Mind Boggling

Chapter Four, The last level

The fourth floor was absolutely nothing like the first three. For example, in the first three they had actually been flat. While on the last floor, there were stairs. The stairs themselves weren't as much of a problem as the traps. It was the fact that Lucy was exhausted. Exhausted, aching and ready to just go home. But, she couldn't give up yet.

Occasionally different creatures would appear at random times. Or, if she was lucky, multiple trap doors would open up and she could float ahead. Sadly, this time she wasn't facing the latter. She was facing the monsters, partly time and the shadow demons that had followed her since she had entered the castle. The shadow demons were far behind her, but she still ran anyway.

Her heart pounding faster than usual and the loudest thunderstorm she had ever heard were the only things that didn't drive Lucy up a wall this very minute. At that moment, two more goblins decided to pop up from trap doors in the floor. Her body was already tense and her muscles ready to give out any moment. She felt a spin of lightheadedness come on but she pushed on. She pushed on, even though she knew that she would regret it later.

Her eyes lit up and before the goblins could react, she shoved them against the dark red wall. She had probably shoved them harder than necessary, but right now, she didn't care. She was halfway down the hall and she was still ready to collapse on her bed back at Avengers mansion. Shaking her head, she finished off the goblins by throwing them out the window. She was thankful there had only been four. Sometimes, when the traps had appeared, there had been a dozen or more in which she would have to try to defeat.

Glimpsing down at herself, she assessed her injuries to make sure that she could still defend Princess Ravonna. So far, she had a dark crimson red mark on her right ankle, large pink spots on her calves, along with several cuts and bruises around her entire body. She shuddered, making her way forward. She would live, but she would have to train harder. Not just mentally, but physically as well. She made a mental note to train with Steve more often.

The steps she climbed seem daunting, what with the shadow demons catching up with her. She could tell and not because her adrenaline rush was coming back. But, because she could hear them. Their creaking and moaning as they hurried up the flight of steps. Lightning roared down on them as Lucy's swift feet continued their ascent.

The hallway's red color scheme went by her in a blur. The dark crimson of it almost reminded her of her own blood. Shaking her head, she decided to take a rest. Leaning against the wall, she sighed and let her head stop throbbing. It had been for a while, but either the adrenaline rush or her sense of mind over matter must've blocked it out. Now that she noticed it, her knees were cramped and her feet practically numb. Her hands were as tight as the rest of her body and just as raw if not more.

As soon as she felt that, her head had stopped throbbing and aching, her eyes darted down the stairs. So far, it didn't look like the shadow demons had caught up with her. However, she was mistaken when the creaking and moaning grew louder than it had before. Her eyes moved forward, not wanting to think about the shadow demons. The door wasn't that far away. It was only a couple of steps. She could make it. She hoped she could make it. Not for her sake, but for Princess Ravonna's.

However, just as she was about to start walking again two things happened. One, the shadow demons came closer to her, practically rounding the corner. This made Lucy anxious and she decided to move closer towards the door. As soon as she had reached it, it creaked open and allowed her inside. It closed behind her without allowing the shadow demons to enter. Unfortunately, the demons were all waiting outside now, ready to knock the door down if need be.

What Lucy saw in the room didn't surprise her. In fact, it looked like a regular old princess's room that you would see in a Disney movie. To Lucy's left stood a canopy-type bed, which was mahogany with purple and pink sheets and drapery. A window sat next to it, displaying the storm that was outside. To her right were shelves filled with books and directly in front of her was what looked like a computer screen. Sitting at that computer screen was a woman.

She looked no more than late teens or early twenties. Her black hair ran down her back and went down halfway. Her outfit was blue and a blue crown was placed on her head. As she turned around, Lucy watched the princess's eyes as she size her up. When she spoke, it was with an air of command.

"I've been expecting you," she said nonchalantly, making her way towards Lucy. The telepath shuddered, but tried not to let it show," I've watched your progress since you first entered this castle. You're impressive. How did you come into my mind? And where is my love, Kang?"

Biting her upper lip to keep back a smart-ass retort, Lucy tried to think of an answer to her. She was good, and intelligent Lucy decided," One question at a time, your highness. First question, I'm a telepath. Do you know what those are?" she asked, following the princess as she moved to the window next to her bed.

