   Well, here's part four. The plot sickens...er, thickens!

Halftime
By Aaron Ziegler
alziegle@norcia.cs.csbsju.edu
http://bingen.cs.csbsju.edu/~alziegle

Chapter 4: Time Out

   At the Tendo home, a week passed, more or less uneventfully.
Marle and Crono, at Lucca's insistence, went to school every day,
in an attempt to learn as much as they could about this new world
that they found themselves in. They learned a little, but mostly
they learned how irritating it was to have to stand in a hall
while holding loaded water buckets. Crono was given several
opportunities to practice his fighting techniques on Kunou, who
seemed totally unwilling to forgive or forget his original brush
with lightning.
   One situation that amused Ranma and Shampoo to no end began
when Akane and Crono took Lucca to the Neko Hanten. Lucca took
one look at Mousse, and instantly became infatuated with him.
Soon, to Mousse's great discomfort, Lucca was hanging onto him in
much the same manner that Shampoo grappled Ranma.
   Shampoo took vicious joy in taunting him about this. "Shampoo
thought Mousse only faithful to Shampoo!" she mocked him, as
Lucca tightened her embrace.
   "No, dearest Shampoo!" he exclaimed in horror, as he attempted
unsuccessfully to pry the love-stricken young inventor off, "It's
not what it looks like!"
   "What it supposed look like, then?" Shampoo asked sweetly.
   "Um...er," stuttered Mousse. He had managed to push Lucca off
for a moment, but like a magnet, she had wrapped herself around
his left leg.
   "Oh, what a hunk!" she crooned.
   "Aughh!" screamed Mousse in horror, and abruptly pulled his
leg free. He ran out of the shop, and down the street.
   "Come back, Moosey!" Lucca exclaimed and took off after him.
   "Good riddance," exclaimed Shampoo happily. "Stupid Mousse
gone. Maybe Lucca make good wife for him, so he leave Shampoo
alone."
   For the next several days, whenever she wasn't tinkering with
the Epoch, Lucca was thinking about Mousse, talking about Mousse,
or stalking Mousse. "Did you know that Mousse is a master of
hidden weapons?" she asked Ranma dreamily one day.
   "Yeah," said Ranma, wincing. He had more than once been on the
receiving end of those hidden weapons.
   "I'm gonna make some for him!" proclaimed Lucca, suddenly.
"Maybe then he'll stop running from me!"
   "Er, is that really necessary?" asked Ranma, knowing full well
who would most likely be the test subject for any new weapons
Mousse came to be in possession of.
   "Yeah! That's what I'll do," Lucca continued, ignoring Ranma.
"I bet I can make new weapons ten times as painful as the ones he
has now! This'll be fun!"
   Lucca ran off to get her tools, leaving Ranma with visions of
hidden horrors emerging from Mousse's sleeves. Still, Ranma
couldn't help but to pity Mousse some. Ranma knew very well what
it was like to have unwanted suitors. Then Ranma's expression
hardened. It served Mousse right, after all the torment he put
Ranma through just because Shampoo had decided to make Ranma her
husband! Mousse was welcome to Shampoo, for all Ranma cared!
   Ranma walked through the Tendo living room, trying hard to
ignore the hooks, chains, barbs, blades, and bludgeons that a
cheerfully whistling Lucca was fiddling with. Suddenly, she
stopped whistling, and said, "Hey, look." Ranma, who was at the
staircase, stopped. He didn't really want to see, but turned
anyway. To his surprise, Lucca wasn't holding up a vile weapon.
She was holding a short rod with a spherical end. The end was
blinking rapidly with a yellow light.
   "What's that?" asked Ranma curiously.
   "It's my Gate key," Lucca answered, distractedly. "It seems to
be indicating that a time Gate has opened up in the area."
   "A time Gate?" repeated Ranma excitedly.
   "We have to investigate," said Lucca. "Where's Crono and
Marle?"
   "Crono and Akane are at Ucchan's," said Ranma resentfully. "I
think he spends a little too much time with Akane."
   Lucca noted Ranma's discontent and laughed. "Don't be jealous,
Ranma! I'm pretty sure Marle and Crono are destined for one
another. He and Akane are just friends."
