~*~
Disclaimer, etc. in part one
~*~
Authors notes: With a incredible lack of sleep and a strong desire to
conclude her fanfic, Brandy Leigh set out on a journey to write two
chapters in two days... the two final chapters of Mayhem Mountain.
Following is part one of the amazing two part finale, fittingly titled 'The
Final Battle'. Part two is tentatively titled 'Fading Sunset', and will
most likely be presented to you very soon. So sit back, relax, and enjoy
THE FINAL BATTLE.
P.s. OMG Sorry I took so long to get this out to you guys... I had no idea it had been this long! I guess that's what I get for getting tied up in other fanfics and family affairs. But for all of you who knew the news about my hand, I AM HEALED! Yep, I went and got it taken care of so I can type full time now. GO ME!!!
CrimsonCat - Oh my wonderful, lovely feline friend... you are truly awesome! Your review had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants!!! I love the whole step by step in depth review you gave me, it was honestly one of the best. It let me know which parts were good, which parts sucked, and just plain ol' made me laugh! *grin* So of course I'll let you know what Roxton and Marguerite were doing... actually, I think I'll just leave it up to your imagination. *grin* There will be hints in this chapter, though! Don't worry, this isn't the last chapter. As you can see, there's one more. YAY! And just to ease your little kitty mind, it's the real Challenger... :O)
P.s. You bet... more Brandy Leigh fics will be coming your way once Mayhem Mountain is complete!
veggie5 - Wow you hired a SWAT team just for me? *sniffle* I feel so loved! I bet they've had a fun time looking for me this time, because I was gone for what, five months? YIKES!!! But I promise, never again! I mean jeez... But yeah, thanks for yet another awesome review! This past chapter was not the best, but it was certainly one of my favorites to write. The whole M/R scene that Challenger interrupts was absolutely my fave, and I'm glad that you and everyone else seemed to love it as much as I do! Yeah the fic is almost over (WAAAHHHH!), but as I think I stated before, thank God for sequels! Not only that, but new fics where I can make much, much more trouble for our favorite heroes... mwahahaha! And uhm... you're starting to like Finn? SHAME ON YOU! (no offense Finn-fans... she's just not my bag, baby...)
Evil Irish Eyes - Wow you really liked it that much? *g* And no, you killing Julian isn't an option... but you can sure as heck try! Come hither, and glance upon my almighty collection of weaponry. *opens a door and thousands upon thousands of rifles, guns, knifes, swords, and many other exotic weapons stare back at you* Take your pic dear Evil sister, and may the force be with you! *hums the Star Wars theme song* Lol okay sorry... temporary moment of insanity. (*scoffs* ...temporary...) And I'm glad you liked the Challenger interruption scene! As I told veggie5, it was my fave to write and man, if it made you laugh that hard I guess I did a good job with it! *grins like an idiot* And you know what... I missed you too. So let's both get back on the ball and write some more in our fics, eh? Our fans await!!!
Ascamelien - Don't worry about not reviewing until now! I completely understand... Now I've just got to get caught up with your stories and review them all before you hunt me down and beat me with a stick! And awww you think my story is a masterpiece? Gosh, you know how to feel a gal feel really grand, you know that? *sobs, sniffle, grabs a tissue and blows her nose* Yeah *ahem* anyway... I'm glad you liked the Challenger interruption! You might wanna, you know... read this chapter... *hint hint* And about what's bugging you (wanting to know what's going to happen next), READ ON GIRLFRIEND!!! Oh and trust me, the answer to what Marguerite and Roxton are doing is so definitely answered in this chapter. Can I get a what what? *snicker* Thanks for the "job well done", and I hope you love this chapter just as much!
Jaclyn - Hmm... what are they doing INDEED! I guarantee you, this chapter surely will tell you what's going on in the bedroom, buddy! Don't worry about taking so long to read the last chapter and review, I know what you mean about life getting crazy. Life's gotten so crazy on my end that you can't even say that you've got the non-posting record anymore. I mean, I took a five month hiatus, man! Beat that, yo! I don't know about you, but I usually get writing for six months or so then I hit writers block and have it for about five or six months. I hate it... *sniffle* Well I'm glad you liked my little Challenger interruption scene. I tell ya, this next chapter is a big one. It's like the last scene times like ten, dude! *sigh* Anywho... I hope the wait was worth it!
Mayhem Mountain (13/14) by: Brandy Leigh
~*~
As the sun rose high over the plateau casting a beautiful sunrise across the horizon, Veronica and Malone made their way down the stone pathway which would lead them directly to the entrance of the cave. They had been traveling through most of the night, taking a few stops here and there to rest their weary limbs. It would not be long now before the final stretch of the fiercest battle they had yet to fight would be reached.
The two travelers paused before the great structure before them, the cave of the beast they were about to face. They looked at each other as if to gather strength, or maybe to say a quiet prayer. They both knew that if this plan didn't work, the others were bound to die, as well as they were. They knew first hand what this beast was capable of, and it was nothing to take lightly.
"Is this it?" Malone asked, somewhat serious, somewhat trying to stall.
Veronica nodded and replied, "Are you ready?"
"No," Malone answered honestly, "but if we don't do this now, I'll lose my nerve."
Veronica smiled slightly, then proceeded to relight the torch that Malone had been carrying in his backpack once they no longer needed it. After that was done she walked towards him, reaching out with her good arm and taking his hand, drawing him to her.
"Veronica?" he asked, a bit concerned.
"I just wanted to tell you, that if things go wrong in there and we don't make it... I love you, Ned. I've loved you for a long time and I've just been too blind to see it or admit it."
Malone gazed down at her, smiling at the fact that even in the face of danger, with a broken arm and everything else, Veronica was still as beautiful and loving as ever. She was the sun breaking through the storm, a light to guide him through. He slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, savoring in the feel of her body pressed to his. After a moment he pulled back and brushed a lock of her hair out of her face.
"I love you too, Veronica. We're going to win this thing, I promise," he told her softly.
"But what if we don't, Ned?" It was now Veronica's turn to voice her distress.
"Then we'll still be together and I'll still love you. Nothing could ever change that, not even death."
Veronica smiled and leaned up to kiss him once more, a plan formulating in her head. She loved Malone dearly, and was not prepared for him to risk his life. She knew that if something were to happen to her in the cave, Malone would do everything to save her. She couldn't lose him, she wouldn't.
Swiftly, Veronica pushed Malone away, sweeping her foot around to kick his feet up from under him. As he hit the ground she took off as fast as she could for the opening in the cave, never looking back once. She knew that if she looked back and saw his face, she would regret what she was doing and stop right there.
"Veronica, no!" Malone yelled after her. "You can't beat it alone! Veronica!"
Veronica didn't listen, she just held the torch tight and entered the cave, disappearing before Malone had even gotten himself up and composed. He rushed after her, hoping to catch up with her before she was in too far over her head. Apparently the cave had other ideas, for when he reached the entrance it was as if he had run face first into a brick wall.
With a loud thud Malone was thrown back from the wall and hurled to the ground once more. He stared up at the entrance; there had been nothing there to block him and yet he could not get through. It reminded him of the time when he had to face his fear against the Ultouma... and that scared him.
"Veronica!" he yelled as he stood and pressed his fist against the invisible barrier. "It's a trap! It knows you're coming, Veronica! Come back! Please!"
He banged his fist against the barrier again, then slammed his shoulder into it only to feel the pain of his shoulder being thrown out of socket. He slid to his knees in the dirt, grasping his shoulder and staring into the dark void before him. There was nothing he could do, again. If she died this time there was no bringing her back, and it would be all his fault.
