Spring of drowned fairy (Working title) It was the final destination in their ten year long training trip, Genma knew this one would be a perfect place to train his son. Nothing would go wrong, after all if the place was dangerous, then the Chinese guide book would of said so in various languages to warn people away instead of being in a language he couldn’t understand. The only words he understood where 'training ground', and he used the maps to get there. Looking up from the current map, Jusenkyou, he looked around to make sure they where still on track. He nodded to himself, a victorious smirk on his face. "Common you worthless girl." He shouted at his son, who was trudging behind. "Where nearly there, even a pathetic girl moves faster than you." Ranma growled at his father, loathing showing clearly in his eyes. "Shuddap you fat tub of lard." He shouts angrily. "I'd move faster if you wasn’t so lazy to carry your own damn stuff." The bald headed fatso smiled evilly to himself, clearly enjoying taunting his son. "Why was I cursed with such a dishonorable son? to wail like a girl, Kami what did I do to deserve this?" He posed dramatically, crying false tears. "If anybody's wailing here, it's you." The black haired boy shouted. He put on a burst of speed and swung his fathers pack into it's owners head. They fought together, trading blows until they quickly reached the cursed springs of Jusenkyou. Genma was pleased with his plan to make the boy get here faster, as it wore the boy out a bit giving Genma a greater chance at winning in the training grounds. He looked around and was impressed by the large amount of bamboo poles sticking out of hundreds of small springs. "Common boy, fight me." He shouted as he jumped onto a pole. Ranma who had been examining the springs looked up and scowled at his father. "Pops somthin' don't feel right. Somethin's wrong about this place." The overweight man looked down with a vicious smirk, "There's nothing wrong, you're just a weak, scared little girl." The boy exploded into action, jumping onto a pole and then leaping towards Genma. "I'll show you who's weak old man." He bellowed out, as he delivered a hard kick to the old man's stomach, sending him flying. Genma caught onto a pole and swung himself around, delivering a hard and brutal to his son who flew away at high speed before catching onto another pole. The fight was now on, they battled back and forth leaping from pole to pole and constantly sending each other flying, neither gaining the upper hand. Drawn to the sounds of the fight, a short pudgey man wearing a green uniform started shouting at the fighters in badly accented Japanese. "Please sirs, come down. It not safe to fight around springs, they cursed." The two men ignored him, too absorbed in the fight to listen. Ranma quickly noticed an opening in his fathers defences as the fat man leapt towards him. He launched himself of his pole, flying above his father. He quickly kicked out towards the mans back, knocking him straight down into a spring. "Oh no sirs" The guide exclaimed "Mr customer fall into spring of drowned panda. Very tragic tale of panda who drowned 1500 years ago, now all who fall into spring turn into panda." Ranma wasn’t listening as he was distracted by the huge wet panda that had jumped out of the spring his father had disappeared into. "What the hell is that" He shouted to the guide, who he had finally noticed. The guide was about to answer when the panda leapt towards the distracted boy, knocking him straight down into an unusually glowing spring that had little yellow sparkles that floated just above the surface. He splashed down, instantly disappearing from view. He felt his form changing, getting smaller. His clothes where weighing him down and getting larger. He quickly got himself untangled from his gi and swum out through the neck hole. His air was rapidly depleting so he had to get to the surface fast. He felt something on his back that was dragging through the water slowing him down but he didnt have time to think about it. He finally reached the surface and pulled in great lungfulls of air. He swam towards the shore, awed and a little scared at how large the pool had gotten. As he reached the edge and pulled himself out, something became apparent on his chest. Combined with what the guide was now saying, he fainted. Whilst Ranma was still in the spring the guide and Genma where worried, the guide more than the panda. "Growlf." The panda cried out. He looked down at his body and was shocked. He shook his head clear and got back to the important issue, why hadn't his retirement... worthless son come back up yet. "Grolf" he gestured wildly towards the springs. "Oh no" The guide called out, looking at the spring with a look of shock. "Young sir fall into spring of drowned fairy girl. Tragic story of tiny fairy who drown in spring 2053 years ago. Only customers who are judged worthy of the spring gain curse, they change into fairy girl and gain powerful fairy magic’s. Only one has ever been changed by this spring before." The guide walked towards the spring and noticed the tiny fairy unconscious and naked, lying at the edge of the spring. He gently picked her up and carried her on his hand into his hut. "Come sir" he gestured to the panda "Must see if curse can be reversed." The panda who's expression had turned dark and gloomy upon seeing his son turned fairy girl, was now skipping