   "What? Me, jealous of that violent tomboy?" Ranma asked
incredulously. Still, he relaxed slightly.
   The two of them found Marle, and soon Ranma and Marle were
following Lucca, who, in turn, was being guided by the key. After
a few minutes of walking, Lucca stopped. She frowned and shook
the key. "It's stopped," she said. "The Gate must have
disappeared. Still, let's keep walking. Something might have come
through while the Gate was open."
   Soon they began to hear voices arguing, one high-pitched and
whiny, the other low and guttural, with an odd accent. "Release
th' Masamune, Madame!" the low voice demanded. "'Tis not a
plaything!"
   "Let go of Pierre!" insisted the higher voice.
   Even before they appeared on the scene, Marle and Lucca
recognized one of the voices with joy. "It's Frog!" they
exclaimed.
   Ranma, for his part, recognized the other voice with
irritation. "It's Asuza," Ranma groaned.
   Soon, the three could see the odd scene. A cute young brown-
haired woman with a pink hair bow, and a froglike creature
dressed in medieval clothing with a flowing cape, each had a firm
grasp on the hilt of an impressive broadsword. The sword was at
least a meter in length, with a broad, flat blade that almost
seemed to glow with an inner light.
   Then, with a sudden pull, the young woman, who was apparently
much stronger than she looked, ripped the mighty blade out of the
frog-creature's grasp, causing the creature to take a tumble.
Asuza gathered the broadsword to her chest, and cuddled it,
crooning, "Pierre! Pierre!"
   Oddly, one could almost imagine hearing a voice from the sword
saying, "This is most embarrassing, Mune."
   Or just as oddly, a response, "Too true, Masa. Do you think
she is strong enough to use us?"
   "Not a chance, my brother." replied the first.
   "Then we must wait. We are good at waiting."
   "MADAME!" exclaimed the creature, standing again, "I am afraid
that I must insist-" Then he noticed Lucca and Marle, "By Lavos,
how glad I am to see thee!" suddenly remembering his station, he
bowed deeply to Marle, "Your highness!"
   Marle giggled, "C'mon Frog, you don't need to be so formal
with me. Just call me Marle, as always. Now, what is going on?"
   "Of course, Marle. In truth, I am uncertain as to what hath
transpired. I was patrolling the environs of Guardia Castle, when
a Gate appeared before me without warning. I found myself here,
though whither or when here be, I cannot guess. Before I couldst
recover my bearings, the Gate vanished once more, leaving me
stranded. I was then startled by a noise, and drew mine blade
without thought. The noise was caused by yon damsel, who, upon
seeing the Masamune thus drawn, shouted 'Pierre', and seized it.
She will not listen to reason, and-"
   Suddenly, Asuza shouted "Oh, how cute! Jacques!" and dropped
the Masamune. The sword landed point first and easily sank into
the concrete up to the hilt. With great speed, Asuza leapt over
to where Lucca was standing, and snatched the Gate key from her.
   "Hey!" shouted Lucca, shocked at the brazen theft. Frog, for
his part, wasted no time in making his way over to where the
Masamune was buried to the hilt in concrete. He pulled it easily
free. As he sheathed the great sword, one could almost hear a
twin sigh of relief coming from the blade.
   "Jacques!" cooed Asuza, cuddling the uncuddly object.
   "Who is that?" Marle demanded of Ranma.
   "She's a member of a local championship Martial Arts Figure
Skating team called the Golden Pair of Kolkhoz High," answered
Ranma. "She's obsessed with anything she considers cute. If she
sees something cute, then she gives it a French name and claims
it for her own. Her name is-"
   Suddenly, a voice snapped, "ASUZA!"
   Asuza immediately stiffened in irritation. Without warning, an
arm plucked the Gate key out of her loosened grasp. "Hey!" she
exclaimed.
   The arm was attached to a tall, handsome, well-dressed young
man. "You really have to pardon my partner, my lovely ladies," he
said gallantly to Lucca and Marle. "She does tend to get a bit
carried away at times." The partner in question was repeatedly
lunging for the key, which the young man deftly kept out of her
grasp. It was evidently something he had done before.
