//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Nightmare’s return Part 1: Genma and Soun, the stubborn old fools // Story: Finally at Pegasus A MLP: FIM and Ranma ½ X-Over // by Alicornian //------------------------------// Chapter 13: Nightmare’s return Part 1: Genma and Soun, the stubborn old fools It was finally time to return to classes for Ranma, James, and the girls but this time as second year students. For the rest of December and the first of January Ranma and his other half Ranko been living a semi-normal life. For once Ranma had real friends, ones where there to give him support, kindness, and best of all, true friendship. He also had an actual life and hobby outside the art which he still practiced and studied finding that what Genma and Happosai called Anything Goes was a complete and utter joke but what Ranma studied was. Karate, Tae-kwon-do, Judo, Kendo, the real martial arts not that crazy stuff that was practiced back home. He even came up with his own Ki Attacks in privet and away from town. Yet this life style still had one minor problem, love. Ever since the Christmas Dance Ranko, Ranma’s female half, had been dating Summer Monarch who was Jackie Apple’s cousin. Yet Ranma’s mind had also been on his love back in Japan, Kasumi Tendo. Still life was with no issues other than the usual ones from Blue and his group which still didn’t get the message that it was a bad idea to mess with Ranma’s friends, which led to today. “Seriously, every morning it’s the same thing over and over again Principal Moon.” Ranko said in the Principal’s office. Principal Moon, Princess Celestia of Equestria, just sighed at her nephews antics. Ever since Christmas Blue Royalty, Blueblood to those who knew the truth, had been causing her favorite student Sparkle Sunset, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends trouble. The police, her royal guards, had clearly proven it was Blue Royalty’s group that had destroyed Rarity’s shop along with a few dinners. Today however it had gotten to a boiling point and now a member of Blue’s group had been sent to the hospital do to a broken nose. Ranko had brought her fist up behind her hard enough the poor boy’s nose just gushed blood. It wasn’t a serious break but it had to be reset professionally. “I’m sorry I broke the guy’s nose but they just went too far this time!” Ranko explained getting agitated. “Calm down Ranko and start from the beginning.” Principal Moon said gently. Ranko sighed and began explained the morning’s events. -Earlier- Ranma sighed at his mistake for the day. He had forgotten to wash his guy clothes leaving him with only the Ranko clothes he had gained. It still made no sense to him why he had set the closet in the spare bedroom up with all of his girl side’s clothes and even set it up as if Ranko really was a separate part of himself but he had to ignore that for now. He was about to be late to meet up with James and the girls. Splashing himself with water from the bathroom sink Ranko quickly went through her closet for something nice to wear and choose the pants she had gotten from Rarity with the fire and moon design and a brand new shirt, a phoenix holding a heart shaped jewel designed shirt Summer gave her for Christmas, and quickly dressed. Once set she grabbed her back pack and took off quickly catching up with James on her own bike. “Whoa Ranko, where’s the fire? You’re not that late.” James said smiling. “I know.” Ranko replied next to James. “So… Ranma sick again?” James said knowing of Ranma and Ranko’s secret. “Yeah.” Ranko said before dropping her voice low enough only James could hear. “Actually I forgot to do Ranma’s half of the laundry, all I got to wear for now is my Ranko clothes.” James nodded at this. “Well I hope he gets better. Come on, I see Dashie and the girls up ahead.” Ranko nodded and they quickly caught up to the girls with Summer and Ranko blushing once they were close enough. “H-hi Ranko.” Summer said blushing behind her hair. Ranko smiled at how she looked with her gift in her hair, it was a jeweled butterfly hair pin she had purchased with the help of Rarity. “M-morning Summer.” Ranko said blushing knowing how wrong it was to stare. “Summer and Ranko sitting in a tree~” Dashie slowly sang giggling. “Dashie!” Ranko nearly yelled as both Summer and she turn red. “I’m just kidding guys.” Dashie said smiling to her own love Sparkle. “And you do make a lovely couple darlings.” Rarity said smiling as well. This only made the two blush harder causing everyone to either laugh of giggle till they reached the school entrance and was stopped by Blue himself. “Not this again.” James said tiredly. “Will you just give up already?” Dashie said leaning on her handle bars. “Seem all of you still don’t get it. I won’t stop till you never return to this school. Boys?!” Blue said then ordered. Blue’s flunkies smiled as they slowly surrounded the group. “Don’t make us hurt you Blue.” Ranko warned. “Like you could ever hurt any of us. Get them!” Blue replied then ordered till… crack! “MY NOSE! OH MY NOSE!” -Now- The flunky had jumped Ranko from behind and being the martial artist she was reacted to the threat with a back fisted punch to the face resulting in the break. “So they attacked you first.” Principal Moon summarized. “Yes Ma’am. We were only defending ourselves.” Ranko replied. Principal Moon just sighed. “I was afraid this may happen. I don’t approve of this gang like behavior and sadly must admit that they may have deserved the bruises many of them have gained but to push this to the point of actual harm?” She sighed looking down at her desk. “I will speak to Blue about this personally and inform him that if he does not cease in this behavior I will have no other choice by to hand him and his group over to the police and press charges in the name of those the group had harmed.” Ranko blinked at this but nodded. She didn’t want this school to have a Kuno Reputation like Furinkan High did. “Do what you can Principal Moon, I don’t want to have to fight these guys anymore.” Ranko replied sadly. “I know you don’t Ranko. Your trying to start a new life not renew and old one. Go ahead and head to class while I speak to Blue.” Principal Moon said going to the door and giving Blue a seriously annoyed look which he just smiled at. --- Out in San Francisco a new issue was just arriving. “Finally my friend we have arrived in America.” Soun Tendo said to his current traveling