Stella and the Minx #36:

The Long Road Home

Stellar Man and Night Fox were the greatest heroes of the 60s but in the 70s their female counterparts Stella and Minx took over!

But now the Minx is dead, and Stella is powerless. Where do we go from here?

Marcus Lycus

(Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com)

February 2010

Legal Horrors – Stella, the Minx and other characters are copyright and trademark Marcus Lycus. All rights reserved.

If you want to use any characters in another story you need my permission. It also means that you can’t repost this story without my permission.

And since this story is meant for people over the age of 18, please don’t read it if you are younger than that.

Any resemblance between characters in this story and any actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental of course.

And finally, please e-mail me with any comments, complaints or suggestions. Remember feedback leads to more stories!

Issue 36 – The Long Road Home

Stella took the elevator up to the old penthouse. She hadn't been there in weeks; she'd just stopped off a few times while she was living with Crowe. Lucky she'd paid the rent in advance.

She kicked aside the pile of newspapers and unlocked the door. The place was dusty and unkempt. She really hadn't done much cleaning. Not since Gloria… Not since Gloria disappeared. It was hard to believe it was almost a year.

She sighed loudly and fell onto a couch. It was hopeless! Hopeless! Without Crowe she couldn't make more of the serum to bring back her powers. Maybe some of the machines in the Citadel could help her but without her powers she couldn't get to the Arctic. Gloria's jet was in a hanger downstairs but Lynn didn't know how to fuel the thing much less fly it. And even Pan-Am didn't offer service to the North Pole.

She still had five vials of serum, each good for about an hour of power. But after that…

She could use one to fly up to the Citadel but what if there was nothing there to help her? What if it took more than an hour? She'd use up two vials and have nothing to show for it!

Some other superhero might be able to help, but Lynn had no idea how to contact them. Gloria always took care of that. And Gloria didn't even have a rolodex with their numbers, she just remembered everything.

It was hopeless. Completely and utterly hopeless.

Lynn got up and went to the kitchen. She found a bottle of vodka and poured a shot. She downed it and poured another. Then she took a swig from the bottle.

***

Lynn woke up on the kitchen floor, she'd peed her pants. There were a few bottles on the floor as well, one of them broke. She muttered a curse and gingerly stepped over the broken glass.

The phone was ringing. She staggered towards it just before Gloria's answering machine picked up.

"Um, hi?"

"Hello? Hello? Gloria?"

"Um, no, she's um traveling. I'm-"

"Stella! How are you? Long time no see! This is Arnold, Arnold Stone."

"Um who?"

She could hear the sigh on the other end of the line. "Stone Munitions?"

"Oh Armor Man!"

"Geeze-Louise, not so loud! It's called a secret identity for a reason you know!"

"Sorry, I thought everyone kind of knew by now I mean what with you disappearing all the time and your 'bodyguard' showing up minutes later and-"

"OK, OK, I get the point. Anyway I'm trying to reach the Minx, I'm coming into town next week and I thought maybe, y'know."

"Oh um, I don't know how to tell you but… um…"

"Did something happen?"

"Huh? No, no, she's just um, on a secret mission."

"Oh. Thanks anyway-"

"Wait! Wait! Maybe you can help me out with something!"

"What, help the 'girl of the stars'? I'm just your average millionaire inventor with some jet boots and a suit of transistor-powered armor. What can I do to help the mighty Stella?"

"Um, I'm not so mighty. I kind of um, lost my powers."

"Oh."

"But, but… I think I can get them back! There's this machine at the Citadel of Isolation and if um, someone could just give me a ride up there…"

Arnold Stone didn't hesitate. He'd been trying to get into the Citadel with its technological wonders for years!

"My private jet will be at Megapolis Airport in 3 hours."

***

The flight up was… difficult.

"Um I think we need to turn left at that glacier."

"We already went that way Stella."

"Are you sure? Well right maybe."

"You don't know where it is?"

"I do! I do! It's just you know, it looks different when I'm flying myself. Plus I can see it with my stellar sight and hear the homing beacon with my stellar hearing. I never had to find it like this before. Hey! That rock looks familiar!"

Eventually…
They landed outside the huge golden door. Arnold put on his Armor Man suit, Stella threw on one of Gloria's old coats. Arnold made sure his microfilm cameras were fully loaded, the technological secrets of that place would be worth billions on the international arms market!

Together they climbed the icy path to the door.

"OK, there's like this great big key that you'll have to lift and put in the lock because the door is impenetrable-"

The door was ajar. The key still in the lock.

"Stars and comets! What happened?!" Stella ran forward through the door and into the main hall. Or rather, what was left of it.

Where once stood proud trophies of Stellar Man's victories now there was nothing but junk. Someone had gone through smashing everything. Even the Lusitania was torn from its mounting on the ceiling and the once-proud ocean liner torn apart. Stella ran through the main hall for the science wing but that was even worse. The rooms were empty, stripped to the bare walls.

"Stars and comets no!" She ran for the room with the Stellar Radiation Lens, a device that focused the power of the sun to restore her powers, it too was empty. Only the sign on the wall indicated anything had ever been there. She sank to her knees and wept.

Armor Man found her hours later. Mentally he added up the cost of jet fuel and his own time spent on this wasteful mission. He'd found nothing. NOTHING! The Hall of Forbidden Science was empty, the Vault of Confiscated Weapons didn't even have cobwebs, even the Interplanetary Zoo had nothing but a few alien skeletons.

"Come on Stella, we should go."

"Crowe… stars and comets, it must be Crowe, he came in here and stole everything."

"Crowe ay?" Armor Man cheered up, he'd wanted to get a hold of Crowe's technology just as long as he'd wanted Stellar Man's. "We can track him down then."

"No, no we can't, he's dead."

"Is he now? Even better." Armor Man was not looking forward to tangling with a man who could build a death ray out of a hi-fi set. "That means his lab is undefended."

"Forget it, his lab is all smashed. It's just as bad as here."

"Oh. How do you know this?"

"I uh… I just know OK! Stars and comets why are you asking me all these questions?"

"Look sister you're the one who dragged me up here, not the other way around. Now I've got stuff to do back in California, if you want a ride home you'd better start explaining what's going on here!"

Stella sat quietly for a few minutes and then nodded.

"But um, can we talk in the plane? It's really cold here."

Back in the plane Arnold was happy to take off his armor, he was sweating under it. He mopped his brow and sniffed his armpits. "Sorry for the stink. The atomic pile puts out a lot of waste heat, it might be freezing outside but I'm always roasting."

"Your suit's atomic-powered?"

"Of course. What did you think it used? Solar panels?"

Stella shrugged.

"So I guess I just wasted a couple of grand in jet fuel to see a scrap yard huh?"

"Um, that scrap yard used to be my home."

"Oh, yeah. Hey I'm sorry I wasn't thinking. It's kind of sad seeing the place like that, I remember old Stellar Man talking about all the stuff he had in there. Time machines, death rays, killer robots… I guess it's all gone."

"And no way to bring back my powers, except for that serum."

"Serum?"

"Yeah Crowe made it for me before he uh, before he died." Stella reached into her borrowed coat and pulled out one vial of the precious golden fluid. "He made 5 of them that's all I've got left."

"A serum, that brings back your powers? Can I see it?"

Stella shrugged and handed it over. "Be careful!"

