Chapter 3: Reflection
Back At The Maxwell Mansion
Duo walks sorrowfully through the gate, leading to her home, leading the black family horse with it's reins. She looks up to see her father standing there smiling hopefully at his daughter. Seeing the hopeful smile of her father Duo covers her face with Shinigami's head and leads him to his water in his stable out in the yard. Taking of Shinigami's reins she looks at her reflection in the water and softly starts singing to herself.
//Look at me
I will never pass for
a perfect bride
Or a perfect daughter
Can it be
I'm not meant to play
this part?
Now I see
That if I were to truly
To be myself
I would break my
family's heart//
Still staring at her reflection, Duo takes of the earrings and the beads of jade her grandmother gave her. Splashing her reflection, she turns around to see her mother disappointingly explain to her father what happened. Seeing his shoulders slump at the news Duo turns around in shame. Taking the cage with her, she walks into the yard, only stopping to release a sad looking Cri-kee back into nature. Straitening she walks towards the bridge in her yard and jumps onto the railing, hopping towards the other side and jumping off.
//Who is that girl I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone
I don't know?
Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am
Though I've tried//
Staring in the pond at her reflection, she turns away swiftly not noticing Cri-kee following her all the way. Walking up the hill Duo passes 'The Great Stone Dragon', stopping for a moment laying her hand on the 'Family Protector' and continues towards the family temple. Entering the temple Duo bows and falls to her knees seeing her reflection in all the tombstones staring back at her. Not liking what she sees anymore she wipes away the make-up and releasing her hair from it's bun before bowing and leaving the temple again. She heads back into the yard and sits down on a bench under the blossom tree, who is in full bloom.
//When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?//
After awhile Father Maxwell approaches his daughter silently and clears his throat to get her attention. Duo jumped up at the noise, sees her father and turns her head away in shame while her father sits down on the bench next to her.
"My, my, what beautiful blossoms we have this year.." Started Father Maxwell looking up at the blossom tree,
"But look, this one's late. But, I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all." He pointed at the still closed blossom to show what he meant and when Duo turned understanding what her father actually meant. He picked up her little comb with the white flower and put it in her hair while they share a knowing smile.
Both their heads shot up when they hear drums start pounding announcing the arrival of Quinze and two guards on horseback.
"What is it?" asked Duo but got no answer since her father gets up and walks towards the entrance of their house with Duo silently following him. But was stopped by her mother,
"Duo, stay inside." Said Helen stopping her daughter in her tracks. Hearing her grandmother clear her throat, she looks to see her gesturing towards a couple of barrels. Crawling on top of them she looks over the railing near the wall and climbs up to watch over the roof.
"Citizens, I bring you a proclamation from the Imperial City: the Huns have invaded China!" yelled Quinze in a loud voice, while at the people who gathered broke out in a loud surprised and horrified;
"No!"
"By order of the Emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army." Continued Quinze unrolling a piece of paper with names and started at the top,
"The Xiao family..." one of the family members steps up, bows to the guard and takes the conscription notice from the guard,
"The Yi family..." continued Quinze, when Yi's Son held his old father back,
"I will serve the Emperor in my father's place." He yelled taking the conscription notice from the guards hands and turns back to his now proud father,
"The Fa Family.." Yelled Quinze and Duo let out a horrified,
"No." while her father gave his cane to his wife and walks proudly to Quinze and bows to the horsemen saying,
"I am ready to serve the Emperor." And reaches for the conscription notice while Duo runs outside to keep her father from taking the conscription notice.
"Father, you can't go."
"Duo!" yelled Father Maxwell crossly as his daughter,
"Please sir, my father has already fought bravely-" begged Duo to Quinze in vain,
"Silence! You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence." Yelled Quinze holding up his head feeling superior,
"Duo, you dishonor me." Said Father Maxwell turning away from his daughter in shame, who is being led back away by her grandmother Sally,
"Report tomorrow at the Wu Shu camp." Ordered Quinze,
"Yes, sir" said Father Maxwell proudly limping back inside refusing to take his cane back, while Quinze continues yelling out several names,
"The Chu family... The Wen family...The Chang family. The..."
