the beam would first hit Ranma letting the beam absorb the magic that transform Ranma into a werecat and then hit Shampoo that would have the opposite effect turning her back into a human.
"Mew?" Shampoo meowed as she waited.
"I know just wait Ranma should be here soon," Mind said working on the control pad but then stop as she hears footsteps coming their way, "Good they're here."
"Hey Mind is that the thing that's going to turn Shampoo back to her human form?" Ranma asks as he Ukyo and Maria came closer Little Viki said that she'll be waiting up ground for them.
"Yup you stand in front of Shampoo and, I hit you with the beam and it go through you and hits her turning her back to how she was before she was lock into her cat form," Mind said.
"This won't hurt will it?" Ranma asks as he steps onto his place.
"Of course not silly," Mind waving him off as she aimed the laser at him, "I won't feel a thing!" Paying no mind to the fearful looks from the others in the room Mind hit the button firing the laser then grab her finger with her other hand with a painful look on her face, "Ouch, I press it too hard."
The room filled with light as the beam hit Ranma absorbing the magic that lets him transform into a were-creature. Then Shampoo was struck by the beam as it with threw Ranma she let out a load meow as it hit her. Her body started enlarging as the beam took effect. Her form started taking humanoid shape her fur started getting shorter as she grew. The small cat began to enlarge transforming into a human Shampoo but then something else happen. Her body started to be covered with purple fur she also became taller more muscular and her bust which was large to begin with became much fuller. She gained more rounded hips and a long tail spouted out from the small of her back. Before Mind, Ukyo and Maria's eyes Shampoo had transform into a were-cat like Ranma's tiger-form. She had transformed into a purple furred catgirl.
"Shampoo are you…" Rana began turning but stop seeing what happened to her. She has return to her height and body frame when he had last saw her but there was a big difference. Her entire body is now covered in short fine purple fur that matches the color of her long mane of hair reaching her fanny. Two furry cat ears peek out from the top of her head and a long cat's tail wiggled in the air coming from her above her butt. Her feline appearance gave her an exotic look that enhances her beauty. And he also notice that she also gained some more mature parts of her body that he could clearly see as she's not wearing anything on. She has gained a bustier and shapelier figure then she had before when she was human.
"Shampoo not cat anymore!" Shampoo shouted as she leaped at Ranma rubbing herself on him thanking him freeing her from her curse.
"Shampoo wait!" Ranma said as he could feel the texture of her breast and how full her body is now. And feeling her body he couldn't help but feel how soft and fine her fur is. And looking over to the others he could see that Mind was enjoying the show while Maria and Ukyo had dark auras around them as they watch a young busty catgirl rubbing herself all over him.
"Shampoo!" Ukyo growled pulling out her giant spatula out, her hands tightening on the handle almost leaving impressions on it.
"You better stop what you're doing right now!" Maria said pulling out her gun loading it with some rubber bullets.
"What?" Shampoo asks looking clueless. She wonders why they're so mad and her tail flicking left and right as she was thinking about it. Wait her 'TAIL'! She looks over herself and saw she's now a catgirl like in some animes and magans she has seen reaching on top of her head she felt furry cat ears as well, "What happen to me?"
"Looks like the laser went and turn you into a werecat thanks to the magic coming from Ranma. So much for my But at least you're not a cat anymore. Plus it also given you a more mature figure to boot and Ranma is getting a real feel of it!" Mind grinned at the two.
"Shampoo would you cover yourself," Ukyo growled as she could clearly see that Shampoo is now much sexy then she was before.
"Shampoo wanted to be human not be a werecat!" Shampoo said sitting upright frowning at Mind while covering her breast.
"What you want from me?" Mind said waving her off, "You are now much stronger and faster then you were before and also if my older sister was here she would put a collar on you and make you her personal pussy cat if you know what, I mean."
"What your sister swings that way?" Maria asks her as she had been hit on more then once by a woman who swings that way before.
"Yup and there's nothing wrong liking the same sex besides," Mind said smiling, "Wouldn't that help solves the problem of who Ranma is going to marry if you girls don't mind sharing him and get along with each other by being that close?"
The three older women all began to blush a very deep red as thoughts and images began flashing through their minds. While the only guy in the room Ranma tried not to stare at the naked catgirl sitting on top of him and making sure he doesn't lower his glaze down at her lower body.
"Shampoo would you mind getting off of me?" Ranma asks as Shampoo had forgotten she's on top of him.
