Hero 108: A New Beginning Ch 17

Snake Princess

By: ARTgazer12

The sun was nearly set on the horizon. It used to hit the top of Big Green, making the light shimmer. However now it cast upon nothing. Liliac and the others were now at the edge of Big Green. The twins and DJ soon came afterward. Their new member however, was conflicting in the eyes of the others. That plant seemed, menacing. However in Thorn's case, he was delighted to see so many more people. He grabbed Liliac's hand and gently kissed it. As he was doing that, the Jackal Plant on his shoulder slowly extended near her ear. The boy saw this, quickly grabbing the mouth and clamping it shut. The others, even the three that met him earlier, were surprised.

With the word from Kawkee, the others were able to enter. Ook had a hard time, due to both his size and his intelligence. They all met in the meeting room they went in before. Ape Truly was there, but strangely Brave One was not.

"Commander, where's Brave One?" asked Liliac.

The Commander turned to face them. "Oh, I believe that that she went to see Yīxiàn xīwàng" he said.

"Have you seen Lovely either?" asked Red Ray.

"Oh, she and Oddette left a few minutes ago. I told them of a mission near the western forests. I told them of the dangers at night, but they said they had no problem. Now, what new members do we have?"

As the others talked to the old monkey king, Liliac went to the bedrooms. As she walked down the hall, she couldn't help but to feel a bit of unease in the air. YX's room was just down the hall, but Liliac was stopped. Brave One stood in front of her, hissing. "Oh, hi Brave One" the human said, unfazed by her hissing. "I'm just here to check on Yīxiàn xīwàng…" Liliac reached for the door, causing the pink monkey to take action. Brave One jumped and bit Liliac's hand. She wouldn't let go until a few seconds. Liliac retracted her hand, watching Brave One slowly walk into the demon's room. Before she closed the door, the human was given a sinister stare from the monkey, "…Leave…"

Liliac was shocked, she never heard her speak before. The monkey closed the door, making the human's attention fall onto the pain. She removed her glove, a bit of blood falling from her hand. "She…she bit me" she said. "Her teeth got through my glove…"

In the room, Brave One was surrounded by darkness. A few candles were lit, but it didn't provide much help. Tears formed in the pink monkey's eyes as she approached. Lying in the floor in a mess was YX. He seemed heavily injured, blood was all around him. As Brave One approached, he moved back, "No…don't look at me…" The monkey did not listen. Tears still fell from her eyes as she hugged the demon.

---

The crescent moon illuminated what ground the leaves did not. Oddette and Lovely walked down the barely visible path. They talked simple stuff, what their problem is and how easy will it be. Along the way, the path split. Without even speaking, Oddette took the left path. "I'll check with you in the morning" she spoke as she left. Lovely waved before taking the right path.

The moon was high and the darkness spread. But Lovely did not mind one bit. She actually enjoyed it. It reminded her of her old home, before she met her nephew and niece.
The bushes shook beside her, causing Lovely to jump into action. However her actions were not necessary. The source of the rustling was a small snake. She caught sight of Lovely and quickly slithered away. The snake moved too fast for her to get a good look at her. Lovely was curious to why a snake would be out here, so she followed it.

Might I help? Lovely smiled as her hair seemed to extend. It grew right against the ground, actually lifting her off. The way it looked, it looked almost like Red Ray's Yaksha. The hybrid was lifted onto a high ledge that overlooked a clearing. Lovely giggled slightly as her hair returned to their normal length. "How about next time, I do that" she said out loud.

Before her inner voice could reply, something entered the clearing. It was the same snake from before. The moonlight allowed her to be fully visible. Her scales were a beautiful shade of green. The markings on her hood were a cute shade of pink. On her head was a pink flower, maybe a lotus. Although the snake was cute, there was one thing Lovely was uncertain of. The young snake seemed to have several bruises along her body. Her hood also seemed to be covered in stitches. She was panting, like she was running from something. Then, it revealed itself.

A large dark figure with a piercing red eye rose from the shadows. The young snake gasped and made a run for it. The red eye narrowed, a deep brown tail blocking the escaper's route. The green snake stopped, turned, and began to coil in fear. The figure revealed itself into the moonlight. It was a snake, much larger than the green one. The snake had menacing markings on its hood, as well as very sharp fangs and claw marks around his injured right eye. "I FOUND YOU!" he hissed. The small snake continued to coil around herself, but the larger snake loomed over her. "You were running away again…remember what happened the last time you ran away?"

The small snake suddenly uncoiled, "No no…No Basilisk, I….I-I wasn't running away…I-I was…"

"SILENCE!" The snake's sudden voice scared even Lovely. "It is obvious you are still too weak Chusi. You shall then take double of your training as punishment!"

Chusi slowly backed up, hoping that something will save her. But she was wrong. Basilisk coiled around her small body and then started to squeeze her. Lovely watched in horror as the small snake was constricted. Chusi let out her last breath, a small but audible wheeze coming out of her throat. Basilisk laughed before releasing his grip. The green snake fell to the ground limp and lifeless. But a quick gasp of breath meant that she was alive. "Now, GO BACK TO THE CASTLE!" Chusi slowly got up and slithered back in the direction Basilisk came. The snake followed, making sure the little escaper wouldn't get any ideas.

