"I really have to thank you, Spar!" Katt said as she and her herbal friend were walking back through the forest, to Windia. "It was a good thing to hear the opinion of a person that's not as affected by the situation as you..."
"On the contrary," Spar answered back. "If there is something I have learned from you mammals, it's the meaning of true friendship."
"I just hope Akane isn't going to blow a fuse when she learns about my decision..." the Woren sighed. "She gets easily short-tempered... also, I already dread Ukyo's and Shampoo's reactions. Although, Shampoo seemed unusually calm today..."
Spar smiled. "You have to introduce me to those friends of yours. Maybe I can help you convince them to respect your decision."
"Thanks, you're a great fr..." She turned around when suddenly, Spar stopped abruptly."
"Hey, what's going on?" she asked. "Why are you rooted to the spot like that all of a sudden, if you forgive me the pun?"
"I don't know..." the plant man murmured. "Something's wrong... The forest tells me... there's danger!"
Katt took her stick off her back and looked around. "Are you sure? But... where?" The fur on her ears bristled.
"I'd say... right THERE!" And suddenly, Spar's whip came shooting out of his sleeve, as if it was hidden in there all along - although Katt knew the truth: The whip, as well as the 'dress' that Spar was wearing, were actually grass and vines that were growing directly out of his body.
The vine whip flew into the treetops, where it collided with something. A sudden yelp, and a dark shape fell out of the tree.
"They spotted us!" a loud voice yelled. "Grab them, quickly!"
And then, several other bodies came dropping down from the treetops. As their fallen comrade, they were all dressed in leather or rags, and were dirty and filthy. What stood out most about them was the crimson bandana that everyone of them was wearing... and when she saw those red bandanas, Katt instantly knew who they were.
"The Joker Gang!" she shouted.
"Really?" Spar asked. "I've heard of them... but didn't they disband some time ago?"
"Yeah, right after Ryu and I helped Nina to beat their boss, Joker..."
"We have a new boss now!" one of the ruffians said in a cocky voice. "And he wants to have a talk with you, cat!"
"If you use my name, use it properly!" the Woren hissed. "It's KATT! And who would be stupid enough to lead such boneheads as you and your pals voluntarily?"
"All right, you asked for some trouble, girl... Get them, boys!"
Experienced, Katt twirled around her stick and effectively blocked an array of thrown daggers. "Those guys are the same as always, no challenge... At least make it a challenge, boys!"
"Don't get too confident yet," Spar replied as he swung his whip around to hold off the bandits. "They must have something up their sleeve, or else they wouldn't dare attacking us that close to Windia. I just wonder... Katt, look out behind you!"
"Huh? Wha..." Katt had barely time to turn around, before something pricked her arm. She pulled out the tiny object and looked at it.
"Oh no..." she murmured as she realized what it was... a tranquilizer dart.
"I'll get you bastards for this..." she uttered as her eyes started to close and her whole body slumped down to the ground.
"This isn't good..." Spar murmured as he tried to protect his friend's sleeping body from the approaching bandits. "Get away from her, you villains!"
But he had never been one of the strongest fighters among the group of heroic fighters that saved the world alongside Ryu... Under normal circumstances, he would have easily be able to fend off the hoodlums, but not this many.
Still, he wouldn't give up that easily. "Don't worry, my friend," he said to the unconscious feline next to him. "I won't let them take you, for whatever reason they would want to take you away!"
Soft snoring was the answer.
Spar twirled around, used his whip to sweep two Jokers off their feet, turned around and... his whip hit a massive mountain of muscle.
The towering form of the muscle-bound man in front of him grinned widely. "Try that again, plant brain!"
Spar sweated as he realized that this guy wasn't your average hoodlum... someone who could shake off his attack like that meant trouble.
"Time to chop some grass!" the giant said as he raised his massive axe.
"Yeah, show him, Baba!" the other Jokers cheered.
Spar had to jump back quite a distance to avoid being hacked in half by that enormous weapon. Baba? Now that was a weird name. "I won't let you... take my friend!"
The man called Baba just grinned. "Take care of him, guys... I have to bring the boss a little present."
And while the other bandits jumped in front of him, once again threatening Spar with their knives, clubs and short swords, he picked up the unmoving body of Katt and carried her away.
"Give up!" one of the bandits, an ugly guy wearing an eyepatch said. "You can't win!"
"You know... I just had enough of you crooks." The plant man grumbled.
He focussed all of his thoughts on the flora that surrounded him. He did what all members of his tribe did when they were in danger... He called upon Nature itself!
And Tree answered his call!
One of the massive oaks that was growing nearby suddenly came to life, swung around its hard branches and knocked down a dozen of surprised hoodlums.
"NOOOO!" the eyepatched crook screamed in terror as he witnessed this display of Nature's Wrath. "I'm not a vegetarian, I swear!"
In a panic, the bandits that weren't knocked out by the tree's assault, fled in a panic.
Satisfied, Spar walked over to the trunk of the big oak, who was once again as still as he was supposed to be, and patted his bark. "Thank you, my friend... I think they had enough."
Then he was saddened. "Although it was not enough to help my friend... I wonder what this mysterious new leader of the Jokers plans to do with Katt." He retracted his whip and started running towards the castle. He had to inform Princess Nina and Katt's other friends...
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(Posted Mon, 07 May 2007 22:41)
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