Chapter 3: Welcome to the herd Ranma!
The toy shop was completely crowded and made it quite hard for Ranma to see exactly what the sale was but being curious and not wishing to skip out on what was currently going on he wasn’t going to just give up and just walk away, nope. He was going to do the smart thing, ask someone. Gently tapping a young man, around his own age he guessed, on the shoulder he pointed out in the translation book he had on his “What is this.” The young man looked at him and simply asked in clean clear Japanese, “New to America?” Ranma blinked and nodded his head yes. “Didn’t fully plan things out huh? Don’t worry I translate as a side job. Oh and welcome to America, name’s James.” Ranma sighed smiling and shook the translator’s hand and returned with his own name. “I’m Ranma. So… what’s all this, some kind of sale?”
James nodded happily and almost excitedly which got Ranma even more curious. “One of the most anticipated for fans here in America! Ever heard of a show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?” Ranma blinked and tried to make sure he heard that right. “Huh?” James just sighed and gestured for him to follow as he talked. “You really are new to America. Look I have the series on DVD so I can show you later. Just let me pick up my preordered items and I’ll call us a cab.” Ranma blinked now utterly confused but did as the translator requested and followed him inside, he did need a translator after all and he was one right in front of him. “Hey James, been waiting for you! Got your items right here!” The shop clerk said handing over a large and clearly heavy looking bag. “Oh man, thank Cliff. All of them there?” The clerk smiled and nodded. “Yep, you’re pretty dedicated for a Bronie so I added the free item as well. It’s the poster you’ve been asking about.” James jaw dropped and smiled greatly causing Ranma to wonder what was being said and just what was going on. “Oh man. Can’t wait to get that in a frame and then on the wall. Thanks Cliff I owe you big time.” James then paid for his preorder then looked to where Cliff was looking with an amused smile. “What?” James asked before turning to his new client.
“Oops.” James finally saw that Ranma was greatly lost in what happened and was still trying to figure out what exactly was going on. “Sorry about that Ranma. This is Cliff the store owner and clerk here but not for long since he’s going to be moving his shop soon. He’s a good friend of mine and well it’s a bit too crowded here for the moment to show you around but once he moves into his new shop I’ll show you around.” Ranma nodded to this still lost but followed the translator out. “Going to add another to the herd?” Cliff called to James. “Maybe, we’ll just have to find out!” James returned before he and Ranma left the shop. Soon James called a cab and left to Ranma’s hotel.
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As soon as they left three very eager children made their way inside and went right to the cutie mark section of the shop. "Hey Scoots, don't be wondering off in here!" Yelled a Rainbow hair teen next to two others girls, one with curled black hair, and the other with long yellow hair in a ponytail and a Stetson hat. "That goes double for you Bloom!" Yelled the one in the Stetson in a southern drawl. "It's far to crowded here. Belle you had better hurry or we'll miss Spake's return at the hotel!" Yelled the curled haired teen. The three children looked up smiling and yelled back, "Okay!" They quickly made their purchases and soon left the store to meet up with their family and guardian. The Six were none other than Applejack and Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Like Twilight they had all been turned into young children yet for some of them it was very hard and for only one, a dream come true. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were turned now roughly seventeen and where raised by their parents who where in Ponyville during the epic clash of magics.
For Applejack who also was seventeen life wasn't as kind. She and her brother Big Mac had to be raised yet again by Granny smith who didn't get the whole effect of the magic and sadly passed on last year and poor Apple Bloom was only seven as well. She cried the hardest when it happened. Had the effect fully worked on Granny Smith she would have been about seventy or something. It was a sad day for the Apple family. However things where far better for the last two, Rainbow and Scootaloo. Rainbow was like Scootaloo, an orphan, but luckily for her someone had caught her as she went flying during the clash. That someone was Spitfire of the Wonderbolts. Amazingly the Wonderbolt's uniforms had just enough resistance to the magic they were only regressed enough to be able to raise a few foals. Luckily for Rainbow and Scootaloo, who Rainbow found on the grass next to them when they woke up as humans, where taken in by Spitfire and raised as her own. Sadly to protect themselves from being found out as ponies they had to all alter their names.
