Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
This chapter was a bear to write and edit. Reason, you will have to see at the end.
Finally: I hope the Furlong's new neighborhood is ready for Inferno? If not, then won't they be shocked when he is seen, flying around, with a very happy Sarah on his back, as you will read!
Sally was having the time of her life, riding on the back of Inferno. It took her some coaxing from Sarah for her to get on Inferno's back. But once he flew into the sky, and her stomach settled, she opened her eyes and saw the ocean behind Callie's house, up close and personal, she relaxed and started behaving like a young kitten.
Sarah grasped onto Inferno a little tighter with her legs, then said, "I think my mother is ready for something, a little more, daring, Inferno."
Inferno let out a small puff of smoke from his nose, then with a might flap of his leathery wings, he rose into the sky, in a very steep climb.
He leveled off about 1000 feet above the surface of the water, just below some low clouds. He craned his head around to make sure his two mistresses were completely safe, then focused on the clouds just above him, rising into the bank of white, making them disappear from the sight of all below.
"This is amazing, Sarah," Sally said.
"Let go of his body, mommy, and reach out to feel the clouds. Trust me, you'll love it," Sarah said.
Sally let go of one of Inferno's scales, reached out with her left paw, and let her fingers, slip through the cloud. The cool wetness soaked the fur on her fingers and paw, but it felt wonderful, against the warm air around them. She brought her paw back in, grabbing ahold of the scale in front of her again, then said, "I'm an idiot for not listening to you, Sarah and not trying this earlier. I may have to trade in my van, and use Inferno as my mode of transportation from now on."
"That would be very interesting, me and you showing up at my school, riding on the back of Inferno, mommy. But I don't think the other parents are ready to see a three hundred pound, live dragon," Sarah said.
Sally let go of Inferno and wrapped her arms around her daughter. She leaned in close to Sarah, then said, "I guess not. But what a sight it would be. We would be the talk of the city, for weeks. I don't know about you, but I'm soaked. Inferno, down, please."
Inferno started to descend out of the Cloud Bank and once he was below them, he increased the rate of his descent, and let out a flame from his mouth, which warmed the air around them. As they descended, the warm, almost hot air dried the two females.
He was about to land in Callie's yard, but Sally said, with a firm pat to his left flank with her left paw, "No, Inferno, the yard to the left."
Inferno quickly banked to the left, flew back out over the ocean again for a few seconds, then made a hard banked turn to the right, landing in the neighboring yard. He took a few steps forward, stopped, and lowered himself to the ground, letting his mistresses slide off his body.
Sally was the first to dismount, followed by Sarah.
Sally went over to Inferno's face, kissed his left cheek, then said, "I can see why Callista befriended Esmeralda. You are an amazing friend, Inferno. I'm glad you came into our lives."
"Mommy, why are we here?" Sarah cautiously asked. "The owners of this house can come home at any moment and see Inferno."
Sally turned to her daughter, crouched down, then said, "The owners already know about Inferno, Sarah."
"What! You told them about him! How could you?!" Sarah said, grasping ahold of Inferno's neck.
"Oh Sarah, you have it all wrong. Your father and I realized that Inferno was getting way too big for our current house, and something had to be done. It was either send Inferno to live with Callie and her family, or we had to find a new home for our family. We knew the first option would be completely unacceptable and he would somehow be back at our house, by nightfall. So, we bought this house. We are moving out here, next weekend."
Sarah's eyes went wide when she realized what her mother had told her. "You mean I get to live, right next door to some of my best friends?"
"Yes, you do. And you get to keep Inferno, right by your side," Sally answered.
"But, doesn't that mean I have to change schools? I don't want to stop seeing Evelyn and Gwendlyn every day," Sarah said.
"No, you don't have to switch schools. You can still see your friends, and Gwendlyn doesn't live that far from here, you can go home with her, and I or your father will pick you up from there," Sally said.
