Seahorse Epilogue

[Vahn]

You can thank Talonhunter for proving me with the spark to right this and to pretty much end Seahorse right. I hope you get punched in the feels now Talon!

Original Seahorse fic could be found here : https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5876464/1/SeaHorse

Seahorse

Disclaimer

Ranma 1/2 created by Rumiko Takahashi

Sailor Moon created by Naoko Takeuchi

Special thanks to, Icura for helping me edit, and hit all the right tone for this final chapter. Icura, you da man!

Epilogue

Happy Endings

**** Sometime in the Future ****

It was a beautiful day in the city; the light blue skies were clear, and there was a light wind caressing the tress in the area. The city itself had changed. Here and there were impossible structures all throughout the city, creating a blend of technology and magic. However, in the midst of this technological and mystical marvel was a small park filled with trees.

"Oji-san! Oji-san, come play!" A little black hair girl with stormy blue eyes gazed up lovingly at the pigtailed man sitting on an old fashioned park bench.

The man in question looked barely out of his twenties. He had on an old fashioned—really old fashioned—red Chinese shirt with simple black pants. The man was an odd figure with gray pigtailed hair that looked out of place on him.

Kind blue eyes gazed back fondly on the little girl. He reached out and placed his hand on her head. Gently ruffling her hair, he replied to her.

"Not yet, Tohka, Maybe later," Ranma Saotome said with a smile. Seeing the little girl pout, he gave her a reassuring smile and gently pushed her towards the rest of her family was gathered, mingling amongst the trees. The little girl reluctantly moved away and ran back to where the other children were playing.

He kept his smile as he watched the children playing together while a few adults watched them nearby. Most of the older ones didn't look that old, but he knew their true age numbered in the centuries. None of them showed any sign of their true age, unlike him. He fingered a strand of his grey hair.

"You really should mingle with them some more instead of playing with your hair. They did come all this way for you."

Ranma looked up to find a beautiful green haired, red-eyed woman addressing him with a chiding tone. "Sets," he greeted in a friendly manner. "What's the verdict?"

Setsuna, Ice Queen of Pluto, closed her eyes. "It came back negative."

Ranma closed his eyes as the news settled upon him. He didn't know what he supposed think, but strangely enough, he felt at peace with himself. Opening his eyes, he gave Setsuna a small nod before he turned his gaze in a different direction. Out on the field, he could see the love of his life, Michiru Kaioh-Saotome, talking with their daughters by the tree he had first met her by so long ago.

"Do they know?" he asked simply as his gaze drifted over the gathering. He hadn't noticed it before, but he could see some of them glancing in his direction often, even though they tried not to make it obvious. What really pulled at him were the expressions that they tried to hide. He had raised many of them from birth to their adulthood so he knew those looks like the back of his hand. It didn't make him feel any better.

"They do," the Senshi of Time replied in the same simple manner.

"So that's why they threw this party, huh." Ranma caught an air-ball that the children accidentally sent his way. Grinning, he tossed it back at Himiko and watched her chase it with the other children.

"You act like you know when you're going to—to..." Setsuna couldn't say it. She didn't want to say it.

"That's enough, Sets," Ranma said. "We all knew this was coming. Magic and ki just don't mix."

"If there was another other way..."

Ranma gave her a rueful smile. "I don't regret it. Without ki, I wouldn't have been able to use my skills when it mattered most. I had a good run. Much better then I could've ever hoped for."

Sighing deeply, she stood up to her full height and brushed her dress down.

"It's been an honor knowing you, Ranma Saotome."

Chuckling, Ranma could only nod teasingly. "I wish I could say the same, what with you trying to kill me and all but…" He paused and made eye contact with the Senshi of time. "It's been an honor fighting at your side."

Setsuna took one last look at Ranma and left.

Ranma felt Setsuna's presence leave as he spotted Michiru walking toward him. Even after all these years, his heart still quickened at the sight of her coming to him.

"Anata," Michiru, Sailor Neptune, and Queen of the same planetary body greeted her husband of untold years.

Ranma could not help but feel his mouth go dry once more at her intimate tone of address. Without a word, his wife took her place right next to him, her dainty legs lined with his as she intertwined her right hand with his left.

After living so long together, no more words needed saying as the couple simply basked as they watched their descendents mingle. Smirking cockily, he was sure he was at least able to raise them better than his own old man did with him.

