Chapter two: Jaydon's Little Guide.
First I'd like to say thank you to all those who have favorited and followed "One Wild Ride". And I'd also like to give a very special thank you to whoever left that review. I really appreciate all your support as I write this story.
"Hmmm" Jay groaned as she woke up. The first thing she saw as she opened her eyes was the roof of some kind of hut. Her head felt like an elephant had tap danced on it. And her side still hurt like the dickens. Taking a deep breath Jay pushed herself up against the wall behind her. "OWW!" She moaned loudly.
Just then she groaned as she heard a familiar cackle from overhead. "Sounds like you tried to bite a little too much then you could chew there girly." Cologne said as she appeared in front of Jay's cot.
Jay stared at Cologne with a dull face. "Hey, I got the bear didn't I?" She asked indignantly.
At that Cologne nodded her head slowly, her features schooled carefully. "Yes, your right about that I must say. But the question is how?" She asked.
Jay rested her head against the wall of the hut. "I... I don't know either. I just remember that when the bear started to charge towards the girl it was like my ki had a mind of its own. My ribs stopped hurting and the next thing I knew I was in front of the bear blasting it with a wave of ki." She said being confused herself on how she had managed to do something that Cologne had yet to even show her.
Cologne stood there on top of her staff, staring at Jay for a moment. "Well, grand-daughter... you are without a doubt the most natural ki user I have seen in all my years." She said startling Jay with her use of the word "Grand-daughter".
"Grand-daughter?!" She choked out. "What is that supposed to mean-" She started to ask before she was interrupted by another voice.
"Sister!" The voice sounded. The next thing Jay knew, something was grappling her, agitating her side.
"Oww! What the, who is, oye cut that out!" She shouted.
Instantly the thing let go of her. As the person stepped back Jay saw very familiar purple hair and knew exactly who it was. "You're the girl from the forest!" She said.
Looking at her she saw that the girl seemed unharmed. "Well, at least you're not hurt." She said with a relieved sigh.
Though Jay might have spoken too soon as a moment later Cologne whacked the girl over the head with her staff and started to talk to her in Chinese. Not that Jay could understand any of what Cologne was saying since she was talking too fast.
Although the boy turned girl couldn't understand anything Jay thought she heard a name. Xian Pu... the name of her great-granddaughter. Who had just called her sister...
'Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into now?' The girl thought to herself. Out loud however she asked. "Umm sorry for interrupting but could someone tell me what's going on?"
Freezing in their tracks Cologne and little Shampoo turned to Jay. Clearing her throat, Cologne began. "The little girl you saved in the woods is my great-granddaughter Shampoo. Shortly before you passed out she kissed you on the forehead. Do you remember that?"
In shock, Jay nodded her head and Cologne continued. "Right well in our culture, a kiss on the forehead from an Amazon Female is like... an adoption into the tribe so to speak. You are now an Amazon. And the sister of Shampoo which therefore also makes you my great grand-daughter." She said, finishing her explanation with a head nod.
That had confirmed all of Jay's hopes and fears. All her hopes because that meant that she would not need to run away from any of the more ridiculous amazonian rules.
Not to mention that Cologne might be more likely to teach her the amazon techniques and train her in her male form. Something that she had been forbidden to do before. But as for her fears... "Alright, I just have a few questions." She said nervously.
Cologne nodded, expecting that. "Ask away." The old woman said.
Jay took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Well first, what does all this mean for me?" She asked. "Cause I mean as flattered as I am for the honor of being an, an Amazon... all I know of what that means is what I know of them from my world. Which makes me a little nervous, to be honest." She said, laughing nervously.
The old Amazonian woman sighed. "Yes well from what I can tell you have every right to be. The amazons from your world and the ones in this seem to have a lot in common."
"Don't they just." She said in an unsure tone. Jay really didn't want to even think of what could happen if she told the Amazons that she knew about the future... well about a future.
Jaydon had seen more than enough time travel movies and stuff to know not to mess with the timeline and she was fairly certain that telling Cologne about that future would not end well.
Just then Cologne broke through her thoughts. "However, to answer your question. What you do with that is entirely up to you." Her raspy voice then explained. "You could be a part of the village. You could leave whenever you want. But no matter what you choose you remain my great-grand-daughter. And that means if you ever need something I will be here for you."
