Standard disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and all elements thereof belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, et al. Sailor Moon, the Dark Kingdom, the Doom-Tree, Ail, Ann, and the Nemesians belong to Naoko Takeuchi, DIC, and so on. Chang Delune, Isamu Delune, and the Delune Family and history are property of their creator, me, David Gordon. Please don't sue me, I'm poor! Have mercy! etc. etc.

Ranma/Sailor Moon Crossover: Moon Pressure

Part 1: A Day At The Beach

In Nerima, Tokyo, a young Chinese martial artist fretted. It had been about two weeks since Chang Delune's battle with Happosai, and he was largely healed. Ukyo had bluntly refused to let her assistant come back to work for another week ("To make sure you can still keep the peace here," she said) which left Chang well and truly bored. Finally, after pestering Dr. Tofu for the fifth time that morning, he got up and left the clinic. {I need to do something to get my mind off all this,} he thought.

His nightmarish rage during the battle with Happosai had let him win (barely) but led him into his most colossal bout with injury. On top of that, there was the vague feeling that something was... wrong. That life as he knew it was about to change forever. {Maybe that mysterious 'family destiny' Dad keeps hinting at is coming,} Chang thought. Then he shook his head. {Arrgh! I don't _want_ any mysterious destiny! I'd be perfectly happy living here in Tokyo with my friends and retiring to Jusenkyo later in life to carry on the dojo! I've really got to get my mind off this - I know! I'll go to the beach! That should be a good cheer-up trip!}

Much happier now that he had a course of action in mind, he headed back for Ucchan's Okonomiyaki to collect his bathingsuit and a towel (and maybe pack a lunch.)

In another part of Tokyo, five young girls were also preparing for a day when they could forget their responsibilities (which were considerable) and just be happy teenagers for a day. Up at the Cherry Hill shrine in Juuban, Usagi Tsukino was almost in a tizzy. "WHEE! A whole day down at the beach! No monsters, Youma, Cardians, or whatever, and we can have some *fun!*"

Ami Mizuno looked up from her meticulously packed bag. "Actually, Usagi, there has been a rather high statistical correlation between our attempts to relax and the locations of attacks by-" Before she could finish, she was cut off by the second blonde of the band.

"Oh, lighten up, Ami!" scolded Minako Aino. "It doesn't mean it'll happen _every_ time! Even Sailor Senshi deserve a break every now and then!"

"Yeah, and we can see _sooo_ many cute guys on the beach today!" enthused Makoto Kino. "I love this idea! Thanks for helping to get the parents to agree to this, Rei-chan!"

Rei Hino smiled. "Thanks right back, Mako-chan, but Ami's right. Just because we're trying to take a day off doesn't mean we should let our guard down. You know monsters just tend to crop up wherever we go. Remember the hot springs, and the spirit in the lake there? We should still be careful."

She was resoundingly booed by Usagi (starting a raspberry war), Minako, and Makoto. Then all discussion was put on hold as the bus pulled up.

Elsewhere in Juuban, two alien youths also plotted their day's activities.

"Ail, the Doom-Tree's still almost dead! We have to collect more energy or we'll die too!" Ann whined. The two alien lovers had come to Earth to drain the energy of young, vital living things to sustain the Doom-Tree, which provided the energy that, in turn, sustained the couple. Ann was a pretty girl, and Ail was a handsome, slim young man.

"Calm down, Ann. I have a plan for our next target," Ail (the older of the two) soothed her. "I found out about a place where the humans go in large numbers - especially young, vital humans."

Ann was instant enthusiasm. "Whee! Really? Where?!"

Ail smirked - just a bit - as he explained. "It's the border between the land and ocean here- they call it the 'beach.' The humans go there on sunny, warm days to have fun in the water."

Ann oohed. "And it's sunny and warm today! Ail, you are such a genius!"

Ail smiled back. "Pick a Cardian, my sweet," he called, fanning out the cards from which he conjured his energy- sucking creatures.