"Sorry," Shampoo said getting up covering herself best a she could.
"Here," Maria said as she handed Shampoo her coat as it's long enough to cover all of her privet parts.
"Thanks," Shampoo said putting it on much to the relief of Ranma.
"Well if you want, I could see if, I can change you back to your normal human self but maybe you would want to check out your abilities you gain first," Mind said then she press a button that activated a weird looking machine that was made up of many arms with operation tools at the end of them, "I could start at work now and see what, I can do and check out how much you have charge on the DNA level of the transformation as well."
"Shampoo will try out new body first," Shampoo said heavily sweating at the strange machine that Mind wants to use on her, "Ranma is there some clothes Shampoo can use?"
"Sure there should be some clothes in my old room here," Ranma said as he hadn't moved all of his things out of his old place.
"By the way there's a tunnel that leads to Windia from here," Mind said.
"There is?" Maria asks.
"Yeah, I went and blasted a tunnel straight into the subbasement of the new castle," Mind said, "I was going to try to make a small train to travel between here and there but Mr. Green Turtle had other ideas. He dug a channel from that pond of his into the tunnel making it into a deep waterway instead. But, I did make a walkway on the sides for walking and there's a large motorboat that runs on a Water Rune for heavy transport that I place there for fast transport."
"Wait where's the waterway I don't remember seeing anything like that?" Maria asks as she had explored the castle from top to bottom.
"Oh there's a hidden door in the last storage room on the bottom basement," Mind said, "Good thing too or the water might go and flooded the lower levels of the basement if, I had made the tunnel any higher then that. At least there's a way for you guys to escape is Windia is ever overtaken. And don't worry about monsters around the waterway Mr. Green Turtle will take care of them."
"Alright thanks for the info," Ranma said to Mind, "I tell Kodachi what's her pet been up too while she's been gone after we get back after the trade meeting is done with."
"Welcome," Mind said waving them off. After seeing they're gone from her lab she went to a control console and turn on the view screen showing Top Hat on it.
"So sis how did it go?" Top ask her little sister.
"All went as you plan but making Shampoo into a catgirl didn't she already had enough of felines as a cat?" Mind asks.
"Well let's just say her being a catgirl will help Ranma gain control over his beast form," Top said then smiled, "Besides, I like catgirls they have rough tongues."
"I hope that, I won't become like you when, I grow up or, I'll never get any work done," Mind said.
"Now sis when you hit puberty you might start to see things my way," Top said.
"So when are you going to fight him?"
"Very soon, I'm just waiting for something to be delivered first, talk to you later," Top said before turning off the screen. Turning around she look at the bubbling blue potion that she's been working on, "Just as soon as Chaos comes back I be able to complete this and maybe if Ranma lives through it he'll be able to survived Dark when it's his turn to face him."
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Up on the surface –
Thomas was busy with getting things prepared for the trade meeting that's going to take place soon. Looking around the usual cast of the castle were mostly gone as most of the young women of the castle had gone to Windia to be with Ranma. Which is a very good thing for him as most of them are still mad at him for letting Ranma leave then get engages to six girls well Tina was already engaged to Ranma to being with but that didn't enter the minds of the girls. Also there was another person in the castle that was enjoying the absent of the girls. Juan is enjoying the fact that Emily and Tina aren't on his back anymore helping on training the new students that are pouring in. But now instead of the girls on his back he has Emily's giant of a mother Ronnie Bell on his back on carrying on the training of the students. And when a seven foot tall muscular fighter woman goes and tells you something you better listen to her.
Looking around the castle Thomas could see soldiers building up the castles defenses. The seven guard towers that had been partly repaired before are now almost battle ready as they had been quickly being repaired by some soldiers. All of the soldiers are being housed in camps and some freshly built small wooden forts to help protect the outer villages. Food wouldn't be much of a problem for awhile as supplies are coming into the castle. Near the ranch are six granaries, each filled to the brim with a harvest that came from the surrounding villages. The castle wouldn't be short on food to feed all of the troops coming into the castle.
There's a small stonework fort being built along the road leading to the castle. It will be the main defense for the village that had sprung up near the castle. It would also sever a supply depot for the other forts as silos have already been set up full of grain to be transported. Besides Ranma had told him that an army marches on their stomachs so they need to make sure that there's plenty of supplies to go around. As reports are coming in that Harmonian reinforcements are marching that according to the reports are numbering in the thousands.
