Untitled

Disclaimer:  All of these charaters belong to their respective creators.  
The short version. ;)

*thoughts*
<Telepathy>
[Signs]
^emphasis^
SHOUTS
	Ranma Saotome was intently studying the legendary 
training ground of Jusenkyo.  Dozens of pools covered the area, with 
bamboo polls crisscrossing the area.  Also there were all kinds of 
signs posted at the edge of the grounds and by each of the pools.  A 
strange place for a training ground and he just couldn't get rid of the 
feeling that he had been here before, but he was fairly sure he had 
never been to China until this training trip.
	"Hey pop, have we ever been here before." Ranma asked
	"No, why," and with that Genma Saotome's foot lashed out 
in a kick that cought Ranma under the chin and sent him flying for 
one of the pools.
	"No no you must be careful of the pools." Wailed the Guide 
as he ran toward them waving his hands in the air.
	But his warning never register with the two combatants as 
Ranma grabbed one of the polls and deftly flipped up onto it.  Just in 
time to catch his father with a kick between the eyes as Genma 
jumped toward the same bar.
	"Because it feels familiar, thats why," replied Ranma as his 
father splashed into the pool waiting below.
	With an enraged bellow a giant panda jumped out of the 
pool where Genma had just fallen.  Then leaped to Ranma's poll and 
bashed him in the head sending him flying into one of the other 
pools.
	Ranma suddenly realized he was trying to breath water when 
he felt a sensation he just dimly remembered.  A faint tingling in the 
back of his mind seemed to want him to dive deeper in the pool.  
There on the bottom of the pool was a mark that he knew he had seen 
before.
	On the bottom of the pool was a dragon as seen flying from 
above. The symbol was glowing a bright blue-green shot through 
with silver sparks. *OK dragon symbol, wait GLOWING dragon 
symbol.  What is this?*  On an impulse Ranma traced the dragon and 
could feel something running up his arm.  Then he was suddenly and 
violently yanked from the pool.  He looked around and saw his father 
and the guide armed with long hooked polls starring at him.
	"Hey what are you staring at you -" Ranma was cut off as 
the whole place started shaking.
	"EARTHQUAKE !" shrieked the Guide 
	[RUN FOR IT !] was the Panda's response.
	Then just as suddenly as it started it was over.
	"What happened to you," asked the Guide.  "I've never 
heard of the spring of drowned ^glowing^ girl."
	"Huh ," was all Ranma got out before he looked down at 
himself and notice that he was definitely a she and glowing a bright 
blue-green with silver sparkles.  Then she passed out cold.
	"So you see cold water activates it and hot water restores 
you," explained the Guide as the darkness receded. 
	"I had the strangest dream that Pop turned into a panda and I 
turned into a girl and started glowing," said Ranma as he sat up and 
notice that his voice was a little higher than normal.
	The Guide explains everything to Ranma and then they 
depart.  Unnoticed by anyone a three foot winged silver dragon ,with 
emerald eyes, surfaces in the spring of drowned girl.
	"I can't believe he didn't remember!  Some master mage he 
is!" Grumbls the dragon as he flies off in pursuit of a pig-tailed 
young man and his father.

***

	Ranma 1/2 storyline until after the defeat of saffron and the 
destruction of the wedding with the exception that Ranma dreams of 
a dragon and someone named Star.  Sailor Moon until after Hotaru's 
rebirth.  It's been two years of just minor unrelated demon attacks.  
The inner scouts are sixteen and the outers are twenty, but due to the 
destruction of  their school during the end of the Pharaoh Ninety 
affair, and a little planing, Michuru and Haruka are still in the same 
school with the inners. Hotaru is 15.  During this time a certain silver 
dragon has been looking for a certain pig-tailed boy.

	"Ranma no baka!" Akane yelled as she malleted Ranma into 
the early Sunday morning sky after he declined to try her breakfast 
on the basis that it would be hard on his health.
	"There you are!" greeted the silver dragon as Ranma shot by 
and the dragon gave pursuit.
	"Huh," was all Ranma could say as he came down for a 
landing in a grove of trees, suspiciously without water.  This tended 
to mean fate had a worse card to play.
	"I've finally found you!" shouted the dragon on seeing him 
standing in the trees.
	"Who are you and what does it have to do with me?" asked 
Ranma suspiciously.
	"You really don't remember do you?" inquired the dragon.
	"Would I be asking if I did, Star?" responded a Ranma who 
was wandering what he had done to set Akane off this morning.
	"What did you call me?" asked the dragon in a sharp tone.
	"Uh, Star why," said Ranma. *Now why did I call him 
that?* wandered Ranma.
	"Because that's my name!" yelled the dragon
	"Then why are you so upset?" asked a genuinely confused 
Ranma.  He then reflected that a dragon grinding his teeth had a 
peculiar sound.
	"Here let me jog your memory," smirked the dragon and 
before Ranma could react to the tone the dragon stretched out to full 
length and spun on his long axis quickly blurring into a solid line of 
silver.  Then without knowing why Ranma held out his hand and 
grabbed what should have been the dragon's tail but was instead the 
hilt of a finely crafted katana that would make his mother turn green 
with envy.  *That emerald in the hilt seams to be awfully bright* he 
noted.  That was all he registered as a battle aura of blue-green shot 
with silver sparks flared around him and a wave of magic crashed 
over him.

***

	"What the hell was that!" yelled Sailor Pluto as a wave of 
energy flared out from Tokyo.  The explosion of energy had been 
intense enough to shake her out of a sound sleep in her bedroom in 
castle Chrono, which was orbiting Pluto.  She smiled as she 
recognizing the energy signature.  *So he did survive the destruction 
of the Moon Kingdom, took him long enough to wake up.  But then 
again he never was a morning person,* she thought with a smile as 
she walked to the library and sat staring at a painting of a young man 
with a black pig-tail and blue eyes, who was wearing a silver suit 
with a blue-green cape.  He was standing with an arm around Pluto 
who was in a dark green ball gown.  *I wander if he still remembers 
me?* 

***

	Ranma laughed and cried as memories crash over him like 
Tsunamis.  Years ago he had posed as a minor noble from the Moon 
Kingdom.  Most had thought he was the Queen's lover because he 
spent so much time in the palace that the young princess Serenity had 
stared calling him uncle.  In truth he was a Warrior mage and a high 
ranking lord from Earth, but what few people had ever known was 
that he had been the commander of the Crescent Guard, responsible 
for the safety of the royal family.  Other changes as well, he 
remembers hours learning manners, court graces, and a Ph.D. in 
magic. His stance and tactics were stream lined from decades of 
practicing with some of the greatest masters of the art to ever live.  
His fear of cats was gone replaced by remembering his friend Tiger, 
the creator of the Nekoken.  In an instant he remembered the nekoken 
and dozens of other style, some had been dead for centuries.
	"I remember!" he shouted into the clear Sunday morning air.
	"Well your going to start a forest fire with that ego-err, aura.  
Why don't you put it away." commented Star as the sword wavered 
leaving a silver dragon in its place.
	"Spoilsport," laughed Ranma as the aura was absorbed by 
his skin instead of just dissipating, which left him with most of the 
benefits but without the neon sign.  He then quickly set the long 
forgotten spells that concealed his aura and his magic.  "Where's 
Fire?"
	"She should be on her way to the Tendos' place as we 
speak," said Star while watching Ranma bring up his shields and 
defenses.  *Now I see the commander of the Crescent Guard, instead 
of the kid,* he thought as he studied the shields, a work of art both 
in tactics and because he tended to layer shields to create designs, 
crafted by one of the greatest battle mages ever to grace the solar 
system.
	"Well then I'll race ya, ready, set, go," shouted Ranma as he 
blurred forward at better than sixty miles an hour.
	"Cheater," countered Star as he flapped in pursuit at a like 
speed.
	They shot back toward the Tendo dojo.  Ranma weaving in 
and out of cars and pedestrians alike and Star moving like a silver 
arrow straight at it.  Along the way Ranma almost absent mindedly 
smacked a fleeing purse snatcher into a police car and helped an old 
lady cross the street, at about mach one.  *Good thing her hair was 
already white or that trip would have done the job.* thought Star as 
he watched his old friend at play for the first time since the fall of the 
Silver Millennium.  Small, benevolent spells were fired off almost at 
random.  Heal a tree there, knock that ball out of the street, and 
generally nice guy things.
	< I never realized how much I missed my magic,> Ranma 
said.
	<Well its time for the shirt design routine.>
	They, or rather a pig-tailed martial artist with a silver dragon 
embroidered on his shirt arrived in a fairly short amount of time.  His 
run had settled him down so he was just happy not bouncing off of 
the walls like he had been.
	"Good morning," greeted Kasumi cheerfully.  "You look 
like your in a good mood now."
	"Better than you know," laughed Ranma.
	"Breakfast will be ready in a second," called Kasumi as 
Ranma all but flew up the stairs and into his room.  <You have no 
idea how great it is to see you again Fire.> he said as he pealed 
another silver dragon design off of his pillow.  As he did so it became 
a real three foot long dragon matching the one that pealed itself off of 
his shirt. 
	 <Hello Ranma.> was all Fire had time to say as a creaking 
floor board announced another presence and they quickly faded into 
shirt designs.
	"Morning, son," Genma said cheerfully as he tried to punch 
Ranma out the window.
	"Uh not this morning, dad, I gatta take care of some things," 
Ranma said as he casually tossed his father out the window and into 
the pond.
	"Bye guys I'll see you later," Ranma said as he shot down 
stairs and out the door.
	"Was that Ranma, and did he just skip a meal?" asked 
Akane as she stared after the vanishing figure.

***

	Ranma was sitting on a park bench catching up on old times 
with two of his oldest friends that just happen to look like 
embroidery on his shirt right now.
	<So how have you two been?> asked Ranma.
	<Well, and you?> responded Fire.
	As Ranma told them the tale of his currant life.  He started 
shifting through his memories to see what he could do about his 
curse.  Then it hit him.
	<Star, the fact that Jusenkyo even ^exists^ is my fault isn't 
it?>
	<Huh, where did that come from and how could it be?>
	<The shape changing experiments I was working on just 
before the end.  The lab would have been in about the right area and 
the explosion of power when the Silver Crystal was used add in the 
rest of that mess of magic when all of the battle spells and what was 
left of the Moon Kingdom's magic exploded resulted in a bunch of 
pools that shape change with an unpredictable trigger, it just 
happened to settle on water since the potion was stored as a liquid.>
	<Hmm, I hadn't thought of that possibility but your 
probably right.> replied Fire.
	<Then I really am responsible for Ryoga's curse.  
Fortunately since the shape change was my spell to start with it 
makes it really simple to cure it.>
	<And how would that be?> asked Star.	
	<Well the trigger is the result of ... well a mess of different 
magics, but the shape change spell was one ^I^ designed and now 
that I remember how I did it, all I have to do is change the target.  In 
Ryoga's case I change the target shape from a pig to Ryoga, then 
he'll still transform when splashed but he'll turn into Ryoga.>
	<Effectively curing him.  Your starting to think like an 
engineer.> said Fire.
	<Huh?>
	<The acronym KISS, keep it simple stupid.>
	<Who're you callen stupid, lizard?> laughed Ranma as he 
started considering how to get out of his girl problems and not the 
kind that comes with cold water.

***

	"MOON SPIRAL HEART, ATTACK" shouted Sailor Moon as 
she smashed what looked like a six foot tall spider with her giant 
pink heart.  This being the sixth or seventh one for the battle the 
scouts were starting to get worried.
	"Wow, am I glad thats over," said Mars from off to the side 
as no more spiders jumped to the attack.
	"You know what the best part of being super heroes is?" 
asked Jupiter, who was looking around the school yard.
	"What?" asked Mercury, who was using the mercury 
computer to see if there were any more spiders, or if it was over for 
the night.
	"We don't have to explain the mess or pay the damages," 
Jupiter responded as she pointed at what had been the school before 
the fight, now it was a wreck.  The walls had some big holes in them 
and at least one of the sailor attacks had apparently hit a gas main 
because it had exploded taking out the cafeteria.  A couple of 
moderately sized Silence Glaive Surprises had leveled a wing pretty 
thoroughly all by themselves.  Finally there were several holes that 
looked like boulders had smashed into the roof of the gym from 
above, completely destroying the basketball court.
	"Uh, lets get outa here before the fire department gets here," 
said Venus from off to the side.
	The next morning.  
	"Oh no, why me," complained Usagi as the teachers 
explained that do to the destruction of the school everyone had to 
show up thirty minutes earlier so the students could take the buses 
over to Furinkan High school.

