Nabiki and Makoto - an unorthodox Sailor Moon crossover idea

[PCHeintz72]

The below was originally posted on TFF in the Ranma section, Miscellaneous Ideas thread... Having one positive response on it, and thinking it over, decided to place it here as well.

After getting tired of the daily life in Furinken, Nabiki goes to Juban for her senior year of high school in an attempt to return to a more normal life. By taking extra steps to stand out for a business track, she becomes sempai to a new freshman, Makoto Kino. This would be before she becomes a Senshi, and the two oddly paired people fast become friends Perhaps Nabiki is reminded of both Kasumi and Akane in her friend, while Makoto long being violent needed a more stable and reasoning influence. Is with her when she first becomes Jupiter.

I envision no Ranma being present, at least at first, and Nabiki knowing of at least one Senshi, helps and advises Makoto. Given her past and her aire about her, perhaps a early impression around the school, I cannot see Luna or even Usagi warming up to her, and while Mars is belligerent toward her, Nabiki remains unfazed due to dealing with far more violent and odd situations before.

So... can we imagine what changes might spiral out from this kind of malleting of canon timeline.

Note1: This was cross posted on both Temple of Ranma's Seifuku (fukufics), on Be Your True Mind Forum (BYTM), and on The Fanfiction Forum (TFF).

Note2: If anyone uses the idea, I would appreciate being notified of it, where at, and a honorable mention in the story itself of that fact.

[Spokavriel]

So it's a SM AU having them gain their Senshi abilities a year or two later than cannon if she's already a freshman?

As far as Ranma's involvement I could see Nabiki insisting that Makoto not let him know about the Senshi business because he would insist on getting involved.

As for how Ranma would be known to Makoto I see Nabs first introducing the two of them to both give Makoto someone to train with and work out frustrations. Also giving Ranma an out from Nerima. With him helping teach martial arts in another district it might be possible to at least divert the Fiancée brigade.

[PCHeintz72]

So it's a SM AU having them gain their Senshi abilities a year or two later than cannon if she's already a freshman?

Oops... good point. Forgot that aspect. Hmmm... I suppose it could be done with Matoko still in Junior High, it would have to be more of an outreach program by the school or something for a senior high student to be involved. No clue if such exists in Japan. I've heard of such here, no clue how it really works. This would allow the idea to work as is.

Alternatively, it could go as I described, but events being later.

EDIT:

As for how Ranma would be known to Makoto I see Nabs first introducing the two of them to both give Makoto someone to train with and work out frustrations. Also giving Ranma an out from Nerima. With him helping teach martial arts in another district it might be possible to at least divert the Fiancée brigade.

Nabiki would be smart enough to likely realize a trained Makoto is one better able to withstand the fights. She could still try having Ranma kept in the dark, but regular visits either by him to Juban, or less likely Makoto to Nerima.

The issue with this approach is at least in canon Ranma does not train people. And I'm uncertain whether going through the whole I need a masters approval to train would really be worthwhile.

Besides... I liked the idea of Ranma being kept out of things, but perhaps being sucked in later, initially giving limelight to Nabiki/Makoto.

Personally, I'm of the opinion Nabiki knows a little of her family art, even if she is not shown practicing in canon. Though uncertain she would come out in the open to teach even basics to Makoto.


There are some funny possibilities... her opinion of Moon's combat ability, Of how 'manly' or 'Kuno-like' Mask is... etc...

[Spokavriel]

What about changing the timing on the Nabiki side a bit more. Make it so that she's working as a Teachers Aid at schools in Jubaan so that she can get letters of recommendation to help distance herself from the poor academic reputation of Furinkan high? She could be going to prep schools when not working instead of the traditional final year of High School. But it would make it so she couldn't have as much time to be involved. But it could also give a chance for having her gain some intel on Senshi things because the Prep school students who went to Infinity would end up going to another Prep school after it goes bust. That way she's not in the dark when she sees Makoto become Senshi.

I don't remember seeing anything that would hint that people from the Furinkan area have any prestige in college.

I could see her caching in favors and wiping out her Blackmail backlog (Fannon list of course) to help get her into a situation like that without already being a University student.

