Heir to the Empire - pt2
By Ozzallos
A Fukufics (dotcom) Production

Ranma plucked at the dish in front of her, which consisted of Kasumi's noodles, some gyoza and a liberal amount of staring. Had it been Akane's cooking, the food might have very well done the staring, but as it was, it was the family members around her. Most of them had been present when she pulled the stops from the power she had kept bottled up since Saffron- power she barely knew existed -and now they kept their distance, figuratively if not literally. Nabiki, Akane, Genma and Soun's plates stood virtually untouched as they eyed the redhead warily, while Kasumi took curious glances at them, wondering what was wrong with her cooking. Nor was the family alone in their overt surveillance of the martial artist. Ukyo and Shampoo stood at the dining room perimeter watching Ranma's eating habits intently. Beyond them was a silently fuming Mousse, kept only in check by the memory of a glowing white pigtailed girl and the very sizable ball of power she had called up without any sort of strain.

For her part, Ranma wasn't exactly sure what had happened either. All she knew at that particular moment in time was that the crystal was the most important possession in her life besides her honor. It was not to be grubbed, hocked, salivated upon or insulted in any way shape or form. Why, exactly, she had no idea. There wasn't damn much she owned in this life, but that diamond… Uh-uh. Ain't nobody was touching it. Period. End of Story. Either way, the power hadn't come from the diamond. It had power itself, but that's not where the transformation came for. That was born from the same pool that had spawned her final attack against Saffron.

Nodoka stepped out of the kitchen, find the family and house guests all staring at her son. The reason became painful obvious as she surveyed the situation herself. "Ranma, how long have you been a girl now?"

The grouped cringed as the Saotome matriarch asked the question they hadn't dared ask since the transformation. Ranma paused in her calorie intake, considering the question. "Mmmm… Pretty much all day."

"Why?"

There was the slightest hint of threat in the question, but if her son perceived it, it was ignored. "Don't feel like changin'."

Nodoka blinked. Normally her son had an incessant drive to change back to his male state, not wear his opposite gender like clothing. She needed to get to the bottom of this mystery if her son's manhood was at stake, and the stares from the table told her there was a good chance it was. "You're not… Um, what is the term… ?"

"Locked." Nabiki provided helpfully and Nodoka smiled gratefully in her direction.

"Thank you. Yes, your curse isn't 'locked', is it Ranma?"

The redhead took another bite of her noodles. "Probably not."

"It is as long as you have the crystal." Akane pointed out and Ranma flicked an annoyed look in her direction.

"Wait." A wizened voice came from the corner of the room, where they found Happosai sitting, puffing on his pipe. "The stone locks Ranma into his girl form?"

"Got that right, Sugar." Ukyo supplied unhappily.

"And you don't mind?" He probed, to which Ranma shrugged.

"Not really."

"We have to get it away from him!" Genma growled, bolting upright. "I will not have my son acting like a girl!"

"We'll take it by force, old friend!" Soun joined the bald martial artist's side with a determined look.

"You'll do no such thing." All eyes swiveled on Happosai. Nabiki slapped her forehead. Of course. She should have seen this one coming. He turned to Ranma. "M'Boy, you'll guard that stone with your life!"

Ranma nodded with a smile. "Thanks, ya old fart."

The omnipresent authority figures looked on the old master in horror. "B-b-but Master!" Genma stammered. "The engagement--!"

"Feh." Happosai brushed past the technicality. "…is between you and Tendo, not myself. As for me, it means I get to see a lot more of Ranma in silky darlings!"

"My ass." Ranma stated before inhaling a gyoza.

"We can negotiate that." Happosai stated offhand.

"As her agent, all modeling goes through me." The middle Tendo switched gears like a Formula One pro.

"NABIKI!" Akane gaped at her sister's sudden betrayal. Likewise, the remaining fiancées were staring her down with looks that ranged form outright shock to incinerating death rays.

Happosai ignored them. "5000 yen?"

Nabiki shook her head. "Only if you want to see her in her boxers. 20000 yen, panties and lingerie.

"Done!" Happosai leapt up and the two shook on it. Ranma simply shook her head and went back to eating. Same ol', same ol'.

"But why Ranma not change back to boy-type?" Shampoo leaned forward with a frown. "Is odd, yes?"

"Got that right, girl." Ukyo rounded out. "Come on, Ran-chan, what's happening?"

All eyes turned expectantly on the redhead who cocked her head considering the question she wasn't sure of herself. The stone was important. It wasn't leaving her person. The stone was also overriding the Jusenkyo magic, which meant to return to her male state, she had to part with the stone, which wasn't about to happen. Nor had she any inclination to do so. Before, the girl felt like an itchy sweater to be worn. Useful, but ultimately annoying to be worn for any prolonged period. Now, the body fit her soul as smooth as silk. That in itself might have been worrisome if it didn't feel so natural, or the fact that the curse wasn't truly locked. All that, and…

"Not sure," She replied carefully. "But something's gonna happen."

"Phoenix birds?"

"Dragons?"

"Giant robots?"

Ranma shook his head at each of the inquiries fielded by his fiancées. "Naw, not that kind of something. Don't know what, but the Ginzuishou is old and it's mine… It means something…"

"The Ginzooywha…?" Ukyo latched onto the new word, attempting to wrap her tongue around it. "You named it?"

"Pet rock, Saotome?" Nabiki asked with mirth. Ranma ignored her.

