Ranma 1/2: Ranma of Grayskull Crossover: Masters of the Universe By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Sixteen Ranma enters the throne room it is filled with many people. Room is large nearly one hundred feet square. It is warm and inviting even though it is a large room. She tries not to gawk as she walks toward the throne the prince and princess of Eternia by her side. She sees many richly dressed men and women and assumes they must be part of the group of Barons that Queen Marlena was talking about. Duncan leads her and the royal children to the throne to meet the King and Queen of Eternia. King Randor wears clothes that remind Ranma of fifteenth century royalty on earth. His hair is dark brown and goes to his shoulders and like his wife wears a plain gold crown on his head. Ranma hears the murmurs of the royalty around her. A cocky smile alights on her lips as her enhanced senses picks up their remarks. "Look at her hair!" One man exclaims when she slowly walks by. "It is like her head is on fire!" His companion comments back to him. "Look at her eyes! I think Randor should make her leave. The power she must wield could be a danger to his throne." Ranma frowns at the threat this person is implying. "What kind of outfit is that?" She hears a woman ask her friend, Ranma frowns at the disgust in the woman's voice. "I don't know but it is not appropriate." The other woman tells her, Ranma's frown deeps more as she remembers receiving the kimono she is wearing. ***Flashback*** *Knock, Knock!* "I'll get it!" Kasumi tells her unmoving family, she pauses and scowls at them. Her frown deepens when she sees an unconscious Ranma-chan lying next to the koi pond a mallet beside her. Kasumi glares at the back of Akane who sits at the table petting her pet pig P-chan. Akane begins to fidget, when she turns she sees her sister smiling pleasantly at her. The repeating of the knock draws Kasumi to the door. "Auntie Nodoka what a pleasant surprise. *SPLASH!* I am afraid Ranma and Saotome-san are on a training trip." Kasumi tells the Saotome matriarch with a sad smile. "Oh, well I was hoping I might have caught him while he is still here. Since today is his birthday. I brought him a birthday present." Nodoka hands it to Kasumi who takes it her smile fading slightly. "I am sure he wanted to see you also, please come in you can spend time with Ranko today is her birthday also." Kasumi tells the woman smile a smile that does not reach her eyes. "Thank you dear, yes I knew that she told me the last time I visited." Nodoka notices this but does not say anything as she follows the eldest Tendo daughter into the living room. Nodoka's eyes widen with shock as she sees a wet panda playing with a beach ball and a still unconscious Ranko next to the koi pond. She notices Akane glaring at the unmoving form and she scowls at the girl. Nodoka walks out to the yard and gently shakes the girl to consciousness. "Mom?" Ranma asks with a look of confusion, and sadness. "No Ranko-chan it is auntie Nodoka she has come to celebrate your and Ranma's birthday." Kasumi tells the dazed girl. "That _baka_ never told me..us it was his birthday!" Akane fumes glaring at the red who rises to her feet. "Probably because _he_ didn't know. His father never celebrated his birthday!" Ranko glares at the panda playing with a beach ball. Only Genma and Kasumi see the fire of rage form in Nodoka's eyes. Nodoka sits at the table next to Ranko and hands her a package. Ranko looks down at the package then up at the Saotome woman, surprise on her face. Kasumi returns with a tray of tea and a birthday cake with Ranma and Ranko's name written on it with birthday wishes. Ranko looks up at Kasumi with grateful eyes and she smiles at the redhead. Akane notices the package Kasumi put down next to her and reaches for it after spotting Ranma's name on it. Kasumi's hand slaps down gently but firmly on the package as she turns and stares at her younger sister. Akane looks at Kasumi with confusion, but Kasumi turns away from her. She picks up the package and hands it to Ranma-chan. "Auntie brought Ranma his gift but since he is not here would you hold it for him." Kasumi smiles at Ranma-chan her eyes twinkling with compassion. "Hai, I will make sure nothing happens to it and give it to him when he gets home." Ranma-chan looks down at the package for him from his mother, fighting to keep from ripping it open to see what was inside. "Well dear open your present." Nodoka tells the young girl. Ranma-chan picks up the box and smiles as Nodoka chose