A/N: Okay, first of all, so sorry for the long wait!
Larissa: It's about time!
Sor-ry! School got out a few weeks ago and my summer has been fun but busy! I'm taking advantage of the free time I have now.
Larissa: We're just not important to you anymore, is that it?
Uh..no. ^^;; I just told you I've been busy! Anyway, I have three chapters left (including this one) in my story, then I'll at last be through with Hidden Secrets! *gasp* Don't worry, Caraqueen and I are already planning a sequel, but it'll take some time. So anywho, I will not do an author's note as usual at the end of the chapter (to make it more dramatic)! Oooh! So now I'm going to say what I usually say at the end of a chapter. Um...review, I'm out...am I forgetting anything?
Larissa: Oh, you forgot your dignity.
(sarcastically) Ha ha. Oh, by the way, I have two more chapters left in this story after this one, then I will finally be finished with Hidden Secrets! *dances*
Larissa: And...you're happy about this?
Kinda. Then I won't have to worry about updating. Not like it's a drag or anything, but you know what I mean. But don't worry, as I said previously Caraqueen and I are planning a sequel to this fic and I have a few oneshot plot bunnies in my head to write.
Larissa: This is a long author's note, so just cut to the chase.
Alright, one more thing; the next chapter will once again have a song in it. Anyway, so sit back and relax and read, maybe grab some popcorn, because here is the long-awaited chapter! Hope you like it! ^.^
Chapter Fourteen: It Is Finished
The darkness hovered and a creepy chill hung in the air as Mandarin paced in front of them, an evil smirk on his face. "At last the time has come! I have captured the Hyperforce, which who were once my own brothers!"
"And sister!" shouted Nova.
"Silence!" Mandarin bellowed. He turned to look at them. The outer skeleton covering on his body rattled as he moved. "I see you have made a bond with my two slaves, the ones I created." A devious grin pulled at the corners of his mouth as he watched the monkey's faces turn to disbelief.
Sparx's eyes took on an angry glint. "You're lying!"
Mandarin turned around. "Indeed I am not. My slaves were on an undercover mission for me, and they shall be destroyed after I'm through with you thorns in my side. Aren't I brilliant? At last I have the Monkey Team in my clutches, all because that you were too quick to trust and be gullible." A gleam sparkled in his eye as he spun back around and laughed.
The Monkey Team, including Jinmay, were all trapped in cocoon-like structures, to where they could not move. They were individually inside cages where laser beams were the bars. Mandarin laughed as he saw the disappointed look on Antauri's face, the hurt ones on Gibson and Jinmay's, the angry ones on Sparx and Nova's, and the confused one on Otto's. "It looks like your so-called 'friends' have deserted you." He snickered. "Can't you see? They were never your friends! They have abandoned you!"
"Think again, Mandarin!" came two shouts.
Everyone turned their heads around in shock to see Larissa and Dana standing in the entrance. Mandarin's shock quickly changed to a wicked smile. "You have fallen for my trap," he spoke quietly. With a motion of his fingers, Larissa and Dana were lifted in the air by a force choke. He tightened his grip as the two monkeys sputtered and gasped for air, a death glare covering his ugly features.
"You two little brutes! You betrayed me, your own creator! You swore loyalty and allegiance to me, and you were weak enough to fall to the enemy!" His grip hardened and he smiled slightly at their cries of pain. "Well, now you're going to face the consequences." Mandarin released his mystical hold and they fell with a crash to the floor, gasping for breath. When they got to their feet, Mandarin pulled on a bronze glove (similar to the one he used in the episode I, Chiro) on his hand and a laser sword penetrated forth from it. A smirk tugged at his lips.
Suddenly a laser cage sprang from the ground and surrounded Dana, trapping her. Now Larissa was all alone. "Larissa!" Dana cried, a look of panic briefly sweeping across her face.
Mandarin chuckled softly and then directed his gaze at his once most trustworthy slave. What a dishonest, coniving worm she had proved herself to be! He would've been proud if she had not betrayed him. "Your time has come, Larissa. I always had something in mind for you if one day, you would turn your back on me and turn to the weak side." He saw her uneasy, wary stance and knew he had her attention. He took another step forward until she was almost against the wall, a few feet from where he was standing. He then added with an evil smugness to his tone, "I know your greatest fear, my dear Larissa."
Larissa's blue eyes widened in shock and fear. "But..how--"
"Larissa, have you not underestimated me of being capable to do these things? I know more than you think. I have secrets of my own."
Larissa swallowed hard and glanced at the ground for a moment, then lifted to meet his gaze with a now more determined look. "Come what may, Mandarin. I am just content to have found my way to the right path of life."
Mandarin noticed she didn't address him as her lord, but that was at the back of his mind. How dare she speak to him in such a manner! He lunged forward in one quick movement and clasped his claw around her neck. He growled, nearing his face toward hers. "You best watch what you say, foolish one. When you hear what I have to say, you may be regretting your brazen manner." His grip still tight, he turned to face a horrified Monkey Team and an even more horrified Dana.
