[The MST theatre. Amy, Luna and Rarstarr are sitting at the front. Rarstarr
is busy reading a book.]

Luna: Ah, Rarstarr, we're starting.
Rarstarr: <looks up> Hmm? Oh, damn. <Puts bookmark in book and drop
	it into hammer space.>
Amy: What is it that's got you so interested?
Rarstarr: I just got some new graphic novels, and plan to spend the
	entire night reading them.
Luna: What about studying for your exams, they're only four weeks away.
Rarstarr: Closer to five.
Amy: Still.
Rarstarr: <shrugs>
["One Winged Angle" starts playing and Sephiroth enters.]
Sephiroth: I have returned.
Rarstarr: <bored> What have you done to Cloud now?
Sephiroth: I sent Aeris two free tickets to the Gold Saucer's Tunnel of
	Love.
Others: <facefault>
Rarstarr: Kind of minor for you isn't it.
Sephiroth: I sent Tifa two tickets as well. Both sets have to be claimed
	at the same time. Cloud will have to chose! <Throws head back and
	laughs evilly.>
Others: <sweatdrop>
Rarstarr: Take a seat, and lets get on with this.
Amy: Mind if I do the introductions for once?
Rarstarr: Be my guest.
Amy: Hello members of the FFML. I am Amy Anderson, also known as Sailor
	Mercury from the rglish translation of Sailor Moon. The beautiful
	black cat on my lap is my friend Serena's advisor Luna. Sitting
	next to me is David, also known as the author Rarstarr. Beyond him,
	in the black cape, and sometimes weilding a very long Katana, is 
	Sephiroth, the main Villain of the game Final Fantasy VII.
Luna: And we're here to MST the still unnamed fic from Adam Brown.

Okay, this is the second installment of my Gargoyles/Ranma crossover.  I've
been asked if I want my work posted on a web site, but I have no idea what
to call the fanfic as a whole.  Any ideas (Gargoyles 1/2?  Nah :)?

Rarstarr: Lives of Stone.
Luna: Guardian of Nerima.
Sephiroth: Guardian of Stone.
Amy: I'm not going to say "Lives of Nerima", that's just too stupid.
Rarstarr: Best idea in naming a fic: Figure out what makes your fic special
	and try to make it sound heroic.
Amy: Or pick up a major plot point, hero or villain.
Sephiroth: Without knowing much about the plot, best we can give is things
	like "Curse of Stone."

Standard copyrite stuff:.

Ranma is owned by Rumiko Takahashi (or whoever she sold the rights to) and
Gargoyles are owned by Walt Disney.  (Have to admit Walt's done pretty well
for himself, huh?  How many people do you know still own stuff after

dying? :)

C&C/MST are welcome, but a few points should be made:

I like to know the especially *good* points are as well as the places that
need improvement.  This gives me a few bonuses:

1. Motivation.  When I know people like my stories, I'm more inclined to
write.
2. Content.  When I know what people like as well as don't like, I can
include more of what they like and less of what they don't.
3. Ego boost.  It makes me feel good about myself :)

Also when commenting, please leave a line or two in between your comments
and my story.  It makes it easier for me to read your suggestions.

Now, on with the story...

Chapter 2: Introduction

Luna: I thought Amy did that already.
Rarstarr: Smart alec comments before the first line. That was to be a
	record.

    Patricia polled her way through the mists that bordered Avalon and the 
real world.  As she traveled, she could feel the waters change from the 
ocean's waves to more calm waters, indicating a stream or a lake.  Then 
the pull of the current changed.  Small points of light shone through the 
mist as it thinned.  Suddenly, the mist dissipated, and Patricia found 
herself on a small river bordered on either side by sloping concrete 
walls.  A little further down the river was a bridge.  Hiding the boat 
underneath the bridge, she climbed the walls and explored her surroundings.

Rarstarr: <Sing to "Oh where has my little dog gone">
	Oh where, oh where has my gargoyle gone,
	Oh where, oh where can she be,
	Her friends all mad,
	But her chains all gone,
	Oh where, oh where can she be?
Amy: That was terrible Rarstarr.
Rarstarr: Best I could think of on the spur of moment.
Sephiroth: Don't.	

