Tarzan was the first to wake. He frowned as he noticed he wasn't in his usual bed. He was met with the wooden floor as the sun shined brightly in the room. He shook his head to shake the dizziness as he looked around.

The place was a mess. Terk, Mr. Porter, and Tantor were on the ground sleeping. Tarzan frowned as he couldn't find Brook anywhere. He shakily stood up as he walked towards their room, knocking on it softly. 

"Brook?" he calls as he opens their door. 

He frowned more as he couldn't find his wife anywhere. He crouched as he grabbed her bow and arrows. 

He narrowed his eyes at it. Brook would usually grab breakfast with it. But if they're here, where is she?

"Brook?" he calls out, walking out of their room. 

He closed his eyes as he tried to remember what happened. The dizziness was getting to him but he stayed firm, trying to remember. 

He sighed as he couldn't think of anything. He looked around the house for any clues. He spotted something on the ground and crouched to take a closer look at it. 

He frowned as there was broken glass on the ground but it wasn't any glass Brook had in their home. He sniffed on it, causing him to frown as he can distinctly smell something that made him dizzier. 

Tarzan backed away from it and took in the room more. Looking at the entrance, his eyes widened as the entrance was broken more as Tantor fell asleep on it. 

He stopped as he spotted something on the ground and grabbed it. He frowned as he spotted leopard fur on it with a sharp point. Sniffing on it, his eyes widened as he finally realized what happened. 

Queen La.

The leopardmen. 

Brook.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ- 

15 hours ago...

"And now! Prepare to be...bedazzled! Alakazam! Bibity doo–Aah!" 

Magic night. 

On this particular day, Brook mentioned magic to Mr. Porter. Tarzan and Terk happened to be passing by and were confused about what it was. Imagine their surprise to see Mr. Porter decide to demonstrate magic to them. 

Brook has been kind enough to bring fruits and meat to make kabobs. As they all ate, they only watch Mr. Porter in amusement as he wanted to make the baby baboon disappear. He was unfortunate to have his hand bitten by the said baboon. 

"Let go of my hand!" he exclaimed as the baboon dropped to the ground and ushered to Brook's shoulders. 

Brook chuckled, glancing at the baboon. "It works better with a rabbit."

"Still! It's...magic," Tarzan brightened, amazed by the word. 

"Oh, Tarzan. It's not true magic," Mr. Porter spoke. "Just some misdirection and a slight of hand," he pushed the roof of the hat open, showing it to the audience. 

"Remember, appearances can be deceiving. Now for my next trick, I'll need a volunteer," Mr. Porter took out a saw, making everyone tense up at the sharp object. 

Terk saw the sharp object and pointed over to the entrance where Tantor remained as he cannot fit through the door. "Take Tantor!"

Tantor was appalled and turned to Terk. "Terk!"

Mr. Porter laughs, turning to Brook. "Perhaps a smaller volunteer?"

Brook stood and smiled at Tarzan and Terk. "Very well, then. I'll put myself in harm's way," she chuckled as she walked over to Mr. Porter. 

Tarzan can only grin in excitement at what he will see. Tantor on the other hand grew scared of what was to come and backed away from the door. 

"I don't like where this is going. I have a low tolerance for gore," Tantor stopped as he heard something twitch not far from him, making him look around. There was nothing there. It scared him more, making him tremble. 

"Hello? Is anybody out there?" he trembled. 

Mr. Porter had Brook inside a long box as he cut it in half. Tarzan and Terk paled at the sight as Mr. Porter was cutting Brook in half. They paled, even more, to see that Brook wasn't in pain and she was moving her toes. 

Mr. Porter moved the two boxes away and no sign of blood anywhere. Brook laughed softly at their frightened expressions. 

"What do you think, Tarzan? Too clever by half?" 

"You people are sick," Terk deadpanned. 

"Oh, poppycock! Brook's unharmed," Mr. Porter explained. "Observe!" He slammed his fist on Brook's top half, causing the box to open, and showing Brook shoved her whole body into the one box. 

"It's like the professor said; Appearances can be deceiving," Tarzan nudged his elbow with Terk's. 