partner Genma. “That we have Tendo. Still where to start searching for the insolent boy?” Genma replied. “We are in a city my friend, let us start here and work outward.” Soun replied smiling. Genma nodded at this. It was always best to servey the area for possible hiding spots before going after the boy. Looking around Genma soon grabbed a free map and opened it up. “Tendo we can use this map to get around.” Soun smiled at this. “Excellent. Where should we start?” Genma just looked at the map. “Well?” Soun asked. “I can’t read it.” Genma said looking to his friend gaining a facepalm. --- Back in Coltsville Ranko was returning home with Summer. “Poor Ranma, being sick for the first day of school.” Summer said sadly. “I know but he’ll be better in no time you know how…” Ranko said till she shivered. “You okay?” Summer asked worried. “Um yeah. I just felt like something cold just ran up my spine.” Ranko replied. “You mean you go a chill?” Summer asked still worried. “Maybe.” Ranko said. “Then you should go home right now and get right in bed. That often the signs of a cold coming on.” Summer said very worried. “It was just a chill Summer but… if you insist.” Ranko said giving her a light kiss on the cheek gaining a blush from both. “Um… later.” Ranko said riding off. “Later.” Summer sighed with deep affection. Once Ranko got home she didn’t go to lay down, she actually went to calm her nerves. “That was no ordinary chill.” Ranko said changing back to her male form. “That was like having the willies and only one set of people would give me that. “ he said gathering his clothes for the wash. “The NWC.” --- “This map make no sense at all Tendo.” Genma complained as they roof hoped from building to building all over San Francisco. “True Saotome, true. Yet we’ve spent all day looking for Ranma and so far there is no sign of him. I suggest we find a place to sleep tonight as well as feed our hungry stumachs.” Soun replied rubbing his stomach. “Too true Tendo. Let us find a place to bed and eat.” Genma replied smiling. Both laughed at their so called genius till both stopped. “You brought money with you did you not Tendo?” Genma asked. Soun and Genma laughed more till Soun stopped and said, “No.” --- For the past week Ranma and Ranko’s teachers have been giving Princess Celestia, Principal Moon to Ranma/Ranko, their concerns about their behavior in class. Absent mindedness, missed assignment deadlines, even burning the cookies Ranko was to do in Cooking Class. “Thank you Bonbon, I’ll make sure that I speak to Ranko about this when I can.” Celestia said to the now leaving Bonbon. “Luna are you there?” Celestia asked to the shadows. For the past week she had not heard a peep from her little sister and became worried as yet again there was no response. “Just what is going on?” She asked herself as she looked over room and Ranma/Ranko’s papers. Outside the school Ranma was currently having lunch with his friends, though a bit more slowly than normal. “Hey Ranma!” Ranma finally looked up to see Dashie looking at his concerned. “You okay, you’re like really spaced out or something.” Ranma looked to the other and soon scratched the back of his head. “Oh yeah, sorry about that. I just got a lot on my mind lately.” Ranma replied. “Like what?” Sparkle asked from her salad. “Just… stuff.” Ranma said looking over to James who blinked then gulped. “Oh come on Ranma you can tell us!” Dashie begged next to him. “It’s personal Dashie, it’s nothing against you girls though.” Ranma replied. “You sure?” Dashie asked looking over to Summer who was humming a little melody while she ate her meal. All the girls knew that Ranko had asked Summer out on yet another date and Summer was excited about it. “I already said my peace on those two. If sis wants to date Summer that’s fine by me.” Ranma replied looking right at Dashie. “Whatever. So have you heard the news about Cliff’s shop?” Dashie said changing subjects. “About the new foal figures coming out?” James asked. “Yeah, heard they’re coming out today.” Dashie replied. “No way. Cliff said those wouldn’t be out till next month.” Ranma said jumping in finally. “Yeah well looks like they released them early so Cliff’s going to hold a big sale today and I was thinking we go and get a few together.” Dashie said blushing toward Sparkle who blushed as well. “Dashie and Sparkle~” Ranma said smiling. “Hey!” Dashie said turning redder as the group laughed. --- Luna/Kasumi paced in her room that night as she looked through the looking glass for the two people she did not want ending up in America, ever. “Where are they?” she said to herself with every pass. “I checked Ireland, Spain, Africa, England, Egypt, everywhere but…” Luna gasped as she finally realized just where the two where. “Oh no. No, no, no.” She quickly turned her looking glass to America and nearly screamed. “They’re here!” --- Soun and Genma had finally had it with the large city. For the past two weeks they’ve checked every store, house, apartment build, condo, hotel, and not one of them could find any trace of Ranma. “Just where is that insolent boy!” Genma said over his stolen burger and fries. “He’s obviously not in the city Saotome, maybe we should try a different tactic.” Soun said over his own stolen meal of burger and fries. “What do you have in my Tendo?” Genma said finishing his fries and trying his best to steal Soun’s. “I believe Ranma may have gone smaller believing that this large city would be too obvious of a hiding spot for him.” Soun said quickly finishing his meal before his friend could. “Hump, you may have a point there Tendo. So where do you believe he went then?” Genma said a bit annoyed of not having enough to eat, ever. “I think he went to a village or a small town. One that he could fool himself into believing he has a free life to live.” Soun said wisely. “Hmm, you have a point there Tendo, but the boy has no free life. He has an obligation to fill!” Genma said boastfully. “To marry one of my daughters!” Soun said joining him. “Uniting the schools!” Genma said smiling. “And letting us live like Kings!” Both said at the same time laughing like idiots causing a few people to carefully walk away from them. --- Ranma breathed hard after his long winded training session. He had to be ready for when they arrived. Going over to the water bottle he brought over along with the spare change of clothes so he could change back and forward from Ranko and himself during the