nerdiethings | Ranma CMO Post

[The Saotome estate has an hour before it sets in that their enemies are going to win.

The family lording over the Nerima region had always viewed the conflict as both personal and distant. Other people did the fighting, but they were the ones who won. Whenever there was a loss, someone lower on the totem poll was to blame.

It’s not the excuse that lasts very long after the last incident. A local township, burned into ash on Genma Saotome’s orders. Bad enough on moral principles. But one of the king’s heirs was in the area when the attack took place.

As far as most nobles are concerned, the entire Saotome estate must be destroyed.

Many servants left days in advance. Some wanted to, but couldn’t afford to. It isn’t until that final hour, as a canon blasts into the front door, that most of the Saotome family realizes just how poorly they’ve acted.

But perhaps worst of all, the patriarch and the matriarch successfully escaped into the dark, while various servants suffer at the hands of bloodthirsty soldiers.

But then, there’s Ranma. While Ranma is well-known in rumors, few know the young lord by sight. They say he’s bloodthirsty brat, a spoiled killer, a terrible blight on the nobility.

Not caring what other people think, Lady Ranma spent the final hour doing everything she could to ensure the survival of the remaining staff. Many of them are mourning friends and family from the township. Many couldn’t afford to go anywhere. The nobles won’t understand that do… Ranma focused on a plan. She coaches them into stories about being prisoners of war, she has everyone move mattresses into dungeons to make the abuse seem more real. The Saotome clan has already proven to be monsters. Ergo, Ranma figures the best thing to do would be to make sure the poor, abused staff are recognized as victims instead of perpetrators.

On top of all that, Ranma and the servants have to do this while avoiding the remaining bloodthirsty Saotome knights that insist on fighting off the upcoming invasion to the final dying breath. The conflict only gets more aggravated and more stressful for the civilians in this state.

Ranma’s main focus before the final incident in question was in carry supplies from the kitchen to the staff hiding downstairs. If she could just get all these boxes of fruit downstairs in time, she could be sure that her staff would have extra food regardless of the battle’s outcome.

So when the other cannonball blade through the wall and into the staircase, Ranma’s life was largely saved by 1) several feet of distance separating her from the point of impact and 2) a box of oranges blocking the immediate shrapnel.

But it still did mean the toppling, heavy, aged stone of the tower very quickly trapped the young lady beneath an alarming amount of rubble.

Ranma’s last thoughts, before falling into unconsciousness, were of faint hope. She hates the nobles, especially on her side of the family. She always anticipated the worst. But out of all the people to decide her fate… she found herself hoping, for a second, there might be one friendly family who might show mercy. If not to herself, then to the poor, terrified staff. As long as the servants were safe… everything would be worth it.

Ranma passes out in pauper’s clothes, allowing herself to hope for the first time in years.]

[Fuu has been a medic for longer than she can remember at this point. She used to work at the wards set up for injured soldiers. The moment she was able to hide her terror at the potential of facing an enemy shoulder, she moved to the battle field. It's hardened her in some ways. She's able to stand solid at any threat. It's softened her in more ways. It never mattered to her what side of the war the injured were on, she would care for them. She used that hardness more than once to demand access to injured enemies.

But she's seen more blood in her life than she would wish on anyone. And she's the one who demanded access to the Saotome estate. A life is a life, she argued. She won't let anyone die who doesn't have to.

And so she's among the knights who volunteered to stay and guard her, who released servants from the dungeons, who tried to save every knight she could, though one had lashed out when they were freed and she's going to sport bruises to match the bad gash down her forearm, and the cut on her forehead tomorrow.

She doesn't care. She's doing everything she can, including helping other medics pry up the rubble of the tower.

Covered in dirt, grime and blood like the rest of them, Fuu hardly looks like the lady she is. And when she lifts a bit of rubble and sees Ranma's body, she's at work instantly, looking for a pulse and calling out for help--she's found another servant and she's in a bad state.

Ranma will wake up in a covered wagon, on a thin mattress, moving along the road. Fuu sits next to her, propped up on the wall of the cart, sleeping. Fuu's a terrible mess, dirty with messy hair and torn clothes, so likely completely unrecognizable. There's a knight watching from the other end of the cart... but Ranma is alive, and it doesn't seem like she's much of a captive, completely free to move if her body can handle it.]

