Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
Nick: Last episode, we found the fifth Celestial Warrior!
Kat: Of course, she's in a coma.
Janna: WHY AM I IN A COMA????
Max: Well, you were poisoned…
Luna: This story is so happy.
Jeff: It is! At least there's some way to cure her.
Anne: Yes…we don't exactly know what that way is, but we're about to find out.
Chris: Maybe they'll be some fighting in this episode.
Episode 14: Seifuku o hajimarimashou!
(The four Warriors and Anne stand in front of the altar to Janna's motionless body. The nun stands at the door to the masole- I mean, room.)
Karasuki: Tell us where the town is, and who the healer is.
Woman: The town is about 2 hours ride north of here; it is called Xizhou. The man is my uncle. He is a healer of large talent; he can heal just about anything.
Tatara: Yes! Janna's not going to die now!
Tokaki: All we have to do is go get this guy and he can heal Janna!
(Tokaki and Tatara go SD and jump up and down)
Woman: I said that the town was occupied by Kutou's soldiers.
Tatara+Tokaki: OHHHH NOOOO!!!!
Subaru: Well…it looks like we have no choice. We have to go and find your uncle.
Woman: Listen, my family lives there. If you can find the house, it can serve as a safe haven for you five.
Anne: Where is it?
Woman: The town is medium-sized; my family's house is in the southern part of the city. The address is 39 Dohsi Road.
Subaru: All right, thank you. Is there anything you'd like us to tell your family?
Woman: Um…nothing more than that I'm doing fine.
(The group moves to leave)
Karasuki: Wait! What's your name?
Woman: My name? Oh, yes. I am Jie Da.
Tatara: Thanks for all your help!
Tokaki: We'll be back…hopefully.
*************
(The group rides north as quick as they can, passing through small towns and asking the whereabouts of Xizhou. In about an hour and a half, they pass through a small town.)
Subaru: Excuse me, ma'am, but how far are we from Xizhou?
Old Woman: Xizhou…it's a 15-minute ride north. But this town is the last town before Kutou's territory…I tell you, war is horrible.
Anne: Well, we're going to Xizhou anyways. Where exactly are the soldiers?
Old Woman: North of here! Where else would they be? My son went out hunting yesterday, and got stopped and sent home only 15 minutes away from here! These soldiers need to get out of our country, and fast!
Tokaki: Um…thank you.
Old Woman: Who are you young people, anyways? Going into enemy territory with no regard for your own safety? I tell you, children these days…
Tatara: We have to go…
Old Woman: No, don't go! You'll only waste your lives away! You five are the age of my grandchildren! Turn back!
Karasuki: Actually, we're Celestial Warriors of Byakko. And we really must go.
(The five ride off as the woman looks after them, astonished.)
(In about five minutes, the group stops as they see people on the horizon. The shapes are getting closer, so the group gets off the road quickly)
Anne: Oh, no! Are those soldiers?
Tatara: Do you want to find out?
Subaru: Actually, we should scout. Karasuki, can you scry around?
Karasuki: Yeah, I could. Lemme get the mirror.
(Karasuki pulls out his mirror, and places it on the ground. He closes his eyes, and his Celestial symbol glows.)
Karasuki: "Soldier near and soldier far, show us where you patrolling are!"
Tokaki: His rhyming is getting worse.
Anne: (smacking head) No! Must not give in to poetic license! Stay strong!
(The mirror glows white instantly, without even effort from Karasuki. The five are shown, and then the mirror rapidly zooms out. There are a few soldiers about a mile away, but other than that no soldiers stand between them and the town. The town is about two miles north. Karasuki opens his eyes)
Karasuki: Well, I think the only ones are the ones we saw, and we can avoid those pretty easily.
Tatara: OK, let's go then. It's getting late.
Subaru: If by late you mean around 2:30 in the afternoon.
Tatara: Shut up!
(The group stealthily rides north, avoiding the small band of soldiers. In a few minutes, the town of Xizhou comes into view. The group crouches behind some bushes and watches the main gate to the town being patrolled by two guards.)
Anne: Great…what are we going to do now?
Tatara: Um…I could tie up the guards and then we just walk through?
Subaru: Too conspicuous. We need a distraction.
Tokaki: Well…I can teleport faster than they can see, so I can easily get past them.
Karasuki: That takes care of you, but we're still out here!
Tatara: If we can lure a guard away from the gate, I could provide a distraction…
Subaru: …and then the other guard would go away from the gate…
Tokaki: …and I could teleport in and open the gate…
Anne: And then we walk through!
Karasuki: That plan SUCKS. How are we going to avoid being seen???
