Ranma Saotome was dying and he knew it. After that clash between himself and Saffron, both combatants were down for the count. The Phoenix God had returned to his egg-like state, just waiting to be reborn, but the pigtailed martial artist would not be so fortunate. He lay on the ground as his life's blood began pooling out. Saffron would have the last laugh, for even though he had lost this battle, the pompous godling knew that he would survive. There was nothing more that Ranma could do as he began to fade into darkness. The final blast between the two combatants had caused a huge avalanche and buried the two under tons of rock. Ranma's body was crushed from the chest down, and even if anyone were able to dig him out, they would be too late. Ranma could do nothing but wait for the end.
Ranma Saotome then heard a voice in his head that sounded… well, sexy.
"Ranma Saotome."
Ranma tried to speak, but he couldn't get his own mouth to move, so he answered with his mind.
"My name is not important. What is important is that you're being offered a second chance at life. You did us all a great favor by defeating Saffron just now."
"Well, technically speaking… you are dying. That last attack you used on Saffron had returned him to his egg, but it used up just about all your life energies. The injuries you sustained were fatal. Right now, your two fianceés, Akane and Shampoo are trying to dig you out, but they won't make it in time. In any case, your body has been crushed. However, I have deemed you worthy enough to keep on fighting for what is right. Therefore, I decided to give you a new lease on life."
There was a long pause before the voice answered. "Well, you will be returned to life… but, your life here in this plane of existence is over."
"No, I didn't say that it would be YOUR life as Ranma Saotome. Many others need your help. You may be an egotistical, boorish and crude person, but your heart is in the right place and I like that. Kami-sama has already decreed that your life in this plane of existence is over, and I'm kind of… breaking the rules by offering you this chance. You've always stood by your honor as a martial artist to protect the weak, and the people of another world need that. I've watched you for a while and I grown to like your determination and spirit. It would be a great waste to have it end here. What I am offering you is a new start. Your experiences here will be nothing more than a forgotten memory and I'm sure there are many things that you'd rather not remember. You will be sent to a place where your skills will be needed."
Ranma had to agree to that. All the troubles that had plagued him since he had come to Nerima had made life almost unbearable. The multiple fianceés, the constant fights with his rivals, Akane's abusive behavior and their endless bickering. Even though lately, things seemed to get a little less volatile between him and Akane, he still found their relationship as extremely hard to maintain. Everything that had happened when he came to Nerima had made everyone's life miserable. He then asked,
"I intend to give you a clean slate on life. Your memories of this past life shall be wiped out, or at least those dealing with those who make you as you are currently. Your physical memories however, like those associated to you as a martial artist, your fighting skills namely, will remain unaffected. Though, you will more than likely surpress them yourself, or may rediscover them along the way as your personal fighting style, who knows. Aside from all that, you will be given an opportunity to start over. Now I know that you have some feelings toward this Akane, but I am afraid that it is not meant to be. Even if you were able to overcome your current difficulties with her, the problems that your father had caused during your training trip would ultimately lead to its destruction."
Ranma had to admit to that. The other fianceés wouldn't take it very well if he were to choose Akane. He didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, and he did have some affection toward Ukyou and Shampoo as well. That was the main reason why he just couldn't choose between them.
"I understand your reluctance Ranma, but the person that you will become in this new life cannot have these memories. At least this way, those three girls will be able to stop fighting and have opportunities to find their own happiness. Without you to fight over, they'll finally be able to get on with their lives and you will be able to lead your own fate. However, if you do not wish for this, then I will allow you to… enter the Kami Plane."
"I'm afraid not. Your life here as Ranma Saotome has been decreed by Kami-sama himself to be over. At least this way, you'll be able to help others and perhaps find the happiness that you were denied in this life. So… what is your answer?"
Ranma considered hard on this decision. There had been so many troubles that followed him throughout his life and he had often wondered what it would be like if the main crux to all these problems: Ranma Saotome, was no longer present. At least Akane and Ukyou would be free from their obligation to fulfill their marriage contracts. Shampoo would be able to return home to her village. All the enemies he had acquired would no longer be causing trouble for others as they attacked him. Finally, he would be forever free of that idiot father of his. All in all, it didn't seem a bad deal and it wasn't like he had any other options.
"No. I've already transported his egg to another dimension where he won't be able to do any more harm. You did us a favor by defeating him, so that's another reason why I'm giving you this second chance. So, how about it?"
Ranma paused for a long time, then decided that it was his time to make something of his life… correction, make a new life. He silently bid his farewells to all those who had meant so much to him and responded to the voice,
The Goddess of the Past and Love, know to many as Urd, smiled as she cast the spell of Reincarnation. After Ranma's body had disappeared from the face of this world, she whispered to herself, "It is done. Ranma is on his way."
[Daughter…]
[I do not recall authorizing you to send Ranma Saotome to another dimension and giving him a new life to live.]
"Father, please… hasn't he suffered enough? I spent more than a year trying to help his relationship along with that abusive girl Akane and now this happens to him. I just couldn't…"
Kami-sama smiled as he raised a hand and replied. [It is alright Urd. I was going to reprimand you by suspending your license indefinitely, however… I approve of your actions.]
"You… do?"
[Indeed. You were right. Ranma has such potential and it would have been a shame to waste it. Also, he did do us a favor by defeating Saffron just now, after all he had been becoming a bit of a… pest of late. Therefore, I will not punish you for going over my authority. In fact, I had changed my mind and was about to order you to do this very thing. So which dimension did you send him to?]
"Dimension 2626-XRS."
[Excellent! And the curse?]
"I removed it when I healed his body and transported it."
"And what about Ranma's fianceés? They are about to reach where Ranma had fallen."
"Oh darn! I forgot! Oh well, it's too late now."
On the Earth Plane, Shampoo and Akane had just moved the last of the debris and Ranma was nowhere to be found. There was not even a trace of blood or anything that hinted that Ranma ever existed.
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(Posted Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:45)
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