Stella and the Minx #44: Mazes and Monsters

They year is 1973, and the greatest heroines in the world are finally reunited. But can even they combat the new scourge that is gripping the youth of the nation?

Join us as Stella and the Minx must defeat the threat of Mazes and Monsters!

Marcus Lycus

(Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com)

January 2012

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 44 – Mazes and Monsters

Gary ran through the rain and the bullies followed.

“Come on Gary! We won’t hurt you! Well not too much!”

Every day for three weeks they’d jumped him on his way home from school to deliver noggies, wedgies and other rites of passage for the shy, bookish kid and to relive him of any leftover allowance or lunch money.

But today he’d taken his mom’s advice and stood up to them. For about a minute. Until they blackened his eye.

Then he ran.

He rounded a corner and spotted an open shop, he ran inside. The bullies ran by outside. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“Can I help you?”

He spun around. It was old dusty shop, filled with tall shelves groaning with books, boxes and strange items. He spotted a pile of oddly-shaped dice, small statues of dragons, knights and unicorns, books with incomprehensible titles like Tolkein’s Spirit Guide or Unearthed Archana. But stranger still was the girl behind the counter. She looked young but wise, beautiful but cold. Her skin was as white as marble, her hair a pale gold, almost leached of color. She wore some sort of tight black mini dress trimmed in red. And she looked familiar.

“Um, have we met? You don’t go to my high school do you?”

“Oh I visit many places, perhaps we have met before. You don’t hang out with the cheerleading team do you?”

“Um… no.” Gary remembered afternoons hiding near the field watching the bouncing cheerleaders through binoculars, or even that day he dared hide inside a locker watching the team change through the ventilation slats. He started to sweat.

“In any case, what can I interest you in?”

“I uh, I don’t know, I’ve never been here before. Actually I never even noticed this shop before. What exactly do you sell?”
The girl chuckled and reached under the counter. She pulled out a dark hardcover with a cover showing a leering demon.

“Mazes and Monsters? What’s that?”

“Tell me Gary-“

“Huh? I didn’t tell you my name.”

“Well you look like a Gary. Tell me, do you have dreams?”

“Dreams? Sure I mean everyone has dreams.”

“Tell me.”

“Uh, well, I really like those swords and sorcery books, you know Conan or Elric or uh…”

“Slave Girls of Rog?”

Gary blushed.

“Well so sometimes I kind of wish I lived in a world like that. You know. It’s stupid. Kids’ stuff.”

“Gary, I think you’re going to love Mazes and Monsters.”

“I… I don’t have any money, the bullies kind of took it.”

“Oh well I’m sure we can arrange some sort of trade. I’ll give you a Mazes and Monsters set in exchange for something small, something you don’t even know you have.”

***

"Well?" Stella said. "Well?"

The machine hummed and buzzed and slowly, drop by drop, produced a golden serum in a small glass tube.

"Seems to be working." Warren Herbert said. "As far as I can figure out from Drake Warlock's notes this should be about right. Of course we won't really know until-"

The machine binged and the vial was full. It positively glowed with golden light.

"Now Lynn are you sure you're up for this, I know Gloria said to let you try but-"

Stella knocked Warren out of the way and downed it in one gulp.

***

Hiding in a deserted supply closet with only a flashlight to see by, Gary read the book. He’d been up all night reading it under the covers and even now he couldn’t put to down. He’d cut first period just to keep reading.

The Maze Master creates the adventure where the heroes and heroines confront the monsters and try to escape. They are completely in the power of the Maze Master, they might be injured, trapped, tortured and even killed.

The page showed a young female barbarian chained to the wall as drooling Ogres lashed her with whips. He looked again, the barbarian girl looked a bit like Amy DeForrest, the pretty girl in his math class.

Vladi’s Ring of Mental Domination – This magic item allows the wearer to control the mind of anyone within 50’ (save vs. mind control) forcing them to submit to the user’s will and perform even the most repulsive acts.

An illustration showed a priestess in pure white robes kneeing at the feet of a black-armored warlord. Staring at it she looked a lot like Miss Greene, the librarian who always wore those short skirts. And the warlord, it almost looked like Gary himself. He kept reading.

Losing Combat – If the party loses combat the Maze Master can allow them to attempt to escape. If they do not escape the party must surrender to the Maze Master’s monsters or they are automatically captured and may suffer a fate worse than death.

Under these lines was a picture of a group of knights, their proud armor dented and battered. They were on their knees begging for mercy before a hulking demon. Squinting he could make out the faces of the football team among the knights. He could almost hear the Maze Master pronouncing ‘No mercy!’

Finally he turned to the last chapter.

Beginning your game – Ready to go? Are you ready to make all your dreams come true and take up the power of the mighty Maze Master! All you have to do Gary is recite the words “Nystul, Otto, Serten, Mordenkainen, Otiluke, Drawmij, Melf, Tenser, Leomund, Bigby, Xygag!

He didn’t even notice how the book was now addressing him by name. He read the words, he rolled the colorful dice.

***

“What’s the story here Mulligan?” The Minx demanded.

“See for yourself, a whole high school is gone, replaced with that!” he pointed. Where once there had stood an institution of learning now there was a black-walled castle decorated with spikes and skulls. Blood red banners hung from the battlements and a locked gate barred entry. A strange mist flowed around it making the whole scene look like something from a B movie. From inside she could hear animal growls, the crack of whips and screams of pain.

The Minx nodded. The walls looked easy enough to scale or she could use charges to blow down the wooden gate. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was magic. She hated magic. Hated it. She’d studied all her life, she could read Egyptian hieroglyphics, decipher Soviet codes, she knew the name of every bookie in Megapolis, but magic. It just made no sense. And here was a city block full of magic. Lucky she knew someone who dealt with it every day.

She reached for her transistorized radio telephone and dialed a special number.

“Hello Patriotica? No, fine. No, no, no hard feelings at all. Um yeah, I did see the new costume it’s really uh, progressive. Yes. No. Uh-huh. OK. Listen I have a problem here…”

But the Paragon of Purity was busy with a Defending League of Justice case. She promised to come when she could but in the meantime…

They all heard another blood-curling scream from inside.

She sighed. She took a few steps forward and fired off a climbing line, she started to scale the walls.

***

Amy DeForrest shook her head. Just minutes ago the pretty sophomore had been in Math class, trying to figure out polynomial equations when there was a flash of light and everything was different.

She’d been wearing a tight sweater and bell-bottom jeans but now she was in some kind of chainmail bikini top and a leather thong. She was hanging, iron manacles were clamped around her slender wrists and hung from chains.

She was in a volcanic cavern far below the Earth, pools of lava and bursts of fire gave the only light. The heat was like a furnace. And in the center of the hellish room was a hulking demon out of some medieval carving.

“Foolish wizard! Did you really think you could stand against me!” In one massive claw he was holding up a man in green robes. Looking at him he sort of looked like the Principal but with a long white beard. The wizard struggled weakly but the demon casually crushed his rib cage and tossed the wizard’s body into a lava pool. At his feet Amy could see other bodies, she thought she recognized the security guard and her homeroom teacher among them. Then the demon turned towards her.

“So my beautiful Amanda of the Forest Tribe, I see you have awakened. Awakened to your NIGHTMARE!”

She screamed!

***

“Hey there Mulligan, what’s going on?” Stella asked. She'd been flying around for twenty minutes just happy to have her powers back. And now here was a case just waiting for the Girl of the Stars to come down and save the day.

“See for yourself.”

Stella’s blue eyes turned pale and she tried to look into the forbidding castle but the walls were impervious to her stellar sight. “Stars and comets. I hate magic.”

“That’s pretty much what the Minx said.”

“The Minx? She’s here?”

“Yup, she climbed the wall about an hour ago. We haven’t heard from her since.”

“Stars and comets! Every time the Minx goes off on her own she gets into trouble. Last time I found her and Boss Bruno… um, in trouble. Maybe I’d better go in.”

“I dunno. We’re waiting for Apollo or Astro Man to come back, y’know one of the heavy hitters.”

“Hey! I’m Stella! I’m a heavy hitter! I’m the Girl of the Stars!”

“Well yeah but-“

“Are you saying I can’t do what a guy does?”

“No, it’s just-“

“Well watch this!” Stella jumped into the air and flew over the castle walls. Then she disappeared.

***

Helena parked the nondescript van behind a deserted row of tenements. The sun was just beginning to set.

“So you sure don’t want to patrol together?” She asked Blackout. “I mean, uh, we could you know, watch-I mean take care of each other. If you want…”

“No. There are some things I need to do myself tonight.”

“OK, we’ll meet back here at sunrise then. I guess I’ll go check out that high school the Minx radioed about. She’s not answering her transistorized radio phone. She might be in trouble.” She mused.

But Blackout was already gone.

***

“Stars and comets…” Was all Stella could say. She looked at her hands, they were decorated with rings and bracelets. Her arms were bare. She could feel some sort of veil over her mouth and nose. She looked down, her modest breasts were covered in a sheer red top, her legs in sheer blue harem pants and her loins barely covered by a hanging cloth. Her feet were bare and she could feel cobblestones under her soles. And for some reason she had a thick book in her hand.

