Flint fingered the amulet once again in his pocket – something that had become an old habit. Somehow, it made him feel closer to Allie, knowing he carried part of her with it. Well, at least according to Snake Eyes, it held part of her essence. He wasn't quite sure what that was, only that it was something that he was to protect.
Now that the time was near, he felt impatience swirl in the pit of his stomach, and it was harder and harder to keep down. Where the hell was Shipwreck?
Snake Eyes placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, as if reading his thoughts and restless nature.
As if on cue, Shipwreck appeared in front of them, his trademark grin on his face.
"Miss me?" he joked to his two teammates. This had always been an enjoyable role to play and he did love putting that look of annoyance on Flint's face.
"Where is she?" growled Flint in response. He was through playing games and had no patience for the flippant remarks the sailor was sure to make!
"Did you bring the amulet?" asked Shipwreck, suddenly growing serious.
Snake Eyes stepped in front of Flint and studied Shipwreck. There was something about him that was different – he could sense it. Granted, the sailor had always been a bit odd, but it was something else this time. He wasn't sure if his teammate was to be trusted - or that this was even his teammate.
"She's over here," Shipwreck finally answered, deciding he'd have to play it cool around the ninja. Unlike most humans, he had a hard time reading him. Ninjas were a whole different breed, he thought wearily. Best to watch his step around this one.
Shipwreck turned and led the way to a small copse of trees not far from where the creature had stood, guarding the portal.
He knew Flint couldn't see Lady Jaye, but the ninja obviously sensed her, even through the camouflage Shipwreck had created. He was a little worried – her head was slumped forward and she seemed to have fallen asleep. At least, he hoped it was sleep. Disguise or not, if something happened to her, he wasn't sure Flint would let any of them leave alive!
He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her eyelids flutter and her green eyes meet his. Shipwreck waved a hand and slowly the camouflage lifted so that she appeared to all three of the men.
With a hoarse cry, Flint rushed towards her, scooping her up in his arms.
She clung to him, reveling in the sensation of his arms around her – this time, in real life, not a dream.
He slowly released her and stood, holding out a hand to help her to her feet. Looking up to him with a smile on her face, she clasped her hand in his and slowly rose.
Suddenly, she let out a cry and slumped forward.
Shipwreck began to curse while Snake Eyes jumped to action, using his sword to deflect the next arrow that was sent in their direction.
"Stop right there!" an authoritative voice rang out from the trees. The three men found themselves frozen to the spot, unable to move. Flint tightened his arms around Lady Jaye's body as she remained slumped against him.
Destro emerged from the shadows of the tree, holding a bow and arrow out in front of him. "Any other moves, and I'll hit her again. The arrow is dipped in a slow-acting poison. She's already received one of them. If you want to see her die a most painful death, then by all means, move. Otherwise, she still has time for the antidote that's in my pocket."
He gave a low chuckle. "I knew if I waited around long enough, fate would once again favor me. Bring her here," he ordered Flint, gesturing towards Lady Jaye. "Right now, she has a slight paralysis which will prohibit her from running away."
Reluctantly, knowing the man was not bluffing, Flint carried Lady Jaye over to where her father stood, smiling triumphantly. "Now, back away, back where I can see you."
Flint stepped back a few paces so that he stood next to Shipwreck and Snake Eyes.
"Now, I'm assuming you know where the amulet is located. Why else bring her back here? I suggest you produce it now or," he aimed the arrow at Lady Jaye's prone body, "I inject her with the rest of the poison."
Flint's hands clenched into fists. "What are you talking about?" he asked angrily.
"Don't play stupid with me, boy! I know very well one of you Joes took the amulet from the witch's neck! It belongs to me! Either hand it back or watch your girlfriend die!" He pulled the arrow back dramatically. "On a count of three. One…two…"
Something whizzed by Destro's head and startled him enough that he released the arrow, but missed Lady Jaye by mere inches, embedding itself in the dirt next to her.
"Really, Father, and I thought you had treated me poorly," came another voice. Flint watched as a regally dressed man stepped from the shadows from the other side of the trees. He held out a hand and Flint watched fascinated as a swirling mass of blue energy appeared in his palm. "I'm afraid I can't let you harm my sister."
"Roland!" Destro spat out. "Bad enough that you stole what was mine! Now you are claiming her as yours as well? I don't think so," he said, his tone full of venom.
"I really don't think you have a choice," drawled Roland. He nodded at Shipwreck. "I'll deal with you later," he warned, and a quick shiver went through the sailor. He wondered if he'd be able to weasel his way out of this one. Thinking of his past punishments, he didn't relish seeing what Roland would come up with this time.
Roland waved his other hand, and Lady Jaye's body vanished from where it had been in front of Destro. Flint couldn't help the cry of frustration that escaped his lips. It earned him a quick glance from Roland who had ignored him up to this point.
It's an illusion, Snake Eyes quickly signed to him. She's still here. It's his way of protecting her.