[Her body is... in a lot of pain. And she's delirious and confused. Her first thought waking up in the wagon is that she's dead, carted through the afterlife. But sensations sends the thought darting away and she's blinking in astonished that she's alive.

Which means she's captured.

Panicking, she starts trashing, even as her broken body can't take it, searing in pain.]

[It takes Fuu a moment to realize what's going on and wake. The knight is quicker to move, but Fuu puts up a hand, and tries to catch Ranma's. She's probably bonked a few times doing it, but she tries her best to not react.]

Don't fight, please. You're badly injured, but you're safe. We were able to rescue you.

[Her eyes dart around wildly, in confusion.]

The- they're gonna, the others- they're gonna- they're in dan- I have to-

[She's stumbling all over herself.]

It's all right, really. Most of the rest of the servants weren't injured. We were able to rescue them from the dungeons. They went ahead of us a few days ago while we were surveying the rest of the estate to see if anyone else was alive. It wasn't safe to move you until this morning.

They're... okay? [Body slowing down, finally meeting Fuu's eyes head-on.]

[One of her glasses lenses has a crack running through it, but her eyes are still shining bright green as always. She smiles, warmly.]

They are. We're bringing them back to the capitol for care. We'll see what work we can find for them if they're able, and heal any injured as best as we can.

That's... good. Good. [Her body doesn't really know what to do now, gazing up at this woman. The light shining behind her, those bright green eyes and gentle, warm smile.

Ranma's never thought about beauty before.

And losing the energy she had when trying to sit up, she immediately collapses again.]

[Fuu almost panics a bit, she'd hoped Ranma would take some water when she was awake...

But she's going to care for her all the way to the capitol. If she wakes again, she makes sure she gets something soft to eat and cool to drink. She tries to make sure no fever crops up, and that her wounds aren't getting infected, too.]

[She's gonna be in and out. Very delirious. Drinking water when she's given it and trying to eat food when she can stomach it. She's clearly fighting against her wounds to get what she needs to survive and it makes her cooperative.]

[It's several days of riding, mostly because they have to take it slow to not jostle Ranma too much.

Weird that the wagon is going... so far into the city. Into the castle yard, even.]

[That... is odd. Maybe... she's been discovered after all?

But this public a place... a trial? She's not great at legal stuff... she doesn't exactly want to be executed either. She's more squirmy.]

[ It’s going to be a hell of a realization for Ranma when the queen herself is rushing out to greet Fuu. She’s almost in tears, she just lost one daughter and she couldn’t bear to lose another. She wasn’t with the main transport, what were they to think??? ]

[…oh, that’s.

That’s gonna be bad.

While the others are distracted with the Queen, Ranma starts to push herself out of the cart, eyeing the exit. But her strength doesn’t carry forward, and she topples onto the dirt ungracefully.]

[ Oh goodness. Fuu pulls herself away from her mother to help Ranma off the ground. ]

You’re hardly in any state to move, miss. You aren’t in any danger and there’s no need to push yourself right now.

[E-eep. Do... not panic.]

...Sorry 'bout this. Fell.

[Fuu kneels, keeping a hand on Ranma's arm to steady her.]

You can sit here. Someone will come to help you to the infirmary.

Don't waste too much medicine on me. There's others who need it...

You need it, too. The Saotomes must have been cruel to you, but I promise there won't be anything like that here.

...I'm lucky. Saotomes barely touched me.

Violence isn’t just physical. It’s not normal to be this adverse to treatment in your state…

I'm tougher than most. Why'd everyone else get sent elsewhere...?

[She hasn't made a full commitment to lying about her identity yet but she feels like she's teetering on the edge. She very nearly said "other servants."]

Do you remember how you were injured? You were found under a mountain of rubble. The fact you're alive at all is a miracle, let alone being able to move around. The dungeons were mostly intact since they didn't have any outer walls to breach, and the knights are being held on trial. [Ranma might notice that Fuu's arm that isn't holding her is in a sling.]

We tried to reason with them, but... they weren't willing to listen.

I... was? [Yes, that... sounds familiar. She had been so instantly knocked out, it hadn't occurred to her that she could have been buried alive in all the chaos.]

The knights... some of them were just following orders but... there were others that enjoyed it too much. They imprisoned people that wanted to leave to defect...

What about the... other servants...? [She's second guessing herself immediately. Would... a servant call themselves a servant? Or a different word, like staff?] The Saotomes were awful to them, they shouldn't be blamed...

Royalty to Maid Ranma/Fuu

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