******************************
Back in the house:
Father Maxwell check his old armory and takes out his sword and starts practicing his stances, while Duo looks on in silence and out of sight. When he balances on his right leg, his leg injury acts up and he falls. Duo watches in horror as he falls down and breathes heavily in fear.
Sometime later at the dinner table: Father Maxwell, Helen Maxwell, Grandma Sally and Duo eat in silence. Afraid to mention what happened that same afternoon. Outside it is heavily raining and thunder can be heard and lightning can be seen through the opaque window. Duo gets up and start pouring the tea for her family. Suddenly he slams her teacup down on the table in frustration, refusing to stay silent any longer, and stands up.
"You shouldn't have to go." Duo yelled at her father,
"Duo" said her Helen shocked at her daughters behaviour,
"There are plenty of young men to fight for China." Duo continued as if she didn't hear her mother,
"It is an honor to protect my country and my family." Answered Father Maxwell calmly,
"So you'll die for honor!" Duo said angrily
"I will DIE doing what's right." Yelled her father standing and interrupting his daughter when she began talking again,
"But if you-"
"I know my place, it is time you learned yours." Said Father Maxwell looking madly at his daughter who looks like she's about to cry. Deciding not to stick around any longer she turns away from her father and runs out the house and into the rain. While her father sits down sadly with a sigh, while Helen and Grandma Helen look at each other helplessly.
Duo runs into the yard and sits down at the base of the 'Great Stone Dragon' , rain soaking her dress. Duo looks down to see her reflection in the puddle caused by the rain. Lifting her head she watches her parents in the bedroom, Helen turns away sadly from Father Maxwell and walks out of sight while he blows out the light. Suddenly making up her mind, Duo gets up and walks to the Maxwell Family Temple. Duo's image reflects off the stone tablets as she lights incense and places it in the hanging incense holder. She bows and prays to her ancestors. Getting up, Duo hurries down the steps.
Cri-Kee sees her and hops down from above and follows her. Duo enters the house and goes to her parent's bedroom silently and takes the conscription notice replacing it with the comb, with the white flower, her mother gave to her. She pauses to give her parents a loving but sorrowful look and hurries out of the room. Duo goes to her fathers private room and opens the cabinet with her fathers old armor. Sitting on her knees she takes her father's sword, and cuts her hair short, so it comes just above her shoulders and ties it up above her head. She puts on the armor and ties it in the front. Duo takes the sword and places it in the scabbard on her left hip.
Duo goes outside and heads for the stables, opens the door just as lightening struck. Shinigami rears back in fright at the sight of Duo, thinking it's someone else. Duo walks forward and comforts Shinigami letting him know her identity. After putting on his saddle and reins Duo walks Shinigami out of the stable, Cri-Kee watches from the ground as she passes by. Duo takes one more sorrowful glance back at her parents bedroom and rides Shinigami through the gate and off to camp.
Back at the house Grandma Sally wakes up after dreaming she saw the eyes glow of one of the statues in the Maxwell Family Temple. Feeling something is wrong with Duo she runs to her bedroom to see she's gone and runs to The Maxwell bedroom and yells,
"Duo is gone."
"What? It can't be." Said Father Maxwell shocked, sitting up in bed he looks at his night stand and notices the hair comb in place of his conscription notice. Running out of bed towards his private room he checks the cabinet and sees his armor is gone. Panicking he hurries outside calling out his daughters name,
"Duo!" He stumbles while walking and falls down in the mud yelling,
"No."
"You must go after her. She could be killed!" begged Helen after joining her fallen husband,
"If I reveal her, she will be." Said Father Maxwell sadly and hugs his wife while she cries,
"Ancestors, hear our prayer: Watch over Duo" pleaded Grandma Sally to her ancestors, holding up a light,
********************************
Meanwhile in the Maxwell Family Temple.
