And I'm back for more, Chapter 3 at your door!

Forgive me, I'm feeling silly today.

Once Again:  Ranma 1/2 owned by Rumiko Takahashi above all others.
Pokemon owned By Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures inc.

Interesting Pokemon Fact: I've found out that Ash has an entire herd of
Tauros back at Prof. Oak's lab.  As it turns out, when Ash was in the Safari
Zone, every time he tried to catch a Pokemon, a herd of Tauros would 
stampede
by, and one of them would intercept the ball, getting caught.

I'm still accepting character applications, for those who want to give any.
Although I'm running out of room for new characters.  Be warned, though. The
characters I use can be anywhere from cameos, to major characters in a 
episode,
to driving forces in the whole storyline.

Beware of gratuitous crossover cameos in this series.

Much thanks go to Lurker for his help.

One more thing:

() = thoughts
<> = Translations for All-Pokemon dialogue, when nessecary.

[Video of Pikachu balancing a PokeBall on its head] And now, back to our 
show!


Nidoranma

Last episode:  Ranma and Akane revealed their curses to Ash and their 
friends.
Genma arrived, with the cursed form of a Snorlax, and two little boys who
turned out to be Ranma's Hitmonlee and Akane's Hitmonchan.  Kuno arrived to
challenge Ranma, but the fight was interrupted by the Arrival of Team 
Rocket.

Team Rocket was defeated, thanks to some inginuity on the part of Ash and
Ranma, and Ash was rewarded with a Ki Badge.

Oh, look.  Nabiki and Mr. Tendo are back.  Ranma, you got some 'splaining
to do!


Chapter 3
Ash:  Anything-Goes Pokemon Training


"Akane!"  Soun Tendo cried, rushing to embrace his youngest daughter.  "I'm 
so
glad to see you made it back safely!"  Akane returned the hug, silently 
hoping
her father wouldn't burst into tears, him finding out about the curse being
one good reason, the poisonous nature of Nidorans being another.  
Fortunately,
his tear ducts held back.

"Kasumi,"  Ranko said, "Maybe we should take this into the house."

Kasumi nodded.  "I'll go make some lemonade."

"Um, I think you had better make some tea instead."  Ranma replied 
nervously.

Everyone went into the house, and Kasumi and Chansey came out with a tray of
tea each.  Brock set out some food, and some of the Pokemon got a table from
somewhere and ate.  Pikachu, of course, sat with Ash.

After a short argument between Charizard and Kangaskahn, which led to Nabiki
pulling out a Rhydon to sit between them.  Kangaskhan immediately shut up,
Charizard laughed, but Rhydon gave him a look that said:  "Try anything and
I'll hand you your tail in several small pieces."  Charizard, who knew that
glare well from the giving end, glared back, and sat down.

Everyone sipped their tea in peace for a minute, the Soun finally spoke.
"Ash, it's a pleasure to meet you.  I've heard about many of your
accomplisments over this past year."

"Accomplishments?"

Nabiki held up an old newspaper.  "The St. Anne.  You all but led that 
revolt
against Team Rocket.  Not to mention your impressive defeat of the Elite 
Four."

Ash blushed a little.  "I guess I did, huh?"

"At least you're being modest about it."  Misty grumbled.

"Of course, that other kid, Gary, finished them much faster."  Ranma said.

"I know."  Ash groaned, his mood crushed.

Akane glared at Ranma.  "Ranma....  Ash, how would you like for Ranma and I
to help train you?"

"Train me?  But I still have to..."

"Just for a week or so, to get you started."  Ranma explained.  "After that,
we'll can go with you on the road and continue the training."

"But what about the Gym?"  Soun asked.

"Ucchan an' Ranko can handle it."  Ranma said.  "I think they're good enough
to become Leaders."

Ukyo beamed.  "You really think so, Ranchan?"

"About time..."  Ranko grumbled.

Akane glanced at Ranma.  Ranma looked back, turned to Ash, sighed, and got 
up.
"Mr. Tendo, there's one other reason Akane and I are asking to leave."  With
that, he picked up a glass of lemonade.  (Oh, man.  Here goes...) he thought
as he flung the liquid in his father's face.

