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The Twins of Destiny (known as ''Les Jumeaux du Bout du Monde'' in French, or 天命神童 in Chinese) was a 1991 animated television series produced by French writer Jean Chalopin. It followed the (fictional) quest of two children, Jules and Julie, in their travels across Eurasia seeking to overthrow the Empress Dowager of China, and consequently, release their fathers from imprisonment. The English Dub first aired in Australia on December 27, 1994 on the ABC. The animation was translated and introduced to China in mid-1990s. == Story == The story begins in Peking, China in 1895. Two children, Jules (a Chinese boy), and Julie (an English girl) are born, fulfilling the first part of a prophecy foretold by the soothsayer Laozi. That prophecy describes two children, born to different parents, but in the same place at the same hour (when the moon is at its highest point in the night sky) whose mothers both perish at birth, which begins the end of the tyrannical rule of the Empress of China. In addition, the prophecy also states that in order for this dethronement to occur, the so-called "Twins of Destiny" must replace two stone tablets at the Temple of Heavenly Harmony in the Forbidden City. As foretold, this would lead to collapse of the Empire. The children are also known as the children of the Moon Goddess. The Empress is informed of this prophecy from her astrologer, and sends several eunuchs to kill the infants shortly after their birth. Although their fathers are captured, a member of the "Society of Freedom", Shou Cow, rescues the babies and arranges to send them to France via an arrangement made with a Captain Tournier and his first mate Martin Garçon. Meanwhile, the Empress imprisons the fathers of Jules and Julie, petrifying them to stone with the aid of her court magician Ho Cheng. Upon hearing that the Twins have survived, a pirate, Kung Lee, is sent to kill the twins. Although he successfully takes over the ship conveying Jules and Julie to Europe, he cannot bring himself to murder the children and goes to the empress pretending he has killed the twins. Twelve years pass (possible 1907 year). The twins, now living in France with Captain Tournier whom they believe to be their real father and call him Papa. They attend school. Jules is harassed by a bully at this school. At around this point in their lives, the Twins become careless with their power which the Captain has warned them not to use in public. An example of this is when they use a great burst of power just to move a toy boat to the edge of a pond almost breaking the boat. Later on they use their power to throw an Apple pie into A bully's face after he steals the pie from Jules. They again use the power of protection to save themselves when they almost crash Martin Garçon's car into a tree thereby almost killing themselves. Shortly thereafter the twins, the Captain and Martin Garçon go on a trip to Paris for the twin's 12th birthday. The night before the trip, the twins both have a strange dream; two statues warn Jules and Julie not to travel to Paris. Scared, the twins discuss their dream with Captain Tournier, who tells the twins not to worry and that it was just a nightmare. However, a Chinese ambassador becomes aware of the twins presence when they meet at a theatre, and Jules and Julie must escape. A message is immediately sent to China, and the Empress is made aware of the twin's survival. Enraged, she sends her eunuchs to chase down the twins and kill them. Meanwhile, their gardener, Ho Quan, a member of the Society of Freedom, assists them in escaping from the Chinese ambassadors to France. However, Captain Tournier, dies of a heart attack. Martin Garçon is now guardian of the Twins. Shou Cow makes contact with the Twins, and Jules and Julie are given an explanation to their supernatural abilities. They are finally told of their mission - to travel to Peking and return the Stone Tablets to the Forbidden City. The Twins then begin to travel across Europe, avoiding capture by the Empire's eunuchs, who by now have arrived in France. The twins first goal is to reach Marseilles in France, where they will meet with Shou Cow and other members of the Society of Freedom who will help them with their journey to China. However, they are separated from Martin, but continue to travel, with their powers slowly growing over time. They eventually meet the Great Sebatier, a traveling magician who helps the Twins evade the eunuchs with his magic tricks and illusions, and assists them in their passage to Marseilles. After being imprisoned and forced to work for several days in a sweatshop, Jules and Julie again meet up with Martin. Upon traveling on a ship destined for the Asia, the twins and all aboard are shipwrecked. Upon awakening on a deserted island, the Twins, separated from the other passengers, discover Giovanne, a seemingly