A/N – sorry to cut the fight scene in half. Remember, this is still in flashback mode

Changing Faces

Part 2 – Choices They Make

Chapter 18 – The Fight Draws to a Close

In a fluid motion, Duasha flung the limp warrior's body from his feet. She flew into the stone wall next to the cave entrance. Her body slammed against the hard mountain and she crumpled to a heap.

Laughter shook the green-scaled frame as blood from her back left a trail on the wall.

"Look how skinny you are, I ran you completely through."

"It will take a lot more than that to put me down, Duasha," Videl said as she stood on unsteady legs, "You will kill me before I ever give up."

"Oh no. I believe I shall have you begging for mercy before this fight is done," he replied confidently with a smile.

Her sadistic smirk was her confirmation as she slid into fighters stance. A frown of resolve replaced his amused visage as he followed her lead.


He attacked first, lunging at her with lightning speed, left arm extended. Videl sidestepped to her left at the last second, catching his gut with her knee, then slamming him to the ground with a fist-to-back connection.

Duasha recovered instantly, rolling to his left and finally to his feet. Videl felt a gathering of power and prepared herself for the energy blast that came moments later. She flew back with the release, and disappeared so fast that an image of her body was left to fade away. The Ruani warlord felt a gust of wind by his ear, and then an elbow to the back of his green-scaled head.

His unconscious body flew meters, skidding facedown in the dusty clearing. He did not move.

Easy, she thought, frozen in the move that had knocked out the mighty warrior, Almost too easy.

Now we all know that Videl is not stupid; she cautiously crept closer and closer to the motionless form of her enemy. Every wavelength of energy the still-living being gave off was caught by the Pandovan princess. Not a single one changed. But yet, the quiet was ominous and she kept her guard as she moved along his right side.

Videl came within touching distance of the Ruani. She kicked his foot and jumped back. No reaction.

He isn't dead, I can still sense him. What is this game he plays? She pondered.

She moved along his midsection, to his shoulder, and then by his head. His eyes were open but unseeing, as if frozen in one horrific moment of time.

Perhaps I've paralyzed him. My judgment was off in my attack. Very well. The problem is still as solved as if he were killed or merely unconscious.

Videl tapped dust into the face of the Ruani. Again, he gave no reaction. Her black ankle boots faded in a coat of the powdery substance and she rubbed her left boot on the back of her right pant leg. Her right leg lifted from the ground and Duasha chose that moment to strike.

He caught Videl's left leg in a vise-like bite, locking his jaws around the now-exposed bone. Searing pain ripped through her leg as the muscle was torn and skin shredded. Her balance weakened and she slammed her right foot down in a last-ditch effort to catch herself, but she fell to her rear.

Red eyes gleaming, Duasha stared Videl down. Then, to Videl's horror, the Ruani warlord released his grip and slammed his teethed snout over her injured leg in a bone-crushing snap. Pain contorted her body and a guttural scream escaped her lips.

He let go of her shattered leg and fell back in laughter. Blood dripped from his gleaming teeth and shreds of cloth hung from a few.

As the initial pain began to subside, Videl regained some composure. The sight of the lizard-like creature laughing as her blood trickled from his mouth set her resolve. She removed her waist and neck kerchief, found a strait stick, and splinted her crushed limb. The pain was still excruciating but it was now somewhat bearable.

She hesitantly stood, placing her weight on her right leg and balancing her left in front.

Irritation washed over his amused features, "So, you really want to die? You should have just told me at the start. Would have saved both of us time."

With no further ado, Duasha charged our young heroine. He rushed at her head on, disappearing at the last second and reappearing to her back, just as she had done. Videl anticipated the move and ducked as a green-scaled fist sailed over her head. Balancing on her left hand, she swept his feet from him with her right leg. He had not foreseen her move, but neither had expected that he would fall right on her.

His tail knocked her flat facedown and she concentrated on keeping her injury free. Duasha felt the contact and promptly reacted. He arched his back and made sure he landed his head on her body. The impact made a sickening crunch as the long head spikes that had adorned the warlord's head drove their length into Videl's supple back, parallel to her spine.

It was the final blow.