   'Lovely ladies', thought Lucca, flattered, Is he talking to
me? Marle, for her part, just looked suspicious.
   "Leave them alone, Mikado. They're with me," said Ranma, eyes
blazing with hatred. Marle vaguely recalled Akane mentioning
Mikado as one of Ranma's 'suitors'.
   Mikado frowned, "Oh, it's you. Ouch!" Asuza had chosen that
moment to change tactics. She kicked Mikado hard in the shin,
causing him to drop the Gate key, which she immediately
recovered.
   "Jacques!" she yelped happily.
   Mikado glared at her. "Cut that out!" Then he turned back to
Ranma. "Well, any friends of yours are no friends of mine, no
matter how lovely. If they want that thing back, they'll have to
challenge:" he struck a pose. After a tense moment, he kicked a
distracted Asuza, who finally also struck a pose, "The Golden
Pair!"
   "No problem," snorted Ranma. "I beat you once, and I can do it
again."
   "No!" shouted Marle. "I have had ENOUGH. First Shampoo, then
Kunou, and now you! Is everyone here bent on ruining our stay?
Fine! I'll challenge you!" She grabbed Frog. "Frog will be my
partner!"
   "Er, milady, please-" stuttered the chivalrous amphibian.
   Marle paid no attention, "Well?" She glowered at the Pair.
   Mikado bowed deeply, and replied, "It will be an honor to meet
you on the icy field of combat," he threw a puzzled glance at
Frog, "Even if your choice of partner seems...unusual." He
glanced furtively at Ranma for a moment and then returned his
gaze to the girl. "You can...skate, can't you? Our last opponents
couldn't."
   "Hey-"
   Marle cut off Ranma's protest and gazed at Mikado frostily. "I
do ice," she said coldly.
   "Excellent," Mikado beamed. "Here are the terms. If you win, I
liberate your trinket from Asuza, and prevent any further thefts
against you and your friends. If I win," he flashed them a
brilliant smile, "then you will be my escort for an evening of my
choosing."
   "Your highness! I cannot allow-" started Frog.
   "I accept your terms," interrupted Marle with a chilling
smile. "Just tell me when, and where."
   "As for the when, let us meet at four o'clock tomorrow." He
pointed at Ranma. "He can show you the where. Ta!"
   The handsome skater and his partner left, he running a comb
through his hair, and she making cute noises at her new
acquisition. Frog cleared his throat loudly, which (his being a
frog and all) was enough to gain the attention of all still
present. He fumed, "Milady Marle, I must inform you that many a
year has passed since I have partaken to set foot to ice, and I
was e'en then no adept. If thee were possessed of skill enough
for two, still would we lose! Further, that fellow seemed of a
most ill character, and certainly not a one with whom a lady of
your standing should dally!"
   Marle, who had evidently calmed down a great deal, said, "It's
sweet of you to be concerned, Frog, but we aren't going to lose.
Just leave it up to me. Now, we have to see about getting some
skates."
   Frog shook his head. "'Tis madness!" he muttered. Then he
realized that there was an ally that he had not met before. He
bowed to Ranma with a flourish "Please forgive my rudeness," he
said, "but I had not the chance to properly introduce myself. I
am called Frog. Though Glenn be my true name, I have gone by the
moniker for so long that I find it comfortable, much like a well-
worn shoe. I am a knight in good standing of the Knights of the
Square Table of Guardia, and am the personal guardian of her
Highness, the most royal Queen Leene. I would be honored to know
thy name, thou who hast earned the friendship of my dear friends
Lucca and Marle."
   Ranma, more than a little overwhelmed by the elegant manner of
speech used by the green-skinned knight, proceeded to plant his
foot firmly in his mouth, "Um, my name is Ranma. Er, the name
Frog suits you."
   Marle and Lucca rolled their eyes, and Ranma turned red.
Fortunately, Frog seemed not at all offended. He laughed, and
patted Ranma's back. "Indeed it does. Fear not, lad! When one
bears a form such as mine, one learns to put little stock in
first impressions. Now, Sir Ranma, ladies, let us go forthwith to
purchase ice skates. I shall require practice for the coming
competition, lest I fall on mine face the moment mine skate
toucheth ice."
