New Enemies?

"NURI!" Willie comes to, not realizing at first what has happened. He takes off his dirty shades to get a better look. The afternoon sun blazes in his eyes, and he looks the other way to realize they are in yet a different location. "Nuri, you didn't." He scrambles for his bag to find the Stone of Destiney inside; "She did. Oh Nuri." The area around him is no longer just miles of sand domes but of sand and rocky hills. It seems familiar. He takes a couple of steps and just barely stops himself from falling off a cliff. He recognizes the half-buried rock structures in the valley. They've been transported to the ancient Valley of the Kings and Queens! It's not Cario, but it's a place that Willie's familiar with, about 300 miles south of Cario. The city of Luxor, once the site of the ancient Egyptian capital Thebes, would take about 3 to 4 hours to walk to by foot if they take the normal caravan trail. Willie wonders if Nuri assumed they might end up here or not.

Oh Nuri, are you alright? Who were those people that attacked us?

Willie says a prayer for Nuri then looks for Meliodas. It doesn't take him long to find the demon as his hunger pangs are very loud and clear. He's very dizzy and his head is throbbing with pain. "Owe, my head. What in Britainnia happened? Why did Nuri... oh."

Meliodas moans as his stomach growls painfully and repeatedly. He practically faints. All Willie has left is one half bottle of fig juice and a few energy supplements. He gives them to Meliodas and bandages his head. Then he informs him that Nuri used the salt and where they are now.

"Valley of the Kings? Why is this ugly landscape called the Valley of the Kings?"

"It's not ugly!" answers Willie offended; "It's called that because many ancient Egyptian kings and queens are buried here."

"Sure is an odd place to have a cemetery."

Willie gets up, thinking they should get going now if they want to reach Luxor by night fall. However, they are both exhausted, and Meliodas is in pretty bad shape, so he agrees to rest just a little while longer. The monk replays the previous events in his mind. He doesn't know for sure who those people were. He's aware that others are after the stone and its related pieces, but he doesn't know who.

A few minutes later, they hear voices. It appears to be three men and two camels with lots of digging tools and empty sacks. Willie can't make out what they're saying but he's sure they're tomb robbers, which isn't uncommon around here.

"They must have food!" Meliodas leaps out in front of them, startling the men; "Yo there. What brings you fellows to this ugly cemetery?"

The robbers are completely perplexed, by both this weird guy's looks and his foreign words. One throws a small dagger at Meliodas, who catches it easily. Another one shoots some sparking electrical volts from a device. It hits Meliodas and he just giggles.

"Hey, that tickles."

The robbers are too shocked and frighten to answer. They run off in a panic, leaving everything behind. The camels just stand there minding their own business.

"Man," says Meliodas kind of perplexed himself, "I was just trying to make friends with them."

"You do realize they can't understand you, right?" informs Willie; "Not to mention the way you look is strange to them."

"What's wrong with the way I look? Except for this lobster red skin that is? Oh yea, and I look like a human kid."

Willie sighs; "Same here."

"By the way Willie, how old are you?"

Willie cringes; "25."

Meliodas is actually a little surprised; "Really? You look about 12!"

Willie's annoyed; "I don't look THAT young."

Meliodas starts ransacking the bags. Unfortunately, to his dismay, there's not a single thing edible. This makes him extremely frustrated, and he throws one of the backpacks into a rocky plateau, destroying it. "I don't believe this! What do these people live off of air?"

"Amateurs;" replies Willie.

Despite being extremely uncomfortable about it, Willie realizes they have little option except to take the camels to Luxor (they're most likely stolen anyway, as their harnesses say; 'Property of Luxor Public Transport'). As he starts to get one camel ready, Willie sees out the corner of his eye that Meliodas is about to strangle the other.

"Meliodas STOP! Don't kill her! THEY'RE NOT FOOD!"

"They look like food to me."

"Not to us! Camels are precious to us, like horses are to your people."

