Troubles Begin





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day 10: evening
As we were about to go on the bridge on our way to find the crystal, Venus stopped, then pushed
all of us into the bushes, and went in herself. "What?" asked Vicky in an annoyed tone. Venus told
us that she sensed dragons. Sure enough, when Emma peeked out, she saw dragons. Apparently,
they sensed our prescense as well, and searched the area. One dragon found us in the bushes.
We rushed out of the bushes, and a fight began. I really don't know who won, but I think they did. 
Raphael left-hooked one of the Dragon soldiers really good, and we were about to run across the 
bridge, then Dragon Lord took out his sword. Waaaaay below us was heavily rapid water. It
was scary. "What are you doing?" asked Jasmine. Dragon Lord just began smiling, and he cut
one of the ropes holding the bridge up, then left. We knew that moving too quickly too soon 
would surely break the bridge. The other rope was unstable and loosening. Vicky was right behind
me and closest to the area to fall first, so I told her to hold on to my hand. She did so. After the 
dragons crossed the bridge on the other side, one of them severred the ropes on the other side.
Victoria and Geri were going to be the first to fall if we did. And sure enough, we did. After a
few moments of holding on and trying to think of a quick solution, we fell. Screams, hollers, and
bellows went through the air; what a rush!! Into the rapids we fell, but the bridge's rope hoop 
caught on to a rock, and so all of us tried our best to hold on to the bridge. Victoria isn't very
smart when it comes to adventure, or trouble for that matter, so once again I had to save her
(sigh). I held her hand, otherwise she would've floated off to who-knows-where?
        Once on land, everyone was so wet and jittery, and our bearings were so totally lost, that Leo
said that we would have to make camp here for the night. As I'm writing to you, my clothes are soaking
wet, and I'm chilled to the bone, as well as waiting for my turn to go in the ladies bush to change my 
clothes. Geri is in there now. My hair and hair bow are soaked, and Mikey smells like fish,
though he doesn't seem to mind. Donatello said that we're about a day behind, but that the
bridge the dragons took leads in a circle, so we have to getup to the cliff somehow early
in the morning before the dragons return. I have to go to sleep soon, we're required to walk
twice as much in the day because of our delay. Goodnight!
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First day on the move
I wrote to say Good Morning, and Donatello got an anchor on the top of the cliff so that we can all
climb two at a time. It will take 6 turns. Raphael just pulled the back of my shirt, it's time to go.
You don't know how much that pulling-the-shirt-bit annoys me. I think I'm gonna go pat him on
the head. I noticed that that annoys him. Okay, so it takes a little effort to reach up there to his head,
but it's worth it!
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1st day: evening
We walked for _6_ hours today! After 3 hours, Leo called for a break. We ate lunch of some stale
bread, fish that Mikey caught from the river incident, and drank some water. It was nice to sit on 
the grass in the noon. Although the food stinks, it was nice to rest. Then we each parted to use the
"little girls room" and the "little boys room", which were actually bushes on either side of the area
we were in. This place is very bushy. After that, another three hours of constant walking. Our camp
spot now is in a forest. Victoria wouldn't give up one of the pillows that she used for her feet, so
Emma has to sleep on one side of my pillow. Leonardo is getting tired of me writing in what he calls,
"A weird-looking computer", so I have to cease writing for a few days. He is getting to be a bit
impatient, and Venus has to be constantly at him about that. I think that Victoria is doing that to
him because all throughout the whole walk and all that has happened to us, she complains, moans,
groans, and puts up a face. But things are going to get better soon, I hope.
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day 5
Things are starting to get a bit too rough. The soles on our hiking boots are beginning to wear out. There
is a food shortage, and everyone is getting that haggard look. MelB is getting worn out, and she often 
wants to stop. Jasmine is starting to get sores on her feet, as is Vicky (no surprise there). I frequently
get into small arguments with Leo about our start-walking time at 5:00am in the morning. He can be so
pushy! Venus has no time what so ever to practice many Shinobi things, and her skills might be needed
in our defense sometimes. In the evening, instead of meditating like she used to when we started out, she
does more sleeping. I guess we all do that a little more. MelC is picking a thorn out of her foot right now.
Emma is snoring by my head. If I am to be completely rested for morrow, I must go to sleep. Night!
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day 7
Yesterday, as we were walking, Victoria fell. We are all getting weak, tired, starved, malnutritioned, and
over all, unhealthy. Leonardo is keeping Venus company over at her sleeping bag right now cos she doesn't
look too well. But somehow, you can tell that Leo doesn't mind spending time with her. (wink wink)
Anywho, our dinner was some fish roasted over an open fire (best dinner so far), and caviar (fish eggs). The
caviar was devoured in seconds by Mikey. So the rest of us didn't have much. I wanted to beat him up so 
bad when he ate all of that! (Sigh) We're at camp now. Today, Emma almost fell. She got dizzy, but that's
about it. Donatello said that it will be another 2 miles before we reach a body of water that's before the 
desert and Dead Man's Valley. Today, MelB got all up in Mikey's face and started shouting at him and 
arguing with him because he always seems to eat the most food at our meals, and is getting fatter despite
all of our traveling. While the rest of us are getting thinner and less food. He was kind of surprised. I guess
he didn't realize that he ate a lot. I really wish that MelB wouldn't yell at him, he's only being Mikey. But
I guess her shouting did some good, as we got more of the snack this afternoon. I have to go to bed, 
tomorrow we have to walk 2 miles to get a whole bunch of water. Niters!
