Aleu here. This chapter isn't as long as the last one due to a horrible writers block that hit us both hard, but we got through with it.
Disclaimer: Look at chapter 1
Albel rose from sleep in a furious sweet. His nightmare was fuzzy and he
was unable to remember it.
He stood up sharply. There were hours of the night before he was unable to remember. He knew something had happened…but what? After he was confronted by the two wenches and their retched furballs…he couldn't remember anything.
He stretched and set out to find the answers. Something was going on and he would get to the bottom of it. In a daze, he left his room and walked the halls; searching for anything that would give him a clue as to what had happened.
In his haze, he ran right into someone. He growled and turned to come face
to face with Mirage.
"Watch your step!"
"Well, good morning to you too, Albel. I hope you slept well." Her voice remained neutral.
Albel shook his head and left her. He knew well enough that nothing he could say would anger her. That woman had more self control than anyone he had ever met.
Mirage watched him leave and smiled as she entered the castles ball room. Amanda was humming happily as she hung streamers. Sophia and Kitani were helping the girl, each humming along.
Maria was hunched over a written report, talking to Fayt about something. Cliff wasn't there. Mirage assumed he was still out trying to find out where Nel was.
Mirage was a quiet woman. She wasn't vindictive or conniving, but she was comfortable with what was going on around her. To a point she felt like a kid again. Though she didn't show it, her amusement was immense.
"Ah, Mirage. There you are," Maria said as she approached the Klausian. "We are almost ready to go through with this. By tomorrow the only thing we will need is Nel. Do you really think you and Cliff are up to this?"
"And do you really think this is a good idea. I mean…Nel's not going to like this at all!" Fayt clearly showed his concern.
"Oh, come come Fayt," Mirage taunted uncharacteristically. "It's not everyday you get to help in kidnapping a friend. It's all in fun anyway."
"Yeah, but I doubt Nel will think its fun."
Amaya snorted at Fayt. "Fayt, you know exactly what this will do. I mean, imagine the look on Albel's face when he sees Nel!"
"That's bad enough," Fayt groaned. "But we aren't just going to have Albel furious at us but Nel also."
"Yeah, but I don't think Albel will be able to do much. I mean, if we can catch Nel in that bikini…" Sophia smiled wildly at the group. "He'll be powerless!"
Miyoko glanced up at the brunette. "I think she's been hanging around Amanda too long."
Kitani jumped up. "Well Amanda is much more fun then you." She said causing Miyoko to huff at the cub.
Mirage smiled. "Cliff and I will go kidnap Nel first thing in the morning." She chuckled.
Amaya smirked. "I know she'll be big time pissed, but still I can try and explain everything to her. She may just go through with it." She said. "Besides if she wants to beat up the person who came up with it, it will be Amanda."
"HEY!" Amanda shouted slamming her hands on her hips and glaring at the wolf. Amaya shrugged.
"I'm just saying..."
"Eheheheh. That's enough Amaya..." Fayt said trying to hush the wolf.
Sophia giggled. "Amanda, Kitani and I will finish decorating the room." She said. Kitani jumped up onto of the book case to finish to putting up the streamers.
Amaya led Fayt, Mirage, Maria and Miyoko outside the room. "Yeah..." She started. "I have been sensing feels from Albel to Nel so it just might work..."
At that time Albel was walking down the hall. He was either looking for a fight, looking to argue someone... or just down right bored. They started to try and act natural, but Albel eyed them.
"Hey Albella..." Amaya was cut off quickly by him.
"It's ALBEL!" He said angrily.
"Whatever. Why not try sparring with Fayt and Me." She said shrugging. She winked toward Miyoko, Maria and Mirage who took off down the hall.
Albel huffed. "Fine. Not like I have anything better to do." He said as the three headed outside.
It was Albel vs Fayt and Amaya. Fayt was the first to make a move using Ice Needles in which Albel dodged.
"Double Slash!" He shouted charging toward the blue boy.
"Dark Lightning!" Amaya shot black lightning from her two horns which struck Albel to the ground.
