Thanks to: Meg and Spongey (we're all in agreement - Darkar is a very VERY dodgy character indeed. If only Rainbow / 4kids made him this creepy), and Miranda, who along with Mirta is probably the most underappreciated character in any cartoon around today. And no Cedric, that's NOT an invitation - just stick to someone your own age, okay?

No thanks to: the BBC, who decided to put WITCH on hold in favour of 'Comic Relief Does Fame Academy' - yuck! And right when things were getting interesting too :(

Random Quote: Feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feed me, feeeeed meeeee! (my goldfish Ryoga, if she could talk)

It's quiet... too quiet.

Sky bit his lip.

He was thinking about saying that sentence out loud ever since they all set foot into the long, winding caverns that led underground to Shadowhaunt, but then he remembered the ribbing he got from Riven when he used that cheesy line back on Nahri, so he thought better of it. Besides, he didn't really need to say it anyway - he knew full well that everyone else was thinking the exact same thing, none more so than Layla.

Out of all of them, Layla had been down to the god-forsaken depths of the Under-Realm the most, on her previous attempts to free her beloved pixies from the dark lord's grasp, and on each and every one of those times, monsters had been virtually crawling out of the walls, attacking her, spitting their vile phlegm at her, making every attempt to crush her into fairy dust.

But this time... nothing.

The dark, gloomy caverns that led to Darkar's lair were silent, save for the odd drip of water splashing on their hard rock floor, and twenty-two pairs of feet creeping warilythrough them. Of course, they all knew that their quiet creeping was totally pointless, for they all knew that Darkar was expecting them. They may as well have an entire marching band following them - at least the band's jaunty music would have lifted their spirits a bit.

But maybe that was what Darkar wanted. Maybe he wanted them to think it was safe. Maybe he wanted them to let their guard down, just for a moment, just so he could unleash an entire pack of his ferocious beasts upon them when they least expected it. Better to be safe than sorry, it was decided, and so the teens continued, quietly creeping through the passages, with their sense of fear and foreboding not being helped by their shadows dancing on the walls as they passed a number of eerily-glowing crystals embedded into them.

The quiet trek was broken by Irma.

"Say, Musa." she whispered. "Why aren't you guys in, you know, full fairy mode?"

"It's this place." the music fairy replied in a hushed tone. "There's something about it. We've been down here before. It drains a fairy's powers, so we gotta conserve our strength as much as possible."

"Yeah. In fact I'm started to feel it right now." Stella replied, slightly wearily. "Can't you girls feel it?"

"Yeah." Taranee replied. "Now that you mention it, I'm starting to feel a bit tired too. Only a tiny bit though."

"I guess it's not just fairies who get affected." Tecna guessed.

"And I thought this place couldn't get any creepier!"

"Teggy, how are you holding up?" Musa asked.

"It's wierd." he replied, looking at his palms. "You guys are getting tired, but I'm not. In fact, I'm feeling the opposite. I mean, I was still feeling totally knackered from that fight with the Ifrit when we stepped off the ship, but ever since coming down here, I feel... energised."

"Interesting." Tecna wondered. "Maybe it's the dark magic inside you. Perhaps its feeding off the energy down here."

"But I never felt this way before. I certainly didn't feel any different the last time I was down here."

"If I remember right Teggy, you weren't really connected with your powers back then, were you? Maybe that's why." (1)

"Maybe. Who cares. I just hope this effect lasts, 'cos I get the feeling we'll need as much help as we can get."

They pressed on through the passages, treading carefully, ever-prepared for the onslaught of terrifying monsters that never came, until finally they arrived at a large cavern. In its centre was what appeared to be a collection of impossibly huge stalagtites suspended from the ceiling like a mouthful of gigantic fangs, with cascades of murky greenish water falling from various points. Everyone stopped and took in this awesome, menacing sight.

"Well here we are - Darkar's crib." said Musa as they cautiously made their way across a rope bridge into into the unguarded fortress. One by one they followed, looking around them half-expecting to be jumped at any moment, and quietly entered through a large doorway.

"Man - talk about your fixer-upper!" Irma said, looking around her at the cracked stone walls and pillars as they ventured through the hall.

"Yeah, it could definately use a girl's touch!" Cornelia added.

The hallway quickly ended in a large circular chamber with a domed roof - it was so large, they could barely see the exit set into the light stone wall at the opposite end. Despite the fact that it was so deep underground, the room was surprisingly well-lit. Something wasn't right, but then again, this whole place had WRONG written all over it. Undaunted, they began to cross, their footsteps echoing around the empty circle of walls. Musa giggled.

"Helloooo-ooo!" she sang sweetly, smiling as her voice bounced playfully back and forth into the distance.

"Echo!" Tegryn shouted, joining his love in this little game.

"BOO!"

The group stopped as this new voice filled the room, vibrating through them.

"I'm sorry. Did that frighten you?" a voice sneered from out of nowhere. Everyone immediately stood on guard because they knew who this voice belonged to - Darkar.

"It's been rather funny, watching you children jumping at shadows. I suppose you're all eager to see your friend Will, aren't you?"

Darkar's question was met with defiant silence. The dark one continued.

"Well, maybe if you're lucky, you'll get to see her later. But first, let me introduce you to my pet."

At his cue, a small, spindly bat rushed over their heads and flapped around in front of them.

"Meet Kerborg. I'm sure you'll agree, he's not very impressive at the moment, is he? Let's see... how can I make him more entertaining?" A short pause. "Ah yes, this was do quite nicely!"

Four pale magenta circles suddenly appeared on the floor beneath Kerborg and bathed him in their light. The air around the bat began to glow as he slowly began to morph, growing to an incredible size as he changed shape, all the while filling the chamber with a blinding light.

"There. I do hope you have fun with my Ankylocephadon!"

As Darkar's voice disappeared into nothingness, so did the glow that surrounded Kerborg's new form. No longer was he the spindly little bat that had fluttered around them while Darkar did his little gloating act. Instead, the group were faced with a huge, prehistoric monster. It was stood low to the ground on four thick legs, his arched back shielded with what appeared to be thick bony armour-plating, with large spikes dotted around his sides. A big vicious-looking studded bone club lay on the end of its muscular tail. His head was equally well-protected by a thick dome perched above a pair of glowing red eyes, and was finished off with a cruel-looking beak lined with glistening, needle-sharp teeth. Just to complete the effect, the Ankylocephadon roared an unnatural roar, and roared it so loudly it seemed to shake the entire castle. (2)

The gang quailed in front of the beast which stood between them and the exit - all of a sudden, a swarm of spit monsters didn't seem quite so bad...

1. This is a reference to Part 2 of this series, 'Back to the Old School', where Tegryn was kidnapped by the Trix and taken to Darkar in Shadowhaunt believing him to be ultra-powerful. However, they found nothing in the way of power whatsoever, and it was only after some tuition from Discorda that he was finally able to 'connect' with his magic.

2. Gimme an Ankylosaurus! Gimme a Pachycephalosaurus! Gimme an Iguanadon! What have you got? ANKYLOCEPHADON! (in other words, this mean little beastie is actually a combination of three real-life dinosaurs)