*thoughts*

Chapter 1 Hero found

Tentacles few out from a blubbery gray mass of goo that resided on top of a platform. It wasn't human or anything resembling that of a humanoid. Anyone with an ounce of common sense, or even anyone without an ounce of common sense, would have called it a monster. It was enough reason for the responding loud, high-pitched, scream accompanied by the existence of such a creature.

"Eeek!"

In a shimmering white dazzling display of lights the creature of goo slowly faded as well as its attached tentacles. The lights then slowly died down leaving the platform free of monsters.

The door of the room in which the platform resided in slowly opened up to reveal a pretty young woman with a crisp white apron with delicate frills. She was holding a spotless silver tray that held a cup of hot liquid.

"Oh my! Is something wrong, Mio?"

"Yea, this time I received one of the uglier ones. Uggh, I mean it was just disgusting! It was all gooey and it even had tentacles. Ick!"

The response was from another woman that stood next to a stone pedestal. Both of the two women in the room could be better described as cute girls as they both looked to be of teenage years based on human physiology. The one with the tray was the shorter of the two, but not by much; it was an almost unnoticeable difference. Her light brown hair was also an almost unnoticeably shorter amount of length then the light blue hair girl next to the pedestal. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the two was the clothing. The blue haired girl called Mio was dressed in a lavish blue dress of great quality with frills and embroidery, complete with an array of jewelry and makeup while the other girl was in a plain, but respectable dress and apron.

"That must have been really bad. Maybe you should stop for today. I'm sure you'll get better luck tomorrow."

"It's always the same Bell. It's always been monsters. Why can't I ever get a break."

Bell looked at Mio with concern. "It's not that bad sis, not all of your tries were monsters. Remember that guy with the wooden sword? He was fairly handsome and could have been a hero."

Mio gave her sister a loud snort. "I would put him even worse then the monster I just tried. He wouldn't stop talking and kept sprouting out bad poetry. I couldn't have sent him back fast enough. I definitely don't need a hero like that."

Bell sighed in defeat unable to cheer her sister up, "I guess you're right, but you'll find a hero sooner or later…" Brightening up, she held out the tray. "I brought you some tea."

"Thanks Bell, This is my only chance, and I'm not going to give up," declared Mio with a renewed determination. She picked up the delicate porcelain cup and gulped it down. Too bad she failed to hear her sister's warning.

"Be careful, Mio, it's still ho…" It was too late…

"Yowww! Hot! Hot! Hot!"

Mio flung her arms wildly and unable to get any body part under control at all. The result was a lot of screaming and hands slamming onto the pedestal. It's always a bad thing when someone does that.

The platform, which had previously held the gooey tentacle monster, again gave the dazzling lights display. Slowly an image began to form and solidified. After the image became solid the light display dimmed signifying the completion of another unwanted operation.

"What, what, what?" the now third girl spouted in confusion, obviously having no knowledge of what happened. Frantically she spun her head around to scan the room and the platform to figure out what had happen. "Where am I? Where's the water? What happened to the pond?" The other two girls in the room could only stare motionless at the newly arrived third girl motionless, rather than answer the mass assault of questions.

The new girl, with fiery red hair and a cute pigtail drenched in soaked clothes, finally recognized that she was not alone. With the initial shock gone, she asked in a much calmer voice, "Who are you?"

Bell gave a friendly smile in response, "Hello there, I'm Bell."

"Err, hi, I'm Ranma. Where am I?"

Before Bell could respond, Mio regained her composure and spoke before Bell could. "It doesn't matter. I'll send you back in a moment. This was all a mistake."

Ranma just shrugged, "Ok, then, no harm done. When I get back I'm going to pound Pop for throwing me into the pond."

A few moments later…

"Oi, how much longer? I really want to pound pop right now."

Mio dropped her head in embarrassment. "It-t-t's not working… Something is wrong, I can't seem to activate the magic circle…"

"Oh my!" exclaimed Bell.

"Great, just my luck…" muttered Ranma.

"I guess you'll be staying a while, Ranma. Don't worry, I'm sure Mio will fix it soon," Bell said, "We should get you out of those soaked clothes too. You might catch a cold like that."

Ranma looked down on her thoroughly soaked shirt and pants and sighed. "Just my luck, I could of at least been sent here before I hit the pond, but noo--I had to hit the water first." Shifting her glazed from Bell to Mio, Ranma noticed something was wrong. "What's wrong? You look kind of down."

"Gone…gone…my only hope gone…" moaned a sorely depressed Mio.

"She's just a little depressed right now, Mio will be fine," commented Bell. "Come on sister, why don't we help Ranma-chan here with some dry clothes."

Ranma cautiously followed behind Bell while looking back every so often at Mio who hung her head in depression mumbling something in the category of all hope lost. *Sheesh, she can match Ryouga on the depression scale. Hate to see her pull a shi shi hokodan*

"Are you sure she's alright?" Ranma asked not fully believing Bell's words.

