Chapter 15

Back at the Castle, Kook had led the other Defenders to where he had seen the portal some time ago.

It was a few minutes waiting before Tinkor wheeled out every weapon that had ever been used. Everyone was a bit confused, though it was tinted by a little nostalgia, as some of them hadn't been used since the Academy years (they had been declared as being too easy to use).

"How is all this going to help us open the portal?" asked Ballista, as she picked up her Splatbow.

"That's simple." answered Kook as he loaded one of the Splatzookas. "My theory is, if we all shoot at the portal space at the same time, and give it everything we've got, the force might be able to break it open, and we could step through to the other side."

Ballista nodded. "I never knew you were such a brainbox, Kook!" she teased, whilst pushing him playfully.

Kook shrugged. "I guess it's something in my bird blood!" he joked.

He was feeling slightly nervous inside. His idea was a risky one.

What if the weapons weren't strong enough?

What if the portal had been closed?

What if... what if someone, something, had done something to Shaiden...

He tried to take his mind off all his thoughts by checking all the other weapons.

He came to Gildar, who had his arms crossed, and was staring at the floor.

"You OK Gildar?" Kook asked.

Whilst still staring at the floor, Gildar mumbled sulkily, "You stole my mirror, Kook. You stole my mirror, and never gave it back!"

Kook rolled his eyes, which didn't happen often, as he wasn't the guy to use sarcasm that much.

"Look, I'll tell you the reason why I stole your mirror.."

He paused for thought. Come to think of it, he couldn't really think up a reason why he stole Gildar's mirror away in the first place. Rather, he had a reason why he had kept Gildar's mirror from him all this time, so he decided to use that instead.

"You see, if I give you your mirror back, you won't be focussed on getting the portal open."

Gildar's face dropped. "You... you mean you won't be giving it back?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper. "Not even after we've gone through the portal?"

Kook shook his head. "If I give you it then, you'll be distracted from finding Thorne and Shaiden."

Gildar tried to protest against Kook's ruling, but eventually he just hung his head and let Kook keep hold of his mirror.

Kook went to stand between Skabb and Ballista. "Defenders!" he called, just as Shaiden would do, "Prime your weapons!"

Within seconds, all the weapons were set to full power.

"Take aim, and, FIRE!"

Suddenly, Splatzooka roars filled the air. Paintball debris and various colours of slime were flying everywhere. Slowly, the blue light began to appear, and the portal burst open to reveal the same area of forest from earlier.

Everyone shielded their eyes for a second, before Crocness led the way into the forest.

Ballista was the second-to-last Defender to step through the portal. As she was about to make her move, she looked behind, and was surprised to see Kook, the leader of the entire operation, hanging back.

"Kook, are you gonna come through or not?" she asked.

Kook had his doubts. The non-risk- taker part of him was coming through.

There were so many things that could go wrong,

Yet so many things that could go right.

Was this the right thing to do?

Would Shaiden even realise his love for her after she had been rescued?

Kook soon realised that all of these questions only had one way of being answered.

It was now or never.

He slowly put one foot, and then the other, onto the forest floor.

The portal closed behind him, and he set off with the others.