Chapter Two

“Pretty Princess Akane”

 

            Ranma and Akane were sitting in the lotus position in the center of the dojo.  The both had their hands cupped in front of them.

 

            “Okay, Akane.  One more time, relax and concentrate on drawing your Ki into your hands.” Ranma demonstrated by forming a blue ball of Ki in his hands.  “And hold it.”

 

            Akane set her jaw and concentrated.  A ball of Ki appeared and immediately disappeared.  This happened a few more times before she started to growl in frustration.

 

            “Relax, Akane!  Just let it happen, don’t force it.”  Ranma was spinning his ball on his finger like a basketball.

 

            Akane was still having a hard time controlling her Ki.  Ranma had taken over her training because he thought she would do better learning from someone who didn’t get most of their power by genetics.  Akane scrunched her face up trying to concentrate.  Finally she gave in to her frustration.  “Oh forget it!”  A large red ball of Ki formed in her hand and she threw it at Ranma.

 

            Ranma flicked his a ball at it and they both exploded in mid-air.  Different day, same result.  “Akane, you’ve got to learn how to relax, or you’ll never get it.”

 

            Akane was trying her best not to yell at him.  “I’ll just go get ready for school!”  She finally shouted and went up to go change.

 

            Pan passed her as she was coming down the stairs.  Ranma just stood there playing absently with another Ki ball.  “Y’know Ranma, you didn’t learn how to play ball in a day either.”

 

            “We’ve been at this for almost a month now.  She just refuses to relax.”

 

            Pan flicked her finger out at Ranma and shot a small Ki bolt at Ranma’s ball.  Ranma’s ball exploded in his face.  “What was that for?”

 

            “You needed remember that you’re not mister perfect either.”

 

            “So what?  Are we gonna spar or what?”

 

            “Okay.”

 

            The two started their morning sparring session.  This had been their routine pretty much since the failed wedding.  Ranma would try to teach Akane, Akane would get frustrated and leave, and then Pan would beat the crap out of Ranma.  Same ol’, Same ol’.

 

            “Hey, Pan.  I need another weighted shirt.” Ranma threw another punch at her.

 

            “What happened to your old one?” She dodged and threw one of her own.

 

            “It got trashed by some girl in a short skirt.” Ranma dodged and kicked.

 

            “Still picking up women your own special way, eh?” Pan jumped to avoid the kick and came down fist first.

 

            “No!” Ranma caught the punch and threw it toward the floor in front of him.  “She tried to take a shot at Akane because she threw me through another wall.”

 

            Pan opened her hand and sprung back to her feet.  “’Take a shot’?”

 

            “Yeah, thunder something or other…” Ranma led in with another punch.

 

            Pan dodged again as thoughts began to run through her head.  “You think they were very strong?”  Sweep kick.

 

            Ranma jumped.  “I dunno.  Why?”

 

            Pan swung at him in mid-air.  “They might make decent sparring partners, if they already know Ki techniques.”

 

            Ranma backflipped.  “It wasn’t Ki.  It was something else.”

 

            Pan charged him and buried her fist in his stomach.  “Something else, eh?”

 

            “*cough* Yeah. *cough*”

 

            “Interesting.  We’ll we’re done for today, let’s get our stuff ready for school.  Uncle Goten will probably let you borrow one of his weighted shirts.”

 

            After a while, Ranma, Akane, and Pan were on their way to their first day at Juuban High School.  Akane was dressed in the correct school uniform while Pan and Ranma still wore their own thing.  Pan wore her usual T-Shirt, bandanna, and Jeans, while Ranma had one of his sleeveless Chinese shirts on with his usual black pants.  He had what looked like a thick blue undershirt on, and he wore two blue wristbands.

 

            “This stuff is a lot heavier than I’m used to.”  Ranma said as he flexed his arm to lift his hand up.”

 

            “Just consider it more training.” Pan answered.

 

            “Did I ever tell you, I hate that phrase?”

 

            “Nope.”

 

            Akane moved over beside Ranma.  “Isn’t it nice that we don’t have to worry about any attacks on our way to school?”

 

            “Yeah.  This’ll be great.”  “WHAM!”  Ranma was planted face first into the pavement.  Shampoo?  No, that wasn’t a bike. That was a foot.

 

            “I’m sooo sorry!  Are you okay?”

 

            Ranma lifted his head to see a blonde a couple of years younger than him.  Her hair was done in the same oddball pigtails that he saw on the girl yesterday, but her aura was completely different.  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

 

            “Good, I’m Usagi.  I gotta go!  I’m late!” She turned around and bolted.

