Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Herbie's Drive Through Nerma ❯ Ducks, Loopholes, and Challenges! Oh my! ( Chapter 8 )

<___________> Mousse's quacks translated

Wash and Rinse, as far as I know, are characters I made up (Haven't seen every ep of Ranma, I got to get Season 5)

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It was sometime later that Nabiki got home and saw Cologne outside of her house without Shampoo in sight. `I wonder why she's here without her great-granddaughter.' She thought. Herbie then came at a complete stop then Nabiki exited him to face Cologne. "Well, well Cologne. The only time you're here without Shampoo is if Ranma needs you for some training. What is he…" She said, but then was interrupted by the matriarch.

"Hold child." Cologne said. "I'm not here for Son-In-Law. Nobody even knows I'm out here. I was waiting for that little car right behind you."

"The car?" Nabiki said.

`Me?' Herbie thought. `If that woman is connected with Shampoo somehow, maybe its best I don't beep.'

"Yes, the car." Cologne said. "I have a friend that taught a student that mentioned while helping him on days he was sick about a car with inner life that matches that little car's description."

`She knew Tennessee's guru?' Herbie thought. `I still better not. I don't trust her.'

"I'm sorry Cologne, but this is just an ordinary little car." Nabiki said. "Nothing special, save for it goes really fast."

`Hmmmmmmm… she won't tell me anything.' Cologne thought. `Let's see how she does when I mention what I saw.' "Oh, so then I didn't see this car drop my Great-Granddaughter off at the Nekohan?" She said. Nabiki however kept her cool.

"Maybe you didn't see the driver." Nabiki said.

`Damn… she won't tell me anything, and if it is the car, its not doing anything… best I try again some other night.' Cologne thought. "Very well, but I'm positive this is the car." Cologne said. "Tell Ranma I said hello."

"I will." Nabiki said as Cologne hopped away on her cane. Once she was out of ear shot, Nabiki turned to Herbie. "Mind explaining why she saw you?"

(Uh… well… somebody had to get Shampoo away from there so Ranma could go to school.) Herbie beeped.

Nabiki then sighed. "We're lucky that nether of us spoiled it for Cologne." She said. "If she knew that you were on Ranma and Akane's side, then she might try to dismantle you."

(Oh crud.) Herbie beeped. (I think around her, it's best just to play the ordinary little car bit.)

"Exactly." Nabiki said. "I think it's safe for you to be you right now. I'm sure Mousse won't tell her."

(Oh? What makes you so sure?) Herbie beeped.

"Just because." Nabiki said.

(Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight). Herbie beeped.

"Don't get any ideas." Nabiki said.

(A car? Ideas?) Herbie innocently beeped.

"I'm sure Ranma has told you about his panda father's innocent act?" Nabiki asked.

(Thought it'd be worth a try.) Herbie beeped. (Night Nabiki.)

"Night Herbie." Nabiki said.

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It was a few days later and Herbie was enjoying the semi-relative calm…

"RANMA NO BAKA!"

*WHAM*

…as semi-relative it can get in Nerma.

`I think she broke the record this time.' Herbie thought as he saw Ranma flying in the distance. During these few days, Herbie was enjoying the fact that he's helping Mousse and Nabiki get to their destinations as they managed to find some time to hang around and be good friends. He even took Akane to a few destinations, helping her get some food for the family, pick up some manga and various things when Nabiki couldn't get them. All and all, it seemed pretty slow these last few days.

"QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!" <"Must… get… to… elders!"> Herbie heard a duck quack as he ran closer to the Tendo Dojo. Herbie then noticed something about the duck.

`Those look like Mousse's glasses.' Herbie thought. `Could that duck be…?' (Mousse?) Herbie beeped.

"QUACK!" <"Herbie!"> Mousse said, glad that he found a friend. "QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!" <"You gotta help me!">

(Slow down, slow down.) Herbie beeped. (I don't speak animal! But it looks like you're in trouble!) Mousse than nodded. (Jump in some hot water and tell me what's the problem.) Mousse then shook his head. (What do you mean no?) Herbie beeped, then it hit him. (No as in "No, it won't work?") Mousse then nodded. (Then get Cologne. She might…) Mousse than quickly shook his head. (Wait… why no… hold it… she did this?) Mousse than rapidly nodded. But then, both Mousse and Herbie heard something.

"Duck boy went this way!" Said a voice that sounded like Shampoo. Herbie then opened his front hood.

(Get in, quick!) Mousse did so and Herbie quickly shut his trunk as the current duck thought how he got into this mess.

*FLASHBACK*

Mousse was organizing some files for Cologne, who, along with Shampoo, was catching up with Wash and Rinse about what was going on with the tribe.

`Just a few more of these and I can try to get Nab… Shampoo! Shampoo!' Mousse thought, but he was surprised that in the last few days, he thought of Nabiki more than Shampoo. `Maybe because I'm getting a new friend.' Mousse then picked up some old documents and was about to carry them when…

"WOAH!"

*CRASH*

…he tripped on the floor, landing hard, but he was ok. He then saw something. `WHAT?! This means… I have to get this to the elders before they le…'

*SPLASH*

Before Mousse could finish that thought, he got splashed with what appeared to be cold water.

"I thought you would find a loophole one day, Mr. Part Time." Cologne said. "And don't bother with the hot water, for 24 hours, you're stuck that way."

"QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!" <"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!"> Mousse quacked.

"If duck boy don't want to be fried, duck boy keep beak shut." Shampoo said, armed with her bonbories.

"QUACK!" <"Shampoo!"> Mousse quacked hurt.