"I eat horse meat."

"Oh good grief." Willie slaps his palm on his head; "I'm serious! DO NOT KILL THEM! We can ride them to Luxor."

Meliodas hugs his stomach; "But don't we only need one? The one you've got has two saddles."

"It's against the law! I could go to jail for slaughtering a camel. Besides, they belong to the city and they're probably searching for them right now!"

Meliodas takes out a few gold coins from his pocket; "I could pay for them."

"That's not the point! And those coins won't work here!"

"AW-CHEW!"

"What was that?" ask Meliodas.

Willie notices movement from one of the sacs still attached to the camel. "I should've known." He opens the sac.

"MEAWWWWWW!"

A white, black-spotted cat (Egyptian Mau) jumps from the bag and clumsily tries to make a run for it. "Oh no you don't." Willie grabs the cat with his threads and drags him back. He holds up the cat, wrapped tightly in threads, and looks him in the eyes.

"Ramesses."

The cat laughs sheepishly; "(In Arabic) Well, well. Look who the cat drug in, my old buddy Wildelfredico. Didn't know you were in town."

"Of course, you'd be leading another group of amateur tomb robbers"

Ramesses catches himself as he begins to laugh sheepishly again, then switches to a prouder tone; "What makes you think we were going to rob the pyramids? We were just...on a sight-seeing tour, I mean an official expedition."

Meliodas has a surprised look on his face; "Willie, did that cat just talk?"

"Why so surprised Meliodas? Didn't you tell me that you ran a bar with a talking pig for ten years."

"That was different. That's a cat!"

"Freddie, who's the yellow haired stranger?" Willie further tightens the threads, reminding Ramesses that he hates being called that. Meliodas and the cat then both say they can't understand each other and asks what the other is saying. Willie shakes his head; "I don't think so." He takes the language amulet out of his pocket, says the magic words, and light beams hit both Meliodas and Ramesses.

They stare at each other a few seconds, then Meliodas clears his throat. "Ah, yo. I'm Meliodas. What's your name, Sir Cat?"

"Sir Cat? How rude."

Willie tightens the threads around his neck; "Just interduce yourself."

"Alright alright. Let me loose please."

Willie removes nearly all the thread from the cat, except for a leash around the neck. "Guess you still don't trust me. Anyway, please to meet your acquaintance stranger. I'm Ramesses the 12th, formerly part of the court of our great Cleopatra VII Philopater, now official historian and tour guide of Luxor, formally Thebes, magnificent capital of the middle kingdom."

Meliodas is yawning, from both exhaustion and lack of interest. "HEY, I'm talking to you."

"Oh, sorry;" Meliodas rubs his eyes; "What did you say your name is?"

"Ramesses the 12th, formally of the court of..."

Willie tugs on the lease; "Yea you part of Cleopatra's court, as one of the palace alley scraps cats."

"Head scraps cat!"

Meliodas laughs; "So, the Order of Scraps of Disposable has other members, does it?"

"Freddie, where did you find this weirdo?"

GROWLLLLLL! Ramesses jumps into Willie's arms shivering. "It's that monster again. Don't let it get me!"

Meliodas rubs his stomach laughing; "Sorry Ramie, that's just my stomach."

Ramesses is shocked, and embarrassed; "That's Ramesses, ah...what's your name?"

"Meliodas, nice to meet you Ramie the scraps cat."

"HEY..."

"Alright you two listen up;" Willie suddenly sounds authoritative; "This is what's going to happen. We're taking these camels back to Luxor, get Meliodas treated, tell the officials to come rescue those would be thieves, and return these camels to the courthouse. Neither of you are going to give me any trouble about it. Right."

Ramesses fearfully shakes his head; "Maybe I'll get a reward for returning the camels."

"Yea right."

Meliodas naturally isn't intimidated by Willie, yet he's impressed by this sudden boldness. Maybe he'll cut the guy a little slack.

