Ne, sorry about the long wait for this one...

Disclaimer: Authoress does not take credit for Black&White or Yugioh. Just this awesome crossover!


-

It was midnight when Laurel finally splashed her way to the sea-cave. It looked a little foreboding, but Laurel stepped inside anyway. The full moon illuminated the cave rather well, and Laurel was soon walking with little concern.

The tunnel twisted, and sometimes doubled back, but all the while it was heading downwards. Where the moonlight failed to reach, glowing mosses gave Laurel's sensitive eyes plenty of light to see by.

She didn't worry about getting lost - there was only one tunnel, it was impossible to get lost - and after about an hour's walk, felt the floor level out. Soon the tunnel ended, and opened into a well-lit cavern. A cavern over three times the size of the Temple Lobby, much to Laurel's amazement. And it was all underground? What could have hollowed out this huge space?

She didn't let herself be distracted by her wonderings - she stayed as close to the shadowy wall by the tunnel exit as she could while sizing everything up. The ground was fairly level in here, sloping very gently up towards the center of the room. On top of that small hill, was an old box of stone with strange writing carved into it. That had to be what the trolls were guarding.

And speaking of trolls…as she watched, four of them half her size stood between her and the box. They could probably smell her, because they were staring right at her. Laurel stepped forward a few paces, into clear view.

((Creature come!))

((What stupid Creature want here?))

((Stupid Creature want fight Boss?))

((Creature want die. Haw haw!))

((Kitty-Creature look funny. Maybe we keep as pet?))

Oh-ho, there was one more troll here than she had seen before! And no wonder she hadn't seen it earlier - it was half the size of the ones half her size, and was standing behind them. The four bigger ones spat at the fifth, obviously not fond of the smaller troll, before turning back to her.

((You, Stupid Creature! You come for shiny-shine?))

Shiny-shine? What was…ah.

((I have come for the Rainbow Creed you guard here,)) Laurel answered, ((Will you let me have it?))

((Stupid Creature stupider than it look!))

The trolls roared with laughter.

((We no give you shiny-shine - you fight! You kill one us, kill runt, Boss kill you!))

The 'runt' looked offended but said nothing. The other four turned to the ancient box.

((Boss! Come! Stupid Creature here to die!))

((Me not eat Creature for long-long time,)) growled a sixth and deeper voice.

The leader of the trolls emerged from where it had been, on the other side of the hill behind the box. This troll was the same size as Laurel, and the unwashed beast's stench sent her reeling.

((Me name Gurg. Me son of Gurg. Me like eat Creatures. You come good time - me is hungry!))

((So sorry, but I'm not planning to be anyone's meal,)) Laurel snarled back, claws extended and ready, fur beginning to bristle.

((Me see about that. Runt stay out of way. You not-runt kill her!))

The four trolls charged and attacked all at once.

Laurel wasn't too worried - trolls were pretty stupid. The only time they showed any solid signs of intelligence was when they fought, but that was only after lots of experience. And these four were rookies.

Laurel merely sidestepped the first charge, backhanding the nearest troll after they got up again. That one slammed into another one. The second one bit the first one, who retaliated by trying to rip the second one's arms off. Those two soon killed each other.

Not surprisingly, the other trolls didn't really care. Laurel was able to deal with the other two, slapping them into the walls and into unconsciousness after a few more minutes.

Gurg just laughed.

((Me not like them anyway. Me kill stupid Creature now, eat good!))

As Gurg got into fighting range, the glowing circle marker that only appeared for Creature-single-combat drew itself. It was a worrisome signal that this troll was a veteran fighter. Laurel took to the defense for the first while, sizing up Gurg's abilities.

The troll attacked viciously, repeated punches and kicks making Laurel's forelegs ache as he tried to penetrate her defenses. It was obvious that his style was to go hard and fast, but as Laurel let her defense slip slightly in order to counterattack, one of Gurg's punches got through and decked her.

She fell to the dirt, an impressive bruise forming on her lower jaw, but rolled as she landed and got into a defensive crouch before Gurg could take advantage and cause more serious damage. The troll roared in irritation and charged forwards in a head butting maneuver - apparently not used to his opponents still being able to fight after all his attacks.

Laurel soon corrected that assumption by nimbly leaping to the side and slashing into the troll with her full set of claws as he went by. Gurg managed to redirect his attack with astonishing speed and his long, unkempt claws ripped into her left leg as his teeth sank into her side.

She slashed into his abdomen with her own claws, which were designed to cause a greater amount of damage thanks to evolution, whilst sinking her own deadly fangs into the troll's shoulder where it met the neck.

The taste was enough to make a cow vomit, but Laurel managed to keep from spitting the troll out and instead ripped as big of a chunk as she could out of the spot before seizing hold of the offending beast's arms and ripping Gurg's claws and teeth out of her. He flailed and slashed a shallow groove over her eyes as she flung him into the nearest wall with all her strength.

There was a grisly 'crunch' sound, and a large black splatter, but as the rest of the troll landed on the ground Gurg was actually able to move. He got back up, somehow, but instead of continuing to the death as Laurel expected him to, Gurg laughed. He seemed to have noticed something that she hadn't. Before she could figure out what, he spoke.

((Creature stronger then me thought, Gurg laughed, But Gurg Master say no Creature can get shiny-shine. Master give me way to kill Creature that beat me. Me say bye-bye, Stupid Creature!))

