Here's another chapter! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

"Watch the branches, watch the branches!" shouted Sydney.

Lola gasped as she struggled to keep airborn. "I'm trying!" she complained as branches smacked the duo. "Incoming!" the Flygon shouted as they finally made their crash landing in their Tree Fort.

Sydney and Lola had constructed the fort with their bare hands. They had built the fort high up, and had covered the base and surrounding area of the tree with assorted, crude yet effective booby traps. The only way in was via flight. The tree fort was shrouded under the dark trees of the forest, keeping it from the view of most.

Sydney picked herself off the wooden floor with a groan. "Hey, Lola?" she asked.

The Flygon nodded. "Yeah."

"See those think sandbags over there?" Sydney asked, pointing to the sandbags that lay in the back of their designated landing area.

Lola nodded. "Yes..."

"You land on THOSE, YOU MORON!" shouted Sydney, pulling off her hat and smacking the Flygon with it.

"Sorry!" Lola said. "You're just kinda heavy..."

Sydney shrugged and walked off to the living room, twirling Bessie's bag on one of her claws. "Ah, heck, it doesn't matter!" she said, as she leaped onto her large,e asy chair. (Lola had the smaller one right next to it.) "We finally got it!" Sydney cackled. "At long last, we finally have that brat's diamond! Finally, I'm rich!"

Lola rolled her eyes. "We're rich," she corrected.

Sydney shrugged. "Whatever," she said, reaching into the bag. "The point is now we..." She paused when she realized the gem she was holding was nothing like Bessie's. "... A completely different gem?" she raged.

Lola blinked. "What?" she asked, examining the green stone. It wasn't anything like Sydney had described it as. It looked like it had been clumsily cut, and it was green as opposed to the clear, silvery color a diamond should be. "hey, that's not a diamond..."

"I can see that, stupid!" shouted Sydney, getting off of her chair. She stomped around the room angrily, glaring at the stone in her hands. "That little long eared brat!" she shouted. "She tricked me! Of all the lousy little... Gah!" she shouted, kicking the wall as hard as she could.

The result was a loud CRACK. And, it wasn't the wall.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" shouted Sydney as she leaped up and down. "Dangnabbit! Gah!"

Suddenly, the gemstone flashed brightly. Sydney and Lola yelped in surprise as green sparks began to travel down the Sneasel's arm and race down to her leg. "What the heck?" she shouted, dropping the stone. It hit the ground and simply sat there. Sydney and Lola stared at it curiously, waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly, Sydney said, "Hey! My foot doesn't hurt anymore!"

Lola blinked. "So...?" she asked, not getting it.

Sydney picked up the stone. "What is this...?" she asked. "I wonder... Could it...?" She turned to Lola. "Hey, Lola, c'mere."

Lola nodded. "Okay, but why... OUCH!"

Sydney slashed Lola across the chest with her razor sharp claws, drawing blood. "OWOWOWOW!" the Flygon shouted, clutching her wound. "What was that for?"

Sydney held the stone up. It began to glow and spark again. Green sparks shot at the surprised Lola, crawling onto the Flygon's wound. The sparks danced over the bleeding cuts, sealing them expertly. Lola gaped in surprise. "Hey!" she said. "My cuts are gone!"

Sydney grinned as she looked at the stone. "Oh, the heck with that dumb ol' diamond!" she cackled. "With this on our side, we're one step away from being rich!"

"Rich?" Lola asked, still tapping her stomach, as if expecting it to bleed again.

"Think about it!" Sydney shouted. "We let people who are hurt or sick touch the stone, for a fee! It's perfect! Pokemon get sick everyday, so we'll never be out of customers! We'll be swimming in Poke!"

"How does that work? I mean, Poke is solid..."

"It's a figure of speech, Lola. Sheesh." Sydney rolled her eyes. "Well, looks like we got the better deal on this theft after all, doesn't it, Lola?"