"Uh...guys?" Tantor spoke, getting their attention. "Something's out here."

"Ah, you're just freaked out because of the magic show," Terk waved it off as Brook got off the box and walked towards the window. 

She frowned as she didn't see anything out of ordinary. "I don't see any–Aah!"

Brook fell back as a roar startled her. A leopard jumped in front of her, roaring at her. Brook found it familiar with the tribal clothes as she backed more. 

"Leopardmen!"

More crashed inside the treehouse, climbing on the wood near the ceiling. One of the leopardmen broke their source of light as they were captured by the dark. 

Tarzan tensed up, as many surrounded them. 

"Ahh! Is this part of the show?!" Tantor exclaimed. 

Tarzan stayed close to Brook as four leopardmen attacked him, tackling him to the ground. Brook gasped, running towards their room to grab her bow and arrows. 

One of the leopardmen stalked over towards Mr. Porter but the professor grabbed his umbrella and ushered it back up. Terk swung on the ceiling and kicked some too. 

Seeing as the leopardmen stood in front of their room, Brook looked around and spotted a chair. She gritted her teeth as she grabbed it and started swinging, successfully knocking over a few leopardmen. 

Brook was getting frustrated as she couldn't believe La would actually try to take Tarzan. But why now? 

"Tarzan! Run!" she exclaimed.

Tarzan was busy at the moment as one of the leopardmen was on top of him, snarling at him. He gritted his teeth and moved away in time as the leopardman swung his claws at him, breaking their floor. 

Tarzan jumped away near Brook, standing in front of her. 

"Queen La has obviously sent her leopardmen to retrieve you!" Brook exclaimed in worry. 

"Well, it should be disappointed!" Tarzan growls as he tackled more leopardmen as they attempted to attack them. 

Brook shook her head in disbelief as many things were being broken and how her family was fighting like this. She goes to grab the chair she used when she felt a prick of pain on the side of her neck. 

She tensed, reaching for the pain. Her eyes narrowed as she took out a dart with leopard fur wrapped around it. 

She stumbled on her footing as she tried to stand up straight but she couldn't help but stumble to the ground as everything was becoming a blur. 

"T-Tarzan?" she weakly calls out as she was getting dizzier at the minute. Her breathing was getting heavier as two leopardmen walked towards her and carried her over their shoulder. The girl was too weakened to defend herself as her body was becoming too heavy for her too.

"T-Tarzan!" she exclaimed as everything was getting dark for the girl. 

Tarzan stopped and turned around. His eyes widened as Brook fell unconscious on one of the leopardmen's shoulders. "Brook!"

Taking what they needed, a leopardman threw a green vile on the ground as the gas spread everywhere. Mr. Porter was the first to fall to the ground. Terk backed up from their attackers but stopped as something filled her nostrils, causing her to sleep too. 

Tantor tried his best to keep himself awake but it was inevitable as he fell, breaking down the door. 

Tarzan noticed this and held his breath as he chased after Brook. The leopardmen saw Tarzan following them and ran off, swinging on vines. Tarzan gritted his teeth as he reached for Brook's hand. His vision blurred as he could have sworn he felt her hand one last time before passing out. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tantor woke up, yawning at the bright day. He rubbed his eyes as he looked around. "Ah, what a nap. I had the strangest dream. The leopardmen–"

"Took Brook," Tarzan growled as he glared at the jungle. Terk and Mr. Porter were awake and aware of what happened the night before. "That was no dream."

Terk yawned, rubbing her nape. "Queen La...leopardmen...all this means we're going to Opar, huh?"

Tarzan didn't glance back at them, continuing to glare in front of him. "Opar..."

He gripped the object in his hand as they all got prepared to leave. Seeing as everyone was ready, they immediately started leaving. 

It took most of the day as the sun yawned, almost falling asleep. Tarzan swung on the vines and slid on trees, going ahead of the others. 

Mr. Porter brought everything with them. And I mean everything. He made sure to wrap everything onto Tantor as he sat on top with Terk. Terk, on the other hand, only deadpanned at the amount of junk he brought with them. 

"Oh, really! We can't need all this junk!" she spoke as she looked through the stuff. 

