Find my other fics at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000 E-mail me at: oddball22@hotmail.com Beginning Author's note: On whim, I've changed Akane's Comet Punch to Megaton Punch. Sounds better for what it does, and Comet punch will be used later. Also, I made minor edits to the earlier parts. Ranma1/2 Whole New World Chapter 4 - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World! (Or, I don't think we're in Kansas Anymore...) Ranma fought to keep her head above water as the rushing rapids pulled her violently along. In addition, she had to work to keep Akane's head above water as well, and the pig-tailed girl cursed her weaker female body, as it lacked the muscle and stamina of her male form. Bobbing along in the white water, Ranma had caught scattered glimpses of the brown-furred form of Nabiki, but was unable to tell how she was doing. Ranma hoped the Kitten pokegirl was doing okay, but figured she probably better off since she didn't have an additional body to worry about. If only that girl swimming next to her would help. Ranma blinked. A quick glance confirmed that, yes, it was a girl. At least, it looked like a girl, if they came with a coating of silvery-blue fish scales that is. Compared to what Ranma had seen so far, she figured this shouldn't surprise her. Nor should the webbing between the fish-girl's fingers, or the fact that the she was naked from what Ranma could see, though the other girl didn't seem to care. Stunned, Ranma could only stare as the fish-like girl swam next to him for several seconds. In response, the fish girl studied Ranma with a curious look, then frowned. The next thing Ranma knew, she was getting a face full of a powerful water stream. Ranma instinctively tightened her grip on Akane as they were sent tumbling over the top of the river. Ranma wondered as she coughed up water, surfacing from the end splashdown. She checked, and confirmed that her human cargo was okay. Shaking it off, Ranma looked for Nabiki and spotted her after cresting the next rapid, and realized the cat-like girl was actually swimming downstream. Ranma wondered for a second what the other girl was doing, but a glance ahead of her revealed what Nabiki was up to: A long branch hung out over the river, about four feet above the waterline. Ranma wondered, then winced as the rapids slammed her into a large rock, then pulled her around it. Her unspoken question was answered when Nabiki shot out of the water like a rocket and grabbed the branch, flipping around to land on top in a crouching stance. She met Ranma's gaze, then held out her arms and nodded. Ranma understood and gathered up Akane in her arms as best as she could. Despairing for a moment, the pig-tailed girl wondered if she would have the strength for this; the river ride was taxing her endurance, but somehow she actually felt her muscles getting stronger, not weaker. Shoving that thought aside for the moment, Ranma braced herself as she drifted towards Nabiki's position. With a mighty throw, stronger than she thought herself currently capable of, Ranma hurled Akane into the air. Nabiki's eyes widened as the paralyzed form of her sister flew over her head instead of into her arms. Growling, Nabiki leapt into the air and snagged Akane, then bounded off the branch with a second leap. Nabiki landed on the shore, but her sister's added weight overbalanded her, and the momentum of the leap caused both siblings to fall and tumble. Ranma grinned to herself. Finding herself growing with strength she didn't know she possessed, Ranma swam to shore with powerful strokes. In no time, she was pulling her soaked body ashore, feeling only moderately sore and tired. Curious, Ranma stood up, studying her arms and hands, wondering where this burst of strength was coming from. "I must be better than I thought!" Ranma said to herself, grinning. "Pervert!" came the female cry. Ranma looked up in surprise as Akane strained to sit up, slowly. "Huh? Aren't you supposed to be paralyzed or something?" "Oh sure, now she chooses to recover," Nabiki offered in a snide and unhappy voice as she rose to a kneeling position, then looked over at Ranma. "Tomboys have a strong healing factor, allowing them to recover faster than most pokegirls," she explained. True to Nabiki's word, Akane eventually stood up, wobbled a little, then stalked over to her tamer, a none too friendly look on her face all the while. "So, did you enjoy getting an eyeful of that Selkie while you nearly drowned me?" Ranma looked affronted. "Hey, I saved your life back there! You should be grateful!" Akane scowled. "And what was the big idea with that stupid stunt you pulled back there? Why didn't you run when Nabiki told you to?" "Hey, Ranma Saotome don't run from anybody!" the pig-tailed girl nearly shouted. "If you hadn't knocked me to the ground and gotten yourself paralyzed, I would have been just fine!" "You nearly got yourself killed!" Akane countered, jabbing a finger into Ranma's sternum. "How are we supposed to protect you if you take stupid risks!?" "Hey, I can take care of myself just fine!" Ranma yelled back. "I don't need you!" Akane speared the pig-tailed girl with an angry and hurt look. "Ranma, you jerk!" *Wham!