Lola nodded. Well, being rich did sound nice...

"Oww! Gah, be careful!" Shade howled, as Nurse Chansey gently tapped his poisoned wounds. "Don't tap them! I know that they hurt!"

Nurse Chansey shook her head, unhappily. "He's going need more than just a few Pecha Berries," she informed Kiara and Echo. "He's going to need special medicine for that. I'll go and get some for him. We have plenty in the back; boneheaded young men just love to get into trouble with poison types, and they're too selfish and too full of their own pride to ask for help." And with that, Nurse Chansey walked off to her medicine cabinet to grab the ointment Shade would need.

"That's Shade, alright," Kiara remarked, drily.

"Don't forget who didn't force him to go to the Doctor first thing," Echo reminded her.

Kiara glared at the Ninetails. "Would you just shut up?" she growled.

Echo rolled her eyes. "No need to get tempermental with me, Kiara."

"Yeah, there is," Kiara replied, turning her back to the Ninetails.

"Here it is!" Nurse Chansey said, walked over with a bottle of green gel. "This ointment will do the trick!" she said, opening the bottle and spreading some on her hands.

"This isn't get hurt, is it?" Shade asked. Doctors were the one thing he was a little bit afraid of.

Chansey shrugged. "Maybe..." she said, before rubbing the gel gently on the swelling spot.

Shade howled.

"There it is!"

Bessie pointed to the dark shape of Sydney's tree house, sitting in the dark forest like a dark cloud over the horizon. The fort was high above the ground, meaning that they had to climb, unless Tyberius had wings that he hadn't shown them.

"Wow," Bonehead remarked. "That's really high up..."

Tyberius nodded. "It'll be quite the climb." He turned to the two girls. "You stay here. I'll go get your stone."

"No way!" Bessie shouted. "I have a score to settle with that coward Sydney!"

Tyberius shook his head. "Revenge is never the answer, Bessie," he said, plainly.

"Yeah, but it'll make me feel better," Bessie said, plainly.

Tyberius rolled his eyes. Typical youngster thinking. "Stay here," he ordered the girls. The tone of his voice left room for argument.

Bessie folded her arms with a huff, and Bonehead looked slightly downcast, but Tyberius didn't really care about that. Their safety was more important than a rock.

He stepped foward. He felt his foot step on what felt like a rope.

SMACK!

A stick smacked him in the face, knocking him over. Tyberius groaned as he picked himself up, Bessie and Bonehead helping him. "The forest..." Tyberius muttered, examining the ground. A piece of thick twine was strung on the ground. Tyberius ducked and slowly pulled it. The stick that had hit him in the face shot back foward, missing him this time around.

"Booby trapped," Tyberius said simply. "Should've known."

"Sydney!" shouted Bessie, losing her temper. "I know you're up there!"

After a few seconds, the familiar face of Sydney popped out from a window. "Oh, look who it is!" the Sneasel sneered. "The princess came all this way just to see me! I'm flattered!"

"You're about to be flattened!" Bessie retorted. "Come down here and fight!"

Sydney stuck her tongue out. "Make me, long ears!"

Bessie growled. "I will!" she shouted, running foward. She almost immediently stepped on a trip line and was rewarded with a smack in the face, courtesy of one of Syndey's booby traps.

Sydney roared with laughter, falling over, as bessie picked herself off the ground.

"Stop laughing and give Bessie's diamond back, you jerk!" Bonehead shouted.

"Come up here and make me, loser!" shouted Syndey.

Lola poked her own head out of the window. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's you two again! Who's the other guy?"

"My name is Tyberius," Tyberius stated. "Please return this girl's diamond."

Sydney stuck her tongue out. "Make me!" she shouted.

Tyberius rolled his eyes. "No one ever wants to do this the easy way..." he muttered, as he marched to the tree house.

SNAP!

