Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video and Winx Club belongs to Iginio Straffi and Rai S.p.A (NOT 4Kids!!)
Note: this follows the Rai version of Winx as the 4Kids version butchered it too much, like with every anime it dubs.
Chapter 7: Half a Faerie, Half a Specialist
Wizgiz's class…
Ranma-chan sits in her metamorphosis class listening to Wizgiz's lecture on other methods of metamorphosis. Aside from the fight with the Trix, the party last night was great. Plus, she had never seen so much food in her life. She had to restrain herself, of course. This wasn't like the 'party battleground' held at the Chardins' where she had to eat the food quickly before any of those endless-void-mouthed freaks get to them first. She had also managed to meet up with the faculties of Red Fountain and Cloud Tower who had also attended.
Flashback
"Oh Ranma, I'm glad you could make it!" said Faragonda. "Would you come over for a moment?" She was currently with the Red Fountain and Cloud Tower faculties.
"Sure thing, Faragonda-sensei." Said Ranma as he broke away from the girls. He noticed the company she had. One was a short old man with past-waist-length gray hair, wore a white dress shirt and pants set, and a gold vest. He carried a gold staff with the head in the shape of a dragon holding a ruby orb. Next to him was a tall muscular mustached man in a blue sleeveless vest, white pants with blue knee-guards and boots, and silver bracers. He looked like he could wrestle a troll (and can).
Ranma looked over to the three dark pale-skinned ladies next to Faragonda. One wore a dark dress with white sleeves and forearm length gloves. The white collar of her dress was tall and pointed like that of a vampire's cape. She had dark purple hair that seemed bobbed and had a portion braided and sticking out on the top of her head like a horn. On either side of her were her co-professors. One was in a dark reddish-purple outfit and had black shoulder-length hair with streaks of gray. The other wore a dark cyan outfit and had short dark green hair in a pageboy style.
"Everyone, this is Ranma Saotome." Said Faragonda.
"Is he the one, Faragonda?" asked Griffon.
Ranma looked towards her, but his attention fell on the short old man. Helia's memories come to the fore.
"Grandpa?"
The head of Red Fountain was surprised to hear Ranma refer him as Grandpa.
"Helia?" asked Saladin in a shaky voice. He remembered Faragonda's plan of reincarnating his lost grandson and his classmates.
"It's not just him, Saladin." Said Faragonda. "He's also Sky, Brandon, Riven, Timmy, and Nabu."
The faculties of Red Fountain and Cloud Tower were shocked.
"You mean this boy is the reincarnation of those five specialists and the magician?" asked Griffin.
"That is correct, my dear Griffin." Replied Faragonda "And it was obviously a success."
Saladin looks over at Ranma. "Tell me, before coming to Red Fountain, where did you attend?"
"I was originally in an art school, but you wished for me to attend Red Fountain as a specialist. I attended because there was someone I wanted to protect." Replied Ranma. He looks over at Flora before addressing Saladin again. "I also remember you sending me, as Sky and Brandon, to accompany Bloom, Stella, and Layla to Shadowhaunt on a rescue mission. Before that, Red Fountain got destroyed by the Army of Darkness lead by the Trix, then rebuilt again as a tower."
Saladin was again shocked, he nearly dropped his staff. "It really is you, not just you, but my other students as well…" He walks up to Ranma and embraces him, happy that his grandson and students were alive, albeit a combined individual. Ranma couldn't help but return in kind to Saladin, who, at the same time, was and was not his grandfather.
"You've outdone yourself, Faragonda." Commented Griffin. Her associates, Ediltrude and Zarathustra, couldn't help but agree.
Saladin goes over to the Alfea director, then takes and kisses her hand. "I cannot thank you enough for this, Faragonda."
"You don't have to thank me, my dear Saladin." Said Faragonda. "I'm just happy to have helped in bringing them back."
"I can adjust to them being the same person." Said Saladin. "It's good to see you again, my grandson…. No I'm sorry…. Ranma. You are your own person, after all."
"Thanks, Headmaster." Said Ranma, then turns to see the girls waving to him. "Excuse me, I'm being called over."
The faculties watched as Ranma heads back towards the Winx girls.
"I see that they're okay with their boyfriends being the same person?" asked Saladin.