"I assure you, Terk. We brought nothing but essentials. First aid, food and water, weapons," Mr. Porter listed. 

"A teapot?" Terk raised a brow at the object in her hand incredulously. 

"Naturally. Brook would appreciate a spot of tea after her harrowing ordeal."

Tarzan kept swinging, already anxious to get Brook. He doesn't know what La is doing to her. Brook could be getting tortured or worse. He frowned more as he kept going. 

He stopped in his tracks when he heard a leopard in front of him and landed on one of the branches. His eyes widened as he not only see a leopard in front of him but Queen La too. 

"La?" he frowned. 

Queen La was pressed up against a tree in fear as a leopard was in front of her. She heard a familiar voice and glanced back in fear. Her eyes widened to see Tarzan.

"Tarzan! Save me!" she pleaded, looking back at the hungry leopard. 

"I'd rather save the leopard," Tarzan threatened. 

Tantor heard a leopard close by and hurried. He saw Tarzan and ran over. "Tarzan, did you hear a–La?!" he exclaimed in surprise to see the woman they were cautious for. 

"She said she needs my help," Tarzan spoke, not taking his eyes off La in case she makes a trick. 

"Oh! Well, then maybe it was a poor time to kidnap your wife!" Terk snapped her neck to Tarzan. 

"Please! I don't have my magic staff!" La shouts as the leopard was closing in on her.

"Careful, Tarzan. All may not be as it appears. This could be a trap," Mr. Porter spoke. 

The leopard growled and pounced La. The Queen screamed in horror as it bared its fangs at her. She gasped as Tarzan jumped in and kicked it away, growling at it. 

Tarzan pushed it down but the leopard moved away from them and tackled him, baring its fangs at him. Tarzan growled at it as he kicked its chest. The leopard yowled as he hit a tree, landing on all fours to the ground. 

But Tarzan didn't give up, standing in front of La. Tarzan roars at it as he snarled too. The leopard snarled once more before running away. Tarzan glared at it as it was out of view. 

Queen La sighed in relief, walking towards the man. "Well done, Tarzan. Thank you," she smiled. 

"Where's Brook?" Tarzan demanded, turning to her. 

Queen La refrained from rolling her eyes. "How should I know? She's your wife," she patted the dust from her clothes. 

"Your leopardmen took her!"

Queen La stopped, turning to Tarzan. "Leopardmen?"

"Yes," he glared. 

Queen La's eyes softened, turning to him. "Tarzan. I have nothing to do with this. The leopardmen, they rebelled and taken over Opar! They took my staff and left me here to die!"

"Why did they take Brook?" he demanded to know. 

Queen La turned away from him, frowning. "I...I don't know."

Tarzan gritted his teeth as he turned around. He can't waste any more time with her. He needs to find Brook. He was slightly relieved to see that La isn't hurting Brook but it bothered him to not know what was going on.

Tarzan started leaving with the others when La stopped him. "Where are you going?"

"Opar. To save Brook," he answered as he kept going. 

"You heard the man, tallyho!" Mr. Porter exclaimed as Tantor started following Tarzan too. 

"Tarzan, the leopardmen will be waiting for you," La followed him. "They'll kill you."

Tarzan didn't bother to look back. "I'll take my chances."

"Wait! Listen to me!" she calls. "I can get you past the leopardmen."

This time, Tarzan did turn around with distrust. After the last time, he doesn't want to get near the woman as he nearly lost Brook. 

"We don't need her, my boy," Mr. Porter encouraged. "We're a formidable force on our own."

"We got a lethal teapot!" Terk turned to Mr. Porter in disbelief. 

"I am your only hope of saving Brook," La spoke up. Her eyes showed determination. 

Tarzan looked into her eyes and didn't see any malice in them. He can't waste time. If he were to trust the woman, there is a high chance to save Brook faster and safer. 

He narrowed his eyes at her. "We must move fast." 

La nodded and ran after him as they both ran off to Opar as the others followed behind slowly. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook groaned as her head spun. She yelped as she landed harshly on the floor. She winced as she was met with stone floors. She pants as she looked around. She gritted her teeth as she found the familiar place of Opar. 

