Chapter Thirteen: The Gale.

Sunlight poured through the window, Tom stirring when he felt little feet move across his body. Wanting to sleep some more, Tom rolled over, and yanked the covers over his body. There was a tug and Tom opened his eyes to see Jerry, dressed and ready to go. "Come on, Tom, they'll leave without us."

"Fine, I'm up, I'm up." Throwing the blankets, and Jerry by accident, Tom, in groggily fashion sat up. A little shaped moved about the cloth, Jerry trying to get out from underneath while Tom slowly went to get dressed. Dragging his sword and shield along, Jerry managed to escape the bed and run ahead of Tom, who opened the door.

"Tom, you look tired." Just as Tom entered the hall, so to di Diana. "Long night?"

Rubbing his eyes, Tom looked at Diana. "You're one to talk. You look different, have a bit of a glow about you."

"As do you. You and Jerry?"

"Yeah, we managed, so to speak."

"Good for you, Tom, I'm glad."

Down the steps they went, seeing what the group was up to. They were in the mist of loading Chief's cart with supplies for the trip. Steve's back was turned and found Tom glaring up at him, jumping slightly. "Jeez Tom, you scared the crap out of me."

"You should be scared. I know what you did to my sister last night." Smacking his fist into his palm, Tom took a step closer to Steve.

Backing against the cart, Steve put his hands up. "Tom, don't hurt me."

Playfully, Tom punched Steve, laughing. "I was only messing with you. You should've seen your face, I thought you were about to wet yourself." Slapping Steve on the back, Tom continued to chuckle. "But out of all seriousness, you hurt her in anyway, and I'll scalp you, okay?" With a pat to Steve's chest, Tom went back to join Diana.

Everyone was ready to go, all but Charlie, who seemed off. He fidgeted and seemed restless, making the others wonder if he was all right. "Well, Ah guess Ah'll be leavin'. Ya guys don't need me, yeah."

"But who will sing for us." Diana placed a hand on his shoulder, making him look up to meet her gaze. He smiled, tearing up a bit. The others grinned and thought it was sweet what Diana said. Charlie burst into song, making the others laugh. Jerry and Tom were the last to join the group and they shared a warm smile, following the rest. The group left on horse back, going to their next mission. Which was to attend a gale at German High Command. On the trip, Steve told the men of how he, and Jerry came across the island, and how they got to know Diana and Tom. Everyone seemed interested in the tale, especially Sameer.

"So, you're telling us there is an island full of women like Diana. Where was this place and how can I get there," asked Sameer eagerly.

They went on walking and Charlie was singing, hushing Sameer's pleads for directions to the island. Tom sat with Diana and glanced over to see Jerry, perched on the Steve's shoulder. Tom winked to the mouse, causing Jerry to blush. After some time, they reached location of the Gale, which was held in a great stone castle. Red, white, and black flags fluttered over the entrance. Cars lined up, waiting to get into the party. The group took cover in the woods by the road and needed to get more information to where Maru's second laboratory was located. Steve dressed in his German attire, and planed to sneak into the palace. With Sameer, who pretended to be his driver. Before they left, Diana spoke. "I want to come. If Ares is in their, I must kill him and stop this war."

"Yeah, then everyone will stop and there will be peace for ages to come." Tom added.

"Diana, I need you to wait with the others. Please, I have to do this on my own." Steve put his hat on, patting Diana's shoulders. "We'll back in a little bit."

Jerry waved to Tom and went in Steve's pocket.

Tom only sighed and folded his arms over his chest. "Are we really going to sit here and do nothing?" Diana gestured for them to leave the rest of the group. Usually Tom followed Diana without a second thought, yet he got a bad feeling about going. When Diana waved for him to hurry, he obliged. Moving through the foliage, Tom glanced back and saw the team fad behind the forest. "Diana, maybe we should listen to Steve. I mean, we're a bit out of our element."

"Since when were you Mr. restraint?"

"I want to kill Ares as badly as you. But upon coming, I realized, I don't belong. I stick out here worse than I did on the island."

Diana's expression softened. "I know, I feel it too."

"But you're human. Will be easily excepted among their kind. As for me, I'm a freak." Tom rubbed his eyes in defeat.

"Tom, listen to me. I can't go on without you. You're my brother, my brother in arms. Please." She took his sword and passed it to him, along with his shield. "No matter what anyone says, you are an Amazon warrior."

