well since someone cast a Necro on this thread anyway I am moving my Nanoha/Ranma loop here since its more Nanoha then Ranma now:
Ranma stood looking around casually, an old habit he learned early on in the loops, while the information was downloading into him for this loop he casually checked to see who he was replacing and what universe he was in.
Obviously his first realization was it was not a normal Loop since even before the download started there was no stop sign to the head. As it downloaded he realized it was a Fused Loop of some sort with Nanoha's Universe, or Multiverse, or what ever it really was.
Making a mental note to get his hands on one of their ships for study he waited for the download to finish.
Just as it finished and between that new information provided plus his own observations he realized he was Zafira. It was a True Fused loop of some sort so he actually was actually known by that name rather then his own.
Mentally shrugging he decided to just go with it and use it as a vacation loop. Hayate was starting to say something so he paid attention, as the real Zafira would when everything went black for a moment before he realized something had happened.
---
Back at the start of the Loop and in another location Nanoha was also comming into focus with the loop. She was alone in the room but it was not her own, which was unusual. But other loopers did warn her about this potentially happening.
Allowing the download to complete she walked over to the bathroom to use the mirror to help identify herself. All that she could tell without a mirror or the finished information injection was she was wearing a TSAB uniform, a standard one at that. She was a she, which was some ease to her worries and she had teal hair.
After she had taken three steps the information came to her, and she was now in a full blown run to said mirror. After confirming what the download indicated she pulled out Raising Heart. Mentally noting to thank Ranma for teaching her how to store things in her Ki she sent her request to her device. The responce was immediate almost like the device expected this really, "Of course, my Master!"
Moments later a large explosion destroyed the ship she was on with the point of origin being the quarters she was in.
---
Waking up she looked around and realized two things, first she had no access to her normal magic, and second she was on the Hogwarts train. She was warned that ending a loop early could land her here or Eiken, but she never tested it and had yet to be the responcible party for landing here. Although she did not understand the horror of Eiken she was warned of it enough to be thankful for small favors.
Oddly the information of who she was had yet to start, but she figured it was due to her own actions that caused that. Shrugging mentally she made her way to the car that was more or less the designated landing spot for loopers, the last car on the train.
She quickly arrived but only saw members of her own loop, which for some reason she was unable to put her finger on was odd.
She suddenly got the much delayed info dump she was waiting for and so had the others it seemed. When suddenly they all, Nanoha included, started wondering if an Eiken loop would be so bad.
She looked at her friends and knew she did not want to admit to being the one that caused this mess. Chrono and Yuno were the Weasly twins, Hayate was Hayate Granger, Fate oddly kept her name, her original one so she was Fate Testarossa.
Seemingly to make up for that she was, she shuddered, Lily "Yuri" Potter. Apparently their Parrents were part of a program years ago to bring in new wizarding blood, and they all were Japanese, apparently arranged marriages from what little she could make of the limited information on that. She was named after her mother who used the name Ririi. Why she decided to name her Yuri, Nanoha had no idea. Even worse was it used the same characters as what it was a synomym as.
Looking around accusations started over who did it. Nanoha was still too soft to let her friends fight like this finally admitted.
Yuuno looked at her like she had a second head, "Why?" he asked.
Chrono nodded as did Hayate, who was annoyed as her usual companions were not with her when something occured to her.
Fate's eyes narrowed and she stated, softly, but with much force, "Do tell"
Nanoha hung her head, "In that loop I was..." Everyone leaned forward expecting the worst, "Lindy Harlaown Scrya"
Everyone who was listening shifted uneasy, that was worse then anyone expected.
Fate recovered first, "You did the right thing, none of us wanted that." Unspoken was the thought of who was replacing Nanoha if anyone, or worse there being a second unawakened Nanoha.
Hayate was looking around and suddenly asked, "Where is Ranma?"
Blinking Yuuno countered, "Don't you mean Harry?"
Hayate shook her head, "I was awake in the last loop too and Ranma was there, he was replacing Zafira. The other knights were not awake, but Zafira was acting exactly as Ranma does in the first few seconds of a loop. Plus I managed a subtle scan and confirmed it was him. Had the loop continued I am sure he would have noticed. But it would only have confirmed to him that I was awake too. So if he was with us then should he not be here now."
Chrono shrugged, "Its Ranma, I am sure he will show up."
---
Ranma was in the loop, sort of, and he was an anchor so him being awake generally goes without saying, but right now he was wishing he wasn't. He had access to almost nothing, not even a body at the moment. He had gotten the entire story in his information download and was mentally cursing constantly for the last hour.