ecstatically to the hut at the prospect of a cure. When Ranma began to wake she started mumbling. "Oh god, pop's you wouldn't believe the nightmare I just had." As she opened her eyes she saw how immensly huge the inside of the hut was. "Wha..." She sat up rapidly. "It... It wasn’t a dream was it?" She asked shakily. Looking down at the huge table she was lying on. The guide shook his head sadly. "So sorry young customer. Springs turned old customer to panda, turned you into fairy girl. Tragic story..." He was interrupted by the poor fairy. "Yea I heard the story." She looked down at herself sadly. "Any chance of a cure?" She asked hopefully. Genma grolfed his agreement. The guide nodded and picked up the kettle from the fireplace. "Curses are cured with hot water." He said, whilst pouring the kettle onto the panda who morphed back into a fat bald man. "But cold water brings curse back." He demonstrated by splashing a glass of water into Genma's face, the panda grolfed grouchily, water dripping from his muzzle. Ranma quickly perked up and looked excitedly at the kettle. "Splash me, splash me." She cried out. Jumping up and down on the table in excitement. She braced herself for the change, and winced at the large shower of warm water hit her. Her hopes where rapidly dashed as she didn’t change and she was now a tiny soaking wet fairy. "Whyyy?" She wailed as she collapsed bonelessly to the table. "What did I do to deserve this weak pathetic creature." Genma Signed, whilst thinking about how his wife was going to have his neck. "Sorry mister customer, this no happen before. I no know why you don’t change." The guide said softly, feeling sorry for the young fairy. "Maybe the amazons know reason you no change, the live nearby and know lots about Jusenkyou." Ranma was lost in her depression and was ignoring her father and the guide. She burst into tears and soon fell into sleep, she didn’t care if it wasn’t manly to cry, she had lost her gender and her humanity. The guide took pity on the poor girl and covered her with a small bit of cloth. "Come sir, we must get her help or she might crack under the pressure and kill herself." He picked up the fairy and carried her outside, the panda following grumpily. --------------- The trio soon reached the Amazon village, Ranma was still asleep and being carried by the guide who didn’t trust the panda to do it. "Here sir is tribe of Amazon women. They best chance of help." As they reached the gates they where stopped by the sentry, the guide explained the situation in mandarin and showed them the tiny fairy in his hands. The guards nodded to each other, communicating silently. They talked back and gestured towards the panda. The guide nodded and turned towards the panda. "Amazons say we enter the village and speak with elders, you stay in guest hut under guard. Amazons no trust outsiders." At first Genma wanted to object, but he soon realised that he needed to cure the boy if he was to pull off his plans. He nodded his agreement. The guards shouted out and the gates opened, revealing two more amazons. They quickly explained the situation and told the other amazons to escort the guests into the village as they still had to guard the gates. One amazon lead the panda to a hut and told him to wait inside. He would be fed but if he attempted to leave without permission he would be killed. The other amazon lead the guide towards the council chambers, a large stone building located in the middle of a sea of wooden huts. As she reached them she rang a large copper bell and waited. Soon a large pair of wooden doors swung outwards and they were beckoned into the council chambers by a young lavender haired amazon. They stood in the middle of a round room. At the edges of the room was a large curved desk sitting on a raised platform that overlooked the centre. Sitting on low backed chairs behind the desk where nine of the oldest gnome like women in existence. "Explain your presence guide" The centre gnome demanded in mandarin. She looked quite intimidating looking down at them even if she was really short and wrinkly. The guide gulped and extended his hand showing Ranma who was now starting to wake up. "Greetings honoured elder Khu Lon, this customer fell into spring of drowned fairy, he cannot change back with hot water. I was hoping you might know whats wrong." "Hmm, that spring is picky on who it chooses to grant it's form to." She stated calmly, whilst thinking. "Only one has ever been changed before, and that was so long ago... Place her on the desk and let us examine her." The guide complied and the old women where soon looking close at the fairy who chose that moment to wake up fully. "ARRRGGHHH" She screamed, peddling backwards and almost falling of the desk. "Giant old ghoul's" The elders sweat dropped, and back off slightly. "Don’t worry child we wont hurt you." Khu Lon said softly. "I’m the matriarch Khu Lon, leader of this village. We wish to help you." She looked over to the guide, "You may go." The guide rapidly vanished out the door. She turned her attention back to the depressed fairy, "What's wrong little one?" Ranma angrily looked up "what’s wrong? WHATS WRONG?" She shrieked "I was a guy and a martial artist, now I’m just a weak pathetic little bug and I’m FEMALE. Please tell me you have a cure" Khu Lon sighed. "Sorry child but the Fairy spring is picky on who is changed. Any who are transformed into a fairy