Stone turned it over in his hands peering at it as if he could see the molecules within. A serum that gives Stellar Man's power… power to smash mountains, to fly through stars. Obviously it wouldn't work for him but if he could unlock even a fraction of its secrets, what would that be worth? "I wonder…"

"What?"

"Well I do have my chemical plant back in California. I wonder what the lab boys could make of it."

"Could they copy it? Could they?"
"Well I really can't say but it's worth a try. It would be expensive though. I'd have to take the boys off their government contracts and put them on analyzing this. I don't know…"

Stella grabbed his undershirt. "Please Arnold, please, I can't live like this, with no powers, it’s not fair! You have to help me! You have to!"

"I'm not saying I don't want to, it's just the board would never let me do something like that."

Stella thought for a second. Then she removed her coat, all she was wearing under it was the bikini costume Crowe gave her. She moved next to Stone and put her arms around him. She whispered in his ear. "Please Arnold, pretty please. You know I'd do anything to get your help. Anything." She moved her hand lower and unzipped his fly.

Stone tried not to laugh. Dames, even stellar ones, were all the same. "Tell you what, I'll try. We can always write it off our taxes if it doesn’t work."

Stella tried not to laugh, men were all the same.

***

"Please Stone! Please don't make me! It hurts!"

"Now Lynn, you know they have to examine you if they're going to learn how your powers work."

"But Arnold!"

"Hush my dear, remember this is for science." He dropped her off at the lab and left for his golf date.

"Hello Miss Stella. I'm Dr. Farbstein. Could you remove your uh, bikini please?"

"Um, do I have to?"

"Sorry Miss Stella, like I told you yesterday whatever it's made of is impenetrable. We can't have it interfering with our readings."

Stella sighed and reached back to untie her top. It was so humiliating having all these eggheads look at her like she was a piece of meat. She was Stella damnit! The Girl of the Stars! They should show her some respect. She handed the top to a scientist and then her bottom.

She didn't notice him handing them off to be analyzed by another lab.

"OK, now what?"

There was a flash, someone took a picture!

"Hey!" She yelled.

"Sorry Miss Stella, it's for our files. Now please climb up on the platform and lie down."

Stella meekly complied. But she swore when she got her powers back she'd teach these eggheads a lesson.

"We need you stay still so let me tighten these straps on you." Stella shuddered as the egghead touched her breasts and then her hips. Oh she'd show him who was boss when she got her powers back. Finally he nodded and walked over to a machine.

"First we're going to try electricity to see if your body is more resilient. Just tell us when it starts to hurt."

Stella's whole body jerked under the current, every muscle was on fire, she couldn't even speak.

"Nothing huh? We'll try a higher voltage then."

Oh she'd show him…

***

Stone found Stella curled into a ball on her guest bed. She was still wearing her famous blue bikini. She was sobbing quietly.

"Hey Lynn, how'd it go today?"

"Uh…" She looked up at him with puffy red eyes.

"Whoa they really did a number on you huh?"

"Stone! Oh stars and comets you have to make them stop, it hurts!"

"Hush dear, I know it hurts, but they have to do it to see how your body reacts under pressure. It's the only way to understand your powers. You do want your powers back right?"

"What? Stars and comets of course!"

"Well they made some good progress today but they need your cooperation to keep going. You will cooperate right?"

"I guess…"

"Now come on, you and me have a date with a hot tub."

Soon…

"Mmm… Don't stop."

Stone smiled as he watched the bottom of the world's most famous bikini float by. He jammed his fingers in deeper. "Don't worry babe, we got all night for this."

"Mmm."

They kissed. And kissed again. Stella's long thin fingers found Stone's trunks and pulled them down. Then her fingers found his member, already it was like a steel rod. "Stars and comets, they should call you iron man."

"Funny, a lot of people say that."

"Is it as hard as it feels?"

"Well sweetheart, I know one way to find out."

For the rest of the night Stella's ecstatic cries echoed through the grounds.

***

"Well Farbstein what have you got for me?"

"Nothing boss."

"Nothing?"

"Look for yourself. This serum she gave us, it's nothing but some simple electrolyte compound in a heavy water solution."

"No radiation, no odd reactions, no unknown elements?"

"Nope. Nothing like that. I mean, nothing we can detect anyway."

"What about the 'stellar radiation' she's always going on about?"

"Like I said, if it's there we can't find it. Y'know boss have you thought about giving Brain Boy a call, I mean if anyone can-"

"Brain Boy and me, we're not really on good terms right now. Forget about him."

"OK boss."

"What about the girl?"

"What about her? Perfectly normal as far as we can tell. Good muscle tone, 20/20 vision, a bit skinny but otherwise in perfect health."

"You compared them to the old readings from the H.E.L.L. incident?"

"Yup, if it wasn't for the fingerprints we wouldn't know it was the same girl. Absolutely no signs of extraordinary strength or endurance no matter what we did to her. Whatever messed up her powers it's definitely not psychological."

"Damn. How about the costume?"

"The bikini? Well it's indestructible, that's for sure. We've not even been able to get a sample to analyze. Whatever it's made out of we can't get a good scan of it."

Stone grunted and did a quick mental calculation for how much it cost to devote his chemical and biological weapons labs to this project. "So after a week and $9 million dollars what have learned?"

"That we don't understand how Stella's powers work."

"That's what I figured. OK, let's cut our losses. Keep the DNA and serum samples of course, never know when they'll come in handy but otherwise it's time to send the bimbo home. I've got an appointment tonight anyway."

***

"Let go of me! I want to see Stone! Let me see Stone! Stone!"

Arnold Stone shook his head; he could hear Stella screaming from across the mansion. He tired to ignore it but it was like chalk breaking on a blackboard. He sighed. He knew that girl had issues when he brought her over. Finally he got up and headed out for the airfield. Three of his men were pulling the shrieking and struggling Girl of the Stars into his private jet.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, what is going on here?"

"Mr. Stone, we wuz told-"

"Let go of that poor girl immediately!" Lynn ran over and threw her hands around Stone crying. "Oh stars and comets, it was terrible, they just dragged me out of my room and they were..."

"Sssh Lynn, it's OK, it's OK. I am so sorry. There must have been a terrible mix-up. You see I told them to give you a flight back to Megapolis, I didn't say anything about this."

"What? You're sending me away? What about the serum? What about your experiments? What about us?"

"Oh Lynn didn't they explain?"

"They said it didn't work but-"

"Well then I guess they did. We analyzed the serum a dozen different ways; it's nothing special, just some electrolytes and sodium compounds."

"But, but, the stellar radiation, that's the key! He said he had to irradiate it with yellow stellar radiation!"

"Lynn, I told you before scientifically nothing about stellar radiation makes any sense. You might as well be talking about magic. Now don't worry, we're going to keep trying, but in meantime I assumed you would want to head back home and try other leads."

"Oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense."

"Now if we find anything I'll be sure to contact you."

"Promise?"

"Of course Lynn. Now you'd better be going, I've kept you long enough I think."

"Oh, OK. Thanks Arnold, thanks."

"No need to thank me, have a safe flight." He nodded to his men and walked back to his bedroom.

"Sorry about that Libby, dissatisfied customer."

Liberator Woman smiled at him and gestured for him to come. Stone dropped his pants and climbed back into bed.

***

Stella fretted the whole flight back. If Stone couldn't copy the serum who could? She only had 4 vials left now! Stone was right of course, there were smart guys in the world but Crowe had been on a whole other level. What he did really was more like magic.

