Chapter 15: Prepare
Shego and Ariel sat on their horses at the edge of the forest. Behind them was the path to the palace, they looked out over the plains waiting for the attack. They had dressed in earth tone pants and shirts and painted their faces to hide amongst the trees if the attackers did arrive. They hadn't been waiting more than a few days before Shego nudged Ariel.
"Look." She said pointing out into the distance. Ahead of them was a thin line of the horizon.
"Do you think that's our reinforcements?" Ariel asked.
"I don't know. But I'm not waiting around to find out. Let's go."
They turned their horses and galloped down the path toward the palace. They leapt off their horses half way to the palace and allowed them to keep running toward the palace. They vanished into the trees and picked up their bows. Hidden amongst the trees and underbrush were the troop of archers; each one ready to draw her arrow and ambush their enemies.
"Look alive." Shego whispered as she ducked behind a tree. Ariel pulled on a cloak of leaves and moss; she lay down next to Shego. Together they waited, minutes turned to hours, and the sun began to set. Shego looked down at Ariel. "How well in their sight at night?" She asked wryly. Their plan would be useless if no one could see what they were doing.
Ariel looked up at her with confidence. "Their sight is as good as any hawk in the darkest of night. You need not worry." Shego nodded and turned her attention back to the path. Hours later the thud of horse hooves echoed in the air. Every woman drew their arrow, moments later the group came into view.
Their horses were forced to a slow trot on the narrow path. Shego raised her hand to stop the women from firing while she waited for a flag or symbol that would identify they them. Her eyes had already adjusted to the dark of the forest; she saw the symbol on one rider's shield. She quickly drew back her arrow and took aim. She released her arrow and watched the rider fall to the dirt with a gurgled moan. Suddenly Ariel stood and fired her arrow, another rider fell. Every woman fired upon the riders, each rider fell to the dirt; horses became frightened rearing up and nearly throwing riders from their saddles.
"Ambush!" One man yelled. They made for a gallop down the path; a shower of arrows hit those who were too slow to escape. Shego climbed the tree she hid behind until she was perched at the top. She could see the riders racing toward the palace, she ignited it with her hand. "I hope this works." She said to herself. She threw a ball of plasma high into the air, it soared into the sky and down toward the path, moments later a horn was sounded. In the distance she could see the palace suddenly come alive. Torches were lit, alarms were raised the men continued toward the palace. Archers fired a sea of arrows at them.
Ariel climbs up a nearby tree and takes aim at the men racing toward the palace. Together the troop and the palace defeated the men leaving dozens of men dead on the path.
"We can't keep this up for long." Shego warned.
Ariel nodded in agreement. "The reinforcements should be here soon. But for now we need to rid our path of these men."
They climbed down from their perches and gathered the bodies. No woman complained about task, though some complained about the small attack their skill had been wasted on. Shego would only distance herself from them and continue on with her work. When dawn came the woman had finished their task the women gathered around Shego.
"Okay, I need a scout to watch for our reinforcements. They should be here within the hour and I want to make sure we don't have a false alarm." One woman nodded wordlessly and ran down the path. "The rest of you, I want you all ready for another attack. We're not going to let them get to the palace without having to deal with us."
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Hours crept by slowly; Shego sat against a tree along the path. The other women rested in the forest around her. She kept a wary eye on the path waiting for the scout to return. She was beginning to feel the weight of her exhaustion on her shoulders.
"You can sleep you know." Ariel said slumping down next to her.
"Sleep is not much of an option right now. I hate to be caught off guard." Shego replied through heavy lidded eyes.
Ariel shook her head. "You and the general are so much alike. Tell me; is everyone from your world like you two?"
"You're lucky I don't beat you for stepping over your bounds as a handmaiden." Shego warned half heartedly.
"I get the feeling you couldn't raise a hand to me if you tried." The girl replied snuggling against Shego to make her point.
"What makes you think that?" Shego retaliated. Even though she knew the girl had a point. She wouldn't dare hurt the girl; she was too much like Kim. So upbeat and over achieving she was a young Kim Possible. Although she used to fight with Kim all the time. Now the very thought was impossible to comprehend, she had grown soft over the years.
Ariel didn't have time to answer her question. The thunder of horse hooves threw them from their resting place. Shego readied her bow as Ariel searched for her cloak. The forest was suddenly alive but quickly died after the troop was settled and waiting. Shego couldn't help but worry about the scout she had sent out. Had something happened? What she captured and now the attackers were on their way? Had she been killed or did these new intruders found a way past her?
The thunder of hooves came closer, Shego drew back her arrow. She hands trembled from exhaustion; she could barely keep her eyes open. The thunder of hooves settled as the riders came even closer.
The lead rider came to a halt, Shego could barely tell if they were friend or foe. Ariel readied her signal to fire. The rider slipped off their hood. Shego saw Bana seated a top her horse, Ariel lowered her hand slowly.
Shego sighed with relief as she lowered her bow. Ariel followed her out of hiding onto the path. "What took you so damn long?" Shego demanded.
"It's not an easy task to build an army. They are a day's march behind us." Bana snorted. Shego looked at the dozen guards she had with her.
She rolled her eyes. "Then you get to take the next watch."
Bana looked down at her with disgust.
"We've been hiding out here for a week it won't kill you to wait a day." Shego snarled.
Ariel gave a wave of her hand, the troop of archers marched out from among the trees. Without another word they marched down the path toward the palace. Bana growled under her breath and barked an order at her guards. They dismounted and began to set up camp for the night. Shego could feel the cold glare on her as she walked away, she couldn't help but notice the grim smirk on Ariel's lips, she wasn't the only one who was amused by ruining Bana's day.