Hey guys, next chapter! Enjoy!

Raz paced back and forth in her room, waving her arms about as she raved to Opal, who was sitting on the bedside table, munching happily on a strawberry. Raz was far from impressed with her physical condition and ordered she eat before her. She wouldn't be able to finish it all anyway, there was at least five times more than what her usual supper was- and she was used to sharing off her plate anyway. Besides, she was too busy ranting to pay any attention to her complaining stomach anyway. "He just- he's just so… ooh! He alread'eh drives me nuts! Like Squint, 'cept bigger an so much more arrog'nt! He thinks- ooh!"

Opal swallowed and wiped her mouth. "Well Raz, with all due respect, you weren't exactly… 'compatible' either."

"Well wot didja expect? Jus lettim treat me like Ah'm nothin more than a pr'tty face?!"

"No no, that's not at all what I'm saying." She nibbled at a peach drowned in cherry syrup, her paws covered in the sticky red sauce, getting a bit on her face. Just the small slice was the same in proportion to her as a watermelon slice would be to her kangaroo queen. "what I'm saying is, maybe if you tried to get along with him, it might get easier. If you respect someone- really respect them, as them, not because you're scared of them-"

"I ain't scared a' that slimy jerk."

"-then they'll probably learn to respect you as well. And with respect comes the ability to get along, and with that" she took another bite of her sticky slice of peach. "Comes compatibility and happiness."

Raz sighed, putting her face in her hands, flopping down on her bed. "Urgh… why is this so compl'cated?!" she groaned. "I jus met th' guy an I alread'eh hate 'is guts. An I hafta marry 'im? I mean, 'e yelled a' me, yelled 't you- an now yer tellin me ta get along with him?!"

"I know it sounds… reversed, m'queen. But it is all I can advise."

"…You talk like a much olda person than whatcha are, ya know tha?"

"…Thank you?"

"Alrigh, ya know wot?" she sat up suddenly, an odd look in her eyes, looking confident.

Opal shifted nervously, setting her half eaten peach aside. She didn't like the way Raz was grinning; the same way she had when she turned her into a yo-yo. "Wh-What… Pleasedon'tmakemebungeejumpagain!" she was already turning a bit green at the thought of that long, scary drop.

"What? No, no, I w's jus thinkin." She rubbed her hands together. "If 'e wants ta play rough, fine. I been playin rough mah whole life. If he don', whateva. But I'm gonna make sure he knows- ya don' mess with a pirate Sheila. 'Specially not this one."

Opal winced. "You're really that angry?"

"Oh no, mah dear Opal." She said, all too sweetly. "I don' get angry." Her voice turned malicious. "I get revenge." That was something her big brothers (Squint in particular) had taught her, drilled into her head since she was a tiny joey unable to yet talk. In situations like this, they'd always said, don't get angry. That got you know where and showed the enemy was getting under your skin. So never get angry. Get even.

"Oh Opal…" she sang, and the rabbit gulped, whimpering in her throat. Again, she could already tell this wouldn't end well.

…

Again, she was right. Rsz asked to be shown to the servants quarters, and Opal had no choice but to oblige and do as she was told, leading her through the skull-torch lit halls. "H-H-Here we are." She squeaked out in a tiny voice. The moment they entered, twelve pairs of glowing predatory eyes zeroed in on them from the shadows. Opal's ears flattened and she whimpered "This place gives me the c-c-creeps." At these words, Raz picked her up, tucking her into the top of her pouch purely out of habit.

Slowly the predatory servants emerged from the shadows, forming a circle around her, all bowing in their four-legger way.

Several greetings of "My Queen." "Milday." And "Your Grace." Made her a bit uncomfortable.

"Um, yeah, hi. Anywho, stop kissin the ground so I c'n talk ta ya like normal mammals." Instantly they all snapped up into sitting positions. She rolled her eyes. "Fer the lov of vi'lence… neva mind. Aneh'way, look, I need ya'll ta help me with somethin."

"Anything, My Queen." She recognized the orange leopardess as the one that had continuously tried to offer her meals back on the ship.

"Good." Her grin was mean. "Where can we ge' a bucket a' pink paint?"

…

Zaim stood alone in his library, bent over a desk, studying a leaf scroll. "Hmm… let's see…" he raised his lit and a bit higher for a better view, his blue flame being his only source of light. "Platinum band, emeralds, topaz, pearls…" he switched to another scroll momentarily. "Ruby and garnet here." He manipulated the sketch with a flick of his finger, bringing life and color to it. He selected a handful of each of the aforementioned gems and formed a circle around the long banana leaf scroll. "Now…" he began muttering the language of magic, fingers glowing a fluorescent yellow as they pressed against the page. An audible electric pulse became evident in the air. The atmosphere seemed to hum and buzz and vibrate, like the earth itself was trying to contribute to the magical workings.

Zalim watched, eyes bright with amazement, as the page turned gold and glittery, giving off a brilliant light and turning his albino fur brazen. The page, now resembling a liquid pool of gold, rippled like a calm pond. Then, out of the magic, pure liquid magic, it started to rise. There out of the gold pool, began to rise something, dripping the watery golden glitter. It was slow and mesmerizing, the tip appearing with impossible mystic and wonder. Slowly still it continued to rise, reveal a platinum chain decorated with topaz, emeralds, garnets. It became a long necklace, the tip of a heart shaped ruby appeared at the end. Then-

"Lord Zalim!"

The kangaroo, startled, jumped harshly, breaking his concentration. The necklace instantly vanished, falling back into the golden page, which reverted back to normal at the touch. What was once a pool of gold magic and perfect jewelry was but an old banana leaf scroll and detailed sketch now. "NO!" even as he said it he staggered unsteadily and grabbed the table, claws emerging to keep his grip.

"Lord Zalim?" the voice called again, softer this time, accompanied by a knock on the door. "Lord Zalim?"

"What. IS. IT?!" he roared, blasting the door to splinters. There stood Opal, nervously twiddling her fingers.

She bowed. "Um, M'lord?"

"Do you have any idea what you've just done?" He hissed. "How much work you've ruined? How much time and effort wasted? How much magic?!"

Opal tried not to whimper. "My deepest apologies, Lord Zalim. But, ah… Lady Raz wishes to see you."

"Oh." His slowl-morphing-to-monstrous form snapped back to normal. "well why did you not just say that?"

Opal smiled at his reaction, still in a respectful kneel. "She resides in the gardens."

Hey, how was that? Didja like? I got this done during school yesterday, but it took awhile to type it up. I've got most of the next chapter almost done, so it should be up tomorrow or Friday. Please review? :D