A wind blows out the incense at the base of the centre stone, which Duo had lit only moments before. The centre stone begins to glow as Ancestor Rashid comes to Life.
"Shen-long, awaken!" demanded Ancestor Rashid loudly, waving his cane towards the incense holder, Shen-long comes to life and falls to the ground flat on his back all being obscured by smoke.
"I live! So tell me what mortal needs my protection Great Ancestor. You just say the word and I'm there." Said Shen-long, who seemed to be little red lizard but was in fact a tiny dragon, after rising from the smoke with his arms stretched,
"Shen-long!" muttered Ancestor Rashid agitated,
"Hey, let me say something. Anybody who is foolish enough to threaten our family, vengeance will be MINE. Hrrrrr." growled Shen-long, bearing his teeth and claws,
"Shen-long! These are the family guardians" said Ancestor Rashid sternly to silence Shen-long, motioning towards the stone statues on pedestals near the ceiling,
"They..." paused Ancestor Rashid waiting for an answer,
"Protect the family." Said Shen-long dejectedly,
"And you, oh demoted one." Questioned Ancestor Rashid pointing to the empty pedestal,
"I...ring the gong." Muttered Shen-long looking down,
"That's right, now, wake up the ancestors." Nodded Ancestor Rashid motioning to the other headstones,
"One family reunion coming right up." Muttered Shen-long ringing the gong,
"Okay people, people look alive, lets go! C'mon get up. Let's move it, rise and shine. You're way past the beauty sleep thing now trust me!"
"I knew it, I knew it. That Duo was a trouble maker from the start." Complained Ancestor Noin after appearing from her headstone with the other ancestors,
"Don't look at me, she gets it from your side of the family." Said Ancestor Auda looking the other way,
"She's just trying to help her father." Added Ancestor Iria,
"But, if she is discovered, Father Maxwell will be forever shamed. Dishonor will come to the family. Traditional values will disintegrate." Said Ancestor Tsuberov appearing from thin air,
"Not to mention they'll lose the farm." Yelled Ancestor Meiran
"My children never caused such trouble. They all became acupuncturists." Said Ancestor Noin proudly,
"Well, We can't all be acupuncturists." Yelled Ancestor Auda back,
"No, your great granddaughter had to be cross-dresser!" yelled Ancestor Noin madly, and then all the ancestors start arguing at once, except Ancestor Rashid who seems to be growing a headache rubbing his forehead to ease the tension,
"Let a guardian bring her back. " suggested Ancestor Iria,
"Yeah, awaken the most cunning." Yelled Ancestor Tsuberov grabbing Shen- long and bringing him next to a guardian,
"No, the swiftest." Said Ancestor Iria taking Shen-long and holding him next to the stone rabbit guardian,
"No, send the wisest." Interrupted Ancestor Meiran grabbing Shen-long and holding him next to the stone monkey guardian,
"Silence! We must send the most powerful of all" yelled Ancestor Rashid motioning to 'The Great Stone Dragon' as it is seen through the window,
"Ho, ho, heh, heh. Okay, okay, I get the drift, I'll go." Said Shen-long climbing up the empty guardian post laughing, while all Ancestors give a quick look of surprise and laugh uncontrollably,
"You all don't think I can do it. Watch this here." And produces a small flame from his mouth,
" Ah, ha, Jump back, I'm pretty hot huh. Don't make me have to singe nobody to prove no point."
"You had your chance to protect the Maxwell family." Said Ancestor Rashid grabbing Shen-long and pulling him away from the post,
"Your mis-guidance led Zechs to disaster." Yelled Ancestor Meiran motioning to Zechs, who was sitting with his decapitated head on his lap,
"Yeah, thanks a lot."