are stuck like that forever." "no" she whispered, "I’m nothing now." She looked up pleadingly. "Please kill me." "No little one, I will not kill you." Khu Lon responded sadly. "you have a lot to live for. We have records of the last person who was changed, she was an amazon called Lo Tzian. Fairies can do a lot more than you think." She gestured for the other elders to leave, and gathered Ranma up into her hands. Ranma was too depressed to resist. She carried her out of the council chambers and soon reached a large and cosy looking hut. Inside the hut she introduced Ranma to her granddaughter Xian Pu and quickly told her the situation. She gently lowered Ranma onto the table and pulled out a mirror from a drawer nearby. "Ranma look upon yourself and be proud, and then I shall tell you of your new bodys capabilities." She sighed and got to her feet, she looked into the mirror and was shocked by what she saw. Looking back was a beautiful red headed girl with a cloth wrapped around her. Sticking out of her back was a pair of butterfly like wings that were a translucent pale blue colour. She concentrated on the wings and they moved apart. Concentrating harder they started flapping and soon she was hovering in the air. Her face broke out into her first smile since the transformation. The smile was soon wiped away as she crashed into the mirror and fell back into the table. "Wow you is a real fairy" Xian Pu gushed in excitement. "Can you do magic?" Ranma perked up at that. Khu Lon chuckled. "See child it's not so bad." She sat down into a comfy looking chair. "Now child, not everybody can become a fairy because fairies have a great responsibility and even greater power." Ranma became excited, and slightly disbelieving at that. "Yes child fairies are powerful, and so the springs must choose people who would never misuse that power." "So you sayin that I could become really powerful in this tiny body?" she asked wearily. "Yes child, you see fairies belong to the force of good, like Goddesses and angels. Your the opposite of a demon, size matters not as fairies are almost indestructible, extremely hard to kill and they live forever." Xian Pu was excited and was bouncing up and down. "Shampoo think being fairy a great honour, I wish I could be fairy." Ranma was still depressed but wasn’t as bad after hearing how tough she now is. "Ok so I’m tough, but how can I expect to fight back like this." She gestured to her small body. Khu Lon nodded. "Good question. Fairies have a powerful brand of magic that can do almost anything. Elemental attacks, conjuring items and even changing things and curing curses. Sadly that wont work on you as Fairies are immune to most magic being cast on them." Ranma nodded sadly. "Figures it wouldnt be that simple." "Yes, Also you have the ability to change into a human size for a while. This takes concentration and magic so you wont be able to maintain it for very long at first. After a lot of practice you would be able to maintain the form for most of the day, you would still need to sleep in your small form as you cant concentrate during sleep. Xian Pu place Ranma onto the ground." She happily hopped over to the table and place Ranma on the floor. "Aiya Shampoo really hope this work." "Imagine yourself being taller. "Khu Lon instructed. "Focus within and feel the magic, push that magic outwards to fill out the size you are imagining. Concentrate." Ranma closed her eyes and began following the instruction. A blue aura of magic sprang up around her body and expanded to around five foot. Suddenly her body stretched out to fill the space the aura occupied and she was normal size, she still had her wings on her back which had also grown. The clothe she had been wearing had also increased in size to cover her. She let out a large whoop of joy and started a kata. "This isn’t so bad." She lets out as she finishes. "I seem to be a lot stronger and faster in this form." She started thinking. "If what you say about the magic is true then I suppose I could get used to this." Khu Lon nodded with a creepy looking smile on her face. "Any chance you can teach me how to use the magic?" "No child, our texts of the fairies aren’t quite that descriptive. I assume since you can feel the magic that you will be able to experiment?" "Sure." She nodded happily. She looked over at Zian Pu who was looking at her oddly. "Whats wrong?" "Shampoo just realise Ranma need clothes." She said, pointing at the cloth. Ranma blushed. "Yea, but that will be quite hard to find tiny clothes. Plus my wings are in the way." "Child, that’s another of your abilities. Notice the cloth has grown in size?" Ranma nodded. "Well your clothes will shrink when you shrink as well. Xian Pu fetch Ranma some clothes." The redheaded fairy suddenly paled "Nothin girly though. I... I’m still gettin used to this." Xian Pu nodded and rushed off. --------------- Ranma left Khu Lon's hut still in a normal size and was dressed in black pants and a backless green blouse. At first she had resisted but Xian Pu had commented that everything else had backs, except for dresses. Ranma had quickly given in. She was now following Xian Pu to see her father. "Um Shampoo" Ranma started nervously as she looked around. "Why is everyone looking at me weirdly?" Xian Pu giggled. "Silly Ranma. You forgot you sill have wings," She pointed at them. "We have never seen a fairy before, they are often mentioned in our