"We have a problem," Zircon muttered to the group as they were working on their own business.
"What?" Lady Kayura asked her son.
"The ancient staff is missing," he replied, cringing.
"How could it be missing?" she demanded.
"I don't know," Zircon said, "I woke up this morning and noticed it was gone."
"Let's go look for it," Chloe suggested, "Maybe it's only misplaced."
"No, I've already looked," Zircon said.
"Then someone must've stolen it," Ivy grumbled, "Okay, who did it?"
"No one here would steal the ancient's staff,"
Anubis said.
"But we were guarding the castle until almost midnight," Gwen mumbled with a yawn. "We didn't see anyone."
"Then it happened when we went to bed," Priscilla said.
"Someone has also stolen the Prism Crystal Orb at Neo Queen Serenity's castle," Trista announced, "and I am sure that it has to be the same person who stole the staff."
"Do they know who did it?" Kale asked.
"Not exactly," Trista responded, "but Neo Queen Serenity told me that Robyn had a dream and she saw someone dressed in black steal the orb and blind Whiteblaze the tiger."
"They injured the tiger?" Gwen asked, "That's so cowardly."
"I suppose all we can do is search for this person in
black," Chloe said.
"What attacked me wasn't human," Hotaru whispered,
rubbing her arms, "It was like an alien or a monster."
"Hotaru, are you all right?" Anubis asked in concern.
She sighed, "No, Anubis," she replied honestly, "I'm not."
Anubis wrapped his arms around
her to help calm her down.
"Don't worry, Mom," Chloe said, "We'll stop it."
"Chloe," Hotaru said, "whatever you do, don't
let that thing get too close to you.
Chloe nodded.
"I mean it, Chloe,"
Hotaru pressed.
"I'll be fine."
"Let's get moving," Priscilla commanded, "We
need to get the staff back.
He nodded, "It is my fault that it's missing."
"No it's not," Priscilla said with a smile.
They began to leave the castle, with only their instincts to lead them.
Rowena was leading the others northward in a frozen
wasteland.
"What makes you think the thief took the crystal orb
all the way out here?" Robyn demanded with a shout from the back of the
line.
"Hey, if you're too cold, Robyn," Rochelle stated,
turning her face over her shoulder with a grin, "put on your armor of
Warfire!
Robyn pretended not to hear the silly remark and slowed her
pace.
"Actually, Rowena," Vincent said, "Robyn does
have a point.
"I don't know," Rowena replied, shielding her face
with her forearm, "but the ancient told me to go this way.
"I don't hear him,"
Vincent said.
"A spirit still lives, Vincent," Rowena muttered,
"and a spirit can still see what we cannot.
"If I concentrate hard enough then I don't even feel the coldness," Phyllis said to Rochelle.
"Really, can you show me
how?" Rochelle asked.
"Um, Rowena, dear," Joy said, placing her hand on her shoulder, "can we stop for a moment?"
"What's wrong, Joy?" Rowena asked, "Are you hurt?"
The others stopped but Robyn stayed far behind.
"Oh, no dear," Joy whispered, "but I sense water nearby and I am not even wearing my armor of Ice Torrent."
"Snow is all around us," Vincent commented.
"That's not the water I'm sensing," Joy said as she shook her head, "Don't be alarmed, love but," she lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned forward to Rowena as she cupped her mouth, "we're walking over a lake!"
"A lake?" Rochelle
exclaimed.
"Sh!" Joy hushed, "The snow is two feet deep
and the ice underneath us a foot and a half deep.
"You can tell how much ice and how deep this lake is?" Phyllis asked in amazement, "wow!"
"Thanks for telling me,
Joy."
"Anytime,
darling."
Because Robyn was standing in one spot for too long and she
was a soldier of fire, the ice and snow melted and she fell into the bitter
cold lake.
"Robyn!"
"I'll go after her," Joy said, "You must get
off the lake in case there's a crack in the ice." She pointed forward,
"The shore is about twenty feet from here.
