Chapter 439
"Show Me Love"
The circular-structure was bisected by a thick wall that separated Mandy's path from Prince's. The semicircular room that Mandy entered was lit by lights that adorned the wall, but they weren't light bulbs or flames.
In the center of the semi-circle there was a white-wooden table. Standing beside that wooden table stood a short person wearing a sugar-pink mask that wrapped around their entire face.
Mandy clutched the pokeball of her new Milotic, ready to defend herself.
The masked person coughed, clearing their throat before saying, "It's been forever since anyone walked through that door. You'll have to forgive my manners," A woman's voice spoke.
Mandy blinked her eyes, studying the room. Behind the table and the masked woman there was another door.
(Probably a staircase. Just like the tower we were in.) Mandy summed up. "What is this?"
"This is your challenge," The masked woman gestured to the table. "This tower isn't taken with mere brute strength and force. To even reach the captain you first you have to prove yourself a different way."
"How?" Mandy cocked her head. "Wouldn't it make more sense for you to battle the intruder and beat them or soften them up for the captain?"
"Each tower has a different way of doing things." The masked woman stated, "You should know that, Mandy."
"How do you know my name?" Mandy asked.
The masked woman tapped the top of her head, "I have my memories. I remember you very well. So," the masked woman pulled a chair back and sat in it, "Have a seat. Let's see if you're worthy of meeting the captain."
Prince entered the door on the right side of Opal Tower. The semi-circular room was well-lit, with only a rectangular table and two chairs in it. A single door was on the other side, standing in front of that door, guarding it, was a familiar face.
Eva Marie, her flowing red hair, doe eyes and painted lips were on the other side of the table.
(What the-) Prince thought.
"I followed you," Eva said, placing her hands on the top of one of the chairs, "I thought we could-"
Prince interrupted, "Whatever it is, can it wait?"
Eva downcast her eyes, "That's all I do is wait for you, isn't it?" Staring at the stone floor, "How long are you going to keep me waiting?"
Before Prince could answer, Eva continued, "How long are you going to keep Sasha waiting? How long are you going to keep us waiting?"
Prince, still laser-focused on his mission, was becoming irritated, "Waiting for what?"
"For you to choose." Eva said, "Who do you want? Me or her?"
Prince's mind traced the contours of the situation. How did Eva follow him here? And how could she have possibly beaten him to the tower?
The only thing that would make sense was if she rode her Rapiddash to the tower. However, there's no way she would have gotten there on a horse without Prince or Mandy spotting her. There were no alternate routes to Opal Tower, were there?
Eva crossed the table, standing inches from Prince, "Tell me. Do you want her or do you want me?"
"I-" Prince's nostrils inhaled a scent. A strange one. What was Eva wearing? The scent was very foreign. It didn't smell like perfume at all. It smelt more like…cologne.
Prince took a step-back, drew a pokeball and stared down 'Eva'. "Who are you?"
"Oh," She winced, "You don't recognize me?"
"Cut the bullshit." Prince shook his head, "You're not Eva. Who are you?"
"Hehe," The imposter chuckled, "What gave it away?"
"Your scent," Prince noted, "Eva doesn't wear cologne."
The imposter snapped its fingers, "Damn. I knew I forgot something," Gripping the edges of a mask, and pulling it off its face.
There was a strange silver glow that filled the room. When the silver light vanished, an average height man with thick sideburns, wearing bell-bottom pants and a glittering silver vest stood before Prince, "We didn't have any perfume in the supplies." Rico yawned.
Prince facepalmed, "You just had to be a guy, huh?"
"What's wrong with me being a queen?" Rico smiled.
Prince exhaled, his mind on the race between himself and Sasha. "I don't have time for men dressing in drag. Where's the captain of this tower so I can get it turned on and get back to camp?"
"Well, breeder," Rico wagged his finger, "The only way you get to the tower's captain is by passing this tower's test and you may have already put yourself in a position to fail. You see, Eva Marie, she was the perfect vehicle for you to pass the test. Now, you blew it so you have to deal with me to get to the captain."
Prince exasperated sighed, "What do I have to do exactly?"
"It's simple," Rico stretched his arms, "You just have to show the love you have in your heart."
Prince turned away, "You can't be serious."
"Here," Rico gestured to the table, "We have a table," patting the tabletop, "Glasses and wine."
Prince raised his flask, "I'm good on alcohol," he reminded.
"This isn't just a normal batch of wine, sweetie," Rico explained, "This wine has a power to bring out the true feelings of whoever sips it."
"So it's like truth serum?" Prince questioned.
"You can say that." Rico nodded. "Sit and have a drink with me and we'll see if you can get that door open," Pointing to the door behind him.
"This is bullshit." Prince hissed.
"What's wrong?" Rico glanced around, "It's not like you have anywhere better to be. Atlantis is a ghost-town until these towers are turned back on and the only way to turn this tower on is to pass the test."
Prince turned to Rico, "What about Mandy?"
"She's likely dealing with the same thing you are right now." Rico answered, sitting down, "The longer you stall, the longer you'll be here."
Prince exhaled, "May as well," sitting down and staring at Rico, "Look, I don't swing that way, man. If you try to roofie me or-"
"Please," Rico snorted, "No offense, sweetie, but you're not my type."
Prince blinked, "Well, I'm relieved to hear that." Grabbing a glass, "But you first."
