Divided Family part 5: Face to face with Chaos!
By Wolf the jedi (AKA Wolfie-lupus)
"All right you two, let's go and see the Boss. She'll be the last thing you'll ever see." Snarled a tough Grarrl as he pulled Light and Leo out of the back of the cart. The long cart ride was over, and the Grarrl wanted to get rid of Light and Leo so he could get warmed up.
The Grarrl began to drag his two prisoners along the ground, not caring that it was bumpy, sharp and cold. They went through icy tunnels, carved out of one of the many mountains in the Terror Mountain region. While the tunnels weren't carved out cleanly, it was big and wide enough for an assortment of stolen goods to pass through. There were lights that hung from the ceiling, swinging slightly as many pets passed beneith them. Both Light and Leo were still shivering, since it was cold in the tunnels, even though there were heaters placed every few miles to take the bite off the cold to the thieves that lived or stayed there.
"Light? Where are you? Where are we? Whats going on here?" Leo asked randomly as he's dragged along with Light across the cold icy floor to see the 'Boss'.
"I'm here, but I don't know where we are. Nor do I know what's going on." Light replied calmly. They were still blindfolded as they continued being dragged though the tunnels.
"Hey you! Yeah you, the big Grarrl that's taking us to your 'Boss'." Leo yelled to the Grarrl. The Grarrl grunted in response to this, since he didn't usually talk to the prisoners. "Who is your Boss? Is he some master mind of thieves? Rouge gone extremely bad? Who is it?" asked Leo trying to get the silent Grarrl to say anything. After what felt like an hour, but was really just a few minutes, the Grarrl made a remark.
"You are going to see the Boss' adviser and right hand Pet. And seeing how you won't be living much longer, I don't see any problem with telling you that the Boss is the infamous Chaos of the Night." The Grarrl explained with a nasty grin that Light and Leo couldn't see because they were blindfolded.
"The Chaos of the Night? Really? Do you think I could get a picture? What is she like?" Leo rambled on and on about Chaos, while Light thought about meeting her foe face to face.
Finally, I get to meet the top trouble maker, whoopee. Thought Light as they continued the long drag to the Headquarters of Chaos of the Night.
Finally, after what felt like forever, they came to a stop in a low ceiling room. It was a small cavern at one point, but the walls and ceiling had been rounded off, so that no icicles posed a threat to those in the room. Across from where Light and Leo were dragged through the tunnel was a large opening that served as a window, showing a huge cavern just beyond the wall. There wasn't much furniture in the room, only a table in the center of the cavern, with chairs around it, and some small lights on the ceiling. There was another tunnel leading off to the right, which led to another small cave room. Not that Light or Leo could see anything, because they were still blindfolded.
A white Kougra got up from the table and walked over to Light and Leo. His silky voice greeted them with a nasty sounding laugh. "Good evening, my young and foolish guests. How was you're journey here? Comfy, I hope?" said the Kougra in a snide way.
"Oh yeah, sure, it was wonderful. We even had a nice little walk with this lovely Grarrl, by the sound of him." Replied Leo with sarcasm.
"Did you now? That's nice. Now. To business. Who are the two of you and who sent you?" Asked the Kougra in a cold manner, not even caring about Leo's reply.
"I am... the Lightning Warrior!... Yeah, and this is my partner... The Were-Nimmo! Yeah, that's it. S.A.O.N. sent us to stop you and your boss." Said Light with pride and false courage.
"Did they really? How nice... Now you two just sit tight and wait for me and my answer as to what will happen to you and your friend, 'The Lightning Warrior'." the Kougra said with a laugh and headed down the second hallway, which lead to another small room at the end, where Chaos of Night was waiting.
Our heroes heard a door open and close with a snap, from down the second hallway. The White Kougra walked up to the Grarrl guard and whispered to him. The Grarrl grunted and the Kougra walked over to LIght and Leo with a snarl. "Our little friend here will be taken and dealt with. And your name was 'The Were-Nimmo', was it? Well, you just wait until your future is decided."
This time, instead of being dragged, Light is picked up and taken down the second hallway to the room at the end, which proved to be sound proof. It had only one door and an overhead light in it, with blank, white walls and one chair, to reduce sound from the room. Light was placed onto the only chair in the room and was left there to try and think of a way out of this mess.
"Leave us, she cannot harm me." Commanded a new voice, one that sounded familiar to Light.
"Who's there? You'll get nothing from me. You might as well destroy me now." Light said to the new voice with determination. Light heard someone come close to her and she could feel the blindfold being taken off. Light blinked rapidly to clear her eyes and to adjust to the bright light. Then she blinked, not to clear her eyes, but to make sure she wasn't imagining things.