Twilight was now Sparkle Sunset, Apple Jack was now Jackie Apple, with Bloom being Bloom Apple, Rainbow Dash was now Dashie Rain, Scootaloo was now Scooter Rains, with their mother Spitfire being Dawn Rain, and finally Rarity was still Rarity but with a new last name being Diamond with Sweetie Belle being Belle Diamond. "Hope you're done int here squirt, because I wasn't sure I could get you out myself." Dashie joked ruffling Scoots hair. "Bloom you know better than to go into that store when it's more crowded than a stampede." Jackie gently scolded Bloom. "Belle dear I just don't understand why you keep coming to this store when you already know the mayor has already invited him along witht he Principal to Coltsville." Rarity said hugging her sister dearly. "We just wanted to get new cutie marks for out pony collections." The young Crusaders said together looking down. "Come on you'll find the ones your looking for one day." Jackie said kindly to the girls. "Now let's lasso us a cab and get on to that hotel." They all nodded and got a taxi for the same exact hotel as Ranma.
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Once at the hotel room James hooked up his portable DVD player and sat Ranma down. “Sorry it’s in English but… I have the translations in the bag so you can follow along if you want.” Being curious he nodded and took the translated script as James turned on the player and showed Ranma the first two episodes. After it was over Ranma just… blinked. “Well, how do you like it so far?” Ranma was about to retort but… couldn’t. “I’ll need to think about it. Over lunch if that’s okay?” James nodded and allowed the new possible Brony to adjust before talking about it with his client. “Want to call take out and watch a few more episodes or head out to eat and think on it.” Ranma scratched the back of his head and thought it over a bit. What he had seen was… interesting but… it was definitely something he had to think on. “The second if you don’t mind.”
James nodded at this and guided Ranma to the restaurant he had been too before when he had arrived. Amazingly it was a popular place and even more amazing was that James seemed to be a regular and with his help got the normal all you can eat price on a discount. While they ate Ranma thought long and hard on the two episodes he had just seen. He had to admit, they weren’t just good, they were interesting and… for once in his life, Fun. They were actually fun to watch. The last time Ranma actually let loose and enjoyed himself was when he had been locked in his cursed form and went to that fair where he had learned the Chest Nut Fist. He also felt a… connection to the shows characters. The most being to the main character of the episodes he had seen, the unicorn pony Twilight Sparkle. How she had dedicated her life to studying and finding that when she had arrived she had issues fitting in and not wanting any friends. How she had just wanted to be left alone was just like him.
And when Nightmare Moon arrived was like… when he first met Akane. And when Twilight had finally made friends with the other five ponies, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Flutter Shy, and Pinkie Pie, he felt almost the same when he had made friends with Ukyo, Mousse, Shampoo, and the others. He also felt that like Nightmare Moon, Luna, was like himself in an odd way. Like his curse was his outer shell when in it and when male he was free. He even felt happy for Luna and Twilight when Princess Celestia returned and accepted Luna once again. It felt so much like… when his mother had accepted his curse. He wondered if Kasumi would like the show. “So… Why you are you here in America?” Ranma looked up from his plate and his thoughts and gave as best as an answer as he could without lying. “Family issues, big ones.” James nodded at this with an understanding sigh. “Let me guess, family wanted you to marry someone you didn’t love or something.” Ranma blinked and slowly nodded wondering just how he knew. “I know how you feel. I mean my family back home wasn’t really… there for me.” Ranma leaned forward a bit and asked, “Your family?”
James leaned back into his chair and nodded sadly with a tired yet annoyed sigh. “Long story short, part of my family is Chinese, another part is Japanese, and the last part is American. They didn’t really get along well.” Ranma’s jaw dropped and hoped James didn’t have a certain group as the first third part of his family and that it wasn’t who he thought they were. “Dad didn’t really get along with my grandmother so we moved to Japan for a awhile but… Grandmother’s a stubborn old bird and somehow followed us to our new home. Now I live here as a translator and a student.” He felt for the guy but… the last part caught his attention. “What school?” James thought on it an nodded. “If you like I could introduce you to the School councilor tomorrow and help you get into some classes.”