What happened to the others? Are they all right? Is Tarzan safe? 

She didn't find them anywhere and frowned. What would La want? To finally kill her? She seethed as she didn't have any weapons on her. 

Is this La's plan to finally take Tarzan to herself? By killing her?! She huffed as she groggily stood up. 

Brook frowned more as she didn't find the queen anywhere other than one of the leopardmen holding a familiar staff. 

"Are you the one in charge here?" Brook asked, clenching her fists. "Because if so, tell Queen La I have no intention of begging for my life."

Brook's eyes widened as the leopardman walked towards her with the staff. She stayed firm in her tracks but her heart raced as the creature was now towering over her. 

"Even if it means torturing me," she stopped as the leopardman didn't say anything in return. She was getting frustrated by it. "Would you get on with it!"

Brook waited but nothing was happening, confusing her. What did it want? 

"That is...what you're going to do, isn't it?" Brook frowned with uncertainty. 

The leopardmen only handed Queen La's staff to her hands. Brook hesitated but grabbed it, feeling it a little heavy. The leopardman bowed to her as the gem on the staff glowed. 

Brook gasped as she placed the end of the staff on the ground. The gem glowed brighter as Brook also started to glow. 

Her once brown two-piece clothes were replaced with a jet black and maroon bikini top and matching sarong, adorned with canine teeth. The small pieces of jewelry were replaced with golden curved earrings, bracelets, anklets, a choker, and arm braces. Her back was covered in a hooded cape.

Her golden eyes were clouded white as she was far gone into the magic. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"We're running out of time," Tarzan spoke as they finally arrived in Opar. 

He didn't know what was going on, but something felt off as he didn't see any leopardmen around. 

"You'll never get past the front gate but I know another way," La spoke as Tarzan turned to her as she ran directly to the catacombs. 

He followed as they entered underground. Every corner was decorated with leopard statues. As it was dark, La lit up a torch and led the way. 

"These catacombs wind under the entire city. We'll slip in right under their whiskered noses," La informed as they walked down a staircase that led to a pond. 

A few rocks were there too as a bridge. La glanced back at Tarzan as she started jumping on the rocks. "Careful where you step. Some of these...rocks have appetites." 

"What do you mean?" Tarzan asked as he followed. He unintentionally stepped on a moving rock as it lifted Tarzan in the air. 

His eyes widened as a creature below waved its tentacles to grab the object on top of it. He jumped over to La as she also stepped on the creature. He wrapped his arm around her waist as he jumped away from the creature.

He looked back to see the creature going back to the water. La only smiled at Tarzan, placing a hand on her chest. "Oh, it's so nice to have a man around," she smiled. 

Tarzan only kept going, passing her. "Not interested."

La chuckled in amusement, following him. "Neither were they," she spoke as she passed by a skeleton with handcuffs, hanging on the ceiling. 

They walked more until they hit a dead end. Tarzan frowned but La pointed above their heads. Tarzan took a step forward and lifted the slab. His view was later covered in a red light that shined the entire temple. 

He climbed out of their hiding spot and leaned against a shaft with La following. His eyes widened at Brook's appearance. She was standing in front of every leopardmen in the room. 

"What are they doing to Brook?" Tarzan frowned. He saw as one of the leopardmen stood behind Brook and growled softly at her. 

She nodded in understanding and lifted the staff higher as it shined brighter. 

"Tarzan, you get the leopardmen. I'll get my staff," La whispered. 

Tarzan nodded as he started climbing up the shaft quietly. He grabbed his spearhead and placed it on his mouth as he kept climbing. La would glance at the leopardmen before moving to another shaft, closer to Brook. 

La glanced at Tarzan and saw he climbed on the ceiling towards the candlelit chandelier. He grabbed the spear from his mouth and cut it with a grunt. 

The leopard men moved out of the way as they heard something break above them. The chandelier fell on the ground as the fire fell on the rug. 

The leopardman close to Brook protected himself and the woman from the fire. Tarzan let go of the ceiling and fell directly towards the other leopardmen. 

Seeing as everyone is distracted, La took this chance to run towards Brook. The leader (close to Brook) saw her and kicked her away. The woman exclaimed in shock as she was flung back against the wall, knocking over her adorned shields. 