training. Looking around he was glad to have found such a place within riding distance to town. It was an old fashioned and heavily run down Amusement Park. Sighing he quickly changed into Ranko, changed to her clothes and went to scout the area once again. Should any of the NWC come after her she could lead them here and take them on with no one hopefully getting hurt. “Sigh. Why now? Why?” Ranko asked herself running through some katas on a old-fashioned marry-go-round. “Had they just left us alone for three more years… Sigh.” Ranko stopped her katas and sighed. “Who am I kidding? Genma and Soun won’t stop till I wed and join their so called Schools.” Ranko leaned up against one of the old horses, one of many she had been working on in secret as a hobby and had removed so they wouldn’t be damaged in a needed fight. “Then there’s Ryoga. That hot head doesn’t care where he fights as along as he fights me and for what reason? He’s not cursed anymore so why come after me?” Ranko just scoffed at herself. “Akane, of course. It always comes back to her. Really she needs help and if I have to fight her… I will. I’m not letting others get hurt by her stupid anger issues. But… What about Mo… Mrs. Saotome?” Ranko sighed at this. Kasumi’s mother was gone and the only mother she had… she wasn’t fully sure about at the moment. It was true that all Ranko’s troubles started with her mom. Even if one were to argue that her mom didn’t wish for Genma to take her away and had given him a thorough thrashing she still allowed him to take a young child, barely old enough to walk let alone read or talk, on a overly dangerous training trip AFTER making her male form paint her hand on a contract, a contract that clearly stated that if Ranko didn’t become a ‘man among men’ in her eyes that she’d have no choice but to… End her life. Even after many years away from her mother and had finally gotten a chance to tell her the truth about her condition, her mother had accepted her yet the moment she got back with Genma… she began worshiping the ground Genma walked on. If she had no choice but to face her mother, would she? She didn’t know. Then there was Nabiki, knowing her she’d be leading the group but she didn’t have the advantage anymore. Once she had gotten away from Genma her education and understanding was now equal to hers, or was even better. It was the last one he wasn’t too sure about. Ukyo Kunoji, her former friend. She’s seen what she could do when she wasn’t holding back. Could she fight her as well, her former friend? If she had to, yes. Sighing once more she got ready to leave. “So this is where you’ve been training?” Ranko quickly turned into a stance. “Whoa easy it’s me!” James said falling over. “Ugh, don’t sneak up on me like that?!” Ranko yelled before helping him up. “Sorry about that. What’s got you so jumpy anyway?” James asked dusting himself off. Ranko just looked at him before sighing and grabbing her gear. “Oh… Right.” James answered himself remembering. “They’re here James. Here in America, I just know it.” Ranko said grabbing a thermos. James quickly turned as Ranko changed back to Ranma. “Are you sure? I mean we got the local police, the San Francisco Police, the S.W.A.T. team, heck we even got Interpol on them.” James joked but didn’t get a laugh in return. “Seriously, I don’t even think they’d get as far as the Golden Gate Bridge with that OP on them.” Ranma soon walked past him back towards the edge of the Amusement Park. “Personally, I don’t think that’s going to stop them. Genma and Soun are far too stubborn to be stopped by a few officers. Ryoga and Akane… I don’t even want to think how that would go.” Ranma said pulling his bike out from a well hidden and quite protected hiding spot. “Yeah well… Come on. Summer’s going to be worried if you don’t show up for tea with Rarity.” James said grabbing his own bike. “Right.” Ranma said sighing before they both rode off. --- “And even though you both couldn't even understand the language before you came here you didn’t even think once that just maybe it be a good idea to wait for either Nabiki or myself before you did anything!” Nodoka Saotome scolded the two men before her. Unluckily for Genma to have remembered that Nabiki had given all of them not only cell phones but tracking devices should they ever get seriously separated. “But dear if we thought that we might help things along if we started the search before you arrived.” Genma replied with Soun nodding. “Oh really, and just how did that help us find my son?!” Nodoka said, her hand on the hilt of her kendo-ken. She had sent the family sword back home after the trip to Antarctica had caused it to become too brittle to use and needed great amount of tending. “Well Nodoka, we found out Ranma isn’t in this city and we believe he may be in one of the smaller towns of villages.” Soun replied. “And have you found this town or village yet?” Nodoka asked squeezing the hilt of her weapon. “Well, no dear.” Genma answered and quickly spoke more as Nodoka got ready to hit him, “But we did narrow it down to three villages and two towns!” Nodoka stopped at this and thought it over. “Very well, let us go check them but first I have some things to pick up.” Nodoka reached into her kimono sleeve and handed Soun a small handful of money. “Get us a hotel room as well as some American clothing. Do not spend it on anything else. Understand?” Both nodded as Nodoka went to grab her kendo-ken again. “Yes ma’am!” Both said at once. --- “And they had requested yet another set of set of business suits for them both yet this time in wedding colors!” Rarity said excitedly over her tea during lunch the next day. “Wait, you mean our teachers Lyra and Bonny are going to finally tie the note?” Dashie said leaning forward over her own lunch of Salad and apple juice. “I believe so darling, and get this, Lyra came in last night to make a special request I’m not allowed to talk about but I can tell you it will cause quite a reaction.” Rarity said smiling. “What kind of reaction?” Ranko asked over her bento style lunch of rice, eggrolls, and a slice of cake Summer had made for her and Ranma. “YES! OH LYRA YES I WILL!” was heard from the cooking part of the school. “That reaction.” Rarity said with a knowing smile. Ranko blinked at the loud yell and thought of how Kasumi’s reaction would be to her doing the same thing… then she thought about Summer the same way and quickly shook her head