A/N: (super happy) Hello, People!!

Banjo: What're you so happy about?

Tonight I'm going to the Winter Formal… with a senior!!! :D

Kazooie: O.o Whoa, that's crazy… How much didya bribe him?

Very funny.

Banjo: STORY!!!

YES!!! CHAPPIE TIME!!!!


Things aren't always what they seem

Especially in Cloud Cuckooland.

But I never would've guessed what was really going on…


The Amethyst Shamans: Chapter 8: Resistance by Love

Once they reached their destination, the bubble abruptly spit them out onto the blue platform they had landed on. Looking up, Kyra gasped as she saw their new environment.

It was a great hollow mountain that floated on the clouds, with many colorful platforms adjacent and floating around it. It was a strange world of whimsy and wonder hidden in the clouds far above the practical world of ground-dwellers.

"Breathtaking, isn't it?" said Banjo with a smile. "Watch your step up here- it's a looooong way down!"

Cautiously, Kyra peered over the side of the platform and her eyes went wide in wonder as all she saw of Isle o' Hags was a tiny speck among the grand oceans.

"Careful," Banjo gently tugged her away from the edge. "You feel it up here?"

"Yes… The pull at my magic feeling is very strong up here."

"Then we should start looking… But first," Banjo paused, looking up at Kyra tenderly. "I was meaning… to thank you earlier before all this madness happened…"

Kyra inclined her head. "For what?"

"For giving me the power of spirit-call," Banjo answered simply. He then unwrapped the crocodile tooth necklace around his scruffy neck and motioned it toward her. "So I want you to have this."

"Oh, Banjo, I couldn't…"

"Please take it," Banjo pleaded softly, tenderly placing the necklace in her paws. "It's the least I could do in return."

Kyra smiled gently as she took it and wrapped it around her own neck. It dangled low, sitting along with the other broaches and gems that hung from her neck.

Banjo's face beamed. "It looks nice on you."

Kyra returned the smile. "Thank you."

As the priestess glanced into those cheerful, beautiful eyes, that funny feeling inside her stomach became noticeable again. A feeling she had never felt before in her homeland. Then again, she had never met a charming young male bear on her homeland either.

Could it have been… love?

The magic was broken as Banjo finally said, "Let's start looking for that Glowbo. It could be anywhere up here."

Quietly sighing, Kyra nodded in agreement. She knew the urgency of their mission, but she secretly wished that sweet little moment could've lasted a little longer.

So they began their search around Cloud Cuckooland. They looked everywhere possible: the Pot o' Gold, the Trash Can, the Cheese Wedge, both Mumbo skulls, and every other platform out there. But mysteriously, no Glowbo creature was found. As the two searched the Central Cavern, they were slowly losing hope, or at least Kyra was.

"Are you sure it can be found up here?" she asked as Banjo peered into a closed-off pool of water.

"Well, yeah." He looked back up at her. "I mean, you can feel it up here, can't you?"

"Well…" she sighed in defeat. "Yes…"

"Then don't give up hope just yet." He gave her a comforting smile and looked to the other side of the cavern. "We haven't looked in the green pool area yet. Let's check it out."

Kyra agreed, and they approached the pool, dived into the water, and swam towards the entrance that led outside. As they swam, Kyra, unable to breath let alone speak, still managed to voice further concerns through spirit-call.

-But what if I'm detecting another magic creature?-

-The only other magical creatures that live up here that I know of are Mumbo and Wumba,- he responded. -And they're back down at Spiral Mountain right now.-

That also left her quiet. He seemed so confident in finding this Glowbo that no contradictions could push down his hope. And Kyra admired him for that.

After resurfacing outside the mountain, Banjo went tense as he looked around intently as if hearing something. As they floated at the water's surface, Kyra immediately noticed this motion.

"Banjo, what is…?"

"Shh!" he shushed her gently. -Listen…-

Kyra obeyed and strained to hear any noises besides those of birds and the water's ripples. Finally, her acute hearing caught a tiny sound, like a giggle.

