Paying the Price

Review

The epic drama continues. This time another character is added, Pantsuto Taro who is always ready to attack Ranko. Herb is captured by Saffron who also becomes a part of the story, and another character, Ryu, is at Junsenkyo to play his part.

The story has become too complicated with too much going on. We've gone from oversexed mirror clones and some rather humorous events to a multi-generational story involving non-humans and now to a situation where things are on the verge of open warfare between the Musk, Saffron, and possibly the Amazons.

The story has become simply too unbelievable. Ranma basically no longer exists, and Ranko is shown not to be even human. Neither is Nodoka human. The entire world of Ranma and his/her friends and would-be lovers has become discarded. Whereas the first couple of volumes of this story were pretty good, funny at times, and still within the possibilities of the Ranma-chan/Ranko universe, the story now has virtually nothing to do with that world.

It's become totally dark and totally without humor. It's become too strained in the storytelling. It has set Saffron up to be some kind of Emperor Palpatine-type being who really needs to be put in his place. It's also heading rapidly to all-out warfare between various groups who, if such warfare erupted, would all, including Saffron, be put in their respective places by the Chinese Communist military.

Not even dragons and would-be gods could stand up to a full-scale assault with modern weapons.

The best Ranko fanfiction generally involves a small group of characters. The reader can keep what is going on nice and organized in his or her mind. There's a resolution of some sort. This story seems to be trying to throw in everyone and the kitchen sink in addition. Too much clutter. Too little interest in what is going on, and too much that is trying to be too deadly serious.

Synopsis

Part 1

The start of the chapter goes over events in the meeting with the Amazon council. Apparently they are as devious as Herb and his father. They have managed to make Ranko a Chinese citizen, and have forbid her from returning to Japan without their permission. Shampoo lied and said that Ranma was the one chasing her, not the other way around.

Ranko realizes that Genma would still want to make Ranma a man-among-men if she returned to male form. Nodoka would want her “daughter” to act a certain way. Returning to Japan could cause Ranko a lot of problems.

Nodoka, Akane and the others all return to Japan, leaving Ranko with Cinnamon. Ranko has to find a way to get her ability to use chi attacks back. In her fight with Herb, she basically overloaded her system, and, at the moment, any use of chi by her will cause her considerable pain.

Part 2

Nabiki has researched the individual known as Kenshin and believes he might be an immortal. Akane admits to Ukyo she had sex with her male self.

Ranko and Cinnamon have a long and very meaningful conversation. Cinnamon explains to her that she is a phoenix and will stop aging in a year or two, but that any of the humans who want to mate with her will age normally, although some adjustments might be possible.

Cinnamon explains that he only ones who are immortal will be worthy of mating with Ranko, and that includes various dragons, demons, gods, etc.

Part 3

Ranko and Herb have a talk. Ranko reveals to Herb that she knows chi techniques that can prevent her from becoming pregnant.

Then another character, Ryu Kumon, enters the story. Then there's two “angels” and Lord Saffron is referred to.

And with these latest events, I have decided that this story has gotten so out of control that I am only going to scan the rest of the story, rather than read every word.

There's a dinner with Spice, the Musk emperor; Herb reveals more of her/his feelings for Ranko, and Herb gets mad, uses his chi energy, and suffers.

Part 4

Ranko goes into Neko-ken mode when Cinnamon probes her mind while she's sleeping. Various agents working for Saffron invade Herb's apartment to steal one of the magical treasures and Ranko attacks them. Mint and Lime help the invaders.

Later Mint and Lime foul up again and cause Herb to be locked permanently as a female. Ranko goes to try to find her.

part 5

Nodoka and Cologne are talking when Cinnamon, now in human female form, arrives. Nodoka returns to the castle with Cinnamon and they talk about Nodoka's past.

Then the Ryu character talks to the Jusenkyo guide about various things, including how the bird-people (serving Saffron) can now change into humans by using one of the springs.

Saffron, in the form of a human boy, arrives and attacks Ryu who falls into a spring and is changed into a tiger.

Then Pantsuto Taro shows up and chases Ranko. Ranko finds out Herb has been captured by Saffron's allies.

Ryu gets made at Taro and plans to attack him.

part 6

Cinnamon and Nodoka arrive and see Taro holding Ranko and runningoff with her. Herb, meanwhile, is explaining what happened to Saffron who does not know who she really is.