Chapter 3: The capture, Mint Adnade, the escape, Trinicus D. Morrison, and the heroes meet the CCS and MR gang.

It took Cress and Zoey two days, but they finally reach Euclid.

"Wow. Euclid is beautiful." Zoey gasped in awe.

"Yeah, Euclid is where the king lives. Now if I'm not mistaken, Uncle Olson's house should be right there." Cress pointed to a house behind some walls.

"Let's hope your uncle is home." Zoey said and they head to the house. They entered the house. Cress and Zoey looked around.

"Uncle Olson. Aunt Joanne. Are you home?" Cress shouted.

Suddenly, an old man and old woman appeared from the other side of the house.

"Cress! Is that you?" The old man asked.

"Yes, it's me, Uncle Olson, Aunt Joanne. This is Zoey; she lives with me in Toltus." Cress introduces Zoey.

"Hello." Zoey greeted.

"Before you make yourselves comfortable, tell me, there are some rumors that Toltus was attacked, Cress… is it true?" Uncle Olson asked.

Cress and Zoey looked down, sadness in their faces.

"Yes… Mom and Dad were…" Cress stopped, he doesn't want to say it.

"Oh, Cress, I'm so sorry…" Olson said sadly.

"Why don't you and Zoey rest awhile? Your uncle and aunt will take good care of you and Zoey." Aunt Joanne said.

Cress and Zoey looked up, they were smiling weakly.

"Thank you." Cress said.

That night…

Cress and Zoey were sleeping peacefully, they were in beds that Uncle Olson offered to them, until…

Uncle Olson enter the room, a frown on his face and his eyes close. He was followed by four men wearing black armor. The black armored men went to Zoey and Cress's beds side by two, they poke their sides with their spears.

"Huh?" Zoey said groggily.

"What the? Uncle Olson… What's going on!" Cress shouted.

"I'm sorry… I have to do it… If I refused, Euclid will surfer the same fate as Toltus. Please forgive me…" Uncle Olson said sadly.

"Uncle Olson…" Cress said sadly also…

"Let me go!" Zoey shouted, trying to break free from the soldier's grasp.

"Quit moving! Move along peacefully!" The soldier barked.

The soldiers marched Cress and Zoey out of the room and out of the house, leaving Uncle Olson still sad about what he has done.

"I'm sorry… Cress…" He said sadly.

(Meanwhile, back at the ruined Toltus.)

Chester is almost finished with burying everyone in Toltus, when he heard some horse hoofs.

"What's that…? They must have returned." Chester said to himself as he hid into a tree.

The hoofs got louder.

"Ami, I will avenge your death!" He shouted.

(Back to our heroes.)

Cress and Zoey were taken to an eerie fortress, they were escorted to a room with another black armored man, only his face was covered by a mask.

"We have capture Albane's son and a girl from Toltus." The soldier told him. He is properly the leader of the black armored men.

"Excellent." Said the black armored man evilly.

He walks over to Cress.

"I never knew he has a son that young." He said evilly.

"You… You were the ones who attack Toltus!" Cress shouted, anger in his face.

"Humph, I know nothing of that. I'll be taking your pendant." He said as he snatch the pendant from Cress.

"Hey, that's mine!" Cress shouted.

He walks to the mirror.

"Take away their weapons and throw them into the dungeon." He ordered his soldiers.

"Yes sir!" The soldiers obeyed.

"He he… At last…" The leader of the black armored men muttered.

Suddenly, a phantom appeared in the mirror the leader was facing.

'What the…?' Cress and Zoey thought at the same time.

(In the dungeon.)

The guards escorted the two heroes to an empty cell and one of them opens the cell door and pushes Cress and Zoey into the cell and locks the door and the two guards left. Cress ran to the door and tries to open it, but no luck.

"Darn!" Cress shouted.

"What do we do now? I saw a hole in the wall but its too small for us." Zoey told Cress.

They thought about it for a few seconds, until…

"Can you hear me…?" Said an unknown voice.

"Huh? Who said that?" Zoey asked Cress.

"I have no clue. Its coming from the hole in the wall." Cress replied.

They check the wall again, and they heard a voice.

"Reach out into the hole. I want to help you…" Said the voice.

"Do you think we can trust a voice we never heard of?" Zoey asked Cress with doubt.

"I'm sure we can. It said it will help us." Cress assured her.

He reach into the wall and sure enough, Cress pulled his hand out of the hole and he has gotten an earring.

