by Lucky Charms

Disclaimers: See Part 1

Feedback is always welcome: luckycharms@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2004 by Lucky Charms. All Rights Reserved.

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Some believe the ghost to dwell within the darkened back room of the famous Ye Old Toy Shoppe, as loud insane cackling is often heard at night. Some believe the ghost to be the mysterious helper recently brought in by the local tavern/toy shop owner Jocelyn, who has made a pact with the ghost to help her make her latest fantastic toys, in return for freedom to run free in the night.

No one knows who or what the Streaker is, or the strange frightening laughter ringing through the night sky of Ashmire. The people call out for a hero, and a hero they shall get.

The morning brings a bright warm sun, the cheerful song of birds, and the unexpected earth shattering kaboom. Blaize and Minerva lurch to their feet and gaze around.

"What was that?" Blaize cries.

Mary Ann slowly opens her eyes and lets out a mighty yawn. "Huh, what’s going on?"

"Mary Ann, where’s Stewie and her," Minerva pauses. "Oh I get it."

A rain of panties showers down upon the recently woken trio and Stewie bounds up, giggling cheerfully.

"Good morning everybody!" Stewie cries cheerfully. "Sleep well?"

Blaize rubs her eyes irritably. "As well as anyone can before getting the life scared out of them!" She snaps.

Not at all perturbed, Stewie juts out a large sack filled with berries and another sack filled with fish. "Breakfast anyone?"

Mary Ann giggles. "I’ll start the fire." She says.

"Thanks, and tell your friends!" A young woman with full blonde hair and shining blue eye calls happily.

"Of course Jocelyn," A woman winks. "You have the best toys in the Mindom."

Jocelyn smiles and waves as the patron leaves the Ye Old Toy Shoppe, she then picks up a large box and carries it over to a shelf filled with several various colored vials labeled "Luscious Lickables."

"I should ask him to make more of the cherry flavored kind." Jocelyn mutters as she places more vials onto the shelf. "I can’t keep that stuff on the shelf. Not that it’s a bad thing." She chuckles.

Jocelyn hums a light tune to herself as she finishes placing the last of the Luscious Lickables on the shelf. She then tosses the empty box out of the shop and walks toward the back room to find another box.

"Now where did I put those?" She places her hands on her hips and gazes around the mess of boxes. "Honestly, what do I pay him for? He can’t even keep the place clean."

She spies a box with a label reading "Desolvo-Cuffs" and lifts the heavy object and carries it over to another shelf.

A group of young men walk into the Toy Shoppe and greet Jocelyn. "Hey boys, what can I do yah for?"

The man with a shock of red hair is shoved up to Jocelyn and he rubs the back of his head nervously. "Well, I need, uh..."

Jocelyn gazes at the young man with dramatically interested sensual blue eyes. "You need...?" She leads on.

"It’s well, for my girlfriend, and I uh..."

Jocelyn leans into the man and parts her lips in a slight grin and nods. "Your girlfriend needs...?"

The man gazes briefly as Jocelyn’s ample chest and gulps. "I wanted to know if you had any hypo-allergenic rabbit skin hand cuffs." He says quickly.

Jocelyn’s grin widens and she nods. "Of course, we have everything your heart desires, among other things." She winks as she guides the young man toward a group of shelves with various cuffs and chains.

Meanwhile, his two other friends snicker at each other. "Should we go look?" The man with short brown hair says.

"That’s why we came here, right?" The man with long black hair grins.

The two men cautiously walk back toward the large black door with a sign reading "Enter at your own peril".

The man with brown hair grabs the knob and slowly turns it and peers his head in. "Oh man, we have to go down." He whispers.

His friend shoves him in and the two slowly descend down a flight of slimy stone steps into a vast chamber lit by an eerie green glow.

Several large wooden tables littered with bubbling vats of glowing ooze and sketches of who knows what sit around the room.

The man with black hair walks over to a wall where large cages with many different types of furry animals lay. "What’s going on here?"

The man with brown hair walks over to the opposite wall and sees a large glass jar with several large slimy looking creatures in it. "Gross, Hans come check this out will yah?"

Hans turns his head from the animals just before an ominous black shadow whizzes by. "What is it James?" He asks walking over to his friend.

The two jump as they hear a glass vial crash to the ground. "What was that?" James gasps.

"I don’t know," Hans, says and spies a large curtain. "Lets see what’s inside."

The two cautiously tread over to the curtain and gasp as they catch movement. "Let’s get out of here." James whimpers.