Sarah let go of Inferno and ran to her mother. And as she hugged her mother tightly, she said, "This is one of the best days ever! Not only do I get to live next door to the she-cat I want to be like. I get to keep Inferno! Thank you, mommy!" She let go of her mother, returned to Inferno, stroked his face, and said, "Come, boy. Let's find your room."
Sally watched as her daughter, led a large dragon towards the house, like it was nothing. "Sarah, you are going to have one wild life ahead of you. But your friends are going to be by your side, for the rest of your life," she said, then caught up to her daughter and Inferno.
An hour later, Gwendlyn was running up the front walk of Sarah's new house. She was followed by Katerina and Tina. They were holding each other's paw tightly as they followed their daughter.
Gwendlyn reached the front door, stopped, then knocked. "I'm so happy that Sarah is moving out here!" She said. "Between a real dragon and Persival and his family, this neighborhood is going to be a real life Fairy Tale."
"That is is, Gwen," Katerina said. "You should have seen Mark's face, when Chance told him, Sarah's parents bought the place, specifically for Inferno. He wasn't too worried about having a dragon as a neighbor, but he was thrilled that he was going to be close to Sarah. For all those muscles he has, he really is a big mush when it comes to kittens."
"You should see his desk at the Precinct. Its covered with pictures of Lisa, Raphael, and Ultrasounds of the baby," Tina said with a smile on her face.
The door opened, revealing Sally. She smiled and said, "Come on in." As she opened the door even wider.
The trio entered the house, looked around the large foyer, and as Sally closed the door, Gwendlyn asked, "Do you know where Sarah is?"
Sally crouched down to Gwendyln's height, then answered, "She's down in the basement with Inferno, hopefully giving him a bath. If you want, you can head down, it's the the door on your left, just past the kitchen."
"Thank you," Gwendlyn said, and left to go and find her friend.
As Sally stood back up, she said, "She is such an amazing girl. She, Sarah, and Evelyn are such close friends. Sarah's life is much richer for having them."
"When Katerina and I met Gwendlyn at the orphanage, we just knew, she was going to be our daughter, Sally," Tina said. "Did you ever think Sarah would have friends, like us?"
"No, I didn't, Tina. But she is much happier than she has been in years, and it all because of all of you," Sally responded.
"We didn't really do anything, Sally," Katerina said. She cinched her right arm around Tina's waist, as she said, "Sarah makes it easy to befriend her."
Then they all heard a loud bang coming from where Gwendlyn went. Followed by Gwendlyn poking around the corner, and saying, "Mommies! Apparently, dragons and baths do not mix! Inferno just took off with Sarah out of the back of the house!"
"Do you know if Sarah is alright, Gwen?" Sally asked.
"She's perfectly fine. Inferno would never do anything to hurt or scare her. He just doesn't like cold water. The last I saw them, Sarah was seated right before his wings, screaming, "Higher! Faster!"
"That would be my daughter," Sally said. "Ever since Inferno grew big enough for her to ride him, flying on his back is now her favorite past time. Inferno is a part of my family, a very large and scaly part, but a part nonetheless. I don't want to know what our lives would be like without him in it." She looked over to her friends, then said, "They will be back, sometime soon. Anyone want anything from the kitchen?"
Chance happened to be in the yard with Kate in his lap. Sitting in an Adirondack chair, simply being a father and daughter. He kissed his daughter on the nose, then said, "In a few days, I'm going to marry your mother."
That was when Chance saw a large red blur, followed by hearing Sarah yelling in delight, "Higher! Faster!" He looked out over the horizon and saw, Inferno flying with Sarah on his back. "I wonder if Callista did that, when she was the queen?" He quickly kissed his daughter again, then said, "Of course she did. If Esmeralda was still around, Callista would be flying right along with Sarah."
Jake ran into Chance's yard, cradling Alex in his arms. He stopped in front of Chance, then asked, "What was that!?"
"That was two of our new neighbors, Jake. I thought I told you, Sarah and her family were moving out here?" Chance asked.
"You seemed to have forgotten to tell me that tidbit of information, Chance. Now, at least I know what that red blur was. If you will excuse me, I have to get Alex calmed down for his nap, again." Jake said. He kissed his son, then said, "Come on, Alex, time for your nap."