GROWL!

Or maybe not; "Willie..."

"You're not eating the camel!" He looks at the cat.

"NO! I want don't to be demon food!"

Meliodas's mouth drools at the thought, but he, very reluctantly, spares the scared kitty pleading for its life, but not without a couple jokes, freaking Ramesses out even more. Willie gets busy getting the camels ready, has them sit on the ground, and finally ask Meliodas to get into the saddle. It's only then that Meliodas realizes that he's never seen these animals before and is actually a bit uncomfortable getting into the saddle on this creature's lump-sided back.

"What kind of creatures are these? They're so weird looking. What's with these big humps on their backs? You actually except me to ride this thing?"

"Yes;" answers Willie; "They're called camels, ships of the desert."

"Ships of the desert?"

"Of course;" replies Ramesses; "but they can be temperamental. "

"Rarely;" says Willie; "but towards you they may make an exception."

Meliodas informs that he doesn't know how to work these animals, but Willie already has that covered by tying the second camel's rope to the first. On command, the camels rise. "Whoa." The rise and the walking feels very awkward to Meliodas, but before long he passes out from exhaustion and is sound asleep.

Ramesses starts to rattle about his so-called 'knowledge' of the old kingdom, all of which Willie's heard about a dozen times already. He tells the ancient cat to go ride with Meliodas. Ramesses doesn't want to, but Willie throws him onto the other camel. It isn't long before the sleeping Meliodas starts snuggling with the cat, calling him Elizabeth.

"WILLIE! HELP ME!"

Willie, however, only smirks.

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In Naples, the three red cloaked females are taking refuge in a deep cave full of mystical minerals and supernatural properties. Stormy, the sheep-wolf demon, is cheerfully severing up food to her comrades that she made herself, or rather through the giant magical sheep cooks that she conjured up. She puts another plate full in front of the elf.

"Enough Stormy, I've already told you I'm stuffed!"

Stormy's eyes glow red with anger; "Are you trying to reject the food I put my heart and soul into making for you, Arwen."

"NO! It's delicious as always. I just don't like to feel sick."

Stormy picks up the large chunk of meat from the plate and forcefully shoves it down Arwen's throat. Apolline, the woman in the dark red cloak, stares at the cave walls in meditation pose. She's literally skin and bones, with sunken cheeks and eyes, dark purple hair, dark-red eyes, and grayish skin. She hasn't even touched her food, which makes Stormy furious. As Arwen tries to unchoke herself, Stormy's about to shove food down Apolline's throat, who puts up a dark barrier around herself.

"When I say I'm not hungry, I mean I'm NOT HUNGRY!"

"Impossible!" growls Stormy; "You haven't eaten a crumb in weeks! You can't live off of two bottles of herbal black tea a day! That's way your skin and bones girl. EAT!"

"NO!" Using her telekinesis powers, Apolline throws the food at Stormy, making her angry. Stormy creates a humongous ram and punches Apolline.

"Nobody waste the food I make!"

Apolline conjures up at giant raven and fights back, causing parts of the cave to crumble. A green barrier appears between the two creations, blocking their attacks.

"WILL YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF! You want them to find us?"

Stormy points at Apolline; "She started it."

"They're going to find us anyway, so what's the point of hiding?" says Apolline.

"I just can't believe their alive. How did they cheat death?"

"Maybe they were brought back to life?" suggests Apolline; "Or maybe they were just 'mostly' dead."

"Maybe they reincarnated as a babies and grow up quickly!" suggest Stormy, receiving funny looks; "What? It's happened."

"What about Jasmine?" ask Arwen; "You confirmed she was dead when you check her, didn't you Stormy?"

Stormy starts twitching her fingers; "Well, I assumed she was."

"What do you mean assumed?" asked Apolline.

"I was in a hurry. I guess the lava pool revived her."