"Quit being such a baby." Hans snaps as he drags James closer to the curtain.

Suddenly the door leading down into the dark chamber slams shut and a wall of fire erupts from behind the curtain. A chilling voice cackles insanely. "Looking for something boys?" The voice booms.

James and Hans proceed to scream like girls and hold each other closely. "Oh my Gods what is it?" James yells.

A massive shadow with pointy ears rises from behind the curtain. "I’m your worst nightmare!" The shadow calls and a dark appendage emerges. Large, sharp looking claws jut out which causes the men to scream louder, and cause the shadow to guffaw maniacally.

The two men scramble for the stairs and reach the door and begin pounding on it. "Somebody help us!" James cries.

"It’s going to eat us!" Hans bellows.

"Mm, such fine fat boys with which I may eat!" The voice calls from below.

The door suddenly swings open and James and Hans fall to the floor in a heap. They look up and see Jocelyn frowning down at them. "Care to explain what you were doing down there boys?"

James and Hands lurch to their feet and shove past Jocelyn as the voice lets out another roar. "She’s crazy!" James cries as he, Hans, and their friend bolt out the Toy Shoppe.

Jocelyn shakes her head and makes her way down the steps and into the back room. "Was it necessary to scare the life out of them?" She asks.

The fire dies out and the shadow disappears. "I was bored." The voice responds, though not nearly as horrendous as it was before. "And they were touching my things!"

"A crime worthy of death, I’m sure." Jocelyn says sarcastically. "How about you come out and help me with the orders."

A black cat emerges from behind the curtain and looks up at Jocelyn. "Sure thing boss. Aeryk reporting for duty!"

Jane the Bipolar moodily hurls a candelabra across the room and through a window. "For all the good that monster did!" She roars.

The fates obviously favored them, Jane. Chaos mutters.

Jane storms over to the mirror. "Find me another demon, I must have them dead before they arrive here."

I cannot provide you with any more of my demons at this time, Jane.

Jane nearly tears out her hair in frustration. "I must have them killed now!" She roars.

You are forgetting whom you are speaking to Jane. I suggest you ease that temper of yours. Chaos warns.

Jane bows her head. "Of course," She mumbles. "Forgive me."

I will have another demon for you soon.

"Thank you, my master." Jane bows deeply before she exits the Hall, rigid with fury.

"It’s been a life long fascination with me, actually." Stewie says. "I’ve never understood the whole concept of panties, so I rebelled against them."

"And you agree with her position?" Minerva asks Mary Ann.

Mary Ann blushes slightly. "Well, I guess you can say I was brought into it. Part of my training requires that I don’t wear any panties."

Blaize and Minerva grimace. "How can you stand the leather?" Blaize asks.

"It’s not that bad," Mary Ann admits. "You get used to it after a while."

"That’s right!" Stewie announces. "Get that skin all toughened up in there." She pats Mary Ann on the back before she turns to Minerva. "So tell us a little about this quest, huh?"

"There’s not a whole lot to tell you." Minerva says, gazing before her. "A few days ago, Gaia came to me and asked that I help her to save the world from Chaos."

"Chaos?" Stewie gasps. "You mean the Lost God?"

Minerva nods. "The same one."

"But I thought the Gods destroyed Chaos." Mary Ann says.

"Not destroyed, but imprisoned." Minerva corrects. "The real problem with Jane killing all the Lurkers is that they are what holds Chaos, like parts to a puzzle."

"So, if all the Lurkers die, then Chaos will be reborn?" Mary Ann asks.

"Smart girl." Minerva praises the young squire.

"So what are we supposed to do if we fail?" Stewie asks.

Minerva and Blaize exchange quick glances. "Lets hope that never happens." Blaize says.

Minerva nods in agreement and thinks back to the strange dream she had. The terror, the pain, Chaos all resonates in her mind and she lets out a deep sigh. Was that just a dream, or a vision of things to come? If only I had a way of contacting Gaia. Maybe she’ll be able to help me out.

And Catt, I hope she’s alright. Though it’s only been a few days, it feels like it has been an eternity. Be strong, my only, hopefully this will be all over soon.

"What are you thinking about?" Blaize whispers as she moves her horse closer to Minerva.

"What, oh, nothing." Minerva mutters. "I was just worrying about Catt." She admits. "I’m not used to being away from her for too long. It’s a shock to my system."

Blaize smiles knowingly. "I understand what you mean. It’s hard for me to be away from Crys too. But hey, we’ve got strong women, and more friends who’ll help us out." She winks. "This will be all over sooner than you think, right?"