"You will pay for this, I am sure you did this to me Nanoha. Being called Yuri will only be the beginning of your suffering. You will pay, and then I will introduce you to Eiken, even if I have to end a thousand loops early you will know suffering worse then anything I have done to anyone else before."
Needless to say a Ranma that was unable to train or do almost anything for that matter was not a happy one. All he could do is glare at the inside back of a Turban.
It had taken him some time to calm down, but when he did he decided to focus on the task at hand. Namely messing with Nanoha until he had a better plan for revenge.
Now that he had his focus back he carefully he ghosted out of his host which for some reason knocked the idiot out. Well it was one less problem to deal with. Unfortunately he seemed unable to interact with most matter. Oddly the floor was solid, carefully he tested the wall, no resistance.
"Strange." Shrugging he noticed that as time passed it was getting harder to stay seperate from his temporary host. Well he had some time and hopefully this limitation would not hinder his plan.
He checked the time, one hour before the sorting. He glanced at the class list of new students on his 'minion's' desk and a smile began to form.
As quiet as he could he snuck towards the headmaster's office, hoping the aged man was unable to either detect him, or do anything to him. Luck was with him and he was out, and his target was in sight. The hat startled awake as he approached and almost screamed for help as Ranma grabbed it and placed it on his head. fortunately like the floor it was solid to him. Must be a magic thing he let himself think as he let the hat get a full load of his history and his plan.
Chuckling quietly the hat spoke softly to him, "A bit unusual and not something I should do. However, now that I have memories of the loops, I think a little chaos is in order. Concider it done."
Ranma returned the hat and let his teather release and snaped back to his mobile prision.
A moment later Dumbledore walked in, "Loops? hmm tell me hat who was that?"
Startled the hat seemed to stare at him, "You remember the loops?"
Laughing the headmaster nodded, "For a long time now, just because young Harry has most of the fun is no reason for an old man like me to ruin it. Watching him pretend he isn't looping and trying to cut off all of Voldemort's plans only to panic as things are not as he remembered it." His seemed to twinkle in amusment. "Really a looper like him should know better."
The hat laughed at that, "Really now, Harry and I thought that it was Voldemort looping. Shame I do not loop only get what people who wear me know."
Dumbledore smiled, "You still have not answered the question."
"It was Ranma, he is replacing Tom this time, looks like him too, but its Ranma alright."
Grinning the head master leaned forward, "So what is the plan?"
---
Nanoha was use to magic and so were her friends, but the excessive abuse just for a meal like this and every other one absolutely confounded her. It was like an entire world turned Magic into some sort of toy, only it was not the entire world just a small few, still her felling remained.
She watched as the Headmaster did his usual introduction, yet there was more humor in his eyes then normal, and he kept looking at her, more then she ever remember saw him looking at Harry. Not that she ended up here all that often. Still... Wait... It must be Ranma she thought. He was replacing Dumbledore. yes it made perfect sense.
Now for the sorting, she watched as names were called up. Oddly they were not in the usual alphabetical order. She watched as her friends were called, Fate to Hufflepuff, Yuuno to Ravenclaw, Chrono to Griffendor, then Hayate to Hufflepuff. Well she knew a little of the houses but she was hoping that they would all land in Griffendor. Finally it was her turn.
"Yuri Potter" She felt like bashing her head into the wall as it seemed there was some sort of translation spell in the room which changed her name to, Lesbian Potter for most. Threw the red haze her vision seemed to be clouded in she saw the head of Griffendor say something to the Headmaster who looked closer to the list seeming like he was refocusing on it. "Sorry, Lily Potter."
She ignored the laughing classmates as she marched forward and put the hat on. she was so upset she missed the mirth in its mental voice only hearing its booming fully in her ear out loud voice, "Slytherin"
Mechanically she took the hat off and marched towards her new house and away from her 'Fate' growling the entire way.
"Draco Malfroy"
She smiled a Malfroy would help her get revenge on the Griffendor headmaster, plans on how to convince the non-looper started to form only to shatter when she heard:
"Griffendor!"
---
Ranma was again outside his host and exausted as he was talking to the Headmaster. Fortunately for the pigtailed looper this meant he could do so much more to Yuri, or Nanoha rather, "Nice play with the name. I am sure I heard her grinding her teeth."
Nodding Dumbledore admitted, "The hard part was setting up the translation spell. I had to explain it was a test several times until I got it to work just right. Although I suppose that means I will need to use it again."
Ranma shook his head, "Naw that would be even worse. I say keep the senile old goat act on. I have seen it drive people crazy."
"Ohh I know that from first hand tests. Give people handles they think they can tug you around with then let go of them randomly. Its fun watching their panic."
