Chapter 3
Mary Lane, in my Ears

That same day, after Eri and Emily left for school, Miranda and Harima were busy fixing the garden, outside her house.

"I didn't know you were green," he said.

She said, "True. When I started fighting, I like this color. If I never fight, during the battles in Argos, I sometimes plant a garden. Back then, Sara and I plant our own garden of flowers. Nowadays, Emily and I manage to plant vegetables. It is worth it, since I get paid, a lot."

Harima asked, "So, do you do it, often?"

"Not really. Emily is at school, I usually go to work, and well… some days are better to tend here, as long as we plant something good."

Harima planted a small sapling and said, "You know… Every time I viewed the green leaves of this place, or anywhere else… It reminds me of my loneliness. Tenma is in America, Rich Girl is with me, and I have nowhere to go. Sometimes I feel like I wanted to know… if I want to be happy with newer loves, all my life…"

Miranda giggled, "You never cease to amaze me. Same old Kenneth."

She stated, "Say, how about we go out together and have a drink, tonight? I'm off today, and I figure that Emily needs to know Eri better. The kipper needs to be happy with someone."

He said, "She does feel uneasy."

She got up and asked, "I wonder if Nick and I will go to that place he discovered."

"Huh?"

"Nick just built a boat, after our experiences in Zubu, after Krauser's demonic plans. It was daring, but we've never gone together, as a unit."

"Where did he take you?"

Miranda said, "Sadly, he wouldn't tell me, yet."

He got up and walked together to inside.

XXXXX

That afternoon, Eri arrived at school again, to pick up Emily. She then thought, as she waited outside the red brick building. She saw Emily run out, seeing Eri. Emily hugged her and said, "Hi!"

Eri giggled, as she walked home with Miranda's daughter. However, a figure appeared, with a black uniform and glasses. He had short hair and was peering at the girls.

He called on his phone, "Hello, Sam, Mick, how are you holding up?"

A voice responded, "Fine. We hear that Mary Lane is confronting Maynard. Mick and I are gonna confront her friends… the robot and the archer wannabe."

The huge dark-skinned man said, as he was waiting by the gate with a small boy, "We hear that the two wenches are on the way, later. Mary Lane said that they usually hang together, on occasions. Bollocks, if you ask me."

Mick replied, in a high-pitched, "A little fun for ourselves… Eh? Mary will handle Miranda, while we take her friends."

Sam laughed, as Will whispered from the phone, "For now, we must take those two. The boss will like this, since his fiancé is here."

Will replied, "Quiet! Spy on her, until the boss tells us so."

They continued to follow Eri and Emily, as they were heading home. What could it be?

That evening, Mary Lane, the woman from earlier, was outside the house of Miranda Maynard, watching on in the distance, through the grass. Her long brown hair flowed in the calm breeze, as she waited.

"This is for my boss. Why do I care about that prissy long-haired primadonna?" she muttered, "I work for a higher power…"

Her flashback shows of her, bowing to a woman in a black cloak and a flowing black gown. She glared at Mary Lane, as she remarked, "Miss Mary Lane… Whatever the reason of this Miranda Maynard, I chose to help eradicate her awful village. If you obey me, I shall help you with what you need, seeing that we are friends."

"Quite right, Master," Mary Lane said, "But, I know in me heart to be loyal… to that teacher of yours. I understand that you have recruited some ne'er-do-wells from faraway England."

The woman said, "I overlooked on one motive. She has company, aside from the pathetic street rats, i.e. the archers, the martial artist, the android, and her daughter."

She added, "Make sure that they are out of Maynard's way. That godforsaken little hooligan will be afterwards. Once he is dealt with, my master will exact his revenge."

Mary Lane said, "At once…"

Of course, this happened, before Harima and Eri arrived. The mysterious woman, who is called Helen, sensed Harima in her visions, but not Eri.