Jay could feel her face grow hot from her promise. Jay also felt very confused. "Wha- well... well why? I mean... why?" She asked in a halted, stammering voice. "You've only known me for a few months. What have I done to warrant such kindness?" That question only got a staff rammed over her head.
When Jaydon looked over to protest the abuse she fell silent at the old woman's no-nonsense face. "Do not think so little of yourself grand-daughter. Even discounting Shampoo's adoption of you into our tribe, and the months I have spent training you. You saved my granddaughter's life. And that, for me, is enough." Cologne explained passionately, stunning Jaydon.
In the end, all Jaydon could do was nod and say. "Thank you... Grandmother." Gaining a smile from her.
The three of them sat in a comfortable silence after that. While Jaydon may not have had a complete understanding of what was going on she understood to at least not worry herself to death. In fact, she found herself growing somewhat excited.
Before it seemed that the amazon council had been wary of Cologne training him. What with him, even including the curse, he was a male after all. But now, hopefully, things would be a lot smoother. Now that she was a member of their tribe.
Then a thought came to him. Something he had almost forgotten about. "Before we do anything else would you mind if I asked a question?"
The somewhat ancient woman looked curiously at him. "But of course Girly. Ask away." She allowed.
"You've mentioned a few times about how skilled I am at using ki. And also that it is abnormal for me to have so much of it, being as young as I am. And I was wondering if you might have any explanation for it?"
Cologne gained a pensive expression as she closed her eyes. After a few minutes she opened them. "I have a theory… rather… I have a few theories." She said hesitantly.
"Would you share them with me? Please?" Jaydon asked politely.
The other Amazon nodded. "One theory is that your true age or original body may have something to do with it."
"But that doesn't make sense. We don't have ki in my world. There shouldn't be any transference of energy." Jaydon said, utilizing her knowledge of… anything dealing with internal energies.
All of which being from fiction but hey… she currently lived in a fictional universe.
Cologne shook her head. "It may not exist the same way as it does here but I assure you it does exist."
'Does that mean all those Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and all those other martial arts masters didn't fake all those moves in their movies?' Jaydon thought to herself.
"Another theory is that the spirit that was freed from the cursed spring didn't simply move on." She said cryptically.
Jaydon looked a little confused at that but when Cologne looked pointedly at her understanding dawned on her. "Are you saying that I could be playing host to a ghost?"
Cologne nodded. "That is a possibility." She affirmed before continuing. "And then there is always the third theory. Which is some kind of combination of the other two."
Jaydon groaned. "Isn't there anything about my situation that we can be sure about?" She asked, frustrated.
"I'm afraid not child…" Cologne cringed at the glare Jaydon sent at her. "My apologies. But are you certain you didn't miss any details? Anything at all?"
The other girl's expression faded into a calmer more thoughtful one. "Well there was this bracelet thing I found in one of the springs. Before I came here not after." She quickly added.
"And where is that bracelet now?"
"It's in my bag back at Jusenkyo. Why do you think it's important?"
"It could be Jaydon. I shall send someone to retrieve your bag for you. At the moment there is someone I would like you to meet." She said before calling something out in Mandarin.
Looking over Jaydon was genuinely shocked to see a normal-looking girl her age entering the hut. Of course, by 'normal-looking' she meant that the girl had normal brown hair.
Which to be honest was a little shocking. All the amazons Jaydon remembered from the anime had ridiculously colored hair of purple (like Shampoo and Link), red and black. Not brown.
However, the new girl paid her no mind as she bowed to Cologne in greeting who nodded back. After a short conversation between them, the older amazon turned to Jaydon. "Jaydon this girl is Liao Fei. She will be in charge of leading you around the village and keeping you out of trouble." She introduced with a cackle.
With a raised eyebrow and wry grin on her face, Jay turned to Liao Fei. "Yeah… good luck with that. You'll need it, trust me." That made the girl look weirdly at her before she turned to Cologne in askance. Her face paled a bit when Cologne only cackled in response.
Jaydon, wanting to get out and look around, got up off the ground. "Alright well as fun as it is in here, my legs need some stretching." Then turning to Liao Fei she bowed and politely asked. "Well, are you ready to go Ms. Liao Fei?"
Liao Fei colored slightly before smiling a little. "Yes I am, but please just call me Liao. Right, this way." She said, opening the door for Jaydon.