"Nathaniel told me about them," she answered with a voice barely above a whisper," a long time ago. I remember everything. What is your answer to my next question?" she turned to face Lucy, this time her eyes calculating.

Lucy shook her head, feeling embarrassed that she had almost zoned out. Almost," Your love, Kang, isn't here. He's in prison, your highness. He tried to attack-"but Princess Ravonna held up her hand and cut her off before she could finish.

Lucy waited and Ravonna spoke," I know what he did. Sometimes, I wish he hadn't," just then, the creaking and moaning of the shadow demons became present to Princess Ravonna.

"Your highness we should go. Those shadow demons won't be held behind that door for long," Lucy eyes glanced at the window and then back at Princess Ravonna," How far down is that window to the ground? Do you know?"

Princess Ravonna turned to face Lucy, who felt deeply intimidated by her stare," That window is at least twenty feet down. Why do you ask?"

Damn, thought Lucy and answered Princess Ravonna," No reason. But we're going to have to take the stairs even if it means running to the shadow demons. How are you at running Princess?" she asked, pushing her way past Ravonna towards the door.

"I should be fine," Princess Ravonna said as she stood beside Lucy," Why?"

"Because you might want to start now," Lucy said as she opened the door and the shadow demons fled towards them. Grabbing Ravonna's hand before she could protest, Lucy practically dragged Princess Ravonna down the stairs.

Seeing this, the demons followed swiftly behind them. Somehow feeling that Ravonna would be safer, Lucy decided to try to use her telekinesis but when she did Ravonna protested. It almost made Lucy want to start acting like some kind of dog, but she didn't.

"Don't you dare try using that on me. I'm fine as it is. And besides, we're almost onto the challenge room," Lucy nodded and continued holding Princess Ravonna's hand.

Despite her fear, Lucy wasn't about ready to let go of Ravonna. She figured that if they didn't stick together they would become separated and then they would never get Ravonna back. Physically anyway. Mentally, she seemed like a princess.

As soon as they entered the first challenge room, Lucy locked the door. There wasn't much in the Avengers training room, so she decided to just pile everything she could find useful in front of the door. Ravonna stared at it as if it were some kind of disaster. The demons' howls could be heard from the other side, which still made Lucy's heart thump in her chest. She decided that now would be a good time to call Reed. However, before she could do so, Reed contacted her first.

A giant holo projection appeared in front of Lucy. Reed was there along with Tony, Benn, and Johnny. The others must've come back when Reed had told them it was growing more exciting. Figures but she didn't have time to complain to herself about what the others did.

"Lucy, where are you? Sensors show that you're in the challenge room on level four. Is that correct?" he asked as Princess Ravonna walked up beside her. Lucy barely noticed.

"Yes and I have Princess Ravonna," she said, allowing Reed and the others to see that the princess was all right. However, after a few seconds she spoke again," We have the shadow demons following us. Do you know how to get rid of them?"

Reed thought about this for a moment. The sound of the demons grew louder along with the storm, which had grown more harsh since Lucy's ascent of the levels," Not really, no. Is there anything else you need?"

Feeling frustration rise deep within her, she shook her head to try and focus herself," Not really. I'll try to come back with the princess alive. If that doesn't happen, try to shake my physical body and don't let Johnny do it. If I don't make it, Princess Ravonna should be able to."

"I don't think we'll get to that point-"Lucy interrupted him before he could finish. She didn't want him. She didn't want this. She didn't want this to become a "what if" game but that's what it had resorted to.

"Lady Blue Hood out," she said and all communications ended. Turning to Princess Ravonna she nodded at the door," How are you feeling your highness? Do your feet hurt?"

"Probably not as much as yours but I'll manage," she responded and Lucy nodded as the monsters grew more evident.

"Good then get ready to run," Commanded Lucy as she opened the door," Princess's first, your highness."

With that gesture of kindness, Ravonna stepped forward. Her steps were quicker than probably normal for that of a regular princess but Lucy didn't keep track. As soon as Ravonna had gone through, she raced to catch up. Just as she did, the shadow demons blasted through the door and followed the girls.

