Ezra's pink pigtails were suddenly covered by a black pointy hat that was half her height—arched behind her. Her round pupils became slits like a viper's and her iris vanished. The school uniform she was wearing was replaced by a purple jumpsuit that had 5 pockets around the waist and each had a doll. Each doll was different. One was made of straw, one of clay, one of stone, and there were two made of cloth; one had a smile on its face and one was painted with an angry face.
Carlo, who won the first match, transformed back into his human form and then hurriedly climbed up to where Hanz and Sam were seated right next to each other. He sat on the vacant seat that Barbara was previously sitting on.
"Those dolls around her waist look like trouble." Carlo immediately said after his butt touched his seat.
Hanz and Sam didn't say anything.
"Ready?" Wilda glanced at the two who both looked itching for a fight. "Second match, begin!"
Ezra took the doll made of straw which was barely 5 inches long and threw it to the ground. "Wake up, Jemma!" She said, and the doll immediately began shaking as it grew into a 5 feet figurine with straws of hay as its head and limbs. Its makeshift hands were on its waist and right leg in front of its left.
"That doll looks like it has an attitude," Tris said.
"She names her dolls after the people she hates. Jemma was her Aunt who physically abused her as a child." Willow, who was seated behind her, leaned forward.
"That's tragic."
Ezra began twitching her fingers like a puppeteer then the doll sprinted toward Barbara. "Here she comes..." she said in a melodic tone.
Barbara, in her tribal outfit, jumped up and then hopped onto the doll's head which almost grabbed her foot. She landed right next to Ezra who looked surprised. "Ezra, did you call me a moron and stupid?" With bugs crawling on her left arm, she started chanting an incantation. "Hashna ishta..." Right away, her bugs began flying into Ezra's ears and nose.
Ezra jumped to the center of the battleground as she tried to fend off the bugs on her face. She was able to spit out some of the bugs in her mouth. "I..." she spat once again. "Th-That's disgusting! By the way, I didn't say you're a moron. I was asking you if..." she suddenly started mouthing the words, "...if the color on Wilda's lips is maroon."
Now that Barbara was in her original form, she was able to hear everything more clearly. "Oh..." she shifted her weight from her left leg then onto her right, "that makes sense now... Honestly, I don't think—"
The doll who was standing on the far end of the battleground sprinted toward her. Before she could even react, she was slammed into the wall of the arena by a powerful kick.
"Barbara! Don't forget you're in the middle of a fight!" Carlo shouted.
"You let your guard down," Ezra said as she watched Barbara crawl out of the debris of the concrete wall that covered her.
Barbara coughed with her right fist over her mouth. "A-Alright, then..." she brushed off the dirt from her body, "it's on!" She said.
"Heh!" Hanz scoffed. "Barbara's not going down that easily," he said.
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A long table made of mahogany embellished with golden carvings on its four sides was surrounded by chairs that had the same build and designs. The chairs were all occupied by Council members who wore the same black robes. Two of the chairs were vacant.
"It is uncharacteristic of Wilda and Gertrude to be late to a scheduled Council meeting—what seems to be the problem?" Amante, the Council Chairman, said. He brushed his skinny hand through his thin gray hair and strands of it fell off while some were stuck in between his wrinkled fingers.
Matias, the City Treasurer seated to his right, held his laughter. Amante glanced at him and saw his cheeks filled with air.
"Ah... Treasurer Matias... the richest, most powerful man in our realm, has come to laugh at an old, balding man." His husky voice made his words almost inaudible.
"Certainly not, Chairman." He fixed his posture. "I..." he clenched his fist under the table so that he could prevent his laughter from escaping. "I received reports that General Wilda will not be able to attend our conference."
"It is because she's currently teaching at the Balete Academy, Chairman." The young-looking black-haired man spoke. "She's in the arena right now, to be more exact."
Amante slowly nodded. "Of course... no one is more capable in teaching Battle Tactics than our very own hero... thank you for letting me know Heart Leader Leroy."
