Les jeux mystèrieux; The mysterious games
From now on, I'm not going to put intros unless there is something important to be said. That being said, I won't say anything. Sigh.
Max: Anne has gotten out of the frying pan and into the fire. After narrowly escaping the clutches of the evil Emperor and just missing landing in jail, our heroine is now on the run, trying desperately to escape from unknown enemies that plague her.
Kat: What are you talking about?!?!?!?
Luna: None of that is happening!!!
Max: Well soooory for trying to liven this story up a bit.
Nick: Livening a story up is one thing. BLATANTLY LYING is a whole different thing!
Janna: Besides, I don't wanna hear Max blab. I wanna see what's going to happen!
Jeff: Hey, if nothing else, Max is good for comic relief.
Anne: Yeah, relief in an extremely non-relieving sense.
Chris: Brilliant, Anne, absolutely brilliant.
Episode 4: Eh??? Byakko no shichiseishi ka? (Huh? The Celestial Warriors of Byakko?)
(The Emperor stares at the boy, who is struggling to get out of the guards's grip, surprised that they have found a Celestial Warrior so quickly. Anne stares at him as well, but for a completely different reason.)
Anne: CHRIS?????
(Yes, it is Chris, and he is struggling with the guards. And yes…that would also mean that he is a Celestial Warrior.)
Emperor: You know this person?
Anne: Of course! He was-No! That might be a bad idea to tell about him. Um…nevermind how I know him! He's a Celestial Warrior! That's all that matters!
Emperor: Yes, that is true. Unhand him at once.
Soldier 1: But…Emperor, he was brought to the palace originally to be thrown in jail!
Soldier 2: He is a criminal!
Anne: What?
Chris: Don't listen to them! I didn't do anything!
Soldier 1: In my opinion, stealing from several places and then assaulting an old woman does not qualify as "not doing anything."
Anne: You ASSAULTED an old woman????
Chris: No! I would never do that! I accidentally bumped into her while running from these guys! And the stealing was petty theft! It was only like, a bun and some water!
Soldier 2: You stole a book as well.
Chris: I didn't steal that! This woman just gave it to me!
Soldier 1: A likely story. Anyway, those other items make you a thief.
Anne: Can't argue with that.
Chris: You're taking their side???
Emperor: Unhand him! I have ordered you twice now! And then leave us.
(The soldiers instantly release Chris, who moves away from them quickly. The soldiers quickly leave the room, loath to displease the Emperor.)
Emperor: It is quite lucky to find a Celestial Warrior in Shijuen of all places…although why he was not found earlier is confusing.
Anne: I wouldn't worry about it.
Chris: Celestial Warrior??? What the heck is going on?
Anne: It's a bit complicated. Let's see. We're in another world, most likely the world of the Shi Jen Ten Chi Sho.
Chris: The….WHAT??? You mean that boo- (Anne clamps her hand
over Chris's mouth.)
Anne: (whispering) Don't say anything. He doesn't know. (talking) Listen,
Emperor…could we two talk somewhere that's not here? Not like we mind if you're
here or anything, but…
Emperor: No, I understand. I will have an advisor take you to a room where you will not be disturbed.
(The Emperor motions with his hand, and another old man steps out from the shadows.)
Emperor: Please, take the Priestess and this boy to a private room.
Chris: That sounds really wrong.
Anne: Hush!
Emperor: Just return to this throne room when you are done talking. I will make the proclamation that the Priestess of Byakko has come to save us.
Anne: Sure.
(The old man beckons, and walks into one the doors behind the curtains. Anne and Chris follow as he walks down hallways, turning left, right, going straight, left, straight, left, right…after a while, he stops in front of a door.)
Old Man: Please use this room to talk. When you are finished ring the bell inside the room and I will return.
(The man walks away. Anne and Chris look at each other, and then shrug and walk inside.)
(The room is a very nice looking guest room, with a large canopy bed and a desk with two chairs. Anne sits down in one, sighing at finally being able to sit down. Chris follows her suit, albeit slowly)
Chris: So what the heck is going on??? I am so confused.
Anne: Well…it's a bit complicated. I'm not sure if I understand myself. Basically, I think we're in the world of the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho.
Chris: The what?
Anne: The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. You know, the book in the museum?
Chris: The book…from the MUSEUM???? What are you talking about???
Anne: I'm serious…remember what the book said? "The story itself is an incantation, and those who finish reading it will receive the power. As soon as the first page is turned, the story will become true and begin."
Chris: What's that supposed to mean?
Anne: (falls off her chair) It's OBVIOUS!!! That book was some kind of Chinese magical spell, and we were sucked into it or something.
Chris: Wow…this is too weird…and how am I supposed to believe this? I mean, inside a BOOK?
Anne: There really isn't any other explanation for it…
Chris: Oh…now I see why you didn't want me to talk about it earlier. It might be sort of a shock to find out that you're a character in a book.
Anne: True…
Chris: So wait. How are we supposed to get home?
