A/N: Here's something to the reviewers!
StinkerBW: Wait no more, the next part is here!
Jade Stellar: I'm glad you like the Cappy/Penelope [art, and I liked the scene with Sandy as well.
Katy-Chan: You like the chess game? That's great. It was a pain to write tho' Oddly I didn't think of HP when I wrote it. Go figure.
burnfist23: This will be H/B, don't worry about that. I figure Bijou is the type of person to worry if any of her friends get hurt. But as you can see in this part, she seems to very worried about a certin hamster...
I am waiting on Rk with much eagerness. I might add that I might still buy it when I get the money.
Innocent Kiss
Chapter six part threee: On one half of the Ultimate Spell.
Soon the group entered a large open room. They found there was another door on their right along with an open staircase. A matching staircase was on their left and a large door was right in front of them. In the center of the room, all of the other ham-hams were waiting. Meeting up they took stock of who was injured or not. The most heavily injured, in order from the heaviest to the lightest were, Hamtaro, Sandy, Howdy, Boss, Maxwell, Stan, Panda, Pashmina, and Kana. Bijou, Boss, and Lunette made a fuss over Hamtaro's injures, for different reasons. The ham-hams exchanged stories on what they had to do to arrive. Lunette believed Snuff was ahead of them, so the ham-hams stopped to take stock on what to do next.
"Travis and I should go the rest of the way by ourselves. Most of our main fighters are injured in some way, and this next battle will be with nothing but magic." Lunette suggested.
"Hold on one moment!" We have come this far, so we should go all the way!" Boss objected.
"I agree with Lunette. Oxnard and Dexter can watch out for everyone here. They are the only two who aren't injured," Travis said.
"But I have just a scratch!" Panda said.
"Yes, but you used up most of you ammo. Most likely your weapons won't work anyway," Travis said. "Anyhow, someone has to back us up. If we fail, at least you stand a better chance at making it out of here alive..." the human-turned hamster countered.
"Don't talk that way! We're all going to make eet back!" Bijou exclaimed.
"She's right. We need to stay positive!" Kana said forcefully.
"Travis... is right," Hamtaro said wakening up. He heard the last part of the argument, but didn't respond till now. "Promise me you'll help Laura."
"I give you my word that I'll bring her back," Travis answered. He nodded to the rest of the ham-hams, and he and his hamster walked two the door ahead. It opened quietly allowing just those two to enter, before slamming shut.
"I guess now all we can do is wait," Oxnard said. The black and sliver hamsters walked down a long hall lined with paintings. From their perspective the artwork was cover in shadow. They soon came to another door, which led into the study. Snuff sat calmly in front of them on a cushion.
"Welcome. I'm glad you could make it," he drawled.
"Where is Laura?" Travis asked.
"All in due time lad, all in due time. Just know that she is still unharmed. But first, you must defeat me if you want to see her again. Are you ready?" He asked.
"Careful Travis, I fought him twice before, and he's no pushover," Lunette cautioned, getting in to position. Travis nodded and drew his sword, and the cat sorcerer stretched himself then stood. Travis attacked first, charging forward and attacking with an overhead slash. Snuff smirked and gracefully leapt aside. The cat landed then pounced on Travis. But the black hamster vanished right before the tom's claws would have cut him in to rags. He reappeared next to Lunette, who was now holding the Magus. She glared at Snuff and pointing a paw in his direction, sent a storm of dust his way.
"You have to do better than that!" he exclaimed, diverting the cloud around him. Travis then fell out of nowhere slashing downwards. He scored a direct hit on the sorcerer's side.
"How's that?" He said leaping back from the retaliatory slash. His eye's widened when the cat vanished in a blur of speed. Searing pain crossed his torso, as the white tom slashed him. He stumbled and fell to his knees. He heard a clanging sound and his tearing eyes saw that a dome of steel appeared around him.
"Don't think that will save him, Lunette," Snuff said. "Faster then the wind, and shaper then steel, cut down all in your path, Finishing Claws!" When he said the last two words he swiped the air in front of the dome. Several narrow, gusts of wind raced out from his claws. The dome in front of him was cut into five sections, and then it fell apart. "Oh that's just annoying." Travis had moved himself next to Lunette again. "Cry, and burst into flames, White Death!" Lunette muttered a quick defensive spell as a circle of flames surrounded them. With a flash they were consumed in a pillar of white-hot fire, which collapsed in on itself leaving a massive scorch mark. "That was disappointing."
