"Exactly. If one would want to follow his path, then there would have to be some sort of example to go with," the priestess agreed, and smiled reassuringly.
"And people actually follow this stuff?"
"But of course. Why wouldn't they? Not only could they become stronger, but they'd be able to follow a way of life that's not only been around for thousands of years, but has had a lot of influence over the centuries."
"Pretty much," Genma put in, getting a far away look in his eyes. "I remember being raised with stories about the adventures of the legendary Ranma Saotome. It was the sort of thing that a little boy couldn't help but enjoy."
"Which is only helped by the fact that we know that he is real."
"True. I figured that he'd be someone to try to learn about...."
"So, why wouldn't someone looking in this direction want to follow in his path."
"You all make it sound so much like this religion's become some major deal...." the green haired woman trailed off.
The priestess frowned, and shook her head. "It's not a religion. To be one of those, there'd have to be some sort of worship going on."
"Which no one does?"
"Not anymore. After he made it clear as to him not wanting that sort of thing, people stopped. Though the gifts still came. But he made it obvious as to what he wants."
"Oh? How so?"
"Some would be 'bigshot' and his followers had gone on a rampage of sorts, killing people, stealing from them, and kidnapping villagers that they'd wanted. They came and tried to present him with a present of multiple girls to be his property."
"They gave him girls?" Pluto asked in disbelief.
"They tried. Apparently, it was expected from some to take prisoners as slaves."
"And what did he do?"
"Made it very clear that he wanted it to stop. After what he did to them, it pretty much did so."
"Well, if there is one from a small village...."
"Oh, but there are plenty more dojos like ours," the priestess corrected her. "The reality is that it's spread to a great many places over the time since it started.
"There is?"
"Yes. We have dojos of the 'Holy Smackdown' around the world. Not that they are really called that, but it's a nickname that seems to have stuck."
"And you don't call this a 'religion'?" asked the Senshi, wiggling around one finger as she considered how dangerous such a situation would be.
"Of course not. In fact, I hear that there are plenty of different forms of worship going on in the dojos, depending on where you go. One place venerates Saint George, but another would hold Buddhist sutras as the most important works. And so on."
"They worship... their own religions?"
The priestess nodded, and gave a small shrug. "It's part of the path of the School. We are supposed to be adapting to different situations, after all. Besides, he insisted that we keep our own religions. Though, we aren't purely called on for mere learning."
"What is he asking you to do?"
"Only to be ready to help protect others. In fact, there is a story, some of which would call a 'legend', if not for the source, where we may be called upon to fight along side ancient magical warriors from the Heavens."
"And who might they be?"
"They are called in the histories by the title 'Sailor Senshi'."
Choking on her own breath, Pluto stared at the woman for a long moment before speaking. "You can't be serious."
"No, it's true. They are said to be the bearers of great powers, though our skills may be of great help to them. In fact, some of the masters and students are actually quite strong themselves."
"Have you managed to... do this so far?"
"Not really...."
"Then you haven't been 'fighting the good fight yet'," the green haired woman murmured.
"Actually, that's not true."
"Eh?"
"We have had times of being called upon to fight to protect the innocent before...." the priestess revealed.
Born to be kings, princes of the universe
Fighting and free, got your world in my hand
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe
No man could understand, my power is in my own hand
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh
People talk about you, people say you've had your day
I'm a man that will go far, fly the moon and reach for the stars
With my sword and head held high
Got to pass the test first time - yeah
I know that people talk about me I hear it every day
But I can prove you wrong cause I'm right first time
Yeah Yeah
Alright
Watch this man fly
Bring on the girls
Dheng Dong simply could not believe it, as he could not understand just how something like this could happen. His tribe had long been roaming the lands to the northwestern border of a land that had wealth and prosperity to spare. Yet, simple trading had not entered his tribe's leaders' minds, as they had coveted that great fortune for their own hands. With the arrival of the dark shaman, and the warrior in black, it had seemed that they would finally be able to succeed in that aim.
And it had looked like that was true. With the warrior leading the fight, they had stormed into the villages, and taken that which they had wanted. Treasures, foods, lands... and women, were all taken to be enjoyed and used as they would like. It was not quite how they would normally have done, but it had felt too good to not take with great enjoyment. After all, who could see anything wrong when one could walk off the latest battlefield, drink one's fill, and grab any girl that struck his fancy for a long night's pleasure?
Apparently, there was much to be concerned over.
Now, on this battlefield, where the forces of the invaded nation were retaliating against the attacks, things were turning out to be quite nasty for his people. Soldiers in armor better than the nomads were meeting the advance with grit and determination. They were strong, well trained, and better equipped than any of the forces that his people had sent.
Yet, it was the sight of solo warriors attacking that really shocked him. A girl who looked to be barely out of her teens leapt high over a group of fighters to swing a war hammer over her head, and into the head of one of his people's generals. Down the pass, a leggy woman with short hair the color of sunshine on sand was cutting down his fellow soldiers with an ease that was only matched by the calm of the equally lovely raven haired foreign archer who was raining arrows upon men as if she was merely picking them off. Nearby a man who was apparently from the kingdom on the other side of his people's lands was calmly blade to blade with one of his people's swordmasters... and was winning.
What really punctuated the scope of what his forces were facing was the sight of what the warrior in black was facing. The young man in the simple clothing did not seem to have any real armor, but then he didn't apparently need it. Instead, he moved with an ease, grace, and skill that made any sort of protection look pointless. With a single blow, he knocked the dark fighter from his horse, and then proceeded to use that same hand to grab the larger man's sword arm. An attempt from the warrior to use his other fist to hit his way free was swatted away, and with a simple twist, the pigtailed fighter slammed his elbow into the taller man with such force that it seemed to make the very air vibrate with the impact.
"Impressive, isn't he?" chirped a voice, shocking the nomad from his thoughts.
Glancing up over his shoulder, Dheng Dong saw a young woman with long dark hair looking back at him, grinning with an almost teasing tone as she caught his attention, while:
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(Posted Mon, 09 Jul 2007 02:39)
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