The young kitten yawned at his father, and fell asleep in his arms.
Chance looked down at his own daughter, and noticed, she was fast asleep as well. "Care to lay our kids down at your house? We still need to finish the Cyclotron for Kayla and start on those new designs for the modifications for the Turbo Kat."
"Sure, they are like siblings anyhow. They might as well be brother and sister. Let's get these two laid down. Alex's crib is plenty big enough for two.."
The two best friends went into Jake's yard, and into the house to put their children down for their naps.
Darius was fuming, once he leaned his son was imprisoned. He was shoving anyone who happened to be in his way.
He accidentally bumped into Callista, who was walking with Evelyn. He took a few steps back, bowed in respect to them, and said, "Please forgive me, your majesty, and you too Mistress Evelyn."
"Darius, I know you are madder than ever. However, pushing others out of the way, is neither polite, or condoned!" Callista sternly said, placing her paws on her very curvy hips.
"My apologies, your majesty," Darius said, still in a bow.
"Please rise, Darius," Callista said, as she relaxed her posture.
Darius rose back to full height, and waited for Callista to berate him.
"That's much better," she said. "I know you are upset, Darius. I am too. Your son was very brave. He is just like his father."
"He would be honored to hear that, your majesty," Darius said.
Callista scowled, then said, "Darius, I never liked being called majesty. Please refrain for using those terms, in my presence."
"Once again, My apologies, your maj.." He started to reply, but when he saw Callista's right paw, encased in a bright red glow, he quickly corrected himself, and continued, "Mrs. Feral."
Callista raised her right paw to her face, and gently blew across it, extinguishing the glow. As she lowered her paw to her hip, she said, "That's much better, but still not quite right. I would prefer if you called me Callista, Darius."
"My father and mother would roll in their graves, if I addressed you as such. But, if that is how the queen wants to be addressed, then I will respect her wishes," Darius said.
Callista went over to Darius, kissed his left cheek, then said, "Both you and Damon are very galant, and quite handsome. I can see why your wife fell for you."
"Thank you, Callista. Ulysses is one very lucky tom. He married one of the most compassionate, caring, and beautiful, she-cats in the world. If I was alive, back in the Dark Ages, it would have been my pleasure and honor to serve its gorgeous queen," Darius said.
"I don't think, Christine would appreciate you flirting with me," Callista said.
"Christine, will be forever in my heart. Even though, you are very beautiful, my love for my wife will never waver," Darius said, after he kissed Callista's right paw.
Evelyn giggled, causing Darius and Callista to turn their heads to face her.
"What? If he was one of your knights, Callista. None of the princes who tried to court you, would have never gotten past the gates of your castle."
"Are you saying, I would have been courted by Darius, Evelyn?" Callista asked.
"Not only courted, but he would make sure you, stayed, good and single," Evelyn said.
A few minutes later, the three of them were standing in front of the entrance to the dungeon. Darius attempted to enter, but was stopped by two of the guards. One of them said, "Sorry, old friend. You know I can't allow you in to see your son."
"You are going to deny me, a chance to visit, the only family I have left? " Darius asked, with his fists clenched at his sides.
"I don't want to, but I have to. Even though, David had no right to touch the queen, the way he did, and we all silently cheered Damon for showing him his place, I can't afford to wind up like Rodney, leaving my wife and three kids without their father and husband," the guard said.
"What if I extended my offer to you, and every other, who works for David?" Callista asked.
"Your Majesty," both guards said, and fell to a single knee.
Evelyn took they opportunity to slip past all of the adults and made her way into the dungeon. She walked through several dingy stone halls, covered with mold and moss, her feet barely made a sound on the stone floor. Until she found a set of stairs, leading down to a lower level. She used her powers to sense which direction to proceed. Her abilities didn't fail her. On the wisp of a breeze, she caught a glimpse of Damon's aura coming from the lower level. She started descending down the stairs, one at a time, being careful of the slick steps, until she reached the bottom. The dank, musty odor filled the air She knew most sounds traveled quite well, so she beaconed on a whisper, "Damon?"