Ranma thought on it and… agreed. “Yeah that would be great. My… school back home wasn’t that good.” James laughed at this. “You’re kidding right? Only bad schools I know of back in Japan were Kolhots High School, St. Hebereke’s School for Girls, and Furinkan High School. Don’t tell me you went to Kolhots or Furinkan.” Again Ranma didn’t wish to lie to James, who was starting to feel like… a good first American friend, so he again gave the best answer he could. “I went to one of those two. It was my… father’s decision.” James just flinched at this. “Your family must have been desperate or insane to send you to one of those schools, so I don’t blame you for having no way to speak English. Anyway… how did you like the DVDs so far?” Ranma had been thinking on that and after eating a dumpling came to a decision. “To be honest… I would like to see more before I make a full choice.” James smiled at this. “No sweat. Take all the time you want to watch them.” This shocked Ranma greatly and nearly had him choke on his dim sum. “Your serious right, I can just take my time on them?” James nodded after handing Ranma his glass of soda. “Well, yeah. I mean there’s no need to force yourself to watch the entire set in one go. Just relax and enjoy the show.” Ranma just bowed his head to his new found friend glad that some finally decided to not try and take control of his life for once. “Thank you.” James bowed back in return. “You’re welcome.”
After some time to fill up on lunch they returned to the hotel room for some more episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic on James’ DVD set. Yet as told, they took their time watching the series, one episode at a time unless it was one of the two part episodes. After about four and a half hours of just enjoying his new freedom and new friendship Ranma was ready to be accepted into high school the next day. “Well it’s late Ranma. How about I pick you up tomorrow and talk schools, the one I’m signed up with isn’t bad and the place it’s in you just might like as it’s pretty open.” Ranma wasn’t sure about that as he wanted to stay where it was crowded yet he didn’t know and he did like James. He was becoming a good friend and well he was the translator. “I’ll think about. I um have some stuff I still need to look over in my pack and make sure everything’s not preplanned you know.” James thought on this and nodded. “Someone helped you here didn’t they?” Ranma slowly nodded at this. “It’s alright. Well the school I go to won’t start for a few more weeks so I can still help get you to the school you need if you like.” Ranma smiled and this and nodded. Soon they said their goodbyes after James gathered up his stuff and soon Ranma was off to sleep and another day of freedom.
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The Mane six couldn't believe who they met when they arrived at the same hotel as Ranma. "Kasumi!" Kasumi raised her finger to her lips as she waved them into the hotel and handed over a set of room keys. "I'm sorry to surprise you but I really need to talk to all of you in privet." Kasumi said as she guided them to... streamers. "Surprise!" a pinkie haired hyperactive and bubbly girl said smiling. Beside her with her face in her hand was Twilight. "Pinkie did you have to do that?" she asked a bit annoyed. "Of course silly, especially when Lu..." Kasumi quickly covered Pinkie's mouth and moved all the girls inside before looking out the soundproof door and closing it. "Pinkie!" The girls all scolded her. "What?" Pinkie was the oldest of the Mane six at eighteen years old. She was lucky the Cakes' home and business was painted by her. For some reason just being Pinkie Pie had protected the home, the Cakes, and the baby cakes during the clash. The Cakes found her and raised her as her own so her name was now Pinkie Cake. Everyone felt it was a bit to obvious but oddly enough no humans have noticed yet.