Just as Jay was about to leave when something wrapped itself around her waist. Looking down she saw Shampoo clinging to her.
'Well, I guess Shampoo's glomping has always been a thing with her.' Jaydon thought to herself, amused.
When Jay turned to look at Cologne once more the older woman only for her to shake her head. "It appears that Shampoo has attached herself to you. Take care of her will you?" She asked.
Not knowing what to say Jaydon simply nodded her head before leaving the tent with Shampoo and Liao Fei.
"And these! Are our training area's." Liao Fei said to her, suddenly silent… acquaintance, she decided on.
Liao Fei had shown Jaydon around the Amazon 'village' for about two hours now and had to say. It had been rather amusing, to say the least.
Every time they got to another part of town Liao Fei had the pleasure of watching Jaydon visibly resist the urge to pinch or slap herself. Especially whenever they reached the bathhouses. Jaydon froze when they got to that part of the tour. Only unfreezing when Shampoo blew into her ear.
Then after the mild freakout that followed the three of them continued the tour. Which included a brief meeting of Shampoo's constant unwanted crush, Mouse All the while Jaydon's mind had a whirl storm of questions. This Amazon 'village' was nothing like the anime had portrayed.
Now Jayon had known that things weren't exactly the same. But such a colossal difference left her feeling more uncertain than ever before. All these months she had relied on the fact that she knew this world and many of its key factors.
But now that certainty had been stripped away leaving only 'what-if's'. If the village had changed what else was different. Were the phoenix people as bad as in the show? Would Ranma ever show up in China and/or get cursed? Was Happosai still a pervert? The questions seemed as endless as the possibilities.
By the time the three of them made it back to Cologne's home, Jaydon was close to bursting. As they entered Cologne turned to greet them when she gazed at Jaydon's face.
"Shampoo, Liao Fei if you would leave us be for a moment." Her voice left no argument from either of them. When they were alone Cologne turned back to Jaydon. "What's wrong, child?" She asked.
Jaydon didn't even bother trying to deny anything. The older woman was simply too smart to be deceived by a "nothing's wrong" remark. Just as she tried to speak she found herself doused with warm water.
The semi-normalness of Jaydon's male form did help to quell some of his earlier panic and allowed him the use of his mouth once more. "Everything is so different here from what I knew in my world." He began, the words practically falling out of his mouth. "Your town, no… your city is nothing like what my world has. Before coming here I thought I had some clue of the world I was in and now I know that I know nothing of it, and- and…"
"And now you question your purpose and your plans for the future." Cologne finished for him. When Jaydon nodded his confirmation Cologne looked at him pensively. Before finally, she spoke again. "I must admit I have seen this coming for some time now."
When Jay looked at her questionably she cackled. "Sonny-boy you have been taken away from your home, your world, and all those whom you held close to your heart. Added to that you have become younger, gained a cursed form, not just any curse but that of a girl?! It is a wonder you've managed to get as far as you have without breaking before now. Remarkable even. You have shown great courage and bravery far before facing that bear." Cologne explained, with a respectful look on her face.
Jaydon hadn't ever really thought about it that way before. He just called that survival. And only that. Jaydon had clung to everything around him to keep from going mad. Clung to Cologne and her training, to the Guide and Plume, (He made sure to get at least one hug from the girl every morning and every night when he left for work and came back. Very therapeutic.) and he had even clung to the revelation that he was now a part of the tribe to keep everything back.
All in all, Jaydon had a much clearer head when he next inquired. "So what do you think I should do?"
To Cologne, the answer seemed rather simple. "Stay. Stay here with us. Learn and grow. And then when you are ready. Go out to discover what this world of ours has to offer you."
Jay had to admit that the idea certainly had its appeal. If he stayed here with the people who had the most info on the Cursed Springs he might find a way home. There were three tribes that Jay knew of in the valley of Jusenkyo. The Amazons, the Musk, and the Phoenix people. One of them must have some kind of knowledge about this kind of thing. He'd just have to go and find out.
'Of course' Jaydon sighed to himself. 'they're not just gonna give the information away freely if they even have any, to begin with.' Truth be told both the Musk and Phoenix people would be more than willing to outright kill him the moment Jay stepped on their soil… then Jay remembered. Herb the Musk prince was cursed with the spring of drowned girl water. And then was trapped in that very form. Of course, that was in the manga and Jaydon didn't even know if that would happen anymore since the spring isn't cursed. It's still magical but it's not cursed. 'Although,' He again thought. 'it couldn't hurt to collect the kettle of unlocking. Could be of use in the future.'