Also another change to the castle is the small pier on the castles lakeside has been expanded into a fully functional harbor. With the help of the ducks they have been able to get the new harbor built in about two weeks expanding the existing pier. They needed to since there were more merchants ships are coming into port as the trading business is booming. And also they're coming in for the new inventions that Belle and her mother are coming out with. Like the ice box where instead of salting or pickling food it would be frozen. Thomas had heard about freezing foods to last them longer but only in places where snow falls and winter is all year around. The only thing needed to power it is someone with a Water Rune to cast an ice spell on it now and then.
Looking down at the docks Thomas could see dockworkers taking down the cargo down from the merchant ship from the Island Nation. Thomas didn't really get why the Cat's Trading Company and Lilly want to have a trade meeting. He guessed that it's because both of them wants to sign a deal to have the trading rights to some of the new items that are coming out of here. That way once they buy the trade item from here that only they could get they be able to set their own prices. Since the only place to get the trade goods outside of here would be from the ones that sign the trade deal. And the one to sign the deal for the Cat's Trading Company is a Nekobold a rare sight outside of the Island Nation and the surrounding lands. Like Kobolds they look more animal like then human but unlike the doglike Kobolds, Nekobolds are cat like with cat heads paws and a tail. He heard that Kobolds and Nekobolds don't get along with each other and Kobolds are mostly found in the Northern parts while Nekobolds are mostly found in the Southern parts.
"Hi Thomas!" a familiar voice called out to him breaking his line of thought. Turning around Thomas saw Ranma walking up to him with him are Ukyo, Maria and a purple furred Nekobold that looks more human then the ones he had met. As her face is more humanlike then the Nekobold he had seen by the docks. She's dress in a red shirt and shorts that hug her shapely figure very well.
"Ranma you made it," Thomas greeted his friend then look over to the catgirl, "Who's she?"
"Oh she's Shampoo before you asks Mind tried to turn her back to normal but thanks to the magic that let's me turn into a werecat this happen," Ranma explained.
"Shampoo starting to like new body," Shampoo said as she stretches out getting the clinks out of her body doing some interesting things to her body as she did.
"Well there's the person in charge for the signing of the trading deal with Cat's Trade," Thomas said pointing to the docks keeping his eyes away from Shampoo as she 'bounce' with each step.
Looking where Thomas is pointing to Ranma could see a white and grey furred Nekobold ordering where the dockworkers put the cargo boxes at. He's dress in a yellow shirt a brown vest with a bowtie on it a pair of blue pants with a hole at the back to let his long tail out.
"His name is Chip he's the grandson of the founder of the Cat Trading Company," Thomas informed them, "He's here to seal the trading deal."
"So where's, Lilly at the meeting is going to start soon?" Ranma asks as she and her troops have set up base here.
"Oh last, I saw her she was with Hugo at the training center," Thomas said.
"Thanks," Ranma said as he and the girls went off to meet up with Lilly.
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At the Training Center –
Hugo duck under the swing of Lilly's wooden sword slashing at her with his wooden knife. She jumped back away from his striking range waiting for an opening in his defense. Keeping low to the ground Hugo rush at her going for a raising swing but Lilly saw it coming and block it with her sword. Hugo began swing wildly trying to get through her defense as she calmly blocks each of his swings at her.
Growling Hugo leap at her aiming for her head. Lilly seeing this swung at his incoming blow deflecting it sending Hugo over her landing to her backside. Hugo seeing his chance rush at her while her back was turned to him. But Lilly quickly turned around and block his strike locking their weapons together.
"You're going to have to do better then that to get through my defense," Lilly said as she broke away from their weapon lock.
"I'm just getting started," Hugo said as he readies himself to attack her again.
"Hugo is attacking with too much power and not enough with defense," Reed said watching the practice match.
"And Lilly is doing nothing but defense moves that take advantaged of Hugo's fighting style," Samus inputted.
"Oh so that's it!" Hugo said hearing what they just said, "You're trying to get me to wear myself out well defense moves only work when you're opponent attacks so that means all I have to wait for you to attack me."
"Great you two just had to tell him what, I was doing!" Lilly yelled at her two servants.
"Hey Lilly it's almost time for the trade meeting to start!" Ranma shouted out to her as his group made their way to him.
"Ranma you're already here?" Lilly said as she turned her attention away from Hugo to Ranma.
