The elevator came to a halt. The princess jumped off the elevator and darted to the platform far off the arena. Cosmomi fluttered after her, mumbling that he had wished they would tell him what happened in the trials. Yet, Aurora, Rue or Mint didn't slip a word about their trials. As the princess was halfway running with the flying cat flying past her and the rest of the group walking along, a shout stopped them in their tracks.
"Hold it right there!"
"That voice..." Mint muttered before looking back in surprise. "Oh my gosh, Belle!?"
Across the arena were a young attractive woman and a strong-built man. The woman looked as if any like an angel, yet under her skin was a devilish lady's mind and heart. Widening over the man's face was a grin of a wolf.
"Long time no see. You're still up to no good, huh?" the woman, who responded to the name "Belle", sneered.
"What are you doing here, Belle? I haven't seen you since I kicked your butt a year ago," Mint intoned.
"Mint, you know her?" Rue posed.
"Yeah, someone who I met a year ago."
"What?" the man announced. "You two met a year ago?"
"Yeah, I never told you about her, huh?" Belle asked. "Duke, meet Mint, the slyest creature ever to walk on the face of the earth. I'll never forget what happened a year ago."
Ignoring the calm yet livid voice, Mint started to walk to the platform.
"Where do you think you're goin'!?" Belle yowled.
The princess stopped and cussed, "Dang."
"Sheeez! Who do you think you're dealing with, huh!?" Belle demanded.
"Milady, please calm down. I'll take care of them," Duke vowed. "I'll wipe their smiles off their faces and make them tell us about the relic in no time."
"Wait a minute! You're also looking for the relic?" Aurora demanded.
"Yeah," Duke answered. "I got nothing against you, but I'm gonna have to bust you up."
"You don't stand a chance against his acts," Belle sneered.
"Yeah, whatever. There nothing I can't handle," Mint scorned. "I'll shut him off in 5 seconds and beat you silly after that. You two will be holding hands in hell in a flash. You think you're gonna beat me to the relic? Guess again, you old bag!" "Old..." Belle growled as the word echoed in her ears like a dagger deepening into her soul.
"Hey, watch your mouth! Milady's only 30 (if you round down)," Duke exclaimed but was thrown aside by the enraged woman.
"Ah, shut up!" Belle yelled.
Aurora shook her head. 'Not quite smart to talk about someone's age.'
"I'll take care of her myself! You just take care of those two! Nobody calls me old and gets away with it!" Belle shrieked.
"Y-yes, Milady," Duke groaned.
"Isn't the odds three against two?" Rue inquired.
"Ha! Do you think you can beat us just because of the number of opponents?"
"Well then, why don't you hit me with a cane while you're at it?" Aurora taunted, her arms folded.
A sweatdrop hung over Cosmomi's cheek as he muttered, "she really knows how to bite."
"W-What did you just say!!!?" Belle exacted, feeling offended by her calm taunt. "I'll make you regret that!!!"
"Try me!" Aurora hollered with a sheer grin.
Instantly, the woman spread several balls of blazing fire at Aurora. But quicker than the darting fireballs, she took the sword's handle, held it up without taking it from its cloth-sheath and batted the fireballs away. Belle stared, startled by the action; even the cloth case didn't burn to a crisp.
"And allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aurora."
"Aurora? You can't be-" Belle began but was cut off by Aurora.
"I don't like people knowing me too well. Let's start the fight, shall we?"
The smirk appeared on Belle's face. "Well, well. Let's see how good you're really are."
Duke, who had recovered from the punch, walked ahead to Rue and stood with his arms folded and a grin on his face. "What's your name?"
"Rue. " Rue asked, feeling cautious.
"Rue, huh? I'll remember it for you. 'Cuz you won't be remember that name after I bust you up with my act."
"Act...?" Rue echoed. Aurora turned her attention to them.
"Rue, you like stories?" Duke asked. "I love stories. Can't get enough of them. Especially the ones with hotshot heroes. Man, they really get me fired up, y'know. They always get me praying to be like them. Last night, I read this book called 'Shadow Legends'. The main character was this rad ninja who used this awesome move. Check this out."
With those words announced, Duke's image started to flash and suddenly split into three ways. One solid copy stayed before Rue while the other two copies moved silently and caught Rue and Aurora in a manmade trap.