Anne: I'm not sure…but I have an idea.
Chris: And…that would be…???
Anne: I'm just about to tell you! Like, apparently there is this legend in this world, about a girl from another world who will come and save this country in a time of great need. So…I think that's me.
Chris: Really? Cool! But…how does that help us?
Anne: Well, see, there are four countries in this world, each governed by a guardian god. I forgot the names of the other four gods, but the one that protects Sailo, this country, is called Byakko and is a white tiger.
Chris: Like the one you saw in the museum???
Anne: I think so. Anyways, each god holds dominion over a quadrant in the sky. The sky is divided into 28 constellations, and each god has seven constellations that belong to them. These seven have names, and each has a character associated with them.
Chris: That's fascinating.
Anne: Wait! I'm just about to explain why this is important. See, the Priestess of a god, who happens to be me, has the duty to find the seven people who have the marks of her god on their bodies.
Chris: Wait…you mean, like me? That's what they were talking about!
Anne: Yes! And so the Priestess has to find these seven Celestial Warriors, and then when she does she can summon the deity!
Chris: Cool!!!!…what does that do?
Anne: (falls off chair again) Well, the deity grants the Priestess three wishes.
Chris: Like…the genie from Aladdin???
Anne: Yes, like the genie from Aladdin. And that's how I think that we can go home, by using one of the wishes.
Chris: Ah…that's smart. But…why were you…no, we summoned here anyway?
Anne: Hm…good question. I should ask the Emperor.
Chris: Yeah, that's true. Hey, do you know what these Celestial Warriors do?
Anne: Um…they're supposed to have magic powers…
Chris: MAGIC POWERS??? SWEEEEEET!!!! What's mine?
Anne: How should I know?
Chris: Arrrgh…I don't even know where my character is…
Anne: You don't???
Chris: Nope. I don't know how those soldiers knew that I had a character on me. I can't see it.
Anne: Hm…maybe it's somewhere you can't see, like on your neck or forehead.
Chris: True. Hey…how many Celestial Warriors are there?
Anne: Seven.
Chris: Wait…(mumbling to himself) Me, You, Nick, Janna, Max, Jeff, Kat, Luna…hey, we are eight! You don't think that we…
Anne: We're all in the book??? And you guys are all Celestial Warriors??? Gosh, I didn't think of that.
Chris: Yeah. I don't know if I'm right, but it sure works out that way.
Anne: That would be hilarious!
Chris: Heh…we should go ask the Emperor why you were summoned.
Anne: Ok. Where's that bell…
(Anne looks around. There is a bell on the bedside table.)
Anne: Here it is. (rings the bell.)
(Instantly, the door opens to reveal the old man.)
Old Man: Ready? Follow me.
Anne: (whispering) You think he was eavesdropping on us?
Chris: (whispering) Maybe.
(The old man once again leads the pair through the maze of hallways to get back to the throne room. The Emperor is talking to somebody when they return to the throne room, but he instantly dismisses him as Anne and Chris enter.)
Emperor: Thank you. You may leave now. (turns to Anne) Was your talk informative?
Anne: Yes, quite.
Chris: Hey, I gotta question for ya.
Anne: Chris! Be more polite! He's the Emperor!
Emperor: (laughing) No, go ahead.
Chris: Well…I was wondering why Anne was summoned to this world. Like, it's cool to be a Priestess and all, but…
Emperor: No, I understand completely. The Priestess is only summoned when the country is in great danger.
Anne: Sailo is in great danger???
Chris: Seeing as you're here…
Emperor: At the moment, the country to the east, Kutou, has sent its armies over our borders. We are powerless in comparison to their immense armies, and to send our forces out against them would be a futile waste of life.
Anne: But don't you have to try?
Emperor: Yes, in most circumstances, and I would have had you not appeared…but now, we have salvation, in the form of the Priestess.
Chris: Wait…how is she going to save you guys?
Emperor: Why, to use one of her wishes to protect Sailo from Kutou, of course.
Anne: Oh…that works. Shoot, one wish down the drain. So, am I just going to go find the next Celestial Warrior now?
Emperor: First I must make the Royal Proclamation, announcing your arrival…but I think that there is another place you should head to first.
Anne: And that would be…
Emperor: Mt. Taikyoku, in the center of the world.
Chris: Cool name…why would we want to go there?
Emperor: Taiitsu-kun, the creator of this world and the person who gave the first Emperor the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho lives there. She has helped several Priestesses in the past, and would be a good place to start looking.
Anne: Hm…good idea.
Chris: Wait, how long ago did the last Priestess of Byakko come to this world?
Emperor: About 200 years ago.
Anne: Wow…she must be old.
Emperor: Well, she did create the world…any more questions?
Chris: Nope.
Emperor: Well, in that case, follow me. I will make the proclamation, and then send you on your way with supplies for your journey.