"Magic!" She suddenly yelled. "That's it!"

***

KNOCK-KNOCK!

KNOCK-KNOCK!

Timmy O'Leary cursed. Who the heck was waking him up at 6 in the morning! He opened the door and saw a thin blonde. "Lynn? Lynn Lewis?"

"Let me in Timmy, I need to talk to your girlfriend."

Timmy smiled. "Really, and why would an ex-teacher's aide need to talk to a girl from the Daily Comet typing pool?"

"Cut the crap Timmy, I know she's Princess Patriot just like you know I'm Stella."

Timmy's mouth opened and closed, he'd been trying to prove Lynn's identity for ages and now…

She shoved past him. "Hey Princess Perfect! I need to talk to you!"

Katherine Libertine emerged from Timmy's bedroom wearing only one of his Mega University t-shirts. "Huh…" She said rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Lynn took her by the arm and pulled her back into the bedroom. She shut the door. "Sorry Timmy, girl talk."

Looking around Lynn saw the stained sheets, discarded condoms, the empty tube of KY jelly and shook her head. Someone wasn't as pure as she claimed. But this wasn't the time to rub Princess Perfect's nose in it.

"I'm calling in one of the favors you owe me."

"Favors? Lynn you're the one who got me caught by Warlock and Psyche, if anyone owes something you owe me! Do you know the High Priestess reprimanded me? Reprimanded me! And then you disappear for weeks only showing up to fight those monsters with the dumb names and-"

"OK, look sorry about that, I uh, I wasn't myself. And really I'm still not. I'm in trouble, real trouble."

Kathy's face clouded with concern. As Princess Patriot she was compelled to show compassion for all in need. "Lynn what's wrong, if I can help you, you know I will."

"It's my powers, my stupid powers. I lost them."

"What? How?"

"I don't know! It was after you and the Liberator Bitch beat me up. Maybe it was that serum Crowe gave me, or maybe it was Psyche draining me, or maybe Stellar Man's little experiment finally wore off! The point is I have this serum that gives me my powers back but I only have 4 doses of it left. Four hours of power. Then that's it. I'm nothing but plain old Lynn Lewis."

"Oh. Can't you make more of it?"

"I already tried with stupid Armor Man; let me tell you that guy is a total creep. He couldn't even do anything."

"I'm sorry but while my training as Princess Patriot naturally includes the study of chemistry I doubt I can do anything that Armor Man-"

"Look I'm not here for science help, I'm here for magic. This uh, this isn't the first time I lost my powers. Someone took them away with magic before, actually a couple of people now that I think about it… but to get her help I need someone who knows magic on my side. Will you help me?"

"Lynn you know you just have to ask."

"OK, you know the hills north of town; tonight's the full moon so I need you to head over there at 11:45 tonight and…"

***

…Lynn Lewis parked Gloria's old convertible at the end of the lane under a tree. She looked up at the full moon and at the empty clearing.

It had been more than a year since she was last here, just thinking about her last trip made her butt ache. But the fact was the Moon Witch could take away her powers any time she wanted so logically she could put them back. Or use some spell to copy the serum. Or something.

Lynn knew she was grasping at straws but it was all she had now.

But she didn't know if the Moon Witch's spooky mansion would even appear. Or if the Moon Witch even had her powers any more. Last time she was here Stella had freed some of Lorelei Lune's servants. The last she'd seen of the Moon Witch she was being raped in her own bed by two genies. (issue #9 – ed)

That wouldn't exactly make her cooperative. Which is why she brought some magical muscle this time.

"Lynn? I'm here!"

Princess Patriot

…descended from the night sky.

"Over here Kathy."

"So where's this spooky mansion?"

"There's still a little time, it never appears before midnight." Stella sat herself on the hood of the car. She was wearing one of Gloria's old coats and her bikini costume under it. She had one of the precious vials tucked away in an armored pocket, just in case.

She checked her watch.

"Tell me more about this Moon Witch."

"Not much to tell, her name is Lorelei Lune. Her mom used to fight Stellar Man all the time and now I guess she's kind of into me. I only met her twice but both times she took my powers away."

"And then what happened?"

"Um… nothing."

"Lynn, if we're going in there I need to know-"

"OK, OK, stars and comets. She took away my powers and made me like, her serving girl OK? I had to uh, fetch firewood and mop the floors and dust and… y'know. Serve her." Stella blushed and looked away.

"Lynn… if I'm going in there with you I kind of need to know everything. How did you get away? Is she going to be mad or she going to help you?"

"Nothing, it's just embarrassing you know. But she uh, she let me go. It was fine. I mean we were practically friends. It's just that I hate this magic stuff."

"Well it's all a waste of time is this mansion you mentioned doesn't appear. Have you seen it since that last time?"

"Um no, but I wasn't looking. I just know it appeared at midnight when there was a full moon."

"Well it's five after twelve now."

"Just wait a bit longer, please."

"Lynn I do have work tomorrow."

"I'm sure your boyfriend can get you excused. Just ten more minutes, please?"

"Fine."

The minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness and the clearing remained stubbornly empty until finally…

"Lynn it's half past 12, I really have to-"

Stella grabbed Princess Patriots arms. "What do you have a curfew or something? I told you, this is important, this might be my only chance to get my powers back!" She screamed in the young brunette's face.

"Lynn!"

"No, Kathy listen, I mean I know you don't like me, and you know I don't like you-"

"Lynn!"

"-and I'm really sorry about what happened with Warlock, I know it was my fault, sort of, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry but if you won't do it for me think of all the people I'll rescue when I have my powers back! Whatever you think of me do it for them!"

"Lynn!"

"Please!"

"Lynn look behind you!"

The Girl of the Stars turned slowly. The clearing was now filled with a thin mist but through the mist an old decaying mansion was visible.

"Oh…"

"I tried to tell you."

"Opps. Sorry, I just thought-"

"Never mind Lynn. And by the way, I don't hate you. I never did."

"Oh. Um…"

"You really don't like me?"

"Huh? No, no, I mean, I do like you, it's just sometimes y'know, you go all Princess Perfect on me."

"I'm not perfect you know."

"I know, I hear you really suck. You even got a reprimand."

"Hey! I told you not to-" Princess Patriot stopped. She smiled. They both started to laugh.

"OK, OK, you got me. So are we going to check this out or not?"

"After you Princess Perfect."

The iron gate opened with a harsh creak and the two heroines stepped inside. Princess Patriot moved to close it behind them but Stella stopped her. "Just leave it open, trust me." Princess Patriot shrugged and stepped into the garden.

It was filled with weeds and dead plants; it looked like it had not been tended in years. There was an old scarecrow mounted on a post, Stella shuddered when she saw it, remembering how the Moon Witch had made her a living scarecrow as a punishment.

The house was the same, a once-beautiful Victorian mansion now with rotted wood, broken windows and an aura of death and decay. Stella pointed up the steps.

"Usually I just walk in the front door and she's there."

Princess Patriot nodded and slowly opened the door. Like the gate it creaked terribly and a scent of dust filled the young champion's nostrils.

The entrance was covered in cobwebs, dust and grim. Other than a few rat tracks there were no signs that anyone had been in there for a very long time. Princess Patriot concentrated on the Staff of Zeus for a second. Tiny bolts of lightning crawled up and down it illuminating the chamber. The extra light did nothing to improve the view.

"Lynn, there's no one here."