"Where there was one, now make two," Gemini!" He heard Lunette shout. She and Travis split into identical copies. Both Travis's charged again, while the two Lunettes chanted the same spell again, splitting the two boy-hams into four.
"I wasn't aware that you knew how to cast two spells at once? How else could you have avoided that?" Snuff drawled as leapt away from the four flashing swords. "Come to the call of your master, and destroy my enemies, Earth Summon!" There was a low moan, and out of the ground around the cat the clay soldiers from before ripped out of the ground. The sixteen soldiers charged all of the Travises who had split into eight. Snuff bounded to where he saw one of the Lunettes chanting again. He stopped mid-way when he heard chanting behind him as well. "It can't be..."
"Calling wind and rain, thunder and storm, Hurricane Gust!" The first Travis said. Sweeping his sword forward, he sent out a crazily powerful gust of wind, which sent ten of the clay hams head over heels and into a wall, breaking them. The others engaged his doubles in combat.
"Not bad, teaching the Human magic. But that won't help you!" So saying he jumped at her. Lunette ran in a zigzag away from the cat, but he did the same disruption spell that allowed him to move with blinding speed. He quickly pinned her and with twist, snapped her neck. However the hamster he was holding vanished in a puff of sliver smoke. "Her double?" He queried, and then he howled in pain as Travis cut the back of his leg.
Hissing something unintelligible, he turned and snapped at him with his teeth. "Whoa! Relocate!" Travis vanished one second before his head would have been bitten off. The soccer-loving boy reappeared next to Lunette in her hiding spot behind a book. He glanced off the bookshelf to see Snuff toast most of the remaining copies of himself with some type of lighting spell. He also noted Lunette seemed tired and distracted. Holding his wounded chest, he limped over to her. "Hey, what's wrong? Did he get you somehow?"
"No, it's not him. It's me. I can't focus properly, and casting all of these spells improperly is draining me. Give me some time, all right?" She said.
"Well, I estimate we have about a two minutes before he finishes my doubles, and then..." He muttered.
(I'm sorry Travis... Boss, if only... No can't think about him, I have to beat Snuff... But it's so hard...) Lunette thought. She sighed and bowed her head in concentration.
Outside, the remaining ham-hams heard the sounds of battle, and worriedly looked in the direction of the door.
"Eet iz no good. I do not think that they are doing well," Bijou said from her place at Hamtaro's side. Boss was reclining on the wall next her. He normally he wouldn't be happy with the attention she was giving Hamtaro, but he was worried about the litte guy as well. Sandy and Maxwell were leaning on each other, and Stan was resting nearby. Howdy was napping next to Penelope and Cappy who were mirroring Sandy and Maxwell. Pashmina was checking on the bump on Kana's head, as the latter was watching her hamster stand guard with Dexter. Panda was nervously pacing, glancing at the door every so often. Hamtaro was oblivious to this as he was sleeping again. Deep in his mind, something was happing.
Hamtaro opened his eyes and found he was back in his cage at home. (How did I get here? And why am I healed?) He thought. He heard a noise, and when he looked up, he saw Laura enter the room. (HEKE!?) He thought shocked speechless.
"Hello Hamtaro! You'll never believe what happened today! A cat kidnapped me, and all of you came to rescue me, but failed. It was so sad. It was because they didn't look up. But that's Ok. You can live at the clubhouse now!" She said cheerfully.
"But, but..." Hamtaro stuttered completely confused.
"Oh wait I'm sorry. You're not alive either, so there goes that plan. Well, I can always dream, can't I?" The fifth-grader said. "Just like you're doing now. So my little friend, wake up and find me. Only you can..." Hamtaro snapped back into reality, quickly sitting up. He winced as he turned to stare in the concerned eyes of Bijou.
"Hamtaro?" She softly questioned.
"Everyone, there's no time to waste! I have to go after them! I think I know where Laura is!" He exclaimed.
"Non! You can't! You're too badly hurt!" Bijou exclaimed holding him down as he tried to get up.
"But, Laura... I have to help her. She's my friend!" Hamtaro softly, but forcefully said. He stared into her apprehensive blue eyes. "Please understand..."