blushing. Was she turning into a Kuno? “You alright Summer? Your quite red all of a sudden.” Rarity said looking at her. “No, I’m fine, really.” Sparkle soon leaned over to her and placed a hand over her forehead. “You sure, you might be catching what Ranma head last week.” Ranko quickly backed up. “No really I’m fine!” Jackie just looked at her as she to think of Bonny and Lyra. “Actually, Ah think Ah know what she’s thinking about.” Everyone just looked at Jackie. “And just what is she thinking about Jackie?” Dashie said before everyone turned red. “Let’s uh… change subjects you guys. So… which of you got the new foal figures?” James asked gaining deeper blushes from Dashie, Sparkle, and Summer. --- Nodoka sighed as she watched the scenery go by from her cabin on the old fashioned train to Coltsville. She had made Genma and Soun take the next train for using the money she had given her to buy food for themselves instead of doing as they were told when she had arrived. Sighing she looked to the package she had in her hands. It was from Japan as the writing on it indicated but this was not the package she was worrying about. It was the one in front of her held in the hands of a woman she had not met before yet did not believe was a wise idea to currently cross. “So, you are Ranma and Ranko’s mother?” the woman asked. Nodoka quickly looked to the woman nodding. “Y-yes, yes I am. Forgive me I’m just getting over the shock of all of this.” The woman nodded to her gently. The woman was none other than Principal Celestial M. Moon. It was an odd name for a woman but she was not going to say anything about it since she had promised to aid her as long as she did as she was told thanks to some convincing on her behalf to the local police. “I know but you must know that I was only acting on their behalf.” Principal Moon said gently. Personally Principal Moon would not have helped the woman hadn’t it been for the package in her hands for it was a fully legalized copy of a divorcé decree and had even impressed her when she had even offered to turn her husband and Soun in so she could see her ‘children’. “Still you haven’t explained why you are so desperate to find Ranma and Ranko Miss Nodoka.” Principal Moon pointed out. Nodoka sighed at this. “The twins are the only family I have left now. When I married Genma my father had seen to it I no longer was part of his family and clan and ever since then my life had been… unpleasant, but please understand that I had married Genma out of love back then but…” “But now that you’ve seen the light you wish to correct your mistakes and try to reconnect with your children.” Principal Moon said finishing the thought. “Yes,” Nodoka replied holding the package closer to her, “and if it meant sacrificing honor… what honor was there to actually sacrifice?” Principal Moon switched over to Nodoka’s side of the cabin and gently put her arm around her shoulder. “Your husband sacrificed his honor, all you are going now is redeeming yours.” Nodoka slowly smiled at this. “Thank you.” --- Soun and Genma couldn’t believe their luck. It was as if some kami above was angry with them for trying to gain a good, peaceful, easy going, life. In truth one was, Princess Luna/Kasumi was very angry with them for what they had been constantly planning. Yet this was not on the two men’s minds at the time, no, for their minds were constantly set on one goal and one goal only. Find Ranma! Yet still they could not believe their miserable, kami forsaken, luck for they were now pursued by the local police. Why they didn’t know, as they didn’t see that they had done anything wrong in the city they were in but it was now and issue they became greatly concerned about. It meant they could no longer travel as normal tourist as doing so meant capture. They now had to travel as they had been, like thieves, and forsake the one of their fellow travelers. -Yesterday- “You did WHAT with the money?!” Nodoka yelled at the men. “Nodoka please, it was a simple mistake. We can’t read the languages here, how were we supposed to know what we were buying was so expensive.” Soun said in their defense. “That I can excuse, but what I can’t excuse is what you did AFTER you bought the food!” Nodoka yelled holding up the empty bags of fast food knowing that they ate all of its contents. “Nodoka please we were…” Genma started before his wife glared at him. “No excuses! For this you’ll be taking the next train to our destination. Also since you both seem to like camping so much you can both go sleep on the ground while I seek a hotel. Is this clear?” Nodoka commanded clearly to them. Both Soun and Genma were about to argue till Nodoka gave them a very solid and annoyed look. “Is it clear?” Both gulped at this. “Yes ma’am.” Both responded. “Good.” Nodoka said walking off. “Now what do we do Saotome? Our only source of money has left us do to your gut.” Soun said annoyed. “Do not put the whole blame on me Tendo you ate just as much as I did.” Genma said in return. “I grow tired of this Saotome! Delay after delay! I have not had a smoke nor a drink ever since we left in search for that son of yours and now we must suffer more!” Soun yelled highly irritated. “Calm yourself Tendo we made sure to gain those supplies as well before Nodoka found our meals.” Genma said lifting the food bag tossing a filled flask and a pack of smokes to his friend. “Ah relaxation, where have you been?” Soun said quickly taking a drink and lighting up a smoke. “Better?” Genma asked. “Better.” Soun replied. “Good, now let us find a sturdy tree to rest the night in and tomorrow we drag the boy to the church!” Genma said jumping into a set of trees which Soun soon followed suit. They had been fine for the time being traveling both thief wise as well as normal tourist wise till… “Genma Saotome and Soun Tendo?” Both turned to look at an officer. Both sighed at finally hearing someone that could finally speak like a normal person, in their minds of course. “Yes that would be us.” Soun replied smiling. “I have a warrant for your arrests, please come quietly and no one will get hurt.” The officer said holding up a warrant. Soun’s smile dropped as both stood there till… they ran for it! “Freeze!” the officer yelled as he pursued them. “Tendo what did you do?!” Genma accused. “What I had done?! What of you Saotome?!” Soun said back as they finally took to the roof tops shocking the officer who was trying to figure out just how to report