Rowena nodded and made haste to the edge, taking Vincent with her.
"Joy, are you nuts?" Rochelle demanded, following Joy to the hole, "that water is freezing!"
Joy sighed, "Rochelle, love, I'm Joy of the Ice
Torrent, water, even freezing water can't bother me."
"Come on, Rochelle," Phyllis urged, pulling her back, "Joy will be okay and even if she does get hypothermia, she can treat herself! Her mom's a doctor!"
"Quickly," Rowena ordered. She ran away, but
carefully so she wouldn't fall into the water.
"Did Joy make it?" Rochelle asked, holding her hand over her eyes, "I can't see her!" she cupped her mouth, "JOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
Even under the water, Joy heard Rochelle call for her.
Robyn was unconscious but Joy felt a faint heart beat when
she got to her.
Joy began to swim for the surface and find the hole.
'Where's the bloody hole?' Joy thought furiously, palming
the frozen ice as she searched for the hole, 'This water's great, but Robyn's
going to die if I don't get her out of here!'
Robyn's energy began to decrease and Joy could sense
it.
'Well, if I can't find the hole,' Joy thought, 'then I'll just have to make one!'
As the others were thinking it was too late, they saw Joy's trident break through the ice and snow.
"It's Joy!" Rochelle cried, "She's all right!"
Joy pulled herself up out of the water with Robyn on her
back.
"Actually, love," Joy said with a smile, "I
feel refreshed!
Rochelle laughed.
Phyllis built a fire and Vincent removed his cape to wrap around Robyn.
"Are you all right, Robyn?" Rowena asked.
Robyn gave a quiet groan, "w-what h-happened?" she stuttered with blue lips.
"You fell in the ice," Phyllis answered, nodding to Joy, "and Joy fished you out."
"Ice?"
"Yes," Rowena said, "we were walking over a
frozen lake and you fell in.
Robyn smiled and shivered,
"you went in after me, Joy?
Joy shook her head, "I wouldn't call it dangerous love.
I'd call it refreshing.
"No you wouldn't," Rochelle teased, "you just
wanted to play hero!
"Thanks, Joy," Robyn said, "If you happen to
fall into a volcano, I'll go in after you.
"Joy, can you put her back in the water for a sec?" Rowena asked, "I think she needs to cool off again!"
When Robyn got her strength back, they began to keep
walking.
"I'm starving," Robyn moaned, "let's go back to the lake and catch some fish."
"Yeah, that sounds good!" Rochelle chimed.
"Oh, here," Vincent took the little bag off his
belt and opened it.
"Thanks, Vincent," Robyn mumbled.
"How about you, Rowena?" Vincent asked, turning around where she was standing. "Hey, where'd she go?"
"Rowena?" Joy whispered.
"She was just here," Phyllis said.
A few moments later they saw Rowena in her full armor
walking down carrying a doe over her shoulders.
"Rowena, a deer?" Phyllis whispered.
"Only thing I could find," Rowena commented, "will you cook it for us, Phyllis?"
"If my father finds out he'll kill me!" she shouted.
"Deer meet is good for you," Robyn commented,
"My grandfather ate it all the time. But then again, I never did meet my
grandfather so I can't be certain but I'm pretty sure he ate deer."
"Hey, I know that," Phyllis said, "but I
mean, look at it! The poor, defenseless, beautiful, creature.
"We have to eat something, Phyllis," Rowena
said.
"Never for dinner!" Phyllis said, "and not when she met my Dad!"
"I'll cook it," Joy sighed, "It shouldn't be too hard."
"Yay! Thanks, Joy!" Rochelle cheered.
"Traitor!" Phyllis cried, throwing her arms in the
air, "It's wrong to kill animals!
"Sure we know," Rochelle said, her arm dangling over Phyllis' shoulders, "we also know something else."
"What's that?"
"People need to eat!" Rochelle patted her shoulder.
After Joy was finished cooking, everyone except for Phyllis
began to eat it.