"And your point is?" muttered Shen-long folding his arms across his chest,
"The point is we will be sending a real dragon to retrieve Duo" answered Ancestor Rashid in a loud voice,
"What? But I'm a real dragon." Shocked at the 'real dragon part'
"You are not worthy of this spot. Now, awaken the 'Great Stone Dragon' " said Ancestor Rashid grabbing Shen-long and pulling him away from the guardian post again as Shen-long fights to hold on but slowly loses his grip and is thrown out of the temple.
"So you'll get back to me on the job thing." Asked Shen-long looking back into the temple from around the corner, one of the ancestor throws Shen- long's gong and hits him in the face with it.
"Just one chance is that too much to ask? I mean, it's not like it'll kill ya." Muttered Shen-long walking with a slouch and banging the gong on the ground, reaching 'The Great Stone Dragon' he rings the gong and looks at the Great Stone Dragon yelling,
"Yo rocky, wake up! You gotta go fetch Duo". Shen-long pauses as nothing happens. He slowly walks over to the side of the statue and stares upward yelling,
"C'mon boy, go get her, go on, Come on." throwing the gong stick off in the garden and whistles. When nothing happens he angrily climbs up the 'Great Stone Dragon' growling when he reaches his head,
"Grrr, Grrrr." And starts yelling in his ear and banging the ear with the gong,
"Hello, helloooooo. Hello" banging the gong extra hard against the ear causing it to break off. Panicking he tries to reattach it and mutters a "Uh oh." when he hears the statue rumbling. Then 'The Great Stone Dragon' crumbles to the ground, completely destroyed but for the head minus the ear. Reappearing from under the rocks Shen-long knocks on the dragon's head,
"Uh, Stoney, Stooooneeey. Oh man, they're gonna kill me!" said Shen-long in a panic, snapping his head around when he heard Ancestor Rashid yelling through the temple window,
"Great Stone Dragon, have you awakened?"
"Uhhh, Yes, I just woke up. And I am the Great Stone Dragon, good morning. I will go forth and fetch Duo. Did, did I mention that I was the Great Stone Dragon?" yelled Shen-long back holding the head of the Great Stone Dragon up to that Ancestor Rashid can only see it's head and Shen-longs body, waving at him,
"Go, The fate of the Maxwell Family rests in your claws." Ordered Ancestor Rashid pointing outside with his cane,
"Don't even worry about it, I will not lose face." Yelled Shen-long while he falls down the hill under the weight of the Great Stone Dragon's head and lands on the dragon's pedestal with the head falling on top of him.
"Ow, my elbow. Aw, aw, I know I twisted something." Said Shen-long his voice muffled by the head lying on top of him,
'That's just great. Now what? I'm doomed! And all 'cause miss man decides to take her little drag show on the road." Complained Shen-long after throwing the head off him. Looking up he sees Cri-kee standing on the Dragon's head chirping,
"Chirp, Chirp." Said Cri-kee (AN: I can't very well say Chirped again, can I?)
"Go get her? What's the matter with you? After this great stone Humpty Dumpty mess, I'd have to bring her home with a medal to get back in the temple. Wait a minute, that's it! I make Duo a war hero, then they'll be begging me to come back to work. That's the master plan. Oh, you've gone and done it now." Yelled Shen-long proudly at his master plan and runs off,
"Chirp. Chirp Chirp Chirp." Said Cri-Kee hopping along side of Shen-long,
"Hey, what makes you think you're coming?" asked Shen-long pushing Cri-Kee away,
"Chirp, Chirp." Answered Cri-kee back,
"You're lucky? Ho, ho, heh. Do I look like a sucker to you?" demanded Shen-long crossly,
"Chirp. Chirp." Smiled Cri-kee before hoping of in the direction Duo went,
"Whach' you mean loser? How 'bout I pop one of your antenna's off and throw it across the yard. Then who's a loser, me or you?" yelled Shen-long waving a fist and running criss-cross after Cri-kee.
*************************************
I guess that answered your questioned about how soon I would post another chapter, doesn't it Leemax? Thanks for reviewing by the way. I'll do my best to post as soon as possible but it ain't easy to do this.