The Girl of the Stars was still lurking in the doorway, looking visibly uncomfortable.

"Well, maybe she's upstairs? This house didn't just appear on its own!"

"Maybe. Let's check it out."

"Um, why don't you, I mean, I can stay here and watch our exit. And be careful! She's tricky! Don't believe anything she tells you!"

Princess Patriot shrugged and climbed the rickety stairs.

Downstairs Stella fretted. It had been more than a year since the Moon Witch made her a Stellar Cinderella. She'd only escaped by freeing two of the Witch's genies. Stella had left her crying as two monsters violated her. Which sounded pretty cruel, until you remembered that's what she did to Stella. So Stella kind of figured she didn't need to tell Princess Perfect about that. She figured if the stupid Moon Witch held a grudge then Princess Perfect could take care of her. She'd be a lot more cooperative after a couple of zaps from the Princess' staff. Those things hurt!

She kept an eye on the gate, it was still open. She listened to stairs creak under Princess Perfect's feet.

"Guess you should lay off the cupcakes huh?" Princess Patriot didn't answer. "A minutes on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!" Stella continued to tease. "Course I don't have to worry about that thanks to my stellar powers. I mean um… if I get them back. Hey Princess Perfect are you listening?"

"SWEET LIBERTY!" There was a shout from upstairs and the sudden crackle of thunder.

Stella froze. The gate was still open; she could still see Megapolis in the distance. Good. She nodded and ran up the stairs.

"Sweet liberty, you poor woman, those monsters they were uh, ravishing you."

"It was horrible, thank Hecate you came!"

Stella heard a trunk opening, items rustling, then heard the words "Irginityvay Eturnray! Lothescay Ppearay!"

"But how did this happen, who did this to you?"

"She did!"

Stella arrived at the top of the stairs and found herself looking down the point of a wand.

"Welcome back my Serving Wench of the Stars! Tellasay leepsay!"

Stella's world went black.

***

File Clerk Pepper Dickinson arrived home late. Sgt Novak had her putting in unpaid overtime shredding evidence that implicated Boss Bruno in half the vice rackets in the city. As long as Bruno owned cops like Novak, and her for that matter, there was no way the law would ever touch him.

She unbuttoned her uniform shirt and unzipped the miniskirt Novak made her wear. She reached into the secret compartment in her closet and took out a heavy fur coat.

Maybe the law couldn't touch Boss Bruno.

But the Minx could.

***

"Stars and Comets, what happened to m..." Stella looked down at herself. Gloria's old coat and her bikini costume were gone, replaced with a ragged dress. Her proud red cape had become a torn apron and her feet were bare.

"Oh no! Not again!"

She looked up at the smiling face of her captor. Lorelei Lune, the Moon Witch. Lorelei prodded her with one foot and poked her with a wand.

"Ah my Cinder-Stella has awakened! I hope you don't mind I took the time to properly attire you. I was kind enough to allow you a brief nap after all."

Stella pulled herself to her feet. She was back downstairs in the kitchen area where she'd spent so much as the Moon Witch's captive. How had she allowed this to happen again? Why did she even come back, and what about-

"Stars and comets what did you do with Princess Patriot!" She shouted.

"Who? Do you mean that delightful young girl who saved me? Why she's right over there!" Stella's eyes followed the Moon Witch's lazy gesture.

Princess Patriot was sitting up straight in a wood chair sipping tea. She sneered at Stella. "It it true? Did you really have Lorelei raped?"

"What? Stars and comets no!"

Lorelei and Kathy looked at her stone-faced.

"I mean um, yes, sort of but it's not my fault, she tricked me! And she did it to me first!"

Neither woman seemed too impressed.

"I… I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I…"

"I think we've heard enough" the Moon Witch said. "Indbay Tellasay!" She encanted. Rags slithered like snakes and wrapped themselves around Stella's wrists, ankles and one even wormed itself into her mouth.

"Mmph! Mmph!" Stella struggled as the rags pulled her wrists together and tied them to her ankles. In seconds she was lying hog-tied at the Moon Witch's feet. "There, no more lies. That's much better." Stella struggled harder, panicking at the thought of being trapped with a vengeful Lorelei. Her eyes pleaded with her friend.

Princess Patriot rose to her feet. "Listen, I know she wronged you but I can't let you just-"

"Hmm? You can't let me? You come to my Midnight Realm, you enter my house and now you will tell me what I can or cannot do?"

"Listen I'm not going to let her go. I'll bring her back where she can face justice."

"MMPH!" Stella objected.

"Bring her back, oh no. She will remain here as my serving wench, just as she promised." Lorelei slipped her foot under Stella's cheek and raised her head slightly. "Once she's been properly disciplined she will learn to obediently serve me. Oh yes my little Cinder-Stella, I have many lessons to teach you."

Princess Patriot pointed her staff at the Moon Witch. "I can't let you do that." Lightning crackled up and down the wooden rod. The Moon Witch's wand glowed with an eerie green light.

"MMPH!" Stella moaned resting on Lorelei's foot. She tried to squirm away but the Moon Witch gave her a sharp kick in the side.

"Your staff, where did you get it?"

"This is the staff of Zeus given to me by the goddess Athena so that his faithful lightning can be loosed upon the enemies of liberty."

"Oh you're from that little island Athena set up aren't you?"

"I am Princess Patriot, champion of Minerva Isle, Paragon of Purity, Lass of Liberty, Guardian of –"

"I knew it! I knew it! You must know Sophia then!"

"You know the High Priestess?"

"High Priestess, well isn't she all fancy now. Yes she would visit my mother back when she had your job. Tell me how she's doing!"

"Well…"

Lorelei lowered her wand and offered Princess Patriot a chair, she sat down as well. "Wait, wait, I'll have my serving wench get us some wine." She gestured and Stella felt her bonds loosen. Then they jerked her to her feet like a puppet. "Mmph!" She objected as she was dragged to the pantry.

"I am so sorry, Princess Paragon was it?"

"Patriot."

"Yes, yes, if I'd know you were one of Athena's girls we would have gotten off to a much better start. I follow Hecate myself but that practically makes us cousins!"

"I suppose…" Princess Patriot tried to remember the tangled branches of the Olympian family tree.

"Now tell me she doesn't expect you girls to remain virgins does she?"

"What? Sweet liberty of course she does!"

"I knew it, I knew it! Hecate is the same, it's all about purity but you just know those two are curled up with some lusty satyrs right now…"

Soon the wine was flowing and the two were trading stories and gossip like old schoolmates.

"…so then the centaur says 'and that's not my tail!' get it? Not his tail!"

The both doubled over laughing.

"Mmph!" Stella complained as she refilled their cups.

"Oh right…" Princess Patriot said as if noticing her for the first time. "What are we going to do with Lynn?"

"Well, I'm sure you understand I can't just let her go, she did me a terrible wrong. Why if I hadn't had a spare wand…"

"I can't let you keep her either."

"Mmph!" Stella nodded and grunted affirmatively.

"Tell you what, let me have her for just one night to discipline her then you can take her back to your sunny realm."

"Just one night?"

"MMPH!" Stella objected. She tried to wave her arms but the enchanted rags holding her wrists wouldn't let them move. "MMPH!" She repeated in frustration.

"That sounds reasonable."

"And please, you should remain as my guest to see that your friend is justly punished but not abused."

"No, I couldn't. You've been too kind already."

"Please I insist. Just stay until the dawn."