(The Emperor snaps his fingers, and a young advisor runs forward. The Emperor whispers a few words, and the young man runs back through one of the doors. The Emperor walks down the carpet in front of his throne towards the doors, and pushes them open. Anne and Chris trot quickly after him as he walks down the halls. He walks up a flight of stairs, and then through more halls.)
Anne: (whispering) Think we're close?
Chris: (whispering) No.
(The Emperor finally stops at an archway that leads outside, and imperiously walks out of it.)
Emperor: Flank me.
(Anne moves to his right and Chris moves to his left. The Emperor walks out of the archway onto a balcony. Thousands of people are clustered in the square below.)
Anne: Wooooooow…
Chris: There are so many people…
Emperor: People of Sailo! I bring to you wondrous news! This girl came to me today, and she is the one who will bring peace to Sailo! She is the legendary Priestess of Byakko!
(The entire crowd roars, cheers and sorta just shouts. Anne is dumbfounded. Chris, however…)
Chris: (waving his hand and crying) Thank you…thank you so much…
Anne: YOU IDIOT THIS ISN'T MISS CONGENIALITY!!!!
Emperor: She has so far found one of the Celestial Warriors, Tokaki! She has six more to go, and then she will bring peace to Sailo and drive back the invaders!!!!
Chris: To..kaki? Is that my Celestial Warrior name?
Anne: Guess so…
Emperor: Let us welcome her, for she is our savior!!!
(The crowd cheers again)
Anne: That sounds kinda blasphemous…
Chris: Hey, there's no Christianity here. No worries.
(The Emperor moves away from the balcony, as do Anne and Chris.)
Emperor: All right. Can you ride horses?
Anne: Yeah.
Chris: Yes…sorta.
Emperor: That's fine. You'll learn fast. Follow me down to the stables and we'll get you outfitted.
(The Emperor once again leads Chris and Anne through the endless hallways, and down another flight of stairs. Eventually, he gets them to the stables, where two good-looking horses calmly stand, saddlebags full.)
Emperor: Here you are. All the supplies you need are inside, along with plenty of ryo, enough to last you for weeks, easily. If you need to refill, you are always welcome back in the capital, but I hope that the next time you are back it will be with the seven Celestial Warriors.
Anne: Don't worry; I'll find them and bring them back for the ceremony.
Emperor: Good. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.
Chris: Thanks for all the stuff…and for not sending me to jail.
Emperor: Of course! How could I send one of Byakko's Celestial Warriors to jail?
Chris: Oh, duh…
Anne: Well, thank you for everything, and next time I see you, I'll have found the seven Warriors! (she mounts up gracefully, followed by Chris, who does not do it quite so gracefully.) Goodbye!
Chris: See ya!
(The two ride off on their horses as the Emperor watches them go.)
Emperor: Good luck, Priestess…our fate lies in your hands…
*************
(It's nearing evening, and the horses are getting tired. Anne and Chris have
been riding for most of the day, only stopping to eat lunch. They are passing
through a forest, and they have found a nice spring. The horses have stopped to
drink, and Anne and Chris are sitting by the spring, watching the horses.)
Anne: So…do you suppose that this whole adventure is fate?
Chris: Yeah…I guess…wait! Fate!
Anne: That rhymes!
Chris: No! Hold on!
(Chris gets up and runs to the saddlebags. He quickly rummages through them, but doesn't find what he's looking for.)
Anne: What are you doing?
Chris: Looking for my book…I can't find it.
Anne: What book?
Chris: The one that the soldiers thought I stole.
Anne: You stole a book???
Chris: No! I woke up in this alleyway, and then this old woman was standing there. She mumbled all this nonsense about "The destiny of stars", "Possession's price" and "Kinship's dissolution." I was confused.
Anne: Wow…that does sound odd.
Chris: Yeah! And then she thrust this book into my hands and ran. It was this strange name…I forgot what it was called, but the author I remember…it was like, "Einosuke Okuda" or something like that.
Anne: Strange…and the soldiers thought you stole it?
Chris: Yeah! I can't understand where it went though…
Anne: Oh well, it's probably not very important.
(As Anne stops talking, there is a rustling in the bushes. Instantly, the horses stop drinking, and look up in fright.)
Chris: Huh? What's going on?
Anne: I'm not sure…but it doesn't look good. The horses look like they're about to bolt or something.
(Suddenly, out of the bushes, a large group of men rush towards Chris and Anne. They look mad, and are dressed in blue armor)
Anne+Chris: AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Janna: NOT AGAIN!!!!
Kat: What is it with this story and cliffhangers???
Chris: Gawd!
Luna: Why the heck would Chris and Anne be attacked by random soldiers, anyway?
Nick: I wanna come into the story!!!
Max: I'm sure you're going to come in last, Nick.
Anne: I bet you we're going to die.
Jeff: Heh, I guess we have to keep waiting for the next chapter, "Ooki na Chikara," or "The Tremendous Power."
Chris: I hope the Tremendous Power belongs to me…