* Ranma rubbed her reddened cheek from she sat on the ground, watching Akane run off into the forest. For some reason, she felt bad, but she didn't know why. "What'd I do?" Nabiki sighed, then stood and shook herself, spraying water off her fur. "You really have no clue, do you, *Master*?" She drawled out `Master', lacing it with a sarcasm. "If you had gotten stung, you would have been frozen for days. Or if the the venom had been stronger, you would be dead now. Fortunately, it's mating season for the Buzzbreasts, so they were using their paralysis toxin. They reproduce by finding unlucky victims, paralyzing them, then dragging the poor sap back to their hive where they cocoon them. In a few weeks, you emerge as a new Buzzbreast with all your previous memories wiped. Now do you see?" Ranma backpedaled under the fierce-looking Kitten, but the pig- tailed girl only made it a couple of feet before the trunk of a tree halted her backwards movement. "But... that's crazy!" she countered uncertainly, her voice wavering a little. This world was getting wierder and wierder by the minute! "Maybe so, but that's the way it is," Nabiki told him, not really caring she was scaring him. "You see, the deal here is that we protect you, and you keep us sane and happy. And given your less-than- knowledgeable self, I'd think you'd listen to us and let us do our job!" Nabiki sighed with disgust and started to walk away. "Look, it's getting late. I'm going to go find Akane. I suggest you set up camp." Ranma gave a sighed of relief, then frowned as Nabiki disappeared into the forest in the direction Akane had run. Strange thoughts were going through her redhead, and she was quite disturbed by them. However, deep thinking was never a strong Saotome trait. "Stupid girls," Ranma finally huffed as she cleared her mind. She then slipped off her pack and began to set up a camp, only to realize that her things were soaked. She sighed. "Guess I need to build a fire first." "Hiyah!" *Crack!* *Creeeaaaack* *Crash!* Akane stood there staring at the tree she had just felled with her bare hands, but her mind was on something else altogether. Why did he have to be such a jerk? Why was she out here at all? And why was she letting that sex-changing pervert get to her? She sat down on the newly-fallen log and sighed heavily. She knew she'd have to go back soon, but she wasn't up to facing her new tamer just yet. He just infuriated her, and she didn't really know why. "Oh good, you're working on the firewood." Akane looked up to see her sister leaning against another tree. "What do you say I give you a hand, before heading back. Ranma should be setting up camp now." Akane snorted. "What makes you think I'm going back?" Nabiki rolled her eyes. "You know you will. He's arrogant and stupid, but at least he's not Kuno. He means well, but I get the impression he really doesn't know how the world works." She smiled. "Just be glad that I came along with you." "Nabiki," Akane said, suddenly growing curious. "Why did you come along?" The Kitten shrugged. "We're domesticated pokegirls and our father runs a breeder ranch and dojo. It was only a matter of time before I got a tamer, so I figured I'd choose who I go with." She smiled lazily. "Anyway, I always wanted to go out and see the world." Akane shook her head. "You're crazy, sis. But, I guess I'm glad you came along." "That's the spirit," Nabiki replied, smiling. "Now, how about that log? We'll need a good fire to dry off." Akane nodded, the gripped the large tree and lifted it off the ground, heading back for where they left Ranma. "Can we slow down, Master Kuno?" Sasuke pleaded, panting. Tatewaki Kuno didn't relent his pace one bit as the quartet fast-walked down the forest path. "Nay, we must make haste. No doubt Saotome has wasted no time in enslaving the fierce Akane Tendo. I must free her!" "I believe in you , M-A-S-T-E-R!" Mariko cheered. "And I shall be the one to subdue her!" Kodachi declared. Then, in a dreamy voice, added, "And I simply must find my delightful Ranma- darling..." Sasuke stopped to take breather. "Mistress Kodachi?" The Domina turned and regarded her tamer, looking at him quite differently now, then before she was tamed. "Oh, my Sasuke-darling, are you okay? Here, let me carry you!" Before he could say anything, Sasuke's new pokegirl scooped him and cradled him quite close to her bosom. He flailed for a bit, then gave up, knowing that Kodachi would get her way whether he liked it or not. Last night had definitely proved that. Besides, he was used to serving her needs for most of her life, anyway. "Come, Sasuke, we must not allow ourselves to be lax in this quest!" Kuno declared, not slowing down