“I hate magic. I HATE IT!” She yelled. She tossed the book away and looked around.

She was in a courtyard with tall black walls all around her. The only way out was a 10 foot-wide staircase leading down.

Just to check she tried to fly. Nothing happened.

She punched the wall. She had to shake her hand from the pain.

“Naturally… how come my powers never work!” She complained to no one in particular and headed down the stairs. “And how come whenever there’s some magical nonsense I always get a stupid new outfit and my powers don't work!”

Finally she sighed in resignation and walked down the stairs.

There were torches every 20 feet or so giving her light as she descended. She wondered idly who lit them and who came around to change all these lit torches as the burnt out.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and found herself in a 10 foot by 10 foot room with doorways leading straight, left and right. The stairs were behind her.

“WELCOME STELLA! 5^TH LEVEL ENCHANTRESS!” boomed a voice from the ceiling.

“What the heck?”

“I AM THE MAZE MASTER AND YOU ARE IN LEVEL 1 OF THE DUNGEON OF DARKNESS – THE CAVERNS OF CRUELTY. TO ESCAPE THE DUNGEON YOU MUST DEFEAT THE DEMON XYGAG!”

“Huh?”

“CHOOSE YOUR JOURNEY!”

“What? No! Look Maze Master I’ve had a rough couple of weeks and I really don’t want to play now so I’ll just leave. Mulligan was right, we should let Apollo or someone deal with this.” She turned on her heel and climbed the stairs back out. She made almost halfway up when the stairs suddenly shifted becoming a smooth slide.

“Hey!” She yelled, she tried to get a grip but ended up sliding on her stomach back to the bottom. She landed on her side and sat up more humiliated than hurt. She adjusted her flimsy top and got to her feet.

“Fine then, fine. Whatever. I’m going to find the Minx and then we’re getting out of here. Eennie-meany-minny-moe!”

She choose left and started walking. Like the stairs this corridor had torches at regular intervals. It was a nice clean tunnel too, straight as an arrow, no dirt, no spider webs and very regular flagstones. There weren’t even pebbles for her bare feet to step on. It was more like a drawing on graph paper than a medieval dungeon.

She heard sounds from up ahead. She pressed against the wall and carefully crept forward. They got closer, footsteps, metallic jingles and high-pitched gibbering and giggles. Stella looked back, maybe there was time to run down the corridor? She had no powers, her outfit wasn’t good for anything except being an extra in a Cleopatra film and she certainly never learned to fight.

She turned and ran.

She must have made some noise because the figures behind her started running too.

“Ow! Ow!” Running on stone hurt her bare feet. Then Stella slipped on a slimy patch and fell on her face. She could hear the gibbering creatures behind her, something hit her head, she felt a bit of blood. Clawed hands grabbed her ankles and pulled…

***

Blackout silently climbed the brick wall of the old warehouse. Somehow she knew her target was inside. He’d escaped Boss Bruno’s mansion, somehow, she had trouble remembering just how, and apparently was setting up shop here in Megapolis. With Bruno behind bars the criminal element needed someone to provide girls for their brothels, strip clubs and porno rings. Girls they could twist and corrupt, like they twisted and corrupted her sister Dawn. She grit her teeth at the thought and vowed to take in the Rustler. Whatever it took.

She smoothly picked the lock on the roof door by touch. She silently slipped down the stairs.

Below she could hear the Rustler’s voice.

“Now Sally, you poor little cutiepie. Runaway, all alone in the big city. I declare there are some bad guys around here, you lucky you met old Rustler. I’ll be taking good care of you.”

He looked at the girl at his feet. He’d found her getting off a bus from Wichita and managed to lure her into his van. Now the little freckled girl was on her knees in front of him looking up at him with love-filled eyes. She was naked, except for the thin gold cord around her neck. Rustler patted the matching gold lasso be his side.

Princess stood behind him as always, an absent smile on her face.

“Oh thank you sir, thank you so much. Why I never even thought of what could happen to a girl alone in the big city!”

“Well Sally why don’t you show me just how grateful you are?”

Sally licked her lips and opened her mouth.

“I’ve got a better idea, how about I show you how grateful I am!” Blackout barked.

“Shit!“

Then the world went black.

And when the light returned…

Princess was still standing with a distant smile.

Sally had pissed herself.

The Rustler was back in his chair.

And Blackout was resting her head in his lap.

“Oh Rustler, I miss Dawn so much…” she sobbed.

“Now, now honeypie, it’ll be fine. Just tell Uncle Rusty all about it.”

***

“Heh! Heh! Heh! Heh! Pretty-pretty!”

“Stars and comets… what now?”

Stella was tied to a stone column in what looked like some kind of underground throne room. All around were short goblins cackling as they assaulted a dozen or more teenaged girls. The creatures had sickly green skin and were dressed in rags and scraps of armor. And the smell from them made Stella sick to her stomach.

The girls were dressed in medieval gowns, though cut higher and plunging lower than any gown Stella had seen in a history book, but the gowns were now ragged and torn. Some of them were screaming in horror as the goblins tore at their clothes or fondled them but a few were on their backs wantonly fucking the hairy beasts and moaning for more.

Stella pulled at her bonds but the rough hemp rope did not budge.

Several of them stood around her giggling in their high pitched voices.

Stella kicked at them and they retreated in fear.

“Yeah! That’s right! I’m the Girl of the Stars, you better stay away from me. I have all sorts of powers! And if even one of you little monsters comes near me I’ll-HEY!” Two of them grabbed each leg. She tried to kick them loose but they were just strong enough to hold on. Another one approached carrying a bowl of some kind of glowing pink liquid. She recognized it immediately, it was that pink stellar serum Crowe had created. Serum that would turn her into a panting sex slave just like the girls on their backs.

“What? Where did you get that? No! I don’t want it! I don’t want it! Get away!”

Suddenly the goblin fell, a knife in his neck. The bowl hit the floor and shattered. The throne room plunged into pandemonium. The goblins reached for weapons and shields, the girls screamed and ran for the corners. Stella twisted her head to see the entrance, but all she could see was screaming goblins, flashes of steel and fountains of blood. In less time than it takes to say it was over. The goblins lay dead or dying and a newcomer strode towards Stella.

“WELCOME THE MINX, 12^TH LEVEL ROGUE!”

“G-Gloria? Is that you?”

"Yep. One second OK?"

The Minx grabbed one of the screaming girls.

“Who are you?” She demanded.

“Forsooth m’lady I am the Maid Elizabeth of the House of Connor, honoured to be the Lady in Waiting of-“

SLAP!

“No! Who are you really?”

The girl blinked a few times, her face twisted into a scowl.

“Hey did you just slap me!”

“Your name, what’s your real name?”

“I’m Beth O’Connor, I’m a senior. What the hell is going on?”

“Good, remember that OK? This place does things to your mind, you need to remember who you really are. Now I need you to get the other girls together and lead them up and out of here. Go down that corridor 200 feet, turn left, good 150 feet, turn right, go 80 feet, take the right fork then up the stairs. Got it?”

The girl nodded and started talking to the others.

Then the Minx finally turned to her partner.

“Hey Stella, feels like old times huh?”

***

Blackout had no idea how it happened. She wanted to take down the Rustler, she hated the Rustler, she’d been ready to pound his face in, but somehow as soon as she heard his voice… she couldn’t control herself.

Now her costume was off, she was straddling the cowboy’s dick while the runaway Sally fondled her breasts. Her powerful gymnast’s legs pumped up and down, she still wore her hood, gloves and boots, her hands were free, she knew a dozen ways to silence the Rustler before he could even call on Princess for help. But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t. She felt something burning under her hood, around her neck, and couldn’t stop crying under her mask.

“Been a long time huh Blackout?”

“N-Natalie, call me Natalie please. I hate being Blackout, Blackout got my sister killed.”

“That’s right Natalie, that’s right, now y’know who else got your sister killed? Y’know who left you and your sweet innocent sister in Bruno’s hands? Who turned you down when you needed her training? Who was that anyway?”

“The M-Minx…”

“Indeed, and what are you gonna do?”

“I’m going to get her!”

***

“It’s not fair!” Stella whined. “I mean you got swords and everything and all I got was this fetish outfit. I don’t even have my powers and I had like a half hour left on my serum and everything.”

“When you were changed did the Maze Master say anything?”

“Huh? Yeah something about me being an Enchantress, he said I was fif-I mean… 13^th level.”

“Then it stands to reason you should have some sort of magical powers.”

“Magic? Me?"

"Traditionally a wizard would have some sort of spell book or scroll with spells and incantations written in it. Did you have anything like that?"

"Huh?" Stella remembered the book she'd tossed away when she arrived. "No, nothing. Nothing at all. It's just not fair!"

"Well maybe it's instinctive, maybe you just know how to do it."

