Chapter 1: A Royal Love

Kingdoms at war with one another had always been a long and tumultuous road for the common people. Conflict has been a constant for humanity since the dawn of civilization. That was until The Goddess appeared and blessed the four kingdoms of Alganon with long-lasting peace. Shirya, Wallka, Zyopa, and Junrai had never known peace before her arrival. She brokered treaties, established trade routes, and provided aid to those in need. In return, the nations had to follow her rules to remain in her favor.

This proved especially difficult for the nation of Shirya. Nestled in Alganon's mountainous region, Shirya remained more isolated than the other kingdoms. Its culture was shrouded in secrecy, and it carried a reputation for its "Mad Kings." Shirya thrived on war and had little desire for peace. They refused to engage in trade and kept their borders firmly closed. The Goddess made many concessions to bring Shirya into her fold. She introduced rules about arranging marriages between the kingdoms' royals to foster a sense of familial unity, but Shirya refused to participate. The Goddess allowed this exception as long as Shirya refrained from initiating wars and treated its citizens with dignity and respect.

Everything changed when Shiryian refugees fled to other nations with harrowing tales of cruelty under the regime of Mad King Gosunkugi. The Goddess, who despised both cruelty and war, decided to use her divine power to bring Shirya to its knees. The wealthiest kingdom, Wallka, led the invasion under King Genma's command. He collaborated with a rebellion force within Shirya, led by the respected martial artist Soun Tendo.

Wallka's forces swiftly captured the border villages. However, The Goddess ordered the invasion to halt when King Gosunkugi surrendered, agreeing to reforms, including treating his citizens better and arranging the marriage of his only daughter to King Genma's son. Many privately believed The Goddess was naïve to trust him, but her devoted followers admired her mercy and unwavering commitment to peace.

"How did it come to this?" Akane muttered, staring at the metal bars of her cell. She was filthy and had survived on meager scraps for days. Anger and thoughts of vengeance swirled in her mind, keeping her from sleep. To her, "The Goddess" had abandoned her people. How could she have withdrawn her forces just because King Gosunkugi had made insincere promises?

The Goddess had left no protections for those who aided her invasion force. The moment Wallka's soldiers withdrew, a massacre began. Leaders of the rebellion were captured, and Akane's memories of her father pleading with Wallkan soldiers to stay still haunted her. She had watched comrades slaughtered before her eyes. Her father and sisters had been captured and dragged to the royal dungeons in the capital. Now, sitting in the darkness, her thoughts drifted to her family.

"We're probably all going to be publicly executed," she said aloud, voicing her deepest fear. She didn't realize how much worse it could get.

"Stand."

The booming voice of a guard startled her. Akane slowly approached the bars. The guard unlocked the door and stepped inside.

"Put out your hands."

Her thoughts raced. Should she use her martial arts skills to overpower him and escape? But she needed to know where her father and sisters were. Reluctantly, she extended her hands. The guard shackled her wrists, attaching a chain with a dark blue collar at the end. When he moved to fasten it around her neck, Akane sneered.

"Overkill for one female prisoner, don't you think?"

"Be quiet, traitor."

The guard yanked the chain, pulling her forward as he led her through dim corridors. Rage burned in Akane's chest. The real traitor was the king and those who served him. But she bit her tongue, knowing the rumors about Mad King Gosunkugi's cruelty. She had no desire to become his next victim.

The dark corridors gave way to lavish hallways with marble floors and the scent of polished wood. Soon, they reached two massive wooden doors. The guard rang a bell, and the doors opened, revealing an opulent throne room. At the far end sat King Gosunkugi, a scrawny, hollow-eyed man with an air of menace.

The guard shoved Akane to her knees before the throne. Panic mingled with disgust as she realized she was in the presence of one of the most feared kings in Shirya's history. His eerie demeanor and twisted smile made her skin crawl.

"You're quite a manly-looking girl, aren't you?" Gosunkugi's voice dripped with disdain.

"Better that than desirable to a scrawny, deranged king," Akane snapped.

The king's smile widened. "You won't keep that attitude for long. I know all about you, Akane Tendo. Headstrong, loyal, capable, and fiercely protective of your family. Unlike your sister Kasumi, who is too soft, or Nabiki, who is too conniving, you're perfect for my plans. You'd do anything to protect them, wouldn't you?"

Akane remained silent, her heart pounding.

"Your silence says it all."

A side door opened, and a prisoner was brought in, chained like Akane. She knelt obediently, and Akane's heart sank as she recognized her.

"Kasumi?!"

Kasumi's emaciated, bruised form was barely recognizable. Akane's rage boiled over, and she lunged toward the king.

"What did you do to her?!" she screamed, only to be yanked down by her chains, forced into a humiliating bow.

The king's smile was chilling. "She's a tool to get what I want. If you agree to work with me, I'll spare her and your family. Refuse, and I'll make you watch as I torture them to death. I'll save you for last."

"What do you want?" Akane's voice trembled.

Gosunkugi leaned back, his tone calm. "The Goddess's rules are strict. Only the firstborn son of a high-born wife may inherit the throne. I have no sons, only a daughter, Princess Kaori. If she marries Prince Ranma of Wallka, their child will have a claim to my throne. I need someone to pose as my daughter and marry him in her place. That someone is you."

Akane's mind reeled. She couldn't believe his arrogance. "You'll lose The Goddess's favor when this deception is revealed."

"By then, Shirya will be ready to stand against her."

Akane hesitated. "Even if I agreed, I'd be discovered immediately. I'm not royalty."