in the least. "For only through persistances, bravery, and a noble heart will we-" He stopped and frowned. "What be that infernal buzzing?" Mariko hopped up and down with her hand in the air. "I know! I know!" "Well, spit it out, girl!" Kodachi declared. Mariko stuck her tongue out at the Domina, then cleared her throat and whipped out a pair of pompoms as she went into a cheer routine. "It's B-U-Z-Z-B-R-E-A-S-T-S! Yay!" Vigorous jumping followed. Tatewaki swallowed hard as he followed the bouncing of her, um, pompoms. Ten seconds later, one of his four brain cells managed to put together the letters she had spelled. He blinked as he straightened. "Ye gods, Buzzbreasts!" Kodachi scanned the skies, readying a rose whip. "Where?" Sasuke pointed in fear. "There!" Five naked, insectile pokegirls descended from the sky, the buzzing of their rapidly fluttering wings growing louder as they dove. "Hark, the enemy approaches!" Kuno declared, whipping out his wooden sword. "Stand fast to receive them!" "But, shouldn't we run, Master Kuno?" Sasuke quailed, taking several steps back. "Blue Thunder does not know the meaning of retreat!" Kuno bellowed. "Mariko, prepare!" "I'm R-E-A-D-Y, Master!" the damsel pokegirl gushed, readying her pompoms as the Buzzbreasts attacked, right at her tamer. "I'll P-R- O-T-E-C-T you!" Mariko leapt in front of Kuno, just in time to intercept one of the diving pokegirls, it's long nipple stingers poised to puncture. "Eeek!" Damsel pokegirls are an interesting breed. Usually, they have few to no attacks, and overall offensive power is pretty minimal. However, this is largely offset by an incredible resistance to damage. They can literally walk through fire, be slammed into hard objects, and come out of it relatively unharmed. The attacking Buzzbreasts were unaware of this, though, due to having little intelligence to begin with. The first one readied it's nipple stingers and attacked what it presumed to be a helpless victim... Only to slam into Mariko, bounce off her chest, and end up flat on her back and spread-eagled. The second and third insect pokegirls followed in a similar manner, creating an intertangled mass of nude arms, legs, and moaning on the ground. "Master, save me!" Mariko cried. Kuno flew into action, bonking the insect pokegirls with his sword. "Take that, foul creatures! And that! And that!" Mariko glomped onto her tamer. "My hero!" *Smooch!* "Aauugghh!" Sasuke cringed behind Kodachi as the remaining two flying pokegirls attacked. "Vile insects!" Kodachi hissed, her vine whip lashing back and forth between her foes, forcing them apart. "That's it, flee before my power! Ohohohoho!" Sasuke looked up, wondering for a momemt what scared him more: the attacking Buzzbreasts, or his Domina. "Mistress Kodachi, they're coming back around!" "Let them!" Kodachi replied haughtily. "None can stand against the Black Rose!" Her vine whip lashed out again as the two Buzzbreasts closed from either side, encircling the neck of the one on her right. With a mighty tug, Kodachi swung it around to collide into the one approaching from her left, sending them crashing into the ground, entangled in her whip. "Well, that takes care of that!" Kodachi declared. "Well done, sister," Kuno acknowledged. Sasuke tugged on the sleeve of the Domina's leotard. "Uh, Mistress, I don't think it's over." The group of four turned to see that the sky was filled with about a dozen more Buzzbreasts, and they were heading straight at the small group. In additon, the five downed insect pokegirls were rising once more. However, there was a slightly different look to their eyes, and they licked their lips as their gaze fell on the two males. Sasuke took a step back, thinking that one crazy pokegirl was bad enough, and Buzzbreasts were dumber than a box of rocks. Some pokegirls you just don't want to tame. Even Kuno was rethinking his strategy. "While the Blue Thunder never retreats," he said, his voice beginning to quaver a little, "I, uh, do think our point has been made, and Akane awaits for me to free her!" Kodachi grinned with teeth. "Speak for yourself... Brother? Sasuke? Where are you going?" The Domina blinked as she beheld her servant/tamer departing in a rapid fashion, her brother and Mariko following close behind. Kodachi took another glance at the advancing Buzzbreasts, then made her decision. "Sasuke-darling, wait for meeeeee!" Five horny Buzzbreasts chased two tamers, a Damel, and a Domina through the woods, with about another dozen on the way. In the insect pokegirls' minds, mating season was most definitely on. Ranma looked as the two pokegirls emerged from the underbrush, her eyes widening a bit as the pieces of flint slipped from her fingers. Akane was carrying a large tree that must have been three feet in diameter and nearly twenty-four feet long. Nabiki was helping to carry it as well, but Ranma could tell that it was supported mainly by the Tomboy. Akane smirked at him as she