wrapping paper with all kinds of sports on it instead of frilly girl stuff. Ranma-chan tears into the package warm smiles on Kasumi and Nodoka's faces. While Akane tries to glare her curiosity is getting the better of her. Ranma opens the box her smile fading when she sees a replacement kimono for the first one Ryoga destroyed. Ranma-chan puts on a smile and looks to her _auntie_. Nodoka's sad smile shatters her heart. Nodoka reaches over and pulls out the kimono then Ranma sees the rest of the outfit in the bottom of the box. "When that Hibiki boy destroyed your last kimono I decided to listen to what you told me about all the people around you who blamed you for all their problems and shortcomings. How you said they would take their problems out on you." Nodoka glares at Akane who begins to glow while staring at Ranma-chan missing the look from Nodoka. "Although I think you should dress more lady like I realized with you being under continual attacks you need something more conducive to your movements." Nodoka smiles at the young girl as she reluctantly slips on the kimono. Ranma watches her mother out of the corner of her eyes and sees her smile happily at her trying on the kimono. Well at least it is making her mother smile. Ranma looks down and notices that the kimono's side seams are slit all the way to the waist and there is no obi but instead a satin sash. No two sashes one in red and one in white. Both quite long for wrapping. The satin pants were also in white and red. Ranma looks down at the kimono and gently rubs her hands up and down it lovingly. She never had anything so nice and the fact her mother modified it to suit _her_! No one has ever done that for her before. She looks up at Akane and frowns at the glowing girl. Ranma turns her back on her fiancée and faces her mother. "Thank you _auntie Nodoka_ it is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It seems you and Kasumi are the only so called friends I have that really thinks of what I want. I will treasure this always." With that said she gives Nodoka an Amazon glomp even the Amazon's would blush at. Ranma then picks up her present and the one for Ranma and disappears upstairs. Akane rises to follow and behind her tags P-chan. Akane's angry steps resonate throughout the house. There is no knock just the slamming open of Ranko's bedroom door. There is shouting and everyone waits for the flying redhead to appear. The group shudders when silence fills the upper floor of the Tendo home. Nodoka looks up and sees Ranko reappear an angry scowl on her face but wearing her new outfit. Nodoka smiles as the young girl returns to the family room and slumps down next to her mother her eyes flashing red. The slamming of Akane's bedroom door rattles the windows of the house. ***End Flashback*** Ranma continues toward the throne her eyes brimming with tears as the memories play out in her mind. She still cherishes the kimonos her mother has given her as well as the gift she had given her male side. She keeps the pocket watch in her weapon space to prevent her father from stealing it or Nabiki from blackmailing it away from her. Ranma and her escorts reach the throne. She bows deeply to the rulers of her new home. Her hair of fire flowing around her. She straightens and stares directly at the king, his eyes widen. When he looks into Ranma's cat eyes with flames. He smiles at her as Duncan steps forward, his smile then lands on his children and Ranma fills a small amount of envy as she sees the pride and love for his children she never saw in own father. "Your majesty I present the Mystic Warrior, Ranma Saotome." Man at Arms introduces the martial artist, a low murmur goes through the room. Ranma smiles inwardly as her cat senses pick up the disbelief of the royals around the room. Many refusing to believe the myth exists. She stifles a giggle when she hears threats of them demanding proof of her claim. She ignores them as she turns her attention back to the crown of Eternia. "Greetings your majesty my honor is yours to command." Ranma tells the king not sure where that has come from, she then bows again to the royal couple. "Rise Ranma, that is a bit archaic of a greeting but one that I enjoy hearing again." Ranma rises and smiles at the king, the murmurs in the room getting louder. "Tell me child how do you like Eternia so far." Ranma looks at the king unsure how to answer and decides on the truth since even if she wanted to she couldn't lie. "It is a lovely planet your majesty and I thank you and your lovely queen for allowing me to