Veronica could hear Malone calling to her from outside the cave, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. She was waiting for him to trot in behind her at any moment, telling her how crazy and stupid it was for her to have run off of her own. Each step further inside the cave made his voice fade more, and it soon became clear that he wasn't coming after her.
For a moment she contemplated going back and seeing what was keeping him, but something inside her urged her to keep moving forward. The Ultouma probably knew she was there by now, and if she ran it would most likely ruin the only chance she had, and cause death for herself and her friends.
Taking a deep breath, Veronica pushed on. "This is it," she told herself, gripping the torch tightly with one hand as she held the other to her stomach to curve the pain in her arm.
A low hissing echoed throughout the cave, bouncing off of the walls and making it sound like it was all around her. A deep chill enveloped her, making her shiver hard against it. Yet she pushed on, and soon the cave opened into a large lair which was obviously the resting place of the Ultouma.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!" Veronica called, her voice bouncing back to her as soon as it came out of her mouth. "You know what I'm here to do, let's get this over with dammit!"
With wide eyes, Veronica watched as a large dark figure slithered out of a nearby hole in the wall. It rose to it's full height and let out a deep growl, glaring down at her with angry yellow eyes. In seconds it was inches from her with it's face lowered down in front of hers, making her drop the torch.
"Yes... let's."
Outside the cave, Malone was trying to think of a way to alert the rest of his friends of his situation. He had one of the signal mirrors inside his shirt pocket, but without the others expecting a message it was unlikely that they would get it. Regardless of the fact, it was currently the only chance he had.
With his uninjured arm he reaching into his pocket and removed the mirror, trying his best to remember the morris code letters that he had been attempting to learn. He had been known to mess up many messages in the past, but this was one that had to go through correctly. Veronica's life, and possibly everyone else's, depended on him getting this right.
"S...O...S... T...R...O...U...B...L...E..." he attempted to spell out. With a deep sigh he sent the message again, four or five times more, hoping against hope that someone at the treehouse would see it and respond.
Across the plateau Challenger still sat on the balcony, relaxing as best he could and trying to clear his mind. His brain was still a bit cloudy from the sedative formula he had been affected by, and he was running scientific formulas through his head to make sure he was thinking straight.
Challenger closed his eyes for a moment to concentrate on a formula that was not coming to him as easily as it should, and when he opened them he was surprised to see a small light twinkling in the distance. At first he didn't know what it was, but suddenly it dawned on him.
"The communicational mirrors!" he shouted, jumping up a little too quickly and stumbling to grab a piece of paper and a writing utensil. As the message repeated itself he wrote it down, then stared at the words he had written: 'SOS TROUBLE'.
"Good heavens," he muttered to himself, grabbing the other signal mirror and sending a message back. With a few flicks of his wrist he told the sender of the first message that help was on it's way and hoped that they got it.
"Marguerite, Roxton!" he shouted, running back to alert them of what was going on.
He entered Roxton's room first and noticed it was completely empty. The bed was still made and it appeared that no one had slept in it for quite some time. He doubled back and made his way into Marguerite's room, freezing in his tracks at what he saw before him.
The sheet was pulled up over two people that were obviously in the throws of passion. The two bodies rolled around a bit as if shifting position, and he heard a masculine growl followed by a very familiar feminine giggle. The sheets shifted a bit, and Roxton's head could be seen peeking over the top.
Challenger stared wide eyed, not knowing exactly how to approach the situation. He opened his mouth to say something, but didn't have to. Roxton spotted him first, gasping in surprise and shock, rolling off of Marguerite and pulling the sheet taunt over both of them.
"John, what are you- Challenger!" Marguerite cried, cheeks flushing redder than ever.
"I... uh..." Challenger attempted to speak, but failed miserably.
"What do you need, Challenger?" Roxton asked with a shaky voice, his face breaking out in a blush as well.
"Well... Veronica and Malone..."
"Is something wrong with them?" Marguerite asked, clutching the sheet to her bare chest.
"One of them sent a message through the signal mirrors that said 'SOS TROUBLE' and I assume they want us to come and help. I uh, I sent them a message back saying help was on the way," Challenger replied, fidgeting like a child.
"Right, well, we'll get ready and join you in the main room," Roxton told him.
"Of course," Challenger said, hurriedly backing out of the room and making his way down the hall.
As soon as he had left the room, Marguerite and Roxton turned to look at each other. Both were blushing deeply and were embarrassed as all hell about what had just transpired. Yet they couldn't go back and change it, and Veronica and Malone needed their help.
"Oh my God," Marguerite said, placing her hand to her temple as if she had a headache. "How embarrassing!"
"You're telling me! Challenger seems to have even worse timing than Malone now adays," Roxton replied.
"Isn't that the bloody truth," she said, sitting up and reaching for her clothes that were tossed carelessly beside the bed. Roxton did the same, and within minutes both were dressed and heading out to meet up with Challenger and get everything they needed together.
Back at the cave of the Ultouma, Malone let out a big sigh of relief as he received Challenger's message. Now he knew help was on the way, and the new question was whether or not they'd make it in time. There was always a chance they would arrive too late, and Veronica would already be lost.
He walked over to the invisible barrier and kicked it as hard as he could before angrily heading over to settle himself against a tree. He felt useless sitting outside the cave all alone while Veronica faced the beast alone. All he could do was mope about his injured shoulder and pray that she would be alright until the others arrive to help.
If he didn't know any better, Malone would have thought that Julian had been planning for this from the start. It was as if everything was being pieced together...
"...a giant puzzle of death and doom," he muttered, finishing the sentence outloud and glaring at the opening in the cave.
'She'll be okay, everything will work out,' he thought, trying to convince himself. However the deep seeded feeling that she was in danger kept pulling at his mind. It was a feeling that just wouldn't go away...
Inside the cave, Veronica and the Ultouma stood face to face. Evil yellow eyes met angry green ones as the ultimate fight of good versus evil prepared to begin. The two circled each other, the torch laying several feet away. The Ultouma watched it with one eye making sure not to get too close to it, while Veronica tried to get closer and grab it.
"Don't even think about lunging for that torch," Ultouma hissed. "It will do you no good to try."
"I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of you," Veronica replied, her words dripping with anger.
"And it will only get you killed, my child. You are mine now; you've been mine from the start! Welcoming me into your home, being nice to me. Sure you realized that something wasn't quite right with me, but you still went along with me. You are so weak minded! You even came to me when I called, giving me the opportunity to break your lovely arm."
"Shut up!" Veronica shouted.
"Mmmwhy should I? Your little plan to try and kill me, you think it scares me? Fire kills me, yes, but you will never get the chance to bring that flame anywhere near my flesh," it said with a growl.
Veronica nearly growled as well and said, "Then come down here and fight me like a real person, you bitch! If you're so sure of yourself you'd take me on, fire or no fire."
"Fine! So be it!" Ultouma cried as it shrank and began to take on the form of Julian once more. "It would only be fair to kill you without the extended powers that my true form allows. It only makes you seem all the more weak and powerless!"
Veronica grinned, liking the odds that this new situation presented. With the Ultouma in it's human form she might just have the chance to beat it.
The two women resumed their circling, both shooting daggers at the other with their eyes. Julian made the first move and lunged herself at Veronica, grabbing her by her injured arm and swinging her into the nearest wall. Veronica let out a sharp cry of pain, freezing briefly before delivering a strong kick into Julian's stomach.
Tumbling back and missing the torch my mere centimeters, Julian growled and turned her neck from side to side. Several loud pops could be heard, and as soon as she had done this she went for Veronica again. She shoved Veronica back into the wall, then swung her foot around to deliver a swift kick to her temple.