Looking around where the adults were, his gaze drifted to a very familiar tree. This was the very same tree where it all started for him. It was fitting that the old tree was now surrounded by a grove of younger, more vibrant trees.

To think this was where he first met Michiru. At the time, his knowledge of girls and relationships in general was nil. He had seen a girl crying in distress and something told him that he should comfort her. His effort had been clumsily, even he saw that, but at least she wasn't crying anymore when she was angry at him. That had made him happy back then, like a technique mastered.

Yet through all their trials and tribulations, it was here at this lake that they were reunited, and it was also here that they married. He had truly been happy with Michiru by his side, he could not even fathom what it would have been like without her.

Looking over to his wife, he drank in the beauty of her profile, as her eyes still gazed ahead, the light of happiness dancing in her eyes. Steeling himself, he sucked in an audible breath to gather his courage, and spoke..

"Michiru," Ranma hesitantly began. A slight turn of her chin toward his direction let him know that she was listening. "Michiru, Ami says—"

Before Ranma could continued, his wife used her free hand and placed the tip of her index fingers onto his lips.

Michiru looked at her husband eyes filled with love and sadness. "I know."

With a pained smile, Michiru removed her finger from his lips and rested her head on her husband's shoulders.

Ranma was taken by surprised before shaking his head ruefully. Of course she would know. Looking at his wife, he gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry..."

He wanted to say more but nothing more would come out. Mere words could not convey the regret he felt at not being able to be there for her any longer.

Michiru could only smile softly at her husband. One simply does not say sorry for something like that. Taking comfort on his shoulders, she reassured her worried husband. "There is nothing to be sorry for, baka."

Ranma squeezed her hand tighter. He knew she was hurting, but he had to say this. "Michiru, after..." He swallowed his saliva. "After everything, I... I want you to find happiness again."

Ranma wanted to say more, but Michiru cut him off.

"This is not the time to talk of this," Michiru declared firmly, even though her eyes were closed tightly. "Let's just stay like this for a while, okay?"

Ranma slowly nodded. While she sounded normal, he could hear the slight quaver in her breath. After all these years, he knew her every action and reaction, even when she tried to hide it from him. Not wanting to make this any more difficult for her, he remained silent as he watched his progenies nearby. Seeing the green tress of hair near him, he leaned his head against hers as he continued to watch on.

No more words need be said, and after a while, Michiru opened her eyes. While the two may have looked like they were gazing in to the distance, in reality they were simply enjoying the comfort of being in one another's presence. They stayed like that, unaware of the passage of time, until the sun finally started to dip behind the horizon.

Words were meaningless now; they had shown their love for one another a thousand times over. Instead they contentedly enjoyed one another presence, happy for this small piece of paradise.

"The sunset is really pretty today, Michiru," Ranma marveled in wonderment.

Wiping the edge of her eyes with the palm of her hand, she took in the sight her husband had pointed out. "Yes, Ranma, it really is, isn't it?"

Again, another peaceful moment of silence passed as they watched the celestial body in the sky.

"Hey, Michiru?" Ranma spoke up softly.

"Hmm?" Michiru contently replied.

"I think you forgot your bookbag."

Blinking a bit in confusion, she turned to Ranma. "My bookbag?"

There was no reply.

"Ranma?"

Turning her head and tilting it up, she saw her husband, face forward and eyes closed. There was a content look on his face. "R-ranma?" Michiru prompted again with a sense of urgency, her voice breaking.

Slowly, Michiru put her head against Ranma chest and heard nothing. The comforting rhythm that she have woken up to for so many years was no more. Like a fierce wave, her emotions crashed in upon her.

Ranma. Her Ranma...

With great force of will, Michiru reigned her emotion in. There would be enough time for her to grieve later. For now, in this moment, she wanted enjoy this last sunset with her husband.

Squeezing Ranma's still hand tightly, she rested her head on his shoulders once more as she watched the sunset for both of them.

The End!

Ninja edits thanks to Ellen

[LawOhki]

Ranma looked up to find a beautiful green haired, red-eyed woman addressing him with a chiding tone. "Sets," he greeted in a friendly manner. "What's the verdict?"

Setsuna, Ice Queen of Pluto, closed her eyes. "It came back negative."

