Ever think that there are some great ideas out there, and 
that they are never put together?  What if Ranma, instead of 
falling into Nyannichuan "spring of drowned girl" fell into one 
of the Kusenkyo pools.  A small thing though, I combined the 
two training grounds into one big ground...with a couple of 
exceptions...:)  It wouldn't be as funny if he didn't change into a
girl (of some kind) so I came up with this little thing.  (Sorry
Scott, if some of what I write comes too close to what you wrote:)

     Also, I will be writing this one from three perspectives.  One
from Ranma's POV,  one an omniscient POV, and one from Akane's POV. 
You will be able to tell which is which(I hope).

     <this> will indicate when the speaker is talking in Chinese, or
     any 
variant therof. (as I can't spell very much (if any) in Chinese so
will use this where I can't use correct spelling of what I mean)
     [this] will be when the speaker is talking in English, or any
variant therof.
     and *this* will indicate when the current person will be 
thinking.

     Something that I never did before...but I read in other 
stories.  At the end of the chapter (or clip therof) I will list the
music tracks that I listened to while writing this topsy-turvy story.

     Standard Disclaimers (Takahashi, Viz, etc.)

          Ranma 1/2
          Alternate Landings
          By Shadow Dancer(AKA Colin Hidson)
          Episode 1, part 2

     Akane looked at the girl sitting and crying in front of her. 
While she didn't know if she had any feelings for this boy-turned-
girl, she knew that this girls was in a lot of pain right now.
     Ranma seemed to try to collect herself, and managed to do so,
after about five minuites.  She spoke clearly, but with a small tremor
in her voice.  "I asked the guide later about cures for our curses,
and what he told me was this:  Your father can be cured, if we can
just find the Nannichuan.  But you, I'm afraid, are stuck to be like
that forever.  The hot-springs can cure some of the cold- spring's
curses, the cold-springs can cure cold-springs, but only hot-springs
can cure hot-spring curses.  Before you ask, no.  There is not a
hot-spring of drowned boy.  I'm sorry."  Ranma seemed to be holding
more tears in, but she couldn't hold them for long.
     Akane stood and walked over to Ranma, and then sat beside her.
When Ranma didn't notice, Akane put her arm over Ranma's shoulder. 
Ranma seemed to unconsciously grab onto any support she could find, as
she turned and hugged Akane fiercely.  Akane was surprised, but she
didn't hit Ranma.  *After all, She's only a little girl now, right?* 
Akane just ignored her instinct to punch Ranma and just held onto her.
 Akane then had a mean idea.
     "Ranma, you need a bath, right?  Would you like to take a bath,
with me?"  Kasumi looked very startled, but then smiled. *I hope that
she understands.* Thought Akane as she waited for a response from the
crying Ranma.
     Ranma stopped crying long enough to whisper a tentative "Yes."
Akane just smiled at the little girl and then scooped her up into her
arms.
     "Kasumi?  could you bring up some clothes and a couple of 
towels for us, please?"  Akane had a mischevious grin on her face, and
Nabiki looked like she understood what was going on.  *I hope that he
doesn't take advantage of me while we're in the bath... unless I use
warm water to rinse her off, in which case, she won't be able to...
That's what I'll do.*
     Kasumi just smiled and nodded.  

*****

     I took Ranma into the bathroom, and she seemed to calm down a
little, then she started panicking for some reason.  "Ranma calm down!
 Stop acting like a spoiled brat!" 
     Ranma calmed down a little and then asked, "What about me 
being a boy?"  She seemed to be very concerned about that.
     "Well, Ranma, you will turn back into a boy with cold water,
right?"  Ranma nodded, "Well then.  If I don't let you touch cold
water for the duration of the bath, it's no problem right?"
     Ranma nodded, and then looked at me peculiarly.  "Bu....You're
pretty..."  I was shocked, that Ranma should say that, even in girl
form.  Unless...
     "Ranma, would you say that as a boy?"  Ranma looked startled for
a bit, and then sat down and thought.
     While she thought, I undressed her and started washing her.  She
was really cute as a girl, now that I noticed.  I started thinking
about how life would be with her, and then I blushed.  Ranma didn't
notice as she was still thinking.  When I brought the bucket up to
her, Ranma started looking panicked.  I shushed her, saying that it
was warm water, not cold.  That seemed to calm her, as I poured the
water over her.  Then something wierd happened.  Ranma seemed to start
wavering in front of me, like she was going to change or something. 
For a second, it seemed as if Ranma was both a girl and a boy at the
same time, then the wavering settled down and Ranma remained, still as
a girl.
     Ranma then looked up.  "Yes." She stated clearly.
     I was startled, "Yes what?"
     Ranma flushed a bit, "Yes I would say that, even if I were a
boy."  Ranma fidgeted a bit, and then asked, "Do you like me?"  She
seemed very self-conscious.
     I thought about it, *Do I like him, her, whatever?  I don't
know...She's nice as a girl, but that just might be because anyone can
hurt her that way.  As a boy, he seems pretty nice, and he stopped
anyone from getting engaged by his actions.  Would I _want_ to spend
the rest of my life with him?  I don't know... Waitaminuite!  That's
not what she asked!  She wants to know if I like her.  Actually, she's
very nice, so I would say yes.*  I looked Ranma straight in the eye,
and said, "Yes, I think I like you.  Why do you ask?"
     Ranma flushed a bit, "I don't have very many friends.  When I
started finding friends, Father always dragged me away, saying it was
time to continue with my training."  Ranma looked sad, "But those days
are gone, now.  And it's been a long time since I saw any of my
freinds. "  Ranma took a deep breath, as if she was going to ask
something really big, "Wouldyoubemyfriend?"  She let the remainder of
her breath out explosively.
     I was shocked.  *A long time without friends, and being dragged
away from ones he was just making...Can I be a good friend to him,
her?  I can't do any less than try.*  I looked Ranma straight in the
eyes.  She was scared for some reason.  I plodded on, "Ranma, I would
be honoured to be your friend.  But I think it would be time to get
into the tub, don't you?  Aren't you cold?"
     Ranma looked like she just noticed the cold, herself.  She 
nodded, and we both slid into the tub.  Ranma seemed to be happier
now, and also seemed to enjoy playing games in the tub.  It was as if,
when she changed into a girl, that she was a girl, in more ways than
just the body.  Something to think about later.