As for the Phoenix people… Jaydon had nothing of use for them. Nothing to trade for the information he sought. Maybe he could compete for it… though if it did come to that Jaydon hoped to all that is holy and good that he didn't have to fight the Phoenix King. He would be dead in an instant.
Jaydon shook himself free of his internal thoughts and saw that Cologne was still patiently awaiting his response. Jay finally nodded. "I'll stay. Thank you for both your offer and your advice grandmother."
Just as Cologne was about to speak anew the two of them heard a scuffle from outside the door. Looking towards the entrance they shocked, or at least Jay was when Shampoo and Liao Fei burst in. Liao Fei surprised him, even more, when she immediately jumped up and pointed a finger at him. "Your Jaydon?!" She questioned.
Jay gulped, nervously and with an equally nervous grin he said in total Ranma fashion. "I'm Jaydon Raine. Sorry about this." He quoted.
A moment later Jaydon saw Liao Fei's head implant itself into the earth as Cologne's staff knocked it downward. Looking over to where Cologne was he found to his dismay that Cologne hadn't seemed to move from her spot. It was little things like this that reminded him that as old as Cologne may be… she was a force to be reckoned with.
"It is rude to point and stare, young Liao Fei." The older woman chastised.
"But I-" Liao Fei cut herself off as Cologne leveled a warning look at her. So looking away Liao Fei grumbled out something.
"What did you say, Liao Fei?" Cologne asked.
Liao Fei looked like she wanted to grumble some more but bit it back with some difficulty and instead looked at Jaydon. "My apologies for being rude Jaydon." She said, not looking sorry one bit. Liao Fei then looked over at Cologne who nodded her acceptance of the 'apology', turned tail, and walked out.
All the while Jay felt like his heart had been stomped on. He really liked Liao Fei. Not LIKE like in that way but because in the time he spent with her Liao Fei seemed to be very mature for someone her age. And Jaydon felt like they could have been friends. He still wanted to be too. So firming his expression he turned to Cologne "I'm going after her." his voice leaving no room for debate.
Cologne looked back at him in such a way that only one as old as she could have been capable of before giving the slightest of nods. "Go. I shall explain things to young Shampoo." She promised.
Nodding back to her Jaydon got up and ran out of the house. It was long after dark by now, which made looking for a little girl so much harder. Luck however decided to be on his side for once. He quickly saw the girl running towards the woods. Pushing as much ki into his legs Jaydon launched himself over the crowd of people between him and his goal. But unlike the first time, he attempted this Jaydon miscalculated how much was required and wound up face planting right into a tree and falling on his back in pain. "Owww." He moaned in pain.
A little giggling voice however distracted him from the pain. Looking up he saw Liao Fei giggling like a little maniac. "Oh, I'm glad you find this so very funny." He grumbled out, holding his aching face.
Soon though Liao Fei stopped giggling. And when Jay opened his eyes she was there holding her hand out to him. Without a moment's thought, Jaydon said. "I'm sorry!" However, that didn't quite get the reaction he expected. The girl's giggling didn't stop but instead doubled.
Eventually, though she did stop. "You jumped into a tree while chasing after me, just to say 'I'm sorry'? What kind of male are you?" She asked, making Jaydon's smile fade.
"What kind of male am I?" He asked in an amused tone. "I don't even know how to respond to that. Didn't know there were different kinds."
Liao Fei scoffed. "Of course there are. The dumb kind, the mean kind, the cruel kind," She listed off, her voice becoming softer and somber. "the kind that thinks to impress girls with their macho ways." That came out in a slightly harsher tone.
Jaydon frowned. "Is that what you think males are all like? Big dumb brutes?" When Liao Fei confirmed Jay smirked. "I say you're wrong. Or do you think any of those males you mentioned would have jumped into a tree simply to apologize?"
That reminder caused Liao Fei's giggles to resume once more. "No, I don't." Then shaking her head she continued. "I must admit you are very different from the other males I've met." The amazon stared at Jay for a moment before nodding. "Come on, let's go back to Cologne."