Matias glared crossly at Leroy then cleared his throat—catching Amante's attention.
"And to you as well, Treasurer Matias."
The door slowly opened then Gertrude's massive silhouette appeared. Her face ridden with wrinkles and moles was revealed as she unhooded herself. "Pardon." She walked slowly to her chair and sat on it. "Being a person with multiple responsibilities I am bound to be late occasionally."
"The Council understands, Herald Gertrude," Amante said. "Since we're all here, let the meeting commence."
"Princess Agatha's arrival is tomorrow. How're our preparations going?" Matias said.
"Since she's only a Princess in their Cave and not here in the Tree, it's not expected of us to call her as such." The little boy who wore the same black robe as others butted in. "Unless your allegiance has changed, Treasurer." He added almost in a threatening manner.
Matias' eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Southern Mountains Leader!" He roared. "I-I... How dare you imply such a h-horrid thing! Have you not an inkling of respect toward me? If not for my mines in the Southern Mountains, your constituents would not have something to put on their tables!"
The Council members filled the meeting room with the sound of whispers and murmurs. They all glanced at Amante—waiting for him to intervene.
"I would argue that if it weren't for my people's hardworking nature, your mine would not be as successful—"
"Enough!" Amante finally spoke. "Southern Mountains Leader Jericho's suggestion is sensible and fitting. We shall all just address Pri—I mean Agatha as Ambassadress as she'll be part of the Council to represent the diwata."
Everyone nodded in agreement as Matias scanned all their faces with his eyes.
"To go back to the Treasurer's question, my district, the Heart, is ready to accommodate Ambassadress Agatha. We already have her chambers prepared—"
"And how about the welcoming party to be held in the Academy arena?" Matias cut Leroy off.
Jericho unbuttoned his shirt under his robe once. "A party? For an outsider? I thought everyone agreed not to proceed with that?"
"Right..." a random member spoke, then everyone said the same thing.
"Chairman if you will?" Matias said as he gestured toward Amante.
The old thin-haired man cleared his throat. "I apologize... but Treasurer Matias and I agreed to proceed with it. It will happen tomorrow at 6 PM."
"Did you hold a meeting about it without me?" Jericho asked.
"I wasn't there either," Gertrude said.
Leroy looked to both his left and right and uttered, "Neither was I."
The rest of the Council members glanced at each other and some shook their heads.
"Look... the Treasurer and I talked privately and—"
The little boy that was the Leader of the Southern Mountains district hopped out of his chair. "It has become apparent that my voice doesn't account for anything in this Council..." he mumbled as he marched toward the door.
"District Leader Jericho, it was written in the Book of Governance, page 476, that the Council Chair has the right to make decisions if the matter in hand doesn't pose a threat to the security of the city." Matias stood up with his cane in his right hand.
The little boy chuckled. "Is that what you said to him when you were coercing the Chairman?" He turned his whole body toward Matias. "I studied that book, Matias. I memorized that book word for word. Can anyone who has the book turn the page to 477?" He addressed everyone in the room.
The middle-aged woman with shoulder-length blue hair and blue eyes stood up. "Here, Southern Mountains Leader." She handed out the book that was already turned to the page Jericho mentioned.
"Thank you, Deep End Leader Marina." He offered the opened book to Matias. "You missed this, Treasurer."
Matias took the book from Jericho's hand. His gray eyes darted as he looked for something that might contradict his statement.
"The Council Chair is given the privilege to decide about matters that do not pose a threat to the security of the city if and only if the Minister himself agrees to it." Without even looking, he recited the excerpt from the book. "I doubt that the Minister agreed to this in his current state of mind."
"Jericho!" Matias raised his voice.
"Matias!" Jericho shouted in a louder voice. "Don't you worry, you can still have your party without me." He walked his way out of the meeting room with disgust on his face and then slammed the door behind him.
