Ranma 1/2 Prologue

[Spokavriel]

I was wondering. Has anyone written a story that was really just the time between Genma and Ranma leaving home and the start of the Ranma 1/2 series?

A Story to show what training was like and how they managed to stay places. Not just fighting future friends.

[Wyrd]

I've seen several that start months or even years before the start of the series, but in all cases they started there because that was where their story branched from the Ranma 1/2 continuity. I don't recall seeing one that just explored what happened to the two while on their trip that didn't involve a crossover or a means of introducing a new character that could show up later already knowing Ranma.

[frice2000]

So to clarify you're looking for stories that take place before cannon and flow into it with no changes to the latter story? I don't think you're going to find anything if that's the case. I can name a few stories about or starting with Ranma's childhood but they all introduce plot elements that change cannon to some extent. A Survivng Mau is a good example of that, and is as a plus a fukufic, but that doesn't seem to be what you're looking for.

[Spokavriel]

Yeah I'm more wondering if anyone took the time to work out how Genma and Ranma would have had to have trained and acted to even be able to study with Dojo's long enough for Ranma to learn form anyone other than Genma as well as what kinds of paterns in traveling and training might have been needed to make it so Ranma could avoid as much school as he apparently had.

Did they steal for all the fund they needed to pay for lodging when it wasn't healthy to camp out? Does it make sense for them to Always be able to find a Dojo that wouldn't have heard a Reputation on them after a short while?

What kinds of training was Genma employing on Ranma at which ages? When did Ranma stop having interest in things outside the art?

I think it could be a good story if someone who had the skill wanted to do so.

[frice2000]

Yeah that does seem like an interesting story the problem you're going to have is that usually people who want to write about early childhood for Ranma use it to change their origins or introduce totally new characters and events. I mean the only story that I can even think of to touch on even briefly their habits like that is Ririkaru Ranma and that's crazy brief and obviously changes things so cannon would be unreconginzeable.

Interesting story idea though but I wouldn't want to write it because I would as most writers use it to change things around. I was going to write a story about Ranma's training in a lot of detail along with the Tendo's sisters, separately, but with Genma/Soun having Nyannichaun curses that predate their children, so yeah changing things would be boring for me otherwise.

[Spokavriel]

I think if someone writes it well enough it might help make other branching off points possible pre-curse with the character development still making sense for that age kid.

[frice2000]

Hrmm...I actually linked the wrong Nanoha cross before. While not exactly what you're looking for: Magical Girl Nanoha 1/2 is actually quite close in some regards. Not perfect but it's the closest match I can recall.

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

I was wondering. Has anyone written a story that was really just the time between Genma and Ranma leaving home and the start of the Ranma 1/2 series?

A Story to show what training was like and how they managed to stay places. Not just fighting future friends.

I don't even want to think about such a story. I'm one of those who cannot see child abuse as humor, and cannot see the training trip details as not including child abuse.

[Spokavriel]

I'm not sure it could be done as child abuse and actually keep believability with Ranma surviving to the main story. That is part of why I hoped it had been written. Sure Genma has stupid ideas but isn't a complete monster nor idiot.

[frice2000]

I don't think Genma abused Ranma on a consistent basis. Ranma's too confident and sure of himself for that. The one instance of abuse was the cat fist in my mind. Other then that the rest of his childhood experiences were harsh verging on insane training but likely in all of that Genma kept an eye on the dangerous situations or I really doubt Ranma would've survived. You can argue he wasn't the most ethical guy around and he isn't, but he didn't hurt his child without reason. Yes, the training likely was extreme and harsh but I don't think he'd do something that he knew would result in his sons death. He's not the best father by any means but I don't see him as an abuser. He does want to live on through his sons work though yes, and he's not made his kids life easy but hes a far better parent then Nodoka as he seems quite concernerned for his son regardless of the reason.

[Spokavriel]

Hate to tell you but stealing food from a child's plate and starving them is also abusive. Its just not part of the classic Mental, Physical, Sexual trio.

Whats sad is that there isn't enough information which is why I was hoping someone already wrote it.

[Wyrd]

A lot of the training trip could be done in the same vein as the main story, only instead of people showing up to challenge him, he shows up at various dojos and challenges them. You could have the occasional insane training montage, but each stop should be a large enough arc to establish the people he is training with or against as interesting characters. New fiancees should only show up occasionally, though. It would also help to have some of the scenes be from Genma's perspective, showing him occasionally about to jump in to save Ranma before Ranma finally figures things out and pulls himself out of danger. I'm not interested in writing it, but I can see how it could work without being about child abuse, though I have to agree that making Ranma fight for his food and how little he apparently let Ranma get is abuse(unless he held back enough to let Ranma win enough for himself, and the hunger issues from flashbacks came from times when neither of them had enough to eat).

[frice2000]

That's what I buy as well. As Wyrd said yes he fought his son for food and took some off his plate going along with his 'everything is training' seeming lifestyle (until he got to the Tendo's). But I truly doubt Ranma was raised on a starvation diet considering his level or fitness, health, muscle mass, etc meaning he started to match or surpass his father in only a few days before his reflexes started to lower due to starvation or Genma made sure he still was receiving enough nourishment. Yes, he had to increasingly fight for food but look at his skill and speed partially thanks to this training. Memories of not being able to get enough food were likely at times where they both didn't manage to procure any. Again, he's not a fit parent and if you're a child welfare agency you take the kid away from him for sure. He made plenty of poor and reprehensible actions in his upbringing. But abuse I do not see, except for the Cat Fist. And considering that is by both considered to be the most awful training he went through it likely means his other methods while harsh weren't at a consistently fatal or extremely scarring level. As corrupted by Happosai as both Genma and Soun were they obviously experienced training from their master far beyond what Ranma experienced growing up.

[PCHeintz72]

Hmmm...

'Featherbrite's Tale r82' by Metroanime occurs to me. It was one of the Bet entries. Two versions exist to my knowledge, though both roughly the same story, just edited and expanded.

And while not exactly what you want, Ranma retrains himself from the ground up in 'Rune Soldier Ranma' by Animeaddiction.

Also... I'm trying to think whom made it, but there was one where Nabiki went on the trip with them... and some of the training of Ranma was viewed from her standpoint, growning up along side Ranma, even the meeting of Ryoga.... I believe it was 'Growing Up the Half Way' by Joe Fenton, though I could be wrong.

[Spokavriel]

I thought Growing up the half way was the one where Ranma was taken to the curse springs when too young to know the difference between boys and girls. Ending up thinking that that part down there going away with cold water is natural.