"Cam?" Light whispered more to herself than to the yellow Wocky in front of her. "It can't be, where is Chaos of the Night? I thought that she would come to speak with me... How did they catch you?" Light continued in a whisper, not listening to her common sense, which was telling her something she didn't want to believe.
"Light, what are you doing here? You can't be this new agent S.A.O.N. has. You just can't be... Well, it's too bad. I guess that you and me are now enemies. Because, you see, I'm Chaos of the Night. Sorry sis, but I am. I didn't think it would come to this, but hey, it's too late for that now." Cam said with a bitter note in her voice.
"What!? No, I don't believe you! It can't be! Please Cam, tell me its not true!" Light cried out, on the verge of tears.
"Well it is true and you'll just have to get use to it. Oh and call me Chaos of the Night when in the present of my minions, OK?" Cam asked Light, like she didn't care about the fact that her being Chaos of the Night is saddening to her sister. Light only moaned in response to that. She just couldn't believe it, her own sister!
"I'm sorry Light, I really didn't think that you'd be the new agent S.A.O.N. would send. It's not like I wanted to kill you! Heck, because you're my sister and because you are cool and well, my sister, I'll let you escape somehow. But not you're partner, Loe or Leo or whatever it was." Carmen said as she tried to calm her now hysterical sister from ranting on and on about Good and Evil.
Carmen gave the signal to a pet outside the door and Light was taken back to where Leo was being held.
"Are you OK, Light?" Leo asked in concern for his new friend, because Light was silently crying. Leo had his blindfold taken off as well while Light was in the room.
"Yes, it's just... nothing, nothing at all. I'm so sorry Leo." Light said as she tried to control herself. Then at that moment, she noticed that her binds were loose. A plan was forming in her mind as Chaos (Cam really) commanded the guards, "Show them my kingdom here, for it will be the last thing they ever will see again!"
At once, her order was obeyed. The next thing Light and Leo knew, the gaurds moved them to the far wall that had the only window in it, and they looked out to the vast caverns beyond.
The caverns formed large caves, with a big hole in the center. The caves and tunnels ran along the sides of the hole, but they weren't even enough to call them different levels. Some of the caves and tunnels had large windows facing the giant center, while others didn't have a wall facing that way at all, merely opening the rooms or tunnels to the large empty center. Since there weren't any shades or window blinds, Light and Leo could see that most of the caves and rooms had a special purpose, some were being used to hold meetings with different criminals, some were used for interrogation, and some were used to sell and trade stolen goods. The lower levels had more offices and rooms for important villains, and different thief clans. It was almost like a Buzz-hive for thieves.
Even the guards took a look at the hideout while holding their prisoners in place. Light took the time when the guards were distracted to untie the ropes that held Leo and herself, before anyone looked back at them.
"So Chaos, this is where you stay most of the time. I see why you'd like it here, there is just one problem... ITS EVIL! Evil right down to the core!" Light said as she and Leo were placed back into the center of the room.
"Oh, I know! Isn't just great?! Nice and evil." Chaos of the Night responded to what Light said with an evil chuckle. "Well, seeing as how I couldn't let the other agents go, I'm going to have to destroy you too." Chaos said with a evil smile. "Take them to the Room and then wait for me." Commanded Chaos as she walked ahead down the first tunnel.
Light and Leo were taken down the first tunnel they entered the room with. Then the guards took a sudden turn and began to ascend to the upper levels of the caverns, where more public caves were. Light and Leo were carried passed many caves with thieves doing business in, and finally were brought to the second to last level of caves before reaching the surface, where they were placed into a room that was filled with items of torture in it. Then the two were forced onto torture tables in the middle of the room, where they were strapped down. Chaos of Night walked up to them as her henchpets backed away once they were done tying down the prisoners. Chaos tested the straps, pulling on them to make sure they couldn't get free.
"Any last requests?" Chaos asked with fake thoughtfulness.
Light thought fast, because she had to change her plan, due to the fact that they were now strapped down onto tables. She tested the tightness of the straps, hoping to be lucky and for them to be loose. Her luck was in, for the straps nearly gave way right then and there. Light was so surprised at this oversight, and so Chaos of Night had to repeat her question. By then Light had her senses back, and just glared at Chaos. As Chaos turned her back in order to tell her henchpets to begin prepare for their destruction, Light turned to Leo and whispered her new plan into his ear. Leo's eyes went wide as he listened to the new plan, and had some trouble hiding his shock and hope at escape even when Chaos turned back around to ask once more, if they had any last requests.
