Hi!

Sorry for the inconvinience.  This attachment should be more readable.

Sage-chan

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The Lady or the Panda
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(a crossover between Ranma 1/2 and "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank
Stockton)

	Long Ago, in ancient times, there lived a semibarbaric king, King Soun.
He lived peacefully in his Kindgom with his daughter, Princess Akane.
His first two daughters, Princess Nabiki and Princess Kasumi, were
married to neighboring kingdoms, Tatewaki Kingdom and Tofu Kingdom.  One
kingdom was the wealthiest in all the world and steadily becoming more
so.  The other was the happiest and most peaceful place to be, all
crisises were handled with a smile.  King Soun kept order within his
kingdom through an entertaining use of chance.  When a subject is accused
of a crime, he is put into an arena containing only two doors.  The
subject than has a choice to open one or the other.  Behind one door lies
a ferocious panda, which would immediately tear the subject to pieces.
Behind the other door stands a lady, chosen from the King's own court,
beautiful, and perfect in age for the subject, whom the subject would
immediately marry as a reward for his innocence.  Whether the subject was
already married or engaged was not important, there was no getting out of
that marriage.  A crowd would gather in the arena to either weep for the
deceased or take part in the marriage celebration.
	Princess Akane was the apple of King Soun's eyes.  He loved her
unconditionaly and planed to leave his kingdom to her.  She was
beautiful, but also imperial, prone to violence,  tomboyish, and
stubborn.  She excelled in many manly sports such as riding and hunting,
but had no luck in learning to embroider or cook simple dishes.  However,
this did not stop the suitors.  There were many, all dashing, wealthy,
and handsome, but neither the King or the Princess took a liking to them.
Among the King's courtiers was a young man, Ranma de Saotome.  He was
handsome,skilled, and heroic, but of a low station.  When, out of chance,
Saotome and Princess Akane first met, there was instant mutual dislike.
Ranma didn't like Princess Akane's tomboyishness or violent inclinations.
Likely, Princess Akane dispaired at Ranma's inattention to her and his
apparent loftiness.  Many insultes were fired at each other and "baka"
and "kawaiikune" were used frequently in their conversations.  As time
passed, they soon began to see the good in each other and fell in love.
The love-affair continued smoothely for many months, not withstanding the
seemingly millions of ardent suitors.  They were no match for Ranma's
skill and were dispatched with ease.  Unfortunately, one day the King
found out.  The King was astounded that a lad of the lowest of stations
had stolen his daughters heart.  He threw Ranma into a prison and cried
for several straight weeks for his daughter's lost innocence.  No amount
of pleading from Princess Akane could change the King's decision to put
Ranma into the arena.  The date was set and the King searched high and
low in all the kingdoms for the most ferocious of pandas and the most
loveliest of ladies.
	The date arrived and Ranma was put into the arena.  As he stood facing
the two doors which would decide his future, he turned to look at the
Princess.  The Princess knew which door held which fate.  Indeed, she
even knew who the lady was and what the panda looked like.  The Panda was
an especially ferocious panda.  It was particular in that it wore
glasses, but after a week of starvation, there was a desparate, insane
look to it's eyes.  The lady was a radient beauty of her father's court.
A duchess from a faraway Kingdom.  She possessed an enticing mane of
violet hair and a figure which surpassed the Princess's own.  She was
even proficient in the culinary arts and embroidery as well as all the
manly sports the Princess so enjoyed.  The Princess could remember varios
times when she had caught the Duchess smile at her lover and she knew
that the Duchess was eager to have him.  With the fire of her barbaric
ancestory, the Princess HATED the lady.  When she caught Ranma's
inquiring glance, she looked at him with tortured eyes.  Quickly the
Princess recovered her composer and with only a small tremble of her
lips, she raised her hand and made a quick movement towards the door to
his right.  This silent message was only seen by Ranma and he quickly,
with confident steps, walked to the door on his right and opened it.  Now
the question is, did the Panda come out of the door? or did the lady?