Brook giggled as she crouched down and grabbed the spare leaves on the ground, turning to her husband, Terk, and Tantor. 

"Mr. Porter is going to be so pleased when he finds out we're holding a croquet tournament, especially today, the anniversary of his legendary perfect game," Brook grinned, walking to get the other leaves. 

"Legendary? And yet..." Terk scoffed, turning over to Tantor. "Have you ever heard of it?"

"No," Tantor sighed. "But, I'm not much of a sports fan; too much competition."

Brook smiled over to Tarzan who looked at the field closely. Earlier, Brook suddenly woke up with excitement, wanting to surprise Mr. Porter. So, she grabbed a few branches and tied them together to make hoops and some mallets. It took a while but she did them nicely and balanced. 

Tarzan's teaching carving skills paid off.

"Play through, Darling," Brook smiled as Tarzan grabbed his mallet and looked down at the coconut, looking back to the hoops. With a swift movement, he hit it causing the coconut to roll on the ground and pass through three hoops. 

Brook's jaw dropped in disbelief. 

"Whoa! Nice shootin', Slim!" Terk grinned. 

"Is that all right?" Tarzan grinned up at her from his crouch. 

Brook huffed, it took her almost a year to make it past one hoop, and for her husband to do three in seconds? He seriously can do no wrong.

"Not bad," Brook sighed before smiling at him. "For a beginner," she teased. 

"Oh! Oh! Watch me!" Tantor called, getting their attention. Tantor turned back to the coconut and swung his trunk and hit the coconut with his mallet. He yelped as the coconut was sent flying with his strength and bounced off the trees and onto a cliff. 

The three's eyes widened and chuckled as Terk smirked. "Tantor, your technique is all wrong." She moved her head side by side as it cracked her bones, she stretched her arms, cried out, moved her bum, arched her leg back as she aimed, and finally swung on the coconut. 

Brook deadpanned as Terk swung at the coconut hard, causing it to fly up to the treehouse and break a window. She turned back to Terk and gave her a sterned glare. 

She just finished cleaning the house...so much for that.

Terk noticed and chuckled nervously, "Uh...the sun was in my eyes?"

Brook sighed, "Well, it would appear that we need more coconuts. I'll round some up." She turned as she walked away. "Now remember, not a word to Mr. Porter. This is a surprise."

Tantor sighed, getting Tarzan's and Terk's attention. "I'm not entirely comfortable with surprises. They tend to sneak up on you."

Tarzan chuckled. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook hummed as she carried her large basket. She looked around, thankful to the monkeys who throw the coconuts on the ground. She has no strength to climb up the trees. She's not at that level yet but is proud that she has gone so far when it comes to strength too by throwing her arrows every day. 

"I can't wait to see the look on Mr. Porter's face," she giggled as she can already see the large grin on his expression. She crouched to the ground, grabbing another coconut. "Oh, he would be so–" she stopped, her eyes widening as she saw a fawn on the ground, trembling in fear. 

"Oh, poor thing," she worried, placing the basket on the ground. Looking around, she hoped not to see any predators around to cause this fawn to lie on the ground in fear. 

Seeing nothing around, she slowly crawled over to the creature, checking for any injuries. "Don't be afraid," she gently smiled. "I just want to help. There, there, it's all right." She crouched in front of it and placed her hands on its snout, running her fingers over its thin coat of fur. 

"Now, let's find out what the problem is, shall we?" Brook frowned as the fawn's eyes unnaturally turned red as it stared into hers. 

"What–?" she gasped as her body stiffened as she saw a red spirit coming out of the fawn and flying over to her. It was late to react as La's spirited figure flew into her. 

La opened her eyes, blinking at the new environment. She stood up and glared down at the fawn. "Begone, beast! I am done with you," she crossed her arms as the fawn didn't wait to leave, leaving her alone. 

La smirked as she looked down at her hands. It took her a long time to find a body. Not only that, a female body in order to bring back Opar. She couldn't go back to Waziri, she forbids it. She tried going to other tribes around the areas but they were quick to hunt animals and it frustrated her. 

La detested this but a certain crimson-haired girl popped into her mind and ran. She used the animal's senses to find the girl but was growing annoyed as she couldn't find her anywhere. 