Diana:
"So I made a couple mistakes,
Got a few things wrong,
We can go right back to where we belong,
It's just us two, and a soaring song,
Redoing our debut,
We get to finish what we started,
It's a brand new me and you,"

Tom:
"A brand new me and you,"

Both:
"Thought we might be sunk upon first glance,
Well, who'd have thunk here's a second chance,
Life could be a song and dance somehow,
So take a look at us now!"

Tom felt his mood lift, realizing he had a mission to finish. They crept along and noticed the many horseless carriages. In one, German woman shouted, complaining about the block up. She got out of the car, and walked on ahead to see what held it up. From their spot in the brush Diana, and Tom had their sights on her. She wore a beautiful blue dress, similar in height to Diana. The woman noticed eyes watching her, and walked over to see who they were. Diana and Tom stood back, making room for her. They said nothing and stood back, looking her over.

"Who in gods name are you? Vhy are you Vearing that strange armor? This is 1918, not the Roman times," scoffed the woman, running her hand along her hair. The pair shared a glance and Diana went to stand by her, while Tom took a few steps back. The woman saw this and looked from Diana to the cat, curious as to what they were up to. "I say, vhat are you doing now?" Tom held his paw up, making a square shape with both his thumbs, and index fingers, seeing if the dress would work. Seeing the dress would fit her, Tom gave Diana a thumbs up, and Diana sized up the woman, before drawing her fist back.

In the castle the party was at it's peek, people mingled around, and ate hors d'oeuvres, talking while posh music filled the room. The place was luxurious, with flowing curtains, polished gold rimmed glasses, with trays of silver. Diana and Tom made their way in easily, Diana speaking German, clamming to be someone's cousin. Long and short, they were inside, Diana gazing out over the crowd.

"Right, now we look for Ares."

Tom spotted food and watered at the mouth. "Okay, I'll go check by the table of food. After all, I'm sure the God of war need nourishment to fight."

"Be careful, Tom."

Tom tugged at his tux, walking past the many humans who paid him little attention. Among the many, Tom saw Steve smooth talking some creepy looking lady. If he had to guess, he'd assume she was Dr. Maru aka, Doctor Poison. When he reached the table, Tom got a plate and tossed food onto it, mini crustless sandwiches, crackers with layers of cheese, shrimp, and sliced veggies and dip. When Tom reached the far end his plat was mound high with food, taking a glass of wine to top it all off. Tom got a napkin and saw Jerry, who came out of nowhere.

"Jeez, mouse you scared the shat out of me."

"Tom, you and Diana were suppose to stay behind."

"Yeah, well, you trying telling that to her." Tom leaned against a cushy chair, tossing a shrimp into his mouth. "Weren't you suppose to be with Steve?"

"Yeah, till I saw you guys enter. You trying to blow our cover."

"Are you hangry? Here, have a bite to eat."

"Tom, I'm serious, you and Diana need to go."

Tom stopped his eating when he saw Diana dance with General Ludendorff, believing it was Ares in disguise. "I gotta go."

"Tom, stop!" Jerry grabbed Tom's tail, being drug along. "Tom, please, stop!"

Tom did stop, when a woman screamed and pointed to Jerry. "Ahh, a mouse!" Seeing Tom, she gestured at him. "Cat, get the mouse!"

Not sure what to do, Tom saw Diana nod, knowing him chasing Jerry would provide the perfect distraction. "Sorry, Jerry." With a loud hiss, Tom turned and raised his paw, releasing his claws. Jerry gasped and ran for it, everyone moving aside while Tom went after Jerry. All the while, Diana went to strike down Ludendorff, only for Steve to stop her. Tom frowned, knowing Steve ruined their plan, growling as he dove under the table to get Jerry, lifting the mouse before tucking him in his coat pocket.

Diana threw Steve aside and stormed off, leaving to where Ludendorff went, Tom trailing after her. They were outside, Diana looking around for the General. "Darn it, I lost him."

"Don't worry, we'll find him." Tom encouraged.

"Tom, Diana!" Steve caught up, looking a one to the other. "Please, listen to me."

Diana was about to talk, when a cannon rose form one of the towers, shooting something through the air. They heard cheering from inside, Tom getting a bad feelin in the pit of his stomach. For the bomb went in the direction of the town, all knowing they had to get there, and fast. Diana took off, Steve going after her. Tom was about to move when he felt Jerry move, glancing down.

"Tom, I don't think you want to see the aftermath. I garinte you it won't be pretty."

