Yusuke Voiceover: Aw man, this would be something right up Kurama’s alley; he would be able to get the plant into the animal…he’d use his spirit energy to manipulate the plant…hey that’s it! If I can transfer some of my spirit energy into the berries, the positive of life should cancel out the negative of poison!
[Sukeyuay takes a step back and holds the twig in both hands and closes his eyes. Blue energy is transmitted from his palms to the berries. The griffin tilts its head. Sukeyuay again holds the branch out to it.]
Sukeyuay: Come on boy, it’s all right…
[The griffin steps and nibbles the berries.]
Sukeyuay: There, you see? It’s all good now.
[The griffin eats all the berries off the twig and then goes up and nuzzles its head under Sukeyuay’s arm]
Sukeyuay: Hey now, it’s all right. Heh. Well I got to get going.
[Sukeyuay walks through the forest then spots a very torn-up and bruised Risho walking along too.]
Sukeyuay: [calling out] Fancy meeting you here! What happened? Got hit by a steam truck?
Risho: You should talk! But I’m still going to beat you! [starts running]
Sukeyuay: [runs after Risho] Wanna bet?
[Risho and Sukeyuay keep running. Sukeyuay pokes ahead. Then Risho puts on more speed and passes Sukeyuay. This continues until they arrive at the same time back at the starting cliff. Both support their hands on their knees with drooped heads, panting.]
Zerk: Ah, now we are all here.
Initiatory Demon: Fifteen survivors, that’s a pretty impressive ratio to what went in. The time has come for the final test of your powers. Come this way.
[The group of surviving demons follow the Initiatory Demon towards the mound that has been in the distance.]
Zerk: Remarkable little troop.
Prominent Figure #1: Yes. Perhaps we’ll keep 10 of them…
[Close-up on Modaruk tapping his pocket that faces away from the other prominent figures.]
* * *
[Teen Koenma, Botan, and George still in their disguises, sit on a portion of a large mound, looking into the distance.]
Botan: It was nice of Modaruk to let us know of the initiation and where we could see it.
Teen Koenma: Yes, too bad that it was mostly over by the time we got here! At least it looks like Yusuke and Hiei have survived thus far.
George: But Koenma, sir; if we already have an in with this guy, why do we need Yusuke and Hiei to join too?
Teen Koenma: Because you blue ninny, that’s the way that [whole body shakes] AHHH! [pulls out handkerchief radio] Modaruk is sending another message.
Botan: What does it say?
Teen Koenma: [looks intently at the handkerchief as it beeps] Holy Smokes! We got to get out of here! We’ve been sitting on top of a dragon!
Botan: [grabbing onto George] AHHHH!
George: [grabbing onto Botan] A dragon?!
Teen Koenma: Quiet! We need to slip off as inconspicuously as possible! If those other demons catch us here, they will have our heads!
[All three nod seriously then find a crevice to slide down.]
* * *
[The Initiatory Demon and following group stop a lengthways from the mound.]
Initiatory Demon: Alright now. You have all done very well to make it this far. You should all love this last task. In fact you can think of it as a reward. You have braved the elements and now is the time for you to have power. [signaling the mound] This here is Draconta, and all you have to do is find an item here to be the key to your power. Happy Hunting!
[The Initiatory Demon steps aside to let others proceed then heads back to the cliff while the group of surviving Demons approach Draconta as a group.]
Sukeyuay: Funny, the name sound’s a lot like dragon.
Ehay: If you couldn’t tell, that mound on which we are to find our keys is actually a dragon. We should all approach cautiously and not disturb its slumber.
Demon #1: A real dragon huh? Did you hear that Marduk?
Marduk: [a snake-like demon] In that case, I’m going for dragon’s blood!
Demon #2: To drink and gain the ability of talking to animals?
Marduk: No. To bathe myself in it and gain dragon-like invincibility.
Sukeyuay: Are you sure about that? I mean dragons are an endangered species. If you think about it, they really aren’t that invincible.
Risho: Shows how much all of you know, I know the best treasure a dragon can offer and I’m going to get it!
Sukeyuay: Oh really? And what would that be?
Risho: [self-confident] Like I’m going to tell you! [smug] You should really learn how to do research.
Ehay: Quiet fools!
[The group arrives at the base of the mound. They stand for a moment contemplating their first moves. A few start to cautiously climb up it, careful not to disturb the dragon’s slumber. Marduk walks around the base of the mound, looking at it critically. As the dragon sleeps on, other demons become bolder Sukeyuay follows Ehay in softly scaling the side of the mound.]
Sukeyuay: [looks around] Hey, I wonder where Risho disappeared to.