"Hold it against the wall…" Said the voice again.

Cress did what the voice told him and suddenly, the wall emitted a gold glow and it blew up, leaving a passage in the wall.

"Alright!" Zoey shouted happily.

"Let's go thank that woman." Cress suggested. Zoey nodded and they go into the other cell and were shocked to see a woman impaled with two swords.

"How can this be? I could have sworn her hand was warm." Cress said, who is shocked.

"Let's take the swords and figure it out later." Zoey said.

Cress nodded and they took the two Long Swords out of the corpse. Cress uses the sword to break open the lock. When they step out, they heard a voice.

"Hello? Is someone there?" It sounded like a girl.

"Did you hear that? It sounded like a girl." Zoey told Cress.

"Let's go help her." Cress suggested. Zoey nodded.

They follow the voice to another cell and Cress open the door and inside they saw a young girl, she was maybe 16, she has blonde hair, she wore white cleric clothes with a cleric hat, Zoey notice that she almost look like the woman in her dream. Cress rushes to her side and check for injuries.

"Are you okay? Any injuries?" Cress asked.

"W-Who are you?" the girl asked them.

"I'm Cress Albane, and she's Zoey Hanson." Cress introduces himself and Zoey. Zoey gave a friendly bow.

"What is your name?" Zoey asked.

"Mint Adnade." She introduces herself.

"We better get out of here; the guards will be back any second." Cress said and he helped Mint to her feet.

"But we have to help my mother! She's in the other cell next to my cell. She said that everything is going to be alright." Mint pleaded.

Cress and Zoey have sad faces. The corpse they got the Long Swords from was this girl's mother.

"Um… About your mother…" Zoey started to say, but Cress stopped her.

"We better get out of here." Cress told Mint. Mint looked sad also.

"But…" Mint protested, but she stopped.

"I'm a Healer, I'm sure I can be of use to you with my healing powers." Mint told them.

Cress and Zoey nodded and they head towards a sewer gate.

"How are we going to open that?" Mint asked.

Cress got an idea and he bend the gates with his sword, leaving it open so they can get through.

"Let's go." Zoey told Mint. Mint nodded and they head into the sewers.

(Meanwhile, in Euclid.)

Sakura and Li went into the town and looked around.

"This place looked old. Li, I don't think we're in Reedington anymore." Sakura said nervously.

"Looks like it. Does this happen to do with that voice?" Li questioned.

"Hey." A voice calls out to them and they turn to see the MR gang coming up to them.

"Hey, they kinda like Ginki." Tiger said.

"Hey, did you get pulled into a portal and hear a booming voice?" Ginki asked.

"Yeah, the same thing happens to you?" Sakura asked. The MR gang nodded.

Then suddenly, a citizen saw the two groups and shouted "Monsters! Monsters in Euclid!"

"Huh!" The two groups shouted confusedly.

Suddenly, knights surrounded the two groups.

"You monsters are not going to terrorize this city!" One of the knights shouted.

"Let's get out of here." Tiger suggested. The two groups nodded and they dash off in the city with the knights chasing them.

While they were running, a man dressed in red spoke to them.

"Over here!" The man told them in an alley. The two groups went into the alley. The knights went past the alley.

"Thanks for saving us mister…" Sakura started to say, but the red clothed man stopped her.

"Trinicus D. Morrison, but call me Morrison." The man smiled.

(Back to Cress, Zoey and Mint.)

Cress, Zoey and Mint were walking in the sewers, Mint asked Zoey a question out of the blue.

"Um… Zoey?" Mint said.

"Yeah, what is it?" Zoey asked.

"Um, about your clothes… Where did you get them? I never had seen them before." Mint asked.

"Uh, you won't believe me, but I'm from another world." Zoey told her. Mint was confused.

"Another world…?" Mint asked again.

Cress sighed and he explained to Mint about Zoey being from another world and her life in her world. Mint understands this.

"Wow, but how did you get here?" Mint asked.

Zoey looked down. "I don't know." She replied sadly. Mint looked sad as well.

"I'm sorry I ask that question." Mint apologized.

Zoey looked at her with a smile. "It's alright." She replied.

They fought some monsters on the way out of the sewers. They see some light coming out of the corner of the sewers.

"Hey, I think I see a way out." Mint said.

"Alright, this is one step towards freedom!" Cress said happily.

