Chapter 1: Confessions and Departure
-Five Years Earlier-
Ranma Saotome, Ki Master and only known heir to the Saotome School for Anything Goes Martial Arts was on the run. He had ninja run, run from roof top to roof top like a ninja, till his poor legs finally gave out in famed Juuban Ward where he finally passed out in the local park. He was done, completely done, and wanted no more, zero, zip, none, of the place he once called home. The wedding the night before had truly done it for him and it was all do to His Father’s greed. It was thanks to His Father that the only remaining cure in the world, the last and only known keg of Nanniichuan or Drowned Man, was now in the gut of the perverted master of His Family’s art. Not only that, His Mother didn’t even stand up for him, His own Mother, and worse yet she had sided with the one woman he thought he truly loved and thought he would actually like to marry!
Truth be told the moment the wedding failed His Fiancée Akane Tendo of the Tendo School for Anything Goes Martial Arts blamed it all on him. HIM! And he saved HER life not once, not Twice, BUT HUNDREDS OF TIMES blamed it all on him and it wasn’t even his fault! Sadly he… he just had it. He was done with it all. Once everyone was in bed he grabbed all the important things he needed… and left. Left for good but knowing the NWC, Nerima Wrecking Crew as they are known, they wouldn’t give him up. No, they would NEVER EVER give him up. Why? Well that was simple to see for those who actually knew or even heard of Ranma and Nerima Ward. Ranma Saotome was the ultimate prize that everyone just had to have and well, he just couldn’t take it anymore. Finally leaning back on the park bench he sighed and looked to the stars.
“It’s been awhile.” Ranma said speaking to no one but the stars and the moon. “We haven’t had a lot of chances to talk. You can blame that on the NWC.” Sighing once again Ranma turned to lay completely flat on the bench after putting his overly used travel pack down next to him. “I… I got to get all this off my chest! I just can’t take it anymore and… I got to tell someone about all this or I’ll explode and…” Ranma looked up as he sighed tired, “you’re the only one that can truly listen to me.” He looked up to the moon and with caring eyes… and began his confession, a confession that was needed to be told from day one. “All my troubles started with my mom. Sure mom didn’t wish for POP to take me away from her but even after giving him a thorough thrashing she allowed him to take me, a young child barely old enough to walk let alone read or talk, and ran like the coward he was AFTER he made me paint my hand on a contract. That’s right a contract that clearly stated that if I didn’t become a ‘man among men’ I’d have no choice but to…” Ranma didn’t even wish to finish that sentence but had to. “End my life. I didn’t want that but for heaven sakes I thought I was finger painting.” Bringing up one of his arms and placing it over his eyes he sighed, this time in annoyance.
“Let’s move on. After a while I finally got a chance to tell mom the truth about my… condition, or should I say curse, and amazingly enough she accepted me. For once in my life I thought I finally got through to someone but, we know how my life is. The moment she got back with him I, I, ugh, literally I swear she now worships the ground POP walks on. Speaking of POP…” Ranma stopped to calm his nerve and try and relax, yet this was not easy for him to do especially when one get under his skin. “Ugh I just can’t believe him. Honestly to call him a father would be a grave disrespect to all fathers. What he has done to me in the name of training can’t even be called humane! I mean, just who in the world tosses their own child, THEIR OWN CHILD, into a pit full of, of, furry demons! Ugh! I can’t even call them by their true name anymore!”
With another heavy sigh Ranma lowered his arm tiredly and after giving the moon another look closed his tired eyes once again ready to continue his confession. “Then there’s Ryoga, the ever lost guy. Man he just make me so mad. Sure, I admit I accidently gave him a curse that turns him into a piglet but come on! Is that any reason to try and constantly end my life? To him it is and seriously, I’m tired of it. And I’m even tired of his turn coat attitude. One min he’s my best friend the next he’s my sworn enemy and for what? Akane Tendo’s attention that’s what and well lucky him, he can have Akane for all I care.” He soon opened his eyes as if someone had asked him a serious question. “Whose Akane Tendo you ask?” He returned to the night as if it was what asked the question. “She’s the hot headed youngest daughter to Soun Tendo of the other half of my art! And she’s not even good at it, better yet her lazy excuse for a father is a joke. And his second oldest daughter is a greedy money taking witch! Seriously you don’t want any connections to them, especially the middle daughter.”
