Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
Luna: Oh my god…we are so dead. We're being attacked by assassins that move too fast to be seen!!!
Anne: Really! Luna can't save me this time!
Chris: Hey, excuse me. I'm here.
Jeff: You've just about finished proving your complete uselessness.
Nick: Don't worry, I'll give it my all!
Max: I believe the correct phrase is "I'll save you guys!"
Janna: Yeah, speaking of which, wasn't that last chapter's title?
Kat: Strange…these titles really suck.
Episode 10: Kokoro no tsuyosa (The Strength of the Heart)
(The gibbous moon shines into the courtyard, illuminating the plants. Nick walks between them, nostalgically. Suddenly, his head snaps bolt upright, and his eyes turn bolt to the left. His heart is beating hard enough to make his chest explode in a beautiful display of red…I mean, hard enough to feel.)
Nick: Anne? What…was that feeling…just now?
*************
(Anne jumps at the dark figure about to slash Subaru into many tiny pieces. The figure turns its head as Anne flies at it, and then moves to the right…so fast that Anne's jump not only misses, but lands right next to Subaru, face-first on the bed.)
Subaru: Who are you???
Assassin: That is not for you to know.
Anne: (sitting up quickly) But why would you want to kill me??? I never did anything to you!
Assassin: But you did. You became the Priestess of Byakko.
*************
(Tokaki teleports around the room as quickly as he can, cheek glowing white, in a desperate effort to evade the assassin.)
Tokaki: Shit! This guy is faster than I am! I can't even hit him, he moves so fast!
(Tokaki teleports outside of the room into the hallway to get a breather.)
Tokaki: Oh, duh. He may be able to move faster than I can, but I can move through walls. How long this is going to last me is beyond me, but…
(The door opens quick as a flash, and Tokaki gasps. He manages to teleport back into the room and close the door before the assassin gets in, but it comes close. The assassin starts trying to push down the door. Tokaki pushes back, and then sees something strange outside of the window; Nick.)
Tokaki: Nick?????
Tatara: Chris? What's going on??
Tokaki: There's an assassin trying to kill me! Help!
Tatara: Wow, ok!
(Tatara climbs up into the window and appraises Tokaki)
Tokaki: He's trying to pick the lock or something!
Tatara: Here, leave this to me.
(Tatara holds up his hands, and his right one glows white. From the palm of his right hand, a small green shoot springs out. It jumps onto the door, and rapidly grows into a strong netting that covers the entire door and fastens to the wall.)
Tokaki: Wow…that's cool.
Tatara: Thanks. What are we up against?
Tokaki: This is the second time assassins have attacked us; this time, they're moving faster than I can see. I can't attack them because they're too fast.
Tatara: Well, I can possibly slow them down by tangling them up…
Tokaki: And then I can kick their asses! Great plan!
Tatara: Wait, where's Anne and Luna?
Tokaki: Anne…Oh shit! They're in the next room over! I can get in, but you can't!
Tatara: If it has a window I can extend my vine and climb in.
Tokaki: Oh, smart. Let's go!
(Tokaki and Tatara climb quickly out of the window, climbing across on the rapidly-growing vines. As they peer in, they see a blood-curdling sight. Subaru is being held by one assassin, knife to her throat, while the second one holds Anne's hands behind her back and his pulling her hair up.)
Tokaki: (whisper) Oh no! Come on, let's go!
Tatara: (whisper) Ok, when I give the signal, teleport in there and kick some ass!
Tokaki: (whisper) OK!
(Tatara closes his eyes and his white symbol glows. From the floorboard, unseen to the assassins, two little green lines sprout. They quickly start growing into full-fledged vines, very quickly spreading up the assassin's legs and up their torsos. The assassins realize what is happening, and they try to escape from the vines. But it is to no avail; they are not able to move.)
Tatara: NOW!