fairy tales." She burst out laughing. Ranma just groaned. "Sorry, is just too too funny. Tales say Fairies have saved amazons in the past so they are revered." She shook her head. Soon they reached the guest hut. She took a deep breath before entering. "Hey pops." She called out to the fat tub of lard stuffing his face at the table. He turned around and his eyes widened at the sight of the five foot fairy standing before him. "Boy your big again?" he asked puzzled. "Have they cured you partially or something?" He finally grunted out. Ranma shook her head sadly. "No pops, this is a fairy ability, but it's temporary until I can increase my magic and concentration. There is no cure for me due to the fact that most magic wont touch fairies." "Stupid GIRL" Genma roared out. "You weak dishonorable pathetic girl. How could you do this to your honorable father." He cried crocodile tears. The red headed fairies anger rose and with it went her concentration. She turned back into a tiny fairy, along with to her relief her clothes. "How DARE you." She screamed, fluttering in the air as she unconsciously used her wings, a soft blue glow surrounding her. "It's all your fault this happened" She gestured to her body. "If you hadn’t picked up that stupid guide that you cant even READ, if you hadn’t dragged me to that stupid training ground, if you hadn’t knocked me into that spring... I WOULDNT BE LIKE THIS." She shrieked out. "Stop you whining, you sound like a girl." Genma moaned. Ranma flashed red, energy gathered around her looking like flames. "I am a girl... and It's all your FAULT." The red energy streamed off her and formed a large flaming ball in front of her. She soon released it towards the sweating lard bucket, it roasted him alive. A blackened and crispy panda slumped to the floor. "That he had coming." A surprised Xian Pu commented. Ranma nodded. "Common lets go talk to your gran some more." She flew out the door, Xian Pu followed after giving Genma a good kick, just because he deserved it. --------------- Ranma and Genma stayed at the village for another two weeks. Ranma was slowly getting used to and accepting her condition. Luckily Genma wasn’t allowed near her unless she wanted him there, this meant that his particular brand of taunting wasn’t holding her back from accepting her condition, plus with the support from the amazons she accepted it quicker. She still thought of herself as a guy, but it wasnt getting her down anymore. During the two weeks she learned about female anatomy and hygiene which Khu Lon had deemed necessary as well as several Amazon martial arts techniques so long as she promised not to use them on other amazons and would become an ally to the tribe, helping them out in need. She also gained control of her fireball technique and didn’t need to be angry to use it like the first time. Finally the time had come for Ranma to leave. Xian Pu grabbed a full sized Ranma into a hug. She was crying softly. "Do you really have to leave?" Ranma nodded sadly, tears streaming from her own eyes. "Yea, I have to find my mother. I’ve not seen her in ten years." She glared at the sweating panda standing nearby. "I just hope she can accept me." She looks down sadly while the panda sweats even harder. "Your mother would be fool if reject Ranma." Xian Pu tried to cheer her up. Khu Lon joined in the hug. "You'll always be welcome among the amazons child. I would be proud to adopt you into my family." Ranma smiled at the old woman. "Thank you grandmother." She sighed "I just hope it's not necessary." Genma was getting really impatient. "Come on you worthless girl, quit the mushiness." Ranma glared at him as she disentangled herself from the hug. Genma gulped nervously as a red glow formed between the red heads hands. "I’m warning you pops, one more insult and it's fried panda." He nodded. Satisfied she let the energy go and shrunk down to her small form, hovering in the air. " Goodbye everyone, I'll miss you." She called out before flying out the gate, the panda following. The Amazons all waved bye, they had grown used to the cheerful and energetic fairy zipping around the village. Ranma cheerfully flew slowly in the direction of Japan whilst Genma grumpily trudged along stuck in his panda form. As soon as he had heated up some water and changed back, a freak rain shower would undo his hard work. As they passed through a town Genma became curious. "Why isn’t anybody noticing you boy?" He sighed. When Ranma didn’t notice due to flying ahead he growled. She looked back and noticed the sign, she burst out laughing. "It's because you’re a panda and your walking on two legs. Your way more noticeable since Im so small." She shook her head with mirth. "Well get down here boy and divert there attention." he sighed again whilst looking uncomfortable with the attention he was receiving, which had only grown since he was now pulling out signs. Ranma shook her head. "No way, I’m not supposed to exist remember, Id get locked up and examined or something if I drew attention to myself." Just as the panda was about to retort with another sign she flew off, speeding out of town. Genma grumbled and quickly left the town as well. Ranma joined up with him soon after. "I’m flying ahead pops, I'll meet you at the port to get a ship." As the panda was to argue she interrupted. "Unless you can swim back with your wet heavy panda fur weighing you down?" "Grolf, gworf." Genma made noises as he gestured wildly. Finally he calmed down and pulled out a sign. "Fine." Ranma nodded happily and quickly flew off, rapidly disappearing from sight. She circled around Genma and silently came at him from behind and landed on his large overfilled backpack. She settled down and after giggling silently, she fell asleep. --------------- When she woke up several hours later Genma was still tramping towards the port which was now in sight. Deciding to annoy pops, she got up and walked onto the pandas shoulder. "Hey pops, thanks for the ride, just had a nice nap." He growled angrily. She jumped off his shoulder as he tried to swat her and flew off into the port. 