Oh My Ranma ½!
The Improbable Goddess
Stared: 15Jul05
Finished: 05Aug05
By Ozzallos

Chapter SEVEN

Ranma found her friends staring at her as if they had seen a ghost. Or maybe not a ghost, she amended, since they probably saw those all the time. "Well that was fun."

Belldandy nodded. "Um, Ranma… We need to talk."

"Of course." She replied amiably. "What's on your mind?"

"The question really is," Urd interjected, "What's on your mind."

Ranma thought about it for a moment. "Hmm… I think I'm just going nuts."

"You're so calm about it," Skuld observed dryly.

Ranma patted the teen on the head with a smile. "That's exactly how I know!"

"How long have you been holding this back?" Belldandy asked, touching Ranma lightly.

Another pause. "Since the day I realized I couldn't change back." Ranma clutched her head as if she had a headache. "And I'm trying to keep control. FIGHTING TO KEEP CONTROL." Her voice raised from a calm feminine demeanor to aggravation.

Belldandy pulled her close. "It's not something to be controlled, Ran-chan. It just is."

"But I'm losing me…" Ranma gritted her teeth. "I'm a guy up here but a girl down there… And I can feel the girl… SNEAKING IN…"

"How so?" Urd tentatively asked, hoping to get a clearer picture of the problem.

A strained grin crept across the tortured redhead's face. "You're right, for example… He is cute." Urd shot a sidelong glance to the defeated Amazon boy now being carried off. Ranma's hand clutched her head again. "That's just NOT the right thing to think!"

Urd took Ranma from her sister to face her. "Ranma? Listen to me." Slowly Ranma stopped clutching her head. The strain was still evident in her face, however. "Do you trust me?" Ranma nodded ever so slightly. "Because right now, I absolutely need you to trust me. Can you do that?" A single tear rolled down Ranma's cheek. Another nod.

"Good. Let me tell you a story... It's about a little girl named Urd. Little Urd wanted to be a goddess very badly, but she had a dark side. A demonic side, in fact." The woman she was holding stilled. "Both sides fought in her mind. Lashed out. Raged from one extreme to another. Much like you. It was a constant tug of war, and like you, it began to take its toll. Two people can't live in the same body, Ranma, and that's what we were doing. I did it then and you're doing it now. We put so much pressure on one end of the scale that the other becomes unbalanced and goes berserk. Soon it becomes unbearable and comes back down again even harder than before. The cycle repeats until we crack. Does that make sense?"

Ranma nodded, sorrow and tears still in her eyes, but she held eye contact. "Only by opening myself to both sides was I able to still the madness. Only by not forcing one side or the other was I able to achieve some measure of peace. Both had to give ground, but neither was extinguished. Instead, they became whole. Complete. Are you willing to give that a try, Ran-chan?"

"Y-Yes." She sniffled. "I think so…"

"The male in you is going to have to give ground to find peace." Urd warned. "Can you do that?" A silent nod. "Likewise, the female you are won't have total reign either. You must become one person. It won't happen over night. You will have urges, but you can't suppress them. Control them, yes. Shape them, yes. Recognize and acknowledge their existence, yes. But you cannot under any circumstances shut them out."

"It… It will take some getting used to." Ranma admitted shakily. "I'm still scared I'll be washed away."

Belldandy stroked her hair gently. "That can never happen Ran-chan. That is your very being. Your Soul. It can never be washed away,"

Ranma stood up a little straighter with her words. "R-Really?"

"Promise."

Ranma took both their hands with a weak smile. "Thank you… Onee-chans."

---

Nabiki peeked into the dojo silently, looking for a certain redhead who had yet to come for breakfast. Sure enough, Skuld and Akane were right; Their sensei had dismissed them from practice, with a promise to join them at the table later. The middle sister was once again in information gathering mode. The goddesses had not gotten home until late last night, and when they did, they seemed to be sheltering a very fragile looking Ranma. Now she sat in the middle of the dojo mat, eyes glued to the ground in front of her. Nabiki focused on the same spot …It was a ten yen piece. What was she…

"Spying again?" Ranma's voice broke her attention from the coin to the redhead's neutral stare.

"Well, you came home late last night and you never miss breakfast…" Nabiki ventured, stepping into the dojo. She didn't add exactly what she saw. "What gives?"

Ranma's eyes returned to the coin in front of her. "Just have a lot on my mind."

"I can imagine…" The sister replied softly, then realized in surprise that she was actually sympathizing with Ranma. It was getting harder not to, she thought, especially after seeing her condition last night.

Ranma looked up at Nabiki. She knew. Probably not about her breakdown last night, but she knew a whole lot more than she should. "You going to sell that information too?"

Nabiki winced. "Um…." Ranma snorted her gaze returned to the coin. A change of subject was in order. "What's with the coin?" Ranma remained silent, fixated on the disk. Nabiki laughed softly, breaking her concentration. "Honestly, I don't know how much information I can continue to sell on you. It's all getting just too weird."

She stared at the Tendo's smile. Was that her way of declaring a truce? Or a trap? Ranma decided to step a bit out on faith. She picked up the thin coin and flipped it into the air. "Heads." She stated before it landed in her waiting palm. Nabiki took a few steps closer and sure enough, it was. Ranma flipped the coin again. "Heads." Nabiki smiled. Right again. Lucky. Ranma knew what she was thinking, and flipped the coin again. "Tails." The sister blinked. It was. Again.

She eyed the sitting girl warily. "A martial arts trick." Ranma smiled, shaking her head and then tossed the coin to her. Nabiki flipped it this time.

"Heads." She flipped it again. "Tails." And again. "Tails." Flip. "Heads." Flip. "Tails." Flip. "Tails." She stared at Ranma who simple smiled back. An evil grin crept across Nabiki's face and she threw the coin across the dojo where it bounced off the wall and skittered around on the floor. Ranma was looking at her the entire time with that smile. "Heads." The coin came to a rest several feet away and the sister walked over to collect it. She stopped just as her fingers were about ready to pluck it from the ground. Heads.

Her head whipped around to Ranma, whose smile had already spread wider. "All right, Saotome what gives?"

The redhead held out her hand her smile instantly dissolving into seriousness. "2000 yen." Nabiki was seriously considering the offer when the smile reappeared. She obviously had no intension of enforcing it. Nabiki sat by Ranma as she explained, "I don't know how to explain it, but I can see what it's going to be. No matter how much it tumbles and bounces, I know how it's going to land the moment it leaves your fingers."

"And how long has this been…"

"I started to notice it yesterday, but really didn't know what I was seeing until practice this morning." Ranma elaborated. "I found myself predicting random events, such as how Skuld's hammer would rebound and how the pieces of Akane's broken cinder blocks would fall." Nabiki nodded. It was tough to believe, but what she said next was even more unbelievable. "I think I can even influence those outcomes." Ranma added quietly.

It had always been a given that Nabiki's mind worked like a steel trap, and the moment of disbelief she experienced upon hearing that last sentence quickly dissolved into absolute clarity as several pieces of information clicked. "Of course you can predict my coin tosses," She said with confidence, now that all of those facts had pointed to one inescapable conclusion. "You're the Goddess of Luck after all, right? I'll bet predicting coins is child's play compared to what you can really do. I can't say I'm surprised you didn't realize it sooner considering all you've been going through and especially after last nig--" She stopped herself with Ranma's frown. She had just touched an open wound. "Um, look. I'm sorry. It's just…"

"Who else have you told?" Ranma asked, a hint of sorrow in her voice.

"Only Akane." She replied softly.

"Does she know anything about last night?" Ranma probed.

"N-No. I haven't told her." Nabiki didn't add that she had planned to.

"Please don't."

Nabiki regarded her silently. "Alright." Ranma's foreboding mood showed signs of lifting. "But on one condition. I get to train you."

Ranma's surprise was total. Nabiki? Train me? "I, uh, um, Why?"

The sister smiled coolly. "Because you're the Goddess of Luck. Statistics. Probabilities. Chance. Numbers play no small part in Luck, and while you may be a genius in Martial Arts, I'm the genius with numbers. The logical conclusion is that I train YOU in this area of your studies." Unasked questions were practically radiating from Ranma. "That, and I have my own reasons. You have your secrets, I have mine. Fair enough?" Ranma nodded. "Then I'll see you after school for your first lesson."

And with that, the two walked out together in an unlikely alliance.

---

CRACK!

The entire family jumped as a flash of light filled the dining room. Granted, such occurrences were becoming more and more commonplace, but lightning bolts in the back yard on a clear blue day weren't exactly everyday occurrences. Everybody rushed out to gather around the smoking crater, only to find out it wasn't a crater after all, but a tablet with strange writing on it.

Genma pointed at the smoldering block. "Eh, what's that?"

Belldandy knelt down. "A message from Kami-sama!" The entire family took a step back. As if the goddesses weren't enough, their courtyard had just been turned into sacred ground. "Oh my. Urd, Skuld, you'd better have a look at this…"

Urd looked down on it and took a step back as well. "A recall notice?"

"An investigation into the promotion of a mortal to First Class, Category One unlimited?" Skuld read the tablet in confusion. "B-But, I thought they were fine with it!"

Her older sister scowled. "Fine with the result but not how it occurred, I'll bet." She sighed. "Looks like we're leaving today. Sis, can you look after Ranma for me?" She left out the reasons she needed looking after due to the present company.

Belldandy smiled. "Of course."

"I'm not coming?" Ranma asked as Urd turned to leave. " I am, after all, the result of this mix-up."

Urd winked. "Sorry, kid, Invitation only. I'll be back before you know it."

Skuld gave Ranma a hug and jumped into the koi pond, vanishing. With one last look, Urd walked inside and vanished into the TV.

Ranma looked after them in concern, then to Belldandy. "What will they do in this investigation?"

Belldandy looked at Ranma. She really didn't want to tell her, because… "They will examine the case and determine if Urd and Skuld acted in a proper manner concerning your file."

"And if they decide they acted improperly?" Ranma pressed.

The goddess really didn't like where this was going. She knew Ranma and Urd shared a strong bond and that both would probably go to the ends of the Earth for the other. "They could easily find that their actions were correct, Ranma."

Nabiki, who had been listening to the entire exchange, walked to Ranma's side. "You're avoiding the question." Her support didn't go unnoticed by either Kasumi or Akane.

Belldandy sighed. "In the event that they do find wrong-doing, they would be… Punished." Something changed in Ranma's eyes. It was that something she was hoping to avoid.

"What sort of punishment?"

Belldandy looked down. "Anything from a simple reprimand to…" She hesitated. The look in Ranma's eyes… "To reduction of rank or even being barred from surface contact."

"But if they reverse me back to mortal…" Ranma stood, plainly stunned.

"Then you would never see her again."

Silence. A look of determination spread across her face. "Can I use the TV like Urd?"

"No, your transport medium is water, just like-" Belldandy realized she had just said too much. "Ranma, what are you planning to do?" As if she need to ask, Ranma heading toward the pond herself. "You really aren't ready to try that Ranma, you need to-"

Shloosh!

She was gone.

---

Even as her feet touched the water, Ranma realized she had no idea how to control this particular ability. Her legs dissolved into the water, then her waist. Maybe if she just thought of the place. Heaven. She wanted an absolute firm fix in her mind. What else was in Heaven? Angels. And as her head sank below the surface, Ranma repeated those two words in her mind over and over so there could be no mistake in where she was going. She closed her eyes and the twisting came. She felt it inside and out, but she continued to repeat the word in her mind.

The twisting stopped. She opened her eyes and found herself in the center of a small lake, lightly touching its glass surface. Around her was a beautiful forest with the tallest trees she had ever seen, stretching up for miles and miles until disappearing into the misty clouds. The occasional bird flitted overhead whistling a song. Total peace. She was sure she had arrived in heaven, but where? It had to be a huge place! Ranma saw a woman near the shore, tending to some plants. Maybe she could help. The redhead noted she was now in her goddess attire as she took her first tentative steps across the crystal lake surface. The robe was different now, somewhere in between the conservative first transformation and the provocative dress of her mental breakdown. She had the urge to change it, but remembering Urd's words on balance, let it go. At least her ponytail remained in place of the unbound waves or red hair.

Ranma stepped onto grassy land and the woman turned around, noticing she had company. Her beautiful frilly white dress complimented the waves of blonde locks that rested gently around her shoulders perfectly. Her green eyes blinked with curiosity and she smiled.

The blond goddess stood up, her height towering over Ranma by nearly two feet. "Good day to you! I don't believe we've met. My name is Charlotte."

She took the gentle hand the goddess had proffered. "Ranma. Nice to meet you." Charlotte's smile widened. "I seem to be a bit… Um, lost."

That fact did nothing to diminish Charlotte's smile. "You find yourself in the Garden of Angels, and you've come at a good time!"

"Well, I'm not exactly supposed to be here…" Ranma said nervously. "I'm loo-"

"Of course you are supposed to be here!" the Blonde goddess corrected cheerfully. "The only people who come are those who are supposed to be here." She took Ranma's hand and began leading her away from the lake towards a patch blooming with flowers. Charlotte turned back toward Ranma and gave her a silent "Shhhhhh…"

Ranma looked at the patch of flowering beauty unsure of what she was looking for. Most of the flower had bloomed into a wide variety of colors while some had yet to. Charlotte squeezed her hand lightly and pointed to one of the unopened flower heads. "That one!" she whispered with delight.

Ranma took a step, then hesitated. "Are you sure abo-"

The goddess nudged her forward, giggling. "Of course I'm sure! That one is SO you!"

Ranma took the remaining to the unopened bud, peering at it curiously. Ok, so it's a flower. What do I-- Even as she watched, the bud opened before her very eyes and at the center of the light blue flower was-- An egg! It was a tiny egg to be sure, but definitely an egg. She looked back at Charlotte.

