“We’ll help you” Robin decided
“You are not the one to make that choice: Aqualad is” I said, turning to him.
“Yes, I am. And I agree with Robin. We will help you, Princess” he said
“Thank you. We must hurry” I said, rushing to the bio-ship. I waited while everyone filed into the bio-ship and stood beside Miss Martian.
“Take this route. It is safe, but only if we go through Torment Forest, past Piranha Cove, but avoid the Chasm of Chilling Mist’s, then over Wakanda” I instructed. “If we go any other way, we will be spotted” We started going straight over the jungle I had told them not to.
“This is not the route I laid out! We will be spotted” I exclaimed
“No we won’t. The bio-ship has the best cloaking tech on this planet: Martian” Kid Flash said. We were hit by shots.
“Zkanda defense tech is better” I said. As we were falling Miss Martian opened a hatch. We all jumped out and I was the only one to actually land.
“You owe us a ride home!” Robin exclaimed
“I warned you not to take this route. The loss of your ship is your own fault. The Zkandian army is approaching. I must go to Lady Liger and face her, once and for all” I said, racing off into the jungle. I heard one order Robin to follow me. I kept going. The jungle was my element. No one would be able to track me through it. I swung across a deep ravine on a vine and paused momentarily to orient myself. Robin landed behind me.
“Your acrobatics are impressive” I commented, not looking at him.
“Thanks. Why’d you leave? We could’ve helped you against Lady Liger” Robin asked
“No. Lady Liger is my burden, not yours” I said
“Let us help take some of that burden from your shoulders” he insisted
“She took my mother from me! I must face her alone” I shouted. He stayed silent. I continued into the forest. Finally, I arrived at the ‘throne room’. Lady Liger was sitting in the throne. She was giving a speech.
“…have lived with technology for too long. We shall return to the old ways” she was saying.
“But Efuru declared-“ Oren tried to object.
“Efuru is dead, along with the Jaguar” Lady Liger snarled
“No. The Jaguar lives!” I said, coming out of hiding “And I challenge you to a duel for the throne” She laughed.
“The cub challenges me? Pathetic” she laughed
“The old ways say you must submit to a challenge” Oren said quietly
“Well, I do not wish to fight. Teela, Pois, take care of the cub” she ordered. Teela and Pois lunged at my, spears ready. We fought each other brutally. Finally, I was down. They raised their spears to strike. Just as they started to jab downwards, something cut off the spear head.
“You said Lady Liger was yours. The rest are fair game” Robin grinned