"H-how!?" Rue shouted.
"He duplicated himself!?" Aurora exclaimed.
"Duke, hurry up and finish them while I finish her!" Belle ordered.
"What a minute! What about 'our' battle!?" Aurora demanded.
"Sorry but I don't have time for you today. So Duke will have to be your opponent. You don't stand a chance against him. He can master any move."
"Behold! The power of ninjutsu!" Duke declared as the three images swirled around Rue and Aurora.
"Now time to get serious, Mint!" Belle yelled, her fist glowing red. With a mighty burning force, she jumped into the air and punched the ground, creating a minor earthquake. A blast of intense fire waved towards Mint but she evaded it before it could fry her.
As the flames roared on, the creatures darted away, avoiding it.
At the swirling mirages, Rue examined them. 'Which one is the real Duke?'
With the mirages moving at a fast pace and at the same direction, there was no way he could tell which was Duke. A firing sound tinkled his ears.
"Rue, duck!" Aurora yelled as she and the boy ducked just in time as a fist that would have dug at Rue's face, fired. The mirages continued to twirl.
"Rue, listen to me," Aurora whispered, taking off her ribbon. "Follow my lead. We'll get the real Duke in no time."
"What? How are you going to do that?" Rue asked. "There are three of them!"
Flashing her grin, two words were all she needed to say. "Trust me."
Standing up, she wrapped her ribbon around her eyes.
"Hey, are you just making this easy for me?" Duke demanded. Aurora just ignored him and listened.
Listen to his breath and you will find him. Focus!
She recalled carefully the teaching of her master, Master Yong Chen a few years ago. She listened for any breath, even if it was hers or Rue's. First she heard hers, then Rue's. Finally, she heard it.
"Sss...haa...sss...haa..."
'Got ya!' Aurora thought.
Your opponent will only attack if the pattern of their breath changes. Listen to that.
"Huk!"
'Left!' she thought alarmed, as she dodged his punch.
"Huk!"
"Rue! Evade to your right!" Aurora yelled quickly.
Quickly, at her command, he did as he was told, missing another firing punch.
"Sss...haa...sss...haa..." The breathing came to ease. Could he be wondering if she had a strategy, Aurora wondered.
"Huk!"
Swiftly, she arched her back, just an inch away from Duke's hidden punch.
"Sss... Huk!"
"Rue, to your left!" she shouted, arching forward.
Again, Rue dodged to the right, missing the swinging fist.
From the other side of the arena, Belle jumped away after casting another hell-blowing fire at Mint. She had been watching Aurora's strategy with one eye but carefully fighting back the princess. '...She seems quite the opponent than I'd expected. Those tales about her weren't lies.'
Belle turned to the boy who was listening to her orders and dodging the punches Duke threw.
'This boy... Silver hair... Strange clothing... He looks weird, all right. Why does he remind me of the famous fighter, Ruengrit? And what's up with that hat of his?'
"Flare!"
Turning back to her battle, she avoided Mint's fireball. The princess snickered. "A little slow, aren't we?"
Belle cursed under her breath. "Why, you!" she screamed and chanted another hell-fire.
"Huk!" A near hit at Aurora's head. She ducked, hearing the fist brush through her hair. She twirled around, ready to throw a kick. A sharp pain suddenly stabbed at the muscle of her ankle. Groaning in pain, she clutched her ankle.
"Aurora! Are you alright?" Rue wondered as he held his weapon to shield Duke's approaching attacks.
'Dammit! I turned too soon!' she cursed. She should have been more accurate at the timing.
In the sheer darkness, she heard a tiny laugh. Not Rue's voice but the one spinning around them. She knew instantly Duke saw an advantage if she couldn't fight with a minor injury.
'Wait a minute...'
She heard a change of pattern in the breathing. And the clanking noise of a weapon. Picturing in her mind, she imagined Rue shielding himself from Duke's punches. She listened to the pattern that recently changed. It sounded as if there was a struggle. Then a sound of something swooshing pass was heard not far.
"Huk!"
"Rue! Behind you!" Aurora warned.
Quickly, Rue evaded the flying punch and with quick instincts, he thrust his Arc Edge at Duke, hitting his head with the blunt side of metal axe. The real Duke collapsed while the illusions vanished once he had been hit.
Aurora breathed easily as she took off her ribbon. "Good shot."