"Pick it up!" Charlotte urged with excitement. Ranma plucked the tiny egg tentatively from the new blossom and examined it. What was in such a tiny egg, Ranma wondered. Would it hatch a hummingbird or something? A tiny rabbit? Maybe a-"

"Swallow it!"

"WHAT?" Ranma spun around, looking at Charlotte like she had just grown a second head. Which she might as well have done, Ranma figured since she had just instructed her to swallow the egg as if it were a piece of candy. She was about to ask if the blonde was serious, but one look at her cheery face forestalled that question before it even came out. Oh why the heck not? I mean, how much stranger could it possibly get at this point? Ranma thought. Promoted to Goddess, locked in her girl-type, attacked by demons, sneaking into heaven… Swallowing a tiny egg like Alice in Wonderland was par for the course, right? With on last look at the tall goddess, Ranma popped it into her mouth like a pill.

At first she didn't feel a thing. Then the pressure began. She felt warm and the pressure grew. Ranma put her hands to her heart, every beat feeling like it would explode. But she wasn't scared. Each beat outward pulsed peace and contentment. Then, her heart burst. The whirlwind exploded forth around her and Ranma squinted on reflex until the motion faded. Finally, she opened her eyes to an incredible sight… A petite girl with waving red hair and pale skin floating in front of her, a wondrous smile on her face.

She heard a name in her heart. "F-Feather Light?"

The little girl nodded happily and stretched her silken wings. They were nearly pure white, except for the soft brownish red spots at the tips. The girl gave Ranma a little kiss on the head and flitted skyward in a whirlwind to test her new wings. The Goddess of Luck could only stare in amazement.

"What just…" Ranma stumbled for words.

"She's your angel, silly!" Charlotte beamed with pride. "You're lucky you came along when you did. She's a beauty!"

Ranma watched the angel drift through the forest sky with ease. "What... what do I do with it? What does it eat?"

Charlotte considered Ranma for a bit with a light smile, then shrugged. "She is a part of you, a helper in anything and everything. She is the light of your heart manifest and as long as that is full, she will never worry for anything. What did you say her name was?"

"Feather Light." She couldn't even forget the name if she tried, she realized. The sound of her name brought the angel back down to Ranma, who simply stared. "She's beautiful…" Feather Light bounced in the air happily at the compliment then glided over to Charlotte with a curious expression on her face.

"Why hello there Feather Light!" She greeted the angel, whose smile reappeared instantly. "My you are a beautiful one! Please take very good care of Ranma, Ok?" Again the angel nodded with enthusiasm. Charlotte turned back to Ranma. "I expect you have to go now…"

Ranma's gaze snapped from Feather Light to Charlotte. "You're right! Uh, how do I get out of here?"

Charlotte pointed. "Follow the main path through the trees until you get to the big gates."

Ranma turned for the path and paused, She walked over to the smiling Charlotte and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."

The goddess returned the hug warmly. "Feel free to drop by when you're not so busy!" Ranma matched her smile and nodded, then was off down off the path. The angel remained behind for a second and gave her a peck on the head, then she too was gone.

"Such a wonderful heart she has."

---

The gates, as it turned out were as huge as any earthbound skyscraper. They were ivory and gold, and beyond them Heaven teemed with activity. It was a major metropolis as far as the eye could see, disappearing and reappearing into the rolling white clouds. Ranma looked at Feather Light, who was in awe as well. "I think I'm in WAY over my head here…" It was going to take several eternities to find the two people she was looking for. Granted, she was a goddess and effectively immortal, but… Then she remembered Charlotte's words; A helper in anything and everything. "Feather Light, I know it's our first time here, but can you help me find Urd and Skuld?" The angel considered this for a second then nodded, and flew into the glorious sky that framed eternity.

Urd had almost fallen asleep in her chair when Skuld nudged her violently, waking her up with a start. Dang, where were again? Oh yeah. The Goddess Review Board.

"…Violation of section 345a of the Yggradsil operating procedures. Unauthorized tampering of the Yggradsil file network without sufficient authorization…"

Bah, they were still going over all the rules they had broken restoring Ranma's file. Urd was just about to drift back to sleep when a rush of air snapped her awake. What was…? In the middle of the room floated an angel, having gained access to the Reviewing room through an open window. Waving red hair. Blue eyes. Bespeckled wings. And a clearly amused look on its face. Then angel floated over to one of the three reviewers desks, peering intently at the person behind it.

"What is the meaning of this! We are trying to conduct official business here," the reviewer snapped at the angel, who pulled back slightly with a frown. "Does anybody know who this angel belongs to!"

The angel pulled back completely and scanned the room for the people she was looking for. Urd watched as it made eye contact with her, and the angels bright smile returned. It flitted over to her desk and radiated triumph, then floated over to Skuld with the same look of satisfaction. And before they could say anything, it flew back out the window from whence it came.

Skuld looked over to her older sister. "Did that look like…?"

"No, it couldn't be. She's stuck on Earth with Bell-chan." At least Urd was fairly sure she was stuck on Earth. Because if Ranma wasn't, and that angel… nah. Couldn't be.

---

Ranma had followed Feather Light into legal district of heaven and found the reviewing office Urd and Skuld were being interrogated in. Well, that probably wasn't true, but she was determined to help represent her friends.

She walked up the steps and was about to enter the main hall when the doorman stopped her. "I'm sorry, but you must dismiss her before entering." Ranma stared at the man for a moment, before realizing he meant Feather Light. The Doorman looked apologetic. "Not my rule, just they cause too much of a distraction during proceedings. I'm sure you understand."

"Uh, yeah… 'dismiss her'." Ranma had no idea how to 'dismiss' Feather Light. She leaned over to the floating angel beside her and whispered, "Any idea what he means?" Feather Light nodded, lifted into the sky and arced into Ranma, absorbing into her person with a soft glow. She could even feel her inside now, glowing. Content.

The Doorman nodded as if he saw that sort of thing everyday and stepped aside. Ranma smiled as if she did that everyday and walk through the door he was holding open. A few minutes later and guided by Feather Light's tugs at her heart, Ranma found it: Room 103.

---

Urd and Skuld now stood in front to the three Reviewers. "We hope you understand the nature of your activities. The Yggradsil isn't simply a toy to be tinkered with, ladies." The first reviewer began. She was a kind but stern old bitty with brown hair. The second reviewer, a middle-aged man with gray hair piped up. "Indeed. We will give you one minute to make a closing statement before we finalize judgment."

Skuld had no idea what to say. This had been the first time she had ever been to a Goddess Review Board and she was already starting off on the wrong foot with them. Her entire future-Urd stepped forward, interrupting her thoughts in surprise.

"I would like to make a statement." The first reviewer nodded for her to continue. "I would like to state for the record that this is all my doing. Any actions Skuld took were taken because I ordered them so using my rank as Goddess second class. She even objected to some of them." Like to Ranma being Goddess of Sex, but they didn't need to know that. "My actions should not be counted against her record as she had no choice but to comply. That is all."

Skuld looked at her sister in awe. She was going to deliberately take everything upon her shoulders. She wanted to protest-- Urd shot her a look to keep quiet.

The third reviewer spoke up this time. "We appreciate your honesty in this matter Goddess Urd. We will consider reducing her punishment in light of this information, but yours of course, stands. We have decided that a reduction of rank is in order to that of--"

"Objection, your Honor."

Urd and Skuld's eyes widened simultaneously. It was absolutely impossible. They spun around to find Ranma in the doorway. Urd's eyes were now screaming "what are you doing here?" while Skuld's shown pure delight.

"You object?" The third director choked incredulously. "You can't object! These are closed proceedings! You're not even supposed to be here!"

"Yes, please leave at once, young lady." The first director ordered.

Instead, Ranma smiled arrogantly and walked up the aisle to join her friends, whose mouths still hung open.

The second director sighed. "Bailiff, please remove our guest."

With that, a slim dishwater blonde male with wings moved to intercept the redhead and Urd snapped out of her trance. Oh crap, Ranma didn't come all this way to be kicked out…

The bailiff stood in front of Ranma and put his hand lightly on her arm and smiled. "I'm sorry, Miss-"

Ranma smiled back and flipped the arm he had just touched around, breaking contact and establishing her own grip in one easy motion. Even as his eyes registered shock, she reversed the joint and took the arm behind its owners' back, locking it in place. Two well placed kicks behind the knees sent the struggling bailiff to the floor and onto his chest. Ranma leaned down closer to his face. "Struggling will only make it hurt more." He struggled and she brought the arm back further, hyper-extending the joint. The bailiff grunted in pain. "Trust me when I say this is hurting me more than you." She frowned, and then chopped the back of his neck, knocking him out cold. Ranma stood back up with a cheerful smile on her face and joined the sisters in front of the bench.

Urd turned to her best friend in annoyance. "Why do you always have to inflict bodily harm on the cute ones?

"Because they ask for it!" Ranma protested, face growing red.

"You're into the pain thing, huh?" Urd continued ruthlessly.

Ranma gasped, now complete embarrassed, "Don't make me regret coming here!"

"Whips and chains and other kinky-"

"AHEM." The first Reviewer cleared her throat forcefully, gaining the goddesses' undivided attention. "Since you're intent on staying and disrupting these proceedings, Miss, please tell us your name and why you are here."

"Yes, so when the Valkyries show up to detain you," The third reviewer continued, "they'll have something for the official arrest report."

Having had enough time to recover from terminal embarrassment, Ranma stepped forward. "I am Ranma, Goddess of Luck First Class, Category one, unlimited." It was the first time she had ever used her official title, but if there was any day to throw it around, it was today. "I am here in defense of Goddess Urd and Goddess Skuld."

Understanding dawned on the Second Reviewer. "So you're the result of their mishandling of this entire situation. Your clearly violent tendencies are the first and most obvious reason this should have never--"

"EXCUSE ME," It was Ranma's turn to forcefully interject. "Exactly why am I still a Goddess then?"

"That has absolutely no releva--"

"I beg to differ," Ranma interrupted once more. "Much to my personal annoyance, my Revocation was denied five to one. Why do you suppose that is?"

"You're Revoca--"

"Are you familiar with the name Saffron?" She continued unabated and the question hung in an air of silence.

A thin smile crept across Urds face. Of course they are. This very board would have been in charge of his discipline… If he had ever been caught. Being killed and reborn solved their problems quite nicely. She watched the reviewers closely and noticed their arrogance evaporate. Whether it was because of the case itself or because they were only now realizing that they sat in the presence of the person who killed him, Urd wasn't sure, but the effect of the name had been noticeable.

Ranma heard a shuffle behind her, and turned to find the bailiff had gotten back to his feet. She winked at him. "Want to go again?"

The man waved her off with a grin. "No thanks, I'll wait for backup."

"Suit yourself."

"Yes. We are familiar with that person." The first reviewer admitted slowly. "We are also aware that you are the person who… Eliminated him."

Ranma nodded, "But that's not the important part. How did you even find out that your fugitive had been eliminated?"

The board sat in silence. There was only one answer to that question. Urd and Skuld's report. In effect, they had solved the case that would have otherwise been on the books for years, if not centuries.

"These are the people who not only saved my life, but solved your case for you." Ranma pressed them. "You should be giving them praise for doing your jobs for you. And for that, I will NOT," She took a step forward, mood darkening with it. "Allow their punishment to proceed."

"Excuse me, Miss?" The polite bailiff asked and Ranma turned to find him backed by three more nicely dressed Valkyrie women waiting in the doorway, these looking more combat ready than the bailiff himself. "It's time to arrest you now."

With her mood sufficiently dark and her cause sufficiently righteous, Ranma noted that they should have brought more backup as her power levels primed. "Feather Light," she whispered, and the Angel sprang forth, bubbly smile noticeably absent. In its place was an annoyed look as it swirled protectively around Skuld and Urd. Her weapon to call was reflexively summoned from the ether and Phoenix Wind settled into Ranma's hands, singing glorious battle through her soul.

Urd and Skuld stared at the redhead in wonder. Urd's gaze snapped from the newly acquired angel to the staff she now bore in hand. Not even she suspected that Ranma was such a fertile ground for power and could acquire so much in so little amount of time, but she should have. She turned to the Review Board, who sat in shock. Urd touched Ranma's shoulder and the Goddess relaxed slightly.

"I see we've all forgotten that a Goddess First Class Unlimited is a direct extension of our Lord's divine will." Urd stated evenly to the board. "Her opinion isn't to be taken lightly."

"B-But… She's only been a Goddess for three days…!" The Third Director protested. "And mistakenly at that!"

Urd loosed a hearty laugh, cutting through the tension. "You think Kami-Sama doesn't know that? He could have her busted down right here and now on His divine word alone, yet here she is, having made her way to heaven, acquiring an Angel and Category One weapon all by herself… And in only three days. Those facts alone should tip you off to a very important clue." And I was silly for not seeing it sooner myself, Urd chided herself silently.

The director was about to say something, when the red phone on his desk rang. "Yes? Uh, yes Sir! Of course Sir! Right away! Yes? Thank you!" He set the phone down gently. "All charges are dropped concerning Goddess Urd and Goddess Skuld. Ranma is free to go as well," he said to the Valkyries, who nodded in acknowledgement. Ranma relaxed with a sigh and Feather Light twiddled with glee around her.

"Oh, and you have an appointment with Kami-sama tommorow."

---

Belldandy watched from the bench outside as her sisters and Ranma made their way down the Goddess Investigative Office steps with smiles on their face. She had prayed to Kami-sama on those very steps that things would turn out ok, and by the looks-- A shadow consumed her and she looked up suddenly to find an angel with flowing red hair look down her with a wide smile and bright eyes. Sunlight filtered through it's speckled wings and Belldandy smiled back and asked, "Whose angel are you?" The angel winked and fluttered off to the trio now clearing the last of the office steps. Belldandy blinked with surprise. She knew both Skuld's and Urd's angels, and this particular one wasn't either. That would only leave… Ranma? As the angel circled the trio, Feather Light pulled her attention from the conversation to the woman sitting on the bench.