Princess Patriot didn't have a watch of course but figured it couldn't be more than another three or four hours. "Sure, it's a deal."

"MMPH!" Stella objected. "MMPH! MMPH!" Her face turned bright red as she tried desperately to explain.

"Lynn! Cut that out! It's only a few more hours and considering what you did to this poor woman it's a lot less than you deserve."

"MMPH! MMPH!"

"Um Lorelei…" Princess Patriot pointed at her friend's mouth.

"Oh very well, Tellasay Peaksay!"

The wet gag fell from her lips with a pop and Stella gasped.

"Stars and comets what are you an idiot? That's not how things work here! A night can last days! Weeks! As long as she wants it to!"

"What? You didn't tell me that!"

"Hmm, isn't that how it works in your world?"

"No!"

"Oh well, don't worry, I shall work ensure your stay is an entertaining one. Let's start with a little swim."

***

Hidden in a tall tree, Pepper Dickinson hit a small button on her mask and night vision lenses slid into place over her eyes.

"Gloria, where ever you are, thanks for all the great toys."

She picked out the guards and plotted a route in. Boss Bruno was paranoid, everyone knew he kept all his records here on his private compound. It was risky since if they were ever exposed he'd have no defense but he was confident he'd bought enough judges to make sure no one would ever get a search warrant. Luckily the Minx doesn't need one.

Pepper fired a thin cable from her wrist launcher. She made a mental note that she had to find a way to refill them. Maybe Stella could help her?

She waited for the guards to pass, then slid down the line to the first-floor window. Ten seconds with a diamond-tipped glass cutter and she was inside.

She hurried down the hall and opened an unmarked door. One of the thugs she'd worked over said he'd seen them drag a girl downstairs. If Bruno was really keeping prisoners here it would be the end for him. All the corrupt cops and judges in Megapolis couldn't save him.

Quiet as a mouse she slipped through the door and closed it behind her. She crept down the concrete stairs listening for any sound. She heard it, weeping. Weeping and whispering, two women, behind the second door. The Minx smiled, this was it, just what she was hoping to find.

She crept forward, but saw no sign of any guards. Was Bruno really this overconfident? She put her hand on the door and reached for a lock pick. But it was open.

She muttered a slight expression of surprise and opened the door.

"?" She gasped when she opened the door.

The small cell held two women. One in an indigo bondage suit whose hood covered her eyes and ears, the other in a yellow and red minidress. The girl in yellow was feeding the one in indigo and muttering to her. She spun when the Minx entered.

"Who?!" She said.

"Who?!" The Minx exclaimed.

"The Minx?"

"Sunbeam and Blackout?"

"But you're dead!" The both said at once.

"Dawn? Dawn what's going on?"

Sunbeam patted her sister on the arm, "Ssh, it's OK Natalie, it's OK."

"What happened to her?"

"Boss Bruno happened, she's been in that hood for-wait a second…" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "since when are you a blond?"

"I, um, I'm sort filling in for the Minx OK?"

Sunbeam jumped to her feet "I knew it, I knew it was a trick! But I'm loyal! Loyal!"

She jumped past the stunned Minx and into the hall screaming. "Help! Help!" The door slammed behind her.

"Damn" the Minx swore. She grabbed Blackout by her arm and reached for a lock pick. "Come on, at least we can get out of here."

WHACK! A karate chop landed on her neck and Pepper Dickinson stumbled.

"Let go of me! Where's my sister!" Blackout demanded.

"I don't have time for this blind girl!" She threw a punch at the hooded heroine but Blackout dodged.

"How the heck-"

Blackout jumped into the air and threw a punch. The cell's sole light bulb shattered plunging both of them into darkness.

"Oh crap…"

WHAM!
POW!

SOCK!

***

"Ow!" Stella cried out. "Ow!" She repeated as she stepped on another branch in her bare feet. She tripped and almost dropped the basket of towels she carried.

"Do try and keep up Cinder-Stella!" The Moon Witch cried behind her. Turning to her companion she asked "Does she always complain so?"

"Sweet liberty, you have no idea, even when she has her powers she's always complaining about this or that. It's like she's never happy."

"It must be so frustrating for you."

"It's OK, it's just annoying sometimes, like when she makes fun of me for not having powers and then she comes to me for help because she lost hers. Or when she got me mind controlled."

"Tsk, tsk, I will have to be extra strict with my Serving Wench of the Stars won't I Cinder-Stella?"

Stella froze in fear. The Moon Witch turned to face her tapping her wand in her hand. "Won't I?"

"Y-yes m-mistress. Very strict mistress." Stella stammered. The Moon Witch nodded and they continued down the path. Princess Patriot looked concerned. "Oh don't worry, I won't really do anything bad to her." Lorelei said soothingly. Stella just shuddered.

Finally they arrived at the lake. Stella helped the Moon Witch remove her dress and hang it on a branch. The Moon Witch wantonly stretched her naked body under the light of Hecate's moon. Embarrassed by the show, Princess Patriot struggled to remove her magical armor but found the leather laces on her back defeated her, no wonder she always changed clothes by magic!

"Please, allow me. Rmoraay Egonebay!"

Princess Patriot gasped and suddenly found herself naked. "Sweet liberty!" She moved her hands to cover herself.

"There, isn't that better? Come now, doesn't the water look wonderful?"

Patriot shivered in the cold and blushed red. Why had she agreed to this? She barely knew this woman! But something about her and those mysterious green eyes…

She shook her head to clear it. "What about Lynn?"

"Oh Lynn won't be joining us, she doesn't like the lake do you Lynn?"

"Huh?" Stella didn't like the look on the Moon Witch's face. "I mean um, yes Mistress, whatever you say."

"But I'll make sure she doesn't stray. Indbay Tellasay!"

Stella's rags jerked and she felt herself led up the hill to a tree. The rags around her wrists quickly tied themselves around the trunk. Another inserted itself between her lips gagging her. "Mmph!" She complained.

"There, now she's safe." The Moon Witch reached down and picked up a small tuber about the size of a pickle. "Museay Tellasay!" She said and the tuber flew from her hands towards the Girl of the Stars. "And now she won't be bored either. Come my Princess of Purity, let's have our swim."

She took Patriot's hand and led her into the dark cold water.

***

Stella watched in horror as the tuber drifted between her legs-

"AH!"

-and then shot between them!

It was warm and moist, it started the throb inside her pussy. Stella helplessly rubbed her legs together and moaned.

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmmmm…"

Maybe tonight wouldn't be too bad after all!

***

"Come, come! Why are you lurking in the shallows?"

Princess Patriot took a few hesitant steps. The cold water was up to her thighs and she was shivering, she couldn't imagine what it would feel like when the cold water hit her private place. Her hands were still over her breasts and nether regions, giving the shivering teen a bit of modesty.

She looked out at the Moon Witch. Her pale skin started to glow under the light of the full moon, she seemed to have no trouble with the cold.

"Ouch, darn it." Princess Patriot stubbed her toe on a rock.

"Come, come, come, it's fine once you get used to it."

"Easy for you to say…"

"Pah you just need to get a little wet." The Moon Witch swam over and splashed the shivering teen.

"Hey!"

Lorelei splashed her again.

"Cut that out!"

Lorelei splashed higher soaking Princess Patriot's hair, forcing her to move her hands up to protect her face from the freezing water.

"In you go!"

Momentarily blinded, she felt a cold arm around her waist, it pulled her forwards and she fell face-first into the lake.

