Subject: Repost: The Legend of Ranko Part 2
From: fcasper
Date: 10/19/1996, 2:45 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com

THE LEGEND OF RANKO 

(A Ranma 1/2 fanfic)
 
>From the Desk of Megane 6.7

        This is a work of Fiction.  All Characters and Landmarks, are
the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films, Viz
Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the rights.  

PART 2        

        �TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!!�

        The young woman watched in amazement as the pig-tailed
boy�s fists seemed to be everywhere at once, pummeling the would-be
thug into unconsciousness.  Then the boy offered a hand to help her to
her feet.

        �T...Thank you.�  the girl stammered.

        �No problem.�  The boy smiled.  �Glad I could help.�

        How....How did your fists achieve such speed, kind sir?�
the woman asked.

        It was strange to hear someone call him something other 
than �my prince or lord.�  He had chosen to dress inconspicuously 
and the only thing that could still identify him as the Prince of 
Hyrule, his trademark pigtail, was concealed beneath the hood of 
his jacket.  �Oh, that.�  he said nonchalantly.  �I picked it up 
during my travels in China.�  He frowned as he remembered the 
�other� souvenir he picked up from there, not to mention who he 
had lost and....

        Ranma shook his head to clear it.  He couldn�t afford to
think about the past now.  He had a mission to accomplish and not
much time to do it in.

        �Well, thank you for saving me from that horrible man.�  
She gestured down at the man Ranma had sent to dreamland.  
�I fear I have no money to repay your kindness so if you wish....�

        The girl pulled her dress up to reveal a very shapely pair of
legs.  �I will allow you to take your pleasure of me in exchange for 
saving my life.�

         The boy looked shocked at this.  �No!  I mean....pull your 
dress back down!�  he blushed crimson as he turned away.  �I don�t
want payment, especially not that kind of payment.  I was glad to 
save your life, as I would any other innocent.�

        The girl looked surprised as she lowered the hem of her 
dress again.  �You are not from here are you?�  she remarked.

        �You....You could say that.  I came from the mountains in 
to look for an old friend of mine.  Have you heard of a man named 
Ryouga Hibiki?�

        �Yes.  He is staying at my father�s inn.�  She replied.

        �Inn?�  Ranma�s voice was filled with confusion.  �If your
father runs an inn why are you prostituting yourself to me?�

        The inn is old and in a state of disrepair, my father is very 
ill and cannot work and my other sister left us several months ago to
marry her lover and we haven�t heard from her since.  I can run the
inn myself but those who would bother to enter have little or no 
money.  So I had planned to sell my body to raise money for 
medicine to keep my father alive.�  the girl lowered her head in 
shame.

        Ranma felt sick, living in the castle of Hyrule for the past 
month had almost made him forget his previous life of living as a 
commoner. Or maybe he wanted to forget.   He had been forced most 
of his life to steal to survive by the master thief Happosai.  He had 
once been part of the most notorious Thieves Guild in Hyrule before 
he had managed to seal the master in a water barrel and throw him 
off the side of a cliff when it was discovered that he had been holding
out on him.  Then Ranma managed to catch the eye of the Captain 
of the Princess�s royal guards, Akane Tendo.  Unfortunately he had 
been in a relationship with another woman at the time and rejected 
her affections.  Akane pride was hurt and she challenged him, a 
fight to the death so she could avenge her slighted honor.

        Ranma had managed to defeat her easily and spared her life, 
enraging her but attracting the attention of the princess Ranko 
herself.  Against her Captain�s advice, she hired Ranma as one of her 
royal guards and from then on, he had lived in what seemed like the 
lap of luxury compared to hellholes like these.  Falling in love with 
the princess was another story though....   

        �Sir....?�  The girl inquired nervously, breaking Ranma�s 
train of thought.

        �Listen....�  Ranma began. 