Minerva can’t help but smile at Blaize’s courage and sympathy. "Thank you Blaize."

Blaize grins back. "Think nothing of it." She decides to change the subject. "So who do you think sent that demon after you?"

"Jane, no doubt. And if she did, that means she has powerful allies."

"Chaos?" Blaize asks.

"Who else?" Minerva gives her friend a meaningful glance.

"Then that means she knows we’re after her. We better be careful about what we do from now on, and find the other Knights as soon as possible."

Minerva nods in agreement. "How much further to Ashmire?" She asks.

"Not that far," Stewie says. "It’s just below that hill over yonder." She points to a large hill in the short distance.

"Might as well run the horses for a bit, the sun is beginning to fall." Mary Ann advises.

The four nod in agreement and they pull their horse into a full run. Ashmire, Minerva says to herself. One step closer to finding the next Knight of the Big Round Bed. One step closer to stopping Jane from destroying the world, and one step closer to being home with Catt again.

The visions of the battle enters Minerva’s mind again. I wonder. How did Catt get there? Was it just me dreaming to see her again, or was the dream a true vision of the future. Gods, I’m so confused. She pauses a moment. And afraid.

Minerva let her troubled thoughts flow like a river out of her mind as she relished in the feeling of having the wind blow in her face, and feel of the warm setting sun on her skin. If only I could be this alive, and not this troubled.

"Well, it’s time to close up shop for the night." Jocelyn says walking over to the door and latching it shut. "Not a bad days work, eh Aeryk?"

Aeryk snorts. "You didn’t have to deal with all those people stroking you all day."

Jocelyn laughs. "I thought you enjoyed it."

Aeryk’s ears perk. "Aren’t we the dirty minded one today? You usually miss a good dirty joke."

Jocelyn smiles and walks over to Aeryk. "Things have been good every since you’ve gotten here."

Aeryk looks up at Jocelyn. "All that nonsense about black cats being bad luck is absolute rubbish." He chuckles.

Jocelyn picks up her feline friend and scratches behind his ears. "Care to join me in the tavern tonight?"

"Only if you slip a little something in my milk. Scaring hapless wanderers takes a lot out of you."

Jocelyn laughs as she lets Aeryk onto the floor before she locks up all the windows. "Wonder if there’ll be a big crowd tonight?"

Aeryk looks up at Jocelyn. "Probably not, especially with that ghost wandering about." He snickers. "Imagine, people being afraid of a naked ghost."

Jocelyn chuckles nervously. "No need in angering the ghost now Aeryk. Lets just hurry to the tavern and open up, okay?"

The two leave the Toy Shoppe just as Minerva and her friends ride into the city. "Huh, I wonder who they are." Jocelyn says. "I’ve never seen them around before."

Aeryk studies they women’s attire. "Must be warriors, from the look of their outfits." He chortles. "I like the one with the panty shield."

"Panty?" Jocelyn gazes at the black haired woman with the panty-crested shield. "Why does that ring a bell?" She thinks a moment. "Oh! That must be Knight Protector Stewie."

"The person who ordered the Panty Cannon?" Aeryk asks. "What’s she doing here?"

"I don’t know, let’s go talk to her." Jocelyn says rushing up to the group of warriors. "Excuse me, but aren’t you Knight Protector Stewie?"

Stewie looks down at the blonde and smiles. "Sure am!" She announces. "Who are you?"

"My name’s Jocelyn, I own the Ye Old Toy Shoppe and the local tavern."

Stewie’s eyes shine with glee and she leaps of her horse. "Thank you so much for the Panty Cannon!" She cries clutching Jocelyn close to her chest, nearly crushing the life out of her. "It’s wonderful!"

Jocelyn manages to pry herself out of Stewie’s bear-like grip and smiles faintly. "You’re welcome." She wheezes. "Oh, and this is my cat Aeryk."

Aeryk pads up ands meows sweetly. He then catches sight of Minerva and his eyes narrow slightly. There’s something about this one. I better keep an eye on her.

"Aeryk?" Blaize scoffs. "Sounds like a heathen-Celtic name."

Aeryk opens his mouth to say something but Jocelyn picks him up and covers his mouth. "He actually came from the Celtic lands. I found him on one of my travels there."

"You’ve been to the Celtic lands?" Mary Ann asks.

Not wishing to divulge the truth, Jocelyn nods. "It’s been a while though." Aeryk bats off Jocelyn’s hand and gives her a nasty look.

"I’ve heard a lot of interesting things about those people." Minerva says. "I would love to go there some time."