Ehay: [annoyed] Weren’t you the one keeping tabs on him?
Sukeyuay: I’m surprised you’re not curious as to why he’s with this group. And he did say that he knew the BEST treasure a dragon could offer.
Ehay: So why didn’t you choose to follow him instead of pestering me?
Sukeyuay: [mumbling] Well it’s not like I’m his babysitter or anything...
[As all the Demons have started searching the mound, Marduk has stopped by an area that resembles a huge hind leg. He smiles to himself and pats the limb. He slithers up to right under the joint and brandishes a claw. He then sticks the mound with his claw and runs an incision carefully between scales. There is a low rumble and then a high pitch bird-like screech. Around the mound the demons freeze in caution. Quickly Marduk squeezes his right foot and hand into the cut he made. As the mound starts to move and the leg he is on straightens up, Marduk fits in his body and head. Draconta inhales deep as the body expands.]
* * *
[Teen Koenma, Botan, and George descend from the opposite side. They fall flat onto Draconta’s tail. They hold on to the tail as it moves away from the body and sweeps across the plain.]
Botan: [screaming] Help me!
George: [wailing] I want my mommy!
Teen Koenma:[moaning] WAHHHH!
[The legs of Draconta pick off up the ground. Marduk starts to bring his tail and left limbs in. The leg he is on shakes forcibly until he falls out and takes a 70 ft drop to the ground. He turns to land on his right side then rolls onto his back. The leg he was in extends and the foot drops on top of him. Using his right arm to shield him the foot lands on the arm without crushing Marduk as Draconta takes off to flight.]
Marduk: [blinks, looking at his arm then regains composure] HA! It worked! I AM INVINCIBLE!!! No one can stop me now!
[Draconta flies through the air while the demons and other passengers clutch on.]I
Ehay: [shouting to Sukeyuay] You’re on your own!
[Ehay maneuvers up to Draconta’s back while Sukeyuay is still clutching to the side.]
Sukeyuay: [mumbling] How very considerate of you…thanks.
[As Draconta loops upside-down one demon falls to his doom. The left head, which portrays a western dragon, lashes out breathing fire along the back until it returns upside-up. Then the right head, which depicts an eastern dragon, exhales dark clouds while descending in flight. The clouds swirl together and lightning starts to flash.]
* * *
Zerk: So they finally woke up our sleeping beauty.
Modaruk: Thanks to that one rapscallion. He has received his key to power now.
Initiatory Demon: I believe that one is called Marduk.
Zerk: Similar to yours, Modaruk. Perhaps he can be as much of a dragon-slayer as you.
Modaruk: His immersion wasn’t complete. Heh. He has left himself an Achilles heel to keep him humble.
Zerk: He may not realize that now, but we can use his mishap to our advantage later.
* * *
[On the dragon Ehay darts across Draconta’s back. He clutches onto shrubbery on the back as Draconta flies upside-down again. Again the Western Head breaths fire which this time singes a nearby demon to a crisp. At the same time, the light reflects off of something shiny near the base of the dragon’s necks that catches Ehay’s eye. His eyes are fastened to the area until another breath of fire lights up the reflection again. He makes his way over. Arriving at the necks, Ehay finds the glimmer peaking out between closely knit branches. One opening is barely wide enough for his hand to squeeze through, after breaking through a fine inner net. Inside he feels many small spheres, but in grabbing them, his fist cannot come out of the hole. He is able to secure one between the knuckles of two fingers and brings it out. As he gazes at the stone, his other hand grabs some moss and dirt to stop up the hole he made. In the shiny stone he sees a reflection of Hiei even though he is still as Ehay.]
Hiei voiceover: The feeling I get looking at this…this calmness…and yet, it churns something inside…
[Ehay then sees his mother, Hina, cradling him up near his face. He immediately shoves the stone into his pocket.]
Ehay: This shall fuel my power.
[He gets up and walks away through the bushes on Draconta’s back. Rain starts to fall.]
* * *
[Sukeyuay clambers along Draconta’s side amid the twists and turns of the dragon’s flight.]
Yusuke Voiceover: Stupid test…stupid monster-dragon…and stupid whoever woke him up! How are we supposed to find anything when gravity keeps flipping over? I wonder where Risho went. He seemed pretty confident in what to do.
[Thunder strikes right behind Sukeyuay. He grabs hold of some foliage tightly. Draconta turns in a sideways loop causing Sukeyuay to slip and is now only holding on by the tuft of plants. His hand slips further with every trough. After the third dip, he has been shaken from all the turf except one soft blade. Under his weight, the blade gives causing Sukeyuay to fall with it still in hand.]
Sukeyuay: [falling] WOAH!!!