"Bell-chan!" Ranma exclaimed and the group converged on the sisters. Ranma's smile faded to a sheepish look of guilt. "I'm sorry I left you behind… I just couldn't… It's just…."

Belldandy pulled Ranma into an unexpected hug. "Thank you for looking after my sisters, how ever unorthodox you intervention may have been." Then she peered up at the smiling angel. "I see you've been busy."

"Uh, yeah…" Sheepish shame turned into a grin. "Belldandy, meet Feather Light!"

"Hahahah!" Skuld exclaimed, "You should have seen their faces when the Board saw her first the first time. They were SO upset!"

Belldandy listened with amusement, then turned to Urd. "Ranma is progressing very quickly, is she not?"

Urd sensed the underlying point of her observation easily since she had already come to the same conclusion. "Already got it covered. Her studies start tonight."

"Studies?" Ranma blinked. Goddesses had to study?

"Yep, and I'm your tutor!" Urd grinned, but it quickly faded. "What I said to the Review Board is no exaggeration, though. I know it's a lot to take in at once, but a Goddess First Class, Category One Unlimited is the direct extension of our Lord's will manifest." She let those words sink into Ranma, whose carefree attitude was all but gone. Urd could speak from a position of authority because she had passed that very exam, but had chosen not to take the post because she knew her heart. She knew that she could only hold the compassion required for only her closest friends and family. Ranma, however…

"Don't worry about it kid. For now, lets celebrate our victory!"

---

Chapter EIGHT

Celebrate they did, but Ranma had an appointment to keep earth side with a certain sister Tendo. Of course, that appointment reminded him of the BIG appoint scheduled for tomorrow afternoon: Ranma Saotome, meet the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. She was still trying to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Ranma popped out of the koi pound, her ride substantially smoother now that she knew how the technique worked and shifted to her Chinese clothing before entering the dojo. She found Nabiki sitting in the living room watching TV with Akane.

"I thought you'd forgotton." Nabiki said with a neutral expression.

"We just got a little hung up is all," Ranma explained.

"In heaven."

"Uh, yeah." Ranma scratched her head in embarrassment, realizing how absolutely unbelievable it sounded. "But I made a promise, so here I am."

Akane looked at the two. Was this a real conversation going on here? Ranma? Giving her word to Nabiki? About what? She shot a questioning glare to her sister, who returned it with a mischevious smile.

"We're going out for a bit, A-chan." She said, leading Ranma out. "Be back in a few hours."

Kasumi AND Nabiki? Akane thought. Now she was sure her life was turning upside down.

Ranma recognized the part of Nerima Nabiki was leading her into. Though she had seldom visited herself, she knew it was the suburb's gaming district. If it could be fed money, you'd most likely find it here, whether it be video games or gambling. Or both. "Why are we down here again?"

Nabiki looked back at her new protégée. "You're training of course. And here we are."

Ranma looked left to find themselves standing in front of a building labeled "SUPER-SUPER PACHINCO!" Ranma did an instant face plant. "You've got to be kidding me! How is this place going to help me with my abilities!"

Nabiki tisk'd her student, pulling her inside. In front of them stood endless stands of pachinko machines, the steady racket of bouncing balls filtering though the establishment as people gambled their money away. "Predicting a coin toss doesn't even come close to tapping your potential, Ranma. What do you see?"

Ranma stared one of the gamblers and her machine, steel balls bouncing wildly across a horizontal board of pegs and lights. The redhead was about to protest again when realization hit her with a sudden "Ooooh!"

Nabiki nodded with satisfaction. "Exactly. Each ball is triggered to depart the chute and hit the pegs, thereby creating numerous and unpredictable outcomes. Of course, the speed at which the ball is sent out the chute by the player is a factor in this equation, but it is not a decisive one," She explained to her student, who drank it in. "I do occasionally gamble, but not in games like these. Can you guess why?"

Ranma's mind closed around the concept easily. "Because of the totally random element involved. Since there is no real predictable pattern, there is no predictable way to win."

Nabiki smiled. Maybe she had made a mistake underestimating Saotome years ago when they first met. With the right amount of influence she could have- Nabiki cut that line of thought off. Now isn't the time for wistful fantasies. "Exactly," she continued. "Games like this always favor the house because of that random element and the losers will always outweigh the winners… Which is where your lesson comes in." Ranma followed Nabiki to the counter, who promptly held out her hand. "2000 yen."

Ranma twitched. "I thought you were going to train me!"

Nabiki shook her head in mock sympathy. "Nobody ever said training was going to be free. 2000 yen." The annoyed Ranma dug money out of her pocket and slapped it into her hand, who in turn slide it to the waiting attendant. The attendant smiled and slid a basket of steel balls in return. The sister led Ranma back to an empty machine and fed the balls into the hungry receptacle. The pachinko machine happily chirped to life, flashing and beeping.

"Now, we're going to do this one ball at a time for now," Nabiki explained to her charge. "Your job is to predict exactly where the ball will land." Ranma nodded her head and Nabiki thumbed the lever once, sending a ball rocketing up the chute.

The Goddess of Luck concentrated on the ball as it continued on the ballistic arc. The ball had it's own aura which suddenly exploded as it hit the first peg. Chained lightning seemed to arc from one peg to another too fast too see or understand. In seconds, it was over and the ball was resting at the bottom of the machine.

Nabiki had been watching Ranma closely and saw her face register shock and incomprehension. "What did you see Ranma?"

"The… The ball had an aura. It exploded as soon as it hit the first peg and lightening chained all over the board," Ranma tried to rationalize what she had just seen to Nabiki. "It was nothing like the penny toss."

The middle sister thought on this a bit. While she really had no idea what Ranma was experiencing and could only go by her descriptions, she had the mental process of a machine. In another life, she could have easily been and engineer or scientist, but in this one, she was tutor to the Goddess of Luck. "The lightening didn't start until it hit the peg?" Ranma nodded. "I'm assuming that that aura of lighting represented potential outcomes. Watch it again. Look for details this time."

She thumbed the lever again and the next ball shot out. Ranma watched closely as the same event occurred, not quite as shocked as before. "I assume the lightening was there?" Ranma nodded. "Now was the lightening spread across the entire board or confined to one area?"

"Confined to an area." Ranma confirmed. "In fact, it seemed to follow a cone to the bottom."

Makes sense, Nabiki thought to herself. If she is seeing outcomes, those outcomes would narrow to one certainty as it approached the bottom. "Interesting. Now, did any of the lightening paths seem stronger than the others?"

"Um, I think. Maybe." Ranma answered uncertainly. Nabiki flipped the lever again and Ranma concentrated. Sure enough some of the paths were stronger than others, and the ball followed the paths down.

Nabiki watched Ranma's eyes light up. She saw something. Nabiki flipped it again, and Ranma tracked the ball down. Again. Ranma tracked it silently. Again. The ball plunked to the bottom. Again. This time, Ranma's finger shot out and pressed against the glass before the ball had made it half way down the maze of pegs. Sure enough, the ball landed on target. Nabiki smiled and waited for Ranma.

"You're right. They're outcomes," Ranma confirmed, staring at Nabiki. "The stronger the lightening path, the higher the chance the ball will fall in that direction.

"Very good." She complimented. "Now for phase two." Ranma was just wondering what phase two was when Nabiki slapped the lever five times in rapid succession, sending the balls out of the chute at high speed. Ranma locked in on the balls as they fell, pointing to their impact points. She was disappointed when one fell to the side and off impact. "Four out of Five. Not bad. What happened to the Fifth?"

"The outcome seemed equally likely in either direction. I picked the wrong one." Ranma admitted.

Nabiki shrugged. "Statistically, it's bound to happen. Most events are weighted toward certain outcomes while a few can break either way. Lets try again." The next ten minutes saw the pair shoot their remaining supply of ammunition off into the machine. Nabiki was impressed. Even at high rates of fire, Saotome was averaging ninety-eight percent by the time their reserves ran dry.

The machine clicked and Ranma looked down. Empty. "Now what?"

Nabiki folded her arms and considered Ranma. "Well, you have two choices. We can call it a day or," a naughty twinkled in her eye, "We can move on to phase three."

The redhead was like a woman dying of thirst in the Sahara when it came to understanding her newfound powers and she eagerly accepted phase three. Nabiki simply pointed over to the desk and Ranma, for the first time in her life, eagerly spent money at Nabiki's direction. A minute later, Ranma plopped back down beside her with the basket of steel balls.

"Phase three," Nabiki began, "Involves something you mentioned earlier back at the dojo. You said you thought you could influence outcomes, correct?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but maybe." Ranma stated uncertainly.

"Well, that's what we're here to find out." Nabiki thumbed the lever as before, and this time, Ranma wasn't looking for an impact point. She was looking for something imperceptible. She knew it was out there, just beyond her reach. With a thunk, the ball reached the bottom. "Anything?"

Ranma shook her head. "I could see the outcomes, but I still can't get a grasp on the influence part."

To that, Nabiki simply flipped the lever again. And again. And again. It took only five minutes to deplete their current basket this time. She looked at her sister's maybe fiancée. "Stay or go home?"

Ranma checked her packets and pulled out 500 yen. "I got nothing left. I guess we--" Nabiki stopped her and dug into her purse. Ranma about had a heart attack when she gave him 5000 yen, staring at the sister in total disbelief.

She couldn't stand the stare any longer. "Ranma, I've underestimated you, I've doubted you and I've taken advantage of you," Nabiki explained. "But if there is one thing I do know about you, it's that you never give up until you succeed. I've been reevaluating everything I know about you lately, so don't let me down on the one thing I'm certain of."

Ranma blinked, brain function suspended in disbelief. Nabiki… Is actually betting… On me? The redhead nodded slowly in understanding and retrieved a bucket of pachinko balls. This time Ranma was on the lever, her total focus on the balls richocheting wildly on the down the board while Nabiki watched. They had been getting some hits and they were paying out a tiny supply of balls, but not enough to make up for their losses and nothing Ranma was indicating as her own success. Nabiki watched as one by one the pool of shiny steel depleted. While she was by no means poor, she didn't exactly have wads of cash on her either. Once this was gone…

Ranma was concentrating hard now. Almost there, she thought as that special something continued to elude her. The lightening… If she could just reach out and… the machine clicked empty and the last ball powered out of the chute. It bounced around avoiding all the major pockets that would score them a bonus. Now it fell deeper into the maze and Ranma could see the major path angling away from even the minor bonus zones. A feeling of disappointment was just creeping in when she saw it; A tiny little branch. Nothing more than a soft glow, but it would bring the ball back into play. If she could just reach out… Reach out! Time ground down to molasses as Ranma concentrated on that single point. Everything slowed and the ball fell, millimeters away from hitting that crucial peg. CONCENTRATE. Ranma's entire being floated in that single space of time.

Tick!

The ball hit and its trajectory was altered from the main line and onto the new path, but still had a ways to go. Ranma, however, knew exactly what to look for now. She traced the new line down, looking for the improbabilities in the path and found one that would bring it closer to the single remaining pocket. She focused on one fracture, time slowing for her as she did. As soon as it hit, she jumped to the next. One more alteration and the arc became solid, feeding down into that final pocket as if that were its destiny all along.

Nabiki had been wringing her hands in nervous anticipation when the ball finally clicked home and the machine sighed with a happy 'ding!' Ten more balls fed into their previously empty container. She looked at Ranma, whose face had been practically pressed against the glass, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. Slowly, the redhead looked over, and her face transformed from one of intense concentration to a confident grin.

"It's payback time."

---

Ranma and Nabiki weren't home yet, Akane realized as the clock ticked six PM. She rocked off her bed and stared out into the sunset sky wondering exactly how derailed her life had become. Pressured by her parents to marry a gender shifting martial artist, fighting for his attentions versus two other eligible fiancées, enduring the countless numbers villains and antagonist that he attracted, dying and being reborn by his hand and finally this-- Ranma turned Goddess. Now she wasn't even certain if she wasn't competing with her own sisters for his attention. It was getting outright... Akane's self loathing paused for a second as she watched a figure with a can of spray paint mark an 'X' in the corner of the yard. What was Skuld doing…?

The diminutive teen Goddess was typing away at a rather large PDA like device with wires and such jutting out of it when she heard Akane walk up. The Goddess looked up, gave her a smile then went back to the largish PDA.

Akane stood on the spray painted 'X' and looked at it curiously. "Um, why are you painting-"

Skuld suddenly noticed her immediate location and pulled her off the 'X' with a concerned look. She looked at Akane once more and noticed the questions in her eyes at her forced change in location. "After Mara's attack yesterday, I realized our demon problems might follow us home sooner or later, so I'm implementing a defense for your dojo!"

Akane blinked. A defense for our Dojo? "What sort of defense?"

"Well," Skuld explained, "It wasn't easy, but I took the basic template from the shrine where we live. Since I couldn't exactly teleport the generators here, I'm boosting them into low Earth orbit to transport them. In fact, they should be arriving in about…" She glanced at the PDA, "Ten seconds."

Low earth orbit? Akane wondered looking at Skuld. What, did she think this was Japanese Space Command or something? Skuld looked into the dusk sky. Apparently she did. Akane looked up as well and saw a tiny point of light. Kind of early for stars to be shining and it was getting bigger. Akane looked back to Skuld. She couldn't be serious. She began to hear a sharp whine and looked up to find a four fireballs streaking to Earth. It was too late to scream and they hit, four giant clouds of dust erupting within the four corners of the Tendo property. The ground shook madly and Akane was sent to the ground as dust whirled around her. With coughing fits, she got back to her feet and found Skuld smiling in satisfaction when the dust finally cleared. There in front of her stood a twenty-foot tall back square monolith imbedded in the buckled earth. The monolith itself was divided into four sections by a deep groove that was at least a foot wide and two feet deep.

