"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, with the 
exception of Hyrule, Link, and any other reference to the Legend of
Zelda, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty
Films, Viz Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the
rights.  Ditto for whoever the rights to the Legend of Zelda.  


CONTINUED FROM PART 2....

PART 3

        The sun had already begun to set as Kasumi and Ranma 
entered the Tendo inn.  While it was fairly large, suggesting it was 
once a fine place to dwell, it was dark and cold inside, a few torches
the only form of illumination and the only occupant a drunk on the 
floor leaning against the bar with his head bowed.  Kasumi 
immediately retreated into the backroom, presumingly to check on 
her father while Ranma took a seat at one of the tables.  A few 
moments later, Kasumi reemerged with a worried expression.

        �Is your father all right?�  Ranma asked.

        �No.�  She said simply, a tear rolling down her cheek.  �I 
fear he doesn�t have much time left on this earth....�

        �Does he carry the plague?�  Ranma wondered.

        �I do not know.  The only doctor in town is a bone healer.  
He cannot cure disease of this magnitude.  He has tried to give my 
father alive with pressure points that strengthen the body but 
everytime it seems he will get better, he grows far worse again.�  
Kasumi wiped the tears from her cheeks.  �But you came here to see
your friend not to hear of my problems, didn�t you?�  

        �Well....�  Ranma wanted to hear more but his mission came
to mind and he knew time was of the essence.  �Could I speak to 
Ryouga?�

        �You can try.  I don�t know if he can hear you though.�  
Kasumi replied sadly.

        �What do you mean?�  Ranma was confused.

        Kasumi gestured at the drunk on the floor.  Ranma took a
closer look and was shocked to see it was Ryouga.  With his head 
bowed, he didn�t even recognize his old friend.

        �Ryouga, hey wake up!�  Ranma said. 

        Ryouga opened his eyes briefly and they widened with 
recognition as they saw him.

        �Ranma.  Tat you old friend?�  Ryouga slurred.

        Ranma quickly retreated, the smell of booze on Ryouga�s
breath was painfully apparent.

        "Are you drunk Ryouga?"  Ranma was truely shocked.

        "BOMBED....hehehehe."  Ryouga giggled to himself as he swayed
from side to side.  Ranma looked at him strangely.        

        �Jeez Ryouga, why the hell did you get so drunk?  Did you
win a tough battle or something?�

        �Nnnno....Mush worss......�  Ryouga replied, completely 
sloshed.

        �What then?  Someone in the family die?�

        �SHE LEFF ME!!!�  Ryouga suddenly shouted and burst into
tears.  �She leff me for a blacksmith!  I�ve got nothin left!�  he
sobbed.

        Ranma understood now.  His wife Akari.  Ranma was afraid 
this would happen someday.  Ryouga had been one of the most 
powerful warriors in Hyrule and as such had attracted a great amount 
of admirers.  However Ryouga was too shy to accept their offers of 
love and secluded himself in the mountains most of the time.  

        Then one day, he heard of a boar-wrestling contest being held in
the town.  The winner would get the honor of marrying the boar�s
beautiful female trainer.  Ryouga had come into the town to see the
contest and when he had spotted the girl it was love at first sight for
him.  At first he was too shy to enter the contest to try for her hand
but when it seemed that no one could defeat the mighty boar, Akari had
spotted him from the crowd and called for him to give it a try.  

        So Ryouga gathered his courage and entered the pit where the
boar awaited.  After a brief stuggle, Ryouga defeated it in record time
and won the right to become her bride.  They were soon married and it
seemed Ryouga had found happiness.

        But Akari was not like Ryouga at all.  Unlike his shyness and
inability to talk to women, Akari was completely comfortable with 
them....in more ways than one.  Ranma had found this out when he 
came to visit their home and Akari had virtually flung herself at him
every time Ryouga turned his back.  Ranma resisted her advances of
course, angrily telling her she belonged to Ryouga but she wouldn�t
take the hint.  He hadn�t seen Ryouga and Akari since he moved into
Hyrule castle and he hoped they could work out their differences.

        �Don�t worry about it Ryouga.  She�s not worth crying about
anyway.�  Ranma tried to reassure him.

        Ryouga looked up at him, his body began to grow a bright 
green color and Ranma realized he may have just made a big mistake.