"Don't look at me, I didn't name it." The martial artist shrugged, then gained a thoughtful countenance. "Then again… maybe I did name it…"

"Ok, Ranma, you've succeeded in wierding us all out." Akane with a trace of annoyance. "Can't you give it to somebody for safe keeping? Like me?"

"Uh uh." Ranma countered and the youngest Tendo scowled. "It's too important."

"But… How?" The girl was genuinely curious now.

"You mean aside from saving you, Akane?" Nabiki arched an eyebrow. "It's only worth a damn fortune."

"More than that." Ranma stated evenly, and she had Nabiki's undivided attention.

"Worth more than a fortune?"

Ranma nodded. "Healin' Akane ain't the only thing it does. Not sure yet, but---"

"COME OUT IN THE NAME OF LOVE AND JUSTICE, VILLAN!"

Everybody blinked.

"Now why does that sound familiar?" Akane asked herself while Ranma and the others found their way.

"Challenges around back." Nabiki grumbled. "Why don't they ever read the sign? That's where the camera equipment is set up."

"More guests?" Kasumi blinked, but Ranma knew better. She cleared the door and found the blond perched atop the wall and silently thanked God that this particular challenger hadn't opted to go through it instead. Whoever she was, the blond in the blue fuku was leaking all sorts of sorts of power.

They gathered outside and the odangoed blond gazed upon them imperviously. "One of you has something of mine! Return it and I shall spare your punishment!"

Of course, there could only be one thing that a female with paranormal abilities in odd costume could want in Nerima, Japan.

"Another fiancée, Ranma?" Akane growled and the redhead sighed.

"No, she ain't a fiancée." Ranma shook her head, and turned to the wall-borne girl. "Uh, you aren't a fiancée are you?"

The question stalled the blond's purpose momentarily. The girl was asking is she was a… "Fiancée?"

"'Cuz you look darn familiar…" Ranma finished, scrutinizing the girl further. All sorts of bells were going off in her head as she took in the details, but none to which she could anchor recollection to. Even the power emanating from the girl was damn familiar.

Moon blinked several times, unsure what to make of the girl who was wondering if she was a fiancée… Which would make her a… Ewwww… Usagi cut that thought short. She didn't even want to go there. Regardless, there were formalities to dispense with "No, I'm not a fiancée! I'm a Soldier of Love and Justice! I'm Sailor Moon!"

The crowd stared as the blonde struck a heroic pose and recognition flashed across their faces, minus one redhead and the male audience. Akane's eyes instantly widened. "OHMYGOG!OHMYGOD! It's Sailor Moon! I'll be right back! I have to get the picture for you to autograph!" The youngest sister was gone back inside like a shot.

Used to such reaction, Moon shrugged it off. She had more important business to attend to. "One of you has the Ginzuishou! Return it and I will spare you the painful dispensation of justice."

The crowd immediately cleared, leaving the redhead at its center. She pulled the shining crystal from her pocket. Usagi's eyes widened. "Guess that'd be me." Her gaze narrowed sharply on the blond and her face took on a look that was all business. "But it ain't yours and you ain't touchin' it."

Sailor Moon's mask mirrored Ranma's and she hopped down from the wall. "That," She hissed, "Is my mother's heirloom. I give you one last chance to return it." The redhead stared back at her with a patronizing smirk and flipped the crystal into the air, catching it with ease. Moon's own gaze narrowed dangerously on the girl. "Fine then. I'll take it by force."

The redhead slid into an attack stance, grinning the entire time.

"You're welcome to try."

---

Ami took another look down at her watch and tapped on it with annoyance. The snack bearer was late. She looked around at the assembled Senshi, who sat lazily around the room with expressions that ranged from boredom to dejection. It was an understandable situation, as it was hard to have a meeting without their Princess present.

Haruka's nails clicked against the tabletop in front of her, her annoyance clear. "Four blocks from here to the store. Even meatball head couldn't have gotten lost from there."

"Probably taking first crack at the snacks." Rei added, stifling a yawn. That earned nods from the rest of the Senshi, who knew their princess all to well.

"Still not here?" Setsuna inquired, walking out of the kitchen with a hot cup of tea. Again, nods all around. The Princess of Pluto shook her head. "Ok, we've waited long enough. Somebody can fill her in later." She turned to Ami. "Anything on the crystal?"

Ami pulled the Mercury link from her purse and began to detail her findings. "Nothing as of noon today." She tapped a few keys on the link. "Still got that trickle energy, but nothing… Whoa!" All eyes were riveted to her now. "Huge SME spike about thirty minutes ago."

The gears began to turn and Setsuna came to a disturbing conclusion. "And how long ago has Moon been gone?"

"You can't be serious." Michiru sat upright at the obvious implication. Haruka was right there with her.

"You're saying meatball head…?"

"Ignored the advice from the future and went to get Ginzuishou herself." Pluto finished, shacking her head with disappointment. She didn't know how exactly, but she knew this was going to screw all sorts of things up.

"Power up, girls. We're rolling for Nerima."

---

"A Fuku?" Queen Serenity arched an eyebrow, eyeing the mannequin before her. The blue and white color scheme was admittedly catchy, but…

"So what's wrong with the body suits they're currently equipped with?" The Princess of Pluto asked, circling around the figure with a critical eye.

"Nothing in particular…" The black cat with the yellow moon on its forehead stated easily from a nearby seat.

"…Save the image they conjure up." The white cat beside it finished. Both the queen and her second in command wore masks of incomprehension, so she explained. "To date, the crown has been involved in thirty five aquisions of territory, landed marines on fifty two planets…"

"…and destroyed three worlds via point singularity." The white cat continued. "The Senshi themselves have been instrumental in at least half of these actions, and popular opinion is that they've become your personal… um…"

Setsuna noticed the advisor's reluctance to continue with further criticism, and stepped in for the pair. "I think what Luna and Aremis are trying to say is that the Senshi are in danger of being viewed as your personal shock troopers, your Highness."