'I still cant believe how incredible it is to fly, if it wasn’t for that I believe being stuck as a girl would have driven me crazy already. Now I know that all that crap pops said about girls is a load of rubbish, it's not so bad. I mean what is so great about being a guy?' She shook her head of the thoughts and continued to enjoy flying. Later she finally found pops in human form bartering passage for himself on a ship. Once he had boarded she flew on board and followed him to the room they would be sharing. No sense in paying for her when she is so small. After a relatively uneventful trip, only a few arguments and one burnt panda, they where finally in Japan. Ranma flew around excitedly. "Ok pops where back, now where does mother live." She hovered in front of his face, glaring menacingly. Genma sweated and chuckled nervously. "Now boy, we are visiting a friend of mine first, then we will visit your mother." "Come on pops, I don’t need to see this friend. Just give me the address." Her glare intensified. "No, now come along and stop whining." he barked, glaring back whilst hiding his fear. Ranma deflated and sighed "Ok fine we see you friend, but we better see mother after or Im having panda steaks, and a panda fur rug." Genma nodded rapidly and stalked off in the direction of his friends house, Ranma following close behind. When they reached Nerima, Genma decided to release a bombshell on his son turned daughter/fairy. "Son you are to be engaged to the daughter of my friend Soun Tendo." He said calmly, preparing himself for an explosion. Ranma fell out of the sky she was so shocked. "Are you INSANE" She shouted as she hovered back up. "In case you haven’t noticed I’m a GIRL, I cant marry another girl, and I'll never be with a guy. Thats disgusting." "Boy its a matter of family honour. You will do it." He stated pompously. She started glowing red with anger, drawing a lot of attention to them. A freak rainstorm chained Genma into a panda, causing all those watching to believe they are either dreaming or crazy. "No chance." She screeched "Im gonna go find mother without you help." All the spectators were subjected to a show that firmly convinced them it wasn’t real. The panda tried to swipe the fairy but she just grabbed the paw and somehow tossed the panda over her tiny little shoulder. They dissolved into a fist fight with her somehow stopping Genma’s paw's whilst she hovered in mid air. She hovered up to his head and shot forwards sending him flying into a stop sign. She started flying away when the panda ripped out the sign and used it to slam her into the pavement. Even though it's really hard to kill a fairy, they can still be knocked out. He dropped the sign and picked up the red head into his claw. He noticed everybody staring at him, so he growled at one side, then the other. Soon everybody sweat dropped as the panda skipped joyfully down the road. "Yep definitely a dream" they all said at the same time. --------------- Mr Tendo had just finished telling his three daughters about the engagement when they heard a knock on the door. "Ooh I bet it's Ranma" Nabiki, the middle daughter called out. "I don’t care, all boys are PERVERTS" Akane the youngest shouted, her hands twitching as if reaching for something to bash a boy over the head with. "Oh My, I hope I cooked enough food." Kasumi the oldest daughter said serenely. Soun and Nabiki got up and went to the door. When they got their a panda was letting itself in. They quickly changed direction and ran screaming into the living room. The panda followed. Soun stood in front of his daughters protectively. The panda walked to the table, everybody else edged away. It gently placed it's paw on the table and opened it's claws. When it removed the paw everybody could see the unconscious fairy lying still. "Daddy do you know this panda?" Nabiki asked, wide eyed at seeing a fairy. Soun shook his head rapidly, his hair long black hair flying in all directions. "Oh so the panda just decided to pop in and place a fairy on our table." She frowned at the panda. Something wasnt right. The panda finally pulled out a sign. "Hot water please." The Tendou’s where shocked at this, Kasumi recovered the quickest and left to fetch the water. She returned with a kettle and handed it to the panda, who promptly took it and poured it over it's head turning into a bald fat man in a dirty gi and a white bandana on his head. The girls where shocked, Soun immediately recognised his old friend. "Genma old friend, what happened to you?" He asked whilst looking his friend over and looking around. "And wheres Ranma?" Genma bowed his head in sadness "Jusenkyou" he muttered. "Aaahh it's true horror has always been surrounded by mystery." He nodded forlornly. Nabiki