   While the four were shopping for skates, Frog gathered a lot
of stares from passers-by. But Frog's charming and eloquent
manner of speech endeared him to the salespeople he interacted
with, and soon they managed to make a decent purchase on two
pairs of fine ice skates. Skates in hand, the four decided to
return to the Tendo household for dinner before beginning Frog's
training, to see if Crono and Akane had returned. "Indeed, I
should like to see Sir Crono once again," Frog agreed.
   Akane and Crono had returned, and Frog was introduced to Genma
and the Tendo's. Frog bowed deeply, and spoke to Soun, "Truly
thou art blest to have three such visions of beauty as thy
daughters." Soun began to sob with joy at Frog's compliment.
Akane and Kasumi both blushed, and even Nabiki's cynical
expression softened for a moment.
   "He CAN'T be talking about Akane," muttered Ranma loudly.
   Akane's face darkened. "Ranma...you...IDIOT!" she screamed,
pounding Ranma.
   Frog was astounded at the violence, "Lady Akane, perhaps Sir
Ranma was o'er hasty of tongue, but was that truly necessary?"
   "Yes," she answered shortly.
   Crono told Frog not to worry, as that sort of behavior was
common in the Tendo household. "I see," responded Frog, as he
watched Marle heal the crushed Ranma. "Methinks 'twould be best
for one not to anger her unduly..." Crono, Marle and Lucca nodded
their agreement.
   Over dinner (cooked by Kasumi that night, and so earning
complements from all present), they discussed the day's
activities, and the coming competition. At the mention of a
competition, Nabiki the Bookie came to full attention. Where
there are competitions, she thought, there is money to be made!
Best of all, I have an inside source for one of the teams.
   "So, you two are gonna take on the Golden Pair," she asked
Marle, smiling. "They've been beaten before, but believe me, it
wasn't by skill."
   "Was too!" piped up Ranma and Akane in unison.
   "Get real, Ranma, you couldn't even skate," smirked Nabiki,
"If Asuza hadn't taken Mikado down herself, you'd never have
stood a chance!" Ranma glowered, but didn't respond.
   "Can you skate?" Nabiki asked Marle and Frog bluntly.
   Marle nodded, but Frog sadly answered "Alas, no. Yet Marle
assures me that the competition is but won. Once we have supped,
she and I shall practice together, that I may stand without
falling at the morrow's tournament."
   Hmm, thought Nabiki, so Marle's got something up her sleeve.
That's certainly worth knowing. Either that, or it's just
bravado. Still, bravado, and a lot of luck, carried the day for
Ranma. This should be worth watching! Then she silently
admonished herself. Focus, Nabiki! Don't forget where the real
money is: Lucca's little toy outside. Still, she thought with a
slow smile, It's always best to put your eggs in more than one
basket. "Well, best of luck to you!" she smiled.
   "Mine thanks, milady!" He took another bite of his dinner.
"Truly, Lady Kasumi, thy cooking skill doth rival thy beauty."
   Everyone but Kasumi and Frog winced, knowing quite well what
was going to follow a line like that. "Gee, Akane, I guess you
have something in common with Kasumi after all," said Ranma
innocently.
   Across town, at Ucchan's, Ukyou paused a moment in her cooking
to listen to the shrill, semi-coherent insults that Akane was
unloading onto Ranma, along with who knows what ghastly physical
abuse. Oh, Ran-chan, she thought, why must you taunt her so?
Still, if she hurts you too badly, I'll always be here for you.
Ukyou smiled, and closed her eyes, daydreaming of Ranma kissing
her at their wedding. She sighed, and returned to her work.
   Later that evening, Frog, Marle, and Akane (Ranma, even after
an Aura shot from Marle, was still out cold), walked to an indoor
ice rink to practice. Frog, as he had predicted, was extremely
clumsy at first. But with perseverance, Akane and Marle soon had
him skating simple figures. This accomplished, Akane explained to
the two just what Martial Arts Figure Skating was, and what they
were to expect from the Golden Pair. "And most of all, remember
that Mikado will put a lot of effort into trying to kiss you,
Marle," Akane concluded.