Imagine her surprise when Brook willingly comes to her. Pathetic. And this is the woman who socked her, not once, but twice when they encountered each other?

La stood up, stumbling as it was a long time since she walked in two feet. She smirked as she started walking towards her home. She couldn't help but look down at the girl, bringing her hands up, she saw the porcelain skin slightly tanning from the sun and the blisters on her fingers. 

Her skin was oddly smooth, smelling like shea butter and her crimson hair is a little longer, reaching down her shoulders. Her senses are not too bad either, her eyes oddly can see far distances. 

Her muscles, too. They are growing stiffer and lean with strength. 

"So you have been working hard, have you," La mused, scratching on the skin in annoyance. 

Walking up to a rocky cliff, she frowned, narrowing her eyes. Huffing, she walked over and started climbing up. "A mere cliff won't keep me from Opar." Her eye twitched in annoyance as her fingers suddenly slipped onto the rocky ground with a yelp. 

La groaned, glaring down at the body. "You're weak! Useless creature!" she sneered, standing up. "You'll never make the journey to Opar by yourself." She stopped as she recalled very well who can and smirked, looking down at her hands again, seeing a thin vine wrapped around her finger. 

"But with Tarzan's help," she smirked, turning around to find him. "That's a different story."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

It was odd. Tarzan turned to the sky for the umpteenth time, staring as the sun was quickly going down and Brook has yet to come back. He was starting to get worried. 

"What's the deal? It's almost time for tea time." Terk asked as she played with the mallet. 

"Brook's not back yet," Tarzan shrugged. 

"Well, can we start without her?" 

"Not unless you know the rules," Tarzan picked up the mallet and used it as a backscratcher. 

"Oh, we can come up as we go, huh?" Tantor suggested, making Terk grin and grab a mallet made of mostly a hammer and a stick. "Perfect! Okay! First one to break a ball, gets a hundred points!" she swung down the mallet as Tantor started doing the same thing. 

Tarzan glanced back to the sky and frowned, seeing no sign of Brook anywhere. Where could she be?

"Ah, Tarzan! Terk! Tantor!" Tarzan's eyes widened and turned, seeing Archimedes walking towards them with a beaker. "What are we all up to today?"

"Um...nothing," Tarzan nervously grinned. "Oh, nothing at all," Tantor shook his head. "Not a thing," Terk grinned widely. 

"Splendid! What's in the bag?" Archimedes pointed to the ground. The three flinched looking down, seeing the mallets inside the bag. 

"Bag? What bag?" Tantor nervously laughed. 

Tarzan swung his feet and pointed to the bag. "Oh, you mean this bag?" he picked it up. "It's a, well...these are, uh...nothing important," he threw them to Terk.

Terk held back a groan from the smack on her chest but hid them behind her back, grinning at Archimedes. 

"Right oh!" Archimedes smiled, walking over to his lab desk. "So where's Brook?"

"We were just wondering the same thing," Tarzan frowned, scratching his head. 

"Tarzan! Darling!" 

Everyone stopped, turning as they saw Brook with a smile, walking over to Tarzan. 

"Brook, I was starting to worry," Tarzan chuckled, turning to her but blinked as Brook suddenly tackled him into a hug, her cheek meeting his. 

"Oh, how charming," La grinned. "Say, let's you and I go on a little outing. Just the two of us," she hummed, tapping his nose and cupping his cheek.

Tarzan frowned. Brook isn't usually the kind of person to give public affection to him. She would usually get flustered if she does so by themselves. She seems eerily calm. Not only that, they were just playing a game. What's with the sudden interest?

Tarzan grabbed her wrist, pulling back slightly. "I don't understand."

"I thought I was being crystal clear. You, me, jungle picnic," La hugged him tighter and pulled back as she was now forcibly pulling on his arm to go. 

"But Brook!" Tarzan's eyes widened at her behavior. "It's time for the, the..."

"Thing," Terk nervously grinned at her. 

"What are you talking about?" La raised a brow, crossing her arms. "What thing?"

"You know," Tarzan whispered. "The croquet tournament."

La turned back to Terk and Tantor, seeing them hold up sticks, and rolled her eyes. "I have no time for games, Tarzan."

"Games, did you say?" Archimedes' eyes widened, turning to the group. "Am I missing something?"