"You would love it there, um..." Jocelyn stammers.

"Oh, my name is Minerva." Minerva motions to the other two. "This is Blaize and Mary Ann, Stewie’s squire."

Jocelyn gives them her most winning smile. "Nice to meet you all. So how long do you plan on staying in Ashmire?"

"Just for the night." Blaize says. "We’re on some important business."

"Really? Well how about I invite you ladies over to my tavern? It looks like you’ve been on the road for a while and could use a little resting time. There’s an inn just next door for when you get tired."

"Of course we’ll join you!" Stewie cries. "I hear your drinks are the best in the entire Mindom!"

Jocelyn blushes. "Well, I wouldn’t go that far." Aeryk rolls his eyes and gives an exasperated meow. "Quiet cat." She snaps. "You can tie your horses over there." She points to a long pole lying in front of the tavern. "You’re horses will be safe."

Minerva, Blaize, and Mary Ann dismount and they all walk toward the tavern. Stewie begins to chatter excitedly with Mary Ann about all the tales she heard about how great Jocelyn’s drinks are.

Blaize pulls Minerva aside. "There’s something strange about that cat." She says.

Minerva looks back at Aeryk and sees him staring directly at her. "It’s just a cat Blaize." She says turning back to her friend.

"I know that." Blaize mutters. "It’s those eyes of his. There’s an devious intelligence behind them." Her black eyes widen in fear. "Do you think he was sent by Jane to spy on us? Jocelyn obviously had no clue where he came from."

Minerva smirks. "You thought that too huh?" She turns to the other four walking toward the tavern. "Jocelyn seems alright, but I wouldn’t worry to much about the cat. I’m sure it’s just a normal kitty."

Blaize sighs and nods slightly. "I guess you’re right. It’s just been a strange few days for us, huh?"

Minerva places a friendly arm around Blaize’s shoulders. "Which is why we need these drinks." She states. "Come on, let’s go."

"So she actually came to you and asked for your help?" Jocelyn gasps. "How amazing!"

Minerva shrugs. "I guess, but that’s not the only strange things that have happened."

"What do you mean?"

Minerva tells Jocelyn about the Lurker she saw die, about seeing the Gods Hades and Ares, and about the Horrible Denominator. All the while, Aeryk listening with intense interest.

So they have decided to stop Chaos from being reborn. I wonder, what’s so special about this woman that Gaia would choose a simple farm girl. Aeryk says to himself. The Knights of the Big Round Bed huh? Wonder who was the mastermind behind that one. Sounds like my kinda person.

"Wow, a lot as happened." Jocelyn says as she hands another patron his drink. "So where are you heading now?"

"Raidon." Blaize says, casting Aeryk a quick glance. "We’re hoping to find the third Knight here, but if we don’t, we move on."

Suddenly a cry of outrage rings through the room. "I’m telling you, the ghost came to me! She appeared from the shadows and beckoned for me to come to her. Luckily somebody came by and I was saved from being tortured in the Underworld."

"That’s a bunch of hooey and you know it Gildamar!" A man calls. "What would the Streaker want with you?"

"The Streaker?" Stewie asks, turning to Jocelyn.

Jocelyn grimaces. "It’s a ghost that has been terrorizing the city for about a month now."

"Has anyone tried to get rid of it?" Mary Ann asks. "Did you try praying to Hades to collect the lost soul?"

Jocelyn shakes her head. "Nothing has worked." She pauses a moment and gives the four heroes another round of drinks. "The ghost only appears when the moon is full. So people just head home well before that and lock up all their windows and doors. It has cost me a lot of business. Thank the Gods I have my Toy Shoppe."

"Has anyone actually seen the ghost?" Blaize asks skeptically.

Jocelyn nods. "I have." She mutters. "It’s the ghost of a naked woman with long flowing hair and a young supple body."

The four women perk up at the thought and lean in to Jocelyn. "So what’s so scary about the ghost?" Minerva asks. "Has anyone been killed?"

Jocelyn bows her head. "There has been a couple. But they were old men who died with an obscene grin on their faces."

Blaize snorts with laughter. "How about another Buttery-Nipple. Those were fantastic."

After several more hours of drinks and laughter the patrons begin to file out of the tavern, thanking Jocelyn for the fine drinks.

"I guess we should be heading out too." Minerva says. "Thank you for the drinks Jocelyn, they were great."

"Any time guys, the Inn should still be open." Jocelyn says. "Pleasant dreams." She waves as the four shuffle out of the tavern, Stewie grinning drunkenly and leaning heavily on Blaize and Mary Ann.