As soon as the demons came within earshot, Lucy grabbed Ravonna's hand again and ran at top speed. To Lucy's utter surprise, Ravonna didn't seem too hurt or upset by this. However, Lucy ignored her expression and ran down the hall as fast as she could. Ravonna, too, seemed to run fast. Even though Lucy hadn't been around her long, she could sense the princess growing tired. Tired and probably out of breath. Lucy would have to do better at locking the door this time so Ravonna could get a proper rest.

Part of her, a small part, wished that she were already out. That she had already rescued Ravonna and that this was some kind of nightmare. Nightmare, or just simulation. However, feeling almost her entire body ache, she knew that it wasn't a dream. Knew, and pained that it wasn't. Part of her was thankful that the traps didn't work after she had already deactivated them but another larger part of her wasn't. That was the part that wished that the traps would start taking care of the shadow demons.

As soon as she thought this, they did. She could tell because behind her she heard poison tipped needles flew out of the wall and hit two of the demons. She opened the door of the second challenge room and shoved Ravonna through. Closing the door behind her, she entered in as well. A part of her was also thankful that the demons had trouble going through a door. Part of her also thought that it was stupid.

"Rest princess," Lucy breathed as Ravonna sat down on the boxing ring. Her breathing was ragged but she would live," you'll need your strength." As she said this, Lucy blocked the door with a set mental blast. Which meant that if the demons touched it, they would immediately feel their heads explode for about five minutes. It probably wouldn't do much for a demon, but it would be enough to distract them so that Ravonna and Lucy could go on.

"You need your rest as well," Ravonna spoke and no matter how she did it, it sounded like she was commanding someone. Lucy made a mental note of this," I saw what you went through to try and save me. If you're as powerful as I know you are, you need your rest."

One of two things happened at that moment. The first, was that Lucy blushed. Not those regular kinds of blushes that are light colored and come when you're talking about your middle school crush. But, the kind that comes when you're talking about something embarrassing and you don't want anybody to know about that embarrassing thing or memory. No one had really told Lucy that she was powerful except Tony, her own mother, and her mentor Professor Charles Xavier.

The second thing that happened was that Lucy answered Ravonna, keeping in mind that she was a princess," You need it more than I do. I'm the one saving you remember?" as Lucy said this, she opened the door that lead out of the challenge room and into level two.

Ravonna sighed and got up from the boxing ring," Let us continue our journey, walking. I believe that would suit your feet better."

Lucy nodded as Ravonna stepped through the door. Lucy followed and closed it tightly behind her," As long as we walk quickly. I don't want those demons as closely on our tail as they were back at the stairs."

"Fair enough," said Ravonna as they began their walk on level two. So far, so good. Now all they had to do was get out of here alive. The girls walked in silence, allowing only the sound of the demons and the rain between them.

What felt like several hours passed before Lucy glanced behind her and felt confident that they weren't being followed. Not only that, but no more traps had gone off since the demons had followed them. Lucy would've given out a sigh of relief, if she hadn't known what would come next. Which she did.

At that moment in time, the noise of the demons decided to recommence. Not knowing what the sound was, Ravonna decided to ask just as they were entering the third challenge room.

"What was that?" she asked with a quiver of fear in her voice. She didn't know why, but Lucy picked up on this like a dog on a trail. She made a mental note of it.

"The shadow demons," Lucy responded as Ravonna entered the room," and if we don't get the hell out of here we're going to be doomed," Ravonna gave her a look like that of a glare and corrected herself," your highness, we should hurry."

The door closed behind Lucy as the demons sounds grew closer. Lucy's whole body shuddered, as if she could feel them glide up and down her spine. The thought itself made her way to upchuck. However, she composed herself as Ravonna sat down on the boxing ring. The ring in this room looked different to Lucy. The seats had completely disappeared and instead the only thing left was the ring itself.

Silence ensued between the two women as the storm outside and the noise of the monsters grew louder than before. For several moments, it felt to Lucy that they were the only noises. Finally, Lucy decided to try to make conversation with the princess before she met her end.

"So how did you get stuck in this place anyway? It's a dump, if you don't mind me saying so your highness," spoke Lucy as her eyes took in the room. So far, there wasn't much and probably would never be. She just hoped that Princess Ravonna never had this problem again or else the whole world be in trouble.