 

            “Whoa!  If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were in wonderland.” Akane commented.

 

            Ranma got up, rubbing the back of his head.  “What?”

 

            “Getting run over by a bunny, and it running off saying it’s late.”

 

            “Huh?”

 

            “Usagi means rabbit.”

 

            “Oh, I get it.”

 

            They continued on until they reached Juuban High School.  Pan looked around and noticed a familiar face.  “Hey, Bra!  What are you doing here?”

 

            A very attractive girl with long green hair turned, waved, and gracefully strolled over the trio.  “Hello, Pan.  What are you doing here?”

 

            “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

 

            “I’m here attending the Princess Seminar from Countess Rose across town.”

 

            “You’re no princess, squirt!”

 

            “Am too!” Bra started to loose her composure.  “My daddy’s the king of the Saiya-Jin, that makes me a princess!”

 

            “I’ll go along with that, but how did you convince your parents to let you come here.”

 

            “I told daddy I wanted to go, and he said I could.”

 

            Pan held her hand up to her face and spoke aside to Akane.  “More likely she whined until daddy caved in for ‘his little girl’.”

 

            “I heard that!” Bra stuck her tongue out at Pan.

 

            Pan stuck hers out in return.

 

            Ranma shook his head.  “You guys can talk.  I’m going to class.”

 

            Bra finally noticed the pigtailed martial artist.  “WHO is your CUTE friend, Pan?”

 

            Akane latched onto Ranma’s arm, startling Ranma in the process.  “This is Ranma, MY fiancée, and I’m Akane.  Nice to meet you.”

 

            “Ranma and Akane...” Bra thought it over a second.  “I remember now!  The rhinoceros couple!  Trunks has told me all about you!”

 

            Ranma and Akane facefaulted.  One freak accident and you’re branded for life.

 

            “Yeah, that’s them.” Pan helped the two back to their feet.  “We really need to be getting to class.”  They all nodded in agreement and went to class.

 

            During lunch, Pan, Bra, and Akane were talking. 

 

            “So what are you doing over at that seminar?” Akane asked.

 

            “Countess Rose is teaching us how to be proper ladies.  How to walk, eat, dance, and such.”

 

            “So what did you have to do to get in?”

 

            “That’s the funny part, you had to be able to play Frisbee.  She said it was some sort of noble game.”

 

            “I can do that!”  Akane clapped her hands together.

 

            “What are you so excited about, Akane?” Pan asked.

 

            “I could go there and learn how to be a proper lady.  Maybe I could learn some thing there that would make me a better cook or control my temper.”

 

            “Sure, whatever.”

 

            “Hey, Pan!  Maybe you should go!  It would be fun!” Bra suggested.

 

            “Yeah, right!  They’d make me wear a dress.  You know I hate dresses.”

 

            “Hey, you’ll never catch a husband if you don’t know how to be a lady.”

 

            “Shut up, squirt.  You’re still single if I remember right.”

 

            Bra’s face screwed up into a scowl.  “It’s not my fault daddy chases my dates off!  That’s another reason why I’m here!  So I can get a boyfriend.”

 

            “Pan has other problems, besides not being a lady.”

 

            “Is it that time of the month, Pan?” Bra teased.

 

            “No!  It’s the damn Amazon thing.”

 

            “Amazon thing?”

 

            “Since I’m now one of the Amazons of Joketsuzoku, I can’t marry a man outside of the tribe, unless he defeats me in combat.”

 

            Bra nearly fell out of her seat laughing.  “How in the world did that happen?”

 

            Pan dropped her head.  “It’s a long story…”

 

            “We have thirty minutes till lunch is over.”

 

            About that time, a wet and very annoyed looking redhead sat down beside Akane.

 

            “What happened, Ranma?” Akane asked.

 

            “I’m going to kill that damn old lady!  I swear she follows me everywhere!”

 

            Bra looked at the redhead closely.  “Ranma?  You know you have the same name as her fiancée?”

 

            Ranma-Chan cocked an eye at the green-haired girl.  “You don’t say…”

 

            “Bra, that is Ranma.  He has a curse that turns him into girl whenever he’s splashed with cold water.” Pan commented.

 

            “That’s terrible!  How does he change back?”

 

            Ranma-Chan grabbed a glass of water and heated it up.  “Like this.”  She upended the cup over her head and turned back into a man.  “Just add hot water.”

 

            “Wow!  That’s sooo cool!!!  Can I try?” Bra lifted her glass in the air.

 

            Ranma threw up his hands in front of himself.  “NOOO! Put that down!”

 

            Bra pouted.  “You’re no fun.”

 

            “That’s Ranma.” Akane commented.