***

	Monday morning was starting in the Tendo home and it 
wasn't business as usual.  The morning started funny when Genma 
never got a chance to wake his son up.
	Ranma had woken up early, about six, and headed down 
stairs to start  breakfast.  He had decided yesterday that he was going 
to change the life he had into a life he could live with.  The start was 
that his pop had little or nothing to say about his lifestyle anymore, 
preferably nothing.  The second part was the call to Cologne asking 
her to come over for breakfast.
	"Oh my," said Kasumi as she walked into the kitchen and 
saw Ranma with a spoon in one had stirring batter in a bowl that was 
being held in the air by the spoon in question, with his other had 
Ranma was tossing several oranges into the air and slicing them into 
quarters, while waiting for the skillet to heat up.
	"Morning, Kasumi," said Ranma with out slowing down.
	"Oh my, why are you cooking breakfast, and what are you 
cooking for breakfast?"
	"Well I decided that for all the work you do around here you 
should have a morning or two off.  This is something I've haven't had 
in a long time, its called pancakes."  <Several thousand years counts 
as a long time I should think,> he thought to Star, who was attached 
to his shirt again.  "Could you hand me that pitcher?"
	<Sounds about right to me,> replied Star.
	"Here you go.  Do you need any help?" asked Kasumi as she 
handed him the pitcher.
	"Nah, you just sit back and relax.  Oh and you don't have to 
tell anyone I'm the one who made breakfast."  The batter bowl 
flipped off of the spoon as the spoon sailed toward the sink, but was 
intercepted before it could hit the floor by a foot and sent back up.  
Ranma caught it and poured out four pancakes on the skillet.  With a 
hand, an eye, and a spatula covering the pancakes he started 
squeezing the oranges into the pitcher.  "Do you prefer your juice 
with or without orange bits in it?"
	"Uh, with thank you."  Kasumi still hadn't quit gotten used 
to this new Ranma.
	Soon everyone came down for breakfast to find the table 
ready, the dishes done, and Ranma sitting talking to Kasumi.
	"Is this Mr. Perpetually late waiting breakfast on the rest of 
us?" asked Nabiki in a startled tone.  The rest were equally startled 
but quickly sat down to eat.
	"Yes, actually Ranma helped me with the dishes," said 
Kasumi.  *And breakfast.*
	"So who are the extra places set for?"
	"I'm not sure Ranma just set the place with the rest of the 
dishes."
	"No you don't, pop," said Ranma as his had shot out to fast 
for them to follow and smacked the panda's hand as he tried to grab 
some pancakes.  "Not until the guest arrives."
	"Guest, who's coming?" asked Akane as someone knocked 
on the door.
	"I'll get it," said Kasumi as Ranma headed into the kitchen.  
"Welcome Elder. Hello Shampoo, Moose, " greeted Kasumi as she 
led the three into the kitchen.
	"What are you doing here," demanded Akane, looking at 
Shampoo.
	"Great Grandmother invited and she bring Shampoo and 
Moose along."
	"May I ask who invited you?" asked Soun while directing 
anger at a certain pig-tailed boy in the kitchen.
	"Ranma called me this morning and asked me to come over 
for breakfast and suggested that I might want to bring Shampoo and 
Moose," responded Cologne.
	"RANMA, how could you cheat on you fiancée in her own 
home," roared Soun, in full demon head mode.
	"Would you calm down for a minute," said Ranma-chan as 
she came back in from the kitchen dripping water.  "Cologne, if I 
were to challenge for admission to the tribe as an ally like this and 
won it would entitle me to teach in the village, right."
	"Well I see you have finally decided to admit that 
Shampoo's claim is valid and are preparing to share your skills with 
the Tribe, but my word would be good enough for the others."
	"If you wanted to be with that bimbo that bad why don't you 
just go," yelled an Akane who had started glowing.
	"WAHHH, the schools will never be joined. Saotome you 
have to stop you son so he can fulfill his obligations to our families," 
wailed Soun.
	"I want to be recognized for my own abilities and as a girl is 
the only way thats going to happen," said Ranma, with a bit of 
arrogance, as though Akane and Soun hadn't said anything.
	"Very well, but as an ally this will have no effect on the 
claim Shampoo has on the male Ranma," was the suspicious answer 
from Cologne.
	"Fine by me."
	"Thats it RANMA NO BAKA!" yelled Akane as she pulled her 
mallet, closing her eyes to visualize the perfect strike.
	Akane realized something was wrong when Ranma didn't 
crash through the roof.  Then she noticed that her mallet seamed 
unbalanced this morning.  She opened her eyes to see everyone 
staring at her mallet, or rather the handle in her hands and the pile of 
saw dust on the floor.
	"W-w-what happened?" asked a confused Akane.
	"You were saying," Ranma said to Cologne, ignoring 
Akane.
	"The Nekoken," whispered Nabiki.
	"Yes, well you must defeat the challenger I appoint to the 
fight and since we wouldn't want to tire Shampoo out on her 
wedding day it will be Moose."
	"So be it, shall we go out side before we start."
	Everyone moved out side as Soun kept crying and Genma 
tried to talk Ranma out of his plan.
	"Prepare to die Saotome," yelled Moose as he pulled a large 
sword with something smeared on the edges out of nowhere.
	"Go," was all Cologne said.
	The others never quit saw the move that did it.  As the match 
started Ranma-chan disappeared from in front of Moose and 
reappeared behind him.
	"Huh," was all Akane could think of as Moose toppled over 
clearly unconscious.
	"Does that qualify me?" asked Ranma-chan.
	"Yes, very much so, now tell me just HOW YOU DID THAT," 
demanded Cologne.
	"Well we're not quit done yet."
	"What husband mean?  Girl-type Ranma ally of tribe now, 
what left?" asked a confused Shampoo.
	"Shampoo, as an ally of the tribe I challenge your right to 
Ranma Saotome," was Ranma-chan's only response.
	"HUH," was Cologne's stunned reply as the shear gall of the 
plan hit her like a runaway simi.
	"Huh," was the chorused response of everyone else.
	"As an ally of the tribe I have the right to challenge an 
amazon to any husband that hasn't been officially claimed, as in the 
formal ceremony and consummation.  Should the amazon in question 
not what the husband she usually forfeits, such is the case when 
someone they don't like beats them and someone else wants the 
husband instead.  Then husband has the right to challenge to go back, 
but Ranma will abide by the outcome of this fight," said 
Ranma-chan.
	"Husband is joking, right?" asked Shampoo.
	"Your intended husband isn't here just now, who are you 
talking to?" asked Ranma-chan.
	"Great Grandmother tell Shampoo husband joking now," 
said a desperate Shampoo.
	"I'm afraid not, Ranma-chan is correct in siting the law," 
said Cologne.  "Prepare yourself."  As soon as Shampoo and 
Ranma-chan set themselves she shouted "Go."
	Different opponent same results.  In under a second 
Shampoo was out cold, she just took several seconds to realize that 
she should fall over.
	"Well Elder you got part of what you wanted," said Ranma.
	"Yes I guess I did, but why did you do this.  Shampoo is a 
beautiful girl and would have adored and taken care of you for life, 
all you had to do was say yes, father some children, and do some 
martial arts teaching.  Thats not exactly what I would call a hard 
life," responded Cologne.
	"True in most cases, but your ignoring love and the fact that 
I'm too independent to be forced and lets face it, to arrogant to live as 
a second class citizen and have my skills ignored.  The tactics you 
two employed might as well have been pushing me away."
	"Did you hear that my friend, we should start planing the 
wedding," yelled Soun joyously.
	"Some people just never learn, do they?" Ranma asked 
Cologne.
	"You've changed a great deal in the two days since I've seen 
you last."
	"Well everyone has to grow up sometime."
	"We have to talk about your being an ally of the tribe soon."
	"I'll go over to the Nekohanten after school and we can 
talk," offered Ranma-chan as she pulled out and put on a bracelet 
that had the symbol of Pluto on it and a similar one with Saturn's 
symbol.  They seamed to be made of platinum and etched with a 
garden scene.

***

	"Well here we are the Furinkan high school," announced the 
teacher that was on the bus with Usagi, Ami, Makoto, and Minako.
	They students got off of the bus and headed to class rooms 
as directed.  The classes had been doubled in size and there were two 
teachers per class, one from each school.
	"Who is that dreamy guy over by the window?" asked 
Makoto with hearts in her eyes, pointing to a pig-tailed young man 
that was slouched in his chair with a casual indifference to what was 
going on around him.
	"I don't know but I want to know if he's available," 
responded Minako.
	"All right class as you may have noticed we are having a few 
problems due to the fact that the Sailor scout battled a monster at-.  
What is it?" said the teacher.
	"You mean the Scouts are real?" asked a student.
	"Yes they are and Juuban high school was almost totally 
destroyed, the school board have asked and received permission to 
hold class here for the time being.  That means that we will have two 
classes and teachers per classroom," said the teacher from Furinkan.
	"Shampoo need to get seat, Shampoo is new student in 
class," interrupted Shampoo.
	"Well young lady I suggest you arrive on time from now 
on," said the teacher.
	<Fire, Star do you feel Silver Millennium energy, I mean 
besides what was already here?  Those scout are really noticeable 
aren't they?> asked Ranma.
	<Well now that you mention it, I do feel something getting 
closer,> responded Fire.
	"RANMA!" shouted Ryoga as he crashed threw the wall 
and into an over full classroom.
	"Why me?" asked Ranma as he ducked past a stumbling 
Ryoga and let the lost boy's own momentum carry him out the 
window.  Ranma was out the window and heading for the ground 
when five somethings smashed down on the roof of the gym.  *Now 
what?* 

***

	Setsuna was just settling down to tea with the Furinkan high 
counselor, when a blast rattled the windows.  "What was that?" she 
asked somewhat curious, because the other lady really hadn't reacted 
at all.
	"It's probably just another fight Ranma is involved in," was 
the bored response of the counselor.
	Her watch started beeping and she excused herself.  "What 
is it?" Setsuna asked.
	"Our friends from the other night are back," responded 
Haruka.
	"^Really^, well I'll be right over."

***

	"Hey Ranma take it easy I just want to talk," said Ryoga as 
Ranma hit the ground and settled into a stance.
	"Since when?"
	"Well I've been thinking, actually I had some help thinking.  
I got hit in the head by a really big rock and started hearing voices."
	"Uhh, thats usually not a good sign."
	"Well it turns out this was.  The voice belongs to a sword 
that I landed on."
	"Ryoga, just be easy and I'll take you to the doctor where 
they can explain talking swords.
	"I'm not crazy, at least not anymore.  This sword said it was 
called Longclaw and it was from something called the 'Silver 
Millennium'."
	"Thats ni- did you say Longclaw?"
	"Yes, I-."  Ryoga was interrupted as five giant spiders 
crashed out of the gym.
	The sailors that had been watching from the third floor room 
Ranma and Ryoga had crashed out of noticed the spiders and 
sneaked out of the classroom to change and call Pluto.
	"What in the name the stars are those things?" asked 
Ranma.
	"I don't have a clue," was the prompt reply from Ryoga who 
had pulled a bastard sword out of his backpack.
	"We fight for love and justice and in the name of the Moon 
we'll punish you," called Sailor Moon, who had arrived with all of 
the scouts except Saturn and Mars.  They were standing on top of the 
school building in a line.
	*Figures he'd find a fight even before the scouts would,* 
thought Pluto.  *He looks younger, I hope that won't be a problem.*
	"Schools are a place to teach our children, you should be 
ashamed to attack one," called Tuxedo Kamen.  He was standing on 
the building with the scouts.
	The scouts were spreading out and jumping to the ground to 
attack, when Ranma shouted "Hey ugly, did you forget about us."  He 
and Ryoga had split apart to stand on either side of the wedge of 
spiders coming out of the gym.
	"You guys should get out of the way before you get hurt," 
said Sailor Neptune.
	"Ha, we can take care of ourselves," responded Ryoga.
	The spiders had moved into an inverted wedge to protect the 
one on the back point which was lager and had runes cut into his 
exoskeleton.  That one raised his top legs and threw a bolt of force 
right at Sailor Moon.
	"Look out!" cried Ranma as he pushed Sailor Moon out of 
the way and got hit instead.  The bolt smashed him into the wall and 
caved the wall in on top of him.
	"NO!" yelled Sailor Moon.  Pluto and Ryoga didn't seam to 
show any concern at all.
	The spider took this opportunity as everyone stared at the 
pile of ruble to start gathering another bolt, this one started forming 
in its claws and was already twice as bright as the first one.
	"Serenity!" called a voice from under the ruble and the ruble 
that had buried Ranma surged up and was reduced to dust by the 
blue-green battle aura that was flaring underneath.  "^Nobody^ tries 
to kill Princess Serenity and gets away with it while I'm around! 
MOUKO TAKABISHI"  With that Ranma unleashed a blast that 
smashed the big bug out the other side of the gym and sent the others 
bouncing off of the other building.  Ranma wasn't noticeably 
damaged.
	"Say that was a pretty good shot," laughed Ryoga.
	"Just who are you and what was that?" demanded Uranus as 
her and the others ran over to Ranma.
	"Can we discuss this later, the bugs are getting away," 
Ranma replied  in an irritated voice as the bugs hopped up and took 
off.
	Everyone, including Ryoga took off after the bugs.  The 
chase quickly lead them to a construction site with a fair sized steel 
frame in it.  The reason for the location was apparent when a strand 
of spider webbing stretched tight and with a screech of metal the 
building toppled over.
	"TEMPRAL PAUSE," yelled Ranma as everything but the 
scouts, he and Ryoga were temporally frozen in time.  "What are you 
waiting for, move it!"
	Everyone scattered as time resumed.  Ranma, dodging the 
building ran right into the rune covered spider, a mage if nobody's 
noticed by now.
	"Owee," Ranma said calmly as he was punched backward 
with a magic covered claw hard enough to bend a steel beam when he 
hit it.  "Thats gonna leave a mark."
	"Draco are you okay," asked Pluto running to his side.
	"Careful he may have internal injuries with a hit like that.  
This is Ranma, not Draco," cautioned Cologne as she pogoed  in 
from the side entrance of the construction yard.  Shampoo, Moose 
and three other amazons followed her in and started to attack one of 
the spiders.
	"I'm fine lets get these thing." Ranma said getting up, with 
both Pluto and Cologne protesting, but they moved to the attack 
when he did.
	"JUPITER THUNDER CLAP ZAP!" yelled Jupiter as she let fly 
with a ball of electricity at one of the smaller spiders.  "It can't do 
that!" she protested as the spider snapped out with a whip made of 
webbing and snapped the attack out of the air.
	The spider then snapped its whip toward Jupiter and 
wrapped it around her.  With her arms pinned she was being reeled in 
easily and the other scouts were busy.
	"Baksai Tenketsu" yelled Ryoga as he charged up behind 
the spider.  The spider, along with a yard radius or so of concrete, 
and Ryoga went flying into the air.
	" MOUKO TAKA-," was all Ranma got out as another 
spider struck him from behind smashing him to the ground.  From 
laying on his back just below the spider that hit him, he said "Thats it 
no more Mr. Nice guy.  SUN TALON CRUSHER!"  He threw a small ball 
of light into the middle of the spider that had struck him and the rest 
could only stare as the spider was crushed into a ball the size of a 
marble.  <Star, Fire its time to go to work.>
	<Ready,> they called back.  Ranma jumped back to his feet 
and the dragons formed twin silver katanas with a dragon engraved 
on each, one had an emerald and the other a sapphire in the hilts.
	In the mean time Ryoga had talked to Uranus and Neptune 
after he landed.  They were using their attacks to herding another 
spider in front of  a glowing green Ryoga.  "Shi Shi Houkdan!" and 
another one bits the dust.
	"Sailor Moon use you scepter!" called Tuxedo Kamen from 
a nearby street light.
	"Huh, oh yeah," said Moon as she quit staring at Ranma's 
bug marble and pulled out the spiral heart scepter.  "MOON SPIRAL HEART 
ATTACK!"  she called as a giant pink heart smashed the rune covered 
spider into oblivion.
	Venus and Mercury were blasting the fourth one from two 
sides, sending it reeling one way and then the other.  Until Pluto and 
Cologne arrive to help finish it.  Pluto knocked it off its feet with a 
deadly scream, and Cologne used her staff to crack open its 
exoskeleton like a walnut.
	The amazons were not making any headway against the fifth 
spider, its six armored legs were doing a good job of holding back 
sword, bonbori, ax, spear, and the kitchen sink, swung by Moose, at 
bay.  Until Ranma hit it at a run and engaged all six arms at once 
with his twin katanas, his Katchu Tenken Amagaruken attack letting 
him defend against six and still attack.
	The amazons stood back and watched as this mere male 
spun, sliced, wove, and darted, while his hands seamed to talk to 
each other, keeping the six arms from him and replying with his own 
cuts.
	"Don't you think its time to end this son-in-law?" asked 
Cologne.
	"I thought we agreed that I wasn't your son-in-law 
anymore," was Ranma's quick reply.
	"What ever, just get moving."
	"Okay."  With that the two katanas slammed out hard and 
fast banging all six arms out wide and before the spider could 
recover, slashed in a blur of silver into its chest area.  It was dead 
before it hit the ground, the younger amazons stood stunned, along 
with most of the scouts, Tuxedo Kamen, and Ryoga.
	"Nice artwork," commented Pluto.  It was only after that 
remark that the rest noticed that the cuts that had killed the spider 
had formed a flying dragon seen from above, ten inches deep.
	"Wow, husband good with sword," commented Shampoo.
	"I'm not your husband," countered Ranma.
	"I'll settle for knowing who you are," Uranus put in.  She 
was holding her space sword and looking at the tailor neat cuts 
engraved in the spider.  Then she eyed Ranma like a strange tiger, 
with respect and plenty of distance between him and the princess.
	"Ranma Saotome, why?" he responded.  <Hay you two, you 
might wanna loosen up a little,> he shot at the dragons with a mental 
grin.  <Well Pluto, long time no see.>
	"Well ^that's^ nice, now how did you defeat these thing so 
easily?" snapped Uranus.  She had moved over right in front of 
Ranma and the other scouts moved around him.
	<How have you been, Ranma, Star, Fire?> responded Pluto.
	<Tolerable, normally I would just tell them but Mrs. 
Personality is starting to get on my nerves,>  thought Ranma.  The 
dragons had shifted back from swords to shirt decorations with out 
anyone really noticing where they went.
	<Good, you?> chorused the dragons.
	<I've been behaving myself, and given the fact that she is 
really nervous you should cut her some slack.> was Pluto's prompt 
response.
	"Excuse me, but would you please tell us who you are and 
how you did this?" asked Mercury, trying the polite approach.
	"Normally I would love to, but I never could stand it when 
someone else buts into my fights.  So, your highness," he said with a 
bow.  "And good day to you ladies."  Ranma bounded up out of the 
ring and up the fallen beams of the building. From there he bounded 
to a nearby roof and disappeared at high speed.
	"Hey, come back here!" shouted Uranus after the retreating 
figure.
	"Uh, excuse me but did you call him son-in-law?" Jupiter 
asked Cologne.
	"Why yes I did."
	"Then he's already married?"
	"Of course not!  He has held every suitor at arms length for 
quit some time now."
	"They why do you call him son-in-law?" asked a confused 
Moon.
	"Because I had hoped he would marry my 
great-granddaughter, but it looks like it will never happen now."
	The scouts were starting to get restless, all except for Pluto.  
Who was looking at the spider and then seamed to be far, far away.
	"Hahaha, you had your chance and blew it!  Now it's our 
turn" crowed another Elder that had just arrived.
	"I wouldn't say that Deodorant," responded Cologne with a 
level tone.
	"Sorry to interrupt but could someone tell me who that boy 
was!" shouted an exasperated Uranus.
	"He didn't seam to want you to know, so it wouldn't be 
right for me to tell you," commented Cologne, who was enjoying the 
look on Uranus's face.
	"I'll tell you if you agree to help me catch him," offered the 
other Elder.
	"What do you mean catch him?"
	"He is a fugitive from our laws."
	"Really, is he dangerous?"
	"Very."
	"We'll see about it.  Do you have a number we can contact."
	"Yes here you go," said the Elder as she handed Uranus a 
piece of paper with a number on it.
	Everyone escaped long before the authorities arrived of 
course.  The scouts, Ryoga and Shampoo went back to school, the 
new amazons started searching for Ranma, and Cologne and Moose 
went back to the Nekohanten.  Ryoga being Ryoga never made it 
back to the school, of course.