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day 8
Today we found the body of water. It was a beautifully clear lake with a small, quiet waterfall. Each one of us had 
4 jugs that we had brought with us. Now he have 48 jugs of water. That should be just enough to get us through the 
desert and Dead Man's Valley. Tomorrow we cross the desert. I can go between two trees that are here and see 
it about 1/2 mile in the distance. It's hot here, and MelC killed a snake, so we must definitely be close. 
I hate snakes . . . 
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day 10
Yesterday we crossed a part of the desert. Today, we are resting in a cool part of it. All of our sleeping bags are
huddled in a bunch because of the animals that are out. Spiders (definitely NOT my favorite), snakes, lizards,
coyotes, and goats. Yesterday, while in the middle of the day in the hot sun, Victoria fainted. She was sweating
all over, and the boots were so hot, that she was about to drink from one of her jugs, and she fainted. We took
out the stretcher, and lay her on it. I know that we're all going through a tough time, but Vicky kind of gets on my
nerves. Maybe she shoulda just stayed at Andre's house with Splinter. Then again, she hates rodents. 
Later on in the day, Emma added to the stretcher, then me. I don't know what happened after that because I was hot,
dazed, and above all, unconcious! All I remember is it getting a bit dark, and being set down to where I'm laying now.
You know, the desert is crazy. It's burning hot in the day, and bitter cold at night. Talk about fickle weather! Well,
tomorrow is Dead Man's Valley. I hear that it won't be too pleasant. After the Valley is the oracle, where we will
find the crystal. Uh oh, I thought I heard Dragon Lord! I better put out my candle and stop making noise on this
keyboard, night!
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day 11
Yesterday, Donatello told us that it will only be a couple more hours for Dead Man's Valley. Today, we all found
out that he saw a mirage, we all did. It was really another day's journey. The Dragons were at the last campsite last
night. Leo saw tracks in the sand, and they came pretty close to Emma's sleeping bag. Through the desert we walked.
Leonardo seems to have the strongest drive to reach there. The rest of us, except Venus, have talked about 
abandoning the mission. I mean, we're literally killing ourselves for our world, and nobody will even know! This morning,
Geri snatched away Mikey's plate, and put the excess food back in the bags. Then gave his plate back with a small 
amount like ours, back to him. She called him greedy too. Mikey got upset because he was so hungry, we all agreed
that we'll dish out his food, he's too much of a baby sometimes. MelC fell when we were out walking, she was dazed,
tired, starved, and her ribs were beginning to show. MelC always tries to make sure that the rest of us get as much
food as we can get. At lunch, she got a typical "Mikey" plate. Leo said that he'll let us all use the two tents tonight
because we were worried about dragons.
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day 11: evening
We crossed the last 3rd of the desert, and entered Dead Man's Valley. At this site, no one is asleep. We are all scared
half to death. Dragons could be anywhere, there is a bubbly sound in the distance, and everything is really weird. On
top of all that, we had to fry a rattler for dinner, gross!! All the meat is gone, and MelB are the cheddar cheese. She
got sick and commented, "I thought it was bleu cheese." What does _that_ tell ya? So, Raph buried it in the desert sand.
One lucky lizard will have rotting cheese for dinner. We only have 10 water jugs left, and we drink two a day. Hopefully
we only have four or five more days of this journey. In desert crossing today, Emma fell on her knees and began
crying. She was so upset about our conditions, and the food, and no baths, and some stuff about missing her "mum"
(her mom). I had to have her arm around me because she was terribly upset, everyone was too weak to bring out the
stretcher. Ah well, Donatello said that this valley will only be two more days, then a waterfall, then is the oracle. Uh oh,
Dragon alert! I have one of my hands on Emma's mouth so that she doesn't scream. Night!