She sighed and said. "All right you silly boy. But we're going to go with you. Boss could you help me here?" The field hamster nodded from his position over her shoulder and helped Hamtaro to his paws. Holding on to the smaller hamster, he helped him limp to the door. His earlier shout got everyone's attention, and all of them grouped together to hear what he had to say. He explained that he had an idea where Laura was and they should go through the door. Some of the ham-hams had doubts, but they all agreed as they were a bit tired of waiting. So the group entered the hall. Hamtaro looked up at the ceiling as they walked onward. Suddenly he pointed to a sliver cage suspended in mid air.
"That's it!" He exclaimed.
"Man, how do we get up there?" Stan asked.
"I can send an arrow up there," Oxnard said. "If that's Ok with the rest of you?"
"Oxnard that just might just work!" Maxwell said. "Quickly, give me some rope!" Dexter handed his archery equipment to the larger hamster. After tying some rope to one arrow, the ham-hams backed up. Oxnard stuck three arrows into the ground, two normal, and one with the rope tied to it. His first shot came up short. His second was a bit too wide and too far. Now that he had the range, his brow furrowed in concentration. He loaded the arrow and fired. The arrow flew straight and true, imbedding itself in the bottom of the cage.
"I got it!" He exclaimed.
"Good work, Oxnard. Now it's my turn," Dexter said. He quickly scampered up the rope, and grabbed on to the rim of the cage. He pulled himself up and saw Laura who was sleeping in the middle of the structure. He looked around and found door, which was just to his right. He pushed it up easily mildly surprised it wasn't locked. Then again, where could the girl go but straight down to the hard ground? "Hello! Laura we're here to free you!" He shook her gently.
"Just a little more, Mom! It's not a school day is it?" She mumbled as she turned over. Dexter shook her more forcefully. She sleepily opened her eyes and sat up with a yawn. "Where am I? This isn't my room... wait... I remember, Hamtaro started to fight, and then he collapsed and I fainted... Is he alright?" She shook Dexter almost panicking.
"Madam, if you would kindly un-hand me and head down, you can find out," He stuttered. She blushed then let go. Dexter showed her the rope, and the two of them descended. The moment she touched the ground she looked for Hamtaro. He was currently leaning on Boss, but he was smiling his same bright smile. Laura ran over and hugged him.
"I'm so glad you're all right, sort of. I thought you had..." She gasped out tearfully.
"Hey, don't cry. I made it, and now all we have to do now is help Travis and Lunette," Hamtaro said gently, wincing a bit. She nodded and smiled back at him.
"Hey what about me? I came all this way and I don't even get a hello!" Kana said playfully.
Laura latched on to her next. "Don't joke like that! I was worried about you, too! What possessed you to come?"
"Hey, I'm your best friend, of course I'd come," Kana said off-handily.
"Thanks Kana. Thanks everyone!" Laura cheerful cried.
"Hey, we're all in this together, right?" Oxnard asked. "So there's no need for thanks."
"You took the words out of my mouth. But we have no time to talk, we need to get going!" Boss exclaimed. The group turned and preceded forward. As they opened the large door to the study, they saw that their fears weren't totally unfounded. The room was a complete mess. Books and random debris were everywhere. Snuff had cornered Travis and Lunette. The boy was standing in front of Lunette who seemed to be leaning against the wall in exhaustion. Both Hamsters had wounds from attacks they hadn't been able to dodge. Snuff stood tall, seeming ignoring the few injures he had received. Travis held his sword unsteadily, but keep the point focused on the sorcerer.
"Why do you continue to fight? You can't win. Your allies can't help you, and your both weary. Why not let me finish you off? I promise to be quick," the white and grey tom said.
"Drop... Dead," Travis said. The cat gave him the feline equivalent of a shrug then lifted his paw up to attack.
"Hold in silent stone, Solidity!" He shouted, sending out a pulsing grey sphere. Travis's vision seemed to slow as he saw the spell approach.
(I can't dodge,) he thought. Just as he though himself finished, he felt something hitting him from the side. After he landed he rolled to his feet. He looked back to see what pushed him out of the way. His expression melted into shock as he realized that Laura had taken the blast for him. The brave girl had attempted to move both of them out of the path of the spell but she didn't get clear.