***

	Ranma-chan was happily running down fences after school, 
headed for the Nekohanten.  She stopped short when she felt a new 
chi signature, a strong one.  *Hmm unusual, better go around.*  
Taking a detour she shortly arrived at the Nekohanten.
	"Hay Cologne do you know anybody new in town that has a 
high chi signature?"
	"Actually yes I do, thats why I wasn't expecting you yet.  
That signature and the others like it are hunting you."
	"Well well well, me he or me she?"
	"Both, they know about you."
	"Water under the bridge, what did you want to talk to me 
about?" asked Ranma-chan as she pulled up a chair and straddled it 
with her arms across the back.
	"For starters why did you change all of a sudden?"  Cologne 
also took a chair.
	"Well I got a whole new perspective on life, and decided to 
put it to good use."
	"Well here is my old perspective.  You have now joined the 
tribe as an ally which means that you are technically an amazon, 
though a different tribe.  Why didn't you just pension for admission 
to the tribe?"
	"Well, I didn't want to end up having to hold to your laws."
	"I see.  Well from what I saw at that construction site today 
you could have beaten me and taken my spot on the council."
	"I don't want your spot, and I don't particularly want 
anything to do with the tribe, but it was the only way out I could 
think of."
	"Why do you want to avoid the tribe?"
	"Because so far they've caused me nothing but trouble.  One 
Shampoo tried to kill me, two Shampoo tried to marry me, three you 
guy tried nearly everything to ^force^ me to marry her, including 
threatening my friends and family.  Is that enough?"
	"Well I still don't see your problem with Shampoo, but yes I 
admit we did somethings we shouldn't have because I was desperate.  
You see until your actions this morning it would have been 
impossible to go back to China, without facing banishment.  If we 
pledge to not to interfere in your life would you become a member of 
the tribe to learn the secret techniques?"
	"I already know all of the amazon techniques, and others 
besides.  Before you ask their part of the new perspective."
	"What would it take to make you part of the tribe?"

***

	"Ok, Who was that guy?" demanded Haruka as soon as she 
and Michuru were in the temple.  Everyone had gather at the cherry 
hill temple right after school, except Setsuna which was about par.
	"What guy?" asked Rai, she had been attending a different 
school.
	"There was this really cute guy who showed up and helped 
us beat up five more of those giant spiders," replied Minako.
	"Yeah he got two by himself, one while he was flat on his 
back and the other with a sword, after some old lady told him to stop 
playing with it," added Makoto, who was obviously impressed.
	"Ami, are these two serious?"
	"Very serious,"
	"What do you know about this guy?" asked Michuru.
	"I'll go last, lets see what everyone else got first."
	"Wait what does this guy look like?" asked Rai.
	"Well he's a gorgeous young man with blue eyes and longer 
black hair tied back in a pig-tail," answered Mina.
	"Is that it?" at everyone's nod she continued, "Well I bought 
some information from a girl named Nabiki Tendo, it seams that this 
guy has three official fiancées and several other girls chasing him.  
He lives at the Tendo dojo and practices martial arts.  It also appears 
that he has a curse," said Ami.
	"A curse really?" asked an suddenly interested Usagi.
	"Yes apparently it causes him to turn into a girl when 
splashed with cold water, warm water turns him back and other than 
that he is really powerful, as in he could give Saturn a run for her 
money in raw power, thats all I know.

***

	"My boy I'm so proud that you've finally accepted you duty 
to wed my daughter," shouted Soun enthusiastically as Ranma-chan 
walked in to the Tendo house.
	Ranma-chan and Cologne had debated what to do for some 
time until Cologne had agreed to leave off bothering Ranma ^and^ 
Ranma-chan about joining the tribe and would teach Ranma 
something about the tribe so he could make a decision.  In exchange 
Ranma would agree to up hold his agreement as ally of the tribe 
against trouble.  *I better head this off before it gets out of hand.*
	"Well my son you should get some hot water so we can 
prepare for the wedding," said an enthusiastic Nodoka.
	"Time out," called Ranma-chan.  She looked around until 
she saw Akane coming down the stairs.  "Akane, do you want to get 
married?"
	"Who would want to get married to a baka like you!" she 
yelled back.  She ran back up the stairs.
	"There you have it, she doesn't want to marry me so we 
don't have a wedding," said Ranma-chan as she maneuvered herself 
so that all three parents were in front of her.
	"Nonsense, she's ecstatic to uphold the pledge our families 
made," countered Soun.
	"Its a matter of family honor that you marry a Tendo and 
you and Akane would be such a good couple," said Nodoka, in a 
bouncy tone.
	"What about the pledge to the Kounjis?" asked 
Ranma-chan, hopping to confuse the issue.
	"Well we will have to deal with that later, this pledge comes 
first," insisted Nodoka. 
	"But you heard Akane, she doesn't want to marry me."  
*And boy is that a good thing.*  <Do either one of you see a way out 
of this?>
	<Nope your on your own,> replied the two dragons.
	"Would you prefer to try and get the engagement transferred 
to one of the other two?" asked Soun.  Nodoka looked at Soun a 
little funny.
	"Everyone come out here a second we have to take care of 
the pledge between our families."
	The two fathers were dancing and chanting that the schools 
would be united at last.  Kasumi, who had heard Nodoka and Ranma, 
was wandering if everything was about to crash onto her head as the 
eldest.  *Good bye, dear Dr. Tofu.*
	"Well this is it.  Akane you said you wouldn't marry me, did 
you mean it."
	"Of caurse I won't marry a baka like you, your rude, 
arrogant , and a pervert.  I wish I'd never met you," Akane yelled 
while thinking.  *Well this time maybe you can be pushed into it and 
I won't have to admit I really love you.*
	"Very well, Nabiki tell me the truth do you want to marry 
me?"
 	"Don't take this wrong but as amusing as the chaos of your 
life is from here, I won't be part of it," was the firm reply.
	"And I don't think I need to ask, but Kasumi would you 
rather marry me or Dr. Tofu?"
	"Well I think I love Dr. Tofu, but the family honor is at 
stak-," started Kasumi.
	"Thank you.  Well everyone that settles it two won't have 
me and one is in love with someone else.  I guess there's no one to 
marry."
	"Wait, you have to marry one of my girls!" demanded Soun.  
"Kasumi has agreed to up hold the family honor."
	"Son we promised and the future of our art depends on it," 
insisted Genma.
	"Ranma, my son, this is a matter of your future-," Nodoka 
began.
	"No, I will not marry a girl who loves someone else against 
her will just to satisfy a promise Pop made so he could live off of me 
and her for the rest of his life."  With that he got up and started to 
head up stairs.
	"Ranchan, I love only you," yelled Ukyo as she charged in 
the door.
	"You stay out of this!" responded Soun.
	"No, I win, Ranma is mine."
	"Thats it!" yelled Ranma-chan.  With a twist of magic she 
turned back into Ranma.  "This ends here and now."  His battle aura 
flared around him in a blue-green tornado of fire.  "I am not some 
prize to be won, something to be sold to get a meal, nor am I an 
investment in your futures.  As of now I am no longer Ranma 
Saotome.  I'm Ranma Atlantis and have no fiancées."
	  "Trust us, you'll thank us later for this," said his father.  
Genma and Soun had gotten up and were coming at him.  His mother 
had pulled the girls to the side and was discussing the matter with 
them.
	"I don't want to do this but your leaving me no choice," 
warned Ranma.
	"You are going to up hold that pledge, son," responded his 
father.
	Ranma waited until they were right on top of him and then 
he moved.  A punch delivered at almost mach one smashed his father 
out of the way and a snap kick to the face dropped Soun.  It was over 
in under a second.
	"H-how did you do that?" asked a startled Akane.
	"He has had a lot of practice," responded Ryoga from the 
door.
	"Ryoga what are you doing here?" asked Ranma.
	"Well we never got to finish that discussion that was 
interrupted by those spiders."
	"Well this really isn't the best place for a discussion either."
	"Hey you two, stop ignoring me," yelled Akane.
	"You wanted out of my life remember," reminded Ranma as 
he turned to walk away from her.
	Akane grabbed her mallet and swung over hand to stop him 
from leaving.  With a flash of light on steel Ryoga was holding a 
bastard sword that had sliced completely through the head of her 
mallet, several times, and was stopped from doing the same to her 
neck by Ranma's hand which was holding the swing back.
	"Longclaw stop it now!" demanded Ranma.
	"But she tried to harm you," responded Ryoga in a deeper 
voice than normal.
	"It doesn't matter I leaving and I'll have your word that 
you'll not try to harm anyone here."
	"You have it mi'lord."  Ryoga shook his head and stared at 
the sight of him trying to kill Akane.
	"Ranma what just happened?" asked a very confused Ryoga.
	"It's a long story but remember that sword you found that 
could talk, well it tends to take threats to me personally."
	"You mean you have a talking sword as a bodyguard?"
	"I'll explain in just a minute.  Kasumi, you have been like a 
big sister to me, don't let anything keep you from that doctor of 
yours.  Nabiki, it'll be nice not to have to worry about your camera 
anymore.  Good bye."  With that Ranma gathered Ryoga by eye and 
walked out.
	<Hey you two, do you object to visiting with Ryoga?> 
asked Ranma addressing the two dragons.
	<No, not at all,> said Star.
	<Of course not and getting to know Longclaw again would 
be nice,> added Fire.
	Ranma lead Ryoga, watching him carefully, to one of the 
nicer hotels in Tokyo.  There Ranma-chan, who had changed with an 
act of will, rented a room for herself and Ryoga.  Ryoga blushed as 
he looked at the room.
	"Uh Ranma there's only one bed."
	"Whats wrong big boy, you nervous?" asked Ranma-chan 
with a sultry look.
	"Ahhh, don't do that Ranma, your starting to freak me out."
	"Sorry, if your really worried we do have three chaperones.  
Was there a question or two I could answer for you?"
	"Number one who are you for real?"
	"Well I'm actually the reincarnation of a warrior from the 
time known as the Silver Millennium."
	"Well that would explain how Longclaw knows you."
	"You mean you already talked to Longclaw about this?"
	"Yeah but hearing you say the same things without having 
talked to each other means its real.  Number two who or what is 
Longclaw?"
	"Well let me turn back and pitch camp and I'll tell you." 
Ranma-chan turned back into Ranma, and whispered a few words 
and created a another bed off to the side of the original.
	"Longclaw was the enchanted sword of the man who 
developed the Nekoken.  Few ever knew his real name, everyone just 
called him Tiger.  Shortly before his death he made arrangements so 
that when he died his soul would enter the sword, and serve his 
queen even after death.  Four months later he died protecting a small 
village, buying the scouts time to arrive.  The sword was brought 
back, but insisted on being called Longclaw and wouldn't let just 
anyone wield him.  He declined the whole of the courts of all twelve 
kingdoms and their armies in favor of a young boy that had just lost 
his parents.  The boy became a master of the Nekoken at the age of 
fourteen and was just about unstoppable.  He single handedly hunted 
down the creatures that had killed his parents and brought them in 
alive to stand trial.  From that day on those who prayed on people 
from the shadows learned that some of those shadows held justice 
with claws.  Did I get all that right?" Ranma asked the sword.
	"Yeah, the part about justice with claws is new, but I like 
it!"

***

	"What about me?" demanded Akane as Ranma walked out 
the door.
	"Off hand I'd say your last chance with Ranma just walked 
out the door," commented Nabiki.
	"But he can't be gone!  He has to marry me!"
	"Well he asked you plain and simple if you would marry 
him and you turned him down with insults.  Not only that but he just 
broke with his parents and you wished him out of your life, so I don't 
think he'll be back anytime soon."
	"Oh my, why did he do that?" asked Kasumi.
	"But why did he leave me?" asked Ukyo as she walked over 
to the door and noticed that the fathers were out cold.
	Nabiki held out her hand.

***

	"Hello, can I help you," asked the Amazon Elder, answering 
the phone.
	"Yes I have decided to help you find this Ranma Saotome," 
said Haruka.***

	<Setsuna, are you out there?> asked Ranma-chan as she 
roof hopped toward Juuban the next morning.
	<What can I do for you, or maybe ^to^ you,> laughed 
Setsuna.
	<Well I could really use a place to sleep.  You see I just 
called it quits with my family and forgot to make prior arraignments 
to sleep elsewhere.>
	<Sure, just stop by it'll give me a chance to be wise and all 
knowing without bothering the Time Gate.>
	<Be there in about thirty minutes.  What do you know about 
creating new identities?>
	<Why do you need to hide from someone?>
	<Yeah my family, three ex-fiancées, and one mad, as in 
crazy,  gymnast.>
	<Y-y-your engaged to marry someone,> said Setsuna in a 
tearful voice.
	<Not anymore, and it was my fathers idea to start with.  I'm 
still available if your still interested.>
	<OF COURSE I'M STILL INTERESTED, YOU BAKA.>  Setsuna was 
suddenly feeling much better, while Ranma-chan was shaking her 
head to stop it from ringing after the shout.  "Oh by the way, a friend 
of mine is in the area and should be dropping by for a visit in about 
thirty minutes.  She'll be staying with us for awhile whether she 
know it or not," she said to the three others who were sitting at 
breakfast with her.  <Do you have a cover story?>  Ranma-chan 
explained it as she ran.
	"How do you know that?" asked a puzzled Haruka.
	Setsuna just gave a mysterious smile and raised and 
eyebrow.
	Thirty minutes later Haruka answered the door to find an 
attractive, well built red head in a red Chinese shirt, with two silver 
dragons, and black pants standing on the front step.
	"Hello can I help you?" asked Haruka.
	"I'm looking for a friend of mine, Setsuna," answered the 
red head, who was wrapped head to toe in a spell ward that would 
prevent anyone from recognizing her as Ranma Saotome.
	"Sure come on in."  *How does she see these coming 
without running to the Time Gate all the time?*
	"Oh, we have company," said Setsuna with a sly smile as 
she hopped over and gave Ranma-chan a big huge.  <My you've 
^really^ changed, Draco,> she thought with a mental smirk, as she 
let go of Ranma-chan 
	"Uh hello Setsuna. I hate to drop in like this but could I beg 
the use of floor space.  Me and my family just called it quits.  It'll 
just be until I find a place of my own, I don't want to be a bother."  
<Funny you look the same as ever.  And the name's Ranko, Ranko 
Atlantis, hehehe.>
	"Nonsense, your my friend and in trouble you can stay as 
long as you like."  *Or longer if I can keep you here!*  <Atlantis huh, 
that took a lot of imagination.  Nice this 'this isn't the red head you 
looking for' spell.>  "Let me make introductions.  Ranko Atlantis 
meet Michuru Kaiou, Haruka Tenou, and Hotaru Tomoe." Pointing to 
each in turn as she wrapped an arm around Ranma-chan's shoulders.
	"Well, I didn't know you were that way or you could have 
joined us," said Haruka after Ranma-chan headed up stairs to the 
spare bedroom.
	"We aren't," stated Setsuna flatly.  *At least not yet 
anyway.* Suddenly smiling she said "Well I'm going to call into 
work today so I can help Ranko settle in, and transfer from whatever 
school she was in before."
	"Sure," said Haruka, who wanted to get back to school so 
she could help that old lady catch Ranma.  *That boy will find it 
harder to hide from justice with a Sailor Scout after him.*
	The two remaining girls, Michuru and Hotaru, looked at 
each other and wondered what was going on.  Setsuna was blushing, 
smiling, suddenly had cute girlfriends dropping in, and was acting 
more like a real person instead of the guardian they had known so 
far, but she flat out denied any relationship with Ranko and neither 
one cared to challenge her about a statement that had rung true to 
them.
	Two hours later Ranma-chan and Setsuna left the house to 
take care of some errands.  The first stop was getting 'Ranko 
Atlantis's ID, but with a little magic fudging and Setsuna's status as 
a high school guidance counselor it was soon out of the way.  Also 
they registered her at Juuban high.
	The next item was shopping.  Which Ranma-chan intended 
to enjoy to the hilt. Ranma-chan now had the opportunity to indulge 
her feminine side without getting hit on by every guy in school or 
being called a pervert.  The two lovely young ladies broke a number 
of hearts on their quest to find Ranma-chan a suitable wardrobe for 
her introduction to the Japanese schooling system.