"STORMY!" The ground shakes dark energy engulfs Apolline. Arwen quickly gets her to do her calming techniques. Apolline excuses herself. "I need to meditate."

"Girl, that's all you ever do is meditate, and starve yourself;" Stormy points out.

"And all you do is cook and eat all day." huffs Apolline; "Only idiots consume food anyway."

Arwen must stop Stormy from losing her temper. "Well, what are going to do now?" asks Stormy; "I swear to you people still thought they were died three months ago. They even had funerals for them last year."

"They must've just recently come out of hiding. I never saw nor felt them when I was here last week. Come to think of it, the church was empty when I checked it out, at least I thought it was. DARN IT! They must've hide. They were waiting for us.

"Mother is going to be so furious with us. Not only did we fail to locate the ankh, but the De Santis sisters are alive;" says Arwen.

"But Mother will be thrilled that they're alive;" replies Stormy. 

Arwen thinks for a moment; "She doesn't need to know, not yet. We'll finish the mission one way or another."

"But she'll know. And if she doesn't find us first, they will. Their kind-hearted, but they might still punish us."

"Not if we go where they can't detect us. Apolline."

"I know. You want to go into my nightmare realm."

Stormy doesn't like that idea. "Are you insane? Once inside, we can't come out for 72 hours! And what are we supposed to do about food?"

"Life isn't about food Stormy;" Apolline says in her usual stoic, deary tone; "You'll be asleep most of the time anyway."

"In a nightmare of wasted food and starvation!"

Arwen throws up; "I've just had more then enough food to last me for at least that long."

Apolline cast a spell and they disappear.

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Somewhere in a mountainous region, several red-cloak people are blasted throw a mountain. They are all badly beaten and severely wounded. Several shadow creatures grab them and take them through a portal for further punishment.

Inside a mountain chamber on a giant throne, sits a giant in a more elaborate red cloak with gold trim and dark blue gloves with long fingernails, has her hand on her forehead, exasperated. Her dark-red lips are seen underneath her hood.

"I cannot believe thoughs morons, actually believing that I commanded them to return here. Any word from the Tibetan team?"

"No ma'am;" answers yet another red-cloaked, holding a crystal tablet; "And we can't locate the Naples team."

"Keep looking."

Another red-cloaked enters the chamber. "Pardon Madame, the Egyptian team has returned."

"Send them in."

The team from Egypt (only 4 of them) arrive with somebody wearing a black cloak in special glowing chains. They bow.

"Lady Madame, we've got her."

The giant rises, and slightly levitated, floats down the steps towards them. "Let me see her. Where is your fifth member?"

The team look at each other, realizing they are missing the vine lady. A struggling noise comes from underneath the black cloak. They pull down the hood and it's their missing teammate!

"V...V...Virgina Ivy? How did you get there?"

One removes the bind from her mouth; "You captured me you morons. She traded cloaks with me."

"You idiots!" says their furious leader; "How could you make a mistake like this?"

She lifts her middle finger. "No no Mistress. Please don't send us send to the Purgatory torture chamber! PLEASE NO!"

She lowers her finger. An orange mass engulfs the team and they disappear.

The person with tablet approaches with caution. "Would Madame like a spot of tea?"

"No thank you. Now leave. I wish to be alone."

"Yes ma'am."

He leaves the chamber and closes the door. Madame cringes her fists. "I don't believe this. My plan was flawless."

"Perhaps your plans aren't as flawless as you'd like to believe;" comes a somewhat creepy, god-like female voice from behind the throne.

"Says you. And don't forget that you came to 'me' for help after your humiliating defeat. I want no part of your games; I only want what you promised me. If you break that bargain, I'll show you no mercy."

"When I regain my full power, you'll be no match for me, little sister."

Madame looks up through a sky window as the sun starts to set; "The team in Japan will not fail me."

