King Hiss was skilled with the use of a battle staff. He was a highly proficient warrior in his own right. But he had never faced off against an Arashikage ninja before. Jinx easily deflected every blow he could throw at her. The young Joe allowed herself to simply toy with the Snake Lord briefly then took to the offensive.
Not only was Jinx the better-trained fighter, she also had the advantage of being much younger and more agile than her opponent. Her naginata twirled and slashed cutting into Hiss' skin several times. For every blow he successfully defended against, another one found its mark. Only when Jinx took a brief moment to relax her muscles did she stop to wonder why, with so many wounds, Hiss was not bleeding.
What she didn't know of course was she had only torn his human disguise. Her blades had not cut deep enough to reach the Snake Lord's true flesh. Her next attack caught him across the face however and actually succeeded in removing a small chunk of the fake skin, revealing a series of golden scales underneath.
"What the hell are you?" Jinx gasped.
King Hiss chuckled sinisterly at her shock. "Since you asked, it would be rude of me not to show you." With that he placed his hands on his chest and started ripping his skin in half! "You should consider yourself honored. I don't usually unleash my full power for just anyone." Before he could get any farther though Jinx launched herself in a flying kick towards him. The collision interrupted Hiss' process and Jinx was not about to let him pick it up again.
"I'll admit I don't know what you're up to," she said in between blows, "but I am smart enough to realize I'll be a lot better off if I don't let you do it."
As the deadly ends of the naginata came at him again Hiss was forced back on the defensive. He couldn't believe how fast Jinx was. Not since the days of Preternia, battling the great wizard He-Ro, had he faced a foe who could match his staff blows move for move. Hiss quickly realized that if he was going to win this fight he'd have to disarm her and fast. After carefully gauging his move Hiss struck. The top of his snake shaped staff hooked itself around Jinx's weapon and, with a sharp twist and pull, he yanked it from her grasp.
"There! Now you're finished!"
Jinx took a step back clenching her fists. "You think just because you take my weapon I'm helpless?"
The Snake King responded by firing a blast of energy from the staff's mouth. Jinx managed to back-flip at the last moment barely dodging the assault.
"Okay," she said slowly, "I'll admit you stand a better chance than most, but it doesn't change the facts. A ninja doesn't need…"
Hiss cut her off by bellowing with rage and swinging his staff down at her head; a killing blow- that never connected. In what seemed like an instant Jinx had grabbed the staff, pulled it from Hiss' hand, flung the Snake Man to the ground, twisted his arm behind his back, and brought her foot down on his neck pinning him in an unbreakable hold. Hiss' eyes rolled back in his head. He couldn't speak but his face delivered the message, "What happened?"
Dree Elle had been watching the battle with great interest. Every time she saw Jinx fight she became completely mesmerized. The ways of the ninja fascinated her and, though she didn't fully understand them, there was one thing she was sure about; she wanted to learn them herself.
"That was amazing," she said in awe. "How did you do that?"
"Just a standard Arashikage disarming move," Jinx smiled. She looked back down at her captive, "As I was saying, a ninja doesn't need a weapon, a ninja is a weapon! No, don't bother struggling. It would only take a simple twist of my leg to snap your neck."
"I already would have."
Neither Dree Elle nor Jinx knew where that voice had come from, but they both instantly cringed in recognition.
Vypra.
In a blur of speed the stealthy assassin launched herself, seemingly out of nowhere, towards Jinx knocking her off King Hiss who slowly stood rubbing his neck in pain. He turned and glared at Vypra.
"You. You saved me." It was not a question but a statement and he sounded not grateful, but rather insulted.
Vypra scoffed over her shoulder, "Don't flatter yourself. If I was going to save your miserable life I would have stopped you from challenging Jinx in the first place. I was simply waiting till she was good and distracted to attack. Now get lost. Jinx and I have a personal score to settle."
"If we're lucky you'll loose this fight," Hiss growled. "Because, rest assured, I will not live my life in the debt of a filthy mammal!"
Vypra ignored this insult and drew the twin blades strapped to her back. Jinx in turn did a backwards cartwheel scooping up her naginata in the process.
"Only one of us will be leaving here alive," Vypra sneered.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Jinx said and leaped into action. The two ninjas closed in on each other, their blades clashing over and over producing sparks and ear piercing shrieks of scraping metal. Wheeling across the courtyard the combatants lunged and parried, attack and counterattack carried out in a fierce, no-holds-bared, no-quarter-given struggle.