Amante's and Matias' eyes met. Amante pressed his lips as if he was not pleased with what had happened.
"Jericho is right... Deep End district will not be attending the party as well." Marina walked out.
"Horned Forest district will also not attend. I am sorry but I am only doing this because I feel like our opinion doesn't matter." The old man with long white hair and a mustache that almost touched the floor stood up from his chair.
"H-Horned Forest Leader Yara," Amante stuttered. He couldn't believe that the wisest and oldest Tree Dweller alive was walking out like the rest.
More and more people stood up and walked out. Only Gertrude, Leroy, Amante, and Matias stayed.
"For the record, I am staying because it is my responsibility to record and tell the Minister about the details of this meeting. Ignoring the wishes of the majority is rather insulting." Gertrude uttered.
"You better make this party worth it, Matias. This is embarrassing!" Amante said with resentment apparent in his voice.
"As the Heart Leader, I have no choice but to stay as the homecoming party will be held in my district," Leroy explained. "By the way, the food committee needs funds for the food."
Matias closed his eyes with grooves between his brows. "I'll take care of it." He croaked.
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"She needs to let the monster out of her skin if she wants to at least be equal in strength with Ezra." Said Carlo.
"Are you talking about the tattoo on her arm?" Sam asked.
"Yes... Boro-boro, her twin." Hanz responded.
"I've never had a mambabarang friend, however, I've heard that when a mambabarang is given birth to, they always have a twin except the other baby is an insect."
"And that twin will embed itself into its sibling's skin," Hanz added.
"Hashna ishta, Boro-boro!" Barbara chanted and the centipede tattoo on her right arm came to life.
Hanz and Carlo stared at each other.
"Boro-boro gave me nightmares as a child." Carlo's face was painted with fear.
Hanz sighed. "I thought he still haunts you in your dreams to this day."
"Shut up—"
"Is he scared of bugs?" Sam asked.
He tilted his head and "Yep, he's a baby," he said with a blank expression on his face.
"What is it this time, twin sister?" The centipede, which was 8 feet long and 2 feet wide, started speaking. It raised its head and looked around. "Are we in a tournament?"
Ezra watched Barbara and Boro-boro as they conversed from a distance.
"Yes, this is a tournament so you have to listen to me, okay?"
"Okay! So what's the plan?" Boro-boro said then Barbara came closer to him and started whispering things that only they could hear.
"Looks like they have a plan," Hanz said.
Ezra blew raspberries. "I don't think Jemma will be able to do anything against this overgrown insect. Alright Jemma," the marionette looked back at her. "Self Destruct!"
Before anything could happen, Ezra pulled the edge of her hat and it covered her whole body like a turtle.
"Why is she hiding like that?" Tris asked.
"Her marionette is gonna explode, silly," Willow answered.
"Barbara! Insect barrier!" The centipede shouted.
She waved both her hands in a circular motion. "Insect Barrier!" She shouted then a sphere made of insects surrounded her and Boro-boro.
"Same move she used outside the Doortal." Hanz said.
Suddenly, the marionette exploded and the pieces of hay started flying everywhere like knives. The audience wasn't affected as they were seated far too high. Wilda on the other hand, spun her blowgun around deflecting the blades of dried grass.
The straws of hay scattered all over the battleground. The storm of dried leaves was over but Ezra's performance had just begun.
The mangkukulam crawled out of her elongated hat and then giggled.
"Terry, it's time!" She threw the clay doll onto the ground and it started to shake. It grew into a 5 feet tall clay marionette that looked much like the one she used to rescue Maurice from Reyo but this time, it had knives as its fingers.
"Shall we proceed with the plan?" The centipede asked Barbara as she gradually made the barrier that protected them disappear.
Barbara nodded, then the centipede screeched and exposed its saw-like teeth that resembled hers. It crawled hurriedly in front of the clay marionette then let out a reverberating growl as it stood like a cobra.
"Hey, Barb!" She shouted. "What about magenta?"
