Chris and Steph lay at the bottom of the hill for only a split second. �Oh, my dear Chris,� Stephanie rolled over to look at her love. His mask had fallen off during the tumble down the hill and once more Steph found herself looking into those perfect eyes. �Oh, my dearest�� �Stephanie, I�ve looked for you for so long, I never believed I�d find you again.� He pulled her close, smiling at her. �I thought you were dead.� �Even death cannot stop true love,� Chris told her as he stood up. He extended his hand and helped her up. The two suddenly heard the hooves getting closer. �We must go,� Stephanie looked around wildly. Chris held her close then his eyes widened. �The fire swamp!� He cried. �The fire swamp? We�ll never make it.� �Nonsense. You�re only saying that because nobody ever has.� Chris led her towards the tree line. As Jericho and Stephanie ran towards the fire swamp, Prince Hunter looked down on them from above. �They�re heading into the fire swamp. We�d be stupid to pursue them there. We�ll cut them off.� And the forces rode off. �Chris, I just can�t understand,� Stephanie asked as the two made their way into the darkened swamp. �The Dread Pirate Lionheart has been sailing for 17 years, you�ve only been gone for one.� Jericho led Steph slowly through the swamps, telling her his story. �What I told you was true. I was dragged aboard the ship and plead with Roberts, just as I told you. Once he�d heard my story, he showed me to a cabin and said simply, �Goodnight Chris. I�ll most likely kill you in the morning.� This went on for a month, until one day he called me into his cabin, closed the door, and spoke to me. You see, he told me that he was not really Lionheart. His name was Michaels. He inherited the name from the man before him who was not really Lionheart either; his name was Ventura. The real Lionheart has been living retired in Madagascar for years. You see, it�s not so much who you are, but it�s the legend of Lionheart that strikes fear in people�s hearts. �But, then,� just as Stephanie began speaking, a clicking noise sounded, just before a jet of fire shot up from the ground, catching the hem of her dress on fire. She screamed, and Chris quickly sat her down and patted the fire out with the skirt of Stephanie�s dress. �There, it�s all right,� he said soothingly. �Now, let�s continue. We docked and took on an entirely new crew, with Michaels calling me Lionheart the whole time. After two months, he left and I became Lionheart. However, now that I�ve found you, I can hand the ship over to my first mate, who�s built quite a reputation for herself*, and we can live happily ever after. Nothing can separate us now.� Just as he said this, Stephanie stepped into what looked like a sand bank, and disappeared into it. Chris stood for only a second before grabbing a thick vine, wrapping it around his waist, and diving after his love. Two seconds later, Chris appeared again, holding Stephanie tightly as they both gasped for breath. �We�re never going to make it!� Stephanie cried. �We�re going to die here!� �Nonsense,� Chris answered. �What are the three biggest dangers of the fire swamp? The fire shots, which are easily located by the clicking sound they make before firing. The lightning sand, which you were clever enough to find so that we�ll know how to recognize it next time.� �But Chris, what about the R.O.U.S.�s?� �Rocks Of Unusual Size? I don�t think they exist.� Just as Chris uttered these words, Stephanie watched in horror as a large man screaming �JABRONI!� jumped Chris. Chris tried to fight back, but the man kept hitting him, while yelling �FINALLY �BACK�JUST BRING�PIE!� Stephanie, realizing her Chris was in danger, grabbed a hold of a thick log, and beat the creature across the back. It turned to her, growled, and started towards her. Chris sat up, saw the man about to hurt his Stephanie and jumped him from behind. As he tried to pull The R.O.U.S down, he heard the familiar clicking noise. He shifted his weight, and threw the thing directly over a fire shot just as it was exploding. The thing tried to crawl away slowly, muttering �IF YA SMEEEEEELLLLLL,� Chris ran the thing threw, putting it out of its misery. An hour later, Jericho and Stephanie emerged triumphantly from the fire swamps. As they began rejoicing, a menacing voice interrupted them. �My dearest Stephanie!� The girl turned, in horror, to see Prince Hunter riding towards them. �Surrender!� Hunter ordered Jericho. �You wish to surrender to us, fine I accept.� �No, no, no, you surrender to me.� �Why would I want to do that?� �Because you have no where to run.� �Ah, but we know the secrets of the fire swamps. We can live quite comfortably there for some time.� As this exchange was going on, Stephanie noticed Hunter�s men hiding behind the trees and each was taking aim with a cross bow. �Surrender now, or die.� Hunter offered the pair. �We will never surrender.� Jericho replied. �Give her up!� �DEATH FIRST!� Chris growled. �WILL YOU PROMISE NOT TO HURT HIM?� Stephanie cried. �What?� Hunter and Chris asked simultaneously. �He is a seaman from the vessel Lionsault. If you promise not to hurt him, I will return with you and marry you.� Stephanie bargained. �May I live a thousand years and never use a sledgehammer again,� Hunter promised. He turned to Austin. �Make sure he is returned to his ship, safely.� Stephanie was helped onto a horse and Chris watched as she rode off with her fianc�e. �Come now,� Austin offered, �let�s get you back to your ship.� �You�re lying.� �Hey, do you know who I am? I am Count Stone Cold Steve Austin!� the bald man accentuated this statement by flipping Jericho the bird. �You�re bald and use your middle finger too much.� �So?� �I know someone who�s looking for you.� Chris told him before he was knocked out. |
| *Chyna reference...I was gonna put her in my story, but it just didn't fit. |