    Patricia gaped.  There were row upon row of large houses.  In the far
distance she could see pinpoints of lights from streetlamps and skyscrapers.
Jumping up, she caught the wind and explored.  She could not believe the

Rarstarr: I remember they used to make a big point of not being able to fly,
	only glide.
Amy: Still, he is only going by what is in the series, Goliath did that any
	number of times too.

number of houses!  How did they manage to feed themselves?  There were no
farms or orchards anywhere that she could see, nor were there any
storehouses.  And yet, with all these people, this place was cleaner than
any city that she had heard of.  Not even Princess Katherine's descriptions
of London were this grand!
    Eventually she landed on a building and contemplated her situation.
Here she was, a lone gargoyle in the world of humans.  Fascinating unknowns
waiting for her to discover.  Untold knowledge, an entire world to explore.
She was, perhaps, about to embark on the greatest adventure of her life.
    Patricia fell to her knees and wept in dispair.

Rarstarr: Poor girl.
Amy: All alone in night.
Rarstarr: Thank you Captain Sheridan.

Luna: Scene Break!
Rarstarr: Union Break!

    "That stupid jerk!" declared Akane to no one in particular.  "Why does
he have to be so mean?  The idea of a date was a dumb idea!"
    After the aborted wedding, Soun and Genma decided that the two
reluctant engagees should try to 'start over'.  To further such ends, they
'requested' in no uncertain terms that she and Ranma go on a date together.
Nabiki had suggested a dinner date over the movies, since Ranma's and Akane's
tastes varied widely, and there would have been a battle royal over which
movie to watch even before the date had begun.
    The date had gone well, for the most part.  Somehow they managed to
keep it a secret from the rest of Ranma's fiancees so there was no
inconvenient interruptions.  The food was good, if a little expensive,
and they spent most dinner talking about innocent things like who liked who
at school, another martial arts technique that Ranma heard of from Happosai,
and different kinds of music they each liked.  Ranma had said some
insensitive things, but through patience developed from experience and
calming techniques, Akane had managed to keep her temper.

All: .....
Rarstarr: I have a letter of complaint from a demon, it asks that the
	thermostat is turned back up.
Luna: Rarstarr, that wasn't very nice.
Rarstarr: Sorry Adam.

    The problems started on the way home.

    "Ranma?" asked Akane.
    "Yeah?"
    "Have you ever...I mean, I was wondering...well...have you ever kissed
a girl?"

Rarstarr: That question is about as loaded as Rally's gun.
Luna: Rarstarr, stop showing off.
Amy: Can you guess he's been reading "Gunsmith Cats"?

    Ranma's eyes bugged out for a second before asking cautiously, "Why
would you want to know that?"
    Akane glowered at Ranma's attempt at evasion.  "Don't worry, Ranma, I'm
not going to slug you if you say yes."
    Ranma gulped.  "Well, there was that time with Shampoo."
    "I think we can both agree that she was kissing you, not the other way
around."  Her voice became menacing.  "Or was I mistaken?"
    "N-no!  She was kissing me, definitely!  Umm... hey, I kissed you during
that play of Romeo and Juliet."
    "You sure didn't act like it!"  She grinned.  "I've received better
kisses from P-Chan," she teased.

Rarstarr: Hmmm, so she still doesn't know.
Luna: You'd think, after thirty odd volumes she'd figure it out.
Rarstarr: This coming from miss "mistake the reinforcements for the
	enemy."
Luna: Hey!

    "What?!"  Ranma exploded.  "You kissed P-Chan?!"
    Akane was taken aback by Ranma's reaction.  "So what, he's just a pig!
Owners kiss their pets all the time Ranma.  What's with you?  I've never
understood your irrational dislike of P-Chan!  Why can't you leave him
alone?"
    "But...but... ahh, forget it!"  Ranma angrily jammed his hands in his
pockets.  They walked down the street, Ranma muttering sullenly to himself.
    After a few moments Akane said, "You haven't answered my question."
    "Yeah, yeah."  Ranma had thought for a minute.  "Y'know, I don't think
I ever have."
    "And you call yourself manly when you haven't even kissed a girl?" she
teased.

Rarstarr: Do you really want to go their Akane, and end up like your other
	self in "Rejected"?
Amy: You like Rejected, don't you.
Rarstarr: Yes, but only because the author bet me to the punch.

    "Yeah, well what do you know about kissing?  You're so uncute, I can't
imagine anyone wanting to kiss you."
    Akane's temper ignited, and without a second thought, she belted him
into the atmosphere.

Rarstarr: Houston, we have ignition!
Luna: Very funny.

