Les jeux mystèrieux; The mysterious games
OK, so I screwed up. I won't tell you how, as the characters will explain it themselves.
Max: When we last left our intrepid heroine, she had narrowly escaped being arrested. However, she only is about to land in greater danger…
Jeff: Since when have you become the narrator?
Max: Be quiet. Someone has to do it.
Anne: And what danger am I heading into? I'm just visiting the Emperor.
Nick: Maybe he's a lech.
Luna: EWWWW!!! But you do have a point…
Kat: Hey! I have an objection!
Chris: What else is new?
Kat: You hush! The title of this chapter is not what it was said last chapter!
Janna: Well…Nick said it.
Nick: What? That was so not my fault!
Jeff: Yeah, sure, whatever. Let's just get on with this.
Episode 3: Uso yo! Byakko no miko desu ka? (No way! I'm…the Priestess of Byakko?)
(Imperial music plays as Anne is escorted by the two soldiers into the palace. The Palace is white, just like the rest of the city and the temple, but far more ornate than the temple was. Instead of just gold-gilded pillars, the pillars are made of what appears to be platinum. However, instead of looking tacky as most metal pillars tend to look, they actually seem to work with the white stone walls.)
Anne: Wow…this palace sure is nice looking. Florid, even.
(After what seems like an eternity, Anne and her escorts arrive at two immense doors. Two immense guards stand to either side of them.)
Guard 1: Who are you?
Escort 1: We bring important news for the Emperor.
Escort 2: This girl needs to see him, at once.
Guard 2: This girl? She looks like some filthy commoner. What business would someone like her have with the Emperor?
Anne: Excuse me? I'm…What did they say? I can't remember. Oh well. Take a stab.…the Priestess of Sadako!
Guard 1+2: …
Escort 1: Like she said!
Escort 2: The Priestess of Byakko!
(The two guards instantly freeze, shocked. They instantly bend down on one knee.)
Anne: Will you stop that? I just want to see the Emperor!
Guard 1+2: Yes, my lady!
(The two guards knock twice on the doors, and they open. The throne room is obviously designed to be intimidating to those who enter it, with a long, wide carpet leading up to the throne, which sits on a raised platform. On the throne sits a handsome man, dressed so finely that his identity could only be the Emperor. Around him are several old Chinese men who are obviously advisors. Granted, they are just standing around, not advising…Anne hesitantly walks forward, following the two soldiers, who instantly bend to one knee. Anne looks at them, and then hurriedly bows.)
Emperor: Who…are you?
Anne: He's so good-looking! I…um…your majesty…I…
Escort 1: (still bowed) Your majesty, we have brought this girl from the Byakko's Temple.
Escort 2: One of the priests there said that she is Byakko's Priestess!
(The Emperor's eyes widen. All of his myriad advisors, who are still standing around, gasp. However, none of them bow.)
Emperor: Really…is this true?
Escort 1: The pr- (The Emperor raises his hand)
Emperor: I was talking to the girl.
Anne: Wow, he's talking to me! God, I'm so pitiful… Well…I'm not really sure…the priest just said it. I don't even know what Shariyako is.
Emperor: It's Byakko. So, if you don't even know who Byakko is…where are you from?
Anne: I won't lie again! Not in front of this guy. This may sound odd, but from another world.
(The emperor smiles, and waves his hand dismissively. All of his advisors besides one file out, and the last remaining advisor bends down towards the Emperor, who whispers a few things to him. The last advisor then leaves, and the Emperor's gaze returns to Anne.)
Emperor: Not odd at all. I was just verifying that you really are who you say you are. The Priestess always comes from another world; that is how it has always happened. I trust the judgment of the priests, but I had to verify. (he turns towards one of the escorts) As much as I thank you for bringing this girl to me, it is time for you two to leave. Give the guards outside the door your names.
Escort 1+2: Yes, your majesty! (They stand up and leave quickly, leaving only Anne and the Emperor)
Emperor: Now, where shall I begin?
Anne: Maybe telling me what this Natto thingy is…
Emperor: (smiling) It's Byakko. In this world, there are four countries, Sailo, Hokkan, Kutou and Konan. They are respectively located in the West, North, East, and South. Each of them has a guardian god that watches over them; Ours is Byakko, the White Tiger. Konan's guardian is Suzaku, the Red Phoenix. Kutou's is Seiryuu, the Blue Dragon.
Anne: What about…Hokkan?
Emperor: Well…the protector of the north is Genbu…(he laughs) He is…a bit hard to describe.
Anne: Try me.
Emperor: All right…he is normally symbolized by a turtle and a snake copulating.
(Anne thinks for a moment, and then blushes. The Emperor laughs a little.)
Anne: Ah…I see. So…what do the Priestesses do?
Emperor: Ah. There is a legend, passed down from the creator of this world to the rulers of the four countries in a scroll. It should be coming to us…
(The last advisor files in, carrying a white scroll, which he hands to the Emperor. The Emperor opens the scroll as the advisor leaves)
Emperor: Here it is. This scroll is called the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho.
Anne: What??? That's what the book in the museum was called!
Emperor: Yes…that's what it's called. Are you all right?
Anne: Yes…I'm fine. It doesn't mean "Universe of the Four Gods" by any chance, does it?
Emperor: Why, yes it does. How did you know that?
Anne: Um…I have no idea! (sweatdrop)
Emperor: (Sweatdrop) I see…where were we?
