Ranma figured that if he was going super he might as well secure the top role. He would become the original paragon of the world, and founder of the legion of justice heroes.
Only, the retrocon did not quite work out that way.
Young Ranma had developed amazing power on entering the new universe, but so too had his father. Stronger than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound! With powers far above those of mortal man, and assuming an everyday guise as mild mannered salaryman, Genma Saotome, a strange visitor from another reality, secretly fought crime as Powerman.
Ranma had been relegated to the role of sidekick, Powerboy, but was soon to be leader of the Wannabe Wonders. Once he filled the roster.
“This is Paradise Island?” Ranma demanded, looking around the small mountain village sheltered in the misty valley. “Uhm. I mean, it’s not what I imagined, Queen Gabriel.”
“Indeed, Powerboy-sama, it rarely is,” an amused amazon queen agreed. “Telling the world of men that we amazons come from a place called Paradise Island has served us well over the centuries.”
“Uhm… I see,” Ranma drawled as if he were thinking about it for the very first time. It wasn’t really a surprise to him, considering, but it was only polite to pretend so. “That’s a good idea.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” she said dryly. “Shall we get down to business.”
“I guess,” Ranma agreed warily. He remembered arranging so that these Amazons would be less… annoying, but things hadn’t worked out as expected.
Genma Saotome had been pissed by developments. Discovering that he was in a different world, one without any of the people he know, or quite as insane focus on martial arts, was one thing. Discovering that his strength, speed, and stamina were increasing in leaps and bounds everyday was just plain depressing. What use practicing martial arts if there was no challenge? Why bother training his son if he just kept getting stronger anyway?
He figured that he might as well join a circus as a freak or strong man, but accidentally foilling a bank robbery while in costume gave him a new purpose.
It didn’t take long after the first newspaper report by Mrs Langley on the mysterious ‘Powerman’ for the cooks and crooks to come out of the woodwork. Two fisted heroes and mystery men had fought organised crime in the shadows, but suddenly wearing colourful costumes on capers became all the rage. Though some editorials blamed Powerman for starting the craze, most just attributed it to a sign of the times.
Other heroes emerged, first fighting crime in their own cities, then joining forces against an alien invasion and deciding to make a pact. Amazon Queen, The Rush, Catmandu, Sailorman, and The Jade Samurai were first, then came others.
Heroes come, heroes go, new ones take their place. Sometimes sidekicks grow up and make it on their own. Such was the case of Ranma ‘Powerboy’ Saotome who was trying to emerge from his father’s larger than life shadow.
Such was also the case of the young amazon princess who wanted to enter the world of men and make her mark (and when using her mystical silver whip, this would sting). Powerboy had been asked to test her readiness, and he faced her not without some reservation.
In another world, in another life, Ranma would meet an amazon girl named Shampoo, challenge her to a fight and much wacky hijinks would follow. In this world, he hoped things would go smoother.
“Are you ready?” Queen Gabriel asked the combatants. “I want a good clean fight. No eye gouging, and no hair pulling.”
“And no hitting below the belt,” Ranma added.
“Why ever not? Oh… Very well. No hitting below the belt. Combatants to the ring. The winner is the first one to surender, fall unconcious, or be thrown from the ring. On my command… Wait for it… fight!”
Ranma braced himself and waited for his oppenent to strike, to see if she was worthy of joining the Wannabe Wonders as the new Amazon Princess.
(Posted Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:13)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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