ACT I - SCENE 9
[The image to a month or so later. The autumn colors are starting to take shape as the sun rises over the Kingdom, which is starting to take shape of its former glory. Many of the townspeople's homes are nearing completion, but the Palace has only the frame foundation taking shape.]
[We see Jack and Ashi, in tighter, form-flowing attire, identical to the style that Jack wore during his hand-to-hand combat training in Episode I. Jack's attire are in his traditional white, and Ashi's in green. The men and women are also in the same attire, with the colors matching their kimonos. The Girl is in the same outfit in her traditional brown-gold color. We also notice that the men's arms are built of more muscle than before, and the women's arms, as well as their bodies, are well-toned.]
[Jack and Ashi communicate to the volunteers.]
Jack: And now, after a couple months of physical and emotional training, it is time to learn how to use your hands and feet as weapons.
Ashi: Yes. If a staff or sword is not easy to access, what else do you have? The strongest appendages on your body.
Jack: Indeed. Also, we must be prepared for the most-even, if not a more skilled, opponent. We will begin practicing basic attacks and blocks, and then later we will put them to the test in practice fights.
Ashi: And because we are all on the same field, we will ask for some of these fights to be man versus woman.
[The men and women open their eyes in stunned silence, and look across the field to the opposite sex.]
Jack: And in the end, if women and men are on the same level, it will surely surprise even our most confident opponents.
[The women smile at that thought.]
[The men look over at the women, all smiling with a raised eyebrow.]
[A moment later, Jack is training Norio. Norio blocks six basic attacks from Jack to his torso, using only his hands and fists.]
[The remaining six men, in pairs go through the same sequence.]
[Jack and Norio go through a slightly faster sequence of eight attack, using a few more leg attacks that Norio jumps to evade.]
[The remaining six men go through the same sequence with their partners.]
[Jack motions to Norio to start an attack. A little nervous, Norio begins with a few fist attacks towards Jack's torso, followed by a feeble kick which Jack just stood back from, and a couple more fist attacks, all blocked by Jack.]
Jack: Please, do not be afraid to attack me. The only way to defeat your opponent it to attack with conviction, with purpose. What do you fight for?
Norio: My wife and little girl.
Jack: And how would you attack a bandit who tried to take your wife and child?
[Feeling the fury, Norio scowls and lunges forward.]
Norio: Eeeeeee-YAH!
[Norio attacks Jack with faster fists and swifter leg kicks, catching Jack off-guard. Jack counters the attack, and somersaults over Norio. Anticipating the landing, Norio viciously kicks behind him and BAM! Norio leg makes contact with Jack.]
[Jack falls on his back, and coughs a little.]
[The remaining men gasps in shock and awe.]
[Norio, anticipating the worst, gets on his knees and starts mumbling a prayer.]
[Jack hops to his feet. He's alright. He sees Norio praying. Jack smiles at the sight.]
Jack: Norio, rise.
[Shaking, Norio slowly rises to his feet.]
Norio: S-s-s-so-sorry, My Prince.
Jack: There's no reason to apologize, Norio. You found the fire, the reason to fight, and you bested me!
[The men shout in celebration and glee.]
[Jack bows to Norio, who, although still not totally understanding, bows back.]
[A moment later, Ashi and another girl in lavender, Masako, are in training. Ashi performs seven basic attacks towards Masako's torso, but counters each one.]
[The remaining women, including The Girl, go through the same sequence. The Girl is blocking her partner's attacks.]
[Masako attacks Ashi nine times, finishing off with a high round kick. Ashi blocks all attacks and crouches down from the round kick.]
[The remaining women go through the sequence. The Girl performs the attack sequence to her partner.]
[Ashi warns Masako.]
Ashi: Let's take it faster….
[Masako seems ready.]
Masako: Hai, sensei!
[Ashi comes at Masako with a series of quick attacks: 3 punches, 1 high kick, 6 punches, 1 high kick, 1 low kick and one punch, all blocked and evaded by Masako. Suddenly, BAM! Masako lands a swift punch on Ashi's chest, sending her back, but Ashi swiftly pops back up.]
