A/N: OLAF! It's me, IFYOUCOULDFLY! Thanks again (one day I'm gonna go back and count all the times I've said that to you) for everything! I'm reaching the end of this series (this isn't the end, but I'm close), so if you have any suggestions for a new series to write, tell me! Oh…and I guess it's disclaimer time. Vasanistis: What? ME? Me: Um…yeah…I guess. Look, I ran out of people! Vasanistis: But…I'm evil… Me: yeah…. Vasanistis: Well, I won't do it! Cuz…you know…that sounds like an evil thing to do! Me: FINE! DON'T! JOHN FLANAGAN OWNS RANGER'S APPRENTICE… but I own YOU. Vasanistis: Wait…what? Uh-oh… *explodes* -Read on! Oh, and a warning: EXCESSIVE P.O.V. CHANGES MAY OCCUR!

-CHAPTER SEVEN-

*Halt's P.O.V.*

Halt dropped to the ground. "Finally," he mumbled, "I'm off that wretched ship." The other two climbed off the boat, staring at the castle before them.

It was a strange castle, built grandly, but with an aura of darkness surrounding it. Halt glanced around the walls and, on the highest floor, a lone figure stood in a window. "This is eerie." He finally said, and the other two behind him nodded in agreement.

"I can tell there are people here, somewhere, but I don't know where." Horace sighed. To his surprise, the Rangers agreed. Typically, the mysterious members of the Ranger Corp were skilled in the art of detection.

"So what do we do?" Gilan asked his former mentor, who bit his lip. "I think," Halt began carefully, "That we should take a typical course of action." Gilan raised his brow. "Which means…."

"What, we just go up and knock?" Horace asked sarcastically. Halt stared at him, dead serious. "I say that's exactly what we do."

*Will's P.O.V.*

Will awoke in the arms of Gerald and Finley. His glanced around, head swimming, and realized he was in the throne room of Vasanistis. He opened his mouth to ask something, when suddenly, a faint sound, a bell, rang out.

Instantly, he felt himself drift into a dreamlike state. He was completely at peace, and had one will: to serve.

Over the past few days, he had become very attached to Vasanistis in his hypnotized state. Lately, he had been obeying the evil man's every wish, with barely any forethought. Vasanistis, in turn, believed that now was the time for his plan to fall into place.

*Horace's P.O.V.*

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Horace muttered to himself, then kicked the door open.

To his shock, there was nothing. The massive hallways were completely empty, with no sign of life. He almost shouted an automatic "Hello?" before realizing the stupidity of that move. Instead, he began to creep forward.

Originally, the three had planned to have Horace barge in and create a diversion, while Halt and Gilan tried to find the prison cells, but there was, in fact, no diversion to create. There was nobody here.

Horace began to wander, trying to find Halt and Gilan. "Well, I feel stupid," he thought, just he hit the ground with a thud. "Wha-" he cried, and then it all went black.

*Halt's P.O.V.*

"I found it!" Gilan whisper-screamed from in front of him. "Great! So start moving and get your butt out of my face. NOW." Halt growled.

The two Rangers were crawling through the castle, or rather, under the castle. The pair had quickly picked out a poorly hidden escape hatch, and immediately began to investigate. Soon, Halt had grown tired of listening to Gilan's obnoxious whispering, and it had only been about a minute. "I hope Horace is having better luck." He thought.

"See? I told you I found it!" Gilan whispered. They had finally found an end to the miserably stuffy passageway, and erupted into fresh air. They glanced around, observing their surroundings. "We're obviously in a wine cellar of some sort, so that means the jail must be nearby." Halt muttered, half to himself.

The two Rangers found the exit quickly and quietly and, to their surprise, there were no guards positioned at the door. Or anywhere along the hallway.

"I don't like this," Halt murmured, and Gilan nodded. "No time to lose, though. The jail must be close by." He continued, running silently down the hall, Gilan in tow.