Albel huffed as he stood. Mumbling under his breath he swung his sword frantically. Fayt dodged it by more than enough room and countered with a slash of his own. Fayt's sword met Albel's.
The two stood motionless.
Amaya stared at them. Neither moving nor speaking. Finally Fayt gave in.
"Albel? What are you doing?"
Albel grunted as he thrust himself forward and in turn Fayt landed hard on the ground.
"It's called strategy, worm. You would be wise to learn it."
Amaya snarled softly. If Albel wanted to play that way then she would certainly oblige.
"Shadow Ball!" Amaya chanted; sending a black sphere at the distracted swordsman.
Unprepared for the attack, Albel landed face first in the dirt. He continued to grumble under his breath as he stood.
Fayt moved closer to Amaya. "He's acting a bit odd."
"Yeah. You can blame Kitani and Miyoko for that. They mentioned Amanda to him, but I don't think he remembers."
Fayt scratched his head. "Man! The last time she was around he wasn't himself at all. Suddenly this feels more and more like a bad idea."
"Look on the bright side, my humanoid friend," Amaya responded with a hint of sarcasm. "If Albel get's too out of control we'll just send Amanda after him."
"Do you two want to spar or stand there and talk all day? I have better things I can do with my time."
Fayt sighed at Albel who was luckily too far away to hear the conversion he was having with Amaya.
Amaya smirked toward the swordsman. "If you can beat me," she said. She took off fast to the left.
Fayt sighed and charged toward Albel before stopping short. "Shotgun blast!" However Albel was able to dodge.
"Palm of Destruction!" He shot the power attack from his claw.
Fayt wasn't able to dodge and was knocked to the ground. At that moment he heard loud growling coming from a near by tree. He now knew he had pissed the wolf off.
"Metal Claw!" Amaya yelled as she leapt from the three down upon Albel. His own claw met hers in a lock. However this is just what she wanted.
"Fire Bolt!" She shouted hitting Albel at a close range enough to KO him.
The wolf stood tall with her head and tail held high like an Alpha wolf of a pack would do. Albel lay silent for a moment before staggering to his feet.
"Damn wolf..." He muttered as Amaya went to check on Fayt. Albel limped off to rest a bit before he'd find a plan to take Amaya down.
Meanwhile
Amanda, Kitani and Sophia had finished the room. "I can wait for big brother to see this!" Amanda giggled as she skipped off. "You two start a cake with the Killer Chef."
Kitani nodded as she and Sophia ran off to the kitchen to see how the Killer Chef was doing with the cafe.
Kitani was smiling as big as Sophia as they rounded through the halls and into the kitchen. The Killer Chef was hard at work and ignored the two girls. They both just winked at each other as they peered over the chef's shoulder.
Suddenly he turned and eyed the girl. "So, you say there is to be a space wide enough in the middle to hold a large package?"
Kitani giggled as Sophia answered. "Um, yeah. We need it enforced with a strong metal that won't break too easily. Well, it needs to break but only after enough pressure is applied."
"I see," the chef hummed. "And the instructions were to also sound proof the cake itself?"
"Yeah!" Kitani exclaimed. "We need for any sounds inside the cake to be muffled."
The Killer Chef eyed each suspiciously. "Alright!" he shouted, surprising them both. "A challenge is before me and I shall prevail!" He raised the wooden spoon over his head and took a victory pose. "Just leave it to me."
"Good, now Kitani, I think we should check up on Cliff and Mirage. Tomorrow's the big day."
The white cub nodded and hopped on Sophia's shoulder.
What they didn't know was that Mirage and Cliff were in orbit around Elicoor keeping a close watch on their target.
"You still got her?"
"Affirmative."
He loved it when she talked like that. In fact, he couldn't help but to imagine Mirage in the bikini they would be capturing Nel in.
"I heard those thoughts, Mr. Fitter and you should be ashamed." She giggled lightly.
"Well, at least they were about you," Cliff said quickly, trying to cover himself.
