Chapter 6.


Inside the council chambers a large number of Amazons sat for the past three days still locked deep in their argument on whether or not they should enter the valley. At the beginning start of the council meeting a few days ago, heated debates were the mainstay of the meeting. Then on the second day, the meeting was adjourned so that everyone could calm down enough to give themselves time to think and come up with good arguments. Now, on the third day, tempers were wearing thin at this point and only needed a spark to ignite them.

Why should we even bother with magic charms to get into the valley! An Amazonian warrior named Lum-Pu yelled, while pounding her fist on the table for emphasis. Turning, the green hared Amazon bowed low to the reverend mother and continued, Your pardon honored mother if I accidentally give offence. Turning, she faced the assembled warriors again and continued in a strong tone, loud enough to carry throughout the council chambers, We are AMAZONS! We should not need magic to get into the valley to protect us! We should go in there and capture the girl without those useless magic charms!

The room erupted into loud grumbling of dissent and a few shouts echoed throughout the chamber. a voice from the back whispered heatedly, almost as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

IS SHE INSANE! and Amazon clad in a deep purple training gi yelled from the far right side of the room.

Min-Tsu rolled her eyes in exasperation. This same argument had been going on for three days straight and frankly she was getting tired of it. Sighing, she pounded her staff against the table firmly. Unfortunately, it wasn't heard over the din as someone yelled at exactly same time she struck the table.

I THINK SHE HAS A POINT! THIS IS THE MODERN AGE AND NOT THE STONE AGE! Xing-shi yelled as she agreed with her long time friend of thirty years.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC ANYMORE! A young Amazon named Tsu-fu yelled, slashing her hand in a manor that indicated that the discussion was closed.


Ti-Pei growled loudly, erupting from her seat she glared at the disbeliveers and shouted, WE SHOULDN'T ENTER THE VALLEY! XAIN-PU SHOULD LIVE IN DISGRACE SINCE SHE IS SO INCOMPETENT AND FAILED TO BRING HER HUSBAND HOME!

WHAT! You take that back, Ti-Pei! Sham-Pu screamed as she erupted from her seat; the chair fell to the floor with a loud clattering noise. The purple hared Amazon opened her mouth to start screaming obscenities at Ti-Pei when she felt a wooden staff connect with her backside quite painfully; effectively silencing her.

Ku-Lon glared at her great-granddaughter and growled a warning, Quite! This is your fault so you must sit down and listen! You're not allowed to speak!

Sham-Pu pleaded quietly, but the withering glare she received from Ku-Lon wilted her courage to ashes. Grumbling under her breath, the purple hared Amazon righted her chair and sat down while cursing quietly, Stupid bitchthat Ti-Pei has no right to judge me! Grrrrrrrr!

Tie-Pei glared at Shan-Pu, watching as she was effectively silenced by her great-grandmother. Turning, she focused her attention back towards the debate as a blue hared Amazon from her group, who went by the name of Xain-Ho pointed towards Lum-Pu and yelled, YOUR POINT ABOUT SNEEKING INTO THE VALLEY WITHOUT THE MAGIC CHARMS TO PROTECT US, LUM-PU IS TOTALLY ASSININE.NOT TO MENTION SUICIDAL!

I agree with you Xain-Ho! Lum-Pu is trying to undermine the council and our beliefs.the stupid bitch should be banished! Tie-Pei yelled with obvious malice. Ti-Pei hated Lum-Pu ever since she tried to get away with dishonoring her family by trying to lure her husband away. The tension between the two was so great that each tried to avoid the other or an all out shouting match would erupt. All who were in the council chamber knew of Lum-Pu's transgressions and secretly agreed with Ti-Pei. The room exploded in an all out shouting match when Ti-Pei's supporters rallied to her side in support. The volume level rose to a roar as each speaker began throwing insults at each other.

You Bitch! Lum-Pu yelled in furry.

Ti-Pei gasped in shocked surprise before anger overruled her better judgement, Oh yeah! Well you're a fat whore!


Lum-Pu yelled in rage before taking a deep breath and yelling the worst kind of insult she screamed, You're a husband stealer! You took my husband away from me!

Ti-Pei's eyes slitted in anger as she screamed back, HE LEFT YOU BECAUSE YOU TURNED INTO A FAT PIG!

Well you!!!

BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound shook the council chamber as Min-Tsu channeled her ki into her staff and struck the table as hard as she could. Taking a deep breath and imbuing her voice with ki she shouted, THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH!