"Thanks to you, Aurora," Rue thanked.
The sound of boots smashing over the polished floor brought their attention to Duke, who was now standing on his feet. "How did you-!?"
"Easy," Aurora cut Duke short. "I listened to the direction and changes of your breathing. It's much easy to avoid or attack your opponents before they can get to you."
"What!?" Duke yelled, shocked by her blind performance.
"Just by listening to his breath?" Rue asked.
Aurora nodded. "Yeah. I always do that whenever someone this stupid try to mess with me."
"What'd you say!?" Duke spat. "I'll bust your mouth!"
He swung a punch at her. However she tilted her head sideways, missing it. Twirling around her waist, she grabbed his swinging fist and flung Duke over her back.
"Don't ever mess with me!" Aurora screamed.
Duke was thrown sky high across the arena, crashing onto the cold floor. "Ugh...ninjutsu stink."
"That's because you don't know how to use martial arts, you idiot!" Aurora corrected him. "Ungh..."
She clutched to the sprained ankle, feeling the numbness. 'Guess it hasn't been healed completely.'
"Aurora!" The flying cat came flying to her and rested his wings on the floor. "Are you okay?"
"Are you alright?" Rue asked.
"...Yeah. I'm fine. Just a sprain," she assured them.
"Your injuries haven't been healed yet, have they?" Cosmomi asked, giving her a worried look.
"I'm fine. Really," she reassured them again, standing up and tapping her foot as if it was all better.
"Are you sure?" Rue asked again.
"Like I said, I'm okay," Aurora replied.
"YAAHH!!!" Turning to the princess's fight, they realized they had almost forgotten about Mint. They watched as Mint jump-kicked Belle. "Ha! Think you can beat me?"
The light blue-haired woman got to her feet. "Looks like you've been training well. But you're still clumsy as ever! Look what I got here."
In her hand, she held the golden tiara that she recently snatched with the reflexes and stealth of a fox. Mint nearly jumped out of her boots.
"My treasure!" the princess hissed.
"Your treasure!!!?" Mint shrugged her shoulders as three pairs of eyes glared at her, belonging to Aurora, Rue and Cosmomi.
"Um..." Mint tried to think of an excuse but Aurora spat out loud, "You lied to us!?".
"Hey, I happened to like it, ok?" Mint muttered.
"Well, you can kiss this tiara goodbye," Belle sneered, walking to a black platform that wasn't there a moment ago. Quickly, the trio ran after her to get back the tiara but a shifting image appeared before them. Duke.
"You were luckily this time but next time, you won't be," Duke clamored. "I'll show you my best act, yet. You can count on them."
"Come on! We're outta here!" Belle shouted to her partner.
"Yes, Milady!"
The grinning woman jumped onto the black platform as the visage flickered and appeared at the platform. Once Belle and Duke stepped on the platform, it began to float upwards. The trio dashed quickly, hoping to stop them in time but luck wasn't on their side.
"STOP!" Rue hollered.
"HEY, COME BACK HERE!!!" Mint screamed, jumping up and down with anger and disappointment.
"DAMMIT!" Aurora cursed, using her final attempt to reclaim the artifact. On her good ankle, she leapt at the platform but it was beyond her reach. She glared at the grinning face that was painted on Belle. She landed on the arena and glared up at the disappearing platform. "GET BACK HERE!"
"What are we waiting for!?" a shout brought their attention to Cosmomi. His face was coated with fortitude. "Come on! We can still catch up!"
Without hesitation, the trio and the creatures dashed to the white platform and it took them to the four squared pillars. Belle and Duke were already halfway to the other black platform. Quickly, Aurora, Rue and Mint jumped onto the pillars, one by one.
Unexpectedly, a creature rose from the abyss. It stared evilly at the trio and let out a shaking roar.
"Geez! Not another one!" Rue murmured, for indeed, it was another skull beast.
"Dammit!" Aurora cursed. "I was hoping there weren't anymore!"
"They're getting away!" Cosmomi yelled.
They looked up and the treasure hunters had already landed on another black platform.
"Have fun! See ya!" Belle sneered and the platform took off into the peering darkness.
Swiftly, Aurora and her creature companions ran to the white platform, caring less of the skull beast. "Come on!"
"What about that?" Rue yelled, pointing to the roaring skull beast.