had finally gotten over her shock and was now staring intently at the small red headed fairy on the table. She could see it was alive because her chest was moving as she breathed. "So what's with her?" She pointed at Ranma. Akane and Kasumi nodded, they wanted to know too. "Oh it was terrible." Genma wailed, crocodile tears flying everywhere. "My honourless son dragged me to this training ground he wanted to see, Jusenkyou. He kicked my into the spring of drowned panda, cursing me. Then the stupid boy slipped and fell into..." He was cut off by a large fireball impacting his chest. Ranma had woken up and was now raging at being knocked out, and then blamed for the curses. "Tell it right pops. It was YOU who found the Chinese guide, even though YOU cant even read Chinese. And you dragged me to the springs, remember I complained and you just called me a weak pathetic girl. YOU started fighting at the springs, so I admit I knocked you in first since I’m the better fighter. Then YOU came out of the springs as a panda and knocked me into the spring of drowned fairy. It's all YOUR fault." She shouted, glowing redder and redder as she listed his faults. Genma laughed nervously. "I guess my memory was playing tricks on me. He, he. Ok it really was my fault." Ranma calmed down and the glow disappeared. The Tendou’s were looking at her with an incredulous expression on their faces. She jumped onto the floor and grew into normal size. "Whew that's better, I hate being that small. Makes me feel vulnerable." The Tendou girls jaws where all dropped to the floor. Ranma giggled at the sight. "Hello I’m Ranma Saotome, sorry about this." She finally said after calming down. Soun smiled at her. "Glad to meet you Ranma." He gestured towards his daughters. "Choose any girl, she'll be your fiancée." "WHAT, we cant marry a girl daddy, that’s perverted." Akane shouted, glaring at her father. "Oh My" Kasumi flushed. "Akanes right father, this marriage is impossible." Nabiki calmly stated. Soun grinned, ignoring the objections. "Ranma's a boy, he's just got a curse. A bit of hot water and he'll be fine to marry." Ranma grimaced. "Um Mr Tendou that wont work." "Nonsense." He replied, grabbing the kettle and pouring the hot water over Ranma's head. Nothing happed except Ranma getting wet and annoyed. "Wha... Why arent you changing?" He asked panicking. She glared at him. "As I tried to tell you, my curse is permanent and there is no cure. Im forever a Fairy, I cant marry your daughters." Soun looked shocked, and then he fainted. Akane, who had been glaring at Ranma believing her to be a pervert had softened her expression. She went over to the red head and extended her hand. "Hi I’m Akane, want to be friends?" Ranma was surprised at the offer. A huge grin quickly appeared on her face. "Sure Id like that." She responded happily. She noticed that Akane was still wearing a gi and realised she was a martial artist. "Hey Akane, you want to spar?" "Sure" She answered happily. She grabbed Ranma's hand and dragged her to the dojo. Ranma stood in a casual stance, hands behind her back. Akane took the initiative and attacked first, Ranma dodged. Akane attacked several more times which Ranma dodged as well. Just as Akane was about to attack again Ranma lashed out and managed to tag Akane’s mid section. Akane grinned and the fight was brought up several notches. When it was finally over Ranma had been hit twice whilst Akane was aching all over. "Thanks a lot Ranma" Akane beamed. "That was a great fight, I cant believe how good you are." Ranma sighed. "Yea, just sacrifice most of your life not doing anything but the art and you could be just as good." Nodding sadly Akane realised the truth in her words, which is why she wasn’t getting jealous that she was out matched. Ranma had earned that skill. She walked back into the house whilst Ranma performed a few Katas. --------------- Ranma sat outside, still at normal size just watching the sun set. She had always enjoyed the beauty of nature, and now that she was even more a part of nature due to being a fairy she enjoyed it even more. Her quite introspection was interrupted by the oldest Tendou daughter holding a towel and smiling serenely at her. "Ranma I’m sure you'd like a nice hot bath after that workout." She said calmly, a happy feeling of peace and clam radiating from her. The fairy was about to disagree when she realised that it might be nice and it had been a long time since she had a hot bath. "Ok Kasumi, I'll go in a minute." Kasumi's smile widened a little. She gave the towel and bath supplies to Ranma and headed to the kitchen to finish dinner. Inside the Furo Ranma was scrubbing herself and rinsing off with cold water. "Damn these wings are hard to clean." she mumbled. She rinsed herself and then stepped into the nice hot furo. Feeling the warmth on her wings she relaxed and slipped down into the water. Just as she was falling asleep the door opened revealing a naked Akane standing there with just a small towel hiding her private parts. "Oh hi Akane." she sleepily called out, waving from the water. Akane was at a dilemma. Should she share a bath with this fairy girl who used to be a boy or not. After seeing the girls lack of interest in her naked body, and that fact that she was still a girl in hot water, she decided to let it go and quickly washed herself and joined the red head in the bath. "Man for a sec there, I thought you