***

	Morning was not usual at the Tendo home.  After waking up 
Genma and Soun had decided that Cologne must have brainwashed 
Ranma and that it was their duty to find him and bring him to his 
senses.  Nodoka had just come down for breakfast and sat staring off 
into space.  Akane had run into the guest room as soon as she woke 
up but had seamed to be feeling bad after she discover that Ranma 
was indeed gone.  Nabiki had set out to find Ranma no matter what it 
took, that information would be worth Ranma's weight in gold.

***

	Ukyo was worried, she had assumed that with the defeat of 
the amazons and the falling out between Ranma and the Tendos she 
had won by defalt.  Yet Ranma hadn't talked to her since he had run 
out of the Tendo home.  Nor was he in school today.  *That Akane 
has hurt him too much he is just worried about my safety, so I'll just 
have to find him and make him see that I'm not worried about 
Akane.* 

***

	The next morning Ranma-chan came down to breakfast at 
the outers place wearing a nice dress and a little makeup.
	"Good morning."  <Well what do you think?> she asked 
Setsuna.
	"Good morning." <I think that this is going to take some 
getting used to.  I know it's you in there because of telepathy and 
your eyes, but it still doesn't seam right for you to be a girl.  Though 
if you really want to try we could take lessons from Michuru and 
Haruka.  They offered after I hugged you yesterday.>
	"Good morning, Ranko did you sleep well?" asked Hotaru.  
*Now who does she remind me of?*
	"Yes I did, thank you."
	"Good morning," said Michuru.
	"goodmorning," mumbled Haruka.
	"Don't mind her she's not a morning person," laughed 
Setsuna.  "Are you ready for your entrance exams this morning."
	"Oh sure."  <I think I'm going to give the School Board 
something to worry about besides where a certain student named 
Ranma Saotome went.>
	<Well I suggest you do so with style then.>
	"Well lets be off," called Michuru.
	The whole group set out with books and lunch.  They 
dropped Hotaru off, then proceeded to their school and arrived in 
time to get a parking spot.
	"Ranko Atantis, I would like to welcome you to this school 
and hope you have a profitable stay here," said the vice principle of 
Juuban high.
	"Well how did I do?" asked Ranma-chan as she sat in 
Setsuna's office, one of the spare conference rooms.
	"You know darn good and well that you totally aced the 
tests.  Even the ones that you weren't supposed to know how to 
answer," replied Setsuna.  "They are in there trying to decide what to 
do with you since if we put you in class you would be board out of 
your mind.  Oh by the way Ranko Atlantis is now enrolled in Juuban 
high after transferring in from china.  Also I took the liberty of 
having the papers drawn up for Ranko Atlantis to be adopted by one 
Setsuna Meiou, being as she currently has no legal guardian or 
parent."
	"Wow, you've been busy this morning and I would love to 
be adopted and that gives me an idea.  Maybe you should tell them 
that I have considered school counseling as a career and I should act 
as your assistant."
	"Hmm, not a bad idea."  <You do realize that the scout are 
going to be wondering just who you are, both of you?>
	<Yeah, well maybe we should tell them the next time we get 
together.>

***

	Lunch time at Hotaru's school.
	The scouts were having trouble this time.  There were more 
then a dozen spiders and they were carrying off the kids at Hotaru's 
school.  One spider had gathered a web cocoon with a teenager in it 
and was walking back to a big rock that had crashed into the school 
yard.
	A silver slash cut through the ball of spider webbing leaving 
the girl free.  It also left a young man dressed in a blue-green gi with 
twin katanas standing next to the spider.
	"Hey ugly pick on someone your own size," said Ranma as 
he casually wadded into its six swinging arms, six ringing parries and 
one swift cut later the spider was looking for the bus stop to the next 
life.
	"Help!" yelled Saturn as one of the spiders got inside the 
Silence Glaive's range and knocked her down.  *This is it.*  Saturn 
closed her eyes and waited for the end.  Instead something picked her 
up and carried her a dozen feet away.  *HUH!*
	"D-Draco, is that you?" asked a shaky Saturn as she look up 
at her rescuer and saw a familiar face.
	"Sure is spriteling, you ok?" replied Ranma.  "Oh and the 
names Ranma now."
	"I'm better now!"
	"How about I give you some cover?"
	"That would be a big help!"
	"Well then, lead on fairest of angles."  Hotaru started 
blushing.
	"If Pluto hears you saying things like that you'll be sorry."  
A shrug was her only answer as battle was joined once more.
	Since Saturn was now free to use her major attack the odds 
against the Scouts dropped fast.  Those spiders foolish enough to 
attempt to harm Saturn were met and crushed by Ranma.
	"FLAMING COMET!" shouted Ranma as he let fly with a burning 
chunk of rock that blasted through the last spider.  "Now we need to-."
	"What the hell are you doing here?" demanded Uranus, 
glaring at Ranma.
	"Last I checked this was still a ^public^ school, so I have as 
much right to be here as you."
	"Saturn move away from him!  He's a hunted criminal."
	"Not to change the subject but-."
	"Your not going to change the subject!" insisted Mars.
	"Is something wrong?" asked Pluto as she walked over.
	"According to that old women from the construction site 
they were chasing this young man because he was a fugitive from the 
law."
	"Well, don't worry about it I'll explain later right now we 
need to help these people," said Ranma.
	Everyone looked around and saw that he was right.  The 
school had been badly damaged and some of the kids and teachers 
were hurt.  Their were fires starting to spread and nobody seamed to 
be in charge.
	"Pluto take Jupiter, Mars, and Endymion and start digging 
people out.  Uranus, Moon, Venus start carrying the badly wounded 
to the infirmary, since we don't have one that level spot of grass will 
do.  Mercury, Neptune see if you can put out these fires.  Saturn 
you've done this before.  Lets ^move^ people!"
	"Who put you in charge?" demanded a very irritated Mars.
	"Queen Serenity, whats your claim to command?"
	"WHAT!" demanded the scouts except for Saturn and Pluto.
	"Besides if I'm not mistaken Venus has command of the 
inners."
	"Just get moving I'll explain later," said Pluto.
	Pluto's endorsement and the name of their queen was 
enough for the scouts.  Neptune and Mercury made a first rate fire 
brigade, the fires had no chance against their water and ice powers.  
Nobody was sure what Ranma was doing.  The infirmary started 
staking up quickly and Saturn was doing all she could but her 
strength was running out fast.
	"Well I timed that about right," said Ranma as he helped an 
exhausted Saturn to her feet.  "PLUTO!"
	"Whats going on?" asked Moon as the others gather as well.
	"Pluto, Saturn needs some help." Ranma told Pluto as she 
walked over.
	"Sure thing," responded Pluto as she produced her 
transformation wand and handed it to Ranma.
	"PLUTO WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" demanded Uranus.
	Ranma ignored Uranus as a soft glow sprang up around him.  
He hugged Saturn and when she stepped away the glow moved with 
her.
	"What did you do?  Saturn is a full power, over full 
actually." Mercury said from where she was checking the Mercury 
computer.
	"He loaned Saturn a combination of some of my power and 
a lot of his," said Pluto.
	The news that the Sailor Scouts were at the school spread 
fast and people started arriving to see them.
	"What do you mean my son doesn't need your help?" 
demanded a parent, dressed in an expensive business suit, in a loud 
voice.
	"Your son has a twisted ankle and several cuts, nothing life 
threatening or even very bad.  There are others that a hurt worse that 
do need my help," responded Saturn.
	"My son is more important then these poor children."
	"Is this man giving you a hard time Saturn?" asked Ranma 
as he walked over.
	"This young girl says that my son doesn't need her help, but 
I've seen her lay hands on someone a cure them instantly.  Its not like 
it take a lot of effort," insisted the man.
	"Well since you seam to be the expert I guess that means 
you an enemy because the only people that are aware of the nature of 
the scouts' power are either us or them."  Ranma had started to glow 
blue-green, particularly his eyes.
	"Uh, well maybe it was just good observation," said the man 
nervously.
	"I suggest you take your observations and leave, before you 
start to irritate me."
	The man quickly gather his son and chauffeur.  Then he 
departed, fast.
	"Better spritling?" asked Ranma.
	"Much, thank you," responded Saturn.
	Ranma went back to work on the building.  Using spells to 
put the walls back into place and shoring up the ones still standing.
	The new was having a field day any reporter that could get 
through traffic was converging on the school and any one that tried to 
bother Saturn was forcefully removed by Ranma.
	"Excuse me but is there a young man here by the name of 
Ranma Saotome?" a middle age man in a suit asked Pluto.
	"Who're you?" was her response.
	"I am with the police ma'am," he said as he showed his 
badge.  "Ranma is a runaway.  His parents are worried about him and 
I'm here to take him home."
	"I would say that Ranma is more than capable of taking care 
of himself."  <Ranma, I'm being bothered by a man with a badge who 
says he here to take you home to your parents.>
	<Really well how about we try this...>
	Ranma finishes his conversation with Pluto and walks over 
to the police officer.
	"Ranma Saotome, I'm here to talk you home.  Unless of 
course you would like to claim child abuse," announced the officer.
	"No to all of the above," replied Ranma in a calm voice.
	"What do you mean, no?"
	"I'm not going back and I'm not pressing charges."
	"I am a law enforcement officer and am allowed to use 
restraint if necessary to bring you back."
	"I wouldn't advise trying to use restraints or force against 
him," commented Pluto from off to the side.
	"Pardon me ma'am?" inquired the officer.
	"I said attempting force of any kind could be hard on your 
health, since even Saturn and me together wouldn't have the power to 
stop him."
	"Are you serious?"
	"Yes she is and I would side with ^him^ anyway," said 
Saturn coming into the discussion from behind the officer and took 
place in front of Ranma with the Silence Glaive at the ready.
	"Back to the subject, I'll meet with my parents at the Juuban 
park tomorrow at three.  If the police would like to be there thats fine 
with me," said Ranma as he disappeared in a flash of fire.
	"Well I guess that settles it, doesn't it," announced Saturn 
happily.

***

	"Hey guys, have I got some information for you," said 
Nabiki as she walked into the Tendo home after school.  She looked 
over to where Akane, Ukyo, and shampoo were gathering to find 
Ranma.  They had made a truce until he was back.  "It seams that 
Ranma helped out against some more monsters today.  Him and the 
Sailor Scouts save a whole school full of kids   Also he is supposed 
to meet with his parents at three o'clock tomorrow.  I'll give you this 
one for free because it's family and that camera crack."  *Besides I'll 
be able to pay off  the dojo with the kind of money I can make with 
this.*
	"Well we need to make plans to stop him and talk to him," 
said Akane.
	"Maybe we should help him get back together with his 
mother since she wants him to get married and is no longer particular 
who it is," commented Ukyo.
	"Spatula girl make sense, for once," added Shampoo.

***

	"I understand you guys wanna talk to me," commented 
Ranma as the scouts met at the Cherry hill temple.
	"How did you get here and, uh what are you talking about," 
Rai said, realizing that they weren't transformed half way through her 
speech.
	"I can follow the connections you have with your planets 
energy so finding you guys was rather easy.  Planetary level power is 
kinda rare these days.  Is this seat taken?" he asked as he sat between 
Hotaru and Setsuna.
	"WHO ARE YOU?" demanded Haruka.  "And why did that lady 
say you were a criminal?"
	"Because according to them I am.  I won a fight against one 
of their warriors and didn't marry her."
	"That would be one of the official fiancées," noted Ami.
	"Very good, you've been talking to Nabiki.  To start with 
I'll tell you who I was.  During the Silver Millennium I was a minor 
noble from the Moon but I was in the palace so often the princess 
started calling me-," Ranma began.
	"Uncle, you were my uncle," said Usagi.
	"No actually I wasn't your real uncle, but I spent so much 
time in the palace you started calling me that."
	"What exactly were you doing in the palace that often?" 
asked Mina.
	"Well, lets just say I was good friends with the queen and 
leave it at that, shall we."
	"You mean you were the queens boyfriend?" asked Rai.
	"Then your available now?" asked Makoto, who started 
blushing when everyone started looking at her.
	<Do you want to tell them or not?> Ranma asked Setsuna.
	<I think we had better.>
	But be for either could speak Hotaru spoke up.  "Actually 
the visits to the palace were only cover.  He was really slipping out to 
be with a couple of girls."
	"You mean he's available!" chorused Makoto and Mina.
	"NO!" yelled Hotaru and Setsuna.
	"Uh then who was he with?" asked Makoto.
	"I'll bet it was me, the scout of love," said Mina with hearts 
in her eyes.
	"Actually it was me and Setsuna," interrupted Hotaru with a 
glare.
	"WHAT!" chorused the scouts.  Michuru and Haruka gave 
Ranma a glare.
	"You were dating both the guardian of time and the messiah 
of silence at the same time?  Are you an idiot?" asked a slightly 
stunned Rai.
	"Well no body actually got killed so I wasn't a total idiot, 
now was I."
	"Aren't the age differences going to be a problem?" asked 
Usagi.
	"Well he's only a year older than me this time," interjected 
Hotaru.
	"And Setsuna?" asked Michuru.
	"I would say this falls under the heading of 'our business' " 
commented Setsuna.
	"Then you won't mind me asking how you did that Talon 
Crusher maneuver.  It seamed to be similar to the power we use," said 
Ami.
	"It should be, because I based it on the scout powers.  I used 
the sun and did away with the uniform thing, but other than that the 
powers should be identical."
	"How did you do that if you were just a minor flunky 
hanging around the palace?" asked Michuru.
	"Uh, I don't suppose you'd believe that it was just because I 
saw you girls power up so offten?" asked a nervous Ranma.
	"No!" was the firm response from the scouts.
	"Well ok here's my true story."
	He told his true story this time.  He was really hair to the 
lordship of Atlantis and would probably be named king of Earth 
next.   He had had other plans, however.  So he spent his time after 
the age of five learning how to fight and studying with the Collage of 
Mages at Atlantis, the best the twelve kingdoms had to offer.  
	By the time he was sixteen only the Scouts and Queen 
Serenity could hope to oppose him.  At the age of eighteen he was 
given a post as unarmed combat instructor at the Saturn Military 
Academy.  He gave guest lectures in combat magic, and 
demonstrations of two hands sword tactics.  
	Some people knew that he was working on a way to 
duplicate the connections that the Scouts used on their planets and 
adapt it to the sun, being the only large celestial body left with out a 
claimant.  Then one day he had disappeared along with his research 
and even the Queen had thought him dead, until he arrived in her 
sitting room one night fifty years latter.  The thing that startled her 
the most was the fact that that everyone had aged fifty year since he 
had been gone but he had backed up to about eighteen at least on the 
out side.  
	She quickly discovered that he had succeeded in his quest to 
harness the sun.  Using his own magic backed by a power that 
surpassed even Saturn, he had accidentally given himself near 
immortality.  While he could be killed, it would be very difficult to 
get past his defenses and he healed at a rate that the Scouts would 
envy, but other than that he would never die as long as the sun lasted.  
	His time away had be spent practicing his abilities and had 
honed them to a level that was frightening.  The queen had then 
secretly appointed him as commander of the Crescent guard.  Over 
the next 400 years he had seen the mantle of the Scouts and Queen 
pass onto others, until just before the end.  He and the then Queen 
Serenity had seen what could be the beginning of the end of the 
Silver Millennium, so he had shown the queen the books that had 
been locked away by order of the first Serenity.  They told how to 
use the crystal in ways that were dangerous to the wielder.  One was 
how to send the Scouts forward in time.  
	When the attack finally came the Moon Kingdom had been 
betrayed and Ranma was fighting off an attack from the inside when 
his queen had needed him.  The contingency spells he had set 
protected his spirit had sent him forward in time, tracing the path 
Princess Serenity had followed, and sent Fire and Star to stasis 
fields.
	"Is he serious?" Haruka asked Setsuna.
	"Very, but he did skip a few pieces," responded Setsuna.
	"Like what?"
	"Well he didn't mention Longclaw, me or Sestuna," Hotaru 
informed them.
	"Maybe we should take this up tomorrow," suggested Rai.
	Everyone said good bye and left for home.  Ranma went 
with the outers.  He had Setsuna on one side and Hotaru holding 
firmly onto the other, and Haruka glaring at him from behind.
	"Where do you suppose our other house guest is?"  asked 
Michuru as they entered the house to find no one home.
	"Well actually that was me," said Ranma.  He quickly 
triggered the change.
	"Huh," stated Haruka.
	"Well it happened like this..."