The woman fell unconscious as the leader growled at her and went to deal with Tarzan. As it left, La smirked and stood up. She saw the leader heading towards Tarzan and threw one of her shields to its back, making it fall to the ground. 

Tarzan moved away in time and turned to Brook who stood in front of him. He grasped her wrist, pulling her. "Run, Brook!"

He stopped as the woman didn't move from her spot. He frowned as he looked back at the girl. "Brook?"

One of the leopardmen tackled him away from her, pushing him towards the others. The leader growled as he saw La heading toward Brook and pounced on her. 

La smirked as she flipped and kicked its back, landing in front of Brook. Her eyes slit dangerously as she grabbed her staff. 

"Sorry, Brook dear," she smirked. "This isn't for commoners." She shoved Brook away from her staff causing the girl to fall to the ground unconscious. Her ritual clothes smoked to her old clothes and jewelry. 

La turned back to Tarzan and the leopardmen and smirked. "Where are your manners?"

Tarzan and the others stopped to look at her as La raised her staff, pointing it to the leopardmen. "Bow before your Queen."

A green beam hit them as they all groggily crouched to their knee, bowing to her. Many gritted their teeth in frustration as they were doing it against their free will. 

Tarzan frowned in worry as he spotted Brook on the ground, heading to her. "Brook?" 

He crouched and carried her bridal style, making her lean towards his chest. Seeing as she had no injuries, he looked up at Queen La. 

"Thank you for helping me save Brook," he nodded as he headed out of the doors, kicking them open. 

"It's always about Brook, isn't it?" La looked at the girl in annoyance. "Pity. We made such a good team, Tarzan," she flirtatiously smiled at the man. 

Tarzan glanced back at her but turned around, leaving Opar with his wife finally in his arms. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan met with the others outside of Opar. He kept glancing at the girl in his arms but there was no indication of her waking up. He delicately sat on the ground, placing her on his lap as he looked her over. 

"Brook?" he softly nudged her but nothing. 

"What happened to Mrs. Tarzan?" Tantor asked worriedly. "Is she okay? Does she need air? Should I get warm towels?"

"Boy, you good in a crisis," Terk sarcastically told. 

"Really?" Tantor grinned, not seeing her sarcasm. "You think?"

"Oh, yeah. And you pick up on sarcasm real good too," she sarcastically said again. 

"Oh, thanks Terk," Tantor smiled. 

Tarzan glanced down at Brook as she groaned, moving her hand to her head. She looked around confused, seeing everyone around her. "Wha-What happened?" she asked. "Where are we?"

"Opar," Tarzan informed. "I saved you from the leopardmen. Queen La helped."

Brook frowned, now looking around. "What? Queen La? No, I...It's the leopardmen that needed to be rescued." She stood up and turned towards the city. "We must go back."

Mr. Porter and Tarzan stood up too, confused about what she was doing. 

"Brook, dear. I'm afraid you're confused," Mr. Porter frowned in concern. 

"No, Mr. Porter," Brook turned to him. "La made the leopardmen into the monsters they are and all they want is to go back to being normal people again."

"What does that have to do with you?" Tarzan asked. 

"The leopardmen can only be freed from their spell by the Queen of Opar. Which is why they came for me to make me their queen, so I could free them," she explained, hoping they could understand. 

She closed her eyes as she can still see the vague images of leopardmen being brutally controlled by La for many years. 

"You following this?" Terk nudged Tantor. 

"The leopardmen are good, La bad," Tantor glanced at her. Terk thanked him. 

Tarzan finally understood Brook and glared at the city. "La tricked me."

Brook nodded, sitting next to him. "Indeed. Perhaps this time, we can return the favor."

Tarzan glanced at her and at her left hand. He grabbed it, and took out the thin string, wrapping it around her ring finger. Brook's eyes widened as she didn't realize the string fell off the night before. 

Kissing her hand, they all turned to make a plan. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

By the time their plan is starting, the moon shined dimly at the city. As Tantor, Mr. Porter, and Terk distracted Queen La from the execution of the leader, Tarzan and Brook snuck into the city. The leopardmen were around the city on guard as the couple passed them. 

