Miranda's Adventure Ch. 23

-Chapter 23-
Break the Darkness
The next afternoon, Miranda, Erika, & Kandy arrive at the gate to the castle. They are confronted by a dead warrior, with a solid silver armor around his chest. He pointed his tonfa at the girls and stepped towards them.
"No one is allowed to enter the Castle of Isabella!" The guard shouted.
"Who do you think you are, dead brain?" Erika asked.
"I am Blade," he answered, "I guard this area for centuries!"
Miranda smiled evilly and said, "Witty proposal. I love to see you fall in despair."
She then pointed her sword and shouted, "Blade, if we defeat you in battle, you must give your word to let us in the castle!"
Blade agrees, and then said, "Fine! But if I defeat you, it's the gallows for you intruders!"
Miranda said, "Prepare to feel the wrath of Maynard Tradition!"
As the battle began, Erika grows a bit of concern over Miranda. "She has gotten more confident than ever. But, it doesn't feel right. Not one bit."
Blade charged at Miranda, and smacked her repeatedly with his tonfa. Miranda falls to the ground, but staggers up.
"Impressive," she said, "But you cannot defeat me with skill alone."
"The blade is stronger than the punch," Blade proclaimed, "But my Chi is higher than your soul."
Miranda struck Blade with her sword, causing him to fly into the castle door. Blade got up, however, and began to glow. He was meditating, and began to grow stronger.
"Miranda," Erika said, "Let's us fight him, too."
"She's right," Kandy added, "If we defeat him, he'll let us through."
Miranda then held her shield in front of Erika and Kandy, and refused.
"No! This is MY battle," she said, "I won't let you in the way."
Erika then whispered to Kandy, "What's gotten into her?"
"Miss Miranda has changed a bit," Kandy said, "She has become a different person."
"This is not the Miranda Maynard I know," Erika cried.
Miranda continued to lash out on Blade, but he sent Miranda flying into the trees with and uppercut. Erika saw no more, and began attacking him. Erika started a kicking barrage, which caused Blade to stumble down. Blade recovered and went after Kandy, but she was ready for him. In an instant, Kandy swiped her sword at Blade, and sliced off one of his tonfas.
"Your weapon is cheap," Kandy said.
"Shut up!" Blade shouted, "I don't need weapons to beat your sorry butts!"
Miranda got up and shouted, "Just what are you two jokers doing?"
"Miss Miranda, we're only trying to help," Kandy cried, "Please, let us help you."
Miranda ignored Kandy's plea, and dropped her sword & shield. Blade smiles and said, "I see. You want to fight me without the use of your silly toy?"
"I thought maybe I'd fancy you for a battle in fisticuffs only," Miranda said, "And if anyone stands in the way, they'll be sorry!"
Erika was shocked. She saw Miranda acting like she wants to do it alone. Miranda charged at Blade, and the two began to exchange punches and kicks. Each time they exchanged a blow, they start to grow angrier. Kandy & Erika watched on, until Miranda gave Blade a sweep, sending him down on the floor. Miranda was to stomp on his head, but Blade rolled away. He gets up and gives an elbow to Miranda's chest. She started to bleed a little from the mouth. She then started to kick him in the gut 5 times, until Blade headbutted her, causing Miranda to stumble.
"You lack skill..." Blade blared, "Your swagger is clouding your movements! Rest easy, young warrior... you'll be going to hell real soon."
Miranda stood in place and said, "HA! People like you make me sick! You are an evil foe... you only do this just to keep Isabella from fighting me! Well, you, my brave fighter, have not heard much of the Miranda Maynard you see here! I will DEFEAT Isabella and I will save Argos! And I'll be damned if you ruined my chances!"
"We'll see about that, human!" Blade shouted.
They both began to exchange blows. Blade and Miranda exchanged a blow to the gut & head alternately, until finally, Miranda tripped Blade; she socked him to the chest, stomped his foot, and gave a roundhouse kick to the head. Blade fell to the ground in much pain. Swiftly, Miranda grabbed her sword, and stomped on his chest. She then pointed her sword at him.
"Please… Spare me…" Blade pleaded.
"Spare you?!" Miranda said, "You're not even alive."
"Miss Miranda! Don't do it!" Kandy shouted, knowing what she might do to Blade.
"No! You can never get in now!" Blade shouted.
"Let us in… OR ELSE!!!" Miranda shouted.