Veronica grunted with both impacts, then swung back at Julian with her good arm. Julian blocked it and kicked her back against the wall again. With lightning speed she grabbed one of Veronica's knives from its sheath and pressed it up under her chin hard enough to hurt but soft enough not to cut.
"Trying to kill me was your biggest mistake, Veronica Layton. I could have given you a quick death, but now I will make it long and extremely painful. Say good-bye, Veronica!" Julian shouted.
"No!" Veronica cried, trying her best to get away. It wasn't very easy being pinned against the wall, and it was even harder when you had a knife pressed against your throat.
"Yes... oh yes!"
Marguerite, Roxton and Challenger were quickly making their way through the jungle, taking the shortest path they knew of that led to the cave. The had been traveling for quite some time and were starting to wonder if they were going to be too late.
"This is insane," Marguerite muttered. "It's taking too long for us to get there, we're not going to make it in time!"
"Yes we are," Roxton replied, obviously agitated from where they had been previously interrupted. "We'll get there in time, and we'll kill that damn beast."
"I hope you're right," Challenger said, trailing behind them and trying to keep up.
"I know I am!" Roxton snapped unintentionally, then immediately apologized. "I'm sorry George, I'm just a little uptight right now."
"We all are," Marguerite said, trying to make it look like he was talking about something other than he was. "It's been rough around here every since this whole mess started."
"Yes of course," Challenger replied, even though he knew what Roxton had meant. "I'm sure we'll be there soon enough."
As soon as he said that, Marguerite gasped and took off running ahead of them. Before anyone could ask what she had seen, she cried out, "Malone!"
The three burst into the clearing where Malone sat with his left hand gripping his right shoulder. He glanced up them and let out a huge sigh of relief, obviously glad to see them.
"What happened here?" Roxton asked. "Where's Veronica?"
"She's in the cave," he replied. "I can't get in though, there's some kind of barrier keeping us from getting- AH!"
Marguerite moved her hands away from Malone and shook her head. "Sorry, I was just checking. You've jammed your shoulder pretty bad there, Malone. I'm going to have to reset it and put it back how it belongs."
Malone nodded slightly and said, "This is going to really hurt isn't it?"
Marguerite just looked at Roxton and said, "Hold him, he's going to fight this."
Roxton nodded and kneeled down behind Malone, gripping him around the chest and holding onto him tight. Marguerite sighed and placed one of her hands on Malone's shoulder and the other on his arm. She gave an apologetic look and muttered that she was sorry before pushing down with the one hand and jerking his arm up with the other.
Malone cried out, trying to pull away from Marguerite just as she had predicted. Roxton held him close, struggling to keep him as still as he could. After a few seconds of struggling and shouting Marguerite had set his shoulder back how it should be, and he slumped back against Roxton with a shaky sigh.
"You okay there, Neddy boy?" Roxton asked, loosing his grip on the younger man.
"Just a little shaken up, but I'll be fine," Malone replied, sitting up and testing his arm.
"Does it still hurt?" Challenger asked, leaning down to take a look at Marguerite's handy work.
"Not half as much as it did before. Thank you, Marguerite."
"Anytime," Marguerite said with a smile as she and Roxton helped him to stand. "And don't even ask where I learned to do that, because I'm never going to tell."
The trio of men shook their heads and smiled. Marguerite had many secrets, and how she learned to reset a dislocated shoulder in under thirty seconds was another one they had to disregard. She'd tell them her secrets in maybe ten or twelve years, but for now they were better left untold.
"So what are we going to do to get in that cave?" Malone asked, forgetting his pain to get straight to the point.
"Well, you said something about a barrier, correct?" Challenger asked.
"Yes, an invisible barrier of some sort that won't let me get in. When I tried to run into the cave after Veronica it threw me back, just like the one from a few nights ago."
"Which means someone or something knew that you two were coming," Roxton said.
"You mean that *thing* set a trap?" Marguerite asked.
"In a matter of speaking, yes," Challenger replied. "I think its intent was to keep its prey from getting out, and to keep anyone else from getting in."
"And Veronica is the prey," Malone muttered, mentally kicking himself for letting this happen.
"It's not your fault, Malone. We're going to get her out of there, safe and sound," Roxton told him.
Malone smiled lightly, then look from one of his friends to the other. "So, that still doesn't answer my question. How do we get in?"
Challenger raised his hand to his beard and stroked it lightly as he thought, running a few ideas through his head. "I suppose we could try shooting it," he said. "Yet that might cause fatality if the bullets were to reflect back at us."
"It's worth a try," Malone said, pulling his pistol from it's holster. "Anything is worth a try."
Challenger nodded and pulled his pistol out as well, watching as Marguerite pulled hers out and Roxton removed both of his from his shoulder holsters. The foursome aimed the weapons at the cave's entrance and prepared to fire.
"Now remember, the bullets may reflect. If they do, take cover as quickly as possible," Challenger warned.
The others nodded, then shifted their attention back to the cave. On Roxton's order they began to fire, complexed by the fact that their bullets did not reflect, merely disappear into the cave. After a moment or so of firing they stopped, and Challenger went over to examine the entrance.
"I don't understand," he muttered. "The barrier is still there, yet our weapons seem to have no effect what so ever. They're actually making it through, I can see marks along the cave wall inside."
"Maybe it's the force of the bullets," Marguerite suggested. "They fire at a faster speed than a human can run. Maybe it all has to do with speed."
"Perhaps," Challenger replied, deep in thought. "If that's so, then we merely need to find a way to make us move fast enough to get through."
"And just how are we going to do that, George?" Roxton asked.
Challenger grinned as a thought began to formulate in his mind. The others watching him in horror, knowing that look all too well. They were all going to risk their lives to get through that barrier, they just knew it.
Moments later, Challenger had worked with the others to create a small catapoltic device. They had strung it up along the trees which directly faced the cave, and stretched it as tight as it would go. All three of the men were standing behind it, while Marguerite was positioned in front of it.
"Tell me again why I have to be the one to do this?" Marguerite asked as Challenger helped get her prepared.
"Because you're the lightest one of us, Marguerite," Roxton said with a grin. "Plus, I'd never miss the chance to send you hurling into an invisible barrier!"
Marguerite playfully punched him in the shoulder, but he merely laughed and turned her back towards the cave. "Now now, Marguerite. Now is not the time to play."
"Roxton's right, Veronica is depending on us," Challenger said. "Now remember Marguerite, if this works-"
"IF?!" Marguerite exclaimed.
Challenger sighed and continued, ignoring her comment. "If this works, you'll be the only one of us besides Veronica that's within the cave. We won't be able to help you from out here, so it's going to be all up to you."
"Are you sure we should trust her with this?" Roxton joked.
"As you said Lord Roxton, now is not the time to play," Marguerite said as she shot a glare in his direction.
"As I was saying," Challenger continued as he stepped in between the two bickering lovers. "Be careful in there. I have no doubt in my mind that you and Veronica can beat this thing, but it's still very powerful."
With that he tucked an unlit torch in her pouch, along with the means to light it once she was inside. He gave her a quick hug, then moved aside so that Malone and Roxton could do so as well. Roxton lingered a bit longer than he should have when it was his turn, and she held on just as tight.
"Be careful, my love," he whispered into her ear so that only she could hear. "Come back to me."
"You know I will," she whispered back before finally letting go. "Okay, let's get this over with," she said in her regular voice.
All three of the men got behind her, and took hold of the device that Marguerite was settled into. They pulled, walking backwards to tighten the device even more than it already was. When they had pulled it as tight as it could go, Challenger instructed them to stop.
"On the count of three we let go. One... two... three!"
With that they released the ropes on the device, and Marguerite was sent flying in the direction of the cave. She let out a yelp as she went flying through the air, and braced herself for the impact of being smashed into the barrier. To her surprise she sailed through, and instead connected with the interior wall.
