Accusation

If there was one thing above all others that Megamind despised, it was that damn conceited smirk on Mirth's face. It reminded him way too much of Metro-loser as he was dragged across the floor by his collar into a downstairs basement. The grimy floor scraped against his stolen uniform until Grego let his head fall against the floor.

"Ah! My giant blue head," He complained as the headache he received earlier pulsed at his temples.

Minion's tied up ape suit was dragged not far from where he lay, but thankfully he looked fine. "Sir, are you okay," he fretted, eye round with fear for his master.

"I'm fine, Minion. Don't be such a worry wart," he groaned. It was almost a lie. He really felt like he'd had his head kicked in. He sat up slowly, squinting one watering against the pain. He brought his bound hands up to his face to assess the damage. One swollen eye that would later bloom into a black fist shaped bruise, and a few oozing scrapes on the back of his head. The silently thanked evolution for giving him a thick hide, and turned his attention to Mirth.

Mirth looked a little less formal than usual. He was slumped over on a backward facing chair in a crinkled long sleeved button up and plain slacks. His wickedly white hair splayed on his shoulders and gave him an untamed look in combination with the dark circles under his eyes. He was obviously having a rough day. Megamind smiled at that.

Mirth blinked his eyes slowly, and wearily. His jaw clicked side to side in an irritated fashion like he was grinding his sharp teeth. He opened his mouth to speak but shut it and shook his head, frowning.

"You really are a pain in my ass, Mr. Megamind, you really are," he said at last. He was quiet for a moment as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "You've made a fool out of my personal guard, infiltrated and stolen from my warehouses, caused a riot, burned down a facility, and compromised my whole operation." He stood and shouted, "I should have done away with you the moment Grego told me you were working for DuPont!"

"I've done no such thing," Megamind scowled, "and where's your proof, anyhow?"

"I've been watching you and your little party very closely, Megamind. Everywhere you are spotted there is some sort of mischief running amuck. And now your little Q and A sessions with half the town have started rumors about what business I'm really in. They listen in you know," Mirth pointed up to the ceiling, a half crazed look in his eye, "are you trying to kill us all?"

"No, all I've been trying to do is get off this rock," Megamind huffed.

"Ya? Well get to the back of the line," Mirth motion behind himself violently with his thumb, "but it's fools like you that butt into things that they don't understand that make a mess of things, like that silly girl you brought with you."

Megamind's heart gave a fearful shudder and his eyes latched on to Mirth's, "Where's Miss Ritchie?"

Mirth's eyebrows rose, "Oh, remembered your feisty little shrew at long last have we?"

"Where is she?"

Mirth smiled sinisterly, "You know, she's quiet the looker without that awful hat. I was thinking about selling her on the black market, but she's much to pretty for that. I might just keep her for my own entertainment."

"Where is she?"

"Oh I'll get bored eventually," he continued on, "But it'll be fun to break that fiery spirit of hers."

Megamind could take no more. Throwing himself up on his feet he dashed at Mirth. Wrists bound and fingers entwined, he used his clasped hands to club him over the head. The horned fiend fell aside and he refocused his attention on the now charging guard. He ran forward and jumped in a way that landed a hard kick squarely in the guard's chest. He lay groaning on the floor as Megamind cut his bindings and rushed to Minion's side cutting his bindings as well.

The duo rushed up the stairs to find an escape route, choosing to follow the larger hall than the narrower one. In a short time they found themselves in a very elegant part of the mansion.

"I don't think we're getting any closer to the exit, Sir," Minion said.

"We aren't looking for an exit just yet, Minion," Megamind answered as if it was the obvious answer.

"Then you believe Miss Ritchie is still here, Sir?"

As if to answer his question a muffled womanly shriek met their ears through the door at the end of the hall. "Roxanne," Megamind shouted as he rushed to it, busting down the door of a well furnished bed room.

Lashed to the bed lay the helpless Roxanne as she lay at the mercy of a crowd of small, white, fluffy creatures. She was squealing and straining to get away from them while - laughing uncontrollably?

Tears streamed down her face as the soft, cute things licked at her face and feet. She pleaded in between gasps and laughs to help her, "Please! I can't breathe!"

Minion shooed them away and Megamind untied her, relived and yet somehow angry. Roxanne huffed and clutched at her stomach, "Who knew laughing was so painful," she panted, "I think I nearly busted a seam there."

"By the way you were screaming, I would have thought they were turning you inside out," Megamind said as he pulled her to her feet, "Come on we've got to get out of here."

"Not so fast," someone growled from behind them. Megamind and gang spun around to face a very disgruntled Mirth holding a very big firearm, "now you're all going to accompany me back to the cellar, nice and civil like, and we are going to have a little chat. Savvy?"

Who could argue with the guy that had the big gun? They marched single file back to the basement were they were brought uncomfortable chairs to sit on. Megamind looked glumly at the gun he had mostly designed as he was tied to the chair. He knew that very gun was going to get pointed at him at some point. He sighed and began to loosen the ropes discreetly as soon as he was fastened to the chair. This master escape artist would not be tied down for long. Now the only problem was figuring out how to get away safely with Minion and Roxanne in tow.

He puzzled, and unknotted, and half listened to Mirth ramble. Destroyed property this, grand theft that - blah, blah, blah. Same old story, different planet. And he didn't even do anything this time, for crying out loud! He now had the ropes completely loose and was pretending to be tied up. A yank of the wrist and he could leap into action. Now what action to take?

As he pondered, a cloaked figure descended the shadowy stairs with two more figures dragging behind but unbound. As they came closer he recognized all three, much to his dismay. Blossom and Dr. Osher shuffled in rather meekly behind the lithe figure of the elusive Ahi.

"I found those two that were working with them," Ahi said in a humdrum tone, pushing them toward the light, "and boy do I have bad news for you."

Muahahahahaha! Cliff hanger! And Ahi is back, hurray! Updates soon to come, but don't despair dear readers. I won't take too long to update, but the more feedback you send the faster I'll post! Please leave your comments, questions, and concerns using that poor neglected review button below. Thank you!