(Tokaki smiles as his symbol begins to glow. He disappears and reappears inside the room, where the assassins are now both wrapped up in cocoons of vines. He quickly dispatches them by hitting the backs of their necks. They sink to the floor, letting Anne and Subaru go. Tatara climbs in through the window.)
Tatara: Hi everybody!
Anne: Tatara! You saved us!
Subaru: I seriously thought this was the end! They were moving too fast for me to age them!
Tokaki: Excuse me…I helped too.
Tatara: (completely ignoring Tokaki) Oh, there's no need to thank me. After all, that is my job; protecting you.
Anne: Thanks. (looks down at the assassins) So, what should we do about them?
Tatara: I was thinking I'd bury them and let the worm devour them.
(everybody laughs except for Tatara)
Tatara: What? I wasn't kidding…
Anne: But, wouldn't we want to interrogate them when they wake up?
Tokaki: Let me put it this way. If we let them live, they'll either escape and return with reinforcements, or just kill us.
Anne: But…don't we want to know who sent them???
Subaru: I'm sure that they were sent by Kutou. I mean, nobody else would want to kill you
Anne: Good point. I guess we should just dispose of them.
Tokaki: Or I could just snap their necks.
Subaru: You want to kill them???
Tatara: Um…yes?
Anne: But we…you…WE'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! We're not supposed to be killing people!
Tokaki: Would you rather they killed you?
Anne: No, but it's not like everything is kill or be killed!
Tatara: Hate to break it to you, Anne, but with an assassin, you don't have that many other options.
Subaru: Fine. Snap their necks. Just do it while we're not looking.
Tokaki: OK! (Subaru and Anne turn their heads, and two snapping noises are heard) Done!
Anne: How can you act so cheerful???
Tatara: Well, that was a job well done.
Subaru: You are gonna come with us, right?
Tatara: Yeah, of course! I just wanted to spend some time with my plants a little before I left.
Tokaki: Spend time…with your plants?!?!?!? (bursts out laughing) That's the saddest thing I've ever heard!
(Subaru hits Tokaki in the back of the head, hard)
Subaru: Insensitive idiot!
*************
(It's morning. Tatara slept in Tokaki's room, despite not having a bed. The group, now numbering four, leaves the inn after buying another horse. The ride east towards Mt. Taikyoku is leisurely and relaxing, passing through lots of plains.)
Tatara: You can tell we're getting close to Konan now.
Tokaki: Why's that?
Tatara: These green plains aren't characteristic of Sailo, which is more desert.
Anne: (remembers the vultures) Yeah, he's right. There was a desert west of Shijuen.
Subaru: Hokkan is colder, right? Being northward and all?
Tokaki: Maybe. Obviously I've never been there.
Tatara: That's what I hear…that would be horrible…nothing growing…(shudders)
Subaru: What's with you and growing things lately???
Anne: I thought you hated gardening and all that before this.
Tatara: Dunno…I guess…(beautiful string music plays, as the background becomes yellow with flowers and bubbles) I've realized my passion for all growing things!
(Tokaki, Subaru and Anne rip down the flowery background in SD.)
Tokaki: What the heck was that????
Tatara: Sorry…I had a moment.
*************
(The darkened pentagram room)
Person 1: (older masculine voice) Your assassins have returned?
Person 2: (silky feminine voice) …no.
Person 4: (younger masculine voice) What? How could they have not returned? That's so weird…
Person 1: You do not mean to say…that they have failed?
Person 2: Yes, that is what appears has happened.
Person 1: Then, that means you have failed.
Person 3: (smooth masculine voice) No! This was not her fault! The assassins she sent would have been adequate!
Person 5: (younger feminine voice) Would have been…if not what?
Person 3: My agents tell me that a third Celestial Warrior now rides with the Priestess. He apparently has powers of nature. He was uncalculated for!
Person 1: And that is an excuse?
Person 2: I did not know that the Priestess had a third guardian when I sent out my assassins! It is not an excuse; it is the truth.
