Taking out five more monkeys was nothing. Just several minutes ago Colt had been struggling to beat even one of them in combat. Now he knew their moves and their style, and had learned to counter it with his own moves. He was taking what the fisherman taught him about sword fighting and actually applying it in a real fight.
Colt mixed attacks, blocks, strikes, dodges, counterattacks, and everything else he knew how to do as he went from monkey to monkey. These ones seemed weaker than the others which, he supposed, made sense as they had been sent to kill the unarmed target.
As the last monkey standing swung his sword at him, Colt ducked underneath it and stuck his foot out. The monkey tripped and was sliced by Colt's sword as he fell. It was a shallow cut, only enough to keep the animal down for a while. Colt was being extra careful now to not kill the animals, especially since he knew he could take them on. It was his belief that they were acting not under their own influence, but that of the Monkey Chief. That deranged man was making them fight for him, against their will. And it made Colt's blood boil.
With all the threats gone, Shelly got to her feet shakily. She looked around at the five monkeys on the ground, then glanced back at the others Colt had taken care of before. She breathed heavily.
"Where did all that come from?" she asked him.
Colt looked around at the clearing they were standing in, in front of the tall, slim monkey trees that were separated from the rest of the forest. Then he looked down at his hands.
"I don't know," he answered honestly.
Shelly hesitated, then looked directly at him. "Thank you," she said softly. She looked like she was about to say something else, but thought better of it.
This took Colt by surprise. The last thing he'd expected her to do was thank him. He was the one who'd gotten them into this mess, after all. Not to mention the fact that she'd hardly spoken to him since she'd figured out that he wasn't actually in the Authority. But he wasn't one to complain.
"You're welcome," he replied.
Shelly nodded, like it was all settled. Then she turned back toward the border of normal trees, where they had emerged into the clearing from earlier. "Well, let's get going. Before the Chief figures out what you did to his Battle Monkeys."
Shelly started off back where they'd come, but Colt hesitated. She must have noticed this, because she turned back toward him. "Colt..."
Colt glanced back at her apologetically. "I can't leave," he said. "Not until I confront the Chief."
Shelly walked back over to him, even though it looked like it pained her to do so. "Look, just because you're able to beat some monkeys in a fight doesn't mean you can take on everyone."
"I know," Colt replied. "But I have to try."
Shelly looked around incredulously. "Why? You're going to put both of us, especially yourself, in danger for your ego? I mean, come on, can't you think about other people for once and just leave all this be?"
"I... I'm not doing this for me," he said. "The monkeys, they're not happy here. They're doing the Chief's will and he punishes them if they try to escape. It's just not right. I have to free them."
"Oh."
"But look," Colt muttered, "I'm going to give you enough time to make it far away from here before I face him, just in case I fail. No one will be in danger, except for maybe me. Okay?"
"Yeah," Shelly said.
She turned around to leave, but then glanced back. Then she came to a full stop and turned toward him again. "No, I changed my mind. That's not okay."
She came trudging back up to him, and then she said something that he did not expect. "I'm staying with you. If you're going to insist on doing something so incredibly stupid just to save some stupid monkeys, I want to be here with you." She paused, then, "Just so I can tell you that I told you so, you know?"
Colt tried to hide the smile that was starting to creep onto his lips. "Yeah," he said. "So how do you feel about making yourself useful while you're at it?"
Shelly frowned. "What do you mean?"
Colt reached beneath his tunic and retrieved the silver dagger from his belt. He flipped it in his hand before holding out the hilt of it for Shelly to grab.
"Now you have a weapon," he said.
Shelly took the knife from him carefully and examined it.
"It's actually used for harming people," Colt explained, "not checking your hair."
Shelly made a quick movement and before Colt knew it the point of the dagger was a couple centimeters away from his throat.
"Got it," he said, eyeing the sharp blade. "Don't need to teach you how to use a knife."
Shelly retreated, satisfied, and focused on the tall monkey trees ahead of them. "Let's do this," she said.
Together they walked toward the tall, slim trees that they'd seen the Monkey Chief disappear into. There was an opening in the center of the trees that seemed like a good place to start looking for the man. As they approached the opening, they noticed that it led into a tunnel of sorts, covered in leaves. Colt shuddered as he came closer to it.
Either Shelly noticed this movement or she had some bad feelings of her own, because she said, "We don't have to do this, you know. We can still just run for it."
But Colt shook his head. Shelly just nodded grimly, like she knew that's what he would decide. She didn't seem particularly angry at him though, which was a nice change.
It instantly became darker when Colt and Shelly got into the tunnel. All the sounds of the monkeys on the trees now were muffled, too, which made the whole thing seem even more ominous. After walking straight forward through the tunnel for a couple seconds, Colt spotted a light ahead indicating the exit. He took a few more steps, then felt something on his shoulder. He noticed that Shelly was nudging him and he turned around to see what she was gesturing to.