Jinx was supple and quick. She worked her way between Vypra's swords with confidence and ease, whipping both deadly ends of her naginata back and forth. She was more than holding her own against the attempts to bring her down. Nevertheless, Vypra was also very skilled and she appeared to remain confidant in a way that was disturbing. She would not be overcome easily.
Dree Elle's eyes narrowed as she watched the two battle their way towards the outer wall. Slowly Vypra pressed forward forcing Jinx up the stairs backwards. Now at the top both fighters had very limited room to maneuver. Jinx however was the worse off, as her naginata required more fighting area than Vypra's swords.
"I've got to help her!" Dree Elle shouted. She started to move towards the fight when a hand pulled her back.
"Stay back little one," Storm Shadow said softly but firmly. "That is Jinx's fight. She must finish it alone."
"Jinx is my friend," she protested freeing herself. "I can't abandon her. Besides, Vypra murdered my brother. I have a stake in this as well."
"I understand," Storm Shadow said, "but the fact is you don't have the necessary fighting experience to take on Vypra. If you enter the fray you will succeed only in distracting Jinx from her task. She will be concerned with you getting hurt and therefore not concentrate fully on the battle."
"In other words," Dree Elle sighed, "I'd only get in the way?"
Storm Shadow nodded. "Yes. I know it's difficult, but there's nothing you can do for her now except pray."
Vypra pressed her advantage. With quick hard strokes she bored into her adversary, purposely engaging in close quarters so as not to let Jinx bring her double bladed weapon to bear. Jinx needed to gain some distance. Finally she planted the naginata's end into the wall and, using it like a pole vault, flipped over Vypra's head. Then, before Vypra could turn around, Jinx made a reverse swipe slashing through clothing and flesh leaving a large bleeding gash in the evil ninja's back.
Good, that's it Jinx! Dree Elle thought, Keep her off balance.
Jinx took a brief moment while Vypra reeled from the slash to catch her breath and glance at her arm. Vypra had managed to nick her during the flip but it was only a minor cut. Enough to draw blood but not enough to slow her down. At least that's how it appeared. In truth it stung with a burning sensation. Jinx felt as though she'd been given a tetanus shot.
Must have hit a vein or something, she thought. Pushing the pain aside she resumed her assault, but by now Vypra was ready again. Blood was slowly pouring out of her back, but this only infuriated her further. She began a wild flurry of sideswipes forcing Jinx to position her naginata horizontally. Then, with unbelievable strength, she brought her blades crashing down on its one week spot.
Jinx's naginata was not forged out of one solid piece. Like a billiards cue it screwed together in the middle for easier storage. This is where Vypra's swords hit. Though one of the swords snapped in the process, it achieved its purpose and severed the weapon in two. Jinx lost her grip on the halves as she staggered backwards quickly trying to regain her balance. Wasting no time Vypra lunged forward. Too late Jinx realized the danger as the sharp steel caught her in the midsection burying itself in her flesh.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Dree Elle cried out and took off like a bullet to her friend's aid. Jinx spotted this out of the corner of her eye and, swallowing the pain, she shouted out to her.
"NO! STAY BACK!"
Dree Elle was so shocked by Jinx's tone that she actually skidded to a stop in midair. Vypra too was momentarily stunned, unable to believe Jinx's strength of will. Despite having the blade of a sword stuck in her chest with blood flowing like wine, she refused to let her body give out. The shock lasted only a moment though, and Vypra raised her remaining katana over her head. It had been the broken sword that had stabbed Jinx. Now the long undamaged blade stood poised to come crashing down on, and inevitably through, her neck.
"How long I've waited for this moment," Vypra sneered. "You've been a most worthy opponent all these years Jinx- not to mention an annoying thorn in my side- but at last it's all over."
Jinx placed a hand to the bleeding wound in her stomach and then actually smiled.
"Not just yet Vypra." With that she tossed a handful of blood right into Vypra's eyes. The dark assassin instinctively backed off, letting go of the sword that was still inside Jinx to wipe her vision clear. Jinx too backed off and pulled the blade out finally. Keeping pressure on the wound with her left hand, she flipped the broken, blood-soaked weapon over in her right so it was ready for use.
Vypra snarled in anger, but then her lips slowly parted into a sinister smile. "Impressive stamina Jinx, but you don't seem to understand. I don't need to do anything more. I've already won."