Blade yelled, "NEVER!!!"
"Is that so?" she said, letting out an evil grin, "I guess that makes you… expendable!!!"
Miranda attempted to use her sword at Blade, but Erika grabbed her arm, stopping the attack.
"Miranda Maynard, you have gone too far!!!" She shouted, still restraining Miranda.
She cried, "I have to, Erika! He's evil! He must die!"
"This is not Maynard-like of you!"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"You… you can't do this! What about Sara?"
"You don't understand!!! If he is evil, he must perish! If I do kill him, then we go in!"
"Yeah, but is that what you wanted? Killing a person just to get one step closer to your revenge?"
Miranda broke free of Erika's restraints, and pointed her sword at her.
"Back off! Or I'll kill you, too!" She shouted, "I may be your friend, but I won't let you in the way!"
Erika then shook in fear, and asked her, "Why? Why are you doing this? Don't you want to save Argos for Sara and your father?"
Miranda then growled, "I must… I must…"
"Miranda! Listen to me! You cannot do this!" Erika shouted.
She lunged her sword, with a scream, at Erika; but she dodged it at the last minute. She then kicked the sword out of her hand, and grabbed her shoulders. She then dropped her to the ground.
"Miranda!" She cried, "Snap out of it!!!"
Kandy then shouted, "Miss Erika! What are you doing?"
"LET ME GO!!!" Miranda shrieked.
"I cannot let you continue on! You've got to stop!"
"Erika!!! You don't understand!!! He's... He's... I can't even say it!!! But I must kill Queen Isabella!!!"
"WHAT???"
"MISS MIRANDA!!! YOU WOULDN'T!!!"
"SARA!!! I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE!!!"
"Okay..." Erika growled, "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!"
Erika then slapped Miranda repeatedly.
"Get… a… hold… of… yourself!" She cried, as she continued to slap Miranda.
"Miss Erika!!! What are you doing???" Kandy shouted.
She ran into Erika and grabbed her arm.
"Enough!!!" Kandy pleaded, "Stop it! This has gone on long enough!"
"But... Kandy..." Erika said.
Miranda held her face, which was a little red. She got up and looked at Erika.
"What happened?" Miranda asked.
"Miranda," Erika said, "I'm sorry."
"Are you okay now, Miss Miranda?" Kandy asked.
Miranda replied, "Yeah. I don't know what came over me. I still thought of Sara, but then all of a sudden, my blood began to boil. Then it all went black."
"Honestly," Erika said, "You nearly killed a guy! He faced you in a battle, and you tried to kill him."
"Miss Miranda, you've turned evil!" Kandy cried.
"It can't be! I can never kill anyone!" Miranda gasped.
"No," Erika shouted, "Then, explain to me why you tried to kill me?"
Miranda stood in shock, and started to shake.
"I… I nearly killed you?" Miranda whimpered, "I… I…"
She fell to her knees and cried.
"NO! What have I done? I cannot believe I almost killed you guys!" She cried, "Oh God, what have I done?"
She wiped her tears really hard, knowing that she's done something very bad.
Kandy hugged Miranda so hard, with a sad look on her face.
"Miss Miranda! Don't you ever do that again!" Kandy cried.
Erika then added, "If you wanted to kill someone, take it out on the person who killed Sara Maynard. And, at least, for your benefit, try not to blame yourself!"
Miranda then got up and picked up her sword & shield; she said to Erika, "I'm sorry, Erika. You're right. I should've never lashed out in rage like that. I couldn't understand anything, but, it seems someone tried to release my killing instinct. I..."
Erika then said, "It's all right... lots of people go through this... but you & I, we have our own reasons."
She then patted her on the shoulder and said, "Let's promise one thing: if we must win, we defeat this person at all costs!"
Just then, Blade got up, and confronted the heroines.
"Just so you know," he said, "I was only following orders from Her Royal Highness to execute all 3 of you, and do her bidding."
"You WHAT?!" Miranda shouted.
"But knowing what she'll do to you," he continued, "I would feel she might set up the execution date for me, as well."
"Enough bull!" Erika shouted, "She defeated you, so now, you must let us in!"
Blade then stepped away from the gate, as the doors began to open.
"This way…" he boomed, as the girls went inside.
Miranda suddenly started to smile a bit and thought, "That's the last time I get some sage advice from a creep in a dungeon."

To be continued...