Luna: Scene break.
Rarstarr: Have a break, have a kitty cat.

    When Akane reached the bridge going over the canal, she stopped and
rested her arms on the railing.  Looking out over the canal, she reflected
on the situation.  In retrospect, Ranma had taken her teasing comment too
seriously and reacted accordingly.  [I suppose I owe him an apology.  After
all this time, I guess I should know talking about stuff like that makes him
uncomfortable.]  She sighed and stared up at the flickering stars, a picture
of Ranma filling her vision.

Rarstarr: How sweet.
Luna: Feel the tension in the air.
Spehiroth: Don't spoil the plot, will you.

    "Well, well, well, what have we hear?"
    Akane started and turned around.  Behind her, ten teenagers, probably
gang members by the identical designs on their jackets, had surrounded her
in a semi-circle.  Most of them were men, but there was one woman with them
as well.
    Akane backed up against the railing of the bridge.  "Look, I'm not
looking for any trouble, so how about just letting me by?"
    The leader, a tall, wiry man with enough gel in his medium length hair
to make it stand straight up on end, laughed.  "Neither are we, baby, but
we are looking for some *fun*."  Akane entered her 'ready' stance, prepared
for an attack.  The leader sneered.  "Oooooooh, aren't we the tough guy!"
The rest of the gang laughed.  "Well, let's put it to you this way.  You
let us have our fun and we'll be gentle.  You make us hurt for our fun, and
we'll make *you* hurt too.  What do you think?"
    Akane smiled grimly.  "I think you've got a fight on your hands."  She
skipped sideways and kicked one man in the chest.  He howled in pain as his
ribs gave way, the force of the kick knocking him back twenty feet.  Blocking
a knife thrust, she grabbed the offenders arm and threw him over the railing
into the canal below.  Someone caught her in a bear hug from behind, but she
shattered his nose with the back of her head.  Another kick sent him flying.
She ducked an attack by a gang member wielding an iron bar, and hit him with
a double palm strike in the chin.  His head snapped back and he collapsed,
unconscious.  A chain snaked out and wrapped around her arms, but she merely
reeled the man in and kicked his knee out from under him.  He screamed as
his knee was dislocated, and he fell to the ground clutching his leg.

All: Go Akane, go Akane, go!

    The remaining four tried to encircle her.  Akane did a running jump kick
to either side of her, knocking out two of them.  She landed, rolled and
swung a fist at the gang member she knew would be coming at her.  His cheek
collapsed under her blow, and he staggered back and away.

Rarstarr: "A running jump kick to either side of her." Somehow that doesn't
	sound right.
Sephiroth: Sounds painful actually.

    The woman was the last opponent.  She attacked Akane with two six inch
blades, using a peculiar weaving style of combat.  Her hands and arms would
sway randomly in front of her and then she would strike out unexpectedly
giving Akane a shallow cut, usually to an arm when Akane blocked the attack.
It took several minutes for Akane to dispatch her due to her combat style.

Rarstarr: That weaving style looks familar.
Amy: Akane really needed a gun just then, for the classic shot.
Rarstarr: That's not your usual style.
Amy: I understand cliches when I see them.
Rarstarr: You know the only reason they did that in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
	was because Harrison Ford wasn't well enough to fight when they filmed
	it.
Sephiroth: And moments like these make the best films.

    Akane stood in the middle of the bridge surrounded by unconscious or
moaning gang members.  She whirled at the sound of someone chuckling behind
her.
    The Leader had stayed out of the fight and was looking at Akane
appreciatively.  During the course of the fight, he had donned a pair of
odd metal wires which wrapped around his fingers, extending to inch long
claws beyond the index and middle finger.  Even in the dim light, Akane
could see the slight discoloration of some sort of poison on the tips.
    "You're pretty good," said Leader.  "Why don't you join up with us?
We could use someone like you."
    "You've got to be joking!  You were ready to rape me a few minutes ago,
and now you want me to join you?"
    "Like I said, you're good.  Of course, if you refuse, you'll have to
fight me, and I can guarantee you won't enjoy that."
    "You people have to be new here or you'd know not to mess with me."
    Leader shrugged.  "Times change, people move on.  We're claiming this
area as our turf, so get use to us.  So, you with us or against us?"
    Akane glared at Leader with contempt.  "What do you think?" she asked
sarcastically.
    Leader shrugged again, and moved towards her.  He began weaving in the
same style as the girl had before, but he was much smoother and quicker.
Fast as lightening, he struck.  "Snake Fang Attack!"  Akane barely had time
to block it.  There was a slight sting as she felt his claws scratch
her.  Then, her left arm fell to her side, useless.