stay." Ranma tells them the murmuring getting more rapid and louder. Ranma glances around the room at the guests the flames flickering in her eyes increase in intensity causing the rude comments coming from the crowd to suddenly become silent. Ranma returns to face the royal couple a sheepish grin on her face. "I beg your apology your majesties. I have over stepped my bounds." Ranma tells them with a bow. "Nonsense child they are of royal blood and should know better then to insult the guest of their king and queen." Queen Marlena tells the fire hair teenager in front of her. "Now child why don't you tell us why you have asked for an audience?" Queen Marlena continues, the other guests' glaring at her for her previous comments. "Your majesty, I do not wish to be a burden to the sorceress of Grayskull and wish to make my own way. I have found a place of my own to live but I come before you to ask for the right to purchase the property I found. Since it is under the control of crown." Ranma tells them trying to be as formal as possible while trying not to sound like Kuno. "Which property have you decided on Ranma?" The King asks they fire hair girl with a small smile. "The Valley of Mists." The throne room quiets immediately and all eyes turn to the throne. /*\*/*\ Soun sits in the waiting room of the prison hospital. His hands clasped tightly in his lap. His mind going over what had happen to his family. He has stopped by the jail and was informed that Nabiki was unable to have visitors except her lawyer. He also found out Nabiki had a lawyer. ***Flashback*** "Tendo-san? I am Seioko Kentou. I am your daughter's lawyer." The man said as he bowed to the patriarch of the Tendo family. Seioko Kentou stands at 5' 10" he has short cropped hair that is jet black. His eyes also are black. His features are hard and hawk like, and Soun shudders at the ruthlessness that permeates the lawyer. He wears a black suit and places a black leather attaché on the table before the worried father. "It does not look good for your daughter Tendo-san she has been charged with espionage, do to her activities of planting illegal listening devices. I am afraid authorities have already searched your home and found the same type of electronics that was removed from Nodoka Saotome's home. They have also found many witnesses to her blackmail all most all of the students at her school, but some local business owners. "Due to the information from the students at Furinkan High School three local businesses were searched and again the same electronic devices were found. Lets see one was 'Ucchan's', there was another restaurant 'The Nekohanten' and the last I am afraid really looks bad for your daughter as the owner says he will definitely be pressing charges since his clients trust is paramount to him. That is let me look here, ah here it is the 'Clinic of Dr. Tofu Ono'." Soun nearly fell from his chair. The other places he could understand because of their link to Ranma but the clinic that was not honorable. He looks up to his daughters lawyer his eyes wide and filling with unshed tears. He gulps and opens his mouth to speak but it is dry and nothing comes out. He takes a sip of water from the pitcher and glass on the table and tries again. "What about Akane? Can you help her too?" The lawyer shakes his head no as he replies. "No, I am afraid Nabiki was very clear on this she will not pay for my fees to help her sister. She feels Akane is the reason she is in this mess." The lawyer rises and packs up his briefcase. "I will start preparations for getting Nabiki out of jail but I am afraid she may be there till the trail. This is because the charges also come from the government as well as local citizens." The lawyer begins to leave then tosses Soun a small business card. "This lawyer should be able to help your other daughter but those where Japanese secret police she attacked. They will be a lot harder to defend against." Soun picks up the card gives it a quick look the watches as the lawyer leaves. ***End Flashback*** Soun looks down at the business card in his hand he does not know what to do to help his daughter. He can not afford an expensive lawyer. A man in a dark suit with short cropped hair approaches Soun. He stands 5' 9" tall and as he removes his sun glasses Soun can see his eyes are deep midnight blue. His skin is well tanned and his features hard and foreboding. Soun gulps when the cold night eyes land on him. The man walks up to Soun and bows but there is no respect in it. He straightens and gives the anguished father a