ACT I - SCENE 14
[The image fades from Scene 13, and we see an overview of the Kingdom covered in a snow blanket in the snow flurries. The majority of the Kingdom is rebuilt, aside from the palace. Then, the image fades to another day, where the majority of the snow has melted and the palace is almost completed, aside from a couple more walls and ceilings in the very top.]
[Suddenly, WHOOSH! A top sheet is laid on a mighty bed in the royal chambers by The Girl and three other helpers.]
[The Girl and a helper drapes a blanket over the royal bed.]
[The Girl and a helper sets six pillows at the head of the bed.]
[We see the royal bed is complete. The Girl shows the Emperor and Empress their new bed.]
[PLOP! PLOP! The Emperor and Empress lie down on their new bed together on their back, all smiling. We see them exhale in total comfort.]
Emperor: It's been so long…
Empress: Yes, far too long….
[WHOOSH! Another top sheet is laid on a slightly smaller bed, about the size of a Queen mattress, by The Girl and three helpers.]
[A white blanket is drawn onto this bed by The Girl and a helper.]
[The Girl sets two pillows at the head of the bed.]
[We see this bed is complete. The Girl shows Jack his new bed.]
[PLOP! Jack lies on his new bed, smiling and exhaling in content.]
[The Girl and Ashi stand over Jack.]
Ashi: Very fitting for the future Emperor.
The Girl: Not fitting enough, I think.
Jack: It's more than enough. (inhales deeply and exhales in content) What did I do to deserve the help of such wonderful women?
The Girl: You saved the world.
Ashi: You saved me.
Jack: Well, um….okay, I guess.
[They all laugh together.]
[WHOOSH! In another room, we see Ashi and The Girl lay out the bottom sheet for a bedding about the size of a full mattress.]
[WHOOSH! In the same room, Ashi and The Girl lay out the bottom sheet for another bedding about the size of a full mattress.]
[Ashi and The Girl pull a green blanket over one mattress.]
[Ashi and The Girl pull a gold-brown blanket over the other mattress.]
[Ashi sets two pillows of green color at the head of the green-blanketed bedding.]
[The Girl sets two pillows of gold-brown at the head of the gold-brown covered bedding.]
[In the same room, PLOP! PLOP! Ashi and The Girl lie on their respective beddings, Ashi on the green, and The Girl on the gold-brown. Both women inhale deeply and exhale.]
[Lying on her bed, Ashi looks at her roommate.]
Ashi: I never thought I would be this fortunate.
The Girl: Me, too. But, how do you mean?
Ashi: Well, I'm lying in a bedding that is comfortable as the clouds, I'm about to marry the man that saved my life, and I'm living comfortably in the home of him and my best friend.
The Girl: Ah, yes. That is a blessing. As for me, I'm blessed to be in this bedding that came from heaven, I'm residing in the home of the good royal family, and I'm lodging with the woman who is the closest I've ever had to a real sister.
Ashi: You've never had a sister?
The Girl: No. Just my brother and my father….that is, until Aku took them.
[Ashi shuts her eyes in pain. She might also be hiding the pain of the truth of her past.]
Ashi: I'm…I am so sorry.
[The Girl tells her story with tears in her eyes.]
The Girl: The last thing I remember seeing was my father standing up to Aku, defying him when he asked for me. Then, Aku destroyed him. Angry, my brother took my father's sword and tried to attack, but Aku destroyed him too, leaving me alone. Laughing, Aku ordered me to work in the mines or face death. Defenseless, I obeyed.
[Ashi feels for her friend.]
Ashi: I am so sorry.
The Girl: Thank you. I just never want what happened to me to happen to anyone again.
Ashi: That's why you wanted to learn self-defense.
[The Girl nods.]
Ashi: I know that nothing can ever replace your family. But, I would rather live knowing that I had a family who loved me and cared deeply for me instead of having a "family" who only raised me to kill and slaughter.
[That last line caught The Girl's attention, but then remembers what was told before.]
The Girl: Oh, that's right. Ashi, I know you left them in the future, but did you have any compassion at all for your family, in spite of them-
Ashi: No! They never loved me. The torture, the pain, the suffering they inflicted on me and my sisters…..no! I have no love at all for my family.
The Girl: Not even your sisters?
Ashi: We were never close. We were raised to hate and to kill. We never thought of each other as family…only as assassins.
The Girl: My goodness. To never know love….that…that just seems….unimaginable. I am so sorry, Ashi. Not having a loving family has to be worse than losing one.
Ashi: How can that be worse?
The Girl: They may go on, but the love they have for you never goes away. I always take comfort in that. All of the happy times I had with my father and brother….they always cheer me up. But, it still hurts that I can never hug them, play with them, or have dinner with them.
[Ashi is taken by that, and ponders that for a while.]
Ashi: I envy you. Having wonderful memories from your childhood, of family who loved you…I would long for that. The only happy memories that I have are with Jack, this kingdom, and you.
[The Girl smiles at that.]
The Girl: Sounds like you found a good family, wouldn't you say? Not to worry….there will be plenty more memories to be made, especially when you marry the Prince. That will be happiest memory of your life…I promise you.
[Ashi smiles.]
Ashi: Even though I had six other sisters, I never really had one….until I met you.
[The Girl smiles and rises to her feet. She goes to Ashi, who also stands. They give each other a big hug. Suddenly, Ashi groans in pain as she grabs her abdomen area. She sits back down on her bed.]
Ashi: (in pain) UUUUUUUGGGGHHHH! NNNNNN-RRRGH!
[The Girl, seeing this before, instantly dashes out of the room.]
The Girl: Oh, not again. I'll get the herbal tea.