"The other kingdoms know nothing about Shirya's royals. You'll undergo training to act the part. Refuse, and your family suffers."

The king's guards moved to cut out Kasumi's tongue as proof of his resolve. Akane's desperate plea stopped them.

"I'll do it. Just spare her."

Gosunkugi's grin widened. "Good. You'll receive training in manners and dress before being sent to Wallka. Don't disappoint me."

That night, in her luxurious room, Akane's mind raced. Should she try to escape? No, she couldn't abandon her family. She'd play along for now, gathering information. Perhaps there was still a way to stop King Gosunkugi's madness and save her family from his grasp.

Ranma:

After a long day of sparring with his best friend, Ryoga, a servant approached Ranma with a summons from King Genma.

"What does Pop want now?" Ranma grumbled, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Probably something important," Ryoga replied, leaning on his special umbrella. "He doesn't call on you often."

"Exactly why it's unsettling. Whenever he does, it's never good news."

"Well," Ryoga said with a smirk, "you're of age, Ranma. Maybe he's finally decided who you're going to marry. Any preferences? You've met the princesses from the neighboring kingdoms."

Ranma rolled his eyes. "If by 'preferences,' you mean guessing which one Pop will pick, I'd say it's down to Princess Ukyo of Junrai or Princess Shampoo of Zyopa."

"No preference at all? They're both stunning, you know."

Ranma didn't respond immediately. Their footsteps echoed in the grand halls as they neared the throne room. The heavy silence made his unease grow. He hadn't seen his father in weeks, not since Genma had sent him off to martial arts training at the borders of Zyopa. His father rarely involved him in matters of state, preferring to keep him focused on martial training. It was frustrating—how could he one day rule Wallka if he wasn't even taught how it was governed?

"I'm not exactly thrilled about marriage," Ranma admitted at last. "And knowing my Pop, this won't be about what I want."

Ryoga shook his head with a chuckle. "You're the only prince of Wallka, Ranma. Most guys would kill to be in your position—getting to marry one of two princesses."

Ranma stopped in front of the grand golden doors to the throne room. Ryoga reached for the handle and opened the door, bowing deeply as he stepped aside. Ranma sighed inwardly. The hierarchy always made him uncomfortable. Ryoga was his closest friend, yet also his servant, bound by duty to treat Ranma with deference. How could any of his relationships ever feel genuine when everyone around him was required to show him respect, no matter how they truly felt?

With a deep breath, Ranma stepped through the door and prepared to face his father.

"Ranma, my boy!" boomed King Genma, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "It's been too long, hasn't it?"

Ranma bowed respectfully. "Yes, Pop. Why have you summoned me?"

"Straight to business, huh?" Genma laughed heartily, leaping up from his throne and striking a martial arts pose. "You expecting me to challenge you here and now?"

Ranma barely suppressed a groan. His father's obsession with sparring was relentless, but it had made Ranma one of the finest martial artists in the history of Alganon. Genma had molded him into the perfect heir—skilled in combat, disciplined in the philosophies of Shirya, and fiercely loyal to their kingdom. But today, Ranma wasn't in the mood for his father's antics.

"This is about the future queen, isn't it?" Ranma asked, his tone flat.

Genma's grin widened. "Right again! A queen is indeed a blessing, my boy. But I've got a surprise for you. I've already chosen your bride!"

Ranma's stomach sank. "That's… not surprising."

Genma took a swig of sake, laughing loudly at his son's lack of enthusiasm. "You'll be marrying Princess Akane of Shirya!" he announced triumphantly.

Ranma froze. His thoughts scrambled. Of all the possibilities, this was the worst. He'd never even met Akane. Shirya was a reclusive and backward nation, infamous for its isolation and strict traditions. The last he'd heard, Shirya didn't even participate in arranged marriages.

"WHAT?!" Ranma shouted. "They don't marry off their royals! Why would they start now?"

Genma's expression turned smug. "Ah, that's the genius of it! Shirya has submitted to Wallka after our invasion. To show their loyalty and regain the Goddess's favor, they offered up their princess. Don't you see, my boy? Your marriage will unite our nations and strengthen our claim over Shirya. If you and Akane produce an heir, Wallka could even inherit the Shiryan throne someday!"

Ranma felt a pit in his stomach. There was no way out of this. Politically, it was a masterstroke. Personally, it was a nightmare.

"When is this happening?" Ranma asked, his voice tight.

"She'll arrive next week," Genma replied, taking another swig of sake. He rambled on about how brilliant his decision was, claiming he'd outdone himself by waiting to arrange Ranma's marriage. Ranma tuned him out, nodding mechanically until he was dismissed.

As he exited the throne room, Ryoga was waiting for him, a curious smirk on his face.

"Well? Who's the lucky princess?" Ryoga asked, his tone teasing as he emphasized "lucky."

"Guess," Ranma muttered.

Ryoga raised an eyebrow. "Judging by that face, it's not good news. Let's see… My money's on Shampoo. I figured you'd choose Ukyo if you had a say."

"Wrong."

"Ukyo, then? Honestly, I'm relieved. Shampoo's… eccentric."

Ranma shook his head. "Worse. I'm marrying the princess of Shirya."

Ryoga blinked in surprise. "Wait, Shirya? But they don't—"

"I know," Ranma interrupted. "It's unprecedented. I've never even met her. I don't know her personality, her hobbies, or even what she looks like. And Shirya's… strange. This whole thing feels wrong."

Ryoga whistled softly. "Wow. That's… unexpected."

Ranma sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Tell me about it."