condescending smirk. "Tendo I am Eric Rancher. I work for the Kuno Foundation have been asked to take your daughter's case." He tells the man handing him his business card. "My fee will be paid by Kuno Tatewaki, with the proviso that he becomes the fiancée of Akane Tendo and the pigtailed girl a Ranko Tendo I believe." Soun looked down at the card then up at the man. He was able to see the disgust on the man's face for the conditions his employer put on his services. Soun looks down at the card and remembers all the problems his daughter and Ranma given by the Kuno boy and his sister. His eyes narrow and his back bone suddenly shows it is still there. Soun slowly stands a glow of red around him. He looks at the lawyer's smug face and scowls at the man as he tears up the business card. "Tell that _bastard_ if he ever comes near my daughter again I will consider it a blood feud and that samurai will spill the blood of samurai!" Soun then turns and walks toward his daughter's room leaving the torn up card on the floor in front of the lawyer. The lawyer watches as the man walks gracefully down the hallway the red glow still around him. He stands there until he enters the room of his daughter. A cold and calculating smile on his face. He turns at the sound of a familiar voice. "I guess even a weak willed man like Soun Tendo has his limits, isn't that so Eric." He turns to face a woman standing there her long black hair hanging loosely down her back. Her black hair contrast nicely with her charcoal gray suit, which brings out her light gray eyes. Her features were soft and caring and her figure willowy. She only stands 5' 6" but her demeanor lets those around her know she is not to be trifled with. She smiles at the man a smile that puts Nabiki to shame. "Mesuko how nice to see you again! Are you here a reason?" The lawyer asks knowing the answer. "You know I am Eric, now if you will excuse me I have business to attend to." Mesuko walks past Eric a sneer on her face. Eric stands again watching a person head of Akane Tendo's room. This time his eyes follow his female counter part with lustful expectations. He watches as she sashays down the hallway her hips swinging seductively. He licks his lips as fantasy after fantasy passes through his mind (sorry fantasies CENSORED!). He watches her until she disappears into the room of her new client. /*\*/*\ "Can you repeat that please? I am sure I heard you correctly." King Randor asks his eyes wide with shock. "I asked if I may purchase from the crown the lands known as 'The Valley of Mists'." Ranma tells him a cocky grin on her face. "But child, no one has ever been able to enter the valley!" Queen Marlena tells her suspicion evident on her face. "Until now." Is all Ranma was willing to say. "Well if you wish to buy valley I see no reason not to let you. Will you open it to settlers." Randor asks hoping to start using a valuable piece of land. "No, I can not and keep my honor in tact." Ranma tells them the murmurs in the throne room increases. "The impertinence!" Comes one man's strong voice above the others. "May we inquire as to why?" The King asks ignoring the stuff shirt noble. "I may be able to answer that father." King Randor turns toward his son his eyebrow arching. "She has already been attacked by Skeletor twice the first time she melded with an ancient Phoenix. Teela told us of his attack while she and Ranma were on their way here. I believe Ranma feels that since she is the Mystic Warrior she can expect many more such attacks and does not want innocents around that might get hurt as a result." Adam finishes as he looks to Ranma for confirmation. "That is part of your highness the rest is that I need a large area to train and many of my attacks can cause massive property damage and are lethal. Experience has shown me though that people are attracted to the me when I practice and many may get hurt while I train." She finishes looking at the King and Queen. "You are not believing this majesty? She is nothing that evils such as Skeletor or the Kalcar would bother with her." Interrupts the noble from before his voice full of contempt. He steps forward and looks vaguely like King Randor. Enough so to be a cousin or uncle. The man stands 5' 11" tall and like Randor has shoulder length brown hair. Where Randor's eyes are blue like his children this noble's eyes are brown. Randor's physic although not fat is robust, where the noble is thin and wiry. Both men sport a mustache but Randor's full while the other's is pencil thing and he has a goatee. "Kadar, you