this. After an hour of running both stopped to catch their breathes. “How… how is it... we’re now wanted… in this country.” Soun said coughing. “I… I do not know… Tendo. Yet… I have a guess… what happened.” Genma said finally sitting down. “Well,” Soun said before coughing, “well what was it?” Genma shook his head at this. “Not what Tendo, it’s who. The boy must have done this to us.” Soun’s eyes widen in shock of this. “But that’s impossible!” Genma shook his head no. “It’s clear the boy had been corrupted b this country’s ways and now sees it that what we have done for him is against the law. Oh how did I gain such and ungrateful heir?!” Genma said sagely then wined. “There, there, Saotome, we’ll show the error of his ways when we find him. However this now raises a new problem.” Soun said comforting his friend as he offered the flask over. Genma took a drink from the flask and handed it back over to Soun. “What would that be Tendo?” Soun took a drink as well and sighed at the long forgotten taste. “If the police are after the two of us what of Nodoka. She does have all our traveling money after all.” Genma nodded at this issue and thought on it. “Forget her. This entire trip has been an issue with her along and we can always gain money the old fashioned away.” Genma finally replied looking to Soun. “Are you sure? What if she turns on us and tries to turn us in to safe herself?” Soun asked. “Then she can rot for all I care.” Genma snarled. “Ever since that woman accepted the boy’s curse they two have constantly foiled our plans over and over and I will no longer stand for it. If I must sacrifice her for the good of the Schools then so be it!” Soun gaped at this but soon nodded. The joining of the Schools was for more important than one single woman’s concerns. -Now- After agreeing to leave Nodoka behind to the police they jumped onto the top of the first train to their newest destination, Coltsville, and prayed that they found Ranma soon. --- Ranma sighed as he whipped his brow and surveyed his work. Before him was his newest and fully restored Marry-go-round horse that he had decorated like one of the pony figures from the past. It was a lot of work but having full sized figures alongside his smaller ones were not only a blessing but satisfying hobby to have. He carefully walked around the now life sized figure of Generation 1’s Twilight and nodded at his work. It looked just like it did in the show and had taken him over two weeks to repair, paint, and seal but it was finally done. Sighing he looked over to his other Generation 1 works. So far he had made one each for Sparkle, Jackie, Pinkie, Rarity, James, and Summer. Nodding he went to go clean up and get the very last Marry-go-round horse from the Amusement Park. He and James checked all the other horses on the Marry-go-round and found only seven of the ten horses on the ride were repairable. Once cleaned up he hooked up the cart he had borrowed from James and rode off towards his final project never knowing four people were now looking for him. Two of which just arrived at his home, late. “Here it is Miss Nodoka. The house we have on record your children now own.” Principal Moon said smiling. Nodoka looked to the house then back to the kind hearted Principal. “I… I’m not sure I can do this.” Nodoka said nervously. “Breath Miss Nodoka. You’ve searched for your children for a full year and now, here they are.” Principal Moon said gently gesturing to the house. “I… I know but… what if they still hate me or worse don’t wish to even speak to me.” Nodoka said becoming more worried. “You’ll never know, till you try.” Principal Moon said smiling. Sighing Nodoka steeled herself and slowly went up to the door and knocked. Both waited till… “Principal Moon? What are you doing here?” Both turned to see James with a set of groceries. “Introducing someone to Ranma and Ranko. We were hoping to surprise them.” Principal Moon replied looking to James. James looked from the Principal to the other woman and looked her over before dropping his groceries. “Principal Moon get away from her!” Nodoka became shocked at this as James got between them. “James calm…” James pointed at Nodoka angrily. “Principal Moon that’s Nodoka Saotome! You need to call the police quickly!” Nodoka quickly held up her hands. “Wait you don’t understand.” James looked at her angrily. “I understand plenty. No way am I letting you and your lazy excuse for a husband take Ranma and Ranko with you to Japan!” “James! That is enough!” Principal Moon yelled behind him. “But Principal Moon…” James started till Principal Moon raised her hand. “James I believe we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot so let us start over. This is Miss Nodoka, FORMALLY of the Saotome Clan. She’s here to reconcile with her children and try to become a family once again.” Principal Moon said as Nodoka bowed and received a slow bow in return from James. “You sure this is wise Principal Moon, I mean we’ve both heard Ranma and Ranko’s history with those in Nerima Ward and well…” Nodoka soon looked to James. “Mr. James, I’m sure you are only trying to do what you believe is right for your friends but… what Principal Moon has said is true.” She handed over the packet she had with her and allowed James to look over the paper work. “No way… Um well I uh… it seems I owe you an apology Nodoka-san. Yet… what about your ex-husband? He’s not here with you is he?” James said handing the package back. “None needed Mr. James. You were doing what you felt was right, as for my Ex…” Nodoka said holding the package close to her, “I hope the police lock him and Soun away for good.” James’ eye widened at this. “So they’re really here?!” Nodoka blinked at this before she gasped forgetting that they were in America! --- “And…” Ranma said carrying the horse to his hidden bike and cart, “there!” Ranma breathed a sigh of relief that he got it onto the cart in one piece. The trek through the dense weeds and woods was not only a hard work out but it was also a bit of an issue while carrying the horse. Covering it back over making sure it was well hidden he went back to the Amusement Park to scout it out one last time before heading home. “Sigh. Okay…” Ranma said to himself as he slowly walked through the place till he got to the very center of the Park. “You can come out now you two I know your there.” Ranma said as both Soun and Genma came out of hiding. "Insolent boy, how dare you run