Roland focused back on Destro. "Give it up, Father. Whether it's by using her, or some other means, you can never regain what you've lost. Come to terms with it and move on!"
Destro growled a response in an unfamiliar language. Judging by Roland's narrowed eyes, Flint was glad he didn't speak the language. Raising his arms, he threw what appeared to be a green ball at Destro, which seemed to trap him inside of it.
Shipwreck stepped cautiously forward. "Not to interrupt or anything, but wouldn't it be best if we got the antidote from him?"
Roland sneered. "As usual, he was bluffing. He hit her with a temporary paralysis. She'll be fine. Of course," he said, flicking a glance at Shipwreck, "she would have been better off if she'd never been removed from my care!"
"While I appreciate the thought, it was not Puck that removed me. I was the one who wanted to leave," came Lady Jaye's soft tone. She stepped out of what appeared to be a fog, pushing it aside with her hand. She leaned against one of the trees, waiting to regain her strength.
"You are not well," Roland replied in a crisp voice. "You see what this world brings you? He will hunt you down and never leave you in peace! I can offer you the safety of the palace where we can rule side by side as brother and sister."
"That's your vision, not mine," she replied, her voice growing stronger. "I have to wonder, though, if the amulet were found, if you would still think of me that way."
Flint felt the object of the conversation warm where it lay nestled in his pocket.
"Of course I would!" Roland said forcibly. "What does this world have that I cannot give you?"
"Friends, family….loved ones," was her reply. "While I appreciate the thought, brother, I would rather choose to live in this world, even with all its dangers and enemies," she answered with a glance towards Destro. "Once the amulet is found and destroyed, he won't have any more use for me."
"Destroyed!" Roland thundered. "Why would it be destroyed?"
"So it is the amulet, then, you are after," Lady Jaye said with a smile that Flint had seen before. He called it her "cat that swallowed the canary" smile and it often came right before she would pounce on her prey. "I have to admit – I didn't realize my essence was that valuable!"
She suddenly walked towards Flint, her eyes never leaving that of her brother's. "And if it had been here all along, would you still have brought me to your palace?"
She linked her arm with Flint's and he realized that she knew he had the amulet. He wasn't sure what her plan was at this point, but would try his best to play along with her.
"I have to admit, I didn't think you would be able to function in this world without it," Roland admitted, studying her carefully. "Unless you already possess it and are playing games with me."
"Oh no, it's not in my possession," she told him coolly. "What exactly would you do with it, Roland? Would you use it to help restore me, or would you just add it to your own? I'm curious."
Shipwreck once again stepped up. "Okay, let's just think rationally here. Obviously we want what belongs to you returned," he informed Lady Jaye, and then turning to Roland, "and you want to see that your position stays safe. I think we've established that Alison doesn't want anything to do with the realm and that she'd rather stay here in the human world. I think it's a valid point and we can all just move on from there, can't we?"
"Where is the amulet, Puck?" asked Roland in a quiet steel tone.
Shipwreck flinched, knowing he couldn't avoid a direction question asked by his master.
"You've known all along, haven't you?" Roland continued.
Shipwreck nodded his head slowly. "But only recently," he added quickly.
"Where is it?" Roland ground out.
"Right here!" Flint growled, pulling it out of his pocket and showing Roland. "Only, it doesn't belong to you now, does it?"
He started to hand it to Lady Jaye when Snake Eyes knocked it out of his hand. He looked at the ninja in surprise, but understanding dawned on his face when he saw Lady Jaye's face grow pale and her body start to waver. She had been bluffing her strength the entire time, he realized as he felt her lean into him. He wasn't sure what touching the amulet would have done, but obviously according to Snake Eyes, it wouldn't have done her any good!
Roland's eyes greedily regarded the amulet as it lay at Lady Jaye's feet. He looked towards Shipwreck and nodded, who moved reluctantly forward to fetch it.
Snake Eyes was like a blur. He had his sword in his hand and without a sound, sliced through the amulet.
There was a bright glow and a swirl of colors. Lady Jaye gasped and her body arched backwards as the swirl of color seemed to surround her.
Roland watched quietly, his eyes filled with an undisguised emotion. He turned to Shipwreck and said in a quiet tone, "Since you like to play the human game so well, your punishment can be that you join them, without powers, for a year of their time. That should be long enough to remind you not to disobey me again."
Roland stepped back and simply vanished from sight. Shipwreck was the only one who saw him go, since all eyes were on Lady Jaye. He glanced over and saw Destro was free from the energy ball that Roland had thrown at him and was watching the scene in disgust. He let out a snort and turned away, his robes swirling behind him as he retreated back into the shadows of the woods.
Lady Jaye had fallen to her knees and Flint knelt down next to her.
"Baby," he whispered, "are you okay?"
She looked up at him, the green of her eyes intensified for a moment, and Flint could almost imagine the swirl of power inside her.
Slowly she stood up. "Yes," she breathed heavily, "I think I am."