"What?" Twilight leaned forward to the slightly taller pink hair girl. "You almost broke one of Celstia's rules! Don't you remember her telling everyone back home NOT to draw attention to ourselves and that we are not to reveal our true names since this world seems to already know about the pony us?" Pinkie frowned at this and her hair slowly deflated. "I'm sorry." Twilight felt bad for yelling at her friend and hugged her making her hair poof back to normal. "Well since we have that out of the way I need to speak to all of you." Luna said sitting on the bed. "Wow Luna your English has gotten much better the last time we left." Twilight said smiling. "Thank you, having been forced to live with a group of foals for sixteen years seems to have forced me to take drastic measures." Luna responded. "Wait, where's Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked take a seat on the other bed as she held her current and always would be after they return little sister Scootaloo. "She's in her room asleep. She had a long flight from France and it seems the jet lags gotten to her. But I'll be sure to fill her in dearies." Rarity said holding Sweetie Belle before her. "Wait, you don't mean those drastic measures do you?" Twilight asked finally catching what was said by her princess. "Yes Twilight. You see I've taken a fancy to this one and I wish him to live in Coltsville for some time." Luna said blushing. "Oh, oh, oh do we know him? Is it, Big Mac?" Everyone turned to Pinkie and waited for more names. "What? Its the only male pony I know."
Applejack face hoofed and knew it wasn't her brother as he still had his hearts set on another pony in town. Though he never did say who yet. "No it is not Applejack's brother. It's the one I've told you a it about before, Ranma Saotome." All the girls gasped at this. "The guy that makes tornadoes!" Rainbow and Scootaloo said at the same time. "The martial artist that literally is an enigma when it comes to physics and all things impossible." Twilight said in shock. "The Guy who's strong enough and fast enough to buck all the apples out of our apple trees in a day?" Apple Bloom and Applejack asked in awe. "The guy you said would be nearly impossible to get into a suit even if asked?" Rarity asked with Sweetie Belle trying to remember who they were talking about. "The guy you really, really, really, really, really, want to marry?" Pinkie asked finally. The last one caused Luna to fully blush before coughing. "Um yes, though some could be a bit exaggerated. As I was saying I would like him to be a part of Coltsville and hopefully my life. I'm hoping all of you can keep up the secret of our town along with helping him adjust to us and living our ways?" Everyone looked to each other and nodded. "We'll do what ever we can to help Princess Luna." Twilight said for the group. "Oh thank you Twilight Sparkle, everyone. You don't know how much this means to us." Luna cried as the girls hugged her.
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The next morning Ranma woke up at dawn yet again cursing the sun and got ready for yet another day. Ranma returned to his room with the breakfast he wanted and sat down pulling out the letter and the map Kasumi placed in his pack.
This will be our last good morning Ranma. I hoped you found America to your liking and that you’ve also made a good first friend. This is the last set of instructions you’ll need to follow my love and I hope they lead you to a place you’ll love just as much as I did reading about it. Inside your pack you’ll find a map, get it out. Ounce it is in front of you read below and know I’ll always love you.
You’re Love, Kasumi
Ranma nearly cried at this but did as instructed. Placing the map in front of him he turned his attention to the instructions.
7. With the map in front of you open it and study it. You may need to give it to your translator friend if he/she goes to a different school. This is not Tokyo so you’ll only need to change train twice.
8. Now the school is in a small town however it’s quite populated and seems to be an interesting place to live. You’ll need to go there and sign up with them, they have everything we dream of and… I always wanted to live in a nice open place over this cramp and cluttered house and Ward. Speaking of Wards my love this will be very similar to that. You’ll need to talk to someone that lives there to find out more.
9. For now try and live in a dorm. We can always save up till we’re together and buy a house to live in. Also be sure to make as many friends as you can there as well. I’d like to have company from time to time in our new home. Now is the time to start over and what better way than with true friends.
10. Retake all your classes! Remember Furinkan High School isn’t one of the best schools here so it’s best you relearn everything. Don’t worry I’ll be doing the same in secret but please, do retake your classes for both of us.
Ranma sigh and smiled at this in agreement to the ninth instruction however the last one he just shook his head at. He had already thought of doing just that when he got to the school. Looking the map he began studying it as best he could. Unlike his idiot pop, he was very good at maps and instructions. The map showed a large town with a high school in the middle of it instead of a city hall or something more important. He saw the town had a lot of outdoor shops, farmland with trees, possibly orange or apple trees, and what looked like a lot of other large shops all around. It even had its own train station and right next to it was the times. “Let’s see James should be showing up right about…” Ranma turned as soon as he heard someone knock on the door and went to open it. “Good morning James.” James smiled at him and stepped into the hotel room. “So, what the plans say?” Ranma handed over the map and explained what the letter told him to do, for the most part concerning the map.“Well just our luck. I’m going to the same school and town. It’s not a bad little place when you consider Tokyo and San Fran.”