With a sigh, Phyllis stood and walked to the group, "I'm not supposed to eat meat when my father's around," she announced, "but my father isn't here!" she sat down and took a piece of meat and shoved it in her mouth.
"Good, huh?" Rochelle asked.
"Yeah," Phyllis admitted.
Zircon went with the war ladies through the forest.
"I remember something about a bunch of bandits living
out here somewhere.
"Cutthroat Bandits?" Gwen asked, disgusted.
"That's okay," Zircon said, "It's good that
you don't really know where they are."
"Thanks, your majesty," Chloe said.
"Don't worry about finding them, Chloe," Gwen said with a grin, "we can bring them to us!"
"Oh, no, there she goes," Ivy groaned slightly.
She mimicked Gwen's voice, "'I am Gwen, the war lady of surprise," as
she was acting like Gwen, Gwen ignored her, "'what you see is not real!
Ooohh!'
Pricilla knocked her back, "watch it, Ivy, or all you'll be seeing is the darkness of space!"
"Hey, I see someone coming," Zircon said.
"They're the bandits," Chloe said.
"Just one?" Gwen demanded with a moan, "just one?"
"Isn't that easier that having to cast an illusion on a lot of men?" Zircon asked.
"Well, yes, but I was up for a challenge," Gwen
sighed, "but one?!
"Okay, Gwen, work your magic," Chloe said.
"I'll get him to lead me to their hide out, stay close but be careful," Gwen informed, "Try not to do anything stupid, that means you, Ivy!"
Ivy groaned.
"Yeah, I mean it," Gwen said, "Illusion casting
is an art, so please, don't spit on my masterpiece?
"What is going on here?" the bandit demanded,
holding up a lantern.
"Well, I guess we know why they're called the Cutthroat Bandits," Zircon whispered.
Gwen stepped out of the bushes, "oh, I don't think you'd do that," she said.
Instead of seeing a woman clad in the armor resembling a
black widow, the bandit saw a gorgeous looking woman with light brown wavy hair
dressed as a harlot.
"What are you doing out here?" the bandit asked
playfully, returning the smile.
"Oh, I might be," Gwen said, "I wouldn't mind
seeing your home, that is, if you'd rather stay lost out here.
"Will she just get on with it?" Ivy demanded softly.
"Tell me stranger," Gwen asked, "aren't you a member of the famous Cutthroat Bandits?" she walked sexily toward him and took his arm.
"I am," he replied boastingly.
"Ooooh," she whispered, sliding her finger over his mouth, "can you show Lady Gwen all your treasures?"
"It will be my pleasure," the bandit said, "My lady will be very surprised."
Gwen grinned, "Oh, I how loooooooove sssssuuuurprisesssssssssss."
"Right this way, sweetness," The bandit flattered.
"They're making me sick," Ivy complained.
"Shh!" Chloe hushed, "let's go.
"So tell me," Gwen said, "how long have you been one of the Cutthroat Bandits?"
"Since I was a boy," he replied.
"Ah," she commented, "and what is your name?"
"Ward.
"It's lovely," Gwen complimented, "I wonder
what treasures you hold in side."
"Ward, what are you doing?" someone shouted from the post, "bringing a…"
Gwen quickly sent what Ward saw to the same bandit.
"Bringing a lovely woman here and not letting in
yet!"
"Yes," Gwen said, "I'm here to get something."
"I hope we have what you're looking for," he said.
"Oh, me too," Gwen smiled.
"Here is all of our gold," Ward told Gwen as he opened one door to reveal about twenty large bags of gold. He opened a bag and sank his hand inside to give her a better look of the gold coins.
"This is lovely, but not quite what I'm looking for," Gwen said, playing with his mouth, "do you have anything else?"
"We have some jewels right over here," Ward
gulped, walking father inside the room.
"May I inspect that?" she asked, remembering that the Prism Crystal Orb was stolen too.
"You can have it if you want," Ward whispered.
Gwen took the crystal.