The floorboards creaked loudly, protesting the half-ton that suddenly came 
to
be placed upon them, before giving up and breaking under the immense weight.

Nabiki's eyes widened for a second.  "Daddy, there's a Snorlax in our 
house."

{There's a good explanation for this!}  Genma signed.

Ranma punched him in the head.  "I'd love to hear it!"

Genma growled, picked his son up, and hurled him into the pond.  A very 
upset
Male Nidoran leapt out of the water, charged into the house and proceeded to
beat upon the Snorlax.

"Ranma, Mr. Saotome, STOP IT!!"  Akane yelled.  She reached behind Ash's 
back
and pulled out a PokeBall.  "Return!"  The beam caught Ranma in mid-kick,
pulling him back into the PokeBall.  Akane then hit Genma with the Pokemon's
table.  "Mr. Saotome, now you're going to explain to my father what 
happened!"

"This should be good..."  Nabiki said.

Akane let Ranma out of his PokeBall, and held on to him to make sure he 
didn't
attack his father... At least not until she let him.  "Wartortle, Charizard,
hot water please."  Akane asked.  The two Pokemon complied, and combined 
their
attacks.  A stream of boiling-hot water washed over Genma, slightly scalding
him.

"Yeeowch!"  Genma cried as he turned human again.  "I didn't need to be that
hot!"

"Yes it did."  Akane said, smiling as sweetly as Kasumi.  She noticed that
her father had fainted upon seeing his old friend turn into a Pokemon and
back.  "Nabiki, Hitmonchan, when daddy gets up, make sure Mr. Saotome tells
him everything.  If he lies, or leaves anything out, beat him."  In her 
arms,
Ranma snarled.  "Not now, Ranma!  You can pound him in the morning."

Kasumi looked out the window at the setting sun.  "It'll be dark soon, 
perhaps
I should get the guest rooms in the Gym ready for our guests."

"I'll do it."  Akane offered.  She set Ranma down, and he scampered upstairs
to the bathroom.  Pikachu leaped out of Ash's lap, and followed.

"Pikachu!"  Ash cried, "What're you.."

"Let them go, Ash."  Akane said softly.  "Kasumi, maybe you should show Ash
and the others to their rooms after all."  With that, she grabbed a glass of
water, splashed herself, and headed upstairs after them.

Nabiki watched as the small blue Pokemon that was her sister climbed the
stairs.  "You have a _lot_ of explaining to do."  She warned Genma.

*********************************************************

Akane-Nido-chan Caught up with Pikachu standing in front of the bathroom 
door.
Pikachu pointed over to the door, indicating it was locked.  <I'll get it.>
she said, right before she smashed through the door.

Inside, Ranma was sulking in the furo.  He barely noticed when Akane and
Pikachu entered the room.  "Stupid old man!"  he muttered.  "Just HAD to 
take
Akane an' me to that stupid place in China!"

"Pikachu!"

"Pikachu... Akane!"  Ranma sank into the water, blushing slightly.  "What do
you want?"  Akane pointed over to the showerhead.  "I don't want to talk 
about
it right now!"

Akane motioned to Pikachu and whispered something in her ear.  Pikachu 
looked
horrified for a second, but Akane pleaded with her, and she gave in.  
Turning
back to Ranma, she let loose with a Thundershock into the water.  Ranma 
leaped
out of the tub as if he had been shocked, which happened to be exactly what
happened.  Akane blushed and turned around, then steeled herself and charged
Ranma.  The spines on her back scraped against his leg, and the scratch soon
became purple and swollen.

Ranma felt a little woozy as the poison worked through his bloodstream.
"Akane?  I can't believe you just did that!"  Akane looked away and merely
pointed to the showerhead.  Ranma relented, and turned on the water.  The
poison's effect soon dissapated as his body changed to his already poisonous
form.  <Fine, I'm a Pokemon.  Now what?>

<What was wrong with you, Ranma?>  Nido-chan asked.  <You were trying to 
kill
your father back there!>

<It was all his fault!>  Nidoran shot back.  <He's the one who took us to 
that
stupid-ass training ground, and he couldn't even read Chinese!  He was 
stupid,
and once again _I_ end up suffering!>

<YOU'RE suffering?  What about me?  I got the same curse too!>

<I KNOW THAT!>  Nidoran screamed.