***

	The scouts were introduced to Ranko the next day at school.  
After school was over they stopped off to pick up Rai and Hotaru 
then transformed and headed over to the park.
	When they arrived the found the Saotomes, the Tendos, the 
Kunos, the amazons, Ukyo, Ryoga, and the police waiting for them.  
Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Nodoka were standing in a small group 
talking.  The rest of the amazons were in a huddle with Deodorant 
and Cologne arguing.  Genma and the remaining Tendos were also 
huddling.  The Kunos were making speeches and the police had 
formed a circle around the park.
	"Well glad everyone could come out to see me," commented 
Ranma while looking around at the groups with mild interest.
	"Boy, who are these girls and why are they here?" demanded 
Genma.
	"Gee, I thought that everyone knew the Sailor Scouts," 
responded Ranma.
	"It doesn't matter. You have run long enough, its time for 
you to honor the pledge that the Saotomes made with the Tendos," 
countered Genma.  "We know the amazons have brainwashed you so 
we don't blame anything on you, just come home now."
	"I thought that I made it plain that I have no intention of 
returning or getting married to fulfill a pledge you made to fill your 
stomach and you can leave Cologne out of this.  All she did was fall 
into a neat little trap that I had set for her and thats not criminal, at 
least I don't think it is."
	"Foul sorcerer you shall feel my divine vengeance now!" 
yelled Kuno as he lunged at Ranma, with a real steel katana 
extended.
	Saturn responded by slicing through the sword and 
reversing the swing to smashing Kuno back to his starting point with 
the butt of the Silence Glaive.  "Lets mind our manners shall we."  
Deodorant and Cologne stared at the Silence Glaive and started to 
whisper urgently.
	"What are you and the other Sailor Scouts have to do with 
this, it's a family matter," interrupted Nodoka.
	"This young man has fought at our side to protect others 
from creatures that would kill innocent children and for that we 
would stand with him, particularly after what I heard about how he 
was raised," responded Mars hotly.
	"Uh excuse me but what do you mean stand with him?" 
asked the Commissioner of the Tokyo police department, who was 
eyeing the scout a little worriedly.  "I mean you girls have always 
stood for love and justice so why are you suddenly opposing the 
police?"
	"Because in case you hadn't notice most of use aren't old 
enough to be on our own yet either and I didn't bring my permission 
slip from my parents," said Jupiter with just a ^hint^ of sarcasm.  
Saturn and Pluto had moved off to one side to confer quietly.
	"Yes but everyone know that you girls can more than take 
care of your selves, this young man is obviously not a Scout."
	"Has the officer you sent to the school yesterday explained 
that Ranma is as capable as we are?" asked Pluto as her and Saturn 
moved back to the group.
	"You can't be serious," gaped the Commissioner in a 
shocked voice.
	"Oh by the way," started Saturn, looking at the girls, 
particularly the amazons.  "We all know that Ranma has a problem 
with hitting girls so if any of you start bothering him, me or Pluto 
will take care of the problem."  Shocked looks made the rounds 
including the other Scouts when Pluto, the most level headed among 
them, nodded in agreement.
	"Excuse me for interrupting but are you the one called the 
Messiah of Silence?" Cologne asked Saturn.
	"Yes I am.  Why?"
	"Were you also a princess of Saturn?"
	"Yes." As she said yes the amazons dropped to their knees.
	"Your Majesty," said the grouped amazons.
	"Huh," was the only response a startled Saturn could come 
up with.
	"The missing female training expedition from the Saturn 
Military Academy," said Ranma suddenly snapping his fingers.
	"How did you know!" demanded Deodorant.
	"I didn't it was just a guess."
	"But how do you know anything about the Saturn Military 
Academy?"
	Ranma suddenly moves next to Moon in a long blurring 
motion as a gun shot is clearly heard.
	"What was that?" shouted the Commissioner.
	Ranma tosses him something as he shoots off toward one of 
the buildings, flying with the force of his ki.  Everyone looks at the 
commissioner as he opens his had to reveal a bullet.
	"Who would shoot at Sailor Moon?" asked a stunned 
Neptune.
	A man suddenly smashed into the ground next to Pluto hard 
enough to leave a dent.  His hands were tied in front of him with 
glowing yellow bands.
	"Well that should take care of this problem," said Ranma as 
he appeared behind Moon.
	"What was that all about?" asked Saturn.
	"This guy is involved in what he claims is a Satanic demon 
cult and they are apparently upset with the Sailor Scout killing what 
they think are their friends.  So this guy volunteered to try and kill 
the leader, Sailor Moon."
	"I don't suppose he realized just how dangerous that would 
be," said Pluto brightly.
	"Enough, we still have to get Ranma home to his parents," 
interrupted the Commissioner.
	"Why?" asked Ranma simply.
	"Because your under age and the law says that your not 
allowed to live on your own."
	"What if I lived outside of Japan and only came in to visit 
friends would the law apply then?"
	"No we can't enforce our laws outside our country."
	"Well that suggests a simple solution then doesn't it," said 
Ranma looking at Pluto and Saturn.
	"It won't work.  You can't leave this country while your on 
your own.  The passport office will need a parent to sign your 
papers."
	"Do you remember that bolt hole I showed you and 
Serenity?" Ranma asked Saturn.
	"Yeah sure.  Why?" asked a confused Saturn.
	"When you get done with these guys come on over and well 
have a party and talk about old times," said Ranma as he disappeared 
with a small thunderclap.  Everyone else just stared at the place 
where he had just been.
	"Now I remember why my mother's advisers were so afraid 
of him," mumbled Moon.  "He just teleported to planet Saturn on his 
own didn't he?"
	"Yep," said Saturn gleefully.  "I guess that solves this 
problem."
	"S-S-Saturn?" stammered Nodoka.
	"Yeah he kinda established a home away from home when 
he was teaching there before," mentioned Pluto.  "So sense there is 
nothing else to take care of I would like to know how the amazons 
knew of Sailor Saturn and whats this about a missing expedition 
from the Academy."
	"You really expect us to believe that he is on Saturn?" 
demanded Akane.
	"Yes we do.  Now be quiet," commented Ryoga from the 
sideline.
	"You see, we are the descendants of a female training 
mission to earth that was stranded when the Moon Kingdom was 
destroyed," explained Cologne.  "And we are still sworn to obey the 
Queen of Saturn.  Sense her mother is dead, Sailor Saturn now holds 
the allegiance of the amazon tribe."
	"And I will strengthen the tribe even more when I marry 
Ranma," Conditioner, one of the amazons that had accompanied 
Deodorant, spoke up for the first time.
	"No you won't!" shouted Saturn and Pluto at the same time.
	"What do you mean.  He is strong, fast, and handsome.  
What is wrong with bringing him into the tribe?" asked a very 
confused Conditioner.
	"He is already spoken for," replied Saturn, who had calmed 
down now.
	"Yes he is going to marry one of my daughters to fulfill the 
promise me and Genma made years ago," spoke up Soun.
	"Funny he said that he had disowned the Saotome clan and 
would have nothing to do with the marriage promises made by his 
father," said Pluto.
	"Then who is he supposed to be claimed by?" asked 
Deodorant.
	"Actually he is still claimed by two girls, Hotaru Tomoe and 
Setsuna Meiou," said Saturn and Pluto at the same time.
	"Now ^that^ sounds like Ranma, ^and^ Draco," laughed 
Ryoga from where he had been standing through all of it.
	"How do you know about Draco?" asked Mercury politely.
	"You mean he didn't tell you?"
	"Tell us what?" demanded Uranus.
	"May I see your sword?" asked Saturn suddenly after 
looking closely at him for a moment.
	"Gee got it in one, long time no see Saturn." said Ryoga in a 
voice that wasn't his.  "Still using that oversized walking stick I see." 
	"Thats got to be Longclaw," said Pluto.
	"Yep, I'm back and now that the only two people of the 
Earth royal line left are Ranma and Tuxedo Kamen, I'm appointing 
myself Ranma's bodyguard."
	"What do you mean Earth royal line?" demanded Genma.  
Everyone promptly ignored him.
	"But why not Tuxedo Kamen and what do you mean Ranma 
is of the Earth royal line?" asked Moon.
	"I just happen to like Draco or Ranma better. The answer to 
the other question is that Ranma is lord of Atlantis and technically 
could claim King of Earth, but since he declined it the last time I 
doubt that that will happen."
	"Have you told Ranma about this plan of yours?" asked 
Pluto with a knowing smile.
	"Well no, not exactly."  Ryoga looked nervous.
	"You know how he feels about bodyguards."
	In the mean time Soun had been shouting at the 
Commissioner demanding that he get Ranma back.
	"You can't possibly expect me to retrieve him from Saturn 
and I wouldn't have the authority to do so if I could," respond the 
Commissioner.  "Maybe you should talk to the Scouts."
	"Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn could I interest you in some 
information on Ranma?" asked Nabiki.
	"Ah the mercenary, Ranma told us you'd probably try to 
make money off of this," commented Saturn.
	"And for all of the trouble you caused him I would have 
used the information that I have to send you to jail for a long time for 
blackmail, inciting riots, and child pornography."  The cops were 
suddenly very interested in this conversation.  "But Ranma doesn't 
want to cause your family any trouble.  Remember this though I don't 
really answer to Ranma so if you try and cause any problems I'll take 
my case, including photos and video tape to the courts.  Do we 
understand each other?" Pluto, judging by her expression, was 
clearly not in a good mood.
	"O-o-of course," stuttered a truly afraid Nabiki.  (You try 
facing down Pluto in a bad mood when she has evidence to put you 
away for a long time.)
	"What do you mean you won't help me," demanded an 
angry Soun as he glared at Moon.
	"You have no claim on Ranma especially since he has split 
with his parents and taken another name," Moon was saying.
	"Listen little girl this is a matter of family honor."
	"Is this guy bothering you your highness?" asked Ryoga in 
that other voice as he strolled over to stand next to Soun.
	"Uh sorry I just got a little carried away," stammered Soun 
after seeing the look in Ryoga's eyes.
	"If nobody else has any major problems left to take care of 
I'll be going," announced Saturn.
	"Where do you think your going young lady?" asked 
Uranus.
	"Your Majesty, how may we get in contact with you?" asked 
Cologne.  She was still staring at Saturn.
	"You can't I'll talk to you later at the Nekohanten."  She 
then turned to Uranus.  "Last I checked Draco, I mean Ranma was 
headed for Saturn and I really should be there," said Saturn with a 
little glare at Pluto.
	"Are you two going to start that again?" asked Longclaw.  
"You might want to wait because Ranma isn't here to pick up the 
pieces this time."
	"Hah, I knew that it would cause problems," insisted Mars.
	"Yeah, Pluto and Saturn have been fighting for the last 
several years.  So far the judge refuses to declare winner.  Even 
though he was quick enough to narrow it down," Longclaw informed 
them.
	"Later," said Saturn as she disappeared.  Pluto vanished 
seconds later.
	"Did she just go to Saturn?" asked Neptune who was 
obviously distressed.  "She could be in trouble."
	"Hahahaha." At the glare from Uranus and Neptune 
Longclaw stopped laughing.  "Anyone in this system stupid enough 
to challenge those three will get what they deserve.  The Messiah of 
Silence, the Guardian of Time, and the Silver Dragon are more then 
capable of protecting Draco's old bachelor pad on Saturn.  "I wonder 
if Dragon Tower survived the destruction of the Moon Kingdom.  It 
was beautiful, the magic that must have went into making it, but so 
much is gone."
	"What was so special about some old tower?" asked Venus.
	"The tower itself didn't exists on this physical plane.  It was 
constructed somewhere 'beyond the circles of the Universe' I believe 
Draco said."
	"Huh?" asked Venus.
	"You mean he actually created an extra dimensional space 
just to live in?" asked Mercury incredulously.
	"Something like that."

***

	"Hello are you down here?" called Saturn as she edged past 
the rune marked door leading to the stairs.
	"Nope, no one here but us dust bunnies," came the return 
call.
	Saturn strode down the stairs to the living room of Ranma's 
apartment.  It had a couch, a couple of chairs, a table, and was 
absolutely spotless.
	"Hello," called Pluto as she came down the stairs.
	"Hi girls didn't you bring the others?" asked Ranma as he 
came out of the back rooms.
	"No," said Pluto looking at Saturn.
	"We have to talk," continued Saturn.
	"About what?" asked a slightly confused Ranma.
	"Us," they said, giving him a predator's smile that would 
have done a hunting tiger proud.  They move one on each side and 
pulled him down on the couch.
	"OH."  The reply was just a little nervous, ok a lot nervous.