"You mean I can just like point my fingers and be like hocus-pocus!”

The Minx dropped to floor. Her whole body began to shrink, her arms shortened, her belly swelled, her skin turned green, her clothes and hair vanished and in seconds she was turned into a frog.

“Stars and comets…” Stella whispered. “I’m sorry Gloria! I’m sorry! I didn’t know, I uh… pocus-hocus!” The frog began to grow, its skin turning tan, long brown hair grew from its head and in seconds the Minx was back.

“Geeze, Lynn, some warning next time!”

“I’m sorry Minx, I’m sorry! I didn’t know! I still don’t know how I did it, I was just thinking of an old movie and-”

“It’s OK Lynn, it’s OK. This place, it has its own rules, it’s like some sort of game. That’s why your powers don’t work, that’s why that girl was confused. I found the football team a few rooms away being tortured by some kind of trolls. They thought they were Knights of the White Stallion captured by the demon Xagag. It took me five minutes to get them to stop saying thee and thou.”

“So we have to find this demon and beat him so we can get out of here huh?”

“Yup.”

“Well let’s get to it! I’ll just zap him into a frog and you can carve him up.”

“Somehow I don’t think it’ll be that easy.”

“I wonder what else I can do? You think I can like wiggle my fingers and make a fireball-“

“Uh Lynn, could you maybe point your fingers that way?”

***

“So what’s the story Mulligan?”

“Huh? Who the heck-“

“Name’s Night Huntress, I work with the Minx.”

“So you’re like her sidekick?”

“Partner.”

“Whatever. The more the merrier. We’ve got a high school turned castle and two missing heroines.”

“Two?”

“Stella flew in a while back, never came out.”

“Damn.” She said grimly. “I’m going in.”

“Sure thing. Have fun!”

Mulligan watched the brunette climb the castle wall, checking out her butt cheeks moving under her purple and indigo leotard. Some days it was just too frustrating to work with heroines.

***

A quick search of the goblin’s throne room uncovered a secret door and a set of stairs leading down. The two heroines looked into the darkness.

“So uh, you want to go first?”

“I guess I’d better. Grab a torch off the wall and let’s do this.”

“Y’know let me try something first. Abra Kadabra!” Stella’s hand began to glow like a lantern. “I think I’m getting the hang of this magic stuff!”

She set one bare foot on the stairs, then another. The Minx waited then stalked several feet behind her friend.

TWANG!

TWANG!

TWANG!

Arrows whooshed at Stella’s lit hand, the Minx leapt forward and tackled her, the two bounced down the stairs as the arrows shot over their heads. They landed in a head at the bottom facing several goblins.

“Hey Gloria watch this! Alla Kazaam!” A flaming ball formed in Stella’s hand, she tossed it like a grenade and the goblins were burned to ash.

The Minx nodded. “Not bad, not bad at all.”

The floor began to shake, heavy foot prints approached. Dust fell from the ceiling.

“Who dares enter the second level of the Dungeon of Darkness – The Tunnels of Torment?”

The newcomer was an ogre ten feet tall and made of thick slabs of muscle. The Minx jumped into action throwing two daggers at him, they embedded themselves up to the hilt but the ogre barely twitched.

“Stars and comets! Um, uh, Hocus Pocus!”

Nothing happened.

“Uh… Alla Kazaam!”

Nothing happened.

The Minx gracefully moved between Stella and the ogre, her swords at the ready. “Lynn back away, I can do this!”

“No! No! I just have to think of a spell, uh… Wiz Wang Woom!”

The floor under the Ogre’s feet was covered in oil, it started to slip.

“Good work Lynn, I’ve got him now!” The Minx pulled a torch off the wall and touched it to the floor, the oil burst into flame and it spread to the ogre. In less time than it takes to tell the ogre was burnt to a neat pile of ash and the corridor was quiet. Except for the sound of Lynn’s snores.

“Lynn?” The Minx shook the blond. Her breasts quivered under her sheer top but she didn’t stir. “Stella this is no time to sleep!” She slapped her a few times but the Girl of the Stars didn’t even blink.

“Great. Now what?”

***

Meanwhile 23,500 miles straight up…

“Hey Pat, great job with those aliens today.”

“Thanks Armor Man, I just did my best.”

“Yeah well it was impressive. Really impressive. Y’know maybe we could talk a bit more about it back at my place? I’ve got a house on the coast and you would not believe how beautiful the sunrises are. And my butler cooks a mean omelet.”

“Huh? You mean sunsets right? I mean I’m not coming over that early, that would be silly.”

“Whatever you say sweetheart.” He said giving her ass a squeeze through the ridiculously skimpy bottom.

CLANG!

Patriotica slapped Armor Man’s helmet and shook her hand.

“I’m uh, sorry I have to go now, I’m supposed to patrol y’know.”

She turned and walked out.

Armor Man smiled under his helmet watching the teen heroine’s ass moved under the skimpy bottom. “Mmm-mmm. I hate to see her leave but I love to watch her go.”

In the next room she found the League resident genius, Mental Man, waiting for her.

“Oh hi Mental Man can you set the teleporter for me? I need to get back to Megapolis.”

“Actually Patriotica, there's something I need you to do for me first.”

“Of course Dexter what can I do…”

Patriotica blinked.

She was standing on the teleport pad, it was a half hour later and for some reason her nipples were sore and lady-parts were tingling. She tried to think for a second but then the teleporter engaged and she was back in Megapolis.

***

“Stars and comets, I needed that.”

“Lynn! Lynn! What happened?”

“Huh? I just needed to relax a bit.”

“You’ve been out for hours, I’ve been standing watch. A couple more goblins came by but I took care of them.” She pointed to a small pile of corpses. “Oh I found 33 gold pieces.” She held up a small leather bag full of gold coins.

“Huh? You looted their corpses? What did you do that for?”

The Minx looked at the pouch for a second. “I… it just seemed so natural, I never even…” She dropped it like a snake. “This place it’s getting to me. What about you?”

“Oh I guess needed rest to recover my mana.”

“Your what?”

“My magical energy of course, once I’ve exhausted my mana I cannot cast spells until I have rested for 1d6 hours for every 10 mana points expended.”

“Lynn, how do you know that?”

“I… I just know.”

“This place.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go.”

They prowled down the corridor alert to further signs of trouble.

As on the higher level the stonework seemed to run in strict ten foot intervals and precise right angles. Lit torches were hunt at regular intervals, the two heroines no longer worried about how or why. The torches made as much sense as anything else in this place.

The Minx gestured to stop. They could hear sounds up ahead, gasps, moans the crack of a whip and cries of pain.

“Missstressss Juliana of the Green Landsss, confessss… you are a ssslut, a temptressss, you ussse your charmsss, to taunt your ssstudentsss.”

The devil-like creature drew back his barbed whip.

“So is this is a private torture session or can anyone join?” The Minx asked.

“Who daresss?”

“Who dares, who dares, who dares. Y’know Gloria is it just me or does everyone here use the same dialogue?”

“Lynn, there might have something there.”

“Who daresss mock the mighty Torquar the Tormentor!”

“See, he said it again!”

“Uh Lynn, I think you might want to focus a bit…” Torquar dropped his whip and picked up a vicious-looking flail. He spun it a few times listening to it whoosh through the air.

“Oh come on Gloria, remember I recovered my Mana! I have so got this. Alla Kazaam!” A flaming ball appeared in Stella’s hand and she tossed it at the red-skinned monster before her. Torquar caught it, held it in his hand, then swallowed it.

“Ah, jussst what I needed.”

“Stars and comets! How come nothing ever works for me!”

“What about you little rogue? Any tricksss for me?”

“Nope, no tricks for me, just stabbing!” The Minx leapt forward swinging her falchion at the devil’s neck, Torquar easily avoided the attack, but failed to notice her dagger until she buried it in his thigh!

“Lucifer’sss bread!” He hissed. “You dare!”

“There it is again. Seriously Gloria, it’s like talking to people who grew up reading comic books. Bad comic books.”

“A bit busy now Stella!” The Minx said as she dodged Torquar’s flail.

“Bah!” Torquar barked. “I tire of this sport.”

“So you’ll give up?”

“You dare?! For your insolence I give you… pain! Dolor!”

“Aieeeee!” The Minx screamed and fell twitching to the floor it felt like there were fiery needles in every nerve ending.

“Uh… uh… Alla Kazap!” Sparks of electricity flew from Stella’s fingers. Torquar recoiled for a second but then advanced again.

“Um… Alla Ka-ugg…” His flail caught the side of her head and Stella fell to the floor.

***

Blackout sat in the Rustler’s lap eagerly grinding up and down on his hard cock. Sally, the runaway stood behind her cupping the girl’s breasts and kissing her back. The Rustler held her hips and showed her how to move them.

“That’s right gal, that’s how you ride a cowboy, yeah.”

Her costume was long gone, all she wore were her boots and her ever-present hood. She could feel Rustler’s lasso looked loosely around her neck, it felt good and warm. As long as she was wearing it she felt sure and confident. Then she felt Rustler reach for her mask.

