Mana ran down the walkway and jumped onto Bandits back, riding him alongside the Nile, tears coursing down her cheeks, when all of a sudden Bandit stopped cold.
"Bandit what…..ahhh!" She gasped when she saw what had caused the horse to freeze. Right in front of them were five large crocodiles coming right their way; snapping their jaws hungrily. Mana pulled Bandit's reins, to get away from the chasing crocs, she ran from side to side trying to evade them, but to no avail. Bandit ran and ran until he made it into a clearing, but sadly they had only gone in one huge circle, and were now surrounded by angry crocodiles. Bandit bucked wildly, throwing Mana off roughly as the crocs started to attack him. Mana scared for her horse ran up with a huge stick and bravely started to beat the large reptiles with it.
"Get away from him!" Mana cried as she hit one hard in the nose, she prepared to swing again when one croc grabbed the stick in its mouth and broke it, leaving Mana defenseless.
"Uh oh…." Was all Mana could get out before one crocodile swung his mighty tail, sending Mana flying into the water, to which all the other crocs followed. Mana looked up to see one charging right at her, mouth open, sharp teeth glistening ready to tear through her flesh. Before the large lizard could touch her, the Beast came rushing in and grabbed the croc by its tail, hurling it away before grabbing Mana and bringing her to shore, and quickly lunged at the others.
"Beast!" Mana cried as one crocodile sunk its teeth into his shoulder and another on his arm. The Beast enraged, grabbed two crocs and bashed them together before throwing them away as well. The remaining crocs knowing they could not win swam off in fear, as the Best slowly climbed out of the water. Blood was gushing from his two wounds, as he gave one despairing look to Mana before collapsing to the floor. Mana gave a little cheer of relief, grateful to be alive as she climbed onto Bandit's back, but stopped halfway.
But what about the Beast? No! Why should I help him all he has done is be cruel to me! But…he did save my life." She thought as she looked at the fallen creature. Her conscious getting the better of her Mana walked over to the fallen Beast and began to try to hoist him onto Bandit.
Okay, this was a bad idea, he weighs a TON! Mana thought as she struggled to get the mighty Beast up. After a short while she was successful and walked away to the palace with Bandit carrying the Beast on his back.
Later on that night Mana was in the den with the now awake Beast, and was busy pouring some hot water from Tea into a bowl, to treat his wounds. Meanwhile the Beast had his own method and was licking the gash on his arm angrily.
"Here now. Oh, don't do that." Her only response was a growl from the Beast, but Mana was having none of that as she tried to clean the wound.
"Just...hold still." She said as she touched the rag to the jagged cut, this time her response was a loud roar of pain from the Beast, causing his servants to hide in fear from the outburst.
"That hurts!"
"If you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much." Mana said loudly.
"Well if you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Well if you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!"Mana countered, the Beast opened his mouth to retort but stopped to think of a comeback.
"W-Well you shouldn't have been in the West Wing!" He roared when it came to him.
"Well you should learn to control your temper!" Mana yelled as she looked at the Beast in fury. Beast raised his massive paw to bring out another point, but found he had none, so he bowed his head in defeat. While his servants emerged from their hiding spots, looking on in shock as Mana calmed down the ferocious temper of their master. Mana seeing the Beast had given up on arguing with her, moved the rag closer to the wound.
"Now, hold still. This may sting a little." The Beast gave a surprised grunt and gritted his teeth in pain as Mana applied the rag and resumed cleaning the harsh cut.
"By the way, thank you, for saving my life." Mana said tenderly to the mighty Beast as he looked at her in shock.
"You're welcome." He replied in a soft voice as he and Mana smiled at each other.
Meanwhile, Marik, Bakura and Pegasus, the asylum worker were talking in the now abandoned bar.
"I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night, but they said you'd make it worth my while." Pegasus chimed, looking suspiciously at the two men at the same time Bakura pulled out a bag of gold and tossed it right in front of him. Pegasus took out a piece and put it to his chin in thought.
"Aah, I'm listening."
"It's like this. I've got my heart set on marrying Mana, but she needs a little persuasion," Bakura began, to only be cut off by Marik.
"Turned him down flat!" He cried. Bakura angrily hit him over the head with a mug before continuing.
"Everyone knows her father's a lunatic. He was in here tonight raving about a beast in a castle..."
"Shimon is harmless." Pegasus said with a wave of his hand.
"The point is, Mana would do anything to keep him from being locked up."
"Yeah, even marry him!" Marik said, but ducked back under the mug when he saw Bakura's threatening look.
"So you want me to throw her father in the asylum unless she agrees to marry you?" Pegasus asked, to which Bakura and Marik nodded in agreement.
"Oh, that is despicable" Pegasus said sadly to the two men, before an evil grin came over his face
"I love it!"
On the other side of town Shimon was packing in a hurry.
"If no one will help me, then I'll go back alone. I don't care what it takes. I'll find that castle and somehow I'll get her out of there." He said confidently as he finished his packing and darted out the door on his quest. Seconds later Bakura and Marik arrived with Pegasus.
"Mana! Shimon!" Bakura called out, but there was no answer.
"Oh, well, I guess it's not gonna work after all." Marik said as he began to walk out, only to be grabbed around the neck by Bakura.
"They have to come back sometime, and when they do, we'll be ready for them." He hissed as he walked out of the house.
"Marik, don't move from that spot until Mana and her father come home." Bakura ordered as he and Pegasus walked away.
"But, but... aww, man!" Marik pouted angrily.
Another Chapter wooo!! Enjoy and please review and thanks to all those who did! :)