***

	"I can't believe that he has been brainwashed that badly," 
said Genma in the Tendo living room.  The Tendos, Saotomes, 
amazons, and Ukyo had gathered at the dojo.
	"He really hasn't been brainwashed except for maybe by 
you," said Ryoga as he walked in the door.  "Am I still welcome?"
	"Of course you are," insisted Kasumi from the kitchen.
	"What do you mean young man?" questioned Nodoka.  She 
looked like she had been crying.
	"Ranma is simply taking charge of his life for the first time.  
Given how much he has been enjoying himself I doubt that any of 
you will ever get control of him back.  Now back in your lives is still 
a possibility.  Nabiki, that talk Pluto had wasn't a bluff.  Don't cross 
her because if you do only Ranma or possibly Princess Serenity 
could save you."
	"Why would that woman threaten my daughter?" demanded 
Soun who was glaring at Ryoga like he would like to at ^least^ 
throw him out of the house.
	"Thats not my secret.  Cologne were you serious about the 
Amazons following Saturn?"
	"Yes she is our queen.  We will follow her and obey her 
commands as law."
	"Is my son happy?" asked Nodoka suddenly.  She seamed to 
be felling better.
	"Would you like to talk to him?" asked Longclaw gently.
	"Yes, yes I would."
	Turning to Kasumi "could I get a large bowl of water."  
After the bowl was placed on the table Ryoga leaned over it.  "It's 
been years since I tried this and those years haven't been kind to the 
power flows of the solar system, but here goes."  With that he began 
chanting in another language.
	"Do you mind?" asked Pluto as a vision of her and Ranma 
appeared in the bowl.  Ranma had only his pants on and Pluto was 
wearing just the basic body suit.
	"WHAT?  HOW COULD YOU BETRAY YOUR FIANCE?" demanded 
Soun.
	"Oh my," said Kasumi.
	"Sorry I'll call back later," said Longclaw.
	"You've got my attention so talk," said Ranma as he 
launched a complicated series of kicks and punches toward Pluto.
	"Oh you were just practicing," said Ryoga.
	"What did you think, never mind I know what you were 
thinking."  Pluto turned bright red.
	"Ranma you have to come home now and fulfill the pledge," 
said Genma.
	"Thats it I'm gonna cut a panda steak," said Saturn from 
somewhere off to the side.
	"Please don't," asked Ranma who was now retreating back 
from Pluto.
	"Why not?  That man, I refuse to call him your father, has 
made a mess of your life," asked Pluto.
	"Because I just want to erase the past.  Flaming Dragon 
Punch."  With that he threw an uppercut lined with flames.
	"YEOOOOW," screeched Pluto.  She flew up and bounced off 
of two side walls before landing back on the ground.  "That hurt."  
She glared at Ranma.
	"Sorry I really didn't mean to hit you that hard, honest," 
Ranma replied quickly, helping her up.
	"No problem.  Pluto Deadly Scream."  Pluto threw the blast 
and it hurled Ranma across the room.  After Ranma and the blast hit 
the wall it exploded.  Ranma brushed himself off as the dust settled.
	"That wasn't bad but you need to pack more punch in it."
	"Before you two get started again someone would like to 
talk to you Ranma," interrupted Ryoga/Longclaw.  The voice was a 
combination of Ryoga and Longclaw.
	"Huh?" asked Ranma.
	"Ranma.  My son, are you happy?" asked Nodoka.
	"Yes mom I think I am.  For the first time in a very long time 
I have nearly unlimited freedom.  No more marriage pledges, no more 
mallets, no more cameras, no more Kunos, and best of all no more 
curses.  I'm not scared of cats anymore and I don't change with water.  
That reminds me, Ryoga I need to talk to you about helping me cure 
the other Jusenkyo victims.  But I don't want to part with you 
forever.  However so long as your trying to shove a loveless marriage 
down my throat I will stay away."
	"Sure thing, but what do you mean about being afraid of 
cats?" asked Longclaw.
	"When I was younger Genma tried to teach me a legendary 
technique called the Nekoken by throwing me repeatedly into a pit of 
starving cats tied in fish sausages."  Ranma spoke matter of factly 
and completely without emotion.
	"WHAT?  Thats it this man has does some stupid thing but 
this takes the cake.  Now I have a reason to challenge him."
	"What reason would that be young man.  My son's 
problems are no concern of yours?" asked Nodoka curiously.
	"Not true, your son is or was Draco the Silver Dragon, Lord 
of Atlantis and my friend.  That makes his problems my problems and 
his enemies my enemies, but that is beside the point.  Ranma could I 
get an introduction?"
	"I present Tyger of the clan of the Ghost Cat, creator and 
Grandmaster of the Nekoken style of combat.  And a million yen says 
that Genma doesn't have a chance even if he uses the sealed 
techniques."
	"You have tried to steal that which was not yours and in 
doing so endangered a child.  I challenge you to a dual of honor."
	"Ranma, what are you doing, your barley paying attention?" 
asked Saturn suddenly.
	"I was thinking.  You've mentioned Crystal Tokyo, Pluto.  
What is it?"
	"The future.  The world will be devastated by ecological 
disaster, but Serenity will save it with the Silver Crystal.  She will 
become queen and rule the word as a kind and benevolent ruler.  So 
far only the inners, Serenity, and Tuxedo Kamen had appeared in the 
future."
	"What would you say if I said that I didn't want this future 
to happen?" asked a quiet Ranma.
	"I would ask why.  This is the future we have fought for.  
No wars, no plagues, just happiness."
	"Because I have never settled for second best in my life, 
either one of them.  The future you saw didn't show the outers, me, 
Longclaw, or the mage power we really have available to us.  With 
some hard work and time we could have the Moon Kingdom back 
instead of Crystal Tokyo."
	"But that would take-," began Saturn.
	"A level of magic I haven't seen since the fall of the Silver 
Millennium," finished Pluto as she looked at Ranma.
	"Yes, the other planets were devastated during the war, even 
the earth took some damage.  However if we work at it hard enough 
we can bring them back to life, but I have a condition.  There is 
something I want."  Ranma suddenly a had far away look in his eyes, 
but Saturn followed his apparent gaze and looked at the map on the 
wall.
	"Atlantis!" Saturn breathed.
	"Yes Atlantis is mine and I want it back."
	"But it was destroyed during the war," interrupted Pluto.
	"No it vanished under the waves during Bayral's attack, but 
the shield protected it.  Atlantis sank intact into the sea.  I haven't 
decided if I want to raise it or just level it out on the bottom and 
move in."
	"What are you people talking about?  Atlantis is a myth and 
I've never heard of Crystal Tokyo or this Moon Kingdom," said 
Nabiki. She looked to be a little upset with life in general and the 
people on Saturn in particular.
	"The Moon Kingdom was destroyed shortly before what the 
currant world believes to bet the dawn of recorded human 
civilization. It was destroyed in a war that reduce the other planets 
and the moon to barren waste lands. That war was rather thorough in 
destroying everything.  And now after all of this time Ranma is 
suggesting that we ^simply^ bring them back to life again."  Pluto 
finished with a questioning look at Ranma.
	"Thats the idea."
	Everyone was stunned.
	"Maybe we should discuss this with the Princess," said 
Pluto.
	"Why would we want to do that?" asked Saturn.
	"No Saturn she's right.  Something like this we would need 
the Queens permission.  However we'll have to make do with the 
Princess.  You two should go talk to her.  I don't think that the 
others trust me just yet."
	After Pluto and Saturn said good bye and vanished Ranma 
appeared in the Tendo living room.
	"They would have had a fit if I'd done that when they were 
here," he said.  "Longclaw were you still going to challenge Genma."
	"Yes I think I am," said the sword after a pause for 
consideration.  Then turning to Genma "When and where do you 
want to meet."
	"Foolish boy I'll fight you here and now."
	The two fighters moved into the dojo and faced off.  Genma 
lead off with a snapkick, which Ryoga grabbed and using the leg 
swung him around in a circle and smashed him down with enough 
force to crack the floor.  Then he followed with a punch that drove 
Genma through the floor.
	"Well I guess thats that," said Longclaw walking away from 
the hole in the floor.
	"Not quit yet boy," said Genma as he got up out of the hole, 
he was swaying a little.
	"Well tougher than I thought.  Try this on for size."  With 
that Longclaw slashed out with one hand like a cat swatting a mouse.  
Genma screamed as his gi was slashed through like paper, the skin 
sliced, and an explosion as he hit the wall.  "I would say that that was 
it for sure this time."
	"You could be right," commented Ranma.  "Mother if you 
want to talk I have the perfect place."
	"Yes I think we need to talk," said Nodoka with just a touch 
of reluctance.
	Ranma gestured and a hole opened in the air behind and off 
to one side.  The hole showed a room that had deep plush carpet, 
furniture in a flowingly graceful style, and paintings of people and 
places that had been gone for centuries.  The window took up one 
whole wall and showed trees, gardens, unusual birds flapping about, 
and crystal buildings.  "If you'll step this way."  The two walked 
through the hole and it snapped shut behind them.
	"What was that?" asked Kasumi in a voice with more than a 
touch of awe.
	"That was Dragon Tower and the city was Atlantis," 
answered Longclaw.  "Protected by its magical defenses for more 
than thirty thousand years it has maintained itself and waited.  Now 
Ranma is home.

***

	"Your saying that we should trust this guy and abandon all 
hope of Crystal Tokyo to chase his dream?" asked Rai with obvious 
suspicion of the originator.
	The scouts were gathered at the Cherry Hill temple at the 
request of Pluto and Saturn.  Setsuna had just finished explaining 
Ranma's idea to the rest with Hotaru's help.
	"Is it even possible to change the path from Crystal Tokyo at 
this point?" asked Ami who was still a little shocked that the 
Guardian of Time would suggest altering the future.
	"Anything is possible and yes I would rather try for a dream 
and risk failing, than simply say oops we let the Negaverse destroy a 
couple of planets I guess we should just write them off," the sarcasm 
was thick enough to use for a highway.  "Besides I have some idea 
how Ranma intends to pull this off.  It won't be easy and it will be 
rather dangerous to Ranma but he obviously intends to try it no 
matter what we say.  Unless of course Usagi flat out tells him to 
forget the idea and then he ^might^ listen."
	"Also I think we should probably invite Longclaw over and 
introduce him," said Hotaru.
	"You mean Ryoga?  The guy with the fangs and seamed to 
know more about the silver millennium that anyone other than 
Ranma?" asked Makoto.  She was obviously happy about something.
	"Yeah he seams to have bonded with Longclaw which 
makes him an ally of the Scouts and a very dangerous person to 
anyone who threatens Usagi or Ranma."  After a quick thought she 
continued "By the way how did you know that his name was 
Ryoga?"
	"He was my old boyfriend back when I was still getting 
kicked out of schools.  He was the only one I have ever met that 
could get kicked out of school faster than me.  He had the worst since 
of direction that I have ever seen.  One day he got lost and I never 
saw him again until the other day when I couldn't say anything 
because I was Sailor Jupiter."
	"Well then you would probably like to know that you can 
introduce yourself anytime now."
	"Why in the world would she tell him that she's a scout?" 
asked Rai in a bewildered voice.
	"Because either he already knows or will know shortly 
anyway.  Ranma will tell him just as soon as they get some free 
time," said Satsuna.
	"Back to the subject at hand.  You said that Ranma wanted 
something, what was it?" asked Haruka.
	"He said he wants it reconfirmed that he is Lord of Atlantis.  
What he meant was that he wants it completely separated from the 
Kingdom of Earth.  Since even if we rebuild the Silver Millennium 
the nations of earth aren't going to just give up and except 
Endymion's rule I really don't see the problem."
	"Maybe not but how does he intend to do this?" asked 
Usagi.
	"You'll have to get that from him and it could be an 
interesting trip, because while we were waiting for you guys he 
teleported back to earth and I'll bet what ever you want that he's in 
Atlantis."

***

	"Ranma where is this place?" asked Nodoka in an awed 
voice.  She was looking around the room that they had stepped into.
	"This is Dragon Tower, my home.  Once many years ago I 
lived here and the Twelve Kingdoms flourished under the rule of the 
Queen of the Moon.  Then there was an attack and we were betrayed.  
The Twelve Kingdoms were destroyed, their people kill or scattered 
until all that remained was a bare few that made it to safety on earth 
before Queen Serenity used the Silver Crystal to seal away the 
Negaverse.  Would you like something to drink?"
	"What are you saying?  How could you have been here?"
	"Because I was a mage that would not give up my duty.  I 
was born over thirty thousand years ago in Atlantis.  I became a mage 
and commanded the Crescent Guard, but I set it up so that when the 
end came and if the queen had to use the final spell my soul would, 
at my death, be catapulted through time and arrive in the same time as 
the Princess.  Then I was born to you and Genma, but I didn't 
remember who I was and the Nekoken training messed up my mind 
badly enough that my memories didn't return like they were 
supposed to.  So it wasn't until Jusenkyo that my back up plan 
kicked in, when I landed in the pool it woke up my familiars and they 
came after me, brought back my memories, and left me the 
combination that you see here now.  Does that explain it?"
	"Then your not really my son?" asked Nodoka in a tearful 
voice.
	"Of course I'm you son, but now I have all of my old 
memories.  They have offset the example that Genma has set for me 
all of these years, given me back my magic, and finally brought me 
back to the only place that I have called home in the last five hundred 
years.  You are still my mother, but I'm disassociating myself with 
Genma."
	"Ok then tell me why you don't want to get married to 
Akane.  I thought that you loved her as your one and only."  Nodoka 
had calmed down a great deal and was sitting up a little more in her 
chair.
	"Who..., Genma told you that I was in love with Akane 
didn't he?"
	"Why yes he did.  Were you hiding something from him that 
he didn't know about?"
	"No, but he was hiding from reality for the last year or so.  
He and Soun have been trying to force me and Akane together since 
we arrived.  Now who I was wasn't exactly an angle but Akane 
doesn't trust me at all, hits me at every opportunity, and wished that 
she had never met me just before I left, remember.  Genma's plan has 
always been to get me married to Akane so he could live off of me, 
her, and the dojo, without worrying about honor.  Add that on top of 
everything else and when the opportunity came that I had the skills to 
extract myself from the mess that he had got me in I just had to take 
it.  Then you sided with him and I thought you also wanted to get me 
married Akane just because he promised regardless of what I 
wanted."
	"No, no it thought that you really loved her and were just 
hiding it either from yourself or from the others because they might 
hurt her.  Now that I know I think you should follow your heart and 
it might be best if you kept your name change, because you are still 
underage and Genma is head of the family so could legally involve 
you in just about anything.  Actually if you don't mind I might just 
change names myself.  I agree with that girl Saturn that man is 
certainly no father.  Now would you do me a favor?"
	"Just ask."
	"Could you tell me your version of the last several years?  
Remember I know just how unreliable Genma is now."
	"OK it started out ...."

***

	"What are you doing here?" demanded Deodorant when 
Ranma appeared in the middle of the Nekohanten later the same day.  
The amazons had jumped up when he arrived.
	"He's with me," said Saturn as she teleported in.  Turning to 
Ranma she said "Some of the scouts are kinda upset with you at the 
moment.  The inners had gotten used to the fact that in a thousand 
years Crystal Tokyo would come to be and now you want to throw it 
all out the window."
	"You know my reasons and the amazons here would 
probably agree with what I have in mind.  After you get finished 
turning their culture upside down you can move them to a new 
home."
	"What makes you think that I'm going to object to a female 
dominated society and whats this about a new home?"
	"I intend to grab every mage gifted person I can lay my 
hands on and then I thought I'd offer the chance to move to Saturn.  
As for a female dominated society, well I knew you and you 
apparently haven't changed that much.  You grew up in a society that 
treated everyone equally.  Oh, on a side line my mother has stopped 
championing any of the girls and would like to move to Atlantis."  
Ranma pulled a necklace, silver chain and a sapphire with a silver 
dragon on it, out of nowhere and presented it to Saturn.  "Atlantis's 
Gate is still functioning correctly and several of the ships have 
survived the years."
	"Which means what?" asked Conditioner.  The amazons 
were watching the discussion with rapt fascination.
	"Which means that Ranma here has the trump card to defeat 
almost any enemy.  The Gate will let him move any where he wants to 
and if any of the naval ships have survived he out guns every nation 
on earth in conventional weaponry."
	"Actually Serenity's Majesty is in the hanger."  Ranma was 
smiling like the cat that had ate the canary ^and^ followed with a 
pitcher of cream, with dessert up his sleeve.
	"The royal flag ship?" asked Saturn in disbelief.  "What 
ever, we can talk about Atlantis later right now we need to talk about 
the amazons.  Cologne was it?"
	"Yes I am the Elder Cologne, head of the counsel of 
Elders," said Cologne with a bow.
	"Ranma has told me some things about the amazons.  First 
I'm dissolving the female domination of the tribe, second I want to 
visit the village," said Saturn.  "Oh and Ranma is coming with me, 
right?"  The last was asked of Ranma.
	"Well there are only about fifty million things I need to do 
right now but I suppose I could manage to make a visit.  After all I am 
an ally."  The pitch changed half way through the last sentience as 
Ranma became Ranma-chan.
	"How husband change without water?" asked a bewildered 
Shampoo.
	"He is not your husband!" insisted Saturn hotly.
	"Why Saturn upset?  Ranma beat Shampoo in fight, 
Shampoo has to marry him no matter what cheating Ranma try," 
Shampoo seamed genuine.
	"Because he's MINE!" yelled Saturn.  "Isn't that right, 
Draco?"
	"I, uh, well, that is," stammered Ranma.
	"You should know better than to ask a question like that," 
laughed Ryoga/Longclaw walking in the door.
	"WHAT, another useless male?" demanded Deodorant.
	"You might want to reconsider that statement in light of the 
fact that it could be hard on your heath," suggested Ryoga in a mild 
tone.  He walked over and casually took the Silence Glaive away 
from Saturn as it materialized.  "See what I mean."
	"Give that back, your getting to be as bad as Ranma," 
snapped Saturn, but she was smiling when she said it.  "Lets go to 
China."
	"If you don't mind I'll handle this," said Ranma-chan.  
"After all I do have the Gate."
	A hole opened up and then closed around the people in the 
Nekohanten.  Less than a second later they were standing in the 
middle of the Amazon village.
	"How, How did you do that?" asked Deodorant in a stunned 
voice.
	"The Gate of Atlantis," smiled Ranma.
	The village was quick to react to trespassers in their midst.  
Armed guards charged from all over to ring the intruders.  The leader 
an elder woman with a cane came to the front.
	"Who are you and what do you want here?" she demanded 
in a loud voice.
	"I am Cologne as you well know Brush," snapped Cologne.  
"I have returned with the Queen of Saturn."  Rumbles of 
astonishment swept the crowd.
	"You actually believe that child's tale?" scoffed Brush.
	"So you think that I'm just a child's tale do you?" asked 
Saturn stepping to the front of the group.  The whole group was 
stunned for just an instant and then dropped to one knee.
	"Your Majesty," they called.
	"Rise and listen.  From now on the man known as Ranma 
Saotome is exempt from Amazon law no matter what name he uses.  
Women of the Amazon I think that it is time to unlearn the mistakes 
that took hold after the fall of the Moon Kingdom.  You should not 
attempt to oppress anyone for race, gender, or any other reason you 
can think of," stated Saturn.
	"Your majesty are you saying that we should treat men as 
our equal?" asked one of the woman.
	"Yes I am.  What is it Ranma, I'm busy?" asked Saturn as 
Ranma-chan tried to get her attention.
	"Two things.  One I told you so, and two I'm going to run 
over to Jusenkyo and dismantle it," said Ranma-chan in a level tone.  
"Also I'm going to take Ryoga, Moose, and Shampoo."
	"All right but don't stay out too late dear," laughed Saturn.
	Ranma-chan, Moose, Shampoo, and Ryoga walked out of 
the village and headed over to the valley of the cursed springs.
	"Why hus-Ranma want Shampoo and duck-boy along?" 
asked Shampoo as they crossed into Jusenkyo.
	"Because I need you guys to help me bottle some of the 
Jusenkyo water before I cure you and banish it's magic."  With that 
Ranma-chan waved her hand and made several hundred watercooler 
jugs appear.
	Several hours later after they had filled one jug from each 
pool, neatly labeled, they lined up in front of Ranma-chan.
	"Ryoga your going to have to part with Longclaw for a 
moment.  Now I want you guys to stand right across the front of the 
first spring and-," started Ranma-chan.  Ryoga pulled Longclaw out 
of his pack and tossed the sword to Ranma-chan who stuck it point 
first into the ground next to her.
	"You have cure for Jusenkyo?" asked the Guide in an eager 
voice.  He was towing two teenagers behind him.
	"Yes I do why?" asked Ranma.
	"Because these two just fall in and I have been cursed by 
Jusenkyo to spend all time in form of Jusenkyo guide.  Only spring 
that need more that warm water to change back.  Would you please 
cure us as well?" pleaded the Guide.
	"Of course I will.  Just stand with those three," instructed 
Ranma as he pulled a large chunk of amber out of her pocket.
	"Wait what about you?" asked Ryoga.
	"I don't need a cure.  You see I've kinda gotten used to 
turning into a girl and now that it is entirely under my control I don't 
want to give it up.  Now hold still."
	Ranma-chan started chanting in a language that even 
Longclaw had trouble recognizing.  Ranma-chan could see the 
layered mess of magic on Jusenkyo and as the chanting came to a 
peak the magic of Jusenkyo and it's cursed springs tore loose from its 
anchor in the physical world and hung crackling in a ball of pure 
energy in the air over the valley.
	"Good thing I came prepared for this otherwise it would 
have been a pity to waste so much energy," said Ranma-chan smiling.  
With a twist of long dormant abilities Ranma-chan pulled the raw 
power that had been Jusenkyo into the chunk of amber laying in her 
hand.
	"Thats it?" asked a middle aged woman that was standing 
where the Guide had been.
	"Thats it," Ranma-chan assured her as she pocketed the 
amber.  "Jusenkyo is no longer cursed.  It's still a little cold for 
bathing but other than that it's just fine."
	"Thank you, thank you," called the teenagers and the 
woman.
	"My name is Donna, Donna Louis.  I was a tourist from the 
United States when I fell into the pool of drowned Jusenkyo Guide.  
Now I can go home and I have you to thank for that.  Is there 
anything I can do for you in exchange?" asked the woman that used 
to be the guide.
	"Actually if your willing there is two things you can do for 
me," said Ranma-chan.
	"Anything," the woman assured him.
	"First I would like the book that you and your predecessors 
have kept of all the curses.  Second after you go home I would like 
you to keep an eye out for any unusual happenings and mail me at 
this address," responded Ranma-chan handing her a piece of paper.
	"Of course but if you don't mind why do you want the 
book?"
	"As soon as I have time I'm going to hunt down the people 
listed in that book and cure them."
	They walked back into the village just after sunset to see all 
of the people village sitting in the town square with Saturn up on a 
fence facing them.
	"What are you doing?" asked Ranma-chan curiously.
	"We're having a vote," responded Saturn in the tone a first 
grade teacher uses on an idiot.
	"Of course what was I thinking.  By the way you do have 
school tomorrow."
	"Just a second we were just finishing."  She turned to 
address the crowd again.  "If the option of moving to Saturn were to 
become available how many vote to go?"
	Virtually every hand in the square went up.
	"Well I'll have to pass that on to Princess Serenity.  Ok we 
can go now."
	Ranma-chan, Saturn, Ryoga, Moose, Cologne, and 
Shampoo were pulled back through the gate and into the 
Nekohanten.
	"Can I drop you somewhere?" the now male Ranma asked 
Ryoga and Saturn.
	"I can make it home on my own," insisted Saturn just as she 
teleported.
	"If you could drop me at the Tendo's place I'd be grateful," 
answered Ryoga who had Longclaw strapped to his back again.
	"Tomorrow then," said Ranma as he and Ryoga vanished 
from the Nekohanten.
	*Now it's time for some serious remodeling,* thought 
Ranma as he arrived on Saturn.  *This is good enough.*
	Ranma placed the piece of amber from Jusenkyo on the 
ground.  For the next hour Ranma twisted the wild energy contained 
in the stone into the shape he wanted, then with a nod of satisfaction 
he gated into the heart of Dragon Tower.
	*I always thought that it was funny that the Moon was the 
heart of the Silver Millennium, time of magic, and the gem 
moonstone is probably the best conductor and storage media of 
magic,* thought Ranma moving over to the three foot tall moonstone 
podium.
	After a moment of thought he reached out through the 
podium and stared at the Earth through it.  *I can't believe that this 
mess is actually Earth.*  Every living produced magic, life force, and 
the excess ran off into channels, lay lines, some big and some small.  
Those lines in turn met and formed pools, nodes, where the magic ran 
wild with eddies, changes in force, and different textures of magic 
ready to be tapped if one knew the secret to taming the magic.  The 
lines of energy of Earth used to run in neat well established lines that 
gave the mages of Earth a nice dependable supply of magic.  Now 
they looked like some madman on drugs had laid them out.  
Ranma/Draco was an old hand at bending these forces to his will.  
Now he was working on something much harder, changing the course 
of those streams and causing them to form a matrix of his design that 
would eventually form the largest node on the planet under Dragon 
Tower.  As the hours passed the magic of the entire Atlantic seaboard 
of the Americas, Europe and Africa slowly bent to his will.
	Far away on Saturn the stone that Ranma had planted was 
pulling the lines of Saturn to itself, crating a reservoir of power that 
would have reduced Dragon Tower to splinters.  After a few hours 
the stone started crackling and flashing radiating magic like a sun.

