The sun's rays beat down on the sandy plains of the Western Desert, as Puss in Boots and Dulcinea strolled through the Thieves Market gathering supplies.
"Hmm, let's see, all we need now are eggs and fabric." Dulcinea said to herself as she looked at her shopping list.
"Already have them." A voice said from behind, as Dulcinea turned around and saw Puss, who already had the last of the list's items in his paws. Dulcinea giggled at him as she checked off the last of the items on their list, and put the list into her boot pocket. Then she helped Puss gather up their groceries into a couple wooden crates, and carry them as they headed to their light blue, wooden cart.
"Whoa...this is...a heavy load." Puss said as he struggled to hold on to his crate that contained half of the groceries. Then he and Dulcinea arrived at their cart, as Puss placed his half of the groceries on the ground behind the cart. Puss just stood still with his paws on his knees, panting. Dulcinea placed her half of the groceries on the ground, as she looked at Puss, who was still panting and standing still like a statue.
"Are you going to help me with these, or are you just going to keep standing there?" Dulcinea said jokingly with a smirk on her face. Puss turned his head to Dulcinea as they both chuckled at that. Then, they began to take their groceries out of the crates and load them into their cart. But, on the other side of the market, a mysterious figure arrived.
It was a boy, who looked about fifteen years old. His skin was light colored, and his hair was short and dark brown. And his eyes were dark green. He wore a sleeveless white shirt, which had a few small rips accross the chest area. He also wore a black leather vest, long black pants, which had a few rips at the thighs and calves, and black leather boots. He was also carrying a large white sack over on his right shoulder.
Some of the bandits stared at him, they were surprised that a child was there. But, he decided to not pay attention to them. He just walked over to the bar. He sat down on a wooden stool and put his large bag down beside him. Theb he opened it and pulled out a small brown sack. He took out one coin from the sack and placed it on the bar table. The bartender, Raul, walked over to the boy and took the coin.
"Well, what can I get you, senor?" He asked.
"Water." The young boy replied. His voice was deep, but not too deep. Then Raul grabbed a mug and poured some water in it, and he placed the mug on the bar table in front of the boy. The boy grabbed the mug and took a sip and puts his head down.
"So, senor," Raul stared,
"what brings you to the Thieves Market?" The boy didn't reply, he just lifted up his head and glared at Raul.
Raul slowly backed away, he could tell that the boy didn't want to be bothered, so he decided to leave him alone. The boy put his head back down, looking into his water, then he took another sip. But behind him, a bandit was staring at him with a mischievous look in his eyes.
"Hey, Luis, check out pequeno over there." The bandit said to another, who's name was revealed to be Luis. He turned around and looked at the bar area and saw a young boy sitting at the bar. He chuckled deviously.
"Come on, Miguel, let's have some fun." Luis said to the other bandit, who's name was Miguel. Then they both slowly approached the young boy, who was sitting in silence while he slowly sipped his water. They walked up behind him, and then Miguel slammed his right hand down on the bar table.
"Well, hello there, senor." Miguel started.
"What is a half pint like you doing here all alone?" The boy said nothing and just continued to sit still, with an annoyed look on his face.
"You know," Luis spoke up, "it's dangerous around these parts." He said, trying to shake the boy. But, the boy just slowly lifted his head up and turned his sights to Luis and glared at him.
"Dangerous? I don't see anything dangerous." He said, in a mocking tone. Luis had a frustrated look in his eyes, but then, he saw the boy's large bag.
"That's a pretty big bag you got there, pequeno." He said, as Miguel then unsheathed his knife while the boy wasn't looking, and raised it behind the boy's back.
"I think we'll take that off your hands." Luis said, and then, Miguel brought his knife down.
Meanwhile, Puss and Dulcinea were finally finished packing up their groceries into their cart.
"Alright, now that that is over with, let us head back to San Lorenzo!" Puss said as he and Dulcinea walked to the front of their cart. Puss climbed up first, then he extended his right paw to Dulcinea so that he can help her up. She giggled as she placed her right paw into Puss's, and he pulled her up onto the cart. Then Puss grabbed hold of the horse's reins, as Dulcinea turned around to get one last look of the Thieves Market, but then, her eyes suddenly widened and she had a shocked look on her face. And just as they were about to leave...
"Puss, stop!" Dulcinea yelled out, startling Puss. He let go of the reins and turned to Dulcinea.
"What is wrong, Dulcinea?" He asked, concerned.
"Look!" Dulcinea worriedly exclaimed, pointing to what she was looking at. Puss turned his head and looked in the direction Dulcinea pointed to, then his eyes widened as he looked at what beheld him. He saw two bandits bothering a young boy at the bar area. Then, one of the bandits standing behind him, unsheathed a knife and raised it to the air. Puss growled in anger and immediately went to unstheathe his sword. But then, he saw the bandit bring the knife down, to end the young boys life.