Tatara: Seriously, if I stage a plant attack, then they won't be killed, they won't be believed and they won't be able to see us!
Subaru: I hate to say it, but I think you're right.
Tatara: What do you mean you hate to say it???
Anne: So, now that we've decided, how are we going to lure a guard away?
Tokaki: Leave that to me. I'll just flash in and out of view until somebody comes to look, and then…
Tatara: (big chomping motion with arms) Crunch!
Karasuki: Um…sure. I hope this works.
Tokaki: Don't worry. It will. Be ready, I'm going.
(Tokaki's cheek glows, and he disappears. A ways away, he reappears for a second, then disappears. This continues until one of the guards starts looking over towards him suspiciously. The guard taps the other, and motions toward where Tokaki is now blinking quicker. The two cautiously walk towards Tokaki's general direction.)
Subaru: Ooh, great! They're both going!
Tatara: Ok, let's do this!
(Tatara closes his eyes, and his hand glows a pearly color. As the soldiers creep rather unstealthily towards Tokaki, the ground below them erupts in a sea of green. The many vines fly out of the ground, ensnaring the now-screaming soldiers. In about 5 seconds, they have become green viny cocoons.)
Karasuki: Well, I'll be. It worked.
(Tokaki finally reappears, and gestures for the group to come. The other four leave their bushy hideout and walk quickly to the gate. In a moment, the gate slides open, thanks to Tokaki.)
Anne: Great! We're in! Now, to find Jie Da's family!
Tokaki: (closing the gate) Um…this won't be easy.
Karasuki: Um…hello? (pulls out the mirror)
Tokaki: Oh. Nevermind.
Anne: We gotta watch out for soldiers too. This place is occupied, after all.
Subaru: OK, me and Tokaki will keep watch. You guys scry.
Tatara: You? I'm far better in a combat situation than you are!
Subaru: Excuse me, my power is far more deadly than yours!
Tatara: But you can't use it without fainting!
Subaru: Well-
Anne: Both of you, stop! Tatara and Tokaki, keep the watch. Subaru, stay with us.
Subaru: But…fine.
Tatara: (sticks out tongue as he walks away)
Karasuki: (laying mirror on ground) "Family near, family far, show me the home of Jie Da!"
Subaru: Tokaki was right…his poems are getting worse.
(The mirror shows the five, and then zooms out to the southern part of the city. A small house in a quiet street is shown)
Karasuki: There we go, it's fairly close.
Tokaki: Yes! We ride!
Subaru: Except…not.
(The five head for the house. The city is completely void of life, except for the occasionally tumbleweed. The city is not as small as Jie Da told them; it's actually quite large, with a palace in the center that dominates the view. Every once in a while, the group sees a few soldiers patrolling, but they're able to hide themselves each time. After about half an hour of stealth, the five arrive at the house.)
Tatara: We're here!
Anne: What now?
Karasuki: A knock would be customary.
(With a scowl at Karasuki, Anne knocks three times on the door. Nobody answers.)
Anne: Well, that worked.
Tokaki: HELLO???
Subaru: IDIOT! You're going to alert every soldier in the city to our whereabouts!
(The door, surprisingly, creaks open a few inches)
Old Man's voice: Who are you?
Tatara: Um…we're travelers, and your daughter referred us to you…
Old Man: Travelers??? This city is occupied! You're obviously lying, go away!
Anne: No, I am the Priestess of Byakko, and we are on a very important mission!
Old Man: Priestess…of Byakko??? Are you lying to me?
Subaru: No, it's the truth. She's the Priestess, and we're her Warriors.
Old Man: Well…I'll believe you this time. Come in, but be quick about it!
(The door opens, to reveal a surprisingly large house. An old woman sits in a chair, sipping tea. The man, rather tall for his age, smiles at them as he closes the door.)
Old Woman: My goodness! It's been so long since we've had visitors.
Tokaki: Most people don't travel through occupied towns.
Old Woman: Nonsense, it's wonderful that you've come to visit us. How do you know Da?
Anne: We met her in the temple down south. She was taking care of one of the Celestial Warriors…
Old Man: What? Taking care of one of the Warriors???
Tatara: She's fallen quite ill. That's why we've came here, actually…Da told us about her uncle's healing talent…
Old Woman: Aahh, yes, that would be my younger brother Quan. He's quite the healer, you know.
Karasuki: Does he live nearby?
Old Man: Oh, he used to live just across the street.
Subaru: …used to?
Old Woman: Aiyaaah, terrible shame, really. The soldiers found him, and threw him into the palace's jail.