        Ranma gently placed his hands on the girl�s shoulders as he
spoke.  She seemed to flinch slightly and said in a quiet voice.  �If 
you�ve changed your mind, there�s a room we can use nearby....�

        �What?  NO!  That�s not why....�  Ranma released her 
shoulders immediately and continued.  �I want you to take me to
see Ryouga.  You don�t owe me anything and I wouldn�t dishonor
you or myself by taking your body.

        The girl smiled.  �Thank you.  I will take you to see him.  
It�s the least I can do.�  She walked with him down the street.  �By 
the way, what�s your name?�

        �Ran....�  Ranma caught himself in time, not wanting 
anyone to know about his true identity as it would hinder his mission.
�Link.�  he replied.   It was the name of his childhood pet, a rat he 
had taught to steal food scraps from the tables of restaurants while he 
waited outside for the morsels of food.  �My name is Link.�

        �Pleased to meet you Ranlink, My name is Kasumi Tendo.�

        Ranma laughed.  �It�s just Link and....did you say Tendo?�  

        �Y....Yes.�  Kasumi nervously replied.

        Ranma blinked in surprise.  �Do you know a Akane 
Tendo by chance?�  he asked.

        Kasumi�s eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment.  �I have
never heard of that name nor care to ever hear it again.�  She said
in a flat monotone.

        �Okay, okay!  I was just curious!�  Ranma wondered why 
Kasumi had suddenly become so cold.

        �Curious about what?�  Kasumi said, smiling at him.

        �Why you got so defensive when I mentioned Akane 
Tendo�s name.�  he said.

        Immediately the smile disappeared and her eyes went 
unfocused as she repeated  �I have never heard of that name nor 
care to ever hear it again.�

        Ranma stared at Kasumi.  �Could she be under an 
enchantment?�  he wondered to himself as he continued to follow
her towards a ratty old inn....


*       *       *


        Gosunkugri and Sasuke sat in the dining room of Kunou�s castle, 
looking dejected.

        �Things were sure a lot simpler before Master Kunou 
became Overlord Kunou.�  Sasuke remarked.

        �Tell me about it.  Ever since he returned from China with 
those love potion ingredients for me to use, he�s been a different 
person.�  Gosunkugri sighed.

        �He still recites bad poetry but his entire demeanor had 
changed.  He is much more....evil.�  Sasuke said.

        �And why has he suddenly begun to associate with his 
witch sister!  Before now, he wouldn�t have anything to do with 
her.�  Gosunkugri noted.

        �Not to mention his sudden fond memories of his father.  
He was as much an idiot as his son ever was.  Why people like 
them elevate to the status of lord of a realm is beyond me.�

        �Family bloodline.�  Gosunkugri replied.  �It doesn�t 
matter how smart you are, as long as you�re born into it.�      

        �And let�s not forget the Master�s recent bride, or should I
say, ex-bride now.�  Sasuke said.

        �Granted, Princess Tendo was annoying as hell but to lock 
her in the dungeon below just like that....�  Gosunkugri remembered 
it well.   

        It was shortly after Kunou�s return from China.  Nabiki 
Tendo, the master�s bride for two months now, had greeted him at 
the door, asking if he had brought her any riches from the foreign 
land.  

        Kunou then bluntly told her to shut up.  

        At first, Gosunkugri and Sasuke were overjoyed that their 
master was finally standing up to his domineering, money hungry 
wife.  Ever since she had been delivered from her past commoner life
and into the lap of luxury, she had become a spoiled brat, demanding
everything and giving nothing back.  

        But now, when Nabiki demanded to know why he hadn�t 
brought her anything, he had screamed for �HER� guards and told 
them to throw her in the dungeon.  Since all of the castle�s guards at 
the time were under Nabiki�s control, they refused and Kunou had 
responded by calmly decapitating every last one of the old guards 
effortlessly, showing incredible skill that no one ever suspected he 
had.  Princess Tendo became frightened and begged Sasuke and 
Gosunkugri to talk some sense into him but one look at the 
headless guards on the floor quickly convinced them to stay loyal to 
their master as they took her down to the dungeon, locked her away 
and had not checked on her since.  She was long dead by now, 
without food or water for several months, she could not have 
survived....