Skuld looked at the awe struck human. "Ready?" She didn't wait for a reply and stabbed a button on her PDA. "Power ON!" The air trembled around the device and it hummed contently. A glow formed within the grooves and a solid wall of greenish light flowed forth, connecting with its sister devices from the remaining three corners of the yard. The result was a translucent green field that surrounded the dojo property on all four sides while extending into the air for thousands of feet like a spotlight. Even as Akane stared in amazement, the field faded from visible viewing.

"Is..Is it still on?"

"Of course!" Skuld replied confidently, "That was just the initial power flux."

Akane continued to look at the Goddess incredulously. "But.. What IS it?"

"My very own Sub Dimensional Demonic Interdiction Energy Barrier!" Skuld announced with pride. "It has a total power output of 1.21 gigawatts across five planes of existence with a switchable operating frequency…" Skuld continued to rattle off the specs to Akane, whom she had lost after the word 'Sub Dimensional'

"What a haul, WHAT A HAUL!" A small bouncing figure hollered in delight, bouncing up the sidewalk to the dojo entrance. The old Master Happosai was back after a successful nights' raid of various women's undergarments, as evidenced by the bloated sack slung over his back.

Skuld noted the tiny old man, and turned to Akane. "Don't worry, it only affects demons. He should be Ok."

BZZZzzzZZZAP!

Happosai had just cleared the wall before running into a solid barrier of pain, light streaking off him, frying his person and the pretty linens he carried.

Skuld looked horrified. Akane nodded in satisfaction. "Works great."

The laughter of two chittering girls outside the dojo stopped abruptly as they noticed one fried old pervert smoldering at the gates. Ranma didn't know what happened to him, but he probably deserved it. Both entered the dojo to find Akane and Skuld standing beside a large black monolith.

Nabiki asked first. "Do I even want to know?"

Skuld piped up happily. "It's a Sub Dimentional--"

"Demon zapper." Akane cut her off with the simpler explanation. Nabiki nodded. The youngest sister's eyes narrowed on her sibling. "So, how was your night out with Ranma?"

The answer she got wasn't the one she was expecting. "Absolutely fabulous. In fact, if was so much fun that's we're going out again tomorrow night." Nabiki replied with an easy smile and Ranma nodded happily. Of course, there was the fact that she had come out over 40,000 yen richer than when they'd started Ranma's training, but there was also the fact that both were getting to know one another quite well for the first time since their introduction. Nabiki was beginning to see her as more than a cash cow while Ranma was letting down enough defenses to get to know her as a person, something few people had even bothered doing for either of them. And they were making tons of money in the process. The ironic fact was that she actually had to pull Ranma away from the machines once she had that aspect of her powers firmly in hand. While the redhead didn't necessarily care about money for it's own sake, the fact that it was a practical application of her ability had started her on a winning streak so obvious that the parlor owners couldn't possibly ignore it. Nabiki had to literally pull Ranma out of the place before they were blackballed.

Akane looked at Ranma with surprise and confusion, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Ranma and her sister were getting along well. Not just well, but incredibly well. How could her sister possibly do this to her? She knew Nabiki to be a mercenary, but she usually limited her acts of subversion to outsiders not-

"Yeah, tomorrow we start on cards!" Ranma ginned from ear to ear and Akane fell over. What did cards have to do with dating!

"Well, I've got some studying to do." Nabiki excused herself. "Same time tommorow?" Ranma nodded and the sister was gone.

Ranma decided that was a good time to make her exit as well. "I promised Urd to study under her. Gotta go Akane!" And with that, she was left alone with her thoughts.

---

Ranma found Urd in the living room angrily beating on the TV. "Why won't this stupid thing--! Oh, hi Ranma!" The redhead raised a questioning eyebrow. "Your TV broke."

"Maybe Skuld can fix it right?" Ranma didn't notice the look on Urd's face indicating that was a very BAD idea. "Heck, she just built a demon zapper thingy outside."

Urd looked at Ranma, then back to the TV. "That would probably explain why the TV isn't working." Urd turned loose a sigh. "Oh well. Get dressed, we're going out tonight!"

Ranma looked at her current clothing wondering what was wrong with it. "I thought we were studying?"

"What I have to teach isn't for general consumption." She stated, then looked Ranma over. "That, and I also need to teach you a good lesson in fashion."

Ranma looked over Urd's sense of fashion, consisting of a high cut vinyl skirt, black leather halter top and a petite crimson jacket with enough baubles on her person to open her own jewelry store. Fashion Ninja, indeed, she snorted mentally. I had better dress myself before she tries to do it for me.

Maybe it had something to do with Ranma growing up half her life in China, Urd observed from the ensemble the redhead had willed into existence. It was a traditional red and black Chinese one-piece dress with a leg slit running high up the length, and over it, a petite crimson coat to match the one Urd wore. The overall effect was one of modest sensuality, while Urd herself normally aimed for outright sexuality. And somehow, the matching coats brought them into convergence. Whoo-hoo! Urd thought. What a pair we'll make tonight!

Urd began to lead the younger goddess out and Ranma asked, "Isn't Bell-chan coming too?"

The Goddess of the Past shook her head and smiled. "Date night. Bell and Keiichi are probably racing down some highway even as we speak."

Even as her best friend pulled her along, Ranma thought about Urd's statement. Belldandy? Race? Who would have thought? Maybe she could give Kasumi a few pointers on cutting loose every once in a while.

A half hour later the two had found a small festival, walking around and taking in the sights. Of course, the pair made quite a stir wherever they went, much to Urd's delight. The sexy white and bronze goddess and her sensual redheaded counterpart could do no wrong as they strolled through the attractions, finding that they themselves were one. Ranma wasn't quite as at ease with all the attention as Urd was, but she wasn't blushing outright with embarrassment either. She couldn't count the number of times she had used her girl type to gain favor with guys, and in reality, something deep within her thrilled at the prospect of being eye candy now. Ranma wanted to move to squash that feeling outright, but there was her balance and sanity to consider. It was something she had managed to maintain so far, except under periods of stress where she still found herself sliding complete off to one side or the other. Still, the extremes were becoming less frequent, so she let the feelings she now had go for now.

Urd looked at her friend, who seemed to be lost in thought at the moment. So many changes she's going through… And so much she'll have to become. But that's what friends are for. To help them through those times. "What is the first rule of a Martial artist?" She asked, breaking her partner's train of thought.

Ranma cast a sidelong glance at Urd. "Is that a trick question?"

"Not at all." Urd stated. "In fact, it's probably the only reason you're still a Goddess at all. Think about it. What do you bring to the table as a three day old goddess?"

Ranma thought about it and shrugged. "Not much to be honest. I'm a great martial artist, but I'm sure heaven has an ample supply of those. I don't know the job, don't know the power and don't know anything about Heaven, Hell or whatever. Heck, I barely even know what a Goddess is." Ranma herself began to wonder why she was still a Goddess.

"Exactly." Urd replied. "You don't know anything about anything but you're still a Goddess. Which means you know something. Something vital."

Ranma thought about it for a moment. She only knew one thing. "A Martial Artist's first duty is to help defend those who can't defend themselves?"

Urd nodded. "That concept is the bedrock of your present rank; Goddess First Class, Category One Unlimited. But it isn't limited to simply defense of the defenseless. It's to help those in need under any circumstance, whether it be personal safety, love, sorrow, whatever. It stretches to every aspect of human life." The goddess watched Ranma as she absorbed the information with serious intent. "At its core, your martial arts code is that of a servant." She held up a hand to forestall Ranma's objection. "I'm not talking about the servant that washes clothes and makes food. I'm talking about the service of real human need, not fluff."

"So I'm a servant?" Ranma asked with confusion.

"Yes," Urd confirmed. "Even as a martial artist, you serve mankind. Your code of servitude provides for the defense of the helpless. While that code of service to others maybe scoffed at here on Earth, it is held in high regard up there." Urd finished, pointing into the starry sky.

Ranma knew she was right. The general attitude of half the people she knew was to hang somebody out to dry and let them handle their own problems, which directly conflicted with her code as a martial artist. If the need were genuine, she would stand, fight and die by that code, and had already proven that more than once.

Urd watched as understanding dawned in her friend's face. Good. "A Goddess has nearly an identical code, and the higher the rank, the more all encompassing that code becomes and the more vital its practice is at all times. As a Goddess First Class, you are a servant of true need, regardless of the area it falls under." Urd continued. "If that need falls under the defense of the innocent, that is where you will stand. If that need falls under matters of the heart, that is what you will mend."

"But isn't that what you already do?" Ranma asked Urd, who simply smiled.

"Yes, but only to a limited extent," She explained. "There is definitely some overlap between the rank of Goddess first and Goddess second, but Bell and my ranks focus more on want than need, plus one other significant difference." She let the statement hang for a moment, unsure of how to explain it. "…That difference being that the person I'm talking to at this very moment is a direct extension of God's will manifest."

Ranma's eyes widened. "But aren't you…?"

"We are all agents of Kami-sama." She smiled gently, "But you are one of His hands. There's a world of difference."

Ranma sat back in shock, only now realizing the enormity of what she had been dropped into. Urd had said some of this earlier, but The Hand of God? Me? I can barely lead a life free of chaos and fiancées, let alone be 'the direct extension of God's will manifest!

"Oh, I think I'm going to pass out..." Urd simply chuckled and Ranma stared at her. "I'm nowhere a good enough person to take on this sort of responsibility! Shouldn't there be a saint somewhere that needs promoting or something!"

"Maybe," Urd started. "But you have the job and Kami-sama hasn't busted you down yet, which means he must approve of something you're doing, and that's no small compliment." Ranma began to protest. "No, you're selling yourself way too short. Besides, it's not as if you come without references. How many super-natural evils have you fought within the last five years? I haven't seen you're complete file, but I know it's pretty dang impressive for a mortal." She looked at Urd with skepticism. "HR already has several different departments banging down their door to get you transferred, even Special Duty."

"Special Duty?"

"Heaven's Special Forces." Urd clarified. "If it needs to be infiltrated or destroyed yesterday, Special Duty goes in on the first wave. As Special Duty, you'd be less the hand of God and more his angry fist. Even with your martial arts training though, I just don't see you as an angry fist, but we're getting ahead of ourselves."

Ranma looked out over the river they had been sitting by, focusing on the reflections of light and on-going festivities in the water. "I'm getting tired of it anyway." She said with a weary voice.

Urd looked at Ranma curiously. Tired of it? "Tired of what?"

"Training. Fighting. All of it." Urd's eyes widened slightly at the soft proclamation, and she was sure Ranma's family would have widened even more, if not just passed out right then in there with the news. She wouldn't have admitted it to another living soul except possibly Kasumi, but the constant life and death struggles, daily combat and the always having to look over her shoulder every single day was wearing thin. Very thin. And Ranma was sure it was contributing to her instability as of late.

"It's not that I don't love the art," She explained slowly to Urd, "It's just that every single day I have to watch my back for the next dagger. Always have to learn the new technique that will keep me alive a little bit longer. And that's all my life is; A grind from one fight to the next. That's not what my code is about. That's not why I learn new techniques. That's not why I practice everyday …But that's all there is."

Urd knew her sister well enough to see the problem instantly. "And being forced to marry within the system you are so desperately trying to survive in…" Her voice trailed off and Ranma simply nodded, looking at the ground. Urd smiled brightly and slapped her partner on the back, producing an 'ugh!'

"Then it looks like we came along just in time!" She stated brightly. "Come on, let's go get some sake and make the guys oogle!"

---

Akane watched Skuld with facination. She had originally been waiting up for Ranma and Urd to come home, but had somehow gotten caught up trying to figure out what Skuld was doing to their TV. The teen had gutted and rebuilt it from the ground up, the only familiar part being left on it was the big tube itself.

"The problem is that the SDDIEB field outside is blocking all outside emissions to and from the house," Skuld explained to an awed Akane as she screwed in an ominous looking bottle with a radiation symbol on it. "To get a TV signal, I had to had to drop the receiver into a subspace tunnel across five planular domains to tune the necessary harmonic frequency that would bypass the shield and receive outside communications."

All of which translated to Akane as Skuld having built a Demon Zapper AND a TV Killer. Amazing little girl, this one.

"There!" Skuld declared as she locked a final bolt into place. The girl looked at Akane, motioning her to try the remote. The Tendo sister shook her head violently no. Skuld sighed and flipped the TV on manually using a giant circuit breaker she had installed on the side, right next to the nuclear fusion bottles. With a 'thunk' of the switch, the household lights noticeably dimmed and the TV came to life. "Yes!" Skuld was just about to launch into a round of bragging when both girls noticed something odd. It looked like a regular newscast, save the anchorman wasn't speaking Japanese and had three eyes, a squat torso and was blue. The window in back of him showed a nice sunny day …On the planet of Altair Five. Alien language flashed across the screen as they advertised… Shiny gelatinous cubes? Well, Akane wasn't sure, but she had seen enough and thumbed the remote off. The TV died and the lights came back up.

"I think you have a few adjustments to go," Akane stated. Skuld simply nodded and began to disassemble the TV.

The front door clicked and Ranma walked into the living room, instantly noticing the parts and tools strewn about. She looked from Akane to Skuld to the TV monstrosity. "We get satellite channels now?"

Skuld grinned, a huge sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head. "In a manner of speaking… Say, where's Urd?"

"Went back to the Shrine to check on Bell." Skuld nodded.

Akane looked at Ranma, the Chinese dress and jacket. She was a looker by all rights. And she had been going out with that uninhibited one, Urd, who was no slouch for looks either. Akane was worried. Kasumi. Nabiki. Urd. Where did she stand in all of this?

Akane put on a bright smile. "So how was your evening, Ranma?"

Ranma smiled back. "Had a great time!" Then she added with a conspiratorial smile, "We made the guys oogle." Ranma hadn't even thought about it when the words escaped her lips, but the look on Akane's face said it all. Oops. Where's that come from? The fiancée's smile faltered, however briefly before she put it back into place.

"That's great…" She continued with force enthusiasm. "What else did you do?"

"Talked."

