99 reviews! How terrific does that make me feel? Thanks to Animalwriter1 for the first name, and Taggsy (My fabulous sister) for help writing this chapter. Why do you all hate Jonathan so much? Am I the only one to like him?

Yes I know they didn't have Scooby doo back then, but if you can't add your own touch to stories than you can't do much…but Scooby doo has been around for quite along time- you never know, they may have acted it out in theatres or plays rather than T.V…Use your imagination :P

Sorry for the short replies to reviews, I got so many! And for the delay of course, but you can't rush these things…

Disclaimer is as always, mainly consisting of me staring at Tamora with green eyes. (Very much like Neal's eyes!) Thanks to Animalwriter1 for past ideas and no doubt future ones too, and not to mention all my reviewers who answer my questions and so willingly correct my mistakes on information taken from the glorious TP books :P. (I am grateful for this, so don't read that as sarcasm please- more humour…)

Scooby Doo and the Gang don't belong to me, so I haven't a clue why you think they would.

The New character is all mine though…

On top of Cloud 9- Don't worry about not being on, I've been quite busy myself…

Irish Violinist- Muwhaha! All is revealed in this on…well kind of…

AnimalWriter1- You'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out what truly happened, but you can put 2 and 2 together at the end…I think 40-odd would be ample, as long as it isn't rushed.

Redbird-flying-away – Hint taken and hopefully done. I hope it was unexpected, I didn't see it coming either...

X17Skmbdrchiczxx- I am rather evil aren't I? I take pride in it though…The beans are truly split in this chapter.

Sorceress Shadow Rain-Thanks! I'm reading some of your stories too, and I'm sure you'll get more the further you go.

Zerrin of the Wind- It's what I do best though, Cliffies and Torturing go hand in hand.

Kings Lioness- I killed the King… Or did I? Read to find out…

Chapter Sixteen :Heroes, Villains and Scooby Snacks

Recap: Tick tick tock

They all were too late. The glasses were empty.

Landing in a big heap of limbs and torsos isn't a recommended way of getting through a door- It's uncomfortable, time-consuming and not to mention embarrassing, never mind when you do it in front of royalty.

But this is exactly what happened to Neal, Alanna and Numair, and let me tell you- it wasn't a flattering position for any one of them. This was the sight that greeted you in the King's grand study where he had held the meeting between himself and the prisoner Keladry just moments beforehand.

Although now it was less serene due to the cursing mass blocking the doorway, and the winded Dom who had misjudged his aim for jumping- so instead of being heroic he looked more idiotic.

"Geht yourh /&#-ing ffoot out ofth my moufh Neal!" Which translated and more politely put would translate as 'Neal, would you mind removing your foot from my mouth, as I am unable to speak- if it's not too much trouble.' But when you're in a squirming pile, and this being teamed with Alanna's infamous rage, this version doesn't really cross your mind..

After the bundle had untangled themselves from each other, it suddenly hit them what they had burst in here for in the first place- to save the king from being poisoned. What they didn't realise was that they were too late…

Straightening himself up, then dusting his robes, Neal proudly shouted 'We're here to save the King from…from…erm…" Neal began stuttering, a deep blush appearing on his cheeks. Alanna buried her head in her hands out of embarrassment- he could really make a fool out of himself sometimes. Numair came to the rescue- it was about time.

'That clear liquid of Keladry's which I have been processing, I have finished my analysis."

"And?" The king enquired. " I hope this is worth interrupting my meeting for…"

"It is Jonathan- It's poison." Jonathan looked at Alanna in disbelief, with the dawning realisation of what had happened.

"You stole my line! I wanted to break the news to him, be the whole dramatic hero, the centre of attention, my 15 seconds of fame…"

"Shut up Meathead, You didn't even know about the poison- you just tagged along for the adventure."

"It hasn't been much of an adventure so far…just a lot of running and falling and to be honest my feet are very sore…"

Numair glared at Neal, who now had the penetrating stares of every occupant in the room on him- all except one.

Kel sat smugly in her armchair watching everyone argue and well, stare unnervingly at the poor lad…. "I hate to break up this heart-warming reunion, truly I do- I mean all you need now is a dog and you could pass for the Mystery Inc gang…in fact, Neal could probably play the part of Scooby. He might finally find something he's good at; maybe he'll deserve a Scooby snack…" Dom and Alanna held back the snarling Neal. "Look, he's already getting into character!"

