A/N: This time, the chapter is going to be normal sized, I swear!
Chapter 8
The first thought to cross Amun's mind was somewhere along the lines of, Who the hell's that?
It was in reference to the woman currently lounging in a hammock about thirty feet off the ground. Not thirteen, thirty. Ever cautious, he extended his arm out, saying, "Stop," then calling out, "You! Who are you?"
The woman perked up at this and called back lackadaisically, "Who am I? Who are you?"
She lazily rolled out of the hammock and fell gracefully on her feet. Her skin was bronze in hue and without blemish. A long, white skirt came down over her knees and covered her exceptionally wide hips. Her arms, shoulders, and midriff were all exposed, leaving her rather large bust covered by a white wrapping of the same material as her skirt. But, from the neck up, black fur covered her.
Short, black fur covered her very feline-structured head. Her ears were catlike and her eyes were large, wide orbs of forest green. But, she had hair down to her mid back, black as night, even darker than her fur. As they all stared, a black tail swished out from behind her. The cat woman sauntered toward Amun with a distinct swing in her hips and look in her eyes.
Oh, Divine, I know that look. "I am Bastet," she said, then pointed a finger into his chest, "And you look absolutely scrumptious."
Amun raised an eyebrow, "So, you're Bastet?"
A finger turned into a whole hand caressing his lower chest. Bastet purred, "Why, yes, I am. Care to... Get to know me?"
"Married. Sorry," he said flatly.
"Boo," she said, but turned her gaze to Finn, "But, check out door number two~."
But, she felt the burning glare from Phoebe. She only smiled wider. "You're a bit easy on the eyes, yourself," she practically threw herself on Finn, "Who might you be?"
Finn, in a brilliant moment of sexual inability, said, "I'm Finn, the Hero of Ooo! We're here for some relic, so y'know where we can find it?"
Amun's hand came up to meet his face. Bastet merely cocked a brow and giggle. "Oh, really, now? I'm the guardian of this place, you know. So, if you want it," she backed up from him and grinned at the group, "You'll have to beat me in a game."
"A game?" Amun echoed.
"Well, now, I do love a good game."
The whole group turned to see Set, one eye closed and a new glowing one on his forehead. His smirk never left his face, even when Bastet's face turned to a scowl. "Oh, don't look at me like that, guys," the yo-yo bounced, "I'm not here to take the amulet. At least, not at the moment. I'm such a pancake with decisions."
Set let out a brief chuckle of amusement. He turned to the vampire queen, "Oh my, it seems you've gotten more help. Surprised Bedhead let you keep a vampire around."
Once again, the yo-yo, "Y'know, it might just be because she's a looker. Maybe."
For a second or two, Set idly toyed with the yo-yo in his hand. Amun was glaring holes into the back of his head. And while it didn't scare him or unnerve him, he decided not to push things. "So, what's this game of yours, Lady Bastet?" Set asked, still smirking.
"You will speak no longer," her scowl had seeped into her voice, "Your aura reeks."
Set shrugged, "It's true. You'd reek too if you hadn't showered in a while. Actually, that reminds me, I need to get the plumbing-"
"Silence."
His yo-yo ceased and his arms went up in mock surrender. His smirk hadn't left. Bastet turned to Amun, "The game, for those interested, is to hit me."
"That's it?" Finn asked.
"That's it," she responded, "One-on-one combat, no weapons. If you can land a single punch, kick, or- if you're feeling frisky -headbutt on me, you can have my amulet."
Set's eye widened in some sort of sick delight, "Ooh, can I play too?"
He was ignored.
His hand went to the scepter dangling at his side. Set's crooked grin widened further, "I'll take that as a yes!"
Set lunged with the scepter outstretched. Its eyes glowed a ghostly green color, but the color suddenly faded and he was frozen mid-flight. Bastet's clawed hand was stretched out. She didn't even look at him as he was released, "Oh, and I almost forgot, whatever relics you have, I can negate their effects. This is hand-to-hand combat."
"Okay," Amun nodded, "Then, I'll lighten my load."
He reached up under the cloth and clicked something just below his collarbone. The relic sword on his back sagged as the leather straps slackened. "This is one on one, so Marceline, if you would hold this."
"Sure, dude," she did so, then smirked, "Just don't go all out too soon, I'd kinda like to go toe-to-toe with a goddess."
Amun looked to her, "We'll see. Finn, Highness, keep an eye on Set. Don't try to fight him, just keep your eyes open."
Phoebe and Finn exchanged glances and nodded to him. Suddenly, Set was behind them. He wrapped his arms around them, grinning like they were all friends of his, "Oh, stop it, 'Amun'," the name was still sarcastic on his lips, "I'm not gonna hurt kids. Divine's sake, I have standards."
"That wasn't the case in my village," Amun turned away and walked to face Bastet.
"Ouch," he looked between Finn and Phoebe, "What's got into him?"
Finn wriggled out from under his arm, Phoebe following suit, "What the heck is wrong with you, you freak? We know that you killed everyone in his village."