 

            Ranma turned to Akane.  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

            Akane stared of in to the sky.  “Oh, nothing.”

 

            “Uncute tomboy.”

 

            “Pervert.”

 

            They were keeping their tone down, but this was still an argument.  Pan knew it was only seconds until it escalated.  “Hey, Ranma!  Can you go grab us some bread?”

 

            Ranma blinked at the black-haired Saiya-Jin.  “Yeah, sure.”  He got up and left.

 

            Akane turned to Pan.  “We already ate.  What do we need bread for?”

 

            “Akane, you were going to make him mad again.  You need to tell him.”

 

            “What?”

 

            “You know what I’m talking about.”

 

            “No.  What?”

 

            Pan smacked her forehead.  Is she really this dense?  She and Ranma ARE a perfect match after all.  “Tell him that you love him.”

 

            “I will…eventually.”

 

            “You need to tell him soon.”

 

            Bra piped in.   “If you don’t love him, I’ll take him!”

 

            Akane spun on the younger girl.  “Hey!  We were almost married!”

 

            “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.  You’re still not married so I claim he’s fair game.  Besides,” Bra stood up and smoothed out her dress.  “He’d much rather have a lovely lady like me, than an angry woman like you.”

 

            “Why am I angry?”

 

            “Beats me ‘why’, but I can tell by your aura that you are really an angry person.  Maybe you should go to the princess seminar.  It would help you act more like a lady and less like a miser, holding back your love.”

 

            “All right!  You, me, after school.  I’ll show you I can be a better lady than you.”

 

            Bra turned to Pan.  “And Pan can come along and ref.”

 

            Pan shook her head.  “Un-uh!  No way!  No way are you getting me into a dress!”

 

            A few hours later, Pan, Bra, and Akane were all sitting around a grand dining room table with several other girls, all dressed in proper dresses.

 

            “I am sooo going to kill you, Bra.  You do know that, don’t you?” Pan hissed at the green-haired girl.  Pan was squirming around trying to get comfortable in the dress with the high neck.  Her hair was hanging long and straight down her back.  That was one of the main reasons that she wore the bandanna all the time:  Despite her Saiya-Jin heritage, no matter what she did her hair it hung down straight and flat.  Perms, gel, mousse, you name it, she had tried it.  Her hair just wouldn’t do anything, but hang there.

 

            “But you look sooo good in a dress, Pan.” Bra smiled at her.

 

            “I’m still going to kill you when this is over with.  I still don’t know how you talked me into this.”

 

            “Calling your mom helped.”

 

            “I’m going to kill you for that too.”

 

            Bra just sat there with a contented smile on her face.  She had a way of getting people to do what she wanted.

 

            Akane just sat there trying to sit as straight as she could.  She was used to wearing dresses and such, but the whole ‘lady-like posture’ thing was getting on her nerves.  At least she wasn’t doing as bad as the blonde on the end, who she recognized as Usagi from this morning.  Usagi could barely stand up straight, and she had some of the worse manners Akane had ever seen.  After a while, the soup came for dinner and Usagi started slurping it up, making all sorts of wrong noises.  Maybe she’s Ranma’s cousin.  Akane thought.

 

            They went through other things:  Etiquette lessons, balance practice, poetry readings, and such.  The only thing that Usagi excelled at was the Frisbee practice.  Akane was amazed at what the clumsy blonde could do with the flying disk.  She could throw it at amazing distances, and it would return to her.  Akane got curious about it.  “How can you do that?”

 

            Usagi just spun the disk on one of her fingers.  “It’s a knack.  I learned how a looong time ago.”  Usagi had the oddest smile on her face.

 

            Akane raised an eyebrow.  “Okay.  Whatever you say.”

 

            Akane and Usagi became fast friends.  They were both clumsy when it came to this kind of stuff.  During teatime they sat and talked about themselves, both of them heavily abridging their lives.

 

            “So your boyfriend walks around in a tuxedo?  Is he rich?”

 

            “I think so.  Tell me more about your fiancée.  He sounds like a pretty strong guy.”

 

            “Strong willed anyway.”

 

            The whole time Pan was sending murderous glances at Bra.  Bra just smiled that proper, but annoying smile back.

 

Then came the cooking portion of the lessons.  Pan and Bra managed to hold their own, but Usagi and Akane managed to destroy half of the kitchen between the two of them.

 

Akane just stood there in shock as the kitchen was starting to fill with smoke.  “Don’t mention this to my fiancée.”

