Author's Note: Thank you all for sticking with me. I'm really looking forward to how this story pans out.
Chapter Five: Street Fight
(Background Music: Rock the Casbah by The Clash)
The swordsmen charged at the group, yelling as they swung their blades wildly. Puss, Kitty, Aladdin and Brother Carlos took a fighting position and braced themselves.
"It's Beuachat," said Puss as he parried a scimitar with his rapier. Then he pushed it back and slashed the mercenary.
Meanwhile, Brother Carlos found himself facing two mercenaries with the frying pan, using it like a sword to block their attacks.
"Forgive me Lord," said the monk as he smacked one of them in the face.
Kitty found herself ganged up on by about four mercenaries, each one hellbent on skinning the feline femme-fatale.
"Sorry boys," said Kitty with a wink, "none of you are my type." Then she leapt into the air and froze Matrix-style, before slicing in a circle, cutting them all down.
Aladdin used his mighty fists to strike down multiple thugs with precise blows.
"Bonjour, Puss," said Beauchat tauntingly, "I see you aren't working alone this time."
"Vete a la mierda," said Puss as he parried and blocked more blades.
"Is this the poussin chaud you've told me about," Beauchat clearly asked about Kitty. "I'm impressed you'd be with someone that isn't a doormat."
"Like you could do better," said Puss in response.
Beauchat looked at Kitty and smiled. Kitty couldn't help but blush. Then a blade swung down next to her, snapping her out of it.
"Sorry Emile," said Puss as he slashed an enemy, "she's mine."
"Puss," said Kitty, "we need to get out of here."
"We can lose them in the Templar area," said Aladdin, "the cops patrol that area more."
"You want to run into the cops," asked Puss.
"Well," said Aladdin, "Crusaders. I'm sure the Catholic man here can talk our way out of any trouble with them."
"I'm a monk," said Brother Carlos as he ducked a sword, "not the mayor."
Then they ran, with the mercenaries hot on their tail, along with some curious residents. Puss, still running, got next to Kitty.
"You aren't jealous," said Kitty, "are you."
"Me, Puss In Boots," retorted Puss, "El Chupacabra, the Gentleman Bandit of Spain and Frisky Two-Times? Of a French prick that's robbed me too many times to count and is after you? No!"
"But he's French," said Kitty.
"And a dick-head," replied Puss.
"Well," said Kitty, "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
"Haah," a swordsman leapt out from an alley and swung at Kitty, only for Puss to intervene with a well timed slash.
"Didn't look like it a second ago," teased Puss.
"Oh, shut up you red devil," said Kitty.
They turned down a corridor and thought they were safe, only to be confronted by a massive, black-clad Arab swordsman.
"Really," sighed Puss as the swordsman began to show off.
"Greetings, infidels," said the swordsman in a voice not unlike a professional wrestler, "welcome, to, you DOOM!"
Hearing the footsteps closing in, Puss rolled his eyes and hurled his sword like it was a spear into the swordsman's heart, killing him instantly.
"You are really good at breaking the sixth commandment," commented Brother Carlos to Puss.
"So you want to complain," said Puss annoyedly.
"No," said Brother Carlos reflexively, "just an observation. These men want to kill us too."
Then, the group heard voices in Arabic approaching. They didn't sound like people having a conversation or merchants trying to sell something. These men sounded angry.
"They're saying they want to butcher us alive," said Aladdin, "run!"
Puss, Kitty, Brother Carlos and Aladdin took off, hearing the sounds of arrows being launched behind them, some of them striking the shops beside them. Aladdin couldn't help but look back and notice at least two dozen masked arabs carrying either swords or bows, along with three white men wearing chainmail knight armor and purple and black crests.
"You know how to give a girl a good time," said Kitty to Puss teasingly.
"Tell me something I don't know," replied Puss.
"Occasionally," said Kitty, "to earn extra money, I'd dress up like you and do bachelor parties."
"Kitty," said Puss, not knowing if he should be turned on or horrified, "we need to talk about that later."
Wham!
A mercenary charged out of a door to their right, along with two friends and attacked.
Puss and Kitty blocked the attacks with their swords, pushing the assailants back before slashing their legs and sending them to the ground.
Behind them, Aladdin and Brother Carlos were forced to hold off five mercenaries, with Aladdin's fists and Brother Carlos' frying pan making quick work of them.
"Catch them," said the goateed knight, "I need the book!"
"Padre," said Kitty, "give me the journal!"
Without thinking, Brother Carlos reached into his sack and pulled out the book and tossed it to Kitty. Kitty caught it and ran.
"No," said Puss, not wanting her to get hurt.
Kitty took off with the book, with about six men chasing her.
"See you at Calvary," said Kitty to Puss, "don't worry about me!"
"We have to leave now," said Aladdin.
"Head for Calvary," said Brother Carlos, "it's our best chance!"
Meanwhile, Kitty had climbed up onto a rooftop and evaded capture by the mercenaries, gripping the book ever tightly.
"Fools," muttered Kitty. Then she slowed down and walked along the rooftop as the hot, Middle Eastern sun toasted her black fur. The chaotic, storied city looked so peaceful from above. She looked up to the surrounding mountains and saw a shadow of a cross on one of them. "That must be the place," said Kitty to herself.
Just then, two knights in black and purple snatched her.
"Ustedes bastardos," growled Kitty as they shoved her into a burlap sack.
"You might want to rethink that sentiment," said the goateed leader, "let's hope your friends haven't forgotten you, cat!"
—-
It was now sunset on top of Calvary, the mountain where Jesus was crucified. The view of the city was breathtaking for the adventurers. All three of them.
"If only Kitty was here to see this," said Puss, "she'd like it."
"Have faith Puss," said Brother Carlos, "she should be here soon enough."
Puss' mind started to wander. He began to worry that something had happened to Kitty and was horrified about what the Fisher King's men would do to her. Though he wouldn't show it, Puss was panicking at the thought of his beloved Kitty Softpaws being tortured.
"Message for Puss In Boots," called out a pigeon.
"What is it," said Puss, who had snapped back to reality.
"The great and terrible Sir Mordred demands you abandon your quest in exchange for the prisoner," said the pigeon without emotion, "his camp is on the southern outskirts of the city."
Puss thought about what he would do next, but one thing was certain, he had to get her back.
—-
Author's Note: Sorry for not posting for a while, I've been busy lately. I am, however, fully intent on finishing this story. Let me know your thoughts!