dropped it, the ground thumping with the impact. "Ready, Akane?" Nabiki asked. Akane nodded as Nabiki bared her claws. Then the Tomboy turned and let loose a mighty karate chop that split a section of the thick trunk away, before tossing the enlarged frisbee at her sister. Nabiki's arms blurred as the wooden disk passed over head, and four blocks of wood landed behind her her, then she braced for Akane's next throw. In a little under five minutes, the whole tree had been chopped into usable firewood. "Stop gawking, Master," Nabiki told the redhead, smirking. Ranma's mouth snapped shut. "I wasn't gawking." After all, hadn't she done something similar with her father many times before? This was just the first time she had seen two girls do it. "And what's with this `Master' thing?" Akane mumbled something unintelligable, while Nabiki merely rolled her eyes. "That's simply what pokegirls call their tamer," the brown- furred Kitten explained. Ranma frowned as she picked the two pieces of flint back up. "Well, can't you just call me Ranma or something?" Being called "Master" made her uncomfortable for some reason. The two pokegirls exchanged looks of surprise. "Um, sure... Ranma," Nabiki replied. Ranma shrugged and went back to working on getting a fire started. Akane sat down a nearby rock and studied her tamer, her thoughts strangely disconcerted. "Egads!" Kuno huffed as he ran through the forest underbrush. "Never would I have imagined Blue Thunder's manliness would be so desired!" "This is all your fault, brother!" Kodachi shouted angrily, taking a short glance back to confirm that, yep, five horny Buzzbreasts were still hot on their trail. "For someone who `doesn't know the meaning of retreat', indeed!" Kuno grit his teeth, as he tried to ignore the repeated cries of "Save me, Master!" from Mariko. "I told you, Blue Thunder does not run! Time is of the essence if we are to rescue my beloved and fierce Tomboy Akane from the evil Saotome!" "Ranma-daaarling," Kodachi cooed in a dreamy, yet somewhat out- of-breath, voice. "How I long to feel your tender embrace once more..." She blinked. "Speaking of which, where is my darling Sasuke?" Fear is a powerful motivator, and Sasuke Sakagure wasn't exactly a brave man to begin with. Therefore, despite his shorter legs, the adrenaline racing through his system was enough to send him speeding way ahead of his three traveling companions, chanting a "Too much sex with crazed pokegirls will make Sasuke a dead tamer" mantra under his breath. With no warning whatsoever, he suddenly burst out of the forest and slammed on the brakes, coming to halt after twelve feet of skidding. Trembling greatly, he glanced over the edge of the cliff precipice he had narrowly avoided going over, taking note that it was in fact, a loooong way down. Sasuke wiped his forehead while heaving a great sigh of relief, then froze at the crashing sound coming from the direction he had arrived from, reminding him of exactly why he had been running in the first place. His ears drooped. "Oh no..." Two pokegirls and a tamer burst out of the woods, heading straight for the diminutive manservant. Hands flew to cover faces, but it was a futile gesture. Unable to stop, Kuno, Kodachi, and Mariko plowed into Sasuke, sending all three over the edge. Mariko hit the ground first, then her tamer landed on her back and began to ride her down the eighty-five degree angled slope like a sled, her head first. Kodachi lashed out with a vine whip and snagged Sasuke, then landed behind her brother and held on tight as the Damsel pokegirl rapidly picked up speed. Sasuke peeked out through his fingers. "Are we dead yet?" "Ohohoho! Of course not, Sasuke-darling. Kodachi, the Black Rose, shall protect you!" Sasuke took one look at their predicament, and the rapidly- approaching ravine floor, and chose to cover his eyes once more. "Mommy!" he whined. "Excellent work, my faithful pokegirl!" Kuno declared, once his own screaming had abated. "There will be an extra portion of pokegirl chow for you tonight!" "Blurg, cough, gurgle, mmph," Mariko replied as she ate more dirt. All things have to come to an end sometime, and in this case, that happened when Mariko the sled, met Rock the speedbump. Four bodies went flying, and caught enough airtime to make a basketball superstar jealous, before crashing quite ungracefully into the trees on the ravine floor. Had they stopped to think about it, all four would have been quite grateful for the miraculous condition known as `unconsciousness' when they hit the ground. Up above the cliff, the dozen Buzzbreasts caught up to the first five and, after a short look around, determined that their quarry had eluded them. Buzzing in sexual frustration, they headed back to the hive. Twice today, their attempts at expanding the swarm had been thwarted. It looked like it was going to be another lesbian orgy at the hive tonight. The fire started small, but thanks to the abundance of firewood Akane and Nabiki had provided, it was soon blossomed into a warming blaze that warmed the trio gathered around it. In fact, one of the girls in particular was getting a bit too warm. "Nabiki!" Akane exclaimed. "What are you doing?" The Kitten finished stripping off her shirt, taking her pendant off as well. "What? I'm just going to hang these wet things out to dry." "But..." Akane couldn't think of an appropriate rebuttal, and instead indicated the redhead sitting next to them. Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Don't be such a prude, Akane." The Kitten slipped off her jean shorts. "You know, you should change out of your clothes, too." Modesty was not exactly an inborn trait in pokegirls. Wild pokegirls were always naked, and even after taming, nudity still felt more natural to them. On bigger breeder ranches with many pokegirls, clothing was an expensive commodity so most went without. To keep warm, many pokegirls had fur or other internal heating capabilities, or just snuggled with those that did. Most fought with little or no clothing anyway, due to it being mostly a hindrance in combat with the many varied special abilities. As a fighting type, Akane usually wore a simple white gi, while a Kitten like Nabiki preferred a light shirt and short pair of jean shorts, cut to allow room for her tail. Being raised on a small breeder ranch with just her father and sister's for company, Akane had grown used to having clothes. And since she hadn't wanted to be tamed, that desire had translated into a urge to keep clothed. But since being tamed, and seeing the way Ranma looked at the nude form of her older sister, while trying not to look like he was looking, a strange feeling of jealousy filled Akane. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Um, do you have to do that?" Ranma asked, squirming a bit uncomfortably from where she sat. She tried to concentrate on the fire and ignore the nude and furry Kitten, but wasn't completely successful. The kettle on the fire was probably warm enough to change back, but she wasn't sure that was such a good idea right now, for some strange reason. "What's the matter, Raaanmaaa?" Nabiki inquired, drawing out her tamer's name. She was really enjoying this. "We're all girls here, after all. And it's not like you haven't seen this before." She gestured to her all natural brown-furred form. "Besides, your clothes are all wet, too. They'd dry out faster if you take them off. Unless you've got a sense of feminine modesty?" "I do not!" Ranma scowled at the thought that she would have anything feminine, and quickly stripped off her shirt to prove it, hanging it up beside Nabiki's things. The Kitten pokegirl smirked. Further thoughts along this line were put on hold, at the sound of an arrogant male voice. "To pursue the vile Saotome across the lands!" "To hold my Ranma-darling with my own two hands!" Akane hid her face in her hands and mumbled, "Oh no..." "To rescue the fierce Akane and gain her love!" "To dominate that Tomboy under the stars above!" "Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder!" "Kodachi Kuno, the Black Rose!" Tatewaki held a wooden sword out like an extension of himself. "Team Bokken is ready and prepared to smite!" Kodachi smiled evilly while tossing a black flower toward the three girls. "Please don't surrender, because I *want* to fight!" "Yay!" Mariko cheered, bouncing up and down. "That's right!" Nabiki blinked. "How did they find us?" "Our hearts were pure and are cause just," Kuno soliloquized. "How could we have been led astray?" "But, Master Kuno," Sasuke added. "Didn't we just follow the campfire smoke here?" "Silence!" Kuno bellowed. "Surely it was only a sign from the gods, for they aid me in my quest!" Kodachi scanned the campsite, scowling. Just to be sure, she scanned it again and came up with the same conclusion. She stabbed a finger at Akane. "You there, where is my Ranma-darling?" Akane scowled and pointed to the topless redhead. "He's right there, and he's not yours!" "Surely, you jest," Kodachi retorted. "My Ranma-darling is a masculine male, and this is but a cheap pokegirl!" "Hey, I ain't cheap!" Ranma yelled in outrage. "Indeed, where is the vile Saotome, so that I might smite him for his impertinence?" "I'm right mmmph!" "He's away at the moment," Nabiki explained with her hand over Ranma's mouth. She ignored Ranma's glare. Kuno frowned, flipped open his pokedex, pointed it the topless redhead, and made a startling discovery. "Another Tomboy!? How does that vile Saotome gain not one, but two rare pokegirls like the Tomboy?" Akane and Nabiki blinked, their thoughts identical. Ranma really was a pokegirl? Kuno looked over at the shirtless Ranma, took note of her full breasts, and came to a conclusion. "Of course, I must free this excellent specimen of pokegirl from Saotome as well!" Thoughts filled with glee at the thought of gaining two Tomboys in one day, Kuno leapt across the distance to glomp the female Ranma. "Ah, delightful her bosoms be!" Ranma squirmed in the enthusiastic boy's grip, feeling something decidely uncomfortable form in the pit of her stomach. "Ouch! You don't have to squeeze me!" *WHAM!