For a moment his breath got caught in his throat. There were several monkeys directly behind them, slowly following them through the tunnel. They didn't look like they wanted to attack them at the moment, but Colt guessed they wouldn't like it too much if he and Shelly tried to turn back.
"Don't worry about them," Colt murmured to Shelly. "Let's just go for the Chief."
They kept walking until they made it to the tunnel's exit. Colt and Shelly glanced at each other for a second, then emerged out of the tunnel of leaves and into the light.
What they came upon was not what Colt had been expecting. The tunnel led out into a large, dome-shaped opening formed from the backs of all the clearing's trees. The trunks of the trees formed the walls and the arched ceiling was formed by the leaves. All around the opening there were monkeys training, hurrying around, and just hanging out (literally). And in the center of this giant opening there was a throne made from tree wood. Monkeys came back and forth from the throne, performing various tasks. Sitting upon the throne was none other than the Monkey Chief.
"This is..." Shelly started to speak beside him, but evidently did not have the words at the moment.
"...not ideal, yeah," Colt finished for her.
"So... what's the plan here?" she asked in a small voice.
"I take the Chief, you just make sure I don't get any trouble from the monkeys," he replied.
Shelly's eyes widened. "You want me to fight the monkeys?"
"That would be most helpful, yeah," Colt said. "Listen, you only need to worry about the Battle Monkeys. They like to strategize, and aren't too aggressive until you strike first. They prefer killing you in a non-confrontational way, if at all possible."
"Oh, joy," Shelly said sarcastically.
"When you strike them, they like to block and then counter. Be ready for that, and make sure you keep hold of your knife."
"Keep holding my knife, what great advice."
"You'll be fine," Colt assured. "I'll make quick work of the Chief, so the longer you can keep the monkeys at bay without fighting them, the better."
Shelly was about to say something, probably something about how his plan was so horrible, but just then the monkeys behind them caught up and pushed them fully out into the open. The rest of the monkeys spotted them and started to go crazy.
The Monkey Chief rose from his throne and yelled something that Colt couldn't make out. The monkeys stopped yelling at once, and most of them retreated back into the trees. The Monkey Chief started toward Colt and Shelly, with his Battle Monkeys by his side. The ones that were left over, anyway.
"I'm impressed," said the Chief when he reached them. "You two were able to beat my Battle Monkeys."
"Next time give us a real challenge," Colt replied, holding his ground. He noticed Shelly was doing the same, fighting the urge to step away from the Monkey Chief, who was ever drawing closer.
"Sorry to disappoint," the Chief said. "But I'm also very annoyed. My time is being wasted by you two... travelers. So no more challenges. I will kill the both of you myself."
Colt caught Shelly's eye, and without hesitation she bolted off, away from the Chief.
"After her!" the leader of the monkeys ordered, and his subjects all began to chase after Shelly.
Then the Chief focused on Colt. "Just going to let your friend there fight all those monkeys alone?"
Colt set his jaw and his hand drifted down toward his belt where his sword was hanging. "Yeah," he said. "She doesn't need my help. She can take them."
The Monkey Chief considered this but didn't look all too convinced. "We'll see."
Colt was preparing himself for a fight. He tried to identify what he did wrong when he fought the man before. He'd underestimated him, he realized. He had figured a spear was essentially the same as a sword, when in reality they were two very different weapons. He wouldn't make that mistake this time. He couldn't afford to.
"I suppose you're going to make me attack first again?" Colt asked.
"Unlike last time we fought, I'm not toying around with you now, boy."
The Monkey Chief grabbed his spear and swung it at Colt. This took him by surprise, hitting him in the side of his chest and causing him to stumble backwards.
Not a great start, Colt thought. He'd been expecting the Chief to give him the first shot, like last time, but he couldn't afford to make assumptions like that in a battle like this. He had to do better.
The Monkey Chief wasted no time, and Colt soon saw the spear coming toward him once again. This time he managed to step clear of its berth, and watched as it whooshed by him. He then stepped forward and swung his cutlass at the Chief, who brought back his spear in time to block the blow. Colt successfully predicted a counterattack coming and tried to step out of the way, but the spear caught him anyway. It was a direct strike, not a swing, so it hit him straight on in the upper part of his chest. Pain flooded Colt's body instantly. He started to stumble back, but recovered himself.
"No," he muttered, more to himself than his opponent. "I'm not going to be forced to the ground again."
The Monkey Chief laughed cruelly. "A gust of wind could take you down right about now!"