"I don't wont to hear it," signed Tom, walking over to where the cars were parked. A single guy sat and saw Tom remove his suite to reveal a gladiator suit. "What the-" He saw the cat climb into the car and went to stop him, going over to grab him. Tom, not in the mood grabbed the man by the collar, and threw him into another vehicle. Without a second thought, Tom started the car, revving it a few times.

"Tom, wait, you never drove before!" Jerry quickly climbed up and sat shot gun as Tom burnt rubber before taking off.

The car flew through the forest at great speed, passing Steve, who rode hose back. They buzzed by Chief, and Charlie, the two man lookin with wide eyes, unable to believe that Tom was driving a car. "Guys I need you to track Ludendorff, let me know where he's going." Steve shouted at his friends, blowing by to keep up with the car, and Diana.

Along the dirt road the car zoomed, Tom had the peddle to the metal, the bumpy road made Jerry bounce about in his seat. Determined to reach the town, Tom turned sharply, the rear end sliding and straightening once Tom spun the wheel. Getting closer to the town, Tom saw the town blanketed in a sea of orange fog. Tom hit the breaks, sending Jerry to the floor. With a kick to the side, the door flew open and Tom dashed into the town without concern for his own well-being.

On the car floor, Jerry rubbed his head and got up, trying to locate Tom among the fog. "Tom! No don't go in there!" Jerry climbed down, and stopped at the boarder, unable to go any farther, not wanting to breath in the toxic gas. He coughed into his paws and fell back, trying to catch his breath.

In the village Tom saw the bodies of the people, who had no where to go, no where to hide. Men, woman, and children's bodies lay lifeless on the ground, falling where they stood only moments ago. How precious life was, there and then gone in fleeting second. The only comfort was, they never knew what hit them. The people they celebrated victory with, were dead, even the animals were caught up in the senseless violence.

(Carried Away from Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile)

Tom:
"We had nights of endless music,
We were dizzy dancing till the dawn,
We were free singing sweet harmonies with the city,
But maybe that was someone else's song,
Back to earth again,
You knew where this was heading,
And honestly, you're better off,
Better here where you belong,

You got caught up in the colors,
You got wrapped up in the ride,
You thought the feeling was forever,
And the stars were on your side,
It was lovely while it lasted,
But it wasn't meant to stay,
Still, you let yourself get carried away,
I guess I let myself get carried away,
We got carried away, carried away,
Got carried away, carried away,

So we got mixed up in the madness,
But wasn't it a perfect mess we made,
Well, you live and learn,
Your return to the safe and simple,
And behind our walls, we fall back into place,

Back to earth again,
You're through with pretending,
'Cause this is how the endin' goes,
Now you're here where you belong,

We got caught up in the colors,
We got wrapped up in the ride,
We thought the feeling was forever,
And the stars were on our side,
It was lovely while it lasted,
But it wasn't meant to stay,
We just let ourselves get carried away,
We got carried away, carried away,
Got carried away, carried away,
Carried away, (Lost in the fantasy) carried away,
(Of all we were gonna be) carried away, carried away,
It was lovely while it last, it was never meant to stay,
But we let ourselves get carried away."

Outside the village of smoke, Steve arrived. "Jerry, where are they?"

"Tom, and Diana went in, they haven't come back out yet."

Steve made of sound of helplessness, knowing he'd die if he entered. "Diana! Tom, Diana, where are you!?" Within he clouds, two shaped appeared, Diana and Tom exiting with gloomy expression. "Diana, thank god you're safe." Hugging her, he stood back and brushed her cheek. "Diana, I'm sorry."

"We saved them for nothing!" Diana then shoved Steve back harshly. "They're all dead because you wouldn't let me kill Ares! Why did you stop me!?"

"Diana, you can-we can still win. The others are seeing where Ludendorff went. If we can find Maru's other laboratory we can win." Steve gave her some space, looking to the sky when he noticed something. "Diana, look."

"Smoke? Who lit a whinny roast?" Tom signed.

"It's Chief, they found it, they know where they are."

"Then we go." Diana leaped onto the horse and took off, riding back into the woodland.

"The day is still ours!" Tom, overjoyed, jumped into his car and took off, leaving the man and mouse in a cloud of dust.

"Well he certainly caught onto driving," said Steve, running after them on foot.

"We'll never catch up running on foot." Jerry signed.

"You're right, Jer." Steve spotted a motorcycle laying off to the side. "Now this is more my style." The two shared a smile before Steve started it up, hearing the engine raor to life. They buzzed after the warriors, and were only a few minutes behind, moving briskly along the grass.