"About what?"

"Stuff."

Each reply took another notch out of that forced smile and now Akane was getting annoyed. "What sort of 'stuff'?"

Ranma hesitated. She could see where this was going as plain as day. "I can't exactly say…"

Anger flashed into the youngest Tendo's eyes, then softened to disappointment. "Is it something you can tell her?" She motioned to Skuld. "Or Kasumi? Or even Nabiki?" Tears began to form. "Why everybody else but me, Ranma, Why?"

Ranma took the seat beside her and looked at Skuld, who need no prompting to leave the room.

"What are we to each other anymore, Ranma?"

The redhead put her arm around the grieving fiancée and Urd's words came to mind. '…In matters of the heart, that is what you will mend.' Ranma pulled Akane close. "I know it's hard, Akane-chan. I've been going through so many changes that it's almost impossible for me to keep up, let alone those close to me," Akane's heart fluttered with that last part. "And the positions we're both expected to fulfill are shifting so rapidly they're almost no longer relevant. I mean, we were forced into this situation by parents who expect me, a male to take up the mantle of The Anything Goes School of Martial Arts while they expected you to marry that person." Akane looked at her fiancé as she sighed. "Now their heir apparent is stuck a female, has become a goddess and might very well not be able to carry the dojo herself anyway with recent developments."

Akane's head snapped up. It was the first time she had heard Ranma even mention the possibility of purposely not becoming the heir of their dojo. "W-Why not? It's been your life… Our life."

Ranma chuckled. "That's just it, Akane.. It hasn't been our life. It's been our parents, and who knows what they'll do when they find out their heir is no longer one at all, but quite the opposite and might remain that way. You know they're still hoping for a cure like last time. Your father will have to maintain the bloodline for his dojo somehow, and even though my father is your father's best friend, me maintaining that bloodline though you is… Impossible." Akane stared at her in morbid fascination. Ranma had really put thought into this… "That would leave nobody within your bloodline except your father and grandfather with any knowledge of the school and its art, which only leaves two real possibilities for the school's future." Akane stared. Her it comes… "Either train you so you can carry on and marry someone else, or train somebody for the express purpose of marrying you or the other sisters."

Akane leaned back in shock. Ranma was right. Oh, sure, father could wait for any one of the other sisters to marry and raise a boy, but she doubt that outright. It wasn't as if either father or grandfather were getting any younger, and by the time the heir came of age… They wouldn't take the chance of all that knowledge being lost and the school descending into obscurity.

Ranma watched as the full meaning of their predicament fell upon her. "And this is only a fraction of what I have to bear now. If this goddess thing comes fully to pass, I may very well not have time to spend managing the dojo, let alone perform the duties as an heir would. And that's even assuming you and I are ok, with eh… um…" Akane looked like she was about ready to throw up. "Exactly. It's not that I don't care for you… I'd have to be a fool not to for after so long…"

The Tendo finally realized the heart of Ranma Saotome. It wasn't that she was burning her bridges by choice, but because they were already lit and on fire around her. Ranma wasn't leaving her behind, but the situation was such that she couldn't move back and Akane couldn't move forward. That was unless she were willing to do… That. With Ranma. As a girl. Akane blanched inwardly. She was use to the girl type, but thought of it mostly as Ranma had… An inconvenience that was occasionally useful. She had never expected to have 'relations' with it, of all things. Heck, even Shampoo is more ready to deal with than I am, Akane thought to herself. She'd take Ranma male or female, day or night, but Ranma still puts her off. That sudden realization was a sobering thought in itself. The Amazon was attractive, compliant, ready, willing and able, yet here Ranma was. With her.

Akane reached around and hugged the redheaded Goddess of Luck, much to her surprise. "Thank you Ranma. No matter what happens, thank you."

---

Chapter NINE

Kasumi entered the kitchen as was her early morning custom to get things around for breakfast, but was greeted by a curious sight. The rice cooker had been… Modified. She peered at it curiously and saw numerous new gears, circuit boards and various other unidentifiable parts attached to the bowl itself. In fact, that was the only stock part on the device anymore. She had known about the TV, as Skuld had stayed up all night tinkering with it, but why the rice cooker?

"I, um, wouldn't touch that if I were you." Ranma advised the eldest Tendo sister as she walked into the kitchen, wearing her boxers and tank top as she was occasionally wont to do before the rest of the household woke up.

"I wasn't about to." Kasumi noted, still staring at the modified kitchen implement. She turned toward Ranma. "Why..?"

"Skuld got the TV working again, but found out that the TV was causing other household appliances not to work." The redhead explained as she pulled some juice from the refrigerator. "So she set about modifying the affected items to where they did work."

Kasumi looked at the alien device from another vantage point. "Then I take it this one doesn't work?"

"She fell asleep before she could work the bugs out, but lets just say it teleports stuff and leave it at that." Ranma answered and Kasumi stepped back.

"Oh my." She gave it one last moment of consideration, then turn back to Ranma, "Did you and Akane work things out?"

Ranma hesitated. "I think so. May not have anything else worked out in this crazy mess, but I think we've got that."

Kasumi smiled. "At least you got the most important thing." Ranma nodded, returning the smile. "By the way, I wouldn't run around in that too much anymore." The goddess looked at her in silent question. "As a guy you could get away with a tank top and briefs. As a girl…" Kasumi paused.

"Let's just say Urd would approve."

And that was all that needed to be said.

---

"Come on, Skuld! I know Pandas faster than you!" Ranma pressed the teen goddess with her own hammer, cracking at her guard. It was the best Genma Saotome impression she could muster and she could tell it had worked as Skuld's frustration level grew exponentially.

"I stayed up all night last night, Onee-chan!" Skuld complained as she hopped back from Ranma's next swipe, then reengaged the older goddess. "Cut me some slack!"

Ranma produced a feral grin as she swung in for her next attack. " A REAL Debugger must be ready day or night for whatever challenges await her, SLACKER!" Jeez, I'm having fun with the ol' Pops bit, Ranma thought. Granted, I'm only using a fraction of my ability, but she has to start somewhere.

"WHAT?" The teen protested and suddenly her hammer strikes became more aggressive. "Are you saying I'm not a REAL DEBUGGER?" Ranma sidestepped and the hammer blew past her. "That's it! You're finished!"

Skuld stepped up her attacks, fuelled by anger and Ranma secretly smiled. Now Skuld is running at a level of potential I can work with! Sometimes all it takes is the right motivation, the Sensei thought and assumed a purely defensive stance, allowing Skuld to get the feel of being on the offensive. She repeatedly hammered Ranma's staff, using her limited repertoire of attacks and stances with precision backed by vengeance. Her feral smile now matched Ranma's own as she ruthlessly beat the older goddess back to the edge of the dojo mat and--

ThwaaK!

The opposite end of Ranma's weapon came out of nowhere at high speed, and Skuld's own hammer flipped away, disarming her completely. The Goddess of Luck now held the end tip of her hammer at her throat, its block resting behind her wrist as if the weapon itself were a sword. Then, with a quick flip, she returned the hammer to her side.

Skuld's heart pounded, anger all but evaporated. So fast! And she could have done that at any time! And I was doing so well too! She watched as Ranma's feral smile melted into a gentler one, and sat down. When Ranma sat down, it was teaching time, so Skuld sat as well.

"How did you feel when you were on the attack?" Ranma asked her student, whose breathing was finally calming.

"It was…" Skuld searched herself for a moment. "Exhilarating. Like I was in control. Powerful."

Ranma nodded. "The first thing to take away from that is that the person who controls the tempo of the engagement wins."

"But I thought I was! …Until you disarmed me."

"Exactly." Ranma continued. "But most battles are decided well in advance by what's up here." She finished, tapping her head. "Tell me what you were thinking."

"I was mad… Pissed." Skuld shook her head.

"If you can't control this," Ranma tapped her skull once more. "You can't control this." She let her hand rest on the hammer beside her. "I was in control and you were not. I won by default before your first blow landed."

Skulds eyes widened. "Just like building something! If you can't see it here first," She tapped her own head, "Then you'll have a much harder time building it!"

Ranma's smile widened, nodding at his pupil. "But building stuff takes heart too, right?"

"Oh yes, definitely."

"Just remember that heart can allow you to exceed your limits like you did back there," Ranma complimented, "You didn't like the thought of being a third rate debugger, and it drove you. But the head focuses all that energy and all that action, just as I imagine it does when you invent stuff. Focused motivation will win you victories believed to be impossible, got it?"

"Got it!"

"Go get breakfast then!" Ranma stood up and she was greeted by the traditional crushing hug before the teen ran off to breakfast. Akane stood up from her seat off to the side.

"That was very well done." She complimented, taking her place on the mat.

Ranma smiled modestly. "It's easy when you're pupil is that eager." She took her place on the mat opposite of Akane. "Ready for your lesson, A-chan?"

Akane grinned, "Always, Ran-chan!"

It was the first match she could remember truly enjoying since her mother passed away all those years ago. Two simple friends. Sparring. It was pure. The way it should have been all along.

---

Ranma could only gape at the sights around her as Belldandy led her through the city whose heart bore The Temple; the threshold of the Creator Himself. She had known a bit of history and the redhead could see a grand mix of it in every building she passed now that she wasn't storming heaven without a clue. It was an absolute perfect mix of structure and nature, allowing trees to grow inside and outside of buildings while waterfalls cascaded off the walls. Surreal didn't even begin to describe the scene as they moved from street to street.

The question had come up as to who should escort her to The One, and it was quickly decided that the ranking sister would perform the duty. Besides, Skuld was just dying to hit an electronics sale she had seen in the paper and had practically begged Urd to take her. In the end, it had fallen to Belldandy to guide the nervous Ranma Saotome up the temple steps and into the great domed hall. Ranma's labored pace ground to a halt upon seeing the giant solid gold doors, exquisitely etched with carvings of men, women, angels and beasts. They spanned the length and width of the double doors, which easily towered hundreds of feet into the air. Even a casual glance could see they told a story, and that story was more than one could possibly take in with a glance. The doors demanded attention. Study. And it was only Belldandy's light touch on her arm that brought Ranma back to the here and now.

Ranma looked at the goddess with curiosity and Belldandy smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time later."

They both stepped up to a small desk in the center of the chamber, and behind it, a small girl with jet black hair and a bright smile. "Ranma Saotome?" The goddess in question blinked and nodded with some hesitation. Nothing like being expected, she thought. The receptionist's smile widened. "Kami-sama will see you now."

With that proclamation, the double doors opened slowly with the barest of whispers, bathing the chamber and it's occupants in the soft glow of pure, untainted light. Ranma's eyes widened in wonder as Belldandy and the girl were forgotten. She had come a long way and now there was only one thing remaining…

…Walk toward the light.

---

Even as Ranma stepped into the purifying light, she had no way of knowing that there were places that light would never reach. It wasn't because the light couldn't penetrate them; it was because the light was rejected. Cast out. Evil worked in those places to expunge its existence-- its taint --with fire, torture and darkness. And in the center of the dying and screaming sat it's architect. While that person went by many names, the forces of Heaven knew her by one in particular.

Hild looked down upon her demoness with disappointment. "You have failed to bring back that which I sought, Mara."

Mara shivered, kneeling before her master. It wasn't so much the tone of her voice, but total lack of emotion. Or life. It was a void that promised to consume her with displeasure. She didn't dare look up into those eyes. "Yes, Master. I was in the process of turning the new one when-"

"Silence." Mara's words died with the command. "I know of the Norn's activities concerning the new Goddess and specifically that child of mine." Hild twisted the words at the mere mention of her daughter. "What should I do with you, Mara? More torture?" Mara twitched visibly. She had quite enough of that for one day once it was found out she had returned in failure. AGAIN. "No, while that would amuse me, I have other work for you. Something you can do to enter back into my favor."

Mara's eye's widened and she looked up at Hild for the first time. The ruler of Hell sat atop her thrown of skulls, flanked by muscular demon giants in red armor. The woman in front of her looked very much like her childhood friend, but colder. Crueler. She wore a leather halter-top and thigh high leather boots, both adorned with chains, spikes and studs. All backlit by the fires of Hell itself. "Yes, Hild-sama! Anything!"

The edge of Hild's mouth turned upward in an ever-so-slight smile, breaking the frozen mask. "Bring me Urd." The demoness' mouth dropped slightly before she managed to reclaim it. "I don't care how you do it, but I want her here by nightfall. She is having far too much influence on the new one as of late. My daughter needs to be taught the meaning of… Family."

---

The doors had closed and Ranma now walked through the light itself. Beyond, there was only clouds and light. She felt something wrap around her and turned around to find a nice old man wearing a traditional kimono, sitting in a plush chair. In front of him was a simple wooden table and a chair opposite him. The bald old man puffed on his pipe and proffered the seat. She knew who this was. It resonated in her very being. There was absolutely no doubt as she sat lightly in the chair. Kami-sama produced a smoke-ring that floated lazily into away from the pair.

"I imagine you have many questions." The old man stated with a soft smile. Ranma simply nodded, part of her mind suspended in disbelief that she was actually talk to God himself. "To be truthful, I can't answer them all …Or rather won't," He added with a wink. "But I imagine we can get the big ones out of the way."

The old man-God was right. She had tons of questions, but might as well start with the one tops on her list. "Um, why me?"

"Why not you?" Kami-sama's eyes glinted with humor.

That snapped Ranma out of her disbelief. Was God being… Funny? A smile began to spread across her own face. "You know what I mean. It was a total accident…"

God nodded. "Indeed. Why not some Preacher, Monk or Saint?" Ranma simply nodded, leaning forward on the edge of her chair for the answer. "First, don't believe everything you hear." She cocked her head in curiosity and He stared at her with a piercing gaze. "There are no accidents."

Ranma flinched. If He was saying that there were no accidents that would mean that the Yggradsil… Kami-sama simply shrugged. "I designed a system to run eternity so that I can concentrate on other projects. That system-- Creation itself --is maintained by the Angels under my care and those angels have been given the free will to exercise concerning some aspects of Creation."

