Author's Notes

Hi all! New chapter here! Hope you enjoy it! ^^

Aztec 13 - Honestly I didn't notice about the walkie-talkie thing, guess it's been a while since I've written so forgot that detail, whoopsie lol I guess it's mostly that they aren't available to the public I guess?

TheMoonIsCheese - Hopefully yeah, lets gooo

lordgemini - I'm sure Dwayne could have many reasons though I don't know if he would pull the elderly card so much considering he's a bit more mellow and childish. So may not work as much in that regard.

Dwayne looked at his hand and saw that he could see one of his fingers. "O-oh guys! I'm starting to become visible again!" he smiled brightly as he saw himself slowly appear.

"Oh, you're right!" Leonard gasped as he started to reappear back into view again.

"Good timing huh," Trent said, now completely visible. "Well.. we should get going anyway." He looked around left and right. "So… which way were we supposed to go?"

Leonard rubbed his chin. "Hmmm… I say… Left!"

"Wait.. I thought it was right.." Dwayne blinked.

"Nono, I believe it was left, trust me, the wizard knows all," Leonard smirked.

"Sorry wizard friend but I don't think it was left, I'm pretty sure Scarlett said take the first right." Dwayne pointed to the right.

"Well, I say left, mortal! I outrank you as I'm a wizard!" Leonard shouted.

"Since when did wizards outrank me? What rank even am i?" Dwayne blinked.

"I don't know but definitely not higher than a wizard!" Leonard frowned.

"Guys guys!" Trent interrupted. "Calm down.. Why don't we just use our device to contact her hm?" Trent blinked.

"Oh yeah.. We can do that" Dwayne facepalmed.

"Good thinking Sir Trent!" Leonard smirked as he grabbed his walkie-talkie and started speaking into it. "Witch! We have an issue uh.. Which way do we go from the sewer entrance?"

The walkie-talkie had static for a moment before a familiar voice was heard.

"Well. For one, I'm not a witch. And two, take a right." Scarlett said, a little annoyed.

"So it was right!" Dwayne smirked. "Haha! It looks like my age hasn't ruined my memory yet" He crossed his arms all smug.

Leonard grumbled. "Thanks.." He frowned and put it away. "Right then"

Trent nodded and lead the gang. "Let's go then" He smiled and continued on.

Dwayne looked around a bit and saw a rat run past. "Oh, they have rats in this world!"

"Fascinating.." Leonard said as he looked around a bit.

"Let's try not to get too distracted ok?" Trent was walking.

"Ooo I do love how you're being a leader now that Noah is gone" Dwayne smiled.

"I… I guess so.. To be honest I've never really seen myself as leadership material.." Trent said.

"Why not?" Leonard asked. "You seem fine and confident, like a true leader, maybe even a king!"

"Haha.. I wouldn't go that far man, I guess.. I'm not sure. To be honest, I definitely felt more confident about myself before the whole nine thing, now I'm a bit more cautious I guess." He commented.

"Nine thing?" Dwayne tilted his head.

"Oh uh- never mind.. Just past stuff" Trent blinked.

"Well whatever it is, don't let it form who you are ok?" Dwayne smiled.

"Indeed! You have done good things here" Leonard commented.

Trent nodded and smiled brighter. "Yeah… thanks guys" He smiled and continued on.

Noah threw a punch at the samurai in which in response he dodged to the right.

Hmh… The samurai looked at Noah during his punch. So it seems he finally knows how to use it huh.. He suddenly span and delivered an elbow to Noah's neck, flopping him to the ground.

"G-gah!" Noah groaned as he hit the ground. He just looked up and coughed a bit. "J-jeez.. I'm guessing Staci made you a proper fighter huh? Trained and everything."

The samurai smirked. "Indeed… I was created with 100 years worth of battle experience in both my mind and my body.." He closed his eyes. "Your one sucker punch will be the only strike you'll ever have." He drew his katana, it was black and glowing purple.

"What.. is that glow.." Noah frowned as he saw it.

"My power.." The samurai smirked as he approached him.

The three were still walking along the sewer.

"So… wanna play I spy?" Dwayne asked cheerfully.

"Oh! Sure!" Leonard smiled.

"Ok ok! I spy… with my little eye… something beginning with… S!" Dwayne smiled.

"Hmm.." Leonard rubbed his chin a bit. "Sewer!"

"Nope," Dwayne smirked.

Trent just blinked as he heard the two.

"Sewage!"

"Nope!"

"S… s…. Sss.. Sandwich!"

"Sandwich? Wh- ew…. No"

"Oh oh! I know! What about Shi-"

"Guys!" Trent blinked as he pointed ahead.

They looked ahead and saw a little hatch with a tiny light coming from it. They could hear grunting from it.

"What is that grunting?" Dwayne frowned.

"Perhaps it is a beast…" leonard frowned.