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Elaine and Diane take a rest after playing with the children. Diane draws pictures in the dirt of animals in Britannia. The children are pointing and chatting up a storm, but the ladies can't answer them. The children then start drawing their own pictures.

Elaine can barely keep her eyes open. All she wants to do is lay down; "Will night never come? I'm so exhausted."

Diane agrees. They hear a moan from the distance, it's Herman still pinned to the ground. Diane goes to him and picks him up. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to break the spell as he just falls hard to the ground again, still unable to move.

"What was that word she used again. Didn't it start with an S?"

"I don't remember;" replies Elaine; "Actually, I kind of wonder if she's the only one who can undo that spell. I don't know why I just thought of that. The magic around here feels so different from home. I'd rather keep him like that anyway. He's far less annoying."

"I understand;" says Diane; "but I feel sorry for him though."

"Diane look at that;" Elaine points to one of the children's drawings; "That looks like a dragon."

"It does?" Diane takes a good look at it; "Your right, it does."

Hana, the little girl, points to it; "Ryu (dragon)!"

"Ha?" says Diane; "Oh no, that's a dragon."

"Ryu."

"Your dragon's beautiful Hana."

"(In Japanese) You know my name."

Diane huffs; "I wish I could understand her."

"Yea, me too."

Suddenly, they hear a blast coming from the direction that the adults headed. The children point in that direction, sounding concerned. Diane gets up, saying she wants to see what's going on. Elaine starts to go with her, but the children call out. Looking at them, they realize they shouldn't leave the kids by themselves. Elaine decides to stay while Diane goes. She follows the noises, definitely sounds of a battle. The closer she gets, the worst it smells. It smells like miasma, but worse. Diane emerges from the trees to a terrifying sight. Giant wolves lay severely injured on the ground, either dead or dying. The two men are also knocked out, wounded. Even the old priestess is wounded. Kikyo is trapped by an iron chain, being held captive by another woman. This woman is dressed in a unitard with pink armor pads attached. She has a long ponytail, some kind of mask over her mouth and nose, a helmet, and a large boomerang weapon nearly as big as her on her back. Another person in a red cloak runs into the cave.

Diane calls out to the woman, who looks at her and attacks without hesitation. Diane uses her "Rock Fist;" sending rocks at the woman. She easily destroys the rocks with her bare fist, surprising Diane. They fight for several minutes, Diane, despite easily being the much stronger and more powerful of the two, is unable to land an attack on this opponent. She's the most swift, agile person the giant's ever seen, even though Diane senses that she's a normal human. The woman's most dangerous weapon seems to be her giant boomerang, which easily cuts throw all Diane's creation attacks. However, the woman's also unable to land a blow to Diane. They both seem to be reading each other well, anticipating each other's every move. The woman finally lands a hit on Diane, her weapons turning the giant's own attacks back on her, receiving a hard blow. During the fight, Kikyo manages to free herself and joins the fight. Despite her own impressive agility and skills, Kikyo is easily outmatched by the other woman.

The old priestess comes to and uses her magic to return Diane to her normal size. The clothes Diane's wearing actually grow with her completely in tack, rather than ripping to shreds as she grew like they normally do (with her uniform magically appearing afterward), which completely surprises the giant. Diane summons her sacred treasure, and along with Kikyo is finally able to turn the fight on their opponent, although the woman is still able to put an impressive fight against the Giant Queen, only being defected by Gideon's lighting.

Diane checks on an injured Kikyo, who carrying medicine and bandages. Then they check her family. Both Kikyo's husband and brother are badly injured, even Kikyo's mother has a bloody gash on her forehead and a couple other wounds from the fight. They then check the demon wolves, only one of them is still alive. The Japanese seem very grieved by the deaths. Then the old priestess seems to sense something. The slaying woman has disappeared. She them gestures towards the cave. Kikyo runs into the cave and returns a few minutes later with bad news.

While Diane doesn't understand their language, she senses that something's missing from the cave, and that it's not a good thing.