Tokaki: What???
Old Man: It's true…I'm very sorry. He's able to heal every disease known to man…so he says.
Anne: Well, we'll just have to spring him, I guess.
Old Woman: You young folk are so energetic!
Old Man: More like have a death wish…
Old Woman: Aiyah, be quiet! (to the group) You can use this house as a place to stay…it's so empty now that the children are gone.
Tatara: So wait…where is Quan being kept?
Old Man: In the palace complex, in the center of the city. It's very large, and the Kutou army is using it as a base of operations. There's a jail below it, and that's probably where he's being kept.
Tokaki: OK, we're going in! (moves for the door)
Subaru: (grabbing his shirt) Wait a minute! We can't just go yet! We should at least wait for nightfall and make plans!
Karasuki: You are on the way to destruction you have no chance to survive make your time.
Anne: All our base are not belong to them!
Tatara: Subaru's right; we need to make up some plan. Like, who goes.
Tokaki: Well, that's easy. Me and Tatara will go in, and Karasuki and Subaru will guard Anne.
Subaru: Nuh-uh! I'm going too!
Anne: Subaru, you can't-
Subaru: (now angry) Don't tell me what I can or can't do! My powers work just fine, and I'll prove it to you! Karasuki and Grandma and Grandpa Jie are perfectly enough to guard Anne, who can probably defend herself better than the other three combined!
Karasuki: Excuse me!
Tatara: Ok, fine, you can come. Just don't get us killed by trying to prove your point.
Subaru: And don't patronize me either!
Old Woman: Now, now, children, let's not fight. How about I make some more tea and you five can discuss your plans, hmm?
Tokaki: That's a great idea. Thanks so much for letting us use your home.
Old Woman: Aiyah, don't be silly. It makes us old people feel…rebellious! (stands up and shuffles into the kitchen)
Old Man: Don't mind her, she's not all right in the head. Relax; you young people aren't going to have it easy tonight.
*************
(The day is spent planning the attack. Night has almost come, and after much deliberating, a general consensus has been reached.)
Anne: Right, so Karasuki will scry the path of attack before you three leave.
Karasuki: And after that, I'll continually scry for soldiers around the Jie household.
Tatara: Great. Then what?
Subaru: We go into the palace through the back way! IDIOT!
Tokaki: Wait. First we gotta find out where Quan is being held.
Karasuki: That's part of my scrying.
Grandpa Jie: You three should leave soon; there's a pretty strict curfew after dark.
Anne: Good idea. Karasuki?
Karasuki: Gotcha.
(The mirror comes out, and is placed onto the table. Karasuki closes his eyes, symbol glowing. The mirror darkens.)
Karasuki: "Men held inside palace walls, captives of the enemy, show the route to save them all, to the jail underneath!"
Grandma Jie: Underneath does not rhyme with enemy!
(Despite the non-rhyming of the incantation, the mirror flares into white light. It shows the large complex from above, then zooms towards its back. An inconspicuous door opens, and the view flies down several hallways to a flight of stairs. Down the stairs, the view passes through more hallways and then into an area occupied by cells. Karasuki opens his eyes)
Tokaki: That looks easy enough.
Grandpa Jie: It might seem that way, but there are many soldiers guarding the jail.
Tatara: Hmm…so assuming we get past the soldiers…and then to the jail, freeing Quan…and then out of the palace…how are we going to escape the city under curfew?
Grandma Jie: Leave that to us! We have a wagon and a horse.
Anne: And Karasuki or I can dress in soldier uniforms and ride the horse out!
Subaru: But…that's your wagon! We can't return it!
Grandpa Jie: That's fine; your cause is far more important than some wagon of ours. You can leave it with Da; she'll get it back eventually.
Karasuki: Thank you!
Grandma Jie: Don't thank us, get your friends moving! It's almost nightfall!
(Tatara, Tokaki and Subaru leave the house quickly after saying their goodbyes. The streets are empty as usual, and evading the few soldiers out on patrol is easy in the twilight.)
(The back door to the palace is easily found. It's as was seen in the mirror, except that two guards man it.)
Tatara: OK, so I'll tie them up and you kick their asses, ok?
Tokaki: Right!
Subaru: Wait, let me do something!
Tokaki: You have to conserve your power for when it's needed; this is really minor.
(Subaru scowls, but keeps quiet. Tatara concentrates, and two small vines rise up out of the ground, entangling the two soldiers surreptitiously. By the time they realize that something is on their legs, it is too late and the rapidly growing vines are already entwined securely. They start in panic, and their hands move for their swords, but Tokaki is already moving. He appears in front of the two, executing a quick roundhouse that catches both guards on the chin, flooring one of them and dazing the other. A punch to the gut sends the other to the ground. Tokaki motions for the other two to come over as he slowly opens the door.)