"But if the computer crashed and you're saying that there are no accidents…" The redhead was now truly boggled, shaking her head in confusion.

"Think of it as a system of checks and balances," The old man waved a hand nonchalantly and took another puff of his pipe. "Creation is a dynamic thing, Miss Saotome, and because of that fact, occasionally requires divine intervention."

"Which is why there are Goddesses?" Ranma asked, catching onto Kami-sama's logic.

"Exactly," he confirmed. "But their freedom of choice also means the freedom to make mistakes."

"But how does that fit--"

"With you?" God supplied and Ranma nodded. "Well, somebody in HR dropped the ball when a Goddess promotion request was supposed to be processed. It got lost somewhere along the way and over time the Yggradsil noted Creation was short one Goddess. After the problem went unremedied for a length of time, it initiated its own protocols to call the system back into balance."

Ranma puzzled over this for a moment. "But that would mean all the errors were… Intentional?"

The bald old man leaned back in his chair and smiled once more. "Now you're getting it. By my figuring, the Yggradsil weighed the requirements of the Goddess nessisary to fill the position, created errors to get the right people's attention centered on the right canidate."

Another smoke ring drifted lazily over the Goddesses' head. "But like Urd said… Don't I need training or something?"

God chuckled. "Urd was right," Ranma arched an eyebrow. "You sell yourself far too short, Miss Saotome. Not all your training takes place in a classroom. Oh sure, you're rough around the edges, but nothing a few centuries around my daughters won't smooth out."

Now it was Ranma's turn to chuckle, but it quickly faded as some realities came to mind. She focused on the coffee table.

Kami-sama's smile diminished upon seeing her distress, sighing. "Yes, it has been a long road, hasn't it?" Ranma looked up with a slight frown. He would know, wouldn't He? God laid his pipe aside and stood up from the chair, walking around the table. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder as a father would, and warmth flowed into her body. He smiled down at her gently.

"Don't worry, we have all the time in the world to talk about it."

---

Damn that little brat, Urd thought as she wandered through the mall. As soon as they had arrived, Skuld had made a bee-line for her electronics store, freeing the elder sister to browse the clothing stores. Granted, she could conjure anything she wanted into existence, but they were great for getting fashion ideas. And now the kid was gone. Brat.

Urd made another pass at the electronics store in question, walking up to the sales counter. She didn't have to get the clerk's attention as she instantly had the attention of every male in the store …And to think she had even dressed conservatively today, with a nice sweater and long skirt. Her hair was worn up, white bangs flowing over her forehead with the remainder cropped into a loose tail in the back. Of course, the sweater really did nothing to hide her generous bust and the long skirt had a thigh-high slit up the side, but for Urd that was conservative. She mused over it a moment as she stepped up to the counter, figuring the effect she was having on Ranma's sexuality might be working both way.

"Exuse me, have you seen a teenager about yay high?" She asked the clerk, who promptly snapped out of his stupor. "She would have walked out with a ton of electronics stuff."

The sales clerk thought about it a moment. "Um, yeah. Little black haired girl?" Urd nodded expectantly. "Oh yeah, she left with her sister about fifteen minutes ago."

Urd's eyes widened as a pit developed in her stomach. "What… did her sister look like?"

"Well, about your height, blonde hair and not quite as tan." The clerk thought about it for a moment longer. "Yep, she led the little teen dancing right out the store."

Urd's face contorted to one of anger as she bolted out of the shop. It could only be one person. Mara. The goddess cast her spirit throughout the mall, searching for a hint of demonic taint. It was easy to find and Urd confronted it at the mall entrance. She found Mara sitting outside on a bench, watching her expectantly.

"Where is she?"

Mara noted her voice laden with hostility and smiled thinly. "She's safe. For now." Urd took a step forward, her power climbing dramatically. It only caused her smile to widen. "Now, now. Let's just say she's with… Family."

Urd's anger flashed in a word. "Hild."

Mara uncrossed her legs and stood up from the bench. "Indeed. And the condition of your sister largely depends on her good humor at the moment." Urd's hand began to glow with power and Mara hastily added, "And my safety, of course!"

"What does she want?" The goddess hissed. It was barely a question.

"Oh, the usual things," The demon mused, seemingly oblivious to her one time childhood friend's anger. "A little song, a little dance. And a visit from her dear old daughter."

"If anything happens to her, Mara…" Urd left the statement hang unfinished while her eyes communicated the rest.

"Ha! That all depends on you!" She snorted as if it were indeed a humorous situation, then conjured a plain looking door out of thin air. She opened it and a blast of hot air escaped from the dimensional porthole. "We'll all be waiting!" And with that, she stepped through the doorway.

Urd looked on as the demoness disappeared. She whispered a silent prayer before stepping into the doorway to hell after Mara.

---

"Bwahahaha!" Ranma rolled in her chair as Kami-sama grinned, mirth evident on His face. "You've can't be serious! They actually ate it?"

God waved her off with a wide smile on his face, "The entire Apple, if you can believe it! I mean, I had an entire garden full of fruit, but was that good enough? NOOOOooooOOO!"

The redheaded goddess continued to choke on her own fits of laughter until she finally subsided with a bemused expression on her face. "You don't really look like that." It was more a statement than a question.

The balding old man took another puff from his pipe. "Of course I do… To you. And that's the only person it matters to." Ranma smiled, but His face grew serious. "This is something I want you to be absolutely sure about. I won't lie to you, it's a tremendous responsibility. Not only to yourself, but the ones around you. Loved ones. Complete strangers. Even your enemies."

Ranma's expression faded to one of determination. She wasn't exactly sure how long they had spent discussing her past and the matters at hand. Hours, maybe. He had explained it and it resonated with in her, adding onto Urd's lessons from last night. She still wasn't sure how things would work out at the dojo, and if she accepted this post, the situation might become even hairier than it already was. Even so…

Her train of thought was derailed as a wave of emotion rippled through her body. Desperation. Fear. Urd. Skuld. The golden doors, formerly invisible from the inside, opened and Belldandy ran in panicked, formally kneeling at Kami-sama's chair.

"Forgive the intrusion father! Urd and Skuld…!"

His face was totally serious now as he motioned for Belldandy to rise. "Yes, I know. They have gone to the other side against their will."

Ranma bolted out of her chair, fearing for her new sister's safety. "The other side of what? I can feel their fear so it can't be…"

"No, it's not. Not good at all." Kami-sama confirmed, leaving the pipe aside. "She is in Hell, Ranma and her Mother hopes to bend Urd to her will by holding the young one hostage, thereby affecting you. I shall inform Special Duty. They'll be on site in ten minutes."

Ranma's eyes widened in shock at first, but that shock was quickly replaced by something else. There were precious few things in this world or the next that would drive Ranma to her limits and beyond. Few things would immediately cause her to sacrifice herself without question. But Urd, her best friend and adopted sister…

"Now do you understand?" God leveled his gaze upon the redhead knowingly. "That is the duty of a Goddess First Class, Category One Unlimited. Not just your family. Not just your friends. Everybody. Complete sacrifice without reservation."

Ranma understood what He was saying with absolute clarity, clarity she normally held in reserve for battle. It had been the biggest difference between Nabiki and herself, she realized as an afterthought through their study together. Nabiki could apply that crystal clear analysis to social situations and numbers where she herself applied it to combat and martial arts. And now she understood what she was and what she had to do.

"Do you understand Ranma?" it was a gentle question.

Ranma gave him a crisp nod and a tight smile. "I accept, Kami-sama."

"Then do what you must."

The smile vanished and Ranma stretched out her arm, power flowing through her very being. She knew clearly and perhaps for the first time in three days what she had become and the destiny she was taking into hand. She was now Ranma Saotome, Goddess of Luck first Class, Category One unlimited by choice, fully prepared to wield that awesome power and responsibility without reservation or question of cost. The fact that her best friend and sisters were now being held only fired the catalyst blazing inside her now as the order of things became imminently clear. Her outstretched hand flared and a section of clouds began sucking down in upon themselves as if fed into an unseen drain.

Belldandy watched as Ranma's aura flared and the clouds began to melt into the hole she was creating. She couldn't possibly be opening a porthole to… The hate that emanated from it… The anguish… A porthole to Hell! In front of Kami-sama no less!

"R-Ranma! What are you doing?"

The old man stepped beside the Goddess and held her arm lightly. Belldandy looked down at Him, her eyes flashing concern. "Do not be afraid daughter, for she is My Will manifest, and I am greatly pleased."

Belldandy's eyes widened, her shocked expression turning back to Ranma as the goddess continued to will the porthole to exist. With that announcement, there could be no question now. She was His Hand and damned if her new sister would do this alone, even if an assault on Hell wasn't exactly advisable at her current rank. "Kami-sama! I humbly request permission to accompany Ranma in the extraction of my Sisters!"

God smiled. Yes, these four would be a blessing to reckoned with, both for themselves and those around them. "Of course. Be the Light that guides My Hand, daughter."

With that, she spun around and stepped over to Ranma, who had just finished forming the sucking maw. Ranma looked down into the pit she had just created, seeing nothing but an angry orange glow through the rolling smoke. Belldandy took her hand and the two came to a mutual understanding through the silence.

Hell was just about to get two uninvited guests.

---

"Damn you, Mother!" Urd snarled as both she and Mara approached Hild's throne. Beside her was the teenage Goddess kneeling on the ground, bruised and chained to a short stone pillar. Even through there was a trickle of blood running down the side of her mouth, Urd knew that she had only been 'roughed up'. The real torture was being saved for this moment.

"Ho, ho, ho, daughter of mine!" Hild chortled with amusment. "You're a few thousand years too late on that account!"

"What… Do you want?" Urd's scowl deepened.

The Mistress of Hell let her hand swing lazily as if orchestrating an unheard orchestra. Or maybe it was the tortured screams that filtered from the pits, one could never tell. "I just want what ever mother wants, my dear!"

Urd rolled her eyes in disgust. "And what's that? The complete and utter domination of Life, the Universe and Everything?"

"True, true." Hild smiled wistfully, which rapidly took on an evil edge. "But we all have to start somewhere." She turned to the chained Skuld and motioned to one of her personal guards.

The red skinned, red armored giant smiled- or at least Urd thought it smiled, it was hard to tell through irregular snout and rows of gnarled teeth -and yanked on the chain, bringing the girl back hard against the stone pillar. Skuld twitched, still pulled against the strain.

"Of course, how we start all depend on you." Hild's smile had deteriorated into a grin totally devoid of conscious.

Urd suppressed her rage. I'm only gonna get one shot at this, so keep her talking. "Ok, fine. Spill it."

"That's better!" On cue the guard released the chains tension, and a whimpering Skuld fell back to the blood soaked earth. "My terms are quite simple. Your sister for the redhead."

Buy time buy time buy time, the mantra ran through Urd's head. All she needed an opening. Just a small one. "And what would you want with a three day old know-nothing goddess?"

"Oh but those are the best kind!" Hild quipped, crossing a thigh high leather boot. "All the better to mold their young, impressionable minds with, my Dearie."

Urd shook her head and jerked a thumb back at Mara. "You gotta be kidding. She couldn't do it, so what make you think YOU can?"

Hild's face twitched at the reminder. "Yes, Mara didn't exactly distinguish herself in that last operation," Mara winced as her Master's gaze fell upon her, but suddenly brightened. "But she did get you and through you, her replacement!"

Mara fell over, stunned. Even Urd did a double take. "MY REPLACEMENT?"

The Mistress of Hell let out a labored sigh. "Of course your replacement, silly girl. One thing that's become glaringly obvious is that this organization needs fresh blood. The competition will do you good. Trust me."

"Trust you?" Mara raged, momentarily forgetting who she was talking to. "I cook for you, I clean for you, I seduce half the mortal realm for you and this is what I get? TRUST YOU?"

This is it, Urd realized. Mara was now in Hild's face and that won't last long before she sobers up or Mother puts her in her place. She subtly reached around her into the small of her back, pulling out a small phial of purple liquid from concealment. Even as Mara began to back away from the impromptu scuffle, Urd gave the phial a fierce shaking and tossed it into the pair.

Hild had just enough time to notice the toss and the phial tumbling through the air. "CATCH IT!" She demanded, but it was already too late. The glass shattered at her feet, releasing the purple liquid, which immediately vaporized as soon as it hit air. The resulting flash obliterated the retinas of anybody unfortunate enough to have been staring at it, leaving Hild and her entourage clawing their eyeballs while only the sounds of feet and the crunch of a stone pillar could be heard. By the time the party had regained their vision thirty seconds later, the two goddesses had vacated the top of her hill.

One of her demonic giants stepped forward and Hild held out her hand, halting it. "No, don't kill them. Break? Oh yes, certainly do that."

---

The two goddesses ran down the hillside; though running was perhaps too generous of a word as Urd was practically dragging the exhausted little goddess behind her. Regardless of her state, the Goddess of the Future never complained as the two attempted to make as much distance as possible between them and Urd's psychotic mother. It was jagged, tortured landscape they climbed over as waves of heat poured over them. Urd had a rough idea of where she was now; knowing that the only way out of hell was through a gate whose normal mode of operation only sent things down. That was a minor problem. Getting there past the roving hell gangs, assorted guards and pits of Condemned was a major one. Oh yeah, her mother was looking for them too. The pair climed over a final set of jagged rocks and Urd could make out the distant gate across a plain of fire and tortured souls.

A piercing howl decisively interrupted her thoughts of escape and she whipped around to find a hellhound on her tail. Urd didn't bother wasting her power on it because she knew it wouldn't attack. First, she could simply turn it to ash the moment it threatened them. Second, it didn't need to attack. It was scout and it had just done its job admirably. She continued to drag Skuld across the plain, but she knew they had been made. She also knew that her prayer would probably call down a Special Duty strike force, but how much of them would be left by the time they arrived? The hunting parties were already forming around her and there was nowhere left to run.