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day 12
Right now we're camping in a rock grove in Dead Man's Valley. This place is creepy, scary, you name it! Today, we were
walking along a path of bones and skeletons of who-knows-whats and whoever-they-ares. Then, there was a pit of lava
that we had to cross. We couldn't get across by stepping in it (otherwise we'd have no feet), so Venus pushed some huge
boulders into the pit. One melted, so we don't know what that was, but the others stayed. Leo crossed to make sure that
it was safe. It was. The only one left to cross at the end was Vicky. She has been the weakest and crankiest. We learned
not to mess with her much. When Vicky crossed, she was very tired, that she almost fell between two boulders, but
Donatello caught her, and brought her across. We had to cross several lava pits, and leap over bottomless pits. It was
scary. You could even hear eerie sounds like bellowing. But the strangest thing yet is that it's always night time here! The
only way you can tell between night and day, is because of how the clock looks, but otherwise, we'd be in a fix! I can tell that 
the dragons are closer to us now than ever. All of us had to hide behind some boulders because there was one dragon in the 
area. He looked around for a moment, then left. It was weird, as if he was scouting the area. Thank goodness that 
tomorrow we get to camp at a waterfall! Hopefully . . .  We had to go without dinner tonight. We only have 1/3 of the
snake MelC killed last night, left over. There are no animals in this valley. Emma has no more doughnuts, and
Mikey has no more sardines. My stomach is grumbling, but I know that the snake is for morrow's dinner. The food
that we have left altogether are: 1/3 of a snake, 8 water jugs, stale bread and bagels, sweet tree sap that's 
starting to turn (yuck!), mushrooms from the campsite in the forest, stale potato chips, and some rotting fruit
pizza (wherever _that_ came from). Things are hard, very hard.
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day 13
Leo let us stop a whole hour early for lunch! I guess he liked getting out of Dead Man's Valley
as much as we did. Right now, I'm sitting at the edge of the spring, typing. Everyone smells, and 
is a little dirty, so us humans are going to take a shower. In fact, it already started. So the boys don't see
anything, Jasmine hung a few blankets around the water's edge. Geri and Vicky are in the shower now. Next,
it's Me and Jasmine, MelB and MelC, then Emma. We might camp here tonight. But Leo said, "don't push it",
I guess you can't have it all. The oracle is only a day away. I hear it's a mysterious place with everything eerie, 
which seems to be the theme of this whole mission. I just hope that there are no unexpected guards. Well,
Vicky and Geri are out, and while having their towels (or blankets) on, are drying in the sun. I think that we'll 
all do the same. It's Jasmine and I now. I'll write you this evening, bye!
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day 13: evening
After all of us had our showers, dried off, then ate lunch of some fish that Donny caught from the spring, we
continued on our way. Vicky was very cheery by this time since we had a decent meal and were sparkling clean,
although we had no soap. We are camping in an area close to the river. I hear rushing water, and it's very
soothing. We can vaguely see the oracle from here. It is like a beautiful rainbow in the distance. No one is sleeping
right now, I guess that we're all just thrilled about one of the best days. But still, I fear that tomorrow is going to
be a big adventure, so I'll create a different file for that, ah, maybe not. I think that the dragons are a day behind
us because I heard them complaining about their buggy breaking down. I just hope it's the truth. 
Well, Goodnight!
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day 14: the oracle
Today, right now, we're all in this way cool place and we're gonna actually sleep in BEDS tonight! You wanna know
how? Well, we entered the oracle, it was like a crystal place and it reflected light from the sun which
made it look a rainbow in there. We suddenly heard a woman's voice. "Stop! Go no further until you
identify yourselves." said the voice. Each of us mentioned our names. "Why are you here?" asked the voice.
"To destroy the crystal that contains all evil." said Venus. Then, a nice woman in a sparkling white
gown, blue eyes, silver slippers, golden blonde hair, and a smiling face came out of th midst
of crystal rainbows. "My name is Angeline. I've been waiting for 300 years for someone to destroy
that thing." said Angeline. "I hope that you are the ones who have the power to do it."
"We are." said Jasmine.
Then Angeline waved her hand, and a corridor appeared. She led us girls to a large room containing
8 beds, and lots of closet space, and entertainment, as well as a table of nutritious foods! The boys 
got a room of 4 beds, entertainment and food from what I heard. "I scanned that this is what you want
most from your minds. There are a few dresses by Gucci in the closet. You must have had a long
journey." said Angeline to all of us. "When you are ready, I will show you the room of evil, where that horrid
little crystal lies. Good day to you." she said in a kind, warm voice, then left us to our rooms. Vicky is
wearing a little, black, Gucci dress (of course) right now, while dancing to some music with the others.
Hey, I gotta join in, bye!
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day 16
This is pure bliss. Vicky had all the Gucci dresses, leather suits, make-up, and shoes she could ever
dream of. Emma has a whole ton of doughnuts, Mikey has his own snacks, and life is much better. The
last 2 nights, we all ate like pigs. We gained some weight back, our faces aren't as pale, we are stronger,
healthier, and happier. Emma is happy because she no longer feels sick. MelC gained her weight back, well,
most of it anyway, and all is good. Today we are supposed to visit the room where that "horrid little crystal"
is. Uh oh, I heard Angeline scream. Not good. Hold on for a moment........................
I gotta go, the dragons are here! Angeline gave us the key to the room, told us where it is, then the dragons took her 
away. Leo is tugging at me, I gotta stop that tugging-at-the shirt thing!Bye!
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