"Oof!" she exclaimed, sliding down to the cave floor.
"Marguerite!" Roxton shouted. "Are you okay?"
"Just dandy," she muttered, pulling herself up. "Don't worry about me, the wall broke my fall."
"Now remember," Challenger butted in before anyone else could say anything. "You must be careful. You're only in there to help Veronica and finish the job, then get out. We know how much you hate Julian, but don't push it."
Marguerite gave him one of her world famous glares as she dusted herself off. She pulled the torch from the pack on her back as well as the "matches" that had been constructed by must testing by Challenger.
"Yes George, I know. You've only told me a thousand times!" she exclaimed as she swiped the primitively made match along the cave wall. She brought the flame up to the torch and waited until it was lit before waving the match around to put it out.
"It's now or never," she muttered, casting one last loving glance at Roxton before turning to head further into the cave.
Once inside the cave, Marguerite was greeted by the same atmosphere that Veronica had been. Hissing continued to echo all around, and the temperature had dropped about ten degrees since Veronica had entered. It felt as if she was walking through a meat locker in the middle of winter with merely a blouse on.
"My, my. I wonder why it's so cold in here," she said to herself. "Someone trying to keep from the heat? Or maybe just making it harder to light a fire, hmm?"
In the distance Marguerite could faintly hear the sounds of a struggle, and she began to pick up her pace. The sounds of two women wrestling about grew louder as she pushed on, the cave eventually opening up into one central area.
Stopping for a moment to familiarize herself with the interior, Marguerite tried to find the source of the noise. After a moment of looking her eyes finally rested on a space in the far area of the opening where Julian had Veronica pressed against the wall. A flash of light caused her to realize that something metallic and very sharp was held close against Veronica's throat.
Marguerite rose her gun with and pointed it directly at the back of Julian's head, gripping the torch with the other. Taking a deep breath she began to shout.
"Hey you! Super bitch! Yeah, why don't you mess with someone your own size!" she yelled across the cave.
Julian's eyes slowly turned to focus on Marguerite, the dagger still pressing firmly into Veronica's flesh. Her lips slit slightly to form a cruel grin, and low laugh escaped through the grin.
"Why dear Marguerite, it's a pleasure to know that you've joined us. I'm not sure how you made it through my force field, but that's not important. What is important is that you will now witness your friends death, and you will now be the second to suffer my wrath."
"Force field?" Veronica thought out loud. No wonder Malone hadn't followed her in!
"Of course," Julian said, turning her attention back to Veronica. "You didn't think I'd let him spoil the fun, now did you?"
"Let her go!" Marguerite shouted, firing a warning shot which bounced off the cave walls. The sound echoed back, all the way out to where Roxton, Challenger and Malone were waiting. She knew the gunshot had most likely worried them, but she did not waver.
Julian swung around to glare at Marguerite, the weight on the dagger lifting slightly. With a growl she voiced her aggravation.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" she screamed.
"Oh but why not," Marguerite pushed, trying to buy Veronica some time. "You know you'd rather kill me first. I mean hell, I ruined your plan earlier, didn't I? You were going to feed on me, but yet I helped to free Roxton and ruin it all. Kill me, why don't you? Save Veronica for last."
"An excellent idea," Julian hissed, stepping forward and forgetting that Veronica was behind her. "Lower your torch my child, and I'll do just that."
"Lower this!" Veronica shouted, taking the opportunity to kick Julian from behind as hard as she could.
Marguerite let loose another bullet, this time aiming straight for Julian's chest. Julian was stunned momentarily, freezing up for a moment and lowering herself to her knees. She breathed heavily, eyes glassed over, taking a moment to gather her strength and heal the unexpected wound. Normally it wouldn't have even phased her, but she had not had the chance to prepare for it.
Veronica dived for her dropped torch at the same time that Marguerite made a mad dash for Julian. Both arrived at the same time, glaring down at the semi-paralyzed girl with hatred in their eyes.
"This is for John!" Marguerite cried, throwing the torch down onto her.
"And this is for Malone!" Veronica echoed, shoving the torch down and making sure it went right into Julian's face.
"NOOOOOO!!!" Julian screamed, falling back and frantically swatting at the flames that were dissolving her flesh. "Please, no! AAAHHHHHH!!!"
The flames ate at her features faster than she could swing at them, and as Marguerite and Veronica watched each layer of her existence began to melt away. First her flesh dropped to the ground like wax, followed by muscle and bone and organs. Finally all that remained was a golden goblet... the Goblet of Courage.
Veronica stepped forward as the flames began to lessen, picking the goblet up from the center of the gooey mass. She held it up to her face and studied it closely before grinning, handing it over to Marguerite. Marguerite studied it as well, taking the time to decipher the writings written all around the base of the goblet.
"He who obtains this goblet shall be set free; free of the torture and free of the fear," she read out loud.
As she said this, a whisp of air began to build up around the place where Julian had been. A visible wind rose from her remains, swirling up as if it was a cyclone. It circled the two woman, filling with love and warmth. It rose high into the air, picking up speed before finally flying out of the cave as fast as it possibly could.
"Free," Veronica said in awe. "They're all free."
"The souls Ultouma had taken," Marguerite agreed. "They can now finally be at peace."
The two looked at each other, then took once last glance at the smoking remains of the once invincible Ultouma. After a moment they made their way to the exit of the cave, not wasting a moment as they headed out.
To their hope and surprise, the barrier which had once been at the entrance of the cave was gone, allowing them to easily exit out into the opening where the men were waiting. Roxton and Malone instantly made a mad dash for them, grabbing them both into tight and love filled embraces.
"Marguerite, you're all right!" Roxton exclaimed, spinning her around. "We heard gunshots, and then there was this gust of wind that shot out of the cave like a cannon. I was so worried!"
"Everything is all right now," Marguerite said with a smile as Roxton set her down.
She gazed up at him, pushing herself up on the tip of her toes to place a soft kiss on his lips. She ignored the looks of the others as they watched, not caring a bit what they thought at this point. When she pulled away, she looked over at where Malone and Veronica stood embracing, and past that to where Challenger stood smiling that fatherly smile of his.
"What?" she asked the others with a grin. "Don't even start with me, I see the way you two look at each other. And you're over there hugging just as much as we are, so hush!"
Veronica and Malone laughed slightly, glancing over at each other and blushing slightly knowing that they were caught. Veronica nodded and looked back over at Marguerite.
"Okay fine, we're in love. What's your story?" she asked with a knowing smile.
"Us? Maybe you should ask Challenger," Marguerite replied, glancing over at Challenger who was chuckling and blushing slightly at the comment.
"Why Challenger?" Malone asked, looking from the embracing couple over to the blushing scientist.
"Let's just say he walked in at the wrong time," Roxton replied with a grin, poking Marguerite in the stomach playfully.
Marguerite chuckled then buried her face into Roxton's chest, inhaling his scent with a loving sigh. Neither noticed Veronica and Malone look over at a nodding Challenger with wide eyes as they realized what exactly Roxton meant.
The five explorers took a moment to collect themselves before gathering everything they had brought and prepared to head back to the treehouse. They had just experienced the most grueling and exhausting experience of their lives and were now prepared to follow it with a week of relaxing and getting things back to normal... as normal as things got on the plateau, that is.
~*~ End part thirteen ~*~ Authors notes: Wow dude... five months all leading up to this. I think this chapter had alot in it, don't you? I mean wow, Roxton and Marguerite enjoying a roll in the hay, the death of Julian Gatessi? That's like a chapter and a half, man! But anyway, enough rambling. Let me know what you guys think. I mean now that I'm back from my five month hiatus (damn you writers block!), I want reviews! Help me help you... Right, anywho. I've already begun work on a sequel to this fic, and as you can see there's still another chapter to come. The calm AFTER the storm, I supposed you could say. Well, that's all for now folks! Stay tuned for the final chapter of Mayhem Mountain!!!
