[Wind blows across the cliff with a group of around 30 demons gathered on top. Close up on Sukeyuay and then Ehay, as all eyes are fixated on the Initiatory Demon.]
Initiatory Demon: The first three challenges will be to test your physical endurance, then one to show your discernment and one to demonstrate your ingenuity. Timing and precision are important factors in your completion of the tasks as well. Providing you survive these five tasks, there will be a final challenge to tie them all together. [lifts left hand, revealing mark on wrist] Earth. [points to mountain symbol and dissolves to show Manphor’s Mountain Maze] Fire. [points to fire symbol and dissolves to show Hot Coal Burrow] Water. [points to water symbol and dissolves to show treasure in underwater cavern] Air. [points to air symbol and dissolves to show Floating Meditation Space] And Life. [touches the dividing marks then dissolves to show a griffin next to a berry bush] The elements are the key [points to key symbol] to power. [traces down to base of the mark, which holds the same shape of the mound in the distance behind] Now line up to start.
Sukeyuay: Eady-ray?
Ehay: Hn. Ush-hay
[Risho smirks to himself.]
Initiatory Demon: AND GO!!!
[The group of demons take off running towards the mountain. The first to reach the base look around for the next step then start climbing. The other demons follow, scaling the mountain side.]
Sukeyuay: [climbing, panting] Ah man! I didn’t know demons were in love with stupid nature so much!
Risho: [comes up from the side] What’s wrong? Can’t handle it? Heh.
Sukeyuay: [looks at Risho] Well, well, thanks for taking the time to see me. I’d like a word with you!
Risho: It will have to wait; I’m going to impress the Order by being the first to complete the task!
Sukeyuay: Well don’t be too disappointed when…
Risho: Hey! [points] I think they found something over there!
[Sukeyuay turns his head where Risho pointed while Risho crawls under a shrub. Sukeyuay looks back to find Risho gone.]
Sukeyuay: Hey! Where did that creep disappear to in such a short time?
Ehay: You really shouldn’t fall for such simple tricks. [scales over to the shrub Risho was last seen by] Remember he is a ninja of earth; he has the advantage in Manphor’s Mountain Maze. We would do well to follow him closely here. [pushes limbs aside and points to a hole] I presume the “maze” is on the inside where this passage leads.
[Sukeyuay follows Ehay into the passage where they find themselves in a well-lit tunnel connected to various hallways. Ehay is crouched on the ground with a hand stroking the dirt.]
Ehay: That fool left a trail that a monkey could follow. [stands and tilts head] That way.
[Ehay and Sukeyuay rush down a passage. A wall starts to emerge from above to cut them off from their passage of choice. They put on some extra speed and slide under the wall before it reaches the floor.]
Sukeyuay: That was close!
[They continue through the maze, after a turn the hallway shakes and wriggles back and forth. Sukeyuay and Ehay are bumped around then notice the space around them is growing smaller and smaller.]
Ehay: Quick! To the end of the hallway!
Sukeyuay: Yeah, before we’re crushed, [tossed] ugh, but easier said than done.
Ehay: Use your claws!
[Ehay leaps onto a wall and latches on. Digging into the sides, he appears to sprint along the wall like an ape. Sukeyuay jumps onto a wall, but its movements shake all of him except one hand off. He pulls his other hand onto the wall and secures his feet. He crawls sideways to the end of the passage. The opposing wall hits him on his back. He drops the short distance to the ground. In attempt to get up, he cannot even stand due to the caving ceiling. He crawls towards the end midst bashes and bruises. Finally he reaches the end of the passage and pulls himself out as it narrows and pinches his torso, trapping him. Ehay stands surveying the routes, while Sukeyuay pushes and scrapes at the tunnel until he finally twists himself out and plops on the ground.]
Sukeyuay: [dusting self off] You know, they call this Manphor’s Mountain Maze…it makes you wonder who this Manphor really is…
Ehay: Can’t you go for even five minutes without jabbering?
Sukeyuay: Sure, if you want to do this without me.
[Ehay continues to lead the way through the maze with Sukeyuay following.]
* * *
[Back on the cliff where the demons started the initiation, Zerk overlooks the course with Initiatory Demon, Modaruk, and other important looking Zerka Members.]
Zerk: I’m impressed at how resourceful some of our potential members are.
Initiatory Demon: This is a good bunch…only two have died so far.