Mary smirked, "I overlooked the blonde girl, seeing that she's with him. But I cannot tell. For now, I choose to fight this Harima and see if he is worthy of being that woman's minion. But what Helen wants is Miranda Maynard, the woman that ended Queen Isabella and Dark Argos."

She waited, until she got a call from her phone. She answered, "Hello?"

It was Sam, "OY! We got company! I see two blonde girls, with the white haired one, wearing prosthetics!"

Mary Lane asked, "And the other?"

Mick smirked, "She's one of the archers that the boss told us about!"

Mary said in enthusiasm, "It's them – the female archer and the robot. Let Miranda wait, as you deal with them. But do not kill them… yet. I have orders to oust them, but I chose not to. You can ask Max, for all I care."

She hung up, as she continued to wait. She sat down and said, "I wonder what she's up to… I waited a whole bloody hour and she has yet to show her arse, all because we have her friends surrounded."

She dialed the number to Will and retorted, "That reminds me… There're two more to deal with… See if you meet with them."

She remembered the martial artist and the male archer, namely Nick and Haruna.

XXXXX

At the gate, Erika and Kandy were heading to the village, until the saw the two figures.

"Miss Erika," she asked, "Who are they? They look nice… but…"

Erika remarked, "Looks can be deceiving. Stay by my back."

The two girls approached the thugs and Erika asked, "We met before, eh what?"

Kandy plummeted to the ground, in a thud. She shouted, "Honestly, Miss Erika!"

Sam said, as he held up a huge pole, "We have orders to take you out."

Erika yelled, "Who the hell are you, and why do you remind me of a ghost?"

Sam said nothing. He swung his pole at Erika. She dodged out of the way and was on a kneeled position. Kandy unsheathed her sword and cried, "Bad men! What gives you the right to hurt Miss Erika?"

"Kandy, don't! That guy's dangerous!"

"Can it, Miss Erika! That bloke is no gentleman!"

Mick then held up four small bombs and juggled. Kandy sighed, "Seriously! Firearm juggling! You must be the King's jester!"

Mick threw the bombs at Kandy, exploding in front of her. She shielded away, avoiding any contact. She snarled, "You jerk!"

He laughed, as he pranced around, "Oh, silly little girl! You think you can defeat us, just because you know Miranda Maynard?"

Erika gasped, "How? How do you know of her?"

Sam pumped up a bit and grabbed Erika, by the arm. Kandy was confronting Mick, as Erika was being held in Sam's grasp.

"AH! LEMME GO!" She cried.

Kandy shouted, "MISS ERIKA!"

She glared, "Okay, you bastards! Who the devil are you and why did you come here? Also, how do you Miss Miranda?"

Sam barked, "That ain't your concern, tin can."

Mick charged at Kandy, spinning around and around, making her dizzy. Erika broke free and slammed Mick with a huge heel kick. She prepared her bow and was about to fire at him.

"Any last words?" Erika smirked, "This is too easy."

Sam then launched a huge pole strike at her.

"LOOK OUT!" Kandy screeched.

WHAM!

Erika was out cold, as Kandy cradled her. She dropped her bow and was bleeding. Kandy blubbered, "You monster!"

Mick jeered, "You're the monster, you metal tramp!"

Kandy glared, "We mean you no harm! I mean, just because you attack Miss Erika… it is no reason to hurt our friends."

They turned away and left the village. Sam said, "England has become weirder than ever. How come I see you… being born?"

Kandy stood up and snapped, as she beckoned Sam, "Okay, big guy! Come and get me. Because that remark made NO SENSE! And it was hurtful! But hurting Miss Erika Avery of Norris is a blessing… but a spat to the face to British commoners everywhere! Meaning that you've defeated an Argos Hero, by a dirty tactic!"

She prepared to fight and shouted, "I'll fight you, but for a while! After that, Miss Miranda will take care of you!"

Sam and Kandy brawled at each other, as Mick watched on.