“No don’t!”

“Come on Filly, I jus wanna see yo pretty face. That ain’t a problem ain’t it?”

“I can’t! It’s, it’s been too long, if I take it off I might go blind!”

“Well gal, we’ll have to be careful then won’t we. Princess be a doll and turn down the lights will you? That’s good, just one little light on now. Sally now undo those ties at the base of her neck.” Blackout felt the hood getting loose and Rustler start to lift it. She swallowed hard. She’d taken it off before of course, to shave her head or wash her skin, but she’d always been so careful, working in dark rooms and keeping her eyes covered. The Minx had offered to help her, to get her eyes used to the light again but she always refused, she didn’t want to see again. She wanted her last memory to be Boss Bruno, she wanted her last sight to be the man she hated.

The hood came off. “Now ain’t that a pretty face?” The Rustler said. He ran his hand over her shaved scalp. “But I still can’t see your pretty little eyes.”

Her eyes were still shielded by bits of gauze taped over them. Rustler peeled off the tape.

“Now don’t you worry lil’Blackey your Uncle Rustler is just gonna want to peek at your eyes. And you’ll be fine do you hear me. Just fine.”

Blackout bit her lip and nodded. She felt the gauze come free. She could see a bit of light through her eyelids.

“Now see, that ain’t so bad is it Blackey? Now I want you to open them. Just open them up and take a gander at your Uncle Rustler. You can do that can’t you? After all no one loves you like Uncle Rustler. No one understands you like Uncle Rustler. And Uncle Rustler’s gonna help you get back at that mean old Minx. So don’t you wanna see Uncle Rustler’s handsome face?”

Blackout nodded, she could feel him inside her, feel his hands over her body. He was right, no one else understood her. The Minx just wanted her to be a loyal sidekick, Night Huntress just wanted someone to hold her and make it all better. None of them cared about Blackout. None of them cared about her.

She opened her eyes.

She saw the Rustlers grin of triumph, she felt his hot seed filling her womb. She said “Oh my God… I love you so much.”

And then she passed out.

***

“Uh…” Stella awoke with a splitting headache, she could feel dried blood on her scalp and had trouble seeing out of one eye. She tried to speak but found that stupid veil on her outfit was jammed into her mouth. She tried to pull it out but found her hands were chained over her head. She was hanging about a foot off the floor. Next to her was the girl they’d been trying to rescue, what was her name, Julie or something? Like Stella she was chained to the ceiling but she had mercifully passed out.

On the other side was the Minx, barely conscious and still twitching in pain. She was also hanging by her arms but her writhing sent her body spinning in a lazy circle. In front of them was Torquar, heating up metal tools in a flaming brazier.

“Awake I see my little enchantress. I must admit you have some small talent, perhaps in another century or so you might pose a threat to me. So I think I had best eliminate that threat now.” From the brazier he withdrew a set of tongs, their tips glowing white hot. “I think these should serve to burn out your sorcerous tongue, yes? You’ll not be casting so many spells without that. Then perhaps I will start on the fingers, cutting them off joint by joint. Then savoring their flavor as a light snack. Mmm, yes.” He caressed her face with one clawed hand. Stella flinched and began to quiver in fear. “Then the toes of course, the ears next I think, the lips, the nose and finally the eyes.” Stella was shaking then, her whole body jerking like he was already torturing her. “Oh don’t worry. You won’t die. Not for a long, long time my little enchantress. Imps will drink your blood, goblins will rape your loins, and my kin will enjoy your breasts, broiled on an open flame. You will delight us for some time to come.”

“L-let her go!” The Minx gasped glaring at the devil through narrow eyes. “S-she didn’t hurt you! I did.”

“Yes, indeed you did little Ranger. That is why compared to your torment hers will seem a minor discomfort. When I finish even the fiends of the lower pits will look on your carcass with pity.”

The Minx spat, it struck Torquar’s armor and vanished in a puff of steam.

“You are the feisty one aren’t you. As full of spirit as this one is fully of cowardice. I will enjoy twisting and breaking it. But for now I just want you to watch as your friend’s torment begins. Dolor!” He finished with a mystical gesture and the Minx once again shrieked and convulsed in pain.

“Now then my dear, where were we?”

“Oh I think I know where we are!” A new voice interrupted.

“Who dares!” Was all Torquar had time to say before two arrows embedded themselves in his bare stomach.

He fell back some steps gasping for air. Two more arrows flew this time into his arm. The tongs fell to the floor. He raised his hand and began to speak “Dol-” But this time and arrow flew between his open jaws and landed deep in his mouth. Vile green ichor flowed out between his lips. The creature doubled over falling into his brazier, burning coals and hot metal set his robe on fire, he stumbled again, into a rack of blades, they fell upon him, some embedding themselves in his flesh, one sticking almost comically from his eye. Finally he looked again at the doorway. The slim woman calmly notched another arrow and drew it back. It flew unerringly into his good eye and the devil fell to the floor, dead.

“WELCOME NIGHT HUNTRESS, 9^TH LEVEL ELVEN ARCHER!”

A voice boomed from the ceiling. Stella felt someone behind her removing the gag and picking the lock on her shackles. She fell to the floor and finally saw her rescuer.

“Ha-ha-ha! Oh stars and comets, Helena is that you?”

“Aye I am known as El’ena Huntress of the Night, protector of the Forbidden Forest and scourge of the Beast Men.”

Stella laughed again. “Nice ears!”

Soon they’d freed the Minx and the other captive. Night Huntress’ healing ointments took care of Stella’s bruised face and the captives' welts. Finally the Minx was able to question the woman they came to rescue.

“I thank thee m'lady. I am Mistress Juliana of the Greenlands, tutoress to the sons and daughters of the noble clans in the fine arts of the letters.”

SMACK!

“M’lady why do you-“

SMACK!

“Hey wait a second what am I doing here, what’s going on!”

They soon found out she was Julie Greene, an English teacher and librarian at the high school. “The last thing I remember is it was fourth period, I was taking attendance and then poof! Everything else is like a dream.”

“That devil man, when we came in he was calling you a wanton woman, accusing you of tempting men. Any idea what that was about? Is there anyone in the school who might have a grudge against you?”

“I can’t think of anything, I mean sure some of the older teachers said my skirts were too short and there were some students who didn’t like my class but…”

“And were any of them acting oddly, doing anything strange?”

“Now that you mention it Gary was missing today. And he never misses my class, in fact he’s always trying to look up my skirt…”

Night Huntress leaned over to Stella. “Verily, m’lady Minx doest speak so oddly, wherefore does she not speak as a proper lady might?”

“You should talk.” Stella sneered. “I mean you’re totally into this.”

“OK Stella, Helena-“

“El’ena, Huntress of the Night” she corrected.

“Uh right. Ms. Greene there is going to try and make it back up the surface. Meanwhile we’re going to keep going down. The football players I rescued had the same story, and they mentioned that Gary wasn’t around when they went to take his lunch money. So it sounds like this Gary kid might just be the key. Let’s go.”

***

“You sure?”

“Of course, if they’re in there then they might need me.”

“Your funeral Pat.”

Mulligan watched the athletic brunette leap over the castle wall. He could not believe how tight that bikini bottom was, he could make out her ass crack through it. She’d come a long way from the heroine who called herself the ‘paragon of purity.’

***

“I dunno, I mean I went first last time.” Stella said looking at the slimy spiral stairs they’d found. “And this looks really slippery. And it’s dark! And last time someone shot at me!”

“Bah! My keen elven senses will easily penetrate the gloom.” Night Huntress said and gracefully descended the stairs.

“She’s really into this.” Stella whispered to the Minx.

“Well we’ve been able to keep our heads because we recognize this is some kind of low-rent Tolkein or Robert E Howard rip off. But she was raised by a supervillain to be an assassin, that sort of life doesn’t exactly allow for much recreational reading.”

“Wait… Who are Robert and Howard? Who’s Token?”

“Never mind, I guess you’re just uh…”

‘Too dense’ she considered saying or perhaps ‘too flippant’.

“…too strong willed to be fooled.”

“I hate magic.” Stella said. “Every time I run into magic it sucks. I lose my powers and I get a stupid outfit. And another thing-” But her complaints were cut off by the sudden twang of bowstrings and cries of pain.

“Crap!” The Minx barked and jumped down the stairs. Stella slowly, gingerly, followed. By the time she arrived the battle was over and a half dozen giant snakes lay dead.

“Who dares enter the third level of the Dungeon of Darkness – The Caves of Chaos?”

“Is he going to say that every time we go down a flight of stairs?” Stella wondered aloud.

“Nice of you to finally make it Manling.” Night Huntress sneered.

The hallways here were damp and slimy with green molds and fungi. Water dripped from the ceilings forming stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor. Stella shivered in her skimpy garment.

“Stars and comets! I was uh, guarding the rear.”

“A likely story you dishonorable-“

“Calm down El’ena, we all contribute in our own way. You’ll be glad to have her spells when we face the next foe.”