"What? You know I no like you Mousse and Shampoo will do anything to get Ranma." Shampoo said.

`Then you leave me no choice.' Mousse thought as suddenly, he put his wings together and then…

*FLASH*

…in a flash of light, Mousse, and the document in question, disappeared.

"HI-YA!" Where duck boy go?!" Shampoo said.

"We must find him. You take Rinse, I'll have Wash search south." Cologne said.

*END FLASHBACK*

A moment after Mousse got into Herbie's trunk, Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki left the Tendo compound.

"Remember Ranma, Kasumi needs fresh vegetables, and I would like some of those books I wrote down." Nodoka yelled.

"Don't forget she also wanted a cook book." Soun yelled.

"I'll pick the books up when I get my manga." Nabiki said.

"We'll take care of the rest dad." Akane said.

"We'll be back as soon as possible." Ranma said as they all got into Herbie. Herbie then opened his trunk a little for Mousse to see if its all clear. "Herbie? Why are you opening your trunk?" Ranma asked. He then looked up. "SHAMPOO!"

"LOOK!" Rinse said. "DUCK BOY IN CAR!" Shampoo and Rinse then ran towards him, Shampoo with bonbories ready. Herbie quickly closed his trunk and…

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH*

…at top speed left the Tendo compound, and just a few feet away from the Amazons, popped a wheelie. The amazed Amazons managed to jump out of the way as he landed on the road and drove very quickly.

"HERBIE! STOP!" Ranma said.

"THE BOOK STORE IS THE OTHER WAY!" Nabiki said.

(Mousse is in the trunk!) Herbie beeped.

"WHAT?!" All three said in unison. Herbie, thinking it might be safe, stopped and let Mousse out. Mousse then flew up top, where Akane opened Herbie's roof.

"Ok, Mousse, what's going on?" Nabiki asked. Mousse pulled the document from his wing, which Nabiki proceeded to read. "Oh my… HERBIE! GET US TO TOKYO! NOW!"

"What's going on?!" Akane asked, in a frantic.

"I'll explain later, Tokyo now!" Herbie was about to do his wheelie, when Shampoo appeared behind him on her bike.

"Turtle car go nowhere!" Shampoo said as she was about to hit Herbie with her bonbories, when…

*SQUIRT*

…Herbie made an oil slick causing her to crash and then he peeled out.

"Wash, now!" Cologne was heard yelling when suddenly, some grenade-like weapons went off right in front of Herbie. Herbie came to a stop and right in front of him stood all three Amazons. "Give us the duck children, and this little car or you won't get hurt."

(Nobody threatens my friends lady!) Herbie angrily beeped.

"I knew it!" Cologne said. "Be that as it may little car, I have come too far for this to end because of one stupid loophole."

"What is she talking…" Ranma didn't get to finish, because he saw Herbie squirt Shampoo with washer fluid… cold washer fluid.

"Meow?" Shampoo mewed.

"C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c…."

"HERBIE! GET US OUT OF HERE NOW!" Nabiki said as Herbie peeled out passed the Amazons. Wash tried another grenade, but Herbie dodged it.

"What we do honored Elder?" Wash asked.

"This is not good." Cologne said. "With Ranma, our tribe would have been the most powerful, but the law is the law and they'll follow it. Hmmmm… I have a plan. We meet the elders at the hotel today."

"But honored elder, car and Shampoo's arien will beat to punch." Rinse said.

"Exactly." Cologne said with a grin.

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Sometime later, at the hotel, Herbie spotted the Amazon elders, Soap and Shower, and stopped. Ranma, Mousse, Nabiki, and Akane all got out of Herbie and Nabiki ran like hell to Soap.

"QUACK QUACK! QUACK QUACK!" <"ELDER SOAP! ELDER SOAP!"> Mousse quacked.

"Hmmmmm…?" Soap said. "Oh, Mousse. Who's this lady friend of yours? And why are you a…"

"READ!" Nabiki said shoving a document in his face. Astounded, Soap reads the document and then has a look of a woman thinking. "Shower, come quick. I think these kids found something." Shower than read the document. "If what you found is true, then we have no choice."

"What? What is everyone talking about?" Ranma asked.

"Ranma Saotomae, we hereby release you from the kiss of mar…" Soap started to say…

"STOP!" Cologne said.

"Elder Cologne!" Shower said angrily. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Before you remove the kiss of marriage, I here by invoke the right of challenge." Cologne said. Soap and Shower sighed.

"You won't give up on Ranma, will you?" Soap asked.

"Shampoo and I have come too far to stop." Cologne said.

"WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Ranma said angrily.

"Mousse found a loophole in Amazon law." Nabiki said. "Shampoo beated you cursed as a girl."

"So?" Ranma asked.

"So, the kiss of marriage doesn't apply!" Nabiki stated and Ranma was overjoyed.

"YAHOO! I'M FREE! I'M FREE!" Ranma said.

"Not now son." Soap said. "Cologne invoked the right of challenge. You have to win your freedom."

"Crud." Ranma said. "It's never easy."

(COLOGNE LOCKED MOUSSE AS A DUCK!) Herbie beeped trying to get the elders attention.

"SHE DID WHAT?!" Soap said angrily.

"You understood that?" Akane asked.

"I was taught that things have an inner life." Soap said. "But right down to it, please tell me it was with the cat's tong." Mousse rapidly shook his head and pointed to the fountain. "You know that water is forbidden Cologne."

"As stated, I will do anything to make sure Ranma is part of the tribe." Cologne stated.

"Very well." Soap sighed. "What is your challenge?"

"A race." Cologne said with a smile.