Review please pretty please.
Back At The Maxwell Mansion
Duo walks sorrowfully through the gate, leading to her home, leading the black family horse with it's reins. She looks up to see her father standing there smiling hopefully at his daughter. Seeing the hopeful smile of her father Duo covers her face with Shinigami's head and leads him to his water in his stable out in the yard. Taking of Shinigami's reins she looks at her reflection in the water and softly starts singing to herself.
//Look at me
I will never pass for
a perfect bride
Or a perfect daughter
Can it be
I'm not meant to play
this part?
Now I see
That if I were to truly
To be myself
I would break my
family's heart//
Still staring at her reflection, Duo takes of the earrings and the beads of jade her grandmother gave her. Splashing her reflection, she turns around to see her mother disappointingly explain to her father what happened. Seeing his shoulders slump at the news Duo turns around in shame. Taking the cage with her, she walks into the yard, only stopping to release a sad looking Cri-kee back into nature. Straitening she walks towards the bridge in her yard and jumps onto the railing, hopping towards the other side and jumping off.
//Who is that girl I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone
I don't know?
Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am
Though I've tried//
Staring in the pond at her reflection, she turns away swiftly not noticing Cri-kee following her all the way. Walking up the hill Duo passes 'The Great Stone Dragon', stopping for a moment laying her hand on the 'Family Protector' and continues towards the family temple. Entering the temple Duo bows and falls to her knees seeing her reflection in all the tombstones staring back at her. Not liking what she sees anymore she wipes away the make-up and releasing her hair from it's bun before bowing and leaving the temple again. She heads back into the yard and sits down on a bench under the blossom tree, who is in full bloom.
//When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?//
After awhile Father Maxwell approaches his daughter silently and clears his throat to get her attention. Duo jumped up at the noise, sees her father and turns her head away in shame while her father sits down on the bench next to her.
"My, my, what beautiful blossoms we have this year.." Started Father Maxwell looking up at the blossom tree,
"But look, this one's late. But, I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all." He pointed at the still closed blossom to show what he meant and when Duo turned understanding what her father actually meant. He picked up her little comb with the white flower and put it in her hair while they share a knowing smile.
Both their heads shot up when they hear drums start pounding announcing the arrival of Quinze and two guards on horseback.
"What is it?" asked Duo but got no answer since her father gets up and walks towards the entrance of their house with Duo silently following him. But was stopped by her mother,
"Duo, stay inside." Said Helen stopping her daughter in her tracks. Hearing her grandmother clear her throat, she looks to see her gesturing towards a couple of barrels. Crawling on top of them she looks over the railing near the wall and climbs up to watch over the roof.
"Citizens, I bring you a proclamation from the Imperial City: the Huns have invaded China!" yelled Quinze in a loud voice, while at the people who gathered broke out in a loud surprised and horrified;
"No!"
"By order of the Emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army." Continued Quinze unrolling a piece of paper with names and started at the top,
"The Xiao family..." one of the family members steps up, bows to the guard and takes the conscription notice from the guard,
"The Yi family..." continued Quinze, when Yi's Son held his old father back,
"I will serve the Emperor in my father's place." He yelled taking the conscription notice from the guards hands and turns back to his now proud father,
"The Fa Family.." Yelled Quinze and Duo let out a horrified,
"No." while her father gave his cane to his wife and walks proudly to Quinze and bows to the horsemen saying,
"I am ready to serve the Emperor." And reaches for the conscription notice while Duo runs outside to keep her father from taking the conscription notice.
"Father, you can't go."
"Duo!" yelled Father Maxwell crossly as his daughter,
"Please sir, my father has already fought bravely-" begged Duo to Quinze in vain,
"Silence! You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence." Yelled Quinze holding up his head feeling superior,
"Duo, you dishonor me." Said Father Maxwell turning away from his daughter in shame, who is being led back away by her grandmother Sally,
"Report tomorrow at the Wu Shu camp." Ordered Quinze,
"Yes, sir" said Father Maxwell proudly limping back inside refusing to take his cane back, while Quinze continues yelling out several names,
"The Chu family... The Wen family...The Chang family. The..."