 

Usagi stood beside her, matching the expression.  “As long as you don’t mention this to my boyfriend.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

After a couple more days, the time came for the final exam.  The final exam was a school dance.  Akane was trying her best, but she just couldn’t keep from stepping all over her partner’s feet.  She took solace in the fact that she wasn’t the only one.  Usagi was having the same trouble, only more so.  At least they weren’t the only ones.  There was a long raven-haired girl and another blonde having the same amount of trouble.

 

The Countess Rose came down the stairway into the ballroom.  “All right. The time for the final exam has come.  If I tap you on the shoulder, you graduated.”

 

She waited through the dancing couples and tapped some on the shoulder.  After a while the music stopped and the boys left.

 

“All those who I tapped on the shoulder can follow me to the next room to receive your diplomas.  The rest of you wait here for further instructions.”  She turned and left and most of the girls followed.  Bra stuck her tongue out at Akane as she walked up the stairs.

 

“That…that…girl!  I’ll kill her!”  Akane seethe.

 

Pan put a hand on her shoulder.  “I got first dibs.  Remember that.”

 

Akane and Pan were left with Usagi and two other girls that Usagi introduced as Minako and Rei.  They stood there and got to know each other while they waited for the Countess to return.

 

Bra followed the other girls into the next room.  The room was filled with many spooky statues of girls around her age.  She heard a blue-haired girl comment that these statues were too real.

 

The Countess Rose turned around.  “That’s because they are real!  They are all the graduates!”  The Countess transformed into a green-skinned woman covered in seashells. 

Her hair was even made of seashells. 

           

            “A youma!” A tall brunette shouted.

 

“I am Youma Shakokai.  It is a pleasure to meet you!”  She extended her hands.  The shells all over her body opened up, and a thick liquid spewed forth and struck the girls.  They were all transformed into statues. 

 

Bra dove to the side.  “What are you doing to them?”

 

“Detaining them.  Just like we’ll do to you!” The monster threw some more goo in her direction.

 

Bra flew up into the air and dodged it.  “I’ll stop you!”  All the sudden I wish daddy had let me train.

 

The monster laughed.  “Not likely.”  All the shells on her body erupted and spat out the goo.  Bra didn’t even have time to scream before she was struck and transformed.

 

“Now to deal with Sailor Moon!”  The monster walked out of the room.

 

The others were still waiting outside.

 

“Did you hear something?” Usagi asked

 

“Something must have happened to Ami and the others.” Rei answered.

 

“Let’s go!” Minako charged foreword.

 

“What do you girls plan on doing?” Pan asked.

 

The girls froze in place.  “Uhh…”

 

Just then the youma burst in from above laughing her head off.

 

“A youma!” Minako shouted.

 

“It’s a monster!” Akane turned started to power up, and was struck by a blast of goo and turned to a statue.

 

“Akane!” Pan turned to the youma.  “You’ve messed up now!”

 

The youma drew itself to herself to her full height.  “It was regrettable that you failed the Princess Seminar.  I believe that one of you is Sailor Moon.  Would you identify yourself?”

 

“I’ll give you a free ride to the moon.”  Pan made a motion to roll up her sleeves, which was totally lost because she was wearing a sleeveless evening gown.

 

Usagi got an apprehensive look on her face.  “What makes you say that?”

 

“How could the ungraceful, silly, bungling, and celebrity struck Sailor Moon pass the Princess Seminar?” the youma replied.

 

Minako nodded her head.  “I see.”

 

Rei held up her fist.  “You got that right!”

 

Pan just stood there.  Sounds like this youma has been taking lessons from Ranma, and who the hell is Sailor Moon?

 

“Hey, we have no time to be impressed!” Usagi cried.

 

“Would you mind becoming dolls?” The youma opened up her shells and started spewing forth the liquid again.  All the girls dove for cover.

 

Pan checked her wrist and saw she still had the watch that her mother had given her long ago.  “You girls get out of here while I draw its fire!”

 

The others just looked at her.

 

“Get out of here!” Pan charged at the youma and did several flips and rolls to avoid being hit by the monster.  The other girls nodded their heads and charged out the door.

 

“I see you decided to reveal yourself, Sailor Moon!”

 

“I have no idea who Sailor Moon is, but I do know that now you’re going to deal with…” She pressed the button on the side of the watch and transformed into a pink and green costume with a red cape, and pink helmet.  “THE GREAT SAIYA-MAN!”

 

“Who are you?  I’m after the Sailor Senshi!”

 

“I have no idea about Sailor Sushi, but I am the champion of justice, the Great Saiya-Man.” Pan charged in and punched the youma in the stomach.  It went flying and crashed through the door where the other girls had left.