As soon as the door shuts Aeryk lets out a long sigh. "That Blaize." He says. "She gives me the creeps. Did you see how she was looking at me?"

Jocelyn nods. "Well, you were acting a little strange yourself. Why were you looking at Minerva so intently?"

"There’s just something about her." Aeryk mutters. "She’s worth keeping an eye on."

"They’re leaving tomorrow Aeryk." Jocelyn states. "How about we just go home and get some sleep."

"Too bad we didn’t find the third knight." Mary Ann says as she falls heavily onto her bed.

Blaize shrugs. "We’ll find him or her soon enough." She sits onto her bed and pulls off her boots.

"I think we should bring Jocelyn along so she can make us drinks." Stewie hiccups. "What’re you thinking about Minerva?"

Minerva turns from the window and smiles faintly at Stewie. "Just thinking about the ghost, actually. I wonder if it’s a true thing or just local superstition."

"Nah, I wouldn’t worry about it." Blaize says, leaning back onto her bed. "Chances are we’ll never hear anything about it as long as we’re here."

Minerva nods in agreement then makes herself comfortable on her bed. But all those people seemed so scared. What’s really going on in this town that has everyone so frightened?

As Mary Ann blows out the lanterns in the room, a dark shadow passes by the groups window and pauses a moment.

"So the Gods have found their champion." Aeryk snorts. "A little late isn’t it? Oh well, I have my own job to do." He skillfully leaps down onto the ground and heads toward the Toy Shoppe.

Aeryk pads up and faces the door and with a thought, the door swings open. He makes his way into the shop and finds the back room door. He patiently waits for the front door to shut before lighting the area before him.

"How I love magic." He chuckles as the back room door opens with an ominous creaking sound.

The moment he sets a paw into the back room, all the fires and strange machinery bursts to life. The animals kept in the cages begin to cry in fear as Aeryk makes his way up to them.

"Fear not my children. You’re sacrifices are for the betterment of mankind." He begins to laugh like a psychotic baboon.

A ghostly figure dashes about the shadows of the city and pauses slightly as it hears the blood chilling sound of insane laughter. After a moments pause, the figure dances into the moonlight and parades about the town square.

The figure begins to sing out a haunting tune, and it resonates throughout the night sky.

Minerva’s eyes flutter open and she turns her head toward the sound of a ghostly voice outside. She slowly rises to her feet and walks over to the window and sees a female form dancing around the town square, completely naked.

"Oh my Gods, it’s the ghost." She gasps. "Blaize, Stewie, Mary Ann, wake up." She calls to her friends. "The ghost is outside."

Stewie gasps. "What?" She flies over to the window. "Oh my Gods, you’re right." She whispers.

"What should we do?" Mary Ann asks.

"Catch the ghost." Minerva states.

"How can you catch a ghost?" Blaize asks.

"I haven’t figured that out yet." Minerva admits. "Let’s just see if the thing is alive or not first."

The four silently file out of the room and onto the deck of the inn. "It’s so beautiful." Stewie gawks. "Do you think it’s a siren?"

"If it is," Blaize mutters pulling out her sword. "We better be ready for anything."

"Put that thing away." Minerva cries. "We don’t know for sure if it’s a siren or not."

"I can’t make out the face." Mary Ann says, squinting. "Her hair is covering it."

"Enough talking," Stewie grumbles. "Lets find out what that thing is."

The four march out into the town square, and the ghost stops dancing, her hair falling over her face.

"Who are you?" Stewie demands. The ghost does not respond, but chuckles gleefully. "Don’t you understand me?"

Mary Ann turns her head away. "She’s naked." She mutters.

"I know Mary Ann, be strong." Minerva says, patting the young squire on her shoulder.

The ghost chuckles again and bolts through the four clothed women at surprising speed, her arms held behind her as her hair billows in the wind.

"I felt flesh!" Blaize booms. "She’s human!"

"After her!" Stewie cries as the four of them chase after the Streaker.

All throughout the city, the four heroes chase after the Streaker, calling out curses and threats.

"She’s too fast!" Stewie pants. "We have to find a way to stop her."

The Streaker disappears into the shadows. "Oh man, which was did she go?" Mary Ann says.

"Stewie, you and Mary Ann take the left." Minerva orders. "Blaize and I will take the right."

Minerva and Blaize tear down the right street in hopes of catching up to the Streaker. "Any sign of her?" Minerva asks.

"There!" Blaize cries and the two bolt after the Streaker.

