In the restructured timeline, things had gone differently. Very differently.
The assault on Beryl's base had occurred, but the battery of the ginzuishou had not had enough energy to restructure time due to the paradox storm's influence over time. The Senshi had died in the assault, one after the other falling prey to the hunter-killer yoma that were so much tougher than the energy-harvester yoma that they'd faced earlier.
Then the Doom Tree had occurred without the Senshi to battle it. Others had risen to the challenge, a little later and slower to respond than the Senshi would have been - but then they hadn't operated in the same area and commuting was difficult for many.
The JSDF had fought, and called in support from American military bases. Monsters impervious to attack from swords and bows found that a HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) missile could do all sorts of nasty things to them.
It was found that the yoma and cardians had some natural advantages. They were more manueverable and faster than conventional forces. If one were foolish enough to try and stand there and duke it out with the "mere mortals" - they'd eventually overcome any damage resistance simply by throwing positively obscene amounts of destructive force at them. By being constantly on the move, they could avoid being pinned down. It still left them with some other opponents such as mystical swordsmen and chi-wielding martial artists, who adapted their own attacks to deal with the new menace.
Ranma was among those elite. When the Doom Tree menace had begun he was as he had originally been. A cocky youth of sixteen, full of himself and with little self-control or virtue. Having seen people die because he wasn't taking the fight seriously enough, having lost (as far as Ranma himself knew) family and associates, having seen his martial arts skills having no effect against a superior foe, having spent the past year amongst normal people - it had all had its effect on Ranma Saotome.
He was good. He was damn good. Better than ever in the martial arts. Instead of the mouko takabisha, he'd developed a more concentrated attack that wasn't easily absorbed by energy-harvesters. He'd picked up sword techniques, as well as staff and spear and bow. Because sometimes coming into physical contact with monsters was not an option. He'd also learned to drive, shoot a number of firearms, and his GPA was up.
He'd also been staying, for ten months now, with Doctor Kumori Mizuno. Ami's mother.
The Doctor had displayed an even keel and exceptional strength. With her daughter apparently dead and lost, she'd turned to work and gone on. When one of the defenders had turned out not to have an address, she'd volunteered her own barracks.
The original penthouse apartment and her original hospital were gone. Part of the area being rebuilt in Azabu Juuban. She still visited every month, going to the bulletin boards erected on the site, looking for any sign that her daughter might have survived. She even joked about setting Ami up with Ranma.
The doctor had been very busy and had occasionally needed a shoulder to cry on. If the differences in their ages had been less, something else might have happened. As it was they were simply emotionally close in the manner of two survivors. The doctor had become the mother Ranma had never known, while Ranma had become the son she might have had. Hardly a perfect fit in normal circumstances, but the circumstances were hardly normal.
No one had made any connection between the Mercury unit and the missing Ami. Though she had been missing almost a year before the cardian began appearing, the doctor had herself made a connection - and believed that one of the first cardian victims had been her daughter. As her work had not given her an opportunity to see the Mercury unit, any resemblence between that and her daughter had as yet not been revealed.
Now Doctor Mizuno and Ranma stayed at a refurbished inn turned boarding house near Misawa AFB. A new hospital in the area provided her steady employment, and Ranma had now found work.
Sailor Pluto turned her attention elsewhere. Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus had survived, as had Hotaru.
Now a new menace was about to unfold:
(Posted Fri, 04 Jun 2004 10:01)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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