La loudly laughed, placing a hand on her chest. "Not a thing!" her eyes narrowed. "Ridiculous Buffoon!" she spoke under her breath and turned to Tarzan, grasping his arm again. "Come, Tarzan. We're going."

She yelped as Tarzan snatched his arm back, causing her to fall to the ground. She was getting frustrated by the man.

"Brook!" Tarzan frowned, "Why are you acting like this?"

La put up a smile, turning to Tarzan. "Oh, Tarzan. You silly. I'm only teasing, now come with me, please?" La placed her hands on Tarzan's shoulders, leaning down and pecking his lips lightly. 

"Brook?" Tarzan narrowed his eyes at the girl in front of him. La smiled at him but it only made him go colder. "Something is wrong."

"It certainly is!" La snapped, snatching her hands back. "You don't care a wit about my feelings!" she turned away, smirking as Tarzan called out to her. 

"Brook, wait!"

"No, Tarzan! You stay! Play with your little friends," La walked off, leaving everyone surprised but not as surprised as Tarzan. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Stubborn man," La cursed, walking off. "Leaving me to make my way to the wilderness in this flimsy body." She stopped as a small port was in front of the ocean. "What have we here?"

Walking down, she saw the wooden floors and metal walls to create a small building. It's not run down so it must be somewhat new.

"Ah, Brook," La stopped and turned to see a tall man with black hair and good posture smiling at her as he walked over. "As always, I am quite delighted to see you."

"Oh," La smirked. "And I you."

Dumont took a double take as he couldn't believe the words the girl have said. "You-You are?"

"Of course, Mr..." she looked around, spotting a pair of men carrying something and this man looked clean. He must be the boss in this disgusting place. Looking back, she saw the title of the post. "Dumont. You look like a man who knows how to handle the jungle," she smiled as she hugged his arm. 

Dumont chuckled, "Oh, Brook. I thought you hadn't noticed."

"Oh, but I have," La leaned towards him, unaware of the shocked expressions on Hugo and Hooft's faces. "Say, would you mind if you do me a tiny little favor?"

"For you?" Dumont smirked. "Anything."

La smiled up at him as they started walking towards the jungle. Hugo and Hooft can only watch their interaction in disbelief. 

"I don't suppose you know what's that all about," Hugo turned to Hooft. 

"You know, I hate the conjecture which doesn't look good on our buddy, Tarzan," Hooft grimaced.

"Poor fella, you think we should tell him?" 

"Are you kidding?" Hooft's eyes widened. "I've seen Tarzan get mad. When he finds out, he's likely to go well, ape!"

"Good point," Hugo nodded as he zipped his lips closed. "Mum's the word."

"Yeah, zip it up."

Hugo turned back as Dumont walked out with a bag and guided Brook into the jungle. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Dumont walked up the mountain as he was already filled with sweat from carrying the bag of lunches. 

"Oh, you are so kind, Monsieur Dumont," La spoke up in front of him.

"It is an honor, madam," Dumont panted. "But I must ask, why isn't Tarzan escorting you?"

"He's busy," La rolled her eyes. "But I'm just happy to have a big strong man like you to make sure I'm safe."

All of Dumont's tiredness swept away at the comment, now standing up straight and rushing in front of her, walking faster. "Stay behind me, Brook. One never knows what dangers lurk out here in the jungle."

"Yes," La smirked. "One never knows..."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan contemplated many things when it comes to Brook. The time when she asked him to teach her how to use his spear, the time when she tried to swing the vines by herself, when Jane's friends arrived for the first time, Brook's habit to keep the house clean every day, and when Brook is too shy when it comes to affection but enjoys it when he gives it to her in small surprises.  

Not only that, Brook is the type to be silently angry but she never snapped like that or gets annoyed easily at him.

"When I looked into Brook's eyes, I-I saw a different person," Tarzan frowned as he looked at the path Brook took earlier. 

"Nah, you're imagining it," Terk chuckled as she was standing over a coconut. "Come on! Join the game!"

"Yeah," Tantor laughed. "This croquet game is fun!"

"Did someone mention croquet?" Archimedes placed everything on the table and turned to them. 

"Nope," Tantor's and Terk's eyes widened. 