"Silly girl, why would you throw you life away like that?" Snuff asked, cleaning himself. Everyone gathered around Laura who wasn't moving. The girl was now composed of hard unyielding rock. Hamtaro gently ran a paw down her back. He felt no warmth whatsoever.
"Laura?" He queried sadly. "Laura?"
"Hamtaro, I don't think she can hear you," Maxwell said after checking for a pulse. "There's no pulse." Sandy gasped, and hugged him crying tearfully when he stood up. Kana backed up shaking her head. Oxnard hugged her as she burst into tears as well. Panda stared out into infinity, in shock and Dexter sadly looked at his feet. Howdy closed his eyes and looked away angrily. Cappy just stared at Laura trembling. He looked between where the girl was lying and Boss in confusion. Penelope was completely confused. She wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but she could tell that everyone was sad. Pashmina tearfully held her in place by putting her paws on the young hamster's shoulders. She shook her head when Penelope asked if she could wake Laura up. Boss stood in shock, silently mouthing the word no, over and over.
"I can't be... we came so far..." Dexter murmured taking a step in Laura's direction. He stopped unsure of what to do next.
"This is so totally uncool... " Stan said trying not to cry. "Uncool."
"Hamtaro kneeled next to Laura crying. "Please wake up! Please... I'm sorry, so please wake up." Bijou placed a paw on his shoulder. He looked back her eyes, which shone with unshed tears. "Why won't she wake up?"
"Hamtaro," She said helplessly. She gently held him as he broke down crying. A blast of magically energy alerted the ham-hams that they still had to deal with the one who did this to Laura. Luckily, Lunette had gotten her second wind and had shielded them. The sliver-white hamster walked toward Snuff completely focused. Her hat and poncho blew in an unseen wind.
"What you have down now and in the past is unforgivable. Even now you have no remorse for those you hurt. Even if it cost me my life, IT ENDS HERE!" She shouted.
"So, you're serious? Very well, let's finish this with one spell," Snuff said.
"Yes, let's," Travis growled walking up next to her. Tears were in his eyes, but he too, was focused.
"Boss, get everyone out of here, now!" Lunette said as she walked forward. Both she and Travis started to chant together as their minds linked. "Light, which shines from every star..."
"You know that spell? It can't be the perfect version!" Snuff exclaimed throwing almost every spell he knew at the two hamsters, but they bent around the two of them and joined the swirling energy they were summoning.
"Darkness, which consumes all hope..." They said. Snuff lifted the bookcases that surrounded them and dropped them on the hamsters, but this failed as well.
"Fire, which burns with wild passion..." The whole building started to shake as the Ham-hams picked up Laura and left the study. As they ran down the hall with the paintings they could still hear the spell. "Wind, which blows free..." They ran out into the second foyer and took the hall that Boss's group had passed through. "Water, which flows endlessly... I summon thee." They headed down the stairs of the fist foyer. "Combine with my soul, listen to my mind, and empower my flesh."
"Oh boy, this is going to be a big one!" Maxwell exclaimed. Back in the study, Snuff tried one last tactic.
"Would it help to say that there might be a way to reverse what I accidentally did to the young lady?" He stammered.
"Turn my body into a weapon and destroy my enemies!' They both said still glaring at him.
"Wait! Aren't you going to listen to the rest of my offer? IF YOU CAST THAT YOU'LL DIE TOO!" he said panicking.
"Soul Revelation!" The both shouted. Outside of the manor, the hamsters glanced back as brilliant white light shot out of every opening in the building. They looked away as a massive, bright, column of radiance flashed out of the center of the building. It slowly consumed the building. The energy exploded outward, sending its glory to turn the afternoon light back into bright morning. The denotation was so loud that the ham-hams couldn't hear it. Luckily for them, the bikes at the wall were out of range of the blast. However the shockwave still knocked them all out. They lay sprawled out for a good five minutes. Oxnard was the first to recover. The portly hamster had been shielding Kana, who was still out of it. He looked back at where the building was standing, and saw only a large smoking crater was left. Surprisingly there wasn't much debris. Most of the building had been vaporized. Of Travis and Lunette, there was no sign.
(Did we really win?) He thought when he looked around him. He could hear sirens approach. (I wonder...)