"Mio becomes like this sometimes. She's strong though; she'll get over it."

Ranma nodded in defeat, but still not fully believing.

< OH MY! >

"What?! These are all dresses! I can't wear this!" exclaimed a fuming Ranma.

"Oh my! If you don't like them maybe Mio can lend you some more well made dresses," replied a sincere Bell.

"Huh, what? Oh sure, I don't need them anymore anyway… All my hopes gone…" muttered a still depressed Mio who still hung her head down in defeat and hopelessness.

Ranma looked at Mio's clothing. The image of her in place of Mio in a glamorous dress and jewelry complete with make up filled her mind and sent shivers up her spine. "Ick, no, anything but that. Don't you have any guy clothes? Something with pants at least?"

Bell looked at Ranma a little strangely. Mio was still muttering her familiar chant of hopelessness. "Well I'm not absolutely sure, but I don't think we have anything of that sort. Maybe I can sew you up some, but we should get you out of those wet clothes, before you catch a cold."

Giving Ranma the pleading, but sincere look that we all know and love Bell asked, "Could you change for a short time? It shouldn't take long for the clothes to dry."

Ranma sighed and closed her eyes in deep thought.

*I can't disappoint the girl, but then I don't want to wear the girly clothes either. It's not that bad when I have a reason, but this is just pointless. I won't get a cold anyway. Heh, they probably think I'm all weird and junk, thinking I'm a girl. A girl that wants to dress up as a guy. I should tell them, they're pretty nice, Bell anyway. What's up with Mio anyway? It's like Ryouga in a dress…maybe that's going too far. It's shameful, but I should tell them. If Bell or Mio thinks I should get a bath, and then walk in…* That decided it for Ranma. Reliving a past memory can do that to a person.

Opening her eyes, Ranma has made up his mind to finally decided to tell the truth, "Umm, look, Bell. I know it sounds kind of weird but I'm really a guy. I'm pretty tough, I don't mind being wet for a bit, heck I'm used to it. I won't catch a cold or anything, just give me a bit of time and I'll be fine."

Ranma did not expect the response to the truth. Shock he expected, screaming, he'd prepared for that, even a yell of "Die Ranma" followed by a mallet wasn't that far fetched. What did happen was Mio face peering up at him, centimeters away from his face.

"Gah!" yelped a surprised Ranma.

"Really?! You're really a guy?!" Mio practically glowed with enthusiasm. then rapidly began looking at him from many different angles appraising a very disturbed Ranma. "Well you are pretty cute, a little short, but are you really a man?" She expressed her question further by lightly poking at Ranma's breast. "It really doesn't look like it."

Taken aback, Ranma slowly replied, "Umm yea… I'm really a guy, but right now I'm umm cursed…I can show you, just get me some hot water."

Mio and Bell looked at each other questioningly.

< OH MY! >

"Wow! You really are a man!" exclaimed a now excited Mio to a even higher level, if at all physically possible.

"How nice!" commented Bell.

"Umm yea, it's just a curse I got. Cold water turns me into a girl and hot water turns me back. One of these days I'll get it cur--umm what are you doing?"

Mio was again appraising him in different angles, but this time also feeling his chest, biceps, and such. It was giving Ranma a very weird feeling of sinking familiarly. "Good body, a little younger then I expected, but still good, cute face, yes! Finally my prayers have been answered!"

"Huh?" replied a dumbfounded Ranma.

"Ne, ne, tell me, can you fight? Are you a hero?" asked Mio.

Ranma was still in mild shock. "Umm…" composing himself, "of course I can fight, I'm the heir to the Anything goes Martial arts! I'm the best there is!" The old confidant Ranma we all know and love finally shows itself.

"Really!? Great! Now you can prove yourself by beating the dragon! I've been waiting for you all my life. Finally the day has come, I've been searching for you for so long," rambled on Mio. "Bell quickly, get the best armor and weapons for our Hero!"

"I'll get right on it, sister," said the ever cheerful Bell.

A flabbergasted Ranma said nothing.

< OH MY! >

"Hurry this way, my Hero!"

"Hey, slow down, I can't see anything in this stupid helmet!"

Mio pulled a stumbling suit of armor holding a sword, which was obviously Ranma into the clearing with a small castle seen behind them.

"Go get that dragon, my Hero!" shouted Mio.

"Good luck, Ranma-kun!" shouted Bell encouragingly along with Mio.

"What!?" replied Ranma. "I can't see a thing and I can barely move in this dumb thing!"

A strong rumbling was heard, followed by another. Ranma sweat dropped inside the armor. He knew enough to figure out that something was not right. Trying frantically, Ranma finally managed to pull up the visor of his metal helmet to get a better look at what was going on. He noticed a large shadow had rested on him. It was a big dragon, and it did not look happy.