Archimedes walked over to them with a gleam in his eyes. "You know, I was quite the croquet player in my time. Say, have I told you the tale of my perfect game?"

Terk and Tantor deadpanned. "Brace yourself, boring story at three o'clock."

"Something is wrong," Tarzan decided. "I must find Brook," with that he ran away to find her, leaving Terk and Tantor in the torture of Archimedes' story. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan thought he should check the trading post, entering the building but frowned as he didn't see Brook anywhere. "Brook?"

He turned around, stopping as he saw his friends not far from him. "Hugo! Hooft! Have you seen Brook?"

Hugo and Hooft visibly stiffened, paling as they turned to him. "Wh-Well Tarzan! I didn't see you there! Bu-Boy, no. No, I haven't seen Brook. Have you, Hugo?"

Hugo shook his head. "No, sir. And I didn't see her go off on a picnic with Dumont either."

Hooft's eyes widened and elbowed Hugo, making him realize his mistake. 

"Which way did they go?" Tarzan growled. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

La sighed as they finally arrived at the rocky cliff she went to earlier. Dumont wanted to take a break but she was insistent to keep going, starting with climbing up the cliff. 

Dumont did so, throwing a rope with a hook on it to the top, easy for them to climb. Dumont climbed first and was now giving her a hand to climb up. 

La looked around, grinning as she was getting close to her Opar. 

"Well, thank you, Mr. Dumont. I simply don't know what to do without you," she started untying the rope from her waist. 

"Not at all," Dumont sighed as he rubbed the sweat from his head away. "This must be a very special place we are going."

"You have no idea," she smirked as they started walking again. 

"Brook!"

La's eyes widened, turning to her left, and seeing Tarzan walking towards them. She gritted her teeth. 

"Did you hear something?" Dumont frowned but stopped as La started pushing him forward. 

"No, keep moving. We're almost there," La insisted, looking back as Tarzan now rushed over to climb. 

"Shall we?" Dumont grinned, giving her a hand.

La looked down at his hand and smirked at the small rocks under her. She placed her hand on his and kicked the small rocks, causing them to tumble onto a big rock. 

Dumont yelped as La fell on his chest but she held his head to her neck as she grabbed the stone dagger on her skirt and threw it on the rock, causing it to finally fall on Tarzan. 

Her aim is spectacular, La smirked.

"Are you all right, Brook?!" Dumont gasped, checking on her. "You almost took a nasty tumble!"

"Yes," she smirked. "Quite nasty indeed."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Hearing a rumble, a lone stranger walked to the noise. The man was surprised to see a hand underneath a pile of rocks. He crouched, removing a large rock to reveal Tarzan's face. 

Tarzan groaned as his vision distorted, seeing an old man. 

"Word of advice, my young friend," the man spoke as he started making medicine for the poor fellow covered in scratches and bruises. "One should sit on rocks. Not under them."

"I was following–" he grunts as he slowly sat up. "Brook. Brook did this to me," he groans as his back cracks uncomfortably causing him to fall back on the ground in pain. 

"You will find that your Brook was not your Brook. Rest, my friend," the man stood up, mixing the ingredients. "All will be explained soon."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

After long hours of walking, La started recognizing the familiar jungle around her, making her walk faster. She stopped as she saw her familiar home in front of her in ruins. 

It pained her but was excited to be back again. 

"Oh, we have arrived!" she grinned. 

"We have?" Dumont blinked as they saw they arrived at a crumpled place. 

"Oh! Isn't it glorious!" La grinned, turning to him. 

"I suppose," he sighed, walking through the city. "In overgrown ruins sort of way."

"This is Opar, the Lost City. The Realm of Queen La," La smirked at him but the man looked at her weirdly and walked over to an open spot.  He chuckled nervously, "Yes, Brook, sit. It's been a long journey." He stopped as La ignored him and stood silently and twirled herself with her arms wide. 

"Please, I brought some very nice sandwiches," he tried but La still ignored him and walked over to a pile of rocks and pointed at them. 

"Dig."

"Pardon me?" Dumont's eyes widened. 

"Dig!" she demanded, making Dumont immediately stand up and walk over to her. "Ah, yes!" he grunts as he carried a large rock and moved it aside. "What exactly am I looking for?"