Rarstarr: Honor be damned, run away!
Amy: Its not dishonorable to flee when your opponent is cheating.
Luna: But then again, there wouldn't be a plot if she did.
Sephiroth: Sounds like a Star Trek plot.

    Leader laughed.  "You're good, but you're no match for me.  It seems
we've both had good training, but my skills have been honed in the slums of
Tokyo while you've lived a cushy life at home."
    Akane gulped, and prayed help of some sort, any sort, would come.

    Ranma grumbled as she climbed out of the pond.  [What is it with me
and this stupid pond?]  Taking a towel offered by Kasumi, she began to

Rarstarr: Well, fighting over it probably isn't such a good idea to start
	with.

dry herself off.  [Stupid Akane, prying into things that she doesn't have
any business poking into!  She asks me that question and then pounds me for
answering!  After she said she *wouldn't* pound me for answering, too!]

Spehiroth: Ah, the mind of a female, such an illogical thing.
L&A: <clear throats>

    "You're home early, son," remarked Genma.
    "Yeah, well in case you didn't notice, I had a little help."
    Genma nodded.  "It would be a shame if anything happened to Akane."
    "What are you talking about, old man?  Akane can take care of herself,
or at least that's what she says."
    "Ranma," interjected Nabiki.  "According to the news, there's been
a turf war or something in the surrounding districts."
    "So?  We've never had any problems.  We've got some of the best martial
artists on the planet here."
    "It doesn't mean we won't get some spillover."
    Genma nodded again.  "Yes, it would be a shame if something were to
happen to her."
    Ranma gritted her teeth and growled, "Okay, okay, you've made your
point, I'll go!"

    Patricia wept for what seemed like hours, before her hunger finally made
itself loud enough to break through her dispair.  Not really caring, she
flew towards the bridge where her boat was, intent on getting some food.
    When she arrived, she saw that the bridge was covered with bodies.
There were about nine or ten of them, and two humans were fighting.  A girl
her own age fought a slightly older male.  Both were using very odd fighting
style, not at all like the boxing that the Guardian had taught them or the
grappling style her own kind liked to utilize because of their greater
strength.  One of the girl's arms lay limp at her side, and she appeared to
be in some distress.  She had managed to defeat ten-to-one odds, which was
very impressive, but this male human seemed to have more skill than her.

Rarstarr: Hmm, an Anything Goes Gargoyle Martial Artist. Scary thought.

    Patricia knew instantly who needed her help.  Folding her wings, she
entered a silent dive, aiming for the male.
    At the very last instant, he looked up and saw her.  Stunned by her
appearance, he was unable to move out of the way in time.  She slammed
into him with her shoulder, knocking him back approximately thirty feet.
Patricia turned to Akane.  "Are you okay?"
    Akane gaped at the creature before her.  Her mouth moved as she
attempted to speak.  Patricia walked up to Akane and shook her slightly.
"Are you all right?"  Akane nodded.  "Okay good.  You wait here and I'll
deal with this...scum."  Patricia turned to Leader and growled low in her
throat.  "If you leave now, I'll let you.  But if you don't, you'll regret
it."
    Leader began his weaving motions and advanced.  "You got lucky,
monster.  That won't happen again."  He lashed out, but Patricia caught his
fist before it struck.  Patricia pushed forward violently, and Leader flew
back again.
    "You've got an odd style, but unless you have better moves than that,
then you'd better go before I get serious."
    "You want to see better moves?" growled Leader.  "Snake Poison Spray
Attack!"  Leader withdrew a squirtbottle and sprayed it's contents at her.
Patricia was able to shield herself with her large wings.  The poison
splashed against them, and was immediately absorbed into her bloodstream.
Patricia's vision blurred and she felt dizzy.  She fell to one knee,
and stared at Leader, trying to keep him in focus.

Rarstarr: This guy watches far too much TV.
Amy: Ranma yells out attack names too.
Rarstarr: Yes, but they're something for him to focus around. Not pull
	out a squirtbottle too.