***

Stella relaxed and just let the sensations flow through her. If there was nothing she could do about the Moon Witch's mischief she figured she may as well enjoy it.

She squirmed in the pile of dry leaves she was sitting on. If only she had her hands free and could touch herself, that would be the best. She closed her eyes and sighed contently. It was probably the best time she'd ever had in this cursed realm. Why did she keep coming back here she asked again. Had the Moon Witch put some spell on her? Coming back felt so right until she actually got here and saw what this place was like! It was like some crazy fairy tale where everything followed its own crazy logic and somehow everything was against her. Even stupid Princess Perfect was doing OK and she'd never even been here before!

Oh well, nothing to do but relax and enjoy-

"Pretty-pretty?"

Stella's eyes shot open.

Something was in front of her, about three or four feet tall, brown skin with filthy matted hair, sharp claws and sharp teeth. Stella knew from painful experience what it was. A boggie! She'd been captured by them before, captured, raped and almost barbequed! And now three of them were lurking around her. And she was bound, gagged and tied to a tree!

"MMPH!" She whimpered as loud as she could.

From below she could hear laughter and splashing.

"Pretty-pretty" the boggie repeated and moved close to her sniffing and sniffing. He moved his head lower, between her legs. Stella squeezed her legs together and pulled them up into a ball. The diminutive creature kept sniffing, now moving its head under her skirt.

"MMPH!" Stella tried again.

Now its claws were running up her inner thighs! They were between her legs, pinching her engorged sex. Stella's eyes were wide but between her bonds and her fear she could do nothing. The boggie squeezed, Stella winced at the sensation, and the small tuber came out with a wet pop.

The boggie sniffed it and held it up. He did a little dance, he licked the juices off it and then he ate it. And then he turned to the struggling blonde bound before him.

"MMPH!" Stella objected.

"Pretty-pretty!" It leaned closer sniffing her neck and hair. "Pretty-pretty-pretty-pretty!" Stella could see his ragged shirt tenting and his pink member peeking out from beneath it. "SHULP!" It licked her cheek and she cringed. Its claws were pulling her ragged skirt higher and higher. She could feel the cold night air on her pussy. It was still wet and wide open from Lorelei's mistreatment! She felt the heat from the boggie's member as it probed closer and closer and then…

"MMPH!" She tried to scream as it rammed home.

***

"Oh good" Lorelei said looking up the path.

"S-sorry" Katherine asked as she rose shivering from the cold water. She shook her head to get the water out of her eyes. This was getting to be less fun all the time.

"Oh nothing, it seems our little Cinder-Stella is having a good time."

"T-that's n-nice…"

"Oh my dear, are you cold?"

"A-a l-little" Katherine's lips were turning blue and her nipples were hard enough to stop bullets.

"Well my dear, I shall just have to warm you up!" Lorelei wrapped her thin arms around the young brunette's fit body and pulled into the deep water, soon it was lapping over their breasts.

"See isn't that better?"

"A-a b-bit" Princess Patriot stammered out.

"Oh? Still cold? Well maybe I can warm you up?" The Moon Witch took the shivering girl in her arms, pulled her close and planted a long, lingering kiss on her lips.

"N-no!" Katherine pushed her away.

"Come now, I sense I am not the first woman to taste those rich lips of yours."

Embarrassed Princess Patriot looked away. "That was… it wasn't my doing, I was controlled by another."

"I see. So you are not interested in me?"

"I'm sorry, I just, I can't, I mean I'm the Paragon of Patriotism, the Virgin of Virtue, I can't… they already reprimanded me."

"Well then, we shall speak no more of this. Come let us swim." The Moon Witch turned and disappeared under the water resurfacing further out and beaconing for Katherine to follow. Princess Patriot nodded and swam out.

The two women spent the next hour swimming in the lake, Princess Patriot had to admit after a while it did start to feel good. Sure it was a bit cold but she was the Paragon of Patriotism! If George Washington could cross the Delaware in the dead of winter and face the cold of Valley Forge she could handle a little moonlit swim! That kiss upset her, she couldn't stop thinking about it but knew nothing would come of it. This wasn't like the time she was in Drake Warlock's den of vice, she was herself now, pure and resolute.

Finally Lorelei headed for the shore and Princess Patriot reluctantly followed. She reflexively covered her breasts and nether-regions with her hands.

"Modesty? Now? We've been swimming together for an hour!" Lorelei laughed. Kathy had to laugh too, it didn't make much sense did it to turn modest now. She lowered her hands. She watched the Moon Witch pull on her dress and realized a problem.

"My um, my clothes. You made them disappear. I uh, I don't have anything to wear."

"Hmm…" The Moon Witch gave Kathy's body a good look. "Well that's easily fixed. Kimpysay lothingcay ppearay!" She said with a twitch of her wand and Princess Patriot was dressed. More or less.

"AH!" She cried and covered herself with her hands as the sheer dress clung to every inch of her wet body. Somehow the sheer fabric made her feel more exposed than being naked. "W-what about m-my costume…" She asked through chattering teeth.

"Oh that, I'm sure it will return when you rejoin your sunlit world. But for now you may as well be comfortable."

Princess Patriot didn't say anything but her face made it clear she felt anything but comfortable.

"Come now let us see how Cinder-Stella is getting along."

Stella heard the cracking branches as the two women climbed the hill. "MMPH!" She cried again. The boggies took note as well. The one inside her pulled out and pulled her skirt back down to her knees. Another one stopped fondling her breasts and pulled her top back up. Then the three melted back into the woods as though they had never been.

"Ah there you are! Did you have fun?"

"MMPH!" Stella replied ineffectually, hoping the anger in her eyes was clear to see. She looked at Princess Patriot lurking behind Lorelei, she was dressed in some sort of sheer gown that was clinging to her body, Stella could even see her nipples through it. Typical, she was always Princess Perfect until she thought no one was looking.

"I do hope you've learned a little lesson, I would hate to have to leave you out here all night."

Fear replaced anger in Stella's eyes.

"Would you like to come home now? Will you behave yourself?"

Stella nodded enthusiastically.

"Good, good, now go gather the towels from the bottom of the hill and follow us."

"MMPH!" Stella objected but once against the bindings on her wrists and ankles pulled her down the slope. She gathered the towels and followed the path back up the hill. She jumped at every sound, afraid she would be hauled off by boggies but thankfully she made it to the top with nothing more than a few scratches on her legs.

She entered the house to the sound of laughter.

"More wine my dear?"

"I shouldn't but it does warm me up nicely. Maybe just a little thanks. Oh hey Stella! We were just talking about you!"

"Mmph?" Stella tried to inquire.

"Um Lorelei shouldn't you un-gag her?"

"Hmm? Why? Do you really want to hear her complaints and whines?"

"Hee-hee, no I guess not. You should hear her back in Megapolis, 'oh it's so hard having all these powers!' and now that she's normal all she does is whine about not having them."

"Then let us enjoy the silence shall we?" The Moon Witch pointed at Katherine Libertine's empty wine cup and Stella was compelled to refill it from the jug. Kathy downed the cup without thinking.

"Y'know, like the first time I met Stella and the Minx they got me totally drunk!"

"No! Truly?"

"Oh yeah, I'd just arrived, I'd never even had wine except for a sip at the festival and they made me drink all night. I ended up telling them my origin, my secret identity, everything."

"Tsk, tsk, why Cinder-Stella how could you take advantage of our friend like that?"