[The remaining women, including The Girl, gasps in stunned awe.]
[Masako stops and stands tall, and seeing this, Ashi also stands tall and bows to Masako.]
Ashi: Well done, Masako.
[Masako bows back.]
Masako: Arigato, sensei.
[We see the women smile at admiring the respect between Ashi and Masako.]
[A moment later, Jack and the men are training each other in basic hand-to-hand combat. Jack is paired with another as Norio has paired with another volunteer. The remaining two men have also paired up and training each other.]
[We see six shots of the men blocking and attacking each other. Each following shot features harder attacks, faster defenses, and more round kicks.]
[We see Ashi and the women training each other in basic hand-to-hand combat. Ashi has paired up with another woman, Masako has paired up with The Girl, and the remaining four women have paired up and training up each other.]
[We see eight shots of the women blocking and attacking each other. Each following shot features faster attacks, more somersaults from the women to evade high and low kicks, faster defenses, and swifter round kicks. The final shot features The Girl attacking aggressively.]
[Suddenly, BAM! The Girl's left leg makes contact with Masako's chest, sending Masako on a short flight, then landing on her back. The Girl gasps in shock.]
[Ashi and her partner stop and look. Ashi's eyes widen a bit.]
[The other women look in awe at what happened.]
[Masako, incensed, swiftly gets up, and dashes back towards The Girl.]
Masako: (growling) Rrrr-YA!
[The Girl, defending herself from the faster assault of punches and kicks, tries to talk Masako down.]
The Girl: Masako! Masako, please! Please, calm down!
[Masako continues her relentless attack on The Girl, still defending successfully.]
[The Girl, concerned and still defending well, is left no choice as a close kick almost gets her head.]
The Girl: Masako, don't! Don't make-ahh!
[Suddenly, The Girl thrusts a punch from Masako hard away from her and then BAM! Masako is sent flying back to her back again from a swift kick from The Girl.]
[The Girl stands tall, concerned for the other volunteer.]
The Girl: I'm sorry, Masako.
[Masako, opening her eyes, growls again.]
Masako: Rrrrrrrrr…
[Suddenly, Ashi stands over Masako, silencing the growl. Ashi extends a hand.]
[Masako, still a little irritated, takes Ashi's hand and gets to her feet. Masako dusts herself off as Ashi talks.]
Ashi: No one likes to lose a fight, but we must not forget, Masako, that we are all one team. Do not let your frustration consume you that you lose focus on the ultimate goal.
[Masako, still a little irritated, looks at The Girl, and takes a deep breath, exhaling calmly.]
Masako: I am sorry.
[The Girl, sensing the sincerity from Masako, bows.]
The Girl: All is well. No harm done.
[Masako bows to Ashi, then walks off to take a break.]
Masako: Arigato, sensei.
[Ashi looks at The Girl.]
Ashi: Perhaps we can talk during our night bath.
[That evening, all of the women volunteers, including Ashi, Masako, The Girl, and the six others, are all in the river, relaxing shoulder-deep in the cool waters. The hanging kimonos from the trees imply that the women are all in their natural state.]
[We see a shot, panning from left to the right, of all the women's heads from the shoulder up in the river in a gentle meditation. All that is heard is the cool, gentle rushing of the river water. The camera pan starts on Masako, and ends with Ashi and The Girl, relaxing next to each other. The Girl's normally binded hair is down in its natural state.]
[We see Masako and another woman meditating well in the river with a smile on both of their faces.]
[The other four women meditate calmly with a smile in the river.]
[Ashi and The Girl are meditating well with a smile in the river. After a moment, Ashi calmly inhales, and then speaks.]
Ashi: (inhales deeply) Ahhhhh…so peaceful, isn't it?
[All of the ladies nod their heads in agreement. Ashi speaks again.]
Ashi: Yes. Now, I think it is time that you learn more about me.
[The women, intrigued, open their eyes and listen in.]
Ashi: I mean, if you are to trust me as your combat sensei, you might as well know what I have experienced. But, no matter what I tell you, I still hope to have your trust.