    "Wh - wha' sorc'ry i' thi'?" she slurred.
    Leader gaped.  "That much paralysis poison should have killed you!"
he exclaimed.
    "Have...t'do better...'n that."  Patricia fell forward on to her hands 
and knees.
    Leader smirked, and advanced on the pair of disabled women.
    In a blur of red and black, Ranma leapt between Leader and Akane.
"Hey Akane.  I see you got yourself into trouble again."

Rarstarr: Here I come to save the day!

    "Ranma!" exclaimed Akane in surprise.  "Ranma, be careful, he's good."
    Leader leered at Ranma and Akane.  "Man, this keeps getting better and
better.  Now I've got two girls to play with."
    "I'm a guy, and don't you forget it!"  Ranma sidestepped at punch and
smashed her elbow down on his arm.  She followed it up with a snap kick
that knocked him off his feet.  He rolled back and onto his feet.  Ranma
risked a glance at Patricia, who was lying on her back, eyes closed.
Akane was checking over her, trying to ascertain her condition.  "I ain't
got time for this!"  Ranma cupped her hands together, and a glowing sphere
of energy appeared.  "Moko Takabisha!"  She shot a beam of blue light which
struck him square in the chest.  He flew back and slammed into the wall

behind

him.  He fell to the ground and did not get back up.

Rarstarr: Ah, the Ki blast. Now if Ranma had been there for the battle against
	Oberon, things would have gone differently. He can throw those things
	around like he's got an endles supply.
Amy: Not to mention what the Hiryu Shoten Ha would be like against of someone
	as power as the Lord of the Fey.
Rarstarr: <shudder>

    After doing a quick check to make sure there were no other gang members
around, Ranma went over to Akane and Patricia.
    "Akane, you okay?" she asked, noting Akane's limp arm.
    "Yeah, the feeling's coming back slowly, but what about her?  She took
a bigger dose than I did."
    Ranma looked down at the unconscious gargoyle.  "Uhh...what is it...er
...she anyway?"
    "I don't know, but she helped me, so I'm honour-bound to help her.  I
don't know how much good it'll do, but we should get her to Dr. Tofu."

    Tofu looked down at the limp gargoyle and scratched his head.  What
was he suppose to do now?  Humans he could handle, and with less success,
animals.  But this?

Rarstarr: YAY! Something Doctor Tofu doesn't know about.
Amy: Bit of a know it all is he?
Rarstarr: Author's tend to use him as a cheap way to introduce information.
Sephiroth: Takahashi did it too.

    "Akane, I don't know what you expect me to do.  I've never seen anything
like her before.  I don't know what to try.  Anything I do could hurt her."
    "But Dr. Tofu, you have to do something!"
    Tofu sighed and looked at the bottle that Akane and Ranma had given him.
The paralytic compound was fairly easy to make, and the antidote just as
easy.  But what effect would it have on a creature like Patricia?
    "I'm sorry Akane, but anything I do could just make her worse.  She

seems

to be over the worst, so now all we have to do is to wait for the poison to 
wear off."  Tofu got up and left to get Ranma some hot water.
    Akane sighed.  "I wish we knew more about it...her.  We don't even know
her name.  If she has one."
    Ranma spied the bag attached to Patricia's belt.  Opening it she saw
large leather bound tomb.  "Maybe this'll be able to tell us something."  She
grabbed the book, intending to pull it out.
    As her hand touched the book, runes inscribed on the book flared to

life.

Ranma screamed in agony as electricity poured through her body.  Akane cried
out her fiancee�s name.  In a moment of fear for Ranma's well being, Akane
acted instinctively.  She drew back one arm and punched her for all she was
worth.

Amy: Reason not to touch magical books, number 1025.
Luna: Love it, Ranma's it trouble, so Akane instinctively hits him.
Sephiroth: Well she couldn't go switch off the mains, could she.

