The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The way of the ninja 18, Part 110

As the witches conjured their spells, a shiver of power coursed through the air. The ancient words resonated, weaving together the fabric of reality and illusion. Mer-mer and Shadow-cat watched anxiously as ghostly figures began to emerge from the depths of the forest, swirling around the dragon horse's lair with eerie, flickering lights.

The older witch pointed her gnarled finger toward the figures. "Go! Create a ruckus! Make him believe an army approaches!"

The spirits danced around the dragon horse, who stirred uneasily at first, raising his head to watch the commotion unfold. Mer-mer could see confusion washing over his golden eyes.

"Now's our chance!" he whispered to Shadow-cat. They edged closer toward the altar, hearts pounding in sync with the ghostly sounds echoing across the canyon.

Meanwhile, the younger witch concentrated on her spell to transform the dragon horse into a frog. She muttered incantations under her breath, her face set with determination. "This will take all my focus... keep him distracted!"

"Look!" Mer-mer shouted as he threw a small stone away from them, producing a clattering noise that echoed through the clearing.

The dragon horse whipped around at the sound, its massive frame shifting uneasily as it narrowed its eyes suspiciously at the shadows hiding behind the trees. "What is this madness?" it bellowed, flaring its nostrils as smoke curled from its mouth.

With quick glances exchanged, Shadow-cat darted to the altar while Mer-mer continued to mimic frantic animal calls, drawing attention away from her meticulous movements.

"Where are you hiding?" roared the dragon horse angrily, eyes scanning for intruders. The fire spirits danced frantically around him, adding to his confusion.

As Shadow-cat reached for the prized saddle—its gold gleaming brilliantly even in dim light—she felt a surge of triumph wash over her. But just as she grasped it, an unexpected pulse of magic erupted from above!

The younger witch's spell struck true; with a flash of light, the dragon horse shrieked in surprise as it began to shrink and transform before their eyes. As golden scales melted away into vivid green skin and bulging eyes emerged where fierce ones once sat, it became clear they were successful!

"Success!" Shadow-cat whispered breathlessly as she pulled off the saddle and slipped it onto her back. But before they could celebrate or retreat, a chorus of angry roars erupted from all around them.

A group of centaurs had caught sight of what was happening and charged toward them in alarm! Their hooves thundered against the earth like drums signaling doom.

"Run!" Mer-mer shouted urgently as they dashed away from danger, dodging through trees and fallen logs while barely keeping their balance under their new burden.

Behind them, shadows of spirits flickered chaotically as they battled for dominance against confused fire sprites who swarmed around them like fireflies gone wild.

"Did we really think we could pull this off?" Shadow-cat gasped between hurried breaths as they sprinted ahead.

"I didn't expect an army of centaurs," Mer-mer admitted reluctantly as they raced through thick brush toward familiar territory. "We need a new plan!"

The battlefield erupted into chaos as the centaurs-warriors of the dragon-horse and its army of fire spirits clashed with our heroes. Amidst the screams and clashes of swords, the dragon-horse cry rang out, barely audible above the chaos.

"Your master has transformed into a frog!" he shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

As if to confirm his words, several centaurs turned to see their leader now a giant toad in his place. A sense of dread filled them, knowing that even if they won this battle, their master may never return to his true form.

But then an elderly centaur stepped forward, wielding a massive bow that seemed to pulse with power. His eyes locked onto Mer-Mer's and she knew he would stop at nothing to protect his new master.

"What do you suggest?" he growled, an arrow poised against his bowstring. "Tell me quickly before my arrow pierces your lying heart."

Mer-Mer's heart raced as he desperately searched for a solution. Then it hit him.

"Our friends," he pointed towards the witches who had been fighting alongside them, "they can turn your master back to his former form. But they have one condition..."

Before he could finish, the giant toad croaked frantically, "No! Kill them!"

But before anyone could react, Shadow-cat leaped forward, grabbing the frog in one swift motion and holding her katana to its throat.

"Bows down... or I'll skin your master alive!" she snarled.

The entire battlefield froze in shock as they watched the fierce cat-ninja take control of the situation. The centaurs hesitated, unsure of what to do next.

"Now!" Shadow-cat cried, her voice echoing across the silent battlefield.

"M-Mercy!" the frog pleaded, its once commanding voice now reduced to a pained croak. "Spare my life and I will give you the saddle."

Mer-Mer nodded, her eyes never leaving Shadow-cat's as she gave the signal for their allies to take the saddle and retreat to safety. "First, we will take the saddle and ride away. Then our friends here will return your master to his former form... and make sure your allies, the centaurs and fire spirits, stay back and do not pursue us."

The giant frog hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. "Okay, okay," it croaked. "You heard what the cat-ninja ordered. Give them the saddle and stay back."

The centaurs tensed, their fingers tightening on their bows as our heroes stepped back. The elder centaur stepped forward, his bow at the ready. 

"Be warned," he growled. "My aim is true and my arrow can strike from afar." 

Our heroes nodded, but continued to slowly back away. Meanwhile, the witch's ghostly army had dissipated as their magic weakened. Shadow-cat stopped under a sprawling oak tree, its dense branches offering protection from the centaurs' arrows. 

"Let's take a moment to rest," she said. "We need to figure out how to return the dragon-horse to his rightful form." 

The centaurs and fire spirits stood at a distance, waiting for their master to be returned. Finally, Shadow-cat stepped forward. 

"We must proceed with caution," she called out to the elder centaur. "One wrong word and your master may not return in the form you desire." 

The centaur shook his head in frustration. "And if your magic fails?" he asked, gesturing towards the fire spirits who were now circling hungrily around our group. 

Shadow-cat turned to the witches who had been following them. "Can you help us?" she implored.

 One of them, named Maleficent, shrugged helplessly. "I am skilled at turning princes into frogs, but reversing it..." 

The other witch, Gnash, interrupted her with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Wait, I have heard tales of a princess who has the power to turn frogs into princes." Our heroes exchanged relieved glances before asking where this princess could be found.