 

“The youma got back to her feet and looked around the grounds.  “Where could those other three have gone to?”

 

Above her she heard a high-pitched voice.  “I won’t forgive you for flunking Sailor Moon!  For Love and Justice, the pretty sailor-suited soldier, Sailor Moon!”

 

The Raven-haired girl to her side shouted.  “Also Sailor Mars!”

 

The blonde on the other side of moon shouted.  “Sailor Venus!”

 

Moon posed a little more.  “In the name of the moon, we’ll punish you!”

 

“It’s an infestation of fighters for justice!” The youma slapped her forehead.

 

“What?” The Senshi just looked at her.

 

“There you are!” Pan flew out the door and punched the youma back further.  “Time to finish this!”  Pan drew her hands back.  “KAMEHAMEHA!”  She unleashed the Ki blast at the youma.

 

“Please accept my humble attack.” The youma fired more goo.  It hit the turtle destruction blast and froze it in place.

 

“We’ll stop you!  FIRE SOUL!” Mars unleashed her primary attack.

 

“CRESCENT BEAM!” Venus followed suit.  The two blasts were met by more goo and stopped in place.

 

“Our attacks aren’t working!” Pan landed beside them.

 

The youma laughed some more and started to walk foreword.  “I will have some very nice wax dolls indeed!”

 

Out of nowhere, a rose stuck in the ground in between the youma and the girls.

 

“What the?” Pan commented.

 

A man dressed in a tuxedo coalesced behind the youma.  “Well done, Shakokai.”

 

“Endymion-sama.” The youma said to the new arrival.

 

“Tuxedo Kamen-sama, you’ve come to save us!” Moon cheered.

 

“You people really need to get your names straight.” Pan was getting more confused as the cast grew.

 

“Sailor Moon, give me the Silver Crystal.  In exchange, I will spare your life.”

 

The youma slid up behind Tuxedo Kamen.  “Excuse me, that would contradict Kunzite-sama’s orders.”

 

“Well, Sailor Moon.” He continued.

 

“Tuxedo Kamen, this can’t be true.” Moon had a look of shock on her face.

 

“Okay.  These people are toast.”  Pan stepped back and transformed into a Super Saiya-Jin.  The other two Senshi felt the power spike beside them and started to step back.  Pan dropped her hands to her side and started to power up.  “KAME!”

 

“Endymion.” Another man faded in.  This one was dressed in some sort of military uniform with a cape.  “Stop interfering with my plan.”

 

Pan turned to Mars.  “Is he an enemy?”  Mars nodded her head.  “Good.  HAME!”  She crouched down getting ready to fire.

 

The two dark lords started to squabble among themselves as Moon just stood there with a look of indecision on her face.

 

“HA!”  The massive Ki blast shot forth and struck all three of the enemies and exploded.  They were all thrown in different directions. 

 

Moon saw the youma flying through the air and decided to act.  “Moon Healing Escalation!”  She fired the blast and the youma became the Countess Rose once more.  The silver haired lord faded out.

 

Pan saw the now human flying toward the ground and rushed over to catch her.  Moon turned to confront Endymion.  “Now for you.  MOON…”

 

Before she could go any further, Endymion teleported away.

 

Pan landed and put the countess on the ground.  “Glad that’s over.”

 

            Moon turned to the newest super hero.  “Who are you?”

 

            Pan grinned.  She started to go through a series of ridiculous poses.  “Guardian of the city!  Lover of Justice!  Hater of crime and evil!  I am THE GREAT SAIYA-MAN!”

 

            The Sailor Senshi sweatdropped.  Moon turned to Mars.  “Do we look that stupid?  Please tell me we don’t.”

 

            “Nope.  We’re worse.”

 

            Venus walked up closer to the Great Saiya-Man.  “But you’re a girl.  Why do you call yourself a man?”

 

            “Uhh…It’s a family thing.  I’ll see you around!”  Pan flew up, and with a boost of super speed, vanished from sight.

 

            “That was weird.” Mars commented.  “We better get out of here too.”

 

            The all nodded and went to find a place to transform back.

 

            Pan turned the costume off and went back into the mansion.  Akane was standing there looking around.  “What happened?”

 

            “Long story.  I’ll tell you back at the dojo.  Let’s get Bra and get out of here.”

 

            Later that evening, Ranma was exercising in the dojo when Pan and Akane walked in.  “So should I call you ‘Princess’, Akane?”

 

            “How sweet!  You actually thought I would pass?”

 

            “Not really.”

 

            “Ranma no baka!”  Akane brought forth the mallet and smote Ranma down.

 

            Pan just stood there and shook her head.  “Now that he had coming.”