"Yup, I got here earlier but was in Mind's lab. She change Shampoo into a catgirl," Ranma said pointing to the transformed Shampoo.
Lilly could feel her jaw drop as she could see that Shampoo who she was told to have been cursed into the shape of a cat is now a busty catgirl. Who has a body that most women would kill to have. She look towards Hugo and started growling at what she's seeing. Hugo is staring stupidly at Shampoo whose outfit hugs every curved and shows off her assets quite well.
"Stop that!" Lilly yelled as she beans him with her wooden sword on his head.
"What's that for?" Hugo shouted rubbing the top of his head. Hugo didn't understand why Lilly would hit him when he starts looking at another girl. This leads to them yelling at each others as they shouted at each other.
"This reminds me so much like how we were back then," Ukyo said.
"Yeah but maybe Lilly will grow out of this stage sooner then you girls," Ranma said making Shampoo and Ukyo blush, "Besides Piccolo did said that Lucia did acted like how Lilly is acting when she's was that age."
"Reed would you tell Lilly that, I'll be waiting in the meeting room at the trading shop," Ranma said.
"I tell her when this is over with," Reed said he look over that the two fighting teens, "This is going to take a while."
"You guys better just go and wait in the meeting room," Samus said to them. Ranma nodded as his group walk away from them.
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In the small meeting room in Scotts trading store –
Ranma was sitting down at one end of the single long table in the room. Thomas is sitting next to him. Next to him is Lilly who had finally ended her fight with Hugo is sitting across from him. The Nekobold sat across from her. And Scott and Sumire are sitting next to him. Sumire had Little Viki teleport her to the meeting while the others are waiting outside for them.
"Alright let me get this straight you Chip want to be the only trading company that gets to trade our items that have been coming out of here. And Lilly you want the same kind of deal to be the only ones that receives our items also," Ranma said looking over the two trading contacts.
"Yes the trading deal would be a big help to Tinto as it's still a new country and needs a bit of help to get it started as a real working country. We do generate tremendous income through mining, metal working in weapons and armor. But we need to expand to trade as it's the life blood of most other countries. And since we're close to the Grassland any ways we'll be able to create a trade route through the Grassland and supply," Lilly said.
"Hey don't you guys also produce those extremely rare gemstones called 'Water Gems', which are necessary for various magical applications, such as the fabrication of rune crystals?" Scott asks.
"Yes we do," Lilly answered.
"Well the Cat's Trading Company wants to ship out your trade goods throughout the Island Nations and the surrounding Islands," Chip spoke up, "We already have a trading routes going to every port. And it will help spread you're goods around and they'll be well known with other countries."
"Well both of you two just want to be the only ones outside of the Grasslands to be able to trade our goods," Sumire said.
"That maybe but signing a trade contract with us will help you in making Lake Castle and Windia be well known in the trading world," Lilly said, "As we're already well known for our trade goods."
"So are we as most of the trade goods from the Islands come from us," Chip said not wanting to be left out.
"How about we give both of you trade contracts in shipping out our goods around," Thomas said.
"Hey now that's a good idea Thomas," Scott said thinking that would solved the problem of picking just one of them.
"I go and write up some new contracts for them," Sumire said as she already had written up some contracts for some people.
"What you guys want to give both of us contracts?" Lilly yelled out.
"Well, I see no problem with that as long as we get the same stuff as they do it be fine," Chip said.
"Oh right find write up the contracts and I have a look over it before signing it," Lilly said giving in.
"Good, I make sure both of you will get a fair trading deal with us. I call up guys in again when, I have everything written up in a day or two at most," Sumire said.
"Alright, I'll be heading back to the castle, I need to break the news to the girls about Shampoo," Ranma said.
"What that she's now a werecat that has a hot body thanks to Mind. And is following you around since she wants to make up for all of the things that she has done to you in the pass," Scott said to him, "And did I mention that she has a body that equal to Jeane and Ms. Hinako and that's now no telling how much she'll grow as she gets older."
"Would you mind not to remind me of that!" Sumire said as the cup she was holding broke under the pressure that she was putting on it in her hand. She didn't like the fact that she's need some more growing to do before she'll get to the level that some of the girls that are after 'her' Ranma.
"Well, I have to oversee the shipments coming off of my ship," Chip said as he left the room.
"I'll be seeing you Ranma," Thomas said as he needed to get back to work signing and looking over the paper work.