The elven huntress spat and began to scout ahead.

“Lynn, I can count on you right? Or should I send you upstairs where it’s safe?” The Minx whispered once Night Huntress was far enough ahead.

“Huh? No! How can you ask that Gloria? We’re partners!”

“Glad to hear it Lynn. Now let’s get moving. Can you do that light spell again? Unlike Elfy over there I can’t see in the dark.”

“Huh? Oh sure! Abra Kadabra!” Stella’s hand once more began to glow like a lantern.

The three women proceeded carefully through the slimy tunnels, fighting off the occasional snake, spider or giant toad. In one cavern they even found a monster that could only be described as man-eating jello. They’d just hacked up three crocodile men when Night Huntress gestured for silence. They froze, Stella could hear the dripping water, hear her own ragged breath, but nothing else.

“What are we-“ Stella began to whisper but Night Huntress put a long finger in front of her lips. Finally the blonde heard it. Moans. Soft moans from somewhere ahead. Night Huntress pointed at Stella’s still glowing hand, Stella shook it a few times and the light went out.

The three crept ahead quietly.

The corridor widened into a cave half filled with slimy water. Glowing fungus gave it some light.

Several teenaged girls dressed in short tunics were chained to the ceiling, hanging by their wrists from the stalactites. The girls' bodies were already coated in a thin layer of mucus and slime, their faces were masks of exhaustion and despair.

On the far side of the cave the heroines spotted the cause of the girls' misery.

The creature was a slug-like body the size of a van ending in a squid-like head dripping with a set of groping tentacles. As they watched the muck monster turned its attention to the last girl in the line. Thin tentacles probed beneath her skimpy garment feeling her most private places. Larger ones pulled apart her legs allowing access to her all her entry points. The girl's face was twisted in terror but nothing more than a soft moan emerged for yet another tendril was jammed between her full red lips.

"Yuk!" Stella said.

The demon twisted towards them.

"Oh, opps." She added.

The demon released the teen and headed towards them moving through the mucky water and slimy stone with surprising speed and agility.

"Die hellspawn!" Night Huntress cried and loosed a half dozen arrows only to see them bounce harmlessly of the creature's rubbery hide.

"Um, um, Alla Kazaam!" Stella cried. A fireball formed in her hand and she threw it at the swamp demon only to see it burn off some slime but otherwise leave the demon unharmed. "Minx? Help!"

But the Minx had disappeared.

And then the creature was on them!

"Alla Ka-mmmph!" Was all Stella could say as a thick tentacle wrapped itself around her neck and plucked her off her feet. Night Huntress loosed one more arrow before a tentacle swatted away her bow and another grabbed her ankles pulling her off her feet as well.

The muck monster drew the two struggling heroines closer, the stench of slime and methane gas filled their noses. Stella's eyes started to sting, she couldn't see.

So she missed it when the Minx dropped from the ceiling and buried her falchion and dagger into the monster's thick bull neck. The beast roared!

Its tentacles flailed launching Stella and Night Huntress across the room.

Foul ichor flowed from the wounds but the sharp smell of burning metal filled the cavern. The Minx withdrew her weapons only to find the blades had dissolved leaving her only with the hilts.

"Oh shi-" She began to say before two tentacles seized her arms and tossed her into the slimy pool.

Stella sat up, her back was to a stalagmite. She could see the Minx sinking into the mucky water. Night Huntress was across the cavern, she'd landed on head and was out cold. And now the swamp demon was turning towards the blond sorceress.

"Um, um, Hocus Pocus!" She yelled. The swamp demon paused for a second, additional warts appeared on its rubbery hide but nothing more happened. "OK, OK, let's try a new one then… Alla Kaboom!" Stella clapped her hands together and thunder shook the cavern, stones fell from the ceiling, the captive girls rocked back and forth but the monster was unfazed. And then it was too late!

Two tentacles looped around her ankles and pulled her off her feet then dragged her on her back into the muck. Stella flailed wildly trying to keep her head above water as her long legs were painfully pulled apart.

"NO!" She screamed as she felt a third probe between her legs. "Stop! Please stop! I'll do anything you want! Hey uh, N-Night Huntress is right there, take her! She's got much bigger tits than – AH!" The tentacle rammed home between her legs. Lynn could feel it bisecting and dividing, probing inside her, suction cups pulling at her inner walls. She panicked, she stopped splashing and started to sink. Slimy water filled her mouth as she screamed.

So she missed what came next.

“Welcome Patriotica, 10^th level Paladin!"

"Release her you fiend!" The new arrival cried and leapt into the water, her golden sword flashing like lightning.

The pain stopped and Stella managed to climb to the rocky shore spitting out brackish water and panting for air. She crawled over to the Minx and shook her partner. "Gloria? Gloria, get up you have to get up, that thing is-"

"The creature is dead!" Patriotica cried in triumph as she emerged from the water holding its severed head. Unlike Stella and the Minx's clothes her armor was unstained and unblemished. She shook her hair and it was instantly clean and styled.

"Oh great. It's Princess Perfect." Stella moaned as she sank to the ground next to the Minx.

"Greetings fellow adventurers. I am Lady Patrioticus! Paladin of the Western Land, Guardian of Glory and Avenger of Athena!" She cried, seeming unaware of how silly she sounded.

The Minx stirred. She blinked twice, her incredible mind already accommodating the new situation.

"Wait a second, are you saying you don't remember us?"

"Remember you? I am sure I would recall meeting adventurers as er…" She looked over their torn clothes and slime covered bodies. "Distinctive as yourselves."

"Ah crap." The Minx said looking down at her shredded outfit and ruined weapons. There were livid welts where the demon's tentacles had held her and the Minx, she felt weak and sick as though she'd been poisoned. "How are we supposed to go on like this?"

Patriotica sheathed her sword and kneeled down next to the Minx. Her hands began to glow blue, she laid them on the Minx's stomach.

"Hey wait! You can't just-oh!" The Minx sat up. The welts were gone, she felt fine again. Patrioitica was already working on Stella and Night Huntress.

"Not bad, now let me try something." Stella waved her hands over the heroines and chanted "Lysol Clorox Fantastik Listerine!" The slime and muck vanished. "Now that's useful magic!" She added.

With help from Patriotica's magic sword they cut down the captive girls. The Minx questioned them.

"Look I need your real name. Do you understand, your real name, who you really are."

"M'lady I fear I do not know what you wish for I have already told you I am the Maiden Annabella, attendant at the shrine of victory and – "

"AH!" The Minx slapped the girl knocking her off her feet.

"Lady Minx, I cannot allow you to-"

"Ssh, just give her a minute Princess Perfect. She knows what she's doing." Stella said.

The Minx grabbed the girl by the thin tunic she wore and screamed in her face. "WHO ARE YOU! None of this bullshit! Who the hell are you really!"

"Huh? Like I'm Ann, I'm a cheerleader and… and…" The girl's eyes lost their glassy look, she blinked, she looked around. She screamed. "Ohmygawd! Like where am I, what's going on?"

"Whew. OK, let's take it from the top…"

The Minx soon had the cheerleaders headed back towards the surface. By then Night Huntress and Patriotica were done searching and returned with a chest.

"We found this behind a secret door." Night Huntress explained. Inside the found a new set of armor, in exactly the Minx's size, as well as a falchion and dagger, both of which glowed faintly when held.

"Magic swords to replace the ones I lost. Pretty convenient." She swung them a few times testing the balance. "I'd say they're at least +2."

"Huh? Plus two what?"

"I… I don't know." The Minx answered. "It just felt like something natural to say."

“The Minx has gained a level! The Minx is now a 13^th level Rogue!"

They all looked up at the great booming voice.

"Well that's some good news."

“Stella has gained a level! Stella is now a 6^th level Enchantress!"

"Sixth level?" The Minx asked.

"Um, he must have said it wrong. I mean I'm like, at least 14^th level."
Patriotica returned with another chest.

"Sorceress, we hath found these as well, a spell book, a staff and magic vestments covered in powerful talismans to enhance thy powers."

Stella picked up the staff and spell book and smiled. Even she could feel the magical power flowing from them. "All right! I'm gonna kick some butt with these!" Then she looked at the various gems and trinkets that came with them. "Hey Princess Perfect do you know how I use these?"

"Oh doest thou not know? Thou must wear them of course."

"Oh. Right. Of course…" Stella started to strip off what was left of her outfit.

***

"So uh, that's the deal. Four of them went in, none have come out. Though we did get some football players coming out, dressed like they're in a high school production of Camelot." Mulligan explained wearily.

Armor Man paused for a second to think, his armor automatically dispensing a martini into his mouthpiece. "Ah what the hell. I'm Armor Man right? What could happen?"

"Guess so but be careful!" Watching him fly in Mulligan wondered if he would lose his badge if he got the whole Defending League of Justice killed.

***

The four heroines cautiously crept down the stairs into the next level. This one was made of red bricks that glowed faintly and were hot to the touch.