"I don't like it.." Dwayne looked worried.

"Well.. we better go up.." Trent walked.

Noah fell to the ground, coughing a lot of blood, bruised a lot. He looked up at the samurai who put his sword away.

"Hmph. It seems you aren't truly accustomed to your power yet." The samurai said bluntly as he started walking away.

"H-hey.. I.. can still fight.." Noah coughed as he tried to get up.

"Don't strain yourself, human.

"Don't bother." The samurai said. "The only reason you aren't dead right now is that the queen wants you alive."

"W-what does she want exactly.." Noah frowned.

"You'll see. Now.. Rest up." The samurai closed the cell and walked off.

Noah just sat there, breathing hard, he looked at his now bruised and bloody hands and sighed.

I… i failed…

He sighed more.

I.. i had my power and.. He was still stronger.. Was I always this weak.. Was I just lucky the times before? Was my training not sufficient enough…

Can I really survive this place.. This world.. Will I just end up like the contestants before me…

Devin… Anne Marie… Tyler…

Will I just… rot here. And just be another statistic…

He lowered his head and just sat there with his thoughts.

The three boys reached the hatch which was above a ladder.

"That ladder doesn't look the safest.." Dwayne said as he looked at the metal ladder, rusty, full of broken railings.

"Yeah.. but we have no choice," Trent said as he gripped onto the ladder. "Just.. try not to cut yourself guys" He started climbing.

Leonard nodded as he followed on. "I shall use my sneak level very very well here.."

Dwayne followed on at the end, the gang climbed up the ladder and opened the hatch. Trent popped his head up.

As soon as he did, all he saw was a barely lit room. It looked like a dungeon. Lots of bricks and cells. As he was in view, a few prisoners within the cells saw him.

The grunting appeared to be coming from prisoners talking to each other, mumbling and other random things.

"Hey hey!" One of the prisoners said it was a purple Atid who looked at him.

"Uh… hey man" Trent got up and helped Leonard and Dwayne follow him up.

"C-can you help me get out? Please?" The man stared at him, looking hopeful.

"Uh… Sorry man we're a bit busy right now.." Trent nervously said as he walked past, trying to find where Noah was kept.

"Come onnn! I need to get out!" The man complained.

"And why are you in here hmmm?" Leonard questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Did you perhaps commit the dastardly act of murder?!"

"I'm sure he didn't do anything horrible right?" Dwayne said. "I'm sure he's a fine guy"

"I bet he SLAUGHTERED many people" Leonard grumbled.

The man blinked. "No.. I didn't murder.. I just stole bread."

Dwayne's eyes widened. "How dare you steal bread!" He frowned. "Wonderful bakers made bread you know! You should be ashamed. Hmph!" Dwayne stormed off.

Trent blinked. "Uh… right.. Uh… see ya man" Trent followed along with Dwayne.

"Hey wait! Come back!" The man shouted.

The trio just ignored the man for now and continued on. They kept having to dodge any convicts who were currently in their cells.

"So Dwayne.. What was that earlier?" Trent questioned.

"Uh… I just respect bakers a lot. We have a baker back home by our house actually, Junior would always loveeee the tiger bread there. Wife loved it too." He smiled. "I just don't like seeing business owners being screwed I guess haha.. I definitely did seem a bit too aggressive there I'm sorry"

"Don't be sorry, it's fine" Trent smiled.

Leonard blinked. "Fellas. We've been looking around for a while and I haven't seen Noah anywhere.. Do you think.."

"I'm sure he's fine" Dwayne smiled. "Hm..Maybe there are other dungeons here?"

"Indeed there is eh." A voice was heard behind them.

"I-is that-" The trio looked back and saw Ezekiel there. Standing in his usual outfit, smug.

"It seems you need a little bit of help… Well… if you can help me.. I can help you" He smirked as he approached.

"We don't need your help, murderer." Leonard frowned and rummaged through his pockets. "We can just ask Scarlett about the layout of the castle!" He smirked and turned on the walkie-talkie.

Ezekiel just stood there, still a bit smug.

"Hello? Scarlett, can you hear me?" Leonard asked.

There was only static.

"Yeah… The walls are too thick to contact the outside from in here, I guess Scarlett didn't know that eh?" Ezekiel said.

Trent frowned at him, feeling a bit defeated. "Alright.. What do you want?"

"Well.. my boss requires Staci." Ezekiel said.

"We aren't going to help you kill her." Trent frowned more.

"You don't need to help me kill her. You just need to be the support as I approach. I can't exactly get to her through the guards myself, so having more numbers does indeed help. Plus.. I'm sure you'll end up fighting her in the end anyway so.. Why not have some support?" Ezekiel smiled.

"We're here for the idol, not her head." Leonard frowned with the guys.