P.s. OMG Sorry I took so long to get this out to you guys... I had no idea it had been this long! I guess that's what I get for getting tied up in other fanfics and family affairs. But for all of you who knew the news about my hand, I AM HEALED! Yep, I went and got it taken care of so I can type full time now. GO ME!!!
CrimsonCat - Oh my wonderful, lovely feline friend... you are truly awesome! Your review had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants!!! I love the whole step by step in depth review you gave me, it was honestly one of the best. It let me know which parts were good, which parts sucked, and just plain ol' made me laugh! *grin* So of course I'll let you know what Roxton and Marguerite were doing... actually, I think I'll just leave it up to your imagination. *grin* There will be hints in this chapter, though! Don't worry, this isn't the last chapter. As you can see, there's one more. YAY! And just to ease your little kitty mind, it's the real Challenger... :O)
P.s. You bet... more Brandy Leigh fics will be coming your way once Mayhem Mountain is complete!
veggie5 - Wow you hired a SWAT team just for me? *sniffle* I feel so loved! I bet they've had a fun time looking for me this time, because I was gone for what, five months? YIKES!!! But I promise, never again! I mean jeez... But yeah, thanks for yet another awesome review! This past chapter was not the best, but it was certainly one of my favorites to write. The whole M/R scene that Challenger interrupts was absolutely my fave, and I'm glad that you and everyone else seemed to love it as much as I do! Yeah the fic is almost over (WAAAHHHH!), but as I think I stated before, thank God for sequels! Not only that, but new fics where I can make much, much more trouble for our favorite heroes... mwahahaha! And uhm... you're starting to like Finn? SHAME ON YOU! (no offense Finn-fans... she's just not my bag, baby...)
Evil Irish Eyes - Wow you really liked it that much? *g* And no, you killing Julian isn't an option... but you can sure as heck try! Come hither, and glance upon my almighty collection of weaponry. *opens a door and thousands upon thousands of rifles, guns, knifes, swords, and many other exotic weapons stare back at you* Take your pic dear Evil sister, and may the force be with you! *hums the Star Wars theme song* Lol okay sorry... temporary moment of insanity. (*scoffs* ...temporary...) And I'm glad you liked the Challenger interruption scene! As I told veggie5, it was my fave to write and man, if it made you laugh that hard I guess I did a good job with it! *grins like an idiot* And you know what... I missed you too. So let's both get back on the ball and write some more in our fics, eh? Our fans await!!!
Ascamelien - Don't worry about not reviewing until now! I completely understand... Now I've just got to get caught up with your stories and review them all before you hunt me down and beat me with a stick! And awww you think my story is a masterpiece? Gosh, you know how to feel a gal feel really grand, you know that? *sobs, sniffle, grabs a tissue and blows her nose* Yeah *ahem* anyway... I'm glad you liked the Challenger interruption! You might wanna, you know... read this chapter... *hint hint* And about what's bugging you (wanting to know what's going to happen next), READ ON GIRLFRIEND!!! Oh and trust me, the answer to what Marguerite and Roxton are doing is so definitely answered in this chapter. Can I get a what what? *snicker* Thanks for the "job well done", and I hope you love this chapter just as much!
Jaclyn - Hmm... what are they doing INDEED! I guarantee you, this chapter surely will tell you what's going on in the bedroom, buddy! Don't worry about taking so long to read the last chapter and review, I know what you mean about life getting crazy. Life's gotten so crazy on my end that you can't even say that you've got the non-posting record anymore. I mean, I took a five month hiatus, man! Beat that, yo! I don't know about you, but I usually get writing for six months or so then I hit writers block and have it for about five or six months. I hate it... *sniffle* Well I'm glad you liked my little Challenger interruption scene. I tell ya, this next chapter is a big one. It's like the last scene times like ten, dude! *sigh* Anywho... I hope the wait was worth it!
Mayhem Mountain (13/14) by: Brandy Leigh
~*~
As the sun rose high over the plateau casting a beautiful sunrise across the horizon, Veronica and Malone made their way down the stone pathway which would lead them directly to the entrance of the cave. They had been traveling through most of the night, taking a few stops here and there to rest their weary limbs. It would not be long now before the final stretch of the fiercest battle they had yet to fight would be reached.
The two travelers paused before the great structure before them, the cave of the beast they were about to face. They looked at each other as if to gather strength, or maybe to say a quiet prayer. They both knew that if this plan didn't work, the others were bound to die, as well as they were. They knew first hand what this beast was capable of, and it was nothing to take lightly.
"Is this it?" Malone asked, somewhat serious, somewhat trying to stall.
Veronica nodded and replied, "Are you ready?"
"No," Malone answered honestly, "but if we don't do this now, I'll lose my nerve."
Veronica smiled slightly, then proceeded to relight the torch that Malone had been carrying in his backpack once they no longer needed it. After that was done she walked towards him, reaching out with her good arm and taking his hand, drawing him to her.
"Veronica?" he asked, a bit concerned.
"I just wanted to tell you, that if things go wrong in there and we don't make it... I love you, Ned. I've loved you for a long time and I've just been too blind to see it or admit it."
Malone gazed down at her, smiling at the fact that even in the face of danger, with a broken arm and everything else, Veronica was still as beautiful and loving as ever. She was the sun breaking through the storm, a light to guide him through. He slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, savoring in the feel of her body pressed to his. After a moment he pulled back and brushed a lock of her hair out of her face.
"I love you too, Veronica. We're going to win this thing, I promise," he told her softly.
"But what if we don't, Ned?" It was now Veronica's turn to voice her distress.
"Then we'll still be together and I'll still love you. Nothing could ever change that, not even death."
Veronica smiled and leaned up to kiss him once more, a plan formulating in her head. She loved Malone dearly, and was not prepared for him to risk his life. She knew that if something were to happen to her in the cave, Malone would do everything to save her. She couldn't lose him, she wouldn't.
Swiftly, Veronica pushed Malone away, sweeping her foot around to kick his feet up from under him. As he hit the ground she took off as fast as she could for the opening in the cave, never looking back once. She knew that if she looked back and saw his face, she would regret what she was doing and stop right there.
"Veronica, no!" Malone yelled after her. "You can't beat it alone! Veronica!"
Veronica didn't listen, she just held the torch tight and entered the cave, disappearing before Malone had even gotten himself up and composed. He rushed after her, hoping to catch up with her before she was in too far over her head. Apparently the cave had other ideas, for when he reached the entrance it was as if he had run face first into a brick wall.
With a loud thud Malone was thrown back from the wall and hurled to the ground once more. He stared up at the entrance; there had been nothing there to block him and yet he could not get through. It reminded him of the time when he had to face his fear against the Ultouma... and that scared him.
"Veronica!" he yelled as he stood and pressed his fist against the invisible barrier. "It's a trap! It knows you're coming, Veronica! Come back! Please!"
He banged his fist against the barrier again, then slammed his shoulder into it only to feel the pain of his shoulder being thrown out of socket. He slid to his knees in the dirt, grasping his shoulder and staring into the dark void before him. There was nothing he could do, again. If she died this time there was no bringing her back, and it would be all his fault.
Veronica could hear Malone calling to her from outside the cave, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. She was waiting for him to trot in behind her at any moment, telling her how crazy and stupid it was for her to have run off of her own. Each step further inside the cave made his voice fade more, and it soon became clear that he wasn't coming after her.