******************************
Back in the house:
Father Maxwell check his old armory and takes out his sword and starts practicing his stances, while Duo looks on in silence and out of sight. When he balances on his right leg, his leg injury acts up and he falls. Duo watches in horror as he falls down and breathes heavily in fear.
Sometime later at the dinner table: Father Maxwell, Helen Maxwell, Grandma Sally and Duo eat in silence. Afraid to mention what happened that same afternoon. Outside it is heavily raining and thunder can be heard and lightning can be seen through the opaque window. Duo gets up and start pouring the tea for her family. Suddenly he slams her teacup down on the table in frustration, refusing to stay silent any longer, and stands up.
"You shouldn't have to go." Duo yelled at her father,
"Duo" said her Helen shocked at her daughters behaviour,
"There are plenty of young men to fight for China." Duo continued as if she didn't hear her mother,
"It is an honor to protect my country and my family." Answered Father Maxwell calmly,
"So you'll die for honor!" Duo said angrily
"I will DIE doing what's right." Yelled her father standing and interrupting his daughter when she began talking again,
"But if you-"
"I know my place, it is time you learned yours." Said Father Maxwell looking madly at his daughter who looks like she's about to cry. Deciding not to stick around any longer she turns away from her father and runs out the house and into the rain. While her father sits down sadly with a sigh, while Helen and Grandma Helen look at each other helplessly.
Duo runs into the yard and sits down at the base of the 'Great Stone Dragon' , rain soaking her dress. Duo looks down to see her reflection in the puddle caused by the rain. Lifting her head she watches her parents in the bedroom, Helen turns away sadly from Father Maxwell and walks out of sight while he blows out the light. Suddenly making up her mind, Duo gets up and walks to the Maxwell Family Temple. Duo's image reflects off the stone tablets as she lights incense and places it in the hanging incense holder. She bows and prays to her ancestors. Getting up, Duo hurries down the steps.
Cri-Kee sees her and hops down from above and follows her. Duo enters the house and goes to her parent's bedroom silently and takes the conscription notice replacing it with the comb, with the white flower, her mother gave to her. She pauses to give her parents a loving but sorrowful look and hurries out of the room. Duo goes to her fathers private room and opens the cabinet with her fathers old armor. Sitting on her knees she takes her father's sword, and cuts her hair short, so it comes just above her shoulders and ties it up above her head. She puts on the armor and ties it in the front. Duo takes the sword and places it in the scabbard on her left hip.
Duo goes outside and heads for the stables, opens the door just as lightening struck. Shinigami rears back in fright at the sight of Duo, thinking it's someone else. Duo walks forward and comforts Shinigami letting him know her identity. After putting on his saddle and reins Duo walks Shinigami out of the stable, Cri-Kee watches from the ground as she passes by. Duo takes one more sorrowful glance back at her parents bedroom and rides Shinigami through the gate and off to camp.
Back at the house Grandma Sally wakes up after dreaming she saw the eyes glow of one of the statues in the Maxwell Family Temple. Feeling something is wrong with Duo she runs to her bedroom to see she's gone and runs to The Maxwell bedroom and yells,
"Duo is gone."
"What? It can't be." Said Father Maxwell shocked, sitting up in bed he looks at his night stand and notices the hair comb in place of his conscription notice. Running out of bed towards his private room he checks the cabinet and sees his armor is gone. Panicking he hurries outside calling out his daughters name,
"Duo!" He stumbles while walking and falls down in the mud yelling,
"No."
"You must go after her. She could be killed!" begged Helen after joining her fallen husband,
"If I reveal her, she will be." Said Father Maxwell sadly and hugs his wife while she cries,
"Ancestors, hear our prayer: Watch over Duo" pleaded Grandma Sally to her ancestors, holding up a light,
********************************
Meanwhile in the Maxwell Family Temple.