Smiling Ranma realized his time was short, "Ok, I gotta go, now before that here are my next plans."
After listening to the pranks the Headmaster smiled, "Tough but doable. I like that one about switching the stone out, Last time I did that to Harry I used prechewed gum. I still have that memory stashed away of the look on his face."
Ranma nodded then vanished
As the old man left the room he erased the teacher's memories of his visit.
Now to convince Nanoha that Snape is awake, Anchor or no, she was a thousand years too young not to have her head messed with by her elders.
---
Snape was upset and confused by Dumbledor's order: teach the Potter girl about Occlumency while warning her about being careless and letting her Loops show.
What Loops and what would Occlumency do to hide them. He really disliked the senile acting fool. Also he was not to teach the others and subtle encourage them to learn it too?
"Blasted confusing orders."
At least he was able to mock her relationship to the other girl, 'Fate' he thought her name was. Yuri indeed.
---
Snape stalked towards his classroom, Dumbledore had come up with another odd thing for him to teach the Potter girl, and now he was noticing a pattern. Everything he was teaching her was something most students would learn anyway, and was ultimately useless. For example today he was going to teach her a potion that when taken made rain or snow or anything like that get subtly repelled, keeping you dry.
It was useless mostly, because in later years they would be taught a charm that did the same thing and didn't take an hour to prepare using obscure ingradients.
Last week it was a lesson on Wand care, and again he did not teach the charm that took care of the issue in seconds. It was taught how the Pure Bloods did it centuries ago. A way that if done right took hours.
The one thing he permitted was he would not be alone in his suffering once the girl figured it out. At least she was her mother's daughter and did not take after her father. For that he was greatful.
---
Nanoha's friends had been keeping some distance from the crazed seeming girl for the last few months. They hated giving her the cold shoulder but even Fate had to admit that anytime they hung around her she got them all into trouble, or worse embarrassed. Hayate was also sick of hearing Fate complaining about the 'rumors' about sleeping with Nanoha. Even Snape seemed in on that.
"Here she comes." Fate announced.
Sure enough Nanoha came into view growling about something none could make out.
"Look Nanoha, I know you are mad at Ranma, but he has yet to actually show himself. Either he isn't here or at this point you are not going to find him until he is good and ready. Working yourself up like this is just making it easier to frustrate you." Chrono stated, what he did not mention was he was not certain that Ranma was here at all. But he knew better then to start that arguement again. He certainly did not want to lose more points. Malfroy was bad enough with the Nanoha's Harem comments.
Nanoha glared for a moment before giving up, "You are right. Besides he has not done anything in a month. I just do not know what to do. This is why I prefer blasting my enemies on sight. It is less frustrating.
Everyone tried their best from letting their faces show their real thoughts on that.
"Nanoha started walking away, I need to go, Snape wanted to see me for something. he is such a softy"
Fate shook her head as Nanoha left, "Perhaps its something about girls named Lily. I will have to ask Harry about that next time I see him."
--
Ranma was outside his Minion talking to Dumbledor, strangely at their feet was a Troll which was knocked out. "You positive thoes potions of yours will work right? Not that I doubt your skill but Nanoha is fairly powerful in her own right."
The Headmaster nodded his head absently as he erased his co-conspitior's lacky's mind of the encounter, it was becoming more habit now, "Yes, yes, and no offence taken, I know you Anchors do not like trusting things like this without testing them yourself, but we do not have that option."
Ranma sighed, it was true, every fiber of his being wanted to test this before using it on someone. But as was said there was no real choice, it was now or never for this surprise.
---
Quirrell ran into the Dining room calling out that there was a Troll, while Fate knew this was suppose to happen she then realized that Nanoha was not in the room.
Fate managed to round up the others to go looking for her.
Yuuno looked at the others, "Look we all know where she went, and I am not going."
Chrono looked at him, "Why not?"
He shifted nerviously, "Well truth be told I was only ever good in combat with bind spells, and here I don't have that, if you are rushing off into battle I have nothing to give and would only get in the way."
Hayate nodded, she hated the logic but it was no secret that he was the only one in their group that didn't know any combat magic from this world, "Fine, but if Nanoha asks its your butt on the line."
Yuuno nodded and left, something the others would later wish they had done as well.
---
Snape paced back and forward in front of the four, "So let me see if I understand this story right. You Lily were leaving my classroom and you blacked out, you came to in the medical room and remember nothing else, despite looking like you were in a fight. Now your friends claim that they thought you ran off to fight the troll alone and went looking for you or it which ever the case may be. They found the troll and hit it with spells that they should not have even known, and after beating on it for ten minutes they claimed it turned into you. Thus your ragged appearance." After everyone nodded embarrassed, "And where is the fifth wheel, your Ravenclaw friend?"
