-preludes-
THE RECENT PAST: Togenkyou Island
Sunsets on the isle of Togenkyou were beautiful. The way that it cast
a certain soft light on everything was just extremely romantic, really.
This was why the all-male population of the isle was driven nearly to
insanity, since there were no women on the isle to share such an event
with, and hence kidnap women from nearby islands, like they had just
recently had kidnapped Akane.
"YAAAAAAAH! GET AWAY!"
Ukyou watched with mild interest as Ranma was chased by Neko-Shampoo,
who was being chased by Akane. They seemed to have recovered from the
ordeal just fine, and now that they were on friendly terms with the prince
of the island, it had become a dream vacation.
"Shampoo! Come back Shampoo!" Mousse yelled. "Don't you see that it
is I that loves you? Shampoo!"
Ukyou sighed. Not exactly the best way to spend a beautiful sunset,
and she was hoping to share it with Ranma, but she was in no mood today to
step back into the vicious circle.
That's what it seemed to be for her, a vicious circle, an annoying and
unbreakable pattern of her, Shampoo, Kodachi, and sometimes even Akane
chasing after Ranma, while Mousse, Ryouga, and Kuno were out to pulverize
him.
They were on an island, they were _stuck_ there until they reached
Japan, and there would probbably be no progress made on anyone's part as
far as winning Ranma's heart over. So, just for today, she thought, why
bother?
"RANMA, I'LL KILL YOU!!!" roared Ryouga as he blazed past.
In the wrong direction.
Ukyou laughed a little at that. The moron was always good for a laugh
or two. As she watched the figures become small specks on the beach, she
sighed once more. Okay, she thought to herself, five more minutes and
then I go in there and save Ranchan's butt. She couldn't help it, it
seemed. Some habits were hard to break.
"Some things _never_ change."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blank Screen. queue title:
----------------------------
*M productions presents....*
----------------------------
[show flash clips of Ranma, Mousse, Ryouga, Kunou, Kodachi, Ukyou, and
Shampoo as music starts fast]
Been running so long [Show Ranma and Akane running to
I've nearly lost all track of time school. They jump into the hordes
In every direction that usually attack Akane every day
I couldn't see the warning signs and start fighting.]
------------------------
*A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction*
------------------------
I must be losin' it [Show Ukyou in her guy-disguise and then
'Cuz my mind plays tricks on me in her more ladylike look]
It looked so easy [Show standard wimpy Gosunkugi standing
But you know looks sometimes deceive back-to-back with suit-clad confident
and smirking Gosunkugi twin]
--------------------------------------
*Based on stories by Rumiko Takahashi*
--------------------------------------
Been running so fast [Show Ryouga running across various
Right from the starting line locations across the world, checking
No more connections maps, asking for directions, etc...]
I don't need any more advice
One hand's just reaching out [Show all the various Jusenkyo
And one's just hangin' on cursed people (Shampoo, Ryouga, Mousse,
It seems my weaknesses Genma, Ranma, etc falling into
Just keep going strong their Jyusenkyou pools]
--------------------------------------
*RANMA 1/2: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...*
--------------------------------------
CHORUS
Head over heels [Show Ryouga looking at a map]
Where should I go
Can't stop myself [Show Kunou hugging an angry Ranma-chan]
Outta control
Head over heels [Show Ranma & Akane about to kiss
No time to think (from the ice-skating episode) and
Looks like then notice the presence of everyone
The whole world's out of sync nearby and watching]
--------------------------
*INSERT LEGAL JARGON HERE*
--------------------------
Been running so hard [Show Ranma-chan running from Shampoo]
When what I need is to unwind
The voice of reason [Show Mousse on his knees in front of
Is one I left so far behind an angry Shampoo]
I waited so long [Show Ranma & Akane in the Romeo
So long to play this part and Juliet play]
And just remembered
That I'd forgotten about my heart
CHORUS
Head over heels [Show Ukyou next to a jukebox by a bar
Where should I go in her resteraunt. She's looking sad,
Can't stop myself which is soon seated by a happy Ranma
Outta control & Akane, then a depressed Mousse, then
Head over heels an angry Shampoo, then Kunou, and
No time to think then Kodachi.]
Looks like
The whole world's out of sync [Ryouga finally wanders in, looking
very much lost and checking a map.
He knocks over a lamp and the room
goes dark]
(The music fades as the big piano riff hits)
===========================================================================
There exists, in the universe, an incredibly powerful force. It does
not move mountains. It does not raze the earth. It does not spawn the
seeds of creation on barren rocks. It does nudge people down certain
paths without them even aware of it's influence. There are a select few
that take this force seriously but even they just shrug their shoulders
and stand aside as it twists the universe in strange ways. (Well, some of
them, anyways. The cult of the Oddsmakers, the most well-known group,
live in Las Vegas, running incredibly tacky looking temples. They seem to
take a great interest in professional sports, scantily clad dancers, neon,
and Elvis.) It's that kind of a force.
It is called Normality.
The most commonly known effect is the fact that there will always be
death and taxes in this world. Always. It's not very complicated,
really. Normality is aided by human nature, and is in fact, shaped by it.
If something persists long enough, like plants dying in a certain
geographical area, mysterious disappearances in a certain region, or the
Chicago Cubs never winning a baseball championship, it begins to move
forward through time much like a boulder moves downhill. Pretty soon,
that boulder gets plenty of momentum and it becomes the natural state of
that boulder. It's already rolling around nicely, so why stop it?
