Chapter 6: A test of wills
The queen sat on her throne, Kim and Bana stood on either side of her. Shego was escorted into the room surrounded by guards, she was happy not to be chained. They left Shego to stand alone in the middle of the room.
"You shell have three tests in order to prove your status as a god. The first will be a test of your power. If you truly are a goddess, you will have no objection to this." The queen announced.
Shego ignited her hands. She made a show of dowsing them and reigniting them, playing with the plasma and making a show out of it. When she finished the guards cheered and Shego waited for the next test.
"The second test shall be one of strength. If you are a goddess you will be able to lift twice as much as our strongest." The queen said.
Two servants led a horse into the room. Shego blinked for a moment and gave the queen a questioning stare. The queen nodded and grinned as though she were playing with her. Shego shrugged and made her way to the animal. She stroked its mare and neck to calm it; she looked up at the queen and scoffed before she lifted one of the servants onto its back. She crouched under the horse and began to lift it off the ground; she stood up right and walked ten steps toward the throne but, set the horse down when it became nervous. She helped the servant off the horse and arrogantly bowed as the room filled with cheering guards.
"Your final test will be one of skill. You will battle my best warrior; if you defeat her I will consider this claim and attest to your status. If you lose, however, you will be put to death."
Bana stepped forward.
"I said my best warrior." The queen said in a harsh tone. "General Possible will be the one to fight."
"Majesty the general is far from the best. Allow me to disprove this, imposter so that we may execute her and get on with our plans." Bana argued.
The queen turned to Kim who modestly shrugged. "Let her fight, I think it will do her some good to be knocked down a peg." Kim announced. The guards chuckled amongst themselves as Bana glared at Kim when reddening cheeks.
"You will eat your words general." Bana said before approaching Shego.
A servant presented Shego with a sword and shield. "No I'm good." She waved the servant off. Bana scoffed and drew her sword.
"Refusing your shield and sword, well this should be quick then." She announced. She lunged at Shego who raised a brow and stepped out of the way just before the attack.
She ignited a hand and took hold of the blade. With her free hand she wrapped her fingers around the woman's throat. She raised the temperature in her hand and melted the blade, Bana watched in horror as liquid steel melted between Shego's fingers. Shego pushed the woman away and dropped to a defensive stance. She could have won the fight right quickly but she wanted to have some fun with the arrogant captain.
Shego wasted no time attacking the woman, each punch and kicked went uninterrupted; Shego was beginning to grow bored with this fight. She kicked the woman's feet out from under her and ignited her hand once again. She slashed the marbled floor just inches from Bana's head. Shego smiled and backed away from her opponent, Bana stared at the claw marks in the marble.
Everyone in the room laughed while Shego offered Bana a hand. Bana refused the help and climbed to her feet. She marched back up to the queen's side and waited for the laughter to subside. The queen finally stood from her throne and raised her hand and the laughter stopped.
"With such an easy defeat of my…best warrior with your bare hands, I can confidently say you must be a goddess. Please, accept my apology for the misunderstanding."
"Ah it's fine, I uh…I had fun." Shego replied.
Kim held back a fit of laughter at Shego's response. Bana blushed and growled angrily, she looked toward the queen for some reaction but got nothing.
The queen approached Shego. "Come with me." She whispered.
888
"If I were you I'd thank Kim for the help." The queen said when they were out of ear shot.
"Why do you say that?" Shego asked mildly amused at the informality of statement.
"Because, I know how you are. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you. You're not a god, you're a thief."
"So if you know I'm an imposter then why am I still alive?"
"Kim asked for my help, I owe it to her after all she has done for me and you amuse me. Captain Bana is such a nuisance, a great military strategist but the dullest and most arrogant woman I've ever met. I've only seen one person defeat her in such an embarrassing manor and that person was Kim."
"So what is going to keep me alive?"
"I just want you to stay until the festival is over, after that you are free to leave. Not that you have a choice really, the constellations are changing and the Ruby Lion is at its weakest before the ram enters the sky, then and only then will the ring reach its full power and you can return home."
Shego blinked. "So what you're saying is this ring is useless until the constellations change?"
"Yes. But not to worry, at the end of the festival the constellations will have changed and you will be free to leave."
Shego thought about this for a moment and nodded. "Okay since I have no choice anyway."