"That's enough Kel. Neal, calm down. Good boy." Jonathan said a smile tugging at his lips, "So Kel, is there something you'd like to confess?"

"What, apart from slipping poison into your drink while you weren't looking? No, I don't think so, my conscious seems to be clear at the moment. Thanks for asking though."

Gasps emerged from the small audience watching.

"Jonathan we need to get you to the infirmary quick…we can get a cure for it- I'm positive." She came across as confident, but her lavender eyes told a different story- they pleaded with Numair, asking for his help, help he couldn't give them.

"Don't bother, there's no cure- is there Mage?"

Numair was preparing his answer for something like this; it wasn't what he wanted to say- or what they wanted to hear. "I hate to admit it…but she's right." Everyone became silent, their faces pale with anguish, realising that they would lose a friend, a love, and above all a great ruler. The awkward silence was broken after what seemed like an eternity.

"How long is it until it starts to take affect?"

Numair was left to answer the king, "If it's already in your system and my studies are correct, you have about half an hour at the most. Maybe as low as a quarter…"

"Should I send for Queen Thayet, your majesty?" These were the first words Dom had spoken to the King since the interruption, and he hoped they wouldn't be the last. He couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for this horrendous incident, as if it was his fault he didn't save the King. But he couldn't have seen this coming…could he?

"No, that won't be necessary.'

'But I thought-"

"I said no Sergeant."

"Yes your highness." Dom took a step back, feeling more intimidated than usual by the new side of the King he was seeing.

Tears formed in the corner of Alanna's eyes, she had held them back until now, but it was no us. She let them fall down her cheeks.

"So Keladry, would you care to grant a dying man his last requests? There's only two." He heard muffled sobs from Alanna when he'd mentioned dying.

"Sure, fire away."

"Firstly, I would like to know the name of the girl who outsmarted, and will eventually kill the King of Tortall- namely, me."

"Is that all? Well I'm Keladry of Mindelan, but I assumed you knew that already."

"Your real name, if you please."

"Kai of Mordorian. You can see how easily my name can get mixed up with Kel's, especially when we were inseparable."

"Wait- you and Kel knew each other?" Neal then wondered if this was meant to be a private conversation, but either way it wouldn't stop him eavesdropping.

"Knew each other? Ha! We were like sisters, until I became controlling and obsessive, then she didn't want to know me…well I wouldn't stand for that! One minute she's a sister, the next thing I'm on my own in the gutter; I wasn't going to let her mess around with me like that. She didn't realise how much I idolised her, I looked up to her not only as my big sister, but as a teacher as well. She always was the best at everything, and if she wasn't, she soon would be. I'd have given anything to be like her- then it hit me. I could be better than that- I could actually be her! She'd do all the hard work getting a reputation, then I'd come and ruin it all for her, and no one would be the wiser. I kidnapped her while she was by the fountains, wondering what to do about the wedding. She had a crush on Raoul- did you know that? I solved the problem there though, and she didn't have to lift a finger. It was a perfect plan, don't you think?"

"Not really." Neal didn't know what a rhetorical question was.

Ignoring Neal's outburst, she carried on. "And then you all came along and spoilt the surprise didn't you? I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids… At least her reputation is tarnished, and the once great kingdom of Tortall will finally fall without their great King Jonathan; and on that note, your last request?"

"Where's the real Kel? You've said before that she probably won't be alive when anyone reaches her, but at least let her have her well deserved funeral."

"I'll leave you with a riddle to find out where she is, because just telling you outright takes away all the fun. In the caves of the feared Immortals she dwells. Surrounded by endless forest and danger, whether she's alive or dead only time will tell. Not an altogether bad riddle is it? I'm actually quite impressed with myself there…"

"Can you feel it?" Everyone looked at Jonathan with concern- the poison must have started to take it's toll on him.

"Excuse me?" Kai was just as puzzled as the rest of them.

"The poison; Numair said it should be nearly finished about now…"

"Excuse me? You took the poison if I remember correctly- so you tell me."

"Does it hurt? You organs should be shutting down now, your heart on overdrive, beating faster and faster with every second nearing your death…"

"You're trying to freak me out aren't you? Well it's not working…" Droplets of sweat began to crawl down her face. She began to feel lightheaded. "You're the one dying here, n-not me."

"Then why do I feel fine?"

She suddenly realised what happened, it all made sense.

"Dam"