StinkerBW: Wait no more, the next part is here!
Jade Stellar: I'm glad you like the Cappy/Penelope [art, and I liked the scene with Sandy as well.
Katy-Chan: You like the chess game? That's great. It was a pain to write tho' Oddly I didn't think of HP when I wrote it. Go figure.
burnfist23: This will be H/B, don't worry about that. I figure Bijou is the type of person to worry if any of her friends get hurt. But as you can see in this part, she seems to very worried about a certin hamster...
I am waiting on Rk with much eagerness. I might add that I might still buy it when I get the money.
Innocent Kiss
Chapter six part threee: On one half of the Ultimate Spell.
Soon the group entered a large open room. They found there was another door on their right along with an open staircase. A matching staircase was on their left and a large door was right in front of them. In the center of the room, all of the other ham-hams were waiting. Meeting up they took stock of who was injured or not. The most heavily injured, in order from the heaviest to the lightest were, Hamtaro, Sandy, Howdy, Boss, Maxwell, Stan, Panda, Pashmina, and Kana. Bijou, Boss, and Lunette made a fuss over Hamtaro's injures, for different reasons. The ham-hams exchanged stories on what they had to do to arrive. Lunette believed Snuff was ahead of them, so the ham-hams stopped to take stock on what to do next.
"Travis and I should go the rest of the way by ourselves. Most of our main fighters are injured in some way, and this next battle will be with nothing but magic." Lunette suggested.
"Hold on one moment!" We have come this far, so we should go all the way!" Boss objected.
"I agree with Lunette. Oxnard and Dexter can watch out for everyone here. They are the only two who aren't injured," Travis said.
"But I have just a scratch!" Panda said.
"Yes, but you used up most of you ammo. Most likely your weapons won't work anyway," Travis said. "Anyhow, someone has to back us up. If we fail, at least you stand a better chance at making it out of here alive..." the human-turned hamster countered.
"Don't talk that way! We're all going to make eet back!" Bijou exclaimed.
"She's right. We need to stay positive!" Kana said forcefully.
"Travis... is right," Hamtaro said wakening up. He heard the last part of the argument, but didn't respond till now. "Promise me you'll help Laura."
"I give you my word that I'll bring her back," Travis answered. He nodded to the rest of the ham-hams, and he and his hamster walked two the door ahead. It opened quietly allowing just those two to enter, before slamming shut.
"I guess now all we can do is wait," Oxnard said. The black and sliver hamsters walked down a long hall lined with paintings. From their perspective the artwork was cover in shadow. They soon came to another door, which led into the study. Snuff sat calmly in front of them on a cushion.
"Welcome. I'm glad you could make it," he drawled.
"Where is Laura?" Travis asked.
"All in due time lad, all in due time. Just know that she is still unharmed. But first, you must defeat me if you want to see her again. Are you ready?" He asked.
"Careful Travis, I fought him twice before, and he's no pushover," Lunette cautioned, getting in to position. Travis nodded and drew his sword, and the cat sorcerer stretched himself then stood. Travis attacked first, charging forward and attacking with an overhead slash. Snuff smirked and gracefully leapt aside. The cat landed then pounced on Travis. But the black hamster vanished right before the tom's claws would have cut him in to rags. He reappeared next to Lunette, who was now holding the Magus. She glared at Snuff and pointing a paw in his direction, sent a storm of dust his way.
"You have to do better than that!" he exclaimed, diverting the cloud around him. Travis then fell out of nowhere slashing downwards. He scored a direct hit on the sorcerer's side.
"How's that?" He said leaping back from the retaliatory slash. His eye's widened when the cat vanished in a blur of speed. Searing pain crossed his torso, as the white tom slashed him. He stumbled and fell to his knees. He heard a clanging sound and his tearing eyes saw that a dome of steel appeared around him.
"Don't think that will save him, Lunette," Snuff said. "Faster then the wind, and shaper then steel, cut down all in your path, Finishing Claws!" When he said the last two words he swiped the air in front of the dome. Several narrow, gusts of wind raced out from his claws. The dome in front of him was cut into five sections, and then it fell apart. "Oh that's just annoying." Travis had moved himself next to Lunette again. "Cry, and burst into flames, White Death!" Lunette muttered a quick defensive spell as a circle of flames surrounded them. With a flash they were consumed in a pillar of white-hot fire, which collapsed in on itself leaving a massive scorch mark. "That was disappointing."