<Stop it, both of you!>  Pikachu cried, getting between them.  <Fighting 
with
each other won't help anything.  Nidoran,> Pikachu turned to Ranma.  <why 
are
you so upset about this now?  You haven't been this upset about it since Ash
caught you.  Did something happen?>

Nidoran sat back on his hind legs and looked down.  <I don't like this 
curse,
and I want to find a way to be rid of it before...  something happens to 
make
it permanent, and we're stuck like this.>

<Me too.>  Nido-chan added quietly.  <Pikachu, I know there's nothing wrong
with being a Pokemon by itself, but Ranma and I were born human.>

<Transforming can be very scary.>  Pikachu agreed.

<But it's more than that.>  Nidoran said.  <At first I thought the curse was
bad enough, but when we were fighting Team Rocket, I felt myself getting
stronger.  Thinking about it, I got kinda scared.  If we could raise our
levels, then the curse is worse than I thought.  I thought that we just took
the form of a Pokemon, but if we're advancing in levels, what happens if we
can evolve?  The curse is changing us.  After the fight, I felt stronger 
even
after we changed back into ourselves.  If... if we evolve, what's gonna 
happen
to us?>

Pikachu thought for a moment.  <You're afraid of evolving?>  Nidoran nodded.
<Then just don't evolve!>  Pikachu said, brightening up.  <Not all of us 
want
to evolve, either.>

Nido-chan smiled.  <I guess you're right.  Come on, Ranma.  Let's go.  No
matter what happens, we'll just have to face it.>

Nidoran sighed.  <You're right.  Thanks Akane, Pikachu.  Let me get changed,
then you can get back.>

<Why don't you spend the night as Pokemon?>  Pikachu offered.  <Just this
once, at least.  The rest of us would like to get to know you better, since
we're teammates now.>

<I dunno...> Nidoran started to protest, but Nido-chan clawed him on the 
rump.
<Okay, okay!  Just for tonight, though.>

*****************************************************************

Ash woke up the next morning surrounded by sleeping Pokemon.  Pidgeot and
Charizard were fast asleep against the door, while Wartortle was knocked out
by the now-empty PokeBalls.  Pikachu and Ranma and Akane, whom Ash noticed
were Nidorans again, were sleeping in a heap, Ranma had one forepaw draped
over Akane's neck, and Pikachu was leaning against both of them.

Ash yawned and scooped up the PokeBalls.  "Come on, guys!  Let's get up."
Charizard started to yawn, and Ash felt the temperature in the room suddenly
rise.  Not wanting to have another gym burn, he quickly put the dragon back
in it's PokeBall.  As Pidgeot and Wartortle retired to their own balls, Ash
woke up the last three.  "Pikachu, wake up."  As the tiny electric mouse
stirred, Ash tapped Ranma on the horn.  He suddenly found his finger caught
in an iron gip and bent at an angle that wasn't entirely natural.

Ranma yawned and rubbed an eye with his other paw.  When he noticed whose
finger he was about to break, he quickly let go.  "Ni ran..."

"T-That's okay."  Ash bit out, holding his finger.  "Maybe _you_ should wake
Akane, then."  Ranma's ears shot straight up in fright.  "I'll get you some
hot water."  Ash chucked, and headed downstairs.

As Ash walked down the hallway, he heard a soft groan come from a nearby
door.  He opened a crack in the door and looked inside.

Misty was fast asleep on her futon, holding a stuffed Staryu and dressed in 
a
pair of Poliwag pajamas.  Ash stared at her for a moment, supressing a 
thought
that came to mind.  (When she's not yelling at me, she sure can be...)
Unfortunately, it was a moment too long, as Misty woke up and saw him at her
door.

"AAAASSH!!!!  HOW DARE YOU PEEP INTO A LADY'S ROOM!"

Ash found out that the "stuffed" Pokemon she was holding really _was_ 
Staryu,
as Misty hurled said Pokemon into the wall behind him, passing a hair's
breadth from his head.  Not wanting to find out if Starmie also knew
Double-Edge, Ash quickly ran downstairs to fetch a kettle.

