(A/N: For some reason, I can't log on to on my computer. It's really weird. Even when I put my e-mail in, it still says I need to enter my e-mail. It works on other computers, but not mine. Anyone else having this problem? And if anyone knows how to fix it, please tell me. I can't update without logging on. Here's the next chapter, but I don't know how long it will be until the next update with this logging in problem.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 8: Escaping and Fighting Back
"She did it!" Pazu cried as his bindings came loose.
"Thank goodness." Pops mumbled. "They made those things so tight that they cut off the blood circulation. I thought my hands were going to fall off."
"Shut up about your hands!" Dola snapped. "We've got ta save Sheeta from that woman and stop her from gettin' her hands on our treasure!" She turned to Pazu. "Ok then, Pazu, you and Sheeta explored more of this place the last time we were here, so where do we go?"
Pazu gave her a weird look. "How should I know? That was six years ago, not to mention we were a bit distracted. I have no idea how to get around this place."
Dola thought about it a moment. "Well, you know Sheeta better than anyone. What would she do and where would she go?"
Pazu considered this. "If I know Sheeta, she would pretend to be leading Avalon to a treasure hoard while we made our escape."
Dola gulped. "Clever girl, but this isn't good. If Avalon finds out that Sheeta was trickin' her, it wouldn't be good for her."
"I'm going to save her before anything happens." Pazu insisted.
"Wait!" Dola cried, stopping him. "Don't just go runnin' off. You're no match for Avalon. She's got those built in weapons, not ta mention her metal arm and leg at least quadruple her strength. On top of that, she's a skilled fighter. You're goin' ta need my help." She turned to her crew. "You guys take care of Ray and the others. Pazu and I will go save Sheeta. Let's go, boy."
"Mom, Pazu already left." Said Henri.
Dola turned around, surprised to discover that Pazu had indeed left without her. She found him just outside the Wind Rider, looking around for Avalon's crew. She clamped her hand over his mouth, startling him, but muffling his cry.
"What do you think your doin', runnin' off like that?" she hissed. "You don't understand how dangerous these people are. As long as Avalon thinks that she needs Sheeta, she won't hurt her too much. But she has no use for you anymore, except ta make Sheeta cooperate. She may just kill you if she sees you, and that goes for her crew as well."
Pazu pulled away from her. "I don't care what it takes, I'm going to save Sheeta."
"We will, just calm down. I told you, Sheeta is in no immediate danger, except maybe gettin' slapped few times."
"I'm not going to let Avalon slap Sheeta around!" Pazu looked up at the large castle. Where had they gone? There were so many paths to take, and he couldn't exactly ask Avalon's crew which way they went. "Where did they go?"
"Shush up." Dola hissed. "Avalon's metal limbs may make her stronger, but they're really loud. The tunnels in this place will amplify any sound. If we listen closely, we might be able ta follow her footsteps."
Pazu nodded. "Then lets get going."
"And they're off." Said Charles. "I really hope they can save Sheeta before Avalon roughs her up too much."
"It's out of our hands for now." Said Pops. "Lets just focus on stopping Ray and the others."
Henri groaned. "And just what are we going to do in our current situation?"
Charles slapped him over the head. "Hey, come on, don't think like that. We the Dola Gang! Just think what our many times over great grandparents would think if they heard you. They were the greatest thieves ever. They never gave up. We've got the blood of Arsène Lupin the third and Fujiko Mine running through our veins! Nothing can get in our way!"
He punched the air, looking victorious. The others just stared at him.
"But, they have guns." Said one of the boys. "We've got nothing."
Lui snapped his fingers as an idea came to him. "No, we do have something!" he cried. "Avalon said that they had dynamite on the ship."
"So?"
Lui grinned. "So, I have an idea."
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Avalon's heavy footsteps echoed through the halls. She was really getting impatient. Where was this hidden treasure? They had been walking around for over ten minutes now, but all they had found were rooms filled with roots, vines, and other plant life. Where was all the gold and jewels?
"I can't help but notice that there is no treasure here." she said.
Sheeta flinched. "Well, I don't know where anything is."
Avalon halted, pulling Sheeta to a stop. "I thought you said that there were hidden rooms that only royalty could enter that contained treasure."
Sheeta shook her head. "No, I said there might be treasure in them."
Avalon grabbed her by the hair. "You're up to something. What are you trying to do?"
"I'm not trying to do anything."
Avalon slapped her. "You're lying. Where are you leading me?"
"I'm helping you find treasure."
Avalon growled. The blade popped out of her wrist and she held it to Sheeta's throat. "I don't like it when people play tricks on me."
Sheeta eyed the blade fearfully. "Are you going to kill me?"
Avalon just smirked. "No, my dear. I wouldn't waste you like that. I'm actually going to enjoy breaking you."
Sheeta didn't like the sound of that. "B-Breaking me?"
Avalon nodded. "Yes, Princess, breaking you. Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet."