The two of them walked back to where they left Shampoo and Cologne. Just as they were about to enter Liao Fei put her hand on Jaydon's shoulder, stopping him. When he turned, looking puzzled she said. "Jaydon… about what I said earlier. I am sorry for how I reacted."
Jaydon looked surprised, but soon a smile took its place and he shook his head. "Trust me when I say it's alright. It's not every day you find a girl you made friends with is really a boy with a curse." He said with a knowing look.
She chuckled, before entering the door with Jaydon trailing behind. And immediately as they walked in Jaydon heard a shout of "Brother!" and once again felt something wrap itself around him. Surprised he fell backward roughly. Looking down Jay smiled in relief when he saw it was Shampoo once more clinging to him. "Everything's alright then?" He asked.
The younger girl nodded happily. Then Cologne's voice broke in. "Yes. I explained things to her. How did things go between you and Liao Fei?"
He and the aforementioned girl shared a glance. "We have… discussed things and I have decided to stay as his guide Elder Cologne." She said, bowing.
Said Elder looked at her with a serious expression. "Are you sure about this?" The Elder's face shifted into a smile when Liao Fei nodded.
Jaydon looked around him with a smile still on his face. Things could have ended rather badly if not for Cologne… well Cologne and him not wanting to lose the closest thing to a friend that he had yet had in the months he had been here.
Just then Cologne broke the silence by saying. "Now then Liao Fei if you would take Shampoo back to her home I wish to talk to Jaydon alone for a moment."
Shampoo made to protest but the older woman was firm. "No Shampoo. It is already past your bedtime. You may be with your new brother tomorrow if you wish. No go."
Shampoo pouted but eventually gave in to her great grandmother's will. Soon enough both Shampoo and Liao Fei were gone. Leaving the other two alone.
After a few minutes of silence Jaydon decided to speak first. "So what did you wanna talk about?"
Cologne didn't reply. Merely pulled a familiar looking bracelet from within her sleeve. Almost immediately Jaydon recognized it as the one he had found in the springs before everything happened.
"The one I sent to retrieve your pack came back. This bracelet was in the outside pocket." Jaydon waited, anxiously for her to hurry up. "This bracelet is a relic of our people. It is said that its power is linked to that of the cursed springs themselves." She added.
"So what does it… wait it's from this world?" When Cologne nodded Jaydon picked up the bracelet in awe. "What does it do?"
"No one knows. It disappeared centuries ago. However I believe you may be the one to figure it out."
Jaydon pointed at himself, confused once again. "Why me exactly?"
"You are unique. A person from another world, blessed by a cursed spring. What I want you to do is focus a bit of your ki into the bracelet." She requested.
Jaydon nodded. Then, closing his eyes he focused on the golden object in front of him. Reaching inside the young amazon tugged at his ki, pushing a strand of it into the bracelet.
The piece of jewelry immediately shined bright, blinding Jaydon and Cologne. But when it went away Jaydon found himself back in the Jusenkyo valley, alone and still holding the bracelet.
He looked around for about a minute until he heard a voice from behind him. A voice he hadn't heard for several months. "Jaydon… you're here."
Quickly turning around he saw the girl from the day he was brought into this universe. This time however she was wearing the same clothes that he was. "You're the spirit of the spring aren't you?"
The girl nodded with a sad smile. "My name is Chyou. You are correct Jaydon. I am the woman who drowned in that spring so long ago. And you are the man who freed me from my prison."
Jaydon felt a headache was on its way. His mind started to flood with all the questions he had ever had since coming to this world. "Please tell me. Help me understand. What is going on?" He asked her as calmly as he could, for some kind of explanation. Of course if the spirit didn't know then… well… Jaydon didn't want to think about what may happen.
Chyou sighed. "I have been trapped in my spring for so long and I have been conscious for the whole time. But for some reason when you went to Jusenkyo in your world I felt a sort of pull and found myself there. I knew your name and I knew that you could help me but I don't know why. And when you fell into the spring my spirit joined with your body."
"Alright that explains a bit I suppose. What about my ki?" At this point, Jaydon was hoping to get as many questions answered as he could after that first on. He could deal with things in the aftermath.
"Your ki…" She paused, struggling to form an explanation before she sighed and gave up. "the explanation Cologne gave you is sufficient. Your dormant ki that you built up in your world combined with my own ki has equated to… well, the ki you now have. You are picking up techniques rather easily due to… a kind of muscle memory only it's the ki equivalent."