(Behind the unassuming door, the palace interior is very lavish. Even for what appears to be a simple back entrance hallway, the room is well-decorated, with simple but strong colored walls and expensive marble floor tiles. Nobody is in sight.)
Tatara: Clear?
Subaru: Clear.
Tokaki: Let's go.
(Spy music cues up as the trio creeps down the hallway. There are still no soldiers at the first corner, nor any behind.)
Subaru: This is kinda odd.
Tatara: It's quiet…too quiet.
Tokaki: Stop that.
(In fact, there aren't any soldiers all the way to the stairs. So the three quickly descend the stairs. It almost kills them.)
(At the bottom of the stairs await four soldiers, swords drawn. They jump at the trio, managing to grab Tokaki. Subaru and Tatara evade their grasp and back against the wall. Tokaki is being held by two soldiers, and although he is struggling, he cannot get away from them. The other two soldiers slowly advance on Tatara and Subaru.)
Subaru: Tokaki!
Tatara: Teleport, fool!
Soldier 1: (advancing) Heh, he can't use his powers. We've sealed them.
Soldier 2: (also advancing) Sorry. Now you two are gonna die.
Tatara: You can't take us down that easily!
(Tatara holds out his hand, and many tendrils of green shoot out at the now onrushing soldiers. They slash their swords, and the vines drop limply to the ground. One soldier reaches Tatara, slashing at his chest. He dodges, but the soldier grabs him. Subaru is now trapped in a corner, while the soldier walks towards her.)
Soldier 2: You're dead, girl.
Subaru: Stay away!
(Subaru kicks out viciously, hitting the soldier's lower leg. He grunts, and then grabs her arm.)
Soldier 2: Just for that, I'm going to make this last a long time.
Subaru: Don't touch me!
(There is a bright flash of light, and the other three soldiers, Tatara and Tokaki witness a disgusting sight. The soldier screams as a sickening transformation takes hold of his body. His hair grows out about five feet, rapidly turning grey. His back hunches over, as his whole body seems to droop. He drops his sword as if it is too heavy to hold, and there is a nauseatingly loud crack. He falls backwards onto the ground, and the five see his face; it is that of an ancient-looking man. Subaru glares at the three soldiers.)
Subaru: It appears that you sealed the wrong person's powers.
(The three soldiers stare in horror at their comrade, whose back is now broken and is moaning on the ground. In that moment of indecision, Tatara sends vines at the faces of Tokaki's holders. They let go of him, and his cheek glows white. In a split second, he teleports to the soldier holding Tatara, breaking his neck in one fluid motion. He returns to the other two and with a flurry of blows, knocks the other two unconscious.)
Tatara: Thanks. Subaru, are you ok?
(Subaru glares at him)
Subaru: What kind of weakling do you think I am?
Tokaki: But…you just aged that guy about 100 years!
Subaru: …and your point is?
Tatara: Well, it seemed that the last time you aged somebody you fainted…
Subaru: Let's just say I've been practicing in my spare time. (the guys look at her, embarrassed) Come on, we have to go save Quan!
(The trio runs down the hallway, mercifully not encountering any soldiers. The jail is about ten cells. Not all of them are occupied, in fact, only one is. A middle-aged man sits quietly in the cell, organizing what appears to be a large box full of bottles. He looks up as the three stop in front of his cell.)
Man: (not looking up) Hello. It's so nice of you to come see me.
Subaru: Are you Jie Quan?
Quan: (still not looking up) Oh, and you even know my name! How wonderful!
Tatara: We've come to ask a favor of you.
Quan: (still organizing) I'm sorry; I'm a bit busy right now. You should come back another time.
Tokaki: Here's the deal; we're Celestial Warriors of Byakko, and another Celestial Warrior is about to die. You are coming with us to heal her, or the entire country of Sailo will face certain death.
(There is silence for a moment. Quan then looks up)
Quan: Well, in that case…I suppose I can spare a little time to help you. (standing up) All right. Let's go.
Subaru: Um…we'd love to, but you're behind bars.
Quan: (looking around) Oh. I didn't notice. Stand back.
(Quan fishes a bottle out of his little box, and then throws it at the bars. There is a bright flash, making the trio cover their eyes. When they open them, the bars are small molten metal puddles on the ground. Quan delicately steps over them.)
Quan: There we go. Let's go.