"Figured what out?"
Avalon sighed. She held up the aetherium crystal. "You're the only one who can use this. Having a magic user will be quite handy. I could get my hands on some real treasure and take down anyone that tries to stop me."
Sheeta shook her head. "No, I won't use the crystal to help you steal."
Avalon grinned wickedly. "Oh yes you will. As long as I have your beloved Pazu, you won't try anything against me. And it will only be a matter of time before I break you." She laughed at the horrified look on Sheeta's face. "Now then, lets go find this treasure."
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"Are the explosives in place?" Henri asked.
"All set." Said one of the boys.
Charles poked his head into the room where Avalon's gang was. They were piling treasure into crates and bags with greedy looks on their faces.
"They don't notice anything." he whispered. "Are you sure all the exits will be blocked?"
"We set the dynamite in all the right places." Lui replied. "They won't be able to get out." He scratched his chin. "Actually, the whole room may collapse."
"You better hope not." Pops snapped. "Your mother, Pazu, and Sheeta may be hurt if rooms start collapsing."
"Don't worry, Pops." Said Henri, lighting a match. "There isn't enough to make the room collapse." He lit the wick. "Quick, take cover."
The boys hurried over to the Wind Rider, ducking beneath the large airship. As they curled into fetal positions and stuck their fingers, they didn't notice Ray dragging out a large chest filled with gold. His eyes widened when he saw them squatting by the Wind Rider.
"Well, well." He sneered. "They got out." He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What the heck are they doing?" He pulled out his gun and cocked it. "Oh well, they're dead now."
He took aim at the one most out in the open. His finger tightened on the trigger, and would have pulled had a hissing noise not reached his ears. Raising an eyebrow, Ray looked around for the source of the noise. It sounded like a spark.
Then he saw it. A fuss was lit, about to reach the sticks of dynamite that were laying right by his feet.
Ray's eyes widened as he did the only thing he could think of, which was call for his sister. "AVAL-"
The dynamite blew.
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The ground shook as the force of the explosion shook all of Laputa. Dola lost her balance and fell right on top of Pazu, bring them both to the ground.
"Crimany! What are those boys doin'?" Dola cried. "Are they tryin' ta get caught?" She growled. "Well, whatever they're doin', they better have accomplished it or else they'll get caught."
"What about Sheeta?" said Pazu worriedly, trying to push Dola off of him. "What if Avalon does something to her because of the explosion?"
Dola sat up, crushing Pazu beneath her even more. "Then we better hurry. Hopefully she'll only think that it was her crew that caused the explosion." She paused for a moment. "Hey, do you hear something?"
"Hear what?" Pazu listened. He heard it too. "Sounds like the ground is… cracking…"
The two shared a worried look right before the stone floor beneath them collapsed.
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Avalon grabbed the wall to balance herself as the room shook. Since Sheeta's hands were tied, she toppled over. Once the room stopped shaking, she aggressively pulled Sheeta to her feet.
"What was that?" she demanded.
Sheeta winced as Avalon pulled on her hair. "I don't know. I've been with you the whole time. Maybe you men had to use dynamite after all."
Avalon tightened her grip on the girl's hair. "I thought that Laputa was too unstable to use explosives."
"Well, what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to tell me what's going on?"
"I don't know! I know as much as you do."
Growling, Avalon shoved Sheeta up against the wall. She held up the aetherium crystal. "What spell did you use on this? I know you're hiding something, now what is it?"
The roots on the walls were digging into Sheeta's back. She began rubbing her bounded wrists on the walls, searching for a sharp part to cut through the rope. "I told you already. In order to get through some of these rooms, the aetherium crystal is needed. That's what I used it for. As for not using explosives, just take a look around. This place is ancient. I wasn't lying about it falling apart."
Avalon growled, not seeming to notice Sheeta cutting through her bindings. She could tell that the girl was still hiding something, and she didn't like it.
Looking back down the way they came, almost as if she expected someone to come after them, she said, "For your sake, as well as your friends', everything better be exactly the way I left it when we get back. Don't think I won't hesitate to-"
The ropes on Sheeta's hands fell away as she cut through them. Snatching the crystal out of Avalon's hands, she pushed the woman back and made a run for it. She ran over to one of the sealed doors and pressed the crystal up against it. The wall faded away, allowing Sheeta to pass through before it sealed shut again.
Avalon got to her feet, her eyes filled with cold fury. "That's it." She seethed, as she unscrewed her metal hand. "You're dead."
(A/N: Sheeta escaped, for now. But will Pazu and Dola find her in time? Where did they end up anyway? And what of the others? Did they trap Avalon's crew? So many questions, so little time. By the way, did you like how I snuck Lupin the Third in there? I was crossing over 'Castle of Cagliostro', great movie. As for updating again, I don't know when that will be due to this logging on problem. If anyone has any answers, please tell me. If not, leave me a review. Or both.)