are out of line! She makes valid points and I am inclined to agree with them." Randor tells the man his eyes narrowing. "YOU ARE GOING TO SELL HER THE VALLEY!" Kadar sputters in disbelief. "Yes! Ranma I will charge you five large diamonds and two sapphires of the same size. Can you pay it." Kadar looks to the girl with flaming eyes and smiles knowing she can not have such wealth. Ranma smiles a smug smile at the rude noble and pushes past him. She can not resist using a lightning fast move which causes one of Kadar's legs to give out. He hollers as he collapses his servant running his aid. As the servant helps him to his feet he points a shaky finger at the fire hair girl. "She did something to my leg!" He tells his king his eyes narrowing and a snarl on his lips. "I was not near enough to do anything your majesty." Ranma tells the king trying to hide a smug smile. King Randor sees her effort and smiles as he realizes before him is the face of a woman that can not lie. He however does not reprimand her as Kadar is soon walking. It was a temporary retaliation for calling her a liar. "Cousin I do believe you need to go lie down it is below your station to behave in this manor. Aunt Sakin would be mortified of her son's rudeness to an honored guest." The group watches as Kadar's face drains of color and his eyes widen. "Excuse me your majesty I am just tired from the travel, by your leave, I will retire to my rooms?" Kadar asks quickly giving the room a cursory look for someone. "Yes by all means, we will see you in the morning." King Randor smiles and waves his hand as Kadar leaves the throne room. "Now child what did you do to him?" The group around the king gasps and Ranma lowers her head guiltily. "It is a martial arts technique that can be used in a fight or for healing. It is called shiatsu, or presser point. I hit the one to make his leg give out but not hard enough it would last to long." Ranma keeps her gaze on her hands as if there is something fascinating about them. "BWHAHAHAHAHA! Don't worry child Cousin Kadar needs a to be brought down a peg or two once in a while just don't do it _to_ often." Ranma looks up at the king a broad smile on her face and she nods. "Now can you pay for the property you ask?" Ranma steps forward her smile growing wider. Ranma from nowhere pulls the pouch Happosai threw at her. She takes it and empties the gems still in the pouch onto the table. The nobles near the throne gasp at the amount of precious gems the young girl carries with her. King Randor smiles and finds what he is looking for. He pulls five diamonds and two sapphires from the pile all about the size of a robins egg. "These will do nicely Ranma. The land is yours scribe the paper work." Ranma stops in her collecting of the remaining stones to stare with confusion at the king. "The sorceress told us you wanted to buy some property. So I had the documents made up ahead of time the only thing missing was which land and our signatures." Ranma nods and quickly gathers her gems, putting them back into hyperstorage. The scribe comes forward and Ranma sees the name 'The Valley of Mists' written on it. The document also states that she owns all the lands the mist surrounds including the mountains. She finds her name and Randor's at the bottom and signs. The scribe then pulls free a second copy which they both sign. When they finish King Randor puts the royal seal on the documents making them binding. The king then stands and shakes Ranma's hand, while Queen Marlena gives her a hug. She smiles happily at them then turns to see the faces of her new friends smiling happily for her. For the first time ever she is happy and has friends she can believe in. She just wishes she could share it with her mother. /*\*/*\ In Nerima district Nodoka puts the dinner dishes away. When she sneezes she looks up with surprise wipes her nose with her handkerchief and returns to putting away the dishes. /*\*/*\ Ryoga stops running he looks around for the police car that took away his Akane. The two moons above him shine brightly as they cast their light upon a building surrounded by a deep trench. Ryoga looks at the strange skull shaped building then up at the two moons. "Two moons? WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW! RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Ryoga screams as he runs off disappearing into the night. /*\*/*\ In the throne room among well wishers and her new friends. Ranma looks up and sneezes. She looks around with worry as something is beginning to feel strange, but familiar.