    Akane felt a jolt of pain as she connected.  The blow, however, had the
desired effect.  Ranma sailed across the room and crashed into the wall.  The
connection between the book and Ranma was broken.  Akane ran to Ranma's side.
    "Ranma!" cried Akane.  "Ranma, wake up!  Ranma are you okay?"
    Ranma moaned in pain and slowly sat up.  "What hit me?"
    Akane's anger flared as brightly as the runes had a moment before.  "You
stupid idiot!  What did you think you were doing?  You could have been
killed!"
    "Yeah, like you care."
    Akane drew back, hurt by Ranma's callous comment.  She recovered quickly
and drew back her fist to hit Ranma again.  At that moment, Dr. Tofu ran
into the room, carrying a kettle of hot water.
    "What happened?  I thought I heard someone scream."
    Akane's temper cooled and she returned to Patricia's side.  "Everyone's
fine."
    "Hey, speak for yourself, Akane.  That book turned me into a human
lightening rod!"  Dr. Tofu poured the hot water onto Ranma.  She grimaced
as bone, flesh and muscle reformed into her male body.
    "Well, you're okay, aren't you.  Besides, I'm don't care, remember?"  A
touch of bitterness lined her voice.  Ranma did not reply.
    "What's the book about?" asked Dr. Tofu.
    "I don't know, but I ain't touching it again!" declared Ranma.
    "So what do we do now Dr. Tofu?" asked Akane.
    "Well, there's not much we can do except wait.  The poison should wear
off sometime tomorrow afternoon.  You two should go home it's getting late."

Rarstarr: Wrong!
Amy: First thing after sunset.
Luna: Gotta love that regeneration.

    Dr. Tofu started awake as a ray of sunshine penetrated the blinds and
hit his eyes.  He blinked drowsily and looked at the clock.  It read six
fifteen in the morning.  6:15 in the morning?!  He overslept!  He had been
checking on the...creature every half hour with short naps in between.  He
got up and went to her room and looked inside.  His jaw fell open when he
saw that there was a stone statue in the form of the creature on the bed.
He walked over and sat down beside the bed.  Shaking his head in
befuddlement, he wondered what on earth was going on.

    "C'mon Akane, we don't have time for side trips.  We're going to be
late for school!" complained Ranma.  Normally, he did not care if he was
late or not, but this would be the third time this month, and Hinako-sensei
had promised him some 'special discipline' the next time he was late.  He
shuddered every time he thought about it.

All: <snicker>

    "Then you go to school, and I'll be the only one late," she replied.
    "No way!  Not after what happened last night."
    Akane almost stopped when she heard those words.  "Y - you mean you
actually care..."  Her words trailed off into silence.
    Ranma looked away for a moment before he turned back.  "Yeah, care about
my own skin.  If I let something happen to you, I'd never heard the end of
it from Mr. Tendo."  He twisted his face and voice into a passable imitation
of Soun's.  "'Ranma, how could you desert Akane when she needed you the
most' or something like that.  That's the last thing I need."
    Akane's face burned and she turned away and continued her side trip to
Dr. Tofu's clinic.
    
    "Hello Akane, how are you feeling?" asked Dr. Tofu.
    "I'm fine Doctor.  How is she doing?"
    "Well...I'm not sure actually.  Something strange happened last night
and I'm not quite sure if it's good or bad."
    "What happened?"
    "Perhaps you'd better see for yourself."  Dr. Tofu led them to
Patricia's room.
    Akane gasped in astonishment when she saw the stone form of Patricia.
    "Wow," muttered Ranma.

Sephiroth: Ranma, king of understatement.

    "I - is she okay Doctor Tofu?" asked Akane.
    "I'm not sure, but I think so.  Ranma put your hand near her and
concentrate on detecting her ki."
    Confused, Ranma did as he asked.  After a moment, he look up at the
Doctor.  "I can feel something, like her ki is...subdued."

Rarstarr: Ki is emotion, right.
Amy: Something like that.
Rarstarr: So how much Ki does someone who's sleeping have.
Spehiroth: Lots if they have a nightmare.
Luna: There must be a general undercurrent.

    "Like someone who's sleeping?"
    "Yeah, kinda like that.  Weaker though, but still steady."
    "That's what I think happened.  She's still alive, and this is the way
her kind sleep, if the ki level is any indication."
    "When do you think she'll wake up?" asked Akane.
    "I'm not sure.  She fell turned into a statue sometime between 5:30 am
and 6:15 pm.  I'd give her twelve to twenty four hours to change back."

Rarstarr: Tofu's been struck by the Nerima Syndrome.
Amy: Anything like the Juuban Flu?
Rarstarr: Not really, its just that people who spend lots of time in
	Nerima become very unobservant.
Sephiroth: I hear they're still years away from a vaccine.
Luna: Droll, very droll.

    "Okay Doctor, we'll be back later.  Give us a call if anything happens,
okay?"
    "Sure Akane."
    The pair left the clinic, but Akane was still nervous.  "I hope nothing
happens to her."
    "Hey, she's got Dr. Tofu looking after her.  And like you say, he's the
best," said Ranma, wanting to reassure her.
    "You're right.  I shouldn't worry about anything."  Akane looked back
towards the clinic as they ran to school.

