Legend Of Pandora

Chapter XIV: What Must Be Done

Wolfe woke up the next day at the shack Horace gave him. It was relatively small, but not bad.

He wanted to convince Horace to use his army against Pandora, so he headed to Horace's cabin. He paved his way through markets and little houses, and gotten lost occasionally, but eventually he found the cabin.

He knocked on the wooden door, and hoped Horace has forgotten about their argument last night, as that would reduce the chances he will agree.

Horace opened the door. For once, he wasn't smiling, which worried Wolfe that he had not forgotten last night.

"Hello, Horace" Wolfe greeted him. "I apologize for last night." He said as he walked in the cabin.

Horace was unimpressed. "If you want something, ask for it." He said.

"I hope you've changed your mind about your army." Wolfe told him.

"If that's what you're here for, the answer is no." Horace replied.

"Sir, Pandora could destroy your village, too. Why do you not want to use your army against it?" Wolfe asked again.

"My army doesn't stand a chance." Horace answered. "You are wasting your time, Wolfe. There are eight other clans with armies just as big as mine."

"I hoped it wouldn't have to come to this." Wolfe said as he hit Horace and he fell to the ground.

Horace was surprised. He didn't expect Wolfe to do such a thing.

"Give me permission to lead your army, or I'll get it myself." Wolfe said, tightening his arms around Horace's neck.

"Good luck with that." Horace replied.

Wolfe tightened his arms even more. Horace started choking.

"I'm sorry." Wolfe whispered as Horace suffocated to death.

A while later, Horace's servants found the body. Wolfe was already out of there.

Wolfe heard from the local Bloodmixians that all villagers will gather to hear something important, and he knew exactly what it was. He felt a slight regret about killing him, but he knew it was a good choice.

When the time for the gathering came, he headed there and saw hundreds of people going with him, too. He overheard two Bloodmixians discussing what they think it would be about.

"I hope it's good news." Said one of them.

"Perhaps the Serpents were slain?" Hoped the second.

Of course things started getting a little bit more suspicious as the crowd realized Horace wasn't there. One of his servants coughed, and all the talking stopped.

"Hello people of Horclan." He shouted.

"I'm afraid the news we bring today are not good like the previous days."

"Your beloved leader of the clan, Horace was found dead in his cabin."

The crowd gasped.

"There are no marks of a sword, arrow or bullet." The servant continued. "Horace was either poisoned, or suffocated."

Wolfe felt a bit nervous, all of a sudden. Though he continued the plan.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to say something in his memory." Wolfe asked politely.

He stepped up before the Servant had even answered.

"Horace was a great leader." Wolfe told them. "He was a good friend of mine, as well."

"Though there is something you all need to know." He confessed. The crowd seemed confused.

"There's a new threat in this place, much mightier then the Serpents. It's Pandora. Pandora destroyed my village, and eventually this one as well."

The Servants seemed angry, though didn't stop him.

"The last thing Horace told me before today's horrible news, was that he wanted this army to attack Pandora." Fox lied.

"In a few days, we shall march on Pandora. Not only for the survival of this clan and the Bloodmixian race, but for the sake of Horace!"

The people went wild this time. Wolfe felt a bit bad about lying to them, but otherwise Pandora would destroy the entire world.

The servants tried to speak up and stop the chaos, though their words were lost in the noise the people made.

"For Horace!" one of them shouted. They were clearly willing to march on Pandora.

Wolfe smiled.

* * *

Cloak, Shae, Heeshe, Belle, Alfe, the keepers and the remaining people of Foxclan were on their way to Horace's village. They have been walking for a few hours already, and they saw the old, ruined village on the horizon.

"I was foolish to believe Phoenix's plan would work." Shae confessed.

Alfe nodded. "The will to prevent war is not foolish, though trying to make peace with an enemy that wants war is."

"What are you talking about?" Cloak asked.

"One of our leaders tried to make peace with The Serpents. The Anaconda shot her in the face."

"Sounds like her." Cloak told them. "She is my mother, after all."

Shae looked at Cloak, both surprised and a bit sorry for him.

They were going to pass the ruined village, as they saw a few Invaders running towards them. They got closer, and Cloak noticed one of them was a bit different. It had eyes and a mouth, and even some hair. Several chunks of his skin were not peeled.

Its face was familiar as well, but Cloak couldn't tell who he was, until...

It pulled out a dagger, though not a normal one. It was Python's.

Suddenly, Cloak realized who it was. It was Python himself.

"Hello, old friend." Python growled.

Cloak didn't know for sure if it was hostile, but he drew out his Longsword just to be safe.

"Is this you? What happened?" Cloak asked him, still surprised.

"It is I, Cloak." Python growled. "I have improved , that's all."

Cloak got even more confused.

"You could be better too, old friend." Python said and opened his mouth, preparing to bite.

"You told me yourself that you no longer belong with the Serpents." It continued. "Why don't you belong with me?"

Cloak wanted to respond, but Belle stopped him.

"They've taken over him, Cloak." She told him. "This is not Python. Not anymore."

Cloak continued staring at the new Python.

"They tried to convince me too, Cloak." Shae told him. "My friends pulled me out in time, but maybe Python wasn't as lucky."

"What if Python's still in there?" Cloak asked them.

"I doubt it." Belle told him. "I'm sorry, Cloak."

Cloak turned his face to the rest.

"Please don't leave me, Cloak." It told him. "It's really me."

"I'll tell the Anaconda you are gone. She'll be very sad." Cloak told him.

"Yes, She will be. But I'm not gone." Python insisted.

"You should know the Anaconda is never sad." Cloak told him. "Whoever you are, you are not Python."

Python growled and ran back to the ruined village.