The force of Normality isn't unshakable. There always exists the
possibility that the Cubs might win a championship one of these years, but
the force makes it very bloody unlikely that they'll win it too many
times, if at all.
In Tokyo, Japan, there has been a template of Normality installed and
enforced after many years of human nature carving it out. Basically, it's
like this: There's going to be a boy, a girl, and an absurd number of
other girls. All the girls will pursue the boy, except one which will be
fairly reluctant to even acknowledge that she cares about him. The boy
will be attracted to this one girl that happens to chase him the least.
This sort of thing has happened consistently in the history of Tokyo. From
the dawn of civilization, a primitive man ran hectically across the plains
as a small army of women stormed after him. A samurai met a humble farmer
and his seven daughters. A prince ran for cover as he discovers that his
twelve mistresses arrived in the same room waiting to surprise him for his
birthday but instead were surprised when they found out that they were all
promised marriage to the prince. The list goes on.
Have you ever heard of the saying "The more things change, the more
they stay the same"? That is very much correct.
However, lately, Normality has been suppressed. The boulder has met
some rather flat geography. For the longest time Tokyo has lacked such a
fiery romance as the ones of its past. Things were calm in the city. Too
calm.
When Normality gets suppressed, it builds up like water in a dam. Or
in this case, maybe a flow of boulders in a dam. Whatever. The point is
that when it finally gets released, it flows steadily and rather
viciously, with alot of destruction, mayhem, and loud noise. Recently,
the Normality had been restored thanks to a foolish martial arts master
and his son. However, the hold that Normality had on this situation was
weakening and it needed somebody else to get shoved into the situation.
Normality isn't picky. It doesn't care WHO is stuck with the job as
long as SOMEBODY is stuck with the job.
*
The Tendou household was peaceful. Everybody was out doing something:
Nabiki garnering funds from Kunou, Ranma being chased out in the streets
by Akane, Soun and Genma out to the hardware store to buy reinforcements
for the dojo, and Kasumi was cleaning up the kitchen.
In the living room, Kasumi's dinner was set on the table. Someone
crept in unseen, stood over the table, performed some unseen task, and
left silently.
***
Shampoo bicycled along the walls and rooftops of Nerima, bowl of
mind-altering-drug-spiced ramen in hand. She was happy. She thought
Ranma is finally going to take her on a date today.
With mind-boggling accuracy, she rocketed her bicycle off a roof and
into the Tendou's dining room.
She finally brought the bike to a stop and looked around... and noticed
exactly what Ranma was doing.
She screamed.
***
High above Nerima, Ryouga ran. Eyes full of tears, fists clenched, and
a pained expression on his face.
Akane was several blocks behind, calling out to Ryouga and wondering
why he was running and who he was running from. She couldn't keep up to
his pace and soon lost track of him.
Ryouga finally ran out of steam. He fell to his knees and started
punching the pavement in frustration.
Someone walked up to him, Ukyou Kuonji. Ryouga, by chance, had stopped
near her store. She asked him what was wrong. He turned away from her,
fists clenched. Then he told her.
She looked stunned, walked back to her store, shut the door, and hung
up the "We're Closed" sign.
Nearby, a Turn Right sign suddenly jumped around as if it was
incredibly happy. It bounded into the store.
It flew out much faster, followed by a flurry of small, very sharp
throwing spatulas.
***
The Kunou family ninja Sasuke bounded into the Kunou residence. He
raced into the room of Tatewaki Kunou. Nearby, Kodachi eavesdropped on
the conversation.
Sasuke bowed before Kuno, and spoke.
Something rare happened.
Tatewaki Kunou was angered beyond speech. He opened and closed his
mouth like a goldfish and rattled his bokken.
Elsewhere, an enraged Kodachi raced into the night, armed with her
ribbon and a large metal mallet.
***
Nowhere...
Entities were swirling in a place not quite existing, debating and
arguing amongst themselves.
I SENSE THE POTENTIAL IN HIM.
YES, THE TIME OF HIS DECISION IS NEAR.
THIS IS THE NEXT GREAT MAGE?
SO FAR HIS LIFE HAS NOT BEEN MUCH, HAS IT?
WHAT IF HE GOES MAD? THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DISASTEROUS.
EVERY GREAT MAGE GOES THROUGH GROWING PAINS.
HE IS NOT VERY STABLE.
HE HAS BEEN TRYING FOR SO LONG, HAS HE NOT?
YES, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE STUCK ON PAPER DOLLS...
Why are we talking like this?
LIKE HOW?
LIKE THIS.
I... HAVE NO IDEA.
***
The titanic Dojo Destroyer had finally found a part of a little known
but very much feared school of martial arts. This, he felt, would be his
first step in recovering from that disaster in the Tendou Dojo, where he
first met defeat. He was depressed for months, until finally he dedicated
himself once more to training and had sought out a suitable challenge. He
stood in the dojo, examining his opponent. His adversary was young,
arrogant, and overdressed. The Dojo Destroyer would have fun crushing
this one.
"Are you ready?" the Dojo Destroyer rumbled.
"Sure." The young man grinned.
One minute later the young man was standing confidently, untouched,
while the Dojo Destroyer was out cold, a scar burned across his chest.
The young man turned his back to the destroyed Destroyer, sneering.
"Next."
===============END PRELUDES===============
"The hardest thing in life to learn is
which bridge to cross and which to burn."
- anonymous