XXXXX

Outside, Mary Lane was still waiting for Miranda to come out, but she grew impatient. She ran to the house and tried to open the door. She slammed the door with her shoulder. It couldn't budge. She shouted, "YOU SNACKING MEDDLER! COME ON OUT! I'M TIRED OF WAITING!"

She then growled, "Don't make me break the door down! Or, in this case, your whole house!"

She calmed down and breathed in. She then said, "No. No… I'd rather wait. Miranda Maynard must fall to me… and Helen…"

She waited outside, by the doorstep, and was very tired. She yawned, "Why do I get the feeling that Helen wants me to do her work?"

Emily heard the commotion, as she went to the phone, frightened by a mysterious woman. She knew the number to the place that her mother went.

"That woman… Who is she? She's scaring me!" Emily sobbed, as she dialed the number."

Eri asked, "What's going on?"

"I'm calling Mommy. There's a woman, pounding at our door, and she wants Mommy."

"Oh? Why didn't you let her in?"

Mary Lane hollered, "MAYNARD! YOU COME OUT! If you don't, I'll tear the door down!"

Eri panicked, "Call Miranda, and then go to your room! I'll hide here, just in case."

She ran to the kitchen, as Emily dialed the number.

XXXXX

From far away, meanwhile, a mysterious female in a black ninja hood and garb was on a huge castle. She sensed a dark energy in Miranda's village.

"A dark corrupt power…" the kunoichi exclaimed, "There's a disturbance in Miranda Maynard's village. Three corrupt powers… and they're surrounding her friends."

She sighed, "Daimon Shuu will have to wait… again."

She dashed off, in a swift manner, disappearing into the night.

Where were Miranda and Harima, you ask? They were at the pub, having a meal together. Miranda chose not to drink liquor, since she's with Harima, who's still underage. She was worried about what is going on, since he and Eri came here.

"So, any particular reason why you come here?" Miranda asked.

Harima said, as he was upset, "Well, I know Rich Girl wouldn't like it, but… But she'd haze at me."

"And?"

"And…"

He whispered, as his fantasy began, in which he was with his editor's office, for his comic.

He was kneeled down, in the presence of his HUGE boss, Yuzan Goto. He was amazed by the Miranda's Adventure manga he did. He praised him and said, "You have improved, other than original work. It is too original, but acceptable."

Harima kneeled to him, in fear, "Thank you, sir. I did my best."

Yuzan exclaimed, "I hear that it was popular to the Japan public… We wish to publish it, immediately!"

Harima said, "Good."

But…

"While we choose to present the manga, by permission of Miranda Maynard, herself, we shall do as you please… but… YOU MUST MAKE A SEQUEL!"

Harima cried, "WHAT? But… I don't… understand…"

Yuzan bellowed, as he gave Harima's comic to the editor, "MAKE ME A 200-PAGE SCRIPT OF THE ARGOS STORY, AT ONCE! MAKE IT WITHIN THREE MONTHS, OR ELSE!"

Harima screamed, as he was shocked.

Miranda shook her head and said, "Dear Lord… You have been pushed around, over a comic."

Harima said, "I heard that Goto was a fan of Miranda Maynard, i.e. you. That was the reason I drew it. It was successful, but it was hard to do."

"How did you do, by the way?"

"I'm up to 25-pages. I needed more characters. He wants to meet some of the regular heroes you know, other than you and Erika. Maybe you should let me describe who is who… namely you friends."

"I hope you know what you're doing. I suppose, since I have a weird variety of characters. But you should meet Kandy."

Harima sighed, as he was about to leave. But then…

"Phone call for Miranda Maynard!" The keeper called.

She received the phone and heard who it was from – Emily.

"Hello, Emily?" Miranda asked, "What's wrong?"

"Uh, Mommy… Come home, right away," Emily said.

"What happened?"

"Nothing… It's just that Miss Eri and I saw a woman outside, impatiently by our house."

"Who?"