Close to the entry, Tarzan tackled one of the leopardmen, tying it up with the vines. Brook followed, glancing at the other guards and back to her husband. 

"Not too tight, darling," she whispered. "We're here to help them."

"I can't help him if he gives us away," Tarzan whispered back as they both continued towards the temple. 

They both ran quietly, passing some guards. Tarzan also carried Brook on his back as he jumped over a few roofs. They both stopped by a building as Brook got off. 

Tarzan looked up at the building and glanced at Brook. "There's an opening at the top of the temple. I'll go first, then I'll pull you up." He climbed the wall by the cracks, occasionally glancing at Brook. 

Climbing up the wall, he dropped down the vine as he gripped it tightly. Brook smiled as she grabbed it and started climbing up. Tarzan stiffened as a few leopardmen spotted him and attacked him. 

His eyes widened in alarm. "Brook! Stay down!" He let go of the vine as he went to handle the leopardmen. 

Brook gasped as she was a few centimeters from the ground but that wasn't what worried her. She looked up and can see Tarzan and the leopardmen fighting. 

"Tarzan!" 

But he was still busy. Brook looked around but couldn't find anything to climb. She rubbed her hands together and started climbing up the wall by the cracks. She was slower compared to Tarzan but was able to make it to the top. 

"Wait!" she called, getting everyone's attention. Tarzan was in a difficult situation as the leopardmen already grabbed him. "We're here to help you!" Brook exclaimed. 

The leopardmen glanced at each other before letting Tarzan go. The leopardmen guided them towards the temple. Tarzan carried Brook on his back as he jumped over the roofs again. 

Brook held onto Tarzan tightly in worry for the others. "I just hope Tantor and the others are all right."

The leopardmen guided them inside as they snuck close to La. They spotted her and turned to Brook who only stared at the staff. She bit her lip but clenched her fists in anger for what La has done to the leopardmen. 

She nodded to everyone as they neared close to the Queen. 

"Tarzan sent you to distract me!" La shouts at Tantor, catching their act. 

"It's true."

La's eyes widened and turned around to see Tarzan, Brook, and her leopardmen in front of her. 

"It's over," Brook glared. 

Tarzan growled and pounced to tackle the queen but La slammed her staff on the ground, disappearing from their sight. La landed in front of the leader, glaring up at the couple. 

"Enough games," she glared as she turned around and slammed her staff on the ground once more. The floor crumpled and disappeared into the catacombs, leaving the leader floating with chains stuck to the ground underneath him. 

The creature from before crawled out and wrapped its tentacles around the leader. The leader yowled as he couldn't move when the creature took him to the catacombs. 

Brook gasped in horror at the creature. Tarzan gritted his teeth and pounced on the creature, taking out his spear and stabbing it. The creature felt a slight pain and took them both to the catacombs. 

Brook jumped down with the help of Tantor and towards La. La saw her and pointed her staff at her and the others. Flame shot out of her staff as everyone dodged and hid behind the pillars. 

La could only laugh maniacally.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan held his breath as they both were taken inside the pond. He held his spear in his mouth tightly as he removed one of the creature's tentacles from the leader. Another was holding the slab the leader was chained to. Tarzan grabbed his spear and broke the chains around the leader's wrists. 

He grunts as one of the tentacles smacked him against the wall and grabbed him. The leader swam towards him and sliced it with its claws. 

They both started swimming up the surface and started swimming towards land. They both didn't realize a tentacle was heading toward them until too late. 

It came out of the water and grabbed Tarzan by the waist, pulling him inside the water. The leader's eyes widened and grabbed his hand and used its claws to stop them both. 

The creature tightened its hold on Tarzan and gave a final pull, taking Tarzan into the abyss. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

La laughed as she kept burning toward the others. Mr. Porter ordered Tantor to extinguish the fire with the water in front of them. He was reluctant but did it, calming down the fire. 

He also accidentally wet La as she looked at them unimpressed. Brook saw this as an opportunity and ran towards her with the leopardmen following. 

