I can't believe I'm writing this...

Anyway, here's the lengthy what-has-gone-before...


Major differences between Ranma 1/2 normal and
*my* universe:

1) Genma and Soun never got to be friends, ergo no
engagements (Ranma hasn't met the Tendos).  This solved
a *lot* of problems... Also, no Happosai, simply
because I don't want to.

2) Same basic setup for the Ukyou story, except that
Ukyou's father wants her to train with Ranma, not marry
him.  Genma agrees, and Ukyou goes with them.  Ranma and
Ukyou are still best friends.

3) They end up in Nerima, containing Ryouga Hibiki, and
there's the usual bread war.  This time, however, Ukyou
finds Ryouga before he wanders off, and manages to lead
him to the duel.  Ryouga wins the duel, but Ranma wins the
next one, and so forth.  With a grudging respect for one 
another, they have become friends as well.

4) Tsubasa is also in this town, and there are the usual 
problems (except that Ukyou doesn't cross-dress).  Ranma
and Ryouga are both very familiar with Tsubasa.

5) Genma and Ranma go on another trip, inviting Ryouga.
Ukyou stays behind, wanting to settle down.  This trip
takes them to Jusenkyo.  After Genma goads them into fighting
one another, they crash and both end up in the spring of
drowned girl.  Getting annoyed, then then gick Genma into
the panda spring.  End of trip.  Ranma looks like Ranma-chan,
Ryouga is basically the Ryouga 1/2 description from Mark
Latus' stories. (I'm just borrowing the *description*, nothing
else)

6) Realizing that Genma is the cause of most of their problems,
Ranma and Ryouga end up moving out, and into a nice
apartment.  However, they soon realize that they have to 
get jobs.  Ryouga finds one at an ad agency, but Ranma 
wants to work as a martial artist.  Unfortunately, they're
not hiring.  Ryouga then conspires with the head of the 
agency, Nabiki Tendo, to convince Ranma that this is 
"martial arts-ad copy writing".  Needless to say, Ranma snaps
it up.  He proves to be excellent at it, much to everyone's 
surprise.

7) Nabiki hits on Ranma, in a not-really-serious way.

8) The village of the Amazons was hit with a typhoon years
ago, and destroyed.  Cologne and Shampoo emigrated to Japan,
where they went into the hotel business.  Cologne starts the
Hotel of the Amazons, an all-women facility.

9) Ukyou has opened Ucchan's in the city.  She has also
taken a room at Cologne's hotel.  She is beginning to realize
that she is in love with Ranma, and wonders if he feels the
same way.  (He doesn't, at least not yet.)


Character Matches:
(note:  these are basic.  I promise they'll be as much in
character for Ranma regulars as I can make it.)

Ryouga - Kip (Albeit a shyer Kip)
Ranma - Henry (And a much louder, more obnoxious Henry)
Ukyou - Amy (though not quite as big)
Akane - Sonny (a lot more violent than Sonny ever got)
Nabiki - Ruth (actually, pretty damn similar)
Cologne - Lily (only a lot more vicious)
Shampoo - Isabel (This one's not that close at all)
Tsubasa - none

As of now, those are the characters.  Genma, Kasumi, Mousse,
Kuno and Kodachi will probably pop up later.


General notes as to where this is going:

This ain't no Sour Times, I can tell you that.  No
death and depression here.  I will endeavor to be funny,
though no guarantees are made.

Those looking for a Ranma/Akane matchup - sorry, not
here.  Ukyou is going to get Ranma in this story, because
I want her to have something besides Elseworlds #1...

I have no idea how long this will go on.  It could end
after two, or it could linger like a dead woodchuck.


Anyway, episode 1 should be out in a few days.  This
was a necessary prologue mainly because I wanted to
head right into the story with no problem.  This is turning
out to be longer than I expected, though.  I might go back 
and write some of the backstory, but not now.

And finally, the voiceover (and also a preview of ep. 1's
plot):

Ranma:  When we first moved to Nerima, we had a great
	apartment that was dirt cheap.
Ryouga:  And we found out why it was so cheap.

*SMASH*

Ranma:  Our friend Ukyou said there was a great apartment
	in her building.
Ryouga:  Dirt cheap -- but it's a hotel for women.  OK,
	we made one adjustment.

(shot of Ranma and Ryouga falling into spring)

Ranma:  Now all the other girls know us as Ranko and
	Akemi.
Ryouga:  But they also know us as Ranma and Ryouga, 
	Ranko and Akemi's *brothers*.
Ryouga:  I am, uh, crazy about the martial artist.
Ranma:  Well, I suppose this counts as good training.
Ryouga:  See?  It's all perfectly normal.

(cue Billy Joel)

--Sean Gaffney
--"You git!  I thought you were dead!  Git git git!" - Benny, No Future