"See you later," Ranma said as he left along with his group. Wondering what's going to happen once he'll shows what happened to Shampoo and what the girls are going to do once they find out. And why does this kind of stuff keeps on happening to him.
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On the boarders of the Grassland and the Nameless Land –
"So this is what he's been up too," Masked Bishop said looking down at the work being done down below. After a week had pass by he received a massage from Zomba calling him to bring the others with him to see his latest project. With him are Yuber, Sarah, Sasarai, Dios and Albert. All of them are standing on the walkways hanging from the ceiling.
"Where did Zomba get all of these equipments?" Dio asks looking amaze at the machines that are spread out over the lab.
"Well he is over four-hundred years old there's no telling what he had pick up from here and there over the years," Sasarai said.
"Much has change since we been here last," Sarah said.
"Those monsters he's creating, I sense much bloodlust in them," Yuber said watching what's going on down below. They're currently overlooking the training and breeding area of the underground base.
On the cave floor the Urukkins breeding pits the workers were helping the newly hatch Urukkins break free from their cocoons they had formed in. The males and females once they got their bearings were sent to the showers to wash the slime off of their bodies by the workers. They were then quickly dress in black tunics and pants before being herded off to the barracks to start their training. Each of the Urukkins have more intelligent then their previous counterparts in the other world as they had the ability to learn more advance fighting techniques. They're made to be a warrior race that this world had never seen before.
The workers are wheeling out carts of weapons and armor for them to train with as they needed to learn quickly how to use them. The Urukkins quickly gasped how to use the one-handed falchion, resembling a meat cleaver. They're already being trained in how to swing a sword in a proper way by sword trainers that Zomba had hire to train them. All of them have raw fighting talent that showed as they quickly picking up the lessons they're being taught. They also learned how to fight as units as well learning to fight using their shields to fight as well. They're being train in how to form 'tortoise' forming a protective form to against direct attacks. The swords themselves weigh ten pounds making that only a few others would have the Urukkin's brute strength to be able to swing it around with any kind of skill or without getting tried swinging it around.
In the underground archery ranges the new Urukkins are getting the hang of using the crossbows given to them. Although the rate of fire wasn't as good as with a bow it did have a set poundage and draw, which meant that it required less training in order to accuracy. As the crossbowmen would know where the second crossbow bolt would fly precisely the same distance and to the same location as the first one fired. The crossbows also have a long attack range able to hit a target at three-hundred yards. The bolts are made of very thick, hard wood and tipped and flighted with iron heads. Each of the bolts could punch right through an enemy's shield and armor going straight into their flesh making them almost unstoppable and will prove to be an intimidating and highly effective weapon.
Then there were the pikesmen carrying those eighteen-foot-long pikes, which are conceived primarily for defending the Urukkin ranks against horse riders. They're being train to make a tightly formation of clustered row of pikes to keep horse riders at a distance allowing the crossbowmen who would be standing behind to pick them off. Some of the more advance spear fighters and the ones that show natural talent were given crude looking naginata like lances. As a secondary weapon they all carried a short sword, which have a beveled, chiseled tip and a narrow blade. It was something that could be easily carried without being an encumbrance. Their armor are also different from the other set of armors as either their left or right leading arm are fitted with a ball-end shield, or manifer, studded with spikes to protect the exposed limb. If the Urukkin lost their pike or lance he or she could use the manifer to bludgeon the enemy, while hacking with the short sword in their other hand.
"I see that he's preparing for an all out attack," Dio said looking over at the area where the siege equipments that the workers are building. Some of the Urukkins are being trained to use the siege equipment.
"Oh, I'm so glad that you're all impress in all of what, I'm doing here," Zomba said appearing in front of them.
"Zomba it's been a long time," Sasarai greeted him.
"Oh yes now, I remember the young mage that, I help High Priest Hikusaak to give life too," Zomba said, "One of my best works."
"What are you talking about?" Sasarai asks wondering what he knows about his past.
"Hikusaak never told you?" Zomba asks.
"Wait you have seen High Priest Hikusaak?" Dio said as no one have seen Hikusaak for years. So long in fact there's talk about if Hikusaak is a man or a woman as no one have seen him or her in public for so long.