For a moment she contemplated going back and seeing what was keeping him, but something inside her urged her to keep moving forward. The Ultouma probably knew she was there by now, and if she ran it would most likely ruin the only chance she had, and cause death for herself and her friends.
Taking a deep breath, Veronica pushed on. "This is it," she told herself, gripping the torch tightly with one hand as she held the other to her stomach to curve the pain in her arm.
A low hissing echoed throughout the cave, bouncing off of the walls and making it sound like it was all around her. A deep chill enveloped her, making her shiver hard against it. Yet she pushed on, and soon the cave opened into a large lair which was obviously the resting place of the Ultouma.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!" Veronica called, her voice bouncing back to her as soon as it came out of her mouth. "You know what I'm here to do, let's get this over with dammit!"
With wide eyes, Veronica watched as a large dark figure slithered out of a nearby hole in the wall. It rose to it's full height and let out a deep growl, glaring down at her with angry yellow eyes. In seconds it was inches from her with it's face lowered down in front of hers, making her drop the torch.
"Yes... let's."
Outside the cave, Malone was trying to think of a way to alert the rest of his friends of his situation. He had one of the signal mirrors inside his shirt pocket, but without the others expecting a message it was unlikely that they would get it. Regardless of the fact, it was currently the only chance he had.
With his uninjured arm he reaching into his pocket and removed the mirror, trying his best to remember the morris code letters that he had been attempting to learn. He had been known to mess up many messages in the past, but this was one that had to go through correctly. Veronica's life, and possibly everyone else's, depended on him getting this right.
"S...O...S... T...R...O...U...B...L...E..." he attempted to spell out. With a deep sigh he sent the message again, four or five times more, hoping against hope that someone at the treehouse would see it and respond.
Across the plateau Challenger still sat on the balcony, relaxing as best he could and trying to clear his mind. His brain was still a bit cloudy from the sedative formula he had been affected by, and he was running scientific formulas through his head to make sure he was thinking straight.
Challenger closed his eyes for a moment to concentrate on a formula that was not coming to him as easily as it should, and when he opened them he was surprised to see a small light twinkling in the distance. At first he didn't know what it was, but suddenly it dawned on him.
"The communicational mirrors!" he shouted, jumping up a little too quickly and stumbling to grab a piece of paper and a writing utensil. As the message repeated itself he wrote it down, then stared at the words he had written: 'SOS TROUBLE'.
"Good heavens," he muttered to himself, grabbing the other signal mirror and sending a message back. With a few flicks of his wrist he told the sender of the first message that help was on it's way and hoped that they got it.
"Marguerite, Roxton!" he shouted, running back to alert them of what was going on.
He entered Roxton's room first and noticed it was completely empty. The bed was still made and it appeared that no one had slept in it for quite some time. He doubled back and made his way into Marguerite's room, freezing in his tracks at what he saw before him.
The sheet was pulled up over two people that were obviously in the throws of passion. The two bodies rolled around a bit as if shifting position, and he heard a masculine growl followed by a very familiar feminine giggle. The sheets shifted a bit, and Roxton's head could be seen peeking over the top.
Challenger stared wide eyed, not knowing exactly how to approach the situation. He opened his mouth to say something, but didn't have to. Roxton spotted him first, gasping in surprise and shock, rolling off of Marguerite and pulling the sheet taunt over both of them.
"John, what are you- Challenger!" Marguerite cried, cheeks flushing redder than ever.
"I... uh..." Challenger attempted to speak, but failed miserably.
"What do you need, Challenger?" Roxton asked with a shaky voice, his face breaking out in a blush as well.
"Well... Veronica and Malone..."
"Is something wrong with them?" Marguerite asked, clutching the sheet to her bare chest.
"One of them sent a message through the signal mirrors that said 'SOS TROUBLE' and I assume they want us to come and help. I uh, I sent them a message back saying help was on the way," Challenger replied, fidgeting like a child.
"Right, well, we'll get ready and join you in the main room," Roxton told him.
"Of course," Challenger said, hurriedly backing out of the room and making his way down the hall.
As soon as he had left the room, Marguerite and Roxton turned to look at each other. Both were blushing deeply and were embarrassed as all hell about what had just transpired. Yet they couldn't go back and change it, and Veronica and Malone needed their help.
"Oh my God," Marguerite said, placing her hand to her temple as if she had a headache. "How embarrassing!"
"You're telling me! Challenger seems to have even worse timing than Malone now adays," Roxton replied.
"Isn't that the bloody truth," she said, sitting up and reaching for her clothes that were tossed carelessly beside the bed. Roxton did the same, and within minutes both were dressed and heading out to meet up with Challenger and get everything they needed together.
Back at the cave of the Ultouma, Malone let out a big sigh of relief as he received Challenger's message. Now he knew help was on the way, and the new question was whether or not they'd make it in time. There was always a chance they would arrive too late, and Veronica would already be lost.
He walked over to the invisible barrier and kicked it as hard as he could before angrily heading over to settle himself against a tree. He felt useless sitting outside the cave all alone while Veronica faced the beast alone. All he could do was mope about his injured shoulder and pray that she would be alright until the others arrive to help.
If he didn't know any better, Malone would have thought that Julian had been planning for this from the start. It was as if everything was being pieced together...
"...a giant puzzle of death and doom," he muttered, finishing the sentence outloud and glaring at the opening in the cave.
'She'll be okay, everything will work out,' he thought, trying to convince himself. However the deep seeded feeling that she was in danger kept pulling at his mind. It was a feeling that just wouldn't go away...
Inside the cave, Veronica and the Ultouma stood face to face. Evil yellow eyes met angry green ones as the ultimate fight of good versus evil prepared to begin. The two circled each other, the torch laying several feet away. The Ultouma watched it with one eye making sure not to get too close to it, while Veronica tried to get closer and grab it.
"Don't even think about lunging for that torch," Ultouma hissed. "It will do you no good to try."
"I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of you," Veronica replied, her words dripping with anger.
"And it will only get you killed, my child. You are mine now; you've been mine from the start! Welcoming me into your home, being nice to me. Sure you realized that something wasn't quite right with me, but you still went along with me. You are so weak minded! You even came to me when I called, giving me the opportunity to break your lovely arm."
"Shut up!" Veronica shouted.
"Mmmwhy should I? Your little plan to try and kill me, you think it scares me? Fire kills me, yes, but you will never get the chance to bring that flame anywhere near my flesh," it said with a growl.
Veronica nearly growled as well and said, "Then come down here and fight me like a real person, you bitch! If you're so sure of yourself you'd take me on, fire or no fire."
"Fine! So be it!" Ultouma cried as it shrank and began to take on the form of Julian once more. "It would only be fair to kill you without the extended powers that my true form allows. It only makes you seem all the more weak and powerless!"
Veronica grinned, liking the odds that this new situation presented. With the Ultouma in it's human form she might just have the chance to beat it.
The two women resumed their circling, both shooting daggers at the other with their eyes. Julian made the first move and lunged herself at Veronica, grabbing her by her injured arm and swinging her into the nearest wall. Veronica let out a sharp cry of pain, freezing briefly before delivering a strong kick into Julian's stomach.
Tumbling back and missing the torch my mere centimeters, Julian growled and turned her neck from side to side. Several loud pops could be heard, and as soon as she had done this she went for Veronica again. She shoved Veronica back into the wall, then swung her foot around to deliver a swift kick to her temple.
Veronica grunted with both impacts, then swung back at Julian with her good arm. Julian blocked it and kicked her back against the wall again. With lightning speed she grabbed one of Veronica's knives from its sheath and pressed it up under her chin hard enough to hurt but soft enough not to cut.
"Trying to kill me was your biggest mistake, Veronica Layton. I could have given you a quick death, but now I will make it long and extremely painful. Say good-bye, Veronica!" Julian shouted.