"Pretty much, Saladin." Replied Faragonda.
"I'd like to have him come by Red Fountain some time." Said Saladin.
"I'm sure we can work something out, Saladin." Said Faragonda.
Back to Ranma, the pigtailed boy approaches Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Layla.
"So what's up?" he asked.
"Um… would you…. like to dance?" asked Bloom nervously.
"Hey wait! I want to dance with him!" said Stella.
"No way! Me!" said Musa.
"I'd like to dance, too, if you don't mind, Ranma." Said Flora.
Ranma could only sweatdrop at the spectacle. "Now now now, since Bloom asked first, I'll dance with her. You'll all get your chance." That last bit sounded like Brandon talking.
Bloom became happy while the others were disappointed. She accompanies Ranma to the dance floor when slow music began to play. They watched as Ranma and Bloom did the waltz around the room. The Pixies were floating around, enjoying the music and festivities. Piff, however was busy downing a cup of cocoa, and Zing, cosplaying as a music conductor, was waving a baton.
"Don't worry, Ranma said he'd give us all a chance." Said Tecna. "We'll just have to decide on order."
"I agree. It's only fair." Said Layla.
"So what do you suggest?" asked Flora.
"Let's settle this with Rock-Paper-Scissors!" said Musa.
"Good idea!" said Stella. "Let's do this!"
The five girls huddled up and started to play for dance order. (1)
"You've ever danced before, Ranma?" asked Bloom.
"No I haven't." said Ranma. "All I was ever interested in was martial arts. Odd, how am I dancing so well?"
"It's probably your sense of balance." Said Bloom. She and Ranma were able to avoid bumping into the other dancing couples. "Or maybe your souls are giving you the information since they've ballroom danced before."
"That's probably it…" said Ranma. He was able to do that awful figure skating match, but barely. Aside from that, Ranma couldn't really imagine himself dancing with any of his previous fiancees.
Afterwards, Ranma was able to dance with the other girls. He danced with Tecna next, then Layla, Musa, Flora, and finally Stella (she was not very good at rock-paper-scissors). Still, the wait was worth it. It seemed to have been a magical night for all of them, in more ways than one.
End flashback
"Not only are you able to change appearance but you can also magically change your clothes." Wizgiz continued with his lecture. "Of course, you'd have to physically own your own clothes that you're trying to spell yourself into."
Ranma-chan looks up at this. 'Hmmmm… that could save me a lot of embarrassment.' She shuddered as she remembered the kinds of humiliation she had in the past due to her curse. One instance was when she was fighting Kodachi in Akane's place and had to wear a pink leotard. She didn't want to think about what would've happened if she were caught in male form dressed like that, which almost did. Another was when she tried to sneak into the girls' gym locker in search of that so-called Japanese Spring of Drowned Man, but was thwarted when she got dumped with hot water while wearing girls' gym shorts.
With renewed interest, Ranma-chan focuses on the lecture.
Entrance of Alfea
Once classes were over for the day, Ranma, reverted male, heads towards the shuttle bus. Behind him were the Winx girls.
"Saladin wanted to see you?" asked Flora.
"Yeah, he said he had something for me." Replied Ranma. "Plus, I was wanting to see what this school is like."
"I seriously doubt any of the other guys would be any match for you." said Stella, which only served to boost Ranma's ego.
"Heh, yeah, I doubt it, too." Said Ranma with his signature confidence.
"Here comes the shuttle." Said Layla as she pointed at the levi-bus.
Red Fountain
Ranma couldn't help but be impressed at the setup of the school for Specialists. It was an overseeing tower with a huge platform on top and waterfalls pouring out. Again, the pigtailed boy had started having a sense of familiarity there. The place where his souls had once called home.
Heading up, Ranma managed to find the office of Headmaster Saladin without any trouble or guidance. Inside were Saladin and Codatorta, head of discipline.
"Oh, Ranma! I'm glad you could make it!" said Saladin. "You found the place okay?"
"Yes I did, Headmaster." Replied Ranma. "I somehow knew exactly where your office was."
Saladin nodded. "I thought as much, since you hold the memories of my grandson and students."
"So what did you want to see me about?" asked Ranma.
