Jokers To The Left, Princesses To The Right,

Ryu In The Middle

When Ryu and Katt entered the main chamber of the cave, they saw that they had come only just in time. Nina was being held on either side by guards, and a bloated, cackling man was standing in front of her. He could only be Joker, the boss himself.

"So what'll it be, Nina?" Joker was growling. "Will you do as I say?"

"I'll do nothing until you return my sister!" Nina spat. "Right now!"

"Oh ho ho! Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful when you're angry?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're ugly all the time?" she returned. This only made Joker laugh harder.

Ryu and Katt watched in horror.

"Ryu! We have to help Nina!" Katt whispered.

"Tell me something I don't know." Ryu said.

"Come on. Let's get her sister for her."

The pair slowly crept around the northwest wall where Nina's sister, a blue-haired girl named Mina, was tied up, under the watch of a guard.

"Excuse me…" Katt said, tapping the guard on the shoulder.

"Whaddya want?" the guard snarled.

"I only want to know what that is." Katt said, pointing. The guard turned to look, and Katt quickly pushed him over the cliff, where he fell 100 feet to his death. Katt hurriedly untied Mina and told her to go stand by Ryu. Then she called to Nina.

"Nina! It's okay! I saved your sister!"

Joker turned, furious. "Who is that? Who interrupts us? Kill her!"

A group of 5 Hoods ran at Katt, but Ryu dashed in and within 5 minutes they had killed them all. And now, Ryu, Katt, and Nina backed Joker into a corner.

"P-p-p-please don't hurt me!" He sputtered. "I never meant any harm! Please!"

Nina smirked. "I don't think so." She sent a fireball up to the ceiling of the cave, causing an avalanche of boulders to come tumbling down on top of Joker.

When the dust had settled, Nina turned to Ryu. "Well, kind sir, I want to thank you very much for saving us." She began to step towards him. "You're the bravest person I've met in a long time."

Ryu began to blush. "It was nothing."

"Well, I think…"

Suddenly there was a loud rumbling, and a huge monster burst from the pile of boulders. It was Joker! He was really a demon!

"Oh my God…" Katt whispered.

"Let's get him!" Ryu cried, drawing his sword.

So with brute force from Ryu, agility from Katt, and strong magic from Nina, Joker was defeated once and for all.

Nina approached Ryu and brushed his hair aside. "You are one tough cookie, you know that?"

Ryu stepped back. "Thank you. C'mon, let's get out of here."

As they walked, Ryu found Nina holding his hand. He yanked it back with a growl.

"What?" Nina asked. "It's dark in here, I don't want to lose you."

"Just knock it off!" Katt snapped.

"So what's it to you?" Nina snapped back. "Oh I'm sorry… he's your man?"

"No he's not!!!" Katt growled. "But you're being annoying."

"Hmmph." Nina crossed her arms as they left the cave. "Well, let's just bring my sister home, and then I'll leave you guys alone."

"Aren't you going to stay home with your sister?" Katt asked.

There was no response.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

"Just forget it." Nina grumbled. "Okay?"

"Fine."

And so it was that the group left Mt. Rocko far behind and headed for Windia.