The Streaker lets out a gleeful cry and dashes away from her chasers, her feet seeming to barely touch the ground beneath her.

"Come back here you ill dressed temptress!" Blaize orders.

The Streaker darts around the corner, giggling like a little girl. "When will she stop?" Minerva complains.

Stewie and Mary Ann pause a moment. "Where do you think she went to?" Mary Ann pants. "I’ve never heard of anyone running like she does."

A small pile of boxes fall over and Mary Ann and Stewie whirl around. "What was that?"

"I, uh, think something’s over there." Mary Ann stutters, pointing to a dark corner in the street.

A pair of evil looking eyes appears from the mess of boxes. Stewie throws Mary Ann in front of her. "What do you think it is?"

Mary Ann twirls around and forces Stewie in front of her. "I don’t know. You go check it out."

"Damn you girl, I shouldn’t have taught you that trick." Stewie grumbles as she and Mary Ann creep closer to the eyes. "What are we doing?" Stewie shivers with fear.

"You’re showing me how to be a big, bold knight, remember?" Mary Ann says.

Suddenly, a black flash bursts from the boxes and charges after the now terrified knight and squire.

"Run!" Stewie roars as she and Mary Ann tear off down the street. "For the love of the Gods, run!"

As Mary Ann and Stewie tear by the Toy Shoppe, Aeryk pokes his head out from the basement window and sees the black terror behind them.

"Hm, this is interesting." He chuckles. "I wonder what’s going on out there."

He makes his way into the town square and watches the two humans scream at the top of their lungs, with their arms flailing in the air.

"Of course no one hears this." Aeryk says, his eyes glittering with delight.

Aeryk sits on the deck and continues to watch the embarrassing spectacle before him. Suddenly, the black thing stops in its tracks and focuses it’s eyes on Aeryk.

Aeryk’s heart ceases to beat as the beady eyes glare at him. "Oh, this isn’t good."

The dark creature bolts after Aeryk and he tears off after Stewie and Mary Ann. "It’s going to eat me!" He cries as he meets up with the two humans.

"It talks?" Mary Ann cries in shock.

"Of course I talk." Aeryk snaps. "Let’s forget about it right now and find a way to get away from that!"

Minerva and Blaize peer their heads around the corner and see the Streaker dancing in the moonlight. "She has stopped." Minerva whispers.

"How are going to get her now?" Blaize asks.

"There’s no way to get Stewie and Mary Ann. We have to do this ourselves."

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

"I haven’t thought of that part yet." Minerva states. "I’m sure I can think of something."

Blaize gazes at the Streaker. "She’s so fast. How are going to catch her if she runs off again?"

Minerva snaps her fingers. "I’ve got it!"

Blaize turns to her. "What? Tell me!"

Minerva grins. "When in Rome..."

Blaize’s eyes widen in terror. "No, you wouldn’t!"

"It’s the only way for us to nab her." Minerva says. "If we get her to think we’re one of her, she’ll let her guard down."

Blaize scowls. "I won’t do it." She crosses her arms stubbornly.

Minerva turns her devilish brown eyes on Blaize and stares deeply into her friend’s stubborn black eyes.

Minerva and Blaize appear from around the corner; naked as the day they were born.

"I promise this won’t take long." Minerva says looking at her shorter friend.

"I can’t believe you actually did that to me." Blaize grumbles.

"I’m surprised all your moaning and groaning didn’t get her attention." Minerva chuckles. "Okay, she’s still there. Act normal, and do what she does."

Blaize nods curtly and the two dance into the moonlight and surround the Streaker.

The Streaker takes little notice of the two naked women around her, and continues to dance around in fluid, graceful gestures.

As Blaize dances in front of the Streaker she catches a glimpse of her face and nearly falls over in shock. "Jocelyn?" She gasps.

Minerva, too, sees the face and meets Blaize’s eyes calmly. "We better get her inside somehow." She mutters as she dances next to Blaize.

"I’ll grab her from behind, and you take her feet." Blaize says.

Minerva nods in agreement and manages to dance in front of Jocelyn, who is still oblivious to the goings on around her.

The moment Blaize grabs Jocelyn, she begins to scream and struggle with surprising strength. "Uh, Minerva, a little help please!" Blaize grunts

As Minerva attempts to grabs Jocelyn’s feet, Jocelyn kicks Minerva in the stomach and launches Blaize into a nearby wall.

Free of Blaize’s grip, Jocelyn tears off down the street again, giggling like schoolgirl.