Damon was once again, laying back on his bunk, looking at the ceiling. He started to wonder if he was ever going to get out of there. Then his mind wandered to the way Evelyn, smiled, the way the air seemed lighter when she was around, especially the way her lips felt against his. He thought he was dreaming, at first, when he heard her calling out his name. But when he heard it again, he stumbled out of the bunk, ran to the bars, and called out, "Evelyn?"
She heard his reply from the passage, directly in front of her. She started a brisk walk down the passage, not caring about her footfalls slapping against the stones. She said, "I'm here, Damon."
Damon heard her voice. His princess' voice. He also knew he shouldn't be thinking about her as his. However, the thought of Evelyn being his girlfriend was too much for the young tom to suppress. Just as his father had, when he was Damon's age, his mind was telling him, 'He has found his One and Only.' He waited as patiently as he could, until he cold see his princess again.
Evelyn came around a corner to a Dead End, that was when she saw Damon, behind a set of tall rust stained bars. She stopped in front of him, then said, "This will not do at all. The hero should be free, not rotting in some, musty dungeon." She raised her paws, high in the air, and commanded the cell's door to open. Her body was suddenly encased in a white glow and the air around her, grew hot, as well as the cell door, separating them.
Damon had to step back from the scorching heat, or he was going to get severely burned. He backed himself into a corner and shielded himself with the flimsy mattress, hoping it would be enough to protect him.
Callista felt a very powerful surge of magic from the lower levels of the dungeon. She quickly looked around for her pupil. Not seeing her, she instantly knew where the source of the magic originated from. "Darius, we need to get down there, now." She turned to the two guards, then ordered, "As your queen, I order you both to let us pass."
"My queen, I regrettably have to disobey your orders," the other guard said.
"We don't have time for this!" Darius said. "Either move out of our way, or I will personally move you both!"
"Darius, please be reasonable, we have our orders," the first guard said.
Darius acted. He pulled back his left arm, his paw clenched into a tight fist, and struck the guard on the left, sending him to the ground. He quickly followed up with his right paw, connecting with the second guard's face.
Once both guards were knocked out, Darius bowed to Callista, then said, "I'm sorry you had to witness that, Callista. Can we get down there to check on my son?"
"Darius, if you ever act like that again, in my presence! Not only will you be released from your duties! I will make sure my husband hears how you behaved in front of me!"
"I never want to be on Ulysses' bad side, ever!" Darius said.
Callista went over to him, grabbed his right ear with her left paw, then said, "Good! I might be a 500 year old sorceress, but I still can handle a misbehaving tom, quite well!" She then let is ear go, and said, "Evelyn is probably down there with Damon. I hope she hasn't tried anything that would overextend herself?"
Darius followed Callista, as she used her powers to hone in on Evelyn's whereabouts. They reached the bottom of the stairs, where there was now a haze of smoke, and a mangled iron barred gate against the wall. Fearing Evelyn did the one thing, she hoped she wouldn't do, she grabbed Darius's right paw with her right, and dragged him further into the dungeon.
The haze got denser the further in they went. But a very distinct, and familiar sound penetrated through the haze.
Callista commanded the haze to dissipate with a wave of her paw, and once the haze vanished, she instantly wished she didn't. Both adults stood there, with their mouths agape at the sight before them.
Before them stood Damon and Evelyn. His arms were tightly around her lower back and waist, with hers around his neck. Their tails were intertwined with the others. And most importantly, they were sharing an embrace, they both were too young to be sharing.
Darius didn't know what to make of the situation, while Callista had seen, those as young as these two show their affections for the other, many centuries ago. She coughed into her right paw, and waited for the two to stop.
Damon and Evelyn heard the cough. They separated their bodies, but their paws joined in front of them at their waists. "Father, your majesty, I'm in love with Evelyn and she loves me. In time, she is going to be my wife."
End of Chapter