Hayate lowered her head, "He left to study." Granted he didn't say that but this was Yuuno they were talking about.
"That was the most intelligent thing I have heard out of this entire mess. Lily because there is nothing to directly fault you in this you are free to go, and I suggest you do go, you do not want this lesson just yet." After Nanoha left he turned to the others, "Fifty points from each of you and you are all going to help fix the damage you caused. Then once it is fixed you will all share detention for two weeks for attacking another student. I have no patience for that at all, now there will be no more talk of this troll business, understood?"
---
It was now christmas and after a couple similar events only Fate took to still following Nanoha around as the others were tired of getting the sole blame for anything that went wrong.
Fate found it odd that Nanoha grew so pale and started shaking her head when they found the mirror of Erised it quickly grew worse before Nanoha shuddered.
Nanoha looked at Fate and pleaded, "Avenge me Fate-chan"
Fate looked confused as she heard an odd noise as Nanoha collapsed.
Nanoha grapled her leg from her position on the floor, "Ave-nge--me---Fate!"
Then she colapsed again shaking as Fate heard a buzzing sound.
What Fate could not see was Nanoha's still standing reflection in the mirror smirking while holding a wireless control with runes of some sort on it.
---
---
Since my writing is sometimes picked apart needlessly here are my whys on this snipit:
Originally I intended this to not include Ranma, but I encountered two problems, the first was solved, and the second, I needed someone to be in the position Ranma was in, and none of her cast was right for the job. They would empthize with the irony of her position in the original loop. I also almost did not have Hayate awake but I needed a reason for the scene switch at the end.
Here are my reasons for not using other loopers (If they are not mentioned I felt they would not pull off Zafira (or anyone else) well enough for the first few seconds, or could not pick out a suitable roll for them) or they did not occur to me.
Naruto: Not threating enough in the final role as Voldemort, he would not be happy, but lets face it revenge outside direct pranks especially without shadow clones is not his speciality. He could make Nanoha suffer, just not enough.
Sasuke: Canon Sasuke, could be a fit, but after this many loops he is more of a 'let others make the mess while I laugh at them' personality. Thus I would have to use a "fresh" Sasuke and I do not want to deal with that.
Sakura: Just no, while she is devious enough she would tear her own organization apart and be unable to focus on revenge long enough. She has a one track mind and any pranks she plays tend not to be anything but live in the moment ones. She might plan ahead some, but its more along the lines of "This might be useful later.
Ichigo: Technically even without most of his powers he does have enough experiance out of his body so it would not slow him down much without nerfing the character. so he would be even worse then Naruto as a major threat. imo (I respect the character too much to nerf him that way, Ranma at least has the excuse of it not being a native power and a power he is use to using without 'dieing' Ichigo 'dies' multiple times each loop, for him it now should be like breathing.)
Harry: Again I see no real threat, He would realize its something about his loop he may or may not have done before so I think he would just go with it.
Most female loopers: Most are of the mind set of blast it until it dies when something annoys them. Even Lina to some extent, even if she does think about what she is fighting she usually is as bad as the others for collateral damage.
-
Ranma will have her head going in circles by the time this is over. And for the sake of it I am going to say that at Future's Past Ranma and the other older Anchors have pensives and Harry is going to find this memory really interesting.
I finally am addressing something discussed when I first posted this in the Ranma section before moving it:
Not meant to be bashing. Nanoha is one of my favorite characters. I am taking a spin on 2 jokes, first is that while Loopers/Anchors tend to loop as themselves, especially in their home loop, its not always the case, and second is Anchor/looper belief that if you end a loop early you end up in a worse loop. Nanoha is getting the brunt of this, only because she did end it early, character wise she is the only one I can see hitting the Panic button so easily. Fate, Chrono, and Yuuno are too passive, and Hayate would take advantage of the situation. Although the thought of two Nanoha's might be too much for some of them. Nanoha is more typical though, I can easily see her doing it, I could also see Ranma doing it if he ended up as either of his parrents in one of his early loops. Naruto just might if he was looped as a Sakura with her canon skill limitations from academy time, if only because he would not be able to adapt to it, although if he was Sasuke I think he would take undue advantage.
So again it is not that I have anything against the Character in any way. I just initally do the two jokes. Ranma well he is here because I wanted someone to tag along and be upset about the role in the second loop and decide to prank the heck out of Nanoha. Death to loopers IS the easy way out so she will be denied that path in the Hogwarts loop.
(The Snape thing is going to end up being a long running prank on her that she will eventually figure out.)