"No!" Veronica cried, trying her best to get away. It wasn't very easy being pinned against the wall, and it was even harder when you had a knife pressed against your throat.
"Yes... oh yes!"
Marguerite, Roxton and Challenger were quickly making their way through the jungle, taking the shortest path they knew of that led to the cave. The had been traveling for quite some time and were starting to wonder if they were going to be too late.
"This is insane," Marguerite muttered. "It's taking too long for us to get there, we're not going to make it in time!"
"Yes we are," Roxton replied, obviously agitated from where they had been previously interrupted. "We'll get there in time, and we'll kill that damn beast."
"I hope you're right," Challenger said, trailing behind them and trying to keep up.
"I know I am!" Roxton snapped unintentionally, then immediately apologized. "I'm sorry George, I'm just a little uptight right now."
"We all are," Marguerite said, trying to make it look like he was talking about something other than he was. "It's been rough around here every since this whole mess started."
"Yes of course," Challenger replied, even though he knew what Roxton had meant. "I'm sure we'll be there soon enough."
As soon as he said that, Marguerite gasped and took off running ahead of them. Before anyone could ask what she had seen, she cried out, "Malone!"
The three burst into the clearing where Malone sat with his left hand gripping his right shoulder. He glanced up them and let out a huge sigh of relief, obviously glad to see them.
"What happened here?" Roxton asked. "Where's Veronica?"
"She's in the cave," he replied. "I can't get in though, there's some kind of barrier keeping us from getting- AH!"
Marguerite moved her hands away from Malone and shook her head. "Sorry, I was just checking. You've jammed your shoulder pretty bad there, Malone. I'm going to have to reset it and put it back how it belongs."
Malone nodded slightly and said, "This is going to really hurt isn't it?"
Marguerite just looked at Roxton and said, "Hold him, he's going to fight this."
Roxton nodded and kneeled down behind Malone, gripping him around the chest and holding onto him tight. Marguerite sighed and placed one of her hands on Malone's shoulder and the other on his arm. She gave an apologetic look and muttered that she was sorry before pushing down with the one hand and jerking his arm up with the other.
Malone cried out, trying to pull away from Marguerite just as she had predicted. Roxton held him close, struggling to keep him as still as he could. After a few seconds of struggling and shouting Marguerite had set his shoulder back how it should be, and he slumped back against Roxton with a shaky sigh.
"You okay there, Neddy boy?" Roxton asked, loosing his grip on the younger man.
"Just a little shaken up, but I'll be fine," Malone replied, sitting up and testing his arm.
"Does it still hurt?" Challenger asked, leaning down to take a look at Marguerite's handy work.
"Not half as much as it did before. Thank you, Marguerite."
"Anytime," Marguerite said with a smile as she and Roxton helped him to stand. "And don't even ask where I learned to do that, because I'm never going to tell."
The trio of men shook their heads and smiled. Marguerite had many secrets, and how she learned to reset a dislocated shoulder in under thirty seconds was another one they had to disregard. She'd tell them her secrets in maybe ten or twelve years, but for now they were better left untold.
"So what are we going to do to get in that cave?" Malone asked, forgetting his pain to get straight to the point.
"Well, you said something about a barrier, correct?" Challenger asked.
"Yes, an invisible barrier of some sort that won't let me get in. When I tried to run into the cave after Veronica it threw me back, just like the one from a few nights ago."
"Which means someone or something knew that you two were coming," Roxton said.
"You mean that *thing* set a trap?" Marguerite asked.
"In a matter of speaking, yes," Challenger replied. "I think its intent was to keep its prey from getting out, and to keep anyone else from getting in."
"And Veronica is the prey," Malone muttered, mentally kicking himself for letting this happen.
"It's not your fault, Malone. We're going to get her out of there, safe and sound," Roxton told him.
Malone smiled lightly, then look from one of his friends to the other. "So, that still doesn't answer my question. How do we get in?"
Challenger raised his hand to his beard and stroked it lightly as he thought, running a few ideas through his head. "I suppose we could try shooting it," he said. "Yet that might cause fatality if the bullets were to reflect back at us."
"It's worth a try," Malone said, pulling his pistol from it's holster. "Anything is worth a try."
Challenger nodded and pulled his pistol out as well, watching as Marguerite pulled hers out and Roxton removed both of his from his shoulder holsters. The foursome aimed the weapons at the cave's entrance and prepared to fire.
"Now remember, the bullets may reflect. If they do, take cover as quickly as possible," Challenger warned.
The others nodded, then shifted their attention back to the cave. On Roxton's order they began to fire, complexed by the fact that their bullets did not reflect, merely disappear into the cave. After a moment or so of firing they stopped, and Challenger went over to examine the entrance.
"I don't understand," he muttered. "The barrier is still there, yet our weapons seem to have no effect what so ever. They're actually making it through, I can see marks along the cave wall inside."
"Maybe it's the force of the bullets," Marguerite suggested. "They fire at a faster speed than a human can run. Maybe it all has to do with speed."
"Perhaps," Challenger replied, deep in thought. "If that's so, then we merely need to find a way to make us move fast enough to get through."
"And just how are we going to do that, George?" Roxton asked.
Challenger grinned as a thought began to formulate in his mind. The others watching him in horror, knowing that look all too well. They were all going to risk their lives to get through that barrier, they just knew it.
Moments later, Challenger had worked with the others to create a small catapoltic device. They had strung it up along the trees which directly faced the cave, and stretched it as tight as it would go. All three of the men were standing behind it, while Marguerite was positioned in front of it.
"Tell me again why I have to be the one to do this?" Marguerite asked as Challenger helped get her prepared.
"Because you're the lightest one of us, Marguerite," Roxton said with a grin. "Plus, I'd never miss the chance to send you hurling into an invisible barrier!"
Marguerite playfully punched him in the shoulder, but he merely laughed and turned her back towards the cave. "Now now, Marguerite. Now is not the time to play."
"Roxton's right, Veronica is depending on us," Challenger said. "Now remember Marguerite, if this works-"
"IF?!" Marguerite exclaimed.
Challenger sighed and continued, ignoring her comment. "If this works, you'll be the only one of us besides Veronica that's within the cave. We won't be able to help you from out here, so it's going to be all up to you."
"Are you sure we should trust her with this?" Roxton joked.
"As you said Lord Roxton, now is not the time to play," Marguerite said as she shot a glare in his direction.
"As I was saying," Challenger continued as he stepped in between the two bickering lovers. "Be careful in there. I have no doubt in my mind that you and Veronica can beat this thing, but it's still very powerful."
With that he tucked an unlit torch in her pouch, along with the means to light it once she was inside. He gave her a quick hug, then moved aside so that Malone and Roxton could do so as well. Roxton lingered a bit longer than he should have when it was his turn, and she held on just as tight.
"Be careful, my love," he whispered into her ear so that only she could hear. "Come back to me."
"You know I will," she whispered back before finally letting go. "Okay, let's get this over with," she said in her regular voice.
All three of the men got behind her, and took hold of the device that Marguerite was settled into. They pulled, walking backwards to tighten the device even more than it already was. When they had pulled it as tight as it could go, Challenger instructed them to stop.
"On the count of three we let go. One... two... three!"
With that they released the ropes on the device, and Marguerite was sent flying in the direction of the cave. She let out a yelp as she went flying through the air, and braced herself for the impact of being smashed into the barrier. To her surprise she sailed through, and instead connected with the interior wall.
"Oof!" she exclaimed, sliding down to the cave floor.
"Marguerite!" Roxton shouted. "Are you okay?"
"Just dandy," she muttered, pulling herself up. "Don't worry about me, the wall broke my fall."
