Originally I was just going to post my thoughts regarding this series to the
author but seeing this c&c I couldn't help but comment on some things
regarding this sort of logic.

    I think I've identified one of the problems I have with this story -

it's the same problem I had with the X-Men back when I still read it - I

simply don't find the prejudice described convincing.

    Take Akira for example - he can fly, lift three tons, and is hard

to hurt. Big deal. There are half a dozen martial artists in Ranma 1/2

stronger than that who could make mincemeat of him. Given that there's

no evidence of any particular prejudice against martial artists in

the Ranma universe, I don't see why there's a problem here, unless you're

going to assume that all the powerful fighters - Ranma, Ryoga, Mousse,

Taro, Herb, Mint, Lime, Ryu Kumon, Konatsu, Cologne, Happosai, Lukkosai,

even Genma for that matter - are actually specials. I mean, if a normal

human can, through dint of life-long training and tremendous dedication,

become the equal of your run-of-the-mill special, I don't see any big

reaction against specials, unless it extends to super-powered martial

artists as well. Now it might be interesting, for example, to see

people holding the Kunos in contempt because they're striving for

superhuman abilities.

I dunno, let's see you strive your whole life, suffer indignities, tortures,
and other various problems just to achieve something.  Another person is
just born with it.  Now I don't see any reason why thier would be prejudice
from one to another, do you (sarcasm if you don't note it).  Come on... even
now a days when someone is different by dint of birth they are treated like
outcasts.  Unless there is something the majority of people could hold over
the head of someone different they are treated harshly.  It's as simple as
that.  You take the genius who get's any concept the moment it is explained,
without anywhere near the effort or work a normal person has to put in to
get learn it; Ya until people start realizing how bright the guy is no one
will care, but the second it becomes obvious, he becomes singled out.  Once
singled out the 'normal' people would be (for the most part, even if some
would be an exception) jelous, and this would lead to isolation or (at
least) petty hatred towards that individual for the crime of being gifted
where they were not.  The nail that sticks out gets hammered down and all
that stupid stuff.  Also there is a difference between having the evil that
you know (ranma as a martial artist was most likely able to have few
secrets, anything he was seen as doing was in the mortal realm, something
they could do if they dedicated themselves to it for long enough), and a
mysterious unidentifyible evil (Ranma here is a martial artist (so already
is bending the humanly possible to almost beyond belief) but also is a
special which doesn't define what a special could be doing (using his powers
to control or do evil things to them, fear is a powerful motivator for
descrimination) and also places him as 'Not Human' in the view of others. 
For all the original ranma violated laws of physics and such, he was still
someone that would appear human, especially given that their was others who
could do the same thing and nigh impossible feats being gained from advanced
martial arts training was an accepted idea.  This ranma does not get that,
anything that would be attested to his own merit becomes simply a facet of
those strange and unknown powers, even if they knew what he could do
currently, how do they know he won't suddenly gain new powers and use those
against them.  Again, Fear is a most powerful motivator, and changes ones
perspective on anything.

    We've also got yet another fic with a psycho Akane. I don't care

if this is based on the anime or the manga, Akane was never this bad.

The girl shown here is apparently deranged and in serious need of

therapy. The "pervert" business comes out of left field and simply seems

forced. I don't see Nodoka letting the "manliness" bit sliding just

because of his burden - I think she'd find it all the more reason to

hold him to the mark. The curse is present here, but it doesn't

really play any significant part in the story, and I think you'd be

better off dropping it. If there's magic in this world also, seems to

me it makes the prejudice against specials even less sensible.

Following my above logic, the prejudice akane shows seems quite reasonable. 
Here comes someone who has (despite his curse, which leads logically in the
akanite mind to pervert.  To explain this logic, all boys in her school are
inheirently perverted, they attempt to beat her unconscious to show their
love and affection, buy pictures of her in skimpy clothing and harass her. 
Simple logic with this being the most common representation (held day after
day up to akane's face) that she would find a guy, who has a girl's body,
would logically be doing perverted things with it, because all guys (which
she is shown) are perverts and lust insaitably after female flesh, and
therefore a pervert.  Therefore fulfilling classic akane logic) wanted and
trained for everything she sees him as possessing from birth.  How could she
not hate this person.  He is the personification of what she dreams she
could be, but no matter how much she trains, will never be.  I can think of
few more potent reasons to have at least a minor prejudice and petty jelousy
towards someone.  The magic comment makes no sense, because a small small
small percentage of people get cursed in a valley no one has ever heard of,
magic must inheirently be widespread, accepted, and well known about. 
Sheesh, it is like thinking that because one guy invented gun powder and
showed it to a few nearby friends, that everyone in the world automatically
knows about gun powder.  flawed logic.  Personally this writing looks like
it is being formed towards a character development, with a far lesser
emphises on pure physical combat.  Also Nodaka, let's see, I don't see a
difference in the maniliness, She is responding to a slur against her son's
honor, Her son was being accused not of drawing girls to him by his
maniliness, but rather of using his 'special' powers to rape girls.  Why
would any parent not respond harshly to such an accusation?  The curse exist
in the story and appears to be just another mark that will be held against
ranma, allowing a more pure character under great prejudice scenario.  The
therepy comment is probably right, all of the tendos in EVERY SINGLE FIC and
THE ORIGINAL CANNON (MANGA AND ANIME), could do with quite a bit of therepy.
Given that they have plenty of unresolved issues with thier respective
pasts; heck every single character in the original series could be improved
in everyday life with some therepy, Ranma, the tendos and ryoga probably
would gain the most benefit from it.

    I can't see Nabiki having any interest at all in Ranma under the

circumstances - it's just too risky. Nabiki likes her money, and she

likes her fun, but she always looks out for number one, and this Ranma

is even more dangerous to be around than canonical Ranma.

Hmm... Now this makes so much sense...  Ranma the original, capable of
smashing stone walls, trees, smashing craters into the ground, and taking
massive amounts of punishment when he is aware, and this is just at the
beginning of the series.  Comparing the two is like saying "Well we have
this rattlesnake which could kill us in thirty seconds and this king
rattlesnake which could kill us in one";  Besides the fact that Nabiki seems
to actually be informed about specials (which would lower her prejudice
towards them as she would actually understand something other than "public
truths" about them) if she would be reasonably seeing this ranma with super
powers this way, she would logically see the original cannon ranma as
providing the same threat.  As she doesn't in either main sources attempt to
eliminate ranma for being a threat or try and get rid of him in a way that
would show at least respect for the potential danger he represents; it can
be surmised that even with the new powers, that he would be seen more as a
plus (especially given as he appears more intelligent) and a brave strong
boyfriend who, given the prior argument with akane, would be unlikely to use
his strength to force himself on her.  Also giving her connections with the
government, and perhaps a real relationship for herself.

    How many people are going to show up for classes taught by a

special?

About as many blacks originally were willing to show up for classes in white
schools, that is the type of descrimination that appears to be described,
the specials are labled, kept tabs on, and have assassins ready to kill them
if they act up with their powers.





Now the actual C&C for the fic...



I like it.  Quite a bit.  The beginning with ranma's entrance seems a bit
cliched even if different, but the portrayal of the characters as having
more thought out perspectives was nice.  Interesting to see where this fic
goes.  Also note, I sincerly doubt that despite the racial prejudice, that
Kuno would get anything but his die-hard loyalists out there to slay the
demon with him, mainly because the same fear that would cause the
descrimination would also stop attacks from the front (stuff like the people
stoning him I could see, the horde attacking him places their intelligence
at a lower level than pond scum)

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com