"Gladly," Rico smiled, pouring himself a glass.
Mandy held her glass and stared at the masked woman, "Do you really have to hide who you are?"
"I don't have to." The masked woman answered, "But I prefer to."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Call me La Luchadora," The woman behind the mask said, "And, well, I'm here to help you show your true feelings."
"My true feelings?" Mandy seemed confused.
"I," La Luchadora began, "Was in a similar situation a long time ago. I had a friend. A good friend that I was in love with. I showed her my feelings but she rejected me."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Mandy leaned forward, "But I don't understand what that has to do with me."
"Sonya." La Luchadora highlighted, "When are you going to tell her how you feel?"
"I already have." Mandy shrugged. "I love Sonya, as a friend." She added. "I don't have anything against her sexuality. I just prefer men."
"So you'd never give Sonya a chance?" La Luchadora asked.
"I mean," Mandy thought for a moment, "I don't want it to ruin our friendship."
"Would it really ruin the friendship though?"
Mandy thought for a moment, "I don't know. I mean, I don't know how Sonya feels or if she even-"
"Mandy," La Luchadora shook her head, "go be stupid somewhere else. Of course you know Sonya feels something for you."
"I'm not a mind-reader," Mandy defended.
"So would you go there if Sonya asked you?" La Luchadora asked.
"I'd," Mandy paused, "I'd consider it."
Suddenly, there was a soft clunk, and the door slid open.
"Huh?" Mandy blinked.
"Congratulations," La Luchadora nodded, "You passed the test. You can go to the captain now."
"Oh," Mandy sat her glass down, "That wasn't so hard."
"It's not so difficult for us women to admit our feelings. So this tower probably isn't that much of a challenge for women, I think." La Luchadora explained.
"Okay," Mandy stood, "Well, before I go, who are you really?"
La Luchadora sighed, gripped and peeled her mask off. Mickie James stared at Mandy, "Beat the captain so I can leave this tower already."
Mandy chewed her lower-lip softly, "I make no promises. If Prince passes his challenge we definitely will though."
"Prince?" Mickie chuckled, "Oh, the guy that can't choose between Sasha and Eva."
"You know about that?"
"Mandy, everyone knows about that." Mickie sighed.
Mandy exhaled, "Why doesn't he choose?"
"Well, we'll find out soon." Mickie shrugged, "You can meet him, hopefully, and the captain at the top."
"Okay," Mandy hurried through the door, "We'll set you free."
Rico and Prince both drained their second glass of the truth-wine and refilled, "This is the last of it," Rico exhaled.
Prince stared at the door, it hadn't moved. "Why isn't it open?"
"You haven't passed the test yet." Rico shrugged.
"Maybe I'll just blast it open." Gripping a pokeball, "Go! Melbu!" He tossed the pokeball.
But nothing happened.
"Huh?" Prince leaned, "Why-"
"Anti-summoning magic," Rico said curtly, "You can't just bully your way through this tower. This tower isn't so much a test of strength it's a test of the heart."
"Magic?" Prince shook his head.
"The west was filled with lots of magic," Rico explained, "The East; well you were dragons and brute strength. Controlling the sky really. The West, well, the seas and magic were our forte."
"So that mask you were wearing that made you look like Eva."
"Atlantian magic." Rico smiled.
"I see." Prince plucked up his pokeball and clipped it onto his necklace. "It's scary to think you can look just like her. Don't get any ideas."
"I won't," Rico placed his hands on his hips, "First, you're not my type. And second, I don't know whether to be her or Sasha in that situation."
"I mean, I don't get what you want me to say."
"Who do you choose, Sasha or Eva?"
"I don't know." Prince hissed. "Eva's, ya know, Eva but Sasha's, ya know, Sasha."
"Who do you love more?" Rico asked.
"I don't know." Prince exhaled, "Probably Eva. Sasha's put me through so much shit but Eva; everything's just been, ya know, evenflow and chill."
"So you're choosing Eva?"
"I don't know." Prince admitted, "In between being chased across the planet by a psychopath that brainwashes people I haven't had time to worry about romance."
"Well," Rico chuckled, "I guess you have a point there."
"I love both of them but in different ways and for different reasons." Prince explained.
"So you love Sasha too?" Rico leaned forward.
"I guess." Prince hesitated. "I don't know."
Rico stared at the door, "No wonder the door won't open." Rico stared at the wolf mask on Prince's face. The lone wolf. It suited him, at times. Even now when the only way forward was to bear his heart, he shielded his emotions because they were one of the few things he could keep and didn't have to share with anyone. Something sacred that only belonged to him.
Prince was being stubborn. The truth-serum was revealing it all. Prince was confused with his emotions and unable to choose one over the other.
"I," Prince hesitated, "I love Eva but…I love Sasha too. So it's not an easy decision."
With a soft clunk, the door slid open.
"Presto." Rico cheered, throwing his arms around Prince, "Now you and your lovely doll can go and beat the captain and free me from this cramped tower."
"Umm," Prince sat his glass down, "Yeah, of course."
"Oh, and sweetie," Rico called as Prince hurried up the stairs, "I know it's hard but sooner-or-later, you're going to have to choose between them. Follow your heart. You know which one it really belongs to, okay."
Prince nodded, "Yeah, whatever." Hurrying up the stairs.