        �I just wish I felt better about the whole situation.�  
Gosunkugri muttered as he idly sloshed around the love potion
Kunou had ordered him to make for his two loves, Princess Ranko 
and Akane Tendo.

        �I fear things will only get worse before they get better.�  
Sasuke sadly replied as he took another sip....

        �SORCERER, STAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!!�

        Gosunkugri nearly leaped out of his skin as Kunou 
suddenly appeared in the doorway to the dining hall and bellowed.  
�Yes, Lord Kunou?�  he weakly replied.

        �The time to make use of the love potion is at hand.�  He 
fixed his steely gaze on Sasuke.  �You will take a legion of thy 
finest ninja warriors and accompany sorcerer to Hyrule Castle where 
thee will use stealth to enter the castle undetected and kidnap both 
Akane Tendo and the Pig Tailed girl and bring them here.  Then, 
sorcerer....�

        �I....it�s Gosunkugri, sir....�  Gosunkugri reminded him.

        In an instant, Kunou had Gosunkugri by the throat with one
hand and lifted him high in the air.

        �INTERRUPT ME AT YOUR OWN PERIL!!!�  Kunou roared 
with fury as he threw Gosunkugri down hard on the stone floor, 
knocking him unconscious.  Kunou then glared at Sasuke and 
continued.

        �Then sorcerer will administer thy potion to MY loves in 
MY presence and when they are MINE, I will have MY way with them
both and then send them back to the castle.�

        �S...Send them back?�  Sasuke was surprised.

        �When we unleash the hellhounds of war upon Hyrule, the 
Princess and her Captain of the Guard, under MY control, will open 
the gates of the castle to MY vast armies and I shall lay waste to their 
castle, their towns, their entire land will be burned to ashes!�  Kunou 
finished in a dark tone.  Then I will have both triforces and with 
them I shall begin my reign as the SUPREME BEING OF ALL THAT EXISTS!!! 
THIS I HEREBY SWEAR!   BECAUSE I....SAY....SO!!! 

        The sound of thunder echoed throughout the castle along 
with Kunou�s power voice as Sasuke gasped in awe of his dark 
lord....

        �And I thought he was full of himself before....�  Sasuke 
wisely keep the thought to himself as he glanced down at the 
prone form of Hikaru Gosunkugri....


*       *       *


        Ranko looked in her mirror as she combed her long red 
locks.  She was wearing her light purple nightgown and her crown 
rested lightly on her dressing table.  Behind her, ever vigilant, was
her captain of the guard Akane Tendo, leaning against the door to her 
chambers with her arms folded across her chest.

        �I still don�t know why you sent that macho jerk Ranma to
capture the triforce.  I know he�s your husband and all but....�

        Ranko smiled faintly.  Only Akane could get away
with calling her fiancee a macho jerk.  It wasn�t just because she 
and Akane had been close friends for the longest time, she had the 
same thought herself on a daily basis.  �I know he can be the most 
stubborn pigheaded man in Hyrule but he�s my stubborn pigheaded 
man and I know he won�t fail me.�  Ranko sighed inwardly as her
own words sounded hollow somehow.  She was worried about 
Ranma....

        Akane snorted.  �I guess that�s why he�s planning to get
back together with that ex-fiancee cook of his eh, Ranko?�      

        Ranko�s face flushed and she clenched her fists.  �H....He 
doesn�t think of her like that anymore!�  She snapped at Akane.

        �So he says,�  Akane voice was laced with doubt.  �I don�t
know about you but if I found out my husband was going off far 
away with his ex-lover....

        That was the final straw.  �Oh yeah?!  You�re just jealous 
because he chose Ukyou instead of a tomboy like you!!!�  Ranko 
shouted back at Akane, her voice shaking with anger.