Person 1: I see. Then it truly was not your fault. But this is still the second time we have failed at killing the Priestess. Continual tries may just end in continual failure.
Person 4: Wait…so we're just gonna give up???
Person 1: No, that would spell our end. We must think of another way to foil the Priestess's efforts.
(there is silence for a while)
Person 5: I believe that I have an idea.
Person 2: Yes?
Person 5: You said that the Priestess only has three Celestial Warriors as of now.
Person 3: That is correct.
Person 5: So that means that four more are currently wandering the country of Sailo.
Person 2: Yes…and your point is?
Person 5: What if…instead of trying to attack the Priestess with her bodyguards…what if we attacked the lone Celestial Warriors?
Person 1: I understand what you are saying…attack the single four instead of the grouped four…that would be a good course of action if we knew where the other four are.
Person 3: I can have my scouts on it, if this is the best course of action.
Person 2: And once his scouts find the Celestial Warriors and analyze them, I will send out specially chosen assassins and destroy them.
Person 1: Then we are agreed. Is there any more news?
Person 3: Yes, there is something. The Emperor of Kutou appears to have sickened.
Person 4: Sickened??? What does that mean?
Person 3: It is quite strange. My agents in the palace do not understand it themselves. Two days ago, the Emperor collapsed, as if under extreme stress. He has been confined to his bed since then, and his condition has not yet begun to improve.
Person 2: Do you suspect poison?
Person 3: No. I have kept constant surveillance on the Emperor since the start of the war, and nothing that resembles poison has passed through his lips.
Person 1: Then what could be the cause? And does it appear serious?
Person 3: I do not know. I will continue to monitor his condition.
Person 5: Good. Then, in that case, let us pray.
*************
(Anne, Subaru, Tokaki, and Tatara have traveled for a few days, and finally they can see mountains in the distance. Their horses stop for a rest on the crest of a hill. Below, a forest stands between them and the mountains)
Anne: Finally! Mt. Taikyoku!
Tokaki: Technically, we don't know which one is Mt. Taikyoku, or if we can even see it…
Subaru: You're ruining the triumphant moment!
(Tatara is looking through the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho)
Tatara: Hmm…it's talking about us cresting the hill and resting our horses. (looks around) Why, will you look at that?
Anne: Brilliant. We already knew that the book told the truth. What else does it say?
Tatara: Let me see…ok, it mentions the forest, and going through it…hey, that's odd.
Subaru: What? Let me see.
(Subaru takes the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho and scans it)
Tatara: See that character after "forest?"
Subaru: Huh? It says "trial."
Tokaki: Like, with a jury and judge?
Tatara: (goes SD and whaps Tokaki with a gavel) Idiot! Like a test of sorts!
Anne: What could it mean by that?
Subaru: Dunno…guess we'll have to just head into the forest and see.
Tokaki: I hope it's not a written test…I hate tests…
(This time, Subaru, Tatara AND Anne hit Tokaki)
*************
(The mountain pavilion. The OLD woman looks into the mirror, where Anne and the Warriors ride into the forest.)
OLD Woman: So…the Priestess of Byakko has finally made her way to Mt. Taikyoku. It appears that I am going to have to test them…
(The woman raises her finger, and another mirror floats up from a shelf. The woman begins to chant.)
OLD Woman: (chanting) Ashita tenki ni nare…Bosan go e o koi da!
(The mirror starts to spin around, faster and faster, and then vanishes.)
*************
(The four friends are riding towards the forest, as the sky suddenly clouds over)
Anne: Aw, shoot…it's got all cloudy.
Tokaki: You think that it's going to rain?
(As Tokaki speaks, a clap of thunder sounds and the heavens open, dropping torrents of rain upon their heads)
Subaru: Cloudburst! We should make for the trees!
Tatara: I like rain; it's good for the flowers.
Tokaki: MY HAIR IS GOING TO GET WET!!!!
Anne: Your hair is too curly to be ruined by rain! Everybody else has to worry!