"This." Saladin motions for Codatorta to bring him a small chest. Ranma and the girls approach his desk to see what was inside the chest. It appeared to contain what looked like sword hilts. Ranma recognized them as the weapons of Specialists.
Picking up a sword hilt, the weapon then activates itself and extends a blue meter long blade of light. Although traditionally a bare-fisted fighter, it somehow felt natural for him to hold that sword. Bloom recognized that sword to be the one that Sky always favored using.
"These weapons used to belong to Sky, Brandon, Helia, Riven, and Timmy." Saladin explained. "Since they now live as a part of you, it's only right that you have them."
Putting the sword back in the chest after deactivating the blade, he closes and takes it. "Thanks, Headmaster Saladin."
"Oh please, just call me Gramps!" Saladin said humorously.
"Sure thing, Gramps!" said Ranma.
The muscle-bound Codatorta approaches Ranma. "So Ranma, I hear that you're quite the fighter."
"You heard right!" said Ranma with pride. "I'm the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts!"
"Never heard of that style, but sounds strong." Codatorta commented. "Would you care to challenge me?"
Saladin and the girls were a bit surprised at his question. However, Ranma, being the proper martial artist, couldn't back down.
The practice field…
Ranma and Codatorta stood facing each other in the middle of the training grounds. The student Specialists watched with interest at the upcoming fight. They didn't think that the scrawny-looking pigtailed youth had a chance against their larger muscular professor. They'll soon learn to not judge a book by its cover.
Standing in the sidelines were Saladin and the Winx girls.
"I hope Codatorta doesn't hurt him too much." Said Saladin with worry.
"Actually, I hope that Ranma doesn't hurt Codatorta too much." Said Layla.
This caused Saladin to make a double take. "What? Are you saying that Ranma is really that strong?"
"That, and a lot more." Said Musa.
"I calculate that this will take less than a minute." Said Tecna, adding in her input.
"Are you ready, Ranma?" asked Codatorta.
"As I'll ever be!" said Ranma as he slid into an Anything Goes stance.
Saladin holds up his staff. "Begin!"
Codatorta sprung forward with a punch to the face. Ranma predicted the move and simply parries it with his hand. The professor lashes out with his other fist, which Ranma dodges. Codatorta continues to throw blow after blow at Ranma, but he continues to evade him.
"Hmmm… your pretty quick, boy…" Codatorta admitted. "However, can you dodge this?"
Ranma accidentally falls for a feint and winds up getting grabbed by his collar. "Erk!" The muscled man swings him over his head and slams him into the pavement. There was a loud crashing noise as a huge cloud of dust kicked up.
"Ranma!" Saladin called out. However, the girls didn't seem to worried, much to his confusion.
The Red Fountain students cheered, seeing their professor supposedly victorious. The new guy didn't stand a chance. Codatorta was able to wrestle an ogre after all. Once the dust settle, they were shocked.
There was Ranma, still held firmly by Codatorta. He was meant to have been slammed on his back, but he stopped himself in time using his legs. There was a crater around his feet at the point of impact.
"What the…?"
Ranma smirks. "Almost had me there." He quickly flips and kicks Codatorta in the face, causing him to let go. 'Too close! He's obviously packing a lot of power there. More of a grappler. Would've been bad to get get slammed by him. I'd better take him out now before he grabs hold of me again!' He decided to finish the match in kind.
Codatorta recovers and charges at Ranma again to try for another grab and slam. This time, however, Ranma reacts. Ducking under his grab, he kicks upward at Codatorta's chin, sending him flying up fifteen feet. With almost inhuman speed, Ranma jumps up after the flying body of Codatorta, grabs him around the arms from behind, then turns themselves upside-down and spins like a drill.
"IZUNA OTOSHI!" (2)
There was a loud crash as Ranma slammed Codatorta headfirst into the pavement as dust kicked up. As it cleared, there stood Ranma, over his beaten opponent. Codatorta could be heard groaning.
"Ugh…. Alright… I give…." He said while sitting up.
"The winner is Ranma!" said Saladin.
Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Layla cheered as Ranma won with such a fascinating move. Soon, the students of Red Fountain started to cheer. There was never anyone who was able to do that to their professor.
"You're as strong as they say, Ranma." Said Codatorta as he was helped back up by Ranma.