A wind blows out the incense at the base of the centre stone, which Duo had lit only moments before. The centre stone begins to glow as Ancestor Rashid comes to Life.
"Shen-long, awaken!" demanded Ancestor Rashid loudly, waving his cane towards the incense holder, Shen-long comes to life and falls to the ground flat on his back all being obscured by smoke.
"I live! So tell me what mortal needs my protection Great Ancestor. You just say the word and I'm there." Said Shen-long, who seemed to be little red lizard but was in fact a tiny dragon, after rising from the smoke with his arms stretched,
"Shen-long!" muttered Ancestor Rashid agitated,
"Hey, let me say something. Anybody who is foolish enough to threaten our family, vengeance will be MINE. Hrrrrr." growled Shen-long, bearing his teeth and claws,
"Shen-long! These are the family guardians" said Ancestor Rashid sternly to silence Shen-long, motioning towards the stone statues on pedestals near the ceiling,
"They..." paused Ancestor Rashid waiting for an answer,
"Protect the family." Said Shen-long dejectedly,
"And you, oh demoted one." Questioned Ancestor Rashid pointing to the empty pedestal,
"I...ring the gong." Muttered Shen-long looking down,
"That's right, now, wake up the ancestors." Nodded Ancestor Rashid motioning to the other headstones,
"One family reunion coming right up." Muttered Shen-long ringing the gong,
"Okay people, people look alive, lets go! C'mon get up. Let's move it, rise and shine. You're way past the beauty sleep thing now trust me!"
"I knew it, I knew it. That Duo was a trouble maker from the start." Complained Ancestor Noin after appearing from her headstone with the other ancestors,
"Don't look at me, she gets it from your side of the family." Said Ancestor Auda looking the other way,
"She's just trying to help her father." Added Ancestor Iria,
"But, if she is discovered, Father Maxwell will be forever shamed. Dishonor will come to the family. Traditional values will disintegrate." Said Ancestor Tsuberov appearing from thin air,
"Not to mention they'll lose the farm." Yelled Ancestor Meiran
"My children never caused such trouble. They all became acupuncturists." Said Ancestor Noin proudly,
"Well, We can't all be acupuncturists." Yelled Ancestor Auda back,
"No, your great granddaughter had to be cross-dresser!" yelled Ancestor Noin madly, and then all the ancestors start arguing at once, except Ancestor Rashid who seems to be growing a headache rubbing his forehead to ease the tension,
"Let a guardian bring her back. " suggested Ancestor Iria,
"Yeah, awaken the most cunning." Yelled Ancestor Tsuberov grabbing Shen- long and bringing him next to a guardian,
"No, the swiftest." Said Ancestor Iria taking Shen-long and holding him next to the stone rabbit guardian,
"No, send the wisest." Interrupted Ancestor Meiran grabbing Shen-long and holding him next to the stone monkey guardian,
"Silence! We must send the most powerful of all" yelled Ancestor Rashid motioning to 'The Great Stone Dragon' as it is seen through the window,
"Ho, ho, heh, heh. Okay, okay, I get the drift, I'll go." Said Shen-long climbing up the empty guardian post laughing, while all Ancestors give a quick look of surprise and laugh uncontrollably,
"You all don't think I can do it. Watch this here." And produces a small flame from his mouth,
" Ah, ha, Jump back, I'm pretty hot huh. Don't make me have to singe nobody to prove no point."
"You had your chance to protect the Maxwell family." Said Ancestor Rashid grabbing Shen-long and pulling him away from the post,
"Your mis-guidance led Zechs to disaster." Yelled Ancestor Meiran motioning to Zechs, who was sitting with his decapitated head on his lap,
"Yeah, thanks a lot."
