A/N: NerdyForWonkaNerds asked me if Erik was possessed. It really depends on your way of thinking, but the sequels will have more insight, I promise!
So, here we have it…the first real action scene! Keep in mind that Raoul is from Phantom of the Opera.
The Fop's Army
Everyone was relieved that Erik had turned out okay. Amanda gave Erik back his mask, and everyone turned away to give him privacy.
Having his mask back on and his health normal, he said, "How long has it been?"
"It's been a week, Erik," Cricket breathed.
"Oh…well, that's…"
But he was cut off by a loud thump, the same one that Pebbles had heard last Friday. It rung in her ears and filled her body with dread. Had another character arrived into her world?
The characters ducked, but Pebbles stood quickly up.
"What? What is it?" Willy asked nervously, holding his head up after the thump had faded into silence.
"That sound! I heard it before you guys came into my room!" Pebbles exclaimed, whirling around to stare wide-eyed at the group.
"But…that can't mean-"
"Someone else is here," Erik said suddenly, standing up and reaching for the Punjab Lasso hanging off his belt.
"Well…not necessarily here, Erik. That thump wasn't as bad as the one I heard last Friday."
Victor gulped. "So whoever's come here is elsewhere?"
"Exactly, sexy potato."
"Sexy-?"
But he was cut off by Erik laughing. "Victor was called a sexy potato!" he gasped, holding his sides.
Pebbles smirked. "Don't be laughing, you're a sexy banana."
Erik immediately stopped laughing, for it was Victor's turn to laugh. He rolled over, in hysterics, and this time Holli joined in, too.
"Salted!" Amanda said, rubbing her fingers together as she held them over Erik's head.
"Oh, shut up."
Pebbles rubbed her hands together. "I've got a great idea," she said. "How about I get my friends, store you guys in the pen, and we go over to the bagel shop?"
"Sweet," Willy said, jumping up.
"He, he. No pun intended."
"Is Erik okay?"
"Yeah, he's all right now."
Kristen and Pebbles were walking to the bagel shop in the middle of town, decked in their winter coats and jeans. Amanda was walking alongside them because she looked utterly and completely normal. For some reason, the mirror of Erik's disfiguration had disappeared when she had come here, so she otherwise looked like any old teenager. The only difference was her skirt and the long black cloak and scarf she was wearing.
"Sure is chilly out," Amanda said, blowing out a puff of air and rubbing her hands together, which were ungloved.
"Come on, Amanda, its only a block away," Kristen said, pointing to the light yellow and white building ahead.
As they neared, Pebbles saw that there was a crowd of people among the door.
"What's going on?" she asked as the girls pushed through the crowd and opened the door.
Her question was soon answered.
Standing by the counter was none other than Raoul de Chagny, with his army of soldiers, questioning the staff.
"…we're looking for the Phantom of the Opera, mademoiselle," he told the girl working at the counter in a friendly tone, smiling despite the girl's disbelieving look.
"This is my job," Amanda whispered, motioning for Pebbles and Kristen to back up.
After making a shh-ing gesture at the girl, she slunk around the shadows toward the refrigerator that held the bottles of soda.
She swept up a Coke, walked backwards until she was behind Raoul, took aim, and fired.
The soda whacked Raoul on the back of the head and crashed to the floor, where it exploded, splashing several nearby soldiers and Raoul.
Raoul turned around, an angry frown on his face.
The frown quickly melted into a superior smirk, his hand diving for the sword that hung around his belt.
"Ah, Mademoiselle Archer. I take it you know where the Phantom is?"
Amanda sneered, "You'll never know, you disgusting pretty boy."
"Would you rather fight?" Raoul drew his sword and held it out.
"I'll crush you flat, fop," Amanda retorted, already drawing up an arrow on her crossbow and taking aim.
Pebbles fumbled with the pen. "Erik!" she whispered, pressing the button.
Out!
Erik was immediately standing in front of her, his back to his apprentice and the Vicomte.
"Hey! What's going-"
Pebbled put her hand to his mouth. "I don't have much time. Listen, the thump that we heard meant that Raoul and his soldiers of doom arrived and are now standing behind you. Go get them!"
She ripped her hand off his mouth, but Erik didn't say a word. Instead, he drew his Punjab and melted into the shadows, slinking away until he was behind a soldier.
Raoul and Amanda glared at each other, arrow drawn, sword pointing.
A soldier gagged and fell flat to the floor, his eyes wide.
Then another went down, and another.
Erik was trying to Punjab every soldier single-handedly.
"Erik! Are you insane?" Kristen whispered, starting to move forward.
Pebbles forced her back. "Actually, he is, but he knows what he's doing. Leave him be."
By now ¾ of the army was dead, and Erik hadn't even blinked.
"Open fire!" Raoul yelled, pointing his sword and the Phantom.
The soldiers fired, but Erik was too quick. He dodged bullet after bullet, and resorted to killing two soldiers at a time, rather than one.
Amanda aimed again, and fired. She struck Raoul's right hand, the hand holding the sword.
He screamed, dropping the sword and holding the injured hand in agony. Crimson liquid ran down his hand and dripped onto the floor, creating a puddle.
Amanda ran forward, lifted a leg high, and kicked Raoul with such force that he fell into the pool of blood.
By now, every soldier was dead, and Erik came over, twirling the lasso.
"How did you get here, fop?" Amanda asked, putting a foot on Raoul so he couldn't get up.
"I have no idea!"
"Yes, you do!" She dug the heel of her sneaker into Raoul's side, making him grit his teeth and squirm.
"No, I don't!"
Wordlessly, Erik brandished the lasso in front of Raoul's eyes, a deadly smile on his face.
"Cough up, idiot," he said, preparing the lasso to put around Raoul's throat.
Raoul squirmed even more. "Alright, alright! There was a black door in front of me that said that the Phantom was behind it, and I went through the door with soldiers and ended up here! Happy?"
Amanda stuck out her chin and, with one final dig into Raoul's ribs, released her foot and let him stand up.
Raoul glared at each Opera Ghost, cradling his injured hand. "You won't get away with this," he hissed, limping toward the door and exiting the bagel shop.
Pebbles hopped up, Kristen mimicking her. "You guys did great!" she exclaimed, helping the employee, who was hiding a counter, up.
Kristen looked around the shop. "But are we getting food, or what?"
Pebbles looked over to Kristen and grinned. "I think we'll be better off getting hot chocolate at Starbucks."
A/N: Hope it wasn't too gory for you! Everything gets better from now on!
I'm going to let you guys piece the story together and come up with theories before I explain. In the meantime, review!