Back in Nerima, Chang had picked up some fellow travelers. Shampoo was depressed because Ranma and Akane were getting along better, and Mousse had suggested (to the wall) that a trip might cheer her up. Cologne had just hung the 'closed' sign when Chang went by carrying a small travel bag, and they had joined him. Ryoga had also happened across them, and decided that a trip to the beach - heck, to _any_ sure destination - was better than just wandering aimlessly and hoping he'd happen across the Tendo dojo, so he was coming too. Chang was groaning inside.

{Great, just great,} he thought as they hopped over the rooftops. {Now all I need is for Ranma to show up and my quiet day at the beach becomes a free-for-all! Why me?}

Fortunately for Chang's peace of mind, Ranma did not appear that day. He _was_ chagrined when they arrived at the beach, hot and sweaty, to find the sand crowded with young people, {and I've got three Jusenkyo-cursed friends along, and no way to cool them off,} he thought miserably.

Cologne waved him off when he tried to apologize, saying that "Adversity builds character, boy. Like my trying to teach my granddaughter Japanese." Chang had tried to warn his father's old friend, but Shampoo had come up behind her ancestor and said, in perfect Japanese,

"And why is that discouraging, Great-Grandmother? Surely I can't be all _that_ bad!"

Shampoo had confided to Chang some time ago that she could speak Japanese well, thanks to Mousse, but kept up her old mode of speech to keep others in the dark about her intelligence. Knowing this, Chang felt no need to be near the ensuing argument and crept off to change into his bathingsuit. He then strode down to the surf, kneeling down in the waves. {Huh,} he thought as the water washed over him. {The water's lukewarm! Now I *know* it's hot today.} Then a thought occurred to him. {Lukewarm?} "Hey, Shampoo, Mousse, Ryoga, over here!" he cried. The three were delighted to find that they could play in the shallow water, and soon the four friends were busily soaking each other.

Farther up the beach, the Senshi arrived, piling off the bus and staking out a spot for their blankets, then taking turns changing. Usagi was last into the change room - she was still a bit depressed that Mamoru didn't remember her, so the others kept their peace about boys until she was out of hearing. Makoto then noticed three boys and one girl playing together in the shallows.

"Hey, girls, look over there! Hunk alert!"

Minako was instantly looking and Rei took a peek as well. (Ami barely glanced up from her book, held inside her tanning screen.) The three interested girls sighed - two of the guys had hair as long and flowing as Mina's, one dark like Rei's hair and one a somewhat lighter brown. The third was heavier-set but had a _huge_ grin on his face, and seemed to have - well, almost fangs, but the affect was kind of cute. All three guys were obviously in great shape, though the short- haired one had the best definition. Minako commented, "There are three dreamy sights for sore eyes." None of them really paid much attention to the girl.

* * *

Under the water, a presence crept towards the beach. Soon it would strike.

* * *

Back on the beach, Chang and Ryoga had pulled back a bit and were watching Shampoo and Mousse frolic in the surf. Chang had a silly grin on his face. "You know," he commented to Ryoga, "I see those two fight all the time, and I start to think they're enemies - and then a moment like this comes along, and you can tell they're so happy together."

Ryoga looked over at him. "And how do you feel about that?"

"Huh? Oh, I get it, you think I - No, no. I feel friendship for Shampoo, but I know enough about love to know that I'm not her intended. I hope she finds the one who's right for her."

"The one who's right for her? Who do you mean?" asked Ryoga.

"Delune family teachings," Chang tried to explain. "Father holds the idea that everything has its place in destiny. So everyone has their one true love out there, and their place in life - if they could only find them."

Ryoga nodded. "Oh, I get it. Hey, if I'd never fallen into the spring, I'd never have gotten close to Akane, and I wouldn't understand my feelings for her! Was that fate?"

"I wish," Chang sighed. "Then it wouldn't be my fault." Suddenly, his instincts warned him he was being watched. He glanced in that direction, then relaxed. "Speaking of intended loves, Ryoga, check out the three girls at the grassline giving us the once-over!"