Another booby trap was tripped, another stick shooting at Tyberius' knees. The Gallade jumped over it easily, only to step on another trap. The stick swung out to strike Tyberius, but only ended up getting sliced in half, rendering it useless.

Tyberius looked up at Sydney, who was fuming. "Your traps are clumsy and predictable," he informed her. "Best give up now, before things get out of hand."

Sydney stuck her tongue out, before pulling herself back inside the treehouse. "Oh, you think you're real clever, huh?"

Tyberius nodded. "Are you giving it back or not?" he asked.

Bessie raised her fist and shouted, "Give it back or we'll pound you! Tyberius just took out a whole pack of Gastly!"

Sydney rolled her eyes, pulling out a slingshot from under her hat. "Sure he did," she said, sarcastically.

Bessie growled. "If you won't give it back, he'll pry it from your cold, unfeeling hands! He'll kick both of your tails from here all the way to-!"

PLONK!

Sydney had gotten tired of Bessie's threats and had fired a slingshot pellet, which had struck Bessie right on the forehead. The Buneary fell over, more suprised than hurt.

"Hah!" shouted Sydney, loading another pellet. "Big talk, as usual, but you still can't beat me, princess!"

Tyberius sighed. "You're not going to give it back." It wasn't a question. It was a statement of the fact.

"Took ya this long to figure it out?" shouted Sydney. "Of course I'm not giving it back! Now beat it!"

"Very well!" Tyberius said. "Then I'll have to take it from you."

Sydney stuck her tongue and loaded another pellet.

Tyberius began to walk over to the tree, dodging and slicing any traps that swung at him, whilst skillfully dodging Sydney's attacks. "You'll have to do better than that," he said, as he calmly dodged another pellet.

Lola swallowed as the Gallade drew closer and closer. "Uh, Sydney?" she asked. "Maybe we should give it back..."

Sydney rolled her eyes. "Lola," she growled. "You can't possibly be afraid of that loser! He's all talk and no-!"

A finger tapped the Sneasel's shoulder. She turned and faced the Gallade, who was perched on the rail of the the treehouse. "-action," the Sneasel finished, her eyes wide.

Tyberius held out his hand. "Give me the diamond now."

Sydney growled. "How 'bout I give you this! Ice Beam!"

The frigid burst struck the frigid blast struck Tyberius in the chest. With a gasp, the Gallade fell off the tree, hitting the ground with a huff. Tyberius stood up, dazed, only to step on yet another trip wire. A stick shot foward, smacking him in the face and knocking him back on his back again.

Bessie and Bonehead gasped in concern, whilst Sydney burst out laughing. "Like I said! All talk and no action!"

Tyberius's eyes shot open. He growled and stood up, slowly. "'All talk and no action'," he repeated. "Here's some action for you! PSYCHO CUTTER!"

The Gallade's arm blades swung through the mighty oak's trunk, slicing through it like it was butter. The tree fell down, Sydney and Lola screaming as it fell towards the earth. Bessie and Bonehead screamed as well, as the tree was falling towards them as well. The duo quickly leaped aside, dodging the tree as it smashed against the ground with a mighty CRASH! The treehouse was mangled in the impact, sending planks of shattered wood flying through the air.

"Oww..."

Sydney growled as she and Lola pulled themselves from the wreckage. A small bag was in Lola's arms. The duo was disoriented and confused. "What the...?" Sydney said, before shaking it off. "My treehouse! Look what you did, ya big dumb-!"

Tyberius didn't let her finish. He shot towards the two crooks, his eyes flashing. He knocked the Sydney down and put his foot on her throat, cutting off her breathing.

"Wow," Bessie managed to say. Tyberius was angry.

"Hey!" shouted Lola. "Get off of her!"

Tyberius looked at the Flygon, his eyes flashing. "Make me," he ordered.

Lola looked down at her choaking best friend, to Tyberius, and down to the bag that supposedly held the diamond. "Here!" she shouted, throwing it. Bessie leaped up and grabbed it with a satisfied smile. "Now let Sydney go!" demanded Lola.

