Yes. But it
seems to be better now. Doesn't matter, though. I have Chapter 14 saved in my email. I won't need to rewrite again.
And I also have to go to work tomorrow. . . . *sigh* Only three more months before I qualify for vacation time.
Now, let's try this
AGAIN.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
Battles and Retreats
There was a celebration after Saffa's hearing. Streamers, ballons, food, drinks -- the whole shebang. Cloak, however, stood aside, pretty much acting like a papparazzi bouncer. He eventually made the gate solid instead of the opaque state it was in. But he remained there looking all surly and broody.
"You go, Kelly!" Helen said, cheerfully. She had some green tea in a crystal glass.
"The evidence was more then sufficient," Kelly said, blithely modest. She sipped her chosen beverage, and nibbled a cookie before continuing, "And Faerie's Sakki's hearings have been pushed back -- tomorrow and the day after, respectively."
"Why?" Faerie said, who wasn't as jovial as the others. Sakki was also looking nervously grim.
Phoenix let out a bark of laughter, "Isn't obvious? He's scrambling."
"But --" Sakki interjected.
"He wasn't expecting the sheer amount of evidence that presented today." Kelly elaborated.
"But, I thought that you had to make the other side aware --" Underseen piped up.
"He dismissed it." Kelly said. "Probably thought that he could charm the judge."
<He was expecting a female judge?> Noelle asked, taking a sip of water with her left forehoof.
"I really don't know why he thought that
that was the best course of action," Kelly admitted. "But, Faerie, you should get plenty of rest. I don't know what tricks he plans to exercise tomorrow."
***
Faerie stood, Gale Blade in hand, twitching with a battlelust she never recognized before. She was surrounded on all sides by "warrior papparazzi", which looked like Shadow Heartless from Kingom Hearts, only with a single luminous, Cyclopean eye.
Montgomery Banks appeared upon some high pedestal, and mysic started up.
"So, you think you have friends in high places?
With the power to put us on the run?
Well, forgive these smiles on our faces,
You'll know what power is when we are done.
Hon."
Faerie gritted her teeth and fought fiercely and furiously against the so-called warrior papparazzi. But, for every one struck down, seven
hundred took their place. Too much, even for someone of Faerie's combat caliber.
"You're playing with the papparazzi now!
You're playing with the papparazzi now . . .
(Oh, that's pretty.)
Ev'ry word and gesture
Tells you who's the best-er.
You're playing with the papparazzi now.
You're playing with the papparazzi now!
You're playing with the papparazzi now!
Stop this foolish mission!
Watch a true tactician!
Give an exhibition
How!"
Faerie was knocked down, the Gale Blade skittered just out of reach. Faerie looked awfully beaten up.
"Pick up your silly knife, girl.
You're playing with the papparazzi now.
You're playing with the papparazzi now!
You're playing with the papparazzi now!
By the might of the law, lil' us,
You will kneel before us.
Kneel to our splendorous power!"
"NEVER!" Faerie snarled with her characteristic never-give-up-never-give-in attitude.
"You put up a front!
You put up a fight!
And just to show we feel no spite,
You can be my acolyte!"
Faerie got a very heavy-lidded look* at this. As if she believed the offer was insincere or fury at the merest suggestion of such at thing.
"But, first, girl, it's time to bow!
(Kowtow!)"
"You can't be serious," Faerie said drily.
"Or it's your own grave you'll dig, girl!
You're playing with the papparazzi now!
You're playing with the papparazzi
Now!"
Soon, Faerie was overwhelmed. Being smothered by the warrior papparazzi . . .
***
With a sharp gasp, Faerie awoke. She placed her face in her hands, rubbing it, as if hoping to rub away the dream. But it was already starting to fade away from her memory.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Faerie, freshen up." Kelly. "Court will start in a couple of hours."
---
* I.e. this --
.