....


"That's enough, Sets," Ranma said. "We all knew this was coming. Magic and ki just don't mix."

"If there was another other way..."

Ranma gave her a rueful smile. "I don't regret it. Without ki, I wouldn't have been able to use my skills when it mattered most. I had a good run. Much better then I could've ever hoped for."

Magic, senshi magic, is one of the most fundamental things in existence, probably the most in SM verse. How is some kind of life energy so powerful that a reality warping spell from Usagi not working on him?

[talonhunter]

Magic, senshi magic, is one of the most fundamental things in existence, probably the most in SM verse. How is some kind of life energy so powerful that a reality warping spell from Usagi not working on him?

There are many things that can keep things like usagi's reality warping magic in check, has been proven in canon. But best guess here would be because of Ranma's experiences with magic, the chaos nature that surrounds him and Usagi's reluctance to force someone she cares about with her magic are some of the simplest explanations in this circumstance I think. And ya Vahn, it still hits like a freight train on rocket packs.

[HopeSeiketsu]

[/quote]
Magic, senshi magic, is one of the most fundamental things in existence, probably the most in SM verse. How is some kind of life energy so powerful that a reality warping spell from Usagi not working on him?[/quote]

It could simply be that mana and ki are natural opposites and as such do NOT agree with being mixed. Think of the Kanka in mahou sensei negima, I cant remember for sure, but I am fairly certain that over use of Kanka resulted in the destruction of ones mana AND ki pathways. This means that one would lose the ability to use both if they were LUCKY. If not they would most likely die. And before you say anything NO Asuna does NOT count because she is naturally immune to magic so she is safe from the side effects.

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

Grinning, he tossed it back at Himiko and watch her chased it with the other children.

Watched her chase it

He didn't know what he supposed think,

was supposed to think

felt the Setsuna presence leave

felt Setsuna's presence leave

his heart still quicken at the sight of her coming to him.

quickened

no more words needed to be say as the couple simply bask in the moment of watching their descendents mingle.

No more words needed to be said [or, needed saying] as the couple simply basked as they watched their descendants mingle.

the old tree was now surrounded by a trove of younger, more vibrant trees.

grove

a girl crying in distressed

distress

and it was also here that they got married.

okay, but 'got' is not needed.

Steeling himself, he sucked in an audible breath to gather up his courage and spoke up.

...to gather his courage, and spoke.

"This is not the time to be talking about this,"

This is not the time to talk of this ...

he could hear the slight shutter in her breath.

shudder, quaver, raggedness - not shutter

in reality they were simply enjoying the comfort of being in one another presences. They stayed like that for quite some time, unaware of the passage of time until the sun finally started to dip behind the horizon.

being in one another's presence. They stayed like that, unaware of the passage of time, until the sun finally started to dip behind the horizon.

Instead they contently enjoyed one another presence,

Instead they [contentedly, quietly] enjoyed each others' presence.

as they watched celestial body in the sky.

as they watched [the celestial body in] the sky.

Instantly, like a fierce wave, her emotions crested in her violently.

Like a fierce wave, her emotions crashed in upon her.

Squeezing Ranma still hand tightly

Ranma's still hand ...

Sorry about that. Your story was close enough to perfection that I had to dip my editor's oar into the waters...

The only real question I have is the nature of the problem that took Ranma away so suddenly and silently. Most of the real-life deaths I've seen were preceded by either unconsciousness, or a considerable fuss. Still, this was a death cause by mixing ki and magic - who knows how that would work?

[HopeSeiketsu]

Magic, senshi magic, is one of the most fundamental things in existence, probably the most in SM verse. How is some kind of life energy so powerful that a reality warping spell from Usagi not working on him?

It could simply be that mana and ki are natural opposites and as such do NOT agree with being mixed. Think of the Kanka in mahou sensei negima, I cant remember for sure, but I am fairly certain that over use of Kanka resulted in the destruction of ones mana AND ki pathways. This means that one would lose the ability to use both if they were LUCKY. If not they would most likely die. And before you say anything NO Asuna does NOT count because she is naturally immune to magic so she is safe from the side effects.