   "Not whilst I still stand," remarked Frog fiercely.
   "Don't worry, Frog. This is what we're gonna do..."
   Finally, the hour of the competition arrived. Several familiar
faces were in the audience at Kolkhoz High, including the
Saotome's, the Tendo's, Lucca (clinging to an unwilling Mousse),
Shampoo (clinging to an equally unwilling Ranma), Crono, Ukyou,
and Cologne. Only Nabiki was missing, and Ranma had a good idea
where she was. He disengaged himself from Shampoo and stood up.
   "Where go?" asked a pouting Shampoo.
   "Er, to get some popcorn," said Ranma.
   This seemed to satisfy her, so Ranma quickly made his escape.
He made his way downstairs, where he found several dozen people
crowded around a table waving handfuls of yen in the air. As
Ranma predicted, at the center of all this was Nabiki, taking
bets. "So, what are the odds, Nabiki?" he asked.
   "Oh, hi, Ranma!" she said cheerfully. "The odds are 10 to 1
against Marle and Frog. Even though the Golden Pair lost their
last big match, most people call that a fluke. Especially since
no one really knows what happened. Care to place a bet?"
   Ranma wasn't listening, "Fluke?" he demanded, "It was no
fluke!"
   "Of course not," answered Nabiki in a patronizing tone.
   "I don't have to take this!" exclaimed Ranma, storming out.
Nabiki grinned and returned to her bookkeeping.
   "Where popcorn?" asked Shampoo when Ranma returned.
   "Er, I forgot it," said Ranma, sheepishly.
   "It OK, Shampoo forgive." She leaned close to Ranma."Let
Shampoo show," she whispered, puckering up.
   Akane and Ukyou had had enough. Akane picked up Ranma, Ukyou
grabbed Lucca, and forced them to trade seats. Now Ranma was
sitting by Mousse, and Lucca was sitting by Shampoo. Ukyou and
Akane were satisfied, and Ranma and Mousse were relieved. Shampoo
and Lucca were irritated, and were about to try to reclaim their
respective partners, when the competition finally began. They sat
down again to watch.
   The announcer spoke, "Welcome one and all to the grudge match
of the year! On the west edge of the arena, a team that needs no
introduction: The nearly undefeated Golden Pair of Kolkhoz High!"
A spotlight blinked to life, illuminating Mikado and Asuza. The
audience cheered wildly as Mikado bowed and threw them a kiss,
and Asuza giggled and waved. Asuza, Lucca noted, had her Gate key
on a chain around her neck. "And on the east edge, the
challengers: A previously unknown skating duo who have asked to
be called Princess and Frog!" The spotlight hit Marle and Frog.
The two of them were dressed as usual, but Marle was also wearing
a sparkling, jeweled tiara, and Frog was wearing an elegant
feathered cap. Again the crowd cheered, but with a note of
curiosity. Remarks on Frog's life-like costume could be heard, as
well as estimations of their skill. On the ice, Marle and Frog
bowed as one, she grinning and he doffing his cap. "And let the
show begin!"
   At that signal, the Golden Pair started down the ice toward
the two challengers. Marle and Frog moved out halfway to meet
them, and stopped. Frog menacingly drew his Masamune, drawing
gasps from all the audience.
   "Pierre!" shouted Asuza happily at the sight of the drawn
blade. "I want Pierre!"
   Irritated, Mikado shook the girl, "You can have it when we
win! Now, concentrate!" The two of them increased speed toward
the waiting team.
   Then, without warning, Marle and Frog began to skate away from
the oncoming Pair. Frog abruptly stabbed his sword into the ice,
the blade slicing easily through the frozen surface into the
water below. He held onto the great sword with one hand and Marle
with the other, so that as Marle pulled him along, the two of
them left a cut behind them. They circled around the now wary
Golden Pair. As they completed the circle, the liberated ice sank
under the weight of the Golden Pair, who momentarily lost
balance. Quickly they recovered, and leapt to more sturdy
footing. The unstable ice floe bobbed a little before returning
to rest.
   "A stunning maneuver on the part of Princess and Frog!"
enthused the announcer. "But will it be enough to stop the Golden
Pair?"