"Yes, I have besides, I did took part in the 'Hero War' and help out after the defeated the Kingdom of Aronia as it's only been four-hundred and a half years since the formation of Harmonian. A short time for me as, I'm immortal now thanks to the experiment that, I did for Hikusaak back then. I really should thank Hikusaak for making me do that project without it I wouldn't have the power that, I now have. Since there are limits that a mortal body can take using magic before giving out. But since, I'm now dead that limitation no longer means anything to me," Zomba ranted.
"So you knew what Hikusaak is like," the Mask Bishop said.
"Yes, I join the war so that, I could use my new at the time magical weapons and powerful new types of weapons. Even creating the gun powder that the 'Howling Voice Guild' using for their guns. I knew that powder that, I came up while, I was studying with Crowley," Zomba said.
"You're the one that gave them the powder?" Dio asks as he always wondered who had created it.
"So you trained under Crowley?" Sarah asks.
"Please Crowley teaching me magic? I was a student with him under our teacher Rem when we first met. While he followed in Rem's footsteps, I on the other hand turned to technology combining it with magic doing things that were impossible before. And over the years, I have improve my works since breaking away from Harmonian," Zomba said.
"So is Blight is still alive then?" Yuber ask.
"Yes even though Dark Hat took him apart there's still enough of him left to bring back. Once he's been put back together he'll be leading this army against Ranma and his forces. Besides he's one of the few people that can command these troops as you need to be fearless to get them to do what you want," Zomba said.
"So when will they're be ready to fight?" the Mask Bishop asks.
"Well there's already a small unit of 50 Urukkins 25 males and 25 females that are ready to be field tested," Zomba told them.
"Who's going to lead them?" Sasarai asks as this maybe the chance to get some informants inside this base.
"We'll be handling them," a deep voice grunted. Turning towards the voice they saw two tall figures walking up to them a male and female Urukkin.
"I give you Ruk and Zest the two commanders of the test run unit," Zomba informed them, "They're been made to be stronger and smarter then the rest of their kind. My other creations are currently training their own units but they're not ready yet."
Both of them have ashy gray skin and long black hair with Zest longer hair tied in a braid. Both of them were heavily built in muscle their skin look like their barely holding them in and height of over six feet for both of them. Ruk the male has two small tusks jutting out of his lower jaw and is more heavily built in muscle then Zest. She on the other hand is more slender built then Ruk is. Having a muscular female look but she wouldn't be mistaken for a guy with her kind of female built. Both of them are wearing leather tunics over it is a short-sleeved mail hauberk then the plated armor is wore over that giving them more protection. Both of their gauntlets have two spikes fitted over the knuckle area.
They could see that both of them have different fighting styles with the weapons they carry. Ruk carried with him a long black metal handle spear with the blade looking more like a short sword blade. The sound as the butt of the spear hitting the metal walkway as he used it as a walking stick made a heavy thudding sound. Taking a guess the spear must weigh around seventy pounds or so which meant that he has incredible strength to be able to swing something like that around with any kind of grace and skill. The spear itself is about ten foot tall judging how high it the spear stood up as Ruk is holding it in front of him.
Zest on the other hand has a large recurve composite bow made out of a material that none of them have seen before on her back. The bow itself is made out of fiberglass as the bows made out of it last a lot longer and can take more presser then ones made out of wood and metal also it's much lighter as well. The arrows are large and heavy around 28 inches in length with a 6-inch steel broad-headed tip so it would be able to punch through enemy armor. The bow has two metal blades fitted on the outside of the staff so it could be use as a melee weapon once it runs out of arrows. A large quiver full of arrows hung on her side as well as a pair of short swords strap on both of her thighs.
"So these are the ones you made us to help?" Ruk grunted looking over them.
"I can see why they need all the help they need," Zest said.
"You said giving them a test run right?" Albert said who had kept quite all of that time just listening to the others.
"You got a plan?" Dio asks.
"Yes, I got a plan forming but, I need to see what these troops got first to get an idea of what, I got to work with," Albert said.
"So then what do you want us to destroy then?" Ruk asks as both he and Zest are eager to show off their skills.
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Elsewhere in the base –
"So this will get rid of our problem," Anarchy asks looking over the green orb he was given.
"Yes he's causing me great burden," said a woman dress in a gray cloak her face hidden under a hood.
"So who are you?" Anarchy asks looking over at the hallway where the bodies of the enforcers lay shattered around. He had watch as she took care of them taking on the new ones that had been release from their tanks. The only one still standing is the dragon human hybrid girl who had rush to his side when she saw she's the only one left.
"Master you shouldn't trust her!" the dragon girl growled staying near him incase she tried anything.
