fandomhigh | Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts Week 4 [Thurs/2nd Period]

Sakura had a stack of handouts to give the class upon arrival today. "This story is in your textbooks as well," she said wryly, "but in order to ensure that everyone has read it, please take a few minutes to review the handout."

She waited about ten minutes before continuing, "Taketori Monogatari, or the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, is considered to be the oldest known narrative in Japanese culture; it's not known who originally wrote it. Tibetan folklore contains a nearly identical story, and certain elements of this tale can also be found in folktales around the world. Wayland the Smith from Norse myth and the Russian tale behind the ballet Swan Lake feature otherworldly princesses with mystical robes; countless stories tell of princes or commoners who must fulfill impossible tasks to win the princess." There was the slightest hint of distaste in Sakura's voice when she mentioned princes. "Similarly, the story of Thumbelina tells of a girl born from a plant. And then there's Momotarou, but . . ."

For a very brief moment, it might have looked like Sakura's brain was breaking.

Moving to the lockbox on the table, she opened it to reveal the wooden box from last week's class, the one they weren't supposed to open. Sakura did open it, and reached in to retrieve a large chunk of what appeared to be dull yellow quartz. "At the end of the bamboo cutter's story, the potion of immortality was burned on the slopes of Mount Fuji -- the mountain of immortality -- giving it its name. I found a copy of some notes in my office, left by the previous occupant, apparently a translation of a tale about two ancient Greek women in search of a fountain of immortality on Fuji. We haven't found any such thing, but as you can see the mountain's link to eternal life is widespread." She placed the rock on a scanning platform set up on the table, and its enlarged image appeared on the triple display screens. "This rock is . . . synthesized from the ashes that were in the box when it was found, and has the same effect, which isn't true immortality but a temporary boost of life energy."

Carefully, she put the rock back into its box, which in turn went into the lockbox for safekeeping. "With the Potion, when it was located, was the garment known as the Angel's Raiment of the Moon, used by Kaguya-hime to return to her people. We don't have it in our possession -- but I believe it's safe with its owner."

Sakura let them consider the implications of that statement for themselves. "All right. Since different people may have different motivations to acquire something like the Potion of Immortality, I've divided the class into three groups. Group One and Group Two are each to come up with one selfish reason to obtain the Potion; Group Three, your intention should be a well-meaning one. Once you've all decided on your reason, try and figure out why all of them could ultimately lead to trouble."

Beat.

"And no, none of you are actually going to get the Potion at the end of class."

Group 1	Group 2	Group 3
Evie Carnahan	Wyatt Halliwell	Dawn Summers
Phoebe Halliwell	Walter Dornez	Balthier
Pippi Longstocking	William Kessler	Elizabeth Delgado
Dean Winchester	Carmela Rodriguez	Haruhi Fujioka
Matilda Wormwood	Kyo Sohma	Tori Hanson
Kabuto Yakushi	Stark	Jo Harvelle
Chris Halliwell	Sam Winchester	Valentine
		Ronald Weasley

[OOC: Class roster and info post. OCD is available for your pleasure not dirty!]

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Haruhi slid herself towards the group she was assigned with, looking uninterested but willing to do the assignment for the sake of her grade. "So," she began simply, almost expecting for someone else to have come up with an idea already.

"So," Valentine replied with a shrug. "We have to find an unselfish reason to want the potion?" He considered this for a moment. "Like world peace and helping others and all of that other rubbish? Seems like a lot of trouble, to me."

"World peace would be asking for too much out of an extended lifespan," Haruhi replied. "I suppose it gives you more time to be helpful and contribute to the good of society and all that."

"You could be trying to save someone else's life," Z said thoughtfully as she joined the group.

Tori made her way over to where her group was situated. She wasn't sure about coming up a well-meant intention.

Hearing Z's suggestion, she nodded. "That would be a good reason."

"But what if the person you wished to save, really wasn't worth saving?" Balthier pointed out as he joined the group. "Not to mention, what is the point of immortality anyways? Even in the legends and stories of the people where I come from no 'good' person wishes for it."

"I, personally, would focus on the actual 'good deed' instead of looking for immortality," Haruhi said. "People help out without it just fine. It would be troublesome to have anyway, as anyone with bad intentions initially would likely go after you because you have it."

"So then, you could that that the 'good' that could come from the potion would be hiding it? Or destroying it? At least in the long run keeping it from those would would abuse it."

"But who decides who would abuse it?" Dawn asked. "Because I know that bringing someone back from the brink of death sounds good, but if I'm a good guy and do it, the bad guys could think I was abusing it, and vice versa if I'm a bad guy."

"Exactly." He smirked. "So, really the best 'good' thing to do that would benefit everyone. Is not to use it at all."

Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts Week 4 [Thurs/2nd Period]

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