Chapter 4

"Getting...difficult to breathe, ne c'est pas. Please be letting me down, s'il vous plait...!" Antoine pleaded as he was carried blindly into the depths of the greenhouse. As his vision began to darken, he found himself carried into the depths of his memories once more. To happier, more simple times of youth...

–

"Swing with dignity grace, mon fils...!" Armand commanded gently as the wooden swords clanked together with less admirable results. The force reverberated through the young coyote's arms and the carved blade flung itself out of his hands, landing firmly in the tall grass behind them. Before he could reach down and retrieve his weapon, he felt a light poke on his chest, and stared up at his father with eyes slowly leaking with tears.

"Papa...I can't!" He shouted suddenly, wiping his face with his shirt. Choking back his sobs, Antoine searched the yard for his fallen armament as he felt a tap on his shoulder. Expecting a look of disappointment, the boy tried not to meet his gaze and continued with his task.

"Antoine. Look at me, please..." There was only warmth in his voice instead of anger or frustration. Still the coyote found it difficult to meet his gaze, even with kind words. How am I to defend the princess when she needs me the most? "I know you did not join the "Mobian Scouts" program just for your family's sake, mon fils. Just know this..."

Finally turning to his father, he was surprised to find Armand's eyes also brimming with tears! Papa...

"There will be times when words and kind gestures are not enough. When that time comes, you must have courage little Antoine!" Sniffing loudly, the boy began to rise to his feet and balled his fists. A well of determination built up within him as his wiped off his face one more time. "Now...pick up that blade and let's go another round...!"

–

Nicole had followed the trail that the abhorrent vine was carving through the artificial forest, taking care to keep an eye out for any other stray "limbs" it might have! Looking skyward, she noticed several conspicuous metal outcroppings along the roof. Seemingly on cue, water sprayed downwards akin to rainfall! So that's how they kept alive all this time! Luckily, this body is quite rainproof. Her hair drooped downwards over her face as the sprinkler ran through its brief cycle. Ugh, cannot say the same for my hairdo, however...

Thankfully, there was a point where the trees became far more dense, offering cover from the rain, and the lynx shook herself dry, only for her fur to poof up in response! Her attention was still on the mutated Krudzu plant as the vines pulled toward the base of its body, which resting in the middle of a small clearing. Numerous tendrils snaked away from it, leading up to a maw akin to a ravenous fly trap! Gasping quietly, she crept around the edge of safety, and scanned for any opportunity to strike!

One of her fingers glowed with energy as her power source pulsed with a dull green light in her chest. I do not have many chances to strike before it notices me... Here goes nothing!

–

A crack of electric energy could be heard from the elevator shaft as Bunnie and Sally waited for the platform to return to their floor. The chipmunk began to tap her foot impatiently as it continued its slow ascent, and a worried expression could be seen clearly on her face. "Did you hear that? That noise came from down below!" Numerous dark thoughts flew through her mind and she slammed a fist against the closed shaft entrance.

"Easy there, Sally-girl. This buildin' is ancient. Could be a some kinda power surge or somethin'!" The rabbot tried to calm down her compatriot, which eased the tension somewhat. She just had to remind herself that both of them had been in worse situations before. Still...

Come on, can't this thing go any faster!?

–

Antoine felt himself fly out of the mutation's grasp as his back met the side of a nearby tree, sliding down its length with a painful groan! Coming to rest on the forest floor, he saw the plant writhing under the weight of a large metal piece pinning it to the ground. Numerous bits of debris flew outward from the wreckage as the "head" attempted to break through its steel prison.

"Mon...dieu. -What- is that!?" He stammered as he felt himself being pulled up by a nearby hand! Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with Nicole once more, her chest flickering with light as she breathed heavily.

"Krudzu... Antoine, I think it is time we vacated the premises!" The young coyote shot his arm out, catching the lynx's before she make her exit. Gasping out loud, she spun around to see him shaking his head solemnly.

"Non non, this is time for courage. We have come -too- far to turn back, mon ami!" Bowing exaggeratedly, he picked up a particularly sharp looking rod from the debris and swallowed his fear. Suddenly, two of the tendrils shot out at the duo and Antoine pushed Nicole away as he swung the improvised weapon in a clean arc, dismantling them with one swipe!

"You have -got- to be kidding me!" The lynx was beside herself as she began a dead sprint toward the newly invigorated coyote. Taking her hand in his, they both dashed further into the forest.

Finding themselves a moment of respite among the brush, Nicole brought up a hologram of the surrounding area to find their target. However, some kind of interference caused it to waver and twist and made the digital map difficult to follow. "Oh! Bolts and gears..." She muttered in frustration as the young guard tapped her shoulder, pointing at the sprinklers.

"Before I was captured by the enemy, I noticed they lead to a central storage facility." Tracing the metal pipes splitting outward from the base of the units, he led the lynx's gaze to large cylindrical mass that drooped from the ceiling. "The path we took led there. Let's make haste!" Father, give me strength to pass this test. I have to show them how capable I can be...

–

As Nicole and Antoine bolted through the massive garden, more vines struck out at them, forcing them into a small cave built alongside the bridge leading to safety. A quick scan of the area caused her eyes to widen in terror. "The vines have completely overtaken the area. I...don't know how many there are!"

A faint tutting from her companion caused her to whip around and fix the coyote with a stern glare. Waggling his finger, he took a few practice swings with the fallen rod, deftly balancing it in his hand. This caused her to relax and giggle at the sight of this "hero" in action! "Do not laugh. You will see another side to this one this day!"

"Okay, but we are definitely telling the others about this when we get back!" Antoine sighed as the end of the metal weapon drug along the ground.

"Yes yes, they wouldn't believe me, otherwise..." He relented as the two cautiously left their hiding place. Another set of transparent beams traced over the surrounding foliage and the lynx and coyote silently nodded to one another as they confirmed their window of opportunity. "C'est le vie. We'll worry 'bout that when we leave this terri-ble place!" With that, they bolted out and ran as innumerable green appendages lanced out at them from all angles!

An errant slap from one flung them through the air, sending them tumbling down a nearby hill! Despite his earlier shows of bravery, Antoine let out an ear-piercing yelp as he and Nicole began an uncontrollable downward descent!

The lynx was the first to reach bottom, slowing down with a burst of static from her body and coming to a skid along the floor of the valley. It did not stop the coyote from being flung directly into her frame and the two soon found themselves in a heap at the base of a incredibly tall tree. Nicole felt something the impact of something falling from its branches and a long yellowish-green shape spun in place at her feet!

"Oh! Antoine...we did it! We found the mobananas!" She cried out happily. However, looking over at the coyote, she found his expression was one of abject fear than relief. Peering up toward the direction of his terrified gaze, she stared down the maw of a particularly massive Krudzu plant as it bared down on the duo...