The following day Ranma sat on the ground patiently awaiting his rival. When
the last rays of the sun appeared on the horizon a figure appeared there. He
was wearing a massive back pack with a bamboo umbrella sitting strapped on top
of it. He was dressed in black and worn travel clothes that where light for
the summer weather. His muscular body tensed up as he staggered towards the
waiting men. Ranma stood and watched Ryoga as he finally came to a stop in
front of him.
	"Still got that scar eh, Saotome?" asked the boy as he indicated the facial
scar on Ranma's face. 
	Ranma smiled at him darkly. "Hey, I got you back didn't I?" he replied as he
pointed to an Identical scar on the opposite side of the other boy's face. 
	Ryoga snorted as he set his bag on the ground and stretched his shoulders a
bit to shake off the stiffness. Genma frowned as he felt the earth shake
slightly under the weight of the bag as the boy dropped it.
	"Ready?" asked Ranma calmly as he got into a loose stance. 
	Ryoga snorted and nodded. The match began with no formalities or preparation.
Ryoga simply charged in with a punch and Ranma dodged. They used none of the
special techniques that they had learned in this fight. It was a physical
test, pure and simple. A final battle before they parted ways, a final judge
of the stronger man. When Ranma left for China Ryoga would wander through
Japan and train his own arts further. 
	Ranma ducked under a side kick and placed a few hundred punches in Ryoga's
gut. The lost boy responded with a few hundred of his own in Ranma's face.
They both staggered back and Ranma fell to one knee.
	Ryoga smiled and charged again covering the distance in a fraction of a
second. Ranma vanished as his punches tore into the ground creating a crater.
A quick kick to the back of Ryoga's head sent the lost boy to the ground as
Ranma came down from his jump. Ryoga stood shakily and frowned as he felt
himself grow weak. He grinned and fell face first to the ground. 
	"That was a cheap shot Saotome, a few hundred kicks to my neck would have
just tickled if I hadn't been walking for a week straight," said Ryoga
painfully as he staggered to his feet and brushed off.
	"Well, you've always had me on brute strength Tank-boy," said Ranma as he
stood calmly with his arms crossed.
	"I'll get you yet, just not today. Looks like you win again Ranma, should
have known. I won't be so easy to defeat when you return," said Ryoga as his
remaining strength gave out and he fell to his knees.
	"I look forward to it Ryoga," said Ranma simply as he turned and walked out
of the lot without looking back. He made no move to help the weakened Ryoga as
the boy fainted. He simply walked away coldly with his father following behind
him.
	"That didn't take near as long as I thought," muttered Genma as he walked.
	A few minutes went by and Ryoga stood shakily on his feet again. He looked
into the darkness at the direction Ranma had vanished in and frowned. "Good
luck in China Saotome, you're going to need it," he said with a wicked grin as
he formed a yellow aura around his hand. "Next time we fight it will be for
real," with that he turned and began to set up his camp for the night.

	A few weeks later Genma and Ranma staggered out of the ocean panting deeply.
Genma looked around and sat on the beach a few moment as he chucked his own
pack on the ground beside him. "So son we'll rest here for a while and
then...Son?" Genma glanced around and frowned. Ranma was gone.

	Two weeks later...

	Ranma stood before Herb in his throne room, Lime and Mint lay at his feet
unconscious. The half dragon ruler stood and glared at him angrily. "What is
it that you want boy?" he asked arrogantly. He was covered in a hood and cloak
made from a tiger skin that covered his massive frame completely. His eyes
seemed to glow with a sort of hungry power.
	Ranma only smiled, "A challenge, nothing more," was his reply.
	"If I refuse?" asked Herb sounding somewhat amused.
	"Then I leave," replied Ranma.
	"Very well boy."
	The whole fight took about fifteen minutes; the warriors showed considerable
skill in facing one another; Ranma was clearly dominant physically but Herb's
pure power was just to much for him. 
	In the end it was Ranma who ended up on the ground. He had attempted to stop
a chi blast with one of his own when he saw he could not dodge, it was not
enough. 
	He stood shakily as Herb laughed at him, he stopped laughing when Ranma faced
him with a smile. "I thank you, it was most educational," said the boy as he
turned away.
	"Hold boy, you have given me more sport than anyone has ever done. I like
you," said Herb confidently. He strolled down and stood Next to Ranma looking
him up and down. "How would you like a job?"
	"I thank you...but I am on a voyage of training, I am to inherit my families'
school one day and I'm only in China for a few months," said Ranma
apologetically.
	Herb frowned, he was not used to being refused, he took it in stride however
and simply strode back to his throne. "Very well, I would have enjoyed having
someone like you around," he said calmly.
	"Perhaps we'll meet again; If so I promise you'll have much more of a
challenge," said Ranma sincerely.
	"I hope so young pup, but be warned, no mortal can ever hope to achieve my
power," said the Musk ruler.
	Ranma turned and walked out of the village calmly. He was escorted out by the
same guards who had brought him before Herb. The stayed a comfortable distance
away from him now. No one had ever fought Herb and lived to tell about it;
much less impress the man.