Anne: The function of the Priestess.
Emperor: Ah, yes! Each of the four countries has a different scroll, telling the different stories of the Priestesses and their quests to find their Celestial Warriors.
Anne: Um…what?
Emperor: In the night sky, there exist 28 constellations, divided into four quadrants. Each of the constellations has a name, and a character associated with them. The 7 in the west belong to Byakko; they are Tokaki, Kokie, Tatara, Subaru, Amefuri, Karasuki and Toroki.
Anne: That's fascinating. Why are you telling me this?
Emperor: The seven constellations of Byakko were sent to earth and left their marks upon seven bodies. These seven stars became the Celestial Warriors.
Anne: Celestial…Warriors? What…no, who are they?
Emperor: It's more of a question of what then who, really. The seven Warriors, along with the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho, are the necessary components of the summoning ceremony.
Anne: The summoning of what?
Emperor: The summoning of Byakko, of course.
Anne: …BYAKKO??? You mean the god?
Emperor: Of course. What else would he be?
Anne: But…what does that mean? Summon him?
Emperor: In truth, nobody knows what happens when the god is actually summoned. The last summoning of Byakko was over 200 years ago. What is known is that the Priestess gains the power of the god, and is able to make three wishes.
Anne: Three wishes? Cool! And you can wish for anything?
Emperor: Anything.
(Anne imagines what she would wish for, on a sparkly background. A line of A+'s walk past her as she ushers them into a doorway. A bunch of handsome men kneel on one knee with bouquets of flowers. Anne sits in front of a mirror and snaps her fingers. Instantly she becomes…her version of beauty.)
Anne: I like this already. How do I do it?
Emperor: Well, as I said, you must gather the seven stars of Byakko.
Anne: Oh, the Celestial Warriors?
Emperor: Yes.
Anne: Wait, how do I know? Are they just random people?
Emperor: For the most part they are just regular people. However, on their bodies somewhere they have the character that is their namesake. And they have powers granted to them by Byakko.
Anne: Characters on their bodies? What does that mean?
Emperor: Exactly what it sounds like. Somewhere on their body is a white character, which is read the way their name is.
Anne: Oh, like…Tataki, or Ikuze?
Emperor: Um…yes. Like that.
Anne: Oh, I see. So I just go wander around looking for people with characters on their bodies?
Emperor: Yes, that's about right.
Anne: Sounds like a barrel of fun.
Emperor: Well, you do get your wishes.
Anne: Oh, good incentive. So where should I start? Just randomly looking?
Emperor: No, this is where the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho comes in. Seeing as the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho is actually a story of the Priestess of Byakko, you can read it, and read the story about yourself.
Anne:…What? I can read about myself?
Emperor: Yes.
Anne: But…couldn't I read ahead and know the future?
Emperor: In theory you should be able to…I never thought of that.
Anne: Yeah…I wouldn't want to read it, though.
Emperor: That's quite wise of you.
Anne: Thanks. Could I…um…have the scroll?
Emperor: Oh, absolutely. (hands the scroll to Anne)
Anne: Wow…it's so…scrolling. (looks at it) Hey! This is in Chinese! How am I supposed to read this???
Emperor: Chinese? What is that?
Anne: Nevermind…let me see… (opens the scroll and starts reading) "This is the story of a girl who gathered the seven Stars of Byakko." Oh my gosh! I can read this!
Emperor: Well, of course. You are the Priestess of Byakko.
Anne: Good point…but I still don't understand why…nevermind. I guess that I should get started finding those Celestial Warriors, huh?
Emperor: Yes, that would be a good idea. I've had my scouts looking for people with characters on their bodies for as long as I've been in power, just in case one would be born…but I have not yet found one. It is odd, as I have combed the entire kingdom for years, and now you have come.
Anne: Hmm…maybe their characters do not appear until I do?
Emperor: It would appear so…but the ancient histories speak of people who have had characters since their birth.
Anne: Oh well. I guess I'm going to have to do the work, I suppose.
Emperor: Yes, it w-
(The Emperor is cut off by a frenzied knocking on the door.)
Emperor: What do they want now? (sighs, and then speaks loudly) What is your business?
Voices from outside the door: Excuse us, your majesty, but we have found what appears to be one of the Celestial Warriors.
Anne+Emperor: What?
Annoyed male voice from outside the door: LET ME GO!!!!
Anne: That voice sounds familiar…
Emperor: Come in, then, and quickly!
(The door opens, to reveal two soldiers. They are restraining a boy who looks very familiar…)
Boy: LEGGO! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU! (he looks at Anne) Oh my god! Anne?
Anne: What…are you doing here?
-
Chris: Uh-uh. No way. This is not going to end here. It can't!
Luna: This episode was really short! Why does it have to end in a cliffhanger???
Anne: And who the heck is that guy?
Janna: Maybe it's one of us.
Max: Hm…interesting idea.
Chris: But who would it be?
Jeff: It's probably me. I would fit in best in a Chinese world.
Kat: Yeah…the rest would provoke something like "Your skin! It's…white! Or black!" Nick would work too, actually…
Anne: True. I guess we're going to have to wait until the next episode, "Eh? Byakko no shichiseishi ka?", or "Huh? The Celestial Warriors of Byakko?"
Nick: Hey! That was my line!
Janna: Seeing as your track record with names really sucks, it was a good idea to let Anne say it.
Nick: Shut up!