*************************************************

Noontime found Akane(human) going over some simple beginner's katas with 
Ash.
Pikachu and Hitmonchan were mimicking their movements.  Ranma, Brock, and
Misty stood off to the side, watching them.  Misty was tending to a bandage
over one of Staryu's arms that had become embedded in the wall when she 
threw
it at Ash.

Akane and Ash stopped and bowed to each other.  Pikchu hopped up to Ash's
shoulder.  Ranma clapped his hands.  "Not bad, Ash.  You're picking this up
almost as fast as Akane did."

"Thanks, Ranma."  Ash said.

"The two of you go take a break, Akane, Ash an' me need to practice."

As the others left the training area, Ranma and Akane faced each other.
Simultaneously, they drew glasses of water from behind their backs and threw
them at each other.  The two Nidorans growled at each other from their
respective piles of clothing and charged.

Ash, Misty and Brock flinched as a series of loud crashes echoed through the
compound.  "That had to hurt."  Brock commented.

Ash grimaced.  "I'm gonna have to go through THAT?"

"Not getting scared, are 'ya?"  Misty grinned.

"I'm not scared!"  Ash nearly screamed, then his voice dropped.  "It's just
that..."

"Uh-huh."  Misty said, raising an eyebrow.

"I-I'm sure that they're not going to be that tough until I get better,
right?"

"Pikaaa..."  Pikachu sighed.

"So what do you want to do now?"  Misty asked.

"I know!"  Ash exclaimed.  "We should call Professor Oak and let him know we
got to Japan safely."

"That's right."  Misty agreed, "Our families must be worried sick about us
if they heard about the ship!"  The Three...

("Chu!")

(Okay, okay!  Four.  Happy, Pikachu?)

("Pi!")

(Good.  Now get back into the story!)

...Four went into the house to ask Mr. Tendo if they could use the phone.
After getting permission, they quickly dailed the international and area
codes for Prof. Oak's lab.

**Ringringring!  Ringringring!  Phonecall!  Phonecall!**

Prof. Oak answered.  "Professor Oak's labratory.  Prof. Oak speaking."

"Hello, Professor?  It's me, Ash!"

"Ash!  It's good to see that you made it to Japan.  We heard there was an
accident on the ship Lt. Surge chartered for you."

"Team Rocket tried to hijack the plane, and a big fight broke out."  Ash
replied.  "The ship sank, and we took Pidgeot and Lapras the rest of the
way."

"Well, it's good to hear from you again."  Oak said.  "Oh, by the way..."
He lifted a Pokemon up to the screen.  "Bulbasaur says hi, and wants to know
when you're going to send him back into action."

"Bulba!"  Bulbasaur affirmed.

"Don't worry, Bulbasaur."  Ash said, "You'll be getting back soon enough."

"Speaking of which,"  The professor smiled.  "the computer says you
recently got two new Pokemon.  I need you to send them both over so I can
give them a checkup."

"Uhh..."  Ash gulped.  "Why's that?  You never had to check up on the others
until we came back."

"True, but you and your Pokemon came from overseas.  I need to check 
your..."
Oak read a screen.  "Nidorans, to make sure they're healthy and don't get
themselves or the rest of the team sick.  There are many germs or viruses
that your Pokemon may be immune to, but the Nidorans could get sick."

Ash sweatdropped.  "I-I don't know, there's a litte problem with that..."

Unfortunately, the professor was resolute.  "No matter.  For their own good,
I must insist that you send them over.  This is very important, Ash."

"Nido?"  Ash looked down to see Nido-chan looking up at him.
He picked her up and held placed her in front of the phone.  "Ask them.  I
have to leave the decision to them."

Oak and the Nidorans talked back and forth for a few minutes, then Pikachu
jumped onto the conversation.  The discussion turned into an argument 
between
Ranma/Nidoran and everyone else.  Finally, he relented.

"Perfect."  Oak declared.  "They agreed to come.  Send them over right away,
and I'll see about this 'problem' they've been talking about is."

"O-okay, Professor,"  Ash said, "but you have to promise not to tell anybody
anything."  He returned the Nidorans to their PokeBalls, and transferred 
them
across the ocean in seconds.  "Call me back if you have any questions.  And
believe me, you'll have 'em!"  The last part said under his breath.