	"I wonder how he knows of us?" said Herb as he leaned against his throne. 
	"It could have been through any number of martial arts organizations master,"
said his advisor calmly. He leaned in close as he said this and caught a
glimpse of something impossible.
	Herb growled and shifted his robes, the man backed up reflexively.  "I
suppose you're right, but I wonder which one it was? He may have passed
through that Amazon village a while back..."
	"Must have been my imagination," thought the man as he regained his senses.
"It is a distinct possibility my lord," said the small elderly man. He turned
to see that Lime and Mint where both recovering from their short lived battle
with Ranma.

	Ranma walked peacefully out of the village and sat on a boulder by the
roadside, he had been surprised when they allowed him to enter. His luck had
been worse at Mt.Pheonix; they had tried to kill him, almost succeeded as
well. He felt strong enough to continue after a few moments rest just outside
the city. He wandered onward for several days. 
	
	Several days later...
	
	Naturally he was not surprised when he came to the ancient valley of the
'Pools of sorrow.' What did surprise him was the fact that his father was
there. He was standing with the guide a few meters away when he rounded the
corner. The guide appeared to be giving his 'Very tragic story' speech.
	The reunion was short and happy. Ranma stood with his father in a rough hug
after they saw each other. 
	"Ranma! Where have you been?" asked the man in an obviously relieved tone. 
	"Training, I visited a village to the north of here and got into a good
battle," said Ranma happily as he released his father.
	"Oh, you mean Amazon village?" asked the guide in wonder.
	"No, I believe the people where called the Musk," answered Ranma simply.
	The guide went white as a sheet and said nothing more.
	"Up for a little sparring son?" asked Genma as he pat his boy on the back
heartily.
	"Always thinking of that aren't you Pop, I've been gone for weeks and the
first thing you want to do is test me?" asked Ranma playfully as he lept onto
the bamboo poles. He smiled and let fate take it's course.
	The pair jumped at each other over the pools ignoring the shots of the guide
below. Ranma kicked his father straight down into the water easily. The panda
jumped out after a few moments angrily, he swiped at his still calm son and
Ranma took his cue to fall into the water after an apparently missed jump. 
	She came up and frowned at her transformation. She stepped out of the water
and glanced at her reflection in a nearby pool. It was as it should have been,
a pretty young girl of about sixteen years old; but she looked different
somehow, more battle hardened. Her scar shrank somewhat on her face and her
muscles were still much larger than they would have been normally. It was as
if he had fallen into the spring of drowned woman instead of the spring of
drowned girl. It was then that Ranma realized what had been bothering him for
so long. He looked older than he should, his face and body were still young of
course, but the way he carried himself was different. He acted and moved like
he was in his late twenties, and he would have been on his own world. 
	Here he was, Ranma Saotome fierce martial artist, and all around too old for
his own age. It sounded strange in his head to say that, but it just felt
right. He looked in the reflection and changed his expression to a smile, as
warm and inviting as he could make it. It helped a great deal, he saw who he
should have been. "But it isn't the real me," he said to himself.
	Deep in the back of his mind he wondered what changes he had made in Ryoga
and Ukkchan's lives. "Does Ukkchan hate me? Does Ryoga still want to kill me?"
he wondered silently.
	"Come on sir, We need move on, it rain soon and Jusenkyo very dangerous in
rain," said the guide as he pulled Ranma away from the spring. 
	His father the panda just sat and watched him in a sort of shocked state, he
seemed nervous and wary waiting to run at any moment if Ranma decided to chase
him. He never did though, he just seemed to accept it and move on. That in
itself made Genma more nervous than ever.

	"Welcome to village of Amazons, this village women very strong," said the
guide as he lead Ranma and Genma into the village. The two travelers into the
heart of the Amazon village. Shampoo was beating on a rather unattractive
woman on a suspended log. Ranma smirked as she easily crushed the woman.
Behind her the sounds of eating began to override the Guide. Ranma winced and
turned slowly to see Genma eating to his heart's content.
	"Pop! What are you doing?!" she whispered harshly.
	"Aren't you gonna have some?" asked the Panda's sign.
	A bonbori slammed into the table shattering it into hundreds of pieces. Ranma
turned to see an angry Shampoo standing over them screaming in Chinese.
	"You there! Panda, girl! Why you eat my prize?' she say" translated the
guide.
	Ranma thought about her options; she could fight Shampoo, abandon her father,
or try to talk her way out of this. Being the person she is, she opted for the
first option. 
	"If I defeat her there's no problem, if this is first prize that is," said
Ranma coldly. She had no intention of being given the kiss of death.
	