Jinx frowned in confusion then blinked and shook her head as her vision began to blur. This shouldn't have been happening. She hadn't lost that much blood yet. Unless…
"Are you feeling the heat yet," Vypra chuckled. "If not you will in a matter of seconds. You see, I took the liberty of coating my swords with the same poison I use on my arrows! That cut on your arm alone should be enough for a fatal dose. I'm not really sure, but with that impalement it's only a question of when. Even if you had some anti-venom on you, it'd be too little too late!"
With that Vypra flung her head back and cackled to the sky in triumph. Her laughter was short lived though as a moment later the remains of her own sword came flying through the air slicing through her upper lip and the side of her face.
"You little bitch!" Vypra spat as blood poured into and out of her mouth. Her speech became slightly garbled due to her talking through the blood and a split lip, but Jinx was still able to make most of it out. "Trying to infect me with my own venom? Do you really think I would work with such a deadly poison all these years without building up an immunity?"
"I was aiming for your throat," Jinx coughed.
"You may have left me permanently scarred," Vypra managed to say- the wound seemed to be opening further, "but it's hardly suitable compensation now is it? I'll just consider it a trophy to remember your defeat by!"
Jinx could actually feel the venom coursing through her veins now, but Vypra's words infuriated her. She channeled that anger, brought it to focus, and used it to give her the strength for one last all out attack. Rushing straight at Vypra, Jinx delivered a devastating judo chop to the jaw that sent her staggering to the very edge of the wall. This was followed just as swiftly by a barrage of kicks to the head. In the darkening sky above a large bolt of lightning crashed across the heavens. In the time it took for that bolt to appear and dissipate Jinx's foot connected with Vypra's face fifteen times. Finally, as though defying gravity, the young Joe leaped into the air and thrust out with both legs hitting with a fierce double kick that sent Vypra flying over the side.
Once Vypra was gone Dree Elle rushed up to Jinx's side. If Jinx noticed her at first she gave no indication. She simply pulled herself forward ignoring the pain. Forcing herself to get close enough to the edge to peer over. Dree Elle understood what she was doing immediately. She had to see. Had to be sure she had gotten her. Dree Elle understood because she too had to be sure. She floated over and looked down along with Jinx. Looked down at Vypra's body…
…and saw it hanging by one arm from a tree that had broken her fall. Dree Elle uttered a Trollan obscenity as Vypra dropped to the ground and flagged down a retreating Cobra transport. She was limping and blood was flowing from her many wounds, but she was going to live.
"No," Jinx said her voice barely a whisper now, "it can't end this way."
The last of the evil warriors had fled from the city. Eternos was secure. As a roar of victory rose from the heroic forces a young Royal Guard lieutenant ran up to Duke and Queen Marlena, saluted her, bowed to him, then, realizing he'd done it backwards, reversed his actions and reported.
"Enemy forces in full retreat!"
"Looks like we did it," Duke said.
Marlena smiled. "No my friend, you did it. It was the Joes that turned the tide."
Roadblock called to Duke across the courtyard. "Hey Duke, Cobra's through. Should we pursue?"
"Negative Roadblock," Duke called back. "Let's tend to the wounded and refortify the city in case of a counterstrike."
Marlena turned to the guard. "Get me a casualty report as soon as possible. We need to know how badly we were hit."
As the guard turned to carry out his orders he was knocked on his back by Dree Elle flying by faster than Marlena had ever seen her move.
"Dree Elle slow down," she said. "What's the hurry?"
Dree Elle didn't seem to hear. "Where's She-Ra?" she shouted quickly. "I need to find her now!"
"Why? What's wrong?"
"It's Jinx. She's badly wounded. I think she's dying!"
Separated from any of the Eternian villains for the first time since their arrival, Cobra Commander took the opportunity to confer with some of his most loyal and trusted soldiers.
"Commander this alliance you've made…" Tomax began.
"… has proven more costly than beneficial," Xamot finished.
The twin Crimson Guard commanders often spoke like this. To most people it would be confusing, or at the very least a bit annoying, but Cobra Commander was used to it. Though he never mentioned it, he could barely tell them apart himself. They truly were identical not only in appearance, but in personality. So much so that at times they seemed to share one mind. Only a large scar running down Xamot's face allowed the commander to tell them apart.
"Unfortunately," Cobra Commander said, "it was they who brought us here and at present they are our only ticket back to Earth. Without their help we could be stuck here a very long time."
"Let us hope not," the twins said together.
"G.I. Joe's sudden appearance caught us off guard," the commander continued, "but next time we shall be ready for them."
"Just as they will inevitably be ready for us!" Destro growled.
