Ranma watched with unveiled interest as a small table was set up in the village center for the two girls—and one uses this term loosely when referring to poor ol’ Dowel—to arm wrestle at. A simple affair, consisting of a stout six-inch thick table top, and four legs easily just as thick at the table top itself. Numerous scrapes and cuts could be seen on the surface, as well as a few small bloodstains from the occasional accident.
Shampoo sat on a small stool across from dowel, her lithe frame dwarfed by that of the neigh A Mazon woman (lit: A Mazon means to be without breasts, which is not true for most all of the Joketsuzoku). A few soft chuckles at the size difference were quickly silenced by sharp glares from the contestants and the elders.
{This is an official challenge for the right of marriage for this outsider male that defeated Shampoo in combat. Dowel has challenged Shampoo for this man’s hand, and Shampoo has accepted and put the challenge to be met as an arm-wrestling match,} Cologne grinned grotesquely. {A strong arm will indeed be needed to keep this outsider male in line. Now… BEGIN!}
A tensing of arms signaled the beginning of the match.
In respect of Shampoo, she did manage to hold off the larger woman’s strength for about five seconds, quite an impressive feat; however, they all knew that this match was nothing more than formality, and that the outcome was decided well before it even began.
Thump!
{Winner! Dowel!} Cologne shouted to the crowd. {We are all witnesses!}
“Boy… what’s going on?” Genma asked in a hoarse whisper.
“Well, ‘Pops’, it looks like the larger Amazon woman just won a contest with the one you defeated,” Ranma smirked. “The prize was your hand in marriage, I believe.”
Genma paled.
“The other one’s a woman?! Wait… Marriage?!?!” Genma started to sweat. No-chan’s going to kill me! Gotta run! Gotta run! Gotta run! Gotta HIDE!
Genma crouched down into the Umi-sen-ken fighting stance, and faded from view. Making good his escape, he fled as fast as his legs could take him, not even noticing as he tripped over a bucket of rainwater and became a she.
The rest of the Amazons looked on in confusion, seeing the boy Ranma standing alone with the Jusenkyo Guide. Dowel looked to be the most confused, but it was more in the manner of a puppy that just got kicked, and doesn’t know why. Dejection and sorrow passed across her homely features as she realized that her nights would still be cold and lonely.
Frowning at this, Ranma walked over to Cologne, bending down to talk quietly with her.
{My poor excuse for a male-parent seems to have fled his responsibilities again, Honored Elder,} Ranma explained. {I do think that he will not flee too far, however, as I am still here. We could take this as a chance to get some training in, while we wait for him to show back up. Perhaps we should include the larger Amazon that won the contest in our training, so that she might be better prepared to take control of her wayward husband?}
Cologne grinned.
{A most sound suggestion, Son,} she replied. {At least we still have your ceremony of adoption for tonight, so it won’t be an entire loss… Dowel!}
{Yes, Honored Elder?} a dejected Dowel replied, shuffling her way over.
{This is your wayward Husband’s son, who had accepted adoption into the tribe as my son. It is believed by him that his father will not flee too far and will as some point try to return to retrieve him. We hope to get some training done before that happens, and wish for you to join us in it. Much skill will be necessary to capture that man.
{Do you understand?} Cologne asked.
{Y-yes, Honored Elder!} Dowel nodded emphatically. {I am greatly honored!}
{Good,} cologne nodded. {Be at my home just before sunrise tomorrow morning, and we shall start the training. For now, we have an Adoption ceremony to plan!}
Cheers erupted from the crowd at this happy turn of events.
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(Posted Wed, 10 Nov 2004 16:50)
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