"Why me…" muttered a flabbergasted Ranma in a shiny suit of armor.

"Kick that dragon's behind, my Hero!" Ranma sighed at the Mio's comment.

The mentioned dragon replied by swinging a big deadly claw at Ranma. With much difficulty our reluctant hero managed to dodge the attack and move back only to fall down.

"So, this is the hero…" intoned the dragon. "Let's see how well you fare human." With that it renewed its attack with more frequent swings of its deadly claws. Ranma frantically dodged them stumbling every so often.

"He's not doing so good, Mio. Was it wise to rush him so soon to fight the dragon? Maybe he was hungry and wanted to eat first" spoke Bell.

"He's the Hero. I know he is. Ranma's the one I've been for waiting for so long. He'll win. You'll see," assured Mio.

Ranma was still in no position to win, still dodging. *Damn, this armor is impossible to move in!*

"Pathetic, human. Though you manage to dodge my claws has some redemption, you will die," intoned the dragon. With a big huff it breathed its trademark fire onto poor Ranma.

"Youch! That's hot!" Ranma ran for his life and somehow managed to live through the fire from the dragon. It was not however a total evasion as the scorched armor on Ranma pointed out. At least the clothes were no longer wet.

By this time Ranma had enough. Swinging his sword, Ranma threw it at the Dragon. It hit the dragon's claw while it was attempting to block the airborne weapon, but it still hit. In response the dragon roared in pain and anger.

This also gave our hero enough time to take off the pesky suit of armor. Though it was still a struggle to get the damn thing off.

"Kay--this time it's for real," spoke out Ranma, now unhindered, in a confident voice.

"Die, human." The dragon also now recovered took a great huff and breath out another stream of fire. Only this time Ranma wasn't where it had aim. He easily leaped out of the way. The dragon tried again, and came to the same result.

Ranma laughed with glee. "Ha! What happen dragu-chan, too fast for ya?" The dragon roared and swung at him with its claws. The results were not any better.

"Time to get serious," commented Ranma. On the next leap, Ranma changed into attack mode, heading directly at the unprepared dragon's head. A devastating kick landed as it roared in agony. The dragon replied by trying to swat Ranma only to slap itself on the face.

Roaring in pain it stumbled back and fell onto the ground. Trying to get up, it was too late as Ranma was upon it. He gave another well placed kick to the head and the dragon had been defeated.

"Hey, that was easier then I thought," commented Ranma. It was actually pathetically easy for Ranma.

Mio by this time came bouncing up to him and gave him a fierce hug. It had a resemblance to Chinese Amazon hug number three. "You did it, my Hero, I knew you would!" said a happy Mio.

"That was great, Ranma-kun, let's go home and celebrate!" cheered an also cheerful Bell.

"Umm sure…" muttered a dumbfounded Ranma.

< OH MY! >

Ranma could smell wonderful cooking the moment they went back to the castle to celebrate. "Wow that smell great! When do we eat?"

"In just a moment Ranma-kun. I'll serve it up," replied Bell.

Ranma looked at Mio, still latched onto him. That gave him memories. "Umm could you get off me, Mio.."

"Of course, my Hero…" responded Mio a little half heartedly.

"Say I've been wondering, why do you want me to beat that dragon up anyway?"

"So we can get married!" replied an excited Mio.

"What!!"

"Bu-bu-butt--" Ranma stuttered uncontrollably.

"The food is ready!" Bell called from the other room.

"Be right there, sis!" called Mio.

The door opened. "Hello?" a new voice piped in. It was a definite female voice.

"Who are you?" replied Mio.

"I'm Ria. Is the Hero who defeated the dragon here?" The girl that spoke was dressed in a deep green dress that matched her long green hair. She was at about the same age as Mio, and for that matter, Ranma, and Bell. The thing that caught her eyes were her deep red eyes that seem to sparkle in an unnatural way.

"What do you want with my Hero?" spoke Mio with a now suspicious edge in her tone.

"Why, to marry him of course." replied Ria casually.

"What!" shouted Mio and this time mirrored by Ranma.

"The only one marrying Ranma is me! What claim could you have with him!?" refuted a now outraged Mio.

"Because he defeated me. By law, I can only marry if I am defeated by a hero. He defeated me and how I am to be his bride."

"Wait…defeated you…that means… you're the dragon?" choked out Mio.

"Yes."

"Grr…Ranma won't accept a dragon by the likes of you, right my Hero?" There was no response. "Ranma?" Mio looked back and Ranma wasn't there. "Ranma!?"

Mio looked in the other room, and Ranma was there, eating with her sister Bell.

"Mmm, this is great Bell! You're really a great cook!"

Bell for the first time blushed and replied meekly, "Thank you Ranma."

Ranma gobbled the food down like there was no tomorrow, which, to him, was probably very likely.

*This is not happening, this is not happening… Why me? Even being sent to kami knows where, it's the same thing. The food's good at least. Why me…*