        �WHATDOYOUKNOW!!!� Ryouga screamed incoherently
at Ranma.  �You�ve been living the high life for so damn long, 
you�ve forgotten what it�s like down here!  I loved her dammit!  I 
loved her and she betrayed me!�

        Ranma was silent as Ryouga continued.  �Everything I ever
cared about died when she left me.  So I came in here, crawled inside
a mug of ale and I�ve been here ever since!�

        �When did Akari leave you?�  Ranma wondered.

        �T....This morning.�  Ryouga sobbed, his previous anger 
turning back into tears, his battle aura fading away.

        Ranma inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.  If Ryouga had only
started drinking today, he could be sober by tomorrow.  He�d have one
hell of a hangover but he would be sober.  �Come on Ryouga.�  Ranma
gently lifted Ryouga up to his feet and then slung him over his shoulder
since Ryouga couldn�t stand up anyway.  He turned back to Kasumi.

        �Do you think I could....�  Ranma began.

        �Of course Link.  You can take any room you like.�  Kasumi 
finished for him.

        �Thank you.�  Ranma replied as he walked towards the 
rooms, carrying Ryouga over his shoulders.

        �Link?�  Ryouga muttered aloud.

        �Shh!  I�ll tell you later.�  Ranma whispered Ryouga as they 
made their way inside one of the rooms.  The room was small, the 
only piece of furniture a single bed barely big enough for two.  Ranma
groaned as he gently laid Ryouga on the bed.

        �See you tomorrow old friend.�  Ranma said as he left the 
room and quietly shut the door.  Kasumi was waiting for him outside
as he did so.

        �Is your friend all right?�

        �He will be, thanks for asking.�  Ranma replied.  Then he 
reached into his purse and produced some gold coins.  �Here�s 
something to repay you for your kindness.  We�ll be leaving 
tomorrow.�

        Kasumi�s eyes went wide with shock.  �Y....you would do 
this....for me?  But....you saved my life....It is I who should....

        �It�s okay.  Just tell me where to buy this medicine and I�ll
go get it for you.  A girl as pretty as you shouldn�t be wandering the
streets alone at night.�

        Kasumi blushed furiously at the compliment as she replied.  
�It�s a mile down the road in that direction.�  She pointed to the
south.  A old woman named Cologne sells it to me.

        �COLOGNE!�  Ranma said in disbelief, the volume of his 
voice causing Kasumi to leap back in fright.

        �Y....Y....Yes....She�s the one who�s been selling me the 
potions to keep father alive.  But only if I have enough money.  The 
amount of coin in your hand is enough to buy a year�s supply!

        Ranma glowered in silent fury.  After all this time....the 
woman responsible for a great deal of his misery was in his grasp!
He knew that somehow Cologne was using Kasumi in some fashion.
Then he remembers Kasumi�s reaction to Akane�s name....

        �Kasumi!�  Ranma said as he grasped her shoulders.  �When
did you first meet Cologne?�

        �It was not I.  It was father.  He had been walking home 
carrying our dinner over his back when he came across her.  She tried 
to....

        �She tried to engage her granddaughter to your father, didn�t
she?�  Ranma jumped in.

        �Yes.  My father refused because the memory of my deceased 
mother was too painful for him to ever love again.  Cologne was 
furious and vowed revenge on my father for dishonoring her 
granddaughter.�

        �And then she threw a jar of cursed water at your father which
made him turn into a....�  Ranma continued.

        �No.�  Kasumi interrupted.

        �No?�  Ranma was confused.

        �Cologne didn�t do anything.  My father walked home and we
didn�t hear from her again.  Then my father grew ill and things began to
fall apart....�  Then it hit her.  �Are you suggesting Cologne is 
responsible for my father�s illness?!?�

         �Maybe....I have to go see her for myself and find out.�  
Ranma replied as he thought to himself.  �Not to mention settle my own
score with the old ghoul....�

        �Aright.  Be careful now!�  Kasumi said as Ranma dashed 
out of the inn, and rushed down the road....


*       *       *


        A light purple nightgown, entwined with the clothes of a 
warrior lay forgotten in the shadows.  Their owners slowly uncurled
from a naked embrace that had lasted long after the lovemaking.  
Akane began to rise when Ranko gently placed a arm around her 
waist to pull her back.  Akane was happy to oblige her by again
nestling within her soft breasts and strong limbs, listening to the 
sound of her rapid heartbeat as Ranko stroked her hair every so 
gently.  
   