Tyberius glared down at Sydney, his eyes cold and hard.

Then, he shook his head, surprise crawling across his face. "Uh, alright..." he muttered, leaping off of Sydney.

Sydney coughed and struggled to breath as she stood up. She glared at Tyberius. "Psycho!" she growled. "Don't think you've won!" She turned and ran off. "We'll meet again!" she promised. "And that goes double for you, princess!"

Lola quickly followed Sydney. "Yeah, it's not over!" she said, with less energy, before dissapearing into the woods with Sydney.

"Mr. Tyberius?"

Tyberius turned over Bonehead, who looked very worried. "Are yo okay?" she asked.

Tyberius sighed, clutching his head. "I'm fine," he said. "Just a bit of a headache."

"What the heck?

Ty and Bonehead turned to see Bessie, who was holding a bright green stone. "Sydney tricked us!" she cried. "This isn't my diamond!"

"How right you are."

Tyberius's eyes widened. "Who said that?" he demanded, turning around.

A tall cloaked figure walked out from behind a tree. Long blades for hands, and a hard exoskeleton skin covered him.

Tsa'aal stepped foward. "Hello again," he said to Bessie and Bonehead.

"You!" Bessie said. "You're the one who told us where Sydney went! What are you doing here?"

"You know this... Pokemon?" Tyberius said, stepping in front of the girls. Where have I seen him before...?

"Yeah, he helped us back in town!" said Bonehead. "But why are you all the way out here?"

"Simple," Tsa'aal said. "I followed you. I knew that if you went to your rival's hideout, I could follow and reclaim what I wanted. I didn't think you'd be foolish enough to invite a stranger along to escort you." He looked over Tyberius. "I suppose I was wrong."

Tyberius stepped foward. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Tsa'aal grinned. "I am known as Tsa'aal."

Tyberius' eyes widened. His blades snapped foward. "I've heard of you," he said, harshly. "You're a thief and a murderer."

Tsa'aal shook his head. "Flattery will get you no where, boy," he said.

"You're a theif and a murderer?" asked Bonehead, shocked.

"I can't believe it!" Bessie said, gaping. "How did we not know?"

"He's only wanted on the mainland," Tyberius said. "He has stolen from many Pokemon, and he's wanted for the murder of Officer Lee of the Pokemon police and his deputies." His eyes hardened. "Seven deputies, all with families."

"Oh, dear," Tsa'aal said. "Families? Oh, my, how could I ever make up for this unforgivable sin I hath comitted." He chuckled darkly. "Not all of us are bleeding hearts, boy. Remorse gets in the way of your life, and leaves you cold and alone."

Tyberius pointed his blade at the Kabutops. "Shall we settle this...?"

Tsa'aal chuckled darkly. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "Hand over the Life Fragment, and I'll let you all live."

Tyberius rolled his eyes, as he readied his blades. "If it's a fight you want..." he muttered.

Tsa'aal chuckled. "How idiotic can you be?" he asked. He gestured to the forest. "I hold all the cards, boy!"

As he spoke, dozens of crab-like creatures emerged from the woods, their eyes glowing brightly. They were followed by squid like ones, who wore shells on their heads. Tyberius scowled as they surrounded him.

"So," Tsa'aal said. "The Life Fragment, or your little friends' lives?"

Tyberius sighed. He took the green gem from Bessie and tossed it to Tsa'aal, who caught it. "Wise choice," the Kabutops said. He turned to one of the Kabuto. "You know what to do, correct?"

The Kabuto nodded. "Yes, sir," he said.

Tsa'aal turned back to Tyberius. "I must bid you farewell," he said. He pointed his claw at the trio. "Now," he ordered.

The Kabuto and Omanyte pulled out sleep seeds, before pelting Bessie, Bonehead, and Tyberius with them. The sleeping gas effected the trio immediently, putting them to sleep.