"And your point is?" muttered Shen-long folding his arms across his chest,
"The point is we will be sending a real dragon to retrieve Duo" answered Ancestor Rashid in a loud voice,
"What? But I'm a real dragon." Shocked at the 'real dragon part'
"You are not worthy of this spot. Now, awaken the 'Great Stone Dragon' " said Ancestor Rashid grabbing Shen-long and pulling him away from the guardian post again as Shen-long fights to hold on but slowly loses his grip and is thrown out of the temple.
"So you'll get back to me on the job thing." Asked Shen-long looking back into the temple from around the corner, one of the ancestor throws Shen- long's gong and hits him in the face with it.
"Just one chance is that too much to ask? I mean, it's not like it'll kill ya." Muttered Shen-long walking with a slouch and banging the gong on the ground, reaching 'The Great Stone Dragon' he rings the gong and looks at the Great Stone Dragon yelling,
"Yo rocky, wake up! You gotta go fetch Duo". Shen-long pauses as nothing happens. He slowly walks over to the side of the statue and stares upward yelling,
"C'mon boy, go get her, go on, Come on." throwing the gong stick off in the garden and whistles. When nothing happens he angrily climbs up the 'Great Stone Dragon' growling when he reaches his head,
"Grrr, Grrrr." And starts yelling in his ear and banging the ear with the gong,
"Hello, helloooooo. Hello" banging the gong extra hard against the ear causing it to break off. Panicking he tries to reattach it and mutters a "Uh oh." when he hears the statue rumbling. Then 'The Great Stone Dragon' crumbles to the ground, completely destroyed but for the head minus the ear. Reappearing from under the rocks Shen-long knocks on the dragon's head,
"Uh, Stoney, Stooooneeey. Oh man, they're gonna kill me!" said Shen-long in a panic, snapping his head around when he heard Ancestor Rashid yelling through the temple window,
"Great Stone Dragon, have you awakened?"
"Uhhh, Yes, I just woke up. And I am the Great Stone Dragon, good morning. I will go forth and fetch Duo. Did, did I mention that I was the Great Stone Dragon?" yelled Shen-long back holding the head of the Great Stone Dragon up to that Ancestor Rashid can only see it's head and Shen-longs body, waving at him,
"Go, The fate of the Maxwell Family rests in your claws." Ordered Ancestor Rashid pointing outside with his cane,
"Don't even worry about it, I will not lose face." Yelled Shen-long while he falls down the hill under the weight of the Great Stone Dragon's head and lands on the dragon's pedestal with the head falling on top of him.
"Ow, my elbow. Aw, aw, I know I twisted something." Said Shen-long his voice muffled by the head lying on top of him,
'That's just great. Now what? I'm doomed! And all 'cause miss man decides to take her little drag show on the road." Complained Shen-long after throwing the head off him. Looking up he sees Cri-kee standing on the Dragon's head chirping,
"Chirp, Chirp." Said Cri-kee (AN: I can't very well say Chirped again, can I?)
"Go get her? What's the matter with you? After this great stone Humpty Dumpty mess, I'd have to bring her home with a medal to get back in the temple. Wait a minute, that's it! I make Duo a war hero, then they'll be begging me to come back to work. That's the master plan. Oh, you've gone and done it now." Yelled Shen-long proudly at his master plan and runs off,
"Chirp. Chirp Chirp Chirp." Said Cri-Kee hopping along side of Shen-long,
"Hey, what makes you think you're coming?" asked Shen-long pushing Cri-Kee away,
"Chirp, Chirp." Answered Cri-kee back,
"You're lucky? Ho, ho, heh. Do I look like a sucker to you?" demanded Shen-long crossly,
"Chirp. Chirp." Smiled Cri-kee before hoping of in the direction Duo went,
"Whach' you mean loser? How 'bout I pop one of your antenna's off and throw it across the yard. Then who's a loser, me or you?" yelled Shen-long waving a fist and running criss-cross after Cri-kee.
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I guess that answered your questioned about how soon I would post another chapter, doesn't it Leemax? Thanks for reviewing by the way. I'll do my best to post as soon as possible but it ain't easy to do this.
Review please pretty please.