Disclaimer: Because I don't think I put one on the last chapter, here it is. I don't own the PODW, as much as I wish I did. And I know that there are those who are not fans of the Tula/Ren couple, however I am, despite the lack of proof and stuff like that. You don't like it, tough. :P Ok, here is the second part of my fic.

I hit the highway

Touch of life barely sixteen

As I hung there from The Wraith, fingers gripping the side of the ship like there was no tomorrow, images from when I first started up the Quest played in my mind. My father dying in my arms, Niddlar crashing through the lighthouse windows, meeting Bloth and the first true friends I've ever had... I was here for them, for the rest of Mer. We had just managed to find the last Treasure-- our friendship-- and now it seemed we were about to lose it all. True, it wasn't the first time things seemed so serious, but Bloth seemed to have more men this time.

The unusually violent winds had tossed me overboard. I could hear the Dark Dweller laughing in glee as made a frantic grab for anything to hold on to. I had the pouch of the Treasures in one hand, and the tempest wasn't giving me an easy time while I tried to get back on the ship. Tula was reaching out for me, but I couldn't get a grasp of her hand. By the gods, the winds were against me today!

No angel of mercy

Coming to save the soul of me

I put an end of the pouch in my mouth so I could use my other hand properly. The Dark Dweller sent some dark water up along the side of the ship, determined to drag me down to the icy waters. As Tula reached for my hand again, I went to grab it. But a wind and a harsh wave struck us, causing me to swallow seawater and almost lose my grip. I coughed the best I could without losing the Treasures. Now Niddlar was trying. If the winds weren't so harsh, he would have been able to get a hold of me by my shoulders.

The Dark Dweller's voice rang through my ears. "Give up, son of Primus! You will never win against me! I will have those Treasures!"

I got an idea. It was risky, but if it saved Tula and the others, it was worth it. And it would work.

Another spray of water hit me, and I slipped. I heard Tula shout again, though I couldn't make out her words in the high winds. I slipped further. I didn't have a choice now, my hands were tiring from the weight of my body. I looked up at Tula and Niddlar and gave them a look of victory. Just then a tendril of the dark water reached my foot and started tugging me down. With a last effort, I threw the back over the ship-- and fell.

I took a Greyhound limousine

Straight to grand central NYC

It was ass, gas, or grass, living fast

No body ride for free

Last time I took the trip to the Dark Dweller's domain was a few years ago, when Tula had been kidnapped by him. The ride down there the first time seemed better then the first; this time I didn't have box to shield me from the churning waters. It was all I could do to stop myself from inhaling water.

What seemed like an eternity later, I crash landed onto the hard rock floor. Despite my aching head, I stood up quickly to be ready for anything. But as I stood, I had to sit back down or else fall over from dizziness. I tried to shake the feeling from my head. Eventually, the ringing in my ears stopped and the ground stayed still.

I took a few steps forward while keeping an eye out for the Dark Dweller. Almost instinctively reached for my father's sword. Then I remembered I no longer had it with me. I cursed my luck silently. With only my wits as a weapon, I started forward for a way out.

Living it up, giving it up

Living in the valley of lost souls

Wanting it all taking the fall

Living in the valley of lost souls…

It wasn't long before the Dark Dweller's minions decided to make their appearance. The three heads I encountered on my first journey to this gods forsaken place were in the same spot as before.

"No turning back…" they said. "You will not escape again…"

"You seemed to have said the same thing before," I answered. "And yet I did."

"No protection this time," cackled the third head, rotating in a circle. The other two laughed.

"We'll see," I said, determined to get out in one piece.

Laughing, they vanished, and again I was one my own. I sighed and continued. All of my nerves were on edge. Every noise made me jump. Noy jitut! Get a hold of yourself! I scolded myself.

Miss misery came to ride me

How I loved her company

She did Boston justice

And wronged all the right out of me

The devil wears a black suit…

As I was getting to calm myself down and get the adrenaline to slow, a patch of dark water seemingly fell from the ceiling in front of me. I jumped back so it wouldn't grab me. There was a roar, and the Dark Dweller himself reared up. Not for the first time, I felt a chill go up my back. And to think Tula must feel this ten fold… I shoved the thought out of my mind as the Dark Dweller lunged at me.

"Give me those Treasures!" he bellowed, shaking the cavern.

"Come and get them!" I taunted, darting away from him. He's falling for it! I just hope I can keep him busy enough so that I can give the others time!