Minerva stumbles over to Blaize and helps her to her feet. "Come on," She moans. "Let’s go after her."

Stewie, Mary Ann, and Aeryk manage to loose the strange black monster and hide inside an old barn.

"Do you think we lost it?" Stewie gasps, falling into a large pile of hay.

"I think so." Mary Ann replies, sitting next to Stewie. "So what’s with you?" She asks Aeryk. "When did you learn to talk?"

"I’ve always been able to talk." Aeryk states. "I just don’t like showing off. Bad for business."

"So have you been the one helping Jocelyn?"

Aeryk nods. "That I have, yes. I’ve been helping her with all these great ideas she had, but was unable to create."

"Like the Panty Cannon?" Stewie asks excitedly.

Aeryk nods. "And many more things."

"So how does the Panty Cannon work? It has some kind of magic spell on it, huh?"

Aeryk nods. "I put the spell on it. It’s really not that difficult even a child could..." Aeryk pauses as he hears the barn door creak open.

A set of demonic eyes peers from around the door and Stewie, Mary Ann, and Aeryk all scream in unison and plow through the back wall of the barn in a rain of splinters.

The chase continues back in the city and down the street. "Please Gods, save us!" Mary Ann pleads as she sees a large black shadow run against the walls of various houses.

Minerva and Blaize chase Jocelyn with their clothes clutched desperately to their bare chests. "Cease this running you fleshy daughter of demons!" Blaize roars.

"Jocelyn, stop!" Minerva calls.

From around the corner, Stewie, Mary Ann and Aeryk run unbeknownst toward the three naked women.

"It’s gaining on us!" Stewie wails.

"I can feel it’s fiery breath upon my neck!" Aeryk cries. "Mommy!"

Suddenly, Jocelyn, Minerva, and Blaize tear around the corner just as the other three did and they all slam into each other creating a cloud of dust and a mound of bodies.

Aeryk moans in pain and slowly opens his eyes and instantly realizes that he is deathly close to Jocelyn’s unmentionable. He lets out a sheer cry of terror and erupts from the mountain of bodies. "What are you trying to do? Scare me to death!" He pants.

The five females slowly reorganize themselves and gaze around in a blur of dust and pain. "What happened?" Stewie groans. "One minute we were being chased by this ten foot monster with fiery breath and gnashing teeth, the next minute I’m slamming into three naked women."

Mary Ann quickly sobers and lets out a bark of fear as the ominous shadow appears behind Aeryk. "Aeryk, watch out!" She screams.

Aeryk’s fur stands on end and he slowly turns around and sees the same evil eyes, hiding in the darkness. "Help me!" The black eyes lunge out of the darkness and slams into Aeryk. "Oh my Gods don’t eat me! I’m all fur and bones, honest!" Aeryk cries.

His wailing ceases as he feels a gentle lick on his nose and the soft sound of a kitten’s mew. Aeryk looks down and sees a small black kitten sitting comfortably on his stomach. "A k-kitten?" He stammers. "We were being chased by a kitten?" He roars in disbelief.

"That cat’s talking!" Blaize gasps and suddenly a large cigar appears in Blaize’s mouth.

Aeryk snickers as he turns his attention back to the small kitten before him. "So what’s your name?" The kitten mews slightly, and Aeryk frowns. "No name, huh?"

"You can understand him?" Mary Ann asks.

"Of course I can, I’m a cat too you know." Aeryk turns back to the kitten. "So where’s your mother?" The little black kitten mews sorrowfully and Aeryk grimaces. "No mother too, eh?" He gently removes the kitten from his stomach and he rises to his feet. "Looks like I’m going to have to take you in then."

The little kitten mews happily and begins to rub against Aeryk’s legs. "Alright, stop with the cute stuff kid." Aeryk says sharply.

"Say Stewie, can you and Mary Ann hold Jocelyn down while Minerva and I dress ourselves?" Blaize asks.

Stewie nods, and in a short while the fully clothed Minerva and Blaize appear from around the corner. "So what are we going to do about her?" Minerva asks.

Blaize shrugs. "What can we do? She’s a menace to society, in a sense, and should go to jail."

"No!" Stewie cries. "She makes the best drinks, and gave me my Panty Cannon."

Aeryk clears his throat. "I have an answer to your problems ladies." He announces. "If would please carry the comatose anti-garbed siren to the Toy Shoppe I will explain everything."

The small group walks through the rapidly diminishing moonlight and head into the Ye Old Toy Shoppe. "Just place her in that harness for now." Aeryk orders.