Sighing and trying hard to keep his cool once again he soon turned his eyes to the moon smiling at a much better confession. “Remember the Amazons?” He waited and smiled as if an old friend became curious about the topic. “Well I made amends with them so their friendly allies now. I just wish I could confess to her…” He soon sat up and looked to the moon as if it had once again really spoke. “Who’s her? Why she the most caring, motherly, tender, heartfelt person in the world. Sigh. If only she wasn’t a Tendo. I mean sure I don’t mind joining the schools but I really love her not Akane. I really love,” Ranma stopped to close his eyes at the memory of his true love and soon spoke her beautiful name, “Kasumi.” “Gasp!” Ranma soon turned as he heard the small gasp and saw the one woman he’d wish to spend the rest of his life with. Kasumi Tendo.
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-A few hours earlier-
Kasumi, or Princess Luna to those who truly knew her, had to find Ranma before the fools she lived with found him. She had expected a fight between the three fiancées: Ukyo, Shampoo, and the angry human she currently had as a little sister named Akane, and Genma's greed to interfere with the wedding the fool Soun and Genma had planned but not this! She didn't mean to harm Ranma, she only meant to protect him, care for him, love him... Kasumi soon had to pull a loop to stop and land in the air. She was currently using a pair of magic wing crafted from moonlight to fly around Tokyo to find Ranma bit still... "Did I just say... love?" Kasumi/Luna asked to herself in shock. For sixteen years she's only had a few crushes as a human but this... this was all so new and she wasn't even really a human. She was an Alicorn, better yet the Equestrian Princess of the Moon who was locked away on said moon due to her possession by Nightmare Moon and not once during her release from her had she been in love. Yet... was she now? Was it more than just a simple puppy love as the humans called it? Thinking back to all those ties she was there for Ranma and how he had treated her, like a normal person or more accurately a fellow pony with no title. Like an average citizen of Equestria and so unlike the way she was treated before.
A princess who had to be treated with delicate care, a princess who couldn’t go anywhere without a set of guards, a princess who was so behind in the times she couldn't even hold night court let alone attend anything more that Nightmare Night. And even as a human she was treated far worse. To the Tendo's she was the care giver, the housemaid, the complete and obedient servant of the house. There were many time she had wanted to show them what real power and combat was like but she had promised her sister Celestia, when she found her that she's be good. Sighing she returned her thoughts back to Ranma and just how she thought of him.
To her Ranma was a sweet young man with a heart stopping smile with calming blue eyes that would just turn your saddest day into the most relaxing you've ever had. In his female form she was a lovely woman with fiery red hair and a body that just made you shiver just looking at it. Yet as a whole, both male and female, Ranma Saotome was... perfect, even with his flaws. Sure he was bad at nearly every language except Japanese, his math was a horror, and he had some interesting eating habits, he was still the kindest sweetest soul you'd ever know. Sighing dreamily she finally admitted it. She loved him but... did he love her back? "Well I'd just have to find him to truly find out. Now... just where would he or she be?" She said looking around. "Sigh, if only I could use my full power this wouldn't be an issue. I'd just tap into the moon's light and..." Kasumi/Luna face palmed. "Sigh, I'm starting to become Soun..." Concentrating she began to glow and the hidden Cutie Mark she had now on her right and left hip began to glow. “It’s been awhile.” Kasumi/Luna gasped! Ranma knew how to do Lunar Confessions? It was an old ability she's always had so she could grant other ponies pleasant dreams or grant night time wishes, such as a wish to pass a test the next morning or to have a pleasant night's sleep so they could continue the next morning's routine.