"Something very special," La smirked as her eyes darkened, watching the man.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan groans and winces as the old man rubs his salve on Tarzan's abdomen. Not only that, the strong scent filled his nose, making him turn away. 

"It smells bad, but heals well," the man explained. 

Tarzan stopped, turning back to the man. He felt the man was familiar to him. His clothing and jewelry are on him. "I've seen you before. You're a Waziri elder."

"I prefer to think of myself as experienced. I am Usula," he introduced himself.  

"What are you doing far from home?" Tarzan sat up and groaned, looking down as the salve was gone to his skin. 

"I have been pursuing an ancient spirit named La," Usula explained, making Tarzan's brows furrow. "Queen La? She's dead."

"No. La's body may be dust, but her spirit still lives," Usula gathered his stuff to leave. 

"You speak in riddles," Tarzan groaned and tumbled as he stood up but Usula was quick to hold his arm before he fell. 

"It makes me sound wise," Usula joked. "I fear that the spirit of Queen La has possessed your Brook."

Tarzan's eyes widened, now connecting everything together. "When I looked into her eyes, I knew something was wrong." He turned his head, spitting on the ground and rubbing his lips in disgust. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

La stares as Dumont removed the last rock and grinned as she saw the head of her staff. Its golden leopard head holding the great red orb. She snatched it from his hand and looked at it. 

Dumont sighed, walking back to the picnic. "It's quite lovely, Brook." He stated, already tired from everything. "Now, let's commence our little repast."

"Not until we find the other half," La glared at him, gripping the first half of the staff. "Speak to me, my staff! Announce your presence!" she shouted, closing her eyes in concentration.

Dumont's eyes widened as he now believed the girl has gone mad. "Madam, you need help. I shall find Tarzan at once and tell him where you are. Goodbye, Brook." He turned away and walked away but La glared at him. 

"You dare turn your back on Queen La?!" La shouted as she chased after him but stopped as a golden glint caught her eye. She smirked, crouching down to get it. "There it is!"

Combining the two staffs together, a red glow came from it and lit the area. La chuckled as she raised her staff high as her clothes burned off to her familiar two-piece bikini and cloak made of panther skin and decorated by jewelry in her arms, hands, ankles, and ears. 

Dumont stared, mortified by all of this. He paled as Brook stared at him stoically and screamed, running away from her. La brought down her staff on the ground as her magic trailed after him and struck him, turning him into a gibbon. 

"Ah, that is a considerable improvement," La smirked down at him. "Now kneel before your Queen. Queen La, Queen of Opar!"

Dumont kneeled but looked around confused before started squeaking. La understood, looking around her home. "Yes. It is a tad rundown, isn't it? But nothing that can't be fixed." 

La raised her staff as it glowed brightly. "Rise! My Opar!"

It was wondrous as every single building was built back from grains of sand to how it was before. Little by little, the city grew to what it was before with flowing rivers. 

La looked down at her hand and smirked as it trembled by itself, knowing how terrified Brook must be. "Oh, deary. He's gone. I'm all you have."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"La's spirit can move between two creatures in contact," Usula explained as he was on Tarzan's back as the man climbed. "This is how she took your wife."

"How do you know so much about Queen La?" Tarzan asked as he kept climbing. 

"La was once a Waziri, long, long ago," Usula explained. "La used forbidden magic to immortalize her spirit. Since that time, the Waziri have battled La. With her magic staff broken, her leopardmen released, and Opar in ruins, La is weak."

Tarzan climbed to the top and helped Usula down as they were now getting near the city. 

"We can defeat La now," Usula nodded. 

"And save Brook," Tarzan added. 

"If only it were that easy, my friend," Usula spoke under his breath. It went unnoticed to Tarzan who looked forward, hoping to get to Brook sooner. "We must get to Opar before La regains her powers."

Usula and Tarzan moved the large leaves, their eyes widening at the city. "Too late," Tarzan frowned. 

"Difficult task has just grown more difficult," Usula murmured.

"We still have a chance," Tarzan spoke up. "La thinks I'm dead."

Usula smirked, liking the odds. "Ah, the element of surprise is ours."  