While Jaydon was glad to be getting answers, he was honestly beginning to wish he was sent to a slightly less complicated universe… like Dragon Ball. Ha!
"Why did this happen to me?"
The spirit appeared solemn. "I'm sorry. I don't know that answer. The only thing I could say is what I said before. You seem very familiar to me. I cannot explain why but it is what it is."
Jay scoffed somewhat bitterly at that. "Figures. Can't have everything fall in my lap." Then looking up at the dead girl he asked. "Then could you tell me what I should do now?"
And with a raised eyebrow Chyou responded cryptically. "You already know the answer to that."
Thinking for a moment Jaydon suddenly recalled his earlier plan. "You can't be serious!" He exclaimed. "I was kinda hoping for something a little faster than waiting years for me to get strong enough to fight off dragon princes and Phoenix Kings!"
"Yeeeeaaah… if that was your plan then... it's not gonna happen."
"Yeah, probably not. Can't blame me for wanting it." Jaydon sighed, slumping over. "Well then… is that all you can tell me?
"What else is there to tell?"
"Good point. Thanks for the chat. Maybe we'll talk again sometime?" He asked somewhat sardonically. This was not entirely what he had hoped to get from this dream talk thing.
Chyou looked uncertain. "I… don't know. But I hope so."
Jaydon nodded, "Me too. Hopefully with more knowledge. Now I think it's time for me to leave." He said, clapping his hands together before looking around. Scratching his cheek with a sheepish smile Jay looked back at her. "Umm, how do I get out of here?"
The old spirit looked at him amusedly. "Close your eyes and will yourself back to the real world."
"Oh of course it's that." Then closing his eyes Jay focused on returning to the waking world. 'There's no place like home.' The displaced boy joked as the dream world disappeared and he slowly woke up.
- (With Cologne)
After the light faded away from the bracelet Cologne was not surprised to see Jaydon passed out on the floor.
She sat and calmly asked for two cups of tea and food while Jaydon slept, presumably conversing with the spirit within him. He truly was a remarkable being. In all her years Cologne had never seen nor heard of anything like him. From another world, freeing a spirit of Jusenkyo simply by coming here through a cursed spring. She found herself for the first time in a long time, anxiously waiting for the story the young Jaydon may bring.
"What is he?" Liao Fei's voice sounded behind her as she brought the food and drink the Elder had asked for.
"Apart from being from another world? I genuinely do not know. And isn't that exciting?" She answered, honestly.
"He's from another world?" The younger Amazon asked.
Cologne nodded but caught herself. "I am assuming he did not tell you that."
Looking over at the sleeping Jaydon, Liao Fei shook her head. "No. He failed to mention that. Did he tell you how he came here?"
"He does not know. And what he does know is not enough to draw a conclusion."
Without looking at Cologne she asked. "Do you know how he came here?"
The Elder Amazon shook her head negatively. "Indeed. I have lived for nearly 300 years. And in that time I have seen many things. But this, however… I have never seen the likes of this before."
Liao Fei closer studied the boy in front of them curiously. "Do you believe we will ever know how he came here?"
Cologne hummed thoughtfully. "Apart from through a spring in Jusenkyo? Maybe we will, maybe we won't. In the end how he came to be here will not matter. I dare say that it will not matter even to Jaydon himself."
That made Liao Fei turn to her Elder, confused. "What do you mean by that Elder Cologne?"
"What I mean by that, is this. What does it matter how he got here? If he can not return the same way it is almost of no use, except maybe to satisfy his curiosity." Upon seeing that Liao Fei still did not understand she further explained. "Picture it like this young one. The Springs of Jusenkyo are cursed are they not?"
"Yeeess?" She slowly replied, wondering where this was going.
"Now answer me this. Could one, cursed by the springs then use the springs to cure said curse?"
"Umm no?" Liao Fei questioned.
Cologne shook her head. "No they could not. The curses would simply mix rather than cancel the other out."
"Then…" Liao Fei's voice trailed off. "Then even if Jaydon knew how he came here, that doesn't mean he could do the same thing to go home?" She theorized and was rewarded by Cologne's affirmation. "Then how do we help him go home?"