Ryoga looked back at the three girls, who suddenly pretended disinterest, saw the brown-haired one's skimpy bathingsuit (a lovely two-piece) and clamped a hand over his nose while he looked away. Chang sighed. "Ryoga, I don't know how you _ever_ expect to get anywhere with girls that way. Maybe it's physical: have you had Dr. Tofu look you over about that nosebleed?"

* * *

The presence crept closer: it had no need to breathe except to say its name.

* * *

Usagi came back to her friends to find them all (except Ami) staring off into the sky in different directions and looking embarrassed. "Hey guys, what happened?"

Ami replied, "I think they were looking at some guys who noticed them staring."

Minako looked at Ami. "You _think_..." suddenly seeing what was behind the tanning screen, she screeched. "A BOOK? Ami, you don't come to the beach to read on a day like this! We have to get you out more!" Ami now had her turn with the blush as all four of her friends got into the teasing.

* * *

The presence tensed. It was time!

* * *

Chang tensed on the beach. {Something's wrong, and I mean really wrong: I can feel it in my bones-}

Suddenly, a watery form, vaguely female, sprang from the sea, yelling "AQUATICA!" as it launched a large number of streams of water at nearby targets. Those included Mousse and Shampoo, still playing in the surf. The water immediately rose off the victims as steam and the targets collapsed. Those people from Juuban recognized the beginning of a monster attack and fled, setting off a panicked flight away from the spot. Chang flipped to his feet, horrified. His training at sensing *chi* let him see that the chi of those hit by the water was literally sucked out into the steam, and the steam was drawn into the monster! "This thing is draining life out of people!" he cried to Ryoga and Cologne. Then he leaped to get away from the water streams it shot at them, Ryoga and Cologne also heading for cover.

Usagi stared, aghast, as another darn Cardian rose up to attack innocent people. With a look, she gathered up her friends and they ran behind a snack stand to change while the two Moon Cats kept an eye on the monster.

Chang, Ryoga and Cologne crouched behind a boulder at the grass line.

"It doesn't seem to be able to spray its water this far," Cologne commented.

"Well, yeah, but we can't attack it from here, granny! What do we do!?!" Ryoga asked. "And what is that thing, anyway?"

Cologne took a moment to reply. "There are stories in our oldest tales about strange beings who drain energy from humans. They varied widely in form, but they were called-"

"-Youma." Chang finished the sentence. He had an odd look in his eye. "Family legends say that we fought in the war against them long ago." He glanced to Ryoga. "It's supposed to take an energy attack to beat them. Give me a smoke screen with the Breaking Point, then I'll hit it with the Mana Flare. Back me up with the Shi Chi Hokodan if I don't finish it!"

"Got it! Hey, old lady, help me out here!" Both Ryoga and Cologne stabbed stiff fingers into the rock below them, and the ensuing blast blew smoke right out to the Cardian's area. Wasting no time, Chang charged! {I can still see your aura, you vampire!} he thought savagely. He relished the look of shock on the thing's water-blue face as he burst out of the smoke. It sent two water tendrils at him: he tumbled under one and then vaulted the second, coming down right in front of the thing, crying "*MANA FLARE!*" as his finger hit the earth.

The golden energy-column blew upward out of the earth. "AAA-AQUATICAAA!!" the thing cried as smoke - no, steam! Steam rose off its body! {Is it made of water?} Chang thought as the Mana Flare began to fade...

As Sailor Mercury finished her transformation, her computer beeped. Looking at the readings, she cried, "Sailor Moon! There's a large magical energy burst back there, and it doesn't match the monster's readings! Someone _else_ is fighting it!"

Sailor Moon looked up in shock. "But - but who!?" All five Sailor Senshi looked at each other and ran back toward the battle site.

* * *

Chang ducked as the Shi Chi Hokodan - a pretty big one - sailed over his head and into the monster, blowing its upper torso apart and hurling the legs back into the sea. {Guess Ryoga was upset about that thing breaking up his good time,} Chang thought, satisfied. He turned to wave at his friends and saw five girls in sailor suits vaulting over the change rooms. One with blue hair waved at him and cried,

"Get back! The Cardian isn't dead yet!"

