Mangos in Summer

AN: Aacckkk...sorry this has taken me so very long but I've been busy! You wouldn't believe...anyway! I'll be trying to post a bit more frequently so do check up! Enjoy and please R&R!!!!

The two walked for sometime in silence; not because there was nothing to say but because each time they breathed the retched smell of the Bog of Eternal Stench (that still clung to Makoto for all its worth) would fill their lungs, causing them to gasp and gag, rendering speech impossible.

Mamoru slowed his pace suddenly, a hand still covering his mouth as he raised a brow. They had come upon a clearing and in the center sat what seemed to be Setsuna in many folds of unique clothing. But what startled the cross-dresser the most was the odd hat the woman donned. It was a long thin thing that was topped with the head of Ami. The confused Mamoru slowly approached.

"Woo-woo! A young boy!" Ami smiled.

Mamoru's eyes brightened and lit up. "Yes! See! She said 'boy'!"

"No, I didn't," stated a frowning Ami.

"Yes you did," Mamoru pressed, a bit anxiously.

"No, I said 'young girl'!"

"That's right!" Said Makoto, "I heard her."

"I give up," sighed Mamoru as he shook his head tiredly.

Setsuna stirred, her sleepy magenta eyes opening slowly. "Well, well…what have we here?"

Mamoru sighed again, and looked at the dark-haired woman pleadingly. "I just want to know if you can tell us the way to the castle."

"Ah…" said Setsuna slowly, "sometimes the way forward is the way back…"

"Well that doesn't make sense," stated a confused Ami.

"Of course it does!" scowled Setsuna, "Sometimes it seems we are not making any progress when in fact we are."

Ami sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Now that doesn't make any sense either. Poor old thing, she's lost it."

Setsuna's eye twitched convulsively as she yelled, "Just shut up! No body asked you anyway!"

Mamoru glanced nervously at Makoto who only shrugged helplessly. He cleared his throat loudly to gain attention. "Well…we'll be leaving now."

Ami turned her consideration back to their visitors. "Please leave a contribution in the little box."

Mamoru frowned lightly. "But we have nothing to give," he said as he shoved Makoto's jewels into the back pocket of his jeans.

Setsuna's eyes widened as she looked at the boy. "Take the hat then! That's contribution enough!"

Ami blinked. "What?!"

Mamoru stared on in confusion. "Take your hat…?"

Setsuna nodded, removing the hat eagerly and shoving it into his arms. She quickly turned and dashed away with a somewhat mad cackle. "I'm free! FREE!"

Mamoru turned to look at Hoggle. "Erm…?"

Makoto, as usual, shrugged, her eyebrows raised.

Ami blinked but smiled. "Well! Let's get going."

Mamoru let out a small groan. "Great."

Mamoru twitched as he walked beside Makoto, Ami the hat blabbering on and on about completely random subjects; like the joys of being with new people, how annoying Setsuna was and how tasty mangos were in summer.

"I can't take much more of this," hissed Makoto quietly through clenched teeth.

"I know," whispered Mamoru, "but what can we do?"

Makoto grinned deviously, "Just leave her. Drop her and run."

Mamoru snorted and rolled his eyes. "Please. We can't do that. Be reasonable."

Makoto pouted slightly. "I am being-" she paused mid-sentence, "did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That growling! Oh! There it is again! G'bye!" She turned and took off, flailing her limbs madly as she ran.

Makoto and Ami stared after her, blinking. The Sarah-wannabe jumped in alarm as he heard a wild scream. He looked down at Ami then ran towards the foul noise. He came upon a clearing (imagine that) where Minako was hanging upside down from a tree. She was wearing a very orange and very furry outfit. Surrounding her were a large group of chibi-Beryls, poking and prodding the poor girl with dull spears.

Mamoru looked back down at Ami and frowned. "Pardon but I need my arms free." He set her down gently and strolled over to the Chibi Dark Queens.

Mamoru bent down and one by one, he would pick up a struggling chibi Beryl and would fling her over the hedge surrounding the clearing. At length he had thrown every last one; suddenly they all began to scream madly, their high pitch voices filling the ears of Mamoru and Co.

Mamoru blinked in confusion as suddenly all went quiet. He shook his head slowly, turning back to Makoto. "I don't want to know." He cut the rope binding the young woman and helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

She smiled, "Oh, I'm fine thanks! Err…I mean…Ludo fine!"

Mamoru raised a blue-black brow and shook his head. "Right. Want to come with me to the castle?"

Minako smiled again and nodded fervently. "Ludo go!" Her eyes widened as she spotted the Ami-hat. She let out a happy cry as she rushed towards the startled accessory. The blonde picked it up and set it proudly atop her head. She turned to Mamoru and smiled. "Ludo ready!"

The exasperated man only stared at her blankly for a long, silent moment. "Well…" he said eventually, "Let's go." With that he turned to move on.