Tsa'aal grinned. Well, he hadn't gotten to kill them, but the Life Fragment was his again. "Alright," he said. "It's time to depart. The Shadowed One wants her Fragment."

After a long, and very painful, process, Shade finally was cured of his poisoned scars. A look of the purest relief crossed the Houndoom's face as the pain subsided. "Ah, thank Arceus..."

"Now," Nurse Chansey said. "Don't let that happen again!"

"We won't," Kiara said. "Trust me."

"And me," Echo said. "He won't be going anywhere near another Arbok while I'm around!"

"Ah, really?" Gizmo asked, dissapointed. "I wanted to see Shade cream that big 'ol snake!"

Shade chuckled weakly. "Ah, don't worry about it kid," he said. "That snake is probably hiding in his hole, scared to death that I'm coming to get him!"

Kiara rolled her eyes. "Suuuuurrreee he is," she said.

"Well, he'd better be," Shade growled. "If I ever see him again...!"

And lo and behold, Nicholas and Chris walked into the infermery, carrying a wounded Venom. "Excuse me," Nicholas told the nurse. "This poor guy was just mugged in an alleyway. Would you mind lending us an Oran Berry for him?"

Shade bolted up. "You!" he shouted, growling at the Arbok. "You're the reason I'm in here?"

Venom faintly recognized him, but feigned innocence. "And... you are?"

"Don't be cute with us, snake!" Kiara snarled. "We all know you're the one who poisoned Shade!"

Venom looked up weakly. "Me? How could I have done that?"

"Leave him alone!" Nicholas shouted. "He was just beaten and mugged! He doesn't need you to make false accusations!"

"I agree!" Nurse Chansey said to a shocked Shade. "And as I said when you came inside, this infirmiry doesn't exclude anyone from medical services!"

Shade growled. "Fine," he snarled. "But I'd better not see your ugly face again, snake!" he shouted, before stalking out of the doctor's office, his brother and two friends following him.

"Oh, don't worry," Venom said, as the nurse put him on her examination table, and Nicholas and Chris sat down in the waiting room. "You won't."

Iron grinned as he finally managed to finish swabbing and polishing every inch and centimeter of his beautiful ship. The vessel was glowing like a star; no, like the sun! Yeah, that was it.

"Hey, Iron!" Breaker shouted, as he climbed out from below deck, yawning. The Tyranitar's nap was over. "How're things, man?"

Iron beamed. "This ship is officially the most spick and span ship you'll ever find. Ever." He patted on the handrailing lovingly. "She's ready to sail around the world and back again. Twice!"

Breaker nodded. "Great. Well, where's Blade and our passengers?"

"We're here. Mostly, anyway."

Blade, followed by Trinity, Faye, Ghost and Shadow walked up the plank onto the ship. "Heya," Breaker said. "Where's Nicky and the blue guy?"

"We found an Arbok being mugged," Blade said. "We managed to save him from his attacker. Nicholas and Chris took him to the doctor, while I took the children and our client here, where it's safe."

Breaker rolled his eyes. "You're spooked by one mugger? Come on..."

"The mugger was Tsa'aal." Blade's voice was calm and firm.

Breaker blinked, and Iron froze. Trinity dropped her hammer. "You're kiddin' right?" asked Breaker.

Blade raised an eye-ridge. "You've known me for more than fifteen years. I never joke."

Breaker growled. "Shadow, you're staying with the kids," he ordered. "We're going to look for him."

"It won't do us any good," Blade said. "He stole whatever he needed from the Arbok he was mugging. He'll be off the island by now."

"You've gotta be kiddin' me!" Trinity said. "Tsa'aal? The Tsa'aal? That guy who killed a whole group of cops? Why is he here? Can't you guys take care of him?" She turned to Iron. "I mean, you guys just thrashed the Reaper Wing gang around like they were a bunch of worthless punks!"