"I do not know that. Nor do I know if he can go home. The only thing I do know is to help him find a place in this world, in case he has truly lost his own." Then turning to Liao Fei she spoke to her directly. "That is part of the reason I asked you to guide him around town."
"Huh?"
"You child, have always been… shall we say a special case? Naturally more mature, and skilled than most of your own age. Children such as you are few and far between. However, Jaydon here is far more mature than his age lets on. I hoped the two of you would get along."
Before Liao Fei could think on that statement, she heard a moan escape Jaydon. "Well, that was… I wanna say that was informational but it wasn't really." He said, mostly speaking to himself.
"If not that then what was it?" Cologne asked.
Jaydon sighed, looking down at the ground. "To be honest? A little disappointing. But more than anything it affirmed what I already anticipated." He said despondently.
"Which is?"
"That this adventure of mine will not end quite that easily. And nowhere near as fast as I might wish it to be."
"And what will you do now?" Cologne questioned. Honestly curious to what his answer would be. At the stage Jaydon was at, there were a few things he could do in Cologne's mind. He could, 1; Simply accept the idea that he was stuck here forever and do whatever he wanted with his life here. Or 2; Fight to return to his world, no matter how long that might take.
As his expression firmed Cologne knew which choice he would choose. Looking over at her and Liao Fei his tone spoke volumes. "I'm going to go home. It may take a while but I don't care. One day I will obtain the knowledge I need and I will go home. I swear."
"Then to that extent, I will help you… Grandson." Cologne promised.
Jaydon bowed where he sat. "Thank you, Grandmother. But… where do we start?"
Cologne pondered about that for a while. After several ideas came and went she had it. "Well if you are going to go after the Musk and Phoenix people tribes you will first need to become the very best at least here in this village. And in about 4 months there will be a… little competition. Nothing too big. Mainly just a small thing we do for younger warriors such as yourself."
"You think a few months will be enough to prepare myself against people, however young they may be, who have been training for years?"
"Please. You may have the body of a child but your mind is not. I would not have been able to push any child in this village to the extent I pushed you… well," She paused, looking at the other Amazon in the room. "none except for Liao Fei here. But a few more months of training should be adequate. However I must admit I am extremely curious to know what occurred in your dream."
"Ahh… well. The spirit didn't know much more than me. Though she did agree with me on going to ask the other tribes."
"Anything else?"
"She did say something. Said that before I came here and even now I guess… that I am… familiar to her." Jaydon was still a little confused on that concept.
Cologne perked up at that. "Does she seem familiar to you?" She asked curiously.
Thinking back on it Jay had to say that she did actually. "Well yeah. A little I guess. But I just wrote that off as her being attached to me. Is it important?"
"Well, it's most certainly not coincidence."
Jay sighed. "No, I suppose it's not. No such thing as coincidence right?"
Cologne shook her head. "I am far too old to believe such things." Liao Fei broke the moment with her yawning. Looking outside Cologne was struck just how late it had become. "But we can talk more on these matters tomorrow. It is getting rather late and you still have the physical body of a child."
Rubbing his eyes Jaydon reluctantly found himself agreeing with her. "Right. Can I just sleep here? I don't really feel like moving right now."
"But of course. Sleep well Grandson. We shall speak more tomorrow." And with that Cologne and Liao Fei stood and left.
Closing his eyes and laying back in as comfortable a position he could find both Jaydon's mind and body felt completely spent. And all he could think of was how much he hoped things would get better soon. He knew things could always be worse but… well, the only lead they could get to had no answers for them. Apart from confirmation on what to do for the next 10 years or so. So things were rather bad as it was. 'Still… if I have to do it. I'm glad I won't be alone.' With that thought, Jaydon fell into a somewhat peaceful sleep.
- (End Chapter 2)
And that is the end of chapter two! Sorry, it's taken so long… to be absolutely honest I'm making up the story as I go along. And it is not easy. Especially with all the stuff going on here at home. I have been kept busy. But I do want to thank all of you for your support and for liking this story.
So please, do send reviews. They are always appreciated. Anyway until next time I do hope you all like this chapter. Oh, and as for the spirit girl, I do have something in mind for her. You will in fact see her again.
And for what happens in the next chapter... well let's just say that Mousse is not happy that Shampoo has someone to cling to. Fights will come to pass.
BYYYEEEE!