[LawOhki]

It could simply be that mana and ki are natural opposites and as such do NOT agree with being mixed. Think of the Kanka in mahou sensei negima, I cant remember for sure, but I am fairly certain that over use of Kanka resulted in the destruction of ones mana AND ki pathways. This means that one would lose the ability to use both if they were LUCKY. If not they would most likely die. And before you say anything NO Asuna does NOT count because she is naturally immune to magic so she is safe from the side effects.

SM is not Negima and neither is Ranma.

Pretty much every character in Ranma has ki, even average miners have an instruction booklet for how to use it to escape from cave ins. In SM the kind of magic Usagi uses is one of the most basic things that hold reality itself together. Ranma himself should have a sliver of this cosmic power in him since everything in SM has a star seed.

So did Usagi create some kind of plague that killed off most of humanity by having some special "ki" or is Ranma just that super duper special?

[talonhunter]

In sailor moon canon, there are people who can not be effected by Senshi Magic. Some of these go off to become the black moon family and they get magic but at a cost to their humanity. So there are probably many others like Ranma who can't be effected by Usagi's magics without destroying them. Ranma just happens to be one of the rare mortals who has learned how to age without aging and even that isn't senshi immortality.

[LawOhki]

In sailor moon canon, there are people who can not be effected by Senshi Magic. Some of these go off to become the black moon family and they get magic but at a cost to their humanity. So there are probably many others like Ranma who can't be effected by Usagi's magics without destroying them. Ranma just happens to be one of the rare mortals who has learned how to age without aging and even that isn't senshi immortality.

Anime perhaps, in the manga one of the Black Moon's goals was to get the ginzuishou so they were and chaos itself able to use it. Wanted to rewrite history because Usagi had made everyone immortal.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

I'm pretty sure the lifespan of ordinary people was a thousand years; they weren't immortal.

Also, if we assume that ki is being taken when people are targeted for their energy, energy which is gathered to accomplish magical/supernatural feats and such, I don't think it's too far-fetched that a significant amount of ki could be problematic in some way. I can't speak for how that would fit within the context of this story, however, since it was too long ago since I read it last and I don't remember much of it.

[Dumbledork]

Depressing. I hate those kind of endings.

[LawOhki]

I'm pretty sure the lifespan of ordinary people was a thousand years; they weren't immortal.

That was their given reasoning. Considering how long a thousand years is, it's effectively immortal for anyone living in it for the first time. No matter what, Ranma is not the only being with ki, so Usagi's life extensions would have left out a sizable amount of the population if ki was somehow overpowering and incompatible with magic stated to be in all living beings.

Also, if we assume that ki is being taken when people are targeted for their energy, energy which is gathered to accomplish magical/supernatural feats and such, I don't think it's too far-fetched that a significant amount of ki could be problematic in some way. I can't speak for how that would fit within the context of this story, however, since it was too long ago since I read it last and I don't remember much of it.

Energy being stolen for Metallia was treated the same as the energy she was taking from Usagi/Mamoru when she absorbed them.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

It wasn't reasoning. A thousand years was King Endymion's estimate. That's by no means immortal, and that's not a matter of comparison either. Of course, it makes me wonder how they got that estimate, since it's only been as much as nine-hundred years since people became ageless.

Also, I was under the impression that the problem was the amount of ki involved, not any amount of ki. After checking, it seems I was wrong.

[LawOhki]

It wasn't reasoning. A thousand years was King Endymion's estimate. That's by no means immortal, and that's not a matter of comparison either. Of course, it makes me wonder how they got that estimate, since it's only been as much as a nine-hundred years since people became ageless.

When what's his face was explaining to Usagi why the Black Moon was doing everything, that was HIS reasoning. They rebelled because Usagi had made everyone functionally immortal and it was too unnatural for them to stand.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

And his word is better than Endymion's... why? On what grounds?

Also, immortality means that one doesn't die, and there are plenty of examples of people dying, be they people in Crystal Tokyo or sailor senshi. Living long doesn't make one immortal, but long-lived. And not dying of age makes one ageless, not immortal. If, by "functionally immortal," you mean being raised from the dead, there are two problems with that as well: one, it's assuming that Neo-Queen Serenity still has the power to raise the dead; two, it's assuming that anyone who dies while she's around, regardless of the cause, is guaranteed to be revived indefinitely. Considering those things, I'm more willing to take Endymion's word for it.

Anyway, that will be it from me here, since I don't wish to derail the topic any further.