"That'd be because they are a bunch of worthless punks," Iron said. "Tsa'aal is different. Last time we went after him, we had another team, Team Ranier, with us, and he still kicked us around like we were nothing! The guy has some skill, I'll give 'im that."

"He also has a ton of mental problems," Breaker said. "He's a sadist and a psychopath. He isn't anyone to laugh at."

"But you guys are super strong!" said Faye. "You can beat him!" She began throwing punches in the air.

Breaker sighed. "Well, we'd better keep an eye out for him. That bounty could set us up for life!"

"That's what you said when we caught him the first time," said Iron, drily.

"Well, this time we don't have to split it with Team Ranier!" said Breaker. "So we'll get a bigger cut."

Blade nodded. "Very well," he said. "Iron, please go to the doctor and retrieve out friends. I'm going on a walk."

"What?" Iron asked. "Why? Blade, you know Tsa'aal has it out for you! If you go out there alone, you'll be a sitting Psyduck!"

Blade nodded. "I am counting on it. If he is still here, he won't miss a chance to kill me. Breaker, Shadow, Trinity, please watch the children while we're out." He began to walk off. "I'll be back before sundown."

Breaker nodded. "Alright... but if you see Tsa'aal, you come back here! You're not fighting him alone!"

Blade smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"And that should do it!" Nurse Chansey said. She helped Venom up off the table and onto the floor. After a nice Oran Berry and some bandages, he was looking good as new. "Now make sure to be more careful when wandering around town now, y'hear?"

Venom nodded. "I'll make a note of it," he said. He turned to Nicholas and Chris. "I suppose I owe you all a thank you."

"Not a problem," Nicholas said. "I'm glad you're alive."

"What did that weirdo want from you, anyway?" asked Chris, folding his arms.

Venom came up with a lie. "I was going to sell a gemstone I had found, and get a ticket to the mainland. He wanted it for whatever reason and ambushed me."

Chris nodded. "That makes sense," he said.

There was a knock on the door, and a large Garchomp entered the room. "Heya," he said. "The patient okay?"

Nicholas nodded. "He's fine," he informed Iron.

"Good," Iron said. "So, why'd Tsa'aal try and mug you?"

Venom felt a bit of confusion. He knows that freak? he thought. Before he could say anything, Nicholas answered for him. "He was trying to sell a gemstone and Tsa'aal wanted it."

Iron nodded. "Heh," he said. "That makes sense. Tsa'aal always did have a weakness for pretty stones."

Pretty stones that make you immortal, Venom thought.

"Well," Iron said. "As long as you're okay, we need to be heading off. Come on, guys."

"Right," Chris said. "Seeya," he told Venom.

"Goodbye, Mr...?" Nicholas said.

"Venom."

"Ah. Goodbye, Mr. Venom!" Nicholas called, as they walked out the door.

Venom gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you for the services," he told the Chansey, as he slithered off.

"You're welcome!" Nurse Chansey said. "Be sure to stay safe!"

Venom nodded and headed off. He had had enough of the post and enough of adventure. He was going back home, to think about how he'd spend the gems he still had in his stomach.

No more exploring, no more obnoxious Mawiles, and no more Cubones!

What could possibly go wrong?

The sun was dipping under the sea as Blade returned to the the ship. The Scyther sighed as he walked up the plank. No sign of Tsa'aal. His worst fear had come true. The Kabutops was Arceus knows where now.

The last time they had taken him down, they had had Team Ranier with them, and even then they had nearly lost. And now, Team Ranier was off on a long leave of absence, helping out Exploration Guilds in other countries. Blade hadn't seen those girls in over seven years. Heck, maybe they were all dead now.

He shook off the thought as he boarded the ship. Nicholas and Trinity were currently standing by the kids, with Trinity telling them an old story her father had told her.

"And then, my pop looked up, and stared right into the Red Gyrados' eyes!" she said. "He gripped his spear and aimed it, throwing it right into the enraged fiends throat!"