And indeed, it was. The pair soon found a pair of stairs leading deep down into the earth. The took the steps two at a time, eager to find Will. The prison burst into view and…

"There's. Nobody. Here." Halt growled, and the two Rangers dropped to their knees. "Was this just a joke?" Gilan asked angrily. "A diversion or something? Is Will even here?!" Suddenly a voice rang out from the shadows. "Believe me, he is."

The two shot up, only to fall back down. "Halt!" Gilan shouted. "What's happening-" and the young Ranger fell into unconsciousness. Halt cursed, looking at the dart in his arm. "At least we'll see Will soon-I hope…." Soon, Gerald and Finley were dragging the unconscious Rangers upstairs, and even they were unaware of what was to come.

Halt's head was pounding, the world was spinning, and he had no idea where he was. "Halt?" a voice next to him. He turned to see Gilan on his right, and Horace on his left. The strange thing was, they were both tied up.

Suddenly, he realized that he was as well. And across the room was a man, the same one he had seen in the window. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but was cut off.

"How fun!" The man across the room said in a giddy tone. "I've got three of the people I hate most, right here in one place!" Halt narrowed his eyes. "Do I know you?" He growled, but the man just shook his head cheerily. "No, but you know my father." Seeing the blank look on the three's faces, he grinned. "Morgarath."

A pin could have dropped. "How?" Horace finally blurted, and Vasanistis was about to continue with the same sunny disposition, when a muscular figure burst into the room.

"Lord Vasanistis, I believe the subject is permanently in control." The servant rushed. Halt frowned. "What does that mean? What's going on?" He shouted. Vasanistis smiled. "Only one way to find out." He pulled out a bell and rang it.

*Will's P.O.V.*

Will was frantically rushing up the stairs. The bell meant that his master needed him, and he didn't want to disappoint his master. He burst into the throne room, not even noticing the three people chained to the wall. "My Lord?" He gasped, kneeling before Vasanistis. His master smiled. "Good work, Brutus!" He praised, and Will's face lit up.

On the other side of the room, three people watched in horror. "My Lord? What did they do?" Horace thought. "WILL!" Halt shouted, unable to contain himself.

For the first time, Will spun around to see his three closest friends chained to a wall. Instantly, his face scrunched up. He was battling himself for control of his own mind. "Ignore them, Will. They don't mean anything." Vasanistis assured, but Will remained conflicted. "But…why do they know my name?"

Halt's heart broke. The boy he had spent so many years with, that had become a son to him, didn't even remember him. "Will!" Horace called. "It's me, Horace! Your friend? Remember?"

Will's eyes, to the three's relief, showed a slight spark of recognition, but was quickly replaced when the bell rang again. "No," Will shook his head. "No, no, no. You're not. My Lord?" He said, looking to Vasanistis for guidance, and again Halt's heart broke. The son of Morgarath smiled. "Good boy. You know what? Let's have fun."

He stared down each one of the three on the wall. "Him." Vasanistis finally said, pointing at Gilan. "Shoot him." Will's face instantly contorted. "But…." "BUT?!" Vasanistis screeched, face turning purple. "DID YOU JUST DEFY YOUR MASTER?!" Will shook his head. "No, my Lord, of course not. I just-" "Do it then." Vasanistis demanded, calm once more.

Will picked a bow up off the table beside him and stared at Gilan. "Will, don't!" Halt cried. "Remember! Please, just remember!" Again, the inner Will was battling the hypnotized one. His head was pounding as voices, very tiny ones in the back of his mind, screamed to be heard.

"Will. Do it now. Make me proud, Will." Vasanistis cooed. That seemed to work. "I must make him proud," Will thought.

He raised the bow, pointed it at Gilan….and shot.

A/N: Hehehe….I left you at a cliffie….so, yeah. Long chapter. I'm getting excited, hope you guys are too! Next update tomorrow (as usual), so hang in there! A lot of crap will happen next time, so be prepared!...hehe. Keep reviewing!-FLY