[That last statement catches The Girl's ear.]
The Girl: Trust? Princess Ashi, that was never in question.
Ashi: Please, don't call me Princess. Not yet. But thank you for your kind words. Now, where did I come from? Well, as it was told to us, the Prince went to destroy Aku, and then gets flung forward in time….
Masako: …..fights many different enemies…
The Girl: …..makes many new friends…
Ashi: ….all over the course of fifty years. (gasps) Oops.
[Ashi slaps her mouth shut, after spilling out that little secret. The women all simultaneously gasp at the stunning revelation.]
Masako: What?! Fifty years!?
[Another woman, Sakura, who was wearing the red kimono, speaks up.]
Sakura: Impossible! If that was true, The Prince would be so much older now, older than The Emperor.
Ashi: But, when Aku first threw The Prince forward in time, it halted his aging process. He cannot age, maybe never again.
[The women all gasp and murmur among each other. The Girl, hearing this, sets on that silently for a minute.]
The Girl: Amazing. An immortal Prince? But, wait a minute. Ashi, where did you come from? The last time anyone saw The Prince, he was riding off all by himself. But then, he returns after defeating Aku with you. Did you meet him fifty years ago?
[Ashi closes her eyes, and inhales deeply.]
Ashi: No, I did not meet him until several weeks before we returned. You see, I-oh, wait. Before I continue, I must ask you again to trust me.
The Girl: We understand, Ashi. It's just us.
[The women all nod their head in agreement.]
[Ashi breathes deep.]
Ashi: Very well. My parents were evil. They trained me from birth to….to…to kill The Prince.
[The women all gasp in shock.]
Ashi: Please, please. Not only did The Prince beat me, but he also showed me the truth. He showed me that Aku was the real evil, and that my parents were consumed by blind hatred and anger. Ever since he showed me the way, I have never left The Prince's side….and I never will. He showed me so much. He showed me that I was so much more than I ever thought I could be. Even when Aku enslaved me to kill The Prince, he never gave up on me, even to the very end. After we broke free from Aku, we found another time portal, returned here, and the Prince fulfilled his destiny.
[The women all gasp and murmur in awe.]
[Ashi exhales after the weight of her story is lifted.]
[The Girl, still stunned, shakes her head in disbelief.]
The Girl: You truly do love him.
Ashi: Yes. He's far too good of a man to be left alone. After all he has done for me, for you, for the world, I-I, I cannot imagine my life without him. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.
[The Girl smiles a weak smile, but appears to be swallowing slightly, maybe with a hint of defeat. She extends her hand.]
[The Girl's hand touches Ashi's shoulder, prompting Ashi to look at The Girl with curiosity.]
[We see The Girl, with a weak smile, speak with tears in her slightly trembling eyes.]
The Girl: I am so envious of you. For so long, I have waited for The Prince to return home, so that we might resume our lives where we left them. That maybe one day, we could both find happiness in a happier time. But then, he returns home with you. When he asked you to be our Princess, I must admit…I was angry. But then, I remembered that he is a hero, worthy of all the love in the world. That's all I ever wanted for our Prince, a chance at eternal peace and happiness. He has found that with you. And, in spite of my jealousy, I have realized that you are more than worthy to be our Princess, and I am proud and honored to have you as our sensei.
[Ashi smiles with a little tear in her eye.]
[The women look on, admiring the confessional.]
[Ashi smiles at The Girl. They hug, as they have found a friend in each other. They break the hug and Ashi comments.]
Ashi: And to think….I used to wonder why I didn't like you.
[The Girl and Ashi share a laugh.]
[The women all giggle as well. Suddenly, we hear rustling, silencing the laughter.]
[Ashi and The Girl stand up as the camera only catches the women from the top of their shoulders up.]
[We see a brief image of a few cloaked individuals rushing away from the scene and disappear behind the tall grass.]
[We see the heads of The Girl and Ashi pop up from below, implying that they're standing. They show serious faces.]
The Girl: Intruders.
Ashi: Yep.