Lucy's eyes took in the form of Ravonna. Sweat dampened the princess's forehead and her chest heaved with exhaustion. Lucy was thankful that Ravonna could still run, let alone feel her feet. Finally, Ravonna answered in a voice quieter than Lucy thought a princess could speak.

"I don't know why, but after Kang made the decision to teleport away from our home, things began disappearing. Members of his ship, pieces of machinery, and so on. As I asked why, I was just about to disappear when somebody saved me. I don't know who or what, all I know is that someone did. Why do you ask?" Well this told more of the frickin' story than what Lucy knew.

Shaking her head, Lucy focused her attention back on Ravonna," No reason really. I was just wondering how you got into this situation." She saw Ravonna nod and now it was the princess's turn to ask a question.

"You must be an experienced telepath to have traveled like this," Ravonna said and Lucy listened intently to what she was saying. It wasn't her air of authority or command, but it was a hunch that Lucy knew she was going to ask something. A question about how Ravonna had been stuck in this nightmare for so long, and why Hank and Reed hadn't been able to save her," I have a question for you."

Before she could ask it, Lucy spoke," Why did you get here?" she asked and Ravonna's eyes lit up in shock. Lucy laughed, not a forced one, but a light hearted one. One that you would normally use to joke around with friends," Don't worry, you're not the first to ask that either. My guess is that your mind was so shocked at what happened that it went into over drive and created this place to try and protect you from disappearing. Most likely, it will go away once you wake up but not permanently. If you want, when we ever get back, I can help you suppress your mind of this place."

During Lucy's explanation, Ravonna had gotten up and moved her way to the door that lead to level one. She leaned against it," And what if I don't want to forget this place?" Lucy sighed inwardly.

Princesses, she thought as she stood up ready to fight those shadow demons, they're too damn stubborn and spoiled!

As if displaying her thoughts, Lucy's reply came simply," Princess, if your mind can't suppress this place, it will kill you mentally. I mean it. I've seen people who have suffered through something more traumatic and they don't get over it. And guess what? Their brain starts attack them and they go crazy or they die a quick, short death if they're lucky. Do you really want that to happen to you?" she asked an edge in her voice that she hadn't recognized she had.

Turning to Ravonna, she sighed, reading the fear on her face," I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound that harsh."

Ravonna opened the door and this time, it was Lucy's turn to step through. The door slammed closed behind Ravonna," I understand your concern, Lady Blue Hood, and I respect it. You only want what's best for me and I will agree to it only under one condition."

"What's that?" Lucy asked as they made their way down the hall. Lucy could practically taste their freedom, which right now was strawberries. Her body could feel it, which felt like soft green grass that swayed under her feet in the cool April sun.

Ravonna stopped as the howling grew louder and Lucy stopped as well. However, the type of noise the demons made wasn't the same as it had been before. Before, the howling had been evil and wicked and now the sound was that of pain and suffering. Lucy had almost forgotten that she had laid a trap of her own as Ravonna answered her question.

"What happened to my Nathaniel?" she asked with a bit of indignity to her voice. Lucy would've almost rather died in her mind than answer the question. For the second time today, she swallowed a lump in her throat.

Me: So that's the chapter! Hope there was enough action and drama in there for you all! I really tried to make it as interesting as possible with Ravonna. However, I don't really know much about her since I've only seen her in one episode.

I would like to re thank Sterling Raven for reviewing my fic, it means a lot to me when people give me feedback on my fics. Remember, reviews equal love!

Before I do the disclaimer, I have a confession to make. To be honest, I didn't think that I would update this fic so quickly. However, with my own excitement growing as I write and with the story itself it's really hard not to write it as fast as I can. I apologize if it looks sloppy or crappy. Please tell me if I'm going too fast.

I guess the reason I'm excited about doing this story is that they haven't done it in the show yet, so that makes me all fired up about this fic. Plus, I haven't seen many fics about Ravonna so tell me what you think!

I would also like to inform you that before I do any more new stories, I'm going to work on other fics for the Misgiving Writer's Challenge Forum, and two others. One of them is mine and the other is Jess Maximoff's, so look out for those!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and my Oc's so please ask before you use them! Thankies for reading!