Clara: (hiding knife behind back) It's O! K! I won't hurt you, Eika! Let's call a truce!

Eika: (does not appear)

Catalina: (complete with instrument 'borrowed' from her mom's high school music classroom) I give up already! Come on, it's too hot to be doing this!

Eika (thinks, 'what am I, an idiot?! I made it so you've run for days without stopping on moving floors in a desert and you can't stand ninety- two degrees?!' she nearly mumbles her outrage)

Clara: Come out come out wherever you are!!!!

Catalina: While the cat's away, the mice will play.

Clara: About time you referred to yourself like that

Catalina: I was referring to Eika.

Eika: (sees her chance, gets up like a shot and runs out the door) ON WITH THE FIC!!!

C&C: HEY!!!!

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I come to my senses slowly, feeling every tingling limb to make sure they're all there. I'm nearly grateful when the check comes up positive, nothing missing. Arms in usual push-off-floor-and-kill-someone position, legs set firmly so as to be ready for flight or fight in an instant, tail coiled like a spring against- wait a second. Tail in a position other than one my costume allows?

Fear shooting through me like a knife, I double-check my sense of feel. My tail is coiled against a spring against-against something cold and solid and most DEFINITELY NOT my costume. That does it.

I open my eyes, take one look at the stone behind me, and memories come tumbling back. Michimi, the traitor, turned me in AND told the fizzy dancing crawdads I was in a costume.

Note to self: The instant I get within mind range of Clara, she will be told just WHY, in much more detail than before, the saying she uses 'It'll all look better in the morning' is entirely wrong.

I sit up and look around. The wall behind me is gray, and most likely made of some type of stone. I'm on a small platform connected to the wall, hanging off the wall really, by chains. The platform is made of the same stone the wall is, and has a small, flimsy covering near the bottom. One side of the prison is made entirely of bars, a scant three inches between them. It also has a locked door without a handle. I say it's locked because, while they may be stupid, if they're smart enough to make a lock in a door, they're smart enough to lock it.

I swing my legs with the scant covering of shorts over the side and glance down. The floor is the same stone as the walls and ceiling, most likely to discourage prisoners from attempting to tunnel out, though they still got the crazy's from time to time who scraped their fingernails against the floor in a wild attempt to get out. I can see the blood from too many fists having pounded the walls. I can hear the rain beating down on the roof overhead, and the smell is musty, with a slight odor to it, giving the air a fearsome smell.

"So you're awake." I whirl from my position facing the wall, clenching my fists instantly. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever get up." Fratly.

I glare at him, letting him know for sure he's dead when I get out of here. "Stop glaring, you've already paid me back in full for getting the truth out of your little secret." Yawning, he gets up from his post against the wall and stretches. "You were fighting in protest when we were getting that disguise off you, and you landed quite a few kicks and punches. We were not pretty sights when you finished with us." What does he mean, 'WE'? Just then the second male gagging knight walks into my sight. Or, to be more exact, limps into my line of sight, favoring his left leg. I nearly laugh at such an obvious display of weakness. He couldn't have told me I was in power any more obviously if he'd unlocked the door, given me a knife, and exposed his neck. What a weakling.

Fratly glances at me. "Don't feel like talking just yet?" He asks, obviously not expecting an answer. He walks off without a second glance. Michimi, may you rot.

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Authors note: At this time I would like to say a few things: To all, this next part starts where Clara has just been released in a forest. By released I mean she is no longer hogtied, she just has a chain tied around her waist and attached to 2 very stubborn knights. And to LeopardDance: All this week I have found myself very tempted to say 'Shitballs of fire'. I have been spending way too much internet time with you.

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I open my eyes and see a forest, laid out beautifully with birds singing, small animals chattering, and trees every which way, in no exact order, but it's fine because the nonexistent order around here makes sense. I turn around at the kings laugh, ignoring the sudden tug on my chain; and smell the crisp air. "What's so funny?" I ask him, for he's still laughing in an insane sort of manner.

"You." He snorts, still chuckling slightly. "You're looking around as though you never expected to see trees again. I hope you don't think we're planning on keeping you locked up for THAT long!" I smile, inwardly relieved. I don't know why. He jumps up and grabs a low branch before starting chin-ups. I watch him. He counts out loud, obviously trying for a record. He starts sweating at two hundred. He gives up at two fifty, or rather, he lets go and raises his arm in the air. "TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PULL- UPS!!!!" He shouts, obviously overjoyed. "Anyone think they can beat that?!"

The rusty trash takes him up, falling in a heap on the ground at two hundred. I struggle an inward urge to laugh. They have trouble with a few hundred pull-ups?! I'd like to see them try five thousand!

Queen Garnet tries next, only managing 150. Defect Vivi gets only fifty; I struggle with my laughter when he literally collapses in the dirt after that. I manage to show no more than a small smile. Princess Eiko tries next, getting 201 before giving up.

"You want a go, Clara?" He asks, staring me straight in the eye. I'm so happy I nod yes before thinking- I can't let them realize what my true strength is. Oh well, I'm a good enough actress to fake exhaustion.

I step up to the branch, noting the mild vibrations in the ground that mean the guards have stepped forward also, keeping me in range with plenty of slack. "Do you want a lift up?" Asks Queen Garnet. I nearly spit out a sarcastic retort but shake my head instead. I bend my knees, feeling fresh energy bunching from beneath my legs, and jump.

The branch comes in sight with surprising swiftness, and I grab the end before I pass by, causing the branch to shake slightly. The wood feels cool and solid beneath my fake fingers, natural after the hard metal in the cage. I lift myself up, slowly as taught, to a chin up point, then let myself down slowly. "One," I call out.

I continue to do this, releasing some of my long pent up energy for a while. I stop counting, but that's ok, they're counting for me. The wood is hard and springy, and my muscles, while a bit cramped, are willing to respond. I smile.

"You can stop now Clara, you've beaten me by a hundred and fifty." Calls out King Zidane suddenly, and I freeze. Did I do four hundred already?! OOPS! I drop, knees bending slightly to absorb the shock from my fall. I look down fearfully, ready to put on a tired face at any moment, but notice Lady Freya laughing softly, so I assume it's ok. I look up.

"And I thought I was in good shape. Back to the weight room," Groans Zidane, and the others laugh. I smile, and let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding for his approval. "Let's set out.'

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Eika: (backed into a corner) Look, you guys, it's not what it seems.

Catalina: WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?!?!?!??! WE'RE GONNA BE STUCK IN THESE DUNGEONS FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY!!!!!!!

Clara: YEAH!!!!

Eika: Nope, I have plans to get you both out sooooon. And Michimi CAN'T die, Catalina, I've got plans for him. Betrayal doesn't ruin a friendship.

Catalina: How did you-

Eika: Experience. It's called a 'user'. Never mind.

Clara: Ok, a deal. If at least one of us isn't out of custody in oh, say, a chapter, WE get to kill you slowly and painfully.

Eika: Three chapters.

Catalina: Two chapters.

Eika: Done.