"She's been out there, for hours. We saw her, minutes after I came home. And, she's after you! She's gonna bust the door down, but she stopped…"

Miranda was worried, as she spoke in a scared voice, "Where are you now?"

Emily cried, "Mommy! I'm at home, in my room."

"And the blonde?"

"She's in the kitchen."

"Stay here! Mommy's coming, right away!"

She gave the phone back, as she called to Harima, "Let's go!"

She paid the bill, as he asked, "Who was it?"

Miranda said, "It was Emily. She wants us home, right away!"

They left the pub, as they left for Miranda's home.

XXXXX

They arrived and saw Mary Lane, resting in the grass. She was too tired to wait.

"HEY!" She yelled, "WHO ARE YOU, YOU STALKER?"

Mary got up and yawned, "Who's dat?"

She stood up and sneered, "Well, well, well… I could've sworn you'd not be home."

Mary Lane hollered, "HOW DARE YOU TRICK ME LIKE THAT?"

Miranda snapped, "Who the hell are you?"

Mary Lane smirked, as she adjusted her sleeves. She threw her black blazer down and prepared in a boxing stance. Miranda growled, "You won't talk?"

Mary Lane said, "I don't reply to people that want it all. Besides, the boss told me about you, Miranda Maynard, the hero of Argos, England."

Miranda shouted, "How did you know my name?"

Mary glared, as Harima refuted, "Hey, kid! Shouldn't you be home, somewhere? If you wish to fight Miranda, do it on another time!"

Mary said, "Yeah, bloody well please. But, flaming well that your friends will suffer, as well… I overheard of your allies, and my boys are taking care of it."

Miranda gasped, as Harima questioned, "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mary replied, "The archer and the robot are busy outside… While the archer with the martial artisan is all alone… with my allies. Funny thing, too… The blonde archer and the robot girl are already beaten up. Two down, four to go… meaning the other two, including you two!"

Miranda growled, "You… No one hurts my friends and bloody well get away with it! COME AT ME, YOU HARLOT!"

Mary charged at Miranda, "HAVE AT YOU!"

She socked Miranda in the face, as she stumbled down. She got up and said, "Whatever reason you want, you cannot defeat me! You're too inexperienced to best the likes of me, eh what?"

Mary Lane jeered, "Tut-tut, Miranda… Leave the dramatics to me. Besides, I have been skilled in the art of boxing. I usually fight like a lady… but in THIS CASE!"

POW!

She launched a huge right hook to her chin. Miranda fell to the ground, all hurt, as Harima cried, "ENOUGH! What do you want from us?"

Mary snickered, as he groaned, "Okay, you brat… I'll show you how is the better fighter, no matter where we are!"

Miranda got up and stated, "No. This is a lady's battle. She wants to fight, like a lady, let her."

He barked, "But… She's no lady! She's like evil!"

She said, "Exactly. But she's a lady, nonetheless. Plus, she had my friends in danger. You can besmirch my status, threaten my daughter and your fiancé, but you cannot have thugs do you dirty work!"

She thought, "Although… I think this whole thing happened before."

She called to Mary Lane, "And if it's a fight you want, I'll fight you, dead-on!"

Mary Lane then smiled and said, "That's what I wanna here. Now, come at me, with everything! But NO blades!"

"Who needs blades, when an Englishwoman's fists do the talking?"

She whispered to Harima, "Go! Get inside and stay safe with Eri and Emily."

"What about you?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. I've handled these kinds of battles, before, before we met in Japan. This one puts the Zubu Tournament to shame… since I fought a kunoichi and a samurai (and I lost to Haruna)."

Harima ran to the house, as Mary Lane called, "Aw, what's wrong, you bleeding little hooligan? Taking the coward's way out?"

Miranda called back, "He has nothing to do with you! This is between you and me! But I am afraid you don't know who you're mucking with."

They charged at each other, about to fight.

Next time: The Onslaught of Helen