As Ash waited for the inevitable call, Mr. Tendo walked up to him.  "Excuse
me, Ash?  Have you seen Ranma and Akane around?  I have something of
importance to discuss with them."

Ash sighed.  "I sent them to Professor Oak a few minutes ago.  He should be
calling back soon."

Soun sat down next to the younger boy.  "Can we trust him?"

"Professor Oak's dependable."  Ash answered.  "Maybe he can even help them."

**Ringringring!  Ringringring!  Phonecall!  Phonecall!**

"Moshi-Moshi?  Tendo residence."

Professor Oak appeared on the video screen.  Behind him were Ranma and 
Akane.
Akane was Human, and was holding Ranma in her arms.  "Hello, Mr. Tendo?

"Yes, this is Soun Tendo."

"I was just talking with your daughter and her friend about their 'problem.'

"Do you think you can find a cure for it?"  Soun asked hopefully.

Oak sighed.  "I would have to have some samples of the water from Jusenkyo,
plus it would take some time to study them.  Ash, since you're still in
Asia..."

"What?"  Ash interrupted.

"Don't interrupt, Ash."  Prof. Oak chided, "It's not polite.  As I was 
saying,
Gary and Hiroshi have already left Japan.  Gary's going to North America, 
and
Hiroshi's gone to Europe.  Since you're still in Japan, and have access to
people who have been to Jusenkyo before, I need you to go there and bring me
some of the water from the Springs Ranma and the others fell into, and a few
others as well."

"To Jusenkyo?"  Ash said quietly.  "But..."

"Don't worry," Oak reassured Ash.  "If you get cursed, I'll jast have to
make a cure for you, too!"

"But what if you can't find a cure?"

Oak grew silent.  "Hmm... didn't think of that.  Just try not to fall in."

Everyone facefaulted.

Soun, recovering first, cleared his throat.  "Ranma, Akane, I had wanted to
discuss this with you personally, but since you're both halfway across the
Pacific Ocean at the moment, and Ash and the professor are involved with 
your
present situation now, I'll tell you now."

Professor Oak had a sudden sense of impending doom wash over him.

Soun cleared his throat once more.  "Ranma... several years ago, I made an
agreement with your father....  And considering Akane and your's current
situation, I feel that the two of you would be the best to carry it out..."

"Nido?"  Ranma suddenly felt very nervous.  He had a feeling he was not
going to like where this was going.  He fidgeted in Akane's arms.

"...The agreement was made shortly after Ranma was born.  We agreed that 
when
You reached a good age, you would be married to one of my daughters..."

"WHAT!!"

"RAN!"

"Chu!"  Pikachu said as she hopped onto Ash's head.  Pika pikachu, Pikapi!"

"You're engaged?"  Misty added as she elbowed Soun out of the way, crowding
in with Ash.  "Oh, how romantic!"  she cooed, starry-eyed.

"But..."  Akane tried to protest.

"You and Ranma would be perfect for each other!"  Soun said, all but
stomping Ash into the floor to get back to the phone.  "That's why Ranma 
came
to live with us six years ago.  Not just to become a Pokemon Trainer, but
to give us enough time to decide which of you he should marry."

"But father, we're still only sixteen!  We can't get married just now, out 
of
the blue!"

Unfortunately, Soun wasn't entirely listening.  "Soon the Tendo and Saotome
schools of Anything-Goes Martial Arts Pokemon Training will be rejoined!"

Ash groaned from the floor.  With Ranma and Akane yelling at Mr. Tendo over
the phone, Misty and Pikachu offering congratulations, and Mr. Tendo 
standing
on his head, he was having a Gyarados of a headace.  "Now I know how Psyduck
feels..." he muttered.  It was going to be a long journey.

In the next room, Ranko and Brock laughed their heads off.

====================================================================

YES!  after all this time, I finally finished a chapter!  Sorry it's a 
little
light om the action, though.

Chapter four:  I'm gonna get VV for stealing my idea before I could get to
it.  No, really.  The first of our couples problems from China comes for
Akane, and Ash has a brush with destiny.





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