A/N: I know this is a short chapter...But-

Muta: Quit your yammering! Tell them how it is!

Me:...

Muta: She wants you to review the chapter! Jeez, was that so hard?

Me: Thank you, Muta, that will do. Please enjoy the chapter and if you have any remarks please notify me. And one last thing, I do not own the Cat Returns.

"Let me repeat myself, who are you?" repeated a guard.

"I am Catherine Parker," she replied.

That started a commotion as the guards all started muttering amongst themselves.

"Well why didn't you say so?" asked the guard, giving a much warmer demeanor."Right this way."

Cathie turned to find that Toto and Muta had disappeared, "Where did my friends go?"

"You mean the crow and that fat abomination of all bird kind? They left."

Casting a mask, Cathie followed the guards.

"Here is the entrance to your new home, Duchess Catherine."

"Duchess?"

"Soon enough milady. Once you and Duke Pazu marry."

"Yes. I have some things to discuss with Duke Pazu before the wedding."

"Of course, milady. He should be in his study, Lin should be able to help you," the guard said as he gestured to a wizened old gray parrot.

"Right this way milady," Lin squeaked.

She followed Lin through a maze of light dusted branches and into the heart of the paper birch tree. The polished wood gleamed in the soft lighting of lanterns made of translucent lilies. A red parrot had his back turned to Lin and Cathie as they came in. He turned to reveal a grayling face as he said, "Lin please leaves us."

"So you're the Catherine my daughter has been talking about."

"Yes Duke Pazu."

"I see everything that my daughter described, yet I see you're hesitant."

"Well to begin you have a dear friend of mine, Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen, in your dungeons and I wish that you would release him."

"Done," Duke Pazu said, snapping his forefeathers to make a soft whoosh noise like the wind. A minute or two later came two guards holding a rather undignified Baron. Cathie rushed to his side and began to check for injuries; other than his suit in tatters and his cane a bit bent he seemed fine. It still royally pissed her off.

"And one more thing, Duke Pazu," she said not letting too much ice seep into her voice.

"Anything for you, my dear."

"I don't want to marry you."

"Well isn't that a shame, Catherine? Guards take the prisoner back to the dungeons and then take Catherine to her rooms. And make sure she doesn't leave them!" he snarled.

"Knock knock! Special delivery for a Duke Pazu!" called a voice through the door.

"Ooh a present! Put it with the others."

"Sorry, sir. The bird who sent it specifically requested that you open it when received."

Growling to himself, he walked to the door to find a gigantic box. Taking a spear from a guard, Duke Pazu ripped the sap and inside the box it was dark.

"What is this? Is this some kind of joke? Do you take me for a fool?!"

"Yeah as a matter of fact," Muta replied as he emerged from the depths of the box.

"Rarg!" Muta battle-cried ask he started chasing the flying maniacs around the study.

Baron struggled to stand up and when he finally managed to stand he grabbed Cathie's wing and hurried her to the door where Toto was shoving the box out of the doorway.

"Muta!" Cathie cried as she helped Baron onto Toto and then awkwardly settling herself on Toto.

"I'm coming I'm coming. Keep yar feathers on."

"I'd rather not Muta," she replied. Muta can crashing and with him a stream of guards after him. Toto grabbed Muta and they flew out of the tree.

"Toto, fly for the Cat Kingdom," Baron rasped.

"Right."

Behind them were thousands of parrots flying, Cathie looked back for a second and dread filled her stomach.

"Toto, will we be able beat them to the Cat Kingdom?"

"I'm fairly certain, Cathie."

"Good," she responded, and even as she did so her eyes began to droop and her head rested against Baron. Before she knew it, she was asleep.