Lovely's hair extended to the ground and helped her land safely. She looked in the same direction to where the two snakes traveled too. I believe that is Snake Castle…what are you thinking? Lovely sighed, "I'm thinking of that snake…"

---

The next morning came, shining the light of a new day into Hidden Kingdom. The light shined through the windows of Snake Castle. But light was limited in one place. Every snake in Snake Castle had a box. Usually it helps to sneak on enemies and also be a comforting area for them. But for Chusi, it was a prison. Hers had a lock on it, to which only Basilisk could open. The only area where light could get in was the keyhole, and the keyhole was very small. Chusi raised her head and squinted from the lack of light. She tried to look through the hole, but her box was too dark; it made her eyes burn. A small knock on the side of it caused her to stir. "Did you have a good sleep Chusi…?"

The voice she knew, it was one that haunted the snake princess down to the very core of her heart. "P-Please B-Basilisk…" she said with fear, "L-Let me out…"

"Why would I do that? Are you going to run away…?" The Snake King's red eye soon looked through the keyhole, giving Chusi more than a good scare, "Or do you want your training this early in the morning…?" Chusi screamed in fear, giving her answer and giving Basilisk a laugh. Chusi curled in on herself, crying herself to tears. She hoped, begged, pleaded, that one day someone or something would take her away from this nightmare. She also hoped that that someone was not death.

---

Lovely stood at the front of Snake Castle. The sun was near the center of the sky, revealing that it was about noon. Lovely did not move; she just stood at the entrance of the castle. If this plan of yours does not work the voice started, then we will both be killed.

"I know" the human admitted with a sigh. "But if we don't try, she will only suffer more."

With both minds set on their goal, Lovely journeyed on into the castle. The halls were poorly lit, spiked vines growing along every wall. As she continued, the sense of danger was increasing by the second. Finally, she arrived at the main throne room. Unlike the old Snake King, Basilisk was out of his box, waiting for whoever came. But once the human stepped foot inside, she was surrounded by red boxes, the ones belonging to the soldiers. Lovely remained where she was. "I would like to request an audience with the Snake King."
Basilisk hissed, causing all of the boxes to retreat. Lovely approached closer and stopped at the base of the stairs. The Snake King smiled, "What is the pleasure of having a human to see me…?"

Lovely gulped, not in fear of the Snake King, but more of the fear of what was going to happen. "I came to see my friend" she said. "I believe her name is Chusi…"

This caught both Basilisk and Chusi's attention. "…friend…? Friend…? FRIEND?!" Snake King hissed loudly. "I do not remember Chusi ever having a friend! She is forbidden to have friends!"

Chusi watched through her tiny keyhole as Basilisk slithered towards this unknown human. She did not know why she was lying to Basilisk; she was only going to get herself killed. But, the Snake Princess realized something. Maybe this is who is here to save her. Maybe this human, had the heart to do it. Chusi's hopes rose, but they quickly died when she saw the human get slapped by his tail.

Lovely hit the ground hard, but the landing was not as hard as the hit she took. However she stood up, facing the mortal danger. "Chusi is my friend, I would like to see her" she said. Basilisk hit her again, "LIAR! SHE HAS NO FRIEND!" The Snake King quickly coiled around the human's body. Very slowly, he began to constrict her. "Chusi will see no one! And even if you were her friend, she will not have one for very long…"

Basilisk began to laugh as the life was being squeezed out of Lovely. However this chuckle was short lived. The Snake King let out a scream of pain, thrashing his head from side to side. His grip on Lovely stopped, dropping her to the ground. Lovely looked up at the scene in front of her. Chusi has bitten down on Basilisk's head, and not letting go. But with one final whip, Chusi was sent to the ground. The Snake King watched the princess slither in front of Lovely and pose defensively.

"You…you attacked me…" Chusi lost whatever courage she had when she saw Basilisk approach. "YOU ATTACKED ME?!?!"" Chusi was about to beg, but she was silenced. Tears began to fall from her eyes. "CHUSI, YOU WILL NEVER BE SEEN HERE EVER AGAIN! YOU ARE HEREBY BANISHED FROM SNAKE CASTLE! NOW LEAVE MY SIGHT!"

Chusi slithered backwards, only to be picked up by Lovely. The pair walked out together. The Snake Princess was still crying, sad that her only home was not gone for her. The human, seeing she still being stressed, started to stroke her. Once they stepped out, all fear began to slowly drain from Chusi. She quickly looked over the human's shoulder, but Basilisk was not there. She was…free…

Without question, Chusi coiled around Lovely's arm and neck. But it wasn't an attack, it was a hug. The tears that fell from her eyes were ones of joy, not sadness. "I…I never have to go back…" she stated between sobs. "No more…pain… No more…suffering… Thank you…"

Lovely returned the hug the best she could. "Chusi" she said. She hated to try and force this on her, but she needs it. "I know a place where…you can be safe every day. You can meet lots of friends, and never feel the pain you felt for years. Would you like to come with me?"

Chusi's tears sparkled on her face. "Yes…yes I would like that a lot…"

CHUSI 040

The two walked off down the path to meet their awaiting friend. As they walked, a figure grew from the ground. It stayed behind a tree, but watched as the two went off. Almost as silently as it appeared, the figure shrank back down into the dirt.