Serenity looked from one nodding cat to the other. "But that's ridiculous. They're champions of the realm, not the royal assassins."

"Of course not, your Majesty." Luna insisted, hoping down from his chair. "But you're aware of the politicos back on Earth, of course."

"Of course." Serenity snorted. They were a well known thorn in the Crown's side.

Artemis affected a cat-like smile. "So we thought we would take one of their primary talking points away from them."

"With a fuku." The Queen replied skeptically and the cats nodded.

"A public relations coup, your Highness." Luna offered, and Serenity appeared to consider it. It was one of the more annoying sticks the Unionist movement incessantly poked her with. She'd go about bringing a sector out of the war torn dark ages and they'd interpret it as her imperialistic drive to conquer the galaxy. The Senshi, were, of course her foot soldiers in the dictatorial endeavor. "We plan to give your champions a more personable image."

"But can it do the job?" Pluto got right to the point, still somewhat wary that such a garment could survive an alpha landing onto a hostile, enemy held world.

"That and more." Deimos, one of the weapons facilities lead techs stepped forward, having witnessed the entire exchange. the long, black haired woman was only distinguishable from her twin sister, by the blue lab coat she wore. Both had figures to die for. "We've damn near tripled the damage absorption capacity of the imbedded magical wards…"

"… while increasing the offensive throughput to the armor by nearly fifty percent." The red Phobos explained, flipping her own black hair back. "Once bound to a world, a skilled user will be able to tear through a Beowulf class cruiser in their stage five state with ease."

Pluto's eyes widened with appreciation, and the blue garbed twin continued. "We're also close to ironing out the bug that has been limiting the elemental attack power in the planetary bindings."

"…On top of giving the Unionists a slap in the face." Serenity finished with the slightest of smiles. She gave the fuku one last look. "What do you think, Set-chan?"

"It does have that love and justice thing happening, Serenity-chan." Pluto appraised, tugging at the fabric. "It kind of grows on you."

Serenity shrugged. Even she had to admit it was kind of catchy. "Alright, I'll take it under advisement. Let's move on then." Pluto could almost see the Queen switching mental gears. "Project Shadowburn."

Any mirth born from sticking it to the Serenity's political opposition, or having a fuku as heavy armor was gone, and everybody in the chamber got down to business. Deimos took up the Serenity's topic. "We're at seventy percent at the moment. We'll be binding ley-lines six through twelve in a couple of days and will be go for a preliminary power-up test in, say, two weeks."

"The stage five?" Pluto asked, tugging a strand of her shoulder length green hair absently.

"Saturn's stage five power projections are on target." Phobos continued. "We should have no problems meeting the strategic requirements the crown has outlined."

Serenity nodded, her face deep in thought. She had questioned her judgment throughout every step of this project, but she hadn't gotten this far by second guessing herself. Her champions were a direct representation of herself and she was determined to give power necessary to carry out the mandate... Even if that mandate included the destruction of an entire world. "How are the candidates looking? I'm less concerned about the power curve than I am about who we put in charge of it."

"We're down to three, your highness." Luna replied. She hopped back atop her pillar after a cursory inspection of the fuku. "Aiko Hinaka, Hotaru Tau and Hikari Suka."

"Any one of these three would make an excellent choice, your Highness." Artemis finished, retaining his position next to the mannequin. "All are in good physical health, are intelligent, psychologically stable and absolutely loyal to the crown."

Serenity considered the candidates, all of whom she knew quite well by now as she had combed every line of their profiles herself, as had Setsuna. The two women both look at one another and an unspoken conversation seemed to float between them. Pluto shrugged. "I say Tau. She's a tiny little thing, but she has that calm, peaceful air about her…"

"Agreed." Serenity also nodded. More than anything, that was the sort of personality she wanted in charge of that much power; Somebody you'd have to seriously push to destroy a world. Likewise, that same personality would be well suited to Saturn's secondary strategic mandate… the reformation of dead ones. She turned back to her advisors. "Miss Tau gets the green light. Keep the others on file as backups." The Advisors made the requisite mental notes, and the Queen continued. "Next order of business?"

"The Crown's recent expansion into the Delta Quadrant indicates that we might need to bring the other planets online, your Highness." Deimos reported. "A list of champions has been prepared for both Mars and Jupiter…"

---

"Ranma, stop beating up on Sailor Moon!"

"I ain't beatin' up on her, Akane!" Ranma protested as another punch floated lazily by her. Lazy by Ranm's standards, that is. Anything else probably would have been pulverized by the magically enhanced strike… Had it been able to actually hit its target. "Heck, she's doing a good job of that on her own!"

It was true, too.

The redhead was dancing around the champion of love and justice, skillfully evading her attacks and inevitably tripping the Senshi up in her own maneuvers. While her innate fighting ability was sub par at best, Ranma knew she was beat when it came to absolute power. If the blond ever managed to tag her with that pink blast attack of hers or get a punch in, it was going to hurt. Another pink bolt flashed out and obliterated another section of the Tendo property wall. Amateur, Ranma snort to herself with mild disgust. After nearly two and a half years of sparring on this property, she, Ryoga, Mousse and all the fiancées could wage all out war on it without damaging a single blade of grass, let alone the mass destruction that this Moon girl was creating. Of course, moon-girl might have that sort of precision too if she had been subject to Nabiki's billing and Kasumi's admonishments.

