It seems that the main problem with this discussion (and most of the other
that the FFML has seen) is that the whole concept and idea that we are
discussing is undefined.  With the topic being as vague as it is, it is
impossible to have a debate in which points are made that are actually
relevant to the main idea being discussed.  In fact, there IS no main idea
being discussed because everybody has a different definition of the main
topic.  Mr. Cannady seems to be discussing the omnipotent 'creative license'
and that a fanfic, no matter how off canon or twisted it may be, is still a
fanfic.  He states that characters are what the writer (and the reader)
makes of them.  Mr. Kleppe (as far as I can tell) seems to be stating that
the fanfic author CAN write the characters to do anything, yet it must be at
least somewhat believable.  Characters that are absolute extremes or even
slightly tweaked are out of character if they are not plausible.  Ms.
(Mrs.?) Perry seems to be discussing when to write a character OOC and what
seems to work in an alternate reality fic.  Some others have mentioned that
OCC is acceptable in certain instances but that there is a limit to OOC in a
serious, non-parody fic.

Overall, it seems that it has degraded into a large debate about a very
general concept.  Basically the age old debate (at least, old on the FFML)
on whether or not a writer of a fanfic must have some elements of OC in a
non-parody derivative work.  This discussion might actually be resolved
(then again, this IS the FFML...) if the topic was more specific to the
story in discussion.

I agree in that the story had plot holes from the Ranma/Akane breakup,
especially due to the fact that it happened out of the scenes provided and
that it seemed to be a sudden change.  If the author had stated that this
was an alternate reality fic and had maybe stated something about Akane not
existing in this realm, or that they had never gotten together, it provides
a more fleshed out and believable event.  Even in an alternated reality fic,
I believe that the character portrayed (no matter if he/she is portrayed way
OCC) must be capable of doing the events that are taking place.  If Ranma
could break up with Akane so non-chalantly, then I would expect him to be
calloused or indifferent to her and maybe some others as well.  I would also
expect a much more mellowed out Akane for being so quiet about this break
up.  This discussion has steered away from the fic in question and even away
from the characters portrayed, and into the general debate I stated above.

I'm certain that people will disagree with me, as that is the nature of a
healthy debate, but people cannot debate something if they are debating
different topics in general.