"Yes but since she took all of the trouble getting here, I should hear her out and see what she wants first Starfire," Anarchy said looking at the female hybrid. Outwardly, she has a humanoid form with pale white skin and long, flowing purple hair that went down to her slim waist. She was dress in a simple white tunic under a golden breast plate with tight red shorts that hug her rear. She has lively green eyes and a lithe form that made her resemble a nymph. However, that was where the similarities to humans had stopped. As her ears are large and pointed like that of an elf's, and on her back are two, large dark blue dragon wings.
"Well they wouldn't let me pass to see you so, I went through them instead. If you use the item, I have given you Ranma won't be a problem anymore," the woman said.
"Thanks for the gift, I use it when the time is right but you still haven't answer my question yet," Anarchy said keeping a calm voice.
"Just call me Tyr," the woman smiled as her face remained hidden underneath the hood of her cloak only showing her grin.
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Back at Windia –
"How in the world?" Kodachi gasps staring at the sight before her.
"She, she," both Red Bean and Green Tea muttered looking the person standing before them.
"Wow you can sure pick them bro," Natsume said.
"You can say that again," Kurumi said as she wonders how could a guy get this many girls after him. Sure her bro is good looking but still where are all of these girls keep on coming from?
"Wow talk about growing into a woman," Hinako said.
"And who knows how much she'll grow when she fully blossom into full womanhood," Jeane said.
"I'll be going now," Little Viki who had teleported everyone back to the castle said as she didn't want to be around when things start to heat up.
"Not another one!" Belle moaned seeing another overstuff girl after 'her' Ranma. Her mother Meg patted her on her back trying to cheer her up.
"Ranma what happen to Shampoo," Ranko asks looking at the new catgirl Shampoo who now has a more mature body like a younger Hinako or Jeane.
"Well Mind used a ray thing on Shampoo using the magic of my weretiger form to change her into this," Ranma said as Shampoo stood next to him as she didn't want to start acting like how she use to be.
"Well at least she doesn't have huge grotesque muscles on her," Ace said who had wondered onto the scene.
"Oh what's wrong with women with big muscles?" Emily said as she's been building up her muscles to be able to beat Kanna when they have their rematch.
"Yeah what's wrong with big girls?" Kanna asks looming over Ace as she's taller then him her knuckles cracking.
"You don't like strong girls?" Ronnie Bell asks as she grabs Ace taking off to enlighten him along with her daughter and Kanna to help her.
"Guys help!" Ace shouted to his teammates as he was carried away.
"Oh no you got yourself into this mess you going to have to take it," Joker said.
"Girls give him one for me!" Queen smiled enjoying Aces screams of help.
"Yeah show him some muscle!" Aila shouted over to them.
"Well he has done it again," Jacques muttered.
"Help Geddoe!" Ace shouted.
"Sorry can't help you," Geddoe said as he learned long ago that one shouldn't try to step in when women are that mad.
"So my sister turned Shampoo into that?" Tina asks looking at Shampoo remembering how she looked before especially at her now bigger chest, 'She's almost as big as I am now.'
"Yes she did and should we be that surprise?" Ranma asks.
"No not really," Tina said knowing full well what her sister could do.
"So what's your relationship with Ranma now?" Chris asks looking over Shampoo's body and comparing to hers not liking one bit what she sees.
"Shampoo is his to do with whatever he pleases as, I have done with him in the past," Shampoo said.
"Do whatever he wants?" all of the girls presents that are after Ranma shouted out.
"Why did you have to say it that way?" Ranma said cover his face with his right hand knowing that the other girls are now streaming mad and he could already feel the heat coming off of their batter auras. Well the old saying of the more things changes the more things stays the same.
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Next Time – The Urukkin test unit are going out for their first field test. And Anarchy shows himself to Sasarai to give him a gift. Ranma has to deal with Shampoo who's becoming more of a friendly maybe too friendly pet. The other girls aren't happy about it as they are beginning to try harder to get Ranma. And whose that carrying a rifle around and why is he gunning for Maria?
Author's Notes
1 – We all get what kind of book that Top Hat gave him right?
2 – When a suit of armor was done the maker would firer a crossbow or later a bullet into the armor to show it would protect its wearer.
3 – Alright right everyone knows what I'm hinting about right?
4 – Come on how many of you people figured that the only reason why the schools let those sport jerks stay in school is because of that.
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