But, to Puss's and Dulcinea's surprise, the boy quickly turned around and grabs the bandit's, Miguel's, arm before he could stab him. Miguel was stunned, it was like the boy sensed the attack. Then, the boy grabbed the side of Miguel's head, and slammed his face through the edge of the bar table with tremendous force, breaking through the wood, and Miguel fell to the ground, completely unconscious.
Puss and Dulcinea were in utter shock. Then they saw the boy turn his head toward the other bandit, Luis, and he growled angrily at him. Luis was absolutely terrified. Then he immediately unsheathed his sword and swung it down towards the boy. But, the boy quickly rolled off of his stool, causing the blade to strike the stool instead, and the boy landed on the ground. Luis tugged on the blade, trying to get it free, but it was wedged in the wood. Then the young boy quickly stood up from the ground, and delivered a hard kick to Luis's forearm as a loud crack was heard. Luis stumbled backwards, screaming in agony as he gripped his broken forearm. Then, the boy grabbed his empty water mug, and smashed it across the side of Luis's face, and he fell to the ground, out cold.
Puss and Dulcinea just stood still, wide eyed with their jaws hung open in utter shock and awe. The boy looked around, and he saw every bandit in the market staring at him in fear and shock. He let out a low growl.
"Like I said," He said, as he grabbed his bag and threw it over onto his shoulder,
"I don't see anything dangerous." He said as he started to walk away from the bar and the unconscious bandits to leave the Thieves Market. Then Puss and Dulcinea snapped out of their shock.
"Puss, we should go talk to him!" Dulcinea exclaimed
"Si, let us go!" Puss agreed, and then he and Dulcinea jumped off their cart and started to run after the young boy. The boy heard distant foot steps from behind, and he turned around and saw two cats running toward him.
What, cats?, Ugh, why can't I be left alone? Then, he quickly turned around and ran. The two cats, Puss in Boots and Dulcinea, called out to the young boy as they ran. But the boy ignored them and just kept running. Then he finally reached the end of the Thieves Market, and then ran away into the hot open desert. Puss and Dulcinea reached the end of the Thieves Market where they saw the young boy leave. They scanned the plains of the desert for any sign of the boy, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Puss, we need to go find him!" Dulcinea said urgently.
"I know, Ducinea. But, we need to get back to San Lorenzo, they are probably wondering where we are." Puss said as Dulcinea looked at him with a surprised look.
"But, Puss, we can't just leave that boy out there, he may need help!" Dulcinea said. Puss sighed, as he then looked at Dulcinea.
"Dulcinea, look, the situation we are in, it is like looking for a needle in a hay stack. But I, Puss in Boots, promise that we will find that boy. This I swear!" He said as he held Dulcinea's paws in his. Dulcinea sighed as she put her head down, she desperately wanted to go find that boy, but, she knew that Puss was right. Then she looked up at Puss.
"Okay, Puss" She said, softly smiling. Puss smiled back and he gave Dulcinea a hug. She smiled as she embraced him. Then they broke up the hug, and walked back to their cart. They got back onto the cart and Puss grabbed the horse's reins.
"To San Lorenzo, Babieca!" Puss commanded to Babieca, who was the horse pulling the cart. Then Babieca pulled the cart and he, Puss and Dulcinea headed on thier way back to San Lorenzo.
But, back at the Thieves Market, a figure, hidden in the shadows, stared at the two cats who were already a long distance away. Then, the figure stepped out to reveal a muscular, light skinned man who looked about six feet tall. He had no hair on his head, but he had a black mustache and a short black beard. His eyes were a very dark brown, almost black, and he had a long deep scar on his right eye. He wore a torn and dirty white short sleeved shirt, and a black leather belt, which had several blades attached to it, that went around his chest. He had another black leather belt that went around his waist, which had a long, curved sigle edged sword attached to the left side. He also wore long black pants, and black leather boots.
Well, well, Puss in Boots, He thought as he then looked at a wanted poster, Puss in Boots' wanted poster, as he held a knife in his hand.
At last I have found you. I hope you enjoy your day...especially since it will be your last! Then he stabbed the blade through Puss's face on the poster. Then he turned around to several masked thugs, who were armed with swords, knives, and crossbows.
"Come on boys, let's go kill ourselves a gato." He said to his men in a deep and gruff voice, as he chuckled deviously. Then, he and his thugs left the market, and followed the tracks of Puss and Dulcinea's cart. But far away from the Thieves Market, the young boy heard what that man said, even though he was miles away from the market. He stopped walking and turned around, seeing the Thieves Market in the far distance. He thought for a moment. He wanted to keep going, he wanted to be alone. But, he knew that he could not let those thugs carry out their murderous scheme.
That's not happening on my watch, punk! Then, he began running, as he followed the thugs.