"We don't have time for him! We gotta get back that tiara!"
"She's right for the first time!" Mint admitted and darted to the platform. Rue followed behind.
Hastily, they jumped onto the platform as the beast chased them like a wild monster. The platform, wasting no time, rose towards the stairway. The disappointed roar of the skull beast echoed below. Or was it calling for a reason?
Mint jumped off the platform as it stopped at the steps of the stairway, panting for air. "Phew. That was close. I thought that thing was going to get us."
Suddenly, the stairway started to shake. The walls of the underground ruins quivered.
"What's that rumbling sound?" Rue wondered, worriedly.
"Tell me that's your stomach rumbling," Aurora pleaded to Mint.
"Of course not!" the princess snapped.
A rumble shook their feet as something landed behind them as if a heavy crate was thrown from below. Slowly they turned to see the monster breathing down their necks.
"RUN!" Rue screamed. They dashed up the stairway with the skull beast on their tails. Halfway, the skull beast slowed its running pace but the trio and the creatures would not stop until they were out of the ruins.
Finally, as the last flight of the stairway was at sight, they reached the top, ready to jump onto the awaiting platform. Only one small problem; the platform, their means of transport wasn't there.
"Where the heck is the platform!?" Mint shrieked.
Terrifying roars trembled from below.
"It's coming!" Aurora yelled. "And it sounds like it's not alone!"
"I guess there's no choice. We'll have to fight them," Rue suggested, turning to the girls.
"RUE! BEHIND YOU!!!" a voice warned. Rue quickly looked over his shoulder as the skull beast dashed behind him.
"Woah!" He dodged to his left just in time as the skull beast swung its claw.
"Move on your right!" Again the voice cried. Without hesitation, Rue did as he was told just when the skull beast swung another bony claw before it backed away.
"Thanks for the warning, Mint," Rue thanked.
"Huh...?" Mint looked at him surprised with fright. "But it wasn't me..."
"Nor me..." Aurora said, looking purely frightened.
"And it ain't me," Cosmomi told him, his face filled with anxiety
"Huh? But I could've sworn I heard a girl's voice..." Rue admitted. "Who could it be then?"
The girls' eyes targeted at one thing, each pointing with one shivering finger.
"Yo!" said the ginger cat, waving a paw in the air. "How're ya doin'?"
They all stared at the cat for a silent moment, their mouths gapping.
"The cat can talk!?" Rue shouted with disbelief.
"What's the big deal?" Cosmomi asked him, waving a paw since there was the fact that he himself could also talk. "I'm a creature and I'm talking."
"Man... You're such an embarrassment," the cat muttered to Rue.
"But if you can talk... Does that mean you're a non-human or a demi-human?" The flying cat asked.
The cat finished licking its paw and wriggled its ears. "Heh. I kept quiet because your two new friends were so interesting, Aurora... But I just couldn't sit back and do nothing when there's a battle..."
The trio stared at the cat without a clue. Even Aurora didn't know what the cat was talking (which she was still astonished it did talk) about.
"Right. Time for me..." the cat began. Out of the blues, the cat's paw extended and its claws turned into furry fingers. "To do a little spring-cleaning around this jolt."
The cat was changing behind their eyes. Its nose shortened. Its front legs lengthened as it stood on its changing hind legs. Clothes slowly emerged, coating over a fleece of golden-striped ginger fur. Golden-striped and ginger hair grew long.
Now standing before them was a seventeen-year-old girl with mixed-brunette-and-golden hair that was tied into four ponytails. She was wearing a sleeveless leotard and leather leggings with strips. She wore a belted top that wrapped around her chest and a short belted skirt, animal-skinned boots and sleeves that were not sewed to her clothes but covered her arms with belts. Her fingered claws pointed out from the fingerless sleeve-gloves.
The girl held a spear that had feathers and beads tied to it and had a jewel engraved in the metal tip. At the end of the spear, a circular crescent-shaped hatchet blade was fixed. Despite its heavy look, the catty girl held it over her shoulders with ease.
Waving from under her skirt was a long stripy tail with a band and a bell around the tip. A pair of cat ears pecked over her hair. Her left cat ear was pierced with an earring and two stubs. Loosely around her furry neck was the collar Rue had given. Her emerald eyes gleamed under the light shining from the crystals in the underground ruins.