All in all, Akane was suffering from a nasty bout of fallen hero worship, as she watched her heroine, Sailor moon, come up empty versus her fiancée. She was hoping the Senshi would get at least one good hit in, if only to knock Ranma's ego down a peg or two. Sadly this was far from the case as evidenced by Ranma's next comment.

"Hell, Akane, you got a better chance of hittin' me than the Moon-girl here!"

…Which wasn't saying much about the Tendo's level of skill, though it did cause her to glow with pride nonetheless. Ranma had just complimented her fighting abilities! The blond wasn't so happy about the comment, however.

"Stand still and take your punishment, thief!" Sailor Moon panted, trying for a high flying kick that came up with nothing but empty air.

Ranma rolled her eyes, hopping back out of range easily. "Told ya, it ain't yours." She paused just long enough to take a closer look at the girl. "You sure I don't know you?"

"I'm NOT your fiancée and you have my mother's heirloom!" Moon growled and flashed forward; almost at a speed that would have pressed the martial artists own ability. Sadly, almost didn't cut it and the redhead was by her with ease, untouched.

"That was better, but your form still needs tons of work." Ranma commented, then glanced at the stone in his hand. "How'd you know what it was named, anyway?"

Rage flashed through Usagi's eyes. "I told you IT'S MINE!" her hand came up to the band of gold resting on her forehead. "Moon Tiara Action!" The golden arc cut across the yard and Ranma sidestepped it easily, staring at it curiously as it flew by.

ThwAAP!

Kasumi's eyes widened in horror as the tiara flew by at high speed, and lopped of a corner of the house porch. Ranma glanced back and saw the horrified sister, while Nabiki pulled out a small notepad, shaking her head. She popped out a pen and made a scribbled, undoubtedly noting the dollar value of the damage. Ranma sighed as Moon retrieved the Tiara on its return arc. Ranma could take the bill Nabiki would most likely be adding to her tab. Damaging Kasumi's household and by extension Ranma's home was a sin that would demanded action.

"Okay, playtime's over, little girl." Ranma's gaze narrowed, and Moon watched as the girl became a red blur, cutting in through her guard. Instead of the punch Usagi had been expecting, a foot slid between her legs first and kicked them out from under her. Physics took it from there and Sailor Moon promptly fell to the Earth where upon Ranma rotated around, snatched up the girls' right arm and locked it painfully behind her back, eliciting a squeal.

"Let me go, evil doer!" Usagi managed between the yelps of pain, Ranma teetering the join painfully at the edge of hyperextension. She had briefly considered getting some rope, but seriously doubted they had anything handy that would hold the blond's enhanced strength. "When my friends arrive you'll be-- YOW!"

Ranma tweaked the joint tighter. "Then your friends had better bring along a bottle of skill, because if you're any indication of theirs, they're just as shit out of luck."

"I think we'll manage."

Ranma turned around, hauling Moon around in the same direction with a couple of painful grunts. "See! I told you-- YIEEP!"

Ranma tugged on the arm once more to silence the annoying girl, so she could fully concentrate on the new comers. She had missed their approach in the fight, having been so intent on figuring out just who the blond here was. Now Ranma faced off against the next wave of wall borne magical girls, who out numbered her eight to one, nine if she included the moon-girl. The colored fukus were triggering all sorts of vague recognition in the redhead even though she was neither a fan of Akane's Sailor Senshi, let alone ever seeing them before tonight. But she had. She sure as hell didn't know where, but--

"Let the Princess go or face the consequences." Ranma's eyes snapped onto the Senshi in the black and white fuku, her green, waist length hair flowing in the afternoon breeze.

"By all means, take the consequences." Another black and white clad Senshi advised. The short haired dishwater blond cracked her knuckles in anticipation.

Sailor Moon was about ready to force herself free with a burst of strength when she suddenly found herself tumbling forward, free of the monstrous redhead's grip. After the pasting she had received, Usagi certainly hadn't expected the girl to cave so easily. She spun around to face her and found the formerly patronizing mask wiped completely away in favor of pure shock. The redhead took a step back.

"Who… who the hell are you people?" She whispered, staring at the Senshi as if they were ghostly apparitions. It was an emotion none of the Tendos or fiancées in waiting had ever seen outside Ranma wading waist deep in cats. It was panic. Ranma was without peer in the martial arts, a person absolutely sure of her abilities and skill, and now she was staring at a bunch of magical girls, pale as a ghost.

"Ranma…?" Akane ventured, taking a tentative step forward.

"I don't know any of you… I don't!" Ranma's eyes flicked wildly from girl to girl, before locking onto the Senshi with waist length green hair… "You're…"

"Neptune, secure the Princess. Uranus, the Ginzuishou." Pluto ordered flatly and the pair rushed forward. Where Michiru stopped by the Usagi's side and pulled her back, Haruka continued her leap forward into the dazed redhead, pulling back for a vicious right cross. Even while the others stood in shock, Nabiki simply smiled the smile of a shark and wished to God there was somebody around to take the bet against Ranma. The martial artist may have been clueless, a walking appetite and utterly without social skills, but it'd be a cold day in hell before the new girl ever touched her. The punch blazed by and Nabiki shook her head as Ranma avoided it totally on reflex, despite the shock.

She almost hated to be right so damn often.