{Whaa!??!} Chang thought, then leapt as his danger sense triggered. A stream of water streaked through the place he'd been standing. One of the girls-

--Sailor Senshi-- something in the back of Chang's mind said-

-in a red fuku, cried out "FIRE SOUL BIRD!" and a phoenix soared from her hand to strike at something behind Chang. He spun around as he landed, and he saw the remains of the creature sink into the ocean again.

"Did I get it?!" the red-fuku girl-

--Sailor Mars--

cried to the blue-haired one-

--Sailor Mercury--

who answered back, "No! I'm still reading it there!" In response, Chang watched as the blond one in the orange fuku-

--Sailor Venus--

shouted "CRESCENT BEAM SHOWER!" and bombarded the area where the monster had gone down with energy beams. Chang couldn't concentrate.

{What the hell is going on in my head?} he thought confusedly. {How do I know the names of three of these - these Sailor Senshi, and who are the other two-}

--Sailor Jupiter--

as Chang involuntarily looked at the brown-haired one, and then

--Sailor Moon--

as his gaze slid over to the one with the odango-ponytails hairdo.

{AARGH! What's happening to me!?}

Cologne watched as despite the best efforts of the magical fighters, the monster rose again from the water. She realized suddenly what it was doing. "Chang! Boy, the creature uses the water to repair itself! Get it out of the water!"

Chang, hearing this, snapped out of his fugue. "Easier said than done! It's *made* of water, how do we grab it?!?" he shouted back, then paused as the part at the back of his mind actually offered a useful suggestion. He turned to the five girls. "Sailor Mercury! Freeze that thing!" he cried.

As the Cardian sprang out of the ocean again, Sailor Mercury's attention was jerked away from her scans by a voice yelling in a commanding tone at her to freeze the monster. In seconds, her newest attack was on the way.

"SHABON SPRAY FREEZING!" Sailor Mercury cried in answer to Chang's order,

{and just _how_ did I know she could do that anyway?} he thought as he leaped over it, coming down behind the quickly-solidifying monster.

"Momentum Strike!" he cried, jabbing a finger at the back of the foe, watching in satisfaction as it hurtled forward onto the beach. A moment later, Sailor Moon had a scepter of some sort in her hand and with a series of spins, cried out,

"MOON PRINCESS HALLATION!", sending a crescent-moon shape into the creature, which crumbled to dust. Chang, wanting nothing more right then than to be gone, scooped up Shampoo and Mousse and ran for his bag. The Sailor Senshi also abandoned the scene as the drained people began to stir in the usual post-monster recovery.

* * *

As they leaped over the rooftops to an alley out of everyone's view, Jupiter collared Mars and Venus. "Hey, you two, did you notice who was fighting the monster?"

Mars nodded. "Yeah, it was our hunks from earlier - well, two of them, anyway. And the short-haired one actually threw an energy blast!" She turned to Artemis, who was on Venus' shoulder. "Hey, Artemis, you and Luna were watching the fight - what happened? Ami read a magical energy blast, so I guess the short-haired guy fired at it before, right?"

Artemis shook his head. "Frankly, girls, I'm not sure I believe what I saw. It wasn't just the two boys - there was an old woman fighting as well. The three of them took cover behind a rock, then the long-haired boy mentioned something about *youma* and pulled the others into a huddle. Next thing I know, the woman and the short-haired boy hit the rock hard enough to shatter it into a huge dust cloud and the long-haired boy charged through it. He caused this _huge_ eruption of energy right in the Cardian's face, then you showed up in time for the rest."

Minako reversed her transformation and frowned. "So we have a boy who knows about youma, three people with superpowers, and they fought a monster. I don't know what it all means, but I did detective work while I operated as Sailor V, and I'm going to find out!"

Makoto tapped Minako on the shoulder. "While you're at it, find out if they're single!"

Everyone else facefaulted.

...to be continued