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

La looked around her palace, arranging her palace as she now had to capture a few leopards to be her henchmen but she still has time for that. "You see? Some magic here, a spell or two there, and Opar is once again the jungle's hidden treasure," La smirked. She turned as she heard squeaking and snarled as she saw a rat scurrying around. Slamming her staff on the ground, she scorched the rat to nothing. 

"Of course, there is a matter of pest control," she grimaced. 

Not far from her, Tarzan and Usula snuck inside and stayed in the shadows. Tarzan's eyes widened in worry as it was true. La took over Brook. 

"Brook," he murmured. "How do we stop–" he immediately stood up as Usula was aiming an arrow at Brook. "No!" he slammed his hands over the man, causing him to accidentally release it and hit the pillar above La. 

"Who dares?!" La dodged her head and turned around as Dumont screeched loudly pointing at the culprits. 

Usula sighed, turning to Tarzan. "Tarzan. You know not what you have done."

"I won't let you kill Brook," Tarzan glared at him and turned to La, placing a hand on his chest. "Brook! It's me!"

La laughed loudly, smirking at them. "Usula, didn't you tell him?" she taunted. "Brook is gone, Tarzan. Gone forever! All there is now...is La!" she slammed down her staff as the two large leopardmen statues woke, crumbling the stones on their feet and walking over to them with their weapons. 

"Hardly seems like a fair fight, doesn't it?" La smirked down at Dumont. "Yes, I prefer it that way."

Tarzan's and Usula's eyes widened in horror at the monstrous statues. They bolted to the exit but La raised her staff, closing the doors shut. Usula and Tarzan turned back as the statues were close to them now. 

One of them swung their weapons down, making them jump away. Usula yelped, jumping to a side and running away. Tarzan jumped the other way and jumped from pillar to pillar, jumping to meet the statue but grunts as he met with complete stone, landing on the ground. 

La chuckled darkly at him, "Well played, Tarzan."

Tarzan gritted his teeth but grunted as a statue kicked him away and onto a wall. Usula saw him drop in front of him and looked around, finding a plate of fire not far from him. 

"We Waziri say, 'Times when a man must stand his ground and fight'. This is not one of those times." Usula dropped the herbs on the fire, causing a smoke screen and for them to escape. 

La looked around, finding no one around. "Must I state the obvious?! Go! And don't come back until Tarzan is dead."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Usula managed to give them a headstart but it was not enough as both statues found them and chased after them. Their large builds running towards them caused them great difficulty to run without tumbling. 

Tarzan and Usula found the river and ran toward it. They hid behind a large stone and waited. One of the statues appeared and Tarzan started climbing on it to the top and pulling its ear. The statue roared, moving its head but Tarzan held on. 

The other statue took notice and gripped its weapon and swung. Tarzan's eyes widened and fell back as the weapon met the other statue's head and broke it to pieces. Tarzan slid down and ran as Usula followed. They ran to the mirror and took a gulp of air before diving into the water. The large statue followed and entered the water. 

The statue roared as it walked around but Tarzan and Usula swam around it and far from it. They resurfaced and gasped for air. Usula chuckled as the statue was getting smaller and smaller as it left. 

"Stupid even for a statue," Usula chuckled. 

Tarzan sighed, glancing at him. "What do we do now?"

"You tell me," Usula shrugged. "I had but one good plan."

"Your plan would have killed Brook!" Tarzan glared at him but Usula placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"La will never release her. Tarzan, Brook is as good as dead."

Tarzan knew Usula wasn't right that they couldn't save Brook. 

It can't be impossible. 

His mind drifted back to Brook's soft smiles at him and hugs as she cuddled with him in the early mornings, the soft humming as she concentrated on her archery, and the beaming smile when she hits the mark, or the time they first met, when Brook was afraid of the panther yet let herself be a sacrifice to protect Jane. 

The times when Brook healed him many times while gently scolding him to be careful. The times when Brook gave him surprise kisses when they were alone. The times when Brook would laugh at his clumsiness when they swung on vines. 

Her golden eyes that would shine brighter with the sun's glow when she wakes up and smile at him every single morning. 

She can't be gone.

She just can't.

Tarzan turned away as he couldn't believe that all their time together was gone. It was all his fault. He couldn't get to Brook fast enough. He couldn't protect his flame that slowly dimmed in La's grasp.