"Where there was one, now make two," Gemini!" He heard Lunette shout. She and Travis split into identical copies. Both Travis's charged again, while the two Lunettes chanted the same spell again, splitting the two boy-hams into four.
"I wasn't aware that you knew how to cast two spells at once? How else could you have avoided that?" Snuff drawled as leapt away from the four flashing swords. "Come to the call of your master, and destroy my enemies, Earth Summon!" There was a low moan, and out of the ground around the cat the clay soldiers from before ripped out of the ground. The sixteen soldiers charged all of the Travises who had split into eight. Snuff bounded to where he saw one of the Lunettes chanting again. He stopped mid-way when he heard chanting behind him as well. "It can't be..."
"Calling wind and rain, thunder and storm, Hurricane Gust!" The first Travis said. Sweeping his sword forward, he sent out a crazily powerful gust of wind, which sent ten of the clay hams head over heels and into a wall, breaking them. The others engaged his doubles in combat.
"Not bad, teaching the Human magic. But that won't help you!" So saying he jumped at her. Lunette ran in a zigzag away from the cat, but he did the same disruption spell that allowed him to move with blinding speed. He quickly pinned her and with twist, snapped her neck. However the hamster he was holding vanished in a puff of sliver smoke. "Her double?" He queried, and then he howled in pain as Travis cut the back of his leg.
Hissing something unintelligible, he turned and snapped at him with his teeth. "Whoa! Relocate!" Travis vanished one second before his head would have been bitten off. The soccer-loving boy reappeared next to Lunette in her hiding spot behind a book. He glanced off the bookshelf to see Snuff toast most of the remaining copies of himself with some type of lighting spell. He also noted Lunette seemed tired and distracted. Holding his wounded chest, he limped over to her. "Hey, what's wrong? Did he get you somehow?"
"No, it's not him. It's me. I can't focus properly, and casting all of these spells improperly is draining me. Give me some time, all right?" She said.
"Well, I estimate we have about a two minutes before he finishes my doubles, and then..." He muttered.
(I'm sorry Travis... Boss, if only... No can't think about him, I have to beat Snuff... But it's so hard...) Lunette thought. She sighed and bowed her head in concentration.
Outside, the remaining ham-hams heard the sounds of battle, and worriedly looked in the direction of the door.
"Eet iz no good. I do not think that they are doing well," Bijou said from her place at Hamtaro's side. Boss was reclining on the wall next her. He normally he wouldn't be happy with the attention she was giving Hamtaro, but he was worried about the litte guy as well. Sandy and Maxwell were leaning on each other, and Stan was resting nearby. Howdy was napping next to Penelope and Cappy who were mirroring Sandy and Maxwell. Pashmina was checking on the bump on Kana's head, as the latter was watching her hamster stand guard with Dexter. Panda was nervously pacing, glancing at the door every so often. Hamtaro was oblivious to this as he was sleeping again. Deep in his mind, something was happing.
Hamtaro opened his eyes and found he was back in his cage at home. (How did I get here? And why am I healed?) He thought. He heard a noise, and when he looked up, he saw Laura enter the room. (HEKE!?) He thought shocked speechless.
"Hello Hamtaro! You'll never believe what happened today! A cat kidnapped me, and all of you came to rescue me, but failed. It was so sad. It was because they didn't look up. But that's Ok. You can live at the clubhouse now!" She said cheerfully.
"But, but..." Hamtaro stuttered completely confused.
"Oh wait I'm sorry. You're not alive either, so there goes that plan. Well, I can always dream, can't I?" The fifth-grader said. "Just like you're doing now. So my little friend, wake up and find me. Only you can..." Hamtaro snapped back into reality, quickly sitting up. He winced as he turned to stare in the concerned eyes of Bijou.
"Hamtaro?" She softly questioned.
"Everyone, there's no time to waste! I have to go after them! I think I know where Laura is!" He exclaimed.
"Non! You can't! You're too badly hurt!" Bijou exclaimed holding him down as he tried to get up.
"But, Laura... I have to help her. She's my friend!" Hamtaro softly, but forcefully said. He stared into her apprehensive blue eyes. "Please understand..."