The troll then raised its hands to the ceiling and screamed some word Laurel couldn't understand. She figured out it's purpose soon enough as the cavern shook violently. The ceiling began caving in, huge jagged pieces of rock falling like rain.

It started from the walls and moved in, and Laurel scrambled to get uphill as a particularly enormous chunk of ceiling crashed where she had been standing. Gurg was too busy enjoying the moment of victory to get out of the way of another such piece; he was squashed flat in an instant.

The central area seemed to be coming down all at once, though, and Laurel wasn't entertaining any thoughts about escape. But just as she thought she was about to be crushed, a crimson flash nearly blinded her as a flaming symbol was hastily drawn around her and the spell released.

A Physical Shield Miracle erupted into existence, and though a ton of rubble slammed into it the shield held up. An astonished glance upwards revealed her savior - Yuugioh was hovering right at the apex of the Miracle's effective zone, forcing the shield to withstand much more pounding than it normally could.

It seemed like hours before the rocks finally stopped falling. The Miracle fizzled out of existence as Yuugioh floated down to eye level. If he was fatigued by the effort there was no sign. Laurel winced inwardly - he was extremely ticked off.

"Well then," he began frostily, "I trust you no long think you need to prove yourself with suicide missions?"

((I am sorry for worrying you Master,)) Laurel said, and meant it.

He seemed about to say something, reconsidered it, and said instead, "Just don't do it again - If I hadn't found your little message when I did, I wouldn't have gotten here when I did - and I did come in time to see that last brawl you were having."

Laurel didn't know what to say, and after a few frustrated minutes of silence she suddenly felt the astral-form Hand that gods and goddesses used to carry things with on her head. The sudden stroking behind her ears tickled a little.

"Even though I was upset, yes I was rooting for you, and also yes I'll try to have more faith in your skills, you big ball of fur," Yuugioh said in a heated tone.

At least, it would have sounded heated to anyone else; Laurel recognized the approval in the tone and purred.

"So, I presume the Creed is inside that box?"

Laurel shrugged, and they both turned to the box in question. It had been well within the Shield radius and was untouched. But something was behind it, Laurel's nose told her instantly.

((Who's behind the box? Show yourself, troll!))

Just as she suspected, the runt troll stuck his head out.

((Kitty-Creature still lives; me does not care!))

This one sounded slightly more intelligent than the other trolls, and even looked a little smarter.

"Are you going to fight as well, small troll?" asked Yuugioh.

((Hah! Me not fight - me no have death-wish. Me not care 'bout shiny-shine; me not even know what shiny-shine is!))

((Then why were you down here,)) Laurel asked, confused now.

((Me not saying nothing - me get into open and you kill me! Me is staying right here!))

"If you aren't planning to fight us or block our way, then we wouldn't even consider killing you. Some gods might, but I have no interest in senseless slaughtering," Yuugioh told the troll pointedly.

It seemed to consider this, before stepping out and away from the box. It was a lot cleaner-looking and smelling than all the other trolls, and was even a completely different shade of green.

((You leave plenty big mess, It observed as it looked at the huge rubble piles around, Gurg Master think you dead probably.))

((But isn't Gurg's master your master too?))

((No! Me not from tribe of Gurg, me not from tribe ever! Me is Rogue! Me name Borg. Me come, find cave, find Gurg Tribe. Tribe want to eat Borg, but Gurg say, let runt be in tribe, help protect shiny-shine. Not tell Borg what shiny-shine is. All time, tribe try to eat Borg when Gurg not look. Now Borg can eat tribe.))

Trolls were known for eating almost anything, including each other. It was why they had such bad personalities. Except for trolls that grew up outside of normal troll groups, apparently. Borg was pretty nice for a troll.

"Then we'll just take the Creed and be on our way," Yuugioh said, then seemed to look at something.

"Or rather, as soon as we unblock the entrance we'll be on our way…which will take a day or two…"

The area by the entrance was buried under the biggest part of the rubble pile.

((Me think you foolish, shine-ball. Tunnel all cave in now - Gurg told tribe never to be in tunnel after Bad Word said. No more tunnel now.))

((Then we are trapped underground?))

((…No. Me know other way out.))

"And why would you help us out?"

A shrug from Borg.

((Me is not helping. Me can no get to other way under rocks. Me know where other way is, but me no tell. You go for shiny-shine, you blow up, me stuck here until me dies. Me no really care.))

-

"Blow up?"

((Gurg say, no can Creature or shiny-ball open box. Box blow them up. Gurg and tribe can open box and no blow up. So can Borg. Me never have reason to open box.))

Laurel considered the options rapidly and spoke before Yuugioh could even form the first word of whatever he was going to say next.

((I have a deal for you, Borg. You open the box to the Creed…and we'll unblock your second exit for you.))

Borg blinked at her, then walked around a little bit deep in thought. Feeling a quick pat on her head, Laurel realized Yuugioh had been thinking the same thing, but the fact that trolls didn't trust gods and goddesses had kept him from asking straight off.

((Me say…me do it. Me no know why, but me agrees,)) Borg said upon his return.

He lead the way to the box. The plain-looking stone hummed with power, and the markings all over it were clearly disguised wards to keep anyone that had managed to get this far from being able to open the box. Borg lay both hands on the box.

((Box of the shiny-shine, open now for Borg-RogueTroll,)) he told it, and the stone creaked and split in two down the middle. Borg jumped away as a brilliant light erupted from the opening box.

When the box had finally completely unfolded, what had to be the Rainbow Creed shimmered into visibility. Both god and Creature were stunned speechless.