Ranma nodded at this and grabbed his room key along with some needed items for the school and trip. He didn’t want James finding out about the curse just yet. “So… what is this place anyway?” Ranma asked on their way to the train station. “Well. The town’s called Coltsville. It has a pretty big school that not only teaches high school but Elementary, Junior, and even a bit of College. Entry level classes only though, they don’t go past that for some reason.” Ranma nodded at this as they entered the train and talked about not only the town they were now on their way to but the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as well. They only stopped the conversation when they arrived at the next train station to change trains. “That’s our train?” Ranma said getting onto the old fashioned steam powered train. “Yep, the town refurbished this old train and got the papers for it to be used as well. It’s one of the town’s still usable relics and it’s actually fun to ride.” James said to him taking his seat in one of the small rooms the passenger cart had. Ranma had to admit, for an old school steam train, it wasn’t half bad. A bit on the bumpy side but it wasn’t bad. It even had the old fashioned trolley carts and ticket punchers. Finally they arrived in Coltsville Station and started their walk through the town and toward the large school in the middle.
“You weren’t kidding when you said it was a big town.” Ranma said as they passed a few stores, one of which was a very large clothing store. “Yes well, long story short the town was rebuilt from an old plantation. This place used to be a gold mining town but now it’s just a quartz mining town, but don’t tell the clothes maker there hear you say that. She happens to be a bit of a drama queen.” Ranma nodded as they passed a lovely long haired woman with possibly dark purple dyed hair. Though he doubted it was actually purple, maybe a mix of red and black. The younger girl with her seemed to have white and pinkish hair yet again he explained it off as the hair just being natural colors such as a faded red. As he and James passed a good number of town’s people he started to become curious. “Hey James, what’s up with everyone’s hair?” James stopped and looked around. “Oh well, you know how sunny it gets here. Some of the people here have… interesting tastes and the sun sometimes bleaches the hair.” Ranma doubted this but shrugged and went onto the school. He’d seen odder so this was quite normal, heck even Shampoo would fit well in his town with her natural hair color.
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Right behind Ranma and his friend James where the girls and Kasumi in hiding. She had to keep herself secret from Ranma for the time being after all. As the girls entered the town each went their separate ways to their respected homes. Twilight and Spike, who was glad to be out of the small cage he had to be in for the trip, returned to the mansion which now surrounded what was once Ponyville's Library. It sadly became a normal tree during the clash but thankfully all the items inside the tree was forced out of it, though it did take everyone a long time to get everything dried and placed in a safe location. Next was Rarity and Sweetie Belle who lived above the still active clothing store. Luckily the Boutique had survived the magical clash with little harm though currently the story had to sell human garments over Pony garments. Nearly took Rarity a month to get every last piece of clothing altered.
Next was Rainbow and Scootaloo who was quickly greeted by their adoptive mother Spitfire. Since no one that was a Pegasus could live in a cloud house anymore everyone had to start living in normal houses, luckily Spitfire had gotten her family a two story home and had everything set up so you felt like you were still in a cloud house. Everything was literally like sitting and sleeping on a cloud. Next was Pinkie Pie who was greeted by the Cakes who instantly wrapped her up in a tight hug. Luna/Kasumi was very happy that Pinkie could get such a loving caring family to live with, unlike she did. Finally was Applejack, Fluttershy, and Apple Bloom. They had a ways to go as they lived near the very edge of Coltsville and the Forest. Some of the Everfree Forest had traveled with them to this world and strangely so did Zecora who still lived in the dangerous place. "I have to thank Mac for taking care of all my animals while I was away." Fluttershy said shyly.