off like this. Have you no honor?!” Genma said angrily. “Not the kind of honor you have Pop.” Ranma replied not even looking at him nor taking up any kind of stance. “Insolent boy! How dare you disrespect your father! Your sensei!” Genma said. “Your no father of mine, Genma.” Ranma said coldly. “What?! How dare you…” Genma said ready to attack when Soun placed his arm in front of him. “Ranma we are not here to argue. We’re here merely to talk to you and try to come to some kind of solution like honest men.” Soun said carefully. “You’re a pretty poor excuse for a ‘honest’ man Mr. Tendo.” Ranma said causing Soun to flinch. “I… I guess we deserved that Ranma. Now try to understand that we’re only wishing for our two schools to be joined. It’s quite obvious that you don’t wish to marry Akane so we won’t push you to marry here anymore.” Soun said smiling. “Go on.” Ranma said turning his head just a little. “As you already know Ranma the agreement between Genma and I was that if one of my girls were to marry you and carry on the Dojo then honor would be upheld. There was nothing in the agreement that said that you to marry JUST Akane. You could try your luck Nabiki, she’s a smart girl and can easily handle the budget and finances.” Soun said smiling more. “How about… no.” Ranma said turning his head back away from them. “But… why not? Surely she much better choice than Akane.” Soun argued. “Yeah, if you were a Yakuza thug. All the money your Dojo stands on is money she gained through blackmail and threats. No way I’d marry Akane or Nabiki. However…” Ranma said smiling to himself. Soun flinched more at this and soon gulped. “However?” Ranma turned fully to look at them. “However I wouldn’t mind marrying your daughter Kasumi. She’s the sweetest, kindest, caring, motherly, tender, heartfelt, person I know and I would be honored to have her hand in marriage if you’re so desperate for the schools to be joined.” Soun growled at this. “It’s… true about what you said about Kasumi but… no. I think she be a bad choice you Ranma, as she’s… not wishing to marry.” Soun said trying to hold his tongue. “Really?” Ranma said acting shocked. “That can’t be right…” Ranma paused for dramatics, “Because I already proposed to her when I left.” This caused both Soun and Genma to drop their jaws. “Yep, once we get everything settled we’ll be happily married and you won’t have any worry about the schools.” Ranma said smiling. Soun grounded his teeth at this but Genma carefully calmed him down before smiling to Ranma. “That’s excellent boy, I knew you would come to your senses someday.” Ranma nodded. “Yeah I did, Genma.” Genma blinked at this. “Because I won’t be teaching you false school. I’ll be teaching mine.” Genma and Soun soon started to growl at this. “Oh and don’t even think about me returning to Japan, I’m a legal American now so you take me from here you’ll not only have the local police on your heads you’ll have Interpol as well but hey not to worry you two. Since I’m marrying Kasumi you won’t have to worry about your so called honorable pledge as I am marrying A Tendo.” Ranma said smiling. “You will not be marrying Kasumi!” Soun shouted angrily. “Oh and why not?” Ranma said smiling. “I did not want to tell you this Ranma but you leave me no choice. Kasumi is not truly a Tendo! We found her out in the woods with no parents at all. So you can’t marry her, she’s not a Tendo!” Soun yelled fully smiling at having the upper hand. “Good. I’d hate for her to have any real relation to a lazy good-for-nothing slob like you.” Ranma said proudly. Soun stopped and gaped a few times his mind overloaded. “Boy you’ll marry a Tendo even if it kills you!” Genma yelled jumping at Ranma. Ranma sighed as he quickly turned and slammed hi heal into Genma’s face. “Ugh… that does it boy. No more games!” Genma said after getting back up from the blow and whipping the blood away from his now bleeding nose. “Fine by me Genma,It's on!” Ranma said jumping towards Genma who gave Genma a three punch combo to his face. Genma skid back and growled, “I’ll get you for that. Soun!” Soun quickly jumped behind Ranma to punch him but Ranma quickly turned and gave him the hardest right hook he ever used sending Soun through one of the old game stands and to the ground skipping a few times till he slammed up against the old and heavily rusted chain fence that once surrounded the park. “Stay down.” Ranma said quickly taking up a stance Genma had never seen before. “How dare you. Fine I won’t hold back now! Umi-Sen Ken!” Genma said taking up the stance of The Silent Thief. “That old thing. Fine, come on.” Ranma said gesturing him to attack first. “Fine.” Genma said fading from view. Ranma sighed as he waited in his stance till he quickly turned and landed a solid hammer kick to Genma’s gut causing him to not only reveal himself but also hold his gut. “H-how…” Genma didn’t have time to retaliate as Ranma quickly followed up with his signature Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken or Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire Fist causing Genma to fly to the entrance of the House of Mirrors. “Ugh… let see what you can do when you can’t tell who is who!” Genma yelled running inside. Ranma just shook his head already knowing the layout of the Mirror Maze. Ranma quickly ran in ready to finally end the fight. --- Genma breathed heavily as he used the mirrored halls hide himself for Ranma. As he recovered he ran his mind over the current fight. Somehow Ranma saw past his opening move for the Way of the Silent Thief and had serious taken out Soun in one single blow. Also Ranma had become faster, far father than he was over a year ago. How and why he couldn’t figure out as living in America should have made him soft and vulnerable yet instead it had done the opposite. He was now strong and most of all well skilled. Yet he was not going to lose this fight, no, for he had the advantage this time. He had the Art, the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial arts and nothing, NOTHING could beat it. “Give it up Genma! Just turn yourself into the local Police and we can be done with this!” Ranma yelled from somewhere. “Ha! Like I would lose to the likes of you Boy! I taught you everything I know!” Genma said getting a large handkerchief ready. “Not everything. You didn’t teach me the Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire Fist or the Heaven Blast of the Dragon or even the Soul