Carefully she listens to be sure this truly was a Lunar Confession. “I… I got to get all this off my chest! I just can’t take it anymore and… I got to tell someone about all this or I’ll explode and… you’re the only one that can truly listen to me.” Yes it was a confession but from where? Listening to Ranma speak about his life currently, interested on how he saw everyone currently she found him in the local park of Juuban Ward. "He's as fast as a Pegasus, I wonder is sister will allow me to court him after I... confess my love as well." She said to herself as she took flight towards her possible love. After about an hour's flight she landed just inside the Park before she moonlit wings gave out. Sadly she could only cast her stronger spells, such as her flight spell during the night or whenever the moon was full. Slowly she followed the voice of her possible love till... "I just wish I could confess to her…” She heard Ranma say as she got closer. Her? Who's her? she thought and soon had to stop and use a shadow cloak spell to hide herself and her presence as Ranma soon sat up and looked to the moon as if it had really spoke.
“Who’s her? Why she the most caring, motherly, tender, heartfelt person in the world." Luna/Kasumi had to scold herself for that. She had forgotten that during a Lunar Confession she could silently communicate with other to get more out of them so she could aid them in their sleep. "Sigh. If only she wasn’t a Tendo." This caught Luna/Kasumi's interest. "I mean sure I don’t mind joining the schools but I really love her not Akane. I really love,” Ranma stopped to close his eyes causing her to wait on baited breath for who this person was and she got her answer, “Kasumi.” At her shock she could not help but do one thing she did not want to do. “Gasp!”
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Kasumi gasped at what she had heard causing Ranma to jump and look right at her. “Oh no…” Ranma got ready to bolt when she gently spoke. “Ranma wait. Please. They don’t know I found you nor did I want to find you for them.” Ranma turned and keeping up his guard slowly prepping for an ill-favored ambush and slowly spoke. “You sure, you know how stubborn our fathers are.” Kasumi shook her head regretfully. “I wish he wasn’t my father, because my real father died with mother. That man who calls himself that may look and act just like my father but he isn’t.” Ranma slowly came over and hugged Kasumi constantly keeping his eyes looking all over. “I guess we both lost our families.” Kasumi only nodded as she silently cried, after all these years she could finally cry. “Do… you really love me Ranma?” Ranma looked to her and gave her his only needed reply, a kiss which after a moment Kasumi eagerly returned. They held the kiss for what felt for her like forever but soon it ended as Ranma slowly pulled away. “I got to leave Kasumi. Your father and mine are fixed on getting me with Akane even if it kills me.”
Kasumi sighed, it was true as she heard it from them from the very end of the failed wedding to her… abusive younger sister and agreed to this. Sighing she decided it was a good idea to fill her love in on what he had missed that night. “Yes and if they don’t find you by tomorrow they’ll increase in force or worse, try to use one of us to lure you out into the open so they can force Akane upon you. They still have the wedding papers on them and they’ll force you to sign them, even going so far as knocking you out to do so.” She held Ranma for the longest time she could remember and soon looked up at him with tear filled eyes. “I want us together Ranma but, not now. Not till we can both have a real life with one another. Not this fake life we… both are being led by.” Ranma soon pulled Kasumi close to him once more and gave her a tender loving hug till she let him go to talk more. “Where do you plan to go?”
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What she had told him was the truth. Her human family had wanted nothing more that to force HER Ranma into a wedding he wanted nor she wanted to happen. She was also tired of living her life as Kasumi and wanted so much to confess her true name and form to him but... knew he was not ready for such a shock. She had to prepare him and there was only one way she could do that. Send him to her sister, Celestia, in America. Watching she looked at Ranma as she thought hard on just how to do this as well as use her magic to make life easier on her and her love once that came to Coltsville, or Ponyville and Canterlot to be more precise. That was till Ranma spoke.
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“Well, I could return to china. Cologne and Shampoo have become allies in an odd way. I mean sure they ruined the wedding but to be perfectly honest with you… I think it was worth it.” Kasumi shook her head sadly smiling and held Ranma’s hands. Secretly unknown to Ranma, this was what Kasumi needed. “You can’t. Genma may have already thought of that and wish to start there.” Ranma soon frowned and gave off yet another suggestion, “How about England?” Kasumi shook her head again having already heard the conversation last night with the NWC and the so called parents, “Ryoga.” Ranma just gulped and Kasumi looked to have known he would soon panic. “Africa?” Kasumi looked down, unable to look into his deep blue eyes he knew she loved so much, “Akane.”
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Kasumi/Luna knew the panic was there and it was soon confirmed with, “Australia, Antarctica, France, Spain, maybe India?” Ranma rattled off worried. Kasumi closed her eyes and sighed knowing it would harm him but… it had to be done, she had to get him to American and to Coltsville. “Ukyo, Tatewaki, Kodachi, Father, and sadly the last was mentioned by Nabiki.” This caused her love to sit down hard on the bench causing her to steel herself for her only option, the option that was their key to a perfect life, together should they ever return to Equestria. “Ranma, I don’t think there is anywhere else for you to escape to but, The United States.” It was at this Ranma eyes went wide as he looked right at her. “America! But that’s where Principal Kuno was at!” Kasumi sighed and gave Ranma a knowing smile. “Only the islands of Hawaii Ranma, not the mainland which should be easy for you to hide in till you can return.”
She watched her love as the news dawned onto him. “Ranma,” she asked gaining his much needed attention, “can you… wait a few more years for me Ranma?” Ranma soon stood up and held her gently yet protectively and… nodded. She loved his touch, so gentle yet strong, protective yet not overly protective. “How long Kasumi?” He asked. Kasumi closed her eyes and thought on it, or so she seemed, and with a sigh answered. “Five years?” Ranma was about to disagree to this but she soon placed a finger on his lips stopping him. “Ranma it’ll give me time to do something about our families and our lives. Please.” She begged. To her happiness her Ranma sighed and smiled. “Alright, but how will I get America?” Kasumi smiled her normal smile, the one a mother would have when presenting a gift, and held out a ticket and a much better looking and fully loaded back pack she had finally complete with her magic.
The ticket was authentic and though the backpack and it's items were not up to Rarity's standards they would do for the time being and now for a tiny fib. “Mother left me some money when she passed and I wasn’t to tell anyone about it according to her will. I packed you different clothing then you have now so you can stay hidden. I… don’t want them to find you before I say, I do.” Ranma smiled at this and gave her one last kiss before turning and leaving. “I’ll be back Kasumi, just wait for me.” With a nod she soon watch as Ranma once again jumped off and… he was gone. With a gentle brush over her lips she smiled. No longer would she be the lonely younger princess of Equestria, she had found her stallion but to keep him she would need some... help. Remembering that in this world the sun and moon rose and sat from east to west she soon planned on a way to arrive back home in Coltsville by something much faster than a plane. Smiling she once again glowed and soon vanished in sparkles of moonlight.
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The next day Ranma had finally arrived at the airport to finally leave for America, California to be exact. He not only had his ticket and passport ready but he had also done as instructed and changed his hair style and appearance. It was all according to a note Kasumi had placed in his new backpack which he was very grateful for. His once trademark pig tail which was always braided was now loose and hung down to the middle of his back, yet tied with not only the dragon’s whisker but a solid blue hair tie, not his normal black. He also wore normal Japanese citizen clothing, a regular t-shirt with Godzilla on the back with a small G-Force like badge on the front, nonrestrictive blue jeans and regular sneakers, instead of his normal red and black Chinese clothing and black flats. To everyone around him he looked to be an average Japanese citizen and would be quite hard to spot in the crowded Airport. Sadly it was also one of the most popular and was also the one a well know group of Nerima Ward residents were at getting ready for their hunt of him in China first. “Next!” the flight manager called allowing Ranma to step forward for inspection of papers.