-That's a Glowbo call.- Listening carefully, Banjo swam over to a ledge below a high cliff and pulled himself cautiously out of the water. Kyra followed, kneeling by him as they peered into a crack in the cliff wall, one too small to crawl through. Inside the tiny crack, a tiny, pink creature hopped on two stubby little legs, its big floppy ears bouncing along. Kyra looked at the little creature curiously.

Banjo gently held her back. -Don't scare it. Just stay back, and I'll get it to come out.-

Kyra scooted back as far as she could, but still managed to look inside and watch. Banjo got as low as his elbows, poking his snout slowly into the crack, and softly clearing his throat, he gave out a call that sounded extremely similar to that of the Glowbo's call. The Glowbo looked up cautiously at the bear as he used hand gestures to persuade it to come closer. It slowly inched its way towards him, then with more similar calls from Banjo, it then gleefully hopped into his arms. Banjo smiled warmly as he cradled it lightly, petting it behind the ears. It cooed softly in response, settling against his warm furry chest and looking up with big green eyes.

Kyra looked upon the Glowbo in curious fascination. -It's so small… so…-

-Cute?- Banjo finished with a grin. -Let's get it home.-

Kyra nodded in agreement, but then suddenly, a beastly hiss made everything go quiet instantly. The Glowbo looked up and screeched in terror, burying itself deeper in Banjo's furry arms. Fearfully, the bears slowly looked up in horror to glance upon a giant, black and green cobra, leering down at its new-found prey in glee. It rose out of the water into striking position, letting out a shriek and baring its extremely long fangs, its neck stretching into a threatening hood. The bears screamed in terror and jumped in opposite directions just as the cobra lunged, lodging its head into the crack.

Hitting the water once more, Kyra recovered from shock and let out a desperate spirit-call. -Banjo! Where did that come from!?-

-I don't know!- Banjo sounded just as panicked as she was.

The bears climbed onto dry land just as the cobra angrily pulled its head out of the crack. The two backed up slowly as it slithered closer until they reached the precariously high ledge. One step over this ledge would lead to certain death.

The two split up, and the ruthless reptile snapped at each of them, and they dodged with desperate jumps and rolls on the dirt ground. Clutching the Glowbo as tight as he could, Banjo focused on avoiding the snake and keeping the Glowbo safe. But as he rolled through the dirt a second time, he looked in shock to find his arms empty. Looking up, he saw the extremely frightened Glowbo hopping like mad. Banjo leaped to his feet in an attempt to rescue the creature.

At the same time, Kyra confronted the cobra bravely, raising her dagger and releasing a blast meant to greatly stun the target. The cobra screeched in pain, pulling its head back in shock. But with this motion, the snake's brutal strength was enough to push Banjo far enough towards the edge to fall off. Only a wildly flailing paw catching the rocky edge saved him from swift death.

"KYRA!!!" he cried in terror, dangling dangerously above the dizzying, deadly denizens (ha! Try saying that ten times fast!). And worse, he felt his grip slipping… "KYRA, HELP!!!"

Kyra stood in the middle, not knowing what to do. She had to save Banjo, but the Glowbo, just beyond reach, was the easiest target in the world for the cobra now.

"KYRA!!!!" Banjo screamed as a wind began to start up.

They had come this far and were almost home free… And Banjo would risk life and limb for his friends…

"KYRA!!!!!!!" His bandaged fingers were slipping steadily…

And Kyra was plagued with enough guilt…

"KYRA!!!!!!!!!!!" Banjo wailed one last time as his grip gave out. He began to drop…

…and then an elegant paw grabbed his wrist tightly.

Banjo looked up and let out a heavy breath of relief when he saw Kyra above him, holding him steady. She offered her other paw and pulled him back up, briefly and tightly embracing the trembling bear. As he tightly hugged her back, Kyra's heart nearly leaped to her throat as she felt a warm, wonderful feeling burst from her chest. Never had she gotten this close to him before…

But the present situation snapped them out of it. "The Glowbo!" they both exclaimed as they looked that way to see the recovered cobra ready to pounce. Banjo stumbled to his feet and dove for the paralyzed Glowbo, catching it and getting out of the way before the cobra chomped down on either one of them.

