Chapter 13: Target practice
Shego didn't bother to knock as she and Kim burst into the queen's room. The queen shot upright from her bed, dagger in hand, with a panicked expression. She sighed a great breath of relief when she saw Kim and Shego through the din of the room.
"Do you have any idea how much that frightens me?" The queen demanded.
"Apologies all around but this couldn't wait. The shit is about to hit the fan and we're the only ones who can save you from the mess. Now throw on your big girl panties and meet us on the balcony." Shego said in a hurried tone. The queen stared at her with a confused sneer.
"She means we have information about Dion that will very well save the nation. You should get dressed and meet us outside for a private conversation." Kim translated.
"That's what I just said." Shego proclaimed as she made her way outside.
"You need to remember no one can understand the way we talk in this time." Kim said as she followed suit.
The queen emerged from her room onto the balcony; she didn't seem bothered by the chill wind blowing outside. "Why have you woken me at such an ungodly hour?" The queen hissed.
"You wanted to know who you're up against so we're going to tell you." Shego spat back. She seemed to be very on edge after the long talk she had with Kim moments earlier. "Now listen carefully, in the future you all are thought to be a myth. There is some history that says Dion is the one who killed you all off."
The queen went pale; she rested her hand over her heart and leaned against the stone railing. Kim shot Shego an annoyed glare. "But there is hope." She reassured. "We have a plan that could very well save you all but you have to trust us." The queen looked as though she were going to be sick.
"Both of us combined have knowledge of defensive weapons and tactics that could give us the advantage." Shego added.
The queen breathed a heavy sigh and straightened her posture. "Whatever it takes to save my nation, I will not be made a myth by any man." She said fiercely. She gave one final nod to the women and left for her room. Kim and Shego eyed each other with playful grins.
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Shego stood alone in the training field at dawn the next morning. She strung another arrow and pulled back. She thought of every defense that would be to their advantage. She released the arrow, bull's eye, she strung another arrow. She thought of what weapons would work to their advantage, the arrow whizzed through the air, bull's eye.
"You wanted to see me." Ariel said from behind her.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about something." Shego said stinging another arrow.
"What would that be?" Ariel asked with a hint of hope in her voice.
Shego released the arrow. "I don't think it's much of a secret that we're about to go to war." Shego said stinging the next arrow.
"There is word spreading among the people. The warriors are excited at the thought. You need to part your feet more."
"Good. I need to know who our best archers are." She absently did as Ariel instructed.
"We have a special troop for that, for which I am commander. Move your hand lower, it's throwing off your aim."
Shego did as she was told and fired the arrow, defying all odds the arrow split the previous arrow. Shego lowered her bow with a prideful smile. "Is your troop any good?"
Ariel smiled. "Shall I give you a demonstration?"
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A half hour later Shego and Ariel stood before a line of stone faced women, each with a tattoo of the queen's symbol on their arm on their left arm. Shego looked to Ariel. "Where is your tattoo?" She asked mockingly.
"If you want the answer to that you'll have to find it for yourself." Ariel said in a flirtatious tone. Shego tried to hold back a chuckle as Ariel turned to the troop of women.
"Firing position." She commanded. The women stung their arrows in unison. It was a fast and fluid motion.
"On my mark." The women pulled back their arrows.
"Fire." A stream of arrow through the air, each one hitting its target perfectly.
Shego nodded. "Well now that I know they can follow direction. How is their aim?"
Ariel pointed to a servant walking toward then with a basket in her arms. "I knew you would ask that." The servant set the basket down and stepped off to the side. Shego now saw the basket was full of fruit. "I trust each of these women with my life." She pointed to the troop. "Three hundred paces." The women turned on a heel and trotted a long distance to the other side of the field.
"You've lost your mind haven't you?" Shego asked as she began to distance herself. Ariel grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"No. I trust these women will hit their mark." She picked up a piece of fruit. "I'll make a wager with you. If one of these women miss the fruit in my hand, I shall be your handmaiden for a fortnight."
Shego raised a brow. She couldn't believe how much fun she was going to have tormenting the girl. She smiled and held out her hand. "Okay, you have a deal." They shook hands, both women with a wide smile. Ariel raised her hand in the air and let it fall. An arrow whizzed through the air, splitting the fruit in half before landing in the ground a few yards behind them.
Ariel repeated her actions until one woman was left to fire an arrow. Ariel winked at Shego and let her hand fall. The arrow sped through the air, with swift motion Shego caught the arrow inches before it split the fruit. "Looks like I've got myself a new handmaiden."
Ariel's jaw dropped. "That is a false win!" She proclaimed.
"You never said I couldn't stop the arrow." Shego said tossing the arrow aside. "Looks like she missed." She took the fruit from Ariel's hand and bit into it victoriously.
Ariel frowned for a moment before sighing. "What is your first whim?" She asked with a pained smile.
Shego took another bit and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet taste. "Mmmm. The sweet taste of victory. Tell your troop to keep in practice, we're going to need them. And take a bit of this, it's delicious." She pressed the fruit to the girl's lips and watched her hesitation as she bit into the fruit. "Oh this is so much better than I thought it would be."
Ariel rolled her eyes in annoyance as she chewed.