“Who dares enter the fourth level of the Dungeon of Darkness – The Den of the Dragon?”

"Blah, blah, blah…" Stella muttered. "At least I won't overheat in this outfit."

Her 'magical vestments' consisted of a belt, a loincloth and various bangles and baubles. The 'top' was just two small plates that barely covered her nipples and were held in place only thin gold chains. Stella suspected that with one deep breath they'd pop off. And needless to say the vestments did not include panties.

"I mean I've felt more covered when I was naked! And Princess Perfect is all like 'this will let the magical energy flow' well I bet it would still flow fine if I had underwear! Minx, how much more of this do we have to put up with? And how come Princess Perfect and Ears get to wear clothes and I have to dress like a Babylonian hooker? I mean have you seen her new costume? It's like even sluttier than the one you had Gloria. No offense."

"Lynn, listen to me closely" the Minx said through grit teeth. "I am wearing a chain mail bra and chain mail panties. I am learning new meanings of the word chafe."

Stella tried not to laugh but ended up snorting, the Minx joined her with a slight chuckle and then a real laugh. "It could be worse I guess, it could be a Playboy bunny suit with a fox tail."

"Yeah, what was up with that anyway? First you get your foxy suit and now Princess Perfect is walking around with her butt hanging out. I mean I had that stupid bikini suit but that's because Crowe made me wear it."

"Well you see Lynn about those Defending League costumes, Mental Man, he um… uh…" The Minx tried to say it but words just would not come. "Mental Man's costumes… he… he… he may… makes us… he designs them to allow for maximum freedom of movement." She finally gasped out. Stella, oblivious to her friend's discomfort continued to rant.

"And Princess Perfect's totally into this whole swords and sorcery thing. I mean did you hear her? She's even worse than Helena, she's gone totally thee and thou on us."

Scouting ahead Night Huntress raised one hand and the four fell silent. Straining their ears they could hear it, a sound like a blast furnace. The sound of a dragon.

"Stars and comets! Is that a dragon?" Stella asked. The rest just looked at her.

"Um Lynn, the Maze Master did say this was the Den of the Dragon."

"Oh. Right."

"His breathing is quite regular, he may be asleep." Night Huntress said.

"Quite true my friend, thy keen Elven senses may have given us a chance. Dragons are known to sleep for decades at a time." Patriotica added.

"Well that's some good news" The Minx said quickly formulating a plan. "Helena-"El’ena" The Elf corrected.

"Right. El’ena, you and I can scout ahead, if it really is asleep we might just be able to get down to the next level without fighting this dragon."

"What? Sneak around the dragon, surely thou doest not propose we act without honor!" Patriotica answered in horror.

"What? No, no of course not, I'm saying that we must um… move quickly to strike at the heart of the matter and not allow ourselves to be distracted." The Minx quickly answered.

"Ah yes, I see, thy words have great wisdom."

"Thanks, so we'll go ahead and-"

"Wait, what about me? You're not leaving me here with Princess Perfect are you? She's like totally nuts!" Stella whined.

"Well…" The Minx quickly ran through different ways to say Stella can't keep her mouth shut but finally said "I need you here to help guard our way back."

"Oh OK then, good luck!" But the two were already gone. Stella slumped to the floor and stretched. Looking up at her companion she noticed that Patriotica at least got underwear. Figures.

"So Princess Perfect you look you're having fun."

"Wherefore doest thou call me princess? I am but a humble paladin in the service of the wise lady."

"Wow, you really don't remember do you? Flying around calling yourself Princess Patriot, that Red China outfit you were wearing, dressing the biggest slut on the Avenging League? None of that rings a bell?"

"Thy words are queer Enchantress and have no meaning."

Stella planted her staff and struggled back to her feet. "So you're saying you don't remember me?"

"Tis but this day we have met."

Stella smirked at the pious paladin. "Yeah, yeah just ignore my ranting, y'know sorceress talk, just visions of other world and stuff. So what's it like being a paladin? Bet things are pretty strict huh?"

"As a defender of the innocent and champion of justice I remain a paragon of purity and a pillar of virtue."

"Yeah, sure you do. Till you've had a few drinks. Then you turn into the slut queen of slut town."

"Thy words are offensive to my dignity. I shall not respond."

Stella stepped closer just inches from Patriotica's face. "So you don't remember getting drunk with me and the Minx. Or that night with the Moon Witch. Or that time in Drake's Warehouse. Or how you and Timmy O'Leary have been working through the Kami Sutra?"

"I… I…" The paladin was trembling and sweating.

"Maybe this will help." Stella wrapped her arms around Patriotica's shoulders and planted a kiss on the brunette's mouth.

"Stella?" She gasped. And kissed the blonde again.

"Told you." Stella moved her hands lower, pulling up Patriotica's armored skirt and squeezing her ass through her thin panties. Patriotica's sword and shield dropped from her nerveless fingers and her eager hands began to caress Stella's back. Her hungry mouth locked itself over the blonde's and she felt Stella's bare leg rubbing between hers. Patriotica began to moan. And then…

"You like that don't you Princess Perfect? All that la-di-da about being so virtuous…"

Stella gave her a shove knocking the aroused brunette on her ass.

"Slut!" She laughed and walked away. Patriotica was left on the floor confused and humiliated. She opened her mouth to speak but then saw the Minx and Night Huntress returning.

"OK guys good news-" She looked at Patriotica on the floor. "Uh what happened?"

"Oh Princess Perfect had a little fall."

The Minx shook her head but got back on subject. "The dragon is asleep and we found a path to the next set of stairs down. As long as we can stay quiet and move fast we might just get off of this level without a fight."

Night Huntress' keen elven eyes noticed the bit of red lipstick on Patriotica's neck, she pulled Stella aside. "Why Enchantress I had no idea. You are not unattractive for a human, perhaps after this affair is concluded you and I might share each others' company."

"Uh, yeah. Maybe." Stella swallowed hard.

The elven archer winked at her and walked away. Stella just shook her head.

Soon they were creeping through a low tunnel that emerged in a vast cavern. The cavern positively glowed with a golden light as the radiance from hundreds of torches and candles was reflected by piles of gold and jewels.

"Stars and comets…" Stella whispered. The other three motioned for her to be silent.

They crept along a narrow path between the heaps of gold and the cavern walls. All the while above them was the vast bulk of the sleeping dragon. The beast was covered in iron-hard red scales and radiated heat like a furnace. Even four women as powerful and well trained as our heroines could feel the impending menace looming above them.

And if they didn't feel apprehension before, they certainly felt it once the skeletons started appearing in their path. Each set of bones wore bits of burnt armor, an eloquent reminder of the threat they faced.

They'd only made it about a third of the way around the cavern when it happened.

"AH!" Stella cried out. "Something's got my leg!"

"Stella just shake it loose and-" The Minx froze. Something had grabbed her leg as well. All around them she could see the skeletal hands coming to life, skulls rising atop rib cages and boney legs rising to their feet.

They were already surrounded!

"Well lookie here"

"Fresh meat"

"That one gives me a boner"

"I sure want to bone her"

"That one's too skinny she's just flesh and bones"

The Minx just rolled her eyes and stabbed the nearest one in the chest.

"Nice shot"

"Too bad we're heartless"

The battle began in earnest.

The four soon realized stabbing the undead creatures did nothing. Unfortunately the heroines had no similar immunity. The skeletons' blades left them all with shallow cuts and they knew at any moment a lucky blow could cause serious injury or even death. Stella's staff managed to break an arm and a leg but the skeletons' shields and swords were able to parry most of her blows.

Patriotica smashed one skull with her shield but the paladin was pulled down by dozens of clutching boney hands.

Night Huntress gave up on arrows and tried to keep the skeletons back with swings of her elven bow and kicks with her long legs. Soon her bare midriff was crossed with shallow cuts and she was driven to her knees by blow from a skeleton's shield. Stella and the Minx found themselves fighting back to back against a growing hoard.

"Um Gloria any bright ideas?"

"Maybe a spell?"

"But that will wake the dragon!"

"So will our death screams!"

"Oh, right. Um… Alla Kaboom!"

Stella clapped her hands together and a thunderclap sent dozens of skeletons flying, half of them shattered into dust.

"Wiz Wang Woom!"
An oil slick sent the ones in front of the Minx slipping and sliding.

"Alla Kazap!"

Lightning fried three more before they could bring down their scimitars on Night Huntress' fallen body.

"Alla Kazaam!"

Finally a fireball blasted apart the ones around Patriotica.

"Stars and comets did you see that! I think I'm getting the hang of it!"

"Indeed friend Enchantress" Patriotica said wiping soot from her face. "Thankfully my magic armor protected me from thy fiery conflagration."

"Oh uh, yeah, I knew it would."

The Minx pulled Night Huntress to her feet. "Come on, we have to get out here before-"

"Before what?" A booming voice asked.

The four looked up. The dragon was awake.

It was the size of a house, radiating heat like an oven with claws and teeth that could easily tear apart any of them.