"You don't have want," Gwen hissed, sounding
displeased.
"No, wait!" Ward cried, "don't go, I,"
he said, "Have something more.
"Weapons, that's better," Gwen said with a
nod.
"Why, hello, there little lady," the blacksmith said, "What can we do for ye?"
"I'm looking for a golden staff," Gwen said, looking the place over, "very nice selection here but I'm not seeing much of interest."
"Let me go see what I can find," the blacksmith went to a corner away from Gwen and Ward.
"Well, Ward, I must say I am surprised," Gwen said, "now tell me, do you love surprises?"
"Oh yes," he closed his eyes, wating for a
kiss.
"SURPRISE!" Gwen cackled as she took Ward by the throat, "there's a reason why I look like a black widow!" she hissed.
"What's the matter, Ward?" The blacksmith asked turning around, "How in the?"
"Stay back!" Gwen shouted, "Or I will cut your throat!"
Ward wiggled around in Gwen's grasp as she pulled him near, "what are you going to do to me?" he gasped.
"Giving you reward," she replied, "the only reward you deserve!" she pressed her lips against his and though any men would want to kiss a beautiful woman, there was something that wasn't right here.
The kiss seemed to cause Ward great pain and he was
screaming and shaking as he started seeing scary images run through his
head.
"Sweet dreams," Gwen mumbled.
"What did you do?" the blacksmith shouted.
"ELEMENT OF SURPRISE!" she threw another illusion, taking away everything the blacksmith remembered.
"Thank you, come again."
"She's a witch!" someone shouted.
"Stop her before she takes everything!" another ordered.
Gwen waited until a bandit ran after her with his
sword.
"Did you find it Gwen?" Zircon asked.
"No, they don't have it," she replied.
"Kill them!" bandits cried.
"Look at all this gold," Ivy commented, "oh, can we just take a little bit?"
"No, Ivy, come on!" Gwen said and blew a kiss at
the bandits, "goodbye, Cutthroat Bandits, see you around!
The Cutthroat Bandits stood motionless, wondering what they
were doing.
"Give it to me, Ivy," Priscilla commanded.
"Give you what?" Ivy demanded.
Priscilla reminded time to where she took the sapphire and fast-forwarded it back.
Ivy groaned and gave it to Priscilla.
"Nevermind that," Priscilla said, "let's find the staff."
"Can you just take us back in time to where we had it
and bring it back?" Ivy asked.
"That really won't work," Zircon said, "we need to find it."
"I'll take us back in time to see what happened," Priscilla said, "maybe we'll find a clue."
"Okay," Chloe said, "sounds like an idea."
"Hey!" Gwen muttered.
"Oh, good job, Gwen," Chloe said.
"Elementary, my dear Chloe," Gwen joked.
"BACK IN TIME!" Priscilla concentrated and went back in time, but a little too far in time.
"Where are we?" Ivy demanded, looking around.
"The question is not where are we," Zircon said, "but when."
"I think you went too far in time, Priscilla," Chloe said with a cringe.
"What makes you say that?" she asked.
"That!" she screamed, pointing to the T-rex that was down eating a slain dinosaur.
"Priscilla, you took us to the Jurassic era!" Gwen muttered, "quick, take us back before the giant meat-eating lizard notices us!"
Raptors noticed them instead.
"Run!" Zircon screamed and the five began
running.
"Take us back, Priscilla, take us back!" Ivy shouted.
"Gwen, make them look like sheep!" Chloe pleaded.
"That won't work!" Gwen said, "They'll still be chasing us!"
"Freeze time or something, now!" Ivy ordered.
"Take us back to the future, come on, come on!" Zircon cried, "I don't want to die!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Priscilla said, "There, FORWARD IN TIME!"
They took them forward and they were standing in a small room where thirteen men were eating. The men were listening intently to one talk about someone in the group will betray him.
"Is it I master?" one of the followers asked.
{AN: Please don't find this offensive. I'm a Christian too. I just thought this would be pretty funny to put them in the scene of the last supper.}
"Not far enough," Ivy whispered to Priscilla.