Something clicked in the martial artist and Uranus found her at the redhead's level for a moment that seemed to hang in time before the girl reacted. She reached out as if she had all the time in the world and tapped the outstretch arm slightly, changing the magical girl's vector, sending her auguring violently into the ground and across the yard in a plume of dust. Pluto blinked. Uranus was a seasoned combat veteran and specialized in martial arts. Even if none of the girls were fully up to speed with their memories, Haruka shouldn't have gone down that easily. Setsuna silently notched the redhead's threat a few levels higher and turned back to the waiting Inners.

"Mercury, Jupiter. Relieve Neptune. Saturn, on me." Pluto rattled off the orders as she revised her strategy on the fly. "Venus, Mars, triple team the bitch with Neptune. Drop her." The four were off the wall in a flash, landing next to Neptune. The girls reformed, two stepping back with Usagi while the remaining three stepped into attack positions. Mars eyed her opponent, considering taking the girl hand to hand but stopped on seeing the girl's stance. Combined with the ease she had taken Haruka out, something told her she'd be dog meat if she closed with the redhead. No problem, she though and shifted her stance. She may be God's gift to martial artists, but she didn't have this…

"Fire Soul!" She called out and the fire ball sprang from her fingers and race into the redhead who promptly leapt an impossible twenty feat skyward, clearing the fire bolt and falling into the trio. It was only her basic conditioning that saved her from taking the initial mid kick to the gut, while the girl followed through, opening her guard and jabbing her three times with the first two fingers of her hand.

"Rolling screw punch!"

"Deep Submerge!"

The redhead was forced to withdraw from Sailor Mars in order to evade the super charged uppercut and water bolts sent her way via Venus and Neptune, much to Rei's relief. Even as she watched, the girl was around the water attack, snatching Minako's extended arm out of the air, reversing the angle and sending her face first into the ground. Mars twitched and readied another elemental attack when her extremities went dead, feeling draining away from them. The words "what the hell" were just forming on her lips when she hit the earth, completely limp.

The fiancés and family watched as the horrible scene took place. On one hand, most of the girls present knew about the defenders of love and justice, though why they were attacking their fiancée to be was a complete mystery. Normally they'd have no qualms with coming down on Ranma's side with a liberal amount of whoop-ass in tow, but for once, they were unsure who to root for-- Their national heroines or the sometimes fiancée.

Sailor Neptune took a split second to assess the situation and leapt back to Usagi and her entourage. The move had the advantages of opening up the girl to her ranged attacks or forcing her to accept four to one odds, not counting Pluto on the wall. Despite her wishful tactical designs, Michiru frowned. Haruka was only now recovering from her assault, and both Rei and Minako were down. Had she not fallen back, the Outer was certain she might have very well joined them for a dirt nap. She took a glance back at Pluto and made eye contact. Pluto nodded and hopped off the wall, walking easily to her side. Saturn followed silently, Glaive in hand.

For her part, Ranma's pit of déjà vu festering within her stomach was growing by leaps and bounds. She new these girls. All of them. She wasn't sure how or in what detail, but something was telling her they shouldn't be fighting. Especially the straight-haired green one. Ranma felt a power level at her back rise, and knew her first victim had nearly recovered. Likewise the orange fuku'd blond, who was peeling her face from the dirt. Give 'em another minute and it would be back to eight against one and she could be damn sure they wouldn't be as reckless. The green haired one wouldn't let them, somehow Ranma was certain of that. Once that happened, she'd have to pull out all the stops to keep the stone in her possession, and that meant mass property damage. Ranma cringed at the mental image of a magic girl fueled Hiryu Shoten Ha.

Sailor Pluto stepped to the front. She knew the odds too and cast a hard stare at the redhead. "This is your last opportunity to hand over the Ginzuishou." She stated coldly. "After that, we break you."

Ranma growled, clenching the rock in her fist. "Can't you people get it through your thick heads! Nobody touches the rock!" Her fiery gaze leveled on the leader. "You of all people should know that, Setsuna!"

Pluto blinked. Impossible. The girl had just called her by civilian identity. She mentally checked her armor's wards to insure the disguise field was, in fact, online and functional.

"How the hell do you know my name?"

Ranma had no idea, but it was the only strand of knowledge she could pull on at the moment. "How the hell am I supposed to know!" The redhead blurted. "You're Setsuna Meiou, born in Solstice, Pluto, have two brothers, hate cockroaches, can't dance for the life of you even though you profess to loving the Corellian Waltz, whatever the heck that is." Ranma paused, taking a breath while fighting to keep the panic out of her voice. "Hell, I even know you can down sixteen shots of Mercurian fire wine before passing out!"

Now it was Pluto's turn to stumble back, taking a sharp breath. There was nobody alive that should have known that… Absolutely nobody. There was one person however… but she was dead. Long dead. Over two thousand years dead. The Princess of Pluto paled. It was an absolutely impossible conclusion to come to. While the Senshi stumbled over her own thoughts, everybody's eyes were on the pair, wondering on the events that led to the abrupt caesura of hostilities.

Like everybody else, Nabiki stared at Ranma. "Solstice, Pluto, Saotome?"

"What kind of name is Meiou?" Ukyo cocked her head glancing from green to red.

Shampoo shrugged. "Is cat girl too?"

"Corellian Waltz?" Michiru leaned over to Setsuna with an arched eyebrow.

"Mercury has wine?" Ami mouthed, blinking in disbelief.

Akane took a few hesitant steps up to the martial artist who whose eyes were locked on the Senshi in front of her. Had anyone asked her, she would have said Ranma was lying. Not just lying, but lying out his/her ass with such outlandish responses, save two things: Ranma couldn't lie for the life of her and the woman she had lied to was in absolute shock.