[Crescent Pulsar]

It's... an odd idea. Unorthodox, as you say. Am I to take it that Nabiki and Makoto become an item? Why and how does Nabiki know/find out that Makoto is a senshi? (Since I'm assuming it might be different from canon.) I was just wondering since there's no indication in canon that any of the senshi divulged their identities to even their closest friends (circumstances withstanding). (Although even that one guy that asked Makoto about who and what she was didn't get a direct answer.) I was just wondering since, despite it being AU, there's usually at least some basis from the source material. I'm wondering how much.

[Spokavriel]

Crescent did you miss in the first post where it said that Nabiki would be there for when Makoto first transforms? That would make it before she learns of the necessity for secrecy.

[Crescent Pulsar]

I almost missed it. I posted from what I read before the edit, which was after some time, so it wasn't until afterward that I noticed it and changed the question a bit. That's why there's stuff in parenthesis after the question, which still ask that which hasn't been mentioned.

[PCHeintz72]

Am I to take it that Nabiki and Makoto become an item?

No... I did not state that. I leave that up to the writer, if this is ever written. I did not mean for them to be involved or as a match in the idea.

Though one possible method of getting them together would be where Nabiki would need to live. Were an author to want to match them up, one could have them staying in the same building besides, since she has to live somewhere. And no, per the premise of the idea, she would not commute to school as that would defeat the purpose of her original intent of a more normal life. Remember, if anime dubbed, Makoto's mother is alive, if anime subbed or manga, Makoto lives alone.

Be aware, there likely would be bad consequences though were Nabiki, as either part of some mentor program, or as a teachers aide... partners and becomes involved with a younger student while in a official program assigning the two together. It could defeat the whole reason she would enter such a program.

From the idea standpoint, I merely meant for them to become aquainted with each other early on. Whether the senshi ages remain as canon, and Nabiki part of a program, or we age them a couple years for the story making them freshmen, and Nabiki a senior.

As for the idea of Nabiki being older and a teachers assistent... I really can't see her going that route. I'd prefer one of the two solutions I listed. I don't liked the idea of Nabiki as a teachers assistent, especially if she was made even older than my original premise. At that point, IMHO, she is no longer Nabiki Tendo, but just some random character a author inserted.

Such a scenario *has* been done before, as I've read a good story like that from a author called PinaPoe with Mercury and a female teacher. Then Moon up and kills her.

[Spokavriel]

She doesn't have to be older to be seeking alternatives to improve her academic record to something better than Furinkan. But I don't know if Jubaan would be good enough. Maybe she could be going there while attempting to improve her scores to get into that school that gets introduced with the Outers. Since they are suppose to be an elite school in that area?

Just have it so that Jubaan is the one she was able to get into already with that Mugen or whatever it was called Academy as her real goal that she wants on her transcripts so she has a better chance at Todai.

[Crescent Pulsar]

From the idea standpoint, I merely meant for them to become aquainted with each other early on. Whether the senshi ages remain as canon, and Nabiki part of a program, or we age them a couple years for the story making them freshmen, and Nabiki a senior.

Well, if a time frame is still up in the air, why not make them friends in junior high? Makoto transfers to Juban from there, years pass, and they become reacquainted when they're in high school (for whatever reason conceived, in the end). Though I don't know how that would effect anything else that may be intended, since that would occur after the end of the Sailor Moon series; but, then again, I still don't know what's important about Nabiki finding out about Makoto's identity, as a senshi. Though I figure there's more elbow room when you don't have to follow along with, or accommodate, any of the story arcs. It seems like the character development between the two characters is the main focus, anyway, right?

[PCHeintz72]

Well, if a time frame is still up in the air, why not make them friends in junior high? Makoto transfers to Juban from there, years pass, and they become reacquainted when they're in high school (for whatever reason conceived, in the end). Though I don't know how that would effect anything else that may be intended, since that would occur after the end of the Sailor Moon series; but, then again, I still don't know what's important about Nabiki finding out about Makoto's identity, as a senshi. Though I figure there's more elbow room when you don't have to follow along with, or accommodate, any of the story arcs. It seems like the character development between the two characters is the main focus, anyway, right?

I'm afraid, that while that is not a bad idea, I don't think it fits well into this for the goals I was hoping for.