"Right," Priscilla whispered back.
"Why Judas?" Peter, James, and John cried.
The next second the five were back in their right time.
"Well, it's nice that we're in our right time,"
Zircon sighed.
The staff was the first item the group saw and then they saw
the person who was carrying it.
"She stole it!" Zircon shouted, "unhand the ancient's staff, you thief!"
"Hmm?" she mumbled, "but I am of the ancient clan."
"Wait, Zircon," Chloe said, "she's not dressed in black."
"And she said she's of the ancient clan," Ivy added, "but something's not right."
Behind her, four men walked up, dressed in the armors that only the ancient could make.
"Is this an illusion, Gwen?" Chloe demanded, "I don't think it's funny!"
"No, it's real," Gwen gulped.
"Their armors look so much like ours," Priscilla
said, "oh, I know what is wrong here."
"I'm a girl!" Zircon shouted.
"See what happens when you interfere with the
past?" Gwen demanded, "now the whole bible needs to be rewritten
because you pointed out Judas to anyone!"
"You just messed up many religions," Ivy added,
"some people will believe that the sop was given to Judas but others will
say 'but in the bible a jackal's daughter pointed him out to
everyone'
"Okay, I'm sorry!" Priscilla shouted.
The girl holding the staff of the ancient cleared her
throat, "Forgive me for not introducing myself, my name is
Crystal."
"I am Conrad," said the one closer to
Crystal.
"So your parents are Kale," Priscilla said, "warlord of corruption and Sailor Pluto, soldier of space and time, right?"
Conrad nodded, "yes," He took off his helmet to
reveal black hair with green highlights in the shape of Kale's and purplish
eyes. He looked so much like Kale, only younger and with Trista's hair color
and eye color.
"Their mine too," Priscilla said, "So I guess you're my brother."
"Priscilla," Ivy muttered, "our brothers?"
"Would you rather refer them as a boy image of
yourself?" she demanded, "I didn't think so!
The next one beside him went on.
"I am Murdock, warlord of Poisoned Water."
"But I am---," Ivy began and saw the look in Priscilla's eyes, the faked a smile, "I'm your sister!"
Murdock removed his helmet to reveal short hair the shape of
Sekhmet's but in the color of Michelle's. His eyes were the color of the sea
and they didn't look too snake-like.
"And I am Duncan," the one in brown and gold armor said, "Warlord of Disorder."
"And how good are your illusions, Duncan?
"They're confusing, so I'm sure they must work."
"Do you get fun out of it?" Gwen inquired.
"Gwen," Ivy mumbled.
"How will I know if I don't ask?" Gwen demanded to
Ivy in a whisper.
Duncan shrugged, "sure, I guess."
Gwen looked surprised, more so than anyone that she had cast an illusion on before.
Duncan's armor looked much like the armor of tarantula, only
the colors were different. The dark pink majority on tarantula was brown and
the under armor was gold the ribbed stripes close to the neck were blue.
"You really don't like playing with people's minds?" Gwen asked again, "then what do you do?"
Miles shook his head, "actually, I prefer to bask in the sun, take walks, ride horses, exercise…"
"You just don't like, you know, hang out?" Gwen asked.
"No."
"Are you sure you're not playing with my mind?" Gwen inquired, "you really don't like to be a warlord of confusion, throw illusions around and laugh while they don't understand what's going on?"
"No.
"I can't take this," Gwen mumbled, "I need to
sit down."
Chloe removed her helmet, "I'm Chloe, War Lady of
Destruction.
He nodded and took of his helmet, showing his red jaw-length
hair and forked eyebrows.
Rufus' armor looked a lot like Chloe's, but more like
Anubis'.
"Well, now that we know who everyone is," Zircon began, "have you seen someone in black carrying the ancient's staff and a orb run through here? Anyone?"
Crystal and the four warlords exchanged glances, as if they thought Zircon had just gone crazy.
