Thank you very much to Wing Pikepaw, Trouble Kelp, and Rachel (harryzgurl) for reviewing. Wing Pikepaw, thanks for what you said about thinking this one is going to be better than it's prequel –I really hope it will be- Trouble Kelp, is this what you were expecting? Rachel, Thank you for reviewing, I send manic happy emails to everyone telling them that I have now got a new chapter up, and you're the only one who actually reads and reviews!

I'm really sorry that it has taken me so long to update, I've taken my time over this one because I wanted it to be long and interesting (do you think I've managed?) Please review and tell me what you think, if you want to see a picture of the Caves of Drach go on my page where there is a link (choose the second one) Extra big thank you's go to my friends Jessica and Bethany who helped me make up the poems. Once again thank you to everyone, and have a nice day! ;)

It was around 10pm local time when the stealth shuttle slipped noiselessly into the car park of the Caves of Drach.

"Typical humans," Holly complained, "they've even managed to turn Earth's beautiful natural creations into tourist attractions," she said as they passed the admissions booth. Past the café and after destroying the security gate and alarm they proceeded down into the caves themselves. "Remind me why we are in such an absurd location and searching a Majorcan tourist attraction for treasure that so obviously isn't here?" The captain continued grumpily.

"Because the legendry sorcerer Carlos Dientenegro's home was here, and as we said before he had a legendary treasure that we are hoping to find." Trouble replied testily. "Now where could it be?" He gestured around the cave –he had no idea where to begin-

Even though they were supposed to be on a mission it was hard not to stop and stare at the breathtaking sight before them. Glittering stalactites grew down from the rocky roof and stalagmites met them at the ground; as Holly flicked a switch tiny spotlights illuminated and cast shadows around the walls. Gradually the cave got deeper and at the bottom a shimmering lake lay with a few boats bobbing on top of it. "Where on earth do we start, Foaly, any ideas?" Trouble questioned, and he heard the noise of a keyboard being tapped in his earpiece.

"Ok bossman, let's see. According to the only surviving eyewitness account –from Juan De Piezza who was standing up at the top of the caves at the time- the treasure-finders called out 'Abierto abra la demostración su tesoro ocultado' which we all know means in Gnommish 'Open open show your hidden treasure'." Replied Foaly knowingly.

"OK, Abierto abra la demostración su tesoro ocultado." Trouble yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous space. Nothing….but then,

"Enter strangers, if you dare,

Here lies my treasure, but beware,

4 perilous tasks, 3 murderous beasts,

The worst of your problems will now be the least.

Logic, magic, and pure common sense,

These will be your only defence,

Past 13 hours, your chance is gone,

Like the moon in the morning and the dodo bird's song.

Finally, enter my lair,

Your quest for the treasure awaits you there," bellowed the voice, and then it was silent and disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"Woo he can speak Gnommish!" Exclaimed Trouble. "So, give me the jist of that?"

"That was kind of scary," Holly replied. "Basically I guess that Carlos guy meant that we have 4 tasks-"

"And there's 3 MURDEROUS BEASTS!" Foaly screeched in Holly's earpiece. "Holly I told you not to go!"

"Be quiet! We can only use logic, our magic, and common sense to complete the challenges, and the time limit is 13 hours. Got that?"

"Yes, now we'd better go, our time limit has started already." Trouble said –and so the major and captain pulled out their earphones and went on their way-

Holly's hazel eyes searched the cavern for some kind of clue to what they should do next, she was wary, she had completed many missions but she was not sure that she was going to be able to fight 3 scary creatures all at once. It was quiet, there was only the sound of the lake lapping gently at its shores and the soft plink, plink, plink of water from the stalactites. Suddenly the rock beneath their feet began to move and shake like an earthquake and Holly and Trouble struggled to keep their balance.

"What's happening?" Holly cried, as the ground they were standing on began to crack and shift to form floating islands on a sea of bubbling boiling lava, and a swirling mist came in off the lake so the fairies couldn't see. Plop, plop, plop, went the large droplets that fell from the stalactites. "What on earth are those funny drips?" Asked Holly.

"The lake mist comes in,

Obscuring your sight,

Will you go home safe,

Or will you die tonight?" Bawled the voice, which was supposedly Carlos Dientenegro.

"Yes, we can see that about the mist –or rather we can't- but what are these funny drops?" Trouble clamoured.

"1 poisonous drop is a hour,

A 24th of a day,

3 drops altogether will take your whole life away." Explained Carlos.

"We have to somehow get around these poison-dripping stalactites to the other side by jumping around these rock islands?" Holly screeched.

"Don't forget that if we get hit by a droplet our time limit decreases by an hour each time. Oh, and if we get dropped on 3 times we die." Corrected Trouble. Holly looked shocked for a moment –noone had told her back in Haven that she had to complete challenges to reach the treasure-and then set her mouth in a firm line. She wasn't going to let some loud voice get the better of her –sure, she was on a piece of rock that was floating around in a giant puddle of what looked like lava (although it could have been the blood of the people who had tried to get past before them) and had to avoid drops of poison that could kill her to get to the other side, but she didn't care-

"Let's go." Holly said, and immediately Trouble looked confused. It was hard not to look a bit mystified when your co-officer has just stated the most impossible thing to do as if it's the easiest thing in the world. However Trouble valiantly took a twirling somersault onto the next rock, and they began.

Hop, miss that droplet by centimetres….and jump! Onto the next one –and that was just Trouble. Holly swerved around on her makeshift boat, trying desperately to see around the dratted mist. The wind whirled and churned the rocks about, making it harder than ever for Holly to keep her balance. She took a giant leap of faith and landed….only to have some poison dropped on her head.

"D'arvit!" She cursed. "I need to be more careful."

"Holly where are you? I'm nearly at the end!" Came Trouble's muffled voice excitedly.

"Trouble help!" Holly screamed. "I can't do this!"

"Chin up, Short!" Trouble yelled back. "I know you can do it!"

"No, you go on ahead, I've got a drop on me already!"

"We're in this together, so you'd better get your butt over here right now." Ordered the major, and that was the end of that. Holly jumped over 1, 2, 3 rocks successfully but on the fourth attempt she failed miserably as another drop fell on her head. "Too bad," observed Trouble, who had finished the course and was standing on the bank at which Holly was nearly at. "Good thing that the mist is clearing though," he said to himself, scratching his head (which was helmet free as there hadn't been any that hadn't been burnt) –and then freezing in horror. He groaned as Holly clambered onto the last rock, oblivious to the extra large blob that was heading down onto Holly's auburn-haired head. "Nooo!" He yelled desperately, if that yucky poison hit Holly; SPLODGE! She was dead. Holly glanced up to see Trouble hurtling towards her; he bashed full force into her –knocking her to the ground and taking the poison himself. He lifted Holly's limp form into his arms and made his way effortlessly to the bank.

They had finished the challenge, but at what cost?