"Ranma," she began tentatively. "Just how do you know… Her?"

The martial artist couldn't tear her eyes off the 'her' to save her life, but managed an answer anyway. "Honest to God, Akane, I don't have a clue… But I do."

"Oh my, " Kasumi started, her hand over her mouth. "You're not a magical girl too, are you Ranma?" The question earned the dry looks of the entire group, save one person who was still staring at the redhead. That person didn't even notice Sailor Uranus creeping up behind Ranma hand poised to strike.

"GOTCHA!" Uranus hollered her hand closing around the one that held the Ginzuishou. She applied pressure to the arm, attempting to reverse the joint. "We'll sort all this out after you give up the--!"

She had the advantage for approximately two seconds before a spotlight flashed into her retinas, turning them to jello. The hold was immediately released in favor of clutching her fried eyeballs which sang with pain. The Senshi stumbled back and hit the ground while everybody not at ground zero was able to witness the spectacular transformation for themselves. The glowing white swirled around the martial artist and her clothing was leached of color once more in favor of the soft white that surrounded her. With it, the red crop of hair was gone, replaced by a silver hue that shimmered in the afternoon sun. The glow faded and Uranus scrubbed her sight clear, finding a pair of blue eyes and a transformed woman staring down upon her.

"You don't wanna do that again," The silver haired pig tailed girl responded coldly. "Haruka Rekki."

Uranus blinked, rapidly lapsing into the same form of shock that had overcome Pluto. Who the hell was this girl! The body definitely was the same, but the hair and white clothing…No. No way. No way in HELL… And while her last name wasn't Rekki, it sounded damn familiar. A glance back at Pluto revealed a sight she never thought she'd see on her superior-- Gaping shock. The Princess of Pluto took another stumbling step, this one forward. Her next words came out as a barely audible whisper.

"Serenity-chan!"

Neptune and Saturn heard those words however and twitched making the same connections their sisters were already beginning to make. They watched with morbid fascination as Pluto took another step forward. And another. The next one turned into a lurching sprint that slammed into the silver haired martial artist sending both staggering back as Setsuna latched onto her as if she were a life preserver.

"Your Highness! Oh my God! But how…!" The Guardian of Time gibbered wildly while Ranma struggled through the embrace half heartedly. She knew it wasn't going to be an attack, but this…! She stared down at the green haired woman, who now had tears streaking down her cheeks. "I don't care how! I just don't! It's been so long and I didn't think…!"

The Princess of Uranus stared at one girl then the other, instantly making the connection. The short haired blond pulled herself off the ground and lowered herself into a kneeling position at Setsuna's side, an action immediately followed my the Senshi of Neptune and Saturn. "Please accept our humblest apologize, Your Highness! We had no idea…!" It sounded like a lame excuse to her, but it was the best Uranus could come up with through the shock and awe of the moment.

Everybody else, however, was still in the dark. For the remaining Senshi, it was a scene out of the twilight zone as the Outers, who bowed to nobody were now bowing to the Ginzuishou thief. Even Setsuna, Miss Mystery herself was not just showing emotion, but positively gushing with it over the red-turned-silver haired girl. Speaking of silver hair, the only other time they had seen that was… Tiny, Christmas tree sized light bulbs began to go off in their heads.

Usagi was well and truly confused now, looking at Ami with a plaintive expression. "Um, I thought I was the 'Highness' here…" Ami shrugged without a clue and continued to take in the spectacle.

From the other end of the yard, the Tendo household and fiancées in waiting were suffering from much the same reaction, though to a lesser extent. These were, after all, people well acquainted with the strange. The light show most of them had seen. The 'your highness' part was definitely a new addition, along with the magical girls bowing at Ranma's feet.

"Oh my," Kasumi gasped, taking in the transformation for the first time. "I was right! Ranma is a magical girl! What beautiful hair!"

Akane stared at her eldest sister with cockeyed disbelief before turning back on Ranma. "Ranma, what the hell is going on?" She hissed with equal part impatience and disbelief. Beautiful women, specifically her heroines were now worshipping her fiancée. There were explanations to be had and few were forthcoming.

That didn't stop Nabiki from taking a crack at it.

"Care to explain this one, Saotome?" She smirked as the green haired Senshi finally regained her composure. "Wait, I've got it… White glow, silver hair… You're the new Queen of the Fairies, right?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Ranma hissed back at the amused sister, clearly out of her depth. She stared at the two bowing magical girls and the tear strewn one standing before her and took a deep breath. "Look, um… Don't know what's goin' on, but you can stop the bowing and stuff." Then she added as almost an afterthought. "And I ain't givin' you the rock."

This only caused Uranus and Neptune to lower their crouch before her even further. Michiru wore a pained expression. "Our most humble apologize for trying to take it, your Eminence."

Ranma rolled her eyes at the largely futile effort to bring the pair off their knees and turned to the one that was, at least still standing… In spite of the awed expression on her face. "Look, Set-chan, tell 'em to get up. This is really, really weirding me out." It took a moment for the green haired Senshi to react, but she slowly began to coax the Outers out of their reverent kneel while Ranma was wondering why she had just referred to the Magical Girl so informally. In that time, Mercury stepped up to Pluto's side.

"You don't think its wise to let her call us by our civilian identities, do you?" She broached the topic as the trio of Outers found their legs. "I mean, we don't even know--"

"Queen Serenity," Pluto bit softly so there was no mistaking the emphasis, "can call us whatever the hell she wants."