Ashi: (in pain) UUUUGHH! Thank you.
[Ashi relaxes on her bed as the pain subsides. Her face still twitches as she starts to sweat. Suddenly, her eyes open wide in total fear.]
[FLASH! We see a black-and-white image of the cave of the Daughters of Aku from the future. We see Aku's finger pointing to a chalice on the shrine. We see Aku's essence being deposited from the finger into the chalice.]
Aku: Here…..
[We see a black-and-white image of the High Priestess removing her mask and drinking the essence.]
[We see a black-and-white image of the High Priestess screaming in the agonizing pain of labor among the many candles as she gives birth to the Daughters of Aku.]
[FLASH! Ashi's wide eyes are trembling in even more fear as more beads of sweat run down her forehead.]
[FLASH! We see a colored image of the time portal in the Tower of Aku open and Ashi and Jack, sword in hand, land from the portal.]
[We see Jack scream as he charges Aku with his sword.]
Jack: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
[We see Aku trying to plead with Jack, but Jack attacks Aku with his sword, making a burning cut in Aku.]
Aku: NO WAIT! AAAAHHHH-!
[FLASH! Ashi, realizing a horrible truth, closes her eyes in agonizing pain and utters to herself.]
Ashi: (muttering in pain) No….No…..please, no!
[The Girl returns to Ashi with a cup of steaming liquid. The Girl is concerned by Ashi's display of pain. The Girl sets down the cup next to Ashi's bed and tends to her friend.]
The Girl: Ashi?! Ashi! Ashi, are you okay?!
[Ashi is grinding out words through her teeth, sweating through the pain of truth.]
Ashi: (muttering angrily) No….No! Please, no!
The Girl: Ashi!?
Ashi: (muttering angrily) NO! NO! DON'T!
The Girl: ASHI!? PLEASE?!
[Ashi swiftly sits up, still sweating beads. She's panting with her eyes wide open.]
Ashi: AAHH! WHAT?! Oh, oh…..
The Girl: Ashi, you're sweating…a lot.
Ashi: Oh, oh, I know. I'm sorry. I just-I just had a severe pain hit my stomach.
The Girl: Let's go to the infirmary.
Ashi: Oh—Okay.
[A moment later that evening, we see a medicine man with The Girl and a couple other helpers surrounding Ashi. In the room as well is Jack, the Emperor and the Empress.]
Medicine Man: The body is well. But, the spirit is troubled.
Emperor: Spirit? Ashi, are you sad?
Ashi: No! I am happier than I ever have.
Empress: Please don't defy. Something has you troubled.
Ashi: I don't know what it is….I wish I did.
Medicine Man: Nurse, can you tell us again what you saw?
The Girl: We just hugged and then she grabs her stomach and groans in pain. When I returned with tea, she seemed to be in a fit. She kept saying "No. Don't."
Ashi: I had a bad thought enter my head. It didn't make sense to me, and then she snapped me out of it.
Medicine Man: Was that the initial pain?
Ashi: No. It was something I felt before, but nothing happened.
Medicine Man: Before? What happened before?
Ashi: A sharp pain in my stomach, but it swiftly went away. Might be a side effect from traveling through the time portal.
Medicine Man: Oh, yes. I remember the Prince said he was sent to the future and you sent him back. I know nothing on mystic or time travel….so, anything may happen.
Jack: Like me and my not aging.
Medicine Man: Yes, yes. But, is this something that you can cope with?
Ashi: I only feel it every once in a while. I think I can manage.
[The Emperor and Empress look at each other, then to Ashi.]
Emperor: Maybe you should refrain from further training….
Ashi: Sir?
Empress: You have been very busy since you arrived. You and Jack have done amazing work training our Army of volunteers. Maybe it is time to step back, at least for a short time.
Ashi: But, the women are nowhere near done.
Jack: I can manage it, Ashi.
Ashi: I know, but I don't want to stop! Listen, if this happens again, then I'll let Ja-uh, The Prince take over all training. But right now, the women and I have a deep understanding. I don't want to lose it.
[The Emperor talks to his son.]
Emperor: Son?
Jack: She's always been a fighter. Probably the strongest I've ever known. I'll keep an eye open. If she wants to continue, I believe she can.
Empress: She's still only human. The body can only do so much.
Jack: Yes, mother, but Ashi is, um….how should I say?
Ashi: I'm more than human….
[Ashi fakes a chuckle and looks at Jack, who plays along.]
Jack: (chuckling, playing along) Yes, yes.
[The Girl still seems confused, but places faith in Jack.]
The Girl: Okay, but I would not want to see her like that again. I was scared.
Ashi: I cannot blame you. It was a sharp pain.
The Girl: Is it close to sleep time?
Emperor: Indeed it is. Come.
Empress: Yes, let's sleep.
[From above the infirmary, we see the entire group leave except for the Medicine Man.]
[The Emperor and Empress walk past the camera, followed by The Girl. Jack and Ashi stay close behind the rest of the group. Ashi is shown deeply concerned. Jack whispers something in Ashi's ear, and Ashi quickly replies.]
Ashi: No, I'm not scared to get married. Come to think of it, I want us to get married right away!
Jack: Right away?
Ashi: Yes. Your mother and father made an excellent point. We've done nothing but work and train since we came home. Just for once, let's do what we want to do.
Jack: What about the volunteers?
Ashi: They need to spend more time with their families too, don't you think?
[Jack nods, with a slight hint of uncertainty.]
Jack: I just don't want the kingdom do be left defenseless.
Ashi: We'll be fine, my love. We'll be fine.
Jack: Very well.
[Jack and Ashi kiss. The image fades to Scene 15.]