were about to pound me." Ranma stated warily. Akane glanced at her at the other side of the bath. "For a second, I was. But I realised your a girl now, and my friend." She wanted to argue the girl point, but she realised it was true and was getting more true every day. She sighed sadly. "Whats wrong?" The dark blue haired girl asked. Ranma sighed again. "I just realised how much of a girl I already am, and I’m losing more of myself daily." She looked terrified. The other girl grabbed her in a hug and tried to comfort her. She ran her hands down Ranma’s wings, feeling the softness of them. "Don’t worry, boy or girl, everybody changes. You can never lose yourself. If you think like that, you've already lost since you at age fifteen is nothing like you at age five. So you've already lost yourself several times already. Blinking, Ranma realised Akane was right, "Wow, I never thought about it that way before. Thanks." She happily squeezed Akane before letting go. "Id better go before I start pruning up." She left the bath and got dressed. After dinner which Ranma had found delicious, they where back to talking about the engagement. "Boy you have to be engaged to a Tendou. Family honour depends upon it." Genma crossed his arms and a disturbing gleam entered his eyes as he looked at Soun. Ranma scoffed. "Ha, with the way you steal and cheat, you wouldn’t know the meaning of the word honour if it jumped up and bit your furry behind." Genma scowled. "You must marry Soun and thats final." All the girls mouths were wide open in shock. "NO WAY" Ranma Screeched. "If you ever suggest that again your dead meat." The sisters all glared at Genma. Soun shook his head sadly. "I’m sorry old friend but the pact is off. It was between our children if the were of opposite gender, Ranma is now a girl so the pact is dissolved." His gaze hardened. "And how could you expect me to tarnish my beloved wife’s memories by marrying a child?" He burst into tears, waterfalls sprang from his eyes. Genma was about to retort when a flash of red caught his attention. Sweating nervously he agreed. "Ok Soun the pact is off." He looked down at the table miserably. "Don’t worry old friend, you can stay for as long as you want." He tried to cheer Genma up. Nabiki who had been watching the goings on like a hawk finally chimed in. "Um father, We only have one guest room. Ranma cant possibly sleep with her father." Soun sweated as he tried to figure out a solution. He knew there was no way Genma would sleep anywhere else but the room. "She can stay in my room" Akane piped up, smiling at Ranma who was looking at her with gratitude. "Thanks Akane" She said happily. "I'll only need a little room, I have to sleep in my small form." Everybody agreed and soon they all headed off to bed. Kasumi had found an old dolls bed in the attic which was just the right size for ranma. She added some comfortable material to the bed and made some little sheets. "Thanks Kasumi" Ranma said with a huge smile as she saw the bed sitting on Akane’s dresser. "It looks great." She returned to her small size much to Kasumi and Akane’s amazement and flew to the bed. She dived under the covers and was soon asleep. -------------- The next morning Ranma was gently prodded awake by Akane using one finger, almost the width of Ranma's head. "Morning sleepy head." Akane called out cheerfully. Ranma slowly opened her eyes to see Akane’s face taking up her whole view. "AAAARRRGGGHHH" She screamed. Jumping out of bed away from Akane. "Ranma whats wrong." she asked uneasily. Looking at the terrified little fairy. "So... sorry, I’m still not used to waking up and being this small. You look like a giant to me." She quickly calmed down. Akane giggle. "It’s ok Ranma I understand." She held out her hand for Ranma to stand on. "Come on it's breakfast time." Akane entered the dining room with Ranma sitting on her right shoulder. "Morning everybody" they both called out, everybody replied good morning back. Whilst eating dinner Kasumi got a thoughtful look on her face. "Ranma" The fairy looked up from eating breakfast at full size. "I was wondering about your clothes. Do you have to have two sets or just one for changing size?" "Just one. It's easier to buy normal sized clothes since they shrink with me." She looked at Kasumi questioningly. Kasumi just smiled. "That’s fine Ranma. I think we need to go shopping for some clothes for you." Ranma nodded her assent. She only had five sets of clothes in total. After finishing breakfast Ranma stood up. "I’m going out exploring for a while ok?" Everybody except Genma nodded and smiled. Genma threw at book bag towards his daughter. "Whats this for pops?" "Starting today you going to school." He said with a satisfied smirk on his face. Nabiki chimed in. "What about those?" She asked, pointing at Ranma's wings. Sighing Ranma replied. "I can hide them but it takes more concentration and magic to do. I’m not sure I could last all the way through school without changing back" Akane got a thoughtful look on her face. "What if you took a break during dinner, you could hide around me." Nodding the red head replied. "That might work, I just hope I don’t accidentally change size when somebodys looking or in class." "Great" Akane gleefully cheered. "Come on I've got a spare uniform you can where." She dragged the protesting fairy up to her room where they both changed into there uniforms. Ranma's uniform expanded