But before they can continue, a monster appeared in front of them.

"I'm afraid I can't let you pass!" It shouted.

"And who are you?" Cress demanded.

"I'm known as the Spiny Devil! And I won't let you get out of here alive!" the monster shouted.

"We'll see about that!" Cress shouted and he unsheathed his sword, Zoey did the same.

The battle begins when Zoey slash the Spiny Devil. The Spiny Devil tried to slash her with its scythe. "How dare you!" It shouted as he managed to slash Zoey in the arm. Zoey winced in pain. "Zoey!" Cress shouted and he slashed the Spiny Devil. Mint knew that Zoey is hurt, she knew what to do, she concentrate on her divine power and shouted "First Aid!" A white sparkle of magic sprinkle around Zoey and her wounds disappear. Zoey looked up to Mint who smiled and Zoey smiled back. She got up and slashes the Spiny Devil. "Zoey, you're ok!" Cress said in relief. "Thank Mint for that." Zoey said. The two heroes gang up on the Spiny Devil and they slash him rapidly, Cress decided to use another of his Deadly Skills. "Swallow Dance!" He shouted and he leap into the air and kicked the Spiny Devil rapidly and he and Zoey continue slashing him. After a few seconds of slashing, the Spiny Devil felled to the floor, defeated.

"No… how can this be?" The Spiny Devil groaned and he disappears.

"Thank you for helping me Mint." Zoey smiled.

"No problem, my mom taught me how to become a Healer." Mint smiled.

Cress and Zoey looked sad, but they managed to lighten up and they head towards the exit of the sewers. When they got out of the sewers, Mint breathed the fresh air.

"We're finally out of the fortress. I almost forgot how bright the sky is." Mint said.

Suddenly, Cress noticed something from the trees.

"Look out!" Cress shouted and he pushes Mint out of the way, a giant slug landed on Cress and it paralyzed him.

"Cress! Are you okay!" Mint said worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm…" Cress passed out before he can finish.

"Cress!" Zoey and Mint shouted. Suddenly, they heard some horse hoofs.

"They must be looking for us. Mint, help me carry Cress." Zoey whispered.

Mint nodded and the both of them carried Cress to safety.

(At an unknown area.)

Cress was beginning to wake up; his vision was blurry, but returning to normal. He turned to see a man in red clothes looking at him.

"W-Where am I?" Cress asked.

"Relax, you're in my house. You and your friends are safe here." The man smiled.

"Thanks, mister…" Cress started, but the man stopped him.

"Morrison, Trinicus D. Morrison, but call me Morrison for short. And you're Cress." Morrison said.

Cress looked confused. "How did you know my name?" He asked.

"Your friends told me." Morrison replied.

Then, Zoey and Mint came in with two people he didn't recognize.

"Hello, you must be Cress. Zoey and Mint told us about you. I'm Sakura, and she's Holly. Like Zoey, I and Holly and our friends are from different worlds." Sakura introduces herself and Holly. Holly gave a friendly bow.

"Are you okay, Cress?" Zoey asked.

"Yeah." Cress replied as he got out of bed.

"Eat this, Cress. It will help restore your energy." Mint said, giving him a cup of tasty looking soup. Cress ate it and after a few seconds, Cress has a smile.

"This is great! Delicious! Mind if I have recipe?" Cress asked politely.

"Sure." Mint smiled. She taught Cress how to cook Quiche.

"You must be Mint, you remind me of your mother, Meryl." Morrison said, looking at Mint.

"You know who my mother is?" Mint asked confusedly.

"I'll explain later. Cress, why don't you and Zoey head out of the room and meet with my other guests and head outside for some fresh air?" Morrison suggested. Cress and Zoey nodded and they head out of the room, they meet some of Sakura and Holly's friends and they get to know each other well. Cress and Zoey got outside and when they got near a tree, an arrow fired at the tree, both scaring Cress and Zoey.

"Ahh!" Cress and Zoey screamed. But they recognized the arrow being shot.

"Wait, could it be…" Zoey said hopefully.

"Chester!" Cress said happily.

Indeed it was Chester; he was coming up to them.

"Cress, Zoey!" Chester smiled.

"Man, am I glad to see you." Cress said while smiling and giving Chester a pat on the shoulder. Chester turned to Zoey.

"By the way, I manage to keep it safe for you." Chester smiled as he handed Zoey her Power Pendant.

"My Power Pendant." Zoey said in awe.

