Author's note: With all the great feedback, I'm getting inspired to write the next fanfic. (I've had this finished for some time and have been posting it at my leisure.) Heart attacks? Well, I'm not quite done with cliffhangers yet...... *insert wicked laughter here* But don't worry, the end is near...

Show-down!

It did not take Ridley long, darting down the correct hallway, to find himself racing down the centre of the red carpet laid out across the hallway to Lauthal's room. Past the large columns, and her oddities, past the giant stuffed bear and oversized guillotine and into the centre of the circular end of her room. For a moment he thought it was empty, as he looked around, until the blonde Empress spoke up from where she had been standing, contemplating at the window to his left. She had blended into the scenery so perfectly.

"You've come on a fool's mission," Lauthal addressed him, turning away from the window. Her eyes had faded away into pure blackness, and stared back at him coldly.

"You," Ridley accused angrily, slowing down, "you nearly killed my friend. She is what she is now, because of you." Lauthal smiled cruelly at the suggestion.

"And what is she?" the Empress pressed victoriously, "worse than death? Do tell me." Ridley reached for his sword. He'd much rather end this now. He could already feel the anger from the dragon's cave welling back up inside him.

Lauthal raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Have it your way." She sent another fireball, this time full of black fire, screeching forward towards the thief, forcing him to throw himself sideways and roll back up into a standing position, drawing his sword as he did so. The fireball smashed into the giant stuffed bear, setting it on fire.

"You know," Lauthal spoke up, walking out confidently from behind her couch and brushing her fingertips together producing sparks, "you and I are a lot alike, both with strange, untapped powers The only difference is, I'm beginning to realise my potential."

Ridley held his sword out towards the imp, "We're nothing alike." Lauthal laughed, but it was losing its musical quality.

"No, I suppose not," she agreed, changing her mind, though whether she'd really believed it to begin with was debatable. This time Ridley held his position as she walked towards him.

"You might have been able to defeat me when I first had my power," the imp told him as she walked towards him, "but I'm too strong for you now." Temporarily, her eyes flashed blood red and, drawing close, Lauthal pushed his sword to one side, her palm against the flat of his blade, her mind exerting her will upon him so that the thief could barely move.

She leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "You know, it's come to my attention that my most valued assistant, might not be so valuable as I had previously thought. I might just be looking to replace him." It was, however, enough to break the spell around Ridley and he slashed his sword violently at her, cutting deeply into the imp's arm and hitting bone.

Lauthal screeched and drew back, the flesh in the area she'd been wounded in already knitting over, healing itself.

She growled angrily, "Enough," and a sword materialised in her other hand. Lauthal thrust it forward and Ridley defended, the blades singing unnaturally as they met.