* Blue Thunder took flight, landing by Mariko's feet, who immediately bent down and fussed over him. "Master, are you alright? Did that nasty pokegirl hurt you?" "Applying minor pressure of bosoms is a legitimate method of determining pokegirl health and fitness," Kuno replied unpreturbed, brushing dirt off his hakama. "I'm hurt, Kuno-baby," Nabiki said, faking a pout. "Don't I deserve to be rescued, too?" Kuno looked over Nabiki's nude furry form, and hmphed. "Though thou art merely a weak and common Kitten of simple stock, the Blue Thunder would be remiss in his duties if allowed any lowly pokegirl to remain with such a cold-hearted tamer." "Cold-hearted?" Akane seethed. "What makes you think that!?" "Tis obvious, if such a tamer abandons his pokegirls in the wild, then he is no man." Kuno grinned. "Ah, but do worry. For the great Tatewaki Kuno is to comfort you! Come to me!" Nabiki's eyebrow twitched as she trembled almost imperceptibly. "Common? Weak!?" Unconsciously, her claws slid out part way. She speared Kuno with a dangerous look, as her voice dropped to threatening levels. "For your own health, I suggest you leave. Now." "I shall not be ordered about by a mere pokegirl," Kuno told her. "Be quiet and know your place." Nabiki clenched and unclench her paws, baring and retracting her claws. A modest, but visible, battle aura began to glow around her. Ranma took a step back at the sight of an enraged Kitten. Akane rolled up her sleeves and hopped over the fire to land in an attack stance as her sister seethed. "That's it! Either put up or shut up!" "You know, for once I agree with your methods, Akane," Nabiki added in a low voice, then turned to Kuno. "Either leave on your own, or we'll kick you out." Tatewaki grinned, hearing only what he wanted to hear, and leapt to the attack, his wooden sword raised. "I shall defeat you myself, and free you!" *WHAM!* Akane withdrew her fist as Mariko helped her master up once more. "Ah, a pobee-babble, ben!" Kuno offered, holding his injured nose. "A boo-on-boo math. And bif I bin, Abane ith mine!" Ranma scratched his head. "What'd he say?" "Stupid girl!" Mariko sneered at Ranma. "He said it will be a two-on-two pokebattle. Winner gets Akane." Mariko looked the Tomboy over, giving her a distasteful look. "Though why'd he'd want that overmuscled twit of a Tomboy is beyond me." "Excuse me!" Akane nearly shrieked. "You want to take that back?" "Akane is mine!" Kodachi declared. "She will fight no one but me. We still have a score to settle, and it's time I prove I'm your better once and for all!" "That's fine with with me," Nabiki agreed, turning toward Mariko. "I'm more than capable of taking this bitch down." Yowling and hissing, Nabiki leapt at Mariko with claws out while Akane engaged Kodachi. The Kitten's senses told her that Kuno's new pokegirl had little offensive potential, and should be an easy win. "I've beat you every single time we've fought before, Kodachi," Akane boasted, sliding into an aggressive attack stance. Kodachi advanced toward Akane, vine whip at the ready. "I've merely let you think you had the upper hand. But, that will all change today. Rose whip!" "Go, Kodachi, go!" Mariko cheered, breaking out her pompoms once more as Nabiki attacked, slashing her claws against the other girl's side. The Damsel stumbled a bit, but recovered quickly. Akane sprung to the side just in time to avoid the whip attack, then sprinted forward, hoping to close in and finish this fight fast. However, Kodachi was faster, and the raven-haired Tomboy received a face full of black petals. Sputtering at her temporary blindness, Akane attempted to jump back out of range, but the rose vine latched itself around her arm and yanked her to the ground. "I have you now!" Kodachi yelled triumphantly. "Hey, wait a minute!" Ranma protested, caught off-guard with the sight of an angry cat-type girl and her hissing. "I wanna fight someone!" "This is our fight!" Akane shouted back, as she forced herself to her feet and pulled on the whip attached to her arm. She grinned; in a contest of strength, Akane knew that she could easily best Kodachi. She began to reel the Domina in. Mariko swished her pompoms from side to side. "Come on, Kodachi, you can do it, put a little power to it!" "Shut up!" Nabiki snarled, slashing head, chest, and legs in a blur of rapid movement. The fight was infuriating to her; Mariko's skin looked soft, but might as well have been steel, as Nabiki could inflict no real damage. While the few attacks Mariko did launch were easily avoided by the Kitten, the Damsel was mostly ignoring her and cheering Kodachi on instead. "If you want to do something to help, find what what this girl is made of!" Ranma blinked. Remembering