Request from KrispyKremeKat

Never did Puss think he would ever return to San Lorenzo. But here he was with his friends. Perrito. Carlos. Ala Fuerte. Telma. And even Kitty. He wished it was just a visit to see old friends. But no. They got a message from Artephius that the town was in trouble. Theives made of shadows had made their way in through the shield and stolen things that are never found. And one of them was Dulcinea. She vanished the day they showed up.

His mind was riot. How did these theives get in the city when he restored the shield? Why did they take Duclinea? How would he explained Kitty to her? His train of thought broke when a paw touched his shoulder. He glanced his head to Kitty who gave him a comforting smile. He informed her of his previous relationship with Duclinea and was nervous for them to meet.

"It will be fine Puss. We gonna find her" she assured him, running her fingers down his cheek. He smiled at her. It made him happy how she handled the news of his past romance with the gray feline. How they would get along is hard to say. But right now it only matter stopping these theives and getting his friend to safety.

"Heads up!"

They both turn their heads to Carlos's voice, pointing at purple shadows emerging and surrounding them. They snarled at them as everyone got on a defensive stance. "Alright amigos! Artephius said they cannot be touched physically. He has given us some magic potions we can equip to fight them" he explained, passing one to Kitty as she put it on the dagger. She watched in amazement as the magic changed her dagger from silver to blue, illuminating its magic. The same happened to Puss but orange.

"Fear us if you dare! En garde!" Puss yelled as everyone charged at these mysterious new foes. Ala Fuerte handled the ones in the sky with Carlos shooting them with his wrist cross bow to cover him. Telma created these ice geysers with her burrowing which Puss, Kitty and Perrito used to get higher air and attack the shadow thieves. However, something was off. Just as they attacked, they all vanished.

"Well that was easy. I guess those shadow ghosts know when they're beat" Perrito commented but something felt off. A fight starting and ending so quickly felt wrong "No. Something is...not right" Puss noted suspiciously. Kitty held her dagger out in front of her, fur standing on edge. What she didn't realize was the dagger revealed the real danger. She saw in its reflection a shadowy portal opening from behind Puss and green thorny vines appearing. Her blue eyes widen in horror, now understanding the situation. This was a trap.

"PUSS! BEHIND YOU!"

Just as she yelled, the ginger cat felt himself get gripped by the vines, and pulled away. His hat fell off in the process as his free paw stretched out while the other got caught in the vine. Kitty's white paw grabbed his orange one and everyone grabbed onto her, trying to pull him back. "Puss!" Kitty yelled at him terrified, using both her paws and all her strength to pull him back. "Kitty!" He yelled back at her, trying to get himself out but he was trapped tight.

"You won't take him away from me this time Kitty Softpaws"

A female voice spoke from the portal, and with one pull of the vine, their paws broke apart and Puss vanished into the portal. But not before screaming out eachother's names.

"PUSS!"

"KITTY!"

They fell on their bottoms as the portal vanished. Kitty got on her knees, ears down in distress and her eyes wide. They lost him. They lost Puss. How did she lose him? How didn't they see was a trap? Her head raced with thoughts and her eyes spotted his hat on the ground. She grabbed onto it, clenching it close to her chest. It was the only thing she had left of him. Of his touch, smell and everything.

"Kitty?" Perrito asked concerned, approaching her. His ears perked at her sniffing and he looked up to find her crying. Tears spilled down hed cheeks, hating herself that she failed to save him. The small dog looked at her symphatically and moved to nuzzle her cheek. "It's ok Kitty. We're gonna find him. Besides this is Puss in Boots. He'll be alright" he assured her, letting the tuxedo cat hold him. "Come on. Let's go back to Artephius and come up with a plan" Ala Fuerte suggested, seeing no good in just sitting here and doing nothing. All they could hope is Puss was alright.

Meanwhile....

"Aaaaaaah!"

Puss found himself pulled in anogher place and he hit the floor hard, the vine letting him go. He groaned in pain from the painful landing.  The tabby cat leaned on his elbows to push himself up. Rubbing his aching head, he glanced around his environment. It was this green crystallized cave. And it wasn't empty. He saw a figure standing in the center. "You! You must be the one causing all of this! Right?!" He yelled at them, taking his sword out for defense.

The person had their back to him and turned around. A hood covered their face and they wore this dark violet and black dress with long black boots.

"Golly. That was nifty"

Puss eyes opened widen. These words. They were familiar to him. He glanced up at the figure. "What...did you say?" He asked them, looking at them carefully. The hood covered their eyes so he only saw the mouth. It's when he notice a tail. A cat's tail. It was fluffy and gray but tinted with black and purple. It's only when the hood came down, his heart drop and his fear worsen.

"Dulcinea?"

Back to Artephius's workshop...

"That was Dulcinea?!"

Carlos asked his old teacher shocked. Kitty was sitting on the floor with Perrito and Telma trying to comfort her on the loss. On the way back, she hadn't let go of her boyfriend's hat. It was the closest to feeling him again in her arms.

"Why did you tell us maestro?!" The Calico cat demanded dumbfounded by his master. "I just figured it out when you were gone. I gave Duclinea a crystal that let's her see memories of  Puss to cheer her up. What I didn't know was the crystal is powered by emotions. She went into my alchemy and got the gem to show her where Puss was. I guess when she learned she got chea-"

"ARTEPHIUS!"

Carlos and Ala Fuerte stopped him, motioning to the upset she cat. The old man then understood, feeling sorry for her. "What I mean to say is she misunderstood the situation and well guess got upset and decided to cause trouble here in San Lorenzo. That's probably why she sent that letter. To lure you here" he explained to them as everyone looked uncertain now and not sure what to do next.

"I don't know why she took him" Kitty finally spoke, standing up. Everyone looked at her, concerned. It was clear she was taking this hard. All the theif did was prop the hat, looking up with a determined and serious look. "But if she wants Puss, she gonna have to fight me for him" she said in a low, angry voice. Kitty was gonna everything she can to get her lover back.

To be continued