The idea was for a Sailor Moon crossover with Ranma, not involving Ranma, or at least, not at first if at all, though I leave that open. The goal was to focus on Nabiki, and give not only a reason for her in Juban, but why getting involved with Makoto would be good, and the Senshi bad, at least for Nabiki. And also give an outside view of the Senshi battles, and someone smart enough and knowledgeable enough, to help with advice. I'm not exactly talking fannon Nabiki, but you have to admit, having seen what she has, and knows what she does (this being post canon Ranma), not only is she more jaded than would be the norm, but more open to believing everything.

My approach was for her to want a normal life away from Nerima. by moving to Juban... I had picked pre series SM timeline simply due to fact she would not have moved there for a normal life were there known magical girls and monster attacks.

Additionally, I wanted her plan to fail and give her a cause to fight for, even if indirectly. The idea of mentoring someone to mold them into being better occurred to me, but who. Usagi annoys me too much, Ami does not need such a person. Rei's background would not fit the role I wanted. That left Minako and Makoto. Of the two, Makoto made more sense, since this is pre attacks, and Minako comes along later.

Since she has gone to the (failed) effort of relocating, we can assume she is either bitter or tired (I left the reason why exact out of the premise deliberately). Now more so than ever.

Finally, I figured having her merely be present, for whatever reason, upon Makoto awakening to Jupiter and seeing the initial transformation, solves the whole thing of keeping it a secret, since she would not have been able to keep it so. How she sees, I left in the dark. Since she has not seen Usagi/Ami/Rei change, I leave it to the author to determine whether she is shown. Though it is likely Nabiki would figure out whom they are anyway.

This gives the Senshi, at least one, someone to count on and have as a 3rd party advisor and confidant. Nabiki in no way was to receive a power up or be any reincarnation of a Moon Kingdom citizen or Beryl agent.

I was hoping to see what changes would result from someone like her influencing them so early on. Suggestions for improvements. Would she herself take up the art again... recommended training. Tactics... Ami may be raw normal smart and bookworm, but is no tactician or used to thinking bad of people. Nabiki, this Nabiki, I think could do it.

I envision her changing the whole dynamic of how they interact. Their opening statements in fights, opinions on outfits, tons of possible material. I mentioned Mask already. Later views on Crystal Tokyo.... Their dating prospects and Minako's curse... Makoto's obsessions with her old male sempai (Freddie, not Ranma) etc...

They (or at least Makoto) in turn would need to help her deal with her new issues and her ruined quiet life.

If Ranma must be brought in, perhaps either to train (see prior post), or for something huge, like the Beryl base assault. Where neither him, nor the Senshi necessarily get along, but would do it, Ranma on Nabiki's say so, Senshi out of determination.

EDIT: Edited for spelling.

[Crescent Pulsar]

So, basically, while it's fine to start with Ranma 1/2 after the end of the series, and Sailor Moon at its beginning, the biggest issue is finding a way for Nabiki and Makoto to not only meet, but have a reason to become close (or something that draws them together like that.)

Hmmmm... Well, in the Sailor Moon universe, the whole of Tokyo is subject to the senshi's presence, so it wouldn't matter if she were to move to Juban. And, since it's early in the Sailor Moon series, that explains the lack of mention/knowledge of them in the Ranma 1/2 universe. After all, before Makoto becomes a senshi, more people are familiar with Sailor V, and, from what people know about her exploits, Nabiki probably wouldn't be worried about someone like that.

Perhaps it could be timed when Nabiki is looking for an apartment to rent, and she meets Makoto at the same complex, who is there for the same reason. (At the point when she's transferring to Juban's junior high.) However, there is only one apartment open... I think it's possible to share an apartment? I wouldn't know. But it'd probably be the best way for them to interact, since Nabiki may not have a reason to do so under other circumstances; and it'd still provide an opportunity to see her transform.

Not exactly the kind of idea I'm interested in, but I figured it wouldn't hurt trying to throw around some ideas. XD

[talonhunter]

Another possibility here is that Nabiki and Mokoto actually meet at a support group for children who've lost a parent, that way you could have the age difference explained and how eventually Nabiki is there when Makoto first learns of her powers

[Spokavriel]

I can think of some reasons why Nabiki would be at such a group alone. Kasumi is swamped trying to keep up with the needs of the house so that they can all still eat. Akane refuses because she just keeps "Training" in the martial arts so she will be too strong to get sick like mommy did.

[talonhunter]

The question remains, do you write something like this as a encounter as it happens story, or as a journal/diary type story and flashback allot to the points in the history?