and shrunk in certain places to fit her better. When Akane raised an eyebrow Ranma simply responded, "magic." Soon both girls where on their way to school. Ranma wanted to jump onto the fence but Akane vetoed that idea by explaining that perverts could look up her skirt. Ranma was still grumbling about the dress but it wasnt that bad. As they neared the school ranma could here Akane muttering something, starting quietly until she was shouting. "i h..e ..ys, I hate boys, I Hate Boys, I HATE BOYS." She ran into a full sprint into a mob of boys who tried to attack her. If Ranma hadn’t already been warned she would have joined in. Akane quickly finished of the last few perverts and was ready for bokken for brains. Ranma walked up to Akane just as Kuno threw a rose. She knocked the rose away, feeling a dark taint within it. Frowning she looked at the direction it came from and saw an older student dressed in a hakama and holding a bokken striding towards her. "Who are thou fair maiden to intercept my offering to the fair Akane." He said arrogantly. Ranma looked disgusted. The boy was literally reeking of dark taint. "I’m Ran..." She was interrupted. "Ah but it is the custom to give ones own name first. Mine name is Tatewaki Kuno, captain of the kendo club, undefeated new star of the high school fencing world... but my peers call me BLUE THUNDER of Furinkan high." Ranma glared at him. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, my name is Ranma Saotome. My father is a friend of Akane’s father so I’m staying at the Tendou house for a while." "Ah my fierce tigress. Already I feel our hearts becoming one. If you defeat me you may date me." He got into a battle stance, bokken extended. "Who said I wanted to date you." She said, her face scowled in disgust. "Strike" Kuno shouted as he lunged forwards with the bokken. Ranma easily dodged out of the way and mentally prepared a purification spell. She dodged several more attacks, ducked under un overhead slash and attempted to trip him using a foot sweep. He jumped her leg and slashed towards her neck. She stopped the bokken in her hands but her neck was still bruised from the air pressure. Kuno finally resorted to his final attack. He quickly called out strike and slashed at her rapidly over and over again until the air pressure of the bokken was enough to shatter a stone statue behind her. Quickly tiring of the fight she leapt height into the air and landed behind Kuno’s back. She charged up the purification spell she'd prepared and slammed her hand onto Kuno’s back. A bright light flared into existence around Kuno through which dark evil streaks of black could be clearly seen and they where getting smaller. Finally the light drove out all of the dark taint leaving Kuno finally sane. Ranma staggered away from him, Akane quickly grabbed her arm to steady her. "What did you do?" She asked curiously. "I just cleansed his spirit. It was full of dark taint that was driving him crazy." She replied casually as if it was an everyday occurrence. Akane gaped at her. "How... How did you do that?" "It's what my kind does Akane. Where like angels only smaller and more powerful." She shrugged and walked into the school, Akane following closely behind. Ranma stood at the front of the classroom, waiting for the teacher to allow her to introduce herself. "Hello My name is Ranma Saotome, I’ve been on a ten year martial arts journey around Japan and China and now I’m settling down. I hope to make some friends here like my good friend Akane." Akane beamed at her. "Um well that all I think. Thanks." The class cheered for her. "Ok that’s enough." The teacher called out. "Right miss Saotome could you please take a seat next to Akane. Thank you." She quickly got into the empty chair to Akane’s left. The classes slowly passed as Ranma gave into boredom. By dinnertime she was barely awake and had almost shrunk down to her small form twice. She slipped into the girls toilet and shrunk down to relieve the stress of the concentration required. Heading outside she quickly spotted Akane sitting alone underneath a tree. She Stealthily made her way across the field to the tree, being really small really made it easy. "Hey Akane" She said tiredly making Akane jump. "I need a nap, wake me up before the end of dinner ok." Akane looked down at her friend and saw that she did look pretty tired. "Sure Ranma, it must have been that thing you did to Kuno." Ranma nodded sleepily and was soon past on. The rest of the school day was just as boring and Ranma only just stopped herself from falling asleep or changing. As soon school was over she rushed to the bathroom and changed back. Akane entered the bathroom, "Ranma are you in here?" "Thank god akane. I don’t think I could have lasted another minute." She flew up onto Akane’s shoulder and hid in her hair. "Ok can we go home now, I need to relax a little. Staying big for so long really stressed my concentration. I've got a huge headache." "Sure Ranma, I really do feel sorry for you." Akane looked at her sadly. Ranma smiled "Naw, I’m alright. Besides I get lots of bonuses that even it out, like flying and magic." Akane nodded and left the toilet heading for home. Still more to write. ------------------------- Thinking about bringing either Ryouga or Nodoka in. Also a new badguy, either an evil villain, somebody Genma ticked off or a demon. After this, most of Ranma's time at school will be ignored.