***

	*Ah, done at last.  At least for this part of the world,* 
sighed Ranma as the locks on the matrices that had been completed 
fell into place with a flash.  *What time is it?  Seven o'clock already!  
Well, well, well.*
	He reached out to the reservoir of power that was the sun, a 
part of him in a way that his own magic was a part of him, and let it 
wash the fatigue out of him and revive him better than a full nights 
sleep and a cup of coffee.  A brief exercise of his own power left him 
immaculately cleaned and dressed in his trademark red chinese shirt 
and black pants.
	<Hotaru, are you awake yet?> the thought ghosted out from 
Dragon Tower and across to the young woman as she was waking up.
	<Sure am, why?> came the reply.
	<I was wondering if you would like to have breakfast at my 
place?>
	<How could I refuse?>

***

	Ryoga woke up just before dawn to unfamiliar 
surroundings.  *Where am I?* he thought.
	*Trust you not to remember the fact that your sleeping in 
the Tendo Dojo,* answer what had become the other side of the coin 
of his mind, Longclaw.
	*Oh yeah.  Do you want to show me some of those fancy 
techniques you have up your sleeve?  Figuratively speaking of 
course.*  The last part came with a mental smirk.
	*Sure but lets go out side first.  After Kasumi's hospitality I 
don't want to destroy her family Dojo.*
	Ryoga practiced the ki exercises and the katas that 
Longclaw showed him until dawn and then he jumped to the roof to 
watch the sunrise.
	Some time later Kasumi called everyone to breakfast.
	"Good morning," Nodoka greeted everyone cheerfully.  She 
had on a silver and Sapphire necklace.
	"Good morning Aunt Nodoka.  Why are you so happy this 
morning?" asked Akane.
	"Today Ranma is going to move all of my stuff to Atlantis 
and then I'll be able to see my son all the time."
	"Your going to move to Atlantis?" asked Ryoga as he sat 
down.  Longclaw noted the necklace to him.
	"Yes why?" Nodoka's tone was curious.
	"Well with that necklace you hardly need to live in Atlantis 
to see him."
	Suddenly the doorbell rings.  Kasumi goes to answer it and 
shortly returns with the Sailor Scouts minus Pluto and Saturn, but 
including Tuxedo Kamen.
	"Mrs. Saotome, we were hoping that you could get us in 
contact with Ranma because Saturn is missing," said Neptune as 
soon as they were all in the room.
	"Missing?  Of course I'll help.  Uh how can I contact 
Ranma?" said Nodoka.
	"I'll get it, Mrs. Saotome," interrupted Ryoga.
	"Call me Aunt Nodoka, after all you are my son's oldest 
friend."
	"Sure, now let me see.  Kasumi could you bring me the 
mirror from the hallway?"
	When the mirror was brought to the table.  Ryoga propped it 
up so that it faced the room.
	"Is there some secret magic words that you need to say?" 
asked an excited Moon.
	"No not really.  Draco designed this spell for me and he had 
a sense of humor.  Mirror, Mirror on the wall I'd like to make a call.  
Dragon Tower."  With that the mirror fogged over and a scene 
appeared in the mirror.
	Sailor Saturn was sitting across the table form Ranma 
calmly eating a breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, milk, and 
juice.  The two were talking and trading jokes.
	"Didn't anyone tell you people that it's rude to watch 
people eat?" asked Ranma suddenly facing the group that were 
watching through the mirror.
	"Uh how long have you known we were there?" asked Moon 
blushing.
	"Do you really think that anything that I don't allow can get 
through the defenses of Atlantis, let along Dragon Tower?  It can't," 
the last part was a flat statement.
	"AHH, I'm not in uniform!" yelled Saturn.
	"Relax, the towers defenses filter all outgoing 
communication and add uniforms to all Scouts," Ranma assured her.  
"So just what did you guys need?"
	"Well Saturn was missing and we wanted your help finding 
her, but since she isn't missing I guess we should tell you that after 
long debate we have decided to try and restore the Moon Kingdom," 
explained Moon.
	"Which planet were you going to start with?" asked 
Mercury.  "Mars, since it is closer to earth norm than the other?"
	"I thought that I would start with Saturn," said Ranma with 
a twinkle in his eye.  Saturn suddenly turned her eyes inward.
	"Why Saturn?" asked Jupiter.
	"Because he's already started," spoke up Saturn.
	"Huh, when?" asked Uranus.
	"Last night just before he started rearranging the magic 
flows of Earth," announced Pluto from behind Nabiki.
	"AHHHH!" shrieked Nabiki as she managed a four foot 
jump from a sitting start.
	"He did what?" asked Tuxedo Kamen.  "I don't feel any 
different."
	"Thats because your not a Scout," explained Pluto.  "You 
don't draw the same kind of power from Earth as a Scout would.  
Ranma was the closest that Earth ever had to a scout."
	"I thought you he said that he used the sun," said Mars.
	"He does us the sun like the rest of us use our planets.  Its 
something that is connected to us on a level that makes the person 
and planet a single entity.  However Ranma is a mage of unbelievable 
power, he can actually use the power of another planet, not as 
efficiently as the sun but it still gives him a huge power boost.  And 
by order of the Queen any planet that denied its power to the Silver 
Dragon had better be ready to present its reasons before the throne 
and court and they had better be good."
	"But thats dead and buried by now.  You girls do realize 
that you have only a few minutes to get to school before your late?" 
asked Ranma in an innocent tone.
	"AHH, I'm gonna be late again!" yelled Moon.  She and the 
rest of the Scouts ran out the door and toward school followed by 
Akane and Nabiki.
	"Do you think they'll think to teleport before they get 
there?" asked Pluto.
	"Probably not, but you never know."
	"Well Ryoga were you going to come to school today?" 
asked Pluto with an easy smile.
	"Only if you can give me a lift," he replied.

***

	"Where is that coward Saotome?  I shall destroy him for the 
hand of the beauteously fair Akane!" proclaimed Kuno as Ryoga 
appeared at the school gates.  
	"Ranma isn't attending this school anymore but I will 
champion his name so I suggest you either prove those words or 
retract them IMMEDIATELY," Ryoga informed him.
	"You would side with that sorcerer against a noble Samurai 
such as myself?"  asked Kuno incredulously.  "Then face your fate!"  
He charged with his boken ready.  Only to backpedal quickly as 
Longclaw materialized in Ryoga's hand.  "AHH!"  The bokken was 
sliced, neatly, into very small pieces in seconds.
	 "Good night," said Ryoga politely as his punch reduced 
Kuno to unconsciousness.
	Ryoga continued on to class and sat in the back.
	"May I ask what your doing here?" asked the teacher.  "It 
was my understanding that you didn't attend school here."
	"Well actually I used to get lost really easily so my 
education at public school is more than just a bit spotty.  However 
Setsuna Meiou is arranging my transfer to this school.  So I thought 
that if you didn't mind I would sit in."
	"Of course.  It is so encouraging to see someone young 
taking an interest in education for a change," the teacher said with a 
look around the room.
	The lunch period started out just like normal until and 
explosion rocked the school.
	"What was that?" asked Nabiki.  "I mean Ryoga is here who 
or what could have caused that explosion?"
	"I don't know but I'm going to find out!" yelled Ryoga as he 
jumped over the school in one bound only to find the police, fire 
department, and Scouts arriving.  "What is this?" he asked.
	The ground in front of the school had one large crater half 
filled with rock chips and a smaller one off to one side.  The smaller 
crater had a small patch of ground untouched in the middle of it.  
There were scorch marks all over the ground, several bits of webbing, 
and numerous insect body parts laying around.
	"We received an anonymous tip that there would be an 
explosion at the school just a few minutes ago," the scene 
commander told the Scouts.  "Do you have any idea what just 
happened here?"
	"Yeah I do," said Pluto.  "Ranma encountered several of 
those bugs and wiped them out.  See here he made his stand.  This 
part of the ground is untouched because it was inside his shields," 
she said pointing to the patch in the smaller crater.  "And these marks 
are from lightening bolts, that one from a fireball, and that explosion 
there that smashed the big rock looks kinda like a Deadly Scream," 
she finished explaining.
	"But how do you know it was Ranma?" asked the 
commander studying the marks on the ground like he expected them 
to grow claws.
	"He might as well have signed his name.  There are no 
mages left in this time that could wield battle magic like this.  Just 
getting in the practice would have given off enough magic for me to 
have investigated and found them.  No this was the work of a battle 
hardened Warrior Mage and the only one still living is Ranma."
	"Ok, so how do we write this up?" asked the one officer 
looking at the commander.
	"Don't ask me this is over my head," said the commander.
	The school crowd was starting to gather when Pluto made a 
few hand gestures and Ranma appeared sitting on empty air with his 
hands raised and mouth open like he was getting ready to take a big 
bite of a hamburger.
	"Gee Pluto I was just sitting down to lunch whats the 
problem?" asked Ranma as he lowered his hands and stood up.
	"I wanted to know just what you thought you were doing 
taking on these things without us?" demanded Pluto.  She was 
obviously very upset.
	"Pluto, I've face far worse things than these over the years 
and as you may have noted they didn't have a chance against me.  As 
for the reason that I didn't invite you guys.  Your going to need all of 
your strength on Saturn this afternoon."
	"What is going to happen this afternoon?" asked one of the 
students.
	"Nothing that you need to worry about," interrupted Ryoga.
	"Oh don't worry about it.  If you happen to have access to a 
telescope that can get any kind of look at Saturn you might want to 
tune in tonight," suggested Ranma.  "Scouts I'll meet you at the big 
glowing spot on Saturn at say eight.  Later!" with that Ranma 
disappeared.
	"Everybody get back to class this show is over," said Pluto 
with a sweep of her staff.

***

	At eight o'clock sharp Sailor Pluto arrived at the stone 
Ranma had placed on Saturn to find that Ryoga, Saturn, and Ranma 
were already there and Neptune and Uranus were just arriving.
	"Where are the Inners?" she asked.
	"On Earth waiting for Serenity," answer Ranma with a 
smile.  "Your punctual as usual.  Anything new at the Time Gate?"
	"You know as well as I do that I have no way of knowing 
how this is going to turn out, your blocking the Time Gate."
	"Can he really do that?" asked Uranus.
	"In a heart beat.  I made the mistake of letting him guard the 
Gate once so I could take a vacation and some how he learned more 
about the gate in that period of time then I have learned during my 
whole guardianship," answered Pluto was a small glare at Ranma, 
who pretended he hadn't heard.
	In a thunder clap the Inners arrived.
	"Sorry we're late but my parents wanted to know where I 
was going on a school night," rushed out Moon.
	"You do realize that your going to have to tell your parents 
about who you are really don't you?" asked Ranma.
	"Why would I have to do that?"
	"Because as soon as I have the new group of the Crescent 
Guard trained up to standards their going to move in with you and 
that might be a little hard to explain," suggested Ranma with a smile.
	"Never mind," interrupted Saturn before they could get 
started.  "We came here to do something tonight and I planed to take 
Ranma out to dinner to show my appreciation."
	"You have school tomorrow, young lady," admonished 
Neptune, shaking her finger at Saturn.
	"This is really funny, but Saturn is right we came here with 
propose," laughed Ranma.  "Scouts get in a ring around the stone, 
Saturn go to the other side of the stone."
	"Before we start there is something that I've been curious 
about," spoke up Mercury.  "How is it that we are surviving in an 
environment that should have killed us as soon as we arrived?"	
	"The short answer is that its something the Scouts are 
automatically given," answered Ryoga/Longclaw because Ranma was 
concentrating and probably didn't even hear the question.
	"All right Scouts call up your power, not you Saturn," said 
Ranma suddenly.  As the Scout's powers came up each was 
surrounded by a glowing aura of her color.  "Now Saturn!"
	Sailor Saturn's power flared to life and Ranma turned lose 
the spell at the same time.  A spinning vortex pulled the auras of the 
Scouts and Ranma together and suddenly the Scouts could see a view 
of the place they were standing but they seamed to be in a park with a 
large complex behind them.  The Park was full of plants, trees and 
animals.  In the back ground they could hear the magic Ranma had 
turned loose whispering 'this is what you were bring it back, we will 
help you.'  Then everything disappeared in a flash of multicolored 
light.