"And I ain't no Queen Serenity." Ranma punctuated the conversation, causing Ami to blink and do something she should have done earlier; pull out the Mercury computer link. She flipped open the clamshell PDA and pointed it in Ranma's direction.

Her mouth fell open as the reading on Ranma came pouring in. "She's… She's….!" Her head snapped from Pluto to Ranma then back to Pluto. "God, she's saturated with Silver Millennium Energy! The Ginzuishou is in almost perfect alignment with her being!" There was reason for Ami to be startled, as the feat she was witnessing had taken Usagi just over three years to do since acquiring the artifact. This girl had only had it for weeks.

Setsuna had regained much of her composure by now and let a small smile escape her placid mask. "That's because she's the one who made it, Ami."

"But that's… That's…" Now it was her turn to gibber as that single statement and all the facts available to her led to one and only one conclusion. Usagi stepped forward with the remaining Senshi in tow and somewhat annoyed expression on her face.

"I don't know what's going on," She huffed, "But can I please have the Ginzuishou back now?"

"Don't listen too well do ya?" Ranma snapped, finally relieved to be back on familiar ground as she patronized the blond. "Your Mom drop you on your head as a child or something?"

It was all Pluto could do to keep from collapsing in fits of laughter. She quickly reigned herself in as this new dilemma presented itself. Obviously the Queen's memories were fragmented at best, and even that appeared to be wishful thinking at the moment. She glanced from Serenity to Usagi and winced mentally as they faced off. Evidentially Serenity's memories hadn't gotten quite that far yet. Oooh, this could get ugly, she thought and found herself desperately fighting the urge to simply stand back and let the confrontation happen again.

Before she could intervene, Mercury stepped between the pair eyes shifting nervously between the two. "Uh, heh… You don't want to fight again, do you?"

Ranma shrugged. "Fighting's okay by me."

"I want the Ginzuishou back!" Usagi growled.

Pluto put a gentle hand on Moon's shoulder. "Trust me when I say this. No, you don't."

"I… I don't?" Sailor Moon mimed, unable to quite comprehend the turn of events.

"No." Pluto returned softly. "The Ginzuishou is in safe hands." She took a glance back at Ranma. "The absolute safest hands it could possibly be in."

"But…"

"Ami, take Moon. Fill her in… And the others." Pluto ordered and Mercury managed a weak smile. "Saturn, Uranus, Neptune… Alpha detail." The three outers fell in, taking flanking positions behind Ranma, who stared curiously. Finally, the Nerima Wrecking Crew began to filter over as Mercury lead Usagi and the Inners off to explain the world as she knew it.

"Don't suppose you wanna tell anybody what's going on, Ran-chan?" Ukyo questioned, eyeing the three remaining magical girls warily.

"Even as a girl my son is so manly!" Nodoka beamed at Ranma, having a slightly different take on the same scene.

"Why magic girls bow to Ranma?" The purple haired Amazon asked curiously, then came to a conclusion that annoyed her to no end. "Is best not be new fiancées…"

"Look, they ain't--"

"Damnit, Ranma, can't you go five minutes without getting in trouble?" Akane fumed, that hint of incredulity still hanging in her voice.

For once, Genma and Soun stayed silent, unsure what to make of the scene, though there was one male in the attending audience who couldn't restrain himself. Beautiful women and short skirts were all that were needed to set the perverted master in motion.

"Pretty Ladies! Sweeto!"

Four lines of energy intersected with Happosai's leap as Ranma, Pluto, Neptune and Uranus spun around unleashing bolts of pink and white energy into the diminutive troll, blasting the scorched figure skyward and far off into the horizon. Nabiki stared at the pair as Ranma and Setsuna stared at one another.

"Well, they're okay in my book." Nabiki shrugged, losing sight of Happosai in the dusk sky. "So come on, Saotome, what's the story?"

The pigtailed girl stared at her own hands as if not believing the energy that had sprung reflexively from it. "Damned if I know…"

"I think I can explain." Setsuna offered, only to be interrupted by Usagi's screech from across the yard.

"SHE'S WHAT?"

Pluto shook her head as the Inner's circle erupted into chaos. "As I was saying… Ranma, right?" The girl in question nodded. "Well, I'm not sure how to put this…"

"SHE CAN'T BE!"

Setsuna rolled her eyes. "Ranma… You're… The reincarnation of Queen Serenity, ruler of the ancient Silver Millennium Empire." Silence hung in the air for a moment before the short, cobalt blue haired girl next to Ranma began to stifle a chuckle. The one with the pageboy cut smirked mischievously and Ranma herself frowned. "What? Did I miss something?"

"Only the biggest practical joke in Nerima." Nabiki stated while Akane continued to snicker.

"You're nuts and I ain't no girl." Ranma stated, though his footing on what used to be the solid ground of reality was slippery at best, since she sure didn't have anything to explain how she knew so much about these girls around her.

"Not… a girl?" Pluto picked through the words carefully, doubting she heard them right.

"Water?" Ranma asked of nobody in particular.

"Stone?" Nabiki smiled, holding out her hand expectantly. Ranma slapped herself upside the forehead mentally. Of course. As long as she had the stone on her, that wasn't going to work, and she damn well wasn't going to give it to Nabiki. Couldn't trust it with any of the fiancées either. Kasumi was probably trustworthy, but not a secure receptical for the valuble artifact.

Kasumi proffered a hot kettle while staring at Ranma's hair with fascination. Ranma took it absently with a 'thanks' and handed the Ginzuishou to Pluto on reflex. "Here. Hold this."

