The Garden of Vacant Dreams

Choices

A/N: Saban/Disney own the characters you know. I own the ones you don't.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHOICES

(Present time)

"Get up, you old fool." She ordered as she kicked the being on the ground below her.

The being began to stir. He had been knocked out cold and hadn't come to until just now.

"What's going on?" Lord Zedd barked as he began to get up in a disoriented state. He moved slowly as he looked up to see a face he hadn't expected.

"How long have you been out here?" Divatox asked in a condescending tone, "Surely you didn't lose a fight."

"When you fight against your significant other, or at least in my case… your significant bother, it makes it difficult to win."

Divatox smiled, "The great Lord Zedd losing to his decrepit hag of a wife."

Zedd laughed, "Is that your best insult? You must not hate her enough." He looked at his injured shoulder, "What is it that you want? You're starting to scare me with that unsightly smile of yours."

She gave him a despising look, "I came out here for some fresh air and stumbled across you. I never thought I'd see you with your face so far in the dirt."

"Yes, well… Rita was a little upset. She had the chance to kill me actually but didn't take it."

"Was it her spirit?"

"Yes, I am sure of it." Zedd replied as he rubbed the spot on his head where Rita had struck him.

"Why would she want to kill you?" Divatox's interest was steadily peaking now.

Zedd looked up at her as he grunted. He didn't want to discuss it but thought about the possibility of obtaining Divatox's help in the matter, "She is planning on going after Mesogog."

"Well if she tried to earlier, he hasn't been around at all since last night. The guy booked it and didn't say a word to anyone other than Gasket."

"That's good… then we still have time."

"I'm sorry… did I just hear you say we?"

"Yes, we…" Zedd replied irritably, "And the others too if we can. She must be stopped."

"What makes you think that I am willing to-"

"Because you will die if she succeeds." Zedd cut in, "We all will."

"Just because she is foolish enough to attack him does not mean we all will suffer the consequences."

Zedd shook his head in disbelief, "You're willing to give your life over an assumption?"

"He brought us all back… and for what?" She replied taking a few steps closer to him.

"For nothing!" Zedd retorted, "We still don't even know."

"That may be true but I am willing to bet that Mesogog has much more in store for us than he is letting on. If she attacks him, she won't be destroyed. He needs us, I know he does. He wouldn't have brought us all back for nothing."

"Make your bets then but it'll be unwise of you not to join me." He paused as he too took a few steps closer to her, "Prepare yourself now before the time comes when Mesogog's plans for us… turn out to be putting us back in our graves. I'll be happy to see the look on your face when you realize we are just pieces being played in this game of his! At least if we go together to stop her from this suicide attempt of hers, Mesogog will see we are loyal to him!"