"Hi, Aurora!" the demi-human greeted with a smile and a wink.
"Fiona!" Aurora cried. "You're ok!"
"You're still as right as rain. I'm glad I've found you."
"Aurora, you know this cat? Or should she be a demi-human?" Mint wondered in shock.
A roar caught all their attention, except Fiona, who looked not amazed as the skull beast jumped behind her. Three more were at the stairway, crying loudly.
"Fiona! Behind you!" Aurora warned.
The skull beast swung its unclenched fist but faster than it was; Fiona caught its bony arm with one grip. "...Is that all you've got?" Her eyes glittered with a dark aura in them. With one clenching fist on its arm, she crushed it easily. "What a bunch of weaklings."
"Take that!" she yelled, driving a kick at its bony chin. It stumbled down the stairway, rolled pass the other skull beasts and tumbled down to the abyss.
"Man... She's really..." Mint began, frightened of the strength the demi-human thrown at the hideous monster.
"Strong... And scary..." Rue admitted, before gulping.
"Well, that's Fiona," Aurora said, her arms folded. Cosmomi nodded in agreement.
The skull beasts turned to the demi-human and backed away as the dark aura hung over her and a demoniac grin widened on her face.
"Right! Warm up's over! Time for some REAL pain..." Fiona said, cracking her knuckles and did the most terrifying terror to the skull beasts (this scene is censored). Bones shattered everything and the skull beasts shrieked in pain. A skull bounced away.
"Aieee!" the trio and Cosmomi cried, shivering with fear as they watched the gruesome act that Fiona was doing with her hands.
After that dreadful torment, Fiona brushed the dust and crushed bones off her furry hands and smiled to the frightened trio. "That takes care of those pesky monsters. Feels good to get out of that form once in a while."
A thought snapped in Cosmomi's mind. "So that's what Sha'bre was talking about. It was you, the fourth person!"
"She is!?" Mint shrieked. "That cat?"
"Yup. And I would like to be refer as demi-human," Fiona said. "It was kind of fun being something when no one can suspect you."
"Is she your friend, Aurora?" Rue asked.
"Yep. This is Fiona," Aurora introduced. "Fiona, this is Rue and Mint."
"Nice to meet you, Mint!" Fiona greeted. "And you... Rue!"
Rue jumped with fright as she turned sharply at him, with a smirk on her face.
"You've got a lot of nerve...calling me a little cat..." Fiona whispered softly, playing with the ribbons of his hat. He flushed with blood redness and became absolutely speechless. "Aww... Why so quiet all of a sudden?"
"..." A lump in his throat stopped him from speaking.
"I thought you wanted me as a pet," Fiona noted. "You even gave me a collar and scratched my ear."
Rue blushed a deeper crimson color as he realized what he done back then. Aurora and Mint giggled.
"B-But that was...if I had known you were a demi-human and not a cat..." Rue yelled, his face entirely flushed with redness.
The girls giggled at the discomfited boy. Rising downwards to the stairway was the white platform that was to ride them to the lake.
"Looks like our ticket out of here is here," Fiona exclaimed, pointing her spear at the platform.
"Let's get out of here," Aurora announced.
"Yeah," Cosmomi agreed. "Before those things come back again."
The trio, with the aid of the feline demi-human, jumped onto the platform and awaited for the ride to the lake as it rose upwards into the darkness.
Vickie: ...Shoot me. Crashes onto her computer desk in exhaustion
Aurora: Reason is because she had to correct her chapters and finish this one too.
Vickie: Thank you, Dark Knight Gafgar for reviewing and telling me about some parts missing. Must be some error when I updated them before. And Evil Super Popul Purrel, thanks for your review too. And when I checked to find the story you wish to find, I tried looking over and couldn't find it. It's as if it's been erased. Sorry. Maybe I'll try looking again.
Aurora: That's if you ever find it again.
Vickie: And thanks for reviewing, Jen! And yes, you got the question correct! It is B) Fiona.
Fiona: Hi Phoenix, hi Layla. Bet you two didn't guess it was me. Waves hand
Vickie: And finally, Anime Girl. Yes, I know you what the torment soon but I got a long way to do so. But I'll try to hurry up a bit.
Aurora: And what's with the truck?
Vickie: That even I don't know. ; Please r'n'r sooooooooon!