One wounded teenage goddess and one goddess second class versus fifty to a hundred or so Damned, Urd sniffed with morbid amusement. She let her power levels ride and Skuld was already pulling out bombs. Now if one would just oblige her by charging, they could get this show on the road.

---

Belldandy and Ranma stepped off their porthole and plunged into Hell's shaft. Belldandy glanced at her sister as the two began their freefall through purgatory and into the sickly orange glow of Hell below as it became brighter through the smoke. If there was one thing Ranma could do well besides martial arts, it was compartmentalizing emotions. She had done it with the her goddess girl-type before learning the ways of balance, but she had far more experience with this particular emotion: Fear. Terror. And like the Neko-ken before it, tried to burn a hole through her psyche as they fell, blazing past layers of damned souls and monstrosities that defied imagination. But fear was something she was good at and she suppressed it ruthlessly, chopping it off at the source in preparation for battle. That iron control strengthened Belldandy's own resolve and the two plummeted through the final layer of smoke and the porthole's exit, finally glimpsing the surface of hell itself.

Ranma mentally noted that it lived up to all the movies she had seen and then some as they cut through another layer of superheated air. The surface itself looked like a rolling volcano, one part superheated lava pits, the other part jagged knife-edge mountain ranges. Few details besides the major cities were discernable from their altitude but one- A ring of ants held at bay by flashing light and explosions. Both goddesses looked at on another and knew. Belldandy reflexively deployed her wings and their luminescence folded in for minumum drag. Ranma took the cue and willed her own wings into existence with the same attack profile, both women now surreal birds of prey descending on their targets at high speed.

Urd was nearly dry as she pumped an underpowered lightening blast at another attacker before spinning around to meet the next. Sure she had roasted around fifty of their number so far, but her reserves weren't infinite. Unfortunately, her opposition effectively was. Skuld armed her second to last bomb and chucked it into the mob that continued to press their perimeter. A few of the bastards had slipped through and both goddesses were worse for the wear, bloodied and battered. Their Angels, Noble Scarlet and World of Elegance were providing fire support, but it wasn't enough. And once they collapsed, they would be subjected to Hild's tender mercies once again, assuming she wanted them alive. Skuld smiled grimly and armed the final bomb. That'll be the day.

She heaved it deep and silently counted to five. She reached three and the ground around her buckled madly as the entire perimeter was bathed in ki and holy fire. The shockwaves threw both goddesses to the ground as the Damned burned. Their circle was now twice as wide as it had been, now nearly a hundred feet across if you didn't count the flaming remains of hells foot soldiers. Urd shook away the disorientation and stared at Skuled in disbelief.

"Dammit! Tell me next time you resort to Tactical… Nukes?"

Her rebuked died away even as she realized Skuld hadn't heard a word she said. Instead, her younger sister was looking strait up with the widest smile on her face and she followed the gaze upward, seeing the impossible: Two women floating down on angelic wings, fully extended, vibrant with power and glory. One redhead. One blond. They two touched down lightly beside their sisters. Belldandy smiled before turning her attention to the Mob while Ranma remained all business.

Ranma had seen the pair. They were beaten, bloodied and exhausted. But they had held, and it had plunged Ranma's silent fury to a temperature of absolute zero. Power flared and Ranma's Angel came forth while Belldandy brought hers out in a whirlwind. Both angels reflected the hearts of their owners, which seethed vengeance. Phoenix Wind materialized in Ranma's hand and it howled for justice while Belldandy called her polearm Arc Light into being.

Urd sneered vengefully at the sight. Oh yeah, screw with the Norns will ya? Now it's time to pay the Piper, bitches. As if sensing her thoughts, Ranma turned back to her with the same vengeful smile on her face. Urd could see the difference. She was The Hand of God. Officially Anointed. And she was upset. VERY upset. Infact, after the Angry Hand of God got done with them, the Angry Fist of God should be arriving in…

"Special Duty will be arriving in about five minutes, sister." Belldandy stated, now all business herself. "We will hold this position as long as necessary."

Ranma took a step toward the mob, which was growing restless. Stunned by the instant annihilation they may have been, but that effect wouldn't last forever. "I'll take the perimeter. Belldandy, blast anything that gets though." Those weren't the orders of a three day old Goddess. Belldandy noted. They were the orders of a battle commander; A Goddess first class category one unlimited, and she nodded sharply. For herself, Ranma could feel the power rising to indescribable heights. Now that she accepted everything that she was and would be, she was a direct conduit for the Almighty's power. She twirled Phoenix Wind with anticipation. She would still be at an experience deficit, Ranma noted silently, but was learning something new every minute and she was going to make the enemy pay for their error in cash.

It begins… Now.

Skuld watched Ranma as she stepped forward with that insanely powerful staff of hers. If Ranma was going to hold the peri-- All three Goddess were startled as a rush of air blasted around them and Ranma was suddenly in two places at once. The after image quickly faded and Ranma was now in the mob pulverizing the bodies of Damned and Demon alike as the staff spun nonstop. The flank of the mob pressed forward and Ranma was there too, cutting down target after target. It was stunning to watch because while Ranma wasn't necessarily in every place at once, she was now moving so fast as to appear to be.

Ranma fed the speed higher and everything moved in slow motion. Her opponents, their attacks, everything. It was pathetically slow and she tore into the mob with Phoenix Wind, blazing a trail of glowing power and super natural light. She shifted to the flank, leaving an after-image in her wake and the new mob crumbled. Belldandy cut loose a few ki-blasts and at light speed, found their targets instantly and vaporized whatever happened to cross Ranma's invisible line. Feather Light was having a heyday too as her fire elemental power flamed rank upon rank of the encroaching Damned. Ranma spared a glance back and Belldandy had gone hand to hand as well as a minor demon evaded her ki blast and jumped in. The polearm was up and it looked like a solid deflection for Bell-chan's Arclight. Ranma spared another quarter second and concentrated on the deflection. The demonic sword would rebound, but if she concentrated…

KlaaaaNG!

Ranma's improbability snapped into place and the blade deflected at such an awkward angle as to leave the demon totally unguarded for Belldandy's retaliation. The wayward demon went down in a spray of black ichor and she returned to her ki attacks once more while Ranma resumed her relentless defense of the perimeter. She wasn't tired. Wasn't sore. She was just power and they would all fall beneath her.

---

Mara had risen above the mob to get a better view. It was worse than she had possibly imagined. The little goddess was almost invisibly fast and holding back a wall of demons that was pressing from every angle, while that wretched Belldandy handily picked off targets of opportunity. Annoying as that was, it wasn't a real problem because sooner of later she would run out of juice like her sisters. No, the redhead was now the primary threat because she wasn't just a One-one in name anymore. That, and she had seen her determination firsthand. She would hold that wall back all day if necessary, with or without help, and had the power to do it.

But it wasn't hopeless by any means because the little goddess was still handicapped by the same tactical truth as before. "Ah, too many targets and not enough time…" She hummed and powered up a lighting blast. The smallest Goddess will do nicely. The demoness outstretched her hand, taking aim…

---

KRChABOOOoooM!

Ranma swung around at the sound and watched as a wayward demon plummeted to the ground in a sheet of fire, five winged figures cutting though her smoking plum before angling in on their position. The first pass was made at high speed, and the Valkyries opened up the perimeter with a combination of ordinance and ki blasts. Ranma leapt away as her immediate targets erupted in holy fire. The Valkyries swung around for another pass, annihilating any Damned that didn't have common sense to retreat to a more sensible distance.

The lithe, blue haired strike leader touched down first and the remaining four followed suit, wings folding in behind them. Heath's gray eyes picked out the leader easily and stepped up to her in a crisp manner, inclining her head with an informal bow. There had always been a sibling rival between the Hand and the Fist; the Hand thinking those of the Fist relied too much on brute force to solve their problems while the Fist generally thought of the Hand as meddlers too good to get their nails dirty. She sized up the short redhead in command, and realized instantly there would be no such rivalry here. She may be the Hand, but she obviously wasn't afraid to play hard.

"Heath, Goddess First Class Special Duty, M'amn. We're here to extract your team."

The redhead simply nodded. "Thank you, Heath. If your group doesn't mind kicking some demonic ass, I'll get us out the same way we came in."

She watched an edge of steel flash through the Redhead's blue eyes. Oh, I'm liking this one already, Heath thought with glee. "Kicking demonic ass is what we do best, M'amn." She turned sharply to her squad, strait blue locks whipping around. "You heard her! Time to earn the wings on your backs, ladies! Fire teams, by the numbers!. TAKE ME OUT!"

Each Special Duty member took up a field of fire and deployed their angels around the group, simultaneously unleashing measured, lethal bursts of ki while their angels supported with elemental attacks. Ranma noted the coordination of the team and it was obvious nothing was going to get through their kill zone to threaten her sisters. Without a second thought, she stretched out her arm once more and began to feed the porthole, a glowing shaft of light rising around them that would pierce the smoldering roof of Hell...

---

…If given enough time, Hild thought irritably, time she wasn't about to give them. If she couldn't have the redhead, there was no real point in keeping anybody alive, was there? She turned to the red demon guard on her right. "Remember how I told you you could hurt them?" The demon nodded, the curves of its imposing horns cutting thought the hot air. "Hurt them bad."

"Blood and Glory!" the demon rumbled as it stepped to the mountain's edge. Yes, time to annihilate them all. Time to prove that I am worthy to rise to the highest ranks! The Demon collected his rage and it flared to life within its taloned palm. The rage built and the angry blood red glob of energy grew larger until both hands were required to contain its forces. Power began to feed back, but still the demon pushed it outward, creating an unstable ki ball the size of a large boulder. Sensing that he was nearing his limit, the red skinned demon heaved the destructive force away with precision, collapsing to his knees as his fury sped downrange.

Ranma's first warning was "Oh shit." as Urd observed the charge and release of the ki energy. Ranma continued to form the gate but turned, only to find one of the biggest ki-blasts she had ever seen streak down on them. Ranma had unleashed something close to that size exactly once, and knew full well the destructive firepower contained there in. All combat ceased as opponents from both sides stopped to watch the blazing red sun burn toward them.

Heath was about to order the unit to scatter when she saw Ranma's other arm stretch toward the incoming ball, a secondary aura engulfing the woman. She ran down the list of options available. The flight time was too short and any tactics she had for stopping something that big in a group like this would take too long. There was just too much liability for an effective defense. With that, Heath walked up close to Goddess for a front row seat. This was gonna be good.

The initial terror washed over Ranma like a tidal wave, but she quickly shut it down and began to concentrate. It was a damn ki-blast and she was the Goddess of Luck. What were the options? In the space of a split second she ruled out a retaliatory strike with a blast of her own or throwing up a defensive shield. The former wouldn't guarantee the blasts' elimination and might even magnify it while the latter she just didn't know how to implement. She probably could. Maybe. Reliably? Too many ifs. Ok, what do I know about ki-blasts, Ranma wondered rhetorically. A lot. They required intense concentration and are inherently unstable. It was trouble enough to form the containment matrix properly, let alone making it last long enough to hit the target without bleeding energy all over the place. And if you didn't charge it right, the power had the potential to feed back and-- Wait. Potential? Potential means probabilities. Probabilies and odds.

And luck.

All of that had flashed through Ranma's mind in under a second, and she raised her other arm toward the incoming blast. She focused. Could see the ki was balanced. The matrix was perfect. It was almost one hundred percent likely to reach ground zero intact. Fortunately for them, she lived in that small zone between almost and certainty these days. She focused harder and was caught between time. After hours of pachinko with Nabiki, the sensation no longer held any surprise and she dissected the ball, looking for that tiny strand of improbability. And found it. A slight sheer in the balance. A ripple, nothing more. If the ball had to continue for fifty more miles, that ripple might amount to something. But at the short range they were talking about now, it wasn't even a factor. Well, not unless Ranma caused the ripple to reflect like that. And rebound like so. And---

CRACKBOOOOooooOOOOOmMM!

Ranma was rocked from her trance as the ki-blast spontaneously detonated nearly half a mile out, washing the area with smoldering debris. The worst they received was a few ash burns but nothing serious. The western flank of their enemy however, hadn't gotten off so fortunate. While the initial lines of the Damned were still intact, a huge chunk had been blown out of their depth, and all that remained of their reserve was a burning molten crater caused by the massive air-burst. And bodies. Lots and lots of bodies. It took the Goddess a moment to recover from the devastation she had just unleashed before completing the porthole. Ranma took one final look at the crater, and in a flash of light, Hell belonged solely to the damned once more.

---

Epilogue

"It's here, Onee-chan!" Skuld bounded into the Dojo where Ranma and Akane had been sparring. The two broke off and Ranma eyed the sister curiously.

"What's here, exactly?"

Skuld looked annoyed. "Don't you ever check your email?"

Ranma winced. Since officially accepting the position of Goddess of Luck full time last week, the teaching had begun in earnest, and that included Skuld's insistence in getting Ranma up to speed on all things tech. Granted the language of Divinity was getting easier to read, but it still wasn't second nature to her yet. "Come on, cut me some slack." She pleaded.

"Hmmf." Skuld sniffed. "Only this once and ONLY because it's such good news!" Both Akane and Ranma waited expectantly as Skuld felt it necessary to draw out the dramatic moment. "It's your first assignment!"

"My first…" Ranma's jaw dropped. She had knew one was coming but so soon?

She had been keeping Akane abreast of all the details so they could form contingency plans around their family, and now she asked, "What assignment is it?"

"The Goddess Support Hotline, effective next month!" Skuld beamed pride that her sister would get such a mainstream posting so quickly.

Ranma mouthed the words. It didn't sound too bad and Skuld seemed dang excited about it. She shrugged. Sure why not? The redhead turned to Akane. "Well, that about clinches it. What contingency do you think we should dust off?"

Akane thought on the matter a moment. "Win, lose or Draw."

