Another eye was watching. To be specific, another PAIR of eyes. Sly, evaluating, calculating eyes, hidden in the shadows of a nearby building that looked for any potential weakness, any bit of a weakness in security. [THERE!] the eyes noticed an open and unguarded window near the roof. The gleam of a confident grin broke through the darkness.
The Scarab Jewel, named for it's similar shape to the insect, sat comfortably on it's burgandy pillow under a protective plexiglass case upon it's showcase pedistal in the middle of a room surrounded by various other Egyptian artifacts, a sarcophagus, A slab of hieroglyphics, and mummified cats.
The two guards standing on either side of the case with their arms crossed, one slightly overweight, the other thin and needle-like, stood poised and ready for any signs of suspicious activity or intrusion.
Suddenly, from the darkened doorway to the left, there began a calm, haunting melody, being played by a woodwind instrument of some kind. The tone was so sooting, and deep at the same time, that it seemed to invite a sense of fatigue. Sure enough, the overweight guard to the left, upon his ears being tuned to the melody's frequency, began to let out a long, tired yawn, his breathing becoming more relaxed, and his eyes beginning to droop.
"Come, on, Phillipe.. Boss isn't gonna like to hear you're getting tir.." The rail thin guard began to chastise his friend, without even turning his head, when suddenly, there was the sound of a body hitting the ground behind him, the guard spun around to see Philippe's large frame sprawled on the ground!
"HUH?! Phillipe, are you..?!" The guard began with a jolt, as he started to rush to his friend's aid, it suddenly hit him.. That same enrapturing melody that whispered softly into his ears, up the skull cavity, where the hypnotic melody seized upon the thalamus, and.. lights out.. The thin guard slumped over and fell to the ground as well...
Back at the door to the hallway, the Cheshire cat-like grin formed it's wide and toothy moon shape again. Then, with a sudden [WOOOSH], an orange streak dashed into the room, before coming to a stop in front of the case, revealing that it was a girl, a teenaged girl dressed in a costume that made her look like a fox, with fox ears, a tail wrapped around her waist and a reddish-orange orange mask. Her hair was long and black, some of it tied into two ponytails at the front. Over her shoulder was slung a small light blue canvas handbag.
The Fox girl eyed the jewel under the case with a smug smile on her face. She opened her bag and took an aerosal can out. She then pointed it in the direction of the case and gently sprayed the mist all around. Just as she'd expected, an intricate web of thin red laser triggers criss-crossed around it. [Hmph.. Piece of cake.. They thought THIS would stop me?!] She scoffed internally. Placing her aerosol can back inside the bag, she took the gleaming silver flute in her hands and raising it to her lips, she closed her eyes thoughtfully, and began playing another deep, haunting tune, which echoed off the walls of the room with an ethereal reverb.
All of a sudden, the top of the glass case began to glow with a yellow, unearthly light, accompanied by a low, glowing hum that almost immediately reached a piercing creschendo. Then, amazingly, the jewel actually rose up, then began to float up on it's own, as if guided by an invisible hand, before rising right through the top of the case, as though it had disintigrated! Then, as the fox girl furrowed her brow from immense concentration as she continued to play without missing a beat. With the nimbelist of motions, the jewel glided through the beams, until it hovered right next to the fox girl just as she finished her tune. As soon as she hit the last note, she quickly took a handkerchief from the bag and snatched the prize right in mid-air with a triumphant grin!
Abruptly, there came the sound of a young woman's voice somewhere nearby, "Excuse me, I don't think that belongs to you." it objected.
With a start, the fox girl's head whipped around in surprise to the direction of a Princess' sarcophogus, as it creaked open.. To reveal the superheroine, Ladybug standing in a relaxed pose within! "So, why don't you just go ahead and put it back, VOLPINA?!" She addressed the fox girl with a challenging expression.
Volpina's look of shock then turned to one of playful engagement, as she tossed the hanky covered jewel into her bag, replying arrogantly with traces of an Italian accent "No thanks! I believe I'll keep it!" Then, quick as a flash, she turned on her heel, and fast as a fox itself, darted from the room!
"Hey! Get back here!" Ladybug called out with fury, as she sprinted off in pursuit.
Through the labyrynthian halls and exhibit rooms, Volpina dashed, attempting to make good her escape, yet the just as agile Ladybug kept close behind.
"Give it up, Volpina! You're not gettin' away this time!" The heroine shouted defiantly as the theif dashed into the darkness of another exhibit room marked "Medeval England".