what the boys were doing during Akane's fight in the streets and seeing Kuno and Sasuke commanding their own girls, Ranma rifled through her pack and pulled out her own pokedex. The first rule of combat was finding out what you were up against, and so far this little object had been able to supply info. Pointing it at Mariko, the data for a "Damsel" pokegirl scrolled onto the screen, but it only confused her more. Heavily resitant to damage? Cheers power-up other pokegirls? How could that be? Ranma's head jerked up at Akane's cry of pain. The Tomboy was wrapped in vines from her waist up and struggling against her bonds. "You're losing, Akane-dear," Kodachi taunted. "Can you feel it? The venom from my poison lash is seeping through your body. You're losing your power, and with it, the match!" "No!" Akane grunted. But she could feel her strength starting to wane as she dropped to one knee. Ranma grit her teeth. "Tackle her, Akane!" Somehow, Akane found the strength. She sprung to her feet and blurred into action, streaking towards her opponent. "Mistress Kodachi, look out!" Sasuke cried. Mariko did a cartwheel and jumped into the air. "Akane's a tortoise, Kodachi's a hare; speed's what Kodachi has, so Akane better beware! Yay!" "Hey, pay attention to me!" shouted an outraged Nabiki, who's more powerful leap carried her into the air above the Damsel. Giving it all she had, the Kitten locked both paws together and slammed them down on Mariko's head, sending the other pokegirl plunging into the dirt. Nabiki landed and shook her hurt paws, unaccustomed to hitting such a hard object, but hoping that had done the trick. But the cheer's effect had already gone off. "Not this time!" the Black Rose declared, flipping with ease over Akane's less-than-graceful charge. Kodachi twitched the whip, sending Akane slamming into the ground. On the other side, Mariko stood up and shook the dirt off, apparently looking no worse for wear. Nabiki merely stared in disbelief. "It is as the heaven's foretold," Kuno proclaimed. "I cannot be beaten!" "It ain't over yet!" Ranma yelled back. Her eyes flashed back and forth between the two battles, trying to think of something. Her analytical mind flashed into action, calculating the strengths and weaknesses she had seen so far, of all those present. Then she factored in the data she was receving from the pokedex. Ranma's eyes flashed in understanding. "That's it! Nabiki, use your claws to free Akane!" Having been given a direct order, Nabiki sprinted at top speed toward her sister and Kodachi. There was a flash of light, then the vine whip connecting the two girls fell into multiple segments. Akane rolled to her feet. Kuno's eyes bulged. "What!? You cannot do that!" Ranma snorted. "You mean like you were using that Mariko chick's abilites to help Kodachi?" Her attention returned to her two girls. "Now, switch opponents!" Nabiki blinked. "Switch? That's your great idea?!" "Hey, Kodachi is mine!" Akane yelled. "I can take her! I can handle my own fights!" "Hey, if you wanna win, just do it!" Ranma shouted back, then glanced down at his pokedex. "What's this? Pummel?" Akane growled, then turned and lunged at Mariko, punching her over and over again with many strong blows, while Nabiki unleashed a fury of swipes at Kodachi. The Damsel and Domina withered under the fierce assault, being driven backwards. Kodachi was unable to match Nabiki's speed, cat-types being strong against Dominas. And Mariko was likewise unable to compete against Akane's fierceness. "No, I cannot be beaten!" Kuno declared. After several moments, both Tendo sisters unleashed matching rounhouse kicks that sent their opponent's into their respective tamers, the quartet collapsing into a heap. "Too late," Akane huffed with a grim smile. Nabiki smirked at her unconscious opponent. "You already have." "We... fight on!" Mariko and Kuno declared, rising simultaneously. Akane leapt foreward, her arm cocked back, her fist glowing. "Not likely! MEGATON PUNCH!" *WHAM!* *FLASH!* "Akane Tendo and pig-tailed pokegirl, I'll be baaaaaaaack!" Kuno called as he and his Damsel soared through the sky to disappear with a twinkle in the distance "Master Kuno, wait for me!" Sasuke cried, sucking up Kodachi into her pokeball before taking off after his master. Ranma blinked. "Whoa, not bad..." She picked the heating kettle up off the fire and availed herself of it's contents. His gaze then turned to the two girls. "Hey, what's wrong with you guys?" Akane had dropped to one knee, and Nabiki was leaning on her shoulder for support. "Fight... took quite a bit out of us," Nabiki replied, panting. She froze as a tingle began building up inside her body, working it's way out through her limbs. Akane felt her sister freeze up. "Nabiki? Uh oh..." She stood up and backed away, coming to stand by Ranma's side. "What's going on?" the pig-tailed boy asked as Nabiki began to glow with a luminous ivory aura. "She's..." Akane started