"Sounds good to me, A-chan." Ranma smiled, and the trio cut practice early. There were lots of plans to be made, after all.

---

The next evening, the entire family had gathered in the Dojo, as it was the only room on the property that would accommodate, well, everybody. Ranma mentally chuckled at the thought. Everybody and anybody that had been in some way shape or form involved in turning my life upside down over the past five years either by accident or design. That included, for the most part, all his fiancées, the jealous suitors, his family, potential in-laws and assorted friends. Heck, they'd even been able to round up Ryoga before he disappeared off into the wilderness again. His sisters Bell, Urd and Skuld were there too, along with Keiichi. She also had no doubt in her mind that the main reason Urd was present was not just solely out of friendship, but to watch the chaos and carnage that was about to ensue. Of course, the evil grin on her face said all that too.

After everybody had gathered, Ranma and Akane stepped up to the group, and there was a certain amount of expectation in the air. Was this it? The wedding announcement? The big break up? Who was 'The One Fiancee'? Needless to say, Nabiki was all over the betting action, collecting money from friends and acquaintances at every turn.

Ranma cleared his throat, and the idle chatter went silent. Akane stepped forward. "Thank you all for coming. Of course, you already know we have an important announcement to make…" Their audience hung on every word. "I'm sorry to inform you that Ranma and I will not continue our engagement." The effect was immediately apparent. Half their audience- namely the parents -eyes buldged and began gasping for breath. Nodoka teetered on the edge of consciousness while Genma and Saotome simply stuttered, completely dumbfounded. Others, however practically quivered with delight. Shampoo and Ukyo simultaneously lept up yelling "YES!", glared at one another and sat back down. Ryoga simply let out a sigh of relief. At long last, justice had been served. Kuno, of course was still furiously trying to decide whether to love or hate the woman he had just recently found out was indeed Ranma Saotome. Both Ranma and Akane were pleased with the reactions so far. Heck, it was going better than their betrothal night did, which ended up in shambles. They had both agreed that the bad new should come from Akane, since they had long since learned that anything so volatile from Ranma's mouth would surely destroy the Dojo.

Soun came to his senses first. "But why, Akane! You're both so fond of one another!"

Genma wisely said nothing while his wife reeled with the shock, her vision of a manly man now being placed in further jeopardy.

For this, Akane stepped back and now Ranma took the stage. Akane was the icebreaker, but she would drive the point home herself. If all went well, the property damage shouldn't be… Too substantial.

"You're right, Mr. Tendo, we are both fond of one another." Ranma answered softly in place of his ex-fiancée. "However, complications have arisen in our relationship that make it impossible to go forward." Again the crowd sat in rapture. "The form I'm in is, to our knowledge irreversible for the foreseeable future." Genma began to speak up, but Ranma cut him off quickly. "We've already looked into a cure," Ranma now motioned to her three sisters off to the side of the room. "You all know their credentials by now." Of course they did. Nobody in the room was about to challenge the word of a Goddess. There were two people that would require special attention, however.

Ranma now knelt down to his Mother, who was now beginning to comprehend the ramifications of his statement. She took her hands gently. "I'm sorry I can't be your Man Among Men, Mother." and looked down in shame. Nodoka sniffed, but pulled her daughter's chin up. "It's… It's Ok. It will just take some getting used to, that's all." A smile began to creep across her face. "Of course, if you're going to be a woman, you can't get much better than a Goddess…" The smile gained intensity and Nodoka sat up straighter. "In fact, you might just be a Woman Among Women. I think you and I are going to have a little talk after this!"

Ranma pulled away from his beaming mother. Ok, that just got too weird. There was one more person, though. Probably the sanest one of them all. Ranma walked over to Ukyo, who was visibly shaken with the news. Ranma pulled her up and she did little to resist.

"Ranma… I can't… I…" She stammered, refusing to make eye contact herself. And like her mother, Ranma pulled her chin up so that they looked one another in the eyes.

"I know you can't." Ranma returned softly. "But I want you to know one thing above all else, Uu-chan…" Her nickname grabbed the Okanomiyaki girl's attention. "You will always be my best friend." Ranma pulled her into a hug and the two simply embraced as Ukyo sniffled. Even Ranma herself wasn't immune to the trickle of tears.

"Thank you Ran-chan… We always will be." Her smile brightened through the tears and she sat back down while Ranma returned to his place by Akane.

Ranma looked at the crowd and its total silence. Even Skuld's best estimates for damage control hadn't been this optimistic. Every model she came up with predicted at least one hole in the dojo wall at the ten-minute mark. Well, no reason to let her down now, she smiled inwardly.

"Some of you are undoubtedly wondering what this means for the Dojo." Genma and Soun came alive once more, their attention focused on the boy… Girl…Whatever. "Akane and I have given it a lot of thought over the last week and as we see it you only have two choices. First, you either wait for Akane to marry and have a male child, thereby continuing the bloodline…" She let the implications of that sink in before continuing, "Or you let me teach the art to Akane so she can carry on as the legitimate heiress to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and so that she may teach her son when he comes of age." Both Akane and herself had agreed early on that this was no longer their father's game and that they would no longer be pawns in it. The parents could wiggle and they could squirm, but there was only really one choice.

Both parents blinked. Akane? Heir of the Dojo? Genma spoke up first. "This is highly irregular, boy…" Soun nodded in agreement. "Yes, quite irregular!"

Akane sighed. It was time to break out the big guns. She stepped forward once more in a sweet voice, "Oh, you mean as irregular as having a lesbian relationship with a goddess and adopting a child so it can be the heir of your dojo and not your own blood?"

Both parents jaws dropped to the floor, faces red with embracement while Ranma and her sisters off to the side tried SO desperately not to giggle. It took nearly five minutes for both Soun and Genma to regain their composure.

"Um, when you put it that way…" Genma began nervously.

"Maybe it's not so bad…" Soun flushed. "Well, I suppose it would allow you to continue to stay in our residence, Saotome-kun."

Ranma began to smile for the first time since the meeting began. Break-up plus twenty minutes and still no property damage. Positively unbelievable. But still, there was something she was forgetting.

"Hiya!" A high-pitched squeal erupted from the middle of the crowd and a bubbly purple-haired Amazon bounced forward. "No more fiancées to claim Ranma! Shampoo now have Airen all to self!"

With that proclamation, Shampoo, glomped onto Ranma's arm, showing no hesitation in pressing her body into the redhead. Oh yeah, Ranma noted dryly. That's what I forgot.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that." Ranma, Shampoo and the rest wheeled around to Nabiki, who had just walked up to the pair.

Ranma's eyebrow arched in curiosity and the Amzaon's gaze narrowed on the Tendo sister. "You know new fiancée rival?" Nabiki simply nodded with that smile that would tell you absolutely nothing. "Mercenary girl tell who rival for Shampoo."

Nabiki simply held out her hand. "Five thousand yen."

"Mercenary girl expensive," Shampoo grumbled, digging though her pockets. Damn expensive, but this was need to know information. Finally she slapped several bills into the waiting palm. "Now tell Shampoo rival name." Nabiki chuckled as she pocketed the money.

"Me." She said simply and leaned into Ranma with her body, planting a light kiss on the goddess's lips. Half the room face planted into the floor right there on the spot while the other half simply froze in disbelief. Ranma was definitely among the latter, a small trickle of blood running from her nose.

"Go Ran-chan!" Urd cheered from the sidelines. "That's my sister!"

"Meh- meh- Mercenary girl like girl type!" Shampoo squeaked, approaching hyperventilation.

"Well, I do seem to recall mentioning how cute she was when we first met. And Ranma does meet a lot of prerequisites." Nabiki held up fingers and began ticking them off. "Attractive. Intelligent. Strong. Skilled. And of course, the ability to make substantial quantities of money …Let's just say it's an aquired taste." She finished with a sly look. Ranma was definitely pink now.

Shampoo stood speechless. She released her glomp on her intended and stared Nabiki down. "Shampoo challenge Mercenary girl to duel! Shampoo even let choose weapons!"

That snapped Ranma out of her state of shock. Nabiki would stand absolutely no cha-

"Blackmail."

"What?" Both Amazon and Goddess did a double take.

"You said I get to choose weapons." Nabiki stated with an icy smile. "My weapon is blackmail."

Shampoo paled a bit, stepping back. "Evil Mercenary girl wouldn't."

"I wonder what I would find if I dug into the Neko Han Ten's tax filing history…" The middle sister mused, then with hard glare, "Trust me Kitten girl, it's in your best interest to keep this non-violent."

"HMmf!" Shampoo snorted and retreated toward the dojo doorway. "This only just begin, Evil Mercenary Girl!"

Nabiki also turned to Ranma, taking her leave as well. "Later, Ran-chan. Don't forget about tommorow tonight's…Practice." A stunned portion of Ranma's brain noted that she'd be hard pressed to put much more innuendo into a single word than Nabiki just had.

On reflex, Ranma turned to Akane who had simply been starring at them for the entire exchange in utter disbelief. Her sister. The Ice Queen. And Ranma. As a girl. "Baka hentai…" She breathed incredulously.

The three goddesses who had remained on the sidelines joined the pair, Skuld being the first to speak as she punched data into her oversized PDA. "Uh, sorry Onee-chan… I couldn't even begin to model that scenario."

"God, you and me both." Ranma shook her head. Urd watched her with an expectant glint in her eye and subtle smile. Whatever. It was time to close the deal, Ranma thought. She walked over to the parents, who were still trying to rationalize the last five minutes in their minds. "So what's it going to be?" I stay and teach or you wait for the next son?"

There was no choice really, just as Akane and Ranma had planned it all along.

---

Later that evening, Urd joined her best friend on the roof, handing her a glass of sake while staring at the stars. The silence lasted all of about five minutes.

"Well?"

Ranma glanced at the Goddess, her sister. "Well what?"

"You know." Urd stated with a trace of humor.

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about." Ranma protest, face turning light pink.

"Oh, I think you do." Urd's smile grew.

"Look, I really don't know what--"

Urd's eyes glittered with mischief. "How was it?"

Ranma's face was a bright pink now. "Um, it was… uh…"

Urd grinned widely as her sister squirmed. "Did she French?"

"I so hate you."

End.

---

Series final notes:

Whew! Thanks for sticking with it to the end! Well, not exactly the end. The end of this particular story arc, at least. If this series is well enough received, I'll continue on to the next planned arc, throwing in a Tenchi Muyo crossover into the mix as Ranma, Goddess of Luck, endures her first days on the job as a Goddess Relief Hotline Operator, not to mention developing the Shampoo vs Nabiki fiancée rivalry, Akane's continued training as heiress to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, Ranma's own development as well as all the other fun stuff you've come to expect by thoroughly screwing up the series as much as I'm planning to.

About Angels;
I took the liberty of giving them more independent flight than what they're usually credited with in the Oh My Goddess! series. I normally see them constantly tethered to their masters via that squiggly whirlwind and I can't recall an instance where they just go off on their own as Ranma does with Feather Light (best name I could think of), so I cut that tether for one chapter to help the plot along. There is also how Ranma obtained her angel. Everything I've seen in the series finds them lying around on a desk or something waiting to be eaten, so i got, um, creative concerning their origin.

About Kami-sama;
Oh come on. Most I've ever seen here was a Michael Jackson glove or something. You can't not let me take some license on this one :p

About Nabiki;
Specifically, her change of heart at the end. I'm hoping to get a chance to explain that in detail with the next series, but suffice to say she's been doing some soul searching. That, and with Nabiki, I don't see such a relationship entirely out of the realm of possibility simply because she's a 'means to an end' type person-If it fits into her plans and goals, she's an equal opportunity employer. I figure this personality trait could easily encompass her business and personal life.

Nabiki vs Shampoo;
If I do get a crack at the next series, this is going to be a fun one to develop. Seriously. Think about it- Finally, two fiancés that will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal, neither exactly introverted about their sexuality concerning Ranma in the process. Now that is a true rival for Shampoo, even if Nabiki isn't a martial arts queen.

Ukyo and Akane;
Why did it have to end this way! WHY? Because, I just can't see them bending "that way" unless you take serious liberties with the plot. Granted, it's been done, but everything I know about the Ranma ½ series (and I've owned all thirty eight books in their original Japanese) says that it's not likely that either woman would ever full accept a girl-type locked Ranma. Of course, that excuse only works if you're not twisting the series into a pretzels like I'm already doing, so ignore my witless prattle.

About Belldandy;
With a polearm! Ok, so that was stretching it a little bit, but they were in hell. I didn't like the idea of her going in unarmed.

About Ranma;
I'm not gonna make any apologize about this one. He is a she and not likely to become a he just because I'm having so much fun. So there :p If I do get to continue the series, she'll definitely be saddled with the trials of dealing with her own sexuality, including her body's hardwired attraction to guys and her male psyche's attraction to women. Not mention sister Urd's meddling :)

About Akane;
With no further cause for conflict, and Ranma assuming the status of 'good friend', there's no reason why she couldn't be the dojo heiress. She has proven martial arts determination, even if that determination was always hamstrung by a total lack of self-control. With instruction from a good friend she doesn't see as a threat, I can see that potential finally beginning to bloom. Precedents were set for this in the very first episode in which Akane loses to Ranma as a girl without knowing about the curse. She can take defeat and instruction, but only from the right source.

Special Thanks to:

SilverBreeze and his Dragon/Multiverse Ranma Fanfics. If you can get past the grammar and god-fic style, a lot of his stories have some excellent alternate fiancée development that helped inspire parts of this story.

Simon Bre and The Accidental Goddess. This is an excellent work that inspired me to no end. It's witty, funny and well worth your time to read. Hey, how can you not love Ranma Saotome, Goddess of Sex first class? Really, it's not nearly as lemony as it sounds.

The Ranma ½ FAQ for helping me remember some of the facts I had forgotten, including names, places and special techniques.

That's about it. Until next time… No Need for Goddesses!