Colt just focused on the fight. He knew what he'd done wrong. He'd underestimated the spear again. He couldn't get close enough to the Chief to even attack without being too far in range of the spear. He just needed to attack quickly and get back before the counter came.
His other problem was his defense. He didn't know how to position himself right and properly defend against attacks, from spears or swords or any weapon, really. The fisherman had only taught him how to attack. So Colt guessed that was what he had to use. He would have to make up for his lack of defense with more offense. So that's what he'd do.
"Maybe you're right," Colt said to the Monkey Chief. "A gust of wind could take me down. But I'll bet you can't."
The Chief's face swelled with rage. He instantly rushed at Colt to attack. But this time Colt was expecting it. Hoping for it, in fact.
He stopped the swing of the spear with the flat side of his sword, then ducked under the spear's shaft. He ran toward the Chief quickly and swung his sword at him. The sword made contact and the Chief cried out, stumbling back a little.
Colt ran back to get out of range of the spear, as the Chief had recovered quickly. Then he himself yelled out in pain and lowered his sword, letting his guard down. He started clutching his chest where the spear had stabbed him last time.
The Monkey Chief saw this and began laughing. "You aggravated your stab wound, just to land a small cut on me!" he bellowed. "You're pathetic! Did you really think you stood a chance against me? You're nothing! You're—"
He didn't finish the sentence. Colt ran forward and before the Chief had the chance to even raise his spear, found an opening and plunged his sword in the man's chest. Colt stepped back, breathing heavily, and watched as the Monkey Chief collapsed onto the grass.
Colt stepped up and stood over the Chief. The idea to pretend he was too hurt to go on was a last resort, but it had worked. And that was what mattered.
The Chief coughed, startling Colt a little. "You're..." he wheezed. "You're nothing..."
And with that, the Monkey Chief didn't talk or move anymore. He was dead.
Colt took all of this in. He felt surprised and relieved at the same time. He'd done it. He'd beat the Monkey Chief.
All of the sudden Colt remembered something: Shelly. He looked around frantically and saw her running through the opening, a bunch of Battle Monkeys closely on her tail. He saw by scanning the area that she'd actually taken out quite a few of the monkeys herself. Not bad, Colt thought. Not bad at all.
He grabbed the hilt of his cutlass and pulled it from the Chief's body. Then he pointed it up directly into the sky.
"Monkeys of the Gold Forest!" he yelled loudly. The Battle Monkeys stopped chasing Shelly for a moment and looked over at him. The other monkeys emerged from the trees curiously. "Your leader, the Monkey Chief, is dead!
The Battle Monkeys came forward slowly, trying to gain a better look at the body. Shelly looked over at Colt and did a weird thing with her mouth that looked almost like smiling.
Colt continued, making most of it up as he went. "I defeated your Chief in combat. By the rules of the forest, that means that you are now bound to serve me!"
That made all the monkeys go crazy. They started running around everywhere and making outrageous shrieking noises with their mouths.
"QUIET!" Colt yelled, as powerfully as he could. "You answer to me, is this clear?"
The monkeys fell quiet upon command, looking around at each other. Then after a moment they got into an odd line formation. After a moment Colt realized that they were waiting for his orders.
"Good," Colt said. "Now for my first command as your Chief: you're all free to go."
This time Colt could tell that Shelly really was smiling. The monkeys, however, looked rather confused. "Get out of here!" Colt said. "Or stay if you like, I don't care. Point is: you're no longer bound to any form of Chief. You take orders from no one! Monkeys of the Gold Forest, I declare you free!"
For a moment or so, no one moved. Then one brave monkey stepped forward and sprinted back out of the tunnel. The other monkeys watched Colt closely, but he did nothing. Then more of them followed, leaving the clearing or gathering together in the clearing as equals. Before long there was no monkey standing before Colt waiting for orders. They were all free.
Shelly approached Colt, still smiling. "You did it," she said.
"Couldn't have done it without your help, though," he replied.
Shelly shook your head. "I just ran around the whole time and got some lucky shots on some of them."
"You distracted them. Can you imagine me trying to fight the Monkey Chief with 30 monkeys on top of me?"
Shelly laughed a little.
"Thank you," Colt said seriously. "I mean it."
Shelly nodded in response. Once again, she looked as if there was something else she wanted to say. But she didn't so Colt looked over at the tunnel.
"We should probably get out of here," he said. "Get back to the alcove before one of these monkeys steals the barrel of fish and your satchel of food. Then we'll get you back home."
But Shelly shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere," she said.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course," she replied. "We've come this far, we've got to see it through. Besides, after all that happened here, the rest of the journey will be a piece of cake."
Colt wasn't sure about that, but he was in pretty high spirits nonetheless as they finally left the clearing of monkeys.