*****

     For once in my life, I was happy.  I had a friend, she liked
me...I was happy.  I played in the tub, reveling in the childhood
games that my father never let me play before.  But then, he wasn't
here and I was.  I played in the tub for what seemed like hours.
     Then Akane got out of the tub, and I didn't want to be left
beind, so I climbed out, and started looking for the clothes that
Kasumi said she'd get out for me.  Then I noticed her.
     Nabiki was watching from the side of the door, and Akane was
staring at her like she was a viper or something.
     "Did you have fun?"  Nabiki asked.  She had a mean smile on and
had a camera in her hands.  for some reason this scared me.  
     I grabbed onto Akane's waist, hoping for some protection. 
*Protection?  I can take care of myself!* one part of me thought, but
I knew better.  *I'm helpless in this form, and no, at this point, I
CAN'T take care of myself.*  I mentally screamed at myself. I was
trembling with fear at what Nabiki could do to me, while still only
claiming to be doing her duty.
     Akane was suprised at my actions, but then she looked at Nabiki
angrily.  "Nabiki," she growled, "Ranma and I were just having a bath,
so leave us alone!"  Nabiki just smirked.
     "Just having a bath?"  She seemed much worse than a viper 
now...I could barely keep from screaming. "What I heard sounded 
a lot more deep that 'just a bath', Akane."       Akane looked 
scared, now.  I didn't blame her. 
     "Nabiki, what do you mean?"  Akane's voice, even though she was
scared herself, bore just the faintest trace of steel.  I looked at
Akane, not understanding what was going on.  Akane looked down at me,
"It's alright, Ranma.  I'll take care of this."  For some reason I
believed her.  Nabiki just smirked.
     "Well, Akane," Nabiki drawled out Akane's name like it was 
candy or something, "What do you think daddy-dearest would say if he
saw this happy picture.  Hmm?  He already knows that you fight all the
boys at the school.  He just might take _this_ as another point of
proof that you aren't like most other girls."  Nabiki just smirked,
"In fact, I'd say he would be disappointed in you.  And yet, at the
same time, he just might arrange both of your marriages in spite of
what Ranma revealed. " I was starting to get what she was saying...and
it scared me, more than anything that ever happened to me before.
     "But we can't!" I almost screamed, "We can't be married!  Do you
think she'd want to take care of me in this form for the rest of her
life?"  Akane looked at me carefully, and I started to feel doubt,
"Would you?" I ask Akane, afraid of her answer.
     Akane looked at me for a minuite.  Nabiki got this huge grin on
her face.  Nabiki laughed then, "Well, Ranma.  It looks like you might
have a prospective fiancee already!  I just hope that daddy-dearest
doesn't try forcing you...he might ruin something beautiful."  I was
still watching Akane, hoping beyond hope.
     then Akane reached down and picked me up.  She brushed my 
hair aside, and kissed me on the cheek.

*****

     Musical selection... still Captain Tractor... (two hour period
for both chapters, so I'd consider that not too bad.)  Oh, well, I
hope you liked it.
     I await the flames!
               Shadow Dancer
                    of
       Black Lightning Design Group
 http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/towers/6418
        danceshadows@geocities.com
*************************************************
      Stress Relief
   All stressed out?  Sometimes it helps to think
of happy scenes.  Maybe a pastoral field, a field
with a babbling brook.  You're there on a lovely
summer's day...holding someone's head under the 
water.  Now you're letting them up for a second.
Then blam!  Back into the freezing water!  Over
and over again!  There.  Feel better?