"Now remember," Challenger butted in before anyone else could say anything. "You must be careful. You're only in there to help Veronica and finish the job, then get out. We know how much you hate Julian, but don't push it."
Marguerite gave him one of her world famous glares as she dusted herself off. She pulled the torch from the pack on her back as well as the "matches" that had been constructed by must testing by Challenger.
"Yes George, I know. You've only told me a thousand times!" she exclaimed as she swiped the primitively made match along the cave wall. She brought the flame up to the torch and waited until it was lit before waving the match around to put it out.
"It's now or never," she muttered, casting one last loving glance at Roxton before turning to head further into the cave.
Once inside the cave, Marguerite was greeted by the same atmosphere that Veronica had been. Hissing continued to echo all around, and the temperature had dropped about ten degrees since Veronica had entered. It felt as if she was walking through a meat locker in the middle of winter with merely a blouse on.
"My, my. I wonder why it's so cold in here," she said to herself. "Someone trying to keep from the heat? Or maybe just making it harder to light a fire, hmm?"
In the distance Marguerite could faintly hear the sounds of a struggle, and she began to pick up her pace. The sounds of two women wrestling about grew louder as she pushed on, the cave eventually opening up into one central area.
Stopping for a moment to familiarize herself with the interior, Marguerite tried to find the source of the noise. After a moment of looking her eyes finally rested on a space in the far area of the opening where Julian had Veronica pressed against the wall. A flash of light caused her to realize that something metallic and very sharp was held close against Veronica's throat.
Marguerite rose her gun with and pointed it directly at the back of Julian's head, gripping the torch with the other. Taking a deep breath she began to shout.
"Hey you! Super bitch! Yeah, why don't you mess with someone your own size!" she yelled across the cave.
Julian's eyes slowly turned to focus on Marguerite, the dagger still pressing firmly into Veronica's flesh. Her lips slit slightly to form a cruel grin, and low laugh escaped through the grin.
"Why dear Marguerite, it's a pleasure to know that you've joined us. I'm not sure how you made it through my force field, but that's not important. What is important is that you will now witness your friends death, and you will now be the second to suffer my wrath."
"Force field?" Veronica thought out loud. No wonder Malone hadn't followed her in!
"Of course," Julian said, turning her attention back to Veronica. "You didn't think I'd let him spoil the fun, now did you?"
"Let her go!" Marguerite shouted, firing a warning shot which bounced off the cave walls. The sound echoed back, all the way out to where Roxton, Challenger and Malone were waiting. She knew the gunshot had most likely worried them, but she did not waver.
Julian swung around to glare at Marguerite, the weight on the dagger lifting slightly. With a growl she voiced her aggravation.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" she screamed.
"Oh but why not," Marguerite pushed, trying to buy Veronica some time. "You know you'd rather kill me first. I mean hell, I ruined your plan earlier, didn't I? You were going to feed on me, but yet I helped to free Roxton and ruin it all. Kill me, why don't you? Save Veronica for last."
"An excellent idea," Julian hissed, stepping forward and forgetting that Veronica was behind her. "Lower your torch my child, and I'll do just that."
"Lower this!" Veronica shouted, taking the opportunity to kick Julian from behind as hard as she could.
Marguerite let loose another bullet, this time aiming straight for Julian's chest. Julian was stunned momentarily, freezing up for a moment and lowering herself to her knees. She breathed heavily, eyes glassed over, taking a moment to gather her strength and heal the unexpected wound. Normally it wouldn't have even phased her, but she had not had the chance to prepare for it.
Veronica dived for her dropped torch at the same time that Marguerite made a mad dash for Julian. Both arrived at the same time, glaring down at the semi-paralyzed girl with hatred in their eyes.
"This is for John!" Marguerite cried, throwing the torch down onto her.
"And this is for Malone!" Veronica echoed, shoving the torch down and making sure it went right into Julian's face.
"NOOOOOO!!!" Julian screamed, falling back and frantically swatting at the flames that were dissolving her flesh. "Please, no! AAAHHHHHH!!!"
The flames ate at her features faster than she could swing at them, and as Marguerite and Veronica watched each layer of her existence began to melt away. First her flesh dropped to the ground like wax, followed by muscle and bone and organs. Finally all that remained was a golden goblet... the Goblet of Courage.
Veronica stepped forward as the flames began to lessen, picking the goblet up from the center of the gooey mass. She held it up to her face and studied it closely before grinning, handing it over to Marguerite. Marguerite studied it as well, taking the time to decipher the writings written all around the base of the goblet.
"He who obtains this goblet shall be set free; free of the torture and free of the fear," she read out loud.
As she said this, a whisp of air began to build up around the place where Julian had been. A visible wind rose from her remains, swirling up as if it was a cyclone. It circled the two woman, filling with love and warmth. It rose high into the air, picking up speed before finally flying out of the cave as fast as it possibly could.
"Free," Veronica said in awe. "They're all free."
"The souls Ultouma had taken," Marguerite agreed. "They can now finally be at peace."
The two looked at each other, then took once last glance at the smoking remains of the once invincible Ultouma. After a moment they made their way to the exit of the cave, not wasting a moment as they headed out.
To their hope and surprise, the barrier which had once been at the entrance of the cave was gone, allowing them to easily exit out into the opening where the men were waiting. Roxton and Malone instantly made a mad dash for them, grabbing them both into tight and love filled embraces.
"Marguerite, you're all right!" Roxton exclaimed, spinning her around. "We heard gunshots, and then there was this gust of wind that shot out of the cave like a cannon. I was so worried!"
"Everything is all right now," Marguerite said with a smile as Roxton set her down.
She gazed up at him, pushing herself up on the tip of her toes to place a soft kiss on his lips. She ignored the looks of the others as they watched, not caring a bit what they thought at this point. When she pulled away, she looked over at where Malone and Veronica stood embracing, and past that to where Challenger stood smiling that fatherly smile of his.
"What?" she asked the others with a grin. "Don't even start with me, I see the way you two look at each other. And you're over there hugging just as much as we are, so hush!"
Veronica and Malone laughed slightly, glancing over at each other and blushing slightly knowing that they were caught. Veronica nodded and looked back over at Marguerite.
"Okay fine, we're in love. What's your story?" she asked with a knowing smile.
"Us? Maybe you should ask Challenger," Marguerite replied, glancing over at Challenger who was chuckling and blushing slightly at the comment.
"Why Challenger?" Malone asked, looking from the embracing couple over to the blushing scientist.
"Let's just say he walked in at the wrong time," Roxton replied with a grin, poking Marguerite in the stomach playfully.
Marguerite chuckled then buried her face into Roxton's chest, inhaling his scent with a loving sigh. Neither noticed Veronica and Malone look over at a nodding Challenger with wide eyes as they realized what exactly Roxton meant.
The five explorers took a moment to collect themselves before gathering everything they had brought and prepared to head back to the treehouse. They had just experienced the most grueling and exhausting experience of their lives and were now prepared to follow it with a week of relaxing and getting things back to normal... as normal as things got on the plateau, that is.
~*~ End part thirteen ~*~ Authors notes: Wow dude... five months all leading up to this. I think this chapter had alot in it, don't you? I mean wow, Roxton and Marguerite enjoying a roll in the hay, the death of Julian Gatessi? That's like a chapter and a half, man! But anyway, enough rambling. Let me know what you guys think. I mean now that I'm back from my five month hiatus (damn you writers block!), I want reviews! Help me help you... Right, anywho. I've already begun work on a sequel to this fic, and as you can see there's still another chapter to come. The calm AFTER the storm, I supposed you could say. Well, that's all for now folks! Stay tuned for the final chapter of Mayhem Mountain!!!