"MMPH!" She tried to explain. Instead she found herself refilling Princess Patriot's glass.

"But it's OK now, I like… I can totally control myself…"

"That's nice my dear. Another glass?"

***

Led by Sunbeam, Boss Bruno opened the cell door. Blackout was waiting, holding the battered body of the Minx by her fur coat.

"Dawn, is that you?"

Sunbeam hurried over and put her hand on Blackout's shoulder. "It's OK sis, you got her, we're safe now, Boss Bruno is very proud of you."

She knew her sister could not hear under the soundproof hood but hoped Blackout could somehow sense the tone. The older sister relaxed and let the Minx hit the ground.

Boss Bruno looked her over. "Hmph guess the stories were true about a new Minx. Not a bad look either. In fact she looks kind of familiar now that I see her…" He reached down and pulled off her domino mask.

Then he started to laugh.

***

"Whoops! Can't quite right walk… right…"

"Don't worry my beautiful princess, our loyal Cinder-Stella has you."

"Mmph!" Stella tried to object through the gag as she helped a very drunk Princess Patriot up the stairs.

"Hush Cinder-Stella, can't you see our guest wants to sleep?"

"Mmm, sleepy."

Stella helped Princess Patriot sit on the bed, the young brunette was having trouble sitting up straight. She felt her bonds yanking her wrists and she found herself peeling off the Princess' sheer gown.

"Huh?" Princess Patriot managed to ask.

"It is time to sleep is it not?"

"Sleepy…"

"Well surely you're not going to wear that? I mean, clothes, in bed? How queer!" She chuckled at that and Princess Patriot nodded slowly. It kind of made sense didn't it?

"Cinder-Stella?"

Stella rose to her feet and unlaced the Moon Witch's black dress, carefully pulling it off the pale woman's body and folding it neatly.

"Ah, much better." She sat down on the bed next to Princess Patriot and wrapped a willowy arm around the drunken paragon of purity. "Now then I think before you go to sleep our little Cinder-Stella wants to apologize for all the mean things she's said. Don't you Cinder-Stella?"

"MMPH!" Was all Stella could say beneath her gag. Stella once again the bonds on her ankles and wrists started moving her, positioning her between Princess Patriot's legs, forcing her to kneel, then tying themselves together binding her. "MMPH!" She repeated fear in her eyes.

"Hee-hee" Princess Patriot giggled. "She looks silly." The Moon Witch kissed her bare shoulder, Katherine did not object, she barely seemed to notice.

"Oh that's right, the gag, silly me." She produced her wand and waved it at Stella. "Icklay! Tellasay icklay!" She commanded.

The gag popped out of her mouth as Stella's panicked brain tried to figure out what she'd said. Then she got it. "Stars and comets no! Not tha-MMPH!" Stella objections were muffled as the Moon Witch's spell forced her mouth deep between Princess Patriot's legs, she felt her unwilling tongue slip out and begin licking her friend's pleasure passage.

"Ooo…" Princess Patriot said. It felt so good, if it wasn't for the Moon Witch's arms around her she'd have fallen right over, if it wasn't for Lorelei's gentle fingers on her breasts and Lorelei's lips on her neck and Lorelei's breast rubbing against her back. She turned her head and faced the pale brunette. In the moonlight coming through the window her skin seemed to glow. "I really shouldn't…" She whispered. Then she giggled. "Oh if the high priestess could see me now…"

"Hush my sweet princess your priestess and her old maid of a goddess cannot see you here, here you are free, here you are mine."

"Oh sweet liberty, not so deep Stella, don't tear it… Yes, that's better, slowly, gently, do that again, Stella! Again! Again!"

But Princess Patriot twisted on the bed to face the Moon Witch and sucked on her pale breasts like a dying woman desperate for water. Her flailing legs caught Stella across the face and sent her falling to the floor with nothing but a bruised face and the taste of her friend's juices on her lips for her troubles.

She lay there for a while crying quietly, listening to Princess Patriot and the Moon Witch fuck just above her. She rubbed her legs miserably and moaned. Why was it always like this? Why did everything always go wrong for her? She felt her own juices flowing between her thighs. Damn it! Why didn't they at least let her join them? Why did she have to lie here on the floor as their miserable little Cinder-Stella?

"Oh my princess, promise you'll stay, promise it!"

Stella's eyes went wide. What if Princess Patriot said yes? She could be trapped here forever! She had to do something, but what?

Then she saw it. A small glass vial glowing with a soft yellow light under the bed. It was her serum! She must have dropped it when the Moon Witch first caught her! She wiggled closer to it. The two women on the bed were too lost in their lusts to even notice. She got it between her teeth and pried open the stopper with her tongue. A lot of serum spilled on the floor but some got down her throat. Was it enough?

CRASH!

Stella tore apart the rags holding her limbs and overturned the bed. She stood over the two naked women and smiled. "Guess what I found?" She said. Her eyes blazed red with the power of her stellar sight, her muscles tensed with the power to shatter mountains, her skin was strong enough to bounce artillery rounds. "Oh this is going to be fun!" She grabbed the Moon Witch by the hair and yanked.

"Yes, I think it will… Owerspay Egonebay!" the Moon Witch said producing her wand from somewhere. Stella felt her powers desert her.

"Oh no… Stars and Comets no… not fair…" She sank to her knees in utter despair. The Moon Witch was towering over her now, wand at the ready and a smile as cold as the arctic on her pale lips. "Oh my Cinder-Stella, whatever will I do with you now?"

She heard Princess Patriot giggle.

***

They were refighting D-Day in Princess Patriot's head. At least they must have been from the way she felt. "Sweet liberty, did she slip me some wine or something…" She muttered. She found her scandalously sheer dress on the floor and pulled it on again, not even noticing how it fell off one shoulder leaving her nipple exposed. She slowly managed to stagger down the stairs, she could hear the Moon Witch there.

WHACK!

"Bad Cinder-Stella! Bad!"

"P-please m-mistress, may I have a-another?"

WHACK!

"What do you say Cinder-Stella?"

"P-please m-mistress, m-m-may I have a-another?" Stella managed to blubber between sobs.

"Since you asked so nicely…"

WHACK!

"Sweet liberty what are you doing?!"

Stella was lying face first on the table, rags bound her wrists and ankles to the table legs. Her torn skirt was pulled up exposing her red livid ass and the Moon Witch was spanking her with a leather strap. She looked up at Princess Patriot with fear.

"Oh Cinder-Stella asked me to help teach her better manners after the way she interrupted us last night. Didn't you Cinder-Stella?" She smiled down at the helpless blonde.

"Yes m-mistress. Please may I have another?"

"Since you ask so sweetly!" She raised the strap but Princess Patriot's firm hand stopped her.

"No!"

"Oh I am so sorry my dear Princess, of course you may take your turn now."

"What? No. Stella and I, we… we're leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Look!" She pointed out a grimy window, a faint dawn could be seen.

"But there is still so much we can do together, you and I…" The Moon Witch moved close to the Princess and lowered her lips, Princess Patriot looked deep into her dark eyes, so easy to be lost in them to… to…

"No! You had us for one night and now it's time to go."

"But my dear Princess I…"

"Now."

The Moon Witch slumped her shoulders, defeated. She raised her wand and muttered "Reefay Tellasay".

Suddenly released Stella fell to the floor and painfully pulled herself to her feet. She took a step and winced, her ass felt like it was on fire.