The room was practically pitch dark, save for the.. Slightly lighter amount of darkness coming from the entraceway. Now, Ladybug was alert, ready for anything as she scanned the room with her eyes and ears.
"Careful, Ladybug, she could be anywhere.." Tikki, Ladybug's good luck Kwami warned her from one of her earrings.
The heroine said not a word, merely giving an affirmitive nod, not even noticing the vaguely human, long eared shape behind her near the doorway, already starting to raise a cylindrical object to it's mouth area and beginning to play a tune as it slowly backed away into the hall.
"A-HA! There you.. Were.." Ladybug began with a triumphant tone of voice, pointing in Volpina's former location, before her hand and face melted with disappointed flaccidity. "Come on out, you fiendish fox!" She exclaimed, attempting to regain her heroic moxy.
Suddenly, there came the sound of metal clanging against the floor, as the flute melody continued.
"Hmm?" Ladybug wondered aloud, as the strand of hair atop her head formed into a shape that resembled a question mark. "What the heck is that?" As a menacing large black shadowed being began to loom abover her from behind.
"AH! Ladybug! LOOK OUT!" Tikki warned loudly.
The heroine turned her head back just in time to see a large suit of armor, moving on it's own, swinging a large sword down upon her! "YAAAHH!" She shouted with a terrified expression, her hair strand erect like an exclamation point. She managed to jump out of the way before the deadly blade slammed into the linoleum floor, causing a tremendous [CUURASH]
Despite the initial burst of fear, Ladybug took advantage of the situation, lept into the air, and gave a powerful roundhouse kick that knocked the armor's helmet clean off! However, the iron behemoth simply raised its blade in another threatening manner with a great heave!
"AH!" Ladybug exclaimed before she retrieved the yoyo at her hip, and quickly swung it around the massive blade, then, giving a massive, straining pull as though she were playing tug of war, she managed to pull the sword, along with the armor's arms, away! The suit then collapsed into a lifeless, untidy heap!
"Finally! Now, where is that sly fox?!" Ladybug sighed with relief, before regaining her determined demeanor.
Grinning, the site of her escape nearly in sight, Volpina chuckled at how simple to best the so called "heroine of Paris". [THERE IT WAS..] The open skylight she had sneaked through. Bearing the claws in her gloves, the beautiful thief stuck them into the wall, and rapidly ascending with the grace of a spider!
Leaping through the open pane she'd removed prior, the cunning girl made a racing start for the next rooftop, when suddenly, the slender, leather clad form of Chat Noir slid in front of her!
"Sorry, Madmoiselle, but you know what they say when a Chat Noir crosses your path.." He teased.
"Sorry, cat boy, but I have a feeling that YOUR luck just ran out!" Volpina countered, before once again raising the flute and began playing a rather high pitched, fast energy tune!
"Huh? What are.. WHA..?!" The young rogue voiced his confusion with wide eyed astonishment as, without warning, his body began to go into spastic, wild, dancing motions against his will! "WHA.. WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" He exclaimed fearfully.
"HA! Well, that takes care of you! Now.." Volpina mocked as she prepared once again to flee.
"HOLD IT, VOLPINA!" Ladybug, several feet away shouted towards her foe.
As the thief turned with an aggrevated face, Chat Noir adopted an elated expression. "Oh, mon cherie! Thank goodness you're here!" He called out with amorous glee.
"Oh, NO! Not YOU again!" Ladybug uttered, slapping her forehead in frustration.
Taking advantage of this, Volpina declared "Well, as you both know it DOES take two to TANGO!" Before giving a brisk tweeting on her flute.
"Now, you'll.. HUH?!" Ladybug began to assert, before noticing that her feet were suddenly taking slow, deliberate choreographed dance steps towards Chat Noir! With a spin, she embraced him, to her shock and discomfort, against her will and assumed the position of the Tango!
"Oh, Cher Ami! I always knew you lo.." He began with syrupy infatuation.
"KNOCK IT OFF, Tomcat! It isn't me!" Ladybug screamed indignantly as she continued her unwanted tango with her admirer.
Volpina chuckled fatly to herself as she rushed to the edge of the roof and lept off!
"AH! She's getting away!" Ladybug cried out in frustration, grunting to free herself from the perpetual dancing position.
"Oh, but dancing here with you in the moonlight is SO much more rewarding!" Chat Noir mused with hearts practically in his eyes.
"GRR! Will.. You.. STOP! GRR! Got.. To.. Break Away!" Ladybug growled in embarrassment and frustration.
TO BE CONTINUED...