WARNING: While there will be no actual 'Lemon' content contained herein, adult situations, language, violence and acts of a sexual nature are strongly implied.

Disclaimer: The rights to 'Ranma 1/2' are owned by its creator, Rumiko Takahashi. The rights to 'Gold Digger' are owned by its creator, Fred Perry. The rights to characters from other sources, which are likely to make cameo appearances, are retained by their respective creators. This story is for entertainment purposes only and written without expectation of monetary or material profit.

Notes: While drawing primarily from the original 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series, some elements and characters from the 'Ranma 1/2' Anime series may also be utilized. This is BOTH a 'Continuation' and an 'Alternate Universe' fan-fiction in regards to the characters and events of 'Ranma 1/2' and 'Gold Digger', meaning: the characters WILL be 'Out-of-Character' to one extent or another and that canon events the reader is familiar with may or may not have been altered to a greater or lesser degree. This fan-fiction is also a 'Crossover', combining elements from the two aforementioned sources. For most of the story, we will attempt to adhere closely to canon, in regards to Fred Perry's 'Gold Digger' series, but at some point, events will diverge from canon and concessions will have to be made for the intermingling of the two base series.

Furthermore, it is 'presumed' that the events of the 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series take place over more than one year of time, as there is little, if any, real indication of the passage of time in canon. Therefore, Ranma and Akane are juniors at the time this story begins, while Nabiki and Kuno are seniors.

Timeframe: Immediately following the failed wedding attempt at the end of the 'Ranma 1/2' Manga series; there are several months remaining until the end of the current school year at Furinkan High... ('Gold Digger' timeframe will become apparent when introduced into the story.)

Website: Originally the website would have pointed to the forums where I had others review, discuss and workout the storyline when I gave the idea. Now this story has a home of its own. You can reach it at h t t p / s e i k y o (dot) d y n d n s (dot) o r g /

BattleMage

By

Ryan Slicer
(original story concept, writing and guidance)

&

Tai Khan
(general story expander, editor and sounding board)

Book One: Control

Forward

About a year ago, I started writing a fan fiction idea for a Ranma ½ and Gold Digger crossover titled: Love of a Cheetah. The original idea was just to show a different side of the Ranma cast had he received a baby of no more than a few months old from a friend that he found on one of his training trips after the failed wedding attempt. During the original storyline, many were appalled by the writing style I threw out there and many of the reviews didn't help in the progression of the story. After the first, failed, attempt to get the story out I decided a rewrite was needed, as well as adding more background. This second attempt proved much better with the help of others in requesting more information and showing how things occurred to the state at which Ranma received the child without trying to give too much of the back storyl, and working out the present situation that I worked the Ranma ½ cast into with the introduction of the baby. Still many wanted more information of how Ranma was given the child.

During this debate of how to do give the information people wanted, and reviewing the story once again, but with the current story expander, I decided to bunker down and write the original three months that the reader didn't get to see in a short, outlined format so that they could have the information that they wanted. Posting the fourth chapter, first part, gave the opportunity to put out the first part of the short story for the prelude, titled: Love of a Cheetah: Prelude. This gave people enough information as to how the relationship started between Ranma and Nabiki in the original story and something for myself to revert back to with certain bits of information coming out in the newer chapters of Love of a Cheetah.

While working on the next part for chapter four, part two, it was decided between Tai Khan and myself that the prelude needed to be worked out more. Needless to say, the next part for chapter four will not be completed in its present format. After the quick debate, we researched and looked over everything that we would need to do to write the story the way it should have originally started, after the wedding attempt. This will prove to be one of the better ideas we've had about the story since it's first appearance. We are hoping to show the Ranma cast in a different light, one that few may have thought of, but haven't explored to its fullest. This will place the characters of both the Ranma ½ and the Gold Digger series in completely different lights as they grow and mature past the original ending to the Ranma ½ series and beginnings of Gold Digger. As it has been stated in the disclaimer and notes, many will feel that the characters will be out of context based upon their original creators design. This is the way we've ment it to be, to work with the characters the best way possible, while still keeping in the information of what the characters do and say as time continues. So we're not doing this on purpose to piss people off.

I would like to announce the original story, redone and maybe revamped a few times during the course of the series: BattleMage. A Ranma ½ and Gold Digger Alternative Universe and Crossover.