"The best we can do is make sure La's villainy ends here," Usula tried. 

Tarzan looked down at his hand, seeing the thin vine wrapped around his finger, recalling the time Brook gently took his hand and wrapped the vine on him, giving him the most loving gaze he'll never forget. 

"No," Tarzan clenched his fist. "If someone must die to stop La, let it be me," Tarzan turned away from him and started walking back to find La. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

It has gotten dark and no sign of Tarzan anywhere. La looked out to the city, relaxed after seeing her home again. Traveling from animal to animal was disgusting but it was worth it. 

Now that she is the ruler of her city. 

She would have to wake up every day, looking like her enemy but it is fine. She'll make an enchantment to keep this body immortalized. It's not like she hasn't done it before. 

"Tarzan always makes things far more difficult than need be," La turned around as the heat of the fire warmed her. "But he can't hide forever. Once I give the statue warriors the order, they are relentless. Sooner or later, they'll find him."

"They can stop looking."

La looked up as Tarzan moved the curtain and entered...alone. "Tarzan...you've come to me?" she smirked. "Why, thank you. That saves me so much trouble."

"I won't let you have Brook," Tarzan glares. 

"But I already have her, my dear." La shrugged. "Now, would you rather be a gibbon or a jackal?" she aimed her now glowing staff at him. 

Tarzan only glared at her. "Very well," La raised a brow as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll surprise you."

Tarzan gritted his teeth and roared as he ran towards her, kicking the staff from her hands. La yelped, looking down as the staff fell from the building. She wasn't able to turn back as Tarzan grabbed her and swung her to his shoulder. 

"Stop!" she shrieked. "What are you doing?!"

"Jumping," Tarzan replied as he gripped La tightly, looking down to the ground. 

"But! But! You'll kill us both!" La clenched her fists and started pounding his back. 

"Brook is my only reason for living," Tarzan narrowed his eyes and dived down. 

La screamed as Brook's heart pulsed rapidly against her chest. Seeing as they were close to meeting the ground, her eyes glowed as she transferred her spirit to Tarzan's.

Brook gasped and screamed as they were falling to the ground. La gripped one of the flags as they landed on the grass. Brook yelped as she was suddenly flung to the stone floor. 

"Amazing..." Brook looked up from the ground as La was observing herself in Tarzan's body. "Such strength, such agility. I should have taken Tarzan in the first place!"

"Tarzan?" Brook's eyes widened in horror, shaking her head in disbelief. "What have you done?"

Brook stopped as she saw a glint from the corner of her eyes, looking up as Usula prepared an arrow and aimed it at Tarzan. She gasped, picking herself up from the ground and running towards him. 

Usula gripped the arrow tightly, looking down at Tarzan. He saw what happened and felt a loss for the young man. "I'm sorry it had to be like this, my friend." 

Brook tackled Tarzan in a hug as the arrow was released, now aiming at her back. Brook's eyes widened in surprise as she didn't feel any pain in her and backed away lightly, seeing La gripping the arrow close to Brook's skin. 

La cackled, looking down at Brook's horrified expression. "Now I see the plan, Tarzan wanted me to take his body." She gripped the arrow and threw it back to Usula, breaking his bow. 

Brook yelped as La grabbed her neck, lifting her up as they walked off the grass. "It might have worked," La sneered. "Where I still in Brook's pathetic body. But Tarzan's senses are so honed and I'm completely aware of my surroundings."

Brook gasped and scratched Tarzan's hands, getting La's attention. "And now. The final tragic twist. I finish Tarzan's one true love, with his own hands."

Brook heavily glared at La, clenching her fist and socking Tarzan's nose. La exclaimed in shock and Brook dropped to the ground with gasps. Brook picked herself up and ran away. 

La sneered as this was now the third time Brook punched her. "A chase...charming," she smirked. 

Brook gasped, holding her neck in pain but shook it off as La was basically invincible with Tarzan. She can't let her keep him. She can't! But how? What was Tarzan planning? How are they going to get out of this?

Brook yelped as La appeared in front of her, holding herself upside down. 

"Boo."

Brook ran in the other direction, looking at the city in despair as she is at a disadvantage. She doesn't know the city at all, it's dark, and La is taunting her with her husband.  

