Stephan Sokolow's Blog

The Good Soldier by Babel Matrix

Length: Oneshot
Sources: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Rating: 4/5

Just a nice little Evangelion oneshot which doesn’t let you know what’s really going on until the end. I always love it when I find such stories because so few people try them.

Willow the Gargoyle by Jonakhensu

Length: 1 Chapter, Ongoing
Sources: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gargoyles
Rating: 4/5

As a beta reader, it’s not that difficult to find yourself wishing people could write faster. Today’s example is “Willow the Gargoyle” by Jonakhensu. Inspired by Wispr’s Willow Destine (which I have yet to read), this story explores what might happen if Willow chose a costume from Ethan Rayne’s store which had an element even he didn’t know about or intend. Result? One gargoyle-by-night Willow… after the costume shop spell gets broken and Demona returns to her own body, of course.

The fun part is that, instead of the various potential boring plots where Willow gets a secret identity and little else, this plot is driven by, among other things, the interactions between Demona and Willow and Demona’s plan to adopt Willow. (Note: Some of my knowledge comes from betaing the unfinished second chapter) There is another twist I’m looking forward to, but I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, so you’ll just have to wait on that part. Patience is key.

Enjoy. 🙂

No Need For Destiny by Innortal

Length: 15 Chapters, Ongoing
Sources: Ranma ½, Tenchi Muyo, Sailor Moon, and many other minor sources
Rating: 5/5

I’m always happy to find new Tenchi Muyo fanfiction, but this fic would get a high rating even without that fact. “No Need For Destiny” is one of those stories which does so many things I like that it’s difficult to know where to start. *flips a coin several times*

First, it’s a mega-crossover that actually works. That alone deserves mention. I can think of elements from Ranma ½, Tenchi Muyo, Sailor Moon, Slayers, Love Hina, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Oh! My Goddess, and Naruto. Of course, the primary ones are Ranma ¼, Tenchi Muyo, and Sailor Moon.

Second, it’s an alternate universe which could almost be mistaken for an “elaboration fic”. For those who don’t already know me, that’s my term for a story which presents itself as having actually happened in canon… you just didn’t see it.

Third, it’s a causal-loop time travel fic. I have a soft spot for those.

Fourth, the Tenchi Muyo portions are compliant with the third OAV 3 series. (aside from one or two pieces which can be explained away by it being an alternate universe)

Finally, it has a great deal of creativity and originality. This alone would probably earn it full marks. I can’t count the number of characters who have either been created or given proper depth of character.

The basic plot is that Ranma gets on Happosai’s nerves one time too many and ol’ Happi tries a spell that’ll supposedly banish Ranma until he learns “proper respect”. Nabiki gets caught up in it and they wind up on Jurai thousands of years ago… not that they know that little detail for a while.

A routine medical exam ends up revealing that Ranma is the grandson of Misaka Kuramitsu (the long-lost heir to the Seniwa empire) and, before he knows it, he’s getting private tutoring so he and Nabiki can head off to the Galaxy Science Academy as business majors. After all, the emperor of Jurai really wants that treaty Ranma’s grandfather was about to sign.

Throughout the course of the story, Ranma ends up Washuu’s husband who “ran off” (in actuality, the seal on her greater self cracked and she had to alter her own memories to keep them apart until she intentionally released it), the father of numerous kids (including several pre-reincarnation Senshi), and on the road to being of an appropriate power level to fit in with the Tenchi crew. (A side-effect of the goddesses ensuring Ranma would still be around when Washuu releases the seal herself)

Surprisingly for a fanfic, one of my favorite aspects of this is the original characters. I’ve always loved well-done stories which feature children of the original main characters and, what with some of them being demi-gods, this is just about the best you can get. (I’d take favoritism points off for not having them all inherit Ranma’s curse, but that particular plot twist would detract from the whole in this case)

Of course, the humor is great too. For example:

“Remind me to thank my mom for giving me that little crystal to wear,” he said, pointing to a glowing necklace that was supposed to be another blessing from Tokimi to protect him; something that was keeping them free of stasis.

How did she know I’d need it though?

Tokimi sighed once again as she assumed a fourth-dimensional form, plucking several crystals off her. “Really, what is the reason these things keep forming? All they do is seem to distort reality a fraction … well, that and allow me to track my son.

“I wonder what he’s up to. Today’s supposed to be his first day of school. I wonder if he’s enjoying himself.”

The finishing touch has to be the original way that all the different series are spliced together. For example, the Sailor Moon stuff has Ranma and Nabiki actually visiting the Moon Kingdom before they realize that they’re in the past (complete with nicely done original characters and setting) and the Slayers world is actually a failed attempt by two of Ranma’s sons to bring the Senshi back early.

If you like this kind of stuff even a little bit, you owe it to yourself to read this fic. I is my wont these days, I’ll close with a quote.

Over ten thousand years in the past, give or take one idiot…

There are always certain constants in the universe. Things, items, customs, structures, that will always be the same no matter where or when you come from.

The value of pi…

The speed of light … which is always slower than the speed of stupidity.

And that certain meetings, no matter what is done to try and improve them … will always, always, be boring as Hell.