to say as her sister became bright white. "Nabiki's evolving!" Ranma's eyes widened. "What!?" The Kitten was now enveloped completely in the near-blinding light, her form seeming to shift slightly within. Then, with a final flash that caused the other two to shield their eyes, it was over and a changed Nabiki was left standing as if nothing had happened. But something had happened. Nabiki's brown fur, which used to be a little more than light fuzz covering her body, was quite a bit thicker. Her ears were sharper, poking a good ways above her hairline. She seemed a bit taller, her facial muzzle was a bit more pronounced, and her tail was a little longer as it now brushed the ground, twitching. The pokedex still held in the trembling Ranma's hand, blipped. {Catgirl, the all-purpose cultural pokegirl. This evolved form of Kitten, possesses enhanced speed, reflexes and senses. Catgirls can be fierce fighters, but are also quite playful, and love having their neck scratched.} "Nabiki..." Akane whispered. The neo-Catgirl dropped to all fours as she stretched, her rear rising into the air and her tail twitching while she squeaked out a languid "meow", then stood back up. "Weeell," she said in an interesting voice, the word rolling off her tongue in a sensous manner. "That was... mildly fascinating." She blinked at Ranma, then rolled her eyes. "Oh hells, not again. I thought we were mostly over this." Akane turned to study her tamer. "Ranma?" Only to see a topless pig-tailed boy backed up a tree and trembling, muttering "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca" over and over again in a low voice. The Tendo sisters groaned and had identical thoughts. "Well, I'm ready for bed," Nabiki declared, poking her head out of the tent. "Ready to join us, Ranma?" Ranma sweatdropped from where he sat, on opposite side of the fire. "Uh, that's okay. Why don't you girls take the tent, and I'll sleep outside?" Nabiki pouted. "What? Don't you think we deserve a good taming as a reward for our performance today?" Akane waved her hands, making a slashing gesutre across her throat in an attempt to dissuade her sister. "Nabiki!" The Catgirl scowled. "Fine then. But you don't know what you'll be missing!" She winked at him, then ducked back into the tent. Akane breathed a sigh of relief, then stood to follow Nabiki. However, a moment of concern caused her to pause before entering the tent and turn back to Ranma. "You sure you'll be okay out here?" "I'll be fine," he replied, waving her off. "I've been roughing it since I was little. It's nothing new." The Tomboy frowned slightly. It wasn't she cared about the pervert or anything, but the ground looked awfully hard and uncomfortable, and the sky was looking a bit cloudy, too... "Well... the tent is big enough for three... if you promise to-What!? " Ranma smirked. "Oh, I get it! You just can't resist me, can you?" Part of him was a little upset about how she had taken control yesterday, and this was the perfect way to pay her back. "Sure, you play like innocent and not interested, but it's just like when you jumped me the other day. I'm just irresistable and... Hey, wait a minute!" *SLAM!* Akane walked away, dusting her hands. "Goodnight. And enjoy your pillow, Master." Ranma mumbled about uncute tomboys from underneath the boulder . Later that night, Akane was roused from her sleep by the sound of... yowling? Rubbing her eyes, she peeked out of the tent. Her brain tried to convince her what she saw outside, was just a dream. But then another part of her mind noted the position of her sister underneath Ranma was identical to what she had seen last night. She inhaled sharply, then suddenly wished she hadn't, as that slight noise had drawn Ranma's eyes straight towards her. Akane paled. "Oh no..." Ranma leapt into the tent, and Nabiki followed a short time later, purring happily. The blue canvas tent shook quite a bit over the next half-an- hour, but proved to be sturdy enough to handle the activities inside. ---------------------------- Author's notes: KP: Well, I hope that was as good for you as it was for me. I'd like to thank my two prereaders, Hpackrat and T. H. Tiger for their help so far. Shampoo: Shampoo give pre-readers kiss of pre-reading for good help! *Smooch*! *Smooch!* KP: However, I have a condundrum. I was originally going to keep this as just a lime fic, but Tiger thinks I should go for full lemon, as a way to explore Ranma's sexual development. I haven't quite decided yet, though the next part could conceivably contain lemon or lime bits. Hpackrat says I should stay with Lime. What do you think? Shampoo: Shampoo think only good lemon scene is with Shampoo and Ranma! Only Shampoo can show Ranma too too good time! KP: I wouldn't have guessed... Of course, I may do a lime story mainly, with lemon sidestories for those who are interested. Anyway, tell me your thoughts, and you just may influence the story! Later! Shampoo: (waves) Bai bai!