Zerk: How many were planned to pass the maze?
Initiatory Demon: 20, and we estimate that 6 of them will not make it past the Hot Coal Burrow. At first we planned that only 5, maybe 7 tops would pass initiation, but already they have exceeded our expectations.
Zerk: Good.
Initiatory Demon: Pardon my intrusion, Lord Zerk, but do you think any of these new members will have the ability to rid us of our fox problem?
Zerk: Master Modaruk, what say you on the matter?
Modaruk: Hm. Possibly one or two of those rouges look promising enough to complete the whole operation single-handedly.
Initiatory Demon: Oh! Looks like Manphor got another one! Too bad for that one.
* * *
[Inside the maze Ehay and Sukeyuay make their way through a narrow yet tall corridor with enough holes in the wall to resemble Swiss cheese. Above them, Risho is watching them from one of the holes next to a ledge that leads to another hole.]
Risho: [glare] Those two are close on my trail…I can’t let them show me up! [sticks hand in wall] GRAVEL SPRAY!
[A mass of rocks and debris fall down the corridor towards Sukeyuay and Ehay. They turn at the sound.]
Sukeyuay: Oh give me a break already!
Ehay: [sends out energy blast to dissolve rocks] Stay focused or those rocks will break you!
Sukeyuay: Right.
[Sukeyuay joins Ehay in blasting the onslaught of debris. After the rocks have stopped they continue along the way and turn up one of the side passages. Ehay stops suddenly.]
Sukeyuay: What gives?
Ehay: [eyes roam between few selective passageways] There are multiple routes through here. Our friend Risho took a longer one.
Sukeyuay: Oh, so you detected a shortcut that we could take to get the better of him?
Ehay: We are almost near the end. [starts walking down detour]
* * *
[Risho walks on as rocks are flown at him. He brushes every obstacle aside. He follows a passage while the walls shift around him and stop after enclosing him in a small room with no exits.]
Risho: [pulls at hair] How did this happen? AHHHH!!! [collapses] Oh wait, [stands up] This shouldn’t be a problem! Haha! [backs up, points hands towards the wall causing it to open then shoots through with a boost from behind]
* * *
[Ehay and Sukeyuay walk along. Ehay senses something and turns. A boulder is rushing towards them; up ahead another one races towards them. With a growl, Ehay pushes Sukeyuay down an alternate route, but in turn falls down another. Just as they hit the ground two boulders crash into one another. Ehay stands, brushes himself off, and continues down his new path.]
Hiei Voiceover: Separating is unfortunate, but I gave you the shorter route.
Sukeyuay: Oh great, it looks like I fly this solo from now on. [walks down tunnel]
* * *
[George, Botan, and Teen Koenma continue to communicate from their separate spots in the tavern-like area; showing each character as they talk through their radio devices.]
Teen Koenma: [bored, tapping pencil on paper] I wonder how Yusuke and Hiei are doing.
George: Do you think their disguises worked?
Teen Koenma: [tapping faster] Of course they did! So why are we out here wondering while THEY get to find out the future of Demon World?
Botan: Because you didn’t want to look like an evil hideous demon.
Teen Koenma: I’m the ruler of Spirit World! I’m not supposed to stoop to looking that bad! [breaks pencil in half] Aren’t our disguises good enough? I wanna know what we’re not suppose to know!
Botan: Shh. Keep it down, we don’t want to draw attention.
George: That’s right, sir. Among what we do need, that isn’t one of them!
[Juri as a waitress approaches George.]
Juri: Can I get you anything?
George: [nervous sweatdrop] Oh thanks. I’ll have another O.J.
Juri: [smile] Right. [sweatdrop] With all that talking to your cookie, I don’t think you need any more to drink!
George: [holding up cookie-shaped radio {blooper, radio-shaped cookie}] Oh this? Haheh, [lying nervously] I’d rather talk to my food than play with it, you know? Like mother said, right? See it’s no big deal!
[George takes a bite of the cookie-radio that causes big static in Botan’s and Teen Koenma’s ears that makes Teen Koenma’s mask fall off then his and Botan’s eyes pop.]
* * *
[Risho is speeding through walls laughing manically. Outside the mountain a small explosion from the side indicates Risho busting out. Close up on Risho as the dust clears and he looks around.]
Risho: What? No! [zoom out; despaired scream] I’m back where I started!
