Ranma Half Moon chapter 87 "There's No Business Like Snow Business" Part three.

Author's note: This episode happens during the Sailor Moon episode 38 "The Snow! The Mountains! Our Friendship! And of Course, A Monster, Too".

Usagi, Yuichiro, and Rei ride a ski lift.

Usagi looks down at the dangerous-looking terrain. "We're not going to be skiing down there, are we?"

Yuichiro laughs. "Oh, no. The contest is closer to the top. The slope down there is nothing compared to the contest slope."

Usagi gulps.

"Okay, time to transfer." Rei helps Usagi off the lift and helps her get on to the next leg of the lift.

The three of them ride the lift off into the distance. After a few more people make the transfer, two familiar looking people get off of the lift.

"Eighty-five, here will be a good place to set our trap."

"I'm not interested in traps, I ..."

Mio gives him a look.

Ryoga's eyes glaze over. "I understand."

Mio and Ryoga hide behind the cabin at the ski lift transfer and wait.

Ranma-ko and Haruka ride up the lift.

"I hope you don't think that you can beat me in skiing."

Ranma-ko blushes. "Winning is not the point, accepting all challenges is."

Haruka nods. "You do remember why we came up here, right? To see if Dark Kingdom was going to show up?"

"Well, if they do show up, then we won't have to worry about the contest, right?"

Suddenly a flash of recognition comes over Haruka's face. "Ranma, we don't need to look for them anymore."

Ranma-ko nods. I can feel the presence of Dark Kingdom becoming closer.

Ranma-ko and Haruka get off the lift at the next stop and do not proceed to the next lift.

Mio sees them coming. "Okay, it's show time." Mio waves her hands over Ryoga's eyes.

Ryoga jumps out from behind the cabin. "There you are Ranma."

Ranma-ko holds out her arm to stop Haruka from moving forward. "Wait. This is Hibiki Ryoga, a fighting rival of mine. He's no joke. He's so strong that one of his punches could trigger an avalanche."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha. You think you could run away from me, your eternal rival? You're such a baka." Ryoga play hits himself in the head.

Ranma-ko's face shows total shock and mortification.

"Ranma, he's being controlled by Dark Kingdom."

Ranma-ko nods. I would certainly rather believe that than believe Ryoga had regressed into acting cute like a young girl. "We need to move. His strength could do damage the lifts and hurt the people still riding on them."

Haruka nods.

"Oh dear, what am I to do? I know, I'll run a hundred yards away and you'll get lost following me, because you're a baka." Ranma-ko sticks out her tongue.

Haruka looks mortified. Did Ranma-ko have to stoop to getting on Ryoga's wavelength?

Haruka and Ranma-ko ski away from the cabin. Without realizing it, they ski closer to the path of the contest slope.

"What silly girls. Ryoga might get lost, but not Lostorama!" Ryoga transforms into a monster with three pig heads.

"EWWWW!" Ranma-ko and Haruka ski faster.

...

"Come on Usagi, I know you can do it." Minako has restrained Usagi, who is trying to sneak away from the contest.

"Have you seen that slope?"

"Yes, but I have also seen you in combat and I know how good your reflexes are."

"But ..."

"Come on, you'll regret it if you don't try." Minako drags Usagi back to the group of contestants.

Makoto and Ami wait behind the barricades. Rei had already visited them for last-minute encouragement.

Ami, remembering how strange Makoto had acted towards Ranma, looks up from her textbook and looks at Makoto. "Mako-chan, is there something you haven't told us?"

Makoto doesn't answer.

Ami nudges her. "Mako-chan, are you in there?"

"Sorry, I was just taking in how cool the skiers look. The time and effort they put into being expert skiers certainly shows in their styles."

A sly smile comes over Ami's face. "Do they remind you of your old boyfriend?"

Makoto's face becomes blank. "Who's that?"

Ami looks dumbfounded. "Weren't you saying that Motoki reminded you of your old boyfriend?"

"Oh, that." Makoto looks very embarrassed. "Well, Motoki does remind me of my beloved senpai."

Ami turns bright red when she realizes the implication. "Was this senpai a girl?"

Makoto gets a 'busted' look on her face but then regains her composure. "Yes, she is a girl. Is it strange to have a senpai who is a girl?"

"No, but, it's strange that guys would remind you of her."

"Well, she is pretty much a tomboy."

"What does she look like?"

"Ladies, take your positions! It is time to start the race. The first person to the finish line who exhibits a cool style will become the Moon Princess Contest winner!"

Rei steps up in the first line, looking determined. Okay, I can do this. People are going to see what I am capable of today!

The crowd noise swells as the girls line up. Row after row of girls jump off the platform onto the slope, finally leaving only Usagi.

Yuichiro approaches her. "Come on Usagi, you can't win if you don't compete."

"That's okay. I changed my mind. I ..."

Yuichiro gives her a push. "The first step is the hardest."

"YOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW" Usagi disappears down the slope.

Ami looks on with concern. "Is she okay?"

"I trust in Usagi. But, we'd better join the group headed for the finish line."

Ami follows Makoto while reading her book. "So, what does your old senpai look like?"

"She's a girl who shines from within, someone who radiates inner strength."

"Okay."

"Like you."

Ami gulps.

"Like all of the other Sailor Warriors. And, if we don't hurry up, we'll miss Usagi and Rei shining."

Ami nods and skis behind Makoto. Do I really shine like that?

To Be Continued