The shouting mach was instantly silenced as everyone froze. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as the gathered Amazons dared not breathe for fear of upsetting, Min-Tsu. The reverend mother of the Amazons narrowed her eyes at the assembled gathering of her sisters and growled, "I_HAVE_HAD_ENOUGH_OF THIS USELESS ARGUING! YOU WILL ALL SHUT UP ABOUT WHO'S HUSBAND IS WHO'S AND TRY TO COME TO A DECISION ON WEATHER OR NOT WE GET THE TENDO GIRL!" Turning, Min-Tsu gripped Ku-Lon's shoulder and pointed her finger at the assembled Amazons and spoke in a deadly tone of voice used to frighten all into submission, "You will listen to what elder Ku-Lon has to say about the valley. She is the last surviving member of our tribe besides myself who has seen what resides inside of the forbidden valley with her own eyes!" Stepping back, she allowed the war leader to speak.

Ku-Lon bowed towards Min-Tsu and whispered, "Thank you honored mother." Turning, she faced the assembly and spoke in a clear tone that carried throughout the room, "I know that most of you don't believe in magic?" She paused, watching a few Amazons nod their heads in silent agreement before continuing, "I am going to tell you that magic does exist. My great-granddaughter is the proof of it! Included are the rest of the strange things I have seen in my long life. If magic did not exist, then, my great-granddaughter would not be able to turn into a cat!" Turning, she faced the Amazons who did not believe in magic and said, "If magic does not exist, then, why is a dragon living in the forbidden valley?" Whirling around to glare at the other Amazons, Ku-Lon brought her staff down on the floor with a resounding crack! "I'll tell you why.....it is because dragons are creatures of pure magic and thus cannot live if there is no magic."

Lum-Pu cleared her throat, asking for permission to speak. Ku-Lon nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Elder. If magic exists as you say then why do we need to take charms to protect us in the valley?"

"Child, there are things in the valley that could just as easily eat you alive and not think twice about it. When I was a young girl, a fire salamander found its way outside of the valley and killed one of my friends. We were able to defeat it but at a great cost.....my friend died that day." Sighing, she faced the rest of the council and replied, "On that day that my friend died....we disobeyed our elders and had strayed too close to the forbidden valley. Only the magic charms and spells hidden deep within the older warriors weapons were able to kill the fire salamander. Now, I know that we are asking you to make a decision, but it is important to our nation that we restore Sham-Pu's horror by killing the Tendo girl and bringing her wayward husband to heal or the other tribes will think that we are weak! To do this we need to enter the valley and capture that strange girl. I hope you will make the right desion. " Ku-Lon stepped out of the center of the circle and made her way back towards her seat amidst the murmuring of the assembly.


The room erupted into quiet whispering as each group tried to come to a decision. Finally after another two hours of debate, Lum-Pu and Ti-Pei stepped forward. Ti-Pei was the first to speak, We have decided that Shan-Pu should go after the Tendo girl. We do not want to appear weak to our neighboring tribes and have them think that we are getting lax. Bowing before Min-Tsu, Ti-Pei stepped back and took her seat again as Lum-Pu spoke, "We have thought long and hard on our decision and even though we do not believe in magic we think that the girl should be brought here to determine if she is the Tendo girl. Once this is done, we believe that if Shan-Pu's husband is nearby, he will surely come to her rescue. When he enters the village we can easily subdue him and force him to marry Shan-Pu in exchange for the Tendo girls life. Once he agrees, we can then use the Xang-Fan-Go technique on both of them to wipe their memories of each other and their past lives. This, will strengthen the tribe if we bring in two new members." Bowing, Lum-Pu waited as the room exploded into another violent debate on whether or not the Tendo girl should now become a new member to the tribe or if she should die.

Finally, Min-Tsu had had enough and once again called for silence, "Enough!" The room was instantly silenced by the elders shout, seeing that she now had complete control, Min-Tsu continued," I think that your idea is a valid one and I agree to this new point, Lum-Pu. However, things don't always go according to plan once you are engaged in a battle." Turning towards Ku-Lon, Min-Tsu nodded her head and spoke, "Then, it is settled, Elder Ku-Lon, you and your great granddaughter along with six of our warriors will go into the valley and retrieve the girl."

Ku-Lon bowed and replied, "Thank you. We will leave right away honored mother." Turning, she left the room with her Shan-Pu trailing behind. Shan-Pu's face, however remained impassive and didn't reveal her thoughts, "I don't care what the council says about Akane joining the tribe....for tricking me to escape...and causing me great shame.....I will kill her!"


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