   Marle continued to criss-cross the rink, leaving the ice
shattered and loose behind them. Unfortunately, as they reached
the other side of the rink, Mikado and Asuza finally caught up to
them. Asuza lunged, and managed to grab onto Marle. Then she and
Mikado shouted, "Couple Cleaver!"
   "Ooh, bad news, folks!" said the announcer, "It looks like the
Golden Pair is using their dreaded Couple Cleaver technique! No
couple has been able to hang together in the face of this
maneuver!"
   Mikado and Asuza began to spin around, swinging Frog and Marle
faster and faster. Akane had explained this technique as a
maneuver designed to incapacitate one or both of the opponents.
Mikado would spin in place, while the centrifugal force lifted
Asuza and the two opponents into the air. As Mikado spun faster
and faster, the opponents would have a choice: hang onto one
another until both were flung away by the building force, or let
go, sacrificing one while leaving the other intact. Fortunately,
Marle and Frog had prepared for this. Marle shouted, "Quickly,
Frog! Plan B!" Frog quickly sheathed his sword and turned his
head to look at Asuza. He opened his mouth, and his long, red
tongue flew out to wrap around Asuza's waist.
   "Ewww, yuck!" shrieked Asuza, nearly losing her grip on Marle.
Then she recovered her hold. The four of them continued spinning,
faster and faster. Marle gritted her teeth, and tightened her
deteriorating grip on Frog. She looked over to Asuza and saw a
most welcome sight. As Marle had planned, Frog's added anchor had
made it much more difficult for the Golden Pair to rip them
apart. Asuza was being pulled from Mikado by the same forces that
were trying to pull Frog from her.
   Mikado, straining under the effort of holding onto Asuza,
suddenly became aware that their technique was backfiring. Nearly
panicking, he ceased his spin and lowered Asuza to the ground.
Asuza released Marle, and Frog wasted no time in releasing Asuza.
The two teams coasted apart. "Unbelievable!" the frenzied
announcer shouted, "The dreaded Couple Cleaver has actually been
countered! What a night this is turning out to be!"
   Mikado and Asuza came to a halt near the edge of one of Frog's
Masamune cuts, while Frog and Marle ended up near the side of the
rink. Frog and Marle were obviously exhausted. Mikado saw this
quite clearly, and although he and his partner were a little
tired themselves (not to mention more than a little unnerved by
the defeat of their master technique), he spoke confidently as he
announced, "You might as well concede! You may have stopped the
Couple Cleaver, but it is obvious that you will not be able to
keep this up as long as us! I will yet taste your lips, my lovely
princess!"
   Marle glared at him furiously. "Never!" she shouted. She held
her hands out in front of her and closed her eyes. "Ice2," she
chanted. Abruptly, a chilling wind began to blow, rippling
Marle's clothes and hair. There was a bright blue flash, and
Mikado and Asuza looked up just in time to see two multi-ton
chunks of ice fall from the air above them. The ice of the rink,
already weakened by Frog's slicing, snapped easily under the new
weight. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the ice
chunks vanished, leaving only the hole in the ice, with a
battered Golden Pair clinging to the edge. The two soggy skaters
pulled themselves back onto the ice where Asuza promptly fainted.
Mikado fell to his knees and looked at Marle in disbelief.
   "Do YOU concede?" Marle asked sweetly. "Or do I have to drop
some more ice on you?"
   "We concede," said Mikado hastily. He removed the makeshift
necklace from around Asuza's neck, and with a shaking hand, held
it out for Marle to take.
   Marle skated over and grabbed the proffered item. "I told
you," she said smugly as she skated away, "I do ice."
   Mikado collapsed, and the announcer announced, "And the
winners are: Princess and Frog!" Marle skated back to Frog, and
the two bowed once more to the cheering audience. A couple of
paramedics skated out to where the Golden Pair lay, and loaded
the two onto a stretcher. Marle and Frog skated triumphantly out
of the arena, where they were met by their friends.
   "That was fantastic!" exclaimed Ranma.
   "You very strong fighters!" said Shampoo with admiration.