        Then Akane suddenly spoke. �Do you ever wonder if 
Ranma ever considers his curse a good thing?�

        �What do you mean?�  Ranko asked.

        �I mean, ever since that old crone threw that jar of cursed 
water at him, he�s done nothing but complain and whine to us about
how inconvenient it is for him.  But I for one can see the advantages of
it and I wonder if he hides it from us.�

        �Turning into a fairy everytime he�s hit with cold water isn�t 
exactly a good thing.�  Ranko remarked.

        �But think of the advantages!  He can sneak into any 
enemy�s lair with little chance of being detected because of his size.  
He can fly!  He can move really fast!  He can even perform some 
magic now....�

        �But it cost him the woman he loved at the time.�  Ranko 
reminded Akane.

        �So what?  It worked out for you didn�t it?�  Akane said with
a sly grin.

        Ranko sighed.  �Perhaps, but I still think....�

        Ranko never has a chance to finish her sentence as a blue portal
suddenly appears in front of them.  A moment later, Hikaru Gosunkugri 
accompanied by Sasuke and a hoarde of ninjas emerged from the
portal.  Gosunkugri takes a step forward and smirks.

        �Hah!  Now we have....woo....whoa....gulp....�
 
        Gosunkugri sees the princess and the captain of the guards
in a naked embrace and he quickly faints, blood exploding from his
nose.  Sasuke looks down at him with disgust before he turns to face
the lovers with an amused grin on his face.

        �Well, well, well,  Look at what we have here....�

        Akane instantly stood up and drove into a roll to retrieve her
sword.  A ninja tried to stop her only to be sliced into seven separate 
pieces a moment later.

        �GUARDS!!!�  Ranko screamed at the top of her lungs.

        Sasuke laughed as Akane stood naked in front of the equally
unclothed princess with her sword drawn.  Ranko tried to reach her 
own sword to help when Sasuke whipped a chain around it and 
flipped it out the window and permanently out of her reach.

        �I don�t know how you bastards got in here.  But every one
of you will die today before I let you get near my princess!�  Akane
threatened, her sword gleaming.

        �Looks like you�ve already beaten us to that.�  Sasuke said
as he roared with laughter, his ninjas remained silent, posed to 
strike.

        �Silence!�  Ranko decided to be heard.  �My other guards 
will be here momentarily and you will be outnumbered.�

        �Quite right. I guess we�ll just have to make this quick.  
Attack!�  Sasuke commanded as two dozen ninjas sprang as one at 
them.

        Facing with overwhelming odds, Akane immediately began
slashing and hacking anything that moved.  She fought well, killing
several ninjas and wounding many others, but soon she was 
overwhelmed and she felt her sword being ripped from her grasp.

        Ranko too fought bravely but without a sword, her fighting 
skills were limited to basic techniques that Ranma had taught her. 
Still something in her snapped and she lashed out with her feet and 
fists.  As one ninja went down with a satisfying scream, seven more g
rabbed her arms and legs and pinned her to the floor.  Meanwhile 
Sasuke calmly walked over to her and carefully pulled a bouquet of 
black roses out of his vest.  He held them out in front of Ranko�s face 
as she struggled against her captors.  Then he squeezed the bottom 
of the bouquet, emitting a small cloud of gas.  Ranko breathed in the 
fumes and soon ceased her struggles as she lost consciousness.

        �Hurry!  We don�t have much time left!  Bring them to the 
portal!�  Sasuke then glanced down at the still unconscious 
Gosunkugri.  �And someone bring him along as well!�  Sasuke shook
his head in disgust.

        Ranko�s arms and legs were hefted as four ninjas carried her 
towards the portal while a furious Akane struggled to get the pile of 
ninjas off her.  Sasuke began to walk towards her when suddenly the
door burst open and five guards rushed into the room.

        �Captain!�  One guard called out.

        �Are you all right!�  Another guard asked.

        �What happened to your clothes?�  A third guard wondered 
aloud.

        �SOMEBODY GIVE ME A SWORD!!!� Akane screamed as
the ninjas restraining her turned to meet this new threat.  The fighting
was fearsome as the castle guards slashed and hacked with Sasuke�s 
ninja squad.  Then Akane managed to grab her sword from the hand of
a dead ninja and began to clear a path towards the ninja�s carrying her
princess towards the portal....