Mirage twisted in her chair and eyed the blond man. "Well, we have a few hours to kill before we engage the target. What would you like to do?"
Cliff cleared his throat, but before he could answer Mirage brought her fist down hard on his head.
"Well you asked!"
Mirage sighed. "Alright, let's just play a nice game of Klausian Chanista."
Cliff couldn't contain the gleam in his eye as he followed her to the play room. She wanted to play a simple board game common to their entire race, but that was never the way they played it. He would be having fun tonight…maybe. Down below them on Elicoor, Nel wasn't having as much fun.
Nel stared at herself in the mirror. What on Elicoor was the Queen thinking? Her in a bikini? What the hell?
She sighed to herself and did a somewhat sexy pose before realizing what she was doing. Of course giggling was heard from the door and Nel turned swiftly around before the shadow of the figure darted off.
The figure being Amanda of course went flying down the hall and came to a skidding stop in front of Maria.
"Nel looks good in a Bikini!" She giggled. "Albel won't be able to resist!"
Maria chuckled at the girl. "Of course not. Sophia and Kitani told me the Killer Chef is working over time on the cake and the Queen is helping to prepare too."
"Great! I'm going to go do something. See you later Maria!" With that the girl skipped off.
Miyoko sighed. "What do you think she's going to do?" The white three tailed fox asked. Maria shrugged.
"I don't think I want to know..." She said.
Meanwhile Albel was storming through the garden trying to get away from the teasing Amaya.
"Will you go away you stupid wolf!" Albel shouted. Amaya scowled at him.
"Well you're no fun. At least when Fayt's around I can bug him and he doesn't snap like that." She huffed to him and turned around flicking her tail. In her kind that was an insult however Albel didn't seem to catch onto it.
Amaya lifted her nose in the air. "Don't think I don't know you're there Amanda..." She said.
The girl came from behind the bush. "How did you know?" She whined.
"I could smell you... Blame the downwind" Amaya chuckled as Amanda leapt onto her back.
"Can you take me to Fayt and Cliff?" Amanda asked.
"Can't you walk?"
"But I want a ride!"
Amaya sighed. "Fine. Just hold on and no pulling out any fur."
"Got it!"
Amanda giggled childishly the whole ride. They found Fayt in the chapel. He was sitting in the last pew and talking into his communicator.
"Hi ya, Fayt!" Amanda squealed as she bounced off of Amaya.
The wolf snarled at her slightly. If the small girl wasn't the key to annoying Albel she doubted she would have easily given in to the ride.
"Oh, hi Amanda…you look good," Fayt spurted trying his best not to anger the young teen.
"Amanda?" the electronic voice of Cliff came from the communicator.
"Hi ya big blond guy!" Amanda waved at the picture on the communicator. "You know, I don't like the name Cliff. That's not a name; it's a thing you throw bullies at school off of. You need a better name!"
"But I like my name," Cliff protested.
"Nope, won't do. Let's see, you are big…and a guy…I think I'll call you Rose!"
Fayt couldn't keep from giggling.
"R-rose?" Cliff stuttered. "That's a girl's name!"
"Oh phooey! Don't be a big baby. Besides, Rosebud is nicer than Cliff!"
"Way nicer," Amaya echoed.
Cliff shook his head, knowing there was no use in arguing. "What is it you need?" he asked nicely.
"Well…" Amanda started. She batted her eyes and gave him her best cutie face. "I think it would be wonderful if all the girls wore bikinis! It'll be more like a beach party. So tell Mirage she has to wear one!"
"Um, look kid. You might want to tell her yourself. She doesn't like for me to order her around when it comes to wardrobe."
"She'll have to listen now that your name is Rose!"
Fayt giggled again, attracting the girl's attention.
"Oh yeah, you tell Blue Statue Girl she has to wear one too!"
"Huh?"
Amaya sighed. "She's talking about Maria."
"You want me to ask Maria to wear a bikini?" Fayt was blushing.
"Yup! And I want all the guys to wear beach towels!"
