J. Austin Wilde and Bridget Ellen Engman wrote:

Krista-dear, I think it is a tribute to your storytelling skills that
the fire has not died out in the interim between Parts 17 and 18. I was
immediately swept back up into the story after only a few paragraphs.
(Once I got over my confusion at what the hell was happening with Ranma
in the opening scene.) You have given us a thrilling installment that
ups the ante for the finale with each new scene. I'm sure you're up to
the challenge! :)

Mindful that I have nothing but glowing praise for your storytelling, I
do have a few minor nitpicks, and they aren't
spelling/grammar/punctuation.

1. Ryoga's titanium umbrella? The thing is supposed to be *heavy,* heavy
enough that Furinkan students couldn't pick the thing up. Titanium is
extremely light, much lighter than steel, and its alloys only slightly
heavier than aluminum. (Hence its favor in aircraft construction.) If
you want an alloy that is strong and heavy, try Nickeladium
(Nickel-Vanadium Steel), Inconel (Nickel-Chromium-Iron), or Osmium Steel
(used in surgical application for it's strength, corrosion resistance,
and low toxicity).

2. Not a nitpick, but a little friendly advice on "Dirty" Nabsy: A .357
Magnum shot from close range would probably shatter Cologne's shoulder
blade. She will not be able to use her right arm, and the bone 

I don't think so.  While it's true that a 357 magnum is not a suitable 
weapon with which to shoot to wound, let's not forget that Cologne is 
far beyond human limitations.
Heck, Ranma's far beyond human limitations and Cologne is beyond him.
A human being would have his skull shattered when driven head first into
a concrete wall, would break his legs jumping down four stories, would
die if frozen into a pillar of ice, would starve to death if trapped
in a cave with no food for ten years,  would be seriously injured if
assaulted with a 20 kilogram hammer, et cetera and so forth.  
In particular, Cologne is not going to suffer physiological shock (for 
very long), she is not going to hemorrage (or can stop it with an effort 
of will) and she can ignore any pain inflicted on her.  Her bone may be 
broken, but given a few minutes she may very well be able to knit it 
again.  
Does anyone remember the Golden Pair skating match?  If Nabiki had
used a .22, it's very possible that the bullet would just have bounced
off Cologne.  Hit a real person ANYWHERE with a .357 and you are 
certain to incapacitate, and likely to kill.  Cologne doesn't fit 
in that category. 


fragments

will cause extreme pain and internal hemorraghing in the muscle tissue
around the wound, possibly even causing damage to her right lung. I'd
say that unless Cologne has any sorcery left up her sleeve, she is
effectively a non-combatant at this point.

3. This one is directed to the Mailing List in general: As to why Nabs
didn't put her first shot into the center of Cologne's chest? How easy
do think it is for woman who never resorts to violence in anything to
suddenly, violently, and deliberately *kill* someone, even a bitter
enemy? Nabiki herself was in no direct danger; she's smart enough to

<Shrug>  We don't know what Nabiki really was aiming for anyway.  No
matter where she hit, I'm sure she'd tell us "I meant to do that."
If she'd missed entirely then she would have called it a warning shot.  
Doubtless she is a good marksman because Nabiki would never be less 
than good at anything she did at all, but there's no guarantee that 
she has the pinpoint accuracy she claims just because she claims it. 

The problem's easily enough dealt with for Cologne though.  She just
has to do an illusion trick and disarm Nabiki.  Then she can settle
down to slowly and painfully killing the girl.  That oughtta wake up
Kuno.  

know that if she doesn't want a piece of Cologne, all she has to do is
stand there and look frightened. Then only way I can see Nabs installing
that new skylight in Cologne's head with that heater of hers is if her
life is directly threatened. Otherwise I think she'll just continue
taking Cologne apart piece by piece until the old hag runs out of
useable limbs. (Perhaps I say this because I would *prefer* it if Nabs
blasted large holes through Cologne's body and let her die slowly.)

Ain't gonna happen.  My heroine can take Nabiki now that Nabiki can't
take her off her guard.