La seethed and aimed her staff at the leopardmen. A red beam shot them, causing them to disintegrate into green smoke. Brook gasped in horror as she was the only one left. 

"You wretched woman!" Brook glared.

She gritted her teeth and kept running, not wasting any more time. La smirked and aimed her staff at Brook. Brook stopped in her tracks as the staff was millimeters from her face. Her reflection was shown through the red gem. 

"It's too late for compliments, my dear," La grinned as she neared closer to Brook. Brook backed away and yelped as she neared close to the hole in the ground. 

She looked back to La and glared at her. "How could you do this to them? What did they ever do to you?" Brook demanded. 

La chuckled as the gem started to smoke red, ready to disintegrate the girl too. 

"Oh, how much I have been waiting for this moment, Brook. You have been nothing but a nuisance," La smirked as her hand slowly turned black from her fingertips to her palm. 

Brook's eyes widened as La grabbed her by the throat and hung her over the catacombs. Brook screamed as the burning pain in her neck was becoming unbearable. 

"I've always wanted to hear you scream for mercy," La smirked as her green eyes glowed dangerously. 

Brook bit back a scream and glared at the woman. She dug her nails into the woman's hand and kicked her stomach. La grunts as she fell back a step. Brook heaved for air and felt for her neck and winced at the burn. 

She noticed something from the corner of her eyes and crouched to see the leader swimming to the land. She frowned worriedly as she didn't find her husband anywhere. 

"Where's Tarzan?" she called out. 

The leader can only look at the ground in shame. Brook gasped as her heart cracked. Tarzan...he can't be...not him! Not him!

Tears welled up as she gritted her teeth in pain. "Tarzan!" She screamed in pain but no one came. 

"Pity. But I am romantic at heart. So you may share his fate," La smirked, aiming her staff at Brook. 

Brook whimpered. This can't be true! He can't be gone! All of their memories, all of their love. Gone. Brook felt her body burn as she continued to sob. It was all her fault. 

Brook saw the red light shining from behind and seethed. She screamed as she kicked La's legs, causing the woman to fall back. Brook climbed over her and grabbed the staff, tugging it. La glared at her and tugged the staff too. 

But Brook clenched her fist and punched the woman across her jaw. La's eyes widened at the strength, causing her to move her head to the side. She turned back to Brook and shot red beams at her but Brook dodged, grabbing the staff by the gem. 

"You won't keep them. Not as long as I am here," Brook growled as she snapped the gem off the staff, causing turbulence around them. Brook yelped at the burning pain in her hands but stood up, holding back screams. 

La screamed in horror as Brook moved to a far distance to finish the ritual. She seethingly glared at the girl and took out her golden knife, running towards her. 

If only she knew one of the slabs opened behind her. La yelped as she felt hands grab her arms and looked back. She paled as she saw Tarzan glaring at her. "Tarzan! But you are dead!" she exclaimed. 

"Appearances can be deceiving."

They both looked back and saw Brook holding the gem in her hands as she glowed once again, changing attire. Her eyes fogged up again as she finally finished the ritual. She dropped the gem to the ground as it broke into millions of pieces. 

La screamed in horror as all the leopardmen turned back to leopards. The disintegrated ones came back and turned into leopards as well. 

The temple started to crash down as well as the city. La stared in horror as she turned to ash. La glared at Brook one last time before passing away. 

Brook's tears kept falling as the leopardmen were now free from La's curse. Brook gasped more as Tarzan tackled her in a hug. "Tarzan!" He held her tighter and ushered everyone out of the crashing temple. 

They all ran out of the city and sighed in relief to see everyone was all right. Only the burning City of Opar remained. 

Tantor grinned, wiping away sweat. "Now that's what I call a magic trick."

"Makes cutting somebody in half seem pretty lame, doesn't it?" Terk teased the professor. 

"Well, I'm just glad to be rid of that wicked woman. We are rid of her, aren't we?" Mr. Porter glanced at Brook, stopping as he received his answer. 

His eyes softened as Brook held onto her husband tightly in relief, ignoring the burning pain in her neck. Tarzan hugged her back as he looked back at the city. 

La is dead at last.

Or is she?

Published: October 11, 2022

Word Count: 5648