She sighed and said. "All right you silly boy. But we're going to go with you. Boss could you help me here?" The field hamster nodded from his position over her shoulder and helped Hamtaro to his paws. Holding on to the smaller hamster, he helped him limp to the door. His earlier shout got everyone's attention, and all of them grouped together to hear what he had to say. He explained that he had an idea where Laura was and they should go through the door. Some of the ham-hams had doubts, but they all agreed as they were a bit tired of waiting. So the group entered the hall. Hamtaro looked up at the ceiling as they walked onward. Suddenly he pointed to a sliver cage suspended in mid air.
"That's it!" He exclaimed.
"Man, how do we get up there?" Stan asked.
"I can send an arrow up there," Oxnard said. "If that's Ok with the rest of you?"
"Oxnard that just might just work!" Maxwell said. "Quickly, give me some rope!" Dexter handed his archery equipment to the larger hamster. After tying some rope to one arrow, the ham-hams backed up. Oxnard stuck three arrows into the ground, two normal, and one with the rope tied to it. His first shot came up short. His second was a bit too wide and too far. Now that he had the range, his brow furrowed in concentration. He loaded the arrow and fired. The arrow flew straight and true, imbedding itself in the bottom of the cage.
"I got it!" He exclaimed.
"Good work, Oxnard. Now it's my turn," Dexter said. He quickly scampered up the rope, and grabbed on to the rim of the cage. He pulled himself up and saw Laura who was sleeping in the middle of the structure. He looked around and found door, which was just to his right. He pushed it up easily mildly surprised it wasn't locked. Then again, where could the girl go but straight down to the hard ground? "Hello! Laura we're here to free you!" He shook her gently.
"Just a little more, Mom! It's not a school day is it?" She mumbled as she turned over. Dexter shook her more forcefully. She sleepily opened her eyes and sat up with a yawn. "Where am I? This isn't my room... wait... I remember, Hamtaro started to fight, and then he collapsed and I fainted... Is he alright?" She shook Dexter almost panicking.
"Madam, if you would kindly un-hand me and head down, you can find out," He stuttered. She blushed then let go. Dexter showed her the rope, and the two of them descended. The moment she touched the ground she looked for Hamtaro. He was currently leaning on Boss, but he was smiling his same bright smile. Laura ran over and hugged him.
"I'm so glad you're all right, sort of. I thought you had..." She gasped out tearfully.
"Hey, don't cry. I made it, and now all we have to do now is help Travis and Lunette," Hamtaro said gently, wincing a bit. She nodded and smiled back at him.
"Hey what about me? I came all this way and I don't even get a hello!" Kana said playfully.
Laura latched on to her next. "Don't joke like that! I was worried about you, too! What possessed you to come?"
"Hey, I'm your best friend, of course I'd come," Kana said off-handily.
"Thanks Kana. Thanks everyone!" Laura cheerful cried.
"Hey, we're all in this together, right?" Oxnard asked. "So there's no need for thanks."
"You took the words out of my mouth. But we have no time to talk, we need to get going!" Boss exclaimed. The group turned and preceded forward. As they opened the large door to the study, they saw that their fears weren't totally unfounded. The room was a complete mess. Books and random debris were everywhere. Snuff had cornered Travis and Lunette. The boy was standing in front of Lunette who seemed to be leaning against the wall in exhaustion. Both Hamsters had wounds from attacks they hadn't been able to dodge. Snuff stood tall, seeming ignoring the few injures he had received. Travis held his sword unsteadily, but keep the point focused on the sorcerer.
"Why do you continue to fight? You can't win. Your allies can't help you, and your both weary. Why not let me finish you off? I promise to be quick," the white and grey tom said.
"Drop... Dead," Travis said. The cat gave him the feline equivalent of a shrug then lifted his paw up to attack.
"Hold in silent stone, Solidity!" He shouted, sending out a pulsing grey sphere. Travis's vision seemed to slow as he saw the spell approach.
(I can't dodge,) he thought. Just as he though himself finished, he felt something hitting him from the side. After he landed he rolled to his feet. He looked back to see what pushed him out of the way. His expression melted into shock as he realized that Laura had taken the blast for him. The brave girl had attempted to move both of them out of the path of the spell but she didn't get clear.