Tears filled Dana's eyes. "Larissa!"
"Silence!" Mandarin snapped harshly. He dropped Larissa carelessly on the ground and hovered above her, sensing her fear yet sensing a strange calm inside her. How could this be? "Your greatest fear, worthless creature, is..." He let out an evil laugh. "Me!"
Recognition and fear spread across Larissa's face then in a blink of an eye it was gone. She remained on the ground, unmoving, her gaze directed toward him. Mandarin glanced up to meet the eyes of the Monkey Team, occasionally giving Dana nothing more than a cursory glance. "Larissa has seen me do horrible things to my enemies," he explained with a wicked grin. "She knows what I am capable of...at least most. She feared that one day, if she happened to be in that spot, of the things I would do to her. She's afraid of me." Mandarin laughed again before returning his attention to the weak, worthless monkey collapsed on the ground.
"Well, now your time is here, Larissa." He cried out and unexpectedly swung his laser-like sword as hard as he could toward Larissa. She just barely dodged, although it gave a good hit to the side of her helmet. She jumped to her feet, recovering instantly, and stood before him, as if to say, Bring it on.
Mandarin swung the sword at her again, this time giving a direct hit. She stumbled back in pain, which gave him enough time to lift her in the air with his mystic force and send her crashing into the wall of the cave. Dana gasped. Larissa had gone straight through the wall and laid in a heap of crumbled rocks. She struggled to open her eyes, but found she could not even move, so great was her pain.
Gathering all the strength she could muster, Larissa weakly stood up and walked out from the debris to be met with an expectant Mandarin. He let out an angry cry and sprang for her, his claw outstretched. Larissa looked at him calmly and held up her hand, and he suddenly stopped short. He couldn't move! Mandarin struggled and shot her a death glare. "You'll be getting everything you deserve, you coniving little sneak!"
Suddenly Valina whispered to him, unheard by the others. "Use the power of the Skeleton King that runs in your veins, Mandarin! Attack her with the power of darkness and our lord!" She let out her twisted laugh.
Mandarin smirked and whipped around. Suddenly time seemed to freeze as the power of an evil darkness lurked its way toward Larissa. She felt overwhelming pressure fill her and she fell to the ground, whimpering in pain. Mandarin laughed. "Do you feel the power of the Dark Ones, Larissa? Do you?"
Larissa screamed out as the pain increased more and more, threatening to take over her. Chiro's blue eyes filled with rage. "Release the hold, Mandarin! Leave her alone!" he shouted.
Mandarin ignored the leader and laughed gleefully as Larissa weakened and threatened to snap like a brittle branch. Dana watched in horror and decided to take action. "I have to help somehow," she murmured, tears filling her eyes as another scream penetrated from her friend. "But how?"
Larissa collapsed to the ground, weary. She felt her life slipping and all the strength and energy draining from her. With all the strength she could muster, Larissa weakly lifted her head to meet Antauri's eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Antauri's eyes were filled with pain and compassion. "Larissa," he spoke. "Do not let the Dark Ones corrupt you. The greatest power of all is the one dwelling within you." His voice softened as he added, "The Power Primate."
Suddenly something within Larissa clicked. She suddenly remembered when she had first learned about the Power Primate, the discussion she and Antauri had shared over cups of tea. Her mind wandered as the memory flashed.
Larissa looked up at Antauri. "What's the Power Primate?" she asked, feeling almost stupid for asking.
Needless to say, Antauri did not look surprised. He smiled gently. "The Power Primate is an energy that dwells within you," he explained. "It becomes a part of you after a period of time."
Larissa groaned and fought as hard as she could through the darkness inside her...and suddenly she came to a light. Suddenly she was up and felt the renewed strength and energy pulse her veins as the darkness fell away. And then she felt a reassuring presence beside her, and was astounded for a moment to see it was Dana.
Apparantly Mandarin noticed Dana, too, for his look was one of disbelief. "How did you get out? And how did you-" He swung his gaze at Larissa, but before he could finish, they both answered with a smile.
"The Power Primate." They turned and nodded at each other and grabbed each other's hands. An energy lifted them in the air and they circled, their eyes glowing red. "DOUBLE PRIMATE POWER ATTACK!!" they screamed out at the same time. As soon as the words left their mouths, blinding light shot forth until it covered the entire room. Painful screams from Mandarin and from Valina filled the room as well.
And then it was over. The Monkey Team was free of their traps and Mandarin was nowhere to be seen. Larissa was collapsed in a heap on the ground, very tired and weary from the whole ordeal. Dana was on the ground as well, wiped out but still conscious, though her eyes were bleary. Gibson ran over to assist her and help her up. Dana leaned against him for physical support, smiling. "He's..gone," she whispered in sweet relief, then passed out in the blue monkey's arms.
Antauri knelt down beside Larissa and fondly brushed her face with his fingertips, then straightened, picking up Larissa as gently as he could. Everyone stood in pure shock, surveying the empty room with wide eyes. Antauri turned to them, his eyes full of wisdom and his voice soft yet as deep and authoritive as always.
"It is finished."