He says I'm living like a bum

So what I'm looking like I'm half-dead

A gypsy on the run…

I raced for my life. But the caverns were more like a maze then The Maelstrom ever was. I was taking random turns, blindly going left and right. However, no matter how fast I ran, the Dark Dweller was on my heels. After what felt like hours of running, I finally stopped. I was back where I had started.

A rasping laughter from behind me made me turn around. "You've got no where to run, son of Primus," gloated the Dark Dweller. "And your friend's souls are mine!"

"Do you really thing I'm going to believe that, kreld-eater?" I demanded angrily.

The Dark Dweller grinned. "See for yourself…"

A familiar squawk echoed throughout the caverns as well as the voices of Ioz and Tula. I shook my head, not believing it. "It's not real. You tried the same trick using my father." I took some steps away.

Living it up, giving it up

Living in the valley of lost souls

Wanting it all taking the fall

Living in the valley of lost souls…

"If you would prefer to have the Treasures over your friends, so be it." Was his answer, though it sounded more menacing then anything.

Then he simply disappeared. Just vanished. Uneasy, I looked around. I didn't trust this; what was he up too? Surely he should know by now that I didn't have the Treasures with me. Not exactly assured that he was gone for good, and with nothing left to do, I again started walking for a way out.

The one thing about this place: time was nothing. I had no idea how long I spent wandering, weary and hungry. I didn't dare touch any of the food I found. It was either all an illusion or contaminated. Nothing was to be trusted down here. With a sigh, I sat down, rubbing my temples and trying to figure out what to do, where to go.

I guess I fell asleep, for the next thing I knew I was in a wooded area. Tula's excited face was hovering over me.

"Ren! You're alive!" She exclaimed.

"Tula?" I asked foggily. "Where… Where am I?"

"Andorus!" She answered. "Ioz, Niddlar, and I got the Treasures back to Octopon. Though how you ended up here is a mystery. After I saw you fall…"

Feels like feels like time is running out on me

But I wasn't born to play nobody's fool

Ain't nobody going to hold me down to play nobody's fool…

Something wasn't right, but I couldn't focus. I sat up, holding my head. "How are the others?" I asked, gripping a firm grip on consciousness.

She shrugged. Wait, shrugged? No, that wasn't Tula. She would have said something about Ioz and his ways or complained about Niddlar eating too much.

The ground beneath us shook violently before I could say something. The landscape changed to the underground dwellings I was really in. There was a yell as the Dark Dweller, in the form of Tula, looked around and seemingly scampered away. Something inside me told me the Treasures were in their rightful place. And I was running out of time.

Ain't nobody going to hold me down

I've got to roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll

Living it up, giving it up

Living in the valley of lost souls…

Run idiot! I thought. But I was too weak. The most I could do was stumble along in my hurried pace. I had to get out of here! I had to!

Then the Dark Dweller showed up. "You! You shall pay for this!"

I shot him a defiant look. "I'm not giving up just yet!" And I ordered myself to run. I refused to die down here! The Dark Dweller followed me again. Only this time, I knew it was a lost cause.

Somebody save me

Wanting it all taking the fall

Living in the valley of lost souls…

Now dark water surrounded me. I was trapped. By Kunda, this was going to be my last battle! It was at three sides, the Dark Dweller behind me, cackling evilly.

"Now, you die," he grinned.

Somebody save me

Living it up, giving it up

Living in the valley of lost souls…

I spun around, breathing heavily. I was seeing double and my senses were in different directions. Fatigue had finally caught up with me. I blindly grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it. Of course, it did no damage. Chungo lungo, I've lost!

Somebody save me

Wanting it all taking the fall

Living in the valley of lost souls…

The ground shook again. At first I thought it had to do with my sudden illness. But the Dark Dweller was screaming in pain. I looked and managed to focus my eyes on what the commotion was about.

Too my relief and surprise, a beam of light had flooded the place. It was holding back the Dark Dweller and the dark water and created a portal. Home! I could see the shores of Octopon now fully restored. This was no trick! By Kunda, I was saved! I went to jump through. Nothing was holding me back.

"Nooooooooooo!" Screeched the Dark Dweller in defeat.

I edged forward, ignoring him. All I could think about was home…

"Hear me!" Yelled the Dark Dweller in his prison of light. "You have been in my domain for three days. But with what power I have left, it will be longer!"

Somebody save me.

I again ignored him and jumped through, letting sweet unconsciousness take over.