        Akane suddenly grew silent.  Ranko realized what she said 
and immediately regretted it.  �I�m sorry, Akane.  I shouldn�t have 
said that.  It�s just....I do worry sometimes that Ranma will go back 
to Ukyou since he keeps visiting her once in a while as a friend.�  She 
swallowed hard and continued.  �I believe him though when he says 
he loves me and he knows I love him with all my heart.  We may 
have our disagreements once in a while but we both know we�re 
destined to be married someday so we don�t let it get out of control.�

        Ranko stood up and faced Akane.  �I know you liked Ranma
and you were hurt when he stayed with Ukyou.  But I chose him to be
one of my guards....and eventually my prince....because of his 
fighting ability.  It wasn�t because I didn�t trust your judgment or 
considered your feelings.�  She came closer to Akane until she was 
face to face with her.  �You mean a great deal to me Akane Tendo, 
You are my best warrior, my best friend....and even.....

        Ranko embraced Akane and gave her a passionate kiss on 
the lips.   Akane responded to the kiss, placing her own arms 
around the princess and holding her close.  They continued to kiss 
for a long time before Ranko finally released her and smiled, 
holding both of Akane�s hands in her own.

        �You will always have a special place in my heart, Akane.�
Ranko said, her eyes filled with joy.  �When I marry Ranma....�

        Akane�s face saddened and she started to turn away only to
have Ranko release her hands and gently cup her face with them.  
Ranko looked Akane in the eyes as tears began to fall from them.

        �When I marry Ranma, you will not be forgotten or 
ignored.  I swear that upon my life.�  Ranko reassured the crying
Akane.

        �B...But...Will it be the s....same as before....�  Akane 
sobbed.

        Ranko�s face saddened a bit.  �I cannot say.  It depends
on what the prince thinks and how it will reflect on the kingdom.
If rumors were to surface....�  

        �Why s....should we care about rumors.  If we�re in love 
then that all that should matter!�  Akane cried out in sorrow as 
Ranko held her again, gently stroking her short raven hair, trying 
to comfort her.  �We never cared what people thought before.�

        Ranko smiled.  �You�re right....that was foolish of me to 
say.  But the prince might object....�

        �Let him.�  Akane said in a cold voice.  �I�ll keep 
challenging him to duels until he agrees with us.�

        �But you�ve never beaten him!�  Ranko exclaimed.

        �I�m talking about swordplay not marital arts.�  Akane 
managed a small laugh.  �Ranma�s so inept at swordplay I could 
defeat him with my eyes closed, lying flat on my back.�

        �Like I�ve done with you?�  Ranko purred as she gave a 
quick nibble to Akane�s earlobe.

        �Yeah....Just like that....�  Akane sighed as Ranko began 
to slowly kiss Akane�s exposed neck, gently lowering her body 
to the floor....

        �R....Ranko....�  Akane whispered in the Princess�s ear.

        �Shhh....Don�t talk now....�  Ranko whispered as she 
moved her hands around Akane�s waist, pulling her body to rest
upon her own.....


(Fade to Black)


        There you go.  I hope this part answers some of your questions
from part one.  And no, this isn�t going to turn into a lemon.  Akane 
and Ranko are simply bi-sexual in this story.  Deal with it.

        Although this was supposed to originally be a Zelda/Ranma 
crossover, I�m afraid I only know so much about Zelda and will try 
to fit in some references throughout the story.  In the mainstream of 
things, this story is Ranma set in the medieval times.  Hope nobody 
is disappointed.

        Before you lynch me for turning Kasumi into �a lady of the
evening� keep in mind that this is the dark ages and chances were pretty
good back then that a young woman who�s father was too ill to work and 
no one went to his place of business, had to get money for him any 
way she could and since Kasumi is very beautiful, she would most 
likely not be hired for a regular job without the owner trying to 
take advantage of her in some way.  That�s why they were called 
the �Dark Ages�.  You may ask why hasn�t Ryouga offered to help 
since he�s been staying there?  That question will be answered in 
Part 3.

Part 3 will be coming within the next week or so.

Give me feedback!  I love feedback!