"And I know that I told you not to believe him," Set shrugged, "Now, let's sit and watch the show."
"Like we're gonna sit anywhere near you," Phoebe snapped.
Set sighed and brought up the scepter. Its eyes glowed, and shortly after, the others' did, too. "I said, 'Sit. Down,'" his grin still in place, he sat down, and Finn and Phoebe sat at either side.
Both of them stared forward blankly. Marceline floated above them, warily. She brought her bass forward, ready to come down on Set's skull just in case he tried anything.
"You'll have to forgive that one," Amun said to Bastet, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "He's a got a small case of complete insanity and pure evil."
Completely oblivious to what had just been said, Set called out, "Kick him in the balls."
Bastet nodded, "I see. I appreciate your respect. It's such a shame you're taken," she gave him a predatory look, "Ooh, I'd love to rock your world."
Amun chuckled, then dropped into a stiff combat stance, "It can't be helped, I suppose."
The cat lady barely folded her arms under her bust. There was no stance, nor was there any air of tension about her. Only the confidence of millennia's worth of victories. "When you're ready," she purred.
"Okay, then," Amun replied.
They walked a circle, gazes locked. A minute passed. The circle grew tighter. As they were getting to be arms' lengths away from each other, Set grew impatient. Suddenly, he growled and cried, "Fight!"
Amun quickly jabbed at Bastet's face twice, both were dodged. She vaulted over him. He turned to face her, only to meet the back of her hand. It sent him reeling for a second or two, but he recovered. Bastet made no move toward him, or to attack in any way.
The being stood there, waiting for his next move. So, Amun charged again, and tried his hand at a flurry of fists. He put every ounce of his speed into it, but every strike was dodged. Finally, after maybe five minutes of the same cycle, Amun growled loudly and drove a powerful left hook right into the palm of Bastet's hand.
The buxom beauty clamped down on the fist and pulled. She ended up tossing Amun up into the air. He righted himself mid-flight and landed right in front of Set, who was still smirking. When Amun went to charge her again, Bastet sighed. As soon as he was in range, she reeled her leg back and launched it right in between the man's legs.
Dead silence.
A small squeak came from Amun as he sank to his knees, grasping at his crotch. Marceline even cringed a little in empathy for the man. Set howled in laughter, slapping his knee, "Oh my Divine, she actually kicked him in the balls!"
Ignoring him, Bastet looked a bit remorseful, "Sorry, darling, but you were awfully slow for my taste. Maybe one of your friends is faster?"
She got a tiny squeak, then she was surprised when Amun managed himself to his feet. A little wobbly, he got into a boxing stance, "I... I could do this all day."
So, the fight went on. Amun kept punching, Bastet kept dodging. This went on and Bastet was kept counterattacking him. But, each strike was a blow to his jewels. And with each blow to his gonads, he slowed down more, until finally, he was beaten back.
Panting heavily, Amun groaned, "S-She keeps kickin' me in the dick... Why? Why does she keep kickin' me in the dick?"
Set was bellowing with laughter. Marceline hovered down next to Amun, "Dude, that's rough. Tag out?"
"Sure," he responded.
Strange; his voice was a bit higher than usual. Marceline leaned her ax bass on Amun, who was still hunched over, and floated in front of Bastet. "Ooh~," she purred, "You don't look too bad yourself, either."
Marceline scoffed, then chuckled, "Sorry, kitty. Taken."
She sighed in disappointment, "Is everyone here taken?"
Set went to raise his hand, but Bastet quickly added, "Don't answer that."
And the fight resumed.
Meanwhile, Finn and Phoebe were snapping out of whatever trance the scepter had put them in. Finn groaned and put a hand to his head. Phoebe merely shook her head, sending the flaming wisps of her hair slowly following. Then, they noticed Set in between them.
They scooted behind him and closer together. Finn watched Marceline try and fail, even with flight on her side, to land a hit on Bastet. There was an interesting spin move that she did that looked like a combination of breakdancing and kicking that almost hit, but nothing beyond almost. "Alright," Finn stood up.
Marceline was huffing and puffing as her attacks kept coming. What she didn't see was Finn running up behind her. And with a brief moment, Finn had used her shoulder for his hand to grab onto as he flipped over her and cried, "Tag out!"
Finn jabbed with his left arm, all of them were dodged, but he followed up with a heavy right hook that just barely missed. Bastet's eyes widened. Finn began using his legs. He jabbed with his leg a time or two then rotated into a roundhouse kick. Bastet ducked to the side and under them.
Set's eyes narrowed on him, and his grin grew.
Bastet leapt back to put distance between them. Her widened eyes disappeared as she composed herself. That look reflected in her eyes once again, "You must be some pretty hot stuff, Finny."
"I'm the Hero of Ooo," his brow furrowed, he kept his stance and smirked, "I'm in my element."
"Then, let's dance, big boy."
A/N: Annnnnnnnnd there we go. Woo! Things are heatin up aren't they? What's in store for the battle. Will Set join in? Will Phoebe? Or will something else happen? These are the real questions, people. So, until then, ja ne!