    Ranma was not sure if he was glad that that...thing?  Her?  What the
hell was she anyway?  Whatever she was, he was not sure if he should be
glad that she helped Akane, or apprehensive that another female had arrived
in Nerima.  It seemed every time a female appeared, she turned into another
fiancee.  Just look at his own little group.  Four women, all of them
wanting to marry him.  And a few of the men!  Ranma shuddered at the thought.
What about this new one?  Would she become the latest devotee of the 'I want
to marry Ranma' club?  God, he hoped not. He had to admit that the chances
were much smaller since she was not human, unless...

All: <snicker>
Rarstarr: Ranma, I dub thee Mulder!
Amy: The fiancees are out there!

    Ranma's blood turned to ice.  What if she was a victim to a Jusenkyo
curse?  What if she really *was* a girl?  Ranma groaned.  That's the last
thing he needed!

Rarstarr: <guide voice> Oh dear miss customer, you fall in spring of drowned 
	Gargoyle. There is legend, very tragic, of Gargoyle who drown there
	one thousand years ago! Now whoever fall in that spring... take body of
	Gargoyle!
Luna: Then promptly turn to stone and sink to the bottom of the spring.

    "Akane," Ranma asked during lunch, "What are you going to do with her
once she...de-stones?  Wakes up?  I don't know, whatever you want to call
it."
    Akane, in the middle of raising some sushi to her mouth, stopped.
A look of confusion fell across her features.  "I...don't know.  Help her
in any way I can, I guess.  She did keep that creep off me until you got
there."
    [And why don't *I* rate some of that help?  I *beat* that creep,
remember?] thought Ranma.
    "Oh, and by the way, Ranma, thanks for helping me last night."
    Ranma froze.  [Did she just say thanks?]  Ranma checked his memory.
[Yeah, she did.  That can't be right.  She almost never says thanks.
Maybe she's finally learning some manners...]
    "Ranma?  Ranma?  Hello, earth to Ranma.  What's gotten into you?"
    Ranma jerked out of his inner contemplation.  "Err...sure, no problem
Akane."  He smiled nervously, hoping not to get hit.
    Akane merely looked at him strangely.  [Why is he acting so weird?]
"Anyway, we can go to Dr. Tofu's after dinner."
    Ranma froze again.  "Ummm...who's cooking tonight?"
    Akane gave him a withering glance.  "Kasumi is, okay?  Is that all
right with you?"
    Ranma breathed a sigh of relief.  "Sure that's fine by me."  [At
least it's not Akane!]  Ranma felt something hard impact with his skull.
He turned to Akane he said, "Hey, what'd you do that for?!"
    "I've know you for almost a year, Ranma.  I know what your thinking.
I'll have you know that my cooking has improved."
    Ranma rolled his eyes.  [Yeah, right!]  Again, he felt something hard
impact with his skull.  By the time the stars cleared from his vision,
Akane was walking away, her fists clenched.  [Stupid tomboy.]

[With a crash Ranma falls through the theatre roof.]
Rarstarr: What happened to you?
Ranma: Life's just not safe since Akane became a mind reader.
All: <shudder>
[Ranma gets up and limps out.]

Luna: Scene break.
Rarstarr: A device used to slow down or stop a scene.

    Akane looked up at the slowly darkening sky.  It was a canvas of
red, orange and gold, with a slowly growing line of darkness on the eastern
horizon.  Akane could feel the warmth of the day floating up into the
atmosphere, carrying the smells of trees and grass.
    "I love sunsets," declared Akane.
    "Yeah, whatever," muttered Ranma.
    Akane scowled.  "Why do you have to be so insensitive?"
    "What are you talking about?  It's just a sunset.  It's not like it
doesn't happen 365 days a year."
    Akane might have hit him, but her hands were full of Kasumi's leftovers
for Dr. Tofu.
    When they arrived, Akane went immediately to Patricia's room.  "How is
she doing?"
    "No change yet, I'm afraid," replied Dr. Tofu.
    Akane put down the food and walked over to Patricia.  "I hope she's
okay."
    "I'm sure everything will be fine.  Do you want some tea?"  She nodded.
"All right.  I'll be back in a few minutes.  You wait here."  He left.
    Akane took Dr. Tofu's place.  Ranma came up and stood beside her.
Akane sighed and laid a hand on Patricia's arm.
    Akane heard a sharp crack.  She jerked her hand away and saw that
a lattice of fractures were appearing where she had put her hand.  They
rapidly spread over her body.  She was breaking apart!  Not sure what to do, 
she frantically tried to keep the stone pieces together.  Fortunately, Ranma 
had a better idea.
    "Dr. Tofu!  The creature's breaking apart!" yelled Ranma.
    Akane pulled away, knowing her actions were futile.  [What have I done?]
she thought in dispair.
    Suddenly, the entire statue moved.  Stone flew outward, causing Ranma
and Akane to cover their eyes.  When they put their hands down, Patricia
was slowly sitting up in the bed, brushing stone fragments off her body.