"Something tells me you're going to need it." Chester replied.

Then, Morrison, Mint, Sakura, Li and the MR gang came out of Morrison's house to see if Cress and Zoey are alright.

"Ah, I see Chester is here." Morrison said.

"You know Chester?" Cress asked.

"Yes, he came to Toltus, with his help; I manage to give everyone a proper burying." Chester explained.

"Yes, your parents and I go way back. We were friends. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. By the way, Cress… Do you remember the pendant?" Morrison asked.

"Yeah, my dad made it from a special rock and made it into a pendant and gave it to me on my 15th birthday." Cress replied.

"And did you still have it?" Morrison asked again.

Cress looked down.

"No, the black armored man took it from me when me and Zoey were captured." Cress replied.

"What! This is terrible… It may be too late." Morrison said shocked.

"Listen, I'm going to the catacombs. I'll won't be back for awhile." Morrison said.

"The black armored man is there, is he? Take us with you!" Cress begged Morrison.

"Yeah, we heard what the black armored man did to Cress's family. We want to help Cress." Ginki said.

"Mochi agrees!" Mochi also agreed.

"Please, Morrison!" Cress begged him.

"Did you ever beat your father, Cress?" Morrison asked in confidents.

"No…" Cress said.

"I'm sorry, but you'll just be in the way. I'm sorry." Morrison said and he left.

Cress and the group decided to head back inside, wondering what to do now. They were silent until Chester broke the silence.

"I can't wait any longer! Let's go to the catacombs and confront the black armored man!" Chester said with confidence.

"I agree, I just can't sit around and do nothing." Tiger agreed.

"But, Morrison said…" Cress started to say, but was stopped by Chester.

"Are you going to let what Morrison said stop you! Answer me Cress!" Chester shouted.

"Please, don't fight." Mint pleaded.

"What's all that racket? Morrison have you got my tea?" Said a voice.

The door opened to see a familiar face, Master Tristan.

"Master Tristan!" Cress said.

"Oh, hello Cress, Zoey and Chester. I'm glad you're okay. And who is this with you?" Master Tristan asked.

"This is Mint." Cress introduces Mint.

"Ah, you looked like your mother. So what are you doing here?" Master Tristan asked.

Cress and company explain about the black armored man, Morrison, their new friends, and their situation.

"Hmm… Morrison said you can't go help him. Hoho. He is always worried some. Are you going to stay here when Morrison is in danger?" Master Tristan asked Cress with confidence. Cress thought about it for a few seconds, and then a heroic grin appeared on his face.

"Let's go." Cress said with confidence.

"Yeah, that's the Cress I know!" Chester smiled.

"Alright." Zoey smiled.

"I'll meet you at the entrance of the catacombs. Pay a visit to the peddler at the front door." Master Tristan said and he left.

"Alright! Let's go get that black armored man!" Ginki said bravely. His teammates nodded in agreement.

"I got my Clow cards with me. So I and Li will be some help to you." Sakura said.

"When the CCS and MR gang head out of the room, Cress, Zoey, Mint and Chester were alone.

"Cress, what's wrong?" Mint asked.

'What happen to the earring? Did I drop it somewhere?' Cress though to himself.

"Its nothing, let's go to the catacombs." Cress said.

Zoey, Mint and Chester nodded. They went to the peddler and bought some new equipment for Cress, Zoey, Mint and Chester. Then they met up with the two groups and they head for the catacombs. Unknown to them that they will be sent into the past.

End Chapter.

Next time: Cress, Zoey and the gang made it to the catacombs. Master Tristan teaches Cress a Secret Skill and they continued their way. After fighting monsters and solving puzzles, they made it to a secret tomb which Zoey recognized in her dream. They find Morrison and confront the black armored man now known as Mars Uldole and his goons. Mars tells the group of the Battle of Valhalla when two of the greatest kingdoms in Cress's world fell to a evil king named Dhaos. Mars then placed Cress's pendant on the tomb and Dhaos is freed! Mars tried to command Dhaos, but Dhaos doesn't obey and tells him that he controlled Mars to get Cress's pendant and blasted him and his goons to oblivion. Dhaos then sees Zoey and calls her Saira. Zoey has no idea what Dhaos is talking about. Morrison the cast a divine power on Cress, Zoey, Mint and the gang sending them back in time, leaving Morrison and Chester with Dhaos! Then the heroes find themselves in a new area.