"That's not it!" Barbara shouted back. "Can we just fight first then figure it out later?"
"No! How about scarlet or fuchsia?"
"No, and no." She answered. "Hashna rooshna!" Barbara mumbled and then all of the bugs that hovered above her flew directly at Ezra.
With her hands positioned in front of her, she jumped away. "Terry, what are you doing? Come over here and protect me!"
For the first time, Barbara looked confident. "Sorry, but Terry isn't going anywhere!"
The crowd cheered when they saw Boro-boro gripping the clay marionette like a snake.
"Finish it, Barb!" Carlo shouted, then glanced at Hanz. "Could you at least show your friend your support?"
Hanz exhaled. With his bored-looking eyes, he stood up and then sluggishly raised his hands. "Woo. Barb. You can... do it." He said in the least energetic way possible.
Carlo rolled his eyes.
Ezra kept twitching her fingers but Boro-boro's grip was too tight that Terry couldn't do anything. She continued jumping back as the bugs barraged her with attacks. "Terry, you idiot!"
Suddenly, the centipede hissed in pain when the marionette sliced it with its knives. Boro-boro immediately slithered away but half of its body was already cut off.
"Boro-boro!" With wide eyes, Barbara screamed. "Get back and heal up, twin brother!" She positioned her right arm in front of her and then chanted. "Hasha hishta!" The centipede gradually vanished like smoke then her tattoo reemerged.
Her bugs stopped attacking Ezra as she was briefly distracted by Boro-boro's mishap. Ezra used this moment as an opportunity to fight back.
"Good job, Terry! Now go for a direct assault!" She moved her fingers like a puppeteer then her marionette dashed toward Barbara.
"Barb, watch out!" Carlo screamed.
Everyone gasped when Terry, the marionette, jabbed his fist of knives into Barbara's abdomen.
"E-Ezra—" Barbara fell into the marionette's arms like they were hugging each other. She glanced at the ground below her and saw a puddle of blood accumulated.
Wilda almost jumped out of her seat. "Willow, stand by! Barbara might need some help down here." She yelled and Willow immediately ran down.
"She's fine," Hanz mumbled.
"Can't you see she's hurt?" Carlo raised his voice.
Hanz scoffed. "You're forgetting her ability to heal herself."
Carlo looked back at Barbara. "R-Right..."
"It's over, Barb." Ezra slowly walked toward her marionette with Barbara in its arms. "Nice work, Terry."
"Is Barbara out?" The crowd murmured in the background while Wilda's eyes scanned the area to assess the situation.
"N-Not... N-Not yet..." Barbara sounded like she was out of breath but she still managed to stand up.
The marionette suddenly shrunk into a 5-inch doll once again.
"W-What is this? What trick is th—" Ezra stopped. She was suddenly covered by insects with only her face showing. "How? H-How is this possible?"
Barbara smirked as she put her hands over her ruptured abdomen. "The moment my bugs entered your body, I knew..." she groaned, "I knew it was over for you... I just had to stall until... I just h-had to stall until the insects in your body multiply."
Ezra's eyes widened. "You..." Her mind raced. "I-I remember now..."
The bugs slowly crept up to her face.
Barbara removed her hands from her stomach which seemed like it healed. She glanced at her bloody hands and then stared at Ezra who was petrified by the millions of bugs on her body. "Are you going to tap out or are you going to let my babies suffocate you?"
Ezra stood there speechless. The bugs were almost at her lips.
"And by the way... I now know which shade of red it is."
"T-Tell me!" She screamed.
"It's blood red." She showed Ezra the blood on her hands.
Ezra gasped. "I-It is! Alright, I yield! I yield!"
Wilda stood up from her chair and walked slowly toward them. "Ezra yields... Victory goes to Barbara!"
"Hasha hishta..." Barbara whispered and then all of the insects hurriedly flew back to her pendant.
"Good job Barbara and Ezra! Both of you fought well." Said, Wilda.
End of Chapter 9