"Stars and comets…" Stella moaned in despair.

"Little mortals, have you come to take the treasure of smyte?"

"We're so dead." Stella whispered. The Minx sshed her.

"Oh great Smyte, we are but humble travelers who have heard songs and legends of your magnificence and sought only to gaze upon it in awe." The Minx quickly said.

"Have you now? Tell me more of my magnificence."

"Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality, O Smyte the chiefest and greatest of calamaties." The Minx replied.

"What is she do-" Stella began but Night Huntress hissed her silent.

"You have nice manners for a thief and a liar. You seem familiar with my name, but I don't seem to remember smelling you before. Who are you and where do you come from, may I ask?"

The Minx's mind raced. "You… you may indeed! We have come from under the manor and over the wall, we have soared through the air and scaled the tallest towers. We are clue finders and night hunters, we are of the stars and of the Earth, we are the heirs and the inheritors, we fight only for justice and for right!"

"Justice you say? And is mighty Smyte now your target?"

"What? No, no of course not…"

"I should hope not for who would dare approach me? I kill where I wish and none dare resist. My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"

Next to the Minx, Stella started to shiver.

"I-I have always understood" the Minx said, her voice cracking slightly "that dragons were softer underneath, especially in the region of the-er-chest; but doubtless one so fortified has thought of that."

"Your information is antiquated" He snapped. "I am armored above and below with iron scales and hard gems. No blade can pierce me."

The dragon reared up to show off his underbelly and the Minx's keen eyes passed over each scale and plate. "Truly there can nowhere be found the equal of Lord Smyte the Impenetrable. What magnificence to possess a waistcoat of fine diamonds."

"Yes it is rare and wondeful indeed." Smyte said absurdly pleased. He did not know that the Minx had already caught a glimpse of a single bare spot. And she was not the only one.

"Old fool!" Night Huntress cried. "Why there is a large patch in the hollow of your left breast as bare a snail out of its shell!" As she spoke she notched and arrow and aimed.

"Foolish elfling." The dragon hissed. A tongue of flame flew from its lips and Night Huntress dropped her bow in pain. "That only works in children's stories."

The dragon looked the four of them over, they could feel the temperature rise, see the smoke from his nostrils and hear the roaring grow in his chest.

"Now then, I grow weary. Weary and hungry." The monster grinned at them. "Who will be the first to sate my hunger?"

"Hey ugly! Why don't you chew on this ah!" A new voice cried.

"Welcome Arn'hold of the Stone Clan, 23^rd Level Dwarven Artificer!"

A booming voice echoed through the cavern.

"Arnold Stone? Armor Man? Oh no…"

He spun his hammer in a wide arc and threw it at the dragon. Thunder shook the cavern as it struck the one bare spot.

BOOM!

The impact tossed the four heroines off their feet into a pile of gold coins. When they recovered the dragon was dead.

A four-foot tall armored figure dropped down from a ledge and joined them. "Bah, dragons, they smell like shite when they're alive and like a cesspool when they're dead ah? Lucky for you little ladies I was happening by."

The Minx held her head. "Oh don't tell me you've forgotten too…"

"Ah? Forgotten what? Have we met? I think I'd remember your impressive… face." He wasn't looking at her face. "I am Arn'Hold of the Stone Clan, artificer and warrior, maker of rune weapons and magical armor." He pointed at the already decaying bulk of Smyte. "As you can see my workmanship is second to none."

"Yeah, shame you went and tossed away your hammer." Stella tossed out.

"Ah? No matter." He raised his hand in a strange gesture. Nothing happened. He repeated it. Nothing happened. He raised it a third time, sweat spilled from his brow.

Smyte's corpse began to quiver, then to shake, and then… BOOM! The hammer blew out a hole the size of a VW Beetle and flew back to Stone's hand. "There. Good as new."

The heroines just sneered at him, covered in dragon guts.

Stella sighed and recited "Lysol Clorox Fantastik Listerine!" and they were clean again.

"Enchantress ah? Never got along too well with your kind. All that muttering and mumbo-jumbo, give me a good runeforge and some mithril any day. But no matter, now then the gold. I see no reason we can't do a standard 70-30 split, though as I did all the actual work perhaps 80-20 is more appropriate, minus my expenses of course. Let me get out my treasure sack and-"

The Minx looked around. There were several tons of gold here, enough to fill a dozen trucks. Did this guy really think he could haul it out in a bag?

"Actually Arn'Hold, there is another level to the dungeon, perhaps we had best return for the treasure after we have secured the stairs over there?"

"A find idea ah? Let's finish the job then I'll be taking my 80% share." He gave the Minx's chainmail bra another long look. "Though I might be talked into a 70-30 cut with the right… incentives."

The Minx looked down on the short hair bearded version of her sometimes lover and sighed.

***

"So uh, that's the situation." Mulligan finished.

The hero nodded and rose into the air, like the others he crossed the castle wall and vanished.

Looking up at him Mulligan shook his head. "Wow. He really doesn't wear anything under that toga."

***

"Who dares enter the final level of the Dungeon of Darkness – The Domain of the Demon?

The stairs let into another natural cavern, this one even hotter than the dragon's lair. Rivers of lava flowed across the basaltic floor. Harsh red light filled the room and the oppressive heat made the four women sweat. Only the dwarf seemed unconcerned.

"OW!" The night Huntress cried and dropped her knife. It was suddenly too hot to the touch.

"Typical sloppy elvish workmanship ah?" The dwarf volunteered. "They didn't even include a rune of cooling."

The Minx and Patriotica looked at each other in fear and started pulling off their metal armor. Under it their skin was already red.

"Well, well things getting interesting ah?"

"Hold on!" Stella interrupted. "Frigidaire Maytag Ge Zenith!" Cool air surrounded the heroines. "I really am getting good at this!"

"But are you good enough?" A new voice asked. The five turned to face the sound.

"I am the demon Xygag! Master of the maze and your host."

They recognized the voice, it was the same one that had greeting them at each level. Behind him another girl hung by her wrists. She was wearing a chain mail bikini top and a leather thong and her delicate skin was marred by claw marks. She looked at the heroines with renewed hope.

"Who's the girl?" The Minx demanded.

"She is of no consequence."

"I don't buy it. If she was of no consequence you'd have had her tied up with that teacher or with the cheerleaders. But here she is in the deepest level of the dungeon getting your personal attention. Who is she?"

"Please help me! I'm Amy DeForest! I'm a soph-"

"Silence wench!"

The demon gestured and the girl became silent. Her mouth was moving but no sounds came out.

"Bah! He's just another big target, come on gals, let's get him ah?"

"No, wait! I need to know-" The Minx yelled but to no avail.

Night Huntress loosed an arrow. "Alla Kazap!" Stella shouted firing off a lightning bolt. Stone started to spin his hammer. "Justice for all!" Patritica shouted and charged across one of the stone bridges.

None of it did a bit of good.

Night Huntress' arrows bounced off his hide like rain drops.

The lightning bolt crackled along his scaly hide but did nothing.

Stone's hammer never left his hand. The demon gestured and a nearby pool of lava vented over him encasing the armored warrior in a stony shell.

Patriotica got close, she actually made it to his island surrounded by lava when the demon gestured again. Flames rose around the island cutting them off from sight.

"Taste the power of my holy sword you hell spawn!" Patriotica shouted.

"Holy sword? A bit presumptuous aren't you?" The demon caught the blade between two fingers and flung it off into the lava.

"No! Impossible! The touch of my holy sword should have burnt away your foul flesh!"

"True enough little one, but the power of a holy weapon can only be truly wielded by one pure of heart. And that hardly describes you."

"What? I am pure, I am worthy, I am a paragon of virtue, a maiden of-"

"Maiden? You are no maiden at all! You're a Damsel of Deborchery, a Whore of Lust, a Slut of Sin! You've taken cocks in every hole you have!"

"N-no… I am pure… I am good… I am…"

"LUXURIA!" The demon said.

Patriotica had not had time to put her chest plate back on and wore only a thin white tunic over her breasts. She dropped her shield and began clutching her breasts through the thin cotton. She fell to her knees gasping for air. Memories burned through her mind, nights with Timmy O'Leary exploring the technical limitations of the word virgin. In bed with the Moon Witch feeling the woman's hands over her body and Stella's tongue between her legs, Psyche's naked body against hers… and finally that brief moment of pain when Timmy broke through that bit of skin she'd thought was so precious. And something else… something she could not quite recall, something about a scientific lab and a short bald man. But it didn't matter. Stella was right, she was a low-born whore pretending to be better than she was. She barely realized that her fingers were between her legs now. The weeping paladin was fingering herself through her cotton panties. She felt strong hands lift her up, the demon had her now but she didn't care. The creature had dropped his armored skirt exposing a long and thick member the writhed like a snake. Crying at her own shame and wantonness. She felt it slip in. It felt so good.

The flames lowered and the three remaining heroines could see again. Patriotica was desperately humping the demon crying out in pain and in lust.

