Chapter 14: The past, the present and future
Two days passed after the bet. Shego sat in her room brooding over her boredom. Ariel leaned against the wall quietly sharpening her knife. "So if you're not a goddess, then what are you?" Ariel asked. She had been asking Shego questions for the past few minutes to stave off her own boredom.
"If you really must know, I'm human. My brothers and I were just unlucky enough to be hit by a comet when we were kids. It gave us all different powers." Shego explained. She didn't care what the girl knew about her.
"So the gods saw fit to bless you with such powers?" Ariel asked in awe.
"It more of a curse than, a blessing. The powers themselves are nice but I wouldn't mind having a normal skin color for once."
"Are you and the general from the same land? You two seem very close."
"Yeah, she and I were…partners in trade before she and I were separated after we found the ring."
"Partners in trade? What was your trade?"
Shego thought for a long moment before she thought of her answer. "You wouldn't want to know what she and I did before we came here. It's not exactly something to advertise around here."
Ariel suddenly paused. The sharpening stone rested on the blade. "You were thieves?" She stated before returning to her task.
"Well, not exactly."
"Don't lie; it's very unbecoming of a mistress." She examined her work and slid the knife back into its place in her boot. "But why theft? Could either of you not afford bread for your table?"
"No. We're very wealthy in our time, it's just…it's a very long and complicated explanation."
"Oh yes and we have so much to do today, you'll never have the time to finish."
Shego pursed her lips and clicked her tongue; the girl had picked up her sarcasm already. "We just found that life was more enjoyable when we didn't have to save the day all the time."
Ariel frowned. "What's wrong with being a hero? In our nation heroes are treated with the highest respect, they are showered with gifts and praise."
"Being a hero is nice at first. But in the end you never really get much time to yourself, everyone turns to you when there is trouble. And the people become fickle. One day you are the greatest thing that could ever happen to them and, the next, you're the one to blame for not coming to everyone's rescue at once. It's hard to be a hero; it's hard to be what everyone wants you to be." Shego was silent for a moment before continuing. "After a while it's just easier to be the villain than the hero."
Ariel nodded in understanding. "I suppose the task can be too much for even the strongest to bear."
Shego blinked for a moment then decided to ask an odd question. "How old are you anyway?"
"I'm seventeen." She answered proudly.
Shego smiled and shook her head. "Little too wise to be a seventeen year old."
Ariel shrugged. "In the Amazon nation warriors must gain wisdom quickly, else they parish."
"That's a little extreme isn't it?"
The girl stared at her as if trying to understand how she could say such a thing.
"Well your only seventeen, shouldn't you be doing something else beside fighting in wars and commanding troops?"
"In the Amazon nation there are two types of women, the citizens and the soldiers. When a girl is of age seven she is plucked from her mother's arms and tested in strength, intelligence and fighting skill. Those who pass the test are then trained to be warriors for the nation. It is considered a great honor to be chosen. So in answer to your question, no."
"Age seven? Is that a little young to devote your life to fighting?"
Before Ariel could answer there was a knock at the door. "Go away." Shego called. Kim stepped into the room. "That's not really an option now get up, the queen wants us with her when she greets the new messenger."
Shego stood and made her way out of the room; Ariel went to follow but was met by a quick denial from Shego. She frowned slightly and waited in Shego's room.
"Certainly are hanging around that girl a lot." Kim noted as they neared the throne room.
"She lost a bet and now she's my handmaiden for the time being." Shego replied.
"How did you manage to get the captain of the finest archery squad in the nation to fall into that position?" Kim asked as they stood before the double doors.
"Same way we get everything Kimmie." Shego said with a wide grin as she pushed open the doors and took her usual place at the queen's side.
"Where have you been?" The queen hissed under her breath.
"Going over some important matters." Shego said half heartedly.
The queen pursed her lips and signaled to let the messenger in. A small woman came quietly into the room. She was escorted by two tall soldiers, the woman timidly reached into her bag and pulled out a scroll.
"King Dion sends a message." She said in a shaky tone as she broke the seal and unraveled the message. "Your savage act on my messenger is clear. I have tried to be civil and now blood must be spilled for your insult. Your nation will know true suffering; we shall be upon your nation within a few days time. You shall have this time to gravel for my mercy." The woman rolled the scroll and placed it back in her bag with trembling hands.
The queen eyed the woman careful then smiled. "Are you afraid of us?" The woman gulped but said nothing. The queen chuckled lightly and shook her head. "You have nothing to fear from us, we treat all women as our own here. Please stay for a meal and rest, tomorrow I will send you back with my reply."
The woman seemed surprised at this. The soldiers escorted her out and the queen looked to Shego. "I pray you have our defenses ready."
"This guy won't know what hit him." Shego assured.