"Yeah," began Leo, "I have a request. Say... Cheese!" And with that Light and Leo tore free of their straps that held them to the table and Leo summoned his portable camera magically. While the guards were shocked to see both the prisoners broke free, Leo took a picture of Chaos of Night with his magic camera, witch blinded Chaos momentarily, allowing Light and Leo to run for the only exit out of that room. They then began to ascend higher, trying to get out of the villain infested caverns.
"After them!" Shouted Chaos as she and her henchpets started to case them.
Light and Leo ran down tunnels after tunnels. They managed to make it to the last level of caverns when they heard Chaos shout "Hurry, after them, quick!" They two escapees looked back and saw that Chaos and her henchpets close behind them. The two escaped pets ran into a cave, where they could see the outside from the door across the room. They ran forward, hoping to escape to the outside and to find help. Suddenly there was a loud crash, and most of the ceiling of the cave they just ran into came down with ice shards flying everywhere. Every one stopped and took cover from the ice that was raining down. Then they looked to see what caused the crash and there was Mick with the Neopia Defenders! The Neopian Defenders rushed in and started to round up the thieves when Mick shouted, "LIGHTING! WHERE ARE YOU!?"
"Over here! We're over here, Mick!" Light yelled back in joy of seeing her best friend come to her rescue.
"Mick? How did he know to come here? What is he doing? Oh-o! RUN! Every one RUN! Its the NDs!" Chaos yelled to her group as she headed towards the tunnel they just came from. Mick rushed over to Light and Leo as he took a good look around him and noticed Chaos, who was really Camen Sandiego.
"Cam? What is Cam doing here Light?" Mick yelled at Light over the noise of the Neopia Defenders running around trying to catch the fleeing thieves.
"Long story! I'll tell you on the way home. Now lets get out of here!" Light said as she, Mick and Leo left through the new ceiling tunnel that was just made by the rescuers.
They were stopped by only a few Defenders, who asked who they were and when they were told that it was the pets they were there to rescue, they asked if there was anything that Light and her two friends would need. To which Light replied that there wasn't anything she needed just then, other than a ride home. So the Neopian Defenders organized a special boat trip to be made so that Light, Mick and Leo could get home quicker. The Defenders ordered a small but cozy boat to take Light and company down to the mainland, along with the stolen loot that was recovered. The boat was small, having only two levels, one topside and one below the deck that had small rooms to sleep in. Light, Leo and Mick gathered into the largest of the small rooms so that they could discuss what had transpired.
On the way home, during the four hour boat trip, Light explained to Leo and Mick what had happened and how everything currently stood. They also looked over that was recovered from the raid on the thieves lair. Over all, the situation with Chaos/Cam was upsetting and worry-some, but they managed to recover most of what Chaos had threaten and did steal.
At the end of the story Leo remarked, "Well! It seems that you and Chaos, I mean Cam, have something you two need to talk when you both get home! Plus, on the good side, I got a picture of the most evilest Pet in Neopia! On the bad side, I doubt that you'd let me have it... So here, before I change my mind." And with that he gave his magical camera to Light.
"Thank you Leo. And I am sorry, but I have to destroy it now..." Light said as she ripped out the film inside, destroying it instantly. "By the way, Mick, how did you get the Neopia Defenders to come?" Light asked as she handed back the now empty camera to Leo.
"Well, first I had to track you down. That was a job and a half, had to go to the Lost Desert and find the supplier to S.A.O.N. so I could get the items I would need to find you. Then once I found where they took you, I had to think of a way to get help. The only thing I thought I had was to get the Defenders. So I went and tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't believe me... I did the only thing I could. I robbed a bank and led them here..." Mick said in embarrassment.
"You what???" Asked Light as she sharply looked at Mick, surprised at how far he went to get help.
"Well, I only started to rob the National Neopian Bank, but I didn't take anything. I just made it seem like I did, so they would come after me. But they caught me too quickly, I wasn't able to get inside the hideout. Luckily, I was close enough that we could easily see that it was an evil hideout. So they decided to follow me, just to see if I was lying or not. It all worked out in the end, right?" Mick said as he looked away, not meeting Light or Leo's shocked eyes. They were both stunned by the great lenghts that Mick went through, just to help a friend.
"What could I do without you Mick?" Light said as she hugged him, while Leo looked on with a smile. They continued on the trip back to Neopia Central in peace, resting while they could.
In a dark tavern in the icy land of Terror Mountain, two shadowy figures met. The tavern was mostly empty save for a few pets here and there all wearing dark cloaks that covered who they were. The two new figures walked over to a vacated table in the far corner of the room, out of ear shot of those around them.