   The others had similar sentiments to share, with the exception
of Cologne, who simply stared at Frog and smiled, an expression
which, on her face, was rather unnerving. Eventually, Frog
noticed her attention, and turned to her, "Er, begging your
pardon, madame, but I don't believe I have made thy
acquaintance."
   Cologne cackled and responded, "My name is Cologne. Don't
bother to tell me yours, Glenn, I already know. I must admit, I
am happy to see you."
   "I am afraid that I do not understand," said Frog, bewildered.
   "Don't worry, Frog, you will soon enough. Just let me say,
that you will soon be faced with a test, and that I know you to
be man enough to face it, despite your inhuman form. But for
now..." she whirled suddenly, and rapped Marle and Crono lightly
on the head with her staff. "You two! Do you remember what I told
you to remember?"
   Irritated, the two dutifully repeated the three items. "And
Lucca's already made the gun," said Marle, "But we still don't
understand-"
   Cologne wasn't listening, "You should remember as well, Frog."
   "As you wish," Frog said, glancing at her oddly. Cologne
seemed satisfied.
   After Frog was, somewhat belatedly, introduced to those he had
not yet been introduced, the group waded through legions of well-
wishers, stopping only momentarily to receive a Martial Arts
Figure Skating championship trophy. Finally, they made it
outside, and each started for their respective homes (after
tearful partings for Shampoo and Lucca from Ranma and Mousse).
Before long, Nabiki caught up to Ranma, Crono, and the rest. She
looked very self-satisfied, and her purse was filled to
overflowing with yen.
   "Made a good take, eh Nabiki?" asked Ranma.
   "Of course," she grinned. Playfully, she addressed Frog and
Marle, "You ever think of going professional? I could be your
agent, with proper consulting fees, of course."
   The two weary skaters groaned a heartfelt groan. Frog pleaded,
"Speaketh not such horror!"
   "All I want now is a good, long night's sleep, and to never
have to skate again!" said Marle.
   Nabiki shrugged, "Worth a try."
   And another day ended.

Afterword:
   When I first wrote this chapter, I had never seen the 'Couple
Cleaver' (or 'Merry-Go-Round Separation', or whatever you want to
call it) in action. I had only read about it (in other
fanfictions, and in the synopsis for the anime). Then, one day,
almost by chance, I was perusing various 'Ranma 1/2' web pages
when I came across a scanned image from the manga of that scene.
To my chagrin, I found that the actual technique was pretty much
nothing like I had imagined it (for one thing, I had thought that
Mikado was the one holding onto the opposing team, and I had no
idea that anyone was lifted into the air). So, the battle scene
has already undergone a rather extensive rewrite, and I hope that
it came across all right.
   I have a request for all you Ukyou Kounji fans and Tatewaki
Kunou buffs out there: These two characters I found to be (for
me, at least) rather difficult to write. Keep an eye on them in
subsequent chapters, and let me know if I've done their
characters justice.

Chrono Trigger Tip #4:
   How can I get the second stage armors and weapons from the
sealed chests in 600 A.D. and 1000 A.D.?
   Once you have charged Marle's pendant with the Mammon Machine
in 12,000 B.C., you have access to all of the doors and treasure
boxes that previously were sealed by some mysterious force.
However, be patient. Don't open any of the sealed chests in 1000
A.D. Instead, go back in time to 600 A.D., and visit those same
chests in the past. When you try to open the chest, the pendant
will react to something inside the chest, and it will ask you
again whether you want to open it. Don't. Instead, go forward to
1000 A.D. again, and NOW open the chest. Inside will be a more
powerful version of the armor or weapon (for instance, the Black
Vest will become the Black Mail--hey, is this armor for Nabiki,
or what?). This works for almost all of the magically sealed
chests.
   Even better, after you've emptied the chests in 1000 A.D., you
can go back in time to 600 A.D. and empty them again! (Try not to
think too hard about this one folks. You'll just get a headache,
and probably disrupt the space-time continuum.) Inside will be
the lower level version of the armor, which you can sell for
much-needed currency. How else are you going to by those
Megalixirs on board the Black Omen? (The Mindlessly Obsessive, of
course, realize the necessity of acquiring the maximum of 99
Megalixirs is just as great as the necessity of reaching level 99
for each character.)