of Ice. Cologne did. She taught me more that you could ever teach me and more. Also when I came here I studied the real martial arts not you poor excuse for an art.” Ranma said getting closer to the very center of the Maze where Genma laid waiting. “You lie!” Genma said already executing part one of his one and only finisher by grabbing everything around him and putting it into his large handkerchief. He didn’t want to use the techique but he knew Ranma would survive it. “Do I Genma? Let’s try Karate, Judo, Tae-kwon-do, Kendo, or let’s do better name REAL martial artists, like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet-Li…” Ranma said before turning to face Genma who was now above him, “Me!” Genma soon tossed down his final attack at Ranma. “Yasha Tankai Hō!” Genma yelled smiling. “Idiot!” Not Ranma but Ranko yelled as she crossed her arms and tossed them out creating not a tornado of wind but a whirling tornado of flames which engulfed the famed Deep-Sea Demon Wrap and instead of sucking the items inside sent them flying right back at Genma hitting him with burning pieces of rubble, glass, rusted up nails and whatever else Genma had stuffed into the deadly pack. After the burning tornado was finished Genma fell right before Ranko heavily burned and greatly injured, a few of the rusted items having caused gashes over his body. “H-how… the Deep-sea… Demon Wrap… was designed to… steal the vacuum… from the attack… and cause a reverse vacuum… to bury the opponent.” Genma said weakly. “It’s because I didn’t create a vacuum idiot. I created a clash of temperatures.” Ranko said down to him. “But… the Hiryū Shōten Ha… it’s a wind attack… how…did… you… ugh…” Genma said before finally passing out. Sighing Ranko picked up a small rock and using the last of the heat around her pushed it into the middle of his back giving him the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion, a technique Happosai, the old lecher and so called Grand Master of Genma and Soun’s Anything goes Martial Arts, and once used on Ranma after he had once stopped one of Happosai's perverse raids. The technique was simply done by burning a mark in a certain spot on the opponent's body reducing their strength to that of a baby and was only reversible with a counter-Moxibustion that only one person knew of, his ally and Sensei Cologne of the Chinese Amazon Tribe. And knowing her she’d never cure him. She soon grabbed Genma and dragged him out of the building and dropped him next to Soun doing the same technique him she had used on Genma before finally dropped to the ground. “I… think I… used to much Ki… on that last technique…” Ranko said before flopping onto the ground breathing hard. As she recovered she slowly tried to remember what Genma was saying and also just what technique she had used. “But… the Hiryū Shōten Ha… it’s a wind attack… how…did… you… ugh…” Ranko brought her arm up to her head confused. “Just what was he talking about? And why didn’t that technique feel like the Heaven Blast of the Dragon. What was it and… how did I pull it off?” Ranko asked herself. Sure she had been practicing the Heaven Blast of the Dragon to make it less time consuming but what was used… “What was that?” Ranko finally asked as she finally looked to her hand. “Huh? When did I change to a girl?” --- James, Nodoka, and Principal Moon and the Coltsville Police all ran to find Ranma at the Amusement Park to warn him before they all stopped at the sound of a large tornado not only forming but also a large flame thrower being used at the same time. “What was that?!” A Officer soon yelled pointing up to… everyone gasped at what they saw. “No way… it that the Heaven Blast of the Dragon?” James said looking at the now dissipating burning tornado. “No, the Heaven Blast of the Dragon is a wind technique. That is not wind.” Nodoka said very scared. “Then we best hurry. Who knows what trouble…” Principal Moon started till. “Hey!” Everyone turned to see Ranko dragging two people through the brush. “Ranko?” Nodoka asked stepping towards her. “Oh no…” Ranko said dropping the men she was dragging ready to run. “Wait Ranko, she’s not here to take you back to Japan.” Principal Moon said stopping her. “Yeah right.” Ranko said still ready to run. “It’s true Ranko, take a look at these.” James said handing Nodoka’s file over. Ranko took the file carefully and looked the papers over. “You… your divorcing him? But why? I thought… Can someone fill me in here?!” Ranko said finally looking at all of them. “We will when we return to town. Now, who are those men with you?” Principal Moon said gently. Ranko gently kicked the men over and Nodoka gasped. “Genma and Soun?! Ranko you didn’t…” Ranko held up her hands. “Whoa easy, I just found these guys laying a few miles from the old Amusement Park that way.” Ranko said gesturing toward away from where the Park really was. “I found them like this and even though I hate their guts I just couldn’t let them die out here.” Nodoka looked to the two men not fully believing the story but nodded to it. “Still what happened to them?” Ranko pulled out a bent up container of some kind and handed it over to one of the officers. “I’m not sure but I found this in the middle of a camp fire.” The Officer looked it over before giving it a sniff. “It’s a flask. The two must have dropped it and cause that fire we saw earlier.” Ranko gasped at this acting in surprise. “You mean that little thing cause that explosion?” The Officer put it into an evidence bag. “If contained yes. Just be glad you weren’t around when it went off.” Ranko nodded at this. “We’ll take these guys to the hospital then make sure they get a nice comfy cell once they recover.” The Officer said gesturing to the rest of the group. “You four head on back to town, we got it covered here.” The small group nodded as they carefully made their way to Ranko’s bike and then to town. --- It was finally nightfall by the time Ranko was done giving her statement to the police when she and Nodoka returned to her house. Once inside Ranko turned to her former mother and held up the file Nodoka had shown her and the police had copies of. “So… you’re really doing it? Why?” Nodoka sighed at this and looked Ranko right in the eye. “Because Ran-ko. I learned over this past year that what I had done… was wrong. I should never have backed Genma after that wedding and as I traveled with him… I found that being more and more true. Genma… Genma cares