"Thanks, you weren't bad yourself." Said Ranma.
"Oh Ranma! You won!" said Flora and she jumped on Ranma, nearly causing him to fall over. However, when the other five joined in, they all winded up falling over. Saladin and Codatorta look at them in amusement.
"Are you all right, Codatorta?" asked Saladin. "You took a pretty nasty drop there."
"Heh, I'm all right, sir." Replied Codatorta. "Just feeling a little dizzy, is all."
"From the spin or the slam?"
"Both, I guess. I'll have to try and learn that myself…"
Outside of Alfea
After returning, the girls went back to the dorm while Ranma goes outside the school walls with the chest he had gotten from Saladin. Taking out Sky's sword, he activated the blade and swung it a few times to get a feel for it. He spies a boulder off to the side. Looking at it, Ranma focuses his ki into the blade and charges. He takes rapid-fire slashes at the rock and lands in a crouch behind it. The boulder sat there, as if untouched. Suddenly, the boulder falls apart into neatly sliced pieces.
"I've never even used a sword in my life, yet I'm so proficient…" said Ranma as he looked at his handiwork.
Putting the sword away, he looked at the gauntlets. Fitting them on his hands, he noticed some openings on the back of the hand guards. Activating the gauntlets, four gold light cables shot out from each hand. They entangled around a tree branch and pulled Ranma up to it. Quickly flipping before he gets slammed into the branch, he rights himself as the cables reigned in.
"Close…. they're like grappling chords." Said Ranma. "I almost feel like that gaijin superhero… what was his name? Oh yeah, Spiderman!"
Leaping down, he looks at another boulder. 'Hmmm…. I wonder….'
He shoots the light cables at the boulder, wrapping it around. Ranma then focuses his ki into the cables, then suddenly pulls hard. The cables returned, but the boulder falls into neat slices. He had cause the cables to be as dense as steel, but as twined as piano strings. (3)
"Whoa… that's dangerous. I'd better be careful on how to handle these things…"
Ranma decides to call it a day and packs up to head back to the dorm. It was a school night, after all.
To be continued…
Preview…
Ranma: I feel like I keep getting stronger the more I stay in this realm. Now if only I could control my transformations.
Musa: Whoa! So now you're both a faerie and a specialist? Best of both worlds, I'd say!
Tecna: The power of the specialist and the magic of the faerie. You are quite unique!
Ranma: I'm not really all that special, girls. There seems to be some trouble in the city. What's happening?
Layla: It's the Trix wrecking havoc again!
Bloom: What do they want now? Was Valtor involved in their breakout? Next time, on Ranma Club, 'Sore Losers! The Trix Attacks!'
Ranma: Uh… Stella? What're you doing with those clothes?
Stella: Hehehe!
Author's notes:
Ranma's now discovered some of the weapon abilities of the Specialists, not to mention adding a few of his own. He always has a tendency to improve upon a technique to suit the situation. When he tried to master using the Shi Shi Hokodan to beat Ryoga, he instead created the Moko Takabisha since he couldn't draw upon depression as well as the bandanna clad lost boy can. There was also the time when Ranma revises the Hiryu Shoten Ha into the Hiryu Korin Dan in order to defeat Herb of the Musk since he knew how to counter the original technique.
As you know, this is a haremfic. Because of the Specialists' souls in Ranma, he becomes drawn towards Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Layla. Six girls ought to be enough for him, so you can forget about Ranma being paired up with the fiancee brigade (especially with a certain tomboy who shall remain nameless). However, I have something planned for Shampoo and Ukyou later on... His love will be split only amongst those six.
(1) Just like in Sailor Moon S when Usagi (Serena) was dancing with Haruka (Amara), then Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Ami (Raye, Mina, Lita, and Amy respectively) played rock-paper-scissors with each other to determine order of who gets to dance with her next.
(2) The move used by Ryu Hayabusa from DOA and Ninja Gaiden Black. Rock Lee fron Naruto also uses this move when doing his Primary Lotus, except this is without the wrapping with the handwraps. Could be considered a ninja piledriver.
(3) I've decided to give Helia's weapon the same attributes as Walter's wires in Hellsing, making it just as lethal as any bladed weapon.