Chapter 17: Distractions, distractions
"Have you ever been in a war before?" Kim asked Shego as they readied for battle.
"No." Shego belted her sword as Kim tied back her hair. Shego picked up her helmet; she couldn't help but notice the Roman influence in the design.
As if reading her mind Kim explained. "Some decades before I came here Roman soldiers were lost in the forest, the women found them…captured more like it, and took the design of their armor and made it their own. You'll notice it when the battle starts."
"And where is your armor?" Shego asked; looking over the redhead while picking up her shield. The queen's mark had been engraved upon it, she was wary of how light it was.
"There are different armor sets for different ranks, that and I can't fight as well when I have my armor on." Kim complained taking a spare and tossing Shego a bow and quiver of arrows.
"You won't need to worry about that with an arrow sticking out of your chest." They walked out of the supply room. All around them warriors marched out to the village and prepared for battle. Each one fought back an enthused grin at the thought of battle.
Kim and Shego made their way through the crowd, the citizens were scattered among the soldiers all giving heartfelt goodbyes. Shego looked around at all the lovers struggling to enjoy one final embrace before parting. Elder sisters giving final words of advice to as mothers stared down with proud tears. Shego couldn't help the feeling of remorse for all of them. She tore herself from the scene and followed Kim to the gates where the soldiers were lined. They made their way through the ever expanding crowd toward the front line. They mounted their horses; Kim nodded to Shego with a stern face and turned her attention to the army before her. She raised her sword high above her head; the only sound that could be heard was the roar of war cries from the soldiers.
The queen, Melanippe and Antiope made their way up to the gates; the army made way for them as their horses slowed to a halt. The queen centered herself between Kim and Shego and addressed the army.
"Beyond this gate is an army of men far larger than ours. Their so called king has insulted us time and time again. Now he wishes to insult us further with the threat of destruction. Little does this man, this coward who dares to stand before us, know that he is going against the strongest nation ever to take up sword and shield!" The army erupted in cheers and war cries. "They threaten to enslave us and defile us. Each of us has taken an oath to protect our sisters, our mothers and our very nation with our lives. I urge you all, hold strong to your oaths. Crush these men and keep your nation pure!" The roar of the army was so loud it seemed to make the ground vibrate. They turned their horses to the gates, the queen took in a deep breath as the women banged their swords against their shields, shouting out their approval as the gates opened to reveal the long path that led out of the forest. They began their march out through the gates and down the long narrow path.
They made their way out of the forest with no signs of the enemy. It wasn't until they reached the edge of the forest did they find who they were looking for. The queen visibly stiffened at the sight of the line of men, each one was like an unmovable brick wall. Each man seemed to be more intimidating than the last. At the front sat a line of hooded figures on horseback. Shego couldn't help but acknowledge the chill running up her spine. Something was defiantly wrong here. She looked over to Kim to confirm her suspicion and found she too had to have the same suspicion. Kim fidgeted on her saddle, her horse moved unsteadily under her.
"This isn't right." Antiope said tightening her grip on her bow. "There is something foul in the air." Everyone nodded in agreement.
Before another word could be said a horn was blown and the army charged toward them. The queen's horse reared up and fell into a full gallop, the soldiers followed close behind. The two armies crashed together in an explosion of sound and fury. Kim turned her attention to a formation of soldiers behind her. "Ready." She shouted. The soldiers raised their bows and pulled back their arrows. "Aim…fire." A hale of arrows blackened the sky as they sorrowed through air and falling rapidly to earth. Men all over the field fell to the ground.
"Don't just sit there Shego, do your part and protect the queen." Kim demanded. Shego was thrown from her thoughts at hearing this. She urged her horse into a gallop and rode toward the queen who was already fighting three men. Shego leapt from her horse and joined her when she arrived.
The men fell quickly but were replaced by three more. This went on for hours until Kim ran to join them. "Shego, we need to retreat back to the palace, we're getting exhausted." She shouted between blows.
Shego nodded in agreement and readied herself. "I'll create a distraction you get everyone back to the palace." Kim began to protest but was cut off by a cold stare. The word spread fast amongst the women as Shego took off her helmet and ignited her hands. The men seemed to back away when they saw this. Shego smiled to herself as she felt the familiar heat of plasma in her hands. She began to attack wildly; she threw plasma blasts in all directions. All around her men fell while others screamed in horror, many tried to retreat but found themselves being pushed back toward Shego, by the men marching forward. When she was sure the women were far enough away Shego decided it was time to end her attack and leave. She dosed her hands and made a mad dash for the forest; she could hear the army split. A legion had broken off the army to purse her; she smiled and picked up speed. When she came to the path she ignited her hands again, and blasted down trees to cover the path and ran through the forest.
The legion behind her had no choice but to follow her into the forest. She slipped between trees and leapt over rocks and logs as she led them deeper into the forest. She began to jump from tree to tree to avoid the traps set earlier; she could hear their surprise when one of the men ran into a trap. She continued through the forest until she couldn't hear anything but her own steps as she leapt between trees and over traps. She turned toward the path and raced toward it in hopes of catching up with the Amazons.
When she reached the path she found it empty, the foot prints in the dirt looked hours old. She decided to wait along the side of the road to avoid having to make the long tiring walk down the path alone. She sat against a tree and closed her eyes; she was happy for the chance to rest for the first time in days. She was so relaxed she nearly missed the sound of footsteps coming up behind her. In a matter of seconds, she was on her feet in time to draw her sword and deflect the blow from the hooded figure trying to surprise her.
"I'm just not allowed to rest am I?" She growled as the figure made to attack again. She blocked a few more blows and finally grew weary of the fight. She saw an opening and threw her sword at the figure. It caught the figure's sleeve and pinned them to a thick tree. Shego stepped forward and kicked their sword from their hand and scowled at them. She ripped back their hood and nearly recoiled in shock. "I knew there was something wrong." Her words were a near whisper as the wind kicked up.
Pinned to the tree was Bana, she glared back at Shego with a devilish smile that made Shego's skin crawl. "It's a shame you won't be alive to see the rest of my plan unfold." Bana said, as she lifted her hand and blew a powder into Shego's face.
Shego shook her head, her eyes stung and she found it harder and harder to breath. As her vision burred, her knees buckled under her and fell to the ground. Bana's words were inaudible as she tore her sleeve free from the tree. The world went black as Shego lay in the dirt. Everything went silent, the wind seemed to stop blowing and she felt nothing. Her last thoughts were of the irony of her situation but those quietly faded along with her consciousness.