"Oooooohhhh!" Faye and Ghost said in unison.

"Blood splurted everywhere! The Gyrados howled in-!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Nicholas said. "They're just kids..." he whispered to Trinity. "They don't need this kind of imagry in their heads!"

Trinity laughed. "Ah, come on, Nicky!" she said. "Stop being such a wimp! Maybe people will think you're a man if you act more violent!"

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, you must of missed the part where I punched out a Skarmory."

Trinity turned back to the kids, but then noticed Blade. "Ah, swordsman!" she greeted. "Back alive, I see. You meet that crook again?"

"No," Blade said. "I didn't."

"Too bad," Breaker said, walking out from below deck. "Well, it's sunset, and we have a good wind heading towards the mainland. Hey, Iron! Time to shove off, man!"

Iron nodded, as he gripped the wheel of the ship. "Alright! Blade, weigh anchor! Breaker, untie the ropes! I'll raise the sails!"

Blade rolled his eyes as he pulled up the anchor. "Sure... Leave it to the guy with no hands..."

And so, the ship sailed off, leaving Tony Isle. Faye and Ghost ran up to the handrail waving their arms and shouting, "Goodbye, Tiny Island! We'll miss you!"

Night had fallen. Darkness filled the air as Tsa'aal walked on the beach, two of his Kabuto soldiers with him, and the bag containing the Life Frgament. He walked down the beach, as the pleasent aroma of the evening air mixed with a light brine filled his nostrils. However, he couldn't focus on that. He had a job to finish. After months of searching, he was coming to a close.

On the shore, there was a figure, wrapped in a dark cloak. She stood there, faceless, noiseless, and motionless by the shore, waiting for him.

Tsa'aal walked up to her. He closed his eyes and kneeled. "Milady. It is an honor. I have-"

"Another hint?" came a cold and swift reply.

Tsa'aal blinked. "Wha-?"

The woman turned to him. He could faintly see a pair of dark eyes, staring at him. "A hint, correct? Or a clue? That's all you ever bring me. A hint, or a clue, or a rumor. That's what I get for the effort I spent getting your out of prisons. Meager guesses!" Her eyes narrowed. "So, is it second verse, same as the first, or did you actually find something of-!"

Tsa'aal opened the bag, revealing the Life Fragment.

The woman froze. "Is...?" she stuttered, unable to believe it. "Is that... what I think it it?"

Tsa'aal grinned, he placed the Fragment on the ground, and raised his right arm blade. He brough it down on his left arm, cutting into it, until it dropped off, blue blood oozing into the sand. The two Kabuto gasped at the sight, but Tsa'aal merely picked up the Life Fragment and held it. Green sparks travelled down to his nub, and within seconds, a new arm had sprung from the wound. "I trust you are pleased?" he asked.

The woman snatched the Life Fragment away. "Finally," she whispered. "A piece of god-hood... A piece of solid life itself, in my hand... Heh... Heh... Heh... Mmmeheheh..." She couldn't keep it in anymore. "Ahahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAAHA! YES!" she crowed, raising the gem into the air. "At long last, my plans are coming into motion!" She turned to Tsa'aal. "It would seem that my releasing you from Flame Peak wasn't a waste after all! Excellent work," she said, placing the Life Fragment into her cloak.

Tsa'aal nodded, still on one knee. "I am pleased to see you are satisfied with your gift. the first of many, I promise you."

The woman nodded. "Yes. Only five shards remain to be found. I shall return to the mainland. I have some duties to attend to there. You and your army shall return to base. When I find word of another Life Fragment, I shall inform you."

Tsa'aal nodded. "As you wish."

The woman began to walk off, but paused. "Oh, and one more thing!" she said. "I'm afraid this island is too small and useless for it to part in my new world order." She turned to him, a smirk faintly visible behind her robes. "And, the more natural disasters we have, the better for my plans. Sink it."

Tsa'aal nodded. "As you wish, milady."