(He begins to walk as the group stares after him)
Tatara: …what the hell was that?
Tokaki: Who knows? Let's follow him.
(The three run after Quan, who is already walking down the hallway. He turns the corner, and there is a loud "yelp.")
Subaru: He didn't…
(The group turns the corner, and sees a blue-clad soldier holding Quan hostage. The soldier has his sword drawn, and is holding it to Quan's neck.)
Soldier: Move and I'll kill him.
Quan: Hmmhmm…maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Soldier: Shut up!
(The soldier moves his sword a bit, and a thin line of red appears on Quan's neck. He grimaces in pain)
Subaru: Let him go!
Tatara: You have no quarrel with him; we're the ones you want!
Soldier: On the contrary; he is our prisoner, and a very important one at that.
Tokaki: Fine. You leave us no choice.
(Tokaki turns abruptly and runs away from the soldier. Tatara and Subaru stare dumbfoundedly at him)
Tatara+Subaru: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?????
(The soldier begins to laugh)
Soldier: Hahahahahahaha! He's running away! Pretty sad!
Tokaki: (yelling backwards) Get ready to grab Quan!
(Tokaki launches himself into an airborne kick…headed away from the soldier. Tatara and Subaru hit their heads with their hands)
Subaru: He's finally snapped.
Tatara: You honestly think it just happened?
(Suddenly, Tokaki disappears. In the split second that it takes for Subaru and Tatara to register his disappearance, there is a loud crack, coming from the soldier. The two turn just in time to see Tokaki following through on what appears to be a kick to the back of the soldier's neck. The soldier crumples to the ground, and Quan nimbly gets out of the way.)
Quan: That was most impressive. You must teach me to do that.
Tatara: Wait a minute…what just happened???
Tokaki: I just kicked…and teleported behind him, catching him unaware and unguarded.
Subaru: Wow…that's actually…rather clever.
Quan: We ought to go now if I'm to get back to my organization.
(The three sigh, and follow Quan up the stairs, passing the downed guards, and out the back way. Outside the door are the still-tied guards and the promised wagon. Karasuki is dressed in a soldier's uniform, which is a bit small for him.)
Karasuki: Come on, get in the wagon! Anne's already in there.
Anne: (from inside) It smells in here!
Quan: Ooh, we get to go on a trip!
Subaru: He's even worse than you are.
Tatara: Excuse me!
Tokaki: Ok, let's go.
(The four jump in the wagon, along with Anne, and hide themselves under the straw. Karasuki kicks the horse, and they are off. The wagon reaches the city limits quickly, and hence the gate out of Xizhou. The gate is manned by an alert-looking guard)
Alert Guard: Halt! Who goes there?
Karasuki: Uh-oh. I'm taking this wagon out of Xizhou.
Alert Guard: Well, I'm afraid I'll have to check the contents of the wagon.
Karasuki: (desperately waving his hand) That won't be necessary. These are not the droids you want.
Alert Guard: I didn't get that last comment, but I'm going to have to check you anyways.
(The guard moves to the wagon, and Karasuki tenses up. Suddenly, there is a loud smashing sound and the soldier drops like a fly)
Karasuki: …what the…?
(Out of the shadows steps Grandma Jie. The soldier has what appears to be pieces of a teapot scattered around his head.)
Grandma Jie: I figured you young folk would need some help. Get a move on. I'll open the gate.
Karasuki: Thanks a lot!
(The wagon leaves the gate without a hitch. The group finds their horses, and saddles everybody but Quan up. They ride through the night back to the town where Janna lies, still in her coma…)
Janna: You know what would be great? If I could actually find out if I die or not.
Nick: Cliffhangers should die in a hole.
Anne: But they're so interesting, and make you want to read the next chapter!
Kat: But they're ANNOYING!
Jeff: Suspenseful, not annoying.
Max: We're really moving through the Episodes; I wonder how long this story is going to be.
Luna: No idea…what I do know is that the next episode is titled "Soinasai, ryokou ni."
Chris: Which, despite having Ryoko's name in it, means "Accompany me on my journey." What a dumbassed name.
AN: I've started putting Author's Notes at the end of the chapters. Yay! This chapter was extra-long due to the long time it took to get it out. Long chapters = good? I think so.
There's a strange joke around the middle of the episode involving bases and bad grammar. If you don't get it, look up "All your base are belong to us" on Google. There's a rather obvious reference to one of Chris's favorite animes near the end. And finally, did you get the reference to a certain famous movie?
Oh, FYI, Quan is NOT a Qu. Anybody who knows me will know where I got every single Chinese name in this story…