At this Cobra Commander actually laughed. "That's what they'll think, but the spy I left in their ranks should provide us with all the information we'll need to penetrate any defense they can establish! Soon the powers of this planet will be ours and we can get back to conquering our own world!"
"The sooner the better!" Vypra said, much to the dismay of the Medi-Viper who was trying to sew up the gash across her face.
"Please Vypra," he said, "you have to hold still so I can finish!"
Vypra whipped a knife out of seemingly nowhere and held it under the medic's chin. "You'd better be keeping the stitches small," she snarled. "I want as little visible scarring as possible. Understand?"
The Medi-Viper did understand and he completed his task with extra care. When he was finished Vypra carefully inspected his work very slowly. When she was satisfied at last she set down the mirror and nodded in approval of his excellent job.
Then she slit his throat anyway.
Jinx was looking worse and worse by the second. Her breath came in short forced gasps. The blood continued to pour out of her wounds. Her forehead was soaked with sweat and her skin was turning a sickly pale. Lifeline, G.I. Joe's top medical officer, looked up from where he was kneeling beside her and shook his head sadly.
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for her."
"Then let me try," She-Ra said.
"It's no use," Lifeline sighed. "The venom's been in her bloodstream too long. Nothing on Earth could save her now."
With one hand She-Ra lifted Lifeline up by his collar and tossed him out of the way. "Need I remind you," she said kneeling down beside Jinx, "you're not on Earth here?" With that she closed her eyes, placed her hands over Jinx's wounds and concentrated hard.
"For the honor of Grayskull, live and be healed!"
Lifeline's jaw dropped in amazement as She-Ra's hands began to glow with energy. As the magic flowed into Jinx, the wounds suddenly stopped bleeding and began sealing up, leaving no trace of their presence.
"I know your powers can heal scars and wounds, She-Ra," He-Man said looking over his sister's shoulder, "but are you sure they can counteract the effects of the poison?"
She-Ra did not answer, but she didn't need too. Jinx's breathing had slowed and become regular and the color was quickly returning to her flesh. Slowly She-Ra's hands stopped glowing and she collapsed backwards into He-Man's arms. Jinx sat up and shook her head in bewilderment. Dree Elle looked at her with a strange mixture of relief and concern.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"I… I'm fine," Jinx said with understandable surprise. "In fact, I feel better than ever."
She-Ra smiled. "Whenever medical science fails, you can always rely on the magic healing powers of Grayskull to pull through." Only now did the others notice that the princess looked as though all her energy was spent. She must have guessed what they were thinking because she quickly said, "Don't worry about me. I just over exhausted myself. That's all. I'll be okay in a little while."
He-Man smiled. "Go ahead and rest sister. You've earned it."
The sudden unmistakable cry of a falcon drew his eyes skyward. Sure enough Zoar -The Sorceress in her transformed state- was soaring overhead.
"I'm afraid there's no time to rest my friends," her voice called out, "Your work has only just begun."
"Who said that?" Jinx asked, causing He-Man to stare at her. Before he could say anything though Duke spoke up.
"You heard it too? I'm glad I'm not the only one."
He-Man was in shock. Normally Zoar spoke telepathically to him alone but both of them had heard her. As he glanced around he noticed nearly everyone looking about in confusion.
"You can hear her?" he asked.
"I am speaking to all of you," Zoar/Sorceress said loudly. "Everyone, Eternian and G.I. Joe alike, needs to hear this. You must come to Grayskull at once. Both of our worlds, and countless others are in grave peril."
"Who is that?" Duke asked with a hint of concern.
"It's The Sorceress," He-Man confessed, though he was not sure he should have been revealing the secret of Zoar. If Sorceress was willing to let everyone hear her though she must have had good reason.
By now Jinx had noticed that the voice was coming from the falcon above them. "The Sorceress is a bird?"
"Yes. Well, no not actually… I'll explain later," He-Man stuttered. "If she wants us at Grayskull it must be very important."
"Well, we can't all go," Duke said. "Some of us need to stay here in case the villains return."
"I'll stay," Marlena said, "My place is here."
"I'm going," Jinx stated firmly.
"You sure you're up to it?" Duke asked.
"I'm fine," she said. "Nothing could make me miss this."
Duke nodded and shouted out to the other Joes, "Flint, you and Lady Jaye take half the Joes and handle things here. The rest of you get ready to move out!"
"Please hurry all of you," Sorceress called out as she flew back towards Castle Grayskull. "The fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance!"