As Banjo leaned against the cliff wall, he had troubles keeping the terrified Glowbo in his grip as it whined and squealed and squirmed in his arms. He kneeled and tried to calm it down with any Glowbo-like coos he could think of.

-BANJO!! LOOK OUT!!!-

Banjo looked up and instantly became petrified with fear as the cobra began advancing fast, glaring him down with sharp, hypnotic, burning orange eyes. It reared back its head, its fangs glistening, and Banjo screamed in terror as it launched itself forward…

… But then it froze, bathed in a purple light, suspended just an inch before its prey. Banjo trembled lightly, eyes wide as saucers and mouth open in complete horror.

-Banjo, snap out of it! I can't keep this spell on for long!-

Banjo shook his head to shake off the fear, and peered beyond the frozen cobra to find the purple light emitting from the amethyst dagger in Kyra's paw. It looked like she was straining her powers.

-Kyra…?-

-Go! Take the Glowbo and get out of here, now!-

-But what about you!?-

-I'll deal with the beast! Get that Glowbo back home! I'll catch up!-

Banjo stood still, not knowing what to do.

-Kazooie's life is at stake! She needs that Glowbo! Hurry!-

Realizing this, his expression grew serious, and before leaping into the water, he whispered, -Be careful.-

He quickly disappeared under the waters and through the cave, heading back for home.

With much relief, Kyra released the spell on the cobra, and when it realized its prey had disappeared, it turned to the priestess, an irate look in its piercing eyes. It loomed over her menacingly, and she bravely stood her ground, raising her dagger and returning the glare.

But then it suddenly recoiled, uninterested, and it spoke in a scratchy, familiar voice, "Well played, girl."

Kyra gave it an odd look, slightly lowering her defense, then watched in surprise as it stretched and recoiled into a ball, sparks radiating off its scales. A brief flash of light, and with a thud, the evil witch Gruntilda landed on the soil, giving her a furious glare.

"… The problem is, YOU LET HIM GO!!"

Shocked and suddenly afraid, Kyra withdrew her dagger and bowed. Why she did so, she didn't know. "I-I'm sorry, he-he… slipped away…"

"I had him in the palm of my hands, and you GOT IN THE WAY!!" Gruntilda shrieked, looking upon Kyra like a naughty child. "I swear, it's like you actually CARE about the fool!"

Kyra naturally gulped, but thankfully the witch never noticed.

Grunty sighed in frustration. "Oh well. Time for a progress report, little lady," she ordered. "What dirt have you dug up on him?"

Kyra looked up at her questioningly, not quite understanding. "Huh…?"

"Weaknesses!!" Grunty snapped. "Are you gonna tell me or not!?"

Oh, that's right, the weaknesses… Kyra cursed mentally, but remembered who the witch was talking about. What did it matter? She didn't want to hurt Banjo at all anyway! And with that decision, she turned her back to the witch and replied, "No."

Grunty looked at the priestess, dumbfounded, then sneered. "So you DO care about him! Well, that's just great! I knew I shouldn't have trusted another bear! You're worthless! You…!!"

But Kyra didn't care in the slightest as she rolled the crocodile tooth pendant in her paw. "It doesn't matter."

"Wha…?" Grunty observed her closely.

A smile crossed Kyra's lips. "…because you can't hurt him. He has no weakness!" She turned to see and savor to shocked look she expected to see. "He…!"

But much to Kyra's dismay, an evil smirk formed on Grunty's face instead. "Oh, I think he does…" she said slyly, grasping the crocodile tooth necklace. "I think he does!"

Kyra's heart sank with fear. Did the warty witch mean…?

A/N: (is wearing her formal dress) :3

Banjo: Wow, nice.

Kazooie: Whoa! NN1's in a dress!! What has this world come to!?

Shut up, or I'll kick you with my high heels.

Kazooie: (shuts up)

Review, people!!