"Wait just a minute!"
"Ran-chan how could you!"
"No give Meow-girl Amazon jewel!"
"Why don't you trust me, Ranma!"

Ranma paused before upturning the kettle onto herself, staring into her protesting fiancées. "Because she'll give it back." Ranma didn't know how she knew it, but she did, and poured the water down around her. Setsuna's mouth opened as she witnessed the transformation, finding a silver haired, blue eyed boy standing before her. Ranma witnessed the reaction she had seen too many times to count and filled her in on the vital details without prompting. "China, curse, warm water, boy, cold water, girl."

"Uh, Ranma?" Akane beckoned his attention, relieved that he had finally resumed his birth form, but… She pointed at his hair and Nabiki provided a mirror from her make-up compact. Ranma blinked. Still silver.

"Well that ain't right…" Ranma mused, tugging at his silver pigtail.

"So you were… born this way?" Pluto ventured while Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru stared.

"Well, yeah… Minus the silver hair." He amended, and Pluto was beginning to wonder if her own emotions had betrayed her. The Queen of the Silver Millennium… Born a male? But she… he had the memories… knew who she was… "Sorry, Set-chan. I ain't the Queen you're looking for."

Red eyes scrutinized every detail of the martial artist and she began to doubt. But the knowledge… The mannerisms were dead on for the Serenity she knew… before Usagi was born. And the Ginzuishou… No. There was one last test. She had to be certain and she prayed to God that her friend would forgive her, either here or from the spirit world. "Possibly, but I ask one last favor of you… If it amounts to nothing, then we leave. But if… Well, we'll get to that."

"Do you worst." Ranma shrugged. Setsuna did exactly that. She held up the Ginzuishou to the pig-tailed boys level and spoke.

"Meridian."

Ranma's eyes widened and the mental sledgehammer came raging in. There was nothing coherent in the tidal wave of images that were nothing more than flashes… Feelings… echos of memories that still eluded his grasp. Still, there was one thing that he could make out… A dark crystal… And despair. The martial artist fell to his knees gasping at breaths he couldn't quite capture while the horror welled up inside him. Somewhere, seemingly miles off Akane screamed and there was a commotion, but it was nothing compared to the screaming echoing in his mind. The charred crystal ignited, burning from inside out with orange flame. The screaming intensified. Ranma's fist slammed into the ground as he fought to build a wall against the agony. Finger nails ground into the dirt while her free hand clutched his head as if he could somehow rip the images of the pyre from his brain.

Ranma was on the verge of drawing his own blood as her hand drew down the side of her head when salvation appeared before him in the form of a pure, beautiful crystal floating just insider his perceptible vision. Everything beyond that point was a blur, but the diamond was crystal clear. His hand snatched out and grabbed the diamond, pulling it to her chest. The contact opened the magical gates and power flowed into him, overriding the curse once more, turning him to her and silencing the ghosts of the past...

The world began to take shape once more around her and the silver haired, pig tailed girl noticed the crowd of panicked and concerned family and friends around her, staring down at the sweat drenched martial artist. Nodoka was practically hysterical and it took Neptune to restrain the mother while Uranus kept the remaining fiancées from smothering Ranma outright. She regained her footing, but still had the dazed look in her eye when she met Pluto's gaze.

"Serenity… chan?" Pluto offered gently and Ranma rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to make the railroad spike that was pounding in her brain go away.

"Not yet, but workin' on it…" Ranma replied, shaking her head clear. There was no way she could deny the connection now. There was something behind the black veil and it was slowly leaking out. Slowly. Tidbits here, tidbits there. Some of them were fairly innocuous, like knowing people she shouldn't. Some of them weren't to be poked with a stick for amusement, like those associated with the crystal in her… Both hands. Gone. Nothing on the ground around her. Gone. She didn't panic, instead following the thread that was anchored tightly to her and found the crystal safe… within… now fully part of her being.

Like it should have been all along.

The last thought frightened her as she stumbled again across yet another mental fragment that had no association with any other experience. Even as she sorted through the soup of mental chaos, Akane voiced the question that was on everybody's mind--

"Ranma? Are you Okay..? Are you hurt?"

"Naw," She took a deep breath and lied. "Same ol' same ol."

Apparently some missive in the truth had been detected, and the fiancées' expressions formed a collective frown. Their frowns only deepened as the blond Sailor Moon found the mentally battered martial artist and spoke her own piece in a trembling voice.

"Are… are you alright… M.. Mother?"

---

Author's Notes;
Yes, I'm still working on my other stuff. See my ffnet hompage for details. Stop bugging me about it or I'll chop off your nipples and feed them to Trimatter's ferrets. Other than that, I love building a militeristic Silver Millenium Empire. The angle we're working here is that Ranma's current personality is not too far off from Serenity's aggressive one, regardless of how she may have changed (read: mellowed) toward the end of her dynasty.

Mother? Yep, that's the way it is. it was pretty obvious from the first part that I could go one of two ways with this fic. Obviously, I chose the slightly more screwed up way. For all those who don't like Onna-Ranma fics, feel free to read Kunoification. Nyeh.

Matchups; None planned at the moment. This can, of course, change at a moment's notice. Sorry, DT... Not Mousse :p

Fukufics; Just what the hell is a fukufic? Any SM-Ranma xover that has Ranma wearing a fuku in any capacity, willing or unwilling. Ranma does not need to remain a girl for the classifcation to apply. I only supply this tidbit of information as it's been asked more than once. I normally produce these in association with the insane people at www.fukufics (dotcom).

Same special thanks as the people in part one :p