"Did you destroy the last S.A.O.N. agent?" Asked a dark figure to the other as they sat at the table.
"Well... No, I could not destroy the agent...But, but, she will not trouble us, nor wreck The Plan!" Chaos of the Night hastily explained as the first dark figure began to grow angry and rise from her chair. "I could lead the agent astray and The Plan can go unnoticed!" Chaos cried as the dark figure came towards her with anger in her eyes.
"For your sake, you'd better hope so..." Said Masila as she stood over Chaos, who cowered on the floor, afraid of the punishment for failure. "You'd better hope so..."
..... At S.A.O.N. HQ in the caves below Neopia Central...
At the Command Center in the middle of the base, the Chief was congratulating Light, Leo, and Mick for their success at stopping Chaos, if only for now.
"Well done, you three. You stopped Chaos of the Night before she took anything else. And you managed to get some of the things she took back. Unfortunately, she got away." Said the chief to Light and her friends. "For the most part, all of you will become agents. Though you'd still be in training. You must learn as you go. And... go on, get going. I know you want to celebrate with everyone." The Chief said as she waved a hoof to Light, Leo and Mick as they turn and run into the tunnels to meet with the petpets who had planned a last minute party since not only did Light get a big mission, but she survived and returned which was saying something since all of the other agents hadn't returned ever again.
(later that night, on the way to Light's house)
Light went home with a smile that night. Mick and Leo stayed at HQ, since they lived on their own, so they didn't have a curfew to be home by. She walked in the night, breathing deeply, to enjoy a job well done. But her mood soured a little as she thought about Camen and what that might mean for her family. She passed the houses on either side of the street without notice, so deep in thought she didn't see anything but the pavement at her paws. She turned into the walkway that led to her home with out stopping, having known the way by memory. She looked up as she was about to reach the front porch but paused. There was a pet sitting on the front steps, but Light couldn't see who it was since the pet was in the shadows. Light stepped up to the pet, prepared for anything, when she saw that it was just Cam. She paused, unsure of what to do or expect. Then Cam stood up and spoke quietly so Wolf who was inside wouldn't hear.
"Look, Light, I know that you won't trust me anymore. I don't mind, I just want to say that... well... Look, how about the house being safe? Like we act as if nothing is wrong? You know, sort of like a truce? Please?" Cam asked putting a paw out to shake on it. Light stopped to think about this new development.
"Yeah, OK, nothing goes on in the house, or when we're with Wolf. She can't know about us or anything." Light agreed and shook on it.
"Right!" said Cam as they shook paws. Both of them turned to go in once they heard Wolf cry, "Light? Cam? Is that you guys? Its getting late, come on inside!"
And with smiles on their faces, both of them went inside to tell their owner to calm down. The two sisters went into the living room, where Wolf was sitting on a blue bean bag chair. They took seats of their own as they stayed up some more, as Light told Wolf and Cam a lie of what happened on her trip. Both pets knew that the story was a lie, but little did the two pets know that Wolf knew that the story was a lie. Now Wolf didn't know what really happened, but she did know that they meet in their travels, and that they were trying to hide it. But just because she didn't go with them doesn't mean that she was stupid.
They'll tell me when they think it's time to, Wolf thought to herself. I just hope it's not when one of them is in a lot of trouble because of this. Wolf smiled at her two pets. They smile back not knowing what Wolf had just thought.
"Alright you two, its time for bed and no staying up this time!" Wolf semi-commanded her pets.
"Yes, Wolf!" they both said as they went to their shared room to sleep, not knowing what the next day would be like. At lest it will be interesting, thought Light as she turned off the electric lamp on her side table next to her bed and went to sleep.
And that is the story of Lightning Warrior and Chaos of the Night. They still went to work every day, and fought many battles. But once they were home, they acted like it never happened. This went on for some time, and Wolf never could get much out of either of them, no matter what she said or did. Little did she know what went on after they left the house. Even at school it showed, but Wolf never got the messages nor the letters from the teachers. Eventually Light and Cam made the school a peace ground, but only after getting in a lot of trouble. After awhile this became habit and after that, normal. Though both knew that if Wolf knew about them, she'd stop it at once. So it was their one secret that Wolf never found out. Even when she got another pet after a while, they never told her nor anyone who did not know already. And so it continued for some time...
until the Next Adventure...
Arthur's Notes: YAY! Finally done with this one! I have been working on this one story for about 6 years now, but it never was finished/accepted by the Neopian Times, so I decided to post it here on this fanfic site! Hope you guys liked it and feel free to make a review about it! (Or if you have a neopet's account, feel free to neomail me about it!) I'm still working on the next story, but I should have it done soon. (hopefully)