(The four ride quickly for the trees, and they get into the trees before they get too wet. It's a lot dryer with leaf cover.)
Subaru: Ahh…that's better.
Tokaki: Ok, so let's keep on going! A little rain won't spoil our day!
Tatara: That was a quick change of opinion.
Anne: Wait…is it really such a good idea to stay near trees in a lightning storm?
Subaru: Don't worry. Even if the lightning strikes you instead of the trees, I'll heal you.
Anne: Thanks. That makes me feel SO much better.
(The four keep on riding. The thunder is getting closer. In a moment, a sound like an explosion sounds near them)
All: AAAAHHHHHH!!!
Tatara: What was that????
Tokaki: That was lightning!!!!
Subaru: OK, I changed my mind…This was a bad idea.
(As if on cue, the group feels a sort of charge in the air, causing the hairs on the backs of their necks to stand up, cliché'dly. An instant later, there is an extremely loud boom and a huge flash of light…)
*************
(Anne opens her eyes hesitantly, only to get water in them. She sits up, and looks around. It is still raining, and she is lying alone among the trees.)
Anne: Whoa…what happened? Did lightning strike us??? Where is everybody?
(Anne gets up and scans her surroundings. Surprisingly, she sees a lot of trees.)
Anne: Hello????? Tokaki!!!!! Subaru!!!!! Tatara!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!! ANYBODY!!!!!
This is really not good…
(Anne shrugs and begins to walk among the trees. She is now completely wet, and rather cold. She keeps on walking, shivering and calling out every few minutes for everybody…but nobody answers.)
Anne: Where is everybody…
Woman's voice: Priestess of Byakko!
(Anne's head perks up and she looks up)
Anne: What? Who said that?
Woman: Priestess of Byakko!
Anne: What? Who are you?
Woman: You wish to find your friends?
Anne: Yeah, of course…wait! What's going on?
Woman: You will soon find them…but this is my test. If you really are the Priestess of Byakko…break my spell! Show me the strength of your heart!
Anne: What??? Where are you? Show yourself!!!
(Anne strikes a fighting pose as she looks around. However, nobody is there. Anne relaxes, then shakes her head.)
Anne: That was really odd… "Show me the strength of your heart???" What a weird thing to say…
(Suddenly, Anne hears some voice far away, over the rain)
Voices: ANNNE!!!
Anne: That's them! HELLOOOOO????
Voices: AAAAANNNNNNNEEEE!!!!!
Anne: I'M OVER HERE!!!!!
(Anne walks towards the voices, and then starts running, hearing them call again. Soon she draws closer to them, and then she sees them through the trees)
Anne: You guys!!! I was so worried!
(Subaru turns around to look at Anne, and screams. Tatara and Tokaki turn and look as well, and their eyes widen)
Tatara: Oh my god…what is that thing?
Anne: What??? What are you guys talking about?
Tokaki: It…it spoke in Anne's voice!
Subaru: Wha….what did….you do with Anne???
Anne: Hello! It's me! Anne! What's wrong with you guys???
(The three slowly back away from Anne)
Tatara: Stay…stay back!
Subaru: …yeah! D-don't come any closer!
Tokaki: I'm warning you…I'll hurt you!
Anne: What's going on??? Why are they so scared of me?
Jeff: What a fascinating question.
Chris: We would love to answer that question, but if we did…
Kat: We would have to kill you.
Luna: Sorry.
Max: Um…who are you talking to?
Janna: It's the hypothetical reader.
Anne: Yeah, like anybody would ever really read this.
Nick: Wait. If a story is written…but nobody reads it…does it really exist?
Chris: Quit the Zen crap. The next chapter is called "Sasayaite yo, sotto ni."
Janna: Or, "Whisper, softly."
Kat: What a pretty name for a chapter.
Max: Why the hell would anybody in their right mind name a chapter something so pansy????
Jeff: Have you ever seen Fushigi Yuugi???