Fayt nearly feel out of his chair. "Beach towels? No way!"
Before Amanda could say a word, Amaya interrupted. "How about just swimming trunks?"
Amanda frowned slightly. "Well, I suppose that would be okay. I would rather just beach towels, but swimming trunks might work."
Amaya shook her head at the young girl. Fayt face grew even redder...
"I...I...I..."
"You may want to ask Miyoko about Maria. Perhaps Sophia and Kitani can get Mirage. Cliff... I mean Rose doesn't have the guts to ask her, himself." She teased.
Cliff growled at her. "F...fine..." He said to prove her wasn't a coward.
"Good. Now I wanted swim trunks since I'd rather not look male human private parts..." She muttered.
Amanda giggled. "Well Cliff and Mirage have to go get Nel soon." She snickered. She skipped off leaving a flustered Fayt thinking of Maria a Bikini and a cracking up Amaya nearly laughing herself to death.
Amanda had gone back into the castle and told Sophia and Kitani. Sophia agreed to wear one as long as it was pink.
"Great! Now you think you can tell Maria to..."
"We can try!" Kitani said hopping down the hall as Sophia ran after her giggling.
Maria was watching the Killer Chef finish up the cake.
"Maria, Miyoko can we speak to you two?" Kitani asked sweetly.
Maria nodded and walked out of the kitchen with Miyoko on her shoulder.
"Amanda wants all of us girls to wear Bikini's too!" Sophia said.
"And the boys are to wear swim trunks!" Kitani added.
Maria's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. Miyoko blinked not wanting to say anything really. Sophia and Kitani giggled as the young blue haired woman was struck speechless by what they had said.
Before Maria could take her imagination off of Fayt in swimming trunks and back to reality to answer, Albel appeared in the hall.
He watched the group gathered in front of the kitchen door and huffed. "Think you idiots could get out of the way!"
Miyoko growled and Kitani stuck her tongue out.
"You aren't going into the kitchen, are you?"
Albel growled at Sophia; baring his teeth. "When I'm hungry I go to eat. Stand in my way and I'll eat that little infernal fur ball on your shoulder."
"Well Sophia," Maria said coolly. "I guess we should get out of his way. I guess he's excited to see Nel in a maid's outfit."
Albel glared at Maria. Sophia and Kitani looked at her in confusion.
Maria continued to talk as if nothing were wrong. "I know it's not every day Albel get's to see Nel in the kitchen fitting the role of a woman. I bet he just wants to watch her cook."
Albel's face grew red with anger. "Stupid wench! I would rather eat in the pub down the road than to eat that scum's food."
Maria waited until Albel was out of sight. "I figured if he thought Nel was in there he would leave. But that does pose a problem. Once he thinks we are gone, he'll come back. He just doesn't want us to know he wants to see Nel. We'll take turns guarding the door."
Sophia nodded. "Well, since you were just here, Kitani and I'll stay. You can go pick out a bikini for tomorrow."
Maria blushed as she hurried from the kitchen without a word. Miyoko turned and smiled at the pair at the door.
Amanda, who had been watching from the corner, intercepted Maria as she headed for her room.
"Hi there!"
"Oh, hello Amanda."
"I need your help."
Maria eyed the girl suspiciously. "And that would be?"
"I need a bikini too. I want purple since its Alby's favorite color. Well, I think it's his favorite color, but anyway – can you help me?"
"Why not," Maria answered motioning the girl into her room.
"One question. Do you think Roger will be there?"
Maria smiled. She had been told the story of how Amanda was infatuated with Roger from Fayt. "I don't think so. He's back home right now."
"Oh," Amanda responded. "Maybe after the party I can go see him!"
"That's a great idea," Maria responded.
Miyoko and Maria both knew that after this party it would be better if Amanda left. It would be a waste if they got Nel and Albel together just to have the girl interfere.
That's it for now. Yes Cliff's name was changed to Rose and don't ask about the whole Bikini thing... Blue and I will try to get to work on chapter 3... if anyone is still reading this. XD