"How else are you going to get that idol exactly? Steal it? Beat her just before death? Hmph.. You have nothing to lose here, after all, god knows what's going on with Noah right now.. I'll find a way to Staci regardless, It just makes both our lives easier, just saying, eh" Ezekiel smirked.

Trent sighed. "Gh.."

Dwayne looked down a bit. "Sure, we'll let you come with us. But… we will fight you if you go for Staci in the end!"

"Hmph.. just another obstacle. I'll be fine." Ezekiel smirked and walked past them. "There is a 2nd dungeon that's for private prisoners over here. Come on." He walked ahead.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Leonard asked.

"We have no choice.." Trent sighed.

"Mhm.." Dwayne nodded in agreement.

"We just will have to deal with Zeke later," Trent said.

"Come on, I'm not waiting for another flash eh!" Ezekiel shouted.

The trio groaned a bit as they followed along.

Ezekiel walked up along a path between cells, it felt like a maze within the dungeon itself.

"This place is huge.." Dwayne commented.

"Indeed.. It used to be pretty small before Staci took over." Ezekiel commented.

"Oh? Why did it get bigger? More criminals?" Trent asked.

"No… she just got more strict with her laws.. And introduced stupid ones eh… Like anyone insulting her publicly would be taken away, other items she would arrest people for silly things like lying to people. Which is hypocritical but ok." He frowned.

"Oh wow.. That sucks so much, so basically a dictator or something?" Trent blinked.

"All royalty are dictators eh." Ezekiel blinked. "But yes. She is what we call at work a bit-"

"Oh wow! Another rat!" Dwayne interrupted and pointed at one running around.

"It's a mess around here eh." Ezekiel blinked as he walked.

"The hygiene seems very bad…" Trent looked concerned.

"Eh.. could be worse eh." Ezekiel said as he passed more cells.

Dwayne looked at many other criminals within their cells, many Atids of many kinds. "Well.. at least it's diverse."

"We're almost there anyway," Ezekiel said as they turned many different directions.

"Finally.." Leonard sighed.

Noah sat there contemplating himself for a bit until he heard something in the distance.

Huh..? What's this?

He looked to one of the side doors and saw it open, seeing a few familiar faces.

"G-guys?!" Noah sprang up.

"Hey, son!" Dwayne smiled brightly as he ran to Noah. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Sir Noah! It's been a while" Leonard smiled as he approached also.

"Hey Noah" Trent smiled as well.

"How did you guy- what's he doing here." Noah frowned and saw Ezekiel walk in after them.

"Don't mind me eh. Do your reunion thing." Ezekiel watched along.

"What are you doing here," Noah repeated.

Ezekiel sighed. "Can we discuss this once we get you out of here?"

"Hmph… fine." Noah scoffed a bit and looked at the door. "This door is pretty tough though.." Noah suddenly glowed white as he tried to punch the door open with no success. "G-gh."

"Wait.. you can use your powers!" Dwayne exclaimed happily.

"Oh- yeah that happened I guess." Noah frowned.

"Heh.. I'm sure I could destroy the door, after all, I probably can use my power better, eh" Ezekiel smirked.

"Great.. We're relying on the sexist." Noah rolled his eyes.

Ezekiel frowned. "That was only once eh!" He glared.

"Now now.. No fighting guys" Trent tried to calm the tension.

"Hmph" They both said in unison.

"Uh, Noah.. what happened to you?" Dwayne saw his wounds. "Did they hurt you?"

"I… got in a bit of a fight.." He said behind the cell still.

"With who?" Leonard asked.

"With me." A voice was heard. The samurai stood there, above the stairs, looking down at the group. "Did you really think you'd break him out without me noticing?"

"Who… is that?" Trent said.

"That's Staci's uncle.. he's the main guard here.. Watch out... He's powerful." He frowned.

"Indeed. I put the little rat into his place. Now.. Since you guys have decided to come here yourself, I guess I'll also have to lock you up." The samurai got out his blade. "Now… why don't we do this diplomatically... Give up."

He stood there tall, he definitely beat them in both height and stature. As his blade was out, it started to glow a bit. The gang could tell just from the feeling of that blade that this fight won't be easy. It even made Ezekiel sweat a little just at the atmosphere.

"Hmph…Never." Trent frowned as he got his guitar out. "I didn't come here to give up after all… We knew we would be in danger.. This is just another obstacle!"

"We wouldn't let you take our friend or us!" Leonard got out his spellbook. "Dream or not, he's still my friend!"

Dwayne got out his bow. "I'm ready to fight for us!" He smiled. "I.. may not have any powers but… I'll still fight!"

Ezekiel sighed and his arms started glowing green. "Here we go again.."

Trent turned to Noah. "Since you're injured, stand back ok?"

Noah sighed and nodded. "Alright.." he stood back to the wall and just watched on.

The samurai watched the scene unfold as the heroes decide to continue on.

"Hmph… so you chose to fight…" The samurai started walking down to them.

"So… be it."