nothing for me nor you, our own child. All he cared about was the joining of the schools and… and himself. Oh Ranma can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?” Ranko just looked at her for a few moments before sighing and gesturing to a couch while she took a chair. “Okay… explain this again to me but… better.” "Ranma… I…" Nodoka started, almost losing her nerve. "I'm sorry." Ranko's face actually showed a look of surprise and hope for a second, before she slowly buried it. "Sorry about what?" She asked, keeping the hope she felt hidden. When she had last seen her mother Ranko had thought that she would never give up on her rather strange view of honor and so called ‘Manliness’. For some time she had expected that having placed the OP on Nodoka and resigning herself to never seeing or speaking for that matter to her ever again would be the best choice for her and Kasumi but maybe, just maybe, she could give Nodoka a second chance with her now that she was the path to redemption. "Ranma I'm sorry I let Genma take you away on that trip when you were young, I'm sorry you were forced to hide from me for months due to that stupid contract and… I'm sorry that I put my personal honor above my child's happiness." Nodoka said, beginning to cry. "I just… Ranma it was all I had for so long and I… I…" She broke down into full tears this time. As much as Ranko wanted to she resisted the urge to get up and comfort her. Could she trust this woman who had sided with the man who tortured him for so many years? She wouldn’t know until she heard everything. After she had regained her composure, Nodoka looked up. “Ranma… When I married your ex-father my clan saw to it to remove me from them. They warned me about his behavior and his teachings but I didn’t listen because… because back then I thought I was marrying for love. I… I know now that that was not what Genma wanted.” Nodoka soon looked down to the floor sadly. "Can you forgive me, my son?” She asked, hopefully. Ranko couldn’t believe her ears and soon stood up. “I… need to think on this for a moment. Let me go change and I’ll tell you my answer.” Nodoka looked up to Ranko giving a small smile and nodded as it was possibly all she would get for now. Walking first to her bedroom then to the bathroom she began thinking over the last few moments when they had returned to Coltsville. When they returned the girls who were his dear friends now greatly fussed over him, Summer being the most concerned making sure she wasn’t harmed at all which she had seen how Nodoka had mildly reacted to how she and Summer where with each other. Then there was that apology Nodoka had just given. It had sounded so heartfelt, but how could he know that she wouldn't just start up the same stuff she had done before if he forgave her. Back then he had been greatly thrilled to have his mother back in his life but in doing so he had to face her expectations in life and he did not want that again. Sighing he tried to come up with some way to finally have the mother he desperately wanted all his life till an idea finally came to him. It was a risky move but if it finally meant having Nodoka in his life he would give it a shot but, Nodoka would have to work for it. After changing he decided to use his idea. --- “Nodoka.” Ranko said entering the room. Nodoka looked up slowly and looked to her child. “Y-yes Ran-ko?” Nodoka said worried. "I’ve thought over what you’ve told me along with your apology in BOTH male and female forms and I have come to my decision.” Ranko said with eyes closed. “I… I’m ready for whatever you decided Ranma.” Nodoka said holding her had low. “Nodoka… I’m sorry but the answer is No." Nodoka soon looked up in complete shock. "N… No? But… but why Ranma?" She asked, her eyes widening. "Nodoka I can't forgive a mother who'd willingly threaten to off her own child because he wasn't "Manly" enough to meet up to her expectations and ways and I fear if I did so we would go into that form of relationship again…” Ranko said calmly. Nodoka slowly nodded and got up to leave but was soon stopped by Ranko putting a gentle hand on her shoulder smiling at her. “But ‘we’ wouldn't mind having Aunty Nodoka around again." It took Nodoka a second or two to process what Ranma had said, her head shooting up with a mixture of shock, happiness, and disbelief. "Really? Are you sure?" She asked. "Yeah. No problem, Aunty Nodoka. Having you join our family once again and just Ranma would just start all of the crap all over again, but as both Ranma and Ranko, we can’t really just completely ignore you." Ranko replied smiling at her. "Thank you Ranko. Thank you so much." Nodoka said hugging her former son in a vice like hug. "Can't breathe… need air…" Ranko choked, her face turning blue. Nodoka quickly let go and soon laughed happily. Then, she looked around the house. "It's really too bad you've got such a small house, Ranko." She said sadly. "Huh? Why?" Ranko asked confused. "Well, to be honest Ranko, I don't really have enough money to stay in a hotel for more than the next few days, and having traveled with Soun and Genma so long I’m afraid I may have nearly tapped out my account. I would return home but since my clan had kicked me out I had hoped to have killed two birds with one stone, and stayed with you." Nodoka said frowning. Ranko was shocked at this and soon looked contemplative for a few minutes. The house sadly was only set up for two people to live in it with separate bedrooms and sadly there was no actual room for her to stay in. Also she had to fill Nodoka in on how to go about talking to everyone about Ranma and herself along with her current relationships with Kasumi and Summer. It wasn’t till something caught her attention and turned her sight to the newspaper from yesterday that was poking out from next to the couch. Picking it up, she began to read one of the for hiring add and a small smile spread across her face. "I think I have an idea." She said, slowly. --- “Now arriving at Gate 14 from Greece.” An announcer called as a jet finally pulled in. “We’re finally here.” A girl with helmet like black hair said as she stepped of the terminal. “Good, I was about to bash that pervert next to us.” The other girl said angrily. “Let’s not call any attention to ourselves till we find Daddy and see what we can do from there.” The Helmet hair one said as she walked out towards the exit. “Fine but if we find Ranma… he’s mine.” To be continued.