"That's totally not my fault." Stella said.

Finally the demon cast her off leaving the disgraced heroine weeping on the ground.

"Next!" He cried.

Night Huntress raised her bow again but this time Stella put a hand on her arm and lowered it.

"I've totally got this one. Hey horn-head! So you're the one who's been running the show huh? You're the one who came up with the stupid outfit and those stupid magic words and everything?"

"Of course! I am Xygag! I am the Maze Master! This whole dungeon is my play ground!"

"Well y'know I've been shooting off all these lame spells and it seems to me that there's a spell that's been staring me in the face the whole time."

"Is there now? And pray tell what is that?"

Stella planted her feet and pointed her staff at the demon. She closed her eyes. Magical energies started to gather around her. Her skin glowed with a blue radience, the floor under her cracked. The room began to shake. Even Xygag took a step back. She opened her eyes. They were pure blue.

"STARS…"

The glow increased, it was painful to look at her now. The power hung in the air.

"…AND COMETS!"

She finished.

The staff shattered in her hands as shooting stars, meteors, solar flares and all types of stellar energy blasted through the air striking Xygag square in the chest and launching him across the room. There was an explosion of light and then all was silent.

Stella stood there for a minute in the scorched remains of her 'mystic vestments'. "Told you I was g-getting good at this…" She said and then fell into a heap. The Minx rushed to her side.

"Is it over…" She asked.

"Just rest" the Minx said. "You did good."

"Gotta recover my mana… 5d6 hours at least…"

"You do that. I'll uh, wrap up."

With that Stella sank into a deep sleep. The Minx looked up. Night Huntress was already at the demon's island helping down Amy DeForest. She could hear Arnold Stone breathing inside his rocky encasing. She looked around. Everything was the same. The cavern, the lava, the crazy outfits. There was no sign the spell was broken. But they'd beaten the Maze Master. Hadn't they?

"You! You! BITCHES!" Came a high pitched voice from the far end of the cavern.

From the crater rose a small figure clutching a magical weapon, his hand glowed with power. He was barely five feet tall, his red hair unkempt, his face covered in acne and he wore black robes that looked a size too big for him.

Amy DeForest looked at him with horror.

"Oh my God, it's Ga-"

"Shut up!" The Maze Master yelled and once again Amy's lips moved but nothing came out.

Night Huntress's bow was out again and arrows flew.

"Freeze bitch!" He shouted. Icy winds blew and Night Huntress was encased in ice.

Armor Man was entombed, Patriotica lost in her guilt, Stella unconscious and Night Huntress frozen.

The Minx was alone.

"So, Gary, nice to meet you at last."

"What? How-how do you know-"

"Your name? Well that silence trick is pretty good, unless of course someone can read lips. And I can. Amy there has said your name three times now. Of course I already knew it. Sure there was all this talk about the Maze Master and the Demon Xygag, but the fact is it made no sense. Why would a demon target the football team, the school librarian and the cheerleaders? Why lock up a sophomore in the bottom of his dungeon? Unless he was really someone with a special interest in them. Another student perhaps. Once the cheerleaders told me about the time they caught you peeping I figured I had my man."

"Well aren't you the smart one."

"You know something, I am. I've had a rough few months but the fact is I'm one of the smartest people on Earth and I'm not going to be taken down by a 14 year old kid."

"Well now you can be one of the smartest cinders on Earth!" Gary thrust out his hand and a wall of hellfire shot out engulfing the Minx. "Ha! What do you say now smarty pants?"

The Minx stepped out of the inferno. "Kind of stings a little."

"W-what? How?"

"I've taken a bit of a professional interest in magic lately. And one of things I learned is that once you know someone's true name, they have no power over you."

"That-that's not true! That can't be true, that-OW!" Gary looked down, the Minx's dagger was buried in his stomach. Concentration lost, he fell to the floor a few dozen feet in front of her. She drew her sword.

Gary looked up at her panicking, it wasn't supposed to be like this, he was supposed to be the Maze Master, he was supposed to be in control not this stuck up bitch. She was walking towards him, sword in hand. Her long muscular legs rose and fell, he could practically see her pussy through the chainmail panties. And she was going to beat him? She beat him?!

"Now Gary don't worry, that hurts but it's not a fatal wound. I still want you alive. First you're going to break this spell and release everyone here. Then you're going tell me just how you did this in the first place. Or things are going to get a whole lot messier."

He nodded several times and gestured for her to come closer. The Minx leaned down. "I can undo the spell, it's pretty easy but first…"

It hurt. It hurt more than anything he'd ever done in his life but Gary did it. He pulled the dagger out of his own gut and stabbed the Minx in her bare leg. She screamed. His clutching fingers found a rock, he swung it and bashed her against the side of her head. The Curvy Crusader fell to the ground senseless.

Gary climbed to his feet panting.

"C-Cure Serious Wounds!" He cried. The bleeding stopped. "Guess k-knowing my name doesn't make you immune to knives bitch!"

He kicked the Minx a few times. He noticed his foot was getting bigger, it was growing scales and spikes again. He could feel his power returning. "Oh I'm gonna make you suffer. I'm gonna make you suffer like you never-"

Gary stopped. He thought he heard something. Like a great booming voice off in the distance. Then he heard it again. Closer. And closer still. "How the heck… I'm the Maze Master! And I'm not saying that. So who's-"

The cavern filled with golden light, as if the sun had just risen.

"WELCOME APOLLO, LEVEL ∞ GREATER GOD!"

"What the fu-" Was the last thing he said.

***

Blackout walked out of the warehouse, her head hurt, her whole body ached. She could barely walk straight. But why? The warehouse had been deserted right? Another dead end in her search for the Rustler.

At least that's how she remembered it.

She reached into her boot and took out her transistorized radio telephone and called Night Huntress. There was no answer. She tried the Minx but also got nothing. "Just my luck…"

She finally called Warren to get a ride home.

***

"What the fuck…" The Minx moaned. She sat up. She was on a cot. In a high school gym. She was back in her normal costume and had a bandage on her thigh. She looked around. Stella was there snoring. Night Huntress was wrapped in blankets. Patriotica was back in her bikini costume hunched over in a fetal position staring blankly into space. There were curtains around their cots giving them a bit of privacy from the rest of the gym. She peeked through and saw hundreds of other cots, students and teachers were lying in them, some were catatonic, some injured, some burned. Paramedics and doctors walked among them offering what help they could.

“Greetings lady Minx!”

The Minx jumped at the new voice, she spun and saw…

Apollo. Apollo, Greek god of the sun and her ex-teammate from the League. She gave a sigh of relief.

"Hey there Gloria! Feeling better?" Armor Man stomped over, his suit still covered in dust and gravel.

"Yeah, I guess. What happened?"

"Well I was trapped in stone but I saw how you took down the demon kid. Good work there."

"Thanks, but I let myself get suckered. I mean who would have thought a 14 year old kid had it in him?"

"Yeah, lucky the big guy came in zapped him.

"T'was but a trifle for the son of the sun. These minor enchantments are as but the smallest amusements for the denizens of Olympus."

"So he flash-fried the kid and bam, everything was back to normal. We were in the school basement and the cops came rushing in five minutes later."

"Fried him?"

"Well what was he supposed to do, lean over and have a chat?"

"OK, fair enough. It's a shame though, I wanted to know where a kid got that kind of power."

"Guess we'll never know."

***

And in another city many miles away…

Eddie ran and bullies pursued him. He spotted a book shop and ran inside. The bullies ran past. He panted a few times, catching his breath. Funny, he'd never noticed a book shop on this block before.

"Hello Eddie."

Eddie turned around. There was a gorgeous girl there in a tight black mini dress. She was holding a hardcover book in her hands.

"Have you ever played Mazes and Monsters?"

Afterword

Now tell me that wasn't fun.

I've been meaning to do a Dungeons and Dragons themed story for a while and finally found a spot for it. Of course the problem when I let a story percolate for a while is it keeps growing and growing…

But I think the results were worthwhile.

The name is from an old made-for-TV movie about how D&D is leading kids to Satanism and suicide and basement dwelling and eternal virginity. The only other reason it's remembered is it was Tom Hanks' first big part.

The Minx's dialogue with the dragon is lifted almost entirely from the Hobbit, other bits are stolen from old fantasy books or D&D games.

I had a couple of ideas for an ending, all of them cool, all of them climatic and in the end… I used all three. Why not. It's not like I can save them for the next D&D-themed superhero story!

Hey, I just noticed the word count for this document is over 90,000 which means that the last few chapters of Stella and the Minx are longer than some novels.

Wow.

As always feedback is eagerly sought! My plan is to come to an end with issue 50 so there's still a little time to get requests in! If there's something you want to see let me know fast!

Next Issue: Months ago the Minx assembled three gorgeous women to serve as detectives. They've been helping behind the scenes but now they take center stage, join us for Pom-Pom Foxes! Plus Stella goes to Japan!

Marcus Lycus

(Marcus_Lycus@hotmail.com)

January 2012

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