	The two warriors faced off on the suspended log. Shampoo smirked confidently
and Ranma just gave her a cold emotionless gaze. The Amazon opted to finish
her quickly and came in for a flashy and clumsy strike with her Bonbori.
	Ranma caught it in her hand easily. Shampoo growled and tried for a counter
strike with the other Bonbori and it was also caught.
	"If you don't fight for real you'll lose," said Ranma simply. 
	Shampoo growled and backed away from Ranma warily. She calmed down visibly
and stood in a tight stance on the other side of the log. 
	Ranma had decided to play with her, perhaps if she beat her badly enough she
would reconsider the kiss of death. It was the only real battle with Shampoo
in the series that he knew of until the end; and he wasn't going to waste the
opportunity. He shifted his stance and waited for her attack. 
	She rushed him and struck out quickly with the mace only to miss completely.
Shampoo gasped as Ranma seemed to vanish from her sight in front of her. 
	"Hey," said Ranma as she landed behind her. The next thing Shampoo knew Ranma
had her fist stuck in her gut. The wind was knocked out of the girl and she
struggled to stand and keep her balance. Ranma stayed back waiting for her to
stand with a strange smile on her face.
	Shampoo finally recovered and snarled as she charged again. Ranma performed a
vicious uppercut that made the Amazon drop her weapons. Shampoo managed to
catch hold of the log and pulled herself back up after tumbling off the side
from the blow. Ranma chuckled and waited for her to stand again, Shampoo
frowned and backed away from the crazed looking girl. Ranma smiled even wider
as she realized that her purpose was complete, Shampoo was about as afraid of
her as she was going to be. She might get away without the kiss of death.
	She jumped forward into the amazon and began to beat on her relentlessly,
blow after blow the Amazon refused to fall. Shampoo stood shakily as she began
to bleed from some of the blows, Ranma sneered and performed a vertical
crescent kick that took Shampoo across the face. The Amazon landed with a dull
thud on the ground and did not move. A large amount of blood began to pool
around Shampoo's head on the ground below them, Ranma stood and watched as the
crowd gathered in shocked wonder around her. She jumped down and grabbed the
panda and guide before sprinting into the woods.
	
	"Great grandmother, where am I?" asked Shampoo as she recovered. She glanced
around the room to see several people standing looking worried around her.
	"Home dear," said the old woman as she placed another wet cloth on her face.
"We thought you might not make it."
	"What happened?" said Shampoo as her head began to throb dully.
	"You where in a battle, you lost," answered Cologne simply.
	"I must find her, I..." started Shampoo as she shook of the sheets from her
body. 
	"Lie down Shampoo, she is long gone. You have been unconscious for three
days," said Cologne quietly. 
	Shampoo said nothing but obeyed. "Did she?"
	"Yes, he escaped our guards, but the man with them did not. He was a guide,
from Jusenkyo. It seems that our guest was a man," said Cologne with a heavy
sigh.
	"Then I must find him...to..." said Shampoo in shock.
	"Yes, my dear, you are to marry him," said Cologne softly. "We are working on
that now, we will find him," said the old woman.
	"Great grandmother why is everyone here?" asked the girl as she looked around
to see most of the village in her room.
	"They where worried about you my dear, the boy who defeated you was quite
vicious," said the elder still as calmly as ever.
	Shampoo shuddered at the thought of the girl, no boy; she had gazed directly
into his eyes and saw no compassion there. Only calculating intelligence.
	"I have a headache Great Grandmother," said Shampoo as she rubbed on the back
of her head. Her mother ran out of the room looking upset for some reason.
	"Yes, we were about to change your bandages Shampoo," said Cologne with a
little reluctance. 
	Shampoo noticed that her Great Grandmother was acting a bit strange. "Give me
a mirror," she said simply; She looked as calm as ever as she said this.
	"You need some rest and your wounds need to heal," said Cologne as she pushed
the girl gently down on the bed.
	"Give me a mirror!" demanded Shampoo.
	Cologne sighed and walked over to a small dresser. Many of the villagers were
walking out of the building; the few who remained had strange looks on their
faces. The elder Amazon handed Shampoo the small hand mirror and sighed again.
	Shampoo stared into the glass for a long moment; gently brushing away her
hair and touching the flesh there, then she began to scream.

	Nerima, Japan....

	Tendo, bringing Ranma from China, Saotome.

	TBC.......

C&C to Catbert25@aol.com

	Why was the guide caught? In the Manga/anime it was the Guide who panicked
and ran. I am assuming that he knew how to avoid the guards around the
village. Ranma would not have know such things and I'm sure the Amazons would
try to prevent him from leaving considering his exit. Therefore he ran into a
few guards or hunters, had a short fight and lost the guide. 
	Knowing the Amazons had a good relationship with him; Ranma left him there.
	Yes, the guide is now safely back at his Jusenkyo hut.

	Ranma's level right now is roughly where he'd be if he'd had the breaking
point training at the end of the series. Still below Cologne and Happy, as far
as power levels and skill levels go. To put it simply he's been living like
Ryu of Street Fighter 2, so his skill and strength are far above what they
should be. He could probably give a transformed Pantyhose Taro a good match,
head to head.
	Another big reason I did this was to clear up the whole 'I'll met by
starlight' mess that happened in the first version finally. It was a friend of
mine's fault, [I hadn't even read it at the time.]and I'm still not speaking
to him.