Rarstarr: Gargoyles always wake with a roar.
Amy: Even the asian ones.

    [Ewwwh, waking up lying in your own skin!] thought Patricia in disgust.
[Another reminder not to go to sleep lying down.]  She heard movement
beside her.  She looked, and saw the girl she had tried to help last night
and another boy looking at her in astonishment.  Unsure of what to do, she
froze.  They sat there, staring at each other until Dr. Tofu ran into
the room, carrying a kettle of hot water.
    Alarmed, Patricia scrambled to her feet.  Standing on the bed she
towered over the three humans.  She growled a warning, her eyes glowing
a smoky red.
    Akane jumped to her feet.  "Wait, we won't hurt you!  Just calm down."
    Patricia looked at Akane.  Akane had taken care of her after Patricia
had been overwhelmed by the poison.  That earned Akane a moment of her
time.  She relaxed slightly, the glow in her eyes fading.  "Talk."
    Akane's mouth opened and closed, speechless, so Ranma decided to take
the initiative.  Taking the kettle of water, he moved to Patricia's side and
poured the water over her head.
    Patricia roared in indignation.  Knocking the kettle out of Ranma's

hand,

she grabbed him by the front of his silk shirt.  "What the hell was that
for?" she demanded.
    Ranma grinned sheepishly.  "Just checking."
    Patricia glared at him.  "Just checking what?"
    "Oh, nothi - EURK!"  Ranma went limp as a large mallet slammed into the
side of his head.  Patricia looked over and saw Akane sitting with her arm
outstretched.
    "Jerk," muttered Akane.  "Don't mind him, he's always like that."
    Patricia raised a questioning eyebrow.  "Ye - ah, okay."  She turned
and tossed a stunned Ranma back onto the floor.
    "My name is Akane, the man behind me is Dr. Tofu, this is Ranma.  What's
your name?  Where did you come from?"
    Patricia considered.  She wanted to trust them so bad.  They were her
own age and seemed sincere, but the stories Angela and Goliath had told her
about other humans...
    "Patricia is my name.  Where I came from doesn't matter.  I live here
now."  She stepped down off the bed and began walking towards the door.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go now."
    "Wait!  Where are you going?"
    "Home."
    "Well, where's home?"
    Patricia exited the building and climbed up to the roof.  Looking over
the city before her, a single tear fell down her cheek.
    "I don't know."

End of Chapter 2


Adam Brown

Rarstarr: Uwwww, how sweat. Comments, discussion?
Sephiroth: Do you think that gang are going to be a long term antagonist?
Amy: That's always a possibilty.
Luna: It certainly is a little darker than the usual Ranma fare.
Rarstarr: That's not surprising, Gargoyles is a fairly dark cartoon. 
	<grumbles> Wish they hadn't edited out the fight scenes.
Amy: Yes, the xover wouldn't really work without the darkening of the 
	enviroment.
Sephiroth: The lack of villains is a little disappointing.
Rarstarr: <shrugs> He's just starting to get the plot moving. Maybe in
	the next part.
Amy: Although Patrica could create enough of a stir just by adding to
	general chaos that surrounds Ranma.
Rarstarr: The main problem is that most of that happens during the day, and
	Patrica is entirely a night person.
Sephiroth: Be that as it may, it would be nice if more Gargoyle elements find
	there way in.
Rarstarr: But not the Dog Pack or whatever they were called. Though Dingo
	and his living suit was a character I always wanted to see again.
Luna: You think we've made enough guesses at future plot?
Rarstarr: Probably.
Amy: I'm sure.
Sephiroth: More than enough.
Rarstarr: Right, lets get going!
[The group leap to their feet and as a group run out the door.]
-----------
Rarstarr,
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz