Carter had decided to split up; He, Luke, and Anna would take Fin while Emma, Madeline, and Krystal would go searching for the Fragment of Azteca, much to Luke's displeasure. "I'm not leaving her behind!" Luke told him.
"Luke, we need the strongest and best fighters to take Fin back or he may escape. We'll catch up on the search after we take him to Avery," Carter reasoned.
"Fine," Luke grunted. He turned to look at his fiance, and softening his voice, said,"I love you, Madeline."
"I love you, too, Luke, but could you stop being my father for once? I can defend myself, you know?" Maddie smiled weakly. Anna bursted out laughing and Krystal grinned. Emma smiled at the remark. Luke's face softened and he smiled and chuckled himself.
"For you I will, my darling."
Emma, Madeline, and Krystal were trekking through the tunnels that were filled with Krokagators and troggies that lived in the tunnels. The tunnels were very damp and moist; every so often the girls stepped into a puddle and the only light came from glowing stones spaced evenly throughout the tunnels.
"So where could the Fragment be?" Krystal thought out loud.
"If you were a fragment where would you be?" Maddie asked.
"Hidden somewhere deep inside these ancient tunnels so that no one can find me," Krystal answered. "This isn't going to be easy."
"We just need to keep our eyes peeled," Maddie said. Emma studdied the carvings that ran along the walls. They didn't seem to follow any sort of pattern or order, but flowed randomly in swirls and twists and odd corners. Emma thought they could be hieroglyphics or pictures, but she couldn't make out what they were.
"Do you think the troggies know about the Fragment?" Krystal voiced her thoughts.
"Wouldn't they?" Maddie said. "Why else would they roam these tunnels?"
"They could have run into these tunnels after pirate settlers came in," Krystal suggested. "There's a number of possibilities."
"I suppose so," Madeline sighed. They came to a corner and turned left, keeping close to the walls and in the shadows. "Look up ahead!" Maddie pointed. "There's a door." When Emma looked to see, she spotted a triangular door with strange, glowing encarvings. Two troggies stood guard to either sides of it.
"They must have it in there!" Krystal said, lowering her voice to a whisper. "We need to find a way to sneak in."
"We may just have to break in," Maddie said. "There doesn't seem to be any other way in."
"Fine," Krystal said. "We'll have to take down the guards first."
"It shouldn't be that hard," Maddie stated. Emma gulped. Another battle? How are they so quick to suggest battle? Why are they unphased by it? Emma followed the other two reluctantly as they charged into battle, taking down the troggies almost immediately. Emma watched as Krystal yanked her spear out of the troggy she'd just slain. Emma tried her best not to be disgusted and to get used to the smell of blood and heat of battle, but with this only being her third fight, she was sick and uncertain if she could ever do what Krystal and Maddie had.
Krystal turned to the giant glowing door and yanked it open to reveal a large empty sanctum with a single pedestal in the center. On top of the pedestal appeared to be a shiny, gold object. "Bingo," Krystal said in satisfaction. "Let's take it and go."
"Wait, be careful," Maddie said, holding out her arms so they couldn't enter. "They may have some sort of security or trap system set up. It can't be this easy."
"True," Emma agreed.
"Alright," Krystal said. "Then we'll take it slow." She stepped out of the doorway, pushing through Maddie's barricade, and cautiously stepped across the moist, stone floor. Emma decided to stay by the door with Maddie in case it was as she'd suspected and there were traps spaced throughout the room. Krystal carefully took the golden object in her hand, causing Madeline to flinch nervously. Emma gulped and Krystal hurried back. "Let's leave this place before they notice we've taken it." She said, quickly.
"Yes," Madeline nodded, winded by her worry. She stared at the golden object. Emma also observed it, taking note of its odd appearance. It was rounded smoothly on one side and the other was broken off ruggedly as if it had been shattered off of another piece. That explains why it's called a fragment, Emma thought. But what about all the other pieces? Does the Armada have them?
"Great, here comes trouble," Krystal said, suddenly. Emma turned to see a group of troggies had gathered and readied for battle. One of them, however, stood out. He was much bigger than the others and held a supperior weapon to all the others- a huge polearm with feathers and rocks tied to the top near the blade which appeared to be made of sharped stone. He wore a giant crown of feathers that made him seem more important than the other troggies, and his arms were built with massive muscles. He seemed to grin evilly, his tongue hanging from teethless gums.
"We can take them," Madeline said confidently, but a loud blast stopped them before they could move. Debris came flying through the tunnel and knocked the troggies against the wall while Emma and the others covered their faces.
"I told you I wasn't going to leave you behind!" Luke emerged, brandishing his gun. He grinned at Maddie. "Now, let's get out of here!"