"Come on Lynn, we're going." Princess Patriot pulled her arm and headed for the door. Outside Stella could see the gate was ajar and there were definitely signs of dawn.

"Princess, one last thing before you leave."

"Lorelei I-"

She was cut off as Lorelei Lune kissed her, wrapped her arms around the Princess' body and pulled her close. Princess Patriot shocked herself by returning the kiss. Then they broke off.

"Until we meet again my princess."

"Um, yes, I suppose…"

Stella pulled her arm and the two women stumbled across the yard to the gate. Beyond it they could only see the dark woods; there was no sign of Stella's car, the clearing or Megapolis. Princess Patriot swallowed and stepped through.

And they were home. Princess Patriot was back in her armor. Stella back in her bikini. The car, the clearing and the city all back where they were. And the Moon Witch's mansion was gone. Stella fell to the ground panting and crying in relief.

"Stars and comets, stars and comets, stars and comets…" She babbled.

Princess Patriot closed her eyes and offered a short prayer to Athena for her deliverance. Then she turned to Stella with fire in her eyes.

"How dare you?"

"Huh?"

"You lured me there! You inebriated me! And then you violated my pure body with your filthy tongue!"

"What? No! No! It's not my fault, she tricked me! She always tricks me, I never meant-"

SLAP!

"How, how could you! You know I must remain a paragon of virtue! You know I must remain pure! You know how hard it is! But for you and your little friend it's all a game isn't it? Oh let's see what we can do to Princess Patriot this time! Well Stella, I know we were friends once but that's over. Obviously I can't trust you."

"But-"

"Stella, don't ever contact me again!"

With that Princess Patriot rose into the sky and disappeared.

***

Stella locked the door behind her and dropped Gloria's old coat on the floor. The morning sun was coming through the windows, she pulled the curtains shut plunging the room into shadow. Tears were falling openly now and sobs were making her chest rise and fall.

"It's not my fault… the Witch tricked me…" she moaned. Now she'd lost a chance, lost a precious vial of serum and lost a friend.

She opened the liquor cabinet. There wasn't much left, she had to put in a new order. Of course that meant paying for the last order.

But that was a problem for tomorrow. There was still more than enough vodka to last the day.

She poured a glass and downed it. Another swiftly followed.

***

"Lynn, Lynn, wake up, wake up Lynn."

"Uh…" Stella stirred. She tried to wipe some drool from her chin but couldn't move her hands. She shook her head a few times. Her eyes wouldn't focus right.

"Lynn, you need to tell me what's happened."

"Huh?" She could feel she was sitting down but her arms wouldn't move, or her legs. Was she tied up?

"Lynn, can you hear me?"

Stella could make out a brown blur in front of her.

"G-Gloria? Is that you?"

"Yes Lynn, it's me, Gloria."

"Gloria, you're dead!"

"It's OK Lynn, you're dreaming."

"Oh. OK. You look fuzzy."

"I had to give you a drug, I don't want you to remember this."

"Ha, fuzzy Minx… fuzzy Minx… it's funny cause minks are fuzzy." Stella giggled.

"Tell me what happened to you? What happened to your powers?"

"It's all your fault."

"Yes Lynn, it's all my fault, please tell me about it."

"It was that stupid Dr. Corvidae you found. Except he wasn't Dr. Corvidae, he was Claudius Crowe."

The blurry figure paused, then snapped her fingers. "Of course Corvidae is Latin for crow! How could I have been so blind! What happened Lynn? What did he do to you?"

"He gave me these drugs. At first they felt good, real good, real, real good." Stella rubbed her legs together at the memory. "Good, so good…" She started to pant, her nipples protruded through the thin fabric of her bikini top.

"Lynn, focus! Then what happened?"

"You're so bossy, even when you're dead you're bossy. Bossy, bossy, bossy."

"Lynn I want to help you, please tell me what happened next?"

"I started getting weak, losing my powers, then one day… all gone. I needed his drugs to get them back."

The blur nodded, that fit. "Where is Crowe now? Is he still making those drugs for you?"

Stella laughed. "You see… you see…" She laughed hysterically again. "Funny thing is… he's dead! He's not making anything anymore!"

"Dead?"

"Funny huh? And science can't help me, and magic can't help me and now I just have 3 vials left. Just three hours to be the Girl of the Stars…" She stopped giggling and choked up.

"Just three vials? That's it? And no one knows how to copy them?"

"… oh stars and comets, I messed up, I messed up bad, all I ever wanted was to be normal and now I'd do anything to get my powers back, anything, oh stars and comets I can't live like this… no powers… no money… no one likes me… how can anyone live like this…" She started crying helplessly.

"Ssh Lynn it's OK. I'll help you I promise."

"You'll come back?"

"Yes Lynn, I'll come back. I promise I will. Just… just not yet."

"Please Gloria, please come back, I promise I'll do anything you say! I'm sorry I burned up your body! I really am!"

"You what?"

"It's not my fault!"

"Um, right. It's OK Lynn, I'll be back real soon, you just have to hang in there OK?"

"OK Gloria. I'll be good, I promise."

The blur put her arms around Lynn, they were warm and strong.

"I'm going to put you back to sleep now Lynn, when you wake up everything will feel better."

"Oh Gloria I wish you weren't just a dream, I miss you so much."

"Ssh, go to sleep Lynn, get some sleep and tomorrow it will look better…"

The Girl of the Stars felt a slight pinprick on her arm and drifted quietly into a deep dreamless sleep.

***

Stella woke up in her favorite nightgown in her own bed. She stretched and greeted the sun. Somehow she felt a hundred times better than yesterday. She walked out into the living room, the trash and bottles were picked up off the floor. She nodded. "Stars and comets I must have felt pretty diligent last night."

As she did every morning she opened the safe and checked for her three vials of serum.

There were only two.

"Stars and comets no!" Had she used one last night? She couldn't have! But, wait, under the vials was an envelope. She tore it open. It was filled with $100 bills. $100 bills and a note.

Lynn, sorry but I borrowed a vial for analysis. I promise to return it when I see you again. In the meantime this should help with your money problems. Just stay strong, I'll be in touch soon.

-M

"Stars and comets…" she whispered.

Afterword

This was sort of a 'now what' issue. I have Stella where I want her and know where things go from here but I felt I had to deal with a few things like the Citadel and her trying to get her powers back. Plus I'd been meaning to do a Princess Patriot/Moon Witch issue for a while now. This was almost split into two issues but I didn't see any way to make the Armor Man portion long enough to call a full issue and I do like to do something special for the last issue of a 'year'.

As I promised this issue had the long-awaited return of a missing female character. Originally I had a plan for the Moon Witch, after losing to Stella her code of honor would require her to become Stella's servant. So she would turn up at the penthouse and become Stella and the Minx's maid. And hilarity would ensue. But I never found room for that story so it got scrapped. This one almost got scrapped because I couldn't figure out how to give her her powers back. But then I thought of 'Estoreray Irginityvay!' and that was that. Sometimes the easiest solutions are the best.

Oh, that's not the return you were thinking of?

Well that scene with the Minx was just a dream, Stella said so herself. So did the Minx.

After all they found the Minx's body and burned it up in orbit so how could it be her?

Right?

Next Issue: It's 1973 and a certain heroine is back! But before she can really return she needs to take care of some Old Business! Be there!

Marcus Lycus

(Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com)

March 2010

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