"Not a problem Summer." Applejack said as they walked to the Apple Family farm. Fluttershy had been taken in by Apple Jack's family after the magical clash but insisted that she not be made an Apple so she had gone with being a distant cousin to the family and named Summer Monarch. She too was only sixteen and still overly shy for a girl. "Still I feel bad having to leave him with Angel, he can be quite upset when not around me." Fluttershy said covering her face with her hair as she normally does. "Aw don't sweat it sugar cube I bet Mac had... no... trouble.. at... all?" All three looked to Fluttershy's cottage and found it to be a wreck. "What in tarnations? Mac what happened here!" Applejack yelled as the tall blond and former red work pony stepped out of what was once a chicken coop. "Trust me. Y'all don't need to know." Mac said as a shingle hit him on the head. "Ow." With a gentle laugh Luna excused herself and makign sure no one was looking teleported into the office of the Principal of the school.
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Soon Ranma and James found themselves before the high school’s entrance; however, Ranma did wish he had been informed of what kind of high school it truly was before he came. “What kind of school is this?” The school looked just like the one he was in back in Japan however the school he was now looking at was far different. Sure, like his last school this one was both for boys and girls but unlike Furinkan, which had a uniform rule, this one was without uniforms or for that matter a solid metal entrance gate. To Ranma it was quite open, almost too open.
“The one of better education Ranma, allow me to be the first to welcome you to Celestial Moon High.” James replied leading the way inside and was soon met by the Principal of the school, a tall, lovely woman, with long free flowing hair that looked to almost be a pastel rainbow yet a closer look by Ranma showed it to be the way the sun shown off her blond hair and soon read her name tag. According to it her name was Celestial M. Moon. Smiling she came over and greeted the two. “I see we have a new student. Welcome to our school.” Ranma gave a confused look to her unable to understand what was said. “Um he needs a few courses in English Principal Moon.” Principal Moon nodded to James then turned back to Ranma with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. Allow me to welcome you to our school. Since you’re in the need of English classes I believe you’ll need to be placed in year one alongside James here. If you’ll follow me please I’ll not only show you around our campus but get you registered as well if you’re interested in our school. James, translate for me please. I still need to speak normally around the other students.”
James nodded at her and with Ranma in tow showed them both around the school. Amazingly it very much not like your average school as James told him. To one side of the school with its own entrance was the Elementary School which had only one teacher yet quite a number of lab rooms, each for a certain class. Ranma thought it was safety reasons or to help keep the children active while in school. Some of them where quite active as he saw from the way they played on the play-set outside. Next was the Junior High which was a bit bigger than the Elementary and had a few more teachers yet less class rooms. “You’ll have to walk from class room to class room here Ranma. The teachers are the ones assigned class rooms here.” James explained. Ranma nodded at this and tried to take all this in. Lastly was the High school itself. Here Principle Moon explained while James translated to everyone what classes there where along with how each went. To Ranma’s surprise the school was very much unlike Furinkan. Here the classes were all mixed, meaning that both boys and girls had to participate in the same class like PE and even the guys had to take Home Ec. Once done with the tour they were led into Principal Moon’s office and allowed to sit down. “So, how do you feel about our school?”
Ranma just sat back in his chair and shook his head. “Well I won’t lie to you Principal. This is going to take a lot to get used to yet, yes. I am interested in the school however I do have some questions first.” The Principal nodded and gestured for him to ask his questions. “Well first. Does the school have dorms?” The Principal shook her head sadly no. “Sadly no, however we do have a considerable housing nearby that could be to your liking. And they’re fairly priced as well. If you like I could recommend one of the realtors to you.” Ranma smiled and nodded at this and hoped he could afford the house, even if it was a small one. “When does school start and end?” He was soon handed over a pamphlet with most of the answers he had inside of it.
“School starts in the fall and ends before summer the next year unless there are issues with the weather and we have to call off school. We run from Eight o’clock in the morning to four in the afternoon. We have this because we have after school activities or clubs if you will that last till then. Normal school hours however are eight to three thirty.” Ranma nodded at this and with a sigh went back to the hotel with James for the last night then return the next day with a realtor by the name of Lyra. Yet this didn’t stop them from at least watching some of James’ DVDs on his Portable player on the way back. Though the day didn’t go too bad, he could tell tomorrow was going to be a whole new experience.
To be continued