supernatural being. He explains that the Twins can learn greater control of their magic by use of the Seven Powers. These Seven Powers allow the Twins to use their magic more powerfully and efficiently. The twins make their way to Greece. They are separated from Martin at this point and are forced to find passage to Turkey by themselves. In Turkey, Julie is kidnapped and made a member of the harem of a local prince (who is revealed to be about the same age as the twins). Jules, with the help of a traveling Arab caravan, is able to rescue Julie, and the prince and his father are extremely apologetic. As they continue through the desert, they are reacquainted with the Great Sabatier, who sacrifices himself to save the twins' lives from the eunuchs and bandits of the desert. They then journey through Northern India, and then reach the mountains of Tibet, where Julie is severely injured by an enemy's knife wound. The twins spend several days in a Buddhist monastery, where Julie is able to recover. At this point, they are reunited with Martin and Professor Ledeaux, but also meet Ho Cheng, whom the twins are unaware of. Initially presenting himself as a traveller, Ho Cheng, the Magician, tries to kill Jules and Julie. They escape, however the Magician manages to steal the tablets during the struggle. The twins, with their power disabled, carry on with Martin and his party. They discover the tablets may be held by Ho Cheng in a hidden temple. They are ambushed, separated from Martin, and Ho Cheng holds them prisoner. After a violent struggle, they are able to recover the tablets, and battle Ho Cheng in his "chamber". Ho Cheng is revealed to be a demon with the true form of a large brain. Using the Seventh of the Seven Powers, the twins are able to damage the brain. Severely weakened, Ho Cheng tries to kill the twins (who are exhausted from their use of the Seventh Power), but is destroyed by Kung Lee the pirate, who makes a reappearance. The Empress hears of the death of her trusted court magician, and fearful for her safety, increases the palace guard. The twins finally reach China, and make their way to the capital, Peking. Upon entering a safe-house run by the Society of Freedom and being reunited with Shou Cow, the twins are given important information; that the voices of the statues they hear in their thoughts and dreams are actually those of their fathers. They make plans with the Society to reach the Gates of the Forbidden City (which has been placed under heavy guard because of the arrival of the twins). As the area is on high alert for the Twins and entrance through the main gate is impossible, they decide to move through the sewers connecting outside of the Forbidden City to the Inside. Unfortunately, during their passage under the city, it begins to rain, flooding the sewers and almost drowning the twins. Using the Third of the Seven Powers, they break the roof, providing them with much needed air. They then use the Sixth Power (stated as Fourth) to raise the water level so they can exit one of the wells and enter the Forbidden City. Entering the Temple of Heavenly Harmony, they almost successfully replace the tablets, but are stopped by a Eunuch, Po Dung. The Society of Freedom launches an attack on the city, and the Empress flees to the Summer Palace. Using a scheme involving fireworks and a hot air balloon, the twins enter the temple. Jules places the tablets on the altar, reads the Chinese inscriptions and through a magical force their fathers, who are imprisoned in stone nearby, are freed. Po Dung and the other Eunuchs launch a final attack. Unfortunately for Jules and Julie, their powers start to fade. It becomes clear that the Seven Powers are tied to the Prophecy. Shou Cow explains that since the Prophecy has now been fulfilled, their power is no longer needed. However, the twins manage to weakly call upon the Fourth of the Seven Powers one last time to attempt telekinesis, and are able to block the entrance to the temple with a large statue. After this last effort, their power completely dissipates. With their intelligence and a carefully planned strategy however, the twins, Martin and the society of Freedom manage to defeat Po Dung and the other eunuchs. The Empress then loses her mandate to rule. Giovanne makes a final appearance, congratulating the Twins on their success. He also reveals that he has appeared throughout their journey, in various forms, including as the famous "Great Sebatier". The rebels, now in charge of the Forbidden City, announce that China is free. Julie is set to return to her home in England, with her father. However, Jules and Julie are terrified at the prospect of being separated from one another, and the twins run away together. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Twins of Destiny」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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