        Then Sasuke�s chain wrapped tightly around her body, 
pinning her arms to her side and entwining her ankles.  She glanced 
behind her just in time to see him pull hard on the chain, causing 
Akane to fall flat on her face, helpless.  With the other guards 
occupied, the ninjas with the Princess entered the portal and were 
gone.

        �NO!!!�  Akane screamed with rage and frustration.  Sasuke
picked her up and was about to carry her off when a stray guard leapt
in front of him, waving his sword wildly and keeping Sasuke at bay.
Sasuke was about to call his ninjas when he noticed there were only
four of them left.  Akane�s guards had fought well and more were on 
the way, so with great reluctance, Sasuke threw Akane at the guard 
blocking his way, forcing him to drop his sword and catch her as 
Sasuke rushed past him and leapt into the portal soon followed by the 
remainder of his ninjas, one of them dragging the unconscious 
Gosunkugri behind him.  The portal then quickly closed and a 
moment later it was if it had never been there.

        The guard holding the naked Akane gently set her down, 
blushing as he did so.  Then Akane noticed the other guards staring
at her as well and screamed �What are you looking at you perverts!?!�

        �N....Nothing!�  The guards quickly averted their eyes as 
Akane went over to her clothes and began putting them on.

        �What the hell took you so damn long to get down here!  
The princess could have been killed a dozen times over by the time
you idiots showed up!�  Akane shook with rage as she yelled at her
guards.

        �W....We�re sorry....�  A guard began to apologize.

        Akane turned on him.  �Sorry?!?  Sorry won�t get the 
Princess back now will it?�  she retorted angrily

        �No, Captain, but there were more ninjas in the barracks.�
the guard replied, frustrated.
        
        �What?�  Akane said, beginning to lose her anger.

        �A portal similar to the one in here opened in the guard�s
barracks and a pack of ninjas came out and caught us by surprise.�
The guard offered.
        
        �They must have done it to keep our attention away from 
what was happening in here.�  another guard offered as he and the
other guards bowed their heads in shame.

        Akane sighed to herself.  �Then they attacked us on two 
fronts and they�re was nothing you could do.  I�m sorry I yelled at
you.  I know you did your best and you fought well.   You kept me
from being kidnapped as well.� she said as she smiled at the guard 
who stopped Sasuke from taking her into the portal, causing him 
to blush.  
  
        �But what will we do now, Captain?  We cannot abandon 
the castle to look for her.  They may attack again at any moment.

        Akane nodded her assent.  Then she held her head high, chin
up as she loudly proclaimed. �From this point forward, this castle is 
on 24 hour watch and all guards, even our reserves, must be in 
armor, at their posts with weapons in hand in no less than 2 hours!  
We have to be ready in case they strike again.  We don�t know why 
they took the Princess and why they tried to kidnap me as well, but 
whatever the reason, we cannot allow Kunou to use her against us and
lure us away from the castle.  That�s why we�re going to remain here 
and pray that the prince can get her out before she is harmed.  Carry 
out my orders!�
        
        �Yes Captain!�  The guards bowed and quickly left the room.
The shouts of Akane�s orders were heard echoing throughout the castle
as Akane walked over to the door and locked it.  Then, when she was
certain that she was alone and that her orders were being carried out.
Akane gently reached down and picked up Ranko�s purple nightgown.
She gently rubbed it against her cheek for a moment....

        Then she threw herself onto the floor, the sobs tearing at her 
throat as she clutched at the fragments of her best friend, her 
princess, her lover....a single thought repeating itself over and over
in her tortured soul.... 
        
        �It should have been me....� 
        

*       *       *


        Kunou stood in the grand hall of his castle with his hands 
clasped behind his back, awaiting the return of his minions with his
two loves.  Although he was very impatient to see Hyrule destroyed,
he would not show his eagerness if he could help it.  Great men like
him never hurried, they caused OTHERS to hurry.

        Still he couldn�t help but smile as he dreamed of what new 
conquests he would undertake once he gained control of both triforces.
His power would be absolute.  His every word law and truth.  Those 
would challenge....nay....attempt to challenge his power, for no one was 
as great as he, would die a thousand deaths.

        Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of anticipation, 
the sorcerer�s portal reappeared.  The ninja�s followers came through
first with his pig-tailed goddess in tow.  Then their master emerged
followed a few moments later by four more of his followers....

        And then the portal closed.  Kunou blinked in surprise and
then shot a look at Sasuke that promised nothing but pain if he didn�t
give the explanation he wanted to hear.