***

	*What happened,* thought Jupiter as the blackness receded.
	"Ahh, back with us I see," said Ryoga.  "My old friend 
Makoto."
	"Huh, how did you know that and is the Princess all right?"
	"She's fine and Ranma told me.  You didn't think that he 
wasn't going to tell me who you all were as soon as possible did 
you?  By the why did you want to go out on Sunday?"
	The rest of the Scouts started waking up with a chorus of 
groans.
	"What happened?" asked Mars holding her head.
	"You guys just unleashed a force of magic that is restoring 
an entire planet," said Ryoga softly.  "The head ache that some of 
you are feeling is the effect of too much magic being channeled 
through you.  Saturn, Pluto, and Serenity won't have any problem 
because Saturn and Pluto are strong enough to take it and Serenity 
was protected by the Silver Crystal."
	"What happened to Ranma?" asked Neptune looking 
around.
	Ranma was laying on the ground in the middle of the circle 
dressed in a blue-green gi with a silver cape wrapped around him.  
They also noticed that they were all laying in grass with some trees 
near by, small trees but trees.
	"He'll be out for the rest of the day for sure after that its 
anyone's guess how long it'll take.  He expended about twice the 
power that you guys did."
	"I'll take him to Dragon Tower," said Pluto and Saturn at 
the same time.  They glared at each other for a moment, then nodded 
and disappeared with Ranma.
	"What was that all about?" asked Uranus.  All of the Scouts 
were looking around by this point.
	"They've been arguing about who would marry him for the 
last five years at this point.  The main problem was that Queen 
Serenity was encouraging them both.  Ranma was trying to find a 
way out but they weren't having any of it.  He finally gave up and 
moved into Dragon Tower for a little piece.  The Queen was getting 
her revenge you understand.  At one time or another all of the Twelve 
Kingdoms had protested against the Silver Dragon, but since he was 
hiding his identity she couldn't officially do anything about it."
	"What were the complaints.  I've been remembering things 
about him and that has pretty much guaranteed my trust."
	"Well the one was when just after Saturn became Saturn, 
she was having some problems at school because she was the Bringer 
of the Silence.  So the Silver Dragon arrived one day in full battle 
armor and announced that if everyone didn't relocate their manners 
he was going to start offering challenges.  The other complaints were 
similar.  No one showed a millimeter less then full respect to the 
Queen, Princess, and Scouts when he was any where around.  Then 
there was that episode when the King of Mars decided that Saturn 
was dangerous and they needed a plan to take out the Sailor Scout of 
Destruction if the need should arise.  Ranma threw him out of the 
third story window of his palace into the pool and told him that if he 
ever suggested such a thing again Ranma was going to level the 
palace with his majesty's face as the wrecking ball."
	"Basically he was the ultimate big brother and nice guy 
huh," commented Moon.
	"Pretty much," agreed Ryoga/Longclaw.  "So Makoto how 
bout that date?"
	"Date?" asked Venus.  "And how did he know who you 
were?"
	"Ranma told him just like Setsuna told us he would."
	"Well I guess that everyone has had a long day and should 
probably get some sleep for school tomorrow.  I can get anyone that 
isn't sure of their own power home," offered Ryoga/Longclaw.
	"How?" asked Uranus with a quizzical look.  "You don't 
have any magic, do you?"
	"No but Ranma is letting me use the Atlantis Gate."  Ryoga 
turned and looked at Moon.  "That reminds me, your highness.  I'm 
supposed to tell you that Serenity's Majesty is intact at Atlantis."
	"I'll ask later but now could we just go home?" asked Venus 
holding her head.
	Ryoga dropped all of the Scouts off at their house before 
returning to the Tendo Dojo for the night.

***

	The next morning Usagi showed up to science class to see a 
TV sitting in the room.
	"Are we going to get to watch TV today?" she asked the 
teacher.
	"The Prime Minister is going to give a speech on what is 
happening on Saturn," the teacher explained. 
	As class started the teacher turned on the TV, just as the 
station was interrupting it's regularly scheduled programming to 
bring them this breaking story.
	"Good morning people of Japan," began the PM.  "Last 
night in cooperation with NASA in the United States and several 
other space agencies we began tracking a disturbance on the planet of 
Saturn.  Using several sources including the Hubbell Telescope we 
have come to the startling conclusion that the planet Saturn is 
changing.  The cloud cover that has obscured it since we began 
exploring the heavens are rolling back.  We aren't sure exactly what 
this will bring but one of the probes that was to do a fly by of 
Jupiter's moons will be diverted to view Saturn."
	"Mr. Minister," called one of the reporters that were there 
live.
	"Yes?"
	"Is there any danger to Earth from this disturbance?"
	With a flash of light Sailor Saturn was standing on the stage 
a few feet from the PM.  "I would like to address that question if I 
may," she said addressing the PM.
	"Of course," said the PM stepping away from the podium.
	"I am Sailor Saturn of the Sailor Scouts and I have come to 
tell you and all of your viewers that there is nothing to be concerned 
about regarding the events on Saturn.  They were carefully planed 
and executed by the Sailor Scouts."
	"Miss. Saturn, what is the propose of these events we are 
seeing on Saturn?" asked one of the reporters.
	"We are making Saturn habitable to people again.  Thank 
you for your time," with that statement she vanished.

***

	Ranma woke up with a screaming pain in his side.  *Where 
am I and what was that?  THE PRINCESS!*  He was in his bed in Dragon 
Tower still asleep after altering Saturn.
	"Ranma are you ok?" asked Pluto in a voice full of worry.  
She was sitting in a chair beside the bed.
	"What's the matter?" asked Saturn from the other side.
	"We have to go the princess needs us!" shouted Ranma as 
he seized hold of the energy gathering under the tower and restoring 
his body's balance as he stumbled out of bed.
	"Where and you can't go naked?" responded Saturn who 
had jumped up with Pluto when Ranma had yelled.
	"You stand corrected," joked Pluto as the Gate gaped open 
and pulled them through.
	The nurses on the Intensive Care Ward of Tokyo General 
Hospital were naturally surprised when a naked man accompanied by 
two women stepped out of the hole in the air into the hallway.  The 
first gathered her wits and found a suitable course of action, she 
fainted.  Ranma's battle aura surged up around him and when it faded 
he was dressed in his normal clothing.
	In one of the rooms Usagi was laying in the bed wrapped in 
bandages, she was pale and looked almost lifeless in 
unconsciousness.  Her parents were sitting in chairs next to the bed, 
her brother was sitting with his mom, the civilian clad Scouts were 
sitting in the chairs lining the room, and a detective was standing in 
the room asking questions when the door slammed open.
	The Scouts all grabbed their transformation wands and the 
detective went for his gun.
	"Who are you?" demanded the detective as Ranma stormed 
into the room.
	Ranma ignored him as he walked into the room chanting 
rapidly under his breath.  He released the spell with a tossing gesture 
of his hand and the detective froze.  "How much do they know?" he 
asked gesturing at Usagi's parents and brother.
	"Everything that we do," responded Minako signaling to the 
Tsukinos that it was ok.
	"Well then first thing's first.  Hotaru lets go to work."  With 
that Hotaru transformed and Saturn laid her hands on Usagi with 
Ranma grabbing Saturn's shoulder.  Saturn's power surged up 
around her in a visible aura and started seeping into Usagi.  Ranma's 
aura roared up at full battle strength and poured into Saturn.
	Color returned to Usagi almost immedietly and with a groan 
she opened her eyes and said "What happe-Mom what are you doing 
here?"
	"Usagi you almost died.  We told your parents everything 
and Saturn and Ranma here are going to get you fixed up in no time," 
said Michuru gently.
	"Yeah like right now.  Don't run any marathons and don't 
get into any fights in the next six hours and you'll be fine," said 
Saturn.  Then turning to Michuru asked "What happened?"
	"We were fighting some of those creatures when a new kind 
stepped out of no where and got Usagi right across the side with a set 
of claws that were a foot if they were an inch."
	"Why didn't you call us?" asked Pluto.
	"Because we knew you were caring for Ranma and we 
didn't want to interrupt you," answered Haruka.
	"Pluto I need to barrow your staff," said Ranma.  "And did 
anyone think to call Mamoru?"
	"Why do you need my staff?" asked Pluto.
	"No actually we didn't," said Rai thoughtfully.
	"I have something to do and I need some time to do it in," 
Ranma answered Pluto.  "And this is something that I wouldn't fell 
right involving anyone else in."
	"Sorry I can't."
	"It's for the Princess.  She can't rule the Moon Kingdom if 
she's dead!"
	"Your right and here you go," said Pluto recoiling from the 
force of Ranma's words.  She pulled her key staff out of the air and 
handed it to Ranma who vanished as his hand closed over it.
	"What was that all about?" asked Mr. Tsukino.
	"Pluto's staff allows those that know how to travel through 
time, but I thought that only you could because of your position as 
champion of Pluto," said Ami with the last part directed at Pluto.
	"Sorry I'm late but I didn't want to run into myself," said 
Ranma materializing back in the room.  He wasn't alone though.  
There was a young man of about sixteen wearing silver armor with 
the upward facing crescent moon on it.  He was also carrying a large 
sword at his side.  "Everyone this is Justin Bradford, Lieutenant of 
the Crescent Guard.  Usagi get to know him because your going to be 
seeing a lot of each other from now on."
	"What's the Crescent Guard?" asked Shingo.
	"The Crescent Guard was responsible for the safety of the 
royal family of the Moon Kingdom in the time of the Silver 
Millennium.  Now Justin here is assigned to protect Usagi, the last 
Princess of the moon."
	"You think that that boy can protect my daughter against the 
thing that did that to her?" asked Ms. Tsukino.
	"Don't be too quick to judge," suggested Pluto who had 
noted the presence of both magic and a sizable battle aura around 
him.
	"I'd put Justin against any of the inner Scouts at this point," 
remarked Ranma.  "Now I think that we'd better be leaving."
	"Why would we leave?" asked Makoto.
	"Because unless you all would like to explain why Usagi 
came in here with a wound that should have killed her and is now 
totally healed then we should be leaving."
	"But there are too many records for us to just up and leave," 
insisted Ami.
	"Leave that to me.  Justin escort Usagi and her family to 
their car and take them back to their house I'll meet you there."
	"Ok Ranma just don't do anything rash," said Justin 
speaking up for the first time.
	As the others left Ranma carefully released the spell that he 
had spent the last twelve years building, using the Time Key.  It 
removed any memories that the detective or anyone else in the 
building had of Usagi.  Then he moved out into the Hallway to the 
nurse's station and charmed them out of there to help the detective 
and hacked into the Hospital system and removed any trace of 
Usagi's injury from there as well.

***

	*Who is this guy?* thought Haruka.  Justin had walked out 
of Usagi's room and blurred for a moment then he was wearing a 
white button down shirt and black jeans.  He moved like a jungle cat 
on the prowl and never let his eyes rest in one spot for more then a 
few seconds.
	"Who are you and what exactly did that young man mean 
about you and my daughter seeing a lot of each other" Mr. Tsukino 
asked Justin.
	"I've been assigned to protect the Princess at all times.  That 
means that I'm moving in, either in the house or on the roof their the 
same to me.  For the two of you who remember, I'm wearing Ranma's 
old formal armor and his old sword," answered Justin without 
stopping his roving eyes.
	"You've got the commander's sword?" asked Pluto with 
wide eyes, then her eyes narrowed.  "You can't be a member of the 
Crescent Guard, only the Queen can appoint new members because 
of the need to use the Silver Crystal."
	"Ranma used the Silver Crystal and yes I have the sword."
	"How did he get the Silver Crystal?" asked Usagi.
	"Better yet how did he use it?  Only members of the Moon 
family can use the Crystal," said Hotaru.
	They piled into the cars and drove over to the Tsukino 
house, but when they got home there was a light in the window.  
When they got inside they found Ranma and Mamoru inside.  Ranma 
was in the kitchen and Mamoru was setting the table.
	"I thought you guys might be hungry," commented Ranma 
walking in from the kitchen just in time to see Mamoru grab Usagi in 
a hug and demand to know if she was ok.  "Dr. Saturn I think you 
can answer that question."  A timer dinged and Ranma ran into the 
kitchen and came back out with a platter of marinaded steaks in his 
hands and the side dishes trailing along behind him.
	"Where did you learn how to cook?" asked Ms. Tsukino 
looking at the food laid out on the table.
	"You'd be surprised at what you can learn in five hundred 
years of life."
	"Young man what are you doing here?" asked Mr. Tsukino 
in an annoyed tone of voice.  "I thought that I told you to stay away 
from my daughter."
	"Just leave it alone until after dinner," suggested Ranma, 
setting everything on the table.
	As everyone was eating the Scouts took turns explaining 
what had happened to Usagi.
	"By the way why do you always appear as Tuxedo Kamen 
instead of Endymion?" asked Ranma turning to Mamoru.
	"Thats who I am Tuxedo Kamen, protector of Sailor Moon," 
he answered.
	"Then where were you when my daughter got hurt?" asked 
Ms. Tsukino.
	"I was on my why but unlike some of the others I can't 
teleport," explained Mamoru.
	"You mean your part of this too?" asked Mr. Tsukino.  "Is 
that why you were hanging around with my daughter?"
	"Well that and they plan on getting married," Ranma 
assured him in a level voice.  Setsuna winced, Ms. Tsukino fainted, 
and Mamoru cringed, and everyone else looked at Ranma in shock.
	"Are you serious?" asked Mr. Tsukino.
	"Yep and up until that thing on Saturn they had a daughter 
that would be born in about a thousand years.  Now they will still 
probably have a daughter and chances are that she will be mostly the 
same but with a different background."
	"Which reminds me during the thing with the Black Moon 
family we went to the future, now that future is gone how did 
Chibi-Usa ever exist and how did we fight the Black Moon family?" 
asked Ami.
	"There are many timelines, what will be, what could be, 
what could have been and what is.  The others are like ghost laying 
beside this timeline, like pages in a book.  When we went to Saturn 
we irrevocably altered the timeline, setting us on the path we're on 
now, but when I had the Time staff I made sure that that other piece 
of history happened by using one of the ghost timelines.  So for a 
time one of those ghosts became just a bit more real, but now we're 
on a new path, that with luck will lead back to the Silver 
Millennium."
	"So thats why you wanted to barrow the staff," guessed 
Haruka.
	"Nope, I went back in time and taught Justin here for twelve 
years, during that time I fixed the timeline, did a little studying and 
healed from the encounter with magic on Saturn.  It also means that 
its been twelve years since I've seen you ladies.  However Serenity 
now has a guardian that can watch over her twenty-four seven and the 
Scouts have a powerful new ally."
	"And now you won't have to personally train the whole new 
Crescent Guard by yourself," noted Setsuna.
	"There is that, and since we've started on business anyway.  
How would you like to move to the moon?" Ranma asked the 
Tsukinos.
	"Move to the moon?" asked Mr. Tsukino in a dazed voice.
	"Yeah, like sell this house and move into a new one on the 
moon.  Come to think of it we might as well establish the Moon 
Palace again anyway," continued a thoughtful Ranma.
	"Can he do that?" asked Ms. Tsukino.
	"Have you see Saturn lately.  There is a wave of greenery 
and life rolling across its surface," answered Makoto.

***

	Let me know what you think.  Also I need a Title any ideas?
								Sjiriki@aol.com