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Not that far away was The Saotome’s, Ryoga, Ukyo, and Tendos, minus Kasumi as told them she wanted to take care of the home yet in reality wanted to keep them from catching up to her beloved. Currently they were only three people away from Ranma and Kasumi had followed in a magic disguise just to make sure Ranma made in onto the plane. Sadly she right to have come as she saw just how close they were to him. I dare say you will not harm my love again you vile panda. Let's say we have some games with you all? Luna/Kasumi thought in her disguise. Using her magic she carefully caused the tickets the Saotome’s' had for China and turned them to Antarctica, her older sister Nabiki to France since she knew that place would keep her busy there, Akane Egypt for her hot temper and finally Soun to Timbuktu since she's been wanting to send the fool there for years since the kind woman who was her mother's death. Smiling she finally turn to Ukyo and Ryoga. Oh what to do with thou. Send you both to China anyway or kind and send you somewhere a bit more... romantic like Italy?
It was till she saw the looks on the two's faces she decided to take a small peak at their thoughts and casted a simple scrying spell on them. First was Ukyo's who's mind was currently on the wedding she and the others had greatly destroyed. She felt her sorrow and her wish to have Ranma forgive her yet there was no sense of love in her, as if something had taken it all from her but what she couldn't find at the time being. She then turned to Ryoga who's mind had made Luna/Kasumi flinch. Ryoga's mind was much better now that the directional curse was now gone but it was now trapped between Akane and Akiri and sadly neither was winning. Sighing she felt sorry for the two and decided to leave their tickets be. Who knows, maybe these two have some destiny containing my Ranma as well. As the humans say currently, god speed onto you both. It was then she turned her attention back to Ranma and prayed the ticket master wasn't going to cause her to use some old Nightmare Night magic on him.
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“Says here you’re going to America, this true?” The Flight manager asked looking everything over. Ranma just nodded at this. “How long will you be away?” Gulping Ranma spoke low enough that only the man in front of him could hear fearing that he still could be found by his voice. “Five years.” The man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Five years? And may I ask why?” Ranma had to think fast before he remembered the note Kasumi had placed in his pack. “Well my English isn’t that good and my school’s instructor thought it be better if I got lessons from the source.” The man nodded at this. “Where will you be learning in America?” Ranma sighed and was getting a bit annoyed at all the questions not knowing that every moment spent in this line would lead him to being getting caught by his so called family. “California.” The man smiled at that. “Good place to be and start out at. Alright let me check your papers and you’re on your way.” Ranma sighed but cursed as well as the papers took a long time to go over while at the same time allowed the NWC to get closer.
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Luna/Kasumi was getting tired of waiting on the ticket master and decided she had enough. Thou waists time while thy family gains pace. Nay, you will be more proper at this for my prince to be. With a snap of her fingers the ticket master wized through the papers and with another snap the man was done. That was not so hard now was it? she thought with a grin.
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“Alright you’re clear, enjoy school there.” Ranma blinked at how fast that had went and giving of a sigh smiled. “Oh, I will.” Ranma took his papers and ticket back as fast as he could without messing up and letting them fall to the floor got onto the plane just as Genma, the current leader of the group got to the flight manager for China which was right next to the one for America, never knowing he was only three people away from capturing him, and that a certain goddess had tampered with their tickets.
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The entire flight took Ranma twenty-four hours and allowed Ranma to finally calm down, relax and get some much needed rest. Soon he’d be in America and free of his so called family for five years but knew that he’d also be away from the girl he truly loved for the same amount of time. After some time Ranma was shaken awake and found he was still on the plane. “We’re about to land sir.” The trolley girl said smiling. Ranma nodded and prepped for landing knowing that once the plane touched down, he’d finally be free for a full five years.
To Be Continued