"Shouldn’t we find a way to cover her up?" Mary Ann asks.

"Just wait a moment." Aeryk says. "I’ll explain everything. You see, a short while ago while Jocelyn and I were on a trip to find some various herbs for our Luscious Lickables, we came across a small patch of a strange lavender colored plant we’ve never seen before. We know now it’s the rare Siren’s Shrub."

Mary Ann gasps. "I’ve heard about that! Doesn’t it have some strange effect on the mind that makes you...?" She pauses. "So that’s why she’s running around naked like that."

"What are you talking about?" Minerva asks.

"The Siren’s Shrub has this strange ability to affect people’s mind in the strangest of ways, the example being Jocelyn." Aeryk says. "Even at the slightest sniff, it will send spores into your mind and make you think you’re a siren."

"Even men?" Stewie asks.

Aeryk nods. "Even men, as horrible as it may be to you ladies." He snickers. "The only cure is to have her drink the antidote that I’ve created after tireless research. I would have given it to her sooner, but with these stupid paws of mine, I’m very limited to what I can do."

"Where is the antidote?" Blaize asks.

"It’s in that cupboard right behind you. Just look for the vial with the pink stuff in it." Aeryk says.

Blaize turns and opens the cupboard and searches for the vial. She quickly finds it and pulls it out. "So she just needs to drink it?"

Aeryk nods. "Just make sure she doesn’t choke it back up or anything. I don’t care to clean up messes."

"Alright," Minerva begins. "Stewie and Mary Ann, help me hold down Jocelyn while Blaize feeds her the antidote."

The moment Minerva, Stewie, and Mary Ann touch Jocelyn she lurches to consciousness and begins to struggle furiously against her assailants.

"Would you mind being quick about it." Stewie grunts. "This girl is stronger than an ox!"

After a brief struggle, Blaize manages to stuff the antidote down Jocelyn’s throat. "Great, that should do it?"

Jocelyn begins to cough violently for a moment and gazes around the room in a drug-educed awe. Her body begins to shake violently before she lets out an insanely loud belch; a small puff of pink smoke emerges from her mouth. Slowly, clothes begin to appear on Jocelyn’s body and she goes limp.

The little kitten mews. "Of course she’ll be alright." Aeryk says testily.

Jocelyn’s pretty blue eyes flutter open and she gazes around the room. "H-how did I get in here?" She asks.

Blaize and Minerva help Jocelyn down from the harness. "It’s a long story." Minerva says smiling sweetly. "One, I think, can wait until the morning."

Jocelyn nods slightly, perplexed. "Who’s the kitten?"

"Another long story." Aeryk says, and Jocelyn gasps. "Don’t worry Jocelyn, they already know."

"Well, we do and we don’t." Blaize adds. "But I’m all for introductions and stories after a good rest." She says yawning.

"Good idea!" Aeryk states. "How about we all meet in the tavern food some good food, made by yours truly."

The groups nods in agreement and they all stumble off toward their beds for some well earned rest.

"Sorry to see you guys going." Jocelyn says. "It was really great meeting you all. Stay safe."

"I hope you like the food!" Aeryk calls, still wearing the cat sized chef’s hat and apron from earlier this morning. "It’s fish!" He chuckles and the kitten, also wearing a chef’s hat and apron, mews. "Oh, and Aeryk Jr. says good bye."

The four heroes smile widely and wave as they ride off into the morning sun. "I know this will be a strange thing to say, but I’m going to miss them." Minerva says, turning and seeing Jocelyn and the cats seeing them off.

"Yeah, me too." Stewie says. "Mostly the drinks."

Blaize stops her horse and turns to their three friends. "Say, would you guys like to join us? You can never have to much help!" She calls.

"Would we?" Jocelyn cries. "Of course!" She nearly erupts with joy as she bolts into the tavern to prepare for the journey.

Aeryk grins evilly. "Excellent, it worked." Aeryk Jr. mews questioningly. "I just cast a little mind control spell, nothing harmful. You see Aeryk Jr. that woman, Minerva, has a bright future ahead of her, and I think she’ll bring this world into a golden age." He nods. "Yes, I’m sure of it."

Next time on MINERVA: WARRIOR EMPRESS

Our heroes make it to the ancient city of Raidon, only to find it in ruins. The evil Jane the Bipolar has sent out another demon in hopes of stopping Minerva and her friends. What is this new threat, and will our heroes be strong enough to defeat it? And just who, or what, is Aeryk? Find out next time in...

Knights Short of Stature: Great Things Come in Small Packages

Continued in Part 4

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