What had started as muffled talking from below had quickly turned to yelling, and it was obviously from the young heir. Cyli's eyebrows went up, and she couldn't help but wonder just WHAT was happening down there.

A few minutes later, she heard stomping coming up the stone stairs. The door slammed open, and there was Pac. He was… a mess. His teeth were bared, and his eyeliner had run from his crying. Immediately Cyli actually became concerned.

"Hey are you-"

"No. I'm not."

"What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Uh-"

"I'm gonna help you."

"Uh, great!"

As concerned as she was, she knew better than to press Pac for details. Now that he had agreed, it was time to put the plan in motion. But, they couldn't do it by themselves. She had realized that while Pac was down talking with the prisoner.

"Do you have a phone I can use", Cyli said suddenly.

"Huh?"
"Look, we're gonna need some help, and I know just the guy who has the brawn we need."

"Okay? Well, I have one in my room."

Pac wasted no time leading her to it. The inside was… messy. Everything was in disarray to put it lightly. Well, no time to sit and gawk. Pac brought Cyli his phone. "Friend of yours?"

"Yep. I just hope he'll do it."

"Wait- why are we sneaking that old geezer out of here again?"

"Um…"

"We're taking down my dad aren't we", Pac said sullenly, "Why else would you want to free that guy?"

"Okay so maybe that is the case. But your dad's-"
"A monster. I know. Believe me, I do. Let's do it."

Okay, this was getting really weird. Less than half an hour ago Pac would be more than willing to aid in Betrayus' atrocities, now he was willing to help dethrone him all of a sudden? Something was up.

Cyli took the phone, and dialed. "Uh I think you got the wrong number", came his voice from the other end.

"Spiral! It's me, Cyli."

"Oh so your name is-" Pac began only for Cyli to shush him.

"Wait, Cyli?! Oh my gosh are you okay?! I heard about what happened!" Spiral answered.

"Yeah I'm fine. Listen- I need your help."

"You gonna bust out of there?"

"Sorta. We're breaking out a prisoner. It's so we can take down Betrayus."

"Say no more. I'm in."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that! Hold tight- I'll be there in a jiffy!"

"Wait", Cyli said as she realized something, "how are you gonna get in here?"

"Oh", said Spiral.

"I know a secret way in", said Pac.

"Who's that?"

"It's Pac", Cyli said.

"WHAT", Spiral shouted.

"Long story. He's on our side! It's fine!"

"If you say so."

"It's by the back of the building", Pac said. "Meet us there."

"Okay", Spiral said skeptically. Click.

"Who's that guy?"

"Spiral's a freedom fighter like me."

"You're a freedom fighter?"

"Yep!"

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"We gotta head back there."

"So what exactly is the plan?", asked Pac.

"Well, I'm still figuring it out."

"Uh, this is seriously sloppy. And dangerous."

"Well, I figured we could start with a power outage! That'd take out the cameras!"

"And my dad's men?"

"I haven't thought that far…"

"Wait! I know something!"

"And?"

"That huge tree! It's got some cool berries in it! Whenever I eat one, I get these weird powers! That could help too!"

"You're kidding."

"Naw."

"Cool", Cyli said without thinking which caused Pac to flush a bit. Well, awkward.

Thankfully, there was Spiral.

"Well", he said as he came through the bushes, "here I am. Let's get this party started!"

"Over here", Pac said. He gestured over towards the building, and barely visible in the wall was a loose panel. Pac removed it, and it led to what was apparently the duct system. "Uh why is he helping us", said a very concerned Spiral.

"Like I said, it's a long story", said Cyli.

Spiral shrugged, but went along with it. They entered the ducts, all three of them being pumped full of adrenaline. "We could sneak Mr C out through here", Cyli chirped, "It's perfect! But if we're gonna do this, we gotta get this thing off me. If I go too far away from the building it'll detonate!"

"WHOA WHAT", said Spiral only to be shushed quickly.

"My dad probably has the key in his office. Come on, I know the way through here."

"He's being awfully cooperative…" Spiral mumbled.

"Yeah. I don't get it either."

"I can hear you! I'm not deaf!" Aaaand THERE was the usual rudeness they were waiting for.

Through several airways they crawled, until they reached the vent above the office. "You two should probably do it", said Pac, "I'll go get the berries. Howzabout we meet up in the dungeon?"

"Okay", Cyli agreed. Pac nodded, and went the other way towards the Tree Of Life. Without hesitation, the pair of friends dropped down into the office below. Thankfully, it was empty.

"I don't trust him", Spiral said without warning. "Like, what if he tells on us?"

"I don't think he will."

"You don't know that! Dude's evil!"

"Let's just find the key."

"Oh. Right."

They dug through the desk drawers, and after what seemed like hours they found something that looked like it might work. But, their relief was short-lived.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Oh snap.

Both of them looked over and felt the color drain from their faces. It was HIM. They were caught. Betrayus stomped over to them and was FUMING. They had been so busy, they had neglected to notice the dictator entering the room.

"I don't know if you got the memo, little missy, but this area is OFF LIMITS. And who the heck is THAT? Civilians aren't allowed in the building either! Give me one good reason to not arrest the both of you right this instant!"

"Spiral what do we do", Cyli said through clenched teeth as sweat began to form on her forehead.

"Well", Betrayus snapped.

"THINK FAST", Spiral yelled. He body slammed Betrayus much to Cyli's horror. "Spiral what are you-"

Cyli quickly saw what he was doing. He had tackled Betrayus in the direction of a closet that just so happened to be ever so conveniently ajar. They both landed in it, and Spiral got up and slammed the door shut before the dictator could get his bearings. He grabbed a chair and propped it under the knob as pounding could be heard on the other side.

"We're dead", said the pink Pac Worlder as Spiral used the key to detach the ankle bomb.

"Not yet, but we will be if we don't get outta here!"

"You said it!"

The teens wasted no time in getting the heck out of there as Betrayus began to scream obscenities from inside the closet, smashing his fist against the door.

Cyli led the way to the dungeon and they both raced there, doing the best to make it there before they got caught.

The tree truly was a beautiful sight. There it was in its awe inspiring, magical glory. Thankfully, for some reason there were only guards outside of the room and not inside. Pac was up in the branches, gathering every berry he could fit in his cape (he had taken it off and was using it as a makeshift bag).

Truly he had no idea what each berry's powers were as he had only managed to break in at least once a month. Once the cape had been filled and tied shut, he sighed and sat down on the branch. For 15 years he had lived a lie. How could he have been so stupid as to believe his dad's story?!

He also had no idea why he was helping break out that old man, taking down his dad or not. What if they were all caught? The other two would probably have something REALLY bad happen to them, but what about him?

He was filled to the brim with complicated feelings- grief, shock, anger, betrayal. It was still hitting him all at once, his head spinning. He buried his face in his hands as the tears came once more. He sniffed, and wiped the tears away.

All because he dared to sneak out. All because he met that girl. He'd still be blissfully unaware. He'd still be happy. He'd still love his dad. He'd eventually take the throne. Then again, he'd still be living a lie.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. It wasn't fair! Wait… if his dad knew, surely others in the army knew! Now he was even angrier. Lied to his whole life. But wait…

After all of this was done and Mr C was freed, where would HE go? Surely he couldn't stay here with BETRAYUS! Would Cyli let him…? No. She'd never let him join the freedom fighters.

But, he had come too far to turn back. He picked up the cape full of berries and went back through the vent he had entered through, making his way towards the dungeon…