"Silly girl, why would you throw you life away like that?" Snuff asked, cleaning himself. Everyone gathered around Laura who wasn't moving. The girl was now composed of hard unyielding rock. Hamtaro gently ran a paw down her back. He felt no warmth whatsoever.
"Laura?" He queried sadly. "Laura?"
"Hamtaro, I don't think she can hear you," Maxwell said after checking for a pulse. "There's no pulse." Sandy gasped, and hugged him crying tearfully when he stood up. Kana backed up shaking her head. Oxnard hugged her as she burst into tears as well. Panda stared out into infinity, in shock and Dexter sadly looked at his feet. Howdy closed his eyes and looked away angrily. Cappy just stared at Laura trembling. He looked between where the girl was lying and Boss in confusion. Penelope was completely confused. She wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but she could tell that everyone was sad. Pashmina tearfully held her in place by putting her paws on the young hamster's shoulders. She shook her head when Penelope asked if she could wake Laura up. Boss stood in shock, silently mouthing the word no, over and over.
"I can't be... we came so far..." Dexter murmured taking a step in Laura's direction. He stopped unsure of what to do next.
"This is so totally uncool... " Stan said trying not to cry. "Uncool."
"Hamtaro kneeled next to Laura crying. "Please wake up! Please... I'm sorry, so please wake up." Bijou placed a paw on his shoulder. He looked back her eyes, which shone with unshed tears. "Why won't she wake up?"
"Hamtaro," She said helplessly. She gently held him as he broke down crying. A blast of magically energy alerted the ham-hams that they still had to deal with the one who did this to Laura. Luckily, Lunette had gotten her second wind and had shielded them. The sliver-white hamster walked toward Snuff completely focused. Her hat and poncho blew in an unseen wind.
"What you have down now and in the past is unforgivable. Even now you have no remorse for those you hurt. Even if it cost me my life, IT ENDS HERE!" She shouted.
"So, you're serious? Very well, let's finish this with one spell," Snuff said.
"Yes, let's," Travis growled walking up next to her. Tears were in his eyes, but he too, was focused.
"Boss, get everyone out of here, now!" Lunette said as she walked forward. Both she and Travis started to chant together as their minds linked. "Light, which shines from every star..."
"You know that spell? It can't be the perfect version!" Snuff exclaimed throwing almost every spell he knew at the two hamsters, but they bent around the two of them and joined the swirling energy they were summoning.
"Darkness, which consumes all hope..." They said. Snuff lifted the bookcases that surrounded them and dropped them on the hamsters, but this failed as well.
"Fire, which burns with wild passion..." The whole building started to shake as the Ham-hams picked up Laura and left the study. As they ran down the hall with the paintings they could still hear the spell. "Wind, which blows free..." They ran out into the second foyer and took the hall that Boss's group had passed through. "Water, which flows endlessly... I summon thee." They headed down the stairs of the fist foyer. "Combine with my soul, listen to my mind, and empower my flesh."
"Oh boy, this is going to be a big one!" Maxwell exclaimed. Back in the study, Snuff tried one last tactic.
"Would it help to say that there might be a way to reverse what I accidentally did to the young lady?" He stammered.
"Turn my body into a weapon and destroy my enemies!' They both said still glaring at him.
"Wait! Aren't you going to listen to the rest of my offer? IF YOU CAST THAT YOU'LL DIE TOO!" he said panicking.
"Soul Revelation!" The both shouted. Outside of the manor, the hamsters glanced back as brilliant white light shot out of every opening in the building. They looked away as a massive, bright, column of radiance flashed out of the center of the building. It slowly consumed the building. The energy exploded outward, sending its glory to turn the afternoon light back into bright morning. The denotation was so loud that the ham-hams couldn't hear it. Luckily for them, the bikes at the wall were out of range of the blast. However the shockwave still knocked them all out. They lay sprawled out for a good five minutes. Oxnard was the first to recover. The portly hamster had been shielding Kana, who was still out of it. He looked back at where the building was standing, and saw only a large smoking crater was left. Surprisingly there wasn't much debris. Most of the building had been vaporized. Of Travis and Lunette, there was no sign.
(Did we really win?) He thought when he looked around him. He could hear sirens approach. (I wonder...)