Brook kept running and stopped as La dropped down in front of her. "You can't run forever, Brook."

"You'll forgive me if I keep trying," Brook ran away, making sharp corners to lose her but cursed as she was at the palace. "Blast!"

"Nowhere to run, Brook," La smirked, crossing her arms. "You're trapped, just like a rat." She slowly walked towards her as Brook shook her head while backing away. 

"Tarzan," Brook whimpered, her eyes tearing up. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

La was close to meeting her when a sudden rumbling stopped them. La snapped her head to the side. "What?!" Her eyes widened as the statue came back and grabbed her, mistaking her for Tarzan. 

"No! Stop! Put me down! I'm not Tarzan! I'm not–" La screamed as the statue threw her across the room. 

Brook's eyes widened in realization at Tarzan's plan and gasped as the statue kept chasing La. Looking around, she found the curtains above and ran towards them. 

La grunts as she fell to the ground. She move away as the statue swung down its weapon, slicing where she once stood. Thinking fast, she looked around for Brook. 

She has to get her back!

La gritted her teeth as she couldn't find her anywhere and stopped at a scurrying rat. She dived herself to it and grabbed it, transferring her spirit to it. La escaped from Tarzan's grasp and ran away. 

The statue swung down its weapon again but Tarzan blinked out of his daze and jumped away. He jumped over a rock but grunts as his body didn't completely heal from the bruises and fell on the ground. 

The statue turned to Tarzan but Brook grasped most of the curtain, hoping to get to it faster. She gripped the curtain and ran down the statue's shoulder, wrapping around its head a couple of times. 

The curtains shortened as she tugged, making her slip and fall. Her grip wasn't strong as the curtain escaped her grasp and was now falling to the ground. Brook yelped as she was close to meeting the ground but grunted as she felt a pair of arms holding her bridal style. 

Tarzan looked up and jumped away as the statue dropped its weapon to remove the curtain from its view. The statue tugged on the curtain hard, causing the ceiling to crumble. It didn't anticipate it as it fell on it and crushed it to pieces. 

Tarzan hugged Brook to him tightly as the dust cleared away. He pulled back and looked down at her, grabbing her arms gently. "Brook?"

Brook looked up at him and tearily smiled at him. The familiar golden glint in her eyes made him smile in relief. "It is you."

Brook tackled him in a hug, "Yes. It's me."

La looked back and sneered, running away. Close to meeting the exit, she was instantly blinded and trapped in a bag Usula was carrying. 

"Nah uh uh, your Highness," Usula wrapped the rat around with the bag as Tarzan and Brook walked towards him. "You are going nowhere."

"Trapped like a rat indeed," Brook smirked. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Finding the staff, they helped Dumont back to his human form but were not surprised as the man couldn't remember anything that happened. It took them the entire afternoon to walk back. Usula nodded to the couple and apologized to Brook before traveling home. 

It was soothing when the couple walked back to their home. Brook couldn't help but glance at her husband, guilt filling her as she saw the number of dark bruises on him. 

Tarzan took notice of this and pecked her cheek in assurance. Brook hummed, leaning toward him. 

"How did you know it wasn't me?" Brook looked up at him. 

"You were meaner," Tarzan teased, making Brook chuckle. "Your eyes were darker."

"My eyes?" Brook looked up at him as Tarzan nodded. Brook bit her lip, fidgeting with her fingers, seeing them now bald from the thin vine being gone. "Did La...do something to you...other than hurting you?"

Tarzan looked down at her and grabbed her hand. "She...kissed me."

"Oh," Brook blinked, her eye twitching. She sighed and looked up at him and grabbing his chin and pulling him down. 

Tarzan's eyes widened as Brook kissed him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Tarzan wrapped his arms around her waist as Brook started pecking his jaw and neck, making him hold her tighter. 

Brook pulled back as her face flushed, looking away. "There...I...marked you."

Tarzan's eyes widened and later softened as he saw the familiar blush covering her face when she shows affection towards him. He chuckled, making her more flustered. 

"Shut up," Brook stormed off but Tarzan grabbed her from behind, kissing her bare shoulders. "You're...mine. Got it?" she huffed, turning to him in demand.

"I'm yours," he grinned at her, kissing her again.

Published: May 9, 2023

Word Count: 6478