        �WHERE IS AKANE TENDO?�  Kunou said in a dangerous 
tone of voice.

        �Uh....W....We couldn�t get her out in time....�

        Sasuke saw his life passing by his eyes as Kunou immediately
began to draw his sword.  �B....B....But we�ve discovered something
profound about her relationship with the Princess!�

        I WILL HEAR NO EXCUSES!   YOU HAVE FAILED ME AND THE PUNISHMENT
IS DEATH BY DISMEMBERMENT!!!� Kunou roared as he prepared to run Sasuke
through with his blade when Sasuke suddenly shrieked.

        �AKANE AND THE PRINCESS WERE NAKED!!!�

        Kunou paused, his hand still firmly grasping his sword as he
replays Sasuke�s words through his head.  He glanced over at Ranko 
and seemed to notice her lack of clothes for the first time.  He 
whirled angrily on Sasuke.

        �EXPLAIN!!!�  Kunou ordered.

        �I....I believe the P....Princess and Akane T....Tendo are 
having an affair behind the Prince�s back.  When we first burst upon 
them, they were naked and wrapped around each other.  I b....believe 
they had recently made love before we appeared.

        Kunou�s jaw dropped as he stared in disbelief at the sleeping 
princess.  His love was a.....Both his loves were....  Kunou�s mind 
began to overload as the ramifications of a lesbian relationship 
between the two women he held most dear threatened to overwhelm 
his senses completely....

        Then he seemed to reorganize himself and regain control, 
his once clouded mind becoming clear once again, reminding him of 
his new purpose and what had to be done.

        �Even if they are lovers, you still failed to capture Akane and
I do not accept failure.  Period!�  Kunou replied calmly as he placed 
the tip of his sword against Sasuke�s throat.

        �P....p....please Master Kunou!  Just give me a moment to 
explain how we can use this to our advantage!  Sasuke begged him
as Kunou pressed harder against his throat.  �J....Just a moment...!!�

        Kunou paused again as Sasuke looked at him with wide
frightened eyes.  

        �Very well.�  He withdrew his sword from Sasuke�s throat 
and resheathed it as Sasuke gasped in relief.  �If Akane and the 
pig-tailed girl are truly in love then Akane will be weakened by 
her loss will she not?  Kunou guessed.

        �Forgive my impertinence my lord but I don�t not believe 
Akane will be less effective as a fighter even with the loss of the
Princess.  In fact, she fought harder and with more skill as we tried 
to get her into the portal and I believe she and her guards will fight
like they�ve never fought before to get her back.�  Seeing that he had 
Kunou�s attention, Sasuke continued.  �If Akane believes that Ranko 
has betrayed her, that everything that they were was a lie....She 
would be devastated.  THAT is when we should strike!  With Akane�s
spirit broken the rest of her guards would fall as well and then the 
castle will be yours....as will Akane be yours for the taking.

        Sasuke took a deep breath, praying that his master understood
him and wouldn�t use his head for target practice.  Then Kunou nodded
in understanding.

        �I believe I see the merit in your plan.  You have done well. 
As a reward for your insightful thinking, I will allow you to live.

        �T....Thank you Master Kunou!�  Sasuke quickly dropped to 
his knees and bowed repeatedly, not daring to say anything else.

        �Bring the princess to my chambers and lay her on my bed.  
I shall attend to her in a moment.�  He then glared at the unconscious
Gosunkugri.  �Why is Sorcerer sleeping on the ground?�

        �He was awestruck by the naked flesh of your loves and 
passed out.�  Sasuke replied as he continued to grovel at Kunou�s 
feet.

        �Rouse him!�  Kunou roared.  �I will be needing his services
very shortly....


(Fade to Black)


Thus ends the third part in this saga.  I will be including more Ranma 
1/2 characters as well as some extended fight sequences in later parts.

	The number one question people keep asking me is why I'm using Ranko as
the princess and not Akane.  The answer is....IT'S TOO PREDICTABLE!!! 
Of course I could make Akane the princess and have Ranma rush off to her
rescue but it's been done so many times!  So I
decided....HELL NO!  I would make Ranko the princess, have Ranma in love
with her and to spice things up, make Akane, Ranko's lover!  Add a
mysterious past with Ucchan and you have love triangles galore!

THAT's why I decided to make Ranko the princess.  :)

As always feedback and C&C is welcome!

Sincerely,

Megane 6.7